While Bubba's Away

Power is a strange thing. Since Bubba invited me to post on this site, I have felt very much the guest at somebody else's party. I've tried to be reasonably polite, stay on topic, and not BWI (Blog while Intoxicated). And it's been fun, if a bit nauseating for my family. Tonight, however, I've been freed. Bubba has gone skiing for a week and I sit on the throne of power. I control the Blog and the booze, as Bubba has left me in charge of his house as well. What will he come home to?

First, I think it is about time we acknowledge the passing of Hunter S. Thompson. In many ways, Thompson was the first Blogger. At a time when journalist were supposed to be objective, third-person ciphers of the story, he was the story. Fear and Loathing...in its many forms, put the author in the center of the action, and journalism hasn't been the same since. He may have been chemically-aided, recklessly focused and maniacally self-serving, but Thompson lead the way for bloggers everywhere to go where salaried, credential, serious journalist fear to tread. Would Jeff Gannon have been a story if HST hadn't been, I don't think so. In honor of Mr. Thompson, tonight Belly of the Beast is going a little Gonzo. Enjoy!

Politics makes strange bedfellows. Why does my spouse, British Bubba, who hates what Bush has done in Iraq, the deficit and the incursion of religion in public life, think he is a Republican. My sister-in-law voices thoughts that are socialist in nature (like the inhumane disparity between the rich and the poor) yet voted for Bush in this, her first election. My brother-in-law listens to Rush Limbaugh even though he has a gay business partner and supports marriage rights. My brother, parents and in-laws think Bush is the second coming, even though they all support limited government and a strong separation between church and state. My own daughter likes the idea of Bush's SS reform. Why do all the people I love miss the forrest for the trees?

The Republican Party used to stand for limited government and strong defense (when defense meant defending our country at home) . The Democratic Party stood for social issues. Then everyone decided that winning was the most important issue, and everyone came into the middle. No longer right and left, but are you with us of against us, and where do you stand on God. What ever happened to separation of church and state?

Jim Wallis has written an interesting book, God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It. He explores the issue of why the left used to own religious politics and how they lost it. My favorite topic statement: helping the poor is mentioned 1000 times in the bible, while reducing capitol gains taxes is left curiously out. In our search for the perfect society, we have managed to screw thing up majorly. Do any of the people related to me accept this irony? Not a chance.

I plan to vote for Kinky Friedman for Governor in 2006. Some people may find this as lame as my vote for Nader on 2000, but they would be wrong. I voted for Nader because I hate both political parties and would support any viable third-party candidate, because change is good. Nader was not on the ballot in Texas in 2004 and I promised Bubba I would vote for Kerry, or I would have voted for him again. And in case you are wondering, I did NOT vote for that idiot Perot in 1992 or '96, because even I know a crazy man when I see one.

Kinky, on the other hand, is a man who stands for something. He has been a Peace Corp volunteer, runs a camp for underprivileged children and a no-kill shelter for abandon animals, and he smokes Cuban cigars. I support Roe v Wade, gun control, and the rights of every person to live and die as they so choose. We are a marriage, Made in America, destined for the future.

I'm for Kinky... What are you for?