My Life Outside of Photography Thoughts and findings that don't always relate to Photography

Bridgewater for Board games Mike Lee for Senate

So the Utah primary is coming up and I want to give my insight for what it's worth.

When I first listened to the candidates I thought Mike Lee and Bridgewater seemed to be good choices. Mike Lee went on to continue to impress me and Bridgewater has not done anything that has made me feel he'd be the right choice.

The way I see it... Bridgewater would be my choice for a partner on a strategy board game (We'd have fun, be friends and win the board game) and Mike Lee would be my choice for the next senator.

(My ramblings below)

My style

For some of you reading this the first time... you'll find my writing style hard. Some will love it. Some will complain I didn't fix up all grammar. I'll tell you you're totally right about the grammar things but it's your ineptitude I'll be making fun of ... let's just get that out of the way and let you know what you're getting into.

So don't give me a Pulitzer, at least I took the time to write my views.

I'm me and these are my thoughts on Mike Lee and Tim Bridgewater

This is where i'm coming from.

Last big election I got even more into politics, perhaps you could say that many of what was being talked about (good and bad) helped to spur passion and cure what was left of my apathy.

I used to call the two parties the RepubliCrats because I viewed them as the same thing. Just different dollar amounts for or against the same problem. They didn't have different solutions to the problems just different levels of commitment to the same ideals.

OK so in november 08' I kind of made it a point to not vote for republicans. Sometimes it's hard in Utah where there isn't always 3 choices. But I did vote for a democrat (which I've always viewed as big government which I'm against.)

So recently I changed my party affiliation to Republican (I'm a believer in 3rd parties and against those that believe in the lesser of two evils principle) and in may I went to a caucus meeting for my area - Lehi. They read the party platform and I was seriously impressed. I thought these aren't the principles I was slamming in posts a year or so ago. These weren't the principles of the Republicrats I was totally opposed to and didn't want to see around. I didn't like Mr. Bush and these certainly weren't the platform for how he acted. (As a warmonger that increased the powers of the government.) This wasn't McCain who I didn't like. It wasn't Romney who I thought could help improve the government in the way someone can patch up a broken car to run a few more years. (Certainly not to change out the broken parts and get it running like new) He would just tune up a broken system, not change it.

These weren't the ideals of the party I thought was a joke. These were sincere... why weren't they actually doing what they preached?

The people in the caucus were smart and educated. They were mostly there because they didn't like the votes Bennett was making, they were there in part to stop him and make a change.

Why did I start helping Mike Lee?

Well it's all because of Connor Boyack. The kid genious the person who writes passionatly an amazing blog. Who doesn't flinch even when it's not politically correct. I told connor you know I'd walk door to door getting votes for you if you were running. He laughed it's pretty far from a possibility in his mind. He certainly has ruffled enough feathers that it'd be hard to get elected. But he's amazing kid and works tirelessly to educate about liberty and for me the stuff about religion is important as well. I respect his views soo much.

So he wanted a photographer to help a campaign. I said if you support him and think he stands for liberty that's enough for me. Enough to give of my time to do pictures for Mike. This was before the public declaration of being in the running when he was giving chats about the constitution. I mean I only knew so much... but I couldn't see anything wrong.

I came from time to time when connor said there was something awesome coming up and pictures would be great.

I made a declaration that anyone that would fight tirelessly and with correct principles for MY liberties deserved my support and that meant photography which is the most valuable asset I have.

So I'd do the same for any others that I was convinced were fighting for my liberties in the same way.

It's hard to know when it's a game, when it's politics and when the person truly believes and wants to help the country and is all about me and my liberties and supporting our constitution and form of government.

Til this day

I have now met Mike Lee and his family and his kids and the people around him. Now there's lots of people around him and I can't verify each one... I know many of them are very passionate and I know that I in times of passion have done dumb things. But now as for Mike... he's solid. I mean he uses some of the same stories but I guess it's new to each group and i can understand why. But I'd tell you if I was worried about something.

There are no worries with Mike, I'm being honest. I've heard some of the worries. It's not like I would never consider being on the wrong side of the issue but for now Mike is solid.

Concern 1 - That he would become like Bennett as he took office or be corrupted by washington.

Repsonse: I think someone that is deeply founded in principles is less likely to be corrupted and while it's still a possibility of course someone that's firm in principles even when it's less than popular is going to be stronger against the manipulations of washington. Now take someone that is a compomiser who is said to be good at politics and negotiations... they are said to get things done... but to me that just means they're more apt to sacrifice principles more often, it's a game. The end justifies the means. That worries me... it eats away at a person each time you sacrifice what you believe. I have seen little to make me think he would become a well intentioned puppet that would succumb to the games of DC.

Concern 2 - Lee Supporters

Some haven't liked the things the supporters have done or feeling they got from them.

Well sad, I don't know what to say about it. I haven't seen it... of course they love me and the pictures I take for them so they're not about to be rude or mean to me. So really I don't know what to say. The people I've met are pretty awesome. But I've only met a few hundred. (Far from all of them)

As for endorsements, I don't like one of the supporters of Mike Lee, I voted against him on the last election. It's important to note who supports a person but I don't see the guy very often and he's not vocal at all. Heck I'm not sure where he stands anymore. But I'd take that over a Bennett endorsement any time or day of the week. So really if it's about supporters for Lee vs Bridgewater and those were our only choices I'd take the Lee supporters. But guess what it's not. Oh i'd take the Lee endorsements as well.

I mean after all I'm pretty much giving my own endorsement to Lee - so obviously his endorsements are more awesomer. What amazing photographers are supporting Bridgewater? Yes I'm kind of poking fun at endorsements. They help and are meaningful sometimes and are meaningless the other 80% of the time. Let's not forget it was the endorsement of Connor Boyack that helped me initially trust Mike Lee.

Concern 3 - Energy Solutions

Response. OK I've heard many people talking about this issue. So I'll not touch on it too much because I don't know it all. My viewpoint is this. I believe in the concept of "I do not agree with a word you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it!"

In this case it's not the same, but perhaps It's a matter of if the constitution allows this I will defend your right. Heck I don't even know what energy solutions is doing and what the problem is. They have the right to be supported we can't neglect their rights under the constitution just because what they're doing is unpopular. Doesn't mean we have to allow it to happen either... just make sure it's handled in a constitutional way.

Again I wouldn't take me for a scholar on this issue, i've heard (and not memorized or about to do the quote finding right now) but it seems Mike is doing a solid thing so regardless of how you feel about energy solutions I don't think it affects him really. I know many are passionate and think it does. I say from all I've heard I believe it doesn't.

Concern 4 - Money

Ok so I confess I didn't know a lot of the concerns so I went to Bob Lonsberry's site who seems to have championed himself as the voice against Lee. He says his chief reason is that mike lee has school loan debts. In his Dave Ramsey world this is uneceptable and reason alone for him to not be in charge of the nations money and yet he flaunts that Mike makes lots of money.

Perhaps I shant respond since I myself have school loans to pay off but have opted to invest money into my business and pay the small interest for now.

The thing is I want someone in congress that says look at all these programs we're spending money on... they're not the role of our government lets rethink this and get rid of them. I guess lonsberry is saying Bridgewater will manage those programs better, like no child left behind... what I'm saying is Mike Lee will check his operating manual and say well hot dang these aren't proper we could get rid of them. -I'm not his adviser or anything but sounds like what would happen.

Eventually Tim's own personal money will run out after spending it all on his own campaign (which I personally don't have a problem with) and he can't fix everything that way. Solid solid principles will win.

It's funny that I go to Lonsberry to learn what people are upset about Mike for because the first time I heard who Lonsberry is was because of a post chastising Bridgewater for an anti ad against Mike Lee. (That's a side note of course in fact I can't find the post now... maybe it wasn't Lonsberry I make no claims to amazing memory for names of authors)

On the other side Bridgewater

I'd like to be open to hearing all about what's really going on. I'll try to do the same with bridgewater and the problematic things I've heard. Like here http://stopbridgewater.com/

I want to know more about how he seems to justify away many of his principles. I mean what I say I'm sure he justifies all those things like using stimulus money and yet hating the stimulus package, or opposing no child left behind and yet profiting off of it. Or wanting a smaller government and yet helping to keep it big by using government money oh so very often on business ventures.

Yeah so they both seem to have ghosts. (I guess we should just suppose everyone does)

I don't know where Bridgewater stands on all my personal liberties. Where he stands on enlargements of the powers of the government. Where he is on things like Patriot Act?

What I have seen is a very astute politician. I've thought to myself several times he's made good political moves to get momentum on his side. Moves that I felt were to play on the emotions of the masses. Personally I thought they weren't for me and reminded me of every other politician or a business man that will do what it takes to win. Good for him. But like I said I want someone who stands on principles and says I'll always do what's right and let the consequence follow. Sometimes there are repercussion to doing what's right. But it turns out good in the end.

Bridgewater for Board game strategy - Lee for Senate

I'm going to study more about Bridgewater and hopefully beyond the talking points. But I see Bennett#2 in him and that's my opinion right now. He's someone you'd want on your team for a strategy board game, he's got more money and probably more fun at a party. But I want the man who will fight like a lion for ME and my rights and my liberties who will fight to restore the republic and uphold the constituion with undying zeal. That's Mike Lee - I'll be sad if he doesn't make it. I'm not dumb enough to vote for bridgewater if I don't think he's the best option and there will be more than 2 choices in november and as of now he wouldn't even win that vote unless I'm convinced of the passion behind his words and that he won't be a hypocrite and justify doing things against what he says... anymore. Heck I've done dumb things. But for now we don't have to worry about worrying about believing the true change of heart... we have Mike Lee.

Pictures

Anyway it's been fun to be more involved in politics. Fun to see my pictures around everywhere. Heck bennett used them on fliers and on TV even. Now Bridgewater uses them too. Not sure if they're allowed to or not... but I don't want this campaign to be about my pictures. They were as a donation to those that would fight for me and my liberties. If they aren't supposed to use them and use them in bad ways shame on them and they should stop. (Or heck they could ask me) but then they'd have to qualify. Are they fighting for me and my liberties. I suppose I'd have to let them use them. I've taken lots of great pictures of Bennett, Eagar, Bridgwater and Lee and many of the other politicians at rally's and conventions and debates.

Recap

Lee stands on principles and he would continue to do so as a Senator, I believe this firmly.

Bridgewater is a politician and a game player and it's impressive and it's also what I don't like about DC, but I could look past that.

I am yet to be convinced when things get tough Bridgewater would stand on principles. Would he pick the hard road or play political games?

So far I think Bridgewater would be more of a Justify his actions type of guy... which is what I saw in Bennett (who was always trying to explain why he voted for TARP and other terrible programs) Sometimes the right choice will have sad consequences like a time of economical healing we don't need justifications as to why an unprincipled move is best to keep things status quo.

If Bridgewater get's the slot on Tuesday I will do more studying of him and the 3rd parties... I will vote who is the best person and I'm just saying Tim might not get my vote in November, I don't look at who has the best chance to win, with me it's all about who is the best person. I vote like in grade school where you put your head down and raise your hand. No crowd mentality... I wish more people would choose not to vote like it were a sporting event where they vote like they're at Vegas.

My offer

If Bridgewater is on the November ballot and can lay aside my concerns I will offer my services as photographer free of charge like I would with anyone that can prove they are going to fight for my liberties and freedoms and uphold the form of government as stated in the constitution.

VOTE

Not many people vote in these primaries. Therefore if you're in Utah go and vote. Today is last day of early voting ( i think) and then primaries is the 23rd (i think)

Because not many people vote in primaries votes count for a lot more. Just last month I saw an election spot (for congress) go to someone because of 1 vote.

Not saying this one will be one vote but maybe the 100 people that read this article all go out and vote I could easily see the election decided by 100 or so votes.

Good places to find out stuff for yourself http://www.mikelee2010.com/ - http://timbridgewater.com/