Lawyer Mama

Forfeiting the Golden Ticket

I'm one of the lucky few.  I have a ticket to Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20th.  Actually, I have 2, along with tickets to the opening ceremonies and the Mid-Atlantic ball.  I could be there Tuesday morning, along with 250,000 of my closest friends, standing in the security lines for hours on end and freezing my tush off, awaiting a glimpse of history.  But I won't be.  You see, I'm giving my tickets away.

I was very involved in several Democratic campaigns this election season.  I joined a group called Blue Star Families for Obama and became involved in the leadership and in developing social media for the group.  I was thrilled to go to the Democratic National Convention with the MOMocrats. I met Michelle Obama on several occasions. I met Joe Biden twice and actually have a fabulous picture of him carrying my son Hollis around.  I've seen Barack Obama speak four times, and each time moved me to tears. I've had so many wonderful opportunities and memory making moments over the last year.

Read More at D.C. Metro Moms Blog....

The Obamas on 60 Minutes

Watching the Obamas on 60 minutes the other night, I was thrilled to hear Michelle Obama mention that one of her priorities in office will be military families.  We're in the process of transforming Blue Star Families for Obama into something permanent.  I can't give you details yet but I can say that we will always be advocates for military families. The mention comes near the end of this segment.

Watch CBS Videos Online

Kroft: I know you've said that your first priority is to be mom in chief. 

Michelle Obama: Yes. 

Kroft:You're a Harvard Law School grad yourself. And a Princeton grad. You were a high-powered executive. How long do you give her, knocking around that big house, before she starts to want to imprint on the job of being first lady?

Mr. Obama: I think Michelle is gonna design her own role. I think she's gonna set her own path. But I here's one thing I know about Michelle she's serious when she talks about being a mom. That's why our girls are so wonderful. I'd love to take credit for it. But this is the one who deserves most of the credit. And…

Michelle Obama: Well, the thing we've learned, you know, as we've watched this campaign, is that people, women, are capable of doing more than one thing well at the same time. And I've, you know, had to juggle being mom in chief and having a career for a long time. The primary focus for the first year will be making sure that the kids make it through the transition. But there are many issues that I care deeply about. I care about military families and the work/family balance issue. I care about education. I, both Barack and I, believe that we can have an impact in the D.C. area. You know, in terms of making sure we're contributing to the community that we immediately live in. That's always been something that we try to do. Whether it's in our own neighborhoods or in the schools that we've attended. So there's plenty to do.

A Letter to My Sons: Why I'm Voting for Barack Obama

I got the idea for this post from the beautiful and wise City Mama.  "Thanks, my dear.  If your daughters grow up to be half the woman you are they will be lucky indeed. - LM."

Dear Hollis & Holden,

Tomorrow is November 4, 2008.  That date doesn't mean much to you now, but I'm hoping that someday it will.  You'll learn the date that the United States elected the John F. Kennedy of my generation.

It's hard for me to explain to you both, at 3 and 4, just what this election means to me.  All you know right now is that Mommy hasn't been home a lot and you wish I could put you to bed more often.

You see, once upon a time I was young and idealistic.  I wanted to help people and change the world.  But then I discovered that putting yourself out there can hurt, really hurt, when you fail.  I became an arm chair activist, donating money instead of my time, and talking and writing about social justice instead of taking action.

Then I had the two of you.

You see, voting isn't just about me and who I'll get to rant about for the next four years.  Now, my vote is about your future.  I want the world you live in to be free from racism and hate.  I want our country and our leaders to take the issue of poverty seriously and to listen to the people they govern.

It's not that I won't be able to give you the world.  You two are incredibly lucky.  You were born white, to two educated, professional parents.  We may tend to hover a bit, but we'll do whatever we have to do to make sure you get the best education and the best opportunities in life.

So why do I care so much?  Because I want every other child in this country to have that as well.

When I became your mother, I became A Mother.  When I see a child without a coat on in 30 degree weather I shiver for him and look around for a coat, just like his mother would.  When I hear about a child harmed I cry the tears her mother will.  When I learn that 14,000,000 children in this country don't have health insurance, I get pissed off and I want to change that, just like those 14,000,000 mothers do.

I hope to teach both of you that we are all inextricably intertwined as human beings and Americans.  We can't turn our heads and pretend we don't see the problems of others.  I don't want you to grow up making excuses for your privilege and the poverty of others, attempting to justify a system of haves and have-nots. 

You may work hard as a soldier or lawyer or accountant, but so do our trash collectors and our teachers and yes, even our plumbers.  Yes, you will encounter people who don't work as hard as you, who can't hold a job, who have too many children and not enough money.  But I want both of you to realize that you are no more entitled to the necessities of life than they are.  You've just been very, very lucky through happy accident of birth.

Barack Obama, more than any public servant of my life time, seems to understand this and all that I want you to learn.

I didn't start out as a Barack Obama supporter.  But as I've researched his policies, spoken with his wife, his vice presidential pick, and too many surrogates to name, I've become convinced that he is the perfect man to unite our divided country.  And so, because I want to change our country, I got involved in a political campaign for the first time in my life.

It's not just me either.  There are so many mothers and fathers and grandparents and students and first time voters getting involved.  They, like me, see something in Barack Obama that is different, that stands for hope and the promise of better things to come.  I haven't seen people united in such a cause since the days after 9/11, and that ended quickly enough.  This time, I'm hopeful that people will stay involved.  I'm hopeful that people will see that they can make a difference and that they did make a difference.

I'm hopeful that people will keep getting involved and keep trying to change the world and keep fighting for justice for all the other people that inhabit this country, this world, this third rock from the sun.

In what I believe will be one of history's most remembered speeches, Barack Obama reminded us all that we have to fight not for ourselves, but for others.  He shared a story of a campaign organizer named Ashley, sharing why she'd gotten involved - because of what her mother had gone through when she got cancer and lost her insurance and her ability to support her family:

Anyway, Ashley finishes her story and then goes around the room and asks everyone else why they're supporting the campaign. They all have different stories and reasons. Many bring up a specific issue. And finally they come to this elderly black man who's been sitting there quietly the entire time. And Ashley asks him why he's there. And he does not bring up a specific issue. He does not say health care or the economy. He does not say education or the war. He does not say that he was there because of Barack Obama. He simply says to everyone in the room, "I am here because of Ashley."

"I'm here because of Ashley." By itself, that single moment of recognition between that young white girl and that old black man is not enough. It is not enough to give health care to the sick, or jobs to the jobless, or education to our children.

But it is where we start. It is where our union grows stronger. And as so many generations have come to realize over the course of the two-hundred and twenty one years since a band of patriots signed that document in Philadelphia, that is where the perfection begins.

It isn't enough for me to just feed and clothe and take care of the two of you, my boys.  It may not be enough for me to vote, knock on doors, do interviews, write articles, and make phone calls to get Barack Obama elected.  But it is where I, and so many others, start.  We're doing it for you and all the other people in this country because "that is where the perfection begins."

Yes.  Yes, we can.

Love,
Mommy

Photo by Heidi Kulberg. (That's Hollis on the right.)

The Virginia Military Vote in the 2008 Election

Photo by Heidi Kulberg. BSF4O members at Obama rally in Virginia Beach.

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I was recently interviewed by RTE - Irish Public Radio and Television - about Virginia's military vote in the 2008 election.  I've finally figured out how to post these clips, so bear with me!

I've had quite a few interviews during this election season, the vast majority of them as the Deputy Outreach Director for Blue Star Families for Obama.  To keep track of them all, I've started a Press Clippings section in the sidebar.  I am, after all, a legend in my own mind.  Enjoy!

In case no one's figured it out, I've decided to do NaBloPoMo again this year!  What better way to get back into blogging than to jump in and completely drown myself?  Since I'll have no time right around the election, I've got a backlog of posts ready to go.  Please forgive me for cheating.  I'm doing it for the U.S.!

Wondering Where the Heck I've Been?

You can check out my posts at MOMocrats to catch up on everything from the Democratic National Convention and on.  I have a nice link to all of my posts for you.

Steph on MOMocrats.

I've been taking photos.  And people are actually paying me for it! 

I've also been acting as the Deputy Director for Outreach for Blue Star Families for Obama, a grassroots organization of military family members supporting Barack Obama for president.  I've been a busy little bee.  In fact, politics has pretty much owned my butt 20 hours a day since August.

And oh, yeah, I quit my job.

You know all that depression stuff and those hints about change to come?  Yep.  I did it.  I jumped off the cliff.

And you know what?  I've never felt better.

Now that I'm finally doing something I'm passionate about; now that I'm making a difference, the clouds are gone.  I'm me again and I know this isn't a temporary thing.

Whatever I do and wherever I go in the future, I must feel that I'm making a difference in the world.

I'll be back after the election.  In the meantime, here's part of what we've been up to over at BSF4O:

My Michelle Obama Day

Yesterday was an Obama day for me.

I meet Michelle Obama.  And immediately begin running my mouth non-stop.

As some of my regular readers know, I was originally an Edwards supporter.  I switched my loyalty to Barack Obama only days before the Virginia primary.  Since that time, as I've gotten to know more about Barack and Michelle Obama, their backgrounds and policies, I've grown to like Barack, and what he stands for, more and more.

I've written recently about the disparity between Senator McCain's vocal support for veterans and military issues and his abysmal record when faced with legislation that might actually back up his empty words.  In contrast, Obama's voting record shows clear support for the military. Still, I've wanted to hear more about how Obama intends to bolster our flagging military and morale.  Yesterday, I had the chance.

I had the opportunity to meet Michelle Obama at an invitation only event for the spouses of active duty and retired military members. 

After some inspiring remarks by Congressional candidate Glenn Nye, Michelle participated in a round table discussing the issues facing military families today.  The roundtable featured Claudia Kennedy (a retired 3 star general), Bud Buccha (a  Medal of Honor winner and Obama campaign adviser), Virginia Delegate Joe Bouchard (a retired Navy Captain), Stephanie Schiffman Marushia (a military wife and disabled veteran), Beth Robinson (a Marine Corps officer's wife who is living with MS), Amanda McBreen (wife of a Marine Corps officer and activist for Blue Star Families for Obama), Elaine Guishard (Navy wife and breast cancer survivor) , Sandra Stockard (wife of a retired Navy man and mother of a Navy daughter), and Tammy Linton (Air Force wife).

Beth Robinson introduces Ms. Obama

Michelle ... I'm sorry, I have to call her Michelle.  Calling her Mrs. or Ms. Obama seems too impersonal for such a warm woman.  Michelle showed a deep understanding for the struggles of military members and their families, despite some local concerns that she couldn't possibly understand where we're coming from.  (You know, being an "elitist ivy leaguer" and all.)

Make no mistake.  Michelle gets it.  In a way I don't think that Senator McCain, or Cindy McCain the heiress, could get it in a million years.

Many people look at the military and see only the surface: the man going off to war or to sea.  Most politicians like to visit the soldiers, pose for photos, land on an aircraft carrier and declare "Mission Accomplished."  Most politicians, hell, most people, don't see behind the pomp and circumstance to the women (and increasingly, men) who put on a brave face and keep the family going.

You don't always see how the family struggles financially because a spouse, moving every 8 months or 6 months or 2 years, can't advance in a career and sometimes can't even find a job on a base in the middle of nowhere.  You don't see the children uprooted from schools and friends constantly.  You don't see the long wait lists for childcare and housing and the families starting over at the bottom of the list every time there's a move.  You don't see the money they lose on selling a house in a housing slump because the Army says it's time to go.

You don't see the small children struggle to become reacquainted with a parent they don't remember.  But Michelle has seen it.  She's taken the time to see it.

In her opening remarks, Michelle spoke with passion about the military spouses she's spoken to and the problems they face in their marriages, professional lives, and lives as mothers:

I am amazed at how you do it. You struggle with all this and more. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from these roundtables, it’s that when our military goes to war or deploys at sea – their families go with them.

You become everything at home while your spouse is away. You’re running the checkbook. You’re Mom, you’re Dad; you’re the disciplinarian. You’re making dinner and doing homework; and when the bills keep piling up, and that list of chores seems endless, you find yourself with yet another job: worrying late into the night.

And you don’t just struggle with the economic downturn like everyone else; it’s often more difficult for you to find jobs. I’ve heard from military wives who enter the job market with solid resumes, but find themselves fighting for jobs that pay seven dollars an hour. Employers look at your resume and wonder why you can’t keep a steady job – even though it’s only because you’re already doing your job as a military spouse by moving from base to base.

One spouse, former military herself, told me she gave up looking and went back to school to become a nurse – but now faces staggering student loans and $500 in monthly child care costs. Others have children stuck on base waiting lists, or face rules that don’t allow them to use on-base child care.

And I know your marriages face unique challenges. Your husbands or wives may be deployed for months at a time, working 16 hour days or more, in the toughest conditions imaginable. They sometimes come home with problems you’re simply not equipped to deal with, and there can be a stigma attached to asking for help. Or they come home, life is good, but it’s a readjustment period – and as soon as you get back to where you were before he or she left, the bags are packed for another deployment.

One woman told me, "For better or for worse, in sickness and in health…but it is tough sometimes." Another said that during the day, she puts on her pretty clothes and her bold face and holds her head high and holds the fort down. But at night, she lies in bed and cries.
You end up taking care of each other on base – from babysitting to delivering bad news – but you’re rarely trained or prepared for any of it.

I hear these stories everywhere I go, from women doing everything that’s asked of them and more. These women aren’t asking for much. They’re not asking for government to solve all their problems. They’re just asking for a Washington that understands what’s happening to our military families, and the variety of challenges they face as part of their extraordinary commitment to our country.

That's it.  That's it exactly.  We aren't asking for much, but we do want our military members and families to be appreciated.  We want the Veterans Administration fully funded so that soldiers can get the care they need when they return and when they leave the service.  We want support for military families struggling with educational, health, and childcare problems.   We want adequate time between deployments so that families can heal and bond.

The military spouses in the roundtable, and audience members, brought up many similar concerns, from health care, antiquated medical record systems, and simultaneous deployments of two military parents, to deployment readiness groups and fostering a culture of service to our country.

Vivian, a former Navy officer, wife of a deployed Navy officer, mother of two, and PhD student in public administration, asks Michelle Obama how we can begin to create a broader culture of service in our society.

The Obama campaign's new initiative, the Plan to Support Virginia Military Families, addresses all of these concerns and more.  The campaign is also kicking off Blue Star Families for Obama, a grass roots organization started by military families supporting Obama because of his positive plans (and past votes) for veterans, military members, and families.

(You can read Michelle Obama's full remarks, as prepared, here.)

When I consider Barack Obama's voting record on military issues, his proposals to help military families and Michelle's visit to Norfolk, I'm convinced that he will be the best candidate to support our military families.

Aside from the political purpose of the event, I was struck by Michelle's warmth, candor, and sincerity.  I'll save the content of my conversation with Michelle, which was personal in nature, for my personal blog, but it only made me determined to do everything I can to get Michelle Obama's husband into office.

She's a hand clasper.  I like that.  Notice the mouth is STILL running.

Maybe after Barack and Michelle make it into the White House, I can exchange the MOMocrats Powerful Blogger Lady hat I gave her for a new MOMocrats Powerful Blogger FIRST Lady hat!

In true Lawyer Mama "fashion," I also took a photo of her shoes:

Stylish as always.

Later that evening, I also had the opportunity to hear Michelle speak at a fundraiser featuring Bruce Hornsby at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk.  But I'll save that for Part II....

Cross posted at MOMocrats.

MOMocrats Nabs Obama Exclusive

Our press release:

Headline: MOMocrats EXCLUSIVE with Barack Obama

MOMocrats step up where mainstream media and traditional debates let the American public down, "Things we wish they'd asked in the debates..."

Recently, MOMocrats asked the Democratic Presidential candidates the questions we all wish reporters or moderators had asked in any interview or debate. Today, Senator Barack Obama sent back his answers to the MOMocrats questions. This is the latest example of the influence political blogging groups are showing in the presidential campaign

The most recent debate between the Democratic candidates was disappointing to most citizens. We felt that the questions were directed more towards mud slinging between the candidates than substantive questions about domestic and foreign policy. So the MOMocrats and their readers came up with a list of "Questions We Wish ABC Had Asked." Then we submitted them to the candidates.

In a MOMocrats exclusive, Barack Obama answers the questions that should have been asked during the last debate. Click here to read our interview, in which he finally gets to discuss the issues, not his apparel or acquaintances.

We haven't heard from the Clinton campaign yet, but the MOMocrats' invitation for her to weigh in remains open.

The MOMocrats are politically savvy and active pundit moms dedicated to putting a Democrat in the White House. You can read more about them at MOMocrats.


Obama selected 5 of our questions and responded, covering everything from human rights and poverty to the mortgage crisis and family friendly policies. I know you want to go read our scoop!

Get your butt over to MOMocrats, pronto!

Just Call Me Stephanie "the Stripper" Hussein

***Update*** Go check out all the links of the people playing "Just Call Me Hussein, The Meme." There are two cool buttons to choose from as well. You know you want one!

Have y'all heard about the latest Republican smear / xenophobic/ racist tactic?

Pundits such as Bill Cunningham and Ann Coulter have begun referring to Barack Obama as B. Hussein Obama or Barack Hussein Obama. Their purpose? To play on xenophobic fears about Muslims and terrorism. Personally, I think Obama should be proud of his name and his cultural background. So, the MOMocrats have decided to embrace this wholeheartedly and we'd like you to join us!

"Just Call Me Hussein Day was started by MOMocrats in response to fools like Bill Cunningham who is obviously still seven years old..."


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My name seems pretty innocuous, right? I can't say that anyone really made fun of my name when I was growing up. The worst fear I had was that someone would realize Fanny was a nickname for Stephanie and start calling me that. My dad and my grandmother occasionally call me Stephie, but only they can get away with that. I'll rip the head off of anyone else who tries it. Just call me Steph, please.

The problem is, it's sort of hard to take anyone named Stephanie seriously in a professional context. I have this theory that if you'd like your daughter to grow up to be a Dallas Cowboy's cheerleader or a stripper, give her a name that ends in Y, IE, or the Eeee sound. Try it out: Stephanie, Tiffany, Bambi, Debbie, Candie, Cindy, Mimi, etc.... They all work nicely, don't they?

So I can sympathize with the latest attempts to smear Barack Obama by making fun of his middle name, Hussein. But folks, this one is going to back fire. If Obama is anything like most Americans, he's damn proud of his name and his cultural heritage, no matter how much others may poke fun at him for it.

I may not have chosen Stephanie as my name, but it wasn't mine to choose. It was my parents. They choose it out of love and wonder at the new little girl they'd brought into the world. So, stripper name and all, Steph is who I am and who I'll always be.

In solidarity with Barack Obama, just call me Stephanie Hussein for today.

Ann Coulter can kiss my ass.

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Want to join the fun? Here's what you do:

Everyone should title their post with their name (or blog name) and Hussein. Then share a childhood story about your name...I'm sure most of us have one. Or, if you don't, be creative. Make fun of your name.

So for example: Title: Just Call Me Stephanie Hussein (Your Last Name) or Lawyer Hussein Mama

Include the following text at the top of your post: "Just Call Me Hussein Day was started by the MOMocrats in response to fools like Bill Cunningham who is obviously still seven years old..."

Please link to MOMocrats at http://MOMocrats.typepad.com.

Include instructions for Just Call Me Hussein Day at the bottom of your post if you'd like to pass it on. Share the love!

Please join the MOMocrats in blogging "Just Call Me Hussein" Day by sharing your story.

Early Childhood Education From A Military Perspective

A lovely piece ran in our local Virginian Pilot today about early childhood education. It was written by a retired Vice Admiral and applied his own brand of "military logic" to the arguments against state funding of early childhood education. It was so refreshing, I had to share it:

A Military Perspective On Preschool

As a retired military officer, I am concerned with the debate about whether to fund the proposed expansion of the Virginia Preschool Initiative. I am concerned because opponents are often vigorous, employing one of two tactics, neither of which seems defensible.

One of these tactics is political - the attempt to stir partisan opposition to the proposal solely because it is championed by a governor from the opposing party. This tactic, of course, is contrary to a military way of doing business, where decisions are based on reason and empirical evidence rather than political motives.

The second tactic is the "yes, but" approach, as in "we think expansion of preschool is a good idea, but it's too costly," or "but there are too many practical barriers to overcome," or similar yes-but evasions.

To a former officer, "yes, but" has the ring of excuse-making or lack of commitment to the objective, both of which must be overcome to stay on course.

So why should you care what a retired sailor like me thinks about preschool?

You should care, because the military cares, and deeply, about this topic. So deeply, in fact, that starting nearly two decades ago, the Department of Defense launched a services-wide initiative to increase the availability of high-quality early education programs for its youngest dependents.

The military took up this mission to ensure that children of military parents would start kindergarten ready to succeed. Military leaders championed the cause, funds were allocated, programs were made available so all parents could afford high-quality programs.

The effort proved so successful that government and private-sector policy experts began lauding the military's initiative as a model that should be emulated in the civilian sector.

Why such a strong commitment by the military to quality early education and school readiness? Quite simply, the decision was prompted by the following circumstances:
* A large number of military spouses working outside the home
* Half of today's service members have one or more children under age 5; this amounts to nearly 500,000 across all the branches

But there was another commitment, a common-sense one: to do the right thing for children and their parents in uniform.

So, from the perspective of an observer who has seen how this can succeed, I must now ask why some Virginia decision makers seem so reluctant to follow the lead of their military counterparts.

To borrow a naval phrase, we need all hands on deck. Vote to use the lessons learned in the military as a shining example. Access to high-quality, affordable child care for all should be expanded in our state so that all our children have a fighting chance to succeed.

Jim Metzger
Vice Admiral, USN (ret.)
Suffolk

Amen.

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There was a political rally for Obama in Virginia Beach here this evening. Unfortunately, what with the kiddos and all, I didn't think it was a good idea to attend. (It's T's Navy Reserve weekend, so I'm on my own with the kiddos.) I hear it was a good time with lots of noise and lots of people. I have to admit it's kind of nice to hear Virginia's primary described as "pivotal" even if it is the local paper doing it. I'll just try to forget that we were all but ignored before the Wednesday after Super Tuesday and enjoy it while it lasts. I know all the politicians will evaporate from the Commonwealth after Tuesday's election.

Speaking of politics, the D.C. Metro Moms (and all of their sister sites) are writing about politics and voting today. Head on over and check it out. I'm sure there will be some entertaining and controversial pieces going up throughout the day.

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I have some pictures from the zoo up on Lawyer Mama Dabbles. You can see what a hellion my Holden is when allowed to roam free from the confines of his stroller....

Why I'm Not Voting for Hillary

So I suppose I should just suck it up and tell y'all who I'm voting for on Tuesday. Now that Edwards is out of the race, Barack Obama has my vote.

I wish I could say that it was a clear choice between Obama and HRC, but it wasn't. Honestly, the only viable progressive candidate in the race was Edwards. HRC, however, is one of the most polarizing figures of our time. As much as I would love to vote for a woman and have a woman as our Commander in Chief, I don't think it will happen with Senator Clinton. In fact, there's nothing that will motivate the Religious Right more on election day than the chance to vote against HRC.

McCain is clearly going to be the Republican nominee. While he's playing to his base right now, he's not nearly conservative enough for many Republicans. I'm not talking about the majority of Republicans here, but Republicans who make the most noise and preach from the pulpit. Some of those Republicans may very well stay home on election day. Unless HRC is the Democratic candidate.

Don't get me wrong, I like and respect Senator Clinton. I will forgive her a host of political missteps simply because I think she gets a raw deal from the mainstream media and mainstream America. Why? Because she's a tough, smart, involved, and politically aware woman. When HRC got involved in the universal health care debacle at the beginning of her husband's first term, people weren't enraged because of her policies. They were enraged because a wife was stepping into traditional male territory.

I, and many of the people I know well, tend to forget that while much of the country has taken giant leaps with respect to women, there are many out there stuck in 1958. I tend to forget because I don't often hear those antiquated voices. I'm a woman, yes, but I'm also a lawyer surrounded by progressive men and very well educated women. But every now and then I hear a whisper of times gone by and it stops me short.

Many might call me a sell out. Many would say I should support HRC for all the reasons I just stated. After all, things will never change if we don't actively work to change them. But what I'm trying to say with this post is that, while I think we're ready for the next step, a woman in charge, I don't think that HRC is the woman who can make that happen.

I'm afraid that if Clinton's candidacy fails, we'll be stuck with another 8 years of Republicans running roughshod over our civil rights. And based on statements McCain made today in Norfolk, Virginia, I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up with a nice war in Iran to go with our conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

That can't happen.

I've just said an awful lot about why I'm not voting for Hillary Clinton, but not a whole lot about why I'm voting for Barack Obama. I promise, that's next....

This post was originally written for a "Why Not Billary" post day on MOMocrats. Then Edwards dropped out and I had to rethink some things.