LMS 2016 Presidential Endorsement: Hillary Clinton

Longtime readers will remember that LMS came out early in support of then-Senator Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election.

Truthfully, it was a tough decision. Then-Senator Hillary Clinton also announced that she was running for President and I'd been a fan of Hillary's since 1992. I watched as she handled the challenges of investigation after investigation over nothing during President Bill Clinton's administrations. I watched her grace as she was publicly humiliated by her husband's affairs, including with a certain intern that involved a little blue dress. I watched as health care reform was defeated in the mid-1990s, simply because she was leading it and the GOP hated that. I watched as, through it all, she remained true to her values and herself. She was a relentless advocate for women and children around the world. When she decided to run for Senate in 2000 from the state of New York, I wished I could work on her campaign or at least vote for her. Time and time again between 2000 and 2008, I wished she'd run for President and vowed I'd vote for her.

And then Illinois Senator Barack Obama announced he was running. I was a huge Barack Obama fan and had personally met him in 2002. I believed him to be sincere and simply felt he was the right person for the job in 2008. I'm still glad I was such a vocal advocate for him. President Obama has had the courage to do things many other people wouldn't have done. I voted for him again in 2012, but sadly cannot vote for him in 2016 because the Constitution won't let him run again.

Having watched now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wow the world these past four years, improve our world reputation, and broker peace, I believe 2016 will be the right time for her to become the first female President of the United States. Leaders around the world respect Hillary and she has spent the last 12 years winning over many of her biggest detractors from the 1990s.

It is time for the United States to have its first female President and Hillary Clinton is the right woman for that job.

Without reservation, Little Merry Sunshine endorses Hillary Clinton for President in 2016.

Walk & Talk the Vote - The West Wing is BACK!!

The West Wing is back! The West Wing is back! The West Wing is back!!!!!

Okay, I may have overstated that a little, but it is. Sort of.

Here's the scoop: A woman named Bridget Mary McCormack is running for State Supreme Court in Michigan and she got the cast of The West Wing (complete with Josh and Donna!) to shoot a commercial for her. How did she manage this magnificent feat? Glad you asked. She happens to be the sister of a Mary McCormack, who was part of The West Wing cast from 2004 through 2006. How awesome is that?! So her sister and all her friends filmed a 4-minute commercial for the next Michigan State Supreme Court Justice.

And while they're at it, they even manage to teach you a lesson as memorable and important as the Schoolhouse Rock lessons. Yes, I'm serious.

Trust me, I wish I'd been there.

Now watch it and remember to vote for ALL the races and issues on your ballot this year. And if you live in Michigan, vote for Bridget Mary McCormack.

Must See TV: State of the Union Address

You may know that I love politics. One of the things I never miss, other than voting in every election, watching all the election coverage, and getting educated on the issues and candidates, is watching the President's annual State of the Union Address.

As you also probably know, this isn't just any old speech. This speech is actually constitutionally mandated. Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution (that's the section outlining the duties of The Executive Office, for those of you who don't just know the Constitution backwards and forwards) specifically states,

"He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States."

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 (in 2 days) is State of the Union day this year. It will be aired at 9pm ET on all major broadcast channels and cable news channels, although I prefer to watch it on CSPAN due to the lack of color commentary before and during the speech. Sure, I enjoy hearing the spin and opinions of the talking heads, but I prefer to form my own opinions first. You can also watch it on the White House's website where you'll be able to see "charts, stats and data that helped inform President Obama's policy decisions as he delivers his speech to the nation."

No matter what your political beliefs or whether you like or plan to vote for President Obama, you should watch the State of the Union because this year's speech in particular will begin to educate you on many of the issues that will be debated in this year's presidential election.

Before you watch on Tuesday night, you can watch a preview of the speech below:

I'll be on my couch in my pj's taking notes. I hope you'll join me from the comfort of your couch.

Today's Gratitude List

This morning I woke up to Betsey's loud purring right next to my face in the exact spot where she fell asleep last night. Ross was snuggled up next to her. It was quite the sight, but it made it challenging to get out of bed. I was comfy and warm. They were comfy and warm. All was good.

Today I'm grateful for:

1. No snow in Chicago. Seriously. We've had something like 1.5 inches of snow so far this winter. I love it because it makes driving easy, but I suppose there are people who are not so excited about this.

2. Being able to have Mom in Florida to finish taking care of Nana's house. I swear I'm going to tell you this story soon. It's even almost funny. Of course, two weeks ago, it wasn't so funny.

3. Dave's generous spirit. Have I mentioned how incredible my brother is? I have? Oh, well, then his decision to run an Ultra Marathon in Palestine next month to support free trade olive farmers is just one more bit of proof. I'll be writing more about this in the next day or two.

4. The great friend I spent a very fun and relaxed day with yesterday. A great day. Thank you.

5. It's Caucus Night in Iowa! You know how much I love politics. I can't wait to get home from work tonight, toss on some sweats, pop some popcorn, and settle in for all the analysis. In honor of the official kick-off to the 2012 Presidential Election, I'm wearing my Presidents of the United States scarf today. A friend of mine once said that politics was my porn. I'm not going to deny that. And you're not surprised. You can buy your own scarf to have for upcoming elections here. You know you want one.
I bought my scarf in 1996 when I lived in Washington DC, so it only includes Presidents up to Bill Clinton. I would love an updated scarf that included President Obama.

Meet Your Match in 2012!

2012 is moments away and we all know what that means . . . it's time to pick your presidential candidate! Now, if you live in Iowa, you have your caucus on January 3rd, so you'd best get busy.

Fortunately, Little Merry Sunshine will once again be your go to blog for all things political.

First things first though. You must get behind a candidate. If you're a Democrat or otherwise refuse to vote Republican, then at the moment, your choice is simple: sit home or get behind President Barack Obama. But if you're a Republican or Tea Party member or otherwise don't vote for Democrats, you've got to wade through a whole bunch of candidates wishing to be the GOP Candidate for President.

I'm not going to try to tell you which GOP candidate to support because let's be honest, I can't come up with a reason to support any of them, but I will tell you how to figure it out.

ABC News has developed a new website called OTUS (Of the United States). Among the many cool things you'll find on the site is a quiz called the Match-O-Matic (not unlike the Cosmo quizzes, but far more important and accurate) to help you find the presidential candidate who best matches up with what matters to you.

I took the quiz and not surprisingly, it was completely accurate in telling me I should support President Obama. But then it took a turn I can't explain when it said that if I choose not to support President Obama, I might consider pulling the lever for Jon Huntsman or Ron Paul. Of course, I had 82% in common with President Obama and 9% in common for each Huntsman and Paul.

Go ahead and Meet Your 2012 Match and then come back here and let's have a chat. Can you convince me to support your candidate?

Little Merry Sunshine Changed My Life

A post caught my eye on Facebook this afternoon. It simply said "How has your blog changed your life?" and had a link to a blog post titled "My Blog Changed My Life" on Blogher.com. I often read Blogher blogs and always enjoy what I read.

I was particularly struck by this particular blog, however, because until the author got to the part about getting married and becoming a mom, the post could have been written by me. As I drove home from Lake Forest I thought about the post and pondered the question, "How has Little Merry Sunshine changed my life?"

Simply put, Little Merry Sunshine has not only changed my life, but it saved my life.

When I started writing, four years ago next Friday, I was unsure about my ability to write. I had no idea if I'd stick with it. I kept the first few posts secured, only opening up Little Merry Sunshine to those I trusted the most and who I believed would tell me honestly if it was even worth continuing or if I should just shut up and quit thinking I could write. They cheered me on, so opened LMS up to a larger audience.

I wrote about what inspired me, my adventures in gardening, lust, Betsey and Ross, politics, sports, family, and much more. I was nervous about opening myself up because I worried about people not liking what I wrote. Those who enjoy my writing and Little Merry Sunshine have stuck around, visit regularly and even subscribe to the blog. Those who don't, haven't been back. Oh well. But I was worried, and I still worry, about putting my vulnerabilities out there for all the world to see. It's a little like standing naked for inspection. I can't hide my flaws and I can't hide from the criticism, although trust me when I say the loudest critic is always me. But the best parts of me also have the opportunity to be viewed and celebrated.


Some people think bloggers are a joke, but I disagree. In spite of what some people may think, I frequently censor myself and have tossed out more blog posts than I care to think about. Some were partial posts, but others were complete and ready for publication. I tossed them out because they were either too personal and I was afraid to reveal so much or because the posts didn't live up to my standards.

Through blogging, I've had some of my beliefs challenged by people I respect and others challenged by some people just looking to pick a fight. I've engaged with the respectful ones and enjoyed the opportunities to grow. I've ignored the haters.

I've also gotten to know people I would never have known otherwise and I've reconnected with people I had long ago lost touch with. I discovered that Little Merry Sunshine has a far greater reach than I ever imagined, when I was contacted just last weekend by a former flame telling me he's a regular reader of LMS. The verdict is still out about how I feel about that. Honestly, I had sealed that can of worms and stored it neatly away and wasn't really prepared to have it abruptly opened again.

Little Merry Sunshine has been recognized by the Chicago Tribune and numerous published authors read it.

I write when I'm over-the-moon happy, but I've also written from the depths of overwhelming grief. When Nana died, writing Little Merry Sunshine (here and here) and Remembering Frances kept me going when I couldn't get out of bed and no one knew about it. And then when my heart got broken a month later, I wrote to get through that grief too. To say Little Merry Sunshine saved my life during the difficult times, is no exaggeration. Believe me, writing is

Little Merry Sunshine has made me more confident. It has helped me deal with my demons and even stop caring what others think so much. Friends and family have told me they are proud of me for some of the things I've written and the positions I've taken. I've become clearer on some of my lifelong dreams and dealt with giving others up.

If you haven't tried writing, give it a shot. It's cathartic and fun and you never know, you may just find a new passion.

We've Got Serious Problems and We Need Serious People

Did you hear the President's comments yesterday morning when he released his birth certificate? Later in the afternoon, he sat down with Oprah for an interview that will air on Monday. The Huffington Post has an almost 3 minute segment of that interview. When I listened to it a few minutes ago, President Obama's comments reminded me of another president who addressed silliness.

First, watch President Obama's comments this morning when he released his birtch certificate...



Now watch President Obama's comments to Oprah and see if you can figure out who I was reminded of...


Did you get it? Well, watch the video below...


Yes, President Obama spanked the Birthers and Donald Trump just like President Shepard spanked Senator Bob Rumson in The American President.

Now let's get back to addressing the serious issues we have facing our country.

LMS Endorsement: Deborah A. Nelson for Arlington Heights Library Board

For the second time, Little Merry Sunshine is pleased to unconditionally endorse Deborah A. Nelson for the Arlington Heights Memorial Library Board of Trustees.

Ms. Nelson has served as a trustee since April 2008 and has served as the Board's treasurer for the last two years. During her tenure on the Board, Ms. Nelson has voted twice against increasing the library's tax levy, which is significant because so much of the library's funding comes from the property taxes of Arlington Heights residents.

Ms. Nelson's professional career has been spent in the non-profit industry working in customer service, strategic planning, public relations, and fund raising. Better than anyone I know, Ms. Nelson knows what it takes to run a successful non-profit in a fiscally responsible manner.

She pays her success forward by serving as a mentor for the community with the Random Acts of Kindness Club of Arlington Heights she began while volunteering at Patton Elementary School. She also models civic involvement by being actively involved in the education of her two children and advocating for all children with special needs.

Ms. Nelson is the epitome of integrity, commitment, experience and character that is so desperately needed in politics today. A vote for Ms. Nelson on Tuesday, April 5th is a vote for the continued success of the Arlington Heights Memorial Library.

Keith Olbermann's Special Comment: If the Tea Party Wins, America Loses

I've mentioned it before: I LOVE Keith Olbermann. And if it were possible, I love him even more tonight after watching his Special Comment "If the Tea Party Wins, America Loses."

Keith Olbermann in 2016!



If you read Little Merry Sunshine via email, please click here and visit the site so you can watch the video.

What I Want for Christmas . . .

Ya, I know that Christmas is more than two months away, but these are gonna be some red hot items thanks to Stephen Colbert last night. I'm certain the Tea Party Coloring Book for Kids, the "Christine O'Donnell Rainy Day Book of Masturbation Alternatives" (She's not a witch, by the way. On a tangent, does her statement "I'm not a witch" remind anyone else of another famous "I am not" statement - maybe "I am not a crook" by Richard Nixon? I'm just saying.), and "Down on the Farm with Carl Paladino" will sell out quickly and definitely be the hottest kids toys this year. Every child needs to learn that story about the woman and the horse. Educational AND fun!

In case you missed it, watch Stephen's Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger segment below and see for yourself (watch the first 1:50 of the video and you'll see what I mean).

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Tip/Wag - Tea Party Coloring Book & CALM Legislation
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes 2010 Election March to Keep Fear Alive

Lady Gaga on" Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Don't Ask, Don't Tell is finally coming up for a vote in the Senate on Tuesday (the House voted to repeal it in May) and I agree with Lady Gaga that it's time for remove this law from our books and allow all people to serve in the Armed Forces without prejudice based on gender, race, religion OR sexuality. Making the decision to serve and protect our country is one of complete selflessness and no one should be turned away because of some outdated stereotypes and fear mongering.

Please join Lady Gaga and me by calling your Senator and urging him or her to vote with Senator Harry Reid to repeal this unconstitutional law and oppose Senator John McCain's filibuster.You can also call Senator McCain directly at 202-224-2235 and let him know that America supports the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and he needs to stop standing in the way of equal opportunity and let this measure come to the floor for a vote rather than filibustering it. It's time everyone be able to serve our country. Click here for more information on the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network that Lady Gaga talks about in her video.

The March on Washington Can't Be Hijacked

Today is the 47th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and of Martin Luther King, Jr. standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial delivering his famous "I Have A Dream" speech, probably one of the greatest speeches ever given in the history of our country.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that a certain right wing propagandist is holding a rally today on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial claiming he's taking back Martin Luther King's dream. I won't link to this person because I don't want to draw traffic to him through my site. You can Google him yourself or turn on any 24/7 news channel.

While he holds his rally today, take a look back at Reverend King's words, and remember that his Dream still lives and that even though we've elected an African-American president, hate and bigotry based on skin color still exists. Yes, we've come a good distance in achieving Reverend King's Dream, but we haven't come far enough, as is evidenced by the non-stop claims that President Obama is a secret Muslim and is constitutionally ineligible to hold office because he wasn't born in the United States.

It's my wish that we, as a society, could rise above the race-baiting and hate and judge people only on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin (or who they sleep with for that matter).



Here's a great New York Times OpEd by Charles M. Blow called "I Had A Nightmare" that gives a great perspective on today's "Restoring Honor" rally in Washington."

Illinois Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias writes on the Daily Kos today about the rally. I LOVE this post and it's why I'm voting for Giannoulias for Senate. It's well worth a read. My favorite section is below:

I dream of an America that does not depend on foreign oil and ask, why not?

I dream of an America where the prairies of Illinois are filled with wind farms and solar panels and ask, why not?

I dream of a nation where no American ever dies because of a lack of health insurance, where two people who love each other can get married no matter their gender, and where policy is shaped by principle, not campaign contributions, and I ask, why not?

That's my dream, my vision for moving our country forward, and I think a lot of you share that dream. And the only thing standing between that vision of a brilliant, 21st century America isn't a few thousand conservatives rallying in D.C.

It's us, and our willingness to get engaged, stay engaged, to elect progressive leaders and hold them accountable.

I am fired up about this election, about moving this country forward, and about taking our message directly to voters today.

My Bucket List

Do you have a Bucket List? You know, a list of things you want to do before you die? I've always sort of had one, but never written mine down. But then I got to thinking that if I didn't have it written down anywhere, I might not actually ever do the things I dream of doing.

Without further ado and in no particular order, here's my Bucket List.

1. Write a novel and have it published.
2. Travel to 6 of the 7 continents (I have no need to visit Antarctica).
3. Kiss the man I love at the top of the Eiffel Tower (sure, it's cliche, but so what).
4. Marry the man of my dreams (and never get divorced).
5. Be a mom (being a step-mom or adopting kid(s) would be perfect).
6. Visit New York City. (I've actually been there twice for 2 1-day business trips, but I want to really SEE New York City - Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, tour the United Nations, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, see a Broadway show, etc.)
7. See a baseball game at every major league stadium (I've been to two - Wrigley Field and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, well, three if you count the Old Comiskey Park).
8. Attend the Cubs World Series Championship Victory Parade.
9. Have my gardens featured in a Garden Walk.
10. Create a scholarship at my alma mater.
11. Visit the Great Wall of China, the Egyptian Pyramids, and Stonehenge.
12. Read the Complete Works of William Shakespeare.
13. Tour the Sistine Chapel and attend mass at the Vatican.
14. Take the ferry to Muskegon or Ludington (rather than drive all the way to Watervale).

15. Cook every recipe in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
16. Attend a Democratic National Committee convention as a delegate.
17. Be an extra in a movie.
18. Run for public office.
19. Drive from Chicago to LA on Route 66.
20. Learn to snow ski.
21. Run and complete a half-marathon.
22. Lose 100 pounds by my 40th birthday. I've got 10 1/2 months.
23. Visit the Grand Canyon and Mt. Rushmore.
24. Sky dive.
25. Learn to scuba dive and dive the Great Barrier Reef.
26. Learn how to shoot a gun.
27. Ride a motorcycle.
28. Have my picture taken with a sitting President.
29. Have front row seats for a U2 concert.
30. Saber a bottle of champagne.

31. Ride a camel.
32. Sing karaoke (I even have a song picked out).
33. Learn to play tennis.
34. Cruise the Greek Islands.

There are quite a few additional To Do's on my Bucket List, but seeing as how Little Merry Sunshine is a family blog (well, at least my family reads it), I must keep those items private. :)

What's on your Bucket List?

Happy 14th Birthday to Betsey & Ross!

Betsey (l) and Ross (r) in 2006 when they were 10.

As difficult as it is to believe, Betsey and Ross turn 14 on Sunday. That's right, they were born on the 4th of July and (for those of you who are new here) were born in Washington DC, which, of course, is how they got their names. Anyway, they're turning 14!

I say it's difficult to believe they're 14 because they still act like they're about 5. They run around the house chasing each other, fight with the feral cat outside (while remaining safely on this side of the sliding glass door), groom each other, love each other, jump all around playing with their toys, and with the exception of the last month, have had no major health problems. As you can see below, they're also both into politics and are big fans of President Obama. In fact, they Super Dele-CATS for (then candidate) Barack Obama and were featured on Cats for Obama.

The last month has been a bit traumatic with Betsey and worrying that she had cancer, but as of today, we know she's cancer free, has a beautiful clean bladder and excellent kidney and liver functioning. Her final diagnosis is cystitis and hyperthyroidism, both chronic and inexpensively treatable. The truth is that she's probably had both of these issues for years, but we just didn't know it because the cystitis sat dormant and we had no reason to run blood tests.

Betsey, Ross, and I have a lot of people to thank for their kindness over the last month including the great doctors at Animal ER and Veterinary Specialty Center, Dr. Jennifer Kinnavy at March Animal Hospital for never giving up on Betsey and keeping me (relatively) calm, vet tech extraordinaire (and my cousin) Andrea for dealing with my panic so well, Keefer's Pharmacy in Mt. Prospect for making up all the fabulous drug cocktails for Betsey, Dr. Donna Krochak at Alexandria Animal Hospital in Alexandria, VA for giving Betsey and Ross such outstanding care in Virginia to ensure their continued good health in Illinois, and our family and friends who have continually asked about how Betsey is doing.

Betsey and Ross appreciate that everyone takes the weekend to celebrate them by attending parades, festivals, backyard BBQs, fireworks, etc. They only ask that you act responsibly by not drinking and driving and also take a moment to remember that it's also our country's 234th birthday. The rest of the weekend you can celebrate Betsey and Ross.

Here's a great soundtrack for the weekend thanks to NPR.

You probably also want to listen to the Declaration of Independence as read by the broadcasters at NPR. When was the last time you listened?

We've Got the Candidates We Deserve

So much has been written recently about Mark Kirk, his military record, and how he apparently "misremembered it wrong" (I can barely type those words because they are so grammatically incorrect) which awards he did or didn't win and I've stayed out of the whole thing. This has been difficult for me because if you're a long-time reader of Little Merry Sunshine, you'll remember that I'm not exactly a fan of Mark Kirk's (here, here, and here, for example). Even though I've avoided this scandal, I applaud Ellen of the Tenth for the way she has relentlessly held Rep. Kirk's feet to the fire.

I can no longer stay quiet.

As I've read the articles in the Daily Herald, Chicago Tribune, and Sun-Times and the comments people have left in support of Kirk, against Kirk and also pro- and anti- Alexi Giannoulias (Mark Kirk's major opponent in the upcoming Senate race who also faces his own scandals), one thing stands out to me: We have the candidates we deserve and we have them in every single election.

How often do we all go to the polls holding our nose and pulling the lever for the "lesser of two evils" candidate? Most people I know complain a lot about how they wish we could get some better candidates. It's rare that candidates actually inspire us to be better and rarer still that we feel like they aren't bought by some deep-pocket lobbyist or another.

But don't we have responsibility for these lackluster (and often corrupt) candidates who constantly fail to live up to even minimal standards we expect of our leaders?

Less than half of all adults vote. The numbers are a bit higher during the sexy presidential elections and are truly pathetic during the "unimportant" local elections. I've got news for you: the President isn't going to do anything to get the snow plowed off your street or the potholes fixed, but your mayor's got some pull there. The local school board determines what kind of an education your child gets, not Congress. Voting takes 10 minutes, maybe, and with early voting there's simply no excuse not to vote.

Why do candidates spend so much money on tv, radio, and print advertising and do everything they can to get on the news? Because they know that most voters are too lazy to do any independent research. In the olden days (i.e., back when I turned 18 and started voting), it was tougher to do the research because the internet didn't exist. But today, we can all sit around in our pj's and vet our candidates. Doing a quick Google search of "Mark Kirk" gave me 13.9 million results in .21 seconds. Sure the tough part is going through those links and determining which ones have any validity, but you can find the answers. Oh, and if you find information that seems just a little outrageous, check it out on FactCheck.org or at Snopes.com before believing it. Most of it isn't true, especially if it comes via an email that's been forwarded 900 times.

Remember that a candidate who spends millions of dollars on tv, radio and print advertising or whose name you hear in the news constantly isn't necessarily the best candidate, they simply have a ton of money.

There are usually more than two candidates per office. In addition to the Democratic and Republican candidates, there are usually a number of lesser known 3rd party or independent candidates. Don't discount them simply because the media does and they don't have any money. If you don't know whether or not they exist, you can find the information at your county clerk's website where they'll have a complete list of all candidates in the upcoming election.

Get involved. Attend town hall meetings and debates or forums and ask questions. Write letters to the editor. Volunteer your time. Donate some money. Put out a yard sign. Host your candidate in your home and invite your friends and neighbors.

Support candidates who tell you why you should elect them rather than spending their time telling you how bad their opponent is. When we demand better, we'll get it.

Politics is nasty business because we allow it to be. Politicians lie to our faces and conduct themselves in ways that would surely get them fired instantly in the private sector because we allow them to and keep voting them into office year after year after year. Some people want to institute term limits, but I think they're unnecessary. We've already got term limits. They're called ELECTIONS.

The bottom line is this: Decisions are made by those who show up. When we show up for ourselves and demand better, we'll get better candidates. Until then, we've got the candidates we deserve.

No.

Picture from CNN.com

Some wise-acre in Wyoming, Minnesota has purchased the billboard above. No one knows who paid for the sign, although we can probably narrow it down to someone who is not a fan of President Obama and prefers the ways of George W. Bush, who got us into a large chunk of the mess we're in now.

In response to the question, my answer is NO. No, I don't miss George W. Bush. I don't miss water boarding. I don't miss his "compassionate conservatism" that allowed him to ignore the folks in New Orleans after Katrina. I don't miss his lying about ties between Iraq and Al Qaada. I don't miss his blowing up the budget surplus and creating a huge deficit to pay for two wars. I don't miss the way most of the world didn't like us during his tenure. I don't miss the way he stacked the Supreme Court with even more conservative white guys. I don't miss the way he pretended climate change wasn't real. I don't miss his politics of fear. I don't miss the way he pretended the Constitution didn't apply. I don't miss his fake folksy way.

Thirteen months later, the world isn't perfect. But we're making progress. The world today has serious problems and needs serious people to tackle them. And I'll take people who make serious, thoughtful, carefully debated decisions over people who pretend that intelligence and careful consideration don't matter any day of the week.

The Voters Have Spoken

It appears that today's voter turnout was somewhere near 30%.

You had your choice and you spoke loud and clear. By not voting, approximately 70% of you clearly said you wanted me to become your Supreme Dictator. And I accept. In anticipation that this would be your decision, over the weekend, I hired my Chief of Staff. I just hope he's up for the challenge.

Now that I'm in charge, let's talk about how things will change.

First, since you obviously don't care to have your voices heard, we will still have elections and still be a Democracy, but only in the sense that elections will now all be non-binding until I approve the results (or not).

Second, we will no longer engage in war. It's silly and no one wins, except Halliburton. International disputes will now be settled through a rigorous rock-paper-scissors best 2 out of 3 tournament. If that doesn't work, I will simply decide who wins and that will be that.

Third, professional athletes will no longer be considered "heroes" or "role models" and will no longer be paid more than the gross national product of some foreign countries. Teachers, firefighters, and police officers are now the most revered members of our society and will be paid accordingly.

Fourth, you are free to practice any religion you wish, but please don't run around telling everyone what a good [insert name of religion here] you are. Remember that less is more and let people see your devoutness through your actions, not your words.

Fifth, because I believe quality, affordable health care is a right, not a privilege, everyone will now be eligible for universal health care. We will pay for it through the savings from the elimination of war. Sorry, for-profit health insurance companies, you are dismissed. We've got a nice exit packet here that includes information on job training programs so you can become useful members of society. Oh, and we'll need your id badges back. Thanks.

Sixth, abortion will remain safe and legal, but will become rare because birth control will be free. Women will always know that they, and they alone, maintain control over their bodies. Please don't take this to mean I'm "pro abortion" because I'm not. As I've previously stated, I am not a fan of abortion, so if you don't like abortion, you don't ever need to have one. The bottom line is that I trust women to do what's right for them.

Seventh, our major national holiday will be my birthday. It's June 16th. Fireworks will be involved.

Eighth, DADT and DOMA have been overturned. Finally, everyone shares equal rights. It's about time.

Ninth, there will be an entire tv channel devoted to running The West Wing re-runs 24/7.

Tenth, we will keep the Constitution, Bill of Rights and the rest of the Amendments, although they will be modified to reflect the above changes. Guns, of course, will remain legal, but the cost of ammunition will be taxed higher than cigarettes and alcohol.

Eleventh, in order to keep them in touch with reality and make them more humane, all CEOs will be required to spend 2 weeks each year performing the lowest level jobs in their companies. See Undercover Boss (and here) for more information.

Finally, twelth, there will be absolutely no complaining allowed. Your voice was your vote and you chose not to exercise it.

Thank you again for your trust in me to do what's right for you.

Decisions Are Made By Those Who Show Up*

Do you know how many people in the world don't even have the option of voting or who's votes don't matter because their democracy is a total sham? I don't either, but I'm willing to bet it's far greater than the number of people who vote we the freedoms we take for granted.

We take for granted that we won't be maimed when we go vote. We don't think twice about whether the election is stolen so our votes don't matter anyway (well, after 2000, maybe we do a little, but I digress). As women, we don't consciously think about all the women throughout the world who are denied the franchise simply because they are women and that we've only had this right for a little more than 81 years. We don't worry that changing our government will erupt in violence and war.

Voting is our right. It's a privilege that we were granted in the Constitution, although some of us had to fight a bit harder than others for the right to be added to the Constitution. But it's not just a right, in my mind. Voting is a responsibility.

We owe it to the millions of people around the world who are denied the right to vote. And we owe it to future generations to have cared for our democracy by voting. The decisions made today and in the next 4 years by our government will have ripple effects for generations to come. Simply put, if you're concerned about the future for your children and grandchildren you must vote.

Decisions are made by those who show up.

*President Josiah Bartlet, The West Wing, "What Kind of Day Has It Been," Season 1, Episode 22, originally aired May 17, 2000.

Hope, Change We Can Believe In, and Yes We Can - A Year Later

A year ago today, we all went to the polls and proudly cast our ballots for the candidate we believed in and the majority of us voted for now President Barack Obama. It was a day I'll never forget and I've documented it with a soundtrack here, "Thoughts on Hope," "I Was There When the Dream Came True," "Election Day & Night Twitter," President-Elect Barack Obama's acceptance speech, "Hope in Action," and "Post Election Gratitude."

It was a day filled with hope and promise and general good feeling. People were civil, cordial and patient. They smiled at one another. Making our way through the Chicago with millions of people on Election Night, everyone was polite, dancing in the streets, and I don't remember hearing of any violence. People from all walks of life came together to celebrate the promise of hope and change and the new day that America had woken up to. I remember a feeling of seeing the world in crisp high-def color once again, rather than the grainy monotone images of the previous 8 years.

A year later I am still filled with that hope. I don't agree with 100% of the actions President Obama has taken. He's moved a bit slower than I would have liked. I'd prefer single-payer healthcare for everyone. I think DOMA and DADT are ridiculous and hate that our country treats anyone as second-class citizens, even if it's in limited ways. I'd like Gitmo closed now and for us to be completely out of Afghanistan and Iraq. I'd like to see some action on immigration reform. I'd like some tougher regulations for Wall Street. And for certain, I wish more jobs were created yesterday and over the last 9 months and that the economy were stronger.

But change doesn't happen in an instant. The decision to make change happens in an instant, but change itself takes time. Especially when we don't live in a dictatorship. Although there are moments when I feel like screaming "Obama won, get over it, sit down, and shut up!" to the people who seem to be hate-filled, I don't. You know, they're the folks carrying guns to town hall meetings and still filing frivolous lawsuits claiming President Obama isn't a natural born citizen and spewing lies about the health care reform and claiming he wrote a thesis about his disdain for the Constitution and generally engaging in fear-mongering.

Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post has summed up the last 9 months quite nicely. The only thing I would add is that the first piece of legislation signed into law by President Obama was the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. As a woman, I applaud this move and can only say it's about time. President Obama has made great strides in repairing America's reputation around the world and as my mom always said, "you're nothing without your reputation." No longer being the laughing stock of the world is priceless.

I still believe in hope and if I've gained anything over the last year it is a reinforced belief in my favorite quote from the Bible. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 (KJV). I still have a great deal of faith. Faith and hope keep me going when times are tough. And for those of us who so strongly believed in President Obama's promise, we still need to keep working, holding him accountable, and holding onto our faith. The journey didn't end just because the election did.

Do You Read Margaret & Helen?

You should. They are terrific. They write a little blog titled "Margaret and Helen: Best Friends for Sixty Years and Counting . . . " I love it.

I've been reading Margaret and Helen since before the election, thanks to the amazing blog roll of Dr. Monkey von Monkerstein.

The other day, Helen wrote a brilliant post titled "I Remember An America Where Black Men Didn't Grow Up to Be President." It's a must read. So just go do it.