Back to Normal

Last week, my kids came down with a flu that lasted an entire 7 days! Fever, congestion, caughing and worst of all, totally lethargic. Even doped up on Motrin and Tylenol their fevers never totally broke and neither of them were back to their usual selves. There's a feeling of frustration and worry when your kids are sick like that which just knaws at you until they get better. Towards the end, they started to play a bit and we started to hear them fighting. Normally a parent's first reaction is to break it up and get them to make friends but to us it was a hint that they were finally getting back to their old selves.

Daddy's Consequences

I meant to blog about this at the time but the caricatures took precidence. Well, my daughter Sydney will do just about anything to get out of doing any chores whatsoever. Every single day she complains that she doesn't know how to make her bed, despite the fact that she makes it every single day... eventually. Well Sydney is quite the cuddle bug and Wendi and I both like to cuddle with her so on one particular occasion, she used this against us... or at least tried to. I told her that was just fine and she eventually made her bed anyway... by herself. Did I mention she's just four years old? I thought this kind of psycological warfare didn't begin until adolescence. Boy, am I in for it!

Maverick

Yesterday, John McCain won the New Hampshire Primary which gave him a boost in the arm. Michael Medved made a point that with all the hype of an Obama victory, all the independents decided to give McCain a boost in the arm. New Hampshire allows independents to pick from republican or democratic (or any other party theoretically) ballots.

John McCain is known as being a maverick. He does things his way and doesn't care if it goes against the party line. He is for the war and a staunch supporter of the surge but he was extremely critical of the way the war was being waged under Rumsfeld. There is a freshness to this kind of position taking in that he bucks the trend, even if it makes him unpopular... and it has indeed, at least among republicans. He's supported several bills which are thought to be much more in line with the democrats with regards to campaign funding and immigration so he's kind of a mixed bag for conservatives. Being moderate though may mean he could have a chance in the general election if he makes it. He's a no nonsense kind of guy and that may end up giving him an edge in the end.

His age will definately be a factor at 71 but he doesn't act old at least. Definately an honorable man and I wouldn't hesitate pulling the lever for him if it came down to it.

FOX News Poll: McCain Takes the Lead in South Carolina GOP Primary

UPDATE 1/15/08: McCain Moves Into Lead

In His Sights

Mike Huckabee is one of those candidates you probably would have thought nothing of in the early, and even summer debates, one of the nobodies running for president. He may still have very slim chances at winning the nomination but I don't think anybody could call him a nobody now. With relatively little money, he is giving the guy who's outspent all the republicans, Mitt Romney a run for his.

WSJ:
Populist Message Gets Louder
As Iowa Caucuses Kick Off Race

"A decisive loss for Mr. Romney or Sen. Clinton in Iowa could reshuffle the preferences of voters elsewhere, and upend both candidates' strategies of riding to the nomination on the energy of early victories."

He has a populist message which resonates with many these days. He's also the guy who put the "Fair Tax" out there, which is a national sales tax to replace the IRS and Income tax system. He's much more moderate on Fiscal issues and perhaps his folksy demeanor will be an asset if he does end up with the nomination and is up against Hillary. Perhaps his most important asset is one of his endorsements: