Thirty-one days left to a new administration in a new year... Buhbye Bushman.

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Sorry this is so long, there's a story to it...

I seriously think sometimes that I need to stop reading and writing about, watching and listening to, the news.
Why you ask?
Because often I have dreams that Chris Matthews and I are having dinner discussing Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin.
Or that Jon Stewart is yelling at me because my McCain/Obama jokes just aren't funny enough- tells me to get funny or else.
Here's more: Bill O'Reilly mentions my inadequacies to even have a political opinion on the Factor No Spin Zone.
I'm one of the "news pundit discussion boxes" on CNN or FOX discussing whatever the issue of the day is. (Had a great dream discussion panel on Joe the Plumber and McCain campaign).

All real dreams I've had and there are many more... scary huh? Not dreaming about Johnny Depp or even Melissa Etheridge... nope, not even sexy dreams. Mostly they're about talking. Not even fun dreams like partying till the wee hours with Gwen Ifill and the PBS regulars, no secret rendezvous with Chuck Todd or sking with Stephen Colbert and his family... but okay I can deal with it, that's just me, fine.

But this one takes the cake:
I was watching a clip of Paulson (who I've mentioned that I don't like numerous times) talking about how he needs the rest of the 700 billion dollar bailout just before I finished my hot tea and went to bed last night. My "no way" reaction to that was fresh on my mind and yet still I can't explain away this one.

I dreamt that I was a secret agent posing as a reporter watching from backstage during Paulson's speech and I followed him when he left.
The scenery rapidly changed from regular streets and buildings to thick mist, a forrest and long windy road. I followed by watching their retreating tail lights with my headlights off. When he stopped so did I and then I followed him on foot path into the woods. There were 3 of them in the car, Paulson and two body guards. They joined about 8 others in a clearing with a lit fire at it's center. Two men stood guard at the beginning of the clearing. There was only one way in or out. The forrest was thick and even in the day one would have trouble leaving the path to wander around. It was night. I hid in the bushes and sat my tiny video camera on the crook of a tree, turned it on and zoomed in on the group.

Before my eyes by the fire Paulson became more and more bent over resembling some kind of tall gawky gnarly evil demon. The group chanted out "Get it, smash them, get it, bring them to their knees, Paulson, Paulson, Paulson."

The fire sparked up as he morphed back into the human Paulson. Did I imagine the transformation? He walked up to the front of the small group. His eyes seemed to glow blue.
He spoke for quite a while of his intent for his billion dollar bailout and how he would squash Obama and the US government. He said they would take all the money that they actually had hidden aside instead of giving it out to form a powerful evil cabal in some "Middle Eastern" county. The bank and stock crisis was all an elaborate ruse and the companies that got the money were fakes. It was a set up and that was why he was so "Damned angry" about the auto industy getting some of the money because he had no control over the auto industry. Everyone was mesmerized by his words and had fallen silent.

My camera blinked, letting me know it was out of recording space. Time to get away. I turned and after two or three steps tripped over a tree root in the dark. I was sent sprawling into a bush, snapping a branch as I fell trying to protect my camera. The sound sent the two guards after me.
I sprinted off in the direction that I had just came in trying to retrace my steps without killing myself in the dark.
I became very still inside, cold as ice and determined in my quest. I must live to tell the story. I had to.
I would warn Barack about the plot against him and the US economy because nothing was more important.

I hated to kill but had a license to do so if necessary. Ultra secret service.
I knew only two men with guns were chasing me. I ducked behind a tree and dispatched the closest one with a blow to his throat. The second one I shot with the first one's gun. I could hear people yelling and coming through the woods. I reached my car before they caught up to me and jumped in. Bullets hit my car as I threw it into gear. (Navy blue specialty Porsche)

I smiled. I was going to get away. Unfortunately I didn't get very far when Paulson's group came roaring up behind me in their black BMW sedan. After an awesome high speed car chase where I kicked through the gears their car fully equipped with evil gadgets ran me off the road and I crashed into a tree.
The men grabbed me out of the car. I didn't think anything was broken but my head hurt and I could barely see around me or concentrate of what was going on.

Paulson bent over me, leaned into my face and said "So you think you were going to get away from us? You can't do anything about this, it's all prearranged." To his colleagues he said " Too bad for you there's going to be an unfortunate fall off a very tall building. You've been so depressed lately. Let's go." He nodded and the nearest man punched me in the jaw.
The pain radiated across my face and expanded on my all ready pounding head. I felt dizzy and nauseous.
I was going to pass out.

When I regained consciousness I was in the pitch dark. I took a deep breath and realized I was in a car trunk speeding down some road. I immediately started running rapidly through my mind how to get out of the car to save the country. All my joints seemed to flex but my leg was numb, cramped underneath me. I listened to the muted words of men talking and the road and engine noises.

I was trying to figure out how to get my wrists free because they felt like they were taped together when sirens began to sound all around me. All hell seemed to be breaking lose outside of the car. The men inside sounded like they were arguing. This could be to my advantage I thought. The sirens got louder and louder. There was something familiar about the sirens. They were so close to my head it wanted to explode. The car began to slow down and pull over. The bumping made my teeth hurt a lot.

I tried to lift myself up.

Blink, blink, wait a minute, it's not night, it's light outside. That's my husband's mild snoring mixed with the wild wind racing around outdoors, not car engine sounds. No sirens from a police chase just my alarm clock going off on the nightstand.
Ugh morning all ready.
My leg really is asleep. I wiggle my toes and unclench my jaw
I'm dreaming, this isn't real. None of it.
And full of cliches like a really, really, unbelievably, bad spy novel.
How disturbing.

*********** and that's it, told as best I could ************

Now tell me, somebody, what the hell was that??? That's not a dream it's weird. I have no idea what to make of that.

I think I was inside of at least five fantasy/adventure/spy movies that I recognized afterwards.
I have no idea what I looked like in the dream, hopefully like Kate Beckinsale or Harrison Ford...
Was that a nightmare or just an odd but interesting dream? Beats me.

I SHOULD go on a cold turkey diet from the news but I definitely couldn't manage it.
I know my limitations (and I have many). Quit smoking: yeah. Diet: working on it. Stay away from drugs, don't drink too much, be fair, just and honest... yeah, yeah, yeah.
But I'm a news junkie at this point, plain and simple. Incorrigible.

I've tried, I've tired (she says with a tear in her eye) but I just can't do it.
I'm a Junkie that has a wicked jones going for caffeine packed coffee and the world news.

It just ain't pretty.
But then it never really is.

So tonight I think I'll lay off writing about political stuff. Or at least stop eating right before going to bed for sure.
Need to get some rest, have to finish off Christmas shopping and everything else pretty much tomorrow.

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Can the auto industry change the way they do things in three months? Doubtful.
Is it a compromise or something entirely different? How realistic is the whole plan and what jobs will it really save?
I was reading up on Blago's court troubles... I wonder if he'll actually do hard time. Not sure. But there is a "maybe."

Then there's the story from Alaska about the arrest of Palin's daughter's boyfriend's mother being arrested on drug charges.
Sounds like a soap opera. Stay tuned, the baby cometh...

G'night everyone.
Hope your calm and cheerful.

Laura

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Thirty-two days till the bail out bail's out Bush.

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So it took GW until Friday to decide to give the loan to the auto makers to attempt to bail them out.
Even without a shoe whack upside of his head...
Well I don't think it's going to help all that much when people aren't thinking of buying new cars in the near future.
But I'm hoping that I'm totally wrong.

Mixed feelings about the possibility of Caroline Kennedy (isn't her name Schlossberg?) being appointed as Senator from NY.
Could certainly do worse, might do better. Wish she had more of her brother John Jr. She seems far more serious.

For now Al Franken seems to be ahead in the count in Minnesota. What a joke. Don't like either one of them. Get it done.

I may be nuts but I'm not sure that Rod Blagojevich is going to have much happen to him. He may be forced from his office but so far I'm not sure I heard anything that puts him in jail... Hmm. Like I said our political system is getting weirder and weirder.

It seems that the Prop 8 supporters have brought in Kenneth Starr as council to "protect marriage" (ie between a man and a woman. So there will be a few challenges to Prop 8... let's hope that we move away from govt. sanctioned discrimination (and it shouldn't matter what side you are on, pro gay or not). This is a civil rights issue.Prop 8 article

And the best news: Paulson wants the second half of the 700 billion dollars now... nevermind that wait until Obama is president in Jan. Me wants me cookiieeeessss. Nope. Can't we get rid of Mr. ex CEO of Goldman Sachs?
He hasn't fixed anything, let's try a new approach. Seriously let's try.

Non political:
Why is it that Drew Peterson is engaged again? Wife # 5 to be and young too (23ish).
I don't get it. Is there something appealing about someone who may have killed at least one of his prior wives?

Snowing in NY. My rosemary on the steps was blanketed with snow. It's so pretty outside right now, but it's starting to turn more into sleet and rain as usual here. Like as not tomorrow all snow will be washed away for the most part.








Don't hold your breath waiting for me to "grow up."
If growing up means I can't take walks in the snow, enjoy crunching ice coated mud puddles, throwing snowballs and building snowmen... I don't really want to. Isn't much fun then. And yes, I built a small snowman I usually do every year.
The kids have "outgrown" snowmen it seems and I used to get snowball fight takers but not so far this year.
Oh well, I love snow and if there was a hill nearby I'd be sleigh riding too.
Well to all of you out there that think adults don't build snowmen by themselves, I don't care, it makes me smile and that's okay with me. Children just gave me more of an excuse... ha.

The jar of cookies are chocolate covered coconut macaroons. Not bad. Done with baking cookies (before christmas anyway).

Tired and have some things to do. Time is rapidly running out on my holiday preparations.
Probably won't relax in any way again until after Christmas.
I am still looking forward to New Year's Eve and 2009.
It's a good time to reevaluate, I for one plan to take the whole year to do just that.

G'night,

Hope you're safe, warm and near to those you care about.

Laura

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Thirty-seven days to goodbye Bush or... Treinta y siete días hasta adiós a George Bush.

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Now Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet! On Cupid! On Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away!
Take me away from it all!

(Um, That IS the way it goes isn't it???)

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How about this:



There's a law suit going on over the design.
Again just strikes me as funny, and not that much does this last week or so. Just sharing.
And just in case you feel like checking out the whole story that goes along with the photo:
Hey who is that guy?


On a lighter note President Bush ran off to Iraq/Afganistan all hush hush and while talking at a "press conference" with Al-Maliki something ah, unexpected happened.
Bush joked that the shoe was a size 10:


It just keeps getting weirder and weirder.

I have a lot to say about the auto bridge loan story but I'll keep it trimmed to a million words I promise.
I'm waiting to see what the administration has to say about the whole thing. So far not going well.
And I'm going to assume that Bush will do something more in the next few days.
This whole thing has me so upset...

AIG was given around 123 billion dollars without strings attached.
Goldman Sachs got billions, along with others... with no strings attached and no paper trail...
BUT the southern senators want to blame the UAW for the automakers NOT getting the bridge LOAN with strings attached???

This is bullshit folks. Where are the non union plants? Where are the foreign plants? Yes. In the south.
Lets just bury Michigan. Lets just decimate American Manufacturing of Cars. Just bullshit.
The bleeding of jobs hasn't even begun yet. What the f#$k is really going on?
Non-partisanship my ass. Is anything really going to change? I wonder.
Does hope involve crossing your fingers and not stepping on the sidewalk cracks? Praying really, really hard?

Paul Krugman stated that "...the opposition to the bailout was led by Senator Corker 'the Senator from Nissan' which has two plants in its national headquarters in Tennessee." Hmm.
Clip of Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan on the auto industry bridge loans. Makes good and bad points. Premature on Bush support though it seems now. We'll find out this week I expect. Oh, and I'm not buying any stocks Jennifer not in anything.


Going to watch a movie, one of my favorites (but don't go by me I'm strange it seems) called "Mirrormask"
and make a cup of hot tea and try to relax. Try very, very hard.
From a personal perspective this weekend was a psychological black hole.

G'night

Laura

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Forty days left of Prince George and his merry men...

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This might be a short post because it's been a horrible rainy day and now it's pouring and windy here.
My cable keeps going off and on which makes the internet unstable and has to be reset each time.
Went down in the basement and it's been raining so hard for so long that there are three puddles down there.
Nothing to get damaged near them but enough with the rain all ready, don't want the basement to flood.

I love the political machine... no let me rephrase that, I'm constantly amazed by the vast lack of common sense that permeates both parties. That and the "do what I say but not as I do" mentality.

Let's look briefly at a few of the stories:
Of course there's the obvious one Blagojevich. Now Bernard Madoff arrested for securities fraud.
So who is Madoff anyway and why should we care? Well, he's a former Nasdaq chairman. Great huh?
That's why I don't like Mr. "parachuted over from Goldman Sachs" Paulson in charge of the bailout money.
Conflict of interest to me.

Here's yet another dumb statement since Caroline Kennedy while not in the public eye all the time has done many things.
She's a lawyer, she's raised money for NY public schools, she chairs, serves as director, and does more than many others.
But, here's the thing: NY democrat Gary Ackerman (Queens) states that her qualifications are apparently only that she has "name recognition, but so does J Lo... I wouldn't make J Lo the senator unless she proved she has great qualifications, but we haven't seen them yet." ::sigh:: Number one I'm from NY and still am pissed at Gulliani, now... look, Gary's entitled to feel what ever he wants to about Kennedy and the senate seat but seriously J Lo??? Reminds me of the comparison between Obama/Britany/Paris in that McCain ad. Wtf were you thinking, better yet, were you thinking at all? Wow.

Whether or not Caroline gets the senate nod hopefully doesn't depend on nonsensical statements said by a congressman.
It's so great to see the hypocrisy of the political system doesn't favor just one party. There are ridiculous folk on both sides that don't seem to understand they should think about what they say BEFORE they say it.

The auto bailout didn't get through the senate... not a surprise I kinda expected it. So now what happens?
The loss of jobs, lack of morality, global recession, heating oil prices, mortgage crisis, stock problems, two wars, polar ice caps melting and all the other problems facing us... makes this a rather disturbing end to 2008.
Tough to raise that ole holiday cheer. Just doesn't feel the same to me this year. Grateful for what we have, yes.
Thankful for my family, yes. But there's an underlying anxiety for the future. Being trained in social work makes you aware of the struggles people have, and this is a very tough time for many Americans, especially hard on children. No way around that fact. Blame it on who ever you want it still doesn't fix anything.

Donate to food banks if you can, they can always use money, non-perishable food items and most of all volunteering some precious time.

The reason I'm really late with this post because I was finishing the second day of baking and packaging 18 plates of cookies, one large box of cookies for my husband to take to work and all those left over are for my mom, brother and of course us!
Only just finished. Promised myself I wouldn't go on the computer until I was done.
These cookie packager are some of the fruits of my labors for the past two days.
Take a breather Laura and de-stress. (I think I've almost forgotten how).


G'night,
Hang in there everybody
Going to bed.
Hopefully I can sleep with all this wind.

Laura

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Forty-one days left of GW Bush... or what the *#@&'s wrong with Chicago anyway?

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So the more we hear and the more Blagojevich says it seems he's arrogant, greedy and a more than a wee bit delusional.
What a mess, Obama and others say he should resign (duh) and he still hasn't. Amazing.
And how about the whole Jesse Jackson Jr. (otherwise known as candidate #5) possibility of involvement.
Great stuff. Wish it was republicans right at the moment but... both parties seem to be unable to remain above board at all times. Bleeping, unbelievable bleepin bleeper. Never heard so many news reporters saying bleep with such relish...
of course we all know bleep actually means bleep, don't we? Struck me funny and even Morning Joe got a joke in on his saying the word live on the air (by accident of course). Bleepin' funny I say.
It really amuses me to hear republicans condemn democrats when they're both full of shit most of the time, no?

We're going to see big changes in the auto industry no matter what happens.
Less choice of cars (brands), less dealerships, don't care if the government bails, um, gives them loans them money or not.
It's interesting that there's so much trouble getting this agreement down in house which just passed, now there's the senate.
Perhaps GW might want to say something... He still is president right? ::sigh::
What's better bailed out or bankruptcy? No guarantee that the companies will succeed even after getting money.
Or that they'll decide they need more $ later on, and then what do we do. Refuse and lose what we've all ready fronted?
Doesn't make me feel any more confident in buying any new cars... think I'll stick to my poor lil manual Toyota Corolla.

I saw the funniest headline on one of those supermarket news rags (not sure which one it was) but it said:

Hillary promises Obama she'll divorce Bill after the inauguration. It was just funny with a picture and all.
Really caught my attention and I started to laugh out loud. Which makes people look askance at you in the checkout line.
I simply pointed at the paper and they kinda smiled and looked at me like I was nuts... aw hell maybe I am, eh?

And ghost of irrelevant people past, well they should be past anyhow: Joe the Plumber showed up dissing John McCain.
Now I'm not a John McCain fan, and I strongly (ahem) disliked Sarah Palin, but just shut up Joe! Nobody cares.
He says he was "appalled" by Sen. McCain while he traveled with the campaign. Really Mr. can't get your story straight plumber? (and yes, I put those good ole air quotes around plumber)
But you loved Sarah Palin cause she was the "real deal." Do you mean the real deal like you are Mr. Wurzrlbacher?

What about the Jay Leno invasion of prime time?
Does this mean Law and Order will be moved and everything else? Golly I'm sorry that NBC isn't doing all that well but damn.
Why do they have to mess with actual tv shows? Screw around with our escapism that we so dearly need right now.
And what's with Jay anyway? He's been saying that he wants to retire, and it seemed that he was.
Then there were the Jay's going over to ABC rumors... Hey, haven't we been here before with late night talk show wars?
Now he's taking the 10pm spot every night. UGH. I don't understand. Why? The 30 million a year you'll get?
Jay all ready has more money than god and could do many things to stay in the limelight including a once a week show if he wanted to but, no, it's every night. Come on Jay seriously reconsider please.
A workaholic and a by all accounts very nice but still a stay in the public eye control freak.
I don't want to watch talk shows in prime time... early to bed folk can tape it.

Britney Spears... the press seems to think she's news. She isn't. One show says she's in the middle of a reinvention and strong comeback. The other says she's on the verge of a nervous breakdown and losing it.
Hey, I vote for both if and only if it gets her out of print and off the NEWS.

Well, nothing more on my mind tonight (at least that I can remember at this point.
I still have more cookies to bake so I'm going to to and then crash in the early morning hours I imagine.
Making coffee and having a piece of pie then back to work for me.
The first batches, almond sugar cookie Christmas trees and semi-sweet chocolate sandwiched between lacy crisp oat wafers.
Now I know the wafers don't look particularly Christmas like but they are my signature cookies and always asked for.




G'night all,
Stay sane... I'm trying.

Laura

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Fifty-six daze left of George W. Bush... or let's mess with the environment now.

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I think I lost a whole day, not really like me.
Sorry, I think I'm going to call it a lost weekend.
Blame it on my birthday it's as good an excuse as any other I guess.

Term of the day: Fiscal Responsibility.
Is this corporate welfare or corporate socialism? It's getting hard to tell.
And someone explain to me who decides which bank, agency, business gets money while others don't?

Mismanagement is the cause...
If you don't adjust the people responsible for the whole problem how does that realistically send the message that the market and capitalism actually works? Survival of the fittest or of the government favorites?
Perhaps the government should take over the American Car Industry until it is working again... and they've made the tax payer's investment dollars back. Now that would be interesting.

Did I really see Scooter Libby dressed up as a turkey while GW Bush pardoned him on the Onion site?
Great spoof folks and what a real turkey that truly is!


In Thanksgiving Tradition, Bush Pardons Scooter Libby In Giant Turkey Costume

The recount goes on in Minnesota with a little over 100 votes between Coleman and Franken leaning to the former.
Very contensious, get it over with all ready. Then we just have Georgia left in the runoff election.

Seeing a lot of Barack Obama the second day of speeches for him, then Paulson who is starting to really drive me crazy.
Not hearing too much from ole GW these days...

Damn Midnight Regulations that GW Bush is putting through. Decimating some of the environmental issues yet once again.
Get the damn lame duck (not my word for him but it does rhyme with it) out of office before he gets even more stupid. Please.
Here are some of the things he's putting through last minute that we have to deal with-> check it out it's amazing:

Bush's Midnight Regulations

White collar vs. blue collar
When comparing the bailout for financial institutions to the bridge loans for the domestic auto industry, Steelworker President Leo Gerard made this comment:
"The people who take a shower before they go to work get bailed out. The people who must take a shower after work get thrown out."

This sums up how I feel about this bail out. Wall Street gets bailed out because they can't go broke. CitiGroup is too big to let go broke? What the heck was that? Free market society indeed.
But blame the American auto workers and the union for the problems Auto management made... let them go out of business because who the hell cares about blue collar workers anyway?

Union busting is not a good thing folks. Hasn't worked before. Damn those workers that want good wages, realistic hours, job protection, safe workplaces and health care, stupid little things like that.
The CEO's fly around in corporate jets, get paid obscene wages (for f**king things up) and get bonuses, perks and unbelievable retirement packages... but hey, blame it on the workers because they're unionized and simply show up for work every day to make cars, well until they're laid off that is. Yup blame them ya'll.

Bye, bye middle class... Maybe they'll bail us out some day, you never know.
They should we're all cheap and easy ain't we, or is it expendable?

I still have my problems with Obama, we shall see what he actually does now that he's elected.
They all say lots of stuff before they get in, then the reality of politics kicks in and usually promises are hedged and dodged.

Politicians, can't live with 'em, wish we could live without 'em.

700 billion and not one job created.
The deficit is horrific.
But hey at least GW was cute in his Peruvian Poncho, wuddn't he?

Let's hope Obama has a better plan and let's hope it actually works.

Non politics:
Going to pick up my son tomorrow, visiting from DC for the long Thanksgiving weekend!
Everyone will be home so it'll be a cherished holiday.
My favorite holiday has always been Thanksgiving.
Family gathering together for a fine filling fall meal. The best!
(not to mention that I was born on Thanksgiving, though it rarely falls on it again)

G'night,
Enjoy Thanksgiving and help those less fortunate over the holiday season.

Laura

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