I understand the Economy is in the toilet. Perhaps you've heard this, too? Perhaps it's not just another myth like the Easter Bunny or Rush Limbaugh.
But the endless sucking need of Charities is burning me out. I give as generously yet carefully as I can each year and have focused on causes close to my heart - SPCA, AIDS, GLBT, etc.
The amount of solicitation this year has been unprecedented. And one Charity on the annual roster has been relentless.
For anonymity, I'll just use the initials "M.S.".
For about 3 months they called my number daily between 3pm and 5pm. Finally, I took them in hand and explained this was not the way to win my heart; their annual gift was coming on my schedule and within my budget.
I recently sent out my contribution for 2009. M.S. sent me a lovely "Thank You" card with much verbiage of all the things that money can buy and how my contribution plays its part and all of this signed of by Joyce N., Big Title Such & Such.
Yet there at the bottom in a handwriting font, in blue ink a 'personal' P.S. from M.S.:
"Won't you consider making another gift in the same amount to help even more?"
I folded the card in quarters, sheathed it in the enclosed pre-stamped envelope and sealed it to go out in tomorrow's mail.
But before I did, I wrote in block letter and in red ink: "You're a jerk, Joyce."
What to get someone who thinks they have (or know) everything...
The "Sarah Palin Bedpan of Suburban Psychosis via the Holy Trinity of Oprah, Ellen and Katie Couric".
Inscription reads: "Listening to failed vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin is like trying to decipher what the president of your kid's school PTO would sound like if she ate goofballs and snorted cocaine in-between sessions of getting gang banged by rival Mexicans on the foot of an altar dedicated to Lawrence Welk."
She is stunning to observe - a creature of no compunction whatsoever. This is somehow misconstrued as confidence.
My favorite highlights from the Washington Post article (followed by link to article below):
"Palin limited her duties further by hiring a deputy administrator to handle much of the town's day-to-day management. Her top achievement as mayor was the construction of an ice rink, a project that landed in the courts and cost the city more than expected." ... "Arriving in office, Palin herself played down the demands of the job in response to residents who worried that her move to oust veteran officials would leave the town in the lurch. 'It's not rocket science,' Palin said, according to the town newspaper, the Frontiersman. 'It's $6 million and 53 employees.'" ... "She told city officials not to talk to reporters." ... "Palin also differed with the librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons. The Frontiersman reported at the time that Palin asked Emmons three times in her first weeks in office whether she would agree to remove controversial books. The librarian said she would not. The McCain campaign has confirmed Palin's questions but said that she never demanded removal of any specific books. Palin also fired Emmons on Jan. 30 but reinstated her after an uproar." ....
... By the way - I will be searching for a VP. Minimal experience required. However, you must be able to make killer chocolate chip cookies and have fairly decent dental work. ~ Eric.
Copy Paste the URL Below and send to your Friends:
Seriously - this is the living room of the newly selected Republican VP's parents.
AP - Chuck Heath, right, and his wife Sally watch, in their home in Wasilla, Alaska, as their daughter, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. was chosen by Sen. John McCain as his running mate and choice for vice president Friday Aug. 29. 2008.(AP Photo/Al Grillo) CLICK HERE FOR LINK
I was transported back in time today... not far enough to see some of the cool things from history I'd love to witness [ancient Egypt or maybe the dinosaurs] - but instead to a time about 4 to 5 years ago when the war in Iraq was getting underway or in its early stages. I don't think anyone in the U.S. was terribly informed - extremely emotional on one side of the fence or the other - but other than running on emotions... well - **pllllt** on actual discussion or questioning - or good old fashion argument.
This is triggered by an e-mail response to the e-mail bullet list of the factual record for McCain on GLBT issues I posted yesterday. Portions of this very direct list were derided as "accounts ... from some of the nuts on the left wing who hate America".
This is a list of McCain's actual record on GLBT issues. Nothing more.
The HRC site itself has a side-by-side comparison of both candidates GLBT issues:
Neither one is a total winner in this small slice of the pie.
Both candidates stances on GLBT issues are of interest to me; however, they are not the only issues I am interested in. And even if a candidate were FOR all of the GLBT near and dear issues but terribly off the mark on others - I would vote for the candidates whose COMPLETE qualifications, policies and proposals spoke most nearly to all that I hold an interest in.
I am puzzled that going into an election with to polar opposite candidates that me looking at both and asking - "WHO?" and then "WHY?" gets a lot of emotional responses or vague "I heard it on the playground..." type kick-back - but nothing to educate me or persuade me in either direction.
Looking at Clinton - I thought - a Clinton is a Clinton. In or out of office - like it or not - I knew what it was and what it would likely mean if in office.
Looking at Obama - I see nothing but inexperience and a largely obscure historical record on issues. Sometimes, his "newness" to politics is good - but without a clear history on issues it's hard to know him. And his personal and political affiliations that keep popping up are not comforting. His speeches are slick and well-crafted but point nowhere and seem to be full of just illustrating that he is the opposite of who he is running against.
Looking at McCain - I see strengths in a man who's record and experience are open to the public. And I see some policies that make me a bit nervous or uncomfortable - but also some that seem to make perfect sense in a "next four years" sort of sense considering where our nation finds itself going into this election.
So I reach out - to anyone out there with INFORMATION (a little opinion or emotion is good, too) - but largely "WHY?" to vote for "WHO?"
The following are not good enough reasons:
OBAMA 1) He's an agent for "Change". >> Frankly - who isn't? Next. 2) He'll be an historical "first" in office. >> Historical - sure enough - but not grounds to be elected on this alone. 3) For those that are against Obama - "Osama ben Obama" and closet Muslim references fail to convey anything intelligent, surprising or new in my exploration.
MCCAIN 1) He's an "American hero". >> There are hundreds of American heroes; they come in all shapes and sizes - not grounds to be elected on this alone. 2) He's the next "Ronald Reagan". >> There is filmy gauze around the memory of Reagan; I see how it would be easy to romanticize him - but really - the record of his year's in office wasn't exactly all wins. He was a man for the time and place in which he was in office.
The next President should be a new President; a person in and of his own right.
A Voter should be informed and voting as a person in and of his own right.
Share with me; educate me - we still have a few more months to go...
“Because good communication is stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.” Anne Morrow Lindbergh
As the general election kicks off, Senator John McCain will tout his reputation as a maverick, an independent, a moderate who will work with both parties to get things done. However, a look at Senator McCain's record paints a very different picture. What we have seen over the last seven years has been President Bush despite his promise to be a "uniter, not a divider" repeatedly siding with ultra-conservatives and the religious right at the expense of protections for GLBT Americans. A McCain presidency would be another four years of more of the same.
John McCain on GLBT Issues
A Record of Opposing the Interests of GLBT Americans
OPPOSED Ending Discrimination Against GLBT Americans in the Workplace. Senator McCain cast a deciding vote against the federal Employment Non Discrimination Act.
OPPOSED Protecting GLBT Americans from Hate Crimes. Senator McCain voted three times against expanding the federal hate crimes law to include sexual orientation.
PROPONENT of Discriminatory Military Policy. Senator McCain supports Don't Ask, Don't Tell and does not believe that gays should serve in the military.
OPPONENT of Equal Benefits for Same-Sex Couples. Senator McCain voted for the Defense of Marriage Actwhich prohibits same-sex couples from receiving federal rights and benefits in any state.
ACTIVELY SUPPORTED State Ban on Domestic Partnerships. Senator McCain campaigned for a ban on same-sex relationship recognition in his home state of Arizona even appearing in a campaign television ad.
SUPPORTED the Confirmation of Anti-GLBT Equality Judges. Senator McCain voted to confirm President Bush's judicial nominees who had taken anti-GLBT positions. He has pointed to Justice Samuel Alito as a role model for future Supreme Court appointments.
SUPPORTED a Discriminatory HIV/AIDS Policy. Senator McCain supported a Jesse Helms strategy to cut off funding for prevention efforts aimed at the gay community and voted to prohibit foreign nationals with HIV from immigrating to the United States.
Paid for by Human Rights Campaign PAC (www.hrc.org/pac) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
