Hail to the Secretary

Yesterday Hillary Rodham Clinton was officially sworn in as Secretary of State by Vice President Biden, and upon taking her oath thanked her family at the ceremony:

"I could not be standing here today, without the three people standing here on this stage. It's literally true, I wouldn't be here without my mother... [acknowledgement of Chelsea] ...And finally to my husband, who understands too well the awesome responsibilities resting on the shoulders of President Obama....I am so grateful to him for a lifetime of all kinds of experiences."

He's not going to be able allowed to forget any time soon, is he?

Hope arrives

What a day.

What a fantastic, inspiring day! It's still a bit overwhelming; I vacillate between grinning like an idiot and getting all verklempt at the thought of what we witnessed today.

Kidlet, Papa and I watched the inauguration together. I held her as we listened to Obama take the oath of office, and we stood right along with the masses. I doubt the enormity of the day registered, but she will know she was there.

Oh, and the other moment I made sure she watched? The Bush-laden helicopter gettin' the heck outta Dodge. Fly, baby, fly.

Last dance

In honor of Dubya's last day, go have some fun on this site. I can't remember which of my disturbed friends first shared it with me. Feel free to encourage his movements by catching any old body part and dragging him around. (This one is fun, too.)

Does it seem like this day would never come? We made it, people, but barely. Our dashing hero approaches at noon tomorrow.

Hail to the Chiefs

Leaving behind the Twelve Days of Christmas, we have arrived at the last twelve days of the Bush administration. Today President-Elect Obama met with the current and all living former Presidents in the Oval Office. The pictures alone speak volumes.

Gentlemen, meet the future.

Change. Is. Good.

The sixth day of Christmas

Here are the Top 10 Quotes of 2008, as compiled by the editor of the Yale Book of Quotations (via Associated Press release):

1. "I can see Russia from my house!" — Comedian Tina Fey, while impersonating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on the TV comedy show "Saturday Night Live," broadcast Sept. 13.

2. "All of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years." — Palin, responding to a request by CBS anchor Katie Couric to name the newspapers or magazines she reads, broadcast Oct. 1.

3. "We have sort of become a nation of whiners." — former Sen. Phil Gramm, an economic adviser to Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, quoted in The Washington Times, July 10.

4. "It's not based on any particular data point, we just wanted to choose a really large number." — a Treasury Department spokeswoman explaining how the $700 billion number was chosen for the initial bailout, quoted on Forbes.com Sept. 23.

5. "The fundamentals of America's economy are strong." — McCain, in an interview with Bloomberg TV, April 17.

6. "Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency." — the Treasury Department's proposed Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, September 2008.

7. "Maybe 100." — McCain, discussing in a town hall meeting in Derry, New Hampshire, how many years U.S. troops could remain in Iraq, Jan. 3.

8. "I'll see you at the debates, b------." — Paris Hilton in a video responding to a McCain television campaign ad, August 2008.

9. "Barack, he's talking down to black people. ... I want to cut his ... off." — Rev. Jesse Jackson, overheard over a live microphone before a Fox News interview, July 6.

10. (tie) "Cash for trash." — Paul Krugman discussing the financial bailout, New York Times, Sept. 22.

10. (tie) "There are no atheists in foxholes and there are no libertarians in financial crises." — Krugman, in an interview with Bill Maher on HBO's "Real Time," broadcast Sept. 19.

10. (tie) "Anyone who says we're in a recession, or heading into one — especially the worst one since the Great Depression — is making up his own private definition of 'recession'." — commentator Donald Luskin, the day before Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, The Washington Post, Sept. 14.

T minus 45

Is this thing on?

Actual content coming soon to a blog near you.

Norm is sweating

... and showing his hypocritical colors.

His lead over Al Franken in Minnesota's hotly contested US Senate race has been steadily slipping as the election results' canvassing progresses. As of this moment, his lead has been cut from 762 on Tuesday night to only 221.

Ever the quintessential opportunist, he wasted no time in delivering an acceptance speech and lambasting Franken for thinking of pursuing a recount and wasting taxpayer money. Now that his lead is shrinking, he's throwing around accusations to cast doubt on the canvassing process (and no doubt readying his crack legal team to sue the state, Al, or whomever else they can to worm his way back into the Big Show).

Feel that, Norm? It's the wind of change, and it's going to rip the smug, self-righteous umbrella right outta your slick little hands.

Yes we did!

President Elect Barack Hussein Obama

Patience, or lack thereof

That's my knitting, and that's my ballot.

Yessiree, I feel like an American. An impatient, invigorated, eager, and slightly apprehensive American.

I. WANT. TO. KNOW. NOW.

If you haven't already, please go to the polls and do what so many in this world cannot: vote. If you've already voted, I'll join you 'round the blue glow of our collective television after my shift at the LYS.

Tim Russert, wherever you are, get your whiteboard ready. [sniff, sniff]

Election Day 2008

The polls are now open. History is being written, one vote at a time. Make sure yours is one of them.

Ready, set, VOTE!

We are less than 12 hours away from the polls opening in Minnesota, and I am So. Freakin'. Excited. Seriously, I'm wondering if I'll be able to sleep.

MN residents: If you are not sure where your polling place is, use this website provided by Minnesota Public Radio to find your location, plus a list of candidates and questions that will appear on your ballot.

One day more

Set your alarms, people - the dawn of a new day approaches.

The Great Schlep

I know, I know - you're saying, "What's up with this, Meema? Another YouTube video? Come on, write something prosaic, or at least put up some knitting already!"

Believe me, if I had knitting to show, I would. I have been quite derelict in this regard, and to my knitting readers, I apologize. And as far as prose is concerned? Well, let's just say my personal muse must be on an extended tropical hiatus with my knitting mojo. Scandalous fling they're having...

Anyway, I loves me my Sarah Silverman, and she's made a very funny video promoting The Great Schlep. Do partake, support, and/or consider a conversation with familial elders.

*adult language alert in the following video*

Call 'em if ya got 'em!

Hey, Sarah Palin

This rewrite of "Hey There, Delilah" cracks me up. I find myself singing snippets at random times (this, and "Pardon Me").

18 days and counting - enjoy!

All aboard!

100 days

... remain of the current US administration. Yup, I'm counting; the sooner, the better, IMHO.

Don't let the door hit you in the gluteus maximus on the way out, Georgie.

Declare yourself

PLEASE make sure you are registered to vote.

Some states require voters to be registered by October 4.

That’s this Saturday. Two days away.

Do it now.

Live from St. Louis, it's Tina Fey

I can hardly wait for tomorrow night. And then SNL.

Diagnosis: palinitis

I can hardly stomach watching her anymore. Her interview with Katie Couric? Vapid and redundant to the point that I was embarrassed for her. Seriously. I think I could speak more convincingly on the issues that she does. I think my daughter could come close.

[cleansing breath]

Here's some Sarahlevity to get you through the end of the week.

UPDATE: Can't see the video? Follow this link. (Damon video can be found here.)

A spoonful of sugar may help us endure the campaign season, but there ain't enough sweetener in the world for four years of this crap.

Vote.

Encourage your friends to vote.

Volunteer to drive people to the polls.

Get. Out. The. Freakin'. Vote.

My little politico

Today after church, Kidlet and I went to JoAnn Fabrics to scope out patterns for Halloween costumes. Turns out that, when in the presence of pattern books with oodles of choices, a decision is nigh on impossible. She wanted to be a different character at every bolt of fabric. Good Witch? Bad Witch? Dorothy? Too many fabrics, too little time.

As we were walking toward the checkout with one pattern in hand, we passed the wall of costume accessories, and Kidlet zeroed in on these masks:Yes, she can name Barack Obama on site!

Honestly, I just asked her to wave. How was I to know my camera phone would make it appear as if the Senator was flipping off the free world?

Please rise for George W. "Hear No Evil" Bush.

On a more serious note, we took an elective detour to cross the new I-35W bridge over the Mississippi. It was a bit surreal. Part of me barely noticed and took for granted that little bit of road north of downtown Minneapolis; another part noted the stark newness of the concrete deck and barriers, painfully aware of the broken slabs they were replacing. My thoughts are with everyone whose lives were changed a year ago.