This is the French president, after coming out of a meeting with Vladimir Putin. I think they might have, um, indulged.

Tomorrow is the first round of the French elections, and I am really excited about it. Maybe not as excited as I get over American elections, but excited nonetheless. I have been sort of looking forward to this date (April 22) as a milestone of sorts, and it's absolutely insane to me to think that the day has finally arrived.

Round 2 takes place on May 6, and that's just around the corner. I just can't believe how quickly time is flying.

For the last election (2002), I went over to a friend of The Boy's, where he was having a sort of election loto thingie. We all put down our guesses as to what percentage all 16 candidates would receive. At the time, I was studying journalism and knew all of the candidates and their platforms pretty well, so I thought I might do ok. Wow, was I wrong. But then again, so was everybody else at the party. I don't think anybody there saw the Le Pen victory coming. Even worse, the host of the party was a devout socialist (his father is a socialist member of the Assemblée nationale or something) and the mood in the room went quickly from baffled to horrified to depressed, culminating in despair when Jospin announced his withdrawal from politics. I was interested in the outcome but not emotionally involved in any way. That clearly was not the case for many of the people at the party.

While I don't think this year is going to be anywhere half as exciting, I am still anxious to see the outcome. I definetly feel I have a firmer grasp on the range of French-ness out there in a way I maybe didn't in 2002. In the last few weeks, I have surveyed my French friends and ask them who they think The Big Two will be. The responses have been varied. The combinations thus far have been:

Sarko and Bayrou
Sarko and Le Pen
Le Pen and Bayrou

Not a single person I have asked has proposed the much hyped Sarko/Ségo split. I don't know where I stand this time around. What do you think?

UPDATE:

Apparently, my friends are all morons. Straight and simple: Sarko/Sego.

I wrote something but erased it, because I think the video needs to speak for itself.

And with that, I will bring you: Bush mocking a legally blind man for wearing sunglasses. I'm still digesting this one.

Stephen Colbert was invited to give the commencement speech at Knox College in Ilinois. You can read about it here. It's funny in the way Colbert is funny, but without the visuals or the delivery.

However, the closing paragraph of the article made me chuckle:

Every morning, I sit with a coffee and read the news. I also check up on the liberal "blogs" -- I know I should diversify my sources but so should everybody else. Like most lefties, I spend a lot of time gawking at the crazy things coming out of the mouths of our leaders, and often out of the mouths of our journalists and media.

Last month, I posted the Bill O'Reilly/Letterman interview. In that same vein, I'm posting a clip from "Countdown" that I saw via Crooks and Liars - probably my favorite left-wing site, if only because I don't have a television and at least this way I get some highlights.

I think it is important to spread around this type of thing, if only because regular viewers (not just of O'Reilly, but of any program) need to see how the facts are sometimes just flat out wrong. Lots of people look to O'Reilly for the truth, or for the "fair and balanced" facts, but this clip proves that to be a dangerous idea.

Keith Olbermann disrobes O'Reilly in a way that I really hope is simply not debatable: O'Reilly was wrong, never excused himself, repeated his error, and then changed the words of his transcript after the fact. This type of thing just cannot go unexplained - or unremarked - on a major news channel. Watch the clip - Olbermann at his best. (Quicktime required)

So here's the funny thing: Mom and Dad are coming to stay in Paris for a few days. No problem, right? They've got their usual hotel and what not, I figured I'd make a booking and we would all go out for a café crème together.

But, um... no.

Turns out, there is not a SINGLE HOTEL IN PARIS with a room available on Wednesday, May 17. I called and called and called, then finally gave up and did an Expedia search. Ok, fine. I was wrong. There was ONE hotel with a room. It cost over $8,000.

Otherwise, NO HOTELS! In the ENTIRE city! Can you tell because I am using CAPS and EXCLAMATION POINTS that I find this whole thing incredible! Not even an AIRPORT HOTEL!!!

Confused, I called back my parents' normal hotel and asked them why it was so hard to get a room for Wednesday. Word on the street says there's some sort of soccer championship. I had no idea, of course. I suppose this is why the rest of you have televisions and stuff.

So right. I get rid of the couch in my living room, only to invite my parents to town to sleep over. Smart.

IN A TOTALLY UNRELATED TOPIC

Did you all see Bill O'Reilly on David Letterman in January? I saw a segment of the clip, but never the whole thing. I randomly stumbled upon it while reading up on the 2006 elections. I think that is revealing: searching for election information, I somehow found my way to two entertainers (one of whom is obviously only questionably so...) discussing politics.

Anyway, I found the exchange made for good television. I remember the press was all over it awhile back, but if you didn't see it you can do so here (below). You might have to agree to being over 18 or something to watch it, first.

HOLY SHIT!!! I'm working and going about my normal life, studying and what not. I opt to take a little break and stumble upon Stephen Colbert's address at the White House Correspondants Association dinner.** How the hell did he get invited? And OH MY GOD is he amazing! Where did he get those balls? That was incredible.

I might have something coherent to say later, but for right now I am just amazed that somebody - anybody - could be so ballsy with the President of the United States sitting just ten feet away.

As many of you know, I am a longtime Colbert fan. This has sealed the deal.

** The link takes FOREVER to load. I mean, five minutes on my computer. But it's so, so worth it.

FASTER LINK: Available on You Tube. The speech is broken down in three, this is the first link -- the other two sections can be found in the list on the right. Uploads immediately.

I've been considering the CPE over the last few days... how could I not? It's everywhere. On the newspapers, in my street, on the blogs. I can see both sides of the story - and it's interesting to feel just how deeply my own cultural convictions run. But I have come to understand why so many are asking for a retraction. Their demand is justified, but I also think that the French need something - and soon - that will make the job market more dynamic and open. Maybe it would be ideal to use this proposed CPE as a jumping-off point, and actually maintain an open dialogue so that whatever the CPE becomes, it is the result of both side's wants and needs. Then again, maybe that's impossible.

Regardless, there is something magical in seeing the massive protests taking place across the country. Yes, everybody bitches about strikes when they happen - especially by transportation workers - but I find it heartening to see such political involvement, via protests, on a national scale. I have always admired the French for their interest in politics and world events -- generally, they seem far more interested and aware than their American counterparts. As a bit of a news junkie, it is always surprising to learn that my American friends don't know much about the goings-on of their own government (TheKnitter being a noted exception), making it impossible to talk about current events. They're apathetic, something which the French have overwhelmingly proven is not their case. That's an impressive feat, especially amongst the young.

And, as always, it's great to see protesters, who are otherwise not affected by the CPE, come out and support those who are.

In all of my discussions on the topic, it seems that most people are in agreement that there is some pretty severe unrest amongst the young French. The riots in the suburbs, now the protests in the streets -- these are serious grumblings of discontent. Yes, the CPE is a major issue, and one that deserves more reflection than it has had to date. But I don't get the feeling that "fixing" the CPE (or doing away with it altogether) is going to solve what is appearing more and more like a larger social problem.

I am particularly touched by the story of Jill Caroll for a few reasons. The background: Jill Caroll is a freelance writer for the Christian Science Moniter. She was kidnapped in Baghdad on January 7, and has appeared only in released videos since that date.

Jill is from my home town, only two years older than me, and graduated from my high school. Although I don't know her personally (by name/face only), it hits home.

She is not a CNN reporter who has just plopped herself down in Baghdad to report from the roof of some journalist-safe building. She arrived in Iraq in 2003; she has learned Arabic, studied Iraqi history and culture, and - according to many sources - really become a part of that society.

I admire any journalist who takes the plunge whole-heartedly into their career. It is impressive for me that a peer has done so, and I admire her courage during what must be a terrible experience.

That's why I guess it was sort of moving to see that Parisians are rallying around her - and former French hostage Florence Aubenas played a part. At least there is some solidarity - somewhere - even in the midst of all this mess.

Juliette Binoche in Paris on Tuesday at a rally for Jill Caroll.

Ok, I don't know what everybody on the other side of the ocean is saying, but I enjoyed Bill O'Reilly's little visit to The Daily Show. I don't think Jon crushed him or anything, but he instead allowed Bill to repeatedly make an ass of himself. I suppose Bill does that every day anyway, but it seemed extra-severe with the added boo-ing of audience members.

And what was that about the French boycott? I'm sorry? "What are you people from Marseille or something? Boo... booo... give me more wine..." I don't know if he said that for shits and giggles, but it sounded like something a fourth-grader would say to prove he knows something - anything - about France. And wait? What? Still BOYCOTTING? Aren't we over that, now?

I'm going to go watch it again, I think (you can, too, here if you're interested -- scroll down to Bill's face).

Also, pinhead?

I'm fresh back after six hours of walking around Paris (with Mom) and then dinner, after only three hours of sleep the previous night (and a 7.00 am flight this morning). Florence was fabulous - my parents are great and wonderful people, and I would go back there - or anywhere - with them in a heartbeat.

I don't have the energy to recap, but I had to write something to get the depressing post-election commentary off the top of the page. A girl can only handle so much, and I'm sure you're all feeling like it's time to just move on. We're all sick of feeling sick about the sickness of our country. I do have to say, however, that I appreciate everybody's comments and I thought the feedback was great.

For now, I just have to add this little thing I saw in CNN the other night. they were interviewing New Yorkers on how they feel about the election results. The interviewees were dems who were upset and shocked at how truly divided our country is. My favorite quote was from a short, elderly woman with a strong New York accent: "I don't want to talk about the elections anymore, but all I can say is that I've taken to swearing a lot." That's sorta how I feel.

Today on the metro, Mom said, "I've never been very political. I've always been sorta mainstream. The former might have to change now that I realize the latter has already." I also found that interesting. More so, maybe, if you knew my mom. Who, by the way, is a great person to walk around Italy with (and Dad, too...).

Being in London, six hours away from election results, has its advantages. One, I didn't waste my night away delaying the inevitable defeat. Two, I woke up bright and early (6:30) in order to catch up on news. Nevermind that I woke up to the words "...and it looks as if Ohio is most likely going to President Bush, confirming his second term as President of the United States."

Last night, Mom and I watched a documentary on Bush and the Evangelicals throughout the nation. We were both scared, Mom was surprised. But honestly, neither of us thought this would be the constituent that would make the election for Bush.

Leaving London this afternoon, Mom and I took a cab to the train station. Our driver was certainly British, but wearing a cowboy hat. Although it seemed a little out of place, I'm no guru when it comes to British fashion. But once he started singing along to the country music in his cab, we decided to tone down our talk of fear of our apparently hyper-conservative country. Somehow, the presence of an entire part of America that I have more or less ignored throughout my life - even if it was in the form of a British man - seemed symbolic at that moment. It was just a little reminder of the other part of America, sitting in the very same car as Mom and me.

We all live in microcosms. My opinion was that a good portion of my country is composed of conservatives, with a penchant for tradition. I know very few of them, but that is because every year of my American life has been spent in a state that went blue this election.

Regardless, I respect Republicans' views and their ability to process facts. I thought the facts were pretty clear: Bush is not only out to trample his way all over the international scene but also all over anybody who does not suscribe to his particular faith or lifestyle. I hoped that people would be wary of this kind of leader, but it turns out only 48% of us were.

It frightens me to no end. I do not know my own country. It sounds so dramatic, but I was genuinely startled by the realization. These people came out to vote on the "moral issues" and they chose Bush? I just did not know how conservative we really are. And I am disappointed that I am now a part of that conservative "we" whether I like it or not.

Tomorrow, I leave for Italy. I am going to stay away from the talk for a few days. We spend so much time talking, and in the end, we learn we never knew anything in the first place. We are surprised to find out that what decided this election was not the war in Iraq, the war "on terror," the economy, or health care. What decided it was Bush's stance on gay marriage, abortion, stem cell research and so on. The frightening reality is that the majority of Americans support Bush's stance.

I am so sad that I have to admit I overestimated my country's ability to recognize that Bush's opinion on these issues is discriminatory and wrong. I wish I had been right about my people. I wish I could still make excuses for us, as I have been doing for the last few years. No, this time we made a concious collective choice to keep George W. Bush in power. The absurdity of it just blows my mind.

So backwards we go. Or keep going. Whichever.

I'll pick up my bootstraps soon enough. The Dems are already brimming with calls to arms, but I'm just going to go drown my sadness in pasta for a few days first.

After checking back in at Daily Kos (truly addicting), I found out a new Eminem video premiered on MTV yesterday.

I tried for a year or two not to like Eminem, but I caved after a hit song or two. I think he's witty. I know some people have said he's racist or homophobic, but I haven't heard any indication of that in any of the songs I know. Then again, I'll admit not to knowing every Eminem song ever. Still, what I do know of him, I like.

But here's an excerpt from a new one called "Mosh":

This is a good one. It's political, and sends a good message, and makes me appreciate Eminem even more. When pop idols use their fame for a good cause, that can't be a bad thing.

You can watch the video here if you have real player. There's also a .mov clip floating around on the internet somewhere, if that suits your fancy. You can also read more about it at Salon.com.

The video is pretty intense. Full lyrics are in the extended entry. I suggest reading them first, so you can focus on the images when you watch the video.

[I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
And to the Republic for which it stands
One nation under God
Indivisible
It feels so good to be back..]

Scrutinize every word, memorize every line
I spit it once, refuel, reenergize, and rewind
I give sight to the blind, mind sight through the mind
I ostracize my right to express when I feel it's time
It's just all in your mind, what you interpret it as
I say to fight you take it as I'm gonna whip someone's ass
If you don't understand don't even bother to ask
A father who has grown up with a fatherless past
Who has blown up now to rap phenomenon that has
Or at least shows no difficulty multi tasking
And juggling both, perhaps mastered his craft last
Entrepreneur who has held long too few more rap acts
Who has had a few obstacles thrown his way through the last half
Of his career typical manure moving past that
Mister kiss his ass crack, he's a class act
Rubber band man, yea he just snaps back

Come along, follow me as I lead through the darkness
As I provide just enough spark, that we need to proceed
Carry on, give me hope, give me strength,
Come with me, and I won't steer you wrong
Put your faith and your trust as I guide us through the fog
Till the light, at the end, of the tunnel, we gonna fight,
We gonna charge, we gonna stomp, we gonna march through the swamp
We gonna mosh through the marsh, take us right through the doors

To the people up top, on the side and the middle,
Come together, let's all bomb and swamp just a little
Just let it gradually build, from the front to the back
All you can see is a sea of people, some white and some black
Don't matter what color, all that matters is we gathered together
To celebrate for the same cause, no matter the weather
If it rains let it rain, yea the wetter the better
They ain't gonna stop us, they can't, we're stronger now more than ever,
They tell us no we say yea, they tell us stop we say go,
Rebel with a rebel yell, raise hell we gonna let em know
Stomp, push up, mush, fuck Bush, until they bring our troops home come on just . . .

Come along, follow me as I lead through the darkness
As I provide just enough spark, that we need to proceed
Carry on, give me hope, give me strength,
Come with me, and I won't steer you wrong
Put your faith and your trust as I guide us through the fog
Till the light, at the end, of the tunnel, we gonna fight,
We gonna charge, we gonna stomp, we gonna march through the swamp
We gonna mosh through the marsh, take us right through the doors, come on

Imagine it pouring, it's raining down on us,
Mosh pits outside the oval office
Someone's trying to tell us something, maybe this is God just saying
we're responsible for this monster, this coward, that we have empowered
This is Bin Laden, look at his head nodding,
How could we allow something like this, Without pumping our fist
Now this is our, final hour
Let me be the voice, and your strength, and your choice
Let me simplify the rhyme, just to amplify the noise
Try to amplify the times it, and multiply it by six-
Teen million people are equal of this high pitch
Maybe we can reach Al Quaida through my speech
Let the President answer on high anarchy
Strap him with AK-47, let him go
Fight his own war, let him impress daddy that way
No more blood for oil, we got our own battles to fight on our own soil
No more psychological warfare to trick us to think that we ain't loyal
If we don't serve our own country we're patronizing a hero
Look in his eyes, it's all lies, the stars and stripes
They've been swiped, washed out and wiped,
And replaced with his own face, mosh now or die
If I get sniped tonight you'll know why, 'cause I told you to fight

So come along, follow me as I lead through the darkness
As I provide just enough spark, that we need to proceed
Carry on, give me hope, give me strength,
Come with me, and I won't steer you wrong
Put your faith and your trust as I guide us through the fog
Till the light, at the end, of the tunnel, we gonna fight,
We gonna charge, we gonna stomp, we gonna march through the swamp
We gonna mosh through the marsh, take us right through the doors

[Eminem speaking angrily]
And as we proceed, to mosh through this desert storm, in these closing statements, if they should argue, let us beg to differ, as we set aside our differences, and assemble our own army, to disarm this weapon of mass destruction that we call our president, for the present, and mosh for the future of our next generation, to speak and be heard, Mr. President, Mr. Senator

In over 35 years of marriage, my parents have only not voted for the same president once. "I always knew Nixon was a crook," says my Mom, explaining their sole electoral difference.

With lifelong Republicans as parents, my brother, sister and I have tried to get them to talk politics several times. They never seem to want to do it - maybe because they know they're outnumbered. How two Republicans bred three Democrats is still debatable, but I blame Churchill's statement: "Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains."

I'm sure my sister would refute the statement, but it's there.

Regardless, I just received news that the two Republicans I know best have switched teams. They cast their ballots today. I didn't expect it, and I clapped my hands and jumped out of happiness at the idea. Two more for the Kerry camp. This makes me pray there may be more like them out there. I am keeping my fingers crossed that things might change come next Tuesday.

Or, as my Mom says, "See? There is hope for life after 60."

Yes Mom, there is. And thanks for thinking of your grandkids when you voted today. There might be hope for them, too.

You have to go to Gadflyer to read this whole piece. It puts thing in perspective, again.

Here's an excerpt:

The last paragraph is the best one, but I didn't feel right putting it here. It should be saved for people who go to the site and read the whole thing. Ends it with a zing.

It's Jon Stewart. On "60 Minutes." And he's even funny there, too! Go see it.

Jon Stewart's response to his appearance on Crossfire can be found here.

Via flea, I got a fabulous link that I am so glad I didn't miss out on. It's wonderful to see Jon Stewart using his fame to come onto Crossfire.

I'm sure The Daily Show fans are just wild with happiness right now, and maybe I've missed the boat on this whole discussion. It seems I'm always behind with these kinds of things.

But I'm so excited about it I have to spread the word, at the risk of revealing my tardiness. I've already watched the clip three times... it's so intense, and it's obvious that Jon really gets under the hosts' skin. As flea said, it's appalling that Carlson kept trying to argue that The Daily Show should somehow be embarrassed for their programming. As Jon tries to hammer home the point that Crossfire is not doing it's job as a "debate" program, their only response was, "Well, whatta 'bout your show?" To which, naturally, Jon reminded him that The Daily Show is on Comedy Central, not CNN.

Anyway, I applaud Jon's courage to go on the show and to try to get something through their skulls. I doubt it will change much of anything, but it was still nice to see.

Oh, and by the way? Jon? Really hot in that clip, no? I'm so used to him in a suit... he looks great in that sweater. Or maybe it's just that integrity is sexy.

You can get the full video and transcript here.

I think I'm losing it. Truly, perhaps I'm already gone.

After the administrative hellhole I have lost myself in, I shouldn't be surprised by another blow to my well-organized and excessively Type-A ego. But, alas. The absentee ballot saga continues.

I double-checked on the Michigan website. It says:

That's it!, I thought, and sent an email along to the township clerk, pointing out that, yes, I'm an overseas voter. Her response?

Uh... who's Pamela? And what fax?

Maybe I was wrong about the US having less administrative problems than France. Apparently American voter-registration workers are high as kites.

I got a note from my township clerk saying, essentially, "We got your request for an absentee ballot. However, since you registered to vote by mail, you have to show up in person to cast your vote."

Doesn't this seem like a strange idea? I'm sure I'm not the only person who has been living overseas, who has registered from overseas, and who doesn't plan on going back to the United States just to cast a vote.

I'm a little upset because I would really like to vote in this election. My state is currently on "Barely Kerry" according to this map, and I need to tip those scales a bit further in the right direction.

The pressure's really on now, and I'm getting pretty nervous. The election is just a few weeks away.

I called my clerk to figure out what to do. You know what their answer was? Send an email. I was like, "But, um... I'm on the phone right now. Couldn't we just...?"

I felt like I was dealing with French administration or something. It just figures that once my paperwork problems start easing up on the French side, they go haywire on the American end.

***Update:***

FUCK! I just received this email:

I'm saddened to learn that Christopher Reeve died today. Everybody made so many jokes about the irony of his situation, but the truth is that he was an amazing person. I read several articles on him and his surprising recovery; I also appreciated his stance on stem cell research. He passed away from heart failure at the age of 52.

I need to stop with the politics talk. It's a strange sort of masochistic thing I do... I have too many liberal friends so I seek out right-wing opinion and am totally shocked when people admit to thinking that our current administration is OK. This is so mind-blowing to me that I question things, but usually this just enrages people.

I think the internet is a lot like email in that tone does not come across as it should. If I put three question marks after a phrase, it's not because I want to make it look like I'm really upset, but it's because I really just don't understand how the hell you could think that. Please clarify.

Anyway. I really hope our country doesn't go down the shithole. I don't know if Americans living in the US are aware of how much esteem we have lost on the international scene. Not a day goes by that I don't enter into some conversation with people about our government. Most people just want to know "Why?" It's terrifying that I don't have an answer for them. About anything. Even armed with the facts, I can't justify our country's current actions.

The kids at my high school felt such venom towards the Bush administration that they would stop me in the halls to talk about it. These were obviously views that they learned from those around them - parents, friends, and family. I had nothing to defend our country. "Uh... I think Bush wanted Hussein's oil?" That was the best I could do. I would like to know what a Bush supporter would say to a fifteen-year-old Maroccan kid living in the projects outside Paris who doesn't understand why we're in Iraq. Would they say some bullshit about the WMD? Because this kid reads his newspapers, and knows there weren't any. Would they say Hussein was a threat, and needed to be "disarmed"? Because this kid knows that there are several other leaders of other nations that are considered dictators.

These kids aren't idiots. They read the papers and stay up to date. I cannot defend my country's actions to them.

Maybe I'm incredibly naive. I'm trying to learn some languages to converse with people. Going to new places, I am always afraid to admit I am American, and I hope that language can bridge the gap that my nationality creates. But overall, I feel that people are moving away from understanding and towards hatred. Am I the only one who feels that things are going backwards?

I have friends from all walks of life... and I really mean that. People often say that if they have one black friend or one gay friend, but I'm swimming in a hodgepodge where I sometimes feel I'm the only one like me. It's great to get lost in a sea of different colors, sizes, languages, and cultures. I lose myself and learn more about others. The more I pull myself away from the country I once knew, the more I see Americans as frighteningly xenophobic. It scares me that our culture - one that I suppose I always saw as so open and inviting - is actually the most closed on earth.

I'm so sad for our country. I'm so scared for our future. Sometimes, I hesitate to say I am American. It means I have to explain, again, why we are in Iraq (I don't know). How it is that we don't have universal health care (still a mystery to me). How it is we still have the death penalty, again (I'm anti, but what can I do?).

We need a change. From half the world away, I can feel it. People around me are praying for a change, for the good of the world. Africans, Arabs, Asians, South Americans, Europeans... everyone except the Americans.

Went over to The Knitter's and she made Beccarah and I some food. It was tasty and delicious and a nice evening overall. They're good cats. We laugh a lot together, and I think they're both smart and witty and certainly on my wavelength.

We talked a lot about politics. It seems to be all I can talk about lately, and I have a feeling things are going to continue on this fervent pace for awhile, up until election time. We're trying to find a place where we can watch the results come in live on November 2. As ex-pats, we feel this election is really the make-or-break decision as to whether or not we can face returning to the Homeland. I'll have a really difficult time returning to American soil if Bush's cronies are the ones who own it.

Anyway, for the election day, we figure we'll meet up around midnight and just watch through 'til morning. If I remember correctly, the tallying went up until late night in '96 (was in France during 2000), so with the six-hour time difference, we're gonna have to pull an all-nighter that will bleed through to an all-morninger. That's gonna be tricky 'cause the moms is going to be here at that point, so she might just have to deal with a grumpy daughter who needs a nap mid-day.

My new scheme is to start hanging out with more right-wingers. I just don't get their views on the issues, and I'm serious when I say I want to understand. Yet, I haven't met a single Republican who actually wants to talk about the issues. It's a strange phenomenon. Maybe it's just the few I've met (aka my parents, grandparents, extended family, and a few peers or collegues). They either respond with, "Well, I don't really follow politics." or "I don't like to talk about politics." But shit, this election really matters and I just want to know why they support Bush. I want some factual reasons besides "Well, Kerry's a flip-flopper." Watch enough Fox News and you'll believe everything they say.

I don't know. Maybe I just want to know so that I won't feel like our country is truly in the shitter if Bush gets re-elected. I want to know what that one little glimmer of hope might be. I figure they have to have SOME reason why they're supporting him. What in God's name could it possibly be?

Bah.

Meanwhile, I did the research for the article I'm writing today. I interviewed a couple of people and feel really good about it. I think I'll write it up tomorrow, revise on Monday, and send it in. I'm going back next week to take pics when all the people will be there.

My interviewing today made me realize that I need to have some business cards. People have asked for them. I'm lame, but I was completely taken by surprise. I guess business cards are the kind of thing journalist-y types give out. Seems odd to call them business cards, no? I want to call them writer cards, or contact cards, or creative mastermind cards. I certainly know nothing about business.

I took a taxi back from The Knitter's today, and I felt a little bad about it because the guy only drove me a couple of blocks. Most times I come back from her place, I walk it. But tonight I just had a creepy feeling and didn't want to walk home, alone, at three in the morning. The taxi driver reluctantly said "Ok" when I mentioned my destination. When I started apologizing he said, "No, you did the right thing. You have to follow your intuition." It was said in such a pleasant tone that I knew he meant it, and he indicated and understood the further importance of his role as my savior from the evils of poorly-lit Parisian streets. We had a pleasant conversation back to my place, and I almost wanted to invite him up for coffee or something. I don't think The Boy would have appreciated it, but he was a really nice guy. I felt wrong just leaving him with a tip and a "Merci!" but what else can you do?

I went out tonight and had a great time, but I also secretly couldn't wait to get back to my beloved C-Span. I missed the debates last night and had to make a concentrated effort all day long not to read any newspapers or listen to the radio (tricky) before watching the event myself.

Naturally, upon my return to the house, I jumped right online and found myself my debate heaven. Halfway through the madness, I turned to The Boy and said, "You know how pathetic this is? I'm hooting and hollering and clapping my hands as if this were a basketball game. Some people get excited about sports. I get excited whenever Bush trips over his own words." It was a thrilling 90 minutes. I kept laughing and hee-heeing at Bush's blunders. Even The Boy, who doesn't speak English, kept making fun of him for sputtering.

Now I'm really hoping Kerry nails him in the "town-hall" "debate" next week. If he was able to set Bush off his feet this severely with such tight format restrictions, I can't wait to see him in a more relaxed environment.

I'm up to speed now, and have formulated my own opinion of the "debate." I watched the Spin Room afterwards and have now read a couple of articles. It looks like people agree with me that Bush looked like a bumbling idiot (again). It doesn't matter how many times he repeats that John Kerry shouldn't say "the wrong war, in the wrong place, at the wrong time." Bush has nothing more than that pathetic phrase - and even his spin team can't come up with anything else. I relished every minute.

In my post-viewing readings, I stumbled upon this great quote from The New Republic. It made me giggle:

I'm a little concerned because I just read in a New York Times article that overseas voters are going to have a hard time getting their ballots. I asked for mine over a month ago and have not yet received it. This election is too important for states to just up and forget about us overseas voters. What a mess. I smell a conspiracy.

Meanwhile, I listened to an interview last night with Bobby Kennedy on the Al Franken Show (while knitting). The conversation freaked me out about fish forever. I might just have to go buy Kennedy's book. It is astounding how little we know about environmental protection/destruction... I knew that mercury levels were a problem but not to this extreme. There's a militant environmentalist in me somewhere, I can fell it.

And finally, last night, I watched a show on C-Span that focused on the debating styles of Bush vs those of Kerry. It was an interesting show - I thought James Fallows was very well-spoken and did an incredible job of being objective. At any rate, the woman running the show asked for callers to call in with suggestions on how Bush/Kerry could increase their chances of "winning" the "debate" this Thursday. It struck me that all of the Bush supporters called in saying, "Well, Bush just needs to be himself. He's so warm and charming..." (gush, gush, gush) whereas the Kerry supporters would call in saying, "He needs to talk about Iraq" or "He needs to talk about the economy" and so on. Kerry supporters were interested in policy, Bush supporters were interested in personality. Fallows pointed this out a bit more diplomatically, but I wonder if Bush supporters know anything about the issues.

Anyway. The semi-broken foot and the new love of knitting has allowed to catch up on politics before school starts again next week. I can't believe I spend my vacation time knitting on listening to talk radio. I must be getting old. Proof: I'm turning 25 next week.

Edit: You can read an article on the Bush and Kerry face-off by James Fallows here. It's pretty good. The thingie on C-Span was interesting because of the visuals, but the article is very thorough and interesting.

I just discovered that one can watch clips of The Daily Show on Comedy Central's website. I don't know why I didn't know this before.

And it's funny. But, I got sad watching Clinton's interview with John Stewart. Things have gone so far, and I'm sad for our country. I'm sad because this is a bum election, and people have swung so low, and I don't exactly care for either candidate, but damnit, I REALLY don't care for one of them, and we're in some deep shit here, guys.

I miss the Clinton years. Things felt better then, didn't they?

Sometimes I get frustrated because I don't have access to good media here. In the end, it's probably a good thing. I get upset so easily about everything, and maybe it means I should just pay attention to the basics. But you know what? Just doing that isn't good enough, because I'm pretty sure that's what half of America is doing. And look at who half of America thinks is fit for office.

I'm down. It's Saturday night and the United States is falling apart. Same day, different time, growing problem.

It's 4 am on a Friday night/Saturday morning and I'm on a bit of a political high. I decided to catch up on my convention coverage (both Dems and Repugs) because that's my idea of a fun Friday night.

The Boy and I went out to dinner this evening, and then I ran home to settle into my chair. I have not moved. I was just listening to Air America while searching through Daily Kos (I should really diversify my sources), and here are my thoughts:

1. I love Barack Obama. I know I am not alone, but I have never seen him speak before so this is all new to me. The written word just doesn't get across how nice his smile is. Now, I'm not usually one for overally patriotic discourse, but damn if I didn't get some goose bumps when he mentioned the skinny black kid with a dream during his speech. Kinda makes me want to move to Illinois. (But not really. Been there, done that.)

2. Janeane Garafolo is so funny. She just said, "I guarantee that where there are smoothies there are sandwhich wraps, and where there are wraps there are smoothes. AND, where there are men with khakis on business trips, there are Tom Clancy novels."

3. I would pay $20 to see a video of that Crosstalk interview between Zell Miller and Chris Matthews.*** I read the transcript and the words are wild enough, but I would love to have the accompanying visuals. Yes, I know I'm behind, but I told you I was playing catch up. Just work with me here, mmmkay?

***Update: Just found the interview. For free. It's like Christmas: check it out. God, he's wacky. But you gotta watch his RNC speech first (find it on c-span).

This is the email I received from my father today. I did it myself and I said, "Oh my God!" out loud to my room. That's proof of how great it is:

Go to www.google.com
Type in:
weapons of mass destruction
Instead of pressing Return, click the "I'm feeling lucky" button.
Read the "error message."

My friend Heather just sent this to me. It's important to read in hopes of advancing and improving the current political disaster in Washington.

PS Does anybody have any idea what the title of this entry refers to? Bonus points to the person who does.

PPS For the ladies out there, an entirely unrelated question: how much chocolate is too much chocolate?

I would just like to let everyone know that I stand corrected. Kerry did not miss 70% of his votes in Congress. I was so terribly, terribly wrong. The official count instead stands at 64%. I have gone back and changed my previous post. I would also like to point out that Gephardt, who miraculously got away with missing 91%, has since dropped out of the race. Kerry's second in terms of missed-votes. Shouldn't he be second in something else, too?

Next, I would like to share a quote I read today. I find it particularly worthwhile with respect to this campaign. Considering Kerry has flip-flopped on several issues, speaking out against legislation that he previously supported in hopes of winning over democratic voters (and unfortunately, it's working...), I find it particularly important to emphasize the fact that Howard Dean signed the Civil Unions bill in Vermont shortly before his fifth re-election. The bill was immensely unpopular and it almost cost him the election, but it has since been lauded as one of the many positive moves of his career.

Dean says, and often in reference to that particular incident, that "The true test of leadership is having the courage to stand up for what you believe even when it's not popular." This statement could never be applied to the current front-runner. Kerry may repeat a variation of it endlessly in his speeches and rallies, but his record - were it to speak for itself and were people actually to listen - indicates that either he does not stand up for what he allegedly "believes in," or, even more frightening, that he "believes in" the same thing as our current President.

With that in mind, I will close with the following:

I know some of you must be tired of the political rants around here, but I have to share. This isn't a rant, per se, just something I find worthwhile.

Go here and click on the "We Have the Power - Stand up for America," Faulkner remix (towards the bottom of the page, in the middle, under the heading Personal Favorite). I would provide it here on my own site, but I want the original author to get the credit. It's a wonderful, wonderful thing. Please go listen.

In light of what happened the other night in Iowa, I jumped over to the Howard Dean campaign blog to see what I could see. Although perhaps a bit rattled, the Deaniacs remain confident.

I have mixed feelings on this Iowa results: it's too bad to see Dean fall to third, but it's great to see Edwards jump to second. I cannot, however, stand the fact that prick-of-the-century Kerry got first. How the hell did THAT happen?

Meanwhile, I listened to what I could stand of the State of the Union address by our current president. EVERYBODY should go have a listen to realize how full of shit he truly is. Every sentence made me gag. I was organizing my laundry at the time, and I think my poor socks suffered quite a bit of mistreatment due to my general disgust with Bush's words.

Anyway, I just wanted to share something that I found over on the Dean blog. I'm not sure how accurate this is (the guy who posted it didn't give a source), but of the numbers on the list that I am familiar with, the figures are right on. So I trust it enough to post it, and will take the slack from those of you who find any errors.

232: Number of American combat deaths in Iraq between May 2003 and January 2004

501: Number of American servicemen to die in Iraq from the beginning of the war - so far

0: Number of American combat deaths in Germany after the Nazi surrender to the Allies in May 1945

0: Number of coffins of dead soldiers returning home from Iraq that the Bush administration has allowed to be photographed

0: Number of funerals or memorials that President Bush has attended for soldiers killed in Iraq

100: Number of fund-raisers attended by Bush or Vice-President Dick Cheney in 2003

13: Number of meetings between Bush and Tony Blair since he became President

10 million: Estimated number of people worldwide who took to the streets in opposition to the invasion of Iraq, setting an all-time record for simultaneous protest

2: Number of nations that Bush has attacked and taken over since coming into the White House

9.2: Average number of American soldiers wounded in Iraq each day since the invasion in March last year

1.6: Average number of American soldiers killed in Iraq per day since hostilities began

16,000: Approximate number of Iraqis killed since the start of war

10,000: Approximate number of Iraqi civilians killed since the beginning of the conflict

$100 billion: Estimated cost of the war in Iraq to American citizens by the end of 2003

$13 billion: Amount other countries have committed towards rebuilding Iraq (much of it in loans) as of 24 October

36%: Increase in the number of desertions from the US army since 1999

92%: Percentage of Iraq's urban areas that had access to drinkable water a year ago

60%: Percentage of Iraq's urban areas that have access to drinkable water today

32%: Percentage of the bombs dropped on Iraq this year that were not precision-guided

1983: The year in which Donald Rumsfeld gave Saddam Hussein a pair of golden spurs

45%: Percentage of Americans who believed in early March 2003 that Saddam Hussein was involved in the 11 September attacks on the US

$127 billion: Amount of US budget surplus in the year that Bush became President in 2001

$374 billion: Amount of US budget deficit in the fiscal year for 2003

1st: This year's deficit is on course to be the biggest in United States history

$1.58 billion: Average amount by which the US national debt increases each day

$23,920: Amount of each US citizen's share of the national debt as of 19 January 2004

1st: The record for the most bankruptcies filed in a single year (1.57 million) was set in 2002

10: Number of solo press conferences that Bush has held since beginning his term. His father had managed 61 at this point in his administration, and Bill Clinton 33

1st: Rank of the US worldwide in terms of greenhouse gas emissions per capita

$113 million: Total sum raised by the Bush-Cheney 2000 campaign, setting a record in American electoral history

$130 million: Amount raised for Bush's re-election campaign so far

$200m: Amount that the Bush-Cheney campaign is expected to raise in 2004

$40m: Amount that Howard Dean, the top fund-raiser among the nine Democratic presidential hopefuls, amassed in 2003

28: Number of days holiday that Bush took last August, the second longest holiday of any president in US history (Recordholder: Richard Nixon)

13: Number of vacation days the average American worker receives each year

3: Number of children convicted of capital offences executed in the US in 2002. America is only country openly to acknowledge executing children

1st: As Governor of Texas, George Bush executed more prisoners (152) than any governor in modern US history

2.4 million: Number of Americans who have lost their jobs during the three years of the Bush administration

221,000: Number of jobs per month created since Bush's tax cuts took effect. He promised the measure would add 306,000

1,000: Number of new jobs created in the entire country in December. Analysts had expected a gain of 130,000

1st: This administration is on its way to becoming the first since 1929 (Herbert Hoover) to preside over an overall loss of jobs during its complete term in office

9 million: Number of US workers unemployed in September 2003

80%: Percentage of the Iraqi workforce now unemployed

55%: Percentage of the Iraqi workforce unemployed before the war

43.6 million: Number of Americans without health insurance in 2002

130: Number of countries (out of total of 191 recognised by the United Nations) with an American military presence

40%: Percentage of the world's military spending for which the US is responsible

I am so excited that Carol Mossley-Braun joined the Dean campaign. I've always been really impressed by her in debates, and I'm crossing my fingers that if The Big Ifs work out (IF Dean wins the primaries, IF Dean wins the presidency), then CMB will have a place in Dean's administration. A lot of people are suggesting CMB for VP, and I think that would kick the ass off your donkey.

I can't believe how excited I am for the Iowa caucases. I don't know if I am more into the elections because I live abroad (I was really into the 2000 elections, too, but not this early in the game... and arguably the situation did get a lot of attention throughout the world) or because I'm getting older (I still haven't voted in an election!) or just because this election seems particularly important to me (we gotta get that idiot outta the White House), but it's really interesting to learn about how elections function while taking part in a campaign. I know all the candidates, their voices, their haircuts, and their stances on the big issues.

And even though Dean may be a tough pill to swallow for some people, I think the other candidates would be eaten alive by Bush come November. Dean seems to be the only one who wouldn't be afraid to smack that bitch back in his place. And frankly, I think that's what the country needs right now. My heart already skips a beat at the thought of a Bush/Dean debate, because, seriously now, Bush would get trampled.

And what is this about spending federal money to sway people into marriage? That's the kind of nonsense I don't want to see in Washington anymore.

I joined the Howard Dean campaign today. By "joining," I mean I gave them my email and asked for info. I've spent a lot of time in recent weeks scoping out the candidates, and I just keep coming back to Dean. It's admirable that he's decided to go with funding his own campaign and depending on the support of people like you and I. And it's amazing that his average donation is $77.00... it beats the hell out of Bush and his $2,000 gala dinners, not to mention his hefty corporate "donations" (see below).

I watched the footage of Dean's statement on both the confederate flag comment he made (a well-handled but firm, "There is only one flag of this country" was all that was needed) and the recent decision to refuse public financing. I found his speech not only inspirational, but smart and quick and above all, honest and direct. Politicians are politicians, and I'm sure there's some mischief in there somewhere, but I like what Dean has to say and the way he says it. Here's an example (emphasis mine):

The Boy makes fun of me and says I am supporting someone who doesn't stand a chance. But I figure, it's better to go out on a limb with an unexpected and surprisingly successful candidate than to go with a more mild "safe bet" like Clark. The only way Bush is going to get out of office is if someone is seen as radically opposed to his stance, and Clark is too near to the center to do so.

But, it's not just about getting Bush out of office, although, sure, that's pretty damn important. I actually find myself nodding my head with Dean everytime I've listened to one of his speeches, seen him on "60 Minutes," read about his position in the paper. I like the way he presents controversial issues, and the way he lays down the law on, say, abortion ("I will unflinchingly defend a woman’s right to choose against those who would take away this right.") or gay rights/marriage ("I will work to expand equal rights to same-sex couples and ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, strengthen federal protections against anti-gay violence, give federal employees the right to name same-sex partners as beneficiaries, remove bias from our immigration laws, and end the military’s 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' policy."). He has a lot of other good stuff to say, go see for yourself.

I like the idea of Americans, who had never before been politically involved, coming together to oust the greedy bastard currently in office. It may be a long-shot, but to me it feels a helluva lot better than just shrugging my shoulders (I kid you not, I just wrote mistakingly wrote "shoulders" as "soldiers") and saying, "Well, Bush is going to win anyway, so there's no point." Even if Dean fails, it's better to have made the effort than to have given in. If anything, it'll be nice to see that there are other Americans out there who want to get that dumbass out of office.

I'm going to my first meet-up in December in Paris. I've never been very politically involved, but I feel this time, something needs to be done. Hopefully I'll be able to meet up with some Dean supporters Stateside while I'm home for Christmas.

**Note: I must be more excited about all of this than I realized, cause I just burned my first loaf of zucchini bread in over 15 years of making it. I can't believe it. I also can't believe that I can say I have been making something for over 15 years. I feel old. And like a bad cook.

A friend of mine sent me an Iraq-related link. I know, I know, we're all tired of it: the bickering, the accusing, the throwing up our hands in desperation no matter which side we're on. Yes. Those of us that support the war cannot believe that others are against it and vice versa, and we end up arguing our moot points back and forth without ever listening to one another.

I'm trying not to post about it. I've decided most people's minds are made up, even if that means they're made up not to be made up. Everything I have read about the war on other sites has just turned into a cacophony of "Saddam this" and "Saddam that" counterbalanced by "Dubya this" and "Dubya that." There's no real dialogue, and it therefore seems rather pointless. It's cyclical, tiring, and depressing. I believe we've all had our share of Iraq-TV, Iraq newsflashes, Iraq updates on Yahoo and Google and frickin' everything. We are all on a steady Iraq diet, no cheating allowed. Iraq scampi and Iraq pancakes.

So I'll just let someone else speak for me, and I'll do so as painlessly as possible. Here are a few short quotes, and I urge everybody to go on to reading the rest of the article if they find them worthwhile. It is very good. Unfortunately, it offers no solutions and only poses questions. No matter - I haven't seen a single person offer any solutions to date, despite how much we all like gabbing about it. And honestly, I can't do any better myself.

Thanks to Stacey for the link. It's very short. Please read it, even if you're sick of thinking about this whole mess.

If interested, you can find the rest here.

New York Times front page (in my email version) headline:

President Readies U.S. for Prospect of Imminent War

Does this seem like excessive build-up to anyone else? Perhaps you aren't as affected by the suspense of it all, but let's review three words out of that sentence to see how much of a feeling of apprehension/nervousness/near doom they are trying to build in us (all definitions are from dictionary.com):

"readies" - Prepared for what one is about to do or experience; equipped or supplied with what is needed for some act or event; prepared for immediate movement or action; as, the troops are ready to march; ready for the journey.

"prospect" - Something expected; a possibility

"imminent" - Threatening to occur immediately; near at hand; impending; -- said especially of misfortune or peril

Wouldn't something like "US Readies for Possible War" seem better? Or "Presidents Prepares Public for War"? Or something else? It just seems over the top.

Meanwhile, whistle-blower Colleen Riley, who called out the Minnesota FBI bureau's shortcomings when it came to the requested and denied permission to investigate Zacarias Moussaoui before the Sept 11 attacks, said that the FBI has not shaped up its game since. In a very reassuring article, the NY Times said that:

Yay.

In totally unrelated news, I made a book page. Nothing special, but something nonetheless.

What is this about urging people in the US to get 3 days' worth of supplies ready in case of terrorist attacks? (**editorial note: I originally thought these preparations were in case military action against Iraq. I have since read they were about a terrorist threat) My mom emailed me and mentioned something about there being no duct tape available in stores anymore, 'cause everybody has gone out and bought them for their windows. Could the Americans that are on American soil please inform me of what's going on...the present climate, the preparations, etc? I'm really curious.

I'm wondering if this is like Y2K or if people are really taking it seriously. Granted, in the drugged-out hippie town I was living in right before Y2K, there were probably more wackos taking that whole thing seriously than people that weren't. But I just thought they were paranoid, northern Californian freaks. This time, I'm actually sort of bugged out by the idea of everyday people stocking up for war throughout the States.

So is this just my mom freaking out about something that's not really taking place (very, very unlike her...hence my concern) or are people actually stocking up and taking precautions? How real to people feel this threat is? And how certain do people feel about the upcoming war, and how afraid are they of a possible attack on American territory (assuming that's what these preventative measures are for)?

As if three days of canned food, a flashlight, and some duct tape can save you from nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons anyway.

In light of the recent "talk" given by Colin Powell at the United Nations yesterday, I went on a bit of a search to see converging and diverging views within the international media. Whether for or against the war in Iraq, I think most people will agree that perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the debate thus far is the feeling of never getting a full grasp on the facts presented to us in newspapers and on television.

To illustrate this point, I offer two quotes from two major newspapers from two opposing camps (the US and France) from the same day.

First, the New York Time's closing paragraphs:
(link only works if you have an account, but setting up a NY Times account is easy, worthwhile, and free)

And then, Le Monde's second-to-last paragraph:
(translated from French, although I am pretty bad at translating...)

Now go back and compare the first line in the NY Times piece to the last line of the translation of the French article. Although the two quotes are not directly butting heads, aren't they rather different views of the same story? From the NY Times articles, I read it as Powell walking away from the talk having successfully made his point, much to the surprise of some skeptics. From Le Monde's article, it seems that people were thinking, "Yeah, well, he sort of has a point, but it's not all that convincing."

From the New York Times:

That senior firearms executive's name is Mr. Ricker, and he has been in the industry for over 20 years.

Yay Mr. Ricker. This is good news, and shows that at least someone has at some integrity within the industry. But I fear that those "right-wing wackos" are going to pull a stunt similar to what happened in the Philip Morris scandal (you all saw "The Insider," right?), except that these people not only have their financial interests on the line, they also have lots and lots of readily available guns.

Those California police better be protecting his house, and Mr. Ricker should consider going into hiding. Or the Witness Protection Program. He's a bold man.

If you have a NY Times account, read the whole article here.

Do you think if we put world political figures in magazines like "Bop" and "Teen Beat," while still keeping the language and layout the same, that youngsters would know a bit more about international relations?

"We sat and chilled with George Bush and his homie from England, Tony Blair, while they gabbed about the latest haps in Iraq. These two are way cool, and way close!"

Continuing with the useless political discussion. I promise I won't mention this State of the Union address again after today. Or I at least won't dedicate any more posts to it. I will try and make this short. That is very difficult for me.

To help the process, I will provide two quotes and let others speak for me. Afterwards, there will be a list of questions/issues I had with the State of the Union address (with excerpts). We will then call it a day.

The first is brought to you from a link which was provided via Fireland:

I can just see them all slapping one another's asses.

The second comes from a previously mentioned parodic site of the address. A pop up of the original excerpt can be found here for a handy comparison.

The curious can continue on to read my list of disturing or alarming remarks on the State of the Union address...For the impatient, at least read the last paragraph, where the much lighter topic of congressional fashion is questioned.

Here I propose to take excerpts from the speech - highlight, if you will - the oddities that began at 21.01 EST on January 29 on probably every national network in the States. Each excerpt will be followed by a single question, in an attempt to shut myself up.

Doesn't war usually hurt the young - aka the upcoming Congresses, presidents, and generations - the most?

Who did George Bush wink at when he said this, and why?

When looking up the "faith-based initiative" - already a suspicious name - I found that it is based on the "the same belief that every person in need is a worthy child of God." That is its foundation. Does this bother anyone?

Haven't several people pointed out that some "terrorists" learned to wreak havoc thanks to high-end American training? Perhaps this sentence is true in more ways than one?

Did someone say oil...er...vital region?

Did Bush really have to repeat this charming and oh-so-well-written conclusion to each paragraph FIVE times? Which speech writer's idea was that?

Since when is medicines a word? (He was paraphrasing so don't even tell me that it has anything to do with the South African dialect or what not...)

Seperation of church and state, anyone? (I realize this was already brought up previously, but it still gets my goat)

Now that that is finished, I would like to say that, in fact, some of the measures he introduced are in fact rather impressive. Nevertheless, I also know that these speeches are occasionally about spreading false promises at a key time. However, if Congress does go through with the $15 billion in AIDS relief, I will officially rethink my opinion of Republicans.

Does anybody else know that Winston Churchill quote? I am paraphrasing here, but it is something along the lines of "Any man who is under 30 and is not a liberal has not a heart. Any man who is over thirty and is not a conservative has not a brain." I can't find it anywhere besides the half-memory I have of it in my head. It sounds like "The Wizard of Oz" to me.

Lastly - click the image above. Is there some sort of rule that if you don't wear black, you have to wear that hideous red? Are those all women in that awful color? Do they have State of the Union uniforms or something?

This has been a very political week for me.

First, there was the French politics discussion I made the mistake of taking part in over at at what is supposed to be an ironical/satirical site, but often comes across as down-right ignorant (slanted ever so slightly to the super-duper right, I might add). I am laid back and can take a joke, but some jokes aren't funny. They're racist, xenophobic, culturally unaware, or extremely offensive. Just my opinion.

Then there was the downloading and *wince* watching of the State of the Union address, an experience which I have yet to express accurately here.

There has since been a lot of researching and debating, as well as obsessive mulling and muttering.

And today, I went to go see Last Party 2000.

Has this come out in the US? If so, why isn't anyone talking about it? Anybody interested in politics should go see it. Although the root idea was to make a documentary about the 2000 elections, it turned out more to be a film about the marginalized groups, opinions, political figures, and voices that cannot possibly enter American politics with any sort of impact. Why? Because American politics are centered around cash and influence, and a person like you or me has nothing compared to a big, smiling Texan with oil practically spouting out his shiny, pampered white ass. Essentially, America is based on the democratic principle that its citizens actively participate in the government's decisions by voting, but this is quickly revealed as an illusion once we take time out to consider our government's behavior.

The story: Philip Stewart Hoffman ("Happiness," "Boogie Nights") decides to make a documentary with some friends of his. They follow both the Republican and Democratic national conventions with vigor (using creative techniques at times to get on the inside track), and end up learning more about the protests out on the streets than about the political banter going on inside the sold-out auditoriums. Hoffman interviews a long, impressive list of celebrities, some of whom are far more friendly and willing to discuss matters with him than others. Notable appearances by Susan Sarandon, Bill Maher, Michael Moore, Noam Chomsky, Ben Harper, and WIllie Nelson (among many others) make the film interesting, and politically important (or at least in some people's minds) figures such as Newt Gingrich, Ralph Nader, Ralph Reed, and Jesse Jackson add a serious dimension to a film that sometimes comes across as being made by a bunch of sloppy revolutionaries in their 20's and 30's that say "like" and "you know" too much while speaking to big politicians in suits and ties.

2000's conclusion: American politics are fucked and are centered entirely around money.

Not anything any of us didn't know, but something that sometimes needs to be spelled out clearly on screen to have the emotions and effects of such a declaration hit home. Hoffman and Co. take on America by interviewing a variety of people all over the country. Like Bowling for Columbine, this mini-entourage makes the mistake of covering far too many topics in what could otherwise be a more powerful film if more focused, but that happens a lot in documentaries.

In Party, however, it feels like these kids were more just going along with what they discovered while filming than attempting to get across any one particular message. For this reason, the film's choppiness goes over more smoothly than that of Bowling.

So now I am in this funny head-state. I am all fuzzy and twisted and warped over American politics. I have spent so much of my time in Parisian cafes and French living rooms trying to convince the French that we are not all ignorant rednecks, that capitalism is not the devil incarnate, and that we don't all have four-story luxury homes that waste away most of the world's natural resources. That beef and Coca-Cola don't run our lives. That some of us are tree-hugging ecological types. That others of us aren't for the death penalty. That we don't all run from gun show to gun show hollerin' holy hell, raising a ruckus about Jesus and how to bring Him into your life.

Meanwhile, I am still working on my doozie for tomorrow or whenever (the doozie, may I remind you, is to be based on a previous entry about an email on America, which you should read if you haven't already). And I am thoroughly thrown off-track by this disturbing State of the Union experience. Plus I am reading too much Chomsky and feeling too at odds with my own country's political system as a result. Worse still, I am overseas and none of my friends follow politics and current events like I do, so I am isolated and running these disturbing circles by my lonesome.

But I think, more than anything, I am angry. How can America even pretend to say that it is a democratic, freedom-loving country when police can brutally attack people during a peaceful demonstration outside of the Democratic National Convention in LA just because they are struggling to have their opinion heard? How can a presidential race be so close (and a country be so divided) that the leader of the world's most powerful country is eventually chosen by a Supreme Court whose members are obvioulsy voting along their own partisan lines? And how can we use the word "God" so much in an inaugural address (or State of the Union address, for that matter. I quote: "We Americans have faith in ourselves, but not in ourselves alone. We do not know --we do not claim to know all the ways of Providence, yet we can trust in them, placing our confidence in the loving God behind all of life, and all of history. May He guide us now. And may God continue to bless the United States of America." Those were the last three lines of Bush's speech. What the fuck?) when we keep saying that there is seperation between church and state?

America is a country centered around and run by a handful of people. The rest of us are just spectators - marginalized - and in turn are rendered apathetic or hysterical when it comes to disagreeing with our government's visable and hidden political agendas. Nobody that's apathetic is going to change anything, and anybody that is hysterical is not going to be taken seriously.

Ralph Nader said something interesting in the film. As I wasn't around for the elections, I heard very little from the man beyond an occasional blurb in the press. Paraphrasing mildly, he said, "Your average American has no voice - they don't have television stations or radios or any other sort of media, because that's all run by massive corporations. Their only medium is the street."

I found that wonderfully phrased. But the problem is that nobody - or at least nobody with oil spouting out his ass - knows one damn thing about what people are crying for in the streets. And while some people's oil spouts are a little smaller, or are really just a shit ton of stocks or oodles of corporate money or accumulated inherited or illegally obtained fortunes, none of those other hoodlums in Congress are making any effort to listen to any "fringe" groups either. Yet those peripheral people are at least half of the people these crooks are supposed to represent. So when we are obligated to take to the street and march to be heard, why won't anybody listen?

Why does America have such a violent history when it comes to non-violent protests? The French are protest CRAZY, but I can only remember of one incident over the last three years where the protests turned violent. And even then, the images were nothing compared to the brutality seen during any American protest that has gotten out of hand (hosing, gas masks, pellet guns, club beatings, etc). People are going to frickin combat training camp just to have their opinions heard, for Christ's sake..

At one point in the film, Hoffman goes to an old folks' home. One of the elderly men in there said, "You know, if you take something like social security, Medicare, retirement funds - people nowadays think that that is just some sort of basic fundamental part of American society. But those are things that we fought for, that we remember once living without and demanding they be put on the political agenda. Americans need to be active in the changing of laws and governmental policy." (again, paraphrasing severely)

He's so right. But we are all so apathetic. Or we have all lost hope. If the street really is our only medium, yet nobody is listening, what the hell else can we do?

Why does everybody clap so much during the State of the Union address? I just watched it (yes - I downloaded it, printed the transcript, and took notes. Is that a problem?) and I could hardly friggin' concentrate because all those wankers kept clapping. After every. Single. Sentence. Could they just shut up and let Mr. the Prezdent speak?

I have a whole slew of things I have stocked up to say, but I have to dilly dally out my door now, so that will have to come along later. Check back for further details.

Until then, look at this picture of the Three White Guys (click the itty bitty image for the big one). Aren't they just as unattractive as they come? In fact, Georgie comes out as the hottest amongst them. How terrifying.

And for those who watched it, why did Bush wink and chuckle to himself while speaking about Medicare? That was sketchy.

My friend Tia over at Croissant Living, put up a really interesting piece that she had received in an email from a friend in the US.

I am posting it here out of curiousity: What do you think of it?
(info about the author is in the comments. I don't want it to affect your opinion while reading)

To Kill an American...

You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.

[Somebody] wrote the following to let everyone know what an American is, so they would know when they found one:

An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani, or Afghan.

An American may also be a Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.

An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan.

The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.

An American is also free to believe in no religion.
For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.

An American is from the most prosperous land in the history of the world.

The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person the pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous.

Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need.
When Afghanistan was overrun by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country.

As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan.

Americans welcome the best.

The best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best athletes.

But they also welcome the least.

The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes your tired and your poor,