DO IT NOW!!!

100Actions.com has a post called "Sign-Up to Volunteer" that's worth checking out...

Getting involved now will help make Democratic volunteers more effective on Election Day, meaning more Democratic victories.

Give Hell to Harry

The morning routine consists of waking up, feeding Liam, and then reading the Washington Post in bed. This morning I ran across an article about interstate abortions, click here to read the article. Upon further investigation and several click later, I was staring at a list of Democrats who voted in favor of making it illegal for a minor to cross statelines in order to avoid parental notification laws. Some of the names on that list were not a great surprise but one really disgusted me. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada gained a good deal of attention earlier this year by his calling for a closed door session to confront Republican leadership over their handling of the war in Iraq and legislating in a manner that has locked out Democrats. There it was, his name in the yes column. Give 'em hell Harry? How could this be?? I thought this guy was one of the good ones! Rumors of ties to Abramoff and now a vote for the anti-choice advocates? Even Lincoln Chaffee voted against this one folks. Well, I got so angry I decided to write Senator Reid a letter. Here it is:

Dear Senator Reid,

After reading an article in the Washington Post this morning concerning The Child Custody Act, S. 403, I was compelled to email you. Why this name was chosen I have no idea because it is not protecting anyone, rather taking away rights from those in need of them. After watching you confront the Republicans over the Iraq war, I gained a lot of respect for you and signed up at your Give 'Em Hell Harry website. Democrats need leaders right now, and many of us looked to you to fulfill one of those roles. Today your "yes" vote on S.403 makes me ashamed that you call yourself a member of this party.

The ability to go across state lines for a minor is essential in areas where parent notification is required and there have been instances of incest or rape. In the case of Mississippi, it may be the only option to go across state lines because there is only one clinic left! The right to an abortion is under serious attack in this nation; the fight to protect it is one of the main reasons I support the Democratic party. Even fellow Senators like Barack Obama and John Kerry, who are faithful people, voted against the Child Custody Act.

Senator Reid, I am completely disappointed in your vote that helped tally another point for the far right and the anti-choice advocates. My question for you is, why? What was so compelling about this act that you felt the need to vote in favor of its passage? I understand that I am not one of your constituents, so my opinion may not matter much to you in the grand scheme of things. I truly hope you do not have intentions of running for national office because your vote on S.403 may be acceptable to the people of Nevada but it is deplorable for a Democrat representing the party as a whole.

Best regards,
Corie Wiren


It is really easy to contact our congressional leaders via email. Do it people, write emails, express your concerns.... If we hope to take back the congress, we need to be vocal. Harry Reid and other leaders of the Democratic party need to hear that this kind of voting won't be accepted! To email or call your representatives, go to the Senate or House site, look them up, click contact them, and voila! Tell them about how you are fed up with the policy on the environment, foreign policy, our civil rights, our soldiers dying, lack of oversight, the list can go on and on. We have to make the effort because we can't afford to let the Republican party run the country any longer.

How Much Worse Can it Get?

Here is a quote I read in the International Herald Tribune that pretty much sums up my feelings on the state of affairs in our legislative body:

"Any day in which the U.S. Congress refrains from doing something destructive is about as good as it gets in Washington lately."

One Awesome Idea

Let’s set the scene..... November 2nd 2004, the apartment was decked out in campaign paraphernalia, friends huddled closely around the TV in gleeful anticipation.... this was it, the lies of the past four years were coming to a close. There was no way we as a nation would re-elect this bumbling idiot who was driving us further and further into despair. Was Kerry the perfect candidate, no of course not, but he was a lot better than 4 more years of Bush!

Much to my dismay, it happened; Middle America decided that banning gay marriage was more important than balancing the budget, protecting civil rights and pulling out of a costly war that we can't win. The decider was back in office and I thought the only way to get through this was drinking heavily. How could this be? What the hell happened... depression set in.

Fast forward 2 years and the Republicans are trying to hand the election to us on a silver platter. I don't know how much more corruption we need to have thrown in our faces before the party of the "moral majority" is shown for what they really are. While reading about low approval ratings and unrest with in their party does nothing but make my day seem brighter, yet I am reluctant to believe it is possible to regain some control of the government. It is so easy to be jaded in this day and age, the more you know the worse it is. So, I am cautiously getting excited for the midterm elections in hope of not breaking my mending heart once again. Part of the problem is there seems to be so little we can do in a liberal bubble.

Portland makes being "blue" easy. It truly is a liberal bubble, so when the majority of voters are casting "red" ballots it is a bit shocking. I suppose one could say that being surrounded by like minded individuals creates a false sense of security and a detached ignorance to the true state of politics in the country. So where can we go to help affect change and turn back the tide on the right? Into the Blue, thats where. This truly is one awesome idea and I as a Dem, can only hope that it works! The concept is blue sister cities using their resources to adopt red areas and help get out the democrats to vote. It is genius! Check it out, sign up, and help take back our country!!!

My New Title

Mom.... it sounds so strange, so foreign. My mom is mom, I am Corie and I am a daughter, a sister, a wife (that still sounds funny too), a friend. Now, as of six weeks ago, I am a mom. It is all a little hard to believe, still not something I have grasped. I keep thinking the first time Liam says mama is the magic point where it starts to fit. What exactly does it feel like to be a mother? What should it feel like? Is there transformation at some point? For now, these are questions I just don't have answers for. I love Liam and I know there are few other people in this world whom I would go through the same level of sacrifice for (an organ counts for a lot). I think Ed has said it best... you build a relationship with and love this being who you can't even see. Then they are born and suddenly, there is the physical object to attach these feelings too. It is possibly the one time in our lives where we love something before we see it or meet it, and expect so little back in return. What is it with in us that makes us want to commit to being a parent? I still don't know but I am glad I did and maybe one of these days that new title, identity tag, descriptor, etc will feel right.

Dad and baby

This was right before going home from the hospital yesterday..... The picture I wish I had been able to catch was first thing this morning, little Liam and Dad fast asleep in bed. It was amazing to see that first thing after the longest stretch of sleep to date. Just incredible! This baby thing is pretty fabulous. 

Mom can you hear me? It's Corie

It has now been 41 weeks since I got pregnant and it has been over 3 years since my mom died. As I get all the last minute items packed and try to keep busy not thinking about what lies ahead over the next couple days.... induction starts tonight. My thoughts keep going back to my mom and what was it like for her when she was pregnant with me. So many questions I would like to ask her, the memories of my dad and aunts just don't seem to cut it. I have tried to do a mental check in with her before the last couple big events in my life that she hasn't been here to share... before I graduated from college, a quick hey this ones for you... before my wedding a trip to my mom and grandma's niches, a nice long hard cry so I didn't do it later with mascara running down my face for the wedding pics... and now giving birth. All of these things she would have loved to see, love to be apart of and what a bittersweet experience to be doing this with out her. So mom if you are listening... I love you and know you are watching from wherever you may be hanging out, wish you were here.