Cafe Bucky

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?messageDate=2004-11-01

and if you want something more suitable for tea in the parlor:

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/?041101ta_talk_editors

I usually don’t care for rap, but I’m sure going to point at Eminem’s video: Mosh

Time to send the Cowboy home to Texas.

(and an update - very good analysis at: DailyKOs.com )

A while back, February if you’d like to be picky, I wrote “Would Nader Please Fader?”. In it, I briefly expressed the hope that Ralph would butt out, for the good of the country.

Who knew back then that the race would be so close now?

Ralph Nader! Leave the race! Put ego aside and do the right thing for your country. You don’t even have to endorse any particular candidate (most of your voters would go Demo). I just get the queasy feeling that we’re heading for a 2000 election all over again. Of what use is his point if it gets us four more years of Bush?

Ralph: right candidate, for the wrong office, at the wrong time (I think he’d be as popular on the national level as Gray Davis was in California, which is saying something)

I hope he doesn’t go down in history as the biggest political spoiler of all time.

I can’t wait for the rest of the presidential debates to take place. I’m hoping that Cheney shows his true (mean) self. Not that Edwards needs help. I’m expecting Edwards to more than hold his own.

If you are so inclined to listen to the first debate again, you can get it from the iTunes store. It’s 90 minutes long, but if you take out all of the times Bush stares into the camera (doing his best “deer in the headlights” impression), I think it can be heard in about 50 … The SNL take on the debate was a hoot. (”coming in on Saturdays… it’s really haaard”)

I don’t usually post about politics, preferring to read people like Maureen Dowd of the New York Times (always fun to see her shred the GOP). I will say that I have a concern about this election - and that would be Nader. Ralph would serve this country best by butting out. Of course he won’t, but my fear is that he will take just enough votes away from Kerry to tilt the election in favor of W. That would be sad indeed for us Dems. It would be a nice “October Surprise” for Ralph to pull out.

You know, I really miss Clinton. I thought he did a great job. I’ll vote for Kerry, but like many, it’s more of a “OMG, don’t re-elect Bush” vote than an expression of “yes! I really want this guy!”. Clinton was the last candidate for whom I had real enthusiasm.

Sunday was a full day for me, ranging from the late night still air of Petaluma, to the humidity and activity of the protesters who made their way up to Central Park’s Great Lawn.

5 pm. Just back in the City from JFK. Let’s drop the luggage at the apt and take a walk…

(more…)

At the moment, I’m sitting in quiet, misty morning Petaluma, light-years away from the Beltway. Next Sunday I fly to my other place in NYC (where I work), which will be a maelstrom of political activity leading into the RNC. Include me out. I’m a democrat, interested in hearing energetic speeches from the Left, but it doesn’t look like there’s much of a plan. It’s tempting to stay in California for another week, and avoid the whole Manhattan schlamozzle. I live two blocks from Central Park, and am guessing that 100,000 people are going to drop by, permit be damned.

I sure hope the convention week stays peaceful. Why couldn’t the Republicans pick a more suitable city, such as, oh… I don’t know… Houston! Putting Bush & Co. in the middle of Madison Square Garden is akin to tossing rocks at the New York City hornets nest. Some of the insects are bound to get upset and do stupid things. Seems like Bad Planning 101.

So I’m just hoping for restraint on all sides. I’d hate to see a replay of the WTO in Seattle, or 4 Dead in Ohio, or Chicago ‘68, or any number of scenarios involving idiots hiding behind a political banner versus nervous riot police and national guard.

Hurl only words. Break only the seals of your beers. Burn only calories. Shout your lungs out, but keep the teargas away from mine. Yeah, the Right has gotta be voted out, but don’t fuck up New York in the process.

“You have the right to free speech, as long as, you’re not dumb enough to actually try it” - The Clash

Seen On Lisa Rein’s Radar (this entry not for the kids) - Eric Idle presents … The FCC Song

Catchy Ditty. Won’t ever hit the top 40 though :-)

From the “oh, not that again!” department …

Ralph Nader is running for President again. We all know how that turned out last time, with the election of Dubya. Gee thanks Ralph.

For the good of the country, I would hope that Ralph sees sense (sooner rather than later), and urges his supporters to cast the “best person capable of beating Bush” vote. Hint: that’s not Mr. “Unsafe At Any Speed”.

It’s a free country, and anyone can run (all mandatory qualifications tossed aside for the moment), but that doesn’t make it a Good Idea. The stakes are too high this time around to let some sideshow distract voters. We need to take the country back from idiots in office, not be subjected to endless snickering from those in the RNC, who would love nothing better than to see the Left fight amongst themselves.