It occurred to me last night that, for the first time in my life, I am grateful for a politician being as full of manure as Barack Obama apparently is.  He campaigned on “Hope” and “Change”, constantly decrying Washington insiders and lobbyists as evilmongers.  Now, we come to find out that all of his appointees are either Clinton administration leftovers, supporters of the Iraq war or, in the case of the Secretary of Defense, currently running it.  So far, there is not a single person who has not had prior work experience in Washington.  I don’t think that this line up is a great brain trust, but it’s a lot more palatable than the parade of horribles Obama might have selected.

With that in mind, and the knowledge that the universe works in strange ways, I thought this might be an opportunity to give thanks for other things, small and large:

• I am thankful for the Marines, and, to paraphrase George Orwell, for all the rough men and women who stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.
• I am thankful for my loving wife, who inspires me, makes me laugh and always challenges my thinking.
• I am thankful for and my mother, my brother, my grandmother, my aunts, uncles and all my cousins, who each, in their own way, help to keep me sane and grounded, even in the absence of my late father.
• I am thankful for Sedona, every unquestioning wag of her tail, and the curious tilt of her ears.  Dogs fill a hole in our hearts, dug by the strain of living in a human world.  With Sedona, my cup runneth over.
• I am thankful for my friends, their support, their understanding and their company.
• I am thankful for my job.  I often complain about it, but I am very often amazed at my career path, which is never so planned as much as serendipitous.  I work for a strong company in the midst of a weak economy.  In the past, I’ve made more money, but never had this much time to spend as I please.

I hope you have time, this year especially, to give thanks for the things you have.  Have a happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

I had the great misfortune to watch an outstanding Giant game on a crap network yesterday, CBS.  During the game, the network aired a plug for an upcoming 60 Minutes interview with Barack Obama.  This is what the voiceover said:  “[tick tick tick] Now that he’s been elected, Barack Obama shares his plans for the country.”

Now, maybe it’s a Freudian slip (you know, when you say one thing, but you mean your mother), but this is a wonderful summary of the media of 2008.  Now that they’ve made history and elected the least qualified candidate ever to run for president, they’re curious about what his plans may be.  You can’t make this stuff up.

At least I can take refuge in my Giants.  They have saved an otehrwise miserable year.  Of course, in January, I’m sure some of their wins will be “redistributed” to Detroit.  Spread the wealth and all.

For God and soldier we adore. In time of danger, not before.
The danger passed and all things righted, God is forgotten and the soldier slighted.

-Rudyard Kipling

Through the travail of the ages,
Midst the pomp and toil of war,
Have I fought and strove and perished
Countless times upon this star.

In the form of many people
In all panoplies of time
Have I seen the luring vision
Of the Victory Maid, sublime.

…

So as through a glass, and darkly
The age long strife I see
Where I fought in many guises,
Many names, but always me.

And I see not in my blindness
What the objects were I wrought,
But as God rules o’er our bickerings
It was through His will I fought.

So forever in the future,
Shall I battle as of yore,
Dying to be born a fighter,
But to die again, once more.

Through a Glass, Darkly
– George S. Patton, Jr.

Congratulations to Senator Barack Obama on becoming the 44th president.

As I have already mentioned, I am concerned about America’s path in the next few years.  Tonight is not the time for warnings or recriminations.  Tonight is the beginning of the process of unifying our country behind our new leader.

I have few requests of Republicans, Conservatives and fellow right wingers of all stripes:

Let’s not do to Obama what the left did to Bush.  The election is over, and by January 20, Barack Obama will be our president.  That is our system, let’s not whine about the outcome for four years like petulant children.  If you cannot respect the man, respect the office.  We are better than the left because of our respect for the rule of law over the rule of men; let’s show it with class and dignity.

Let’s focus our efforts on growing our talent pool and phrasing a rational, coherent statement for the future of the party.  Now is the time to clean house of the Republicans who cost us this election and endangered the Reagan Revolution.  We’re the opposition now, and we need to present a clear, clean and fiscally responsible alternative to the Democrats.  The saddest part of this election is that, even with Pelosi, Reid and Barney Frank as the face of the Democratic party, the Republicans still lost ground.

Rejoice in the small things.  True John McCain lost, but at least American can’t be called racist.  At least now, Iraq, Gitmo, the war on terror, the economy and job loss number can fairly be put on the Democrats.  We cannot count on the press holding Democrats accountable, but Americans will see progress or failure with their own eyes.  Obama won the keys to the kingdom, we will see what his policies do to it.

Finally, keep the faith.  Laissez faire capitalism is still the best, most efficient economic system.  A strong military abroad and fiscal responsibility at home are still keys to American exceptionalism.  Government never solved a problem without creating a bigger one; we need to stay focused and not compromise our message.  Remind each other what these principles mean to us.  Remember that four years of Carter gave us eight years of Reagan.  His heir is out there.