twenty-two seconds to live

“One of Clinton’s laws of politics is this: If one candidate’s trying to scare you, and the other one’s trying to get you to think; if one candidate’s appealing to your fears, and the other one’s appealing to your hopes; you better vote for the person who wants you to think and hope.” Bill Clinton in 2004, campaigning for Kerry.

New will.i.am video!

I am in love with, am loved by, and am going to marry the most amazing, beautiful, and loving woman on the planet.

That is all.

Senate bills/amendments authored by Hillary Clinton that have passed the Senate:

S.694 : A bill to direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations to reduce the incidence of child injury and death occurring inside or outside of light motor vehicles, and for other purposes. (This is currently in conference committee to reconcile difference with the House bill)
Passed in the Senate:
S.CON.RES.27 : A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of “National Purple Heart Recognition Day”.
S.RES.21 : A resolution recognizing the uncommon valor of Wesley Autrey of New York, New York
S.RES.92 : A resolution calling for the immediate and unconditional release of soldiers of Israel held captive by Hamas and Hezbollah.
S.RES.141 : A resolution urging all member countries of the International Commission of the International Tracing Service who have yet to ratify the May 2006 amendments to the 1955 Bonn Accords to expedite the ratification process to allow for open access to the Holocaust archives located at Bad Arolsen, Germany.
S.RES.222 : A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
S.AMDT.666 to H.R.1591 To link award fees under Department of Homeland Security contracts to successful acquisition outcomes under such contracts.
S.AMDT.2047 to H.R.1585 To specify additional individuals eligible to transportation for survivors of deceased members of the Armed Forces to attend their burial ceremonies.
S.AMDT.2108 to H.R.1585 To require a report on the planning and implementation of the policy of the United States toward Darfur.
S.AMDT.2390 to H.R.2638 To require that all contracts of the Department of Homeland Security that provide award fees link such fees to successful acquisition outcomes.
S.AMDT.2474 to H.R.2638 To ensure that the Federal Protective Service has adequate personnel.
S.AMDT.2823 to H.R.3074 To require a report on plans to alleviate congestion and flight delays in the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Airspace.
S.AMDT.2917 to H.R.1585 To extend and enhance the authority for temporary lodging expenses for members of the Armed Forces in areas subject to a major disaster declaration or for installations experiencing a sudden increase in personnel levels.

Senate bills/amendments authored by Barack Obama that have passed the Senate:

S.AMDT.1041 to S.1082 To improve the safety and efficacy of genetic tests.
S.AMDT.3073 to H.R.1585 To provide for transparency and accountability in military and security contracting.
S.AMDT.3078 to H.R.1585 Relating to administrative separations of members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder.
S.AMDT.41 to S.1 To require lobbyists to disclose the candidates, leadership PACs, or political parties for whom they collect or arrange contributions, and the aggregate amount of the contributions collected or arranged.
S.AMDT.524 to S.CON.RES.21 To provide $100 million for the Summer Term Education Program supporting summer learning opportunities for low-income students in the early grades to lessen summer learning losses that contribute to the achievement gaps separating low-income students from their middle-class peers.
S.AMDT.599 to S.CON.RES.21 To add $200 million for Function 270 (Energy) for the demonstration and monitoring of carbon capture and sequestration technology by the Department of Energy.
S.AMDT.905 to S.761 To require the Director of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education to establish a program to recruit and provide mentors for women and underrepresented minorities who are interested in careers in mathematics, science, and engineering.
S.AMDT.923 to S.761 To expand the pipeline of individuals entering the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields to support United States innovation and competitiveness.
S.AMDT.924 to S.761 To establish summer term education programs.
S.AMDT.2519 to H.R.2638 To provide that one of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5 million or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant that the contractor or grantee owes no past due Federal tax liability.
S.AMDT.2588 to H.R.976 To provide certain employment protections for family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty.
S.AMDT.2658 to H.R.2642 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
S.AMDT.2692 to H.R.2764 To require a comprehensive nuclear threat reduction and security plan.
S.AMDT.2799 to H.R.3074 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
S.AMDT.3137 to H.R.3222 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
S.AMDT.3234 to H.R.3093 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
S.AMDT.3331 to H.R.3043 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
Senate Resolutions Passed:
S.RES.133 : A resolution celebrating the life of Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson.
S.RES.268 : A resolution designating July 12, 2007, as “National Summer Learning Day”.

As the “experienced candidate,” Hillary Clinton has had 2 more years in the Senate than Barack Obama, too.

Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/

So, well before Valentine’s Day, I was in the throes of spreadsheeting my finances when it became apparent that I was going to be, ahem, rather broke by then.  Fear not readers – it is a self-imposed poverty.  I’ve been throwing gobs of money at things like wedding invitations and such lately.  It is worth mentioning that Valentine’s Day last year is when I proposed with a diamond ring and magic show and a bunch of panache so trying to show myself up this year wasn’t even on the docket.

I decided the only low-cost thing I had to give was probably writing, so I bought some girly stationery and a couple of purple ink pens and went to town on a long and well-edited (yet still from-the-heart) romantic letter.  I folded it up, stuck it inside of a pretty nice card, and put it in my desk.

As the day drew nearer, I realized I was going to have a few extra dollars just begging to shuffle off the mortal coil of my checking account, so I ordered the classics – flowers and balloons – to be delivered on the big day.

I’m sure you all know the ending of this story by now, but it is my job as the writer to feign surprise and wide-eyed innocence at these things in order to convey a sense of having learned something important.

The letter was her favorite part of Valentine’s Day, and cost me the least in terms of actual Earth Dollars.

So guys, take heed, listen up, yadda yadda yadda.  Ah screw it, not going to bother putting the platitudes to print.  You know them already.

I got flowers at work too – which, as a man, I think is incredibly awesome.  Mine had chocolates too!   AND she had one of our engagement photos printed and put in a nice frame.  I intend to display it somewhere, as framed photos are typically wont to have done. AND she made me cupcakes and didn’t even yell at me for eating them (the diet, see.)

Now I think some cable news and some sleep are in order – tomorrow is going to feature the best morning ever!

Edit: I added two videos today, you can find them on the “Obama Videos” link at the top of the page.

The numbers are still rolling in from last night, and the delegates are still being apportioned.

Major news outlets called a lot of things early last night, and I went to bed with a sense of unease. This morning, however, real analysis is putting the delegate split at +/-10 after everything is added up. Most analysts are putting my man Obama at +4 to +6 when it all wraps up. This is huge – just 24 hours ago we were all discussing how as long as he finished within 100 delegates of Clinton, things would still work out. Now we are looking at an actual lead. Amazing!

I will update later as some final numbers start showing up. That might not be until tomorrow though, so I leave you with something an online acquaintance of mine posted today:

I am a lifelong, hardcore, fourth generation Republican. My first political act was canvassing with my dad for George H.W. Bush in 1988 when I was seven years old. I voted for George W. Bush twice, with reservations, and I think that time and history will be fair and (for the most part) kind to his time in office, despite what most of you feel.

But too many things are wrong.

Know, this division has to be weakened; and this cynicism has to be quelled. Progress will never be realized until we can pull for someone who is willing to put the divisiveness of the past behind. It’s time for something different, something new. Barack Obama is the most compelling candidate that I have ever known, and I have seen them all in my relatively brief political experience. I re-registered as a Democrat to vote for him in my state, because I feel that he is THAT special. I will say this with impunity; never in history has someone with such progressive politics been so embraced by those with conservative values. However, this support will NEVER EVER be extended to Hillary Clinton. Without Obama, the Democrats will lose. We will all align, even with McCain, to beat her, because she is hateful, divisive, and disingenuous.

Don’t make me do it. I gave $100 tonight. You do the same.

Yes we can.

GO VOTE!