Tanz's Blog

I can’t vote for Barack Obama, and I don’t think anyone else should, either.  Now, he’s right about one thing, that America needs a big change, but that is, to borrow a phrase, intuitively obvious to the most casual observer.  However, that change should be to get rid of the two-party politics, or create some better parties to back, at the very least.  I do not endorse either the Democrats or Republicans, because both are equally miguided, if not in the same way.  I seriously wish I could find a party with common sense beliefs.  Both presidential nominees have ideals I disagree with, but Obama’s policies will affect me more personally and potentially for a longer time.

I can’t vote for Obama because he is too weak on crime, and against the death penalty.  He is also against charging juveniles as adults in any situation. He seems to favor the current catch-and-release policies our failed justice system uses, and thinks career criminals can be rehabilitated.  And then he wants to ban hand guns.  So in short, he wants criminals to be out on the streets more, and then take away our right to defend ourselves when they break into our houses or cars.  And since the president nominates Supreme Court justices, if he gets the chance, he will only nominate ones who are against the death penalty and weak on crime, so the effects could last long past his presidency.

A second reason I can’t vote for Obama is because he doesn’t have any military experience, which as a veteran, I think is essential for our Commander-in-Chief.  That’s why I did not support Bill Clinton or George W. Bush.  Obviously McCain not only is a veteran, but combat experience, and was a POW.  That’s one reason why I voted for him in 2000 over Bush, and I think he wouldn’t have got our country into the mess in the Middle East that we are in now.

Now, I’m not thrilled with all of McCain’s decisions, especially since he’s anti-abortion and against gay marriage; and Governor Palin is even worse on those issues.  I heard that McCain caved on some issues to get more support from the evangelicals, but I still think he will keep me safer than Obama.  And it all comes down to that for me.  I just wish there was an independent candidate strong enough to stand against the party politics people keep voting in.

There are three big questions I have for all the candidates, about which I have not heard any of them talk.  I wish someone would have asked them during the debates, but I didn't hear it if they did.  With all the focus on the economy, which is urgent, we are missing out on the longer lasting issues, which are more important.

1. Will you endorse, promote, and pass a line-item veto bill?
2. Will you move to end NAFTA and stop pursuing any other so-called “free trade” agreements?
3. Will you embrace the model Brazil used to end its dependence on foreign oil, and implement it in the United States?

This Wednesday (July 4th) is Independance Day, according to my calendar, but you would never know it from looking at the advertisements in today's paper or watching them on television.  It seems that commercial advertisors are afraid to mention what we are supposed to be celebrating.  This holiday is supposed to celebrate the birth of the United States, and its Independance from England, but I will spare you all the high school American History lesson, which everyone should know by heart.

What puzzles me is why the advertisements are lacking in their patriotism.  All I see are "4th of July", "Summer Blowout", and "Prices that Pop".  It's enough that it makes me want to boycott every single Comapny who put fliers in my newspaper that failed to mention the actual holiday.  I suppose this might be an offshoot of all the flak they got from mentioning religious holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Hannuka (sp?), which I think is rediculus as well.  While I can understand them being gunshy about it because of the frivolous lawsuits and other noise idiots make in protest, if someone is celebrating a holiday, I think it is fine to mention that holiday in the advert, even if it does not apply to 100% of the readers.  This is America, where people are supposed to be valued and tolerated for their different beliefs and opinions, not banned from speaking them in public.  if you don't celebrate Christmas or Easter, don't get all bent out of shape because the advertisements mention it.

OK, my first blog (and I despise that term) on a new site, so I should say a few things about myself first.  I am a Navy veteran, I am a 4th generation American (my great-grandparents were from Germany and Ireland), and I am an engineering student (part-time) at UCF.  I like lots of different things, but often find myself not liking what is mainstream and popular.  I don't follow trends; I like what I like for my own reasons, usually because it seems better or appeals to me personally, or just feels right.  The main reason I blog is either to use it as a soapbox for my opinions (which often seem contrary to the media) or as a journal of interesting events and experiences.  I feel like the silent minority, so every chance I have to be heard is a point in my favor. 

Since this site is hosted by a TV network, I will often try to tie my blog in with it, or with other local events.  My blog will be unbiased, however.  Even though it is hosted by Fox does not mean they will get preferential treatment in my blog; I intend to be fair and honest to all.  I may sometimes come across as sarcastic or cynical, but that is just the way I am; I have a good sense of humor as well.

Today's topic is TV shows.  I hate the Nielsen ratings, mainly because they never reflect what I watch, so the shows I like keep getting taken off the air.  If I really like a show, chances are it won't last a single season. Sometimes I am wrong, but not often.  Some of my favorite shows which were taken off the air before they had a chance: TRU CALLING; Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.; FIREFLY; Legend (with John deLancie and Richard Dean Anderson); Seaquest DSV; Doctor Who (the American version - which was FOX); and of course, Max Headroom (going back a bit, but still a sore point.)  There are a few shows on that I like that are popular enough to have survived, like CSI, NCIS, StarGate SG-1 (oops, that just got cancelled, my bad), the Simpsons, Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.

Personally, I do not like most of what is on TV today.  I don't watch game shows or reality TV, and most American comedies seem mindless to me.  I never got into Friends or Seinfeld, but I did like Frasier, and Will and Grace, and the only (american) comedies I watch now are Two and a Half Men, and How I met Your Mother.  The only reality shows I have watched are Amazing Race and Beauty & the Geek, and that was mainly because i wanted to get on them. Oh, I watch some of those remodeling shows on TLC and BBC and Discovery Channel, but I want to buy and restore a house, so it'[s more research than entertainment.  There are also a few of those ongoing shows (like Lost, 24, and Heroes) I was watching, but they get to the point that if you miss an episode, you have no idea what is going on, so I give up on them when I do.  I wonder how many viewers they lose that way.  I consider myself to watch a lot more TV than I would like to, so if I stop watching something, it's OK with me.  The only Sport I watch on TV is NASCAR racing (I will leave my rant about my disappointment in NASCAR for another time); I'm not into american football, baseball, or basketball, and definately not golf.  I don't mind playing them, or watching them in person, but they do nothing for me on TV.  The only exception to that would be if FOX could get Robin Williams and Billy Crystal and Jonathon Winters to do the play-by-play and color commentary of the MLB All-Star game.  If you have seen any of them on Jay Leno, they all talk about how they go to baseball games together, and they have to be some of the best improv comedians alive (along with Colin Mockery and Ryan Stiles.)

well, I guess that's enough for now.

more later