Freeking Brilliant


This should get passed along to anyone who hasn't thought much about how perceptions about what "real people" think get manipulated by the GOP astroturf machine. Maddow calls them out by name, in glorious detail. Riveting.

I would do anything to be able to buy in to even a shitty government health program right now. Just open something up for us. PLEASE! I would like to live long enough to enjoy Medicare, like the previous generations of Americans have done for my entire lifetime.

And you folks who think you're against it? You are against something that is in your own self-interest, and just feeding the self-interest of the rich who just want to get richer so they can take your jobs away faster.

End of rant.

Maybe it should be the start of one.

Labels: politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 2:23 PM | | | Link |

 
Gapers Block: Merge - Kirk Makes It Official
Gapers Block: Merge - Kirk Makes It Official

Shared via AddThis

OK, Lisa. Time to step up to the plate.

Not stepping up? Anyone else? Anyone?

This is a great opportunity to get a Democrat into the 10th CD. Will Dan Seals run for a third time, now that Kirk (who for some unknown reason is seen as a moderate, tho he isn't) is out? Someone else?

I will not repeat some of the gossip I heard at a picnic recently regarding Kirk's marriage/divorce. I will not, and you can't make me.

Labels: elections, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 2:01 PM | | | Link |

 
"Oh, Look!" Said Daniel Biss...


... it's a mayor on a bike!"

And so it was. Arrival shot missing, unfortunately, but Evanston's new mayor, Elizabeth Tisdahl, hung around for quite awhile before heading off to official parade functions. She was amused that she was expected to give a speech in the middle of all of it.

Just back from the annual DPOE picnic/massing of the troops/gossip fest/fantasy politico league meet-up.

Pretty good turnout, considering no one knows who's running for what office at the moment, other than the rock-steady Julie Hamos, who we'll miss terribly when she becomes our next Attorney General, (assuming Lisa Madigan moves on, and 25 other factors fall into place correctly).



Since about 20 people have declared to run for Julie's State Rep seat, I couldn't get pix of them all. Just Jeff Smith, who's been around progressive politics for a long time, and was the only person I could find who could tell me who had taken Tisdahl's seat when she moved up (Jane Grover, apparently), and that she quilts and keeps a very low profile.



Daniel Biss is now working for Pat Quinn, and isn't sure whether he'll try again to unseat Coulson, and also is currently president of the DPOE.

And would probably remind you to give, give until it hurts, since hot dogs don't come cheap.

Labels: elections, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 1:53 PM | | | Link |

 
How About Appointing a Freeking Democrat
...for a change?

Gregg withdraws as nominee for Commerce

He cited "irresolvable conflicts" with Obama's handling of the economic stimulus and 2010 census.

Yeah, like he's a freeking REPUBLICAN!! Who hates to spend a nickel on the little guy!!

Good afternoon, friends. Have been programming the new scenario busily all afternoon, led astray by an uninitialized variable that was causing (as they tend to) weird effects, but this in the color I was trying to tint a room. Was about to report it as a bug in the new version of AGS until I dumped a bunch of stuff and discovered, what do you know, it was my problem.

Kind of like Gregg. He's one of the bugs in the Obama code. We fix it, and move on.

Labels: AGS, computers, Darkdevil County, games, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 6:02 PM | | | Link |

 
Breaking News


Ah, CNN... What would we do without you? And people complain about Caroline Kennedy wanting to get appointed to fill Hillary Clinton's senate seat. Harvard B.A., Columbia J.D. not good enough? A lifetime spent in politics, education issues, arts administration, motherhood? A Democrat from the Democratic wing of the party who will not dither on these issues, who will take direction from "Red" Kennedy, her uncle?

Let them draw the monarchy line after this appointment, and enforce it only for the Bush family. Her father was king for only a very brief moment, after all, and her brother only barely a prince.

There are probably many more deserving on merit, but this wouldn't be bad. The press would go gaga, spend all their time divided between her and Hillary, and let the new administration get some work done in peace and quiet for a change.

Labels: politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 10:44 AM | | | Link |

 
Just Freeking Do It
Resign, already!

Nothing new today in the Blagojevich atrocity, at least at the Trib, other than columnist reactions, etc., and the predictable troll trash-talking in comments here and there.

What is it with governors and corruption? I would have said it's the 'nads (thinking Spitzer in NY), but then there's Palin too.

My favorite Illinois blogger, Archpundit, is so very much all over this mess, I'll leave it in his very assured hands while my PC goes out for repair again. Graze away at his site -- tons and tons of facts and speculation, all you can eat.

While taking down last year's Christmas cards the other day (or maybe 2, maybe 3 years-worth -- they look so cheerful, why bother?), found this:




Check out the back:



Guess that committee has been disbanded. One hopes.

Don't want to send the computer back in the middle of all this. Really don't want to. Can't think when I've enjoyed a scandal as tasty -- have to think way way back to another Obama-related situation, the Jack Ryan/Alan Keyes thing.

It's been hard to find another politician who's been less popular than George Bush and Dick Cheney, but Blago has managed to do it for years now. He even makes Mike Madigan look good (insert picture of their embrace over the summer here). Mike should have bit off his ear when he had the chance.

Labels: politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 11:05 AM | | | Link |

 
Should I Apologize Now?
For voting for this fool? Twice?

Blago Taken Into Federal Custody For Abusing His Authority To Appoint Obama Successor

A 76-page FBI affidavit alleges that Blagojevich was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps during the last month conspiring to sell or trade Illinois’ U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife. At various times, in exchange for the Senate appointment, Blagojevich discussed obtaining:

– a substantial salary for himself at a either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions;

– placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year;

– promises of campaign funds – including cash up front; and

– a cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.

I knew he'd f*cked up various health programs, tho talked the good talk in newsletters etc., but if true this is incredible!

I know everyone else out there liked Claypool for governor last time, but I didn't think he'd be effective, since he seemed too nice. And we have a fine tradition in Illinois electing effective, corrupt officials.

Blago, please resign right now. Pat Quinn is an ok guy (I think... who knows what to think any more). Maybe after this he won't try to sell Obama's senate seat, at the very least.

Labels: politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 10:36 AM | | | Link |

 
Bad Feelings
Feeling #1: Hating the undecided voter

WTF do you think you are, princess? If you can't make up your mind by this point, you have no mind to make up. You spend less time deciding which car to buy or who to sleep with or marry. Is it a power trip thing? Can you really think something cataclysmic will happen at 5:59 am on election day (or worse, 6:59 pm, as you rush to get in line to vote before the official "end of line" sign goes up) that will alter your decision? Perhaps it would be a great idea to PAY ATTENTION to a world outside your own body.

Unless you, too, have stress-induced depression and inaction anxiety. In which case, we need Obama's health plan so we can get treatment.

Feeling #2: Resent having to GOTV

Can't you f**kers get yourselves to the polls without me calling you up and reminding you? Do you so hate America that you don't understand that you ARE America? And that the only difference between you and a bag of Cheetos is that the bag of Cheetos would probably vote if it could, and is sitting at your local precinct office feeding the GOTV workers, so at least it is TRYING? Do you really want a second-rate anchorwoman-wannabe running your life just because you think she's hot?

Feeling #3: Blue-state arrogance

There is no difference between Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. None. Large northern post-industrial cities, farmland, suburbs. That's pretty much it. So how come we in Illinois are 75 points up for Obama and everyone else doesn't get it? Maybe more than 75. I realize you have to slice about 10 percent off always for wacky Nader types, writer-inners, and people who are undecided about any question you ask them, such as "Would you like a poke in the eye right now?" That still leaves 15 percent. I believe these 15 percent are not actually human. They are the first wave of invaders from another galaxy and must be thwarted at all costs.

Perhaps if we elect Obama, we can bring actual science back to the schools and these feelings will go away and we can get rid of the tin foil.

Feeling #4: The fog of polling

I just don't give a crap any longer, but I still obsess over every poll I have no control over. We all know that the 1000 people chosen for any poll are the idiots who haven't figured out how to screen their calls yet, or have a fake phone number that never gets answered and a real one they give their friends, who are immediately dropped as friends if they ever get a non-friend phone call on that number.

I would put up a poll here on this blog, but I don't have the energy to find the polling widget and stick it in. Then I'd be upset and depressed that no one wanted to take part in the poll -- out of the bazillion visitors each day to Daily Kos, only a couple of thousand bother to vote, so does it make the results a) more accurate, b) less accurate, or c) undecided? I just don't give a rat's ass.

Feeling #5: The constant apology

Am sorry for my lack of enthusiasm 2 days before the election. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Sorry for not being out on the streets knocking on doors. Feel like a hypocrite. Is the most perfect GOTV weather you can imagine, which is identical to perfect football weather -- crisp and clear, you won't get overheated and dehydrated as you climb that final set of steep steps to the apartment building with the door buzzers where no one will buzz you in, because they're not idiots. So you dump your load of flyers in the trash and hit the drive-thru White Castle for a chocolate shake and a bag of sliders because You're Worth It(tm). Which is why my breath smells like onions. I apologize.

Mostly I'm sorry that I want to crush all former Republican Masters of the Universe into squealing lumps of obsolescence. I know I'll feel better on Tuesday evening when it's all over and I head to Grant Park to watch history happen before my very eyes.

Is that so wrong?

Labels: elections, obama, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 11:38 AM | | | Link |

 
League of Women Voters Wilmette Candidate Forum
Just back from the Biss-Coulson candidate forum organized by the League of Women Voters in Wilmette. It was actually quite interesting, non-partisan, etc., even though some Republican guy who claimed he was scheduled for the debate kept being a jerk and trying to hand out campaign lit. Since there was supposed to be no electioneering, I had to cover up the t-shirt and buttons. A League rep made one of the audience put away the Republican's materials, and I alerted them to another supporter trying to get away with flashing them. Same rules for all.

Coulson seemed oddly nervous at times, almost panicky -- I think it was beginning to freak her out that she actually had a viable Democratic Party opponent in a year when Republicans at all levels of government will go down to defeat. While the two candidates tend to agree on many issues, Coulson's solution tends to be (wait for it...) budgetary cuts.

Biss's suggestion (in response to a question about environment and energy) is to make sure Illinois gets in on the manufacturing and R & D ground floor of all these great new energy initiatives, pointing out that as of now, jobs and wealth in these technologies is being created overseas. He spoke about other issues (such as flat vs. progressive taxation -- Illinois state tax is flat -- with obvious understanding of how it works here). Coulson sometimes seemed a little befuddled at what he was saying.

The oddest and most confusing response Coulson gave was about whether there is or isn't gridlock in Springfield, and whether she's part of it or not. She started out saying there was none, then flipped back to saying that some of her initiatives have sat in committee for 12 years, then going back again. Biss contends that proposed legislative rule changes would break the power of some of the entrenched committees and open the process up to -- yes -- the legislative process. It didn't sound as though she'd thought much about that particular question.

This was probably the first time it really struck me how difficult it is to be a challenger to an entrenched, moderately successful politician who has a record that can be cherry-picked and pointed to with pride, depending on the audience (not that Coulson does it, but still...). As a Republican, she's not Satan, per se -- though many in what passes for the GOP would probably brand her as a relativistic commie type who kills babies, etc. etc.

Daniel Biss is not just a smart guy -- mathematics professor, etc., big-brained genius-type -- but he's genuine, very down-to-earth and funny too. If he's against something, he doesn't waffle. He speaks passionately about fake issues that scare us (like non-existent voter fraud -- and picture id requirements, which both he and Coulson are against). This, I think, is what so many people respond to, and I saw a lot of head nodding in the audience whenever he was clearly speaking from the heart.

Unfortunately, the format only allowed for 2 minute responses, and no followup questions. Coulson has, of course, done this many many times before, while Biss is still new to the process. I have a feeling, though, that many of us could have listened to his ideas for a lot longer than 2 minutes.

So, if you're in the 17th Illinois State Congressional District (Skokie, Wilmette, parts of Evanston, etc.), go vote for him and you'll get your chance.

Labels: Daniel Biss, elections, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 3:31 PM | | | Link |

 
Time to Put Up the Storm Windows
We're supposed to get snow tonight. Yikes!

Good afternoon, friends. I'm sure you're all out canvassing for your candidates, so won't be reading this, but I figured I'd talk about the weather for a little bit before I go out to the League of Women Voters event pitting Democrat Daniel Biss against his Republican opponent, Elizabeth Coulson, in the 17th State Congressional District in Illinois. It's at 1:30pm, Wilmette Village Hall, 1200 Wilmette Avenue, in Wilmette (the big building that isn't the bank just east of Green Bay Road). I've been told it's only an hour long.

So put on that t-shirt and buttons and get out there!

Labels: Daniel Biss, elections, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 12:11 PM | | | Link |

 
One World
Via Kos:



Thank you, my socialist Russian comrades.

Labels: palin, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 4:36 PM | | | Link |

 
Freeking Hilarious
So incompetent they can't even direct their own people to the right place:

Florida Republican Party directs voters to wrong early voting sites

If you're looking for information on early voting sites, one place to avoid: the Republican Party of Florida's Web site.

Under a "Voter Action Center" tab on the state party's home page, voters can select their county and, in theory, find out a convenient early voting location. The problem: For Palm Beach County, it lists 14 early voting sites. In fact, there are only 11.

The erroneous early voting information also was sent to voters in a mailer.

For the conspiracy minded, the RPOF (which apparently listed the early voting sites from the 2006 election) directed voters to the wrong polling places in Belle Glade and southwestern Palm Beach County, two heavily Democratic areas. Then again, only six of the 14 early voting sites listed by the RPOF are truly in action.

Spokeswoman Erin VanSickle said it's an "honest mistake that we are working quickly to fix."

The Florida Democratic Party quickly slammed the Republican mix-up.

"We knew the Republicans were incompetent when it comes to running the government, but now it looks as if their incompetence is spilling over to campaigns," said spokesman Eric Jotkoff. "The fact that the Republicans can’t update the list of early voting sites from 2006 [ed. even I updated my blog entry from 2006 about early voting] shows that the get-out-the-vote machine that they brag about is pretty rusty these days."

Memo to Republican Party: not all voters need to be suppressed. For example, your own.

Labels: elections, GOP incompetence, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 6:23 PM | | | Link |

 
Liar Till the End
McCain: 'I love being the underdog'

"I love being the underdog. You know, every time that I've gotten ahead, somehow I've messed it up," the Republican candidate said. [ed. this is what we want for our country, right?]

Asked if Gov. Sarah Palin has become a drag on his ticket, McCain said, "As a cold political calculation, [ed. he said it, I didn't] I could not be more pleased."

"She has excited and energized our base. She is a direct counterpoint to the liberal feminist agenda for America. She has a wonderful family. She's a reformer. She's a conservative. She's the best thing that could have happened to my campaign and to America," he said.

Not once in this man's life has he enjoyed being in this position. It fills him with such rage he can barely contain himself.

Labels: mccain, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 2:12 PM | | | Link |

 
Hell Has Frozen Over While Pigs Fly Overhead
The Chicago Tribune has endorsed a Democrat for president:

This endorsement makes some history for the Chicago Tribune. This is the first time the newspaper has endorsed the Democratic Party's nominee for president.

The Tribune in its earliest days took up the abolition of slavery and linked itself to a powerful force for that cause--the Republican Party. The Tribune's first great leader, Joseph Medill, was a founder of the GOP. The editorial page has been a proponent of conservative principles. It believes that government has to serve people honestly and efficiently.

With that in mind, in 1872 we endorsed Horace Greeley, who ran as an independent against the corrupt administration of Republican President Ulysses S. Grant. (Greeley was later endorsed by the Democrats.) In 1912 we endorsed Theodore Roosevelt, who ran as the Progressive Party candidate against Republican President William Howard Taft.

The Tribune's decisions then were driven by outrage at inept and corrupt business and political leaders.

We see parallels today.

The Republican Party, the party of limited government, has lost its way. The government ran a $237 billion surplus in 2000, the year before Bush took office -- and recorded a $455 billion deficit in 2008. The Republicans lost control of the U.S. House and Senate in 2006 because, as we said at the time, they gave the nation rampant spending and Capitol Hill corruption. They abandoned their principles. They paid the price.

Washington Post yesterday.

It is said that in this day and age when no one reads newspapers endorsements are meaningless. I disagree. Maybe younger people don't read them, but papers like the Trib still have a reputation and reach, and what else do you do in the morning when you're riding the train?

I admit I was fully expecting them to cling to pattern and history and go for McCain. This is almost as good as if FOX came out and endorsed Obama.

If they did, however, I might have to take a second look at the guy....

Just kidding.

UPDATE: Chicago's other daily paper, the Sun-Times, has endorsed Obama too. Teases us with no link to text of endorsement -- must pick up the paper on Sunday. I haven't been paying much attention to the newspaper wars, but have always thought the Sun-Times has taken a sharp turn to the right in recent years. This is the more "Joe Six-Pack" paper of the two, and easier to read on the train.

Labels: politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 3:45 PM | | | Link |

 
Final Debate
Thank Jeebus!

I don't think my liver could take another one. It took 4 years for it to recover from the first Bush/Kerry debate (the one where George appeared to be drunk and wandering around the stage, but nevertheless won the election). And now it's ruined again.

The only people who can possibly think McCain won are those who think the contest is more important or interesting than the content of the response. Which pretty much describes all the punditocracy class who have to fill up the passing hours on 24/7 news channels.

I am trying to understand the strange being that is Rick Sanchez of CNN, who is everywhere on Twitter, sometimes seems to get it, sometimes doesn't. I am assuming that for the most part he really really wants to be on the bus and invited to the cocktail parties, get the hot interviews, etc., but he's like bi-polar, and sometimes the good Rick pops up, who has an honestly enquiring, non-whoreish mind.

Can someone explain this guy to me? Or Rick, if you're out there? I really want to know the boundaries of your asshole-ness.

Interesting thing about only being able to do 140 chars on Twitter, is that it tends to reward the bon mot and the zinger, which I'd thought had been lost in this day and age. Someone even started quoting Shakespearean insults (from some website) the other day -- bookmarked it, but lost it.

Not everything out there (in fact, oddly, not a whole lot) is all "LOL omigod he did what?"

I suppose even watching the debate (since I voted yesterday) is just an excuse to do some drunk-blogging (I hear there's a new gmail filter that prevents this kind of abuse).

That's ok. I know it's corny, but Barack Obama really is The One. If Hillary had been the candidate, I might have thought the same. I don't know. We'll never know. He might prove to be a shitty president, but we're pretty much used to it, aren't we?

Labels: politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 12:14 AM | | | Link |

 
Hey Sarah Palin


Very sweet song. (Hey There Delilah is a radio play fave of mine -- yes, laugh if you want.)

Labels: palin, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 11:05 AM | | | Link |

 
Last Day to Register to Vote in IL Is Oct 7
A little long, but stay with it, then pass it on.



Here's the link to www.maps.google.com/vote. Very useful tool.

Vote 411 is a handy website put together by the League of Women Voters that is another really good place to start.

You may think it isn't necessary, that Obama is a lock for Illinois, but there are a lot of very important congressional and state races that need your attention. For example, Dan Seals for Congress in IL-10, and Daniel Biss for IL State Representative in the 17th.

Good afternoon, friends. I, too, have a deadline -- for the next Spudnik Press show. Details:

Spudnik Launch Party
Housewarming Event
Saturday, October 18, 2008
6pm-10pm

@ Spudnik Press
1821 W Hubbard St.
Suite 308
Chicago, IL 60622

Will have more, plus the poster, later. I have to deliver some stuff to them by Monday (I think).

Hint: there may be robots involved.

UPDATE: this post is bumped up from a few days ago, so it's not your imagination if you think you've seen it before. Today is now the LAST DAY in Illinois to register. In Chicago, you can go to City Hall until midnight (according to the news). Other suburban locations open until 8:00. Check the county and city links on the side.

Labels: politics, printmaking, robots

- posted by Cynthia @ 8:30 AM | | | Link |

 
Better Than Expected Is Not Better
Just saying.

Good afternoon, friends. Have been seeing a whole bunch of articles around the tubes that are trying to put a horserace spin back on the election. I guess blowout reporting gets dull. Debate expectations for Sarah Palin were so low -- and I'm sorry that we Democrats fell into the trap of helping to lower them way beyond subbasement level -- that the fact she walked into the room and didn't barf on her notecards from nervousness (tho there were a few moments I think we saw her panic) STILL doesn't qualify her for president (because that's the qualifications a vice presidential candidate should have).

Not even president of Wasilla High School (or whatever it might be called).

A lot of folks out there like to cheer for the plucky underdog, the can-do girl with the bubbly personality and the little-girl hairdo (when her hair is up she looks like an adult -- when she wears it down and pulled back so sweetly, we know she's trying to be young and adorable).

I think in her mind she's living the script of Legally Blonde 3, Elle Goes to the White House.

Unfortunately, I think Elle's dog Bruiser has a better chance of getting my vote than Sarah Palin does.



(Oh no! Now they'll accuse me of calling Sarah Palin a dog!!)

Joe Biden was the one who seriously beat expectations for me. He really brought it. Have watched American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, etc. etc. and they always keep urging the contestants to keep raising the level of their performance, just do it, let it all out, etc. Joe's combination of knowledge, passion, directness, and honest answers to Ifill's questions blew me away. I'd really expected to hear talking points, stump speech stuff, etc., the Democratic version of the crap Palin was spewing. He can reel that stuff off by the yard.

This was a whole new side of Biden I hadn't seen. I really felt as though he felt he was debating for the life of the country, like a latter day Daniel Webster debating the Devil.

Anyway, just back from a dress-up (with pantyhose!) ladies' luncheon where this was the main topic at the table.

The "ladies" I was with saw through her with ease and were not very ladylike in their assessments either.

Probably because they were actual, grown-up women.

Labels: palin, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 4:53 PM | | | Link |

 
The Energy Expert
In preparation for tomorrow's debate, I've been going back over all the Palin video clips from the past few weeks, trying to figure out my favorite.

Does doing this cramfest make me qualified to be President? I believe it does. My head is now at least as empty as George Bush's.

The winner:



I hadn't seen this when it first came out. It has it all -- the idiocy, the irritating voice -- plus Wolf Blitzer. What more can you ask?

Labels: palin, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 7:44 PM | | | Link |

 
Last of the PUMAs Surrender
Women's rights groups endorse Obama for president

WASHINGTON - Women's rights groups endorsed Barack Obama for president Tuesday, asserting the historic selection of a female Republican vice presidential candidate does not make up for John McCain's lack of support on issues important to women.
[...]
Obama was also endorsed by leaders from Business and Professional Women/USA, the National Association of Social Workers, the National Congress of Black Women and the Women's Information Network. [ed. in addition to Feminist Majority and National Organization for Women]

I realize that many younger women don't have a clue who these people are, what these organizations are all about, or why they didn't stand with Obama the minute Hillary Clinton turned over her primary votes to him. It was a freeking no-brainer, after all. Or why they hadn't leapt all over McCain's choice the minute it was announced.

In the spirit of hope and moving forward, let's just wait and have that discussion after November 4th. Let's just be very happy that we're all on the same page now. Let's figure out what we can do to really get this party started.

Labels: politics, women

- posted by Cynthia @ 9:53 PM | | | Link |