Apparently things aren’t going too well on those talks regarding raising the debt ceiling in Washington. I read one news story today that mentioned that there were disagreements early on, in the middle, and at the end of a meeting between President Obama, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and others. Some reports even said Obama stormed out of the meeting.

I’ve got some simple solutions that I think will help things out greatly.

1)They need a little aromatherapy. Pipe in some lavender essential oil and that will help calm tensions right from the start.

2)Chair massages. I am sure there are some starving massage therapists that could use the work. Who can fight when some one is working out that tight spot in their shoulder. “There…no there. Aah, that’ s it! What was that about the debt ceiling? Oh who cares. This feels incredible…”

3)Certain foods might help the politicians unwind. First I thought pizza would be great, but then got concerned fights would break out over what toppings would be included. So I’ve decided to give up something that has been sitting in the Triple M studio since my birthday. That’s right, my precious Lazy Cake relaxation brownie. I haven’t cracked it open yet, because our show is already sleep inducing enough. I think I’ll send a case of them to the White House. Who wants to help me pay for postage?

I’ll admit I don’t understand the intricacies of the court ruling made yesterday that allowed that union-busting bill to move forward and become law. But here’s what it seems like to me..there is a law that says that governments must give adequate notice when they’re going to make laws or set public policy..but that the state legislature doesn’t have to follow that law.

That seems like dangerous territory to me, and I’m concerned this could lead to even more power grabs by the state legislature.

Here are some of the things we can look forward to in the not-so-distant future.

1. All Democratic lawmakers will be required to wear monitoring bracelets so they can easily be located and be brought to the capitol at any time. That way they can be ignored by Republicans who are “doing what’s best for the state of Wisconsin.”

2. Any one caught rolling their eyes during a legislative hearing or floor session will be immediately shot.

3. Gov. Walker will ask for federal money to build a playground outside the capitol. That way when lawmakers are on recess..they’re actually experiencing recess. Democrats will never be allowed to use the teeter totter or the tether ball.

4. In order to save money needed to implement the Voter ID law, henceforth all elections will be canceled, and the current lawmakers will be lawmakers-for-life.

5. The state motto will be changed to “Suck It, Middle Class.”

A lot of people, including me,  are disappointed in the way the election turned out last night. A lot of people are angry. How will we possibly get through this?

Like the hippies used to say…just keep on keepin’ on.

This is certainly not the first time I’ve been disappointed in the outcome of an election, and it won’t be the last.  I grew up in a very political family. My dad was a big grass roots campaigner. We always had yard signs all over our front yard. My dad would even put a car top sign on the top of his van. I’m surprised he didn’t also have a loudspeaker to play rabble rousing songs and implore people to vote for his current favorite..be it Mo Udall or Marty Schreiber or Ed Garvey.

My dad always picked the ones who rooted for the little guy. And his candidates almost always lost.

So I lived through the disappointment of the re-election of Richard Nixon and the trouncing of George McGovern. I used old Marty Schreiber stationery for scratch paper. I screamed and shouted when Ronald Reagan was elected president (and found out later my dad marched through downtown Stevens Point yelling “Reagan sucks” with a bunch of drunk college students). I nearly threw up when Newt Gingrich became speaker of the house.

In fact, I never voted for a winning president until Bill Clinton. And I wasn’t too thrilled every time my candidate lost to Tommy Thompson.

But I got through it. Yes, there was eye rolling and indignation. But the world didn’t stop spinning. And I think it will take more than a few hundred idiots in Washington (or the state capitol) to bring about the ruin of modern civilization. At least that’s what my last two optimistic molecules are hoping.

“Shut up and rock!” That’s what you’ll hear from the crowd when rock stars start shooting off their mouths about politics. But they’re not always going to do what we say, are they?

Whether they think they have an influence or not, some musicians are known for spouting their political beliefs. How well do you know your favorite star’s political leanings?

Match the rock star to their political quote.  Answers below…no peeking.

1. “You see, idealism detached from action is just a dream. But idealism allied with pragmatism, with rolling up your sleeves and making the world bend a bit, is very exciting. It’s very real. It’s very strong.”

2.“Blind faith in your leaders, or in anything, will get you killed.”

3.“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”

4. “I fear that our true motivation is about oil and our own flailing economy; about the failure to destroy Al Qaeda and about revenge.”

5. “We’re not a political band. We don’t want to tell people what to do or what to think. We just want to tell them to think.”

Answers:
1. Bono 2. Bruce Springsteen 3. Jimi Hendrix 4. Dave Matthews 5. Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day)

The full line-up has been announced for today’s Obama rally.  According to a National Democratic Party official and other sources The National will join Ben Harper at the Obama rally before their scheduled appearance at the Orpheum Theatre tonight.  Madison’s own Mama Digdown’s Brass Band will also perform.

If you’re unable to attend the rally at Library Mall you can watch it live as it happens beginning at 5:30p here.

President Obama is coming to Madison next week…for a big political pep rally designed to help out Democrats in advance of the November 2nd election. I’m sure Russ Feingold, Tammy Baldwin and Tom Barrett will all be there too. And if that’s not enough excitement for you, Ben Harper will also be there to play a few tunes.

I used to get so psyched for stuff like this…but I just don’t know if I’ll go this time around. Maybe it’s the parking hassles, maybe it’s political burnout…I’m not sure. This attitude would be pretty pitiful to my late father..who was a local Democratic rabble-rouser up in Stevens Point. What’s wrong with me?

If you’re going..I do have the info you’ll need. They’ll start letting you into the Library Mall area Tuesday at 3:30pm, and the program is supposed to start at 4:45. No tickets are required, but the Obama folks would like you to RSVP. Click here to make your intentions known.

And the university released more specifics about road closures, impact on classes, and what you can and can’t take into the area. Read that here.

And here’s Ben Harper. I bet you a million bucks* he will do this song at the rally.

*A bet is not a bet unless we shake on it. Just so you know.

Sarah Palin is a pretty popular keynote speaker these days, but if your organization can’t afford her hefty price tag, there’s always her daughter Bristol.

What does it cost to get the daughter of the former Alaska governor to share her words of wisdom? According to the Palin family attorney, between 15 and 30 grand, depending on which group she’s addressing and what she must do to prepare.

I did a little digging, and came across Bristol Palin’s menu of services. Here’s an excerpt:

$15,000: Russia: The View From Mom’s Porch. Bristol gets folksy as she shares her insights into post-Cold War politics, perestroika, glasnost, and Russian dressing. Power-point presentation requires an extra fee.

$20,000: Abstinence Education. This speech starts out strong: “I was absent the day this subject was covered at Wasilla Junior High, and look where it got me….” Bristol often breaks into tears during this presentation, so she requires two boxes of Kleenex to be located within arm’s reach of the podium.

$25,000: The Merits of Accidental Fame. Bristol tells the poignant story of how her mother’s political career put her in the limelight. She compares and contrasts her experiences to those of William Hung, the guy who sang “She Bangs”  during Season 3 of American Idol.

$30,000: Hypocrisy in American Political Campaigns. This speech is currently in development. No details are currently available for this topic.

The US Minerals Management Service, the lead federal safety agency in offshore drilling, will finally restructure. Recent congressional hearings have forced a separation of MMS’s inspection and enforcement operations from it’s permitting, leasing and collection functions.

It took a disaster of this magnitude to figure that out?

When we make a mistake, sometimes it feels like the whole world is laughing at us. When you’re the vice president of the United States, it’s very likely true that a good percentage of the world is at the least, snickering.

When Joe Biden introduced President Obama as he signed historic health care legislation a couple of months ago, he leaned over to him and said “this is a big f&%# deal.” Some people were more amused than others.

If you’re a fan of health care reform and have a similar sense of humor, you might want to wear a t-shirt proclaiming that fact. The folks my.barackobama.com would like to sell you one, for a mere $25. It says Health Care Reform is a BFD!

 Click here for info.

Do you think I should get one?

I live with a Cubs fan. A die-hard Cubs fan. You know who they are: they start the season with anticipation and hope and end with resignationand disappointment.

 One famous Cubs fan was the late Steve Goodman, who died of Leukemia in 1984 at age 36. You hear his ” Go Cubs Go” during games. He also wrote “Lincoln Park Pirates ” and ” A Dying Cubs Fan’s Last Request”  (see below).  Goodman loved the Cubs and loved Chicago, so it seems fitting that a public building be named in his honor.

Rep. Mike Quigley introduced a measure to have the Lakeview Post Office renamed for Goodman. He says the bill is supported by the entire Illinois congressional delegation, The Old Town School of Folk Music and fellow musicians, John Prine, and Corky Siegal.

If all goes well, a renaming ceremony can happen by late spring or early summer.

That makes me happy.