Split in two.

I am torn. Now that Edwards is out. Kucinich is out. (I really liked Kucinich) We are down to two. Two candidates. Clinton or Obama. I am split. I cannot decide. They both have great things about them and also they both have things I don't like as well.

Obama: I agree with him as far as abortion rights- he doesn't like it. He also recognizes its not his decision for anyone else. He wants to do more to prevent unwanted pregnancy in the first place.

Clinton: She also has a liberal stance on a womans right to choose. She has also spoken out on keeping emergency contraception available.

So. Thats not going to help me decide.

Obama: Voted yes to extend the patriot act. I don't need to expand on that.
Clinton: So did she.

Ugh. They are beginning to look like two peas.

Obama: Supports the death penalty.
Clinton: Ditto... Crap

Both support universal health care, although Clinton is more vocal about it.

Both think that guns are bad.

Ugh. My head likes Obama because he is a great speaker, he is inspiring. My heart was for Edwards who is no longer in it so it is now broken in two. My uterus screams Clinton. Perfect would be Clinton/Obama for 2008-2016, and then Obama can take over. I know... I am living a fantasy... they would be unbeatable.

State of the Union- depressing?

So, the state of the union. It was like a train wreak. I didn’t want to look. I couldn’t turn away. It was painful to listen to. Even harder to watch. Nancy Pelosi sitting there, behind him, reading along. I had hoped she might actually speak up against him when she became speaker. No such luck.
I am not going to do a full commentary. That would just take far too long.


THE PRESIDENT: Madam Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: Seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum. In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of us could have imagined. We faced hard decisions about peace and war, rising competition in the world economy, and the health and welfare of our citizens. These issues call for vigorous debate, and I think it's fair to say we've answered the call. Yet history will record that amid our differences, we acted with purpose. And together, we showed the world the power and resilience of American self-government.

Yes, History will record that we let a monkey wearing pants remain our president while we impeached a man for lying about fellatio. History will record that we attacked a country for no reason. The president with the highest disapproval rating in history still remains in power. History will record our apathy. Makes me proud.

Blah blah blah security, progress blah blah blah

To build a prosperous future, we must trust people with their own money and empower them to grow our economy. As we meet tonight, our economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty. America has added jobs for a record 52 straight months, but jobs are now growing at a slower pace. Wages are up, but so are prices for food and gas. Exports are rising, but the housing market has declined. At kitchen tables across our country, there is a concern about our economic future.

Jobs? Sure… there are tons of jobs available, in the Army, Navy, Air Force…

In the long run, Americans can be confident about our economic growth. But in the short run, we can all see that that growth is slowing. So last week, my administration reached agreement with Speaker Pelosi and Republican Leader Boehner on a robust growth package that includes tax relief for individuals and families and incentives for business investment...

I heard about this tax relief. At first it was going to be $800, then $600…now its something like $300 maybe. Here is the news for you. $300 bucks isn’t going to save Joe’s house from being foreclosed on. It isn’t going to prevent Jane’s car from being repossessed. It isn’t going to make a dent in Bob’s $500k in medical bills. It might buy groceries for the week for a family of 5, if they buy the cheap chips. Do something that will REALLY make a difference.

We have other work to do on taxes. Unless Congress acts, most of the tax relief we've delivered over the past seven years will be taken away. Some in Washington argue that letting tax relief expire is not a tax increase. Try explaining that to 116 million American taxpayers who would see their taxes rise by an average of $1,800. Others have said they would personally be happy to pay higher taxes. I welcome their enthusiasm. I'm pleased to report that the IRS accepts both checks and money orders. (Laughter and applause.)


How about this? Make your rich friends and corporations pay an equal share? Why do I have to pay a larger percentage of my income than someone who makes more in a month then I do in a YEAR? They won’t notice an extra $200.00 a month NEARLY as much as I do.

Most Americans think their taxes are high enough. With all the other pressures on their finances, American families should not have to worry about their federal government taking a bigger bite out of their paychecks. There's only one way to eliminate this uncertainty: Make the tax relief permanent. (Applause.) And members of Congress should know: If any bill raises taxes reaches my desk, I will veto it. (Applause.)

Just as we trust Americans with their own money, we need to earn their trust by spending their tax dollars wisely. Next week, I'll send you a budget that terminates or substantially reduces 151 wasteful or bloated programs, totaling more than $18 billion. The budget that I will submit will keep America on track for a surplus in 2012. American families have to balance their budgets; so should their government. (Applause.)

I have an idea- bring home our troops, cut the defense budget, get rid of your homeland security department, reallocate that money to education, social security, paying the wounded soldiers and their families what we promised them…

The people's trust in their government is undermined by congressional earmarks -- special interest projects that are often snuck in at the last minute, without discussion or debate. Last year, I asked you to voluntarily cut the number and cost of earmarks in half. I also asked you to stop slipping earmarks into committee reports that never even come to a vote. Unfortunately, neither goal was met. So this time, if you send me an appropriations bill that does not cut the number and cost of earmarks in half, I'll send it back to you with my veto. (Applause.)

I don’t know about you but I don’t trust my government. I question my government. I was taught that it wasn’t only my right as an American to question my government but my DUTY as an American to question my government.

To build a future of quality health care, we must trust patients and doctors to make medical decisions and empower them with better information and better options. We share a common goal: making health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans…The Congress must also expand health savings accounts, create Association Health Plans for small businesses, promote health information technology, and confront the epidemic of junk medical lawsuits. … we will help ensure that decisions about your medical care are made in the privacy of your doctor's office -- not in the halls of Congress. (Applause.)

Last time I checked, these decisions were actually made in the halls of Aetna or Blue Cross Blue Shield. The more you talk about health care, the more you sound like that other ‘beloved’ president…Nixon, who was also a big fan of HMOs and insurance companies. You really ought to shut up. We need to go to socialized medicine like Europe. Medical care is NOT a privilege; it is a basic human right.

On education, we must trust students to learn if given the chance, and empower parents to demand results from our schools. In neighborhoods across our country, there are boys and girls with dreams -- and a decent education is their only hope of achieving them.

Trust children to learn? No, we must force them to learn. Get the funnel and the mallet. Shove the knowledge into them. Do not give them an option.

Six years ago, we came together to pass the No Child Left Behind Act, and today no one can deny its results. Last year, fourth and eighth graders achieved the highest math scores on record. Reading scores are on the rise. African American and Hispanic students posted all-time highs. (Applause.) Now we must work together to increase accountability, add flexibility for states and districts, reduce the number of high school dropouts, provide extra help for struggling schools.

Making the tests easier does NOT mean you were successful. It just improves the scores.

On trade… we're pursuing opportunities to open up new markets by passing free trade agreements… I ask you to approve agreements with Colombia and Panama and South Korea… They will give us better access to nearly 100 million customers. They will support good jobs for the finest workers in the world: those whose products say "Made in the USA." (Applause.)

Interesting, I go to the local store and I can’t find a single thing that says “Made in the USA.” Maybe if I take a vacation to Colombia I will finally be able to purchase something made by a fellow American.

These agreements also promote America's strategic interests. The first agreement that will come before you is with Colombia, a friend of America that is confronting violence and terror, and fighting drug traffickers. If we fail to pass this agreement, we will embolden the purveyors of false populism in our hemisphere. So we must come together, pass this agreement, and show our neighbors in the region that democracy leads to a better life. (Applause.)

Lets not forget who helped make Columbia the wonderful country it is today- filled with death squads and drug cartels… headed by top students from the School of the Americas in Fort Benning, GA.

Trade brings better jobs and better choices and better prices. Yet for some Americans, trade can mean losing a job, and the federal government has a responsibility to help. (Applause.) I ask Congress to reauthorize and reform trade adjustment assistance, so we can help these displaced workers learn new skills and find new jobs.

And we will call it the Military…

Let us continue investing in advanced battery technology and renewable fuels to power the cars and trucks of the future. (Applause.) Let us create a new international clean technology fund, which will help developing nations like India and China make greater use of clean energy sources. And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases. …

An international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gasses? That sounds like a brilliant idea. Why didn’t someone think of that already. One would think some smart earth friendly person in Kyoto would have come up with just such a thing… perhaps even call it something really catchy, like say the Kyoto Protocol… nah…

To keep America competitive into the future… I ask Congress to double federal support for critical basic research in the physical sciences and ensure America remains the most dynamic nation on Earth. (Applause.)

But the earth was only created in 6 days… what more do we need to know?

On matters of life and science… we're expanding funding for this type of ethical medical research. And as we explore promising avenues of research, we must also ensure that all life is treated with the dignity it deserves. And so I call on Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical practices such as the buying, selling, patenting, or cloning of human life. (Applause.)

I thought we went over this last year… I can’t make a clone of myself and enslave it to do my bidding. Understood. Back to real life now? This isn’t Austin Powers. We have more important things to deal with now.

On matters of justice, we must trust in the wisdom of our founders and empower judges who understand that the Constitution means what it says. (Applause.) I've submitted judicial nominees who … are being unfairly delayed.

If they were going to actually follow the constitution it wouldn’t be a problem. The REAL constitution. Not the one you made up in crayon. Not the one that has your asterisk that says at the bottom “unless I don’t wanna” The reason they are held up is because they are NOT worthy of confirmation, that is WHY the constitution allows for the debates in the senate.

Tonight the armies of compassion continue the march to a new day in the Gulf Coast …I'm pleased to announce that in April we will host this year's North American Summit of Canada, Mexico, and the United States in the great city of New Orleans. (Applause.)

And above is the ONLY mention we get of the hell that was Katrina. That was it. Basically he said they are hosting the summit there so everything is hunky-dory.

There are two other pressing challenges that I've raised repeatedly before this body, and that this body has failed to address: entitlement spending and immigration …(Applause.)

The reasons? Because you are spending the money we put into social security etc, on war mongering. The other issue? Yeah, only you are terrified of the evil brown people. Most intelligent people have caught on to your pathetic diversion tactic. If we blame the evil brown people from the south we won’t pay attention to all of the murder and evil you are doing in the east. Its over. We are now WATCHING YOU.

While the enemy is still dangerous and more work remains, the American and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could have imagined just one year ago. (Applause.) When we met last year, many said that containing the violence was impossible. A year later, high profile terrorist attacks are down, civilian deaths are down, sectarian killings are down.

Notice how he doesn’t mention anything about our troops… 2007 was the deadliest year for our soldiers. As of today the total number of American troops that we have lost in this pointless attack is 3941.

Last month, Osama bin Laden released a tape in which he railed against Iraqi tribal leaders who have turned on al Qaeda and admitted that coalition forces are growing stronger in Iraq.

You remembered his name! I’m impressed…

By contrast, a failed Iraq would embolden the extremists, strengthen Iran, and give terrorists a base from which to launch new attacks on our friends, our allies, and our homeland…(Applause.)

Ah, yes, we must bomb another country… in fact, why don’t you just nuke them all, press the big button. Who needs them. Get rid of Africa too. China, Australia as well. Too many marsupials there. And Japan, they are constantly showing us up with their cars that actually work well and have great gas mileage. While we are at it, we should invade England. They have always been so uppity with their tea and crumpets. Show them. Yeah. And France… cause they have funny hats… hehehe.

Blah blah blah, terror, blah blah blah, danger blah blah blah.

America opposes genocide in Sudan. (Applause.)

But genocide in Iraq is awesome…

We support freedom in countries from Cuba and Zimbabwe to Belarus and Burma. (Applause.)

United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Haiti, Jamaica, Peru; Republic Dominican, Cuba, Caribbean, Greenland, El Salvador too. Puerto Rico, Columbia, Venezuela, Honduras, Guyana, and still; Guatemala, Bolivia, Oh, wait…I thought we were singing the Nations of the World with Yakko Warner…Sorry.

America is a force for hope in the world because we are a compassionate people, and some of the most compassionate Americans are those who have stepped forward to protect us. We must keep faith with all who have risked life and limb so that we might live in freedom and peace. Over the past seven years, we've increased funding for veterans by more than 95 percent. And as we increase funding -- (applause.) And as increase funding we must also reform our veterans system to meet the needs of a new war and a new generation. (Applause.) I call on the Congress to enact the reforms recommended by Senator Bob Dole and Secretary Donna Shalala, so we can improve the system of care for our wounded warriors and help them build lives of hope and promise and dignity. (Applause.)

Then pay them what you promised. Pay them a living wage. Cover their medical expenses and pay them their disability benefits without question.

Blah blah blah

So tonight, with confidence in freedom's power, and trust in the people, let us set forth to do their business. God bless America. (Applause.)

To see the full text of the speech- go here: 2008 State of the Union

Three Things...

I have three things to talk about today.
#1. My voice mail. I had a message on my voice mail on my cell phone for Kaitlyn Smith. I have no idea who she is or why someone would leave a message for her on my cell phone. Especially since my voice mail says my name twice. If you are calling Kaitlyn and you get Maddie's voice mail and it specifically tells you that it is ONLY Maddie's voice mail and not to leave a message for anyone other than Maddie... would you then proceed to leave a message for Kaitlyn? Yeah.

#2. I work in a call center. I take 80+ calls every day. When you call a customer service line, please remember that you are speaking to a real person on the other side. We have feelings, we are someone's mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter, husband, or wife... We do what we can to help. Please do not abuse us. Help us. When we ask for your name, give us your full name- first and last. Do not talk as though you have marbles in your mouth. Its frustrating, I know. But trust me, you are not the only Alexis or Walter that we have in our customer database. And no, just because you talked to me 3 weeks ago, doesn't mean I remember every detail of that conversation. I don't remember who you are. I spoke to over 1200 people last month. Sorry.

#3. I came home from work today. And despite the previous note- it wasn't even a bad day, just a few annoying messages from Bob who wanted me to call him back because he talked to me on the 7th. I have no idea who Bob is. No last name, no account number, nothing else. But I am supposed to call him back. Sure. Anyway, onwards to # 3. I am sick of political ads. We haven't even had the primary election here yet and during one break there were 4 ads in a row. I miss hearing about Jane's herpes or Joe's ED.

Okay, so now I am yelling at the TV because the State of the Union address is REALLY pissing me off. How much time is left? Too much. Ugh. He is such an idiot. We need to impeach him.

I'm sensitive

I saw this on T.V. last week...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22825996/

I can't get it out of my head. I have heard about the atrocities of the holocaust, read books, graphic novels, heard lectures, seen documentaries, etc... But this got to me. They shared the story of Dina Beitler. When she was five years old, she was forced into a mass grave and buried alive. She managed to claw her way out and survive that horror.

I just don't understand how anyone could do such a thing, to anyone... let alone a child. The excuse? they were following orders. They say they had no option. If everyone just blindly followed orders and didn't question anything we would still be part of Europe, or possibly still in Europe... without the wheel. Following orders is not a valid excuse.

We are at least acknowledging our history - sorta. We don't discuss the recent genocides of Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur... We have learned from our history so well. It is still happening today. All because someone is following orders.

It all just gets to me, breaks my heart. I don't get it. I can't comprehend how cruel people can be. The thought of that tiny girl, so frightened and alone, in the dark, trying to pull herself up out of the earth still haunts me.

I always have been sensitive.

learn more at: http://www.yadvashem.org/

Apple

I keep seeing the commercials for the new MacBook Air and man...I want one. They are just so cute and tiny and cute and thin and everything my computer isn't but oh well... I do see one problem with them. Only one usb port- I need more then that. I like to have my USB snowman plugged in during the winter. However, if they came in different colors, like the iPods did- I may end up getting one- if it came in pink.

I have a new countdown clock...

I finally found something to replace my countdown until the next Heroes clock.
Just a little something to look forward to.

Cold.

Its cold. At a certain point, I don't want to know if its 6 degrees or 4 degrees or 12 below... its all the same. Its cold. Why anyone would want to live in this climate is beyond me.

Music

You may ask, hey, whats up with the music on the blog here? One of my mom's friends has music on her blog and now my my mom wants music so then I had to figure out how to do music and well, here we are. Don't worry, it probably won't last too long.

So, I saw these at Vinyl Wall Art and I just had to have them. I ordered them in Silver and I can hardly wait for them to arrive. They will look so cute hanging around in my room.

Now, if only I could get over this darn "unspecified pharyngitis" or perhaps it would specify itself. Ugh.

pictures, etc

It has been a while. I have been meaning to put up some photos. First, I was home one day and saw them vacuuming our lawn. Pretty silly.


Dressed up at work for Halloween:

and Finally: The holiday party:

pictures, etc