Let's Lynch The Landlord!

If you are in the market for an apartment in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania or it's metropolitan area, do not rent from Steiner Realty!

54 days until our lease expires.

Hillary Clinton's Obama endorsement

"We must elect Barack Obama our next president."

Hillary Clinton said this sentence with great frequency in her speech today where she suspended her campaign and endorsed Senator Barack Obama. She spoke eloquently, frequently touching upon traditional Democratic principles and how it is remarkably unremarkable that both a woman and an African-American could be considered for President and no one questions or states that it isn't possible in either case. I believe that there was nothing said tonight that her detractors could use against her - she has wholeheartedly endorsed Senator Obama; she has done her duty to the Democratic Party, to which she is loyal to a fault, in asking for her supporters to back Senator Obama and vehemently as they've backed her. It is now Senator Barack Obama's responsibility to convince us who carry little or no faith in him that he will do the right thing for us, that he will actually represent us and that he not only wants our votes, but values them as well. The ball, as they say, in now in Obama's court.

After Barack Obama fired a shot into the heart about everything I believe about how a Democratic Nation should function in prematurely declaring himself the winner, I yanked all support for him. Barack Obama may be victorious in this primary, but his is a tainted victory. It hurts greatly, as a lifelong Democrat, to think that I have no candidate that I can unequivocally support in the November election. There are times I've thought to myself, "well, maybe I should give Obama a second chance," only to have him do or say something which has me feeling pushed right back to the fringes of the Democratic Party. When Hillary Clinton spoke today, she spoke of a Democratic Party promoting an America where no form of discrimination was acceptable and where everyone was welcome. This is the Democratic Party I wish for as well, and the Democratic Party that Obama should be working for - no more sardonic quips about how white, middle class voters "don't matter."

Ever since I started journalling (as it was called before 'blogging became the preferred term), I have always "endorsed" a candidate for President. Despite the apolitical Goth stereotype, I am patriotic to a fault; I love my country, and I do become emotionally involved when it comes to politics (against my better judgement and to my detriment, I am sure). In 2000, I supported Al Gore, along with Hillary Clinton's New York State Senate run. In 2004, I supported John Kerry. In 2008, however, I find myself reluctant to support the presumptive Democratic nominee...I can only stand firm in my opposition to John McCain.

Barack Obama has a lot of work to do - and it is his, and no one else's, responsibility to do it. There are nearly five months between now and November 4^th; on that date, you will see me post once more encouraging people to vote. However, the events between now and then will determine whether or not there will be an accompanying image saying, "Obama for President" or simply nothing at all.

Two emails

After a marathon session of "playing God" (aka: The Sims 2), I emerged blurry-eyed and brain-dead to spend some more time drooling at my computer by checking my email. There were two messages waiting for me.

The first was from Hillary Clinton. It included a link to view a video of her speech endorsing Obama today, along with the entire transcript of the same.

The second email was from Howard Dean, giving me a "pep talk" on behalf of the Democratic Party. This paragraph stuck out (emphasis mine):

It can be tough to lose a hard-fought race -- I know, because I've been there. But no matter who you supported, you're part of a bigger family -- one that shares the same hopes, values, and dreams. This campaign is so much more than any of us or any candidate. It's about the future of our country, and our collective desire to take it back for the people who make it great.

I'm half-tempted to write back to him to say that my "family" has been abusing me - could I be placed in a foster home?