Go Away For the Weekend

...And what happens?  Everything goes crazy. 

For starters, when I got down to my parents, after some hugs and offers of food, we started to catch up on what was going on.  My step-mom asked me if I had watched the DNC convention.  I answered honestly that I had only caught a few pieces.  My dad came in and said that they had both watched Obama's speech and would be voting for him in November.  It wasn't a total shock.  My parents have been registered democrats forever.  They voted for Bush last election only because they both remembered the sixties and John Kerry.  Plus, there was the war.

This time, what concerns them, is health care.  They both believe that national health care is the way to go.  Largely because they both have serious health issues that are only covered by Medicare.  My dad said something to the effect that I should be happy if Obama gets in and does even part of what he says he will do for health care because then I will get even more business. 

My lips were sealed.  I just nodded and said, "mmmm."  For surely, that is exactly what will happen.  On the other hand, the effect on profitability, fee schedules, availability (as resources will be immediately overwhelmed) and real costs to the tax payer will be a real shocker to people.  I understand why they want it, but having dealt with government payers for twenty years, I can't say that I am looking forward to it. 

They know my objections and I know their reasons for wanting it.  I asked them to move closer to where I live and I would help take care of them.  Of course, they won't hear of that and prefer to wait for the miracle of national health care because they don't want to be a burden.  How many times do I explain that a) they are my parents and not a burden; b) if national health care comes to be, the government is going to take my money anyway, and c) what the government will do in order to cover everyone will not lead to the kind of health care they believe they will get or need as opposed to what I am willing to pay for and give them.  

How do you tell your parents that for want of being a burden to me today they are willing to vote into place a lifetime of growing burden and extended government control of health care long past the days that they will even be here?

I've said it all before, but it is dismissed with some incredulity. So, I said nothing this time. It was a holiday.

I only caught a little news while I was down in the lakes.  It amounted to a few hours of largely breathless coverage of Hurricane Gustav in New Orleans.  I was breathlessly waiting for the levee to break and sweep Geraldo Rivera away as he stood within feet of the levee pointing to the water topping the levee.  As if we could not see the waves from the 50 yards away the other news agency were staying.  

I think I was a little ticked off that Geraldo was lauding all the heroes, but didn't mind putting himself into a situation where someone might have to rescue his stupid a$$ and putting them in danger.  For ratings. 

Fortunately, Gustav decided to go out with a whimper and New Orleans, et al, were spared another tragic weather event.  A prayer of thanks.

The RNC decided to turn the first day into a charitable function for Hurricane Gustav.  A good decision and doesn't waste time on something that would be barely covered in the first place.  Obama's campaign called for fund raising through his volunteers.  After, of course, raising a very large amount for his campaign at Invesco Field a few days before. 

As soon as Palin was announced, the blogs went crazy, both left and right.  On some places, the abuse heaped on Palin was outrageous to say the least.  So over the top, in fact, I was hoping it would go on for awhile.  There comes a point when such antics starts backfiring as it invokes people's sympathies.

So, yes, please, go to town and be as harsh and disgusting as you possibly can. 

Laura Bush said that the Democrats may want to be careful about opening up any sexist remarks about women who should, apparently to some believers in women's liberation, stay home and raise the children.  Who knew that so many on the left shared conservative beliefs? 

Of course, they don't, because as soon as they announced Bristol Palin's pregnancy, the left went really crazy about hypocritical beliefs or something.  I don't know if I can quite follow the logic.   I don't see any hypocrisy or any truth that can be found about anyone's beliefs on sex or sex education or their children.  I do see real life and real decisions being made.

In regards to the announcement, I thought two things, "holy $#!^!" did anybody know before the selection?  And, second, I had serious sympathy for the young lady in question.  I can't imagine having to tell your "evangelical" parents that you are pregnant out of wedlock.  The stress and fear of both that and being a young pregnant woman must be terribly overwhelming.  Worse, though, I can't imagine having your personal life outed before millions of voyeuristic and, frankly, vicious public viewers. 

That's a true test of personal fortitude and familial love. 

Beyond that, I think the left part of the Blogosphere and the rest of the Democrat machinery would be extremely careful about what they had to say on the subject, lest they discover that the spiteful and nasty campaigning we see between candidates today seems like a school yard scrap in the near and far future.  

You know that old saying, "Ye without sin, cast the first stone."  Or, maybe something about people in glass houses?

Children are off limits.  On the other hand, they could keep saying something nasty.  As I noted above, there comes a point when such remarks become more negative for the side making them then for the actual candidate.  I can say that my Obama supporting parents had expressed some horror over the public commentary and sympathy for the Palins and their daughter. 

Way to go.

Finally, I just caught a few moments of Mrs. Bush and Mrs. McCain at the RNC.  The contrast in the two could not have been more pronounced.  All I have to say is that whoever assisted Mrs. McCain in her wardrobe choice should be shot and strung up by their heels.  It looked like Cruella DeVille in gold.  Way too harsh and angular.  I understand that the "contrast" was probably the point, that it might have been haute couture and Mrs. McCain obviously has her own taste in clothing, but...

If you're wondering if this comment is too shallow in the midst of a political campaign and hurricanes galore, but the convention is where people get much more of a look at the candidates and their families.  People don't like to admit it, but clothes do say something to people.  In this case, not only contrasted with the real librarian and everybody's mom, Laura Bush, but the young, hip, what the current 30'something mom, Michelle Obama, dresses like. 

Frankly, Cindy McCain spoke well and warmly, but her clothes were screaming "snooty lady who lives in a mansion and makes the hired help go through the back door."  When your husband's opponent is trying to paint him as the candidate for the rich, that's probably not a signal you want to send. 

I might make a similar point to Mrs. Palin whose appearance Ohio (?) was greeted with wild applause, but, wow, that jacket she was wearing was a terrible cut and bulky looking in the middle of an extremely warm day.  It looked frumpy.  What happened to the well tailored suits? 

I'm closing up watching some coverage of Hurricane Gustav, doing laundry and planning my meetings for Tuesday.  All I have to say is that this weekend has been both relaxing and eventful.  I'm thankful that the people on the news being interviewed can laugh with relief that the storm is over, the damage is relatively minimal and there were very, very few deaths.

I'll close with an earlier prayer of thanks. 

Amen.