Lying in bed last night with Hiya Beautiful and nursing my head cold, I stumbled on an article about President Obama's new regulations to help try and get our economy out of the toilet. The biggest thing that caught my eye was regulating the amount of pay executives get to a maximum of $500,000.
Not surprising really, given that these companies chose to take TAXPAYER money to help them out. But then I see this quote:
Mr. Reda -- I have to say first off that $500,000 is A LOT OF MONEY. It's not just upper middle class or middle-class income (especially since these folks are dealing with being laid off, so they've probably dropped an income level or two) -- this is what I'd like to call "RICH MOTHERFUCKER" money. If your salary could pay for my house two times over, with cash to spare, you're a RICH MOTHERFUCKER.
Secondly. no one put a gun to these executives heads to come crying to Congress begging for bailouts. They should not be surprised that strings are attached to this cash. Hell, when I go into the bank for a loan, there's strings attached (such has having enough liquidity to show we could cover part of the loan, having a job, etc.).
These companies (several of which are also doing just fine and not in trouble, unlike the big boys), are borrowing from THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. And the American people are having a hard time covering their basic bills thanks to both rising costs for basics and getting laid off. To say that the General Motors CEO should still earn $14.4 million while everyone else is hurting pisses everyone off.
This is the ultimate example of greed and a lack of touch with reality. It screams "I got mine so fuck you." And that attitude isn't going to endear any of these executives to anyone. And like it or not, once you take the money from the government -- which is ultimately from US -- you will answer to us. And right now, we're pissed about the multi-millions executives are earning while we are freaking out about whether or not we'll have a job at the end of the month.
Most of the time I'm a pretty peaceful person. But damn, if there was ever a time for the underclass to rise up and slay the rich, shit like this would be the trigger point.
While the charges are serious against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, I have to admit, I'm giggling over how many times Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald says "bleepin."
It's like watching The Sopranos on network TV! I love how Fitzgerald is saying, "And again the 'bleeps' aren't 'bleeps.'"
So there's news today that former MMSD board member Nancy Mistele is running for Dane County Executive against incumbent Kathleen Falk. I have to say I'm not surprised that someone's making a move against Falk this year, who seemed to be bulletproof from critics in the past.
Not to mention the fact that Falk, who has been loved in the past by The Isthmus (the local alt-weekly), was named "Local Public Enemy #1" in its Annual Manual.
As someone who used to follow Dane County politics, I'm not surprised that the local politicians are smelling blood in the water now. I think they've been waiting for a weak moment like this to strike (and we all know that politics is an ugly business). She's been a formidable opponent for conservatives since 1997 -- a mix of charisma, political savvy and shrewdness in dealing with people. Not to mention, she's also had a lot of liberals backing her.
But I never really thought I'd see someone go after her. And not someone like Nancy Mistele. In my own personal county political head, I figured it'd be someone familiar with Dane County taking Falk on -- maybe Dennis O'Loughlin or Mike Blaska would come roaring back for another round against Falk, or even Eileen Bruskewitz to make it a chick fight.
I know nothing about Mistele, but I'm hoping that she'll at least give Falk an interesting run for her money and not the one-sided beatdown that occurred against Dave Wiganowsky. For a long time now, it seemed like Falk was kind of going through the motions, always keeping an eye on maybe advancing to higher office (Governor, Attorney General). However, she's never made it to a higher office and I think that her last run for Attorney General weakened some of her support from her liberal base because she took on the former AG Peg Lautenschlager.
I'm not going to say who I support, because that's not my kind of thing (JONAS BROTHERS!), but I will say that I hope for a good election that doesn't devolve into various lobbying groups sniping at each other. However, I'm also a realist. This is politics. So hoping for a good election is like hoping for a pony named Snowflake.
Remember remember the fifth of November Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder, treason Should ever be forgot...
Last night I witnessed revolution. A bloodless revolution. A revolution that didn't require gunpowder, treason and plot. Something amazing. Hell, everyone knows what I'm talking about -- history was made last night. An African American was elected president, and hopefully he will straighten out the fuckshit mess that occurred in the past eight years.
I'm still gobsmacked. The cynical part of me isn't sure if anything will change. Politics is a funny thing -- we're promised everything, but there's no promise that we'll actually get anywhere. Hell, the Democrats two years ago promised a lot, but as of now, haven't delivered on all the big stuff they said they'd do. I don't know if this will change that or not, but honestly, the optimism is refreshing.
Admittedly, last night I was feeling like this:
I was expecting a bloodbath. I was expecting hours and hours of weird vote tallying and stories about hanging chads and other shenanigans. I wasn't expecting everything to be done by 10 p.m. I'm still feeling that way a little bit. I hope I'm wrong. I hope that everything that we've put into Obama is true (or as close as we can get to the truth). I hope also that we get the fuck out of the mess we're in right now.
And yes, I hope that John McCain is on vacation, relaxing with a big cocktail and getting ready to take a stick to upside the militant fundies' heads. I want the guy who gave that gracious concession speech back. I hope that his call for cooperation is true. I'm sick of the divisions.
Welcome to the world's highest office Mr. Obama. Good luck man, you're going to need it.
One advantage to hausfraudom is that you can vote in the middle of the day with the rest of the old folks. So yes, I did vote. The lines weren't bad at all -- it took me maybe 10 minutes to vote. I then went out for my free Starbucks coffee and sat and bitched about the state of politics today with the other old people there.
Go Jonas Brothers!
I don't know if I'll watch the returns. I'm just too scared that everything's going to end is bloodshed and tears. If I do watch, I'm tuning into the Daily Show for a little humor mixed with the drama.
As the final days of the election tick down, we here at Casa Navel Gazer have been hit with the usual people trying to figure out who the hell we're voting for.
As a hausfrau, I've been subjected to the calls and visits from volunteers. And my child is currently sick with a virus and demanding cuddles, so we're not getting much done around here. Actually, I'm pretty much glued to the couch as Benevolent Dictator clings to me and pinches the hell out of my arms and hands for comfort.
So one day, I'm sitting at home at about 10 in the morning, unwashed, still in pajamas. Benevolent Dictator is wearing nothing but a diaper because she was so hot with a fever I could've fried eggs on her. The doorbell rings and I refuse to get up from my chair because we both need a quiet moment of rest together.
But the person wouldn't leave. Thus the hazards of leaving the curtains open during the day. People can see inside. The more you know.
So after a few minutes I finally get to the door and open it. There's a middle-aged man there with a pleasant smile on his face.
"Good morning," he said. "I just am going through the neighborhood and I've got a question for you -- who are you supporting in this election?"
I told him I'm voting for these guys:
I figure their collective age hits the 35-year-old requirement right?
This is the same guy who told me he doesn't want to see America become a "socialist state" if Obama is elected.
Me *thinking because I am polite*: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
I can't wait for this election to be done and over with.
Cast: Me; Neighbor's 8-year-old daughter (now known as N8YOD); and Benevolent Dictator
Scene: Walking around with the stroller. Benevolent Dictator is chillin' and watching the sights.
N8YOD: So who are you going to vote for in this election? Me: I was thinking about (Other Neighbor's 10-year-old Son). He's got a great platform -- no taxes and free coffee every morning. N8YOD: YOU CAN'T VOTE FOR HIM! Me: Why not? N8YOD: He's 10 years old! You have to be 32 to be president! Me: Technically it's 35. Benevolent Dictator: *giggle* N8YOD: (frazzled) OK. Let's try this again. Who are you voting for? Me: I dunno. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert? N8YOD: (bangs head against tree) YOU CAN'T VOTE FOR THEM? Me: Why not? N8YOD: They're actors! Me: You can vote for them! Ronald Reagan was an actor! Arnold Schwarzenegger is an actor. N8YOD: (bangs head against tree) AAAARRRRGGGGHHH! Benevolent Dictator: *giggle*
Look. I like you. I've always had high hopes for you because of your work with Russ Feingold (MY BOY!) and some of your record working with Democrats. I've liked that you've pissed off conservative pundits -- even having them go so far as to say they'd rather play for another team than go with you.
But I have problems with authority in general, so anything like that amuses me.
So it pains me to say this, but Sarah Palin? O RLY? SRSLY?
Now, I'm not even going to get in on experience, because we could argue "Pot. Kettle. Black." with the Obama nomination (or at least when compared to you). What I'm going to get into is the fact that you're trying to paint her as a maverick, when honestly, she's not.
I mean, come on. While she was mayor, she hired a fucking lobbyist and flew to Washington D.C. to ensure that her city got a share of federal funding -- $27 million to be precise. As governor, she asked that Alaska receive $750 million in federal funding. I'm not knocking that mind you, because it is also representing the interests of your constituents. But if you do that, you can't paint yourself as an outsider like Palin did in this quote:
I know politics is about the art of the compromise, but this is a little bit of bullshit.
And then there's the whole mess of an investigation lovingly named Troopergate, an investigation that is CURRENTLY ONGOING!
All this doesn't smack well of your selection process. Did you just pick her because she matched some of your ideals and thought it would be great demographic-wise to get a woman VP candidate? If that was your handlers' plans, you should kick them in the ass. Hell, I want to kick them in the ass.
The whole thing smacks of condescension -- the assumption that because you've got a vagina on your ticket as VP, I'm going to vote for it. It didn't work with Hilliary, and it's not going to work now.
I think what bothers me more than anything else is that I had high hopes for this election. I was hoping for an election where I honestly had a hard time choosing between the two candidates because they offered interesting, compelling, intelligent and thoughtful discussion and ideas as to how to get out of the current shitpile we're in.
I hoped that you'd take the Republicans away from the scary-ass Christian fundamentalist quagmire that they got themselves into. I was honestly hoping for the same man who pissed off the conservative pundits. I'm now scared that I'm not going to get that.
Maybe it's the art of high politics. The higher up you go, the more you have to trade on the "maverick" credibility. Maybe that's why certain people aren't built for higher office. I know I couldn't do it because there's a certain point where I'd feel ill about the compromises I'd have to make.
I don't know. I guess I expected more. Maybe I should've known better.
It's great to get excited about the election. Really it is. I love seeing people engaged and talking issues and discussing politics. I love that people are really feeling the need to vote and make their voice heard.
That being said, I have to say that despite the feeding frenzy known as Super Tuesday, Wisconsin's primary is Feb. 19. Not yesterday, as some voters thought:
It's understandable if you've been paying attention to national news. All we've been hearing about is Super Tuesday (as well as the Superbowl). But Wisconsin isn't part of that. February 19. Write that down on a Post-It note. Don't forget it. And I'll see you at the voting booth then.
Hrrm. Not much help there. Ah well. I guess that I'll remain undecided until the primary here. Unless Russ Feingold changes his mind, or the Stewart-Colbert ticket becomes a reality.
But to be honest, most of my deeper thoughts are when Benevolent Dictator is in her morning nap and I'm strapped to the pumping machine, lactating away like a Holstein cow. I keep meaning to type them out, but then the day gets away from me, I try and keep entertaining a six-month-old (which is seriously harder than it looks sometimes -- she can be a harsh critic. Imagine Simon Cowell, only with big brown eyes, enormous eyelashes and the tendency to cry instead of cut you down with an insult) and by 6 p.m., I'm wiped out and ready for bed.
Anyways, I've been mulling over a remnant from my past life as a reporter -- news about the county creating a regional transit authority with the main goal of implementing commuter rail through the area. I won't bore you with the teeny-tiny details, but I will say that unless you were in the thick of it and aware of Transport 2020's every move, the whole thing is a big shock.
In other words, if you're a normal person,with normal everyday stuff to muddle through, you're surprised as fuck about this. If you even care.
Anyways, I won't bother with my viewpoint on the matter, because I really don't have a strong opinion one way or the other. I would love to see a commuter rail line and more public transportation in the area (I love trains. I'm quite fond of Chicago's CTA when I visit K. and friends. I love a good public transportation system.) -- I'm of two minds with this.
First off, I do want to see Madison -- a town that applauds its progressive attitudes regarding the environment -- to have a decent public transportation system. It would be great for people who work downtown to save money on parking, gas, etc. by being able to commute to work via a bus/train.
HOWEVER -- Madison Metro blows ass. Seriously. It's not infrequent to hear about the schedule being pared down and routes being cut. While a regional transit authority wouldn't be Madison Metro -- would it be any better?
I think that question hinges in the whole argument that public transportation should pay for itself, which is a difficult, if not impossible task. Look at Chicago -- there's been news about the CTA being cut down frequently. I guess that I view public transportation as another service that government has the option of providing to its citizens -- similar to human services, garbage pickup and yes, even police.
The question is, do we, as a whole, want this? Even if it costs us? Because it will. To keep fares low, we'll have to pitch in as taxpayers. And if fares become prohibitively expensive or the service is too limited, you can bet your ass that people won't ride it.
I know there's been talk about a half-percent sales tax increase in the county to fund the transit authority, should one be created. I can see that being a problem, given two facts:
1. Politicians outside of Madison HATE Madison politicians. 2. Why the hell would someone outside of the rail line (set to run from Middleton through Madison's Isthmus to maybe, Sun Prairie) want to pay the tax when it doesn't benefit them?
Really, expanding and improving the bus service first may be the best bet. It's not as sexy as a shiny, new commuter rail line, but it may also be cheaper and more palatable to many people. Then after that's established, a commuter rail line for people closer to the downtown area would make sense. Especially if some of the bus lines become feeders for commuter rail stations.
Today, I'm going to answer K.'s question: "What do you think of the TV Writer's Strike? Or Writer's Unions in general?"
While normally I'm suspicious of some unions -- anytime something gets so much power that they're a force to be reckoned with, there's a certain amount of corruption -- I overall like unions. Without them I don't see employers exactly looking out for the welfare of their employees.
As for the writer's strike, to me it makes sense. I love how the production companies say they're not making money off the Internet. Bullshit. If they're not making the money now, they will be shortly. People are buying TV shows and movies off of iTunes, watching free shows on the network websites (Hello Ugly Betty!) thanks to advertising on those websites and purchasing DVDs. If an actor can make money off of those residuals, why not a writer?
I agree with one writer who said that while people watch TV, they don't bitch about the lighting, the costumes or the editing (unless it's truly, truly horrendous). They bitch about the acting and writing. The writing shapes the whole damn thing and to say that a writer doesn't deserve a cut is a crock of shit. They're the ones who are coming up with what we see on the glowing box each night. They're the ones we really bitch about when we say "such-and-such show got terrible this season!" or "What the hell's up with X? That's so not like them!"
Admittedly the idea of a writer's union seems kind of funny -- writing is often a solitary act and most writers that I know of have a hard time even looking at an organization that represents their interests without a little cynicism. Maybe that's why their chants are terrible -- seriously, "We are the writers! The mighty, mighty writers!" -- dude, you need something better.
There's a prediction that we're going to see more reality shows, but even they seem to depend on writers. Not to script the scenes, but more to massage the show and edit it into a coherent storyline. I figure we're going to see a lot of reruns, but really, the only shows I've been watching lately is Project Runway, Sopranos reruns and Ugly Betty (which may be another bitch for another day). I can live with reruns. Not just because I don't watch as much Tv anymore, but also because the writers deserve a cut of the new media action.
ETA: I haven't forgotten your question Kathleen. I promise to get to it! And if any of my two other readers want to submit a question, there's still time!
For those of you wondering how BD's surgery went, I'm happy to inform that we're back home and doing well. The surgery went remarkably well and BD's recovery is also going well. She's a little cranky -- most likely from lack of sleep, hunger (she really didn't eat much in the hospital) and some pain -- and also gassy as hell. I think that it's her body getting back into the swing of things with being home and the day-to-day living.
BD managed to charm the hell out of her nurses and doctors at the children's hospital. She cooed, talked and did squawk a little bit, but nothing too bad. The one big scare was that she started spitting up at the hospital, which she's never done before. She hasn't really done it at home *knocks wood* so I'm just going to attribute it to her being a little out of sorts.
The most surreal moment for me was when her surgeon came in to take a look at BD's scalp. Instead of undoing her turban of bandages, he just ripped it off, similar to this:
I'm just sad that I couldn't decorate her turban to make it look pretty.
The other thing I wanted to comment about, but didn't really have the time to is the whole Facebook/Bill Maher/boobies contravesey in the momblogosphere (yes, I mashed up a bunch of made up words. Welcome to the Internet.).
Here's my view on the situation (as a breastfeeding mother I feel I have the right to voice my opinion on how my tits are being used):
First off, I find it a tad hypocritical that Maher and Facebook are freaking out about women breastfeeding in public. Especially Maher, who has seen more than his fair share of tits from hanging out in the Playboy Mansion and dating strippers. Apparently boobs are fine in a sexual display (looking at Facebook's pop tarts and the fact that they have pro-ana groups there), but they're not fine to be viewed at as a source of food to children.
I'm amazed by our culture in that we fetishize boobs for sexual use (Girls Gone Wild, MTV, etc.), but when it comes to the biological purpose, people freak the fuck out. I'm not the type of person to whip out the boob in public and breastfeed everywhere (the 42DD and a football hold will give people more of a peep show than what I'm comfortable with, so I do pump and travel with a bottle at times), but there are situations where the breast will only do.
Case in point -- we're at the doctor's office about to consult about BD's upcoming surgery. She's naked (from being weighed), hungry, cold and scared. She wouldn't take the bottle and was crying her complaints. Now, should I have let her cry and wail during the appointment, or should I have undone my bra and fed her? You can guess what I did for my daughter's comfort.
I've also breastfed my daughter at the doctor's office after she's had blood draws and vaccination shots. It comforts her. It soothes her. And really, if that is what she needs, so be it.
I guess my point is that as mothers, we don't do these things for attention. We don't do them expecting people to stand up and shout "Hooray for motherhood!" We do it because it's needed for our children.
I just don't get why people are freaking out about breastfeeding and taking such a Puritan stance when they do want to see boobs all the time. Boobs for beads, Girls Gone Wild, Spring Break -- those are the times people want to see your tits. But if you whip them out to feed your kid? Then you're a pervert!
Somehow that logic makes no sense to me at all.
Also, people say that a mom can breastfeed in the restroom of a restaurant, but really -- who the fuck wants to eat in a bathroom stall? I would love it if someone offered a nice private space for me to nurse when I'm out (and that's happened -- I loved having a doctor's office that was private for me to nurse BD in). But until that happens, a mom's gotta take her chances out in public.
And I have tried once, to nurse my girl in a bathroom stall. You try holding a squawking 12-pound, fidgeting kid in the football hold without support for your arm as you sit on a toilet seat. Let me know how it goes. If you pull it off, let me know how you did it, because I remember my experience ending with a distinctly unhappy baby.
I suppose this is why I'm spreading the word about League of Maternal Justice's virtual nurse-in that's coming up soon. Don't expect to find my boob online or pictures of me breastfeeding online (I'm not comfortable doing that yet). But I do want to offer my support in some small way to this.
People, it's only a boob. It's not that big of a deal.
Longshot Republican candidate and good ole Wisconsin boy Tommy Thompson's been at it again in the news. At a recent debate of the Republican candidates, Tommy raised a lot of eyebrows when he said he thought it was OK for an employer to fire someone for being gay.
And really, Tommy's record does hold up -- I mean, Assembly Democrat Mark Pocan observed, "I just hope that Tommy doesn't change" on the issue. And he's signed plenty of anti-discrimination laws for the state. Other people have said that he's sympathetic to gay rights.
But admittedly, this, just three weeks after Tommy apologized for remarks made to a Jewish audience reminds us all that while he's a good 'ole Wisconsin boy, he may not be suited for the presidency. One of my favorite stories is when former German ChancellorHelmut Kohl came to town and Tommy was up on stage with Bill Clinton. Apparently Tommy sounded like he was rip-roaring drunk when he introduced the chancellor and Clinton. If I remember correctly, that clip was played around Wisconsin like the Howard Dean scream.
He's been lucky that this is fairly low profile, except in the Cheese state. Well, lucky is a relative term. He's a pretty low-profile candidate with a long shot to win, so no one's really paying attention to him. But it's kind of amusing to watch from his home state -- it's proof positive that even rising up to governor and then heading to Washington D.C. for a cabinet position, he's still a good ole boy from Elroy. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but in this day and age where your campaign depends on how slick you can be, this doesn't bode well for our boy from Wisconsin.
