Presidential Debate Recap

Judging from my twitter and facebook feed, anyone reading this probably watched the presidential debate last night. But, let me just say, GO OBAMA! And also, wtf Romney?!

There was no trace of Obama's sleepy, almost defeated attitude that was the hallmark of the last debate. He seemed confident, appropriately aggressive, and relaxed. Romney, on the other hand, seemed so aggressive that at one point I feared they might break into a fist fight. And when he wasn't being aggressive (or interrupting the moderator and refusing to obey the rules) he had that silly Cheshire cat grin on his face. He has also developed this fun little strategy where he never really answers a question and instead endlessly recounts his 5 point plan.

To me, there were five key moments in the debate that stood out.

1. Obama's response to Libya.
Romney seemed cheap.

2. Romney's plan for equality in the workplace.
Romney's plan for equality in the workplace basically goes like this: he will make so many jobs with his magical economy that companies will actually be forced to hire women. He also thinks that women should have more flexible schedules, because he knew a woman once who had to go home at 5 every day to make dinner for her kids. Equality means getting to leave earlier than the men so you can make dinner!

Also, when trying to convince voters that he respects and advocates for women, he told a fantastic story about how he had women's groups go find qualified women (they're like unicorns!) and then looked through "binders full of women" before finding some that were adequate. The way he talked about women's rights was nauseating and, not surprisingly, it didn't seem genuine or progressive.

3. Romney says he thinks all women should have access to contraception.
This left me speechless. Romney has said that he is against the contraception mandate that would require all employers, including some religious organizations, to provide insurance coverage for contraception. He called it "an attack on religious liberty." Romney also supported the Blunt amendment, which would allow any employer to deny insurance coverage for contraception based on religious or moral grounds. His running mate, Paul Ryan, wants to criminalize abortion and some forms of contraception. So when Romney stands up there and pretends he believes that all women should have access to contraception - and pretends that he is some champion for women's rights - it is laughable.

4. Romney doesn't think limiting access to weapons would help solve the issue of gun violence. But he thinks more people getting married would totally work! 
When asked about his position on gun violence, and specifically asked by the moderator why his opinion on limiting access to certain types of guns had changed, Romney basically went on a rant about single parents and how they are ruining America. Forget guns! Single mothers are the reason youth violence is an issue!

5. Romney thinks that China is the WORST.
China is at the center of Romney's axis of evil, apparently because they have counterfeit stores there. THE HORROR! We're talking fake ipads people! I almost felt bad for China with all of Romney's anti-China rhetoric last night.

Someone should take Romney to Canal St. so he can spend the next debate talking about how he has found the second worst place on earth.

State of the Union

Yesterday Obama delivered the State of the Union, the one day we all get to feel happy about everything we as a country are going to get done in the next year before realizing that none of it will actually happen.

I'm not going to give you a thorough analysis of Obama's speech, because there are a million of these on the internet that are much better than mine could ever be, but I will share with you ten things I learned yesterday about the state of our union.

1. Mitt Romney makes more than what I make in a year - every single day.

After releasing his tax returns to the public, we've learned that he made 21.7 million dollars in 2010. According to the IRS, the average median adjusted gross income is around $33,000. Romney makes more than that in a day. He also paid a tax rate of 13.9 percent, which is much less than the average middle-class American pays and less than other people in his income bracket pay.

2. The wealthiest 400 people in America now have more wealth than the bottom 150 million Americans.

3. Obama said that women should earn equal pay for equal work. Yay Obama! But Boehner couldn't even clap. Did I miss something? Is equal pay a divisive, controversial, partisan issue?

4. Obama focuses on jobs and the economy, while it seems that Republicans and the Religious Right are mostly concerned with limiting access to women's rights. State of the Union vs. State of my Uterus!

5. The auto industry is back and there are going to be lots of green jobs and initiatives happening. That is great! But don't forget that these industries only employ a small number of women (approx 22% of jobs in the auto industry are held by women). Let's not make it a he-covery. Include women in recovery plans and jobs initiatives! 

6. Obama wants all students to stay in school until they are 18 or get their diploma.

7. I love Gabrielle Giffords so much I tear up every time I see her.

8. I tear up every time I see Gabrielle Giffords' husband because he loves her so much that you can just feel it and it is the sweetest thing in the whole world.

9.  Obama's joke was lame and Michelle Obama knew it. Major eye roll from Michelle (who totally rocked that blue dress).

10. The Republican response can be summed up by saying that the only thing they think Obama did right was kill bin Laden, and that they think Obama's statement that the rich should pay their fair share means he is super bossy and mean.