The Furious Spinner

Still not up to spar yet, but here are a few interesting things. You've probably heard most of them since I am a bit behind.

This piece in The New York Times is a must read. (POPUPS and registration required, but it's worth it.) Please pass it on. It's by Ron Suskind and he says, "Bruce Bartlett, a domestic policy adviser to Ronald Reagan and a treasury official for the first President Bush, told me recently that 'if Bush wins, there will be a civil war in the Republican Party starting on Nov. 3.'" What I find most interesting (and scary) about the article is that Suskind shows, once again, the rather messianic nature of this presidency.

I'm sure you've heard by now about the supply platoon that wouldn't go on a mission because they thought it was suicidal. At first the story wasn't getting much play, but now it's getting picked up. A general in Baghdad says they'll "study protection for supply vehicles." Hmmm. My dad was in the Air Force, so I asked him if a soldier didn't have a right to say no to a mission like that; they weren't refusing to rescue a soldier in need or go on a military mission. They refused to take contaminated fuel somewhere without protection. My father said (something like), "No, you pretty much have to do what they say or they can accuse you of treason and things like that. But if you're tried for war crimes, you can't say your superiors made you do." I said, "So it's a bad deal all around." About then Mario mumbled from his position on the couch where he was watching the 'roided up baseball players in Boston, "If it wasn't for the lousy pay I'd get out of this chicken shit outfit."

I've been telling everyone they need to read 1984 now (and again). Or for the first time. You will be appalled, amazed, enthralled, scared shitless. Here's a piece by John Nichols who points out some of the Orwellians bizarreness of this campaign. And speaking of Sinclair trying to influence the outcome of this election by forcing stations to air an anti-Kerry film, tens of thousands of people called Sinclair stations protesting their plan. We'll see if it makes a difference, but good for you all for calling!

By the way, FOX is trying to fire the woman who is accusing O'Reilly of sexual harassment. They have no shame, do they?

I'm sure you've probably heard about the Republican-minded company who is registering people to vote—only they throw out the Democratic registrations. I heard one of their employees saying this on the news. Apparently the employee didn't realize this is highly ILLEGAL. Pisses me off. So if you registered with anyone on the street and haven't gotten your voter's registration card, call your county clerk and/or secretary of state offices.

The New York Times has endorsed Kerry, as has The Oregonian and the Seattle P-I. Putin is endorsing Bush. He shouldn't be endorsing anyone—unless it's in his own country. Tacky SOB. His endorsement should give some American citizens pause. He's not exactly a denizen of free speech, democracy, etc. I think world leaders should be quiet until our elections are all over. I don't think our president should be endorsing any of their candidates, either. (Or bombing their countries either...but I digress.)

OK. That's enough.

Kerry in a landslide!





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