It’s going to be a depressing week of hate coming out of Tampa, but we’ve had several Days Of Action up here in Ohio, so I’ll tell you about those. Days of Action is the official name, by the way.
First, I still feel good about the 4-H rabbit competition.
Here’s my pick for best of show, the Dutch:
And here’s what I see as the only real competition, the Californian:
Please. Which rabbit is cuter? There’s no contest. I’d like the Dutch to wear a jaunty little straw hat for the big show in September but that’s against the rules.
For Ohio Days of Action I went to the big voter protection meeting in Ohio Friday, which was well attended and very informative. What’s not to love about a roomful of Lefty lawyers?
Saturday we had a Women for Zimmann event at my house, which was also well attended. I invited 25 and got 15.
At the Women for Zimmann meeting I learned that Melissa Harris-Perry interviewed Angela on MSNBC that same day, but I missed it because I was scoping out the competition at the pet rabbit trials.
Sunday we canvassed for OFA. I read the various polls this morning and I know they say Obama and Romney are even on Medicare, but that was not what people told me on my canvass. The general demographic on my walk list was white working class, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, own their own homes. It was Medicare, Medicare, Medicare. People were friendly and eager to discuss “the issues” and many invited me into their air-conditioned homes, which was much appreciated because it was hot as hell Sunday.
Anyway, we have another canvass Thursday, and we’re just going to keep on doing what we do despite whatever sly, disgusting attacks come out of the RNC Convention.
Valdivia
You rock that is all.
I hope your bunny wins. :)
KG
a bunny on a leash?
Steeplejack (phone)
That Californian looks like a right mixer. I’d watch out for that one.
Kay
@Valdivia:
The little girl with the Californian is absolutely adorable. Sadly, for her, she does not use the officially sanctioned “football hold” on the rabbit, so she’ll lose points. She carries the rabbit like a baby.
Valdivia
@Kay:
I feel a tiny bit bad for her but not so much that I don’t want your little one to win :)
AliceBlue
Thank you Kay.
This week is going to be such a downer, so I’ll be looking forward to your posts (of course, I do that all the time!)
RABBITS! SQUEE!! Especially the Dutch. Good luck!
dance around in your bones
My (future) husband had a bunny when I met him. The white bunny had a black circle around its eye, was fully trained to use a litter box, and was named ‘Mother” (not quite sure why)……but it was a big part of the reason I fell for him so hard (the future husband, not the bunny. Though I loved the bunny, too.)
That and his big blue eyes (husband) and the black snake he used to bring to Yale Park (where all us hippies hung out) wrapped around his neck, then let it slither about in the grass.
This is a true story, though it prolly has zip to do with the OP.
quannlace
Wait a minute. ‘Dutch’, eh. Where’s his birth certificate? Also, isn’t he half-black?
Turgidson
What did they tell you? Do they realize Robot/Granny Starver want to hand the thing over to the Koch Brothers, or are they afraid “that boy” is robbing Medicare and handing it over to his mooching “base”?
Kay
@Valdivia:
Look, it’s not my fault she’s not listening at these events! Get serious, sister. Stop carrying that bunny like a baby doll :)
Felinious Wench
Bunnies!
I had a dwarf bunny that was fully litter box trained and loved to go on hops with his leash. He was named Varmint. Lived 13 years and I still miss the little critter.
Todd
Sadly, I had to euthanize my 13 year old shepherd mix this morning. This year started sucking for him somewhere around his birthday, I’ve been carrying him up and down the steps for months, and this morning, his legs just refused to work – I couldn’t even prop him up.
I went to work, but couldn’t function well. I just came home, and will clean up his garage in a bit.
Kay
@Turgidson:
The main thing I came out of it with is that people in their 40’s and 50’s are most upset about this, so I’m not sure polling current beneficiaries should be the focus. I did speak with one lovely 76 year old woman who is upset on behalf of her grown sons, because she wants them to have Medicare.
Anyway, my feeling was the voucher thing has gotten through and is connected to Romney. Maybe not connected enough, yet, but that’s what they all wanted to talk about.
danah gaz (fka gaz)
Groucho Mugabe, one of my kittehs, really likes this thread.
Particularly the photos.
I generally try to avoid divining his thoughts (which tend to be few, far between, and adorable), but in this case, he’s quite clearly thinking “mmmm. fast food!”
quannlace
Todd, I’m so sorry.
BGinCHI
Kay, how do you think all the Romney and Ryan lies are going to play once there are debates? Even if folks aren’t going to watch them, they are going to hear stark contrasts, no?
I would guess the R/R camp is anticipating the debates with a lot of anxiety. Romney and Ryan both tend to lash out and speak to their ideological roots, and that’s trouble for them.
Cassidy
@Todd: Sucks, dude. Sorry to hear that.
bubba
If there was a Netherland Dwarf in the competition I’d have to show a bit of favoritism. Had one for years. But good luck.
http://www.gotpetsonline.com/pictures/gallery/small-animals/alphabetically/netherland-dwarfs/netherland-dwarf-0049/
Elizabelle
@Todd:
Hugs. You did the best thing, but so hard to lose a great dog.
dance around in your bones
@Todd:
Oh Gawd, I feel for you. I went through practically the same thing with our 16 yr old shep mix (having to lift her off the ground because her back legs just stopped working)and we finally realized she was done for.
We made an appt to have her put down but she decided to die in the night before the appt.
It’s so hard, I still get tears in my eyes when I think about her, so {{{{hugs}}}}
Turgidson
@Kay:
Ah, good. I’m hoping the Obama campaign is smarter than me (usually they are) and is letting the GOP shoot their lying wad early, standing ready to hammer away on Medicare post-convention when the audience is biggest.
Cassidy
@BGinCHI: It’s going to go badly. They’re going to try and be witty and do the wink and smile thing. I don’t think they’re aware enough that being racially divisive doesn’t play well on tv and will just come across as tacky. Calling a black man a ni-(clang) to his face is a really bad idea.
Dennis SGMM
@Todd:
From my heart to yours, condolences.
Chat Noir
Thanks for the updates from Ohio, Kay. I’m in Chicago and work on the 2nd Ward Obama team (“2nd 2 None” is our official name). The Illinois teams are tasked with helping keep Iowa in the Obama electoral column since Illinois isn’t a swing state and Iowa is very important to get the President to 270.
@Todd: I’m very sorry for your loss. We had to put my husband’s 12.5 year old Wheaten Terrier down last November; it was similar to what happened with your dog. Sending virtual hugs and understanding your way…
wrb
@Kay:
An argument that seems powerful to me asks oldsters to think about human nature: How likely is it that younger people are going to be willing to continue to pay for your full benefits when they can’t look forward to the same? This system, through the inevitable action of human nature, leads to the destruction of Medicare for all, regardless of what R&R claim.
Culture of Truth
@Todd: My sympathies – that’s hard
Valdivia
@Todd:
so sorry to hear that.
Kay
@BGinCHI:
My overall sense here is that people are tired, and sick of all this bullshit. We had 16% unemployment here. It was truly scary for a while there. Free lunches at the library, like that. They feel like they’ve been through a crisis, and they want short, honest answers. I think Obama would do well to speak directly to voters, plain language, and be strictly truthful rather than combative or clever. That’s a strength of his anyway, and I think Romney will suffer in that comparison, because he’s evasive. It seems to me his nature is evasive. It’s knee-jerk with him. He seems to have taken that “information is power” saying to heart, and damn, but he’s not giving any away. I think people are flat-out tired of that. They’re a little bruised and wary, and they want their questions answered.
Mnemosyne
I have to admit, it’s hard for me to resist a bunny on a leash. Though I do find it funny that kay’s killer instincts kick in for a 4H bunny contest.
Though I’m afraid that no bunny can ever be cuter than Kem Sypher’s Desdemona stealing a cookie.
@Todd:
So sorry for your loss. It’s hard to do the right thing for a pet, even when you know it’s time.
Todd
Thanks all – he was the best dog I ever had, perfect for me. He was a good natured guy, polite to a fault (he never would charge into the house when the door was opened – he always awaited an invitation). To top it off, I never had to worry about him getting lost – he was always aware of his location.
The guy was always happy to see us, and was great with the kids.
Ash Can
@Todd: Sincere condolences, and kudos to you for doing the right thing for him no matter how difficult.
Mino
Well, in 2010, the Republican ran on “Dems cut Medicare half a trillion dollars” and won big. Then they proceeded to break labor contracts and defund schools. I think folks realize they got played.
Yutsano
@Todd: He’s waiting in the next existence with tail wagging and tongue hanging out. Peace unto you good sir.
Oh and WABBITZ!!
Kay
@BGinCHI:
THIS is the sort of bullshit people are sick of. Leaked plans that differ from what the candidates are saying:
If I were Obama I’d hit the hell out of that, because people are tired of being lied to.
Dennis SGMM
@wrb:
Many of us oldsters (I’m in my sixties) are far more liberal than our successors. Many of us have children and grandchildren whom we don’t want to see fucked-over. A simpler, more persuasive question would be to ask “Do you want your children and your grandchildren to have the same benefits that you have?”
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@Todd: I’m so very sorry. They leave such big paw prints on our hearts.
Give me the Dutch for the blue.
Linda Featheringill
@dance around in your bones: #7
LOL!
I love the sketch of your hubbie! I’ve known a few hippies in my time but he sounds like a prize winner. And he did win the prize. He got you.
Linda Featheringill
I’ve seen reports from other activists who kind of wonder who in the heck those polls talked to.
You’re doing wonderful work door to door, explaining the issues to all who will listen.
Are you doing this for local politics or OFA? Prolly doesn’t matter, since you’re most likely praising the entire team.
[Good girl! Have a treat. :-)]
BGinCHI
@Kay: I think that sounds exactly right and has been my experience when I’m back in rural IN where I grew up.
Obama needs to say who benefits from Medicare. Paint in broad strokes who is vulnerable.
The culture wars stuff has bite only for brief periods. It can’t take the GOP all the way to Nov.
BGinCHI
@Kay: Yes.
Obama: is the GOP the party you can trust? Can you name their plan for Medicare or Social Security?
Mine does this….
Linda Featheringill
@Todd:
[Hug] Sorry for your loss.
Peej01
They’ve also got to hit on Medicaid…and emphasize the fact that a good chunk of those funds go to supporting elderly people in nursing homes.
dance around in your bones
@Linda Featheringill:
He was a winner from the first time I saw him, tossing a Frisbee around in Yale Park (VERY tan from the waist up from the last few months he’d spent in Mexico) and then quite deliberately tossing the Frisbee almost in my lap as a way to get close enough to talk to me.
I fell hard for that guy and I miss him so much now….he was funny, smart and quite entertaining to live with.
I’m not sure WHO got the better part of the partnership.
Thank you for your kind comments.
Gretchen
@dance around in your bones:
My old dog did me that mercy too – died in his sleep the night before the appointment to put him down so I didn’t have to do it. I was grateful to him for that.
Todd – so sorry for your loss. It’s hard however it happens.
bemused
@Todd:
I’m getting teary. Six weeks ago we had to put our 13 yr old dog to sleep after a very short illness. We miss her and our younger dog misses her. The younger dog wants to be in the house with us most of the time and doesn’t want to spend much time in the dog kennel all by herself. It’s still too quiet around this house.
dance around in your bones
@Gretchen:
I was grateful too, but part of me felt bad that I wasn’t there with her when she died. I guess we just always feel bad no matter what choice we make, no?
I had one dog who was shot in the paw (prolly while dancing around someone’s chicken coop) and we went through a whole surgery/bazillion dollars in vet fees and etc, and when she was recuperating I remember lying in the grass with her and just wrapping my arms around her and telling her I loved her so much.
She disappeared for good right after she healed and we never saw her again.
The only thing I felt good about was the lying in the grass part and letting her know how much I loved her before she got gone.
Regrets….we always have them.
Basilisc
@AliceBlue:
Same here. The news sucks, the analysis sucks, the polls suck. The nasty, angry, lying, slanderous dog-whistle speeches are going to suck. The backflip-evenhandedness is going to suck, suck, suck. The post-convention bounce is going to really suck.
Kay, it’s a ray of hope to read about someone who is out there trying to make a difference. And you will, too. :-)
greenergood
I love that baby rabbits are called ‘kits’. Maybe Ryan is Rmoney’s ‘kit’.
Gravenstone
These pics remind me of my sister who raised Californians for several years as her 4H projects. Life was much simpler in those days.
Kristine
@Todd: I am so sorry.
Patricia Kayden
You’re doing a great job, Kay! Your news is always encouraging.
realbtl
Dutch is an obvious republican plant.
WaterGirl
@Todd: So sorry for your loss.
A few years ago, I went to work after losing my dog, too. My boss took one look at me and said “wanna take a walk?” We walked for a long time and I cried and then we sat at a park bench and talked about Murphy and what a great dog he had been.
I remember that as if it were yesterday. So very sorry.
Medicare Virginia
When they will held tortoise race…