WTF?!?
Stunning realization at the gas station last night - someone stole the gas cap off my Aztek. Insert sarcastic remark towards that jerk here.
Stunning realization at the gas station last night - someone stole the gas cap off my Aztek. Insert sarcastic remark towards that jerk here.
I’m sure that by the time most of you read this, Barack Obama will be well on his way to becoming the next president. At this point, I’m just excited for this campaign to be over. I hope, no matter which rich guy wins, we can all go back to semi-normalcy with how we treat each other.
My main problem this year is that people (and in my personal experience, WAY more on the Obama side of things) were continuously outraged at things they should have been slightly unhappy about. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard otherwise intelligent people (some of them friends) make huge sweeping statements like "I can’t imagine living in a world where people would want to vote for John McCain!" or "Sarah Palin ABSOLUTELY FUCKING TERRIFIES ME!" Really? Do these sound like the kind of things that someone who is interested in working together with people with different views would say? The rational person says "I don’t think Sarah Palin is experienced or qualified enough to be Vice President." Then on election day, they vote for the other ticket. It’s that simple. (Not to let McCain supporters off the hook; Anyone that thinks Obama is a Muslim or a terrorist is a total moron.)
Remember a few years ago, before this campaign started? (Yeah, that far back!) John McCain was respected and even liked by people on both sides. Seriously! Now, apparently, he ABSOLUTELY FUCKING TERRIFIES people. How did that happen? People are seething with hatred for McCain and Palin. Actual hate! That is a serious thing to me. Once tonight is over, I’m sure the view of the other side will be softened a bit, but I’ll remember. People were spitting venom over Sarah Palin, all because they thought someone else should have her job. Odd that a campaign with such a positive message would have that effect on it’s followers.
Not to get all "paranoid of the evil liberal media" an y’all, but if you think that the coverage of this election has been fair, you’re not paying close enough attention. Now, we all know that Fox News leans right and CNN leans left, but we’re supposed to be able to trust the broadcast networks still, right? I heard this exact quote on a promo for ABC News’ election night coverage the other night: "Is America poised to elect it’s first African-American president, or will it all be snatched away?". Snatched away?! Damn… sorry to "snatch away" the hopes and dreams of an entire culture, just because I differ on the tax plan of one party’s candidate.
Here’s what it boils down to: Both John McCain and Barack Obama are great men who really believe that their ideas will help the country. Both are intelligent, articulate and qualified. However, neither one will make sweeping change in either direction. Obama’s not going to take all of our guns away, and McCain’s not going to overturn Roe v. Wade. There also won’t be much "reaching across the aisle" by either party. The main thing that every politician wants is to be reelected. It doesn’t look good to the constituents if you’re agreeing with the enemy, now does it?
Any bipartisan relations that have a shot in hell of actually working need to happen down here at our level. Friends need to be friends again. Unless you’re that much of an asshole that you can’t respect the fact that there are other views than your own, in which case, i don’t know what to tell you. I’m just happy that everyone will finally shut up about politics for a while.
I voted this afternoon in Pontiac. The line was 1 1/2 hours long, and it was interesting and completely scary to overhear the people around me talking. I chose to stay out of all the conversation and just listen to the following:
- A mother explained to her young son that we elect a new president every 8 years…she was pretty sure at least. She also told him that this was the first time she had ever voted.
- A man said that he hoped he could vote today. He has actually been living in Warren, Michigan for months, but never changed his registration. The woman he was talking to told him that he shouldn’t worry - her friend was at the same place voting earlier this morning and wasn’t registered or on the registration list. They let her vote anyway. (Sure enough, he was also able to vote.)
- A boy asked his mom why we needed to vote (both of them not of Caucasian descent)- “Why don’t they just make Obama president now?” She explained that everyone needed to vote, because some people didn’t want Obama to be president. He asked her “Why not?”. She turned around and looked at me, hesitated and said “…I’ll tell you later”. I can only assume what she would tell him later.
- One woman told another woman how excited she was that gas prices were going down lately. She said it was because “All those gas companies are scared now…they know Bush is on his way out.” Haven’t we known that for four years now…Really, the gas companies just figured that one out?
- The ballots were taped on the front doors of the building as we walked in. A man standing in front of it asked his friend if they were directions as to what we do when we get in. A person in line behind him explained that they were in fact examples of the ballots we would be using.
- The woman in front of me in line looked at the example ballots and asked the woman in front of her why there were so many names listed as presidential candidates? There’s only two people running for president, right? Who are all those other people?
- A few different people were discussing when the new president gets sworn in. Nobody knew.
- There also was some discussion as to what else we were supposed to be voting on. Nobody knew.
Like I said, scary.
Happy Halloween!!!
I was so excited for the weekend - that is until I discovered I had a fever on Friday afternoon. I opted to skip Zombie Dance Party and stay in on Friday night in an effort to quickly ditch the flu in hopes that I could still enjoy Saturday and Sunday. Feeling a bit better the next day, I kept my plans on Saturday night to bartend and hang out at Theatre Bizaare with my friend Nathan. I’d never gone before to it, and this was a way into the party without the big ticket price - I couldn’t pass it up! I had a great time, but paid the price the next morning when I realized that my sick and fever was back with avengence. Missed Sunday’s plans of meetings and family get-togethers. Instead I slept all day and night on the couch while Dan was on his way to Washington DC.
One out of three ain’t bad…
Dan and I will be here tonight!
And I’ll be bartending here on Saturday night!!!
I had the honor this weekend of being the best man at my buddy Adam’s wedding (Flickr). It was a beautiful ceremony with a great party afterward. I made it through my speech without dropping any F-bombs and drank plenty of free (thanks to Dr. Arnold) whiskey.
Congratulations to both of you!
I finally finished the scarf I started last winter (yeah, seriously). It partly took so long because it was all new to me - I’d never used a seed stitch before, and I’d never done tassles, either - both of which were time consuming. It also took a long time because I got sick of it halfway through because it was taking so long, so I procrastinated acually finishing it. Now it’s done just in time for the chilly fall and I love it!
Congratulations to Grade-A asshole, and all around sweet dude, Adam on the new job!
TURBO CLAW!!! Fighter of the Night Man, champion of the sun, master of karate and friendship for everyone.