You know how the hero always loses the first half of the fight? Yeah, it was kinda like that.

Okay, so I’ve watched the first debate three times now.

Why are you shocked, I’m geeky like that.

Anyway, in case you missed it, or just want to watch it again, The First Presidential Debate.

Quite honestly, I found the debate rather boring, sans shaking my head at the false facts being thrown around repeatedly, esepcially the $716 million and 5 trillion number. Anyone remember “locked box” and “fuzzy math?” I’m not going to list them all, you can go read all about them at PolitiFact, Factcheck, CNN and NPR. I’m sure Fox has their own brand of fact checking as well, but I’m guessing they’re more interested in the touting of Christie/Palin 2020 to be bothered with what’s going on right now.

But I digress.

Oh to be a fly on the wall (very HIGH up on the wall) when President Obama walked off the stage and greeted his Senior staff. I don’t deign to speak for anyone, but if I were writing the script, I think the convo would go a little something like this:

President: Who the F*** was that?

Staffer: I have no idea.

President: We didn’t prep for him. I don’t know who he is.

Staffer: Neither do we.

First Lady: Why didn’t you go after him? Why did you let him take the ball and run with it. Why did you let him continue to make you go right?

President: Who the hell was that?

That’s my way of saying that although some say Obama look disinterested, while others say he seemed angry, to me, he seemed shell shocked. I know I was. Just as soon as we’re sure we’ve seen all the faces of Romney, he creates a new one. If Marvel doesn’t pattern a villain after him, they are missing a choice opportunity.

To his credit, Romney showed up to play and win, and he was successful. He managed to be engaging, even though it was in an almost-parental and definitely patronizing manner. And I think he was well on his way to winning over some of those Independents and undecideds…

Until he stated he was going to fire Big Bird. For many, that’s when the wheels came off the bus. Romney stated that he would cut funding to PBS to help balance the budget. Hum. Cutting $26 million out of trillions of dollars is as helpful as going to the grocery store, buying $200 worth of food, and plopping down a 50-cent coupon. Leave Big Bird and Downton Abbey alone!

Another issue: I still don’t know what his plans are. Yes, I know he has a plan. Yes, I know he has websites and YouTube videos to explain the plan. But it might have been smart if Romney, oh I don’t know, spent less time mowing over Lehrer so he could chant $716 million, and more time outlining what his plans actually are. Not everyone goes on the Internet. No, really, it’s true.

Romney made the comment that he could not understand why Obama spent his first two years in office going after Obamacare, when jobs were desperately needed. I have a question for Mr.Romney: Why did congress spend the last two years trying to repeal Obamacare instead of voting on the jobs bill?  Yeah, exactly.

So, did Romney win or did Obama lose?

No, really there is a difference. I understand why everyone says Romney won the debate. But which Romney did we see last night? Since he changes stances more than a Diva changes clothes, it is hard to really say Romney won. But it is clear to me that Obama did not win. Obama wasn’t prepared for what Romney brought to the stage. I don’t think anyone was prepared for what Romney pulled off last night. The fact of the matter, is that Obama does not like to confront his opponents. He prefers a more relaxed approach. However, Obama is not engaged in a gentleman’s debate. This is a street fight, and he just got his butt handed to him. Now that the President realizes this, expect him to come out swinging next time. As for Romney, who knows what to expect next. Maybe he’ll hire some of the Muppets he plans to fire to debate for him.

Debate Number 1…

is now behind us. And what did we learn?

1. Obama hasn’t had to defend his stance in a long time.

2. Romney doesn’t seem to understand the rules of debate.

3. Jim Lehrer never had control of the debate as moderator.

4, Town Hall formats without a town hall are just stupid.

5. Romney loves Big Bird, but has no problem firing him.

6. Romney has a plan. He’ll tell you what it is later.

7. Obama lost this debate. Yeah, I said it. Obama didn’t show up. He didn’t really have to.

8. Romney won this debate. Of course he had to.

Overall, I can’t say I’ve come out of this debate with any more information than I had going in. I’m still waiting for all the fact-checkers to chime in — they’re got their work cut out for them.

If there’s a “smoking gun” revealed, I’ll discuss that tomorrow, or whenever it’s revealed.

In other news, I had three of my favorite clients contact me with work today, which was cool. I started a new piece of chainmaille jewelry, which is cool, too.

And today, I did actually feed the dogs. 😉

Be Less Racist – Eat Less Chicken

I’ve been pretty busy with work, so I haven’t had time to blog, but some of the events that have unfolded over the last few days have prompted me to jump back up on my soapbox for a few minutes. I’m going to make a couple of statements, then expound on them. Ready?

Okay…here we go.

Statement #1: Chik-Fil-A can support whatever it wants.

Like it or not, they are free not to support same-sex marriage. They are free to be a religious-based organization. They can choose to only recognize traditional marriage standards. You can boycott them. You can march in front of their restaurants and call them homophobic, evil or whatever you want. But it’s not going to make a difference. Beliefs that deeply rooted are not going to change because of a few picket signs or angry letters to the editor. I would bet the farm that Cathy et al would close the franchise down before they would change their stance. So, don’t waste your energy. Express your disdain by driving past the restaurant and eating someplace else.

Or you could send everyone you know to a Chik-Fil-A, then have them donate a dollar to a local Gay rights advocacy group as penance.  And don’t forget to let the restaurant know you did so.

Statement #2: Racism is alive and well.

Many of my friends seem to be shocked by this revelation. It makes me smile that some of my friends are so pure of thought that these things don’t occur to them, and it makes my heart sad when I have to point this fact out to them. I wish I could have the same idyllic attitude, but alas, it seems my reason for being is to be a litmus test and sounder of the alarm for others. I’m okay with that. But please, when I tell you that outside of your immediate scope, there are people who still hate on the basis of skin color, I’m not trying to be mean. I’m your reality check. No more, no less.

But the debates from the last few days have made me question things, and so, I am going to throw the big question out there: Fifty years ago, would we have been friends? Would you have supported my right to sit where I want on a bus or in a restaurant, or would you have complained that I had an “agenda” as I was fighting for my equal rights as a black person? Or go back further in time — would you have objected to my agenda to have equal rights as a woman?

No?

Maybe?

How are those fights any different from the one being fought now?

Now, before you tell me, “but it’s not the same thing, you’re comparing apples to oranges,” let me stop you. You’re right, they are two completely different issues.

But they are still both fruit. Fruit born from the same seed of ignorance and intolerance.  Just as the fair and equal-minded had to shout down the detractors to equal right for women and blacks then, the same thing is happening now.

Speaking of detractors, let’s talk a moment about Obama haters.

No, I don’t mean those who oppose President Obama’s policies, I mean those who hate the man.

Dislike his policies all you want. Call him out on what you perceive as a lack of experience and inability to run the country. I got no beef with that.

But those of you who hate him because you hate the idea of a black man being in the Oval Office, I’m onto you, and I will call you out whenever I encounter you. I’ve got a big booming voice, and I’m not afraid to use it.

Because if I let you hate him and remain silent about it, it is only a matter of time before you start hating me. Because I’m black. Because I’m a woman. Because I fit some other stereotype you hold dear to your heart.

So, now, friends,  maybe you understand my frustration with some of the things that have been said over the last few days. For some of you, it’s just idle chatter with no immediate implications. But for me, it is so much bigger than that. I cannot allow anyone  to roll back time and force me to fight for my rights all over again. Not gonna happen. Not while I’m still breathing.