laceblade

President Obama is coming to campus this Thursday. Surrounded by a mass of liberals that make up his base, he'll give a speech the day after his first debate with Mitt Romney.

I went to see Obama in 2008 at the Kohl Center while he was campaigning.
I saw him again in 2010 on campus, when he came here to campaign for congressional candidates during the midterm elections - too bad Russ Feingold lost and Scott Walker won, eh?

In theory, it would be nice to see him Thursday, but I don't think I will.
For one thing, it's at noon, so I'd probably have to take the entire day off to stand in line and then see him and etc.
When I saw him in 2010, we stood in line for an entire mile and after hours of waiting, they said, "Just go to Bascom Hill," and it was kind of a free-for-all of people streaming over the stairs between Van Vleck and Van Hise.

Worse yet, to attend the rally, one must obtain a "ticket." Getting a ticket is easy! Just give your full name, phone number, and e-mail address to the Obama campaign, :) (my eyes roll forever)
Even if I had people to go with (and I'm sure I could find people if I tried), I am just not feeling it this year.

I have acupuncture scheduled at 4pm, and I'm worried about traffic returning to normalcy in time for me to ride the bus/get my car. Maybe I'll just take the bus & forget my car.

Anyone planning on going?

I've seen and heard some people saying that the reason Proposition 8 passed in California is because people of color turned out to vote for Barack Obama, and then voted against gay marriage. Some people have some things to say about that. Please go read their entire posts. Some of them include detailed demographic maps, and are important to proving their points.

sparkymonster wrote this post.

Blaming people of color for Prop. 8 passing in California is racist. So cut it the fuck out. Ditto for veiling your racism with "this is because of turnout for Obama" or "you know how conservative those immigrants can be."

California is 43.1% white, 35.9% latino or hispanic, and 6.7% black (source). So even if every single black and latino person in the state voted Yes on 8, that doesn't actually equal the 52% who voted for it. And since people of color are not the borg, you know how Prop. 8 passed? White people voted for it. True story!

Saying "well the black community is homophobic" is bullshit. First, are you trying to say white people aren't homophobic? Really? What is the race of the people who killed Matthew Sheppard and who assassinated Harvey Milk? What was the race of the person who signed DOMA? Second, you're ignoring all the queer people of color out there (and their allies). Third, you're being racist. Racism is what happens when you assign as stereotype to a race of people.

ladyjax said many things, among them, this:

If anyone saw the commercials for the No on 8 campaign here in California, then you know that the few times when they did show people in them, they were overwhelmingly white. The Yes on 8 campaign? Busted out with a clever commercial (and I'm gonna call it clever because it sure as hell was), that showed a Black preacher, a Latino gentleman (you couldn't tell what he was doing but he was positioned Joe Regular) and then a white woman with a child. They hit the high notes: church, San Francisco judges (boo, bad!) , and 'what do we tell the kids?'

Yes on 8 did massive organizing in POC communities. No on 8? barely a blip on the radar screen.

....When white people roll up on Black folks about being oppressors, there's some truth to it but that gets lost when people start to remember: "Hmm, that rally for (immigration rights, education, housing, etc. etc.). I didn't see you there." In some areas, if you throw in gentrification and how it plays out when white gays and communities of color collide (as evidenced by the movie, Flag Wars, then you get some idea of how easy it was for the Yes on 8 people to make the inroads that they did.

Sometimes the fight isn't always about what you want but about reciprocation. It's also about fighting like your life depended on it. One thing I wish the No on 8 campaign had done from the beginning - hammer home the message about discrimination. Emphasize how easy it is for a group of people to have their rights taken away by the popular vote of the people. Skip the oh so gentle assimilationist approach ('oh, but we're just like you. Really') and go straight for scorched earth - "You don't have to like us but if our rights can be taken away, it can happen to you. This is a constitutional change not a Sunday picnic. Think about it."

I wanted to quote the entirety of darkrosetiger's post, so instead, just go here.

Earlier today, a meme was going around on my LJ friends list, where people posted their favorite Supreme Court case, because Sarah Palin was unable to name a single one in an interview.

Guys? She can't even name a newspaper. Wasn't Sarah Palin a journalism major?

The only explanation I can come up with for this is that she couldn't remember which ones had liberal biases, or somehow thought it was a trick question. Surely, she must be able to name newspapers, right? RIGHT?



I know that some people think Katie Couric is being a total bitch in these interviews, but I really don't understand how you couldn't be. When she gives a heinous answer, how can you NOT ask the immediate follow-up to make her look like an idiot?

I feel like, if nothing else, all English majors in America should vote against Sarah Palin.

I'm not going to solely blame all of man's activities on changes in climate.

I keep wondering if I'm watching a horrible sci-fi movie, but Sarah Palin is real.

You can watch her entire interview about social issues here (the second video). Probably my "favorite" part is where says that homosexuality is a choice.

Get ready for Thursday's debate. It will be nothing short of magical, I'm sure.

If you haven't heard yet, John McCain wants this Friday's presidential debate pushed back so that he and Obama can go to Washington to "work on the economy."

Oh, and he would like to also push back the Biden/Palin debate.


But, you know, I can see why.

O HAI, how much money will McCain be costing Ole Miss if he cancels this debate? $5.5 million. Let us pause and reflect on this for a moment. To fix the economy, McCain will cost Batesville, Mississippi 5.5 million dollars.

“I feel like sending a text message to Barack Obama,” said Ruth Schiele-Moore, the manager of a 50-unit hotel in Batesville, half an hour from Oxford, where the debate will be held.

Her hotel is booked solid for the weekend, as are most hotels and motels in the area. She said she would like to send Obama a text message that reads:

“Come on down here. You just may win Mississippi.” [Source]

And what how does Senate President Harry Reid feel about the senators coming back to Washington for the weekend to fix the economy?

This is a critical time for our country. While I appreciate that both candidates have signaled their willingness to help, Congress and the Administration have a process in place to reach a solution to this unprecedented financial crisis.

I understand that the candidates are putting together a joint statement at Senator Obama’s suggestion. But it would not be helpful at this time to have them come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation’s economy. If that changes, we will call upon them. We need leadership; not a campaign photo op.

If there were ever a time for both candidates to hold a debate before the American people about this serious challenge, it is now. [Source.]

GO HARRY REID. PWN THOSE N00BS.

BUT THE BEST PART? Obama has been called to the doghouse, and will be meeting with President Bush, tomorrow. Probably so Bush can ask him to call off this debate. HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD YOU PAY TO SEE A PRIVATE MEETING BETWEEN THESE TWO MEN? Obama Campaign's post on the subject.


He could so easily "win" Friday's debate by simply showing up. Standing at the podium. Gesturing to the empty one next to him.

It's time for America to decide who it wants to lead this nation. Friday supposed to be a night for debate. An open discourse between Obama and Senator McCain. The topics would center not only on the economy, but each and every issue that is so intricately entwined with it: the on-going wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Abortion. Campaign finance. Civil rights. Military defense. The education of our youth. Taking care of those Americans who live in poverty every day, for whom worrying about their financial situation is not a new concept. Social Security. Immigration.

Becoming president is not a job you slide into. It's not about grandstanding. It's not about laying blame. It's not about picking a vice presidential candidate who will deliver you your party's base, but in reality has nothing to offer the nation.


TAKE THOSE GLOVES OFF.

Seriously, this is like Christmas for the Obama campaign. If they play this right, all he's going to have to do to win this election is giggle.

What the hell, did Heroes premiere last week? Shows how little I care about the show, I guess. Did anybody watch it? Did it stop being a suck-fest?


I like this article on white privilege and the 2008 presidential election, by Tim Wise. Source.

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because “every family has challenges,” even as black and Latino families with similar “challenges” are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.

...

White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think you’re being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you’re somehow being mean, or even sexist.

Also, I really liked this entry in Emma Bull's LiveJournal, which relates to the comments people leave on the Internet, or even things that are said in normal conversation.

I understand the impulse to reply to everything you ever read, but if all you ever have to say is something cynical and that smacks of "Well, clearly you should have seen this coming....like I did!", then it gets pretty old. Read it, people! Conversational etiquette, both online and offline, FTW. In fact, I think I'll just quote her entire post, because you should read it.

"Why are you surprised?"

"Did you really think that...?"

"This is old news."

"It's just business as usual."

I've been hearing and reading these lines, and others like them, a lot lately. They show up when someone--sometimes me, sometimes someone else--gets angry about the election, about FEMA, about law enforcement, about politicians, about a government agency, and says so. When they do, someone will almost always respond with a variation on one of those lines.

I'd just like to say this to the people who are responding that way:

You're seriously pissing me off. Shut the fuck up.

Because here's the implied message of those lines: "You're cute when you're naive and ill-informed. I, however, am too smart and experienced to believe that what's upsetting you can be changed. I'd like to take this opportunity to publicly ridicule you for your embarrassing lack of knowledge and world-weary sophistication."

Do you think you can consider yourself one of the good guys when you ridicule someone for speaking out against things that harm others? Does your ego need so much public propping-up that you'll scorn someone else's distress and anger, if it gives you an excuse to declare yourself smart?

Maybe you really do believe there's nothing we can do about cruelty, injustice, corruption. Maybe you really are shrugging off the world's problems. Okay, you're allowed. It's exhausting work, trying to fix the broken shit, and not everyone can do it all the time every day. I sure can't.

But when you try to make yourself feel better about it by denigrating other people's outrage, you don't get a pass. That goes beyond sitting this one out; it makes you part of the problem.

So if you're all world-weary and wiser than me, I don't want to hear about it. Because those lines up there and their little friends are just an attempt to make you feel big and me feel small. They don't do one damned thing to make the world a better place.

I cannot believe that the president of the National Center for Policy Analysis could say something so stupid.

Mr. Goodman, who helped craft Sen. John McCain's health care policy, said anyone with access to an emergency room effectively has insurance, albeit the government acts as the payer of last resort. (Hospital emergency rooms by law cannot turn away a patient in need of immediate care.)

"So I have a solution. And it will cost not one thin dime," Mr. Goodman said. "The next president of the United States should sign an executive order requiring the Census Bureau to cease and desist from describing any American – even illegal aliens – as uninsured. Instead, the bureau should categorize people according to the likely source of payment should they need care.

"So, there you have it. Voila! Problem solved."

What happens when these people leave the emergency room, Mr. Goodman? Who pays for the prescription drugs they might need to stay alive? Access to an emergency room does not constitute health care. Is a homeless person not homeless if they can take advantage of a homeless shelter? No. What an idiotic statement to make.


Barack Obama addressed this and a multitude of other issues in his speech last night at the Democratic National Convention.

America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this....

We are more compassionate than a government that lets veterans sleep on our streets and families slide into poverty; that sits on its hands while a major American city drowns before our eyes.

Tonight, I say to the people of America, to Democrats and Republicans and independents across this great land -- enough! This moment -- this election -- is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive. Because next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third. And we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look just like the last eight. On November 4, we must stand up and say: "Eight is enough."

The entirety of Obama's speech can be read here.

Who are you voting for?

( Spoilers through episode 6.5 of Buffy )

Fail
I think that last semester ruined me for responsible project habits. Last semester, papers and exams and projects were scheduled in such a way that everything was always one right after the other, and it was nigh on impossible for me to start anything more than 2 days before it was due. My grades turned out fine, but I'm just used to starting a paper more in advance.

The habits seem to have carried over to this semester, even though I have more time, and things are more spaced out (except for this week, WTF!). Last night I fell asleep around midnight and woke up at 2am, wrote a 4-page paper, and went to bed again at 3:30. Woke up at 6:45 for the day. Over breakfast, I decided it would be a good idea to cite the text, as it was an English paper (BWAHAHA).

Anyway, the paper is done and will be handed in during my next class. After that, I have a ballroom dance practical on Monday (on the Waltz) and my Constitutional Law midterm due Tuesday. After that, I just have one exam before Spring Break, so I guess that's good.

Win
Yes, this means that I only have one episode before the Buffy musical, so hopefully I can watch both of those this weekend. SO EXCITED, omg. Then I can finally download the songs without fear of minor spoilers, and listen to them repeatedly forever.

I have decided what my Buffy icon needs to be. Buffy, looking feisty, preferably shaking a finger in a scolding way. Text: "You are a neutered vampire who cheats at kitten poker!"

Latest Addition to my car woes
$20 parking ticket because I didn't move my car to the other side of the street last night. I thought I only had to do that during a snow emergency, but APPARENTLY I WAS WRONG. At least it's only $20 and I can pay it online (I hope).

Links
By way of yhlee, I read this article on Slate.com explaining how Digg and Wikipedia are websites in which a small minority of Internet-users are deciding the content and popularity of the Internet as a whole. It's an interesting read. I use Wikipedia all the time because it's much more useful for things like Final Fantasy VII or the latest anime series than, say, Encyclopedia Britannica would be. I fail to understand the use of websites like Digg, StumbleUpon, and Del.icio.us. I really don't give a shit how many other people have read and liked a page on the Internet. All I care about is whether or not I will like it. If I want to find something random, I'll go to Fark.com (Best news site EVER).

I am in love with this blog post by Ann Althouse: Obama, Farrakhan, and how Hillary Clinton took the opening and then squandered it. In the post, she dissects the rhetoric behind Tim Russert's question to Obama about Farrakhan in Tuesday night's debate, and how Hillary almost totally owned him, and then didn't. I feel like this is going to be a defining moment if she loses to Obama. Obama gives the wrong answer to a serious question, Hillary watches him shoot himself in the foot and makes herself look much stronger....until she backs off, Obama turns her point into a joke, and instead of arguing further, everyone has a good laugh, including the audience, the candidates, and the moderators. And Obama scores hugely.

SlateV had a video up on its main page last night pointing out the similarities between Barack Obama and this year's presidential campaign, and the one shown on The West Wing in its final seasons. Apparently, fictional character Matthew Santos was based on Barack Obama to begin with, although other similarities (fighting an entrenched Democrat; a moderate Republican, etc.) are obviously coincidental.

--Obama won Wisconsin tonight, and I love the Internet. In fact, he kind of totally creamed Hillary.



--I got my first paper handed back in my American Short Story class, and I got a good grade.

--After many phone conversations with car dealerships, city officials, my father, and locksmiths that were sprinkled between my 3 power lectures and Con Law discussion, I think I have this car thing figured out.

While I am at the city's mercy, and may receive a ticket for my car being on the street (I haven't yet! And I have done my best to "camouflage it" as a "moved car" by scraping all of the snow and ice off of it, and shoveling the snow around it.), I am hopeful that I won't.

I didn't really like the way the dealership people have dealt with me, so I'm going to a locksmith instead. Hopefully, the locksmith will work out - it's right on my way from class to work, and I would scarcely be late! If I have to go to the dealership, I will probably have to miss all of tomorrow's work shift (11:30-5:00). So I guess that's kinda sad. But I figured a lot out in one day, so I consider it to be a plus.

--I voted tonight. I love going to the polling place, and seeing all kinds of people there. I just think it's cool. I wish I knew my neighbors, and people in the neighborhood better.

--ALSO, have cemented a couple of more life goals: When I am an old lady, I would like to 1) be one of the people who staffs library sales, and 2) be one of the people who helps run a polling place on election day.

--My cell phone didn't work for a while, but my brother-in-law told me to take the battery out and then put it back in. I did this, and it worked! Yay for simple solutions.

--I have the nicest boyfriend ever, who walked with me in the cold weather so that I could use his cell phone, and watch election results with him.

--My former co-worker replied to my plea for help (on Friday's presentation on "Representations of Gender in American Comics and Japanese Manga"), and offered some expert tips on comics. As I'm not as familiar with comics as I am with manga, I found this exceedingly helpful.

--Via Althouse, I got to laugh at a ridiculous comment about Green Bay, WI made by the director of NBC. Chuck Todd has clearly never heard of Oneida Street. I swear to God, there are 4 new stores/restaurants every time I go home.

--It turned out that nobody showed up to be trained at the Liturgy Training that I completely forgot about on Monday. While I still feel bad, I don't feel as bad.

I need a more serious West Wing icon. Really, I need more icons in general. I would like a paid LiveJournal account. One day, this will happen! But I think I'm going to wait to do stuff like that until I have a job. Or something.

Anyway, a co-worker and I were talking on Friday about the similarities between the current presidential election and the election that took place during seasons 6 and 7 on The West Wing. The West Wing is my favorite TV show of all time, but it's the first four seasons, when Aaron Sorkin was on board, that are my favorite. While I watched season 7, I found parts of it making me roll my eyes because the issues on the show were ripped right from current headlines about politics and international situations. I find this to be lazy storytelling.

How ironic now, that "life imitates art," as they would say on the show. I wanted to make my own list, but after I posted in west_wing_fans, someone directed me to this article, so I can just post the similarities someone else has written out! Bwaha.

West Wing: The battle for the Democratic nomination for the President was very close
Real Life: The battle for the Democratic nomination for the President is very close

West Wing: The Democrats were considering whether to choose their first Hispanic candidate Matt Santos
Real Life: The Democrats are considering whether to choose their first Black candidate Barack Obama

West Wing: Matt Santos started out as a rank outsider before gradually overhauling the “establishment” candidates
Real Life: Barack Obama started out as a rank outsider before gradually overhauling the “establishment” candidates

West Wing: Matt Santos has two young children Peter and Miranda.
Real Life: Barack Obama has two young children Malia and Sasha.

West Wing: Matt Santos was billed as the “change” candidate, offering a new politics.
Real Life: Barack Obama is billed as the “change” candidate, offering a new politics.

West Wing: No one knew who would win the Democrat nomination until the National Convention.
Real Life: It looks like no one will know who will win the Democrat nomination until the National Convention.

West Wing: The Republicans chose an old bloke to be their candidate - Senator Arnold Vinick
Real Life: The Republicans are likely to choose an old bloke to be their candidate - Senator John McCain

West Wing: Republicans chose a centre-right candidate who the religious South deem to be dangerously liberal.
Real Life: Republicans are set to choose a centre-right candidate who the religious South deem to be dangerously liberal.

West Wing: Matt Santos triumphs in the 2006 election, winning Nevada by 30,000 votes, with an electoral margin of 272–266
Real Life: It remains to be seen!

And on a related note, blogger Ann Althouse started an interesting conversation about the fact that Democratic superdelegates are totally capable of thwarting Democratic voters and caucus goers by voting however they want. The post is here. These are the rules we play by. Are they the rules we should play by?