Part 2. Babies, Gays and The Bible

My callers have the task of taking a short survey. One of the five questions is what is your most important Issue of concern from this list: Education, Health Care, Jobs, War in Iraq and Economy. Those who have responded, who actually answered the question(s), was Economy. I am surprised at the number of no responses.

Since the district is part of the Global Economy with its plastic piping and hardware it makes the most sense to be concerned with the economy. One of the reasons the questions are asked is to get a verbal commitment, to get that person say something they believe in.

In asking for an e-mail address, sacred private information, most have preferred not to make this data available to the campaign. I won't even comment on the pledge response.

The lone Democrat's callers continue on with their efforts. My appreciation of them goes far beyond words.

At our last check-in meeting I handed out copies of the Candidate Questionnaire that I filled out from the local newspaper. The paper advised that the questionnaires would be published in the July 29, 2008 edition. It appears that the lone Democrat of the district was not published. I will need to stop writing this blog and prepare a statement for my small crew to explain why the 29th came and passed without seeing my questionnaire in print. It is still possible that it will be published by the end of the week.

Perhaps it is time to talk about the first settler of the county. All of the other settlers remembered that Jacob Issac (or was it Issac Jacob?) was here when they arrived. It was discovered that the gentleman given the title of first settler was a Democrat. Mr. Jacob made the decision to run for Governor. Out of the possible 198 votes the unofficial vote tally for Mr. Jacob was 1. The assumption was the candidate voted for himself.

Babies, Gays and The Bible. It might be prudent to hit the topic of Democrat's perceived position on killing babies, loving gays and not believing in the bible head on but with a kind and gentle voice.

It is time to meet with my small crew.

The lone Democrat continues on his journey.

Part 1. Babies, Gays and The Bible

I am the only Democrat running for office in my district, which includes every office at the county, state and national level up for election. I am the lone Democrat of McPherson Kansas running for office, a challenge like no other. The only challenger.

Affiliation with political parties instantly tells if you are a conservative or liberal. People who move in to my district are considered strangers, not friends that you have not met. These factors take precedence over the individual person.

These beliefs threw me out of one of the four towns in my district. A reputation precedes me before I can meet the people. “Why do you want to be here?” “Are you here to make trouble? We don’t want any of you liberals here.” Then there was the best quote of all time. “We don’t want you here because we don’t want to mix politics with the fourth of July”. I said I completely understand and wished them well.

Why won’t Democrats run for office in this district? Does being told by city fathers in one city you represent “to go away” reason enough? I don’t think so. It only shows that I am a novice in the political arena in this area that is rich in oil. Perhaps we are all novices.

I expect to be called many things in a negative way. When you are told to your face, more than once, that you are a baby killer, love gays and don’t believe in the bible may make you wonder if perhaps it is best to only have Republicans on the ballot.

When you are advised by a person affiliated with your own party to withdraw from the race, as it is in the best interest of the overall Democratic party, may seem like you are being told that you are a fool. No, that’s just good old fashion politics. Being told that he would make sure no one would financially support your campaign can make your campaign reports go close to being in the red. Still, it is no excuse when Phil looks at your reports.

Mingling all these negative experiences versus your plans for the office you seek can tip the scale. I’m beginning to see why stepping up to the plate can be a difficult decision.

The lone Democrat continues on his journey, knocking and knocking.

Time will tell if it was best to stay in the ring or concede before the bell ever rings.

As a candidate for state office the National Rifle Association, NRA, sent me a questionnaire to know where I stand on certain issues. All political action groups do this to see if they want to endorse you as a candidate. I specifically want to address the NRA in this editorial.

The first question asked was what I expected. Do you agree that the second amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms?
Answer as Yes or No.

This question is the basis for how all other questions on the questionnaire would be answered. Therefore, I am responding to this question and this question only.

I have cleared my mind from all things past 1791. I put myself at 20 years old with a wife and newborn child in the year 1776. I fought in a war using the weapons that I owned. I fought in the same style that I used when I went hunting for food. I had a collection of a rifle, pistol, tomahawk and some spears I used for fishing.

I was a peaceful man and wanted my family to be free and safe. I lived in an area where we took care of ourselves. People were born here, got their education here, most married and spent the rest of their days here. We knew each other and we took care of each other.

If we saw someone we didn’t know or heard a name we didn’t know we had to question who and why this person was here. Since we did not know the person we had to find out what his intent was and discern what his motives are. Strangers were not friends that we had not got the opportunity to know. Strangers were strangers. Period.

We knew the importance of having a militia. However, we were a peaceful conservative group who put their priorities on family values and working the land. We were not like people in other states who made their first priority be of defense. They made a stockpile of standard issued rifles and pistols. They were always ready for war. We were not but had the confidence that we could fight, if needed to. I coined the phrase BYOW, Bring your own weapon. That’s all we had to fight with at the time.

Time went by and we were able to stock pile standard issued rifles and ammunition. I still preferred my own hunting rifle and the way I made ammunition, a trade secret of my own. I could load a shot faster than any of my peers. I could boast about getting 2 shots for their one. I loved my rifle. It was an extension of myself. My rifle was named Eddie.

In 1791 we read Amendment II of the bill of rights.

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

My buddies and I were not the greatest readers. We read the amendment over and over again. Each time we read it gave different meaning. You know, like reading a passage of scripture. One day it has one meaning to you and the next day you can read the same passage and find a different meaning? You would have thought we were in bible study when we discussed Amendment II.

The interpretation had different meanings for different folks. I found it exactly like scripture. One day it said one thing to me, the next day it gave me a different perspective. Choosing the interpretation that I wanted to hold steadfast to was impossible.

Again, it was just like some of my favorite scriptures. The meanings were many. I could liken it to scriptural ping-pong, going back and forth on interpretation.

One day it meant to me that I could use Eddie rather than one of those muzzle loading flintlock muskets. The next day it meant I had to keep good old Eddie at home and use a standard issued weapon like a minuteman would. The next made me think I could not have weapons of my own, just what was assigned to me by the militia.

The only word I could hold on to, at this point, was my acronym BYOW,Bring your own weapon. What did I consider to be my weapon? Well, that changed to. The standard issued weapon that was assigned to me was considered my own. Still good old Eddie was mine too.

I tried to become both judge and jury on the amendment. In this perspective it came down to the letter of the law versus the spirit of the law.

Again, the best that I could come up with in 1791 and also today in 2008 is BYOW.

BYOW – My Choice

Question: Do you agree that the second amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms?

Answer: BYOW

Never in my life have I been advised so much on attention to detail. I do not know why this cyber-person, who goes by PaulE, is so concerned for me. I am, however, flattered beyond words.

Why would anyone on the Internet care so much about what I post, where I post and then tie it all back to being, or running as, a Politician. Why the concern from one who has complete autonomy?

I am an iMAC user running the firefox browser. I cannot use an html editor because of the limitations I have with blogstream. In other words what I type is not displayed in the same manner, another issue that was brought to my attention today.

In his eyes I do not look professional. He feels that it would be in the best interest of society for me to walk away and never be seen again. There must be an embarrassment factor that weighs so heavy on him and, in some way, there is a bond where my failures become his.

PaulE has a belief system that cannot be wavered. Change is not in his vocabulary. When one knows how another person should be perceived they are using their past experiences to come up with a model of what they think is best for me. I do, however, appreciate his efforts.

It comes down to intent. Why be so engrossed with a nobody like me? Sure, there was a day when my reputation proceeded myself but that is not who I am today.

Representative Paul Davis made comment that everyone should run for a public office at least once in his or her lifetime. His words are so true. The experience that one goes through is like nothing else. I will always have my personal testimony of what it is like once you have filed for office.

PaulE has not been willing to give himself to public service. This is obvious since he has no words of compassion, only judgement. He has shared nothing with me regarding his own journey through public service. He has a perception in his mind and that’s where his involvement ends.

There are many boxers who are good at talking about taking on the champ but few are willing to go into the ring and find out what it is like to go up against him.

PaulE it is time for you to get into the ring.

DID YOU KNOW THESE FACTS? Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death! Make a personal reflection about this, Very interesting, read until the end.....

It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7): 'Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sow, that shall he also reap. Here are some men and women who mocked God :

John Lennon (Singer):

Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said: 'Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him' (1966). Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.

Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil ):

During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency. Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.

Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet):

During A show in Canecio ( Rio de Janeiro ), while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said:'God, that's for you.' He died at the age of 32 of LUNG CANCER in a horrible manner.

The man who built the Titanic

After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone he said: 'Not even God can sink it' The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic

Marilyn Monroe (Actress)

She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show. He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said: 'I don't need your Jesus'.

A week later, she was found dead in her apartment

Bon Scott (Singer) The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC.

On one of his 1979 songs he sang: 'Don't stop me; I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell'. On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his own vomit.

Campinas (IN 2005) In Campinas , Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend..... The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter holding her hand, who was already seated in the car: 'My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You.' She responded: 'Only If He (God) Travels In The Trunk, Cause Inside Here.....It's Already Full ' Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died, the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact. The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken

Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer) said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written. In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.

Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus. Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again, and he is still alive.

I have done my part, Jesus said 'If you are embarrassed about me, I will also be embarrassed about you before my father.'

'Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen.'

Hope that you don't ignore and let God bless you.