Why I Like Erick Cordero

I am busier than heck (heck is a busy place, I hear!) but I am taking a moment to tell you all about my friend, Erick Cordero. I think we are friends-- we met during the election and while we don't do lunch and share a lot, it's probably because we are both very busy people. If we were neighbors, we'd probably talk a lot more and be happy for being near each other.

Anyway, I have been a lifelong Republican until this year when I realized that anything I said to my local representative was already decided by him and I could watch his eyes glaze over when we spoke. Erick Cordero is not running for representative; he his running for the senate. He runs an agency that gets lawyers to do pro bono work for clients who cannot afford it. My husband says he squeezes blood from turnips, water from rocks, swims with sharks, etc. and it's cute when he says that because you look at Erick and think, "He's so sweet!" And he is sweet-- but he's smart. (He gets along with everyone which may be why I like him; I don't like a lot of people.) Erick Cordero also a businessman. And- get this, Erick Cordero is a Democrat who is against abortion, but he also wants to solve the underlying need for women who want to get abortions. Pair this with the Republicans who want you to have the babies, but don't want you to get Welfare or train you! Erick Cordero gives a flying frak!

His wife is a really nice lady-- she is a teacher in Eagle River and teaches German. I don't know how many languages the two of them together speak, but they have more foreign experience and knowledge than many ambassadors have. His kids are great-- I have met them and my kids have met them and if you want to know a vine, see it's fruit. These kids will make him and his wife proud in the coming years. I used to live in Hillside and grew up with politician's kids and they were resentful. (As teenagers we'd sneak into our parent's wine cellars. . . but that's a different story for another time! LOL) Erick Cordero's kids are proud of him running. They won't be doing anything to embarrass their parents, God willing.

I don't like his challenger. She is a society doyen (dragon!) and is more, "Vote for me because my family's name is all over the place." She's raised $76,000 to Erick Cordero's mere $15,000-- because he represents small business owners and average people. Will his opponent still represent me if she wins and realizes that I have supported Erick Cordero? I am doubting it. She is letting a seated state representative bash Erick for her, which is annoying. Erick Cordero will still represent you if you don't like him, but for right now, he needs your vote!

This is what Erick Cordero has to say for himself-- read this and please tell your friends why they should vote for him.

Over the last few weeks, I have had the honor of running for the State Senate in Mat Su. I set out to elevate the dialogue and help restore faith in the public process, and I believe I have succeeded. My message has been consistent; we need to make sure that legislators are working for all Alaskans and we can accomplish great things if we work together for Alaska's future.

Throughout this campaign, I have been clear about where I stand on the issues, particularly in supporting:

* Development of renewable energy sources to find long-term solutions to our current energy crisis;
* Improving our public transportation system and roads;
* Making healthcare available and affordable to all Alaskans;
* Supporting our educators and other public employees by restoring the defined retirement benefits;
* Enhancing services for members of our senior community;
* Making sure that social justice and ethics are more than just a campaign talking point.

Partisanship hurts us. We need to work together as Alaskans to find solutions that benefit our whole state. I will always do what is right for all Alaskans because we have unique challenges that require unique Alaskan solutions.

On November 4th, you have a real choice. I will work hard for all members of our community. I ask you for your support and your vote.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Erick Cordero

p.s. please visit www.erickcordero.com to learn more about me.

The Prison Ministry

Today I went to my training for a prison ministry. I really like the women who I work with but I find part of it intimidating. I do not get into evangelical praying. It came time for me to pray and I was like, "Oh dear. What do I say?" I was mellifluous and prayed long and loudly. I don't get it. When Orthodox Christians pray, we have some direct prayers. Some are long but I don't think that God gets into long prayers. I felt really silly telling God how great He is and mimicking my fellow attendants by reminding Him of how He parted the Sea and delivered His children from Israel, caused the frog plague on Pharaoh-- the frog plague was cool, etc. and will he please make this successful and bless our guests and bless us, start in on more how great God is, go back into it. It mentally taxing! I really wanted to say, "You keep my car running! You gave us life! Surely this is easier to help us get more money to get this running!" Or. . . simply ask and pray and meditate quietly.

A long time ago a rabbi told me that we pray because even though G-d knows what we need, it's like we are sitting at a table and you need to ask your host for things because he doesn't otherwise know you are hungry. "The fish is delicious! Will you please pass some more to me?" is different from, "Your home is so lovely, you work so hard for this party, you did a great fundraiser last year for the dance ensemble to go to England. . .I just really appreciate. . .and won't you please pass the fish down here?" It sounds like I am making fun of people who pray like this but I am not: for now it is just soooooo uncomfortable. At the next training I will be better.

I get to give a discussion on living as a Christian and keeping the Word in your heart and in your actions and life. As a mother, I pray constantly. The older my kids get, the more faithful I get. I pray in my mind as I cook, I pray when I drive not because I am a bad driver but because there is so much that can go wrong that doesn't. I read my Bible quite often-- both Testaments. I can discuss this pretty easily. The book on this also has tips on what to say. "All the honor of the daughter of the King is within." -Psalm 45:14

We had some political people drop by the house today to ask who we are supporting. I asked about their candidates' support of prison reform and reform on the court system and they said their men would deal with it better than the Republicans which is true.

I mentioned my prison work to several politicians a while back. Would you believe that only the Democrats asked me about it later? It's very frustrating because they actually care about it! This isn't bleeding heart liberal stuff-- I knwo thatmany who are incarcerated should be there, but I think that prisons need to be set up for punishment for the offender but also allowing them to return to their families. Conjugal visits? Yes-- I keep hearing how sexually charged they are and I think that people who have visits with spouses keep the spouses closer and less likely to fool around, and also allow the offenders to get the needed physical touch even if it's just once a month. Of course in the ministry I am not an advocate for the prisons, but my interest has pulled me to this. I believe that voting family members need to connect and form a grass roots effort to get the lawmakers attention and push for reforms. I have spoken to corrections officers who feel the same way, but they have said that they have to keep control at all times so whatever I push for, they need to be able to keep control.

I think that it was Reagan's period when the political parties polarized. Now I think that is changing. I know and respect a local politician who is pro-life and I am proud of his stance. There are a ton of Christian Democrats. Democrats for homeschooling (that need sot be worked on) and Democrats supporting business.

Now that I've rambled, I have to close. I have vespers and I need to study.

I Have Voted.

I've voted. For president, Congress and US Senate and I am sad that all we had in this state were who was on the ballots. We had better people to send.

I am excited for the people who I voted for for the district levels who will go to state! I do hope they win and it is for them who I genuinely cheer on.

Now I will ignore the rest of the election.

Pictures, and a Forum

I never thought that I would be as busy as I am. Last week I was in tears thinking that I would be fired as editor. My husband had gotten back from a trip, I still had volunteering at the school to do-- and this is a picture that I took of Sarah Palin Cookies at a local bakery. I thought that I might drop by my pal Senator Lyda Green's office with a dozen and let her toss some cookies, but at $4 a piece I thought against it.

I also took some pictures of the snow. You may also see some pictures of the first snow on some raspberry bushes.

I went to the MSC Candidate Forum at my college. We had an interesting discussion. I like all but one of the candidates who showed up and that candidate performed so poorly that I couldn't have written a decent thing about their comments if I had wanted to. I went around the room to people who I knew would support said person and I said, "Hey! I was running late! Did ____ ______ say anything quote-worthy?" They couldn't come up with anything. Said person dodged questions and pulled an anti-rhetoric tap dance worthy of our governor. I wanted to put that in the paper but the person who edits my work (I am the editor) is not a fan of the governor but he took it out and hissed at me when I protested!

The incumbents were all right. They need to tackle each election like they have never tried to be elected, as they were so damned boring! Their voices didn't fluctuate! The lowest point was at the end where each person had 3 minutes to speak and each Republican told us a bit more about themselves and pointed to their fellow Republicans of different districts and told us how much they love working with them. One did not say it-- but he was the one who probably should have said it because he seemed to be the leader of them. The others would get the mike and say, "I just want to say that it is a PLEASURE working with M---, B----, C--- and J----- and I hope you send me back to Juneau with them." Alaska has been accused of having an old boys network and this re-enforced the notion that we have one. Until an ethics bill was passed making secret caucus meetings illegal, our legislature would meet in private caucuses and vote bills out because the were A. Bad, B. written by a person of the Other Party, or C. Written by someone that a legislature on that committee didn't like. They can still vote bills out of committees, but they have to be public about it. This, "Send me back to Juneau with these people" made me think of that time which was less than 2 years ago.

The high point was when the most dynamic of the speakers, a Democratic challenger who got a lot of laughs and moments of applause when she said intelligent but cute things, was the last speaker and said, "I'm not a part of a fraternity but I really want to represent you, and I have friends of all shapes and sizes and flavors and I can get along with them as well as _____ can!" I'd like to see her win if only to hear her speak from the heart like she does. She had three "moments."

I am friendly with 2 challengers for the same seat, a "Mr. Cat" and a "Mr. Cheese." Mr. Cat is slick. The guy has the personality of champagne. Mr. Cheese is the intellectual. Mr. Cat has beat challengers who are smarter than he is, but he is a better politician. I think that Mr. Cheese will hone his skill quickly, but right now they seem like the Star Basketball Player and a Band Nerd going against each other. The Band Nerd is a local businessman and writer-- very, very smart. He is the underdog. If he wins, will he get warped and lose his soul in our state capitol? The Basketball Player is however VERY smart, with a degree in physics and engineering-- but the Band Nerd is someone who is thinking all the time. He is a writer and a poet and someone who loves to learn. I think that he will be very effective if he wins in part because he is already enmeshed in the community with local clubs.

Erick Cordero, a regular blog reader was there and he did very well. He is from Mexico City and has a very slight accent. It's just enough to pique your ears so that you listen more intently. I liked what he had to say because as a person who runs an office where he seeks lawyers to do pro bono work, he has a real heart for the public and the people he serves. He isn't a social issues man, however-- he shines the brightest when talking about oil and gas and natural resources.

Cheering on Candiates

Today I had a bunch of shopping to do and sign holders were out cheering on their faves. I honked and waved for them all. I love that people are out routing for their candidates and taking their kids. I don't agree with some of them, but I will never forget Progressive Alaska's face when I gushed about the guv as VP. He was kind, and I knew that my stupid remark probably annoyed him, but he was still nice and zinged me, and I've not been the same since!

There are a few Democrats who are running for national office who WILL NOT respond to my concerns and I think they will be just as open to me as they are now. I am VERY annoyed that my husband got negative propaganda today from the DNC and it's ilk. While these candidates did not endorse the fliers, they did not publicly renounce them! Neither my husband nor I will fall for anything written by the opposing party! Do they think we don't know all the negative nonsense committed that has been all over the paper? They are not coming up with anything new. I am completely annoyed. They should be writing to us saying, "Please vote Democrat! Here's something you don't know about how competent ______ is!" It's like listening to my children bicker, only worse because they are paying someone to make the slick ads.

The Economy and My Silly Female Governor

I do not know enough to write an intelligent piece on the economy but let me tell you all something: no matter who wins this election, it's going to get worse. My husband says that we can't have a democratic House and Executive Branch. I disagree because well, if I get four more years of listening to Sarah Palin "git tuff" I will get very, very angry and stop reading the news. Today she is quoted as saying, "...the heels are on, the gloves are off." She just sent women back 50 years to being dolls and honeys with that remark. That is something you would expect from Legally Blonde. I liked Legally Blonde, but it was a funny movie about a rich, clueless girl deciding to be a lawyer, not a rich, clueless housewife wanting to be a VP for real.

Can Barack Obama get us through what looks like a terrible time economically in the next few years? Yes, and I can stand listening to him speak! I think he speaks with conviction. I was so happy when Sarah Palin was chosen, but at this point she doesn't look good under the bright lights of the political arena.




I just like this song.

She's as full of wind as a corn eatin' horse! (Wink-Wink!)

I watched the debate. Our governor did better than I expected meaning, as Celtic Diva said, she "didn't have a seizure on stage." I am not as embarrassed for her as I was a week ago, but now I feel insulted. She's so perky and she uses words and phrases that she tries to make sound like she's one of us. She's like a second grade teacher who has to play down to the lowest denominator in the class. Every time she speaks, I brace myself for hearing her say: maverick, Washington outsider, maverick, darn, maverick, special needs, maverick, Main Street, maverick-maverick-maverick, Wasilla, maverick, oil companies, maverick, you betcha, maverick, heckeva, maverick and Joe Six-Pack. Oh-- her use of maverick has me wanting to mute her out. Did I say that she says maverick as much as she can? She doesn't speak like a professional! She drops the endings to her words more often than the French do! (In French, the last letter or two in most words are not enunciated.) Oh, and she says "maverick" all the frakking time!

S'palin should have been a theater major which is her True Calling. The past week she has been a dope and then what has been annoying me about her in the past month was endearing 2 years ago. I don't speak like she does on stage-- where does she get off saying that she wants hockey moms and Joe Six Packs to band together? When I helped (minor) on her gub campaign, the constant in the emails was "grassroots." She is the princess of catch phrases, but I didn't notice it back then. She was going for Frank Murkowski's job and he was kind of a jerk so she seemed approachable and friendly.

This annoyed me the most: Say it ain't so, Joe, there you go again pointing backwards again. You referenced your whole comment with the Bush administration. Now doggone it, let's look ahead and tell Americans what we have to plan to do for them in the future." That is my ex husband telling me that I shouldn't base his future behavior on his past. VERY annoying. (Later I would give him a second chance in trusting him and he'd say to me, "You knew I did that!" If you think someone is a snake, GTF away from them.) She should have said in her down-home talk, "I aint no baby Bush seed, Joe! Now lookie here, we're different, an' I'm gonna learn you a lesson!" and then explained why.

Do she and McCain sit with advisers and come up with phrases and Joe Six Pack and Judy Soccer Mom will repeat to one another? Will it work? When I studied commercial art, it was annoying to write commercials that average people would repeat to one another, but that was how we got the best bang for the proverbial buck. One of the best ways to advertise to women in the eighties was to have two women talking on the phone. They weren't college professors. They were. . . THE MRS JOE SIX PACKS! I admit that I wrote a few of those. It was not thrilling to hear them on the air.

Joe Biden was decent, but I expected him to be-- I liked that he recognized that McCain was the one to beat, and that he kept Mrs. Palin on the run with what she knew of his policies and he then slammed them. I like that he was a widower-- I don't like that he had been a widower, but I admire that he dealt with it successfully, but I don't think that he gets enough press on this. Why does a woman who has a son with special needs and more help than you can ever imagine get sympathy, while a man who saw his wife and daughter die in a tragic car accident hardly get press on it? His kids were older and I think that he probably struggled as much as any single parent of either gender.

The thing is, Ms. Palin is appealing to the common person and people who want to feel like they are downtrodden. Are there enough smart people out there to identify more with Joe Biden? It's a boon to McCain-Palin that Sarah is being mimicked by Tina Fey and that we joke about her phrases and comments. It's free publicity. No one is quoting Joe Biden or Barack Obama and I think that this could hurt the Democratic party if people are as dumb as the Republicans think they are. I will support the Republicans if they win, but I am not impressed with them and 4 years of winks and evasion does not inspire me. I am terrified of having a Democratic House, Senate and Executive Branch, just as I would be if it was all Republican. McCain-Palin make it hard for me to like them enough to vote for them. I am a hockey mom, but I don't want to band together with Joe Six Pack: I want to band together with the wisest leader.

My Governor Embarrasses Me

When I was in high school, I stuttered but wanted to be on the debate team. I was not very good initially because I had a speech impairment and it exacerbated and got worse and I forgot things. Keep in mind that I was 15. By the end of the semester, I'd improved and learned to answer questions and keep a cool head. I was never very good because I liked the audience working with me and laughing. Sometimes I would pull Sarah routines as a joke, but they were not yet Sarah routines. I'd pretend to stall, not understand questions, etc. and have a little fun a time or two, but I'd not do it the entire time and I could still win on certain points, although I took it as a matter of personal pride when I lost a debate and still walked out with best speaker! Our governor isn't joking and she seems consistently dumbed-down. She doesn't know how to debate or answer questions.

Paul Begala has ten rules for winning a debate right here. I especially like what he says about wit. What he didn't say is that the reason humor goes far is that it makes people feel good. People will repeat a funny story or anecdote even if it is against their own person because it is something that makes them smile. He also speaks of creating moments-- the media will play and replay them. Sarah is not creating moments of intelligent ideas.

Sarah does not want to be pinned down by answers. Watching her interview with Katie Couric is downright painful.

She is failing on questions you know she has to have been prepared to answer. Katie has got be one of the easiest people to talk to. Watch her answer about the economy! She is going "round in circles 'til she's very, very dizzy" and she's got me grabbing my desk to stabilize myself! Why is she giving Tina Fey so much ammo? What is up with how she speaks? Her voice is getting grating. Has she always spoken like this? It seems like it's gotten worse.

Is this a plot by the Republicans-- of which party I was very much involved with for all of my adult life up to this point-- to keep the focus on them and not on the Democrats? Even though Sarah is terrible, imitation is still the best form of flattery. Indifference would kill the ticket.

Live from New York it's Tina Fey!

Help! Time Capsule Being Formed!

I am the editor of my college paper. This paper is going into a time capsule that is to be dug up in 50 years. I am writing the editorial. My readers, what matters to you right now?

It gets me teary not for sadness but just emotions that I will most likely either be dead or starting to suffer from dementia and my hair will be very silver. Will my marriage have been great? My baby will be 53, almost the age I will be when she graduates from high school. All of my daughters will have reached menopause and I will probably have great grand children and a few great great grands.

We've had rallies in response to an Anchorage Christian group that wants to Pray away the Gay. it was only a coupel of years ago that homosexual couples were allowed to adopt nationally and in some places they still cannot have civil unions. If 50 years with this all seem as strange and barbaric that they were even issues? When I first learned about slavery, it was from the movie Roots. It was unfathomable to me that anyone was ever held as a slave-- I was seven years old. Will the next generation read of us being concerned with Gay Rights and be amused that it was something that people got worked up over?

We are having a banking crises. Will this affect their generation? We had four lawmakers last year go to prison on corruption. They will be footnotes if they even make it into our history books, their graves probably grown over and if they are lucky, tended by grand children and they will make bigger imprints on the hearts of their children and grand children when they leave prison and find new lives and new ways to define themselves. Sarah Palin, Alaska's governor, is running for VP-- will she win and if she does or doesn't, will she be remembered fondly or will she, too be a footnote in a text? Perhaps a younger governor will take her place.

How will the family have changed? Will my family of 9 children be considered as bizarre as it is now?

That I get to write an editorial almost spooks me, thinking of it being read by people not yet born. People will be running the college who are just now in diapers. How many wars will be fought between now and then? Is Iran's president right in that the US is losing it's status as a world power? Will people still come to the US to learn at our universities? How many college classes will be taught away from school? I've taken at least one on-line course since I returned two years ago.

My kids will be old-- this won't be in there, but what will they remember of me? Will they gather at holidays and laugh at memories? Will they always remember how I came up with a zany, silly pose for yearly pictures?

I want to put a Hostess Twinkie in the capsule if they let me. I think it will last that long.

If anyone has ideas for me to write about, about what matters to us now, please post something for me!

Deployed, then other stuff

One of Tiger's friends is about to be deployed to the front in Iraq. This is the first of her friends who are going but many more will soon follow. When I was really little I remember watching protests in Washington, people holding signs that my dad said they said they were sending boys off to war. I remember thinking, "They are grown men! They have to be at least 20 years old!" Now I understand: these guys and gals are children. I saw a lot of them on athletic teams that she was on.

She text messaged me this morning really early and was scared. She'd been crying in her sleep. I told her to find out their favorite "goodins" and that we will start monthly cooking days for them. She thought that was funny, and asked if I am sure we aren't Italian because I'd be a good Catholic Mama drowning every problem with prayer and good foods! My prayers are verbs; I get busy for the person I am thinking of. I doubt that they work, but I am at least not worrying myself into an ulcer.

I got another lesson knocked back in statistics. My husband has a talent for teaching. I wish I had been able to focus on math in high school, but for various reasons I could not. My husband minored in it and is a better tutor to my children than I had with my dad! My children are learning it and liking it. Basil heard him talking statistics with me and he ran around with a coin and flipped it for a few hours, then he started coming up with questions and answers. (He's also a map fiend and wants to know where everything is.)

On Friday I met up with some Republican political friends. I told them that I am morphing into a Democrat. Two took out their voter registration cards and they are non-partisan now, the others are leaning heavily Blue. I know of no one who is happy with AG Talis Colberg who advised 13 people to ignore subpoenas for the "Troopergate" investigation with out governor. It seems that the Republicans keep making asses out of themselves, with laws not applying to them. Subpoenas are serious: you don't ignore them. You don't text message on flights. Unless you are a Republican Alaskan lawmaker in which case you can throw your political weight around. Didn't you know? Laws are for the little people!

Of our gathering, we are all in support of Erick Cordero and David Cheezem, two fine Democrats from Palmer running for state senate and representatives-- Erick has more international experience than our governor, having been raised in Mexico and speaks a few languages (and runs a self-help law group in Anchorage,) then David has a business in Palmer with the sweetest bookstore in the Valley called Fireside Books. I like it when Democrats are also business owners; they tend to make better decisions because they are civic minded but also understand how the economy works. One of our former governors is Tony Knowles and I loved him because he was guided by a desire to make the world a better place and make laws that allowed businesses to thrive. He was also a chef! (I love a guv who cooks!)

I am not impressed with my governor or her running mate. I read an article yesterday that McC spoke of his exploits in Brazil. I see McC decided to take up the Stephen Colbert Challenge to Make McCain Exciting! Challenge.

We'll be seeing a lot more of his pictures of himself as a fighter pilot, I'm sure. (I dated flyboys and they were great boyfriends but terrible husband material! He won't be impressing me!) I'm sure he is trying to impress us, but I'm not impressed.

I'm going to vote as early as possible so I can get it over with.

Welcome to the latest edition of the WWF: the 2008 Political Race (Where is John Edwards? He wouldn't be like this!)

I am disgusted with our governor, Sarah Palin. I cannot vote for her. Two years ago my family walked with her in parades and happily supported her, and she was so classy! There was a cat fight going on between Andy Halcro, Frank Murkowski, and John Binkely. I didn't like Frank because he was a dope-- he had the attitude of my massage teacher, "You won't like what I am doing but it's good for you." and he really shouldn't have done what he did, then run again. John Binkley looked inbred and used cheesy slogans and I hated his fliers in the mail-- and he sent a lot of them-- with his pictures! Ahhhh! I liked Andrew Halcro-- he was a businessman and would have been fascinating, like Lee Iacoccoa. You couldn't avoid loving Sarah though-- they'd slam her and she would respond with thanks because they'd supported her in the past. She was a ray of sunshine. (Oh-- with this post slamming her, if she saw it would she thank me for having supported her in the past? "Sorry, Sar, that was before I knew you just like it was with the others but we didn't listen to them!") When she ran in the general against Tony Knowels*, he was also classy.

Now the race has gotten bad with comments. She came out in her acceptance speech saying that she was a pit bull with lipstick and slammed the Democrats and belittled Obama. Excuse me, but that is the job of the media and bloggers. She is not acting without reproach. Sarah Palin is as dirty as the rest. I don't care if she is on a new level: excrement rises.

She is letting her fucking glasses and hair style be a talking point of the campaign, her hair style, and they are not talking issues. The Sarah Palin that I thought I knew would have never stood for that BS 2 years ago.

This woman has no connection to the working poor: she cut Denali Kid Care as governor! I know women who earn $15 an hour and are single moms (and there are plenty of single dads, too!) who need this. She made some cuts that hurt a lot of people. To save $15,000 a year which is not very much money, as mayor she made it so that rape victims would be charged for the post rape exam! The powers that were said that their insurance would be billed, but insurance gets billed and the policy owner pays the 20% co-payment. When I file with insurance I always get papers back clarifying the nature of the complaint. I cannot imagine!

There is a question as to whether or not Barack Obama made a remark about Sarah being a pig. Who gives a sh-- if he did call her one? She is with the big playahs now. Get over it! Barack isn't as classy as I'd like him to be, but John Edwards is out so we can expect nothing too wonderful.

Here's how I see it. John Edwards, a prince of a man who called a War on Poverty, had his political career shot when it was discovered that he had an affair when his wife had cancer. Why? I don't think it's fine and dandy to have affairs, but he was under great stress and I think that he needed the affection of his filming lady. I live in a high stress environment-- his message was also important to his wife who covered it up with him. If my husband screwed around on me, I'd not blame him. We have insane lives and I know it would probably seem great to him if someone started giving him affection when I am so strung out with the kids. How was John Edwards feeling? (I envision a slippery slope where he fell into it, on the road, calling home and needing support and his wife needing to talk of her chemo and needing his help. There is his film chick offering a back rub-- oh yeah. Sh-- happens. The only thing-- if you want to screw around, make sure a vasectomy works!) I would rather have a VP who can play ball, who understands the people and maybe fools around on his wife with one person than a VP whose "look" is more important than issues, who lives as a person who doesn't really need a second income and doesn't understand the struggles of a normal person.

I talk to my Fundie friends and they say the same things. Several have said that this is the will of God. God is consistent! It's Satan who comes as an angel then changes-- get it straight already. Last night one of my friends told me that Obama is Muslim-- he also said that Sarah's actions are the will of God. Change God and Allah and what did he sound like?

I am very, very sad to have seen this happen to her. I liked her and thought that she was great, but she's just like the rest.

Celtic Diva has a great story on what former guv, Tony Knowles and Ketchikan mayor Bob Einstein have to say about Sarah. She is as liberal as they come, but she is also careful about what she says and puts in her blog.


*Several years ago, Tony Knowles came to a picnic in my area. My family-- husband and I think seven kids at the time, our dog and the stoller, were all adorned in Republican pins and stickers. He ate a hotdog with us and we talked about his plans when Irealized how we were decked out. I stood up and motioned for everyone to take off their vests and TK noticed this and laughed. Did we think he'd not noticed this? I was laughing at myself at this point and he said, "Just remember that if my opponent wins (she would win, it was Lisa Murkowski, in spite of being daughter of Frank) I still represent you and my door will be open to you!" I just loved him! I think I voted for him because of that. He was also a chef and a businessman. He had been guv before. . . once he had lost an election and I went to his restaurant the next day with my parents not knowing that he owned it. He was there bright and early, "Would you like some Knowles Rolls?" My dad teased him, "These are real winners!"

Her Fairbanks Life

Theresa Bakker writes a wonderful blog up in Fairbanks. Her latest piece is how I feel. I hope you check it out and read it!

A Modern Formula for Republican Politics: Planned or Mere Coincidence?

Ropi & Non-Americans: You cannot care about this. Be back this weekend and I promise that I will write about something else. I am presently sick of the drama surrounding her.

I think that the Great Political Machine has adapted to American Pop Culture and that they are following a time honored formula for keeping the country focused on them. It's like a Republican Movie Formula. Someone else can flesh this out better, but I am a busy person and I don't have much time to write about something that I am annoyed that I am caught up in. Please feel free to send me a note by leaving a message and I will put a link in this article for your post.

The leading movies needed 1) a young inexperienced characters with flaws that help them become better, 2) a wise omniscient character who is earth-bound unless he or she is not, 3) eye candy for the ladies, 4) characters that walk along side the young'un, 5) something to distract the audience and it helps to be annoying. They have to defeat something depicted as scary for which if not defeated all hell will break loose to the destruction of the known world.

Read on!

What They Seek

Republican Political Race: The Residency in the White House (power)

Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Get The Powerful Ring destroyed

Star Wars: Destroy the Dark Side

Wizard of Oz: Get to Oz

Harry Potter: Destroy Voldermort

The Wise Old Adviser:

Political Political Race: John McCain

Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Gandalf

Star Wars: Obi Wan, Yoda

Wizard of Oz: Good Witch

Harry Potter: Dumbledore

The Nemesis

Republican Political Race: Obama

Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Sauron

Star Wars: Darth Vader

Wizard of Oz: Wicked Witch

Harry Potter: Voldermort

Young Inexperienced Star

Republican Political Race: Sarah Palin (Got that, Obama? Don't fall into the trap of calling MY GUV inexperienced! It's a trap!)

Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Frodo or Bilbo

Star Wars: Luke Skywalker

Wizard of Oz: Dorothy

Harry Potter: Harry Potter

Side Kicks that Go 'Round with Them:

Republican Political Race: The Immediate Family of Sarah Palin

Lord of the Rings Trilogy: SamWise

Star Wars: Han Solo, Princess Leah

Wizard of Oz: TinMan, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow

Harry Potter: Ron, Herimone

Annoying Distraction that Plays Critical Role in Success of Inexperienced Star:

Republican Political Race: Pregnant Daughter and Boyfriend (In the state election this was Sean Parnell when she ran for governor.)

Lord of the Rings: Golum, Merry & Pippin

Star Wars: Jar-Jar Binks, C3PO and R2D2 (I'm not dissing R2D2)

Wizard of Oz: To-To, Munchkins

Harry Potter: Malfoy Jr.

Handsome Stallion-- Eye Candy to attract female viewers

Republican Political Race: Either Todd Palin or Levi Johnston-- could we have them both there for the femmes who otherwise are not persuaded to vote for Sarah or McC?

Lord of the Rings: Legolas, Aragorn

Star Wars: Han Solo

Wizard of Oz: not sure

Harry Potter: Luscious Malfoy

Great Quote of Show

Republican Political Race: I hope it's not Sarah's 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling remark. It will probably be Sarah's 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling remark.

Lord of the Rings: "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you!" (Sam to Frodo) Sam also said that some things are worth fighting for, as Frodo wanted to give up. I can't find it but I cry when it's said.

Star Wars: "No, I am your father." (Darth Vader to Luke Skywalker)

Wizard of Oz: "Close your eyes and tap your heels together three times and think: There's no place like home." (Good Witch to Dorothy.)

Harry Potter: "If you want to know what a man's like, see how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." Sirius Black

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This is what I have so far-- please expand on this! In each movie they travel all over the place and fight battles-- this is what the parties do. The comparisons are many and it would be silly if no one has tapped in on this movie formula that we are used to. I am not crazy about movies so it won't go over well with me.

Here is a decent article on the governor's accomplishments.

"We need a mover and a shaker, not a shake n' baker!"

So everyone has heard! Alaska's governor Sarah Palin has been chosen by John McCain to join him in the race tot he White House. One of my asshole conservative friends who supported John Binkley over her said, "We need a mover and a shaker, not a shake n' baker!" This person said that Sarah should stay home and be a wife and mother. Fuck that. Her parents and in-laws are very supportive of her and she is the first to state that she couldn't do it without her supportive family.

I can tell everyone that she is very down to earth. I have met her-- everyone in The Valley has met her if they have wanted to. My children and I have marched with her in parades. The first time I met her, I'd not been in the Valley for long. I had a sick baby on my shoulder and I was in the store. This nice lady who was ahead of me in the check-out line handed me a tissue and we started talking and she found out that I was new and she asked how I liked being here. It was very benign, and she seemed nice. A year or so later I got an invitation to her birthday party where she was accepting donations. I didn't think much of the picture; I just thought it was nice take my daughters to go see this young looking woman who was running for something. I was pleasantly amused when I saw her and commented on where we'd met and she said we were being moms-- her being mayor meant nothing when I had a sick baby with a runny little nose on my shoulder. (My coat was snotty. That she even got near enough to hand me a tissue speaks volumes of her! Germs avoid her!)

Her children seem unspoiled. Her daughter Bristol wore a t-shirt that said something about her mom running and to vote for her. My kids said they'd do the same for me. When I was growing up in South Anchorage, I knew a lot of children of political people who would have never done that. Her husband is a handsome guy-- I melted looking at a picture of him, Sarah and Baby Van Palin right after he was born. They knew that he had Down Syndrome not long after he'd been conceived-- it's one thing to be pro-life and anti-abortion, but it's another to have a baby with high needs who will grow into an adult with unique needs. (Having seen him, one would understand that he's not one to be sent back! Precious little person! Starshine saw his picture and kissed her finger and touched my monitor screen where his pretty little lips were!)

I kept thinking that McCain would come out at the end and say, "Psych!" and tell us that she isn't running, but she is! I do hope that she wins.

Sarah is an inspiration. My dad died around the time she got elected. Unable to save my dad from cancer, I promised him that I'd finish college and be a doctor. I asked my husband about me finishing school and he said that if Sarah Palin could have four kids and be governor, that surely I could finish college. We've just been talking about me going to Vermont for a low residency master's degree-- as in 24 hours ago. This morning he called me and was laughing saying that it looks like I can with her being able to do DC. . .

I am grateful for what she is giving up to serve her state and her country-- and for what her children and family are giving up, too. She/they may never be without a security detail, there will be few spontaneous camping trips and life as they once knew it will never return. We dream of a life like what she is going in to, but in return for her influence and power, she is giving up something that we Alaskans take for granted.

Political Story

We used to do a lot of political stuff-- on the fun level. Joining our candidates in parades, helping to stuff envelopes and get their message out, serving at fundraisers and greeting people, but I am disgusted with them now. I went to lunch with some today. Our top man, Ted Stevens has been indicted. I have my opinions and I won't share them. I of course have an emotional connection to everyone and I met him and liked him. The man has dedicated 40 years of his life to Alaska. Regardless of what I think of him, people are making crass jokes about him and making very hateful remarks. The luncheon was to be with a friend who is Republican. The Republicans make mean remarks about the Democrats and most of them support Ted and were bashing Parnell another Republican who is running for Congressman Don Young's seat. (I have very personal reasons for not liking Parnell and I cannot vote for him.) Why do they do this? The Democrats are just as bad as being mean, as are the Parnell supporters who were not there or just not saying anything. Since I was being treated by my friend, I said nothing and just listened, but they had a blend of vitriol and hate seasoning everything they ate! They joke about each other, honestly believing that the other is stupid. I did say to one of the women at my table today to one of her remarks, "It makes you wonder how _______ supporters can get up and know which way to put their underwear on." They laughed. I wasn't laughing.

We used to joke about the other side, but they don't joke any more. The jokes are cruel. I don't let my kids joke like that. I can't take them to these events any more.

Our society is getting inefficient and needing to blame everyone. Ted Stevens going down makes me sad. If he is corrupt, it's sad because he well, his soul is at stake. If he's not, it's scary because anyone can be accused of anything and they have an uphill battle proving themselves innocent. Ted has passed some laws that were not effective for Alaskans or average people in general. My understanding is that laws do not get voted on individually but in clusters. Was he voting for something greater when he passed the bad laws? I do not know. I think that he cares about the state, but he is a politician and we cannot trust what they say. He is being turned in by someone who he thought was his friend (Do you see a pattern here?) who I do not trust to be truthful. It is very sad.

I listened to David Cuddy the other day on the radio. I liked him and almost called my husband at work to tell him to listen to him (if he was working on a project and had his headset on.) I stopped. I realized that I was excited, but what did it matter? Would I be saying that David Cuddy had the answers? Certainly he believes in many things that I agree with, but he won't have the power to follow through with anything as he will be a junior senator. What does it matter?

I told my eldest that I do not want to vote now, but she, named for my debate coach who was very much into voting, reminded me of the cake we either bake or buy with a donkey (democrat) and elephant (republican) motif on it, and she said that she will come home that day and go with me and even bake or buy the cake herself and have it after dinner and watch the results come in. She says she will tell me who to vote for if I don't bother, saying, "Please! It's for your children!" I'm so damned corny that I promised her I'd do it for her. I actually believed in this bunk, but it's really pointless. I don't even care right now, but she does. I lean toward the middle; I like Libertarians and Independents, but she is a die-hard Democrat. My ex husband is conservative and she will do to him what I used to do and call him up and brag that she canceled his vote for president. Then she will brag that I took her advice. My second eldest will also vote Democrat. LOL

Alaska's Politics: My First Attempt at Writing about Them

Check out the song to the left. It was written in the 1960's and it's as real today as it was back in it's time. I'm using the lyrics to illustrate what I think. I used to enjoy politics and taking my kids to events. Now people are downright ugly. I felt it when I publicly supported someone and lost out on a job-- and the person I supported decided that I wasn't needed right after my letter was published. (I am furious but what can you do? I sent him cold energy vibes, then started looking at politicians for what they are, not for what they say they stand for. They're all dicks, including the women.) I see supporters of other people being downright rude to others who are not on their side. It greatly saddens me. It's OK to hate and I admire some gifted haters for their beliefs. You don't want to be hateful-- that is ugly.

Open up another tab or window and play this song as you read this.

Oh the Games People Play Now
every night and every day now
Never meanin' what they say now
never sayin' what they mean

Since November of 2006 when we read of a prominent Anchorage lobbyist's anxious call to Anchorage Assembly members, politicians of the city level and state level have been providing fodder for the newspapers all over the state. It went so far as our governor firing someone who we think had been her friend, appointing someone whose past would be questioned. For 20 months we've watched honorable men get shaken and taken down. What happened? They weren't perfidious when they started.

Why they while away the hours in their ivory towers
till they're covered up with flowers
in the back of a black limousine

A little can go to the head and the players started playing fast and loose. The voters seemed like mushrooms, happily kept in the dark while they fed them fertilizer and distracted them with new dramas. It is easy to see yourself being regarded highly by the crème de la crème and think you are an emperor with a crown but in reality be one of many princes with an easily knocked off, cheap coronet. Their great splash and power is eliminated and the entire fiasco of their downfall has long since been bird cage liner and turned into compost. It's old hat. What lasts?

Oh we make one another cry, breakin' hearts when we say goodbye
Cross our hearts and we hope to die, that the other was to blame
and neither one will ever give in, so we gaze at an 8 by 10
Thinkin' 'bout the things that might have been, and it's a dirty rotten shame

Virtually every person put in the hotseat in the messes that we've witnessed have blamed the people who helped hook them, be it legislators who had allowed friendships with bottom feeder lobbyists to a police officer brought down by someone he'd said was his friend, and a governor who felt that she'd been deceived. Do politicians actually have friends? They'd be better off trusting random street performers to be true friends than lobbyists, and employers simply cannot trust their employees or do anything that they'd not do for an employee that they didn't like.The fascinating thing is that you realize that with the politicians, they used the lobbyists as much as the lobbyists used them. Would they have been friends with the lobbyists had they not offered them money?

People walkin' up to ya, singin' glory hallelujah
and they try to sock it to ya, in the name of the Lord
They're gonna teach ya how to meditate
Read your horoscope, cheat your fate
And furthermore to hell with hate, come on, get on board

As the trials for the people in the spotlight lessened, they would end up giving it all to Jesus. I applaud this, but really—is this where Jesus needs his followers preaching His name? (Is this where Buddha or Sun Myung Moon would want their faiths preached?) One guy showed up at a well known church and his supporters expressed shock that he was seen by the press there and it really seemed fake, like a display. The church is as showy as he is and the well moneyed idiot who helped sting him. These guys shamelessly used each other. Without a need the friendships did not exist. Another said that he was placing his faith in Jesus after the dust settled. No matter what our faith, we become bad representatives of it when we flaunt it after a major shake down happens.

Look around, tell me what you see, what's happening to you and me?
God grant me the serenity to just remember who I am
'Cos you've givin' up your sanity, for your pride and your vanity
Turned your back on humanity, and you don't give a da da da

How close are any of us to that slippery slope? It's not about money or even about sex. In all of the legislative cases, the lobbyists were alpha males who appeared to have the idolization of the legislators they were seducing. To the seduced, the relationships often seemed like father-son, but once on the stand, the seducers professed to not feel this way and claimed the people that were caught up in the fed's web were warped. In the case of the public safety department, everyone appeared deceived. In the end, had they been doing nothing that needed to be handled discreetly, no one would be fired or in prison.

Politics are sleazy and sleazy people stay with them. They use our faith in God & country and faith in tomorrow are used against us as marketing ploys to get our votes and temporary fascination and then we sit crying because we thought these guys had our best interests at heart when it was never an intent.

Lyrics are by Joe South from his hit, "The Games People Play."