It's On Like Donkey Kong!

Before this years election, the extent of my political involvement was making student council buttons for the kids at my school.

But just so ya know, I made them with glitter and pom pom puffs...and even some with glow in the dark puffy paint. And my peeps always won. Like the time we made mini wieners to pass out that said, "You never sausage a candidate." Just FYI...his name was Jim Dean. Amen.

But until I got my last job, I really was not even aware of the political process or even who was the elephant and who was the donkey. I just embrace all symbolic animals.

Well, this election has tweezed a nose hair and gotten my attention. And I am hooked. And I care. And although I am THE most ignorant person in THE WORLD about the issues and solutions that face our nation, I am learning.

I have NOT decided who I am voting for yet. And am swayed by the moment and am trying to figure out the facts from the opinions and hear an UNBIASED middle. Isn't that what the media is for?

Well, let me say that have been completely disappointed with the media. And that is really an unfair statement. Let me say I have been completely disappointed with CNN's coverage, which is what I have watched 95% of the time. I do however like George Stephanopoulos from ABC and think Bob Costas is secretly jealous of his hair.

So since the media has decided to go to the tanning bed instead of be responsible reporters, {BTW, I do not blame them, I probably would too. Ted? Ted Turner? Is this why you did not respond to my job application?} Country Girl has decided to take matters into her own hands. She is covering not only all the DNC, but now also the RNC. And let me just say the Democrats totally got the raw end of the acronyms sharing it with a horrible medical procedure. They should change. Ha. Get it CHANGE? Oh my my...Campbell Brown move over sister.

I am afraid of missing a moment cause what if they say something that cinches it for me? And I miss it? So, my hiney is GLUED to the couch after 9 pm so I can soak in all the political ponderings and wish that Jack Handy was a corespondent.

But last night I could not WAIT to here Sarah Palin's speech. Other than her introductory speech, when she was announced, I had never heard anything about her. And all the other information I received was from Wolf Blitzer and CNN. And let em just say, there was nothing they said that made me think she should be disqualified. Actually, everything made me respect her a little more for being so...real...and loving.

And let me just say that I respect Barack for saying,

“Let me be as clear as possible, I think people’s families are off-limits, and people’s children are especially off-limits. This shouldn’t be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin’s performance as governor or her potential performance as a vice president.”

Obama said reporters should “back off these kinds of stories” and noted that he was born to an 18-year-old mother.

“How a family deals with issues and teenage children, that shouldn’t be the topic of our politics, and I hope that anybody who is supporting me understands that’s off-limits.”

I not only thought this was respectful and the RIGHT thing to do, but it made me want to hug him and toast him with a mimosa in a long stem champagne flute.

But with the energy and excitement the Democrats gave me, the Republican left me ... bored. Until last night. But is it their job to ENTERTAIN me? No, but I do want to be excited about my candidate. And when I looked out in the crowd of the RNC, I saw...well...older people in suits and stuffy...except the pink boa lady. She spoke to my heart.

And at times the speeches were almost painful to watch. I felt like I was back in Mr. Oppel's high school government class watching film strips about the checks and balances and branches and zzzzzzz.

Mitt Romey's speech made me want to scream at the TV...HELLO! What planet are you living on, Mr. Perfect Hair? Cause we he started on his liberal Washington segment....

“We need change all right - change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington - throw out the big government liberals and elect John McCain.”

And then he went on to give specifics about the liberal Washington we have and I was all like WHAT? This is 2008! Maybe that would have been a good speech 15 years ago, but I thought it was completely irrelevant to today. I am so sorry Mitt. But your name is hip and cool and EVERYBODY thinks you hair is hot for an old man. But your speech stunk.

Mike Huckabee. Now that man can speak. And he told the story about the teacher that would not give desks to her students until they could figure out how they EARNED them. All day they tried to guess but to no avail. Then Huckabee told us,

"Martha opened the door of her classroom. In walked 27 veterans, some wearing uniforms from years gone by, but each one carrying a school desk.

As they carefully and quietly arranged the desks in neat rows, Martha said,

'You don't have to earn your desks. These guys already did. They went halfway around the world, giving up their education and interrupting their careers and families so you could have the freedom you have. No one charged you for your desk. But it wasn't really free. These guys bought it for you. And I hope you never forget it.'

I wish we all would remember that being American is not just about the freedom we have. It's about those who gave it to us.

Ladies and gentlemen, John McCain is one of those people who helped buy the freedom that we enjoy and the school desks we had.

It's my honor to do what I can to help him have a desk that he has earned, one in the Oval Office."

If I had to cast my ballot right then, I so would have checked McCain through the tears in my eyes.

Next, came Rudy. And let me say, he was the one I ORIGINALLY thought I would support. I love Rudy. And his speech was HARD and TOUGH and honestly, a pretty dag gone good. And I am purposefully avoiding using his last name cause I don't know how to spell it.

Anyhoo, of all the speeches, this was BY FAR the most FACT BASED and HELPFUL to me thus far. I wanted to know some FACTS and he hit them HARD and with humor. Of course, I know he is biased, but it is good to know that

“For four days in Denver and for the past 18 months, Democrats have been afraid to use the words ‘Islamic Terrorism,”’

“They are in a state of denial about the biggest threat that faces this country.”

And then he addressed a point that has been under my skin all week,

"And how dare they question whether Sarah Palin has enough time to spend with her children and be vice president. How dare they do that. When do they ever ask a man that question?"

I felt so much better that SOMEONE had said that. I needed it said if nothing else, for me and my decisions in my life.

Hello? Hello? Is anyone still reading? Mom?

But next, next came Sarah. And I was oh-so-eager to hear her speak. And inside I was rooting for her and wanting her to knock it out of the park....and she did. And I will talk all about Sarah in a separate post.

But all I have to say right now is...

IT'S ON LIKE DONKEY KONG!