Get the jam out, Momma!

Oh, dear! Well, McCain is getting closer. During the debate last night he said he wanted to give us a $5800 tax credit so we can go out and buy our own healthcare. That's $800 more than he offered us last time. Still, though, it's a long way from the $1200 or more most of us pay.

And did I hear him belittle "health reasons" for granting women's abortions? He said something like, "That can mean anything." But get the transcript and read it yourself. I'm afraid I'll barf on my keyboard.

I think it was a slip when he said he was sure any Supreme Court justice candidate who was qualified would not be in favor of Roe Vs. Wade. Again, check it out yourself. I am not a journalist. I just hear things.

I'm betting he's sorry he ever asked about Ayers. Never ask a question you don't already know the answer to...

Get out the jam, Momma. The man is toast!

This was the last debate, but if you haven't had enough, the complete transcripts can be found on http://www.mydebates.com/

If you are ready for a political break, read chapters from my books on:

www.JanelleMerazHooper.com

In October, I've also posted two humorous Halloween fillers on the homepage.

Alaska has more people than Delaware? NOT!

©2007 Joyce Stevens, Pumpkin art

Chris Matthews (MSNBC Hardball)- I had the hairdryer on yesterday, so I didn't catch the name of the Lying-Republican-of-the-Day, but when Chris asked him if he thought Palin was ready to be vice-president, he said, "Yes! She's been a governor of Alaska for two years (I'm paraphrasing here) and Alaska isn't Delaware, you know, it's a big state!"
Well, according to my Google, Delaware has a population of 783,600 and Alaska has a population of 626, 932. It's not a big lie, but it rankles me that they think they can say anything and we'll swallow it. Or maybe, they're playing with us. Alaska does have more square miles--do they want us to think Mountains vote?

But what really matters is that the Republican Party is not the party I grew up with. It is now mean, nasty, greedy, war-loving, and eaten up by the fungus of the extreme religious right. Under Bush, they have trampled our Constitution and Bill of Rights, and they are expanding presidential powers at an alarming speed. I repeat what I've said before (quoting Reagan), "Freedom is just one generation away from extinction."
That's the real danger in this election. McCain doesn't want to talk about it, though. because telling the truth didn't serve him well, and he has learned his lesson.

I'm glad this is the last debate. I don't think I can take much more of the Loose Goose.

Quote dujour:
"The Democrats just want my money, but the Republicans want my money and soul."
email contributor

Read chapters of my books & Halloween fillers:

www.JanelleMerazHooper.com

Obama can!

Obama Gets it done!

Well, the members of McCain's campaign are whining that they can't control what their crowd shouts out during McCain's and Palin's speeches. That's just poor leadership!

Obama showed them how yesterday when, during one of his speeches, someone called out something inappropriate. Quickly, Obama said, "We don't need that." And the crowd quieted down. Immediately. Then he said, "What we need to do is vote." (Cheers!) That's how it's done, if you're really a leader.

I made a graphic for this morning, but my Google software wouldn't post it. I'll try again later. I guess everyone is blogging for Obama today!

I write books too! Read sample chapters here:

http://www.janellemerazhooper.com/

Short, Halloween fillers on my homepage in October

Wanda the Witch Hits Wall Street

Wanda Hits Wall Street
Janelle Meraz Hooper

Wanda was hot under her witch hat. It was bad enough that the crooks on Wall Street had stolen her retirement account, but their greedy screw-up was going to cause a case of trickled down economics at its worst. Parents everywhere announced they were going to have to cinch in their belts, and the first thing to go was the trick-or-treat candy. Well, Wanda didn’t blame them. She’d just been turned down on a loan for one of those new, hybrid brooms. It was Wall Street she had it in for, and she developed a two-part plan to get even.

The first part was easy. She provided Halloween candy for all of the world’s children, even in countries where Halloween wasn’t celebrated. She figured even if they didn’t celebrate Halloween, they would know how to celebrate a pocketful of candy. She paid for the candy with the petty cash the stockbrokers had hidden in secret bank accounts. That done, it was time to move to part two of her plan.

Right at midnight, Wanda flew into Wall Street with her fat cats and instructed them to leave deposits everywhere. On the carpets, on the desks, and in the fancy espresso coffeepots. Then, when the cats were done, with a wave of her wand, Wanda multiplied the deposits by 34.5%. That was the exact percentage the investors were charging for home and small business loans. Their golden parachutes she turned into fool’s gold, their retirement packages vanished into the crisp October air. Their trophy wives began to look like their first wives. As a final touch, the Halloween candy on their desks was exchanged for a special blend that gave the investors a permanent case of the green cherry quickstep. Then, on the way out the door, she waved her wand and permanently sealed the doors to their executive bathrooms.

Ah, it was a good night’s work. But it was over too soon. Wanda moved onto Washington, D.C.

Happy Halloween, Everyone! Oh, if it were only so!

I write other, serious stuff, too. Books, even. Read samples on my website:

www.JanelleMerazHooper.com

We're first in line!

And beyond! courtesy of Buzz Lightyear.

Moose and Goose are still at it. I'm wondering if I'll make it through another debate with the Great Snow Goose lying through his "patriotic" feathers.
During the last debate, I was yelling at the TV screen: "You dummie! You can't get health coverage for a family for $5,000 a year." How out of touch can he be? And THAT was before I learned he was going to tax that $5,000 before we ever got it. Have mercy. When he says Country First, he means we're first in line to get screwed.

By the way, has anyone seen Hill and Bill?

When this is all over, I'll be glad to get back to my regular blog. Remember when we used to talk about books? TV? DVDs?

www.JanelleMerazHooper.com

read sample chapters of my books on my website:

A Three-Turtle Summer

As Brown As I Want: The Indianhead Diaries

Custer and His Naked Ladies

Free Pecan Pie and Other Chick Stories (mixed genre)

coming in 2009: Bears in Hibiscus

Moose and Goose, 15 minutes of shame

Moose and Goose-I am literally sick of these two. I'm so glad their 15 minutes of shame are about up. I'm even starting to look at Cindy with new eyes. What's with her? How can she stand behind McCain and smile while he's lying? Does she want to be first lady that bad? Does she love power more than her country?
And what about all this Country First stuff?
Is lying putting our country first?

Is hiding his cancer with makeup, hoping we won't notice putting our country first? That cancer isn't that far from his brain, you know. I'm not being mean. We have to talk about this. It's time to get real. The welfare of our country is at stake.

Was saying he was going to Washington to fix the economy, then doing nothing once he got there putting our country first?

One of the last insults, when he said he was turning the page on the economy, was just too much. He doesn't care about us. He doesn't care about this country. He just cares about himself. SHAME!

Watch the debate tonight!

A rattlesnake that winks

The 2008 VP Debates--Don't be fooled by the folksy, jovial woman you saw on TV last night who seemed to be continually searching for something in her mouth (her gum?). Listen to what she said: "I'm thankful that the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president's policies..."
Sarah Palin has not yet been elected, and she is already looking for ways to increase her power. Be afraid, John McCain, be very afraid. Just because a rattlesnake winks doesn't mean it won't bite.

Quote du jour:
" Freedom is just one generation away from extinction." Ronald Reagan

McCain's chunky butt

McCain, get your little chunky butt

on that debate stage tomorrow night.

There is no free ride to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Get off my TV!

© Janelle Meraz Hooper, 2007

Wall Street crisis—So, how does it feel to owe at least $7,000 more than you did last week? That’s just an estimate. If you’ve ever gotten an estimate for car and home repairs, you know how far off an estimate can be. I say, throw them all out, the Republicans and Democrats. Then what? I don’t know…ask Sarah Palin. She knows it all.

My computer printout says we‘re short about 2676.4 trillion. The two biggest debts are owed to Japan and China. I got an email that explained it this way: China has one of our balls in its hand, and Japan has the other.

What do you think we can say now about lead in our toys from China? Toxins in our food? What if they get mad and call the debts? What then? We are no longer in a position of power.

On my TV:
An ad for Morgan Stanley. Below their banner, it said: World Wise. Yeah. Right. Get off my TV.

On NPR radio: “This is a disaster. It may be manmade. But it’s a disaster nonetheless.” Unknown caller

Quote du jour:

“No one can earn a million dollars honestly. “ William Jennings Bryan

Custer and His Naked Ladies
Have ya read it yet? Read sample chapters of all my books on:
www.JanelleMerazHooper.com

Taking a bite out of Republican tootles

© Janelle Meraz Hooper, 2008

Now that's what I'm talkin' about! Obama and Biden are finally taking bites out of the Republicans' tootles. At last! I hope they keep it up!

You may be wondering why a Hispanic/Anglo has a Buddha on her woodstove. The connection is the children crawling all over Buddha. And the beautiful execution of a ceramic that may be a Chinese version of tourist tradeware, but it is a joy to look at. I have a growing collection of ceramic people from all nations. Native Americans have a version they call "The Storyteller"; the little doll has children crawling all over her. She's next on my list.

Quote du jour:

"Ninety-eight percent of the adults in this country are decent, hardworking, honest Americans. It's the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then, we elected them." Lily Tomlin

Have ya read it yet?

Custer and His Naked Ladies

http://www.janellemerazhooper.com/

Alaska's Snow Dummy

©Janelle Meraz Hooper, Alaskan fishing floats

The Republicans--they do it to us every time, and every time it works. How dumb can we be? For how long? By inserting Palin, they have moved the focus from their bad candidate and their unacceptible doctrine to their Alaskan Snow Dummy. And we have allowed it.

We must force the focus back onto the issues: the war, the economy, healthcare, abortion rights, education, and the rest.

Forget Sarah Palin. Don't get sucked in by the Republicans and Rove again.

Quote du jour:
“The biggest lie you have been told is that you have no power to change the world, but the biggest secret is why, when you realise this, you don’t get up off your backside and do something about it.” David Southwell, Secrets and Lies (David is British)

www.JanelleMerazHooper.com

Sarah don't know her Mac from a Big Mac

Dick and I in Alaska

Dick and I spent time in Alaska--We loved it there.

Sarah Palin has to make herself available to the press. We have a right to know what she believes in. The fact that the Republicans are protecting her so much really worries me. Just how dumb is she? Say, on a scale of one to ten?

Quote du jour:

"Just how many times do you have to be hit over the head before you figure out who's hitting you?" Harry S. Truman, courtesy of Keith Olbermann

www.JanelleMerazHooper.com

You can't win an occupation

fantasy cover

Don't look for this cover in bookstores. It was just me and a digital camera fooling around. I still like it, though. The actual cover of my new novel was done by a professional...that's why they get the big bucks.

Sign from the Republican Convention--This got lost in my notes:

You can't win an occupation- Think about it...

The only quote of John McCain's that wasn't same-o, same-o:

"Education is the civil rights issue of this century."

Overheard conversation: It's no trick to balance the budget in Alaska when oil is $140.00 a barrel."

Quote du jour:

"Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong." Richard Armour (courtesy of Brainyquote.com)

http://www.janellemerazhooper.com/

I'm done with the GOP

Janelle with a good read

Now that both political conventions are over, life can return to a more near normal pace. I like to listen to everyone, and I found this year's Republican Convention entertaining. However, in the end, it all sifted down to the same old crap.

Change? What change? They just offered more of the same:

More war,

More division

More backwards, redneck philosophy against sex education

More lies

And I am sick of hearing about McCain's POW experience. Shame on him. I would expect him of all people to stand up and protest the treatment of the POWs we're holding in Gitmo, and in the other torture camps we fly prisoners around to all over the world where there are no laws against torture. What have you done for our nation, lately, John? whatever it is, please stop! I don't trust your judgement.

But I'm wasting our time. Truth is, I will never, never. vote for the GOP again. I was done, even before he let it slip that he was in favor of the draft.

I was done--even before we invaded a sovereign nation.

I was done--even before Bush refused to talk to our enemy, preferring intimidation to reason.

I was done--even before the GOP employed scare tactics to win elections.

Oh, I could go on and on. But why bother? Let's cut to the chase: There are 12-year-olds in my neighborhood who will be old enough for McCain's draft in a few years. There's not one of them I'm willing to sacrifice for the arrogance and glory of the GOP. Not one. It is my wish that if John McCain goes to that cave in Afghanistan, looking for Bin Laden, he'll go there alone...and that he'll be carrying a sleeping bag.

Quote du jour:

"He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." Sir Winston Churchill

Drain the swamp!

My canna

My Aunt Vera had cannas around her home, so I planted some in her memory this spring. Aunt Vera is in most of my books. She was a real character! I have been noticing bats around the house for the first time, and I'm wondering if it's the cannas that are attracting them...eeek! Bats and I have an unfriendly history.

The Republican Convention--Sarah Palin did rock the house, eh?

What else I liked:

The idea of going to Washington to drain the swamp. This could be done by either party, just do it!

Giuliani's speech

What I didn't like:

The chanting. It hits me as primitive, and frightening. John Adams said, "A mob is no less a mob just because it's with you."

The suggestion that Al Gore should park his private plane. And do what, ride with us? In this age of terrorism, no way do I want to be on a plane with a high profile politician.

Quote du jour:

"Michelle Obama for First Lady!"

Sarah Palin--a case of bad timing

Dragonfly in Oregon, © Dick Hooper, 2008

Sarah Palin- It's all politics in this country. Right now, I'm hanging around waiting for what Sarah Palin has to say. I've been getting emails calling me sexist because I've mentioned her running when she has children. Obama has kids, too, they say. Should he not be running?

What's wrong with you people? Do you not see the difference between a man with school age children and a woman who has a five-month-old baby with down syndrome? She is need much more at home than she is in Washington. That baby needs her.

Still waiting to see what she has to say. Maybe she'll convince me we really can't live without her. I've heard on MSNBC that she is not even giving her own speech. It's a speech written for an unknown man that's being "feminized" for her--with her own added touches, I presume. Good grief.

Republicans--lies, lies, lies. I am so sick of it.

MSNBC news--I've noticed them slanting the news toward the Democrats, and I am disappointed. I can't give you a list, I haven't got that kind of time.

Hate email--some of you people need to get a life. I got an email photo of Palin that was real, I think, but offensive all the same. I did not use it here. I forwarded it to only one Republican email friend. They were not amused. The truth hurts, I guess, but I don't even want the photo on my site. Of course, if she makes me mad tonight, maybe I will post it!

No time to edit.

Quote du jour:

"The people of the world have always been more impressed with the power of our example than the example of our power." President Bill Clinton, 2008 National Democratic Convention

Playing catch-up

The Oklahoman,

Our summer has been lousy here. Bad weather. Too much work. Too much politics. Not enough Olympics.

Bears in Hibiscus-Maybe I'm on the third rewrite. I've kind of lost track. But it's going well.

My Custer and His Naked Ladies was reviewed in The Oklahoman:

http://newsok.com/entertainment/books/

On my TV- The Melagro Bean Field. I saw it for the first time two days ago.If you haven't seen it yet, get it.

On my bed table-All of the Elizabeth Lowell's romance books with pearls, amber, jade, or rubys in the title. I think Midnight in Ruby Bayou is the best, although the one about the Pearl Cove is probably the steamiest. Whoa! I need a do-over! I missed a lot when I was young!

Also,The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. I'm just getting into it, but it looks promising.

There was one more that I won't mention by name because I think it was so poorly written, and I don't feel mean today. Can you sleep your way to the top in publishing? I think so...

A lot of my reading is in the research category, so I won't list those. I have a habit of reading books on anthropology for weeks and then end up actually using only a few lines. It's just one of the perks of being an independent writer (wink, wink).

The Olympics- I worry too much. After what our president and his sidekick Cheney have done to the world, I was really fearful that the Olympic audience might break tradition and boo us. It was a great relief when they didn't. Thank you, world. We'll do better next time.

And the sight of Putin--who had just invaded Georgia--and Bush sitting so close together cried out for a big water balloon. If I'd had my druthers, Bush would have already been wet for the gaul he showed when he lectured China on human rights. Talk about nerve. I'll be so glad when he goes back to Texas.

I'm not an Olympic enthusiast for the medals. I'm into it for the pure joy of seeing our youth (mostly) get together in one place without guns. Wasn't it John Paul Sarte who said, " When the rich start wars, the poor die?" I can never get enough of those young faces, gleaming with pride and sweat. Those bodies, strong and able, and those eyes, bright with the joy of competition.

I missed the competition I would have liked to have seen the most. I have looked all over the Internet for the film of the Mongolian wrestler who won his country's first gold medal. How exciting!

Kindle- I'm seriously taken with Amazon's Kindle, and hope to start putting my books on there within the month. Before I heard of this magical machine, I was dead set against a book that wasn't a real book. Made from real paper, with a real cover. But lately, due to the rush I've been in to get information, I've discovered eBooks. The fact that I think they're really, truly awful has been outweighed by speed. SPEED. As in having the information I need in munutes, if not seconds. It's addictive, and I think there's a Kindle in my future, if I can ever afford the sticker price (at last check, it was $359.00 on sale).

Note: while I'm on eBooks, they are not just for nonfiction. The next time you're short of something to read, check out Jim Muri's eBook site: http://blizzardguy.com/venture/index.html Jim tells a great story. I loved Blue Water Blues and Growing Milo.

No time to edit! I know my font button is jammed...

Quote du jour:

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire

Our Senate has betrayed us

Elfi Hornby and I (I'm on the left) at the Steilacoom 4th of July Street Fair, 2008.

Elfi (a fellow author) and I like to go out and meet our readers, and eat some hot dogs and ice cream at the Steilacoom Street Fair on the 4th. It's a beautiful historic town right on the water, and it's our favorite way to spend the holiday. In between the fair and the fireworks they have a charming, old-fashioned parade with marching bands, kids, and old cars, sprinkled with military men who get lots of cheers from the crowd. Our military men are the best. It's just our government that is so screwed up.

Yesterday, our Senate voted for the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act), that takes away more of our constitutional freedoms. My little old aunt better watch her mouth when she's on the phone now. It's very sad, and our sorry president has taken away the joy in doing a blog.

Well, like the traffic cop says, "Let's move on..."

Lately, I think my brain that has been frazzled by politics and tortured by the dangerous precedents our government is setting has struggled to stay sane (move on!). I have thrown myself into my new novel (Bears in Hibiscus), increased my recording schedule for Free Pecan Pie and Other Chick Stories, and have taken a film-making class online so that I can more easily promote my books.

My Custer and His Naked Ladies book was reviewed by The Oklahoman (the state's largest and best newspaper) http://newsok.com/entertainment/books/

Are you bored to tears yet? If some of my European readers see this rant on our politics, they'll wonder what on earth I'm talking about. Ignorance is bliss. Trust me.

Have a great summer, ya'll. Hopefully, on the next 4th we'll have a better president who will have more sense and integrity than this one. If we do, I plan to party hearty.

Quote du jour:

"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." Will Rogers

Michelle Obama

Michelle for First Lady!

Ohhhhhh, Hillary!

2008

Ohhhhhhhh, Hillary! You're not ready for prime time. You never, never, touch the third rail. Go home!