THRILLING!

I sent in my absentee ballot more than a week ago and I'm a little bit sorry I did. I'm sorry that I'll miss the THRILL of voting in person this election.

In my lifetime, our country has matured from barely passing the Civil Rights Act...

In a nationally televised address on June 6, 1963, President John F. Kennedy urged the nation to take action toward guaranteeing equal treatment of every American regardless of race. Soon after, Kennedy proposed that Congress consider civil rights legislation that would address voting rights, public accommodations, school desegregation, nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs, and more.

Despite Kennedy's assassination in November of 1963, his proposal culminated in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson just a few hours after Senate approval on July 2, 1964. The act outlawed segregation in businesses such as theaters, restaurants, and hotels. It banned discriminatory practices in employment and ended segregation in public places such as swimming pools, libraries, and public schools.

Passage of the act was not easy. House opposition bottled up the bill in the House Rules Committee. In the Senate, opponents attempted to talk the bill to death in a filibuster. In early 1964, House supporters overcame the Rules Committee obstacle by threatening to send the bill to the floor without committee approval. The Senate filibuster was overcome through the floor leadership of Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota, the considerable support of President Lyndon Johnson, and the efforts of Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen of Illinois, who convinced Republicans to support the bill. (Source)

to possibly (probably?) electing the first African American to be President of the United States. I'm proud of and excited for all the first-time voters that I'm even refraining from asking any of them, "What the hell took you so long?" News reports here are that there was a rush-hour crunch of voters which caused some minor delays, but virtually all the polling places have been steadily busy all day. At the end of the day, they are going to have to also count close to 100,000 absentee ballots so I'm not sure how long it will take before the news crews start offering partial results.

IF YOU HAVEN'T VOTED YET, DON'T MISS THE CHANCE TO BE A PART OF HISTORY. (AND GET A FREE COFFEE AT STARBUCKS AND A FREE ICE CREAM AT BASKIN ROBBINS.) I MEAN IT - EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

This evening, I will be celebrating with my Hoodies at Bill's. Celebrating! When was the last time I celebrated election results? It's been a looong time.

We are evolving! I'm so proud of us, and so relieved.

President Gump: Life is Like a Box of Tax Credits

Every day for almost eight years, I have thought about "Being There," the book by Jerzy Kosinski. (It later became a movie starring Peter Sellers and Shirley MacLaine.) Why? Because it's a story about a retarded man who almost becomes president of the United States. Yes, a retarded man who almost becomes president.

Really, I wonder if all the people who voted for President Gump, er, Bush, feel differently now. I truly believe that history will judge him not only as the Worst President, but also as the Stupidest. And somehow y'all elected him TWICE! You elected him again AFTER he started a war...with a country that never attacked us, never had anything to do with 9/11, never harbored Al Queda (at least not until then), and didn't have any WMDs. Once was bad enough...but twice??

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."
(LaCrosse, WI, 10/18/2000)
"They want the federal government controlling the Social Security
like it's some kind of federal program.
(St. Charles, MO 11/2000)
"And so during these holiday seasons, we thank our blessings..."
(Ft. Belvoir, VA, 12/2004)
"How can 59,054,087 Americans be so dumb?"
(Cover of Britain's ‘Daily Mirror’ after GWB was re-elected, 11/2004)

Last December, some of my Foodie girls came for a visit; their first after my big C announcement. They brought wonderful gifts of soup, tea, magazines, books... and a calendar: The George W. Bush Out Of Office Countdown Calendar. Each day features an idiotic quote from GWB; how the editors narrowed it down to 365, I can't imagine. But I looked at it today and realized that no matter who does get elected tomorrow, it WON'T be GWB again.

"Greenspan's an idiot."

How is it possible that Pulitzer Prize winner Studs Terkel passed away Friday (NY Times obituary) and I don't remember hearing any news about it? He was 96 years old. The last couple of decades he concentrated on finding and recording oral histories. He had a radio talk show for many years; almost everyone would recognize his distinctive voice and direct, unflinching interviewing style.

“What have I got to lose? I'm 90 years old." Studs declared, in taking off after Bush. "We have a mindless boy right now with the most powerful job in the world. And that is perilous. We have an attorney general [Ashcroft] who is like the guy Arthur Miller described in The Crucible in Salem, Massachusetts, 300 years ago, who urges people to spy on other people, witchcraft and all.”

As for the Democratic leadership in Congress, it “will be renowned for its gutlessness and its lack of principle and its cravenness.”
-- Studs Terkel, 2002

Sharp to the end
Just a week ago, Terkel was interviewed by Edward Lifson. He was excited to share the questions he'd like to ask Barack Obama. He also called Sarah Palin "Joe McCarthy in drag" and proclaimed Alan Greenspan "an idiot."
Edward Lifson: Studs for Obama

Another author remembers the irrepressible journalist who inspired others:
Studs Terkel: He'll Never Be Silenced

One of the home-bound people I used to deliver library books to was a BIG Studs Terkel fan. She worked her way through almost all his books, one at a time, and we'd often discuss the subjects. I'm interpreting this as sort of a positive omen. I think if Studs believed there was even a chance that Obama could lose the election, he'd have hung on another week, just to set us straight and make sure we did the right thing.

Copyright Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Go See...

My Favorite Liar ...and other good stories
50 Strange Buildings ...my favorites is #30. #40 is just scary.
Copycat Recipes ...browse by restaurant or by recipe

The Vet Who Did Not Vet

A Seuss-style tale about what could happen...
It's less than 3 minutes long. Tell your friends.

And now that you've had dessert first, let's
ALL do something about the
McCain-Palin Strategy of HATE.
It's decidedly unAmerican.

available at Cafe Press