Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton

My current choice is Barack Obama.
1. I like that some moderate Republicans like him (David Brooks) and he has support from Democratic Senators in 'red' states.
2. I like what it would say about America if he is elected.
3. Barack Obama as president would completely change the conversation in Washington. It would be a paradigm shift.
4. He's grass roots. I hope the people won't be afraid to demand the best.
5. I like that he's willing to see and understand the other point of view.
6. He seems less corrupted than other candidates.

If Hillary Clinton wins the nomination, I will vote for her. I like her and support her. However...
1. She's part of the establishment - she's old Washington DC. I want new Washington DC.
2. Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton is NOT Democratic - it would be too wierd (even though it would be totally cool to have a woman president).
3. I don't like what I think the Republicans will do if she is President. I think we'll spend years in partisanship and slimy accusations. The Republicans hate her.
4. I don't think she and Bill Clinton are doing their best to keep the party united. She lost in Iowa. Since then, the rhetoric has been bad. Today, on Meet the Press they showed several clips of Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton (and John Edwards) purposely misrepresenting the words of Barack Obama and twisting them around. I say 'purposely' because it was clear to anyone who paid attention what the point of his words were (he was talking about Reagan...he did NOT say Reagan was the best, he did not say he would be like Reagan, he DID say that Reagan's message and style helped to fundamentally change politics in the 80's and 90's - that is true change). The Clintons and Edwardses are not stupid people - they're using fear to manipulate the voters, just like George Bush has been doing to us for almost all of his 8 years in office. I'm quite sick of it.

Updates and the New Year

Since I last wrote, I took up crafting - paper crafts. I started with paste paper, moved on to collage, then altered books, followed by rubber stamps, an art journal, and finally, cardmaking.

I've spent lots and lots of money on supplies; I've purchased, rubber stamps, clear stamps, ink, magazines, punches, stickers, and all manner of accessories to store, clean, display, and design cards or collages.

For all the organizing and money I've spent on craft supplies, I've made two "journal" pages, a set of Christmas cards (for office and immediate family), and gift labels (immediate family).

Following from my excessive spending on craft supplies in 2007, I'm going to curb my excessive spending this year (except tonight where I spent a lot of money buying new corner punches which I enjoy a great deal). More to the point - before Christmas I foolishly purchased Scene It for TV. It was spur of the moment; on the way out the door. My justification was that I like TV - it'll be more fun than the movie version I bought last year, which was really slow and I hated. Waddya know? This one is slow too. Bore Ing. What a waste of my money. That's the kind of purchase I want to stop making.

The other items on my To Do List in 2008 are:
1. approach all people and tasks with a warm and open heart
2. read 50 pages a day
3. Listen and Observe.

I've noticed that although its commonplace and noticeable when I 'approach' people and tasks during the day, I almost always forget that's what I'm doing, so I forget to have a warm and open heart. I'm already in the moment before I notice that it is a moment, so I can't approach with the right attitude fast enough. Over the years my heart has become less naturally warm and open. Practice, practice, practice.

Also, I haven't read 50 pages on any day of the year so far. I did read Rosie O'Donnell's book 'Celebrity Detox', but that hardly counts because it had big print, lots of poem type prose, and I skipped pages. Practice, practice, practice.

As noted above, I spent excessively this evening, but I feel its justified because even though I'm not making a craft item right now, the paper and punches and embellishments will be there tomorrow and the next day and the next day.

I've been aware of the 'listen and observe' one - practicing.