I think Hillary's campaign blew it in Wisconsin. They didn't show up until the last minute and then on the day before the election, they went negative. really negative. Negative TV, negative direct mail. All attacking Obama.
He kept on with the message that's been working for him: hope, change, repeat.
She's in a tough spot. How do you attack 'hope?' Not very effectively, evidently. She came across as mean, (rather than tough) and as defensive (rather than substantial.)
I know at least 3 people who were planning to vote for another candidate but changed their vote to Obama at the last minute. Seems like a lot of other people did too. It was a blow-out.
Texas and Ohio will be interesting.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Pre-primary
My prediction: Hillary will do much better here than people are predicting. I don't think this thing is over yet.
I think Obama will take Madison, but Clinton will do well in the rest of the state. Although Madison is a bastion of crazy liberals, the rest of the state is quite conservative. And I get the sense that many conservatives will be voting Democratic this time. We have an open primary, so you can go either way. The Wisconsin Public Radio station did a series of interviews throughout the state, with blue-collar Republicans. Over and over again, they said they were going to vote Democratic in the primary. They want to get out of the war and don't see McCain as moving in that direction.
The Clintons didn't really campaign here until this weekend, which I think is a big mistake for them. We had a terrible ice/snow storm today, so I assume that Hillary's big gig tonight was canceled. Obama is *everywhere* and has been here all week. (Although his campaign made a mistake too - I've seen some Obama yard signs with a white background. Hello - we have 6 feet of snow on the ground....you can't see a white sign!) His Madison campaign is headquartered in a laundromat. I'm not kidding.
The only ad that the Clintons had on TV was an ad attacking Obama for not debating her in Wisconsin. It was a bit mean-spirited, and we got a piece of direct mail on the same subject that was attacking him (on the debate issue, again.) I haven't received a single phone call, which is nice. My husband always promises to vote for the candidate who doesn't call during dinner...) The Obama folks call almost every other day (although they are very polite.) It seems like every other commercial on TV in an Obama ad. I hope his investment pays off!
I think Obama will take Madison, but Clinton will do well in the rest of the state. Although Madison is a bastion of crazy liberals, the rest of the state is quite conservative. And I get the sense that many conservatives will be voting Democratic this time. We have an open primary, so you can go either way. The Wisconsin Public Radio station did a series of interviews throughout the state, with blue-collar Republicans. Over and over again, they said they were going to vote Democratic in the primary. They want to get out of the war and don't see McCain as moving in that direction.
The Clintons didn't really campaign here until this weekend, which I think is a big mistake for them. We had a terrible ice/snow storm today, so I assume that Hillary's big gig tonight was canceled. Obama is *everywhere* and has been here all week. (Although his campaign made a mistake too - I've seen some Obama yard signs with a white background. Hello - we have 6 feet of snow on the ground....you can't see a white sign!) His Madison campaign is headquartered in a laundromat. I'm not kidding.
The only ad that the Clintons had on TV was an ad attacking Obama for not debating her in Wisconsin. It was a bit mean-spirited, and we got a piece of direct mail on the same subject that was attacking him (on the debate issue, again.) I haven't received a single phone call, which is nice. My husband always promises to vote for the candidate who doesn't call during dinner...) The Obama folks call almost every other day (although they are very polite.) It seems like every other commercial on TV in an Obama ad. I hope his investment pays off!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Let's talk about the weather
We've broken the all-time-snow record for Madison. We've had about 80 inches of snow this winter. According to the paper, we've had more snow than Alaska this winter.
What's the forecast for Sunday? That would be 9 more inches of snow!
For much of my life, one of my prized possessions was a T-shirt that said, "I survived the blizzard of '78" Now that I realize that people died during that particular blizzard..that message might be in bad taste. My 10 year old self didn't think of those things. All I knew was that we got out of school for a week.
I'm starting to think I deserve a T shirt for this winter. "I shoveled the winter of '08" or something like that.
And I'm learning why I've never trained for a spring marathon before. Training in this crap? No fun. No fun at all. I'm supposed to run 10 miles on Sunday. How, exactly, does one run 10 miles through 9 inches of snow? Strap on my snowshoes?
The one benefit is ready-made-small-talk. Anywhere you go, *someone* will be glad to discuss this weather with you. That, and the sledding. The kids certainly think this has been the best winter ever.
What's the forecast for Sunday? That would be 9 more inches of snow!
For much of my life, one of my prized possessions was a T-shirt that said, "I survived the blizzard of '78" Now that I realize that people died during that particular blizzard..that message might be in bad taste. My 10 year old self didn't think of those things. All I knew was that we got out of school for a week.
I'm starting to think I deserve a T shirt for this winter. "I shoveled the winter of '08" or something like that.
And I'm learning why I've never trained for a spring marathon before. Training in this crap? No fun. No fun at all. I'm supposed to run 10 miles on Sunday. How, exactly, does one run 10 miles through 9 inches of snow? Strap on my snowshoes?
The one benefit is ready-made-small-talk. Anywhere you go, *someone* will be glad to discuss this weather with you. That, and the sledding. The kids certainly think this has been the best winter ever.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Ginger Ale
Son D. got a stomach bug on Friday night and was up all night vomiting, poor kid. But it was gone within 24 hours, so we assumed it was something he ate.
At 2 pm yesterday, I kissed my husband goodbye as he left for a short business trip to sunny CA.
At 6 pm yesterday, I started feeling horribly ill. By 8 pm, I was throwing up like there was no tomorrow. I left lots of messages on the husband's iPhone - hoping to get some sympathy when he landed.
Instead of sympathy, I got empathy. He was struck by this nasty virus at about the same time as I was. Except he was on an airplane. (shudder)
We talked on and off for the next 24 hours. I am convinced that he has it worse - he insists I do. (being in a hotel vs. watching 2 kids...what is harder to do while throwing up?)
Last night, I was lying in bed in complete misery -- My abs aching from all the vomiting, my throat hoarse, waves of nausea attacking every few minutes. He was the same.
I suspect that our valentines celebrations this year will be more saltines & ginger ale than chocolates & champagne.
And I still think he had it worse. Sure, I had the kids, but do you know what I served them for breakfast today? Saltines and Ginger Ale.
At 2 pm yesterday, I kissed my husband goodbye as he left for a short business trip to sunny CA.
At 6 pm yesterday, I started feeling horribly ill. By 8 pm, I was throwing up like there was no tomorrow. I left lots of messages on the husband's iPhone - hoping to get some sympathy when he landed.
Instead of sympathy, I got empathy. He was struck by this nasty virus at about the same time as I was. Except he was on an airplane. (shudder)
We talked on and off for the next 24 hours. I am convinced that he has it worse - he insists I do. (being in a hotel vs. watching 2 kids...what is harder to do while throwing up?)
Last night, I was lying in bed in complete misery -- My abs aching from all the vomiting, my throat hoarse, waves of nausea attacking every few minutes. He was the same.
I suspect that our valentines celebrations this year will be more saltines & ginger ale than chocolates & champagne.
And I still think he had it worse. Sure, I had the kids, but do you know what I served them for breakfast today? Saltines and Ginger Ale.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Dumbest thing I've ever done
OK, so driving in that snowstorm was pure stupidity. No job is worth risking your life. The meetings were great...but the world would not have ended had I missed the first day.
They got 20 inches of snow in Milwaukee. It was insane.
We are .5 of an inch away from getting the most snow ever in Madison. Supposedly, we will break the record tomorrow. crazy!
The kids are begging me to take them hear Obama speak on Tuesday night. I'm on the fence.
But when I told them they couldn't stay up past their bedtime to hear a speech, they responded "Yes We Can!"
We've got to stop watching all those Obama clips on YouTube....
They got 20 inches of snow in Milwaukee. It was insane.
We are .5 of an inch away from getting the most snow ever in Madison. Supposedly, we will break the record tomorrow. crazy!
The kids are begging me to take them hear Obama speak on Tuesday night. I'm on the fence.
But when I told them they couldn't stay up past their bedtime to hear a speech, they responded "Yes We Can!"
We've got to stop watching all those Obama clips on YouTube....
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Super Snowy Tuesday
I'm looking forward to seeing how everything plays out tonight, politically.
Blogwise,
Anjali went for Hillary
Half Changed World chose Obama
Bitch Ph.D. won't tell, yet.
Here in Wisconsin, we won't vote for another 2 weeks. So the big news is the snow. 12 more inches predicted for tonight. Because the 60 inches we've gotten already this winter - that's just not enough.
Having spent my formative years in Virginia, I did what any normal human being would do upon hearing such a forecast -I headed to the store to stock up on milk and bread. The grocery store was empty. People - do you not know that the minute the weatherman even hints at a foot of snow falling, it is your economic duty to head to the nearest grocery store and stock up?
I have a meeting tomorrow morning. In Milwaukee. 72.5 miles away from my humble abode. Is the meeting canceled? Of course not.
Really, in any normal (i.e. "southern") state, a foot of snow would cancel everything. School, work, meetings. Everything.
But here in the upper Midwest, we just carry on.
Tomorrow, I'll be the one driving painfully slowly through a foot of snow, white-knuckled on I-90, clutching my bread and milk.
Blogwise,
Anjali went for Hillary
Half Changed World chose Obama
Bitch Ph.D. won't tell, yet.
Here in Wisconsin, we won't vote for another 2 weeks. So the big news is the snow. 12 more inches predicted for tonight. Because the 60 inches we've gotten already this winter - that's just not enough.
Having spent my formative years in Virginia, I did what any normal human being would do upon hearing such a forecast -I headed to the store to stock up on milk and bread. The grocery store was empty. People - do you not know that the minute the weatherman even hints at a foot of snow falling, it is your economic duty to head to the nearest grocery store and stock up?
I have a meeting tomorrow morning. In Milwaukee. 72.5 miles away from my humble abode. Is the meeting canceled? Of course not.
Really, in any normal (i.e. "southern") state, a foot of snow would cancel everything. School, work, meetings. Everything.
But here in the upper Midwest, we just carry on.
Tomorrow, I'll be the one driving painfully slowly through a foot of snow, white-knuckled on I-90, clutching my bread and milk.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Kind, confident and happy
I loved this article.
It ends with this:
I'm starting to think being smart is overrated. We all know adults who are supersmart but somehow never learned the basic playground rules about how to play with others. And while it would be nice if my child turns out to be gifted, it would be even better if she turned out to be kind, confident and happy.
We live in a neighborhood where all the children are gifted. Really. All of them. (Including my own, of course.) I can't imagine the remarkable string of coincidences that occurred to make that happen. Must be something in the water here. ha.
Report cards came out on Friday and we are resisting all temptations to shout, "Look how smart you are! Look at those grades!"
We are trying hard to underemphasize the "smart" and focus instead on the "kind, confident, happy." We are trying hard to downplay the grades and emphasize the "learning" side of school.
But, being human, we call the grandparents and brag "Look how smart your granddaughter is! Look at her test scores!" (...when she can't hear us, of course.) Yes, we momentarily turn into one of "those" parents. Must be something in the water.
It ends with this:
I'm starting to think being smart is overrated. We all know adults who are supersmart but somehow never learned the basic playground rules about how to play with others. And while it would be nice if my child turns out to be gifted, it would be even better if she turned out to be kind, confident and happy.
We live in a neighborhood where all the children are gifted. Really. All of them. (Including my own, of course.) I can't imagine the remarkable string of coincidences that occurred to make that happen. Must be something in the water here. ha.
Report cards came out on Friday and we are resisting all temptations to shout, "Look how smart you are! Look at those grades!"
We are trying hard to underemphasize the "smart" and focus instead on the "kind, confident, happy." We are trying hard to downplay the grades and emphasize the "learning" side of school.
But, being human, we call the grandparents and brag "Look how smart your granddaughter is! Look at her test scores!" (...when she can't hear us, of course.) Yes, we momentarily turn into one of "those" parents. Must be something in the water.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Why so early?
Can anyone explain to me why Edwards dropped out before super-duper-Tuesday? He wasn't my favorite candidate, but I liked having him in the race.
Case-in-point: the snoozefest of a debate last night. Clinton and Obama were falling all over themselves pretending to like each other. Not that I want them viciously attacking each other - not at all. But watching it, I felt like any-minute-now they'd burst into a verse of Kum-ba-ya.
And that fake-liking stuff? Hillary is *way* better at that than Obama is. She's got it down pat. She can say something sugary-nice and make it sound condescending simultaneously.
I suppose we can all give thanks for one thing: She may end up as our President, but at least she's not our mother. Can you imagine? That level of manipulating prose and oratorical ability combined with the innate "Oh? is that what you are wearing today?" mantra of motherhood? That would be dangerous.
Case-in-point: the snoozefest of a debate last night. Clinton and Obama were falling all over themselves pretending to like each other. Not that I want them viciously attacking each other - not at all. But watching it, I felt like any-minute-now they'd burst into a verse of Kum-ba-ya.
And that fake-liking stuff? Hillary is *way* better at that than Obama is. She's got it down pat. She can say something sugary-nice and make it sound condescending simultaneously.
I suppose we can all give thanks for one thing: She may end up as our President, but at least she's not our mother. Can you imagine? That level of manipulating prose and oratorical ability combined with the innate "Oh? is that what you are wearing today?" mantra of motherhood? That would be dangerous.
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