More impressions......

My daughter cried, "We're going to die." Somehow, someone convinced her that Obama meant the end of the world and we are all going to die. Now, it was not me....honestly. I did not speak ill of Obama to her. I did not reveal who I voted for because honestly, until I sat down to vote, I remained undecided. She gave me a good laugh and then we sat down to watch his acceptance speech.

I was moved. The man is a great orator. Do I believe every promise? No. But I don't believe that of any politician. But the strangest thing moved me.........I elluded to it in an earlier post: the making of history.

I watched Jesse Jackson as tears rolled down his face, watch Obama speak. And I thought that this is the man that walked along side Martin Luther King Jr. and fought long and hard for equal protection under the law---what was he feeling knowing that because of the work he had done, Obama was making that speech? Now, this was strange for me. I am not a big fan of Jackson politically. But to be a part of a generation that watched that moment....I paused. I told my daughter, "You watch this. This is an important moment being made in history. Remember this."

In the span of Obama's 47 years, he was born to a world which did not recognize him as equal. He experienced discrimination and racism. Yet, in the span of his lifetime, he has fulfilled his dream. And in doing so, fulfilled the dreams of those who toiled the fields of racism for years before him. If for no other reason, our nation should be proud of the fact that today is the day that the nation decided based on political message, not the color of one man's skin.....

Now I just wait for the day that this applies to women.......

O elected as President

So the news is out: Barak Obama is the president elect and will take office in January. For what it is worth, here are my thoughts:

1. The ability for a black man to win this office would have been unheard of 40 years ago, maybe even 10 years ago. This is proof that the walls of opportunity for a black man have clearly been torn down. Tonight marks an important historical moment in consideration of the history of this nation. Tonight is proof that a nation can turn it's back on bigotry and hate to promote equality and justice to all regardless of race.

2. Change was the best coin word, PR work of the decade. We don't even know what change was promised to us, we only know that "change" is a coming. The coming year will be interesting to what the defination of change means.

3. What do I think "change" meant? Honestly, I think that people hungered for a change from the current administration, meaning Bush. The people, overwhelmingly, are tired of the approach of secrecy and unilateral decisions made by the Bush Administration.

4. I am going to hold out hope that Obama moves center and remembers that we are a moderate country. But I will make the following predictions for the next four years:

• Taxes will increase. Sorry wealthy people who make more than 250,000 a year, you are going to be looking at paying 5-7% more in taxes.
• Justice Stevens will retire from the Supreme Court and therefore, O will nominate a justice. Look for it to happen in the next two years because then there will be no fight in the Senate for confirmation (plus Justice Stevens is 86 years old).
• There will NOT be an immediate pullout in Iraq. I remain convinced that once O sees the intelligence reports and is briefed, his tune is going to change a bit there.
• Major layoffs by corporations who will fear the policy changes being made that effect the bottom line of their profits.
• Energy prices will skyrocket.
• Uncontrolled spending because there are no checks and balances between the Congress and President. You and I will pay---and then our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
• The fairness doctrine will be attacked--watch out Rush, Sean, and Glen. They will be gunning for you.

Don't get me wrong: I remain optimistic the Barak Obama will work with diplomacy and grace. I also think he has a shot at working across the aisle and pulling down a consensus. What frightens me is the fact that two branches of the government will be controlled by one political party----the government was not set up to work this way.

The good news: We always swing to the right, then center, then left. We are in that cycle.

Ballot initiatives take on major social issues

Ballot initiatives this season involve some very controversial issues that will provoke hot feelings on either side. The state of Colorado will basically outlaw abortion if the initiative passes in this state. The proposed ballot would add to the Colorado state constitution defining a person to "include any human being from the moment of fertilization." This would effectively knock the wind out of Roe v. Wade or the language of the predecessor, Planned Parenthood v. Casey. South Dakota has an initiative on the ballot which would outlaw all abortions unless the woman was subject to rape or incest. Even liberal California is stepping in with a proposition to require 48 hour parental notification (which by the way is allowed due to the reasoning of Casey). Finally, California again with prop 8 would overturn the California State Supreme Court’s decision, which overturned the will of the people, which would define marriage between a man and a woman.

All of these are hot-topic buttons. While the same-sex marriage argument is nothing new in recent years, the abortion initiatives are. Why? What are these states, or people who propose ballots up to? In an answer: challenging Roe v. Wade.
Roe v. Wade can only be overturned completely by the United States Supreme Court. With the resignation of O’Connor, and the appointments of Roberts and Alito, the court is posed to overturn this 1973 decision. In order for the court to do so, there must be a case to adjudicate.

The one to watch will be the Colorado statute defining a person. The Supreme Court has never definitively defined when personhood begins. And the Supreme Court would not have the power to direct whether a state constitution is constitutional. This is a major violation of federal powers.

I will be watching with great interest to see where the people through the voters stand. Rather than the courts, or Congress.

Tired of dirty politics

Yep, you read it right. I am tired of this dirty political commerical season. I am tired of the blantant fear mongering and lies..........all for what? These politicians are selling their integrity right down the drains and doing nothing but reinforcing the publics belief that politics is a dirty affair. I am also tired of the hypocracy of it all. A few examples:

Oregon's Senator Race: Smith v. Merkley. This is probably the most shameful excuse and set of ads for a political race I have ever seen. I seriously am considering writing in "Mickey Mouse" because the mouse could do better than these two jokers. First, Smith catches Merkley eating a hotdog during a neighborhood event and asks him about the situation in Georgia. To which Merkley response clearly indicates the state, not country, of Georgia. Then there is a question about if that is the guy you want in the senate. Distastful, yes. Unfair? Absolutely. On Merkley's side is a commercial stating that Smith would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. In addition, Smith has voted 90% of the time with President Bush. Um, hello!!! First, Smith could not vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. Only the court can overturn it's own caselaw. Second, President Bush DOES NOT HAVE A VOTE IN THE SENATE!!! How can Smith vote with Bush?

The Congressional Race with Erickson (R) is shameful on both sides. One calling Erickson a liar and someone who covered up an ex's abortion and Erickson accusing his opponent of raising taxes and then not paying his taxes because he could not afford them.

The Governor Race in Washington: I don't have a pony in this race. But I do see the ads. Gregoire states that Rossi would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade and he voted to deny unemployment benefits for battered women. Again, the Governor cannot vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. And unemployment benefits are for unemployed people, not battered women (unless they lost their job). There are other government programs available to battered women.

The Presidential Race: This is where I find the hypocracy. The sheer amount of money being spent is enough to make me ill. And both these men are concerned with the economy and the middle class? I don't think so! I find it particularly disgraceful that one candidate has a TV channel devoted exclusively to him on DISH TV, and spent mega money for infomercials on the major network stations. Our country is in a sad state of affairs financially, but he squandered that kind of money on ads. People are starving in this country, they are losing their houses, but he spent millions on tv programming to shamelessly promote himself. The only thing that probably prevented McCain from doing the same was lack of finances.......But his hypocracy is different. He complained and complained about Obama's lack of experience and then goes and finds a VP candidate that has no formal legal training and very little national governing experience (if any). And yet he still states that Obama is unqualified.

Maybe I just don't have time for this crud anymore, but this season can't end soon enough. I wonder what would happen if on election day, no one turned up at the polls? Or if we all just voted for ourselves? I wish there was someway of getting our point across that the public can see right through their actions!

My worlds colliding.....

Every once in a while, it feels as if all my worlds come to a head. Maybe worlds is not the correct terminology, rather the many hats that I wear. The hat of a mother, a woman, a student, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and employee..................Sometimes they collide. Juggling the variety of issues that a single parent has to in order to attend law school is tough to say the least.

I admit that I have been in a funk lately because I feel most overwhelmed by the constant juggling. Sometimes, I just want to be a mom. I worry that all the other demands on me will adversely effect my child. Sometimes I worry that she will feel that the job or my studies are more important than her. The truth is that I do this because of her. Because someday I want her to have an example of what it means to chase your dreams. I want her to have the things I did not have growing up. I want her to be able to go to any school she desires, and for money to not be an issue. I want her to understand the importance of an education and to value what one can do for your life.

But, when it is dark and I am by myself with my thoughts, I wonder if she will resent the sacrafices that she has had to make. She said to me the other day, "I hate law school. Why can't you be a regular mom!" I don't know what that is.......a "regular" mom. Maybe there is no such thing and if she had that "regular" mom, she would yell for a normal one, I don't know.

I realize that in 19 or 20 months, when I cross the stage for my law degree, this won't matter so much. It will seem like a dream. And I know she is proud of me and will be proud then too. I just wish that the hat of the mother and student were not so diametrically opposed to one another.

Political Speak in Law School

One thing has consistently bothered me in law school......the assumption by students and faculty that all students subscribe to a progressive, liberal ideology. This has been frusterating for me. And, my eyes are truly open to the fact that law school is certainly not diverse in the area of politics---or at least not tolerant to different political ideas.

I survived the first year with faculty taking pot shots at President Bush. I listened to student after student say many things, often not grounded in fact, about the Administration. Now, I need to reveal before I go further that I am a registered independent who has leaned Republican, but have voted Democrated. I tend to be very conservative on fiscal issues, but fairly moderate to liberal on social issues. I have not agreed with every policy of the Bush Administration and have often dispaired that the powers of the executive branch have been far to expansive under this President.

However, when I have had to try and speak up, I was belittled. This year, the common denominator seems to be the assumption that we must all be voting for Obama. I really don't know who I will vote for. I have to decide whose policies I fear the most, because I am not satisfied that either man can provide the decisive leadership the US will need in the coming years. However, what I cannot abide by is the ugly jokes and belitting that I have heard in reference to Sarah Palin. When you ask these students what they know about Sarah, it is little more that what was provided by the Huffington Post.

I am not saying that Palin is perfect, or that I do not have concerns. But to treat her as if she is a stupid booble head bimbo. I hate this gender bias and I hate that educated articulate people would perpetuate this..........

I guess what is disappointing is that there seems to be a lack of tolerance. There also seems to be a large assumption that all law students must think politically the same. We don't. AND, I would go as far to argue that being a simple party hack and voting party lines is scary to say the least. Neither party is perfect. And in the last month, we have seen that both Democrats and Republicans are responsible for the mess that our economy is in. The Dems for turning a blind eye, and the Repubs for spending like there was no tomorrow. We, as future lawyers, should be smart enough to embrace debate on these views and to not buy into ideology that is divisive.

Frivolous lawsuit alert!

Below is a link to a story about how a Obama supporter in Oklahoma City is suing McCain for causing her mental anguish. She alleges that McCain/Palin has "incited violence against" Obama and this has caused her great mental distress. She claims to be in fear the the presidential's candidates life.

I could not find that complaint because it was just filed today, so presumably, it has not made it's way through the system. But think about this? McCain/Palin have not made any statements that incite violence or constitute hate speech. It is well documented that supporters have made unappropriate comments at rallies, but both candidates have admonished these people. What else can they do?

Not to mention, if this was true, perhaps I should institute a lawsuit against Oliver Stone for defamation against W and claim that his efforts have caused me great anguish and grave mental distress.

What I want to know is what irresponsible lawyer filed this suit? There is no cause of action here. Ms. Green has suffered no physical harm. McCain/Palin made no remarks. And it is a well stated rule in law that a third party can not be held liable for the tortious or criminal acts of another [minus conspiracy or felony murder]. The lawyer ought to be sanctioned.

Minus that---quick, someone get this woman some meds! FED EX, where are you when we need you?

Ridiculous!

http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/843091.html