Whine & Cheese

Isn't It Ironic...

Don't you think?

I know I vowed to try to get away from the political stuff, but I couldn't just pass this one by. 

Last week, I was just geeking out and seeing how "red" and "blue" different states were ... and have determined that places where lots of people tend to live together are blue... and by a total accident, I hovered over and stumbled upon Maverick County in Texas.  And what Mavericks they were!  Voting overwhelmingly against the team of Mavericks ... but I guess no surprise, since they are basically in Mexico!

And while I planned to cool it on the gay marriage stuff here (for my own mental well-being), I could not not post this You Tube that is pretty much on every gay-oriented blog this morning... Keith Olbermann's passionate response to the passage of California's Prop 8.

As with civil rights issues of the past, I do not believe gay community we can not make progress without voices other than our own... and while a host on a liberally biased news network may be as effective as the Hollywood crowd, it is this very kind argument from our straight allies that might start chipping away and allowing that wall to crumble.

I just finished a book where the character was told of the Chinese proverb/philosophy of "learning to see the good in the bad and the bad in the good" and while it is certainly no comfort to our California friends, perhaps this setback will lead to the greater good.  If Prop 8 was defeated, it might have just been shrugged off as typical/wacky California and the steamroller would have just marched on to more easy targets like Arizona, Florida, and Arkansas. 

Obamania Week Continues

No worries, I will eventually shut up about the Obama, the election, politics.  I sense I am over the hump and things are slowly going to return back to normal here and I'll be devoting full posts to being happy over La Lucci finally getting the boot on Dancing With The Stars... but still got a bit left in the tank, so bear with me for a bit more!

First, thanks for communications (emails, comments, messages) about the whole Prop 102 and marriage amendment thing.  I was a bit taken aback by how down I was yesterday given that I fully expected to be giddily bouncing off the walls over an Obama victory.  Over the course of the day, I see I was not alone in feeling that way.  "Gay" was not synonymous with "happy" yesterday that was for sure!   I think it was the cumulative effect of all these propositions that had me in such a funk.  While I fully expected and was prepared for our AZ proposition to pass, the Prop 8 result honestly threw me.  I was well aware it was a very tight race, but I certainly got a lesson about the California political scene.  Here I was thinking CA was a pure bastion of liberalism, but looking at the Prop 8 Yes/No county map show that the Golden State is not that different from our country - "blue" on the coasts and major population center and more "red" inland and covering a lot more land mass.

Back here in AZ, there is some concern that we will lose our Democratic governor Janet Napolitano to the Obama administration... which would thus ascend our Republican (and also female!) Secretary of State to the top office.  Napolitano was an early supporter of Obama and now is part of the transition team and the buzz is that she would be considered for Attorney General or head of Homeland Security.  But rumors also have her not seeking re-election in two years to instead run for McCain's Senate seat.  So who knows!

Okay, onto more important things!

Just so you think I am not capable of critical thinking when it comes to the Obamas, put me in the NOT a fan camp re: Michelle Obama's victory speech/Grant Park dress.  I have been a fan of her no-nonsense, sensible, un-pretentious fashion/style ... and while the above dress is all that... she just lost me on the whole "what the heck is going on with the black fabric criss-crossing the front of it?!?" thingy. 

Actually I was thrilled to see what the First Lady-Elect wore to the polls on election day...

It seemed to be a very much throw on some clothes, pull the hair back, maybe put on a bit of make-up, get the kids in the car an head to the polls... pretty refreshing, and it's not like she didn't think cameras were going to be there... and a bit of contrast compared to Cindy McCain's Aspen ski-bunny get-up (which actually is pretty subdued/tame as well).

Next up, we know the Obamas are going to be getting a puppy when or before they head to the White House.  May I recommend a purely American breed of dog... the Boston Terrier: 

Here is the latest picture of our own Barocky Obama.  I think this is probably the only dog/breed that could out-cute little Sasha Obama.

But rumor has it the Obamas are going to ... in their typical elitist, "we're oh so perfect" way... going to get a rescue dog.  Ugh.

Figures... next thing we'll know they'll be announcing plans to replace all the lightbulbs in the White House with compact flourescent ones... and recycle wine bottles used at state dinners!

The Times They Are A-Changin' (And Not)

The cover of my old "hometown" paper (even though I am from NJ, I grew up with the NY Daily News as our daily newspaper):

While I was pretty optimistic about the outcome of the election, it was still very surprising and moving when the moment happened.  Truthfully, I never thought something like this would happen in my lifetime... first, voting for a viable woman candidate for the Presidency in the primaries, then voting for the bi-racial/African American man that will become the 44th President of the United States.

I just hope that we are truly headed down the path of a government who gets things done responsibly and with less divisiveness...though I am not holding my breath... and I already sense the world's view of our country has changed overnight (my little personal window of foreign reaction saw folks really pulling/hoping for Obama - and I couldn't imagine the reverse, with Americans being that invested in a foreign election).

But, as expected, the night and this morning definitely ha been bittersweet... with all 4 anti-gay (or pro-"family") propositions passing... marriage amendments here is AZ, in FL (where the prop needed, and received, over 60% of the vote), and while it hasn't been officially called, it looks like it will be very tough haul for CA's Prop 8 to be defeated... and I have to admit, that I was aware of Arkansas now voter-approved ban on "unmarried sexual partners" from adopting children or serving as foster parents.

So on a night where we witnessed just how far our country has come, it was personally very discouraging to feel one's own civil rights being pushed back taken several painful steps.  I remember a couple of years back when AZ defeated the first stab at this "sanctity of marriage" crap or when states started making strides towards marriage equality, that just maybe this would be something that would be realized in my lifetime. 

Now I am not so sure...

So if two perfect strangers (as long as they are a man and woman), decide they want to get married they can with nary a question (and certainly not a public vote)... and this couple could have more legal rights re: other than I have in my 14+ year relationship... or other folks can get married over and over again (and we all know some), hoping the current one is the last one.  But as long as folks seemingly can't discern the difference between the legal "piece of paper" aspect and a religious ceremony... with the latter meaning nothing without the former... it's going to be a struggle for our cause.

I think it will happen... someday.  But I am not so sure I will be blessed (or cursed?!) with the lifespan of Ann Nixon Cooper, the 106 year old that Obama so effectively highlighted in last nights victory speech, someone who has seen and experienced so many unimaginable events and changes in our country.  And again, even in such a moment of discouragement, I was inspired by Obama's words:

"That while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can"

Yes I Did

It seems silly to say much of anything else other than this today...

Took us about an hour at our polling place from start to finish, but that was mostly due to the initial back-up when the polls opened at 6 a.m.  But all went smoothly for us (tho 3 people ahead of us all had to do provisional ballots for one reason or another) and now we wait until tonight.  I plan on turning off most of any news/political stuff/talking heads until the polls start closing back East and even head out on some errands a bit later just to get my mind off it.   Todd mentioned yesterday he felt like an expectant parent -- and there definitely is that odd mix of excitement, nervousness, hope, fear, relief and anticipation.

One Day More

I stumbled onto this You Tube video back in September, but I thought it was worth re-sharing since it is now alas "One Day More" until the election... and it seems silly to try to blog about anything else other than politics and the election for the next few days...  so I share, once again, Les Misbarack!

And since you know how much I love throwing my hat into the prediction ring... and while I am a tad more confident about my Dancing With The Stars finalists picks... here is my guess at the final electoral college map.

I'll admit to pretty much trusting the polls (and a lot of electoral college history) and really just taking my own stab at the toss-up states... and I like to think I am being a tad conservative (about a liberal, ha!) as I think there might/hopefully be a bit more blue on the map. 

If you are as equally nerdy inclined, I welcome your final EC tally predictions in the comments!

I went to this RealClearPolitics map and just did some clickin' and flippin' to get my numbers.

Election Fatigue

I have to admit that I am ready to vote and get the election over with already.  I had a good laugh at The Daily Show the other night when relatively new "correspondent" Wyatt Cenac likened it to having a drug-induced erection for 3 hours and 58 minutes and having to wait to the 4 hour mark to "contact your doctor" moment.

Watched the Oba-mercial last night and have to say I was pretty moved by it... which means it was "mission accomplished" (well at least to "the base").   I will admit I was slow to coming around to Obama, but I do find him to be very inspiring and the "transformative" political figure that I think is exactly what this country needs right now. 

While I remember being stoked about Clinton ("Don't Stop (Thinkin' About Tomorrow)" and all that good stuff)... things are different this time around... I was 25 years old when Clinton was sworn-in and now a tad north of 40... the world is certainly a different place... and I am definitely more in tune with politics these days (thanks to - or blame! - the Internet for that)... so I was saying to Todd last night after the Oba-mercial that this is what people must have felt about JFK... and here, I will also be Debbie Downer and add that I fear Obama may meet the same fate/end... but alas Todd reminded me he has to become President first...

... which I think he will do.  Sure I am probably setting myself up for another election night where my hopes and dreams are pulverized to bits in thinking the person I voted for was going to win. 

Funny enough, when this election cycle began (which seems way back to when I was 25 years old!) I thought it wouldn't be the 'end of the world' if McCain won.  But I was talking about the "old" McCain and I can not respect much of what he has done/turned into over the course of this campaign.  And heck, I might have still felt the same if he had a running mate other than Palin - which again is something I think the "old" McCain would not have done.  Again, I am not saying I would be "happy" or even remotely have the thought of "crossing party lines" - but again it wouldn't be the "end of the world" (and okay, even if it does happen, it won't be either)

While I know this is coming from left-leaning, liberal biased comedy shows, my mouth has hit the floor hearing what people are saying at McCain or Palin rallies (again, I know this isn't everybody!)... but it was scary how sincere people were in thinking if Obama wins that there will be a terrorist or Muslim in the White House (with some thinking those two are synonymous)... one woman feared that she would have to wear a burka... "he will put a turban on and we will all be shot"... "I am scared to death of him"... "there will be no America left"... "he's not living in a realistic world with his Islamic view."  The fact that these thoughts are honestly out there is scary to me and makes me fear for Obama.  Again, I am not asking for people to be happy or non-skeptical or wary... but I wish there was more "it won't be the end of the world" if Obama is elected.

Switching gears, I suspect that election night will end with mixed feelings... again, while I am fairly confident I will be voting for the ultimate winner (well, not necessarily thanks to electoral votes from my state) in this race, I (once again!) have little confidence that our state will reject the "define marriage" constitutional amendment.  I have to admit that I have been a bit jealous over all the attention/money/etc that California's Prop 8 has been getting... but, at the end of the day, I do realize that if California (of all states!) loses this battle... the negative ramifications/impact to our cause will be enormous.  While even if the improbable happens here in AZ and Prop 102 is rejected, nothing will change as gay marriage is still against state law... but there is a lot more to lose in CA.  Again, good thoughts and hopes to our neighbor to the west!

A few years back, when the gay marriage debate was really raging (not that isn't now... obviously!)... I discovered this quote from Thomas Jefferson (actually a version of it on the walls of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC) and I think it is worth repeating:

"I am certainly not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions. I think moderate imperfections had better be borne with; because, when once known, we accommodate ourselves to them, and find practical means of correcting their ill effects.

But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times.

We might as well require a man to wear still the same coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

Again, while I am ready for this all to be over with... let me take a moment to raise a glass... in a hopeful, non-cynical, naive (and rare, for me!) way... to the "progress of the human mind!"

Unhatched Chickens Counted

Well, for the first time ever on the RealClearPolitics electoral college map - including toss-up states - Obama has passed he 270 electoral votes for the White House... and I even caught this story earlier this morning... Dem strategists see landslide in the making... which RCP's "no toss-up" map also suggests with Obama currently at 364 vs. 174 - which isn't of historic proportions, but pretty sizable...

That all said, I still am uncertain/skeptical... as I tried to communicate in my last electoral college post... but at least this particular view takes out the states from my "reporters on the ground" in Colorado (hi Scot) and Ohio (hi Joanna)...

Maverick or not, standing up to his party or not... it just doesn't seem as if McCain can sufficiently separate himself from Bush and the Republican party... and given the economic crisis, I think people are just looking to go in the opposite direction.  I try to give both sides a fair shake ... and give credit where credit is due... but in the last debate, I think Obama came across very calm, collected and confident (or as the pundits might say, "presidential")... whereas McCain came across a bit stodgy and grumpy... plus the 'walking around' style of that pseudo-ish town hall certainly provided a dramatic physical contrast between the candidates... again, I can not possibly fault the reasons why this is so for McCain, but it was something that was noticeable.

Whatever happens, the challenges the next President will face will be astronomical... and being a bit of Debbie Downer, if that is Obama... and he isn't able to turn things around sufficiently in the next 4 years, particulary with what is anticipated to be a Democrat run Congress, I fear the Dems will have a very tough time beyond 2012... but I guess, I should go back to the title of my post and keep those particular unhatched chicks uncounted.

Les Misbarack

Even if you don't watch Saturday Night Live (and for the most part I typically find 92% of the show to be unwatchable), I'm sure you've seen the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler Palin/Clinton kick-off to the new season by now.  But just in case, here's a link to it.

But over the weekend, there was apparently another YouTube vid craze.  I have seen this on too many websites to give the hat tip to only one... but I finally got around to watching it this morning... and it is quite delightful.   

It is November 3, 2008 and at Obama Headquarters the opening notes of Act 1 closer, "One Day More" from Les Miserables, begin to twinkle (which always gives me goose-bumps) and this fictional Obama staff sing (ok, lip synch) the song of hope and love and promise of a brighter tomorrow... even McCain/Palin look-alikes make an appearance as the evil Thenadiers to attempt to comically squash the fun.

Pretty much political and gay marriage made in heaven... plus the Marius guy is pretty darn adorable ala Jim Halpert/John Krasinki.

Map Quest 2008

First off, no worries this is not turning into a political blog ... just going thru a bit of a phase here... so this too shall pass.

For the last two elections, we have been a bit obsessed with electoral college map projections (and no, I don't hear any of the snickering out there). I am always slightly amused when I read headlines like this one from this morning... McCain, Obama tied at 48 percent: opinion poll... actualy, even funnier, since the headline link I clicked said this: "McCain takes 4-point lead over Obama in poll"... but as we - and the Gore family - well know, presidents are not elected by overall popular vote. 

So while it's still opinion polling (which despite being "in the business" am not sure how much faith I have in them either)... I still think looking at polls state-by-state is a much better way of seeing how the election is stacking up/shaking out.  It seems like we stumble upon a new electoral projection map every election cycle... and today I am sharing the one we've latched onto this year... Todd's discovery of Real Clear Politics.

As with previous elections, this one averages several polls to determine "solid" and "leaning" states for each candidate ... as well as those tantalizing toss-up states.  All the numbers are provided in easy to read charts as well.  Here's a look at that map, as of this morning... with 270 electoral votes needed to secure the presidency.  (BTW, these are screen-caps - so clicking on them will not accomplish anything)

But as we are all well aware, when all is said and done... there is no such thing as a toss-up state ... so here's a look at that same map with each state being "declared" no matter how small the margin of victory. So, likely depending on your political affiliation... the map below is pretty scary or encouraging (or both!), but a nail-biter for sure....again, 270 electoral votes win it!

As a Democrat, I am kinda sorta okay with map ... well, not really... but in the last two elections, these same kind of projections had me thinking that both Gore and Kerry were headed for the White House... and while I have been slowly allowing myself the audacity to hope... this is certainly telling me that it is going to be another long night come November 4th.

The site also gives you a map that you can "play" with and turn states "red" or "blue" ... so just for kicks, I can turn AZ blue (ha!)... or if you can put aside all the politics and  play Connect 4 or Othello with the map!

Time For Change

Let there be peace on Earth within the Democratic Party, and let it begin with me...