Back, in a political fray

It's been a while since I have posted. This is my problem with anything to do with the web. Actually, it's a more global problem. I kept a journal for years then looked back and saw that months would go by between entries. I am not good at keeping up with family, friends, blog entries, posts to MySpace pages, listening to voice mail messages, opening my mail, filing, etc., etc.

But two web colleagues at work suggested I write a blog, and it's such a good idea that I had already started a blog almost a year before. But I am worried about my predilection to diarrhea of the mouth, and this would cause me to get fired. But then one colleague just suggested that I not put my name on the blog, so problem solved.

I have a lot to write about. This is the first presidential election that I have gotten really into since turning 18 and able to vote. I know that everyone will start asking what the title of my blog means, Hat Trick, all three of you out there reading this. I came up with this name as a possible title for that column that I would start writing that would be syndicated nationally. Ha!

Hat trick is a phenomenon I coined when I was a bar fly. I'd go to the bars (and this phenomenon applies to straight guys too, I am sure) and see a guy with a baseball cap on. I'd think, "Man, he's hot!" Then he'd take the hat off and he really looked more like a monkey troll with a huge round, Charlie Brown head, scraggly hair sticking up, and, well, just not hot. So I called this the hat trick. Ugly or average looking guys could get dates and casual sex if they just wore the right hat and kept it on all night, until they were naked in bed with their intended, and it's too late for your partner to run away. They are ensnared in your hat trick!

Well, I came up with this years and years ago. Now, I am no longer single so it doesn't (shouldn't) matter to me so much. But over the years, the idea of the hat trick picked up different meanings for me. Like, anyone who can appear to be one thing and turn out to be something else entirely. This applies to politicians a lot.

Oh, I guess here I should officially endorse my choice for congressman from the 7th Indiana district, previously held by the grand dame of Indiana politics, Julia Carson, until her death last year. I, like many faithful Indiana Democrats, probably have voted for Dick Lugar many times for US Senator. That's a gimme in my way of thinking. But now, I am making a big life choice of biblical proportions. I am ready to vote for a Republican that is not Dick Lugar. It's Jon Elrod.

My partner and I saw him at a candidate forum at Jesus Metropolitan Community Church (Jesus MCC) and I left the forum with my head spinning: "I just can't vote for a Republican, I just can't!" But I'm gonna! He impressed me so much, and I think I realized for the first time that the purest tenets of Republicans are something I believe in too: less government, fair taxes, etc.

He comes across as one of the most principled politicians I have ever met. This forum was essentially a rapid lovefest for Andre Carson, Julia Carson's grandson, who seeks to fill her seat and continue her legacy as an advocate for the oppressed. It was a mad, mad, mad, liberal orgy of Democratic ideals. So when Jon Elrod simply stated that he was definitely pro-life to the inevitable prolife-prochoice question, I gave him huge props. I mean, for those who say they are pro-choice--I really want to ask, "Are you not also pro-life? Are you really in favor of killing as many fetuses as possible?" C'mon! Who isn't pro-life? And who doesn't want better options for women than abortion?

Another thing that impressed me about Jon Elrod is that he didn't just give answers off the cuff like Andre Carson: "Absolutely! No question! I would support that!" Jon Elrod would sit back a bit, put his hand on his chin, and reflectively answer, "This is a tough issue" and either say, "I'm not ready to answer that yet" or "Here is why I have the position that I do."

And yes, I support him for all the gay reasons: He is against the marriage amendment to the Indiana constitution, bucking against the party line and leaders; plus, yes, I don't mind saying this is my second reason: he is cute as a freaking button. Like falling in love with Peter Brady on the Brady Bunch when I was nine years old. Normally, after events like this, I head out the door as soon as possible, to get out before the traffic starts plus I don't like mingling. But I went up and shook Jon Elrod's hand and told him just how impressed I was with him. And yes, I admit it, I got to see him up close and yes, ladies, he is as cute as he looked from the 17th row. Much shorter than me, I'd say he's about 5'7" or so.

But in all seriousness, if you are a knee-jerk Democrat who will vote for Andre Carson only because he's the Democrat on the ticket, please, please, please consider exploring Jon Elrod more. His web site is www.jonelrod.com. On March 11, at the special election to fill Julia Carson's congressional seat, please consider giving your vote to Jon Elrod.

Okay, my lunch break is long over. I do love to write and will try to keep up on this blog as best I can. I will write more about Jon Elrod, John McCain, Barack Obama, my stalking kind of love for Air America radio host, Rachel Maddow, who has singlehandedly sparked my interest in politics and social activism. Find out more at maddowonline.com.

Be safe and keep the peace.