Read Between the Lines

When David Gregory asked John McCain if Palin's resignation was consistent with his qualities of leadership, McCain said "Sure".

"McCain said it was a question of how Palin could serve most effectively, and that she had decided she would be most effective if she stepped down. 'I respect that position and that decision," he said, "and I cannot tell you the appreciation I have for her.' "

McCain cannot tell us the appreciation he has for her because he has no appreciation for her. To flat out admit it would be admitting he effed up in his choice of a running mate and thereby screw himself over for any future political aspirations he may have.
See whole post here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/12/mccain-palins-resignation_n_230178.html

Sarah Palin is to politics, what William Hung is to American Idol. I wish people would stop speculating on what she will do politically from this point forward. Her candidacy for V.P. was absurd. Her governorship was absurd. There is no way that the majority of Americans will ever vote her into the Presidency. To speculate on whether or not she will run in 2012 is a waste of time. She says she quit the governorship of Alaska because it was a waste of tax payer money to defend her against the ethics charges, imagine what a huge waste of money it will be if she runs for President. But I’m curious, do the ethics charges go away now that she’s quit her job?

I watched Erica take her two year chip last night. She's working a good program. I predict she will live a long sober life. She understands the deal. I'm proud of her. I know it hasn't been easy an easy road for her and she's blessed to have found sobriety at an early age.

Savanah is spending the morning volunteering at Houchin Blood Bank. She doesn't even realize the significance of today.

July 1, 2009.

10 years since diagnosis.

Progression in pictures.

The Beginning, 1999.

The Middle




The End.

June 15, 2009 = 13 years of marriage.

16% vs. 84%

My daughter, Erica, told me that one of her professors taught that only 16 percent of Bakersfield is actually educated. So what that means is that if you are driving down the road and you call another driver stupid, there is an 84 percent chance that you are right.

Last night Martin and I went to our best friend's graduation at Cal State where he graduated Outstanding Master of Public Administration. I say "Outstanding" because he was actually awarded Outstanding MPA Student.

Sitting in the audience watching the Masters Ceremony I could see the 16% vs. the 84%. The audience was without a doubt the rudest audience I have ever been in. It talked the entire time with some people actually trying to talk louder than the speaker. No one was listening to any of the speeches. Granted, graduation speeches are boring, but these people didn't have even a modicum of decency at any point during the ceremony.

Masters Schmasters, I guess.

The 84 Percent

The 16 percent

Regardless of the rest of the crowd, Martin and I are very proud of Geoff for his hard work.