[di-mok-ruh-see]  1. government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

If Stephen Harper is reading, he might consider extracting head from… rightwing, ultra-conservative, power hungry ass!!
There  I was, not long ago, expressing my resigned satisfaction, if not relief, at our maintaining status quo, no matter how very mediocre.  Well, I take it back. If this last election and the Conservative’s attempt to manipulate the public, while kicking the opposition while Dion- I mean, down- is not enough, how ‘bout lets really test the nation’s collective constitution and drive us into complete political dissaray in the midst of a financial crisis all under the guise of political and economic righteousness.

Rather than Hope.  Change.  Yes We Can;  as evidenced by our ever-evolving brethren to the south, we get Blatant. Backroom. Partisan. Opportunism.  Brilliant!

And while I maintain only the hardiest of disdain towards the prospect of Celine- I mean, Stephane- Dion as PM, I put my trust in little handsome Jack.  A cobbled together coalition has to be an improvement over being dragged down fascist lane!

And… with this backdrop of uncharacteristically interesting Canadian political activity, I begin Detox.  Not only do these trying times call for a tidy, sparing and prudent pocketbook… but constitution as well.  Excess is out and that means food… fat… and just plain consumption, in general.

It’s time to get rid of what is fast becoming a spare tire.  And saddlebags.  And turkey wings.  Not to mention the patchy, dry flakiness- no not my disposition! Complexion, readers!!- and acne.  No more Coca-Cola.  Miss Vickie’s Salt & Vinegar.  Fondue.  Meat.  Fast Food.  Yuck… yuck… and yuck.

Hello, tahini and rice cakes!!  Herbal tea!  Brown rice!

I turn 40 in a mere 16 DAYS!!!  And while I may no longer have visions of bringing in a new decade in a body much like that of Dara Torres, I’d at least like to feel like I’m on a better, healthier track.  And I’ve signed up for a half marathon 29th of March.  Training must now begin…. again.

Bookmark Me!

Hide Sites

…And I don’t think John McCain does either.  After my last political post I had a stroke of freaking genius.

Really, who in their right mind would want to take over the chaos that will be the reformation of American political and policy infrastructure… amidst a veritable implosion of affairs, racial, international, military and economic.

What Republican actually believes that a flip-flopping, inconsistent, aged candidate who has been at odds with his party throughout his years in the Senate and a young, inexperienced barely articulate potential V.P. with little to offer in breadth or depth of knowledge or wisdom, can actually earn the Oval Office?!

This is not to say that Obama is not in his right mind, but certainly Democrats are perhaps naively convinced that good does in fact conquer evil and that they and their noble and worthy ideals can actually, if not turn things around, at least stem the tide.  And sure, they likely can… but at great expense to the American public.  It’s gonna hurt… a tearing off of the band-aid… slowly.

Ultimately taking on this mess is going to make this next administration incredibly unpopular.  And who better to be sitting in an unpopular presidency, but a formerly popular, idealistic, handsome, young Democrat? It’s inevitable.  And the resultant pendulum swing equally inevitable… right into the outstretched, so-very-comforting, waiting arms of a new and certainly more viable… more classically Republican, candidate.  Standing next to a realistic, actually vote-able, not so ripe for comedy, running mate.

Oooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh, you Republicans, you!  Drive your country, not to mention your party, into the shitter and then evilly manipulate a grand resurgence when the smoke clears… Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrgggghhh!

It all makes sense to me now.  Like I said, genius….

OK, so maybe it didn’t come to me without a little inspiration… but if you listen to this, the theory- conspiratorial though it may be- certainly has legs.  Shaky, perhaps, but it does get one thinking….  all may not be exactly as it seems.

This was recorded last June and the only thing that’s incorrect is the predicted age of the VP candidate… otherwise… hmmmmmmmm………………….

Bookmark Me!

Hide Sites

As I read my friendly neighborhood news blogs this morning I found myself bemoaning to my husband the fact that I wasn’t American.  Now, never in our history together… nor my own individually, have I EVER uttered those words.  And it’s likely I shan’t ever again… however….

As I perused this morning, after nearly a month almost completely out of the loop, there was a distinct feeling of envy for this populace and their potential to create REAL change in their political reality- certainly juxtaposed to our own lacklustre, uninspired election and a resigned acceptance to status quo.  As everyone, the media and individuals alike, keep saying, this is “historic”, the “election of a generation” and it’s exciting, not to mention just downright, fitfully entertaining, to watch it all go down.  In my early hours, by the glow of my laptop screen, I experienced a sharp, intense pang of wanting to be a part of it.

Despite my lack of participation, I am still married to an American. I am also a citizen and resident of the United States’ largest trading partner… so the campaign and subsequent election cannot be reduced entirely to merely entertainment.  But, in all honesty, as I’ve watched, riveted, for these many months I have had little trust in my neighbors to the south to actually be able to take the leap of faith and common sense and support Obama.  I was certain they could still be manipulated by fear (of terrorists and socialists, alike) and McCain would get the votes as a result… but it seems I may be wrong.

Day by day, Republican mutiny by Republican mutiny, I am reassured that common sense has not abandoned the American public.  High profile, long-time, even life-long, Republicans are seeing the error of their ways, or at least John McCain’s.  Sure, you can blame his choice of train-wreck, Sarah Palin, if you wish- while initially a tremendous boost to the campaign she is currently nothing but an embarassing albatross- the diminishing support has to be placed at the feet of the man, himself.

John McCain, a Republican I might have actually voted for, if I’d been able, back in 2000- and believe me, I would have rather had my toes roasted and devoured by Rush Limbaugh than have voted Republican- given his progressive and firmly moderate position on most things I consider to be important… say, taxation, gay rights and abortion- or at least, the woman’s right to choose.  He has shamelessly turned fundamentally on almost every issue, whether it was for the sake of his base, or the grind of a challenging campaign- first in the Republican leadership and now the Presidency- and he is losing respect and support within the party at break-neck speed.

It is of great relief to be rid of the idiot that is George Dubya… it is of tremendous pleasure to witness probably the most Canadian of Americans elected to the highest office of the land… but it is with enormous sadness and regret that we see a great American clumsily orchestrate his own humiliating and bloody political demise.

Bookmark Me!

Hide Sites

I knew I shouldn’t have done it.  As I sit here, enjoying the tropical breeze through the very modest lobby where I sit in Hotel Las Garzas, downtown Chelem on the Gulf Coast of lovely Yucatan, I knew to the depths of my very warm and tranquil soul, I shouldn’t have done it.

Damn you, CBC.ca!  Damn you for tempting me.  Here I am enjoying some much needed time away from husband and the miscreants- we all share a room in our quaint little Mexi-shack, doncha know?!?- sending emails, perusing my favourite blogs, considering an interesting post of my own and I get sucked into wondering… “Who the hell won our election, anyways?”

And thank you, ever reliable CBC!  OK, so it was my fault.  What did I think I would find there… a Yucatan beach-cam?!?!  And so… as I suspected.  The oh so charismatic, Celine- I mean, Stephane- Dion and the Liberals, didn’t have a hope in hell… Thanks to the oh so charismatic Celine- I mean, Stephane- Dion.  Thankfully between the dullard Liberals and my beloved NDP with cutesie, tootsie Jack Leighton, the Conservatives again, have only achieved a minority government.

But… doesn’t sound like I missed much as it appears almost no one felt it necessary to even get off their bums to go out and cast a ballot.  Let’s hope our neighbors to the south are a little more inspired!!

Bookmark Me!

Hide Sites

The new, bright, shiny object that has captured the attention and limited imagination of the American press and has landed the Veep candidacy for the GOP called it right, albeit with subtlety:  pitbulls and hockey moms are scary.  

That Sarah Palin is a pistol.  I am typically afraid of pistols.  And hockey moms.   I live amongst them… and believe me, here in the Canadian Rocky Mountain sticks, we are thick in the musky odor of the cluster*%$# that is youth hockey registration.  And ain’t nobody bothering with the lipstick!

Gross generalization to follow….

Hockey moms are ballsy, loud and take no shit… or prisoners.  Maybe it’s all the money they’re spending over the course of a season, between new equipment, rink fees and travel expenses.  Maybe it’s the time they spend freezing their asses off in sub-zero arenas or on the road: every weekend, with only a brief break over Christmas, from October through March.  Or maybe it’s the aggression of the sport in general. While fast and graceful, surprisingly brutal as early Atoms at the ripe old age of age 8.  Who the hell knows, but hockey moms are certainly a breed apart.  Understand, these are not just distant musings of an anti-violent, ultra-liberal, elitist academic.  No.

I am, in fact, a hockey mom.  No, not a mom with kids who play hockey.  By that definition I would be considered perhaps an alpine ski mom… a swim-team mom… a dance mom… and most definitely a soccer mom.  No, in the realm of hockey, I am in fact, a mom who plays hockey.  And I play with and against hockey moms.  And despite being tall and appearing fairly formidable in my gear, a hockey mom on break-away… well, it’s a sight to behold. Or, if on the ice in opposition, to avoid. I value my ass-ets, thank you very much. So I know something of what I speak.   

That said, I can see this Sarah Palin’s appeal.  Mother of five; driving her kids to and fro, meeting the formidable demands of youth hockey; clawing her way up the gritty ladder of local and state politics.  An accomplished woman, wife and mother. On the surface she is every progressive woman’s dream candidate for federal politics.  Who better to advocate for issues relating to women, children and families in general?   Ahem.

Not.  Scratch away at the immensely attractive surface and you find a very different picture.  Her record belies her appearance.  There is no arguing her strength or accomplishment.  But the details of her mandate are disturbing… certainly to those of us more comfortable with moderation in all things, particularly politics. Most specifically, her partisan stances on gun control and abortion not to mention her extreme right-wing Christian conservatism.  Despite her own personal and professional accomplishments, her own progress, Mrs. Palin’s views would serve to do nothing but hinder it for others.

If the McCain-Palin ticket is victorious in November it speaks volumes to where the majority of Americans sit politically, socially and progressively.  It also clearly defines what Americans consider change.  

I’m not sure what that means to the rest of us….

Bookmark Me!

Hide Sites

Another Attack on U.S. Would Be “Big Advantage” For McCain….

Ummmm…. Wow. As usual tasty morsels for the press. My only question is: after the past eight fucking years, there’s anyone out there that would reasonably dispute this?! Bush built- and subsequently lost, a term or two too late- a presidency exclusively on the fear and paranoia of the American public. Based on the terror and tragedy of 9-11. Bush got a whole helluva lotta traction out of 9-11… disturbing, really. More disturbing still: The public bought it, and an unjust war, hook line and sinker.

My husband’s- American that he is, despite my best efforts- initial response to McCain’s advisor was one of indignation, something about “insulting our intelligence…”

Huh?! After a backhand upside his handsome head most gentle reminder that after the past near decade, our hopped up neighbors to the south have absolutely no right to indignation with regards to their intelligence. I’m sorry hopped up Americans. But as an objective observer, enjoying the buffer of an international border and a vastly different set of values with regards to foreign policy, you have to understand that the rest of the world can only sometimes just stare in incredulous stupefication.

The sad truth is… an international or domestic incident fundamentally threatening the national security of the United States would be better than Jesus ariz at Christmastime for the GOP. Sick, yes. But the fact is when push comes to shove- Jihad Style- nobody’s gonna put the security of the nation in the young, inexperienced hands of Barack Obama. McCain’d ride the wave of fear all the way to the White House.

Bush was a goofy, po-dunk, good ol’ boy before 9-11. Until the unfortunate quagmire that is Iraq, it was the national crisis that took down The World Trade Centers that defined his presidency. It rallied overwhelming public support and approval. It got him elected a second term.

The power of fear….

Bookmark Me!

Hide Sites