Today was a historic day for Kansans: we had our first-ever Republican Presidential Caucus. And for once, after years of primaries which were mostly overlooked by the national media and presidential campaigns, our votes actually counted for something today. We, as Kansans, couldn't be more excited.
We arrived at our caucus location to be greeted by sign upon sign upon sign for Paul, McCain, and Huckabee. Well actually, truth be told, I only saw one sign for Huckabee, there were signs scattered here and there for McCain, and, in usual form, the Paul supporters were everywhere. In fact, there was even someone driving around and around the caucus location with a Ron Paul sign stuck out their sun roof.
The lines were out the door and wrapped around the building and the air was thick with energy and excitement. All around people were hollering out "Save the Constitution!" "The Huckster, Woohoo!" or "A vote for Huckabee is a vote for life."
Kaitlynn waiting in line at the very first Kansas Republican Caucus
Literature was being handed out right and left, local and state officials were passing through the line doing their own campaigning, and the caucus coordinators were herding us through the line at lightning speed.
We finally made it through registration, got our ballets, and found a few empty seats. Sadly, none of the actual candidates were there, but we enjoyed the short talks given by their representatives. Like usual, Jesse and I couldn't keep ourselves from dissecting the speeches on their Constitutionality. And as could be expected, there were some serious flaws.
Speeches finished, we headed to complete the task we had come for--casting our ballots. After months of consideration and prayer, countless hours of research, and numerous dinner table discussions, we both confidently checked the same box today.
And in the spirit of making history, we both ended up checking a box today for a candidate that three weeks ago we thought we'd never consider voting for.
...do you think we'll have a Republican and Democratic nominee by the end of today? If so, who do you think will be on the ticket?
My husband and I are quite anxious to see what the day brings forth and glad that we'll be able to catch some coverage with our "rabbit ears" tonight.
There sure hasn't been much of a dull moment in American politics recently. If only we were able to get super excited about a candidate this year; I'm still holding out hope for a brokered convention and a more conservative candidate to come out of the woodwork before then.
We'll see.
By the way, did you vote today? We usually vote on Super Tuesday, but we're having a caucus (on Saturday) this election instead.
...who doesn't have a clue who to vote for this Presidential election?
My husband and I have done lots and lots of research and listened to lots and lots of speeches and had lots and lots of lively discussions with friends and family, and we're still undecided.
Every time we think we're beginning to really like a particular candidate, they do something or say something which makes us unsure of whether or not we really feel comfortable voting for them.
I know there's no such thing as a perfect candidate, but it sure seems especially difficult this go-around. Or maybe I'm just being indecisive?
I hope all of you Iowans know who you're voting for tomorrow! I'm just glad we're not having primaries in Kansas on January 3. Otherwise, I might be making an unprecedented move and leaving the Presidential spot blank on the ballot.
For those of you who know who you're voting for, feel free to post and share who you're voting for and why. I'd be interested to hear. Please keep it civil and on-topic. This is not a debate, this is query as to who you are voting for and why. I will delete any comments which do not adhere to those parameters or to our comment policy.
Oh and I promise that I won't do too many more posts on politics. It's just been on my mind so much the past few weeks I guess I can't but help it!
Universal Pre-K isn't going to force you to send your child to nursery school. Considering the cost of preschool, I think gov't subsidised programs are incredibly helpful for low-income parents who have to WORK and can't afford to stay home and homeschool.
Lynn, I believe very few families must have two outside-the-home incomes to survive. With faith in God, lots of creativity and thinking outside the box, and the whole family working together with an entrepreneurial spirit, almost any family can afford for mom to stay home.
I don't just believe it can be done, I know from personal experience it can. My husband and I lived on $800-$1000/month (his part-time income combined with money I made doing various income-earning things from home) while he went through law school. Sure, it was tight. Yes, there were times when we didn't know how the ends were going to meet at the end of the month. But, by God's grace, we made it through without relying upon any government assistance or accruing any debt and without me having an outside-the-home job after we had children.
So many families today are in financial trouble as a result of a lack of knowledge and training. My generation doesn't know how live on less than they make because having quite a bit of unsecured debt is considered normal. Most young couples I've come across who are struggling financially were not raised with creative and entrepreneurial spirits, they were raised to use credit cards.
When people fall into financial trouble, instead of having to bear the consequences of their own mistakes, they often look to the government to bail them out. It is a viscous cycle; the more the government steps in and helps people, the more people rely upon the government, so then the more the government has to step in.
I believe it is high time we start learning to be personally responsible for our own actions and mistakes. It is high time we commit to get on a budget, to live on less than we make, to spend less and save more. And it is high time we start training our children to be wise stewards of the resources God has given us and to stop looking to the government for handouts.
We can't expect politicians in Washington to ever consider cutting taxes and government welfare programs until we stop demanding more help and start learning to take care of ourselves. Change in our society must begin with us.
If you don't feel like being disturbed in the midst of your quiet Christmas vacation, you might skip over this post
I didn't want to spoil your Christmas, so I waited until afterwards to post this.
As most of you know, I'm what you could call a "political junkie." However, since there are a lot bigger issues in the world than who you are voting for, I try not to delve into politics much around here. But every once in a blue moon, I just can't hold back. And this video did it for me:From Hot Air:
My jaw dropped when I watched this one the first time. Hillary's Christmas ad says nothing at all about Christmas. The gifts make the connection, of course, but check out what the gifts are: universal health care, bring the troops home, etc. All of the gifts are funded in one way or another with your money. And she's portraying herself as a thoughtful gift-giver by taking your money and giving it back to you in the form of expensive government programs, some or all of which you might not actually want or need. If that doesn't typify liberal thinking, I don't know what does.
This whole ad was just over the top, but the clincher for me was the Universal Pre-K. At the rate we're going, it seems the government is soon going to be dictating the parenting of newborns or just trying to completely take over parenting altogether from birth onwards.
Sorry, Hillary, but I don't want anymore government programs. I'd rather keep my hard-earned money and take personal responsibility for my actions, including the parenting of my own children. Thankyouverymuch.
Today was a historic day for Kansans: we had our first-ever Republican Presidential Caucus. And for once, after years of primaries which were mostly overlooked by the national media and presidential campaigns, our votes actually counted for something today. We, as Kansans, couldn't be more excited.
Kaitlynn waiting in line at the very first Kansas Republican Caucus
