Mwuahah!

Analysis: Bush Unwelcome on the Trail

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. — Republican presidential candidates can't be any more clear: President Bush isn't welcome on the campaign trail.

Competing to succeed him, top GOP candidates Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson and John McCain barely utter Bush's name. They essentially ignore the lame-duck president, or give him only passing credit, as they rail against the status quo and promise to fix problems he hasn't solved.

"We all know Americans want change," said McCain, an Arizona senator, explaining the aversion to aligning with Bush. "I give him credit for a number of things but I think the fact is Americans are turning the page, including our Republican primary voters."

The candidates are walking a fine line. They are trying to tap into the deep discontent those voters feel about the state of the country without alienating any who hold Bush in high regard. At the same time, they have to counter the Democrats' powerful arguments for a new direction.

I'm with Poodles. I hope he tries to help!

Because I fell out of my chair laughing....

Bush says he will be a "strong asset" to 2008 Republicans.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President George W. Bush insisted on Thursday he will be a "strong asset" for Republicans battling for election in 2008, despite shaky opinion poll ratings born of a tumultuous presidency.

Bush, who has 16 months left in his second term, laid out a battle-plan for 2008 Republican candidates, based on a robust 'war on terror' policy, support for Iraq and low taxes.

"Strong asset," Bush said emphatically, when asked at a White House news conference whether he would be an asset or liability for Republicans in presidential and congressional elections next year.

"Candidates who go out and say that the United States is vulnerable to attack and we're going to make sure our professionals have the tools necessary to protect us are going to do well," said Bush, who appeared invigorated by the question.

Are you fucking kidding me? An ass, maybe. Many candidates have already started distancing themselves from him. Moron.

I just wish the Dems would actually take a stand for the American people. Fucking politics.

Venting

An open letter to the manager at Target in charge of the dairy section:

Grow some balls and call your vendor for organic milk every 30 minutes until the truck shows up with your milk. Having absolutely NO organic milk for more than two days is completely UNACCEPTABLE.

I spend hundreds of dollars every month at Target. I CHOOSE to shop at Target instead of Wal-Mart (which is right across the intersection, btw).

Someone should also be calling headquarters (or whoever is in charge of deciding which vendors you use) and letting them know what a horrible job this particular vendor is doing, and maybe work on getting a different vendor.

For every customer that actually asks why you don't have any organic milk, there are at least 10 more that don't. I'm sure not all of them are quite as pissed off as I am. But I came to the store last night with only one item on my list, along with a headache. You didn't have the item I needed, and I didn't have time to go to a different store. I was also told last night (Monday) that the delivery truck would arrive today (Tuesday). When I went this evening, around 7pm, you still did not have ANY organic milk. NONE. I had to go to Wal-mart to get organic milk (because I am out, and I use it every day). They had plenty, so there doesn't seem to be a problem with the actual supply of organic milk, just your vendor.

One very loyal, but extremely pissed off customer.

I'm not actually sending this in, but I needed to vent someplace without yelling at my hubby. It's not his fault the manager at Target can't get their vendor to deliver.

Not to mention that I'm quite put out at myself for being upset over something as stupid as milk. GRRRR.

Hypocrites, as usual.

So, apparently, every morning the Senate (of our US of A) starts off with a morning prayer. WTF? Separation of Church and State, anyone?

Well, guess what, you ignorant fundies. You let one denomination in, you let them ALL in.



So much for acting like Jesus and showing respect for others.

Thanks, Pmomma, for the link.

Keith Olbermann is my new crush.....

If only......

So everyone knows that Kieth and I had our 6th anniversary earlier this month, right? I mean, its not like we tried to burn down our house or anything like that.

And pretty much everyone that reads this blog knows about the many issues I have with my parent's religion.

So I have finally moved on from the feelings this post inspired, and then I get an email from my mother. Five days AFTER my anniversary. *WM means Wal-Mart*

happy 6th anniversary.hope you are doing, ok we are. i quit W M. am working with Dad. stress level is way down. am happier, have time to play in my garden. going to columbia,mo for assembly in aug.

These few sentences tell me so very much. The date tells me my parents still don't have internet at home, my mom had to go to the library to send me this email. It tells me that my mom probably had to sneak out to the library to use the internet. And it tells me that they weren't even in town the beginning of June (so they weren't ignoring me after all).

After many days of deliberation, I finally found a way to tell my mom how hurt I was, hopefully without being to mean about it.

I'm so glad you're happy and less stressed! Everyone is doing fine up here, Josie is now 13 months old and walking all over the place. Matthew will be four in August (I swear, I just brought him home yesterday!). Keith has a really awesome job with *****, the *** company. I'm still staying at home with the kids right now, most days I love it, some days they drive me crazy.

I must say, though, that I was very hurt and upset when you didn't call to see your grandchildren during the assembly here in Kansas City. I had no way of knowing that you weren't here, but I do keep track of things that are going on in the religion. I know when the assemblies are (I even know most of what is talked about at the assemblies), I know about the new Watchtower formats, and all the new rules the Governing Body has imposed upon you all.

I'm not stupid, but I also can't read your mind to know which assembly you attend, so you not calling during the assembly up here really hurt me, mostly because you're denying my children the chance to get to know you. And you are a wonderful person, a person worthy of being known.

And sadly, I don't really know you, not who you were when you were younger. I don't know what hopes and dreams you had, I don't know many stories of your youth, and I don't know what makes you tick.

All I know is that you have let Dad (another person worthy of being known) guilt everyone in the family into not having any contact with me or your sister. I know that you sneak away about once a year to have lunch with your sister. I know that you probably had to sneak away to the library just to email me.

I sit here in tears because I hurt so much. I hurt for myself, I hurt for my children, and I hurt for you and dad.

I, too, am worthy of being known, and so are my children. But you don't know who I am anymore. You don't know my dreams, for me or my children, and you never ask.

Love is not a feeling, Mom, Love is an action. Love is an email, love is a phone call, love is a letter, love is a hug, and love is being there for your children when they need you.

When I needed you most, you were denied me, and you were denied being here for me.

Sad what the rules of 9-12 men in Brooklyn who run a publishing company have done to our lives, isn't it?

I've seen their version of love first hand, and quite honestly, want absolutely nothing to do with it ever again. I have something more precious. I have UNCONDITIONAL love. It's absolutely amazing.

I wish it would actually make a difference in how they treat me, but, truly, I'm not holding my breath. Nothing will change until my father is gone. And that in and of itself makes me sad.

Is this right?

My heart bleeds for the many women like April.

Mom in Jail, Baby is the bail.

Someone who actually knows April.

Thanks, Sassywho, for the links.

Constitution? We don't need no stikin' Constitution!

Just in case you thought your Constitutional right to Free Speech was protected by law no matter what:



Sorry, Rudy, but this isn't going to help your campaign.

*sigh*

This past weekend (June 1-3), my parents were here in Kansas City for their Annual District Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses. This year's theme was "Follow The Christ".

I wonder if any of these points were mentioned?

Jesus did not shun those who were shunned due to religious decrees. Not one.

The first person Jesus (supposedly) told as to his supernatural identity was the Samaritan woman at the well, who had slept with 7 men and was shacking up with another man. Jesus put this horrible sinner first and never condemned her at all.

The only group ever condemned directly by Jesus own mouth according to the traditional gospels were the religious leaders who put laws before people that were too much for them to bear. (read up on Matt 23 and compare to the Governing Body)

I'm guessing not, seeing as how my parents didn't even call to see their only grandchildren.

Exactly what do my parents think I'm going to tell my children when they ask me why their grandparents never see them? That mommy did something really really bad and this is her punishment? That mommy left the only true God and condemned myself and them to destruction at Armageddon?

I'll tell you what I'm going to tell my children. I'm going to tell them that their grandparents love them the best that they can, but they belong to a religion that forbids them to have any contact with their only daughter because I dared to leave the church I was raised in. I dared to be an independent thinker and dared to question the authority of 9-12 MEN. I refused to let MEN tell me who I could and could not talk to or associate with. I refused to let MEN tell me, that because I was born a woman, I would always be a second-class citizen.

I refused to be a victim my whole life, never thinking that I was good enough for God.

I refused to lie about who I am to fit into their small mold of what is acceptable. I am so much more than that. According to them, God created each and everyone of us, but yet to follow God, we're not allowed to reach our full potential.

I cry for my children for the loss of their grandparents, whom they will most likely never know.

I cry for myself for the loss of my parents, for their love requires them to love the law of men more than their daughter.

I cry for my parents who will never know just how beautiful and wonderful their grandchildren truly are.

I cry for my brother who will never realize his dream of a Masters in Physics because to do so would take too much time away from his God (not to mention would completely destroy his faith and make him as evil as me).

My parents and brothers are more than a religion, but the chance to know them as people has been stolen from me.

On the death of Jerry Falwell.....

In the words of Clarence Darrow*...

I've never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.

I really don't have mixed feelings on this one. This man was the exact opposite of what a Christian should be. He preached hate and bigotry very loudly. I have no respect for him, even when some say they respect that he held very strong beliefs. Just because you "believe" something, doesn't mean you deserve respect.

I know all about believing in something that isn't true. There is no respect from me when what you believe hurts people.

*edited because I didn't check my facts before posting

Pro Life? Or Pro Death?

Last week our SCOTUS raped every woman in this country. Last week, they made a decision for us, telling us that we do not have the ability to make our own medical decisions. They told us that our doctors aren't smart enough to help us make our medical decisions, despite the years of training and school our doctors have paid for. Not one man out of the 5 who raped us has ANY medical training (as far as I know). But yet they believe that we're stupid and they know what's best for us. Because Jebus told them so.

Last year, I made this post. Obviously, my emotional argurment was HYPOTHETICAL, just in case you go back and read it.

This past Sunday, DDB posted this. I hope my husband, my son, and my daughter and/or her partner NEVER has to make that kind of decision.

Here's another essay by Beth Quinn on the subject (thank you, Red Seven, for the link).

But - and here's the worst part - the justices ruled that there are NO cases except imminent death of the mother in which a D&E abortion can be legally performed now. Not to preserve her health. Not to save her uterus. The justices have replaced your doctor's judgment with their own.

Here is Gretchen Voss' story. If you can't feel her pain, you're not human.

When pro-lifers start showing respect for me, as a person, and recognize that they are NOT my parents and CANNOT and DO NOT have the right to make MY personal, medically informed, decisions, I MAY start showing them respect. Until then,

STAY THE FUCK OUT OF MY LIFE AND MY GOVERNMENT.

If you're not pissed off, you're not paying attention.

The more things stay the same.....

The more things never change.

Let's see, PMS, a 3-day migrain, being in my home town without seeing my parents.

Yeah, that was my weekend. I hope yours was better.

In other news, Keith uploaded new pictures to the family site.

/rant on

Yesterday, I spent at least an hour cleaning up the kitchen. This morning when I went down to fix breakfast for Matt, it was a disaster. Apparently no one (including me) bothered to clean up from supper last night. The plates were still on the table.

There was cat puke on my stairs this morning.

I woke up not feeling well; congested, sinus drainage, the usual.

Matthew has been pushing all my buttons all day long.

My Sims2 game would not load this morning, no matter what I did (including removeing all hacks and custom content). I'm currently re-installing the game and all 5 expansion packs after deleting them. (I'm not stupid, I did save all my custom content)

Matthew got into the salt (that was left on the table) and made a mess all over the table and floor.

My goddamn mutherfucking phone (that Cingular sold me without telling me they had discontinued it) died in the middle of a conversation with my insurance to find out if I had any mental health coverage to help pay for my therapy. If I didn't want an IPhone so bad, I'd switch carriers. As it is, I have to put up with a phone that eats batteries for 3-4 more months.

/rant off. but I'm still pissy.