YEAR END REVIEW!!!

Often this is something i'm forced to do as i encounter these bits of pop culture rather than what was actually released in the year 2004. however, whenever possible i try to keep it current.

Movies I Enjoyed this Year (In no Particular Order):

The Incredibles - wonderful story and animation (even if it borrows heavily) and THANK GOD no meaningless songs and talking creatures to provide comedy. I like Eddie Murphy, but i could live my whole life and never hear him being a 'funny animal' again. he should start cussing more (again).

Sky Capt. and the World of Tomorrow - I really liked the idea of a female Nick Fury in a prop driven Heli-carrier. Again, it mines from other stuff i like, so maybe that eases its way into my head.

Hero - Beautiful. i need to see his newer movie, house of the flying daggers (is that the name?)

Kill Bill (let's just lump 1 & 2 in together) - Jesus! what a ride. if you saw it you know why someone would like it, even if you didn't. if you didn't see it i really can't do it justice here. i particularly enjoyed the oddball references, particularly the opening with the 'Shaw Brothers' shield (famous HK Kung Fu movie studio) and the use of the AWESOME gordon Liu. one of my favorites.

Fahrenheit 9/11 - How utterly alarming and eye opening. i have seen the movie and the detractor's 'counter' movie with an open mind and the detractors fall remarkably short in putting to rest the issues raised in this movie.

Hellboy - Perfect match for the comic. lots of fun. i want a part 2.

Harry Potter 3 - good, but not as good as the first 2. mostly because the villain kid was made less menacing or threatening. he'd say something mean and another kid would put him in his place over the course of about 15 seconds. end of scene. that's not very good. otherwise, nice movie.

Starsky and Hutch - Hey, i liked it.

Bourne Supremacy - Great follow up. it had everything i liked about the first movie.

Spider-Man 2 - perhaps one of the best adaptations of a comic book character. i did not mind the different take used on the storylines. One thing about Peter Parker is that he's got a troubled 'real' life despite his 'super' life. they played this so well, i was really feeling sorry for the guy as the movie went on. i was shocked at the sympathy the actor and director was able to create. also the villain was MUCh better than the 1st movie and the special effects were wondrous.

Mean Girls - Man, that movie was great! Tina Fey gives us a teen movie for adults. that's really what i thought it was. I liked every bit of it.

City of God - One of the best films of the year. the story was compelling and pretty tough. it has an effect on you to see how different life is in this world. Excellent film!

The Movies I've yet to see but wish i had:

Ray, Hotel Rwanda, I Robot, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, Beyond the Sea, Anchorman, The Aviator, DeLovely, Spanglish, Oceans 12, the Life Aquatic, Closer, Alexander, I Heart Huckabees, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Open Water, Million Dollar Baby, Sideways, Friday Night Lights, and the Redone, re-issue of Sam Fuller's The Big Red One. that was supposed to be really good.

Oh yeah. Team America sucked but had one of the best songs of the year: America, F*ck Yeah! it seemed as if penned by our good friend Jas N Smith.

Music I Enjoyed this Year:

This was a thin year for me on good, new stuff that i liked. I liked the Jet album and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. oh yeah, and ....

BaadAssss Cinema - Collection of Blackexploitation themesongs and hits.

Books I Enjoyed this Year:

Charlie Wilson's War (finishing up right now) by George Crile

Means of Ascent (Vol. 2 Lyndon Johnson Biography) by Robert Caro

Hunter S. Thompson:
*Fear & Loathing on the Campaign Trail
*Hell's Angels
*Better than Sex (the story of a political junky)
**and about 4 others that i'm leaving off!

Comics of the Year:

The Illustrated Daily Scribble by Charles Pugsley Fincher
This Modern World by Tom Tomorrow
The Sketchbook Diaries by James Kochalka
Conan (the new series) by Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord
The New Frontier by (my favorite artist in comics today) Darwyn Cooke

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

YEAR END Best Of List

movies, books, toons, and music. all coming soon!

Christmas Tidings

Tonite i went to only my 2nd Midnite Mass. I'm not Catholic so I've not had a reason to do these in the past. listening to the service, i decided that there is perhaps no better delivery of bible scripture than Linus of the Peanuts gang a la the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. his tone and delivery are a comfort to me.

I have a hard time in church. As a person who does think about spirituality a lot, but does not often go to church...well...when i do go, i have a hard time. It really just sends my mind reeling. I think it's the old philosophy major in me. i think over the dogma and the scripture. i think about the versions of the text that aren't the 'king james' version and what differences therein lie, as well as what effect they may have on my belief system. I think about the Holy Spirit a great deal and how little i understand about it. as a matter of fact, i've never had someone explain to me that part of the trinity in a way that remotely made sense (give it a shot in the comments section if you like).

I also think about my own progress. my shortcomings and successes. i think a lot about what i'm doing at that moment in time, in my life. i scrutenize all these things so intently that....well....to be honest with you, it is difficult to remotely pay attention to the preacher. if the preacher is not charismatic (not meant in the theological sense) and the sermon isn't touching on a hot topic for me....well...he gets ignored and my mind just goes off on its own. off to the races. I actually often get deeply upset over things: myself, other people, what i realize is being done, even theological issues...and i can tell its really getting to me, particularly in parts of the sermon that really aren't that emotional.

Anyway, like i said, church is really hard on me. really hard. none-the-less, i recommend you watch the Charlie Brown Christmas special and listen to Linus deliver his lines. next think about people that are alone right now and wish they weren't. finally, do something about that.

Merry Christmas.

GOP Makes it Harder for the Poor to Get to College

(CNN) -- A change in eligibility for Pell Grants to be announced Thursday by the Department of Education would cut some 90,000 students from the rolls of recipients and affect more than 1 million others, an education advocate says.

Keep it up, Jerks!

Now THAT is Close!

From the AP:

"The head of the state Democratic Party said late Tuesday that recount results from King County give Democrat Christine Gregoire an eight-vote victory in the closest governor’s race in state history."

Previously this was a Republican victory.

Just in Time for Chrsitmas: The Donald-Patch Kid!

Now that's pretty funny.

Small Victories

I'm pleased to report that Mr. Mooch and I worked diligently for a man wrongly accused of a crime recently and in court today his charges were thrown out. After many set backs over the last year, this victory comes as a nice Christmas present for my last appearance in court in 2004.

Here's our Republican Governor Hard(ly) at Work!

It seems Gov. Haley Barbour is looking for any way possible to cripple the Public Education system of this state. Luckily the Democrats of the MS House of Representatives care a little more about this state! (NOTE: M.A.E.P. mentioned below helps bring poor and struggling school districts in line with the public school in richer districts)

JACKSON - House Education Chairman Randy Pierce, D-Leakesville, said Monday that he is angered by statements about education funding that Gov. Haley Barbour made last week during his tour of South Mississippi.

Barbour said the $381 million extra for next year being requested for education tells
him spending priorities are all wrong, too heavy on administration. 'I'm no math major,' Barbour said during numerous stops in South Mississippi, 'but when you see that $100 million funds the teacher pay raise and classrooms, but they're asking for $381 million, that means one-quarter is going for teaching and three-quarters for things not for teaching.'

Pierce said Barbour is "once again, wrong, wrong, wrong."

"He either does not understand the education budget," Pierce said, "or he does and is attempting to create a misconception about the education budget to justify his lack of commitment to (the Mississippi Adequate Education Program)."

Yeah, I'll Take That!

From the pages of "It Ain't Over 'Til it's Over":

SEATTLE Dec 17, 2004 — With Washington state in the middle of a recount of its amazingly close governor's race, election officials in Seattle's King County entered a warehouse Friday and found a plastic tray containing 150 misplaced ballots.

The discovery brings the number of belatedly discovered ballots to 723 in the heavily Democratic county potentially enough to swing the election to Democrat Christine Gregoire.

Doesn't Work? DEPLOY IT!

Here is another fine example of the poor priorities exhibited by our president. Despite the reduced threat of a Nuclear Missle attack (vs. a terrorist attack), Bush has decided to put Billion$ into a 'Missle Defense Shield' commonly referred to as 'Star Wars'. The problem isn't just that the program is somewhat mis-guided, it doesn't work. Over the course of the system's development it has NEVER worked.

Despite this, bush ordered the pentagon to oput the testing on the back burner and to move on to DEPLOYING IT. Well they tried another round of tests and the rocket that was supposed to intercept the 'incoming nuclear missle' couldn't even get off the ground.

What did the director of the program have to say? He called it a "serious setback."

No kidding. I guess public safety can't get in the way of war profiteering!

How My State Spends Its Money.

In Mississippi, more than 75% of the state budget goes to fund education (kindergarten through the university level), corrections, health care and public safety.

Even Trent Lott Thinks Rumsfeld Should Go.

We agree on something!

'I'm not a fan of Secretary Rumsfeld,' Lott, R-Mississippi, told the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday morning. 'I don't think he listens enough to his uniformed officers.'

Barbour presents $40M to Northrop

PASCAGOULA - Gov. Haley Barbour presented Northrop Grumman Ship Systems a check on Tuesday - a big, big check. 'Some of you may have seen a $40 million check
before,' Barbour joked, 'but those of us from Yazoo City, we ain't seen too many of them.'

This was part of a deal to bring a few thousand jobs to Mississippi. It was recently the sticking point in a Special Session of the Legislature, where many House Members were uncomfortable with our governor's ease in backing away to his commitments to other state interests. No word on whether he credited the Democrats that brokered the deal creating this photo op.

My guess is 'no'.

The Bush Commitment to Truth

WASHINGTON (AP) - The government's chief of AIDS research rewrote a safety report on a U.S.-funded drug study to change its conclusions and delete negative information. Later, he ordered the research resumed over the objections of his staff, documents show.

I'm really beginning to think the Bush Administration just doesn't like science very much.

And Then There were Three.

Rick Whitlow, spokesman for the Department of Human Services, has announced his bid for Jackson mayor, according to a statement released on Monday.

Whitlow, a former sports director for WAPT-Channel 16, will run as a Republican. Whitlow, in the statement, said his campaign platform will consist of six issues with reducing crime as No. 1.

This guy used to be Sportscaster on Jackson, MS television. He's a decent guy, but running as a Republican here is about like running as a member of the Communist Party. I was excited to see him in the race (vs. the current Mayor, Harvey Johnson, and local TV magnate (and black businessman) Frank Melton). All 3 are black candidates, and the race would be interesting if they were all democrats. Now it is much less so.

Hint of the Day for Judges

Don't wear Blackface to a party and think no one will be offended (he's been suspended).

Sunday morning with Kathy Nester - The Clarion-Ledger

Read a little bit about one of my favorite people. She's an advocate for many Women's issues as well as a top notch attorney. Beyond all that, she's a damn fine human being and a role model for just about anyone.

SHOCKING!!! NO MORE LATE FEEs.

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Blockbuster Inc. announced Tuesday it is abolishing late fees on all its video tapes, DVDs and video games as of Jan. 1.

The world's largest video rental company will still have due dates for their rental products -- one week for games and two days or one week for movies, depending on
whether it's a new release.

But customers will be given a one-week grace period after that to return the product. After that grace period ends, the chain will automatically sell them the product, less the rental fee. If the customers don't want to purchase the movie or game, they can return the product within 30 days for a credit, less a restocking fee.

As a former Blockbuster Employee, I can tell you they get a LOT of revenue from late fees. they must believe billing you for the entire rental item(note, VCR tapes can run $100) will net them more money.

Keeping You in the Know...

News I heard today from Harper's and various other sources:

Scientists developed a biodegradable cell phone cover that turns into a sunflower when thrown away.

Bernard Kerik withdrew from consideration to replace Tom Ridge as head of homeland security after discovering that a nanny he had employed may have been an illegal immigrant for whom he may not have paid taxes. (Of course this reason given is somehow not as big a deal as his mob ties, questionable stock options, and multiple simultaneous affairs which have been the subject of an unlawful employment practices lawsuit...for God's sake, it HAD to be that Nanny that raised an eyebrow).

The Bush Administration was tapping the phone of Mohamed El Baradei, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency who questioned U.S. intelligence on Iraq.

Iran claimed it started working to weaponize its uranium to instigate offers of economic incentives to stop the process (evidently, you can't just ask).

Scientists were warning men not to place laptop computers on their laps since overheating the scrotum can reduce fertility (Mr. Mooch and I use desktops).

The Vatican disapproved of a nativity scene in Madame Tussaud's wax museum in London that depicted David and Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice, as Joseph and Mary, with George W. Bush, Tony Blair, and the Duke of Edinburgh standing in for the three wise men. "There is a tradition in which each generation tries to reenact the nativity," explained a spokesman for the Archbishop of Canterbury, "but oh deary me." (*Ahem*).

FCC Chairman Michael Powell reported to Congress that there has been a sharp rise in complaints over programing in the last year (from 350 in 2001 to 240,000 in 2003). The FCC estimated that 99.8 percent of complaints came from one conservative group: the Parents Television Council.

A report found that a federally funded program to promote abstinence in schools has been teaching students that a 43-day-old fetus is a "thinking person," abortion
can lead to sterility and suicide, touching a person's genitals can result in pregnancy, and HIV can be spread by sweat and tears. (When asked about this, Sen. Majority Leader and Medical Doctor Bill Frist would not deny the assertions).

Have a Blue Christmas!

You may have already seen this, but here is a quick rundown of which companies donate to Republicans and which Donate to Democrats. You can use this easy to read page when buying those last Christmas gifts!

THE DAILY SHOW HAD IT LAST NIGHT!

In covering the soldiers that confronted Donald Rumsfeld over the lack of supplies in Iraq, John Stewart (again) hit the nail on the head. As you know, the soldiers asked why they were being made to perform dangerous missions without the proper equipment. Rumsfeld finally surmised: "As you know, you have to go to war with the Army you have, not the Army you want."

To which Stewart pointed out: THEY have to go to war with the army YOU have. Does this administration ever take responsibility for anything?

coming up soon: THE DRAFT!

EXACTLY....

Some harsh words...that i tend to agree with. From Ed Killgore, Policy Director of the Democratic Leadership Council:

I came to believe strongly that the real agenda of the people closest to Bush--including his political advisors and much of the Republican congressional leadership--was not only dishonest, but deeply cynical and irresponsible: a drive to simultaneously wreck the federal government and to perpetuate their control over the wreckage as long as possible through the exercise of the rawest sort of institutional power and corruption. And moreover, this belief made me angry at even those Republicans who did not share that agenda, because they were helping to promote it against their own best instincts ... I think today's Republican Party, and its leader, are built on a foundation of fundamental dishonesty about who they are, what they want, and where they are taking the country. As a Christian, I will endeavor not to hate them for that. As an American, I will endeavor to respect those who voted for Bush, because after all, they have as much right to the franchise as I do. But until they demonstrate the ability to walk, or perhaps I should say swagger, in a straight line, I will continue to hold the president, his advisors, and his allies in Congress in minimum high regard. That did not change on November 3.

Let Them Eat...Yellow Ribbons?

Seems some of our Vets from Iraq are now showing up at US Homeless Shelters. I suppose that 'support our troops' business ends with the bumper sticker.

No Personal Responsibility in Sight

From Salon:

Army Spc. Thomas Wilson, for example, of the 278th Regimental Combat Team that is comprised mainly of citizen soldiers of the Tennessee Army National Guard, asked Rumsfeld in a question-and-answer session why vehicle armor is still in short supply, nearly two years after the start of the war that ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein

Rumsfeld replied that troops should make the best of the conditions they face and said the Army was pushing manufacturers of vehicle armor to produce it as fast as humanly possible.

Of course that assumes we HAD to go to war when we did. we didn't. they simply wanted to do it and the troops safety was not the first concern. Now, 2 years later, they are still on the back burner. Rumsfeld should be fired.

From the Horse's Mouth...and the Horse isn't Happy.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 - A classified cable sent by the Central Intelligence Agency's station chief in Baghdad has warned that the situation in Iraq is deteriorating and may not rebound any time soon, according to government officials.

The cable, sent late last month as the officer ended a yearlong tour, presented a bleak assessment on matters of politics, economics and security, the officials said. They said its basic conclusions had been echoed in briefings presented by a senior C.I.A. official who recently visited Iraq.

Well, it seems our post-invasion plan and its re-tooling has come into some snags. You know, I'm more worried about a draft and a terrorist attack on the united states than i have ever been in my life, including just after 9/11. We are not heading in the right direction. This is all coming after our important victories in Falluja, showing just how complicated 'winning' is over there.

I am becoming convinced that we cannot do a proper job over there without more troops, and that means a draft. I believe this administration would rather not do the job right than to re-instate a draft. Sadly, I'm not sure that's a better plan. I believe the president has thrown away most of the good decisions we have left to select.

Martina McBride is an Idiot.

martina McBride has a song called Independence Day. She's a country singer that is a big fan of the Right Wing haymakers out there. Sean Hannity is one of her favorites and he uses her song as an intro to his show. it goes like this:

Let freedom ring
Let the white dove sing
Let the whole world know that today is the day of a reckoning
Let the weak be strong
Let the right be wrong
Roll the stone away
Let the guilty pay
It's Independence Day

How bad is that? the way that freedom rings is for the right to be 'wrong'? well...i guess it fits Hannity's radio show.

Protecting the Nation, eh?

AP: - Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson resigned Friday,
warning of a potential global outbreak of the flu and health-related terror attacks. 'For the life of me, I cannot understand why the terrorists have not attacked our food supply because it is so easy to do,' he said.

Thompson, the eighth member of Bush's 15-person Cabinet to resign since the Nov. 2 election, said he tried to leave office a year ago, but stayed through Bush's re-election campaign at the request of the White House.

So, I guess he doesn't think the White House has done a good job protecting us. Who'd have guessed?

Shocking! ...Well, No...It Isn't.

Seems the Media Giant Clear Channel has found its soulmate in FoxNews. Clear Channel, as you may recall had actively promoted the President in its radio broadcasts and in some cases banned (Dixie Chicks) anyone that had publicly campaigned against the President. Clear Channel operates over 1200 stations nationwide.

SAN ANTONIO - Clear Channel Communications Inc., the nation's largest radio
station operator, has picked Fox News Radio to be the primary source of national
news for most of its news and talk stations, officials announced Monday.

Curiously, they are also behind a recent crop of bill boards that have a picture of bush and state: "Our President" (Um...isn't that creepily like what Saddam did in Iraq? Pictures of him everwhere?).

Musical Chairs in Louisiana

The Run-Off for 2 U.S. Congressional Seats occured Saturday in Louisiana. It was somewhat of a wash as a former Democratic seat went GOP and a former GOP seat went Democratic.

Homeland Security Chief is a Deadbeat Dad

It seems our new Sec. of Homeland Security, Bernard Kerik, fathered a child while in Korea in 1975. A year later he abandoned the mother and child, leaving the country.

Thank GOD we have such great morals and values in these Republican leaders.

Family Values indeed.

What are We Listening to?

Polly:

The Needle & The Spoon - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Nashville Skyline - Bob Dylan
Marie's the Name (of His Latest Flame) - Elvis Presley
Rubberband Man - The Spinners
Stomp - The Brothers Johnson


The Mooch:

If I Had a Hammer - Trini Lopez
Across 110th Street - Bobby Womack
Hip Hug Her - Booker T & the MG's (Polly and the Mooch's Official Theme Song)
Overkill - Men at Work
Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits

Some Abstinence Programs Lie to Teens

Though its been talked about in many places, but i thought it was worth a mention here. Social Conservatives have long held the belief that frank talk about sexuality causes one to be sexually reckless. because of this, there is an utter devotion to abstenance only programs. Since these don't work very well, they seem to have upped the ante by just flat out lying to kids about sex. How anyone can think utter ignorance can lead to responsible decisions is beyond me. Sadly, these programs are most popular where they have the highest failure rates.

Here are a few gems in these programs as mentioned in the Washington Post article:

• A 43-day-old fetus is a "thinking person."

• HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can be spread via sweat and tears.

• Condoms fail to prevent HIV transmission as often as 31 percent of the time in heterosexual intercourse. (its 3% fail rate for STDs and pregnancy).

• Abortion can lead to sterility and suicide.

• Half the gay male teenagers in the United States have tested positive for the AIDS virus (actually, 59% of boys 13-18 yrs old become infected through heterosexual sex).

• Touching a person’s genitals “can result in pregnancy”.

• HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can be spread via sweat and tears.

The article continues:

Supporters of the abstinence approach, also called abstinence until marriage, counter that teaching young people about "safer sex" is an invitation to have sex.

Alma Golden, deputy assistant secretary for population affairs in the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement that Waxman's report is a political document that does a "disservice to our children." Speaking as a pediatrician, Golden said, she knows "abstaining from sex is the most effective means of preventing the sexual transmission of HIV, STDs and preventing pregnancy."

Nonpartisan researchers have been unable to document measurable benefits of the abstinence-only model. Columbia University researchers found that although teenagers who take "virginity pledges" may wait longer to initiate sexual activity, 88 percent eventually have premarital sex.

These programs often target the sexual issue agenda of the 'moral majority'. President Bush has enthusiastically pushed $270 Million into these programs.

My Friend Mr. Young has a Great Story

I have kept this conversation for a few years now because i thought it was so funny. many longtime readers actually know this fellow. anyway, without further delay, let me present Mr. Young one of my favorite stories:

Young: did I tell you about that redneck trying to pick a fight with me?
Polly: wha!?!
Young: lol... this is hilarious
Young: I need to write a story about it
Polly: maybe a comic!
Young: I went to see Spy Game and this big ass redneck and three girls were talking really loud forever...
Young: so I finally had my fill of it and turned around and yelled "BE QUIET!" really loud...
Young: they were stunned, then started laughing. One girl said, "Who said that??" and I stood up and raised my hand and said, "I did!" ...
Young: then the guy said, "Gonna be hard for you to talk without a mouth, boy!"... whatever that means...
Polly: uh. ok
Young: so after the movie, the lights came on, and we got up to leave... then I felt something behind me on my back...
Young: and this guy is HUGE... and he's shoving his chest into my back, all bowed up and acting like a badass...
Polly: haw. what a dork
Young: I said, "How's it goin'?" and he said the same thing... I said, "Can I help you?" He said, "You just keep on walkin', bitch. We gonna take this outside."...
Young: And the theater was watching this, because he was making a scene... So I kept walking... I said, "Whatever you got to say, say it now. I paid money to hear the movie, not a bunch of loudmouths..." He said, "We gonna do a lot more than talk, bitch."...
Young: so we walk outside (D. H. has my back)... I turned around and said, "Now what do you have to say." He said, "Naw, we gonna go talk over here!" but I refused. Then the three girls walked up, and he said, "Y'all get on back to the truck!"...
Young: they said, "Naw, we wanna watch you kick his ass!" I said, "What's up, dude?"
Young: so then he got real close and said... "Look... look, my girlfriend's a bitch, okay. She's a BITCH! I hate her! I promise you... man, I swear I'm gonna break up with her, okay? I swear!" I was like, "What??" I started laughing...
Polly: haw haw haw haw haw haw haw
Young: he said, "My dignity is intact here, man... put yourself in my shoes!" I said, "What, you wanna hit me in the stomach or something to make it look real?" He said, "Naw, man... look, I got a little carried away back there, okay? I said some stuff I
shouldn't have."...
Young: then the funniest part... "I'm just prayin' to God they can't read lips, man." I just laughed and said, "You have a good night," and walked off.

A National Shame and a Regional Disgrace

Alabamians may soon have reached a new, modern low. This year there was a referendum to change the Alabama constitution. The idea was to get rid of relics out of the segregationist past such as:

"Separate schools shall be provided for white and colored children, and no child of either race shall be permitted to attend a school of the other race."

"To avoid confusion and disorder and to promote effective and economical planning for education, the legislature may authorize the parents or guardians of minors, who desire that such minors shall attend schools provided for their own race."

The opponents of the measure (which includes former Ala. Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore--by the way, why hasn't this guy's license to practice law been revoked?) can't come out and just say they want to cling to the racist language. The point to the lines dealing with education.

See, it also removes language that DENIES that the state's (compulsory) education system is a right of its citizens. Currently the statute denies that Alabamians had "any right to education or training at public expense." the Alabama Christian Coalition is one of the main supporters of keeping the language. They've worked to scare people into thinking that if the language was removed, attorneys could then somehow sue to raise taxes in Alabama. A cursory knowledge of civics would let you know this is a folly. None-the-less, this group, a true disgrace before the lord Jesus, is using lies about taxes to keep the racist language in the Alabama Constitution.

It is a shame on its face, and these people, claiming to be a coalition of Christians have truly turned their back on the lord. What Would Jesus Do? I think he'd have little patience with these modern day pharisees.

However, there is a ray of hope. the vote ended in a near tie. a recount is underway and it is possible that the side of right will prevail in this case, righteousness needs 926 more votes.

Let's Run the Numbers for Ashcroft.

'The objective of securing the safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved.'--John Ashcroft

Number of U.S. terror trials brought before a jury since September 11, 2001: 1
Number of terrorism convictions resulting: 2
Number of them dismissed due to a 'pattern of mistakes' by the prosecution: 2

Let's Run the Numbers for Ashcroft.

'The objective of securing the safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved.'--John Ashcroft

Number of U.S. terror trials brought before a jury since September 11, 2001: 1
Number of terrorism convictions resulting: 2
Number of them dismissed due to a 'pattern of mistakes' by the prosecution: 2

Speaking of Aviation...

You know, my first ride in an airplane was in one of these. The only difference was it was Yellow. got to wear the goggles and everything. Felt pretty cool at 5 years old.

The Aviation and a Self-Portrait

The Aviation is the Prince of classic cocktails. In the last 50 years it has become a pretty rare find. However one can generally be found by a thirsty visitor in one of two places: my house at any time of the day or night and The Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center. (Note, Unlike the Rainbow Room, I will not lend you a jacket if you forgot to dress up).

It is not only my favorite Cocktail, but i believe it may be the best cocktail there is...and I've done some taste testing! There's no modern drink like it and you can usually assume the bartender knows his stuff if he even knows what it is.

The reason it's so rare is the Maraschino Liqueur that is used in the drink. I have no idea why it is so hard to come by, but I've never seen it outside of New Orleans. As a matter of fact, I held on to the recipe for 2 years after hearing someone rave about it. It took me that long to find the Maraschino, and now I always buy some more if it remotely looks like i'm about to run out! It's a clear cherry liqueur that is sweet, but not too sweet. It is nothing at all like the red chemical/syrup you find in a jar of cherries. If you order one, make sure they have the real goods or you'll get a syrup-y goo.

The strict recipe:

1.5oz of gin (and for god's sake, don't grab vodka for a substitute!)
1/2oz. of maraschino
The juice of one lemon
Garnish with a cherry

Shake it hard for 30+ seconds and served up (in a chilled cocktail glass, no ice).

You do that and you'll get a cloudy opaque (like a cloudy sky, thus Aviation). It should be cool and inviting, with a couple of chips of ice spinning on the surface. As with any cocktail served in a cocktail glass, you can know you shook it enough if there are little chips of ice floating in the drink after you strain it into the glass.

If you think you don't like Gin, this may be the one drink that surprises you. Most gin haters still love this drink! If you can't get one at a bar, just pay me a visit and I'll make you one.


The most wonderful thing about this drink? It makes you smarter. Trust us.

Not a Good Night.

WLBT - The National Weather Service says severe weather to the west of Jackson Tuesday evening is similar to the conditions of 1992. It was that year that a total of 12 people were killed in Rankin County, 10 of them in Brandon.

Meteorologist Jim Butch says, "We expect severe storms, hail and probably tornados. It would not surprise me that we would have several strong, to violent tornados, during the night time hours, and that is what really concerns us, they are coming at night similar to the Brandon tornado of 1992 that hit at midnight."

The Barn Door is Open.

As you can tell by this picture, Bush is trying to play it cool here with the big kids. I just think bush should ZIP HIS FLY when he's meeting with heads of state.

Bush HATES Activist Judges...But What ARE They?

An interesting article on Judges and the 'Judicial Activism' politicians talk about. This breaks it down into simple, digestible chunks below, but i say read the rest of it to see where we are. It's short.

What does President Bush mean, if anything, when he says that his kind of judge 'knows the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law'? Every judge sincerely believes that he or she is interpreting the law properly.

Bush's complaint must be understood in the context of Republican Party history over the last half-century. Ever since Chief Justice Earl Warren and Brown vs. Board of Education (the 1954 school desegregation case), conservatives have complained about 'activist' judges and justices who allegedly imposed their own liberal dictates on the country with no legal basis. Taking up this rallying cry is one way Republicans won the South. Even Southern conservatives don't publicly complain about Brown anymore, of course. But denouncing activist judges is now Republican boilerplate.

[...]

George W. Bush may get to appoint as many as four Supreme Court justices, including the chief. But the complaint about liberal activism has been quaint for decades. All three chief justices since the "activism" fuss began were appointed by Republican presidents. Earl Warren, it's true, was a bitter surprise to Republicans, but Warren E. Burger was not, and William H. Rehnquist was a positive delight. Liberal judicial activism peaked with Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 abortion decision (which Burger supported), and has been in retreat now for longer than it lasted.

After talk of Brawls...

I thought this was funny after recent events.

Put a Kink in my Speakers

OK, Mr. Mooch and I are wanting a Kinks album. i like (but am over saturated by) All Day and All of the Night and Lola, but those albums may be good. i'm interested in an album, and maybe a greatest hits if that is the best route (and i don't think it is). so what album should i get if i want to get my Kinks fix? I like the Kinks songs i have (a handful) and they span the eras: Picture Book, Destroyer, Come Dancing, Nothing In This World Can Stop Me Worryin' Bout That Girl, and God's Children.

So, does anyone out there recommend a Kinks album for me?

Mr. Charley Spotted in the Wild.

Mr. Mooch's little known uncle, Mr. Charley, is caught sneaking a Nip behind the fern.

FBI: More than 7,400 hate crimes last year

Another rise in race-based crimes this past year. the number against black americans out pace all other races 2 to 1.

N.Irish 'Bloody Sunday' Probe Enters Final Phase

LONDONDERRY, Northern Ireland (Reuters) - The longest-running and costliest
public inquiry in British legal history -- into Northern Ireland's so-called "Bloody Sunday" -- entered its final phase on Monday.

The tribunal investigating the 1972 killing of 13 civilians by paratroopers began hearing closing speeches as some families of the dead expressed hope their loved ones would be declared innocent.

Bloody Sunday was one of the most traumatic events in the province's 30-year "Troubles," fueling suspicion of the authorities among the Catholic minority and prompting dozens to join the IRA's violent campaign against British rule.

Bush says Iran nuke claims must be verified

Now, if only he always showed this kind of restraint when it came to countries that DIDN'T have WMDs. It shows the cowardly depths of this administration when you watch how fast they rushed to war when then KNEW Iraqi had no WMD's. Now that the Nuclear threat looms in two of his "axis of evil" powers, he can't quit hiding from the issue.

Where's the brave action now that the threat is real?

Are your Civil Rights being PROTECTED?

Seems the answer is 'NO'.

While the number of complaints have stayed relatively the same since 1999, The Department of Justice has cut in half the number of criminal charges they've brought against offenders.

In addition, the number of times the FBI recommended prosecution in civil rights cases has dropped by 1/3. The leadership of these offices serve at the will of the President.

Republican Pork Barrel!

Next time you talk to someone claiming to be Republican because they are "fiscally conservative", drop this little nugget on them:

The Legislative Confrence Committee (the group that hash's out the difference between House and Senate versions of the same bill) can insert non-debatable points into a bill. this year a record 3,407 'pork barrel' spending projects were inserted into the budget.

Wanna know the number from 1994, the last year the Democrats controlled both the House and Senate?

94.

Pretty insane...Watch the Video if you didn't see it.

The Pacers and the Pistons were playing recently and one of the WORST fights in Professional (U.S.) sports history broke out between several players THEN spilled into the crowd where the players an FANS were fighting. pretty bad. about 7 players have been suspended, one banned from the game for the rest of the season (w/o pay).

A Deadly Dateline

This is some real reporting. some of the best stuff i've seen from Iraq.

If You Want Me to Stay...

Colin Powell claimed to only plan one term as Sec. of State. despite this, there are reports that he had second thoughts and perhaps wanted to stay on the job. He made a list of conditions under which he would remain, namely a more engaged policy with Iran and a harder tack against Ariel Sharon.

He was not asked to stay.

So far, of the 2 biggest architects of the Iraq blunders, one (Rice) has got a promotion and the other (Rumsfeld) is awaiting his fate. Now that's an administration anyone could work for. if you screw up, NO PROBLEM! (just don't contradict the boss).

Coalition of the Leaving

Another of Bush's "Coalition of the Willing" is calling it quits. You know, Bush is going to take it really hard if beloved Poland leaves too.

Democratic Action Center :: Contribute Now!

THE ELECTIONS ARE NOT OVER!!

Please consider donating to the 2 Run off Campaigns for U.S. House of Representatives. we have 2 chances for a pick-up in the House.

Every Democrat counts.

For Cronyism, 2004 is a Fine Vintage.

One third of Bush's top fundraisers or their spouses have been appointed to positions w/ the administration.

Oh, remember how up in arms the GOP was about Clinton 'renting out' the Lincoln bedroom? it was an outrage, wasn't it? well, evidently not anymore, as it is ONE of the PERKS you get by being a Bush "pioneer" (a person raising at least $100,000).

what will we tell the children?

Matt Drudge Plays Nice?

The Drudge Report is notorious for posting VERY unflattering pictures of politicians Drudge doesn't care for (mostly democrats). While there were some pretty snarky comments there about the opening of the Clinton Library (which i want to visit), he shockingly posted this, kinda sweet, picture of the president for most of the day and night. I am actually shocked.

Cabinet Shake-Up. The Short Take

Much has been made about the 2nd term shake-up in the bush cabinet. i don't think it's a real story bc this is actually common for administrations. we just don't see it that much as we've really only had 2 two-term presidents in a generation.

that being said...i don't cut bush any slack for essentially promoting all the leadership staff that essentiall got iraq wrong. hell...condasleaza rice lied under oath about iraq to the 9/11 commission. remember when the republicans would hang their heads during the Clinton impeachment saying "it's not about the sex...it's about the lying". This showing how they were just taking the high road.

well...they don't seem to give a damn about the lying now.

We Don't Have to Worry About Fabricated WMD intelligence Anymore!

it seems iran has a secret facility that's been hard at work trying to create a nuclear system. (officially--last week--they called off their nuclear pursuits...only to have moved them elsewhere to a secret location).

of course the bush plan so far is to pretend like it's not happening as they haven't the will or (now w/ iraq) the ability to face the real WMD threats this nation faces.

GRAVES WINS BIG!!

In a GREAT turn of events, Justice James Graves has won Re-Election to the Supreme Court. a lot of people worked very hard on this and i am very thankful.

This run-off was about as important as it gets.

GOP to Fix Ethics Rules to Help DeLay

The U.S. House of Representatives has an ethics rule that members cannot remain in leadership positions while under indictment. Why? Tom DeLay is about to be indicted.

House Republicans plan to change their rules in order to allow members indicted by state prosecutors to remain in a leadership post, a move designed to benefit Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) in case he is charged by a Texas grand jury that has indicted three of his political associates, GOP leaders said today.

The rules change, which leaders said is likely to be adopted Wednesday, comes as House Republicans return to Washington indebted to DeLay for the enhanced majority they won in this month's elections. DeLay led an aggressive redistricting effort in Texas last year that resulted in five Democratic House members retiring or losing reelection. It also triggered the grand jury inquiry

Oddly the rule came about because of pressure from House Republicans in 1993 after a Democrat (Dan Rostenkowski) was indicted.

i guess it's ok now.

That GOP Big Tent!

The GOP is so open to new ideas, that some are even telling their own party members that they can hit the road! now that's what i call a 'big tent'.

heh.

"If they can't agree and support the president and the platform, then they ought to go over to the Democrats," said Jan LaRue, chief counsel for the conservative group Concerned Women for America.[...]

The to-do list includes defending traditional marriage, banning human cloning, reforming Social Security, passing more-restrictive abortion laws and stepping up enforcement of obscenity laws, said Ms. LaRue of Concerned Women for America. And if moderates don't agree with those objectives, perhaps they don't belong in the GOP, she said.

Ms. LaRue calls Mr. Specter a RINO - Republican In Name Only - and questions why politicians such as Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island remain in the Republican Party when they didn't even vote for Mr. Bush.

"Get real," she said. "These are Democrats in Republican clothing."

and how do GOP moderates feel?

"There is no future for moderate and progressive Republicans in the Republican Party," said Jim Scarantino, president of the centrist GOP group Mainstream 2004. "The far right wing and the fanatics have seized control."

Mr. Scarantino isn't sure where his brand of Republican politics fits into the GOP. Some Christian conservatives say it doesn't.[...]

While big-name moderates such as John McCain, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Rudolph Giuliani took the stage in New York, conservatives controlled the party
platform.

"The party has ruthlessly exploited moderate Republicans," Mr. Scarantino said. "I think they're deluding themselves thinking they're ever going to get anything more than the opportunity to be on the stage."

M.I.A....?

A loyal (thanks) Polly & the Mooch reader stopped me in the bank recently to ask where the posts have gone!

Well, I've been wrapped up in many things as of late. In addition to that we have a run-off election tuesday (VOTE GRAVES TODAY if you live in Mississippi).

In addition...the election has gotten me down, somewhat. Part of is that i've had a great number of serious thoughts about it that i just wish i could get out of my head. talk to someone about. the problem is that the things i have to say i just will not put on this site. it's more for a private discussion, actually. Maybe i should've started an email discussion earlier.

Either way, i'm back and hopefully i'll post some of the things i've been working on in the last week or so.

PR Tip: Don't shoot unarmed POW's on TV...

it doesn't make us look good.

The U.S. military has begun an investigation into possible war crimes after a television pool report by NBC showed a Marine shooting dead a wounded and unarmed Iraqi in a Falluja mosque, officials said on Monday [...]

C.I.A. Purge!

Here is an amazing bit of news that's making the rounds. Recently there's been a purge at the C.I.A. Now many of you may be thinking "it's about time, that bad ole C.I.A. giving the president the wrong information on WMD's in Iraq and everything". Of course, that assumes you bought the 'well, how could I have known better?' line our president's been selling over actually taking responsibility for what's been done.

Well, friends, that's not the sort of purge we have here. Bush is tossing out C.I.A. personel that have been disloyal to him.

Let me explain. Over the course of the Iraq mess, the president and VP used a sub-office they created in the Intelligence Committee called 'The Office of Special Plans'. Its job was to cherry-pick the intelligence that built the case against Iraq and disregard the evidence that didn't help the case for war.

C.I.A. agents were not very happy that the work they'd put together had been spun into a lie to justify the President's march to war. They didn't like it when the true facts of the situation were disregarded and it seems some leaked the facts out.

Bush didn't like that. Now generally, i'm against the intelligence community leaking things to the press, but you have to re-think this when this comes about because the President himself is bringing a nation to war based on lies, and then when the lies come out, that same President blames the 'mistaken info' on the very agents that had their work tossed aside. If you were wondering if the mendacity ever ends...

the answer is no.

Don't Fine the Terrorist Supporters, They're Bush Supporters TOO!

From the AP:

"Despite the Bush administration's pledge to battle terrorist financing, the government's average penalty against companies doing business with countries listed as terrorist-sponsoring states fell sharply after the Sept. 11 attacks, an Associated Press analysis of federal records shows. The average penalty for a company doing business with Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan or Libya dropped nearly threefold, from more than $50,000 in the five years before the 2001 attacks to about $18,700 afterward, according to a computer-assisted analysis of federal records."

So whybe so forgiving? The AP says, "Nineteen executives or directors of companies fined by [Office of Foreign Assets Control], for dealing with state sponsors of terrorism were top campaign fund-raisers for Bush."

That Great Bush Strategery!

Things are so great in iraq that they've just declared a nationwide state of emergency. oh...and ONLY 5 DOZEN people were killed over the weekend!

A Backdoor Draft.

This is what they're talking about when they say 'Backdoor Draft':

David M. Miyasato enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1987, served three years of active duty during the first Gulf War and received an honorable discharge in 1991. He remained on inactive status for five more years, until 1996. Since then, the Kaua'i resident has married, started an auto window tinting business and this year, he and his wife had their first child. But in September, Miyasato received a letter from the Army recalling him to active duty and directing him to report to a military facility in South Carolina on Tuesday.

"I was shocked," Miyasato said yesterday. "I never expected to see something like that after being out of the service for 13 years."

Miyasato is now suing the Secretary of the Army, asking a court to prevent the Army from ordering him to active duty. He is also asking for a court judgment declaring that he fulfilled all his obligations to the military.

Time for Unity, Healing, and Coming Together....Don't Kid Yourself.

From Dowd at the NYTimes:

The president got re-elected by dividing the country along fault lines of fear, intolerance, ignorance and religious rule. He doesn't want to heal rifts; he wants to bring any riffraff who disagree to heel.

W. ran a jihad in America so he can fight one in Iraq - drawing a devoted flock of evangelicals, or 'values voters,' as they call themselves, to the polls by opposing abortion, suffocating stem cell research and supporting a constitutional amendment against gay marriage. Mr. Bush, whose administration drummed up fake evidence to trick us into war with Iraq, sticking our troops in an immoral position with no exit strategy, won on 'moral issues.'

The president says he's 'humbled' and wants to reach out to the whole country. What humbug. The Bushes are always gracious until they don't get their way. If W. didn't reach out after the last election, which he barely grabbed, why would he reach out now that he has what Dick Cheney calls a 'broad, nationwide victory'?

Bush spoke today that he's earned "Political Capital" today and he plans to spend it. That means he's won the right to say 'the people want my agenda and i'm going to get it'.

that's not 'lets work together'.

that's fine.

I've been through 4 years of this crap. I just don't want anyone else thinking this is ever going to be about coming together. Bush wins by dividing this nation on fault lines and hoping that as we break, he gets the bigger chunck.

A Look Back on 2 Critical Moments.

Newsweek did a campaign post mortem in a special issue out this week. its a must read. Here are 2 things that stood out to me, as outlined by Salon.com:

First, for any of us tempted to be nostalgic for the Clinton years -- and there's probably a lot of that going on this week as Republicans further tighten their grip on government, here's something to temper our longing for the '90s. "Looking for a way to pick up swing voters in the Red States, former President Bill Clinton, in a phone call with Kerry, urged the Senator to back local bans on gay marriage. Kerry respectfully listened, then told his aides, 'I'm not going to ever do that.'" Being more Clintonesque on gay marriage may have won Kerry some swing votes, but that comes with a price, and one Kerry wasn't willing to pay.

This is the sort of thing that gets my friend Big Gray upset about Clinton and the Democrats. This willingness to cut someone else to get ahead is the way they see it. I do not agree at all, and only WISH i had the foresight to have come up with this advice as Clinton did.

Look...i’m not certain that a close election year—when bush can ONLY win by firing up the evangelicals—is the best year to push for immediate incorporation of gay rights on a scale unequaled in the course of human history. i mean seriously, the mayor of San Fran was working AGAINST the law and FOR what he thinks is right. great. what did he accomplish? a backlash across the nations where marriage and civil unions are now illegal AND he handed out marriage certificates that aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. YAY. great! what a great moral victory.

This part below is pretty alarming to see now--after the fact. This stuff just pisses me off. they knew this sort of crap was coming in a run against Bush. not being ready for it was incompetence.

The Swift Boat disaster was the darkest period for Kerry, and any Monday morning quarterbacking about his campaign must question how slowly Kerry moved to challenge the well-orchestrated attack on his Vietnam record. Newsweek reports that: "In early August, when the Swift Boat story started to pick up steam on the talk shows, Susan Estrich, a California law professor, well-known liberal talking head and onetime campaign manager for Michael Dukakis, had called the Kerry campaign for marching orders. She had been booked on Fox's 'Hannity & Colmes' to talk about the Swift Boat ads. What are the talking points? Estrich asked the Kerry campaign. There are none, she was told. Estrich was startled. She had seen this bad movie before." It was "shades of Dukakis,"
Newsweek says.

The Last Word on the Bulge

It's a bullet proof vest according to this article. Maybe. I'm still believe it was a receiver for voice transmissions.

Culture War!

You can expect the Religious fundamentalists to see this election as a mandate for their policies. there is no check on the President and VP now as they are done with running for office now.

And Another Thing...

I don't want to hear a WORD about Hillary Clinton winning this thing for us in 2008. i could not DREAM UP a worse idea.

I like her OK. she never set me off or made me happy. i've always been indifferent.

Think about this: Is there any woman on the face of the earth that inspires more hatred than her? really? Name them! i don't care if she deserves it or not. NO WOMAN ON EARTH would better galvanize the republicans than Hillary. perhaps no PERSON on earth. the only way i can think to make it worse would be if Jessie Jackson was her VP.

Look, i'm not trying to put these people down. i actually like them. Hillary just will not help us build our party, no matter how many people would like to see her run.

What this Country is Looking at now and How I Feel About It.

I'm going to be very honest with you. This is bad. not "i don't like bush" bad, but bad for the country and certainly bad for Democrats. Bush has taken a divided America and made those divisions deeper and perhaps, by the end of this new term, so deep i will not see it mend in my lifetime. The idea is to have a base, who cares if its not over 45%, that is so hardcore "with you" they will never change, no matter what happens or how bad it is.

Int this i'm not talking about Bush just being a bad president, though i belive this. its about creating a base that will gleefully gobble up whatever you put in front of them. He's mad the Red states Red-er and its going to be a hell of a time to get things back.

I believe most people do not realize just how bad this election was for democrats. Nationally, this may be the worst election for us in the last 3-4 generations. Not necessarily from the win/lose standpoint, but rather from how difficult it will be to succeed from here. I believe the GOP will control congress and the Senate for at least a full generation (Starting from the 1994 take over). We’re about to enter an era like we had before FDR (exceptions of Woodrow Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt noted) where the GOP kicked out the trust busters and ran the country for (decades?) Like an open cash register for business and the last of the "robber barons".

In my (expert or not) opinion, this is the beginning of darkest days the Democratic Party has seen in the last 100 years.

Somehow i haven't Vomited Yet.

i'm incredibly nervous. the election results are coming along in a close and uncomfortable pattern. the thing is just as much of a toss up as it was a week ago.

though it is VERY early...the local Justice Graves numbers look good so far. this election looks to be a nail bitter all around.

VOTE DEMOCRAT!

Also vote for James Graves if you live in Mississippi!

i'm feeling good yet remarkably nervous. see you guys after the election...lest you call me before that.

The Old Way of Voting is Over.

Read this artikcle: Salon.com News | "Nobody should have to go through so much to vote."

it talks about what people are going through to vote now with the early voting process that's out there. when i first heard of this i was a bit skeptical. people in politics don't like the unexpected and this made me leary. now i'm not. i'm shocked. People have had DAYS of 4 hour long lines for voting. DAYS! do you know what that means? it means many places like florida can never vote all in one day again.

they are using the same number of workers and the same number of precincts as normal and they are getting mobbed. can you imagine if all of these people--the ones that have voted over the last 2 weeks--tried to show up on the SAME DAY to vote? it would break down. 2000 would pale in comparisson because the system would collapse in on itself.

i think this turn out is amazing and i think it has changed presidential elections forever in a way no one really expected (or at least talked about). thi (other than the result) may just be the story of the year when it comes to elections. i'd go so far as to say that this would be the most significant change in elections since the Voting Rights Act (yeah...i'm counting the 26th amendment in there too).

Pretending to be Gay....is SO GAY.

here some GOP darlings decided to fake being gay. they held up signs about kerry supporting gay rights to (i guess) piss off the church goers across the street.

does this seem desperate to you?

Two federal judges deny voter challengers at polls

YEAH!

A federal judge issued an order early Monday barring political party challengers from polling places throughout Ohio during Tuesday's election.

U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott found that the application of Ohio's statute allowing challengers at polling places is unconstitutional.

She said the presence of challengers inexperienced in the electoral process questioning voters about their eligibility would impede voting.

Dlott ruled on a lawsuit by a black Cincinnati couple who said Republican plans to deploy challengers to largely black precincts in Hamilton County was meant to intimidate and block black voters.

Polly and the Mooch ANNOUNCEMENT

Over the next 24 hours we are going to show you some of the things that the GOP are doing to suppress the vote around the country. whenever possible, i've used actual documents (or copies) being used by the Republicans.

I am devoting some time to this because i believe it's that serious. We cannot let this sort of trash run out country.

Please take the time to look through some of these and Vote Democratic on November 2nd. if you hear of any problems...contact the people below.

Election Protection Hotline:
1-866-MYVOTE1 to report problems
1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) for immediate legal assistance

Can You Guess this Quote?

War is an option whose time has passed. Peace is the only option for the future. At present we occupy a treacherous no-man's-land between peace and war, a time of growing fear that our military might has expanded beyond our capacity to control it and our political differences widened beyond our ability to bridge them. . . .

Short of changing human nature, therefore, the only way to achieve a practical, livable peace in a world of competing nations is to take the profit out of war.

--Richard M. Nixon

Let's Not Forget Alabama!

Here's an old time favorite to get people out on the WRONG day.

UW - Madison sees GOP trying to trick students!

UW-Madison students in six residence halls received misleading information this week about how to vote, triggering allegations of dirty tricks. The Dave Magnum for Congress campaign and the College Republicans took responsibility and apologized for the mailing Friday evening, insisting it was an honest error.

But a progressive group called it a deliberate attempt to confuse student voters. And University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor John Wiley, saying he was concerned that students might not know where to vote, had e-mails sent to all students Friday afternoon containing correct information.

Honest ERROR? they accidentally put together false information about voting and handed it out? how do you slip up and do that? Their fliers said to "vote at the polling place of your choice." which is a GOP suppression trick that's as old as the hills, the idea being to send your opponent's voters to the wrong place. as you can see the GOP here is employing students in their activity.

scum.

GOP Vote Suppression in West Virgina.

Calls traced back to the GOP HQ in West Virginia have been going out to likely democratic voters. there have been 2 kinds. one 'informing' them that they cannot vote on Nov. 2 because they are not properly registered. the next round of calls did the same but the callers pretended to be from the Democratic HQ and tried to dig into the personal information of the voters.

Oh yeah, in Toledo the Kerry Get Out The Vote (G.O.T.V.) phone banks had their lines severed. 3 guesses at who did that.

So. Anyone see a pattern here yet?

More Dirty Tricks in Ohio

This is some of the stuff that the GOP is sending out in Ohio to cut down on voter turnout. Republicans can't win if more people participate in the democracy.

NO RAIN!

For heaven's sake, it cannot rain tuesday. that would be a disaster.

we went from 40% chance to 80% in the lst 8 hours. maybe it'll miss us. i don't care what it does, as long as its not between 7am and 7pm.

GOP Sues Talk Radio for being TOO Political.

You have to wonder if this is the can of worms they want to open. i just about wish that the GOP wins this lawsuit.

WASHINGTON -- In a complaint to the Federal Elections Commission, the National Republican Campaign Committee accused radio station KFI-AM (640)
co-hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou of "criminal behavior" for attacking Rep.
David Dreier, R-Glendora, and endorsing his Democratic opponent, Cynthia Matthews.

By criticizing Dreier's positions on immigration, promoting a "Fire Dreier" campaign and making on-air appeals for voters to elect Matthews, the NRCC said, the hosts gave Matthews an unlawful corporate, in-kind contribution of more than $25,000.

So let me get this straight. these radio guys are crossing a line when they endorse a candidate and appeal to the audience to elect that person? this is an UNLAWFUL corporate contribution? oh PLEASE let this case win, because if it does, my friends...the lawsuit against Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh for the same thing will be enormous!

I think the GOP doesn't know how to handle someone on the radio that doesn't worship at the alter of the GOP platform. they've never heard of anything like this and they don't like it! this isn't the way their world works.

Voter Suppression, South Carolina Style!

So, has anyone reading this site noticed a pattern? Voter supression is an integral part of politics for the GOP. its pathetically unamerican and something they gleefully employ. below is the South Carolina example. there's a Senate race that teh GOP think they should have sewn up. They don't. their candidate is terrible, and the Democrat may win. They can't have that, so its time to try and suppress the black vote. This time with fake "NAACP" letters that threaten arrest if one tries to vote in certain cases. I'll put the Mississippi Voter Suppression report up soon. (thankfully, it is a small report so far). Anyway, from S.C.:

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Charleston County election officials cautioned South Carolinians on Friday to steer clear of a fake letter that threatens the arrest of voters who have outstanding parking tickets or have failed to pay child support.

"I'm outraged," said Jill Miller, director of the Charleston County Board of Election and Voter Registration. "This is so bogus." The one-page letter poses as a message from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The Rev. Joe Darby, vice president of the state NAACP chapter, said he received the letter at his home in Charleston. It had Columbia postmark with no return address.

[...]

The letter says voters must have a credit check, provide two forms of photo identification, a Social Security card, a voter registration card as well as a handwriting sample.

South Carolina Voter Suppression

So, has anyone reading this site noticed a pattern? Voter supression is an integral part of politics for the GOP. its pathetically unamerican and something they gleefully employ. below is the South Carolina example. there's a Senate race that teh GOP think they should have sewn up. They don't. their candidate is terrible, and the Democrat may win. They can't have that, so its time to try and suppress the black vote. This time with fake "NAACP" letters that threaten arrest if one tries to vote in certain cases. I'll put the Mississippi Voter Suppression report up soon. (thankfully, it is a small report so far). Anyway, from S.C.:

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Charleston County election officials cautioned South Carolinians on Friday to steer clear of a fake letter that threatens the arrest of voters who have outstanding parking tickets or have failed to pay child support.

"I'm outraged," said Jill Miller, director of the Charleston County Board of Election and Voter Registration. "This is so bogus." The one-page letter poses as a message from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The Rev. Joe Darby, vice president of the state NAACP chapter, said he received the letter at his home in Charleston. It had Columbia postmark with no return address.

[...]

The letter says voters must have a credit check, provide two forms of photo identification, a Social Security card, a voter registration card as well as a handwriting sample.

Here's Your Picture!

Because You Guys Can't Get Enough of this Stuff...NASA photo analyst: Bush wore a device during debate

More news on the Bush's Bulge...the lurking lump!

[Oct. 29, 2004] George W. Bush tried to laugh off the bulge. "I don't know what that is," he said on "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, referring to the infamous protrusion beneath his jacket during the presidential debates. "I'm embarrassed to say it's a poorly tailored shirt."

Dr. Robert M. Nelson, however, was not laughing. He knew the president was not telling the truth. And Nelson is neither conspiracy theorist nor midnight blogger. He's a senior research scientist for NASA and for Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and an international authority on image analysis.[...] "I am willing to stake my scientific reputation to the statement that Bush was wearing something under his jacket during the debate," he says. "This is not about a bad suit. And there's no way the bulge can be described as a wrinkled shirt."

It goes on from there. Clearly the President was wired. the sad part? he did THAT BADLY with help!

Its Like 31 Flavors! what sorta Suppression do you WANT!?!

A federal judge just ruled against the Republicans that were attempting to force Ohio Election Boards to have hearings for 10,000s of challenged ballots (see the post below for details on this scam). Since they aren't being allowed to challenge on these bogus 'grounds' they're moving to plan #2:

Before the ink was dry on the judge's order, the Ohio GOP's top lawyer said the action meant the GOP would challenge such voters at the polls on November 2. 'We
wanted to have all these questions resolved this week,' said attorney Mark Weaver. 'Now they won't be resolved until Tuesday, when all of these people are trying to vote. It can't help but create chaos, longer lines and frustration.'

Of course this strategy has LONG been used by the GOP and would be in place even if the 1st plan hadn't fallen through. i've dealt with this so many times, it turns my stomach.

Video Proof.

There now seems to be video proof that the 380 tons of explosives removed from Al Qaqaa were videotaped by embedded reporters with the U.S. Military. That means the munitions used to kill our own troops were taken AFTER the fall of Iraq, when Rumsfeld had refused to send enough troops to handle the security during the subsequent looting. Lets see if bush continues to duck responsibility? who do you think he'll blame next?

More Ohio Suppression! Phony Letters Tell People they Can't Vote

More voter suppression--Ohio style! Phony letters sent to newly registered voters signed up by the NAACP and Democratic Campaigns. They say that their registrations were illegal, void, and not authorized by the Board of Elections. This message was 'sent' by Elections Director Jan Clair.

Of course Ms. Clair never sent the letter and all the information is bogus. note again who's been targeted and wonder aloud just WHO could be doing this. i'll give you 3 guesses.

GOP Voter Suppression in Ohio--See how it works!

Here's how they're challenging ballots now, before election day. The GOP gets a list of newly registered voters and picks out the names that are most likely democratic voters. they base this on name, neighborhood, and which organization did the registration. Next they send mail to that address and if the letter is returned or listed as undeliverable, then they are challenging the voter. the GOP has submitted 35,000 challenges so far. Of course, there are MANY reasons why someone's physical address (the one that decides what precint in which you vote) would not match the mailing address.

The transcript in the link shows a College Republican who's challenging authenticity such registered voters. these voters are being made to appear before the Election Board to PROVE they should have the right to vote (the right that they've already registerd for). It seems that this (above) isn't enough to meet the standards required by law for a challenge. the Board is none to happy and the little College Republican gets an INDICTMENT for what she's doing.

I say take those crooked bastards and screw them into the ground.

Here's a little Voter Suppression for ya--Milwaukee Style!

As you can guess, it was distributed ONLY in Black neighborhoods. more evidence that the GOP doesn't care much for that 'liberty and justice for all' part of the pledge.

Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow ! ! !

WOW! What a GREAT movie! This thing was a big love letter to the action of the sci fi and adventure serials of the 30s and 40s. I found myself excited through the whole thing, wondering ‘how are the going to get out of this’ and just wound up to see what was coming around each corner. Now THAT is what a movie is supposed to do to you.

It also didn’t hurt that I got a few of the homages and references that stood out to me:

The “Carriers” are a 30s, prop driven version of the Heli-Carrier from Nick Fury,
Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The robots were from the AWESOME “Mechanical Monsters,” a Superman Cartoon of the 40s by Max Fleischer.

1138 pops up as an address and is a reference to THX 1138, George Lucas’
1st movie.

A “co-ordinance” given was a (local) zip code for one of the locations where shooting was done.

Joe Sullivan’s plane (a souped up P-40) was one of the “Flying Tigers” that fought the Japanese in Manchuria prior to WW2 but not actually as U.S. warplanes.

In the Newspaper Headline Montage you can see the outline of Godzilla in the Tokyo paper.

The Empire State Building/zeppelin docking in the beginning was an homage to reality and King Kong (1933). The movie shows zeppelin moorings in the last scene. Originally the building’s top spire was actually designed to allow zeppelins to dock and unload their passengers. Besides being an utterly terrifying idea, it
was completely impossible to do and thus abandoned.

The Electrical Security Device at Totenkopf’s door was an actual thing called a ‘Tesla Coil’ designed by Nikola Tesla. Tesla actually worked to create an electrical ‘Death Ray’ for the U.S. Government before WW1, but was unsuccessful...so we hear.

Things that were neat but I had NO IDEA about until later:

The villan’s name is Dr. Totenkopf, which roughly translates to DeathHead (thanks La Federala).

Dr. Totenkopf is played by Sir Lawrence Olivier, who died in 1989. He was CGI’d from archive footage.

The Tree bridge is a reference to King Kong (1933).

When Polly is on the phone w/ her editor as the robots attack, the words she uses to describe their approach are the same lines used by a reporter character in Orson Welles’ “The War of the Worlds” broadcast of 1938.

Arkansas Is In Play

This one is for gclark. While not a sure thing, Arkansas appears to be up in the air. i know many Mississippi Attorneys going there for the election to pitch in.

Terry McAuliffe, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, just held a conference call with Arkansas media to announce a $250,000 television ad buy for
Arkansas. Starting tonight, and continuing through Election Day, the ads will run on stations in Little Rock, Ft. Smith, and Jonesboro.

McAuliffe said that the commitment, which is their largest in any Southern state besides Florida, was motivated by their own internal tracking polls, which show the
presidential race is a dead heat in Arkansas.

"The state is switching from red to blue," McAuliffe said. "We would not be spending a quarter of a million dollars there if it did not show that we could win."

Zogby and others show bush with 46% and 48%. the last few days have been hitting him and a new $500,000 ad buy that just dropped can't hurt. the ads came from the 'Win Back Respect' organization that has the BEST AD clobbering bush (it shows him joking about not finding WMDs then cuts to a woman who lost her brother while actually looking for WMDs. she didn't find the joke funny, and neither do i).

Maybe the Elvis of Arkansas (Clinton) can juice up the voting public too...?

The Drudge Report has Mud on It.

Anyone else notice that the Drudge Report has become the literal bullhorn of GOP mudslinging against the Kerry/Edwards campaign? now we all know drudge dips into this stuff from time to time, but the last few weeks seem to have one purpose: any headline must benefit the president. just an observation.

SEND IN THE CLONES!!

in an attempt to pad his millitary cred, the bush campaign is running ads where they 'fill in' the crowd with soldiers. you can see here where the same soldiers are digitally added to the shot! i guess the president's required loyalty oaths don't inspire the crowds.

What's the title of the ad? "Whatever It Takes"...How appropriate.

Bush Claims He's NOT Fit for Office!!

but i don't think he quite realizes he was talking about himself. heh.

Our military is now investigating a number of possible scenarios, including that the explosives may have been moved before our troops even arrived at the site. This investigation is important and it's ongoing, and a political candidate who jumps to conclusions without knowing the facts is not a person you want as your commander in chief.

With his record...I have to agree!

Just HOW BAD was Rumsfeld's Plan?

Let me remind you:

• When it all started, Rumsfeld claimed we only needed 40,000 troops going in.
• CENTCOM asked for 380,000.
• The Administration agreed to 250,000.
• They actually sent 140,000.

Last year General Abizaid testified before the U.S. Senate claiming, 'There is more ammunition in Iraq than anyplace I've ever been in my life and it's not securable, I wish I could tell you we had it all under control, we don't.' He addes that there were not enough forces anywhere to guard this ammunition in Iraq.

Bush short changes our soldiers and when he's called to take responsibility for it, he claims Kerry is badmouthing the very soldiers that Bush sold short! What a leader! never a bullet that someone ELSE can't take for him!

Could Have Been Worse!

From the AP:

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- Mississippi State's football program was placed on four
years probation, stripped of four scholarships during each of the next two
seasons and banned from postseason play this year by the NCAA on Wednesday
because of recruiting violations.

The upside is that we're banned from post season play for one year...the ONE year there's no way in hell we'll ever GET a bowl game! so yeah...i'll take that!

The downside is that we're getting penalized for our school breaking the rules to recruit the WORST TEAM of the last 10 years!

You lie with Swine...

Salon reports that some in the Christian Right have offered a helping hand to the Cheney's for fixing their daughter's gay-ness:

Righties tell the Cheneys Mary can be cured

We're sure that Republicans will be shocked and appalled to learn that Mary Cheney is once again being dragged forward to make a partisan political point about homosexuality. Today, Concerned Women for America, the veteran right-wing organization founded by Beverly LaHaye, released 'About Mary: An Open Letter to Dick and Lynn Cheney.' Under the guise of praising the Vice President's daughter -- 'Mary is, I'm sure, a fine young woman with many wonderful qualities,' it says -- the missive actually uses her to make an argument about whether or not homosexuality is a choice.

Spies Like Us...

As you may recall...the former CiA Director George Tenent called the war in iraq 'wrong'. Now his (currently serving) counterpart from Australia--Dennis Richardson--has given the view from a coalition member.

He has linked the iraqi mis-adventure to the growth in number of the terrorists operating worldwide. in particular, followers of Osama Bin Laden have expanded operation in Australia. While he notes that Australia was a target before 9/11...he adds that iraq has become a propaganda machine for the movement.

HAW HAW HAW

i've resisted putting this one up for a while. here you can see the architect of the Florida theft of 2000 in the U.S. Congress. Former Fla. Sec. of State Katherine Harris--now U.S. Congresswoman--can be seen here in the background of a CSPAN shot all but making out w/ her pal Rep. Bob Simmons (R-Conn.).

somebody needs to get a room...heh heh heh.

Rehnquist Likely Worse off than Reported.

Medical experts have noted that the procedure the Chief Justice underwent is usually associated with a serious illness. it has been reported that he had a tracheotomy related to thyroid cancer.

That's the public news...but the experts i mentioned above have commented that such a treatment is most often for a form of cancer called "anaplastic carcinoma is an extremely serious and aggressive thyroid cancer which often results in the death of the patient...within several months of diagnosis." (Univ. of Va. Health Center).

Many have observed that the Chief Justice has been the least healthy of the 9 justices and expected him to be one of the 1st to leave the bench. Just as many have also observed that he (and some say O'Connor) would both like to step down but are reluctant to do so under a Democratic Replacement. i fully expected O'Connor to retire over the last 4 years but she did not. Now Rehnquist may be in such poor health he cannot choose when to leave.

i believe the next President may appoint more new members to the court than any since Nixon.

Caught RED HANDED!

Fla. GOP documents show that they have created lists of Democratic voters for the purpose of intimidation and challenging lawful voters. as has been said here before...the GOP uses supression to win. Note that this story is being covered by the BBC--NOT a U.S. paper (so far).

A secret document obtained from inside Bush campaign headquarters in Florida suggests a plan - possibly in violation of US law - to disrupt voting in the state's African-American voting districts, a BBC Newsnight
investigation reveals. Election supervisor Ion Sancho believes some voters are being intimidated

Two e-mails, prepared for the executive director of the Bush campaign in Florida and the campaign's national research director in Washington DC, contain a 15-page so-called "caging list".

It lists 1,886 names and addresses of voters in predominantly black and traditionally Democrat areas of Jacksonville, Florida.

An elections supervisor in Tallahassee, when shown the list, told Newsnight: "The only possible reason why they would keep such a thing is to challenge voters on election day." [...]

In Jacksonville, to determine if Republicans were using the lists or other means of intimidating voters, we filmed a private detective
filming every "early voter" - the majority of whom are black - from behind a vehicle with blacked-out windows.

The private detective claimed not to know who was paying for his all-day services.

On the scene, Democratic Congresswoman Corinne Brown said the surveillance operation was part of a campaign of intimidation tactics used by the Republican Party to intimate and scare off African American voters, almost all of whom are registered Democrats.

Quote of the Campaign

As delivered by Bill Clinton today:

"Now, one of Clinton’s laws of politics is this, if one candidate’s trying to scare you, and the other one is trying to get you to think, if one candidate is appealing to your fears and the other one is appealing to your hopes, you better vote for the person who wants you to think and hope."

that is the quote of the campaign for the kerry camp.

Clinton Appearance - update

CNN reports that between 100000 and 120000 people showed u p to the kerry/clinton rally today. i saw the pictures. it was huge.

HARDBALL! ...FOXNews Style

Look at the TOUGH questions FoxNews has been giving Bush/Cheney in their sitdown interviews:

"I've got 15 questions for you. If they're dumb, tell me they're dumb."

"Do you think that when he says these things, John Kerry, your opponent, you were in these three debates with him, do you think he knows he's not telling the truth?"

"In light of the CBS document fiasco, do you think you get a fair shake from the network news and the elite media like the New York Times?"

"A guy over at Newsweek said 80 percent in the elite media favors Kerry. That doesn't surprise you, does it?"

"And you're healthy?"

"What's Chirac's problem? He hasn't been a great ally to the U.S. since 9/11. He doesn't want NATO forces to protect elections in Afghanistan. Come on."

"Do you have any theory on why college professors, pinhead press people why they go into the liberal realm?"

"Has the press given [Kerry] a pass?"

*"Is it a reality that we could turn on our television sets one day -- Fox News Channel, I hope -- and find out that a nuclear weapon has gone off here?"

"You've said one of the things you were most unhappy about is this issue of the tone in Washington. Let me just run down a list of prominent Democrats for a second here, because I can't remember a time in my life where it's been this bad."

"You're the president of the United States. You're also leading troops in harm's way. This is the leader of the opposition party [criticizing you]. Does that bother you?"

"John Kerry has flipped-flopped his way into a dangerous position [regarding Iraq]. So my question is, If John Kerry were president would he make this country more
vulnerable and more susceptible to terror attacks?"

"Now, all this was propaganda. All of this that you didn't ... They say you didn't register in Massachusetts [with the National Guard in 1973]. Is that bogus?"

Tons of Iraq explosives missing UPDATE!

Look at this:

A senior administration official told CNN that national security adviser Condoleezza Rice was notified about the missing weapons about a month ago. Iraq Survey Group inspectors are investigating, the official said.

The discovery was not made public sooner because standard intelligence practice is
not to let the enemy know such information, the official said.

if Condasleeza didn't know...she's incompetent. this happened EiGHTTEEN MONTHS AGO. now look how pathetic excuse is unders scrutiny. they say it wasn't made sooner so the enemy could be kept from knowing...knowing WHAT? that THEY HAVE the explosives? um...don't they already know!?! haw haw haw! we're not morons!

Heck...the only one that had this info hidden from them was CONDi RiCE if you believe this spin! Arming the Terrorists...Welcome to Bushworld!

Elvis Spotted in Philly!

Good lord. There was a SEA of people appearing for the Kerry/CLiNTON. I recall the hatred that Clinton inspired 10 years ago. That pales when you look at the way people seem to LONG for this guy again. Remarkable effect.

i saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's...

and his hair was perfect.

Grape Vine.

i've got some scuttlebutt about where the bush campaign is right now. i cannot really divulge my source but you can verify most of this yourself if you feel the need. here are some points he made:

I predict that Bush will lose. Please note that I still haven’t said Kerry will win. Bush will lose. I watch the inner workings of the campaign. I watch Bush and Kerry language, where they go, their tone, and the planted messages that are recited by rote on right wing talk radio. I see unbelievable desperation in the Bush camp.

The final tiny straw was today. THE WHITE HOUSE PULLED DOWN THE LIST OF NAMES OF COUNTRIES SUPPORTING THE U. S. ACTION IN IRAQ. It turns out that even tiny Costa Rica was embarrassed to be on the list. Also scrubbed from the White House web page (a government site) are links to the audio and video of President Bush’s statement that “I’m not that concerned about Osama bin Laden,” a Q &A when Bush said “misunderestimage” and Bush’s acknowledgement that his decision making on stem cell policy was “unusually deliberative for my administration.”

The Bush people are pounding mid-western states because it is beginning to look like Florida is lost. They need to make up the electoral votes.

He continues about the major things that have come along this weekend and things that should dominate the news as we lead into the election. none are good for bush:

380 tons of powerful conventional explosives are missing from a military installation poorly guarded by the U.S. because of the lack of manpower. That cache will be used to destroy more troops and more people. More poor Bush planning. Remember, those generals were fired who disagreed with Bush on troop strength. (Bush said he looked his generals in the eye and asked if they had what they needed. Of course this came after they cleaned house of any dissent).

50 Iraq soldiers were slaughtered, execution style. More Marines die.

The stock market tanked again and the DOW is around 9700. As the world loses confidence in American they also are losing confidence in our economy. (And some say it doesn’t matter what the world thinks.)

The White House has leaked information that John Ashcroft will not be included in the second administration.

In short, the Bush people are in a corner, barring their teeth, and that tells me they know something we don’t. Maybe, just maybe, we can take back our nation and
start repairing the damage of the past four years.