Mikayla Runs For President - 2008

The 3rd grade at school this year is having a mock election on Tuesday to help the kids learn about our election process. Mikayla was telling us that she could choose to either vote for John McCain or Barack Obama. She said she was going to vote for John McCain because he seems like a nice man. Bryce was listening and he said he was going to vote for BOrack BObama because he likes his name.

I asked Mikayla if there were any other choices to choose from. She said that there weren't. Mikayla asked who I was going to vote for and I told her that I was voting for Bob Barr. I told her to let her teacher know that they left people off of the ballot. They forgot about Bob Barr. I said this jokingly but I guess Mikayla took me serious so she told her teacher about it the next day.

By the end of the day her teacher asked her if she would represent Bob Barr in the 3rd Grade election. She now has to give a speech in front of everyone along with two kids who get to pretend to be McCain and Obama. She's pretty nervous but we've been practicing on her speech and she is going to do just fine.

Here's the speech she will give tomorrow:

Bob Barr for President 2008 by Mikayla Dodge
Liberty for America

My fellow 3rd Graders. I am Bob Barr and I would like to present to you a better alternative for President of the United States. I am running for President as the Libertarian Party nominee.

Let me first start out by telling you briefly what the Libertarian Party believes in. The Libertarian Party believes in smaller government, lower taxes, and more freedom. We want a system in which people can choose what they want from life and that will allow them to live, love, work, play, and dream in their own way. Each of you is unique. The Libertarian system will allow you to develop to your full potential.

As your President I would do several things to make this country great. First we need to reduce and limit federal spending. This will allow us to become more competitive in a global marketplace. I would also like to set a firm withdrawal plan for our troops in Iraq. Each day that we are in Iraq we loose American lives and it is costing us $400 million a day.

One of the biggest things that touch each of our lives is paying taxes. The United States is in great need of tax reform. I want to reduce this tax burden on each of you. We need to change our tax code to make it fairer and easier for everyone to understand. A flat tax will do this immediately. This will also start with cutting back our government spending.

I also am a big supporter of our 2nd Amendment. I have been a board member of the National Rifle Association since 1977. I am against any law that will restrict ownership of firearms to law abiding citizens.

All men are created equal. Our government should not make laws that discriminate based on race, religion, or other personal characteristics. We are individuals and should be treated equally. A vote for me would ensure that you each retain your individual rights to choose for your self.

Each of you faces a choice today. You can vote for the same old parties that will limit your freedoms and increase the role of government in your life or you can vote for Bob Barr. A vote for me is a vote for freedom.

Thank you.

Buffet Village

I forgot to mention that last week Jen and I were going through the Jack in the Box drive through to get a milk shake. They are right next door to Buffet Village. Parked in the parking lot was an animal control truck. I really hope he was just there to eat lunch.

3rd Semi-Annual Mt. Pleasant Ward Time Out For Men

The time has arrived for the 3rd Semi-Annual Mount Pleasant Ward Time Out For Men. Let it be known that this is the original Time Out For Men. Any other wards having an activity by the same name are impostors.

We are heading on a road trip for this TOFM because our current church does not have a satellite hook up to watch conference on. We are eating at BUFFET VILLAGE in Gilmer. It's a Chinese Buffet/Mongolian grill. It is rumored to be a money laundering operation since no one can figure out how the place can have so much food available at such a cheap price. My theory on the whole thing is that maybe when we think we're eating chicken we really aren't. Have you noticed that there a never any stray dogs and cats running around in Gilmer?

Oklahoma 911 Call

Trouble For Bryce

Bryce got in trouble five of the first six days of school. This includes the first day of school when he got in trouble before class even started.

He also got in trouble the day he went to register for school last year. What a great kid we have.

My Mom's 38!

Jen went to Bryce's Kindergarten class the other day to do a 'Get to know you' presentation for Bryce. Every kids mom or dad has to come in and tell about their child so the class can learn more about them. When Jen got there the teacher had Bryce introduce Jen. He said to the class, "This is my mom. And she's 38!" Everyone thought it was pretty funny and of course it embarrassed Jen but she thought it was funny too.

Living with Jesus

The other day Jen took Bryce to pick Mikayla up from school. Across the street there are some houses. Bryce told Jen that when he gets married he was going to buy one of those houses so his kids could walk to school. He said Mikayla would live there and her kids could walk to school too. Jen asked him, "Where will I live?" and in the most seriouse voice he replied, "Mom, you'll be living with Jesus."