Jinxed Universe

So, on Sat. I attended the State Republican Convention. I showed up bright and early and made my rounds and was able to complete my collection of Convention T-Shirts, I began listening to the various Senatorial Candidates and complete my views, and solidify my vote for the seat. Only five of the seven candidates had booths at Convention. I swung by each on and listened in on what they had to say. Those who had booths were Bob Bennett, Cherilyn Eager, Tim Bridgewater, Leonard Fabiano, and Mike Lee.

Of the five that were there I quickly was able to narrow my decision down to two candidates. Tim Bridgewater and Mike Lee.

Bob was on the defensive, he was taking the stand of a career politician that, we needed his experience to do anything in Washington. I think he is part of the problem we have today anyways. So, he was easy to eliminate.

Leonard Fabiano didn't really have a platform. He just went on and on and on about setting up a coalition to get teachers to teach our kids about the Constitution, which I don't think is a bad thing, but that alone isn't going to get you into the Senate.

Then finally Cherilyn Eager, a couple of things kind of turned me off on her. One, she didn't really get her name out there. Of the total time that I was getting campaign information, I got two things from her. Second, she sounded like Bob Bennett. She kept talking about how she had 30 yrs. of government experience. Wow, 30 yrs? That is more government time than I think anyone should be in government. That includes Orrin Hatch!!

When this campaign first started I was leaning Tim Bridgewater because of his business experience. I wasn't a fan of Mike Lee because of his status as a lawyer. But, in my continued research of the various candidates I was given a DVD with interviews from each candidate and after watching that I was moved to Mike Lee. He was very well spoken. Tim, on the otherhand was brief and didn't go into much depth like Mike did.

So, a few days went on like this and I ended up going to a "Meet the Candidate" event in Bountiful with Tim. When Tim spoke, he spoke his mind. There was no pussy footing around any of the issues. He told us where he stood on any issue asked of him. When someone asked where he stood on an issue that was really out of his "jurisdiction", he was blunt and said, "I don't know. But, I can do some research and find out where I stand." So, he didn't do the whole Washington magic trick by getting you to focus on the other hand. When asked why we should vote for him rather than Mike, he said that he, Tim, is a businessman and Mike is a lawyer. That he could guarantee that Mike could run circles around him on Constitutional Law. But, it is the lawyers in Washington that came up with this 27,000 page bill. That in an effort to plug every tiny hole they came up with this bill that only a lawyer would be able to read. So they were just perpetuating their own job security. He then said that because he is a businessman that he likes things clear and concise. That last statement pushed me back into Tim's arena. He said he is for vouchers, tax credits, anything to upset the current public education system. He wants to push for a return of States Rights, that our Federal Government has gone way to far. He wants to cap the spending of our government to a percentage of our GDP. Everything he was saying was music to my ears and in words anyone could understand.

Then at Convention as I listened to Mike, I wasn't impressed by what he said. He kept using big words and he talked fast. I felt like he was trying to either get too many questions answered in the 3 hours before the Convention started or was trying to lose us and confuse us. He did give good answers to the questions, but I think Tim was just more on the same level and in touch with the people. Mike just seems like a politician and was talking down to us peons.

When Convention started, and each candidate was speaking. Mike again was talking way too fast. I could tell he was trying to be inspiring in his speech, but I just wasn't feeling anything. Tim just had a genuineness to him that I think really appealed to me and most. But, as I cast my last ballot, I knew that there was going to be a Primary Election between Tim and Mike and I was right.

I would encourage all those reading this to do their own homework. To get out and see who you like better. But, if you want my opinion on who to vote for I will say Tim Bridgewater. He is my candidate of choice. I believe that he is the kind of candidate that can correctly represent Utah in Washington. He is for small government, states rights, individual rights and for Utah.

So, I listen to Glenn Beck. I know, I know some of you aren't thrilled with him. But, I just can't change the station. The mixture of his sarcasm and knowledge keeps me listening. If only I had cable I would watch him also.

Having listened to him for about 3 yrs. now, I have generated a desire to learn and understand more about how our government works and how the Founding Fathers established our country. This is kind of like where you rely on your parents' testimonies while you are young, but at some point in time you have to fly solo and get your own testimony. I've got to do the same thing. I can regurgitate what Glenn Beck says and not really have an understanding, or I can learn and study and make my own conclusions on my own. I'm choosing the latter.

Since starting this new quest for political knowledge, I have already read, "The Real George Washington," half of "The Real Thomas Jefferson," there is a 2 month waiting list to get it again, "Freedomnomics," "1776" and half of a book on Thomas Payne. I'm currently reading, "Basic Economics" which is a really good read if you want to understand how economics works without getting a degree in it.

These all have been fantastic books. But, this is just scratching the surface. I still have quite a few book on my list that I want to read: "The Real Benjamin Franklin," "The Real Thomas Jefferson," the second half', "The 5000 Year Leap," "The Federalist Papers," a book on Samuel Adams, a book on Grover Cleavland, a Facebook quiz told me that he was my best match as a President, I want to know more of why, and "The Forgotten War, the War of 1812."

This is just a few of the books I want to read. Unfortunately I don't have a ton of time to read all these book as I have a job, a family, and a major calling, otherwise I would have my nose in one of these books at all times.

When I was 10 our TV broke, and I became a voracious reader. It was then I was addicted and always had a book I was reading until college. In 9th grade I read something like 20,000 pages in one school year. I read anything I could get my hands on, I was a nerd! I even read in the lunch line. I look back at that and wished I hadn't taken it that far. But, I did and there is nothing I can do about it. I even worked a teacher over and was able to read "The Three Musketeers," which I wasn't supposed to because it had been made into a movie.

I'm trying to make time for reading, to better understand our nation and the foundation it was built upon. I have found it is through our ignorance that we have gotten ourselves into this mess. So, the way we are going to get ourselves out is through our own education. We have to keep those who represent us in check.

My message to you is pick up a book and educate yourselves on this nation and see why the Founding Fathers did what they did.