Unbelievable

Here's another post where I blatnatly copy from blogs for the benefit of my friends and family who only read this blog. I thank the authors for doing work for my lazy ass, though. From Hammerdown:

Peter Jennings:

General Clark, a lot of people say they don't you well, so this is really a simple question about knowing a man by his friends. The other day you had a rally here, and one of the men who stood up to endorse you is the controversial filmmaker Michael Moore. You said you were delighted with him.

At one point, Mr. Moore said, in front of you, that President Bush ? he's saying he'd like to see you, the general, and President Bush, who he called a "deserter."

Now, that's a reckless charge not supported by the facts. And I was curious to know why you didn't contradict him, and whether or not you think it would've been a better example of ethical behavior to have done so.

And from skippy the bush kangaroo (I've always loved that title):

herr blitzer [CNN... -me] was trying to stir things up without actually talking about substantive issues, as is his wont (truer words have never been spoken. -ed.), when he asked about michael moore's endorsement of clark.

wolf mentioned that moore insists that awol is in fact a deserter, but gen. clark has not made a statement one way or the other about it.

he asked jamie [rubin, former state department spokesman for the clinton administration, now endorsing general wesley clark] about this fact. jamie replied that the general does not consider that an issue to be concerned with, and has not looked into the accusations.

wolf asked jamie directly: "do you believe it?"

jamie fired back: "i haven't looked into it either. have you?"

imagine! asking a journalist if he has researched the facts about a point he's making!!

Yes, imagine that. All I wished I could do is imagine it, but I can't. It actually happened. Honestly, WTF? These exchanges from Peter Jennings and Wofl Blitzer should put them out of work.

Dubya went AWOL. It's a fact. The story was first reported by Boston Globe four years ago. The man at the center of this, Michael Moore, has released a letter in response to the controversy. Michael also provides links to stories detailing facts about Bush being AWOL on that link.

The media is not doing their jobs when they don't make this front page news. How much shit did Clinton take for being a draft dodger? You know how much shit he took. Yet Bush is allowed to go AWOL, which is a crime, and nothing happens. Last November, I reported that the crime of going AWOL has a 40 year statute of limitations. Bush went AWOL less than 40years ago. It's been proven, the military is well aware of it. So when's the trial? And why isn't the media reporting this or asking the military?

Why does the media want to pretend that this story just doesn't exist? The things that Bush gets away with are un-fucking-believable.

Saturday Dog Blogging!

Fear the Mac Daddy.

(Or just fear my unsteady hand...)

Saturday is Cartoon Day!

As always, both by Ted Rall.

CIA v. Bush

"What does the Valerie Plame leak say about the Bush administration's paradigm for national security policy?

You know, President Bush has often emphasized security his most important issue. But when you have people in your administration who compromise the most sensitive security assets of the United States, that makes the administration's agenda look pretty ridiculous in my view. And I say that as a registered Republican, and as someone who's given Bush money in the past."

Interested in reading more of what former CIA official Larry C. Johson has to say about the Bush administration? Read the Salon interview.

Friday Cat Blogging!

I had to give up my kitty when I moved back to RI, but that doesn't disqualifyme from cat blogging, right? Because I just found this picture of Chairman Meow and I have to show it off.

Sigh, I miss my kitty...

Blogging from Mars

Ladies and Gentlemen, what I have to annouce is one small step for blogs, one giant leap for the blogosphere. I, tas, your fearless Loaded Mouth, am the first blogger in history to post from Mars.

Yup. You heard me right. I'm getting my blog on here on the freakin' red planet. I know what you're thinking, "How did he get there?" Honestly, I'm not sure, but I must be here. It's the only plausible explaination I can gather, because I'm certainly seeing red right now.

I feel like I'm on a planet other than Earth. I don;t make an effort to watch TV, and when I do flip it on, I don't get the major news channels like Foxnews, CNN, CNBC, and MSNBC. I choose to get my news from services that don't regard making up stories about Dean and giving us Whacko Jacko coverage every minute of the day as quality journalism. Sometimes these "Services" spin stories that aren't really news and make them news. (Actually, they do that quite often.) Sometimes these Faux-stories become so big that they can't help but spill over into the forms of media that I read. (Here on Mars, of course.) Then I have to look at the cable news outlets to se the monster they've created, look at the actual news I reading that isn't getting coverage an go, "WHAT THE FUCK?! I must be living on another planet!"

Well, I am correct, because here I am on Mars! I'm not sure how long I've been Marsing it for, but this planet is certainly more sane that big blue marble to the east of me. (Or is it west? Oh, wait, there's no direction in space. But I'm on Mars, they must have magnetic poles here, right? Where's my compass, I'll figure this out soon enough.) Ah, where wanderlust will take a kender..

Where was I? Oh, yes, that big blue marble. You humans are fucking insane! Honestly, folks, you have a president who lies to you on a daily basis and can't even properly pronouce his fibs, but the media thinks nothing of it. We don't know how many times this president has looked stupid at a press conference, bumbled words and been unable to display a hint of coherent thought, because the media hardly ever shows it. CBS shows it every once in a while, but not CBS news.. Letterman!

But if Dean dares to raise his voice, BAM! It's gotta be news! EXTRA! EXTRA! DEAN RAISES HIS VOICE! NATION IN SHOCK, WHISPERING "how could he do such a thing? doesn't he know he might harm the eardrums of young children? think about the children." HORROR! PANIC! DEAN SUPPORTS LOUD TERRORISM AND MURDERS SMALL, INNOCENT PUPPIES!

It's. Not. News.

I'll tell you what is news. This, via dKos, is news.

Republican staff members of the US Senate Judiciary Commitee infiltrated opposition computer files for a year, monitoring secret strategy memos and periodically passing on copies to the media, Senate officials told The Globe.

Yes, you read that right. Obviously the Republican Party have not learned fromt he mistakes of one Richard Millhouse Nixon. All we need is the news media to report on this crime, except the news media doesn't actually report the news anymore. It's too bad because the news media wouldn't even have to investigate this story, the main Republican responsbile came out and admitted this happened!

Hatch also said that a "former member of the Judiciary staff may have been involved." Many news reports have subsequently identified that person as Manuel Miranda, who formerly worked in the Judiciary Committee office and now is the chief judicial nominee adviser in the Senate majority leader's office. His computer hard drive name was stamped on an e-mail from the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League that was posted along with the Democratic Senate staff communications.

"There appears to have been no hacking, no stealing, and no violation of any Senate rule," Miranda said. "Stealing assumes a property right and there is no property right to a government document. . . . These documents are not covered under the Senate disclosure rule because they are not official business and, to the extent they were disclosed, they were disclosed inadvertently by negligent [Democratic] staff."

Miranda may not think he did anything wrong, but I'll tell you this much: if a democrat stole confidential Republican files in this manner, the Republicans would raise their voices to levels Dean can only dream of hitting. How utterly fucking amazing. The guilty party, who reports directly to the number one Republican in the Senate I might add, gives a lame excuse and basically admits that he stole files from the Democrats. He admits this to the news media. We're not even seeing a denial here, the criminals are coming right out and saying, "Yup, we did it, and we don't it's wrong."

And they're getting away with it, because what stories are you bombarded with if you flip on the tube? Dean "screaming" and Michael Jackson diddling little boys. Not only are these "stories" considered more newsworthy, but the Republicans are so confident that the media won't report their crimes, their scandals, that they come right out and admit it when they're caught. AND NOTHING HAPPENS!

When the non-news and the news hit me, I thought I was living on another fucking planet. In fact, I was right. Shit like this just doesn't happen in a normal place. Criminals can't come oput and admit responsibility without the fear of punishment. People screaming doesn't make headline news across the nation. Boy, I sure am happy that I'm living on a sane planet. If Bush gets his way, maybe you can join me soon.

Then and Now

Bush to the UN, 2003: Get fucked and die.
Bush to the UN, 2004: Please, please come to Iraq and save my ass!

I'm almost hoping the UN doesn't, but that would be cruel. I would praise Bush for doing the right thing, but this doesn't count as late, he's in total "cover my ass" mode. Certainly not honorable.

Dean's speech in Iowa

What exactly is the problem? I heard the part people are mad it, he was yelling out state names to an excited crowd.

???????

I really, truly, honestly do not see why this is a news story.

These ain't about spending

Democracy Now! has reports on three provisions in the Omnibus Spending Bill ready to be passed by the Senate.

• New Overtime Laws To End Pay For Up To 8 Million Workers


• New Media Ownership Laws Raise TV Ownership Cap


• Gun Purchase Records To Be Destroyed After Just 24 Hrs

Saddam's crimes, our complicity

Robert Fisk provides coverage of a report which shockingly details Saddam's torture, rape, and execution of Iraqi shia women.

The women's faces are all veiled. They are mostly young. They are all Iraqi Shia Muslims. And their terrible fate - their vicious torture and deliberately cruel executions - should place their deaths on the list of barbarities for which Saddam Hussein could be tried, although almost all were put to death when the United States was supporting Saddam's regime.

...Wives were forced to watch their husbands hanged before being placed in the electric chair, were burned with acid, tied naked to ceiling fans, sexually abused. In several cases, women were poisoned or used as guinea pigs for chemical substances at a plant near Samarra believed to be making chemical weapons.

...The 550-page report is no literary work. Some of its prose is florid and occasionally appears to describe women's martyrdom as a fate to be emulated. Nor is this a work which will make easy reading for Americans anxious to use it as evidence against Saddam. The book repeatedly states that the chemicals used on women prisoners were originally purchased from Western countries.

Jesus...

The economy's doing great!

Via GC13, Kodak to 12,000 to 15,000 jobs worldwide. One wonders how many of those will be in America.

Ohio to gays and lesbians: Fuck you

Hm, Ohio sure has been a hot topic here at L/M this week. What's news there now? Gay Marriage has been banned in a bill that only needs a signature from Governor Taft, who will sign it.

Lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to a measure banning gay marriage and prohibiting state employees from getting benefits for domestic partners.

The bill is considered among the most far-reaching in the nation because of the benefits ban, which applies to unmarried heterosexual and homosexual couples.

This bill goes beyond banning gay marriage, it practically mandates marriage for hetrosexuals. Ohio just continues to shift farther and farther to the right.

Fat problems, but the Shrub don't care

"Obesity cost US $75bn, says study"

But a global plan to reduce it - put forward by the World Health Organisation (WHO) earlier this week - was delayed because of objections from the United States.

The WHO plan calls for governments to force food companies to reduce the amount of sugar and fat they put in their products.

But the US opposes this. It says it does not accept that heavy marketing of high-calorie processed foods is causing obesity.

I'm not a scientist so this may not be true, but humans must be the only animal ever whose species faces danger because too many of us are fat. Think about it.

Ding Dong, Democracy's Gone

From the "No shit" dept: Report says internet voting is far from secure and should not be used in an election.

THis just in from the "We're a bunch of fucking assholes" dept: Department of Defense dismisses the report and says they'll use an insecure internet voting system. I would say, "Unbelevable," but that's not true anymore.

The US is number one!

In executing children.

Providence, home of the Homeless Artists

This is just fucking ridiculous.

Late tuesday night, the artists who live in the some Providence lofts found out that their building is not zoned for residential use and it's not up to fire code. And now they're being forced to move – immediately.

Demolition on some parts of the building will begin as early as seven am today. [I believe this has been delayed.]

I'm biased to this situation because I loved going to see bands play in the artists spaces. I also don't know the law where building code is concerned, but what I do know is that the artists living in these "lofts" had residential leases which expired in July. I understand the city doesn't want people living in unsafe conditions, but if artists lease a space that the owner told them is zoned, and then finds out the owner lies, what happens? Does the owner have the right to say, "Get the fuck out, I'm destorying these buildings!" The whole situation is just ridiculous. Perhaps the owner wants to sell the property? The city is aiming to develop Olneyville.

Sigh. I'm not surprised given Providence's history of kicking artists in the teeth. I'm just disappointed. There's only 3 good clubs in the city to see a late night live show at, no more big clubs to see larger bands. Small and large bands are already skipping Providence when they tour and I don't have the time to drive 50 miles north to see shows in Beantown. If I want something to do in Providence, I'll have to start drinking. Yuppies who've never had a creative thought in their life think going out to bars is cool, that's all they do. How quaint. How "adult." This whole state is being gentrified to build houses and condos for the yuppies who think we're Boston's bedroom community, what happens to lifelong residents like me who don't join the Yuppie revolution and can't afford $250,000 for a house or $1000 a month for rent? What happens to artists thrown on the street for daring to make the city great?

Fucking yuppies. I hope they all fucking die. (Nope, I'm not the least bit bitter.)

The Buckeye Battle

I've been ranting about Ohio's importance in 2004, so at least someone believes me: "Bush Campaigns in Ohio, a Key State for Re-election Hopes." Too bad it's not a Democrat that believes me...

A little immature humor..

"Afghanistan's Olympics team to train on Lesbos"

Man, I'd like to see the hot video for this!

Fark Headline of the Day

"Reality show viewers rip into local station for cutting away to pesky trivial Iowa caucus results"

I'm glad to know things are normal in America.

Bush says, I reply, part four

"After the chaos and carnage of Sept. 11, it is not enough to serve our enemies with legal papers. The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States -- and war is what they got."

Iraq had no ties to 9/11, al-Qa'ida, or Saddam Hussein. But they got war. Why?

Bush says, I reply, part three

"Some in this chamber, and in our country, did not support the liberation of Iraq. Objections to war often come from principled motives. But let us be candid about the consequences of leaving Saddam Hussein in power. We are seeking all the facts -- already the Kay report identified dozens of weapons of mass destruction-related program activities and significant amounts of equipment that Iraq concealed from the United Nations. Had we failed to act, the dictator's weapons of mass destruction programs would continue to this day."

The Kay Report also clearly states that no stockpiles of WMDs have been found. Here's what Contra Costa Times has to say on the Kay Report:

When Kay announced that the most dangerous thing he found a was a single vial of live botulinum toxin in the home of an Iraqi biological weapons scientist, Bush felt vindicated. Botulinum toxin could be developed into a deadly form of botulism. Or, it could be turned into Botox, a wrinkle remover for the scientist's wife.

Besides the dire implications that news has in some Tri-Valley country clubs or a few Lamorinda doctors' offices, is that enough for the president to declare that the long-anticipated Kay report justifies the war with Iraq? We don't think so.

Kay also said that Iraq's nuclear weapons program was in a very "rudimentary stage" and that he found no conclusive proof that Iraq tried to buy weapons-grade uranium from Niger as Bush stated in his State of the Union address.

...short of finding a cache of WMD buried under desert sands, the "imminent" danger -- that was so eloquently expressed to the United Nations by Secretary of State Colin Powell and as explained to America by Bush before the Iraq war -- never existed.

...To spin the findings of Kay's report to the extent the White House did, does nothing to bolster Americans' slipping confidence on the reasons why we put our young men and women in harm's way. It does nothing to reverse the eroding credibility of the president and his staff.

The spin continues.

Bush says, I reply, part two

"We will double federal funding for abstinence programs, so schools can teach this fact of life: Abstinence for young people is the only certain way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases."

Teaching abstinence only leads to the spread of STDs. What does Bush think teenagers do when they goto college? What does Bush think happens when you pack dorm buildings full of 18 year olds with hormones up the wazoo? They FUCK, Bush. F-U-C-K. They fuck like fucking bunnies on fucking crack. They fuck as much as they want, when they want, and there's nothing you can fucking do about it. If we don't teach teenagers what safe sex is, they will spread STDs. Worse yet, if we don't define what sex is, when you should have it, and how to practice safe sex, STDs aren't the only thing to worry about. We have rapes to contend with, too. Unfortunately some men think it's alright to stick his dick in a girls cooch if she's intoxicated and laying on the couch. Why do they think it's OK? Because religious fundies like yourself won't allow them to be taught about sex, Mr. Bush. Abstinence education does nothing to combat rape, STDs, or unwanted pregnancies. Teenagers FUCK and there's nothing you can do about it. It's time to prepare them for sex instead of ignoring the issue.

Bush says, I reply, part one

"Activist judges, however, have begun redefining marriage by court order, without regard for the will of the people and their elected representatives. On an issue of such great consequence, the people's voice must be heard. If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process."

Bush didn't mind activist judge's in 2000 who awarded him the presidency. What's his beef with them now?

"As democracy takes hold in Iraq, the enemies of freedom will do all in their power to spread violence and fear. They are trying to shake the will of our country and our friends -- but the United States of America will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins. The killers will fail, and the Iraqi people will live in freedom."

Isn't it hypocritical to talk about the freedoms of Iraqi people while Bush clearly states that he wishes to deny two people of the same sex the freedom to get married. It's unbelievable that Bush can make a comment such as this when Iraqis by the thousands are protesting for democratic elections.

More intelligent journalism from Newsmax.duh

Real hardhitting shit from "The Left Coast Report."

1. Howard Dean's Movie Scene

Could the former Vermont governor and physician have a Schwarzenegger advantage? Before his entry into public office, might Howard Dean have been a movie actor?

You see, Howard Dean is listed in the cast of "Ninja III: The Domination," an obscure 1984 flick about an aerobics instructor possessed by a ninja spirit. Internet Movie Database lists his only other acting credit as "K-Street," George Clooney's failed TV series, "playing 'Himself' (as Gov. Howard Dean)."

According to a spokesman, the Democrat front-runner denies that he's one and the same as the Hollywood Howard.

The Left Coast Report thinks that it might be good political strategy for Dean to lay claim to the role. Then Dick Gephardt could try pawning himself off as the original Opie. Joe Lieberman could convince Penn that he's the real Teller. And John Kerry could swear that he starred in "American Gigolo."

Gee, who could have guessed that more then one person in the nation could have such an uncommon name like "Howard Dean." Could you imagine if a Smith ran for president? Newsmax would have to do a documentary featuring "reporting" of this quality!

I'll have a small helping of Crow pie please, thanks.

It looks like, to some degree, I was wrong about Dean's chances. A commenter on dKos said a 60 vote difference was too much. I double checked and they were correct, I accidentially factored Illinois into the Bush camp when Gore won the state in 2000. Whoops.

Barring any other mistakes from yours truly (I really, really did try to check this time, so I don't think I goofed again), if Bush and the Democrat candidate win the same states in 2004 that Bush and Gore won in 2000, Bush would win the electoral college by an 18 vote difference, 278-260. In 2000, this was only a 5 vote difference, 271-266. while my miscalculations help to diminish my point, I still think it's valid. To revise it, the Democratic candidate will need to take a big state away from Bush.

So what big states are up for grabs? Texas is out. Even though we all know Gore actually won the popular vote in Florida for 2000, Bush's bro won't be fuckin around this year.. It's probably out. I have been questioned for assertig that Dean can't win Ohio, and here's my reply: go live in Cincinnati for a year and tell me how you feel. In 2002, Ohio's incumbent GOP governor Taft got 57% of the vote, compared to Hagen's 37%. (His opponent had the voice of a cartoon rat, but that's beside the point.) Most of Hagen's support came from Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland and Hagen is the former county administrator. I could be mistaken when I said that Dean couldn't get 30% in Cincinnati. Taking a look at 2002 Congressional results, GOP incumbent Chabot got (only) 65%, but the Democrats are so disorganized in the Nati. They ran a no-name against Chabot whose campaign manager was his dad. I just don't see Dean going over well in Ohio. If we look at cities and counties, Gore took Cleveland/Cuyahoga County, Columbus/Franklin County by a small margin (counties sirrounding Columbus were GOP) plus smaller cities like Toledo, Akron, Youngstown, Dayton, and Toledo. The final total was pretty close, 49% for Bush and 46% for Gore. If Dean were to have a chance in Cincinnati, he needs to solidify a base in Cincinnati to have a prayer of reaching 40% there, he needs to keep the base in Cuyahoga and Youngstown, and he has to get 60% in Columbus. Maybe this is possible. Keeping the smaller cities is great, but if Dean can't carry the three C's, he can't carry Ohio.

Looking to the South, North Carolina has 15 votes, South Carolina has 8. Dean and Kerry can forget about those states, but Edwards is a senator from NC, and Clark may be able to carry them. If the Carolinas can be won, that's 23 votes away from Bush, and victory. So that gives the Democrats some options: focus on the Carolinas or focus on Ohio. Edwards has a better chance of taking the Carolinas then Dean (or even Kerry) has of taking Ohio. Believe me, the Buckeye State GOP is a very well oiled machine, and the fighting in Ohio will be tougher in 2004 because the Bush campaign is also organized and, more importantly, rich. They got the money and the traction, and unless Dean can work some organizational and fund raising magic in Ohio, he's done.

[Sources: jsonline.com, uselectionatlas.org, polstate.com]

"The Warfare State"

A few months ago I was at a gift shop in New Hampshire. They had cheap books, and after clawing through the crappy novels I found to priceless treasures: "You can trust the Communists (To be Communists)," published in 1960; and "The Warfare State," by Fred J. Cook, published in 1962. I borrowed $1.25 off my mom (I was unemployed at the time and quite broke) and brought them home.

Both books cover American history and foreign policy from the same time period: 1945-1960. Our government was quite scared of Communist expansion at the time, and these books cover the topic from opposite viewpoints, a fact I probably didn't need to reinforce. I tried reading "You can trust the Communists..." but everytime I pick it up, I think I'm reading a joke. It's such an overt piece of propaganda where the author gives ridiculous examples to support his biases, and predicts that the USSR would nuke us by 1965. Well, I'm still alive, how about you? Besides the side-splitting value, there's nothing of any intellectual worth in the book. Though I have used the title as a search string on Google, and it returns websites of conservatives who said they read the book in their youth and it effected how they thought of the world and I think to myself, "Aha! So this book is the problem!" Maybe I should burn it out of spite.

I have been reading "The Warfare State" when I get the chance. The book documents the Military-Industrial Complex, it's origins, and how the Military and big coroporations joined hands and took over the government. It's as much a history book as it is a critique of American industial and foreign policy, teaching the reader about the pacifist views of our Founding Fathers who thought it was a danger to national sovereignty if a standing military existed during peacetime, then it goes through military history to show how power hungry our military has always been. This books tands the test of time, and Cook's documenting of the Military-Industrail Complex from WWII to the beginning of the 60's is filled with striking parallels to todays political climate. Frequently while reading, I come across passages that make me say, "Wow, nothing has changed." That's usually followed by, "I should post this to the blog."

Hey, why not? Starting this week, Loaded Mouth will feature passages from "The Warfare State." This will lead into a contest I will annouce later next month. Consider yourself warned and ready to learn about the origins of modern American politic.

More on Dean

My position has been a little bit less than popular in dKos. (I've never mixed well with Democrats for some reason. Maybe it's because I'm a Nader voter who doesn't support chickenshits like Gore. :>) One comment questions my math in calculating the states right, and I intend to double check that later tonight. For now, my third shift ass should be in bed.

I'd also like to add that I, myself, hate my own position. If personal bias were involved, I'd jump on the Dean bandwagon. I like the guy, he's a fighter. I don't agree with him on everything, but I'd love to see him in the White House when the other choices are Bush, Kerry, Clark, and Edwards. But I neglected my personal biases while forming my decision. Maybe I jumped the gun, maybe I should wait for the Super Tuesday results. Could I be proven wrong in Feburary? I hope so, I like Dean. And hey, Kerry retooled his campaign after everyone wrote him off, who's to say the same thing can't happen for Dean? But if you're only able to get 18% of the vote in a normal, non-polarized American state, that's pretty bad. Iowa has diminished my hopes of Dean's ability to win the hearts of people outside the hardcore left. Like I originally stated, if the Democratic candidate can't either Ohio or Florida and steal a couple Southern or Midwestern states from Bush, that candidate will lose in November.

Motherfucker

The photoshopped picture of Bush here is priceless.

Loaded Mouth's official stance: Dean = Unelectable

I have read a few articles and blog entries that attempt to poo-poo Iowa's results like they are nothing. Dean has claimed victory because his third place, 18% showing is more then he expected a year ago. Other pundits say that Dean faired poorly because of all the candidates who attacked him. While this may be true, if anybody expects Dubya's $200 million warchest to go easier on Dean then 7-8 piss poor candidates, think again. Whichever Democrat becomes bears the nomination will be the lucky recipient of the biggest shitstorm ever seen in the history of American Politics. If Dean wilts under light pressure in Iowa, he can't win in November.

The Democrats need to win more states in 2004 then they did in 2000. I did some calculations (thanks to the Electoral College calculator on Political State Report), and get this: taking the results from 2000, if Bush wins the same states in 2004, and the Democrats win the same states Gore won in 2000, Bush wins the Electoral College by 60 votes, 299-239. This is a huge problem. The Democrats need to run somebody who will not only win all the states Gore won in 2000, but they need to take 2-3 states away from the Bush camp. This means that a swing state like Ohio or Florida needs to be won. To a candidate Dean, these states are out of reach.

Being a resident of Ohio for 9 months in 2002-03, I can tell you point blank that Dean cannot win in the Buckeye state. I doubt Dean could score 30% of the electorate in Cincinnati, and a big loss there would have to be made up by scoring 65-70% of the electorate in Cleveland. That's just not happening. Ohio has 2720 votes. With those lost, Dean needs to win 2-3 states in the South to make up for it. Even if he could do that, that's still not enough because winning back 2720 votes still puts Bush on top, 272-266279-259. The Democratic candidate needs to take a big state like Ohio or Florida, plus a couple smaller states in the South or Midwest to win. There is no negotiation, this is the cold, hard truth.

Maybe the Iowa caucus is overrated, but the fact remains that one of the only Midwestern states Gore won in 2000 has rejected Dean. In fact, they did more then simply reject him, they gave Dean the finger and told him to get fucked. Dean would lose Iowa, and the rest of the Midwest, in November. Tonight, unfortunately, only proves that Dean is unelectable.

(To get a little more traffic and see what comments this generates, I have placed it on the diaries section of Daily Kos, which is Democrat-central. I'm glad I posted it, because somebody corrected me: Ohio has 20 votes, not 27. The comments have not been positive.)

Ouch.

Dean just took a boot to the groin. Nevermind the fact that he didn't even come in second, but it looks like Dean didn't even capture 20% of Iowa's electorate. This will make people question the viability of his campaign. The Democrat candidate will need two things to beat Bush: support in the South and Midwest. The Northeast is pretty much a lock, California and Washington may need special attention, and Oregon is still a swing state. But for a Democrat to take the White House, he needs Midwestern strongholds like Ohio and West Virginia. If Dean can't shore up a piddly 20% in Iowa, I doubt his ability to win any Midwestern state. Couple that with the assumption that Dean can't win in the South, and you have to wonder if Dean can win at all.

Get Pissed!

Yes, the 2004 State of the Union Drinking Game is out. Ya gotta love it:

“nukular” = 1 drink
he uses a Bushism (i.e. says something that's not really a word, other than “nukular”) = 2 drinks
Any word of 5 syllables or more = 2 drinks (bonus +1 if he stumbles through it)
Every time... they show a military official in uniform who looks asleep = 2 drinks

I'd like to add, "Everytime he chokes on a pretzel."

Making fun of Tim Russert

Uggabugga does it with class.

"Duh" Fark Headline of the Day

"If you pay only monthly minimums on your credit cards, that $19 tank of gas could ultimately cost you $45"

The qWagmire continues

Guardian has a good analysis piece about what's going wrong in Iraq and how it could effect Bush at the ballot box. (The piece never mentions what could happen if the ballot boxes are replaced by Diebold, though.)

...the primary problem for Bush is the chaos in Iraq. His plans for minimising Iraq as an election issue are in tatters. They relied on three things: the capture of Saddam; a reduction in the toll of US dead and maimed; and the start of a process of handing power to Iraqis.

The first was accomplished in December when the former dictator's successful eight-month evasion of massive hunting parties came to an end. But instead of it leading to a collapse of resistance, US casualties have gone on growing. Bush's always dubious argument that Saddam was running the insurgency from various well-hidden quarters has fallen apart.

Go read the whole thing. Now. Do it. Why are you even still reading this, jerky?

We don't want them darkies and rice pushers 'round here!

The UK is starting to look a bit more like Alabama.

Four out of 10 white people do not want an Asian or black Briton as their neighbour, according to a survey published this week.

The economy is looking up!

In China. Matt, who resided in Hong Kong, told me a couple years back that I should invest in the Chinese economy. I had a few thousand to blow at the time (emphasis on had). What did I do with it? I moved to Cincinnati instead of becoming rich. Grrr. Fucking women. :)

Sniff sniff

New regulations in Japan could target used panty sellers.

Fuck the Jackson Family

I don't want to get into a football discussion, but I watched the Patriots game today. I'm still wondering who completed more passes to Pats players, Brady or Manning.

While I pondered this question after yet another interception tossed by Manning, CBS aired a commercial for the Super Bowl halftime show. Janet Jackson is performing, and, uhm, that's kinda supposed to be the main attraction. Not that I ever watch the halftime show and the crappy artists who perform their crappy music for it, but could the NFL have picked a worse time for the sister of an accused pederast who doesn't even have a song on the radio? I've had to listen to top 40 radio for the past week at work and I have yet to hear a single song by her. Ferchristssake, this is the Super Bowl, watched by millions upon millions of Americans, and the NFL can't dig up an "artist" that at least has a song on the radio? Worse yet, you know Janet's going to try putting some positive spin on her brother's situation. Hey, maybe Michael will join her on stage!

Milo Goes To College

After a two year absence, I'm returning to school tomorrow. Three classes + full time work = light blogging? We'll see. I'm setting up a couple of news aggregators so I can keep pace. Hopefully there won't be light blogging for an excessive amount of time. If I'm slacking, hopefully the Mat(t)'s can keep things updated, but they post at will and have lives of their own, so I won't be assigning quotas or anything.

On the topic of news aggregators, if you want to read what I'm reading, here you go: US/Canada, UK, Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, Far East, Oceania, and Africa. Have fun. :)

Yes France, for once, you are wrong

French government officials are bitching that thousands of muslims across the globe have dared to protest against France's ban on "overly religious symbols in schools." While religion, and the enforcement or demonization of it, should be kept out of a public school system because any free government should have a separation of church and state, an free government should also allow its citizens the right to personal expression. I'm not religious, but if somebody wishes to sport a veil or skullcap, who am I tell tell them they can't? As long as they are trying to force me to worship their religion, I'm happy. Citizens of a free society should be allowed to express themselves. I understand France's concern about religion and the separation of it from those who wish not to be bothered by the various monotheistic theories that society has developed, but people should have the freedom to believe in what they choose and to express that if they so wish.

Just how powerful was that bomb in Baghdad?

That's from the BBC, and they have a few more pictures here.

Now this is interesting

Are Hospitals Gouging the Uninsured?

When the uninsured enter the hospital, they are charged significantly more than patients with Medicare, Medicaid or private health coverage, even though the uninsured are the least able to afford the higher prices because they tend to be lower-income working Americans.

These practices, which have been highlighted lately by articles in magazines and newspapers across the country, disproportionately affect minorities, who tend to have lower incomes and work for employers who do not provide health insurance.

More jobs created... In Iraq!

The Bush administration really doesn't have any shame: Halliburton awarded contracts worth $1.2 billion to restore Iraq's oil infrastructure. These contracts were awarded despite the fact that Halliburton is under investigation by the Pentagon for bilking the government out of $61 million and serving our members of our military rotting food. These assholes just don't care, and neither does Bush, apparently. What a disgrace.

Jobs... Created?

IBM say they'll have 4500 openings.

Urban Dictionary Definition of the Day

Munging!