Date Night

You know you write Young Adult romance when you're watching the State of the Union and are struck by how much it resembled a prom this year.



Or maybe I just have been blogging with the Fictionistas for a while, because you know how much we love crazy prom stories here.



In a spirit of bipartisanship in the wake of the Tucson tragedy that many are criticizing as empty symbolism, members of Congress abandoned their time-honored partisan seating chart and sat with members of the opposing party during Obama's speech to a joint session of Congres.

The last several days here in DC have been like a politican Match.Com as members of Congress have scrambled to find "dates" to the big event.



After all, those all-important prom pictures look that much better when you have the perfect date.

In years past, the State of the Union looked just like a junior high dance, with the Republicans on one side and the Democrats on the other. But now we have a more mature Congress that's graduated at least to high school.

The tradition of partisan seating dates to 1845 in the House of Representatives, with Democrats on one sides of the aisle, and Republicans on the other. But it wasn't until 1913 that it became the practice for the State of the Union. For the first time since Thomas Jefferson, President Woodrow Wilson personally delivered the State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress, and the Representatives and Senators observed the House's partisan seating.

For the next 70 years, partisan seating was the norm, but no overt partisanship during the speech. But in 1983, Democrats mockingly applauded President Ronald Reasan during a line in his State of the Union. From then on we saw an era of one side of the chamber leaping to their feet at various times during the speech, with the other side sitting quietly and sometimes grumbling. At times it looked like the party the president was from was engaged in a weird aerobic workout during the State of the Union, they would get up and down so often.

It was always entertaining, that's for sure. Several State of the Union drinking games were even built around the jovial jumping up and down. (Because let's face it, even for the biggest politics die-hards among us, the only way to get through these things is with a drink.)

But this new seating arrangement really screwed things up. It used to be that members of Congress didn't even really have to listen too terribly hard in order to participate in the political pep rally. If the President was from their party, all they had to do was pay attention to what the sea of politicans around them were doing. If your seatmates are standing and cheering, you do too.

I kept watching last night to see if anyone would mess up, forgetting that their seatmate was from the opposing party and just following along, caught up in the excitement. That would have been funny.

I do know of one person who was very caught up in the excitement of the evening. She kept standing up and clapping whenever she saw the people on TV doing so.

My 1-year-old daughter. :)

Hey, it's DC. We start 'em young.

WTF? Domestic violence is a pre-existing condition?

I'm not going to delve into the national health care debate. I have some very strong viewpoints on that issue, and I'm sure you do, too, and they may not be the same view. I'll let the townhalls, talking heads, and tea parties tackle that.

No. This blog is not meant to be partisan or political. We don't want to create a firestorm. But from time to time, we do take up a cause.

The other night, Mr. Brice and I went to a reception in the gorgeous, newly-named Kennedy Caucus Room in the Senate. The main speaker was David Gergen, who, as always, was articulate and brilliant. Dana Bash and John King were in the audience, and also shared some extemporaneous thoughts. It was a really thought-provoking evening.

When I got home, I turned on MSNBC. The Rachel Maddow Show was on, and she was talking about an issue I'd never heard of before. I was shocked. It just turned my stomach, and I almost didn't believe it.

So like any good 21st century citizen, I Googled.

In DC and eight other states (Idaho, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming), it is legal for an insurance company to deny a battered woman health insurance coverage. Their argument is that domestic violence a pre-existing condition. If you're a battered woman, you're more likely to end up in the emergency room, and thus you are deemed "high risk" because of your medical condition.

Like I said, I'm not going to jump into the health care debate and I'm sure as heck not going to debate the pre-existing condition issue. But WTF?

Maria Tchijov of the Service Employees International Union blog (http://www.seiu.org/2009/09/domestic-violence-victims-have-a-pre-existing-condition.php) put it plainly:
Words cannot describe the sheer inhumanity of this claim.

I don't consider this a political or partisan issue. This is a human issue. Way to make the victim a victim a seond time. First, she's abused at the hands of her partner. Then when she seeks medical treatment for her injuries, she's forced to pay for the treatment on her own.

Anyway, I'll let Joanne Bamberger, founder of the PunditMom political blog, and contributor to the Huffington Post take it from here. You can read her heartfelt and powerful words here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joanne-bamberger/just-being-alive-will-soo_b_287666.html

And to think, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act this week, too.

This whole issue just sickens me. Have we really lost our humanity?

an overreaction of Presidential proportions

President Obama is scheduled to address the nation's schools on live television tomorrow and some school districts are refusing to air it.

And some parents are refusing to allow their kid to go to school.

Sigh.

Obama is not the first president to address the schools. Back in 1991 Bush, Sr. addressed the nation's schools and the nation thought this was a fabulous idea! Honestly, what better way to start off a lesson plan about our own national government than with a speech given by our nation's leader?

Parents are arguing that they don't want Obama using the address to "indoctrinate the children."

Can I just say, WTF?

Kids are exposed to differing political, religious, moral, educational, and social POVs every single day. They use their brain to discern what is right for THEM AS INDIVIDUALS and what isn't right and then they apply it. Sometimes kids make mistakes, they learn from those mistakes and they mature into (hopefully) wise adults.

So parents, trust that you have raised a child who has developed the ability to think for himself and decide right from wrong for himself. I can't imagine you're really raising a sheep that would be so easily 'indoctrinated' by one speech. No matter if you agree with Obama's politics or not, he's still our president and he deserves our respect. Trust me, I know...no matter how much I disagreed with Bush, Jr. (and it was often and a lot) I never once uttered the words, "He's not my president." Because guess what? he totally was.

Oh and FWIW, when Reagan addressed the schools my senior year, you know what I remember most about that speech? YAY! NO CLASSWORK! and I'm pretty sure I took a nap.

Interesting time to be living in DC

I'm going to try to keep this non-partisan and relatively apolitical, because while we here at Fictionistas believe that it's important for our readers to become active participants in democracy, above all, we're a site that focuses on young adult fiction. Sure, we talk about other stuff, but we're not a political website. If you want that, there are plenty of other options out there for you.

Anyway, as you probably already know, I live in DC. Well, not actually *in* DC, but about 5 miles outside. So pretty darn close. The town I actually live is in basically filled with lawyers, lobbyists, pollsters, pundits, federal workers, defense contractors, Hill staffers, etc. Politics and the federal government is our livelihood.

So I have an interesting perspective on this election. Now we can debate ad nauseum whether this is the "real America" (answer: nope...we live in our own little Beltway Bubble).

But it does make for some interesting experiences. For example, I spent Tuesday night at a party at a fancy hotel where we learned about the outcome of the election before the news outlets had called it. (The Associated Press had called our governor, and he came on stage along with our 2 US Senators to announce the results, to thunderous applause.)

Here's a pic of me and a friend with US Senator (and multi-published novelist) Jim Webb (see, it DOES relate to writing!).



Had I not been at that event, there's a good chance I might have joined the throngs who were celebrating outside the White House. And one of my good friends got to hang out with the international press corps on the roof of the Hay Adams Hotel, overlooking the White House.

Anyway, the other night, before the election had been called, one of my friends wondered what we were going to have left to talk about, now that this race we'd been watching for 2 years (!) was over. But you know what? There will still be plenty to talk about...this is DC. We're obsessed with politics even during periods when the rest of the country isn't. It's what we do.

I missed that when I moved away from here for a few years. I didn't grow up in DC, but I moved here after college. Then I moved across the country to Arizona to attend law school. Sure, I had some friends there who were interested in politics, but it wasn't the same. We didn't just have random political discussions in bars on a nightly basis.

Now I know most people consider that a good thing. After all, politics is supposedly one of the things you're never supposed to bring up. And I admit that I like to avoid bad feelings and shouting and namecalling. But discussing politics and policy is fundamental to a strong democracy. It's a good thing. It's important.

So that's why I'm so glad I'm back here. Nothing gets me more excited than a good policy debate...particularly with someone who disagrees with me. But only when it stays on a level of discourse that's calm and rational. Because dissenting viewpoints are what makes us stronger.

These are trying times, and historic times. No matter who had won, the new President would be inheriting perhaps one of the most difficult presidencies ever.

So no matter what your viewpoints are, no matter how you feel about Tuesday's outcome, please stay calm. But don't stop being engaged. This is what makes America great.

Teen Pregnancy, and a contest!!

Given the hubbub around this presidential election--and most recently, about McCain's VP candidate Palin's pregnant teenaged daughter--I wanted to talk about teen pregnancy.

Confession time. I was a teenage single mother (that sounds like a Lifetime Television for Women movie, doesn't it? haha).

I got preggers when I was 19. I was a sophomore in college, and the father of my child and I were not, and did not, get married. When I found out I had a bun in the oven, I moved home for a while, then moved out and was on welfare for a year or two. All the while, I continued going to school to get my bachelor's degree, and I was working a part-time job to help bring in extra income.

Yes, I had a few people tell me it was shameful that I was single and pregnant--especially as a teenager. But for every person who pointed a finger, who shook their head in shame at me and my "unfortunate" situation, I had twenty more who told me how much they loved and respected me for trying to keep moving forward.

I clung to that comfort and support during those long nights when I couldn't get my daughter to sleep, or when I was stressing over final exams, and work, and missing milestone moments in my child's development.

Palin's daughter has a long, tough road ahead of her. Being a single teen mom is hard enough, but being a single teen mom whose mother is striving to be the VP of our country? It must be incredibly trying on her to be in the spotlight right now, to have so many people judging her and her family. I can't even imagine the pressure she must be under.

But you know what? Politics aside, I'm happy to see that Palin is supporting her daughter in this difficult time. I know I couldn't have made it without my mom and dad's support.

Here I am, 13 years later, with my own house--that I pay for with my own $$. I have a Master's degree in English. I couldn't have gotten my day job, or my weekend teaching job, without my schooling. My children are happy and healthy. I'm happy and healthy.

I think I read a statistic that said 1 out of 4 teen girls will get pregnant. It's scary how common this occurence is, but it's a fact of living in the US.

Yes, it happened to me, but even from the start, my family and I knew I wanted to be more than just a "statistic." I was going to make something of myself, and just because the path was harder didn't mean it was impossible. My folks insisted I stay in college, and I'm thankful every day that I did.

I hope Palin's daughter will keep moving forward and let her family's love and support launch her into being a strong, independent woman who can take care of her family--as well as herself.

Teen pregnancy doesn't need to be a tragedy. Out of my struggles, I developed character, inner strength, tenacity, empathy, and the capacity to deeply love. And I wouldn't trade my kids, or my past, for anything. They made me the person I am today.

* * *

Contest time--please leave a comment here on today's post. Tomorrow, I'll pick one lucky commenter to win a $10 Amazon gift certificate! This is my way of apologizing for being MIA last week...boy, was August totally insane!

History Comes Knocking

How do you avoid getting excited about a presidential race that, FINALLY, looks a lot more like America? Whomever prevails in November, we are living in astonishing times. An African American is the nominee for the Democrats and a woman has been nominated as the VP pick for the Republicans. I'm tingling!

Think about it... hard on the heels of the anniversaries of both the 19th Amendment being passed and Dr. Martin Luther King giving his "I Have A Dream" speech, these two Americans have emerged to stand in the spotlight of history.

And so, regardless of which party takes the White House in this election, we will be making history. In January the nation will finally-- FINALLY!!-- be represented by either a black man as president or a woman as vice president. Change is coming. There is no longer a wimp-out option. The bigots of the country must be flipping out. We've nailed the back door shut!

Come on... you don't have to even have political opinions to get goosebumps. It's just plain AWESOME!

Live from Philadephia...it's Dancing with the Candidates!

Other than Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers, I have two distinct TV memories from when I was around 3 years old. I used to jump up and down whenever the Coke commercial came on, which prompted my parents to enroll me in dance classes at an early age. And I also remember watching Ronald Reagan's inauguration...kinda weird viewing for a preschooler, especially since we're not exactly Republicans in my family.

So is it really a surprise that later in life I'd work in politics and compete in ballroom dance competitions?

So last night, while I was watching Democratic Debate #471947295092 (OK, fine, it was actually the 21st debate, but hey, who's counting), it hit me. If we can't pick a nominee after about a year and a half of almost non-stop campaigning, then we're fooling ourselves. Forget about debate on policy. What we really need is good old-fashioned reality TV.

I mean, really. They've already been on SNL and The View, not to mention cameo appearances on American Idol. So I think it's time the primary process was thrown out the window in favor of combining two of my favorite pastimes: politics and ballroom.

Introducing "Dancing with the Candidates," a hit new reality show on ABC, hosted by George Stephanopoulos. We'll start small, with just a half hour segment following "Dancing with the Stars" this Monday night. Which is perfect really...it's the eve of the Pennsylvania primary, so what better way for voters in the city of the Constitution to decide the next Democratic presidential nominee.

It's totally democratic, too. Viewers would call in and vote for their favorite candidate after watching their cha-cha or quickstep. Instead of going to a voting booth in an elementary school, you can stay in the comfort of your own home...not even have to get off your couch. Can you imagine the participation we'd get?

My favorite professional dancer on DWTS is Edyta Sliwinska, paired with NFL superstar Jason Taylor this season. But she and Jason are going strong (right on the heels of front-runners Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas), so I don't think she could do this show.

So I was thinking that Barack Obama's partner could be Anna Trebunskaya, who was voted off with her partner, Steve Guttenberg, earlier this season.

And Hillary Clinton's partner could be Anna's husband, Jonathan Roberts, who left the show early after being voted off with Monica Seles.

It's perfect, don't you think?

At first I was thinking it could be a tag team type of thing, since Hillary and Barack's spouses seems to love to be surrogates on the campaign trail. I thought maybe Michelle Obama and Bill Clinton could get in the game, too. Then I realized that Bill might get a little too mesmerized by all the sequins and short costumes, so I decided against that idea.

We'll stick to the candidates themselves.

And really, dancing is a crucial skill to diplomacy. Just think of all the state dinners that are hosted at the White House. Shouldn't we as Americans have a say in who will represent us on the dance floor?

So let's throw out the primary votes in favor of something we can all agree on.

And if we're still deadlocked after this, then there's always "Celebrity Death Match."