Promise Turned to Dissappointment in 2008. Bring on 2009!

As the snow flies outside my windows for the last time in 2008, I wanted to grab a few moments to reflect on this past year, and perhaps look forward to 2009. This year really started out with such tremendous promise, and is ending, at least for me, with some serious disappointment. 

At the start of 2008, I was becoming consumed by the primary runoffs, and encouraged as I saw a man, in Gov. Mike Huckabee, who gave me great hope that many of my perspectives might be once again represented at the highest level of government. First catching my attention in the debates, then remembering the good things I had heard about him in years past (covenant marriage, his "tax me more" stunt, among others), the more I explored and learned, the more enthusiastic I became. I started donating - twenty bucks here; fifty if I could spare it, and even volunteered to be a county coordinator! The embers of my political fire reignited, I started reaching out to my local political organizations, to see what could be done. I started a journal again, both as a source of encouragement, and a measure of progress. I even started this blog after having a couple of articles posted on Huck's national blog.

Personally, on the business side of life, leads for some big projects were coming in greater quantity than they had ever in the past. It was looking to be a really good year!Heck, we even got the opportunity later in the spring to move from the wilds of Whately, MA on down to Newington, CT, and back to civilization - so my wife was happy too!

The first disappointment of the year came when big voices on the Right started trashing my candidate. Call me naive, but I really thought that these folks I'd been listening to, and reading opinions from for years would see in Huckabee what I saw. To my chagrin however, they piled on with the mainstream media in their criticisms, and dismissals. It was eye-opening to see how quickly social conservatives, and the so-called "religious right" was being thrown under the bus, even by those who professed to lead and defend our interests! I'll never hear Ingraham, Hannity, Limbaugh, Carr, or read the National Review the same again. I still respect their voices in our movement, but know that when push comes to shove, people who share my views are the ones who're going to be shoved aside.

Of course this first disappointment resulted in a second, even greater one. Somehow, our party had chosen John McCain as it's nominee. With all these great candidates...John McCain?!? It makes me really want to re-evaluate the primary process, that's for sure. Could we have chosen a weaker candidate? The race for the presidency was sealed, and nothing, not even the breath of fresh air swept in by Sarah Palin could turn that candidacy around. 

It frankly, seems all down hill from there. The unstoppable force of Barack Obama swept over the immovable object of the Clintons, everwhelming even their formidable influence. Not even "Operation Chaos" could stop that train. Slow it perhaps, but not stop it.

What happened next, is still in my mind like a bad nightmare I keep hoping to awake from. Seems as if President Bush just quit, and caved to the Fed Chairman and Treasury Secretary. The bailout debacle was beginning. Just talking about this subject, or even thinking about it, is frankly uncomfortable now. How?!? Why?!? They're going to do what?!? Oh, now they'll vote for it after $150 billion in pork was added?!? It's simply unfathomable.

Then came the election. Historic? In a superficial way. Nevermind his lack of experience, or who he calls "friend", or his big government, wealth redistribution views, or how he doesn't want his daughters"punished" with a baby...he's "African-American". So tell me how that's not racist?

Now the year is ending with far-reaching economic pull back, if not utter collapse. Projects are being cancelled. Industries are struggling. Capital is being frozen. Terrorists have struck India. Massive corruption is being exposed in Minnesota and Illinois. War is breaking out between Israel and Hamas. And that doesn't cover it all.

The New Year seems an empty slate. It's as if anything, good or bad, could happen in 2009. I have no prognostications for this new year, nor the hope I felt at this time last year. No, I will cling to my faith in God above, and in Jesus to intercede at the Father's throne for his bride. I encourage you to pray with me for family,  friends, our leaders, our countrymen, and for those around the world who seek His face. May God bless you and yours in the New Year!