Sunday, July 31, 2011

Observations; Class Reunion

For the most part, I have purposely refrained from political commentary on this blog for the past year or so and plan to do so going forward. Although I maintain an interest in politics and a fascination with the process, I just don't get as worked up over it I used to. I see that as a good thing.

With that said, the following statements are opinions based on observations and nothing more:

1. I'll be honest. I have found myself panicking a bit over this debt ceiling business. It's kind of like the bank bailout from a couple of years ago -- conceptually I don't like it and there's a part of me that wants to say don't raise it and let's just see what happens. But most of the less political and more objective experts (and believe me, they are hard to find) seem to believe that Congress needs to reach a compromise that raises the ceiling so that financial calamity is avoided. It's Sunday afternoon as I write this and it appears a deal is close. I hope that, if and when that happens and it's signed into law, cooler heads will prevail and some real work will get done on accomplishing financial reform. We'll see.

2. Assuming this deal happens, I believe that, unless the economy totally tanks over the next year, Barack Obama will be re-elected in 2012.

3. I so want to believe that, throughout this latest crisis, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, other key players and even President Obama have thought more of our nation's welfare than what's going to happen in the next election and what it means to them politically. I want to believe that but I don't.

4. Matt Lauer on the Today Show last week, after interviewing a Congressperson about all the finger pointing by both political parties, ended with a very pointed question, something along the lines of, "With all due respect, don't the American people deserve better?"

Amen to that, Matt.

**************************************************

Went to my 35th high school class reunion last weekend. We had a "pre-party " before the reunion event for a small group of friends. Saw dear lifelong and blogger friend Kelly there.

The big party itself was great fun. I had to depend on name tags a bit, but many I knew immediately. This is profound, but I would say I don't look as old as some, but younger than many.

I love to go "home" every so often. But I like coming back home even better.

3 comments:

Kelly said...

Even though I was a stick-in-the-mud about attending the big event, I'm glad I got to see you at the pre-party. I just wish we'd had more time to visit. Glad you enjoyed the appetizer. :) (surprised you didn't post our photo)

Debby said...

I'm so glad that you and Kelly met up. I'm also so jealous that you and Kelly got to meet up.

And you need to post that photo bub!

My wv is cation. Which is the opposite of anion. Cool, isn't it?

quid said...

Very cool that you were both at the class reunion. More calls for photo!

Both parties should be ashamed of themselves. I know I am, ashamed of them, that is. I must confess I moved my retirement balance almost entirely into money markets, because I could not believe they would get the job done.