Our new start

Cecilia finally started her new job this past week and by all indication thus far, she's going to really enjoy the job. Her schedule in terms of when she leaves the house and returns home are essentially the same, but she has every other Friday off and all Saturdays, plus her pay is just about double. She is still coming up to speed on a few of her new duties, but is already being invited to meetings not particularly related to her workload because of her previous 18 years of experience. So, in short, she has basically hit the ground running full speed.

In a group/team like human resources compensation, as I understand from listening on the sideline, each person in the group manages a certain part of the company. Her new boss is a fantastic manager and has assembled a team that is not only beyond competent, but they have no personality conflicts; several of them are friends. I relate it to a seasoned football or basketball team where there is very little effort wasted holding the hand so-to-speak of a team member, every one can independently complete their job with little micromanaging. Part of the reason she grew tired of the job before was that in order to save a few million dollars they forced out the long-term experience/seasoned workers and hired in newbies straight from college. How's that for stupid? This may provide a short-term boost in profits, so the CEO's get a nice bonus, but it harms the long-term viability of the company. I think they started started seeing the error of that and Cecilia's boss hired back not only Cecilia but another long-termer. So, let's hope she'll be able to hang on for 5 years or so.

I guess some recent news with my job can be classified as a new start. In an effort to streamline government spending our group, which is officially a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) division, is going to be absorbed or transfered to the US EPA. Before, the EPA basically hired us out from NOAA, but they had to pay NOAA not only our salary, but a large overhead. Their basically cutting out the middle man, which all of us certainly agree with. Many conservatives seem to really dislike the US EPA because they do oversee regulation on businesses, but I'll wear the EPA badge with honor as we move forward and protect the planet, a beautiful gift from God.

I'm slipping into politics it seems, so why not just dive in full bore. It is clear now that Obama will be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. This week our current President used the Israeli parliament to launch a veiled attack on Obama. They are trying to now back down and say it was general attack on whoever disagrees with their foreign policy direction, but people close to the President acknowledged it was aimed at Obama before our President made the speech. Plus John McCain was quick to pounce on Obama after the speech leaving no doubt that it was aimed at Obama. It is despicable for the President to play domestic politics overseas. I've got to think that Obama's been holding back in his fight against Hillary because he did not want to be seen as an angry black man fighting a white woman because absolutely crushed, in my opinion, John McCain and George Bush. If you do not think about anything else, think about the fact that our intellegence says that Al Queda is as strong as at 911 and we've been fighting them for 6.5 years what will cost by some estimates 2 trillion dollars, sacrificed easily over 100 K lives including Iraqi civilians and our brave soldiers.



Here are some of his words if you can't watch the video:

You know, after almost eight years, I did not think I could be surprised about anything that George Bush says, but I was wrong. Yesterday, George Bush was before the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, to help commemorate the 60th anniversary of Israeli independence. That's a wonderful occasion and a time for celebration.

But instead of celebrating and offering some clear ideas about how to move the situation in the Middle East forward, the president did something that presidents don't do, and that is launch a political attack targeted toward the domestic market in front of a foreign delegation.

...

George Bush and John McCain have a lot to answer for. They've got to explain why we are now in our sixth year, entering our sixth year of war in Iraq.

We were supposed to be going over there for weapons of mass destruction that we never found. We were told that it was going to last a few months and cost a few billion dollars. We have now spent over $600 billion, thousands of lives lost, and we have not been made more safe.

They're going to have to explain the fact that Osama bin Laden is still at large and is sending out videotapes with impunity.

They need to answer for the fact that Al Qaida's leadership is stronger than ever because we took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan.

They've got to answer for the fact that Iran is the greatest strategic beneficiary of our invasion in Iraq. It made Iran stronger, George Bush's policies.

They're going to have to explain why Hamas now controls Gaza, Hamas that was strengthened because the United States insisted that we should have democratic elections in the Palestinian Authority.

They're going to have to explain why it is that Iran is able to fund Hezbollah and poses the greatest threat to America and Israel and the Middle East in a generation.

That's the Bush-McCain record on protecting this country. Those are the failed policies that John McCain wants to double-down on, because he still hasn't spelled out one substantial way in which he'd be different from George Bush when it comes to foreign policy.

NC in the Spotlight

Good week all! Cecilia is on her last week at House of Lights, my ankle is on the mend and we're both updating our vehicles. Cecilia will start in a little over a week back at Progress Energy working for Misty Easton. She has a good idea of the new work assignments, so she's not worried about the transition. When I first tweaked my ankle I was sure that the recovery would last into the first part of the summer, but after walking with my removable air cast for a week and a few days, it feels great. We went to a friends 40th birthday party last night and I went castless. I think I'll be able to walk the dogs and do my normal stuff including fishing soon. Finally on our family update, Cecilia's Taurus station wagon's transmission has been slipping for a year now, but at the same time last week the alternator and starter crapped out. We're going to give it to her sister who will put a new transmission in it for her niece, who is in a bind. We found a 1999 Toyota Camary with low miles this week. We're also buying a 2002 Accord from our friend Misty. So, I plan to sell my little beater car and drive the Camary. I've never paid over 4K for a car, so the Camary will be luxurious to me.

Could NC play a part in what could be a historic election? I think so. Many so called experts agree that if Obama can win NC the superdelegates will start moving to him in large numbers and the Democratic primary will be over. We went to a friends party last night and there was a collection of all types of people from good ol' country boys, upper middle-class and couples in their 20's. We've hung out with these friends quite a few times in the past and really never heard any political leanings. I was talking with one acquaintance who is a good ol' boy and out of the blue he goes on a hate filled rant on Obama. It was stunning the amount of hate towards a guy who has never done or said a thing personally or politically to warrant such criticisms; I could sense that it was mostly racial. Another country couple, the husband, said something about negative about Obama and wife spoke up about their political disagreements, so I got the message that she was pro-Obama. I talked with a younger friend and his girl friend about his strong plans for the middle-class and they liked Obama. I guess the point I'm trying to get to is there is a political buzz like I've never seen before, which is a great thing despite who wins.

Why I support Barack Hussein Obama

1. Our politicians in Washington are controlled by lobbyist. A great example is the drug benefit program for seniors that was crafted a few years back. The drug lobby worked directly with the Republicans in Congress to make drugs available to seniors using our tax dollars. Congress basically allowed the drug companies to charge whatever they felt for drugs, no negotiation on getting prices lower, just whatever they wanted to charge. Once the bill passed, several of the key Congressmen went to work for the drug companies as lobbyist for millions of dollars. This needs to CHANGE now and Obama is in the best position to do it. The government is suppose to work in the best interest of all people, not a select few.

2. The man himself. He is an elite. Some people like to tag him as out of touch or an elite, but as I've heard other say, do we not want a President who we feel is a lot smarter than us regular folk? We talk about how we have elite warriors in the military or we want to send our children to school so they can get an elite education. Well, I want an elite president and I've paid a lot of attention to Obama and he's a real smart person that could be an elite President of the US.

3. History. It would be historic if Obama became President and I want to be part of that CHANGE. Many like to say that opinions throughout the world do not matter. We should not base our policies on world opinion alone, but when it's on your side it's good. Obama as President would show the World what America really is; a place where all men are created and treated equal. It would not only improve our image abroad, but I think it would mark a huge change in race relations.

4. The middle-class. He will cut taxes for those 95% of Americans who are making less than 70K a year. He will shift tax breaks from companies who have all their products produced overseas to companies who keep jobs in the US. There is a lot of momentum behind the green revolution. He will put money back into science to develop an alternative to oil, coal and nuclear power. The US can be a leader in the use of wind, solar, geothermal sources of energy. You know what, jobs that will result from this shift will be jobs that pay well and stay in the US. The end result for the middle-class is lower energy costs.

5. Foreign policy. His judgment that the Iraq war would lead to fighting between specially the Sunni and Shiite and would end up taking our eye of the real enemy in Afgan/Pak was prophetic. We're at a point where by some estimates we've spent as much as 2-3 trillion dollars thus far on Iraq and reports last year and actually one this week indicate Al Queda is as strong as at 911 and they are growing stronger in Afgan/Pak as we speak. Think about that for a second. We've (military families in particular) gone through hell for 5-6 years now and we've made no progress on Al Queda, our military has been crippled and we've made Iran more powerful. Obama has judgment to tackle foreign policy in a more comprehensive way. Not only that, but he will appoint Republicans like Chuck Hagel and maybe Colin Powell and very skilled and respected Democrats like Jim Webb, Sam Nunn, Joe Biden and Bill Richardson.

I know many in the family are probably registered as Republican, but if your not registered or registered as Independent like myself or Democrat, I urge you to at least think about Obama because I have no doubt he'll be a very good president.