Teri Parris Ford's Blog

leadership lacking big time

Monday after school is a nonstop "hurry up and wait" kind of evening.  I have to pick up Jessi from volleyball from Spring Harbor, grab her some dinner and take her to soccer practice.  While waiting I have been trying to read my national art standards, but I also listen to NPR news.  Tonight's show was on the deteriorating economy.  Immediately after soccer I take Jessi to basketball and go workout.  I usually watch a Fox news with a little of CNN or MSNBC for a mix.  Tonight's news is all about negative campaigning and the failure of the bailout to keep the Dow from falling even further.  So here's my take on what's wrong from someone who doesn't know what she's talking about-- this country is lacking leadership.  Like a bad soccer coach who is watching from the sidelines while the players do all the wrong moves at the end of the season-- that's how I think the president is handling this economic disaster.  Even as a lame duck he should be doing more.  Doesn't he have an MBA from Harvard?  And the candadates?  McCain's dropped the ball on having an impact on the economic issues and Obama keeps looking more and more entangled with bad people (see NYTimes).  The kids singing and chanting for Obama creep me out and quite frankly I have a real problem with a politian who opposed a bill which prevents the killing of infants mistakenly left alive by abortion (common practice is to strangle them and Obama feels that's okay, as it was the woman's right to chose!).  I don't like election time, I feel guilty for not being informed and unhappy when I am.  Here's to someone out there trying to make a difference; Los Angeles NOW president Shelly Mandel endorses Sarah Palin!  Wow.

John McCain called me today!

Jessi had a girl friend sleep over, so when I got a "private" call around noon, I assumed it was her friend's mom (who has a private line).  I was quite surprised to find it was John!  He wanted to encourage me to watch the convention and then reminded me to send out an absentee ballot because it was important to vote.  Oh, I'll vote (it won't be by absentee ballot) BUT I probably won't watch the convention (no tv).   Still, I am so excitecd about his selection of Alaskan governor, Sarah Palin, as his vice presidential running mate.  No matter who wins, we will have an exciting first in the white house!  Having a woman, only a year older than me, running for VP is so fun... 

A Faith Forum?

I had a million things to do today, but I couldn't miss tonight's faith forum.  I didn't know what that ment, but it wasn't a debate, so I figured it would be interesting.  Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Orange County, CA hosted the forum.  I haven't read Warren's book, a Purpose Driven Life; but it looks like something I should read.  McCain and Obama were only on stage for a handshake and photos together breifly-- they were asked the same set of questions separately. Obama went first and after about 50 minutes, McCain sat down. The event highlighted their similar beliefs but different styles. While McCain often gave quick answers with cooked antidotes, Obama took his time explaining his positions. I was quite impressed with Obama's explaination of what it was to be a Christian, where McCain kind of blew off any details. Their answers diverged most on the topic of evil and abortion.  I basically chose McCain because of his stance on those issues.

I chose McCain more than a year ago, when we were gearing up for primaries.  I would have never predicted he'd take the nomination, but maybe I am not such an odd voter afterall?  In general, I can't stand politics-- it's divisive.  There's only one person in the world I enjoy talking politics with --Jim.  There are two people I least want to talk politics with, in part because because while I love them dearly I pretty much don't agree with anything they have to say on the subject-- my bro and Joe.

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Sucking it all in

I ran this morning at the gym, only 2 miles (I had a lot to do today).  While I run, I get my weekly dose of political news.  I can't listen because I need good music to run to.  So I run with my iPod on my ears and the television on my eyes-- closed captioned of course.  Today they were speculating on Obama's (in)ability to apologize (his last heart felt apology was for saying all the deaths of our soldiers in Iraq were a waste). Every week I leave the gym pretty glad I won't watch the news again for another week.  I have been listening in to NPR a little more then normal, which is to say I may catch it once or twice a week.  This week I caught a great bit on the similarity between McCain and Apple (boy, that'll upset Joe). NPR is doing a cute little series I linked for you here.  I am fascinated by the political process, but I pretty uncomfortable talking to anyone about my thoughts on the subject except Jim.  Politics and religion, if I had to chose one to avoid more, it would be politics.

Afghanistan

So before today I couldn't spell it, let alone know where it is. It is looking that where my husband will be living all next year! I have been doing a little research...

Founded in 1747, Afghanistan served as a buffer between the British and Russian empires until it won independence from British control in 1919. Democracy ended in 1973 and in 1978 Communist took over. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the Afghan Communist regime, but withdrew 10 years later. A civil war erupted in 1992. The Taliban emerged in 1994 to end the country's civil war and anarchy. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama BIN LADIN. In late 2001, a conference in Bonn, Germany, established a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution and a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. On 7 December 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan. The National Assembly was inaugurated on 19 December 2005.

Jim will be getting his final orders today... more details to come...