It's Finally Launched.

I was approached early last summer about partnering in a political consulting firm.

It made sense - my potential partner was completely into strategy, grass-roots organizing and research - not to mention that he was very well connected in the local political world.

My strengths - marketing and public relations - provided a good fit to balance the dynamics of the team.

We thought it would be easy to get started - just mention our partnership to a couple of insiders and we'd be putting together campaigns just in time for the November 4th elections.

Wrong! What we failed to anticipate is the local culture of "you rub my back", "I owe him this job", and the ever so Youngstownish "but he'll do it for free"!

Needless to say, nothing materialized for November 4th.

So we re-strategized and determined to launch two weeks after the election, well in advance of the spring primaries. I like this approach much better - find some new candidates and/or issues and have several months to plan and organize some great campaigns.

I sent the press release this morning and I'm waiting for the phone to ring.

May I present Accelerate Strategies Group.

I Can't Stop Crying

I can't stop the tears. At precisely 11:00PM EST I started crying. I went to bed, slept so great, woke up and turned on NBC. The waterworks started again.

I can't help it - it was history - real and true, forever remembered, history.

And we were a part of it. From a cold day back in February when the boys and I stood in line for two hours to hear him speak at Youngstown State University; to the Town Hall meeting I attended in August (thanks to our Mayor who knows him personally); even to the bonding my husband and I had over our disdain for Sarah Palin - in our small way, we all were a part of history.

I also can't stop praying. I pray there isn't another Lee Harvey Oswald just waiting for his moment in history. I pray that this isn't the catalyst for another 9/11 - America with their guard down - vulnerable.

I pray for his family - his beautiful little girls and his strong and intelligent wife.

May God keep them all, and us. "We" can do all things through HIM who gives us strength - Phil. 4:13

$150,000 Clothing Budget

All I can say is perhaps she should donate the clothes after the election to a pay off someone's mortgage.

It's the Sarah Palin Economic Stimulus Plan!

The Daily Show and The Canadian Election

Happened upon this on-air this morning - maybe this is why I would vote for the Conservatives in Canada!

The Secret Lives of Soccer Moms

Here's a good opening...a bunch of soccer moms were waiting for their kids at soccer practice and started talking politics. It should be noted that not one of them was wearing lipstick.

This is a true story...the subject of Sarah Palin came up. I fully expected comments such as "I like her - she's just like me", "it's about time we had someone sticking up for woman", "she's a breath of fresh air"...

Instead I heard - "She offends me in the worst possible way", "Interesting that she supports special needs families when she cut special needs funding in Alaska BEFORE she had her baby", "I have three children at home - do you mean to tell me if I got pregnant and my life was at risk Palin would expect me to die and leave my other three children without a mother because she doesn't believe in ANY form of abortion?"...

On the flip side, several of them commented that their husband's think she's hot!

The Debate

There are so many things I could comment on regarding last night's debate. I agree Obama seemed flat. I agree that John McCain had this maniacal smile on his face everytime Obama was speaking. I agree that, for the most part, they both said the same old thing...except this...

How in the world does John McCain make a connection between Sarah Palin having a nine month old with down syndrome to her understanding the needs of children with autism?!?!

First: She has a child with DOWN SYNDROME - that is not the same as autism. Down Syndrome is considered a physical impairment, therefore the child qualifies for health care and therapy services under most insurance plans and government programs. He will receive numerous interventions and qualify for significant therapy services. Autism is considered a neurological impairment and, depending on where the child falls on the spectrum, is NOT covered under most insurance plans and government waiver programs. Most families are completely lost in the system and some receive no help at all because their child cannot receive an accurate diagnosis; "he looks normal..."

Second: Her child is only nine months old AND she has been running for Vice-President for two of those nine months, 24 hours a day. How in the world does she have any clue what families with special needs children are going through? She hasn't had to deal with a two year old who screams and bangs his head on the floor because he has no other way to communicate; she hasn't had to deal with a four year old who walks around 24/7 with a wrist in his mouth to self stimulate his overloaded senses while the other hand is raised over his head to hit anyone who stands near; she hasn't had to deal with a six year old under his desk at school because he wants to be a bear in his cave; she hasn't had to deal with teaching a ten year old to tie his shoes because his fine motor skills are so weak; she hasn't had to deal with a twelve year old who obsesses over imaginary holes in his sports jerseys and has major screaming meltdowns if you say you can't fix it...

She hasn't had to deal with a child with Aspergers or any other autism spectrum disorder and I am deeply offended to think she has any clue what WE go through everyday.

So John McCain, don't tell me Sarah Palin knows what it's like to have a child with autism and has fought for our rights. Give her 12 years to live with it everyday and then we'll talk.

Here's a New One...

In relation to yesterday's Canadian election...the Conservatives didn't get a Minority. According to Wikepedia, they got this...

In voting, a plurality vote is the largest number of votes to be received by any candidate or proposition when three or more choices are possible. With only 2 choices the winner would have the majority. The candidate or proposition receiving the largest number of votes has a plurality.

Therefore with a whopping 143 of a possible 308 seats, the Conservatives will rule with a plurality government. Isn't that the same as double-speak?