On most issues, I come down on the side that follows the framework of common sense conservatism. Still, I claim to be an independent person and not a member of either viable political party. By that definition, I suppose you could call me a mugwump. Journalists are suppose to be mugwumps, but as we all know, there is very little now from main stream media you could honestly say was unbiased or neutral. Most everyone now thinks of the media as liberal by a wide margin, and with good cause, I believe. As not to misinform, I make no claims of being a journalist, but rather at best a freelance pundit for our military, veterans, our law enforcement officers, small frugal government, and preserving the 1787 Constitution and the amendments thereto. One thing journalists and freelancers hold in common is the eagerness to expatiate. However, my passion is controlled by word limits enforced by the Times-Journal editor.

The pure definition of mugwump is an independent, undecided or neutral person, and it is also used to label bolters from a political party. By that definition, Richard Shelby would be a mugwump. He bolted from the Democratic Party in 1994 to become a Republican. Senator Shelby had been a thorn in the side of Democratic President Bill Clinton since his inauguration in 1993. Shelby was first elected as a Democrat in 1978 to the House of Representatives from the 7th District of Alabama. He held that office until elected senator from Alabama in 1986, a position he still holds today. Shelby is 81 years old and running for yet another term as one of the two senators from Alabama. His net worth is reported as $20 million. You have to ask, how much is enough?

At the time, he stated his reason for jumping ship from Democrat to Republican was because Democrats had become too liberal. I would only add, if Democrats were too liberal then, they must certainly be labeled too socialist now. The rise of Senator Bernie Sanders, who could become the Democratic nominee for president, proves my point.

Voters have never held being a mugwump against Richard Shelby, and neither do I. However, I do believe the time for wholesale change in Washington is long overdue. Representatives and senators stay there so long they become callus to the spending, wastefulness and inefficiency of the behemoth federal government and look upon it as within the bounds of expectations. Poppycock, we should expect and demand that every dime of taxpayer money be spent frugally and wisely.

In my humble opinion, we can ill afford another eight years of borrowing and spending like the past eight. Sooner, not later, this debt situation is going to catch up to us. Wise up voters, and elect those strong willed enough to make the changes necessary for the future of your children and grandchildren.