This Thanksgiving week I am thankful for a loving God and for my family and for all the blessings we enjoy in this country. I am deeply thankful for those who sacrifice to make it possible to enjoy those blessings. I am also thankful for friends like Patsy who are always there to lend a hand and to make us laugh when we need it most. I am thankful that even after her life ended, she reminds me that there are wonderful, beautiful people on both sides of the aisle who want what is best for their country and their fellow citizens.
In all the political battles we fight, we should never forget that many of those on the other side of the aisle want the same things we do, and many even hold the same values and world view. It is to those we should always be sure to make the effort to reach out to find common ground. As for those on the other side of the political aisle who do not hold the values this country was founded upon, we should fight their efforts with all our strength. There is rarely, if ever, any room for compromise on issues of basic core values. On those issues where we can find common ground though, there may not only be opportunities to do what is best for the country, but also opportunity to win over those beautiful people like my friend Patsy to join us in the fight.