Paul Jones Dayton

It’s my podcast, the next generation.

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As with all years, this year passed quicker than the last. Starla and Miles have been wonderful kids and Mandy is a wonderful wife. We leave this year humbled by the experience of Malinda (Mandy’s mom) who suffered a stroke early in 2011.

With each passing day I become all too familiar with the notion that life on this earth is not finite. I think now in terms of decades and not years when it comes to major milestones in life. I am very optimistic that the greatest days are ahead of me.

This was very, very funny.

It is amazing how much similar Perry is to George W. Bush, both in his demeanor and his apparent thought processes.

If you follow Utah politics you know that Jason Chaffetz has all but declared his candidacy for the US Senate. He would be going up against 7 term incumbent Orrin Hatch for the GOP nomination. I’m concerned about the possibility of a “Senator Chaffetz.” First off, I don’t think his strict tea party orthodoxy is what this nations needs. Secondly, I have a an issue with Chaffetz the politician. Ever since he was able to stage a coup in the 2008 Republican convention I have been very wary of him.

Chaffetz truly is a master politician, but he is not a master of conventional general elections. Chaffetz knows how to play Utah’s unique caucus system. In so doing he was almost able to win the nomination at the convention outright, without need for a primary. And in Utah, more often than not, when you win the Republican nomination, you win the general election.

By taking advantage of the caucus system Chaffetz is only accountable to the 1700 or so Republicans who are delegates to that convention. He has no interest in serving the greater needs of the people of Utah… because so few of those people participate in actually selecting him as a nominee. And unfortunately in Utah general elections are often a rubber stamp on the Republican parties caucus / primary process.

It is for this reason that I am seriously considering moving my party affiliation to Republican. I am sick and tired of being excluded from the political process in Utah. I may not be in line with the politics of Utah’s Republican party, but I do align with many of the political ideals of the people of Utah. My goal for 2012 is to be a delegate from my precinct. Which party? To be determined.

I think for the first time in my life I am starting to think in terms of 10 year chunks of time. It is somewhat humbling to think of myself 10 years ago, an 18 year old. How did all this time pass?

On the eve of my 28th birthday I feel generally happy with life. I think that one thing I need to return to is actively committing time to personal retrospection on my life. I need to ask myself the following: what am I doing, why am I doing it, and it is what I want to do.

In addition I want to get back into my habit of always having an answer to this daily question: “What did I learn today?”

I’ll report on my progress on my “New Years Resolutions” here. 28 Years old, here I come!

Clinton held an impromptu press conference at the white house today, where he defended president Obama’s tax plan.

I like seeing these two guys together.

We are going to Moab this weekend. I am looking forward our children’s first visit to a national park.

I have been having an awful lot of problems sleeping lately. It seems like I just have a hard time deciding to fall asleep, and once I actually decide to fall asleep my body won’t co-operate. Any ideas on what I should do?