The Perfect Snapshot of Agreeing to Disagree

I absolutely love Jon Stewart for more reason than I can name here. However, one reason is because he proves (once again in this video) that he can passionately disagree with someone as he does with Mike Huckabee but still manage a calm discussion. It is because he is so smart and confident that he doesn't have to scream and yell to make a point. The best line in the interview is when Jon Stewart asks Mike Huckabee when he made the decision to be hetrosexual - absolutely classic!

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Gov. Mike Huckabee

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Keith Olberman's Special Comment on Prop 8

Victory Party in Vegas

There are so many reasons that I am overjoyed Barack Obama will be our next President. Besides the obvious points...of why I believe he will be a great President it’s very exciting to see millions of people volunteering and voting in a country that has often got in its own way of prosperity because of cynicism and skepticism. Plus, just the inclusionary movement Barack Obama created in itself can bring many positive results. Once people participate in the process they are more likely to care about staying involved in the solution. And, working with and celebrating along side such an incredibly diverse group of people across every ethic and socioeconomic background was a great source of pride for me. Looking forward to brighter days ahead!

November 5th, 2008

Like any life experience, it's almost impossible to articulate a feeling without living it. But, I thought this video really represented how I felt as I traveled, canvassed and interacted with so many other volunteers across the country. I'm amazed and proud and maybe even a bit stunned when I think of the millions of people that volunteered and voted in a country that has often got in its own way of prosperity because of cynicism and skepticism.

Here Comes The Sun - INDIVO
Uploaded by INDIVO

November 4th, 2008

I've been so busy between the Race for the Rescues, the election and trying to fit in my real job in between I haven't added anything to this blog in weeks. And, here I am in Vegas....today is the big day. It's not an over statement to say that most of the country realizes this is an incredibly historic day. I MISS TIM RUSSERT!! I woke up before dawn with more anxiety than excitment and I hope to go to bed tonight knowing without a shadow of a doubt that Barack Obama won the election for President of the United States of America....Glad I'm here to help Nevada go blue but miss my girls and looking forward to going home tomorrow a happy camper.

Hey Sarah Palin

Joe Scarborough (My Favorite Republican) on Colbert Report

6 minutes but the last line is theeee best!

Watch "Gender Auditors" and pledge to vote "NO on Prop 8"

When it comes to "privacy" arguments for protecting marriage equality, we couldn't have said it better than the arch-conservative Orange County Register:

"In an ideal world, the state would have little or no role in defining or regulating so intimate a relationship as marriage. However, the state has inserted itself into all too many aspects of our private lives. Given that it has done so, it is only fair that it afford equal protection to all who choose to make loving lifelong commitments to one another. We recommend a 'no' vote on Prop. 8."

Now, here's the crucial piece to the Prop 8 puzzle.

There's a little problem that we need your help to fix ASAP. Voters are confused about Prop 8, perhaps understandably. Intuitively wanting to "support" marriage equality, they assume that a "Yes" vote is the right vote. Wrong.

Here, Ellen DeGeneres does a better job of explaining it. And she's a lot funnier than I am:

The wording of Prop 8 is tricky. It's like if someone asked you, "You don't want dessert, right?" But you do want dessert so you say, "Yes," which really means you don't want dessert. And if you say, "No," which means you do want dessert -- it sounds like you don't. Either way, you don't get what you want. See -- confusing. Just like Prop. 8.

So, in case I haven't made myself clear, I'm FOR gay marriage. And in order to protect that right -- please VOTE NO on Proposition 8. And now that you're informed, spread the word. I'm begging you. I can't return the wedding gifts -- I love my new toaster.

Race for the Rescues

The euthanasia rate has gone up 28% at Los Angeles County animal shelters! This increase is attributed to people losing their homes due to the mortgage crisis. Please help stop this senseless killing of thousands of dogs and cats! Here's how you can help:

Our 3rd annual 5K fund raiser (Race for the Rescues) will be at the Rose Bowl on 10/26.
1) Join us and run/walk the 5k
2) Pull out your credit card & make a donation by going to www.racefortherescues.org
Click Sponsor Participant and put my name in Bonnie Glushon
OR you can help us obtain anything from our wish list below

Race For The Rescue Wish List
(we need all these things to have a successful event!)
*Sponsors:
We need corporate sponsors between ($1,000-$10,000)
*Donated Product:
We need food and water for 1000 participants
Water
Power Bars
Fruit

*Vendors:
We are selling 10-12 vendor booths for $400 (includes 10x10 booth, six foot table, 2 chairs & Pasadena Business License for the day.

*Celebrities
We need celebs for PSAs, Radio Interviews, to attend the race and speak for the animals!

*Participants
Get people to sign up via Internet, Viral Marketing, forming a street team, getting businesses to start teams, friends & family, children’s race.

*Silent Auction
Silent auction items donated

Cooper Needs a Forever Home

This sweet, amazing boy has been waiting so patiently for his forever home. Please contact info@therescuetrain.org

McCain's Wondering Eye

Gwen Ifill on Meet the Press

Bush in 2000, Palin in 2008

Another A+ Performance from Tina Fey!

Sarah Palin & Miss South Carolina/Sarah Palin & Katie Couric

In McCain's Own Words

Vote by Mail NOW in Many States

As a California resident, voting by mail with an absentee ballot is one of the easiest and most convenient ways of making your voice heard in this election.

Anyone registered to vote may apply for an absentee ballot. Applications to vote by absentee ballot must be received by Tuesday, October 28th

www.voteforchamge.com

It's safe, quick, and reliable. But most importantly, it allows you to vote early from the comfort of your own home, freeing you up to volunteer for the campaign on Election Day, November 4th.

Please note that you will need to print and sign your application, so give yourself time to send in your application so that it is received by October 28th.

Sarah Silverman's HILARIOUS Obama Video

The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.

In essence, Sarah Silverman is urging Jewish grandchildren everywhere to fly to Florida and convince their grandparents to vote for Obama. This is part of a larger, real, effort called "The Great Schlep,".

Note: as with all things Sarah Silverman, this is incredibly non-PC, so easily offended beware.

Fox News Living up to it's AKA Faux News

Boy am I glad I don't count on Fox News to make my business and financial decisions!!

Are You Registered to Vote? Are You Sure?

There's an easy way check your status to make sure you are registered to vote and if not get registered. Here's a link to a one-stop voter registration site, VoteForChange.com, lets you do it all: check your registration status, register to vote, request an absentee ballot, and find your early voting site or polling location.

Take a minute today to check out VoteForChange.com, and encourage your friends and family to do the same:

Easy Link to Absentee Vote

Just enter you zip code, and you get complete information on what you have to do to register to vote absentee. This works for every state in the country

Why John McCain can NOT Become our President

This is really intense and hard to watch at times but honest and necessary to show

I Have ReGained My HOPE!!!! This is Awesome!!

Anti-Palin Rally in Alaska

I admit the last few weeks have made me angry, cranky, tense and just generally not the most fun person to be around. After watching this I feel sooooooooooo much better! Yes Virginia there are other sane people out there!

SNL Palin and Clinton

Lot's of Info Streaming in From my Anti Palin Friends

Too many lists, too many people have been emailing me with Anti Palin info that I can't keep track of who I need to forward what to. Lot's of very, very passionate people out there! Rather than try and remember who I should forward info to I'm just going to list links and info I receive here.

Not all Alasakan women are on the palin train! http://mudflats.wordpress.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Delma K:
I'm a little confused. Let me see if I
have this straight.....

If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."
If you grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, it's a quintessential American story.

If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic secret Muslim.
If you name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

If you graduate from Harvard law School you are unstable.
If you attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while
sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left
your disfigured wife after a serious car accident and married the heiress
the next month, you're a Christian.

If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society. If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.

If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's values.

If you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no
college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is xtremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friends, compatriots, fellow-lamenters,

We are writing to you because of the fury and dread we have felt since the announcement of Sarah Palin as the Vice-Presidential candidate for the Republican Party. We believe that this terrible decision has surpassed mere partisanship, and that it is a dangerous farce on the part of a pandering and rudderless Presidential candidate that has a real possibility of becoming fact.

Perhaps like us, as American women, you share the fear of what Ms. Palin and her professed beliefs and proven record could lead to for ourselves and for our present or future daughters. To date, she is against sex education, birth control, the pro-choice platform, environmental protection, alternative energy development, freedom of speech (as mayor she wanted to ban books and attempted to fire the librarian who stood against her), gun control, the sepa ration of church and state, and polar bears. To say nothing of her complete lack of real preparation to become the second-most-powerful person on the planet.

We want to clarify that we are not against Sarah Palin as a woman, a mother, or, for that matter, a parent of a pregnant teenager, but solely as a rash, incompetent, and all together devastating choice for Vice President. Ms. Palin's political views are in every way a slap in the face to the accomplishments that our mothers and grandmothers and great-grandmothers so fiercely fought for, and that we've so demonstrably benefited from.

First and foremost, Ms. Palin does not represent us. She does not demonstrate or uphold our interests as American women. It is presumed that the inclusion of a woman on the Republican ticket could win over women voters. We want to disagree, publicly.

Therefore, we invite you to reply here with a short, succinct message about why you, as a woman living in this country, do not support this candidate as second-in-command for our nation. Please include your name (last initial is fine), age, and place of residence. email to:womensaynopalin@gmail.com

We will post your responses on a blog called "Women Against Sarah Palin," which we intend to publicize as widely as possible. Please send us your reply at your earliest convenience the greater the volume of responses we receive, the stronger our message will be.

Quinn Latimer and Lyra Kilston
New York, NY
womensaynopalin@gmail.com

**PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY! If you send this to 20 women in the next hour, you could be blessed with a country that takes your concerns seriously. Stranger things have happened.

Forget McCain, Palin is Bush's Identical Twin

As I read this article in the NY Times I just kept thinking that you could easily substatute George Bush's name for Sarah Palin's. You couldn't make this stuff up!

Sometimes You Simply Can't Take the High Road

In the last few weeks the McCain campaign has come out with a deluge of not just negative ads but they have straight out lied...not even shading truth but very simply saying - I can't win this election on my own merits so I'll just be a bully to my opponent.

Sometimes you take the high road and sometimes you need to fight back. When I was a child a kid down the street hit me and threw my sweater in the gutter. I ran home crying and Inez, our housekeeper and my other mother told me I needed to go and hit that boy back. When I explained my parents said that I shouldn't do that she said your parents aren't here and I am now go hit that kid back. I did...and he never bothered me again. In life and in politics you gotta know when to fight back...it's time to stand up and fight back!

And They Think Charlie Gibson was Hard on Sarah Palin!

Bill O'Reilly goes on the attack and Barack responds brilliantly! Click on the link above to see the clips from the interview. Now, let's see Bill interview Sarah Palin - never gonna happen....he might not be deferential enough or respectful as the McCain campaign has complained the media has not been with her. Seriously, Charlie Gibson was too hard on her? What do they think that Ahmadinejad and Putin are going to invite her for tea?

Maureen the MARVELOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!

By MAUREEN DOWD
Published: September 9, 2008
The rain in Spain stays mainly in the Arctic plain ...

I hope John McCain doesn’t throw his slippers at Sarah Palin’s head or get as acerbic as Henry Higgins did with Eliza Doolittle when she did not learn quickly enough. McCain’s Pygmalion has to be careful, because his Galatea might be armed with more than a sharp tongue.

For the first time in American history, we have a “My Fair Lady” moment, as teams of experts bustle around the most famous woman in politics, intensely coaching her for her big moment at the ball — her first unscripted interview here this week with ABC News’s Charlie Gibson.

Eliza, by George, got it and brought off the coup of passing herself off as a Hungarian princess rather than a Covent Garden flower seller. Sarah’s challenge is far tougher, and that’s why she’s pulling the political equivalent of an all-nighter. She doesn’t have to pass herself off as a different class or change her voice or be more highfalutin. The McCain campaign is reveling in its anti-intellectual tenor.

Sarah, who is now so renowned that she is known merely by one name and has a name ID of 90 percent, has to be a Kmart mom who appeals to Kmart moms and dads. She’s already shown that she can shoot the pig, put lipstick on it, bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan. Now all she has to do is also prove that she can be the leader of the free world on a moment’s notice, and field dress Putin as adeptly as she can a moose.

After devilishly mocking Obama — and successfully getting into his head — with ads about how he was just a frothy celebrity, like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, it turns out all the McCain camp wanted was an Obama of its own. Now that they have the electric Palin, they’ve stopped arguing that celebrity is bad. All they do is worship at her cult of celebrity. As Rick Davis, a top McCain adviser, said: “This election is not about issues. This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates.”

Wasilla will be crawling with four groups — ABC staffers, frantically getting ready for the big showdown; McCain staffers, frantically tutoring Palin for the big showdown; McCain vetters, who are belatedly doing their job checking to see if Palin is a qualified White House contender and doing their best to shut down Troopergate and assembling a “truth squad” posse of Palinistas to rebut any criticism and push back any prying reporters; and journalists — from Sydney to Washington — who are here to draw back the curtain on the shiny reformer image that the McCain camp has conjured for their political ingénue and see what’s behind it.

Gibson has his work cut out for him. His problem isn’t coming up with a list of questions, but finding time to drill deeply enough into all the unknown territory of her life. It’s a task that dwarfs the drilling job the oil companies are doing on Alaska’s North Slope.

In the end, none of it may matter, since Palin has rocketed in the polls, drawing women and men with her vapid — if vivacious and visceral — scripted cheerleading. But if you’re reading this, Charlie, we want to know everything, including:

What kind of budget-cutter makes a show of getting rid of the state plane, then turns around and bills taxpayers for the travel of her husband and kids between Juneau and Wasilla and sticks the state with a per-diem tab to stay in her own home?

Why was Sarah for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against the Bridge to Nowhere, and why was she for earmarks before she was against them? And doesn’t all this make her just as big a flip-flopper as John Kerry?

What kind of fiscal conservative raises taxes and increases budgets in both her jobs — as mayor and as governor?

When the phone rings at 3 a.m., will she call the Wasilla Assembly of God congregation and ask them to pray on a response, as she asked them to pray for a natural gas pipeline?

Does she really think Adam, Eve, Satan and the dinosaurs mingled on the earth 5,000 years ago?

Why put out a press release about her teenage daughter’s pregnancy and then spend the next few days attacking the press for covering that press release?

As Troopergate unfolds here — an inquiry into whether Palin inappropriately fired the commissioner of public safety for refusing to fire her ex-brother-in-law — it raises this question: Who else is on her enemies list and what might she do with the F.B.I.?

Does she want a federal ban on trans fat in restaurants and a ban on abortion and Harry Potter? And which books exactly would have landed on the literature bonfire if she had had her way with that Wasilla librarian?

Just how is it that Fannie and Freddie have cost taxpayers money (since they haven’t yet)?

Does she talk in tongues or just eat caribou tongues?

What does she have against polar bears?

It's 2000 and 2004 all over again......

I am so fricken stressed out, I can't believe my ears....it's like watching a terrible car crash about to happen and you can't do anything about it. I'm trying to stay optimistic and a lot can happen between now and November 4th but as Bill Maher always says "the rebublicans can't run a country but they run brilliant campaigns" URGH!!!

From the L.A. Times

A Palin double standard
The McCain campaign is insisting on deference in the questioning of the vice presidential candidate.
Tim Rutten
September 10, 2008
Connoisseurs of campaign tactics tend to be a pretty cynical bunch, so they'll doubtless find much to admire in the adroit way Sen. John McCain's camp has handled Sarah Palin since she came aboard the ticket. Voters, who tend to nourish an inconvenient hunger for information, may be less impressed. One suspects that sooner rather than later, some will begin to wonder why the GOP is insisting that Palin is entitled to be treated according to a double standard.

McCain's campaign manager, Rick Davis, deserved full marks for chutzpah, for example, when he told Fox News' Chris Wallace that Palin would not answer reporters' questions "until the point in time when she'll be treated with respect and deference."

Deference?

Respect and courtesy, maybe. Everybody is entitled to those -- including candidates for office -- and journalists seldom look worse than when they forget that. But deference? The president does not require deference from his media interlocutors, but the ambitious governor of Alaska does?

Palin, Davis said, "will do interviews, but she'll do them on the terms and conditions" dictated by McCain's campaign -- which is to say, according to a standard that applies to no other candidate for office anywhere in the country. (ABC's Charles Gibson will conduct the first Palin interview Thursday; it will be interesting to see whether he agrees to preconditions.)

The McCain campaign's insistence on imposing a double standard for Palin is nowhere clearer than in the demand, voiced by many of the candidate's surrogates, that her religious affiliations and their implications be placed off-limits. The GOP was on firmer ground when it made a similar demand with regard to her children, though it's safe to say that if Sen. Barack Obama had appeared in Denver with his unmarried pregnant daughter and the father of her child, the religious right's outraged screams still would be echoing in the nation's ear.

Palin's religious convictions should be open to inquiry, not least because the McCain campaign so obviously welcomes the support of evangelicals who support the ticket because Palin believes as they do. More important, Obama has been held to answer -- and rightly so -- for his connection to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and the pastor's intemperate views on everything from race to 9/11. Obama was forced to give a speech disassociating himself from Wright and finally to leave Wright's church.

Nobody seriously questioned the right of the media -- or, for that matter, the Illinois senator's political opponents -- to ask whether Obama agreed with what was being preached in the church he'd chosen to join. Similarly, no one turned a hair when Joe Biden was asked on national TV when he, as a Roman Catholic, believed life began. McCain has been asked the same question. Palin, apparently, operates in a parallel political universe -- or at least McCain's handlers would like to see that she does.

Less than a month ago, Palin sat in the pews at the Wasilla Bible Church, to which she and her family belong, and listened to a sermon by David Brickner, who heads Jews for Jesus, a group cited by the Anti-Defamation League for its "aggressive and deceptive" proselytizing of Jews. Brickner said that Arab terrorism against the state of Israel was an expression of God's judgment on the Jewish people for their rejection of Christ. After Brickner concluded his remarks, a special collection was taken up to support the sect's activities.

A spokesman for the McCain campaign said Palin does not agree with Brickner's views, but somehow it's the kind of question a candidate ought to be able to answer for herself. Voters might also like to know whether Palin supports, as does her church, an upcoming conference that promises to change gays and lesbians into heterosexuals through the power of prayer. That conference, by the way, is being put on by James Dobson's Focus on the Family, one of the national evangelical organizations that discovered a sudden enthusiasm for the GOP ticket when Palin joined.

Ingenious though it may be tactically, it's hard to imagine the Palin double standard enduring into the fall. Campaign connoisseurs not withstanding, politics isn't a sport, though it has at least one thing in common with the boxing ring -- you can run, but you can't hide.

As Always...Jon Stewart Says it Best

The Republican convention put me over the edge. I've been so angry after listening to the 3 day bash Barack fest. Everyone's entitled to their own opinions and perspectives but the hypocrisy is seismic! I've been traveling and haven't been able to take the time to pull together the facts and details to draft a comment for my blog. Fortunately I don't need to now.....here's Jon!

Obama Chooses Biden as Running Mate

I'm SO excited!!! I've been a fan of his for years and he was my 1st choice for Barack to pick. How amazing that for the 1st time in my life I am truly and sincerely supporting candidates that I believe in (as much as one can "believe" in a politician.)

Oh No! Say it isn't so! Rachel Maddow will replace Dan Abrams as host of the 9PM hour on MSNBC

Rachel Maddow Replacing Dan Abrams On MSNBC Effective Immediately - Oh No!! To be clear, I absolutely love and admire Rachel and not a question MSNBC made a good decision to give her "a" spot of her own....just not Dan's.

Over 2100 comments so far on Huffington Post almost all positive about Rachel and a smaller majority agreeing that Dan's show should be kept on the air. As I read all of the comments I wondered and hoped Rachel and Dan have thicker skin than I do. My 1st instinct is to defend them when someone says something offensive but then I realize it's a pointless act. Just like the hateful comments some say about Barack that make me crazy I have to simply ignore. This is like asking a lion to not protect her cub, totally against the grain of my DNA.

Dan's sense of humor, humility and professionalism propelled him as he magnificently navigated his way through his last show. Not an easy task but certainly not a surprise that he manuvered this so well. The guy's a class act!

I've been thinking I need to reduce my time online and watching the news anyway. Seems like a perfect time to attack the pile of books I’ve been wanting to read and make some time for all of the things on my "to do" list. That is, right after the convention!

Hopefully MSNBC will come around quickly and get Dan back on his own show.

Thank You, Mr. President

I saw Rory Kennedy interviewed on MSNBC and can't wait to watch this! Click the link above to see schedule of airings

A legend in political reporting, Helen Thomas has covered every president since John F. Kennedy, earning the nickname "First Lady of the Press." Now in her 80s, the venerable journalist sits down to review her life and career in depth for the first time, engaging in a one-on-one interview with award-winning director Rory Kennedy, when THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT: HELEN THOMAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE

Presented during an election season that finds the press playing a critical role in the future of the nation, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT: HELEN THOMAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE traces the reporter's journey from her modest beginnings as the daughter of illiterate immigrants to her status as fearless journalist who stands up to the most powerful men in the world. Reflecting on her storied career, Thomas offers illuminating insights into the distinct personalities and foibles of the presidents she has covered, and remembers some of the scandals that have rocked the White House over the years.

The fact that Rory Kennedy, niece of John F. Kennedy, directed the film and interviewed Thomas seems particularly appropriate, given the fact that JFK was the first president Thomas covered (and was one she greatly revered). Their conversation is supplemented by archival clips of Thomas in action, as well as photos.

For more than six decades, Thomas has held a front row seat at White House press conferences, covering nine presidents. "I think that presidents deserve to be questioned, perhaps irreverently, to bring them down a size," Thomas says of her own role in the White House Press Corps, believing strongly that the White House press conference is the only forum where a president can be questioned on a regular basis and held accountable for his actions.

When she started working in Washington, Helen Thomas was one of a handful of women in the White House Press Corps. She joined United Press International (UPI) in 1943, and began covering presidents in 1960. While the tradition of opening and closing a news conference had been around since the Roosevelt era, Thomas became the first woman to both open a news conference with the first question and conclude the session with "Thank you, Mr. President," making the practice her signature. She recalls the first press conference where she used the closing, saying, "I could see President Kennedy was struggling. So, finally, I got up, and I said, 'Thank you, Mr. President.'...I got him off the hook."

Although Thomas admits she is sometimes star-struck, she adds, "I know I'm not a friend to these people." When Richard Nixon publicly congratulated her for being appointed the first female chief of UPI, instead of asking something uncontroversial, Thomas posed a hard-hitting question, "even after the President was so nice to me."

While THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT focuses primarily on Thomas's illustrious career as a journalist, it also offers glimpses of her life outside work. Born in 1920 to Syrian émigrés who could not read or write, Thomas says her mother and father instilled a strong sense of justice in her. When she saw her first byline in her high school paper, she knew she was hooked for life, and thought, "This is it." At the time, Thomas never imagined she would cover the White House, but she says she always wanted "to cover history and not fires in Detroit."

Idolized by many and despised by some, Thomas is a determined, steadfast journalist who maintains the utmost respect for the office of the presidency, even while knowing it is her job to ask the tough questions. After more than six decades of presiding over the White House Press Corps, she remains true to her journalistic ideals, noting, "If we don't ask the questions, then they won't get asked."

Players' field of dreams is Wrigley

The first minor league game played in Wrigley field and my nephew Jason pitched!


Jason Glushon was the star pitcher of the night for the Cougars, tossing three innings in relief of starter Jamie Richmond.

He allowed two hits and struck out four, but will be the pitcher of record when the game resumes after the Chiefs tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Luis Flores.

Nonetheless, he gave the bullpen a much-needed rest -- for now at least -- with Richmond lasting just 4 1/3 innings before being lifted.

"He went out and threw his pitches and showed a lot of confidence," Nieckula said. "He is a big part of our success in this game."

Dexter Returns September 28th

If you haven't watched Dexter you've missed some absolutely brilliant TV! Even you TV snobs will get hooked on this twisted, provocative and thought provoking tale unlike anything you've ever seen before.

Extended trailer for Bill Maher's documentary 'Religulous'.

According to Maher, the title of the film is derived from the words "religion" and "ridiculous," implying the satirical nature of the documentary that is meant to mock the concept of organized religion and the problems it brings. It follows Maher as he travels around the globe interviewing people about God and religion.

It will be released on October 3rd, 2008

[from trailer]
Bill Maher: Why doesn't he just obliterate the devil and therefor get rid of evil in the world. Fake Jesus: He will. Bill Maher: He will? Fake Jesus: Yeah, it's coming. Bill Maher: What's he waiting for?

[from trailer]
George W. Bush: I believe that God wants everybody to be free. That's what I believe. And that's uh, been part of my... foreign policy.

[from trailer]
Bill Maher: You're a senator. It worries me that people are running my country who believe in a talking snake. Senator: You don't have to pass an IQ test to be in the senate though. He he!


I can't wait to see this!

Jon Stewart Show - Ed Helms Investigating Gay Marriage

Meet the press - Tim Russert Tribute

I wonder if he knew how extraordinary we thought he was? Thousands probably tens of thousands of strangers, acquaintances, colleagues and friends missing him, missing his perspectives. Somehow, although I never knew the man, I just think he would be surprised by the outpouring of emotion and tears from so many strangers...maybe even a bit embarrassed.


Watching Barack Obama speak in Berlin today I couldn't help but think of Tim and what he would have to say about it. Most of us would like to believe we will leave a positive imprint on the world. Few leave a hole so big it simply can't be filled. Tim did. No one can fill his shoes. Whoever gets recruited to carry on Meet the Press will have to put on a new pair and step out to pave a new path.


A short video of excerpts from a select few interviews as shown on Meet the Press the Sunday after he passed away.

Russert the Lawyer versus David Duke

I had heard about this interview but hadn't seen it until Dan Abrams ran it on his show. It shows Tim at his best

Why I could never vote for John McCain

I've never really liked to be part of a group or labeled in a way that would seemingly define my identity. For that reason I've never referred to myself as a Democrat. Instead, when asked, my reply was always "fiscally conservative and socially liberal". Putting aside my feelings and enthusiasm about Barack Obama I could never vote for John McCain for the following reasons:
1) Isn't one dense, narrow minded, inarticulate President enough? What is it with middle America that sees education, curiosity and a progressive open-minded view a negative thing? Case in point, Bush famously referred to the "Internets" clueless and not even embarrassed after being corrected it's not plural. Now we have McCain quoted from an interview with the NY Times:

He said, ruefully, that he had not mastered how to use the Internet and relied on his wife and aides like Mark Salter, a senior adviser, and Brooke Buchanan, his press secretary, to get him online. “They go on for me,” he said. “I am learning to get online myself, and I will have that down fairly soon, getting on myself. I don’t expect to be a great communicator, I don’t expect to set up my own blog, but I am becoming computer literate to the point where I can get the information that I need.”


Please tell me, how hard is it to "get on the Internet"? Is it the 1st click or the 2nd one that's so complicated?

As the interview continued Mr. McCain said he did not use a BlackBerry, though he regularly reads messages on those of his aides. “I don’t e-mail, I’ve never felt the particular need to e-mail,” Mr. McCain said.


Maybe it's just me but I don't want any elected official let alone President stuck in the previous century. I wonder if he's still renting video's saying "who needs those "newfangled DVDS"?

2)I understand that there are Evangelical Christians that don't believe in evolution and they are entitled to believe whatever they want. But last I heard there was supposed to be a separation of church and state. Those on the far right have been using all of their leverage to push their beliefs on the rest of us across many issues. One being teaching evolution as a "concept" rather than a science and Intelligent Design as another option to be considered. I'm sorry but you learn science in school and religion must be saved for the home and place of worship. In this same interview, John McCain declined to take a specific position when asked whether only evolution should be taught in public schools. “It’s up to the school boards,” he said. “That’s why we have local control over education.” Mr. McCain has said he believes in evolution.

3)The right wing needs to stay out of peoples bedrooms. Their fear of anything they don't understand and certainly anything that relates to sex is quite telling. Bill Maher says that Republicans are sexually repressed and that's why so many vote one way while hiding their real life sexuality behind their rhetoric and wives backs. Why is Gay marriage a threat to heterosexuals? Why is it a problem for Gay people to adopt? Why is it ok to execute a living breathing person but it's not ok eliminate a group of cells that could, someday become a living breathing person? John McCain wants to appoint Supreme Court Justices to overturn Roe V Wade, he is against Gay marriage and adoption. Strike 1, strike 2, strike 3 yerrrrrrrrrr out!


As a side note, my girlfriend Brenda teased me on how picky I am when it comes to dating and definitively stated "you would never date a Republican!" That's simply not true, however I would have a problem understanding and relating to anyone that had the opposite point of view on these topics. We did agree however, that I couldn't date anyone that didn't know the difference between their and there :-)

No Senator McCain, Jokes About Killing Iranians isn't Funny

First it was his rendition of "bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" sung to the tune of the Beach Boys Barbara Ann and now it's

Missing Tim Russert

I'm traveling and stuck in a hotel without MSNBC. The bed is great, the sheets are soft & I have a lovely view BUT NO MSNBC!! Thank God for the Internet and video! After a few laughs with Dan Abrams and Rachel Maddow I couldn't move on without checking in on Tim and was so happy to find these videos's from his memorial that I watched many times over and over again that weekend after he passed away. If you don't know already what an amazing man he was, you will after watching these.

Mike Barnicle


Brian Williams

What do Veterans think of McCain?

Ringo versus Larry King - Ringo won!

McCain, Too Slow to Respond & Then Responds Wrong

McCain's Straight Talk Express hit an uncomfortable road block yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reports:

While John McCain often embodies an anything-goes attitude when talking to reporters, it doesn't mean some subjects can't make him sweat--say, birth control.

A female Los Angeles Times reporter inquired today about comments made earlier this week by McCain campaign adviser Carly Fiorina, the former head of Hewlett Packard.

At a breakfast with reporters, Fiorina suggested that individuals-and women in particular-be given more flexibility to determine what their health insurance plans should cover. "There are many health insurance plans that will cover Viagra but won't cover birth-control medication. Those women would like a choice," she observed.

When McCain was asked for his position on the issue, he said--with a nervous laugh-"I certainly do not want to discuss that issue."


McCain twice voted against measures that would have required insurance companies to cover birth control -- in 2003 and 2005.

The Republican said Wednesday that he did not recall those votes. "It's something that I had not thought much about," he added.

Bill Maher reminding us why people buy Hummer's

Some of my Clapton Fav's that aren't big hits

RIP George Carlin

The Famous 7 words you can't say on TV

George Carlin expalins the difference between Baseball & Football

'Overpowering and sudden loss'

I am devastated at the loss of Tim Russert. He was such an amazing man and I admired tremendously. He was authentic, honest, brilliant and while he may have had to ask a question over and over and over until he got an answer, he never did it with malice, hostility or simply to be provocative. His questions were thoughtful & often more interesting than his guests answers and the enormous passion for his work, love of his family and incredible amount of homework invested was evident. He possessed all of the traits that I value and respect and he will be missed by many.

Barack Obama & Michele Obama Fist Bump

And what Fox News is calling the terrorist bump

Obama Wins Democratic Nomination: Round-Up Of Reactions

A round-up of the reaction to Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary with comments from Andrew Sullivan, The Atlantic (a man that in 2000 was a passionate Bush supporter making his support of Barack that much sweeter)and assorted others perspectives on this momentous night!

This is the greatest political upset maybe in the history of American politics

Barack in Charge

By Craig Crawford | May 31, 2008 7:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (514)

Make no mistake about it. The decision rendered today by the Democratic National Committee's rules panel showed that Barack Obama has displaced Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, as boss of the party.

The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee gave Obama exactly what he wanted - a firm decision on seating Florida and Michigan delegates. Even though Clinton wins a small net gain in nominating delegates, it is not enough to seriously boost her chances for the nomination.

No decision would have best served Clinton today. Her nomination hopes are dependent on a chaos theory, which would have been best supported by keeping the status of Florida and Michigan in limbo.

Losing what they needed today proves that for the first time in 16 years the Clintons are no longer in charge of the Democratic Party. There is a new boss in town.

Democrats Compromise, Will Seat Florida and Michigan Delegations (CQ Politics)

Clinton Supporter Thrown Out of Rules Committee Meeting

I got completely sucked in watching the DNC rules committee & blew off all of my plans today. Thank God for Tivo or I never would have been able to go out and run. Mr. Ickes is to Hillary what Karl Rove and Dick Cheney are to George Bush. Between him, Bill and Howard Wolfson Hillary is surrounded by insane narcissists! Talk about a good example of judging people by who they hang out with. If she got elected we would have the same 3 stooges and shenanigans as we had with Bush URGH!!!

And…while Hillary supporters were rude and abrasive our team was respectful and gracious, just like our candidate.

All examples of birds of a feather….

Watch this Hillary supporter and I can rest my case

OOPS! Change that, not 50,000 people but 75,000!!!

50,000 People Attend Obama Rally in Portland!

If you haven't heard Barack's stump speach, check it out!

An easy and meaningful way to help the troops

An easy and meaningful way to help the troops

I'm about as anti-war as one can be but...my heart breaks for all of those kids that tried to do something good and ended up in this insane war. My Grandmother used to say "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" and they sure ended up in a spot that has to be hell on earth. Remember Donald Rumsfeld when asked how long the war would last he said "I don't know, 6 days, 6 weeks maybe 6 months although I don't think it will be that long" URGH!!!! That man should have to be there and live amoung these young people losing lives and limbs daily.
Anyway...a friend of mine sent me a link to this Web site that Xerox is doing

Click on the header which is a link to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq .

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! Please send a card and pass along this Web site link to everyone you know. It's the least we can do, it's FREE and it only takes a second.

Chris Matthews shreds right wing talker Kevin James

This is a long video, 9 minutes I believe but worth it. I think it's so typical of those on the extreme right or left to take a sound bite and try to exploit it without even knowing what they're talking about. He should know better than to go on Hardball unprepared.

Who Will Tell the People? click here to read article

Op-Ed Columnist Thomas Friedman is one of our most distinguished journalists. There are some who feel he is too imperialist for their tastes and that is fair. But he travels the world and ,unlike our leaders, seeks out different perspectives in an intellectually honest attempt to understand the world. As a journalist he cannot endorse candidates for office. But the following, in its diagnosis of America's ills, comes pretty darn close.

We need the truth. Who is going to tell us the truth? After the this long campaign we have arrived at the crux of the matter. I want the candidate who tells the truth. I want the candidate who will enlist the dormant energy of the American people. I want Barack Obama for President.

The Empire Strikes Barack

NPRs Delicious Dish Schweddy Balls

These gals can't wait for some Schweddy Balls

Please Help Simon

Simon's story is sad..but with your help we can shine some light on his little life and make sure he gets his happy ending! His owner died. When relatives where packing up the house they left the door open and grieving Simon ran out was hit by a car. They then dumped him at the shelter with a broken pelvis to die. When a dog has a broken pelvis it can heal on it's own (like a broken rib) but Simon will have to be confined for 30 days at the vet's office. The Rescue Train's amazing vet Dr. Nunez @ Animal Medical Center in Van Nuys can give Simon the care he needs. A Rescue Train volunteer has hopes to pull him out of the shelter today. We know we can rehabilitate this little guy and find him a loving home but we need your help!!


Ways You Can Help Simon!

1) Make a tax deductible donation for Simon's medical care and boarding fees to The Rescue Train. Either through our web site www.therescuetrain.org or mail to:

The Rescue Train
11271 Ventura Blvd, #405
Studio City, CA 91604

2) Simon needs a loving forever home. Please call Lisa (323)899-5640 or e-mail her @ info@therescuetrain.org for more info. Simon is a 4 year old Welsh Corgi/Terrier mix and super sweet!

3) e-mail all of your animal loving friends! We've been able to save so many lives from e-mails.

"In My Opinion, Barack Obama Hits a Homerun on Fox News!"

I was so worried when I heard that Barack was going to be interviewed by Chris Wallace on Fox. My fear was that no matter what he said they would twist and turn it in a way to harm him. But, I should have had more faith, Barack was better than great he was the smart, quick, articulate, thoughtful, humble, substantive and overall the amazing person that those who support him know him to be! This was an opportunity for the rest of the people that dislike him or are suspicious of his viability could gain some insight.

Even after the 45 minute interview when they had their panel discussion, only Bill Kristal was really against him. The others all had mostly positive comments and to me that is a huge victory! At least from my perspective, I bet there are a lot of people that watched the interview and scratched their head wondering if they possibly mis-judged him and to me creating that question in the mind of a Fox viewer is a total home run!!

To add icing to the cake Reverend Wright was speaking to the NAACP and they carried the speech on Fox (no doubt waiting for him to say something insane) and even Geraldo is saying the Reverend was funny and over all pretty complementary. Go figure? I gotta say, it was a pretty impressive speech in that one could easily see his appeal. Oh uh....who's gonna be the boogie man if it's not Barack or Reverend Wright :-)

LA Times Opinion: My winning strategy Forget delegates, rules, votes: I deserve it. I'm Hillary Clinton, and I approved this message.

NY TImes The Caucus: Edwards Backers Team Up With Obama

Several prominent supporters of the former presidential candidate -- and former senator from North Carolina -- lend their support.

Pennsylvania gives a net +9 delegates to Clinton

We knew Hillary would win in Pennsylvania but we hoped for less than 7%. Her win of55%-45% has put a lot of wind at her back. The media, even MSNBC has been siting all of the reasons he may not be able to "close this deal". Although she only picked up 9 more delegates than he did, two things have changed. The momentum on her campaign just shifted and the media has been pointing out what they view as his flaws. It's going to be a tough 2 weeks for Obama supporters. However, he will win N.Carolina so Indiana has become the next Pennsylvania. It sounds like a similar split of demographics on a smaller scale as Pennsylvania and if he can't win the non-educated, white people, making less than $50,000 (which she seems to own) then it's going to continue to be a rough road. Now, with all of that said....one well publicized story good or bad about either of them can tilt the perception one way or the other.

NY Times April 22nd Clinton Ends March With $10.3 Million in Debt

Canvassing in Philadelphia Day 4

Ohhhhh how I hate to wake up early but the sacrifice for Barack is well worth it!! I met up with my new buddies Josh and Doug this morning and we were joined by another UFCW member Rick. We got an early start to canvassing and along with hitting I believe about 300 homes we still made time to search for the best cheesesteak in Philly. Doug took us to Jim's and it was much better than Pat's!

There were some challenges today but nothing that a few repeated chant's of "yes we can's" to myself couldn't get me past. Doug was thoughtful enough to be sure I got my "butt exercise" in by allowing me the opportunity to work the neighborhood of condo's with an equal number of set's of stairs that I got to go up and down. The timing of this couldn't have been better as it was just about the only time of the day that was quite warm. Thanks Doug! OK...he did bring me a nonfat latte to redeem himself. One nasty lady snapped at me but that got balanced out by a number of supporters that thanked me profusely for helping get the vote out for Barack. The balance sheet was further offset to the positive by definitely getting some on the fence people to the Obama side and that was incredibly fulfilling. The icing on the cake is spending time outside the LA bubble of "hollyweird" which is so refreshing. I just can’t explain how cool it is to work all day with total strangers with seemingly nothing in common other than our passion to get Barack elected, yet by the end of the day find all of these common threads. In driving to and from the areas we were canvassing and short chats in between we talked about religion, family, ethics. TV, movies,music and more. On 1st glance no one (including us) would guess we would find so many common bonds and areas of agreement, but we became fast friends.

Another noteworthy story...I met this guy that lives in Sweden and came here to volunteer via Costa Rica (for vacation) then New Jersey (to visit his family). It’s so amazing to see the reach Obama has not just in the US but all over the world. He was so compelled to help in Pennsylvania that he used it as an excuse to visit his family in New Jersey not the other way around, crazy huh?
Your eyes don't lie, yep, that's Sly between Doug and I

Yes, in the Glushon book of priorities, it's always about the food!


Who can say no to cheese fries?

Philadelphia Day 3

Instead of reporting to the original headquarters I went to the 1st day I worked with two new friends Doug and Josh. They both are organizers for the UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers Union)and are here from Baltimore. So, one highlight of the day was learning a lot about unions. My knowledge has been pretty much limited to a news story here and there and Norma Rae. We canvased homes all day with a largely positive response. It's interesting that the demographics we see on the news held true in that the few white women over 50 we came across were for Hillary. I hadn't eaten a thing all day and by 2:00 I was way past cranky, heading directly towards bitchy but was saved by a cheesesteak at Pete's. This is supposedly the best cheesesteak in Philly. It's pretty amazing, a big line of people both tourists and locals and they have signs telling you the 3 steps to order plus you better have your cash ready in hand or risk soup Nazi like hostility from the guys behind the counter. After a quick break to eat we finished canvassing and felt like we had accomplished a lot! The low point was pulling up to a house that had a swastika on the wall of their home....seriously. My 1st thought was as Dorothy said "Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore" As offensive as it is I'm posting the pic below because it's still blowing my mind that someone could have that on the outside of their home. Important reminder that although great strides have been made the world is filled with hate. Living in LA we tend to take things for granted.

The low point of the day

Things are looking up!


Philly BaRocks!

My First Day in Philadelphia

My 1st day in Philly was awesome! I spent about 6 hours yesterday in front of a mall in the center of town with the objective of getting people to the Rally that evening. A lot of people were very friendly and supportive. Most non-Obama folks just averted their eyes looking away from me. I only ran into a few nasty people and they were all older white men. A couple just seething with hostility one walking by and under his breath saying “NEVER” and another said “I would never vote for HIM” with such venom, wow pretty crazy. I responded suggesting they come hear Barack speak tonight and then don’t vote for him…at least they’ll know what they are voting against. Then one man got in my face and said “do you realize that you may never see a woman President if you don’t vote for Hillary?” and I said “yes…so what? I don’t vote for people because of their gender, race or religion” He said, “so many women worked so hard to pave the way for me to have the opportunities that my generation has had” my reply to that was “their fight was so that I would have options and choices and I CHOOSE to vote and support Barack!”

Then I went to the Rally at Independence Mall. Pretty moving to think of the history there at the beginning of our country and the history we’re making in our country now. They expected attendance of about 20,000 and when we arrived the lines of people 2 hours before the gate even opened were enormous. The headquarters I was working out of didn’t give me a ticket but using the Glushon resourcefulness my mother had and my nephews have even more of not only did I get in but along with a new friend Michael we scammed our way right up front about 20 yards from the stage. Breaking the rules made it all even more exciting!

They say more than 35,000 people attended, the largest crowd of the campaign so far. Equally as cool was after the rally there were thousands of people (media claims about 5,000) that walked up Market St chanting “OBAMA, OBAMA” and “Yes We Can” etc…the police at 1st attempted to reign people in off the street and to the sidewalk but it didn’t work. I felt like we were in a flashback to 1968…it was absolutely incredible! A massive tidal wave of people, every age, every color all together proudly in unison. I don’t think anything else on this trip will top that.

A side note, I’m laughing so hard…Hillary is on the news giving a speech somewhere today and getting her crowd to chant “yes we will” over and over again….you would think she could come up with something a bit more original!

Anyway…anyone want to join me in Oregon??

Over 35,000 people came out to hear Barack speak at the largest rally in the campaign's history in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia April 18

Ed Kowalczyk, Lead Singer from Live

Along with an array of great Motown hits typically played at an Obama event we were also fortunate to here Ed Kowalczyk, the lead singer from Live perform their hit song Lightning Crashes and John Lennon's Imagine. This was followed by Will.i.am joining him with a fabulous rendition of Where is the Love which I captured on video but haven't been able to upload yet...stay tuned

Phillies/Houston Game - Phillies won 10-2

Former Harvard-Westlake star Glushon chases big-league dream

The obnoxious Aunt has to share this incredibly fabulous article in the Los Angeles Daily News!

My Nephew Jason Gets Called up to Triple AAA

Sacramento River Cats Stadium


Jason signing autographs




Line up for the Las Vegas 51's (The Dodgers Triple AAA Team)




Rob and Suzi trying to stay warm in the absolutely frigid night