PRACTICE PEACE - IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED.
This blog supports Peace, Personal Growth, The Energy of Love, civil liberties, human rights, good government, journalists and journalism, public libraries, and a vegan lifestyle. I am grateful for my health, employment, a warm home, indoor plumbing, and a new day.
But, how would you know for sure?
I just don't feel good about the burqa. I want to be culturally sensitive, but hiding women - making them appear as blobs - it is too much.
I can't imagine what it feels like to believe your very existence is an affront to the rest of humanity.
Religion, tradition, piety...I know there are legitimate reasons a woman might choose to wear this.
None of it makes sense to me.
I DO NOT THINK IT IS RIGHT.
Cuh-razy
I don't know why anybody puts them on their show.
Well, I guess I do - media loves a loon.
They are obsessed with supposed coverups of the Petraeus scandal and the Benghazi attack.
I'm not in a position to know, beyond a reasonable doubt, that there wasn't a "coverup".
It sounds unlikely to me though. To what end? I don't think the president would do it.
It makes complete sense to me that in Benghazi there was a lot of confusion and it would have been hard to know what was going on. It would take several days. And, what if the administration did know more than they said initially? It's reasonable to assume they might have had some security reason not to tell everything at that time. Sheesh - even police departments hold back some information about crimes when the investigation is ongoing.
It seems irresponsible of McCain and Graham to insist that every detail be told in public before all the facts are known.
Graham wants a Watergate style commission to review this.
He is such a hypocrite. If he's concerned about the government spending too much money then this isn't the way to change it.
Add the Petraeus scandal, the former head of the CIA for goodness sake!, and this is the Graham/McCain way to stir the pot so nothing can get done in Obama's second term as well.
After re-election, Barack sees Michelle for the first time.
Scout Tufankjian took the one on the left, and David Burnett took the photo on the right.
Unbeknownst to each other, the photographers took the picture at the same time from opposite sides of the podium. Note the wisp of Michelle's hair flying in the breeze.
Is it wrong of me to say that Grover Norquist should fall off the fiscal cliff?
It feels wrong.
Maybe it would be nicer if I hoped for Grover Norquist to have a change of heart.
He is a scourge in American politics.
Why? He is an idealogue without wisdom.
He won't consider 'the middle way'.
He bullies.
Of course it's noble to stand tall for what you believe in.
But, it's important to think beyond yourself once in a while and be part of the flow of life.
Life is not one dimensional
Priorities change.
Grover Norquist doesn't care.
It's fine to be a rabble rouser and I applaud his voice in the conversation.
I think he took it too far when he used emotional scare tactics to get people to follow him and pressure congress members to vote his way...or else.
His attitude is another factor in why Republicans are in such disfavor with the electorate right now.
I am so disgusted by John Boehner and the Republicans. It's three days after the election. Ugh.
First of all, the so-called 'fiscal cliff' (a terminology I'm already sick of, along with 'double-down' which was the most overused media buzzword in the election) is there because the Republicans wouldn't agree to raise the debt ceiling. Obama didn't want them to 'kick the can down the road' (another overused term) again because they keep avoidnig the reality of financial inequity in this country. That's why there is this cliff in the first place.
As far as I'm concerned Boehner is throwing out an unrealitic solution and next he'll blame Obama for not wanting to go along with it (assuming that's what he'll do).
The economy has stalled while we wait to see what's happening with the election and then how Congress will deal with the current government finance issues. Why would waiting another year make this any better? It won't. Businesses like to plan for the future. Waiting another year just stalls the economy for one more year.
I hope Obama doesn't go for this.
John Boehner is a bully and way too sinister to be in charge of reasonable people.
And same sex marriage seems to be winning as well. Very proud of my state.
I watched the CBS coverage all night long. Hard to keep track of pre election polling numbers, exit polls, early vote percentages, projections, calls, estimates, likely this that and the other. Aargh...just tell me we won!!!
I couldn't keep my eyes open for the entirety of Obama's speech. I've seen it since and yes...proud.
McKenna's speech was a very, very, very long winded mix of "I'm not giving up, but I better thank all my peeps now in case this doesn't go my way, which it looks like it isn't, but I'm the same state Attorney General who signed on to a lawsuit to try to make Obamacare unconstitutional so obviously I'm a bit out of step" type of speech.
And yet...I felt bad for him. I'm sure he wants to win. But, I hope he doesn't.
And speaking of people who wanted to win. Ya gotta feel bad for Mitt Romney. Not enough to change the outcome of course, but - he really wanted to win. And it's not like he did a horrible job. He was steady in the face of an overwhelming lack of enthusiasm during the primaries, and he came through in that first debate. He traveled, he tried, and he just isn't the right person for the job. In this case, the crowd does know best.
Interesting to hear the analysts talk about big 'groups' of people who voted this way or that. Women overwhelmingly voted for Obama, but whites overwhelmingly voted for Romney. Except I'm a white woman who voted for Obama. From my personal experience I know the generalizations are inaccurate.
Instead of using the physical characteristics of people to estimate how they might vote, I wish they'd consider the policies. For instance, Middle class married people voted overwhelmingly for X because of his policies to cut the budget. That seems more meaningful and interesting.
I suspect it's also the kind of detail that the pollsters aren't able to capture.
Speaking of which...think how many people have jobs just because of politics and elections. Pollsters, stylists, speechwriters, local tv advertising people, event planners, media people, pundits, newspaper columnists, etc.
It seems that so many of them are not adding to the health of our society...it's a crazy codependent dysfunctional apparatus that feeds on itself to remain valid and stay alive.
Ugh.
Those are my thoughts after the election. And looking ahead...right now I'm thinking....
1. I think the news stations are relying way too heavily on polling to tell them what's going on. It's tiresome to watch and I think it ends up creating the narrative rather than reporting on the narrative.
2. This election would not be as close if Obama had done better in the first debate.
3. The country has been increasingly polarized since the Clinton years. Remember how many lawsuits the Clintons were subject to in the early years? The Republicans were vicious.
4. The viciousness in this year has grown all out of proportion - I think it's because Obama is black. People can have legitimate reasons to not want to vote for Obama. But, I've heard too many people over the last four years who can't define what they don't like about him, and yet they heatedly don't want him to be President again. It's a little out of proportion, I think.
5. I can imagine that if Romney wins, the stock market will go up. Money people like Republicans. They'll feel happy and safe to start investing again because they expect favorable policies from a Romney administration. The economy may improve, but the lot in life of disadvantaged people will become more precarious. It will be like the Reagan years. Some thought those were good days, but others didn't fare so well.
6. I can imagine that if Obama wins, the stock market will be either flat or go down a bit. But, over time it will be the same it's been. I think the money people will have to accept that Obama is president and unless they want to do nothing for four more years they will keep on keeping on. It won't be with very much enthusiasm. But, maybe that's best...the money people have gotten us into trouble too much over the last years.
7. Battleground states. I don't like that every state, county, town, and region is so predictable that there are only a few states where the campaigns can't predict the outcome. It implies that we don't have an open mind and we can't be persuaded by a good argument. I fault the redistricting that goes on so that each party can be assured of victory. It would be better if each district had a mix of democratic leaning and republican leaning people. Then we'd really have to figure out how to solve problems. Another solution would be the rise of a third party.
8. I will be very proud and happy if gay marriage passes in this state.
9. I wish there had been more attention paid to the House and Senate races. My mother made a comment that if Obama is elected he would increase the estate tax (or something...I don't even remember). We don't talk politics so I didn't respond, but that's a common thing people say. The President doesn't put new taxes into law...the Congress does.
10. And speaking of Congress, it wasn't Obama that didn't get things done, it was the Congress.
11. The way people twist words and speak with a forked tongue has gone through the roof. It's dispiriting.
12. I hope we have a definitive answer tonight. I don't want this to go on and on and on...I'm done with this election.
13. One reason I didn't vote for Hillary Clinton in 2008 is because I didn't want to hear all the partisan bickering. The far right went after the Clintons in the 90's and I thought they would rabble rouse again. It turns out they were rabble rousing anyway. And, I think Hillary would have been more prepared to fight it than Obama was. Obama and I both thought he had a mandate and the folks would work together. I couldn't imagine the depths they would sink. How can you trust a party in which one of the leaders, Mitch McConnell, says from the beginning that their main job is to make Obama a one term president and block everything he attempts. After that statement...well, that is downright unAmerican, I think.
I'm about to fill out my ballot.
I don't mind writing how I'm going to vote.
It's easier to vote on issues.
It's hard to know inside a candidate's heart.
I try to vote for who I think will tend to vote the way I would vote. I vote for the kind of world I want to live in. I don't expect miracles or that everything will go my way. I just want to tip the balance with my vote.
***
Initiative 1185 - tax and fee increases imposed by state goverment must be approved by two-thirds legislative majorities or receive voter approval, and new or increased fees require majority legislative approval. I vote No. The people who support this measure want a small government by ideology, not by reasoned governance. A 2/3 majority means most increases won't pass. Sometimes a tax or fee increase is warranted. Rather than majority rule, the minority wins...1/3 + 1 will dictate the financial fate of the state.
Update: I think I misunderstood this one...we might already have a 2/3 requirement and the only thing changing is the wording.
Initiative 1240 - authorization of up to forty publicly-funded charter schools. I vote No. This is the classic solution to a problem: don't fix it, just build something else. If the same energy and effort were put into fixing the public school system as it currently stands, we would have excellent schools. The main thing this initiative would accomplish is to bust the teacher's union. I think a public school system - where all students have access to a good education - is fundamental to the survival of our country. And, if people suggest that the charter schools won't do anything different than that, then I ask...why do it then? We already have a system - fix it.
Referendum Measure 74 - allow same sex couples to marry, preserve domestic partnerships only for seniors, and preserve the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform, recognize, or accommodate any marriage ceremony.
I vote Yes. Of course. I'm glad to have the opportunity to vote on this. Arguments against this referendum don't have validity, in my opinion.
Initiative Measure 502 - license and regulate marijuana production, distribution, and possession for persons over twenty-one, remove state-law criminal and civil penalties for activities that it authorizes, tax marijuana sales, and earmark marijuana related revenues.
I vote No. I am somewhat persuaded by the tax revenue argument, and the police resources argument. But, I'm concerned that because this goes against federal law, the state will be forced into a lawsuit from the US government. I'm also concerned about what it means for people who use it; we have so much trouble with people who drink too much, I worry the same will happen with marijuana. I don't think humans handle mind altering drugs very well. With legalization, we give some of the criminal organizations a legal cover for their illegal drug activities. I just don't think this is a good idea. I feel like voting No makes me an old fuddy duddy, and not 'chill', which I think I am otherwise. I suspect many of the people I know would vote yes.
Resolution No 8221 - decrease the debt limit from the current 9% of general state revenue, to 8.5 in 2014, 8.25 in 2016, and 8 in 2034. The percent of general state revenue would be calculated using the last 6 years, instead of 3 years. And state property taxes would be included in the general state revenues starting in 2014. I vote to Approve. Increasing the number of years included in the general state revenue calculation (from 3 to 6) seems like it would give us a more balanced debt limit; smooth out the curve. The amendment does not affect the statute that says state property taxes are for schools. It only includes the property tax in the calculation of general state revenue. I think the net effect might be minimal because although the rate will go down over time, the amount included in the calculation will increase.
Resolution 8223 - public funds of the UW and WSU can be invested in private stocks and bonds.
I vote to Approve. I don't really think this is a good idea. It doesn't make sense to 'gamble' with public money given to the universites. What if they have bad money managers? What if the stock market crashes? Then we're in the same boat we're in now that they think this will solve: not enough money to run the university. And what about the corporate influence in the university? Couldn't that be compromised? I'm only voting for this because I want universities to have money, Bill Gates is supporting the resolution, other state institutions are doing it, and I trust that the leaders of the university know what they're doing. I hope I don't regret this.
Advisory Votes 1 and 2 - legislature extended the expiration of one tax on possession of petroleum products and eliminated a business and occupation tax deduction. I vote to Maintain the changes - It sounds like it affects the oil companies who make plenty of profit and can afford it, and financial institutions who also make plenty of profit.
King County Prop 1 - tax levy for automatied fingerprint identification system
I vote Yes - It's worth paying for.
President and Vice President
I vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
I think he should have time to make his policies work. I don't agree with everything he did (or will do), but I trust that he will lean toward my way of thinking. I value the role of government in our society to create a stable and fair and safe economic system. I believe the government should help us make sure everyone has at least a minimum standard of housing, health, education, and food. I also believe that our government should not endorse a religious belief. I think infrastructure, the environment, education, and R&D should be priorities of our country and the government can play a role in supporting those priorities.
And the rest...Maria Cantwell, Adam Smith, Jay Inslee, Brad Owen, Kathleen Drew, Jim McIntire, Troy Kelley, Bob Ferguson, Peter J Goldmark, Randy I Dorn, Mike Kreidler, Maureen Judge, Marcie Maxwell, Judy Clibborn, John Urquhart, Susan Owens Steve Gonzalez, Sheryl Gordon-McCloud, Ronald E Cox, Martin Appelwick, and Christopher A Washington.
