9.29.2008
A letter to the Obama campaign
This is an actual e-mail that April and I sent to the Obama campaign Saturday. We'll let you know if we get a response.
My wife and I attended a lecture today given by a professor I had in graduate school. This professor worked as a surrogate for Sen. Clinton's presidential campaign, and the lecture centered on her experience working for Sen. Clinton.
Quite frankly, we were surprised and saddened by the experience. The professor was quite frustrated that Sen. Clinton had not won the nomination, and proceeded to use some of the talking points that I have heard other Clinton supporters use to explain her loss: sexism, the mainstream media and the delegate situation in Michigan. I can understand the frustration that comes with loss...and how easy it is to make excuses for "poor" performance. But to hear this rationale come from a 45-year-old African-American female that is working on her Ph.D. really concerned me and my wife...especially so close to the election.
Maybe I don't pay enough attention. I'm sure that there are a bunch of great staffers and volunteers that are trying to win this election for Sen. Obama. However, given the current state of affairs in our country, it seems that Sen. Obama is still struggling to connect with some folks...for example, with the surrogate I mentioned, or with the rural folks that live in my great state of Missouri. The most recent poll here in MO shows that Sen. Obama is only 2 points behind Sen. McCain. Imagine if Sen. or President Clinton came to rural Missouri and enthusiastically pushed Sen. Obama. Something like that could win Missouri, which has been a presidential bellwether since 1904 (barring 1956).
My wife and I are cynical to a point. We do not believe that Sen. Obama is going to be able to fix everything that is wrong with this beautiful country. However, we believe that Sen. Obama is the right choice to lead us into the next decade, and we will proudly vote for him on November 4th.
I don't know what my wife and I can do. We're not good at going door-to-door and making phone calls. We both have masters degrees in business management but are unemployed and underemployed, respectively. We're just trying to get by like many other Americans in this country. But if there is a way we can help get Sen. Obama elected, please let us know or refer us to the Missouri folks.
My wife and I attended a lecture today given by a professor I had in graduate school. This professor worked as a surrogate for Sen. Clinton's presidential campaign, and the lecture centered on her experience working for Sen. Clinton.
Quite frankly, we were surprised and saddened by the experience. The professor was quite frustrated that Sen. Clinton had not won the nomination, and proceeded to use some of the talking points that I have heard other Clinton supporters use to explain her loss: sexism, the mainstream media and the delegate situation in Michigan. I can understand the frustration that comes with loss...and how easy it is to make excuses for "poor" performance. But to hear this rationale come from a 45-year-old African-American female that is working on her Ph.D. really concerned me and my wife...especially so close to the election.
Maybe I don't pay enough attention. I'm sure that there are a bunch of great staffers and volunteers that are trying to win this election for Sen. Obama. However, given the current state of affairs in our country, it seems that Sen. Obama is still struggling to connect with some folks...for example, with the surrogate I mentioned, or with the rural folks that live in my great state of Missouri. The most recent poll here in MO shows that Sen. Obama is only 2 points behind Sen. McCain. Imagine if Sen. or President Clinton came to rural Missouri and enthusiastically pushed Sen. Obama. Something like that could win Missouri, which has been a presidential bellwether since 1904 (barring 1956).
My wife and I are cynical to a point. We do not believe that Sen. Obama is going to be able to fix everything that is wrong with this beautiful country. However, we believe that Sen. Obama is the right choice to lead us into the next decade, and we will proudly vote for him on November 4th.
I don't know what my wife and I can do. We're not good at going door-to-door and making phone calls. We both have masters degrees in business management but are unemployed and underemployed, respectively. We're just trying to get by like many other Americans in this country. But if there is a way we can help get Sen. Obama elected, please let us know or refer us to the Missouri folks.
9.28.2008
SNL's pulse is strong again
9.24.2008
Yeah...didn't see this one coming
From Fox News/AP: Clay Aiken appears on the cover of the latest People magazine holding his infant son, Parker Foster Aiken, with the headline: "Yes, I'm Gay."
The 29-year-old former "American Idol" runner-up, multiplatinum recording artist and Broadway star credits his son, conceived by in-vitro fertilization with friend and producer Jaymes Foster, with making him realize that he could no longer hide his homosexuality from the world.
I realize that coming out is still a very delicate topic in some circles (particularly within conservative families), but for the most part, who cares? This is going to go over about as well as Elton John coming out--one big collective "Duh!" followed by a shrug. People will still buy his music en masse.
The 29-year-old former "American Idol" runner-up, multiplatinum recording artist and Broadway star credits his son, conceived by in-vitro fertilization with friend and producer Jaymes Foster, with making him realize that he could no longer hide his homosexuality from the world.
I realize that coming out is still a very delicate topic in some circles (particularly within conservative families), but for the most part, who cares? This is going to go over about as well as Elton John coming out--one big collective "Duh!" followed by a shrug. People will still buy his music en masse.
9.22.2008
A long September
Hi everybody!
As you might have noticed, I haven't posted much this month...yep, I suck.
Originally, this was a rather long post where I just cut myself down over stuff that I've cut myself down over several times before. I'm not doing it anymore...it's not worth it, and it needs to stop. And so, today's post is short and simple.
April's job has been a roller-coaster since the harrassment incident with her former boss in July. Tomorrow could be a pivotal day for her...pray for her!
My health has actually been improving. About 2 weeks ago, my doctor put me on a migraine medicine that has loss of appetite as one of its side effects. So not only do I eat less now, but I rarely have headaches anymore. Good stuff, I guess. I'm currently down 5 pounds and change in the past 2 weeks. Overall, I'm feeling better--I'm in less pain and I can sit and stand for longer periods.
April's tenuous job situation and my improving health have caused what I can best describe as a strong change in my thinking in the past couple of weeks. This past weekend, I started looking for real jobs again...I even applied for one. Cross your fingers!
So, there you have it and there you are. We're just trying to do the best we can with what we have. April and I are doing well, and we'll get through any adversity together.
The end.
As you might have noticed, I haven't posted much this month...yep, I suck.
Originally, this was a rather long post where I just cut myself down over stuff that I've cut myself down over several times before. I'm not doing it anymore...it's not worth it, and it needs to stop. And so, today's post is short and simple.
April's job has been a roller-coaster since the harrassment incident with her former boss in July. Tomorrow could be a pivotal day for her...pray for her!
My health has actually been improving. About 2 weeks ago, my doctor put me on a migraine medicine that has loss of appetite as one of its side effects. So not only do I eat less now, but I rarely have headaches anymore. Good stuff, I guess. I'm currently down 5 pounds and change in the past 2 weeks. Overall, I'm feeling better--I'm in less pain and I can sit and stand for longer periods.
April's tenuous job situation and my improving health have caused what I can best describe as a strong change in my thinking in the past couple of weeks. This past weekend, I started looking for real jobs again...I even applied for one. Cross your fingers!
So, there you have it and there you are. We're just trying to do the best we can with what we have. April and I are doing well, and we'll get through any adversity together.
The end.
9.19.2008
Oh don't worry...I'm still watching you...
