If this is showing on the blog it is because I haven't finish my traveling for the day.

Until later.

The story is incredible, but, the reality is so very difficult to accept.

What is even more difficult to accept is the fact there has been little to nothing done to stop the thriving gun culture of the USA that allows them to find their way into the hands of drug dealers that kill and wound the finest police officers in the world.  There is something very, very wrong with that.  

Gabrielle Giffords: An example for all of us (click title to entry - thank you)

by reneeschaferhorton on Jan. 06, 2012, under Life

I was late going to my birthday brunch on Jan. 8 last year because my youngest daughter wanted to play me some songs on her guitar. Because of that, I hopped in my car about 30 minutes late to meet friends at the just-opened Beyond Bread at the corner of Ina and Oracle roads. I picked up one of my friends along the way, explaining my tardiness and telling her about my two resolutions for 2011: Make more time for girlfriends and accept that my life as a newspaper reporter was over. The birthday brunch was a celebration of new beginnings.

Driving toward the sandwich shop, we discussed how only cool people are born on Jan. 8 (The King, for instance), and the great weather. I was explaining my new teaching assignment when my phone rang. It was about 10:45 a.m. and the other friend we were meeting explained that she was detoured away from Beyond Bread by police surrounding the intersection.

“They’re saying someone was shot,” she said. To which I replied, “A few weeks ago they said there was a bomb threat or something and it turned out to be nothing.” We moved the birthday celebration to another restaurant.

Fewer than 5 minutes later, sitting at the stoplight across the street from the newly chosen venue, my phone buzzed. I flipped it open to see a message from a local priest: “There are reports that Gabrielle Giffords has been shot up where you live. Do you know anything?” I handed the phone to my friend, a volunteer with the local Democratic Party. “Oh my God,” she said, “this can’t be right.”...

Representative Ron Paul is a statesman. I can't say the of other candidates for the Republican nomination.

His problem is his past.  We have witnessed newsletters blatantly bigoted coming from his political camp.  The question with an older statesman that sincerely expresses concern for the country is, did he ever act on those bigoted statements or did he ONLY use those opportunities to win over an electorate?  A man with a vision if you will.


If citizens want to overlook the past; or maybe overlook is not a good word; but, forgive the past of an ambitious man that once elected did no harm and instead found a great deal of loyalty among his constituents using his methodology, how much do we forgive?  Do we now consider him a leader enough to give his point of view brevity?


I believe there is a legitimate stand to take with Paul's former political rant and what his approach to his constituent and indeed a nation as a federal representative has been.  He is one of the only candidates, if not the only candidate, I remember willingly and openly stated he is concerned about the huge discrepancy of incarceration and death penalties involved with the African American community in the USA.  That is a huge statement.  Is it redeeming?  If it brings about a solid resolve to seek justice for our minorities it can be that redeeming.


Ron Paul is one of the steadfast candidates with a track record that has not varied.  He has impressed me in his answers being founded in 'the law.'  Not rhetoric.  Not unrealistic social resolves, but, sincere law and government.  His answer about contraceptives is rock solid.  Rock solid is what the citizens of the USA are looking for and not simply rant after rant to win faux favor.  Ron Paul does not play 'the carrot and stick' politics the others do.  He makes his expertise known and lives with it.


The real danger in allowing redemption of a former bigoted dialogue is that others will see it as an opportunity to win favor and not sincerely be reformed.  There is a real danger to allow the same to happen again.  Is it realistic it will happen again?  Will the American electorate allow the hatred, that status quo exist for existence sake rather than sincerely do 'the hard work' of destroying bigotry, racism and bias when it is inconvenient or the 'dollars' are working in the 'right' direction.


Ron Paul should carry brevity and if he is not to be President he needs to address his leadership after he leaves the House.  I don't blame him for leaving the House, it has become silly and irrelevant.  I would like to see him continue his dialogues and work for sincere justice in this country.  I believe the model he brings to the debates should carry brevity as well.  


Decisions to make and discussions to have.  How do we stop the racism, the hatred, the phobias, the stigmatizing and sincerely have a country where people care about and for each other?  He could be pivotal.  


Paul exhibits the difference between a statesman and a politician. That is worth exploring if nothing else is.  He never needed 'the job,' he chose it.