So much to chat about, so few Republican brain cells

Well, I'd actually been looking forward to sharing all kinds of juicy tidbits about the upcoming election, completely non-knitting related but guaranteed interesting with stars like Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow (who now has her entire TV show on podcast, you reading this, Yankee?) at the helm. However, life threw us a few curveballs and it's been difficult to get focused again. Too bad...so much has happened...John McCain referring to his audience as fellow prisoners, my-favorite-store-is-a-consignment-store Sarah Palin getting caught with $150,000 in clothes bought by the RNC, oh, so much. Well, let's join the chaos in progress, shall we?

First up, the apparent and apparently widening breach between John McCain and Sarah Palin:




Next, two of my favorite people in the whole world, Rachel and DNC Chair Howard Dean, discussing early voting. I think there is some fear mongering going on here, but I'll admit that many of us probably do need a fire lit under us. Personally, I don't think the prevalence of Dems among early voters indicates everything that the Democrats want it to, but we still are seeing some good signs there.



I'll also admit that I'm not entirely convinced that the white sector of the US is ready to drop its overt and covert racism in order to vote a black candidate into the presidency. In fact, I'm pretty much quaking in my boots about that one.

And lastly, from Keith, prominent Republicans are suggesting that the RNC give it up and help down ballot instead. When's the last time that happened? At least 12 years, I'd think...







Good signs, but as they say, the only poll that counts is the one on election day. We won't even really know who all these early voters are voting for until that day. Fingers crossed. And go vote!

Oh, I actually have a little bit of knitting-related news. Here is my latest project for Schaefer Yarn knit in September-October and packed up and mailed just before Rhinebeck:

Wow, kinda makes me want to hire a model for all of my projects! It's the Elaine Mitered Sweater, knit in Schaefer's Elaine bulky merino wool/nylon yarn, in the color Elena Piscopia. That's the Elaine, right there in the color shot. Got the pic above from Schaefer because I'm an idiot and can't ever remember to take a pic of my projects before they go out the door.

And Rhinebeck, what can I say? Whatever I say, it will have to be in another post because this is way too long already! I received my yarn from Schaefer at Rhinebeck and I will take pics of that haul, with a particularly pretty skein I'm hoarding for myself! Next post, Rhinebeck!

How did we get here?

I fear that, in these last 52 days til the US election, this blog may drift more toward the political, or the angry, or the railing against this crazy nation we have here, or all three. As proof, here is a little piece on Cindy McCain's struggle with addiction to prescription painkillers. This has been out for years, but the article highlights how "glossed over" the story has become, how "spun" it has become over the years by the McCains, and how the elite (yes, I said it, the McCains are the elite...what??? Not just the scrappy biracial community organizer whose family once lived on food stamps candidate???), well, the soulless elite anyway, can move around in the world without a care for whose lives they destroy.

And this next, from the well-anticipated Sarah Palin interview. What an idiot. Pay close attention to the "Bush Doctrine" section...jeez, even if she is an idiot, do you think McCain's people might have given her a little briefing on this so she wouldn't look so stupid talking about it? Watch her eyes when she says "In what respect, Charlie?" You can tell without a doubt that she is panicking because she has no idea what he is talking about and she's stalling for time. Or God, or something. Too bad the big guy couldn't help her out with that one.

The times, they are a changin'

Well, Obama and McCain may be deadlocked in the polls (how this can happen, in this race, is beyond me, except if the worst is true and white Americans are, at bottom, racists), but you gotta know that something good is happening if an out lesbian gets her own prime-time political talk show. And it's even better that it's my lesbian, Rachel Maddow! OK, she's not really my lesbian, I already have one, as does she...but, well, anyway, here she is, in her very solid, even impressive, debut last night. I'm so proud!



As I've said before, I've been a fan of Rachel's since I first heard her in the early days of Air America Radio. I knew she was a rising star then, as did many other listeners. I'm so pleased that MSNBC took a look and obviously saw the smart and savvy political wonk that we saw! Congratulations, Rachel! You have so many of us out here who are so proud of you and can't wait to see where you go from here.

As for Palin, I won't attempt to replicate the bang-up job that my friend Yankee Lagniappe did in her latest blog entry. Spectacular. I can't believe the American people are so gullible as to be taken up on this wave. Then again, considering they elected Reagan, Bush and then his son twice, I guess I really can believe it :(. Hmmm, interesting question...are Americans largely racist, dumb, or both? It's unsettling to be brought up face-to-face with the likelihood that we are the minority here. Change moves slowly...too slowly for this 44 year old.

Briefly switching to the knitting vein, I have no progress to report on my latest project for Schaefer Yarns...still looking for the perfect sized needles to get gauge! I will be starting this week and will post pics.