Since the holidays are rapidly approaching and because we will be in Virginia around the holidays, I decided I needed to head to the salon for a little hairstyle maintenance. There is a high liklihood that I will be meeting quite a few people from Phil's past and I want to look my best. Not to mention, I haven't had my hair done since before the wedding in May (that's seven months people), so it was definitely due.
I lucked out and my hair stylist had an opening for today so I snatched it up. The stylist works in a little shop with just a few other technicians. When my appointment started, the two other stylists were free but their appointments came in during my appointment. So there I am sitting, having a delightful conversation with my stylist about our dogs, when a women getting her hair done (we will call her Crazy Lady for the purposes of this story) starts talking about the Oregon Ducks.
Disclaimer #1:
I am usually not a huge fan of Duck fans. My days on the OSU dance team and encounters with Duck fans has left me with a bit of distain for Duck fans.
Being that I was in public and not sure about the feelings of those around me, I decided to not say anything about Crazy Lady's loud boistering about the Ducks. That is, until she mentioned that she lives in Corvallis and then began talking about how rude Beaver fans and those from Oregon State are.
Disclaimer #2:
I believe when you are discussing your Alma Mater, you have the right to be protective. I have very little problem with Duck fans who actually attended the University of Oregon because you should be proud of the school that you have put money into and from which you received an education. Because I have a bachelors and a masters from Oregon State and since my husband is getting his doctorate from Oregon State, I feel I am justified in my protection of OSU.
Once she began talking about how rude people who go/went to Oregon State are and which is the better school, blah, blah, blah, I decided to speak up. Here's how the conversation went:
Me: "Did you actually go to U of O?"
Crazy Lady: "No, but my son did."
Me: "Just so you know, I have 2 degrees from Oregon State and my husband is attends OSU."
(Without skipping a beat)
Crazy Lady: "I bet you're a Republican too."
Me: Bewildered... "Yes I am."
Crazy Lady: "I knew it! I can tell just by looking at you."
I then changed the subject and continued talking with my stylist. She continued by bashing all Republicans and blaming them (me) for the current state of the nation. Last time I checked, Crazy Lady, we have a DEMOCRAT for a president AND because of the Electoral College and the fact that I live in Oregon, my individual Republican vote has not accomplished anything since I have been able to vote. Pretty sure the Govenor, the President, both Senators, and all the Representatives from Oregon are DEMOCRATS. So absolutely NONE of the nation's current problems are my fault.
I am not sure if it is because I am wearing red today or what but apparently, I SCREAM Republican. I didn't realize it was so obvious. I tried to shove my piles of money back into my pockets but I most of forgot a few bills.
I meant to tell her before she left that I hated the environment and loved guns or something before she left, but I didn't have the opportunity. She snuck out while I was under the dryer.
The salon staff and I all had a laugh after she left. The U of O stuff wasn't such a big deal. The Republican comment was kind of strange. The whole thing made for an interesting morning at the salon.
My hair looks great. :)
Love, Mrs. Janney
sheesh! some people are just that....crazy! but we do have one republican in the fight - Congressman Walden :) There's a little bit of hope there. What a crazy encounter though!
ReplyDeleteConsider supporting the The National Popular Vote bill. It would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).
ReplyDeleteEvery vote, everywhere (including Oregon), would be politically relevant and equal in presidential elections. Elections wouldn't be about winning states. Every vote, everywhere (including in Oregon) would be counted for and directly assist the candidate for whom it was cast. Candidates would need to care about voters across the nation, not just undecided voters in a handful of swing states.
In the 2012 election, pundits and campaign operatives already agree that only 14 states and their voters will matter under the current winner-take-all laws (i.e., awarding all of a state’s electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in each state) used by 48 of the 50 states. Candidates will not care about 72% of the voters-- voters in 19 of the 22 smallest and medium-small states, Oregon, and big states like CA, GA, NY, and TX. 2012 campaigning would be even more obscenely exclusive than 2008 and 2004. Candidates have no reason to visit, organize, campaign, or care about the voter concerns in the dozens of states where they are safely ahead or hopelessly behind. Policies important to the citizens of ‘flyover’ states are not as highly prioritized as policies important to ‘battleground’ states when it comes to governing.
The bill would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes– enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). When the bill comes into effect, all the electoral votes from those states would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).
The bill uses the power given to each state by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution to change how they award their electoral votes for president. Historically, virtually all of the major changes in the method of electing the President, including ending the requirement that only men who owned substantial property could vote and 48 current state-by-state winner-take-all laws, have come about by state legislative action.
The bill has been endorsed or voted for by 1,922 state legislators (in 50 states) who have sponsored and/or cast recorded votes in favor of the bill.
In Gallup polls since 1944, only about 20% of the public has supported the current system of awarding all of a state’s electoral votes to the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in each separate state (with about 70% opposed and about 10% undecided). Support for a national popular vote is strong in virtually every state, partisan, and demographic group surveyed in recent polls in closely divided battleground states: CO– 68%, IA –75%, MI– 73%, MO– 70%, NH– 69%, NV– 72%, NM– 76%, NC– 74%, OH– 70%, PA — 78%, VA — 74%, and WI — 71%; in smaller states (3 to 5 electoral votes): AK – 70%, DC – 76%, DE –75%, ME — 77%, NE — 74%, NH –69%, NV — 72%, NM — 76%, RI — 74%, and VT — 75%; in Southern and border states: AR –80%, KY — 80%, MS –77%, MO — 70%, NC — 74%, and VA — 74%; and in other states polled: CA — 70%, CT — 74% , MA — 73%, MN – 75%, NY — 79%, WA — 77%, and WV- 81%.
The bill has passed 31 state legislative chambers, in 21 small, medium-small, medium, and large states, including one house in AR (6), CT (7), DE (3), DC (3), ME (4), MI (17), NV (5), NM (5), NY (31), NC (15), and OR (7), and both houses in CA (55), CO (9), HI (4), IL (21), NJ (15), MD (10), MA(12), RI (4), VT (3), and WA (11). The bill has been enacted by DC, HI, IL, NJ, MD, MA, and WA. These 7 states possess 76 electoral votes — 28% of the 270 necessary to bring the law into effect.
http://www.NationalPopularVote.com
A survey of 800 Oregon voters conducted on December 16-17, 2008 showed 76% overall support for a national popular vote for President.
ReplyDeleteSupport was 82% among Democrats, 70% among Republicans, and 72% among independents.
By age, support was 67% among 18-29 year olds, 68% among 30-45 year olds, 82% among 46-65 year olds, and 76% for those older than 65.
By gender, support was 81% among women and 71% among men.
http://nationalpopularvote.com/pages/polls.php#OR_2008DEC