Puppet Politician

~ m ~ Leave a comment

Salon broke a conspiracy-theory story about Bush being wired during the first presidential debate. Ever since hearing Matthew Broderick talk about working with Marlon Brando, and how he constantly used a wire through which his lines were read, I’ve figured Bush did the same. You’ve probably heard the story about the actual feed being broadcast over the air during a D-Day ceremony in France last June, discussed here. Maybe it’s all false. Doesn’t really matter, he’s no less scary with or without the earpiece.

BTW, Kerry is kicking his butt right now in the polls, and is set to kick his butt AGAIN, tonight, in the second debate. Whoop!

9.5 North By Northwest

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Cary Grant is the definition of style in this Hitchcock classic. He’s Mr. Average, until he’s ensnared in a complicated plot of espionage. But incompetent lawmen, incessant misfortune – even the outright sinister plotting of his enemies – merely annoy him, highlighting how suave he is under pressure. You just have to see this one to “get it”.


Kerry “Won” the First Debate

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OK, so Kerry “won” the first debate, by most accounts. But I had really really high hopes for it, so perhaps that is why I feel a bit disappointed. I was surprised that Bush could even hold his ground – chalk it up to the watered-down format he insisted on, I guess.

What’s next:

  • Make sure your registration is up-to-date; you can check your NC status here.
  • There’s still time to vote by absentee ballot; call your county Board of Elections for details; in Wake county, NC, that’s (919) 856-6240.
  • VP debate, Oct. 5th, 2nd Presidential debate, Oct. 8th

    Update 10/5/04: Wake County has a great setup where you can go directly to cast your absentee ballot.

    • Boot Bush!

    ~ m ~ Leave a comment

    Why do I feel so strongly about this election? Aren’t all politicians the same anyway? Let me sum up my dire concern with this quote from Garrison Keillor:

    The concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the few is the death knell of democracy. No republic in the history of humanity has survived this. The election of 2004 will say something about what happens to ours. The omens are not good.


    I love this country too much to idly watch it self-destruct. If you have watched us go from creation of a surplus under Clinton to projected record deficit in one short reckless term and don’t see the writing on the wall, well… enjoy your perks while you can…

    Things You Can Do Right Now

  • Get informed! A few things to consider are below…
  • Make sure you’re registered to vote.
  • Get everyone else you can to register. Here’s $200,000 worth of incentive.
  • I’m considering sending in an absentee ballot, for two reasons: 1) We have an overseas adoption pending and I don’t want ANY chance of missing my chance to vote; 2) Earlier votes have a better chance of being counted in race predictions (which may cause people to give up)
  • This link will take you to a page I set up where you can donate to the DNC:


    Boot Bush! Donate to the DNC today


    Points Of View To Consider

    The Conservative Case Against George W. Bush
    Garrison Keillor, the world’s most famous Lutheran, goes OFF
    johnkerryisadouchebagbutimvotingforhimanyway
    PBS covers the Budget Deficit Issue from both sides of the fence
    Kerry’s Official Stance On ISSUES
    “Our Plan For America” by John Kerry and John Edwards
    Some high-ranking military officials and others including members of his own staff condemning Bush’s mismanagement of Iraq
    A couple inside peeks into just how screwed up things are in Iraq
    Better ways to spend the $144 BILLION we’ve spent on the war already
    Damning statistics from Graydon Carter’s “What We’ve Lost”
    The National Council of Churches outlines true Christian principles in an election year
    including follow-up commentary
    (Does this make Bush the Anti-Christ, or just another Pharisee?)
    Michael Moore Attempts To Televise Farenheit 9/11 (with lively slashdot discussion)
    Unprecedented Corruption:
    A guide to conflict of interest
    in the U.S. government
    Bush in 30 seconds
    Kerry lays down the bass!

    UPDATE September 20th, 10pm: The Bush and Kerry campaigns reportedly agree to three presidential debates, on Sept. 30, Oct. 8 and Oct. 13. The Bush campaign denies a deal, but a source familiar with the negotiations says the agreement also calls for one vice presidential debate Oct. 5

    • Two Camps

    ~ m ~ Leave a comment

    Got an email from a friend today about Greenpeace dumping some “bycatch” on the doorsteps of some politicians…

    “Environmentalists, protesting over fishing, catch 11,000 fish, pile them near a major tourist attraction and put up signs saying, ‘Don’t waste
    life’… Brilliant!”

    In my experience there are two “camps” of environmentalist/eco-freak/animal-rights-activist/whatever. The first camp is the ducks unlimited hunter / catch-and-release fisherman / eco steward that likes to think they “keep it real”, usually by combining conservation with some form of consumption. They think they see the big picture and that’s what counts. A lot of park rangers, environmental agency officials, many biologists, etc. in that camp, perhaps even the more open-minded land developers or foresters. The second camp is Peta / lab-rescue commandos / vegans who see all sentient beings as individually having “rights” that no one else has the right to trample on. Members of the first camp would usually rather be damned to hell before being associated with the second camp. I’m a card-carrying member of the second :P but I’ve also been a member of the first, doing environmental surveys to set aside 20% of a gopher tortoise population’s land so the developer can bulldoze over the other 80%. Not by choice, but better than nothing. Working with governmental agencies and developers to find “common ground” and compromises.

    Seems like Greenpeace is trying to firmly throw their hat in the ring of the first camp… distance themselves from animal-rights activists, to whom Peta has really given a bad name with all their sensationalism. An example… isn’t it cute to bite the head off a fish…

    But it does sound like they’re opening themselves up to criticism, at least the way the yahoo story was spun… here’s more details, which clear it up a little bit anyway… sounds like they just took what the fishers had already pulled out of the water…

    Still, to a vegan, all the answers are easy. :) All this compromise stuff is nonsense. It’s just not that hard to “have it all”, eating low on the food chain, thereby helping the individual beings AND the big environmental picture, every day. Simple and pure.

    Homeschooling, Olympics style

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    We’re getting into the Olympics, it’s the home-schooling subject of the month. Time to extract learning in math, social studies, geography, physical education, science, etc. from this great global event. Fun fun!! In other PE news, soccer season is picking up for Reiley again. Mia Hamm is the perfect (re-)introduction! Rock on Mia…

    Oh brother Dan, where art thou?

    ~ m ~ Leave a comment

    Had a great time last weekend with my brother – my brother, my suffering brother, come out to the Volga! We got in our road trip, jam session, all-night-gaming, high-stakes-casino-play, lan party, studio recording time, night out on the town (fort lauderdale in this instance) non-stop party all in a measly sixty or so hours. What a ride.

    The Millers are planning on a trip up here around Thanksgiving, can’t wait, see ya soon! :P