I’m not here to comment on his rosy assessment of the state of the world, (Ha!) I just want to say it really, really bugs how he says ‘hunnert’ instead of hundred. Diction, Mr. President.

Also, how he says ‘a’ when he’s reading his speeches, like a second grader who’s just getting the hang of it. For example. “Tonight, I am instructing the leaders of the FBI, the CIA, the Homeland Security and the Department of Defense to develop AY Terrorist Threat Integration Center, to merge and analyze all threat information in AY single location.”

That is all.

Don’t believe me? I don’t blame you. It’s pretty shocking, I know. Here is an artical from Time outlining the particulars. Basically, she rules. She’s tough and fiesty, and from what I can tell, a REAL-type person. She has been beating the GOP in their own game lately by promoting an unprecedented party unity. She’s walking her talk, too. Her PAC has given nearly half a million dollars to federal candidates this election cycle alone.

I have been so incredibly disillusioned about politics since the 2004 elections, and even though I love Maria, I haven’t gotten too excited by the midterms. It’s been a long time since I felt like I could believe in a politician.

Anyway, reading about Nancy brightens my day and I hope it does yours, as well.

Madame Speaker
Originally uploaded by picture_ho.

We HAVE to move past the war vote. Maria could have run naked through the Senate with her hair on fire screaming, “Attack Iraq? No!” and it wouldn’t have made any difference. So why condemn her for voting in favor? Do we really want to dispose of every democrat who voted for the war? What’s done is done.

I wish she had voted against the war, of course I do. But she also has to represent her entire state. We have quite a few military bases in Washington and a big giant red eastside. She represents more than just the Seattle hippies.

There is so much more to worry about in the world, and this state. I can’t believe anyone is willing to toss her out just over the war. She has kicked ass in so many other areas. Even The Stranger who has been bashing her left and right, admits she has done well:

Cantwell is outstanding on environmental issues (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, fuel-efficiency standards, Bush’s attempted giveaway to oil companies), women’s reproductive rights (she voted nay on the U.S. Supreme Court confirmations of John Roberts and Samuel Alito, and against the recent parental-notification bill), and corporate accountability (she led the fight for campaign finance reform). Most impressive, she didn’t take the bait on the GOP’s recent ploy to eliminate the estate tax.

I’m just so tired of listening to liberals rip apart a fine Senator. Please! She kicks ass! She is doing WELL. I can’t help but think every time I hear someone harp on the war issue, or claim she has recently changed her tune just because of Lieberman’s loss, that somehow they are playing into some evil republican spin machine plot. That’s right…she voted for the war…she is bad…must replace her…you are getting sleepy…wouldn’t you rather vote for Hong Tran?…who?…

We have to get serious. I am all for keeping our elected officials honest and not just handing them their seats back, but come on. Maria is an asset to the state and the democratic party and I am proud that she is my first yard sign.

My first yard sign.
Originally uploaded by picture_ho.

This video just reminded me. It shows the severe devastation of the Mississippi coast, in pictures taken in FEBRUARY of this year, six months afterwards*. The people down there find it harder to forget, I imagine, when their neighborhoods look like… gah**.

This video shows pictures from before, during and after the hurricane.

Hurricane season is about to start. I can’t imagine how these people must be feeling.

I wish we could do a better job of taking care of our own.

* It’s now 6 months later. Maybe it’s gotten a lot better?
** I just spent about 5 minutes trying to come up with ‘look like ____’ and I couldn’t think of anything to describe it. It’s that bad.