( 1:05 AM )
And The Wiener Is....
Dennis Kucinich won the debate hands down. I'm not a Dennis the Menace supporter, but his closing response tying the war together with our domestic policy was dead on. Since I agree with Dennis on most of the crucial issues, it's hard to explain why he doesn't have my vote. But there's something about him (maybe the speechifying) that won't let me jump into his camp.
On the other hand, I am supporting Howard Dean, but it's certainly not because of his politics. He's motivating people to give money, talk politics, and work on his behalf, and that's what it's going to take to win. I'm all about winning this time around. If he's against affirmative action, I'm for him. If he approves of NYC's smoking ban, I'm for him. If he wants to make the Confucked up Flag our national flag, I'm.....well, let's not get silly.
But the fact is Dean has been all over the road on many issues. On affirmative action for instance, he's said it should be based on class instead of race (which I'm not totally against, but let's be clear). Before the war he was for a different resolution authorizing force. He's a budget balancer before all other things. And so on. So I can't really explain my support on anything other than his strategy to increase the voting pool by giving voice to those who are disenchanted with the system. (A strategy which, by the way, rarely works. Non voters just don't vote. And basing the campaign on an seemingly negative message doesn't work in America either. So I guess we're doomed, but I digress!).
So I don't remember my point here, but I'll just keep going. Dean has been anointed the frontrunner, but the truth is most campaigns come down to one dude and someone else who is always the "surprise" challenger and that could happen (because I don't see Dean playing well in the South and I would guess that Clark will play well, so this ain't over even though it's over).
Oh yeah. Carol Moseley Braun finally made the point I've been trying to make. You can't have a war without a Congressional declaration of war. Just because we haven't done it since WWII doesn't mean it's not the law of the land. The deal is if we send the troops off to battle, then Congress is accountable for that decision by their vote on the war. It's criminal that it hasn't happened, and I give her a wink and a nod for raising it as an issue.
Ok - enough rambling. Just make sure you're registered and go freakin' vote.
( 12:25 AM )
Begin The Begin
So it was a big political day in the US of A and I figure I might as well weigh in. First off, I'm watching the Dem debate on Nightline and I gotta give kudos to the former Boy Mayor Dennis Kucinich for calling Ted Koppel out right on his program. Starting the debate with questions about Gore's endorsement, and whether some candidates have enough money to continue is complete bullshit. How can a candidate ever gain a following if he doesn't have an opportunity to present his ideas to the public? Because of the Gore story, my hunch is that had this debate been aired in primetime, a large portion of people might've actually tuned in. And what would they have heard? Questions about the process, not the plan. Does this truly promote democracy?
But I'm gonna play along for a minute and let's think about this Gore thing. I've been no fan of Al Gore. Though many people defend him and accuse the media of propagating the Gore is a liar story, I'm a firm believer that the man has (or lately, had) a problem telling it straight. But I often say it bothers me that everyone continues to look at Al Sharpton from the perspective of who he was as opposed to who he is now, and I'm willing to extend the same to Gore. In fact, Dean was correct when he said that Gore has given the best two speeches of the campaign season when he questioned the misguided policies of the Bush Admin. Maybe he's bitter, maybe he's trying to fix his legacy, or if you believe the conservative pundits, he's setting up his run for Prez in 2008. But my gut tells me he's learned to be real and to stop being so careful. Sure he's got to hate Bush, but his policy analysis has been right on target, so I gotta give props when someone finally tells it like it is. You keep going Al Gore. Maybe I'll call you friend one day.
Now back to the debate. These doofuses are talking about the war in Iraq and once again Kucinich has it right. Pretending to want to keep troops there to keep the peace only extends the war. We could have lessened our role and had troops from other countries there long ago, but Bush won't compromise to make that happen (ie give up some of the profiteering). So all the candidates act like we're stuck there. Well if the Iraqis truly want democracy, then let them freaking vote. Oh - can't do that cause they won't vote to continue their subjugation to the US. Argh. I'm rambling cause this whole thing is so non-sensical.
I'll be back.
( 6:34 PM )
Naughty By Nature
More treachery at the White House as Dick Cheney held discussions with the states that will hold sway over the new back to the moon plan. Obviously Florida and Texas would be involved, and just incidently they happen to be the Prexy's home state and the state his brother governors that he'll need to win in the next election. The Washington Post reports that they want to create a permanent outpost on the moon so that Bush can have his Kennedy space mission moment.
So let's get this straight: the conservatives are going to use big government tactics to throw jobs as gifts to key states to work on a program to build an American base on a place where no human being lives or visits.
Maybe it's to one up China since they've gotten into the space travel business. Maybe it's because Bush doesn't want to be remembered as the guy who started an illegal war based on lies. But it's probably more show than substance and that's what this presidency has been about from the git go.
( 1:18 AM )
Alive
Yo peeps. Been a long time, but I've been on the run spending time in San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Columbus OH the past few weeks. So I'm back in the Apple and back in action and just stepping into the blog box to say hey, I'm still alive.
Nothing to report on other than the usual - Dubya sucks, Steelers suck, Vegas sucks, music rules, playing music rules more and the Google toolbar with the Blogger button rules most (it's the simple things in life....). Anyway - I've got a bithrday coming up this week and it's cool, but the realization that I'm quickly heading out of the 18-45 demographic is a bit depressing. My 30s have been great though and hopefully we'll end the 30 something phase of life with a bang. Here's hoping.
So that's all for now - be back soon - and hope all is cool and groovy on your end. Later
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