Politics are just like celebrity news....I promise.

I have always liked politics. I mean, I thought they were fascinating. But in that "I know nothing about you so you fascinate me" kind of way... hmm, kind of like celebrity news....anyway.

I have always liked talking about politics. I mean, I thought it was fun. But in that "I know nothing about you, but I like to argue so Ill argue any point just to get to talk" kind of way.... hmm, kind of like celebrity news.... sorry.

I went to lunch the other day with some folks, a business lunch. Discussion started with a story about a man who was arrested in the U.S. for playing AlJazeera news in his home. One man at the table agreed strongly that the U.S. was doing its job in taking this traitor in, another man thought that was the most ridiculous statement.

The conversation quickly went from the innocently arrested man, to the war in Iraq, to Israel, to Freedom of Speech, the Constitution (and its validity), the U.N. and much more. We talked about Isreal, Lebanon, Iran, their interrelatedness. It was about the point where one gentlemen started arguing that if Israel would just agree to the UN treaty to return land, not the original (insert year here) treaty, but the (insert year here) treaty we would all be fine.

This was the point I realized that I really had just always liked talking about politics, but know nothing about them. I walked away realizing I had a lot to learn. I remember my poli-sci teacher in college teaching me that I really could run the government if I stood up for what the government really was. All I had to do was take action, like it is created to allow me to do, as well as everyone else and we would have our run government.

Im actually thinking about it. Why not? And I think you should too. So I have included some of my favorite clips of poltics as of late. Hoping to spark some interest in those around me that there really are things to learn, really are discussions to take part in. And, inevitably, I will go to work today and discuss that Anna Nicole Smith's lawyer is the father of her baby girl, Dannilynn.... perhaps at the same time we will discuss Karzai's visit to the White House, or what really is going on with Iraq and Iran. Give it a shot... its a lot like celebrity news, I promise.

Proof that politics can be a lot like celebrity news:
They can be friends and enemies in the flip of a switch:
On bin Laden, Karzai says: "If I told you he was in Pakistan, President Musharraf, my friend, would be mad at me. But if I said he was in Afghanistan, that would not be true." -Afghan President Hamid Karzai .... and they can be kind of funny too!

They make good points, every once in a while:
"It doesn't guarantee a good government, but means you can vote out a bad one", - Former US President Bill Clinton on democracy.

Backbiting for Life!:
The New War
The Defender attacks his counterpart.....
Former President Clinton on Fox News Sunday:
During his interview with Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday," President Clinton also said he came the closest to killing bin Laden and suggested that his administration took the threat of terrorism more seriously than the Bush administration did before the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Clinton also lashed out against "the right-wingers who are attacking me now," saying the same people had accused him of being "obsessed" with bin Laden.

"They ridiculed me for trying. They had eight months to try. They did not try. I tried. So I tried and failed," he told Wallace.

The Counterparts best friend speaks on his behalf.....
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in response:
"What we did in the eight months [between Bush's inauguration and 9/11] was at least as aggressive as what the Clinton administration did in the preceding years," Rice told the New York Post in comments published Tuesday.

"The notion that somehow for eight months the Bush administration sat there and didn't do that is just flatly false."

But Rice told the Post that "we were not left a comprehensive strategy to fight al Qaeda."

The wife defends her man.....
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
"I think my husband did a great job in demonstrating that Democrats are not going to take these attacks," Sen. Clinton said.

"You know, and I'm certain that if my husband and his national security team had been shown a classified report entitled 'Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States' he would have taken it more seriously than history suggests it was taken by our current president and his national security team."

Sometimes politics and entertainment mix:
"He's gone on to be governor, and I still think I'm Batman," George Clooney denying rumors of a possible run for office.

And some personalities will really surprise you...
My new favorite is Tucker Carlson (4 & 6p.m. on MSNBC). He actually stands his grounds, doesn't like Democrats or Republicans, and demands you keep it clean.

"You‘re trying to scare dumb people into giving you money by telling them that we are on the verge of a theocracy when you know—because you‘re sophisticated enough to know that that‘s just not true." -Tucker Carlson to author of “Why the Religious Right is Wrong About Separation of Church & State,” Rob Boston

Another example...
On Ann Coulter, Author of 'How to Talk to a Liberal (If Your Must)':

PAPANTONIO:  ...But to really understand Ann Coulter you have to focus on the fact that this is a woman who has never had a relationship with another person that lasted longer than gestation period of a (INAUDIBLE). 

CARLSON:  Wait a second Mike.  I will not have that, because you know what, I don‘t know how many times you have been married, if at all.  But I‘m not going to find out, I‘m not going to bring it up on the show because it‘s not germane.  Going into people‘s personal lives is out of bounds. 

PAPANTONIO:  Tucker, she has invited this discussion.  She‘s the one that has been now accused if you read the book -- 

CARLSON:  Not on this show.  We‘re not going to talk about people‘s personal lives unless they‘re doing it in public we‘re not talking about it.

And if you are not satisfied with any of that, I suggest you read this article.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/09/27/shortcuts.countries/index.html

All in a day...

So this weekend was big. I mean, I think "big" is the only word I can really come up with. I thought about calling it a roller coaster. But then I thought, no, it wasn't really that feeling. Emotional- definitely, lots going on. You know, you start your job and everything seems new. Then it seems things in your life that were the norm, and not new, change as well.

It was just one of those weekends.

I left for my second week in Charlotte, all I could do was sing to Jesus and cry. That is all I did, really for the two hour trip. It was fabulous, though my eyes were starting to hurt.

I was about out of gas and I wanted to just wait and then get gas on the way out of town on Friday. But you know, something told me I just needed to stop. I did, at a rather frustrating gas station. But anyway. I prepay and am filling the gas when this man peaks around the gas pump. Full of John Deere equipment, wearing a John Deere shirt he utters "what kind of mileage does that thing get?" I responded I had no idea.

He proceeded to ask what kind of car it was, what year, etc? He then moved on to why Im driving and where Im going. What do I do? Do I travel, because I should. All the way to "how old are you?" I reply 23 and he says "oh, your just a baby...." He was probably mid 60's so I can be fine with the comment.

Seriously a ten minute conversation ensued with him ending telling me how proud he was of me. That I went to school and got a master's and a good job and travel all before Im married. He wished me the best of luck in my career and told me to enjoy it.

Seriously, I felt like I just got a big hug from my grandpa, as he sent me on my way. It was a big hug from Him.

Then I make it to the hotel. Go check in.... the man at the front desk says "Do you stay at a lot of Omni's?" I responded, No....this is my first one.

Well, you are a "select guest" with us this week. Im like, great. No idea what that means.

He tells me my room number and sends me to the elevator. As Im leaving he says "just slide your key to get off at your floor...your in one of our suites."

I smiled, thinking he had something wrong.

I slid the card, and got off at the floor. I opened my room, to serene music playing. I walk around the corner to see a plush king size bed, a chair and ottoman, a desk, etc. Round another corner to the couch and side room. And all with a wall of windows overlooking downtown.

WHAT?!? Its my SECOND WEEK OF WORK. Im not supposed to be in the suit. Thats for the partners.

But God makes the little ones special. Yes He does. And He has made me feel real special tonight. And Im thankful. So Ill wrap up in my complimentary robe, stick my sign on the door that brings me my complimentary diet coke and newspaper in the morning. Ill lay on my big, plush bed and feel my tired eyes. Tired from crying to my loving Father. Because that is all I can do, is cry to Him. Because He is just that good.

Those lonely men in the hotel lobby....

.... or at dinner in all the restaurants.

You know who I am talking about. I used to think about them a lot when I would see them. I would watch them (which is not shocking as I like to watch everyone). I would make up stories about them. About how miserable their lives were, because they were away from home all the time. Or how happy they were to be away because they hate being home. Stories upon stories.

I used to wonder how they would spend all their time. What could they possibly do to fill a whole night after work. I mean seriously, do they just sit in their room all night? And that is why they are in the lobby so early in the morning looking so lonely? Cause they had nothing to do and went to bed early.

You know what I realized tonight?

Im becoming one of them. Im that person at the restaurant that some kid is going to make up stories about. Im the one in the lobby early in the morning, possibly looking lonely.

But you know what else? I work enthusiastically throughout the day. I get "home" and check email before catching up with the whole group of Raleigh folk here in Charlotte through sametime (EY instant messenger) and decide where we are going to go eat tonight. Then I go and eat and get to know more and more about my new co-workers. We plan our dinner perfectly to get back to the hotel at 8 sharp.... to head to the concierge lounge to get hot cookies that come out of the oven at 8 on the dot. We enjoy a cookie and some tv/chat time before heading back to my room to change and head to the workout facility. Running into a few familiar faces in the gym I enjoy some tv on the treadmill (more tv will come in the coming weeks with the real shows starting soon...) After a nice work out I head back to my room for some cool down and clean up. Throw a couple phone calls in the day and Im packed.

Thats when I thought, maybe my stories weren't so on point. Maybe if I pull back my vision a little bit I can see the whole story. That person at dinner, is actually enjoying a rousing conversation with friends, also called coworkers, and its on the company! Maybe that woman looking lonely in the lobby is in fact looking around and waiting for who she is meeting to walk to work.

Maybe its not so bad afterall.

Im sure I will get tired of hotels and restaurants. Its only the first week. But for now I cannot lie. I can find myself complaining about someone else coming and making my bed everyday. Or about someone buying my meals at new restaurants every night. And the fact that someone wants to have a hot baked cookie for me every night at 8 on the dot, not so bad either.

So what can I say? Im enjoying this new job. Getting to do what I love to do, what I have been studying for a while. And to work for a firm that wants to thank you by going above and beyond for traveling for them, I just cant find a lot to complain about at this point.

So the next time you see the lonely guy in the lobby, give him a nice smile for me. He's probably my co-worker.