I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Athena, love that second outfit the most!

Re: Christie.  Good article in the Daily Beast today:

"Christie’s snub by CPAC underscores that many on the right still distrust the New Jersey governor over his Obama embrace, attacks on Republican lawmakers over Sandy aid—and because they don’t think he’s much of a conservative"

".........But mostly, in what could be seen as a rebuke to those hardliners in Washington, Christie extolled the virtues of compromise. He told of trying to get an income tax passed through the legislature in Trenton. Lawmakers rejected the idea, preferring a property-tax cut.  So I sat around for a little while and let their plan stew, and then I said, you know what, what do I really care? I think my plan is better, but you know what, some tax cut is better than no tax cut, so let’s go for their tax cut,” he said. “Let’s compromise.....”

Don't forget Jon Huntsman -- they loathe him, too.  He worked for the black guy, he said he believed in evolution, he supports marriage rights for everyone, and he said he won't set himself on fire to please the nutjobs.  Of course, he is cast into the outer darkness, too -- and I imagine he is perfectly happy there with statesmen like Colin Powell!  Huntsman was the biggest real threat to the President's re-election, although it was a foregone conclusion that he would never even win one primary because he is SANE.

Here is a fascinating article I just read this morning.  I subscribe to a news brief service called Quartz, from The Atlantic Monthly (I LOVE The Atlantic!).  This article popped up in the newsfeed - it is long but worth your time.  It discusses how cultural differences have actually impacted even research on cultural differences, and turns topsy-turvy the idea that human brains are hardwired for things like altruism for the survival of the species.  It is really interesting, and I'm putting the book on my to-read list from the library!

Voting Rights Act -- any of the members of SCOTUS who doubt that the Voting Rights Act continues to be desperately needed in the South (and, indeed, other places) should go stand at a polling place in a predominantly brown neighborhood and see the lines of people waiting to vote.  Or during an election go to the polling places that had 8-hour lines in Florida and stand there and watch.  Scalia makes me sick.

 L

It's just a pity that, thanks to these people, history will also be unkind for millions of Americans, including those all across the country who will lose jobs due to the GOPs insistence on protecting the rich at all costs.

I've enjoyed catching up with the discussion here, also the animal pics and Wow - I've decided to hunt the resale shops for Armani. Every single look was to my taste, except for the berets.

Kam, I so know what you mean. After losing 2 outdoor cats my grandson and I have finally convinced my daughter to not let their new kitten outdoors. She's a smart little girl, and doesn't even seen to want out. They got her from the shelter at 6 months and she may know that it's not safe in them thar woods. 

I love dogs, but would also like to get a kitten. However, my DH will not have a clawed cat in the house and I have read that it is truly cruel to declaw cats. So, we will have dogs.

Jackie, just so sad. Poor little Autumn.  I want to add that thank God she now has you and your DH to take care of her.

That's an idea, though, about getting a de-clawed baby from the shelter. When the time comes, I'll check into it. DH only wants one pet at a time, so a vulnerable kitty would have our full attention and protection.

My other "pets" are the squirrels, birds, and darling oppossum I feed outdoors. I also like the raccoons, but they can be a problem. I try not to encourage them to come around, as if that does a lot of good, lol. The bobcat and I have had a territorial battle, which, to date, I seem to have won!

Yorkie - what is the theory of not wanting clawed cats?  I really got lucky with my 2 cats...they don't scratch furniture (only kitty post), they would stop on a dime before extending their claws at me (literally) and btw, do not shed (I've heard tuxedo's don't shed and I'm here to attest, with my cats, they do not, or barely!).  They even get along at times .

Kam, your kitties are adorable! Regarding the claw situation, I've tried to reason with DH about this, but to no avail. When he's convinced he's right, well, there's just no arguing. But since there are so many animals needing adoption, probably doesn't matter if we rescue a dog or cat. I have just so loved my daughters' cats that I kind of want one.

Blue...would love to see a pic of that!

Gardengumby...I thought your home was sold?  Did it not close?  So frustrating being in limbo, isn't it.

Oh oh...I hear my Mom listening to Michelle Obama give a speech about getting kids up and moving to keep healthy.  How dare she.......

When people speak of "taking America back," do they mean back to the days when white men were in charge? Is it THAT frightening to have a brown man as President, and women in office? So frightening that people threaten violence; stockpile guns, canned food and liquor; and pass vaginal probe bills? Why are people so afraid? I am well and truly puzzled.

yorkiemom ... kittens are crazy little whirlwinds of chaos.  You know that right?  An older cat is much less challenging    I'm not in favor of declawing either.  But my Sidney was front declawed and it did nothing to stop him from thinking (knowing) he was king of the hill.  He never acted like it bothered him a bit.  So you don't have to think that any declawed cat you got would be any different from a clawed cat.  Some are but not most IMO.

My best friend's sister practically spits out her dislike of Michelle Obama.  BF has asked her why and 'she doesn't know why and can't come up with even one reason, she just does not like her and hates having her as First Lady'.  If I dislike somebody that violently I am going to be able to bend your ear for quite a while telling you why.  This is not a person I would consider a racist ... but really what am I to think?? 

The Violence Against Women Act got passed today ... so at least something has gotten done.  Finally.

I'm going to wade into the declawing issue.  I was very against it.  My cats weren't declawed and used scratch pads and posts with no problem.  Then we got Sidney as a kitten.  He scratched on wood ... as in cabinets, door trim, furniture ... to the point of destruction and would not be deterred.  It got to where he was being hollered at and taken to the scratch pad so much that he (and the other dogs and cats in the house) were turning into nervous nellies.  And hubby was beyond pissed off.  I certainly wasn't going to take him back to the high kill shelter we got him from, or throw him outside, and nobody wants a cat that is known to destroy woodwork.  So ... we had him front declawed.  And I felt horrible about it, and boohooed all over the place.  Meanwhile Sidney had bandages on his paws for a few days, would not even stop jumping all over the place for the time he was supposed to be babying his paws and acted like it was a big bunch of nothing.  He was then free to 'scratch' on wood to his little heart's content and lived happily ever after with us for over 15 years.  I would not do it as a first resort, but no longer do I question others on the issue either.  It can be the much lesser evil. 

Wabbit, I do know that and will consider an older animal (we'll probably still get a dog), however I love to get them as babies. I can totally see why you declawed your Sydney, and, faced with those choices, I would have done the same thing. Loving and caring for an animal is far preferable than putting them into dangerous and deadly situations.

Blue, reminds me of Gulliver's Island! 

Enjoyful - I've wondered the same thing - "take out country back" - really, where did it go?  Back to where?  From whom?

Finally learned to laugh at it.  Back to the days of "Leave it to Beaver" or "father Knows Best" - and as we all know, back street abortions where women DIED, segregation legal in so much of the country, and still a part of life in places in the North which just didn't talk about it.  FEAR.  FEAR.  FEAR.  That's the only think I can think of - sad, sad, sad.

AND venturing very, very far into paranoia with a "fear" of attack from the United Nations?  Really...I've heard of that too.