NOVEMBER ELECTION CANCELLED

NOVEMBER ELECTION CANCELLED

"Nation's voting machines made in Florida- And they don't work!"
-Weekly World News

Does this mean I don't have to go to work tomorrow?

UPDATE 9/18: My boss is skeptical.

Bye Bye Johnny

Bye Bye Johnny

"Johnny Ramone, guitarist and co-founder of the seminal punk band the Ramones, has died at the age of 55..."

Survivors include a whole buncha drummers.

Looks like tonight's playlist will have to be LOUD.

Tonight's playlist

Tonight's playlist

Ride along computer cowboy
To the city just in time
To bring another system down
And leave your alias behind

Trans is the album that separates the Neil Young obsessives from... well, normal humans. Been spending the evening using my beat up but faithful laptop to overthrow the government (by strictly legit electoral means of course) in a cowboyish way.

I wanna rock and roll this party
I still wanna have some fun

Sheryl Crow is probably not Cool enough to buy at Championship Vinyl but so what. The line catches me because the only party I've been to lately is the kind with donkeys (not pin-the tail). And too many of my fellow donkeys have forgotten how to rock (look who they nominated).

You can climb a mountain
You can swim the sea
You can jump into the fire
But you'll never be free

Thy lyrics to Nilsson's lost classic do not capture the mood, you need the music. Most people including me know this as "that song from Goodfellas" in the coked-up, about to be busted "last day as a wise guy" sequence. Whenever I have a crazy day with way too many things in it, I hear this in my head. I need to make a CD of that whole sequence for driving and/or Italian cooking:

"Jump into the Fire", Nilsson

"Memo from Turner" and "Monkey Man", the Rolling Stones

"Magic Bus", the Who

"What Is Life", George Harrison

"Mannish Boy", Muddy Waters

And the best closing credits ever:

"My Way" by Sid Vicious.

Don't forget the razor blade for the garlic.

JS Online: Moore poised to be state's first black representative

WI: Moore poised to be state's first black representative

Well, looks like the Wisconsin results were far more interesting than our school board election. Milwaukee's sending an African-American woman to Washington. Cool. Meanwhile in the Republican senate race, they rejected the "Right Russ" rich car dealer and went with the Save The Fetuses (fetii?) guy. So we can stop worrying about Feingold, he's safe.

And Marion Barry made another comeback in DC: Insert punchline here ______________________________

Low stakes for me tomorrow

Low stakes for me tomorrow

For the first time in about forever I have an election tomorrow in which I have nothing invested emotionally. Of course, I hope the school levy passes, but I didn't do any campaigning for it, and we have two school board candidates for two seats. Not expected to be a nail-biter.

So tomorrow is just a long day at work. But that school levy is stil important.

And I still regret the one election I missed, the 1992 school board race which had less that 1 percent turnout. Ruined my perfect attendance streak.

Packers 24, Panthers 14

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good thoughts

The best rummage sale ever

The best rummage sale ever

Back in one piece from my home town trip during which I made the single best rummage sale purchase ever. Five pairs of new jeans (including three sets of Levis 501s) for the pittance of $17. I'm set for jeans now for the next several years, barring large weight fluctuations. That's not to mention the Box Of Electronic Parts for five bucks which included more useful stuff than junk (although to be honest I have no use for an electric dog collar).

The Parental Computer is in business and the parents have had the On and Off lesson. Youngest Brother shows up next week to provide the next set of help. They have more computer than I have which is hardly fair given their user level ("This is a mouse"). I'm going to be in the market soon. The screen on Faithful Laptop is dying and I'm going to be working so much I might actually be able to afford a new machine...

I've been in political news warp so not much to report. Wisconsin has its primary Tuesday and I saw lots of yard signs, none of which seem to include those nasty words "Democrat" or "Republican."

Last calm before the storm

Last calm before the storm

I'm off the air for the weekend and up to Wisconsin for Mom's birthday Saturday. It was her birthday for a long time before it was 9/11. My present is free consulting as I help set up my folk's first computer (!)

This looks like the last break; when I get back I start the seven week marathon to November 2. Longer, if it turns out like Florida...

Majority of countries prefer Kerry than Bush

Majority of countries prefer Kerry than Bush: survey

This was what I was looking for yesterday: Apparantly Red China is a blue state.

Kerry emerged favourite in 30 countries and on average, beat his Republican rival by more than a two-to-one margin -- 46 percent to 20 percent. The only countries where Bush was preferred in the poll were the Philippines, Nigeria and Poland.

Of course, it has as much relevance as Kerry's "Democrats win when the Redskins lose the Sunday before the election" theory. Except, that since Washington plays the Packers on Halloween, that's actually important.



Just because I'm thinking about it, here's a link to Pat Metheny. If I was still a DJ I'd play him today as a mysterious dedication to an unnamed listener. Doesn't fit the usual format (All Loud All The Time) but so what.

And after two months I've more or less given up on the pretense that Xavier and Dylan are "guest" cats.

Seeing myself in cinema

My alter ego - found in film!

I've always loved "High Fidelity", and found myself identifying strongly with John Cusack's lead character:

Using his on-screen narration as a form of therapy and musical pop culture references as philosophy, Rob sulks around his cave-like pad full of second-hand furniture and concert posters, re-cataloging his endless LP collection and waxing huffy about his breakup to the audience. Then he has an epiphany: He'll track down those Top Five breakup girls and try to figure out what he keeps doing wrong...

But now, in the past few days, two of my best friends have independently come to the conclusion that I am NOT John Cusack. Rather, I am Jack Black:

Barry : How about the Jesus and Mary Chain?
Barry's Customer : They always seemed...
Barry : They always seemed what? They always seemed really great is what they always seemed. They picked up where your precious Echo left off, and you're sitting around complaining about no more Echo albums. I can't believe you don't own this fucking record. (tosses the record to the customer and walks away) That's insane. Jesus.

I will now go work on my Top Five Movie Characters list...

Barry's Customer : Hi, do you have the song "I Just Called To Say I Love You?" It's for my daughter's birthday.
Barry : Yea we have it.
Barry's Customer : Well, can I have it?
Barry : No, actually, you can't.
Barry's Customer : Why not?
Barry : God. Do you even know your daughter? There's no way she likes that song. Oops, is she in a coma?

There's a record store in Iowa City that reminds me a lot of Championship Vinyl (the store in the movie, if you haven't seen it - and if you haven't stop reading this and go rent it now). I sold a lot of the old vinyl there back when I lived in the one room apartment last spring. Sometimes I'm in there, think about buying something, and ask myself, "is this COOL ENOUGH to buy here, or should I slink into Best Buy instead?" Last thing I got there was the Sugar b-sides album and a couple Nirvana singles, hope that qualifies.

Special thoughts to an old friend today.

Welcome to the 1972 campaign

Records Say Bush Balked at Order

Documents obtained by the CBS News program "60 Minutes" shed new light on one of the most controversial episodes in Bush's military service, when he abruptly stopped flying and moved from Texas to Alabama to work on a political campaign...

Remember about two weeks ago when I said I was getting 'Nammed out?

DIdn't people know this stuff about Bush the first time they elected -- oh, wait. Never mind.

It's not just the press or pseudo-rogue outfits (as if anyone believes any of this is truly "independent" of the campaigns). Today's big quote from Terry McAuliffe: "We know that John Kerry was in Vietnam. My question, Mr. President (sic) , is where were you, Sir?"

First of all, no self-respecting Democrat should EVER call Bush "Mr. President". Second of all, I barely remember the end of Vietnam, I'm 40, and I was a boring precocius little nerd who read newspapers. How many under-40 voters are bored to death? If I had known we were going to have the 1972 campaign all over again, I would have caucused for McGovern! And I doubt anyone is gonna write a book about this one as good as Hunter Thompson's was...

Anyway, Zogby is now saying the W by 11 poll is crap and it's really Bush by 2. Another poll has Bush by 0.9 with a massive 4 percent undecided (see my rant of a couple days back).

A couple more notes in my news potpurri: One headline that ran away from me in another window while I wasn't looking says the rest of the world favors Kerry in a landslide. Which would help if they had any electoral votes.

And another too-good-to-skip Mosh Pit Al moment:

"On Tuesday Keyes did it again, this time by essentially announcing that Jesus would be supporting him (if Jesus, of course, was an Illinois voter). "Christ would not vote for Barack Obama because Barack Obama has voted to behave in a way that it is inconceivable for Christ to have behaved," declared Keyes..."

So. Please. Both sides. Enough 'Nam.

I, uh, think you can get sued for that...

I, uh, think you can get sued for that...

"Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country."

-- President (sic) Bush, quoted by the AP

Let's hear it for the undecideds

Let's hear it for the undecideds

Pffffffft! There's my salute to the undecideds.

"Lose the negativity. More specifics, fewer ads, and more debates."

Right. Like anyody so disengaged that they can't decide between John Kerry and George W. Bush is going to sit and watch a debate, or pore over a position paper for "specifics." They'll be reaching for the remote before you can say

"Our three panelists who will be questioning the candidates are..."
CLICK
"Are you ready for some football!?"
CLICK
"Six bachelorettes survived last week, but tonight there are only four roses..."
CLICK
"I baked a coconut cream pie, Gilligan..."
CLICK
"Tinky Winky! Dipsy! Laa Laa! Po! Teletubbies! Teletubbies! Say Hello!"

Anyone who's gonna watch a debate has already tuned in enough that we've got our MINDS MADE UP. The reality is, people who are informed about public affairs have built themselves a worldview, a framework of ideas, and the differences between Kerry and Bush are so vast that the only undecideds left are the truly uninformed.

Not trying to sound elitist or anything. But Objective Paradigm American journalists want voters to act like them. Partisanship is "bad" and neutrality is "good." I for one think informed and passionate partisanship gets a bad rap. One of the reasons we'll see record early voting this year is that so many people have their minds made up.

Live from the road

Live from the road

Greetings fron the Drake student union in Des Moines where I am on a spontaneous roadtrip with my college roomie. We've already been mistaken for brothers once. It's remarkably easy just to walk in anywhere around here on a holiday weekend, the place is more or less deserted.

One of these years I need to get back up to Eau Claire.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday

Get well soon, Bill

Get well soon, Bill

Bill Clinton changed my life in ways I never dreamed, and I'll make no apologies for my deep affection for the man. For me, he'll always be the Real President.

So, Mr. Real President, a young friend of yours in Iowa would like to remind you that hospitals can be fun and that you can have wheelchair races in the hall. Good luck, Bill.

Young Voters Will Decide the Election

Young Voters Will Decide the Election

In my sixth presidential election I no longer qualify. But I like to think of myself as young at heart (living in college student housing at age 40 certainly requires a lack of middle-aged dignity).

More to the point, this means that in the biggest academic, youngest county in a nail-biter swing state, I'm at Ground Zero.

Read the whole thing but I'll give you my favorite nibbles:

"In 2000, one of the main reasons Gore was unable to put Bush away is because he lost the younger voters Clinton had won for Democrats for the first time since the 1970's.

In the latest Post-ABC News poll, taken immediately after the Democratic National Convention, Kerry led Bush 2 to 1 among registered voters younger than 30. Among older voters, the race was virtually tied.

If Kerry is going to win in November, he must continu his success in reaching young voters. Strike that--he must continue to do even more to reach them, even to excite them. Gore ignored young voters in 2000 and paid the price. Clinton openly wooed them and governed for eight years..."

Insert the entire text of Danny Goldberg's How The Left Lost Teen Spirit here. Then ask yourself how much ass Howard Dean would be kicking today.

Words of wisdom from a gal named Chapin

Well the Tori Amos kick is off for now. Nothing against her but I've found myself rolling down the road renewing a long lost relationship with one Mary-Chapin Carpenter.

She was just after my late-80s country radio era but close enough that I was still paying attention. I grabbed the CDs out of GOP Convention Disgust. Country progressive types are hard to find and I wasn't in a Steve Earle mood so I expected to fixate on:

I sat alone in the dark one night, tuning in by remote
I found a preacher who spoke of the light but there was brimstone in his throat
He'd show me the way according to him in return for my personal check
I flipped my channel back to CNN and I lit another cigarette

But instead my brain zoomed in on

You can speak what’s on your mind
If you’ve got a gambler’s heart
You can be the truth incarnate
You can shoot straight in the dark

If there were true justice in country music Mary-Chapin Carpenter would be filling stadiums and Shania Twain would be waitressing at a Hooters in Daytona.

Plus every time I hear "Down At The Twist And Shout" I remember halftime of Super Bowl XXXI which as we all know had a happy ending. And she didn't even have to flash us.

Hard Right Stays on Convention Sidelines

Hard Right Stays on Convention Sidelines

This is what we're up against, donkey people, that you aren't seeing in Grade A, Prime AHnold and McCain Time. The face of the base of the Republican Party:

Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas told an invitation-only Bush rally for Christian conservatives, "We must win this cultural war." He offered an agenda strikingly different from anything voters will hear from the convention platform, including a proposed requirement that pregnant women considering abortions be offered anesthesia for their fetuses.

Oklahoma Senate candidate Tom Coburn called his race against Rep. Brad Carson "a battle for the culture of America" and "the battle of good vs. evil."

Arizona Rep. John Shadegg got a standing ovation from his state's delegation when he lashed out at filmmaker Michael Moore. Shadegg said he told a newspaper executive that he had made a mistake "when you credentialed kind of the anti-Christ."

"The left wing hates George Bush the most because he believes in God," said Youngstown Mayor George McKelvey, a conservative Democrat who drew applause from Ohio delegates.

Another Republican Senate candidate, Alan Keyes... naah, why bother?

New Keyes Strategy: Campaign in New York!

New Keyes Strategy: Campaign in New York!

I should stop kicking Mosh Pit Al while he's down but it's just too fun. A guy from Maryland running for Senate in Illinois campaigning in New York.

And apparantly he has some problems with his base:

"State party chairwoman Judy Baar Topinka, who is also a delegate, says she supports Keyes. But she won't say if she will vote for him. Another Illinois Republican, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, has offered only a lukewarm endorsement. Delegate-at-large and former Gov. James Thompson said this week that he cannot support Keyes."

Left the TV off tonight but I see AHnold broke out the Girlie Man line again. I assume the crowd was sufficiently pumped (clap)up.

The more I think about it the less I think conventions matter. The last one with any real doubt was the `76 Republicans, and the last one with any real drama was the `80 Republicans and the botched Reagan-Ford Dream Ticket deal. Now, as an Iowan, I'm spoiled and thus not a fan of national primaries. But the old-fashioned convention has been mostly meaningless for several cycles and seems like a big waste of resources and energy.

I've even skipped our state conventions the last couple cycles. The platform process has been watered down to meaninglessness. And the last one I went to, in 1996, lasted till 3:45 a.m. with the only significant issue being "I want to be a national delegate!" "No, I want to be a national delegate!" Two minutes of voting, two hours of sitting. That was the year I was running. Should have stayed home and doorknocked.

A blog brought this guy down

A blog brought this guy down

Ed Shrock may be remembered as a footnote in history, the GOP Jim McGreevy. But my favorite part of this is Kos's bold assertion:

"A blog brought this guy down. Amazing."

The district newspaper notes:

"The allegations emerged two weeks ago, on Aug. 19, when a Web site called blogACTIVE.com posted claims that Schrock was gay, and accused Schrock of being a hypocrite for opposing gay rights issues.

In the two weeks that followed, Schrock repeatedly declined to comment on the accusations – neither confirming nor denying them.

No mainstream newspapers, television stations or Web sites published the allegations."

I'm not a fan of forced outing but I hate hypocrisy even more (one of the reasons I haven't been watching the GOP convention) and this guy sounded like a classic closeted self-loather. Also more evidence of why you need a decent candidate in every race, just in case. Fortunately the Democrat is viable and credible.

I can't decide if this Power Of The New Amateur Media is good or not. I like the Everynerd as Publisher dynamic, and I like that blogging is a way past the bogus paradigm of Objective (sic) Journalism. But I'm also reminded of the old LBJ joke where he suggests accusing his opponent of barnyard bestiality. Someone suggests the charge is unbelievable - I'm cleaning this up a LOT - and Lyndon says: "I know. But let's make the son of a bitch DENY it."

I doubt this blog will ever boot anyone from office. But I will offer a tiny bit of wisdom that may be useful in real life: Keep your mouth shut on a bicycle and don't swallow any bees. I managed to spit the thing out but in a last act of defiance it stung the INSIDE of my lip. I spent the whole morning feeling like I'd just been to the dentist and sounding like I needed a trip to a speech therapist...

And the homegrown eggplant in homegrown tomato sauce was excellent. (That was before the bee sting.)

New York Times: Abolish the Electoral College

The New York Times > Opinion > NY Times: Abolish the Electoral College

The main problem with the Electoral College is that it builds into every election the possibility, which has been a reality three times since the Civil War, that the president will be a candidate who lost the popular vote. This shocks people in other nations who have been taught to look upon the United States as the world's oldest democracy...

About time this got on the front burner.

I'm still in shock that in the 21st Century the American people are so docile about the fact that the guy who got less votes took office. I remember explaining this to a group of Russians who visited our office. And they LAUGHED at me. Russians, who've had maybe 10 years of democracy in the last thousand, laughing at an American about democracy.

Even the Democrats who complain are upset about Florida, not about the Electoral College. And no prominent Republican will endorse an end to the Electoral College because it's a tacit admission of Bush's illegitimacy.

I have mixed feelings about Colorado's split-the-electors referendum. No minor tinkering will solve the fundamental problem.

Co. Pulls Toys Depicting 9-11 Attack

Anyone check how much this is getting on E-Bay yet?



Small toys showing an airplane flying into the World Trade Center were packed inside some of more than 14,000 bags of candy sent to small groceries around the country before being recalled...

Padron said Lisy did not notice the small plastic figurines until two people complained, but there is no mistaking what the toys represent: At the bottom of each is the product number 9011...

Nothing in particular

Instead of actual significant content, a few one liners.

Happy birthday Shirley Manson

My brother has the remarkably Dylanesque address of Zimmerman, Minnesota. Next time we talk I'll ask "how does it feel?"

Live from the smallest farm in Iowa: I've picked five red Roma tomatoes and an eggplant is ready.

As much as I admire democracy for democracy's sake, it's sure a relief when the filing deadline passes and your boss has no opponent.

What was I cynically saying yesterday?

What was I cynically saying yesterday?

"Republicans endorsed an uncompromising position against gay unions Wednesday in a manifesto that contrasts with Vice President (sic) Dick Cheney's supportive comments about gay rights and the moderate face the party will show at next week's national convention..."

These are the things I can do without

These are the things I can do without

Today I'm sober 19 years.

Cynical about Cheney

Cynical about Cheney

"My general view is that freedom means freedom for everyone. People ought to be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want," Cheney said in response to a question at a campaign "town hall" meeting in Davenport, Iowa.

I smell something in this. This feels like a deliberate positioning, image-softening move. It takes the heat off Cheney for the obvious hypocrisy of supporting policy that discriminates against his own daughter. (Plus it's a catchier headline that Halliburton.)

And it's totally content-free as we see a few paragraphs down:

"But the president makes basic policy for the administration. And he's made it clear that he does in fact support a constitutional amendment on this issue..."

This is Kinder Gentler GOP stuff, the same impulse that puts Giuliani and AHnold on TV in prime time instead of Trent Lott, and it has nothing to do with the REAL Republican Party.

Cynical? ME?!?

Also: Without me even peeking I hit the same note late last night that two premier pundits did today:

Larry Sabato: "For only the second time in our nation's history, the bitterness of a bloody, lost war will shadow national politics until generational replacement has removed all the brave soldiers who experienced the event first-hand..."

David Broder: "The United States is at war. It is threatened with terrorist attacks. The economy is under stress. And the presidential campaign has been usurped -- by what? An argument among aging boomers about who did what in Vietnam and in the protests against that war..."

Bush Urges End to Attack Ads by Outside Groups on All Sides

The New York Times > Washington > Campaign 2004 >Bush Urges End to Attack Ads by Outside Groups on All Sides

You know, I'm about 'Nammed out here. I'd like less Purple Hearts and more Last Man To Die For A Mistake.

But that's just me. I'm weird. I'm a Lefty Democrat. People only try to EARN my vote in January. In November it's just assumed.

Maybe we'll finally finish re-fighting the 60s when the first GenXer becomes president.

Politicos Dig Deep for Your Data

Politicos Dig Deep for Your Data

Organizations search consumer data in categories such as vehicle type, magazine subscriptions, financial records and gun ownership, and compare the demographic data with voting records to find people who haven't voted or who may be likely to switch party allegiance. But this election cycle has taken data mining to a new level in the political realm...

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Totally unrelated: I never dropped out of grad school.

I just took a semester off to work on a campaign.

Today starts my 25th consecutive semester off.

Chicago Tribune: Obama holds 41-point lead over Keyes

Chicago Tribune: Obama holds 41-point lead over Keyes



Where to begin with the list of bad news for Mosh Pit Al:

In the first Senate race between two black candidates, Obama leads with African-Americans by a huh?-what-were-those-numbers-again?!? margin of 96-3.

"Despite the controversy that led Jack Ryan to drop off the ballot, black voters still had a far higher opinion of Ryan than Keyes..."

Keyes is only winning the anti-choice vote 45-42.

29% of all voters and 32% of independents say the Keyes candidacy makes them less likely to support other Illinois Republicans this fall.

No wonder Keyes is coming out against popular election of senators!

My brother has some regrets about not getting the chance to vote Obama, but his move to Minnesota takes him from a dark blue to a very light blue state, and puts him in one of the most competitive house districts in the county: the Mark Kennedy vs. Patty Wetterling race.

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That-big-wheel-spins-the-hair-thins Department:

My daughter starts high school tomorrow.

Less blogging, more working

Less blogging, more working

I've been writing less these last couple weeks. My readers seem to have vanished and I'm getting busier.

Monday classes start. That means things are going to get even busier at work as my wonderful adopted home town of Iowa City stretches and roars back to life after a lazy summer...

So I'm gearing up for a ten week marathon. It'll be exhausting but exciting. And after that I have cash in my pocket and time to relax. And, I hope, celebrate the overthrow of the government.

Don't worry, o gentle readers, if there are any of you left, I'll still have something to say here most days.

Stupid candidate tricks

Stupid candidate tricks

One of the things I tell candidates is: The candidate should spend all his or her time doing stuff only the candidate can do, and shouldn't do anything than anyone else can do for them.

If you're gonna be a slimeball and steal the other side's yard signs, try to get someone other than the candidate to do it. Especially id the candidate is a sitting Member of Congress...

The Impact of Early Voting

The Impact of Early Voting

A Boston Globe piece notes political scientists "estimate that this year more than 20 percent of voters are likely to cast their ballots for president before Nov. 2, up from 15 percent four years ago."

20 percent?!?

Slackers. Slow pokes. We were at 40 percent four years ago, and we had a special election where we broke 50 - more BEFORE Election Day than ON Election Day.

In an election like this where no one's left undecided, no reason to wait.

(Not to mention the new federal election law is a nightmare. Check your registration and vote as soon as you can...)

The Unnamed Enemy

The Unnamed Enemy

Someone else seems to have picked up on a Harry Potter political analogy, this time in the Washington Post:

"Bush treats bin Laden a lot like those wizards in the Harry Potter books treat He Who Must Not Be Named...

Since the beginning of 2003, in fact, Bush has mentioned bin Laden's name on only 10 occasions. And on six of those occasions it was because he was asked a direct question..."

This means Bush must be: Cornelius Fudge, Inept Minister of Magic!

Broder: W is Toast

Broder: W is Toast

Well, I'm paraphrasing David Broder, the ultimate establishment insider journalist, just a little. But not much:

"The factors that make President Bush a vulnerable incumbent have almost nothing to do with his opponent, John F. Kerry. They stem directly from two closely linked, high-stakes policy gambles that Bush chose on his own. Neither has worked out as he hoped.

The first gamble was the decision to attack Iraq; the second, to avoid paying for the war...

If Bush can win reelection (sic) despite the failure of his two most consequential -- and truly radical -- decisions, he will truly be a political miracle man. But as his own nominating convention approaches, the odds are against him."

Can't say it better.

Back in Iowa: my folks visited and love the Hamburg Inn and the "Interesting" people of downtown Iowa City. The first red tomato is reddening, the weather is beautiful for bike riding, and the guest cats and permanent cats are getting along.

But I seem to have scared all the blog readers away...

Keyes Would Like to End Election of U.S. Senators

Keyes Would Like to End Election of U.S. Senators

Alan Keyes said Friday he would like to end the system under which the people elect U.S. senators and return to the pre-1913 practice in which senators were chosen by state legislatures...

Keyes' positions on free silver, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff and the League of Nations were not available at press time.

I don't think Mosh Pit Al has too much to worry about when it comes to HIM being elected directly by the people...

eye - Life during Warped time - 08.12.04

Bad Religion: Life during Warped time

"Packed with some of the strongest songs the band has ever recorded, The Empire Strikes First is fuelled by anger.

"We wanted to be as direct as possible and not leave things to be debated," says Bentley. "It's like, 'Well, how do you feel about [what Bush has done]?' 'Well, we feel pretty pissed off.'"

Thanks to proactive organizations like punkvoter.com and Bands Against Bush, young voters now have easily accessible resources that can turn them onto the real facts, show them how to get involved and help make sure Americans don't get fooled again..."

Not sure what kind of a day this was

Not sure what kind of a day this was

Talk about a split screen moment. McGreevy drops his bombshell in the same news cycle that California overturns thousands of gay marriages.

I don't want to excuse anything, especially before all the facts are known.

But in a better world Jim McGreevy would never have been closeted in the first place.

Truest Story of Campaign

Truest Story of Campaign

Once again, the Onion gets it right:

Delivering the central speech of his 10-day "Solution For America" bus campaign tour Monday, Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry outlined his one-point plan for a better America: the removal of George W. Bush from the White House.

"During his term in office, George Bush has relentlessly continued to be president—despite the clear benefits to America his absence would bring to the lives of citizens everywhere," Kerry said. "My one-point plan for America highlights the sort of change that this country desperately needs. And my plan is something that George Bush will never, ever be able to accomplish."

The Onion - true heirs of Gonzo Journalism. By reducing the campaign to the preposterous, they tell the story better than facts or position papers or debates can. The Kerry campaign IS the one point plan.

And that might be enough.

I'm just a soul whose intentions are good

I'm just a soul whose intentions are good

Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood.

---

Or m!ssundaztood if you like Pink. Which I only know because of being the parent of a teenager. I could never tell if it was "I'm coming OUT so you better get this party started" which would be a Pride Thing or if it was just "I'm coming UP" which would only imply, well, stairs or perhaps an elevator. In any case the party is definitely "on a Saturday night" which gives me the rest of the week to figure it out.

Goodbye to a friend

Goodbye to a friend

CEDAR RAPIDS - Pat Marshall of Cedar Rapids, a longtime union and Democratic activist, has died.

Marshall, a member of the Democratic National Committee for the past 20 years, died Saturday afternoon.

Marshall, 73, was considered a "role model for a lot of women active in politics," according to Iowa Democratic Party Vice Chair Julie Thomas of Cedar Rapids. Marshall had intended to attend the party's national convention in Boston last month, but she couldn't because of cancer-related complications and a stroke earlier this summer...

I first got to know Pat back in 1992 when we overthrew the government together. She stuck up for me when I needed it back then and we stayed friends after that campaign. She was always bright and positive and she took a great interest in my daughter. Pat was a good friend and a great Democrat.

Accomplishments of the weekend

Accomplishments of the weekend

Got rid of 2/3 of The Pile of stuff from my old house

changed a car battery all by myself

laundry

a couple nice bike rides

made vegie lasagna (replace the meat with eggplant and zucchini)

Found out that my brother Jeff's dream came true

found cheap copies of Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Godzilla vs. Megalon, and the From The Choirgirl Hotel CD by Tori Amos

went on a Tori Amos kick

Listened to the entire Little Earthquakes CD by Tori Amos for the first time, because I finally decided not to hit the skip switch on "Me And A Gun."

realized that the lyrics to Crucify by Tori Amos fit the end of my marriage very well:

Nothing I do is good enough for you
And my heart is sick of being in chains


Things I failed to get accomplished

Enough work to overthrow the government

Watching the three movies I checked out

figuring out who knows me at the University of Essex

Semi Random Links

Semi Random Links

What is the deal with the University of Essex?

University of Essex

Andes, NY

Story County, Iowa

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine

As the Vote Rocks, the Stiff Wander the White House

As the Vote Rocks, the Stiff Wander the White House

Interesting point from a bigger blogger than myself:

I realize that most of what has been attracting my blogging attention recently (and not just mine) is the backlash to Bush in the popular culture. However you care to slice it (youth culture, art culture, movie culture, music culture), Bush has catalyzed an emotional and expressive response that is building exponentially toward November...

Despite the skill and savvy of Rove and Co., the model they operate out of is a generation behind, geared too much toward the tools (direct marketing) and constituencies (Bush Pioneers, fossil fuel industry) of pre-dot com culture and consciousness.

I was worrying that Springsteen, Pearl Jam and R.E.M. was too old school, but at the rate he's going W will be lucky to keep Wayne Newton on board... and the latest I hear is he's seriously chasing the all-important Amish vote.


Amish men and boys wave as President (sic) Bush's bus travels through Intercourse, Pennsylvania (huh huh, huh) in July.

But lest we forget, a quarter to a third of the nation is part of the Kristian Konservative Kulture, flying below the radar of mainstream media and pop culture. If we lose, Hollywood will look at itself and say "Nobody I know voted for Bush..."

In light of this, Bush's move to capture the all-important Amish vote almost makes sense.

This is why it's important to have a candidate for every contest

This is why it's important to have a candidate for every contest

Now, I'll bash Republicans with the best of them but even I gotta admit this guy is too far right even for the GOP:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Republican congressional candidate James Hart acknowledges that he is an "intellectual outlaw."

He is an unapologetic supporter of eugenics, the phony science that resulted in thousands of sterilizations in an attempt to purify the white race. He believes the country will look "like one big Detroit" if it doesn't eliminate welfare and immigration. He believes that if blacks were integrated centuries ago, the automobile never would have been invented.

Despite his radical views, Hart may end up winning the Republican nomination because he is the only GOP candidate on the ballot in Thursday's primary. His presence in the campaign has embarrassed Republican leaders, who were blind-sided by Hart after they didn't bother fielding a candidate. Democratic Rep. John Tanner has held the seat for 15 years and is considered safe in November.

"I would characterize him as a racist, an elitist," said write-in candidate Dennis Bertrand, a financial analyst and former military officer. "His idea of ... genetically altering the human race in order to build a super race with super intelligence is appalling."

We had a contest 12 years ago where a nutcase filed on the Democratic line and was a little embarrassing. Some might have characterized my own 1996 race as an embarrassment (my opponent supposedly described me as "they dragged someone out from under a rock")...

The write in guy only got 17% so the Republicans are stuck with Doktor Mengele.

Springsteen Joins Anti-Bush Concert Tour

Springsteen Joins Anti-Bush Concert Tour

Directly entering partisan politics for the first time, rock icon Bruce Springsteen will join a loose coalition of high-profile musicians in an unprecedented early October concert blitz aimed at mobilizing opposition to President Bush. The effort, announced this morning, will send over 20 artists to perform more than 34 shows in nine battleground states during a single week in early October...

Iowa... battleground... Iowa... battleground...

Naah. No Bruce. Iowa City gets the Dixie Chicks and James Taylor.

UPDATE: Springsteen puts it in his own words in the New York Times. Free registration required/worth it.

Gardens and glimmers

Gardens and glimmers

Been a while since there's been a report on Iowa's smallest farm.

There's small peppers on one of the peppers. Beans are producing but not very fast. I think I should have planted a few more. Lots of tomatos - tomatoes? tomatos? Help, I feel like Dan Quayle! - on two of the plants but none on the pink one.

But the crowning achievement: an actual eggplant is now three inches long and growing. Looked so yummy I had to buy one at the store last night.

It's a gorgeous day that feels like fall. Everyone is finishing up moving and I'm meeting new neighbors.

That McCain endorsement is looking pretty transparent

That McCain endorsement is looking pretty transparent

Republican Sen. John McCain, a former POW in Vietnam, called an ad criticizing John Kerry's military service "dishonest and dishonorable" and urged the White House on Thursday to condemn it as well.

The White House declined.

"It was the same kind of deal that was pulled on me," McCain said in an interview with The Associated Press, comparing the anti-Kerry ad to tactics in his bitter Republican primary fight with President (sic) Bush.

McCain, chairman of Bush's campaign in Arizona, later said "I can't believe the president (sic) would pull such a cheap stunt."

The ship is sinking and McCain doesn't want to go down with it...

GOP wants Keyes

GOP wants Keyes

Hang on, Obama, it's MOSH PIT TIME!



GOP hypocrisy watch update:

Perhaps most problematic for Keyes is that he has few connections to Illinois and has criticized others for carpetbagging.

"I deeply resent the destruction of federalism represented by Hillary Clinton's willingness to go into a state she doesn't even live in and pretend to represent people there. So I certainly wouldn't imitate it," he said on Fox News on March 17, 2000...

And you thought Ted Nugent was a weird idea

And you though Ted Nugent was a weird idea

Either two-time Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes or former deputy drug czar Andrea Barthwell will get the nod on Wednesday from the state Republican party's central committee to face off against Obama in November, party officials announced.

And since Bathwell was the one who was harassing the employees, the smart (?!?) money is on Keyes... one hitch:

Keyes, who also campaigned twice unsuccessfully for the senate from Maryland, will have to move to Illinois before election day to qualify.

Maybe Keyes will be so desperate for votes he'll jump in Michael Moore's mosh pit again!

You know, Alan Keyes was a bigger factor in the 1996 Iowa caucuses that people realize. The big anti-choice minister in Cedar Rapids endorsed Keyes instead of Pat Buchanan, and Keyes WON Linn County (second biggest in the state). If Buchanan had got that endorsement he would have beat Dole and won Iowa...

Watching the numbers come in

2004 Unofficial Michigan Primary Election Results - 100th District

One of the three counties is in and my pal is getting clobbered. But I think that's the smallest part of the district. Newaygo County is his turf and it's not in yet.

Geez this is slow, we'd be done and home by now...

UPDATE

Didn't happen. I'll sing anyway. "GOD BLESS A-ME-RI-CA..."

More fun than a herd of cats

More fun than a herd of cats

News flash - the feline apartment tour has been expanded! That's right, more trivial examples of that scourge of bandwidth, that waste of megabytes - pet pictures.

Two of these cats would like good homes with not so ugly carpets...

An unheard of Republican endorsement

An unheard of Republican endorsement

As much as it pains me to do so I must wish my pal Marc Libants good luck tomorrow in his primary for the GOP nomination in Michigan's 100th House District. Everything I read about it says it's a safe Republican district (unfortunately), so the best they can do is a Republican who's a decent guy. Good luck, buddy, if you win I'll sing a rousing chorus of "God Bless America" in my best radio voice.

Also good positive energy goes out over the blogwaves for my brother Jeff who's got a big decision this week, and for another old friend too.

Celebrity of Politics

Celebrity of Politics

The process seems to work both ways:

Former President Bill Clinton could be a host of "Saturday Night Live" this season. At least, that's what the folks at NBC are hoping. TV Guide Online quotes anonymous sources saying that Clinton has been offered the gig if he wants it...

Buy a piece of "Joe Bananas'

Buy a piece of Joe Bananas - Jul 30, 2004

With of course the obligatory reference:

The family of late U.S. crime family boss Joe Bonanno is making an offer they hope the buying public can't refuse - they are auctioning off his possessions, from his suits to his mob ties...

Now godfathers have come and gone in lots of ways: Gambino dying in his sleep at home, Gotti rotting away in jail, Castellano whacked in broad daylight... but Joe Bonanno was the only one who ever managed a quiet retirement in Arizona!

Democats for Kerry

Democats for Kerry

Dylan the Guest Cat has made his presidential endorsement:



This endorsement should help Kerry win critical support from Feline-Americans.

Something I just don't get

Something I just don't get

I was mulling over the Kerry speech in my head today and it hit me. I just don't get the military thing. At all.

Maybe it's the deep resentment of any type of authority that I got from some unknown place deep inside me. Maybe it's pacifism - although I think I'm more anti-authority that I am truly a pacifist. A real pacifist would be more at inner peace than I am. Or maybe it's just that no one in my immediate family was ever in the military, just a couple cousins who are basically strangers, so I was never acclimated to that culture.

Why is it that "serve your country" means "serve your country in the military"? My parents served our country. They were teachers for about 35 years each. I consider my little courthouse job to be "serving my country".

Our office is next door to the National Guard. It gives me the willies. I just don't understand how someone can accept that type of social order, where you die or kill without questioning "orders" from your "superiors". How does any one get to be "superior" in a society where all men are created equal? (well, except women, blacks, Natives, poor people...) How can you defend democracy with an institution that is fundamentally undemocratic?

I understand that in the draft days it was different. And I understand that our economy gives some people very little real choice. But, without trying to come off as morally superior or anything: everybody over in Iraq now volunteered.

I read a couple years back that attitudes toward military service is one of those party indicators, like church attendance. Looks like I'm definitely a blue state kind of guy. One of the first things I ever liked about Bill Clinton was when they released his "I loathe the military" letter. They say Kerry has to talk about this stuff to build up his defense bona fides and to win over those all important, 6 percent, Fear Factor swing voters. Well, I guess. But it leaves me... well, just empty. Kerry's military stuff balances out for me: he's not a chickenhawk hypocrite like a certain Acting President, and VVAW was a brilliant rhetorical stroke. You can't bash these guys for being against the war, they WENT! But the saga of the swift boat, the band of brothers, the honor and duty - it just doesn't connect, and I don't think it ever will.

I don't get the rituals, I don't get the ceremonies, I don't get the mindset, I don't get it at all. To me it all seems like some kind of primitive throwback to the feudal lords.

Good thing I'm never going to run for office again, huh?

Cedar Rapids book burning flames out

Cedar Rapids book burning flames out

Well, they went through with it but it sounds like it was kind of a let-down after all the hype. I thought the whole point was for people to see what you were trashing. Catch the bit about the Wal-Mart bags...

Denied fire, C.R. church discards offensive items

By Keith E. Gottschalk Thursday, July 29, 2004

CEDAR RAPIDS -- After all the media attention, the "Cleansing of the Temple" ceremony last night in the parking lot of The Jesus Church in Cedar Rapids turned out to be a solemn and subdued affair.

About 40 church members held lit candles signifying fire, while a handful of people dropped various forms of media or clothing they felt were keeping them from God into a Yardy container.

The Rev. Scott Breedlove, pastor of the church at 726 L Ave. NW, provided Wal-Mart bags so the items tossed would remain private.

"It's between you and God," said Breedlove.

Breedlove's original idea to burn the offending materials was nixed after he discovered city and county fire codes would not allow the open burning of plastics and recyclables.

That plan drew national media attention after it appeared in the July 11 Gazette. Breedlove said he's answered countless media questions about the church's plan, which strengthened his resolve to hold the ceremony in public as St. Paul did in the Bible.

Even though the items were hidden in plastic bags there were telltale shapes of CDs, books and magazines. But anything that weighed on members relationship with God was fair game.

For Renny Danford, 57, of Cedar Rapids, it was peach rings candy that was tossed in the Yardy.

"I've had Parkinson's since I was 38 and when I eat too much sugar I get tired and it keeps me from doing the things I need to do," said Danford.

Danford said she wanted people to know that her fellow congregants were not "radical people," but simply wanted to get closer to the Lord.

Mock the vote: Unscientific but interesting

Mock the vote: Unscientific but interesting

One of the more fun things I do at my job in the election office is our mock election. Every year we go out to the county fair, set up our voting equipment, and let people cast a mock ballot. We run the preliminary results a few times during the fair. It's voter education and it's fun.

Now, this isn't scientific. We let everybody "vote" - little kids, non-citizens, you name it. The newspaper always runs a picture of a little kid voting. We do make folks sign in and promise to vote only once - to my mind, if you try to cheat in a mock election at the fair you need to seriously consider getting a life. We knock our socks off to include the third parties.

We've been doing it a few years and it lets you compare July 2004 apples to July 2000 apples (even though in November we count oranges).

Our county fair runs a bit more rural and Republican than the county as a whole. Our county is traditionally the most Democratic in the state; in 2000 we was number one in the state for both Gore AND Nader and dead last for Bush (59-34-6). We even had a precinct where Bush ran THIRD behind Nader!

Here's some key numbers from the fair so far (noon of the last day) compared to the final 2000 stats. (My analysis only looks at the top three; complete results for the fair are here and here for 2000. And these are the real 2000 numbers.)

Bush: 42% in 2000, 42% in 2004. Exactly the same. 2000 actual vote: 34%.

Gore: 45%. Kerry: 56%. 2000 actual vote: Gore 59%.

How did that happen?

Nader 2000: 8.3%, on the way to 6% of the actual vote.

Nader plus Cobb 2004: 1.2%.

That's right: 1.2%. Even though it's a silly old mock election that doesn't mean squat, more than 3/4 of the Nader and/or Green vote has shifted to the Democrats.

How many Green apples will vote Kerry in November when all the oranges are on the table?

UPDATE: Final numbers show no major change. Kerry 56.5, Bush 41.2, Nader + Cobb 1.3.

Soprano frustration

The frustration of a responsible economic decision

As I've previously mentioned, last March I made the difficult but responsible decision of foregoing the digital cable/HBO package as season five of The Sopranos began. I reasoned that, for the money I would spend getting high-end cable for three months, I could instead BUY the DVD set upon release.

The hard part is staying in the dark about a very interesting and highly publicized program.

Last night I was watching MSNBC's coverage of the convention. Chris Matthews was interviewing an actor to remain unnamed who appeared on The Sopranos. As I puttered about my apartment, sorting my CDs and listening, I gave myself a pat on the back for my responsible economic decision. And as Chris Matthews ended the interview, he said:

"LOVE YOUR SHOW, TOO BAD YOU GOT WHACKED."

Noooooooooooooo! No! No! NOOOOOOOOOOO!

Reaching the Undecided Voter

The Fear Factor Vote

I've been saying it for weeks, but I meant it as a joke/putdown: "There's 46-47% solid for Kerry and 46-47% solid for Bush. That leaves 6-8% undecided and they won't pay attention till the last week becasue they're watching Fear Factor."

But now I have the research behind me:

"Undecided voters are particularly drawn to cartoons, talk shows and certain TV programs, including My Wife & Kids, CSI: Miami and the reality shows Fear Factor and Big Brother. They are less likely to be found watching dramas or news."

JER-RY! JER-RY! JER-RY!

JER-RY! JER-RY! JER-RY!

"It's disrespectful during a presidential race to say anything. There will be a time for that. But if I decide to run, I will stop the show this season." -

Ohio Delegate and possible 2006 candidate for governor Jerry Springer

Sigh...

Sigh...

Dean, whose insurgent campaign ignited a wave of anti-Bush fervor in the party, urged Democrats not to be “afraid to stand up for what we believe,” promising that “we’re not going to let those who disagree with us shout us down under a banner of false patriotism.”

“Never again will we be ashamed to call ourselves Democrats. Never. Never. Never,” he said. “We’re not just going to change presidents — we’re going to change this country and reclaim the American dream.”

Missed the actual speech doing Real Life (watching pigs at the county fair, how Iowa can you get?)

On the bright side, Obama was amazing...

A flat tire and too many thoughts

A flat tire and too many thoughts

Was making really good time on the drive north Friday when my car started wobbling. Pulled over at the neighborhood historical marker and inspected the shredded remains of my right rear tire: just some steel belt and a few scraps of rubber.

So I pulled out the cell phone, made the call, and waited. And read the marker, and thought about what had happened there.

The Indians fought back with desperation, but little effect. The dense forest and underbrush, fallen logs, backwater sloughs and thick marsh grass offered numerous hiding places and slowed the attacking forces, but also caused confusion in which the army killed untold numbers of women and children. The soldiers' advances forced some Indians into the river, while others continued to resist fleeing down the floodplain onto a series of willow bars. Here more Indians were killed while others jumped into the river. "...many of them men, women and children fled to the river and endeavored to escape by swimming in this situation.

One man's battle is another man's genocide...

MSNBC - Democrats try to soften edges

Gore gets censored

So the word is out: the liberal wing of the party is being told to avoid any harsh rhetoric. That could already be affecting tonight's headliners: last night, Al Gore's speech was basically torn up, according to two sources, and is now being rewritten, presumably to fit more closely with the party line.

My disgust at the silencing of anti-war rhetoric is eased by the delightful irony of seeing Al Gore get censored. But since when did Al Gore ever represent the "iberal wing" of the Democratic Party?!?

Off the air

Now how can we announce that we're off the air when we're off the air?

We're off the air for a couple days. Wisconsin road trip. Folks. Brother and family. Other pundits will have to document pre-convention weekend.

The temp felines and the permanent felines are doing better so I trust they won't kill each other.

Andy: Les, the transmitter blew up!
Les: Of course! That was my lead!
Johnny: You led off the newscast by telling them that we're off the air?
Les, troubled: ... No. But I can include that in my update.

Ahh, WKRP. I'll just think sweet thoughts of Jan Smithers for a moment.

MLB - Sources: Expos' new home likely D.C. area

MLB Sources: Expos' new home likely DC area 

Sources familiar with the Expos' relocation process told ESPN.com on Thursday that union leaders Donald Fehr and Gene Orza met Wednesday with Montreal player representative Brian Schneider and assistant rep Brad Wilkerson.

The player reps were informed by the union that there is now an overwhelming probability that they will wind up in either Washington or Northern Virginia...

Baseball back in Washington. Walter Johnson is smiling. They should switch `em to the AL though...

Think President Kerry will throw out the first pitch?

Trippi: Why Edwards isn't the presidential nominee

Why Edwards isn't the presidential nominee

The great Trippi writes about how, but for a few simple twists of fate, the man from NC could be on top of the ticket instead.

He misses a couple key points from later in the campaign.

Oklahoma was essentially a three way tie (29.9-29.5-26.8), but Clark got the bragging rights. A few hundred votes less for Wes, and Edwards wins.  Heck, even a Kerry-Clark-Edwards finish would have been better for Edwards.  Clark only stayed in because of the win, and the anti-Kerry vote in Tennessee the next week split almost evenly (41-26.5-23).  Edwards would certainly have scooped up enough of Clark's vote to win Tennessee and tie Kerry for the week (Kerry won VA 51-27-9), setting up a two man race sooner. 

Wisconsin. Dean made his last heartbreaking stand here and pulled 18%, while Edwards lost by five points (39-34). With Dean out a week earlier, Edwards wins, and we might be going to Boston Monday not knowing who was going to win...

Kucinich to endorse Kerry

This just in from the About Freakin' Time Department

With the Democratic National Convention set to begin next week, U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich on Thursday will announce his support for Sen. John Kerry as the party's presidential candidate, representatives for both Democrats said.

You may not have seen this one blazing in the headlines.

Back in the Primal Scream Era John Lennon described the Beatles breakup as three guys walking off stage then Paul saying "I quit."

Yeah.  Kinda like that.

Editor Put on Leave After Kerry Donation

Editor Put on Leave After Kerry Donation

William Pates, the Chronicle's letters editor, went on leave last week after Grade the News, a media watchdog organization based at Stanford University, contacted the paper about Pates' donations to Kerry and other Democrats...

Journalists are the world's worst navel-gazers. One of reasons I left that profession was because I was tired of David Yepsen bitching at me because I had a bumper sticker on my car. I doubt he had ever bothered to listen to one of my stories - I was only a reporter for a couple years but I was pretty good. One terrible day I faced probably the ultimate test a reporter can face and I did my job.

American journalists are the worst, setting ridiculous bars of mindless neutrality in the name of the God of Objectivity, and denying anyone in the profession any sort of civic life at all. At least, that is, until one enters the very top of the business, the Punditocracy, at which level you can drift back and forth between a CNN gig and the Administration of the Moment.

Meanwhile, the REAL story of media bias, which is the ever-increasing centralization of ownership, goes unreported.

Well, DUH.

In other news: the first produce has been picked. Four beans.

Parrothead Nation

Parrothead Nation: Jimmy Buffett Debuts at #1

Somehing to be said for a niche audience:

There's joy in Margaritaville today: Chief Parrothead Jimmy Buffett is chilling out on top of the album chart for the first time in his three-decade career.

Buffett's License to Chill ended rapper Lloyd Banks' two-week run at number one. According to Nielsen SoundScan numbers released Wednesday, License to Chill jetted to the top with 238,000 copies sold last week.

Pass the Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes...

 

What Dean Did

What might have been

Next week's convention will belong to John Kerry and John Edwards. But it will be held in the political house largely built by Howard Dean.

I still can't think about October and November without my heart soaring. And I still can't think about December and January without my heart breaking.

This ticket is hard for me. Not as hard as 2000, which was impossible. Maybe it's a small step up: Gore and Lieberman were contemptuous of me, and Kerry and Edwards just take me for granted.

Like Madonna says, second best is never enough. But what does she know, she liked Wes Clark.

I just tell myself Kerry has a chance, a slim chance, to stop this war, because the rest of the world will talk to him. With Bush, there's NO chance.

Schwarzenegger Stands by 'Girlie Men' Line

The infinite parody loop

"If they don't have the guts to come up here in front of you and say, 'I don't want to represent you, I want to represent those special interests, the unions, the trial lawyers ... if they don't have the guts, I call them girlie men," Schwarzenegger said to the cheering crowd at a mall food court in Ontario.

The governor lifted the term from a long-running "Saturday Night Live" skit in which two pompous, Schwarzenegger-worshipping weightlifters repeatedly use it to mock those who don't meet their standards of physical perfection.

Let's put all this in perspective. Here we have a bodybuilder-turned-actor-turned-politician quoting guys who were parodying him in the first place. The Politics of Celebrity is devouring itself.

Pitcher of warm spit

Pitcher of warm spit
 
"As far as me and the vice presidency is concerned ... I spent a number of years in a North Vietnamese prison camp in the dark and (was) fed scraps, and I don't know why I would want to do that all over again." - John McCain
 
One of the best quotes about the vice presidency since John Garner's pitcher.  Which in the uncensored version was filled with another bodily fluid.

Temporary guest cats

Temporary guest cats
 
I have temporary guest cats.  They are good cats.  They would like a nice home.
 
The permanent feline roommates are not pleased.
 
I'm in a complete and total news warp so I am without comment on the affairs of the day.

Unfinished Copy of U2's New CD Disappears

Unfinished Copy of U2's New CD Disappears

About 20 people who were present during the photo shoot were questioned by police, who said it was still unclear if the CD's disappearance was accidental or theft.

The finished album is expected to hit music stores next November, with singles planned for release in September.

Ya know, if I could have played a guitar I never would have been doing politics. Bono's had more political impact than all but a handful of guys in suits. One of the best anti-war speeches I've ever heard was his "fuck the revolution!" rap in Rattle And Hum.

I never would have made it through the Orwell election without "The Unforgettable Fire." And they're still pretty cool for old guys (i.e. my age)
 
I still remember the first time I heard "With Or Without You."  We were on our way to a play, just about to shut off the car, and the DJ said here's the new U2 single.  So we sat and listened and picked up our jaws from the floor when it was done.  Stuff happened that evening that changed my life forever, but that's another story that I'll probably never tell.

Time to hit KaZaA...

Alright, now Bears vs Stephen Douglas in a debate, what do you think?

Alright, now Bears vs Stephen Douglas in a debate, what do you think?



These guys are bummed:

Even with the major pressure from the leaders in the Republican Party, Ditka is staying on the sidelines in the Senate race for Illinois.

Ditka's decision comes as one more blow to despairing Illinois Republicans. Some thought "Da Coach" could have rescued their party from what voter opinion surveys indicate could be another landslide loss this November.

So if it was Ditka vs. the Democratic National Convention keynote speaker?

Da Dems!

UPDATE

Thought it couldn't get any weirder? WRONG!

Another name surfacing is that of rocker, outspoken conservative and gun-rights activist Ted Nugent.

"He grew up in Arlington Heights. He went to St. Viator High School," Cook County Republican Chair Gary Skoien told WMAQ. "He has more connection to Illinois than Hillary Clinton had to New York, and he's been a very articulate spokesperson on constitutional issues. He would be a very interesting candidate."

Nugent couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday night.

Technical difficulties

Technical difficulties

Lost my connection in the middle of a template update. Got most of it back but for now it looks awful.

Turtle Lovin'

No headline could possibly capture the idiocy of this statement



"It does not affect your daily life very much if your neighbor marries a box turtle. But that does not mean it is right. . . . Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife."

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), advocating a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in a speech Thursday to the Heritage Foundation.

Ditka eyes Senate seat?

All da more reason to hate Da Bears

Don't have a coronary just yet:

Republican Party officials have not formally approached Ditka about joining the race, but they are desperate to find a viable candidate to put on the ticket. There are still some hurdles left: Ditka's wife has said she will divorce him if he throws his hat in the ring, and he is not apparently even registered to vote in Illinois...

I thought it was not possible for me to hate the Bears any more than I already did. I was wrong. My feelings about the Ditka campaign can best be summed up in this photo that lacks only the Obama sign:

Counterterrorism officials look to postpone elections

Counterterrorism officials look to postpone elections

"They say that South America is coming into style" - Elvis Costello, 1977

I thought they were going to wait until 2008 for marital law:

Newsweek said DeForest Soaries, chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, wants Ridge to ask Congress to pass legislation giving the government power to cancel or reschedule a federal election...

When I have more time I'll see what I can find about the 1944 election held in the middle of World War 2, and especially the 1864 Civil War election...

Reagan's Son to Speak at Dem Convention

Reagan's Son to Speak at Dem Convention

Now THAT'S a new kind of Reagan Democrat:

Kerry spokesman David Wade said Monday that Reagan will have a "prime time" speaking slot during the July 26-29 convention. "Ron Reagan's courageous pleas for stem cell research add a powerful voice to the millions of Americans hoping for cures for their children, for their parents and for their grandparents."

Stem cells is about as pro-choice lite as it gets. I haven't seen numbers but I'd guess support is about the 80% mark. This helps paint the Inquisition wing of the GOP into a corner, and the symbolism is priceless...

Lame Deeth update

Lame Deeth weekend update

Now for the latest news from Iowa's smallest farm.

Several of the beans are well above the 9 1/2 foot fence top. Need to get the ladder out and figure out what to do. Tiny embyronic beans are beginning to form and it looks like the purple pods are outgrowing the Kentucky Wonders.

Roma tomatoes are beginning to appear and I think I see a hint of a pepper. Had to put extra stakes around the Roma tomato plant.

We've had several massive waves of rain pass through. I have not had to water once.

You know, I used to have to read actual farm reports on the radio. Never did figure out hog futures.

Happy birthday to my roommates. They're 7 today, which makes them kinda middle-aged like me.

Book Burning in Cedar Rapids?

Fire codes prevent C.R. church's proposed book-burning



What the - b-b-b-BOOK BURNING?!?! Looks like Kristallnacht time in Cedar Rapids.

Sure, freedom of speech means you can burn your books, or your flag, or your effigy. I suppose it's even OK to burn your cross, as long as you don't do it on someone else's lawn. Is burning your cross offensive? Of course. And this is one baby-step short of it.

While I fully support everyone's First Amendment right to express idiotic ideas, it's also important to engage the ideas. There's an inherent contradiction in using your freedom of speech to denigrate and suppress someone else's freedom of speech. That's one of the dangers of beliving that your side has an exclusive franchise on The Truth. Here's another contradiction: if your faith is so strong, and your belief so certain, why do you feel the need to destroy someone else's art? Do you have that much doubt?

This is an awful moment for tolerance and expression, but it is a classic moment for local bureaucracy (speaking as a local, uh, bureaucrat): No discussion of the big picture, but lots of discussion of ordinances.

(Gotta post the whole story: CR Gazette is pay-to-play.)

By Keith E. Gottschalk
The Gazette
Sunday, July 11, 2004, 10:04:11 AM


CEDAR RAPIDS -- Throughout American church history, preachers have built bonfires for the burning of books and other materials they believed offended God.
The Rev. Scott Breedlove, pastor of The Jesus Church, 225 Fifth Ave. SW, wanted to rekindle that tradition in a July 28 ceremony where books, CDs, videos and clothing he and his 100-member congregation deem offensive would be put to the fire.

City and county fire codes don't allow the burning of plastics and recyclables, however, so a symbolic ceremony with candles in the non-denominational church's parking lot may have to suffice.

"We don't want a situation where people are burning rubbish as a recreational fire," Fire Department District Chief Brad Brenneman said when asked about the church's plan.

Another option -- to burn the items in rural Linn County -- won't fly either. The county air quality division, which approves all burn permits in the county and Cedar Rapids, prohibits the transporting of material from the city to the county to burn.

"I can pretty much guarantee you that we would be denying a burn permit for those activities," said Tony Daugherty, senior air pollution specialist for Linn County. "This is definitely a first for us for something like this organization is proposing."

The church has not formally applied for a burn permit. If it does and a permit is denied, the church could appeal to the county Health Department.

Breedlove said a city fire inspector suggested shredding the offending material, but Breedlove said that wouldn't seem biblical.

"I joked with the guy that St. Paul never had to worry about fire codes," Breedlove said.

Breedlove said he got the idea during a Bible study of St. Paul's ministry in Ephesus in the Book of Acts: "A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly."

"I said, 'For once let's do something,' " Breedlove said. "Let's go to our homes and look through and see maybe if there are movies we bought that we shouldn't have as a Christian. Maybe there are books, CDs, music or clothes that are not modest, (and) Christians shouldn't be wearing them."

Breedlove said the disposal is voluntary.

"If I get rid of a certain movie, I'm not saying everyone in my congregation should get rid of that movie," Breedlove said.

Breedlove said he understands that some outside his congregation might recoil at the thought of burning books and movies. He added, though, that if people believe these items keep them from living a godly life, they have a right to dispose of them if they want.

"I would say that our society has come to a point where there are a lot of things we say we don't do anymore that maybe we should be doing," Breedlove said.

Breedlove's alternate plan calls for a "Cleansing of the Temple" service at 7 p.m. July 28, where people would throw materials into garbage cans and then light candles to symbolically "burn" the material.

Fla. Scraps Flawed Felon Voting List

Fla. Scraps Flawed Felon Voting List

I was hopeful that the publicity had shamed Jeb into doing the right thing. But after all these years in politics I should have been more cynical.

The decision to scrap the list was made after it was reported that the list contained few people identified as Hispanic; of the nearly 48,000 people on the list created by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, only 61 were classified as Hispanics.

That was because when voters register in Florida, they can identify themselves as Hispanic. But the potential felons database has no Hispanic category, which excludes many people from the list if they put that as their race.

¡Ay caramba! This bizarre mix of barely disguised racism and inept database management could be the whole ball game this year. Here's the key statistic:

"The list had about 28,000 Democrats and around 9,500 Republicans, with most of the rest unaffiliated..."

Let's do some math.

28,000 to 9,500. That's roughly 75% Democratic (74.666to infinity, but close enough). Let's assume, as studies repeatedly show, that the no-partys break 50-50, just like Florida as a whole did in 2000.

Let's also assume 50% turnout among registered voters (as opposed to voting age population). I think that's lowball, but Florida is usually a lower turnout state.

That gives us an approximate result from the Flawed Felon List of

Kerry 16,625
Bush 7,375

and a Kerry margin of 9,250.

Which is waaaaaaaaay more than 537.

OK. So maybe you think Bad People shouldn't vote. Consider another stat:

State officials have said there are people on the list who are not felons, and elections workers have flagged more than 300 people listed who might have received clemency. Another problem was that about 2,700 people who had received clemency were still on the list. That was because they had registered to vote before they received clemency. The state initially required them to register again, but later backed off.

So at LEAST 3000 mistakes out of 48,000. That's 6.25% as a bare minimum. And 6.25% of 9,250 is 578.

Which is STILL more than 537.

The whole ball game.

Word to the wise: If you HAVEN'T been bugged to death by mail and/or phone calls by October, double-check your voter registration.

Explaining the Compulsion

Explaining the Compulsion

I was asking and was asked the "why does Johnny blog?" question recently. Well, these stats explain it:

"A study by the Perseus research firm has found that 52 percent of all bloggers are teenagers. Add kids in their 20s and the number jumps to 92 percent..."

That's it! I'm... I'm... I'm juvenile!

Now which of the following categories do I fit into?

"The rest, I suspect are hobbyists, shut-ins, compulsives, prisoners and (not that there is much difference from the aforementioned) several hundred mainstream bloggers, as well as a herd of self-proclaimed political pundits..."

I took this test...

I took this test...

because the title grabbed me and because it showed up high on PopDex. I usually don't like to glom onto the what-other-bloggers-are-blogging bandwagon but 1) I'm trying to force myself to write even though I can't think and 2) the results were interesting:

Wackiness: 52/100
Rationality: 44/100
Constructiveness: 56/100
Leadership: 64/100


You are an SECL--Sober Emotional Constructive Leader. This makes you a politician. You cut deals, you change minds, you make things happen. You would prefer to be liked than respected, but generally people react to you with both. You are very sensitive to criticism, since your entire business is making people happy.

At times your commitment to the happiness of other people can cut into the happiness of you and your loved ones. This is very demanding on those close to you, who may feel neglected. Slowly, you will learn to set your own agenda--including time to yourself.

You are gregarious, friendly, charming and charismatic. You like animals, sports, and beautiful cars. You wear understated gold jewelry and have secret bad habits, like chewing your fingers and fidgeting.

You are very difficult to dislike.

I have some quibbles - I like to think I'm a little more wacky, I'm sure there are those who dislike me - and I haven't worn any gold jewelry at all since the day I took off my wedding ring for good. I do love animals and am literally sober, but my car is anything but beautiful.

Of course, "politician" is how I see myself so maybe I just lied on the test. At least I didn't get rated a Menace To Society...

Why the writer's block?

Got some stuff on my head that's not safe and that I promised myself I'd deal with without writing about it. Problem is, it's directly related to the blog, it's been a distraction, and thus it's gotten in the way of the usual Deeth Crap ("Uh, the pole beans grew some more...")

Two Americas Redux

Two Americas Redux

I still can't write or analyze so for now I'll just plagarize.

Expect Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) to adopt the “Two Americas” campaign theme of his running mate, Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), from now until Election Day. Edwards used the theme to great effect during the Democratic presidential primary, no doubt a major consideration in tapping him for the veep slot. Perhaps the most gaping hole in Kerry’s campaign was the lack of a compelling theme or big-picture vision. By acquiring the Edwards campaign, Kerry essential bought the rights to Edwards’s message. “I think by reading the Kerry [campaign] materials this morning, it’s clear that Edwards is reinforcing the direction that Kerry wanted to go [in] and that they will be the new champions of the middle class,” said one well-connected Democratic insider on the day Kerry announced Edwards as his ticket’s number two.

Hm. Guess I'm not the only one borrowing ideas. (In music they call it "the folk process.")

I liked "you have the power" better but I guess only 19% of Iowans agreed.

My Way News

That didn't take long

A steady stream of intelligence, including nuggets from militant-linked Web sites, indicates al-Qaida wants to attack the United States to disrupt the upcoming elections, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Thursday.

I always thought that phrase "Homeland Security" sounded kinda Third-Reichy...

Election Officials Consider Security Options at Polls

Election Officials Consider Security Options at Polls

Scary scary scary on lots of levels:

"Election administrators also express worry that posting police officers near or in polling sites might discourage some people, especially immigrants and members of minority groups, from voting..."

Gee, not that THAT would ever happen! Certainly not in, oh, FLORIDA...

I don't mean to sound paranoid. But I'm worried that if Bush and Co. win this time (or steal it again), there might not BE a 2008 election. Or if they look like they're losing this time, some "emergency" might pop up.

sometimes you can't write

Sometimes you can't write

and you just have to lose yourself in the music.

No rant, no analysis, no pole bean update today.

Kerry-Edwards

Well, guess I was wrong

Kerry-Edwards. First reaction: adequate. Maybe we'll get to hear the Two Americas speech some more.

Farmer John's Update

Farmer John's Update

It's about the size of a BB, but at long last the first baby tomato has been sighted.

The pole beans are beginning to blossom and the first of the plants has reached the top of the fence, nine feet up.

One of the eggplants - the large, traditional variety - has its first blossom.

Peppers are flowering but no peppers yet sighted.

None of the ingredients are homegrown but I'm assembling a lasagna tonight...

MyDD :: "It's Gephardt"

Kerry-Gephardt?

If this comes to pass, I ain't happy:

"Afterall, Kerry and Gephardt's team actively worked together behind the scenes to torpedo Howard Dean's candidacy. It's not a stretch to believe that Gephardt, if he couldn't win, brought Dean down in the suicidal manner that he did precisely so that Kerry would win the nomination, and not Dean..."

Taken for granted, once again. Shut up, get in line, be a good little donkey.

UPDATE: Or is it Edwards?

That would be a bit more palatable. I'm still pulling for my governor, though...

UPDATE UPDATE: It's supposed to be tomorrow morning in Pittsburgh, hometown of Teresa Heinz Kerry and - hm? - birthplace of the governor of Iowa? Stay tuned for the news and maybe for a Deeth rant...

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July



Went to Missouri - just barely.

US lawmakers request UN observers for presidential election

US lawmakers request UN observers for presidential election

Maybe Jimmy Carter is available.

I can't find the story so maybe it was an urban legend. But this reminds me of the coal mining town in West Virginia, back in the Cold War, who couldn't get federal money for their bridge so they applied to the Soviet Union for foreign aid.

Marlon Brando dies

Marlon Brando dies

azcentral.com | Election 2004

Nader ordered off Arizona ballot

The surprising move in court Friday morning should make Arizona even more of a battleground state this fall where both parties will campaign aggressively for swing voters...

I have profoundly mixed feelings. The agressive Democratic challenges to Nader's ballot access makes us look like bullies and does not help us win over Nader-ish voters. We might not gain any votes it all if they just stay home... We need to presuade people, not browbeat them.

Florida's Inelegible Voter List Has Many Mistakes

Florida's Inelegible Voter List Has Many Mistakes

"The Miami Herald says it has found 2,119 names that were wrongfully placed on Florida’s list of ineligible voters..."

See The List!

Judge rules for media on Florida voter list

Judge rules for media on Florida voter list - Jul 1, 2004

A state court judge in Florida ordered Thursday that the board of elections immediately release a list of nearly 50,000 suspected felons to CNN and other news organizations that last month sued the state for access to copies of the list.

Florida is one of a handful of states that bar people convicted of felonies in that state from voting.

This - not hanging chads, not butterfly ballots, not a politicized Supreme Court, and not Ralph Nader - THIS is why George W. Bush is Acting President.

I have no list of felons, but I do have felines.

Now & Zen

Now & Zen



"While the blending of power/pop extremes was nothing the Velvet Underground, or even the Beatles, hadn't done years earlier, the Hüskers pulled it off in a way that transcended gimmickry, and did so on such terrain –- the American hardcore punk scene –- where nobody saw it coming or even believed it possible."

Something I learned today
Black and white is always grey
Looking through the window pane
I'm not inside your brain
Something I learned today
Yield to the right-of-way
Stopping at a 4-way sign
Someone else's rules, not mine

Something I learned today
Never look straight in the sun's rays
Letting all the sunshine in
Can't remember where I've been

So much for me updating my musical references. Then again, this still works after 20 years... Onion had a good bit a couple years ago about a guy looking at the "you must be born before 1984 to buy cigarettes" sign and remembering Zen Arcade: "He then ran his hand through his thinning hair."

(You gotta do the Salon watch-the-ad-thing to read it all. Worth it.)