2 posts tagged “politics”

So I am officially in my new (and improved!) apartment. The move itself wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it would be, though writing all the checks associated with said move did hurt the pocketbook and, duh, the increased rent isn't the most fun ever. But the new (and improved!) apartment -- heretofore known as Apartment 2.0 -- is so large and in charge, it's pretty fantastic.

I've been in for about a week and half now, and have already hosted two dinner parties. Why haven't I invited you, you ask? Well, first I needed to have over Patti (and her parents) and Amanda (and her husband) to thank them for all of the fantastic painting-type work they did around here. But now that they've been thanked, planning a house warming is in the works. What does that mean? Why, booze! And... um... food. And booze! Booze stored in my new, huge, giant, pantry (of doom!). C'mon. Who doesn't love pantry booze?

This also means that I will soon get back to my Israel posts. And that eventually I'll post my Flickr pictures of the move/painting/packing/evil that consumed the month of August. But first, first I need to talk politics. Yes, you thought I had given it up when I decided to work for The Man and, you know, have health insurance and not be unemployed every couple of months, as was my campaign life. But I just couldn't. And the last couple of weeks, oh, they have been good.

First, let's talk about the Democratic convention. One word: Glee! I'm a pretty regular convention watcher and never have I been so excited and interested in what's happening. John Kerry, interesting? Joe Biden, endearing? Bill Clinton, humble? Okay, kind of humble. Seriously, people. Someone finally sat them all down in the room and said "People, this is it. I know we have these "come to Jesus" talks a lot, but this is the real deal. Don't fuck this one up. If you do, it's all over. For the love of all that is holy, really. Also, Howard? Go away. No one likes you." AND IT WORKED.

Really. They stepped it up and I was riveted. And Hillary. My dear, sweet, wonderful, fucking smart Hillary. Good for you. You did exactly what we needed you to do and you looked good doing it, which says a lot about that color orange and your fabulous stylist. Really. Thank you. It makes me love you even more.

Barack, needless to say, was fantastic. Biden was great. Bill -- with the simple phrase "lead by the power of our example, not the example of our power" -- made me love him all over again. And Al. Oh, Al. Al who finally learned to make fun of himself and embraced the geek and made me sit in my car instead of walking the 10 feet to my house because I wanted to listen to the rest of his speech (engine off, thankyouverymuch) than miss any part of it. Oh, love.

And then, the next day. Sarah. Palin. People. PEOPLE!

Okay, first: I am insulted. I am insulted because I am a Hillraiser or whatever you want to call all of us who got behind Hillary. I am insulted that John McCain and whoever his white-boy cronies are, think "Well, all those Hillary people like ladies. They'll vote for us if we get a lady." And then they decided to pick a woman who stands for the exact OPPOSITE of everything Hillary stands for. Like I am so STUPID that I would think "I have lady parts. Sarah Palin has lady parts. I should vote for her!" You know, so then Sarah Palin and her Republican cronies can take away my right to decide what happens to my lady parts. OMG, people!

It's so incredibly pandering and embarrassing and... really? There weren't any Republican women with actual national service records? With more experience than some lady from Alaska who's been governor for two years and previous to that, was mayor of a town of 9,000 people? You know what? The company I work for has about 7,500 employees. Does that mean our CEO is qualified to be Vice President of the US? I mean, at least he's not currently under investigation. Good lord!

Ugh. For real. And all of the pundits who are talking about how Joe Biden better watch out because he can't be mean to a lady in the debates because she's a GIRL. A big, booby, vagina having girl. And Americans don't like it when you're mean to girls. Unless the girl is Hillary. Then it's okay.

And don't even get me started about the exploiting both the child with Down syndrome and the pregnant teenage daughter to prove the anti-choice cred.

AJH&hjg%@HGKHG

With that, I will leave you with the funniest thing I've seen all day. This is but the first of many -- watch them all!

So I just got off the phone with a phone-banker from the DCCC. The DCCC, for those of you who don't know, is the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

The phone call started out as any other. He went into this long spiel about saving Congress and I tried to interrupt to ask if it was a fundraising call. Usually, when this happens, they say yes, I say I appreciate their efforts but have already given, they thank me and we both hang up and go on with our lives.

That did not happen.

He said yes, it was a fundraising call and just kept talking. I tried to interrupt again, saying that I appreciated what he was doing since I have done the same, but that I had already given locally and would not make a gift today. He then asked why I wouldn't make a gift. I repeated that I had already given. He then asked again why I wouldn't make a gift -- did I not have enough money?

I said, no, I had given all that I was going to give. He then questioned if I had really given everything I had and launched into a long diatribe where he told me that I was what was wrong with this country, that a democratic president wouldn't be able to get anything through without a democratic congress and that if I didn't give, then it would be my fault. I repeatedly tried to interrupt him, asking over and over again, "Can I please speak?" When that didn't work, I asked for a supervisor. He refused and again told me that there was absolutely no way I had given everything I had to give because I wasn't doing as much as him and that he was the one trying to make real change, not me.

And that is where I started getting mad. "Do you know me?" I asked. "Do you know that I have worked for the DPO, the DCCC, that I was a professional fundraiser and activist? Do you know that I am a four/four registered Democratic? Do you know how much money I have and how much I've given? How dare you say that to me." During this time, he was also talking. He kept saying he was going to send something to me so I could make a gift.

"You're wasting your time and money. I am not going to make a gift. Please do not send me anything." He kept talking, saying he was sending me a packet and would call again in three weeks. "Please do not send me anything. Take me off your list." Again, he told me that I was part of the problem with this country. And then he hung up on me.

I called the DCCC and left them a message. I fear that message was an angry one, though I did mention that it wasn't the fault of whoever had to listen to said message, but whoever is training these phone-bankers really needs to get a handle on this shit. And until then, though I remain an active Dem, though I give money whenever I can, though I believe in the party and would rather not vote than vote for a Republican, though I will continue all of the shit I do to help the party, the DCCC won't see a dime from me.

Thank you and have a nice day.