Like a Dream

Just wow.



May he bring this country together.

Vote

November 4 is here (well, at least on the east coast). Vote. Please vote. It matters.



(And while I'd like you all to vote for Obama for the same reasons I will, I realize that might not be possible for all. I do request that you do what you can so I don't need to see Caribou Barbie each day, though. I'm so over that.)



And RIP to Toot, Obama's grandmother. What a sad day for him on the brink of this election.

Making Me Cry

One America. Just one.








Yes, I cried at the end of the video (and I know I'm making that dude who lives in Bristol, VA get all creeped out. My blog, my passion, though.) I have such high hopes for this election, and I'm so scared that we're going to have yet another election stolen. (because yes, Gore won.)

Un-American?

Earlier today, I ran across this little gem (NOT) of Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann of Minnesota speaking about the election and Barack Obama: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbw4pdxVSOg



Un-American? Investigation? Really? I cannot believe that this woman sits in the House of Representatives. I cannot believe that she really said the things she said. She's a lunatic, and I am just stunned that she could really believe these things, and say them with a smile on her face the entire time.



I am so scared for this country, and I'm so scared for Barack Obama. I'm terrified that the hatred I'm seeing from some in this country will spark a recurrence of the ugliness that happened in the late 60s (go search youtube for "racist palin" - the videos you'll find should make you tremble with anger. heck, they made me cry, because I cannot believe that people are so blind) - this country has gone through turmoil before, and we do NOT need it now. The things coming out of Palin's mouth, inciting her supporters, scare me - "who is Barack Obama?" Really? They don't know? They haven't bothered to pick up one of the books he's written? To read the position papers on his website? I think I have a pretty good idea of who Barack Obama is - he's a thoughtful leader who's willing to look at both sides of an issue. He's a pragmatist who's willing to compromise. He's willing to stand up and tell the people at his rallies that it's inappropriate to boo the other candidate. I think he's a brilliant man and our best hope for America's reputation in this world. I'm disgusted by the politics of fear that are trying to scare the electorate, and I hope that folks won't fall for it again.



Politicians are supposed to represent us. I hope the good people of Minnesota's 6th Congressional District are smart enough to seat her opponent in this election. Because we don't need hate and fear. We need thoughtfulness and hope.

Damn Liberals

Choice

I am pro-choice to the core - I believe that I should get to make decisions about what happens to my body, and that it is not the role of government to legislate those decisions. I also believe that abortion should be safe, legal, and rare. I advocate making adoption easier - and for making the process less secretive.



I like to think I'm not a one-issue voter, but I don't know that I could ever vote for a candidate that wants to overturn Roe v. Wade - it's too critical a freedom to me.



There are those that don't agree with me, that believe that abortion does not honor life - these are usually the same people who are against embryonic stem cell research, because of the use of an embryo for such research (it's life!). But the thing to me is -- many of those embryos are going to be thrown away instead of used. Is the greater good that they should be discarded, or that they should be used to find cures for many of the medical problems that people face, like Parkinson's Disease?



I think that an unplanned pregnancy can be a joy - neither of my children were planned, and they rock my world each and every day. I'm so damn PROUD to be their mother and am so happy that they're here with me. I also think that an unplanned pregnancy can be a terror - when you're not prepared to be a parent, you know it. When you can't afford another child, you know it. When you're in an abusive relationship, you know it, and it's certainly understandable if you don't want to subject anyone else to the source of that relationship. When you've been raped, should you have to add the additional reminder of that action to the burden you're carrying? I am for choice - for doing what you feel you need to do in the particular situation.



I also am interested to know what the anti-abortion folks think should happen to a woman who gets (or even seeks) an abortion, should Roe v. Wade be overturned. Should she be jailed? After all, she broke the law! Should we put the doctor in jail? Should we force medical personnel to report an abortion seeker? It's all very big brother.



Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare. It's not going to go away - it'll just go back to the back alley, and women will die. Is that the greater good? I know many people who believe that abortion is immoral, and I think those people shouldn't have abortions. Heck, I think that anyone who doesn't want an abortion shouldn't have one. I also think that they should stay the hell away from my womb.



P.S. Abstinence education doesn't work. We need REAL sex ed.

Worries

My brother Eric blogs over on Inside Catholic (he is Catholic, I am not; we were not raised Catholic, but he has chosen this religion and feels very deeply connected to it - his faith is his, mine is mine, and we love each other and agree to disagree on this subject). He recently posted about the Palin pick (as did I, albeit much more crassly) and we had (not surprisingly) very different reactions. I commented on his post (using my real name, which means I'm no longer anonymous here. Kreepos who wish to send death threats should keep that idea to themselves.) Because I think this election matters so much, I'm going to copy my comment on his post here.


--------------------------------------


I too watched Palin's speech, but had completely different reactions. The one thing I thought was good was the shot of Piper holding Trig while "fixing" his hair.



What worries me is that she has no foreign policy experience (and no, the fact that Russia and Canada are close to Alaska does not make her an expert on foreign relations), while we have not one, but two wars being fought.



I also worry about her (seeming) tendency to constantly check the loyalty of those around her and quickly judge, evidenced by the firing of several public servants in Wasilla upon becoming mayor. Asking the librarian whether she'd be willing to remove books screams of the desire to censor thought.



I worry that she has not held a press conference, and that the McCain campaign does not have one on her schedule. A single interview with ABC is all that they're offering now. If she isn't prepared to answer hard questions today, why should we believe that she will be ready to do so after the election? I do not believe she is prepared to be the Vice President, much less the President. Let us not forget that McCain has had skin cancer (melanoma, the deadliest kind) more than once and would be the oldest person elected to the office of President. Is she ready to lead on Day 1?



I worry that she wants to drill ANWR and thinks that global warming is not man-made. I worry that she thinks that it is okay to shoot wolves and bears from airplanes. I worry that she wanted Polar Bears (your favorite animal!) removed from the endangered species list.



I worry that the Republicans, while "pro-life" while speaking, have done nothing to reduce the abortion rate in the past eight years. While I am pro-choice (a dirty word here, I know), I am all for reducing the number of abortions in the United States. I am for supporting those who are pregnant and scared. I am for encouraging adoption.



In short, Sarah Palin worries me. A lot.

No Questions

Seriously?




I don't know about you, but I care.

dooce rocks, palin blows

I love dooce. Here's one reason why.



The republicans really did go off the edge this time - I made myself watch Palin's speech last night, and I'll admit that she was smooth in the delivery of her speech. It's too bad she couldn't add any actual substance or debate to this election. She's a vagina in a suit, and an uptight, snarling one at that (much like a pit bull, although that does insult many pit bulls. Maybe she's like one of the ones Michael Vick trained).


Not impressed.

Cheap Tricks

For those of you under rocks, who come here for all of the latest news, Senator McCain named Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate this morning. What a cheap trick. Yes, she has a vagina - my question: Is that vagina supposed to show that she's a good substitute for Hillary? Hillary's fervent supporters wanted a woman in office - heck, I want a woman in office. But I'm NOT willing to vote for a woman who a) is anti-choice and b) has absolutely no record on foreign policy. I don't know much about Sarah Palin, but neither does Kay Bailey Hutchison, who actually has a record and a vagina.



Let me be clear here: Posession of a vagina does not give a person the right experience to be the Vice President, nor does it provide an automatic bye on the "sound judgment" question.



I think this is a cheap trick by the McCain team to try to get votes from those women who wanted Hillary in office simply because Hillary has a vagina and not because they believed in her policies. McCain and Palin have political viewpoints far from those of Hillary (and Obama, and Biden, for that matter), and a vote for the McCain ticket given only because there's a woman on the ticket is a vote from someone who only cares about that vagina, but not about the rest of the issues. McCain's record on women's rights, and children's rights, and veteran's rights is abysmal, and there's no reason to think that that record will change with Palin on the ticket.



I think it's admirable that Sarah Palin chose to go through with her pregnancy after learning her youngest child would be born with Down Syndrome. I probably would have made the same choice, but gosh, it's awfully nice to have that choice, and I do not want to lose it.



Cheap trick, McCain. I hope you're as embarassed as you should be. And I hope folks aren't so excited about the vagina that they forget about the issues.

Proud of My Country?

Michelle Obama is getting raked over the coals because she said, "for the first time in my adult life, I'm proud of my country," or something similar. And I can't figure out WHY folks are getting all up in arms about this. It's been a damn long time since I've been PROUD of my country. I've always been proud that I'm American, that our country stands for freedom. But being proud of my country? Not lately. I'm with Michelle - I'm proud to see a new generation get excited about politics, about hope. I've been worn out by eight years of incompetence and dishonesty, and I need to be proud of my country again. I need to live in a country where, if there's a question as to whether a practice is torture, we rise above and don't let it happen. We're supposed to be the best country in the world. I'm hoping we'll start acting like it again soon.

Getting Political

Maryland, where I grew up, votes tomorrow. Oregon doesn't hold our primaries until May 20 - very late in the game. I am hoping that the "Potomac Primaries" will follow recent trends and give Obama the majority of votes, because I really think that he's the better candidate.

So, if you're able to vote tomorrow and can't decide, just vote Obama. For me.

Yes we can!!!