Friday, October 29, 2010

The Day Has Finally Come!

No, not Election Day, though yeah, that's right around the corner (thank heavens). No, I mean my very last visit with my Physical Therapist. YAY!!! And he came about an hour earlier than usual, too, so that was good. Oh, what a relief. Not that I am done with physical therapy, not by a long shot. That is a lifelong event for me. But I no longer have to deal with Rico Suave (as he sees himself) on a regular basis. And no more political discussions with him, either.

Or so I thought. I had already been doing physical therapy exercises for about 1 1/2 hrs before Mr. Suave showed up, and then he had me do some more exercises. Our time together generally culminated in a walk up and down my (long)driveway, and this visit was no different. I was so relieved, having noticed he already had his glasses with him, and his clipboard, so clearly, he was going to leave as soon as we got back to his car. Except we started talking about the state of education on the walk, and by the time we got to the car, he said,"Yeah, I wanted to mention something just a little bit political." He then launched into his impressions of Nikki Haley, going on and on about her platform, though he threw in a dig about Sarah Palin saying that at least Nikki Haley is more eloquent than Palin. I told him that Palin really didn't say she could see Russia from her house, that was Tina Fey, and mentioned that Palin's dad was a teacher. That was all I could get out before he brushed it off, didn't want to hear anything else (because really, why - he had already decided she was a moron, so why listen to anything that might contradict that?).

So, he talked on and on about what Haley wants, and when he took a breath, I said, "Well, what about Vincent Sheheen? What's HIS platform?" His response? "I don't really know, but, well, um, uh, probably neither one of them will be all that good" (or words close to that effect). Uh huh. And back to Haley. He made a point of watching Haley, looking for anything he could criticize (that she wants to cut taxes is one of the things on which he focused since SC schools are so crappy). But her male competitor? What was HIS stance on taxes and education? How the hell would the PT know? He just knew he was going to try and convince me not to vote for Nikki Haley. I hadn't said anything about her one way or the other, so ALL of his pontificating was completely unsolicited. (For the record, Vincent Sheheen has talked about tax reform after being pushed by a small business owner on the rates small businesses pay.)

Imagine my, um, delight, when Mr. PT said he would drop by if he was out this way, and was going to keep my number. Oh, joy. That's just jake...

While I am talking about SC politics, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the platform for the Democratic candidate for US Senator, Alvin Greene. He is happily campaigning along on this platform: the recession is all Senator Jim DeMint's fault. Huh? Now, I am no big fan of DeMint's but honestly, I had no idea the man was that powerful. And if he is, I am going to ask him to pick my lottery numbers for me so we can get that little place down in Montserrat on which I've had my eye. Want to know what is REALLY surprising? That DeMint is leading him by ONLY 37%!! Really? Not, say, 100%?? That is pretty scary, if you ask me. Just in time for Halloween!

Okay, I have said some unkind things about N.O.W. recently, all deserved, IMHO (like endorsing Jerry Brown over Meg Whitman), but they have finally realized that they were supposed to represent ALL women. Yep - they have now come out and condemned an online tabloid for running an anonymous article about Christine O'Donnell, US Senate candidate in Delaware:
[snip] O’Neill said that while NOW “finds O’Donnell’s political positions dangerous for women … that does not mean it’s acceptable to use slut-shaming against her, or any woman.” [snip] (Click here to read the rest.)

A bit backhanded "support," but there you are.

Finally, I asked my good buddy, Divine Democrat, a Chicago suburg resident (who may be posting again at Bad Habit come November - YAY), about how things are playing out in IL with the two candidates running for Obama's seat. She responded with the following (and I post this with her permission, and with a few edits for typos and space):
Well, elections in IL are always down and dirty so it's never a surprise to us when the dirty tricks begin. I knew when Obama became President he would be bringing his dirty style politics to Washington with him and he hasn't disappointed. The thing is, most people blamed it all on Rahm (who is a real sleezeball), but it wasn't just Rahm, it's Obama making the calls on the real sleezy stuff...especially if it's sneaky and backroom style. For instance, that mess in FL with Clinton pressuring Meek to quit. On Greta Van Susteran last night, she was interviewing Crist and he said that he knew about it and that he had spoken to "someone in the White House" about it. Greta, bless her heart, tried to get him to tell who it was but he refused so she started rattling off names...but he said "no, it wasn't him". But the one name she didn't mention was Obama, himself. I know it was him! That's the way Obama works. I also know if she had mentioned Obama's name to Crist that he would not be able to say "no" so convincingly. He's a real sleezeball, too.

In IL, I don't think Quinn has a chance in hell of winning the Governor race. Everywhere I go I see Brady signs. Oh..and Alexi Giannoulias will only win if the numbers are cooked (which they probably will be, I heard the dead vote will be coming out in droves). I also see Kirk signs wherever I go (although I haven't been in the Chicago city limits since the last Sox game)...(Alexi) doesn't look like he's put in an honest days work in his entire life. Just like Obama, he's had everything handed to him on a silver platter.

I can tell you this, if the Republicans do well in IL, say they take the Senator and Governor position, it won't bode well for Rahm Emanuel when he runs for Mayor. Rahm will just be seen as another Obama lackey and Obama is not that well loved, even in IL...

I only wish Dick Durbin was up for re-election this term...I'd love to kick his ass out of office, too.

Divine Democrat made some more interesting comments about Rahm Emanuel in a follow-up email as I asked if the residency issue had been swept under the rug. She wrote:
No one in Chicago is really talking about the eligibility of Rahm, that was buried along with the rest of the corruption within the Chicago political hierarchy. I did hear something about the "Anybody but Rahm" coalition forming which first started within the City Council with aldermen who don't want another "bully" mayor. It seems to be spreading to Latino and African American leaders. So, we'll see, I guess. I still won't count him out, though...I'm sure he'll get enough Union leaders who will take a few of those aldermen to the back room for a beating...er, talking to.

Short of it is, that Rahm is not popular, but given his methods, one cannot count him out. Yep, we know all about those methods, don't we?

Well, I'm going to stop rambling now go try and recover from my physical therapy. What is happening in your neck of the woods on the political front? I'd sure be interested to know...

8 comments:

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

No, he is not great with boundaries, though fortunately, I didn't have to put up with him touching me too much (ironically, more in the past couple of visits - weird - but all appropriate), but nothing that would move to the level of him losing his job. Still, I am happy indeed to be done!

Stray Yellar Dawg? said...

Rev. Amy,

Reading your story reminds me of my own thesis about why the Obamacratic party is such a gargantuan FAIL. They really thought that they were going to appeal to a new generation of Dems by talking "smart ass" to them. And using barroom brawl about women with them.

For a while they even had some of the oyunger women of the party going along with this game. Cuz.. you know... it's cool to get smashed and talk like the guys.

But.... now here's the place where they slipped up. They started talking about *young* women like O'Donnell. Calling her a slut. Bashing her pubic hair. (WTF?) So... the younger gals are catching on. (See... it was OK if the boiz were bad-mouthing Hillary, Sarah, Meg.... cuz they are old like us.)

Anyways.... here we are. A few days before an election and NOW is finally defending a young female candidate from sexism and slander. Bout time, I say. But it's a little too late.

SYD (bracing for a wave of Conservatism unlike I have ever seen in my lifetime.)

Anonymous said...

Acting like assholes is the only thing any of them have ever seen a so-called "male role model" do. Anti-heroes are the only heroes they've ever had. The good guys in today's movies call women sluts and bitches, and if you can show me a popular musician or athlete who doesn't belong in jail, I'll show you a dead one.

They got their social skills from the bowels of Usenet for the older ones to the YouTube comment section for the kiddies, where being a complete asshole is celebrated because you never have to put your face on what you say. Now, they are finding out that the actual physical world is not like screaming PWNED BITCH! at somebody on 4chan. Sucks to be them!

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

Hey, Syd -

Interesting point - I think you are right that it was different for these younger women when they were going along with the sexism directed at Hillary and Sarah. Then it was funny and cool. But, O'Donnell probably reminds them more of themselves. Now they're starting to get it. Sigh.

Abt N.O.W. - yeah, way too little too late. Where were they when people were making up crap abt Sarah Palin, or constantly focusing on her looks? Or abt a million horrible things the media and the DNC were saying abt Hillary??

Sheesh.

I guess I should be glad they finally remembered they were supposed to represent all women, huh?

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

Janis, I love sports - I should admit that right up front. But wow, the attitudes many of these men have toward women is just staggering. So many of them being charged with domestic violence, and yet, they get to keep their livelihood.

Hell, you can have a boxer (Tyson) RAPE a woman and have people work to get him out of prison. Now he's in movies. Are you kidding me?

It is amazing how much we, as society, continue to devalue women. And how much we continue to glorify the very people who do so on a regular basis.

econsmed said...

Congrats on the last visit Amy - believe me I know what that feels like! (3 times...)


check out my moms site - the current vid posted is one you'll like - me too.

econsmed said...

ok - so I forgot to post her site....

oops



http://www.youtube.com/ruthieshouse

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

econsmed, is Ruthie really your mom?? She ROCKS!!!! Thanks for the great video!

:-D