We had a good time in S.D.  It was fun to see Barry and Lacey again.  We should try to make it out there again within 2 years.  We had a good time camping, even though it got pretty chilly Friday night.

We went to President’s Park, Roughlock Falls, and Jewell Cave.  We got to go on a lantern tour of Jewell cave.   Which was fun.  It was a fun time crawling around the cave.  Way better than just the scenic tour.   The falls were pretty neat, and the hiking trail along there was pretty cool too.

It was tough going back to work today.  Catching up on everything from the few days off.  And not having gone to bed til late.  I’m sleepy.  So I don’t feel like telling many stories.

I’ve got most of the pictures up.  Some more might follow.  Pictures here.

The title is a quote from the book (p. 316), An American Life, I’m reading.  President Reagan is talking about his economic policies that he implemented in his first year in the Oval Office.  His economic plan (called Reaganomics by those who did not like his economic policy) included a 25% reduction in income tax rates over three years, along with cutting the government spending, and a few other things.

His economic plan was passed by Congress on July 29, 1981.   If you know anything about the economy you should know this:  It takes a while for a change to come.  Especially when you’re moving it out of the great recession of the 1970’s and early 1980’s (from under the Carter Administration).

Less than 6 months after the ecomonic plan was passed into law the Democrats in Congress were calling it a failure and saying there needed to be tax increases.  Even Republicans in the House were claiming there needed to be tax increases and cutting the defense budget.  Just six months after implementing the plan they wanted to abandon it.

In his journal, on Feb. 22, 1982, President Reagan wrote this: “The Press has done a job on us [about the economic plan] and the polls show its effect.  The people are confused about economic program.  They’ve been told it has failed and it’s just started.”

If I think back to January of this year I remember hearing every night on the news that the President’s troop surge in Iraq had failed.  It hadn’t even started yet, and the press told us it failed.  I read this article the other day about how people already don’t trust a report that will come out in September from the top General in Iraq about how the war is going.  They don’t trust it when they haven’t even heard it.  The Press is doing a great job on this one!

It seems like daily we hear about how the war in Iraq is, according to the press, going down hill.  We have the US Senate Majority Leader telling us that the war in Iraq is lost.  The media telling us virtually the same thing.  President Bush’s poll numbers are down.

Let’s look at the similarities between President Reagan’s economic plan to President Bush and the war in Iraq (more specifically the troop surge):

1. The Media says the plan is not working before it has had a chance to start.
2. Democrats in Congress say the plan is not working before it has had a chance to start.
3. The Presidential poll numbers are down.
4.  Both Presidents are Republicans.
5. Republicans in Congress jumped ship and join the Democrat side saying the plan is lost, because the President’s poll numbers are down.
6. Members of Congress appear to be worried more about their political life than they are about letting something work.

Those are just some of the similarities between the two.

President Reagan lead the nation out of the recession and made America strong again.  If you believed the poll numbers and what the Press were saying you wouldn’t think that’s possible.

Is it so far fetched to think that President Bush’s plan will work?  I believe it can, and it will.  Even though Democrats (and some Republicans) and the Press are saying it’s failed and it’s “lost”.

Give the plan some time.  Give it a chance.  Feel free to post your thoughts.

I like it.  It’s a great day to grab a book, and I’ll be getting back to my book in a bit.  And I should probably clean up the apartment a little bit.

We went looking at houses again yesterday.  We found one that I really liked.  It’s in a great location, and it’s got great curb appeal.  But…. (I don’t like this part) it needs a fair amount of work.  Pretty much the only way we could do it is to offer really low and use the balance to fix it up.  It would be possible, no idea if th epeople would actually take the price that it’s worth though.  I think it’s probably a pre-forclosure.  There’s something about those homes that seems very strange to me.  People buy nice houses, and then do nothing to take care of them.  What’s up with that?

Another place we looked at was a disaster.  Everything would have needed to be upgraded.  Kitchen was old, crayon on every wall.  We were just about to leave and the front door opened, and some guy walked in.  Beth and I thought it might have been the owner.  He says “Hi.  I’m just nosy neighbor.  I wanted to see what kind of a mess they left.”  It seemed a little weird, but coming from a small town it didn’t seem out of place I guess.   Just kind of strange.

Yesterday I wrapped Beth’s Birthday Present.  It’s kind of fun.  I wrapped them and put them by the TV.  Her curiosity is getting the best of her.  It’s kind of funny, and I guess that might make me a little mean.

This weekend should be kind of low key, especially if the rain keeps up.  I’ll probably read a lot of my book.  It’s really good.  I had to stop reading yesterday or I would have read way to much.

Enjoy your rainy Saturday!

I hope that everyone had a great time during the storm the other night!  We didn’t get much here with the first round.  A fair amount of wind, some lightning, etc.  Nothing serious, although the torando sirens did go off.  The worst was well north of us.

I’m enjoying the summer, and the reduced hours.  But I’m hoping to go back full time shortly.  We’ll see.  But in the mean time I’ve had time to read a few books.  Currently I’m reading An American Life by Ronald Reagan.  It’s his autobiography.  It’s a very excellent book, and I would recommend it to anyone regardless of political party.  It’s an overall great book.   He talks about a lot of the issues he faced in life and as Governor (I haven’t gotten to his Presidency yet).  But there are a lot of good things in the book.

One quote that struck me was an opinion of Ronald Reagans that he agreed with General Douglas MacArthur (and I agree too):  “If we as a anation send our soldiers abroad to get shot at, we have a moral responsibility to do everything we can to win the war we put them in.”  We as nation have to do everything we can to win the war.  That includes staying positive, not being negative about it all the time.  Sadly, I think many people (and media) aren’t doing it.

So if you’re looking for a good book to read, check it out.  And if anyone has any good books to suggest send them my way.  Although I think the next one I’m going to read will likely be Senator Obama’s book.

It’s the simple things in life that make you happy.  Like a door.  With 4 walls, that reach to the ceiling.  Now don’t get me wrong.  Cubicles are alright, but the set up of mine wasn’t ideal, to say the least.  But this week I got my very own office.  One of my coworkers left, and that meant I got her office.  So now I’m on the second floor with the rest of the media writers.  I’m pretty happy for a door, but it’s a little noiser downstairs.  But I like the office, and a real desk.

So it made a pretty good week for me I guess.  A little more work, but it’s still going well.  I like it.

This weekend should be a good time I think.  The whole Hibbs family is going camping in Sibley State Park.  Beth and I organized it, and it should be pretty fun.  A weekend camping is usually a good time.  I’m looking forward to having a campfire.  Plus my folks are coming with the boat and we can do some fishing and skiing.

The house search continues for us as well.  We’ve found a few.  Nothing we like yet, but we’re getting closer.  I’m getting anxious.  I’m looking forward to not having to walk down the hallway to switch out the laundry, and having to pay $1 to use each machine.  Speaking of which it’s about time for me to go put some clothes in the dryer.

It had to do with this: First Lady makes unplanned stop to thank the rescuers.  I got to drive in the motorcade!  It was a fun day, albeit a bit somber.  For me the chance to once again help out and work for the First Lady was great.  Driving the press around was fun, and the chance to work with the great people she has was a lot of fun.

I do have some fun stories, but I don’t believe those will be said here.  The scene of the bridge collapse was interesting.  It was strange to see it.  It is just shocking that more people didn’t die in the accident.  That is amazing.

I’m still a little surprised at how big of a news story it is on CNN, BBC, and all over the world.  It is weird to have Minnesota in the spot light.

I am also upset at how some people are turning this tragedy into political gain.  They are using it to bash elected officials for their stance on issues.  Something needs to be done with transportation funding, but we should never use a tragedy for political gain and to play the blame game.  Let’s work together towards a good solution, not point fingers and lay the blame on others.

but I can’t really talk about it… yet.  I can (and will) on Friday evening.  So check back then for a super sweet story and maybe some photos.  I’m really pumped about it!

But… I’m really sad for the people involved in the bridge collapse.  I’m praying for all of them, and hope everyone is better soon.  I am happy to hear that not many people have died.

I start the weekend today!  That’s right no work tomorrow or Friday.  Well Friday will be busy.  Argh!  I want to say, but I can’t…

Anyway, I best go before I say something…  See ya Friday evening!