The Impact of Cell Phones

simple

Ripped from Daily Kos

Um, vote Hope not fear

Republicans celebrate their incompetence
by kos
Sat Oct 30th, 2004 at 19:56:54 GMT

No surprise, but the Bush people are giddy as can be that they've failed to capture or kill Osama.
"We want people to think 'terrorism' for the last four days," said a Bush-Cheney campaign official. "And anything that raises the issue in people's minds is good for us."
A senior GOP strategist added, "anything that makes people nervous about their personal safety helps Bush."

He called it "a little gift," saying it helps the President but doesn't guarantee his reelection.

And as the Chicken Littles among us run around in a blind panic, note that Fox News's pollster reported that Bush's numbers have gone down since the OBL tape aired. (Poll here. Info that the post-OBL numbers for Bush were down came from the broadcast.)
I'm not sure why Republicans think the American voters will reward incompetence.

So Typical of Monkey

TIMELINE OF BUSH’S DAY OCTOBER 29, 2004


1. BUSH KNEW CONTENTS OF BIN LADEN TAPE BEFORE FIRST EVENT TODAY

According to pool report, Bush was briefed on flight to Manchester. “Pool report #5, 10/29/04: Toledo to Columbus, Ohio. Two more facts. After we landed in Columbus, Scott said Bush was informed of the tape this morning on the flight up to Manchester. Karen Hughes said Bush has not spoken to Kerry about the tape.”


2. IN FIRST SPEECH OF THE DAY, BUSH DOES NOT ATTACK KERRY


Backup: “BUSH in Manchester, NH at 10:45 AM: Bush will make remarks at a "NH Victory 2004" rally in Manchester, NH at the Verizon Wireless Arena at 10:45 AM. [White House, 10/27/04]”


3. IN SECOND SPEECH, BUSH ATTACKS KERRY, PLAYING POLITICS WITH WAR ON TERROR:

“If you believe that America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence in our ideals, I would be honored to have your support, and I am asking for your vote. There are big differences between us as to how to best protect our country. The security of our families is at stake during this election. Senator Kerry says that the war on terror is primarily a law enforcement and intelligence-gathering operation. He says that America must submit to what he calls a global test.

I'm not making that up. (Laughter.) He was standing right about here when he said it during one of the debates. (Laughter.) As far as I can tell, that means our country must get permission from foreign capitals before we act in our own defense. That's what the global test says to me.” [White House release of remarks, 10/29/04]

4. IN TOLEDO EVENT, BUSH AGAIN ATTACKS KERRY


BUSH: "In this campaign, there are big differences about how to protect America's families. One time in our debate, my opponent said America must submit to what he calls a global test before we commit force. … My opponent says that September the 11th did not change him much at all. And that's clear in his policies. He believes that the war on terror is primarily a law enforcement and intelligence-gathering operation. September the 11th changed me. I remember that day when I was at Ground Zero on September the14th, 2001. I'll never forget the sights; I'll never forget the sounds. I remember the workers in hard hats yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes. I remember the first responder -- I can't remember if he was a firefighter or a policeman -- who came out of the rubble, and he grabbed me by the arm and he looked me square in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I've gotten up every morning thinking about how to better protect our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes.” (Applause.)

“This election comes down to some clear choices -- five clear choices for America's family. The first clear choice is the most important because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue dependson the safety of our citizens. This will be the first presidential election since September the 11th, 2001. Americans will go to the polls in a time of war and ongoing threats, unlike any we have faced before. The terrorists who killedthousands of innocent people are still dangerous, and they are determined. The outcome of this election will set the direction of the war against terror. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. (Applause.) If America shows uncertainty or weakness during these troubling times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. … During the last 20 years in key moments of challenge and decision for America, Senator Kerry has chosen the position of weakness and inaction. With that record, he stands in opposition not just to me, but to the great tradition of the Democratic Party. The party of Franklin Roosevelt, the party of Harry Truman, the party of John Kennedy is rightly remembered for confidence and resolve in times of war and hours of crisis. Senator Kerry has turned his back on "pay any price" and "bear any burden," and he's replaced those commitments with "wait and see" and "cut and run."

BUSH in Toledo, OH at 4:10 PM: Bush will make remarks in Toledo, OH at a "OH Victory 2004" rally at the SeaGate Convention Center at 4:10 PM.
[White House, 10/27/04]


5. BEFORE GETTING ON PLANE, BUSH GIVES UNIFYING STATEMENT ON BIN LADEN TAPE


BUSH: “Earlier today I was informed of the tape that is now being analyzed by America's intelligence community. Let me make this very clear: Americans will not be intimidated or influenced by an enemy of our country. I'm sure Senator Kerry agrees with this. I also want to say to the American people that we're at war with these terrorists and I am confident that we will prevail. Thank you very much. Thank you.”

Its Official

I am now officially registered to vote in the state of Pennsylvania. I can now do my part, which makes me very happy, and also give me the opportunity not to do the Please vote for Kerry because I can't post.

I was very deflated when that tape of Osama came out last night. It was just the perfect thing to swing this election in Shrub's favor. I disagree with some of my other friends that say that President Monkey pulled this out at the last minute as some propaganda piece to get him elected. Too many coincidences for all that to fall in perfect place.

But now at least I can say, Hello No Shrub, you are not going to take Pennsylvania!

Weapons Cache

Whoopsiet r u t h o u t - Video Shows U.S. Troops at Iraq Weapons Cache

Im trying

to not get to excited, but I can't help being just a little motivated by the Democrats trotting out Bruce, Bubba and other illuminaries. I feel momenmtum, I just hope it carries through, because I know I am going to be depressed, I can see it already.

Ripped off from Olbermann

I loved this story, which I have heard before, but I loved it for the last line, which just goes to show you can really throw all this out the window in the end.

Election to be decided Sunday (Keith Olbermann)



New York— Well, so much for saving the Bill O’Reilly tapes. We got up to about $175,000 in your pledges (excuse me for a 1970ism, but how far out is that?) but we couldn’t top Bill O’Reilly, who may have paid a year’s salary ($2M-$10M, says The New York Daily News) to keep the tapes from showing up at Tower Records. We’ll have to settle for those lovely transcripts and the knowledge that you can never get all the toothpaste back in the tube, nor all the soap out of the loofah.

We now rejoin the election, already in progress.

And, as teased here these last two days, we might be told Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, or not until January 15th, but, if history holds, we will know by around 4 p.m. EST Sunday who will be president next year. There are many irrelevant indicators out there on which to hang a forecast (the NASCAR dads, the stock market, Robert Novak), but to my knowledge only one logical fallacy has stood the test of time. So here goes.

By definition, the logical fallacy, of course is simply this: Event A occurs. Then Event B occurs. Therefore, Event A caused Event B. Obviously, it’s simply not true. Nonetheless, when the presidential election is this close, we look for anything and everything that might predict the outcome— whether common-sense or logically fallacious.

And as logical fallacies go, we are privileged to have a doozy, one that seems to have correctly predicted the last seventeen Presidential Elections.

Terror? The economy? The incumbent’s final rating in the Gallup poll? Turnout in Ohio?

Nope.

It’s the Washington Redskins.

The football team with the politically incorrect name has been anything but incorrect in presaging which party will win the White House. The franchise began its life in Boston in 1932, when George Preston Marshall bought a dormant team that had gone belly-up in Newark. Originally named after the baseball team in town— the Braves— they were re-christened the Redskins in 1933, and thus it would not be until November 1st, 1936, that the ‘Skins played their first game during an election season.

In their last game home before the vote, the Boston Redskins beat the Chicago Cardinals 13 to 10. And two days later, Franklin Roosevelt was reelected president. By the time FDR ran again in 1940, Marshall had moved the Redskins to Griffith Stadium in Washington. And, again, in their last home game before that election, the Redskins beat Pittsburgh 37-10, and Roosevelt was returned to office.

On November 5th, 1944, it was Cleveland at Washington. Redskins won 14-10. Two days later, Roosevelt was re-re-reelected. And four years later, they repeated the trick, preceding Harry Truman’s unexpected holding of the White House for the Democrats. The Redskins were now 4-0 in their “election day games”— and so were the Democrats.

But on November 2nd, 1952, the Redskins, in their last home game before the vote, lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-23. And days later, Democrat Adlai Stevenson lost the presidency to Dwight Eisenhower. In '56, it was a pre-election home victory for Washington, and a re-election for Ike.

And in 1960, the tanking Redskins were clobbered in that last home game before the vote, by Cleveland, by 21 points. Nine days later, it was John F. Kennedy over Richard Nixon, by about 21 votes. And by now, the pattern had emerged. If the Redskins won their final home game before a presidential election, the incumbent party kept the White House. If the Redskins lost that game, so did the party in power.

And this, remarkably, has held up:

1964: Skins 27, Bears 20. Lyndon Johnson retains the office.

1968: Washington loses the last home game before the vote, to the New York Giants. The Democrats fall out of power, in favor of Richard Nixon

1972: Skins win; so does Nixon.

1976: Washington loses to Dallas; Republican Gerald Ford loses to Democrat Jimmy Carter.

1980: They lose again; Carter loses to Republican Ronald Reagan.

1984: Washington wins, Reagan wins again.

1988: Washington wins, George W. Bush wins.

1992: Washington loses to the Giants 24 to 7, and the incumbent party is bounced again: Bush out, Clinton in.

1996: Clinton's re-election is foretold: the Redskins win their final home game before the vote, against Indianapolis.

Going into the Bush-Gore race of 2000, the outcome of Washington's last home game before the election had coincided perfectly for 16 consecutive games, and 16 consecutive elections: 10 Redskins wins, each of which is followed by the incumbent president and/or party retaining the office, and six Redskins losses, each of which is followed by the incumbent president and/or party losing the office.

On October 30th, 2000, the Washington Redskins, with, to that point, 6 victories and 2 losses, hosted the Tennessee Titans, who had 6 victories and 1 loss. In betting circles it was a virtual toss-up, with a slight edge to Washington because it was playing at home. The Redskins scored first and led 7-0, giving an early hint that the Democrats would retain the White House. But Tennessee rallied to go in front 20-7, and hold on for a 27-21 win. It’s a six-point victory, and, six weeks later, a five-electoral-vote victory for George W. Bush— of the party that had been out of office, the Republicans.

Now it would be really spooky if those 17 games had all surprises, upsets as they call them. I was disappointed to find, after having gone back and calculated won-lost records and intangibles, that, in fact, all but three times the Redskins were favored to win and did, or they were expected to lose and did. Then again, how many elections in that same span have really been upsets? Truman, anecdotally if not truly; maybe Reagan over Carter, probably Bush over Gore— and no, the Redskins’ game upsets do not perfectly coincide with the election upsets.

Still, it's some streak. The Redskins have played home games before 17 Presidential Elections, and only 17 Presidential Elections, and their results have easily and without qualification forecast the outcomes of all 17.

And now for the 64-billion dollar question. When is/was the Redskins’ last game before this year's election? The one in which the prophecy says, if they win, George Bush is re-elected, and, if they lose, John Kerry takes office? It’s Sunday, against the Green Bay Packers, who’ve won two in a row. Who play in Lambeau Field— which Senator Kerry infamously misidentified earlier in the campaign as Lambert Field. The Redskins, meanwhile, have already suffered a four-game losing streak and found that the return of Coach Joe Gibbs (himself a NASCAR owner and presumably a NASCAR dad) has not been the panacea Washington sports fans always expect as if it was an unfunded federal mandate.

Oddsmakers favor Green Bay by two or two-and-a-half points, which, as any politician— or football gambler— can tell you, is well inside the margin of error.

But this is an ironclad sports tradition:

Skins win, incumbents stay in;

Skins lose, incumbents are old news.

An ironclad sports tradition, just like the fact that in 122 years of post-season competition, no baseball team has ever come back from down three-nothing to win a playoff series.

Oh, wait— didn’t somebody just do that?

New Name, same great taste

I have decided to go to a pen name. I mean, I don't share anything too controversial, or overally personal on this thing, but you never ever know who wanders onto these things. So meet Sparky :+)

Arizona in the forefront.

Ground War 2004 I remember the Oregon story, but I was on vacation I think, so I couldnt follow up, but as usual, Peggy Noonan is a supreme IDIOT

James Baker's Double Life

James Baker's Double LifeOk this is a long one, trust me...

The Carlyle Group - Convenient

The Carlyle Group - Former World Leaders and Washington Insiders Make Billions from the War on TerrorismYes it is old news, but maybe it will get someones blood boiling somewhere that didnt hear about it yet.

Barak Obama speech

I purchased, well not purchased thsi speech since it was free, on Itunes, and just listening to it it gets a democrat very fired up.Barak Obama So if you have itunes, download it and if not just read it, its not bad thing.

A scam in NH

So they will let you register to vote as a student in NH, if you switch your domicile, sounds harmless enough.MSNBC - Students decry registration problems Until you realize that by switching your domicile, you have to reup your license and registration, which means more $$$ for the state. You will never guess which party controls the state congress that passed this "unique" law

Votergasm.org dangles sex, not chads

If Mr Limbaugh just went away this thing would have fizzled up and dyed.MSNBC - Votergasm.org dangles sex, not chads Of course, just the thought of Limbaugh and sex would make anyone withold sex I think.

I was in there somewhere 

Could Either Bush draw this crowd? 

Taking a Dim View of Politicking Luminaries (washingtonpost.com)

We're saved, Ashton is behind our guy!!Taking a Dim View of Politicking Luminaries (washingtonpost.com)Too much??

More Thoughts on Bubba's return

Clinton Returns to Stand by Kerry Ok maybe its a bit partisan in nature, but with 8 days left I don't give a chit

Help from Bloggers

Ok, I could use some help from my readers (what few I have) and fellow bloggers. The gf and I have an anniversary coming up this weekend, and with her birthday coming up next month I am at a loss for ideas, so any help?

Bubba's Back

Well, since I am currently on an extended vacation courtesy of Bank of America, I figured I might take this opportunity to do things or see things that I wouldn't be able to see if I was working.

So, I got up at 7 in the morning, rode the train with gf and trekked down to Love Park in Philadelphia to see John Kerry and the legend campaigner Bill Clinton. Trust me, I did not have the good donor tickets, but I was able to occasionally make out who was who, and at the end of teh rally as they were shaking hands and the crowds thinned, I was able to catch a good full glimpse of them, probably the only time my camera would have been useful if I had it. President Clinton was still sounding a bit weak, but he also still was a great and inspiring speaker, and Kerry capitalized on all the attention of Bubba's return to deliver a hopeful and hard hitting speech on why the Shrub is such a terrible leader.

Made me really really glad to live in such a Democratic town like Philadelphia, standing amongst 20,000 other true believers, trying to resurrect our hopes!

Greatest Comeback In Boston

This game was totally amzing, just for the fact that it was effectivly over in the 3rd inning. 3rd Inning??Caple: Cheers in Boston!The Red Sox did not even have time to think "her we go again" after Damon got thrown out at home because Ortiz plowed one into the night. Overall, it was just a euphoric experience for a Red Sox fan like myself. If you are a Red Sox fan, you know you still spent most of the night waiting for the other shoe to drop. In the end, the Sawk, were able to dance all over the big white NY emblem, fitting.

Hack Hack

I am still sick dammit. I hate this, I mean its not like debilitating, but it is making me tired, and the freaking cough is annoying has hell. Plus where does all this mucus come from. I know I have a big head, but its not that big for gods sake. All I wanna do is aly down and nap.

Big game tonight, though I can not enjoy a berr with it. I am actually not that excited about it. The red Sox have done what I wanted, a 7th game to scare the crap out of the Yankees. Anything else is gravy.

BTW-The boiled dinner last night was terrible. I think I accidently bought horseradish root instead of parsnips, because the food was mouth burning hot. Not the taste I was looking for!

A-Rod is a cheater

But he got caught with his no-no. And some fans in the Bronx are animals

Thru 6

And Schill has done his job. No matter what happens, he has shown he is a true Warrior

Game 6

Sitting in a bar in podunk St Michaels, Maryland,on Saturday night I would have never thought that we would have been looking at a game 6 tonight in the ALCS. The Red Sox had heart and even proved me wrong. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I lost hop, thinking that Jeter had done them in again, becuase they had missed so many chances. But in honor of the Red Sox, we are indeed having New England Boiled dinner and Lobster Rolls for dinner. because there is a Game 6!

Some Sanity

Sinclair Fires Bureau Chief after Public Criticism You kind of had to know that they would ship this guy out the door with some criticism of there practices. Though the whole Sinclair thing is an utter joke, I am surprised they are not calling themselves Fair and Balanced on free TV!

4-4

And schilling is going to pitch the 10th

Red Sox Nation

Just could not do it last night, probably the cold, probably the long weekend and the jacks and coke, but it also was just my feeling that the Red Sox will never ever win, but I could not stay up and watch the end of that game tonight. Living in the NY metro area, I think you just expect Mariano to come thru and the Red Sox to have their hearts broken again. But in 10 mins, there is a game 5!

Weekend was good, though there was a wicked storm that came thru. It caused a 85 car accident on 95 north of Baltimore. How do 85 cars get in an accident? And even odder, how is the worst injury out of that only a broken leg? Miraculous.

Red Sox Nation

Just could not do it last night, probably the cold, probably the long weekend and the jacks and coke, but it also was just my feeling that the Red Sox will never ever win, but I could not stay up and watch the end of that game tonight. Living in the NY metro area, I think you just expect Mariano to come thru and the Red Sox to have their hearts broken again. But in 10 mins, there is a game 5!

Weekend was good, though there was a wicked storm that came thru. It caused a 85 car accident on 95 north of Baltimore. How do 85 cars get in an accident? And even odder, how is the worst injury out of that only a broken leg? Miraculous.

Off to St Michaels

The gf has a work conference in St Mihcales, and I am tagging along, since the hotel has a TV and she does not like driving those long distances by herself. I am self medicating myself with advil and Claritin-D, so I should get thru pretty well. Did you know that claritin D has 4 times the nasal decongestant that Day Quil has. It just does not have a fever suppressant or cough suppresant. I think that the fact that my cough is tied to nasal drip and the drip is drying up with the decongestant, thats a pretty good deal.

Miami escaped again last night. I want to know what deal with a devil that coach made, because they always seems to get thru by the skin of there teeth time and time again. And, um Mr. Berlin, I think God was alot busier than worrying about whether you beat Louisville last night.

Ick

Damn Annemarie. I would wish a pox on her house for getting me sick, but the poor girl has had such a rough couple of months, that I will be nice. Let me just say, this time its not allergies!

Debate thoughts

Ok 1st off the drinking game didn't work to well after the 1st 15 min since, it was a domestic debate and alot of the code words were about foreign policy.

Kerry won again, but I am biased and the president definetly improved over the long haul. I mean in the end, the entire thing is going to come out to how much of each base comes out for the candidate. How scary is it that the election again could come down to Florida, as well as the weather across the country.

Something alot of people have a problem with is Kerry invoking the name of Cheney's daughter. While it might have been a bit out of bounds, its also a plan I think but republican hacks to makes sure we don't notice that the president didn't answer the gay question, almost invoking the idea that it is a choice!

More humor

Trust me ok fatuglyloser or as some may say truss yo

Debate Game

Ok more plagurism, got this from pretentious though he was more techinological in that he was able to make it a download.

Debate Drinking Game
October 13th 2004

• Someone shows a clip of Al Gore sighing: Recount your chads.
• A Republican operative compares Kerry to a classical orator: Drink an shot
• A Democrat uses the phrase "can't run on his record": Go to Stetson's.
• A Republican cites Kerry's prep school experience: Try on a cheerleader outfit.
• Anyone says that Bush "has never lost a debate": Try to look yourself in the eye.
• Someone plays the "you're no Jack Kennedy" clip: Lose anyway.
• Someone proclaims "entire race may come down to this": Move to Canada.

Drink One Sip If:

Kerry pats down Bushes looking for “wire”
Anyone says "terrorism"
Anyone says "Halliburton"
Anyone says "flip flop"
Anyone says "Saddam Hussein"
Anyone mentions their own military service
Anyone says "September 11"
One candidate interrupts another candidate

Drink Two Sips If:

Bush says "cut and run"
Kerry says "W stands for wrong"
Either candidate talks past their time limit
Kerry brings up Bush's "Mission Accomplished" moment
Bush mentions Crawford, TX
Anyone mentions "weapons of mass destruction"
Anyone mentions "pre-Spetember 11 mentality/outlook/attitude" etc.
Anyone looks at the wrong camera
Anyone whips out "evidence"
Anyone says "Osama bin Laden"
Anyone mentions blogs
Anyone mentions "North Korea"
Everytime you see anyone wearing the yellow "LiveSTRONG" bracelet

Finish Your Glass If:

Bush mispronounces any word or name
Anyone says "Osama bin Hidin'"
Anyone uses a sports metaphor
Anyone attempts to speak Spanish to pander to Latinos

Do a Shot If:

Bush mentions the deficit
Bush accuses Kerry of being "French on terrorism"
Kerry accuses Bush of being a pansy for avoiding Vietnam
Bush accuses Kerry of being a pansy for avoiding Vietnam
Bush admits he made a mistake ("miscalculation" counts)
Ralph Nader shows up insisting on airtime

Finish the Bottle If:

Anyone challenges anyone to a duel
Bush snorts coke while Kerry speaks
The moderator rips off his mask to reveal his true identity is Karl Rove

likesunday: You forgot something...

More total Joe Biden work, but im not running for anythinglikesunday: You forgot something...

Walt Disney World 1

Well I was on vacation last week, and now I thought I would give my few humble readers a review of our experience:

Night1-Arrived in Orlando airport after a bit of a nightmarish morning. Our friends decided to drop off a car before they picked us up to go to the airport. So needless to say we were a bit more behind schedule then the gf and I like when flying. But we made it ok, just as they predicted we would. The weather was a blamy 88 or so. The room we got at the Port Orleans-French Quarter was actually quite nice. Only Disney can make a Days Inn look really special. We embarked for a bit of sightseeing and dinner. Took a boat to downtown disney and dined at the Portobello Yacht Club. Food was ok at best, but the service helped make it an enjoyable dinner.

Day1-Sunday-We go off to the Magic Kingdom for lunch at Cinderella's Castle, something the gf really wanted to do (sometimes she is 30 going on 13). The food was pretty good, but the smile on her face made it worth it. Traipsed around the magic kingdom, avoiding the blasted stroller briogades that were laid out all over the place. if you don't like kids stay away form Magic Kingdom, especially on a weekend. Best ride as always was the Buzz Lightyear one, I won the competition! We slowly became exhausted, but marched on to Epcot to see the fireworks and dinner. Fireworks were great, though I am surprised Disney is not sued more for ash in the patrons eyes. Food at Rose and Crown was dreadful. Shocking that most people think that the english can't cook. Everyone behaved and had a nice 1st full day.

It gets dirtier

Ok, please some one explain to me the seperation of church and state. 3 bishops across the country have told there flock that a vote for Kerry is tantamount to a sin!! Get your nose out of my business please!!!

The mojo is back

Ok its a corny start, but I am here, tanned, well rested and a tad bit poorer after an awesome trip to Walt Disney World. How many of you are jealous that I was swimming every day last week? I thought so.

And now we start one of the best times of the year. The election is almost under 20 days and we still have no clear cut leader. The Yankees are playing the Red Sox's in playoff baseball, and the stores are starting to sell apple cider. Aint fall grand??

Please don't cry

But I will be away for the next week. I think you all can survive until I get back?

Move On Concerts Pt 2

Ladies and Gentlemen, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Bruce springsteen---land of hope and dreams

Grab your ticket and your suitcase
Thunder’s rolling down the tracks
You don’t know where you’re goin’
But you know you won’t be back
Darlin’ if you’re weary
Lay your head upon my chest
We’ll take what we can carry
And we’ll leave the rest

Big wheels rolling through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams

I will provide for you
And I’ll stand by your side
You’ll need a good companion for
This part of the ride
Leave behind your sorrows
Let this day be the last
Tomorrow there’ll be sunshine
And all this darkness past

Big wheels roll through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams

This train
Carries saints and sinners
This train
Carries losers and winners
This train
Carries whores and gamblers
This train
Carries lost souls
This train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This train
Faith will be rewarded
This train
Hear the steel wheels singin’
This train
Bells of freedom ringin’
This train
Carries broken-hearted
This train
Thieves and sweet souls departed
This train
Carries fools and kings
This train
All aboard

This train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This train
Faith will be rewarded
This train
Hear the steel wheels singin’
This train
Bells of freedom ringin’

Kyle does KC??

I guess boys will be boys, though this may not have been the way that he wanted to have the story get out.Shot pitcher is OK; cheerleader boots to thank? I dont think I remember hazing like this, but im not an athlete.

Itunes

Anyone have any last minute suggestions for songs I need to have on the Ipod by now?

Friday, plus vacation

Ok 1st off here are some of my own thoughts on the debate.

-Bush was looking for a knockout, to crush Kerry and put him away so he wouldnt have to really deal with him anymore. Instead, he definetly got beat. No it was not a stomping bloodletting, but it was clarified everyone on there issues, so we all know where both guys stand.

-Does Bush have a leg to stand on when it comes to domestic issues. That may have been why his spin doctors were less then excited about yesterday.

-GF says to me last night "look at you, you have been excited about this debate all day." To which I replied "yes but I am also nervous, there have been plenty of football games that I was excited about only to see my team go down 21-0 in 5 minutes and all you can do is sit and stew" Luckily it turned out better then my Eeyore persona could have expected.

-Just because I say this shirt I am wearing is red, and to everyone else its blue, does not mean that the freaking shirt is not blue.

-Ok undecideds, its almost time for you all to s+*T or get off the pot already!

Ok, have to clean out my car, find my clothes for the trip coming up, WDW Baby!! Ill share more about that later, once I get some things accomplished around here, like setting up my PC so I can update the ipod, figure out how much $$ I have for the trip, etc. happy Friday everybody!!

Cobbled from Olbermann

Ripped this off from MSNBC, though I feel very comfortable with Keith Olbermann, I think I have been watching his since I could drive.

September 30, 2004 | 11:43 p.m. ET


The tie goes to the challenger (Keith Olbermann)

If you had heard John Kerry and George Bush for the first time in this first debate, it would've been hard for you to figure out which one was the president, and which one the challenger struggling to coalesce his campaign.

That is very bad news for George Bush.

Kerry still fell periodically into the quicksand of his familiar Senatespeak, still sometimes must have blinded viewers with his ellipses, still occasionally had to have had them banging their ears to clear out his lapses back towards the unnecessary role of East Coast Distributor of Statesmanship. But for ninety minutes at the University of Miami, the Senator never once seemed off guard, never once seemed the wannabe victim of a practiced and seasoned incumbent, never seemed like he was in anything worse than a tie ballgame.

From his first bold statement, accusing Mr. Bush of a "colossal" mistake in judgment in Iraq, through his ominous pronouncement that "certainty can sometimes get you into trouble," to his last stiletto twist of quoting the poet laureate of conservatism George Will about Russian democracy's lost momentum, John Kerry never seemed to flip-flop, never seemed flustered, never seemed out of focus.

President Bush, once unfairly described as sounding like a 2nd Grade Teacher frustrated because Kindergarten students didn't intuitively understand him, at times came close to justifying that bitter evaluation. Twice at least he seemed visibly exasperated by Kerry— ready to turn on seeming softballs, but unable to connect. "Course we've done everything to protect this country," he began one reply, then petered out. Later offered another opportunity to pound Kerry after the Senator reminded the audience that Osama Bin Laden had attacked this country, not Saddam Hussein, Mr. Bush began "I know Osama Bin Laden attacked us," and then paused as if that statement had led him not towards an easy parallel between threats realized and threats pending, but rather down a dead-end alley. He took the alley.

In trying to explain his own previous use of the term "miscalculation" in regards to Iraq, the President appeared to get lost in the kind of entangled nuance which his party has so effectively criticized in Kerry. His explanation of the fact of the insurgency might've been boiled down to 'we won too fast'— and by that point, the President's breathing itself seemed labored.

By the time Mr. Bush made perhaps his most important news, in his concluding remarks— that in a second administration, the military would remain all-volunteer— the meaningfulness of the remark had lost its impact. It had been fifteen minutes since Kerry had proclaimed that a "backdoor draft" had already been instituted in this country, and that the nation's armed forces were "overextended." The President's forceful answer was so delayed as to be relegated to an afterthought, the kind of mot juste that comes to you on the way home from the party.

It is impossible to gauge, in an era recently and aptly described as the time when vast numbers of the electorate don't want to hear what they don't already believe, if Kerry's forcefulness and the president's frequent struggles will have any profound effect on the polls, or on the election itself. But it is impossible to believe that undecideds, or even Mr. Bush's supporters, could have watched this debate and thought that the president had put his opponent away, or made Senator Kerry seem unpresidential.

A personally popular, image-creating and image-employing president— man who has triumphed, rightly or wrongly, by rendering the complex issue into the simple and stalwartly-held belief—should have looked at least as in command as his challenger. And he simply did not. By Joe Scarborough's count, the president fell back no less than eleven times on the cliche "It's hard work."

Tonight, for him, it certainly seemed to be exactly that.