SORRY, I JUST CAN'T HELP MYSELF

I HAVE HELD OFF ABOUT AS LONG AS I CAN.   I just feel I need to express myself on the current state of the election campaign.  So, bear with me, as I may ramble a bit.  OK   OK    a lot.
First, the Dems.   Actually, there were three candidates, but one has dropped out, so now there is just Hillary and Bernie.  Neither of which is a good choice.  I almost want to leave this right there, but will say a couple of things.  Bernie is an avowed socialist.  Never has socialism worked for a country without problems.  Although we have a lot of things headed in that direction, the last I checked, this was still a democracy.  Shouldn't Democrats want Democracy?  And Hillary.  What can I say that I have not already said?  Not much, I guess. She continues to deny the things she has done wrong, and while the media will mention these things, they continue to not call her on them.  
Now to the Repubs. As of this writing, the field has dropped from 16 to 5.  Donald Trump continues to lead the pack.  And the pack he is leading is the public that continues to vote for him.  All I can think of is a pack of ravening wolves, with Trump the leader.  Depending on your point of view, Trump is a successful business man.  He has shrugged off the many bankruptcies he has had as just business as usual.  He is a bully and he uses the kind of language most bullies use; foul and often misleading.  He attacks any of hos opponents that start to get too close to him in the polls. When Cruz won the primary that he did win, Trump threatened to sue him for stealing the election. He stated that he hated to lose. Well, too bad.  We can only hope that he does lose even more on Super Tuesday.  I like Ted Cruz. He is campaigning on the issues more than any candidate and he is not attacking his opponents like the others are.  Following Cruz, I like Marco Rubio. I think either one of them would be preferable to Trump.  I like Ben Carson, but he has fallen so far behind that I feel he will eventually drop out, along with Mr. Kasich, leaving a field of three.  Time will tell, I guess.
So for a final wrap up on this post.   I do not like Hillary or Bernie or Trump.  I made an agreement with one of my daughters that if she would not vote for Hillary, I would not vote for Trump.  If it comes down to the two of them in the general election, I release her from that agreement, as I may have to renege on my part also.  While I don't like Trump, I think he will be better than Hillary.  Not good for the country, but better than Hillary.
And I will say this. I read an article a while back that while the Democrats look at the country's problem and the solutions from the Democrat point of view and the Republicans look at them from the Republican point of view, Trump looks at the problem and tries to find a solution to the problem, with a point of view of a business man, not a politician.  So be it.  Maybe that is what we need, but still, I find Trump hard to take.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

UNCHARTED WATERS

OR ROADS OR TRAILS; or whatever appeals to you. You do know what uncharted waters are. This is someplace no one has ever been.  Waters, or land or even space, that has yet to be explored.  So, today I am stepping into uncharted waters, or trails or somewhere. Actually, these places are really charted, as others have been there before me, but for me, having not been there, this is uncharted territory.  So, whereof do I speak? or write?  Well, this blog, in a way. When I started this blog a few years ago, I said I would not delve into personal things. Like my life. But I would make this a view from the ditch bank on my uneducated opinion of things going on around me. Got the most part, I have stuck to that dictum. I have made a couple of ventures into the personal on a limited scale, but today, I am going to get really personal, at least for me. It may never happen again. So here goes.  The uncharted territory.
55 years ago my wife and I got married. We were young, but we got married any way.  We have survived that 55 years in classic fashion, I guess.  Even though others have been getting married and raising families for eons, this was uncharted territory for my wife and I. We had to make our own way as we went along.  So what has this 55 years brought?  Well, it has been a bed of roses for the most part. But before you think I gloss over any thing, please remember that roses have thorns, and to actually lie in a bed of roses is going to cause you to get stuck with a thorn. So, yes, we have had our ups and downs. We have had good days and bad.  We have survived thick and thin, mostly thin, I sometimes think. Now, in the sunset years of our life here on the third rock from the sun, we still have each other to rely on as we make decisions that affect what we do on a daily basis. We have 7 children, 28 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. No more children, probably no more grandchildren and who knows how many great grandchildren may come of this. We have survived job stability and job layoffs. We are now retired and just going along the golden years.  You all know what the golden years are. That is when we have the years and the Doctors are getting the gold.
Being members of the LDS Church, we have been sealed by one having Priesthood authority for eternity. So, this 55 years will continue for who knows how much longer here on the earth and will continue on forever side by side through the eternities.  This is just a learning stage.  Here's looking forward to those years.   
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

WHO LIKES ICE CREAM>

I THINK THAT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS: But I do understand that there are people who do not. I don't know why they don't, but well, they don't. But this post is not about ice cream any way. It is about bowls. Super bowls, to be exact. Does every one know what a super bowl is? Well, there are several descriptions. One of them could reside in a bathroom. One of them could be a large bowl to eat ice cream, or cereal from. Like in a large bowl. And then there is the one that took place yesterday.  February 7th to be exact, in case you are reading this after February 8th. While I mentioned a few other types of bowls, I will talk a little bit about the super bowl game yesterday. 
I didn't watch the game. I have never watched a super bowl game. I don't see watching a game any time in the future. But I do follow the news items and a lot of it is about the advertising that goes with the game.  And the unbelievable amounts of money these companies pay to have these ads played on the TV for the "pleasure" of the viewing public. The Today Show played several of these ads today and the hosts, who are supposed to be grown up individuals, just cackled and carried on about these ads and how funny or endearing they were.  They especially liked the Dorito ad.  I found this one, as well as the others they cackled over, disgusting. I like Doritos, but if I had not ever ate them and thought I might like to, I sure wouldn't be enticed to do so from this ad. 
And can I just mention the half time show.  Well, this is my post, so yes, yes I can.  Once again, the Today show hosts just carried on and on about the half time show and how great it was and how great Beyonce' was and how this was a good place for her to showcase her new single that will soon be released. I listened to the "song", I use that word loosely, and I could not understand any thing she said, er sang.  I did see something on facebook about the song being an anti cop song. All I could hear was a lot of jumbled up noise.
Well, enough about that. I'll just keep a large bowl for ice cream and let others watch the foot ball game. 
Now I want you to notice I did not mention the tic race.  I am holding myself in on that, but I am not sure I can hold on much longer. After tomorrow I just may have to comment on things. I will try to be nice, but I assure you in advance, it will be difficult. 
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

HOW IS YOUR VISION?

THERE IS NONE SO BLIND AS THOSE WHO WON'T SEE
SO THEREFORE THEY DON'T AGREE WITH ME.
Yes, I know that I said I would try to not blog so much about the tics. And I am trying. After all, it is getting close to the end of January and I haven't broken that resolution yet.  Well, read on, cause that's about to change.  at least for this post. I will try to keep that resolution more as we go forward.  I also admit that may be difficult with this being an election year.  So, I will mention a few things that are on my mind today.
1. Our previous Governor, Bill Richardson, made sure  that the State of New Mexico issued drivers licenses to illegal aliens. IE. those who have came in to the United States without permission. AKA, illegally. Our current governor, Susanna Martinez, has tried to get the legislature to repeal this law for the 6 years she has been on office. To no avail. Well, now, the State powers that be has to do something, because the federal government will no longer recognize a New Mexico Drivers license as a form of Identification. They do not conform to the United States Real ID act of 2005. We have been given extension after extension to do something, and the Governor has tried, but the State tics in Santa Fe' have resisted. Now, there are many federal installations that even now will not allow people on government property.  My point of view; WHAT PART OF ILLEGAL DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND?  It seems like a no brainer to me.

2. Donald Trump.  If the general election comes down to a choice of Hillary ( to be mentioned in # 3) or Donald, I will probably vote for Gary Johnson.  Donald seems to have a lot of people believing that he can do wonderful things. To me, he is just a bully. He has money and therefore the power that wealth brings to some, and so he thinks he can just bulldoze his way along and bulldoze anyone who opposes him out of his way. He was friends with Ted Cruz until Mr. Cruz began to surge in the polls and then Donald began to say nasty things about Ted. He even called Ted a nasty man. Well, the liberal media has had to bleep a lot of Donald's speech's because he is a nasty man and his language leaves a lot to be desired.  He has a lot of ideas on what he will do to bring the country back to greatness. He blasts Mr. Obama for going around congress to accomplish his agenda, but it seems to me that Donald's methods will be the same. Really, he has no idea on how to accomplish any thing government wise, just ideas of what needs to be done. I feel that he will alienate other country's even more than some of our past presidents have.

3. Hillary Clinton. The darling of the press. It seems to me that the media is beginning to shy away from the full endorsement that they gave her just a few months ago.  It is difficult for them to do this, I think, but even some of them are beginning to see that maybe she is not up to par and so they are trying to shy away, without actually cutting all ties.  Bernie Sanders has surged ahead in the polls lately and this is scary to Clinton. My opinion, why can't people remember the scandals that took place in the White House when Bill was president. Why can't they remember that Hillary reported that she visited Iraq or some country and landed in the helicopter under enemy fire, only to be proven later that this was a lie and did not happen. Why can't the media remind the young people who may have forgotten or don't know, that the Clinton's stole $200,000 worth of furniture and China from the White House when they left it and got caught and had to return it. There is so much that is wrong with the Clinton's that I really couldn't post all of it, with out this post going longer that it already has. Just have to wonder WHY CAN'T PEOPLE AND THE MEDIA SEE THIS?

Well, this is probably not the last post I will make regarding my opinion of what is going on during this election year, but I will try, (I said try ) to keep my rants, uh Posts to the facts and only the facts, as I understand them and not just bash a tic just because I can.  And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

THE FIRST TRIAL

LET'S SEE HOW  THIS WORKS OUT:  If you read my last post of 2015, you will see I resolved to not rant so much on the tics. So, I will see what plays out. I have kept that resolve for 8 days now.  Watching the things as they play out in (on?) the news will make keeping that resolve difficult. 
New Mexico turned 104 years old a couple of days ago. As the 47th State in the union. Happy birthday to us. 
El Nino is working for us this year, as we have had a lot of rain and snow storms since Thanksgiving.  It snowed again last night. The land has been dry for a number of years and the moisture is welcome. Any rancher will tell you that a rain or a calf is welcome any time.  And while on the weather, and while the moisture is welcome and we can hope for it to continue, the weather forecasters need to keep in mind who is really in control of the weather, cause what they predict and what actually happens is not always the same thing.
Mean while, I will continue, with you, to watch the shenanigans of the tics as they countdown to the final vote this fall and see what plays out. It will be uplifting for some, agonizing for others, and we can hope that whatever happens we can hope that it works out the best, not for the Democrats or the Republicans or any other party, but for the American people and the country.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK 

I'LL TRY MY BEST

AS 2015 COMES TO AN END, AND 2016 COMES TO A BEGINNING:  I may have mentioned this in past posts. I didn't go back to check.  But if I have or have not, I will state here, I am not one to normally make New Years resolutions. While I understand, and believe that a looking back at the year ended and looking forward to the year coming up and making any changes that one feels necessary, I feel that if I need to, ( and I usually do) make corrections during the year, that time is the best time to make that life correction.  So, having said all that, after this post I resolve to try to make my blog posts more meaningful and less critical of those around me. Especially the tics.  I said after this post.
So while I feel that ones vote of personal and private, I am going to put myself out there and say this; I do not like Trump and do not intend to vote for him. However, in a contest between Trump and Hillary, I would have to shut my eyes, cross my fingers and vote for Trump. I don't like his ways of bullying and insults those who come close to him in the polls. I like Dr. Carson, but he is slipping in the polls and we will have to wait and see.
Now, I will end with Hillary.  For any one who is to young to remember, Or to enamored with her to think about it, please remember the time she was the first lady in a scandal filled presidency, and what it would mean for her to return, with Billary at her side.  Shudder. Also, remember   when they left the white house and George W. moved in, they had trashed the White House, removed the "W's" from the computers, trashed Air Force One and taken the White House China.  They were caught with the China, as it were and did return it, but still, her lies and deceit just can't be good for the country. And if the media would remind the public of these things, her campaign would go down the tubes. I think.  So, for any one who wants a Woman President, I have no objection, just no this woman.
Well, I guess that is enough for now, and we will see how long, in an election year, I can be a niver person, even to the tics.  AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

I'M REALLY GETTING TIRED

I'M REALLY, REALLY GETTING TIRED. A while back I said to myself, "Self, just back off from the posts about the tics".  I really wanted to just focus on other things in the few blog posts that I write. I have even considered blogging more about things closer to me, you know, like well, me.  But I have a hard time doing that, mostly and the tics just keep on getting, well, more tic,ky. So, here goes.
I a recent debate between Queen in her own mind Hillary and Bernie and another seldom mentioned Democratic candidate, Hillary made some unsupported claims about the Donald that she has been called out on. She refuses to back down.  And Donald. Well, if his language gets any worse, the country will run out of mouth washing soap before the elections are here, much less over. Would Donald make a good President. I think not. He is a successful businessman, but I think he will not be a good President. However, there is so much of the populace that is really tired of the current government leadership, that they are rallying behind him for whatever rhetoric that seems to spew from his mouth.  As for Hillary, She is being rallied behind for whatever reason I fail to understand at all.  It has been proven that she has told many lies about the things she has done. Even if you ignore a lot of what is said on social media, and take the liberal media with a grain of salt, Hillary still comes off in a bad light.  The media seems to ignore the face that she and husband Bill made off with hundreds, if not thousands of dollars of China and other items from the White House when they left after his term of office. They were caught and they did return said items, but they still did abscond with them. So what seems to be the draw for Hillary and Donald. I really don;t know. ( Are you getting tired of me using the word really?)  So, I think the best match up would be the seldom mentioned Democrat and Cruz or Rubio on the Republican side. Maybe a good look at an Independent candidate would be in order this time.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK