"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure." - Dan Quayle, former U.S. Vice President and Eggplant Rigatoni

Along with a large percentage of the country, we tuned in to the presidential debate last week. President Obama did not look like he wanted to be there from the moment he stepped on the stage. To cement the fact it appeared he would have understandably rather been celebrating his anniversary with the First Lady, the debate progressed badly to a point where his posture reminded me of my granddaughters who spend most of their waking hours hunched over their cell phones texting. What a strange night. I would have thought with the tight race, the President would have been spurred to make an especially strong showing. Instead, his facial expressions were quizzical and his excitement level equal to someone having an ingrown toenail removed. I admire the man and would have loved to support him, but it was as though I was rooting for a football game where one teams players were all sitting in the middle of the field while the other team played on without them. As an armchair coach, I wanted to yell, “On your feet man, we have a game to win! This ball ain’t carrying itself across the goal line.”

Excuses are flowing from the democratic camp like water over Yosemite Falls. Someone even suggested he was affected by the altitude, thus making him less effective. Really? Also, Jim Lehrer, the moderator of the debate and a seemingly very nice man, completely threw up the reins in the middle of the race and let the horses rule the racetrack. Bugs Bunny would have been more effective trying to step in between Ali and Frazier.  Even poor Big Bird took one in the beak.

Personally I admire anyone who has intestinal fortitude to sign up for the job. If you look at the before and after pictures of the men who have done so, they’re reminiscent of the Portrait of Dorian Gray. At their inauguration ceremonies they’re showing a hint of gray at the temples, and on exiting the office there’s more snow on that mountain than the Himalayas in January.

It would be nice to have more than two parties to choose from. For me, it’s “do you want pepperoni or sausage?”, either choice is likely to give you heartburn. I’d like to throw in a Hawaiian or a pesto chicken just to stir the pot a bit. Perhaps voter apathy comes from so few options. If I visited a restaurant that only had two entrees on the menu, I’d eat at home.

Women need to toss their hats in the ring. Whoopie could run on the ganja ticket or Jane Fonda on the fitness platform. Why isn’t it that we haven’t pushed for a strong female candidate I wonder? Certainly there are many capable women to make a selection from. Sarah Palin is lurking in the wings, maybe Hilary Clinton? There are somewhere in the vicinity of 17 women occupying seats in the Senate and 72 in the House. I am sure it’s a tough road to travel in that typically male dominated highway. Perhaps it is because we can’t think of a name with which to refer to her husband, that being the case. The “First Gentlemen”, sounds odd but probably correct. First mate might work, although it does have a sort of Popeye and Olive Oyl feel to it.

Imagine how focused the public eye would be on a woman in the oval office. Hair, makeup, wardrobe choices would be scrutinized like someone searching Kenny Roger’s face for a familiar feature. Weight gain or weight loss would be discussed ad nauseum. Would the first gentlemen have the responsibility of running the state dinners, choosing the Presidential china patterns and planning the white house menus? Interesting role reversals for a society that has so much trouble figuring out what the acceptable roles are for both genders now that bras have been burned and a large percentage of American women man, for lack of a better word, the workforce every day.

At any rate, to inject some humor in the situation I thought I’d share some pretty inciteful and definitely memorable quotes I found from the political arena.

“Politics gives guys so much power that they tend to behave badly around women. And I hope I never get into that.” – Bill Clinton, former U.S. President

“We are not ready for an unforeseen event that may or may not occur.” – Dan Quayle, former U.S. Vice President (I have to say he’s a steady contributor to these quotes.)

Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule – and both commonly succeed, and are right. ~H.L. Mencken, 1956

I think it’s about time we voted for senators with breasts. After all, we’ve been voting for boobs long enough. ~Clarie Sargent, Arizona senatorial candidate

So this is my political commentary for today. I’m sure Good Morning America will be contacting me before dessert is served for a future segment. This eggplant was soooooo good, piled with freshly grated cheese. Yum.

Eggplant Rigatoni

4  Tbsp. olive oil, divided
6 cloves garlic, minced
l large yellow onion, chopped
1 lb. eggplant, soaked and cubed
2 tsp. hot red pepper flakes
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 cup white wine
2 14 1/2 oz. cans petite diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cups water (more if needed)
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped fine
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 lb. rigatoni pasta
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated
1 pound uncooked rigatoni

Slice eggplant into 1/2″ slices. Place in a single layer in oblong pan. Sprinkle with salt (about 1 tsp.) and cover with water. Let sit for 20 mins. Rinse well under cold water and cube.

Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large deep skillet over med-high heat. Add eggplant to pan, and sauté 6 mins. until light golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in pan over med. heat. Add garlic, onion and red pepper flakes to pan. Stirring frequently, cook for 6 mins. or until tender. Add Italian seasoning; cook for 2 mins.

Add wine and allow to reduce by 1/3. Return the eggplant to the pan, cover and stirring occasionally simmer over low-med. heat for 20 mins. Add the tomatoes and water to pan. Simmer for 15 mins.

Add fresh basil and parsley and season with salt and pepper. Continue to simmer while cooking pasta according to package directions. Drain and add to pan.

Add Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese to pan and mix well.

Had to share this picture.  Rick and his staunchest supporter