Rhubarb Report: Episode 31

You’ve survived the holiday season – regardless of which holiday(s) you were celebrating. You might have put forth some resolutions for the upcoming year. You are feeling rejuvenated by the first few days of the new year. If you are in Austin, you have even been celebrating 70 degree weather in January – a treat, to say the least.

One thing never changes though – the growth of fresh rhubarb. There will always be news which reminds us that truth is stranger than fiction. The first new rhubarb for 2012 is upon us. Imagine this – it is chock full of politics and yummy vitamins. Enjoy Episode 31, the first episode of 2012!

1. The first Republican caucus is now over. Goodbye, Iowa as we see your reflection in the rear view mirror on the way to New Hampshire.

I have to ask the question – Did Rick Santorum really, seriously, end up in a virtual tie for first? Only a handful of votes behind Mitt Romney? Is he the next great thing to hit the Republican radar? Really? Consider me a little bewildered at best.

What is perhaps even worse is that Mitt Romney got something to the effect of 6 votes more in 2012 than he did in 2008. Poor Mitt. The Republican party just can’t seem to get behind him, but he really really really wants to be President. No, really.

Ron Paul finished in third place. He does show signs of brilliance, followed immediately thereafter by the inability to put together a complete sentence. And that laugh of his is downright creepy. Newt Gingrich is now reminding us that he is the only candidate that can “change Washington” – and promptly forgets that he was the epitome of “Washington insider” in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Speaker of the House does qualify you as a Washington insider, Newt, lest you need reminding. Rick Perry is spending bushels of dollars to finish fifth, but apparently is still heading to South Carolina. Michelle Bachmann packed it up and went home - thankfully.

2. A little history lesson directly related to the Iowa caucus or, better yet, to the upcoming caucuses, is in order. For all of you concerned about the results in Iowa, let me remind you that previous Iowa winners were Pat Robertson and Mike Huckabee. History tells us the rest of the story there. It might be more important to put a little more focus on South Carolina. Every Republican presidential candidate has won South Carolina. If that is the case, then hold on to your seats: the fate of the Republican presidential candidacy will reveal itself January 21. But I thought the Mayans said that the world would end on DECEMBER 21, 2012?

3. Finally, one of those issues that will certainly prove divisive amongst the American populace – the announcement of cuts for defense spending. Many of those demanding a more robust military (and subsequently taking issue with the cuts) will, I suspect, be the same people who refuse to raise taxes or who want Medicare eliminated. They may also be the same people that were ok with paying a trillion dollars or so for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

My question is this: in the year 2012, in an era where computer technology is an everyday part of our world, where the Internet drives virtually everything, does having an “old-school” military make sense anymore? Debate all you want about the money issues, but I wonder if this may be a good way for the military to become leaner, meaner, and better able to deal with the current issues around the world – and not less so. When a kid with a computer can hack into your email from afar, or take down a network with a few quick keystrokes, it would seem that the future of our national security is at the keyboard, not in the battlefield.

Photo credits: Wikipedia