I'm Usually Right

I’m usually right

Maybe I need to sit on a thought for two or three days, but usually at the end – I am right.

If I am to be wrong, then I’m deliberately wrong. Like when I eat a Kit Kat before watching a movie at 7PM. Then I’m wrong in eating the Kit Kat – but I’m right in knowing that I’m wrong.

When I listen to pompous people, I know they are pompous. I’m right.
When I listen to ignorant people, I know they are ignorant. I’m right.
When I listen to Bill O’Reilly be “fair” at the expense of being correct. I’m right.

Regarding politics I am right. Very “correct” that is. (Which happens to be “not left” but right). I listen to NARAL protesters, Planned Parenthood, gay marriage advocates, anti-war demonstrators and know that they are all wrong. And I’m right.

It is universal truth that they are wrong. Not just in my “own world view” context. But right about the fact that their views are universally God ordained as being wrong.

I’m very comfortable in knowing I’m right. No conflict whatsoever. I sleep well and wake up refreshed. And brew a fresh pot of coffee. I know that brewed coffee will make me happier than instant coffee. I’ve tried instant – and I am right.

Cremora sucks. Have you tried Cremora in instant coffee? Use half & half instead, and use it in brewed coffee. It’s a day and night difference? Yes it is. I am right.

When I talk to God and feel distant --because of my sins, I’m usually right about that. But I know that God is probably listening to me anyway because of His grace.

Now wait. There was the time that I was deceived for a couple of months by this guy I thought was my friend. But he lied to me about little things – like: he was a former country music singer, ran a drug deal to Florida and got busted, knows a guy who works for the government who knows how to alter DirecTV cards so you can get all the channels. I was wrong about him. I just tried to be friendly to him and bought all his garbage casually.

OK – chalk one up on the “wrong” side.

But on most other things I’m right. Here is a list of things that I know for a fact:

1. God is real and is annoyed by liberals
2. "Chick flicks" are ok with a mind altering drug
3. Abortion is the worst crime against humanity. Worse than the Nazi death camps, Saddam’s crimes against the Kurds and the Boxer Rebellion.
4. Vegetarians think they are better than other people
5. Pompous 2nd generation rich people are very annoying. Strike that. All pompous people are annoying.
6. Artists don’t rely on their intellect for success.
7. God created the universe. And God created me.
8. The only thing that evolved from monkeys are liberals.
9. Anyone willing to call themselves a Democrat, is associating with a Party that endorses abortion and is therefore unethical.
10. Ugly people can live a fulfilling life if they are nice

Fairness vs. Correctness

Ann Coulter wrote eloquently on a matter that has been on my mind for a while now. Bill O’Reilly’s desire to be fair but not principled. He desperately wants to be viewed as independent- even if he has to sacrifice being right.

That’s where he gets in trouble.

The swift boat vets have a right to speak openly about their views of John Kerry. There is no “in-between”. Since our 1st Amendment to the Constitution protects speech, they may speak freely.

Bill boy O’Reilly doesn’t want to join the “partisan right” and risk being labeled a conservative, so once again in the name of “fairness” he wants to come down somewhere in the middle. Somewhere between free speech and no free speech.

And, unfortunately for Bill, instead of appearing to be fair, he now appears to be an invertebrate.

The swift boat vets have a right to speak freely – and with that – there is no in between.

It’s OK to be right, Bill. It may dent your ego but, trust me, people will respect you for it.

2nd Generation Rich People

Ok - time to get this off my chest. A little American rebellion here.

There are few things in life that annoy me like pompous 2nd generation rich people. Pompous people in general annoy me, but 2nd generation pompous rich people take the cake.

I admit that 2nd generation rich people have to work harder at being normal than 1st generation rich folks – but when you combine lots of money with a person that inherited it, you usually end up with a pompous 2nd generation pompous rich person.

If I were publishing a newspaper I could get in trouble here- but since I’m pretty sure that no one reads this blog, let me name a few of these companies or enterprises with 2nd generation pompous rich people at the helm.

World’s Finest Chocolate
Ford
Frank Sinatra Jr.’s Orchestra
Al Gore
Kim Jong Il – aka. “The Pot Belly Pig” aka. "The Supreme Leader of starving his People"

I am right this minute listening to local radio station in Gaylord. Speaking now is a 2nd generation pompous rich person. And yes – I’m annoyed.

This particular 2nd generation pompous rich person is being heralded as a great cornerstone of our community who donates gobs of his deceased dad’s money. Whoopee! What noble act. Getting to spend his dad’s money.

He has inherited a utility company which shall go nameless. And these local utility stations charge a premium price for what it dispenses. At least $.10 more per gallon than any surrounding community, in fact. But I shall not divulge the type of utility to allow for proper anonymity. But will say that I have to pay $2.03 per gallon for the cheap stuff.

But he always claims to charge more because he is “giving back to the community”. How nice.

I am part of this community. Why isn’t he giving back to me?

But back to me general point. I have seen company after company get screwed up through 2nd generation wannabees.

On the other hand I greatly admire first generation business owners – they had to risk everything to build what they had. Second generation people have to sacrifice little if anything.

I admit, it is very hard for me to respect a 2nd generation rich person, but it can be done. There are several other people in this community that are 2nd generation and rich – but they handle themselves with modesty and dignity.

Actually, one of those dignified individuals is the brother of the pompous one I referred to before. Although he has all the toys and perks of being rich without working for it, he is humble and has what I believe to be a pure heart. He puts other people above himself and is a great man. Here are more that have done so nobly:

Natalie Cole
George W. Bush (he may be rich but he’s not arrogant)
Franklin Graham
Ryan Dobson

So lest I condemn all 2nd generation rich people to soon let me be the first to say I can be open minded here.

So if you are a 2nd generation rich person, please don’t be pompous because you didn’t earn a penny of what you have. Just be humble, quiet and smile a lot. And if you are terribly bored with all that money – I’ll take some.

Swift Boat Vets Are Angry for a Reason

Today I went to c-span.org to watch the 1971 Dick Cavett debate between John Kerry and John O'Neill regarding Kerry's accusations that America was committing "war crimes" in Vietnam.

All I need to say - is that if you want to see media bias at it's worst - watch it.

The audience sounds like it was screened in favor of John Kerry. The condescension of John Kerry towards John O'Neill in the debate was frustrating enough for Mr. O'Neill to commit a lifetime of effort to discrediting Kerry. I would have, too.

I believe the swift vets. They are completely credible and their charges are backed up by facts. They have not changed their story (ala Kerry) and have many men agree on details of John Kerry's dishonorable service.

I have concluded that Kerry was and is an opportunist and who was planning his political future during his entire 4 months in Vietnam.

The accusations of the swiftboat vets is devastating. If this doesn't cause pause amongst those who would vote for Kerry, I would be dissappointed.

President Bush in Traverse City

I decided to go see President George W. Bush today in Traverse City along with my nine year old son, Kellen.

It was quite an experience seeing all the people (12,000 plus) that came out to catch a glimpse of him. The rally, which took place outside of the Civic Center, could barely contain all the people there. The crowds were very well behaved and the patriotism in the air was, well, moving.

Although the two-hour wait to see the President was worth it, once he started his stump speech I figured it was time to make my way home. After all, it sounded like the same speech he has given a million times before. We could hardly see him from our position because people in the VIP seats were standing and blocking our view. Besides we were tired and wanted to start the two-mile trek back to the car.

Which is when the fun started.

First, I saw Karl Rove, W’s chief strategist, no more that 20 feet from me. He was chatting with another cabinet member and I almost mustered up the courage to say “hi Mr. Rove” but chickened out. That was cool.

Then as Kellen and I made our way toward the gate, we noticed S.W.A.T. on top of buildings with guns and binoculars, surveying the perimeter. That was cool.

Then we got to the gate only to find that “because of security reasons” we were not allowed to leave until after W’s speech. That was not cool. But we got to look at liberal loony leftists protesting. This liberal loony guy outside the gate was taking pictures of us. He had a long hair and a beard, sandals and a tie-dye shirt. Some guy beside me yelled, “Hey look! Jesus is taking pictured of us!” That was funny.

Finally we escaped and had to walk through loony land to get back to the car. That was the most educational for Kellen. The lesson for him was “WHY NOT TO BE A LIBERAL”.

Holy cow. Talk about low-rent, maggot infested, dope smoking, good-time, rock-n-roll, degenerate, malcontent, pessimistic, pro-baby murdering, lesbo loving, sandal clad, dread lock matted, motley crew.

My simple talk to my nine-year old was the following:

Democrats and liberals are the same thing. They want to take away your money through a thing called taxes. They think if you talk nice to terrorists, they will go away. They believe that most Americans are stupid. And they believe in killing unborn babies.

Republicans and conservatives are the same thing. They want you to keep more of your own money. They believe that there are good guys and bad guys. And the bad guys should always be defeated. And they believe in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Kellen agreed. Job done.

Otsego County Prosecuting Attorney Election 2004

Results:

Kyle Legel 3,111 53%
Kevin Hesselink 2,100 36%
Mike Rola 624 11%


I’ve heard it done in other times and other places-- voting someone into office by voting out another. But this was my time and place. My opportunity to make the right vote at the right time, but still it wasn’t enough. I even went beyond my normal civic involvement and actually attended a public forum to hear out all three candidates for prosecuting attorney. And the decision was oh, so obvious. But it wasn’t enough.

While I sat at the Township hall and listened to their qualifications, track record and vision there was one candidate that clearly stood above the rest.

Of the three candidates, Legel was my choice to share a cigar on the golf course, but not for prosecutor. He was oh so green. But maybe that’s just me – I’m 35 and he’s 31. Maybe I’m just getting old. But his demeanor was oozing of inexperience a puppy dropped into the middle of a big lake. He was just trying to make it out without looking bad. It was slightly painful.

My only comment on Mike Rola is that upon listening too his snappy rhetorts, I have determined that I would rather be covered with angry African stinging bees getting a root canal with a spoon, then to watch this guy engaged.

But over six hundred successful prosecutions (and less than 5 unsuccessful ones) had no bearing on a successful verdict for Mr. Hesselink. It was determined on two, JUST TWO unpopular decisions and a funding issue which I do not completely understand. But that was enough for him to get railroaded by a motivated electorate who are propelled by their feelings instead of the law.

This is precisely why I have come to respect Kevin Hesselink so much. He can really unemotionally follow the law. What a concept! No emotional appeals, no slick Willy, no politics – just a darn good prosecutor.

What ever happened to changing the law, instead of changing a good prosecutor? If Otsego County is unhappy with the laws on the books (the ones Hesselink is enforcing) then CHANGE THE LAWS -- or the people making those laws. Upholding an oath is not always easy, especially in the public spotlight. But Kevin Hesselink has done so quite nobly.

Lord knows I have made my share of mistakes in my job, but I am fortunate enough to not be under a microscope or beg for my job every four years. Having observing Kevin Hesselink for the past three years, I have come to know that he is very thoughtful, smart and studied. Not a gregarious or talkative person by any stretch, but always polite and decent.

Kyle Legel is clearly a decent man and I hope that he is successful here. Let it be clear though that he was elected not on his own virtue and experience, but because people wanted Hesselink out. It was a negative vote for Kyle Legel.

I would have hated to be a bad guy facing Hesselink, but now Otsego county looks a little easier to mould. Deep down, I’m not optimistic on law and justice in this county for the next four years.

Maybe Kyle Legel can prove me wrong and I hope he does.

Mark Douglas
Gaylord, MI