“Amid the din of party strife the people's choice was made, but its attendant circumstances have demonstrated anew the strength and safety of a government by the people. In each succeeding year it more clearly appears that our democratic principle needs no apology, and that in its fearless and faithful application is to be found the surest guaranty of good government.
But the best results in the operation of a government wherein every citizen has a share largely depend upon a proper limitation of purely partisan zeal and effort and a correct appreciation of the time when the heat of the partisan should be merged in the patriotism of the citizen.”
Grover Cleveland
“If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions.”
Calvin Coolidge
Sunday January 10, 1999
The atmosphere was electric. The excitement levels were off the charts. The number one seed Minnesota Vikings were minutes away from what every fan thought would be a run to the Super Bowl. The Arizona Cardinals were merely the first obstacle in what was sure to be a deep playoff run.
Eric Livingston settled into his seat on the 4th row of the upper deck and smiled. He was looking directly down at the 50 yard line. He had worked extra shifts at work between his classes at the University of Minnesota to afford the ticket for this game and the next and with luck the Super Bowl. The Vikings had been his passion since he had watched his first game at the age of three on bouncing on his father’s knee. Now he was going to take in everything as he attended his first game in person. One semester away from finishing his MBA he knew he would be a season ticket holder next season. In ten years he planned to have been successful enough to upgrade his season tickets into a private suite. Life was great and it was only going to get better.
Shawn Gladwell could not believe his luck. As he walked toward his seat his mind recalled the events of the ...
