On political parties...

I am a Republican.

At least, I used to be a Republican.

I want to be a Republican.

Until the Democrats get their act together (which is not likely in the near term) it is impossible to be one of them.

It's really hard being a Republican when the party stands for out of control spending and borrowing, intolerance, incompetence, and whose elected officials have been morally and intellectually corrupted by power. The Democrats stand for tax and spend, promiscuous license, just as much incompetence, and are equally corrupt.

Both parties are absolutely even when it comes to intellectual dishonesty, pandering, outright lies, and actions or votes whose sole purpose is to make a partisan political point rather than attempting to solve some of the very real problems that we are suffering.

This isn't the country that I admired enough to become, first, an immigrant and, then, a citizen.

It is sad to think that we may have the leadership that we deserve rather than the leadership that we need. It is long past time for us to return to the old fashioned values of hard work, thrift, honor and service to our country. We must also demand the same from our elected representatives.

Vote against any incumbent who does not measure up. Earmarks, abuse of seniority and the relentless quest for campaign contributions must be rewarded by retirement.