We can't win the war on terror. I mean we can win. But I'm not flip-floppin!

1st, Dubya tells Matt Lauer that we can't win the war on terror. And now, he's saying we misunderstood him, we can win the war on terror, in fact we are winning. Um, isn't this considered a flip-flop? A waffle, to coin a phrase from the Clinton days? What gives? You know they'd be all over Kerry's ass if he said this. C'mon, gimme a friggin' break!

13,000

13,000, that's about how many civilians have died since we invaded Iraq. They've died from hostile fire and friendly fire, bad health care and inadequate sanitation. My alma mater, the University of Virginia has about 12,000 undergrads. An entire university, gone.

Why?

973

973, that's how many Americans have died since our invasion of Iraq. My graduating class from high school was 635. So, if my entire class died on graduation day, and half of us came back from the dead and died again, that's how many of our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters have died for this war.

Think about it. Is it worth it?

In Case you Forgot

Kerry got shot, Bush did shots.

(by the way, if given a choice, I'd do shots too)

What the hell are they afraid of?

As the GOP open their convention with an invocation by a woman who thinks that those who support gay marriage are just like those who supported the man who implemented the systematic slaughter of 6 million Jews, gypsies, gays, etc..., I have a few questions. Why do they hate gays so much? Now, I'm not gay (not there's anything wrong with that), but I know plenty of people who are. And you know what? They're just as boring and normal as anyone else. And don't give me that old excuse about the the Bible says it's wrong. The Bible also says eating a bacon cheeseburger is wrong, and what would the folks of W's family compound in Maine do if we stopped eating lobster? You know what? You can use the Bible to promote any view you want. Why? Because it was written by people! Now, they may have been inspired by God, but I don't think the big fella actually sat at his PC one day and typed the whole thing up. Not to mention the fact that the Bible, like all books, has been edited . There's stuff that used to be in the Bible that most of us have never imagined. And compare a Catholic Bible to the King James version. Not the same, folks. If we used the Bible as our only guide, then it's okay to sleep with your daughters if your entire city has been destroyed (right, Lot?). Or own slaves, and sleep with one of them when your wife can't have kids (right Abraham?). C'mon, we're living in the 21st century. While it's okay to use a document written in the Israeli desert over 2000 years as a guide to your life, it's just that, a guide.

Man, I can ramble, can't I? I guess what I'm trying to say is this: Just love each other and be nice. That's pretty simple, isn't it? It's an idea a Jewish guy named Joshua went around saying awhile back.

What would Cheney do?

Okay, so last week VP Cheney comes out in favor of gay marriage, kinda. But my question is, what would he do if he became President? His main duty as VP is to take over if something were to happen to the President, right? Would he continue the administration's backing of an amendment banning gay marriage? If not, shouldn't W get a VP who backs him on his policies? You can't have it both ways, can you? And for the repeated GOP statements about "activist" courts forcing this issue on America, um, wasn't it "activist" courts who forced integration on America? If you took a poll 40 years ago, I'm sure most Americans would have been either against or indifferent towards civil rights. Just because the majority wants something doesn't make it right. Remember, Hitler came into power by the ballot box.

Arsenal Set New Landmark!!

You knew I was going to mention it. I mean, I have a blog and haven't written anything about mighty, mighty Arsenal yet. But that's because I was waiting for this. Arsenal beat Blackburn 3-0 at Highbury to extend their unbeaten streak to 43 games, breaking Nottingham Forest's record of 42 games unbeaten from 1977-78. They haven't lost a game since May of 2003!

Go you Gunners!!

Here's to you, little bro!

Just wanted to give a shout out to my little brother, Ken10, and his band Los Able Minded Poets. They were just nominated for a SDMusic (San Diego Music) award for best hip hop album. You can buy it at www.anotherphatrecord.com

Bush's Response to Swiftvets

There's a big difference between coming out against all 527 ads, some of which are essentially harmless, and refuting one in particular which is arguably maliciously untrue. Here's how Josh Marshall (Talking Points Memo) put it: "If someone asks me to denounce Joseph Stalin and I say, 'Well, yes, I'm against all politicians who support the death penalty' then I haven't denounced Joseph Stalin, right? This is the same thing."

A brief rant

The latest Swiftvet ads are running now, accusing Kerry of saying the US committed atrocities in Vietnam. Um, we did - heard of My Lai? Son Thang? Tiger Force? Of course, the Civil War wasn't about slavery either. Funny how only white folks say that.

What all of this is doing is making us forget about what's important TODAY!! The Vietnam War is in history books for a reason - it's history! It happened. Nothing we say or do today will change that. I was born in 1968, the height of the war. But you know what? I'm a lot more concerned about what's going to happen in the future. What kind of world will my children be born into? My grandchildren? That's what this election is about. Not what W or Kerry did 35 years ago. And you know what? I would have done the same thing W did - there's no way in hell my butt would have volunteered to go to a war zone, especially if we weren't under any direct threat. It's great that Kerry volunteered, but so what? It's also great that W didn't run away to Canada, but did what he needed to do not get killed in a jungle halfway around the world. So stop it, dammit! Talk about how you're going to fix the economy, how the hell we're going to get out of the mess in Iraq, how we're going to feed the poor, help the sick, get America respect by the world again. That's what I want to hear!

AAAARGH!!!

I don't know what makes me angrier - the fact that W and company say this stuff, or that some people believe it.

What Kerry said - "Every performer tonight in their own way, either verbally or through their music, through their lyrics, have conveyed to you the heart and soul of our country." -- Kerry, July 8

What Bush said - "The other day, my opponent said he thought you could find the heart and soul of America in Hollywood." -- Bush, Aug. 18

Kerry - "My goal, my diplomacy, my statesmanship is to get our troops reduced in number and I believe if you do the statesmanship properly, I believe if you do the kind of alliance building that is available to us, that it's appropriate to have a goal of reducing the troops over that period of time [the first six months of a Kerry administration]. Obviously, we'd have to see how events unfold. . . . It is an appropriate goal to have and I'm going to try to achieve it." -- Kerry, Aug. 9

Bush - "I took exception when my opponent said if he's elected, we'll substantially reduce the troops in six months. He shouldn't have said that. See, it sends a mixed signal to the enemy for starters. So the enemy hangs around for six months and one day. . . . It says, maybe America isn't going to keep its word." -- Bush, Aug. 18

Kerry - "I will fight this war on terror with the lessons I learned in war. I defended this country as a young man, and I will defend it as president of the United States. I believe I can fight a more effective, more thoughtful, more strategic, more proactive, more sensitive war on terror that reaches out to other nations and brings them to our side and lives up to American values in history. I lay out a strategy to strengthen our military, to build and lead strong alliances and reform our intelligence system. I set out a path to win the peace in Iraq and to get the terrorists wherever they may be before they get us." -- Kerry, Aug. 5

Cheney - "Senator Kerry has also said that if he were in charge he would fight a 'more sensitive' war on terror. America has been in too many wars for any of our wishes, but not a one of them was won by being sensitive. . . . Those who threaten us and kill innocents around the world do not need to be treated more sensitively. They need to be destroyed." -- Cheney, Aug. 12

Kerry - "Lee Hamilton, the co-chairman of the 9/11 commission, has said this administration is not moving with the urgency necessary to respond to our needs. I believe this administration and its policies is actually encouraging the recruitment of terrorists. We haven't done the work necessary to reach out to other countries. We haven't done the work necessary with the Muslim world. We haven't done the work necessary to protect our own ports, our chemical facilities, our nuclear facilities. There is a long, long list in the 9/11 recommendations that are undone." - Kerry, Aug. 2

Bush - "My opponent says . . . that going to war with the terrorists is actually improving their recruiting efforts. I think the logic -- I know the logic is upside down. It shows a misunderstanding of the nature of these people. See, during the 1990s, these killers and terrorists were recruiting and training for war with us, long before we went to war with them. They don't need an excuse for their hatred. It's wrong to blame America for anger and the evil of these killers. We don't create terrorists by fighting back. You defeat the terrorists by fighting back." -- Bush, Aug. 18

Death of a Senator - A Fable

A powerful senator dies after a prolonged illness. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
"Welcome to Heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," says the guy.
"Well, I'd like to but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven," says the senator.
"I'm sorry but we have our rules."
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a club and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him, everyone is very happy and in evening attire. They run to greet him, hug him, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar.
Also present is the Devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a big hug and waves while the elevator rises.
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on Heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him. "Now it's time to visit Heaven."
So 24 hours pass with the head of state joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
"Well then, you've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now choose your eternity."
He reflects for a minute, then the senator answers, "Well, I would never have said it, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in Hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell.
Now the doors of the elevator open and he is in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags. The Devil comes over to him and lays his arm on his neck. "I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and club and we ate lobster and caviar and danced and had a great time. Now all there is, is a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.
The Devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning...Today you voted for us!"
VOTE WISELY THIS COMING ELECTION!!

Kerry on The Daily Show

As if you needed a reason to watch The Daily Show on Comedy Central, tonight John Kerry will appear in an extended interview.

They're at it again!

Elderly black voters in Orlando have been frightened and intimidated in their homes by Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement officials, further frustrating efforts to get out the black vote in November. One woman asked, "Am I going to go to jail now because I voted by absentee ballot?"

What was Cheney doing 35 years ago?

While attacking Kerry on his Vietnam record, what exactly where top Republicans doing during the war? Here's what John Nichols wrote in "The Nation" back in May:

Dick Cheney has positioned himself as the Bush Administration's point man in the ongoing work of questioning the national security credentials of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry. Cheney's latest attacks on Kerry come as part of a renewed push by the Bush/Cheney campaign, the Republican National Committee and their media allies to suggest that somewhere in the story of Kerry's evolution from decorated Vietnam War combatant to outspoken antiwar activist in the early 1970s can be found evidence that he is unfit to serve as Commander in Chief.

But what of Cheney's Vietnam-era story? Like Kerry, Cheney was "of age" for service. Faced with the chance to engage on the battlefield or the home front, however, he dodged out-not for moral reasons but selfish ones. Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Maraniss, who interviewed Cheney for his book They Marched Into Sunlight, says the Vice President just couldn't be bothered. "I think he's emblematic of a certain type. He wasn't against the war, just didn't want anything to do with it," explains Maraniss. "He wanted to get on with his life and not let the world get in the way."

Unfortunately, the world had a tendency to get in the way of young men who, like Cheney, were of draft age when the US troop presence in Vietnam began to rise in the mid-1960s. As a result, there was one sense in which Cheney mirrored the actions, if not the politics, of his fellow students. Dick Cheney was definitely opposed to the draft, at least as far as it affected him. Indeed, unlike George W. Bush, who performed some sort of service-ill-defined and unrecorded as it may have been-in the Texas Air National Guard, Cheney reacted to the prospect of wearing his country's uniform like a man with a deadly allergy to olive drab. Between 1963 and '65, Cheney used his student status at Casper College and the University of Wyoming to apply for and receive four 2-S draft deferments. As the war in Vietnam heated up, Cheney fought to defend and expand his deferments. Twenty-two days after Congress approved the Gulf of Tonkin resolution in August 1964, raising the prospect of a rapid expansion of the draft, he "coincidentally"-in the words of a Washington Post profile-married Lynne. The advantage was that even if his student deferment was lifted, his married status might carry some weight with his draft board.

But the Vietnamese were not cooperating with Cheney's schemes. The war kept demanding more and more young American men, and the range of those who were eligible for the draft expanded rapidly. On May 19, 1965, Cheney was reclassified with the most dangerous draft status: 1-A, "available for military service." Soon afterward, Lyndon Johnson announced that draft call-ups would double, and on October 26, Selective Service constraints on the drafting of childless married men were lifted. Danang was calling. And it didn't look like Dick had any excuses left.

But there was one way for ambitious young men to avoid serving their country while maintaining their political viability. If Cheney had a child, he'd be reclassified 3-A, removing him from the pool of those likely to be drafted. Cheney needed a kid-quick. And he got one. Precisely nine months and two days after the Selective Service eliminated special protections for childless married men, Cheney was no longer childless. His daughter Elizabeth was born on July 28, 1966. Convenient? Coincidence? That's not Cheney's style. Writer Timothy Noah did the math and suggested that the timing of Elizabeth's arrival "would seem to indicate that the Cheneys, though doubtless planning to have children sometime, were seized with an untamable passion the moment Dick Cheney became vulnerable to the Vietnam draft. And acted on it. Carpe diem! Who says government policy can't affect human behavior?" Cheney applied for 3-A status immediately, receiving it on January l9, 1966, when Lynne was still in the first trimester of her pregnancy.

Twenty-three years later, when Cheney appeared before the Senate to plead the case for his confirmation as George Herbert Walker Bush's Defense Secretary, he was questioned about his failure to serve. Cheney responded that he "would have obviously been happy to serve had I been called." In a more truthful moment that same year, Cheney admitted to a reporter, "I had other priorities in the '60s than military service." Cheney's lie to the Senate has never caused much concern, but that "other priorities" line has dogged him. After he selected himself to serve on the 2000 Republican ticket, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jesse Brown, a Vietnam veteran disabled by a gunshot wound to his right arm, said, "As a former Marine who was wounded and nearly lost his life, I personally resent that comment. I resent that he had 'other priorities,' when 58,000 people died and over 300,000 returned wounded and disabled. In my mind there is no doubt that because he had 'other priorities' someone died or was injured in his place."

That may sound like a harsh assessment, but the fact is that at least a dozen men aged 19 to 47 from Cheney's adopted hometown of Casper, Wyoming, died in Vietnam during the period when Cheney might have served. Because local draft boards had to fill quotas when a man who was eligible got a deferment, someone else had to fill the slot. The vagaries of draft quotas, military service and the war itself make it impossible to say whether Leroy Robert Cardenas or Walter Elmer Handy or Douglas Tyrone Patrick or any of the other sons of Casper who perished in Southeast Asia might have survived the war years and gone on to explore their "other priorities" if Cheney had responded to his country's call. But that doesn't stop some of those who served from asking, "Who died in your place, Dick Cheney?" Vietnam veteran Dennis Mansker raises that question on his website, where he maintains a list of the dead from Casper. Maybe Cheney did have other priorities, Mansker argues, but "so did these guys."

New Kerry Slogan

I'm pretty angry right now over this whole Vietnam controversy. Before I write on this issue, here's what I think Kerry's new campaign slogan should be:

"While Kerry was getting shot, Bush was doing shots."

They're really starting to piss me off!!

Ticket ripped because of sticker - Teacher, 55, wanted to see a president.

GOP Legislator Assails Iraq War

See, just like us, Republicans can criticize this administration and the war. Too bad it's at the end of his House career. It's not a partisan issue boys and girls - we f'd up, big time. Time to admit it and try and figure out a way to fix it, if it can be fixed. We may have to follow Randy Newman's advice!

Wow!!

Just got home from seeing Mutual Admiration Society at the Birchmere in Alexandria. John Paul Jones is playing base for them. Wow!! One of my favorite musicians - he's still kickin' major ass on bass and mandolin. Have a look!

Mutual Admiration Society is a collaboration between singer Glen Phillips (from '90s band Toad The Wet Sprocket) and the modern bluegrass trio Nickel Creek. They invited John Paul Jones to join their 2004 summer tour. The show was a mixture of songs from their new CD and Nickel Creek's older stuff, with a few surprises thrown in. Jones spent most of the night playing bass behind the 4 leads. He did play mandolin on a version of "Going To California" it was an instrumental, featuring only Jones and guitarist Sean Watkins. Jones also sang harmony vocals behind Nickel Creek's Sara Watkins on a funny song called "Anthony". Now, for my small gripe - I hate fake encores. If you're not done playing, stay on stage. Don't leave, milk the crowd for applause, and come back out like it was spontaneous. We knew you were coming back - the lights didn't come back on. Anyway, they came out and played "Gallows Pole" and kicked major butt. The mandolin player, Chris Thile, is awesome, but looked a bit goofy trying to act like a "rock-star". Tonight is the last show of the tour - you missed something really cool.

Is Keye's Krazy?

You decide. "Keyes likens abortion to terrorism". But if you ask me, brutha-man's lost it.

Ah, an answer!

Here's why Puerto Rico has an Olympic team. Still doesn't make any sense to me.

Keyes wants to end election of senators

Really, folks. I couldn't make this up if I wanted to.

Breaking News!!!

Allen Iverson breaks thumb. Uzbekistan will kick our butts!!!

News at 11:00 ;-)

Look What Bush Has Done

My wife forwarded this to me - from the SF Chronicle:


President Bush has gone "under the radar" and around the Congress to spread his faith-based initiative throughout the federal government, according to a new study released Monday.
The study, compiled by researchers at the Rockefeller Institute of Government in Albany, N.Y., is one of the first comprehensive looks at the Bush administration's efforts to redirect government grants to churches and other faith-based groups.

"Religious organizations are now involved in government-encouraged activities ranging from building strip malls for economic improvement to promoting child car seats," the study states.

Branches in 10 agencies

Taken together, the report finds that the Bush programs "mark a major shift in the constitutional separation of church and state." "Few if any presidents in recent history have reached as deeply into or as broadly across the government to implement a presidential initiative administratively," said institute director Richard Nathan. The study focuses on the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, which has set up faith-based branch offices in 10 federal agencies ranging from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Bush administration officials say the
faith- based initiative is meant to merely "level the playing field" so churches and other religious groups can compete for billions of dollars the federal government hands out each year through government social service contracts.

Jim Towey, the director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, said Monday that he hadn't had time to read the entire study. "But parts of it that I have read seem to lay out dark motives for what is happening," Towey said in an interview with The Chronicle. "What it shows is that the president is taking the steps he promised he would take to end discrimination against faith-based groups."
Religious groups such as Catholic Charities USA and Lutheran Social Services have long gotten government funding to feed the poor, heal the sick and house the homeless. But they were required to set up separate nonprofit agencies to run those programs and to operate under strict rules that forbid them to proselytize or limit hiring to employees of a particular faith or religious denomination.

So far, Congress has resisted Bush administration proposals to rewrite the rules and loosen long-standing restrictions against preaching in publicly funded poverty programs. What the new study by the Rockefeller Institute's Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy shows is how the administration has pushed its agenda through presidential fiat.

Study has 'point of view'

Anne Farris, a co-author of the report, said President Bush had promoted his personal beliefs "both in ideology and deeds -- in the workings of the federal government." Nathan, the institute director, said the study was based on "independent, nonpartisan research on faith-based social service."
Towey questioned the institute's motives and said they had not interviewed him about the program he runs. "They have a point of view," he said.

Most of the report relies on the government's own statistics and Bush administration statements about expanding church involvement in social welfare programs. For example, grants given to faith-based groups by the Departments of Health and Human Services increased 41 percent in fiscal year 2003.
The report also cites newly revised Department of Labor rules that exempt religious organizations from provisions of the Civil Rights Act that forbid discrimination in employment based on religion.
It also notes changes in federal regulations that now allow churches to use federal funds to renovate buildings that are used for both social services and religious worship.

Joe Conn, a spokesman for Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, called the new study "very alarming." "This administration seems obsessed with faith-based solutions for everything," Conn said. "What they don't seem to worry about is the Constitution."

'Pray for rain'

Even the Department of Agriculture now has its own office of faith-based initiatives, Conn noted.
"Maybe they're going to pray for rain," he said. Towey said Conn and the Rockefeller Institute are overreacting to White House efforts. "President Bush does not want to proselytize or fund religion," he said.
"We're talking about things like job training and substance abuse prevention, and opening up to small groups that have been shut by the ACLU and a radical fringe that wants an extreme separation of church and state."

News from Chicago

My sister-in-law sent this to me. She's a volunteer for the Obama campaign in Chicago:

Keyes arrival in Chicago has become quite a joke. People are talking about the neighborhood that he chose to live in, the apartment he chose. No matter what, he would never be accepted here - he is Republican but more importantly he is an outsider and I cannot begin to explain what that means. Outsiders are just not welcome.

I hope this helps, as my words cannot capture the details, so here goes...

Keyes marches alone at Billiken Parade... and gets ambushed
Monday, August 16, 2004
By The Leader-Chicago Bureau
CHICAGO -- At the 75th annual Bud Billiken Parade in Chicago Saturday, the only Illinois Republican candidate or official who showed up was its newest ambassador, U.S. Senate candidate of six days, Alan Keyes.
Billed as the largest African-American parade in the nation, with 1.2 million people lining the route in 2003 and 25 million television viewers, the Billiken Parade and Picnic were originally created to give underprivileged children a day of fun.
But it was not fun for Keyes and his small band of volunteer supporters, who withstood the backlash of Democrat Senate candidate Barack Obama's popularity as, for the first time in U.S. history, two African-American candidates for U.S. Senate faced an African-American crowd.
Keyes marched without any Republican Party support. Flanking him in front and back were nary a Party official to be seen, nor were there any GOP floats, signs, or stickers.
Party Chairman Judy Baar Topinka sent a car on behalf of her State Treasurer's office, but she herself did not participate in the parade.
"Where was the Bush float? The GOP Cook County float? Jim Edgar? Jim Thompson? Any GOP committeemen?" angrily wondered one Keyes marcher. "All their talk of reaching out to this community is meaningless."
Republican Communications Director Jason Gerwig told IllinoisLeader.com he had no answers regarding GOP participation or nonparticipation in the parade.
"I'm not at my desk and don't have my notes on that event in front of me," Gerwig responded.
Sunday's Chicago Tribune captured the tone of the event:
Keyes... was greeted with a resounding chorus of jeers and boos that bordered on outright hostility.
"Go back to Maryland!" and "Down with Keyes!" were the most common refrains....
By contrast, Democrat Barack Obama was treated to a king's welcome, with thousands of parade-goers hoisting blue-and-white Obama signs, wearing Obama stickers and shrieking in pure joy as his float passed by. They serenaded the Hyde Park Democrat with chants of "O-Ba-Ma! O-Ba-Ma! O-Ba-Ma!"....
So when Obama's political challenger appeared Saturday, the reception was not pretty. Over the first couple of blocks of the parade route, Keyes got a few down-turned thumbs and groans of dissent.
But as the crowds grew thicker and Keyes inched closer to a sea of Obama supporters, spectators grew more aggressive in denouncing him. As Keyes tried to shake hands... a woman ran up to him, lifted an Obama sign above her head and screamed repeatedly into Keyes' face: "Obama for president! Obama for president!"
Another man briefly grabbed Keyes' arm and advised Keyes, "Take your [expletive] back to Maryland."
Yet others were courteous, shaking Keyes' hand and flashing a smile at him. A few requested his autograph, and he obliged in each instance.
Indeed, through all the mayhem, Keyes kept a smile on his face....
"Keyes represented the GOP proudly," said Republican Young Professionals co-founder Doug Ibendahl. "Even when people were booing him, he would shake their hand."
More than boos were heard. "You’re a puppet to white people!" shouted one spectator. "You're an Uncle Tom!" yelled another.
A woman held a sign up to Keyes that said, "Hey, Sambo, go back to Maryland."
The Trib concluded:
Lee Walker, a Keyes supporter who directs a conservative Chicago-based think tank, observed that Keyes could have been forgiven had he ducked out of the parade when things got tough. "He's not running from all this, and I think folks will eventually realize that," Walker said. "You have to give him credit for courage."

Video Game Violence

You'd think I'd be all PC and deplore the excessive violence in video games. HELL NO!! When the news everyday shows the fighting all over the world, a little cartoon violence doesn't bother me (unless 8 year old kids are playing the games. You gotta have limits folks!). What bothers me is dropping bombs from the sky in residential neighborhoods and then talk about "minimal collateral damage". I doubt if it was that minimal to the folks who got killed (and yes, I agree that those Al-Queda m-f'ers didn't care about it either - but that's what is supposed to make us different, we do care about innocent human life).

But, that being said, I'm a grown-ass man, and I am buying this as soon as it comes out!!

Puerto Rico 92 - USA 73

I've got so much to say, but for now I'll just go with - How does Puerto Rico have an Olympic team? It's not a country - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland don't have teams. Catalonia doesn't have a team, Friesland doesn't have a team. If Puerto Rico gets a team, then shouldn't DC? What's going on? Someone, please explain this to me!

This is why I miss communism. In the good old days of the Cold War, we knew who our enemy was. It was tangible. The Soviet Union, the Evil Empire. It was good vs. bad, democracy vs. dictatorship, God vs. atheists, amateurs vs. the Red Army. We would send our best COLLEGE players out onto the court and they would play their hearts out, we would cheer and care, and everyone felt good about it. Now, I didn't even watch the USA-Puerto Rico game. I didn't care about it (and neither did the great NBA players, who are all at home). At least not in the way I did when I was a kid in the 80's. Yeah, the Cold War sucked - I remember watching The Day After and being scared to death that the Soviets would launch a nuclear attack on us. At least, I would tell myself, I wouldn't feel it, since living in the DC area, we were at ground zero. And if they did attack, my friends and I from G-F High School would just fight back like Patrick Swayze and C. Thomas Howell in Red Dawn!

But now, the enemy is both everywhere and nowhere. There is no one country to hate anymore, actually no country at all, but an idea. And that's what's so frustrating to us. Bush tried to hoodwink us into thinking the enemy was Iraq, but nobody really felt they were a threat, regardless of what they say. They were an easy target, like when we beat Angola back in the '92 Olympics, which is about the time I stopped caring about the Olympic games.

So, why did we lose? I blame 2 folks, Shaq and Gorbachev.

What the f**k?

Okay, this has no political overtones (at least I don't think so). C'mon, enough is enough. Damn you MTV with your "Cribs" and "Pimp My Ride"!! Click here!

For all you scientists out there

From my friend Barney. I don't know squat about science or science funding, but he assures me this is important!!

Dear FASEB Society Member,

Recently, the House Appropriations Committee passed their FY 2005 Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies (VA-HUD) spending bill. Included in this bill was a $111 million REDUCTION in funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and a $21 million REDUCTION for medical research at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This means fewer grants for researchers. Over the next few weeks, the House of Representatives and the Senate will work towards finalizing the FY 2005 VA-HUD appropriations bill. Please contact your Representative and S enators and urge them to fund NSF at $5.7 billion and VA at $460 million.

The only way for Congress to understand the damage it is doing to science is to hear from you. As a scientist with expertise in these issues and as a constituent, your voice carries great weight on Capitol Hill. If you say nothing, Congress will assume that you don’t care and will not restore these cuts. Even worse, silence on our part may lead to further setbacks in the years ahead. Please contact your Representative and Senators and tell them about the damage they are inflicting on science with these funding cuts.

To contact your elected officials, please log on to FASEB’s legislative action website at
(http://capwiz.com/faseb/home/< /A> )

Here you will find an alert titled Urge Congress to Increase NSF and VA Research Funding. Click on this alert to find instructions on how to contact your elected officials on this issue.

I encourage you to share this message with your colleagues and neighbors and consider signing up f or our electronic legislative action alerts (http://capwiz.com/faseb/mlm/?ignore_cookie=1)

Sincerely,Paul W. Kincade, Ph.D.

President
FASEB

GOP Convention Schedule

New York, NY
6:00 PM - Opening Prayer led by the Reverend Jerry Falwell
6:30 PM - Pledge of Allegiance
6:35 PM - Ceremonial Burning of Bill of Rights (excluding 2nd Amendment)
6:45 PM - Salute to the "Coalition of the Willing"
6:46 PM - Seminar #1: Katherine Harris on "Are Elections Really Necessary?"
7:30 PM - Announcement: Lincoln Memorial Renamed for Ronald Reagan
7:35 PM - Trent Lott - "Re-segregation in the 21st Century"
7:40 PM - EPA Address #1: "Mercury: It's What's for Dinner"
8:00 PM - Vote on which country to invade next
8:10 PM - Call EMTs to revive Rush Limbaugh
8:15 PM - John Ashcroft Lecture: "The Homos Are After Your Children"
8:30 PM - Round table discussion on reproductive rights (Men Only)
8:50 PM - Seminar #2: "Corporations: The Government of the Future"
9:00 PM - Condi Rice sings "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man"
9:05 PM - Phyllis Schlafly speaks on "Why Women Shouldn't Be Leaders"
9:10 PM - EPA Address #2: "Trees: The Real Cause of Forest Fires"
9:30 PM - Break for secret meetings
10:00 PM - Second Prayer led by Cal Thomas
10:15 PM - Carl Rove Lecture: "Doublespeak Made Simple"
10:30 PM - Rumsfeld Lecture/Demonstration: "How to Squint and Talk Macho Even When You Feel Squishy Inside"
10:35 PM - Bush demonstration of trademark "deer in headlights" stare
10:40 PM - John Ashcroft Demonstration: New Mandatory Kevlar Chastity Belt
10:45 PM - GOP's Tribute to Tokenism, featuring Colin Powell & Condi Rice
10:46 PM - Ann Coulter's Tribute to "Joe McCarthy, American Patriot"
10:50 PM - Seminar #3: "Education: A Drain on Our Nation's Economy"
11:10 PM - Hilary Clinton Piñata
11:20 PM - John Ashcroft Lecture: "Evolutionists: A Dangerous New Cult"
11:30 PM - Call EMTs to revive Rush Limbaugh again
11:35 PM - Blame Clinton
11:40 PM - Newt Gingrich speaks on "The Sanctity of Marriage"
11:41 PM - Announcement: Ronald Reagan to be added to Mt. Rushmore
11:50 PM - Closing Prayer led by Jesus Himself
12:00 Mid - Nomination of George W. Bush as Holy Supreme Planetary Overlord

Is Goss Qualified to Lead CIA?

We'll let him answer this for himself (from yesterday's Washington Post):

Rep. Porter Goss may regret being interviewed for Michael Moore's Bush-bashing headliner of the summer, "Fahrenheit 9/11," and not just because the movie flashed his office phone number across the screen. Wouldn't you know it, the man whom President Bush just nominated as CIA director touched on his CIA involvement -- past and future -- during an interview with Moore's production crew (sans Moore) in March. If you don't recall seeing that in the movie, that's because you didn't. The clip was edited out. (We bet Moore's kicking himself now.)
According to the transcript obtained from Moore's camp, Goss, when asked about his past in the CIA, responded: "It is true I was in CIA from approximately the late '50s to approximately the early '70s. And it's true I was a case officer, clandestine services office, and yes, I do understand the core mission of the business." Perhaps he should have stopped yakking there.

Alas, the Florida Republican continued: "I couldn't get a job with CIA today. I am not qualified. I don't have the language skills. I, you know, my language skills were Romance languages and stuff. We're looking for Arabists today. I don't have the cultural background, probably. And I certainly don't have the technical skills, uh, as my children remind me every day: 'Dad, you got to get better on your computer.' Uh, so, the things that you need to have, I don't have."
When we asked Goss's office about the honest answer, spokeswoman Julie Almacy told us: "When he was a case officer, the language and technical requirements were different. So, the statement is correct in the context of the guidelines for a new hire of a case officer."
Ohhh, now we get it. Luckily for Goss, "case officer" is a completely different job from "director."

Costco vs. Wal-Mart

Red state vs. Blue State? Urban vs. rural? How about Costco vs. Mal-Mart. Read this cool article about Costco and Wal-Mart. (Kerry's a Costco guy, while Dubs a Wal-Mart dude)

The President Explains Sovereignity

Damn, he's smart. Click here to listen to W!! Then listen to Jesse's response, too damn funny!!!!

More on Rep. Alexander

Sources confirmed that freshman Rep. Rodney Alexander's (R) entire DC staff resigned today, in reaction to his last-minute party switch. The staff, en masse this a.m., handed in letters of resignation and returned office keys. Alexander had originally had filed as a Dem, but re-filed as a GOPer half an hour before the deadline, making it impossible for any strong challenger to jump in, GOP or Dem. Alexander's party switch raised the ire of the LA Dem establishment, adding a soupcon more vitriol to the already competitve LA political arena.

A Note From the DCCC

Friends:
This past Friday brought yet another example of the Republicans' unbelievable disregard for democracy. Rep. Rodney Alexander (LA-05) switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican thirty minutes before the filing deadline.
Mr. Alexander's last minute switch was a deliberate attempt to keep the voters in his district from having a choice on November 2 because the timing of his switch made it impossible for any other serious Democratic candidates to file. His decision also showed a complete disregard for the people who supported him as a Democrat with their time and money.

This act of treachery cannot and will not stand!

http://makers.democraticaction.org

DCCC Chair Robert Matsui said it best; "I hope Rodney enjoys the next 87 days in the Majority because that is all he is going to get. There will be no room in a Democratic House for a turncoat like Rodney Alexander."
In July, we launched Majority Makers - a grassroots volunteer raising and fundraising tool that allows dedicated DCCC activists to raise money and help us find activists interested in being part of our field programs. Majority Makers promotes exactly the kind of activity that Mr. Alexander's choice attempted to stifle - your ability to be a part of the democratic process by supporting candidates with money and manpower.

We need you to be part of the effort. Visit the Majority Makers homepage and start your campaign to restore a Democratic Majority to the House today and send turncoats like Rodney Alexander and Ralph Hall into the minority where they belong.

http://makers.democraticaction.org

The power is in your hands to give House Democrats the resources they need to regain the Majority. With your help, together we will be successful in our Campaign and ensure that America gets its Congress back.

http://makers.democraticaction.org

Thanks,
Crystal and JayActivist Outreach Team

P.S. Join DCCC activists from across the country on August 29th, when they Party for a New Majority. Go to http://www.majorityparties.com/hostparty/index.cfm for more info!

Freedom of speech? The right to freely assemble? The 1st Amendment is obviously overrated.

This is old news, but I have to write about it anyway.

In April of 2003, the Oakland Police Dpt. broke up an anti-war protest at the city's port, using quite a bit of force (37-mm shells filled with rubber and wood, tear gas and stinger grenades). Just 5 days earlier, the California Anti-Terrorism Information Center (CATIC) sent the Oakland PD a bulleting telling them to expect trouble at the rally, warning the police that the protesters may be armed with Molotov cocktails. CATIC spokesman Mike Van Winkle told reporters that they didn't need direct evidence of terrorist activity to justify the bulletin. "You can make an easy kind of link that, if you have a protest group protesting a war where the cause that's being fought is international terrorism, you might have terrorism at that event. You can almost argue that a protest against that is a terrorist act".

What the fuck? It gets better. The California Office of Homeland Security paid the Oakland PD $424,243 "for reimbursement of overtime costs incurred during the hostilities with Iraq"!! Beating up people protesting the war is the same as fighting terrorists and Iraq? This shit is just crazy. I don't know what to say.

Can they do it again?

Steal the election, that is. Read this!