I got a new job - and you can be a part of it!

I am pleased to announce that I have accepted a position as Deputy Political Director for Trevor for Congress!

Trevor Thomas is running for Congress in the new 3rd Congressional District, which now includes the counties of Barry, Calhoun, Ionia, and most of Kent. This is Gerald Ford's old seat, but Dick VanderVeen (D-East Grand Rapids) represented the district for nearly three years after Ford became Vice President. The seat has a tradition of electing Members of Congress who were well respected by Democrats and Republicans alike.

That is, until 2010.

Justin Amash has shown himself to be very ideological and ambitious. In 2008, the 28-year-old Amash was elected to the state House. Just two years later, he chose to run for Congress instead of running for another two terms in Lansing. That's despite the fact that his State House district is very Republican, and he certainly would've won re-election. In his votes in Washington (and before that in Lansing), he has ticked off a number of his fellow Republicans. He endorsed Ron Paul for President this year.

In short, Justin Amash needs to go. And Trevor Thomas is the man to make that happen.

Trevor has accomplished a lot in such a short time. Raised in the town of Marne, Trevor is the son of two GM retirees and has many relatives who have worn our country's uniform. Trevor graduated from Grand Valley State before working for WGVU, WOOD TV8, Granholm for Governor 2006, the Office of the Governor, and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. He played a key role in eliminating "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." His roots here are strong; his commitment to progressive values is even stronger.

He has also shown that he is able to build the string base of support he will need in order to win both the primary and the general. In the first quarter, 800 donors gave more than $100,000 - and 88% of those donations were $200 or less. He has been endorsed by progressives like John Cherry, centrists such as Jennifer Granholm, and even a few Republicans (Former Kent County Republican Party chair Bob Eleveld introduced Trevor at his announcement speech last month).

If you've wanted Democrats in Washington to do a better job and stand up for our values, Trevor Thomas is your answer. If you think we need more people young people in Congress with working-class roots, Trevor Thomas is your answer. If you want to see more and better Democrats in elected office, Trevor Thomas is your answer. If you want someone who will stand up for his beliefs but who also knows how to build coalitions, Trevor Thomas is your answer.

To say the least, I am honored to have this opportunity to work for him and to help send him to Washington.

If you are so inclined, feel free to chip in a few bucks to ensure we have what it takes to win this race!

Bits of Tid: February 6, 2011

Elections Here and Abroad Edition

• Happy Birthday Grandma! She's 87 today, which is hard to believe. She's also a proud Democrat, was an Army nurse, and is deeply committed to her Catholic faith. (She met Grandpa through her brother-in-law, who was one of his Army buddies.)
• So Mubarak says he won't run in the upcoming Egyptian election. But will he even allow it go on? Or will he just cancel it and maintain power for as long as he's able to? That's not far-fetched given that he hasn't allowed anyone to run against him.
• Notice how the media is portraying the protests as 'anti-government' protests? They're anti-Mubarak protests, but you don't hear them calling them that. Unless they're trying to use these protests against the Mubarak regime to further a general distaste of government in general.
• If not for Egypt, the fact that this would have been Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday would probably be the big story of the day. But as someone recalled in a recent letter to USA Today:

  I do not recall any celebration of Franklin D. Roosevelt's 100th birthday, and he had real accomplishments: leading this country out of the Depression and to victory over the Nazis in World War II. Roosevelt created the modern presidency, not Reagan, who demeaned and disgraced it.

  Furthermore, one wonders if the modern Tea Party would tolerate someone like Reagan running for office. He tripled the national debt and raised the payroll tax. At any rate, there better be a lot of hoopla surrounding the 100th birthdays of Gerald Ford (July 14, 2013) and John F. Kennedy (May 29, 2016).
• It's February 6 and so far only one Republican - Herman Cain (?!) - has even formed an exploratory committee to run for President. At this time in 2003, Howard Dean, John Edwards, and John Kerry (and probably a couple others) had announced Presidential runs. Four years ago today, Democrats Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Tom Vilsack had formed committees, along with Sam Brownback (R) and others. Perhaps they're waiting for Palin to say whether she'll run or not? Either way, while she has a hardcore batch of supporters, I don't expect Palin to get the nod.
• I kind of suspect that they all see Obama as the general-election favorite, and many people who didn't vote in 2010 (thus enabling the Republican wave) will vote this time, boosting Obama and other Dems. Perhps if they see more weakness/vulnerability in Obama, they'll run. Otherwise, who wants to be the Dole or Mondale of 2012? (Keep in mind, though, that so much can and will happen between now and November 6, 2012. In fact, Bush Sr.'s poularity in 1991 is credited/blamed for dissuading many Democrats from making a run - but Clinton's persistence paid off big time.)
• That said, 2011 does come before 2012. (Shocking, huh?) This year's focus is on local races, including for mayor of Grand Rapids, Flint, and other cities, along with city council/commission races in most cities. Perhaps, for the first time since I turned 18, I (a First Ward resident) will vote in a contested City Commission race here in Kentwood!
• Also up for election this year are seats on school boards as well as community college trusteeships. The race for two spots on the Grand Rapids Community College Board of Trustees features former GRPS superintendent Bert Bleke and former Republican state House candidate Frank Murin, among others. In Kentwood, incumbent Bill Joseph is retiring, while Mimi Madden is seeking her third term (and will likely get one of my votes). That means one other person will be elected - and unless another great candidate steps up to the plate, my other vote will go to Amanda LeAnne Brunzell.
• After much thought, I'll cheer for Josh Gordy, Cullen Jenkins, Frank Zombo, and the Packers over Antonio Brown and the Steelers. But like I said, they both got good players.

A birthday wish

So here's the deal:

• Today's my 23rd birthday.
• Jocelyn Benson's birthday is tomorrow. Pat Miles's birthday was this past Tuesday.
• I'm not expecting much in the way of birthday presents - my family is not doing well, financially speaking.
• I'm still very much underemployed (I bartend once or twice a month).
• One third of our state's population lives in a competitive or quasi-competitive Congressional district (1, 3, 7, 9, 15).
• About a quarter of the state's population lives in a competitive State Senate district.
• About a third of the state's population lives in a competitive State House district.
• Whatever you think about the races for Governor and Attorney General, the Secretary of State's race is very competitive. And if Jocelyn doesn't win this time... well, I don't know what to say.
• The Republicans are going for revenge for their 2008 Supreme Court loss, targeting Justice Davis and airing slick "Young and Kelly, Kelly and Young" ads.
• Many people, good and otherwise, have been elected by a small number of votes, including John Engler, Mike Rogers, Roger Kahn, John Pappageorge, Al Franken, LBJ (to the US Senate), and I could go on.

I would really, really, really like it if you could give me - and Pat and Jocelyn - a birthday present. One that will help our entire state. And, for that matter, our entire country.

I ask each of you to give 23 hours of your time over the next couple of weeks to help get out the vote.

23 hours over 12 days. Sounds like a lot, right? Well, consider that there are many campaign staffers across the state who work 12- to 16-hour days during campaign season, seven days a week, all for very little pay. And they'll be doing that for twelve more days!

If they can do it, so can you. And each of those staffers would hate, hate, hate for their candidate to lose after all the effort they invested in this election. Especially if it's very close - like recount-close.

So stop by your local campaign office and sign up for a few shifts of GOTV work. And don't forget what else you can do: Let the Justice Caucus know you'd like to help with their Supreme Challenge campaign. Maybe even give a few bucks. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. (As Election Day approaches, many papers have LTTE cutoff dates; any LTTEs submitted after that date will not be considered for publication - so get your letters in ASAP!)

You will help Democrats win races up and down the ballot. You will make new friends in the campaign office. You will help boost your chances of getting a leadership role in your local Democratic Party after the election (if you're into that kind of thing).

And you will help stun the pundits.

23 hours. That's not much of your time, when you think about it. And it's well worth the investment.

No regrets.

Let's leave it all on the field!

Primary Highlighted by Urbanowski Wins

KENTWOOD, MI (ScottyUrb News) - Scott Urbanowski and his mother won their races for Democratic Precinct Delegate on Tuesday, the Kent County Clerk said Thursday.

Scott Urbanowski, 34 votes, was re-elected to a third term, while his mother, Karen Ann Urbanowski, received three votes as a write-in candidate. James Chase, who has been a precinct delegate at least as long as the younger Urbanowski, won with 28 votes.

"I'm humbled, I'm gratified, I'm happy, I'm delighted, and I'm good-looking," said Scott Urbanowski.

Scott thanked all of his supporters as well as the three people who voted for his mom - Scott himself, Scott's mom herself, and Scott's dad.

"I'd especially like to thank my parents, as well as my bird, Sniffles, and our dogs, Lucy and Phoebe."

"Given that my dad and I helped Mom win, we both expect her to repay us for helping her win," Scott said.

"Otherwise, we'll run a smear campaign next time!"

Critics, however, said Urbanowski relied too much on rookies for their support.

"He got his mom to run!" complained Betsy DeVos. "I would never get a relative to run for anything!"

"Not to mention that their new dog, Phoebe Hussein Osama, has been living with them for just three weeks! I wonder if she's here legally?"

Urbanowski said he got involved in the Democratic Party because "doing something is better than sitting on your McManus and doing nothing," referring to state Sen. Michele Bachmann-McManus, whom Republicans may nominate for Secretary of State.

"Democrats have a great slate of candidates running this time, including the populist mayor of Lansing, Virg Bernero, our next Governor; future Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson; future Attorney General David Leyton; our next 3rd District Congressman, Patrick Miles, Jr.; State Senator-to-be David LaGrand; and incumbent Kent County Commissioner Peter Hickey.

"Now if only we could do something about Socialist Kenyan Muslim Barry Husein bin Obomba."

Bits of Tid: June 5, 2010

• John Fugelsang has some good tweets on Twitter. One good one recently:
  
  

  The spill isn't Bush or Obama's Katrina. It's Deregulation's Chernobyl.

  
  
• Steve Benen raises an important question: Why is President Obama being criticized for doing what other Presidents were not criticized for doing? Examples Benen cites include bowing; appointing 'czars;' and even casual dress.
  
• Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Rep. John Dingell have taken steps to declare on a governmental level that Andres Gallaraga did, in fact, pitch a perfect game. Normally I'm against that kind of thing, but if this is all Dingell or Granholm had done this year, they still would have done more to stand up for what's right than certain other politicians.
  
• Alice Corey died this week at 59. Those of you who live in Michigan's 3rd Congressional district, she was one of our delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. I won't soon forget the passion she showed when she was elected as a delegate in April of that year.
  
• John Wooden, who also died this week at 99, gave us so many good quotes that I can't decide which is my favorite. One I like:
  
  

  Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.

  
  Wooden would know.
  
• Finally, for some good news: I have been elected the new Grand Knight for Knights of Columbus Council 4362! That means I will be in charge of the Council starting on July 1.

Bits of Tid: May 27, 2010

Lots of Good News Edition

• First of all: Sorry I haven't been blogging much recently. I recently experienced a significant event in my life - an event best known as 'graduating from college.'
  
  It was pretty neat - I mean, minus the minute or two of hail and the holding-on-to-my-hat-so-the-wind-wouldn't-blow-it-off part. But I'm proud to have joined the ranks of about 180,000 other people in becoming alumni of Central Michigan University. Fire Up Chips!
• Speaking of which, a random fact: I graduated from East Kentwood High School five years ago today - May 27, 2005.
• In other good news: Unlike in 2008, when I was one of three candidates on the ballot for two positions as Precinct Delegate in my precinct, this time it's the other way around. I'm one of two people running for three spots - which means there's a 99.999% chance I will be re-elected!
• After my one-vote re-election victory in 2008, one of the things I did in my role as Precinct Delegate was to introduce two resolutions - one of which deals with the ban on gay men from giving blood, while the other discussed higher education funding. Both resolutions were adopted by the Kent County and Michigan Democratic Parties.
  
  Well, I probably shouldn't take too much credit for this, but the feds may be on the verge of lifting that ban!
• BP might be facing criminal charges.
• Bill Schuette hasn't even been nominated for Attorney General by the Republicans - yet the Michigan Democratic Party is already going after him. Why? I don't know for sure, but click the link to see my thoughts.
• Finally - speaking of giving blood - let me remind you that there is always a need for blood. Have you given blood lately? If you haven't given blood since April 1, head on over to Michigan Blood's website and find a blood center or blood drive near you.

Bits of Tid: February 2, 2010

• A girl was rescued in Haiti 15 days - 15 DAYS - after the earthquake. Another reminder to never give up hope!
• Being a liberal isn't always easy. After all, it's not always popular to support what you firmly believe is best for all human beings. But compared to being a conservative, it's a pretty good deal.
  
  First, there's the 'debate' that was supposed to happen at CMU. It was to be hosted by the Campus Conservatives, but, well, only one person confirmed - Tom George. Central Michigan Life - which has previously given (in my opinion) too much coverage to the Campus Conservatives and very little to the College Democrats - ripped into the Campus Conservatives.
  
  What's more, the Campus Conservatives' own Dennis Lennox is facing criminal charges after mailing Christmas cards with political inserts using County-paid postage.
• As for progressives, what did you think of Obama's State of the Union? I gave it an A-minus. I didn't agree with a couple of the points he made, but overall, he did very well. And how about him for going after the Republicans on their own turf?
• America: Less Gas Than Before. No, not that kind of gas. I'm talking about fuel.
• Maybe it's just me, but it seems like time is absolutely flying. Just like that, January has come and gone. Meanwhile, I graduate in just 95 days. To give you some perspective: 95 days ago, it was October 30.

Bits of Tid: December 29, 2009

• Yikes. As I was driving my van onto a snowy and icy entrance ramp to I-96 yesterday, I lost control and slid partway into a ditch. Luckily, the van suffered no apparent damage, and other than being shaken up, I was fine.
  
  Fine, that is, until I had to pay the towing company. But the point is, as far as accidents go, that was a very minor one - not even a fender-bender. And of course, I was wearing my seat belt. So I hope you're careful on the roadways - especially those ramps!
• Speaking of traveling safely, Republicans in Congress have provided opposition to TSA funding - a move which many call hypocritical, while some suggest it makes them responsible if something should happen down the line.
• Also, here's a good piece about then-President Bush's response to the shoe-bombing incident which took place around the same point in Bush's presidency as the Metro Airport incident did in Obama's.
• To all the attention-seekers out there -from Ezekiel 28:17:

  Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.

Bits of Tid: December 7, 2009

• Before I go on, it would be a mistake not to acknowledge that today is the 68th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
  
  I hear a lot less talk about Pearl Harbor nowadays than I used to. Perhaps because many of those who remember that day have since passed on; perhaps because September 11, 2001, has taken precedence when it comes to attacks on American soil.
  
  Regardless, I ask that you please take a few minutes to remember in your thoughts and prayers all who have died in the service of our country, not only at Pearl Harbor but throughout our country's history.
• Sorry I haven't been blogging much lately; we have come upon a time we at Central call "Finals Week." Luckily, the bulk of what I have to get done is already done, and my Finals Week isn't that hard at all.
• In between studying, I am reading True Compass: A Memoir, by our beloved Ted Kennedy.
• Wal-Mart's been naughty.
• Just in time for Copenhagen: What if scientists could create electricity with zero CO2 emissions? Now they can.
• And if that's not enough, solar electricity is becoming more available.
• Guess who cracked the AP Top 25?
• And finally, enjoy this holiday medley by Straight No Chaser:
  
  

Bits of Tid: August 16, 2009

• I'm back at CMU! I still have a week until classes begin, but that doesn't mean I can't start studying in my air-conditioned hall! This winter, when you think Michigan is too cold, remember days like today!
• The President in The New York Times:

  OUR nation is now engaged in a great debate about the future of health care in America. And over the past few weeks, much of the media attention has been focused on the loudest voices. What we haven’t heard are the voices of the millions upon millions of Americans who quietly struggle every day with a system that often works better for the health-insurance companies than it does for them.

• Conan O'Brien:

  "This is a weird story. Someone recently tried to sell an Xbox that was autographed by Sarah Palin for $1.1 million. Yeah. Unfortunately, the Palin Xbox kept quitting in the middle of every game."

• Tigers' magic number: 44. Meanwhile, the Lions are on pace to go 4-0 in the preseason - just like they did last year!
• Robert Gibbs:
  

Goodbye, Swifty. I will always love you.

December 5, 2004. It was senior year of high school. The school was being renovated. Christmastime jazz and wind ensemble concerts were fast approaching. Our AP Government's We the People state competition loomed on the horizon after New Year's. Worst of all, Grandpa, and our dogs Bonnie and Cindy, had all died within the previous year and a half. And did I mention that Bush had just been given a second term? All in all, I was a wreck.

Enter Swifty. She was my Christmas present that year. And what a wonderful gift she was.


Swifty passed away this morning. She was about 8 or 9 human years old.

Swifty was a black lab with some husky mixed in. As you might tell, her eyes were different colors - one brown, the other blue! The folks at the Humane Society named her Swiftie, after Dr. Swift, but we changed the spelling.

For the first eight months after we got her, she was my dog. Or so I would have Mom and Dad believe! I let her sleep on my bed each night. I kept thinking to myself, I better get to bed before Swifty gets there or I'm gonna have a rough night! (Make that a 'ruff' night!) She was on my bed wagging her tail when she welcomed me home as a new high school graduate.



Oh, and the walks! For those first several months, the mere utterance of the word "walk" would get her attention! I would take her for a walk every night after Jeopardy! - a tradition that continued almost every night I've been home from college in the past four years.

In August of 2005, it came time to part ways - temporarily. I was off to Central Michigan University. From what I understand, she didn't seem to have a hard time adjusting to my absence. We left her home the day I went up to CMU that August, but when my homesick self was about to come home for Labor Day Weekend, there she was in the passenger seat of the van, panting with excitement!

In January of 2006, with me at school and my brother in Alaska, Mom and Dad felt lonely with just one dog at home. So they gave Swifty a rambunctious, yet adorable, sister: Lucy. Here's Lucy on the left, Swifty on the right:



Swifty was by far the best behaved dog our family has had (at least since I've been alive). I will always treasure the walks we took, the fun we had (with Lucy, of course), and the smiles she brought to our faces. She showed us so much love, and we did the same to her.

We took Swifty to the vets about a month ago because she was having trouble breathing. After a total of three vet visits, a loss of her appetite, and a misdiagnosis of what they thought was a respiratory infection, an X-ray revealed she had dilated cardiomyopathy, which is an enlarging of the heart. Few dogs who have it survive more than a year or two from diagnosis.

She didn't really regain much strength. She slept a lot. Our walks were fewer and shorter. We went for one last one earlier this week.

This morning, I woke up to the sound of my mom sobbing and telling my aunt, "she's gone!" Mom had seen her laying on her belly, perked up, in the back yard a little while ago. She moved under the hammock, which was a favorite spot of hers, and passed away there. We buried her just a little while earlier.

Thank you for being such a wonderful Christmas present, Swifty.

Rest in peace.

Service + History = Spring Break!

[T]he way to live a full life is to think about what can I do for others, how can I be a part of this larger project of making a better world. - Barack Obama

For about the seventh (?) year in a row, a group of Central Michigan University students spent my Spring Break volunteering at Chippokes Plantation State Park in Virginia. It was by far the most fulfilling and productive Spring Break I have ever had, not just because of the work we did, but because of how historic the area is. Located right across the James River from the Jamestwon-Yorktown-Williamsburg area, Chippokes is one of the oldest still-operating farms in the entire United States.

I've been busy in the past few weeks, but luckily I am finally able to share with you some thoughts and pictures from the wonderful break that was!

We left Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, around 5AM on Saturday morning, March 7. We spent much of the next 16 hours listening to the Top 40 on satellite radio, getting to know each other, playing name games, stopping for meals... and sleeping! On Sunday we met some of the camp staff, took the ferry across the James to get some groceries, and had our first nightly reflection. I took a couple of shots of the James:




...and here is their donkey, Jack, whom we called Stephan!


Our service itself involved such tasks as fertilizing trees, raking leaves, building a fence, raking leaves, cleaning the beach, raking leaves, refurbishing antique farm equipment - and did I mention raking leaves?


Not only was Thursday the birthday of one of the other students, it was also the date of the annual lunch thrown by the park staff for CMU volunteers. The menu included mac-and-cheese, rolls, a birthday cake, and a genuine Smithfield ham, which, according to Virginia law, could only be called a Smithfield ham because it was slaughtered, processed, and cured within the City of Smithfield. After lunch we toured the plantation's mansion.

Incidentally, here's a fun fact for you: Brandy likely saved the plantation during the Civil War. Officers from both sides cherished the brandy that the plantation produced, and, let's face it, when you're engaged in armed conflict, do you really want to risk destroying your source of brancy?

We had Friday off, and Kathy, our volunteer coordinator, took us across the river to Jamestown! We toured both the Jamestown National Historic Site as well as the Jamestown Settlement museum. We also saw the glass factory. As one participant said, it was a living history lesson that cannot be taught within the confines of a school building.


As we got ready to go to bed on our first night there, a realization hit me: We were going to sleep where slaves once slept. As we learned before we left, the cabin served as a slave quarters for much of the plantation's history. I was once again reminded of slavery's presence in the area when we watched a movie about the beginnings of Jamestown - and the beginnings of slavery - at the Historic Site.

But then, as we left that theater, I saw something that reminded me of just how far we as a nation have come:


I think that seeing his portrait at the Historic Site is when it finally hit me that this young man is actually President of the United States.

Kathy offered to be in a picture with us at the museum:


I will not forget the good times we had there, nor the many great people we met, from Ray, the camp host, to RJ, the park ranger. And they were so friendly! Whomever came up with the term "Southern hospitality" must have had these wonderful people in mind!

To me, Spring Break 2009 will serve as a shining example of how, when we give of our time, talent, and treasure, we receive so much in return!

Bits O' Tid: March 17, 2009

• I got plenty of pictures and thoughts to share with you on my service trip to Virginia! Meanwhile, here's a tease:
  
  
• My cousin finished third in a statewide free-throw contest for her age group!
• Compliments of Michelle:
• Meanwhile, Jack Cafferty offers some early praise for Michelle's husband:

  While the armchair quarterbacks second guess the new president, he gets up every day and does things, lots of things.

  Whether it's creating commissions for women and girls, ordering the investigation of President Bush's use of signing statements, or jamming a huge stimulus package through Congress, the man is working his tail off. And he seems to be loving every minute of it. It's almost as though our president was born to do exactly what he's doing. He's leading, and boy, is that refreshing.

• Bernie Madoff is more popular than Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly.
• What's that big orangish-yellow thing in the sky?

What am I doing for Spring Break?

Well, for the first time ever, I am not going home for Spring Break. Instead, I'll heading to Chippokes Plantation State Park in Virginia this weekend!

With recreational activities and opportunities to look at life in a bygone era, Chippokes Plantation offers something for everyone. A working farm since 1617, visitors may tour an antebellum mansion, stroll through formal gardens, or view a collection of antique farm and forestry equipment and a sawmill exhibit at the Farm and Forestry Museum.

But I'm not just going there for the beauty and history. I'm going there to help preserve the park as part of CMU's Alternative Breaks program. This will be my first weeklong AB, and almost everyone who's been on an AB before said they had a blast!

Says the Virginia Conservation and Rec website:

Chippokes Plantation State Park is one of the oldest working farms in the United States. Chippokes is a living historical exhibit located in a rural agricultural area along the James River in Surry County. In addition, the park has a wide variety of traditional park offerings, including a swimming complex, visitor center, picnic facilities, and hiking and biking trails. The plantation has kept its original boundaries since the 1600s and has a variety of cultivated gardens and native woodland. The formal gardens surrounding the Chippokes Mansion are accented by azaleas, crepe myrtle, boxwood and seasonal flowers. The plantation grounds are also home to the Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum.

Chippokes Plantation State Park is operated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in cooperation with the Chippokes Plantation Farm Foundation. The Virginia General Assembly created the foundation in 1977 to establish, administer and maintain the model farm. Funding for the foundation comes from farmland rent payments, donations, admissions and gift shop sales.

I will be back on Sunday, the 15th. Then (or shortly thereafter), I will have plenty of pictures to show you!

So look out Tim Kaine, Mark Warner, Jim Webb, and Bobby Scott... here I come!

Bits of Tid: February 6, 2009

• Governor Granholm wants to freeze tuition hikes, auto insurance rate hikes, utility shutoffs, and foreclosures. So she said in her State of the State address this past Tuesday.
• The President goes Post-al:

  This plan is more than a prescription for short-term spending -- it's a strategy for America's long-term growth and opportunity in areas such as renewable energy, health care and education. And it's a strategy that will be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability, so Americans know where their tax dollars are going and how they are being spent.

  And at the bottom, the Post tells us a quick something about the author:

  The writer is president of the United States.

• My two favorite Super Bowl ads:
  
  
• Jimmy Carter in Our Endangered Values:

  The vocabulary I had known and used in the Navy was quite different from the one we were now using to teach the Gospel!

  Really, President Carter? Give us some examples of each. :D
• Yours truly has been accepted as a new member of the National Residence Hall Honorary! NRHH members are considered among the top 1% of leaders living in residence halls on their campus.

Bits of Tid: January 8, 2009

"Behold, All Things Have Become New" Edition

• John Cherry is running for Governor! Other fine Dems may also enter the race, and so I am not willing to say at this point that I endorse Cherry. However, I very much like what Cherry has done for our state.
• Meet Nancy Killefer, the first CPO of the United States. (That's Chief Performance Officer. :-) )
• When you're done meeting her, I'd like you to meet Chief Justice Kelly and Justice Hathaway.
• So they're raising hay about Attorney General-designate Eric Holder. You know what? Leahy's right. He'll be confirmed easily. I mean, the new President's got more Senators of his party than Bush did in 2001, when Ashcroft was confirmed 58-42.
  
• Any Republicans who oppose helping auto workers but support this proposed porn industry bailout can expect to hear an earful from me.
• I'm using 43things.com to help me keep track of my New Year's Resolutions and other things I want to do during my life. Highly recommended!

Bits of Tid: December 24, 2008

"Santa, I've Been A Really Good Boy This Year" Edition

• Guess what I did yesterday? I saw the Trans-Siberian Orchestra!
• Guess what I'm doing tonight? I'm going to Midnight Mass at the Cathedral! I like going to Midnight Mass on Christmas, but I've never been to the Cathedral for it!
• Guess what I'm doing Friday? I'm going to the Motor City Bowl!
• Never heard of this before.
• Plenty of Christmas jokes here.
  
• Yule Log anyone?

Values

(This is a repost of a diary I wrote a few months ago on Daily Kos. It is also, in a way, Part 1 of a series about where I believe our Party should go in the near future.)

Why are you a Democrat?

What makes you vote for the Democratic ticket on Election Day? What made you decide that just voting for progressive Democrats is not enough - that you also need to volunteer for the Obama campaign or for other progressives running in your area?

To me, being a Democrat is not only about supporting this policy or opposing this action. Yes, I do hold most of the same stances as most Democrats when it comes to important issues of the day. I opposed the Iraq War before it started. I support healthcare for all. I believe in regulations for corporations. Dependence on foreign oil? Bad. Corruption? Bad. Regressive tax policy? Bad. Higher pay for teachers? Good. Diplomacy? Good. The right to form and join unions? Good.

But having these opinions hardly has anything to do with my being a progressive Democrat. It's why I hold these positions that has led me in my young life to call myself a liberal Democrat.

Each of us has our own unique set of values, molded by our own unique set of experiences. Our values are formed by the lessons we learn from parents, teachers, managers, coaches, clergy and so on. They come from our interactions with our friends, co-workers, and distant relatives we may only meet at family reunions or weddings. They also come from events of the world around us, such as a neighbor dying suddenly, a local factory closing, or September 11.

But every time I stop to think about the values that guide me, they all lead back to one word.

Respect.

What, then, are those values of which I speak - values which lead back to respect? Here is a look at the tip of the iceberg.

Why do I support access to health coverage for all citizens? Because I value compassion.

I also value responsibility. I believe that all of us - humans, corporations, the like - must act in a responsible manner to one another. Thus, I support regulating carbon emissions, making our country energy independent, and using diplomacy over militarism.

I value truth, and I understand that the best society is one where people understand the truth and seek it out when necessary. It is also why I believe in the importance of educating everyone, and that education is not merely about being able to determine the number of degrees in the corners of a polygon or the atomic number of each element on the Periodic Table, but in the ability to think for oneself. For those reasons I support strengthening our public education system, and I oppose deception and lies in all their forms.

Compassion, responsibility, truth... they all lead back to respect. As do the many other values I cherish.

I take the words "All men are created equal" to heart. Well, somewhat. All men and women are created equal.

This is especially true when you consider how fortunate you and I are. I was not born into wealth or privilege. Yet, nor was I born into poverty in Africa. I'm not in a high-rise condo, but nor do I find myself in Darfur or South Ossetia. As I said on Thanksgiving, I am not the most privileged person on the planet, but I am luckier than many.

To value respect is to understand the importance of every human being on this planet - that each human being can make our own life richer, if only we let them.

And when people deny this very respect to others, they are in effect denying it to themselves. A person is less able to show respect when they themselves are not shown respect.

Obviously there are those whom we hold closer to our hearts than most anyone else. Yet at the same time, there are countless different ways of showing our love to other people - volunteering at the local food pantry, helping out with Special Olympics, setting up care packages to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Respect. It's amazing how that one word sums up not only my personal values, but also why I am a Democrat.

With Democrats not being seen my some as a party of values, I would like to see more Democrats emphasize the importance of values. By discussing our shared values, Democrats can connect with voters in a way Republicans have been for years.

More importantly, I would like to see all of us Democrats - Party leaders, elected officials, and rank-and-file Democrats - commit or re-commit ourselves to these values.

More to come.

Bits of Tid: October 15, 2008

OMG I'm Almost 21! Edition

• Chances are, you stand to benefit more from Barack Obama's tax plan than from John McCain's. How much so? Find out!
  
• It was a creed written into a pumpkin that declared the destiny of a holiday: Yes We Carve.
  
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• I apologize for not blogging very much recently. To make up for it, I have a series of posts on leadership in the works; look for them in the next several days.
  
• A couple of weeks ago, members of the Maverick family - who descended from rancher Samuel Maverick, whose refusal to brand his cattle inspired the term 'maverick' as we use it today - were found to be unhappy with McCain's use of the word. You know what I do when a word is being misused? I ask LSSU to banish it!
  You know it's time to banish this word when even the Maverick family - who descended from the rancher who inspired it - says it's being misused.
  
• I finally (!) turn 21 next Tuesday! I'm not so much looking forward to drinking per se, but just being allowed to. That said, I'll probably have a cold one or two - any recommendations?
  

Bits of Tid: September 10, 2008

• I got a new job here at CMU; I'm gonna be working in the Towers Computer Lounge, which is a computer lab/coffee shop/video game area all in one room in the basement of my residence hall complex.
• So McCain is talking about change too. This is good for Obama in that he is setting the narrative in this campaign.
• According to CNN, we have a tied ballgame. Or is it?
• How much will Obama's tax cut be worth for your family? His plan would save my family several hundred more than McCain's.
• IOKIYAR.
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