Braggadocious

This is everything.

NY Times Endorsement

The New York Times has endorsed Hillary Clinton for President. And everyone should read it. Please take the time to do so here.

Some of my favorite parts:

• "...Mrs. Clinton’s occasional missteps, combined with attacks on her trustworthiness, have distorted perceptions of her character. She is one of the most tenacious politicians of her generation, whose willingness to study and correct course is rare in an age of unyielding partisanship. As first lady, she rebounded from professional setbacks and personal trials with astounding resilience. Over eight years in the Senate and four as secretary of state, she built a reputation for grit and bipartisan collaboration. She displayed a command of policy and diplomatic nuance and an ability to listen to constituents and colleagues that are all too exceptional in Washington."

This has driven me insane, how a lot of people cannot get beyond the fact that she has lied and is "untrustworthy."  She has made mistakes. She isn't perfect. No one is perfect. But somehow the mistakes she made has completely overshadowed all of the amazing things she has done (may of which are outlined in the op-ed).

• "Mrs. Clinton has shown herself to be a realist who believes America cannot simply withdraw behind oceans and walls, but must engage confidently in the world to protect its interests and be true to its values, which include helping others escape poverty and oppression."

YES! Believing we can just build walls and isolate ourselves as a country and continue to be "great" is ludicrous.

• Through war and recession, Americans born since 9/11 have had to grow up fast, and they deserve a grown-up president. A lifetime’s commitment to solving problems in the real world qualifies Hillary Clinton for this job, and the country should put her to work.

I couldn't have said that better myself.

I am looking forward to the subsequent editorial they are publishing tomorrow about how Donald Trump is the worst candidate put forward by a major party in modern American history.

Tasty Trudeau

If Justin Trudeau joined the race for president right now, he'd win. (I truly believe the country would come together to pass a new law just for him so he could run as a non US citizen)...

Seth Meyers Takes a Closer Look at Trump's Birther Lies

All you need to know about the Trump Birther announcement:

Aleppo. or, a leppo.

While I tend to write about my fear of Trump on here, I just need to take a moment to discuss the fact that Gary Johnson does not know what/where Aleppo is. To all of you who are voting for him just because you "hate" Trump and Hillary, please, take a moment and watch Gary Johnson fumbling on a question about Aleppo.  He claims he "blanked." But see for yourself, I think it was a little more than a blank, especially when Aleppo is a major point in politics right now...

#LaueringTheBar

Last night, Matt Lauer sat down with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in a live, prime-time forum. As I sat watching the first half hour with Hillary Clinton, I saw how Matt started by asking about the "damn emails." I do not know how she keeps her cool, when for the millionth time, she is asked this question. But she does! I would have had a complete "Mad Megan" moment. (I rarely get mad, but when I do, it is a huge, blow out, screaming, swearing, crying mess, which in college, my friend Jess dubbed "Mad Megan.") I was texting a friend about this last night, how impressed I was with Hillary's ability to keep her cool, and how I would have lost my shit long ago. Her response? Don't run for president. I laughed, and said, no, I am the female Trump, but I realize my temper would impair me for the job of POTUS, unlike Trump, who seems to be fueled by his temper. Anyway, I digress. After Hillary answered (for the MILLIONTH TIME) Matt's question about the emails, he, and people in the audience asked Hillary questions. And I watched as Matt repeatedly interrupted her. At first, I thought he'll do that to Trump, too. Hillary finished answering questions (a few of them questions she has answered countless times already), they went to commercial, and then they came back with Trump, who was interrupted once during his entire segment. I was thrilled to see the hashtag Laueringthebar trending. I love the Today Show, but for what it is. Fluff. Reporters who don't really ask the hard questions, but I can get some news, thrown in between stories about puppies and Hoda Kotb helping people check items off their bucket lists. That is what I like about it. I know what I am getting when I watch it every morning: mindlessness. But when I sit down at 8pm to a serious forum with the presidential candidates, I am hoping for equality, tough questions, and fairness. I was sad to see Matt Lauer couldn't handle that. As I write this, Matt is interviewing Dana Carvey. Nothing against Dana, but Matt, let's stick with these kinds of interviews in the future, ok? (Also, I love Meredith Vieira, and I like to think if she was still on the show, she would have done the forum and kicked ass, but maybe not, maybe I just love her doing the job I've known her in).

Vox.com has a great compilation of some Tweets about Matt last night here.

Comic Relief today isn't really comic relief, just something that excites me greatly: the first page of the first episode of the Gilmore Girls reboot. It will be on Netflix November 25, 2 weeks after the election.

Above photo from Slate.

Don't be stupid

I continue to be baffled by "Bernie or Busters" who are refusing to vote for Hillary because they "hate" her or "don't trust" her. I recently asked a friend if Bernie hadn't run, and Hillary had got the nomination basically no contest over Martin O'Malley, would she still not be voting for her? I was answered with silence. I voted for Bernie. Bernie represents everything I believe in. But I am not going to not vote. Plus, I don't hate Hillary! Eight years ago, I was behind her in the primaries.  I was sad when she lost, but I whole heatedly got behind President Obama as soon as she conceded. I recently came across a great "letter" on Huffington Post to "Bernie or Bust-ers" you can read the whole thing here.
 
My favorite passage from it is this:

With all due respect, you’re beginning to sound like a bunch of petulant children who kick and scream whenever they don’t get everything they want. You’re the equivalent of the sandlot brat who whines “it’s my ball” and quits the game because he doesn’t like the way it’s being played or because he’s not winning. This is not behavior of revolutionaries. A revolution doesn’t happen overnight, which is why Sanders is pleading with you to continue the fight with him well beyond the convention and the election. Real revolutionaries fight to the death and put the cause before themselves. You’re not doing that. You’re making this all about you.

If you fail to show up for Hillary in November, and Trump wins, then your revolution will prove to be nothing more than a faddish exercise in futility by privileged white millennials who shamefully cut off their noses to spite their faces, while destroying everything that Sanders worked to achieve for you. Because President Trump will toss it all in the trash. The gains made on minimum wage, income inequality, free college, Wall Street/big banks, criminal injustice, the death penalty, Citizen’s United, climate change, super delegates and more will have been in vain. They’ll end up like sad bullet casings on the failed battleground of your ill-fought, prematurely ended revolution.

 If you fail to show up for Hillary in November, and Trump wins, then your revolution will prove to be nothing more than a faddish exercise in futility by privileged white millennials who shamefully cut off their noses to spite their faces, while destroying everything that Sanders worked to achieve for you. I want to shout that from the rooftops to every single person who voted for Bernie and is still refusing to support Hillary.

Guys, pull yourselves together. It's been over a month since Hillary won the nomination and we had such a kick ass convention. Let's do this.

Comic Relief: Dogs.