The past few weeks I’ve been reading “What Americans Really Want…Really” by Frank Luntz, which I picked up using one of my many Borders gift cards I received for Christmas. It’s supposed to be a distillation of what famous Republican message man Frank Luntz has found about what Americans want out of all aspects of… Continue reading Review – What Americans Really Want…Really
Delivering for voters
If Democrats aren’t providing voters with a great message, are they providing voters with something of substance? Good question. It usually helps your reelection chances if you can provide voters with accomplishments that make them want to vote for you again. What’s the Democratic majority’s track record when it comes to niceties that Congress has… Continue reading Delivering for voters
How not to message
Democrats have long had a messaging problem, especially at the national level. Sadly, in the past few days it’s become clear that Congressional Democrats have a brain function problem as well, one that is a lot more worrisome than mere issues with messaging, but in the off chance that they stop being afraid of their… Continue reading How not to message
Political Poker
I don’t think President Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, or other Democratic leaders in Congress are poker players. I think they’d be much better politicians if they were. If they were regular poker players, they’d understand that Obama and Democrats are now “pot-committed”, and folding their hand is the worst mistake they can make. Sadly,… Continue reading Political Poker
Camera lens for sale
I’ve decided to give myself a late present and purchase the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 lens and a few Kenko extension tubes. Based on everything I’ve read, the 17-55 is probably the best walkaround lens for a crop camera like my 40D, and it will give me a wider angle lens than what I already… Continue reading Camera lens for sale
Random Christmas photos
Julia and I went to Omaha over Christmas to visit her family. While there, I took a few photos of the fun. They are on my website and below the jump…
Random thoughts and neti pots
I’ve been busy lately, what with doing wedding planning and holiday planning, in the midst of what is apparently going to be the biggest snowstorm ever in the history of Minnesota…ever, if you believe the news stations, and I don’t. It’s snow, people. I’ve also gotten sick of the health care debate in Congress, but… Continue reading Random thoughts and neti pots
Middlesex
I’m not typically a reader of fiction. Nothing wrong with it, it’s just that I prefer non-fiction for some reason. Recently, though, I was looking for a book to read on my bus travels and I was all out, so Julia suggested I read Middlesex, a Pulitzer prize-winning novel. Despite it being fiction, I enjoyed… Continue reading Middlesex
Joementum
Tracking what is in and out of the health care bill at this point is a pretty hard task, with closed-door negotiations and compromises everywhere. But one thing is clearly evident: Joe Lieberman is a terrible, terrible human being.
The recovery
The economic recovery is going to be painfully, painfully slow. That’s all there is to it. You don’t need fancy equations, or smart economists, or even a crystal ball to know this. All you need is this one graph, courtesy of NPR: