Mommy Cred

Thanks to HolyJuan for this great laugh:


Although I laugh now, and I laughed yesterday, I'm not sure if I'll be laughing in November. It's not that I think McCain will win on his own merits. It's because I have no faith in electronic voting. I may expand on this topic tomorrow...

Right now I'm simply contemplating Palin's "mommy cred." Palin has five kids and one of them is a baby with Down's syndrome. She knew her baby boy would have this disability, and she continued with her pregnancy, and I admire her for that personal choice.

But now she's making another personal choice that I can't agree with. She's taking on a 24 hour job campaigning with John McCain. And if they win? That's a big responsibility and commitment she's taking on. I'm a woman and I certainly have nothing against women having careers.

In fact that whole "being a mommy is the toughest job in the world" sentiment annoys the hell out of me. Being President is possibly the toughest job in the world. Being VP is also pretty tough, and she might be VP one day. And then she'll be one heart attack (or stroke or tumor) away from becoming President. And then what will happen to her very young and very needy children? Is this even compatible with social conservatism?

Of course, she's rich, and she'll probably just hire a nanny. That's the American way. Contract out the most important job in the world.

Against Mothers

The Washington Post headline read Republicans Vote Against Moms; No Word Yet on Puppies, Kittens. And I thought wow, can Republicans really be that stupid? Well, yes, they are stupid, but no, not quite that stupid.

The WaPo article stated:

On Wednesday afternoon, the House had just voted, 412 to 0, to pass H. Res. 1113, "Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day," when Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), rose in protest.

"Mr. Speaker, I move to reconsider the vote," he announced.

Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), who has two young daughters, moved to table Tiahrt's request, setting up a revote. This time, 178 Republicans cast their votes against mothers.

Well, that last statement is not accurate. The 178 nay votes were for a Table Motion to Reconsider H RES 1113. A motion to reconsider is a parliamentary practice that gives the House (or Senate) one opportunity to review its action on a motion, amendment, or measure. The actual H. Res. 1113 passed with 412 ayes and 0 nays.

There is a bigger story here, however. Republicans have been using these tactics all week to bring the House to a standstill because they don't want foreclosure-crisis and war-funding bills to pass.

So, yes, I conclude the House Republicans are stupid. They dug us into this hole in terms of economic, energy, and foreign policy, and now they simply have nothing to offer except pulling this shit and wasting valuable time and tax dollars. The party that claims that government doesn't work is determined to make it fail.