2004 News

As I write this, there are about a quarter million provisional ballots still to be counted in Ohio. Statistically, though, if the Senator were to overcome the President's lead, they would almost all have to be Kerry votes. Unless all of those ballots were filled out by Kerry/Edwards operatives in the back of their unmarked vans, I think we have a winner. The word is also out that Kerry called Bush to concede, and will speak publicly later today. That being the case, I'm updating my "big three."

Four more years!

I haven't made any updates for a while, but I wanted to get something up before the election. Tomorrow's the day we find out whether my "big three" events for this fall will go two-for-three or just one-for-three.

So, yeah, the Twins lost. I did get into medical school, though. Since I'm pretty sick of being a pre-med (having taken prerequisites for several years), I decided that from now on I'm going to call myself a 0th-year medical student.

I took down my résumé. What's the point of posting it if I'm already gainfully employed?

President Ronald Reagan has passed away. Though he was ill for some time and advanced in years, nothing could have prepared me for his death.

For most of the Reagan administration, I was just a small child. Children don't understand politics, policy, or parties. When I was five years old, I didn't know what bills President Reagan was signing or vetoing, or what his job was from day to day. Still, I remember always feeling safe knowing that he was running the show. I could watch him on the nightly news, and listen to his speeches. His entire persona exuded confidence and courage.

One of my earliest political memories is Reagan's State of the Union Address in 1988. Complaining of Congress' perpetual tardiness in passing appropriations bills, the President brought with him a stack of reports, resolutions, and bills amounting to over forty pounds. He described each by page count and weight, and dropped each one on the table beside him with a thud. What a brilliant illustration of government grown beyond reason!

Now, in adulthood, I can think of nobody who so completely personified the heart and mind of the American conservative than Ronald Reagan. He believed in limited government, low taxes, and the free market as the engine of economic growth and progress, of course. Equally important, though, he carried out his every duty with optimism and hope. He believed in his country and in his countrymen.

Reagan was probably one of the most popular Presidents of all time. For myself, I think he was the most capable this country ever had. But as much as he was loved by the people, I think he loved the people even more. I think he loved all of us more than we'll ever know, and we owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for serving us with such strength, humility, and selflessness.

In loving memory
Ronald Wilson Reagan, President of the United States
1911 - 2004

State of the Union Address, 1988

I've done a bit of an overhaul with respect to the site's look. I might make some color scheme changes later on. A few links across the site are now dead; some will be reinstated when I have a chance to find their new addresses. I've done away with the background, but the link below still leads to the original source image.

Hubble images

Index  2009  2008  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001    Elizabeth Year One  Melissa Links Albums Contact PGP Keys         hersey @ acm.org Ben @ BLHersey.net 54,965 file requests since October 24th, 2001. A.M. D.G.

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