The latest:
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The devil went down to Georgia

She (Palin) was looking for a soul to steal

And she was in a bind

'Cause he (Saxby) was way behind

And was willin' to make a deal...

I’m not sure if Charlie Daniels intended for his song to be interpreted this way, but I couldn’t resist.  So, Sarah Palin is campaigning in my beautiful home state of Georgia.  Does anyone know who invited her?  I don’t recall seeing the invitation.  Hmm... must be lost in the mail.

(Does anyone else think that Palin brought the chilly Alaska air down here with her?  Have you noticed how cold it’s been lately?  Bbbrrrr...)

Anyway, I am very pro-women, but I’m sorry.  I cannot support Sarah Palin.  I don’t think she is pro-women and I just can’t bring myself to do it.  I do respect her position as the governor of Alaska.  In fact, so much that I wish she would return there to do her job.  Hey Sarah – I think Alaska needs you!  How ‘bout staying there for say, the next four years, perhaps? We won’t mind, really.  No, REALLY. 

So I went out and voted today.  I had my three children with me, ages almost 3, 10 and 5.  I was lucky that there was really no line.  I walked in and they directed me to my voting machine.  I asked if I could take my children in with me--not sure how that would be viewed.  They said it was fine I just couldn't let them touch anything.

No problem.

I gathered the three close to me and pulled the lever to shut the curtain.  They looked like we just walked into church.  They whispered, "Why did you close the curtain?" 

"Because everyone should be allowed to choose the person they think is best and not worry about what other people think.  It's private. You shouldn't feel pressured by anyone else."

I showed them how the machine worked, how the names were lined up, different groups divided, and that we were voting for more than just president.  Then I said, "Now, when I pull the curtain open all my answers will be recorded in the machine and cleared for the next person." 

"Wow.. that's cool" said Duke.

The curtain opened and we started to walk away.  My 5 year old Zilla looked up at me and said, "You know who I would vote for if I was a grown-up?" 

"No, who?"

I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately – does my vote count as much as someone who lives in a so-called “battleground state?” In fact, many people that I know have that question. The problem is the electoral college. Alabama has 9 votes. I guess I shouldn’t complain too much, because states like the Dakotas and Montana only get 3 votes, but it is still somewhat disheartening. In the state of Alabama, whoever wins the popular vote gets all 9 electoral college votes. So even if one candidate only wins by a small margin, they still “win” the state of Alabama. But if the other guy wins Florida by a small margin, he gets their 27 electoral college votes. I don’t pretend to know much about politics, but it seems to me that votes in Florida or California (they have 50-something there) count more than my vote here in pitiful, unimportant Alabama. Why? Why do we have the electoral college anyway? I am not really sure, although I have looked. It doesn’t really make sense, especially considering the fact that all states except Nebraska and Maine are “winner takes all.” In Nebraska and Maine, the candidates get electoral college votes in proportion to the number of popular votes that they get. Which makes a little bit more sense. But still, why have it at all? Why not just go with the popular vote?

Wednesday will be interesting. I’ll either wake up tomorrow feeling quite hopeful about the future or perhaps I’ll roll over and sleep through the next four years. I know I’ve been absent from the blog community for a little while but I’ve had a topic in my head for a few weeks that I wanted to tackle but just wasn’t sure where to start or if I should. Politics. My politics, to be exact. Today’s as good a day as any, I guess. Election Day.

I voted this morning. No absentee ballot or early voting for me. I wanted my voting sticker to wear all day and gosh darn it, I wanted to fil in the ovals myself and scan that puppy in for my vote. And you know what? Afterwards, I felt so exhilarated. It was an honor to place my vote this morning. I was a bit surprised at my reaction. Six months ago, I wasn’t as enthusiastic about my candidate. Now, I can’t wait for him to take office. (I even posed with him – well, sorta – when we visited Michelle Cyr of AARP, Divided We Fail...you’ll get to meet her in our December issue of skirt!)

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! FOR YOUR FAVE CANDIDATE. VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! TO CHANGE OUR WORLD. VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! TO GIVE US THE CHANCE FOR A FRESH START. VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! BECAUSE IT”S A RIGHT, BUT MORE LIKE A PRIVILEDGE. 

This morning the line at the polls was filled with so much excitement (plus donuts and coffee and tea!) If I didn’t know better, I’d swear we were waiting in line to buy tickets to see Tina Turner!  The real reason, of course, is even better. We are impacting the course of events for our country. As I arrived at my appointments throughout the day, I heard people talking -- some happily, some heatedly. And I wondered what I would say if someone asked me how I voted?

I think we’ve already well established the fact that I don’t really like politics or politicians; I just accept them as necessary evils since I am not actually queen of anything, (except my own self, which is still nice).

That being said, my Story People Story of the Day is so perfect and spot-on regarding how I feel towards the macabre circus that is the campaign/election tango that I just had to share it with you.  Besides, I’m half-groggy from loads of icky chemo and I’d rather use the wonderfulness of Brian Andreas to tell you how I feel better than I can myself.

I promise you not a moment will be lost as long as I have heart and voice to speak and we will walk again together with a thousand others and a thousand more and on and on until there is no one among us who does not know the truth: there is no future without love.

So, now I say to you, with little coherency (is that even a real word?) left in my chemo-logged brain, I’m just happy that it’s almost over, and that, no matter what happens, at least we’ll have someone who is not W in the White House.  I don’t have anything against him personally (he seems to be a great dad to the twins), but I think it’s time for him to go.

Waiting an hour or 6 is nothing compared to waiting 4 years for another chance.

Get out and vote.

Now.

This is serious.

I have never felt so much pride for the country as I looked at the ticket on my computer screen. Barack Obama and Joe Biden. I did my part. Now do yours.

I am so excited...to wake up tomorrow and have answers.  I am thrilled that we’re talking today even if we don’t agree with each other, we’re having civil conversations and are ready to do what it takes to make sure we do what we can to get our voice heard. We’re pacing ourselves ready to endure the last two miles. (One mile being election day, final mile being waiting for the returns.)

I love that we’re all in agreement that we need change.  Regardless of who you’re voting for, you want change. It’s what both parties have to offer- just different ways of getting it done.  It’s why it’s hysterical to watch SNL spoof of an unwilling McCain being endorsed by Bush. 

But, regardless of what happens today, tomorrow we will wake up and be ready to turn the leadership of our country over to one guy- that’s it.  One guy who is one of us.  One guy who we put our faith in to run the country- not one guy we gave our country to.  We haven’t voted/aren’t voting for a guy, we’re voting for a leader of the masses.  Someone who will lead the nation as the majority of the electors want it run.  And even then, that guy doesn’t have all the power.  We’re still a 3 branch government. Checks and balances.  And 2 of those balances answer to us. 

So today is the day. Some of us can taste it, feel it, see it, touch it and hear it. We want it so much.

We want change. 

Please go out and vote.

As I looked at my husband’s pink underwear in the washing machine, I thought what would life be if we could only wear white underwear. For the record, I threw in a pair of red socks. This girl will never be a domestic goddess, and I spent about $10 worth of bleach to bring the load of wash back to white. But what if we only had one choice. Today, we have a chance to make a choice. To make a change that will embrace all of us. A vote for a change can move us towards a brighter future.

I am sure President Obama will be blamed for all the problems, but let us not forget who bought us down so low. A fresh start could help to clear the air and when clairity rises like the clouds, may we see our futures as something to rejoice in.

As a young girl I never got to vote for President Kennedy, never got to hear Martin Luther King speak in person and Robert Kennedy was cut down a few years before I could have voted for his second term. This young girl in a woman’s body can now go into the voting booth and pull a lever for change.  I am going to wear my best shoes.

... you think affordable health care is for punks.

... you don't have an opinion on abortion, the Iraq War, terrorism or gay marriage.

... you think global warming is as real as Santa Claus.

... you've always wanted to know what it would be like to live during the Great Depression.

... you think paying $5/gallon for gas would be really cool!

A handful of Obama supporters were in line by 11 a.m. yesterday, and some as early as eight. I was with them. We sprawled on the concrete and waited for the rest of the line to form. I tried to do my homework, but after befriending a couple of little girls decided I would rather help them with word puzzles and chat with my line-mates, some of whom had left their beds at 4 a.m. and drove across state lines to be there.

The weatherman lied to us; we all expected a sunny day with highs in the mid-60s, so few of us were prepared. But, that didn’t dampen our enthusiasm-- even after the rain began and soaked us through many hours later.

People talked about why they support Obama and how they are disappointed in McCain’s negative campaigning, how they thought the campaign had changed a man they once respected. We joked about which country we would move to if McCain was elected and spoke seriously about the dangers of a Palin White House.

We witnessed the security team arrive, set up their human scan machines and scope the woods around the stage. We talked about Obama’s death threats and how the forest made us nervous, but not so nervous we would consider getting out of line.

::singing:: This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. (It feels that way, doesn’t it?)

This morning, I watched from my hotel room as the sun rose across the Vegas strip (actual pix above and below) and, at that wee hour, I pondered the future.

Would I win millions in the casino this week? (Unlikely, since I rarely wander in there and don’t exactly have a chunk of change to pump into those dream vortexes.)

Can I avoid spending money I should instead keep when I venture into the shops looking for something to wear to tonight’s corporate dinner and La Reve event? (Even less likely)

Will Obama sweep the polls tomorrow? What will it mean to my family and our world if he does? What will it mean to our country if he doesn’t?

My vote is safely tucked away in some computer mainframe in the state of Georgia.  However, my husband can’t drive right now so I’ll have to take him to cast his vote.  And for the first time since my kids have been in school, they have election day off. 

I noticed it on one of the kids’ classroom newsletters on the second of 3 half days for parent-teacher conferences two weeks ago.  The school hadn’t planned to have the day off but seeing the record-number turnouts, they decided to give the kids the day off.

Okay, I get it. The school is going to be full. And full of strangers all day.  I can’t even imagine how carpool would run.  I’m relieved that people who are only having to check in with voter ID will not be wandering the halls with my children. 

I know it seems like this election may be decided and over but it is NOT. We have seen in the past 2 elections that the poll numbers mean nothing. We HAVE to show up and vote. It doesn't matter if you are going to miss class, or miss work, or whatever. This is more important. You can get the notes from class, you can find a new job, but you CANNOT afford another four years of irresponsibility from Washington. We all know that if Obama is gonna win this, it HAS to be a landslide or it will be stolen out from under us yet again. Do you want to feel that disappointment again? Do you want to look back four years from now thinking "if only I had just sucked it up and stood in line"? I do not. I will be in line as long as it takes. I will be silently congratulating and thanking every single one of you that goes out and waits to choose the next president of the United States. We cannot afford four more years of favors to those who got McCain to the white house. We cannot afford four years of Sarah Palin's unethical business practices. We cannot afford more bad economic ideas. We cannot afford to overturn Roe v. Wade- one of the biggest and most important steps this country has taken to protect our constitutional liberties. We cannot afford to let Social Security slip by the wayside; we cannot

The last few months have been a roller coaster of emotions for me and I am sure for millions of other people. I can’t name you all, so just raise your hands. You, in the back, one hand will do. Don’t want any double dipping!

2 days ago I spoke to a woman from CA. who voted early. She sounded so happy to have it over with and she is so excited about seeing her candidate win. I am just as happy to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 4th because I believe that the anticipation will be more of a high than the actual voting. Why? Because they won’t let me keep voting until my finger falls off. Because I have but one vote and I am nervous that it just might not make a difference.

Why? Because of the lead that Barack Obama has I am fearful that people will get lazy and stay home. If you do, and he loses because voting was light, I will have to suffer the consequences of your inability to take this all seriously. I may have to live under a government that might work in a state that has nothing to do with the state I live in or my state of mind. You don’t want to see me so pissed off. Trust me. I have ex-boyfriends who will testify to me losing my cool over their bad behavior and injustice. And not in that order.

Since I was little being called “normal” made me cry,. Right up there with a brother or sister taunting me with the words “you have red hair.” I don’t  but that would cause me great stress. Still don’t know why. Maybe it was the belligerent manner they had when telling me that. Some had children with reddish hair. Who says prayer doesn’t work?

Angelia had a great quote from Jody Foster the other day – “Normal is not something to aspire to: it’s something to get away from.”  My feelings exactly.

So with election day just around the corner a day, let’s move this country into a brand, new exciting direction. No more business as usual. This is our time to run away from normal and into the future of extraordinary opportunities for all.

We have a long way to go, but how would it feel if we let go of our differences and try to see the good in all?

I’m not perfect, but I am willing to try. Right after I do my happy dance on Wed. morning. :-)

the life coach is in.

www.BranchingOutLifeCoaching.com

 

 

Yesterday on line, I read this:

U2 frontman and activist Bono said Wednesday that next week's presidential election provides a great opportunity to "relaunch Brand USA" amid worldwide scrutiny.

 I hope to God that he is right because I think he is one man who has made a difference in the world. I think Barack Obama is another man who can do the same thing.

When I was at a pro-peace ( as a life coach now, I try to stay with the positive thought  vs. the negative) demonstration in the late 1980s(before the first Bush sent us to war) , we were very calm yet passionate and the non-demonstrators were very respectful.

Then a police wagon showed up.  I saw young college students  who were probably at this first protest pulled up by their hair and dragged away.  I was horrified.Again.

All of a sudden I was pushed hard and my sunglasses threw off my face and I pushed back  – protecting myself. I turned around and it was a police officer who pushed me. We stood there and looked at each other for what seemed like forever. I was all already to be arrested, not because I was outraged about a war that was dead wrong, but because I pushed a cop. We stood there and finally the policeman blinked and walked away. So no national TV exposure for me that night.

I’ve read about liberals and conservatives who are the best of friends (don’t forget about the bizarre political partnership known as the marriage between James Carville and Mary Matalin), but I don’t know for the life of me how they do it.

My political ideologies are a deeply and strongly held set of beliefs and values. I’m not partisan for the sake of being partisan; it’s just that I truly believe that I’m right.

Early on, my political convictions were no doubt shaped by my family and their experiences and beliefs. But as I’ve gotten older, my opinions have been influenced by my education, my life experiences, and my relationships with others...so they're very personal and very much a part of me.

And those convictions DO influence my opinions of others.

That’s why politics is on my list of things to avoid talking about at a cocktail party. I just want to have a little fun…but if I find out you’re an imbecile…it’s a big, fat downer.

Lately I’ve been waking in the middle of interviews with the candidates. Sometimes I open my eyes and realize I was crafting one of my articles. Last week I was giving a press conference after winning the lottery.

Why is this special? For years, nearly twenty in fact, I did not dream. I mean, I’m sure I was dreaming but I rarely remembered any hint them. I chalk it up to a couple of reoccurring nightmares I’ve had in my life. One from childhood involved my father, whom I don’t know, being violent (and he is a violent man). The other replayed in my sleeping mind for two months, foretelling the night I woke with a stranger in my bedroom. Because of those scary dreams, I thought my subconscious turned off dream world in an effort to protect me; now I wonder if it was sleep deprivation.

Earlier this year I got out of bed around two in the morning one cold day and threw a thick hard cover book at Mr. Wonderful. We were sleeping in my my pre-marital bed, which was many years old, and my side was sunken, poky and uncomfortable. Though we had talked about buying a new bed for months, he was dragging his feet. After weeks of little to no sleep, I had enough... thus the book. (It missed, by the way.)

Ms. Palin,

I have been carrying around this fear that wakes me up at night and leaves me feeling  like I don’t have the right to feel happy about the future.That none of us do.

And it is because of what you have been spewing about.  About Senator Obama and who he is and who he knows.

First of all, I think slander of any kind can be dangerous especially if the wrong people wrap their warped minds around it and proclaim it to be their truth. Then we are in for some major trouble. And in my heart of hearts, I don’t think you would want this on your conscience.

I am disagree with almost everything you say and I can fight to keep your thoughts from becoming a reality, but I can’t be responsible for somebody else’s behavior because of what you are saying and what this campaign has been doing. But , you and the campaign of McCain will be held responsible.

I strongly feel that all of this talk about Bill Ayres and Senator Obama has got to stop and stop now before you cause some unthinkable tragedy  to happen. People have got to stop saying the name “Hussein” as if towers will fall and people will die. It is a name. Nothing more. Nothing less. It is not evil.

Barack Obama changed my life.

I used to be a conservative, die-hard Republican. Not for any valid reason, but because I had been raised as a Republican. Politics bored me and while I voted, I didn’t really care about elections or a majority of the issues. Politics seemed like something that other people needed to be concerned about. I didn’t truly understand the stark differences between Democrats and Republicans.

About three years ago, I saw Barack and Michelle on The Oprah Show. I was captivated and intrigued by this politician I had never heard of, but seemed to be saying all of the right things. I remember saying to myself at the time, “Wow. He needs to run for President.” I purchased his books and have never been the same since.

I started questioning my political beliefs and after learning the differences in the two major parties, determined that I was, in fact, a Democrat. A proud, liberal Democrat.

So today they reveal that the republicans have poured $150,000 into Sarah Palin’s wardrobe. I never had a clothing allowance like that. Ever. And no one every accused me of not  looking hip, current, edgy, bohemian, and chic.  But I never looked vice presidential either. Phew!

 And I never came close to spending that type of money. The truth be known, I would love to just go out and spend like a drunk on a lost weekend, but I think my conscience would bother me. A little.  But I am not running for office not matter what Kim wants me to do. :-)

We don’t pay retail. We know what clothes cost to make. And if you don’t, it costs nearly nada to produce. The mark up on clothing could choke a horse and the Park Ave . matron who road into on town on it. But, she has more money than God.  And you don’t have to spend money on clothing that will fall a part after a few washings. Girlfriends, it doesn’t have to happen.

­­Today, Michelle Obama visited Jacksonville, FL. Relating to voters was the theme of her speech. Our sister publication, The ­Florida Times Union covered the event. Below are two videos from the rally.

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She concluded her 30-minute speech by saying, “We could change this nation, and we could conceivably change the world.”

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A girl (or me) can’t even go to her mail box these days without finding a letter from some woman looking to sweet talk her husband into giving up his hard earned money.

There is was – a letter to my husband from Sarah Palin.

Would Ms. Palin had crossed out his name if she saw the liberal thinking magazines that filled the mail box? Or would she have hand delivered the letter while I was at an Obama rally?

Now, really, Ms. Palin. I never said you could darkened my doorway. I felt icky. It’s a new  political term for I would rather die then for my mailman to think I would allow this sort of propaganda in my home.

Okay, earth to elizabeth. My husband is the R word and that is why he received it.  But it still hurts.

 A few notes to Ms. Palin:

You missed a great opportunity by just addressing the letter to Dear Friend.

How about “Mavericks for Merlot?” Or “Pit Bulls of America – stand up and bite the butt of any freedom loving person?”  In comedy, things come in three, so here goes: “I got my heels on, a gun in my bra and I ain’t afraid to use either.”  That’s how you get people to contribute to your cause. Stick with me....

So now I have to add: do not wear heels until after the election to my list. Sarah the P is putting on the heels and taking off the gloves.

I gave up winking because of the VP debate . I think it was around 10­:08 PM that I winked for the last time. Actually, Walter thought I was losing all hope as well as the ability to breath on my own, so he asked for me to to wink once if I knew, beyond any reasonable doubt, that Michelle Obama would be our next First lady.

What else will I have to give up?

 Okay, so now this hockey mom who wears lipstick that she swiped from a sleeping pit bull, who winks during a vice presidential debate(you would have gotten in trouble for doing that during a high school debate), who okays the aerial shooting of wolves, who reads all the newspapers in the universe but can’t remember a single one...okay, so now Sarah Palin is saying that Barack Obama’s BFF is a former member of the Weathermen Underground from the 1960s. I wish I could make this stuff up. (I know that sentence is about 100 words too long !)

Tonight I was checking the tour dates for my favourite country music singer (Tim McGraw, in case you’re wondering), when I came across a story about Toby Keith, the outspoken pro-Iraq country star who’s known for his jingoistic lyrics (“We’ll put a boot in your ass/It’s the American way”) and refusal to even speak about The Dixie Chicks after their criticism of President Bush in 2003.

Keith has recently registered as an independent, and while he claims that he has no intention of voting Republican in November, he predicts a sound victory for the McCain-Palin ticket. This is what he had to say about Republican VP nominee Governor Palin*:

You can’t turn on your TV, radio, or get on the Internet without hearing about politics, and it’ll be that way for the next six weeks or so – might as well embrace it, right?

I found a fun little quiz (that truly is short) to tell you, based on a few key issues, where you fall in the political spectrum.

Here’s the link.

I’m sure it will come as a great surprise to my mother that I’m not quite the bleeding heart liberal she thinks I am. Turns out, according to this quiz, I’m a Libertarian-leaning Centrist. Go figure!

Go take the quiz and then come back here and tell me what your results were. I’m kind of fascinated. 

I know, I know, my obsession with her is unhealthy.

My stomach is permanent preztel mode in spite my new habit of popping the strongest probiotics possible, ESPECIALLY since she had the freakin’ gall to call herself a feminist in the same Katie Couric interview where she says she would counsel a 15-year-old to “choose life” if she became pregnant after being raped. 

But at least there’s a silver lining to this black cloud of a lipsticked pit bull (how’s that for mixing metaphors? Must be the acidophilus.): Pakistani women’s rights’ activists have been invigorated by the lascivious behavior of their president, Asif Ali Zardari, when he met with Palin at the UN last week, calling her “gorgeous” and, eyebrows wagging, confiding that now he knows “why the whole of America is crazy about” her.

Gawd, I hate Pollyanna and I sincerely do not wish to tuck my intellect up my a**. But one of the other bloggers (thanks, Sarah) today inspired me to do more than think. Ack! Once again, I’m going to stick my neck out and say something that goes against the trend I have seen lately, even among friends I positively adore.

Yet another blogger (see how I am influenced by your wisdom, Kim?) suggested, in response to Sarah’s eloquent critique of demonstrated American shortcomings that women, especially, need to stick together, support one another and love one another. (We find it oh so tough to love ourselves, so loving others, even those we hold dear, can be a bit of a challenge on a good day. The thought of loving those who drive us crazy by being different leaves us positively apoplectic!)

I guess Kim just nailed why I feel uncomfortable when women skewer Sarah Palin and pin her dartboard photo to the wall because their views don't match. Let's just assume, for the moment, that she has no redeeming political value whatsoever (and lay aside the arguments already forming in my brain as to why that is not true).

No, really...do you think she does?

I applaud Katie Couric of CBS Evening News for trying to drag out of  Sarah Palin what papers she does read. It was an easy question. She didn’t ask you to reveal your weight. Oh right, that’s my nightmare.

Come on Sarah, I may never ever vote for you,  but I didn’t necessarily want you to look bad in front of millions when Katie interviewed you.There’s the debate tonight that will get my horns sharpened and standing up straight. But you could have said Teen Beat, Wolves are People Too, and Guns and Ammo.

I know when I was up for jury duty and was asked the same question, I had my list on the tip of my tongue: Rolling Stone, New York Magazine, Vanity Fair and God forgive me, People Magazine.  I was excused. Pissed me off big time. 

I would be willing to be take up a collection to get Sarah a subscription of Skirt!.

She might need reading material after the elections.

 My bad.