The Lisa Life

Why I'm Voting For Obama

For those of you just joining me, I used to be a mouth-frothing Republican.  The first president I voted for was Ronald Regan and I was so on board with that.  Later, I married a man who worked in politics and I became even more immersed in the Republican party and devoted time, money, and endless effort to various Republicans.  Not to mention a huge investment in a lot of black cocktail dresses.

I didn't have this Waterloo moment where I suddenly became a liberal.  It happened gradually, with no distinct landmarks along the road.

When Bill Clinton was president, I was doing well, financially.  I had people courting me for jobs, headhunters and rival businesses of the one I was working for. 

Bill Clinton got a blowjob.  He didn't start a war based on lies.  And what really happened on 9/11?  I've read both sides of the argument and I still don't feel like I've heard a definitive truth.

As my friend Darr pointed out, Hilary is the first viable female candidate for president.  I can agree with that.  However, I don't trust Hilary.  She's too entrenched in the Washington network of behind the scenes deal making.  She doesn't personify anything a woman could bring to the job.  She's becoming increasingly shrill and manic.  Her agenda has all the negative connotations the word "agenda" conjures.

This country needs change.  It needs a fresh perspective from someone not entrenched in the "good ole boys" club.  It needs someone who's not afraid to think around corners and bring something new to the table.  It needs someone who's not making back room deals.

Most of all, it needs someone who addresses the very real issues that are going on here.  The economy, the fact that millions of Americans have no health insurance, the fact that we are involved in a war that has no justification.   Gas prices are outrageous and what's being done about it?  Why hasn't that brought about a revolution?  Or at least some workable ideas to make it a reasonable proposition to fill up the tank versus eating beans and macaroni for the week.

Why is it all right for so many big businesses to move overseas?  Why isn't there an incentive to keep jobs here, in the States, where they are sorely needed?

Why would Bush threaten to veto the bill that would help people who are losing their homes?  It was perfectly fine to make mortgages available without looking seriously at income to debt ratio, the government was all about that, no reins put on that galloping horse.  The credit industry turned into the Wild Wild West. 

Obama's minister is brought up.  I dismiss his rantings.  If you are a religious person, do you subscribe to absolutely all the edits your religion dictates and abide by them?  Do you agree with absolutely everything your spiritual leader says?  I didn't think so.  Besides, religion has no place in politics.  Division of church and state, remember?

Obama's race is considered an issue by some.   I think that for the majority of people, it just doesn't matter. It's a non-issue.  Even using it as a consideration is a lame attempt to play the race card.

John McCain is not even a blip on my radar.  I've never given a moment's thought to voting for him, or even reading about his policies and what he hopes to accomplish as president because it'd be the same neo-con crap we're living through right now.  And hey, how's that working out?

A change will do us all good. 

How To Make My Day

Tony Snow, the press secretary for the Bush White House, resigned today.  He came from Faux news and didn't last very long.  He has been battling cancer but allegedly needs to earn more money than his $168,000 White House salary and will make more on the lecture circuit.  Neocons dropping like flies.  Or like rats from the sinking ship. 

Today at Meijer's, I purchased a package of cheap pens since we seem to have two writing instruments that are not crayons in the house.  Those two writing instruments I think must live under the couch cushions since I can never find one when I want one.  I found a nifty package of ten, four blue, four black, two red and a  bonus mechanical pencil. I like the multiple colors when I am editing my writing. They were on sale for 50 cents, marked down from 99 cents. When we checked out, they rang up for 99 cents.  I marched (okay, maybe I pranced a just a little bit) over to the service counter, where the nice young man there refunded not only the difference in price, but an additional $4.90 for the Michigan Overcharge Tax. 

And the way to really make my day?  Appalachian State beat Michigan in the home opener, 34 to 32.  I'll be snorting into my wine over that all night.

Dr. Death

Today, Jack Kevorkian was released from prison after serving nearly eight years of his ten to twenty-five year sentence.  He was given credit for good behavior, hence his release.

WDIV, Channel Four in Detroit, has a good recap of his legal journey here.

The survey on their website said that 72% of people responding thought it was a waste of time and taxpayers money to prosecute him. 

Although we live in what is supposed to be an industrialized enlightened nation and if our pets become terminally ill or have no quality of life left and can be euthanized by a veterinarian, humans, except in Oregon, do not have the same option legally.  So essentially, pets are allowed to die with more dignity than humans.

Kevorkian is certainly eccentric and not your normal guy.  His artwork is pretty bizarre.  He on more than one occasion showed up in court in costume, most notably in colonial garb.  He dared the authorities to charge him and make it stick.  He was acquitted or the charges dismissed many times. He was finally prosecuted successfully after a tape of the assisted suicide of Thomas Youk was aired on 60 Minutes.  Mike Wallace was at the prison today when Kevorkian was released and I'm sure there will be an interview soon with Mr. Wallace.

Kevorkian insists that although he will not assist in any suicides, he will continue to educate and be an advocate.

What do you think of physician assisted suicide for the terminally ill?  What if you were terminally ill, or a family member was and chose this?

My Favorite Soldier

Sam, my other husband and brother and my favorite soldier, is in Virginia for now and will be there until February. 

I will be sending at least one care package and probably several cards. 

I hate this war and disagree with it on so many levels, but I support our troops, who are doing their jobs and are truly men and women of honor who have my respect.

If you'd like to send a card or care package to my personal favorite soldier, email me and I'll provide Sam's address.

And yes, he will be tickled and touched.

I love my favorite soldier very much.

P.S. Sam called me this afternoon to ask cooking advice about a pork loin roast. It was cute.

The Storm Of The Century!

We're supposed to get a huge storm this evening, with five to eight inches of snow predicted. This area expected to be on the higher end of the scale. 

The way the newscasters are blathering, you would think this was somehow unusual in Michigan.  Like snow during winter was some rare, occasional thing.  Like it never snows in Michigan and we're all going to die!  Five to eight inches of SNOW!  In MICHIGAN!  In DECEMBER!  OH NO!

I have no where in particular I have to be in the next day or so and we are fully loaded with food, drink and most importantly, toilet paper.  I'm actually kind of looking forward to the snow because if it snows, it won't be so bitterly cold as it has been the past few days.  I may actually be able to take Mia outside to play in the snow without risking her getting frostbite and her face freezing and falling off.

The best part of the whole deal?  I don't have to deal with coordinating the damn snowplowing and being on the Nextel at 2 a.m. trying to raise a co-worker who hasn't had a beer or six to plow the Meijer's parking lot.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Katrina, Part II

Here are some very good blogs regarding Katrina and the real situation versus the chaotic reporting in the mainstream media.  My hats off to these bloggers; they have kept me informed and they are dedicated to telling what is going on.  My thoughts and prayers are with you guys, keep on blogging in the free world. MICHIGAN LOVES YOU.

http://joshbritton.com/

http://neworleans.metblogs.com/

http://www.brendanloy.com

And after some brainstorming with my co-worker Michelle, during which, I might add, we both ended up in tears, we decided to do something concrete.  Sure, it's easy to write a check but I need to feel like I am doing something productive and physical.  Plus, while money is good, there aren't a lot of actual stores down there that are open and functioning.  Not mention, I am always more comfortable donating my time or actual goods than money.

Here in Michigan, we have this wonderful thing called the Returnable Bottle Law.  (Note: That's the not the official name, it's actually the litter reduction act or something).  This law means that all cans and bottles, both glass and plastic, you pay a deposit of a dime on when you buy the product.  When you finish it, you take it back to the store and they give you ten cents for every bottle or can.  This has a downside, as well.  It's a right pain in the ass to stand feeding the bottle return, you get stale pop, beer, etc, all over your car and in the summer if you don't rinse the cans and bottles, you can get ants and you have to actually remember to take the shit back to get your money. 

Unless you are a highly organized type, you tend to get a pile of them stacked up somewhere.  I have three trash receptacles in my kitchen: my trash compactor, a trash can for trash and a trash can for the returnables. It's not unusual to see someone wheeling in an entire grocery cart stacked with empties.

At work, we have a pop machine and a big trash can we throw the empties in.  They stack up until we generally have $80 to $100 worth and we send one of the laborers to Meijer's to redeem them.  We generally use the money for treats, like bagels, or premium coffee or snacks. 

This time, I'm going to ask the boss if we can use the money to assemble some goodie bags for the hurricane victims.  I'll take the bottles back and go to Target, where they have a huge selection of trial size personal hygiene products, and assemble as many dopp kits as I can.  I'm going to kick in my enormous supply of bottles as well.

I'm thinking of shampoo, a washcloth, soap, disposable razor, deodorant, q-tips, hand sanitizer, toothbrush and toothpaste, a comb and travel size tissues.  Stick it all in a Zip Lock bag labeled MEN or WOMEN.  If I have enough money, I'll stick in some of those disposable wipes as well and maybe something tiny and useless but a bright spot, like some hard candy or a pad of paper and a pen or something. 

There are several places around here that are renting U-Hauls and loading them to go down.

I feel like I have to do something and making a plan helps. 

The War in Iraq

Having always been a politically aware person who took pride in my beliefs, I am completely nonplussed and apathetic right now.

I support our troops. I pray for the president at chruch (when I go) just like the rest of us do. This whole war just becomes more murky as time goes on. Clinton didn't really address it in any significant way, only in asides (he should have been much more pissed off during the 93 Trade Center bombing) and Bush is going overboard like a religious zealot.

Which I sometimes think he is. Some of his cabinet members are frighteningly non-secular for government officals in such high positions.

For a laugh, go to google.com. Type in weapons of mass destruction and hit the "I feel lucky" tab. Humorous.

Utah is frightening enough, but that is a whole other post. The State of Theocracy.

Either Bush is talking out of his nether reigons or badly advised or he truly does not know just what Islam is based upon. I have done some reading. While the following is only my opinion based upon my personal search for the truth and nature of this religion, I highly recommend reading the books listed.

Islam is not a peaceful Christian type religion. On the contrary, Muslims do not believe that your good deeds, your selfless sacrifice or even the giving up to Allah of your soul ensures your journey to heaven. Muslims believe that the only sure way to heaven is to sacrifice yourself to Allah.

In court in a Muslim based country, three to five women's testimonies are equal to one man's.

Muslim fathers have been know to beat, stone, shoot, and drown daughters who have betrayed them by acts such as lifting their eyes to a male. This marks them as a "whore", an unforgivable disgrace upon their families. They can barely marry these daughters off to the lowest street beggar.

Only a few of the things I have gleaned from my reading.

Suggested books:

Unveiling Islam: An Insider's Look at Muslim Life & Beliefs, by Ergun Mehmet Caner & Emir Fethi Caner: Kregel, Pub.

Two brothers raised in the Muslim faith who converted to Christianity with great personal sacrifice. A bit of a "churchy" book but very enlightening and unvarnished. They were there. They know.

Islam Unveiled: Distubing Questions About the World's Fastest Growing Faith, by Robert Spencer: Ecounter Books, Pub.

A bit pedantic but still readable. Many valid points about how peaceful the Muslims have really been throughout their long history. (Not very, not very forgiving or tolerant or evolved, either.)

Islam: The Straight Path, by John Esposito: Oxford University Press. A different point of view that tends to leave out all the nasty stuff.

I have no problems with religious denominations who might not be rooted in Christianity. No one who is Buddist or Jewish or a Wiccan or anything else has ever attacked our country. Yes, the United States was based upon religious freedom. But when does religion become a cult? When does it become acceptable for your fellow woman or man to blow themselves up in hopes they *might* make it to see Allah?

I am not a racist or biased person. I celebrate diversity but I abhor genocide in the name of Allah or anybody else. Saddam did it. So did Hitler. So did Jim Jones.

Overall, a very scary time for all of us.