Pernicious Bloggage By Chlora Form the Cat

How DOES Maru find this stuff??

Congressman Hostettler of Indiana apparently has nothing better to do than change the naughty names of highways. http://www.hoosiergazette.com/News/Nov2004/news003.htm

“Every time I have been out in the public with an ‘I-69’ button on my lapel, teenagers point and snicker at it."

Uh, John? Why dont you just take that pin off and wear one that says "I'm an anal-retentive, ineffectual douchebag who couldnt get laid for cash."?
They're not laughing at the pin, they're laughing at the irony.
C'Mon dude, the kids of Indiana need to have SOMETHING to smile about.

Oh yeah. How could I forget Education Secretary Rod Paige who, in his last job as SecEd of Texas under then Governor Bush, left all the children behind by implementing the prototype of Bushs current "ejakashin" program and basically 'disappearing' 50% them from the high school rolls in Texas. Mission Accomplished.
Spare the "Rod", save the children. Bye Bye Mr Paige.
"Is our children learning?" (GW Bush)

This just in... BUSH TELLS THE TRUTH- FIRST TIME IN 4 YEARS!

Bush is fullfilling his promise to create more jobs.
Colin Powell resigns. Energy secretary Spencer Abraham (yay), Ashcroft (yippee), Commerce secretary Don Evans (who?) Assistant director of the CIA (cant think of his name). I think half the agents quitting too from the sound of it. Why am I thinking of rats and sinking ships?
Update your resumes boys and girls!

I think I'm back. After several extremely frustrating days dealing with useless tech reps, I think I finally figured out on my own that I may have exceeded my upload space on my server. I deleted a few files and I seem to be back. If anybody knows anything about this stuff, I'd appreciate any suggestions. I guess I get 25mb. Is that alot? Do you think this blog takes up more than that?
I need to go lie down now.

Seeing as you asked...



I received this questionaire today from the Democratic National Committee. I'll share my responses with you. Feel free to send them your own.
http://www.democrats.org/feedback/

1. How did you participate in this election?

Donated money, blogged, shot my mouth off, attended rallies, voted.

2. Is this the first time you participated in election activism?

Yes- Except for "shooting my mouth off" and "voting"-- I've always done that.

3. How would you like to continue to stay involved? (Volunteering, phonebanking, fundraising, local organizing, etc.)

I would be willing to do the same again and more if, and ONLY if, something is done about electronic voting machine fraud and the rampant and blatant voter suppression, manipulation and tampering.
I heard before the election, that thousands of lawyers had been mobilized. Where are they?? Without that, it's just a collosal waste of time and money, isnt it?

4. Did you feel the actions you took were effective?

No. See #3.

5. Was it a good experience for you?

Yes. Until approximately 12:30AM November 3rd when television networks bought into the scam hook, line and sinker. Then again when the senator conceded. My only hope is that he is openly taking the "high road" while the lawyers are quietly getting the job done.

6. How would you make it better?

See #3.

7. Please share other thoughts and comments you have about the 2004 election and what Democrats and the Democratic Party should do going forward.

Firstly, and I cannot stress this enough, SEE #3!

Secondly, attempts should be made to persuade the more moderate and/or SANE Republicans to switch parties so Democrats (and DEMOCRACY) can have some effect in Congress and the Senate. And they can actually serve their constituents instead of their corporate sponsors...
I watch CSPAN, it's pathetic!
There's more than a few Democrats who could benefit from this advice as well.

Thirdly, failing at the 1st and 2nd suggestions, an all out, balls to the wall effort to have Bush impeached and most of his cabinet indited. Frankly, I dont understand what the hold up has been over the last 3 years.

Lastly, legislation to reverse the right wing monopoly and control of the media. Especially television network news. Without the above you may as well dissolve the Democratic Party entirely and donate the money to some "Faith based initiative" since all government social programs in this country have now been placed on notice.

Thanks for asking.

The Good News....



Ashcroft Could Be First Cabinet Resignation

The bad news....
He will then be annointed head of Bushs new cabinet post; "Dark Overlords of the Universe", unfold his bat-like American flag wings and proceed, with his flying monkey minions, to pluck citizens off the streets and fly them off in the direction of Guantanamo, never to be heard from again.

Yahoo News: Computer error gave Bush a big boost at an Ohio polling station
Bush got 3893 votes on an electronic voting machine in Ohio where only 638 people voted.
Now it starts. Told ya.

Ok, here is where I'm going to start.
Lets just confirm that this bozo was actually elected, shall we? Then we can take it from there.

Considering the difference between exit poll results in Fla. and Ohio and the "official" vote count in those crucial states using electronic machines with no paper trail, I think this is very important. Even if it doesn't change the outcome of this election, we can either take comfort that the systems work, or get rid of them if they dont. This is basic.

Blackboxvoting is the organization of computer experts run by Bev Harris which has spent the last few years demonstrating to state governments, and testified before Congress, about the flaws and hackability of electronic voting machines. They have filed for thousands of computer logs and documentation from election day under the Freedom of Information Act.
It's expensive. Send them a few bucks. I am.
Check out the 30 min documentary "Votergate". It's well worth it.

I was depressed last night. I started to wonder if BMo might let me sleep on his couch in Canada for a while. I went to bed in that frame of mind at 3am. I got up at 7:30. Nothing had changed.
How could this country could go so terribly wrong? Did they steal it again? Then slowly I started to get pissed off. Move to Canada? I love Canada, but FUCK THAT.
This just makes me more determined.

My best friend Debbie called me from Texas to tell me she was going to bed... for the next 4 years.
She was really down and feeling hopeless and helpless. (She's a Massachusetts transplant in the land of Bush and Delay. I really dont blame her.) She's ready to give up.

This is what I told her.
NO!!!
GIVING UP IS THE LAST THING YOU SHOULD DO!
What can we do??
We can FIGHT. Fight for your CHILDREN. Fight for our SOLDIERS. Fight for PEACE. Fight for the LAND and the WATER and the AIR! Fight for the poor. Fight for minorities. Fight for women. Fight for human rights. Fight for JUSTICE. Fight for TRUTH. Fight for SANITY.
THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY!
Dont let them take it from you and turn it into the 3rd world dictatorship that they would like.

For the moment at least, we have a CONSTITUTION. We have a Bill of Rights.
Let's use it while we still can.
Even in Texas at least 35 percent of the people feel the way you do.
FIND THEM!
Pool your power and your voices and your conscience and your determination.

We have each other. We have connected. We blog.
On the other side of these computer screens...
THERE ARE MILLIONS OF US.
WE SHALL NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THAT DARK NIGHT.
Get out of bed, Deb.
Time to get busy.

Up is Down



... Had the weirdest dream again last night.
I was downstairs watching the ballgame with Rob and Derik.
The ball was chopped fast back to the pitcher.
Time slowed. Tunnel vision and white noise.
Somehow we were all instantly transported to our feet in the middle of the room.
In an instant that took an eternity, Keith Foulke underhanded the ball in an excruciatingly slow arc- trailing light and colors- to Mankievics at first to beat out the runner.
We stood there with our mouths open and tears in our eyes in silence. We looked alternately at each other and back at the TV, blinking, with the confused looks of those who could not quite comprehend. Then I think we were screaming and hugging and jumping.
The shadow of the earth cloaked the moon. The polarity of the planet had reversed. Up was down. Strange beasts walked the land. I suddenly understood perpetual motion and cold fusion. The meaning of life and the universe. The lion lay down with the lamb. Choir of angels.
Then everything sped up... I remember in blurred snapshots, the phone kept ringing... my ex- husband, voice broken "They won! They won!" I think he was crying. Our friend Brent called from Texas... more screaming.
My son Derik suddenly heading for the door. "Where are you going?!", I asked. "I'm not sure" he said, "But I have to go... somewhere." Riots in the streets of Boston. Reporters, giddy and giggling, soaked with champaign.
Reality skewed.
The death rate spikes, as all over Red Sox Planet people can die now.
The Red Sox World Series dream again.
Thank you, our beloved "Idiots".
Thank you Cards, we feel-- no--we INVENTED your pain.
What now?
Go Cubs??

Missing Nixon

Bruce got me thinking about this again. He posted Hunter Thompsons current article in Rolling Stone in which he too, reminisces about Richard Nixon.
For the past 3-plus years in the light of fresh daily outrages, I have been heard to sigh wistfully, look to heaven and say "gODD, I miss Richard Nixon."
He was a simple, homespun criminal racketeer, lying rat bastard and cry-baby we could all understand. We loved to hate him. He was fun.
He was Dennis the Menace to Bush's Lex Luthor.
If Nixon was here right now I'd ruffle his hair, swat him on the ass, and send him out to torture the neighborhood cats and shoplift candybars.
Bush, on the other hand, has a whole gang that only comes out at night, pours poison into the water supply and steals babies to make soup.
Then they feed it to you and expect you to say, "Yum."
Half the country, apparently, likes the taste. He's a hero.
Poor Dick. Can you believe we impeached the bastard?
Boggles the mind.