One Liberal Mom

I'm sorry, Hillary

2008-05-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

Four years ago, when we lost the election, I cried. I knew it meant four more years of what we'd had. I knew it meant four more years of war. I knew it meant four years to pack the Supreme Court.

When the rumblings began that Hillary would run for president, I pushed them aside. I didn't let myself believe. I told myself--I told my husband--that Hillary would never succeed. The sexist country that we are wouldn't elect a woman to the presidency. I heard the news reports. I listened to them say how polarizing she was. I believed that.

Then I came home for a visit and heard my brother-in-law, one of the last I would expect, say that he hoped Hillary ran because he wanted to vote for her. My mind slowly began to change. Hillary announced she was running and I was excited, but still not able to put my heart and soul into it. I couldn't let myself hope.

I'd had such admiration for Hillary for such a long time, but I had a hard time allowing myself to believe she could be elected. I let the bit of doubt I had creep into my mind. For that, I feel extremely guilty now.

Why couldn't I be totally open to the idea that Hillary COULD and WOULD win the nomination? Why did I let the doubt creep in? I watched the polls. She was way ahead. I wanted to hope so badly. I still couldn't. I was worried about the same kind of kick in the stomach I'd felt in 2004. Now I feel guilty. Shame on me for not just believing from the beginning.

Shame on me for not standing up from day one. At some point, maybe it was after she won New Hampshire, I let the belief in. I let it take over and I began to hope and dream. Yes, us Clinton supporters have hopes and dreams, too!

And now, as I watch her being declared out, I don't believe it, but I hate myself for not standing up more strongly and for not yelling as loudly as I could for Hillary. I am mad at myself for not being there, for not calling everyone I knew from day one. I know in my heart that Hillary Clinton is the best candidate to lead this country. I know that she has the best plans. I know that she is the one we need.

In the morning, I'll go vote. I'll mark my ballot. I've made phoneo calls and done what I can here.

I promise that if this goes the way we need it to, I WILL be there. I will give more. I will do more. I will do everything in my power to get Hillary Clinton elected. I promise. No more doubts. Somehow, some way, the status quo has to change.

As women, we are made to feel a step below. We're told as little girls we can do anything, but it seems that when the truth comes out, we are held back at times. We have to change that. Now is the time to do that. As women, we need to work together--as women, as mothers. We have to do this.

Where are the feminists?

2008-05-10T08:44:00.000-07:00

I don't understand it. We have the FIRST truly viable FEMALE candidate running for president and I don't hear any feminist voices! Have women been forgotten by themselves? Have we forgotten the struggles our mothers and grandmothers went through? Are we complacent? Where are the women who should be screaming angrily at the media who has decided this primary race? WHERE ARE YOU?

Our daughters are watching. They are learning. They see that it's ok to screw over a woman. They see that sexism is the last prejudice that is encouraged in our society. Certainly if I don't support Obama, I'm a racist. At least that's what I've been told.

I'm not a racist. I just want the best candidate. The color of anyone's skin doesn't matter to ME. Their sex doesn't matter either, but I can NOT believe that the best candidate is a first term senator with NO EXPERIENCE. I cannot support him and I will not vote for him. I WILL write in Hillary Clinton come November if I have to. Please join me.

Women - find your voice! The time is NOW. Actually, it was months ago, but now will work, too.

Hillary's WV visit!

2008-05-10T08:43:00.001-07:00

We had the chance to see Hillary in person Thursday! What a wonderful experience it was and it was a pleasure to meet so many Hillary supporters. This was my first time using this camera, so it's not the best.

Don't let them choose!

2008-02-18T21:03:00.000-08:00

I've posted about this before, but it bears repeating. I strongly believe the media is trying to pick the democratic candidate and they don't want it to be Hillary Clinton. It doesn't matter what she does, she does nothing right. President Clinton can do nothing right either! It's scary the way the news is being skewed to benefit the other side.

President Clinton can talk back to a heckler and everyone wonders what affect that has on Hillary's campaign. Michelle Obama can say she'd have to think about whether or not she could support Hillary or that for the first time in her life she's proud of her country, but no one bats an eye. What is wrong with this picture?

Obama
Uploaded by krs601

Plagiarism?

2008-02-18T20:55:00.000-08:00

Is it? I guess we all have to decide. I'm sure if I'd borrowed so extensively from a source when writing a research paper, I would have received a well deserved F. You have to decide for yourself though!

Hopes & Dreams

2008-02-18T20:43:00.000-08:00

I don't get it. According to all the polls on CNN & MSNBC, I should not be supporting Hillary. I'm under 50. I have a college education. (Ok, granted, I'm a few credits short of my degree, but I DID go.) According to those polls, Hillary is winning the over 50 female vote while Obama has the under 50, college educated crowd. Hmmmm...I guess I always had to be different.

It must be obvious from this blog who I'm supporting. I have a definite preference and have since Hillary put her name out there. Actually, I've been pulling for her for years. I've wanted to see her run since...well, since forever, but I honestly didn't think she had a shot. Why? Because she's a woman.

When she first announced her candidacy, I did my best NOT to get excited. I was convinced that as the first woman to run, she wouldn't make it very far. As time went on however, I became more passionate and at this point, my idealistic self wants to accept nothing short of a Hillary Clinton presidency. I'm not part of the 79% of democrats who will apparently be happy either way. I'm afraid I'm going to feel as though something wonderful was stolen if Hillary does not win the nomination because I've allowed myself to hope.

Why? I've thought about this a lot. I've always been into politics, but actually, I was raised on the other side. When I first registered to vote, I registered as a Republican. What can I say? I was young. I quickly learned the error of my ways! So back to the question at hand...
What does this election mean to me?

As a woman Hillary inspires me. The thought of a woman in the White House simply thrills me. It honestly isn't something I expected to see before I was 40.

As a mom, it encourages me. With the role of pop culture in our society these days, I worry that our daughters don't have appropriate role models. With strong women like Hillary, I now have hope for the future...hope for my own daughter. It really does take a village.

I'm proud that our country is accepting of a female candidate. I'm hopeful that our country will be on the right track again soon.

I have hope...

...hope that the war will soon end--but in a responsible way.

...hope that we'll all have health insurance that we can afford.

...hope that our economy will improve.

...hope that our educational system will be shaped into something where ALL children have the same opportunities no matter where they live.

...hope that women will always have the right to choose.

...hope that with stem cell research, we can find cures for horrible diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

...hope that American will once again be respected and have friends around the world.

With Hillary as president, I feel that all things are possible. She's the candidate with the plans. She'll be ready. LET'S DO THIS!!

Leave Chelsea Alone

2008-02-09T10:08:00.000-08:00

I've come to the conclusion that the press wants to pick the Democratic nominee. Everytime I see something like this, it makes me more convinced.

I'm not sure I understand the big deal. So Chelsea is campaigning for her mom. Big freaking deal. Didn't the Bush twins campaign for their dad? Doesn't Obama parade his kids out on the stage at rallies? Didn't the Edwards family do the same? What difference does it make? Didn't Chelsea gave a speech in '04 for John Kerry or am I dreaming that now? Chelsea is there for her mom. She's supporting her mom. What is the big deal? I also think if she wanted to talk to reporters and give interviews, she could probably handle herself quite well. She's a 27 year old woman now. Not the twelve year old who moved into the White House and found herself the ridicule of some nasty conservative talk show hosts.

Hillary should be proud and if I were Hillary, I'd stay away from MSNBC. It's obvious to me that the entire network wants her to lose(aside from Keith Olbermann and Dan Abrams.) First there was Chris Matthews and his comments about Hillary and now this. I think MSNBC needs to have a talk about "appropriate" comments and if Mr. Shuster thinks his comments to Mika were an "apology" he needs to look up that word in a dictionary.

Ann Coulter is a Hillary Girl?

2008-02-04T17:38:00.000-08:00

That's what she said! Take a look for yourself.

A young fan

2008-02-02T20:26:00.001-08:00

Someone is raising him right! Check out the kid at the end of this clip.

Bill Orally Hides from the Vets

2008-02-02T20:22:00.000-08:00

Did Faux News get Montel Fired?

2008-02-01T21:08:00.000-08:00

Four days later, Montel was out of a job. IF that is a result of his statements here, then shame on Fox...

Chelsea and America Campaign for Hillary

2008-01-22T06:32:00.001-08:00

Look at Chelsea! She's all grown up. I can't believe she's 27 now. She's such a well-spoken, intelligent young woman. Her parents must be proud!

Not so Hardball

2008-01-18T15:42:00.000-08:00

I lost all respect for Chris Matthews when I heard him make this statement:

So then I heard him apologize. Eh. Not sure it matters to me. Nice try. Keith Olberman you're not.

Bill Clinton didn't change this country?

2008-01-17T12:46:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to figure out what he meant by this statement. It's true that Ronald Reagan DID put this country on a different path, but it sure wasn't the right one! I don't know about you, but I didn't benefit from anything Ronald Reagan did. In fact, I doubt many middle class people really felt good about the economy when he was in office.

I remember the hope I felt when President Clinton was elected. I remember the effect his presidency had on MY family personally. The 90's were a good time economically. Surely Mr. Obama isn't trying to reduce the accomplishments of the Clinton presidency just because he's now running against Hillary Clinton...is he?

From Wikipedia:

Clinton left office with a 65% approval rating, the highest end-of-presidency
rating of any President that came into office after World War II

Shortly after taking office, Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act of
1993, which required large employers to allow their employees to take unpaid
leave because of pregnancy or a serious medical condition.

In August 1993, Clinton signed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993,
which passed Congress without a single Republican vote. It raised taxes on
the wealthiest 1.2% of taxpayers,[36] while cutting taxes for 15 million low-income
families and making tax cuts available to 90% of small businesses.[37] Additionally, it mandated that the budget be balanced over a number of years, through the implementation of spending restraints.

But maybe those years of Reaganomics and Iran-Contra WERE better. Hmmmmm...

Kids Are People, Too

2008-01-13T10:45:00.000-08:00

If you're one of the "thirty-something" generation like me, you probably remember the show Kids Are People, Too! In the spirit of that show, here's a blog interview with my 11 yr old liberal kid. This was unrehearsed and some of his thoughts surprised me--at least his way of looking at things.

Do endorsements matter?

2008-01-11T16:54:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if they do. My reaction to hearing John Kerry was endorsing Obama was kind of a "so what?" one. Does anyone care much what John Kerry has to say these days? I'm not sure. I don't think it hurt Hillary, but it certainly had some ramifications in the Edwards camp. It seemed a little bit of a low blow to endorse the other guy when your former running mate is running against him. Kind of makes you wonder, huh?

At this point, do endorsements matter? I really don't care who endorses whom at this point. I know who is getting my support and if the mayor of Mayberry supports someone else, it won't matter to me.

Take the quiz!

2008-01-11T16:52:00.000-08:00

This is kind of a cool quiz to help you figure out which candidate suits you. I'm glad to see I'm supporting the right person!

87% Hillary Clinton
85% Chris Dodd
85% John Edwards
85% Barack Obama
82% Dennis Kucinich
82% Mike Gravel
78% Joe Biden
77% Bill Richardson
41% Rudy Giuliani
30% John McCain
22% Tom Tancredo
21% Mike Huckabee
20% Mitt Romney
15% Ron Paul
11% Fred Thompson

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz <---click here!

Get over it. She won!

2008-01-09T21:06:00.000-08:00

How interesting to see all the talking heads and pundits try to figure out HOW Hillary won in New Hampshire. I mean, their "polls" all said she was going to lose in a major way. How could their polls be wrong?

I heard Chris Matthews accuse people in NH of being racist. He said they just couldn't vote for a black man when they got to vote "in secret." The argument being that the Iowa caucuses require that you publicly state who you're for, but in NH, it's a secret ballot. I think that's just a little off. I guess most of myself wants to just believe that race had nothing to do with it.

Other reasons were offered up. People felt sorry for Hillary. More people turned out. Why not just accept your polls were wrong this time? Maybe people changed their minds. I tend to think the huge turn out may have skewed the polls. Whatever the case, why can't the pundits just say "Hey, we made a mistake."

I've watched a general negative tone regarding Hillary for many months from certain MSNBC anchors. Just a random fact... Mika Brzezinski's father is one of Obama's most trusted advisors. Makes you go hmmmm...

The entire media tried to destroy Hillary in the days before the NH primary. I saw it with my own eyes. Perhaps, the reason Hillary won is because the people of this country didn't like the attack on her. Maybe. Or could it possibly be that people just LIKE the Clintons? I was hoping Hillary's victory speech in NH would start with "You like me! You really like me!" Maybe she's saving that line for later!

More lives lost

2008-01-09T20:50:00.000-08:00

Nine American lives were lost in Iraq on Tuesday and Wednesday. I won't recount the article for you. If you've had the news on, you've seen it.

The economy has taken on great importance over the past few months. It's certainly affecting me and you can see the candidates are also noticing. One quote I heard last night from one of the talking heads was that the economic indicator Bill Clinton paid attention to most was the price of gas. It seems that as the economy takes a downward swing, we hear less and less about Iraq.

I hate this war as much as anyone can and I've been against it from the beginning. I hear promises from most of the Democratic candidates to get us out of Iraq quickly and while that sounds wonderful to me, I can't lose sight of the fact that it's not going to be that easy. The next president can't just walk into the Oval Office and say "bring them home NOW." And POOF it's all over. It isn't going to work that way. We've been there a LONG time. It's going to take a while to get them home.

Not only our soldiers, but what about all our civilians who are over there working? I've heard estimates of 100,000+ American civilians working in Iraq--most for private contractors. How do we get them all home safely--and quickly? Realistically, this pull out will take months--at least. Hillary is the only person I've heard mention the civilians working there.

What about the safety of the Iraqi people? What about all the destruction we helped cause? Shouldn't we have to stick around and clean up our mess? Don't get me wrong. I want this war ENDED yesterday, but how in the world do we do that? It isn't going to be as simple as some people--including some of the candidates--seem to think.

One down! Many more to go!

2008-01-08T20:52:00.000-08:00

I took a little hiatus from politics. I needed some time to recharge my mind...and my heart. Tonight, I realized I had to come back. It's in my soul. I was very disappointed when Hillary didn't win in Iowa. You know, it's nothing against Obama. It's just that it means so much to me--as a woman--to see another woman succeed! I want it so much for us. I want it for our kids. I admire Senator Clinton a great deal. I feel a bit of a kinship with her just because she's a mom.

I listened to the talking heads over the past few days. They all said she was going to lose--BIG. I was heartsick. I don't live in New Hampshire, so there was nothing I could do about it except hope their polls were wrong. I felt a dream I had for myself--for my daughter--slipping away. Unless you've been under a rock, however, you know...

Hillary won! Hillary Clinton WON the New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary! No woman has EVER won a presidential primary! HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE!

I woke my kids to watch her speech. I cried. It was historic. Once again, I have hope. When she said she listened to NH and found her own voice, it was what I needed to hear. I think her message will resonate with many in the country. I know we have a long way to go, but I have hope. I'm starting to hear "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow" in my head just like I did in 1992. And I'm starting to allow hope to enter my heart the way it hasn't in almost eight years.

Powerful stuff! Let's make it happen!

2007-12-10T16:49:00.001-08:00

Is Rosie on her way back?

2007-11-06T19:59:00.000-08:00

According to this article, Rosie O'Donnell may be on her way back to TV.

Yippee! It's about time. I, for one, will be watching.

Fake FEMA

2007-11-02T19:21:00.000-07:00

Why aren't we hearing more about the fake press conference held by FEMA in the wake of the California fires? Is the media so manipulated by the current administration that they feel they can't speak out? Or are they too interested in the latest from Britney's custody case to talk about it?

I honestly don't get it. Our media is supposed to be free. 20 years ago, something like this would have been chomped on by our media. Now it seems lost amid all the latest celebrity gossip. This is important!

I hope FEMA learned they should just send out a press release. If you haven't seen it already, you should watch OUTFoxed. (You can watch the entire video if you search Google.)

Enough!

2007-11-01T21:47:00.000-07:00

So I watched the big debate the other night. I was really turned off by all the attacks on Hillary. What was up with that? Well, I know. They were all trying to save their asses. Ok, whatever.

I'm disgusted in a way. I'm sick of the democrats fighting with each other. Let's not fight one another. Let's fight the people we NEED to fight. I liked what Bill Richardson had to say about the personal attacks.

I tried to watch a little of Chris Matthews after the debate, but he totally turned me off. He is so completely biased AGAINST Hillary that I can't hardly stomach him these days. I'm not sure where it comes from. Maybe he needs to get Ann Coulter back on his show.

Matthews seemed more interested in the idea that Kucinich claimed to have seen a UFO than the substance of the debate. Then he felt compelled to ask all the other candidates who talked to him if THEY believed in UFOs or other crazy questions. Enough of that crap.

Then he decided to harp on Hillary for the rest of his show. I'm bored with him. That's for sure. I'll stick to Olbermann.

How young is too young?

2007-10-24T20:48:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've all heard about it. I meant to blog about it last week, but time got away. I'll be honest, part of my reason for not blogging about it was because I needed to sort out my true feelings. I'm a liberal. I believe in certain freedoms. I believe that every woman has a right to birth control. I believe every woman has a right to determine what is best for her and her body. However, I'm not sure how young is too young.

When a school in Maine decided to start offering birth control pills and the patch to its students, a controversy erupted. My first thought was "IF" it is necessary, it's a good thing. Then I began to think.

These weren't 17 year olds. They weren't even 14. Most of these girls were 11 - 13. Is this appropriate? My mind began to churn.

See, I have an 11 yr old son. Do I want him to have access to birth control? Yes, I would like to know that if he was sexually active(at 11? eeek!) he could get a condom if he needed it. Do I think sex at 11 is acceptable? No way. Do I want a school to just toss my 11 yr old a condom and let him go on his merry way? Absolutely not.

I have an 11 year old. Do I think he is responsible at age 11 to be able to remember to take a pill each day? Absolutely not. Do I think an 11 year old girl is responsible enough? I doubt too many are. I still have to remind the kid to put his homework in his backpack. I don't think he would remember a pill every day.

I did some reading. Was teen and pre-teen pregnancy a big problem at this school in Portland, Maine? No. In actuality, only five students who were treated at this clinic last year reported being sexually active. So why is this so necessary?

How would I feel as a parent if my child was given a prescription without my knowledge? I'd be upset enough if she were 17, but to think my 11 year old was given something like that without my knowledge would be horrible in my imagination. There are so many what ifs.

What if that 11 year old has a horrible, possibly deadly, reaction to the pills and as a parent, you don't know what to tell the doctor treating her because you don't KNOW she's taking the pill?

What if the girl is responsible and takes the pills every day, but her boyfriend has some awful disease--maybe even AIDS. No, she won't get pregnant, but she can still get very sick!

What if the pills are taken sporadically and she thinks she's "safe" but winds up pregnant anyway?

What if we are letting 11 year olds believe they are intellectually mature enough to have sex by giving them pills rather than more education?

What if it was MY kid?

I know quite a bit about the state of Maine. It's a liberal state. Portland is a very progressive city, but is this just too much? Apparently some seem to think so because there's a proposal to allow parents to prohibit the dispensing of birth control to children under 14.

Now, before you think I think that if we give a kid a condom or a pill that they think it's giving them permission to have sex, I don't think that. I know that kids are going to have sex no matter what, but at 11, aren't there more important things for them to think about? I know some parents don't pay attention. Some kids are home for hours alone after school. Still, I think if a child is having sex on a regular basis at 11, there are bigger issues other than just handing out birth control.

I'd much rather see them take those 11 year olds and counsel them. The parents don't have to know. No one needs to know, but if you are going to give them a pill, give them some counseling as well.

After much thought, I think that's what I think.

A first!

2007-10-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was out shopping and saw my very FIRST Hillary bumper sticker. I realize this might not be a big deal to some of you, but we've just moved to a red state after years in a very blue state, so it was like seeing a friendly face!

Hillary in '08. Suddenly, I don't feel so alone.

To be honest, this state wasn't always red. In fact, it was always blue until the past two elections. I grew up here and was so disappointed to see how things went. The other side used the scare tactics on the people here. If you vote for Gore, he'll take your guns. If you vote for Kerry, you won't be safe.

Hopefully this time around, there will be enough of us with Hillary stickers to keep it from happening AGAIN!

Newt Says No

2007-09-29T14:13:00.000-07:00

Newt Gingrich has announced he will NOT run for the Republican nomination. Can we hope this means that he realizes the Republicans don't have a chance in hell to win this one?

Ahhhh...I can hope anyway!

Who cares?

2007-09-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

So, Donald Trump thinks Dan Rather is a "loser?" WHO CARES? Someone explain to me why this is "news?"

I was watching CNN today while they spent time on this "story." Why are Donald Trumps opinions of any value? Is it because he has money? Is it because he screams and spouts off loudly? What is it about him?

We don't hear Bill Gates calling people "losers" or any of the nasty things that Donald Trump makes a living off of doing. I wonder why that is. Well, I'll leave that up to you to figure out.

As far as Dan being a "loser," he should feel like he's in good company. The guy with the bad comb-over also called Rosie that at every opportunity. Hang in there, Dan. You're not a loser. Standing up for what you believe in is right. It's the true American way. Hopefully the lawsuit will bring attention to what is going on in this country with our media.

Is it 2007?

2007-09-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

Is it 2007? Are we sure about that? Stories like what is going in Louisiana with the Jena Six and also this story out of West Virginia truly make me wonder. It seems that racism is still alive in this country, almost forty years after the death of Martin Luther King.

Don't you wonder why? I wonder how. I wonder how this ignorance still pervades our society. We should be raising our kids to not let race divide. We should be raising them to see everyone as equals--to see us all as one society.

Children do not inherently see differences. This kind of racism--this kind of prejudice--is a learned behavior and parents need to realize that. They need to take responsibility and teach their kids racism is not acceptable. My kids certainly know that.

I'm disgusted that the case in WV is not being prosecuted as a hate crime. How much more hate-filled could something be? She was repeated called the n-word. She was told she was going to be hanged! They actually put a pillowcase over her head and told her they were going to hang her. HOW IS THIS NOT HATE?

The hatred that compells monsters like these to do these things is something I don't understand. I don't have that hatred in me. I can't imagine that hatred. I can't imagine the evilness. It disgusts me. I'm heartbroken for Megan and I'm heart-broken for those children in Jena. Adults have not done their jobs there. Ignorance is rampant.

Is that what it boils down to? Ignorance? If it is, we have a lot of educating to do because I'm starting to think we're all the way back in 1950.

Mothers and Hollywood

2007-09-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

Apparently, Patricia Heaton disagreed with Sally Field's acceptance speech and her plea for the end of the war. This is what she had to say about it.

"I've actually become a more violent person since I became a mother," the "Back to You" star told us. "If someone came between me and my kids, they'd be dead meat. So I didn't agree with that particular statement."

Remind me not to schedule any playdates with her kids! What is she missing here? She's missing that women are less likely to use violence to solve problems. There are many studies that support that fact. She's missing that women are more likely to sit down and talk rather than shoot first and ask questions later.

Are some conservative "Christians" so willing to support the bad road this president is taking us down that they turn a blind eye to the truth? Obviously that answer is yes, but to totally deny that mothers would work more towards peace is sad to me. As mothers, we'd be the ones sending our children off to war and I don't think that ANY mother wants to see another mother lose a child.

If you do, you're a heartless mother. What Sally Field said can be taken in more general terms. It was a call for an end to needless deaths and a plea for peace. Doesn't everyone want to see the world at peace? Is that an awful wish to have?

Why was Sally censored?

2007-09-16T21:08:00.000-07:00

When Sally Field won her Emmy tonight, she spoke out against the war in Iraq. Unfortunately, Fox cut off her speech. At the end, she said

:"If mothers ruled the world, there wouldn't be any god-damned wars in the first place."

She was cut after "god." Now, one can argue that she swore and the word was censored, but if they were censoring her naughty word, why didn't they simply cut the audio? Why did they totally cut to something that looked like a technical problelm? We CLEARLY saw Katharine Heigel say "SHIT" when her name was announced as a winner. The audio was cut, but you could see what she said. Why didn't they cut to this same shot then? Could it have anything to do with it being FOX? Hmmmm...I don't know. I really don't. I want to think it was because of the word, but I just don't trust Fox at all. You be the judge.

Oprah endorses Obama

2007-09-16T16:26:00.001-07:00

So the big news last week was Oprah's endorsement of Obama for president. What does that mean?

As the article so eloquently states, Oprah's endorsement of everything from books to beauty products to snacks(think of her "Favorite Things" shows) lead to great success for the authors and companies that produce the products. What will her endorsement of a political candidate do for him?

She's stated she won't have any of the other candidates on her show. In one way, I can understand that, but in another, I have issues with it. No, hers is not a news show, but let's face it, a LOT of women get "news" about current events from her show. Is it a matter of manipulating the flow or information for the critical female demographic?

Or will it matter at all? I rarely watch Oprah's show these days. Her endorsement doesn't matter to me any more than it would matter to me what Britney Spears said about a politician. I just really don't care what celebrities think. I can make up my own mind.

My big question is this--what happens if Obama does NOT win the nomination? Will Oprah then let the Democratic candidate on her show? I just wonder what that will be like.

Shop with Rosie

2007-09-06T14:26:00.000-07:00

I just got this email from Rosie.com (Yeah, I'm on her mailing list. Yeah, I ask her questions on her blog on a regular basis. Is that a problem? ;))

You can get an additional 25% off the entire line of kids items already reduced in the store when you enter SPM123 at check out.*

Some of the cool items include a kidz in the hoodie, a color me tee, and a spin banker.

To view the entire line of kids products,
click here.

As always, 100% of profits go to help kids in need.

Bummer...the Peace tees aren't included, but still some cool stuff and you get to have a warm, fuzzy feeling because you're helping kids!

YOU can have lunch with Hill & Bill!

2007-09-06T14:21:00.000-07:00

Oh dear. What to do? Donate or pay my Visa bill. Hmmmmm...lunch with Hill and Bill. I don't know how I would cope! Just in case you haven't heard about this, here's the Myspace bulletin!

Last day to vote on profile song & Lunch with Hillary
REPOST THIS ON YOUR BLOG/BULLETIN/OR MYSPACE
Last Day To Vote On Our Profile Song
Pink Dear Mr. President is currently winning.
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Hillary is holding a contest. To be eligible for Lunch with Hillary all you have to do is contribute between now and midnight Friday, September 7.
From the HillaryClinton.com

"Let's do lunch. Let's talk, you and me -- about whatever you'd like. Our hopes. Our goals. Our work. The weather. Maybe even politics.

I think it would be fun to have you over for lunch, at my table, in my home in Washington. You and I both know that we need a serious change of direction in this country. So let's sit down for a meal and talk about exactly the best way to make that change a reality.

Of course, that change can't happen if we don't win. So I'm asking you today to demonstrate your commitment to real change by supporting my campaign with a contribution. We're going to choose one supporter to come to my house in DC, along with a guest, to share lunch and talk. And if you contribute between now and midnight Friday, September 7, it could be you."

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Hillary News Sept 6th 2007
-Clinton Launches First Ad in New Hampshire
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-Hillary Continues to Lead the Pack
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-Hillary's NV Supporters Hosting Univision Forum Watch Parties this Weekend
-Poll: Hillary's Lead Grows in Michigan
-Clinton: The Change We Need
-WA King County Exec Sims Backs Hillary
-Stumping with Burgers and Bill
-Video of Hillary on Ellen Degeneres Show
-Hillary Clinton's Personal Touch
-Hillary Highlights from the road

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Stupid quote of the day

2007-09-04T13:09:00.000-07:00

Unlike Clinton, you won't find him in the lobby of the UN six years from now.

Who said that, you ask? Take one guess. Apparently, an interview with our esteemed president included that quote. He ran into President Clinton in the lobby of the UN a while back and that was his reaction. He's not going to waste his time on issues that matter, I guess. He needs to line his coffers a bit, make more money and chop some more wood. Whoo-whee doggies! All I can say is GOOD! That means he'll be out of the public eye for a while.

(I don't know who would pay him to speak though--especially with someone like President Clinton available!)

It's my chance

2007-09-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

I have a crush on Bill Clinton. You know how most women have things for movies stars or soap actors? Well, I have a thing for politicians. As for Bill, I don't call him Mr. Clinton. I don't call him President Clinton. Around our house, I just call him "my Bill." I know it isn't good. I'm married, for goodness sake! I have two kids.

There's just something about him...

So, the other day, my husband tells me that Bill is coming to town for a fundraiser. Then in the next breath, he says, "But you're not going! Don't get any ideas." Oh no. It's my chance!

To be honest, I'd probably stumble over myself if I ever came face to face with him. I joke about my crush, but really and truly, meeting him would be an honor. I view him to be one of the best presidents of our time. I admire him greatly and just seeing him speak in person would be the highlight of my life. He turned our country around 14 years ago and I'm hoping his wife can do the same thing in '08.

I'll keep you updated on this one...

Go vote!

2007-09-03T13:57:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already, go vote for Hillary's new Myspace song. I vote for Beautiful Day. We need a song to inspire us!

I know that I always think of The Clintons and The Gores celebrating when I hear "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow..."

Mothers 4 Peace

2007-09-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

Look for this video to cause more trouble for Rosie. She just posted it on her blog at Rosie.com.

I'm torn. I have to admit it is powerful. I have to admit it's thought-provoking. I have to admit it makes me uncomfortable to watch. Perhaps that is the point. I'm sure it's not supposed to be easy.

I also have to admit that it bothers me on some level that she could be construed as using her own children--young and innocent--to further her cause. It's the same argument used when little Vivi's picture was posted on her blog in her camoflage. So is Rosie using her kids? Or is she just expressing herself?

These are her children. You can tell she is a loving mom. She's full of compassion for kids. She's full of love for her children. Why would she use her kids? Perhaps to save other kids? To those who will yell she's using her children's faces to further her cause, you must think the video itself wasn't originally made to use as it has been used. It was just an innocent conversation between a mom and her 2 year old.

Whatever Rosie's message is, I think at the least she has accomplished getting attention focused on the war. Perhaps she's onto something. Posting controversial things like this will give attention to the cause. Maybe she isn't "using" her kids to further her cause, but rather "using" the media. The sleazy, tabloids are going to be all over that video and perhaps that is her goal. If so, that's pretty damned smart.

Signed -
Another Mom for Peace

If anyone knew about this blog

2007-08-18T22:04:00.000-07:00

I might lose some friends. Seriously! I was thinking about this earlier. Some of my friends are Republicans (eek)! Most of them know my views, but if they ever saw them written here, they might think differently of me. So if any of my right-winged pals are reading, please know I love you. I post things here rather than sharing them with you personally. That should make you grateful!

Go Mel!

2007-07-30T23:00:00.000-07:00

NBC didn't show this. I wonder why. Nothing more to say. Just watch.

Liberal Propaganda

2007-07-30T19:21:00.000-07:00

We were watching Wife Swap tonight. Usually, the show gives us a lot of entertainment. Tonight, it gave me some food for thought. In case you've never watched the show, they take the moms from two very different families and have them swap lives for two weeks. The first week, the moms have to follow the "house rules" of the family who lives in the house and the second week, they get to change the rules and try to give the family a different perspective.

Tonight's show pitted a very liberal, pacifist mom against a former military, pro-Bush family. As I watched, I found it interesting the differences in the way they were portrayed. The liberal family was shown as being a little "cuckoo" with an out of control anarchist son. The more conservative family was shown as hard-working, God-Fearing, and patriotic.

I found it very interesting that the military mom made the liberals get rid of all their peace signs and even their gay acceptance flag. When she heard it was for gay acceptance, she said "Well, that has to go then." What in the world is that? Of course, as she pulled it down, she said she wasn't homophobic. Whatever. The voiceover even talked about how she was having them get rid of their liberal propaganda. A peace sign is "liberal propaganda?" The spin permeates everything, I suppose.

Liberal Mom didn't make them pack up their W mugs. Liberal Mom just took away the toy guns and weapons. Then Liberal Mom let the kids PLAY. Play was something that wasn't allowed in the house before. They were always cleaning. Interesting that the conservative dad seemed to like what she brought to them.

I'm still thinking about the "liberal propaganda." It bugs me. Yes, it bugs me a great deal. At least the angry son did get in that the 9/11 hijackers were not from Iraq. He was mean and angry, but perhaps someone heard.

Inside the Surge

2007-07-27T20:27:00.000-07:00

Why aren't things like this being shown on American news channels? I truly have to wonder. Sad. Please watch.

Hair!

2007-07-25T18:07:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged here in a while. There have been a lot of things I've wanted to share with you and I will think "Oh! I need to go blog about that." Then time gets away from me. The kids need me. My husband needs me. Life needs me and so I don't make it here.

I read this really amazing interview with Elizabeth Edwards on Salon.com. I know I've said I'm supporting Hillary, but I almost wish Elizabeth was a candidate. I have tremendous respect for this woman. She's dealt with so much in her life and she is a fighter. If I thought John Edwards had a real shot, I'd be behind him completely. Who knows what can happen in the next year though...

That brings me to this video. It does ask a question. What is more important? Hair or real issues? I think the Edwards campaign did a fab job with this one! Enjoy!

2007-07-08T14:51:00.000-07:00

Since the "president" commuted the sentence of Scooter Libby, I've listened to all the controversy. I heard the Clintons speak out. I heard the criticism of the Clintons for speaking out. I am SICK OF IT. I haven't gone through all the pardons that President Clinton gave, but I do know that no one died and our national security wasn't put at risk by any of HIS pardons.

I'm just disgusted by it all. Our country is a mess. We have lost over 3500 of our young men and women in Iraq. We have thousands more who have returned wounded forever. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis are dead and why, why, WHY are we talking about this? Why did this even happen? Why is this even an issue?

To me it is an issue because it doesn't feel as though our country is a democracy any longer. It feels as though we have a dictator in control of our country. When our "leader" says repeatedly that he is the "decider" and he knows best, when that leader feels he apparently answers to no one, then what do we have? I'm scared. I am scared for us. I'm scared for our children. I'm scared for our future, but do you know what is even worse? I'm tired of being scared. I'm tired of the way this administration has used fear to somehow drag us all down. I'm just plain angry. It's time for this to end.

It's time for those of us who are outraged to speak out. It's time for us to stop writing about it on the internet and to start doing all we can to get a viable candidate elected in 2008 who can change theis country and turn it around. I campaigned for Kerry in '04. I went door to door, but I don't think it was enough. This time, I'll do more--for whomever the Democrats select as their candidate.

Until this past week, I've been undecided, but watching things unfold, I've made a conscious decision to support Hillary Clinton to the absolute best of my ability. Seeing Bill and Hillary Clinton standing together has given me a sense of security. I have confidence in them. I have faith that they can bring our country back to where it needs to be. I have a strong belief that with Hillary as our president, somehow, she will be able to bring back the respect we have lost from the rest of the world. When I see them together, I dare to hope. I hope that in November 2008, I wake to a different world.

2007-07-08T14:50:00.001-07:00

No one can say it like Keith. I'll just let his words speak for me.

It's Kate Jackson!

2007-07-02T17:25:00.001-07:00

Look! It looks like one of Charlie's Angels is heading onto Air Force One! What the hell is up with that gold suit that looks straight out of 1975? It really looks GOLD on tv.

Scooter can keep scooting

2007-07-02T17:07:00.000-07:00

Let me get this straight. You can lie to a grand jury leading to your conviction on the charge of perjury by a jury of your peers and have your sentence commuted because your buddy, the president, decides that the sentence was "too harsh," yet if you lie to a bunch of witch hunters about whether or not you got a blow job you should be stoned? This, my friends, is what is WRONG with this world.

The witch hunt led against President Clinton was a major invasion of privacy. Nothing Clinton did with his intern put anyone else(aside from his wife) at risk. The investigation into who leaked Valerie Plame's name to the media which could have put our intelligence at risk was a REAL investigation. There was a true reason for the investigation--not just a right wing obsession about a president's sex life.

GIVE ME A BREAK!!
If you aren't angry, you aren't paying attention! Get with it people. Call, write, email! Let them know how you feel.

Most of all, please get out there and VOTE. I'm so disgusted, I just don't think I can write anything else.

Ann Coulter Video

2007-06-26T21:23:00.000-07:00

Video of the call from Elizabeth Edwards to Ann Coulter is up on John Edwards' site. I checked YouTube for the whole thing and I don't see it. I'll keep checking though!

Ann Coulter...need I say more?

2007-06-26T16:46:00.001-07:00

What is with this woman? I turned on Hardball and there she is with Chris Matthews. She honestly makes me want to vomit at her sight. Then she starts talking and it's so hard to keep my blood pressure down! She's called Bill Clinton a rapist. She's said the 911 Widows "enjoyed" the deaths of their husbands. She called John Edwards a faggot(ok, not directly.) She basically just says whatever she wants but most of all, she is just MEAN and I don't like mean people!

Elizabeth Edwards called into Hardball to ask Ann to stop her personal attacks because she feels it brings politics to a new low. Ann refused to even admit she'd made personal attacks. She refused to even answer Mrs. Edwards questions. Instead, she threw back insults and asked why a candidate's WIFE was calling asking her to be quiet.

That wasn't the point of the phone call for Mrs. Edwards. She mentioned Ann writing something about John Edwards having a bumper sticker about the death of their son. She was very upset about this column and I don't blame her. How low can a person sink? Disgusting. This woman just goes to new lows.

Elizabeth Edwards called in as a wife but mostly as a mother. Imagine if your child's memory was trashed that way? Just imagine. What would that do to you? These candidates are still people. They have feelings and emotions. What is it about cynical people who seem to think anyone who discusses their personal tragedies is a martyr? Get over it people! This family suffered a horrendous tragedy that no one should ever have to experience. Someday perhaps Ann will feel a little bit of karma.

Oh--and she just said that Scooter Libby should be pardoned because he made a mistake--however, Bill Clinton should have been REMOVED from office. The woman doesn't have a grain of rational, honest thought in her head.

Thank goodness it's time for Keith Olbermann!

Someone Save Us!

2007-06-22T19:08:00.001-07:00

In the fall of 1992, I was 22 and pregnant with my first child. Our country was a mess--so I felt. We needed someone to save us. Along came Bill. A young man from Hope, Arkansas brought much needed hope to us all. With Bill, came Hillary, of course.

Perhaps it was my pregnancy hormones, but I remember feeling desperate for someone to save our country back then. These days, I can't blame it on the hormones. I think we need someone to save us now even more!

The Clintons and the Gores were young. They had energy. They had ideas. They had beautiful families. Heck, they even had the perfect campaign song! Even today, everytime I hear "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow" I'm drawn back to the night of November 3, 1992. They did bring us hope. Things DID get better under the Clinton administration. Our lives were better.

The past seven years with the current administration have dragged me down. I feel more desperation today than I did in 1992. I don't know if our problems can be fixed. I know it won't be easy. I don't know who the person to fix our country is, but I can honestly say that when I see Hillary on the campaign trail, I get that twinge of hope I felt almost 15 years ago. I'm starting to believe in her. I'm starting to think she can fix things, but I just don't know if the rest of America will give her the chance to do it.

I want to hope again. I want someone to listen to the conscience of this country. I want a leader who will work with others and not alienate the world. We NEED someone to save us. I think of the Dixie Chicks song, "I Hope." I hope for better things for our country and our children. I need someone to help give me the feeling that my hopes and dreams can come true. Who will be the one to save us this time?

Maybe Crime Won't Pay for Paris

2007-06-22T17:18:00.000-07:00

This morning we heard that NBC had snagged a deal with Paris Hilton for her first interview after being released from her jail stay. Reportedly, the deal included payment of a cool $1 million for "exclusive video, pictures, and materials" from Paris and her family. Sure. Over the course of the day, I heard yelping around the world about NBC paying for an interview. Now, it seems the interview is off. Apparently ABC and Barbara Walters also walked away from a deal(they offered $100,000.) So it looks like the mainstream media isn't going to pay Paris for her crimes. Good.

Ever since this all started with Paris, I've been trying to figure out the fascination. I don't get it. She's a 28 year old unemployed heiress who gets paid to make personal appearances at parties and events. That's how she makes money! What makes her so interesting to the rest of the country? I have to wonder if the rest of the country even cares because no one I knew was dying to find out what was going to happen to Paris as MSNBC and all the other news networks kept things focused on her house that fateful day.

Is it the MEDIA? Are they deciding this new slant on the news? They claim they're giving the American public what it wants, but have they bothered to really ASK us? There's nothing wrong with a blurb about a celebrity now and then, but to spend hours on end talking about a rich heiress' trip to the slammer seems a little much. What happens to her isn't going to affect me.

What happens in Iraq IS going to affect me. Is it the art of distraction? If they fill the airwaves and web with useless news about celebrities, then we can't focus on all the atrocities happening within this administration. While everyone has been discussing Paris, more of our soldiers died in Iraq. More of our young men were injured in the line of duty. While we talked about Paris, the price of gas went up, but the gas companies made more profits. While we talked about Paris, Vice President Cheney refused to comply with an executive order and actually tried to abolish the office set up to enforce those rules! Did you know that?

Probably not because NBC, ABC, CNN and all those other news outlets were too busy telling you about Paris and her hard luck time in jail.

2007-06-21T19:14:00.000-07:00

Why Mommy Is a Democrat
What a great idea for a book! I wish this book had been around when my kids were younger. It looks like a great way to explain the Democratic Party and all we stand for. You can get a copy there or you can go support Little Democrats with your order. It's never too early to start teaching your kids about the Democratic Party.

Please help

2007-06-21T16:55:00.000-07:00

Please take a moment to watch this video and take action. This needs to become law! Stop what happened to Matthew Shepard from ever happening again to ANYONE!

VETO!

2007-06-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

Bush vetoes stem cell legislation

While it isn't exactly a surprise, it's certainly another example of this administration's total lack of concern for what the majority in this country view as important. This infuriates me! The quality of life for so many could be improved with advancement in stem cell research. We could even find a cure for such awful diseases as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's! Why do we want to stop that if it's done in a responsible way? I don't understand.

Embryos are destroyed almost every day in fertility clinics around the country. Why shouldn't they be used for good? I don't understand.

We have babies born with awful diseases. We have elderly people with debilitating illnesses and we are supposed to take some moral high ground and let them suffer because it's "God's will?" I don't understand.

This administration confuses me. There is some desire to preserve the sanctity of life, but since we invaded Iraq over 650,000 Iraqis have died. Where is the moral high ground in that argument? Is an embryo's "life" more important than a 2 yr old Iraqi child's life?

I just don't understand.

Bloomberg Leaves Republican Party

2007-06-19T19:20:00.000-07:00

What does this mean? I have no idea. I hope it doesn't mean another 2000 a la Nader! :( I don't know if an Independent Bloomberg run is more divisive for the Dems or the Repugs. Time will tell.

Losers yet again

2007-06-18T18:48:00.001-07:00

Once again, The View didn't win for Best Daytime Talk Show or for Talk Show Hosts. Surprisingly, not even Rosie could bring them the Emmy. If anyone deserved it though, it was Rosie. She brought something to The View that daytime has never seen before. She was an opinionated woman who didn't back down.

Whether or not you agree with Rosie, you have to admit she has guts. I wasn't one to sit and nod my head at everything she said. I don't buy into all the conspiracy theories. I don't agree with her on every issue, but I respect her opinion. I hadn't watched The View in a long time because it was boring to me. I'd heard enough talk about Meredith's underwear to last me a lifetime.

I started watching out of curiousity and eventually set my Tivo to catch the show on a daily basis. I was watching live with my husband that fateful day. We both sat there stunned as the very public argument took center stage. We saw it life. We saw the emotion. A lot has been said about that, so I won't really go into it. I don't blame Rosie for leaving and not looking back.

While she didn't win The View the Emmy, she did win a lot of respect from me and many others. Women who watch The View were presented with something a lot different this past year. They were given a different voice. They were shown a different way of thinking. If Rosie opened just one mind, she did a world of good.

A real fear

2007-06-18T11:44:00.000-07:00

As a mom, I'm worried. My kids are 14 and 11 and I'm afraid of what the world is going to be like for them by the time they're my age if something doesn't start changing soon! My son is 11 and will have to register for the draft in just 7 short years. Will we be out of Iraq by then? My fear is we won't. My biggest fear is the draft will be reinstated and he will be taken away to fight in some war we don't agree with. How would I cope with that?

My thoughts go to all the moms out there--moms like Cindy Sheehan--who have lost their sons in this unnecessary war. I stood against this "war" from the beginning. I didn't see a need. Whatever happened to diplomacy? When did the US become such a bully? I think I know the answer to that question. It was on Jan. 20, 2001.

We've lost well over 3000 of our young men in Iraq and Afghanistan, but how about those who have returned without limbs or with debilitating injuries? Those are many, many more thousand. I don't want my child to be one of those. I don't want anyone's child to be one of those.

Which Democrat?

2007-06-18T11:40:00.000-07:00

Hillary has a double digit lead over Obama right now. I'm still torn. I love Hillary. I would love to see the Clintons back in the White House, but can she win? The Democrats HAVE to give us someone with a chance to win this time. Our country is bad shape. This war is taking its toll on all of us in so many ways. Gas prices are unbelievably out of control. We have a president who calls it "his" government. People are disillusioned. Many are scared.

We need someone who can bring us out of this. Is Hillary the right person? I don't know. Stay tuned and we'll dissect the primaries, caucuses, debates and everything else right here.

Why I'm here

2007-06-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

I'm creating this blog because over the next year or so, I'm going to need a place to vent, write and scream about the political state of our country. My family grows tired of my rants, but I'm hoping someone out there will understand and will find them interesting to read. Even if you don't, I'll be ok because it helps just to type!

Enlist and become a citizen!

2007-06-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

How crazy is this? Part of the provisions of the The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act, would give immediate legal status and eventually full citizenship for illegal immigrants who enlist in our military. You can read more about it here.

It says that at least 750,000 illegal immigrants would be eligible for this "program" and it would be great for our military. Well, I'm sure it would! We need to build up with so many of our soldiers dead and wounded from this Iraq "War."

I watched an "expert" on MSNBC this morning and was floored when he said that our military would only take the "brightest and the best" of the illegals just like they do right now. Huh? Did this guy miss Fahrenheit 9/11? HELLO!! While it isn't true for everyone, our military is made up of many young men and women who see it as their only way to an education and a way out. Why are recruiters so busy in low income areas? If you're going to college, the recruiters don't call, but they're only going to take the "best and brightest" of the immigrants? Sure.