The kids and I are in Southern California this weekend, but I made sure our return flight tickets would get me back in time for Saturday night at the Mondavi Center to see Samantha Bee! I love her and am so excited she is coming to Davis.
In fact, Aron and I bought tickets even though we couldn’t make the original date. I don’t know why we did… we just couldn’t not, and we hoped maybe something would change. (It almost never does.) And then the date actually changed! It was meant to be.
In case you aren’t yet a fan, Samantha Bee and her writing partner Jo Miller spent years at The Daily Show–as in Bee was a correspondent for 12 years before starting her own show on Comedy Central, Full Frontal. Wired describes it: “informed commentariat, committing to careful reporting, conscientious fact-checking, op-eds lighted for satire, and a ruthless conviction that their show is not for ratings, Twitter, or dumb people. (Though, for the record, their ratings usually top The Daily Show’s.) Full Frontal is also the most mercilessly feminist show (ever) (in history)–and Bee has emerged as a leading voice for the galvanized left.”
What’s not to like?
There’s a Q&A at the end of the show. If you were there, what would you ask?
Early on in my freshman year of college, a friend with a car—precious and rare in those dorm days—drove me out to Half Moon Bay. I have a vague memory of the foggy coastline, turbulent surf, and some stories about Neil Young.
But somehow that has remained my only visit to the seaside town and to the San Mateo coast, until a few weeks ago. Aron took the day off for his birthday and I decided to plan a drive for us.
It falls to each of us to be those anxious, jealous guardians of our democracy; to embrace the joyous task we’ve been given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours. Because for all our outward differences, we all share the same proud title: Citizen.
Ultimately, that’s what our democracy demands. It needs you. Not just when there’s an election, not just when your own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime. If you’re tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, try to talk with one in real life. If something needs fixing, lace up your shoes and do some organizing. If you’re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself. Show up. Dive in. Persevere. —President Obama,January 10, 2017
It’s election day today. Some of you—there are elections and ballot measures up for votes in Utah, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Ohio, and Georgia—may be out voting right now. Thank you!
We’ll be watching from California, but not all of us from the sidelines: A reader recently sent me an email with an inspiring story of one woman, Regina Bateson, who, likewise dismayed about the current political climate, turned her frustration and disappointment into action. She took a leave of absence from her job as a political science professor at MIT to return to her hometown of Roseville to challenge the 4th Congressional District incumbent, Republican Tom McClintock. And no matter what your politics, I thought you might be inspired as I was simply to hear a story of someone willing to take that chance—to put her career on hold to get into public office. To dive in.
