Ten Days...Make Them Count!

I needed a little perspective, so I turned to a trusty friend out in Spokane. Thanks, Val.

We have ten days. Ten. We need to make our time count. The house will be cleaned, the leaves raked, the garden pulled after November 6th. We can't have this time back to help re-elect President Obama.

Some people are really upset about the sign problem we are having. The disappearing signs are NOT important. Tracking down who is taking them is NOT important. Contacting voters IS important. Face to face, in our HQ, on the streets, in the grocery line, on the phone. We have to be sure every vote gets into the hands of the Auditor. Here at home and out in the rest of the country. This is all about VOTES.

She reminded me that every minute I waste trying to find more signs, I could have called a voter to remind them to mail their ballot. Remind them that the Governor's race 8 years ago (before my time) was won by 77 votes! So, 2 or 3 votes per county CAN and DOES make a difference. I do remember that Obama won Klickitat last time by 21 votes. That's less than one per precinct.

So, if you want to camp out and wait for someone to try and steal or deface your signs, set up under an EZ Up tent, with lots of signs, and make GOTV calls with your cell phones.

But really, you can do it from the warmth and dryness of your own home. Click here to get started.

To all my lady friends out there, there's a women's call tool on the Obama website. Click to get started!  http://ofa.bo/WfOCallTool

For my local friends, we're generating call lists to remind our Klickitat folks to get those ballots back in! We're in a vote by mail state...NO EXCUSES!

 

To Not Know You Is To 'LIKE' You

It feels like a good day for a Romney Rant. So fans of Mitt, I won't be offended if you skip this one.

I know I'm not the only one on Facebook who is annoyed at the ads on the side, especially when the Mitt Romney face is on top showing all my 'friends' who LIKE him. Really, I don't want to be reminded of that every day. I'm sure they feel the same way about Obama's face popping up on theirs, with my name on it. I just hope there are more people listed that they know than I see on the Rmoney face. But I have to wonder, WHY do they LIKE him?

Fortunately, I don't note any of my Massachusetts friends on there. They know better. My friends there who are teachers certainly won't be there, after his taking credit for the status of Massachusetts education. They still remember what happened to teachers when he became governor, enamored with austerity budgets that disproportionately affected public servants and the poor. I can always count on Caroline, my Boston artist friend of over 40 years, to come up with fuel for the fire- the stuff that makes me just go nuts on Mitt Romney. Usually I contain it. Somewhat. Not today. Granted, it's from a liberal source. But I can live with that.

What set me off was this gem. Let's shatter the myth that Mitt was a bipartisan marvel in Massachusetts as Governor.  One of Mitt's Many Myths.

“I figured out from Day 1 I had to get along, and I had to work across the aisle to get anything done." Mitt Romney in Debate 1.

Oh REALLY? That's why you vetoed 800 pieces of legislation. Because you got along so well.

Vetoes don’t scream bipartisanship, and Romney had so many of them that it’s obvious he was on bad terms with the legislators from both parties as Governor. All told, Romney issued 800 vetoes in his one term as Governor. 800. Nearly all of them were overridden – 707 to be exact.

And wow, a business man is just what we need in the White House, right? Where everyone in Congress will do what he says, just like when he was a CEO. It worked so well in MA.

A Republican state representative said that Romney had a tough time dealing with the legislature, especially in his first year, because he was used to giving orders as an executive, rather than working with people to reach a consensus. Republican George Peterson said, “He was used to being a top executive, ‘and this is where we’re going, and this is how we’re going to do it.’ And this animal [the state Legislature] doesn’t work that way. Not at all. Especially when it’s overwhelmingly ruled by one party.”

By the time he left office (he was MIA 212 days his last year), almost 2/3 of the people of the Commonwealth were happy to see him go. They didn't want him back, but they didn't want him to be President either. Then or now.

Obama is leading Romney by a wide margin in Massachusetts. Not since 1916 has a candidate lost his home state and won the White House. The only saving grace for Romney is that while he is also losing his other home states of Michigan (where he grew up) and California, he has had residences in several other states that he could ostensibly call home, although certainly the folks in Massachusetts and Michigan know him best. 

Still think you 'LIKE' Mitt Romney? He's all yours. Just don't make him ours.

Rolling Stone...Gonna buy 5 copies for my mother.

The Rolling Stone has joined the fray, with this unflattering piece on Romney and Bain. I know, it's the Rolling Stone. But I am in total fear for our democracy. Who knew we had so many truth challenged people in this country? People who will vote to elect to the highest office in our land, a man who is so comfortable lying he doesn't even know he's doing it any more.

Questions abound: Will messing with voters and voting machines be the hanging chads of 2012? And who keeps stealing all our Obama signs as fast as we can get them posted? It's enough to drive me to drink (as if I need an excuse).


There are glimmers of hope, like when the Salt Lake City Tribune endorses Obama:

In considering which candidate to endorse, The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board had hoped that Romney would exhibit the same talents for organization, pragmatic problem solving and inspired leadership that he displayed here more than a decade ago. Instead, we have watched him morph into a friend of the far right, then tack toward the center with breathtaking aplomb. Through a pair of presidential debates, Romney’s domestic agenda remains bereft of detail and worthy of mistrust.

Therefore, our endorsement must go to the incumbent, a competent leader who, against tough odds, has guided the country through catastrophe and set a course that, while rocky, is pointing toward a brighter day. The president has earned a second term. Romney, in whatever guise, does not deserve a first.

Followed by the Tampa Bay Times joining the Obama endorsement team:

Among the Group of 7 industrialized countries, only three economies have climbed above the peaks they hit before the recession: Canada, Germany and the United States. France, Japan, Britain and Italy are in worse shape. So are Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Greece. Obama's economic policies clearly had a positive impact.

The economic stimulus package, which Mitt Romney and his Republican allies deride as a failure, had its flaws but stopped the collapse. It preserved or created up to 3 million jobs, and it invested in smart projects such as expanding U.S. 19 in Pinellas County and connecting the Port of Tampa with Interstate 4 in Hillsborough County. The auto company bailout, which Romney opposed, preserved jobs and rejuvenated the industry. The Dodd-Frank financial regulations, which Romney would repeal, protect consumers and force banks to act more responsibly. Undoing those reforms would be a mistake and invite the abuses that contributed to the economic crisis.

Today, a few more swing state papers got on board. The Washington Post asked would a 'business man' do better? Historically, no. Very interesting read.

 David Stockman, Reagan's budget director, doesn't seem to be a fan.

Bain Capital is a product of the Great Deformation. It has garnered fabulous winnings through leveraged speculation in financial markets that have been perverted and deformed by decades of money printing and Wall Street coddling by the Fed. So Bain’s billions of profits were not rewards for capitalist creation; they were mainly windfalls collected from gambling in markets that were rigged to rise.

So much for Mitt building his way up from a small business. I have had it. Whenever he talks I imagine a Pinocchio nose growing. The ultimate fact checker. I need to find a magic lamp and ask the Genie for a wish. 

Every time that little box in the ad corner on my Facebook page pops up and I see names of people liking Mitt Romney, I feel so sad. So sad. I'm sure there are people who find him likeable...Ann does. But that's not enough to elect him President. Too many people are living in an alternate universe.

There's only one way to make Mitt go away. Ann says he won't run again if he loses. So, do whatever you can to Get Out The Vote in your communities. Speak Truth to RMoney. 

Another Day, Another Debate

It seems like we are having a veritable tsunami of debates the last few weeks. Between the President and Mitt, the Joe and Paul show, and numerous governor's, senate and down ballot meet ups, mostly available online here in the fringe market, there's something to watch daily. Besides The Daily Show.
Which sadly should have shown last night's episode on Friday when it would have had more impact.

Tonight is another opportunity to gather friends and watch the show in the Center Ring of this year's big circus. The food and fellowship will be worth it, guaranteed. And who knows which Mitt Romney will show up? I am sure the Prez will be more energetic. The only way to go is up. But his message has been rock steady all along. But as for his opponent, confusion reigns. I am shocked, I tell you, shocked, that more people aren't questioning their support of this man with many faces.

This problem is troubling Margaret and Helen today. Margaret lives in Maine. Helen lives in Texas. They have been friends for 60 years and counting. And they love to talk politics. I love them so much, I get an email notification when they write something new. Today's post is worth a read. Go visit them now!

And before I forget, speaking of The Daily Show, the Prez is going to be on Thursday night. I might have to shut down the phone bank early so I can get home in time to watch!

I Want Candy

I know, it's bad for your teeth. Too much sugar. And a pretty awful song, recorded by the Strangeloves in 1965.

No, I'm talking about Candy Crowley, the CNN commentator chosen to host tomorrow's Town Hall forum debate. I've watched Candy for years. She's one of the top political women in business. She's got the chops, paid her dues and then some. So why are the campaigns all a twitter? They're afraid she might go rogue if the limited Town Hall format makes for a dull debate and focus on real questions? A la Martha Raddatz? Oh please, yes.

I personally was rather annoyed that she got the short straw on the Presidential Debate draw. I'd have given Jim Lehrer that slot. I know, hindsight. 

Candy, bring it! I'll be watching, and hosting a party with lots of other people watching.

Hating on Signs, A National Epidemic?

My friend Susan in Texas is not happy that a sign she help raise money for got vandalized. It is a very nice Obama sign, hurting no one. But somebody had a bee in their bonnet and took a can of red spray paint to it. You can see it here

I can sympathize with her. Within 24 hours of putting up this double panel of candidate signs on the Centerville Highway, the Obama signs on both sides were spray painted with red paint. Interestingly, the other candidate signs were left alone.

We debated what to do, decided to leave the signs defaced for a few days as a testament to intolerance.  When our sign guy went back to replace the Obama signs, the whole display was knocked down and beat up. The sheriff was called, they came out and filled out an incident report. The local paper covered it with a big article.

Meanwhile, back in White Salmon, a garden of 7 signs disappeared after less than a week in place. Police were called. Jokes were made about how if the owner of the signs was a Republican, the signs wouldn't disappear. Ha Ha.  Turns out the renter of the house thought someone put them up without permission so he took them down on trash day and put them out with the trash. The other renter on the property, who requested the signs and cleared it with the landlord, was not amused, and a letter to the editor was fired off, to go with the police report.

We are opening a small office for the 3 week crunch to election day, just down the street from the GOP's big  office. I sure hope people play nice. We have people on the east side of the county who are truly afraid to put up Obama signs.

Joltin' Joe Has NOT Left and Gone Away

hey hey hey, hey hey hey

I must say it was with great pleasure that I watched the VP debate tonight. I productively entered 6 sheets of phone banking data at the beginning. But it was compelling TV. I was actually sorry when it was over (unlike a debate last week). Kudos to Martha Raddatz. She did a great job.

My fellow DNC delegate and roomie Tanisha wrote after the debate:

5 years ago at Thanksgiving my family starting talking politics after dinner. Everybody was giving their opinion on Clinton, Edwards and Obama- trying to decide who was going to win. When I gave my opinion I said this: I don't know who is going to get the nomination, but I do know this. Whoever it is better choose Joe Biden as their running mate. After tonight all I have to say is God Bless Joe Biden. Obama made the right call!

 Indeed, Tanisha, indeed.You AND Obama made the right call.
Obama/Biden 2012!

Maggies!

Life has been fast and furious lately. Here's a quick snippet about the last day and a half! We drove up to Seattle on Saturday. We'd hoped to visit our old friends Dave and Nancy, but they were on the road. We had made arrangements to crash at their place, which was in walking distance (2 mi) of the Convention Center. I got all dressed up, down to hose and shoes (amazing). Silly me, Aerosoles that were comfy standing and short walking on flat surfaces were NOT good for walking 2 miles that included up and down steep hills. Let's just say there is no skin on my last two toes on each foot. Good thing we could take the bus home!

The Maggie Awards event was great. We started with an official photo session for award winners with former Rep. Dick Gephardt and retiring Rep. Norm Dicks (I'll share when we get the link) followed by the VIP reception area, where I had a lovely glass of a WA State Chard. Our fab man behind the camera Al Garmin documented the evening as well; he got some great shots posted on Flickr. Our dinner seats were with State Party Chair Dwight Pelz and his wife Beth. A video played with nominators telling stories about the nominees.

They'd asked us for 5 photos to summarize our lives. Wow. When you are 60 that's tough! I used this one of our fam (before Carol was born, but it kind of summarized early life). I love it. My Uncle Bill took it at their house in Concord at Christmas time. I'm the happy camper on the far right, with Linda, Mark, Annie, Mary and Janet in order to my right. Mom and Dad look a little weary.

Then I used this one, taken by John Dohrmann, a fisheries friend, when I was a Northeastern Coop student on a research cruise.We were on Georges Band aboard the Albatross IV out of Woods Hole. I worked for NMFS in Narragansett, RI from 1973 through 1981, then at the Galveston TX lab from 82-85. I didn't know this one existed until it appeared for the Albatross IV decommissioning last year.

I needed a Texas era photo, so I sent one of a defining moment of my emerging political life, when I was copilot to Marsha's pilot, driving Spanky around Sugar Land to shame Tom DeLay. Ben and Jerry's True Majority sent a Crown Vic and Spanky trailer around the country to highlight Tom DeLay's misdeeds. We even drove through Tom's neighborhood. I learned a lot from my friends at Fort Bend Democrats!

I added one of me playing marimba...of course. I needed to show my musical side, right? This was taken at Ruins Tuesday this past July.

 Finally, one of our family, after bottling wine last December. That's Alina, me, Keara and Lloyd with Springhouse Cellar's syrah. We are rarely all four together, with Keara in Austin, Alina in Boston, and us out in Washington.





Dwight did a very good job of making the narration humorous...I wouldn't want it any other way. We Dems in the Red Zone are required to have a funny bone. But I was honored and humbled to be in the company of the other award winners. Folks who live in hugely populated counties, working on a scale that blows me away!

I listened to Dick Gephardt and Norm Dicks talk about a Congress that actually worked together. I finished Ted Kennedy's autobiography on our camping trip this week. True Compass was a good read. While Gephardt lamented the lack of willingness to compromise to effect legislation for the good of the country, he talked about having majorities in the Senate and Congress making a difference. Kennedy, however, observed that congeniality broke down when Reps and Senators started leaving town every weekend, and didn't 'mix' after hours. Kennedy could work across the aisle, which used to be considered a 'good thing'. It is impossible to have compromise when half of the leaders refuse to engage, and actually RUN on the fact that they will not engage. Yet people elect them. Amazing.

It's a Small World After All

What are the chances you'll run into a customer of the World's Most Dangerous Beauty Salon in Tillamook, OR? Pretty dang good, apparently. Wednesday we were celebrating our 31st anniversary. We took a 5 mile hike to Cape Lookout. We drove the scenic loop to Pacific City for lunch at the Pelican Brewery. Then we stopped in at the Dem Headquarters in Tillamook on the way back to the Cape Lookout State Park where we were camping. I introduced myself to the folks there as the Klickitat County WA chair, State Committeewoman, and National Delegate. Turns out they were having a debate watch right there at the HQ. And they had a National Delegate attending as well as another couple from our campground! We raced the 10 miles back to camp to feed the dog, who didn't get to enjoy the chowder, calamari and oyster po'boy we had. 

Got back a few minutes late, watched the debate already in progress, muttered a few cuss words, remembered that I was in the company of strangers and watched my language a bit better. Afterwards a guy comes up to me and introduces himself as Brian, the National Delegate from the Tillamook area. Then he says, "You're from White Salmon, do you know Fran? She was a National Delegate." Hmmm. Fran. Well, if you mean Fenway Fran, that's me! He was so funny...wow...he met Fenway Fran, friend of Juanita Jean Herownself, proprietress of the WMDBS. Does that mean I'm almost famous??? HA!

Anyway, thanks to Brian and the Tillamook Democrats for a dandy evening. Pleased to meet you!