dear pops

In an effort to lure my dad onto my web log (you notice I refuse to use the abbreviation for web log (blog) but prefer to stick to the actual name-I do this in honor of Skinny T. Wright) I have decided to use my dad's comments as fodder for web logging activities. Please forgive. If you do not know my dad, then you can go ahead and ignore what I am about to write. But, I don't think anyone who fits that description even knows about this web log. So please continue, unless you finally realize that you should be doing something worthwhile with your life instead of wasting it away reading web logs while you are thinking you should be doing something worthwhile. Especially when the web logs are about my boring, insignificant life.

Before I start, you must realize that all through 2004 my dad rode around in a large suburban with a small w'04 sticker on the bumper. That should say it all. But, I must add more. He also placed a bush/cheney sign at the end of our driveway. I think he received it from some republican group because of some kind of donation he made. Now, before you race to the comments to reprimand Dr. Frandsen, let us examine why he loves Bush so much.

In my dad's last family letter, which he distributes weekly, he wrote the following:

What did you think of the Scalito nomination? Are you able to stand up for your conservative values in Hillary Clinton's bastion of liberalism? President Clinton's jaunts are not too far from you, are they? From what I can glean from the articles in the paper and magazines, he is an amazing man with impeccable credentials. And, anytime Senator Schumer, another New York bulwark of sensibility, goes on the offensive against a nominee, I know the nominee is one for me. Actually, when I found out that gourmet cooking was one of his hobbies, then I knew he would be a good justice. And, then when his 90 year old mother matter-of-factly told the press 'Of course he is against abortion,' I knew again he came from a good family. What is the scuttlebutt on the street?

I intend to dissect his statements and provoke his comments (remember, the point of today's web log is to lure him into the commenting). So I will answer his questions one-by-one.

Q) What did you think of the scalito nomination?

A) A well-qualified judge from within the 'judicial monastery' who is a home-run nomination compared to his botch-of-a-nomination Harriet Miers whom he couldn't sell to his conservative base, much less his liberal opposition. However, I'm afraid the conservative might be surprised when he doesn't overturn Roe V. Wade because of lack of precedence Gourmet cooking was not a selling point for me; however, the fact that he attended a fantasy baseball camp for the phillies in '93 was.

Q) Are you able to stand up for your conservative values in Hillary Clinton's bastion of liberalism?

A) Bastion of liberalism? Michael Bloomberg, who won yesterday's reelection bid for nyc mayor, is a conservative, or at least a republican, as was Mayor Giuliani before him. So, even though it's really hard, I'm hanging on by just a thread.

Enough with the Q and A. I just want to say a couple more things. Dad, why label yourself part of any political organization, democrat or republican, liberal or conservative? It seems like you are rubber-stamping all of Bush's moves these past couple weeks just because you are republican. I think you must admit that he hasn't been doing things perfectly. What do you think? Huh? Huh? Huh?

Lastly, I would like to highlight the transformation for the better that I have experienced. When I came home from Taiwan I found myself listening to sean hannity in my car. I was starved for anything on the radio. I'm happy to say that shortly thereafter I switched my attention to better-equipped pundits: jon stewart and stephen colbert. Check out the comedy central website to learn more. So pops, judge for yourself.

And that's all I have to say.