The OCD Gen X Liberal (this blog is retired)

Testing 1, 2, 3...

2011-12-28T21:10:00.000-06:00

No way. I thought I could never get into this again!

YES WE DID

2008-11-14T17:57:00.003-06:00

The blog is officially retired

2008-07-17T19:26:00.005-05:00

I may leave it up for posterity sake. We'll see.

Good luck to all, and our country.

All of my love,
Lizzy

The OCD Gen X Liberal: 07.16.2004 - 07.17.2008

Obama is the man!

2008-06-05T23:43:00.001-05:00

Well, folks, we did it. Obama is our candidate, and I couldn't be happier.

Tommy & I tried to see him claim the nomination at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul last Tuesday, but along with about 20,000+ others, we didn't make it inside.

Here's some pics:

I hope everyone in bloggerland has been well. I'll see you again soon.

It's almost over...

2008-05-06T23:33:00.000-05:00

Joy!!

Farewell

2008-03-27T21:52:00.000-05:00

The OCD Gen X Liberal and one of her smushy-faced dogs

As some of you may have noticed, my blogging has slowed down quite a bit lately. I've been batting around the idea of closing up shop for some time now, and I feel that the time has come.

I've been doing this for almost 4 years now, and I simply don't have it in me to continue. I've had a great run, and met some awesome people.

I will leave my blog up in the off chance that I change my mind, or something happens that I can't bear not talking about. (For instance, Hillary dropping out, or Obama's inauguration.)

In the meantime, I will be checking in on all of you from time to time to keep up with your wonderful writings. I promise I won't be a stranger.

Thank you so much for everything. I've enjoyed every minute of it. I love you guys.

Goodbye for now...

Richardson endorses Obama

2008-03-21T16:28:00.000-05:00

This is huge!

Obama/Richardson, anyone? Yes. Most definitely.

The Speech

2008-03-18T23:32:00.000-05:00

I haven't been up to much blogging lately, and now I'm sick with a cold, so I'll see ya in a few days.

However, I will say this. Barack's speech today was one of the best speeches I've ever heard.

Black is the new President, bitch

2008-03-17T11:07:00.000-05:00

I've been watching Saturday Night Live since the very beginning. With the exception of the really bad seasons in the early 80's, I've stayed loyal. This season I was very disheartened that SNL was "in the tank" for Hillary Clinton, but last Saturday a ray of light came into the show to set them straight.

Tracy Morgan's cameo on Weekend Update:

Olbermann Special Comment 03.12.2008

2008-03-13T18:15:00.001-05:00

Keith Olbermann has never gone after a Democrat in a Special Comment, until now.

The Clinton Rules

2008-03-10T22:53:00.000-05:00

Best article I've read in a long time:

The Clinton Rules
Andrew Sullivan
07 Mar 2008

The new meme is that politics has returned to normal and that this election will now be run by Clinton rules. Many are relieved by this. You could sense the palpable discomfort among many in Washington that their world might actually shift a little next year. But if elections are primarily about fear and mud, and who best operates in a street fight, Beltway comfort returns. This we know. This we understand. This we already have the language to describe. And, the feeling goes, the Clintons can win back the White House in this atmosphere. What she is doing to Obama she can try to do to McCain. Maybe Limbaugh will help her out again.

What I think this misses are the cultural and social consequences of beating Obama (or McCain) this way. I don't mean beating Obama because the Clintons' message is more persuasive, or because the Clintons' healthcare plan is better, or because she has a better approach to Iraq. I mean: beating him by a barrage of petty attacks, by impugning his clear ability to be commander-in-chief, by toying with questions about his "Muslim past", by subtle invocation of the race card, by intermittent reliance on gender identity politics, by taking faux offense to keep the news cycle busy ("shame on you, Barack Obama!") and so on. If the Clintons beat Obama this way, I have a simple prediction. It will mean a mass flight from the process. It will alter the political consciousness of an entire generation of young voters - against any positive interaction with the political process for the foreseeable future. I'm not sure that Washington yet understands the risk the Clintons are taking with their own party and the future of American politics.

The reason so many people have re-engaged with politics this year is because many sense their country is in a desperate state and because only one candidate has articulated a vision and a politics big enough to address it without dividing the country down the middle again. For the first time in decades, a candidate has emerged who seems able to address the country's and the world's needs with a message that does not rely on Clintonian parsing or Rovian sleaze. For the first time since the 1960s, we have a potential president able to transcend the victim-mongering identity politics so skillfully used by the Clintons. If this promise is eclipsed because the old political system conspires to strangle it at birth, the reaction from the new influx of voters will be severe. The Clintons will all but guarantee they will lose a hefty amount of it in the fall, as they richly deserve to. Some will gravitate to McCain; others will be so disillusioned they will withdraw from politics for another generation. If the Clintons grind up and kill the most promising young leader since Kennedy, and if they do it not on the strength of their arguments, but by the kind of politics we have seen them deploy, the backlash will be deep and severe and long. As it should be.

He has a million little donors. He has brought many, many Republicans and Independents to the brink of re-thinking their relationship with the Democratic party. And he has won the majority of primaries and caucuses and has a majority of the delegates and popular vote. This has been a staggering achievement - one that has already made campaign history. If the Clintons, after having already enjoyed presidential power for eight long years, destroy this movement in order to preserve their own grip on privilege and influence in Democratic circles, it will be more than old-fashioned politics. It will be a generational moment - as formative as 1968. Killing it will be remembered for a very, very long time. And everyone will remember who did it - and why.

Tucker Carlson fired from MSNBC

2008-03-10T00:04:00.001-05:00

(I think I might know of another network that would hire him.)

Tucker Carlson has been let go from MSNBC. His ratings have been really bad, and his distaste for liberals has finally caught up with him.

Good riddance!

From The Raw Story:
Published: Sunday March 9, 2008

According to TVNewser, MSNBC will announce the dismissal of talk host and political pundit Tucker Carlson.

Insiders tell TVNewser Tucker Carlson's 6pmET show Tucker is getting the axe, but Carlson stays on as a political contributor to all MSNBC shows at least through the 2008 election. The official announcement, expected tomorrow, will include details about who will replace Tucker at 6pmET as well as other political programming additions. Sources say the network is going to beef up its schedule with more NBC News talent.

"Maybe MSNBC has realized that swinging to the Right to try and shake out Fox News for viewers isn't a winning strategy," opines The Bilerico Project's Alex Blaze. "Or maybe they realized that at least half their commentators should accept the reality that white men aren't oppressed. Or maybe they think that people don't want to watch a bully wannabe talk about his fun days of beating up [gays]. Or maybe they got tired of his history of abusing the rules of logic, evidence, and reality."

READ MORE AT TVNewser and The Bilerico Project.

I just can't tell you...

2008-03-08T17:58:00.000-06:00

...how relieved I am that it's finally Daylight Savings Time. We've had a long, cold, miserable winter here in Minnesota, and the loss of one hour of sleep is well worth it in knowing that spring is right around the corner.

That's all for today...except that Obama won Wyoming! Yay!

There will be blood

2008-03-05T09:52:00.001-06:00

"As far as I know"

I woke up with a sick feeling today, and this time it was not because of my stomach problems.

Hillary won Texas & Ohio, and her campaign will go on.

In the past, I have said that I would support her if she becomes the nominee, but at this point, I have to take that back.

I can almost understand her fear mongering ads, but I cannot forgive the answer she gave to Steve Croft during her 60 minutes interview when she was asked about Obama's religious affiliation. (Watch clip.)

The pundits are right. The longer the race between Obama and Clinton goes on, the more it will tear our party apart.

For the myself, and the people I know, the bloodletting has already begun.

Political ulcer?

2008-03-03T17:45:00.000-06:00

I've been having major stomach problems for well over a year now. I was supposed to have a colonoscopy last summer, but I couldn't drink that stuff. Hopefully there is something else they can do to diagnose this. I'm going to call my gastroenterologist tomorrow to see what they can do for me.

In the meantime, I'll be glued to MSNBC. Big day tomorrow. Go, Obama, go!!

Maybe I've devoloped an ulcer from the stress of being a political junkie....who knows.

Tink & Pink

2008-02-29T17:22:00.000-06:00

Keira sent me this story and pictures via email. I loved it so much, I thought I'd share it here...plus, the piglet reminds me of Norman.

Here's a little sweetness for a Friday afternoon:

The Dachshund mother is fostering this guy for another mom who couldn't take care of him. He is just a little bigger than her other pups. She loves this little guy more than the other puppies and she is nursing him back to health. He is the cleanest puppy ever because she licks him all the time.

His name is Pink, his "mom's" name is Tink

Tink, Pink and the other puppies nursing

He nurses all the time

sleeping with his siblings

Tink is very protective over Pink

The family sleeping

Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results of 2008 Election!

2008-02-26T17:09:00.001-06:00

I might think this is funny if I thought it couldn't happen...because in all probability, it's happened already.

My prediction

2008-02-25T15:07:00.001-06:00

I predict Hillary will drop out of the race within the next 9 days (one day after the Texas and Ohio primaries.)

What do you think? Shall we make a game of it and the winner gets a prize?

Hillary Should Get Out Now

by Jonathan Alter

Newsweek Mar 3, 2008 issue

If wanted a graceful exit, she'd drop out now—before the March 4 and primaries—and endorse . This would be terrible for people like me who have been dreaming of a brokered convention for decades. For selfish reasons, I want the story to stay compelling for as long as possible, which means I'm hoping for a battle into June for every last delegate and a bloody floor fight in late August in Denver. But to withdraw this week would be the best thing imaginable for Hillary's political career. She won't, of course, and for reasons that help explain why she's in so much trouble in the first place.

Withdrawing would be stupid if Hillary had a reasonable chance to win the nomination, but she doesn't. To win, she would have to do more than reverse the tide in Texas and Ohio, where polls show Obama already even or closing fast. She would have to hold off his surge, then establish her own powerful momentum within three or four days. Without a victory of 20 points or more in both states, the delegate math is forbidding. In Pennsylvania, which votes on April 22, the Clinton campaign did not even file full delegate slates. That's how sure they were of putting Obama away on Super Tuesday.

more...

Security lapse in Dallas (sound familiar?)

2008-02-21T22:49:00.001-06:00

I got the heads up on this story from Polishifter's blog.

Please widely distribute. This is not being reported in the MSM.

From United Press International:

Report: Security relaxed at Obama speech
Published: Feb. 21, 2008 at 6:27 PM

DALLAS, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- The Secret Service told Dallas police to stop screening for weapons while people were still arriving at a campaign rally for Barack Obama, a report said.

Police stopped checking people for weapons at the front gates of Reunion Arena more than an hour before the Democratic presidential hopeful appeared on stage Wednesday, the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram reported.

Police said the order to stop using metal detectors and checking purses and laptop bags constituted a security lapse, the newspaper reported.

Dallas Deputy Police Chief T.W. Lawrence -- who heads the department's homeland security and special operations divisions -- told the Star-Telegram the order had been intended to speed up seating of the more than 17,000 people who came to hear the candidate speak.

Lawrence said he was concerned about the large number of people being let in without being screened, but that the crowd seemed "friendly," the newspaper said.

Several Dallas police officers -- speaking on condition of anonymity because the order came from federal officers -- told the newspaper it was worrying to see so many people get it without even a cursory inspection.

The Star-Telegram said the Secret Service did not return a call seeking comment.

Happy Birthday, Norman!

2008-02-20T10:08:00.001-06:00

Of course there are many things going on in the world that I could be blogging about today, but in my little corner of the world, nothing is more important than this....

Happy 5th Birthday, Norman!

Norman, they broke the mold, when they made you. I have never had or met a more neurotic obsessive-compulsive dog, and I wouldn't have it any other way. You are the dog version of me, and I love you to infinity.

Wolf Blitzer - Unwatchable

2008-02-19T09:50:00.001-06:00

I was going to write a post on how CNN has become unwatchable, but I decided that wasn't fair. While CNN is flawed in many ways, the main issue I really have with them is Wolf Blitzer. He needs to be replaced.

I have been watching The Situation Room almost every day since it premiered a few years ago. If it weren't for Bill Schneider and Jack Cafferty's segments, I would stop watching it.

Blitzer tries to hide his Republican slant by using a monotone voice, but the more I watch him, the more I see right through it, and I'm not alone. Media Matters has reported on this, as well.

MSNBC has become a far superior network, although they do air shows like "Lockup" and "To Catch a Predator" way too much. Also, putting David Shuster on permanent leave for what he said about Chelsea Clinton is going overboard. I'm sure he's learned his lesson, so bring him back already. He's a great reporter.

It would be in MSNBC's best interest to go to 24/7 news.

Help publish this MoveOn.org ad

2008-02-18T15:52:00.001-06:00

Contribute to publish this petition in USA Today. And/or, add your name to the petition.

Olbermann Special Comment 02.14.2008

2008-02-15T00:34:00.000-06:00

This is why Keith Olbermann is the best thing on TV. You will not hear anything like this anywhere else. He IS the Edward R. Murrow of our generation...maybe even better.

Keith Olbermann, I love you.

Snapshot

2008-02-11T13:06:00.000-06:00

Most of my neighbors on my block are Democrats. I know this by the large amount of Kerry lawn signs and bumper stickers I saw during the last general election in my neighborhood. However, there is one woman on my street that is a Christian Evangelical Republican. Several years ago, her young daughters caused quite a stir when they attempted to proselytize the Jewish kids next door. That didn't go over so well...to say the least.

To this day, this woman still has a Bush/Cheney 2004 sticker on her car.

Her husband is very nice. He is an Independent, and always takes the time to chat with me when I walk Norman & Stella past their house (unlike his wife who has never spoken a word to me. )

I ran into him at Target this morning. He asked how I thought the elections were going. I said something like it's a bit of a mess, but it could be worse.

I asked him who they were supporting. He said he liked Obama, and his wife is torn between McCain and....Obama! I almost fell over. He went on to say that she hates Hillary, but likes Barack.

I think that's it in a nutshell, folks, and that is why he must be our candidate.

Bill Maher covered this phenomenom on his last show. Here is that clip:

And, check these out:

Day in the Life of Joe Middle-Class Republican

2008-02-10T17:23:00.000-06:00

This post is dedicated to my semi-anonymous blogger reader, "Liberal Demise":

Day in the Life of Joe Middle-Class Republican
By John Gray
Cincinnati, Ohio

Joe gets up at 6:00am to prepare his morning coffee. He fills his pot full of good clean drinking water because some liberal fought for minimum water quality standards. He takes his daily medication with his first swallow of coffee. His medications are safe to take because some liberal fought to insure their safety and work as advertised.

All but $10.00 of his medications are paid for by his employers medical plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance, now Joe gets it too. He prepares his morning breakfast, bacon and eggs this day. Joe’s bacon is safe to eat because some liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.

Joe takes his morning shower reaching for his shampoo; His bottle is properly labeled with every ingredient and the amount of its contents because some liberal fought for his right to know what he was putting on his body and how much it contained. Joe dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean because some tree hugging liberal fought for laws to stop industries from polluting our air. He walks to the subway station for his government subsidized ride to work; it saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees. You see, some liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.

Joe begins his work day; he has a good job with excellent pay, medicals benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joe’s employer pays these standards because Joe’s employer doesn’t want his employees to call the union. If Joe is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed he’ll get a worker compensation or unemployment check because some liberal didn’t think he should lose his home because of his temporary misfortune.

Its noon time, Joe needs to make a Bank Deposit so he can pay some bills. Joe’s deposit is federally insured by the FSLIC because some liberal wanted to protect Joe’s money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the depression.

Joe has to pay his Fannie Mae underwritten Mortgage and his below market federal student loan because some stupid liberal decided that Joe and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his life-time.

Joe is home from work, he plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive to dads; his car is among the safest in the world because some liberal fought for car safety standards. He arrives at his boyhood home. He was the third generation to live in the house financed by Farmers Home Administration because bankers didn’t want to make rural loans. The house didn’t have electric until some big government liberal stuck his nose where it didn’t belong and demanded rural electrification. (Those rural Republican’s would still be sitting in the dark)

He is happy to see his dad who is now retired. His dad lives on Social Security and his union pension because some liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Joe wouldn’t have to. After his visit with dad he gets back in his car for the ride home.

He turns on a radio talk show, the host’s keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. (He doesn’t tell Joe that his beloved Republicans have fought against every protection and benefit Joe enjoys throughout his day) Joe agrees, “We don’t need those big government liberals ruining our lives; after all, I’m a self made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have”.

By John Gray
Cincinnati, Ohio
Published July - 2004