Romney doesn't just twist the truth - he doesn't speak it.

Here's an opinion piece by Eugene Robinson, with links, to instances where Romney has flat out lied.  That man should NOT be president. 

My Peeps!!!

Today is the 12th annual World Turtle Day.  Pictured above is an Eastern Box Turtle. 
I almost missed the celebration. 
Yay Turtles!!!

I love turtles - they remind me of me...:)
I like to stay hunkered down in my shell sometimes, I walk slow, and I plan to live until I'm 110.
I even see a family resemblance.

Happy World Turtle Day!  I hope you celebrated by slowing down...:)

Mitt Romney, Master of Confusion, Illusion, and Delusion

Mitt Romney lives in a world in which reality has no bearing.  Two examples:

1.  A SuperPAC supporting Mitt Romney, financed by TD Ameritrade founder and owner of the Chicago Cubs Jim Ricketts, recently began plotting a 10 million dollar campaign to tie President Obama more closely with pastor Jeremiah Wright.  For those who dislike Obama, they REALLY dislike Jeremiah Wright. 

After initially declining to comment on the story in the New York Times, Mitt Romney later tried to distance himself from the planned campaign with the following comment to the conservative TownHall.com:

"I repudiate the effort by that PAC to promote an ad strategy of the nature they've described," Romney said. "I would like to see this campaign focus on the economy, on getting people back to work, on seeing rising incomes and growing prosperity ... And I think what we've seen so far from the Obama campaign is a campaign of character assassination. I hope that isn't the course of this campaign. So in regards to that PAC, I repudiate what they're thinking about."

And from the campaign manager:

"Unlike the Obama campaign, Gov. Romney is running a campaign based on jobs and the economy, and we encourage everyone else to do the same," Matt Rhoades, Romney's campaign manager, said in a statement. "President Obama’s team said they would 'kill Romney,' and, just last week, David Axelrod referred to individuals opposing the president as 'contract killers.' It's clear President Obama’s team is running a campaign of character assassination. We repudiate any efforts on our side to do so."

A casual reader who didn't have context, might assume from these statements that Barack Obama supporters were the instigators of whatever the negative ad is. 
An example of spin in its highest form.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/17/jeremiah-wright-reverend-wright_n_1524505.html

2.  Detroit Auto Bailout.  I'll leave it to The Daily Show's Jon Stewart to mock him for this.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Bad Credit
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

Award winning advertising campaign

The Daily Show: Endless Suffrage 2012 - State's Rights Edition

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Endless Suffrage 2012 - States' Rights Edition
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

E-mail to the Prez...

Today's e-mail to President Obama:

"Hello -
I don't have any idea why you can't support gay marriage.  This country is not founded on religious morals, but civil liberties. 
I believe you should support gay marriage as a matter of government policy (or separate marriage from the purview of government all together - but that's even more radical than gay marriage, I think).  I understand if you have personal religious views, but this government is not supposed to support any one religion's platform. 
I'm surprised this is such a tough decision.  It seems pretty obvious to me.
Thank you,
Vicky"

Background:  On this week's "Meet the Press" Biden appears to have indicated a support of gay marriage, but Obama hasn't yet.  I saw this week's episode and I thought Biden's 'support' wasn't that clear, but this is how the press reports it so...

Update 05/09/2012:  President Obama (in an ABC interview with Robin Roberts) says he supports gay marriage.  Woo Hoo! :)  It doesn't mean anything changes - but it sure sets a tone.  Come on America - let's stand together and start affirming a LOT of things...fair taxes for all, civil liberties for all, Pro Choice for all, equal pay for equal work...There are a lot of things we can start standing UP for instead of  being rascally and negative.  We have values that we can be proud of...stop hiding them.  Those negative hate-filled, fear mongering, power-loving hacks need to find their place in the world - and it's not in charge of AMERICA!!!!  GO BABY GO! :)

United States Postal Service

I like the US Postal Service.
I really like the USPS.
Communication keeps America running.
I have always had pleasant encounters with postal carriers and employees at the post office.
I think the postal service performs a vital community service - interstate commerce and communication.

I don't know all the ins and outs of arguments for and against the postal service.  All I know is that I appreciate what they do.  I think it's pretty amazing that I can write a letter and for 50 cents, or so, it gets delivered wherever I want. 
Maybe it costs more than it has in the past, but that's true of everything these days.

I ordered two items that began shipping from Illinois and Ohio on Wednesday evening, and will arrive sometime today.  That's not even 48 hours. 

Thank you United States Postal Service and all the citizens who make it work - this American appreciates you!
(Yes, I'm a little over the top - but it's no less sincere...:) )

The first Doodle Google from 1998 - the founders are at Burning Man.  See more Google Doodle history here.

I struggle mightily to create visually artistic pieces.  I believe I'm struggling against some fear barrier about just letting go.  My goal for practicing art and trying to be more creative is to LET IT GO.  I realize there are more benefits to that emotional experience than just creating art - it will improve my life.  So, I keep trying.  :)

And then there's the Google Doodle kids!  Check out all the really great Doodles they've created this year for the Doodle 4 Google 2012 contest.  Young people from K - 12 have created wonderful works of art.  It makes me happy and hopeful, and part of the larger world family.  I can't vote because they all look so good; too hard to pick just one.