Lake Woebegone nights

249/242 and holding, apparently. The main conclusion I'm drawing at the moment about the numbers from this election and the previous one is that, y'know, statistically, of course half the population is going to be dumber than average, isn't that the point of averages...? {rim-shot}

...I'm going to bed.

none so blind

I go back and forth between thinking fuck it, we survived Reagan too, and contemplating the example of my father's father quietly getting his ass out of Austria in the Twenties. Another four years of watching the toddler with the fork playing by the light-socket and not being able to do anything about it is going to be a long hard slog. I'm tired of being told that the woman on "Fourteen children and pregnant again!" is more of an American than I am. I'm tired of having to be afraid that she and people like her not only disagree with everything that I believe in, but that some of them would actively wish me dead for disagreeing with them. And I am so goddamn bone-weary of listening to that squeaky shrill excuse for a voice that's coming out of my television right now.

Taking bets now on the '08 matchup... and whether we're going to have an election at all.

don't just sit there...

My god, I'm actually annoyed enough that I just emailed my senator:

As a constituent and a lifelong Democrat who is already looking to the 2006 mid-term elections after a disappointing election night which included the loss of your colleague Mr. Daschle, I respectfully suggest that you consider supporting a choice for Senate minority leader who is a true Progressive, perhaps even yourself, rather than a vulnerable centrist such as Sen. Reid. With the increased Republican majority in the Senate, Democrats and our country can no longer afford to "go along to get along" as Reid might have to in fear of losing his seat in the future; we need you and your party to be our loyal opposition and to keep the other side of the aisle from growing arrogant in their strength of numbers. A choice for a viable minority leader MUST be from a solidly Democratic state (which Reid is not) and preferably not facing his own race during the 2006 midterm. I met you at a Dean rally in July 2003, along with Senator-elect Obama (about whose victory we are elated), and I feel that you would be a sensible choice to represent the Progressive voices of the party in a larger role, and that failing the actual minority-leader position, you are well-suited to help persuade your colleagues that what is needed now is not appeasement, but respectful -- and firm -- opposition. Thank you.

Sucking up a bit, to be sure, but what the hell, Durbin's been a decent senator from everything I've heard, and I think my point about needing a blue-stater is of some importance. If we get another pussy conciliatory red-stater like Daschle in there the Republicans will make confetti of us.

(Incidentally, with Obama's victory this means I have now met all three of my federal-level legislators. I feel like such a geek.)

dinner and a show

Mum put a pan of water on the stove just now. The moment she turned her back, Snip appeared from behind the fridge and started drinking out of the pan. I alerted Mum to this, and she replaced the pan of water... and we both watched and laughed as Snip did the "I'm not really stalking this" cat-thing, trying to dip in for another drink.

Then Mum covered the pan and started the rest of dinner. Best giggle I've had all day.

"A Modest Proposal"

Heh. I'm sure Canada wouldn't mind. :)