I have a question for those of you from the great state of Minnesota who read Sodblog. It’s been bugging me for about a week and a half now and I just can’t get over it.

How the hell did Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann get re-elected? How?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Exo7sWvIg[/youtube]

How did you look around at the choices you had and decide that a woman who thinks that our representatives should be investigated as to whether they are anti-America or not was the best one? Please explain this to me. Everything I hear about this woman makes me wonder what you were thinking.

I always stridently stand up against anyone who denigrates the state I grew up in. Minnesota, to me, was always the place that, while it wasn’t perfect, at least was level-headed and pragmatic about things. You elected the first Muslim congressman to ever serve in the House, for crying out loud. As I type, you’re conducting a recount in a Senate race between two Jewish men, one of who was previously most famous for portraying the character Stuart Smalley! Back in 2000, you elected a former actor and pro-wrestler as your governor!

All this from a predominantly white, Protestant, Germanic bunch of people who, all things considered, would rather be left to their ice fishing and potlucks.

Yet, you somehow re-elected to Congress a woman who has campaigned for the teaching of creationism, against same-sex marriage, has denounced multiculturalism as a bad thing (because not all cultures are equal, in her view) and, as I mentioned earlier, thinks that people who are anti-American should be hunted down and exposed. Whatever the fuck anti-American means.

This is not representative of the Minnesota that I know. I may get all rose-colored glasses from time to time thinking about the place that I grew up in, I understand that. But in no way is Minnesota a place where hate speech and fear-mongering. I at least know that.

So seriously, what the hell?

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Speaking of women who have no place representing the public in a governmental capacity*, I have a Sarah Palin update. Like most Governors, she “pardoned” a turkey for Thanksgiving. Never mind that this is just about the dumbest tradition ever, since, if we’re honest, turkeys aren’t really good for much aside from eating. But this time, the pardon takes a decidedly surreal and grisly turn, thanks to the always oblivious Palin:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJd_vm9VhpU[/youtube]

*Please don’t flame me in the comments for denigrating women in public office. That’s not my intent at all. I’d more that love to serve up a bevy of examples of men who have no place in public office, but the list is far too long. I’d be here all damn day. The truth is, the majority of the unfortunately small amount of women in elected office are more qualified and level-headed than their male counterparts.