August 31, 2004
Diebold
We interrupt this primary to bring you this important announcement.
The Diebold machines are unsecure.
BlackboxVoting.org is reporting there are exploits programmed into the system deliberately to allow voting totals to be changed. Well this sounds like it could be a back door used for testing the system, it's inexcusable for this to be in the final version of the software. While I am not one who's so quick to believe that Diebold is deliberately making these machine unsecure, I do believe their coding is shoddy and their programmers should be fired.
I'll post more about my election day trials later.
Posted by MikeSager at 4:49 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Down to the Wire
As the primary comes to an end, things are heating up. Throughout the day I'll drop in. First...
Alex Penelas and myself along Semoran Blvd.
The Castor folks along Kennedy Blvd in Eatonville
Posted by MikeSager at 1:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 29, 2004
They're Arresting Reporters?
Checkout this Photo of a Newsday Photographer being arrested by New York's Finest...
Posted by MikeSager at 8:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Kegs for Kerry or How I Got Accused of Being on the Fence
Electablog has a very good vantage point on the protests at the RNC - the way there's no control over them, and how they may do more harm than good. Some of the protestors fail to recognize how their actions can harm the very cause for which they're working.
At the end of July, the night Nomar was traded, one of the local Kerry boosters held a kegger in honor of our favourite candidate - we called it "Kegs for Kerry". At this party, discussions came up about how to further our cause - and what we needed to do to ensure that we won Florida. Through the course of this conversation, I stated my attitude of refusing to "demonize" the opposition - IE: I didn't feel it was productive to get up and call Dubya a Nazi. I feel that the facts speak for themselves, and that discussing how Bush's administration has been a Miserable Failure is different than saying that George W. Bush likes to rape babies and steal crackers from old people. Obviously, this didn't sit well with some. But when the discussion came about over protests - one particularly zealous partisan wanted to hold a bikeride through downtown Orlando that would disrupt rushhour. I proceeded to chastize this guy over the fact that "Pissing off swing voters is not a way to win an election". I joking went on to say that if you made me late to work, or kept me from getting where I'm going - that I might vote for Dubya. This elicted the response of "Well, it seems you're on the fence already." The only way we're going to improve the discussion in this country is if we're willing to stop pretending that the other side are Nazis or Communists. I'm not saying that we need to roll over, but I am saying that we're acting just as poorly as they are.
Posted by MikeSager at 8:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
I Love New York (Though I Hate the Republicans and the Yankees)
On the eve of the Republican Convention, thousands have decended upon New York. I found myself looking at the prices on JetBlue to see how much it would be to add my voice to the chorus. And what a chorus it is Check out these pictures from Getty Images. My favorite at the moment is the "Swift Yacht Veterans for Bush" - I find that humour is always the best offense.
I have a place to stay, all I'd need to do is get there - but at this point, tickets are quite expensive. And being that I'm not yet a wealthy man, I can't quite justify the cost.
Trippi's latest column on MSNBC discusses the possibility of paid agitators, and a recourse for the Kerry campaign - I hate to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but I believe he's right. Kos wrote (in an article from a few weeks ago I'm too lazy to find) about Republicans offering room to convention protestors and bloggers, only to have the people show up and have nowhere to stay. Everytime I think about how dirty these people play, it makes me more disgusted with them. But I get even more disgusted with the fact that their techniques work. Perhaps I'm naive, but I still feel the politics of optimism will win the day. Let's face it - we can only go up from here.
Posted by MikeSager at 4:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 28, 2004
My GOTV is Better than Your GOTV
This article in the Washington Post talks about the registration efforts of both parties here in Florida. I am very proud to say that I've been part of this effort, and I have personally registered close to 100 new voters over the course of a couple of evenings. Honestly, there are many more potential Democrats to register than Republicans, as the unregistered tend to be the young and disillusioned. But we're getting our message out there - that every vote truly does count, and that their voice can be heard.
I am confident my demo, 18 to 25, will play a key portion in John Kerry's victory this year. I am working very hard to ensure this is the case. Every time I think about the fact that the party in power hopes and relies upon low voter turnout sickens me. I am of the opinion that voter turnout below 99% is unacceptable - that it is the duty of every American to go to the polls. I am still baffled by those who feel they make a statement by not voting. And I am further baffled how someone who receives less than one half of votes from one half of the eligible voting public can feel he has a mandate...
Clear Skies on November 2nd. Sunshine on November 3rd.
Posted by MikeSager at 7:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 27, 2004
Red Sox
As a lifelong Red Sox fan, This article made me feel like I'm on the correct side of History. But then I remember that my Sox are always the best at snapping defeat from the jaws of victory. Let's hope Kerry (and the Sox fair better this year).
Interesting note - it was Tony Simon, head of Kerry's Central Florida operation, who told me Nomar was traded.
I'm still pissed about Nomar being traded. Like bought a Cubs hat pissed.
Posted by MikeSager at 4:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
I Always Knew I Really Liked Maynard, Hollywood, Nixon Library
APC/Tool Frontman APC website. Maynard has consistently encouraged people to get out and vote, and now the band is releasing an album on Election Day trying to help get people to the polls.
The Republicans like to harass those within the Entertainment Industry who speak their mind - as if their opinions are any less valid than any others. What drives them nuts is that entertainers tend to skew liberal, and those who are active enough to express their opinions tend to be very educated. And they have a the ability to communicate to large numbers of people. And yet - I don't recall hearing one complaint about Hollywood from those same Republicans when Schwarzenager or Reagen were running for office. Furthermore, I don't understand how they're less qualified to make statements about public policy than Wayne LaPierre? The "Left-Wing Media" and "Hollywood Elites" mantra goes back to the day of Nixon and his "Silent Majority".
I never quite decided whether the Republicans actually believe these sentiments, or if it just plays well in Peoria. Perhaps I'm naive, but I have serious trouble believeing that the top brass at the GOP really thinks that the New York Times does anything besides report news. I know that I honestly believe in good jobs, healthcare, and education - and so therefore I'm a Democrat. I know Nixon believed it - he even held his grudge at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda where he called the New York Times "a certain left-wing New York newspaper." I just have trouble believeing that Ed Mehlman really believes what he's saying.
Posted by MikeSager at 3:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Tampa, Push for Penelas, Expectations
I'm in Tampa right now, and I don't particularly want to be. As I type to you, I'm sitting behind a lighting console at the Convention Center while a Preacher is giving a sermon. Being of the Jewish persuasion, this was definitely not something I had any interest in so I have my iPod in with some good ol' Metal blaring.
The reason I'm doing this show is plain and simple - money. I'm so concerned about the economy, that even though I have a little cushion right now - I'm doing this show for the money...and not a lot of it. I'm being paid for 4 days what I'd normally charge for one. But this economy, this President, doesn't allow me to be picky. Anyone who says politics doesn't affect them isn't a contractor or a small business person... someone who relies on their own ingenuity to get by in the world.
To add insult to injury, my taking of this gig turns out to have prevented me from doing things that would've been a much more valuable use of my time - I was invited to the Senate debate last night, and was unable to attend. I was also invited to go around Mayor Penelas and staff today - this would've been great.
I'm aware that most don't have the luxury to select when they do and don't work, but remember that they also are guaranteed a paycheck (unless they're laid off). And let's not forget that the Small Business person thrives under Democrats.
We're getting into the final push for the Senate primary. I'll have more info over the weekend.
Political wire has quotes from both candidates in regards to who is a good debater. George Bush "won" the debates in 2000 by being mediocre instead of terrible - everyone though Gore was going to destroy Bush, so when Gore only creamed Bush the story became "Bush didn't do as poorly as expected." Therefore, Kerry's (and Bush's) people are trying to build up expectations for the other candidate. This is the same thing Republicans were trying to do in Boston - they kept saying Kerry should expect a huge bounce. The idea is that if you set outlandish expectations, then if the candidate does well but doesn't meet the expectations - the story is about said expectations.
Posted by MikeSager at 1:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 25, 2004
The Power of the Daily Show
Why does CNN feel it's appropriate to post a near verbatim transcript of Kerry's appearance on the Daily Show? The little running commentary doesn't change the fact that it's a transcript - if they did this with Hardball, NBC would be pissed...
Posted by MikeSager at 8:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Kerry on the Daily Show, WiFi at the HQ, The Outsourcing of Beer
I missed the Daily Show appearance due to my date with a RJ45 Cable Crimper at Kerry HQ (more on that later). But, I caught it again at the 1:00 AM showing. My initial reaction was, "Wow - Kerry's really tall." Then I remembered...I've met him. He's not that tall (Blurry pic below I took right after Super Tuesday).
Believe it or not, that was the best picture I took at the whole rally - everything else was blurry, misaimed, or just awkward.
Anyhow, I felt overall that his appearance was good, and he seemed very relaxed. He and Stewart definitely played well together - and he looked like he was having fun. I honestly hope this is was a warm-up to a payoff on either Letterman or Conan. This didn't quite have the Clintonesque feel, but it definitely could help.
So I spent the majority of my day working at Kerry HQ, setting up their network. I got to break-up the monotony of fighting with router and Switches by occasionally throwing in my two cents here and there. I was treated as a hero when I got the Printer working. I was a Savior when I got the Print Server working. I was a Gentleman and a Scholar when I got the internet working. I was an angry little man when I lost my fight with a Cat 5 Cable (The colors are right!!! Why aren't you working???!!!???) But ultimately, it was not I who inadvertently built a crossover cable (Take that Doug! Not that you read blogs anyways).
Side note - view below Tony Simon's reaction to printing via a wireless card.
Through the course of working today, I had discussion with my fellow IT guy Doug in regards to beer - and how we both enjoy a good Pint now and again. And with that came the realization - whether or not it's brewed in the states, we cannot bring an Import into Kerry HQ - it'd be tantamount to outsourcing! I know this is nothing new, but this is how closely things are scrutinized now. I can't enjoy a Guinness because I'm a Democrat? This is actually something I've been aware of for a while - I work with a Union, and most Union guys drink domestic brews. Well - I guess it's Rolling Rock for now - but perhaps that has more to do with the 125 Calories the Guinness Billboard on Mills Avenue claimed...
Posted by MikeSager at 1:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 24, 2004
About Damn Time
Kerry is going on the Daily Show, which is vital to winning my demographic. I'm hoping this appearance will truly involve my age group, and could be just as influential as Clinton's Aresino stop.
Posted by MikeSager at 1:39 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 23, 2004
Partisanship Rears it's Ugly Head, Lowered Favourables
It always makes me slightly sad when a politician from the other side of the aisle, whom I respect, shows an overtly partisan position at the expense of the more logical position. Bob Dole yesterday said Kerry should apologize for his testimony before the Senate in 1970. Apologize? While I understand the relaying of accusations of atrocities has ruffled some feathers, did not much of what he said prove true? I've always held a measure of respect for Dole - I think he's a smart guy, and he's very funny. But I thought he was smarter than that.
Ultimately, this whole ordeal is going to leave the Bushies much more wounded than Kerry. The most recent ads out of Kerry with the tagline "American Deserve Better" has the earmarks of a VERY effective ad, and it definitely pushes Bush back on the defensive. But ultimately, this is still going to drop our favourables - this is not the way we wanted this campaign to run - but should we be surprised?
Posted by MikeSager at 2:38 PM
August 10, 2004
Welcome
Carpetblogger is an assembling of my thoughts on Politics, Media, and all those things that people are tired of hearing me rant about. This all started with the now defunct Flordia Liberal which was a blog I was writing on one of those free servers. But then I decided that a little bit of scratch to host this was worth it, because frankly - I need a productive hobby. Please enjoy my rantings, please leave comments, and feel free to checkout the page about me for more insight on who I am.
Posted by MikeSager at 9:17 AM
About the Author
I try to keep this up to date, even though the date itself on this "post" is from the opening of the blog. I'm a 25 year old guy living in Richmond, even though I'm totally a big city dude. I'm employed in political technology after having spent time working for the Kerry Campaign and later the Kaine Campaign. This started out as a political blog that also talked about campaigning, but I've honestly grown bored with writing about politics, and it's more fun to express my inner nerdiness for technology, music, and good Beer. I am the proud dog-daddy of an unusually intelligent Poodle named Julius who is the sweetest creature in the world.
Posted by MikeSager at 8:59 AM