Just how angry are Wisconsin voters?
The other night, New Guy went to a media event hosted by a group of Democrats.
There, someone pointed a finger in his face and hissed, "You're one of those liberal media!"
New Guy blinked in disbelief. "And...? Dude, you're at a democratic event!"
People are just angry.
They don't know why.
And they don't know who with.
Just sayin' folks...
I get enough politics/news/depression crap at work.
With the ugly recall election crap going on in Wisconsin now and a presidential election looming, I'm just gonna say I'm avoiding blogs that are more of the same.
I had to do this four years ago and lost a lot of blog friends.
But, I couldn't keep my own sanity by reading a steady diet of name-calling and finger pointing.
It wasn't even that I disagreed with people. I just could not stomach the anger.
So, do whatever you need/want to do.
It's a free country.
But, if you don't see me for a while, it's not personal. It's political.
Have fun!
I was telling News Chick about lunch the day after elections when the new local assemblyman and the defeated incumbent assemblyman both showed up at the bar where I was dining with several other people.
"That must have been awkward," she remarked.
"It kinda was."
"Was there a rumble? Like the Jets and the Sharks on West Side Story?"
"No. More like Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. They had a dance off."
"Nice."
The newschick and I were discussing what a political attack ad might say about each of us.
She figured there'd be something about the community garden where she works with at-risk children, and it would include the phrase "illegal child labor".
And for no reason whatsoever, I said the attack ad against me would accuse me of eating kittens for breakfast... in a bowl... with milk... and a fork.
::shudder::
It's official.
I've definitely heard too many political ads.
All the same, what would an attack ad against you say?
The only two politicians I really *want* to vote for next week are running against each other.
*sigh*
I am equally annoyed with politicians who will fully support something simply because their political party presented it as I am annoyed with politicians who will fully object to something simply because the opposing political party presented it.
I prefer the politician who follows his/her heart rather than his/her party.
I'm not referring to anything in particular.
I'm referring to everything in general.
Two weeks till spring elections.
Vote locally, vote wisely.
I had some emotional issues last year.
In an effort to eliminate a great deal of negativity from my life, I dumped a lot of the blogs I used to follow. With the presidential election looming, many of them set aside their usual posts and spent a great deal of time on their political opinions. Which they can do. Fine. It's a free country.
I thought the primaries were bad, but then came the declared candidates.
There was a lot of anger and finger pointing on both sides of the aisle. Name-calling, flat out lying.
I couldn't find a blog without an opinion (and an angry one) about one candidate or another.
And the media. (Yes. I did take many of those posts personally.)
So, I figured I'd stop reading the angriest blogs until November. Wait for some time to pass. Let folks cool off, get their heads back on. Get back to blogging about the things I started reading them for in the first place (like their kids, their crappy job, or how they dropped their earbuds in the toilet and after rinsing them off walked around for the rest of the day thinking "I'm a poopy-head").
Here we are a full year later. Every once in a while I peek at some of those old blogs just to see how they're doing.
Most of them are still crazy-drunk-screaming-on-the-street-corner angry.
So, I think I did the right thing for me in letting them go.
*sigh*
A few years ago, there was a bit of a stink when a city council member threw a pool party and, along with his friends and family, invited his fellow council members. A newspaper reporter, also invited, suddenly realized that the collection of council members formed a quorum and reported it.
***
At the farmer's market this weekend, I bumped into one of the newspaper reporters. As we chatted in the street, a news photographer joined us, and then the radio news lady and her dog.
When the city council member walked past, he commented, "Remember, if you form a media quorum, be sure to alert the council."
1) Clearly, half of the country does not agree with me.
2) Clearly, half of the country does not agree with you.
Proceed accordingly.
I cannot express the relief I feel to have that over with!
A great many things I am wishing for tonight.
But mostly, I am wishing the anger will now stop.
I voted this morning.
Filled out an absentee ballot so I don't have to stand in line next week.
(Small towns are fabulous! I was the only person at City Hall.)
So, I'm done.
The politicians can all stop talking to me now, right?
Political candidates' quotes that are taken out of context and presented as fact are intended to drive mindless sheep into action.
Pay attention to what you are being fed.
Don't be a flocking idiot.
Dear Santa:
I know it's early, not even Halloween yet, but God is really busy taking care of my friends' moms and dads right now, so I hope you can help me...
Please, Santa, can you make people not so mad about the election and the economy so they don't spew chunky on their blogs? Some of them are so smart, but it's difficult to hear what they're saying when they yell so loudly.
It makes me very sad that so many people are angry.
Sharing information is a really good thing, because an informed public is a wise public.
But, sharing acid anger helps no one. As violence begets more violence, anger only creates more anger.
Santa, I know it's their blog and they can put whatever they want on it, but friends should never discuss politics or religion. And you should never watch your Mexican food being prepared.
Can you help me, Santa?
There's already more anger and sadness in the world than I can bear.
I need a safe, happy place to be.
Amen.
It is becoming clear that it's time to dig out this old post about fair and balanced media coverage.
Please, read it before you write that letter to the editor. I'm trying to save you some embarrassment.
Also, to those who complain that "mainstream media" is missing important news events, please do me a favor and review how many "mainstream media" you consult... and which types. Some favor Republicans, some favor Democrats (and if you beg to differ, just think about how po'd you get with the way some of them nit-pick your candidate). The Daily Show, however, favors *comedy* by magnifying the truth to the point of ridicule... at least, it's funny until they focus on your candidate, of course.
The only way to get the "fair and balanced" coverage you want is to consult several sources and then average out the news you get. In fact, (as controversial as it seems) you could even go do your own research! *gasp*
And if your only source of news is independent, then hello Jerry.
First of all, to qualify the following rants, I took two Blogthing tests: "How Republican Are You?" and "How Democrat Are You?"
To be perfectly honest, I was surprised by my results.
Apparently, I am 17% Republican and 17% Democrat.
The way I see it, I am 66% neither.
So, I do not care how this Presidential race comes out because my chosen party (the Neither Party) is not represented.
***
I can't wait until this election is over because of the stupid media coverage.
Yes, I AM the media. So, I get this garbage pumped through my head 8 hours a day.
When the man on the street asked me what I thought of the drama of the day, I replied, "I think if you asked the other party, they'd have a perfectly good explanation."
"Oh, so you're one of those."
"No. I just know that who ever you ask, on either side, they'll have a viewpoint that benefits them."
Whatever the issue is, either side can and will take a hold of it and turn it so they look good.
It's called "spin", people.
Nothing that either side says means hill of beans because the other side can spin it.
Think about how you feel when unkind things are said about your candidate, and then how you feel when unkind things are said about the other guy. If what they say about your guy is all lies and what they say about the other guy is true... Hm...
I wish they'd stop the finger pointing and stop trying to tell me it's the gospel truth.
I don't believe any of them anymore.
***
Everyone talks pretty during election season. Listen to them all as you would listen to that sleeze at the bar trying to pick you up.
And think about the kind of person who'd agree to go home with it.
Besides, I prefer my world leaders to be able to speak in phrases that sound more meaningful than a bumper sticker.
***
Special note to The Media:
Unless they have some journalism degree or have actually been elected to some office (any office will do better than none at all, thank you), please quit letting celebrities talk about politics as if their opinion matters any more than mine.
Please. Just walk away.
(srsly)
***
Please... for the love of one nation under God, can I have a candidate who can tell me why I should vote for him without dragging his opponent into it?
Really.
If your product is good, then sell it.
If you don't look good unless you hold yourself up against the next guy, well, what's that say about you? And if you don't look good enough until you've thrown mud at him... please. Just go away.
Quit the comparisons.
It sucks when Coke and Pepsi do it. Double sucks when you do it.
***
I sure hope that when this election is over, everyone remembers who was driving the bus when it crashed, and they're smart enough not to cuss out the next president driving the tow truck when he has trouble pulling it out of the ditch.
If the next president can't pull this sh!t out of the crapper, just remember who threw the economy in the toilet and flushed it to begin with.
This is his/her inheritance, not his/her fault.
***
Playing the cup game just before an election shouldn't fool anyone.
But, it does.
And, it will.
Crap.
(If you have no idea what I'm talking about, well, they gotcha.)
***
I haven't decided whether or not to allow comments on this.
If I do, be aware that if your comment does not amuse me, I will delete it.
Carry on...
Because it is not funny, you will almost never read political crap on my blog. I say "almost never" because this little piece of venting is too close for my own comfort.
I know I'm not the most saavy political analyst, but I try not to advertise my own ignorance... unlike some.
You know what scares me?
Those who base voting choices
By reading some blogs
Blogs are not real news
Even linked to news websites
They're just opinion
News may be slanted
Sure. Research several sources
Instead of complain
Like seeing doctor
You seek second opinion
Till hear what you want
Don't get me started
On news/talk hosts. They only
Care about ratings
Does this make you mad?
It is just my opinion
You see how that works?
