A Week (or two) of My Life in London

So I think I've been meaning to write this post for some time... and like many things are easy to do - have been putting it off... So first and foremost what is great about my life here is that no two weeks are the same. After coming off of a 10-day hiatus from being anything resembling social, this week was all about relaxing, catching up with my life and friends, and celebrating.

The 10-day hiatus was because of two things: deadlines and a ridiculous cough. The essays I knew were coming... they have been instilling the date in our head since before I even arrived in the U.K. All of our professors kept referencing to November 21st as if it was doomsday. To make it worse, after running in Hyde Park 2 weeks ago in the cold, (gloves and all) I developed a super painful chest cough that was making news around both my hall and the institute. One professor offered to give me an extension because I was so disruptive in class that there is no way anyone could have ceased to realize I was sick. I finally went to the doctor (way to go universal health care!), but alas I was told it was viral and therefore I just had to suffer through.

I really don't think I've ever been so anti-social and so academic in my life... it was rough. The only benefit as I saw it was that I was actually able to meet some new people around the hall - including one of my new favorites, Kate. I heard Modest Mouse being played in the Red Room Bar downstairs - so I asked the bartender where in America she was from. Modest Mouse has definitely yet to break into the mainstream UK music scene. She laughed and said Chicago - and turns out she and her roommate were both from there. Soon enough her roommate walks in and is the same girl I connected with at the Student Rep. meeting the week prior - small world. So now it's cool because I get to switch music tastes with Katherine and get to chill with Kate.

That same weekend I also was introduced to my new favorite pub in Paddington - The Victoria - which is a very traditional English pub, fully outfitted in Victorian decor - and they serve Leffe Blond - a super yummy Belgian beer that I was introduced to this summer with Kerry at the Belgian Beer Garden in NYC. I also was introduced to a girl from Puerto Rico who makes some damn good coffee after dinner and also hooked me up with some honey drops her dad sent her from home and some lemon-ginger tea. And it was so sweet - my neighbor Augusto (from Mexico) heard me coughing (yes, through the walls it was that bad) and offered to go to the market for me... so it was really nice how caring and concerned everyone was. The guy at the market (don't worry - he knows my name and calls it out even if I am walking on the other side of the street) gave me free lemons (saying it was to keep my business) - ha!

But 2 essays and 2 research projects later.... I finally started feeling better and the day we turned our work in we went out that night. We all met at school at 5:15pm (just after the deadline) and went to Guanabara - a great Brazilian bar/club with 1/2 priced mojitos ( = fun) and carparenas ( = trouble) on Monday nights. I had a fabulous time celebrating with about 25 of my colleagues, mostly Brits, Continental Europeans and Latin Americans. Elisa (Spanish) , one of my closest friends here, and I had a dance off; Matt and I pretended we were professional dancers; and Mark and Charlie entertained us all by break-dancing and doing handstands on the dance floor (with support of course). The picture above is the 4 roomies-to-be: Jillian (Canadian); Matt (Canadian); me; Mark (British); plus Kasia on the right (Polish) - just cause she is my girl.

After we got ourselves home (Mark was staying at mine for a few days) - slept - and then had to drag ourselves to class the next morning. After not having eaten in way too many hours, Mark and I then joined a 'mature student' in our course (Mark - another Brit) for a pint and comfort food (macaroni and cheese - reminded me of Danielle!). We then wondered back to mine, picked up KFC for Mark ( he had a craving), then just hung-out eating greasy chicken, chips (fries), etc. and eventually had a late-night ping-pong match that night.

Wednesday we slept in, got coffee and went to Camden to go see our flat, check out the area and sort out our paperwork. The flat is great - small - but brand-new and very stylish (see pics in the post below). Camden is a very funky area with a lot of character(s), restaurants, pubs, shops - but is best known for the markets it has everyday. It's also right on the canal - I think it's going to be great. We then went to Belgo's for moules, frittes and bier - and they were the bets mussels I've ever had. They have this thing called 'beat the clock' - so at 6pm we got a full dinner for 6 pounds - though Mark treated me :) Right after Mark left that night, Angela (Canadian) and Hunter (American - Connecticut) came over for tea and distracted me from preparing for my presentation on Thursday.

Alas, Thursday I had to get up early and work on it and then met Angela downstairs to walk to school. It was Thanksgiving and after trying for weeks - unsuccessfully - to find canned pumpkin to make pumpkin pie for my class, we found a bakery to buy mango cake. After our presentations we had a Thanksgiving party in our class and everyone remembered what I told them to bring and more! It was great - Californian wine, doritos, guacamole, salsa, candy corn and Liz (British) even showed up with a pumpkin pie just for me! Apparently she had to call ahead and reserve the very last one at one of the most expensive store in London (on Oxford St.) and paid a fortune for it... and it was damn good (though doesn't compare to Mom's recipe). It was great though to explain Thanksgiving to everyone (again - the only American there) and all the professors came in and were chatting - it was really nice.

I then carried the left-over pie with Mark and I to Camden to go sign for the flat - back to Paddington - and then invited Kate and Vanessa (1/2 Spanish, 1/2 Mexican but grew up in Pennsylvania until she moved to Madrid at 8) for pie and tea to celebrate Thanksgiving. I then had to run to go meet Jack (East Londoner) and his friend Fred (French) in Queen's Park for a few pints.

Friday morning I slept in, got a coffee and read before class, went to learn about research methods, then went to the market and to pick up another round of cough drops. As I walked out of the store at 4:40pm it was already dark - so strange. Got home, cleaned my room, did laundry, had carrots and tsaziki (straight from Greece!) and then met Kasia and her friend from Poland who is here for the weekend, Pablo (Brazilian) and his other friend from Brazil who is studying at LSE at a place I discovered a few weeks ago called Cuba Libre in Angel. The new 24-hour drinking laws just went into effect Thursday night here - so instead of all the pubs having to close at 11pm, many are now open to at least 12 and often 2am. After vetoing the idea of meeting Charlie and Matthew (both Brits) in SOHO an paying 11 quid to get into a club - we stayed there. Only problem is that the tube still closes at midnight, so I had to find my way back to Paddington by night bus - though Pablo was kind enough to come with me, walk me home before heading to Chelsea... super sweet of him.

At long last I went to bed at almost 4am, slept until after 1pm (crazy!) and then went to go have 'breakfast' with Hunter because we had long-missed the restaurant hours downstairs. We ended up at a Lebanese place which was both really good and cheap, walked back here and am now spending my afternoon blogging and emailing before I actually have to read for class.

Later tonight Nick (American - Thousand Oaks, CA), a Marshall scholar and mutual friend of April, Jesse and Vivian (all through different connections, randomly) will be coming down from Oxford and we'll go celebrate Thanksgiving. Each year all the Marshal scholars in the UK come to London for a big dinner and I just get to be his guest. It'll be funny to be with so many Americans - there are a few here in my social circles and I've met friends of friends, but I came to London not knowing one person in the entire city. Last time I was around so many was when about 7 people from my hall went to Oxford for the day last month and Peter, who I worked on the Kerry campaign with in AZ and then we were both in DC, took us to one of Rhodes scholar parties. There I was at this party that felt like an American fraternity party (complete with beer-pong), with my 3 friends Peter, Nick, and Hunter - Rhodes, Marshall and Fulbright scholars respectively.... in the words of Mike Moffo, it was tremendous.

Pics of our Flat in Camden!

One More Reason To Join Friendster...

My good friend Nicole in California sent this to be - a few weeks old - but definitely worth the read - Mr. Bill Maher is just one of those people I want to have dinner with (this is where I get jealous of Matt)...

New Rule: George Bush must meet some new people. You know, when Americans see their president giving every job to the same old cronies, they use words like "loyal to a fault" and "stubborn" and "close-minded," "lives in a bubble," "sock-puppet," "asshole." "Worst president ever." But they're missing the point. The problem isn't his political philosophy - "kill people and animals and take their gas" - the problem is he has to expand his circle of friends beyond his mom, Karen Hughes and the House of Saud. Which is why before George Bush makes another political appointment, he has to join Friendster.

This week, President Bush had to nominate a Supreme Court judge, and he picked the most qualified person within 30 feet of his office. Her qualifications: well, she is a lawyer and former commissioner of the Texas State Lottery. And she's seen every episode of "Judging Amy." Abortion, affirmative action, separation of church and state. Yeah, let's ask the lady who peddled scratch tickets to liquor stores.

Does he just go with the first person he sees? I wouldn't be surprised if Laura was his sister. Now, of course - I keep checking with him - of course, George Bush isn't the first politician to hand out graft gigs to his pals, but he doesn't seem to understand that that's what the bullshit jobs are for: ambassador to the Bahamas. The Recycling Czar. Head of the CIA. But George Bush puts stooges where they can do real damage: Director of FEMA? That guy from the horsie show is available. U.N. Ambassador? Dick Cheney knows a guy with a mustache and anger issues.

Supreme Court justice? Lady down the hall. Labor Secretary? The guy who helped me move that hooker's body at Yale could probably do it. You know - you know, Mr. President, when you got elected, we all figured you were no genius, but smart enough to hire qualified people. But it turns out you're just a dimwit who enjoys feeling superior. And the only way to accomplish that is to surround yourself with the likes of Mike Brown and Harriet Miers: Goober and Aunt Bea. Unspectacular souls who make you feel comfortable and unthreatened. Kind of like when Madonna used to hang out with Rosie O'Donnell.

Well, I hate to burst your bubble. But real friends are the ones who tell you the truth. They're also the ones who work hard so as not to embarrass you. These people who work for you aren't behaving like friends. They're behaving far worse. They're behaving...like family.

Rumor On The Hill Has It...

Democrats just defeated the awful Labor Education HHS Appropriations Bill!

To quote my inside source on the house-side: "This is the first major victory for the Dems on a big piece of legislation in decades (ok maybe one decade!)"

Apparently it just closed half an hour ago and has yet to hit the news.

According to Laurel, the Republicans are all in a meeting right now because they were going to vote on the budget but now it looks like moderate Republicans might be in revolt.

They were still a few votes short- they made changes this morning but they were not that extensive, and so moderate Republicans are still upset.

They are concerned with $12 billion in cuts to Medicaid (reduced to $11 billion this morning).

John M. McHugh, R-N.Y., a fence-sitting moderate, said that he still has problems with the Medicaid copayments, because they will have to be paid by more poor people than in the past, and most of the savings would come not from the charges but from an assumption that people would forgo medical care rather than pay.

The vote on the labor approps was 209-224 - and the only two votes missing were Dems.

One year out (yesterday) to the 2006 Elections and the Democrats are looking stronger than they have a year out from an election than they have in years.

*Thanks to Laurel for the inside info... I already promised her part of the lawyer fees - ha!

A Flat In My Future

Good news - we might have a flat! Don't want to jinx it.. but after a few weeks of looking with different combinations of possible roommates - different parts of London - and many friendly but ultimately unhelpful estate agents: we might have a winner!

It's in Camden - an awesome part of town that (supposedly) feels like a community, with a market every day and great jazz club. AND it's in walking distance to school - so I'm crossing my fingers. See - I've never actually been there :)

Though really - the colder it gets - the less appealing walking becomes. I went running twice this weekend in Hyde Park (which is something that I will truly miss if I move) - but got a horrible chest cough after! I actually had to go running in my full REI gear - gloves and all - it is getting COLD here! Seriously, this week the temperature dropped really quickly and I've had to bust out my winter coats, gloves, scarves and boots - reminds me of DC last winter! Though let's just pray it doesn't get as cold as New York...

Anyway, so hopefully all y'all will have a place to rest your pretty little heads when you come visit and won't have to experience grungy orange walls. I've come to the realization that no matter how many prints, photos, maps I put on the wall - it's still a rubbish color.

Ah well - here's to hoping! And to getting over this nasty sickness... I thought I was going to get kicked out the library today, my class on Monday and the lecture I went to last night on Reagan's foreign policy - I mean really... it's so not fair to be sick when you are also trying to write all these damn essays!

Why Have One When You Can Have Two?

As I left the pub, Eva just told me that my response was typically American. Waldo gave me one kiss good-bye, Eva two.

I said - "Waldo: why only one?"

He said - "Because in Panama it is only one."

Eva responded - "But in Denmark it is two."

I responded - "Why have one when you can have two?"

Eva laughed - "That is very American. To me - that is American
thinking. Why drive a manual when you can drive an automatic?
Why walk when you can drive?"

I laughed - "I drive a stick shift and am damn proud of it."

Eva smiled - "You are different."

I asked - "Why?"

Eva said - "Because you moved to London. Because you have a
passport."

Then I remembered that in order to move to London, I had to sell my precious, bright-red Jetta. It's not that it was particularly nice or new or anything... but it was a symbol of freedom for me. It had a sunroof, a bike-rack and a bumpin' stereo. It got me up and down the California coasts; me and everything I owned to Arizona... then Las Vegas... and back up the West Coast. It weathered a DC winter and the New Jersey turnpike all summer. It still had the original John Kerry bumper sticker from the Spring of 2003... along with all of the other Democratic candidates I had worked for since then. It still had its' California plates, the Liz Phair sticker and a lai that had been around the stick since I bought it - in the '90s. What more could a 20-something girl ask for?

But besides just reminiscing about my car that defined much of my existence - this conversation struck me. Not because it was profound, or so unusual. It's that is typical.

It is a common understanding that people often identify more with their country when they travel abroad. They become more nationalistic, more proud because they are able to compare their culture to others' way of life. Naturally, people feel the most comfortable in the culture they were raised in.

Is this feeling what creates a rise of identity politics and strong ties to people's country of origin when they live elsewhere - such as in the States?

I have been reading the work of Samuel Huntington, an insightful and well-established scholar at Harvard who studies American identity and cultural issues in the U.S.

In his 2004 work, "Who Are We? America's Great Debate," Huntington writes at length of the identity crisis that America faces in light of the demographic challenges presented by immigration, the lack of a cohesive 'other' due to the collapse of the Soviet Union (and therefore the end of the Cold War) and the decrease in a consistent American identity.

I disagree with him on most of his conclusions, such that in order to rescue America from decline like that of Rome and Sparta we must recommit ourselves to Anglo-Protestant culture. But I am fascinated by his study of American identity as it stands.

What is American identity? Do we identify most with the governing principles of our Constitution? A shared history? A common language? A certain religious belief?

Or is it is exactly what Eva is referring to: a way of life, a way of thinking?

For me, she is right. It's not that everyone wants to drive used red Jettas, regardless of the bumper stickers that grace it. It's not that you can drive sleepless nights across the U.S. like Kerouac and Ginsberg. It's the symbolism that both represent: everyone wants to have a piece of Americana that is theirs.

It might be the SUV, it might be the road trips. It might be the single-family house or the cliche white picket fence. It could be the mom and pop diner or the stock options in Microsoft. These are things that I don't necessarily identify with... but as an American... I am identified with.

In all these examples, they are material posessions that are only temporily satifying. But if nothing else - it's theirs. It's this sense of identity through ownership and property that seems to be extremely American. If you can claim it as territory, than you have something to be proud of. You have something to invest in, something to work toward. And once we have that - why have one - when you can have two?

*also published at www.woodshavingsdaily.blogspot.com

I Don't Fool Myself with Romance...

what was I in the mood for tonight?

coming up...

our father who art in a penthouse
sits in his 37th floor suite
and swivels to gaze down
at the city he made me in
he allows me to stand and
solicit graffiti until
he needs the land i stand on
i in my darkened threshold
am pawing through my pockets
the receipts, the bus schedules
the matchbook phone numbers
the urgent napkin poems
all of which laundering has rendered
pulpy and strange
loose change and a key
ask me
go ahead, ask me if i care
i got the answer here
i wrote it down somewhere
i just gotta find it
i just gotta find it

somebody and their spray paint got too close
somebody came on too heavy
now look at me made ugly
by the drooling letters
i was better off alone
ain't that the way it is
they don't know the first thing
but you don't know that
until they take the first swing
my fingers are red and swollen from the cold
i'm getting bold in my old age
so go ahead, try the door
it doesn't matter anymore
i know the weakhearted are strongwilled
and we are being kept alive
until we're killed
he's up there the ice
is clinking in his glass
he sends me little pieces of paper
i don't ask
i just empty my pockets and wait
it's not fate
it's just circumstance
i don't fool myself with romance
i just live
phone number to phone number
dusting them against my thighs
in the warmth of my pockets
which whisper history incessantly
asking me
where were you

i lower my eyes
wishing i could cry more
and care less,
yes it's true,
i was trying to love someone again,
i was caught caring,
bearing weight

but i love this city, this state
this country is too large
and whoever's in charge up there
had better take the elevator down
and put more than change in our cup
or else we
are coming
up

Friday Night in SOHO - Mark's Birthday Extravaganza

2005 Elections: Observations and Impacts

Off-year elections are not typically seen as either momentous events, nor an indication of changing political currents. However, yesterday's competitions throughout the country are telling a story about the state of the two parties in America - one both sides were not necessarily expecting.

The outcome of the 2005 elections are significant for both what they represent, and what they do not. Democrats took the governorships of both New Jersey and Virginia. Democrats also soundly defeated ALL of Schwarzenegger's propositions in California in the special election he spent months criss-crossing the country fund-raising for.

Though Democrats didn't take all of the state-wide races up in Virginia (lost Lt. Gov and AG positions to GOPers), or all of the local races in other states (lost mayoral races in NYC and San Diego), when it's all added-up nationwide, the Democrats felt the sweet taste of victory in both blue and red states last night.

Democrats picked up governorships, state legisislative, and city council seats - but most importantly: Democrats picked up momentum.

The typical line since Democrats lost the 2004 presidential election has been that the Republicans, not just George Bush, has a political mandate in America. But Bush has been losing battles left and right (Miers, the Rove investigations, Scooter Libby just to name a few). So just as significant as Democrats succeeding in '05 is that Republicans DID NOT.

This change in political current might be just what the Democrats need: realizing their strengths through both messaging and campaign tactics.

In Virginia, first-time candidate David Englin crushed his Republican opponent (68-32%) by advancing a PROGRESSIVE agenda for Virginia. Though true the 45th House of Delegates district is in Northern Virginia and a safe Democratic seat, he won a fiercely competitive primary due to his strong convictions and commitment to progressive causes. Leslie Byrne (LG candidate) is an aggressive, progressive female candidate that received 49% of the vote statewide, with the moderate Tim Kaine winning the governorship over conservative Jerry Kilgore 51-46%. Afterall, this is a state that Bush won handily in 2004.

There is also another lesson to be learned from these impressive numbers in Virginia: it is not about MORE field, it is about SMARTER field according to campaign veteran Shayna Englin. Yesterday's victories were a signal of strength that Democrats can play on the ground in Virginia - and win.

In New Jersey, Senator Jon S. Corzine sailed to a staggering victory over fellow millionaire Doug Forrester. Here - it wasn't about access to resources - it was about messaging. Forrester came out slinging mud, and never stopped. Corzine continued to run an overall positive campaign; and when at the end of the campaign both candidates' morals were being called into question - this crushed Forrester. He didn't offer the state anything OTHER than Jon Corzine, a popular incumbent politician.

Even in the smaller contests like city council races in Tuscon, Arizona, Democrats returned the council to Democrats - ALL Democrats. In conservative San Diego, moderate, self-described 'green Republican' Kevin Faulconer picked up the District 2 seat against right-wing challengers. Democrats also picked up seats in Virginia and New Jersey state legislatures.

So what does last night mean for Democrats? I'll let the conservatives say it for themselves...

"The unexpected closeness of the Virginia race -- in a conservative state that President Bush carried by nearly 54 percent of the vote last year -- is a result in part to the GOP's eroding position in public opinion polls." -- Washington Times, 11/8/05

If nothing else, these wins give the Democrats a momentum to carry into the 2006 elections - in both blue and red states.

*Also published on woodshavingsdaily.blogspot.com

Dinner Party at Mary's

4 weeks, 6 days and 3 hours

Since I arrived in London - so what I have learned?

#1 - It is easier to relocate than I have ever thought
#2 - 4 oz. can make a difference
#3 - I like being the token American
#4 - Drinking games are an American phenomenon; bar fights are not
#5 - How much you can learn when you are a full-time student
#6 - I love cities - but I miss space!
#7 - Watching football is a recognized sport in itself
#8 - Stars don't exist here
#9 - Being pale is not something to be ashamed of, it's a fact
#10 -The closer you get to Italy, the more people drink cappaccinos
#11 - If someone says they are 'pissed' - they are not upset; they are drunk
#12 - American movies are the things that make you miss home
#13 - A proper English breakfast is all you need
#14 - Brits are great on fair trade; but not on recycling
#15 - That no one in post-grad does ALL of the reading
#16 - I knew someday I would want all my books from under-grad
#17 - Riding a bicycle here is like handing your life over
#18 - Brits are mystified by the formalities of 'dating' in the US
#19 - 'Salad' is code-word for mayonnaise
#20 - More of my friends here speak Spanish than in San Diego!

One Year Later: What a Stronger Country We Could Have Been

by Pamela Leavy

It is hard to believe that some people still think that George W. Bush is doing a good job as president. Why haven't some people finally seen the light? We've heard references to Voter's Remorse occasionally in the news, yet, some still stubbornly cling to the wrong-minded views perpetuated by the Bush administration and MSM.

The Bush administration is an affront to America. We see almost daily an assault on the very foundation of our country - the U.S. Constitution. On Monday, as Rosa Parks - a heroine of the civil rights movement, lay in the Rotunda, in an unprecedented tribute, George W. Bush nominated Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. Alito has a record of standing against civil rights, yet, George W. Bush had no qualms with offering up his nomination, while Rosa Parks lay in state.

Think about how different the past year would have been if John Kerry were President.

Think about that if, in spite of defeating a sitting wartime President in three nationally televised debates, the Kerry campaign had not been edged out by the Swift Boat sliming smear tactics. Think about the fact the MSM was complicit in blocking Patrick Fitzgerald's CIA leak investigation. Think about the politics of fear that manifested as an October surprise - Osama Bin Laden's appearance on tape which Fox News Channel's Neil Cavuto labeled a "Kerry endorsement by Bin Laden."

Think about how different things could have been. This isn't just abstract could-have-been thinking. It is real. It is based on the facts. And, it has serious consequences for our families, our children, our troops, our veterans, our environment, and our country.

How do we know? Because a year ago, John Kerry made clear promises and offered specific plans that would have made America a very, very different place. Take a look at what could have been...

HEALTH CARE

Instead of giving tax breaks to individuals making over $300,000, President John Kerry would have used that money to cover all 11 million children in America currently living without health insurance.

We know this because, on the first day legislation could be introduced, John Kerry made his first act as a returning Senator to introduce his KidsFirst legislation, which will do precisely that. And, he has traveled the country several times to galvanize grassroots support to get every child in America health insurance. As President, he said health care reform would've been the first bill he sent to Congress.

STEM CELL RESEARCH

Rather than limit scientists' ability to discover potentially life-saving cures through stem cell research, President Kerry would have reversed Bush's policy limiting the number of stem cell lines available to scientists and provided significant funding for research. Every day that we wait, more than 3,000 Americans die from diseases that may someday be treatable because of stem cell research.

We know this because said one of his first acts as president would be to reverse Bush's stem cell policy.

THE ENVIRONENT

Rather than selling off the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil companies for drilling, President Kerry would have protected it from oil drilling.

We know this because President Kerry would have kept his commitment to veto Arctic drilling.

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

Rather than walk through a field of wildflowers holding hands with Saudi Prince Abdullah, rather than nearly $3.7 million from the oil and gas industry during both presidential campaigns, rather than sign energy policies into law that the administration's own Energy Information Administration says will not lower gas prices - President Kerry would have taken record-high gas prices seriously.

We know this because John Kerry last year unveiled a comprehensive plan to lower gas prices, improve efficiency and move towards energy independence while creating jobs. Under the plan, Kerry would manage the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to protect our security without driving up prices by temporarily suspending filling the SPR until oil prices return to normal levels. He would also engage in diplomacy to ensure that US consumers are not held hostage to price fixing by OPEC. He would set goals to increase fuel efficiency and make new investments to assure American industry leads the way. His plan also called for an increased use of renewable fuels to reduce our dependence on oil.

IRAQ

Rather than muddle through with the prospect of a war without end in Iraq, John Kerry would have brought 20,000 American troops home over the holidays after the Iraqi elections. WE know this because John Kerry argued throughout his campaign that a long term American occupation would only exacerbate the insurgency.

VETERANS

Instead of facing a $1 billion shortfall in one year of the Department of Veterans Affairs budget, President John Kerry would have made veterans health care funding mandatory - eliminating the constant fights in Congress for more money, and reversing changes Bush made to the system that have increased co-pays and cut millions of veterans from the rolls.

We know this because John Kerry cancelled campaign events in New Mexico, turning his plane around and flying overnight to come back and vote in favor of a Senate measure to make veterans health care funding mandatory. As soon as John Kerry showed up to vote for the bill, Majority Leader Bill Frist cancelled the vote.

MILITARY FAMILIES

Rather than leaving our troops and military families in the lurch, President Kerry would have pushed Congress to pass and signed into law his Military Family Bill of Rights. Survivors would get more when their loved ones die in service to America, widows would not be kicked out of military housing after 6 months, and every member of the Guard and Reserve would be eligible for military health care.

We know this because John Kerry pledged to push for his Military Family Bill of Rights and sign it into law during the campaign, he has introduced it as a stand-alone bill, and he has repeated worked to attach provisions from it at every opportunity n the Senate. In February, Kerry said, "Starting with the coming debate on the supplemental, I will fight to pass as much of my Military Family Bill of Rights as possible. There is no time to wait. Congress must act now."

THE SUPREME COURT

Rather than the embarrassment of a Miers nomination extreme Supreme Court nominees that Bush has put forward to appease the far right wing of his party, President Kerry would have respected the law of the land and not tried to skew the balance of the Supreme Court.

We know this because John Kerry said, "As President, I will only appoint Supreme Court justices who will uphold a woman's right to choose."

WOMEN'S RIGHTS

Rather than aggressively seek to undermine women's right to chose, both in the U.S. and abroad, President Kerry would have repealed the very first act Bush took as president. John Kerry would repeal with Mexico City Policy that currently prevents family planning clinics overseas that receive any U.S. funding from mentioning abortion as one of my options.

We know this because Kerry said one of his first acts as president would be to repeal the Mexico City Policy/global gag rule on abortion.

HURRICANE KATRINA

Rather than leave people in New Orleans stranded and praying on rooftops as FEMA twiddled their thumbs, John Kerry would have sent in C-130s to evacuate people before disaster struck.

We know this because John Kerry had a serious, five-point plan to improve homeland preparedness. One of the key parts of the plan was for disasters like hurricanes. Kerry also campaigned in Louisiana, stood on the banks of the Mississippi River with Louisiana elected officials, and pledged support for federal appropriations to strengthen New Orleans' levees.

THE GULF COAST

Rather than allow our Gulf Coast coastlines to lose a football field every half-hour to erosion, President Kerry would have made the protection of our coastlines a national priority.

We know this because John Kerry said on Earth Day of last year, "A secure coastline means security for the families who live here, the business owners who make a living here and the sportsmen who hunt and fish here. I believe that a good economy, strong communities and a healthy environment go hand-in-hand. Bush administration has cut funding for coastal programs, and in Louisiana, refused to release the results of a study that was to outline a comprehensive plan to address the rapidly depleting coastline. . . "When it comes to protecting our coasts, we don't have a moment to lose," Kerry said. "Today in Louisiana, a piece of land the size of a football field sinks into the Gulf of Mexico an average of every half hour. And, coastal erosion isn't just swallowing your beaches; it's drowning your economy. Fishermen risk seeing their nets come up empty, sportsmen are watching entire habitats disappear, and people living on the coast fear that their homes or their businesses may literally slip into the ocean."

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Instead of spending $1 billion of American taxpayers' money EVERY WEEK in Iraq with off-the-books accounting gimmicks, President Kerry would have cut the deficit in half and paid for war spending out of the budget, rather than by deficits that will saddle future generation with mountains of debt.

We know this because John Kerry has always made fiscal responsibility a priority throughout his 20 years in the Senate. When President Bush unveiled his budget in February, Kerry said, "Every American family has to live within their means. Their government should, too. . . Americans are spending $5 billion a month in Iraq, yet there is not a penny to fund the war after December 31. The numbers simply don't add up and the American people deserve better." Kerry pledged he would cut deficit by half, at least, in first term, in part through repeal of Bush tax cuts for wealthier Americans.

JOBS AND OUTSOURCING

Rather than giving American companies tax breaks to outsource Americans' job overseas, President Kerry would have eliminated them.

We know this because he said so repeatedly last year. He said he would eliminate special tax breaks for U.S. companies with overseas subsidiaries. Under current U.S. tax law, U.S. companies with overseas operations can defer paying taxes on income at those operations until they bring the profits back into the U.S.

JOB CREATION

Rather than increasing unemployment, Kerry would have created 10 million jobs in four years.

We know this because Kerry had a solid, realistic plan to do it. As an incentive, he would offer an employer tax credit for new jobs created in manufacturing and other businesses and tax credits to help small and midsized businesses pay for employee health care, which has been blamed for slow job growth.

OPPORTUNITY & EDUCATION

Rather than sitting by many Americans are priced out of college, President Kerry would have made sure that every American who had the skills and desire to go to college could have.

We know this because Kerry had a $3.2 billion community service plan for high school students that would qualify them for the equivalent of their states' four-year public college tuition if they perform two years of national service, and provided a tax credit for every year of college on the first $4,000 paid in tuition.

ETHICS REFORM

Rather than allowing corrupt lobbyists like Jack Abramoff to destroy Americans' faith in government, President Kerry, in his first 100 days in office, would have ended revolving door lobbying.

We know this because John Kerry pledged in the fall of 2003 that as President in his first 100 Days he would issue an executive order to instate a 4-year lobbying ban for Administration officials.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Rather than allow genocide to continue in Darfur, John Kerry would have intervened.

We know this because Kerry said last year, "I believe that the United States and the international community must act immediately to apply effective pressure on the Government of Sudan to rein in its militia proxies and to immediately provide unrestricted access for humanitarian aid and aid workers. We must also act swiftly to initiate negotiations aimed at securing a political settlement to the conflict. And because there is no guarantee that the Sudanese government will relent, we must also start planning now for the possibility that the international community, acting through the United Nations, will be forced to intervene urgently to save the lives of the innocent."

SAFE STREETS

Rather than caving to political pressure and allowing the assault weapons ban to expire, President Kerry would have kept the ban in place. We know this because Kerry's pledges and consistent votes to keep assault weapons off our streets.