Well, I've done it...it's official...I have contributed to my first campaign for this presidential election. And the winner is...Hillary.

OK---I'm contributing at this point to try to win a contest on her campaign site...so sue me...I love Bill Clinton! Plus it would be just another reason to be in New York!

I honestly still don't know who I am getting behind. It seems to change everyday. Who are you leaning towards?

Edit re: taser incident

edit: After letting the dust settle and the facts to float to the top of the "Student Tasered at Kerry Speech" story, I have a slight edit/more to say:

1. I still think the UPD reached for the taser a bit too fast.
2. I still think this is not a political story, although valiant attempts were made to make it look like John Kerry himself tasered the student.
3. However, I now know that the kid was looking for a spectacle to occur. He entered the auditorium hoping for something outrageous. He has a history of pulling outlandish pranks and making a disturbance at group gatherings one of which occurred just before the whole taser event. He is a button-pusher and instigator. I think we all figured that out when it was revealed that he was the guy responsible for the "Harry Dies" uproar this summer.
4. I still think he didn't deserve to be tasered, but it seems that is exactly the sort of thing he wanted to have happen. Wish granted.

Sit Down and Shut Up!

Exactly which side are the Democrats on?

Bush, Senate Condemn Anti-War Ad
President Calls MoveOn.org's Ad Attacking Gen. Petraeus "Disgusting"

I just don't get it. Apparently free speech in the form of a paid ad by the members of an anti-war group isn't allowed. So, we members of MoveOn.org aren't allowed to express our feelings about the war because they aren't in line with the Bush Administration. What the fuck is so wrong with condemning a crooked war? Move On is just saying what we're all thinking. At least they have the balls to stand and say the truth.

"I felt like the ad was an attack not only on Gen. Petraeus but on the U.S. military, and I was disappointed that not more leaders in the Democrat party spoke out strongly against that ad," Bush said.
You know what? Who gives a shit how you feel! Your every move and agenda is designed to attack our military. For that matter, I feel like I am under attack every single fucking day with you at the helm of this sinking ship.

When was the last time Bush and his money hungry cronies did anything that supported and took care of our troops? (cue crickets)

The story dominating the news headlines today, including the top story on Google News is that a UF student, while attending a John Kerry speech, was tasered for disruptive behavior.

First let me say that I think the UF campus police most likely got a little Barney Fife-ish and pulled the trigger on the taser gun a bit too fast. It wasn't like this was a huge crowd, or a rowdy bunch of protesters. The guy got a bit overzealous and wanted to ask more than one question. So what? The UF police came in to remove him and ended up handcuffing him because he continued to escalate the situation. In my opinion, after they got the guy on the ground, handcuffed, they should have just shuttled him out, but someone got itchy and pulled the taser trigger. Bad decision.

My biggest problem with this headline story is that the right wing nuts are trying desperately to spin this as John Kerry's fault. If it weren't so pathetic it would be funny.

Just look at the headlines meant to catch reader's attention and spin a negative story:

"Student Tasered for Armed Madhouse Question to Kerry"

"Andrew Meyer Taser Video: Heckles John Kerry, Gets Tasered by Cops"

"Man Makes Embarrassing Questions To Kerry, Hit With Taser"

"Police use stun gun on student as Senator John Kerry looks on"

It goes on and on. I'm not saying that the articles don't set the story straight, but the headlines make it sound like John Kerry ordered the hit. In a time when most of us don't take the time to read an article to find out the whole "truth", this kind of journalism continues the spinning that the Bush Whitehouse has made the order of the day. Where is the headline reprimanding the UF police for being trigger happy?

Liberal Media indeed.

edit: after posting this I have thought a little more about this story and although I still blame the Police department for jumping the gun, I also think this whole thing is indicative of a larger problem. We are ultimately being censored at every turn. Our current climate demands such behavior. If we, the people, aren't in lock-step with the masses, we should expect to be tasered. I also increasingly agree that it would have been great if someone other than ONE student in the auditorium had protested or spoken up in Meyer's defense. I eagerly welcome any comments!

Be sure to keep tabs on the new counter to the right.
Insane isn't it?
Props to revday for the embed! Holla!

If this headline doesn't send chills down your spine, you need to pay better attention!

"Soldiers Who Signed Anti-War Op-Ed Piece Die in Iraq"

I know I tend to lean toward the side of conspiracy, but this sounds a bit too coincidental.

a thin coat of dust

Having a hard time blogging as much as I want to because we are having some home renovation done. If I had my druthers I would be posting multiple times a day, pontificating on the latest news event. Alas, in reality I am caught up running from Home Depot to Lowes and back to Home Depot.
I didn't think it was possible for me to start to resent a home improvement store. The cold hard fact is that I haven't even been to Best Buy, my place of worship, in two weeks. Not even to browse.
No. I don't have anything to buy.
I just like to check in periodically. (sulks)

Long before September 11th became a political hot button for the majority of Americans, and a wedge event for politicians, it was known as a day when something awful happened to us. A tragic event that took the lives of 2974 unsuspecting people. For a short time, we were united as one. For a short time, wearing an American flag meant that no matter where you happened to be physically, you were mentally present at the events happening as rescue turned to recovery in Lower Manhattan. Thoughts weren't of conspiracy, lies, corruption, gain, and dishonesty. We, as everyday people, were concerned about our fellow man, and the tragedy that struck a small portion of our nation. The world prayed, watched, cried, donated, and grieved for those families and the support staff as they tried to make sense of the senseless.

Every year marking that horrible day, I have struggled to look past what this day now symbolizes to most and remember how I felt that day, and the few months following.

It has become a political topic for me because it is the epicenter of the recent years of continued death and tragedy. We have parlayed 2974 deaths into tens of thousands of deaths and untold destruction. For me, it is very hard to see past those glaring facts.

But today, I am choosing to remember those who were on the front lines, in the rubble, looking for survivors. Jen and I had the unique and humbling opportunity to help at Ground Zero in January 2002 during an eight month volunteer relief effort. We volunteered at St. Paul's Chapel for two days providing chiropractic adjustments to the Fire and Police Departments as they entered the Chapel for food, rest, sleep, and comfort. It was an incredible, life and mind changing event for us. These are pictures of real unity in the face of uncertainty.

I know that Phil Spector is on trial for a murder he most likely committed, and that the jury will get his case this week, but I can't seem to get past the fact that sometimes this guy looks like the leader of the Hair Bear Bunch!

It seems that even after the Imus event this summer, the Isaiah Washington feud earlier this year, some in Hollywood/celebrity circles think that they can still speak in a hateful fashion and no one will notice.

Jerry Lewis, during his MD telethon this weekend chose to use the word "fag" during his broadcast...on air...LIVE. Now it must be said, as most media sources helpfully point out, that it was the 18th hour of the telethon. You know, now that you mention it, sleep deprivation always make me blurt out hate speech like a Tourette's patient as well. I hope I get a free pass like Jerry.

Of course gay rights groups were all over it and demanded an apology which they received albeit half-hearted. It's clear that hateful speech is a part of his everyday life or it wouldn't have slipped out so easily. Jerry Lewis won't be held to task like the recent others because he is so beloved and does such good things for those kids of his.

The line in the sand just got a bit clearer.

The list of Republican disgraces in public seems to be growing by the day. Clearly, there are too many to count. The number of Bush Administration officials who have fallen from grace because of corporate scandal or unlawful dealings within the government is astounding.

However, nothing grabs the headlines like a political sex scandal. If we can put a naughty sex spin on a politician---we love it. However, I am puzzled by the double standard the Republicans have placed on their little problem of sex with strangers.

David Vitter(R) --outed as a client in the DC Madame case; currently still serving as Senator and campaign manager for Rudy Giuliani

Larry Craig (R) --plead guilty for soliciting sex from an officer in a MN airport bathroom; resigned today from his position as Senator after heavy pressure from the Republican party

Both of these guys were caught soliciting some form of sexual favor, both are Republicans, both were Senators elected by their constituents, but only one was forced to resign from his position.

Whats the big difference? Apparently hooking with the opposite sex is perfectly okay, hooking with the same sex is nowhere near to towing the party line which takes the stance of bashing and demonizing gays at every turn.

Same Shit. Different Day.

straight=good

gay=bad

I must brag a bit, and share that my favorite Broadway superstar, Stephanie J. Block, had a fabulously sold-out show at NYC's Birdland last Monday night of which I was unable to attend due to massive renovations previously scheduled at the house.
However, I felt the need to let her know that Jen and I were thinking of her and wished to be there, so I sent flowers to the club.

How jazzed am I to find our flowers in this pic of Steph getting ready for the show!


Even more jazzed am I to get this email a couple of days later!

I'm looking at my flowers right now...I must sniff them

20 times a day. Thank you so much!

It was great to open the card and see they came from you.

The show was tons of fun and we raised

about $3200 for charity so I feel good about that!

Thanks again!xxSteph

sigh...

Surprise! Surprise!

Masterless Puppet

With cronies in the Bush Administration dropping like flies, who, oh who, will be left to hold the puppets strings?

Now that the heat has finally gotten too hot in the kitchen for Alberto Gonzales, the halls of the west wing are starting to sound a bit echoed. True to his rhetoric laden past, Bush came out praising Gonzo, blaming the Democrats and acting all hurt and bruised. He didn't want to accept that resignation, you know.

“It’s sad that we live in a time when a talented and honorable person like Alberto Gonzales is impeded from doing important work because his good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons,”

Really, George? Boo effing hoo.

Seems that Bush is the only one stupid enough to stay on this sinking ship. Everybody else needs to "tend to their families" apparently.

Alas, farewell Alberto Gonzales, you sick little liar. We'll miss your shifty eyes and smirky grin, but most of all we'll be heartbroken to be without your twisted views on torture and the Geneva Convention.

Hang on to your hats, kids...rumors are swirling that Skeletor himself, Michael Chertoff is in the running for Gonzo's seat!! I'll give you a moment to pick your jaw up off the floor...

Wow! Where do I start? It has been a busy news week, but I have had little time to post because demolition started on our master bath this week! Sooo, my week thus far has been spent supporting my dad and over-zealous-power-tool-wielding-girlfriend. By supporting, of course, I mean wringing my hands, peeking around corners, and yelling "Everything okay?" up the stairs.

HEY! Every team needs a support system!

So bear with me. I have some catching up to do, important points to make, and the usual blah blah blah.
(leaves to check on strange sound coming from upstairs)

Itching to commit a crime? Get thee to LA right away if you are a girl, cuz they are barely slapping on the wrist at this point!

Just be sure to bring your baby daddy, your best smoky/smudged eye makeup, and a smirky get out of jail free grin!

Head of Civil Rights Division to Leave Justice Department

wait..what? we HAVE a Civil Rights Department?

Over the past few months, you'd never think so!

Gonzales

wiretapping

must be very lonely to work there...sigh

The media did a fairly good job yesterday reporting on Bush's attempt to invoke fear of repeating the mistakes made in the Vietnam War. It was all over the news. Some simply reporting on the speech, some drawing similar conclusions as myself that he must really be getting desperate since drawing correlations to the Vietnam War has been avoided thus far.


Now to be fair, he did choose to compare the two wars to a group of Vietnam vets that most likely are amongst those forgotten, neglected, deprived and unsuccessfully hidden from society. I figure the hope was that, by now, they are so damaged and neglected that they may not have even noticed the attempt. I mean, he's preachin' to the choir, right?

So, to sum up, he made his argument that we can't just leave Iraq because we would risk repeating the mistakes of Vietnam. Now that that has been said, I wonder how he would explain this brilliant decision of the Pentagon?

Pentagon cuts armored vehicles due in Iraq in 2007

Reckon the media will be so good reporting this today? Doubt it.

edit: I started this post at 6:30 am today and at 1:50 pm, it is already off the front page of Google News. Nice.

Am I to assume that Amy Winehouse is a reader of mine? (blush)

My August 20th post must be making the rounds!