So my mom's employer, Columbia University, hosted a non-debate for both the presidential candidates to get their views on public service, and I convinced my mom to go because I wanted to hear what the candidates had to say about benefits for military and police dogs, starting programs for pet therapy and service animals, and also the role of community organizers in getting better off leash rights. They had a big screen outside on the lawn in front of the building where the actual interviews were taking place (only 200 or so lucky students got to go into the building, and my mom is fairly lucky but not a student), so we grabbed a nice patch of lawn and settled in. If you've read my previous posts, you know I'm pretty strongly in the Obama camp, but I approached this with an open mind (and an empty stomach, which was tortured by groups of pizza-scarfing undergraduates). Here's my thoughts:
1) NO mention of any of the above animal public service issues by either candidates. Typical, media-driven neglect of the issues that really affect most Americans.
2) America's college youth are REALLY into this election and overwhelmingly into Obama. I think the entire university was out there, clearly more people than they were expecting--the entire lawn was jam-packed (I had to rest my chin on the lap of total strangers!) and the crowds spilled out the gates, up all the building steps on the quad, plus you could see throngs in the windows of all the surrounding buildings. They claimed that McCain went first based on a coin toss but I'm pretty sure it was fixed to avoid a mass exodus at the halfway point.
3) As much as America's college youth are into Obama, America's college youth are even more into dogs. I inspired WAY more attention, interest, enthusiasm, praise, and affection than either of the candidates, by a long shot. If the election had been right then, I am sure I would have won by a landslide.
Which got me thinking...is that constitutional age requirement in human or dog years?
5 comments:
Sancha--Thanks for the review! I posted a link to it. I thought the forum was a little, um, uninformative but I guess they were trying to do the whole nonpartisan bit because of 9/11. I wish they'd talked al ittle more about whether or not McCain believes "community organizers" are stupid. And I agree--the services that we dogs provide are truly underappreciated. I wish there were more programs to help people get service animals (or to help them serve in places like hospitals etc.).
wally t.
Wow, Sancha, we really do have similar faces! But I have to report that I have never had "relations" with a corgi, or anyone else for that matter. My Mommy says I am Not Allowed to have a boyfriend. Do you think your parents were a corgi and a chihuahua? I think my parents might have been a dachshund and a chihuahua.
Poppy
I was born in California. Are you from California? If so, then maybe you're right!
Poppy
Sancha---Hahahaha! I know just what you mean with the eyes. That's just what I do in the bath. Sometimes I even shake for good measure. The ma ape is a SUCKER for it.
wally t.
Sancha! Okay, aside from the fact that you are really cute, you are Wally's pal and any friend of Wally's is someone I am bound to flirt with.
My brother wants to be a therapy dog, if he ever gets past this drunken sailor routine he's got going. I think he's just trying to get onto Celebrity Rehab or something. He doesn't really get that he needs to be a celebrity first ... even a super minor one.
Anyway, I love politic pups! Thanks for stopping by my blog.
xo
SB
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