Naturally Optimistic

Of course I voted. I vote in all the elections. Even the primaries. I feel it's important. I read up on candidates (although sometimes not enough - who in the heck are all these judges?!?). I try to come up with my own feelings about whose running - regardless of what party they are affiliated with. I don't watch TV so I've been saved from the bevy of political mud-slinging and search out alternate sources for researching the candidates online. It's not perfect, they're not perfect. I am NOT perfect in my research, but it works for me. I voted for several different parties tonight....I sometimes feel like I'm "wasting" my vote by voting for some of the "littler guys/gals" but at the same time, if enough people step back & look at whose running & what they're running for, maybe things will change. I think a 2-party system is arcane & is not representational of the citizens of our country. I put up my flag this morning, I voted,...

I must admit I'm sitting here watching the inauguration & all that comes with it and getting a little choked up. And nothing's HAPPENED yet. This is the first time I really remember paying attention to the pomp & circumstance of this day and I'm excited for the first time in years. I know things won't be perfect but I'm so filled with hope. Yup. it's true. I'm drinking the kool-aid, I'm hoping for the best. I'm trying to get Dahlia to comprehend the gravity of what we're watching, but mostly she just wants to play with the cat's grass. Someday she'll get it. I'm thankful today that I have a job that allows me to work from home so I can soak it all in. UPDATE: As soon as President Elect Obama stepped out & was announced, Dahlia spilled the cat's water bowl while Beavis simultaneously puked down the radiator. What timing. Nice.

WASHINGTON – The Associated Press is uncalling the Minnesota Senate race. Republican Sen. Norm Coleman finished ahead of Democrat Al Franken early Wednesday in the final vote count, but his 571-vote margin falls within the state's mandatory recount law. That law requires a recount any time the margin between the top two candidates is less than one-half of one percent. The AP called the race prematurely. Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said the recount won't begin until mid-November at the earliest and will probably stretch into December. It will involve local election officials from around the state.

I can't believe that MN re-elected Norm Coleman. WTF?

Need I say more?

Corn Chowder from scratch & a cold glass of chardonnay - bring it on!

After Bush's little ditty last night and the nonsense I've heard tonight -I am feeling a little sick to my stomach. I'm so sick of politicians in general! Ugh. I watched (most of) the Ron Paul speech last night from Mpls and actually agreed (well, definitely) more with him than what I've heard tonight (although the schools thing really ticks me off) - ay yi yi..... I just wish that we could live in a time again when EVERYONE got excited about a potential leader of this country which could be great! I'm so over the mud-slinging and the personal attacks on all sides. Fess up. What're you going to do to fix the problems? What're you going to do to keep jobs in this country and to keep our economy growing? What're you going to do to help people who are educated and hard-working yet STILL can't afford health-care? What're you going to do about our situation in Iraq? And now Georgia? and god knows how many other places? What're you going to do abou...

Good lord. Have you read this ? I am just so sick of every g.d politician or person in "power" having freaking affairs. What is wrong with people? If you're want to have lots of sex & girlfriends or whatever, just don't be married & have kids, okay? God. I'm sick of it. And I'm a really huge John Edwards fan...Hmph.

Don Ness is our new mayor - whohooo!

Today is election day. I hope if you have local elections happening you've gotten out to vote! Or will before the polls close tonight. We have a big race in Duluth this year. Mayor. The candidates are 33 year old Don Ness who is energetic, young (duh), progressive, endorsed DFL candidate, a HUGE doer in the city - organizing many arts events, young professional organizations and tons of side projects. He's also been on the City Council for the past 8 years. I did some video editing for his campaign website and well, you can guess who I voted for. The other candidate is Charlie Bell - a business man in his 50's who ran for mayor last time 'round and lost. He's very pro-business and has a lot of ideas about that but never seems to have any answers in debates or concrete plans. He's a nice enough person (or so it appears) but not a lot of umph, in my opinion. He's the Republican in the race. There is also a City Council at Large race, a couple of amendments to...

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