For those of you who have been reading my column, I would like to thank you very much. The feedback I have been getting has been for the most part been overwhelmingly positive, and that is quite humbling. Then again, the occasional hate mail is also humbling as well.
I have decided to go full throttle with my blog, and try and take it to the next level. I have decided to enter the Bloggers Choice Awards (Thank you to Political Vindication for telling me about it). I will be running in two categories, that of best political blog, and best overall blog. I believe that with enough help, I can win. I am requesting that those of you who feel I am worthy click on the link below and vote for me. If you do not feel I am worthy, please develop a bout of temporary insanity.
http://www.bloggerschoiceawards.com/blogs/show/21020
I am not a salesperson, nor am I a politician. I feel totally comfortable shaking hands and slapping backs, but I have never been good at asking people for things. Even as a kid, asking my dad for money was not easy. He would give it without any aggravation, but asking for some reason was tough. It just takes a special breed of person to go up to somebody, especially a stranger, and say “give me this.”
A lot of people criticize the presidential process, and how the best and brightest do not run because the indignity of being beholden to so many people is beneath them. I think it is the opposite. Those who run are the ones that are prepared for a grueling process, and it actually does prepare them on some level for actually doing the job.
Luckily for me, my column is a hobby, not a job. However, having said that, I want to make some promises to the people who have taken the time to read my column.
1) This column is not going to become a full time campaign. Once people get away from the core of who they are, they become a shell. The example I often use is Ellen Degeneres. Her activism never offended me, but when she incorporated it into her comedy television show, she forgot that the purpose of the show was to be funny. Her show was then cancelled because she did not “stick to the basics.”
My responsibility is to write well, and provoke intelligent discussion, or in some cases, just discussion. People do not want preachiness, nor do they want solicitations. So after today, it is up to you. I promise to keep my column focused on the issues themselves. I am just the conduit.
2) Despite jokes to the contrary, I do not “mail it in.” David Letterman jokes that he has been mailing it in for 30 years, but the truth is every show is hard work, and rumor has it he is overwhelmingly self critical, because it takes a ton of effort to look effortless. His self depracating nature hides a burning passion to succeed, and he never stops trying to improve.
NFL Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning promised America that he was not going to be lazy next year now that he has his Super Bowl ring. Many athletes win a championship or get a big pay day and then simply slack off. As impressive as winning a Super Bowl is, I am also impressed with Peyton’s letting America know that his desire to be even better still burns. That separates the great from the good.
So I promise you that I will put my heart and soul into every column I write. I read all the feedback I get, and I am determined to make the Tygrrrr Express the best column ever written. In business, the term is called a BHAG, which stands for “Big Hairy Audacious Goal.” Everyone should have one, and I did not start this blog to be anything less than the very best. I will keep trying.
Lastly, I will continue to be the same person. For those of you who dislike me, well (insert nasty word here) and the horse you rode in on. I have had the same friends my whole life, and I will continue to stay true to myself. I will advocate things I believe, dispute things I am against, and stay neutral on issues I simply cannot force myself to care about. If I know nothing about a topic, I will say so. I will continue to treat those who disagree with me with dignity, but will lacerate those that try to use hatred to advance their points.
This is my personal Contract with America and the blogosphere. I started blogging reluctantly, because I felt it would be the height of arrogance to think that anybody would care what I have to say. The fact that people do care is wonderful, but my head is far from swelled. The blogsphere has millions of options, so to be one of them, even for a fraction of a second, is a fantastic feeling. It makes me want to strive harder, to raise the expectations bar, and to do everything I can to justify the good will shown me.
Other contracts have had 10 items, but I am stopping at three. My parents made very few promises to me when I was a kid, but they kept every one of them. The result of that is if my parents tell me that there are martians on the roof, I do not need to go check. I know they are there. They would say the same about me.
I thank you for your support and your votes, and will make sure that my desire to win the Bloggers Choice Awards never comes at the expense of the reason why I feel I should win…that I consistently day in and day out write quality columns.
Oh, and if anybody knows any dead people in Chicago that can help me out, or if you are feeling lusty and want to impregnate a Chad (she looked like a Chadrina at the time, always check the adams apple), make sure I do not know about it.
Great, the campaign just started, and already my hands are getting dirty. Ok, off to find some peccadillo scrubbing lava soap…and then find somebody to deliver a sack of cash to Mistress Evil to keep her quiet about our version of entertainment.
eric
Bravo! :) I will attest to the statement that you put your heart and soul into every post, which I can’t claim to do all the time myself. You certainly have quite a large amount of heart and soul, apparently.
You’re just warming us up before you announce which office you’re running for.