What I say about WeinerGate

I promised Shane I’d post this.

1. He didn’t fuck a little kid. (Special nod to you, Catholic Church!)

2. He didn’t fuck a guy. (Or get blown by one in an airport)

3. He didn’t even fuck a woman.

This already makes him better than the entire Republican Party.

And for the Democrats who are all aghast about some bad texts?

4. He didn’t get blown by an intern in the White House. Take your smelling salts. Calm down.

How are we even still talking about this?

Bottom line: if his constituents want him to stay, he should stay. *I* certainly hope he does because at the very least, he’s one of the few elected officials who uses logical arguments in session.

Dear Dems-

When someone asks you about this guy’s underwear shots, how about you mention the refusal of Republicans to negotiate in good faith on goddamn near ANYTHING – including the debt ceiling  and paying millionaires to be millionaires – and talk about what we’re paying you to do?

No love,

Sarah

And while I’m at it- Hey Weiner, good looking out with your manscaping! Way to be considerate of the spouse!

Addendum

Because it’s Memorial Day -

My dad was a vet. I remember vividly the stories he told me about his time in Vietnam. I remember just as clearly the stories that I sought out from others when he wouldn’t tell them. I love our country and the awesome, terrible, fantastic things it’s capable of.

That said, I can’t read the stories of amazing widows or triumphant orphans today because I already feel the stirring sadness and joy that accompany a place of many freedoms bought by so many lives. I’m sad that we can’t see each other as equals, regardless of race/gender/love interest. I think we should be better than this – be ABOVE THIS if only because so many have sacrificed.

I don’t think a single soldier has given his or her life because they were supporting one American over another. I think we’re in this together – like it or not – and the LEAST we owe our veterans is an honest and civil dialogue that is worthy of their sacrifice.

Dear Rand Paul

Slavery. This does not mean what you think it means.

1. No one, including the government, is FORCING people to become doctors against their will.

2. Not only do you have to CHOOSE 8 additional years of schooling, you have to SUCCEED at it.

3. You get paid. In fact, you get paid better than 90% of the population.

4. Government healthcare would, in fact, GUARANTEE you get paid because it eliminates welshers who don’t have insurance and an inability to pay. Government healthcare ENSURES that you get money for your services.

Let’s review: Not only is this NOT slavery, it’s NOT indentured servitude.

I don’t put a lot of politics in the blog but this isn’t about politics – it’s disingenuous and flat out wrong. In terms of political discourse, this is especially disappointing as you sound increasingly like the Captain of the Wingnut Brigade. When it comes to “libertarianism” there are a lot of good arguments for smaller government – LOTS of them, arguments that even sound REASONABLE if you don’t resort to lazy hyperbole.

Also, I’m going to call bullshit on THIS particular argument because – as a physician – you know full fucking well that the private sector is epically and irreparably broken when it comes to providing healthcare for Americans. If you’re going to pretend that things are fine, you should do a better job of it. You’ve got a staff, fucking use them.

In closing, what the fuck?

Today’s most ludicrous overheard comments

Guy 1: Are you a Democrat?

Guy 2: Hell no! I WORK for a living!

Me: *boggles* *flails*

Let’s be clear: the Republicans are the ones who are willing to completely fuck all three of us in order for billionaires and approximately 100 family businesses to make more money? WHO works for a living?

The short version

My lack of posting began shortly after we got an offer on our house back in Michigan, mostly because nearly all my free time was spent on the phone with either the mortgage company or Fannie Mae or the retirement people (we also had houseguests in there somewhere). The counteroffer which was accepted was considerably lower than what we’d paid for the house and we were pretty upside down on the mortgage. We applied for a short sale – where the bank accepts the offer and we all walk away clean – and it was mostly a nightmare. This experience has convinced me that we will never have functional health care.

I was told in not so many words by the folks at Fannie Mae that because our house wasn’t already in foreclosure, we weren’t a priority for help. This was, of course, ONLY after I had submitted my paperwork no less than three times in two weeks- because they kept saying they didn’t have it, even after a confirmation email from a specific employee on the 2nd occasion telling me he’d gotten it all. I’d made several phone calls and found exactly one helpful employee (the aforementioned dude). I DID have a spectacular runaround, including ONE employee who began to argue with me when I requested to speak to a supervisor. She was telling me why I wanted to speak to one and that they couldn’t help me. The third time, I finally said “I don’t CARE what you think, put a fucking SUPERVISOR on the phone.” Having done a shit phone job, I generally do not lose my temper with those folks. On the other hand, they don’t generally ARGUE.

Oddly, the supervisor was able to answer some questions. Which is when I found out that because we’d been responsible and kept paying our mortgage, we were going to take the entire shaft, sans lube, right in the ass. Thanks so much. If Fannie Mae can’t keep track of THEIR paperwork, we have NO HOPE of having a functional national healthcare system which – by definition – will require a much larger amount of paper and customer service.

We gave up on Fannie Mae after that and set about scraping together the funds needed to get the hell out from under the place. Paying two mortgages has NOT been fun. But someone bought it, I flew home to sign the paperwork and hand over the last of the keys, and we are now and forever shut of Saginaw, Michigan. We couldn’t be happier.

While in Michigan I seem to have developed something of an earache which is, apparently, not an infection. I pick up medication tomorrow.

I got to see some of the family back in MI, which was nice. Everyone seems to be doing well. I’d forgotten that mosquitos can be as big as my thumbnail though. We haven’t seen any up here yet, which is perfectly fine by me. The weather has been great, as usual. The last couple of days have had a bit of rain which is interesting because it doesn’t LAST, including the water on the ground.

Our anniversary is coming up next week (9 years!) and we got each other a sweet anniversary gift to help take the sting out of the house fuckery. Details on that later.

I start classes in a couple of weeks and it sounds like Spouse is planning a House Project. We’ll see how far that gets.

Cocaine use =/= a woman’s right to choose

I don’t watch The View very often, but I enjoy their hot topics shows because I think they do a good job of covering the gamut of reasonably expected responses (considered/intellectual: Whoopi, Barbara; ignorant/emotional: Sherri, Elizabeth; going for the punchline: Joy). Today they were talking about the rumor of Joe Biden’s daughter having snorted cocaine and one of her dirtbag ‘friends’ shopping it around to tabloids. They were saying that you can’t tie the actions of a child to the parent, with which I absolutely agree.

Kids come into this world with their own personality and ability to make their own decisions. Ideally, the way that they are raised will influence some of their decisionmaking processes but ultimately they are their own person.

That shook round to the political spectrum and how it’s potentialy MORE unfair to hold these kids up because the press implies their parents aren’t good at their JOBS rather than at parenting (which is the more logical conclusion). This, of course, brought up the issue of Bristol Palin. I think there’s a difference in that particular case.

If Sarah Palin had refused to comment about the pregnancy (Biden has yet to comment on the drug allegation), or simply requested privacy, that would  have been just fine. Instead she started crowing about how proud she was of her daughter’s “choice” and turned it into a pro-life wictory. This would also be fine, if Sarah Palin wasn’t actively campaigning to take that exact same “choice” away from everyone else. She SHOULD have been talking about how there wasn’t a choice, of course Bristol was having that kid because it was the only right thing to do – because that’s what she believes.. Instead, she MADE it a political issue by discussing it in those terms,  precisely because she’s AGAINST a woman’s right to control her own bodily functions, and that is why it became okay to talk about it. You’ll notice that Bristol’s “choice” was a topic of conversation but her decision to drop out of high school was barely a blip.

Being a politician doesn’t hold you to a higher standard of being a parent. It doesn’t hold your kids to a higher standard, because your kids are entitled to make their own mistakes and learn from them. It DOES require that you occasionally shut your mouth and put your kids before your own political agenda.

The View was also hilarious today talking about Twitter. The whole ‘not getting it’ is easy to see. It’s sort of a mindless occupation, though it can be entertaining.

I was kind of interested to see Bill O’Reilly on the show and see if Joy Behar or Whoopi were going to call him out. O’Reilly *did* make a good point about shopping with your dollars – if you disagree with something, use your money to make your impact. It was also hilarious that Bill suddenly wanted to “move on”  when they began discussing WHY we were in Iraq. Oddly, he rarely wants to “move on” on his own show. Speaking of which, I wanted to link this particularly heinous story. It’s especially nice because he has frequently spoken out on the rights of ‘celebrities’ to not be stalked. I guess famous people get more rights than everyone else.

Last political note: when the economists say you’ve got to keep spending money in order to fix the problem, people like Bill O’Reilly and Sherri Shepard should STFU. We’ve already spent into what most average people would consider to be imaginary numbers (as in, we can’t IMAGINE how much money it is) so if the people who study this FOR A LIVING think it’s the right path, I’m okay with it.

In unrelated news, I’m finally posting my CO snowpocalypse photos!

The trees outside my house, when I left.

Merging onto I-70, believe it or not.

This might be my favorite protest of all time.

The slideshow is spectacular. Love, love, LOVE the posters these students came up with.

In case it’s applicable

This is the DC phone number for Colorado’s House Rep (District 5) Doug Lamborn(R): 202-225-4422

Feel free to call and express YOUR opinion about what he should be doing with this stimulus package!

For other CO political stuff: http://www.coloradopols.com/

It’s nice that it’s started already.

They didn’t allow all of the press into the re-oath because HE DIDN’T NEED TO TAKE THE OATH AGAIN. The Constitution makes him the president WHETHER HE TAKES THE OATH OR NOT. End of story. THERE WAS NOTHING TO SEE.

Jeez.

How much do I love Tina Fey?

Answer: a lot. Only for Tina would I have sat through Baby Mama, which was funny but disappointing.

Her acceptance speech last night was classic and (as I’ve said before) 30 Rock is the funniest thing on TV. I was stoked that Alec Baldwin won as well. I’ve *hearted* his comedy ever since the Schwety Balls on SNL. He’s also great in State and Main, if you haven’t seen it.

Mountain time kicks ass, no lie. Back in Michigan, I probably wouldn’t have watched the Golden Globes and I definitely wouldn’t have watched ALL of it because they’re on until effing MIDNIGHT. Out here, I got to watch them at work and they wrapped up the same time I did (around 10). It was pretty awesome.

It seems as though barrels of snow are hitting Denver but we’re all clear up here in the mountain hinterlands. The sun is shining and I think I’m going to be a nice hausfrau and make chili so that Spouse can eat when he gets home. I’ll be at work and this will also prevent excessive disasterfication of the kitchen while I’m gone. I’m purposely delaying the Attack of the Spare Bedroom until Wednesday when I don’t have to work. Probably there will also be before and after photos.

Work is going well and I’m meeting lots of nice folks. After the Spare Bedroom, I’ll be looking for other and/or additional work in earnest. I’m a little disappointed that I won’t be around for the Super Bowl, but it will be nice to see my mom again.

Also, if you don’t watch The View there was a pretty spectacular Ann Coulter smackdown this morning. Eminently linkable. Note to Ann: Don’t diss single mothers TO SINGLE MOTHERS. I think maybe Ann Coulter just needs hugs. Or valium. She seems so UNHAPPY all the time.

*shrug*

Off to attempt high-altitude chili.

Now is the time on Sprockets

When I ask myself who the EFF I bought all these holiday cards for because I can’t think of 40 people who would want our  holiday greetings.

I did NOT achieve a driver’s license today because it turns out that Michigan is one of 14 states who do not require proof of citizenship/legal ability to live in the US to obtain a license (note to any illegal immigrants out there). Now, since the last time I had to provide proof of my identity to the state of Michigan for a driver’s license without (yanno) a driver’s license was when I was sixteen and a birth certificate was my only other legal form of I.D. I was unaware of this. Unfortunately, states like Colorado require proof of your legal right to live in the country and I was without my passport.

The hour-long drive wasn’t a complete waste. We stopped at what (now) I think must be the worst Borders in the history of the world. I went in with a list of 20 authors – no exaggeration – and found books I wanted by precisely ONE. Either they didn’t carry the author AT ALL or carried only one or two old titles. This, coupled with my unfruitful trip to the Driver’s License office, does not a happy camper make. Instead I got a future Bandwagon book, even though my Bandwagon will be far away, and a copy of The Watchmen. Spouse found a couple of things he liked. I also managed to get some business taken care of re: billing my last community ed class. So, not a waste but I’m not really happy about having to do it again.

As previously mentioned, our holiday cards (and man, am I glad I told everyone they were holiday cards) showed up today and I’ve been dutifully filling out addresses all evening. I also made a batch of the “Eff you, Queso!” that we love so much and it made up the entirety of my dinner. Eff you, Queso is very delicious and perfect for when you’re lazy:

yogagrrl’s Eff You, Queso!

1 package ground beef (somewhere around 1.5 lbs)

1 package taco seasoning

Brown ground beef, ignore taco seasoning directions and just add the seasoning and just enough water to soak up all the juice (usually about half a cup).

Add:

1 jar Tostitos Queso sauce (Medium)

1 jar Tostitos chunky Salsa (Mild)

1 can refried beans (12 oz or someting like that)

1 liberal spoonful of Mrs. Renfrow’s Jalepeno Green Salsa

Heat through until bubbling.

That last ingredient is what puts the Eff in Eff You, Queso! It’s super delicious, but HOT. Adjust the amount you put in according to how much Eff you need.

It keeps for several days and is just as good (if not better) when reheated. I love it because it’s tasty and easy, and we almost always have these ingredients on hand.

And since I’m talking about Eff You, Queso! let me add this link: to a brilliant (and simultaneously not so brilliant) interview about the foreign policy dilemma with regard to Israel and Hamas. If you don’t like the Huffington Post, that’s fine, just scroll down to the video link. It’s the perfect illustration of how NOT to interview someone who PARTICIPATED in the history that you’ve READ about. Heh. Loves it.

Since it’s less than 12 hours away…

I’m going to go ahead and put my political business out there.

I used to vote Republican. I consistently voted for conservative tickets because I believe the government should be smaller and stay out of my personal life. Republican is a repugnant term to me now, because the party that I used to have things in common with has gone so far to the extreme right I can’t even recognize it any more. 

I’m an independent. I identify pretty strongly with the Libertarian ideals and wish they’d field a viable candidate sometime.

I voted for John McCain in the primaries during 2000. The man I voted for isn’t the guy who’s running for President right now.

There are a lot of reasons I’m voting against John McCain. He doesn’t believe I can make knowledgable decisions about my own reproductive health. He’s overly concerned about how people are having sex and with whom. He thinks kids would be better off in the foster system than being adopted by gay parents who love them. He thinks being gay is a choice. And he picked a spectacularly moronic running mate. When I heard the words “Russia is right next to Alaska” I thought it was a joke. And then the campaign kept saying it. And Palin kept saying it. And then McCain said it. Frankly, a fourth grader could tell you that’s a bullshit answer and the fact that they kept spouting it shows a vast contempt for the intellect of the nation. I’m not even going to get into the mudslinging and name calling. 

When I heard John McCain would be the Republican candidate, I was actually excited about this political season. I thought we’d FINALLY have a campaign that would be all about the issues. After all, MY McCain swore off of the nasty tactics used by Bush so that means all we can DO is talk about the things that matter. Imagine my dismay.

More than reasons to vote against McCain, I’ve got really great reasons to vote for Obama.

His upbringing is a lot closer to mine than John McCain’s was. When my Dad died of liver cancer, it didn’t bankrupt my mother but it strapped everyone in the family. I believe that a man who chose to work with poor residents of Chicago has a different kind of empathy than a guy who was essentially military royalty.

I am incredibly happy to hear Obama say that Affirmative Action should be economically based rather than race based. I was thrilled to hear him address – really address – the racial divide in our country and talk about what we’re going to have to do to fix it. I think he’s the only man who can bring us back together as a country.

His health care plan makes far more sense than McCain’s. I know that because I used to be a drug rep. $5,000 does not buy you health care coverage of ANY sort of quality. It’s impossible.

And most importantly, Obama’s tax plan helps ME.

I believe his views on foreign policy are what we need. I don’t think ignoring our enemies is effective (e.g. Cuba). I think Obama’s platform just makes sense.

Is it perfect? Hell no. Do I love everything about it? Hell no. Do I LIKE everything about it? Hell no. But given the alternative – I’m going blue this year.

And I forgot to mention, as an English major, I appreciate a politican who can write and speak with eloquence – as evidenced below. I don’t remember when I’ve been this excited about voting FOR a candidate.

I’m also voting yes on Prop 1 and Prop 2. I believe that anything which helps alleviate the suffering of patients should be used and my biology classes help me to understand that embryonic stem cell research is the most promising way to find cures for cancer and other virulent diseases.

We’re never moving, ever again.

Packing is awful and terrible. It is taking forever and sucking my life.

Nearly the entire basement is done. Nearly the entire first floor closet is done (which means the Dining Room is pretty much complete). I packed up all my dad’s albums and, while I’m paranoid about not having them get jacked up in the move, I don’t think I can fit them into my car (nor do I really want to).

I don’t think I took my allergy medicine yesterday pre-packing because I feel like I inhaled a metric asston of dust and it’s fairly awful.

On Sundays, Spouse and I watch the Sunday news shows. It’s not really the same without him. He actually has far more patience than I do with the mouthpiece guys. Frex, I can’t watch Stephanopolous today because (in addition to thinking he’s a spineless weenie) Lindsay Graham is on. I’m sure Lindsay Graham does good work for someone, but on TV he always comes across as a condescending prig. I don’t need to start my Sunday like that.

We also watch Fox News Sunday and – for all that people talk about the Fox bias – I’ve got to say that Chris Matthews does a balanced job. He actually ASKS the hard questions (unlike Stephanpolous) and actually called McCain a liar eariler in the campaign. He’s not doing a whitewash and I really enjoy his Sunday panel. I like George Will and the panel from the Stephanpolous show, but having seen George lob too many softballs (and not field any responses) it raises my blood pressure to watch his show.

Today we have to run some errands and maybe go out to breakfast. We have some of those plastic bags that you attach the vacuum to and they make your clothes into beef jerky. Far more awesome than I would have ever predicted.

TV updates:

Grey’s Anatomy- This show continues to be full of enough shit that I’m having a difficult time watching it. The appearance of Kevin McKidd  means I’ll definitely be tuning in for the next several weeks though.

Private Practics – Meh. It does have some laugh out loud moments, though.

Life- Seriously, one of my favorite shows. Crime/mystery, zen humor, and a light dusting of violence. The only way it would be better is if there were actual monsters.

Supernatural – I really like this show. They continue to be funny and creepy at the same time, and not take themselves too seriously. Also, they always have the best Halloween episodes on TV so I kind of can’t wait until next week.

True Blood is on tonight and is the only reason I haven’t gone down to a basic dish package. I loves me some HBO originals.

I’m not watching The Olympics

And I’m not generally discussing politics here but this is part of the reason:

Initially, the Chinese government, the IOC and Jacques Rogge had assured that Internet access would not be censored at the Olympic Village press center.^[21] However, journalists that arrived at the press center after its opening on 25 July found that sites containing politically sensitive matter were inaccessible and learned that the IOC had quietly agreed to “some of the limitations.”^[21] In response Sun Weide, the Chinese spokesman, indicated that the media will have “convenient and sufficient” access to the Internet.^[21] The censorship at the press center added to a growing skepticism about the claims of the government that it would improve its record on human rights.^[21] The “broken promise” was condemned by Reporters Without Borders who pointed out that about 20,000 foreign journalists would be directly affected.^[22] On August 1, 2008, Reuters reported that Internet restrictions would be lifted for reporters covering the Olympics.^[23] Reporters Without Borders subsequently confirmed that its website, except for the Chinese version, was accessible for the first time in China since 2003. The Chinese version of the website is still blocked.^[24]

IOC press chief Kevan Gosper admitted that, “I regret that it now appears BOCOG has announced that there will be limitations on Web site access during Games time. I also now understand that some IOC officials negotiated with the Chinese that some sensitive sites would be blocked on the basis they were not considered Games related.”^[25]

On August 2, 2008, the Associated Press reported that although Chinese organizers unblocked some sites at the request of the IOC, others remained censored for journalists covering the Summer Games. Even though Chinese officials and high-ranking IOC members have repeatedly said there would be no censorship on the Internet for accredited journalists covering the games, many sites the Chinese government objects to, for example, the spiritual movement Falun Gong, are blocked. The sites being blocked seem to change daily. Some key words always draw blank screens. Sites that host thousands of blogs are also routinely blocked.^[26]

That’s from Wikipedia.

As much as censorship, I’m appalled at the treatment of female children in China and that nothing has been done to discourage the practice of aborting female fetuses. China is not alone in this (India has a similar if slightly less reprehensible record) but I’m not supporting the Olympics, companies who pay to advertise during the Olympics, and the metric asston of Chinese propaganda stories that promise to be filed by reporters who are just trying to do their jobs but are hampered by agreements not to criticize the Chinese government in any way – precisely when we SHOULD be talking about these issues (among others).

So. Yeah.

/rant

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A day, with bullet points

• I did not have a smoothie today because I had to teach yoga this morning. Breakfast was a Nature Valley Oats n Honey granola bar and Gatorade. Breakfast of Champions!
• I SUCK at Wii Fit Slalom. So much so that I had to immediately do it again twice. There was improvement, but it is still embarrassing.
• I ROCK at Wii Sports Boxing. Also, Wii Sports boxing is BAD ASS.
• I also took my anatomy and physiology exam. I am optimistic.
• I did well on my lab practical.
• I did not cut open a cow heart because it was already cut open. And ENORMOUS. Like as big as my head.
• That was to make you think my life is not all about Wii Sports.
• I’ve gotten the best bowling and golf scores of my life on Wii. I am going to HATE the golf course on Thursday.
• I swiffered up almost an ENTIRE DOG of Piper hair. I didn’t even think that was possible. I need to shave this dog or something.
• WIPE OUT is on TONIGHT!
• So is Flipping Out! And Eureka!
• Holy crap, I need to get a life that does not revolve around video games and television.
• My friend Shane gave me a book about why the ultra conservative Christian Right is the best thing for the Republican party. He said something like, “I know it might make your head explode but I think you should read it.”
• I’m not sure why he thinks I have time for this book because HELLO anatomy and physiology, plus teaching yoga, plus TELEVISION. WTF? Where am I supposed to find free time?
• I think we’re having dinner out. And then coming home to watch TV. Because we are ALL LAME.
• It makes me feel better that I’m not the only lame one.

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