Kick the Leftist

2005-04-02T18:18:00.000-05:00

And...it's over
I have moderated in my politics not because I am becoming conservative, as much as that I have grown to be bothered by the current state of far-left politics, and the interaction of it with moderately liberal politics. This blog has been slowing down for quite some time, and it's been more than just a result of my increased workload - it's also been a result of my increased detachment from the vast majority of liberals. This isn't because I don't agree with them; in many cases, I agree with everything they say. It is my opinion, however, that the modern liberal dialogue is unable to sustain itself.

The modern Democratic Party has for a while now consisted of two wings - the more centrist New Democrats, and the more liberal Democrats of the 1970s. This is, in my eyes, a battle between the more politically rational moderates and the more idealistic left. That the New Democrats are really that centrist is questionable - Bill Clinton and Al Gore being considered liberals after running for 8 years on a center-left platform at best demonstrates this. The New Democrats were the savior of the Democratic Party, as the 1970s resulted in a dilemma that the idealists brought about - shortly after their support for the Great Society, they opposed the Vietnam War. September 11th ignited the left in ways that only Vietnam has before - while most Democrats and liberals stand firm with the majority of people in wanting to strike back and defend America from terror, some liberals made it clear that they believed these reactionary wars were unjust. The opposing of the Iraq war was on many levels a rational choice - however, seeing millions of liberals holding up signs about blood for oil and the horrors of battle struck a nerve with me. These liberals had two issues with the war - A. they didn't trust Bush to do anything (rightfully so) and B. they don't like war. Neither of these sentiments resonating with the American public, and neither holds much water with it today. That liberals have very viable ideas is undeniable. However, that the fringe left often dominates the discussion is undeniable. How does Michael Moore get so much attention when absurd Constitution Party conservatives are pushed under the table? The right has shown a capability to settle that the left has not - an unwillingless to realize that the Democratic Party is the only hope of the left (and center, and center-left) has left us with a GOP-controlled nation. Howard Dean's DNC position has shown that Democrats are entirely misguided - why choose a man who couldn't defeat John Kerry? Dean's liberalism is almost a non-issue compared to his quirks - the ones that had GOP strategists salivating at the prospect of his nomination.

9/11 struck a chord with the average American, and it's one that the average liberal just can't play. To admit that America needs aggressive foreign policy is against the nature of the Vietnam liberals. But the time has come for that to change. Without foreign policy, without the idea that Democrats are weak, the GOP has to rely on positions no one favors - Social Security, the environment, medical coverage. Dems in Congress have done, for the most part, a fine job politically. The idealistic left, however, has made sure that no one feels entirely safe with Democrats. I've had liberals admit to me that they feel that America should not have responded to 9/11, and should have instead pulled out of all but a few countries. This is not what the left needs. That America is, for the forseeable future, the world's only superpower, is undeniable. That America needs to use it's power is undeniable. What consistently surprises me is that people believe the status quo in the world is something to be left alone. That imposing American ideals on Afghanistan is somehow worse than the Taliban imposing theirs. The rift within the Democratic Party has been present for years. It's ironic that the event that should have brought the left to the center, has actually made them stand stronger. Idealism is a great thing in many situations - however, it is not good politics.

I feel as if I had a very clear thought process before I wrote this, and then it collapsed limply onto paper. However, I must say that I vastly enjoyed my blogging experience - I always told myself I'd stop when it wasn't fun. Between my inner political dialogue and my schoolwork, I've grown overwhelmed. I'd like to thank everyone that's given me advice - certainly the entire Liberal Coalition for getting me off the ground, every big blogger who linked to me, and certainly BuzzFlash for giving me two days of over one thousand hits each. May you all fare well

2005-03-27T15:04:00.000-05:00

Easter II
Check out what happens upon visiting www.easter.com

2005-03-27T15:02:00.000-05:00

Here we go....
Jon's recent post will be his last (of his own will, of course, no hands are being forced). While it was a blast for a while, certain factors have played into me ending this blog. More this week, and my final statement on the state of the party, and liberalism as a whole.

2005-03-25T18:31:00.000-05:00

Happy Easter
And if you fear your children might be going to hell this season, this church is offering an added incentive if they accept Christ as their savior.

2005-03-01T12:45:00.000-05:00

Hungry Like The Wolf
It seems as if Paul Wolfowitz is the leading candidate to become president of the World Bank, replacing James Wolfensohn.

The nomination of Mr Wolfowitz, one of the chief architects of the Iraq war and a former US ambassador to Indonesia, would likely be highly controversial, and could raise new questions about the process by which the World Bank chief is selected. One administration official said his nomination “would have enormous repercussions within the development community”.

Wolfensohn to Wolfowitz? I don't think I even need to ask which CNN anchor would be reporting on this one...

2005-02-26T16:14:00.000-05:00

Thoughts on Dean
This is interesting:

"There's no gut-check required for Dean. Dean just needs to be Dean," said Dal LaMagna, founder of the Progressive Government Institute. "He's the kind of person who's a collaborator, a facilitator. He's not someone who has a clique or who will only talk to people in his clique."

Yeah, Dean definitely doesn't have a core group of supporters that are oblivious to the outside world and the future of the party. Definitely not. No clique here.

2005-02-25T17:44:00.000-05:00

Road kill candy upsets animal rights activists
Link:

Animal rights activists are disgusted by a new candy from Kraft Foods Inc. that's shaped like critters run over by cars -- complete with tire treads.

The fruity-flavored Trolli Road Kill Gummi Candy -- in shapes of partly flattened snakes, chickens and squirrels -- fosters cruelty toward animals, according to the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"It sends the wrong message to children, that it's OK to harm animals. And that's the wrong message, especially from a so-called wholesome corporation like Kraft," said society spokesman Matthew Stanton.

The society is considering petition drives, boycotts and letter-writing campaigns to get the candy pulled from the market, Stanton said.

We can't even eat fake animals? What's next - they won't want us poaching?

2005-02-25T11:40:00.000-05:00

Clear Channel Reports Net Loss
Link:

Clear Channel Communications Inc., the nation's largest radio station chain, posted a quarterly net loss on Friday after a $4.9 billion asset-impairment charge.

"We think Clear Channel's lack of revenue growth is representative of the struggles of the radio industry...," said Frederick Moran, an analyst at the Stanford Financial Group."

He said Clear Channel was likely to face an uphill battle in the first half of 2005 as it executes its strategy of cutting advertising air time and raising rates.

Hold on, I'm just... trying to get a hold of myself. This is just so tragic. I just... I wish them the best in their recovery.
Anyone have a tissue?

2005-02-25T01:42:00.000-05:00

What??
Double-take story of the week.

2005-02-24T22:33:00.000-05:00

Drudge reports on Pope
So when you heard about the Pope getting a tracheotomy, what did you think an appropriate headline would be? If you're name is Matt Drudge, this was your answer:

The Drudge Report: because when the bar has hit the ground, there's always someone ready to start digging.

2005-02-22T22:34:00.000-05:00

Hoaxer's face revealed
Apparently the police have released the sketch of a man who called a soldier's wife, reporting that her husband was dead (he was not). The sketch? Well, it looks like this:

Why pursue someone who has already been run over by a steamroller?

2005-02-22T12:32:00.000-05:00

Dean Headed to Upstate New York
Hey, look! Politics is finally rearing its ugly head around my area. And who better to bring it here than... Howard Dean. Now that he is leading our party, he is on a campaign to unify the Democrats.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean spreads his message of grass-roots organizing tonight at Alfred University and Wednesday at Cornell University in Ithaca, just days after his intense verbal jousting with new State Republican Chairman Stephen J. Minarik of Rochester. And in a telephone interview Monday with The Buffalo News, Dean labeled upstate the kind of turf already proving more receptive to the Democratic gospel.

"They don't balance budgets, they're cutting back on local school budgets, and they're loading people up with unfunded mandates," Dean said of the GOP. "That's been awful for places like upstate New York."

OK! Way to go, Howard! You've successfully unified New York! Now, what do you say we try for one of those red states? Or even a swing state? Or even any state other than New York and California.
Yeah, this Dean leadership looks like it's gonna work out wonderfully...

2005-02-21T00:02:00.000-05:00

A serious moment...
I came home from a weekend off to find that Hunter S. Thompson has killed himself.

If you haven't checked out his work, notably Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, do so immediately.

2005-02-20T14:01:00.000-05:00

"Wild Behavior"
It appears as if one of Bush's old best friends from his days as governor had taped some of their conversations as he looked forward to the possibility of running for President.

Preparing to meet Christian leaders in September 1998, Mr. Bush told Mr. Wead, "As you said, there are some code words. There are some proper ways to say things, and some improper ways." He added, "I am going to say that I've accepted Christ into my life. And that's a true statement."

But Mr. Bush also repeatedly worried that prominent evangelical Christians would not like his refusal "to kick gays." At the same time, he was wary of unnerving secular voters by meeting publicly with evangelical leaders. When he thought his aides had agreed to such a meeting, Mr. Bush complained to Karl Rove, his political strategist, "What the hell is this about?"

Mr. Bush, who has acknowledged a drinking problem years ago, told Mr. Wead on the tapes that he could withstand scrutiny of his past. He said it involved nothing more than "just, you know, wild behavior." He worried, though, that allegations of cocaine use would surface in the campaign, and he blamed his opponents for stirring rumors. "If nobody shows up, there's no story," he told Mr. Wead, "and if somebody shows up, it is going to be made up." But when Mr. Wead said that Mr. Bush had in the past publicly denied using cocaine, Mr. Bush replied, "I haven't denied anything."

He refused to answer reporters' questions about his past behavior, he said, even though it might cost him the election. Defending his approach, Mr. Bush said: "I wouldn't answer the marijuana questions. You know why? Because I don't want some little kid doing what I tried."

So, what you're telling me is that Bush did drugs, hates gays, and is overly religious? Wow, way to go, New York Times. You really got a breaking story here.

2005-02-20T13:56:00.000-05:00

"Wild Behavior"
Link:

As George W. Bush was first moving onto the national political stage, he often turned for advice to an old friend who secretly taped some of their private conversations, creating a rare record of the future president as a politician and a personality.

In the last several weeks, that friend, Doug Wead, an author and former aide to Mr. Bush's father, disclosed the tapes' existence to a reporter and played about a dozen of them.

Preparing to meet Christian leaders in September 1998, Mr. Bush told Mr. Wead, "As you said, there are some code words. There are some proper ways to say things, and some improper ways." He added, "I am going to say that I've accepted Christ into my life. And that's a true statement."

But Mr. Bush also repeatedly worried that prominent evangelical Christians would not like his refusal "to kick gays." At the same time, he was wary of unnerving secular voters by meeting publicly with evangelical leaders. When he thought his aides had agreed to such a meeting, Mr. Bush complained to Karl Rove, his political strategist, "What the hell is this about?"

But when Mr. Wead said that Mr. Bush had in the past publicly denied using cocaine, Mr. Bush replied, "I haven't denied anything." He refused to answer reporters' questions about his past behavior, he said, even though it might cost him the election. Defending his approach, Mr. Bush said: "I wouldn't answer the marijuana questions. You know why? Because I don't want some little kid doing what I tried."

Bush has done drugs, hates gays, and is overly religious? Holy shit, this is breaking news.

2005-02-16T22:09:00.000-05:00

Bush to hike SS taxes?
Dubya may not only raise Social Security taxes...but he may raise them only for the rich. What...is going on.....

2005-02-14T22:58:00.002-05:00

A Great Compromise
Sometimes, the news just seems like it came from The Onion.

Conservative MP Jason Kenney says gays have every right to marry whoever they want -- as long as it isn't someone of the same sex.

The Calgary MP made the remarks during a sometimes heated 40-minute discussion with members of the Toronto-area Punjabi language media, a recording of which was made available to The Canadian Press.

"The fact is that homosexuals aren't barred from marrying under Canadian law,'' Kenney said at the meeting of the Punjabi Press Club last month in Brampton, Ont. The group represents more than a dozen Punjabi-language newspapers.

In related news, Kenney also announced that he believes blacks should have the right to vote, so long as it's for the next American Idol.

2005-02-14T02:52:00.000-05:00

Valentine's Day Is For Lovers
Why do all of the most conservative people in the country end up with gay daughters? I'm not sure, but I am appreciating the irony immensely.

The 19-year-old daughter of Alan Keyes has a queer Valentine for the anti-gay rights conservative pundit and frequent Republican candidate.

Maya Marcel-Keyes will be making her first public appearance as a gay activist at a Valentine Day's rally in front of the Maryland State House, says Dan Furmansky, the leader of Equality Maryland, a gay rights group.

Last summer her father, a conservative pundit and frequent Republican candidate, caused a stir during the Republican convention by labeling Vice President Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter a sinner and calling homosexuality "selfish hedonism."

"It was kind of strange that he said it like a hypothetical," she told the Washington Post. "It was really kind of unpleasant."

Marcel-Keyes told the Post her parents have thrown her out of the house, stopped speaking to her and refuse to pay for college because she is gay. She said she loves her parents.

2005-02-13T22:15:00.000-05:00

Iran threatens U.S.
Why do they keep trying?

"They know our capabilities. We have clearly told the Europeans to tell the Americans not to play with fire," Iranian spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told a news briefing in Tehran, referring to Washington's refusal to rule out the use of force.

This is actually reminiscent of Asefi's early life, where he is quoted as once saying "Oh yeah? Well tell Muhammad to tell Ahmed that HE is stupid."

2005-02-13T13:03:00.000-05:00

Interesting Budget Choices
Bush has announced his plans for the 2006 budget and, astoundingly, the states that will get the most funding were the ones that voted for Bush, while the states getting the least funding are the ones that voted for Kerry.

Critics and defenders of the president's $2.6 trillion budget say they do not believe the budget proposal represents a deliberate attack on states that voted for Democrat John F. Kerry, but rather that Bush's budget priorities tend to hurt those states that rely more on the health, community development, and housing programs that are targeted for reductions.

The result is that the highest percentage increases in state and local grant money would go to Arkansas, North Carolina, Arizona, and Missouri, while New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Hawaii, and Vermont would be among the states with the smallest increases. Massachusetts -- with a projected 1.9 percent increase -- is tied for 35th, while liberal-leaning California and Washington state (along with conservative-leaning North Dakota) would see a reduction in federal grants next year.

Oh come on, you conspiracy theorists. He obviously chose the states he did as a Valentine's Day tie-in. Red means love, people. Blue just stands for depression.

2005-02-12T14:23:00.000-05:00

Dean named chairman
Sorry for the week off, Jon and I have had a heavy workload.

But now that Howard Dean is the DNC chair, I feel it's necessary to post. I must say, the future looks bright for the Democratic Party. All we needed was to be led by someone who couldn't beat John Kerry.

And a side note: While the major liberal/Democratic blogs have tended to support this choice, that's because it's a politically sound idea for them to do so. We don't have to be so nice. Dean's nomination is the worst possible thing that could happen to the party right now. Dean's a one-trick pony. His war stance snatched up the college liberal vote. Also, he's a political joke with a fuse an inch long, and almost fits the "liberal elite" image as well as Kerry, if only because his supporters' ranks are filled with young New England liberals. Dean sure can raise money, though, so perhaps with that money, we can buy a new party.

2005-02-07T23:31:00.000-05:00

Oh, Matt
Drudge's brilliant headline, "Bush budget director brags of shifting tax burden to rich" is followed up by this:

The White House budget director Josh Bolten on Monday bragged to reporters how the nation most-wealthy will see an increase in tax burden under Bush's new budget.

"If you look at the president's tax cuts as a totality, the income tax, those at the upper end of the spectrum are now paying a larger share of the income tax than they were before," Bolten explained.

"An example, the top 5 percent in income in this country -- that's people making above about $140,000 -- without the president's tax cuts that top 5 percent would be paying about less than 52 percent of our total income tax revenue.

"After the president's tax cut that group is paying more than 54 percent of our total tax revenue. So the notion that the president's tax cuts have somehow made the code less progressive is wrong. The president's tax cuts have made the tax code more progressive."

Well, it may not seem like he's bragging, but Drudge didn't mention Bolten's final comment, "Take that motherfuckers. Don't mess with this progressive shit."

Man what a pompous ass.

2005-02-07T14:36:00.000-05:00

Iraqi Mud Wrestling
Nothing I haven't seen in college...

Military officials have demoted a female member of a National Guard military police unit for indecent exposure after a mud-wrestling party at the Camp Bucca detention center in Iraq.

The party occurred Oct. 30, as the 160th Military Police Battalion, an Army Reserve Unit from Tallahassee, Fla., prepared to turn over its duties to the Asheville-based 105th Military Police Battalion, Johnson said.

In the course of the transfer of duties, "some individuals in their exuberance decided to put together a mud-wrestling thing," Johnson said Sunday by telephone. "There were females involved, and some members of the 105th also became involved, one female soldier in particular."

Waldrop said she was proud of her daughter for joining the National Guard. "But I hate that this happened, and so does she," she said. The party "just got way out of hand, and before you know it, pictures were taken, and she didn't have time to react.

"My mom and I have both had talks with her that she's supposed to be an example for her country."

How is it that this girl only gets a demotion and no scorn from the Religious Right?
Simple. She is not a fictional cartoon character. And unlike Spongebob, women mud wrestling doesn't promote gay activity. In fact, it does quite the opposite.

2005-02-07T01:37:00.000-05:00

Cheney Won't Run
Even though it was pretty much assumed, I think this pretty much cements it.

Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday categorically ruled out a run for the White House in 2008, even if asked by the Republican president who recruited him back into government.

"I will say just as hard as I possibly know how to say ... 'If nominated, I will not run,' 'If elected, I will not serve,' or not only no, but 'Hell no,"' Cheney told "Fox News Sunday," making clear he intends to retire from politics at the end of his current term.

"... I've got my plans laid out. I'm going to serve this president for the next four years, and then I'm out of here."

Never fear, Dick. No one's going to nominate or elect your ass to power again. Even the Bush supporters I know cringe at the thought of you in any greater power than you have now.

2005-02-06T15:54:00.000-05:00

Super Bowl betting
In the name of sportsmanship, charity, and, yes, potential added site hits, Jon and I are placing a $20 bet on The Patriots for tonight's game in Atrios's pool. If we are wrong, this money will be donated to Project Home.

2005-02-05T02:18:00.001-05:00

Enjoy Your Weekend!
To get you through the weekend, here's a great video in which the CBC makes a fool of Ann Coulter.

2005-02-04T16:28:00.000-05:00

Dean looking to take DNC chair
Well, it looks as if Howard is going to take the helm. It's pretty much set in stone now - when has Dean ever gone into a vote looking like the clear winner and then been upset? I just can't see it.

Seriously, though, it's definitely a good thing that Dean is taking the lead. As a party we Dems have been on the ground for a few years now. What we really need to get going is a good, solid kick in the face.

2005-02-02T11:23:00.000-05:00

Terrorists use toys
Jokes writing themselves, part 1:

A photograph posted on an Islamist Web site appears to be that of an action figure and not a U.S. soldier being held hostage.

Liam Cusack, the marketing coordinator for Dragon Models USA, said the figure pictured on the Web site is believed to be "Special Ops Cody," a military action figure the company manufactured in late 2003.

Well, that's ridiculous. But the question is, how did it become clear that it was a toy? Well, let's see:

Maybe because it's fucking obvious? Who are these idiots? Passing that off to a few people might work, but are they really going to trick a whole country into thinking that's a person? They could have at least taken off some of Special Ops Cody's equipment. On the other hand, this is a great chance for us to see what they do when we don't respond to their demands.

2005-01-31T23:57:00.000-05:00

Pelosi strikes back
Go get 'em Nancy!

"What the president says, the president will be held accountable for."

No, seriously though, Nancy, did you have something to say?

2005-01-31T19:57:00.000-05:00

High Schoolers hate freedom
Well this is intriguing:

The way many high school students see it, government censorship of newspapers may not be a bad thing, and flag burning is hardly protected free speech.

It turns out the First Amendment is a second-rate issue to many of those nearing their own adult independence, according to a study of high school attitudes released today.

The original amendment to the Constitution is the cornerstone of the way of life in the United States, promising citizens the freedoms of religion, speech, press and assembly.

Yet, when told of the exact text of the First Amendment, more than one in three high school students said it goes "too far" in the rights it guarantees. Only half of the students said newspapers should be allowed to publish freely without government approval of stories.

It seems that the government might be better suited not wasting time and money on censorship. However, dumping money into the education of these retards might be even more of a black hole

2005-01-30T15:06:00.000-05:00

For Mourning, Green Is The New Black
Recently, about thirty world leaders including Vladamir Putin and Jacques Chirac visted Auschwitz in a solemn remembrance of the camp's liberation sixty years prior. Representing the United States was Dick Cheney.

Other leaders at the event in Poland on Thursday marking the 60th anniversary of the death camp's liberation, such as French President Jacques Chirac and Russian President Vladimir Putin, wore dark, formal overcoats and dress shoes or boots.

"The vice president, however, was dressed in the kind of attire one typically wears to operate a snow blower," Robin Givhan, The Washington Post's fashion writer, wrote in the newspaper's Friday editions.

Between the somber, dark-coated leaders at the outdoor ceremony sat Cheney, resplendent in a green parka embroidered with his name and featuring a fur-trimmed hood, the laced brown boots and a knit ski cap reading "Staff 2001."

"And, indeed, the vice president looked like an awkward boy amid the well-dressed adults," Givhan wrote.

I'm not sure what caption I could write for this picture to make it any more humorous or appalling than it already is.

2005-01-28T18:23:00.000-05:00

Straight Pride
Link:

A University of Central Oklahoma student group is planning what it calls "Straight Pride Week" on campus.

Members of the College Republicans said despite objections from some, they have every right to celebrate.

"The general gist is that if you are a straight student on campus be proud, be loud, this is your time to shine," said college Republican Kyle Houts.

The group has posted fliers on campus that read, "we're here, we're conservative, we're out."

Hey guys, great. Why stop at just one week though? Those Blacks get the entirety of February. Might as well go for the gold and get White History Month.

Here's an idea: Why not celebrate the acheivements of straight white men year-round? That'd really stick it to the minorities, huh? If we took up the entire year celebrating our culture and allot them a few measly weeks. If this country needs anything, it's a new holiday celebrating Heterosexual Caucasian Middle-Class Awareness.

2005-01-27T22:38:00.000-05:00

Bush willing to back out of Iraq
Bush has apparently said in an interview that if the new Iraqi government wishes to have American troops withdrawn, he will do so. It will be called Operation How To Retreat And Still Make It Seem As If You're Spreading Democracy Throughout The World.

2005-01-26T22:00:00.000-05:00

Gay Remarks Posted on County Website
A woman was surfing the web recently and found homophobic comments posted on an official county website. She requested that they be removed, but the Sheriff resisted, claiming the comments were his own personal views.

Marshall County Sheriff Mac Holcomb under pressure from county officials has removed anti-gay remarks he posted on official page of the Sheriff in the County's Web site.

The posting, a letter to his constituents, called homosexuality "an abomination."

The sheriff, reflecting on growing up in the 1940s and 1950s, wrote: "Men were men and women were women and there was no mistaking which was which ... Homosexuality was very queer and a despicable act ... an abomination."

So let's see... a homophobe reminiscing on how great the old days were. Kind of sounds like Archie Bunker. Think of this verse from the theme song...

People seemed to be content
Fifty dollars paid the rent
Freaks were in a circus tent
Those were the days

2005-01-26T13:08:00.000-05:00

Bush responds to bribery
Interesting:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- President Bush ordered his Cabinet secretaries Wednesday not to pay media commentators to promote his legislative agenda, saying payments by the Education Department were improper and new leadership was now in place.

New leadership? No, George, you were president before, too. Bush also said "Our agenda ought to be able to stand on its own two feet." However, he said nothing about the injuries those feet have sustained by being constantly shot and inserted in mouths.

2005-01-24T08:40:00.000-05:00

Nixon secretary dies
Oh, no!

Rose Mary Woods, the devoted secretary to President Nixon who said she inadvertently erased part of a crucial Watergate tape, has died. She was 87.

Only the good die young.

2005-01-23T21:11:00.000-05:00

The moral crusaders
Well this is interesting:

A Catholic church plans to bury the ashes of as many as 1,000 aborted fetuses Sunday, raising a storm of protest from those who accuse it of exploiting the pain and grief of women for political purposes.

The Sacred Heart of Mary Church obtained the ashes from a mortuary that had a contract to cremate remains from the Boulder Abortion Clinic. But the clinic said it didn't know the ashes were being given to the church.

You have to admit though...abortion is WAY worse than grave robbing.

2005-01-22T15:56:00.000-05:00

Slow day...
I would be posting more today, except when I tried to walk across the street to feed myself I got smacked in the face with the biggest snowflake in history. Then the pizza place was closed. In the meantime, entertain yourself with this story. The humanity.

2005-01-21T16:44:00.000-05:00

Vice-President

Cheney, at the inauguration. Clearly, he has a bright vision for the future of our nation.

2005-01-21T15:47:00.000-05:00

Muslim Pilgrims Think of Bush

While on the annual Hajj, some Muslims spent the part of the pilgrimage that requires one to throw rocks at a holy site by thinking of the Devil Bush.

Many pilgrims said they were thinking of Bush and his allies while they were hurling pebbles at the site where the devil is said to have appeared to the biblical patriarch Abraham.

"Yes, the devil is Bush and that other one from Israel -- (Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon. And there's (British Prime Minister) Blair too," said Egyptian Tia'amah Mohammed.

"We throw the stones so we can vent our anger at them."

This marks the first time President Bush has been stoned.

Well, since college...

2005-01-21T13:51:00.000-05:00

Christian groups doing what they do best
Well it looks as if the uber-religious nuts haven't filled their zealousness quota for the month yet, and are compensating by criticizing a foundation that utilizes cartoon characters such as Sponge Bob to promote tolerance:

Christian groups however have taken exception to the tolerance pledge on the foundation's Web site, which asks people to respect the sexual identity of others along with their abilities, beliefs, culture and race.

I also take exception to this pledge. Personally I think children should be urged to despise the beliefs of far right Christians, and perhaps even be persuaded to beat up the children of those Christians. But honestly, these Christian family groups have more things to worry about, like the Rugrats Ice Show's "Kill God Tour '05," which should be coming to a town near you next month.

2005-01-20T18:45:00.000-05:00

Protesting something or other
As you can see, I thought it would be fun to bring some good old fashioned satire to the parade route:

2005-01-20T15:07:00.000-05:00

Kick the Leftist returns
KtL's hiatus is not without progress. Jon and I have decided to revamp the content of KtL. Serious political analysis is easy to find on the Internet. Solid analytical blogs are rampant. Part of the reason that I decided to take a month or so off from blogging is because in the month after the election, the political landscape could not have been more boring. A month of arguing over the minute details of why Bush won? No thanks. Instead of trying to keep up with people that do this for a living, Jon and I are going to start doing what we do best - be sarcastic, cynical jerks, writing about the ridiculous nature of politicians and their ways. KtL always had a more heavy sarcasm factor than most blogs. But now, aside from the occasional serious post, we've decided to focus on the lighter side of politics - a side which is in reality sad, but can certainly be looked at in a comical light. And what better time to do then shortly after it was announced that WMD were not to be found, Condi Rice was confirmed via a rather entertainingly bitter exchange, and the president has announced that "The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world." Get it? Freedom=peace. If Iraq teaches us one thing, it's definitely that.

To our loyal reader, we thank you for waiting around.

2005-01-17T19:48:00.000-05:00

We're Back
Sorry for the extended, and unannounced, Kick the Leftist hiatus. Both Peter and I had final exams in December followed by the holiday season and winter break. Now that we are both back at school, Kick the Leftist will be back up and running in full functionality very soon.

Until then, read this.

2004-12-09T21:35:00.000-05:00

Terrorists To Use Lasers
Warning: Do not look directly into the terrorist.

Terrorists may seek to down aircraft by shining powerful lasers into cockpits to blind pilots during landing approaches, federal officials are warning in a bulletin distributed nationwide.

The memo sent by the FBI and the Homeland Security Department says there is evidence that terrorists have explored using lasers as weapons, though there is no specific intelligence indicating al-Qaida or other groups might use lasers in the United States.

"Although lasers are not proven methods of attack like improvised explosive devices and hijackings, terrorist groups overseas have expressed interest in using these devices against human sight," the memo said.

No word yet on whether the lasers will be attached to the heads of sharks.

2004-12-08T11:56:00.000-05:00

Book Of The Year
Congratulations to Jon Stewart and the Daily Show writers for winning the Publishers Weekly award for Book of the Year. To those of you who don't own America: The Book, I highly recommend it.

2004-12-08T11:52:00.000-05:00

Etymology
Not too much news today, dude?

2004-12-06T14:10:00.000-05:00

Together In Misinformation
Earlier today, someone at Clear Channel thought aloud "You know, we really aren't quite evil enough... What this corporation needs is to be hated for its right wing ties and media dominance even more than it already is. Let's get our news from Fox News!"

2004-12-03T11:03:00.000-05:00

Mall Cops Trained For Terror
Mall security guards are now receiving homeland security training.

In a shopping mall outside Hartford, past the Abercrombie & Fitch and the cell phone kiosks, tucked away by the Barnes & Noble, a conference room full of security guards is learning how to spot suicide bombers.

They are being taught blast patterns and behavior profiles, how a bomb is packaged and how a bomber is recruited.

I'll tell you this: If there's anything mall security guards need it is a new aspect of their job to make them think they are more important than they actually are.
Don't be surprised if you find yourself wrapped up in a CIA investigation the next time you are loitering.

2004-12-01T14:29:00.000-05:00

Bush Saluted
Bush makes an appearance in Canada:

Thousands of demonstrators protested President Bush's visit Tuesday, but Bush, eager to patch up relations with the northern neighbor, said he felt he'd received a friendly welcome.

"I frankly felt like the reception we received on the way in from the airport was very warm and hospitable, and I want to thank the Canadian people who came out to wave -- with all five fingers," Bush said with a smile.

Ha! Man, you know what's hillarious, George? How people around the world hate you! Good one!!

2004-11-30T17:41:00.000-05:00

Schwarzenegger Won't Run
...at least according to an announcement made today by his wife, Maria Shriver.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's wife, Maria Shriver, says America may someday amend the U.S. Constitution and elect a foreign-born president -- but it won't be her husband.

"Forget about it. It is not going to happen. The process takes years, and this is as far as it goes," Shriver, the niece of former President John F. Kennedy, told Vanity Fair magazine amid talk of amending the Constitution to allow the Austrian-born film star to run for president.

The most obvious question this raises is why Shriver is making the announcement instead of Arnold. Reading her complete opposition to his candidacy and taking this in context of the jokes Arnold has been making since he won the governorship, one can only assume this is being done due to Shriver's contrasting political beliefs.
If so, for all his talk of "girly men," Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the most whipped men in politics.

2004-11-30T17:11:00.000-05:00

We're back
To start off after our elongated break, a nice little story on a judge in Brazil who earned the right to be called "Your Honor" or "Your Excellency" outside of court, with violators being fined.

Sure, he's a jackass, but if he did it as a joke, he might just be the funniest person alive.

2004-11-22T10:21:00.000-05:00

The missing link
A certain conservative news publication is up in arms over Michael Scheuer's recent comment's on Hardball, which stated that the former head of the CIA's bin Laden unit (Scheuer) came up with "nothing" on the Iraq/al Qaeda link when looking through classified documents. He said that the basis for his 2002 book, which made the case for the link, was open-source reporting. While conservatives are crying foul, the Weekly Standard's articles seem to do the same at first, but eventually end on a more confused note - which makes sense, because Scheuer's statements are downright baffling, as they contradict previous writings. The conservative line becomes washy here. The far-right is just attacking Scheuer, the apparent traitor to their cause. The Weekly Standard, which I consider the most intelligent conservative publication available, seems to be asking for clarification. But at best, they point out hypocrisy because they don't know what else to do - if you can't find the sources to challenge Scheuer's implication, that there was no connection at all - call him a hypocrite, and let someone else sort it out.

2004-11-20T13:19:00.000-05:00

Bush proposals undercut by evil Congress
The Republican tactic: have the President propose semi-liberal measures, but make sure Congress doesn't pass them. Case in point:

Among the victims were Bush priorities like education, which would grow by less than 2 percent to nearly $57 billion. The National Endowment for Democracy, which buttresses democratic institutions abroad, got $60 million of the $80 million he wanted, while his Futuregen program to promote clean-burning power plants got $18 million -- one-thirteenth of what the White House proposed.

Way to go, Congress! Now we know who to blame when children are being left behind.

2004-11-19T17:43:00.000-05:00

Bush raises credit cap
You know, otherwise he'd end up being held responsible for the deficit, and we can't have that.

2004-11-19T11:51:00.000-05:00

Interesting
Check out The New Republic's comprehensive look at possible presidential candidates for 2008, all of which are outside the conventional wisdom of the day.

Meanwhile, today I am leaving for San Francisco until the 28th, so please excuse my lack of posting. The hotel cannot guarantee me internet access at this time for some reason, but if I happen to witness Mayor Gavin Newsom getting married to a man, I will be sure to find my way to the nearest internet café.

2004-11-18T17:23:00.000-05:00

Trivial Pursuits
Olasky has some BS to feed you over at Town Hall:

November is National Adoption Month, but you'd never know it from reading the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune or USA Today. Total number of stories noting National Adoption Month in those five newspapers during the first 15 days of November: zero, according to Lexis-Nexis.

Well first, the Chicago Tribune isn't covered by Lexis-Nexis, and if you go into late October National Adoption Month pops up a few times in the Post, but not in major stories. But why is adoption so important? Martin explains:

That's too bad, because Americans should be aware of four troublesome trends in adoption that have emerged. First, while Americans are adopting increasing numbers of children from Russia, China and Guatemala, it is "exporting" black children for adoption in other countries." The Christian Science Monitor noted last month that "African-American babies have lagged behind in adoption rates because many Americans don't realize they're available."

Olasky sidesteps the obvious: people don't want black babies. It's unfortunate, but it's true. It also has an important role in one of his later points:

Fourth, the role of Christian and pro-life groups in adoption has received little coverage. Historically, American Christians have been highly involved in adoption, particularly of hard-to-place kids. I know, for example, Christian parents in Maryland who adopted seven children of different races with severe physical or mental difficulties, parents in California who adopted three Down syndrome babies and parents in North Carolina whose adopted children include one born so prematurely that he could fit in the palm of your hand.

I'll ignore the fact that Olasky apparently thinks Christian adopting parents should get significant media coverage. Olasky mentions pro-life groups. It's ironic to bring up abortion at all in the adoption debate when one is pro-life, as it seems apparently to most people that, upon banning abortion, the adoption market would flood. Now, moving back to the race issue. With so many poor American blacks unable to sustain a healthy environment for a child, African-American babies would surely get put up for adoption in significant numbers if abortion were outlawed. And the number of people who want to adopt black children would not change at all. Doesn't seem like an ideal situation at all, now, does it?

If you want to read Olasky's section on why gays shouldn't adopt, go ahead. The carelessness exhibited in the rest of his column speaks for itself.

2004-11-17T14:12:00.000-05:00

Turkeys Receive Annual Pardon
Compared to his jokes at the press dinner earlier this year, it seems that Bush's joke-writing staff is getting better. In today's annual traditional photo op, Bush joked about how he chose which turkeys to pardon this year.

"It was a close race. You might say it was neck and neck," Bush said. He spoke in the Rose Garden during a rare joint appearance with Vice President Dick Cheney

"It came down to a few battleground states. It was a tough contest, and it turned out some 527 organizations got involved, including Barnyard Animals for Truth," Bush said.

"There was a scurrilous film that came out, 'Fahrenheit 375 Degrees At 10 Minutes Per Pound,'" he said.

2004-11-17T13:12:00.000-05:00

Paige replacement
With an education secretary with the name Spellings, how can you go wrong? As Jon pointed out below, Bush knew what he was doing when he made that choice. Although it may be the first Cabinet choice made solely because it was clever.

2004-11-17T06:53:00.000-05:00

New Education Secretary
Bush will soon name domestic policy adviser Margaret Spellings as the new Secretary of Education.

As Bush’s domestic policy adviser, Spellings has helped shape the news while staying out of it herself. Karl Rove, the president’s political strategist, was quoted this fall as saying Spellings is “the most influential woman in Washington that you’ve never heard of.”

“She understands what he thinks. They’re very, very close,” said Sandy Kress, a lawyer who worked at the White House for Spellings when he was Bush’s senior education adviser.

Bush later added, "Get it? Spellings... Education... Oh man, this job is awesome." As of press time, however, it is uncertain if Bush will appoint Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) as Secretary of Agriculture.

2004-11-17T01:28:00.000-05:00

End of the World
And you thought "The Day After Tomorrow" was unrealistic!

A top New Zealand researcher is using a prestigious award ceremony in Christchurch to warn that humans face extinction by the end of the century.

"After 40 years, I'm part of a huge community of scientists who have become alarmed with our discovery, that we know from our knowledge of the ancient past, that if we continue our present growth path, we are facing extinction," Barrett said. "Not in millions of years, or even millennia, but by the end of this century." Barrett won the award – designed to mark lifetime achievement in the sciences – for his research into Antarctica, which began with helping prove New Zealand was once part of the Gondwanaland supercontinent."

Well, there's one way to end the Republican dominance...

2004-11-16T10:55:00.000-05:00

Flip Flop
Not two weeks after the election, John McCain is back to his old self.

Wasting no time distancing himself from President Bush on an issue that has long divided them, Senator John McCain yesterday called the White House stance on climate change "terribly disappointing" and said inaction in the face of mounting scientific data was unjustified.

Of course, McCain would have make this comment a month ago, but he just forgot about it. Just a coincidence. Certainly nothing to do with a 2008 run for president.

2004-11-15T19:19:00.000-05:00

Rice to replace Powell
God help us, she's gaining power.

2004-11-15T19:13:00.000-05:00

Milli Vanilli Redux
So you saw the Ashlee Simpson SNL performance and now you wish you never bought her CD to begin with? Worry no more, my friend. This is what charitable organizations are for!

HOPE, or Horrified Observers of Pedestrian Entertainment, is giving people who bought Simpson's album the chance to turn it in for what it calls "one of a higher entertainment quality."

Fans who bring the disc to New York's Knitting Factory can trade it in for one by Elvis Costello, The Ramones, X, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, The Grateful Dead, Joni Mitchell or Brian Wilson.

2004-11-15T15:41:00.000-05:00

Yet Another
One more resignation today, and perhaps the best one of all...

2004-11-15T15:36:00.000-05:00

Man On Fire
Today, a man set himself on fire outside the White House.

Senator Kerry, I realize that your recent election loss must have been a difficult one for you, but just accept that you lost and move on. What's setting yourself on fire going to prove, really?

2004-11-15T14:21:00.000-05:00

Round Two
Check it!
Say goodbye to Rod Paige, Spencer Abraham, Ann Veneman, and -no surprise- Colin Powell.
To Mr. Rumsfeld, I say "Congratulations, you are the winner of a surprise hit reality television series called "I'm A Rich Guy Working For An Idiot President, Get Me Out Of Here!"

2004-11-15T09:43:00.000-05:00

Cyberlibel
Welcome to a new era of Internet accountability. Good thing no one reads this blog. I can say things like "Condi Rice has twice been convicted on prostitution charges." Who is going to stop me? No one.

2004-11-14T18:36:00.000-05:00

Santorum on the defense
Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum's five children attend the Penn Hills Cyber Charter School in Penn Hills, PA. This costs the school district $38,000. The problem is, it seems that Santorum doesn't actually live there.
Santorum claims that he and his family reside in the house pictured alongside that article, which is a two-bedroom home. So the question is: seven people sleeping in two rooms?
Well, you know Rick Santorum. He likes to keep it close in the bedroom.

2004-11-14T18:28:00.000-05:00

The Rumor Mill
"Hmm," thought the Palestinian extremist. "I really thought that when Arafat died, there would suddenly be several attacks on Israel. How can we get that to happen? Oh, I have an idea..."

Problem with this theory: Arafat was in Paris for over a week before he died. How could the Israelis have poisoned him there? Why would it be more likely for it to be them than a French person? And further, poison usually leads to a very quick death. When was the last time you heard of someone being poisoned and then lying in a hospital bed comatose for days on end?

2004-11-14T13:37:00.000-05:00

Change course on gay marriage
Though it's been fairly well debunked that values were the driving force behind Bush's re-election, there are cries from all over the left saying the same thing: we need to take away the Republican advantage on moral issues. No, we don't. In case you weren't watching, that's exactly what the Democrats tried to do this year. John Kerry didn't support gay marriage - does that mean that the election didn't rely on that issue? Well, yes, in part. But it also means that the vast majority of the social right will generally align themselves with the GOP. And it means that we need to abandon the issue. I'm not referring to values in general - Democrats aren't "faking" moral values just for votes. I'm referring specifically to gay marriage. We shouldn't change the position because it's politically expedient - currently, it isn't. We should do it because it's morally correct - liberalism has a history of standing for social justice. One day the GOP will be apologizing. And that day won't be too long from now. Newer generations are increasingly tolerant of homosexuality (and in my opinion, more libertarian in general).

John Kerry was punished this election because many people thought he changed his positions when it was politically safe to do so. This wasn't any more true for him than it was for Bush. But the Democratic Party has turned their collective back on a community that it used to embrace, merely because fishing for votes has become worth the price of throwing one's convictions out the window.

2004-11-13T16:40:00.000-05:00

Al-Zarqawi escapes?
OK guys, joke's over. You're not THIS bad at capturing terrorists, are you?

2004-11-12T13:23:00.000-05:00

Should we change our primary system?
Glenn Hutchins, noting how the NH primary favors Massachusetts liberals, and the Iowa caucuses are essentially a joke, suggests the following:

Instead, the party ought to consider mounting coordinated, open, and perhaps regional primary elections anchored in the battleground states which unfold deliberately over several months. The candidates who emerge from that gauntlet are more likely to be conversant with issues that matter to voters in these regions and able to communicate effectively to citizens across a broad range of socioeconomic, educational, and religious backgrounds.

I concur.

2004-11-11T18:51:00.000-05:00

Leave it to the French...
Who knew terrorists deserved such good treatment?

2004-11-11T13:46:00.000-05:00

Carter on Arafat
Jimmy speaks his mind on Arafat's death.

Former US President Jimmy Carter called Yasser Arafat "a powerful human symbol and forceful advocate" who united Palestinians in their pursuit of a homeland. "Yasser Arafat's death marks the end of an era and will no doubt be painfully felt by Palestinians throughout the Middle East and elsewhere in the world," Carter said.

Someone tell Carter... you don't have to say nice things about everyone that dies, especially known terrorists. I can see it now... President Bush, 2012: "Yeah, Osama bin Laden. He was really a nice guy, you know? Really a powerful human being. Sure, we may have had our differences, but before all that, I remember a time when we would sit down together, not as leaders but as family friends."

2004-11-10T23:13:00.000-05:00

Arafat dead
Yep. Should be interesting, and potentially gruesome, to watch both sides react.

2004-11-10T13:38:00.000-05:00

Falluja dispatches off the mark?
Despite what seems to be U.S. progress, are the insurgents winning in Falluja?

2004-11-09T20:55:00.000-05:00

Evening out the map
After a week of staring at maps of vast, unpopulated states colored red, these cartograms might please you.

2004-11-09T19:25:00.000-05:00

Ashcroft resigns
With Ashcroft out and Cheney's pacemaker running on very little fuel, perhaps the next 4 years won't be that bad after all.

2004-11-09T17:28:00.000-05:00

Lack of Updates
Perhaps The Onion best explains why Peter and I have scantly updated since last week.

Political Blogger Mass Suicide To Be Discovered In Several Weeks
BOSTON—By examining web-traffic data for left-leaning DailyKos.com, researchers have predicted that the mass suicide of 14 political bloggers will likely be discovered sometime in mid-December. "After months of doing nothing but sit alone in our rooms at our computers, trying to get our message to the people, we lost the election anyway," read the still-unread suicide pact posted Nov. 3. "We'd rather be dead than live in a country as fucked up as this one." The bodies will most likely be found by property managers, long-estranged parents, or neighbors returning copies of Joe Trippi's The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.

2004-11-06T14:46:00.000-05:00

Don't let the door hit you
Say goodbye to members of Bush's cabinet.
Confirmed so far:
Tommy Thompson, Tom Ridge, Cofer Black, Robert Blackwill, and Condi Rice.

2004-11-05T13:16:00.000-05:00

Offensive stepped up in Falluja
As if on cue, the military has stepped up in Falluja shortly after the election. Who could've possibly predicted this...

2004-11-04T21:10:00.000-05:00

Hillarious
With new terms come new cabinet members. This comes as no surprise to anyone, but for some reason Bush's team seems to want to hide the fact that some people just get replaced sometimes. It happened with Tenet and now it's happening again.

Amid indications from senior aides that Attorney General John Ashcroft was likely to resign soon for health reasons, President Bush acknowledged Thursday that changes were inevitable in his Cabinet in a second term, and other Republicans said there would be new faces in some of the top jobs.

Everyone knew that Ashcroft could be getting the boot. Why do they have to blame it on health reasons? Oh that's right... almost forgot everyone in the administration is a pathological liar.

2004-11-04T11:09:00.000-05:00

Via The New Republic
Beinart weighs in on what the Democrats should and shouldn't do - I tend to agree, notably here:

But cultural sensitivity is one thing; principle is another. In their attempts to win rural voters, Democrats have already essentially abandoned gun control. That doesn't keep me up at night. But gay marriage is different. The fact that it is widely unpopular cannot obscure the fact that it is morally momentous and morally right. Liberals once lost elections for supporting civil rights as well and now look back on those losses as badges of honor. Eventually, since young people are far more tolerant of homosexuality than their parents, gay marriage will stop hurting Democrats at the polls. Until then, the party should try to win elections on other issues--and look forward to the day when conservatives apologize for trying to deny yet another group of Americans their full human rights.

2004-11-03T19:50:00.000-05:00

The Second Term
I've gotten over the loss and started thinking about the next term of Bush. Invading North Korea or Iran is unlikely, given the amount of time we are dedicating to Iraq. I think this term will focus more on domestic policies. Roe V Wade, gay marriage, affirmative action, and SCOTUS appointments will likely dominate this term, all while Bush attempts to improve the economy.

If you need to be cheered up, think of this: Over the course of the last fifty years, every two-term president since Eisenhower has been involved in a serious scandal. Given the fierce partisan nature of the country right now, I predict Bush will follow this pattern.

2004-11-03T13:38:00.000-05:00

What went wrong?
Looking at the numbers in several key states, it's very noticeable that more Republicans voted for Bush than Democrats voted for Kerry. This actually seems to be a deciding factor in several of these states. What does that mean? Well for one, it means Rove's "aggressively court the base while quietly shoring up the swing voter" strategy, though it was really the only thing he could do to get his base back, worked. And why shouldn't it? In a year when Democratic turnout was going to be huge, there was really no way to avoid defeat besides rallying the troops. This also explains how the Dems could lose with such a high turnout, which is typically considered favorable to Dems.

2004-11-03T11:09:00.000-05:00

Over
The Associated Press has reported that John Kerry has called George Bush at the White House and conceded. Welcome to four more years.

2004-11-03T02:59:00.000-05:00

We Probably Lost
I'm not trying to say we're going to win this, but just after 1:30am on MSNBC it was announced that the airports were flooded with lawyers headed to Ohio. Tides may not end up turning our way, but a Kerry concession is not coming any time soon. This thing is far from over.

2004-11-03T01:37:00.000-05:00

Why bother posting...
In a recent poll, it was discovered that 51% of American voters are borderline retarded.

2004-11-02T19:31:00.000-05:00

Bullshit
Total bullshit.

2004-11-02T16:03:00.000-05:00

Hannity talks to Rove
On FOX's front page is the transcript from last night's Hannity and Colmes. Notice that first, Rove thinks Bush will win. Well holy shit, looks like Kerry is screwed then. Second, notice that Hannity is on a first name basis with Rove. Interesting.

2004-11-02T14:40:00.000-05:00

Exit polls favor Kerry
Sure, this is too early to mean anything (we all know Republicans sleep in), but it also doesn't account for rigged elections by both sides, which I assume will be the deciding factor.

2004-11-02T11:10:00.000-05:00

Looking good!
Link:

A glitch in a voting machine at an early polling place in Volusia County, Fla., is forcing election officials to recount about 13,000 ballots, according to Local 6 News.

The ballots were removed from the City Island Library in Daytona Beach and transported to a secure vault in Deland after an optical scan machine failed.

A computer error is to blame for the failure of the memory card which records the voting data, Local 6 News reported.

The thousands of ballots will have to be resubmitted through voting machines Tuesday, according to Local 6 News.

2004-11-02T11:00:00.000-05:00

Election Fraud
Drudge is reporting voting fraud in Philadelphia, where machines were spot-checked before voters came in at 7:00. These machines were found to have hundreds of votes pre-loaded onto the machine for Bush.
For constant updates on voter fraud and intimidation, Michael Moore will be posting reports on his website throughout the day.

UPDATE:

Statement of Philadelphia City Commissioner Marge Tartaglione

Philadelphia, PA—In response to online reports alleging voter irregularities in Philadelphia, City Commissioner Marge Tartaglione, the official responsible for overseeing elections in the city, issued the following statement:

“Recent press reports have stated that machines in at least one precinct were not properly calibrated to ensure an accurate accounting of the number of votes cast.

“These allegations are completely unsubstantiated and have no factual basis whatsoever.”

2004-11-02T01:23:00.001-05:00

It Begins...
The first results are in. According to MSNBC, a small town in New Hampshire gathered at midnight to vote. The results?

15 votes for Kerry
15 votes for Bush
1 vote for Nader

It's gonna be a long day...

2004-11-01T09:38:00.000-05:00

The day before tomorrow
As the election draws near, one question looms: which states will have recounts? Well, leave it to Kick the Leftist to make the following shot in the dark: I think Ohio, Florida, and either Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Colorado. If I'm right, I would appreciate it if I'm revered as a master of political analysis. If not, I'll probably delete this post.

2004-11-01T01:10:00.000-05:00

Falluja beware!
It seems Allawi says action on Falluja is imminent. Kind of like when it was in April? I'm sure the insurgents are scared.

2004-10-31T11:45:00.000-05:00

Bush the Catholic

The quote below this picture on CNN.com: President Bush leaves Mass in Miami today with wife, Laura. Gov. Jeb Bush is in background.

I thought Bush was a Protestant? That is one hell of a flip-flop.

2004-10-28T22:53:00.000-04:00

Clarence Thomas Doesn't Want To Decide Election
Clarence Thomas said today that he does not want to have to face another lawsuit that will determine the outcome of the election, but he also defended the Court's decision to get involved last time around.

"What are you supposed to do when somebody brings a lawsuit?" Thomas asked University of Kansas law students. "You hear people say the Supreme Court jumped into the last election. I find it very ironic that the very people saying judges are interfering are bringing lawsuits." "What do you think? Donald Duck is going to decide it?"

No, no, Clarence. Not Donald Duck. How about, ummm, the American People? There's a start...

2004-10-28T22:15:00.000-04:00

al Qaeda threatens; American on tape
Another al Qaeda tape - this one saying that they will attack America soon - has been released. This is, of course, the sequel to the 300 other tapes that have been released. But of course, this time they're serious. But this time the video's speaker is an American. And, more accurately, a jackass. He says:

No, my fellow countrymen you are guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty. You are as guilty as Bush and Cheney. You're as guilty as Rumsfeld and Ashcroft and Powell," he says in what he calls his message to America. "After decades of American tyranny and oppression, now it's your turn to die. Allah willing, the streets of America will run red with blood matching drop for drop the blood of America's victims."

We're all guilty? But I've been sitting here eating Cheez-It's and blogging. I am voting - what are YOU doing to help America get on the right track, anonymous American asshole?

On the other hand, though, if D.C. is nuked I suppose I'll be eating my words. And Jon will take over the blog, I assume.

On a totally different note, I actually got an E-mail recommending that I talk more about the election. No. Everyone and their mother is getting spin spewed at them from every direction. I'll refrain until election night from talking too much about it, aside from the occasional vent. If you want to avoid watching the news for the next 5 days, allow me to some it up: "Bush is ahead! No, Kerry is ahead! It's a tie now! Too close to call! Ohio is really important!"

You're welcome.