Peace Rules

This is one of the best things ever. Go get one. 

It begins anew

And so it's over.
I have things to do at the house, Christmas music to practice, memos to read.
But the next four years will see much prayer, and I will be a member of the Loyal Opposition.
We shall see.....

And now...

I go to bed.
I pray that things will not be as bad as I am anticipating.
The Lord does, indeed, work in mysterious ways. At least, that's what I'm seeing right now.

Fuzzy math continued!

Now it's tied

Votes Percent

Barack Obama
1,309,665
47%
John McCain
1,201,441
47%

Fuzzy math?

From the Dispatch:


Barack Obama
980,909
49%
John McCain
818,716
45%

Um....that's three points, people! And the gap has closed steadily over the last hour.
So how can we call this????
I'm confused.

Fuzzy math?

From the Dispatch:


Barack Obama
980,909
49%
John McCain
818,716
45%

Um....that's three points, people! And the gap has closed steadily over the last hour.
So how can we call this????
I'm confused.

Returns

I've been in politics for 8 years now, and this marks my third Presidential campaign (Bush 2000, Bush '04, McCain '08).
I have never been this freakin' nervous.
Everything that's been called is pretty much what I expected.
Michael Barone (on FOX) is a walking political almanac. He is THE MAN. I listen to him above all things.

I'm still here!

Yes, all, I am till with you!

So, the saga of my day:
I got up at 5:15. A.M. After ot falling asleep until after midnight (OK, part of that was watching Steelers/Redskins on TV, but still!).
I got to my polling place, with my coffee thermos, at 6:00. There were about 50 people in line. By the time I went into vote, (polls in OH open at 6:30), there were probably about 120-150. The sunrise was beautiful, and so were the stars! So I spent most of my time finding costallations. It wasn't a cold morning, which was good.
Once we got in, I waited for about 25 minutes before I cast my ballot. I have to say, there is a huge thrill in selecting your Presidential candidate. That's why I don't vote absentee--I just get a thrill out of it. And I love seeing everyone all lined up, voting peacefully.
I got out of there around 7:03 and listened to Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" all the way to the Resort. Traffic, thankfully, was pretty light and I was in infusion at 7:30 a.m.
Blood draw was OK, then it was off to CXR. The movie on in the waiting room was Enchanted, so that was good. I also had Wuthering Heights to read (that's a very good fall/winter book). IN the waiting room there were two kids with Down Snydrome, and of course I couldn't help but think of Trig.
As usual, the CXR was quick. I do these in a coma at this point. It was maybe 8:15 by now. I headed up to the clinic, where we did NiOx and PFTs and all that good stuff.
These were not as great as normal. All of them (except for maybe one test) were down, by about 5 points or so. So, in Todd-speak, not "Good" but "OK." He thinks it might be a virus, bu we really won't know until the cultures (nasal wash and sputum) come back. Julie says we should have prelim results tomorrow.
If it is a virus, a bronch might not do us much good. I am supposed to call tomorrow 1) if my symptoms are worse, but, in any case, 2) I an to call and get prelim lab results.
So I went home (well, to my parents') and slept the rest of the day, until we had dinner. Now I am at home, with my brother's laptop and the TV on Fox (of course!). Ohio is not expected to be called until the wee hours.
Work tomorrow will be a zoo--we will have the people for the 128th General Assembly (to be sworn in at the beginning of January), and possibly a president. Regardless, the clips will be Monstrous.
Probably more updates as we go along but my health, right now, is holding.

Thoughts, rants, etc.

A hodge-podge of things, before I go to visit Todd tomorrow: 

• We are turning to football for political prognostication. It's true. If the Giants will 5 games before election day, the incumbent party holds the presidency. If, however, the Steelers win tonight, then the prognostication is that The One Shall Be Election. 

I might actually be rooting against the 'Burg. 

• In more relevant news for our purposes: tomorrow's Resort Visit. In order to vote, I'm going to get up at the godforsaken hour of 5:15. Yeah. That'll be fun. Polls in Ohio open at 6:30 a.m. I have to be at CH an hour later. We'll see what happens. Because, you know, if I don't vote, then it's a sure thing that I'll get bronched. No question. 

So, I head to the Resort for blood draw, then CXR, then up to clinic for PFTs, NiOx readings, the whole 9 yards. And then I wait and see what The Powers That Be Decide.

This is where transplant stuff is really different from CF stuff. With CF stuff, I could usually look at my numbers and go, "OK, here's what we're doing!" I was rarely wrong. 

Transplant stuff, not so much. First, there are about ten billion numbers (I'm exaggerating, but not by much.). Some of them I see, some of them I don't see. Sometimes the numbers are "OK", but I get bronched anyway. Sometimes I think the numbers are bad, and nothing happens. I have no real "inner guide" on this one. 

There are some things that are real bellweathers--if my blood work is way off, or if my PFTs drop dramatically (like more than 5 points). PFTs have always been sort of inexplicable. You can come in and feel great and blow like crap, and vice versa. Or if the CXR looks like Poland in January (that is, really, really white) then there are issues. I'm not a productive cougher--meaning I don't bring up mucus samples for them to test. So if we want a sample, we usually have to bronch to get it. 

Puls Ox numbers (the amount of oxygen in your blood) can also be a factor, although I was at 95% (the lowest end of 'normal') before transplant, so this number is sort of eh for me as an indicator. 

So with all this numerical insanity, plus trying to vote before all of it tomorrow, it's going to be a long day. And a long night.

And for you political junkies, the rap in Ohio is that we're not going to be called until the wee hours. So brace yourselves. 

• 
  

"Hey, can we stop the motorcade?"

"The baby needs some diapers."

Debate

May watch...

But will certainly pray. 

PIPER!!!

Yay Piper was there and the baby!!!!

Wow like the whole clan. Bristol has the baby. Nioce dress. 

Palin's parents....Mr. Todd. :) 

Willow, I think?

But Piper, my favorite!!

If I were Todd I'd be like "do not touch my wife."

I would kill to know what they are saying to each other. 

Wow Biden's wife is really young looking. If that's her. 

Piper is so cute! Right by her mom, adorable red cardigan. Awwww. What a smile. 

OK, yes I just love Piper. She is bar none my favorite political kid of all time. 

And she got her hair cut!

And noW Sarah has TRig, who sort of fell asleep. Doing the mom pat on the back thing. So adorable. J ust totally cute. 

Can I be the First baby-sitter? Because I totally want to be. 

Trig's oufit is really cute--a plaid shirt and little khakis. Baby Gap, perhaps? 

Todd...nice tie. 

Sarah with family, down to Piper. 

Piper has Trig!!! Yay maybe more grooming!

She totally has a hold on him. it's so cute. He's like a big doll. He must be really out or exceptionally good, or both. Expect more "oh my gosh the seven year old was holding the baby!" tomorrow. 

Family meets Gwen. 

She is carrying him like he's a sack of potatoes or something. Doing the little back pat. I just love that. She's like a total little mom. 

I don't know who's who for Biden so I can't help you there. 

Debate, c'est moi

Biden is really just going "on and on and on and on" (with apologies to Journey)

Sarah playing the Washington outsider card.

Biden is sweating...or something. He looks sort of bamboolzed while she gives him these lovely smiles. 

Gosh I love her make-up. 

Oooh--cutting troop support re: Obama--she quotes the primary debates! 

Alaska called for divestment in Iran. Legis hasn't passed yet but it needs to. 

Biden: The line that should be drawn is that whether or not we have the capacity to do anything abot genocide. 

Wait a minute--the MOST POWERFUL NATION IN THE WORLD can't stop GENOCIDE??? Huh?What happened to that thing in the opening statement about genocide being a priority? Ahhh, Biden consistency. 

Biden: We want prevention and cooperation. 

So basically we want Neville Chamberlain foreign policy. I got it--let's just sit around and sing "Kumbaya"!

Sarah: If I ever became Pres. (due to McCain death or whatever) she would continue the policies of putting the government on the side of the people. Working class Americans saying "Government, just get out of my way!" (LOL)

Support the ticket that wants to create jobs or the ticket that wants to increase taxes. 

Biden's body language is very odd. What was with the "let us pray" hand position? 

Gee, Biden sure knows how to pander--now "his people" are the DE constituents. 

Sarah: "Now, doggone it, let's look ahead." AWESOME!!!!

And Reagan: "There you go again." 

"I come from a  house full of schoolteachers."

No Child....mentioned! Wow!

Emphasis on the profession of teaching. 

"My kids are public school participants." 

Gwen: the "what does the VP do" question. (barf)

Sarah: well of course we know--it's in the constitution. (LOL)

Supportive of pres's policies. President understands what our strengths are. 

He would lead with his agenda. 

Government of all, working with families of special needs children (YAY!!!!)

Biden: Well NCLB was left behind b/c we didn't fund it. 

Role of VP: Point person for legis. Also, when asked--didn't want a portfolio. He will give Obama his best advice. (Don't you have political liaisons for that???? Sheesh. Watch West Wing!)

Biden has VERY SCARY facial expressions. 

And the requisite Cheney slam. 

The primary rol eof VP is to support the pres. (Biden)

Oh, now Biden has juidial insight and is all about strict construction!!!!

Drinking game: every time Sarah says "Energy", take a shot. 

Sarah: We are exceptional--quotes Reagan. Together we demonstrate the perfect ideal--freedom, democracy and tolerance. We can be a force for good. I share that belief and so does McCain. "A good team is a good ticket. "

Biden: says he won't change. Um, he's changed positions quite a few times since becoming the VP candidate. 

 

Sarah's dad is in the audience. 

Biden's last statement about kitchen table stuff made me want to vomit. (Sorry, but true)

I think St. Thomas More would like Sarah. 

Biden's judicial temperament answer was not so hot. 

Sarah: No I haven't had to compromise on my beliefs because I have always found a way to work together with people. 

More debate!

LOVED Sarah's clean coal answer!!!! WOOOOO! 

On the troop funding--Biden MADE MCCAIN'S CASE! It would have been so much more effective if he had just said that McCain voted against it, instead of doing the timeline tihng, because most people supported the idea of stay until you win! DUH!!!!!

Biden re: Isreal: We need NATO! Yes, they did a great job with other conflicts! Why don't we just send the UN?!

This adminstration's policy has been an abject failure. 

Oh, we need real diplomacy. 

Sarah: No, the administation has not be an abject failure. 

We both love Israel. 

Biden Obama doing teh blame game. 

There have been big blunders in this admin, but to talk about change while constantly looking back isn't good. 

Positive change is coming with us we'll learn and we'll put govt. back on the side of the people. 

Sarah is the queen of backhanded compliments. 

Sarah: Dangerous regimes cannot be allowed to develop/have nuclear weapons. 

Talking about Afghanistan

(Sorry for the typos, I publish as I type so it's current!)

9:58: Gee, Biden is such a happy guy! "This will not work" 

We spend more money in 3 weeks in Iraq than we have in Afghanistan. 

Oh God in Heaven. 

Gree, Biden is SO SHOCKED that McCain didn't vote for the nuclear test ban treaty!!!!

Sarah: Gee, Joe, you didn't listen. :) 

Counterinsurgency principles could work in Afghanistan. The same principles apply. 

Commanders agree. Leaders agree. 

BIDEN STOP WITH THE STUPID GRIN!!!!!!

More debate III

Gwen: Bill tha twould make it more difficult for mortgage holders to get out from Debt.

Sarah: There have been so any changes in conditions in our economy. We need to look back and be appreciative of McCain's calls for reform, with Freddie Mae/Mac. The colleagues int he Senate weren't going for it. 

(OK yeah Sarah!)

Gwen: Biden voted one way, Obama the other. What gives?

Biden: Obama saw glass as half empty and I saw it as half full. We disagreed on that. Here's the deal--Obama said two years that there's a subprime mortgage crisis.  (Um, in Cleveland they knew that 10 YEARS AGO)

What we should be doing now is something w/ bankruptcy courts and interest rates. 

Sarah: Quick answer--energy vrs. alternative energy. Energy policy plan--we have to consider the need to become energy indepedent! We have domestic supplies of energy all over! Let's drill it!!!!!!!!!! (OK, that last part was me, but that's the point)

It will create jobs and allow domestic supplies of energy to be tapped. Energy is the ket to this nature's future-- both economically and in the case of national security. 

Gwen: Climate change!!!!!

Sarah: Alaska feels the climate of change more so than any other state. We can attribute some activity of man, but some to the cyclical effects of the planet. 

Debate II

Bide--YOU ARE NOT FROM SCRANTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You we reborn there, but you LIVE in DELAWARE!

McCain taxes payroll health care for the tax credits. 

Plan will go straight to insurance company. 

$12000 for a regular plan

OK, he's losing me with numbers.

12000 plan v. 5000 plan? 

Gwen: what promise have you and your campaign made that you're not going to be able to keep?

Biden: Double foreign assistance (GRR! Bush has done that!)

Will not go with Bush tax cuts (GRRR again!)

Will not support...

Biden is not answering the question. At all. 

I am having a really hard time udnerstanding him. 

Bottom line is that we are going to eliminate wasteful spending and.....what? 

Sarah: McCain doesn't tell one thing to one group adn oen thing to another. 

Energy plan that Obama voted for gave tax breaks to oil companies--the running mate voted for that and yoiu're rtailing against it? 

Alaska--she took on the oil companies and said that wasn't going toh appen in my state. I had to break the monopoly and people are going to come first. The people of Alaska will benefit, and tax breaks are not coming ot the corps. 

People in the state, or the country, shoulf benefit. 

Her area of expertise. 

Gewn: There's nothing you would take off the table?

Sarah: We will do what's right for the american people. The rescue plan has to include the massive oversight that the American people want. 

Biden: Support for alternative energy. 

I think he loses the normal Americans when he talks about all this procedural stuff. Most people have no idea. 

He wants to do what Sarah did, but SARAH'S DONE IT!

Live Debate Blog!!!

If you have no interest in politics, then scroll on down for some poetry.

Those who are---read on. 

9:00 Watching pre-debate prep on fox (time is my parents' family room clock, not necessarily "official STL time"). Really, really perturbed that the author of a BOOK ON OBAMA, to be released on INAUGURATION DAY, is moderating this thing. 

9:01 PM: We are on--officially--with Brit giving us the pre-deabte talk. 

Just switched to NBC-_Brian Williams on

Back to Fox

9:03: ON!

Ifil talking. Nice outfit. 

Domestic and foreign policy matters. 

90 secs to answer, 2 minutes rebuttal/discussion.

Coin toss determined order. 

Subjects and questions have been chosen by her and not shared w/ candidates.

Candidates out

Sarah in Black with th ebig pin. Hair down. 

Skirt uit--excellent choice. 

Nice heels. 

Biden is...Biden. 

Sarah looks HOT!

Biden goes first. 

First question--Bailout

Oh that stupid smile!

Good lipstick for Sarah. 

Biden begisn by thanking Gwen and saying it's a pleasure to meet Sarah. 

Oh, the last eight years have been the worst economic policies ever!!!

Gee--maybe because of W's PREDECESSOR!!!!!

He's like reading the answer!!

Two um's already. 

Has to be oversight

Focus on Main Street...sure, both of you are good for that. 

Treat the taxpayers like in vestors--then the taxpayers would want a GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS. Sheesh. 

Sarah taking notes. 

"Change the focus on ecoming policy" --focus on growing middle class. 

BEcause Biden ows...

Sarah!

Going to a kids' soccer game and seeing what the parents are saying. 

How are we going to afford college, etc. 

Small business inventory and hiring. 

Federal government has not provided sound oversigh that we need and deserve. 

John McCain has been a representative for reform. John Mccain opushed fvor reform two years ago. 

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac. His collegagues didn't want to listen to him then. The aklarm has been heard and there will be greater oversight, again, thanks to John mcCAin's bipartisan efforts. 

But politics aside and put the countr yfirst. 

YAY!

Liked that. 

Would Biden work to shrink the polarizaion gap? 

Biden: I have worked on Violeven against women, geonice, etc. I've reached across the aisle. 

Sarah looks ready to pounce. 

No infanctice mention there. LOL. 

Fundamentals of the economy are strong thing again. 

Sigh. 

Sarah: 

John McCain referring to the fundamental economics--talkign abotu the american workforce, which is the greatest in this world. 

Team of Mavericks--talks about reform--we are known for putting politics asided and getting thejob doen. Obama--not so much. 96% of his votes have been along party lines. 

Put the special interests aside and get down to working for the people. 

Tired of politics as usual. 

Americans are creating something new and different, new energy. Commitment that comes with reform. We ened a maverick.

Gwen: Let's talk about the subprime lending bill. 

Sarah up first: Who is at fault? 

Sarah: The lenders that tried to talk people into buying more than they can afford. That's they're fault. We need to stop that. McCain and I have made a commitemnt to end that. Let's commit ourselves to normal american people--American people, Hockey moms!--we will never be exploited again. We demand ctrict oversight on those entities in charg eof our entities and our savings. 

We need to make sure that as infividuals we are taking personal responsilbity. *YAY!*

Never agian we will be taken advatnage of. 

Biden: Obama was on this two years ago (WHERE was he two years ago??? Oh yeah. Campaigning!)

Wow he blabbers I have a hard time udnerstanding him. 

McCain wants more deregulation. 

Lets free market rule health care.

Biden keeps looking at his papers. 

Sarah: 

tax increases--we need tax relief! Obama and Biden voted for the largest tax increases in US history. Barack had 94 opportunities an d 94 times he votged to increase taxes or not vote for a tax reduction. That's not what we need to reduce jobs. We need to keep more of what we earn, and we need to be more efficient. The government growth needs reigned in. We need tax relief. Obama supported increases taxes on families making only $42K a year--the average American family. That kills jobs. 

Biden: Oh, Sarah that's not true. 

He did not vote for those tax increases. 

Something about Senate procedure. 

McCain voted 477 times to raise taxes (someone check that?). 

Back to dereg

Sarah: I'm still on the tax thing because that's werong. What I did as governor and you make not like it but I'm going to talk about my experience as governor and mayor. Ever yyear I eliminted income tax, fuel eax, etc. we did that knowing that it would increase our economy. Campaign finance reform. 

Gewn: Time is up (BOOO) Biden, do you want to talk about raising tazes. 

Patriotic taxes! Yes!

Biden: How is that not class warfare?

Palin: What about taxing employer ta benefits. 

Biden: TI's called "Fairness" (LOL!!!!!!)

It's just simpel fairness. 

100 million middle class families. 

No one less than 250K would see an increase.DUDE, someone give him a tax lesson!!!!!!

people at this income level don't CREATE JOBS!!!!!

He says it's not punitive. HUH?????

Sarah: more tghan 2350K are the small businesses! They are the ones who will be hurt and that means less jobs and less productivity!!!!

You said paying high taxrs is not paytriotic!!! YAY!!!!

Patriotic is saying Government, you know, you're not always the solution. Get out of the way and let the private sector and our families grow!

YES!!!!!!!!!! Woohoooo!!!

$2T in new spending under Barack's proposal. 

500,000 tax credit for families so they can purchase their own healthcare (mccain)

that's a smart thing to do. 

Obama's plan mandates health care coverage, government run program. If you've seen the way the federal government has been running anything lately, you don't want them running health care. 

Sarah! Sarah! Sarah!

Some comments on Sarah-palooza of late:

1) NO ELECTED OFFICIAL actually reads the papers. NOT ONE. I know they don't because that's why I have a job. I read the papers, I cut the stories, so I tell them what is important to read! I did this for a Congressman, I do it for 33 Senators now. Trust me--not one of them really reads every paper that's important cover to cover. If they want to know what papers they are in, they do a google alert (at least that's what we do) and all the stories will be delivered neatly to the inbox. 

So the fact that Sarah "couldn't possibly read" all the papers in Alaska is crap. Do you actually think the President reads the Post or the New York Times or the Orlando Sentinel? NO. His staff does, and they tell him what he needs to know. Sheesh, people. Next you're going to be amazed that politicians have speechwriters!

2) Supreme Court (SCOTUS) case(s) she disagreed with: She could have safely said Dred Scott v. Sanford, the case that said slaves aren't really people. I think we can safely say that everyone disagrees with that ruling (except, say, Chief Justice Taney and Southern plantation owners). But that's really not a fair question. Unless you've really studied Con Law then how many SCOTUS cases, PERIOD, can you name? This is a relevant question for a judge or judicial position. It's not really relevant for a candidate for political office. At all. 

For the record, I took a year of con law at Capital. Here are the cases I can name off the top of my head, at this moment:

1. Lawrence v. Texas
2. Kelo v. New London
3. Marbury v. Madison
4. Dred Scott
5. Brown v. Board of Ed
6. Donnely
7. Lemon v. Kurtzman
8. Roe v. Wade
9. Griswold v. Conneticut
10. McCullough v. Maryland
11. Plessy v. Ferguson
12. Miranda v. State of Arizona

Frankly, I'm a lot more interested in a political candidate's grasp of the Constitution--especially the point that "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" are NOT IN IT. 

3) It amuses me how many people on chat boards, etc. say that they want a "really experience VP." Dick Cheney was chief of staff, secretary of defense, etc.--he's really smart. And yet--people don't like him. Hmmm. 

my old boss

My old boss, Congressman David Hobson (R-Springfield) and his wife, Caroline (at least I think that's her), at the Cap rally. I was an intern in his Lancaster District Office when I was in college

Who DIDN'T take Poli Sci 101?

From The campaign spot over at NRO: (my emphases)

Pelosi, moments ago: "The Democrats more than lived up to their side of the bargain."

Horsepuckey. Pelosi has 235 members. She needed 218. She could spare 17 members and still pass the bill.

The GOP spotted her 65 members, for a bill that made most Republicans' skin crawl in both broad outline and in terms of detail.

That meant Pelosi could afford to lose 82 Democrats.

She lost 95.

Bush and Paulson were never going to pass this bill with House Republican votes. It had to be palatable to the Democrats, and Pelosi and Frank said that it was.

Think about it - the majority party is insisting that the minority party is responsible for the bill not passing with a majority. Do you see the incongruency there? Why is anyone taking that argument seriously?

ME: I think someone needs to fire the Whip. If you can't get the vote count right on something like this, what kind of political skill do you have?