Archive for October 2008 – Page 2

Decatur Neighborhood Meetings Are Coming Up!

October 14th Neighborhood Meeting

October 14th Neighborhood Meeting (Click Image to Enlarge)

Seven meetings are scheduled throughout the city of Decatur in October.  Each meeting will have a member of the Decatur City Council present.  Issues to be discussed include:  neighborhood housing, neighborhood safety, neighborhood infrastructure, and economic development.

Download or Print the Full Schedule (City of Decatur Web site) (PDF)

Thoughts on the Palin/Biden Debate

If Republicans Don't Like Him, He Can't Be That Bad!

If Republicans Don't Like Him, He Can't Be That Bad!

Well, I wasn’t too sure what Palin we’d get to see last night at the debate, after the last couple of rocky weeks she’s had; but it looks like the old Sarah Palin, (from way back when we first met her those long five weeks ago), is back! I think both Joe Biden and Sarah Palin did very well; and frankly, I believe the vice-presidential debate was 1,000 percent better than the snoozefest Obama and McCain put on for us last week, in their first debate together.

Considering the position they both were put into last night, they both did remarkably well.  Biden had to be careful not to look condescending or patronizing; Palin just had to be herself, and put out strings of coherent statement together, that hadn’t been planted in her head by Republican operatives.

I didn’t watch much of MSNBC’s coverage of the debate but what little I did see was enough!  As the debate was about to begin, Chris Matthews was ranting about Palin seemingly not being able or willing to name the magazines and newspapers she reads on a regular basis, in her interview with Katie Couric – as if that really matters in the grand scheme of things.   Palin never said she didn’t read any newspapers or magazines – she probably didn’t think naming them was that important.  Did Matthews forget Alaska has television and Internet too!  It’s cold up there but not stupid!  After the debate, Andrea Mitchell was ripping Palin for sidestepping questions, which I don’t think she did a whole lot of, and instead claimed Palin only spouted McCain’s talking points.  Hello!  Did she watch the Obama/McCain debate?  All those two did was repeat lines they both had said one million times before.

Oh well, the last remaining weeks will be a roller coaster I’m sure.  Thank goodness it’s almost over!

Sarah, I Know How You Feel!

I don’t know how I found myself on the other side of the aisle this election but I find myself defending Sarah Palin more each day. It just rubs me wrong when people attack her – especially other women! Sarah Palin is a very likable person, and if we’re honest with ourselves, is probably a lot more like us, as regular ol’ Americans, than Obama, McCain and Biden. Frankly, if I were asked the same questions that’s she’s been asked on national television, I’d look as stumped too. Granted, I’m not running for vice-president but I still feel for her. Her Couric interview reminds me of a very bad job interview that I had a few years back. I was asked what my job duties were in one of my previous jobs and I couldn’t remember! All I could remember was the parking lot and driving to the job. “What the heck DID I do there?” I couldn’t recall. I totally choked, froze solid and blew the interview.

Can you imagine being put into the spotlight that she is in now and the enormous pressure that’s been placed on her shoulders? I’d fold like a lawn chair too. I’d probably be drooling out of the corners of my mouth and become glassy-eyed, if I were asked tough questions, like what my favorite color was. “Color, what’s that?”

Now we await the debate. Oh, joy! I think I’ll avoid watching the pundits dissection of Sarah’s every word tonight, and instead bang my head into the wall – it’ll be the same feeling – minus the waste of electricity!

Marcy Kaptur: Telling it Like It Is