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November 22, 2004
Mark Warner for President
Alright - I know it's early. Like...WAY early. But a former Dot-Com Southern Governor who's on the right side of most issues, but can win in swing states?
Meet Mark Warner. The discussion has already started, and it has become apparent. We need someone who the rural voters can relate to. I have no problem with a fiscal conservative - so long as they're not fiscally suicidal. He's a little harsh on the criminal justice system - but we'll be much better off with him that a wingnut wacko.
I want to hear more about his positions on labor, civil rights, healthcare, and fiscal policy - but I think he's the direction we need to look at. The point is we need new blood in our party.
I am a Reform Democrat.
Posted by MikeSager at 5:57 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 17, 2004
Where's Red America?, CIA Shakeup, DNC Chair
59 Million Inbred Redneck Idiot Jesusfreaks. Yet, I don't personally know 1. I can only think of 10 people who I know definitely voted for George W Bush this year, and not one of them was a "values" voter. 4 are very wealthy and their economic interests have always been represented by the Republican Party. 2 are Security Voters who disagree with George W Bush on Domestic policy, but feel he can better protect us (a whole other argument). The last 4 are Orthodox Jews who listened to the noise machine and bought the "Bush is good for Israel" bullshit. Only one of the people listed even approaches the social side of the "Values" vote, and he's moderate compared to the Bush line (Even though he did threaten to vote for Ollie North in the Senate race a few years back).
So where are all these "Values Voters" who hate Hollywood and got all worked up over Janet Jackson's boobs? How is it possible that I've never met one of these people in my life? Yet they obviously exist - there are 59 Million of them. My point is not that these people don't exist, my point is the huge difference between Urban and Rural America. How did we get to the point where Flag Burning became more important than Health Insurance?
Thomas Frank in What's the Matter with Kansas? points out that the Republican agenda seems to be to undone every workplace advance from the 20th Century, and the only way they can do that is by gaining power. And how did they gain power? By convincing poor people Jesus was more important than food. It's the same reason that the education system never gets funded under Republicans - the Republicans benefit if the people are stupid. And those who voted for George Bush despite having no job, no healthcare, and draft-age children are just that - stupid. And for the rest of the Red Staters who are otherwise reasonable people, but voted for Bush out of some fear of a terrorist attack - stop. The terrorists only attack Blue States! Why? Because that's where the wealth is, and that's where the targets are. The terrorists aren't coming to North Keiakuk, Iowa - no matter how much Dubya says they are. Stop putting those in the crossfire further at risk. This administrations diplomatic, military, and intelligence failures make New York/DC/Boston even more targetted than before. More dangerous, not less.
Recently Partisan-Hack Porter Goss has been firing career staff who's expert opnions don't line up with Goss' world view. This is despicable. They are playing politics with the security of our country - just to prevent "embarassment" for the administration. If the administration didn't go to war without evidence, there'd be no embarassment.
Howard Dean for DNC Chair. We need some new blood in there. Someone who's not going to be afraid to go after the Repubs, and order the party to not rollover in the name of some bullshit Bi-Partisan myth. Bi-Partisanship does not mean let the other guy have what he wants without a fight. It means attempt to compromise. But as far as I can tell, that message hasn't gotten through to the current party leadership.
Posted by MikeSager at 12:29 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 15, 2004
House Cleaning, Will Return
A little bit of house cleaning has been in order for the site. Specifically, I've been getting comment spam - so I upgraded and now have a Movable Type spam killer. Pretty handy...
Anyone who thinks they'll drive traffic to Texas Hold-Em online from the comments of a political blog is waisting a lot of valuable bandwidth. Then again, I suppose that's the nature of spam.
I've forced myself to take some time off, and I've stopped being opinionated for the moment. But I promise I'll be back soon, with a vegeance - specifically, I'm working on jumping onto a 2005 campaign.
Posted by MikeSager at 8:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 11, 2004
You Can't Visit Plymouth Rock Anymore...
This site sums up everything I've been feeling for the past week. And you thought I was angry.
Posted by MikeSager at 1:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Optimism
Yasser Arafat died this morning, apparently. Everyone seems to agree it actually happened this time. And I for one will be dancing upon his grave - with the death of Arafat comes a real opportunity for peace in Israel. Arafat was willing to sell out his people in favor of an unbending desire to control Jerusalem and destroy the Jewish state. The Palestinians deserve peace. The Palestinians deserve someone better than Yasser Arafat. Now - it's Sharon's turn to play ball. And the US must return to being involved with the process. Now some things are not negotiable - "right of return", Jerusalem, or the wall. But there's plenty to be discussed, and a two state solution should be on the horizon. Let's end this bloody conflict - let's get down to real discussion.
Posted by MikeSager at 1:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 7, 2004
A Post Mortem
I'm not quite sure what I want to say about what happened on tuesday. My shock level is huge - like everyone else I thought turnout meant a huge victory for us.
What I take away from this is that we're in a culture war. A full fledged culture war - and I'm not mincing words anymore. I'm sick and tired of being called an eliteist by these inbred redneck Jesus Freaks when they're the ones who feel they're superior. I've played nice for a long time, and not derided these backward people. Well - I'm done.
This was the Ralph Reed revolution - Christian Conservatives are the ones responsible for this mess. I have a huge problem with a President who believes that I'm going to hell, and his little brain washed minions can choke on the bile that spews out of their mouth about other people. They're such a disgusting group of people - and this is the face that we present to the world about our country? I want to stamp, "I'm Embarassed" on my passport! Like any of those backwoods retards even know what a passport is!
I can forgive a Republican for voting for Bush, but I will never forgive the collective group for the damage they're unleashing on MY country. But any party that doesn't clamp down on "My Opponent Hates America" can choke on their own vomit as they pass out in the gutters of Anacostia, probably with the House Boy they keep to "clean the pipes" while proclaiming their "Moral Majority".
And how does it work that this gives Bush a mandate? He squeaks by in the general after stealing it the first time around? This is not a mandate to govern from the extremes - if he does, then may he do something so crooked and stupid that his OWN party impeaches him (I know, I know).
And I have a very simple message for Karl Rove and Ralph Reed. Fuck you.
On our side of the fence - you're all fired. If you're over 35 and work for the DNC, you're fired. It's time for new blood - people who aren't afraid to play by their rules. That means sleazy attacks, a noise machine, and playing by their rules. Ralph Reed wants a war to go with his revolution, he's got one.
But first he has to remove that pole from his ass.
Posted by MikeSager at 9:50 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 4, 2004
It's Official...
Yup.
We're all fucked.
Posted by MikeSager at 8:06 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 2, 2004
Numbers
Early numbers show a Kerry edge - but it's still early. One thing I'd like to point out with these numbers is that Dems have consistently owned Early Voting, and were already ahead to start - these numbers don't reflect that. So, the lead could potentially be larger - but then again, these numbers could be completely wrong and therefore the lead could be non-existant.
Posted by MikeSager at 2:47 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Perhaps a Cat Nap?
One thing I failed to realize in yesterday's insanity was that once I was set for Election Day, I was set. For the first time in months, I have nothing pressing to do. Our phone lines work, the internet (obviously) works, and everything is going according to plan.
The staff is in the field - a few hiccups with Nextels but nothing major. The press has been in and out all morning - we had Good Morning America broadcast live from our office at about 6 am today. The weather is beautiful, and the lines are long...
...very long. In fact - there's 45 minutes to an hour wait at many polling places. And it's not just here in Florida - this is even in Virginia (or so says my mother). I think we're poised for the highest voter turnout since at least 1992, if not much further back.
However, I desperately need a nap...
Posted by MikeSager at 11:18 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 1, 2004
The Final 48 Hours
Hopefully, the campaign is almost over and we're going to have an outcome tomorrow night. Things around HQ have been incrediably hectic, and my stress level has steadily risen. This will probably be my last post until after tomorrow, but I do think we're going to win. I can feel it...
Posted by MikeSager at 4:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack