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Someone calling himself Coach Boagy left a very thoughtful comment. In my younger, more intense days, I would have taken him on right away. In my low-intensity, posting present, I'm inclined to let it stand. You should read it. Although I disagree with his take on increasing the deficit, it deserves to be read.
I'm hoping to take a big hike tomorrow: from Old Crank Road up on Taylor Street to Dufresne's Park. Cody B. will love it, and I can't get that lost.
I'm still unenthusiastic about the news these days. President Obama is almost fully bogged down in the muck that The Worst Presidency Ever made out of our country. He's stuck with two wars. A huge deficit. An economy that needs stimulation. People that need jobs. A controversial health care bill. Now he's beginning to own everything.
On the state level, I'm wondering who listens to Gov. Patrick. It's usually not the state legislature. It's not usually Massachusetts voters.
We had a fire alarm at school today. Eight minutes before school let out. I didn't hang around afterwards to see if a kid pulled it or it was some malfunction. I must be growing up.
Mark
4 responses so far ↓
1 Will
// Nov 21, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Granby has been in the news lately...
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/34039920#34039920
http://www.wggb.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?vt1=v&clipFormat=flv&clipId1=4312466&at1=News - Special Coverage&h1=Not Forgotten Part II - Jane Doe of Granby, Mass.&flvUri=&partnerclipid=
2 Garrett Nobes
// Nov 23, 2009 at 5:07 am
Mark, I may not know as much about politics as someone like you (my direction is towards mathematics and physics personally), but what i have observed about this blog is that it stresses the "bad" bush and "good" obama. Bush definitely screwed everything up in the middle east. And obama is attempting to fix it, but is currently, failing(or atleast not being 100% sucessful). So what does this tell us? I think it tells us that neither of the two are worth worshipping over the other. bush is said to have failed the war on terror. obama promises to, if im correct, decrease troops in afghanistan immediately after inauguration. But he hasnt done that has he, so didn't he fail at that plan?
Before a long winded response filled with fancy descriptive words is sent my way, let me just say the point of this was to show that barack is only as good as the way you word it and look at it.
He is tough and persistent in his actions yet they have not proven to be, what i see as, sucessful.. yet. The keyword is yet, the word that applies to BOTH of them and what they were both working on. Nobody can tell the future, so for the msot part my guess is as good as yours. Bush could have won the war, and obama could create jobs for everyone. Or not, only time will tell.
Two sided responce, that wasnt hard
3 Mark Bail
// Nov 24, 2009 at 1:05 am
Garrett,
Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I'm glad to hear you're talented in math and science; you'll have more career opportunities than those of us in the humanities ever have.
Funny thing: I don't really see myself as loving Obama. In fact, I can't think of a politician I ever loved.
Bush was a truly awful President. Ronald Reagan, on the other hand, was not. I didn't vote for or agree with Reagan, but there is no question he was effective in re-orienting the country to the right. Reagan established modern conservatism; he didn't invent it, but he put it into a form acceptable to the majority of Americans. Before Reagan, conservatives were kind of a joke; after him, they dominated the country.
Bush has no such legacy. He left us with a mess in just about every aspect of our government. As you correctly point out, only time will tell with Obama.
Mark
4 Coachbogey
// Dec 4, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Thank you for your kind words. While we may not agree politically, I believe we can both agree that thoughful debate is one of the many strengths of our great country. It is my appreciation of thoughtful debate that will keep me coming back to read your blog. I hope, when you get a chance, you will take some time to read mine as well.