Category: Presidential Politics


Backwards Experience Election My

November 5th, 2008 — 9:09pm

Everyone gets doughnuts on Election Day!

Obama-supporting firefighters are very cool and will take pictures with kids visiting the polls.

See what I mean? Everyone gets doughnuts on Election Day!

And kids get special stickers from the poll workers at the Obama table–the last ones.

Obama poll workers are incredibly friendly–and they didn’t even know the outcome yet.

Maybe it’s because they had doughnuts AND all of these snacks to keep them going.

Oh yeah! Lots of snacks to keep them going.

I whispered “I hope so.” when this screen came up.

By now the boys thought I was crazy for photographing every screen, but it felt important. I was voting for…

YES I Did!!

I had the boys check to make sure I selected all the right buttons.

These are the machines Fairfax County is phasing out. I used one to vote any way.

From now on you’ll hide behind these cute little cubicles to fill in your paper ballot.

The poll monitors didn’t seem to have a whole bunch to do.

All walks of life in line, which I may add wasn’t that long.

I’m not sure of the point of carrying this easily copied piece of paper from one table to the voting booth, but I complied. I’m law-abiding like that.

We found the place! Also known as the 8th grade gym at my son’s school.

We were out by 10:30 a.m.

Helpful signs on the school monitor.


Isn’t that a friendly school? I waved back.

We had to put the brochures back after the picture because we couldn’t carry them inside. All three of our candidates won. VA is BLUE!!

This just made me feel good. I knew they were looking out for us.

And we were out so quickly, because there were no lines when we got there.

The signs were crammed in all the way up to the last inch before the no campaign zone. Before you even entered the school you could feel the excitement of the day.

And it was an exciting day. Of course that’s because it turned out the way I’d hoped it would, but I had a really good reason…

I’m so proud that they wanted to come with me, because my vote? It was all about them (and their sleeping little brother at home).

6 comments » | Barak Obama, Elections, Presidential Politics, Time with My Boys, vote

Eight Years Ago Tonight

November 4th, 2008 — 6:49pm

On Election night eight years ago, I was at a trade association poll watching party at about this time. These were the days when news outlets were still calling results based on exit polls.

I stood in a large crowd, one of the lone Democrats, when Pennsylvania was called for Gore. You could hear the collective groan as the news popped up on screen after screen throughout the
room.

My heart started racing. It took everything I had not to let out a loud “Woot!” but I was surrounded by clients and I was new to my job.

With Pennsylvania over, the party started dying down which gave me the opening I wanted to head over to the party I REALLY wanted to attend–the Democratic Party party at the Mayflower Hotel.

I jumped in my car, raced through downtown DC wanting to be among my people–old friends to hug and new friends to high five. Throwing all caution to the wind, I pulled into the valet, threw the bell captain my keys and ran into the ballroom. And I was so confused.

It was quiet.

Had everyone cheered too loudly and lost their voice? Were they worn out from jumping up and down and just taking a rest?

No. The news outlets realized they had prematurely called the race. In the time it took me to get across town, the whole election had turned around. We stood in the ballroom for hours and continued to hug, but the hugs were not to celebrate they were to console.

It would be weeks before we all knew the “official” outcome of the race–weeks before I gave up.

Tonight I am far more hopeful for a Democratic win, but I’m far more cynical too.

I hope the main stream media doesn’t screw it up again.

7 comments » | Barak Obama, Elections, Gore, Main Stream Media, Presidential Politics, Washington DC

Potato Chip Pundit

November 3rd, 2008 — 10:00pm

You, mere mortals, may look at my kitchen table and see only a mess.


It’s okay. Not everyone has “the gift.”

Because the message I read in the chips; however, is so important I’m going to share it with you today.


You don’t wanna mess with the force of the chip.

9 comments » | Elections, I'm a dork, Politics, Presidential Politics, vote

Gov. Palin, Stop the Blame Game

October 2nd, 2008 — 11:47am

The following letter was written by a friend of mine who is just so exasperated by Gov. Palin’ that she fired off this letter off to our dinner group. It is reprinted here with her permission. You may often see her commenting on this blog as Harried Mom of Three. I’m trying to convince her to start her own blog.

Dear Ms. Palin:

As a liberal, feminist, woman, I am not upset that John McCain picked you for what your supporters deem my “opposition to a pro-life, spunky, good looking woman.” What I am opposed to is that you are a woman who seems to have gotten to the top for ONLY being pro-life, spunky and good looking and for not having any other substance.

My great hope was that when a woman was a hair’s breath away from the top office of the land that she would actually be able to handle the job. Over the last week, you have proved that you cannot handle even the largest softball of questions from Katie Couric of all people.

How, as an American citizen and a mother, am I supposed to trust that you’ll be able to outwit world leaders when you can’t even outwit America’s journalistic sweetheart?

And, please, please stop talking about journalistic “gotchas.” We’re not giving you a pop quiz. We’re trying to figure out what you are made of and whether or not we want to select you for one of the most important job in this country. You should be able to answer questions thrown at you, including naming ONE newspaper from your great state that you might read in a regular basis.

I will admit that Barack Obama has never held an executive position in government–and I’m nervous about that. However, I’m willing to give him some leeway, because he’s proven on a regular basis that he’s thoughtful, intelligent and well read.

There’s a reason that “Joe Six-Pack” shouldn’t be (vice) president and it’s because it’s a hard job filled with lots of responsibilities and it involves making many important decisions.

Stop blaming the media for YOUR inability to answer questions, stop blaming liberal women for your inability to snow these voters into supporting you and stop blaming Gwen Ifill for being biased. If your running mate’s campaign didn’t know she wrote that book back in August when they agreed to her as moderator of your debate then I’m afraid they read the paper as infrequently as you do.

Love,

K

24 comments » | Media, Motherhood, Palin, Politics, Presidential Politics

Gustav: I Want to be Wrong

August 31st, 2008 — 4:22am

As I sit here, Hurricane Gustav is making it’s way to the northern Gulf coast. No one can say for sure where it will make landfall, but New Orleans looks as if it’s going to take a direct hit.

Sixteen years ago, I moved away from New Orleans after spending four incredible years there as a student at Tulane. Though I left New Orleans, New Orleans never left me, and I’ve tried to get “home” as often as possible.

Three years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated extensive parts of the northern Gulf coast–including New Orleans.

And it wasn’t just the land and buildings that were destroyed.

Katrina wiped out the homes of tens (hundreds?) of thousands of families, but even those who were able to salvage their belongings were deeply affected by the stresses of the storm.

And having to relive the nightmare all over again so soon…how are they expected to cope?

A note from my friend yesterday reported his family’s safe evacuation to Florida ahead of the storm. He was going to head north to his office to ride out the storm with the hopes of keeping his business running and being close enough to get home to begin to work on the damage as soon as possible, but he is joining his family instead. His daughter who is six was just too afraid for her Daddy. She remembers moving away from her home last time. She has felt the stress it has placed on her parents–parents who have already separated once since Katrina.

Gustav looks as though it’s going to hurt her home again, and I hope I’m wrong.

There is reason to believe that, even with a direct hit, Gustav will kill far fewer people with the emergency plans that have been put into place–plans that didn’t exist three years ago.

But I’m a cynic.

Are the plans in place because Louisiana has a governor who can lead the state or is it because this storm happens to be occurring during a large political convention?

Three years ago, President Bush thought his FEMA director was doing a terrific job even when anyone watching CNN knew differently.

Gustav looks like it may have a significant impact on the Gulf Coast, but people are being properly evacuated this time. Is it because politicians don’t want to look like ineffective leaders in this election year?

Again, I hope I’m wrong.

8 comments » | Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, Politics, Presidential Politics, Weather

I’m Disappointed

January 30th, 2008 — 10:04am

John Edwards is about to announce that he’s getting out of the race.

I knew his odds weren’t great, but I liked his messages. I like what both he and Elizabeth stand for.

It was just bad timing.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not disappointed with my remaining choices. I am over the moon that the two top contenders are not white men. I’m proud of my country for finally considering candidates for their experience and knowledge rather than dismissing them due to their skin color or genitals. It’s about time.

But still…there was just something about the Edwards. I would have been proud to have them represent my country too.

14 comments » | Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards, Presidential Politics

Dear Future President…My Offer Still Stands

September 29th, 2007 — 3:38pm

I am thrilled to have had the experience to hear Elizabeth Edwards answer our questions in our meeting with her today. My thoughts are racing after the call.

I would love to have the opportunity to talk to the other candidates. I wonder if I would be as excited about their campaigns after listening to them. If they don’t reach out to us, we’ll all be left with only this very positive experience upon which to make our decisions about who we’ll vote for.

I have to say the Edwards campaign is not only the only campaign that’s responded to our request to meet with them, they are the only campaign that has extended an invitation to have us blog for them…or the only invitation I’ve received as a mommy blogger.

I still haven’t made up my mind. But if you aren’t willing to talk to us Senators Obama, Clinton, Biden, Dodd or McCain, Mayor Guiliani or Governors Romney and Richardson how will we know that you deserve our vote?

14 comments » | Barak Obama, Bill Richardson, Chris Dodd, Elizabeth Edwards, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, John Edwards, John McCain, Mitt Romney, mommy bloggers, Politics, Presidential Politics, Rudy Guiliani

Quotes from Elizabeth Edwards

September 29th, 2007 — 3:24pm

“I don’t think we get the change we want unless we’re willing to work for it.

I deal with supporters…I’m doing fundraising. People write a check and they think they’ve done their part. We’re on a bad path right now. We need to be committed to working to make a change.

John is committed to that.

The way people run their campaign tells you a lot about them. Are they running a different campaign?

We have an opportunity for real change if we have someone who is dedicated to it. We can get more of the same. John isn’t the flashiest candidate.

This campaign isn’t about John Edwards as a person…if you don’t like his hair cut…that isn’t going to get us anywhere. If people are going to vote for him it’s going to be about the ideas. Not about the person. That’s why he got his policies out there early. All the rhetoric sounds the same, but it tells you something about the person when they run their campaign a particular way. It’s not about the guy, it’s about the vision.

You cannot sit on your hands and expect the change to happen.

If we get to Novemeber 2008 and have two candidates who aren’t going to represent change, you’re going to be sorry that you didn’t do something when you had the chance. This isn’t about February. This is about November. You have to do what you can now to start making changes.”

3 comments » | Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards, Politics, Presidential Politics

Elizabeth Edwards

September 29th, 2007 — 2:57pm

Vision of national health care system in under universal health care. The ability to have national system means that we’ll see outbreaks of illnesses earlier, we’ll have translators available 24/7.

Dependent Care:

What would that look like under the Edwards Presidency?
“I wish I knew the answer. Every employer regardless of size would give seven days paid sick leave a year (regardless of size). That’s the only thing I know at the present time. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a plan.”

My question:

How will our lives change if your husband becomes president? We’ve heard many positions on issues, including health care, but howwill our world be safer and more prosperous for our children if JohnEdwards is President?

“John’s policies are about the ladder that people used to climb toward the American dream. Many of the rungs are broken. Education, a good wage, people were healthy and hearty. There is not as much mobility between the parts of our society that there used to be. Top 300,000 wage earners in this country earn the same as the bottom 150 million in our country. Want to reinstill that we can move through our work. Universal health care is a big part of that. You have to be healthy to work hard, go to school. People aren’t sitting around worried about their health care, people aren’t worried about their schools because we’ll have schools that are working to educate our children. We have 11,000 HS that are graduating most of their students. We keep failing our teachers and students but we can’t do that any more. This isn’t something that will change in one term. This is a long term plan. John’s plan for college for everyone…means that people who didn’t have a hope for upward mobility for will through education. Reestablish our moral authority in the world-get out of the war in Iraq. Beacon of morality–not as difficult as it seems. We have to change the way people feel about us by being their benefactor. John agrees with Gordon Brown. We need to educate people around the world Middle East, Africa, etc. so they don’t have to rely on madrases for their education. We can provide clean water, sanitation, microlending. John would travel the world and give a new face for America. This won’t change on a dime, but faster than changes in education will be accomplished. We have young people around the world who are trying to decide if they are with us or against us. If we’re providing their education they might feel different. We drove them away. We have the capacity to change their opinion.

I have to say one thing. I know my answers are always too long.

John has started this community action corps (2000 groups across the country). We don’t tell them what to do. We tell them to see what needs to be done in their community and do it. They don’t have to campaign for them, but if they want to they can. They see [through their experience] they have the power to make change.

One thing that sets him apart. He believes we can individually accomplish things. If what John was offering was more of the same I wouldn’t have made the decision to support him to run. It had to be that he can change things through the campaign. He wants to make dynamic changes in this country and the world.

1 comment » | Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards, Perfect Posts, Presidential Politics

Still Waiting for EE

September 29th, 2007 — 2:18pm

As we’re waiting…

I had the opportunity to hear Mrs. Edwards speak at BlogHer the summer. She was articulate, open, honest and well-versed on the issues. She was strong and yet felt approachable. Personally, I walked away from the experience wishing she were running. Talk about a candidate I could get behind!

I was lucky enough to have the chance to shake her hand and say hello at the cocktail party that followed her session. She’s tiny and very pretty in real life. She has a warm presence–especially when you consider all she has been through in her life. Obviously she has embraced a positive outlook.

She still has not entered the room. Ah, campaign timelines…

Comments Off on Still Waiting for EE | DC Metro Moms, Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards, mommy bloggers, Politics, Presidential Politics

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