Happy Halloween from Benja-Pumpkin!

On Tuesday Ellie's preschool class had a field trip to the pumpkin patch. Ellie got to ride on a pony, jump in a jumping castle, and feed the animals. (More photos to come!) Benjamin was pretty patient with the whole deal -- as long as his tummy is fed, he's a happy little guy. He was definitely my favorite pumpkin in the patch.

This is not okay

For friends and family members, my political leanings in this presidential election are not much of a secret. And so, as you can imagine, it is with concern that I have been reading about rowdy crowds at McCain and Palin speeches yelling that Obama is a terrorist and should be killed. I understand that running negative ads is a time-honored (and unfortunately, effective) campaign strategy. But things are getting out of control. I think this editorial by Frank Rich said it best (full text at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/opinion/12rich.htm):

IF you think way back to the start of this marathon campaign, back when it seemed preposterous that any black man could be a serious presidential contender, then you remember the biggest fear about Barack Obama: a crazy person might take a shot at him.

Some voters told reporters that they didn’t want Obama to run, let alone win, should his very presence unleash the demons who have stalked America from Lincoln to King. After consultation with Congress, Michael Chertoff, the homeland security secretary, gave Obama a Secret Service detail earlier than any presidential candidate in our history — in May 2007, some eight months before the first Democratic primaries.

“I’ve got the best protection in the world, so stop worrying,” Obama reassured his supporters. Eventually the country got conditioned to his appearing in large arenas without incident (though I confess that the first loud burst of fireworks at the end of his convention stadium speech gave me a start). In America, nothing does succeed like success. The fear receded.

Until now. At McCain-Palin rallies, the raucous and insistent cries of “Treason!” and “Terrorist!” and “Kill him!” and “Off with his head!” as well as the uninhibited slinging of racial epithets, are actually something new in a campaign that has seen almost every conceivable twist. They are alarms. Doing nothing is not an option.

...By the time McCain asks the crowd “Who is the real Barack Obama?” it’s no surprise that someone cries out “Terrorist!” The rhetorical conflation of Obama with terrorism is complete. It is stoked further by the repeated invocation of Obama’s middle name by surrogates introducing McCain and Palin at these rallies. This sleight of hand at once synchronizes with the poisonous Obama-is-a-Muslim e-mail blasts and shifts the brand of terrorism from Ayers’s Vietnam-era variety to the radical Islamic threats of today.

That’s a far cry from simply accusing Obama of being a guilty-by-association radical leftist. Obama is being branded as a potential killer and an accessory to past attempts at murder. “Barack Obama’s friend tried to kill my family” was how a McCain press release last week packaged the remembrance of a Weather Underground incident from 1970 — when Obama was 8.

We all know what punishment fits the crime of murder, or even potential murder, if the security of post-9/11 America is at stake. We all know how self-appointed “patriotic” martyrs always justify taking the law into their own hands.

...What’s troubling here is not only the candidates’ loose inflammatory talk but also their refusal to step in promptly and strongly when someone responds to it with bloodthirsty threats in a crowded arena. Joe Biden had it exactly right when he expressed concern last week that “a leading American politician who might be vice president of the United States would not just stop midsentence and turn and condemn that.” To stay silent is to pour gas on the fires.

Amen. We are not a backwards, corrupted, faltering third-world democracy. Political games are one thing; inciting to riot and violence is another. For the sake of our nation, I dearly hope this all comes to nothing.

Tagged

I don't normally do these sorts of things, but what the heck, why not. Holly, this one's for you:

* Eight Things I am Passionate About:
My family
Affordable student family housing
Politics
Gender equality
Music
Child literacy
Astronomy and science in general
Learning

*Eight Things, Words or Phrases I Say Way Too Often
"Wow, nice job!"
"Please don't jump on that."
"Eat more of your dinner first."
"Go wash your hands."
"Did you flush?"
"Pick up your toys before the Toy Monster eats them!"
"Whew, Benji-boy, you stink!"
"No, this is not the Neely residence--they moved out three years ago. Yeah, no problem, bye."

*Eight Things I Want to Do Before I Die:
See my children grow up and come into their own
Snuggle my grandchildren and maybe my great-grandchildren
Own a home
Publish a book
Have a thriving career
Change the world, or at least my community
Improve the odds for disadvantaged youth
Feel secure that all my family members are going to be fine

*Eight Things I Have Learned from my Past:
You can always find a way to make money if you really want to.
Motherhood = the ultimate multitasking job.
Playing first chair is more work than glory.
Someone has to play first chair.
Deadlines are good motivators.
Journalists don't understand statistics.
You only have five settlement markers in Catan.
In a crunch you can always eat Ramen straight from the bag.

*Eight Places I Would Love to See:
The southern hemisphere night sky
Lego Land
Boston
Colorado
New Zealand
Scandinavian fjords
The top of Half Dome after hiking it
Absolutely anywhere on January 20, 2009

*Eight Things I Currently Need or Want:
Sleep
Sleep
Sleep
New glasses
Sleep
A dishwasher
A maid
A cook

*Eight people I tag:
Barack Obama
Dick Cheney
Jon Stewart
Sarah Palin
Dr. Horrible
Bad Horse
Laura Roslin
Joe Six-Pack

Conversations with Benjamin

Following in the family tradition, Benjamin has lots to say. He shares his opinions about life, the presidential race, the financial crisis, and the ever-controversial Huggies vs. Pampers debate. Here he is talking about his day.

An Excellent Explanation of the Financial Crisis and the Bailout

As an aspiring economist, I have been asked of late to share any thoughts and insights I might have on the present financial crisis. The truth is, I don't know all that much about macroeconomics, and I know even less about financial economics. (My research interests are much more humble in scope.)

Before the afternoon session of General Conference today, Maile and I listened to This American Life on the radio. This week's episode, "Another Frightening Show About the Economy," is dedicated to the recent financial events, their causes, and their implications. To date, we have not read or heard a better, clearer explanation of the truly complicated and quickly changing situation in any newspaper, news program, online article, or magazine (including The Economist).

Download or stream the show at:

www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=365

Or download it at:

podcast.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/365.mp3 (27.8 MB)

What exactly is going on? Why do we have to worry about it? What is at stake? Whose fault is the crisis? What, if anything, could have been done to prevent it? Is the bailout good or bad? Now that Congress has passed the second version of the bill, what's next? The show gives engaging and understandable--yet worrisome--answers to all of these questions. If you're interested in learning more (and everyone should be), take an hour to listen to it.