Poli-Retro Fun!

Rather than paint the usual political familial pictures of Hillary the Hateful with Billy Sir-Lies-Alot and Chimpy McFlightsuit (not mine, but still hilarious) with his mute librarian wife, I thought I'd go for an 80s soap-style comedy routine.

What were the two most famous soaps running during that time? Dallas and Dynasty. Can't you see the two first couples as characters from those shows? Come on, work with me.

Dallas: The eldest son of a Texas tycoon, J.R. (as in Junior) is a greedy, scheming, cowboy hat-wearing oil baron*. Uh, W anyone? I can totally see Laura as his long-suffering wife clinking the ice in her never-ending glass of bourbon thinking "Why am I with this guy?" But instead of asking "Who killed JR?", we are asking "How many more has JR killed?"

Dynasty: You guessed it, the Clintons. The charming, silver-haired, short-tempered husband that was "ruthless in both business and family matters"* and the younger blonde wife that "found a hostile reception in the household"* (read: White House). I would pay to see Hillary with huge hair and shoulder pads...again. This is the show that had Krystle declaring she could "throw mud" too and the first on air use of the word "bitch"*.

I, of course, can't leave out our HOPEfully next first couple. The Obamas as, (I'm sorry, I had to) The Jeffersons. A nouveau riche African-American couple who were "Movin' on up"* (the political ladder, that is). One of the first programs to feature African-Americans in the lead roles and featured a mixed race couple (Barack's parents) in the plotline. I don't know about you, but I think if Barack ever called Mishelle anything close to "Weezie", he would regret it.


**All designated facts were taken from Wikipedia.

Waxing Nostalgic

While I was home for Christmas, I pulled out the old photo albums (like I do every year). At once heartwarming, humiliating, hilarious and sad, the pictures gave a glimpse of that "life flashing before your eyes" moment. Amidst the many images in front of me were my Dad's relentless documentation of our annual family vacations.

On the road at four a.m., crouched in the back seat for a cross-country excursion usually meant many things: games, songs, books, fights, nausea and a constant battering of the single question, "are we there yet?". I would come out of my self-induced cocoon of make-believe to join in the inevitable game of "Mom, he's on my side/drawing a line down the middle of the backseat" with my brother. (Really, Mike, how did you put up with me?)

But through all of the bickering and car-sickness a strange and wonderful thing happened. I got to see America. Well, a lot of it. I remember the Liberty Bell, the White House, Mt. Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, the Salt Flats, the Alamo, DisneyWorld, the beach, the ocean, the trees, the corn, the nothing in the middle, the desert, the mountains, the people and almost every ball park in between. Everything seemed so big and new and beautiful and far away. I was always very happy to come home, but each trip gave me more pride in my country. What a great place! America the Beautiful.

Of course now that I'm older I appreciate those trips more than I did at the time. I'm so glad my parents "made" us go and see and learn. I would've been happy at home hiding in my closet with a good book and a flashlight (yes, even in August). Now I see things differently. America seems so much smaller and, dare I say, ugly. I'm not only talking about the extensive damage we are doing to the country and planet environmentally. I'm talking about what we, as a people, are allowing to happen to our country. (Just when you thought it was going to be a nice blog with no politics...you don't know me at all, do you?) The hate, the violence, the lethargy, the gluttony and greed by all of us. It is destroying us. Look at how we are viewed by the world. We are no longer America the Beautiful; we are America the fat, lazy, spoiled rich bullies that hate each other and the world.

As you consider your ever-important vote this primary season, think about what you thought of US when you were young. Don't you wish we could restore that feeling of pride you felt when you were still required to say the Pledge of Allegiance even though you weren't quite sure what it meant?

I will leave you with someone else's views that reflect mine and that I hope you will reflect on too.

"Imagine an America that is once again seen throughout the world as a
beacon of hope and light, as an inspiration for human rights and
freedom, and as a liberator of the world from poisoned energy that
imprisons men and women everywhere, and ultimately endangers the very
existence of the world itself.

Imagine an American democracy that is greater than an exercise in
poll-taking, fundraising and the character assassination of fellow
Americans and becomes again a democracy in which politics is viewed as
a noble profession and Americanism is viewed as a call to share both
the sacrifice and the triumph, and young people are inspired to reach
for the stars in every endeavor in their personal and civic lives."

excerpt from The Hills' Pundits Blog - by Brent Budowsky
Oct 11, 2007

disappointed...

I know this is only the beginning of the process - and that he didn't lose by that much - and that he still has more delegate votes - and that what he has accomplished this far is huge, BUT last night's primary loss was disappointing. While only my close neighbors and my dog (sorry, G) can know what actually happened in my house as the results flashed and the pundits yapped, it is safe to say I did not accept his defeat gracefully (or quietly).

Fortunately, he did.

Sam Stein's blog on the Huffington Post today included this quote from Obama after congratulating Hillary on running a great campaign:

Obama, in his speech, offered no excuses or explanations for what had
transpired. Sensing, perhaps, the disappointment of the crowd, he
instead offered thanks for their support. "The reason our campaign has
always been different," he said, "The reason we began this improbable
journey almost a year ago is because it is not about what I will do as
president, it is about what you, the people who love this country, the
citizens of the United States of America can do to change it... That's
what this election is all about. That's why tonight belongs to you."

I believe...

"the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way."

I know, quoting a sappy 1984 Whitney Houston hit is so not like me, however, at this time I think it's appropriate.

Much is being said about generational politics of late. The Boomers are pissed that the Gen-Xers are actually involving themselves in the political process. Funny, weren't they always harping about how Xers were lazy and apathetic and didn't care about anything? Well, guess what? We care and we want our voices to be heard.

The number of youth voters that have participated so far in the current election process is astounding. The candidates' ability to rally up grassroots youth support is going to be a deciding factor in this primary. It is a whole different game. With MySpace, YouTube, Facebook, the blogoshpere, etc. candidates are reaching the younger voter in their own world. Whoda thunk it?

Democrat/Republican, black/white, male/female, experience/integrity, christian/mormon, hope/fear, yada/blahblah. All of these are factors, but I think it is gearing up to be a generational war -- and a war of independents. I actually read a comment on the NY Times online today that basically said "young voters aren't knowledgable and don't know the ways of the world, so why should they get a say in the matter" (paraphrasing here, but that's the gist). WHAT? It is their right to vote - even if they have different views from you, old timer! Needless to say I had a few choice words in reply to the poor old sap.

That is part of the problem. The older generation doesn't think the young whipper-snapper generation is as smart as they are. Hmm? Ok, well, we've been doing it your way and look where that has gotten us. Boomed us right into debt, recession, climate crisis and a very good chance there won't be any social security left. Thanks. We appreciate the effort, but may want to try something new if that's ok.

As James T. Harris clarifies in his blog "The National Conversation", "the 'young people' are...adults". When did that happen? He goes on to talk about a "generational shift". It is this shift that is direcly going to effect this election. Those young people are adults now and it is their future we are gambling with. Most of the older voters are scared of change. Understandable, but we need to start the process to get the change we need for our future, and our children's futures now - and you might not be around to see it. Harsh, but true.


"Everybody's searching for a hero; people need someone to look up to" -- agh, there I go again.

Harris also says that "young people love the Chocolate Jesus" in obvious reference to Obama (who, by the way, he does not support). It's true and you might want to take notice why. He represents a new kind of politics, a new, positive way to the future. A way to potentially heal the wounds of our nation. A way to show the world what we really stand for...hope and change. The freedom to say what we believe even if it isn't what you want to hear. A face to show the rest of the world that we are not so different from you and we do care.

I'm not saying he can even live up to all of the expectations we've already put on him. I'm not sure anyone can, but to the younger generation he is someone they can relate to and not just another older politician telling them what they can and can't do. I can't pretend to be a part of the "youth" vote, for as I'm pushing 40, I'm reluctantly calling myself (wait, stop the car, I feel nauseous) middle-aged, but I do understand their excitement at what seems to be a movement toward a new style of politics. And, as an older GenXer, I'm just as excited as they are about being a part of it.

Do not underestimate the power of a youth movement. They have the intelligence, the belief, the need and the energy to do almost anything. It will be interesting to see what they do.