F*ckwad

A new favorite word!

Regardless of political leanings, I think we can all agree that Donald Trump is a joke... right?

And I hope we can all agree that the conspiracy theory that claims that President Obama is not an American citizen is ridiculous. Disagree with his politics? Sure. But to believe that his birth records, birth announcements, and life story are all falsified? C'monnnn.

And although Mitt Romney is clearly a viable candidate for 2012, this is funny stuff (even if you're a fan). Ahhh... Election 2012: The fun is just beginning.

Anyway, there's much more that's hilarious about this clip of The Daily Show from earlier this week, but the part during which Jon Stewart calls Donald Trump a f*ckwad is my personal favorite.

Enjoy, and happy Friday!

The Daily Show - Indecision 2012 - Mitt Romney Competes With Crazy People
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

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Crime and Punishment

Let's talk capital punishment.

John Allen Muhammad (perhaps better known as the "D.C. Sniper" or "Beltway Sniper") is set to be executed in Virginia tonight. Although I was still in college and was living approximately 400 miles from Washington, D.C., I was gripped by the story of these random shootings, and remember following the coverage closely. I vividly recall seeing "breaking news" reports of shootings outside a Home Depot, a shopping center, a Ponderosa, a school, and gas stations. In those weeks, people were actually scared to get out of their cars to pump gas. Unbelievable.

By the time Muhammad and his accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, were arrested, they had killed 10 people, and injured three others.

And tonight, Muhammad will pay the price for his crimes--like his victims, he too will die.

So here I sit, debating the issue of capital punishment in my mind. It's an issue for which I don't have strong feelings either way. Or I guess it's more accurate to say that I identify with both sides.

I understand the need for justice. In this case, Muhammad took 10 lives, so isn't it fair that his life also be taken from him? Perhaps.

I'd like to think that life in prison is a much harsher punishment, but I suppose it depends on the circumstances. I don't know much about prison life for people convicted of murder, but I know that I've heard things about how prison "isn't that bad," and "some prisoners have it better than we do." Yada yada yada. I honestly don't know how much of that is true.

The other thing is that I'm not sure life in prison is the punishment I hope it would be for people who are incapable of feeling remorse. Let's take Scott Peterson for example. I would love to think that sitting in his jail cell for the rest of his life--in a prison that overlooks the very bay into which he dumped his pregnant wife's body--would be the ultimate torture. I would like to believe that he thinks of the beautiful wife and baby boy that he killed, and that having to live with that is punishment enough. But he still denies the crime. He doesn't seem sad. He, too, will be put to death for his crimes.

In a situation where the murderer is a sociopath, or has other mental issues that prevent him/her from feeling remorse or regret, compassion or sympathy... is the death penalty a better answer then? Is taking away "freedom" a harsh enough punishment? What about those who are sentenced to life in prison, but then get paroled?

For those who believe in Heaven and Hell, the ultimate punishment comes after death. Can I argue with those who want that fate to come more quickly for the murderer? Not really.

Frankly, I sort of wish that these decisions were left up to the victims' families. Not the convictions, obviously... but the choice between life in prison and death. The families are the ones who will continue to suffer for the rest of their lives because of what was taken from them. So doesn't it make sense for them to decide the fate of the person who robbed them of a future with their loved ones? It won't bring their loved ones back, but I think that if one of these options will help them to sleep better at night, they should get to choose.

I'm sure that many of these family members would feel much like I do--that death is the "easy" way out, and that letting the murderer rot in prison for the rest of his/her life is preferable. But given that for me, this is a (thankfully) hypothetical scenario, it's hard to say how I would feel if I were actually in those shoes. Trying to imagine it, I can also see the other side. I could see how I would be so filled with rage that I would want that person to pay, to "suffer" in the same way that my loved one suffered. An eye for an eye.

I see both sides.

And I don't know if there is a right or wrong answer.

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Disgusted.

Pardon me while I dust off the corner of my blog labeled "politics." Because wow... it sure has been a while, huh?

But it's time.

I have been watching in shock... disgust... HORROR even...over the last several days, as the media and the citizens of this country talk about the speech that President Obama will deliver to school children today. I don't even understand how it has escalated to this level.

Parents pulling their children out of school?
Schools refusing to air the speech because they don't want to upset anybody?
Protesters outside of the high school from which Obama will deliver the speech?

SERIOUSLY, my fellow Americans? SERIOUSLY?!

The White House, in order to try to calm the hysteria over this, has released the full text of the President's speech. And it, quite frankly, is wonderful. Beautiful. Inspiring. A message every child should hear.

Yet so many of them won't.

For whatever reason, ever since Obama took office, Republicans have been totally on his ass. Not just in the traditional "the opposite party is in power and we have to knock them for it" sense, but in the "we need to DESTROY this man" sense. I don't even know how the guy manages to breathe.

Some people who disagree with his policies are taking everything he does, everything he says, and blowing it completely out of proportion. They call him a racist. They call him a socialist, or even a communist. They call him a muslim (as if that's supposed to be something negative). It's sick. But then I remember... these are the same people who called liberals "unamerican" and "traitorous" when we had the audacity to voice disagreement with George Bush. In other words, they're into exaggeration and namecalling.

And you know what? That's fine. Every American has the right to disagree with his policies. That's fine. It's the way it should be. It's America.

But in this case, they've (once again) politicized an issue that's not even political. It's not about politics. Read the speech. Tell me what parent would disagree with those messages. Who?

He is the President of the United States. Regardless of whether you agree with him, he has reached the highest-ranked position in this country. He is one of the most powerful people in the world. Should children not strive to be like him? Should he not serve as a role model?

The youth in this country need a fire to be lit under their asses. These are the children who will grow into the adults who will lead this country someday. This country. This totally fucked up country.

And the President of the United States wants to speak to them. So, my god! LET HIM.

I think the saddest part in all of this is that if it were announced that some celebrity--oh, I don't know, let's use Miley Cyrus for an example--wanted to deliver an inspiring message to America's school children, people probably wouldn't have batted an eye.

And she's practically a stripper.

Yet people are up in arms about the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES talking to school children about never giving up on their dreams and striving for greatness. Oh, the horror.

To take it one step further... I happen to believe that even if President Obama's message to the children was political, the children should still watch it. What is the harm in presenting both sides of an issue to children? Should we really be sheltering them from messages just because we don't agree with them? I sure as hell don't think so. I actually think it would foster educational and thought-provoking conversations between children and their parents. But you see, parents are lazy. God forbid they actually have to TALK to their children about important issues. God forbid should you have to turn your TV off and have an actual conversation at the dinner table.

"No one’s born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You’re not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don’t hit every note the first time you sing a song. You’ve got to practice. It’s the same with your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it’s good enough to hand in... So today, I want to ask you, what’s your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country?" (excerpts from Obama's speech)

I believe this is a good message for kids. Sure, they should hear things like this primarily from their parents, their teachers, and their peers. But maybe they don't really hear it. Or maybe they don't have people around them to inspire them in this way. Maybe 10, 20, 30 years from now, there will be just one child who remembers the day back in 2009 when he or she sat in school and listened to President Obama, and it changed his or her life. Is that not worth it?

We should do everything we can to help encourage and promote the opportunities that lay before these children. They have the potential to grow up and change the world.

I think we need that.

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A Thousand Words

Yesterday, my internet buddy, LJK-C, posted a link to a photo collection by the Boston Globe that chronicles President Obama's first 167 days in office. Beautiful, poignant photos that I pored over, drinking in every detail--in one image, I even noticed my favorite campaign photo framed on the President's desk. *LOVE*

When I look through these photos, I feel so much pride.

But this post isn't about that. Well, it's not about my pride.

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

It's about his.

(I'm referring to the little guy.)

I first saw this photo a few months back, on some random news site or blog, shortly after it was taken. I saw it again while watching NBC's "Inside the Obama White House" special with Brian Williams.

While perusing this photo collection, I came across it for a third time. And I'll tell you... its power isn't lost on me. Every time I see this photo, I am deeply affected by it.

If you don't know the story behind the image... This little boy is the son of a White House staff member. He was at the White House for a visit, and had the chance to meet the President of the United States. As he stood, looking at Obama, he asked the one thing he really wanted to know.

He had recently had his hair cut, and he wanted to know if the President's hair felt like his own. And President Obama, in a way that I think truly demonstrates his character, bent over to let the little guy feel it for himself.

Pardon me while I go grab a tissue.

When I look at this photo, and I read the story, it's about so much more than the haircut.

That little boy--a black little boy--was likely sizing himself up against the President. And for the first time ever in our country's history, he was able to conclude: He looks like me. The color of his skin, and even the texture of his hair.

When I think about how that 4-year-old boy represents thousands and thousands of children who can now draw the same comparisons--it touches my heart.

For Obama, bending over and letting the boy feel the top of his head was a simple gesture. For the little boy, it was so much more than that. As a small child, he may not fully understand, but I think that some day, he will.

And seriously, now... what a beautiful moment to have caught on film.

That's right; I love it so much, I wanted you to see it twice. ;)

Oh, and can I just say... to be the Obama White House photographer? DREAM JOB. You know, if I had the talent.

Which I don't.

Instead, I'll live vicariously through Mr. Souza's photographs...

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Goosebumps

Let's kick off the weekend with something uplifting, shall we?

I see it as my personal duty to ensure that everyone I know has seen this.

I had seen bits and pieces of this on the news early this week, and I thought it was a great story. But it wasn't until I watched the full thing while eating my cereal on Wednesday morning that I came to fully appreciate it.

I sat there and watched in awe as Susan Boyle was instantly judged by the show's judges and its audience, based solely on her appearance and her age. I was actually kind of disgusted over the looks that were shown on people's faces.

And then she began to sing.

Instant tears welled up in my eyes, and I got goosebumps all up and down my arms. Even the little hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Amazing.

By the time she was done, I was full of pride for this woman. Not only had she just gone out there and done a bang-up job singing one of my favorite Les Mis songs, but I was so happy that she had proved everyone wrong. Sweet, sweet victory from this "ugly duckling" who no one ever expected to be wowed by. But she did it, and she did it amazingly well.

Frankly, I was proud of the judges for owning up to their first impressions of her, and apologizing for it. Well, except for Simon Cowell. I don't watch American Idol, so I don't have a lot of experience with him, but from what I've seen... you can't expect much from him. I think his reaction to Susan's singing was about as nice as he gets. So, whatever.

I hope Susan continues to tear up the stage for the rest of her competition. Beyond that, I hope all of her dreams come true. Go get 'em, Susan!

Now I'm going to make a complete 180 and talk about politics. It's related to this post because to me, it's a second piece of really good news that came out of this week.

I'm excited that yesterday, Governor David Paterson introduced legislation to legalize gay marriage here in New York State. There is a loooong way to go with this, but at least he got the ball rolling. Governor Paterson is throwing his weight and influence behind it, and I hope that he's able to get the State Senate to see that there really is no debate. It's not a question of should they or shouldn't they, it's a question of right or wrong, and so far, New York (and most of the rest of the country) has been wrong. MAKE IT RIGHT.

I'm appalled that we are still dealing with issues of equal rights in 2009. Really, I am. I'm sad that it took several other states to get New York to start this process. We're New York, for crying out loud! (Although I look at California, a state I also have high expectations of, and I remember Prop 8. I still can't believe it happened.) But right now, I don't care how or why Paterson made his decision to do this; I'm just glad he did. COME ON, NEW YORK. Don't let me down.

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Mr. President

Today is an awesome day.


I have never experienced an inauguration the way it is meant to be experienced. I was only 10 years old when Bill Clinton was sworn into office, and although I have very clear memories of watching it (I was home from school and spending the day at my grandma's), I was too young to understand the magnitude of it.

And in January 2001, when George W. Bush was inaugurated, I was still disgusted over the controversial results of the election. As wrong as it may be, I just didn't care.

Today, I was moved to tears (for the first, but not the last time), not by Obama walking out of the tunnel, but instead by a shot of the crowd cheering wildly and waving all of their flags.

I love America.

And today, I watched as the man that I believe in--Barack Hussein Obama--was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America. I have been rooting for him, supporting him, and getting to know him for two years. And on Election Night, our country spoke out in his favor. And finally, now, it is official. If I hadn't just watched it with my own eyes, I may not even believe it. In a lot of ways, it seems surreal.

Now begins the true test. To see what President Obama can do for this country. He is definitely receiving the country in worse shape than it has been in a long time, and so I believe my expectations of him are realistic. I do not expect him to be able to work miracles, but I still allow myself to hope that he can. Only time will tell.

For today, I want him to enjoy the celebration in his honor. Just like every other president before him, he deserves it. Tomorrow morning, it's time for work. Hopefully a long eight years of work.

Congratulations, Mr. President.

I couldn't end this post without giving a little love to the Obama girls. Look how cute they are in their little outfits:

I have a special soft spot for Sasha, since she always seems to melt me in some way or another. Here she is, giving her dad a thumbs up. Adorable.

I think we are in for a great treat, having this family in the White House. I think his wife and children make President Obama a better man, and I think they will make him a better president. The decisions he makes will directly affect the future of those little girls. He has made it pretty clear that much of his focus is on improving this country for the sake of his daughters, and the rest of us certainly benefit from that.

I can't wait to see what can be done.

(All photos in this post from Getty Images)

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Taxed

It looks like I'll be drinking less Diet Coke. (I absolutely refuse to give up wine.) And I'll be listening to less music.

Or you know... maybe we'll just move. Let's get the hell out of New York.

We are already the second most taxed state in America, and now Governor Paterson wants to raise the ante. And all I can say is...

Go to hell.

We pay ridiculous amounts of property taxes, school taxes, etc. We have an 8% sales tax. I've always been a little bitter about all of this, but fellow New Yorkers have repeatedly pointed out that compared to other states, we get a lot more for our tax money. So I've continuously sucked it up.

But seriously? Higher taxes on soda, beer, wine, iTunes, taxis, movies, sports games, and cable? I'm well aware that these things aren't necessities, but holy hell. Way to suck the fun out of just about everything.

The State has gotten themselves into this mess with our broken welfare system, general overspending, and pouring money into the wrong programs. So you know what? They should get themselves out. They're already bleeding us dry and now they want more.

I know, I know. I'm a democrat complaining about taxes. But come on. The shittiest thing is that we're going to be paying all these extra taxes, and funds for education, healthcare, social programs, etc. are STILL being cut. Jobs are STILL being lost. If more taxes were going to improve something, I'd likely have an easier time with the hikes. But what are we getting for the extra taxes? Looks like a big ol' NOTHING.

I know the economy sucks and everyone is hurting, including the government. But for the love of all that is good in life, how does it help to put us all further in the hole? We're going to be paying more for all of the stuff that helps us forget about how much things suck.

Thanks, New York. Thanks a lot.

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Yeah. What he said.

Most times, I think Keith Olbermann is a whack job. My husband likes him and watches him pretty regularly, and I always tell him that being a Democrat and watching Keith Olbermann is like being a Republican and watching Bill O'Reilly.

Not very objective.

And as much as I love to listen to people with whom I agree, I find that most of the time, I prefer to get my news from other channels. I mean, come on. I love me some Bill Maher and Jon Stewart, but that's not where I get my news.

But this? With this, Olbermann has won me over.

I could go on and on about my feelings about Prop 8 in California, and the issue of gay marriage throughout the United States, but today, I'm just going to go with: Yeah. What he said.

Because he's right on. And it gives me goosebumps.

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Yes we can

Obama did it. Or rather, we did it. We won.

I didn't have to go through another disappointing election loss.

Thank you, America.

Now I'm looking forward to seeing what will come. Unfortunately, I think we have a really long way to go, and I feel like Obama is at a huge disadvantage from the get-go. But I have faith that things can change.

What an historic evening it was. I was elated when the election was called for Obama at 11 p.m. I managed to stay awake long enough to hear McCain's speech (which I thought was very nice, actually), but konked out afterward and woke up to see Obama and his family exiting the stage. Whoops. Missed the speech. But I've caught up on most of it today, and it was typical Obama--inspiring. Today is a new day.

And January 20 will be here soon. Let's do this.

Yes we can.

As for us, we spent election night holed up in our house with our sweet little dog. We donned our Obama gear, made a BBQ chicken pizza, and I baked a loaf of banana bread. We relaxed on the couch, watched a few political SNL skits on the computer, and waited for results to come in.


Today, I am in better spirits. The last few days have been really nothing but despair, but today was better. I only cried once (so far). I still have my moments, of course, and I'm sure there will be many bad days to come. But today? I just felt like I was able to focus more on the joy than on the sorrow. Today, it didn't physically hurt to smile.

My mom was crying about Tessa the other night and mentioned how it almost feels like it's not worth it to have pets because you run the risk of so much pain. My dad said something similar, about how he doesn't want any more dogs because you almost always outlive them, which is always sad. My response (also through tears) was that even though we're going through this, I do not regret it. I do not regret Tess.

If you don't experience the pain, it means you haven't experienced the joy, either.

And there is nothing like the joy.

Tessa is scheduled for surgery on Friday. They are going to remove at least one of her swollen lymph nodes to send it off for pathology. After this, we'll know more about her cancer. What type of lymphoma, what stage its in, how aggressive it is, etc. The doctors will be able to give us a more accurate prognosis and options for treatment. We'll just have to see where we go from there.

For now, we're just focusing on one step at a time, and right now that step is the surgery. We have to drop her off before work in the morning, and then, barring any complications, we can pick her up after work. I'm so glad she doesn't have to spend the night. It'll be traumatic enough for her, I'm sure. The plan for the weekend is to pretty much hibernate in the house and help her heal.

So... Can we get through this?

Yes we can.

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Change

My, how things change.

I've been waiting for and looking forward to this day for more than a year. Up until yesterday, Michael and I were totally excited about making a huge Election Day meal, cracking open some wine or beer, and then, if things went as planned, maybe even popping open some champagne. All while watching non-stop election coverage, of course. And I was so looking forward to going into that booth and pressing that lever down. So excited to vote for change.

Now? Well, now, I'm having trouble giving a shit about any of it.

Still, I dragged my sorry ass into my polling place this morning. Went into the booth, voted for Barack Obama (and other local politicians), came out, proceeded to go to my car, and then I cried all the way to work. And three more times since.

In just a week's time, I've gone from happy, laughing Heather to someone who can't wait for each day to be over so she can go to sleep. Sleep is the only time I'm not sad.

This is not the kind of change I was looking for.

Have I mentioned how much this sucks?

It sounds so overly dramatic, but when I stop and think about it, I really don't know how I'm going to get through this.

There's nothing anyone can do. There's nothing anyone can say.

But of course, it means a lot to hear from people and know that they care. To know that people understand.

Unfortunately, it just doesn't make it suck any less. Doesn't make it any less painful.

I feel sorry for everybody around me. I know I'm probably not going to be fun to be around for a while. Most likely a long while.

I just hope that people understand that this is just a really tough time. I don't mean to be this much of a downer; it's just that I can't help it.

And the worst part is knowing that this is just the beginning of what is surely going to be a downward spiral. I can't see that this is going to get any better any time soon. It's weird looking to the future and feeling like there is nothing to look forward to.

Again, I worry that I sound way too dramatic about all of this. But I'm in a black hole and am really not sure how to crawl out.

For now, I'm just going to work hard to get through each day. To get home and be where I feel like I need to be right now. And to at least try to enjoy some things.

I'm still going to watch the election coverage tonight, and I'm still going to root for my man, Obama. I just wish it was going to be with the same gusto it would have been before.

This is a rough patch. People deal with this stuff all the time. Worse things. Things with parents, children, siblings, friends. I'm aware of that. The story of life, I suppose. I just wasn't expecting it to be the story of my life. But no one ever does.

For my sanity, and to truly spend as much time with her as possible, I'm going to start driving home for all of my lunch breaks. Thankfully, we don't live very far from where I work, so it's a pretty good chunk of time to be with Tess. I think breaking up the day like that will help me get through each day at work.

So today was day 1. Day 1 of trying to live a semi-normal life.

I went home for lunch. It's beautiful outside today. And Tessa did what she always does when it's warm and sunny out.

She flopped for belly rubs before she even made it all the way onto the grass.

And I, of course, let her enjoy them for as long as she wanted. Because of winter on the horizon, I know that these days are truly numbered.

As if Tess wasn't already one of the most photographed dogs on the planet. Now, I predict it will be even worse. Right now, while she is still healthy and acting like herself, I'm feeling like we need to document all of it. All of the little quirks and adorable things that she does that we have taken for granted because we always think we'll get to see her do them over and over and over again.

After her belly rubs, we sat on the porch and watched neighbors pass by. Watched a contractor load equipment and tools back into his van. Tessa growled her low, rumbly growl that always makes us smile.

When the contractor first came around the corner of the neighbor's house, Tessa barked at him. I laughed, but apologized to the guy. He smiled and said, "Oh, it's OK. She did startle me a little. I wasn't expecting trouble today." I laughed and said, "Oh, she's trouble alright."

Tough girl. All bark and no bite. The guy paused when he got to her and leaned down to pet her. She immediately turned to mush. Like she does with just about anyone who pays her any attention.

Just counting down the hours until I can go home again.

In the meantime, go Obama, go! (Had to get that in there.)

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Best buds

Saw Barack Obama at the mall tonight. He wasn't as tall as I thought he would be. Hmph. I told him he's the man.

John McCain was on the other side of the counter and there was no one getting their pics taken with him. Poor guy.

:)

Less than two weeks! Come on, America!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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Pro-abortion?!

OK, we all know I am not a fan of John McCain. And as expected, during last night's debate, all he did was solidify my opinion. I mean, holy crap, I can't even believe some of the stuff that came out of the man's mouth.

There was one particular issue that ignited a fire within. Made me want to yell at him through the television: Do not call liberals/democrats "pro-abortion."

It's pro-CHOICE, you asshat.

It'd be like me going around saying that pro-lifers are "anti-freedom." This type of talk has driven me crazy for years.

I have told this story to people before (but never on my blog). During the 2004 election season, I was employed at a different company than I am now. Politics were discussed pretty openly. I liked the discussions. Mostly, everyone was respectful of the opinions of others, and it was pretty interesting to debate the issues with others.

However, there was an administrative assistant/receptionist that was very, very conservative. Someone said something to me in front of her one day that made it clear I supported the democrats. She looked at me and said, "You're a democrat?" I said yes. She replied, "Oh, so you're a baby killer."

Right in the middle of an office of professionals. Honestly, now. What a bitch.

Four years later, as I remember that moment, I get pissed that she had the audacity to say something like that to me just for supporting a particular candidate. She had no idea about my stance on abortion. (If you haven't already made the assumption based on this post, yes, I'm pro-choice. But that's not the point.)

She had no idea of my history. What if I had had an abortion in my past? In that case, I guess this coworker would have had reason to call me a baby killer. But would it have been right for her to do so? Hell no. Again, she'd have no idea about the situation. No idea if I had been raped, if my health had been at risk, etc. What if it was a decision I had made, but it was really hard for me? She would have been drudging up all of those old feelings, right in the middle of a work day in the middle of an office.

I know that all of what I just said is hypothetical. But the point is--she didn't know. And still, she had the nerve.

The other side of this issue: I will go out on a limb here and say that I don't think anyone who is pro-choice is pro-abortion. We simply support the right of a woman to make the choice. I honestly don't understand how people can't see the difference.

If you are pro-life, I completely respect that.

If you are pro-life, don't ever have an abortion. It's as simple as that. But you know the beauty of it? It's your choice. And what gives you the right to try to take away the choice from someone else?

The other part of the abortion portion of the debate that absolutely knocked me over was when they were talking about Roe v. Wade, and whether or not Obama and McCain would nominate someone to the Supreme Court if the person didn't agree with them on Roe v. Wade.

McCain started rambling on about how he would nominate people based on their qualifications, not their beliefs, blah blah blah. He was pressed to give an actual answer to the question, and what did he say? He said (paraphrasing), "Well, I don't believe that anyone who has ever supported Roe v. Wade would have the necessary qualifications." And then he LAUGHED.

Pardon me while my head explodes.

OK, enough. I'm more than ready. Let's vote.

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Still laughing.

I love SNL during the election seasons. Just love.

Four days later, this is still funny:



They nailed Biden on his tendency to always compliment McCain before he bashes him. And Palin on her over-the-top folksiness. Even Queen Latifah as Gwen Ifill--LOVE it.

P.S. Is it time to vote yet?? (26 days!)

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Do not delay!

McCain suspends campaign, wants to postpone debate.

Now I've heard it all.

Believe me, I am concerned about the economy, and think that our politicians should be, too.
I want solutions--both short-term and long-term--just as much as anyone.

But holy hell, this election is important. Really important.

I understand McCain's reasons for calling for the postponement, but I still don't think it's smart. I can understand cutting down on the traveling and spending more time in Washington, but the debate? We need this debate. We need all of the debates.

I think it's pretty obvious that McCain "suspending" his campaign is just another campaign tactic. He's not really suspending anything at all. Just trying to make himself look more concerned about the economy than Obama, and apparently trying to weasel his way out of actually having to discuss the issues in a debate.

Yes, the economic crisis is a big deal. Yes, something needs to be done about it. But we are talking about an election that will determine the fate of our country for the NEXT FOUR YEARS (at the very least). This is a big deal, too.

So suck it up, McCain. You can do your job as senator by dealing with the economy, and go to the debate. Figure it out. If you're as prepared to lead this country as you say you are, you should be able to multitask.

Ugh. I really hope they debate.

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Oh, Tina Fey

How I love you so.

In case you missed it, Tina Fey returned to Saturday Night Live last night to play Sarah Palin. I never watch SNL anymore, but since Obama was scheduled to appear (I didn't realize he had cancelled due to Hurricane Ike), and there were rumors swirling that Tina Fey would be back for Palin, I knew we had to tune in.

I was not disappointed.

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin: They resemble each other as it is, so it was pretty uncanny to see her with clothes, makeup and hair like Palin. And the accent and mannerisms--she did them so well! And of course, a practically 9-months-pregnant Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton... always gotta love that as well.

(Ugh. I had a YouTube video embedded here, but no sooner did I have it up that it was taken down at YouTube. Damn you, NBC, and your copyright claims. But you can watch the video here at NBC.com: Sarah Palin & Hillary Clinton Opening)

I'd like to think that this stuff is funny, regardless of your political beliefs. I mean, even if you love Sarah Palin--"I can see Russia from my house"--that's still funny, right? I hope so. I'd hate to think people take this stuff too seriously.

I'm looking forward to more SNL. Well, political skits anyway. I'll likely be DVRing so I can fast-forward through all the crap to get to the good stuff. I hope Tina Fey comes back a few more times as Palin. It was too good to not do again!

I was a freshman in college during the 2000 election, but I recorded (on VHS!) SNL every Saturday night just so I could see the political skits. Will Ferrell as George Bush and Darrell Hammond as Al Gore. Those were the days.

Remember when SNL was actually funny? I barely even know any of the actors that are on there now. It's a bummer.

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Hillary and McCain -- Not the Same

While we're on the subject...

Last night, on my local news, there was an elderly gentleman who was a Hillary supporter. He was all about Hillary. He was wearing a Hillary hat, an "I *heart* Hillary" t-shirt, etc. He claims he has never voted Republican in his entire life (he looked to be in his 80s); always Democrat. You may be asking yourself, why was this man on the news? Well, it's because he's now voting for John McCain. Why? Because he wants Hillary to be able to run again in 2012.

Talk about getting my blood boiling. Holy crap. What kind of ass backwards thinking is this?!

(Not to mention: I'm not sure that particular gentleman will be alive in 2012. Just sayin'.)

I absolutely cannot understand the Hillary supporters who are switching over and voting for McCain. I know Barack Obama is not every Democrat's candidate of choice. I'll even say that there is probably a Democrat out there who would be better suited for the job. But the fact of the matter is, this is our Democratic nominee. He is who we have to work with this time around. I understand the concerns about his experience, I do. But to vote McCain?

I just don't get how people get from Point A (Hillary) to Point B (McCain?!?). Maybe I am blind and deaf here, but during the Democratic primary debates, I was struck by the similarities between Obama and Clinton. They seemingly wanted very similar things, just had different ways of getting there. I live in New York and as you know, Hillary is one of our senators. I have never been a big fan of hers, but I sure as hell would have voted for her if she had been chosen as the Democratic nominee.

Truthfully, I find all of this to be pretty scary.

For the Hillary supporters who are now voting McCain, I have to ask why they were voting for Hillary in the first place. If it was based on the fact that her beliefs were in line with their beliefs, it seems like a no-brainer that Obama would now be the candidate of choice.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I love debating politics. I enjoy talking to people who have different outlooks on things than I do, and I never bash anyone for their beliefs. So please don't be offended by what I write if you don't agree with me. I put all of this out there for the sake of discussion. Go ahead and comment and tell me what you think.

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Interesting tactic, McCain

First it was Joe Biden. Now it's Hillary Clinton.

Basically, John McCain's camp has utilized them to do his dirty work for him.

I will admit, it is pretty smart. McCain can take a break from bashing Obama (we'll see how long that lasts) by instead using the words of Obama's former rivals against him.

The ad with Biden shows a clip of Senator Biden saying he will stand behind his statement that Barack Obama is not ready to be President of the United States.



The "Passed Over" ad that features Hillary tries to accomplish three things, as far as I can tell:
1) To imply that Obama betrayed Democrats by not picking Hillary as VP.
2) Further question Obama's ability to be President, using Hillary's words.
3) Try to turn Hillary supporters against Obama, and therefore gain more votes for himself.



Again, I say... smart.

But out of all the (probably) thousands of political ads I have seen in my time, these ones really bother me. I know that a main reason is because I am an Obama supporter. I just can't help but be annoyed by it.

All of these statements by Biden and HRC are taken out of context. Little snippets from here and there, all things that were said during the primary season. They were all competing against each other for the same job. Of course they were all doing their best to point out the potential flaws of each of their competitors, and Obama was one of them. Of course they were going to nitpick Obama's policies, lack of experience, etc. They were trying to win primary elections! They were on the road to trying to win the job as President of the United States!

There was a widely distributed and frequently played clip of HRC yesterday telling a crowd of her supporters (about McCain's ad), "I am Hillary Clinton, and I DO NOT approve this message." It must be extremely frustrating for someone to take your words and try to use them against the person you are now supporting. I'm glad she spoke out about it... especially to the supporters who McCain is trying so hard to recruit over to his side.

I think what I find most frustrating is that this tactic could EASILY be used against McCain as well. Having fellow Democrats speak out against Barack in the primary season is not unique. Republicans spoke out against Republicans. You think Romney, Huckabee, and the like weren't nitpicking McCain as well? Of course they were; it's what they had to do to try to win votes.

It sounds like Romney is on the very short list of running mates for McCain. Go back to the Republican primary debates and listen to all Romney had to say about John McCain. I think Romney actually said that McCain will destroy America. Well jeez, as long as we're talking about votes of confidence in the candidates...

Honestly, I hate political ads altogether. Especially the negative ones. I know they come with the territory, but I'd rather concentrate on debating the issues than listen to politicians sling mud back and forth.

I post stuff like this not to force my political beliefs onto others. I just need an outlet to vent about the things going on in my head, and I also really enjoy discussing politics (with both Democrats and Republicans! Shocking, I know!). If you have a different view, certainly let me know in the comments!

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You're killing me, Obama

Just do it already.

The suspense is too much to handle!

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