the master debater.

Debate #1 is in the books. Conventional wisdom would tell me that Kerry won going away. The base camps of both candidates, however, will undoubtedly declare victory. Although I, for the life of me, can't find any discernable way the Bushies can claim a 'w' for Dubya.


"You're an asshole." "Go fuck yourself." The candidates exchange pleasantries in Coral Gables.

Yes, both Kerry and Bush were giving rehearsed, well-prepared answers to questions they anticipated. And yes, Bush was up against a stiffer challenge as the embattled incumbent. However, his answers aimed so incredibly low -- citing "working hard" and exuding a cowboy swagger and, of course, that infamous Bush 'decisiveness' -- that he came off as smug, lacking a strategy, and just hoping to "wing it" tonight. He looked like an unprepared school student giving a book report for a book he just skimmed a night ago.

Sadder yet, is his supporters will say he won because he was able to bust out his "flip-flopper" smack on John Kerry. His supporters will regale in his "leadership" skills as the president proudly tells you he doesn't change his mind. Republicans will believe his "we're fighting for freedom and winning" the war in Iraq mantra is gospel truth.

I'll never understand how people buy into such an empty-suited promise, but I'm not so worried about the neocons just now. We know where they stand. It's those frustrating undecideds that need to speak up.

Yes, I'm biased, but I've got to believe that Kerry's performance this evening will impress more than Bush. He spoke passionately, clearly, with the depth and breadth foreign affairs needs, and openly criticized the president's decisions. He backed up his points and backed them up again. And then he reloaded and outlined his own plan.

All Bush could do was put on a Will Ferrell-esque performance. I honestly expected him to say, "Don't mess with Texas!" I'm not trying to be funny here. I never once got a sense that the president knew more than John Kerry on the matters of foreign affairs. One of my biggest complaints with Bush is he seems to insult people's intelligence by shooting for smug sound bites rather than givng the public some real information.

Why do they want to kill us? "Because they hate our freedom."

Why did we go to war with Iraq? "Because we can't wait for another attack."

Huh? What? The danger of such empty and overly simplistic cliches is people buy into them. So much so that many people still believe there is a link between 9/11 and Iraq. I'm not saying this president lies, but he's certainly not averse to selling the drama to get people lathered into a war dance.

The stark contrast in styles between the candidates was showcased this evening. President Bush clearly does not like to be questioned about his decision. He's the perennial "because I said so" president. That may work when parenting toddlers; but America deserves better.

John Kerry unquestionably won the debate this evening. I just hope the undecideds realize that and vote accordingly.

a wartime consigliere.

In less than 24 hours John Kerry will get his one and only shot at the White House. Yes, I know there are more debates to follow this evening's Coral Gables suarez; but this is pretty much it. Kerry's campaign has been a cacophonous, trebly blob of nervous nothingness since the Democratic convention.

The country is circling the drain and the citizens freely admit this; yet Kerry has not made so much as a dent in Bush's lead. Why is that? Why is it a dunce of a president that people openly admit has screwed up is still winning? Because the Republican party has been in wartime mode for several years. And I'm not talking about a war on terror or a war in Iraq. I'm talking about a war to stamp out the Democratic party; to demonize all things branded with the giant, red "L" of liberalism.

The thugs are running the show and, true to form, most Democrats have allowed the Republicans to pick the songs on the jukebox. The Republican Attack Machine is well-funded, well-organized, and runs deep in the airwaves, in the media, and in the churches. It's a multil-layered army that has been successful.

But they have been morally bankrupt. Problem is, there are no moral victories this year.

It's high time John Kerry steps up and zings a pitch right squarely at the ear of President Seven Minutes.

Which is why the Democratic party needs to wake up and realize that it needs to indoctrinate Michael Moore into its ranks, recruit more like him, and make this a fair fight.

No, I don't really care much for Michael Moore. I think he's erroneous as much as he is provocative. But somebody has to be man enough to fight thuggery on its own level. The Democrats are still fighting like stodgy redcoats while the GOP is hiding behind trees.

Then along comes Michael Moore and he said, "fuck this!" and mounted an attack worthy of Karl Rove. They hate him so, because he's so much like them!

So, Senator Kerry, this is it. It's now or never. This is your one, true shot at The Accidental President. You have to come out swinging. You have the facts on your side. But what we, the people who so want to believe in you, need is for you to tear this man down in front of the world.

Having said all that, I'm afraid I see this election slipping away and predict four more years of the terrible regime of George W. Bush. There is still hope, of course, but hope is waning.

As long as you look across the great divide -- and watch it widen -- and see the Republican party digging in its heals and lobbing lies, invective and smear, you have to fight them on their level. Actually, that's not true. The Democratic party has to be dirtier, if that's even possible.

It's clear that we can't wait for Barack Obama's day. The Dems have to set the table. That means getting in the trenches and pulling out the big guns. Michael Moore's a start. Bruce Springsteen was an unexpected coup; but that's just window dressing.

The Democratic party leadership has failed its constituents for the past 10 years. Come November 3rd, no matter the results, it is time for Terry McCaulliffe to do the honorable thing and fall on his sword. Quoting Michael Corleone in The Godfather, "I need a wartime consigliere."

And that's precisely what the Democratic party needs; a wartime consigliere.

dubya's new bitch: bill o'reilly.

This evening I had the good fortune of watching Republican TV -- the network of stodgy white guys -- and caught a portion of the Miscalculator in Chief being interviewed by Bill O'Reilly.

Off the subject a bit...I watched O'Reilly get interviewed by Mike Wallace this weekend on 60 Minutes. He claims to have been influenced by Mike Wallace, Howard Cosell and Tom Snyder. I'm still wondering why he didn't at least admit it wasn't for probative interview techniques. All O'Reilly likes to do in interviews is flex is hack muscle and show his only card to play is being pushy. I've never felt this guy was any good. He's always been a pugnacious, over-the-top, self aggrandizing sort who forgets to ask real questions. He fancies himself this pitbull, guarding the fourth estate. And, had you heard him in this interview, he claims to be something of a moderate-to-left leaner who's undecided on the upcoming presidential election.

Then I watched a portion of his interview with Bush and was left wondering one thing: I wonder if O'Reilly also played with Dubya's balls while giving him that blow job.

I mean, JESUS CHRIST BILL!

It was worse than Oprah interviewing Jennifer Lopez. O'Reilly was on a leash and it was obvious. And pathetic. At least Russert had the decency to treat Bush like all his other guests. You all but offered him a lap dance!

I'll freely concede that the conservative media -- which is MUCH LARGER AND MORE UBIQUITOUS THAN THE "LIBERAL/ELITE" MEDIA, BY THE WAY -- controls cable news as well as talk radio.

They don't even hide it anymore. And that point was illustrated in that reenactment of The Brown Bunny staged by O'Reilly and the Kennebunkport Cowboy on Fox News.

Bill O'Reilly has absolutely no street cred, and certainly no journalistic cred. He's a hack. Pure and simple.

hitting the mark.

Finally, the Senator from Massachusetts gets on-target with his message. After an endless month of Vietnam bullshit, Kerry finally hits the mark on a real issue in this election.

Today's speech at NYU is a scathing indictment of the Cowboy in Chief's folly in Iraq.


Kerry looked for a kitchen sink to throw as well, but decided to play the 'truth' card instead.

I just hope the undecideds take note and realize Bush is anything but a "strong" leader.

this is not my america.

This story from the AP typifies the sad, sad state of politics; particularly the Republican party:

McCain Urges Court to Put Nader on Ballot

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., urged the Florida Supreme Court to allow Ralph Nader on the state ballot after it hears an appeal Friday by the independent presidential candidate.

A state judge rejected Nader's efforts to be on the ballot as the candidate of the Reform Party, which the judge said is no longer a legitimate national party under state law. The state supreme court said it will issue a ruling shortly after hearing the appeal.

"I believe it would be a mistake to let a set of inequitable ballot rules keep a legitimate presidential candidate off the ballot," McCain said in a statement released Thursday night by The Reform Institute, a political and educational organization he chairs.

"These obstacles discourage public participation in elections by denying voters the right to vote for their preferred candidate. Keeping Nader off the ballot in the hope that his voters will be forced to support another candidate is patently unfair to those Floridians who, for whatever reason, have decided he's their man," McCain said.

Democrats have challenged efforts by Nader to be listed on the ballots in more than a dozen states. Many blame Nader for Democrat Al Gore's loss to Republican George W. Bush in the 2000 election, especially in Florida, where Bush won by just 537 votes. Nader drew more than 97,000 votes in the state.

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The GOP has stooped to all new lows in this election year. First, they tacitly approved the smear and lies of the Swift Boat assholes. And now they are actively pushing to get Nader on ballots. Why? Because they know it helps their cause. The dirty pool is getting dirtier.

What's worse is John McCain is now Karl Rove's favorite lapdog. How sad. Here is a man who once challenged President Halliburton -- so much so that his service during Vietnam was denegrated -- and now he is forced to playing carnival barker to him.

This administration and this Republican party operates more and more like a band of thuggish bandits every day.

What's worse is people are buying it. Every last spoonful of it. I am forever amazed at how easy it is to snow the Republican faithfuls into the myths of "liberal Hollywod" (while simultaneously tonguing The Governator as one of your own), anti-military Democrats (John Kerry served in the war while Dubya ran all over Alabama and was absent for duty), and calling the Dems fiscally irresponsible (while Dubya issues tax cuts that help the rich and runs up spending and deficits).

It boils down to this: the Republican party was hijacked by a neoconservative movement and the majority don't mind, so long as the person in office has an "R" next to his or her name. They have sacrificed any level of dignity and duty in the name of victory.

Congratulations, Karl Rove. Your vision of America is coming true. THe nation is weaker, more hated, and in greater peril than it was in the last 20 years.

Congratulations, Republicans. You have won. You succeeded at dragging America into the toilet with your brand of selective freedoms and selective warfare.

This is not my America.

the kennebunkport cowboy.

As though I need another reason to hold so much contempt for Karl Rove's puppet (read: G.W. Bush), get a load of this Newsweek cover photo:



What's up with this asshole cowboy pose he's striking? Yeah, you're the brave leader, all right. Fucking Kennebunkport Cowboy, wielding that Halliburton sword of justice.

Sadly, this is what's our presidential race has become. Thank you, Karl Rove, for making America dumber.

numbers game.

Before I forget to add this: The Bush Presidency, by the Numbers.

because.

I just noticed a post to a message board, asking why the anti-Bush folks are so angry. Never you mind the over-simplicity of the question, as though the anger in the anti-Dubya crowd lacks merit.

Since you asked, here's why:

People are angry because of an ill-visioned war in Iraq that seems to discount the way Arabs fight wars (to say nothing of objecting to a war based on false pretenses).

Because Bush is in the back pocket of the Christian Coalition.

Because he continues to run up spending while issuing tax cuts.

Because Bush has run rough-shod all over the environment, rolling back regulations to help industry more than the environment.

Because it took two towers falling, the top U.S. military fort getting attacked, and a plane crashing in Pennsylvania to get this president to get involved in foreign affairs. Well, seven minutes later, he got involved.

Because this supposed Republican has created more bureaucracy, more spending on the federal level than even the most bleeding heart of Democrat could dream of.

Because this president and this administration are hellbent on limiting freedoms, medical research and procedures in the name of a sanctimonious cause.

Because this president and this administration are myopic micro- managers who have a disdain for any contrarians, even those in their own party.

Because of the hypocrisy of Bush's claim to "restore honor and integrity" to the Oval Office and has done anything but that.

Because this president and this administration represent what happens when a political party gets hijacked by the far end of itself.

That's why we're angry.

I suppose we could've asked the same thing to the massive anti- Clinton movement during his presidency. And the worst thing he did was get a blowjob in the Oval Office.

We are angry because this president is dangerous.

welcome to the show. check your brain at the door, please.

I've been pretty steadfast in telling people I watch very little of the conventions. I tend to go for the re-caps on MSNBC with Joe Scarborough and Ron Reagan, or I'll pull up a speech transcript the following day.

Having just scanned the transcript of Arnold Schwarzenegger's speech, I feel vindicated. His speech embodies all that I hate about election year politics. In his time on stage, the governor of California, reduced himself, his party, and his platform to a disjointed series of cliche movie lines and Ah-noldisms.

"Terminate terrorism....girlie men....I'll be back..."

I could only stomach so much before I had to look away.

This election should be about Iraq. This election should be about stem cell research. This election should be about the economy.

Instead we have to choke on the bullshit fed to us by Swift Boat Liars, Karl Rove, and now The Governator. What's worse is it's working. The strategy is clear: pander to the lowest common denominator, use small, simple catch-phrases, and throw as much mud as possible. Why? Because there are enough disengaged voters out there who could tip this election. As for the mud, well, even if some sticks, that means it worked.

Politics is getting dumber and dumber. Just once I'd like to see the candidates be brave enough to avoid cliche talking points and the desire to get the perfect 10-second sound bite.

That's why I don't care for conventions. They are celebrations of simplicity, of style over substance, or idiots wearing stupid costumes. I fear my IQ would drop 30 points just by attending one, to say nothing of having to listen to the Fundraiser in Chief stumble through the big words.

Hurry, Nov. 3rd. Hurry.