David Axelrove appeared on Fox News Sunday this morning in a soothing lavender shirt to launch what can only be described as an attempt to mend fences with any Clinton supporters who may have hurt feelings about the way things have turned out. I guess he figures he’s going to need our support in the fall, so he’ll probably be on as many talk shows as possible this week to speak tenderly of Hillary. Lucky us. At one point in the show, Chris Wallace asked him to respond to Hillary’s gaffe about Obama having difficulty capturing the votes of “working, hard-working Americans, white Americans”. Summoning up his standard patronizing, gentle voice, he suggested that Hillary simply chose the wrong words and that he didn’t believe she meant to suggest that people of other races aren’t hard-working. Isn’t he precious? He thinks Hillary supporters will suddenly see him as a calm, rational voice of reason; a good guy with a good heart who really means well and, gee, only wants what’s best for the country. Why can’t we all just get along?

I’ve got news for you, Dave, that’s not a fence; it’s a giant stone and concrete wall that you managed to build and a few non-confrontational appearances replete with a kind smile and a few insincere compliments for Hillary will do nothing to chip away at it. Sorry, but Hillary supporters aren’t likely to buy into your bullshit act. We know that a mere 10 days ago you and Team Unity would have salivated over a quote like that and jumped on yet another golden opportunity to pull the glorious race card that will ultimately win your candidate the nomination. Congratulations.

What the Obama campaign and so many of his supporters fail to realize is that the accusations of racism that were tossed around like tin cans during a tornado will not be easily forgiven or forgotten by Hillary supporters. Crying racism may be the great trump card of members of the far-left wing of the party when they run out of logical arguments, but the average human being (read: swing voter) is completely turned off by false charges of racism – whether they’re made in a social setting, in the workplace or in a presidential election. Labeling someone a racist because they do not use politically eloquent words when making a statement diminishes the experiences of those who have truly suffered racism by minimizing the gravity of the offense. It is the equivalent of a false claim of sexual harassment or rape in that it makes people skeptical of those who have legitimate claims. Think about that the next time you decide to play that card because you don’t agree with someone’s point of view and you’re just not well-informed or clever enough to respond to it.

Posted by Dominique in General at 11:54 PM PDT

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I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

- MLK, Jr., August 28, 1963

Tonight Barack Obama won the North Carolina primary by a huge margin. I really hope Hillary decides to drop out of the race. It is so painfully clear that there is no way for her to win regardless of what happens going forward. The exclusion of Michigan and Florida leaves Barack Obama with an insurmountable delegate and popular vote lead. Even if she managed to somehow convince superdelegates to throw their support behind her because of her strength as a candidate, she’d be accused of having “stolen” the election.

The Democratic National Convention will take place on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s beautiful “I Have a Dream” speech. During the convention, Barack Obama will be named the nominee to represent the Democratic Party in the general election. Regardless of which candidate you support, which party you belong to, or what happens in the general election, there’s something very fitting about that.

Posted by Dominique in General at 11:01 PM PDT

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According to the WSJ and NPR, this morning the FBI raided the offices of Special Counsel Scott J. Bloch who oversees protection of federal whistleblowers. The agents seized computers and shut down email service as part of an obstruction of justice probe.

Oddly enough, Bloch was looking at Karl Rove’s involvement in using the federal government to further political prospects of Republicans up for election. He also started the April 2007 investigation into Rove’s missing emails and the charges that the White House was politicizing appointments.

This could get very interesting…

Posted by Dominique in General at 3:47 PM PDT

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Yesterday Laura Bush made a rare appearance in the White House press room to slam the Myanmar government and military for their miserable handling of the aftermath of a tragic cyclone that has taken an estimated 15,000 lives. Among other things, Mrs. Bush accused the government of having “blood on their hands” and being “very inept”. And she should know.

January 20, 2009, will be a great day for our country and the world. As happy as I am to see George W. Bush leave office and his reign of mayhem come, mercifully, to an end, I am equally happy to be rid of his dear, sweet wife.

For eight years I have listened to the media fawn over that woman. Phrases like “everybody loves Laura Bush” and “Laura Bush’s approval numbers are very high” and “popular First Lady Laura Bush” make me fume. Who loves her? Why are her approval numbers high? Why is she popular? Who are these people that are being surveyed?!?!

I would be interested to see the gender breakdown of each survey taken on Laura Bush. I can’t imagine that her approval numbers among women is as high as it is among men. Ripped from a scene of Leave It to Beaver, she is weak, vapid, and meek. If I close my eyes, I can see her vacuuming the White House carpets in her pumps, pearls and form-fitting wool dress; virtually every man’s dream.

Laura Bush has accomplished next to nothing of substance in her life and her alleged popularity has set the women’s movement back 40 years. She appears to hold no opinion of her own; she’s perfectly happy to nod – eyes firmly focused in headlights – and agree with whatever her husband says. I doubt she’s had an original thought in years. How could anyone – especially any woman – respect that? Her voice is as soft and quavering as her spine and when she speaks in that slow, deliberate manner, I find myself motioning for her to speed it up, cut to the chase – SPIT IT OUT! – not because I’m ever even remotely interested in what she has to say, but because I want her to finish. I just want it to be over. 259 days and counting.

Posted by Dominique in General at 7:33 AM PDT

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Upon hearing of my intention to vote for McCain if Obama is the nominee, several people have reminded me of the perils of voting for a republican in terms of Supreme Court appointments. I have a somewhat unorthodox opinion about the issue: I’m willing to take that chance.

Have you ever heard of Sarah Weddington? She is a hero of mine. Sarah Weddington successfully argued Roe vs. Wade before the Supreme Court in 1972. While that may not seem like all that big a deal, it’s important to note that she was only 26 years old. Pretty impressive, right? Well, what if I told you that prior to Roe vs. Wade, Sarah Weddington had never argued a contested case? Let that sink in for a minute. It turns out that back in the late 60’s and early 70’s law firms weren’t in the habit of assigning “real” cases to female attorneys because they didn’t expect them to stick around for long. The logic behind the discrimination was that women would leave their jobs to get married and have children. So, despite graduating from the University of Texas School of Law at the top of her class in 1967, Ms. Weddington had never handled anything beyond wills and divorces prior to Roe vs. Wade. To have accomplished something as monumental winning a landmark Supreme Court case at the tender age of 26 with no real courtroom experience is, well, goosebump-worthy.

Except for a brief period during my freshman year at Padua when I bought into the butchered baby stories, I have always been pro-choice. I have donated money to Planned Parenthood and marched on Washington for reproductive rights several times. I genuinely care about women’s rights, reproductive and otherwise. I understand and respect that women have had to scratch and claw their way to almost being treated as equals in a country that boasts its superiority in terms of, among other things, personal freedom. I stand in awe of the fiercely strong women who fought and struggled so that I can walk through the doors that they opened for me. Sometimes I wonder if the women of Generation Y fully understand that. I wonder if they really appreciate what the generations of women before us endured for the freedoms we enjoy today. That may be why I have virtually stopped caring about the possibility of Roe vs. Wade being overturned.

This election season has taken a toll on all of us. For me, the most disheartening aspect of it has been the venomous personal attacks that have been launched against Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro. It’s difficult enough to stomach when it’s coming from men, but hearing young women speak so horribly about these two trailblazers is what offends me the most. It’s one thing to disagree with policy, but to attack them personally is quite another. Every time I hear a woman minimize Hillary Clinton’s accomplishments by claiming that she somehow owes everything she has accomplished to her husband, I cringe. When I think about the horrible things that many women said about Geraldine Ferraro, I feel physically ill. Maybe if the next generation of women had to fight for some of their rights, they’d stop taking them for granted and start appreciating them a little bit more; maybe they’d start showing a little bit of respect for the sacrifices that were made on their behalf.

That said, it is important to note that a majority of Supreme Court justices appointed by republicans does not necessarily guarantee that Roe vs. Wade will be overturned. Here’s an interesting little tidbit – Roe vs. Wade was a 7-2 decision. Of the seven justices in the majority, only two were appointed by democrats. Of the two dissenting justices, only one was appointed by a republican.

PS – This month HBO will be running Iron Jawed Angels - available On Demand from May 12–June 8. It’s a riveting movie about the suffragists who fought for passage of the 19th Amendment. Please don’t miss it and, if possible, watch it with your wife/girlfriend, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and/or aunt.

Posted by Dominique in General at 11:04 PM PDT

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Hillary’s at it again. This sneaky “sample ballot” that’s reportedly being handed out in early polling places in North Carolina has her fingerprints all over it. She’s clearly trying to frame Barack. It’s sickening to think that anyone would stoop to this level, but what else can we expect from an underhanded liar like Hellary/Billary/HillBillary? She’ll do ANYTHING to win.

Posted by Dominique in General at 9:09 PM PDT

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Hillary Clinton went head to head with the Democrats’ arch-nemesis Bill O’Reilly last night and had her way with him (watch it here and here). She was comfortable, confident, and well-informed. She was fiercely strong, but good-natured and charming. There wasn’t an ounce of hesitation on any issue. She proved, once again, that she is the most stalwart, fearless candidate in the field. Unlike the stammering, hesitation, uuuhhhh-ing and uuuummm-ing we’ve come to expect from Obama, her answers were crisp and clear. I defy even the most ardent Obama supporters to find reasons to criticize her performance. In fact, after the initial interview (part two will air tonight), Bill interviewed two Obama supporters who begrudgingly admitted that it was a “remarkable” performance. One of them even had to drag out the tired old “she voted for the war” line in an attempt to divert attention away from her superior ability to confront the issues head on. It really surprises me, btw, that they still cling to “he’s got better judgment” as being the core reason for supporting him in light of all of the examples of his poor judgment that have come to the forefront of late. But I digress…

By every measure, Hillary Clinton is behind in the race with virtually no chance to win the nomination. Yet, after months of harsh criticism from both the media and her own party, personal betrayals and key defections, she marches on. With the odds stacked against her, she remains completely energized and full of vigor. At 60 years of age, she is proving that she has super-human strength and determination; qualities that anyone would want in a president. She is an inspiration. Obama, on the other hand, after just a few weeks of tepid criticism from the media with which he had enjoyed a months-long love-in, looks completely beaten down and exhausted. He’s 46 years old and in peak physical condition, but he looks like he could use a three-day nap. Yeah, he’s ready for the rigorous job of leader of the free world.

Barring some Red Bull miracle that causes voters in the remaining primary states to wake up from their Sominex haze, Obama will win the nomination. Thinking about it leaves me at the intersection of Queasy and Enraged, desperately seeking directions back to my home on Sanity Lane, but every day I grow a little closer to accepting it. Everything happens for a reason and maybe some greater good will come of turning yet another election into an American Idol-style, media-driven popularity contest with more emphasis on appearance and fluff than on substance. Maybe electing a black president will allow our country to finally turn the corner and begin to improve race relations. Then, and only then, will it have been worth choosing nice over strong, pretty over competent, meek over determined and aloof over focused.

Posted by Dominique in General at 8:33 AM PDT

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It seems the Reverend and Barack now have a matching set of tire tracks.

Good for you, Barack!

Posted by Dominique in General at 8:11 PM PDT

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NEVER QUESTION A DRUNK . . .

I was shopping at the local supermarket where I selected:

A half-gallon of 2% milk,
A carton of eggs,
A quart of orange juice,
A head of romaine lettuce,
A 2 lb. can of coffee, and
A 1 lb. package of bacon.

As I was unloading my items on the conveyor belt to check out, a drunk standing behind me watched as I placed the items in front of the cashier.

While the cashier was ringing up the purchases, the drunk calmly stated, “You must be single.”
I was a bit startled by this proclamation, but I was intrigued by the derelict’s intuition, since I was indeed single.

I looked at the six items on the belt and saw nothing particularly unusual about my selections that could have tipped off the drunk to my marital status.

Curiosity getting the better of me, I said: “Well, you know what, you’re absolutely right. But how on earth did you know that?”

The drunk replied, “Cause you’re ugly.”

Posted by Dominique in General at 12:42 PM PDT

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Move over, Bill Clinton, there’s a new sheriff in town. His name is Reverend Jeremiah Wright and you’ve got absolutely nothin’ on his ego.

For reasons that escape logical thinking, especially that of the Obama campaign, the good reverend couldn’t see fit to leave well enough alone. Rather than show an ounce of humility or respect for his congregant (and a generous contributor to his church) and wait until…I don’t know…November 5th to defend himself, he agreed to be interviewed by Bill Moyer. OK, fine, he wanted to set the record straight. How much harm could come of that? You’d think that would have been enough to massage his bruised ego, but no. No. He had to follow that interview up with a speech to the NAACP in Detroit, where he mocked the accents of JFK and Lyndon Johnson in some kind of a lame comparison to Ebonics, and another one this morning to the National Press Club during which he waxed poetic about reconciliation while he attacked whites for being racist. Pretty ironic from where I’m sitting.

Those two speeches, during which he made absolutely no attempt to tone down his rhetoric, evidently weren’t enough to make him feel vindicated. With a team of black church leaders in the audience applauding and cheering his every crazy word, he participated in an awkward Q&A session where he strutted about like a peacock and gave perhaps the most divisive answers he could have given. With each crazy sentiment he expressed, the church leaders would burst into boisterous applause and/or laughter, causing the host of the session to ask several times for quiet. He wasted no time throwing Obama under the bus, first by accusing him of doing what he had to do “as a politician” then of accusing him of not attending church on a regular basis. It was, without a doubt, the last thing the Obama campaign wanted or needed at this point in the game.

Like it or not, the Reverend Wright’s attitude and conduct will be considered very off-putting to many voters. As a Hillary supporter, I can’t say I was entirely disappointed; however, as a citizen who is looking at the very real possibility that Barack Obama will be my next president, I am very concerned that the senator seems to lack the sense and the courage to completely separate himself from this lunatic who clearly has no interest in helping him get elected.

Posted by Dominique in General at 8:59 PM PDT

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I am seriously considering the idea of starting a cleaning business so I woke up this morning with a plan to time myself cleaning my entire house single-handedly. Good times…good times. I was still in my pajamas contemplating my course of action when Mat’s friend, Tim McBride, called to see if I was going to be attending this morning’s Markell/Carney debate. Evidently, Carney had managed to drum up quite a few supporters and the Markell supporters were extremely outnumbered. So, rather than begin my time trial, I quickly got ready and scooted off to Wilmington to support my candidate.

I should probably preface this by saying that I am a member of Women for Markell (a fundraising group). As a member of the group, I have had the opportunity to get to know Jack and his wife, Carla, over the past few months and I can’t express how impressed I am with both of them. They are two of the most down-to-earth people I have ever met. Even though I am involved with the Markell campaign, I can also say I like John Carney. While I don’t know him very well, he came to our home last September to address a group of about 30 members of the Young Democrats Movement . He was extremely gracious and polite; a genuinely nice guy. Jack Markell had spoken to the group a few months prior to that and had developed a bit of a fan base. I’m certain Carney knew that many of the YDM members (including Mat) were actively involved with Jack’s campaign when he spoke to them, but he was still willing to come which I think says a lot about his character.

This morning’s debate was hosted by the Interfaith Coalition which consists of religious leaders from various churches and denominations across the city. Audience members were given forms on which they could ask the candidates questions. Most of the questions were about the prison system, health care, education and jobs. Carney evidently spends a lot of time “rolling up his sleeves”, a phrase he used quite often; however, most of the sleeve-rolling seems to have been done on blue-ribbon commissions during fact-finding missions. He spent a lot of time talking about his first-hand knowledge of the issues because of his involvement as chair or co-chair of many of those commissions, but I didn’t hear too much of what had actually been accomplished beyond gathering statistics.

Markell spent a lot of his time speaking about the importance of the community working together to improve society as a whole. It takes a village, if you will. He supports creating educational programs for children as young as three years old so that they are ahead of the curve when they enter kindergarten. He believes that there is no limit to what children with strong mentors at home and in the community can do with their lives. He spoke of two boys that he and his wife have mentored over the past six years and the difference it has made for both the boys and the Markell’s. (Carney spoke of a child he mentored as well and the impact it had on both Carney and the “little guy”). Markell believes that strong education and a strong community are important aspects of reducing crime and improving society as a whole.

In terms of addressing crime and recidivism, Markell spoke of ensuring that inmates were properly rehabilitated – including drug/alcohol counseling and education – so that when they are released, they can begin to rebuild their lives in a productive manner. Carney expressed similar sentiments and added something about prisoners knocking you over the head and stealing your pocketbook (or something to that effect) if they were not properly rehabilitated. That was an interesting visual. Almost as vivid as when he described how he can hear gunshots in the distance when he walks his dog in his neighborhood at 19th and Broom. Hmmm.

At the end of the day, both Markell and Carney are good guys. The state would do well with either of them at the helm. However, Markell definitely has better plans for how to improve our state and a much more innovative vision for our future.

Posted by Dominique in General at 2:54 PM PDT

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I’m no fan of Barack Obama, but I actually feel bad for him. For reasons that escape me, just when Pastor-gate was starting to die down, the good Rev. Wright decided to come out of the woodwork and give an interview with Bill Moyers that will be aired tonight on PBS.

I can understand the man wanting to defend himself and his church; I just don’t know why he couldn’t wait until November. Is there something I’m missing? Is he promoting a book or something? Or is it purely ego-driven?

I’ve heard a lot about the good works of the Trinity United Church of Christ. While their charitable work is commendable, I don’t think it’s much different than the work done by churches around the country and the world. It’s what churches do. For Rev. Wright and others to try to somehow sweep his inappropriate comments under the rug with a broom of good deeds is kind of like slicing someone’s back with a machete and offering a band-aid.

From where I’m sitting, his greatest sin was not as much about the words he spoke as it was about the audience to which he spoke them. There is no denying there is blood on our country’s hands for the sin of slavery. That said, there is absolutely nothing we can do to change what has been done. Our country needs to work together to move forward in a healthy, productive way and make sure that nothing like that ever happens again. That progress will not occur until both black and white resentment begin to subside. Regardless of whether his sentiments are justified or based in fact, he speaks them to a largely lower-income segment of Chicago’s African-American population. How is telling his congregation that the white man is the cause of their problems going to do anything but fuel resentment? How is that going to improve their situations? I’m sure he’s given thousands of sermons. Maybe the rest of them were about unity and forgiveness (you know, like Jesus talked about). Maybe the snippets we’ve all seen are just an anomaly. Either way, he’s not doing his congregation or Barack Obama any favors by rehashing the story.

Posted by Dominique in General at 8:03 AM PDT

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It would be legal to inflict bodily harm on…

People who block the box during rush hour.

Bicyclists who ride on roads without shoulders.

Costco shoppers who feel compelled to socialize in the aisles.

Cashiers who complain about their job while they’re checking out my groceries.

People who park campers and/or boats in their driveway.

How ‘bout you?

Posted by Dominique in General at 12:36 PM PDT

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