Another reason to dislike Sarah Palin

OMG, I was just reading in the NYT quotes from the Couric interview w/ Palin and now it's personal.

And on gays, Governor Palin said: “But what you’re talking about, I think, value here, what my position is on homosexuality and you can pray it away, because I think that was the title that was listed on that bulletin. And you know, I don’t know what prayers are worthy of being prayed. I don’t know what prayers are going to be asked and answered. But as for homosexuality, I am not going to judge Americans and the decisions that they make in their adult personal relationships. I have one of my absolute best friends for the last 30 years happens to be gay, and I love her dearly. And she is not my “gay friend,” she is one of my best friends, who happens to have made a choice that isn’t a choice I would have made. But I am not going to judge people.”

Excuse me, Mrs. Palin but I didn't choose to be gay (not that if someone were to "choose" being gay there would be anything wrong with that...we are fabulous). I was born gay just like you were apparently born with limited capacity for knowledge.

I'm sorry, what?

Sherri Shepherd is one of the women on The View. I haven't seen many of the "she said WHAT" type headlines from that show recently. When Rosie was on, she seemed to make the entertainment page about once a day or so. That's why I wasn't prepared for the few clips I just watched featuring Sherri Shepherd.

To set the scene, Sherri is a devout Christian that was "saved" in recent years. She gave an interview in a Christian magazine saying she "had more abortions that [she] would like to count" prior to finding Jesus. She also "doesn't know" if the world is flat. During a discussion about Epicurus, she argued with Whoopi and Joy saying that Christians pre-date the BC philosopher. It's no secret that I'm not a religious person, and I certainly don't judge anyone who does have faith. I should say I don't judge most people that have faith. What Ms. Shepherd has is a case of faith turned insanity. Much of what she vehemently defends has already been disproven.

• The world is not flat -- that much is pretty clear, no? To anyone that isn't blind and has an understanding of basic shapes? I'll bet if I had asked the little boy that was sitting behind me today on the train what shape the Earth was, he'd get the answer right. He's learning shapes in school right now.
• B.C. stands for "before Christ". That means if someone was born in 341 B.C., they certainly predate Christ and His teachings.
• These are just two of her ravings. I'm sure I'll find more. I won't promise to point them out since this post has already made me exasperated.

The clip below is Sherri talking about how Sarah Palin being a mother of five qualifies her to be Vice President (and potentially President) of the United States. Really? That's what it takes, huh? My Mom is one of six kids, and I don't plan to nominate my grandmother to run for public office. I have a great deal of respect for parents, and I may even be one someday. But that doesn't mean I'm going to be qualified to run for public office. I'm not suggesting that this is the only argument that Sherri can make re: Palin's qualifications, but she needs to stop using this one.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/sherri-shepherd-palins-fi_n_123281.html

Not surprisingly, she doesn't believe in evolution either... aaaaaaand I'm spent. I need to go read a book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNC117UYsHs

Can't we all just get along?

So I've noticed that there is some tension going down on the blog. And so I'm gonna go all Edna Garrett on this blog's ass. "GURRRRLS! GURRRLS!" (and guys)... can we agree to disagree on some things and keep it civil? Thanks!

Now I know that this blog has a very liberal slant. And right now is a touchy time with an election only weeks away. But that doesn't mean that we can't get along. Some of my best friends are conservatives. I disagree with them regularly. But an incident with my very conservative family at the start of the Iraq War involving e-mail forwards and responses taught me how sticky politics is - especially amongst friends and family. So while I'm not calling for an end to ideological slant to this blog or any comments, let's not get personal or slanderous. Not that it's been that bad but I know things can deteriorate as quickly as Rush Limbaugh's OxyContin high (oh, I couldn't resist).

It's either we all get along or I'm going to make you paint your bedroom in a ploy to get you to work things out. And we all know that will end in messy hilarity!

Fashion Critique of the Candidates

I thought this was funny. And informative. Like John McCain, I, too, struggle to avoid "looking like a rectangle."

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/galleries/frontrunners

Thoughts on the Debate

It's hard for me to be objective, but watching John McCain leaves me wondering:

is McCain deaf in his left ear? He never looked at Senator Obama. At best, it made him seem old and deaf, at worst, it made him seem dismissive and rude.

every answer of McCain's involved his opponent. Defensive, much? I imagine if I were undecided I would have been put off by it. It just made McCain seem petty and like he was avoiding representing his own ideas.

Also, what is with Republicans being so snotty and condescending (see debate tonight and their entire convention).

I don't know. I feel like I got more substantive info from Barack Obama. At different times when McCain was speaking, I kept thinking he sounded like a sedated Kasey Kasem.

Ooooh, BURN!

Reid: "We have Sen. Bennett who is a high-ranking Republican Senator standing before all of you saying, 'We've got a deal in principle. All we have to do is put it down in writing and this is almost over with.' And then Guess Who came to town, and that completely fell apart.

...people who constructively engaged in the process were castigated in the Republican Caucus by people who aren't here a lot, at least a person who isn't here a lot of time..."

Now I am REALLY Scared

Palin doesn't think the U.S. should ever second-guess Israel. Because we don't want a second Holocaust. Because if Israel acts agressively, "we know who the good guys are". *grimace*

Crab on a Jellyfish

I don't why, but this really cracks me up. It's just a crab on a giant jellyfish.

Volunteering

I just want to urge Obama supporters to get online and volunteer. I realize you're in a blue state, but you could reach out to people in purple states and really help, I believe. Dave's aunt is in Ohio (she lives in Mass.) volunteering all day long! Karen and I just made a few calls last night. The thing is, there are people out there who need to be reminded about educating themselves and voting. I am not saying "call them and convince them to vote for Obama"--I am saying "call them and make them think about the issues most important to them. Then remind them there are resources for getting the facts about the policies of each of the candidates. Then remind them how and when to register to vote and that voting by absentee ballot is the easiest."

I spoke with a Hillary supporter who had "no idea" who she's going to vote for. I asked her what her concerns are and she said the economy. I asked her who she thought would best handle the economic problems we're facing. "Oh, Obama for sure" We kept talking, but I think it made her realize that neither candidate is perfect, but you exercise your vote with the faith that the person you vote for will do the best job.

I also spoke with someone who enthusiastically answered "Oberack" to my question. Me: "uuuuhhh... do you mean Barack Obama?" Her: "*laughing* I can't say the guy's name, but you know who I mean!" (funny especially since I told her I was a volunteer with the Barack Obama campaign in Colorado. She might have also been the one who asked, "Who's that?" hahahaha--oh, PEOPLE!)

Conservative Racist Bastards

I am not saying all conservatives are racist. But the history of the Republican Party since the 1960s speaks for itself.

Dave put together this blog post after seeing news stories on the subject below.

Jenn,

There is a new conservative meme out there trying to explain the financial meltdown on, get this... black folks.

Yes, you read that correctly. The poorest segment of the American population has apparently outwitted America's great financial institutions, and took them for all their worth.

This is the new talking point initiated by Neil Cavuto at Faux News. A few days ago, he suggested that giving home mortgages to minorities was the underlying problem. Since the same argument was parroted by both Laura Ingram and John Stossel this evening, discussed at length by the ultra-conservative Investor's Business Daily, and traceable to a Cato Institute rag from January 2008, I thought I ought to look into the matter a bit.

The argument suggests that the Community Reinvestment Act (first passed in 1977, and strengthened in 1995) is responsible for much of the crisis because it supposed "empowered banking regulators to punish banks which do not lend to the poor and minorities at the level that Obama's fellow community organizers would like." Banks were thus given "numerical quotas," which made our powerful financial corporations quake in their boots. Oh no, Big Gummit is comin' to town. And so, the argument goes, "loans started being made on the basis of race, and often little else"

(Pause for laughter and ridicule.)

What was the result? According to conservatives, them minorities just jumped into the market and diluted all our good mortgages with their own bad juju. Since those ingrates refuse to pay back their loans, good white folk are left high and dry.

Here are a few useful and brief responses:

1) "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaa! What a joke. Oh my god, you CAN'T be serious!"

2) "Black folks owned 9% of the homes in 1994. Eleven years later, they owned the exact same percentage. So there really wasn't any huge racial disparity. And if there wasn't a huge racial disparity, you can't really blame blacks can you? Sorry, no."

3) "Of the subprime loans, only 20% were connected with the Community Revitalization Agency. In other words, 80% of these 'bad' loans had little to no connection to the agency you said caused this thing. Now don't you feel silly?"

4) "If risky loans were a problem, why did Bush change FHA rules in 2005 to allow the government to provide federally-backed, zero-money-down loans for the first time ever? Man, that would have been exceedingly dumb."

5) "The loans themselves aren't the problem; the problem is what happened after the loans were made. Thanks to new rules, loans were swapped and resold dozens of times over, and that's how $1 trillion in subprime loans become a $40 trillion house of cards."

6) "The financial industry earned $3.5 trillion in profits from 1995 to 2007, yet now cry about $2 billion in potentially-bad loans. Since all those profits went in their pockets, shouldn't the bailout come from the same place?"

Oh, those crazy Republicans. They sure know how to divert attention, play on racial stereotypes, and stick their snouts into the public trough, don't they? They'll tell you that the market is king and government should stay out of it, but when those salad days end, they're first in line for a handout. Instead of "trickle down" economics, we just get to "trickle up" our tax dollars.And then magically, the government should just stay out of the market again.

I say no! No to the Wall Street bailout, and yes to helping borrowers and ordinary folks as needed. We really don't need to pay the fat cats first, or listen to claptrap about deregulation. Greed can be both helpful and doleful, which is why regulations are essential for a well-ordered market that serves society.

McCain campaign meltdown

OMG, the last 2 weeks have been BAAAAADDDD for McCain but it just got horrendous in the last 24 hours. Suspending your campaign? REALLY? Skipping the debate? WHAT?

Perhaps 2 things will go down in history as the beginning of the end for the McCain / Palin ticket: McCain canceling his appearance on Letterman and Palin's interview with Katie Couric.

I will pretty much let the clips speak for themselves. First, Letterman. If you haven't seen this, you must.



Some of my favorite things that Letterman said:

"Are we suspending [our campaign] because there is an economic crisis or because our poll numbers are sliding?" To which the audience responds with "Oooooohhhh!" and Paul Schaffer says, "Oops! Oops oops!"

"And let's say there's a time of crisis...and then Sarah Palin takes over as president, well she ought to be ready because she's handled crises like this in the past...oh wait a minute, she really hasn't handled a crisis like this in the past."

And the interview of Sarah Palin with Katie Couric speaks for itself. Here is the worst of it - what will go down in history as "the Russia question":



I am blown away by how...DUMB she sounds. I almost feel sorry for her because I think the McCain campaign really wanted to beef up her foreign policy credentials and they've made her tout the Russia thing even though it sounds SO STUPID.

Goodbye, John McCain & Sarah Palin. Thanks for the blog fodder.

Joining the Apple revolution

So I broke down and just got an iPod nano last night. It's the 16gb in blue, the latest and greatest 4th generation, natch. The iPhone will have to wait till June (so D, quit the hysterical whining about how you want an iPhone before me...we both have to wait now).

But anyhoo...I started the process of preparing my music for an iPod last night. I have a TON of music that is inconveniently not in the correct format (they are mostly WMAs...stupid Windows) and so much to my surprise the latest version of iTunes started to automatically convert these files to types that are okay for an iPod. The process started last night around 630 pm and as of 730 am this morning, it was only about 60% finished with the process. OMG, I have a ton of music. So far, playback time of my library is over 1 week...meaning if I were to listen continuously, it would play for over a week. That's some crazy sh**. So I left my computer running so that it could finish this process. Keep your fingers crossed that this doesn't crash my poor PC laptop! Or that once I get my fancy new nano that it doesn't crash itself or the laptop. Of course, if it did I would have an excuse to get a MacBook.

I'm ridiculous.

Some things you should know re: previous post

Just two weekends ago, I was threatening to break my contract with Verizon just so I could get an iPhone.  

P: "You're going to pay $100 just do you can get an iPhone" *dripping with judgement*

Needless to say, I did not switch.  

Also, my contract should have been up ~8 months ago.  Guess why it's not!  Because P made a change to our contract.  That means I am bound by the new contract (and the new dates).  

AND, I can't afford an iPhone any longer, so if he switches: (1) my monthly plan price will increase, (2) I will have to take over the billing because it is under his name right now, and (3) I will be stuck under his contract until June.

The second day the music died

So I was on my way home from work yesterday (here's your expected response: "OMG, you were working ANOTHER weekend?" Me, indignant and mad, through gritted teeth: "YES") and all of a sudden my stupid Gigabeat (Toshiba's NO LONGER MADE MP3 player) just stopped working. All of a sudden, a screen came up that said, "Send me the f*** back to Toshiba, bitch!" Well, not exactly but you get the gist of it.

I had to send it back once before (see previous blog entry entitled "The day the music died"...too lazy to link you back to it...). So now I'm thinking that I'm done with this and it's time, ladies and gentlemen, to make the switch to Apple. Yes, I want an iPhone. But there are several problems with that and this whole endeavor could be a MAJOR mess:

1) I have been on a PC forEVER and my music collection is huge (yes, you may not know this about me but I am a huge music lover and have A TON of it). It is basically all on there as MP3s that are in Windows Media Player. To boot, I know that iPods and iPhones tend to have trough sync'ing to Toshibas. So how much of a hassle is it going to be to transfer all of that over to a Mac...who knows... and can the "genius bar" at the Apple Store help me? But that brings me to another problem...

2) I want a Mac. My Toshiba laptop has pissed me off more times than I care to count and it's SOOOO SLOW. So can I justify spending about $2500 to get a MacBook Pro? I don't know.

3) I am currently under contract with Verizon and to break my contract (and D's...we are on a Family Share Plan) before June of next year would cost $100 EACH! Apparently there are websites dedicated to swapping with people to get out of your contract but is it worth it? Maybe...

4) I want something now. After all, I am an American and I want NOW NOW NOW! I can't wait for anything! Certainly not till June...and I can't go for even A WEEK without some sort of MP3 device.

OMG! HELP! WHAT SHOULD I DO?

My Crush on Michelle

This is Michelle on Ellen. First of all, I think she is GORGEOUS, secondly, she seems really nice and thirdly, she obviously has a great sense of humor. = *crush*



Here is the intro to the show--it's really cute:

Apt

I was just reading this op-ed piece by The World Is Flat author Thomas Friedman. The part that really struck me (and speaks to my issue):

"there is no sustainable political/military power without economic power, and talking about one without the other is nonsense. Unless we make America the country most able to innovate, compete and win in the age of globalization, our leverage in the world will continue to slowly erode. Those are the issues this election needs to be about, because that is what the next four years need to be about."

You can read the entire article here.

Getting it Together

Dave and I have been watching Design on a Dime. I must say, the ideas on that show are truly inspiring.

This post would be a lot better if I had a picture, so I will try to remember to take one. BUT, I think the next room we will be focusing on (which is funny bc I think my problem is as we are working on one room, I am fantasizing about another and Dave often has to clap to make me focus again) is downstairs.

Challenges: this is our tv room. it is also the cats' bathroom. It's small and dark and the stairs are precarious. There are also a ton of spider sightings this time of year.

Goals: make it cozy and inviting and not smelly or scary.

We've made good headway in that we tore up the old carpet and Dave plugged in some air fresheners. What a difference that all made! Now, we just have to "bring it all together" and add in a few design elements that make it more cozy.

Will report back soon!

One more thing--as Dave and I (okay, more me than him) realize that simplicity is best (ie, not keeping everything), my q for you is: what the heck do we do with all our books?!

My electoral map

The Washington Post has started a contest for people to predict the 2008 election by filling out their own electoral map. Here's a link to mine:

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008/pick-your-president/3907/

OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA!!

Watch SNL this weekend

2 Reasons:

=====================







Oh, and something about some guy named Michael Phelps. Who's that? The Olympics? That's SO 3 weeks ago!

P.S. Did anyone see Sarah Palin's first interview? She sucked. Obviously not ready to be VP. Don't let those Kool Aid drinkers tell you she did well...

Confession

I started another blog.

Now for MY top issue

Okay, it's too hard to narrow down, but I guess my biggest concern in the forthcoming election is the future of this country. Economically, socially, politically. Barack Obama is my President and speaks to my concern.

McCain--nothing against the guy--but... he doesn't even use a computer. How is he supposed to lead us into the future?

What's your top issue?

When I talk to people who say they are going to vote for McCain, I ask them their top three issues. The one recurring issue I hear from McCain voters is "national security". The perception seems to be: McCain = military experience = Commander-in-Chief.

The perception from this side of the fence is:
Barack Obama has held assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations and Veterans' Affairs and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. He also became Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on European Affairs. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama has made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. He majored in political science with an emphasis in international relations. (Not to mention, of course a law degree.) The guy is Smart (that's with a capital "S") and I don't think even McCain supporters would put McCain on par with Obama as far as intelligence. (Courage and moxie, sure)

Disclosure: McCain had stints on the Armed Services Committee, Commerce Committee and the Indian Affairs Committee.

What I thought was really interesting and revealing, though, are the answers of each of the candidates to the question "If you become President and knew Bin Laden was in Pakistan, would you send US troops in after him?"

Watch the video, but in short:

Obama: "if we have Bin Laden in our sights... we take him out"
McCain: "I'm not going to go there. Pakistan is a sovereign nation"

I am all for the Rule of Law, but international law also says the U.S. could pursue bin Laden in Pakistan as an act of self-defense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_SOvB5VNvY

Is anyone out there?

Cancer Panic

For those who know me only from the blog, you may not know that I am a bit of a hypochondriac.  Specifically, I am scared that I am going to get every kind of cancer there is.  I cannot imagine a worse fate than cancer.  But, while many hypochondriacs seek out the advice of a physician a little too often, I am too scared to go.  Why?  Because they'll tell me I am going to die of every kind of cancer there is!  

Cut to my arm.  I have a red bump that I first noticed probably two years ago.  At my last job, I had an HMO.  When you have an HMO, you have to get a referral to see a specialist.  So, I went for a physical and casually mentioned the ENORMOUS RED BUMP on my arm.  The Nurse Practitioner (are you KIDDING?!  You don't get to actually SEE a physician with an HMO!) said it was nothing, but she offered to lance it off for me.  I said I'd "think about it" which is code for "you'll never see me again".  

About a year ago, my Aunt died of cancer.  This scared me enough to go back to the physician for the ENORMOUS RED BUMP on my arm that I had convinced myself was growing.  I now have a PPO.  Two things: (1) it's much more expensive to have a PPO and (2) you no longer need a referral.  Too bad I didn't know that last part.  I scheduled an appointment and went on my lunch hour (which turned into my lunch two hour when I had to sit in the waiting room for 45 minutes).  When I actually saw the physician (lovely woman, btw), she looked at me like I was nuts when I said I wanted her to look at my mole.  She handed me a card for dermatology and suggested I call.  I said I'd "think about it" which is code for "not on your life".  

But then I read something about skin cancer recently, which scared me enough to make an appointment with the dermatologist.  This was exactly four weeks ago today.  I work for a small University which is part of a major medical center here in the city.  Turns out, the person examining me was none other than a student who I had just helped in my office.  It also turns out that not only did they want to check the ENORMOUS RED BUMP on my arm, but they wanted to do an all-over body check.  Now, when I say all-over, I MEAN all-over.  Soup to nuts *pun*  Alsomyanus.  ANYWAY... turns out the ENORMOUS RED BUMP on my arm is nothing.  Phew!  BUT... the dermatologist found a mole on my back that I didn't even know I had.  He scheduled an appointment with me two weeks later to have it removed.  Meantime he gave me pamphlets on melanoma to read *faint*

Note: do not simply give a hypochondriac a pamphlet to read on some life threatening condition.  Also, do not casually speak about "scooping out" a mole from one's back.  Nor should you casually mention that your patient's entire family should get checked for melanoma immediately.

Two weeks later, the mole was removed.  It left a 1cm hole in my back which will take 8 weeks to heal.  It will leave a scar.  I am applying vaseline and a band-aid to it daily.  I also had to wait two full weeks for the results.

Cut to today, 2:30CST.  I waited for 40 minutes in the waiting room.  I then waited 10 minutes in the exam room.  

Derm: *hurriedly walking in* Sorry I'm late.  Say, did I give you those pamphlets on melanoma last time?

Me: Y-yes.  

Derm: Good.  I need to make some notes in your file here.  I will go over the "path" in a minute.

*five minutes go by as I listen to him clearing his throat and scribbling*

Derm: OK, well it's not cancer.

(THANKS FOR MENTIONING THAT UP FRONT, A-HOLE!)

Derm: But it is a dysplastic nevus.  Your entire family will need to be checked.  Get dressed and meet me in the front and I'll give you copies of this.  

Me: *quickly dress, scoot to front* So what does this MEAN?

Derm: Well, it means you are seven times more likely to get melanoma when you get these types of moles.  It also means I need to see you in six months.  See you soon.

In summary, I am happy I am not going to die tomorrow.  I am not happy that I have to go get prodded and poked by people I see daily every six months.  I am also switching dermatologists. 

Bad Day Act I Scene 2

Recap of scene 1: Paul got to work at 6 AM. At 6:10 AM, when Erik showed up, Paul realized that he looked at the schedule wrong and didn't have to be to work until 7 AM. The day turned out to therefore be almost an hour and a half longer than it should have been.

SCENE 2

It's 9.5 hrs later. Paul is just getting off work. After missing one bus, he finally got on a packed bus. 20 minutes later, he exits the bus and heads towards Jewel-Osco...

Paul: (Thinking to himself) My ass is still wet! I hope that was just rainwater from yesterday on the bus seat.

Paul enters Jewel. After picking up his purchases and paying, he heads to customer service to get 2 rolls of quarters. An old women stands at customer service while looking desperately through her grocery cart that is littered with used / reused plastic grocery bags.

Old woman: OH NO!

Paul: Oh shit. Everytime I need to go to customer service, there is some old woman there making a stink about something. What could it possibly be this time??

Enter stage left fat cow Jewel employee with fake red hair. After obviously seeing 2 people, including an old woman, at her customer service stand, she walks right past and barks commands to some of her employees.

She then approaches the stand and speaks to the woman.

Fat cow: Yeah, what do you want?

Old woman: I spent $90 here.

Fat cow: Yes, that's nice. What's your point? What do you want?

Old woman fumbles with a tied plastic bag. Her old, shriveled, arthritic hands can't open the bag.

Old woman: Here, open this!

Fat cow rips the bag open without even trying to untie it. Inside the bag is 3 roles of adhesive tape.

Old woman: I want to return this. I don't have a receipt. I spent $90 here. They don't work.

Paul: Oh my f***ing gawd! Why does this ALWAYS happen to me.

Fat cow: What do you mean they don't work?

Old woman: They don't open.

Fat cow: Yes they do, see this green thing here? You pull up...

Old woman: Don't you tell me they work! I don't want them. They're old. They're all old and obviously not good anymore. Just give me my money back, I don't want them.

Fat cow: Whatever, you obviously are the expert. You know what you're talking about. But they work.

Old woman: Don't work!

Fat cow: That's nice. What's your point?

Old woman: I've been coming here for 36 years. Don't give me attitude. I come all the way from Dempster.

Fat cow: Yeah? So do I. What's your point.

Old woman: You drive. I take a PACE bus.

Fat cow: What's your point? Here's your money back.

Fat cow slams money on counter in front of old woman.

Fat cow turns to Paul.

Fat cow: Can I help you?

Paul: Can I have 2 rolls of quarters?

Fat cow: I can sell you 2.

Paul: **blank stare** THAT'S FINE.

Paul exits the store exasperated. It's been a long day. About 3 blocks away from Jewel and about 2 blocks from home, he stops.

Paul: F***! I forgot lettuce. I've got to go to the other Jewel. DAMMIT!

Ugh, fine.

The blog is turning very political. I was trying to fight that, but I'm giving in. For those of you who aren't interested in politics, sorry. I spend a lot of time these days watching coverage, so it tends to take up a lot of thought. Also, this is a very important election for those of us who feel like we've been living in an alien nation for the last eight years. I grew up (at least when I was becoming the person I am today) during the Clinton years, so this has really been something. Also, I'm gay. Also, I like to think that the government should help people. Anyway...  

I guess my biggest problem with "Barracuda" (which dictionary.com defines as slang for "a treacherous, greedy person" -- but the campaign is calling her that. I didn't make it up!) is probably something everyone who was old enough to vote during the Bush/Quayle elections went through. "Oh my God, what happens if the VP has to take over?!" That said, and assuming McCain wins the election and becomes incapacitated, I will thank Jeebus himself that we have a gubment of checks and balances. But wait... I've seen what that gubment does in times of "terror" and fright. It bends to the will of the moment instead of looking at the situation sans emotion (see the wars we are entrenched in for more information). Probably one of the most frightening things a country could go through is the death of their leader, so I guess that's why I'm scared. McCain is 72. Assuming he stays in office for eight years, he will be 80. It's no secret that the stresses of office tend to age a President anyway. You can see where I'm going with this.

Also, I'm offended on behalf of women everywhere. Andrea Mitchell (from MSNBC) said just this morning that she thinks Palin was a "smart pick" for McCain to attract women, and that women are moving to Palin in increasing numbers. Now, if you are a woman and you agree with Palin, that's one thing. But who in their right mind would vote FOR someone because they have a vagina EVEN IF they feel differently about what you can do with that vagina? I mean, I am sure there are people out there like that, but come on! Is that most of us? I hope not. The people they are interviewing are coming out to see the McCain campaign when it totters through town. That leads me to believe they would have done that anyway (or at the least would have voted for McCain come November). And it's not just the abortion issue. She's uber conservative on all issues that I've heard her talk about.  

That leads me to: her positions. Dear Media, stop saying she's trying to attract Hillary voters. She is the Anti-Hillary. She believes nothing that Hillary does. Deep down, she HATES Hillary. Personally, I tend to agree with Hillary's positions (yes, there are exceptions). Therefore, I find Palin to be a nightmare in terms of who I would like to see leading the country. That is precisely why I vote, even in the most mundane of elections (see County Water Commissioner election of recent history).

Oh yeah, and here's another reason. No spousal rights for gay couples, and if that wasn't enough... let's try to get them into lasting straight relationships. FU, Barracuda. To be fair, Palin hasn't officially endorsed converting people from gay to straight, but it's not a giant leap. Only bad people would want to keep committed couples from being able to visit their loved ones in the hospital as if they were married (= spousal rights). Luckily for me, that would never be an issue. P's and my families are very loving and accept us both with open arms. Other couples aren't so lucky.

Things that made me angry this week

Hey all...P here. Sorry I've been away. I know the blog has suffered in my absence. And to the blog's loyal fans, I am sorry for this lapse. I could make excuses (working too much, my brother's wedding, finishing a manuscript, miserable job...I could go on) but I...just did.


Anyhoo, in the spirit of the Republican National Convention, I'm going to use this blog to talk about what makes me angry instead of giving my fans a blog of substance. So here's to you, right-wing assholes.

Things that made me angry this week:

1) Sarah Palin. Not only is McCain's pick of her as a running mate an obvious political one (an attempt to get women and pander to his crazy right-wing nutjob base) but she would be a scary person to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. Can you imagine her being the leader of the free world? Oh my god, where should I move...Montreal or Vancouver? And is it just me or is her voice like nails on a chalkboard? Something like Francis McDormand's character in "Fargo" only more high pitched and histrionic. And is it just me or is it totally insulting that this woman is out there smugly insulting Barack Obama and the democrats considering she is a NOBODY that NOBODY has heard of from po dunk Alaska. And I'm sorry, don't give the media a hard time for wanting to know about your background...you are asking us to pick you as second in command of this country and you think it's unreasonable that we want to know more? DOUCHE!!

2) John McCain. I'm sorry but I'm supposed to believe that you are going to reform the Republican party while being in power? Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. You now get a time out to think about what you've done for the last eight years. And when you are ready to really admit how YOU AND YOUR PARTY are the ones that have put us on the wrong track over the past eight years, well then maybe we'll let you come out and collect speaking fees for talking to nursing homes and VFW posts. So go to your corner and face the wall. P.S. your speech sucked, didn't inspire at all and presented nothing of substance regarding how you would "change" this country. My ass you are an agent of change.

3) Residents and nurses that talk down to me like I'm dumb and beneath them. I reported 2 choice (dripping w/ sarcasm) people this week at work because they used these lines on me when I called them out on violating a protocol: "I put the order in, I'm the doctor...this is holding up the patient from going to the OR. I need this now," "Who is your manager?" and "This is ridiculous, I'm tired of dealing with this." Oh really, you are tired of dealing with evidence-based medicine and playing by the same rules as everyone else? TOUGH! (I'd explain this more but it would take a whole post).

4) M. Night Shyamalan and "Lady in the Water". This was by far one of the dumbest movies I've ever seen in my life. Horrible acting from good actors (mostly due to a bad script), a bad script (mostly due to a bad writer) and a bad writer (all due to M. Night Shamamlalanon). It's become apparent that he got lucky with "Sixth Sense" and "Signs". I would reserve my Republicanesque rancor and spare M. were it not for his massive ego and complete lack of humility (I'm sorry but you wrote, directed and starred in this film...I just threw up a little bit in my mouth). GIVE ME BACK THE LAST 110 MINUTES OF MY LIFE!!

Those things are really the only things I wanted to rant about. Did I sound like Sarah Palin because I didn't offer anything of substance, only criticism and partisan vitriol? Oh, sorry...that WAS MY GOAL.

Two things

1. Since this blog is now overrun with political posts (J), I won't go on forever. But I feel I need to say this. John McCain is a D-Bag. There. I said what everyone was thinking even IF they aren't going to admit it.
   
2. Today on the train ("Oh boy! Another train story!" say our loyal readers), I was just about to sit down when this mentally challenged* man accosted me. I was literally in the act of sitting, about to let gravity take over, when this man came running on to my train and squeezed between me and the seat. He then hooked his foot around mine and starting pushing me away from the seat. All the while he was saying things like "don't stand there, you're going to fall" and "get out of my way" and "you need to move".
   
   *I say "mentally challenged" which is true. I'm just not sure if that is how he was born or if he did it to himself. He DID have a coke nail.
   
   In any event, I let him have the seat. After I moved, he continued to yell at me about invading his space (!) until he decided it was time to pick on the unlucky passenger that decided to sit down next to him. He pointed out that her fat butt was hanging over the center line. Her reaction was priceless, but I'll leave her to blog about that on her own site.

Happy weekend!

My latest idea

I am tired of the personal attacks (of which I hear in the media both sides are guilty, but after what I heard this week at the RNC, I call bullsh*t). I think the election this November is going to come down to policy. And, even as interested as I am, I still need to brush up on and be able to speak about. So. My latest idea is to host a Liberal Study Group. I will structure it around Don't think of an Elephant
by George Lakoff.

I haven't read it yet, but 1. it's SHORT and 2. Dave has and he raved about it.

My idea is to get passionate people to be super-informed so that they can speak intelligently about the issues and point out the weaknesses of the republicans' platform (change?? really??).

If any of you are looking for a party idea, you could do it, too!

FOR EXAMPLE, some of the things Dave mentioned reading in the book were very apparent last night in McCain's speech. (paraphrasing) "Let the government work for you... (well, not ALL of you, just you, you and you)" "The government is the problem, don't trust the government" "Taxes are bad and the government is too big" --the ideas seem to be to leave ordinary people OUT of government and trust some rich white men to run it for you. Whereas I genuinely feel that Obama's campaign reiterates the message of community organizing and involvement--that it's not ME, it's US; that only with the help of people who passionately care about the fate of our country can we succeed at this critical point in our history.

Whatever people think about Obama or Democrats, you gotta admit, it's not a bad idea to get people involved and to remind Americans that this is a participatory democracy.

Don't Think of an Elephant! is the definitive handbook for understanding what happened in the 2004 election and communicating effectively about key issues facing America today. Author George Lakoff has become a key advisor to the Democratic party, helping them develop their message and frame the political debate.

In this book Lakoff explains how conservatives think, and how to counter their arguments. He outlines in detail the traditional American values that progressives hold, but are often unable to articulate. Lakoff also breaks down the ways in which conservatives have framed the issues, and provides examples of how progressives can reframe the debate.

Lakoff's years of research and work with environmental and political leaders have been distilled into this essential guide, which shows progressives how to think in terms of values instead of programs, and why people vote their values and identities, often against their best interests.

Don't Think of An Elephant! is the antidote to the last forty years of conservative strategizing and the right wing's stranglehold on political dialogue in the United States.

Read it, take action—and help take America back.