I stopped doing weekly round-up posts a couple of months ago because I was sporadic at best, and honestly, I didn’t think the interest was there. But I’ve gotten tons of requests for them recently, so I decided to resurrect them. The majority of my weekly articles are usually published by Thursday, so I’m marking Thursday on my Google calendar as Elsewhere On the Internet Day.

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

This Week at The Stir:

I wrote about author Charles Murray and his ‘elitist bubble’ concept published in his new book, Coming Apart, The State of White America, 1960-2012. I scored a 37. I think that number, like my age and my weight, is just a number.

Apparently food stamps are going to fix the economy. They’re going to fix it so well that the government is giving out $75,000 grants to groups that devise ways to sign more people up for food stamps.

This one on Susan G. Komen defunding Planned Parenthood got such a hateful reaction that Mark Davis’s producer Susan contacted me to be on the show tomorrow morning to talk about it. Some people are just mean. If you’d like to listen in, I’ll be on at 7:04 Pacific, which means I’ll be locked in the garage or something while poor Leif wrangles the kids to get ready for school. I love you, Honey!

The Latest on Moms Matter:

This State of the Union Analysis is technically from last week, but seeing as CafeMom hasn’t posted this week’s article yet, I thought I’d include it anyway. Hey, it’s my site, I can post what I want to!  (Even emoticons!)

What Happened on Glee:

Glee was new this week, which means I shut everyone out of my bedroom at 8pm on Tuesday to watch high school musical drama, write about it, and call it ‘work.’ My job kinda rocks. I ended up talking more about my marriage than the show though.

Happy reading!

I got to attend a real live Iowa caucus tonight, thanks to the fact that I decided to jump into the car with the Breitbart.tv posse, who were headed out to Ames to cover the event. Having never witnessed an electoral caucus, I was strangely fascinated by the whole thing, so I went to check it out.

Since I’m me, I ended up live-tweeting the whole thing. So, I thought I’d come here and post my tweets from the caucus. If you’re unfamiliar with Twitter, hopefully this will give you a taste of it.

Oh, and I have it on good authority that Roger Hedgecock even read a few of my tweets on air. See? Twitter is totally relevant and important. You can get your tweets read out loud on nationally syndicated radio shows!

And that, as they say, is that. More in-depth analysis tomorrow.

I’m currently freezing my hiney off in Des Moines, chasing down candidates and talking to Iowans about the balmy weather, which candidate they’ll vote for tomorrow night, and life in general. Despite the cold, I’ve got to say that my biggest impression of Iowa so far is the people.

Simply put, the people I’ve met here are some of the nicest, most genuine people I’ve met in my entire life.  I’m so fortunate to get to travel semi-regularly for my job, so I’ve been to a lot of places over the past couple of years. Every city has its perks, and it’s the friendly people that win Des Moines over for me.

Silly example, but it paints a picture: I went to Target this morning to pick up a new pair of shades, and when I checked out, the salesgirl took out a small pair of scissors and handed them to me to cut the tag off. I didn’t even have to ask! What a sweetheart.

Later I was out at a Michele Bachmann meet-and-greet, and got to chat with some of the locals. I asked them how they felt about the hullaballoo surrounding the caucuses, and they all said that they loved it. The excitement, the boon to the economy, the opportunity to be first in the nation … the reasons varied from person to person, but they were all happy to have the candidates, the media and (in my case) media wannabes there.

Even the Democrats are sweet. On the plane on the way in, I got to chatting with a sweet lady probably old enough to be my grandmother. She mentioned that she was hosting a caucus, and I asked her where abouts. “Oh, it will just be a small one; it’s for the Democrats,” she told me.

“Oh yeah, definitely a quiet year for that … I’m on the other side of the aisle, myself,” I (awkwardly) responded. She just patted my hand and said, “That’s ok, Dear.”

Perhaps the best story of all comes from my friends Larry and Meredith, who were driving from Chicago to Des Moines on Saturday when they stopped for gas in Davenport, which I assume is somewhere between Point A and Point B, but I was never very good at geography. Somehow, Meredith’s suitcase got left at the gas station, and it wasn’t missed until they made it all the way to Des Moines.

They called the local police, and they actually sent a car out to look for it. On New Year’s Eve. Super nice, but unfortunately the bag wasn’t there. However, someone had picked it up, and called the number on the tag. They made arrangements to make arrangements the next day to go get the bag (several hours away), but one of the security guys working the convention center overheard their plight.

It turns out that wonderful Jim, security guy extraordinaire and knight with a shiny badge, had a daughter visiting her boyfriend in Davenport that was driving home the next day, and did they want her to pick up the bag and bring it home with her? It is now Sunday evening, and I’m happy to report that Meredith and her luggage have been reunited thanks to the kindness of Iowans.

Iowa, you may be colder than a penguin’s toes, but your warm-hearted people more than make up for it.

It’s 5:15 a.m. and I’m awake. I’ve been waking up at 4 recently, unable to go back to bed after my third bathroom trip of the night (thank you, childbirth) because by that time I’m no longer exhausted enough to drown out my darling husband’s snores with sleepiness.

Side note: Isn’t snoring the worst sound in the world? Ok, maybe the third worst, following nails on a chalkboard and cats in a blender. Not that I’ve ever heard cats in a blender. But I can imagine, and it’s not pretty.

Sometimes I can jam earplugs in and throw a pillow over my head and find a couple more hours of elusive rest. But I’ve had this cold recently, and the stuffy nose and the cough and poor tender head make me ache while I wait for the meds to kick in, and by the time they do … I’m pretty much awake.

By the time the clock hit five, I knew I was done, so I threw the covers off and headed down the hall to write this very post. The light was on. Huh. Strange. Stranger still was the sound of the TV. Ok, no longer strange.

Here’s what I found:

This little goober didn’t go to sleep until nearly eleven last night, even though she was put to bed before nine. It was the same old But I Need game, which (I’m pretty sure) children have played since the dawn of time. You know the one.

But I need a drink!

But I need to go potty!

But I need my night light!

But I need socks that don’t bother my feet!

But I need a hug!

But I need a different song on the ipod!

But I need to be tucked back in!

You get the idea. Anyway, my little non-sleeper was out in the living room watching TV. Which she is not allowed to do on school days. Apparently, she thought that rule only applied to afternoons and evenings, so she forced herself awake after six precious hours of sleep to enjoy some tunes.

New rule: No getting up until 6:30.

Except for Leif. If he wants to get up pre-crack of dawn and leave me to sleep in peace … I’d be ok with that. Love you, Honey!

So I wrote some stuff last week that I’d love for you to read. Click, read, comment, share – especially share. Word-of-mouth is where it’s at, baby. Plus, I really can’t afford fancy advertising. It’s ‘spensive.

The Occupy Wall Street goons are still on display. President Barack Obama feels their pain and understands their frustration. Iran thinks they’re swell. Iran also stones rape victims for ‘sexual immorality.’ As a general rule, I like not to agree with Iran on pretty much everything.

Obama called Mitt Romney a flip-flopping flip-flopper, which is completely true, of course. However, there’s this saying that come to mind about glass houses and throwing stones…

Priorities in Topeka are messed up, y’all. Social welfare programs and inflated benefits and pensions are not more important than legally protecting victims of domestic abuse.

I’m frantically trying to get ready for my trip to Florida tomorrow. I don’t travel a TON (maybe a few days every month or two?), but I swear these trips sneak up on me and kick my hiney into a frenzied gear that would make a one-armed wallpaper hanger stand back in awe and say, “Dayum, Girl!”

Clearly, my disabled wallpaper hanger is also gay.

Anyway. Between 18 zillion loads of laundry, tossing out anything in the fridge that has started to grow legs in a futile escape attempt (lest Leif try to feed it to the children while I’m gone), confirming with sitters and grandparents, and booking Thing 1’s birthday party because-oh-yeah-I-get-back-Sunday-and-she-turns-eight-on-Monday-and-we-were-going-to-get-her-a-bike-and-I-don’t-think-we-did-but-I-better-ask-Leif-before-I-buy-one, I thought I’d take a sec to talk about the GOP debate in Orlando tomorrow.

See? High. Gear.

Anyway. There’s another GOP presidential debate tomorrow (Thursday), this time sponsored by Fox News and Google. A cool aspect of this debate is that Fox News let viewers ask their own questions via their YouTube channel. I formulated my own question, but by the time Planet Quiet Kids aligned with Planet Clean and Presentable Mommy, the deadline had come and gone.

So you won’t be seeing this on Fox News on Thursday, but if I hadn’t missed the deadline, you might have:

Pretty much all the candidates are going to be into accessing our vast natural resources. Say hello to a million or more new jobs for America! Also say hello to lower energy costs and tighter national security. Who knows what the Saudis do with the money we give them in exchange for their oil?

I’m pretty sure energy will be discussed at the debate, because it’s such a key component to getting the cost of living down, and creating real jobs. With abut 75% of Americans believing that the economy is getting worse, not better, job creation is going to be the major issue facing the GOP candidates. Whoever is best able to convince voters that he or she can turn this economic train wreck around will win the nomination.

And if you believe the polls, that person will beat Obama in 2012.

Tune into the debate this Thursday, September 22, from 9-11p.m. Eastern on Fox News.

So it’s been two weeks since I’ve done a roundup for y’all. What can I say? This summer his kicked my hiney. Between the heat and the kids and the chores and Leif’s crazy work schedule … sometimes not everything gets done. Like the laundry. But that’s another story for another day.

So go click my links (my editors like web traffic, yo!) and maybe even give my articles a glance. You might even learn something! I know I did writing them.

Just after Governor Rick Perry announced his run for the presidency, I wrote about his jobs record in Texas. Spoiler alert: It’s better than Obama’s.

I wrote about the truth behind those ‘budget cuts’ we keep hearing about. They aren’t cuts at all. They’re an increase in spending. Only in Washington … sigh.

I never thought about this problem before, but how do women get bras in Saudi Arabia? They’re not allowed to work, and men aren’t allowed to fit them. My breasts salute America!

We need Social Security reform. The Ponzi scheme is going to collapse, and soon.

In Idaho, a man is being prosecuted for killing a grizzly bear that was on his property. The bear was approaching his family, which includes six children, aged 10 months to 14 years. Bottom line: People > Bears.

Environmentalists are now going after our clean clothes. Leave my fabric softener alone!

Happy reading!

If Thing 2 were here, she’d say, “I on dah airplane!” Because that’s where she would be. Isn’t technology cool? I’m zipping through the sky right now on my way home from the Red State Gathering in Charleston, SC, and I’m posting stuff on my blog. Wonders never cease.

Also? I’m easily amused.

So I wrote some schtuff last week, and I’ll love you forever if you read it all. Or at least I’ll feel amicably toward you. I may even give you a hug next time I see you. I’ll probably give you a hug anyway. I’m one of those people.

Why make laws if they’re not going to be enforced? Even more so, why make laws that only some people have to follow? Way no fair!

The United States’ credit rating got downgraded. Does it mater? Maybe.

30,000 college students in Michigan were on food stamps. And I’m sure none of them had cell phones. Gah.

And lastly, but certainly not leastly (apparently that’s not a word – oh well), Rick Perry formally announced his candidacy for President. Finally something exciting for the Republican primary field!

Happy reading!

Who’s going to defeat Obama in 2012? Can we defeat Obama in 2012? Is Donald Trump going to be president? That might be worth it just so he can say, “Mr. President — you’re fired!”

How awesome would that be?

There are already some names in the ring, but no frontrunner. There are some recycled candidates from the 2008 primary – Huckabee, Romney (oh please no), and Giuliani are contemplating another run. Former Speaker of the House Gingrich has always had his eye on the White House. Republican governors Barbour, Daniels, and Perry could run. Senator Thune, Representative Pence, and of course Sarah Palin are also potentials.

My friends at RedState.com think Herman Cain has a shot. I think hope springs eternal. Remember Duncan Hunter from the 2008 season? Nope? Great guy, but you need national name recognition to win.

Bottom line: we have no idea who’s going to represent us on the 2012 Republican ticket. And I’m ok with that. What we do have is a level playing field. Our contenders will have ample opportunity over the next year or so to show their true mettle and come out on top of the dog pile.

We’re going to need a fighter in this presidential race. Winning elections is pretty much the only thing Obama is good at.

Government spending has to be renewed every year. Which means that an annual budget needs to be passed by Congress and signed by the President. That budget is currently being debated in the Senate, as the deadline to pass it is this Saturday at midnight. If it’s not passed, the government will discontinue nonessential services until we can come to some sort of agreement about how and where to spend taxpayer dollars.

The omnibus spending bill is nearly 2,000 pages long and has a price tag of $1,270,000,000,000, which includes $8,000,000,000 in earmark spending. There are thousands of these pet-projects in the bill, including $247,000 for virus free wine grapes in Washington State and $400,000 for solar parking canopies and plug-in electric stations in Kansas.

Republicans are outraged at this excessive spending, and are refusing to pass the bill because of it. Never mind that some of them have their own earmarks in there. The thing about earmarks — they’re necessary for politicians to get a slice of the pie for their constituents. If politicians don’t bring home the proverbial bacon for their districts or states, they face losing their jobs by being voted out. The system might be messed up, but it is what it is, and until we start asking serious questions about the practicality of using federal funds for local projects, it stays.

Read the rest at The Stir

SEIU (Service Employees International Union) has spent millions of dollars getting Barack Obama and other Democrats elected. The famously left-wing labor union supported the presidential candidate that was going to pay Peggy Su’s mortgage and put gas in her car.

Unions are all about the little people.

One of Obama’s biggest campaign promises was for health care reform, specifically universal health care. It works so well in Canada, after all. SEIU openly supported Obama in the 2008 Presidential election.

Obama was elected, everyone partied (and left their litter behind), and everyone waited for change to come to America. In one of the few campaign promises that the President has actually kept, he signed into law a bill that would transform our health care system into a nationalizedone.

Be careful what you wish for. Since ObamaCare passed last March, small businesses have dropped health care coverage for their employees while big businesses got special exemptions, and drug relabeling has discriminated against women with cancer. Taxes have gone up, and will continue to do so.

Read the rest at The Stir