One Man's Perspective: Endorsement makes candidate lock for Terrace Hill

The other day, I was visiting with Bob Rose and he made a comment that I've often used, but for some reason when he said it, the words resonated, "Whatever happened to common sense?"

Later that same day, I covered a fundraising event for unannounced GOP Gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats at the Arnolds Park Pavilion. Vander Plaats was joined by Iowa's 2008 Republican Caucus victor, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who offered his endorsement of the man who has owned his own business, worked in the education field as both a teacher and administrator, and has both personal and professional experience in the world of special needs medical care.

And when both men spoke, I got the answer to my question, "There is common sense."

Both Vander Plaats and Huckabee are about as likable as any people you'll find running for major leadership positions at a state and federal level. They don't talk about their opponents and why not to vote for them, but rather they present a common sense approach to issues, telling you why you should vote for them - not why you should vote against their opposition. And neither man is going to change their opinion to please opposition.

These are the kinds of men we need in leadership rolls in this country. They don't stick their fingers in the wind to see which way the wind of public favor is blowing. They make decisions based on sound logic, facts and common sense. Wednesday I was excited to hear that Vander Plaats is seriously considering another run; but on Friday I heard news that I believe has ensured Vander Plaats with a win against not only his Republican opponents, but against sitting Gov. Chet Culver.

The most powerful man in the world has jumped on board the Vander Plaats campaign and there's nothing he can't do. Guaranteeing a Vander Plaats win is child's play compared to the amazing things he does on a daily basis.

When I was spelling this out, one of my writers asked if I was talking about President Obama.

Are you kidding me?

I'm not talking about the pseudo-messiah, I'm talking about the REAL Messiah. That's right...Chuck Norris.

Sure, you know he was all but indestructible as Walker Texas Ranger. He's rescued POWs who were missing in action on at least two occasions. He's a picture of health at 60 and a pitcher of Total Gym products. He can even sing, recognized as the voice behind that classic tune, "The Eyes of a Ranger." That's all in a day's work. What's really exciting is all the other things he's done that have been recorded as Chuck Norris facts: Here are just a small list of the many documented facts (and by documented I mean written on a poster) about the man who just secured Vander Plaats victory in 2010:

* There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of animals Chuck Norris allows to live.

* Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.

* The chief export of Chuck Norris is pain.

* There is no chin under Chuck Norris' Beard. There is only another fist.

* Chuck Norris doesn't go hunting.... Chuck Norris goes killing.

* Chuck Norris uses pepper spray to spice up his steaks.

* Crop circles are Chuck Norris' way of telling the world that sometimes corn needs to lie down.

* The Great Wall of China was originally created to keep Chuck Norris out. It failed miserably.

* When Chuck Norris sends in his taxes, he sends blank forms and includes only a picture of himself, crouched and ready to attack. Chuck Norris has not had to pay taxes, ever.

* The quickest way to a man's heart is with Chuck Norris' fist.

* Chuck Norris invented Kentucky Fried Chicken's famous secret recipe, with 11 herbs and spices. But nobody ever mentions the twelfth ingredient: Fear.

* Chuck Norris can win a game of Connect Four in only three moves.

* Police label anyone attacking Chuck Norris as a Code 45-11.... a suicide.

* Chuck Norris doesn't churn butter. He roundhouse kicks the cows and the butter comes straight out.

* Chuck Norris once shot down a German fighter plane with his finger, by yelling, "Bang!"

* Faster than a speeding bullet ... more powerful than a locomotive ... able to leap tall buildings in a single bound... yes, these are some of Chuck Norris's warm-up exercises.

* When Chuck Norris falls in water, Chuck Norris doesn't get wet. Water gets Chuck Norris.

* Chuck Norris doesn't actually write books, the words assemble themselves out of fear.

* Chuck Norris CAN believe it's not butter.

* Chuck Norris can divide by zero.

* When an episode of Walker Texas Ranger was aired in France, the French surrendered to Chuck Norris just to be on the safe side.

* Chuck Norris and Mr. T walked into a bar. The bar was instantly destroyed, as that level of awesome cannot be contained in one building.

* Chuck Norris doesn't bowl strikes, he just knocks down one pin and the other nine faint.

* It takes Chuck Norris 20 minutes to watch 60 Minutes.

* Some people wear Superman pajamas. Superman wears Chuck Norris pajamas.

* When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn't lifting himself up, he's pushing the Earth down.

* There is no such thing as global warming. Chuck Norris was cold, so he turned the sun up.

* Chuck Norris did in fact, build Rome in a day.

* Google won't search for Chuck Norris because it knows you don't find Chuck Norris, he finds you.

* Chuck Norris once kicked a horse in the chin. Its descendants are known today as Giraffes.

* Chuck Norris once went skydiving, but promised never to do it again. One Grand Canyon is enough.

I think you get the point. And this is only a small list from pages and pages of amazing Chuck Norris life facts.

Mr. Culver. You stand no chance. Follow the example of the French, surrender now before things get ugly.

Chuck Norris says Vander Plaats in 2010. Does anyone else dare vote differently? Not if you know what's good for you.