He needs balls. Perhaps he can borrow them from Hillary Clinton, just long enough to win a national election. For all the negative rap the Clintons got for their campaign tactics during the Democratic primaries, one thing is for certain, they know how to win elections. Between the two, the Clintons have won Presidential, Gubernatorial and Senatorial elections. They know how to play to win. And they understand that when it comes to the big game, you need to play fire with fire. You can’t use little league strategy in the major leagues. And that’s what Obama might learn the hard way. If he doesn’t start responding to McCain’s negative ads. Turns out, those ads have been pretty effective.
According to the latest Reuters/Zogby poll McCain is leading by 5 points. That’s just depressing. If after eight years of Republican control, economic misery and foreign policy disasters, the Democrats can’t win the White House, well, I guess they just don’t deserve to be there. Maybe Obama thinks that “hope” will carry him into the White House. Maybe he thinks if he takes the high road, it might get him there. Or maybe he’s hoping that Oprah can deliver some magic this time around.
Or maybe what he needs is real campaign strategy. He needs to learn how to play with the big boys. Something Hillary knows about and Obama just read about in textbooks. And no matter how much he wants to campaign for change, he needs to realize that he can change more when he’s actually in the White House, not on the road to the White House. Maybe he needs to realize that Hillary can actually get him into the White House. I hope he comes to this realization before it’s too late. Maybe Obama’s campaign strategists can put their hurt egos aside, and take a good, hard look at who can actually help Obama get to the White House. And I have news for you… it’s not Joe Biden or Kathleen Sebelius.
Lately, my new favorite exercise has been running up and down the stairs in my neighborhood. It’s about 150 stairs through my gorgeous hillside neighborhood. On the days when I can’t make it to spinning class, or when Adam isn’t teaching, I like to go on a hike through Hollywood Hills and run the stairs. Continue Reading »
A boy left a jacket in my apartment about a month ago. We were supposed to meet up to exchange his jacket and my coffee mug (it’s a very special stainless steel travel mug), which he borrowed over a month ago. This coffee mug is very near and dear to my heart. It helps me consume 32 ounces of coffee before 10 a.m., which makes me a lot nicer in the mornings. My travel mug used to go everywhere with me, kind of like Paris Hilton’s chihuahua. Continue Reading »
Rumor has it that McCain is going to pick Mitt Romney as his Vice Presidential running mate. Is that the best he can come up with? Makes sense to me. If you’re lagging behind Obama in fundraising, why not pick a VP who can act like an ATM. Romney will write the checks, and McCain will keep on running. If he does in fact pick Romney, I don’t know if it’s going to get him any points with the conservatives. Sure Romney is conservative, but he’s a Mormon and that’s just not the same bible as far as evangelicals are concerned. Continue Reading »
Today I was watching the Next Food Network Star, because there’s nothing on TV during this time of year, and the reaction of one of the losing contestants got me thinking about how Americans react to loss. As one of the contestants was told that she would be going home, she kept smiling, congratulated all the remaining contestants, and even went on to say that everyone there deserved to be there. Her smile never wavered, even as tears were rolling down her face like a waterfall. Continue Reading »
I really think you can get a good idea about a man, by looking at his wife. And I like Barack Obama a lot more, because of his wife Michelle. She is an intelligent, accomplished, outspoken woman. Sadly for her, these are qualities that can get a woman in trouble (see Hillary Clinton, Teresa Heinz and many, many more). The minute she opened her mouth, a memo went out at Fox Network to discredit her. The same network that meddled with the 2000 Presidential election is at it again. This time the target is Michelle Obama and the goal is discrediting Barack Obama. Continue Reading »
It looks like both the Armenian community and the Russian community are concerned about my perpetual single status. Every so often, my mom tells me about so-and-so who thinks I would be a great match for the single-eligible bachelor — who in many cases doesn’t even live in the US — that’s her friend’s neighbor’s brother’s cousin, who’s really smart and educated and comes from a good family. For some strange reason, I seem to make a great impression on Armenian mothers who have eligible sons. And they all want me to get married while my eggs are still viable. Continue Reading »
Political spouses typically fall under two categories… Jackie* or Abigail**. The housewife or the career wife. Throughout history, there have been quite a few extraordinary first ladies… but the ones that seem to come under most scrutiny are the ones that defy traditional gender roles.
Our country is most comfortable with the “Jackie” image of a first lady. Someone who views their role in a marriage as a homemaker, entertainer, and a decorator. Someone who can put aside her ambitions and wholeheartedly support those of her husband’s. Someone who doesn’t threaten the status quo. We are less comfortable with the Abigail prototype. The ambitious wife who wants to be involved outside the kitchen. The one that wants to shape policy. The one who has brains and wants to put them to good use.
Cindy McCain doesn’t threaten the status quo. Michelle Obama does. Barbara Bush didn’t threaten the status quo. Hillary Clinton did. Laura Bush didn’t. Teresa Heinz (Kerry) did. When it comes to political wives, outspoken is out. Soft-spoken is in. Making policy is out. Baking cookies is in. Ambition is definitely out. Continue Reading »
You know you need a vacation, or a new job, when you’re excited to see the jury summons. In the past year and a half at my job, I’ve taken only 5 vacation days. This is partly because I only get 10 vacation days, and 10 days is not enough to go on a trip and really relax. But it’s also because I’m not sure if I’ll be going on a permanent vacation (meaning layoffs). In any case, the timing of the jury duty summons was perfect.
As luck would have it, I got picked to be on a case. So for the past week, I’ve been leaving my car parked, walking to the Metro station, taking the Red Line to Downtown LA, enjoying 90 minute lunch every day (mandatory according to union rules), walking to Little Tokyo for sushi at my favorite place, meeting with ex-coworkers, and did I mention NOT driving? My daily schedule has been 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and every day I’ve been getting home early enough to jump in the pool and hang out with my fabulous neighbors. (And one of my neighbors is especially cute, so every day I get to gaze at him, in his shirtless glory, admiring his perfect biceps and the rest of his perfect physique.) Continue Reading »
Tuesday night I ventured past my territory, which encompasses everything east of La Brea* and traveled west. In LA, west of La Brea is not just a location, it’s a different world. The people are blonder, tanner, and even skinnier than the East side. Which is why I stick to my parts of the city but on Tuesday night I made an exception, missed my spinning class, and traveled west. Couple of weeks ago I had told my Brother Tito that I wanted to go to a French Tuesday event, because A) Brother Tito doesn’t have any more friends left for me, B) I really hate the online dating experience, and C) I figured I could check out the scenery and find some potential victims. Continue Reading »
