Wow! What a comment section in yesterday’s thread on this subject. Love hanging out with smart people, you guys are so good at brainstorming. You can expand a list of options or focus on a few key issues. Likewise, you’re comfortable working at a 30K foot view, or digging into the minutiae. Instinctively, we knew this was a good group, but yesterday’s comment section is proof. Grateful to be among you.
As I’m reading the comments from yesterday, I’m sitting at the desk. It’s cool enough to have the doors open this morning, and the birds are active. Daybreak has begun, and the sky is drifting from a Italian cobalt blue to hot pinks and oranges. It’s a gorgeous fall morning. The house is still but fragrant from the first pot of coffee. I can concentrate. That was when I read Scott467’s comment…..
Scott is one of the best to make us think about the tough questions. Out of all the reasons Dems could be angry, out of all the things we thought about yesterday, what could be the one reason? Instead of expanding the list, Scott sought to narrow the list. That Scott, that fella……. he’s one wise man.
What one thing could tie all of it together? What ‘answer’ could work as a sort of ‘unified field’ theory?
Scott467
Gosh, I didn’t expect that reply, Scott. We were doing well, making the list longer. Now, we need to trim the list and get down to ONE reason? Encapsulate the whole thing? But Scott hit something. He was right and it frustrated me. I went outside to sweep the side porch, not that it needed it, but the motion of the broom…… somehow……. helps thoughts push through my brain. Am I the only one who does that?
Here’s what I came up with. Of course, like yesterday, there is no right or wrong answer and again, like yesterday………. can’t wait to see the group’s thoughts on this one.
I’m looking for that one answer, Scott.
Seems to boil down to taking the easier way out, easier to cheat and lie about their opponent (Trump) than earn the respect themselves.
lack of ethics
dishonor
For Pelosi to call this period of time “sad” and to say “we much be prayerful” at this time —– she’s the one killing America.
Sanctimonious.
Corrupt
Media worried about the 2yrs of lies on Russia and losing viewership, would rather continue the lie than explain Crowdstrike and their complicity
Worried about Trump becoming too popular because of his successes, attack him and his family personally
Worried about the country rejecting socialism/communism, re electing Trump, impeach him.
Don’t have enough votes for impeachment, then change the rules for a “hybrid Impeachment Inquiry”
Rather impeach Trump than resolve immigration.
Rather hire outside counsel, change the rules of the House, establish a mini-DOJ within the Congress, to defend Obamacare wherever it is challenged — than put together a good healthcare plan for the country.
Rather breed race division and identity politics, than create policies which are good and moral for all women and men
Rather tax the vices of men, than control government budgets by making hard choices.
Rather shut down opposition and silence opponents, than take the time to listen and compromise
Rather tax the wealthy, admonish them for their success, then address the problems of a generational welfare state.
It becomes the path of choice for everything – the easy way out
Cover up the corruption rather than expose it — Awan scandal, paying off harassment suits against Congressman with public funds, Diane Feinstein’s Chinese “driver”, the Kavanaugh trial….. and the enormous problems with the Clinton Foundation.
And then it drifts down into culture,
Don’t get promoted? Sue the company for discrimination.
Don’t like your male boss, accuse him of sexual advances.
Don’t check out fast enough in line, can’t afford an item in a dept store = steal it.
Don’t want to take the time to work out problems with your spouse —>>> divorce.
To our kids:
Don’t get a cookie, scream until you do.
Don’t make the cheerleading squad, sue the school or spread false rumors about those who do
Not popular in school —->>>> kill your classmates.
It’s about never learning how to accept failure (Hillary Clinton is a perfect example).
If we cannot accept a failure, we’re stuck. Time stops. We cannot move forward to LEARN from the mistake, and grow, develop into a wise old man, change our tactics, and be a productive member of society.
Again, Hillary is a perfect example of someone who is “stuck”.
When I was young, I worked on a case that I knew would make me successful and wealthy. I was so sure I was going to make a name for myself. Ahhhh, we’re all blind when we’re young. I worked on it for two years, and I did everything right. Every detail of the case was covered. I was so sure I would put the plan in motion, I even shopped for new homes. I knew the house I was going to buy. Suddenly, from left field, a competitor appeared. His plan was not as good, he was not offering nearly what my firm could, but he was older and the law firm was more comfortable with him than me. As I headed into a final meeting, where I feared I would learn the bad news, I called……….. Dad. I needed advice.
My Dad loved me. Surely, he would be empathetic or give me something magical to say or do to save the client. Instead, I got a swift kick in the a$$…. from my own Dad.
Dad was familiar with the case, of course, I talked about it endlessly for two years. Instead, Dad said, paraphrasing, “You’ve lost this one. Accept the beating and move on. You put all your eggs into one basket, and it’s a classic mistake. If you had 10 law firms- medium size, instead of going after the biggest one in the southeast, you wouldn’t be in this position. Yes, all the other guys in the office will make fun of you. This is your comeuppance. It’s going to happen. You failed to bring it home…… “
I was feeling like an old crusty barnacle on the bottom of a boat, whining a little bit (Gosh, I really thought Dad would have something magical. Dad hated it when I whined and he was getting impatient with me) when Dad continued, “…… but here’s the thing….. If you’re not failing, you’re not fu$king doing anything. If you never fail, that means you never tried. You want to be on the field of play, then expect to get fu$king hit. You’ll figure out how to win….. next time. You’re way too stubborn to stay down on the mat for too long…..”
My Dad was a Marine until the day he died and a very successful exec. I was 24 when that conversation happened and in 24yrs, I never heard him curse. Never. Not once. For Dad to drop the F bomb was a big deal. It meant two things. He was serious, and he was treating me like an adult, not a daughter. Mixed blessing. Lose a huge client, but in Daddy’s eyes, I was all grown up. Yeah, grown up enough to fail, …..miserably. And like all daughters seeking their father’s respect, Dad was much more important to me than any client. I was working on that “respect” thing…..but I was getting there.
I took my medicine from the client, and they were kind of surprised by how quickly I walked away. My competitor got a slot on Good Morning America…. and the sight of his face made me irritated for years. Salt in the wound. Yet strangely, I was walking a little taller. Yeah, I could figure it out. There would be many more failures to come. I embraced them and each time, the sting hurt a little less. Each failure taught me more, make me stronger. And no, staying “down on the mat” would have been easier, but was never a comfortable place to be.
Lying about it, selling out, compromising ethics was never an option. Can’t get respect that way….. at least not from my Dad.
Some people are so afraid to fail, they take desperate measures to avoid the pivotal moment of failure. Husbands/wives hide affairs. Politicians hide corruption. Media won’t admit the Russia Hoax. It’s endless.
What if we taught our kids, and our loved ones, failure and disappointment is part of life? What we LEARN from the failure is obviously information we needed to NOT fail the next time. No one escapes failure in their lives. How we deal with our failures, however, does define us. Are we confronters, or are we avoiders…. until we are forced to confront the failure
We all know, President Trump is definitely a confronter.
Steve in Lewes came up with our theme song this morning and it’s PERFECT!!!!!
Okay folks, have a lovely Sunday morning. Say a little prayer for our President and his family during this difficult time. Gotta run, time to make breakfast.
The sun is up, Big T is in the kitchen and I just got my first whiff of bacon………
