Started my normal cruise through the sites I read (Times, Talking Point Memo, First Read) and decided to check out FiveThirtyEight a little earlier than normal. Clicked through on the “Road to 270: Arizona” (even though I really don’t give a shit about Arizona) and HOLY SHIT!!! WHAT ARE MY SHOES DOING ON 538?!

I kid you not. I own those shoes. I not only own those shoes, I wear those shoes. I wore them throughout the convention (tucked flip flops in the big red bag for walking). I wore them them Monday night to the couple of local Dem events I attended with yet another man named Joe. (Evening Joe? Joe the Lawyer? New Mexico Joe? That’s it–New Mexico Joe.)

Could it be that I own and wear the iconic (to the point of being a CafePress t-shirt joke) Obama Mama pumps?

So far, I haven’t seen anybody else in these shoes. In fact, I tried to find them on Zappos and after scrolling through 15 pages of Donald Pliner shoes all I could find for you to see was the slingback version:

Ladies and gentlemen, I could have purchased the slingbacks. They were there at my local shoe dealer (and I use that word purposefully). But I chose the pump. Pumps, yes.

I’m beginning to wonder if the Superpowers have migrated downward.

I haven’t had a haircut since before the convention. Frankly, it’s been the source of  great confusion and concern. True confession: I’m growing my hair out right now. And given the fact that my haircuts are intimately connected to the fate of one Tom DeLay, enemy of the people, friend of casino gambling, I’ve been questioning whether I’m doing everything I can to save democracy.

But this is a new election! Tommt D, we are five seats away from taking back the Texas House. Obama Deputy National Campaign Director Steve Hildebrand promoted this fact to a roomful of national political bloggers in July. (I was there and I nearly cried.) This fall, I’m not just whistling Dixie. (I have been waiting to type that for years.) We are five seats away. Five seats.

If we win back the Texas House, the 2010 Texas House redistricting might redraw the seats Tommy L. and his buddy Midland Tom drew up so Democrats would never hold power again in the Lone Star State. (How could it be that Texas Democrats keep winning, Toms?). And if we redraw those seats and a few more actual representatives of the people are elected in 2012, well, we might be able to redraw those Congressional districts. And if we redraw those Congressional districts, well, Austin might have a representative in Congress, come January 2014.

OK, I’m not going to buy new boots. I’m not going to buy new shoes. And it’s not just because of WWSPD. I’m going to give the money I would have spent on shoes on the Travis County Democratic Party.

And for those of you who might be concerned about my outfit tomorrow, I think I’ll wear my mom’s 1973 black suede Bendel’s peep toes. I’d like to see Sarah whip out her mom’s shoes from fourth grade and rock them at her next fundraiser. Come on, Sarah, I dare you.