Smear Campaign

I was going to post about the smear campaign against John McCain, but when I got online just now found my sister, Victoria, had already posted one similar to what I was going to say. So just click on her name for the John McCain post. I will say I was disgusted with the NY Times for running the story. As it read it really had no hard facts, but a lot of innuendo. As one pundit pointed out they new another 'rag' was going to publish the story true or not and decided to publish without the full story rather than get scooped. A very sad statement on our media. Now click on Victoria's name and go to her blog.

Yes, they are only words.....

After having both sides, McCain and Clinton, point out that Obama is all words and no action, he came back with a brilliant speech. Unfortunately, it was plagiarized, but hey, who cares about that. After all, Martin Luther King, Jr plagiarized his dissertation for his doctorate and no one has taken his PhD away. But, in all the hoopla no one answered his question - are they just words - and my answer is a resounding YES!! they are only words. Hillary Clinton has a background of actions behind her words, while you have...well...words. I'm not sure who first said this, or I would give credit, but actions speak louder than words. You can say a lot of pretty words, but in the end, they are empty rhetoric.

And speaking of words...you keep forgetting to add a few to your 'I didn't vote for the Iraq war and Hillary did' speech. Like the fact you weren't even there to vote! You chose to sit out that day so as not to have to vote. Tsk tsk!! There is such a thing as lying by ommission and lying by misleading. When you say you didn't vote for the war you are hoping people will hear it as you voted against the war. Some of us do our homework though, so you won't get away with too much.

At the end is a list of those who were actually there and really did vote against the war. I can't find your name there, Mr. Obama. You are right that Hillary did vote yes, and she admits she did. She is a big enough person to admit when she made a mistake and to find ways to rectify it. That takes guts, Mr. Obama. Now how about you admitting you didn't even bother to show up to vote. You see, I would rather have a president who can admit they are not perfect, make mistakes, and then find solutions to make things right. I don't trust you to do that. I do trust Hillary. She has earned my respect and admiration.

I figure there's a good reason you don't add those words (I wasn't even there to vote) and it's actually quite clever. If the war went well, you could say, had I been there I would have voted for it. But if it went badly, as it did, you can be self-righteous and say you didn't vote for it. Words, Mr. Obama, that are misleading at best. Next time say, 'while Hillary had the guts to show up and vote, even though she made a bad judgement that one time, I was too cowardly, to even be there to cast a vote.'

In the Senate, the 21 Democrats, one Republican and one Independent who courageously voted their consciences in 2002 against the War in Iraq were:

* Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii)
* Jeff Bingaman (D-New Mexico)
* Barbara Boxer (D-California)
* Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia)
* Lincoln Chaffee (R-Rhode Island)
* Kent Conrad (D-North Dakota)
* Jon Corzine (D-New Jersey)
* Mark Dayton (D-Minnesota)
* Dick Durbin (D-Illinois)
* Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin)
* Bob Graham (D-Florida)
* Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)
* Jim Jeffords (I-Vermont)
* Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts)
* Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont)
* Carl Levin (D-Michigan)
* Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland)
* Patty Murray (D-Washington)
* Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island)
* Paul Sarbanes (D-Maryland)
* Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan)
* The late Paul Wellstone (D-Minnesota)
* Ron Wyden (D-Oregon)

Straw Poll and other political statements

My cats have taken a straw poll! I take a lot of them online, so thought it was time to post the results of the one the cats have been running. It all started with the glass of straws I keep on top of the microwave. These are there because there are times I don't feel like eating and have an Ensure instead. I find they taste better with a straw...drinking through a straw. The cats have discovered the straws are fun to play with and chew on. So one by one they remove them from the glass. Once the straw is destroyed they find another. I've been very sick the past week, so haven't done a lot of cleaning, but yesterday decided I must get somethings done. One was to sweep up all the straws. Since they are various colors I decided to hold a straw poll for the upcoming election. Pink for Hillary, Blue for Obama, Green for McCain and Blue for undecided. Hillary came in first with 16 straws. McCain came in second with 12, undecided was just ahead of Obama by one straw - 5 to 4. So according to my cats straw poll Hillary Clinton will win this election.

Now onto the other political statements. I have come to the conclusion that with the democrats white males need not vote. Why you ask? Because even though (yeah, right) this race isn't about Race or Gender all we hear from the pundits is The Black Vote - the Women's vote - pandering to these for the IMPOORTANT votes. So, I say to white males - obviously the Democrats don't care about your voice and your vote, so maybe this election you should give them what they want and let them hear just how loud a silent voice can be.

On the Republican side all you hear is the Evangelical votes vs the non-evangelcial christian votes. So, I say to all Atheists, let them hear just how loud your silent voices can be at the polls.

If all these voters don't go to the polls, maybe, just maybe both parties will realize they need ALL Americans if they want to make things happen, not just certain demographics.

In the 1960's we had a saying - what if someone through a war and nobody came? Well, what if someone had an election an nobody came?

SICKO! alive and well in Sumter, SC

Today I took my husband back to the orthopaedic doctor to have his foot x-rayed again. The good news is it has finally healed. The strange and sicko! part is - while waiting we were ordered back to the payment window. Hmmmmm...we pay the co-pay as we leave each time, and have been doing this months, so what could be the problem. Well!, we were told in a very stern voice, by the cashier. We had a balance of.....are you ready..... $7.60!!! Yes, folks! a whole $7.60 that was due after the insurance coverage paid their share of the last visit. My, my, my!!! And she was very serious about this! We had to know that before we could go back for today's meeting with the doctor. Now, had it been $760.00 I could understand their concern, but to treat us like indigents for $7.60!!! I asked, couldn't that just be added to what we owe for the co-pay as we leave today. She looked stunned! What a novel idea! In the end, as we were leaving, the co-pay, plus the astronomical amount of $7.60 came to a grand total of $24.06. My husband gave her $25.00 and she gave back $.69 in change. Keith told her she was .25 short. At first she seemed confused, then when she realized he was right said, well, she had counted it in with the change. Hmmmm... he did get the correct change in the end, but it sure seemed strange that a place so intent on making sure the patient pays every last penny due before the doc can see them, would make sure they didn't short you even one penny on their end. Sicko lives!! Michael Moore would be so proud of them!

Pondering....

Standing behind two other women, at the supermarket, I couldn't help but overhear their conversation. They were talking about a young woman, who had recently died, and I was quite puzzled by a recurring theme. More than once they mentioned how it was such a shame someone so pretty - so beautiful - had died. They felt the need to add that qualifier a number of times to the point I wanted to ask, "so it wouldn't have been a shame she died if she had been ugly?" It's amazing how many times I have heard people have similar discussions and it really does make me wonder what value we put on the human population. It's a shame if a beautiful - young - sexy - handsome - good looking - etc person dies. But really I have never heard anyone say it was a shame someone so ugly died.

Even on the news the deaths who get the notice and a lot of media coverage are young, beautiful people. The old wrinkled up and ugly get a mention on the scroll across the bottom.

Just something to ponder......

Thanks, I think.....

Awhile back my older sister, Linda, sent me a beautiful yellow pull-over shirt she had found that was my size. I wear it with a pair of brown pants, and the first time I wore it my husband commented he thought I looked really good in that outfit. So, at least once a week I tried to wear it. The last time I had it on he commented again how much he liked me in that outfit and I told him I wore it for him, since he liked it so much. He said, yeah, you remind of a peanut M&M every time I see you in it. Great! All this time I thought he was seeing me and thinking I looked good, when he was actually just seeing a giant yellow M&M!!! So, everyone, the next time your significant other tells you they like you in a certain outfit, you might want to ask them to clarify before you feel too flattered.

Happy 57th Birthday to Keith!!!

Yep, today is my husband's birthday. That's one reason I married him. I knew I'd never forget his birthday, because it's on the same day as my niece, Alyssa's, who's is the day after mine. How's that for logic? So, Keith if you're reading this, yes, I did remember to stop and get hamburger for your birthday dinner tonight. Almost forgot, but they are here. I stopped at the store, and decided since I was there, I would do my regular shopping, which of course, does not include burgers. So, I got to the car and was packing it all in when I realized...oh no! I forgot the burgers. So, since it is your birthday I went back in and got them. Wow! just turned 60 yesterday and already I'm deteriorating!!!! Happy Birthday, Butternut!!!

Happy 60th Birthday to me!!!!

Just in case a few have missed the announcements today is my 60th birthday! I thought I would be feeling depressed or nostalgic for the old days, but instead I feel excited! I can't explain it, but when I look back I don't see time lost or wasted, but a life filled with adventures. I have a friend here, who once commented on my boring life, and I thought, oh how little you know me. Okay, so maybe now my life is a series of open mics, plays, wine tastings, and days out on the town with friends, but there is so much more to me. My life has been a series of events and I have learned from every one of them. When I hear people say they wish they were twenty or thirty again I ask why? You've already been there, done that, for me the excitement of life is not looking back or wanting to go back, but wondering what new adventure awaits around the next corner. So, today I celebrate 60 with a smile, a laugh, and a great deal of joy. I have embraced life and life has embraced me. I have lived so many lifetimes in these short 60 years and I wouldn't trade one them in for more years. So Happy 60th Birthday to me!!!!

Of course, as my mathematician husband likes to point out... I am no longer in my prime.

Wine tasting party..

Last night I attended a wine 'tasting' party at a friends house. Kathleen had invited those of us in the poetry group, friends from the school, friends she knew outside school, and the all the actors from the Sumter Little Theater. It was quite and eclectic group and a lot of fun. I got to chat with several members of the group and to discuss the recent play, Inherit the Wind, and what their parts meant to them. I was delighted to learn my concept of what Michael Duffy brought to the character, E.K. Hornbeck, was exactly what he was trying to portray. When I said at times I felt I was watching Satan himself, he was delighted he had been able to get that message across, because that was how he also saw the character. I had an intersting chat with one of the students about travel, and culture, and New York (where she hails from). I met two very fascinating women, Frankie and Elaine, and along with my friend Cyndy spent some quality time chatting with them. All in all a fun time and, although I had to leave while it was still going strong, I did enjoy the evening. As I was leaving (around midnight) one of the very young of group - the young woman I had such an enjoyable conversation with, didn't want me to go and said the night was still young. I told her yes, but I wasn't. She laughed and said, but 60is the new 50, so I told her than that would make her 11 and she better put down that glass of wine. Her friends got a kick out of that one, but she said no! that doesn't apply until 50. Ah! the rationality of 21. So, I am leaving you with some pics I snapped over the three and half hours I was there.

Book Signings and Community Theater

This has been a fun week for me. On Monday night, The Friends of the Library, held their monthly meeting. The guest speaker, Carla Damron, is from Sumter and came to speak about her career. Ms. Damron is a social worker, but also a MYSTERY WRITER! She currently has two books published - Keeping Silent and Spider Blue. Being a huge fan of mystery books I had to go hear her. She gave a wonderful talk on the art of writing a book and after had a question and answer period. She also signed books for those of us wanting to purchase them. For more information on Carla and her books you can go to this website.

Last night the Sumter Little Theater put on a production of Inherit The Wind. This has always been one of my favorites - book form, movie, plays... I find it fascinating and exciting. So, off I went with a group of friends. An eclectic group at that! A former college biology professor, a current college speech and drama coach (who also performs with the theater group on occassion), and an 86 year old man who is a ballroom dancer and a former performer with the theater group. I enjoyed the play immensely and was very impressed with the caliber of the performances. This play is still relevant today and I would say to anyone who can get out to see it that it's worth the $12 ticket!