Subject to Change

The only reason I keep Pundit Nation in my feed reader anymore is to remind myself what left of sane looks like. The other liberal blogs I can handle, but Mathias is just so far out there on everything (and more). I rarely read beyond the tag line of most of his posts because I’m fairly certain I’m not going to connect with anything. That being said, he’s got something amusing posted today. It’s another lame rant opposing voter ID (blah, blah, blah).

I wanted to point it out because I’m of the opposite mind as Michael and his friend. I find it surreal that I’m not asked for my ID at the polls, when everywhere else in my life I practically need to drop my drawers and show my birthmarks before anyone will talk to me. I flash my ID at the polls even though I’m not required to do so!

It’s illegal for the poll workers to refuse someone for not showing ID. I think it’s still OK for them to ask and give you the right to refuse. Maybe you don’t believe that fraud is widespread, but it would take a fool to believe that it’s not happening at all or that it’s not possible. Asking for the ID, even though its pointless to do so, might be just enough of a challenge to make a few would-be frauds change their mind. An informed voter (or fraud) still has the right to refuse (or lie and stall), so I don’t see the harm in asking.

It bothers me that all someone needs to do is walk into a polling place and say that they are a particular registered voter. I know people who are capable of doing that. The only reason they don’t is that there’s nothing in it for them, so why bother. They don’t vote, period. Campaigns are becoming more and more “us against them,” and this has got to be encouraging some people to be more proactive in crossing ethical lines. With no enforcement up front and weak response afterward, why wouldn’t someone try to cast a phony vote in this state if they were passionate about their candidate? There are plenty of single minded fools out there. I’m sure you’ve met them.

It’s all but impossible to function in today’s society without identification. My son got his first state ID at ten months, so we could fly without fear of being rejected at the airport. All it took was some dedication to stand in line at the DMV, and thirty dollars. That’s hardly out of anyone’s reach. With groups out there willing to help people get to the DMV and pay for the ID, there’s almost no excuse. Besides, you can’t bitch about the once-in-a while cost of renewing a state ID and not bitch about Jim Doyle jacking up car registrations by twenty dollars per year. It makes you look silly.

Anyone who is making a serious effort to cast a serious vote can seriously get a serious ID, unless they seriously don’t belong in a serious polling place in the first place.

My grandmother’s car has a “valet key.” It can open the car and start it, but won’t open the trunk. One would assume that you can safely lock your valuables in the trunk and hand over the valet key to someone. The folding back seats can only be released from the trunk, as well.

When I went to fill up the tank I noticed that there’s a trunk release right at the driver’s feet. Key or not, the trunk will open. This was mildly embarrassing because I had once gone into the office unshowered to get my spare key, when I thought my clothes were locked in the trunk.

So, can someone explain to me the purpose of this second, partly useless key?

A summary, in case you haven’t noticed that blogging has been light around here for a while:

• Returned home from Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday. I had a lot of things to blog about and no time. I may decide to use my photos of the “deployment” to blog about it all retroactively. That could be fun.
• Switching jobs on Monday, to a former employer in Milwaukee. This should give me more free time to catch up with my internet people!
• Kelly’s mom is out of our house, and not a moment too soon. We tried to do our Christian duty by taking care of her during her cancer treatments. It’s just that toddlers, multiple dogs, and prescription drug addicts don’t mix. Add my travel schedule to that and the stress level was a little too high.
• We have a wedding date! The hall, photographer, DJ, and dress are taken care of. I’d love it if anyone has any advice regarding inexpensive ways to manage the rest: flowers, tuxedos, cake, decorations, etc.
• I’ve still got a significant financial issue to deal with. With all of the above items falling into place this is now the number one stress issue for us. We’ve been talking to professionals and the outlook is not pretty.

Want details? Leave a comment and I’ll try to clue you in.

I heard this cover song on a late night drive through Ohio.

I also heard the interview afterward, where the band said they don’t care what Phil Collins thinks of it. I don’t care, either. This version is cool!

Just got home from Ohio (for the last time!) and forgot that I turned the water heater off before we left. Oh, and I haven’t turned on the radiators, yet.

I’ll try to get back on the blogging after I swallow my testicles back into their proper place.

Vote Obama.

Liberal Democrats are to report to the nearest Obama headquarters for a free neuralizer treatment, to wipe away the memory that Powell was once a Bush crony.

Excuse the grainy cell phone image. I was coming back from lunch and spotted the McCain tour bus at the Hilton across the street from my office.

I’m considering stopping over to make an appearance as “Aaron the Drunk and part-time Buckeye.”