Scenario # 1

The year is 2026.  It's an off-election year, and President Rand Paul knows the GOP face very little opposition in these elections from the dispirited and decimated Democratic Party.  In fact, he sees this off-year election as an opportunity to showcase his Vice President, Rick Perry, and to add numbers to the 47 out of 50 GOP-controlled state legislatures--as if they need any help!  On the national level, control of the Senate is not a "given", as the Democrats learned in 2014-2024.  All it takes is being complacent, and a turn of 2-5 seats.  The House is pretty secure, as you can count on voters to bitch but vote for the same darn guy every time.
But to be fair, the legislatures of those 47 GOP-controlled states are pretty much staffed with figure heads--everyone knows the real power rests in the hands of ALEC .  ALEC has always been 2 steps ahead of everyone, all the time.  Back in 2010, the GOP put all their resources into state elections, and it paid off--districts were gerrymandered to ensure safe seats, and then ALEC went to work, drawing up legislation to be passed in states--Voting Right laws and Anti-Abortion Laws were their crowning achievements, and by the time the average American adult woke up, it was all over.  Now, President Paul is not only secure in his re-election, but has to spend very little money to get there.  There are such deep, grateful GOP pockets out there--ha ha!!!  The rich just keep getting richer, and once the Koch brothers learned how to sign on to Facebook, the ballgame was over. 
Not that any "average" American has time to "surf the net".....
The turning point was definitely Texas, in 2013.  Women's health clinics were closed throughout the state, and abortions after 20 weeks were banned.  Oh sure, women (and some men) were angry, just as they had been in Wisconsin, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Virginia, and other states, but the GOP (and ALEC) knew the attention span of an average voter was about 2 days, and then they were distracted by something on television, or the internet....Add to this the fact that young voters, once they feel defeated by something, just stop voting, and it was the beginning of a GOP cakewalk.
Soon, Americans just forgot, because it was the law, and it really wasn't so bad, and well......it seemed like it was just the poor it really affected.  And, it's hard to be angry clear until the next election....
2014 was a really good election year for the GOP.
And 2016?  The GOP was ready for that sucker that got elected president--they had learned much from the previous eight years--distract the voters, keep the "riff raff" from voting, and bury the elected president under with "scandals".  Then there was their media--Fox and other "friends"--they kept the GOP base riled up and voting, and it worked!  By 2018, the Democratic Party never knew what hit them, and now?  It's like people don't care any more...
The GOP knew it had it made when Obamacare was repealed.
So, what's life like for Americans in 2026?
It depends.  If you're wealthy, things never change--they just keep getting better.  If your wife, daughter, or girlfriend gets into "trouble", there are plenty of other countries to fly them to, countries where abortions and birth control are safe and legal.
But here, in the good ol' US of A?

1. Women's clinics are a thing of the past.  With the GOP landslide wins, and the Supreme Court increasingly conservative, Roe v Wade was overturned in 2021.  The citizens of the US rapidly learned that the GOP and ALEC were not just aiming to prevent abortions--they were aiming to prevent ALL forms of birth control.  One by one, states are successfully passing "Personhood Amendments" (stating life begins at conception), and the Supreme Court is upholding them.  
2. There is not one organization left to fight for reproductive rights, or to actually fight for women and their families.  People became complacent, thought Planned Parenthood would always be there, forgot to mail them a check once in a while.  Same with all those other organizations fighting for social justice for all people. 
3. There are far fewer women in the workforce.  There is no maternity leave anymore, and with families getting larger and larger, most women decide it's less expensive to stay home.  Most families could use the extra income though; 5-8 kids are a lot to feed.  The average man has to work 2 jobs to support his family.
4. Less than 30% of women go to college or a trade school.  There's just no money to send them, or the money is spent on their brothers' education.  College is extremely expensive, and why would a woman want to go to college anyway?  She's just going to get pregnant and have to give up her job.
5. Most students are not qualified to go to college anyway.  Back in 2008-2014, after the financial crisis's hit, most states decided it was a good idea to 1) Cut education funding, and 2) Keep women from making their own reproductive choices.  So now, with so many extra kids in schools, states are woefully unprepared, there are teacher shortages, and class sizes of 40-45 are the norm.  Unless, of course, you can afford to send your kids to private school...
6. Prisons are overflowing.  Poverty rates are sky-high, so kids are not ready for school (Head Start and free early childhood education is a thing of the past).  Kids drop out early--to help support their families, because they can't learn anything anyway, or because the local drug dealer has made them an offer they can't refuse.  It's a vicious cycle:  poverty--->low education attainment---->prison...And to think we almost had a handle on it in 2014...Add to this the women and doctors who have been imprisoned for trying to end a pregnancy--dwindling every year, but still trying to get away with it.
7. Women are dying at a rate not seen since the 1800's.  Clinics are closed, the Affordable Care Act was overturned...women can't afford prenatal care, so there are far more complications during childbirth.  Women who used birth control to prevent pregnancy for health reasons do not have access now.  There are no exceptions for rape and incest, so the rate of children (10, 11, 12-year olds) giving birth is at a rate never seen before, and the death rate of these "mothers" is so very, very high.  Women who wish to end a pregnancy for whatever reason are resorting to the methods women used prior to 1970--coat hangers, "potions" sold by quacks (now available on the internet!), knitting needles, "back alley" doctors.  And many of them are dying.  Horrible, painful deaths.
8. Tuberculosis and other communicable diseases, once thought "extinct", are spreading so very rapidly through cities and suburbs in the US.  Larger families, a shortage of affordable housing, rising poverty rates, no affordable heathcare--contagious diseases are epidemic.    
9. There are just too many people on this planet, and far too few resources.  When women and men could decide when to have children, or even whether to have children at all, our planet stood a chance.  But not anymore. Clean water, clean air?  Ha!  The GOP deregulated industry as fast as it could, once it could.  Other countries followed suit.  Not that it really mattered--more people need more resources; resources that are not always in infinite supply.  And all those extra people, using all those things that heated up our environment?  The planet got warmer.  The drought of 2012 and the flooding of 2013 paled in comparison to what's happening in 2026!  Crops are failing at alarming rates, just as the population is exploding.  There are food shortages, and food riots, across the United States.   Animals and plants that were once abundant are extinct--eaten.     
10. Canada has closed its borders to Americans, and they are constructing a fence.  There are just too many Americans, desperate for affordable health care, desperate for birth control, desperate for jobs, for a better future for their children, just desperate--they are streaming over the border, and the Canadian economy just cannot support any more.

In 2026, there are a couple of bright spots, as President Paul is quick to point out.

1. "Illegal immigration" is no longer an issue.  Nobody has crossed INTO America in years.  
2. Marriage equality for all.  You see, with mothers dying in childbirth, and orphanages filling with kids whose parents have died from disease, or who just can't afford to keep them, it's "every couple on deck"--even those lesbians and gays have to be counted on to take a kid...or 4...
3. And, "God Bless America"!  The 1% have finally killed the last union--with all those extra citizens, corporations don't need to put up with any backtalk from anyone; you complain, you're fired.  And your family is out on the street.   

Think about it....my scenario is not too far off the mark, is it?

Can We Take a Moment?

In the midst of another Monday, another political-story-that-doesn't-mean-squat-really, I would ask you to take a moment and look at this photo.  Really LOOK at it.
Look behind the candidate--at the woman to his left.  Look at his wife, Karen.
This should tell you all you need to know about the measure of this man.
This man is not "pro-life".  This man is pro-Rick Santorum.
How can anyone look at her and not feel sympathy?  Her face says it all--she wants, needs to be somewhere else.  Not here, at stupid CPAC.  No, she knows she should be with her child.  You remember, the one who's dying?  Three years old?  Isabella, who has a fatal genetic disorder?  Remember her?
Her mom remembers.  Her mom knows where she should be, and it's not here on this stage, at this Convention that is meaningless.
 Oh yes, you can justify it by saying that Karen has a choice, that she chose to be with her husband.  Really?  You think she really has a choice?  When she's married to Mr-I'm-pro-life-and-women-can't-have-that-choice?
Look at him.  Look at her.  Is THIS the man you want to lead the free world?  Someone who has chosen a meaningless job over his own kid, who is dying?  A man who, on his deathbed, will probably say, "I should have spent more time at the office?"
Pro-life indeed.
I was once a sick kid.  Really pretty sick--at about age 3, I was in the hospital with pneumonia.  In an oxygen tent.  That was back in the day when parents weren't allowed to stay with their sick kids--they had to follow strict visiting hours.  I cannot tell you how much I missed my parents when they weren't there.  Yes, I do remember.  And when I look at this photo, my heart breaks.
My advice to the Santorum family?  Go home.  Cuddle and hug that little girl that really needs you right now.  Nothing else in this world should matter more.    

In Praise of the Two-Party System

I'm still mad as heck about the wingnuts who were at the Tea Parties on April 15th.

You know, people like this one:
Way to stick to the message of the Tea Party, people! With all that's going on in our nation and in the world, THIS is the most important message you can think of to put on a sign? THIS is the most important issue to you--coming before education, health care, and the economy?? Well, at least you spelled it all correctly. Your life must be pretty good indeed if all you have to worry about is whether the president was born in the United States. Last time I checked, Hawaii is still a state.

But I digress--a little. I'm still asking the question, "Is this the new face of the Republican Party?" If it is, I'm actually quite sad. Because, for all my spewing about Republicans, I really do believe in the two-party system (I've given up hoping for a multi-party system--it's just not financially feasible). I believe in giving people a choice (works with toddlers--giving a choice for today's clothing might possibly avoid a temper tantrum); we don't all think alike, thank goodness, and it's important to feel like you're voting for someone who has the same values you do. There's a lot to be said for accountability, and who better to make sure you're doing what you've promised during an election campaign than your opponent, your adversary, your "friend across the aisle"? It's essential in a democratic republic to debate the issues; to exchange ideas, and to compromise--some of the best political work is done when there is a respectful and honest dialogue, and everyone is working together for the common good (I know--I have been accused of being a bit Pollyannaish in my world view) . Above all, it's extremely important to have leaders for each of the parties--people who will represent their party, will promote the core beliefs of their parties, and who will set the tone for dealing with the other political party.
This is where I am so disappointed with the Republican party--they have no leadership, nobody who will promote their core beliefs, and certainly nobody who has demonstrated a willingness to work with the Democrats during a period in our nations' history that's the worst in our living memory. "Just say No" is not an effective solution to our economic problems. Neither is name-calling, especially when you can't decide whether President Obama is a "socialist" or a "fascist". And it's not promoting your party to ignore, or worse--try to re-write, the history of the past eight years as if your party had no power and no responsibility. Aside from Olympia Snowe and Susan B. Collins, Republican senators from Maine, there appears to be nobody interested in "reaching across the aisle". Bi-partisanship is dead. No wonder the underbelly of the party seems to have taken the reins, and their leader (Rush Limbaugh) is someone who has never been elected to public office.
Where are the moderate Republicans? Why have they been silenced? Are they tired of butting heads with the Sarah Palins and Eric Cantors of their party? Or are they just so embarrassed by the Bush years that they've given up?
I can't believe I'm saying this, but..."Come back, you moderate Republicans, you thoughtful stewards of core Republican values. It's been too long--at least 30 years--it's high time you fight for what you believe in--seize control of your party. Our country needs to hear from you again."
But be forewarned--at this time in our nations' history, we need stateswomen and statesmen, NOT politicians.

New Face of the Republican Party??

I can't even begin to understand these people. Are they for real? Do they know their history, or do they just let Rush Limbaugh and others like him tell them bedtime stories every night? It makes me sick to think they would use President Obama's photo as Hitler, of all people. What heinous crime has he possibly done to them, to their families, to justify comparing him to one of the most evil humans in history? If they think Obama is so bad, where were they the past 8 years, when our president and vice president were allowing torture of other human beings? Where was the outcry then?
Are these the new faces of the Republican party? Part of me wants these wingnuts to be the new voices of the Republican party, and part of me is very sad that there are so many delusional folks out there.
I also don't understand the Tea Parties that went on across the nation today. Most were held in city parks, on bridges, and there was police protection provided to the protesters. I just wanted to ask these protesters what they think paid for the bridges they stood on, the parks they were in, and the police who were standing by? Did they drive to the Tea Parties on roads? Who taught them to read and write the words on their posters? Thank goodness taxes were used for these and many other things, otherwise these protesters wouldn't have time to be on the bridges--they would be home, working while it was still daylight (because when darkness came, there would be no electric grid to provide them with electricity) to maintain the road in front of their house, and to keep an eye out for looters. How shortsighted can a person be?
Make no mistake--this was no grassroots protest today. These people were being manipulated by big business and the likes of Newt Gingrich. When they don't have anything positive to offer, no real solutions to put forward, it's tempting to rile the masses with whispers and smear tactics. Divide and conquer.
I thought we were better than that. I had hoped we were a better people than that. And then I saw those homemade signs, and felt sad again for our country. I can only hope the Republican Party can find its' moderate, sane voice again.

Mister Rogers Gives the Republican Response

If you are interested in watching the Republican response to President Obama's speech last night, I suggest the C-Span version. It's an uncut, unbiased version of Gov. Bobby Jindal's remarks.
As I watched Gov. Jindal walk to the microphone, I was struck by a couple of things. First, why does the Republican party insist on perpetuating the myth that it's a multi-racial organization? To refresh your memory, I suggest you watch highlights of the 2008 Republican National Convention--I haven't seen a crowd that white since, well, probably the 2004 Republican National Convention. I find it offensive that the power in the GOP insist on digging up the few members of color in their organization, thinking they will fool us all into believing they are truly a representative sample of their membership. We are not that stupid.
Then Gov. Jindal began to speak. My mind immediately flashed an image of Mister Rogers--this guy sounds like he's addressing a group of preschoolers. I tried to get over his delivery style, and focus on the substance, but it was difficult. The following are some notes I took while I listened to his remarks:
1) Talked about his father, having to pay off the hospital bill in installments after the birth of Bobby. Ummmm......most middle and lower class families have to pay hospital bills in installments--health care is so appallingly expensive that it's the norm, not a glowing exception. What kind of health plan does Gov. Jindal have? Could we all have that one, please--you know, the one that leaves nothing to be repaid?
2) He told another story; this one about a sheriff, standing up to the incompetent bureaucrats during Hurricane Katrina. Does Gov. Jindal not realize that those bureaucrats were appointed by George W. Bush, a Republican? And that most of America knows for a fact the Bush Administration contributed to the suffering after Katrina by mishandling and mismanaging the crisis?
3) I'm getting very tired of hearing the same lie over and over again--from McCain, Palin, and now Jindal. To paraphrase what President Obama said in his speech last night: he is NOT, I repeat NOT going to raise taxes on the middle class. Perhaps the Republicans think the middle class somehow includes people who earn more than $250,000 a year--if that is the case, they truly do live in their own little world. People in the middle class would be over the moon if they could earn that much in a year, or even in 2 years.
4) Democrats did NOT "reject the Republican plan". First of all, there wasn't a "plan" from the Republicans, and secondly, I can't count the number of times that President Obama reached out to Republicans in the days leading up to the discussion of the Stimulus Plan. Just 2 days ago, President Obama invited over 130 leaders, of all political persuasions, to a Summit on Fiscal Responsibility. He made a point of calling on Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), an obnoxious, outspoken critic of the Stimulus bill. President Obama asked for Cantor's input, for his ideas. Cantor's response? It was the biggest show of ass-kissing and boot-licking I have seen in a long time. Nothing of substance, no ideas, just "Thank you, Mr. President, for inviting us here today." Reminded me a little of Golum in "The Lord of the Ring" movies.
5) Jindal had the hilarious audacity to criticize the Stimulus plan for including money for volcano monitoring. Huh? God forbid we would want to know when a volcano would erupt, thus preventing another natural disaster. No, that would be bad.
6) Further, he decries money for high-speed rail. Then, in the next breath, he says the Republicans are all for energy conservation. Isn't mass transportation a way to conserve? And wasn't he listening to President Obama's speech? The part where he states the three most important areas to focus on are: energy, education, and health care? Jindal makes it sound like the Republicans were the ONLY ones to think of that.
7) It was especially gratifying for me, a blogger, to hear Jindal throw out that well-worn Republican argument for school choice. Here's the thing about school choice--if your child is not handicapped in any way, parochial and charter schools will welcome them with open arms. However, if your child has any kind of disability, that school is not required to teach them, nor will they be equipped to do so. Public schools are required to teach each and every child that comes through the door, no matter what. The United States is almost the only country in the world with this requirement, and we should be proud of this policy. Wonder why children in countries like Japan do so well on standardized tests? Kids with any kind of disability do not take these tests. In some cases, they are discouraged from attending school. It's easy to score well on tests if none of your students are ESL students, from an impoverished background, deaf, blind, or non-verbal.
8) Finally, I'm getting tired of the GOP mantra of "tax cuts", as if "tax cuts" will be the magic fairy dust that will turn the economy around. I'm no economist, but don't income tax cuts help only if you're actually working (i.e. earning an income)? Income tax cuts also don't help the poor or the elderly, who don't pay income taxes. Ditto for those individuals who are wealthy enough to move their money out of the country, or wealthy enough to hire a tax attorney to figure out ways to avoid paying those pesky income taxes. Over the past 20 years, tax cuts in general HAVE helped the upper class, and now the divide between the upper and middle class is a much wider chasm. Maybe the Republicans welcome this gap; if so, then by all means they should keep pushing their "plan" of tax cuts. But me? I'm putting my money on the other guy, and the other party. And I have economists who are giving me hope about the success of the Stimulus bill.
I really, really don't want to offer any advice to the Republican party, but if they are thinking about offering up Gov. Bobby "Mister Rogers" Jindal as their candidate in 2012, they might take to heart the words he sings every day in the neighborhood. You know:

"So, let's make the most of this beautiful day.
Since we're together we might as well say:
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor?
Won't you please,
Won't you please?
Please won't you be my neighbor?"

The best thing the Republicans could do right now is to reach out, unselfishly, to their neighbors the Democrats, and get to work for this country. Politics be damned.

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).