Standing on the Precipice of History

Today is Martin Luther King day. A day we celebrate to commemorate a great man, who had a great vision of what this country could be, what humanity could be. I watched his "I have a dream" speech on YouTube, which is sort of tradition for me on this holiday. What amazes me is that no matter how many times I watch it, it never fails to affect me. 

Tomorrow is Obama's inauguration. It's an exciting time to be an American. It feels like we are coming out of the dark and into the light. 

I have so much hope for this man. I hope he is a man of intelligence, integrity and foresight. I hope he will restore this country to rights. It is a large job, but I believe he can do it. 

He isn't the realization of MLK's dream, but he is proof that it is possible. It is coming. It will happen. There is hope. 

I hope that tomorrow is not remembered as the day the first African-American became president of the United States, but as the turning point for this country. The day when change started. The day that led to America living up to her full potential. 

Only time will tell, but for now, I have hope.

This one's for me

Last night was a historic evening. Moments of beauty, hope and joy few and far between. As such, I want to record last night's events so that I as a reminder that days like this do exist. 

I was in camp all day at work, but we got out early. I turned on news coverage immediately. I combed the news channels for the latest returns. The husband came home and watched the coverage with me (in between naps anyway). Since it was Tuesday (of course) I went to the gym and watched CNN on the elliptical, while the husband watched from home. 

I came home and was glued to the coverage until 9PM. The husband is not that big into politics, so at 9 we compromised and switched back and forth between Indecision 08 (Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert on Comedy Central) and CNN. At 10PM CST, Jon Stewart said, "I would just like to say, if I may... that at 11 o'clock at night, Eastern Standard Time, the president of the United States is Barack Obama."

My immediate response? "Don't fuck with me Jon Stewart!"

I quickly switched to CNN and kept clicking refresh on my computer for confirmation from a legitimate news source that the news was true. I was all at once overjoyed and scared that it wouldn't be true. 

The husbands response? He woke up from his nap and said, "That's good."

A few minutes after it was announced and the phone rang. There was no doubt in my mind as to who it would be. It was Sis-C. We both squealed on the phone. 

The husband and I stayed up to hear both John McCain's concession speech and Barack Obama's victory speech. I may have shed a few tears. I have been buoyed up by a sense of optimism and well-being ever since. 

Proud

Barack Obama is the president elect!! He will be the 44th President of the United States.

I cannot adequately express in words the joy this news gives me.

I am proud, which is strange because it has relatively little to do with me personally.

Yet, all the same, I am proud.

I am proud of my country.

I am proud of Obama.

I am proud that I will be able to tell my children that I was here to witness this historic event. That I was here to participate in this historic event.

It's a beautiful evening and the future is looking better and better.

I Voted Republican

Ha! I'm just messing with you.

I'm happy to say that this morning I participated in the electoral process of the United States of America by casting my vote for Barack Hussein Obama.

I had this irrational fear last night before I went to bed that my hand would somehow become possessed and vote for McCain. It was kind of freaking me out. Luckily, I was able to maintain control of all my limbs in the voting booth and vote Obama.

I keep compulsively checking all the news stories. I'm looking, searching, yearning for news of the election. Isn't anyone doing exit polls this year? 

This election is making me crazy. Thank goodness it's almost over. 

Vote, Vote, Vote!!

Tomorrow is the big day. 

I'm nervous. 

One part fear and one part anticipation. 

I'm afraid to hope, but I can't help myself.

Go vote tomorrow.

Barack Obama 08.

Will They Care?

Today, the report on Sarah Palin's unethical behavior as governor of Alaska came out.

So, I hold my breath. Will the American people care?

"The belief that enhanced understanding will necessarily stir a nation or an organization to action is one of mankind's oldest illusions."
- Andrew Hacker

I felt so hopelessly deflated the first time I read this quote. I think it is my fundamental problem. I feel like if people understand, then they couldn't possibly...

But, it isn't true.

A friend of mine from high school recently wrote a blog where she said, "I will have to admit to my kids that this was the first election where I could not give two shits about the little guy, as I was far more concerned with building a nest egg for the family I would eventually start..."

So, she gets it, but is fundamentally more concerned with herself than the welfare of the nation?

Sist-A's boyfriend, KhakiRepublican, tried to justify women having to pay for rape kits in Wasilla by saying "they probably got a lot of false reporting."

While I adamantly disagree with KR's politics, in general, he's not a complete dumbass. He's capable of intelligent conversation, but is he blind or just willing to justify any sort of behavior as long as it's a Republican who does it?

I accept that people have different beliefs than I do. I'm not one of those people who feel like I need to surround myself with people who only believe as I do in order to validate my own opinions.

But, at my core is the belief that you have to care about other human beings. If we care about the lowest common denominator, then the collective welfare of the people improves. I believe that compassion and helping one another out is a good thing.

There are people who don't believe that. They look at the situation and really only care about themselves. It is not only an accepted notion, but an encouraged one in our capitalistic society.

So, back to my original point... will anyone care that Sarah Palin has been called out by her home state for being unethical? The Republican pundits will push their talking points "Obama is a terrorist" and fan-wank for Sarah. To be fair, if the situation were reversed, Democratic pundits would probably do the same thing.

I guess I have to hope Heather is wrong and "hockey moms" and "Joe Six-Packs" do care about crazy things like facts... or at the very minimum factual sound bites that are easily digestible.

I'd apologize for the long, rambling nature of this post, but nobody's forcing you to read it, jackass.

When in Doubt?

I was reading some news on MSN.com this morning, and came across this news item:
Palin pre-empts state report, clears self

She is attempting to preempt the ethics report that is going to be released by Alaska on Friday, by issuing a report of her own, where she is cleared of all wrong doing.
While clearly evil, you have to admire her moxy.

Cause, she couldn't possibly be guilty of an ethics violation if in fact people who support her write up a report saying so...

... wait, isn't that a little unethical?

She must be pretty worried about it, if they are already attempting spin control when they don't know what will be in the report.

I guess the real question is whether "hockey moms" and "Joe Six-Pack" care about ethics?

Now a Solution!

Too funny... which is good, because I think otherwise someone has to die. Hopefully, not me.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Fallout

Stay young as long as you can, kids.
Being a grown up blows.

I feel like I'm treading water. Black, deep, murky water.
I have no idea what the fuck to do.
Nobody seems to know what to do.
I'm out of my depth. So are you.
Let's hope neither of us drowns.

The Dow keeps plummeting.
People are losing their jobs.
People are losing their houses.
Personally, my 401K has a -17.1% rate of return at the moment. I have lost every dollar I have put into it this year, so far. Yet, I'm pretty sure I would still be considered one of the lucky ones.
It will probably get much, much worse before it gets better.
Will I have anything left when it starts to get better?
Thank God I'm only 28.
At least I have time to recover some savings before I'm of age to retire.

The bailout plan didn't pass.
Did I even want it to?
700 billion to bail out the greediest bastards that ever did walk this earth.
But, what are the consequences if we don't bail them out?
What are the consequences for the bastards if we do?

I hate to be pushy, but this would be a great time for *cough* someone *cough* to step up and be a leader. Prove to us that you are worthy of our faith and loyalty.
Prove that you are more than just pretty words and good ideas.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

Can you understand the words coming out of my mouth?

McCain doesn't think very highly of Barack Obama's intellect tonight.

He has used the phase, "I don't think Senator Obama understands..." at least twice tonight.
Way to be condescending, mother fucker.

ETA: He just did it again. Bastard.
ETA: Four times (at least). Son of a...

Did you know...

... that McCain was not elected Miss Congeniality?

Odd, I thought he was... oh that's right. It wasn't him it was his running mate.
My mistake.

Craazy!!

PETA is so weird.
Honest to Pete, I get what they are saying as an organization and I even agree with some of it.
(I don't try not to buy products that were tested on animals.)
But, it seems to me that they are often more about grabbing attention in the headlines for themselves than about protecting animals.

Yeah, breast milk ice cream. That sounds just wonderful.
If Ben and Jerry's wanted to commit financial suicide, maybe they could consider doing that.

I'm sure they think they are PR savvy when they pull stunts like this, but honestly I think it hurts their cause more than it helps it.

Again, I'm sympathetic to their cause. But, even if I were to give up meat and leather tomorrow I wouldn't join PETA because they are crazy.
And I wouldn't join the crusade against cow's milk either. The husband's parents ran a dairy farm until very recently (when they passed it down to the husband's brother). I can't speak for all dairy farms, but the cows on this farm weren't mistreated or abused.
You might be able to convince me that a lot of things are wrong with the way we treat animals, but milking a cow? Probably not.

If PETAs end game involves recruiting a large number of zealots to their organization, but turning off everyone else who isn't interested in the crazy shit they pull, then job well done.
If their goal is actually to protect animals, then maybe they want to think about knocking it off with the stunts and spend their money where it will actually do some good.

Passion

Where has all the passion gone?
Long time passing.

Yesterday, on my way to get my hair salon, I passed a group of senior citizens holding up signs on the corner for Barack Obama.

The signs said stuff like "God Save America, Elect Barack Obama"
They were out there in their orthopedic shoes and old people wrap around shades fighting the good fight.

What happened to my generation? Why are we so lethargic?
It seems like nothing stirs us to action.
No matter how bad it gets, we seem able to turn a blind eye.
No matter what the impetus, we don't want to leave the safety of our couches.

Our parents protested. They had sit-ins. They marched on Washington.
They threw caution to the wind. They put more value on their beliefs than their personal safety.
They were outraged. They had passion.
Or maybe, they didn't.
I wasn't there, maybe history makes it look more widespread than it was.
But it seems as though some of them had passion at least.

I want that.
I want to feel passionate about something.
I want to feel moved to action.

I stopped by the Democratic Headquarters in Monroe today and bought an Obama sign for the yard. I talked to them about volunteering. If they have something for me to do that doesn't involve phone banking, I'm there. They seemed to believe they do.
It's not the complete package.
It's not the passion I'm looking for, but at the very least it's a step in the right direction.
Can you baby step towards passion?

Dictionary

I caught a little bit of CNN at the gym tonight.
They were talking about Joe Biden and Sarah Palin. I only heard part of it, but they were saying one VP candidate talks too much and the other too little.
One of the pundits said (and this is an approximate quote), "Biden's going to have to refrain from being his normal congenital self."

Hmm... congenital? Really?

According to dictionary.com...
congenital
-adjective
1. of or pertaining to a condition present at birth, whether inherited or caused by the environment, esp. the uterine environment
2. having by nature a specified character

Now, I suppose he could have been referring to the Biden personality, conceived in the womb and then brought forth unto this earth. More likely, he meant to say congenial.

According to dictionary.com...
congenial
-adjective
1. agreeable, suitable, or pleasing in nature or character
2. suited or adapted in spirit, feeling, temper, etc.

D'oh! Don't worry CNN commentator guy. I misspeak all the time and people love to point it out. It's fucking annoying. So, sorry about this I guess, but you were kind of pompous so I don't really feel that bad about it.

Confession: It sounds all grown up to say that I was watching CNN at the gym, but in fact I only saw a couple of seconds while Lincoln Heights, which is what I was actually watching on ABC Family, was on commercial.

That's Weak, Mr. Senator

This blog (or most of it) wasn't written by me. It was written by my dad. I've added some links to articles and comments in italics, but otherwise the wisdom you see here is his. Thanks D! Enjoy!

John needs to nap a little more.

As John McCain speaks out on more reform in Washington DC, he is now going to put in “new” regulations to protect us from the financial abuses that has led to the recent financial meltdown. The Senator is on top on his game. Here is a quote from a speech today (September 16, 2008):

“Americans put a lot of trust in the bankers and brokerage firms of Wall Street. They depend on the financial service sector to protect their savings, IRA's, 401k's, and pension accounts. But many leaders in finance have proven unworthy of that trust. Government has a clear responsibility to act in defense of the public interests, and that is exactly what I intend to do. We are going to make sure that American's accounts are protected. I pledge that FDIC and SPIC will have all the support they need to fully back the savings of the American people.”

(Here is a link to the rest of the speech)

A couple of problems here John.

1) It is SIPC not SPIC and either way they are NOT regulators they are INSURERS! Palin may not know what the Bush Doctrine is, but even she knows it is SIPC (I hope). BTW, he said SPIC in three different speeches today.

(Also, SPIC is an ethnic slur used for a person of Hispanic descent. Although I doubt McCain meant it that way, it makes the speech more interesting... AND I doubt if Palin knows what SIPC is.)

2) John, you have been in Washington for how many years? Were you not there when the regulations were taken apart? Isn’t Phil Gramm still one of your top advisors? You know the Phil Gramm that led the charge to remove most of the depression era Glass-Steagall Act regulations that were SPECIFICALLY designed to prevent the types of abuses we are experiencing now. Senators, how did you vote:

a. McCain – Yea
b. Biden - Nay
c. Feingold – Nay (Just had to throw a little bone to the fine Wisconsin Senator)

Scarily enough, McCain has hinted that Gramm might become the Treasury secretary if elected. Ewww!!

These two articles talk about McCain's flip-flop on the regulation of Wall Street:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0308/9246.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26749280/

Also scary, this quote from John McCain in March, "I'm always for less regulation." AND "I'd like to see a lot of the unnecessary government regulations eliminated."

We are in SO much trouble if this man is elected!!

Psst! The password is "Sexist"

Ah! It's been a couple of hours so, of course, the McCain camp is at it again.

He's calling the SNL skit spoofing Sarah Palin (Tina Fey) and Hillary Clinton (Amy Poehler) "sexist."
Why is it sexist?
Because it shows women in a bad light?
Because it is generally derogatory or dismissive of women?
Because it implies in some way that women are fundamentally less than men?

No, because it makes Hillary Clinton seem substantive and Sarah Palin, by contrast, superficial.
Um, okay?

To quote Inigo Montoya, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means, what you think it means."

Being a woman doesn't equal political Teflon.
The fact that you have marked any criticism (real, implied or imagined) as "sexism", seems kind of sexist to me McCain.

I am a woman.
I can stand on my own two feet.
I am strong and opinionated.
I know sexism. I have seen it and experienced it.

McCain making a light-hearted skit out to be sexism diminishes it. Makes it seem less than it is.
Easy to do, when you've never had to deal with it.

I started out more astonished and amused, but the more I think about it, the more angry it makes me.
Words have power. The words you use mean something!

The sad thing is that it is really only the beginning. The McCain/Palin camp are going to beat us over the head with that word until it's coming out our eyeballs. Until anything could be sexism and nothing actually is.

Here's the clip, if you'd like to judge for yourself. But, in the end, I'm not sure sexism is in the eye of the beholder.

DE-lusional!

I don't understand the fervent McCain/Palin support in this country. I was reading an article about Sarah Palin's interview with Gibson. Half of the comments on the story started, "You dems..." or "The liberal media..."
Sigh.
I'm weary just reading the kind of vitriol and hate that went into the rest of those posts.

Please explain to me why you love these two. Please?
I can't for the life of me understand why you would love a man who just yesterday said that he still believes the fundamentals of our economy are strong. That's right yesterday. When the DOW fell 300 points. When Merrill Lynch sold itself for 1/2 of what it's worth. When the Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy. Remember that?

John McCain said, "The McCain-Palin administration will replace an outdated, patchwork quilt of regulatory oversight and bring transparency and accountability to Wall Street. We will have transparency and accountability and we will reform the regulatory bodies of government."

Um, haven't you been in Congress for like a billion years? Where have you been on transparency and accountability for the last billion years?

I keep trying to find logical reasons in what John McCain says other than he's just a big fat delusional liar. I like to believe that although I don't always agree with the opposition, that at least we both want our version of what's best for this country.
Maybe that was my own naivete, because I'm finding it harder and harder to believe.

Horrifying

Every time I think they can't horrify me any more...

This is from the blog of the husband of one of my coworkers:

Absolutely unbelievable

Typically, it's much easier to blame the victim of a crime, rather than the criminal, because the victim goes to police and the criminal hides. It's also incredibly and obviously wrong.

Alaska routinely has the nation's highest rate of sexual assault. To lower the reported numbers, one small Alaskan town had and idea - charge the victims between $300 to $1,200 to report the crime. This was to cover the costs of rape kits (sample containers, swabs and other medical supplies used to collect evidence from women after they are attacked) and the forensic exams. The goal was to push costs of law enforcement onto the victims, which would discourage victims from coming forward, thereby lowering the number of reported cases of sexual assault.

This action was taken by only one small town, and was so abhorrent to the rest of Alaska that, once word got out in 2000, Alaskan state legislators immediately passed a bill making this practice illegal.

That small town was Wasilla. That would be the tiny town left $12,000,000 in debt by the irresponsible deficit spending of their former mayor. The mayor that oversaw the implementation of the "charge the victims" scheme and runaway spending was Sarah Palin.Of course, the neocon viewpoint of reporting on facts would be: Stop picking on our poor, innocent candidates. Bringing up their past record is such dirty politics, that now we'll spread lies about your candidates.

The more you know...

The more I learn about McCain and Palin (like this, this and this, oh and this, too) the more they disturb me.

I think they are both fundamentally dishonest people.
Maybe it goes along with being in politics.

This election is making me crazy.
The hypocrisy is just so fucking rampant that it makes my blood pressure rise just thinking about it.

I hate Sarah Palin's "straight talk" because the more she speaks, the more she lies.
What is fucking wrong with the country?
We have just had 8 years with a douche bag who loves to tough talk with an accent and tell lies, Lies and MORE LIES!!

Are people just masochistic or what?

Who needs an economy?
Let's just continue to invest in the failed politics of the Republican party. It's like the over-the-top method of fighting World War I. They had to invent the fucking tank before they would stop sending soldiers "over-the-top" to be mowed down by machine guns.

Who needs the middle class?
In general, I don't support the idea that a political policy must benefit me to be something I support. Yet, there are scores and scores of people out there that vote Republican when their policies pretty much exclusively benefit the uber-rich.

Who cares about the environment?
Yes, let's stick our heads in the sand and willfully ignore the signs that we are destroying the only place we have to live. Let's drill the arctic... who really cares about endangered species and preserving nature? Let's drill offshore... who really cares about the consequences? I mean in 10 years we might see a 2% decrease in the price of oil. That's good enough, right?

Who cares about foreign policy?
Let's go to war with everyone. EVERY FUCKING ONE. It's really more important to make people feel important with bullshit tough talk than to work on actual solutions with crazy and foreign methods like diplomacy.

Did I mention that this election is making me crazy? C-R-A-Z-Y!!!

McCain

I feel bad. I didn't watch much of his speech tonight and supposedly I care about this stuff.
I watched for a few minutes, but I kept screaming "Liar" at the tv Carol Kane style ala Princess Bride.
My blood pressure started rising and I was muttering under my breath.
So, I gave up and watched Kitchen Nightmares instead.
Man that Gordon Ramsey is something.
He loves to curse more than I do, which is really saying something.
Other people get to zen watching puppies or rainbows or some crap like that. Me? Watching Gordon Ramsey curse is like taking a breath of fresh air.

McCain who?