Proud to be a Democrat

I've been watching the Democratic convention during the past couple of days, and I've seen some new leaders in the party who make me especially proud to be a Democrat. John Edwards, Barack Obama, etc. I often feel frustrated that the voices of my generation aren't represented in politics, and its nice to see some youngish faces. If I could create a top 5 wish list platform for my ideal canidate it would be this(These are not the only thing I'd want the canidate to address, but rather some things I've heard no mention of from the Democrats or Republicans):

1) Give all Americans without health insurance the first $1000 to cover any medical expenses they incure during the year.
2) Pass legislation that would make it easier for employees to form unions if they wanted to.
3) While rebuilding Iraq and Afganistan, start an exchange program for all women in those countries who would like to study here and earn a college degree.
4) Raise and increase the number of Pell Grants and tuition assistance for college kids to stop sky-rocketing college costs.
5) *Strong* Support for civil unions and/or marriage.

This is enough political commentary until the election. I'm feeling decidedly anti-political (not non-political) these days as I've already gotten sick of the negativity in the campaign ads.
I'm going to stop reading political coverage because I don't believe John Kerry is an aloof, liberal elite who will never understand me, the average American. He seems like a very smart, well intentioned man who is who he is. I also don't believe that George Bush is an evil devil. I think Jeffery Dahmer is evil, Stalin was evil, Hitler was evil, and George Bush is average in every sense of the word.

My promise: Not another political mention until the election.

Outfoxed

Movie Review:

I saw "Outfoxed" on Sunday with hubby and a friend. For those of my 3 person audience who haven't heard of the flick, it's a documentary by Robert Greenwald about Fox News Channel. Overtly partisan, and pretty funny, I give it a one thumb up. However, for anyone who watches FNC with any regularity (which I do due to my dearest) none of the revelations in the movie were earth-shattering: Fox Hires only wimpy, no-name liberals to provide the "balance" on the show, they conduct selective reporting that only, and always, makes Democrats look bad, their conservative hosts shout down their guests if the guest get too assertive (or is making too good of a point), and they have a clear corporate, conservative message that hq expects all Fox employees to follow.

One of Greenwald's main problem with Fox is it's moniker "Fair and Balanced". I agree. Anyone who watches Fox knows that "Fair and Balanced" is ludicrous.

However, I veer from Greenwald's analysis that Fox is inherently evil and misleading the clueless masses. (If you believe Fox is reporting ALL news in a "FAIR AND BALANCED" way when the slant is soooooo obvious, then you're obviously a Republican who only wants your views reinforced.) I agree with hubby Matt when he said Fox is only fufilling a consumer demand. If people want to watch a conservative network, someone has a right to make money off that demand. My problem with Fox is that it should just change it's name to "The Republican News Network". My bet is that they would lose 0% of their current audience.

Of course changing the Fox slogan would take away the pleasure Mr. Murdoch derives from mocking other news organizations and Democrats. "Fair and Balanced" news is obviously popular with a segment of the population, and that the news is really biased, conservative opinion with a smattering of journalism is Mr. Murdoch's big middle finger to liberals, Democrats, and the imaginary "elite media."

(Question for Mr. Murdoch: Are you part of the "elite media" if you are bazillionaire using your business holdings as megahorn for your personal views?)

I think a Republican News Network would be great for all the Republicans who feel unserved by the current news outlets. Either way, I'll just continue to skip right on by channel 63 when it's my turn to watch the news.

Hip Hip Hooray

I had an awesome 4th of July. Went out to my Uncle's in WV and had a real fantastic time. For about 20 surreal minutes around 9:00 pm, my dad and I were tossing the frisbee in the front yard while surrounded by lights! There was distant lightening in the sky, a gigantic bonfire, bottle rockets and fireworks flashing and fizzling, fireflies darting in and out, and the whole time we had a sound track of great music in the background. It's moments like that that make life so friggin great.


I was *perfectly* happy.