Control Freaks

How interesting that in the midst of this contentious campaign--where Republicans seek to control women's bodies, voter identification, immigrant rights, and definitions of marriage, patriotism, and the Constitution itself--along comes a monster storm over which no one has control.  Will the control freaks take note?

Probably not.  But I wish Mitt and his minions would quit trying to impose their narrow view of America on those of us who don't fit their mold.

Time Out

I'm putting the election aside today and thinking instead about my yard.  Fall has arrived for sure, and earnest gardening has come to a close.  Finally, I can wind up my hose, which no matter how hard I try always drags through the yard, unsightly--a reminder of my gardening shortcomings.  So instead of "The Long and Winding Road" by the Beatles, we sing "The Long and Winding Hose":

The long and winding hose that leads to my door
Will never disappear
I've seen that hose before
It always leads me here
Leads me to my door.

Many times I've been at home and many times I've cried
Anyway you'll never know the many times I've tried
To wind this hose back up in a neat coil so flat
Just like my neighbors do, whose yards are always clear
Don't leave me standing here
Help me wind this up.

But still the hose resists any tries to get it right
You left it tangled up a long, long time ago
Don't keep me waiting here, put this hose away
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

And the Winner Is. . .

The final presidential debate this week gave us a look at both the professor and the student.  President Obama's tendency to lecture stood him well; you could follow him and take notes easily.  Governor Romney, on the other hand, played the part of the earnest, but mediocre student trying to remember the notes he so laboriously copied each day in class.  He sounded wooden and rote, as in this example: "Syria is Iran's only ally in the Arab world.  It's their route to the sea.  It's the route for them to arm Hezbollah in Lebanon, which threatens, of course, our ally, Israel."  B-?

Anyway, we give geopolitical awards this time:

The "We're Finally on the Map" Award: Mali, which received two Mitt mentions for its northern region having been taken over by Al Qaeda.

The "Huh? Could You Elaborate?" Award: Latin America, which according to Mitt, "is a huge opportunity for us--time zone, language opportunities."

The "Kick Us When We're Down" Award: Greece, for being the country you don't want to be.  Said Mitt, "[Businesses won't want to] invest in America if they think we're headed on the road to Greece."

The "Most Apt Metaphor" Award: Barack Obama, for saying, "Governor, the problem is. . . you've been all over the map."

The "Can We Talk About Something Else?" Award: Mitt Romney, for the following foreign affairs observations--"I like American cars," "Research is great," and "I love teachers."

"My little dogs. . .

. . .heartbeats at my feet."

- Edith Wharton

Lucy Ledbetter

Mitt Romney's debate comments about women in the work place went viral this week, especially his priceless metaphor of women in binders.  Our series--adapted from the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album--continues with a song based on "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."

Picture yourself as a talented woman
With briefcase in hand and MBA skills.
Mitt's office calls you, you answer quite slowly,
Is this where you want to end up?

Governor Romney, he says he wants gals,
And they can go home at 5,
'Cause hubby's waiting for dinner to eat,
And there's kids.

Lucy in a binder for Mitt
Lucy in a binder for Mitt
Lucy in a binder for Mitt
Ahhh.

Follow her down to the office in Boston
Where other gals sprang from a binder like her.
"Gosh, we found women to serve in my cabinet,"
The governor gushes aloud.

"I am for women as much as Barack,
They can have birth control, too.
Abortions, whatever, I'll say what I must
To win gals.

Lucy in a binder for Mitt
Lucy in a binder for Mitt
Lucy in a binder for Mitt
Ahhh.

The Ghost of Republicans Past

Though his name is rarely invoked these days, George Bush hovers over our politics and over our presidential campaign like a flitting Halloween ghost.  One of the questioners in last night's debate noted W's absence and posed a telling question to Mitt Romney: How are you different from our last Republican president?  Romney's answer rambled on--the times are different, he'd crack down on China, he'd balance the budget (how?)--but it was President Obama's response that brought the ghost to life.

Mitt Romney and George Bush peddle the same failed economic policies, Obama indicated, but they differ in social policy: "George Bush didn't propose turning Medicare into a voucher," Obama said.  "George Bush embraced comprehensive immigration reform.  He didn't call for self-deportation.  George Bush never suggested that we eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood."

Social policy often gets lost in this campaign's rhetoric, but it ought not to.  The current Republican party headed by Mitt Romney is so extreme that George Bush looks reasonable.  If undecided voters can't figure out which candidate is going to move the economy forward, then they should look at social policy.

The backward movement of Mitt Romney is clear. . . and scary.  It's not a place most of us want to go.

Eat, Pray, Martha

Several years ago my aunt gave me a subscription to one of Martha Stewart's magazines.  When the gift announcement arrived, I didn't know anything about the magazine or about Martha Stewart.  I thought maybe she was a religious figure.  Now, all these years later, I know she's a religious figure.

You see, even though that old subscription ended, we got a new one last year--this time, a freebie from a Stonyfield Yogurt contest.  The magazine, Martha Stewart Living, is filled with beautiful food, beautiful decor, and beautiful people--perfection, of a sort.  My favorite feature is called "Martha's Month," a one-page calendar that highlights Martha's daily activities.  Next month, for example, she will "Replace any expired spices" on November 2; "Polish silverware on November 20; "Stargaze with telescope" on November 27; and "Get blades sharpened on ice skates" on November 30.

Tell me, does anyone live like this?

Nowhere on her calendar does it ever say "Sort through piles of paper stacked throughout house" on November 6; "Water dying houseplants" on November 15; "Delete 200 emails" on November 21; or "Gather 10-year-old 35 mm film for developing" on November 28.  Only then could I relate.

Martha Stewart a religious figure?  In a way.  She's developed a set of precepts for living; they're clearly spelled out; and she tries to teach you how to live up to them.  And, like most religious precepts, they're impossible to follow!

Debatable Demeanor

The over-the-top reaction to Joe Biden's debate smile strikes me as silly and diversionary.  If you listened to what he said, he made a lot of sense.  With the Itsy-Bitsy Spider as our guide again this week, here's a toast to the Vice President:

Candidate Joe Biden he kept his smile bright,
That's 'cause he knew his views were in the right.
Passionate, committed, he made his case just fine
And he sat back in his chair and let his smile shine.

Water Wonders

The water lilies at Duke Gardens look like flying saucers

Some resemble fancy plates with red rims

This one reminds me of a heart

Rose-colored fans swirl nearby

 And hot pink blossoms keep the memory of summer alive.

And the Winner Is. . .

Given that the 3 main characters in last week's debate were all losers--Romney for lying, Obama for dithering, and Lehrer for missing in action--we turn elsewhere for winners:

Most apoplectic response: MSNBC's Chris Matthews, who let Obama have it (now if only the President would watch cable TV. . .).

Kindest (and greenest) response: Al Gore, for citing Denver's high altitude as possibly responsible for the President's weak performance.

Best analysis of Obama's Achilles' heel: Matt Bai in "Obama's Enthusiasm Gap"--an explication of the President's maddening passivity over the past 4 years.

Most understated headline: The New York Times for "Axelrod Says Obama Will Review Tape of Debate."

Most in-the-hot-seat: Vice President Biden, who's got no room for error on Thursday night.

Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda

I wonder what President Obama thought of his debate performance Wednesday night.  Perhaps the Beatles' song "I Should Have Known Better" ran through his mind the next morning:

I should have known better with a guy like him
That he could show up and not be so dim
But I lost
Hey, hey, hey
At a cost.

Oh, oh, I didn't realize how often Mitt would lie
Or that Jim Lehrer would sit back and sigh
But they did
I don't kid.

That when I came to the debate floor, oh
I should have made sure not to bore, oh
I should have shown Mitt to the door
Instead I wimped and that's for sure.

That's for sure
That's for sure
That's for sure.

Big Yawn

I fell asleep watching the presidential debate last night, missing about 20 minutes of tax talk.  While I was awake, I must have heard Barack Obama say "middle class" more than any other word and Mitt Romney say "business" more than any other word.  I guess we know where their priorities lie.

Did this debate advance anyone's understanding of the issues before us?  I can't imagine that it did.  Full of fact-challenged wonk, it left me bored and frustrated.  Perhaps some voters will feel more confident about Mitt Romney's candidacy--as he appeared more comfortable than he usually does--but if you were looking for a cogent presentation from either candidate, it wasn't there.

Let's see what the vice presidential hopefuls have to say next week.

Just Another Armed Robbery

One of the teenaged thugs who robbed my neighbor at gunpoint Friday morning hid his face behind a scarf.  The other one--the one who pointed the gun at her head--may or may not have concealed his face.  She can't remember all the details that greeted her that morning shortly after she arrived at work.

We don't hear much about the people who survive guns pointed at their heads day after day in America, but they're everywhere--at grocery stores, banks, quick stops, ATMs, just about any place where money changes hands.  Fortunately, they live to tell their stories.  But they're victims of terror, a home-grown terror that's allowed to flourish unchecked.  We spend all kinds of money and time and Congressional hearings on international terror--subjecting ourselves to wand searches and shoe removal at airports--while we allow practically anybody at home to buy a gun and carry it wherever he wants. 

If we can take on terrorists who hide in caves in Afghanistan, can't we take on terrorists who walk down our streets?  It's time to disarm these people and time for our presidential candidates to tell us how they're going to do it.