Bill Richardson

I just got home from watching Bill Richardson stump for Obama at my school. It was really good! Plus, I even got to ask a question. However, he hadn't heard about it, since it was just news this morning. Oh well. I asked about the GM/Chrysler request for $10 billion to help with a merger, blah blah... you can read about it here.

So, here are a couple of pictures!

Maybe the cutest Obama supporter ever!

Bill Richardson (Go Wakefield!)
Richardson and "Obama"
The Young Democrats' Club with Richardson

Blog Series: Why I'm a Liberal

In the next few days, I'm going to write up some reasons I call myself a liberal (politically, socially, fiscally... however you want to slice it). I've had a list put together for a couple of months with the intention of doing this mini blog series. However, with the new school year starting around the exact same time, my computer writing time dropped significantly. I don't really feel like sitting in front of a computer screen when I get home!

In fact, I'm not even starting the series tonight. Tomorrow. But no promises :-)

However, here's a preview of my list:

I am a Liberal because I believe in:

• public interest over self interest
• equality of opportunity
• separation of church and state
• civil rights for everyone
• diplomacy before war
• government transparency
• being my brothers' and sisters' keeper
  

By the way, I'm really excited because Bill Richardson is coming to the high school where I teach tomorrow afternoon for an Economic Town Hall. In my cafeteria. Wahoo! I'm excited to meet him.

The Obamercial

I like it a lot better than I expected to. I was skeptical before it aired. But, it kind of made my heart happy.

My fall colors

Here's my new hair. I look a little scared in the picture, lol. I'm pretty sure this is the darkest it's ever been. What do you think?

7 Days Left!!!

I'm so nervous and excited! Exactly 7 days from right now, I'll be partying it up, watching the returns come in!!

In favor of marriage for everyone

If you are opposed to allowing a homosexual couple to get married, I'd like you to read this article and let me know what you think. Or if you support it. I'm just curious about your thoughts.

The article is written specifically to LDS members, but I think it can be applicable to anyone who believes in family values and compassion.

You can read the article here: A Mormon's Lament.

Here's an excerpt I found especially relevant:

So here we are, in 2008, and now the threat is gay people who are already gay, who love each other and in many cases live together, and want to get married. How does this hurt the average Mormon family?

If the concern really was the practical welfare of the family, perhaps the Church could instead invest its vast resources into making healthcare universal and affordable, expanding the Family and Medical Leave Act, cracking down on child predators, and improving the quality of our educational system. All of these issues have a direct impact on my family and millions of others.

You hear of marriages ruined all the time because of abuse, neglect, or stress over finances. But I have personally never heard of a divorce caused by another gay couple getting married.

Finding new hobbies

I decided a week or so ago that I want to learn how to do html code. Not for anything too crazy, but it would be fun to be able to play around with blog templates. I have an example of something I put together this afternoon. I'm not too versatile yet, I've only been doing this for an afternoon. So, the format will be exactly the same on every single blog. But I know how to change the background and the colors! That's a good start, I think.

Defining Moment

Today, the Obama-Biden campaign released a new two minute TV ad, "Defining Moment," in which Senator Obama explains what he will do to as president to address the economic crisis, healthcare, job creation and taxes, as well as how he will pay for his proposals.

"Defining Moment" will air across the country in key states beginning tomorrow.

Read more about Barack's plan to bring real change to our economy.

A little creepy fun for Halloween

I just saw this "Babymaker3000" on someone else's blog. It's creepy. But, also fun! Apparently, this is the baby Eric and I would make. Hey, he's kinda cute! :-)

Will Ferrell!!

Again with the elitism

Now, I live just outside the city, so I actually do get a voice, but I found this piece from Daily Kos to be quite compelling.

Elitists and Colonists

from Daily Kos by Trapper John

Citizens McCain and Palin on "elitism":

WILLIAMS: Who is a member of the elite?

PALIN: Oh, I guess just people who think that they're better than anyone else. And-- John McCain and I are so committed to serving every American. Hard-working, middle-class Americans who are so desiring of this economy getting put back on the right track. And winning these wars. And America's starting to reach her potential. And that is opportunity and hope provided everyone equally. So anyone who thinks that they are-- I guess-- better than anyone else, that's-- that's my definition of elitism.

WILLIAMS: So it's not education? It's not income-based? It's--

PALIN: Anyone who thinks that they're better than someone else.

WILLIAMS: --a state of mind? It's not geography?

PALIN: 'Course not.

WILLIAMS: Senator?

MCCAIN: I-- I know where a lot of 'em live. (LAUGH)

WILLIAMS: Where's that?

MCCAIN: Well, in our nation's capital and New York City. I've seen it. I've lived there. I know the town. I know-- I know what a lot of these elitists are. The ones that she never went to a cocktail party with in Georgetown. I'll be very frank with you. Who think that they can dictate what they believe to America rather than let Americans decide for themselves. [Emphasis added.]

See, that's funny (and no, I don't mean the fact that Palin and McCain disagree on whether elitism is geographically determined, though that's also funny; and no, I don't mean the idea of a guy with 8 houses and a gal who just dropped $150K at Neiman and Saks chiding others for elitism, though that's funny too). John McCain says that people in Washington, DC want to force their beliefs on America. That's hilarious. Hell, that's the definition of irony.

You see, the half-a-million residents of the District of Columbia -- I'm one of them -- pay taxes, register for selective service, and otherwise bear all the responsibilities required of citizens of the United States. But unlike Citizens McCain and Palin, we don't have representation in the US House of Representatives. We don't have representation in the US Senate, unlike those lucky Arizonans who elected John McCain. And perhaps worst of all, our city/state government doesn't have the ability to pass its own budget without the approval of Congress and the President.

In other words, the District of Columbia is a colony. And even the haughtiest elitists of Georgetown have less ability to dictate their own city's governance than do the hardiest, simplest patriots of Wasilla.

But what's truly ironic about McCain's statement is that as a US Senator, he routinely has played God with the colony that is the District of Columbia. Because our elected city government doesn't have the ability to spend our own tax money without approval by Congress and the President, we've had our budget held hostage by a number of Senators -- people who live outside of our city -- who nevertheless like to use our city as a petri dish for their pet causes. Like when Congress forced school vouchers on the city against our will. Or when Congress attempted to repeal our gun laws, against our will. No other city or town in the country is subject to that kind of legislation -- but John McCain co-sponsored both those bills, dictating what he believed to the District rather than letting the District decide for itself.

So while I'm not the biggest fan of Sally Quinn and the Georgetown cocktail party set, it's pretty clear to me that we colonial Americans in the District of Columbia aren't forcing our beliefs on the rest of America -- we're getting John McCain's forced on us. That's elitism we can believe in, I guess.

Still worried about Obama's imagined "national security problem?"

Some Al Qaeda affiliates are endorsing John McCain. “Al-Qaeda will have to support McCain in the coming election,” said a commentary posted Monday on the extremist Web site al-Hesbah, which is closely linked to the terrorist group. It said McCain would continue the “failing march of his predecessor,” President Bush.

Tee-hee

I feel like this is me, at the front of the classroom, sometimes! :-)

A new endorsement

Colin Powell Endorses Obama

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell announced Sunday that he will be voting for Sen. Barack Obama. "I think he is a transformational figure," Powell said on NBC's Meet the Press.

Palin SNL clip

This is the real Palin... it's pretty funny!

The world according to John McCain

A fun trip to the library, etc.

Eric and I went to the library this afternoon. Sitting on the counter at the self-checkout station was this receipt from someone who went before us. I don't think it needs any additional comment from me.


I got to spend a couple of days down with the family because of a conference I attended there. Chris was showing me his mad skills with PhotoShop, which I totally don't know how to manipulate. Here's a wolf picture he spruced up. I think it's pretty cool!


Lastly, my dad got a Facebook page. Go look for him if you want to be his friend and I haven't already suggested you to each other! Now, I think it's about time Eric joined the cool kids and got his own page! :-)

Boo!

A bresh of freath air

Um, McCain? Check your notes before you go on the attack.

Smack-DOWN!

Blink, blink... blink, blink, blink.

Halloween

I'm doing an Addams Family foursome for Halloween this year. I'm Morticia, Eric is Gomez, and our friends are Wednesday and Uncle Fester. Here's my wig... I was a little disappointed with it when I first put it on, but I brushed it, and it's a bit better now.

Now I just have to get a good black dress to wear. The witchy outfits are over $50 in the stores - cuh-razy! I couldn't find a good pattern for a dress, though. Hmm...

WOW!

Now, he's BIG! His shirt says: "World's Biggest OBAMA Supporter." You betcha.

Playing tag

Eight...Eight...Eight...

Eight TV shows I love to watch

1. Grey's Anatomy
   
2. The Daily Show
   
3. Colbert Report
   
4. The Office
   
5. Countdown with Keith Olbermann
   
6. Wife Swap
   
7. Jeopardy
8. The Simpsons
   

Eight things that happened to me yesterday

1. Woke up after sleeping for 15 hours.
   
2. Mowed and edged the front lawn.
   
3. Got some new clothes in the mail.
   
4. Ate Thai for lunch.
5. Bought a wig but no costume for Halloween.
6. Shopped at Harris Teeter.
7. Tried to canvass for Obama but was locked out of all of the apartment buildings.
8. Had a fire in the backyard with some friends.

Eight favorite places to eat

1. Minh's
2. Thai Noy
   
3. Saran Indian
   
4. Guapo's
   
5. Lost Dog
   
6. Old Ebbit's
   
7. Hank's Oyster Bar
   
8. Layalina

Eight things I am looking forward to

1. Election Day
   
2. Halloween
3. Cooler weather
   
4. More sweaters
   
5. A weekend trip to Philadelphia
   
6. Buying a house (maybe next spring/summer)
   
7. The end of Bush's reign
   
8. Holding my sister's baby
   

Eight things on my wish list

1. Dog
   
2. Making it through the rest of my Zumba classes :-)
   
3. Scooter
   
4. Presents from Eric!
   
5. An Obama win on 11/4
   
6. A working fireplace
   
7. Hair that magically does itself beautifully
   
8. A couple of extra hours to sleep every night
   

Eight people I tag

1. Anyone who wants to do this, but especially...
   
2. Erin
3. Jen
4. Liam
5. Angela
6. Annie
7. Yvette
8. Tricia

FiveThirtyEight

I saw this guy on the Colbert Report the other day. Apparently, he's a baseball statistician who is using the same math to project the election. His site is called FiveThirtyEight.

I must say, I'm liking his math. 24 days until the election!

Eric and I are going canvassing today for the GOTV effort around here. Good times.

Tsk, tsk, Sarah!

Alaska panel finds Palin abused power in firing

A legislative committee investigating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has found she unlawfully abused her authority in firing the state's public safety commissioner. The investigative report concludes that a family grudge wasn't the sole reason for firing Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan but says it likely was a contributing factor.

The Republican vice presidential nominee has been accused of firing a commissioner to settle a family dispute. Palin supporters have called the investigation politically motivated.

Latest SNL clip

Oh boy!

Baby news

Not me, no way! :-)

My little sister Jen is having a baby! If you don't read her blog, stop by and say hi!

My blog must be catching on!

Look what I just saw on the news!!!

Click here.

Picture

I have no idea what's going on in this picture, but it made me chuckle.

Serious for the day

Funny for the day

I heart Pig. :-)

Pearls Before Swine

This settles it

That's it. The EU rules, the U.S....

The European Commission has proposed extending fully-paid maternity leave from 14 weeks to 18 weeks.

The U.S. offers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave according the FMLA.

I know where I'm going if you-know-who wins in November. Frites & mayonnaise, anyone? :-)

Just a reminder

Are you voting?

Monday, October 6 is the deadline to register to vote in Virginia. Make sure your registration info is correct!