Now it’s not that the present day candidates still aren’t holding my attention, indeed they are, but I’ve become just a little tired of people asking me whether I’m going to vote Democrat or Republican when the fact is I’m going to vote as I see fit. To me, party affiliations are completely irrelevant and often times foolish which isn’t meant to reflect on anyone else, I’m just contrary that way. Of course once I state how I’m going to vote the usual response is; “Oh, so you’re voting Independent?” and my answer is; “No, I am not voting Independent. Independent is also considered a political party and I’m not affiliated with any political party” or something to that effect.

Perhaps you may feel that this is un-American or not working with the system but I see it as an absolutely American way of thinking or at least an old way of thinking especially for a cranky old(er) Vermonter like me.

So for now, until things are sorted out between Hillary and Obama and we finally know who is going to run against who as Presidential nominees, I’ll keep my Pat Paulson button close at hand and even when the final elections do come around, I’ll still remember that dead pan face hung out in front of the cameras for all the nation to see as Pat Paulson made his pitch for the Oval Office. Even as foolish as that might sound–it’s at least guaranteed to keep me honest.

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To wit:

Mr. Obama’s advisers downplayed the West Virginia loss, describing the state as demographically unfriendly territory — the primary electorate was 95 percent white; 70 percent did not attend college — and pointing to national polls showing him in a strong position.

After Lopsided Loss, Obama Woos Blue-Collar Voters - New York Times

Ah…so what they’re essentially saying here is that if you ain’t college edu-mah-cated you ain’t smart enuff to vote for Obama ‘cuz you’re too dumb to see that he’s the one who should be President? Well, listen up Mr. Obama’s advisors, I have a light to shine upon this subject.

After fifty years of life, serving in the US Naval Submarine Force during the Cold War and working and dealing with people from all over this world and from all walks of life, the simple fact is that college educated doesn’t mean squat when it comes to a person’s intelligence or whether said person is informed/educated or not. 

I would hate to think that Obama’s loss in W. Virginia was strictly due to prejudice and although that might have been a minor factor I believe that a lot of folks, not just the those in W. Virginia, are finally starting to see Barack Obama for what he really is; A slick talking, consummate phoney. Of course this is strictly my non-college-educated opinion here. Obviously I’m too ignorant, inexperienced and naive to realize what having this man as President would do for this country. On the other hand I might see exactly what having this man as President would do for this country hence my aversion to the idea of him of winning the Presidential election.

And now I hear tell that ol’ Barack is wearing American flag pins and mentioning God here and there in his speeches to assure the people of his values. Yeah, right. Maybe he should of thought of that at the beginning of the campaign instead of waiting until now where the gesture seems transparent, flimsy and insulting of one’s intelligence.

But all the above is just my subjective opinion, now let me step outside myself and tell you what I objectively think will happen.

I believe that unless the man really pulls a massive boneheaded maneuver in the coming months of the campaign that alienates not only the public at large but the delegates and super delegates as well, Barack Obama is going to win the Democratic nomination. I even believe that Obama has more than a fair chance against John McCain for a couple-three reasons.

The American people are clamoring for change not only because they want it, but because they need it as well and McCain only offers the general public a big heaping helping of the "same old-same old". That plus the fact that he seems to spend quite a bit of his public time lately apologizing for things he said in the past which isn’t exactly what you might call impressive. Neither is his age for that matter and age seems to be playing a big part in this election in certain areas. So yes, looking at things objectively I think that Barack Obama will not only win the Democratic nomination, he’ll also stand an good chance of becoming the next President of these United States.

But then again, what do I know? I’m white and never attended college.

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Excuse me? Let’s wait one minute here. Broke, debt ridden and his wife left him? Now whose fault is that I ask you? The only one to blame for this individual being in financial and marital strife is the individual himself, not the State of Vermont.

Sorry buddy but you’ll get no sympathy from me. Shall I sue the Bicycle Playing Cards Company because I was too pigheaded to stop playing poker when I was ahead of the game and ended up losing my butt? It was obviously their fault that I lost my money. And which credit card company should I sue for providing my first wife the means to get way over her head in debt? It’s surely Visa and MasterCard’s responsibility to make sure she used her plastic responsibly, yes? It’s their fault that I ended up having to commit bankruptcy because I was too young and naïve to stop her, right?

Which bar do I take to court for letting me drink past my capacity to drive safely and then purposely ignored the fact I was actually going to ride my Harley Davidson home after closing time? Which of the many bars that I frequented during my younger days can I sue the daylights out of for letting me ride off, completely inebriated, on my 800 lb American made motorcycle to not only endanger my own life but other lives as well?

How much money can I suck out of an “establishment” because of my own stupidity and lack of responsibility?

I smoked for 28 years before I quit and it’s not the tobacco company’s fault or responsibility if one day I’m diagnosed with lung cancer and/or heart disease–It’s entirely my own for smoking cigarettes in the first place.

No Lottery Commission of any State in the Union is responsible for human stupidity and lack of personal responsibility. Have a problem with gambling? Then don’t play, it’s that simple. Yet invariably somebody out there is guaranteed to cry “gambling addiction is real! It’s a sickness! Oh, the poor gambler.” Well you go ahead and believe that if you want; to me it falls under the category of Ultimate Stupid People Tricks.

To the man whining about how the lottery commission is to blame for his current situation, here’s a wake up call. It’s your own fault, buddy! You cocked up your own life; no lottery commission did it for you so stop your whining and get your act together. It’s never too late.

Sound cold and heartless, do I? I don’t think so and no one who knows me would ever accuse me of being heartless. However, I have to admit that I have absolutely no patience or tolerance for this kind of moronic human behavior.

Even in myself.

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Google

Why Google? Back in August, 2007 I wrote up an article about the upcoming FCC auction for the frequencies that will become available once all analog television broadcasts cease to exist by February 17, 2009. The following is a summery of the new law:

In the United States all television broadcasts will be exclusively digital as of February 17, 2009, by order of the Federal Communications Commission. This deadline was signed into law in early 2006. Furthermore, as of March 1, 2007, all new television sets that can receive signals over-the-air, including pocket-sized portable televisions, must include digital or HDTV tuners so they can receive digital broadcasts. Currently, most U.S. broadcasters are transmitting their signals in both analog and digital formats; a few are digital-only.

I became fascinated with the early proceedings that went on and about this future event and what it meant for folks like you and me and Google sweetened the pot by offering up a minimum bid of 6.4 billion dollars if the FCC tacked these rules onto the 700mhz spectrum:

Open applications: consumers should be able to download and utilize any software applications, content, or services they desire;

Open devices: consumers should be able to utilize their handheld communications device with whatever wireless network they prefer;

Open services: third parties (resellers) should be able to acquire wireless services from a 700 MHz licensee on a wholesale basis, based on reasonably nondiscriminatory commercial terms; and

Open networks: third parties (like Internet service providers) should be able to interconnect at any technically feasible point in a 700 MHz licensee’s wireless network

The bottom line of all this as I mentioned in that past article of mine, was that as long as Google put their money where their mouth was it really didn’t matter if Google won the spectrum or not since as long as the minimum bid was met, the partially accepted open access rules would go into affect for the C-block irregardless of who won it. As long as that minimum bid was made, it was a done deal. 

Now it’s 2008 and the auction is in another round of bidding and that minimum bid has been met. But who made it? By auction rules the identity is "kept secret" (yeah right) so I’m having to speculate here.

There haven’t been any additional bids since that minimum breaking bid was placed. Now let’s say it was Google making good their promised bid to ensure that open access was attached to this highly desirable piece of future wireless real estate. Now what if they win it?

Google may have a lot riding on this as far as future mobile software is concerned and slap "open access" onto the new spectrum simply means better things to come for all mobile device users. But is it necessarily the best thing for Google to win the portion of the spectrum or for another bidder to take home the wireless bacon and let Google make their software available for all types of mobile devices instead? Unless Google plans to become a wireless provider themselves (free nationwide wireless access for everyone?) or likes the idea of becoming a "spectrum broker" it may actually be better if another provider won it instead. But then again this is still speculation on my part since we don’t actually know who made the bid in the first place.

My bets are with Google (see link by "yeah right").

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Now I’m not bashing those of advanced middle age, I’m rapidly headed that way myself, I’ve just had it up to here with having my country guided by old men who end up having prostrate surgery and heart palpations while they’re supposed to be focusing on national and world affairs that’s all. It’s a high stress, thankless, lousy job and I want someone on watch that can take that kind of pressure all day long, be ready to party after the workday is over and be able hit the floor at 5:00 AM the next morning ready for another day in the trenches. Is this too much to ask? It’s for their own good and ours as well for heavens sake.

I suppose we’ll have to let the current election slide since trying to stop the thing now would be like trying to stop Mars from looking red but we need to set some guidelines here for these future Presidential candidates in order to insure that a President elect doesn’t see his or her eightieth birthday while still in office. Here are a few suggestions:

• No Presidential candidate, if elected, can be older than 60 years of age when sworn into office. That’s it. 60 is the limit…period!
• Exceptions to the above are allowed only if the President drops dead while still in office and the Vice-President’s an old fogey or if a Presidential candidate is from Vermont (this will probably never happen since Vermonter’s have enough common sense not to want the job in the first place. With all respects to Calvin Coolidge).
• Every official that decides they want to run for President must undergo a complete and thorough health examination including CAT scans, a full MRI, a Stress Test (must complete at least the 4th level) and have a PH test of their sweat done. Oh yeah, a rectal exam for all the male candidates is also required. No prostrate problems allowed.
• They must also successfully pass a BOSS standard 28 day survival course (slightly modified for those over the age of 50…but not much).
• All Presidential candidates must agree to chop their own wood while at Camp David.

Other factors must be considered as well if we’re going to improve things here:

• Any potential Presidential candidate taking any sort of anti-depressant is automatically disqualified. No depressed Presidents allowed.
• Any potential Presidential candidate who is even remotely tied to Big Oil in any way shape or form is also automatically disqualified. Can’t have any more of our Commander-in-Chiefs putting their own interests ahead of our nation’s any longer.
• Any Presidential candidate has to prove that they know what it means to work for a living. Any candidate who was "born to money" is automatically disqualified.
• All candidates must know how to play horseshoes. Backyard rules!
• No potential candidate can run for President if they are less than 40 years of age. Sorry, if you’re still in your 30’s you probably still believe you can actually make a difference. We need a President who can carry forward, not reinvent the wheel.

I could go on of course but it’s time for lunch and I simply can’t think straight on an empty stomach. The point here is if we have to have a President than we should have a President who at least has the stamina, endurance and constant presence of mind to get the job done and I think the points stated above, if followed correctly, will increase the chances of actually getting one.

And that’s my opinion, thank you for listening.

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