Batshit insane politicians

Phil Plait of the Bad Astronomy blog has been keeping up on some recent Republican insanity (Republican insanity might actually be redundant). I seriously don't know whether to laugh or be afraid. This is a United States Congresswoman:

Yes, the same one that wanted a McCarthy-like hunt for all the left-wing "anti-Americans" in the US Congress.

The scary part? She actually got re-elected after this. And her eyes.

Kitty, the inaugural parade (WOO HOO!), and a faceplant is not a flower

The other night I was startled out of a sound sleep by Bill suddenly sitting up and yelling, "Get off me, you BITCH!!"

I thought perhaps he had had a bad dream, since he never speaks to me this way (he knows better). And I wasn't even touching him, much less on him. "Whas wrong?"

"Kitty just jumped on my head THREE TIMES."

Given the early hour and his lack of sleep I think he can be forgiven for mistaking her for a dog.
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My friend S and I happened to be eating lunch today and the inaugural parade was being shown on a big screen TV near us. We were chatting about what a nice car Barack Obama's limousine is and how it’s probably bullet proof and bomb resistant (it is) when President and Michelle Obama got out and started walking. We were saying, "What? What's he doing? He's getting out? No! No! Get back in!!!" It was scary.*

When I told this to another friend (B), she says she wakes up every morning and listens to the news - worrying and half expecting something horrible has happened to him. This is going to be a loooong presidency. I can tell. Especially if he does frightening things like getting out of the car. TWICE!
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I did what is termed “a faceplant” yesterday while skiing. I allowed my son to convince me I was good enough to try a funbox in a terrain park. This is a slippery box that you slide down and jump off the end. I did fine the first three times, but then I was feeling a little cocky and tried a bigger one. I'm really glad I wear a helmet, although I have a huge bruise above my eyebrows up past my hairline where my goggles and helmet tried to come through my skull. My head actually bounced. The rest of me is slowly seizing up today - especially my neck and elbow. Yes, this is my daredevil son. Why on earth did I listen to him?
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Photos from David and Pete’s very cool wedding will be posted as soon as I can move again.
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*We knew the security was out of this world tight. It still made us nervous.

Awesome. Like, totally.

From Pollster.com via the Daily Kos.

Debate thoughts

We watched the presidential debate Friday night. I've never wanted to watch a debate before, and I don't remember ever watching one all the way through, but I was really looking forward to this one (maybe I'm finally growing up?). I spent most of the debate e-mailing back and forth with my friend M (I have three friends M) who was watching on a different channel, while Bill yelled periodically at the TV. Ok, I admit I yelled, too.

McCain spent a lot of his time telling folksy stories, while Obama actually explained his stance on the issues.

I thought that both candidates did quite well, but the main things we all noticed (me, M, and Bill) was the body language. Obama addressed many of his comments to McCain while looking directly at him, while McCain almost never looked at Obama, and leaned away most of the time, Even when they shook hands.Charles Dharapak/AP Photo

Obama actually addressed McCain directly, calling him "John," while McCain spoke only to Jim Lehrer, using the third person, "Senator Obama." The condescending and frequent "Senator Obama does not understand this issue," only irritated me because it was obviously not true.

I can't wait for the vice-presidential debate, although I'm going to have to have someone tape it for me, as I have band rehearsal that night. I mentioned to a kindly little old lady while I was volunteering at the Charlie Brown for Congress office yesterday that it should be painful to watch. She startled me by vehemently exclaiming,"I hope so!" (Maybe I should re-think the little old lady part. She might get mad)

After all this, I'm still up in the air about who to vote for* because McCain is obviously a closet Pastafarian.

*NOT!!

Dear Elizabeth Dole UPDATE

I received this e-mail a couple of days ago from the Kay Hagan campaign in response to this e-mail I sent to the Elizabeth Dole campaign. At least it looks as though an actual person might have read it and responded with a modified form letter. It also took them three weeks to get back to me, which also makes me think that someone is actually reading Kay's e-mails and responding personally.

Dear Ms. Soule,

Thank you for your support! Kay is focused on running a grassroots campaign and she is proud and excited to receive support from a diverse group of people. The reason she has been able to make it this far is due to the support and efforts of folks like you, and it really means a lot to us. Be sure to stay up to date and visit our website frequently, and I hope you'll take some time to help us get the word out about Kay by telling your friends and neighbors. Thanks again!

My original e-mail was appended.

Saturday Night

I try not to post too many videos on this blog because I know at least one reader (Hi Pater!) has dial-up and can't download them, but this one was too good to pass up:

Dear Elizabeth Dole,

The Friendly Atheist brought attention to this press release by Senator Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina in which she attacked her opponent, Kay Hagan, because Ms. Hagan had the gall to attend a fundraiser held by leaders of the Secular Coalition of America. The coalition is apparently one of the "wacky left-wing outside groups bent on policies that would horrify most North Carolinians if they knew about it." Yes, a coalition that is trying to improve the civic situation of citizens with a naturalistic worldview is just scary.

Dole Campaign Communications Director Dan McLagan goes on to state, "You can tell a lot about a person by their friends and these are friends most North Carolinians would not be comfortable having over for dinner." No wonder atheists, humanists, freethinkers and other nontheistic Americans stay closeted. This is the e-mail I wrote and cc'd to the Hagan campaign:

Dear Elizabeth Dole campaign,

I am a resident of the State of California, but I donated $50 to the Kay Hagan campaign last night because I was completely disgusted by an August 26th press release from Elizabeth Dole trying to paint Kay Hagan in a negative light because she chose to associate with people like me - a secular humanist/atheist. Elizabeth Dole certainly doesn't know me, but apparently would not feel comfortable having dinner with me. I am a 43 year old happily married mother of three college students who donates to numerous charities, donates blood, pays taxes, plays in a community band, loves life, and is proud to be an American citizen. I also have extremely good table manners.

I am generally not very politically active - I have only contributed money to a political campaign once before - but this outrageous press release shocked me into action. Imagine the outcry if you had said this about any other minority group. It certainly makes your smear-meter laughable. I am not anti-religious, but I am anti-bigot. Until yesterday, I had never even heard of Kay Hagan, but I am a supporter now, thanks to you.

Sincerely

Laurie ******

UPDATE - The Elizabeth Dole Commmittee e-mailed me back. With a form letter:

Thank you for contacting The Elizabeth Dole Committee. Senator Dole appreciates hearing from people regarding issues that are important to them. We will be sure to pass your message along to her. If you have any other questions or concerns please feel free to contact us at anytime. Thanks again for contacting The Elizabeth Dole Committee and may God bless you and your family.

INTERESTING THOUGHTS

I recently received this e-mail from a friend. It was just like this - all in black caps with INTERESTING THOUGHTS in the subject line:

LET ME SEE IF I HAVE THIS STRAIGHT:HIS FATHER WAS A KENYAN, MUSLIM, BLACK - WE HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF HIS AFRICAN 'FAMILY.

HIS MOTHER IS A KANSAN, ATHEIST, WHITE. WHERE ARE THE PICTURES OF HIS KANSAN, WHITE MOTHER AND HIS WHITE GRANDPARENTS WHO RAISED HIM?

HIS FATHER DESERTED HIS MOTHER AND HIM WHEN HE WAS VERY YOUNG, AND WENT BACK TO HIS FAMILY IN KENYA.

HIS MOTHER MARRIED AN INDONESIAN MUSLIM AND TOOK HIM TO JAKARTA WHERE HE WAS SCHOOLED IN A MOSLEM SCHOOL.

HIS MOTHER RETURNED TO HAWAII AND HE WAS RAISED BY HIS WHITE KANSAN GRANDPARENTS.

HE LATER WENT TO THE BEST HIGH DOLLAR SCHOOLS, HOW?

HE LIVES IN A $1.4 MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE THAT HE ACQUIRED THROUGH A DEAL WITH A WEALTHY FUND RAISER. HOW?

HE 'WORKED' AS A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST IN CHICAGO- HAS NEVER HELD A PRODUCTIVE JOB. THE PRESIDENCY IS NOT A CIVIL RIGHTS POST NOR IS IT SUBJECT TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SET ASIDES.

HE ENTERED POLITICS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THEN THE NATIONAL LEVEL WHERE HE HAS MINIMAL EXPERIENCE.

HE IS PROUD OF HIS 'AFRICAN HERITAGE', BUT IT SEEMS THAT HIS ONLY AFRICAN CONNECTION WAS THAT HIS AFRICAN FATHER GOT A WHITE GIRL PREGNANT AND DESERTED HER. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT SPERM CARRIED A 'CULTURAL' GENE. WHERE IS THE PRIDE IN HIS WHITE CULTURE?

HE GOES TO AN 'AFROCENTRIC' CHURCH THAT HATES WHITES, HATES JEWS, AND BLAMES AMERICA FOR ALL THE WORLDS PERCEIVED FAULTS AND THEN HE REPEATEDLY COVERS UP FOR THE PASTOR AND THE CHURCH.

HE CLAIMS THAT HE COULD NOT CONFRONT HIS PASTOR BUT HE WANTS US TO BELIEVE THAT HE CAN CONFRONT NORTH KOREA AND IRAN, RIGHT!!!

YEAH, I THINK I SEE HOW HE COULD BE A UNITER AND BRING US TOGETHER... I THINK HE HOPES NO ONE WILL PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER.

I happened to be in a bad mood when she sent it, so she got an earful involving several e-mails in response:

LET ME SEE IF I HAVE THIS STRAIGHT:HIS FATHER WAS A KENYAN, MUSLIM, BLACK - WE HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF HIS AFRICAN 'FAMILY.

HIS MOTHER IS A KANSAN, ATHEIST, WHITE. WHERE ARE THE PICTURES OF HIS KANSAN, WHITE MOTHER AND HIS WHITE GRANDPARENTS WHO RAISED HIM?
His mother DIED in 1995, so there wouldn't be any contemporary photos of her. There are lots of photos with him and his mother. Just google it. His father was an atheist and his mother was skeptical of organized religion and may have been an atheist. Is there something wrong with being an atheist? (I came this close to coming out of the closet in my e-mail) I believe his grandfather is dead, too, but if you google 'Barack Obama grandparents," you'll see several photos.

Of course you would see his "black" family. He's married to a black woman, which would mean his kids are most likely black, and he has several half siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles on his father's side in Africa. Who are black.

HIS FATHER DESERTED HIS MOTHER AND HIM WHEN HE WAS VERY YOUNG, AND WENT BACK TO HIS FAMILY IN KENYA.
And he's responsible for something his father did?

HIS MOTHER MARRIED AN INDONESIAN MUSLIM AND TOOK HIM TO JAKARTA WHERE HE WAS SCHOOLED IN A MOSLEM SCHOOL.
So? My son was schooled in a Catholic school. Does that make him (or me) Catholic? No.

HIS MOTHER RETURNED TO HAWAII AND HE WAS RAISED BY HIS WHITE KANSAN GRANDPARENTS.
Again, he's responsible for something his mother did?

HE LATER WENT TO THE BEST HIGH DOLLAR SCHOOLS, HOW?
I don't know. Maybe his grandparents or his mother paid? I paid through the nose to send my son to Catholic school, and that doesn't make me rich. It actually made me poorer.

HE LIVES IN A $1.4 MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE THAT HE ACQUIRED THROUGH A DEAL WITH A WEALTHY FUND RAISER. HOW?
Um...Didn't you just answer the question? This I'll have to research more, but I'm sure it is googleable.

HE 'WORKED' AS A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST IN CHICAGO- HAS NEVER HELD A PRODUCTIVE JOB. THE PRESIDENCY IS NOT A CIVIL RIGHTS POST NOR IS IT SUBJECT TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SET ASIDES.
Not even worth commenting on.

HE ENTERED POLITICS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THEN THE NATIONAL LEVEL WHERE HE HAS MINIMAL EXPERIENCE.
As several people have pointed out, both he and Hillary Clinton are "novices" in the Senate. Does living in the White House while your husband is president give you that much more experience? The main experience Hillary has over and above Barack is Bill.

HE IS PROUD OF HIS 'AFRICAN HERITAGE', BUT IT SEEMS THAT HIS ONLY AFRICAN CONNECTION WAS THAT HIS AFRICAN FATHER GOT A WHITE GIRL PREGNANT AND DESERTED HER. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT SPERM CARRIED A 'CULTURAL' GENE. WHERE IS THE PRIDE IN HIS WHITE CULTURE?
Oh, come on. GOT A WHITE GIRL PREGNANT. I'm sure the writer could have been more racist. Also, it is falsely presenting the facts. It makes it sound as though he knocked her up, and then immediately left her to give birth on her own. Barack was actually two when his father left. And sperm from his father did give him a dark complexion, which in this country still carries some sort of stigma. It shouldn't, but it does.

HE GOES TO AN 'AFROCENTRIC' CHURCH THAT HATES WHITES, HATES JEWS, AND BLAMES AMERICA FOR ALL THE WORLDS PERCEIVED FAULTS AND THEN HE REPEATEDLY COVERS UP FOR THE PASTOR AND THE CHURCH.
So it would be better if he went to a "white" church? The Church hates whites, Jews, etc.? Or just one of the ex-pastors hates whites and Jews? He wouldn't even be in the running if he didn't go to church at all, which I would personally prefer.

HE CLAIMS THAT HE COULD NOT CONFRONT HIS PASTOR BUT HE WANTS US TO BELIEVE THAT HE CAN CONFRONT NORTH KOREA AND IRAN, RIGHT!!!
Why does he need to confront him? If I were Obama, I would just ignore the racist idiot. (Actually, I believe he completely severed ties with the man today)

YEAH, I THINK I SEE HOW HE COULD BE A UNITER AND BRING US TOGETHER... I THINK HE HOPES NO ONE WILL PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER.
The pieces that someone has tied together with lies, half-truths, and inuendos.

I'm still voting for him if he runs against McCain, as I'll vote for Hillary if she's the Democratic nominee.

McNomination

They had a segment on NPR’s Morning Edition this morning about how the conservative Republicans don’t think that John McCain is conservative enough. He has to "prove" himself to the conservatives to win their vote/hearts/whatever. Since McCain is currently winning the Republican nomination by a landslide, maybe Republicans in general are not as conservative as the conservatives would like to think.

Or maybe they're just worried because he's a closet Pastafarian.

Photo found on uglyrepublicans.com

Arrrgh and RAmen.

You voted for who?

Yesterday morning my friend M (one of them. I have three friends M) called and wanted to go and get a bagel, so I went and met her. She immediately said, "You voted for Obama, right? Right?"

“I’m not saying who I voted for,” I eqivocated because I don't like lying.

She shrieked, “YOU VOTED FOR HILLARY???” Then she hit me with her handbag. Which was apparently full of ROCKS! Ouch.