xmas with an elaboration coming:

a black fedora.
Lunch for 7 and a half hours.
the only american in america.
the southern badge.
righteous job.
the lettuce man.
10 different kinds of booze.

I saw this on the Drudge Report:

Presidential contender Howard Dean tells Thursday's BOSTON GLOBE that he's a 'committed believer in Jesus Christ' and he expects to increasingly include references to Jesus and God in upcoming speeches... Developing Hard...

now i'm familiar with many old time news phrases, but what the heck does "developting hard" mean exactly?

RUSH LIMBAUGH TURNS OVER A NEW LEAF

It seems Rush Limbaugh no longer believes in his decades long creed of "if you are innocent, you should have nothing to hide" now that the heat is on. An investigation into whether he broke federal laws for doctor shopping (while fueling his habit in the Junkie days) as well as federal law for controlled substances seems to be exploring more than he would like.

This is, of course, a big turn around from the Bill Clinton days when no investigation was baseless or ever went to far. I'm sure they will both be in a celebrity golf tournament togther soon, since they now have so much in common...

What's that?

Mr. Mooch says all of that is wrong, and that rush only really fels this way about himself, whereas everyone else does not deserve this sort of protection from the law.

Is that so?

Hmm... Never Mind. Rush is still a Jerk.

Dateline - Dec. 23....

Its My Birthday and there will be no posts today, lest Mr. Mooch is not feeling lazy.

Happy Holidays!

New Orleans Heartbreaker

For the first time in a while, i've gotten to see hardly a football game this season. Finally i get to see my Saints play for their ONLY chance to go to the playoffs. after falling behind, they pull a BRILLIANTLY EXECUTED play from their own 25 yard line, with no time on the clock. each player laterals the ball to a new runner over and over until they SCORE. the Point after Touchdown will tie the game for overtime...so what happens? the kicker chokes. what may be the best play of the YEAR yields the saints' biggest choke of the year.

sigh...

OH MAN!

Seasame Street Terrorist warnings. haw!

HOLY HELL! SHOULD WE SAY THEY GOT HIM!?!?!?!

Saddam was held by Kurdish forces, drugged and left for US troops

Its being reported that we, the US, didn't actually CATCH Saddam but rather the Kurds did and left him drugged for the US. as early as this morning, i heard US generals speaking otherwise on CNN this morning. this also further confirms the reports by Saddam's daughter that he was drugged...something that was ALSO denied by the general this morning. from the article:

LONDON, (AFP) - Saddam Hussein was captured by US troops only after he had been taken prisoner by Kurdish forces, drugged and abandoned ready for American soldiers to recover him, a British Sunday newspaper said.

Saddam came into the hands of the Kurdish Patriotic Front after being betrayed to the group by a member of the al-Jabour tribe, whose daughter had been raped by Saddam’s son Uday, leading to a blood feud, reported the Sunday Express, which quoted an unnamed senior British military intelligence officer.

The newspaper said the full story of events leading up to the ousted Iraqi president’s capture on December 13 near his hometown of Tikrit in northern Iraq, “exposes the version peddled by American spin doctors as incomplete.”

-------
thanks to |span| for the heads up on this one!

NEW JOB!

Well, I just got an offer for a New Job! i need to go to the P.O. Box and sign the contract today. I just got to add another title on the resume. Attorney, Political Consultant, and now Lobbyist. I start ASAP after the holiday and need to register myself.

Saw Gorj Friday nite. he calls me out to a cocktail party where i need to meet a few dozen ppl for my new job. now i'm so tired i can only drive 5 blocks before i have to get coffee. i show up and i'm barely able to smile and nod. seems it went ok because everyone seemed to very pleased and i got at least 5 people i've never met offering to work with me. not too bad. Talked to a classy lady in a fur coat that nite. she commented that i should work with her, and i thought to myself 'that's EXACTLY the place i'd like to work'. not a bad evening, plus Gorj floated my Bourbon and Coke. not bad at all.

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003)

OK. went to go see this on Thurs. at 9:30. evidently the local theatre has a problem where the e-tickets don't get deducted at the box office and they oversell. the midnight showing on tues. oversold by 600 tickets!

My showing oversold by about 25-30. of course no one tells us this until we get inside, get our food and walk to the door where a crowd is standing!. as it ends up, they give us 4 free passes, let us watch another movie until one of the theatres got free and let us watch another movie while we waited.

not bad.

saw SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE which wasn't too bad.

As for the Last Lord of the Rings. i thought it was very very good. i don't think it will sweep the oscars, but it was exciting and really nice to look at. one thing that stood out was the sound. OUTSTANDING! there is a creature in this movie who's cry/scream is supposed to strike fear in those that hear its, and you know...when it came on the screen i thought "jesus! that IS terrifying!" Go see it...however, i still pick Last Samurai as the best pic of the year.

Your Scorecard, or How i see everyone roll-playing in 2004

Kerry is Al Gore
Gephardt is Bob Dole
Clark is John McCain
Edwards...Edwards is somebody's VP.
Lieberman is a non-entity
Dean...Dean is a coin, with Reagan on side and McGovern on the other. its been tossed, but it hasn't landed.
everyone else isn't even in the room.

AP Poll Finds 37% Firmly Against War in Iraq

I dunno if dean can ride this to victory.

CBS News | 9/11 Chair: Attack Was Preventable

Oh My. a panel appointed by bush, headed by a republican (former New Jersey governor Thomas Kean) and stonewalled by the bush administration now seems to lay the blame at bush's feet. 9/11 declared preventable. Kean went so far as to say some CURRENT members of the administration blundered to such a degree that he cannot understand why they have their jobs now.

From the article:

Asked whether we should at least know if people sitting in the decision-making spots on that critical day are still in those positions, Kean said, "Yes, the answer is yes. And we will."

Kean promises major revelations in public testimony beginning next month from top officials in the FBI, CIA, Defense Department, National Security Agency and, maybe, President Bush and former President Clinton.

New Poll Shows New Pollsters are Needed!

Um, if your poll shows Al Sharpton in front of Edwards and Kerry, just how worthless IS IT?

Bush suggests he may accept homosexual civil unions

See! in the same interview where he pandered the idea of a Const. Amendment against Gay Marriage, he opened the door to the Howard Dean style civil union. I was shocked by this strategy (or lack of) from the king-master pander-er. I would go so far as to say that you could have a const. ban AND civil unions simultaneously (legally, if not sensibly).

CNN.com - Material Girl covers Clark with praise - Dec. 16, 2003

Seems Madonna endorses Gen. Clark.

Bush would back constitutional ban on same-sex marriage

Well, they talked about it last week and it seems to have begun. White House Aides commented that the Admin. believed Dean to be the likely Democratic Candidate and were deciding on how to start working against him. this, of course could work too well and knock him out of the Primary (GO CLARK!) before it even starts, but we'll have to see.

as you can see from the recent TV interview, Bush talked about banning Same Sex Marriages by CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT (a VERY difficult and ill advised proposition). This, of course, is a DEEP pander to his base as well as a first little taste of what is to come in a Dean Nomination. you can be guaranteed that bush will be blasting Dean as a Gay Marriage advocate ad nausium in the next year.

The Suprise...!
If you look close at the interview itself, you see that Bush is actually infavor of STATE (chosen) protections of Gay couples' economic and social rights. he is vague on this but repeats it and won't call it marriage. the thing is, this is basically what Dean is saying as doesn't call it marriage and doesn't want the federal government to pass a law providing it. the difference? Dean doesn't pander a const. amendment to the religious right. this MAY be an opening, depends if anyone in the press wants to push bush on this. with their track record...i think the 'liberal press' has hung up its pen.

Harper's Weekly Review

click here. everything, and i mean EVERYTHING you could wanna know about this week.

CLICK HERE!

Can't wait to see this.

Clark: Howard Dean can't win

Man, i told all you Nay Sayers: Clark won't take a VP slot under dean. if Dean gets the nod, we're looking at the Dem special interests getting their chance to put up or shut up. seriously. I've long contended that deep pandering to many of our (esp fringe) special interests is done at our peril because they don't have the numbers or don't put out the votes to win races (btw, i don't consider black people a special interest). if dean gets the nod, we see if i'm wrong bc this election will be about 3 things. national security, gay marriage, and abortion. that's it.

Hell, if Lieberman is saying this about a fellow dem: "If Howard Dean had his way, Saddam Hussein would still be in power today, not in prison, and the world would be a more dangerous place." what do you think BUSH will be saying?

TIME.com: TIME Exclusive: Notes from Saddam in Custody

Worth taking a look. asked about if he had WMDs..."Of course not" he says.

Natchez Sheriff--the end of a long line of racists gets a nice CL send up

The clarion ledger did this story about outgoing Natchez Sheriff William "Tommy" Ferrell, who followed his dad into office stretching the line into the 50s. Ferrell's father was one of the sheriffs from the 'bad ole days' when civil rights or the mention of it could get you killed. His father was one of the ones that would look the other way when a racist handed out a beating to someone that was to 'upity' or was an 'agitator'...well, that was, if he wasn't helping out himself.

So here we have a guy that took over, did change from his daddy's ways (as the earth had moved). read below from the paper:

Ferrell believes sheriffs' races should be nonpartisan. "I don't make decisions based on party," he said. "I based them on professionalism and the law."
-----------

See, this is where the heartwarming article starts letting the sewage slip in. If Ferrell believes this, he would not have been part of one of the most racially divisive campaigns in the state. The Races in Natchez and surrounding Adams county were some of the most racially charged in the state. If this were his true feelings, he would not have switched parties. if they don't matter (or shouldn't) why would he join the party that, with the supervisors race there, went into the heavily african american precincts to have 'monitors' challenge as many votes as possible. this was the story all over the state, but here, it was one of the worst spots. I dealt with this in the weeks leading up to the election and it made me sick.

I had to personally dispatch attorneys down to the precinct level there on election day just to TRY and stave off these vultures who think voting and liberty is no long a right. the article quotes Johnny Junkin of the Adams county GOP:

"We weren't able to convince African-American voters to vote Republican," Junkin said. "Party affiliation doesn't change anything about the way he handles law enforcement."
-----

well, you know what? it does. if you run as a dem and change parties just after you win, it effects how we see you because you are a no good, rotten liar. you would put yourself before the public to say 'this is who i am. elect me' and then you'd reveal you were lying the whole time. Now when that lie puts you in this little cabaal that is actively working to keep black people from voting...in YOUR ELECTION...it says a lot. it says a lot about a man who claimed to want to change the image of the Miss. Sheriff (from what his daddy shaped it to be). Mr. Ferrell failed at that, but you know what? you could have guessed it. there's a place for him at Haley Barbour's table. He's been offered a job.

I guess they really are short on turncoat, lying, race-baiters. i'd have thought he had plenty.

Saddam has been captured--quick thoughts

I'm very curious about how this is going to play out. I am also curious if Time/Newsweek will do a special edition or squeeze this into the Tues. mag. usually they do very in-depth coverage and i'll enjoy their take on how it happened.

My take? i'm curious as to how it happened and what he has to say. Maybe its my nature, but equal to 'what does he have to say?' in my mind is "what sort of political hay will Bush make out of this". I am not one of those people that want america to Fail so that by proxy bush can fail, but i am someone that is sick of his ability to shrug off all things that he had no business doing, yet did.

I am glad this is one year away from the election and not playing out next september or october. i'm curious as to what the guy has to say about WMD. it would be very very good for the administration if he came clean about something. on the otherhand, captured, facing trial and execution, if he called the US on it. claiming he had notihing it could prove politically interesting.

Probably the most important issue, short term, is whether the attacks on US soldiers will be minimized. The coming weeks will be telling as to who was doing the attacks.

Loyalists? If so, do they have a reason to continue on?
Al Queda? If so, the stories of Bin Laden moving more emphasis in Iraq may be true.
Someone else?

Hopefully the attacks will fall off to a trickle, but i'm not that optimistic...Though, I hope.

NOTE from Polly: It should be mentioned that Mr. Mooch should have entered this as i should have been asleep. however, my lovely wife woke ME up at 6am to see this and not him. he is still asleep, so thanks to my wife for keeping me abreast of all the latest news.

DICK CHENEY IN OUR MIDST

My pal just called. seems the Dick is in town for a fundraiser and blocking off virtually all of central jackson. my pal is now off work and stuck away from home for god knows how long. he's also sworn off republicans because of this.

heh.

A Baghdad Thanksgiving's Lingering Aftertaste

BOY! wasn't that thanksgiving trip to Iraq a morale builder!?! i mean, weren't they all thrilled to see the president cared enough to see them on T-day?....um...well, if you count the fact that they were all screened, so that only the pro bushies were around the president, it all seems to make sense.

I know what you're thinking. what LIBERAL CRAP PAPER are you looking to for this swill. well my friend, none other than STARS AND STRIPES, the official paper for the US armed forces. you know what liberals they are!

Our president lives his life like the boy in the bubble, unaware of the world around him and informed by his handlers. Bush has already admitted that he doesn't follow the news but rather relies on his aides. Its like having a leader that is willingly lead by handlers and campaign donors building a fantasy world for him.

i know only contempt.

Op-Ed Columnist: No Will to Win?


From the NY Times:
"But like the Union general George McClellan, the Democrats have been too timid to take full advantage. It's a party for the faint of heart. The Republicans are hijacking elections and redistricting the country and looting the Treasury and ignoring the Constitution and embittering our allies, while the Democrats are — let's see, fumbling their way through an incoherent primary season and freaking out over Al Gore's endorsement of Howard Dean."

...and i agree. you know, as each day goes by, i see more and more need for Gen. Wes Clark.

Doctors Sue Insurers

They're suing for hundreds of millions of dollars....um...what happened to the tort reform you guys were so hyped up about? don't you guys wanna sue for $250,000 like the CAP you've asked for? i mean, certainly that would be enough to teach the insurance companies a lesson...and you're not in it for the money...right?

BS. shoe is on the other foot and these folks want the very same access to civil justice they wish to deny to others. I'll tell you what. you wanna see where the loyalties lie? ok Doc's, make your GOP pals decide between you and the Insurnace companies. you'll be waiting at the alter.

IF YOU LIKE DEAN

If you like dean, you should read this and think about it, esp. the numbers.

POLLY ON TV...or at least ETV.

Somehow i've been drafted to go on a live political show here in Mississippi where we'll discuss/debate the new Medicare bill/law. i have no idea who'll be on with me. i'm officially 'against' it, so there. it seems
you can listen online, on the radio, or on TV on Mississippi public radio/Television. Just for godssake please don't call in with some impossible question.

i should probably study this some more, being that its the biggest change to the law in ever.

MR. MOOCH REMINDS ME:

US forces are starting to use razor wire to surround villages, demolishing homes and buildings associated with attacks on Americans, and imprisoning the relatives of suspected guerrillas. Mr. Mooch points out that, over time the US should have seen how well this calmed the water in Israel.

NEWT GINGRICH (on Sunday):
"We've gone off a cliff in Iraq."

"Uncovered: The Whole Truth About The Iraq War" DVD - A BuzzFlash Premium

i read a great article about this documentary on salon.com. now i want a copy!

Bin Laden's Iraq Plans

Seems Bin Laden is moving his Al Qaeda forces to Iraq because of the success in killing americans thus far. he said this is the best opportunity to do more damage, according to Sharafullah, who claims to be at the meeting where this was decided. US officials brushed off the idea of this happening, but had no comment when asked if they think the meeting actually occured

Great. Iraq may become the central front for the war on terror in the end. hope this pans out to be true or unsuccessful. read the article and tell me what you think.

YOU CAN'T SPELL BUSH WITHOUT BS

On the way to Iraq, Airfoce One comes across a british airways jet that sees the President's plane.
The British Airways pilot (Dan Bartlett) radioed in:

'Did I just see Air Force One?,'
(pause)
Air Force One pilot: 'Gulfstream 5.'
(longer pause) (the gulfstream is a much smaller plane)
British Airways pilot: 'Oh.'

see, he realized he was 'in' on the top secret flight of the president going somewhere ultra secret! neat huh?

well, too bad it didn't happen. seems british airways didn't have any planes contacting airforce one in flight.

SO THE WHITE HOUSE HAS TO CHANGE THEIR STORY--the pilot actually contacted the traffic control tower back in london. still cool though, huh?

NOPE, that was a LIE too!! British Airways confirms THAT never happened either.

so finally the white house comes clean, Scott McLellan explains:
"what we always try to do for you all in the press corps is to provide you a little color of important events, because we believe that's helpful to you for your stories, and to do your reporting to the American people."

UM...so you just LIE if it doesn't sound good enough? that it? glad we got that straight.

RUSH LIMBAUGH in 2003 AMERICAN CENTURY CHAMPIONSHIP

OK, the cops when to Rush's house to get some evidence for possible crimes he committed. when confronted about whether or not Rush was Doctor shopping (which is illegally going to diff docs to get more Rx drugs than you are allowed--you know, like JUNKIES do), he stated: "What these records show is that Mr. Limbaugh suffered extreme pain and had legitimate reasons for taking pain medication."

this was on his show.

so, if he was in so much pain, how was he playing in these golf tournaments?

ELEMENTARY my dear Watson! I'll tell you how. he was in the painless bliss of a hopped up junkie on his chosen high. pain pills. that's how!

Award denial angers Congressman Gene Taylor

Uh oh, you got the most conservative Dem in congress mad now! seems that one of our Mississippi boys was hurt by an Iraqi booby trap but denied a Purple Heart by the Administration. see, you give purple hearts to soldiers wounded in combat. seems they think if you cut the # of people getting them, you can cut the official number of 'wounded'.

Makes you proud of President Bush doesn't it?

The Last Samurai

Saw this movie opening nite. I think its quite possibly the best film i have seen all year. I've read reviews that maligned the ending and i just don't see it. i thought it was good throughout. we should definately see oscar nods for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best supporting actor, cinematography, art direction, and costume design. by the end, i could hear many people openly weeping in the theatre.
Highest Recommendation.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN SMOKING BANS

I can understand if people do not like smoke. i'm also fine with the operators of any building instituting a 'no smoking' policy of their own in any place. HOWEVER, we don't need a law banning it everywhere. basically you have non-smokers not wanting to have to bother with avoiding smoke. if you don't like smoke, go where they don't allow it!

while i'm at it, where are all these places around the state that non-smokers to suffer everyday? my local florists are smoke free. so's Target. all the grocery stores. the mall. the movies. can't smoke in the government buildings. or at the tire store. or the gas station. hell, you can't smoke at many (most) restaurants.

so what is it? Bars & Restaurants? i'm not saying no ones ever been annoyed by smoke in bars or restaurants, but you cannot honestly tell me that this has become a significant problem for the bulk of the people of this state. its relatively rare, to my experience. certainly not common enough to require a government ban. but you know, that's not what its about, is it? its about having your way 100% of the time.

I almost never sit in a smoking section of a restaurant. i'm not a big fan of cigarette smoke, but if i told you that it was such a problem that we need a new law...i'd be a liar. its not. let businesses decide for themselves, just like they have in virtually every aspect of our lives (regarding if smoking is allowed). as you can see, non-smokers are doing just fine on that score. if you aren't happy with their decison.

let them know and then vote with your feet.

Suha Arafat's fantastic voyage

seems arafat's wife is living pretty well on a $100,000/month allowance in paris. too bad the $$ they have largely comes from the Palestinian Authority bank book. i have a feeling their country (to be) could use the money to, eh?

White House criticizes Kerry's use of the F-word

Kerry uses a swear in a Rolling Stone magazine interview. I myself was a little suprised. even more so to see that white house Chief of Staff Andrew Card said "That's beneath John Kerry," as the official white house line.

you have to wonder if he gives the same rebuke to his boss, the shrub, over these gems:

F**k Saddam. We're taking him out.-George W. Bush, March 2002, as reported in Time.

You no-good f**king son of a b***h, I will never f**king forget what you wrote.
-George W. Bush, to journalist Al Hunt in front of his 4-year old daugher, 1987.

oh, and don't forget that time in 2000 on the campaign where he and Cheney forgot the mic was on.

the pot and the kettle my friends. the pot and the kettle.

One Thousand Reasons

i can't count this high.

WATCH THIS

One of the Strongest Presidential ads i've ever seen.

GOP wants Reagan to REPLACE FDR on the Dime

It seems that the GOP cannot get enough of Ronald Reagan. they are wanting to replace FDR with Reagan on the dime. Even Nancy Reagan says its a bad idea. i guess i'd like him too if boring IKE was as good as it got for the GOP in that stretch between Teddy Roosevelt at the turn of the century and Reagan 80 years later.

Ah heck. lets reflect. FDR only pulled us out of the depression, and guided our nation through WW2 after we were attacked.

hey, you know, Reagan was pres. when our Marines were attacked in Lebanon by Iran back terrorists. Thank god Reagan was there to bold move us out of Lebanon asap and then begin a series of secret arms deals with Iraq. now THAT's how you handle terrorists! ah, at least he lied about it to the American people. (Heck, the nice ole dems didn't even try to impeach him!)

um... I'll keep FDR thank you very much.

The French Report our Casualties when the President Will Not

If its not rosey, this administration doesn't want you t know it exists. i found this about our soldiers.

7,000 soldiers have left Iraq due to psychological problems.
2,200 sustained serious injuries including loss of limbs.
1,700 US Troops have deserted thus far.

I have to wonder if they'll get the same treatment bush got when HE never showed up to his Ala. gig in the national guard. we call that desertion, he calls that...'um, lets move on to the next subject'.

Newly elected Rankin prosecutor arrested on DUI charge

This GOP DA David Clark promised to be tough on criminals...um...so does that mean he is gonna be extra hard on himself?

this sad sack beat the other republican and THAT GUY sued to reverse the election because he felt Clark wasn't mentally stable enough to have the job. then he sued to stop Clark from getting the job because he claimed Clark couldn't practice law in Miss. (he can).

talk about a sore loser!

SHOTGUN WEDDING

An interesting article about the GOP wooing the AARP to (historically) support the GOP "Pill Bill" outlined for you below.

I'M LOOKING FOR THE QUOTE FOR CONTEXT...

In an ominous accessment, General Tommy Franks, interviewed by a Cigar Aficianado Magazine, stated that if weapons of mass destruction were ever used on the United States, we could become a military dictatorship.

KNOW WHAT I HATE ABOUT DVD's?

how they are starting to do fullscreen and widescreen versions of the movies. several times i almost got a damned fullscreen abomination because i wasn't looking close enough to the packaging! you know, they used to spend the extra 2 cents and put BOTH versions on the same disc, and that was fine. now? noooooo! bah. this crap is just a pain.

d

d

d

saw the matrix 3 tonite.

i liked it just fine. it was about 1000x better than part 2. it had virtually none of the stuff i hated from part 2 and that's a damn good start. it was MUCH more of sci fi movie than a kung fu, shoot em up, mind bender like before. it seemed to lack a lot of what made the 1st one unique, a lot of what made the 2nd one suck, and still wasn't too bad.

what was too bad was the freezing cold theatre we were in. my nose and ears were cold and the door handle was cold to the touch. despite my complaints, it never got better.

strangely, Neo (Reeves) seemed to be barely in 1/2 the movie. Trinity in less than that. gorjus complained that the lines were like a book of cliches, but i thought they were at least delivered well. it was fun to watch and i'll likely not see it again, but i had a good time.

NEW MOVIES
Lately, i've been wanting to see the new Lord of the Rings and wanna see the Two Towers again on DVD.

anyone see the runaway jury? TX Chainsaw Massacre? Bad Santa?

it seems that there were a ton of movies i wanted to see 3 weeks ago. now there are 3. i missed the sneak preview of The Last Samurai tonite (one showing) we were one of a few hundred theatres across the nation that got the sneak preview. this coming after the opening date was brought back 1 week earlier (12/5) b/c of the RAVE reviews it got. i guess they smelled a winner.

OH, one last question. anyone know when the Oscar dates are? meaning when must your movie have been released to be in contention for the oscar? is it w/in the calendar year being considered?

PILL BILL

the main complaint is that it's very expensive and pays for very little, BUT helps Drug companies on every step of the way. they do need government handouts, don't they?

The real problem? it pads the bill for anyone, no matter how rich they are. its not just a payment for those that cannot afford it. that's where the big cost jumps...oh well, gotta pay those drug companies back for the campaign dough i guess. the actual cost of drugs does not go down PLUS...

we get a ban on drugs from Canada by requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to guarantee the drugs are safe...something i guarantee will not happen. Drug companines wouldn't like that, now would they?

Oddly enough, Trent Lott and i agree about disliking this bill for the same reasons. hmm....

In an Odd Turn of Events, the vote was held open for an amazing 3+ hours, as the count was 218 to 216, defeating the bill. the house leadership wouldn't close the vote on the bill until they could twist some arms to get the votes switched.

OK, Here's your crib notes on the new bill, courtesy of the NYTimes. the $$ we're spending roughly on Rx drugs for our elderly is roughly 1/2 of what we are spending yearly on Iraq.

Under "standard prescription drug coverage," defined in the Medicare bill, a beneficiary would be responsible for the first $250 in drug costs each year. Of the next $2,000, Medicare would cover 75 percent and the beneficiary would pay 25 percent, or $500. The beneficiary would then be responsible for all of the next $2,850 in drug costs.

The beneficiary would thus pay $3,600 for the first $5,100 worth of medicine in a year, and that does not include the premiums, estimated at $420 a year. Beyond that, Medicare would cover 95 percent of the cost of each prescription, after the patient had spent $3,600.

CNN.com - Schwarzenegger paroles another Murderer

Tough on crime! i read that this is the second murderer he's paroled in the last month. yay.

Woman Knocked Unconscious By Wal-Mart Shoppers

Ummm. its Wal-Mart. their sales aren't THAT good.

I'm serious.

They aren't.

The GOP's Richard Perle Problem -or- The Truth Comes Out...again

Well, looks like War Profiteer/Pentagon hawk(er) Richard Perle's been talking more than he should. he's been talking about how the war was set in motion on illegal grounds AND a little bit on how iraq made and offer to avert war, but we kept it secret and tossed it. great. i hope this GOP crap finally starts to catch up with them.

ORRIN HATCH staffer hacks Senator's Computers

Seems his staff is hacking into confidential Dem. Senators' computers. when questioned about it previously, he made a joke that some 'conscious stricken' dem probably leaked the secret files.

uh huh.

MOVIE NEWS...

ASTRO CITY will become a movie.

Michael Caine is in talks with Warner Bros to play Alfred in the new BATMAN movie.

DAY-LEWIS AS AL GHUL?
-
According to Batman On Film, the name most often
being bandied about for the upcoming BATMAN 5 role
of Ra's Al Ghul is Daniel Day-Lewis, most recently
of GANGS OF NEW YORK.

THE SOPRANOS return March 7, 2004.

George Lucas is rumored to be messing with the original STAR WARS trilogy again, to bring it in line with the prequels.

Editor's Cut

This is an interesting article from The Nation which asks why people in Ala. (and elsewhere) will vote against their own intersts, as when the they will stick to the GOP when the clearly are not helping them. in response there are a few emails linked up top. i produce one here in its entirety because i think its warrants a read. I really believe this, and it does not matter if the democrats like this or not, they better understand it because underestimating this vote will not help us.

I am a white male born and bred in Leon County, Florida, eighteen miles from the Georgia line. I don't drive a pick-up truck with a gun rack in the back and I have never shown the Confederate flag but I wear a Seminole baseball hat, hoop and holler every fall for the FSU football team and would defend to the death the red clay foothills of the Appalachians that form this corner of what is known as the "South."

I just read "Alabama on my Mind" by Katrina vanden Heuvel in the November 10 edition of Editor's Cut. I do not have a direct answer for why people in Alabama voted against what vanden Heuvel considers their best interest but I hope to offer a clue as to why vanden Heuvel and others of her political persuasion remain perplexed by the voting ways of southerners, westerners, hunters and other residents of "red" America (Bush country).

After Howard Dean's recent reiteration of his aspiration to bring under the Democrat's tent the guys who drive pick-up trucks with confederate flags in the back windows, I heard vanden Heuvel on MSNBC's "Hardball."

She described the confederate flag with the same terminology as Mr. Dean as he tried to recover from what he called a clumsy attempt to appeal to voters. "The confederate flag is a loathsome symbol," she said.

Now, ain't that a sure fire cure for clumsiness?

This choice of words reveals a misunderstanding of white men in the South and of people in general, a misunderstanding that speaks volumes about why Democrats, the party of the people, have performed so abysmally since Nixon first adopted the Southern Strategy, in leading and maintaining the prominence in Presidential politics of Republicans, the party of the rich.

I do not dispute that the flag is justifiably rejected by many African-Americans whose ancestors suffered terribly under it and who encounter daily the legacy of slavery in their lives today. They stand on proven ground when they advocate that the Confederate flag not be flown over their state capitols. Nor will I argue that those who show the flag do not have tendencies, or worse, toward racism.

But southern white men do not normally put that flag in the back of their truck to recruit Ku Klux Klan members, advocate racist policies or proclaim that they are white supremacists.

They show the Confederate flag to make the statement "I am a man." "Look at me," they demand. "Look at my pick-up truck, my gun-rack, my flag that symbolizes as few symbols can: DEFIANCE."

"The South will rise again," they say. "And the federal government will never, ever be able to extinguish its spirit, a sprit worthy of honor because it is associated with being a god-fearing man who protects his wife, takes care of his children and makes sacrifices for the good of his family."

Conversely, that flag in the back window says of the truck owner you can tax my property, my income, charge me fees to hunt and drive my truck, educate me and mine poorly, deny me good jobs, regulate me to death, and demean me every which way but it will not work. Because you cannot rob me of my manhood."

That flag says something else, too. It says, "whenever a politician (or a pundit on television advocating for a group of politicians) tells me that my manhood is "loathsome", you can bet your bottom dollar, he'll never get my vote. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER."

Unfortunately for Democrats, George W. Bush and most of the Republicans have an intuitive grasp for what those who wave the Confederate flag intend to communicate.

And like it or not - no matter vanden Heuvel's intellectual or emotional take or Howard Dean's instinctive appeal compromised by offensive apology - their intuition will continue to attract votes.

Barring failed Bush economic policies or handling of Iraq to propel a Democrat into the Presidency, the office will remain an elusive goal for Democrats if they cannot read the obvious central message of a flag from a war that ended more than a century ago and refrain from labeling as loathsome its messenger.

Ain't it the truth?

Trent Malone, Tallahassee, FL

THIS IS IT!

If Dean wins the Nomination, you can expect this to be the campaign issue of the year. I don't know if we can win this kind of fight.

Mr. Mooch needs a lid.

Mr. Mooch told me that he wants to get a fez for the swinging parties we hope to be having soon. I hope to have some photos up here...i'm hoping to have a few done in somewhat of a "Blue Note" style. We'll see. As some of you know, i'd like to put together a Flash Animation of the 'opening credits' for POLLY & THE MOOCH. If you know someone that would help on that project, please feel free to buzz me.

Three U.S. Troops Killed in Iraq

I don't think its all rosey in Iraq when children are dragging american soldiers through the streets and pummeling their bloody bodies with concrete. these were KIDS, not organized soldiers for saddam. If Bush thought we were going to be loved by the basic citizens in Iraq when we started the occupation...well, maybe he should explain it more completely to these boys' parents. Sickening.

ORRIN HATCH IS A JERK

Discussing the recent GOP Protest filibuster, Orrin Hatch argued that the democrats, in blocking 4 of bush's judicial nominees, were playing politics in a way that was unheard of and unconstitutional. except....(from the Wash. Post):

(In 1980) Senate Republicans mounted a filibuster against President Carter's nominee for general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board -- a man who had served as a career attorney at the board for 27 years.

The senator leading the filibuster said it was his "unfortunate duty to challenge the nomination" because, although he "personally liked" the nominee, he was "too pro-labor" and other qualified nominees would be "acceptable to business."

That senator was Orrin Hatch. does that mean he now hates himself, thinks he was out of line, and should be ashamed!? don't hold your breath.

U.S. General Says Bin Laden 'Out of the Picture'

THE BALL HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY DROPPED

After the "sideshow" of iraq (Wesley Clark's words), diverting our time, ability, and emphasis away from the Afganistan-based terror organization that attacked our country--we get this.

It seems a Senior US General has stated that finding bin laden is not a top priority anymore. It fills me with a great anger to think that we are searching for Saddam with such zeal, and we are dropping the one terrorist that actually attacked us and promised to do it again. Is this what we are to expect from a Bush Administration? Before we started the job in Afganistan (let alone finish it), we find a deversionary war in Iraq. All the while, our President plays a shell game with our soldiers and the good will this nation has built over generations in order to put aside two facts--This administration has hardly completed its task in either country and had not the planning to properly succeed in the first place.

We can only be told to look elsewhere, or told that things are better than the reality bares out, for so long. We are clearly no safer now than before invading Iraq. The risk Iraq was made of as much fabrication and truth stretching as it was weapons of mass destruction. Never in the last century has this nation been held in lower regard. I am curious to know when, in the history of our nation, has a president and an administration been held so low in world opinion.

This contempt is no mystery. it is born out of our own actions, which have over and over been shown to be the product of medacity. There were no credible ties between the Taliban and Iraq. There was no imminent threat of attack from WMD's in Iraq. And, finally, we have this article here. Richard Perle, has served as the chairman of the Defense Policy Board, an advisory panel to the Pentagon. Here he puts it in simple words. when the Bush administration (the administration he advised to go to war) said that we had the Authorization of the UN to attack Iraq, he was lying. it was widely claimed by Bush, Rumsfeld, Powell, Rice, and a host of my republican friends that we had all the authorization we needed in previously passed UN Resolutions. he states, "international law ... would have required us to leave Saddam Hussein alone."

SO WHY DID WE DO IT?

Partly due to the paranoia of Dick Cheney. our VP that has spent the bulk of his time in office (since 9/11) in hiding. He hides from public view and scrutiny, consumed by 2 issues--his fear that the twin towers attack was a preamble and the need to 'complete' the job of the first gulf war. Our own President has the conviction to do what is right--stay the course--but not the mental compass to set the course himself. Enter our cabal of Hacks. men culled from the GOP administrations past. hand picked unilateralists that need no assistance from anyone on earth...that would mean that decisions and spotlights and victories would have to be shared.

Shared victories are not savored by a party that courts the isolationist. War profiteering is not as lucrative if there are other nations in on the action. In every instance the president has wanted as little oversight or input as possible at every juncture. To his suprise, the presidential will did not find acquiescence, and this clearly seemed to shock him. it was as if the mode and tone of international relations, as developed over the last 50 years, was lost on him. It has always been the case that you can act without approval, but there is a cost. Bush's minders did not care because they held these institutions in contempt. Bush was left wondering, clearly wondering why there was no rush to agreement.

"Why did the world not see Iraq in such clear black and white?" "Do we need proof in the form of a mushroom cloud?"

The evidence was not convincing because it did not exist. the exaggerations place before the world were believable to leaders that wore blinders, or sought American aid or acceptance into NATO. Bush called them the "Coalition of the Willing". None of this mattered much because most every party involved needed Iraq. One needed the massaging eyes that military power provides the ego (Rumsfeld). One needed to sooth his paranoia over this terrorism blunder (Cheney, see previous writing on this matter). Finally, one needed to be a leader in action, not just talk. He needed to strap on his holster and show he wasn't just in the fight, like he said at ground zero, but prove he'd WON the fight. He needed the military fortitude he did not himself have in Vietnam when he used his father's strings for safety--stateside. The problem is that he hasn't truly won a war that we did not have to fight in the first place. we have not been made safer. our very nation is held in contempt by former allies. Our President needed to stand tall, but he could only do that on the backs of our dead soldiers, fighting not for truth, but rather his mendacity. Our soldiers swore to fight for our nation and our freedom. they did not pledge themselves to our president's mendacity. I am tired of watching our president spit on our soldiers and tell me i am not patriotic for agreeing with it.

My nation needs protecting, Iraq needs direction, and my president is sorely unqualified for the job.

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | War critics astonished as US hawk admits invasion was illegal

wow.

Here Is the Breakdown

...of how the Michael Jackson story developed.

Russian dies after winning vodka-drinking contest

Poor guy, he wins the contest and what does he get? A Coffin! several runners up had to go to the ER.

"The competition lasted 30, perhaps 40 minutes and the winner downed three half-litre bottles. He was taken home by taxi but died within 20 minutes,"

YEESH! i usually avoid vodka myself.

Listening to ATLANTIC CITY tonite

This is probably my favorite Springsteen song, but I really only listen to it when I'm in a very serious mood. It's powerful in many directions and pulls thoughts out of my head. It starts:

Well, they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night
Now, they blew up his house, too
Down on the boardwalk they're gettin' ready for a fight
Gonna see what them racket boys can do
Now, there's trouble bustin' in from outta state
And the d.a. can't get no relief
Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade
And the gamblin' commission's hangin' on by the skin of his teeth.

Its a vague talk about some sort of muscle (gangland?) getting out of hand. those lines are a strong pull to this song for me. the song often helps me focus on my work, which is often fighting people or fighting for people, in one way or another. i find the stark and serious nature of the words gripping.

Well, I got a job and tried to put my money away
But I got debts that no honest man can pay
So I drew what I had from the central trust
And I bought us two tickets on that coast city bus.

I have no explanation for you. but there have been several times in my life when my whole world was literally up in the air. if a few things didn't fall just right--and much of it was down to luck as much as anything else--every inch of my life and the furture i'd planned for myself would have crashed. the hopelessness of those words are painfully clear. you have yourself behind the 8-ball and you've got to cling to the desperate chances you find. often it's the only one that you can find. Finally, the chours (in part):

Well now, ev’rything dies, baby, that’s a fact
But maybe ev’rything that dies someday comes back

perhaps the best string of words Springsteen ever strung together...at least if you felt like you were losing everything. always some hope, even if it sounds wrenchingly out of reach. what ever gets you through the nite, you know?

good song.

AS IF YOU DID NOT KNOW ALREADY...

There are already some polls out concerning former justice moore's possible run for governor. he'll likely challenge the sitting gov. in the primary which may leave an opening for the DEMS if they have anyone, particularly w/ how weak the gov. is at this point. After watching that film AGAIN of Moore pretending to install the 10 commandments monument and then praying before it like an alter, his face tight, as if in anguish...its sickening to this christian. the sad part is that people don't mind this man stepping on our freedoms AND our/my religion as a publicity stunt to get votes. what scum.

Poor Alabama, they get tricked into voting against shifting the tax burden off of backs most of the public, in favor of thestatus quo which can no longer pay for basic services like roads and schools. i'm anxious to see how all this pans out when the GOP types REALLY get what they want in hard times. lets see how it works out.

YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS NOW!!

HERE WE GO! i think this guy can win. General Wesley Clark goes OFF on the FOXNews anchor calling them on their conservitive slant--ON AIR!! AMAZING. now THAT is the sorta thing i've yet to see from ANYONE this high up in the game. kudos for Clark.

THIS CRACKS ME UP

OK, get this. Congressional slime, Tom Delay (R, TX) has this deal where he calls you in a recorded message saying YOU WON "a national leadership award." you are supposed to return his call ASAP to get the low down, but guess what? when you call you get a telemarketer hitting you up for a political DONATION, after which you get your award. MSNBC reports a convicted sex offender won the Delay leadership award. i guess he's proud to be on the Tom Delay team!

Got any other loathsome, criminal types you wanna recruit there Tommy?

SO TELL ME THIS...

Is Roy Moore breaking the 2nd Commandment when he places a giant stone monuments, and idolization of Moses' tablets, where people have gone to kneel (before it) and pray? just wondering.

CRIB NOTE:
2nd commandment--no graven idols/images

GOP Filibuster

the GOP recently filibustered to protest the fact that 4 of Bush's court nominees aren't getting an up/down vote (compared to 68 of Clintons, or that Bush has gotten more judges appointed--at this point in his term--than any president in a generation). the funny thing is that the Dems haven't filibustered ANY of these judges, the only filibusters done were by the GOP. and they say Dems are wasting time.

cry me a river. oh, in case you missed it--

Bush got mad at the Dems "playing politics" with his judicial nominations. But OOPS! Seems someone leaked a memo from Elizabeth Keys, a senior communications advisor for the Senate Republican Conference,showing that Senate Republicans were in with Fox News over this whole thing! The memo to the senate staffers says:

"It is important to double efforts to get your boss to S-230 on time ... Fox News Channel is really excited about this marathon and Brit Hume at 6 would love to open with all our 51 senators walking onto the floor - the producer wants to know will we walk in exactly at 6:02 when the show starts so they get it live to open Brit Hume's show? Or if not, can we give them an exact time for the walk-in start?"

FoxNews, you're the best!

Satan Causes Poor Mental Health, of God Does Not Like You

Well, look at good ole D. Nick Rerras. He's a state Senator from Virginia. it seems he drew some heat when he suggested that mental illnesses are caused by...get this...demons! According to the article, a conversation turned to the topic of mental illness, during which Rerras said "he believed mental illness was caused by demons," and, "God may be punishing families by giving children mental illnesses." Yeah. to corrupt a Dean Martin quote: Vote Republican and stamp out mental health!

FOX PRODUCER COMES CLEAN

Seems FOXNews producer Charles Reina published an open letter concerning the network after working there for the last 7 years. from the letter:

"Not once in the 20+ years I had worked in broadcast journalism prior to Fox - including lengthy stays at The Associated Press, CBS Radio and ABC/Good Morning America - did I feel any pressure to toe a management line. But at Fox, if my boss wasn't warning me to 'be careful' how I handled the writing of a special about Ronald Reagan ('You know how Roger [Fox News Chairman Ailes] feels about him.'), he was telling me how the environmental special I was to produce should lean ('You can give both sides, but make sure the pro-environmentalists don't get the last word.')"

Reina continues: "Editorially, the FNC newsroom is under the constant control and vigilance of management... the roots of FNC's day-to-day on-air bias are actual and direct. They come in the form of an executive memo distributed electronically each morning, addressing what stories will be covered and, often, suggesting how they should be covered....The Memo was born with the Bush administration, early in 2001, and, intentionally or not, has ensured that the administration's point of view consistently comes across on [Fox]."

NOW WAITAMINUTE! Bill O'Reilly promised us that we're in a "no spin zone" at foxNews? you mean he's lying?! i better go tell Al Franken about this.

Anybody in the University System out there? i have to wonder how communications departments look on FoxNews.

EVIDENTLY ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES, CALIFORNIA

Alright, get this. Gov. Gray Davis asks (personally) Bush to give up $430 Million from FEMA (Fed. Emergency Mgt. Agency) to prevent the Calf. wildfires disasters we have right now. answer? NO, he claims FEMA money is for AFTER the disaster. so guess what. we have the disaster and bush signs into law a $500 Million payment to calif to deal with the wildfires...now that they started. what a leader.

NEW POLL IN BRITIAN
(As published in the Sunday Times in London...not too shocking):

37% said Mr Bush was "stupid".
33% said he was "incoherent".

On his positives:
7% find him to be a good world leader.
6% find him articulate.
10% find him intelligent.

The Tabloids appear to be going nuts over the visit as well. THE DAILY MIRROR's headline: CHICKEN GEORGE!

haw haw haw!

I'm Ready for this to go away

It's a distraction for ONE and it give the GOP (controlling 3 branches of gvt) ideas. do you WANT this issue to be in the public forum again? do you think that the GOP couldn't DO this owning 3 branches of gvt AND the maj. of the governorships (ROCK ON LOUISIANA!--see below)? they are in better shape NOW to do it than in the past.

OK? got it? everybody quit talking about this! yeesh! don't give 'em ideas!

I Saw Love Actually

What a DAMN good movie. sweet but not too. totally not a cheese out love movie. so well done. go see it.

its better than ELF, (fyi)

DEMOCRAT Blanco elected Louisiana governor

LOUISIANA ELECTS ITS FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR! This race has been only semi-close. The GOP was expected to walk away with this one....THEY DIDN'T!

HELL YEAH!

How Bush betrayed Blair

Interesting. it seems that bush would stand up against Sharon if Blair backed him in Iraq. this seems to be a very convincing reason as to why Blair would go to war w/o the proof. the problem is that Bush welshed.

MY WIFE...

tho sometimes she makes me feel like i'm living an Andy Capp Strip (and i like that), she's pretty damn great. Tonite she made a special Lasagna for my mom's birthday. i told her i wish i weren't full so i could go eat more of it.

ALSO, Chocolate pie instead of B-day cake. a GOOD tradition! Happy Bday mom!

HAW! someone came to my site after putting "pathetic workers comp lawyer." into google. heh... HEY! should i be offended!?!

ANOTHER QUOTE

"'I think if you know what you believe, it makes it a lot easier to answer
questions. I can't answer your question.'
-George W. Bush, Reynoldburg, Ohio, Oct. 4, 2000."

10 Commandments Monument stands

As long as you are in the 5th Circuit. As a christian, i find it questionable that the court buys that the monument is more HISTORICAL than religious. Like the "no other gods before me" or "no idols" parts? historical? laughable.

SINCE IT’S AFTER 6pm...

Ode to My Sixth Martini

Rising high above the bar,
Your frosted stem reveals how chilled you are.
Clear and crisp and dry as dust,
I will, I must.
Oh perfect gin Martini,
No one shall e’er impeach you.
Now if I could just stand upright,
Just long enough to reach you.

From the THIN MAN movie:

See, in mixing , the important thing is the rhythm. Always have rhythm in your shaking. Now a Manhattan, you shake to fox trot time; a Bronx to two-step time. But a Martini, you always shake to waltz-time.
--Nick Charles, The Thin Man

Nora Charles: How many drinks have you had?
Nick Charles: This will make six Martinis.
Nora Charles (to the waiter): All right. Will you bring me 5 more Martinis, Leo? Line them up right here.

I never go jogging, it makes me spill my Martini.
–George Burns

Happiness is a dry Martini and a good woman...or a bad one.
–George Burns

I should have switched from Scotch to Martinis
–reputedly, Humphrey Bogart’s last words

A man must defend his wife, his children, and his Martini.
–Jackie Gleason

CHEERS!

National Guardsman May Face Court Martial

...For (while home on leave) saying the bush Admin. lied to us about the reasons to go to war in Iraq--Specifically the WMD's that have not been found. the guardsman claims that the WMD's would have been found now and that this issue is on the forefront of our soldiers' minds

One has to wonder if 'the truth' is a defense in court martials like it is in 1st amendment cases.

Rumsfeld: 'Success' is exit strategy

This is EXACTLY the kind of thing i'm tired of hearing from Rumsfeld. the press keeps cowering when they ask him the tough questions, because he responds so gruffly.

How long will we be in Iraq? UNTIL WE'RE FINISHED!
What's our exit strategy? SUCESS!

the question i have is WHERE IS THE FOLLOW UP to this crap. Rummy has this 'take no bull' rep because he won't be 'bullied' around by the press. well big deal if they become shrinking violets after they ask a real question.

So now its mid November and we finally get to see things like "because i said so" aren't plans for war. they aren't policies. they are the remarks of leaders without a single idea as to the direction in which they are leading us.

now it's Wednesday and DOZENS are already dead this week (of course, who knows how many Iraqis are dead. such info is OFF LIMITS).

So what's the point to all this? if you're the secretary of defense, you damn well better have a better idea how to fix this colossal blunder called iraq than the word 'success'. no one expected to hear you say 'utter failure' and we are not going to put up with the utter failure we are getting. if you cannot articulate your plan to your allies, your CITIZENS, you have no plan.

our soldiers are dying and Rumsfeld doesn't even have a fabricated plan of action in Iraq, let alone a real one for us. FIRE RUMSFELD.

Krazy Kat & Ignatz 1925-1926

I'm thinking of giving in and buying this, as i really like comic art. it seems that The Comics Journal named Krazy Kat "the greatest example of the artform in the history of the medium."

wow.

we'll see about that!

YOU CAN'T COVER A PIT WITH PR!

Despite administration reports to the contrary, it seems that the situation in iraq is worse than it appears (and it looks bad on my TV set). the CIA are fearful that US efforts to build democracy may collapse if policy isn't changed immediately.

A growing number of Iraqis are siding with the insurgents attacking U.S. Forces. Their ability to attack has grown each week. One has to wonder if the Rumsfeld, et al. plan to reduce troop stength in the region is a good idea...of if Rummy can keep his job.

To our ChickenHawk-in-Chief: Mission Accomplished, eh? you mean you brought this on purpose?

How George Bush will ban abortion

this is a facinating article about the round about ways abortion rights have come under siege during the bush administration. Here a telling passage shows what is going on at the state level:

Meanwhile, statewide restrictions on abortion keep multiplying. These include parental involvement laws, mandatory waiting periods and costly regulations governing everything from the landscaping on clinic lawns to the temperature air conditioners must be set to. When challenged, these laws are reviewed by Federal Appeals Courts, which Bush is stacking with zealously anti-abortion judges.

Alabama moves to oust "10 Commandments Judge"

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore caused some controversy by posting the 10 Commandments in his courtroom a few years ago. His actions stirred the hearts of many Alabama Fundamentalist Christians, and this ushered him into the state's Supreme Court. He ran for the position of Chief Justice and won, mostly on the notoriety around this issue.

As you probably know, in the past year, Justice Moore had a garishly large STONE version of the 10 Commandments installed in the capitol building. This is a man trying to make a political career out of political stunts, and most anyone with a pulse saw this as his newest stunt--presumedly to foreshadow a run for governor.

I saw the video of him "placing" the monument in the capitol (it was made to look like he alone placed the multi-ton object there) and of him kneeling by it, praying so hard his face krinkled tight. it was a disgusting sight, because this man clearly had a video made of him doing various things around this object to appear more pious. As a christian it disgusted. As a citizen i was ashamed.

In a challenge over The Federal Court upheld the constitution and Judge Moore fought it. He publicly ignored a superior, federal order to remove the monument, citing arguments similar to the ones used by racists a generation ago.

Today the attorney general filed a brief arguing for the removal of Judge Moore. Removal, not suspension (which he's on--with pay). this should

He didn't care about the constitution. he only wanted to pull his stunt. Now, if we have any justice he'll be tossed on his ear.

...and if the Alabama GOP follows true to form, they'll run him for governor.

NOTE: the Ala. Atty. Gen. noted above is a fairly controversial appointee to the Federal Bench by Pres. Bush. He has not been confirmed by the Senate and appears to face a tough road to confirmation. One has to wonder if his filing the brief here is done to show he's not as extreme as people think he is. hmm?

Alabama moves to oust "10 Commandments Judge"

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore caused some controversy by posting the 10 Commandments in his courtroom a few years ago. His actions stirred the hearts of many Alabama Fundamentalist Christians, and this ushered him into the state's Supreme Court. He ran for the position of Chief Justice and won, mostly on the notoriety around this issue.

As you probably know, in the past year, Justice Moore had a garishly large STONE version of the 10 Commandments installed in the capitol building. This is a man trying to make a political career out of political stunts, and most anyone with a pulse saw this as his newest stunt--presumedly to foreshadow a run for governor.

I saw the video of him "placing" the monument in the capitol (it was made to look like he alone placed the multi-ton object there) and of him kneeling by it, praying so hard his face krinkled tight. it was a disgusting sight, because this man clearly had a video made of him doing various things around this object to appear more pious. As a christian it disgusted. As a citizen i was ashamed.

In a challenge over The Federal Court upheld the constitution and Judge Moore fought it. He publicly ignored a superior, federal order to remove the monument, citing arguments similar to the ones used by racists a generation ago.

Today the attorney general filed a brief arguing for the removal of Judge Moore. Removal, not suspension (which he's on--with pay). this should

He didn't care about the constitution. he only wanted to pull his stunt. Now, if we have any justice he'll be tossed on his ear.

...and if the Alabama GOP follows true to form, they'll run him for governor.

Democrats win a squeaker in the Senate!

It seems that we won this one after being in the air for a week. what we can learn from this:

1. GOP wins if fewer votes are cast.
2. Election law often turns on someone attempting to tamper with the ballot system, rather than mistakes by poll workers. the main point being that the vote, honestly cast, should be counted...and that's the most important principle.

THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH

Or at least this quote is the absoulte truth:
“It will be difficult for the Democratic Party to nominate a candidate capable of winning nationwide until it abandons the suicidal compulsion of allowing Iowa and New Hampshire to be the tail that always wags the Democratic donkey.”

While I'm gravely upset with Miller on many fronts, he does have the thing to which many of us here in the south defer--age. Meaning, once you are old enough you get to say what you want, with impunity (usually). I don't know what Zell Miller went through, but there must be a better way. maybe not.

maybe you have to burn a village to save it.

I'm back in the saddle again and will have various reports over the last week including my long withheld election recap. it'll be a doozy.

GOP Gov. Candidate Jindal (Louisiana)was reported to have Defeated Satan

holy smokes! this guy fought off satan! i wonder why he doesn't play this up?

ahem...
more later

THE CAMPAIGN STORY IS COMING. SORRY FOR THE WAIT

I've just had a lot on my plate and wanted to take a few days for myself to get my head straight.

Until then, you may notice a new link to my good friends' gallery. feel free to contact him if you would like to commission some work. his talent is more than evident. additionally, his wife Jerri does fine glass work and is a genuine talent as well.

FUNNY NOTE:

i love to see who comes to my page searching for stuff. the weirdest one so far was a guy searching google for "al franken dirty jew" while i've used all those words before, none of them together to make that sentence. i bet they were disappointed to hear i LIKE al franken, and i DON'T think he's a dirty jew. heh.

MUSGROVE LOSES.

I have more to say about this than i have time or will to type right now. i don't feel down one bit and there are TONS of things at play here. i have a lot to say, and i'll be talking with you soon.

ELECTION DAY!

HOW ARE WE GONNA DO?

i've heard that question every day for the last month.

the conventional wisdom says we lose or go to the house of representatives for the electorial vote to decide the election. everyone (even Sec. of State, Eric Clark at a press conf.) seems to think we are going to the house, so its true or we lose. i don't mind. it means we have every reason to work our ass off or we lose. it means we made this racist jerk, Haley Barbour, with more connections than anyone in the world work himself to the wire. it means this racist had to spend MULTIPLES of what the previous candidates spent (combined) for SIX MONTHS just to get NECK AND NECK with a Mississippi democrat that everyone thought was weak. i'd like to be wrong. i'd like to whip his ass, but i really just want to win.

I'm working all day tomorrow. 16 hours, at least.

i'm doing it because i don't know what else is more important in the next 24 hours.

I believe in the democrats.

I hate racists.

when we win, mississippi wins. if we lose, the state loses its heart. it's replaced by black, tainted oil.

i gave up turning my head from these things. if i play blind, i can hear. if i stuff my ears i know with my heart because it sees what these sorts of people will do to our lives and our world.

god, we have to win.

U.S. Officials See Hussein’s Hand in Attacks on Americans in Iraq

You know, it wasn't too long ago that the President and others said the attacks in Iraq were uncoordinated acts of desperate people that were 'dead enders', people that were finally being taken out of the political picture in Iraq.

UM, or maybe its Saddam orchestrating an organized series of attacks on american interests.

i guess we just get to pick, huh president bush? Luckily you are out fundraising for the RACIST VOTE here in MS this week instead of handling your mess in Iraq.

par for the course.

SUPREME COURT CONTROVERSY!

This is rich! from the C-L:

Supreme Court Justice George C. Carlson Jr. testified Wednesday that Justice Chuck McRae's verbal abuse of Chief Justice Ed Pittman was so harsh "I'll go to my grave remembering it."

"But under cross-examination, Carlson admitted he didn't recall a single word McRae said that day."
--------

um. so does that mean justice Carlson is dead? heh.

more to come on this. today there was some EXTRAORDINARY testimony. It seems that the five justices (including the chief justice that accused Justice McRae of improprieties) were meeting before hearings to decide the outcomes. Our Judiciary may soon be shaken to the foundation.

BLACKMON v. TUCK DEBATE TONITE!

Barbara Blackmon and Amy Tuck had their Lt. Gov. debate tonite, live on TV/Radio. i have to say that Barbara Blackmon did the single worst job in a debate i have ever seen. bar none. i'd take Admiral James Stockdale in the 1992 VP debates over this.

Blackmon could not have done worse if she had faked being posessed by Satan in order to avoid answering a question. that would have gone over better than the performance I saw tonite.

I had to quit watching.

HOLEY MOLEY!

Chris Matthews of MSNBC's HARDBALL didn't hold back this week. he stated White House's case for war in Iraq was:

"totally dishonest."

He adds: "(Dick Cheney) is behind it all. The whole neo-conservative power vortex, it all goes through his office. He has become the chief executive ...It's scary."

Describing the Cheney/Bush relationship:

"a man who never read any books, who didn't think too deeply, and they gave him something to think about for the first time in his life,"

The White House officially disagrees with all of this, FYI.

THE NUMBERS:

Forbes.com: US jobless claims fall in latest week: The total number of Americans filing initial jobless claims fell by 5,000 last week from a revised 391,000 the previous week, the government said on Thursday, in a sign of a convalescing U.S. job market. First-time claims for state unemployment insurance benefits fell to 386,000 in the week ended Oct. 25...
-----

ok, how in the world can you say jobless claims fell when 386,000 new claims were filed again for the first time this week? we didn't ADD jobs. we have MORE people unemployed than last week. just because our freefall slowed down by 2%, doesn't mean anyone from last week got a job. at this rate, we'll have 1 million more people on unemployment in 3 weeks. GO BUSH!

Life at FoxNews

anyone with a passing knowledge of foxnews should read this.

Zell Miller Endorses Bush

an utter shock. i always thought Zell was a bit to cozy with the GOP, but this sort of back stab is the capper. So why do this now, nearly a year out? Now guess who's selling a book where he puts down Howard Dean? pathetic.

Sharpton Calls Dean's Agenda 'Anti-Black' (washingtonpost.com)

OK. great. this helps no one.

THE FIRST SEAL HAS BEEN BROKEN

Evidently, the first real sign of the apocalypse is upon us. *shudder*

Democrat Clark blames President Bush for Sept. 11 intelligence failures

DAMN. the gloves are off. more thoughts on this later...

What Will Iraq Cost Bush?: When Newsweek runs a cover stating "Bush's $87 Billion Mess", its not good. if you are a republican.

i'm not.

None-the-less, i still get the mess.

thanks.

HIS GUILT CONTROLS HIS ACTIONS

From the article above:

"Cheney is always in Bush's ear, whispering `terrorism, terrorism, terrorism.' He's obsessed."

There’s been many stories about Cheney being more than a little concerned about terrorism...Paranoid being a better way to describe it. Maybe because the greatest terror attack in US history happened on his watch? Maybe he’s fearful of new attacks putting us all at risk? I say that’s possible, but it’s more than that. In the days and weeks after 9/11, Cheney went into hiding. Protective hiding. His whereabouts and presence has been little known and little felt in the 2 years after the attacks.

IT’S THE GUILT

You see, towards the end of the Clinton administration, after the attacks on the U.S.S. Cole, a counter terrorism plan was hatched. It was a major undertaking that was drawn up but not implemented (supposedly) because it would have been dumping a major offensive operation into the lap of an incoming administration. The plans were, however left for Bush and they were ignored. The plans were placed in the corner with no alternative vision implemented. In part I think this was because of the ‘anything but Clinton’ attitude. Over time they finally came around to reviewing the plans and deciding what parts to use themselves. This was the week of 9/11.

Now I’m not saying that they should have known, and I’m not saying that Clinton had the problem solved and 9/11 is all the GOP’s fault. What I am saying is that there was a plan out there and it was ignored. Nothing was done in its stead and then we get 9/11. No matter what, Cheney knows what he didn’t do. He knows that the administration was asleep at the wheel, regardless if he could have changed the outcome of events. For this, he feels guilt. The guilt has transformed into both a paranoia and a zealotry. His paranoid fear of being unprepared has directed him in almost every way since 9/11, but his zealotry in the matter has blinded him to a sensible way about it. As recently as the last 30 days, we have seen him AGAIN connect 9/11 and Saddam. AFTER bush admits there’s no proof. Cheney finds some perverse comfort in this lie–to us and to himself.

He is like a man in shock, curled in the fetal position, rocking back and forth, murmuring to himself some story that brings comfort (even if it’s not reality). This, I believe, is the bitter result for a man that had the responsibility of a nation dumped upon him by an incompetent President and an unconcerned Svengali (Karl Rove). He knew he could beat Iraq. He knew there was money in it. He knew he had to win at something. So we won the war...ignoring the one we need to fight.

New reports show that vital resources were taken from the war on the Al Qaida and aimed at Iraq. The Taliban are now stronger, and its our own fault.

Fox News Threatened to Sue The Simpsons

They just cannot get enough can they? Once again, Fox News shows how fragile they are by threatening to sue over an episode fo the Simpsons that makes fun of them. funny twist? the Simposons are ON FOX! i guess the best way to teach them(selves) a lesson is to sue them(selves). HAW! that's rich!

Fox let itself off with a warning and said that the Simpsons could no longer use a 'news crawl' at the bottom of the screen, because it might confuse the viewer into thinking they were watching Foxnews.

...Um...since when did FoxNews start broadcasting exclusively as a cartoon, risking this kind of confusion!?! heh.

Well, I've been down so Goddamn long...That it looks like up to me

that's the song i think about when i see this book....or when i wake up. I'm feeling righteously fed up, pissed off, and scrapping for a fight when it comes to politics right now.

The Governor's race is neck and neck and it shouldn't be for about 1000 reasons. Can Haley Barbour coddle enough of the racist-vote to get elected? wait and see!

I'm working with some people from Washington D.C. that may as well certified imbecles. While some of the work they are doing seems fairly good, almost anything that has to do with me seems so short sighted and weak minded, I wonder how they got their jobs or if they ever should get another job again. I’m sure they feel the same way about me, but rest assured, if I ever face the opportunity to work with these people again I will advise anyone within earshot to run away...fast. It’s a brutal sort of ego that will make your plans fail in order to make your resume look good. I’m not used to this sort of political pervert and son, I don’t want to be.

i'm thinking of jumping off this campaign raft and doing my own thing here renegade-style. i'm positive that anything i do without authorization cannot be nearly as bad as following orders. It can't be.

Bush's 'dream team' plagued by infighting, backstabbing

this is interesting. a few notable snips:

One U.S. diplomat, who asked not to be named, recalled what he said was Chinese exasperation over what they perceived as conflicting messages from the administration on North Korea. "We actually don't care what your point of view is. Just have one," he quoted his Chinese counterparts as saying.

This reminds me of some people i knew about 6 or 7 years ago. they hated clinton. they'd ask in mock-shock 'WHAT is his foreign policy? does it exist?'

One U.S. diplomat, who asked not to be named, recalled what he said was Chinese exasperation over what they perceived as conflicting messages from the administration on North Korea. "We actually don't care what your point of view is. Just have one," he quoted his Chinese counterparts as saying.

This reminds me of some people I knew about 6 or 7 years ago. They hated Clinton. They'd ask in mock-shock 'WHAT is his foreign policy? does it exist?' These were Int’l Relations wonks. I don’t see them much anymore, but I have to wonder how well they’d fare with the same questions today.

While many say we are directionless, I have to say that is not true. It seems that there is a policy of “Anything but what was done before.” Especially if “before” has anything to do with Clinton. Unfortunately, this isn’t a true policy, it’s a way running from ideas that aren’t your own and its irresponsible. While there are changes, the past 50 years of International Relations has been tossed. Even early on in this administration, Powell was admonished for saying that some points of policy were being carried over from the Clinton years. Karl Rove won’t have that.

this makes me uncomfortable. It’s not that I mind a differing view, it’s the fact that there seems to be no value produced by the administration’s semi-coherent theories.

2001 Nobel Prize (for economics) winner George Akerlof: "The worst government the US has ever had"

Ah, a student of logic would read this and say "you're using an appeal to authority! that argument is bogus!"

Rockets Hit Baghdad Hotel Where Wolfowitz Staying

It seems that maybe Iraq isn't as secure as we thought (even for those of us that thought it wasn't so secure anyway). the occupation is continuing and that's a failure in and of it self. We should be liberating and we are hardly able to do this because the administration did not have a solution for just who would take over. because of this they can't move on and we cannot move out...this makes us an occupying force, not a liberating force as the bush administration claimed we'd have. the 'wishful thinking' strategy has been a loser for us. its time for our president to get his act together.

Hate Group's chief calls flap over candidate photo 'amusing'

A Local Racist comments on whether Haley Barbour will lose votes by tying himself to the CCC (Council of Conservative Citizens):

"You really think this is going to hurt Haley Barbour? Only naive people think that."
-----
and as a fundamental part of "Haley's Plan" (outlined here earlier), you can see this man is right. Barbour can only win if he hits the lowest, least common denominator among republicans. its sad, and its shameful that he's doing it...but he has to do it. the only way we stop him is to bring out the voters that don't long for the bad ole' days. plain and simple.

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
--Hunter S. Thompson.

some folks make me want to avoid calling myself a "professional political consultant", which is what i am...sometimes.

I'm working on a project right now. i'm working with people that were in florida during the 2000 debacle. seeing some of these people in action here gives me a new insight on why things happened the way they did down there. I am not at liberty to elaborate on this, but you can best believe i will when that last paycheck is cashed.

The Rumsfeld Memo

Well, if you believe Yahoo! and most of the sites online today, you'd see that Donald Rumsfeld wrote a memo questioning our progress in Iraq, as well as in which direction we should go from here. All indications are that he had this document distributed.

BUT...that's not all.

If you read FoxNews, you can see that he's "Livid" over this 'leak'.

So which is it? a leak or something he handed out? mad or not? just like our foreign policy...god only knows what they're doing. i think the leak was so big that the public/press thought it was a release. heh.

Barbour's racist links tar Bush too

Well look at this! its a little more on "Haley's Plan" (to get the racist vote). he's in bed with TODAY's white supremacists and he makes no apologies for it.

why? you ask? because that's his base and that is what will elect him. if he wasn't relying on it, he wouldn't pander to them. it sickens me and makes me sad for all that this state has accomplished without the likes of him.

Haley, you're scum.

Partly Cloudy

I have been feeling a little odd lately. i have chocked it up to these self-imposed heart attacks that we political junkies have about this time of the year, 3 out of every for years (here). you may call them 'election days'.

heh.

Most people that know me know that i'm pretty damn optimistic. i'm not always happy, but i always think that i, or someone, can fix what's wrong. its just a matter of knowing what's really wrong and thinking hard enough on how to fix it. that doesn't make it easy, but rather that the means to make it all work just have to be found.

Two days ago, i saw a friend of mine named Morgan Shands. i've know morgan in various ways for 12 years, but i really only count the last 5. we were talking about work after election day and he said "So, what do you want to do?"

"So, what do you want to do?"

Morgan has a tone to let you know what he's asking isn't just chit chat. its a loaded question--if he's on your side. it isn't curiosity. its him saying "what do we need to make happen". i couldn't put a value on how that feels. all i know is that i left the room feeling like any damn thing in the world could happen...and it probably will...and it will be good. damn good.

SOUTHERN ROCK

I have no idea why, but i've been listening to Southern Rock (and Lynyrd Skynyrd in particular) a lot lately.

the Ballad of Curtis Lowe reminds me a lot of when i was a little boy. not really understanding race issues, just understanding what i liked(i was as right then as i am now).

Also been listening to one of my favorite Meloncholy songs: Melissa by the Allman Bros. i'm not down at all actually when i'm listening to that either. go figure.

Big Whoppers

I snagged this from Michael Moore:

'I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.'
Or ...
'He has weapons of mass destruction -- the world's deadliest weapons -- which pose a direct threat to the United States, our citizens and our friends and allies.'

now, if both are lies, which is worse?