Great Dinner Tonight!

Being in San Francisco for the past week and a half we've had many events that have been private and haven't gone out a lot.  Tonight, my BFF and I went to Tyler Florence's new restaurant.  We had the best time and it is our new spot since the Acme Chophouse has closed.  Yes, very different restaurants but the Tartare at Wayfare Tavern is amazing.  Beyond compare.  Even in Paris it doesn't meet what we had tonight.  Thanks!

WWTFDD?

What Would The First Dude Do?

Reading this article all I could think of is what the First Dude would do in office. Literacy? I don't think so. Anti-obesity? I don't know. But not after his wife has said this: Sarah Palin Blathers

I"m concerned about this.....

Walmart is a behemoth and personally, I don't shop there because I don't believe their practices help the world.  I ran across this article and can't help thinking, "Why is a centenarian working?"  OK, well that's her choice.  Next, I'd ask, "Is her employer asking her to act as loss prevention?"  Why on earth would she ever try to stop someone that she suspected of thievery?  If her employer encouraged her to they should absolutely be charged with elder abuse.  If they didn't discourage the act they should be charged with negligence.  The 37 yo woman that committed the act should go away for a long time, too.   This is disgusting.

Words to live by

Every Saturday morning I start with the Home and Garden section of the NYTimes.  Today is no exception.  I found this article and the last quote hit home with me.  I thought I'd share both.

“People doing good things on this earth, leaving the world a better place. It doesn’t matter what you do — if you do for cats, fine; if you do for Uganda, fine; if you do for trees,” she says. But “everybody owes it to the world to make it a little bit better.”


Enjoy the article:   White Space

I love the New Yorker.....

Here's my issue with Wall Street. Socially Useless.

A special note to Joe Miller:

The fat lady sang.

HRH The Prince of Wales on Dateline

That headline seems really demeaning to the monarchy but I believe it will do more good than harm. Take a look online. The Man Who Will Be King

Thanks to my BFF for pointing out this amazing article.....

I will never apologize for being a Democrat, progressive, liberal or any of the other 'swear names,' the right has for me.  Here's an article that really points out how the progressives, let by President Obama and Speaker Pelosi and Harry Reid really won.  Big time!  I hate that we are so divided but we are.  The right will not be able to repeal anything.   Huge Democratic Win

President Obama..... Stick to your guns. End the Bush era tax cuts.

I believe he will but the message needs to be very clear. Communication is key and the administration is failing miserably. President Obama

Glenn Beck.... He's getting really rich......

Glenn Beck is a money machine.  The people who follow him scare me more than he does.  He is offensive but he's not stupid.  The people that are feeding him money are the stupid ones.  This man is a shameless person.   Glenn Beck The Racist

The Myth of Sharia Law in America's Courts

Once again, the right is creating fear among the people.  I've chosen not to comment on this subject at all but it was brought to my attention more than a month ago by a conservative friend who is actually (seemingly) scared about this issue.  After Oklahoma passed their ground-breaking resolution telling courts they could only use U.S. law to judge cases (hmmmmm..... did we really need that on the books?  Isn't there a document defining the branches of government?  Oh yeah!  The Constitution.) I decided it was finally time to completely understand what this is about and if I need to be concerned.  Verdict:  time for another cup of coffee.  This one is hocus pocus.   Oklahoma and wind sweeping down the plain

Sarah Palin Lies

Check out this from the (Rupert Murdoch owned, right-wing) Wall Street Journal. Time for a Tea Party

Here's a tidbit from the other place we live.....

Clearly there is no global warming....... The bible tells me so........ Thanks to my friend Dar

Women get it.

I don't understand why but here's some pudding...... Lesbian couples don't abuse

Here's how it's going to hurt if you're not working.....

My favorite speaker ever (Nancy Pelosi if you're new to my posts) is interviewed for Huffington Post and it's a great piece. Speaker Pelosi speaks

We live in a small community.....

Part of the time.  We love it.  I don't know if we fit in but we're definitely having a great time.

Growing up in Minnesota, I was raised as a Lutheran in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and I remember many teachings of acceptance and love.  There is a huge issue right now in this area with the ELCA and their stance on various issues.  One of which is to allow 'practicing' gay men and lesbian women into the clergy.  To my surprise there were many other reforms enacted in the ELCA.  Highlighted in a letter to the editor at the Alexandria Echo Press: Jensen LTTE.

The author of the letter clearly is in stark disagreement with me but everything stated in that letter that the ELCA has adopted seems right in line with the progression of the world.  Living in this community (even part time) we've seen local churches torn apart by this issue.  People in their eighties are being urged to move away from the church they grew with.  This is not the love and acceptance of a church I grew up in.  I really praise the ELCA and the churches that are staying with them.  Acceptance and inclusion are what it's about.  Not exclusion and animosity.

Here's someone the Bush tax cuts are helping....

I know I have many conservative friends that are overwhelmed that W's cuts are going away. Guess what. They don't affect you. Unless, of course, you're like this guy: Steve Ballmer

If you're not quite there yet, President Obama passed the largest middle tax cut in history: Barack Obama

This is so absurd..... Republicans/Tea Partiers Lying about the President

This is just repulsive.  Not only that these squawkers are stating these wildly uninformed statements but that a portion of the electorate chooses to believe them! Michele Bachmann, Limbaugh et al: LIARS!

Republican Economics/VooDoo Economics

Ever since Ronald Reagan threw the United States under the bus by spending us into oblivion the tradition has continued.  George H.W. Bush raised taxes, surprisingly enough.  Of course, he also coined the term, "Voodoo economics."  For those that are uncertain about this economic approach it's basically this:  Cut taxes, cut some spending on social issues but spend wildly on military operations.  The numbers look like this.  Tax Revenue:  $$$  Social Spending:  $  Military Spending:  $$$$$$$$$$.  I am more than trying to imply that 3 dollars are coming in yearly but 11 dollars are being spent.  I believe Reagan's staffers called it the "Trickle Down Theory."  Not until President Clinton was elected and his balanced economic policies took over did the country rebound into the most successful growth it has ever seen.  We were riding high.  Then W took over.  And now the Tea Party is blaming Obama.  They will be suckered into believing anything.  Well, the soon to be one Republican stronghold (well, chokehold) in the House has come out with their economic plan.  Economists are saying it won't work and Tea Partiers are doing a double take like, "We've been had!"  Take a look at this in the Washington Post: Republican Economic Plan

Howard Kurtz writes about Keith Olbermann

Keith has gotten himself in some hot water.  He will and has to pay the price.  Sunday mornings Howard Kurtz hosts "Reliable Sources," on CNN.  It's available as a video download for iTunes weekly, as well.  Watch it.  He has some great comments on media coverage.  Here's what he wrote for The Daily Beast: Howard Kurtz on Keith Olbermann

Overheard the morning after the election......

A Democratic socialite in Minneapolis was overheard after viewing a picture similar to the attached, "Look at her.  Mouth wide open like a tuna!"

Made me chuckle.

Keith Olbermann Suspended!

One of my favorite shows on TV has been tarnished by what is seemingly a break in policy at NBC.  Keith was suspended today for inappropriately making donations to Democratic candidates.  Please play by the rules even if the others don't.  We'll see what the investigation brings. Tight Controls are Needed

Michele Bachmann Spouting Off

Michele Bachmann is back at it wildly lying about what the President is spending on his trip to Asia. One of the Chief Executives responsibilities is foreign policy so I would venture a guess that it is important that he travel to countries we enjoy diplomatic relations.  Here's a great piece from Vanity Fair: VF on Bachmann

As for Ms. Bachmann who just led one of the most expensive campaigns for a house member if not the most expensive I would ask, "How is that money being spent helping your constituants?  You're never in the district, you only publicize yourself and you spew hate."  I'd rather the money spent on that election get us out of the Republican mess we're in which we are embroiled.  6th District Minnesota Spending

Michele Bachmann wants a seat at the big boys table!

This is exciting!  Michele is trying to serve her constituents even less than before!  She wants to be number four in the House!  The 6th district is really being served.  Well, served an agenda that is serving their Congressional representative. Michele Bachmann wants a seat at the table.

Gird your loins..... here's the crap that's to come!

The Center for Public Integrity has done a marvelous job capturing the essence of the leadership that will be taking over the house. They've been bought by big industry. Read the article here.

I Love My Friends.....

My BFF sent me a link to a blog from another of her friends.  It was so on point I asked if I could repost and he kindly said yes.  Read the entire post and then the commentary at the end.  Hilarious!  (And at the same time sad.) Thanks to Anne and Steve. What "Freedom" Means For The Tea Party

America is losing a great Speaker

Nancy Pelosi is viewed as one of the most divisive people in American politics.  As is Sarah Palin.  One is brilliant.  The other not so much.  Ms. Pelosi is an accomplished woman.  She has broken the marble ceiling in the federal government, she has passed historic and profound legislation and frankly, it bit her in the ass.  She will most likely move on in the House as Minority Leader because 80% of her district kept her in office.  She doesn't quit.  Not like the divisive Sarah Palin.  Take a look at this from NPR: NPR on Madame Speaker

When W was elected to a second term.....

I didn't watch TV or look at the news for a week.  In fact, if I could have stayed in bed if I could.  History will show he will go down as one of the worst presidents in history.  Of course that is unless Sarah Palin is ever elected.  Of course, she'd only last two years and resign.  The thought that Sharron Angle actually had a chance of being elected to the Senate simply befuddles me.  She's an idiot.  And I'm judging.  Did you see the video of her offending the students that asked her to attend their meeting?

There are a few things that have made me happy over the last day.  One, I had a great trip to Minneapolis to watch Betty McCollom take her district without an issue in Saint Paul.  We attended her after party before heading over to the Hilton in Minneapolis to watch Mark Dayton (hopefully) win the election there.  Of course, we'll see about that one.  Secondly, our host in Minneapolis was so gracious with the use of her manse and being able to work from there today really helped.  Lastly, being back at the lake we watched Glee and I really was happy that I was with my partner.

We talked about the fact that we spend far more time with each other than most couples.  We both work from home for the most part and don't travel separately.  Well, not often.  The fact that the House has converted to a party that thinks my relationship is repulsive infuriates me.  Guess what?  It doesn't matter.  Spend us into oblivions again, Republicans.  You can't take away my life.

Oh, by the way, Bon Appetit has a new editor in chief...... Check out this article in the NYTimes..... Bon Appetit !

From my BFF..... A Website To Track Recovery Act Money

Track The Money

Tea Party Members Thought Their Votes Would Save Taxpayer Dollars.....

Woops, guess not..... Republican Waste

A Video Too Good Not To Share......

Super Exciting Night!

Rodney and I have been lucky enough to be invited to Betty McCollom's re-election party tonight! We're hitchen the horses to the buggy and heading down for a night of fun with one of our country's most respectable Congresspersons!

We may even swing by a Dayton party while we're in town!

Fun night!!!!

Non-Partisan Voting Assistance

OK, I say this is non-partisan but then again I didn't look behind its funding.  I think it is a useful tool if you haven't all ready voted! Vote Smart!