Let's Get Political: Election Day 2012

I have never been crazy about the idea of getting too political on this site and I do so with great caution and respect, but I have a voice (as do we all) and an audience and I just can't with good conscience go into tomorrow's election without speaking up.

It seems that every election is "the most important election in our lifetime", but you better believe that in 2012, this is no joke. I have never been quiet about my support and participation with organizations like MoveOn.Org, Courage Campaign, Planned Parenthood, and the Human Rights Campaign. It is also no secret that I lean far on the lefty progressive side of the spectrum and support Democratic candidates, even if they weren't necessarily the best of the best, they seemed better than the alternatives (Al and John, I'm looking at you). This presidential election, to me, is the strongest tug-of-war between the haves and the have-nots, the wealthiest of Americans not even trying to hide their cronyism, and the Republican goal of completely decimating women's rights. I believe that with the tremendous wealth of our nation, the lack of health care and a good education for everyone is shameful; Mitt Romney believes these are better handled in the private sector. With the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision in 2010, there has NEVER been so much money in an election, and just completely misleading and horrific political advertising (sadly from both parties).

If you haven't been keeping up, 90 Days, 90 Reasons has some great essays in support of Obama or check out this quickie site, What The Fuck Has Obama Done So Far?



I feel like I am a pretty informed voter, I've been watching endless state and city hearings about all of the propositions, but I still consult voter guides and my great friend and personal political advisor Lucas O'Connor and my brainy superhero boyfriend and other friends and relatives to make all of it make sense. I always believed that voting is a very private matter, but we're in a whole new oversharing social media world and for the first time, I'm going to post my ballot positions. I'm in 92104, so I know your local races may differ, but here goes.

from top to bottom:
President: Barack Obama,
US Senator: Dianne Feinstein
US Rep District 53: Susan Davis
State Senator 39th District: Marty Block
State Assembly 78th: Toni Atkins
Superior Court No. 25: Robert Amador
SDCCD Board District B: Bernie Rhinerson
SDUSD Board District A: John Lee Evans
SDUSD Board District D: Richard Barrera
SDUSD Board District E: Marne Foster

San Diego Mayor: Bob Filner
Prop 30 (1/4 Cent Sales Tax for Education)-YES!!!
Prop 31 (State Budget)-No
Prop 32 (Political Contributions)-No
Prop 33 (Auto Insurance)- No
Prop 34 (Death Penalty Repeal)-Yes
Prop 35 (Human Trafficking Penalties)-Yes!
Prop 36 (Three Strikes)- Yes!
Prop 37 (GMO Food Labeling)-Yes!!
Prop 38 (Income Tax increase for education)-No!!
Prop 39 (Multistate Corporate Taxation/Clean Energy)-Yes
Prop 40 (Senate redistricting)-Yes
Prop Z (School Bonds)-Yes!!

Vote as you will, but I truly believe that it is your responsibility to vote. Feel free to comment, though all comments are moderated and I will not post any hate, vitriol, or crazy rants. Save that for your own blog/Twitter/Facebook/Tumblr.

Here's a little song a friend recorded for the election:


My friend Grampa Drew wrote a great (and really long) post on Facebook about Prop 30. Read it after the jump.

Barack Obama Calls An End To War In Iraq

Comic-Con: In Honor Of Nerds Everywhere

This is from the Correspondents Dinner at the White House about a month ago. I laughed then, and I laugh again now in anticipation of the beginning of Comic-Con.

Enjoy!

Amazing.

and may Sarah Palin go back to obscurity for good.

True.

What Happens If You Don't Vote On Nov. 4?

This has got to be the best. video. ever.



To send this customized video to your friends, click here.

Sarah Palin: Nuff Said

MoveOn.org & Planned Parenthood: Vote NO on McCain

Rock For Change At Anthology

Last post of the night. I was given a ticket to see James at the House of Blues on Friday night as a birthday gift (Thanks again, Jeff!), but I'm hoping the show doesn't go too late so I can make my way to show my support for Obama with like-minded people in San Diego at Anthology. They're hosting a late night show featuring B-Side Players, Transfer, Shark Attack, hosted by Chris Cantore and featuring a silent auction and voter registration. Proceeds from the event will support the campaign and frankly, the club is just beautiful so if you haven't been, you owe it to yourself to check it out and embrace being an adult for an evening by celebrating your right, your privilege, and your absolute obligation to vote this year.



If you're interested, DJ Z-Trip did an "Obama Remix" for free download here.

Best E-Mail of The Day

Thanks to Beezeley for forwarding this to me.

MoveOn.org Ad

MoveOn.org has another political ad.

Politicians are always slimy, but the McCain/Palin campaign has lied so much that they and all their sheeple believe it. Even Karl Rove is calling the campaign out. What?!!!? Why are politicians not held to truth in advertising standards that my clients are held to?

Let's Get Political (Let me hear your body talk)

Tonight there's a lot going on around town but it's also Barack Obama's big night to shine and to accept the nomination at the Democratic National Convention. MoveOn is promoting house parties where people in communities get together and watch the speech together, then join an online dicussion afterward. I've been to several MoveOn events in the past and they're always really cool. Meeting like-minded people is always fascinating, and it's not too late to sign up and head to a house party. I know the idea of going to a stranger's house can be weird, but the hospitality of neighbors is truly an overwhelming experience and everyone should try to make one if possible.

Check out the San Diego parties here.

Additionally, the Democratic party is hosting parties all over town. My mom really wanted me to mention the one at 3rd and Park Way (Between F & G)in Chula Vista at the Democratic headquarters down there, from 6-10pm. There are other democratic party events listed here or here, including the main DNC party at the Eagle's Lodge, or other viewing parties at places like Winston's, Extraordinary Desserts, the VFW, and some more house parties.

The last two elections pretty much had me voting against Bush and not so much FOR Gore or FOR Kerry. It's finally nice to cast a vote FOR a candidate instead of just trying to defeat the alternative.

Obama/Biden 2008!!

I've been so busy this weekend that I didn't get a chance to say how happy I am about Barack Obama choosing Joe Biden as his running mate. If you watch Real Time with Bill Maher, you know that Biden has been a consistently outspoken critic of the current administration.

Anyway, I thought I'd forward on this little MoveOn deal:

Want a free Obama/Biden sticker? MoveOn's giving them away totally free--even the shipping's free. I just got mine, and wanted to share the opportunity with you.
Click this link to get a free Obama/Biden sticker or donate to the campaign and get more.

This was the best shirt I saw at SCMX yesterday.


ALso, Joe Biden recorded a video to introduce himself to voters.

YouTube + Politics = MoveOn

My disdain for McCain is no secret and his latest ads make my stomach tie in knots. As a member of MoveOn I was asked to donate money to get an ad on tv to counter McCain's claims that offshore drilling is the cure for our energy crisis, but my pockets are empty, so at least I can do my part by posting the video here. I honestly have no idea how anybody could conceivably support McCain for president. Really, it just floors me.



Please excuse this political interruption. Back to music...

Google Ads

I just noticed that there is a John McCain banner ad being served on my site from Google Ads. I just wanted to say for the record, as if I haven't made it loud and clear, that I DO NOT IN ANY WAY ENDORSE JOHN MCCAIN. I am very much a Barack Obama supporter, and I would NEVER, EVER, NEVER EVER endorse John McCain or the Republican party. Not to mention that the banner question about presidential candidates meeting with leaders (Ahmedinejad in the photo) unconditionally is completely misleading. Sorry, I just had to set that record straight.

Time To Walk Away, Hillary

MoveOn.Org Video

This video came from MoveOn.org, an organization I've proudly volunteered with in the past. I have to say, while I know ANYONE in the White House has to be better than what we've got, the possibility of another Republican administration not only scares me, but makes me simultaneously furious and sick to my stomach.

A Political Tangent

I got home from work today, pretty wiped out having believed we'd be able to leave a bit early but didn't, and I read a couple articles in the latest edition of The Week magazine. I love this magazine because it's like a Cliff's Notes of the weeks news and gives thorough coverage from hundreds of top papers and merges them into small, succinct passages that not only give the news, but how the news was covered by the media, in editorials, revealing the political bias of such sources.

One of the briefs this week is about how the democratic nomination is progressing, how many electoral votes each candidate still needs to get, the debate over Superdelegates, new endorsements, etc. The one page article merge gives the "what happened", "what the editorials said", "what the columnists said" and "what next?". One line stood out to me.

Clinton herself hasn't accepted that reality (of the math of Superdelegates), said David Brooks in The New York Times. Her own aids say she has a 10 percent chance of securing the nomination; it's probably more like 5 percent. So, "for the sake of that 5 percent," Democrats may be facing three months of "character assassination" and divisiveness.

I went off to take my evening nap and was awaken by a call from my mom.

"Hello?"
"Can you blog about ANYTHING?" she asked.
"Yeah, anything."
"Well, can you write something about Hillary? I'm watching the news and it's making me so mad. These white men are trying to get her to step down from the campaign and it makes me so angry. They just can't stand the thought of a woman being in charge."
"Well, mom, maybe she should step down. If she keeps attacking Obama and doesn't get the nomination, she could be pushing Democrats to vote for McCain."
"But you don't understand. If she steps down, what about all the women who've fought, all the hispanic voters on her side. It will just be more of them keeping women down for another 50 years. I'm just so frustrated by it all. They're such jerks."
"Um, ok, I'll blog about it."

So, Internet. My mom doesn't want Hillary to drop out of the race until a clear winner is chosen. And I still think she should quit, or if she doesn't, she needs to take off the gloves with Obama and bring out a fresh pair for McCain, who, I shudder to think, could beat the Dems in the fall if this slugfest continues.

So there. My two cents. And my mom's. And this guy wrote a pretty good blog about it, too. And either way, rich white male America, you're on notice. My momma don't like you.

Obama For President!!!

For anyone who missed Barack Obama's most recent speech, the entire transcript is here. It is, at least in my mind, the greatest speech I've ever heard delivered, at least in my lifetime so far. I hope to find video, but even reading the words brought tears to my eyes, which hasn't happened as a response to politics since Maya Angelou recited "On The Pulse of Morning" at Clinton's first inauguration, embedded below.

Will.I.Am's Obama II: We Are The Ones