Monday Madness- Open Letter To Congress

Dear President Obama, Vice President Biden, Speaker Boehner, all the Democrats and Republicans, Lobbyists, Special Interest People, Majority Leaders, Minority Leaders, Party People, Non-Party People, and anyone else on Capitol Hill who is involved in running our country,

In case you haven't noticed lately, it seems that America is in a bit of a mess. I'm not sure what you're doing up there, but from here, where I can kinda see what I THINK is going on (or, whatever the media chooses to report), it looks like things are ready a good ole Spring Cleanin'. No matter the issue- economy, spending, debt ceiling, gun control, mental health, health care, foreign policy, foreign aid- you name it, it looks pretty messy.

Of course, running a country of nearly 312 million people is bound to get messy. Probably pretty ugly most days, actually. I mean, people are people, right? And while most of us want the good, decent, right thing,  when you are dealing with over 300 million people, there are going to be some real rotten apples. I get that. 

I've been doing a lot of thinking, especially since the Sandy Hook Tragedy. Words cannot define or describe that day. There were, and continue to be, a lot of heated reactions. A lot of emotional outpourings. And of course, what America does best, a lot of compassionate giving. We give when we hurt because somehow, we just want to make things better. 

And I think that's at the heart of every single issue we are facing as a country right now. We just want to make things better. 

You know, there are a lot of coaches, captains of industry, iconoclasts of creativity who have turned what looked like utter failures into gleaming examples that now inspire many on a daily basis. I've read a lot of their books, listened to a lot of their speeches, watched a lot of the documentaries. There seem to be two words that are an overriding theme:


1. Basics.

When a team does not work together, they do not function. So what does the coach do? HE MAKES THEM DO THE BASICS UNTIL THEY GET IT RIGHT.  I know, it's really not rocket science. But sometimes, even the smartest of us need to review. Even the best of us still have to do our exercises and warm-ups or we fail to carry things out with the best technique and performance. What if we went back to some fundamental, basic, sensible thinking? Common sense, keeping it simple? I know our founders didn't deal with a lot of the things we deal with today, but wow, they gave us a pretty good framework. What if we just said,"We don't have it? Then we can't spend it." I know. Super basic. But that's how so many people I know have gotten back on track. I mean, it's not like what we're doing right now is working. What's keeping us from giving this a try?

2. Balance.

There is a reason why our government was set up with a system of checks and balances- to keep us from going to far one way or the other. Again, not rocket science. Balance is a beautiful, beautiful thing. Entire cultures are built on the concept. I wonder what that would mean for American Society, instead of judging everything as "That ROCKS!" or,"That SUCKS!" we could find merit and worth in the middle. HECK- how about meeting in the middle, reaching across the aisle and getting something done for a change? Novel idea, but I still think it can be done. Then again, I have been called a dreamer.

I know everything I've written here is simplistic. Let me put it to you another way: THIS COUNTRY CANNOT TAKE FOUR MORE YEARS OF BICKERING, POLITICKING AND ASININE STALEMATING BY PEOPLE WHO WANT MORE MONEY AND WANT TO GET THEIR WAY WHILE THE REST OF US GO DOWN THE TUBES. 

BASICS. BALANCE.

There are 311 plus million people depending on you to get it done. Please don't let us down. 

Sincerely,

Melissa R. Bishop

Friday Fun~

It's Friday. Time to let our hair down and let our cares be gone. Generally, I like to have a little funny something, and in being funny, I do try to stay away from politics, but this week, this is one of the funniest things I've seen.

Apparently, some people in Wisconsin have a huge sense of humor. And they're a little frustrated with the way the government is going.

Now, I'm not saying which way I lean, I'm not promoting one side over the other, but this is just stinkin' funny. These fine people of Wisconsin rented a billboard to let their thoughts be known.Now c'mon! No matter who you voted for, that's hilarious! Almost as funny as David Letterman's top ten list of things that have been said to Obama since he took office. I'm sure this was figurative, as Letterman can be known for his outrageous sarcasm. Number 2 on the list was Bush saying to Obama, "How you likin' it now, sucka?"

Somedays you're the windshield, somedays you're the bug.

Yours, hoping for a windshield weekend,

Melissa

Tuesday Tidbit- Open Letter to the President (Part II)

Dear President Obama, About a month or so ago, I wrote you a letter about public perception and the use of media and the view of your presidentialness. I expressed that while I understood you wanting to be embraced as just like us, that you understood us, I was not ready to see you as someone just like me, rather that I wanted to view you as a brilliant leader of the free world. Your staff kindly sent me a form e-mail. While I doubt that those comments ever reached you, and the possibility of this letter reaching you is slim to none, I just wanted to tell you that I watched your address to the Westpoint Cadets the other evening. I have been following the entire process of your military decisions through the media. I just wanted to tell you, that in the process of making the decision and delivering that decision, you were everything I want the president to be. You thoroughly investigated all of the information, choices and consequences. You weighed it out. YOU made the decision based on the information at hand and what you believe the best course of action is for this country, even if you knew you would take a lot of heat from both sides. You delivered your decision in a clear, concise manner and addressed concerns and questions. Who knows what will happen and if this will truly prove to be the best course of action. But I believe that in the way you have handled this, clearly, you are fulfilling your role as a strong leader, one worthy of the calling of president. Thank you, President Obama, for stepping up and leading. Best wishes to you and the First Family for a wonderful Christmas, Melissa Bishop

Tuesday Debate- Open Letter to the President

Dear President Obama,

I've been watching the political landscape for quite some time now. As a citizen of the United States, I feel it is my duty to know what's going on with my country. I've watched the heated debate over healthcare issues, the economic bailout and taken part in many discussions on illegal immigration. I have e-mailed my senators and representatives so much I'm surprised they haven't asked me to stop.

Lately, I know you have heard a lot of ruckus about your "Presidentialness". I can certainly appreciate that you want to be in touch with your constituents. I can see why you would want the citizens of the country which you are leading to feel like you understand them; that you're a regular guy, just like most of us. During the campaign, we heard about "Joe Plumber" and how each candidate should know what is best for so many people like him. And I believe you should, and at the core of your intentions do, have our best interests at heart.

But the truth is, Mr. President, I don't want to see you as an ordinary man. I don't want to know all the details of you inviting someone over for a beer to discuss racial tensions. I don't desire to see your most candid moments while you are leading us. I don't want to hear you call someone a jackass (even if he did deserve it, and even if I thought you were right). I don't want to see you on the cover of GQ, looking more like a celebrity than the leader of the free world.

With all due respect, Mr. President, I want to see you as someone who is better than the rest of us. I want you to be brilliant. I want you to always be conscious that someone is going to try to take your words and publish them. I want you to be be nearly superhuman. I want to see you on the cover of Time, because that is a serious magazine, where brilliant thinkers, history makers and world changers reside. I don't want to see you as someone "just like me". Because truthfully, Mr. President, if you are just like me, then heaven help us all if someone just like me is running the country.

When your presidency is complete, I will read your memoirs. I will look at pictures of you The First Lady and think,"Wow. I wonder what they were thinking in that moment." I will read the interviews of your daughters and contemplate what it was like growing up in The White House. I'll be ready then. I know four years is a long time to be so publicly perfect. It's no small accomplishment. But until that time, I hope, and believe, that you will make the most of the gift of being Presidential.

Best Wishes,

Melissa

Tuesday Debate- The Obama Speech

Today is the big day. President Obama is giving a speech to the American School System. There has been a lot of hoo-ha about it. Should he? Should he not? Will he stay on subject? (His intention is to speak on work ethic, the value of education and diligence). Does he have the right to do this on a federal level or is this a state responsibility?

While Karen and I agree on some things, politics is certainly an interesting issue between us. One of us is completely okay with him speaking to the kids. The other of us has some reservations. What do you think is right? Should President Obama be given opportunity to speak into our children's lives? Is this completely a parental issue? A state issue?

You may leave your comments now. . . . (let's be civil, please).

Oooo, this is about to get interesting,

Melissa

Psst, this is Karen. Here's a link to the speech, which was supposed to have been up yesterday, but I forgot to check. http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/