Thoughts and Links on Tuesday Night

The big buzz all over the social media today is that Mitt Romney spoke at the NAACP convention, and was roundly booed (for about 14 seconds) when he said he would put an end to "Obamacare" (or "Romneycare" if you can't call it the P.P.A.C.A.). In the end though, he did receive a polite standing ovation. You have to give the guy props for showing up to what he knew would not be a sympathetic audience. He kept his cool as a thick-skinned politician should.

While I agree with the sentiment of the audience, and must admit to feeling a little schadenfreude at his expense, I think it was over-the-top. And I really hope that society has not come to the point where we are so polarized that any politician will be required to stay in their own bubble of supporters in order to avoid having half the crowd booing and jeering.

On the one hand, I do appreciate that the exchange was genuine, and the audience was able to give feedback on what they thought of Romney's idea to set back health care, and allow people to continue to die because they can't afford insurance or treatment. On the other hand, was it really necessary to go on for 14 seconds? Fluffy says that boos are appropriate in that context because applause is also appropriate. I'm not so sure, but apparently in this event, punctuating organ music is appropriate too.

Politicians should be held to answer for their ideas and their statements, and it is understood that many of the consequences of their actions have far-reaching and serious consequences. But what are we if we lose our civility? Can we not take the high road and disagree without being disagreeable?

Think about the annual State of the Union Address that the President delivers to a joint session of the U.S. Congress. What if that forum allowed open booing? How would that make us feel as Americans to be that polarized? We were right to criticize Joe Wilson, when he breeched decorum and shouted "You lie!" at President Obama. It's already hokey enough that half the room feels it necessary to jump to their feet, cheer, and clap as if their lives depended on it, while the other half sits stone-faced with crossed arms and smirks (looking at you Eric Cantor).

What do you guys think about this? Whether you agreed with the NAACP members or not, was it appropriate to boo?

A man drowned in Lewisville Lake Saturday, after his inflatable Zodiac boat capsized in strong winds. Contrary to some initial reports by witnesses, the victim was not in a life jacket when his body was found. Last week, Fire Chief Tim Tittle told us that he has never pulled up a drowning victim off the bottom of the lake who was wearing a life vest. Please, please be careful out there, folks.

Highland Village ranks #2, and Flower Mound ranks #8, but Lewisville is all the way down at #34 on the list of best suburbs to live, according to D Magazine.

Lewisville-based orthopedic products company Orthofix will pay $7.4 million to resolve bribery charges. An article in the Dallas Observer says their parent company also just recently paid $42 million to settle Medicare fraud claims.

Maybe some CEO over there is preparing to run for Governor of a red state, since apparently defrauding the government is not a disqualifier from doing business or gaining elected office.

Is there a Texas law or regulation that you think is burdensome or hard to comply with? Take the Texas Red Tape Challenge, and help lawmakers with ideas on how to cut red tape.

NTTA's worst toll violators have racked up six-figure debts with thousands of unpaid transactions each. NTTA posted the list, and it is stunning.

Over the course of this summer, my oldest son's cello has sat in its bag, on the stand, without being touched. I've been trying to think of how to get him to put away the Xbox for awhile and pick up his bow and play. I was amused by this video, which I think might remind him of how proud he was in his first year of playing. He really needs to pick the thing up, because I still have a few more months of paying for it.


But this video brought a tear to my eye. If it doesn't make you smile, and swell up with just a little pride for what timeless culture that we as human beings can still share, then have someone check for a pulse.