On Monday’s I take my sons to school and along Interstate 380, between Waterloo and Cedar Rapids, I’ve noticed for the past several years a homemade billboard which changes with some regularity. Immediately after Obama was elected the sign read “O-Bummer.” During the Iowa Caucus it read “Restore Sanity- Vote Santorum.” Apparently, the common “san” was…
Will the real “smaller, smarter” candidate please stand up?
Karyn Finn is running against Walt Rogers for the Iowa House. A couple of months ago I was asked by Karyn’s campaign manager to have a coffee for her. Even though Karyn is a Democrat, as I am, I don’t simply say, “Yes, by all means, any Democrat is better than a Republican” and so…
Never Shave a Gentile Woman
From MSN News: “Gay and lesbian couples are getting legally married in the South for the first time, crossing a threshold into a conservative region that long stood united against same-sex marriage.”
The Color of Fear: One More Commentary on the Lynching of Michael Brown
“Gary Has Issues” is moving into a new direction. When I come across an editorial that I think is important I am offering my site as a platform. I have a fairly wide base that includes many conservatives and I welcome a healthy and respectful debate. I met Stacey Walker last Spring as he was working on…
Weiners with Boehners
Why is it even news when a public figure lies? We are lied to when verbs are manipulated to minimize the meaning of an indiscretion. We are lied to by politicians who flip-flop positions in order to score higher with populism’s moving target. We share trust issues with wives of candidates, who were lied to about previous lies. So why are…
I call this meeting to order!
It’s not uncommon to get a response from one of my posts that starts out benign to lull me in: “Gary, I agree with a lot of what you say…” My guard goes down as I enjoy being agreed with, but then they will edge toward a counterpoint: “…but, Gary…” I lean in (even when I’m reading) to…
The Nature of Debate
I am conflicted. Last night I became aware of something that I hadn’t really thought of before. There are people who don’t participate in my political posts but still read them. That may seem obvious, but as I write something, post it, and a debate, which sometimes becomes heated, ensues, I am only thinking about the…
50% of Americans think 50% of Americans are wrong
I had no intention of embarrassing or insulting anyone, but I wanted to make a point. I asked people who the 15th president was. The few who answered said, “Lincoln.” “No biggie” I replied, “but he was the 16th President. James Buchanan was the 15th.” I asked them about the ramifications of the Dred Scot decision. Only 2 of 5 had…
Was the church on the corner too far?
Politics are where we can make a difference in our lives; it’s where we effect change to improve our schools, our roads, our safety and our economy. Everyone has a position on taxes, commerce, defense, and on a local level, the school board, zoning ordinances and whether the streetlights are working. We want the potholes to be filled and…
Do You Want to Know a Secret…?
Mitt Romney is in Iowa today stumping for Republican candidate Joni Ernst who is running for Tom Harken’s senate seat. Do you remember Mitt Romney? He’s the white guy who ran for president two years ago and got white guys to vote for him. In fact…no one but white guys voted for him. I want to let…