They poop, pee and chew – anywhere, anything!
A bit of time and patience and they will learn, and you will have what we all crave in life: loyal, devoted, adoring, loving friends. Even if others think you an ass.
Richard Kimball
Sign up on my Blog at: richardkimball.org
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Medium.com at: https://medium.com/@daffieduck2016
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1917 to Forever
Ah, for that time when people sought their elders, not because they ran fast or thought fast but because they were contemplative, thoughtful and steeped in a long life of experiences that nurtured a thing called wisdom.
Lots of older people have it. You likely have some in your neighborhood. I remember one living next door named Jack. He had led a Forest Gump life, only with a brain. Starting with nothing, as a kid he shagged balls for Babe Ruth and Lou Gerig. Then later when hitchhiking to Washington DC, he got picked up by Eleanor Roosevelt. Working his butt off, he got degrees from two universities, practiced law, served in the Maryland state legislature, and eventually became Dean of George Washington University School of Law. That was just after his Marine days were over, where there was nowhere to sit but on the dead body of Japanese he had killed. Then a guy named Earl Warren asked him to come straighten out the administrative mess at the Supreme Court as the Clerk, where a painting of him still stands in thanks.
After that he became president of two universities, while also serving as chairman of the boards of three of the world’s largest corporations.
One day, after one of my program directors took a swing at me because he had been fired, I retaliated with a left directly on the nose.
An hour later, I saw Jack working on the pool pump behind his house. Very upset, with my heart still pounding, I walked over to Jack for some wisdom. “Jack” I said, “You have been so successful in life, how did you handle it when you had to fight?”
He thought for a moment, then looked a bit confused and said, “I don’t think I ever fought with anyone.”
Richard Kimball
Sign up on my Blog at: richardkimball.org
or
Medium.com at: https://medium.com/@daffieduck2016
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Unknown to most citizens, the U.S. Senate had a Candy Desk. Generally staffed by Republican senators and managed by tradition, it existed for half-a-century and was responsible for secreting sweet snacks onto the Senate floor. It was perhaps one of the longest standing circumventions of their own laws-in this case, the Senate law that prohibits food on the Senate floor.
It started back when senators once got along, even liked each other. But about 15 years into it, Democrats decided to have their own Candy Desk.
Kindness, friendship and cooperation left Congress long ago.
The original Candy Desk was begun back when members of congress and their families often lived in Washington full-time, instead of rushing back home at every opportunity to politic and raise the $10,000 a day, 365 days a year needed to win re-election.
Back when money was not King and families and friendships were, members of congress got to know each other, even like each other. If you are old enough, you might even remember a few famously odd friends: Tip O’Neill and Ronald Reagan, or Jack Kennedy and Barry Goldwater.
Washington was different back then. Members of a Congressperson’s family often lived there, you were in the same social circles of dinner and Embassy parties, members stuck around, their children went to the same schools. You were just less likely to call the father of your kid’s best friend a lying bastard.
Civility could win the day and won a lot of good government.
Richard Kimball — Vote Smart Founder — still learning — my blog is coming
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Given all that we have done to each other lately, it can be difficult to be proud of ourselves. But as a citizen would say and every patriot knows, when disaster strikes some distant land, the people there won’t think, “Russia is coming to help us.” No, they won’t think, “We can count on China’s aid.” No, what they will think is this, the people of the United States of America are on their way. And for that and that alone you can be immensely proud of your country this 4th of July.
Richard Kimball, Vote Smart Founder
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We say the most hateful, despicable things about one another, we are armed like no other and willing to kill. Enemies we once worried about across the world, have now moved in across the street.
Thirty-four years ago, I promised Presidents Ford and Carter along with 38 other national leaders of their day that I would not utter another word about politics. I would simply focus on building a system to which any conservative or liberal could turn for the facts about those who governed or wanted to replace those who do. In turn, they would support a national system, using students from universities across the nation to build an immense database of facts covering the over 40,000 politicians running for office and their power to govern our lives.
For a time, the idea grew and had a chance to pummel dishonesty and dishonor to death. However, current events have rendered honor irrelevant both without and within and thus that system is on life support.
The result of 34 utterless years? Twelve thousand, three hundred and eighty-eight days of corked, unstable explosiveness about my fellow man.
My blog will be eclectic, with comments about the present, the past, a bit of humor, and a good dose of learned philosophy, along with occasional chapters of the autobiography I am writing called, “The Life and Times of a Nobody.”
It may please and anger you in equal measure and be absorbing to no one but me.
But you are welcome to follow me on Medium.com
Richard Kimball – Vote Smart Founder
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