Apparently things aren't going too well on those talks regarding raising the debt ceiling in Washington. I read one news story today that mentioned that there were disagreements early on, in the middle, and at the end of a meeting between President Obama, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and others. Some reports even said Obama stormed out of the meeting.
I've got some simple solutions that I think will help things out greatly.
1)They need a little aromatherapy. Pipe in some lavender essential oil and that will help calm tensions right from the start.
2)Chair massages. I am sure there are some starving massage therapists that could use the work. Who can fight when some one is working out that tight spot in their shoulder. "There...no there. Aah, that' s it! What was that about the debt ceiling? Oh who cares. This feels incredible..."
3)Certain foods might help the politicians unwind. First I thought pizza would be great, but then got concerned fights would break out over what toppings would be included. So I've decided to give up something that has been sitting in the Triple M studio since my birthday. That's right, my precious Lazy Cake relaxation brownie. I haven't cracked it open yet, because our show is already sleep inducing enough. I think I'll send a case of them to the White House. Who wants to help me pay for postage?
I'll admit I don't understand the intricacies of the court ruling made yesterday that allowed that union-busting bill to move forward and become law. But here's what it seems like to me..there is a law that says that governments must give adequate notice when they're going to make laws or set public policy..but that the state legislature doesn't have to follow that law.
That seems like dangerous territory to me, and I'm concerned this could lead to even more power grabs by the state legislature.
Here are some of the things we can look forward to in the not-so-distant future.
1. All Democratic lawmakers will be required to wear monitoring bracelets so they can easily be located and be brought to the capitol at any time. That way they can be ignored by Republicans who are "doing what's best for the state of Wisconsin."
2. Any one caught rolling their eyes during a legislative hearing or floor session will be immediately shot.
3. Gov. Walker will ask for federal money to build a playground outside the capitol. That way when lawmakers are on recess..they're actually experiencing recess. Democrats will never be allowed to use the teeter totter or the tether ball.
4. In order to save money needed to implement the Voter ID law, henceforth all elections will be canceled, and the current lawmakers will be lawmakers-for-life.
5. The state motto will be changed to "Suck It, Middle Class."
State lawmakers are debating a very serious question today. If you guessed it has something to do with the rights of public workers, you'd be WRONG!
They are debating adding a new item to the list of official state symbols. Spurred on by some future constituents (4th graders), lawmakers are weighing the pros and cons of making the Cream Puff the Official State Dessert.
Now, having been a politico with my fingers on the pulse of state government for more than two decades, I'm able to provide a little perspective here.
Back in the 1980's, the legislature disappointed 4th graders all over the state when it decided NOT to name the cranberry muffin the official state muffin, despite the fact that cranberries are a major state product. One state lawmaker said the idea was half-baked and that legislators risk looking foolish when they spend time on such items.
Lawmakers looking foolish?
I don't think the current legislature has a problem with that.
I'm sure we'll see the cream puff right next to the robin (official bird) and Antigo Silt Loam (official soil) in the Wisconsin Blue Book very, very soon. (Complete list of state symbols here, in case you have nothing else to do right now.)
With all the political shenanigans, tomfoolery and downright evilness going on, I decided I had two options to preserve my sanity.
1. Curl up in a little ball and cry myself to sleep.
2. Regress to the safe, warm, comforting days of my childhood.
I know I'll have to resume fighting the fight or my conscience will bug me, but for now, I choose #2.
And I've gone off to the la-la land of fave childhood cartoons. I bet I can remember some you haven't thought of in a while.
Kitty's Top Cartoons She Bets You Forgot
1. Huckleberry Hound
2. Pixie and Dixie (and Jinks the Cat)
3. Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy
4. Go Go Gophers
5. Snagglepuss
And for your viewing/regression pleasure--enjoy this Snagglepuss snippet that features some classic lines.
With crank phone calls in the news this week, I've been reflecting on some of the excellent calls I made back in my younger days.
Most kids resort to calling and asking for Prince Albert in a can..or come up with something worn out like "is your refrigerator running?"
Mine may have been even more stupid.
"Excuse me, but what kind of peanut butter do you use?" (The response was "the same kind the Dunns use." My friend dialed his own house and his sister answered the phone and recognized my voice.)
Another time a friend and I called a house where we knew a bunch of the children. When a boy answered we sang "we'll have a blue Christmas without you."
And we even called a really old guy named Henry Winkler whose name we found in the phone book... and imitated the Fonz.
I guess we weren't really ready to be political commandos.
A lot of people, including me, are disappointed in the way the election turned out last night. A lot of people are angry. How will we possibly get through this?
Like the hippies used to say...just keep on keepin' on.
This is certainly not the first time I've been disappointed in the outcome of an election, and it won't be the last. I grew up in a very political family. My dad was a big grass roots campaigner. We always had yard signs all over our front yard. My dad would even put a car top sign on the top of his van. I'm surprised he didn't also have a loudspeaker to play rabble rousing songs and implore people to vote for his current favorite..be it Mo Udall or Marty Schreiber or Ed Garvey.
My dad always picked the ones who rooted for the little guy. And his candidates almost always lost.
So I lived through the disappointment of the re-election of Richard Nixon and the trouncing of George McGovern. I used old Marty Schreiber stationery for scratch paper. I screamed and shouted when Ronald Reagan was elected president (and found out later my dad marched through downtown Stevens Point yelling "Reagan sucks" with a bunch of drunk college students). I nearly threw up when Newt Gingrich became speaker of the house.
In fact, I never voted for a winning president until Bill Clinton. And I wasn't too thrilled every time my candidate lost to Tommy Thompson.
But I got through it. Yes, there was eye rolling and indignation. But the world didn't stop spinning. And I think it will take more than a few hundred idiots in Washington (or the state capitol) to bring about the ruin of modern civilization. At least that's what my last two optimistic molecules are hoping.
"Shut up and rock!" That's what you'll hear from the crowd when rock stars start shooting off their mouths about politics. But they're not always going to do what we say, are they?
Whether they think they have an influence or not, some musicians are known for spouting their political beliefs. How well do you know your favorite star's political leanings?
Match the rock star to their political quote. Answers below...no peeking.
[gallery]
1. "You see, idealism detached from action is just a dream. But idealism allied with pragmatism, with rolling up your sleeves and making the world bend a bit, is very exciting. It's very real. It's very strong."
2.âBlind faith in your leaders, or in anything, will get you killed.â
3.âWhen the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.â
4. "I fear that our true motivation is about oil and our own flailing economy; about the failure to destroy Al Qaeda and about revenge."
5. "We're not a political band. We don't want to tell people what to do or what to think. We just want to tell them to think."
Answers:
1. Bono 2. Bruce Springsteen 3. Jimi Hendrix 4. Dave Matthews 5. Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day)
President Obama is coming to Madison next week...for a big political pep rally designed to help out Democrats in advance of the November 2nd election. I'm sure Russ Feingold, Tammy Baldwin and Tom Barrett will all be there too. And if that's not enough excitement for you, Ben Harper will also be there to play a few tunes.
I used to get so psyched for stuff like this...but I just don't know if I'll go this time around. Maybe it's the parking hassles, maybe it's political burnout...I'm not sure. This attitude would be pretty pitiful to my late father..who was a local Democratic rabble-rouser up in Stevens Point. What's wrong with me?
If you're going..I do have the info you'll need. They'll start letting you into the Library Mall area Tuesday at 3:30pm, and the program is supposed to start at 4:45. No tickets are required, but the Obama folks would like you to RSVP. Click here to make your intentions known.
And the university released more specifics about road closures, impact on classes, and what you can and can't take into the area. Read that here.
And here's Ben Harper. I bet you a million bucks* he will do this song at the rally.
*A bet is not a bet unless we shake on it. Just so you know.
Sarah Palin is a pretty popular keynote speaker these days, but if your organization can't afford her hefty price tag, there's always her daughter Bristol.
What does it cost to get the daughter of the former Alaska governor to share her words of wisdom? According to the Palin family attorney, between 15 and 30 grand, depending on which group she's addressing and what she must do to prepare.
I did a little digging, and came across Bristol Palin's menu of services. Here's an excerpt:
$15,000: Russia: The View From Mom's Porch. Bristol gets folksy as she shares her insights into post-Cold War politics, perestroika, glasnost, and Russian dressing. Power-point presentation requires an extra fee.$20,000: Abstinence Education. This speech starts out strong: "I was absent the day this subject was covered at Wasilla Junior High, and look where it got me...." Bristol often breaks into tears during this presentation, so she requires two boxes of Kleenex to be located within arm's reach of the podium.
$25,000: The Merits of Accidental Fame. Bristol tells the poignant story of how her mother's political career put her in the limelight. She compares and contrasts her experiences to those of William Hung, the guy who sang "She Bangs"Â during Season 3 of American Idol.
$30,000: Hypocrisy in American Political Campaigns. This speech is currently in development. No details are currently available for this topic.
When we make a mistake, sometimes it feels like the whole world is laughing at us. When you're the vice president of the United States, it's very likely true that a good percentage of the world is at the least, snickering.
When Joe Biden introduced President Obama as he signed historic health care legislation a couple of months ago, he leaned over to him and said "this is a big f&%# deal." Some people were more amused than others.
If you're a fan of health care reform and have a similar sense of humor, you might want to wear a t-shirt proclaiming that fact. The folks my.barackobama.com would like to sell you one, for a mere $25. It says Health Care Reform is a BFD!
 Click here for info.
Do you think I should get one?
The passing of Senator Edward Kennedy yesterday got me to thinking.
Where's my Kennedy?
Growing up in a VERY Democratic, liberal household, I was always searching for a political candidate who inspired in me the kind of hope and confidence that John Kennedy and later Bobby Kennedy inspired in members of my family. I know my parents went to a rally for JFK and my mom got to shake hands with Jackie. I'm pretty sure my older brothers and sister thought Bobby Kennedy was pretty cool.
But they were gone long before I started forming my own opinions about politics.
So in 1980, when Jimmy Carter was running for re-election, I put my support behind Ted Kennedy in the Democratic party. Finally it was my chance! A Kennedy to call my very own! And I was old enough to vote (barely).
I even rode my bike over to UW-Stevens Point to listen to him speak at a rally. Sadly, the main thing I remember about that day is that he was a couple of hours time. This was my first experience with politician time..which is usually a time zone or two later than the one you're in.
I didn't get that tingly feeling so many people described after listening to either of Ted's older brothers. But he definitely had some cool ideas..his long list of legislative accomplishments includes the Children's Health Insurance Program, the Americans with Disabilities Act and creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Okay, I guess I'm feeling a little tingly.
You've probably heard that Barack Obama is the first Internet president. He puts his weekly radio address on the internet, and he was allowed to keep his Blackberry.
And even though he's a very busy man, he took time out of his busy day to send me an e-mail yesterday to tell me all about his economic recovery plan. I can tell he thinks a lot of me, because he addressed it to "Friend." Wow..Barack Obama is my friend! How awesome is that? Plus he thanked me for my resolve and support. How did he know I supported the $827 billion dollar plan? Is he psychic as well as good looking?
Apparently he didn't pick up on my feelings about a bailout for radio personalities--as far as I know it was NOT included in the legislation. Oh well...he's only been in office a month. I'll give him time.
In his e-mail, he told me that he's set up a couple of new websites. The first one, www.recovery.gov is going to let us know how every penny of that recovery money is spent.
The other lets us vent about the economic downturn. http://my.barackobama.com/yourstories.
I'm not sure if this whole economic bailout is going to work. But I'm hopeful.
And now that I have President Obama's e-mail address I'm going to forward him this cool chain e-mail I got that promises good things will happen if he forwards it to 20 friends. I figure he has a lot more friends than that...and let's face it, he's going to need a lot of luck to get this country back on track.
As Barack Obama is sworn into office, I'm sure he'll be overwhelmed with the magnitude of the challenges ahead. But I hope he also takes time to laugh. Washington is, after all a very funny place.
I wonder if he's laughing at a new photo has been discovered showing Barack Obama from the days before he was even a U.S. Senator..when he was on the campaign trail in Illinois. There never really was an apostrophe in his name (O'Bama), but that didn't stop him from taking part in a St. Patrick's Day Parade, where he joined a Lawn Mower Brigade and brandished a green plunger as a sceptre. (Also of note, he seems to be wearing a Blackberry several years before they were invented!)
Take a look at the photo here..then see if you can come up with any captions that are better than mine!
"Manly, yes, but I like it too!"
"If this doesn't work I'll use the foaming pipe snake to get rid of political corruption."
"En garde, Joe the Plumber. En garde!"
We know he likes clearing brush, but President Bush needs to do more than that to fill his time once he leaves the White House.
Let's go over the possibilities.
Scrapbooking. He could go buy some Martha Stewart supplies and put together a decorative compilation of all his accomplishments and successes. But I guess he'd need something to do the next day as well.
Stamp collecting. Although he might get a little irritated that he's not on any of them.
Crocheting. He's known for creating a web of lies..so this isn't much different.
Treasure hunting. He could buy one of those metal detectors..and once and for all find those weapons of mass destruction.
Gosh, I'm gonna miss that guy.
If you think those colorized "official" Barack Obama commemorative coins are stupid, I'm not sure what you're going to think of this gift idea.
Okay, I realize it's meant to be a gag gift. But come on. I think this borders on the downright rude!
What's next? A board game where we pick a hypo-allergenic dog for the First Daughters? Oversized Barack Obama ear muffs? Or worse yet --"Time for A Change" disposable diapers?Â
I guess I shouldn't be so upset. Maybe sales of that junk will help get us out of the economic garbage pail.
Madison's summer music festival season kicks off this weekend with Brat Fest at Willow Island, where there are more bands than you can shake a bratwurst at! Check out the Brat Fest website to plan your itinerary.
Next up is the Marquette...
John Fogerty is making the talk show rounds this week, stopping in to see David Letterman Tuesday and Wednesday, and the ladies of "The View" on Thursday.
He's promoting his new album, "Wrote a Song For Everyone" which comes out next Tuesday...
It's a miracle that both Jonathan and KItty wanted to hear Barry Manilow this morning. They were not alone. Plenty of Fanilow's called in to vote yes. One caller claimed to have seen Manilow in concert 25 times!
The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, it is another gorgeous Monday, fit for another great show at the Crystal Corner tonight.
Through locking ourselves in the barn on Irish Lane, tossing some ideas around, as well as a few choice beverages to...
Hey everybody, we were thrown for a loop by the twist this week, but were able to make one of our "oldie but a goldie" songs fit the mold.
We have a few songs that we have played consistently over the years, and we are very happy that we will be...
We just received word of what this weeks twist is, and...oh boy. We need to take our "signature song" and cut it to only 2:30 without going over. Amberstein does not simply play 2:30 versions of our songs...so this could be interesting.
Last...
In 1984, Rockwell rose to number 2 for 3 weeks in 1984 with "Somebody's Watching Me." The backup singer for the song was Michael Jackson. How did Rockwell get Jackson to help him? Well, Rockwell's real name is Kennedy William Gordy and he...
Have you heard the song "Rumble and Sway" yet on Triple M?
The singer sounds like a raspy blues dude who's definitely been around the block a few times....but surprisingly, Jamie N. Commons is only 23 years old!
He was born in England, but...
Madison's summer music festival season kicks off this weekend with Brat Fest at Willow Island, where there are more bands than you can shake a bratwurst at! Check out the Brat Fest website to plan your itinerary.
Next up is the Marquette...
John Fogerty is making the talk show rounds this week, stopping in to see David Letterman Tuesday and Wednesday, and the ladies of "The View" on Thursday.
He's promoting his new album, "Wrote a Song For Everyone" which comes out next Tuesday...
It's a miracle that both Jonathan and KItty wanted to hear Barry Manilow this morning. They were not alone. Plenty of Fanilow's called in to vote yes. One caller claimed to have seen Manilow in concert 25 times!
The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, it is another gorgeous Monday, fit for another great show at the Crystal Corner tonight.
Through locking ourselves in the barn on Irish Lane, tossing some ideas around, as well as a few choice beverages to...
Hey everybody, we were thrown for a loop by the twist this week, but were able to make one of our "oldie but a goldie" songs fit the mold.
We have a few songs that we have played consistently over the years, and we are very happy that we will be...
We just received word of what this weeks twist is, and...oh boy. We need to take our "signature song" and cut it to only 2:30 without going over. Amberstein does not simply play 2:30 versions of our songs...so this could be interesting.
Last...
In 1984, Rockwell rose to number 2 for 3 weeks in 1984 with "Somebody's Watching Me." The backup singer for the song was Michael Jackson. How did Rockwell get Jackson to help him? Well, Rockwell's real name is Kennedy William Gordy and he...
Have you heard the song "Rumble and Sway" yet on Triple M?
The singer sounds like a raspy blues dude who's definitely been around the block a few times....but surprisingly, Jamie N. Commons is only 23 years old!
He was born in England, but...
The passing of Senator Edward Kennedy yesterday got me to thinking.
Where's my Kennedy?
Growing up in a VERY Democratic, liberal household, I was always searching for a political candidate who inspired in me the kind of hope and confidence that John Kennedy and later Bobby Kennedy inspired in members of my family. I know my parents went to a rally for JFK and my mom got to shake hands with Jackie. I'm pretty sure my older brothers and sister thought Bobby Kennedy was pretty cool.
But they were gone long before I started forming my own opinions about politics.
So in 1980, when Jimmy Carter was running for re-election, I put my support behind Ted Kennedy in the Democratic party. Finally it was my chance! A Kennedy to call my very own! And I was old enough to vote (barely).
I even rode my bike over to UW-Stevens Point to listen to him speak at a rally. Sadly, the main thing I remember about that day is that he was a couple of hours time. This was my first experience with politician time..which is usually a time zone or two later than the one you're in.
I didn't get that tingly feeling so many people described after listening to either of Ted's older brothers. But he definitely had some cool ideas..his long list of legislative accomplishments includes the Children's Health Insurance Program, the Americans with Disabilities Act and creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Okay, I guess I'm feeling a little tingly.
What's next? A board game where we pick a hypo-allergenic dog for the First Daughters? Oversized Barack Obama ear muffs? Or worse yet --"Time for A Change" disposable diapers?Â
I guess I shouldn't be so upset. Maybe sales of that junk will help get us out of the economic garbage pail.
