Tonight I did something different. I attended the Kent County Democrat fundraiser at Fraziers in Dover. It was very last minute and I figured why the heck not. I will get this off my chest first- I’m not a fundraiser kind of guy. I went in shorts and a shirt. I met a lot of candidates. Some snubbed me. Either they don’t know who I am or they do. We all make choices. Good luck getting my vote! That’s all I’m going to say on that. Okay, I’m lying.
For those who know me and where my passions lie, it begins with education. First and foremost. My thought has always been if you can’t make the right choices for kids, you shouldn’t be in office. When I hit the voting booth, my vote is going to be for who I feel is the best candidate and will get the job done. I’ll switch parties when I hit those buttons. I don’t care. So if I’m at a fundraiser, I’m not your money guy. But I watch. I listen. I see who is talking to who. Who is pandering and who is listening.
During Trump’s run for President, I switched to the Democrat party from Republican. Neither Hillary or Trump were getting my vote. Pure and simple. I got some flack for that from some folks but that’s okay. It’s my choice. It is MY vote. But it does not mean I always support what Democrats do. The same philosophy applies to the Republicans as well. Who and what am I? I’m a wildcard. I’m the guy you didn’t see coming. I’m the guy who doesn’t care who I piss off on this blog if I think the decisions you make are bad for kids. But that isn’t all politics is about. For me it is, but for most education isn’t at the top of their thought process. I do vote on other issues besides education. But education is a HUGE factor.
Based on tonight, I know this blog will have tons of endorsements coming out in the next month or so.
Fundraisers are interesting events. For the candidates, it is getting your name out there. For the party or campaign team, it is about the money. For people like me? It is a blogger bonanza! Showing up is the first thing. But showing up and leaving before it is your chance to talk? That is some bad mojo coming your way. Giving me the evil eye when you were there. Twice as bad. It’s all good though. I’m okay with knowing who doesn’t like me. It just affirms what I may have written about you. I’m not naming names but what is the abbreviation for microgram? And for another candidate in that particular race, even if you KNOW I’m supporting your opposition for a three-way statewide primary, don’t just walk past me when I say hello to you because I will talk about it on here. See what I did there guy with the same initials as Denzel Washington?
I’m babbling. Far too many Swedish meatballs at the fundraiser. And Fraziers makes the BEST Swedish meatballs!
If you had told me four years ago Donald Trump would be President I would have told you to lay off the peace pipe. Even if I came around to that idea and you told me that same President Trump would snub our allies and shake hands with the little boy from North Korea the next day I would have said you were crazy. But this is the reality we live in. It’s like Twin Peaks and The Twilight Zone had a one-night stand and created the worst nightmare I’ve ever seen. The oompa-loompa may be riding a red wave right now but what goes up must come down.
Some of my endorsements might surprise long-time readers of this blog. It’s not personal. It is politics. Anyone coming into a race and expecting 100% of the vote is off their rocker! That’s what makes America great. It will be an interesting time between now and September, and then after the Primary heading into the General Election.
For candidates, I will be sending out surveys shortly. Even if you don’t think I will support you, know that I have a vast readership who might. I like to call it nearly every teacher in the state! They are going to want to hear from you. If there is one thing I’ve learned from teachers, it is this: they vote!
So here we are. Four years ago today I made my first trip to Legislative Hall. It was raining and I was carrying a sign outside in support of the school board audio recording legislation. It was my way of thanking Kilroy’s Delaware for letting me write on his blog before I started this one. That bill didn’t pass that session. It did the next one. Sometimes you just have to be patient. A lot of the faces I met that day won’t be there next January. The most important thing, no matter what political party you align with, is this: get your facts straight. Do the research. Who is doing it for the power and who wants to get in there and make change. Vote with your conscience, not your allegiance. Get involved.
I will get an insane amount of grief for this next line, but let’s make America centrist again! We need balance. One-party rule is not good for this country at all. It isn’t always good for Delaware either. We live in interesting times.
P.S.: To the candidate who had the conversation with me about FOIA- that was fun!
The Season Of Myths 