Mamma Mia

After my tax professor made fun of ABBA during our discussion about Entertainment-Related Business Deductions on Thursday, I felt the need to post this:

“Dare I say ABBA. Everybody says, ‘Ehhh, ABBA.’ Why is that? ABBA was the largest selling (recording act ever). Nobody likes them but they sold more records than anybody in the history of the world, including the Beatles. But everybody hates them. (But) you’re a no-class guy if you like ABBA. Why does everybody go see ‘Mamma Mia?’ Hypocrisy! Rank hypocrisy! I’m not embarassed to say I like ABBA, ‘Dancing Queen.’” --Senator John McCain, responding to what was on his iPod.

I guess there are some things that cut across generations and party affiliations.

(btw, my inability to write anything substantive comes after staring at the Internal Revenue Code for 6+ hours today)

Open Secrets

As someone who used to do political fundraising, I am somewhat skeptical about the effectiveness of campaign finance regulations. If someone had maxed out giving to our clients (like Hillary raising money for her 'Senate' race), we just found other ways for them to direct their money.

However, one part about McCain-Feingold that I do like, more for personal rather than policy reasons, is the contribution disclosure requirement. It is somewhat stalkerish, but during my downtime from fundraising, I would use Open Secrets to see which candidates people I knew or professors I had contributed to. When you're a poli sci student, you're always curious about your prof's political leanings.

I had completely forgotten about this website until we were reading a campaign finance case in First Amendment. My professor had mentioned that he gave a $1,000 to a Presidential candidate but would not tell us who. However, with the power of the internet we were quickly able to discover that he did donate to Hillary, which was not a huge surprise since he did work in the Clinton Administration.

My friend and I looked up some other professors at our law school and discovered that our school is split right down the middle in between Hillary and Obama. I will also admit that I looked up some of the firms I am applying to. (I am not at all adverse to working with Republicans, but since some of the firms engage in lobbying and government relations, affiliations do matter more).

I could see how some people, like professors, might be uncomfortable with their political affiliation being exposed. However, I do think it is interesting to see where candidates are getting their money.

West Wing'ing It

I once ran a Presidential campaign at UCLA against my now friend Josh. He lost, but so did my candidate. Josh moved on and ended up with a job at the White House. After 'serving at the pleasure of the President' for over a year, Josh is going on to work for John Ashcroft. (I know, you are probably asking yourself how I am friends with this staunch Republican).

A few of us from UCLA were lucky enough to be Josh's last West Wing tour. Although I was sad that we did not see Vice President Cheney dressed up as Darth Vader (it was Halloween after all), it was a great tour. In addition to seeing the Oval Office, Rose Garden, Press Room and more, we got to see the room where Bill and Monica...you know, the office where Nixon turned off the infamous Watergate tapes, and the room where Rove and Bush addressed the staff when the Democrats won power in 2006.

I also learned a lot. For example, the Oval Office is a lot smaller than it looks on television, and pictures of TR and FDR alternate in the Roosevelt room alternate based on which political party is in power. So politically nerdy, I loved it. Anyway, here are some pictures (the full set is here):

Entrance to the West Wing

In the Rose Garden, in front of the Oval Office

At the Press Secretary's Podium in the Press Briefing Room

And just think, in a little over a year, this house is going to have a new owner. I can't wait to see FDR's picture back on top in the Roosevelt Room.

Happy Halloween

Yesterday in tax class, our professor somehow ended up telling us about this Washington Post story:

Gabby Cirenza wanted to be a referee for Halloween. The outfit she liked had a micro-mini black skirt and a form-fitting black and white-striped spandex top held together with black laces running up the flesh-exposing sides. She looked admiringly at the thigh-high black go-go boots that could be bought as an accessory. And she thought the little bunny on the chest was cute.

"Absolutely not," said her mother, Cheryl. "That is so not happening."

Gabby is 11.

While skimpy Halloween costumes are not my thing (shocking, I know) I try not to pass too much judgment. I try to only shake my head when females barely wearing anything are complaining about the cold. They're adults; they can make decisions about what, and what not, to wear. But 11 year olds? Playboy referee costumes? Yikes

Call me old fashioned but I loved the days during elementary school where I got to go to the fabric store with my mom to pick out a Halloween costume pattern. So many great costumes that my mom or I made. The princess, the Star Trekkie (I am cool), the court jester, the Ace of Hearts, the 50s girl, and the Native American (maybe not the most pc thing now, but at least I was clothed).

Though I wish my dad sent me the picture of my brother and I as trekkies, I will share the picture he did pass along. I think this pictures sums up the personalities of my brother and I quite well. Happy Halloween (circa 1992, 1993?)

Make Lemonade

Thanks to everyone who posted comments and sent me messages. Despite tossing and turning last night, I actually felt a lot better today.

I had an interesting revelation today. I think there is sometimes this false illusion that people have that I always get what I want. (not to sound arrogant, but I have heard it for so many years) Sometimes, like yesterday, I believe this fallacy too, which made the rejection seem all the more stinging. But I realized that I often do not get my number one choice, and it has always worked out.

UCLA, Congressional internship, political consulting internship, American University Law School, etc. None of these were my first choice at a given time. Stanford, a DNC internship, a paid job, and Georgetown Law were. Somehow these second, third, and even fourth choices have been great.

I guess life does not come together as quickly, neatly, or the way you anticipated as much as you think it does in retrospect.

Is this a little pep talk to myself? Yes. Am I annoyingly optimistic? Probably. But I can't sulk and eat mac and cheese forever, so this is how I get going again.

Rejection

It came today. The small envelope. The dreaded small envelope.

I got rejected from the place that spent $800 to fly me out to California. My number one choice of firm. Why? I have no idea. I have replayed every moment of the entire afternoon in my head trying to figure out where it went wrong and I really do not know. But I am going to try to stop thinking about it.

I cried. I called my parents and Alex. I let my roommate hug me even though I'm not a 'huggy' person. I ate the stash of deluxe mac and cheese that I have on reserve for a bad day. I am going to read tax. And I am going to try to not think about the job stuff until the weekend where I can restrategize.

I know all the things that people say. 'Things will work out,' 'it's their loss,' 'something better will come up,' etc. I know it because I am so used to being the one who says it. And I actually do believe it. Right now I am just getting over the shock of it all.

What Are the Odds?

Today my dad sent my brother and I an email declaring that it was a sad day for California football. I knew that my brother and I were sad because our teams lost respectively. But I did not realize until now, with the help of my friend David, that no D-1 team from California won yesterday.

In the Pac-10
USC lost to Oregon (hooray)
Cal lost to Arizona State
UCLA embarrassingly lost to Washington State
Stanford lost to Oregon State

Elsewhere
Fresno State lost to Boise State
San Jose State had a bye
San Diego State had their game canceled because of wild fires

Granted, two teams did not play yesterday, but one was because of devasting wild fires. That in itself is a pretty rare event.

So what are the odds that California would be winless? 1/128.