Ah, that feels better.
I don’t know why I have such a hard time with this, but I never remember my re-usable cloth grocery bags until I’m standing in line to pay for my groceries. (Any tips on helping me remember are gladly accepted.) And this again was the case as Jamie and I stood in line at our local Albertson’s yesterday afternoon. So, in my attempt to be a good global citizen I requested paper as my best second choice over plastic (our disposal company doesn’t recycle plastic bags) and my checker was happy to comply. The next few minutes included my flirting with Jamie sitting in the cart behind the checker and the checker’s incessant, one-sided conversation about the great deal her daughter got on diapers at a competing store. Mmm. Uh-huh. Oh yes. Of course. Uh-huh. So I didn’t notice until I was walking back to my car that she had bagged the first sack of groceries in paper and then proceeded to bag the rest in plastic. Not only were they in plastic, but three of my items (sliced swiss cheese, Swiffer mop pads and eggs) were in their own, individual plastic bags. Was I supposed to specify paper for each bag of groceries? Or that I would like more than one item to be placed in each bag?
I believe in freedom of speech. It is what allows me to post my thoughts and views on this blog without censorship from the government. I believe in allowing people their own opinions and the opportunity to voice them. Without the opportunity to hear these opinions we miss out on a great depth of perspective, insight and knowledge that comes only from listening to what others have to say. That’s why I allow comments on each of my posts. I will defend these rights to the best of my ability. But there comes a time when as person’s statements become so distorted, so fraught with inaccuracy and hypocrisy, and the stakes become too high, to simply disagree. It becomes your duty as a citizen to make the whole story known.
When Governor Palin botches former secretary of state, Madeleine Albright’s quote that she lifted from a Starbucks coffee cup in an attempt to garner support for herself at a women's rally, let’s remember how supportive of women she was as Mayor of Wasilla when she made rape victims pay for their own forensic rape kits. And what did she do for them as Governor of a state with the highest rate of sexual assault? She passed a law making it illegal to buy or sell Quentin Tarantino's "rapist" action figure. I'm not even kidding.
When she talks of fiscal responsibility and lowering taxes let’s not forget that she raised the sales tax in Wasilla. Not for schools. Not for forensic rape kits. For a sports complex. A sports complex that was built on land not yet owned outright by the city and after years of court proceedings to get ownership, the city has been left millions of dollars in debt.
When she boasts of taking on Washington-style politics and having an open and transparent government let’s look at how quickly the unanimous, bi-partisan "Troopergate" investigation into her abuse of power as Governor has been shut down. In fact the Attorney General of Alaska – appointed by Palin – was advising government employees to ignore subpoenas to testify in the investigation - at least until Alaska Superior Court told him otherwise. Is this not “Washington-style cronyism” at its best?
And when Sarah Palin reminds us again and again of how she said “no thanks” to that “Bridge to Nowhere” let us remember that she was for it during her run for governor, but changed her mind by the time she got there and the earmark was the laughing stock of the nation and no longer politically advantageous .
When Governor Palin claims to live by Christian principles, she is apparently not referring to Jesus’ request of doing for the least of our brothers; otherwise she would not be ignoring the Native Alaskans in the state’s rural bush region where people live without basic necessities like power, water, schools and police. Where children drown while playing on community sewer barrels because there are no parks – or indoor plumbing. Where there is no working fire truck to put out a fire at the only school. Where there are no police to investigate sexual assaults – or charge people for forensic rape kits.
When she tells that cute story with the great punch line about putting the Governor’s jet on Ebay, it is important to remember that it didn’t actually sell. It was sold later - at a loss.
When she took credit during the vice-presidential debate for divesting state funds out of companies aiding genocide in Darfur, she didn’t mention that it wasn’t her idea. Or that she ignored the request from her representatives for over a year. But bless her socially conscious heart for thinking globally.
When she touts her heritage and experience as a great hunter in Alaska she forgets to elaborate that her idea of hunting includes shooting indigenous wolves from a helicopter.
And last but most certainly not least, when she speaks of foreign policy let’s remember she simply has no idea whatsoever what she is talking about.
This post is not about helping Obama win the White House; he’s doing pretty well with that on his own. This is about protecting our government, our country – our citizens, from the inexperience, hypocrisy and often, out-right lies of Governor Palin. It is about keeping someone pretending to represent the women of America, pretending to support the little guy, and pretending to be a heart-felt patriot out of the White House and out of my government.
Saturday at a rally in Florida Governor Palin declared, “the heels are on, the gloves are off”. Well so be it, lady. But your biggest fight will not be with the Obama campaign. It will be with the informed citizens of this country that are no longer willing to sit back and allow self-serving, narrow-minded, lying nit-wits represent us and our country. We want intelligence. We want compassion. We want leadership. We don’t want you.
After hours of listening to Jamie sing Old MacDonald on auto-repeat usually alternating between a cow and a pig, Adam decided to join in and add his own flair. . . .
Rules vary by state but in Oregon, you must be registered by October 14th to vote (for Barack Obama) in the general election on November 4th. So if you aren't yet registered it's time to get on it, people! It's really, really easy. In fact, in Oregon your lazy ass doesn't even have to leave the house - you can register online and we vote (for Barack Obama) by mail! (Click HERE for info if you don't live in Oregon) So even you recluses out there wearing kleenex boxes on your feet and living vicariously through online episodes of The Girls Next Door can make your voices heard without actually talking to a single, real-live person. It doesn't get easier than this. C'mon guys let's make our self-serving, over-indulgent, lazy, American asses, patriotic, self-serving, over-indulgent, lazy American asses for once in our lives!
(Ba)ROCK THE VOTE!
I am voting for Barack Obama and I approve this message.
Damonn and I have today off so this morning he took Adam to school rather than dropping him off at daycare before work. As they were walking to class, one of the secretaries flagged Damonn’s attention and asked if we we’re interested in signing Adam up to have breakfast in the mornings before school. She went on to explain that she was asking only because Adam had come to her last week saying that he was hungry and asking to eat breakfast and that she was concerned that he might not be getting it at home.
