Born Again American

To quote my girl, "Oh my goo'ness" I am absolutely dumbfounded. I was expecting to be this thrilled, but I was totally unprepared to be this proud to be an American. I cried a little at his acceptance speech. I was moved to be able to believe that we may be able to do this. Maybe we can make America more that a caricature of what we say we are. Maybe it won't be empty words anymore. Is it possible we have given my girl that gift? I am so overwhelmed at the possibility that my daughter may grow up in a country where we are the greatest nation on earth, not because we say we are, but because we actually are. His call that the problems we have to face are bigger than one man, bigger than one party, that we are all in this together and we need to come together and stop looking to blame and start looking to help. Fuck it, I am truly inspired! I want to hang a flag off the deck for the first time in my entire life!

It's not just because he won. It's because of how many people of how many differences voted for him. I'm thrilled he won, but I'm even more thrilled we elected him. A friend of mine is married to a lifelong republican and he voted democrat for the first time ever. It made him a little sick, but he did it. Colin Powell, all the many many republicans who came out to support Obama. It proves that we can see a right and a wrong. We can put aside our differences and see that one thing is right for all of us, regardless of the past. We have proven that our massive country can work together. It makes me believe that we can accomplish great things. We are ready to work and to try and to succeed. I am so fired up! I am so proud of my country!

Let's not even get into the black thing. It chokes me all up. I have a poster up in my classroom that says "Civil Rights" across the top, and is a collage of famous segregation photos. It makes my heart hurt to look at it. And here we are. To all those out there who stood up on camera or in public or to their families or in their hearts and said, "I will not vote for a black man," your time is done. You and your hate have had your time and it is over. I don't feel like I can lay claim to this victory like some people can, but that does not make me any less overjoyed, any less proud, any less exhilerated that our country pulled this off. I wasn't alive when King was leading his fight, but his story has always had a place in my heart. The injustice, the unreasoning unfairness of it has always resonated with me. And the horrifically violent end for a man who wanted only peace has always caused my throat to close up. I am so hopeful that he is able to know what has happened. To share the victory. To lay a huge cosmic "Suck it!" on those hate mongers.So instead of the work being over, it has just started. It is no longer someone else's problem, it's our problem and the solution is up to us. The gross end of the stick when you wrest power unto yourself I guess. So be informed. Be involved. You are the change you are looking for. We did it, now let's do it!

This should fix it

Dear Red States,
We're ticked off at the way you've treated California , and we've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren't aware, that includes Hawaii , Oregon , Washington , Minnesota , Wisconsin , Michigan , Illinois and all of the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California. To sum up briefly: You get Texas , Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research, the tech sector, and the best beaches. We get Nancy Pelosi. You get Sarah Palin. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get WalMart. We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss. We get 85 percent of America 's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama . We get two-thirds of the tax revenue. You get to make the red states pay their fair share. Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms. Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. We do wish you success in Iraq , and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to spend our resources in Bush's Quagmire. With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent of the country's fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 95 percent of America's quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners) 90 percent of all cheese, 90percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools, plus Stanford, Berkeley, Cal Tech and MIT. With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Baylor, and Dollyworld. We get Hollywood and Yosemite , thank you. Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals than we lefties. By the way, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico . Sincerely, Blue States

I wish I could credit this as due...just thank a witty liberal and call it good

some fun stuff

For the 7% idiot population who are still undecided in this race. Seriously? Should these cranially challenged nitwits even be allowed to vote? Here is a visual representation that may help them make up the uninformed, uninterested, or unable minds they have.

I think this is hysterical. I can't decide which I like better: the steam engine teetering on the very brink of utter calamity, or the dopey face on the Thomas/Palin train. Although, it may be the McCain train that has completely derailed. Don't think so? Check this out


Remind you of anything? Maybe this?

Oh, the good old days.

So, more good stuff. Check out this shot on my morning drive. It doesn't come close to doing it justice, nor does the next from the drive home.

It's the light. I don't have the talent to do it justice, but it is so breathtaking. I want to be very clear..I still hate fall. I hate the death of summer, my dear darling favorite, I hate the onset of winter, my nemesis season, I hate the drizzly, cold, gray, mundane, back to work, death and ending and long long long pull to spring again. I hate fall! But you'd have to be blind and stupid not to see that it's beautiful. I even hated missing pictures when I don't have my camera and got a little point and shoot to keep in my purse always. All these pictures are my workhorse lovely starter camera though, I'm posting its picture too so as not to offend it. And it's my favorite.I'll close with this one. Seriously, if it weren't all eaten at, and god help whatever ate at it, wouldn't it look just like a comic book or fairy tale mushroom? Imagine it all pointy round topped with bright red and light spots and elves dancing around on it. Am I right?

Take this as you will

I LOVE Jon Stewart!

inciting the rabble

They are gonna get him shot. Are you watching any of McCain's campaign events? People are nuts! They are seeing their chances slipping away and getting panicky, and into that McCain is pouring rhetoric like "he's a domestic terrorist" and "you can't trust this guy" and then acting all surprised when people start screaming Kill Him! at rallies. It's like Bush last week coming on TV and saying "We're all gonna burn! We're going down...mayday mayday! Our last and only hope to avoid armaggedon is this package. For the love of god, please pass this!" So yesterday he says, "People are panicking. It's causing more trouble. We need to just be calm, trust in the system. Just breathe through it." What do they expect? So now McCain is trying to back it down when it hits him in the face, (a lady at a rally said she was scared of Obama because "he's an arab" and he said, "No ma'am, no ma'am") but does nothing to quell shouts of "terrorist" and such when just screamed out. And then runs another Ayers ad. They keep hitting that line of "launched his carreer in his living room" which makes this clear tie to the guy. The actual story is that the chick who he was replacing in Illinois took him there, to her party, to introduce him to her supporters. So now all these redneck crazies are upset, psycho, racist AND feel like they have a legitimate complaint. If I were Michelle, I would be terrified right now. If I thought McCain had any shred of human decency left after he sold his soul, I'd expect him to outright say, "We went too far, this stuff is totally bogus, please settle the hell down." Yeah, that'll happen.

ribbit

seriously, what the fuck? Check this out


http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/08/politicians.meltdown.aig.ap/index.html



How can that even be possible? How can that even have happened? Do you remember in high school chemistry when the teacher titillated everyone with the anecdote about the frogs that boil to death because the water temperature rises so incrementally that they acclimate and don't realize there's a problem until they've been cooked? Well here we are. How is it possible that the government not only decided to spend $700,000,000,000.00 to buy up these people's crap (and voters are saying Obama's health care plan stinks of socialism? Christ!) and within a week they do this?! I'm not at all shocked the fuckwads did it, I absolutely cannot believe they did it so soon! HOW can we live in a world where this happens? In this world Sarah *wink* Palin is running for vice president of the country. HOW?! The current president has blatantly and repeatedly broken the law without consequence. HOW?! A political strong-arm has blunted the message of scientists the world over that we are destroying ourselves. HOW?! Let's not even talk about the insinuation of christianity into our political system, genocide in this day and age, the fact that people are dying for want of clean water...the list goes on and on. How is this world possible? What are we doing to ourselves? I listened to a clip from a right-wing radio show this morning where the host was making his point that the homeless should not be allowed to vote. As I was internally agape at this viewpoint, he followed it up with, "I'm gonna catch a lot of heat from this I'm sure, but frankly, I don't think women should vote either." The fact that this brain-dead moron holds this opinion is one thing, the fact that he can voice it on the air is beyond belief. Where are all the boundaries? Where have they gone? Where is common sense, and common decency? And that ass lick was voting for McCain Palin! What does it say about this woman that a man who doesn't believe women are rational enough to vote responsibly is willing to elect her vice-president? He quite clearly expects her to look pretty and serve coffee while the men talk. Is there really a contingent of those people out there? Another guy said, "This little bitch (Obama) needs to learn to stand up for himself. If he can't even stand up to our smokin' hot vice-president, how is he going to stand up to the Taliban?" Again, put aside the opinion that the ass monkey is clearly quite comfortable voicing on air, and consider how he views Palin. How are we letting this happen? I know how to fix it though.

oh my god

Now look how Obama has raised my hopes. Check out the last one, I laughed instead of tried to stab the monitor. I actually feel sorry for the guy. Obama should be bottled and sold as one of those old-fashioned cure-alls. Anyone who can make me feel pity for Bush deserves to win.
And the topper:

let the games begin

wow wow wow! I'm so excited! One or the other or both of these two is heading for a huge implosion with tears, blood or a combination of the two. With any luck one will pee her pants. Yay for putting microphones in front of two people who are prone to oral diarrhea! This is gonna be great!

Here we go!

First off, both ok, little dry. Interesting, they have a focus group of undecided Ohioans (I think these guys have gotta be faking it for the attention. How can anyone in our country today be undecided?) on the tracker crawl with men and women lines. It's weird to see it, and weirder still that that's what they chose to track. Hmmmm.

Oh man, she's coming out swinging! Looks like her tactic is going to be using certainty of delivery to cover a lack of knowledge. Hmmm, remind you of anyone who rhymes with Tush? So she hasn't answered a question yet, just "talking from the heart." What the hell is that about? Why are people going for this? Great god, why is the tracker going positive for her? Do they not realize she is spouting populist crap and NOT ANSWERING the questions? AT ALL? She is not even trying to stay on the same topic, just launching into canned bits and not even necessarily about the same thing the question was about. What the fuck? Why are they not getting this? Why is Joe staying pretty neutral and hers is going up? Is she a witch? Oh no! Without Obama on the other side to speak calmly and intelligently, my aneurysm is starting to go! AAAhhhhhh!

Let's try this. Everyone who has ever had the fantasy that if they would just get a regular joe with common sense into DC he would clean up that town and Jimmy Stewart will save us all from hell and the handbasket, raise your hand. Yeah, I'm typing one handed right now. I loved that movie Dave. Super stuff. But come on. Do we really want "Joe Six-Pack"...her words, not mine, to be our leader? The whole argument is that people identify with her. Remember the Roseanne Barr show? People loved that show because they identified with the family. Would you honestly want her or the husband in our highest office? If you would, get off my blog!

Oh man, of course she doesn't want to talk about the causes of global warming! She knows she'll sound like a moron! Oh god please ask her about dinosaurs...please please please! Yowza, did she say nucular? Great christ, is the bar so low for her that we're going to call it a win if she doesn't vomit on herself?

Am I an optimist, or is the approval line starting to get a little more normal. Are people realizing she's full of shit? Are they not buying the McCain as change song and dance? I have just recently begun to believe we may see government who are not only not actively trying to do harm, but actually trying to do good. I'm not ready to trust the public yet though. Sorry, public. I've seen too much of how you treat your kids.

Did Joe have his eyes done? I was kinda hoping he'd call her "Cupcake" or something. You know the right is gonna scream sexism anyway, why not have a little fun with it? If you're going to be hung, why not enjoy the crime? Gosh, I sure swallowed it whole when he talked about the whole god-forbid thing. That seemed so genuine.

Oh shut it. Wasilla Main street my ass.
Here's what I don't get. Her whole thing is that she's so personable. So approachable. I get it. I can see that. I don't believe it to be genuine, but I honestly don't think genuine is a prereq for that. If people believe you are personable, close enough. But here's the thing. I think Biden is a kick in the head. I love this guy. He has a great story, wonderful smile, sparky sense of humor, straight talk. He's fantastic on the relatable front. And Obama? Day-um! Love that guy! His smile is 10 miles wide, he's spicy and has a great sense of fun. I know he has to be all professional and all, but I really think people would love to see his loose side. Remember how people loved Dole after the election when he went on SNL?

Ugh, shining city on a hill? Really? Do you think she really believes that, or wants joe six-pack to run outside and wave his Dixie flag around and shoot his gun in the air and scream, "God bless America..these colors don't run!"
Oh, he just choked himself up! You could see sincerity in him as he just tried to pull it together. That was a lovely real moment.
Darn, no one peed themselves. They're gonna call it a tie. Dang! No one will mention she never answered a question or gave a policy answer. She will get credit for ot stripping naked and screaming Freebird! and everyone will say she pulled it off. Hooray for making the election a game and not a real decision.
Hope you enjoyed yourself!

wowza

Fareed Zakaria not pulling any punches! And the worst part is, though I know from seeing him on Jon Stewart regularly that he probably has a left-ist slant, he isn't speaking from a crazy liberal point of view. He's just saying... we can't be screwing around right now, this chick cannot do this job. I love his point, and it's the one I've been trying to make when I talk to people, that it isn't just that she doesn't have the right answers, she doesn't understand the questions. We see it all the time in elementary school! A kid will babble nonsense trying to hit some key phrases or buzz words she remembers, but she has no idea what is being asked of her. If she's in science class, she uses science babble, in math, math babble. Scary. And even scarier? See if you can figure out if this is the real interview, or a spoof. Hint: Much of the dialogue is unchanged from the original.

A point to ponder

I'm gonna have to go with the second one. I recently read "Just How Stupid Are We?" about the American voter, and apparently the answer is "Very." Note the capital v. Like really really really stupid. Partly uninformed, partly under-educated, a little bit lied to, but mostly just really really really stupid. Welcome to the world, my little daughter. Best of luck to you.

So I read this article in The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/opinion/28rich.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

I'm noticing that journalists are getting less and less gentle about calling McCain an ass. It used to be very cloaked, and try to preserve fairness, and be respectful, but more and more articles are calling him crazy, inept, and preposterous. This one sounds so professional and yet so angry. I admire the tone the author was able to strike. I just go on a rant, this guy was able to make calm reasonable points while saying McCain has sold out his country. Awesome. Look at this one too http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-jong/not-that-stupid-erica-jon_b_126184.html
People are angry, and expressing it. I love it. Now all we have to do is sit back and watch the campaign eat itself from the inside. It was so sad watching him at the end of the convention. I don't mean that snarkily at all, it really made me sad. "Stand up and fight with me! Stand up and fight with me!" It was like a tired old man talking about what he used to be known for. Like an honorary diploma or something hollow like that. If he had been making that call 18 months ago, it would have meant something, but now he's become the caricature of everything he was calling to fight against. It felt like the one glimpse of his real self that night, only it was so false in its empty promise. It honestly makes me sad to think of it.
Then there's the other guy. I swear, when he's talking, I just want him to keep going. I feel like he knows what he's doing, like he has a plan. Like he will listen to other people and hear what they say and take it into consideration. Like he knows he is in a really tough spot and is trying to figure the way out. I was listening to the radio today and they were talking about the economy. A senator who is working on the bailout was being interviewed and they asked how the next president was going to be affected by it all. He answered for a little bit and was in the middle of a sentence, "Well, they aren't going to invade their way out of it....well. I don't want to say that. If the same team is in power next year, who knows what they will do." He didn't sound at all like he was being sarcastic. Like he seriously thinks these guys might try to war their way out of it! Jesus fucking christ on a bicycle.

Are you watching this?

I think I know what I need! I'm watching the debate, and McCain is saying the same thing (I wasn't elected Miss Congeniality ((does he know how weird it sounds for an old man to keep saying that?)) and Warshington is corrupt pork barrel pork barrel pork barrel) in reply to every thing asked of him and I am not trying to hurt myself yet. Why? Obama is right there, refuting every time he lies (John, that just isn't true), keeping calm, talking through all the points. So apparently I just need Obama to walk around with me and keep speaking calmly to me. How much do you suppose that costs?
I love that he's listing the stuff McCain has been wrong about in Iraq! He's giving his plans the same way every time...First...Second...he has itemized key points for everything. McCain is just using all this hyperbole and empty jingoism. Obama keeps telling McCain he's said stuff wrong, or lied or whatnot, McCain isn't saying that to Obama at all. Does he not know it, or is Obama only making legitimate points. You decide.
Hey, I heard something funny. Apparently, in the midst of the mock debates for Palin to practice, they just stopped. It was so disastrous, that they just stopped to try and think of something else. Ouch.
Why isn't this a landslide to the left? Every time McCain is asked a direct question, he refers to some obscure ancient event back when he was a maverick and stood up to Warshington. But he NEVER answers a question! I'm watching these guys and McCain is stumbling over lines, just proving he's opening cans for his replies. Obama sounds informed, prepared, intelligent. McCain sounds like a sad old grandpa talking to the whippersnappers about his glory days. I'd be perfectly happy to listen to his stories, but not in response to a direct question!
Uh oh, he's getting steamed! I'm hoping he swings at Obama or calls him uppity...FIGHT FIGHT! heh heh. Dang, Lehrer just reined him in.
Second Holocaust? Where did that come from? Yikes, he's working up to invading Iran.
Ok, I don't get this one. Maybe it's my elementary school training. Why is it such a big deal that Obama said he'll talk to foreign leaders? Isn't diplomacy the best bet for anything? OH! Obama just pointed out that McCain's own advisors agree with Obama! I was hoping that would come up! Hee hee, that's gotta hurt.
I'm trying to stay mature about this, but I am totally hating how McCain keeps making that smirky "whatever" face. That seems so childish.
Hoo Hoo! He just hit the Spain guy!
Oh yikes, McCain is even starting to make Bush facial expressions. That's creepy!
CNN has an audience approval thingy going as a crawl, with a blue line for dem approval, and red for republican. Interestingly, while rarely, it is ONLY purple when Obama talks. McCain, the Uniter, not the Divider, is not getting both but Obama is. hmmmm.
Great fuck! He will not talk about anything that didn't happen decades ago! AArrgh
Nope, calm calm. Obama is trying to talk to him, but he just talks right over it. I hate that.
Obama is the coolest. Literally. He won't get ruffled. I really admire that. I know, I like to swing into full blown anything mode at the drop of a hat, but that's just for fun. As a leader, Obama has exactly what it takes. I bet he lets loose in fun though. Basketball, with friends, that kind of stuff. I can totally see him just busting up laughing at something. hyuk hyuk
Oh wowza, he almost did it, but no...the POW card is out. Last comment of the night. Nice.
Oh, I love how the Obamas will touch each other in public. He obviously values her as an equal. That would be a great thing to see in the White House. He greeted her with "Hey. How'd we do?" Sweet.
Ok, let the spin begin!

wtf

You did WHAT to my future?

I will admit to being completely baffled by the closeness of this race. I cannot, or will not, put it all down to racism, we cannot possibly have almost half of our country still racist, can we? So in an effort to understand, I have been listening to conservative talk radio. Now, readers at home, I must stress that I DO NOT recommend this plan to any one. ANY one. I am only just recovered from the severe eye explosion on the way to work this morning, aggravated by my screaming and driving my car into a meridian on the way home. If McCain can still ride POW status, I want some kind of credit for the torture I have endured the last few days.

You know what's the best part? Not that they are blaming Obama for the economy crisis. Not that they are applauding McCain for his nobility in suspending his campaign to rush back to DC, where he has not cast a vote since April, cancelling a gig on Letterman to "put country first," but actually spending the exact same time interviewing with Katie Couric...don't believe me? Letterman actually played the live feed on his show while taping, not to mention that incumbent presidents debate opponents while leading the freakin free world, learn to walk and chew gum you idiot!.... I've lost the thread....Oh yeah! Not that the host was actually arguing FOR the golden parachutes. Making his case that if you don't pay top dollar for CEOs, you won't attract the quality talent. "We don't criticize movie stars, or sports stars for making this kind of cash. Why would we criticize highly successful business talent?" Ummm...because they drove their companies into the ground and are asking me, and my daughter, and her daughter, to take the shaft and pay for their mistakes and if that represents the High Quality leadership you are trying to attract, you should probably try and see what you can get for minimum wage. Great leaping goats! There's a blog I love that keeps calling these people "fucktards." And while I cannot utilize it because of the "tards" suffix, it just makes me giggle like a 10 year old every time he says it. Where was I? Oh yeah! No, the best part is the ads. I am not making this up, they are carrying ads about how to get hold of prophets ~ no, I didn't say profits, I said PROPHETS, there's a pamphlet you can send away for to get information about what "you can do" to stop the spread of homosexuality in your community, every other ad is some chick talking about "my family" and "my values." It is as mind-numbingly horrifying as the phrase "President Palin."

So after all these days of masochism, and thank god I didn't go so far as to try and sit through Hannity or, don't even think it, O'Reilly...I would not be here to speak to you today, I have concluded that while I still do not by any stretch understand these people, I get it. I see why they think what they think. They have been told to, and do not have the.....you fill in the blank as you see fit.......to do otherwise. You get the government you deserve. Here's hoping the other half of us don't have to sit through your shit again.

Can't get the election out of my head

My brain is on this non-stop. Get this dream I just had. A friend's mom went into labor and the friend was too wound to drive her to the hospital, so I took them. I'm driving this impossibly huge land yacht with a steering wheel like a ring of Saturn and when I look back, all I see are fins a million miles back. Of course we're lost, but when we stop to assess where we are, in some back alley I have barely squeaked this monstrosity into, a door opens behind us, like the back door to a bar, only it's the hospital back door. Elated, we rush inside and I'm in the waiting room. This lady, very vaguely reminiscent of Shirley Maclaine in Steel Magnolias, is sitting across from me in the chairs like at airport gates, sucking something through straw from a balloon that has a pro-Hillary message on it. The slogan was devastatingly clever, I remarked on it in my dream and was detachedly very impressed with my subconcious for thinking of it but have completely lost it. She agreed with me that it was clever, like Hillary, and began tearing into That Bastard who stole the nomination from her. I was facinated to be able to actually have a conversation with a real live PUMA and asked questions like, "I know! How do you think he got away with it?" and the like. The only answer I remember her giving was one where he was going for the patriots by choosing a GOP war widow for his wife, and somehow using his wheel chair only for sympathy and effect. Don't blame me, it was a dream. At any rate, the lady raved on for a while and finally I asked, "So, is it McCain for you then?" Damned if I didn't wake up just then and I was all, "Noooo! I have to know if the madwoman was going for McCain!" Yeah, it isn't easy being me. But here's the thing. To all this together. My girl is being shaped by forces outside of my control. Is it possible I will, thirteen years from now, be staring slack-jawed at her as she defends a political position completely alien to me? I'm not saying I expect a carbon copy, or that we agree on everything, or that she follow my beliefs in lock step. Not at all, and I'd be disappointed if she did. Maybe not at first, but eventually! But is it possible I might raise a kid who, if she were an adult right now, would vote for this ticket?



Let's take stock. The past eight years have devastated the country. The ticket's policies promise a continuation of past thinking and policy. Ed Koch, a staunch republican and supporter of Bush, has endorsed Obama. The international community overwhelmingly supports Obama. Alan Greenspan, former head of the Federal Reserve, under Bush, has said McCain's economic policy will be disastrous for the country. McCain has become a clone of everything he is saying he "mavericked" against. His running mate is, at best, dangerously underqualifed, at worst, a religious zealot with no idea what she's talking about but a steadfast plan for it nonetheless. The campaign has been increasingly called out for outright lies in their campaign. Karl Rove said they have gone too far. KARL FUCKING ROVE! And yet his numbers climb. Allow me to posit a theory. We are standing around being shocked that no one is taking all this damning evidence at face value, but who are we talking about, here? We're talking about people who don't believe in evolution. That believe the dinosaur bones were put there by the devil to trick good christians. That believe global warming is a myth. That believe you can pray away the gay. That believe you should want to. We are talking about a group of people who routinely close their eyes and minds to fact and cling all the more tightly to their "faith" when it comes under question, glorying in this chance to prove they do not question. In a culture that only exists if its members do not question, how can we be surprised they are swallowing all they are told without blinking?

Nope, still a pig

Seriously? The republican campaign wants the public to believe this is what Obama said? And McCain intoning at the end..."I'm John McCain, and I approve this message." I said it before, and I'll say it again, he is going to hate himself from the inside out after this over. That is giving him credit for retaining any shred of the honor he has touted and used and sold during this campaign. Sex ed for kindergartners, for god's sake? Apparently old Johnny has an asking price, and it is embarrassingly low. On the upside, I got to see this picture. I guess there is one thing about Cheney that I can find the silver lining for. Heh heh.

Here's another thing I never thought I'd say. The toughest interview I've seen of McCain so far was on, wait for it, The View. You heard me. Why are Comedy Central and Stay-At-Home Mom Central the hardest hitting journalism on the campaign trail? Check this out: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/12/mccain-grilled-on-the-vie_n_125972.html

Damn, I love me the Huffington Post. You do need to take it with a grain of salt, very very very left, but I've double checked them a lot and while they may slant a bit, they don't spin and they don't make anything up. They also have a link to a compendium of articles from other publications lately that are just starting to talk about the fact that McCain is lying like a rug. While it's astonishing that the volume of lies needed to reach this point before the main stream media began to go, "Ok, hold on there a minute," it's even more alarming to read the comments to the list of articles. "Oh, those are all liberal left papers commenting on republican ads. Of course they say it's all lies." They're talking about the New York Times and other major publications quoting actual documented facts that show McCain is a liar. Really, just how blind an eye can you turn? Jesus! I'm totally not making this up, look! http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/12/1382169.aspx


On a much happier note, Trueby declared she needed to visit "the salon" (she pronounces it with an umlaut) today. Her hair was much too long for good taste, apparently. I offered to cut it on the deck, as I always do, but after some consideration, decided a professional would be the best bet. It was starting out way shorter than it usually is when I attempt it, and I need a good 2-3" grace period to even up the sides, so I figured I'd let a trained hand at it. True will never let me do it again now!

Maybe if I gave her a sucker after, she'd be more willing to let me try?

Taking stuff for granted

So here's what I'm wondering. It is highly possible that I live in the most beautiful place on the planet. Also, that I have the most perfect child ever. Equally possible that I have an idyllic life, marred only by petty grievances and my own shortcomings. So my question is, am I doing enough to A)deserve this and B)preserve it for my kid? Today was so gobsmackingly alluring that we got subs for dinner ~ apparently we do this more often than I think. The chick knew Trueby's sandwich! Turkey and cheddar on white with pickles and olives and that's all! ~ and met dad at the park. The water, the light, the temperature...everything exactly perfect.




Check this one out. You don't often get to catch an actual "knee-slapper" on film

We talked about her second day in kindergarten, in which she was totally on her own, no parents holding hands today! I obsessed over upsetting the delicate apple cart by throwing a spoke in the brand new routine wheel and letting her get hot lunch (chicken nuggets, baby!) tomorrow. Will she be able to handle it? Will she lose the money? Will they take cash since she doesn't have an account open? Will she eat the lunch? Will she have enough? Will she be nervous carrying her tray around to get the stuff? Will she speak up if she needs help? I know. I said I was obsessing. It doesn't count as psychotic if I recognize it myself so back off and keep your judgement to yourself. (Whenever I hear "judge" in any context it reminds me of the brilliant film "Hot Fuzz," which is a follow-up to the even more brilliant "Shaun of the Dead," seriously, if you haven't seen both, stop reading, go rent them, come back and we'll discuss it, in which the first cop accuses a guy of "acting as judge, jury and executioner..." and his somewhat less sharp partner replies, "He wasn't acting as Judge Judy and executioner..." Damn, there is no topping British random wit!) Ok, having completely laid the psychotic discussion to rest...We were having a lovely evening and I started thinking to myself how tragic it would be if just over half our registered voters fuck it all up for the rest of us.

Take a look at this article and tell me if you aren't desperately afraid.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-mckay/were-gonna-frickin-lose-t_b_124772.html

I don't want Trueby to have to clean up an even worse mess than I am already leaving her. The debt, the environmental destruction, the closed-mindedness... I just don't want her to have to live in the world it will become if we hand them this election too. Honestly, if we give them yet another go-round, after all they have done so far, what is ever going to stop them? We would be outright saying, "Yes. Lie to us. Yes. Make fortunes at our expense. Yes. The Constitution is your plaything, have at it. We don't care if you are breaking the law you have sworn on your god to uphold. We will never stop supporting you in shitting all over us."

I don't want to sound like a sycophant, but when I watch Obama talk, I just cannot figure out what people are against. I swear I have tried to see both sides. I have tried to see what others don't want about Obama, and I have tried to see what McCain has to offer. I don't get it. I can only hope things go well in 57 days and I can lose this awful knot in the pit of my stomach. Ha ha suckers...you thought you were in for a nice, pastoral family picnic post, huh? That'll learn ya.

I heart Jon

This guy gives me hope for the country. During the election season I have become a CNN junkie, but I usually rely on Jon and NPR for my news. This is a curious mix of way too serious and silly enough that I can hear what goes on in the world without trying to cause myself bodily harm. It works, you should try it. Start with this clip calling out those hypocrite bastard beasts I just want to get in one place and force to live amongst each other.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/04/jon-stewart-hits-karl-rov_n_123852.html

Honestly, without a cable comedy show, nobody would be pointing this out? Why? Why!? And you can't say he's totally left, because he really let Kerry have it. That guy got hammered. Rock Obama, as my girl crows when she hears or sees him to my utter delight, seems to offer less material. But why isn't everyone else doing more than just saying, "Hmmm, the right seems oddly ready to accept all this stuff." These are exactly the things these smug, judgemental asses throw their opinions all over when it's anyone else. I just about keeled over when the bovine masses all drowned out McCain's speech by chanting USA whenever a protester made a move. Totally overriding their own guy to try and assert their superior patriotism against any low-life who would dare question the leadership anointed by Jesus' dad. And what was that interrupted point exactly? I am not making this up....the republican platform this time out is, I'm gonna paraphrase, but you would be shocked by how little, "We fucked up. We were greedy ass lickers only in it for ourselves. We won't do it this time." This is surprisingly similar to the theme of all five of McCain's books (just as a side note, "co-written" with a professional, as opposed to Obama doing his own). So his message, now in its, count them, SIXTH run is "I fucked people over, I feel really bad about it, I have learned my lesson and this time will do it right." Pardon me for not jumping right on that bandwagon. He is certainly not helping himself with stuff like this

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/05/sarah-palins-strange-ebay_n_124097.html

It's so weird, why bring attention to something like this? Do they not think anyone would double check them on it? So the chick not only lost the state money, it causes one to wonder, well, me to wonder, what kind of ties does she have to the company now fortunate enough to be contracted to charter state flights for Alaska? Or is she flying Alaska Air, coach to save her tax payers money? Just curious.

Insomniac

Ugh, I KNEW this would happen! I KNEW I should take something, but figured I was exhausted and would easily sleep until the ridiculous 4 am wake-up time I needed to be able to get to school and finish up all the crap work I didn't get done before the all too soon deadline approached like a freight train coming through a tunnel I KNEW I shouldn't go into but so stupidly did anyway! Aaagh! So of course, with a prompt and responsible bedtime of 9 pm, my eyes popped open at 12:07 am on the first day of school. DAMMIT! But here's the thing. Of course I lay there for a good hour telling myself that if I just lay still enough, with my eyes closed enough, with my mind quiet enough, I would fall back to sleep until the blissful buzz of the alarm that will never stay on a radio station or not do the annoying BEEP BEEP BEEP no matter what the alarm setting. Of course my mind was zinging along at a million miles an hour. Was I wondering what my new class would be like? Was I worried that I had overlooked something I wouldn't have time to fix? Was I panicking that I would never be able to fall asleep again? NO! I was fixated on Sarah Palin!

I cannot get this chick out of my mind! With the latest story about her high-school daughter being pregnant, all the experience questions, the polarizing right-wingerness, the fact that he met her ONCE before, all this stuff.....WHY HAS HE CHOSEN THIS CHICK? I don't care that he did, I just don't get it! What can she possibly have to offer that cancels out all the other? Check out this article in the Huffington Post...dude, if you like Air America radio, you'll LOVE this paper! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-loeb/did-karl-rove-pick-sarah_b_122870.html I am at a complete loss to see why she was chosen. If they just wanted a skirt, there are republican women out there. Was he just so desperate to pick someone he could claim as not associated with the current nasty-ass bed the republicans have made themselves to lie in? I gotta say, about a year, eighteen months ago, I wouldn't have chosen it, clearly, but if we had to have another republican president, I wouldn't have minded McCain so much. But he is now unrecognizable from that man. If he doesn't win it, I don't know how he's going to live with what he let himself become.

So I kinda have a crush on Obama. I don't know if it's just too overwhelming to not want to scream and throw things at the TV whenever anything presidential is going on, or maybe it's the huge-ass grin that just calls to me, "I'm actually a good guy," or it just may be the feeling that hey, not only can the world be better, but I can be better. When was the last time you felt like that? I don't mean in the way I usually do, which is "Oh crap. I am so going to hell." Just how long has it been since I admired a politician? I was way behind Al, but things were going along pretty well and it was hard to imagine then how terribly things would go wrong. In retrospect I'm all about Al, but I don't know if he counts now. I LOVE Bill, but I don't know I can say I admire him. I think he did/is doing great things (if you don't pay attention to him wigging out during the last bit of Hillary's campaign...what the hell was that about?), but come on...I'd love to have that guy as your smarmy buddy who's always in some kind of unsavory scrape, not as a role model! I think Obama needs to be elected for that reason if for no other. People are thinking, "I can do something. I need to pay attention." That's a feat in itself. It is entirely possible I'm just another naive sucker being taken in by a snake only out for self-aggrandizement. However, genuine or not (and I think it is), I've been inspired. How can that not be a good thing?