Sorry. I’m just confused. Blagojevich, do you realize you are under investigation on accusations that you tried to sell that seat to the highest bidder?(Which is against the law, by the way.) And that you’re facing federal charges? And that the Illinois House has begun impeachment proceedings?

I ask this because I’m just dumb-founded. Even if you’re innocent, even if you’ll eventually be cleared, why would you do this? Why would you pull such a stunt?

I realize that Blagojevich’s appointment — which was Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris by the way — may not stand. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who must certify the appointment, has told The Associated Press he won’t do so. (Although a HuffingtonPost post cites legal scholars who say the Burris appointment seems likely to be permanent.)

Reading about Blagojevich’s antics makes me sad. Sad for Illinois. Sad for our country. Sad that someone as sad as him could climb to power.

And it makes me sad if there is really nothing we can do to stop an appointment so tainted by, well, taint. (Nothing against Burris, per se, unless that $4,500 donation that HuffPost says you’re listed as giving to Blagojevich factored in the appointment.)

You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Blagojevich. I’m disgusted. I really am.

– bitchy mommy

According to The Associated Press, Kennedy, in explaining why she wants the seat, cited the legacy of her father — President John F. Kennedy — and noted that the 9/11 terrorist attacks and supporting Obama for the presidency encouraged her to seek public service. OK, that’s all well and good, but, Kennedy, what qualifies you for the job — and what will you do for our cash-strapped, recession-ravaged, on-the-brink of disaster state if you get it? That’s what I want to know.

The AP story reveals that Kennedy failed to vote in a number of elections since registering in New York City in 1988. In fact, she didn’t vote in the 1994 election when Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan was up for re-election for the seat she hopes to take over, that story says. Not a selling point in my mind, but probably not a deal-breaker either if she gave us some content. We need some content from you, Kennedy. What do you stand for? How will you help our state? Why should you be selected over many viable potential candidates, including my favorite, Andrew Cuomo, whom I believe has done amazing things as New York attorney general. (Only thing that scares me about Cuomo is that I thought the same about Eliot Spitzer’s success as attorney general, and then he became governor and the whole high-priced call girl scandal hit the fan. I hope my faith in Cuomo isn’t as misplaced as it was in Spitzer.)

In the AP story, Kennedy explains that she has ignored the press until now because she isn’t campaigning for office and she wanted to “respect the process.” Please. How could you think the right thing to do is to slam a car door on a reporter’s face after refusing to answer even one question, as you did in Syracuse? How could you think it was the right thing to do to answer “to my car” when a reporter asked where you are heading next? How could you think it was the right thing to do to visit only the Democratic leaders in Syracuse and not any community organizers?

Yes, you’re not campaigning now. But if you get this appointment, you will be campaigning two years later. And you’d be representing us. You’ll be representing me.

When your name surfaced, some worried that you’d be considered just because of your name. That wasn’t fair. But then you acted like you didn’t have to explain why you want this job and why you’re qualified. In essence, you acted just like a person who should be considered just because of her name. I’m sorry. I’m still not impressed.

– bitchy mommy

Caroline Kennedy

This morning I was really on the fence regarding what I thought of Caroline Kennedy’s pitch to become a U.S. senator in New York. She has told New York Gov. David Paterson, who gets to make the appointment, that she’d like the seat Hillary Clinton will vacate when she becomes President-elect Barack Obama‘s secretary of state.

Sure, Caroline Kennedy doesn’t have any elective office experience, but, for me, that wouldn’t necessarily rule her out. Other experience can prepare one to lead, I think.  I really felt I didn’t know enough about her to assess her. She’s been involved with a lot of nonprofits, but I’m not in that world. I don’t know if that is  experience that would prepare her to lead in our troubled state, or if her involvement was little more than lending her celebrity name to an agency’s letterhead.

Earlier today, I read a blog, which I found made compelling arguments to support her. I wasn’t sure if I bought it all, but it did make me think. I guess, though, in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help feeling that Caroline Kennedy was a woman seeking an office that’s she’s not quite ready to seek. Like Sarah Palin, she seems like a woman with an asterisk next to her. I thought: Gosh, there are qualified women; why not pick them. It seems to reinforce negative stereotypes about women’s lack ability when the ones who rise to the top aren’t really the cream of the crop.

Then Caroline Kennedy came to my hometown in Upstate New York, and how she behaved really influenced my opinion of her. She refused to answer reporters’ questions about her experience — or lack thereof — or even about where she was heading next. (She actually told a reporter, she was heading “to the car,” when obviously he was asking what city she might be traveling to.)

After I listened to her ignore the press, I knew I could never support her candidacy.  Admittedly, I’m biased. I believe those who govern us or seek public office should be transparent to the public, and, in our country, that’s still done mainly through the media.

To me, there’s only two reasons why someone who seeks to lead in our state would refuse to answer any questions: She’s so arrogant that questions from Upstatate hicks like us don’t really matter or  she doesn’t know what to say.

Either reason is a deal breaker for me. It reminds me too much of Sarah Palin and her inability to answer even the simplest question (like what newspaper she reads)  without being coached. If Kennedy can’t handle a  handful of reporters from Syracuse, N.Y., asking questions that Kennedy should have anticipated she’d be asked, what could she answer?

To me, I found the answer to the question that I started this day with:  Is Caroline Kennedy ready to be my senator. I think not.

 I realize I have no say in the matter. If Paterson taps her, she’ll serve until Clinton’s term is up, and then she’d have to run. But I hope she won’t be his pick.

– bitchy mommy

I just don’t get why you still think you should be in public office. Do you get that you were arrested? Do you get your are accused of trying to “sell” a Senate seat, and you were captured on wiretaps in a pretty compromising way? So, resign already. Spare us all the drama. Just resign. It’s over for you. Even if you didn’t do this, which I — and likely millions of other people — doubt, it’s over for you.

A recent news report says you’re weighing your options. A defense lawyer from California speculates in an msnbc.com story that Blagojevich might be trying to make the same kind of deal for his resignation as he’s accused of trying to make for President-elect Barack Obama’s senate seat.

“I would be saying, ‘Let me see what I can get in exchange for you resigning. Don’t just give it up for nothing. Let me see if I can get you a better deal,’” said Steve Cron, a defense lawyer from Santa Monica, in the story.

Please. Don’t drag this on any more. It won’t help you, and it will hurt the nation and Obama.

– bitchy mommy

Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich

What were you thinking? Duh? I mean really. You’re accused of going on a corruption spree that included attempts to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama.

OK, what exactly were you thinking? Did you think you were Boss Tweed of the days when Tammany Hall controlled New York City politics with an iron hand (and a lot of corruption)?  Well, you missed that era by nearly 100 years.

I guess I understand greed, but I don’t understand why people who try to sell Senate seats think they won’t get caught. If you did this, I’m glad you were charged, and I hope you’re punished.

Rod – can I call you Rod? – do you see our nation is facing one of its largest challenges? The economy is in shambles. We are in the midst of a prolonged recession that’s likely to get worse before it improves, according to Obama.

And — if what you’re accused of is true — you were worried only about lining your own pockets? Shame on you. Really.

– bitchy mommy

Now, granted, the rug was purchased in July, before all of us fully got that our economy was going down the toilet. But at that point, Gov. David Paterson was already making a round of cuts to the current budget — taking away money that was already promised.

Sure things got worse and worse and worse. (I’d like to hope the purchase wouldn’t be made now, but I can’t say I’m confident of that.)

Also, I’m sure the governor himself knew nothing of the purchase — or at least I hope not. But the thing with being in charge, you get blamed whether it’s your fault or not. (You also get credit for what your underlings do well, so it all evens out.)

Why does this rug thing bug me so much? Because, like the big three automakers swooping in a corporate jets asking for a handout from taxpayers, it belies the message we keep getting from politicians and corporate leaders. Sorry, we can’t fun programs for early education or schools because we don’t have the cash. Hey, we need money to keep our business afloat but we’re not willing to drop our standard of living one bit in the meantime. (Yes, I realize the big three changed their tune eventually but only after being publicly flogged.)

But we can go buy a rug that’s more expensive than me, you or most people we know would ever be able to spend. (And, yes, I get that in the state’s massive budget $21,000 is like a couple hundred bucks in mine.)

Since the economy got bumpy, my husband and I have really cut our spending. (I know that adds to the economic malaise, but we’re worried we might not have secure jobs.) We’ve stopped eating out, except very infrequently. I’ve cut back on buying coffee; I fired the cleaning lady and started dyeing my own hair. These are all small “nickel-and-dime” type of savings.

But the thing is: True savings comes from these nickel-and-dime savings. Sure, I could save lots of money if I stopped paying my biggest bill — my mortgage, but I’d also be out on the street. So the only way most people can really trim their own costs is by doing a lot of little things that add up. Somehow government doesn’t seem to get this, or at least it seems that way. Instead, they try to cut big chunks out of the budget, but that doesn’t work. The state still needs to function even as it trims costs.

Here’s my message for the state (and federal) government: Take a cue from the Kit Kittredge movie, a film based on an American Girl doll character that is set during the Great Depression: Use it up; wear it out; do without. That’s what I’m trying to do.

– bitchy mommy

I’m not sure what to think. First I was mad at you; then happy; then mad again.

It angered me when you swooped in on your corporate jets and ask for a $25 billion bailout of taxpayers’ money. You came with no plan on how this bailout will help your industry prevent itself from falling into this financial mess again. And you just looked greedy, as you stayed mum when an elected official asked if you’d be willing to give up your corporate jets.

To me, you acted as if the government were good ol’ mom and dad.

Big three: “Hey, I need some money?”

Congress: “What for?”

Big three: “Stuff.”

Except, the money isn’t your parents’ money. It’s money that belongs to taxpayers like me, and OK, like you. These taxpayers are facing the same recession as you that got you into a “cash-flow” problem. In fact, many of them probably have their own “cash-flow” problems.

So Congress wisely sends you back, empty-handed. Come up with a plan, you’re told. And stop acting so arrogant.

You come back to Congress. And you’ve made some progress. Ford and GM’s CEOs agree to get just $1 pay for next year if a government loan comes through. (Chrysler’s CEO is apparently only paid a $1 already.) Ford and GM agree to sell their corporate jets. They’d all cut salaries for executives.

But then you come back to Congress and ask for more money.  You say $25 billion isn’t enough; now you need $34 billion.

Honestly, it’s hard for me to understand that you need nearly $10 billion more, and it has only been about two weeks since last visit to Congress. Is that your final answer?

Yes, I get that it’s a bad thing for our economy and all your workers if you three companies go bankrupt. But do you also get that this bailout is on the back of folks who have been laid off, who aren’t getting bonuses (or never did), who aren’t getting raises this year (or ever did). Do you realize some of the taxpayers paying for this largesse can’t even stay home from work one day for illness for fear they’ll get fired.

That’s it. You can go now. I really don’t want to look at you right now.

– bitchy mommy

The same report says that a Wal-Mart in Arkansas had to be closed because of a stampede, although the store wouldn’t confirm that. Another news report I read interviewed a woman who says she usually spends $2,000 for her two kids — ages 3 and 6 — but she’s cutting back this year to half that.

Does anyone else see something wrong with this excess? I’m no Scrooge. I love to holiday shop for my loved ones, and I get into the spirit of it all, too. It’s fun to see my little ones’ delighted faces on Christmas morning when they get a toy they really wanted.

But Black Friday and its sidekick, Thanksgiving Day, have turned into a zoo.  People wait all night for a store to open to get bargain. They get up in the middle of the night. They shop before the sun is up. And, yes, there are some good bargains to be had. But much of the merchandise isn’t even on sale. And certainly nothing is cheap enough to warrant stampeding and shopping so frantically that you cause another’s death.

Here’s my solution for Black Friday shoppers: Buy less. You’ll save money that way. Don’t spend $1,000 per kid; spend $100 or $50, depending on the age of the kid. I’m not even sure how that mom who usually spends $1,000 on a 3-year-old does it. Toddler toys are pretty inexpensive, so that kid must get a truckload. A bonus: You won’t start the new year in debt.

I don’t mean to pick on anyone. I realize most Black Friday shoppers aren’t involved in stampedes. But I do object to the commercialization of Christmas and the perpetuation of excess that Black Friday represents. Does it really help your kids to get a mountain of toys at Christmas? Does that really mean they are more loved than the kids who get a handful?

Maybe people wouldn’t be in a such a frenzy to get bargains if they were spending within their means. If you really can’t afford a big-screen TV, don’t buy one. Then you won’t have to beat another shopper to get the last one that’s half off, but still more than you can really afford.

In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll admit that we I mean Santa are buying our two kids, ages 8 and 6, a Wii this Christmas. We thought about it lot, we budgeted for it, and that will be pretty much all they’ll get, along with some games to go with it and stocking stuffers. So I understand that sometimes holidays are worth a splurge. (We bought it last week, by the way, and we got it for the same price that Black Friday shoppers are getting it today.)

And I understand it’s fun to open presents. I understand some love the thrill of the chase. But wouldn’t it make more sense to spread the so-called “Black Friday” sales out over a week, so people weren’t going nuts? I bet that Wal-Mart employee  who died would have wished that’s the way it was.

What do you think?

– bitchy mommy

Obama responded just how I hoped he would: “Well, I thought maybe they’re a little tone deaf to what’s happening in America right now. … I think it’s been a problem for the captains of industry, generally. When people are pulling down hundred-million-dollar bonuses on Wall Street, and taking enormous risks with other people’s money, that indicates a sense that you don’t have any perspective on what’s happening to ordinary Americans,” he responded, according to ABC News.

Oh, he get it. After eight years of a president whose main goal in his tax policies seemed to be to reward his wealthy cronies, we have a president who gets what it’s like to be a regular person in America today.

Later, Obama explains that he thinks bank executives should forgo their Christmas bonuses, considering the $700 billion bailout and the financial crisis our nation is in. Again, he answers with a resounding yes.

His words, according to ABC, say it best: “I think that if you are already worth tens of millions of dollars, and you are having to lay off workers, the least you can do is say, ‘I’m willing to make some sacrifice as well, because I recognize that there are people who are a lot less well off, who are going through some pretty tough times.’ “

By the way, the blodface in both quotes is mind. I added it to emphasize what I feel are key points in what Obama said.

Anyway, I’m thrilled. I’m confident Obama has a tough road ahead of him. But he gets it; he’s the real deal; we’re going to be OK eventually!

– bitchy mommy

Michelle Obama

Obviously, I don’t know Michelle Obama, and I never will. But from what I read and see of her in the media, I continue to be impressed.

What impresses me? I like her comfort level with Barack Obama. They appear connected and, quite frankly, like they know each other very well and love each other. I hope that’s true. It’s good to see it in a married couple. I saw an interview with them after the election, and I just loved how Michelle gently jumped in when she felt Barack wasn’t quite making his point as well as he could. They came across as a team, a real partnership, and she didn’t come across as subservient to him, as so many wives of the powerful do.

I love how she is trying to raise her children as normally as possible. It must be an impossible situation to try to be a good mom in the midst of a media frenzy, but I think she’s up to the challenge. I think she’ll be a good role model for American moms because she has balanced work and family firsthand. She’s been a mom who works outside the home and one who doesn’t. Granted, her income level is higher than most Americans, and she has access to help in a way most working moms don’t. But I think she gets it. Deep down inside, she gets it. 

I know she got criticized during the campaign for complaining about Barack’s smelly morning breath. Some felt it was too personal. Perhaps. It didn’t bother me. I’ve been know to complain about my own husband’s morning breath. To me, it humanized her. It made her seem like one of us. And it made me think their relationship is real — not a candied version of a marriage — but a real one.

I think she’s smart, and I admire her for not hiding her intelligence as so many women do to not get labeled a know-it-all fit in.

I love that while she’s healthy and in shape, she doesn’t try to hide the fact that she’s got curves. Good for her!

And I like how she dresses, despite all the controversy about her red-and-black dress on Election Night. I like that she wears form-fitting clothing that’s feminine. She doesn’t try to turn herself into a man in a power suit. I like that she wears vivid colors. I think they match her bold personality, which I can’t wait to see more of.

You go girl!

– bitchy mommy