All Hail the New Leader of the GOP--Rush Limbaugh

The Republican Party has a new leader, and it's not Michael Steele. It's Rush Limbaugh, and we who are more level-headed (98% of the US, by my unscientific measure) should be very happy. The more press he gets, the more sound bites, the crazier he sounds and the more he alienates potential voters.
Now, why doesn't anyone in the GOP get this? As a matter of fact, there were a number of Republicans in power who actually felt obligated, not only to apologize to Limbaugh after denouncing him for his remark that he hoped Obama failed, but to kiss his ass afterward that. You can see the full clip from the Rachel Maddow Show , but the powerful who are so easily intimidated are: South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, RNC Chair Michael Steele, and the biggest boot-licker of them all, Georgia Congressman Phil Gingrey.
Lest we forget, 2 years from now, how crazy the head of the Republican Party is, here are a few quotes from the big mouth on the big head of Rush Limbaugh:

"The phony soldiers." --on U.S. service members who support withdrawal from Iraq

"He discusses his service in Iraq, the wounds he suffered there, and he says to me in this ad, 'Until you have the guts to call me a 'phony soldier' to my face, stop telling lies about my service.' You know, this is such a blatant use of a valiant combat veteran, lying to him about what I said, then strapping those lies to his belt, sending him out via the media in a TV ad to walk into as many people as he can walk into." --denouncing an ad by VoteVets.org featuring Iraq war veteran Brian McGough by likening him to a suicide bomber

"He is exaggerating the effects of the disease. He's moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act. ... This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn't take his medication or he's acting." --on an ad by Michael J. Fox endorsing Claire McCaskill for Senate for supporting embryonic stem cell research

"And don't forget, Sherrod Brown is black. There's a racial component here, too. And now, the newspaper that I'm reading all this from is The New York Times, and they, of course, don't mention that." --on the 2006 Ohio Senate primary race involving then-Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), who is white

"This is no different than what happens at the Skull and Bones initiation...I'm talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release? You ever heard of the need to blow some steam off?" --on the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal

"Too many whites are getting away with drug use...Too many whites are getting away with drug sales...The answer is to go out and find the ones who are getting away with it, convict them, and send them up the river, too." --in 1995

"I am addicted to prescription pain medication." --in 2003

"Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society."

"We're not sexists, we're chauvinists -- we're male chauvinist pigs, and we're happy to be because we think that's what men were destined to be. We think that's what women want."

"She comes to me when she wants to be fed. And after I feed her -- guess what -- she's off to wherever she wants to be in the house, until the next time she gets hungry. She's smart enough to know she can't feed herself. She's actually a very smart cat. She gets loved. She gets adoration. She gets petted. She gets fed. And she doesn't have to do anything for it, which is why I say this cat's taught me more about women, than anything my whole life." --on his cat

"She sounds like a screeching ex-wife." --on Sen. Hillary Clinton

"I've been racking my brain. I've been trying to figure out how Bob Dole's luggage got on my airplane...I told the doctor, I said, 'Look, I'm worried about the next election.' ... A misunderstanding." --after he was detained by custom officials for possessing Viagra with a prescription made out in someone else's name

"The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies."

"They oughtta change Black History Month to Black Progress Month and start measuring it."

"Sorry to say this, I don't think he's been that good from the get-go. I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well." --on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, while working as a commentator on ESPN

"The only way to reduce the number of nuclear weapons is to use them."

"There are more acres of forestland in America today than when Columbus discovered the continent in 1492."

The "Infomercial"

The 30 minute Barack Obama commercial was not aimed at me; I made up my mind who to vote for a while ago. I know the "infomercial" was aimed at the undecideds among us (how many of those can there be? Maybe choosing between a major and a minor party candidate?). But I thought I should watch it nonetheless.
I could not watch it in prime time because I was out getting bits for my awesome Halloween costume, so I tried to find it on the internet (how hard could that be? It was on a number of major networks.). About 15 minutes and at least 4 different websites (including the official Barack Obama site) later, I found it on YouTube, where it had been divided into multiple parts. I'm not sure I watched it in order, but I don't think that influenced what I thought of it.
I thought it was very well done. Yes, I had heard most of the information before, but again, I was not in the target audience. But what I was most amazed at was how I felt while watching the commercial. For the first time in many weeks, my stomach started to unclench. Perhaps it was the background music, perhaps it was the photography, but I felt myself relax. I relaxed as I heard a thoughtful person speak softly but clearly about his ideas. I heard other articulate Americans, from many walks of life, talk about their problems and their dreams. What I didn't hear (and didn't miss) were attacks on opponents, hate speech, or people booing their fellow Americans. The faces I saw were not sneering, not fake in any way. I am getting so tired of the RNC ads on television. I am getting so tired of the John McCain stump clips on television, where he appears to be talking to us as if we were grade school kids. I am tired of feeling such negativity coming from the box in the corner. Barack Obama's commercial made me feel good; happy that there was such a thoughtful individual speaking to me.
Those feelings were reinforced last night, when Rachel Maddow interviewed Barack Obama.
Here were two very bright, very articulate individuals having a great conversation. Maybe one or two campaign lines, but mostly Obama went into greater deal regarding foreign policy, especially Afghanistan. What struck me most was Obama's remarks about the Republican party and why he is not attacking them while on the campaign trail. Duh--he wants to work with them come January (too bad John McCain missed that thought, as he attacks EVERYONE in Washington as elitist). I had to smile when later Rachel called Obama "Mr. Bipartisanship Pants"--she was kidding. She knows he's right and he's the one who can pull it off.
So, I have a little bitty bit of hope for the outcome on Tuesday night. I just hope my stomach unclenches on Wednesday morning.

From Maverick to ???

Last night, Rachel Maddow had a very thought-provoking segment on her show. I probably won't do it justice, but basically she was asking the question, "Who is the leader of the Republican party?" Speaking of the failed vote on the Wall Street "bailout", she pointed out that President Bush was for it, Sen. John McCain was for it, the Minority Leader in the House was for it, but the Republicans in the House overwhelming voted against it (in contrast, over 60% of the House Democrats voted for the package). So, who is the leader of the Republican party? Who is the person who can talk the "rank and file" into doing "what is best for this country?"
Clearly it isn't George Bush. He's beyond Lame Duck at this point; according to most Americans, if he says the sky is blue, you'd better go check--at least twice. I remember when he appeared on Wall Street a couple of months ago. He said our economy was fundamentally strong. I knew then we were in deep trouble. Very deep trouble.
If it's not the president, logically the leadership role would fall to the presidential candidate (as a matter of fact, John McCain stated that yesterday morning, when he accused Barack Obama of NOT being the leadership in his party--"He's standing on the sidelines"). And here is where the problem lies.
John McCain has been running as a maverick--someone who is going to take care of that do-nothing, lobbyist-ridden, failed Washington (and by default, Congress). Now, if it were me being accused of being do-nothing, and I was trying to get re-elected to Congress, AND I was a member of his own Republican party, I would be a bit bitter. Wouldn't want to be so quick to follow the maverick leader--heck, I'd probably want to be a maverick myself and find any way to distance myself from all "those others" in Washington too. So herein lies the problem--note to John McCain--don't go calling names and casting too wide a net; you will need to work with those "fish" when you're elected.
To me, this does not bode well for the future of our country. We need leaders who will work together; we've already had enough of partisan politics; what happens when elected leaders in the same party can't get along?
I'm not saying the "Bailout" package was the best they could come up with. I'm not saying I know how I would have voted. What I'm saying is, please could the Republicans put their House in order, and could the members of our Congress please work together to end this crisis soon? Please?
Oh yeah, and a note to members of the House--do NOT listen to Rep. Mike Pense from Indiana; that loser wants to put corporate tax cuts and other incentives into the "Bailout" bill. HUH????

Miscellaneous

Here's a good quote I heard on NPR the other day:"Women voting for John McCain are like chickens voting for Colonel Sanders."
Rachel Maddow's new show is very good; Karen enjoyed it when, on the first night, Rachel made Pat Buchanan look stupid. I liked the exchange between the two of them because they are both bright, articulate, and Pat doesn't keep repeating the same party line. He states the party line like a good boy but doesn't repeat it ad nausem.
Where is Joe Biden??!! In my opinion, adding Sarah Palin to the ticket was a brilliant move on the part of Karl Rove (and don't be fooled--he does play a role in this campaign) for so many reasons. The best one is that the Republicans are now getting all the publicity (any press is good press), and Obama gets the leftover time. Biden is out there stumping, but nobody hears about it. I have a suggestion for a future Rachel Maddow show--play some of Joe Biden's sound bites; get him back in the news--let everyone see how articulate he is. And how funny.
Finally--here's a photo of our newest family member:

Her name is Kiki and we got her from Almost Home Humane Society. She's a little thing--just 9 lbs, but our other cat, Charlie, is little too and we didn't want to bring a bruiser into the house. So far they are curious about each other but not friendly. She's made herself quite at home already, taking over Charlie's favorite spot on the sofa and talking to us when we're in the kitchen. I've really enjoyed watching Karen with Kiki--she hasn't had a pet of her own in so long (Charlie was here when she arrived, and truth be told, he really loves me), and has been so attentive to Kiki, worrying that she hasn't eaten or that she's "making noises" at night.
Coming up next: I officiated at a wedding last weekend (we have the license to prove it).