A Thimble of Difference?

In response to Leon's, America (pronounced "Ah-mur-ri-cah") 

So, the Republicans have kicked some Democrat butt by taking control of the House of Representatives and closing the deficit in the Senate.  Obama referred to the Republican gains in these mid-term election as a shellacking.  John Boehner will take over as Speaker of the House after Americans effectively fired Nancy Pelosi, changing not only the leadership of the House of Representatives, but changing the political playing field altogether as conservatives will surely challenge Obama's policies and both past and future legislation.  And why am I couching this in such competitive terms?  Because I'm watching the Dolphins lose to the Ravens.  Dang.

One thing I'm sure you've noticed about American politics is that it is very competitive.  I don't just mean between the politicians either, but between every American that follows politics. We're not just liberals, conservatives, moderates, libertarians, socialists (what, you didn't think there were socialists in the U.S.?) or whatever you like to call your political persuasion, we're also fans of a political party; Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Socialist (and yeah, there is a Socialist Party) or whatever political party you like to party with.  And the smack talk?  What you might hear at your local sports bar pales in comparison to the smack you hear around the water cooler during an election cycle. Yeah, one could consider politics a sport, and full contact, at that.

That's too bad, too.  When I look back over the last decade in politics, I can't seem to find a whole lot of difference between the teams.  George W. grew the government by adding new federal agencies and expanding old ones.  He couldn't seem to say no to deficit spending and thought nothing of increasing entitlements.  When it comes down to it, W. wasn't much of a conservative, by most conservative's standards.  And then there's Obama who spends money much like...well...W.

Outside of the party's rhetoric, is there a thimble of difference between the two major parties?  I mean, there's a notable difference between the Tea Party and the Socialist Party (OK, I'm becoming redundant), but when you look back at the last decade can you tell a notable difference between the Republican and Democratic parties?  They both spend oodles of money and grow government.  The only difference that I can see is that Republicans spend a little less and grow government a little slower.  I guess Democrats are just more determined. 

I hope that the politicians do listen to the Americans that elected them, as Leon suggests in his aforementioned piece.  Will they?  Heck know!  They're politicians!  I hate to be so cynical, but after witnessing the past decade I expect more of the same.

Now, just a bit of a disclaimer; I'm expecting the worse, but hoping for the best.  I think the reason why our politicians pander the way they do to the voter is because, like their constituents, they think of politics as a competition, too.  It's about winning and losing, not about what's best for the nation.  Maybe this time things will be different.  It seems politicians understand that Americans don't like out-of-control spending and government expansion.  Maybe this time it won't be about who won the majority and more about actually representing the American people.  Maybe.

And as a side note; the Dolphins lost.  Dang.

Endeavoring to Perservere: A Good Title for A Blog Entry

Okay.   This is my first entry on the Opine Apparatus for a number of reasons. 

And these are in no particular order.

I had a tough and busy week back after vacation.  I had a sermon to write.  I had to interview two potential new staff members for my church. And I couldn't think of anything worth saying.  Or maybe I just couldn't think.  It was one of the two or a combination of both. 

Anyway.  I am at a Panera Bread in Lake Mary, FL waiting for my a movie to finish.  I have twenty more minutes to wait.  My 15 year-old son and his girlfriend are on a date and they wanted to see the new Shrek movie.  I drove them.  It was too far to drive all the way back home so I came here. My kid told me that he "owed" me for doing this.  I figure he "owes" me for originating his life and putting up with his teenage crap.  This one I did out of love (he and his little girlfriend aren't going to see each other for a month and change) and the opportunity to throw it back in his face if he does something stupid, which is inevitable.  He's a teenager, after all. 

Ah, he's a good kid.  I'm sort of happy to help him out--even though the thought of him making out with a girl while watching Shrek in 3-D makes my stomach hurt.

I suppose I should introduce myself.  My name is Leon Bloder.  I usually blog at Presbymergent Musings and I also do some podcasting and other assorted stuff at my own Website.  Here's my "bio" from my blog:

Leon Bloder is a preacher, a poet, a would-be writer, a husband, a father, a son, a dreamer, a sinner, a former fundamentalist, a pastor, a fellow-traveller and a failed artist. He is talentless, but well-connected. He stumbles after Jesus, but hopes beyond hope that he is stumbling in the right direction. 

I am the pastor of The First Presbyterian Church of Eustis, which is in the scenic, small town of Eustis, Florida, which is roughly 40 miles from Orlando and 40 minutes from anything cool.  I take that back. There is a 5 Guys Burger going in the new Publix shopping plaza right around the corner from my house. This has made my year. 

I have been married for 19 years to my high school sweetheart.  I have a 15 year-old son (aforementioned) and a just turned 6 year-old son and one son that is set to enter the world in August.  My wife and I are 41 and having a baby.  We are insane.  In a good way. 

I've been blogging for a few years now---mostly reflections on sermons that I am writing, book reviews, the occasional movie review, social commentary or just weird rambling.  I review books for Thomas Nelson publishers and Tyndale Publishers.  They give me free books, which I dig. 

I know Paul through his blog and also through his wife, who I graduated high school with many moons ago when I used to be a fundamentalist Christian.  I wasn't a very good fundamentalist Christian though, because I read the Bible and asked questions.  I also hated church. 

Ironically, I became a pastor. 

I still read the Bible and I still ask questions, though. 

By the way.  Read the book on the left.  It explains a lot of things that have made me happy over the years.  

I also don't have anything really nice to say about G.W. Bush.  He got us into a horribly expensive war (Iraq) that has cost way too many of our brave men and women their lives.  And he couldn't pronounce nuclear. 

I also don't care too much for President Obama, but I did like it when he said he wanted to kick someone's ass over the oil spill.  I did vote for him, though, but only because my candidate didn't win the Democratic nomination.  Hey, I still think Hillary would kick WAY more ass than Obama.