Change For A Nickel

OMG! Did I just step oustide of the looking glass? I was watching the news yesterday and couldn’t believe my ears when I heard that Congress actually did something ballsy. They issued contempt citations and subpoenas agains John Bolton and Harriet Miers. If that didn’t show a bit of backbone they also did not yield to the President when he basically said we would all be killed by terrorists if the new FISA bill was not passed! This was the bill that would also give the large telecom companies retroactive immunity from all those wiretaps on you and me. Wow! Now that is amazing! Too bad they had to wait for the Republicans to walk out of the assembly before they took their vote. I guess it’s a matter of taking baby steps.

Once again the Nation is stunned to hear that yet another gunman has killed several people at a university.  This time it happened at my own college!  A place where I spent six (yes six) years of my life.  The reports said that the shootings took place in Cole Hall.  I spent many man hours in that building.  I think all of my math and some pre-engineering classes were held there.  As sad as this tragedy was, I fear it will not be the last.  This country has a love affair with guns.  Not to mention the powerful lobby of the NRA.  All my sympathies to the families and friends who are affected by this horrific tragedy.

Now that Super Duper Typhoon Tuesday is over I have had time to reflect on my Birthday. It’s February 6th and I’m feeling a little jealous of people born today! I’m watching the news and found out that Bob Marley was born on the 6th. Also Tom Brokaw is celebrating his birthday today. If that wasn’t bad enough Zsa Zsa Gabor was also born on Feb 6th. God only knows what century she was born in!  The only celebrity I know who was born the same day as me is Bobby Brown. You would think good old Bobby would be enough! He’s such a super star, right?! Yeah, right…

So I had to do a little research and here are the top three people I found who also share my birthday.

Henry Aaron (Ahlete)

Roger Staubach (Athlete)

Barbara Hershey (Actress)

Henry Aaron, now there’s a name I can drop on my b-day! Until next year, good bye Feb 5 Super Duper Typhoon Fat Tuesday! NO RUSH to see you again soon!!

OMG, OMG, OMG!  It’s finally here.  The day we have all been waiting for.  Seems like forever since this event has happened but this national event has finally come upon us!!  I’m so excited!!  Who would have guessed that the nation would grant me such an honor by having primary elections on my birthday!?  Not to mention it is also Fat Tuesday!!!  I feel truly honored!

My birthday actually began on Sunday when the Giants came from behind to beat the Patriots in what can only be described as a nail biting final two minutes (I hate the Patriots!).  Don’t get me wrong.  Tom Brady is Oh so easy on the eyes but I had no problem with him chewing on some turf with the many sacks he received courtesy of the Giants defense!

So if you really want to get me something for my b-day that I will appreciate it is actually VERY easy.  Get your ass to your local polling place.  I’m not talking about a strip bar either!  And Vote, Vote, VOTE!!!!!!!!

Oh, and don’t forget to give a shout out to my boy Bobby Brown.  Yes, it’s his B-day too!

Four years ago George W. Bush was elected for a second term. I remember waking up that Wednesday morning in November to the news. I remember crying and felt a distinct streak of despair run through my body. But there was one glimmer of hope for me that day. In that same election Illinois elected Barack Obama to the US Senate. I heard on the radio that he would be at Union station greeting commuters that morning on their way to work. I jumped in my clothes and made a bee line to the station to see this man and shake his hand.

Four years later Barack Obama is running for President of the United States! Who would have thought it?! His rise in the Democratic Party is exciting but more importantly I have seen a phenomenon that I have not seen even when Bill Clinton was running for President and MTV was Rocking the Vote! I have seen all kinds of people rally around Barack Obama, young, old, black, white, Latino, straight, gay, progressives, moderates and yes, even some conservatives. Regardless of what you or I may think about him and his resume, it is an undeniable fact that this candidate has gained popular appeal to a cross section of the American public and has brought many more into the process. For me, he has the potential of being a unifying leader.

I am not so naive as to think it will be Kumbaya if he gets elected. But if the momentum continues he has the potential to squelch some of those divisive voices and become the leader that we are desperately seeking. I’ve known of Obama for years before he ran for Senator but when I heard his speech during the Democratic national convention that sealed it for me. I was hooked. I really hope Barack wins the Democratic nomination. But even if he doesn’t the result is still exciting. More people are taking ownership of their government. Because it is not George Bush’s. It will not be Hillary Clinton’s, John McCain’s, Mitt Romney’s or even Barack Obama’s government. It is OUR government. They work for us and the only way they are going to realize that is if people are part of the process.