My Votes Contain Some Surprises- Even to Me

My Election Ballot came in the mail last week. Here is how I will fill it out. I offer these choices publicly in the hope my influence, however small, gives reason to those who are undecided to vote as I do. (To those who would disagree. Save your time and breath. Being critical at this point won’t change my vote and will only serve as divisive commentary). 

President of the United States: 

Mitt Romney in 2007 in Washington, DC at the V...

Mitt Romney

No surprise here. I support Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. I am proud to have supported Romney from the start of the Republican Primary process. He is a man of incredible kindness and accomplishment. In fact, his many personal acts of kindness and generosity exceed that of any Presidential major party nominee in memory. His business acumen is unchallenged.

President Obama has failed. For those who say he inherited a bad economy. I agree. But in saying this you ignore that the economy had rebounded and posted 3 straight quarters of respectable growth over 3.8% in 2010 and hasn’t been above 3% since. That’s the wrong direction. This is no longer Bush’s economy. This is Obama’s economy.

One last point to the hardcore Conservatives and Libertarians out there. Please be smart and not emotional. A vote for Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party or Virgil Goode of the Constitution Party is a vote for Obama. And if you vote or support Constitution Party of Libertarian Party ideals there is no doubt Romney is far closer to your views than is Barack Obama. This is going to be a very, very close election. The 2000 election was decided by less than 300 votes. Your protest vote for Johnson or Goode could very likely be singularly responsible for putting Obama back in the White House for four more years. Don’t be selfish. Vote for Romney and lobby for him to take positions closer to your stances. Romney will at least listen. Obama would laugh you out of the room, if you ever managed to get into his room.

Washington State Governor 

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Rob McKenna

This is so easy. Attorney General Rob McKenna has a moderate appeal that is perfect for the Evergreen State. He can govern from the Governors Mansion with the same even-handed approach he showed in the Attorney General’s office and while serving on the King County Council.

Jay Inslee has zero executive experience. His ideas are straight out of the Ultra-Liberal handbook. And based on hearing him in two debates I doubt they’re his ideas. I doubt he has the mental capacity to formulate these ideas. Seeing him side-by-side with McKenna showed no doubt he was outclassed in every way.

U.S. Senate 

Official portrait of Senator (D-WA).

Maria Cantwell

This is a tough one. Michael Baumgartner belongs to the party  I most identify with. But, for me, he lacks a certain gravitas I feel is necessary for such a high office. Senator Maria Cantwell has that gravitas, even if I disagree with much of her political views. But with the shamelessly worthless Patty Murray occupying my state’s other Senate seat I don’t feel we can be totally unrepresented in the U.S. Senate. Murray’s presence makes it essential for keeping an effective voice for Washington State that we re-elect Maria Cantwell.

U.S. House of Representatives (Dist. 8)

Dave Reichert gets my vote. He votes Conservative most of the time, and he is a genuine environmentalist. Not the type of trouble making environmentalist who believes people are bad and the world would be better off without us. He’s the type of environmentalist I think I am. He believes its good and important for Washingtonians to get out and enjoy nature.

I don’t know Karen Porterfield. And given my passion for politics that should tell you something.

Washington Lt. Governor

I’m voting for Bill Finkbeiner. Brad Owen has been in there long enough. This largely ceremonial position is one for which Owen has used to enrich himself. Time for him to go.

Washington State Attorney General

I was solicited at my front door by those who “hoped I would support pro-labor candidates”. In particular Democrat Candidate Bob Ferguson for Attorney General. Labor has too many advantages in this state already. Combined with an anti-Ferguson TV ad that I consider devastating my mind was made up.

Vote for Reagan Dunn.

Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands

After Clint Didier lost his outsider’s bid for Governor two years ago I was glad he decided to continue in politics. He gets my vote because he is a true Conservative with life experiences that make him a very compelling future holder of high office. I hope so anyway.

Gay Marriage: Referendum 74

I vote to uphold marriage. I vote Rejected. No I don’t call it “traditional” marriage. It’s marriage. Period. Seriously, the idea of Gay marriage is simply absurd. Sorry. I mean no offense. Really. I don’t. I’m fine (really I don’t care) who you love, who you sleep with, who you live with. Do what makes you happy. But don’t tell me its marriage. Sorry. It’s simply not.

Defending my position is pointless, because the supporters of Gay Marriage will label me a hater. To which I say. YOU are the ones doing the hating. Very simply, keeping marriage laws as they have always been doesn’t discriminate against anyone. A Gay man can marry the same individuals I can marry. So where is the discrimination?

Sadly, this measure will be Approved according to all polls, and our society takes one more tiny step away from tradition and morals that serve us better than those we’ve run toward in the past forty years.

Legalized Marijuana: Initiative 502

A very tough call for me. A very very tough call for me.

I believe marijuana is a gateway drug that leads far too many young people to other more dangerous narcotics. And even if it didn’t the effects of marijuana on many of our youth are devastating. The cliche` “stoner” is cliche` for a reason. Dumb, slow, ignorant, unmotivated….that is the classic stoner. And legalizing marijuana only perpetuates this cliche` and makes it likely we’ll see more of this type of unmotivated slacker. Just what our society needs. NOT!

I’ve seen the effects of obsessive, addictive marijuana use on my own family members. It’s absolutely devastating to a person and to a family. Why would I want to have this happen to one more family?

The answer is I wouldn’t. So, despite believing in individual freedoms and the freedom to fuck-up, the freedom to fail I won’t be responsible for making it easier for individuals to do so.

So I’ll be voting No, and I urge others to do likewise.

(To illustrate how torn I am on this subject…I started writing this section with the intent of Voting Yes and convincing others to do so. But in writing I literally talked myself out of it).

Washington Initiative 1185- Public vote or 2/3 Majority for All Tax Increases

Washington state voters have approved this initiative before. Overwhelmingly. It’s maddening that our legislature has ignored this law and never renewed it. It deserves approval again. Politicians need for it to be difficult to raise the people’s taxes because politicians find it so easy to do so.

Vote Yes for Initiative 1185

Washington Initiative 1240- Charter Schools

This is another slam dunk. In fact to vote against Charter Schools amounts to nothing more than voting support for teacher’s unions. It’s not about what’s best for kids. I love and respect teachers. I don’t feel that way about their unions and don’t feel those unions need any more support in this state. Washington Democrats bend to their every whim already.

Creating Charter Schools for all students to attend only increases choice for parents and their kids. Why wouldn’t you want to allow that to happen. Additionally, privately run charter schools all over the country are widely successful, and usually outperform their public school counterparts. I want that for my kids and for my future grandkids. Vote Yes for Charter Schools.

Washington State Secretary of State

Kim Wyman- R

Washington State Treasurer

Sharon Hanek- R

Washington State Auditor

James Watkins- R

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

October 23, 2012
Categories: Business, National Politics, Washington State . . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: Comments Off on My Votes Contain Some Surprises- Even to Me

Gubernatorial Debate | KCTS 9 – Public Television Serving Seattle, Central Washington and British Columbia

Please be informed. Please watch the entire Washington State Gubernatorial Debate from Yakima here on this link.

Washington State Attorney General Republican Rob McKenna shows great command and knowledge; while Democratic Congressman Jay Inslee is sometimes incomprehensible.

Gubernatorial Debate | KCTS 9 – Public Television Serving Seattle, Central Washington and British Columbia.

Seriously, after watching in all fairness you have to come to the same conclusion I have. The only thing that keeps Jay Inslee from being the dumbest person in Congress is that Washington Senator Patty Murray beat him to it.

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

October 9, 2012
Categories: Business, National Politics, Uncategorized, Washington State . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: Comments Off on Gubernatorial Debate | KCTS 9 – Public Television Serving Seattle, Central Washington and British Columbia

Seattle Sports Doldrums. Time to get Mad.

 

 

 

English: The top of the Space Needle in Seattl...

 

 

 

A weekend of ineptitude from the Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Mariners has me frustrated and wanting to take a pound of flesh from some of the teams administrators.

 

 

 

The Seattle Mariners wrap up another losing season in the next three days with a young team that has some promise, but none of it in the vicinity of an acceptable Major League offense. Our swabbies were swept in Oakland the past three games by an equally young Athletics team. The Athletics youth is just about the only resemblance they bear to our Northwest 9. Oakland will play in the American league playoffs, probably as a Wildcard entrant. But given they possess the best record in baseball since the start of June they can be counted on to make some noise.

 

 

 

The Mariner’s too have had a better second-half of the season than they had in the first half. Since July 5 Seattle actually has a winning record at 38-37; compared to a miserable 35-49 in the first half. But as reporter Geoff Baker writes in this morning’s Seattle Times the league worst offense has only gotten worse, scoring just 3.63 runs per game compared to 3.87. It’s a familiar story too many Northwest baseball fans have become used to. Seattle has been at the bottom of the Major League offensive categories for 4 straight years. Their losing record reflecting accordingly.

 

 

 

What’s sad is during this time they’ve possessed arguably the best pitcher in the American League in Felix Hernandez. During this time Hernandez has won a Cy Young Award, finished second in the voting another year, and is likely to be among the top 5 vote getters again this year. Seattle’s other pitching has been less impressive but good enough were the offense not so completely inadequate.

 

 

 

First Baseman Justin Smoak is an unquestioned failure. He has blown up his batting average over the past two weeks with some solid hitting; but for the season that’s only lifted his average to a woeful .214 with 19 home runs and 50-something RBI (no I’m not looking up the exact number. What’s the difference between 51 and 59?). My only hesitation in making this proclamation is that outfielder Michael Saunders has rectified his carrier with a .250 average and 19 homers this season. I would have written him off before the season after he’d managed more yawns than thrills during parts of four seasons with the Mariner’s prior to this season. But seriously, how excited should we be about a fourth year player who’s best season is .250 with 19 home runs? At best he’s a fourth outfielder on a good team.

 

 

 

The number of disappointing Mariners doesn’t stop with Smoak and Saunders. Dustin Ackley, Mike Carp, Franklin Gutierrez, Casper Wells, Brendan Ryan, and Miguel Olivo arte all hitting what used to be considered pathetic offensive numbers. Seattle not only doesn’t have a .300 hitter this season. They don’t have a .290 or .280 hitter. They have catcher John Jaso as a part-time player hitting .277 as the only representative north of .260.

 

 

 

As we watch the playoffs this October with young American League teams like the A’s and Orioles competing for a championship, devoid of a Seattle representative for an 11th consecutive year, let’s forget the pathetic cliche` “wait until next year”. Next year won’t be any better if Mariner management doesn’t get its act together and throw out some of the young experiments that didn’t work. Specifically any of Seattle’s outfielders could be a solid forth outfielder. The rest can be discarded. We need a whole new outfield. One that can hit. Smoak should also be shown the door in favor of a 1st baseman that can hit for power and at-least a respectable average.

 

 

 

Safeco Field in Seattle.

Safeco Field in Seattle.

 

And Mariner management needs to do three more things unrelated to on field personnel. Chuck Armstrong needs to go as Mariner President. Outfield fences need to be moved in. And a policy to keep the Safeco Field roof closed unless it’s sunny and 60+ degrees needs to be established. Everyone from Ken Griffey Junior to Jesus Montero knows the ball carries better with the roof closed. And it’s warmer, for better fan comfort.

 

 

 

Speaking of missed opportunities. We’re watching a big one with the Seattle Seahawks this season. The Seahawks possess a championship-caliber defense, running game and special teams. All three of those areas of the team have performed spectacularly in the teams first four games. And yet all the team could manage was a 2-2 record that’s one controversial call away from being 1-3.

 

 

 

An active volcano, Mount Rainier is one of thr...

 

It was acknowledged by everyone that the choice to go with Russell Wilson at quarterback to start the year would require some sacrifice while the young player grows into an NFL caliber QB. Coach Pete Carroll was and is enthralled with the potential of his 5′ 10″ third round draft choice. But here is one thing Carroll seems to have ignored, Matt Flynn is young and loaded with potential too. But Flynn has something Wilson doesn’t…four years in the NFL. Flynn also has a Super Bowl ring, and an NCAA National Championship. Put those two together, along with some other factors, and what do you have? A WINNER. Matt Flynn is a proven winner. Having him stand on the sidelines while Wilson slowly learns his craft is a waste of the other very talented aspects of this Seahawk team.

 

English: Green Bay Packers back-up quarterback...

Quarterback Matt Flynn 

 

The argument that Wilson gives Seattle a better chance to win in the long run is simply stupid since Flynn too possesses plenty of attributes that would lead a reasonable football fans to conclude his growth is currently ahead of Wilson’s and could potentially be great too.

 

 

 

There is no question Wilson is an outstanding young man worthy of respect and praise. But with the worst passing attack in the NFL, a-quarter of the season is long enough to determine that the Seahawks need better play at quarterback right now or they could blow a season the is rife with promise and potential. Flynn is just as capable of handing the ball to Marshawn Lynch as Wilson, he can see and read the field better, and he CAN throw the ball extremely accurately according to most observers.

 

 

 

Please Pete Carroll; make the change. Install Flynn as the starter this week against Carolina. A trip all the way across the U.S. is tough enough. Tougher still, when you’re a rookie. It’s time to see Matt Flynn.

 

 

 

Thanks. I had to get that off my chest.

 

 

 

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

 

 

 

Call us for affordable video production.

 

October 1, 2012
Categories: Sports, Washington State . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: Comments Off on Seattle Sports Doldrums. Time to get Mad.

Conflicting Feelings For a Parent.

Your author, step-mother Terri, my Dad Jerry Schuett, and brother Jeff.

I’m not the only one out there with conflicting feelings about my parents, or any specific parent. I can’t be. And this blog and other blogs I’ve written confirms this for me.

Today, had he lived my Dad would have been 75 years old. Unfortunately he was only on this planet until he was 64. At 48 years of age I can say with far more assuredness than I felt at the time of his death, that’s too damned young.

My Dad died of liver disease brought on in part by medical malpractice and in part, I’m guessing, with his life long habit of enjoying a cocktail whenever he felt like enjoying a cocktail.

Jerome Mathis Schuett was born September 26, 1937 to Delores and Shelby Schuett in Bellingham, Washington. He was born to people of moderate income and moderate everything else. Which is to say…he was born an American.

He was fiercely proud of being American, but his pride came from little effort of his own. He lived a life in which he tried to do what he wanted, when he wanted, and be damned anyone who in any way inhibited his selfish desires. He was American.

I clashed with my Dad through much of my teens and early adulthood. I never felt he was racist, but in today’s context few would say he wasn’t. He opposed me marrying a black woman. I distinctly remember jokes told in a family setting in my childhood that were racially tainted and disturbed me. But I also remember him speaking highly of people of color who impressed him. I remember him calling me Jackie Robinson for having ignored his opposition to marrying a black woman and saying, “You showed that it was all right”.

I felt he lacked ambition. And I felt a lack of respect for him because of it. But he worked for himself the last 27 years of his life, running his own business. Having done the same for the past seven years I have a new-found respect for how difficult that can be.

My Dad lost his temper far more than anyone would like. He never showed a reverence for Jesus, that I feel. My Dad seldom showed much reverence for anything that didn’t immediately serve his specific need or purpose. But he always counseled me not to hurt others. He always counseled me to NEVER start a fight, but if I did I better finish it.

It’s hard to imagine how my life would be shaped without him. But 25% of our nation is raised without a father. It’s frustrating to think of all the angry episodes he displayed for me in my formative years for all to see; and how in spite of my vow to not do the same how I have on far too many occasions done so.

What I can’t get over, what I can’t reconcile in my heart and in my mind……………………..is how much I miss him and wish he had been available to me for counsel during some of the more trying times in my life.

My Dad was an extremely flawed man. Which, I guess, means that I am likewise. Because I will never forget his death-bed. At one point when he could no longer talk I said, “I hope you’re proud of me.” Though he couldn’t speak he almost cried, and with his reaction told me all I needed to know to forgive him his many flaws, and to love him the rest of my life.

You have parents. Hopefully they are loving and free of the contradictions that cause my conflicted emotions for my father. But as I’ve written before, if he/she is there, if they are present in your life, they have fulfilled more than what more than 25% of American fathers fulfill. Be grateful. Because someday, like my friend Rob McBride told me a long time prior to my own fathers death and a short time after his own father’s death, “forgive him for your own sake. You’ll miss him/them when they’re gone.”

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

September 26, 2012
Categories: Uncategorized, Washington State . Tags: , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: 2 Comments

Weight Loss And Nutrition that Works!

Sunday-9-23-12 just for fun I tried on my son’s 30-waist jeans. I was wearing a 40-waist in June, just 3 months ago.

What is AdvoCare? Someone like myself may say its something miraculous. But for the uninitiated its a nutrition, energy, and weight loss program and business opportunity that can fill your needs whatever they may be, and help lead you and your family to the one most important goals of all…happiness.

I’m still new to experiencing all that is AdvoCare so don’t expect an expert’s opinion on everything you may be curious about. This is just one man’s perspective on what I’ve experienced since diving into this remarkable company. It’s products and diet recommendations have allowed me to lose over 23 pounds net since late June and allowed me to go from a 40 inch waist to 32. My wife, Sonja, has lost even more and is now looking more like the gal I married 25 years ago. I’m so proud of her.

It started with me nearly 2 years ago with the death of my Uncle. He died at 61 of a heart attack. Combined with the death of my father in 2001 at age 64 and the death of my Grandfather, their Dad, some years ago at age 65 I was scared of what lay before me. I was 47 and at 245 pounds the heaviest I’d been in my life. And I didn’t like the prospect of dying at such a relatively young age.

I had been over 230 lbs., and closer to 240, for most of the previous 20 years. It seems silly to write now but prior to my Uncles death I honestly didn’t consider losing weight important. But now I did. I vacillated for months but upon seeing some very unflattering pictures of myself from a family Easter gathering in 2011 I decided to get busy. Have you ever seen unflattering pictures of yourself? If so you know what I mean.

In the 2 months since this “after” picture was taken in July 2012 I’ve lost an additional 10 pounds.

I began eating all my meals on salad plates instead of dinner plates to better control my portion size. I’m a big eater and I thought this would be important. I began eating more salads, more leafy vegetables. While I’d been very consistent in exercising for 8-9 years I stepped it up. I even joined my neighborhood gym at the start of 2012. After 10-11 months of this changed behavior I weighed the same as I had when I started. Damn!

It was time for something drastic. A friend I’d worked with previously had found great success in health and financial freedom from AdvoCare and had introduced me to AdvoCare‘s 10-Day Cleanse in July 2011. I lost 7 pounds at that time and mistakenly thought I had momentum enough to keep it going. I wonder how many others have made the same mistake; doing something well for a short time…then returning to the same bad habits from before.

Sonja’s lost over 30 pounds and even more since this pic was shot in July 2012.

I started the AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge June 18, 2012 along with my wife. It began with the 10 Day Herbal Cleanse that we’d both liked previously. The Herbal Cleanse is a non-eventful fiber and nutritional supplement program that cleans out your digestive track of impurities and long time undigested material. It sets your body up to receive and better absorb the good nutrients and healthy living that is still to come.

Following the 10 Day Herbal Cleanse the Lean in 13 program makes up the remaining 14 days of the 24 Day Challenge. What AdvoCare provides is:

Spark- their leading selling product. It’s an energy drink loaded with B-Vitamins. And helps you feel great.

OmegaPlex- As you’ll see in this video Dr. Frank Oz see’s OmegaPlex as a vital supplement ABOVE ALL OTHERS from other supplement suppliers:

Meal Replacement Shakes- I just love these. The shakes come in four flavors. Chocolate is my favorite. Unlike many protein shakes AdvoCare Meal Replacement Shakes really taste good. Also, unlike other products, you don’t mix them with milk. Which goes a long way toward making them more effective. And also unlike others I’ve tried, they really leave me full, satisfied, for hours.

MNS Max 3- MNS stands for Multinutrient Dietary Supplement. With it you receive a strip of pre-packaged supplements you are to take through the day. Since they’re packaged together in separate packets and easily labelled, it couldn’t be easier. MNS Max 3 provides maximum nutrients, appetite suppressant, sustained energy release, and much more I won’t trouble you with now.

Lastly, an optional add-on to the 24 Day Challenge bundle is Catalyst. And Catalyst is the one supplement that is almost magical in what it provides. For me Catalyst just makes me stronger and makes me look so much better. When on Catalyst my workouts are considerably better, and my body is toned in a way I’ve never seen it before.

I also received diet suggestions that didn’t have me starving or going through the chore of counting calories, or counting anything. I still enjoy wonder food like tacos, chicken, salmon, trout (which I catch myself) and peanut butter, nuts of all kinds, and almost all kinds of fruits and vegetables. I did not need to spend my time becoming a nutritionist for this to work for me. That was important. I am too busy to bother with examining every littler morsel that goes into my mouth. Besides AdvoCare has a Scientific And Medical Advisory Board of extremely well accomplished physicians and researchers who you know wouldn’t put their names and reputations on the line for supplement products if they weren’t safe and healthy. And professional athletes like AdvoCare national spokesman Drew Brees and Matt Hasselback have tremendous physical requirements for their professions and still use and endorse AdvoCare, and are not paid to do so.

Through all the weight loss my wife and I have maintained high energy which is very important since she works a full-time job and I operate my own video and audio production company, Total Broadcasting Service, while raising our kids.

As good as AdvoCare‘s products are I’ve come to believe it’s best product is it’s business opportunity. Yes, AdvoCare is a direct-sales, or multi-level marketing company. But if you let that discourage you from checking it out you really aren’t paying attention. Unlike many direct-sales companies AdvoCare has products people really want, and as a distributor you are not instructed to deceive your way into sales. You aren’t required to buy and stock products. And how many multi-level sales companies work to help their distributors so much by getting its name out before the public by sponsoring numerous major sporting events, like Nascar, the AdvoCare Independence Bowl, FC Dallas soccer, and more.

In just the first five weeks of representing AdvoCare as a distributor, while working no more than 10 hours per week above my company work, my wife and I made $500. Do you think you could use an additional $500 per month? How about $1000? How about $20,000 per month. Would that give you some financial freedom like you’ve never experienced before?

My friend who got me into AdvoCare has been a distributor for only 3 years. He and his wife make $20,000 per month, and their income is still growing. He and she have left the corporate world where they earned good livings and now work just 25 hours per week helping others grow their AdvoCare business. Can you see yourself leaving a job that you hate, or that you are not well paid, or that takes you away from your family too much in exchange for an income over $240,000 per year while working less than 30 hours per week? That’s the kind of financial freedom I expect for my wife and I through AdvoCare. And early indications are we’re well on our way.

You can buy your 24 Day Challenge or any of AdvoCare‘s many health, nutrition and skin-care products at our website: AdvoCare. When you do you can buy the products and remain just a retail customer, or you can spend a mere $79 and become a Distributor allowing you to buy products at discounts of 20%, 25%, 30% or 40%.

Now, of course you want good health, and financial freedom sounds good to you too. But naturally you’ll have questions. Guess what. We’re only a phone call away and happy to get you to a point where your questions are all answer and your comfortable making the decision that we made, and that changed our lives. My number is 425-687-0100. I’m Michael. And I’m glad to meet ya.

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

Go to our website, read our story and try some AdvoCare. You won't regret it.

Go to our website, read our story and try some AdvoCare. You won’t regret it.

September 24, 2012
Categories: Uncategorized, Washington State . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: 3 Comments

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