A sad day in Hoosierville

I was saddened and disappointed today to hear that one of my Senators, Evan Bayh, has decided not to run for re-election this year.

Senator Bayh has been a fixture in Indiana politics for many years, serving two terms as Governor, followed by two terms as Senator. He is seen as a moderate Democrat, fiscally conservative but socially liberal, and considered one of the "blue dog" Democrats in the Senate. A very liberal Democrat would have little chance in such a conservative state as Indiana, but he has always been well-liked and has served Indiana and the United States well. Some of my Democrat friends feel that he should have been more liberal; I feel that his presence as a Democrat was important, and on major issues like health care, he came through for helping all people, not just the well-off. He is also apparently a pretty good guy, and I've never heard a word about any improprieties or scandals.

So why is he not running again?

After all these years, my passion for service to my fellow citizens is undiminished, but my desire to do so by serving in Congress has waned. For some time, I have had a growing conviction that Congress is not operating as it should. There is too much partisanship and not enough progress — too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem-solving. Even at a time of enormous challenge, the peoples' business is not being done.

Examples of this are legion, but two recent ones will suffice.

Two weeks ago, the Senate voted down a bipartisan commission to deal with one of the greatest threats facing our nation: our exploding deficits and debt. The measure would have passed, but seven members who had endorsed the idea instead voted “no” for short-term political reasons.

Just last week, a major piece of legislation to create jobs — the public's top priority — fell apart amid complaints from both the left and right.

All of this and much more has led me to believe that there are better ways to serve my fellow citizens, my beloved state, and our nation than continued service in Congress.

That's right. He's sick of the partisan politics in Congress. So sick of it that he wants out.

My feelings were a strange combination of disappointment that we're losing a good person in our government; disappointment in him that he didn't stay to fight for us all; and a complete understanding of why he is so frustrated and disgusted with what he is seeing lately. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty frustrated and disgusted, too. Bayh raises a great point, especially with the question of the debt commission (he has long been a proponent of being careful with our budget and cautioned against overspending): Republicans who previously endorsed such a commission actually voted against it. Yes, they voted against a commission that would address our national debt.

I'm sick of it, too, Evan.

For anyone who thinks that he dropped out of the Senate race because his seat was threatened, think again. He had double-digit leads against all comers, and he really is a fixture in Indiana politics. I think that he would have won re-election. I really believe that he has just had it with what he's seeing lately (and mentions that it is coming from both the left and the right) and can't stomach it anymore. I really do understand, because sometimes I find myself saying, "I swear, I'm moving to Canada!"

I have two questions. First, I want to know when our legislators are going to take notice and realize that we aren't voting them into office just to play these ridiculous games, to automatically gainsay whatever the opposition party wants to do; we vote them into office to actually do shit and work towards the betterment of our country and all of its citizens. This gridlock benefits no one, and it is seriously fucking up my country. Yes, you may be my legislator, but it is also my country.

Second question: Is there something fundamentally wrong with our legislative system that this can happen? That recent fuckaroo with Richard Shelby from Alabama blocking all of Obama's nominees until he got billions in federal aid for his state...that is absolutely ridiculous, and I'm glad that our President said basically to cut the bullshit, or he's going to bypass all y'all and make recess appointments. Shelby backed off. Washington seems to have become all about stopping the other side from getting things done, rather than enacting legislation that will help our country move forward and address a myriad of issues we are facing. This shortsightedness is becoming increasingly frustrating; I'm able to look to the future and see what might be, able to plan ahead, able to see what problems there might be and try to plan accordingly. Why can't our legislators do that?

I'm sad that the system has disillusioned a decent guy like Evan Bayh so much that he is getting out. But I do understand. I'm starting to think that getting out isn't such a bad idea, too.

Sticky Fingers

Do you remember that album cover? That was always one of my favorite Stones albums, and the Warhol-designed cover had a man's blue jean-clad crotch, complete with a working zipper. I love CDs, but they sure can't match some of the cool artwork you got with albums!

Anyhoo, I don't have sticky fingers, but I definitely had sticky legs for a while. Some of you who have been around for a while might remember the Great Self-tanning Lotion Fiasco of 2008. We were making our annual trip to Florida, and I wanted a little color on my legs, so I tried some self-tanner. The stuff smelled so bad I couldn't stand it, and had to go in and wash it off--and went to Florida with my pale legs. I managed to have a good time despite them.

I thought I'd try a different kind this year, and picked up some Loreal bronzer that smelled okay when I sniffed the bottle. When I tried it on my legs this afternoon, it really did smell okay! It also had little sparkly bits in it, so my legs were oooo, shiny! It wasn't real dark, but that was okay, and I figured I'd put on a second coat tomorrow. After sitting on a towel with my legs up for a solid hour, it was still feeling really sticky, enough so that I didn't want to cross my legs because they'd stick together! Yuck!

So yep, I went in and washed it all off. I think I'm done with self-tanner, and will not worry about my pale legs.

I do still have a few sparkly bits here and there, though!

I had an email this morning from Senator Evan Bayh, one of Indiana's Senators. It was because I'd written about the bill that would allow loaded firearms in National Parks (which I was against). Unfortunately, it was attached to the credit card accountability bill, which did need to be passed, and was. It just irritates the hell out of me that they put things like that together. Two completely separate issues on one bill. What the hell? It was nice, though, that he wrote back, and he took the time to explain other gun legislation in which he's been involved. (I'm not anti-gun, but I have a definite problem with guns being sold at garage sales, for example.)

Today I emailed Senators Bayh and Lugar asking that they vote in favor of the Matthew Shepard Act, which involves hate crimes. I find it amazing and wonderful that we can so easily contact our legislators. It may be a flawed system in many ways, but it's still pretty awesome that we can contact them and that they respond. I don't take that for granted.

I started pulling out clothes today for our trip! Yay! I'm definitely starting to get excited now. I've been checking the weather in New Smyrna Beach, and it's pretty consistent: high 80's during the day, about 75° at night. Doesn't that sound horrid? [grin] With the humidity, it feels like about 98°, and that's where the ocean comes in handy. There is almost always a stiff breeze coming off of the ocean, and it's very comfortable. I'm sure most afternoons will feature a thunderstorm, but they pass quickly. Today I picked up three book club books from our library branch, and I think I'll take a couple of others (and a couple of puzzle books). Vegecating held a lot more meaning when I was working--it was a way to recharge my batteries--but I still enjoy the chance to just relax and enjoy the beach and ocean for a week. We keep the costs down by cooking most of the meals in the condo, because it has a full kitchen, and we've found a fresh fish market where we buy lots of...you know, fresh fish. It's all paid for (we made sure we paid both units off before I stopped working) so our only costs are the week's groceries, the yearly maintenance fees, and a couple of lunches or dinners out. And of course, we have to have a dozen fresh oysters each, which we usually have at JB's Fish Camp. I always have to have a piece of Key Lime Pie at some point during the week, too.

Dang, I'm making myself hungry.

This year, we plan on meeting my cousin Ron for lunch or dinner (at a cool retro place called Norwood's), and our friend Lee is coming down from Jacksonville to stay a night. Next year, if things work out, our friends Kim and Steve might come and stay with us for the week. I think that will be our chance to try some deep sea fishing. I bet they would enjoy Cape Canaveral, too, and it's been a few years since we were there, so that would be fun to do. I shouldn't start planning ahead, though--we've got this coming week to enjoy!