Speechless

Be prepared ya'll, I am about to blow your minds:

I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY.

I know you are shocked. Dang it is a slow news day because nothing new has popped up to incite my wrath so I am going to be forced to rattle on about American Idol last night.

I totally saw that the singing waiter and his oddly-hair styled youngin' would be hitting the yellow brick road, but Britney's former boy toy? I expected him and his wig to be around for a bit longer.

And while I was not blown away by the blondie that was booted last night, I figured it would be the Britney impersonator (as did she). Maybe she and the former Brit boy toy can hook up? Also the retro-80's attired Alexandrea was a bit of a shock as well. I think that was a mistake.

But at least there is now once less blonde girl for me to keep track off. I am getting old and feeble, my brain can't register that much peroxide in one night.

The Name Thing

Someone raised the question about whether or not it was sexist to refer to Clinton by her first name and not do the same with Obama. Now whether or not you have noticed, I religiously refer to the candidates by their last names. This was a conscious decision that I made. First of all I thought it seemed a bit too informal to refer to them by their first names—after all, I don't KNOW them. Second, I just thought it seemed more respectful and also skirted the sexist question as well.

Of course, then you have the fact that Clinton's posters/logo/etc. use her first name. So obviously she doesn't care about that. Although my opinion is that it has more to do with her trying to distance herself from her last name and her husband's legacy as president (at least in terms of those people who associated bad things with the Clinton name—some of us could give two hoots).

Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?

And here is yet another interesting quiz for you to try. It compares the candidates and tells you who you agree with more on different policies. It was interesting I thought. (Thanks Marian!)

www.select2008.com

The Final Debate—In Review

Well kiddies, that was it—the 20th Democratic debate and yes I watched the whole damn thing, staying up way past my bedtime. Hold your applause until the end.

Clinton tried to make a couple of jokes and jabs, one time referencing a skit from last Saturday's SNL that dealt with how the press fawns on Obama, and they seemed to fall flat. I was especially turned off by the moment of righteous pissiness that she exhibited over Tim Russert and Brian Williams always directing questions to her first.

And they spent the first 16 minutes talking about their healthcare plans. Let me tell you people, the difference between these two plans are miniscule. While I think it is a great thing to focus on policy ideas so much, I am not sure that the subtle differences between the Clinton and Obama plan warrented 16 minutes of back and forth.

What else? Oh yeah—I was thinking about my fence sitting friends last night and this is what I am puzzled by:

When it comes down to it there aren't any fundamental differences between Obama and Clinton, both essentially want to do the same things—help the middle class, get us out of Iraq and make healthcare affordable for more Americans. That is the nut-nut. These are all things I agree with and support. So what makes these two different comes down to the fact that one is a white woman and the other is a black/white mixed man. And one is a Clinton. Now some of you may argue with me, but that is the difference.

Then you have McCain. And I think this was correctly summarized in the debate last night (sorry I can't remember which candidate said it, maybe both did) that he is basically an extension of the Dubya White House. He wants to keep us in Iraq for an undeterminable time, he thinks the tax cuts Bush gave the wealthy should be permanent and he doesn't have a plan to fix our healthcare system. Oh yeah, he also voted against raising the minimum wage. Really John? Do you want to try to provide for yourself or a family on $5.15 an hour? That barely buys you a gallon of milk and not even two gallons of gas these days.

So this is what I think it comes down to—if you think the last seven years have been a disaster you vote for Clinton or Obama (frankly I don't care which one, as I said above the results will be the same in the end although they might choose different paths to get there). Or if you think that Bush has done a bang up job—choose McCain. It is as simple as that.

For Your Listening Pleasure

This goes out to my friend at Creative Kerfuffle—

I heard this first song by Griffin House on the radio this morning going into work and then googled him and listened to several songs. This is some good stuff. Mellow, great and thoughtful lyrics, a bit moody but thought-provoking and he isn't exactly hard on the eyes. Give him a listen.

"How could I go the wrong way, taking the easy way out?"

From Live to Be Free 

"Doesn't matter who you are, doesn't where you've been, doesn't matter where you start, only matters where you end." From When the Time is Right 

Both are on the album Flying Upside Down.

The Final Debate

MSNBC is billing it as Hillary's Last Stand. The final democratic debate airs tonight on MSNBC from 9 to 10.30 pm EST. The next big primaries are a week from today and do pretty much spell do-or-die for Clinton.

Yes, I know that American Idol is on tonight, so at least flip back and forth between the two from 9 to 10 pm and check the debate out—especially if you are people who are still on the fence. Something tells me that Clinton will be pulling out all the stops tonight. She doesn't have much choice at this point.

Quote of the Day

This is my last post today, I promise, but I couldn't let this quote slip away:

"If you don't stand for anything, you don't stand for anything."

My eternal love and devotion to whomever can name the nimrod that uttered that brilliance.

330 days left . . .

The Bitch is Back

As mentioned in a previous post (Rainy Days and Fridays), I might have a wee bit of a girl crush on Tina Fey.

In honor of her greatness, SNL choose her to kick off their first show back since the writer's strike. Admittedly it has been many moons since I even attempted to stay awake to watch SNL (Is Darrell Hammond really still on the show??!??!?!), but thanks to the wonders of the DVR I was able to enjoy the episode when I should have been paying my respects to the Lord. Oh well, I am already going to hell, my adoration of Tina Fey will not change that.

Her best contribution of the night was to the Weekend Update which she helped revive after wallowing in a pit of Dennis Miller-less despair. (Speaking of which, WTF happened to Miller? He cut the magic locks and suddenly turned into some Fox News flunky?)

View for yourself here. (Since I can't seem to figure out how to attach a video in the blog post. Anybody have tips  . . .?) Or if you prefer to communicate via the written word, I have the transcript below:

Tina Fey: Maybe what bothers me the most is that people say that Hillary is a bitch. Let me say something about that: Yeah, she is. So am I and so is this one. [Points to Amy Poehler]

Amy Poehler: Yeah, deal with it.

Tina Fey: You know what, bitches get stuff done. That's why Catholic schools use nuns as teachers and not priests. Those nuns are mean old clams and they sleep on cots and they're allowed to hit you. And at the end of the school year you hated those bitches but you knew the capital of Vermont. So, I'm saying it's not too late Texas and Ohio, bitch is the new black!

Fourth Times a Charm

What in the bloody hell does Ralph Nader think he is up to? I know he told Tim Russert yesterday on "Meet the Press" that "we have to take this opportunity to have a much broader debate on the issues that relate to the American people."

Do we Ralph? And do you honestly think that you are the man to do that? Listen, whether you believe that Nader tipped the 2000 election to Bush or not, causing Gore to lose (on top of the disastrous Supreme Court decision—in case you forgot, I am a flaming liberal), this man doesn't need to be coming anywhere near a ballet this time around. Honestly, what does he offer?

Oh yeah—Ralph, thank you for making our cars and roads safer (although it didn't save me from being driven around in the back seat of a Ford Pinto for most of elementary school). Keep up the good work. Maybe this time you could make our food safer or do something to clean up the environment. But you can't do anything to fix Washington. It is time for you to take your shabby suit and go home.

In the grand scheme, I don't think Nader's entrance into the race will have anywhere near the same effect that it did almost eight years ago. People see what damage came from having Bush "elected." I highly doubt that most people are willing to risk that again. My opinion? If Nader hurts anyone, it will be the GOP this time. Those conservatives or whomever on the right who don't like McCain might be crazy and angry enough to throw one Ralphie's way as a means of protest. But no sane Democrat, Independent, Liberal, Lefty or whatever the hell name Fox News is calling us this week is going to go down that path again. We have been burned once already by Nader.

Maybe Nader is right, maybe we need someone to mix it up and try to break the two-party system we have had since the dawn of time. Frankly, however, I don't think now is the time. Our country has been going downhill for seven years now. We are in pain—emotionally, economically, physically and mentally. We need someone that can repair the damage Dubya has inflicted. We need someone who can repair our reputation around the world. Someone who can heal our economy. Someone who can restore our spirit after the Iraq war.

Nader could never do that.

Dare Ya, Part Deax

Don't faint, but I am posting on the weekend, despite the fact that the space bar on my home computer sucks ass.

More on Ralph Nader tomorrow.

For now, let me share the latest round of polling place dares courtesy of the March issue of Vanity Fair.

1. Bring along an acoustic guitar and try to rally the gathered voters in a chorus of John Mellancamp's "Our Country."

2. Standing the legally mandated 100-foot distance from your local polling place, pass out hair-product samples and announce that they're "courtesy of John Edwards."

3. Complain that something is wrong with your ballet because Oprah's not on it.

4. When a chirpy volunteer offers you an I VOTED sticker as you exit, respond "Do I look like a fucking six-year-0ld?"

5. Construct crude cardboard effigies of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Then, from inside the voting booth, enact a Punch-and-Judy-style puppet show for those behind you in line, in which the "candidates" poke through the curtains and beat each other with swizzle sticks.

6. Tell the old lady checking registrations that it's good to see her again, "because when I was here in '04 I thought for sure you'd be dead by now."

7. Take a closed container of dry ice into the voting booth, open it while inside, vote, and then emerge in a dramatic fog while loudly proclaiming, "Yeah, I voted for the witch, bitch! Mwaah-hah-hah-hah-haaah!"

8. Greet all gathered ballot holders with the phrase "God bless you" and earnestly, insistently ask them if they'll be voting for Mike Huckabee. Should anyone irritatedly ask you if you've ever had a civics lesson, explain that you were home-schooled.

9. Vote for Ron Paul.

Sign of the Apocalypse

Just a note of warning, you are about to enter the full-on rant zone.

Have any of ya'll heard of man caves? An article in my local paper this Wednesday, picked up from the Associated Press, shared a story of a Raleigh, NC husband and wife. The wife had requested a modest backyard shed to pot a few plants in. No biggie. The husband decides that he is going to expand on the idea to create a "man cave" for himself—somewhere that he can go and hang with his buddies, watch the game and get some alone time. Because his 3,550 square foot, five bedroom, one bonus room house didn't give him the room for that. WTF!

Many of you may know this about me, or may have been figuring it out from my previous posts, but certain things really raise the hair on the back of my neck. There is no explaining it really, but things like minivans with dvd players and prepackaged cereal and milk combos so kids can assemble their own breakfasts, to me are like the devil incarnate stepping into my home.

I get that many people, including some of my beloved readers and close, dear, personal friends, find these modern conveniences a god send. I know they are marketed as making our complicated lives easier. And maybe they do. 

I guess my point is that I don't think we need to make life easier. Sometimes I think that we, especially we Americans, are too quick to look for the easy way out. Some things are worth a little effort, a little sweat and tears. I know that the things I struggled with, worried over and labored on are the things that I remember much more than the crap that came easily to me or that I threw together in a pinch. That is a value that I want to pass on to my child, not that he needs a man cave to escape from his family and oversize McMansion.

Mac Mashes, Take 2

While I wish I could say that I have avoided following up on 

the previous post due to the ickiness of imaging a 60-something John McCain getting it on with a 40-something lobbyist, I have just been too busy to devote any time to the beloved blog. Shed a tear for my neglectfulness and then let's get into it.

McCain and the lobbyist chick (Vicki Iseman) have denied any hanky panky occurred. But Chuck Todd raised an interesting point last night on Olbermann, the NY Times isn't exactly the Star or even USWeekly, so is it possible that they know more than they are letting on in the article (out of good taste)? What I think Todd was getting at, is it doesn't seem that the NY Times would run something so rumor-based if they didn't have a bit more to go on than that. Who knows, only time will tell in that regard.

But my first question is this: McCain's wife is pretty freakin' hot. Now I know that she has had her problems in the past. In fact if I remember correctly, her bout with prescription drug abuse came out around the time of the 2000 election when the alleged affair also occurred. Maybe there is a link there, maybe not. Back to my question. Cindy McCain is pretty smoking hot, full-on MILF, so what the heck could 'ole Mac have been thinking if all of this is true. (Let us hope that the photo of Iseman, left, is unfortunate and not how she really looks.)

My second question is how is the GOP going to take this, true or not? This, after all, is the same party that wanted Bill Clinton's head on a platter for getting a BJ from an intern. And that was someone from their opposing party. Here you have the possibility of a potential future president not only committing adultery, but doing it with a paid political operative. Frankly, that seems to me to be a bit of a bigger problem. An affair, that is something between a husband and wife to resolve in my opinion, not something up for public discussion. But the influence peddling that could result from a lobbyist getting "jiggy" with the prez? Ooh la la.

What do you all think? Issue or non-issue? And will the Republicans protect their own?

Mac Mashes

BREAKING NEWS

The MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann via The NY Times is reporting that McCain was having an affair with a lobbyist back during the 2000 election.

More to come . . .

It's All in the Details

As many suspected, Obama took Hawaii and Wisconsin. (And McCain took Washington and Wisconsin—see I give equal time!) What does this mean? I think it means that Clinton is in some serious trouble. But like her husband, being behind has suited her in the past. I don't think you can rule her out completely. But we can re-visit this conversation on March 5, after the primaries in Ohio and Texas. Those will surely determine Clinton's fate.

Of course, Clinton is already trying to fight back. Her speech after the announcements last night was heavy on the idea that Obama is about words and not actions. In a moment of prescience, Obama gave his longest victory speech yet (pundits clocked it at 45 minutes) and went into more details about things he would do as president in terms of policy.

It's a nice start, but he has got to step it up. A fine example of this is the recent beef recall. Clinton sent out a press release with a detailed, but perhaps not complete, list of things she would do as president to insure the safety of our food. (For those of you who don't know, some of the tainted meat apparently went to schools where it has already been consumed. Not good.) Obama issued a release as well, but it was far from as comprehensive as Clinton's and was really a mere statement. Dude that isn't going to cut it.

Listen, I get that Obama is most exciting when he uses speeches to fire up the masses and fill them with his special brand of hope. I am as much of a sucker for it as the next person. But as I have said repeatedly, he is going to have to start backing that up with some solid plans. No matter if Clinton or Obama gets the nomination and wins, we will be better off as a nation with either one of them running the country than we would be with McCain. Sorry, it is just what I believe. At the same time, I don't want the nomination to go to Obama and then have him decide to trot out his policies and Americans feel hoodwinked.

Waffle House

Here I was 99.9% positive of my support for Obama and then I felt myself waffle with some information provided to me by a few of my NOW brethren (or should that be femren?) about the differences in stances between Clinton and Obama on women's issues. (See even I can occasionally have doubts when it comes to all things political.)

Apparently, Obama doesn't have a section on his Web site about women's issues and Clinton does. And then there is more stuff, which now of course I have forgotten. (Dang all those brain cells tied up with remembering that the Jason Alexander that Britney Spears married in Vegas for like 72 hours is in fact NOT the Jason Alexander that played George Costanza on Seinfeld—although really, wouldn't that have been more interesting?) Suffice it to say, my 99.9% support slipped to 99.5% and had me questioning my decision and praying, yet again, that all this would be decided before NC's primary in May and then I wouldn't have to choose. Weak of me I know.

Then another big, flakey waffle got added to the pile this morning after reading a blurb from The Economist on Obama's possible presidency and what that could bring about:

"Unlike Hillary Clinton, Mr Obama will not inspire venomous, high-spirited obstruction from the Republican congressional minority. On the contrary, an Obama victory will be cast as such a triumphant watershed moment (and quite reasonably so) that we should expect an especially drawn out and sunny honeymoon." 

Read for yourself, here.

So now I am back to being 99.7% positive I am for Obama. But the lack of 100% certainty is wearing me down. Or maybe I am just off kilter after having President's Day off yesterday.

Which brings me to another thought. I know everyone complains about holidays like Christmas and Easter and how we miss the point and commercialize them, etc. But do we hold sacred any holidays anymore? Did we ever? I mean, I don't know about you, but I didn't spend two seconds yesterday reading or learning anything about our presidents, much less celebrating them. Heck, I didn't even think about them as I went out to breakfast, watched a movie and or got a new cell phone.


(Goodbye, my beloved Sprint TP2100, if only we could spend another seven years together . . . Damn the digital, and not analog, world we live in that is tearing us apart. On the positive side, next time some bitch rear-ends me I can take a picture of her license plate as she is driving away.)

I am all about having a day off from work, but should we just be honest and say that is what it is rather than pretending we are honoring our past presidents by having a big furniture sale?

Brass Balls

WOW! The Democrats in the House might have actually grown a set. Instead of voting on the Protect America Act extension of FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act), which gives immunity to the telecoms for spying on us, they tried to hoodwink the Republicans by bringing up citations of contempt of Congress for Josh Bolton and Harriet Miers. The whiny-ass House Republicans walked out in a snit fit. Now Congress is set for a week-or-so long holiday recess and the bill will lapse. Teehee.

Dubya has his panties all in a twist about this. Even tried to do the daddy smack down and say he would postpone his upcoming trip to Africa if it would "help" the House resolve this issue. Please! Although the people of Africa were probably like, 'Please God yes, keep your brand of crazy away from us, we have enough problems right now.' As with most of Bush's statements it was bullshit, he's going to Africa, the bill will languish until Congress is back in session and of course if we are hit by terrorists in the meantime the GOP will have a field day exclaiming that it is the Democrats fault b/c they didn't allow AT&T to listen in on average Americans talking on the phone about their butt lint and hang nails.

GOOD GOD PEOPLE! I hate to be a downer, but realistically, no matter what we do or how invasive we allow our government to become there will be another terrorist attack. That is the nature of our world today. I am not saying that we shouldn't try to stop that from happening, but again, letting Verizon sell out some teenager's cell phone calls about trips to the mall to Dubya and the boys isn't going to stop that.

In other news, I have to give a shout out to Keith Olbermann from MSNBC. Talk about having balls. Bless my poor husband's heart, because last night Olbermann did one of his special commentaries about this whole FISA/spying fiasco and dang if it didn't get me hot. (Yes, I am weird like that.)

Here is an excerpt from the conclusion of his comment (click here to read or hear the message yourself, it's very stirring and impassioned):

"We will not fear any longer. We will not fear the international terrorists, and we will thwart them. We will not fear the recognition of the manipulation of our yearning for safety, and we will call it what it is: terrorism. We will not fear identifying the vulgar hypocrites in our government, and we will name them. And we will not fear George W. Bush. Nor will we fear because George W. Bush wants us to fear."

And I end how I started: WOW!

Love and Marriage

Well here is a lovely, politically-tinged gossip tidbit, just in time for Valentine's Day.

Rumor has it that Laura Bush has NOT been living at the White House b/c Dubya started drinking again and she was pissed. Apparently, Dubya got the message and has shaped up, at least for now and the misses has moved back in. I have always thought that Laura Bush had too much sense to be with that nimrod, but love is blind I suppose.

Speaking of which, the Out of Office Countdown calendar, appropriately enough has this quote for today:

"[Laura is] out campaigning along with our girls. And she speaks English a lot better than I do. I think people understand what she's saying." from the third presidential debate in Tempe, Arizona, 2004

Only 341 days left, people—now get out and spread the love!

Hat Trick

For those of you who do not enjoy the bloodlust of a good hockey game, a hat trick is when a player scores three goals in one game. Attendees at the game then throw their hats on the ice in celebration. I do not know why.

Well, Obama has done scored him a hat trick—sweeping the Potomac Primaries. (Or as one PBS dude—I think it was McLaughlin??—said the Crabcake Primaries. WTF???) [*CORRECTION, IT WAS MARK SHIELDS ON JIM LEHRER. Sorry!] And the the thing is he STOMPED Clinton. I mean it was a schooling in the most literal way, Obama got between 60 and 74 percent of the vote depending on the contest. That is crazy!

Next Tuesday, February 19, there are three more primaries, Hawaii (Dems only), Washington and Wisconsin.

Then we have a break of a couple weeks—March 4 brings us four more primaries, including the biggies of Ohio and Texas. Basically at this point, from what I have read, everyone says Clinton has to pull those two out, not so much because she needs the actual delegates but because she will lose the faith/support of the super delegates that are currently leaning her way if she doesn't.

I like Obama and while a part of me feels I am betraying some feminist principle for rooting for him, I try to take comfort in something I heard Oprah say recently in defense of her position to support Obama rather than the female candidate, Clinton. I can't find her exact quote, but to paraphrase she said as a feminist she was a free woman and allowed to choose a candidate that she believed was the best. Listen, I am ecstatic that not only a female candidate, but also a black candidate, are being taken so seriously and have such good shots. But I just can't shake the feeling that there is something about Obama.

And oh yeah, McCain won too.

Hollywood Minute
It would appear that being a useless degenerate is encoded in the DNA of the Hilton family. Baby bro Barron got nabbed for DUI the other day and his blood alcohol level was like twice the legal limit for an adult, much less someone who is underage. Don't these people own hotels that they can stay at and get wasted?

Somebody's Watching Me

Remember that song from the '80s by Rockwell? "I always feel like somebody's watching me . . ." with the non-scary Michael Jackson singing backup? Well that song is more true than ever.

Today, the so-called Democratic-led Senate has allowed the FISA bill to pass that would give immunity to the telecom companies for the warrantless spying the Bush Administration had them do since September 11. In addition, this bill will make it legal to continue this behavior moving forward. For more, read here.

Maybe you think this this doesn't matter, because you have nothing to hide. It doesn't matter if you are talking to your mother about grandma's cornbread recipe or texting a friend about your weekend plans—our government has NO RIGHT to read or listen in on your private conversations without taking the appropriate legal action to do so, showing that they have a reason to believe that grandma's cornbread is bad for America and not just because it raises your cholesterol.

Now you can do something about this. A writer from Salon, Glenn Greewald, is the co-creator/sponsor of a petition to the House to ask them to not vote for the Senate's bill, but rather to push through the Restore Act, a bill that provides privacy safeguards against the kind of invasive techniques Bush and his cronies feed on.

Go here to sign and find out more. People, the time has come—if you can't sign a bloody petition to protect your ability to have a private conversation there is no helping you.

Lighting the Fire

Some of you have expressed a less than enthusiastic regard for the political options available to us this election cycle—I believe it is jokingly being referred to as ELECTILE dysfunction. I get it, no one is 'turning you on' so to speak. I wonder though if it is less the candidates themselves that are turning you off or the whole cabala that encircles our electoral process and our government these days.

I have to admit that there are many days where the whole thing seems hopeless and ridiculous and I have the desire to move somewhere sane (that used to be Canada but then they went and elected a conservative and now I am looking at the space station). Since I only speak English, however, my options in that regard are limited, although I hear wonderful things about New Zealand and I think I could make do down there.

Anyway, back on topic. My advice? Step back from all of the stuff you read and hear (yes even my sainted musings) and think about what is most important to you. Pick the big three issues and think about who best addresses those. And then move on. Do your laundry, eat a snack, imagine your flowers blooming. But just make a decision and stick to it. No more dithering.

Or you can take this quiz:
www.votechooser.com

On a side note, it has been requested by my "Brooklyn"-based reader that I turn my snark toward more celebrity-esque topics from time to time. So prepare yourself for the occasional invasion from Hollywood. After all, they dress better (sometimes) than the Beltway set!

Shotgun Anniversary

And I bet you all thought I forgot!

Today marks the two year anniversary of Dick Cheney accidentally shooting his hunting buddy Harry Whittington with 200 pellets of buckshot. Nothing says true friendship like someone taking several hundred metal beads to the face and then apologizing for it!

Clean Sweep

I just may have to get off my lazy ass and start posting over the weekend on occasion. Apologizes for the late posting—duty called—but I doubt any of you were completely at a loss without my words of wisdom.

Well, as you probably have heard by now, Obama swept the Democratic primaries and caucuses this weekend. I am sure this news will give him a boost come tomorrow in the Potomac Primaries. The two Republican primaries on Saturday were a draw—one going to Huckabee (Kansas) and the other to McCain (Washington) although apparently the Huckster says that one is too close to call for McCain. Whatever.

Meanwhile, the delegate count for Clinton and Obama couldn't be any closer. According to CNN, Clinton has 1,148 to Obama's 1,121. Talk about a nail biter. I have to admit I am fascinated at how close the two of them are. I know that I paid a fair amount of attention to the primary process during the 2004 election, but prior to that it either wasn't an issue (incumbent VP's running) or I was too young to care. Yup, 1992's Clinton vs. Bush was my first election. Ahh . . . the good 'ole days.

But enough about facts, you come here for hyperbole and supposition right?

Well, while the Huckster continues to stand firm in his continuing in the race, I still believe it is going to be McCain. Duh. And my gut says that Obama is going to pull it out from Clinton as well. Of course the last thing the GOP wants is for Obama to get the nomination because they can't go after him for the obvious reasons—his race. Of course they can't go after Clinton for the obvious reasons either—her gender—but they can AND WILL attack her for her husband and his record. For many people that will be all the ammunition they need.

What else . . . this David Shuster dust up about him saying the Clinton campaign is "pimping" out Chelsea Clinton. UGH. Listen, I don't like the word choice (I guess dude was trying to sound hip or relevant, who knows), but when it comes right down to it, is it any worse than some of the things the media has said in the past? Frankly, they weren't very kind to Chelsea Clinton when she was growing up in the White House. The girl went from a pre-teen to a teenager to a young adult during Bill Clinton's tenure as president. And I defy any of you out there reading to say they got through those years without many an awkward outfit/hair-do/photo.

Finally, let's all lift our glass of sparkling apple cider to Ms. Amy Winehouse for her Grammy wins. Now please, take your beehive and get some help. It would be a crying shame to waste all of that talent.

The Beat Goes On

Just because Super Tuesday has come and gone, does not mean this thing is over. Sorry, folks.

This Saturday, Kansas, Louisiana and Washington state will have GOP primaries. Saturday will also see Democratic contests in Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington state and the Virgin Islands (go figure), followed by the Maine caucus on Sunday.

The next real biggie for Clinton and Obama comes on Tuesday with the so-called Potomac primary where Maryland, D.C and Virginia casting their ballots.

And I know you are probably sick and tired of my harping on this tax rebate thing, but another interesting point: one of the reasons some politicians were hesitant to give the rebate to the elderly and the disabled veterans was because they don't have a large amount of taxable income (Only about 20% of Social Security payments are taxed, I believe). So be forewarned, something tells me come tax time 2009, we will be paying for our rebates.

Interesting tidbit, rumor has it that McCain is in talks with Romney to have 'ole Mitt be the VP candidate. Wouldn't that addition just gloss up the Straight Talk Express?

Tax Rebates On Again

Ok—to be entirely fair, I should mention this:

Apparently Senate Republicans were fine with the rebates for the seniors and disabled vets, they weren't pleased with the extended unemployment stuff the Dems had added onto the bill.

Well, that is no longer a concern. That stuff has been removed and the rebates are a go!

How will you spend your little Federal check???

Mitt Waves Bye-Bye

Romney has "suspended" his campaign. When the heck did this terminology come into vogue? Dude has dropped out, leaving things wide open for McCain. I would imagine that the Huckster will cash it in soon as well.

GOP 1; Disabled Veterans 0

As I have mentioned in previous posts (Show Me the Money), our delusional political leaders have gotten the cockamamie idea in their heads to send out checks to Americans this summer as a means of stimulating the economy. Ok fine, whatever. We have a major deficit hanging over our heads, but sure throw out another hundred billion or so and that should fix the problem.

Well, the Democratic-led Senate wanted to add a bit extra to that payout, by including money for the elderly, disabled veterans and the unemployed. There plan would have cost an additional $44 billion, chump change among friends.

The Republicans said no. Yep you heard me right, the GOP said that DISABLED VETERANS weren't going to be eligible to get those $600 checks in the mail.

Come on people, I think the whole plan is bat shit crazy to begin with, but if you are going to do it, you mean to tell me that old people living on social security (I would like to see the rest of us pull that stunt off) and our disabled veterans can't be included? That is just fucked up. Plan and simple.

And the Winner Is . . .

No one, not really. Well McCain probably, but if you have been awake for the last couple of weeks you knew that one.

Here's the breakdown:

Alabama—Obama (20 delegates)/Huckabee (14 delegates)

Alaska—Obama (9)/Romney (12)

Arizona—Clinton (26)/McCain (50)

Arkansas—Clinton (23)/Huckabee (25)

California—Clinton (0)/McCain (0)

Colorado—Obama (13)/Romney (22)

Connecticut—Obama (26)/McCain (27)

Delaware—Obama (9)/McCain (18)

Georgia—Obama (27)/Huckabee (45)

Idaho (Dem only)—Obama (15)

Illinois—Obama (62)/McCain (54)

Kansas (Dem only)—Obama (23)

Massachusetts—Clinton (54)/Romney (21)

Minnesota—Obama (48)/Romney (36)

Missouri—Obama (30)/McCain (58)

Montana (GOP only)—Romney (25)

New Jersey—Clinton (51)/McCain (52)

New Mexico (Dem only)—STILL PROCESSING

New York—Clinton (127)/McCain (101)

North Dakota—Obama (8)/Romney (8)

Oklahoma—Clinton (24)/McCain (32)

Tennessee—Clinton (34/Huckabee (21)

Utah—Obama (14)/Romney (36)

West Virginia (GOP only)—Huckabee (18)

By my count this gives Clinton an additional 339 delegates (CNN says her total now is 783). Obama has 266 new delegates (CNN gives his total overall at 709).

On the GOP-side: McCain picked up 362 (his total is 559). Romney got 160 (total 265). Huckabee got 123 (169 total).

New Mexico is still counting and I haven't quite figured out why California awarded no delegates (can anyone explain, pls.??)

Cleary, McCain has the nomination about sewn up. He has almost double the number of delegates as Romney. And of course the race between Clinton and Obama is not quite so clear. Clinton took fewer states, but ones with bigger delegate totals. But with fewer than 100 delegates still separating them, things are still very much undecided.

Heck, maybe N.C.'s primary will mean something after all!

One last thing, I know that the ballots were printed long ago, so many who have dropped out of the races are still listed. Maybe some voters weren't aware enough to realize that, or maybe they were just protesting or paying homage to their fave, but I have to admit I got a warm and fuzzy feeling to see Edwards picking up votes in just about every state (God Bless the Okies—they gave him over 40,000 votes).

Pop Culture Musing

Anyone remember this show? Square Pegs. While I have to admit that much more than the basic premise of the show escapes me, the fact that this was the jumping off point, at least in my eyes, for Sarah Jessica Parker's career.


Now why this occurred to me I don't know, but I started thinking about SJP and her later stint on Sex and the City. Her character there was sort of a glamazon that frankly I doubt many of us can really relate to on a day-to-day basis. But the show was a hit. Maybe it was the fantasy element of women wishing their lives were being lived in a big city, with expensive shoes, etc. or maybe, just maybe, SJP and by extension her character Carrie Bradshaw, were getting a bit of a subconscious free pass b/c of our collective teenage remembrance of her as a geeky, awkward 80's teen.

Those days have passed—obviously.

Just a bit of pop culture for you to ponder today while we await the Super Tuesday results.

Uniquely American

For those of you in any of the 24 states having primaries today—GET OUT AND VOTE! If not, I will be very disappointed in you. (And yes the mother-tone was intended, see how I can do that even through cyberspace. Ah, the guilt-inducing power!!!)

And if my efforts to guilt you don't work, perhaps this quote will motivate you to get out there and vote for a change. 'Ole Dubya said this on February 4, 2005 to a single mother of three in Omaha, Nebraska:

"You work three jobs? . . . Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that."

Really George? Something tells me that she doesn't think it is fantastic or uniquely American.

350 days left.

Super Duper

Well kiddies, tomorrow will most certainly be the finish for the GOP and possibly the Dems—although those "Super" Delegates* may still keep the Obama/Clinton question in the air. (My guess now, is McCain takes the GOP nomination—that will kick up a shit storm among the Republican party faithful.)

There are 24 states with primaries of some sort:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia
Idaho (Dem only),
Illinois
Kansas (Dem only)
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana (GOP only)
New Jersey
New Mexico (Dem only)
New York
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Utah
West Virginia (GOP only)

Add to this the states that have already held primaries or caucuses:

Iowa, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Michigan, South Carolina, Nevada, Florida, Maine (GOP only)

That leaves 18 states that have not voiced some opinion in this election as of Tuesday, February 5, 2008.

Is it just me or those states getting the shaft a bit?

* "Super" Delegates—There are 842 delegates who get a free pass to the convention - governors, members of Congress and the Senate, chairs of the state's Democratic parties, former presidents and leading members of the party. Party chairman Howard Dean can also appoint a number of people to be delegates. All in all, those 842 delegates comprise about 40 percent of the total number needed to win the nomination. (Courtesy of www.npr.com.)

Groundhog's Day

I know it is a day early, but I wanted to give a shout-out to my man Phil. Tomorrow is his day to shine and in honor of my late grandmother who shared a birthday with the groundhog's coming out day, let's all show Punxsutawney Phil the respect he deserves. If we all could only have a job as easy as his!

Lean On Me

I am sure you are all dying of anticipation to find out what MY political leanings were according to the Web site I referenced in the previous post, Shut Up Already. As always, I am happy to oblige my faithful readers. Drum roll please! BARACK OBAMA. So there you have it. And just so you know, I am furthest away from Huckabee, although I don't think poor 'ole Mike is getting all the love he wants these days anyway.

(Quick side note: I didn't watch the debates and so I am going to pretend they didn't happen. It is my blog and I can do what I want. Sometimes, even I need to take a break from all things political.)

Moving on, I did come across this video on You Tube this morning and it sort of falls into line with some of the stuff I have been ruminating on of late—the fall of the GOP and how Fox News seems to be going down with that ship as well. (Need a life jacket boys? Psych! Yes I am that juvenile.) See for yourself, but in it Montel Williams schools some of the hosts of the Fox Morning Show (I believe) about focusing on and exploiting the death of Heath Ledger when in the month of January 28 troops died in Iraq. Can't believe I am saying this, but dude has a point. I am as guilty as anyone when it comes to hopping on the celebrity news bandwagon. (I have read all about Britney's commitment, Gwen's new pregnancy, Angelina's supposed baby bump and when this freakin' writer's strike will end and how most likely there won't be any more episodes of Pushing Daisies—damn you writer's strike!!!) So I can't cast stones, but my point is we need to take a minute to turn all that off and think about some things that are important.

This is kind of the opposite of stepping outside our little bubble, but I was intrigued by a news item I read from AP about the focus that is being paid to our upcoming presidential election around the world. For instance, the Germans are loving on Obama, some are referring to him as the Black JFK. While many Europeans think Romney and Huckabee are too religious, and McCain is too old. I just find it interesting to see how we and this whole process is being perceived around the world. And of course, I think most of the world is really waiting, as I know I am, to see if the winner of this election can restore the U.S.'s dignity and stature on the world stage. I hope it isn't too late.

I leave you to mull this over this weekend. Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaire in the February issue took on "The Brain" aka Karl Rove or the nick name I prefer—Turd Blossom. When asked what trait he (Rove) deplored most in others, he replied . . . wait for it . . . wait for it . . . "Not being authentic."

WTF.