States Rights

As a former resident of a border state, I could go on all day about the issue. Instead, I'm going to give you a brief overview on what I think about the Arizona law specifically and link up a few great articles to check out.

For those of you unfamiliar with my opinions and particular style of "punditry", there's really only one thing you need to know. PRIMARY SOURCES. Before engaging in any political discourse (especially when the end product is published online) I believe it is vital to go to the source. Yes, in this case that means a carefully worded Google search to find the Arizona Legislature's website and read the bill. Its long, and like most legislature, it isn't riveting. However, if you only expose yourself to information through the media, its impossible to wade through the bias if you haven't looked at the law yourself. Check out the link here.

I have a few criticisms of the law. While I think that it has some good points, in some respects it lacks an enforceability. Very similar to what an appeal of Los Angeles' "Special Order 40" would likely resemble, officers can inquire into a person's legal status during an investigation.

B. For any legitimate contact made by an official or agency of this state or a county, city, town or other political subdivision of this state where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made to determine the immigration status of the person. The person's immigration status shall be verified with the federal government pursuant to 8 United States code section 1373(c).

E. A law enforcement officer, without a warrant, may arrest a person if the officer has probable cause to believe that the person has committed any public offense that makes the person removable from the United States.

If interpreted correctly, this would mean an officer would need probable cause in order to inquire into an individual's legal status. That seems pretty straightforward to me. If someone is here illegally and committing crimes, they should be deported. Now, from a practical standpoint, I don't think this is enforceable as it does not grant Arizona law enforcement officers the power to perform a deportation of a person deemed here illegally. That power still resides with ICE. Practically this means that once an individual is detained and their legal status is questioned, the next step for law enforcement officers is to call the Feds. Judging the response on this issue from Washington, this bill may be rendered impotent. Its difficult to imagine Governor Brewer overlooking this possibility. That leads me to believe that the Governor signed this bill so she could check her "Tough on Immigration" box. Its all truly ridiculous.

For more interesting articles on the subject, check out the articles below. And, as always, I appreciate any feedback!

"A Carefully Crafted Immigration Law in Arizona" Byron York

"Arizona Takes Off its Rainbow Shades" Cal Thomas

New Job in the District

I started my new job last week at America's Health Insurance Plans (ahip.org). I'm a Client Relations Associate in their Insurance Education and Professional Development Division. I created a short video of my walk from the metro on my first day (about 5 blocks), but I need to get it loaded onto Youtube as the file is too large. Here are some photos of the area around my building!

Lt. Colonel Allen B. West

This is from last October, but I just stumbled upon it now. Check it out...

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP2p91dvm6M

ChachachachaCHANGES Part Two

My first year in the District was definitely a tumultuous one. I knew when I embarked on this journey I knew I was sacrificing a lot of things. You can itemize them. Take out a piece a paper and write down the things you would lose if you packed a 1996 Suburban and drove 3000 miles. Now, once you have that paper, just toss it. Its completely useless. There is a difference between itemizing your treasures (tangible or not) and actually living without them. Sure, I knew I wouldn't be able to hop on the 405 and go home whenever I wanted. But I have a cell phone, email and Skype! It's just a good, right? I learned that Facebook can make you feel like you are closer than you actually are, and spending your vacation time on your family isn't so bad, but when you hit hard patches, that distance feels twice as far. Lets continue...

July and August 2009 was when my life finally felt like it was gaining momentum. After almost nine months, I finally had a job that I was excited about AND... most importantly... what I was ACTUALLY missing this whole time...

All summer I had bumbled around the online dating world. Right when I was ready to give up and wait for "the one" to bump into me on the metro or some other equally ridiculous place, I received an email. For a variety of reasons, I almost didn't respond. But, as I am a highly curious individual, I threw caution to the wind and it was the best gamble I ever made. After a few months (or weeks rather) of dating, Daniel and I decided that we were it for each other.

After the December snow storm that dropped two feet in the middle of my move to Arlington, we were happy to trade our snow boots for sunny weather. My Midwest boy was excited to see Los Angeles for the first time, but I think he got more than he bargained for! After a surprise trip to the Rosebowl on January 1st, he was "initiated" into the family courtesy of Austin and Tyler Cripps. We attended my brother's wedding and Daniel had a little conversation with my parents...

On January 9th, 2010 at about 4:30 in the afternoon, Daniel surprised me on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. He dropped down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. I know its my story, so I am highly biased, but I think its the best love story I've ever heard.

ChachachachaCHANGES Part One

I began this blog with the intention of providing friends and family a window into my life from 3,000 miles away. I must confess I've been a terrible blogger. Its been almost a year and a half since my last post. You could say that a few things have changed! Lets begin where I left off...

November 2008 we saw the first election of an African American. I personally voted for the other guy, but I can't ignore the historic moment that took place. We have witnessed a multitude of bailouts, government takeovers and tea party-esque revolts. Its been a wild ride. I'm happy to have seen it from my comfy spot over the Potomac in NoVA. This month I also adopted a precocious kitten named Connor.



December 2008 and January 2009 were interesting months for me personally. I moved from a disgusting townhouse in Vienna (which I had only occupied for three months) and into a cute apartment in McLean (pronounced Maclaine), just a few miles away from Langley (CIA Headquarters). Promptly after this move, which only took about 24 hours, I hopped on a plane to Hawaii (with a short layover in LA). I spent a week in paradise to celebrate the marriage of my cousin Jordan and new cousin Rusty. Oh, and my little brother proposed to his girlfriend. She said yes, of course.



February through April 2009 were fairly uneventful. My best friend from Middle School and High School, Justin, moved to DC to become a fireman. I attending CPAC for the second time with my good friend Chris and got to rub elbows with some interesting individuals. Immediately after that I experienced my first significant snowfall of 6-8 inches. Professionally I began applying for assistant manager positions within Enterprise as well as other positions outside the company. I had my first interview with Kaplan Inc. I also flew home to attend my Dad's retirement dinner. Surprise!




May and June came and went with little excitement.

July 2009 I was promoted to Assistant Manager at the Enterprise in Tysons Corner. Shortly after that I received my job offer with Kaplan Inc. Personally, I was doing the dating thing and getting nowhere fast.

More to come...

Why We Lost

Why We Lost

In 1976 we had a historical election. Incumbent and unelected Republican Gerald Ford was running against Democrat Jimmy Carter. We all know how that election turned out. Jimmy Carter took office and was arguably the worst President in modern history. For those of you who lived during the Carter years, you will recall sky-high inflation, gas shortages, and the introduction of Radical Islam as a dangerous an increasingly powerful movement in the Middle East. There are many parallels between this election and the one held in 1976.

In many ways I feel that this election may have been over before it even began. In the Ford – Carter race, the country had just come out of the Watergate scandal and the former president’s hand picked successor, a moderate leader in Congress, faced a hostile political climate. Acting in what he thought was in the best interests of the country, he pardoned Nixon for the Watergate cover-up. In doing so, he helping the country move on from the scandal and successfully committed political suicide. The Democratic Party could have put up Ted Kennedy, still drunk and soaking wet from his late night drive into Chappaquiddick and the Republicans still would have lost. Like 1976, we are coming out of a hard period of our history. Unfortunately this period we are currently in is perceived as much worse than I believe it is. That has led the public to turn on a President that has characteristically done what he regards as right regardless of popular opinion. With a difficult and unpopular war to fuel this fire, many wanted the country to take a different direction.

John McCain faced a tough, up-hill battle to the presidency. All Barack Obama had to do was make a loose tie between him and President Bush. As they are members of the same party that holds a minority in both the House and Senate and unfavorable approval for the Iraq war and pending recession, that was not a difficult connection to make. People tend to forget that the two faced each other eight years ago in a tough Primary for the 2000 election. Those who are members of the party see a very clear difference between the two men and the type of administration John McCain would have if given the opportunity to be President.

Although blunders have been made from the beginning, I firmly believe that we came out strong and overcame many obstacles along the way. We began this season with a wide field of Republican contenders. Many were good man with attractive resumes. But every one lacked what Conservatives really wanted. We can only hope that, like 1976, history will provide us with a new candidate who will bring us back from the fire. Take hope in knowing that many new leaders are emerging. Palin, Pawlenty and Jindal all have the potential for greatness in the future. Continue to watch and support them as they grow in their home states. They will be the future of this country.

Do not use this as an opportunity to take a card from the left and refuse to cooperate with this new President. We are different because we make informed, logical decisions that are not based on pure passion and emotion. We will not have success unless we continue to lead by putting out our ideas and pushing them into the national spotlight through the venues we have created. Continue to support the various Conservative organizations that have fought so hard against the media and the radicals in our schools. Donate to Heritage Foundation, Young America’s Foundation and all the other groups that work to provide free speech in our schools and keep our American values intact. Keep your Congressman accountable as well. Remember that they are your representative even if you do not come from the same party.

I conclude by extending an invitation to all of you. We have entered a new political climate that is hostile to many of our beliefs. It will be harder to keep our views mainstream but not impossible. In February, the American Conservative Union will hold the 36th Annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington DC. I attended last year’s event, and it was worth every penny. I mistakenly claimed that CPAC 2008 was the most important as it was held the day after Super Tuesday and on the eve of this Historical Election season. This coming CPAC is even more important to attend. Join me in helping take back the White House and the Congress. What makes America great is that anyone can change it. But it can not be done without your help.

When the Congress is away…

With Congress in recess until after the election, one must ask what goes on in Capitol Hill? Since we are inquiring into the daily activities of the legislative branch, what goes on in Capitol Hill when Congress is in session? I don’t think I can provide any valuable insight into the second question, as I have been in the city less then a month. The first however, may be more surprising than you might think.

A good friend of mine that lives on Capitol Hill (and who happens to be Laura Ingraham’s intern) extended an invitation to me for a Congressional Hall Party. It took place on a Thursday night. That being my day off for the week, I happily agreed. I saw this small get together as a great opportunity to get to know some people. With my ridiculous work schedule and preoccupation with setting up my house, I have had virtually no opportunities to meet people up until this point. I calculate that at any given moment, I know a grand total of 4 people in the DC metro area. Not counting coworkers of course. As someone who has never had trouble making new friends, those statistics are quite embarrassing.

Lindsay and I agreed to meet at the Capitol South Metro Stop at 5:00PM. We went and grabbed a quick bite to eat, then were off to the Rayburn Building. One of the Congressional Office buildings, the Rayburn is on the South side (or Congressional side) of Capitol Hill. We quickly got through security with a minor delay, (my boots managed to set off the metal detectors) and took the elevator up.

A Congressional Hall Party is exactly what it sounds like. All the congressional staffers, aides and interns set up tables in the hallway connecting the offices. The were about a dozen twenty-something of Capitol Hill’s finest milling from office to office, drinking beer and eating common party fare. Everyone stayed in the middle of the hall, milling between two to three open offices. We put our bags down in Lindsay's old office, belonging to a republican Congressman from Texas. I was surprised the find that the Congressman's office was open. Lindsay told me I was allowed to go in, even though no one was there and technically, she is no longer employed by him. The office was large, with matching blue leather couches lining one wall and a large executive desk towards the back of the room. Behind the desk was a window that had, I'm sure, the most amazing view of the Capitol. The walls were lined with photos of the Congressman with other leaders and Presidents as well as those of his children and grandchildren.

Resisting the urge to snoop, I quickly left the office to rejoin Lindsay and the other staffers. I met a lot of different people and from what she told me before the party, all the staffers hung out without regard to political identification. Their bosses should learn a thing or too from the hired help. We followed a group into a Kentucky Congressman's office, thinking that there was more food or something that would attract the small crowd. What I found was quite astonishing.

Feeling like I had somehow entered a parrallel universe, I walked into the office of the Congressman to find three staffers gathered around a plasma screen TV playing Wii. Yes, the video game system. Specifically they were playing Mario Kart. On Capitol Hill. In a Congressman's personal office. Words cannot quite describe how surreal it felt to witness this. So instead of observing, we all jumped it. How often can you say that you played Wii in a Congressman's office on Capitol Hill?

In case you ever find yourself wondering, "How does my Congressman spend his/her time in Washington" just picture three Capitol Hill staffers lounging on leather couches with Wii controllers in their hands.

NAVY DAY!

Saturday, October 11th was Navy Day in the District. I had a few hours in the morning so I hopped on the red line to the Archives/Navy Memorial exit. This was the first time I had used this stop and I was surprised to see that the escaltor puts you at the foot of the Navy Memorial. There was a young uniformed officer standing at the top of the escalator, handing out pamphlets for the event. The Navy Memorial is round and set up like a stage. around the farthest circle is a fountain. The next is a mural cut into the stone wall depicting the naval adventures of our men dating back to before the Revolution.

Around the memorial they had set up humvees and other naval vehicles. Inside were tables with activities for kids. There were also booths set up by the navy with different kinds of equipment on display. There was a booth set up by the Seals with assorted weapons. I stopped by the diving table and spoke to a couple naval officers about what it takes to be a navy diver and the types of training they endure. After listening to Marcus Litrell's Lone Survior on the way to DC, I developed an interest in the Navy and the missions they endure.

This was officially my first event in the District and I can't to see what is to come!

Tips for Road Trips

I can honestly say that this trip was the best thing I have ever done. Not only did I have the opportunity to spend a top of quality time with my dad, I discovered the beauty of my country. It gave me a new perspective of places I never would have dreamed of visiting and ignited a desire to see the states we could not fit in this trip. I have compiled a list of things to consider when planning a road trip to help encourage others to do the uncommon.

1. Be your own Travel Agent: Pick a route and invest in some maps or a good computer program that will help you plan out and execute a successful trip. Visit the tourism sites of the areas you will be visiting to get ideas.
2. Know that you are going to miss some things: Some people don't like planning road trips and I know I am a bit of an "over-planner". But if you decide to do some research and figure out what site you want to see, recognize that that day when you hit two time zones you might have to skip a few things.
3. Invest in a good GPS: My one caveat to this is that you will always know where you are, you just won't know how you got there. That being said, it really saved us in Tennessee and Virginia where the roads can be terribly confusing and aren't always labeled.
4. Be a penny pincher: Ship around for good hotel rates and research what restaurants are going to be nearby your route/hotel. Knowing these things ahead of time can help you save your money and your waist. A road trip is not about spending money, its about exploring. A lot of the best things we saw on our trip were free or very cheap.
5. Leave your prejudices at home: Or at least try to. Yes Texas and Arkansas and Oklahoma evoke all sorts of "exciting" images, but try to have an open mind. I was constantly surprised. Some of the most beautiful parts of our country is designated as "flyover".
6. Go with someone you know you aren't going to fight with: I know this can be difficult to plan ahead, but I knew from the moment this idea came to me that I could do this with no one but my dad. He and I are alike enough that we share the same interests and easy going enough that neither of us stressed out a moment of the trip. Even though I had done a lot of the planning, when we had to cut things out I was okay just going with it and he was okay letting me be the travel guide. It would not have been the same if I went with anyone else.
7. Have fun! Sees the most obvious, but just remember to focus on why you are on this trip. Whether it is exploration, reconnecting with a loved one or learning about something new, don't forget why you are there!

Road Trip Days 5 & 6

As we come to then end of this adventure, I feel like I can finally come to terms with this major change in my life. Dad and I crossed through Tennessee and into Virginia on Day 5, then finished our trek on Day 6 from Lynchberg to Washington DC.

It is amazing how beautiful Tennessee is. I visited here once when I was about 5 for a wedding and only remember a trampoline and fireflies. Coincidentally, the couple whose wedding I attended (and was the flower girl) back then is the same couple we will be staying with in Lynchberg VA. While on the road to Thompson Station, TN we took a wrong turn off the exit following the one we missed and ended up on some amazing back road with beautiful forests and large houses. By the time the GPS finally got us to our friend's house, we had no idea how we had navigated the curvy roads. All we knew was that Tennessee was, by far, the most beautiful state we had seen thus far.

After a great night reuniting with our friends in Thompson Station, we left on what we anticipated to be the longest day of the trip. In reality, the GPS took us on a route that bypassed both Carolinas and took us straight through Tennessee and into Virginia. We managed to get to Lynchberg at a reasonable hour and spent another night reminiscing with friends and enjoying a home cooked meal.

The next morning our hosts took us to the Lynchberg Cemetery. As weird as it sounds, this was one of the coolest stops we made during the whole trip. The cemetery dates back to the Pre-Civil War era and was the final resting place for many Confederate soldiers who died from small pox during the war. The cemetery built a road through it, shaped like a "U", that visitors drive through. There are various places that you can stop and park your vehicle to explore. These include "The Pest House", the chapel, and the train station. Definitely worth checking out if you find yourself in Lynchberg.

Next: Home

Road Trip Day 4

Today we traveled from Little Rock, AR to Nashville, TN. Since this was the shortest day so far, we left a bit earlier this morning and took more time on the two stops we made in Memphis.

The first detour from our route was the Beale Street in Memphis Tennessee. For anyone unfamiliar with Beale Street, it was the birthplace of blues and rock and roll. Famous recording studios that produced hits from Jerry Lewis, Elvis Presley, Issac Hayes and BB King all originated on Beale St. Today it retains a lot of the same charm it had 60 years ago. Cafes, restaurants and bars line the street and it looks like a neighborhood you would see in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Just off Beale Street is the Memphis Rock and Soul Museum. Definetly a must see if you are in Memphis. It is a part of the Smithsonian and as you work your way through the exhibit you see the evolution of blues and rock and roll. They also spend a lot of time tracing the gains made racially within the industry generally and Memphis specifically. Lots of history and cool artifacts to take a look at.

Last was, of course, Graceland. How could I go to Tennessee without visiting Graceland? It was wonderful. A little pricey to get in but definetly worth spending a little money. As he died seven years before I was born, it helped expose me to a much richer history of the "King".

Tomorrow is our longest day. We will be living Nashville and driving 700+ miles to Lynchberg Virginia. After that we are just a few hours away from our final destination!

- LGM

Road Trip Day 3

Today did not seem as long as yesterday, although we did cover almost the exact same amount of miles. We finished up in Texas, crossed all the way through Oklahoma and ended in Little Rock, Arkansas.

One of the most remarkable things about this trip is how distinct every state I've been to is. It occurs almost instantly upon crossing the border as well. I'm dissapointed I didn't get to see as much Texas as I wanted to, but I have absolutely loved every state I've been to so far. It has helped enhance my love of this country. It is easy, when you live in somewhere like California, to dismiss the "flyover country" as boring or at a slower pace as the "rest" of the country. Or rather, just the coasts. The richness of the culture, diversity and land has been really surprising.

Best surprise of the day was our visit to the Oklahoma City National Memorial. When planning this trip, I didn't realize we passed through Oklahoma until I looked at the map. Since we are visiting so many states, I decided that it is important for us to stop somewhere in Oklahoma. The first and really only thing that came to mind is to visit the site of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Luckily it was right off of I-40, the main interstate we have used to cross the country. As I was still in grade school when the bombing occured, it amazed me how much I remembered about the bombing itself. That may be partly due the the trial and summary execution of Timothy McVeigh in June of 2001. At that point, six years following the bombing, I was just beginning my political "awakening" and was preparing to go the Stanford University as a high school junior to take government and speech classes for the summer. Part of my preparation included purchasing newspapers and news magazines in the weeks leading up to the summer semester to prepare for our course work and debate requirements we would have to fulfill. One of the Newsweeks I purchased was the one published before his execution.

The memorial itself is really quite perfect. There is a good balance of space and use of the remaining materials of the building. It is simple and not overwhelming, yet it truly can not be missed. There are two large walls, one on each end of the block. In the middle is a long rectangular reflecting pool that is about 1/2" deep. On one side there is rows of chairs, each one for an adult or child lost in the attack. Each chair is inscribed with a name. There is also a museum in the neighboring building that contains more artifacts, video and oral accounts of the event. Unfortunately we were there too early in the day, as it opens at 1PM on Sundays. I highly recommend taking half an hour just to walk around the memorial itself.

Tomorrow we have a short day. We will leave Little Rock in the morning, stop in Memphis to visit the Rock & Soul Museum and then Graceland. Tomorrow night we will be staying with friends outside of Nashville. A portion of our drive will take us across and then alongside the Mississippi River, so I expect to have some great pictures tomorrow!

- LGM

Road Trip Day 2

Today was a big day. We ended up covering about 100 more miles today than yesterday. In addition we passed through 2 time zones which means I will have to catch up on sleep tomorrow. We finished driving through Northern Arizona, completed New Mexico and ended in Amarillo, Texas. We didn't get to see all the things we wanted to, but we did get a lot in.



First stop was the National Atomic Museum in Albuquerque. Very interesting. Got to see how nuclear technology is used for medicine, power and, of course, warfare. Had some great exhibits on the Manhattan Project and Los Alamos. Also had a good section on the Cuban Missile Crisis. Suprising it is also Congressionally chartered. We were lucky enough to get additional information from one of the museum's docents, who also happened to be a member of the original Manhattan Project. He had a lot of interesting things to say about nuclear energy as well. In all, a very good spot to check out if you are in Albuquerque. Pictures are of a WWII poster and me in front of a replica of Little Boy, the bomb that fell on Hiroshima.

Second was the International Rattlesnake Museum also in Albuquerque. I am so glad I stumbled across this little gem. I highly recommend the program Microsoft Streets & Trips (2008) as it helps you find museums, hotels, landmarks, restaurants and general points of interest within a 1 mile radius of your route. With that being said, rely on a GPS to get around town, as some of the road information was either not up to date or a little unreliable. Somehow while using this program this particular museum caught my eye. It was relatively small with two exhibits and all kinds of snakes and other creepy-crawly creatures. What made it stand out is all the information in the museum itself as well as being able to get so close to the animals. I've been in rattlesnake country for the last 10 years but this is the first time I've been able to actually see them up close. Definetly check this one out as well.

Missed the Wildlife West Nature Park and the Cadillac Ranch because it got darker quicker than we anticipated (time zones). Tomorrow we will finish the Texas pan handle, bust through Oklahoma (I hear its tornado season) and make out way to Little Rock, Arkansas. Stay tuned...
- LGM

Road Trip Day 1

This morning we packed up the old suburban and headed east. After sitting down last night and looking at the boxes that miraculously trippled in size and numbers when I wasn't looking, we vetoed the whole Rav4 idea. I think it would have had a hard time holding our luggage. Especially knowing how I pack... Here are some pics of the suburban and the family as we all said goodbye.

We covered 530 miles in about eight hours. By the time we had reached Kingman, AZ both of us were covering ground we had never been before. I have been to Havasu, AZ a few times and my father has been to Pheonix. Northern Arizona is nothing like either of us could ever imagine. It is covered in beautiful forests with large pine trees.

Before stopping for the night in Flagstaff, we stopped at the Grand Canyon Caverns for a tour. Named when they realized the air in the caverns comes from the Grand Cayon that is over 60 miles away, the massive dry cavern is quite impressive. Designated at one point as a potential fall out shelter during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the government stockpiled enough food and water for 2000 people. They forgot, however, to factor in why the cavern are called the Grand Canyon Caverns. The fall out shelter they created would have been useless in the event that any radioactive exposure reached the Grand Canyon as it would funnel right into the caverns. I'm attaching a few pictures from the tour.

Tomorrow we will cover the rest of Northern Arizona, fly through New Mexico and cross into the Texas Panhandle. Its looking like another 500+ mile day!

Check out my dad's post http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/showthread.php?t=613922

- LGM

Good Byes...

Just wanted to thank everyone who came to my Going Away Party this weekend. I had a great time and I know I'm going to miss all of you. Just remember, DC is only a 4 hour plane ride away and it is definetly worth it!

-LGM

Palin 2008