Defining Moments

Yesterday, on my first vacation day, I baked bread.  Wheat Bread.  It is delicious.  I used molasses instead of honey, but threw in a little extra sugar.  Simply scrumptious.
And there was another Supreme Court ruling yesterday that Conservatives are applauding regarding Ohio, and how they purge their voter rolls.  The initial case was brought by some guy named Harmon.  He evidently went 7 years without voting - his excuse was that he was unimpressed by the candidates.  He chose not to vote in the 2012 presidential election because neither Obama nor Romney jingled his bell.  What did finally send him to the voting booth?  A ballot measure intent on legalizing marijuana.  That's right, he didn't want pot legalized in Ohio.  In fact, he was so upset he couldn't vote against legalization, he took his fight to the Supreme Court.  I have a sneaking suspicion this dude wears are red hat that says "Make America Great."  The message is very clear.  Get your ass out and vote.  Your civic responsibility is the only way to control who governs, and how we are governed.  Think about why this moron wanted to vote.  Think about who we have in the White House.  Being unimpressed by the candidates is not a valid excuse.  Had Mr. Harmon gotten his lazy bones out of his Lazy-Boy and voted, he would have had no problem trying to keep marijuana illegal in Ohio.  We have an Idiot Jerk in the White House because so many, many voters stayed home because they thought Hilary had it tied up, or they didn't like either candidate.  My, didn't we all get a big fucking surprise.
Oh, and in case you missed it, the Idiot Jerk and Kim Sun Dumb met yesterday.  They shook hands.  They also signed some sort of pact.  A Russian political analyst told the BBC that "the devil is in the details."  The Chinese are saying pretty much the same thing.  They ought to know since I suspect they are the silent force guiding Kim.  Of course the Idiot Jerk will take credit.  And his supporters will trumpet his foolishness.  Every one has their opinions.  The Idiot Jerk and his supporters will see this as a most excellent propaganda tool.  Foolish Americans will be suckered in.  I'm reminded a lot of the moment when the Idiot Bush stood on the smoldering remains of the World Trade Center.  That photo op got him re-elected because so many thought those few seconds, when the setting was perfect, defined him as both a human being and a president.  How wrong everybody was.  Unless we take charge the country will head down an even darker path.  Make sure your defining moments are done in the voting booth, and not on your ass in your Lazy-Boy.  Vote Blue.

The sad lesson Kelly Ayotte is learning

The legislation on background checks for those wanting to purchase firearms failed, I was not surprised, even though, from what I've read, a large majority of Americans would prefer them.  However, there have been interesting results as a result of the vote.  Some Republicans have found their  poll numbers dropping, Kelly Ayotte from New Hampshire is one of them.  A few days ago she held a previously scheduled town hall and came face to face with those disgruntled voters who put her into office.  It was not a good day for her because she was forced to defend her vote.  I've seen videos of her standing there, water bottle clasped to her chest as though it might offer her some protection, and felt somewhat sad for her, but only somewhat.  As a public official, she was voted into office to represent the people of New Hampshire, not the Republican Party.  I don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican, you are in Washington to represent the people of your state.  You need to give them your allegiance.  You are their voice.  You are their vote.  This is what makes a good politician.

Kelly Ayotee, good senator or good Republican?

I understand that on the day of this town hall Ms Ayotte showed up with a Power  Point to explain her vote.  Bad idea; if you need to rely on a Power Point to explain yourself then you've made a mistake.  She was not voted into office to be a loyal Republican.  She is in the United States Senate to represent the majority of the people of New Hampshire; sometimes this means acting like an Independent and voting against the party line.  She is learning a sad lesson and a good one.  The people who elected you are not cows easily led by the nose, they will not always low quietly while you present a Power Point.  They have minds and wants and needs, and most importantly they have beliefs and opinions and votes.  The sad lesson Ms Ayotte is learning?  The voices of the people of New Hampshire are the ones which count.  When they whisper in her ear, she needs to listen.