Unemployed Kerry Staffer

Democratic Politics is a Cruel Mistress...and I Love Her.

Like many poor bastards I know*, I have been trying to date Democrfatic Politics for years. We are a pathetically besotted bunch. Our friends are like, "Dude, look around. You've got options. Don't waste yourself waiting for Dem Politics to wise up. Dem Politics just isn't that into you." We are fools, but we're not stupid. We know that PR is prettier, and that Grad School would never break our hearts, but there's just something about the enigmatic temptress that is Dem Politics. You can't help who you love.

Dem Politics for her part just keeps shooting us down, indifferent to the talent and devotion she is casting aside. Sure, every once in a while (every two or four years) Dem Politics gets drunk, finds our number, promises it will be different this time, and gets us into bed. We don't see this as her using us. We see hope. We see happiness. We kill ourselves to prove our love, to make ourselves worthy of the drunk dials. We are fools. It's never different. In the light of day(post-election), Dem Politics forgets our name, can't recall our night together, is not sure why we are still standing there. Dem Politics never buys us breakfast.

(Heavy Sigh)

Oh yeah, I took a job. I'm totally over the pathetic, depressed, and sometimes bitter former staffer thing. Really. And that whole top section on loving Dem Politics, I am obviously kidding. Obviously that would make me crazy.

And Dem Politics, if you are reading this, um, just so you know, my number is the same, so, like, you can call, if you, like, you know, um, need anything, or um, maybe if you want to get together, or whatever, you know, um, just as friends, or you know, more, er, I mean, only if you want. Anyway, so yeah, um call me. Not that I'm expecting it, I know you're busy, and uh, I am too, so whatever, yeah, uh, number's the same. Or email is fine, yeah, or you know what? I, uh, I might just check in with you, um just you know, to see what's up, in like, say, I don't know, like, maybe '06 or something? Um, just you know, cause we're friends, and um, you know, yah, uh, so ok, great, cool.

*Metaphor credit goes to BC, who shares the plight and still has a sense of humor.

When You Put It That Way...

The President has been travelling around explaining his Social Security plan, but those people out there ask the HARDEST questions!

Take this verbatim example from Tampa in Februrary.

Woman in the audience asks, "I don't really understand. How is it the new [Social Security] plan is going to fix that problem?"

Bush replies, "Because the -- all which is on the table begins to address the big cost drivers. For example, how benefits are calculated, for example, is on the table. Whether or not benefits rise based upon wage increases or price increases. There's a series of  parts of the formula that are being considered. And when you couple that, those different cost drivers, affecting those -- changing those with personal accounts, the idea is to get what has been promised more likely to be -- or closer delivered to that has been promised. Does that make any sense to you? It's kind of muddled. Look, there's a series of things that cause the -- like, for example, benefits are calculated based upon the increase of wages, as opposed to the increase of prices. Some have suggested that we calculate -- the benefits will rise based upon inflation, as opposed to wage increases.  There is already reform that would help solve the red if that were put into effect. In other words, how fast benefits grow, how fast the promised benefits grow, if those -- if that growth is affected, it will help on the red."

UKS says, "yeah, can we get another round of shots over here?"