attention mr. biden

Dear Mr. Biden,

How they hangin'?

You've got quite the debate coming up on Thursday. I'm going to have popcorn handy.

I'm sure that you've seen the interviews your opponent has done with Gibson and Couric. It was so palinfull to watch her grasp for answers. As you can tell, she's not too bright ("You're not too bright are you?" "No" "Perfect."). And she certainly can't think on her feet. And she's certainly not qualified. And....er, that's a different rant.

Anyway. Now, sometimes you're really passionate and aggressive with your opinions. And that's one of the reasons why I like you. But you don't want anyone saying that you were "picking on" Palin (even though the GOP swears there's no sexism), so could you tone that down a tad? Also, if you think about it, as long as you answer questions intelligently and mention all your experience, really, how can you not win? You don't even have to bad mouth your opponent in order to win. She'll fail at this all on her own when she can't step outside her script (and even then I wonder at her ability to memorize said script). This should be a cakewalk.

Don't, however, get too confident of your potential easy win. Shit happens and she could have a miracle. Or as the tin foil hat brigade might end up suggesting: someone giving her the answers via a transmitter in her ear. So, don't get smug, okay? Just be _mostly_ yourself and you'll have this in the bag.

Hugz,
CF

Posted by jennj at 07:22 PM | Comments (7)

sarah palin foreign policy "experience"

OMG. Are you kidding me? Read Palin's response as to why she didn't have a passport until last year:

"Couric: In preparing for this conversation, a lot of our viewers … and Internet users wanted to know why you did not get a passport until last year. And they wondered if that indicated a lack of interest and curiosity in the world.

Palin: I'm not one of those who maybe came from a background of, you know, kids who perhaps graduate college and their parents give them a passport and give them a backpack and say go off and travel the world.

No, I've worked all my life. In fact, I usually had two jobs all my life until I had kids. I was not a part of, I guess, that culture. The way that I have understood the world is through education, through books, through mediums that have provided me a lot of perspective on the world. "

I've worked all my life. I don't have a college degree. I didn't have parents who gave me a backpack and told me to go travel the world (well, they did tell me to travel the world). But I've traveled the world ANYWAY. And besides, most kids who travel via backpack through europe after they graduate are staying at youth hostels for real cheap. She's making it sound like they're staying in five star hotels and the backpack just holds money.

Arrrggghh.

Look, I know that a LOT of americans do not have passports or travel outside the country. I don't understand it, but it's a fact. And I know that some of it has to do with many of the reasons she cites: parents who don't inspire that kind of travel, money, having a family, etc. But I cannot take seriously a candidate for the vice presidency who has only gotten a passport a year before she was nominated. I just feel that a vice president (or president) should have traveled to other places on the planet over the years. Especially if they are going to claim they have foreign policy experience.

Posted by jennj at 08:24 AM | Comments (2)

false sense of urgency on the bailout?

One of the things I do at work is I assess urgency. This is a valuable way to deal with things as you can truly take a moment and discuss what is really necessary and when and be able to hopefully come up with a wise solution instead of something half-assed cause everyone thought it was "urgent". So I ask: Why the urgency to sign something THIS WEEK?

Hello, congresscritters, hello!?

Posted by jennj at 05:34 PM | Comments (5)

bail out. so. angry.

I urge you to write or call your congresscritters today. This sham of a $700Billion bailout must not be passed. There is NO oversight for these jerks if the bill passes in it's current incarnation. I've basically told my senators and rep that even if they vote against it in it's current form, if it passes I'm not voting for them again. "Democratic-led congress"? BS. Their inability to reason with their fellow Democrats and reach across the aisle to Republicans who know this is a bad idea proves that they are past their prime as far as I'm concerned. If it passes, that means their seniority (and boy do my senators and rep have seniority) doesn't mean jack shit for any ability to get things done. So why not try someone new.

So. Angry.

I think this sums up how I feel quite well.

Posted by jennj at 01:44 PM | Comments (5)

i see. the banks want their cake and eat it too

From the great political blog Washington Monthly:

Article regarding bank lobbyists.

"House Republican staffers met with roughly 15 lobbyists Friday afternoon, whose message to lawmakers was clear: Don't load the legislation up with provisions not directly related to the crisis, or regulatory measures the industry has long opposed.

A deal killer for the group: a proposal that would grant bankruptcy judges new powers to lower the principal, interest rate or both on a mortgage as part of a bankruptcy proceeding."

This shit makes me so mad.

Posted by jennj at 09:02 AM | Comments (3)

i don't get it

Why does the Bush Administration want to hide information from their administration? Mostly rhetorical. Has any other administration tried this kind of bullshit?

Posted by jennj at 08:48 AM | Comments (6)

red sox

Things have been busy (and look like they will continue to be for the next few months). We flew out to L.A. this past weekend to surprise the parental units (that'll be in a separate post). I have time to share an amusing story from the trip right now.....so.....we're at a big dinner at a restaurant outside disneyland in downtown disney. There's like 17 of us. Including two friends who came for dinner only, Brian and Kathy. They show up and they're like, "Hey, the Sox are beating tampa bay by 11!" and we're like, "Great!" So I say to them, "I have two free tix to a yankees/red sox game at the end of the month from my BFF." Brian: "Friday, 7:30?" Me: "Um, yeah, why?" Brian: "We'll be there." Me: "Get the FUCK out of here! Really?" Brian: "Yeah, we're doing an east coast tour of ball parks for a week and our last stop is Fenway and that game. We then fly out the next morning home." Me: "Well, shit, dude, we're getting together for dinner beforehand!"

Posted by jennj at 12:10 PM | Comments (0)

home fixin's

Well, those of you who have been to our house know that we have antiquated, knob and tube electrical wiring. The only modern wiring we have is in the office and that was done by nbh. We have finally scheduled an electrician to update the whole house (and garage!) and he starts the first week in October!! After that we have to focus on replacing all the windows, insulating and doing something about the heating system (and potentially add air conditioning). I'm excited.

Posted by jennj at 07:40 AM | Comments (0)

straight face

How can the Republicans say what they say with a straight face? *Shakes head*

Anyway, because everyone on the planet should see this Jon Stewart clip, I'm putting it here in a post. Iwan left it in comments, I saw it when I watched the daily show last night and it needs to be seen. I think it's one of my most favorite things from the daily show ever. And while I give a hat tip to Newt Gingrich for going on the show Wednesday night, man did Jon skewer him.

If you don't read The Washington Monthly, then you should. It's a great political blog and I'm especially liking his daily roundups.

Posted by jennj at 06:59 AM | Comments (3)