The Obamas do make appearances around DC - they'll go to a local restaurant, make infrequent appearances at a local church. Unlike Bush who seemed to be terrified of the city - he'd make occasional appearances around town, but avoided having to actually be with the locals.

Sophia, I suspect it's more perception than anything else. As in, it bugs them so much every time they see photos of the Obamas being warmly welcomed at home and abroad that each and every instance feels like a personal affront. I felt like GWB spent like half his presidency vacationing at his ranch in Crawford, but I suspect that was perception too, and it just bugged the crap out of me to see him posing in a cowboy hat all the time.

ETA: crosspost with Consuela confirms the annoyance of the Bush-in-Crawford photo meme.

Speaking of conservative friends, someone on my FB list just "liked" Michele Bachman.

In a sense, I do like Michele Bachman. It's kind of entertaining having her around saying batshit crazy stuff every so often. I just don't fancy the idea of her running the country.

In a sense, I do like Michele Bachman. It's kind of entertaining having her around saying batshit crazy stuff every so often. I just don't fancy the idea of her running the country.

Have you heard the latest? Michele Bachman has promised to ban pornography.

It startles me to think that I have had the same bank account for 23 years. Like Todd, more bank names than I can recall...and about to get a new one.

I love the story of the fellow repossessing bank furniture. Good for him!

Have you heard the latest? Michele Bachman has promised to ban pornography.

Doesn't that put her on the same side as Andrea Dworkin? I mean, strange bedfellows and all, but I can't see them arm-in-arm...

At one point there was this bank whose strategy was when BoA would buy out a competitor, they would open branches right next to them, to pick up all their disgruntled customers.

but I can't see them arm-in-arm...

I would PAY to see this. And then throw up.

This conversation is making me want to keep all my money in my mattress. Or convert it all into kittens.

When BoA swallowed up my bank (which had already been swallowed a bunch of times) I quit it, and went to a local awesome community oriented bank. (which as since been swallowed up, not by BoA.)

Down here, I went for the bank that's in my neighborhood. So far, no annoyances. My mortgage is with my MIT Credit Union, which has been fine so far.

My credit union has changed names twice. When I had that deposit issue, I was asked how long I'd been a customer. I made the guy laugh when I listed the CU names and dates.

Saw the doc and I have a messed up rotator cuff. I have relaxation and anti-inflamatory drugs. Plus I'm icing it more often. Then PT next week. Right now, I'm feeling loopy already and could go for a nap. Unfortunately I need to get 6 hours of work in today.

There are a lot of disturbing ideas in the pledge that the FAMiLY Leader is asking Republican candidates to take, among them the idea being gay is a choice (presumably heterosexuality’s totally genetic), or the statement that sex is inherently better after marriage. But I think it’s worth singling out the part of the pledge where candidates who take the pledge — to this date, only Michele Bachmann — promise that they’ll provide “humane protection of women and the innocent fruit of conjugal intimacy..from human trafficking, sexual slavery, seduction into promiscuity, and all forms of pornography and prostitution, infanticide, abortion, and other types of coercion or stolen innocence.”

Michele Bachmann’s Pornography Pledge

Anyway, even if the economy goes to hell, I don't see how Bachmann could win against Obama. She just scares too many people.