Political Shut-up-ness

I generally make it a point to not discuss politics. Politics and religion, I feel, should not be talked about in mixed company, or in general with people you do not know. I make no bones about who I support politically, but I also don't try to force my beliefs on others, and I don't want theirs forced on me. I'm not going to change my mind because of anything you say to me, and I don't believe I can change yours. Republican, Democrat, Right, Left, Red, Blue - we are all Americans and I think one of the greatest things about this country is that we have the right to believe what we want to believe, choose whom we want to choose and not have anyone persecute us for our beliefs and differences. Amen.



Please excuse me for a minute while I adjust the height on my soap box. Ok.



I am not registered as a Democrat or Republican. Although I think the rules in Texas differ from those in Michigan, where you could be an Independent and vote however which way you want. Here in the LoneStar state (and someone correct me if I'm wrong), if you aren't registered with a party, the first time you vote in a primary under a specific party, they kind of ear mark you as a member of that party, and that's what you are henceforth.


Regardless, in my own head, which is where All Things Important are, I am neither. I don't want a label. I want to be able to consider each candidate or issue carefully and choose which person I feel best represents my interests. More often than not, I vote Democrat, and because of this, I call myself a Left-Leaning-Independent.


Anyway, I have a point. And here it is. Austin is a blue dot in a red state. Still, I find that I know a wide mix of both Dems & Reps, amongst my friends, co-workers and family, even. So you can see why I don't go around talking about politics.



I got my hair done on Saturday, and my hairdresser took it upon herself to talk to me (while I was under the dryer, trying to knit of all the things, the nerve of this woman) for about 15 minutes about McCain's choice of VP running mate and how awesome a decision it was, and how it's going to be great for him and he needed an edge and this shows he can make a good decision and isn't she adorable and blah blah blah.



Because "adorable" is what I look for in a vice president.




Wait, it worked for Al Gore.

Handsome devil.

Anyway. I have known this woman less than a year, probably about 9 months, and this was our 4th meeting. She has met me 4 times, and we've had the typical hairdresser/client relationship. Which doesn't include political chat. And now here she is, just assuming I'm agreeing with her (or else being really stupid) and going on and on about Sarah Palin.


I don't know this woman! She doesn't know me! Why in the world would she just sit down and start going on and on about this?! I just nodded my head, smiled politely and said "Mmmm Hmmm". I think the only words I spoke were "Yes, it was a very strategic move on McCain's part." And only that because I think it's true, and it's a neutral statement. I did not open my mouth and voice my support for Obama because that's not my style. I did not agree with her or say that I think it was a good choice for McCain, because I'm not going to lie either. I just sat there, feeling completely in awe of the fact that this person who doesn't know me whatsoever just boldly assumed that I was on Team Red and started up a chat with me. She even said a few mildly offensive things regarding Obama, but I just sat there and kept knitting.


I don't know if she got a clue, or what but eventually she got up and walked away. We finished out the rest of my appointment in typical fashion, no political chat, I paid my bill and drove away in my car with an Obama sticker in the window. Wonder if she saw it.


Speaking of stickers in windows, get a load of this car. This car is parked in my office complex (I'm pretty sure it's not someone I work with). I wonder who they are supporting.
This picture isn't the best, so let me explain to you that this car, or as I call it, The Ron Paul Mobile, has 3 stickers on the back windshield (one on each side and one right in the middle that you can see here), one picture on the rear passenger window (that one is a real beaut, it's got his face on it!), and one sticker on the front bumper of the car. That's 5 stickers total. For Ron Paul, a man who isn't even in the running any more - not to mention the fact that he is a freaking fruitcake.

But I don't discuss politics, so that's all I'm going to say.