10,000

Sometime between yesterday and today, the number of people who have checked out my blog in the last year crossed the 10,000 mark. Not too shabby gentle, readers, not too shabby. Thanks for reading and commenting and I hope that you will continue in the New Year.

Happy New Year everyone. I know I have been slack of late, I blame the eggnog, but have no fear—2009 will be an interesting ride, of that I have no doubt.

Holiday Hiatus

My favorite Christmas Bible verse:
Luke 2:19
"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you who have been Broad Minded in the last year.

Now is certainly the time to ponder things in our hearts. I will be enjoying my respite from work and the news and the world in general, but I will rear my opinionated little head before too long, don't fret.

After all, the one-year anniversary of the blog is coming up, and festivities must ensue.

A Feminist Pause

"I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is; I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat or a prostitute." Rebecca West

Dontcha Know?

He's good enough, smart enough and apparently, gosh darn it people like him. Yup, it looks like after WEEKS of recounting and wrangling Al Franken will be the next Senator from Minnesota. The state that brought us Governor Ventura has done it again.

Let's all take a moment to reflect on this.

Nature vs. Nurture

News items like the following make my day, especially because they shoot giant holes in the theories of fundamentalists and their ilk who are so opposed to things like gay marriage and gays being parents.

Two gay penguins in a zoo in China had been removed from the communal pen for stealing other penguins eggs and trying to hatch them. Visitors protested and the zoo keepers decided to give the pair eggs from an inexperienced penguin mother to hatch. Apparently the two male penguins have done a great job. For those of you who aren't aware, the male penguins are the ones in charge of caring for the eggs until they are hatched. Yeah for stay at home penguin dads!!

Now of course, I don't know how the zoo came to the conclusion the penguins were in fact gay, I can only assume it is because they weren't mingling with the ladies as they should be, wink, wink. Regardless, these two dudes still had the urge to follow their paternal duties though and guard a penguin egg.

But people choose to be gay, God didn't make them that way at all . . .

Shoe-capades

In case you hadn't heard, an Iraqi reporter chucked his wing tips at Dubya. In Arab cultures this ain't exactly a form of friendly greeting. I get that the dude is pissed and has much to be upset about, it isn't like we have left his country in better shape.

I admit that I giggled, somewhat profusely, when I first heard of the shoe throwing. I mean come on, if anyone deserves a good bean on the head it is Bush. The problem comes when we consider what good such a display does. Most of us just want to forget that Bush is still "in charge" and move on to the next chapter. (According to a recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, 79% of us won't be missing Bush come January 21, 2009. Additionally, the same poll shows that people aren't even coping to voting for the man anymore. Welcome, gentle readers to a little bit of revisionist theatre.)

So dude with the size 10 dogs has reminded us that Bush is still in charge. Great, thanks and merry Christmas to you too. Second, he has actually created some sympathy for Dubya, something I can never quite cotton to. Although it does seem a bit late in the game to be staging petulant protests if you ask me. Seven years into the quagmire that has become Iraq, part of me would expect the Iraqis to simply be immune to it all at this point, but I suppose one never gets immune to occupation. Sadly, this was one time that Bush managed to not only not look like an idiot, but didn't sound like one entirely either. Now that doesn't make my morning oatmeal sit well at all.

Finally, I guess it all just seemed like an act of desperation, and unfortunately I think we as Americans need to be gearing up for a lot more of those in our future. My good friend and fellow blogger on life matters, Creative Kerfuffle, posted today about the general malaise that seems to be gripping us from sea to shining sea. I agree, things have been perkier. And with ugly incidents like what happened this morning in my hometown becoming more and more common as people's desperation and poverty collide, it is highly unlikely that people's moods are going to improve any time soon. And yet, the Pollyanna in me just won't die. (God knows I have tried to knife that snarky little bitch on

numerous occasions.)

So gentle reader, you may be asking, Broad how do you stay sunny side up? Well, I like to look to that paragon of rationality, Scarlett O'Hara in times like this, whose credo could be summed up as—you do what you have to do to survive and when it all gets to be too much you just say, "I'll think about that tomorrow, after all tomorrow is another day" and you pray that the next day dawns with a solution.

But you never, never throw your shoes.

Meet the New Boss

Same as the old boss  . . . well that remains to be seen I suppose. But NBC has finally announced that David Gregory will be filling the moderator shoes of the late Tim Russert for their Sunday morning political roundup, Meet the Press.

The 38-year-old journalist has jam packed some experience in his working years, so I don't doubt that he is up to the task. But change is a hard thing, something I personally don't always cotton to, and Russert's charm was as much is brains as his demeanor, tough with a gentile inner core. Gregory will have to develop his own style presumably, but from his tenure as a White House correspondent his style seems a tad more brash than Russert's, perhaps that was just due to the circumstances and the current administration's lack of respect for the press. Tune in and decide for yourself.

For My Non-Hetero Bretheren

In solidarity with my gay and lesbian friends, here is a shout out for Day Without a Gay.

Today's event is meant to impress upon the nation the impact the gay community has on our lives, community and economy.

While I think this is a fabulous idea in principle, I am not sure how this sort of thing would play out in my neck of the woods. A larger urban area like Atlanta or San Francisco seems idea for this sort of event, a) because the impact would be greater and b) presumably anyone calling in "gay" would be less likely to be penalized for doing so.

Friend of the Blog, Wes made the valid point that certain companies who may not have an anti-discrimination clause, could technically fire someone if they so wished for hopping right out into the open and announcing their non-heteroness. (Btw, double kudos to Wes for bringing this event to my attention.) He went on to say he had heard the suggestion that another way to honor today was to support gay-owned businesses in your area.

So . . . wherever you live and however you choose to participate today, by all means make an effort to honor the gays or lesbians in your life, they'll love ya for it!

And the Good Times Just Keep a Comin'

Per Salon today:

If anyone needs any more evidence that the American healthcare system is broken, consider the birth of Kathryn Darling, the new daughter of one Starla D. Darling, 27, of Ashland, OH.

Laid off from her job at a cookie factory, where she'd worked for eight years, the expectant mother took medicine to induce labor two days before her health insurance would expire in hopes she would not be stuck with the bill for the delivery. She ended up having an emergency C-section and still getting the bill.

As Darling told the New York Times: "When I heard that I was losing my insurance, I was scared. I remember that the bill for my son’s delivery in 2005 was about $9,000, and I knew I would never be able to pay that by myself."

So she asked her midwife to induce: "I was determined that we were getting this baby out, and it was going to be paid for," said Darling. The insurance company denied her claim leaving the unemployed new mother with more than $17,000 in medical bills, since a C-section is more expensive than a vaginal delivery.

As the recession deepens and more American workers lose their health insurance along with their jobs, we expect to hear more mind-boggling stories like this one.

'Nuff said, I think.

Wrong Direction

Seeing as how my gas gauge was dipping into the negative territory (I don't know what it is, but I loathe getting gas, not because of having to pay for it, but because I hate to actually get out of the car, pump it and pay. Back when I had my BP card it was somewhat better because at least I could pay at the pump. But since BP is dead to me, those days are over.) I thought it might be time to stop and fill up.

The spouse, who always seems to have cash on hand, proffered $20 since I am currently between currency and off I went. And dang if that $20 didn't practically fill up my wee car.

Unless you have been visiting a sister planet, we all know that gas flirted for awhile with the $4 mark, but today I purchased my plus unleaded for the bargain basement price of $1.77 a gallon.

You would think this would make me happy, but au contraire, gentle reader. Gas prices going down sends the entirely wrong message to the American consumer. Listen I get that things are not so shiny, happy out there. I hear the news, but gas prices going down is not the answer, it is like giving a heroin addict, meth. Sure they aren't on smack anymore, but they haven't exactly gotten clean. We need gas prices to stay up so industry and the consumers are more motivated to find alternatives. I say this not only so we can stop destroying our planet, yes I crunch like that, but also so we no longer have to kowtow to the countries with the oil. Becoming energy independent, developing the necessary technology to make that happen, is one of the few (if not only ways) the U.S. is going to retain our superpower status.

Beyond Abortion

More from the frontlines on Dubya's last ditch efforts to leave his mark on our country. You mean the scorched earth so far isn't enough?

For about 30 years, medical workers have had the option to refuse to perform abortions. Dubya and the gang would like to extend that "option" to include healthcare workers having the right to refuse to provide information or advice to any patient who might be getting an abortion.

Those who think this expanded "right of conscience" medical refusal effort is a load of BS say that the new option could open a whole can of worms that would allow healthcare folk to refuse much more than just abortion, including birth control and artificial insemination. Don't believe them? Check out these actual instances of people being denied care or information that the LA Times compiled:

In Texas, a pharmacist rejected a rape victim's prescription for emergency contraception. In Virginia, a 42-year-old mother of two became pregnant after being refused emergency contraception. In California, a physician refused to perform artificial insemination for a lesbian couple. (In August, the California Supreme Court ruled that this refusal amounted to illegal discrimination based on sexual orientation.) And in Nebraska, a 19-year-old with a life-threatening embolism was refused an early abortion at a religiously affiliated hospital.

Nice legacy Bush. Forty eight days is way too much time left for this jackass to be monkeying around with our rights.

Tell Me Something I DON'T Know

Just another example of how wrong the Bush Administration has been on so many fronts, today the National Bureau of Economic Research announced that we have been in a recession since December 2007. (Dubya is top of mind today, as Air Force One recently touched down at my local tarmac. Our "Commander in Chief" is sitting in on a roundtable of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, as well as giving out a Volunteer Service Award. Yes, this is our tax dollars at work folks. The country is in meltdown and he is handing out volunteer plaques. Nice.)

A whole year. Well I would venture to say that most of us knew that already. The question that remains, however, is how long this thing will last and how bad will it get before it gets better. Frankly, I don't know that anyone has an answer to those questions.

Stocks dived on the news, but interestingly enough 30-year mortgage rates have hit a low not seen in many years—5 percent. The big reason this happened is the Fed announced that it was actually going to use some of the bailout money to buy Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae bonds (like they said they would in the beginning, whatever.) In a rather bizarro co-ink-y-dink, I am writing a freelance piece on the deals available now for first time home buyers. The bank folk I have spoken to locally are all saying that the gloom and doom we hear on TV is not the reality and now is a great time to buy. Ok, I will grant you that if you have the cash now is a good time to buy, but I question how readily the banks are going to be giving money out these days. I don't mean to scream about the sky falling when I am merely getting dinged by a pecan, but something tells me that unless you have some stellar credit and cash in reserve, the banks are not going to welcome you with open arms.

But if I am wrong, that's great. I would personally love to refinance for a 5 percent interest rate on my mortgage . . .

Madame Secretary

It's official: Hillary Clinton will be Secretary of State in the upcoming Obama administration. Are you starting to wonder if the Senate shouldn't just hold a special election to replace all of its members who are defecting to special posts?

I am excited about this. One, after running for president, it has to be a bit of a step back to go back to your day job, even if that day job is in the United States Senate. Two, Obama and Clinton, in my opinion, were never massively different in their stances and world views to begin with. So while some may see this as Obama reaching out to his enemies, I say, "eh." Third, Clinton has balls and will do the post (and her predecessor and friend Madeleine Albright) justice.

Memories

Imagine if you will, Ms. Streisand serenading us with that tune as you read this. And yes, I cruelly put that song in your head in hopes that it would get unstuck out of mine. So far, no luck.

Moving on. On the eve of Thanksgiving, a true "American" holiday I have decided to veer into two personal stories—my best and worst Thanksgivings. So sit back, pull up a plate of your pie of choice and enjoy.

Worst

The year was 1994. I was in my senior year of college, about two weeks from concluding a semester abroad. I had used some free travel time during my journey to visit friends in Helsinki, Finland. While there, they recommended a very modestly priced "cruise" to St. Petersburg, Russia. The night the ship was returning to Helsinki, there was a major storm. The sea was angry that night, my friend. Broad was tossed about on her wee bunk. At some point I stumbled to the miniscule bathroom and passed out with my head in the toilet, occasionally rising to brush my teeth and start down the nausea path again. I managed to pull myself together to exit the ship when it docked. And that was Thanksgiving 1994.

Best

The year was 2004. Odd that the best Thanksgiving fell exactly 10 years after the worst. After about a year and a half of trying to get pregnant (damn those wasted years of unnecessary birth control), I strongly suspected that the spawn of Broad had been conceived. Meanwhile, the idiot sibling's marriage was imploding over the green bean casserole, oddly enough this did nothing to dampen Broad's joy or thankfulness on that blessed day, if anything it added to it. Thus, a pea-sized spawn of Broad feasted on the turkey and oysters I partook of that day, enjoying a little in utero T-Day. And that was Thanksgiving 2004.

Gentle readers, I know that family is not all it is cracked up to be, so I respectfully remind you to find the joy and happiness and peace in your life where you may, and if that is hiding in a garage with a pint of Jose Cuervo, so be it. Broad would never judge you, I am just grateful you take a few minutes of your day to read my yammerings.

Leave Me Alone

I hate going so long between posts, I don't want my gentle readers to feel unappreciated or alone, but I have not found much to be riled up about of late. Of course there is the "will she or won't she" debate raging over Clinton possibly becoming Secretary of State. Whatevs. It seems to me to be her best option, gives her more importance than if she is just a mere senator.

Yesterday the beloved spouse mentioned Bush making some changes to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). I am a big believer in the act and think it doesn't even scratch the surface of what we need for parents and families in this country. Of course the fact that I once had to argue with a dipshit HR person about whether or not I was allowed to take 12 weeks after the spawn arrived is another reason I am a big supporter of the act.

That being said, what little I was able to track down about the latest FMLA changes authorized by the Bush Administration aren't even enough to get me hot under the collar. I think it is good that it is being extended to military families (and not just immediate family either), frankly I had no idea they didn't have the ability to use FMLA to care for wounded family members. I am kind of bothered that they are allowed six months of leave under the act, something that is not available to non-military people.

I guess that is about it, just wanted everyone to feel loved.

For Her Pleasure

I have been debating about blogging about this topic, but I think it falls under the heading of feminism, at least in my twisted little world, and after all, this blog is my twisted little world, so what Broad says goes. Ahem.

Playgirl is dead.

The magazine was founded in 1973 (a GREAT year I might add) and the final issue, January/February 2009, is on the newsstands now. I have only ever seen one issue of the magazine and believe it or not, it was one my mom purchased for me when I was high school/college age. I don't remember exactly. My mother's purchasing of the "naughty" magazine is a much stronger memory for me than whatever contents those glossy pages contained.

Why you ask, does the demise of a tawdy pornography periodical matter? In addition to the purpose of the magazine as a "feminist response to Playboy and Penthouse," Playgirl was apparently the ONLY magazine geared towards women that also just happened to display men in all their natural glory (well sort of, waxing ain't all that natural I don't suppose). So now, girls looking to get their visual socks rocked can't kick it old school with a magazine stuffed under their mattresses. (Note to pubescent boys out there, your mom knows you do this—ESPECIALLY if she is the one still changing your sheets . . . Don't think you are getting away with anything Einstein.)

But you ask, I have always heard that isn't how girls roll. Well . . . speaking solely for Broad minded I will say that everyone gets their jollies in different ways, each sense has its pros and cons. I'm not a prude, I actually have no objection to your basic soft core porn (having abstained from anything beyond that I will say that from what I hear about the harder-core stuff I would find that disturbing, as well as highly unfeminist and a most definite turn off) although I wouldn't mind seeing more porn that is specifically aimed at women and not at 20-something dudes with five minutes to spare.

And that is what Playgirl was about. Trying to get behind what turned women on. So why did the book fail? From the sounds of things there were several reasons, including the publishers (damn them) wanting to dumb down the content, while the editors seemed to be seeking to marry Ms. with naked dudes; and the editors trying to serve too varied an audience, i.e. not only heterosexual women, but homosexual men—apparently the two groups might have different sexual fantasies, go figure.

Where does this leave a modern feminist? Well most certainly with one less outlet to express herself sexually. Is it sad that Playgirl is gone? In a way I say yes, but if from its ashes a new effort to address heterosexual female sexuality rises up to live another day, then perhaps it will not have died in vain. 

You Need a Plan

First it was Wall Street, then it was the credit card companies, and now the American auto industry is hitting up taxpayers for a bailout.

I say let 'em fail. And please dear god, take their Hummers with them.

Apparently Congress has told the Big Three, no money without a plan. All of which sounds logical to me. After grad school I briefly answered phones for a local branch of the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC). While I didn't learn much, aside from the fact that the guy in the cube next to me liked to look at porn online at work, I was struck by the rigorous paperwork that was involved in starting up your own business through the Center.

The SBTDC was all about people having a plan for starting, maintaining and growing their businesses. I say, what is good enough for your local coffee shop or service station should be more than good enough for Ford, Chrysler and GM. But then what do I know, three of my four cars have been made outside the U.S. of A. much to my father's chagrin.

(And don't get me started on the money the CEO's of the three spent flying their three private jets to testify in front of Congress. Talk about a flagrant waste of money at a time when those dudes should have been hoofing it. Furthermore, I have heard from several places now that some auto workers are getting paid $40 to $70 an hour—depending on if you factor in the value of their benefits. Yep, that is $83,000 to $145,000 a year for jobs that don't require college degrees for the most part. Listen, I am not against someone making a fair wage, but I have SIX years of higher education and I am not making in that range. Something doesn't seem kosher there. Welcome to the real world, folks.)

Congress will eventually cave, but when that time comes, I sure hope they have made the auto industry create some sort of plan to straighten up and fly right. Until then, me and my Mini are going to keep cruising into the sunset . . .

Up From the Primordial Swamp

I like to assume, that you, my gentle readers, are educated folk. But perhaps you lack my love of useless trivia. For instance, did you know that Washington, D.C. was built from a swamp. Explains a lot about our political system today doesn't it?

Nonetheless, I had the opportunity to visit our nation's capital yesterday on business (nothing like an up and back in one day trip). And I wished that I had more time to explore the city. This is my third visit to D.C. in the past four or five years. The first was for my father-in-law's funeral service at Arlington in August. That wasn't pleasant. The second was for a NOW training session when I was about six months pregnant. Again, no real time for fun.

This trip didn't give me any fun time either. But I did get to see an amazing view of the Mall, from the Capital to the Lincoln Memorial as the plane took off. It was almost sunset too. Wow.

Forgive Us Our Debts

I admit that I am one of the many Americans burdened with credit card debt. Shit happens, and when you start out in the lowly world of publishing you ain't making the big bucks, you know? I used to steal canned food from my parents and call it grocery shopping. Enough of my whining, dry your tears and let's get back on topic.

But I have been especially intrigued of late with all the bellyaching we are hearing from retailers and credit card companies, etc. as our economy takes a nosedive. For instance, I saw a news clip with a handful of shoppers interviewed and one lady was talking about cutting back this holiday season because the money just wasn't there. Sounds reasonable and responsible to me. Of course Bank of America and their ilk would disagree (as would GAP and Macy's). They want us up to our eyeballs in bills that we can barely pay, that is their bread and butter.

Which leads me to Mr. Paulson's recent "redefining" of the big bailout package to the financial industry. Ole Hank is now saying some of that chunk of change is going to the credit card companies so they can ease up and give us poor schmucks more rope to hang ourselves. (Does this mean me telling BP to stuff their card where the sun doesn't shine after they reduced my credit limit, even though I am not carrying a balance, was wasted effort? That soon they would have been sending me a letter saying "Oops! Our bad, here have even more money!" And yes, BP is now dead to me. So I will be purchasing my sweet crude elsewhere thank you!)

First, I don't cotton to the Treasury Secretary monkeying around with this money. What's to stop him from deciding next week that he thinks he needs to shore up the craps tables at Caesar's Palace? It isn't like we locked down any hard and fast rules in regards to this money, like our friends across the pond did.

Second, I have no freakin' sympathy for the credit card companies (not that I have any for Wall Street either for that matter). They are only reaping what they have sown (to continue my biblical metaphor). 

Thirdly, we Americans have stuffed ourselves with useless junk (myself included) in the same way we have with food (ditto) and now it is time to pay the piper. So what if we have to scale back and not buy the kiddies their 10 millionth video game where women wear nothing and people get their heads blown off graphically. So what if we have to make our own lattes at home or buy cotton instead of cashmere. It isn't the end of the world. As much as I LOVE Christmas and shopping and the whole consumer kit and kaboodle, I know when to say uncle. And the time is now.

First Comes Love

I have always felt that sexuality exists on some sort of continuum–that there is no such thing as 100% heterosexual or homosexual, just variations on a theme if you will. (Trust me, this isn't my only crazy idea—I also believe [apologies to my Christian readers] that there might be something to reincarnation, if for no other reason than it is like recycling and why would god be so wasteful as to not reuse a life force?)

Anyway, I guess what I mean is that someone could be 80% heterosexual and 20% homosexual. Think about it. If you close your eyes and only touch someone with your lips (no whiskers to clue you in) you have no way of knowing if you are kissing a guy or girl. A kiss is a kiss is a kiss. I get that there are other body parts involved, but hopefully you get my drift.

This theory is just one of the reasons I was incredibly saddened by the decisions in California, Arizona and Florida to add state constitutional bans on gay marriage. Not to mention the fact that by the time the spawn is grown this will no longer be an issue, the majority of people younger than me now don't care, by the time the spawn votes, fewer will care. And like the spawn, many will have grown up with gay relatives in committed relationships.

I heard someone on Air America explain it like this (I think it was Randi Rhodes, but I am not certain)—this isn't an issue about whether or not you think being gay is right or wrong. This is a civil rights issue. Simply put, by saying that someone can't get married, be they gay or black or whatever, you are denying them a right that others possess. That is illegal in out country. Remember when the Supreme Court struck down the whole "separate but equal" argument with schools? Same thing here.

Finally, there is my crush du jour's heartfelt plea, do unto others indeed . . .

An Ode to China

In addition to all things political I have a deep and abiding love for all things tabletop ever since my days as a lowly minion at a national bridal magazine. Say what gentle reader? You don't know what tabletop is? Tabletop refers to all the stuff you use on your table, plates, glasses and utensils, although typically I would say the name evokes more of the china, crystal, silver realm of things than the Chinet, Solo, Dixie side of things.

So it saddened me today to read that the co-mingling of two giants in the world of tabletop, Royal Worcester and Spode, had declared bankruptcy. Go home and hug your Spode Christmas pattern, I know I will.

Anticipation

It was a feeling like I remember as a child going to bed on Christmas Eve—wondering what lay in store for me in the morning. Eagerly hoping that it would be all I had dreamed of and more. And this time it was.

When I went to bed last night, Obama had won Ohio—a huge coup—and the results were turning in his favor from Virginia. Florida was still too soon to call, but it looked like my own state, North Carolina, was leaning in his direction. While there is still some debate about North Carolina, both Virginia and Florida went for Obama.

So history has been made. And now the work begins . . .

Shameful

With all eyes on the election today, it seems especially pertinent to remind voters of just what is at stake. The NY Times posted an editorial yesterday that aimed to do just that. 

The article looked at what the Bush Administration would try to slip in under the radar during their last 77 days in office (expanding on an earlier post). Among the atrocities Dubya and Cheney and the boys (sorry Condi) are aiming for are your civil liberties, the environment and abortion. Here are some highlights:

• New FBI guidelines—Agents will be allowed to use informants to infiltrate lawful groups, engage in prolonged physical surveillance and lie about their identity while questioning a subject’s neighbors, relatives, co-workers and friends.
• New EPA rule—They are expected to issue a final rule that would make it easier for coal-fired power plants to locate near national parks in defiance of longstanding Congressional mandates to protect air quality in areas of special natural or recreational value.
• Health & Human Services–The department's secretary, Michael Leavitt, is expected, after the election, to extend the so-called right to refuse to a wide range of health care workers and activities including abortion referrals, unbiased counseling and provision of birth control pills or emergency contraception, even for rape victims.
  
  

As Dixville Notch Goes . . .

Per Yahoo News:

Democrat Obama defeated Republican John McCain by a count of 15 to 6 in Dixville Notch, where a loud whoop accompanied the announcement in Tuesday's first minutes. The town of Hart's Location reported 17 votes for Obama, 10 for McCain and two for write-in Ron Paul. Independent Ralph Nader was on both towns' ballots but got no votes.

ADDITION:

Per CNN—It was the first time since 1968 that the village leaned Democratic in an election.

Condolences

Barack Obama's campaign office just released news that his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, died of cancer. I am so saddened that this woman who was instrumental in raising Obama did not live to see him become president. Her role in supporting her at-the-time unconventional daughter and raising her grandson speak to an extraordinary depth of love, tolerance, acceptance and humanity that we should all aspire to. Peace and comfort to her family and may her journey to whatever awaits us after life on this earth be a speedy one.

A Just Reward

So you should vote tomorrow because it is your civic duty and because it is a right and privilege that not everyone enjoys. But if that isn't enough to sway you, how about free cup of joe and/or scoop of frozen milky goodness?

Starbucks is offering you a free cup of brewed coffee. And later in the day you can head over to your local Ben & Jerry's to get a free scoop. Now those are some delicious incentives if I do say so myself.

Outrageous? Or Courageous?

Talk about getting your mojo back. Despite his rumored marital woes with the other Jennifer, Ben Affleck gave a standout performance goofing on MSNBC's Keith Olbermann this past Saturday on SNL. If that show would stick to politically based skits it might get its own mojo back as well.

Check it out:

Farewell to October

And thus ends my month of daily posts. Thanks to my loyal readers for following along on this adventure and for any of you newbies out there, thanks for joining in. I hope you decide to stick around and feel free to comment.

Things will hopefully be changing in our political landscape in the next few days, but I am sure I will still find things to pontificate upon. Should the Democratic Party succeed in gaining control, which signs certainly point to at the moment, I will doubtless be disappointed with some of their efforts. That is to be expected,I wouldn't agree with any political party or system 100 percent of the time, probably not even one I headed.

Enjoy your Halloween, and hang in there, only three more days until this roller coaster ride comes to a halt.

Proselytizing

I had an exchange yesterday that left me perplexed, a friend, someone who I never thought would have strong feelings either way politically, informed me that they were clearly in the McCain camp and would never be able to vote for Obama. When I queried the friend as to why they felt that way, the friend said they didn't care to discuss it because they didn't like debating with friends and it would accomplish nothing.

I am torn on how to feel about this. Part of me thinks that the days were people did not talk about politics or religion in polite society may have had something on us today. On the flip side, I feel that a lively discourse not only is good for promoting a full understanding of the issues at hand, but can also be a heck of a good time.

Now I admit that I often cross the line between debating and converting. For that I offer my apologies, but I won't apologize for passionately believing in what I believe. And perhaps that is what perplexes me the most here—not wanting to defend your beliefs. That to me is one of the sacred rights I have as an American.

Down to the Wire

The lease is up and the tenants are going to trash the joint but good before they take off. Sound like a bunch of college seniors after graduation? Nope, it is the Bush Administration taking a hatchet to our environmental regulations before January. MSNBC has the full scoop here, but some details are below:

Many of the rules that could be issued over the next few weeks would ease environmental regulations, according to sources familiar with administration deliberations.

Two other rules nearing completion would ease limits on pollution from power plants, a major energy industry goal for the past eight years that is strenuously opposed by Democratic lawmakers and environmental groups.

Under 10 Minutes

A friend asked me what I thought of Obama's 30-minute message earlier this week. I missed it Tuesday night unfortunately, but I took the time and listened to it this morning. Said friend wanted to know how far I could get before I got misty. Apparently despite my best efforts I have developed a reputation as as softie. I started listening and thought, this will be a piece of cake, I can make it through with nary a tear. And then they highlighted the older black couple and when the wife talked about the husband having to go back to work, so they could afford her medications, I knew it was over. I was good again until the 20 minute mark when Obama talks about how is mom didn't live to see her grandchildren.

So there you have it.

I know they were pulling out all the stops to make this a moving  piece for Obama. The music, the snippets of his speeches (and dang it, if you aren't moved when that man makes a speech you have a heart of stone in my book), and the tales from "real" people did it. I don't know if I think that it will change any one's mind, but maybe the point was to bring it home to those who are undecided (although who these people are and why they can't make up their mind, for the life of me I can not comprehend). I can see where this infomercial might pull that off. 

Because Obama is right, everyone does have a story. And within our own stories, we carry the stories of our parents and grandparents. From my paternal grandparents who didn't finish high school and worked in factories their entire lives, never seeming to realize that there could be more or perhaps never even wanting more, to my maternal grandparents who adhered to a traditional middle class 50's idyllic life on the service, but in retrospect perhaps had darker undercurrents; to my mother whose inability to accomplish her dreams and her frustrations with that were placed on my shoulders to achieve and my father, who with his simple expectations and firmly rooted opinions, perhaps influenced me most of all. Those are the parameters of my story and without them I would not be who I am, I would not be the American I am and I would not vote the way I do. We are all the culmination of our stories and I feel that the time has come to write a new chapter.

What do you think, gentle reader?

So It Has Come to This

For the second time in the last several months, an effigy of Barack Obama was found on a college campus. The first, back in September showed up at George Fox University in Oregon and yesterday it happened at the University of Kentucky (to be be Sarah Palin was hung in effigy at a home in West Hollywood, California).

Read more here, here and here.

Saved by Salon

Just when I was beginning to panic about what I was going to post today, Salon comes along and saves me (thank god there are only two more days in this month—next time I decide to do this post every day for a month thing I am SO picking February and not in a leap year . . .).

First, a clip from The Daily Show where Samantha Bee tells McCain just where he can stick his air quotes for women's health:

And then this, where a hockey mom does a Sarah Palin-inspired version of Don't Cry for Me Argentina. It's a tad long and the middle is hard to decipher in parts, but the beginning and end are best and it can be summed up with this snippet of lyrics: My kid plays hockey, and I wear lipstick/ but I'm a thinker, and you're a dipstick.

TiVo Time

Oh goodie! Time to set the TiVo's gentle readers—Obama is going to appear on Wednesday nights The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Yippee!

Obama By a Nose

While now is certainly not the time to rest on any laurels with a week left until Election Day, there is good news. The latest Pew poll had this to say about the contest between Obama and McCain:

Barack Obama leads John McCain by a 52% to 36% margin in Pew’s latest nationwide survey of 1,325 registered voters. This is the fourth consecutive survey that has found support for the Republican candidate edging down. In contrast, since early October weekly Pew surveys have shown about the same number of respondents saying they back Obama. When the sample is narrowed to those most likely to vote, Obama leads by 53% to 38%.

Just as ominous for the Republican candidate, Obama holds a 53% to 34% lead among the sizable minority of voters (15%) who say they have already voted. Among those who plan to vote early but have not yet voted (16% of voters), 56% support Obama, while 37% support McCain.

In Play

Chuck Todd, MSNBC analyst said this morning (I think it was on Morning Joe, but I haven't found a video link yet) that Arizona was being moved to the lean column for McCain in terms of his chances of taking the state. OUCH! Here's the text from the MSNBC site:

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Carrie Dann
*** Two weeks out: There are no significant changes to this week’s NBC electoral map. Obama continues to hold a 264-163 lead over McCain, which is unchanged from last week. The slight changes: We moved Georgia, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District from Likely McCain to Lean McCain. Also, we almost moved McCain’s home state of Arizona to the Lean column; the state would have been a battleground had McCain not been on the ticket. And keep an eye on South Carolina -- yes, South Carolina. The historic African-American turnout appears to be happening and could make it a single-digit race there. In sum, the political winds are still at Obama’s back. As for the Toss-up states and any that are teetering toward Obama: Colorado, Florida, and Virginia all seem to tilting the Democrat's way, but we haven't moved them yet because all three states have histories of Republican candidates over-performing polls. Unlike other maps, ours is not poll-driven. Polls are only a part of how we make our decisions on our map.

Doing My Part

I saw this over the weekend and in addition had a friend send the Daily Kos link to it This is worth checking out because it just illustrates the crazy notions rattling around in Palin's skull. I mean come on, a bomber is a bomber and thus a terrorist. I don't care if they are in Israel blowing themselves up in a market or in Arkansas targeting an abortion clinic. Same difference in my book.

Sunday Roundup

—I voted Saturday. And if the hour long line I stood in is any indication (and yes, I am assuming that the majority of African Americans will be casting their vote for Obama) then the man is going to win in a walk. And if he doesn't win, it will be because something nefarious has been pulled and there will be thousands of unhappy people who will not take the news lightly.

—John McCain appeared on "Meet the Press" this morning. Brokaw asked him about his endorsements and he mentioned the five former secretaries of state that gave him the nod. that have given him the nod. Except he couldn't remember one of their name and when I just looked up his endorsements, I only found four—Schultz, Haig, Eagleburger, Kissenger. So either he has forgotten one or made one up. Yep, time to go back to Arizona McGrumpy.

—I love David Sedaris. Anybody that can make me laugh out loud reading is a plus in my book. And let's face it, there are many funny things about growing up in the South, some funny ha-ha and some funny painful (I can only imagine how that is multiplied by growing up gay in the South). So for Sedaris to have emerged and be able to laugh about it, is quite a feat. Here's a bit I liked from a recent essay he did for The New Yorker (and yes I am once again going to give my undecided brethern a poke).

I look at these people and can’t quite believe that they exist. Are they professional actors? I wonder. Or are they simply laymen who want a lot of attention?

To put them in perspective, I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. “Can I interest you in the chicken?” she asks. “Or would you prefer the platter of shit with bits of broken glass in it?”

To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked.

I mean, really, what’s to be confused about?

For Your Amusement

A friend sent this the other day and it made me laugh. Enjoy!


We've decided we're leaving.
We intend to form our own
country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us.
In case you aren't aware, that includes Hawaii, Oregon,
Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and
all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial
to the nation, and especially to the people of the new
country of New California.
To sum up briefly:
You get Texas, Oklahoma, and all the slave
states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches.
We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood.
We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.
We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss.
We get 85 percent of America 's venture
capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama.
We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get
to make the red states pay their fair share.
Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent
lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of
happy families. You get a bunch of single moms.
Please be aware that Nuevo California will be
pro-choice and anti-war, and we're going to want all our
citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people
to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they're
apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose,
and they don't care if you don't show pictures of their
children's caskets coming home. We do wish you
success in Iraq , and hope that the WMDs turn up, but
we're not willing to spend our resources in Bush's Quagmire.
With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm
control of 80 percent of the country's fresh water, more
than 90 percent of the pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent
of the nation's fresh fruit, 95 percent of America's
quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners),
90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech
industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living
redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven
Sister schools, plus Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cal and MIT.
With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to
cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their
projected health care costs), 92 percent of all U.S.
mosquitoes, nearly 100percent of the tornadoes, 90
percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern
Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists,
Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the
University of Georgia.
We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.
Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe
Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe
life is sacred unless we're discussing the death penalty or
gun laws, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory,
53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent
of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher
morals then we lefties. Wow...takes your breath away..........
By the way, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have
that dirt weed they grow in Mexico .
Peace out,
Blue States

The Hot Lady & the Tiger Woods Guy

Will Ferrell almost makes me think I might miss Bush when he leaves office . . . nope, I was wrong.

Just Make Up Your Mind

I almost forgot about this, but it is too good to pass up. Enjoy!

<

Wynken, Blynken & Nod

I am tired today folks—nothing like a croupy toddler to put a spring in your step (but for a personal moment, there is nothing like said croupy toddle giving you eskimo kisses at 4am to make you smile either). So I am going to blatantly steal for today's post (since I am still doing that everyday posting and have yet to miss a day—yeah me).

A while back I came across an interesting blog, Rebel Dad, for stay at home dads. I read it because my husband is a stay at home dad and I like to pretend that I am getting into his head and seeing things from his side of the fence. This may or may not be effective, you would have to ask him. Anywho, the writer behind Rebel Dad, Brian Reid, also writes a parenting column for The Washington Post. He recently did a comparison of the two candidates stances on some family-related policies. Here's the nut-nut:

• McCain would push for legislation that allows employees to swap overtime pay for comp time.
  
• Obama would allow workers to formally petition for flexible schedules.
  
• Obama would work to make paid sick leave available to all.
  
• McCain would not support paid sick leave, though the comp time proposal could help employees take time away from work without suffering economic difficulty.
  
• McCain would not expand FMLA or push for paid leave.
  
• Obama would expand FMLA and give the states $1.5 billion to begin providing paid leave.
  
• Obama would quadruple the number of children eligible for Head Start.
  
• McCain would work to better spend the $25 billion in early education funding now in place at the state and federal level.
  

Of course who knows how much either one of them will stick to these proposals, but I continue to feel that the United States policies on family leave are beyond backward and the fact that all workers are not given paid sick time is heinous and cruel. But then I am a flaming liberal, what do I know?

Today's Palin

From the Know Your Constitution corner:

Olbermann calls Palin on not knowing what the real duties of the VP are. And it ain't making policy in the Senate.

From the Hockey Mom/Joe Six Pack corner:

The RNC has apparently spend $150,000 to clothe Palin and her family at Saks, Neiman Marcus and Barneys. Not to shabby, does that mean the rest of us "real Americans" get to cast aside Target, Old Navy and other bargain-esque retailers? Hey, I'm all for that. Should I just send the bills to the RNC or McCain personally? I don't think every item of clothing in my house, mine, the spouse's and the spawn's, would equal $150,000 and trust me folks I like to shop. But it's okay, because the RNC swears the clothes will get donated to charity after the campaign is over.

Tarred and Heeled

Today I woke up and found myself thinking that South Carolina wasn't looking so bad after all (my apologies to any gentle readers that live or hold warm places in their hearts for my southern neighbor). Yes, my pride in being a North Carolinian is in serious question this week.

I posted yesterday about the sad and grotesque killing of a bear club in the mountain regions of my state. Later I learned of several other events that have happened across North Carolina in recent days—all election related—that are enough to make you question your neighbors and ponder a new address. 

In Fayetteville, in the eastern part of the state, Obama made a stop on Sunday at the Cape Fear BBQ & Chicken for a meet and greet. Upon entering the restaurant, patron Diane Fanning, 54, yelled, “Boo, socialist! Socialist! Get out of here!” Lovely.

Later the same day, at least 30 car tires were slashed outside of an auditorium where Obama was speaking. Classy.

In Concord, outside of Charlotte, Republican Representative Robin Hayes said on Saturday that "Liberals hate real Americans that work and accomplish and achieve and believe in God." Nice.

Yep, that is my home state, proud in its bigotry and narrow-mindedness folks. And in case you were wondering, I not only work, but I like to think I have accomplished and achieved, and even on my lowest day, I, Broad Minded—a devoted feminist liberal of the leftist bent—will admit to believing in God. Now if you don't mind, I am going to go sit down, drink myself a high-priced latte and contemplate learning Swedish.

Inhuman

This is just wrong:

The Asheville (N.C.) Citizen Times reports, "A dead bear was found dumped this morning on the Western Carolina University campus, draped with a pair of Obama campaign signs, university police said."

For the full story, go here. Hard to be proud of my fellow North Carolinians today.

McCarthyism, Part Deux

This happened several days ago, but it is quite disturbing and deserves a post I think. This is Chris Matthew's of Hardball interviewing Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann. Matthews zeros in on her McCarthy-esque call to expose her fellow congress members "anti-American views." What is awesome is that this woman is running for re-election and her running off at the mouth has raised her Democratic rival, Elwyn Tinklenberg (really this is the dude's name, he needs all the help this dipshit can throw his way) over $600,000. Sweet.

So my fellow Americans, are you worried that liberals are anti-American?

Saturday Night Palin

Apparently Governor Sarah Palin does at least have a sense of humor. Although the two sketches she appeared in on Saturday's episode of SNL, where brief and didn't require her to do much more than be herself, (something most of the country, admittedly, hasn't seen much of) she at least did that with some grace. So I will give her some credit for that.

And then I heard about an interview that Palin gave to a CBN reporter. In guess you don't know, the CBN is the Christian Broadcasting Network. Yep, that's right folks, Palin won't do a press conference and has only done two interviews with any of the Big Three networks, but she has time for CBN. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. So that credit I extended to Palin in the previous paragraph—gotta take that back. Sorry Sarah.

Style & Substance

Hot damn. Colin Powell just did it. He came out for Barack Obama as president on "Meet the Press." Powell seemed particularly bothered by the exaggeration surrounding Obama's relationship with William Ayers and the Republican parties dismissal of our Muslim Americans, citing a photo essay in which a mother is laying over the grave of her Muslim son, an American born in New Jersey, who died in Iraq. And he said that Obama had style AND substance.

This is a huge coup for Obama. Despite the WMD nonsense the Bush administration foisted on him prior to the Iraq invasion, Powell still has a lot of respect, I think, in politics. I wonder who on the right will be next. First Christopher Buckley, son of the late arch conservative William F. Buckly, and now Powell.

Game Time

A friend sent me this link and it is a fun little game of "what if" to play on a lovely fall day. Enjoy!

www.palinaspresident.us

Powell to the People

Per Yahoo News:

Retired Gen. Colin Powell, once considered a potential running mate for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), now may endorse his opponent, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), according to Republican sources. But an air of mystery surrounds Powell's planned live appearance Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," and no one is sure what he will say.

I Would Need Charts & Graphs . . .

And today I have them thanks to a co-worker. This is, believe it or not, from Sunday's Parade Magazine. Go figure.

Obama McCain

If you make  . . .  you'd save— you'd save—

less than $19,000 $567 $21

$19,000 to $37,600 $892 $118

$37,600 to $66,400 $1,118 $325

$66,400 to $111,600 $1,264 $994

$111,600 to$161,000 $2,135 $2,584

$161,000 to $227,000 $2,796 $4,437

If you're in the top 5% of earners . . . 

$207,000 to $603,400 $121 (pay) $8,159 (save)

$603,400 to $2.87 million $93,709 (pay) $48,862 (save)

more than $2.87 million $542,882 (pay) $290, 708 (save)

There you have it in black and white folks. I am going to go out on a limb here and imagine that the majority of my readers fall in the $161,000 and below category, maybe even lower in which case Obama saves you more than McCain on your taxes.

So far as those making more than $600,000, I say fuck them. It isn't going to hurt them to pony up a bit more.

Air Quotes

Here is a snippet of the abortion dialogue between the candidates I missed last night. McCain's air quotes about the "health" of the mother is pretty darn offensive in this little feminist's eyes.

Plumbing the Depths

To steal a line from my spouse "Bob the Builder is pissed that he wasn't mentioned."

But more on that later.

First, could Grampy McCan't have blinked anymore last night during the first part of the debate. I actually found it rather distracting.

McCain showcased a level of animosity last night that I thought was palpable. I would be curious to know what my undecided or GOP-loving readers felt in that regard. I disagree with Salon editor Joan Walsh's take that he was less grumpy than in earlier debates. I think he was worse actually. 

Obama was his usual cool-as-a-cucumber self, even when the subject of his so-called "terrorist ties." McCain's efforts to put Congressman  John Lewis' statement about McCain's rhetoric on the same level as what the crowds have been shouting at McCain/Palin rallies was reprehensible in my eyes. I don't feel one lick of pity for McCain for being called out on inciting violence in his those demented sorts that show up at his campaign events. Face folks, there are some unstable people out there and McCain has been around the block enough times to know this. To act in the manner that he and Palin have without regard for that fact is dangerous and shameful.

And then there was the incessant references to "Joe the Plumber."  Frankly I thought the first awkward reference to this man by McCain was more than sufficient but to keep hammering at it was ridiculous. How the GOP thinks we can get out of this financial mess without raising someone's taxes is beyond me. I know that isn't what folks want to hear, and apparently Palin thinks paying taxes is unpatriotic, but the simple fact is that without more revenue coming in our country is going to head down shit creek even faster than we already are.

Obama was classy when he had the opening to trash Palin, which I think was a good idea. McCain was a little less kind to his longtime colleague Joe Biden. One of McCain's biggest faux pas of the night, in my eyes, was using the word "cockamamie" to describe Biden. Way to just hand that crotchety old man sign around your own neck Johnny.

Apparently by calling it a night at 10pm I missed the one reference to abortion in any of the three debates, but from what I have read thus far, that didn't exactly work out so well for McCain either.

I am glad that the debates are over frankly, a sentiment that I would imagine the McCain camp shares this morning as well. While the GOP and their FOXNews related sycophants might be spinning the debate this morning to say McCain won, I think the rest of the world knows the truth. 

Once Again, I Give You Olbermann

Why should I trouble my pretty head to write something deep and coherent when my MSNBC crush can do it oh-so-much better?

Behold Olbermann on the recent rantings and ravings of the McCainiacs (or you can read the text here)  . .

The Money Grab

Last week's Newsweek had a great article by Francis Fukuyama a professor of international economy at Johns Hopkins University, titled "The Fall of America, Inc." He discussed the damage to the American "brand" that has been done by this most recent stock crisis.

The part that I was most intrigued by came as he discussed the transition in our economy from the Reagan to the Clinton years. Fukuyama highlights a fact that has totally driven me crazy in the last eight years with Dubya in office, but apparently it has its roots back in the Reagan era—today's so called conservatives no longer seem to believe in only spending what they bring in. Apparently this is something that went the way of the dodo during Reagan's tenure when he promoted the idea that any tax cut would stimulate the economy so much that it didn't matter what the government spent, they would be taking in so much.

Psych! What happened is we started the 1990s with a huge deficit due to those tax cuts. Clinton took office, raised taxes and produced a surplus. Cut to Dubya, taxes get cut and we end up with a deficit so huge they have to take down the deficit clock in NYC due to LACK OF NUMBER SPACE!!!! 

So although Cheney apparently told Dubya early on that "deficits don't matter" that's just one more thing that Cheney has gotten horribly, horribly wrong. Why should I even be surprised. And of course here comes McCain yelling that Obama is going to raise taxes (the horror!) and that is going to kill our economy. So what does he want to do? Lower taxes  and freeze spending. Does anyone else see a huge problem here?

A Little Ditty

The Last 100 Days

One hundred days from now George W. Bush will no longer be our president. In a new presidency, the commentators and reporters often look at the first hundred days to get a feel for what the new president will accomplish in his/her tenure; what his/her goals are; will he/she be effective as a leader bringing both sides to the table.

What will the last 100 days of Bush's presidency say about him?

Dangerous Territory

In the past week the McCain/Palin ticket has decided on a course of action that is at the least tasteless and at the most extremely dangerous. I am speaking of the urging/inciting/not dissuading their "followers" to shout out terrorist and worse when they mention Obama. (Caveat—things finally came to enough of a head that Friday McCain did tell one person at a townhall they had nothing to "fear" from Obama and took away the mic when another person said he was a Muslim. McCain said he wasn't—yeah! (not), but then my larger issue is WHAT THE FUCK WOULD IT MATTER IF HE WERE?????)

Let's face it folks, there are many out there who are still extremely bigoted. Even those of us who like to think of ourselves as "enlightened" perhaps harbor moments of shame about our own occasional racist lapses. But the behavior at the McCain/Palin rallies in the last week are shameful.

For those of you who may still be on the fence, these are things I hope you consider. Do you want a candidate that is ok with blatant racism? That is willing to potentially risk a fellow American's very life simply because his skin color is different. In my heart I had hoped we were beyond that; in my head I know that we still have years to go and miles to walk in each others shoes.

One Crazy Bitch

Leave it to a Golden Girl to get some totally hilarious and un-PC zingers in about BOTH candidates. Thank YOU Betty for being a friend . . .

Free Fall

As I have mentioned previously I don't know squat about the stock market. But I am starting to figure out that retirement may turn out to be more than a distant dream. And while it isn't really in my nature to panic, the fact that the market dropped yesterday to below 9,000 at closing and today upon opening sunk even lower has even me taking notice.

What looked for some time to just be our own little homegrown problem seems to be making the global rounds. Some crazy bank stuff is happening in Iceland. And the rest of the world seems to be getting beyond miffed with us for pulling them down. Way to make friends and influence people Wall Street.

And to top it all off, the spouse shares this morning that the top muckety-mucks at AIG just went on a "retreat" that cost over $400,000. Why do I get the sneaking suspicion that my tax dollars just paid for some fat, pasty broker to get a facial???

Is it any wonder that our economy is in a free fall folks? More and more I am starting to wonder if we don't all deserve this harsh bump of reality. But maybe I am just grumpy because I am having a bad hair day.

The Stupid Vote

I think John Oliver about nailed it with the Fucktards and Douchenozzles. Bless his little British heart. No offense to Cubs fans, of course. 

Today's Funny

This made me giggle. And yet also scared the shit out of me . . .

Town Hall Showdown

Again, I did not make it to the end of the debate, which is bad and especially because I think the most interesting thing happened at the end, from what I have heard.

McCain left and Obama stayed to talk with the audience of independents, have his picture taken and shake hands. Interesting.

During the hour I watched I took four pages of notes. Here are the highlights:

• McCain argued about whether the whole financial mess Congress just voted on was a bailout or a rescue. That struck me as the semantics of bullshit.
• Obama got a nice jab in by bringing up McCain's right hand man's connection with Fannie Mae.
• McCain called himself a "consistent reformer." Please. Then he called Obama the most liberal. I for one, don't find that to be a fault. Although that ranking is in question too.
• Tom "Brokejaw" was MAJORLY crotchety last night. Just let the dude retire and go home now folks.
• I thought it was interesting that when Brokaw asked the two candidates to prioritize healthcare, entitlements and energy and say which was their highest priority, McCain was Mr. I Can Do It All. Obama struck me as more realistic by actually a) answering the question and b) acknowledging that we have to prioritize things and that we might not be able to do it all.
• The tall stools were a big mistake for McCain. It was bad enough seeing him walk around, coming off as rather aggressive and antagonistic (more on that later), but he was too short to sit on the stool and have his feet touch the ground, so it made him look more awkward. While Obama looked VERY relaxed casually leaning against it.
• McCain espoused an across the board freeze with the budget to help fix the economy. Obama disagreed (yeah!) saying that was taking a hatchet to fix the problem when you needed a scalpel. Also, Obama commented that Americans don't feel like the people at the top level of income are sharing the burden and won't with the tax cuts McCain wants to make permanent for CEOs, etc.
• McCain and his freakin' commissions idea. Ugh. I don't know what the answer is to fix medicare, but he trouts out the idea of a commission for everything and it is getting old, just like his repeated use of "my friends." I counted at LEAST five instances he said that in the first hour alone.
• The fixation that McCain has on nuclear power as the great fix to our environmental and energy problems is disturbing to me. Good luck trying to build those reactors. Perhaps the first one could go in Arizona?
• I liked that Obama said the environment was the biggest challenge of our time.
• Obama got a good jab in when he referenced government having 30 years to fix the energy/environment problem (I assume he is dating back to the first gas crisis in the 1970s) and didn't. He followed that with saying McCain has been in Washington for 26 of those 30 years. Nice.
• Back to McCain's antagonistic side, his reference to "that one" voted for the Bush/Cheney energy bill and he voted against it. Talk about lack of respect.
• Finally I liked the question about is healthcare a privilege, right or responsibility. McCain said responsibility, Obama said right.