phyncke

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 03:44:08 GMT

Ruth Bader Ginsburg died today - I am devastated. That is what I wrote on Facebook and I am. I cannot tell you all the feelings I had as I drove home and heard the news on the radio. Devastated. For those who don't know - she was one of two women Supreme Court Justices in the USA. Had huge impact in so many ways and lead the liberal side of the court. I am also very angry - the Republicans are making noise about an appointment by next week and I wonder how that could be when they denied Barack Obama his appointment because it was too close to an election. Cory Booker - Senator - said that this would be an integrity check for the Republicans - will they follow their own precedent set under Obama's presidency? Or was that only for the black man? If Trump gets to appoint a justice at this point - this close to the election - it will prove that the Republicans were totally racist when they denied Obama his appointment. They came up with some crazy logic about an election year and denied him his appointment. They need to apply that logic now when it is even closer to an election. This is Biden's seat on the Supreme Court - if he wins - and if he loses - Trump can pick the justice in January. Let's just wait on this seat.

Right now - we mourn RBG - they are singing Amazing Grace in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, DC. She tried to make it to the next President for us but she couldn't. Rest in Power RBG. Rest in Power.

PS - Note that RBG's dying wish was that they hold the appointment for the new President so there is that - she dictated this wish to her granddaughter.

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Still alive!

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 04:31:29 GMT

I am still alive — and not infected with covid19. I had a test recently and it was negative — very glad about that. It took five days to get the test results so I laid low while I waited. I was not symptomatic but they have a testing site in my town and I wanted to make sure I was not an asymptomatic spreader of the virus. You never know, right? Could have been.

I cannot tell you how awful it is in the states right now. We are resting our hopes on the election in November. Trump tweeted that he wanted to try and delay that but he has no authority to do so. Only Congress can do that and that won't happen — Republicans and Democrats agree on this. No delay. But it just shows you that Trump is a total idiot to tweet something like that and he does not really understand what he can and cannot do. He truly does not know. He thinks he can just tweet it and it will happen. That is kind of magical thinking.

We laid to rest one of our great Civil Rights leaders today — John Lewis. He marched with Martin Luther King, Jr and was a Congressman for many years. A really good man. Obama spoke at his funeral today which was televised. Very emotional day for all sorts of reasons — because we still have so far to go on these issues that this man dedicated his life to. He left us words to go on and I hope we continue his work — voting rights, equal rights. We need to do this. Anyway. It was very emotional watching Obama speak today.

So I am back at work now. I took last week off for vacation. I had planned to go to Southern Oregon for part of that but we decided not to go due to the pandemic and just stayed here and did local things. Traveling did not seem like a good idea — staying at a hotel — did not seem safe and it all seemed risky so better safe than sorry. It was good to unplug and relax and the weather here was great. It would have been unbelievably hot in Oregon so it all worked out.

I am going to be working from home through January 2021 and it might even be longer than that depending on how things go. Things are not going so well here and the numbers are going in the wrong direction. They don't want to shut things down but ultimately — what are we going to do — let the numbers keep going up like this? Lunacy. Shut it down.

Anyways — that is where I am at — home — here and doing ok. Hope all is well with you. I feel like I am witness to the total failure of my country to respond to this crisis.

Stay safe and healthy where you are. Love comments!

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Sun, 12 Jan 2020 02:39:56 GMT

I was writing but then I got on LJ and remembered I said I would post weekly so here I am procrastinating on my writing. See how that works. It is kind of circular logic. Woot. Anyway. I am working on my Slashy Valentine and it is going ok but I don't have a very clear sense of direction with it or strategy for it. I was given a vague prompt and those are tough. Nothing that has to be in there so I could go anywhere with it. I am going to write it out and see if I can bring it in on time. I have 1100 words right now and it seems to be cooperating.

I went to a Bar Mitzvah today and really enjoyed it. A friend of mine from work's son. He did great and I got all weepy because I know it was really hard for him to pull it together and he did it! What a champ. He did it! It was interesting to be at a Shabbat service too. It was kind of long - like three hours - but I remembered more than I thought I would. Very fun. I really enjoy Judaism.

I am posting with my Obama icon because right about now - I really miss Obama. God - I hate Donald Trump. He is such a tool. Worst president we have had. I cannot believe we are on the brink of war with Iran. What a mess this all is. I hate the fucker.

Anyways. Hope all is well with you in your part of the world. I don't have any idea how long my story is going to be. I want it to be short. So hoping it cooperates.

Be well!

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Letter from MY President

Wed, 18 Jan 2017 00:06:50 GMT

The incoming President is not my President. Barack Obama is MY President. I just got this letter to my email because I have written to the White House on matters that concern me. I always get a response and it is always on point. I cannot tell you how discouraged I am about this transition. But this is what the letter said today.
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One of the most important things I’ve done as President is read messages from Americans like you. And whether you sat down to write me a letter back in 2009 or just last week, I wanted to say thank you for writing.

Letters like yours have given me the chance to hear the real stories that make up the ever changing narrative of America. They are stories of your setbacks and successes, your fears and your hopes not just for today—but for the country and the world we’ll leave to our children and our grandchildren. I want you to know that I was listening. I heard your stories. And you made me a better President.
In 2014, a young mom took a chance and shared her family’s story with me. She said she knew that “staying silent about what you see and what needs changing never makes any difference.” She was right. And so, while serving you has been the greatest privilege of my life, I want you to know that when

I leave the White House, I’ll still hold the most important title of all: that of citizen.

And as a proud American citizen, I believe that we are a constant work in progress. Our success has never been certain. None of our journey has been preordained. There’s always been a gap between our highest ideals and the reality we witness every day. But what makes us exceptional—what makes us Americans—is that we have fought wars, and passed laws, and reformed systems, and organized unions, and staged protests, and launched mighty movements to close that gap. To bring the promise and the practice of America into closer alignment. To form that more perfect union.

So our collective future depends on our collective willingness to uphold our duties as citizens: to vote, to speak out, and to stand up for others knowing that each of us is only here because somebody, somewhere, stood up for us. And for the rest of my days, I promise I will be right there alongside you, continuing to do my part to build a better, more prosperous, more diverse and inclusive America—an
America with a future full of hope.

From all of us in the Obama family—thank you for writing.

All the best,
Barack Obama

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From the President!

Wed, 13 Jan 2016 00:33:09 GMT

I got this to my email today and thought I would share it. One of the reasons I really like Barack Obama is that he communicates so well. He is such a positive man!

This is it: My last one.

As I put the final touches on my State of the Union address, I can't help but look back on the last seven years. We've traveled a long road together. The people I've met. The stories you've shared. That's what lives at the heart of the remarkable progress we've made together.

More than 14 million jobs, nearly 18 million people now with health coverage -- together, we've pulled ourselves out of yesterday's crisis to put us on a stronger course for tomorrow.

But tonight, I don't want to focus on our past. I want to focus on the future we can build together. I hope you'll tune in.

There's no question: Our country faces some big challenges right now.

But after seven years as your president, I've never been more optimistic about what we can accomplish together. We've come back from tough times stronger than before. We've shown the world that we're not afraid of the future, we're ready to lead it.

That's what makes America great. That's who we are. And that's what's going to be on my mind as I head over to speak to Congress and to you.

Join me tonight at 9pm ET.

We've done some big things together over these past seven years. And we're not finished. Tonight I'll lay out a vision for an economy that's even stronger, a country that's safer, and a union that's more perfect.

Because with one year left in my presidency, I'm still fired up and ready to go.

President Barack Obama

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Message from the President...

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:33:53 GMT

I got this message from Obama through the campaign channels...

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Jane --

I'm about to go speak to the crowd here in Chicago, but I wanted to thank you first.

I want you to know that this wasn't fate, and it wasn't an accident. You made this happen.

You organized yourselves block by block. You took ownership of this campaign five and ten dollars at a time. And when it wasn't easy, you pressed forward.

I will spend the rest of my presidency honoring your support, and doing what I can to finish what we started.

But I want you to take real pride, as I do, in how we got the chance in the first place.

Today is the clearest proof yet that, against the odds, ordinary Americans can overcome powerful interests.

There's a lot more work to do.

But for right now: Thank you.

Barack

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I am thrilled that he won and relieved more than anything. Four more years!

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Election Day, Election Day!

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:08:05 GMT

There is an excitement in the air, election day! Keeping up with the reports and watching people hurry to the polls. No less exciting since I voted early. I love democracy in action. Let's do it folks. Four more years! The alternative is terrifying. Go Obama! Go!

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