Arugula, Meat and Potatoes & Kool-Aid

First, I would like to applaud the fact the Tim and Jake have decided to start blogging again. It has been since August since we have last had the pleasure of reading one of Tim's posts and it has been since July since Jake last posted (his first post and only post at the time.)

Second, I would like to announce that this forum is not meant for politics. It is never mentioned explicitly in the second title of the blog and it was not intended to be a forum for politics, Democratic, Republican or otherwise. Despite that, if you do bring politics up, please try to bring Switzerland in play, see below.

Third, after spending the last 15 minutes reading the rants of the two afore-mentioned bloggers I've come to the following observations:

- Politics requires quite lengthy posts.
- There is very little room for facetiousness and humor in politics and discussing politics (this is not very Switzerland.)
- There is plenty of room for finger-pointing, name-calling, friends and enemies in politics (this is very Switzerland.)
- Altogether, I rate this discussion as a 6 out of 10 on the Switzerland scale. It fits some of the criteria but is seriously lacking in many of the key Switzerland elements. And it was lengthy and a bit whiny on both fronts. But thank you for writing again.

Fourth, I'd like to address the 6 out of 10 rating by adding some humorous quotes on politics. They are facetious, humorous and succinct:

- To Tim in regards to your comment of "we maintain bridges so that they do not collapse." - "Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where they is no river." ~Nikita Khrushchev

- To Jake in regards to this comment, "Where we differ is that I believe in his conviction and ability to make his bullshit come to fruition." - "Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy." ~Ernest Benn

- To Jake regarding Richard Clarke - "Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book." ~Ronald Reagan

- In regards to Tim, Jake, King Bush I, Clinton, King Bush II and Obama - "George Washington is the only president who didn't blame the previous administration for his troubles." ~Author Unknown

- In regards to Tim Cathcart (D-OR) v. Jake Rossman (D-OR) - "In politics you must always keep running with the pack. The moment that you falter and they sense that you are injured, the rest will turn on you like wolves." ~R.A. Butler

With that... I'm going to bring us back to an 8 out of 10 now,

James (I-OR)

P.S. A SE Portland Bar, some booze and maybe a street fight with some hippies (and Jake trying to play mediator instead of backing his boys up, e.g. the Dave outside Ringler's incident) will bring this up to a 10. So... What are you guys doing this weekend?