tuckergurl

Sarah Palin Gender Card

For the past two weeks, I've been obsessed with politics. Admit it, whatever side you're on, this election has had more new developments than a week on Perez Hilton. I stand by my candidate Barack Obama (and I know that if he loses I might have to take some time off from work to get over my depression.) Still I have to thank the Republicans for keeping it interesting.

I could go on about some of the great moments and the great contradictions that have arisen from this campaign but I think I'll leave that to my boyfriend (in my next life), Jon Stewart.

Iraq

What is going on there?! Why does Bush have no real answers? My nephew just finished basic training for the Navy. I know that the Navy is in a better position than the Army or the Marines but it just makes my really anxious, especially since it seems like we are just going to stay there indefinately.

I Wish I Said This

I just have a crazy crush on George Clooney. I can't wait to see Ocean's Twelve. In Esquire magazine, which I get a mysterious subscription to and am not sure how it happened, Mr. Clooney said:

"The gay-marriage argument is ridiculous. Eventually it's going to happen, and everyone who stood against it is going to look like George Wallace on the steps of the schoolhouse trying to keep black kids from entering white schools, and we're going to have to explain why these people acted like dumbasses and how they were actually not such bad people after all."

New York State Votes to Reduce Drug Sentences

This is such a strange time politically.

In a move that is clearly Pataki's way of getting the democrats and liberals to like him again before the election, Pataki will sign a bill to reduce sentences to 8 to 20 years in prison. The old minimum was 15 years which we all know is completely ridiculous for something as small as possession. I have heard so many stories about women who were in cars with their boyfriends who end up going to prison because there were drugs in the car she was sitting in. And as Beth put it with much frustation, "And it doesn't solve the problem!"

The law will allow more than 400 inmates serving lengthy prison terms on those top counts to apply to judges to get out of jail early. This is a major thing but many people I have spoken to are pretty skeptical that that is going to happen.

Come To A Hearing In New York

If you are around next Wednesday, you should attend this. It is a public hearing in New York about the debate around the death penalty. I have never been to a legislative hearing before so I am excited. I doubt that I will be able to put my two cents in but I'll keep you posted.

Please come by if you can and get more information from New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty's site.

PUBLIC HEARING
Wednesday, December 15th @ 9 AM

New York City Bar Association
42 West 44th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenue)

Your attendance is greatly needed at the first legislative hearing on the death penalty in New York in order to demonstrate to the legislature and Governor Pataki that New Yorkers DO NOT want the death penalty!

Three Assembly committees, Judiciary, Codes, and Correctons will be holding this hearing. Our campaign to prevent a "quick fix" has worked. We want more: to stop the death penalty for good.

Please plan to be join us and spread the word as widely as possible and as soon as possible.

Cross posted on The Deadline Blog.

Condi

I really don't know how to feel about her. I don't think she's evil. I think she's a little misguided and naive. Her taking Colin Powell's place was not a surprise but my not really knowing how I feel about it comes as a surprise to me. Opinions on the matter are welcome.

(It's strange to have a picture of Bush my site. Ewww...)

Ashcroft Quits Top Justice Post; Evans Going, Too

This brings me so much joy. I can't even express it. Ashcroft Quits Top Justice Post; Evans Going, Too.

My friend in her true cynical nature claimed, "I think they're just making room for someone worse." Oh, don't say that. I need a bright spot in my day.

Who Says Violence Doesn't Solve Anything

This link was sent to me by my friend, Lauren, and it made my afternoon. I think I want in on this action.

Republican Friends

What do you do when you have friends that have different political beliefs than you do? Usually I can deal with it but this time of year it is harder to take than usual. I've tried to keep an open mind about our President but I just can not. What I think doesn't really matter anymore now that we have four more years of W but it's hard having friends who are excited about Bush's win.

One friend was telling me about a guy she met who voted for Bush in 2000 but he did that because he did not like Gore. He was more of a candidate person and I can relate to that. Gore was lame and no one really knew where he was coming from so she could excuse it. I kind of agreed with that especially since no one knew what W was going to be like as President. Now that we know though, other than the capital gains tax which many of my friends has secretly admitted has benefitted them and are excited about, Bush has made this country more divided both politically and economically.

I can't get making a vote for the way the administration is currently going. And why is Bush a righteous man exactly? He has killed so many people with the death penalty but I guess if you're in favor of the death penalty, that is a good thing. Eek! I don't know how to feel about that.

I guess I never saw myself as political before but as I get older and older, I just get more and more invested in what is going on in this world and am generally less apathetic. This makes it more and more difficult for me to be open to people who have beliefs that are entirely different from my own. That doesn't mean that I will end all of my friendships with people who have different beliefs than mine but it's hard to have much to talk about right now. Just the idea that they are getting joy from my pain is hard enough. (I know I'm being dramatic there but I thought it was a nice touch.)

Still, I wasn't in love with Kerry. I mean, he was better than Bush but his loss isn't a personal one in the sense that I was really invested in a person and they lost. It was more like, "Four more years of this bullshit administration."

I guess I have to seperate politics from my friendships, especially the ones where I can't really handle their beliefs. That's a hard thing to do right now. I think I need some more time.

VOTE!!!!

I figure most of you guys will (or have already) but it's one of those things you gotta say. I did two weeks ago via absentee ballot and it felt good!