Hail to the Chief: There’s a lot of tuba.

As I watched the inauguration this morning, I realized I was thinking less than charitable thoughts about pretty much everyone involved.

I imagined Bush heading home this afternoon to take Excedrin and a nap, perhaps chuckling at the burden Obama has taken on or possibly still bristling at the comments about much-needed change.

I rolled my eyes at the hype surrounding our new president, even saying to my co-worker that when expectations are so astronomically high, disappointment may not be inevitable, but it is likely.

Then I heard our President say this: “Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions – who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.” (CBS News)

Right then I realized: my cynicism was not showing a lack of faith in Barack Obama. No, it was showing a lack of faith in God, the One really in charge of it all. And it was showing a lack of faith in and loyalty to the country we call home.

So today I determined that I will have hope. Hope in our country, hope in our leaders and most importantly, hope in the God who rules all nations. Today I have hope.

(And today – in the headline – I made yet another Freaks & Geeks reference. I’m sorry. I’ll try to stop. It’s just hard, man, really hard.)

Image by Sumerset

I'm thankful for the right to vote.

I'm thankful for the right to vote. But, I'll be honest, I'm also thankful that the election business will be over today. Politics stress me out and depress me, and no matter what happens today, I'm just glad we've seen the last of the signs, debates, buttons and polls. Well, at least for a couple of years!

It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office.

~ H. L. Mencken

Today, I'm thankful for the right to vote. Have you voted yet?

UPDATE: Regardless of who you voted for, I think this post by Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson, is worth reading and considering.

You can call me “Guardian of the Palace”

A good friend of ours has recently joined the FBI. I wasn’t surprised when he and his wife told us about this adventure they were beginning; our friend was a history teacher with a higher-than-the-average-bear interest in politics and an unswerving devotion to justice and fairness and right. So seeing him as a G-man made sense.

The last time our friends were over for dinner before they moved to their new, assigned home, they told us how much they’d loved the time they spent in Washington, D.C., over the summer as he wrapped up his training and first assignment.

Then they proceeded to point out what they’d written on the front of the postcard they sent us from D.C. (It was on the fridge, of course. And no, I didn’t put it up there right before they came over! Like I’d do that?! Hmph.) There, on top of the White House was #47. I felt a little dumb when they said, “You know what that means, right?” I had assumed it was the number of their apartment, sort of a special D.C. return address. Okay, so I barely noticed it and when I did, I really didn’t wonder too long what it meant. I’m not sure what that says about me.

Anyway, they said that would be the number President he would be – hence the notation over the White House! Aha!

Sure, sure, it seems obvious now.

Apparently, they thought this was hilarious and had put a lot of thought (and complicated math) into figuring out how many years between now and his FBI retirement, adding a term as a governor and then determining when exactly he’d be elected President of the United States.

And then he said this: “And you’d be my Chief of Staff, of course.”

Whoa, nelly! Hold the phone! Umm (she whispers, guiltily, reluctantly, wishing she remembered more of 7th grade civics class), what’s a Chief of Staff do? I mean, for fear of sounding like Sarah Palin pre-nomination, I’m really not sure what this high-falutin’ position is responsible for!

So, of course my response was: “Uh, yeah! Absolutely! I’ll be your Chief of Staff! Sign me up! Rock on!” (My brain may have been affected by large numbers of tacos at that point. So I really can’t be blamed – no, blame the tacos.)

I decided that I’d better so some research, just in case this pipe dream ever comes true. It turns out, the White House Chief of Staff is pretty much in charge of the entire free world. Also known as the highest ranking member of the Executive Office. Also known as the second-most powerful man in Washington. Hmmm.

Perhaps I shouldn’t sign on the dotted line just yet…

Today I remembered this conversation and looked up the chief of staff position for a governor’s office. After all, I figured, that’s where we’d start, right? After he retires from the FBI and I’ve made my mark on the world of publishing?

The very long document I found from the National Governors Association describes the duties of this position in detail, including the following responsibilities: chief operating officer, office manager, chief strategist, policy advisor, gubernatorial vicar, guardian of the palace, headhunter, crisis coordinator and personal confidant. And then – here’s the good part – it talks about coordinating with the governor’s spouse. Oh, good! My friend’s wife is actually one of my best friends, so we’ll have much fun coordinating. I’m not sure what we’ll coordinate, but by golly, it will be fun.

I’m not sure this will ever happen. As Mark pointed out, our friend may have the most noble of intentions and highest qualifications, but he’s not made of money. And it takes a lot of dough to run a big campaign for office. So, I’ll probably never be Chief of Staff.

Although, the job description sounds a lot like organizing, planning, talking and bossing around – areas in which I tend to excel. Especially the bossing around part.

So, I guess if my editing dreams don’t pan out, I’ve always got another option…

Your turn: What crazy career dreams do you have? No, not the realistic kind - I want to hear the outlandish, ridiculous and just plain crazy ones!

Wow!

Okay, fine, so you guys don't want to talk about Barack Obama. But surely you've got an opinion on McCain's announcement of his vice presidential running mate. A woman!

Wow. It's all I can say.

On one hand, I'm concerned to read that she has 5-month-old baby. I don't know about other moms out there, but this mom could not take on a responsibility like this.

Then again, she's already serving as governor for her state, so she's clearly able to mother and politic. And according to the article I linked above, she has a high approval rating in her state.

Why did McCain make this choice? Was it a good one? Does it change how you view the election? What do you all think about this? (Is anyone out there?)

Politics and History

I don't want to start a political debate. I actually don't enjoy talking politics much at all. I never feel educated enough and I never seem to agree completely with anyone.

I do want to say, though, that the nomination of an African-American for president is an incredible thing to see today. It is a significant moment in this country's history. And I just saw it happen!

In my opinion, it doesn't matter if you are Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative - it's a cool thing to witness our country make this move. Aside from Obama's politics, I mean. Aside from who I will vote for or who you will vote for. The fact that a black man is running for president of the United States is noteworthy. And I, for one, am glad to see it.