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Message: HTML is not enabled. UBB Code™ is enabled.	[QUOTE]Originally posted by smitty195: [QB] I hope the Moderator (and my friends here) will allow me to post this. It is not offensive or anything like that---it is political. Mike Smith and I, as most people already knew, are politically conservative people. I think it's safe to say that he was more "hardcore" than I am. He had conservatism in his blood and was sure that what he was doing and who he was voting for was right. On the other hand, I study, study, study, study, and then study some more. I was a poor student in junior high and high school. Who the heck cared about American Government in the 10th grade? Who cared about reading Time Magazine for homework every week? If you put two and two together, you can very easily figure out where my mind was at that time. I'm in high school.....10th grade.....15 and 16 years old during the school year......and they want me to WHAT??? Sit down and read Time Magazine??? No thank you. I daydreamed a lot, and my interest in politics was a big fat Z E R O . But then as life went on and I grew out of that stage like we all do, I found that I became naturally interested in politics, current events, American and World History, and culture. The classes I took in college gave me Straight As. At the time, I told myself that I wished I had the knowledge that I have now while I was back in high school, particularly in one specific class (AGWA it was called---American Government and World Affairs). Not surprisingly, both teachers were very liberal (it was two classrooms made into one by sliding the dividing wall away, thus making it a huge class, thus, two teachers at once---there were over 100 students in that class). But I sometimes tell myself, "If only I knew back then what I know now, it would have been so fun to debate the teacher because he was provably wrong on almost everything he taught us. I didn't know it at the time----but it was later on that I learned things and said to myself, "Hey! Mr. (blank) taught us the opposite of this. What's the deal??!!!". So I just wanted to "set the table", if you will, so that my next comments will make sense. Thank you for allowing me to do this. I would not do this if I didn't feel the need to, and I am pausing every now and then to wipe the tears away. I still can't believe he is gone. And on Thursday I go to the memorial mass for my 911 Dispatcher who was under my charge for six years. I left Communications for Patrol to become a cop, and I told her that she's pretty lucky because I was her boss and told her what to do, but now that I'm a cop, she's the only one who can tell me where to go! We miss you, Robin. I don't know if I will hold it together or not, but I will try. I hope 12T69 is up there waiting for you, and you can tell him to stop mumbling into the microphone and speak clearly for once! :) So anyway, Mike and I had a "thing" going back and forth about Ted Cruz. It was always good-natured, and of course Ted Cruz is from Texas and that's where Mike is. Or was. A few months ago, I wrote on his FB wall somethings about Cruz that was a follow-up to something he had written. I told him that my police officer's "sixth sense" that kept me alive during my career is still with me even today, and will probably be with me forever. But I told him that I am getting something from Cruz that really makes me uneasy. I said that I can't articulate what it is because I'm not sure what it is. He asked for specifics, but I could not give them because it was a sense that something was wrong, not something that I could put my finger on. He said something to me along the lines of, "Well if you ever figure it out, let me know". So I said okay, and I meant it. And now that Mike is gone, I have the closest answer to what it is that really bothers me about Cruz--but Mike is not here to see it or discuss it. But I think if I put it here, he will see it. (I do believe that those who are departed have some type of contact with us, even if it's just one-way....I'm sure of it). So that's why I'm putting this here----so I can follow-up on my promise to him. I would have put it on his FB wall, but I think it's gone (and if it is there, I doubt it's monitored). So here ya go Mike.....my sixth sense on Cruz and why I can't like him: Unfortunately, I still don't have great specifics. I have almost none. But my feeling has grown stronger and stronger. But some examples of why I think something is wrong with him (not "wrong" I guess, just weird---weird might be a better answer). And something very odd is happening right now. Literally, I mean LITERALLY as I type these words, Ted Cruz is on TV right now giving a press conference from Indiana saying that he is dropping out of the race. I did not expect that tonight. Not at all. Wow! Well, Mike would not be happy. He really liked Cruz and I did not care for him. And Cruz just thanked Carly Fiorina who "has been a phenomenal running mate". Ummm.....hasn't she been a "phenomenal running mate" for something like three days? And in her one major appearance, she pulled a magic act of disappearing from stage. Did anyone see that video? It's hillarious---I can't stop laughing and I watch it over and over again. But to the point, Mike, I know you can see this. The best articulation I can give you is that the man is an oddball. He picked a VP at a VERY odd time and he did not even get a one percent bump from it. He also is way, way too preachy and I don't like preachy. He also is not a fighter at all. He speaks as if he will get warmed up to fight some day, but "some day" never happens. He would never tell Hillary, "You're a criminal and you should not even be in the race". He just doesn't have the guts. But now, it doesn't even matter. Cruz is shockingly out! So I don't think your guy is gonna do much for you this time. I told you it would be Trump. And now you owe me a Texas authentic BBQ dinner, although at this time I have no way of collecting it. Do they have BBQs up there? They must. How can it be Heaven without 'em?? Hah hah! Okay folks, I'm done. Please don't petition this to be taken down. If you really want it down for some reason, can you email me and tell me your reason? My email address is asmith195@comcast.net This is the way I thought I could finish our bet and conversation. I promised him I would do it, and now it is done. I am so incredibly full of grief and I've been trying to keep my head up every day. But it's not easy losing two at once. I think it shocked me because when I found out, I slept four almost 48 hours after that. I didn't proofread this, but I will this evening---I promise. I just need to lay down again. It took some doing for me to write this because I figured it's something I should complete. I just don't get how he's gone, or how Robin's gone, or how Ruby's gone, or Scott, or Steve, or Henry, and many more.....I hope I get a break now and no more middle of the night phone calls with "sad information". I can not take another one. Literally. I'm exhausted, and my words might be rambling (if so, sorry). Losing people is something I was never prepared for--by anyone. Parents, peers, school, church, ANYONE. I'll stop here since I'm strayed way off-topic and I'm really tired and a bit upset right now. My mood-o-meter will return to normal, I'm sure. (And on a side-note, my former co-worker who still works at the police department was involved in an OIS (Officer Involved Shooting) last night in the middle of the night. He stopped a car for several different reasons, and the suspect got out and fired shots. The front of the police car is all covered in holes and the windshield is shattered. He got off some shots at the suspect but he fled on foot. He did the right thing----stayed in the car where the best cover is. For those wondering, he wasn't trying to conceal---he was trying to cover. Big difference, and he did the right thing. That's my department's second OIS in the last year. So many of my friends involved in weird stuff totally at random. :( Thank you again for allowing me to have free reign on something that means a lot to me. I had to finish that conversation. Please try to ignore it and not ask me to delete it. But if it really bothers you. I'll delete it---but I really don't want to. Thanks. I really do appreciate it. 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