Edwards 08

Dear Citizens,

We have a winner!  A real winner with real values and real experience. John Edwards announced his bid for the White House in 2008 today.  Tomorrow begins TODAY!

"John Edwards is running for president because he wants to build an America that lives up to its promise -- one where we all share in prosperity at home and one that shows real moral leadership around the world.

The next president faces tremendous challenges -- from poverty and lack of health care, to energy and global warming, to fixing the mess in Iraq.

We cannot wait until the next president is elected to begin to address these challenges. If we want to live in a moral and just America tomorrow, we must act today.

We're going to reach out to millions of people to let them know it's still okay to dream big dreams, and do everything we can to make them real -- because that's what America is all about. If you're ready to change our country, please join us. "

from johnedwards.com

A Very Good Thing

It was really easy to get caught up in all the excitment a few weeks ago if you were a Democrat. 

We made great strides in our victory and have a clear plan on how to take this nation in a better direction.  I'll admit, even I celebrated a little too hard.  I saw Bill Clinton speak on the Friday before the Electoins.  He was energized, mesmerizing, and convicted.  (Not to mention sexy as ever!).  And being the original moderate democrat, he reminds us this week that the party is over and its time for democrats to use the opportunity to prove themselves.

The beauty of the Democratic Party midterm victory, Clinton muses, is that voters said no to ideology. They wanted to move past fearmongering and demonizing toward true debate. "America rejected shorthand," he says. "People are thinking again."

The people didn't give Democrats a mandate," the former president cautions. "They gave us a chance."  And Chance favors the prepared minded. 

The democrats are prepared.  They have been planning for this moment since I was just in grade school.  I am curious to see how this will all turn out.  But one thing I know for sure is that with this new Congress in January, every American will finally be represented.  There is no dominant party, niether Democrat, nor Republican.  And no matter where you fall on the spectrum of political ideology, this is a very very good thing.     

Rome Wasn't Built In A Day

I believe in gravity.  I believe that there is a natural force pulling us down and that we are all given the strength to stand up.  I believe that everyone falls down.  And I know that the fall from Grace is the harshest, most dangerous fall one can take.

18 months ago I fell.  And I haven't yet gotten back up.  After my best friend died, no one expected me to be okay.  They all looked at me with pity and sadness.  But no one expected me to stay down for so long.  And I wasn't even aware just how far I had fallen. 

Just last week I was sitting in the kitchen of my parents house with my mom and my Aunt.  I got up to answer a phone call and I lingered in the hall for a second before I returned to the table.  It was then that I heard my Aunt say, "What a tragedy.  She had so much going for her and I never thought she'd be the type to let grief control her life."

It's true, my life plan that I devised in 5th grade has taken a detour.  I've hit a few roadblocks, but I'm not dead.  My story isn't over and I am not a tragedy yet.  I still don't know how to live without Sam, and I still can't think more than a day ahead of me.  But I am here, again, mapping out my politics.  And with this opportunity, I will try to defy gravity and stand up.  Everyone else in the world does.  And I'll be damned if I waste my potential. So, yes, I believe in gravity.  But I also believe in strength.

Causing Controversy Once Again

I can still remember the old days.  The days when I updated frequently and never had a dull post.  The days when people actually cared what I said and the days when certain people caused my blood pressure to sky rocket.

I can still remember the landmark day. The day when I deleted my original xanga without warning.  The day when I suddenly had time for so many more things and I lost touch with a lot of decent people.

Now, I look to a new day.  I don't want to say that this is a new emma.  I still hold my core beliefs and adore Bill Clinton.  I am still as liberal as ever.  But there are two major changes.  The first of which is that I now whole-heartedly embrace being part of the Democratic Party: a label which I resisted a while back.  And the second of which is my official conversion to Judaism.

I briefly mentioned this in my previous post and it drew criticism from to usual neo facist christians whose fear of hell motivates their every action. 

There is a God.  The God.  The last few years have been pretty riough and I rejected religion, and God in general for a long time. My beief in God is not a fad.  It is a reality that may take some getting used to for my ususal crowd.  Of course, there are things in the Jewish Religion with which I disagree. (Namely, the belief in life after death.  While Jews believe in Heaven, but no hell nor purgatory, I remain adament in the fact that there is no afterlife.)

I know how easy it is to write this off given my history as an unapologetic atheist.  And I sincerely regret my transgressions against God.  I can only ask that you forgive me, as God has, and look at my efforts and newfound convictions not critically, but with the same joy that Ifeel when I go to Temple.

I am taking conversion classes at Temple Shalom in Fox Point, WI. I will keep anyone who is interested updated on my studies.  I am trying my hardest to make my religion the center of my life.  I am not there yet, and to be honest, I am not quite sure that I will ever get to that point.  But God will lead me in the direction that He wants me.  And I will wait.

Shalom.

Eek! Ive been gone more than a month.

• I am having trouble dividing my time between my intership with WI Democratic Governors Re-Election Campaign and FAIR Wisconsin, the group dedicated to defeating the ban on civil unions and domestic partnerships.
• Barack Obama was here in Milwaukee yesterday.  What an incredible speaker and an inspiration to all of us that politics is still honorable and that there is hope.  In fact, he is so focused on this notion of hope that his best selling book is entitled "The Audacity of Hope"  If only he were Jewish!
• Speaking of being Jewish. I have begun converting to Judaism.  I will post more on that after the elections.
• AND after I feel better. I have Mono ON TOP of Strep Throat.  Sure is kinda funny though if I think about it.  I mean, 3 days before the 2004 election i had to have an emergency appendectomy.  Maybe I shouldnt campaign for democrats?  HAHA.  Naw, God doesnt work like that, my boss told me while chuckling.  Or was it an evil cackle?
• Bill Clinton will be in Milwaukee on Friday for a rally.  So it is at this point that I am going back to bed to gain the strentgh to be able to attend the rally on Friday.  I hate that I cant breathe.