Still top of mind, the recently-completed Osama bin Laden mission remains high on people’s minds, Designers and buyers are alike expressing themselves in no uncertain terms at CafePress. The sentiment seems to be slowly turning from anti-Osama designs to pro Navy Seals Team 6 designs.

The 2012 Election is gaining serious momentum too. With Ron Paul throwing his hat in the ring and Newt Gingrich following suit, the designs are out in force. Ditto for the election gear focusing on President Obama.

Also trending high are new designs from The View – the ABC daytime talk show moderated by Whoopi Goldberg and her fellow panelists. Particularly hot is their Spring Mug.

With all of the political scandals going around – from Mark Sanford and Blago to Elliot Spitzer and John Edwards – it’s refreshing to hear actor George Clooney’s response to running for public office.

An advocate of many social goods (most notably the plight of the African nations), he’s up-front about his chances of ever winning a post and easily admits that he hasn’t led the right sort of life to pass public scrutiny. In fact, jokingly, he suggested his campaign slogan would be, “I drank the bong water.”

Wouldn’t if be nice if more fallen politicians would just admit when they do stumble morally, and let us all try to move on? It would be much better than the deny, deny, deny — like we’re all so oblivious. After all, this is 2011 and there’s this thing called the Internet. The days of political life behind closed-doors is way past. Just a thought. But is that what politics is all about?

While Rahm Emanuel may be a rolling stone – skipping back-and-forth between D.C. and Chi-town – the Chicago Board of Elections has ruled that the Windy City is indeed his official home. Hence Mr. Emanuel can run in February’s election to succeed Mayor Daley.

After a three-day hearing hashing-over such pertinent details as the fact that he keeps his wife’s wedding dress in Chicago, the board dismissed all residency challenges to President Obama’s former Chief of Staff – and will allow Emanuel’s name on the ballot. Whether you’re a fan of Emanuel or Vera Wang (no, she’s not running, but her wedding dresses are on the runway), the decision does add some spice to the upcoming election.

It also makes me think twice about where I store the cummerbund from my wedding. Who knows when a condo board or flag football team is going to demand residency before I’m voted in?

While lines at Marine Recruitment Centers may not yet be as long as the ones at court houses following California’s Proposition 8 gay-marriage decision, this week was a huge day for equal rights.

With a 65-31 vote, the Senate has just voted to repeal the controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. In a nutshell, once President Obama adds his John Hancock to the repeal, people who are openly gay can begin serving in the U. S. Military.

The battle is just beginning, however, as it’s going to take the brass a few weeks to re-write all “policies, regulations and directives” pertaining to the sensitive matter (you think they might have gotten a head start, but no). Hopefully the transition will go much smoother in the battlefield than it has in the political system. Only time will tell.

Now that the votes are counted (most of them anyway – a few glitches here and there), I think one issue has been handedly decided: Americans are looking for change. Serious change. The voting public is unhappy with the way thing were, the way things are, and the way things seem to be quickly shaping up as. Which is why so many candidates and issues got the ol’ heave-ho in Tuesday’s mid-term elections.

Hopefully the political machine will wake up and smell the carnage. With more big issues and key races slated for 2012, now is the time to do a reality check and realize that Republican or Democrat alike, we’re all mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.

Let people know exactly how you feel with your bumper sticker and soon, with your vote.

I’m talking about retiring in the year 2060, of course. Not when I’m 60 years old.

Because while the French are storming the Bastille to protest the very insolence of working into the Autumn of their lives, I’m hoping to fight off the wolves long enough to get the kids through college and the mortgage down to a manageable number.

It seems as though the days of cushy pensions are a thing of the past here in America. Even government employees are thinking twice about life in the public sector. But I’m glad the French are fighting for the right to a life of leisure in their later years. You go girl (and garcon).

Despite several high-profile political races and important issues being voted on in the upcoming 2010 elections, the general consensus of voter seems to be, Meh. In short, expect a low turn-out at the voting booth. Especially if the weather is bad or the sports on TV is good (both of which are a good bet).

Fortunately, that means YOUR vote carries even more weight. In fact you could be the one vote that tips the scale for Candidate A or Measure B. So get registered, get in line at your polling place (hopefully there will be at least a short one) and get an annoying sticker that says “I Voted” (but please don’t stick it on any public property).

If you want to let people know how they should vote, be sure to visit our 2010 election section for political t-shirts, bumper stickers, signs and other goodies to sway the vote your way. From Governors and Senators to the issues on everyone’s mind, find designs that say it all. Oh, and if you decide on the tanning booth instead, don’t fall asleep in there. We need you pain-free for the 2012 Presidential Elections.

You know something, New York gubernatorial candidate Jimmy McMillan is right -the rent really is too damn high! Anyone who missed the debate on Monday night should know that renters of the nation have a supporter on their side, and he’s not afraid to talk about his rental views.

All jokes aside, the man has a point.  While I’m not sure that his platform is broad enough to win the election, there’s one thing I know for sure, no one likes high rent – and people do need to eat.

If I did live in NY I just might vote for Mr. McMillan and his party, if for no other reason than to make a point for simplicity in messaging.  While other candidates slip and slide from one position and topic to another, I know EXACTLY what my vote for the “Rent is Too Damn High” party will get me – a Governor fighting for fair rent prices.

I have no idea what else he brings to the table, but the more jaded I get about the political process the more I wonder if it really matters…

Whew. What do you think? Hard to process it all, eh? With the well-worn drapes of our voting booths finally shutting on the 2010 primaries, we now have a brief respite before the elections begin again in earnest for the November 2 blowout.

If you’re keeping score at home, there were lots of upsets, lots of upstarts, and lots of one-up-manship. The Tea Party is probably the biggest story, as its momentum seems to be gaining (albeit with a wobbly wheel like you might find at the grocery store). The GOP is trying to figure what this all means (and how to make the most of it), while the Democrats are building trenches to protect they turf they’ve won over the past few years.

It looks like the “big ticket” campaigns are getting ready to go into high gear now. So brace yourself for lots of stumping and political posturing. Remember not to let the rhetoric get to you, and try to separate the fact from fiction. It’s a great time to be a voter, so make your vote count.

Sure, the economy needs a good jumpstart (anyone got cables?). But you really have to wonder what some legislators are thinkin’ as they spend money hand-over-fist trying to stimulate new jobs.

Quick to pounce on the debate are GOP Senators McCain and Coburn, who recently wrote a report outlining some “questionable” spending from the Obama Administration’s $862 billion economic stimulus act.

Like what? Like $550,000 worth of new windows for a Mount St. Helens visitors center that closed in 2007, $762,000 to create a computerized choreography program (at U. of North Carolina at Charlotte), and $72,000 for Wake Forest researchers to study the effects of cocaine on monkeys. Woo-hoo, party at the zoo!

Obviously, not all of the 70,000-plus Recovery Act projects underway are this ridiculous. And hopefully the good projects will put a major dent in our unemployment rates. But again, you gotta scratch your head at some thinking. I’m just hoping our legislators have the foresight to create a project that puts new t-shirts on the backs of every person in America.

While you’re waiting for the stimulus check in the mail, check-out some economy-themed T-shirts that are sure to strike up a conversation with folks on the street.