We are down to the last few days of the presidential election (thank goodness). I have not expressed any opinions in this race, because well, if you know me at all you already know who I support. However, today I have something I want to say. This is NOT along the lines of "this candidate is evil" or "that candidate qualifies for sainthood".

First, a rant. It really angers me when I hear "The president did not fulfill his campaign promises". The president is not a monarch. He does not rule by fiat. All any president can do is work to make his promises happen; if he works toward that goal and doesn't make it that doesn't mean he "didn't fulfill" that promise, it just means that he wasn't able to. Now, if the president just flat out works in opposition to a promise he made, then feel free to bitch about what he promised versus what he did.

Second, who should you vote for? It isn't really about electing the president, although that's what it looks like from here, right? The president doesn't actually have all that much power - he can veto bills, but not sponsor them; he can hire people to head the various executive agencies and give them direction, but the house and senate determine the operating budgets; and he acts as the head of the U.S. In business terms, the president is CEO, the senate & house function as the board of directors; and we are all the shareholders.

The president also acts as the leader and primary representative of his party. So when you elect the president, you're also saying that this is the platform you support; this is the direction you want the nation to go.

So, go read the party platforms. It's guaranteed that there will be things in there that you like and things that you dislike. You can vote for the the party that promises things you want, or you can vote against the party that promises things you are against (IMO, this means you're less likely to be dazzled by BS).

Democratic national platform: http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform

Republican national platform: http://whitehouse12.com/republican-party-platform/

Finally, are you a voting C&E'er?* Are you only voting for the president? Voting in other races means that you will be influencing not just what affects you more closely, but also what direction the parties take in the long run. And if you don't like the two party system, if it's even possible to change, it's going to have to change from the bottom up.

*person who only goes to church on Christmas and easter.

From xo_kizzy_xo
INSTRUCTIONS: Bold the ones you have and use at least once a year, italicize the ones you have and don't use, underline the ones you use at least once a month, strike through the ones you have had but got rid of.

I wonder how many pasta machines*, breadmakers*, juicers, blenders, deep fat fryers, egg boilers, melon ballers, sandwich makers, pastry brushes, cheese boards, cheese knives, crepe makers, electric woks, miniature salad spinners, griddle pans*, jam funnels, pie funnels, meat thermometers, filleting knives, egg poachers, cake stands, garlic crushers, martini glasses, tea strainers, bamboo steamers, pizza stones, coffee grinders*, milk frothers, piping bags, banana stands, fluted pastry wheels, tagine dishes, conical strainers, rice cookers, steam cookers, pressure cookers, slow cookers, spaetzle makers, cookie presses, gravy strainers, double boilers (bains marie), sukiyaki stoves, ice cream makers*, fondue sets, healthy-grills, home smokers, tempura sets, tortilla presses, electric whisks, cherry stoners, sugar thermometers, food processors*, stand mixers*, mincers, bacon presses, bacon slicers, mouli mills, cake testers, pestle-and-mortars*, gratin dishes*, apple corers, mango stoners and sets of kebab skewers languish dustily at the back of the nation's cupboards.

Pasta machines - I actually have two machines. Why do I have two machines when I don't use them more than once every couple of years? First, both were pretty much free - one a gift and the other from a sample sale. Second, I would like to try making pasta. Third, I use one of them for playing with Fimo type clays and you do NOT want to use it for food after that, especially something as hard to clean thoroughly as a pasta maker is.

Breadmaker - I go through phases, but I've always loved being able to measure out a few ingredients, punch a button and have bread 4 hours later. However, now that I have a stand mixer, the breadmaker may have to go away.

Griddle pans - if this means an electric griddle, I have one and even though I don't use it very often, there's nothing better for cooking massive amounts of pancakes or hamburgers.

Coffee grinders: two, since both Bob and I had one before we married. One for coffee, one for spices.

Ice cream maker: a Donvier mini manual ice cream maker that I really need to get rid of.

Food processor: I don't use it often, but it is a must if I want to make 5 minute ice cream!

Stand Mixer: I just inherited one from mom, with ALL the toys. I am so looking forward to playing with this.

Pestle and mortar: Don't have one, and I keep hoping I'll find one for a reasonable price at an estate sale. BTW, if you want to get a bunch of kitchen stuff, check out estate sales - they're treasure troves of all things kitchen-y.

Gratin dishes: Don't ask me why, but I like individual serving dishes. Something about the lasagna bowls we had when I was growing up.  I also have both round and heart shaped ramekins.