Do You Hear What I Hear? Up on the stage? Yes, It’s Political Rhetoric

     The more I watch CNN or even turn on the television, the more I am amazed that no matter what I watch it always become political on some level or another.  I mean, even the most basic commercial involves either an endorsement of a corporation or an issue that can be tied back into a “family value or ethics” argument or a point for the “Occupy Wall Street” movement.  Actually, it doesn’t even have to be a commercial.  I’m currently watching an episode of The Big Bang Theory (Episode 54, “The Maternal Congruence).  This episode touches on divorce, drinking, mild humor, and certain family “values’. In fact, the mother gets drunk, which I’m sure everyone has experienced at one point in time or another…especially in college, and attempts to have an affair with Sheldon or a busboy from Penny’s place of work (The Cheesecake Factory).  While it is indeed funny, it reminds me of the political “breaking news” of the day concerning GOP candidate Herman Cain.      While giving an interview on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Cain decided to get ahead of a story that will dominate the news for at least two weeks.  It seems as though a third woman is about to come forth to accuse Herman Cain of having an affair or something just as scandalous.  The fact that Herman Cain is playing offense regarding this situation shows many things: 1) he is slowly becoming more like a politician that he swears he never was to begin with – and thus learning the political game; 2) he is serious about running to capture the GOP nomination to take on President Obama in 2012; and 3) he finally has surrounded himself with people that have either worked at least one election cycle or just have a sliver of common sense. 
     Now, with every step forward taken in politics, there are always two steps backwards…especially the candidates that claim that they are not a Politian or a witch.  During this interview, Herman Cain was asked about his response to the Middle East and a clip was shown regarding a response in which he took a minute or two longer to answer a question about Libya.  Now, I should mention that I thought the interview was going rather well given Cain’s decline in the national polls; however, he messed up his chances after saying that he was taking time to make sure he wasn’t going to say anything wrong because he was a little tired from the forty-minute interview.  He further explained that he had a lot of events scheduled back-to-back and he was starting to pace himself more so that he would not be as tired.  I’m sorry, but if you are running for the President of the United States, you are going to have to have back-to-back meetings, multiple situations where the President will have a limited number of hours to sleep due to issues out of their control.  Furthermore, if a forty-minute interview gets you so tired where you mess up on a county that could present a significant change in foreign policy, then I can’t image your potential state of the union speech, address to the United Nations, or even your foreign policy stances without falling asleep myself…and I’m an actual politically-minded person unlike Cain’s “I’m not a politician even though I give political answers.” I mean, is this the reason, or at least one of the many, that Herman Cain has fallen within the recent weeks in national polls?  I highly doubt there is still time for him to rebound – the Iowa Caucuses are five weeks away and the New Hampshire Primaries are six.  I hardly think that is even enough time to fend off another accusation, sell oneself as the real candidate, and still win in these two important political states. Oh well, I guess time will tell. Honestly, I give it until the end of the week and then Cain will drop out.
     Speaking of time and politics, I think the endorsement of Newt Gingrich by New Hampshire’s Union Leader has thrown a wrench into GOP’s plans to defeat President Obama next year.  The argument could be made, against Romney not getting the endorsement of the conservative paper, that the New Hampshire republican’s have seen how good ole Mitt governs in the state of Massachusetts.  They see that Romney only is concerned with whatever is good for himself and how he has a position on every issue except the right position (that could be a pun and it is sem-intended).  I think one of the few things Gingrich has going for him is that he has been bipartisan in the past (and by past I mean the 1990s) and also former President Clinton speaks positive thoughts about him (and remember that Clinton was the President in the 1990s, haha – just a little trivia for those that forgot the 1990s).  Well, at least Gingrich is the new guy to drop in the polls for the GOP race to lose to President Obama.  I just hope he doesn’t fall as bad as Perry did…and continues to do with each sentence he attempts to finish sounding semi-intelligent.  Oh, did I say too much???             

Occupy The Turkey…I Prefer Not To

     I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving; I know I did.  What did I do? I traveled “home” to New York and spent Thanksgiving with my father’s side of the family. I also took one of my childhood friends who has never been to the Empire State (we are still friends to this day by the way).  It was interesting to show off all of the places I’d grown up prior to moving down to western North Carolina.  While I was in my home state, I met up with my fourth grade teacher who retired after thirty years of service. I’m glad she is retiring, but New York State is losing a valuable teacher. She has inspired me to pursue teaching!  While there was no snow in New York during our brief stay, which was surprising as I remember it always having snow before Halloween, it did manage to rain.  It was still refreshing and it seemed like a mini-vacation.  Again, my good friend enjoyed New York State.
     Now, it would be unlike me to have a “normal” Thanksgiving without something regarding politics.  During my visit with my fourth grade teacher, I discussed politics.  It was really refreshing.  In fact, her son majored in Political Science!  I even talked to him more than my teacher because we were sharing our “war stories” (ha-ha). During the conversation, we had the topic of the “Occupy Wall Street” Movement present itself.  After roughly two hours of discussing this movement, I understand what they are trying to achieve and I can appreciate their efforts for change.  I’ll be honest, at first I was skeptical.  I mean, I thought it was full of hypocrisy.  I would love to go into detail about the movement itself, but I don’t want to be guilty of boring anyone.  All I will say is that I am in support of the “Occupy Wall Street” movement after talking to a supporter and understanding what they are trying to achieve.
     The more I think about it, and the more I discussed it with the friends I saw in New York, the more I see the “Occupy Wall Street” is my generation’s version of the 1960s and early 1970s.  To clarify, I do understand the difference between both generations; however, there are many similarities.  For example, both generations protested the government’s handling of situations within the country while trying to mitigate problems abroad.  Another one addresses the “fix the system, fix the problem” mindset of both generations.  The generation of the Vietnam fought against equality such as those that are “application-based” than those of my generation which are geared more towards “social-standing base”.  That is to say, the former generation fought for gender, ethic, and social rights, whereas my generation doesn’t care about such rights.  Let me rephrase that…we care about social rights, but because we grew up where we all knew someone who was gay, black, Jewish, (feel free to add in whatever label you feel is appropriate), we just don’t care as long as we are on the same financial-standing.  For my generation, we want the rules to apply to everyone and for everyone to be given the same opportunity.  While it is important to point out that capitalism is all about making more money and having a big house – or so goes the stereotype – it is also about helping those than cannot help themselves. This is, at least to my understanding, why my generation is so focused on the future of the society in which we grew up around.
     I guess my message, or rant (ha-ha), is getting lost in the writing.  My generation (late 1980s until late 1990s) wants to have an ideal society where everyone has the essentials to survive.  If they choose to pursue a better education and make more money, they should be able to do so; however, I think my generation does not want those that choose not to pursue higher goals set forth by others be taken advantage of by others.  Some would argue that that is capitalism in its truest form; I tend to believe that the human race is better than that…at least, I’d like to think so.  I really hope society is better than those that will look back on this current time and think “well, they did have good intentions and did help us advance to measures they’d never know,” and it will make our generation look like the best that has every existed.  Then again, every generation hopes to be better than the former ones.
     Okay, I guess I’m done on that note.  I will think of a better blog topic and make up for this randomness (ha-ha).  On a positive note, Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is right around the corner.  The only reason I know that, other than looking at a Calendar, is the Christmas music that continues to overpower all forms of communications.  Until then, enjoy your free time and drink a gingerbread latte…I know I will! By the way, I hope someone gets my reference in the title.

TGIF - Zombie Parenting on the Twilight Eve of Politics

     First things first: It's Friday! For all you Gleeks out there reading, I am listening to "Friday" by Puck, Artie, and Sam (Mark Salling, Kevin McHale, Chord Overstreet). Personally, their version is WAY better than Rebecca Black's (she sounds flat when she sings).  Last night, the new movie of the horrid Twilight series opened in theatres. As a writer - or at least someone who has taken a fiction-writing class - I couldn't even finish reading the series (I stopped 30 pages from the end of book three, Eclipse, and I have yet to read book four, Breaking Dawn). The writing was just elementary and highly predictable. Let's also take a moment to discuss the suppression of women all throughout the series. Honestly, the political undertones were the only things that kept me from not turning finishing the books I did read - with the exception of the third book; I just couldn't do it any longer.
     As much as I give the series grief, I will point out that the books do remind me of how the roles of men and women have evolved with society. A woman can do whatever she wants regarding education, her lifestyle, or even her own goals in life without the constant affirmation from a male figure watching over her and treating her like a child.  Furthermore, unlike Bella in the series, women can actually think for themselves and not play the “damsel in distress” card in order to get what they want. Oh yeah, women can decide whether they want the bad boy or a good one (which arguably is stereotypical). Just a side note, Twilight reminds me of a twenty-first century Alice in Wonderland…and I hated that book too – mainly because of the way it portrayed women: as being stupid creatures who can’t think for themselves and need to be constantly supervised by a man who “knows more and is in charge” within society. I’m sorry, but I am of the mindset that women are NOT lower to any man; if anything, they are equal to a man or sometimes even vastly more intelligent than them.  Anyways, I digress.
     The sobering point of this series is that children are constantly living as Bella, Edward, Jacob, and Dracula – oh wait…too many fictional horror characters.  What is worse is that parents, many but not all, don’t step up and guide their children with anything that they may or may not be apart of.  Let me clarify, parents would rather be the child’s best friend than the parent of that child.  I realize that I’m not a parent and I will – hopefully later than sooner – one day be a parent, but I’d like to be the parent that can stand up to my child and earn their respect and trust.  For me, respect is something earned, not given based on a position of power or seniority.
     Okay, as much as I review those last few lines in the previous paragraph, the more I have to justify why it is not a conservative point that has been buried deep within me.  I firmly believe a parent, regardless of gender, can help shape a child’s life.  In addition, the notion of “family values” is absurd to me!  It is merely a talking point and just another line of rhetoric used by the right wing of American politics in a way to win votes in an election.  I would rather have a child grow up with two parents of the same gender than have a “mom and dad who love each other” but after six months get a divorce because daddy cheated on mommy with one of his old ex-girlfriends he found on Facebook on his lunch-break at work!  Now please ask yourself, what values does that father instill into the child? Cheating is not okay in a game of Monopoly but it is expected in the real game of Life??? (Just to clarify, I know there is a game of life and when I wrote that my first thought was, “Hey you just made a pun!” Well, it was not intended.)
     I guess my main point was anyone can be a parent, but more need to step up to the job.  Another point being made was parenting should not only be confined to one man and one woman…just like marriage!  In retrospect, I guess these are a few reasons why I can’t support Rick Santorum, ha-ha! Anyway, I’ll save that discussion for another time.  Meanwhile, I’m going to watch the House on C-SPAN (and yes, that was a redundant statement as C-SPAN follows only the House of Representatives whereas C-SPAN2 covers the Senate and C-SPAN3 covers the Court Systems).

To all those who are traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday, please be safe!

Post-Election & Post-Debate

     Okay, so what a week...so far anyway!  This past weekend I drove up to Dumfries, Virginia and helped out a friend of mine with a campaign she was a part of for this election cycle.  This past weekend was GOTV - Get Out The Vote - and it was so awesome!  It felt great being a "volunteer" but I really got involved and fell right into the swing of things.  I have a confession: I LOVE GOTV and E-Day!!! I love the excitement, organizing walk packets, cutting turf, organizing volunteers, making calls, etc. It is "the rawest form of Democracy" and I love it! Anyway, on Saturday night I drove up to DC - my city - and I just felt right at home.  This is because I spent a full semester in Washington for an internship at the Department of Education.  This was the same semester that President Obama was inaugurated so that was a big plus!  I have too many memories of that time in my life, haha!  Anyway, Washington, D.C. is my city and I can't wait to go back and live there.  After all of these adventures, I found out that the candidate I was helping my friend out with had won re-election!  This is wonderful and it feels really good to be apart of a winning campaign. Yay for Team Toddy!
     I was also surprised that State Bill five was rejected by the voters of Ohio.  As far as I know, this bill would have allowed the break-up of unions in Ohio.  I'm not well versed in Labor Union issues or relations so I will not comment too much on this.  All I will say is for the friends that were involved in making sure SB5 was rejected had a major victory on Tuesday.  I wish I could understand the Labor Unions and the issues that are important to them; well, maybe one of these days I'll fully understand it.
     Well, the other thing was the 500th Republican Debate last night in Michigan (The next debate will be on Friday in Utah and the topic will be family values....I'm kidding).  I mean honestly, it is really necessary to have a debate at least once a week until there is a candidate?  The only thing that really changes is the way they answer the questions.  It's the same empty rhetoric and finger-pointing of "my plan is better than their plan" which is childish. I decided to watch the CNBC debate because I figured what else is there to do other than watch Survivor? I will admit that whenever they went to either a break or Michele Bachmann I flipped the channel to Survivor.  Now I know that some of you are thinking that I'm sexist. You're wrong!  First of all, I really don't see her being the republican nominee; second, she offers no viable answers to anything she is asked or either agrees with Gingrich; third, she doesn't understand any concept of how the economy works or even how to create jobs since she couldn't do it in her own district in Minnesota (and I'm sorry but having a family practice to "pray the gay away" does NOT qualify as a legitimate business........do I dare mention the words separation of Church and State?); and the final point, she has nothing else to offer voters since her peak was back when she won the Iowa Straw Poll.  Since then, she has stated controversial (and wrong facts) things on HPV and its link to mental retardation, her staff and campaign have abandoned her and have joined another campaign - I think Romney but it really doesn't matter for the sake of this point, and she just can't get passed the whole "Obamacare is wrong and I'll repeal it" battle cry.  I mean, how stupid! Maybe if she had read the law then she would understand just how important it is especially to those with pre-existing conditions, the senior citizens, etc. Oh yeah, to those that argue that it hurts small businesses, the democrats wanted to the taxes out of the bill because they knew it would hurt small businesses but the Republicans decided to leave it in and attempt to sell it as a "democratic" mistake. Okay, I won't get started on the Health Care bill but seriously people!
     I have a feeling that Rick Santorum will be the next to get out of the race.  I also find it hard to believe that the winners of the debate last night were Romney & Gingrich.  I did NOT like the way he was treating Maria Bartiromo and his arrogant style is just making him look stupid.  If you don't want to answer a question...then don't freakin' show up for the debate.  I mean, it's not like you'll be the nominee!  Surprisingly, Herman Cain did a decent job of answering the allegation questions...wonder which political person helped him with that since he is a "businessman" and not a politician?  One final thing about the fiasco last night...and in every republican debate: can we please stop saying we want to eliminate federal departments that are not "Constitutional" because it just makes you look incredibly stupid. If you really wanted to start with elimination of federal departments based on Constitutionality, then you would begin with George W. Bush's "Department of Homeland Security" as we already have a Department of Defense.  Furthermore, I would LOVE to see just how many of you went to college without ANY federal help and were able to pay all expenses out of pocket.  That reminds me, Gingrich thinks all students should be cattle in college and only be there for studying.....I wonder how the Greek members of Washington feel about that? Surely those presidents who were in Ivy League Fraternities would disagree because Gingrich believes we should go to college strictly to go to college and leave after obtaining all classes - and eliminating all extra-curriculars including Greek Life, Student Government, Residential Living, Internships, etc.   Again, how stupid!   Okay, well I guess I will stop for now.
     In other news, I'm still waiting for my GRE scores.  I do believe they will arrive this week.  I can see Graduate School getting closer and closer. Thank you Department of Education for helping me afford college!!! Oh wait, did I say that out loud??? I mean seriously, let's privatize everything so those that can afford it will be able to do it and those that can't will suffer. Okay, I'm sorry; I did say I would stop. Honestly.....talk about class warfare - lead by the Republican party and their privatizing everything!  I love the argument of returning everything to the states; yeah, because the states are broke so clearly they know how to manage money let alone other things for their citizens.
     Anyway....it is almost Thanksgiving so yay for going to New York to visit my other side of the family!  I still haven't decided if I am going to fly or drive.  I do have a strong feeling I'll be driving though.  I guess we'll see!

Glee, November & Life in General

     Okay so I was supposed to post a blog on Sunday; so, I'm sorry.  I have days marked on my calendar of what day to post a blog on...I would argue I'm just that organized but obviously I'm not.  Anyway, here is my latest blog and I have a couple of things to discuss.
     I am super excited that "Glee" returned tonight on Fox!  I really love this show.  In some weird way I can relate to every character on the show. I mean, we all went through high school wishing we were someone else - at least the majority of us did.  Whether it was being the popular jock, getting a spot in the school musical, being Homecoming/Prom King/Queen, or just having a group of friends who accept you for being you, everyone wanted some aspect of the ideal "high school" years.  I find it both disturbing and sad that the news is dominated by reports of bullying and suicides.  I know everyone gets bullied in some way or another, but that does NOT make it right on any level.  Besides, if you were bullied then wouldn't you want to educate those on the affects of such a horrible way to treat others? I have horrid memories of being bullied all throughout school and I am still a strong person.  I think that should be the subject of the news: Celebrities, Sports players, and average people who were bullied in school and are now stronger than they ever have been.  I really urge people to get involved with some cause that is against bullying (I am a strong supporter of "The Trevor Project" & the "It Gets Better" Project). As a side-note, Blaine, Kurt, Finn, Mike, and Tina are my favorite characters.
   In addition to Glee returning and starting off November, I am optimistic about what November has in store for me.  I am fairly certain that my GRE scores will be arriving any day now and I am looking forward to seeing my "official" results.  I just want to go to graduate school so bad. I want to learn as much as possible and be the best that I can be.  Also, November is the month of Thanksgiving...or as I like to call it, "Holiday Travel-Hassel" because of being so far away from family members.  As ideal as it would be for both my parents to be together - on second thought, it would be really bad - I have always tried to figure out the best way to coordinate holiday get-togethers in order to please both sides of the family.  I think I've decided I will go to New York for Thanksgiving and have Christmas in North Carolina.  That way, next year I will be able to do Thanksgiving in North Carolina and Christmas in New York (and reverse the plan every year). Speaking of traveling, November has my favorite holiday: ELECTION DAY!!!! While one year ago today I was in New Hampshire working on a re-election campaign for a member of Congress, I figure this year I will go to Virginia and help out a fellow friend with a campaign they are working with within the state.  I am super excited because I LOVE GOTV (honestly, I would just google "GOTV" because it is an awesome experience).  I will also be working the election polling place for the Old Fort Municiple - Nonpartisan - race.  This year will not regard me to call in numbers, getting up at 3AM, doing a dry run for Eday, plan staging locations, etc.  The only thing I'll be doing this year is telling voters how to properly mark their ballots.  However, I will be following other races across the nation that same day so it will be similar to all of that...and yes, I am just that much of a political junkie!
     Regarding Politics, I am still following the Republican candidates. (Well duh, did you honestly think I would take a day off from that?)  I am so amazed that the news is following Herman Cain.  I mean, the only interesting thing about his is that fact that this past Saturday he was able to see just how bad my alma mater's football team really is in a game. I even retweeted his tweet!  By the way, do I dare ask the question concerning Bachmann's lack of political clout in New Hampshire and her staff jumping ship?  Seriously, is she going to be the next one voted off the island???  Anyway, I really hope Huntsman stays in the race longer than Santorum...I can't stand that guy.  If you don't know me by now, then you should know that I am all for equality - and other social issues, education, healthcare, and foreign policy. This former senator has no idea what he is doing or even what his own party members want.  Okay, I'll stop rambling about the Republican candidates...but seriously...where are the real candidates?
     Anyway, the President make some compelling pitches to college students about student loans.  I'm glad that he remembered a part of the voting base that made it possible for him to live in the White House.  I honestly think it is "too little, too late" because this generation (for which I am also putting myself in by the way) don't really care about the empty rhetoric.  In all honestly, we all can't have our cake and eat it too.  If we really want to lower student loans or, in essence, get rid of the interest collected on existing ones then why do we even have them to begin with?  I mean, we are citizens of the United States, maybe there should be a constitutional amendment stating that if you are a citizen then you are entitled to a free PUBLIC education.  If a student wants to go to a private institution, then they can pay but they have the option to do so.  Now that I think about that statement I just made, some will say that is a very republican thought-process. I would disagree because Republicans don't want to get an option; they just want to force people to place their money in a private entity so they can dictate the rules and leave others fending for themselves.
     This leads me to another thing: I can't seem to support the "Occupy Wall Street" or the "Tea Party" Movements. I mean, I find both of them to be really hypocritical.  Heck, I would say it is a very true representation of what Capitalism - and arguably democracy - is at the core.  Although I will give credit to both movements for getting the real issue out in front: the corporate money shutting out the public's voice in the American political voting procedure.  Also, the issue of a corporation's interpretation of the United States Constitution.
     Well, I would speak more about the political world but I am really trying to not make this a political blog, haha!  I view this blog as "anything goes" and an interesting way to get ideas out into the open so they can be discussed in greater detail.  Furthermore, I enjoy offering my perspectives on the world around us.  Just a thought to close with. Alright, time to watch the recorded episode of "Glee"...again!