The Michael Scott Paper Company

It is a lovely Friday morning. Last checked I have survived another day without Flunami 2009 sneaking up and pouncing on my unsuspecting immune system. While watching CNN this morning, they had a roundtable discussion on if the Republican Party is dead; or if a third party should be formed of more centrist Conservatives. In some parts of the country, the Republican party is dead. Of the eleven New England states, in the 1988 election, George H.W. Bush won eight of them. Obama won all of New England in 2008. Even after the 2000 election, 40% of the house members were Republicans and eight of the twenty-two senators were part of the GOP. Today there are ZERO Republican members of the house and only two Republican senators. (And let's be honest, Senator Collins and Senator Snowe are very moderate Republicans.) I think people are being short-sighted. Political parties come in favor in waves. Let's take fifty years ago. Democrats dominated the Deep South while Republicans had a strangle hold on New England. Republicans are plotting right now. In 1994, led by Newt Gingrich, they created a Contract for America which succinctly stated everything they were for. I would look for a second Contract for America to arrive about Labor Day 2010. In it they will come out and say they are the party of national defense and lower taxes. They will keep it embarrassingly simple. Polarizing figures like Sarah Palin will be silenced and new leaders like Eric Cantor will carry the new torch. Democrats have two years now to accomplish whatever they want to do. Let's hope they use their time wisely. Health care reform comes to mind...

1. This past weekend I finished the book The Brethren by John Grisham. I give it an A. It is my third favorite Grisham book after The Firm and The Rainmaker. It's really good.

2. Very interesting political news came out last night when liberal Supreme Court judge David Souter announced he is looking to retire in the next few months. First off, Obama needs to create some balance on the court by placing a female supreme court justice. I am anti-affirmative action and this has nothing to do with that. For the good of the country, it is important to have more than one justice be a female. In addition, I don't know if there ever has been a Hispanic justice. I don't care about the politics. Considering the Hispanic-American is the fastest growing segment of our population, it would be beneficial for them to have at least some representation on the highest court.

3. Currently listening to "This is the last time" by Keane.