Blue Collar Pedigree

The Ice Storm

2005-01-05T08:12:00.000-08:00

"Dear Lord, thank you for this Thanksgiving holiday. And for all the material possessions we have and enjoy. And for letting us white people kill all the Indians and steal their tribal lands. And stuff ourselves like pigs, even though children in Asia are being napalmed."

At least the film is weather appropriate. As we push through the local ice storm, I thought it appropriate to drop a line to my loyal reader(s).

All sorts of fun stuff going on in my life, as in, I may have just married, but I'm still going to be a Daddy this summer. That's right, the First Lady (FL), is going to give me a child, from here until birth known as the Future First Child or FFC.

I'm actually headed out later this afternoon to hear the heartbeat for the second time. It's rather anticlimactic, just a rapid series of whoosh-whoosh but it's a damn fine thing to know that it's actually there and beating.

I recently upgraded all my hardware to Mac, so it's been a bit of a struggle making the blog work properly. Some $hit about the editing functions on the back end not working properly, but I've downloaded a new browser (Firefox) that allows for full functionality on the blog backend.

I'll also say this, just so everyone can know my true feelings, but Apple is the greatest company on the planet. There is such a dearth of cool $hit available to me that it's likely my head is going to explode. I'm giddy with excitement.

I'll keep you, the loyal reader(s) updated on the progress of my life. I'm actually working on another column, so look for that to drop sometime in the future. Take care and drive carefully.

Back in the Saddle?

2004-12-16T12:04:00.000-08:00

While I certainly considered it, I did not jump into the icy waters of the Missouri river on November 3rd.

My life, for lack of a better term, has been f*cking hectic!

For those who don't already know this I got married on November 6th, went on a week long honeymoon and got a promotion. In all honesty it's the promotion that has kept me away from the blog. Who knew that managing four people would be such a task? Great people, all of them, but getting a grip on the work load has been the greatest challenge.

Of course, just to make things a little more difficult, I've decided to go back to school. Provided everything goes as planned I should be starting in the fall of 2005.

I don't know how many links this site will have, but I do plan on doing a little writing now and then. Don't give up on me just yet.

I'm adjusting.

Concession Stand

2004-11-03T04:31:00.000-08:00

"You know, there's a lesson here, which is never try to make life or death decisions when you're feeling suicidal."

It's the day after and I feel dirty.

Not only did we lose the Presidency, and the popular vote, but we lost a number of House and Senate seats which means the Republicans have us by the proverbial balls. It gets even worse when you consider that Chief Justice Rehnquist is knocking on the gates of hell and it's been suggested that even more justices may be considering retirement.

Sweet. Pro choice? Not any more. Civil liberties? Never heard of 'em.

The way I see the populous of this country just voted for four more years of civil liberties violations, job losses, deficit spending, environmental deregulation, class based healthcare, unchecked defense spending, lies, more lies and death. Good thinking.

F*ck civil disobedience.

Let's riot.

Now that I've pissed all that vinegar let me get to a my real point.

I want John Kerry to concede the race to George Bush. It's the proper thing to do and it will help save face for the Democratic party. Think four years down the road John, don't do this to your party or your country. I'm begging you.

Concede, then stab yourself in the neck with a pencil for losing an election to George W. Bush.

I know a lot of good people who voted for President Bush. Friends and family whose judgment and intellect have earned my respect. I will defer to the majority this election.

I just pray to God that you were right.

Countdown

2004-10-28T22:57:00.000-07:00

Eight days out from the wedding and four days out from the election.

I haven't given up on the site, but time is at a premium.

Once again I've decided to go with Links of the Day. Enjoy.

Just one thing though.

"Picture all of the tractor trailers and fork lifts and caterpillars it would take to move 377 tons and we had total control of the air. We would have seen anything like that."

Based on the various satellite and arial photo images that Colin Powell used to build a case for war it's pretty safe to assume that we had total control of the air long before invading Iraq, isn't it? So, will somebody tell me how the f*ck Saddam moved his vast stockpile of WMD's out of the country without detection? Doesn't the press ask questions anymore?

George Bush hates black people.

Libya has been a model citizen when it comes to Nukes (or so we're told), but when it comes to political assassination they're not playing fair.

Tell me something Paul. Paul? Are you listening to a word I've said?

Links of the Day

2004-10-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry for the absence but keeping up with my life is becoming more difficult. I'm just looking forward to the week following the wedding when I can literally kick back on the beach and drink until even the ocean becomes a blur.

In lieu of actually doing work on the site myself I've decided to provide a few links and some obscure movie quotes that I thought you might enjoy. A special prize for the individual who can match the quote to the film.

"People on 'ludes should not drive." As it turns out, they shouldn't run the country either.

"What's in the box?" I can say for certain that it's not a head, but it could be an administration suppressed report from the CIA that actually names names.

"Who threw the rock? Who threw iiiiit?" Turns out it was John Kerry and it hit Goliath square in the head.

Pheidippides Ain't Got Nothin' On Me

2004-10-13T05:52:00.000-07:00

I ran my first and presumably last marathon in Chicago on Sunday. I finished in 3 hours, 46 minutes and 38 seconds.

Read that again. I ran continuously for over three hours. Three hours. Running.

Legend has it that in 490 B.C. Pheidippides completed the first marathon running 26 miles between the cities of Marathon and Athens to declare military victory over the Persians.

He then collapsed and died.

Somewhere around mile 16 of the marathon, as the Future First Lady of Bluecollar Pedigree (FFL) smiled and waved at the fans, I was hoping to get trampled by a horse, bitten by a dog, or shot with a crossbow. Anything to end my misery.

Jeff: Tell me, what is it that you love about this?

FFL: It's harder than you thought it would be.

Jeff: Answer the f*cking question!

FFL: Gr-uuuummpy! I guess the challenge and sense of accomplishment.

Jeff: I hate you.

As luck would have it the FFL thought I was kidding and laughed it off. Good thing, because I wasn't kidding, for the moment at least. At that point I had become so deranged that I was actually hopeful a crazed fan would leap from the crowd and tackle me. All I needed was an excuse to beat the shit out of someone.

Of course, nobody actually forced me to run 26.2 miles that day. I volunteered one evening, over dinner and a bottle of wine, as a show of commitment to the FFL. You see, the FFL loves to run, this last marathon was her sixth, and I thought it would be a nice gesture to finally join her only three weeks before our wedding. In retrospect, having survived the gauntlet, I'm pretty sure I was either drunk, trying to get laid or both, which when you think about it, makes a lot more sense.

There was a moment during the race, somewhere around mile 20, that I realized my legs were moving independent of my body. I know this because my mind kept saying "stop you fool, you're going to die" but my legs kept churning. Finally, after battling leg cramps, exhaustion and numb feet I crossed the finish line and found the open arms of the FFL.

FFL: Yay, you made it. What was your favorite part?

Jeff: I had no favorite part. I hated it.

Three days later my legs are still sore, my gait resembles that of a hemorrhoid patient and my right pinkie toe is black. I can't say I feel any different now than I did before the race, but I did learn something about myself:

I'm f*cking crazy.

Links of Interest

Krugman's column that seeks to uncover the truth before Bush spills his lies.

Iran isn't playing ball. Is anyone surprised? Apparently we're working on a package of "incentives." Funny, but didn't Bush chide Kerry for seeking to incentivize non-proliferation in North Korea? It must be difficult to speak out of both sides of your mouth.

Reason number 9,872 that I can't tolerate Republicans? They're in bed with special interest.

One, Two, Three...Debater

2004-10-08T12:38:00.000-07:00

I wonder, if all the students at Washington University who aren't in attendance at tonight's debate ran their microwave at the same time would it short circuit Bush's earpiece?

We may never know.

Just a couple of links of interest today. Have a great weekend.

"If China is financing our debt, how tough can we be the next time there's a Tiananmen Square?"

My boy Krugman:

"The point is that in the real world, as opposed to the political world, ignorance isn't strength. A leader who has the political power to pretend that he's infallible, and uses that power to avoid ever admitting mistakes, eventually makes mistakes so large that they can't be covered up. And that's what's happening to Mr. Bush."

Tell Me Something I Don't Know

2004-10-07T05:57:00.000-07:00

Republicans never cease to amaze me.

Despite overwhelming evidence that Iraq has not possessed weapon's of mass destruction since 1991, nor the capability to reconstitute as we were told in 2003, the GOP has found a way to spin it in a positive light.

"There is no doubt that Saddam was a threat to our nation, and there is no doubt that he had W.M.D. capability, and the Duelfer report is very clear on these points." James Wilkinson, White House deputy national security adviser.

He's right you know. The Duelfer report, so named for Charles A. Duelfer, lead weapons inspector and head of the Iraq Study Group, claims that Saddam Hussein did indeed have weapons of mass destruction. He didn't have them in 2003 mind you, when we were told that he was a threat and sought to reconstitute and perhaps use his varied supply of deadly weapons, no, he had them in 1991. He had them right up until he and United Nations destroyed them as part of the sanctions imposed after the Gulf War.

Let the spin begin.

The GOP, hanging on to a thread, will ask a simple and loaded question over and over again until November 2nd: "Is the world better off without Saddam Hussein in Iraq?" They'll accuse John Kerry of supporting an ideal that would have left Saddam in power and thereby weakened the fight against terror. That's a tough question to answer. I'm happy that the guy is in prison but I'm not happy about the fact that our soldiers are dying at a rate of three per day to serve the hawkish agenda of a neo-con group with war on it's mind.

I find it a bit alarming the power that is given to that question. It allows the administration to avoid answering the important question: Why won't you admit your mistake?

Links of Interest

I enjoyed E.J. Dionne's column in the Post.

It turns out that all those ready and able Iraqi forces aren't quite as ready or as able.

Further proof that Cheney spent ninety minutes lying to the country on Tuesday.

Lexicon or Lexican't?

2004-10-05T13:35:00.000-07:00

War is a four letter word

The Universities of Missouri and Kansas have agreed to rename their annual football game from "The Border War" to "The Border Showdown" in a display of sensitivity for the men and women who "defend our country for real."

I just threw up in my mouth.

I'm going to blame Bush and the conservative media for jerking our country's collective underwear so far up its ass that we can no longer use the word war to describe anything but armed conflict.

Remember that the next time you rally the troops for a meeting or give a co-worker a salute as you enter or exit the building. The next meeting you attend may be with your boss, a representative from human resources and an attorney you've never met. There will be no war of words, battle lines may not be drawn and from now on the kamikaze will now be known as the pink shot that tastes like shit.

Bush America. Love it, or be imprisoned and tortured off the coast of Cuba.

Am I the only one missing the irony in all of this? A stealth bomber or a formation of fighter jets can fly over the stadium before kickoff but if an athlete uses a war reference to describe play on the field that athlete is summarily tarred, feathered and crucified in the press for their apparent callousness.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

The clown suits were Cheney's idea

It's debate time again.

Just one question: If Edward's pisses Cheney off to the point that he has a heart attack and dies on the stage does that mean Edward's wins?

Count the number of times Cheney says "trial lawyer." He may not beat his boss' twenty-two mutterings of "hard work" but it should be plentiful.

If You Can't Beat 'Em, Jordan

2004-09-30T05:45:00.000-07:00

I'll Take Due Process of Law for $500 Alex.

"You know, every step of the way in Iraq there have been pessimists and hand-wringers who said it can't be done. And every step of the way, the Iraqi leadership and the Iraqi people have proven them wrong because they are determined to have a free and peaceful future," Scott McClellan, White House Press Secretary.

I could call Scott McClellan a lot of things but pragmatic isn't one of them. Dickhead is a name I could give him, or lying dipshit mouthpiece, but this is a family site so neither of those will work. No, I think I'll call him an optimist.

Scott McClellan is an optimist. And since he's the official spokesman of the Bush administration I think it's fair to say that George Bush is an optimist.

I suppose being an optimist in these dangerous times means you can claim that the situation in Iraq is getting better with each passing day despite evidence to the contrary. I bet you could even find a way to ignore the fact that our soldiers are dying at a rate of three per day, or that our national deficit stands somewhere around $422 billion.

Being an optimist means never having to admit you're culpable as well. So if your secret plan to torture prisoners is uncovered through the magic of photography you must first deny the plan's existence, then promise courtmartial's for the patsies who were acting on behalf of said plan.

Next, create a diversion. Post the gruesome beheading of an American on the Internet, or capture the Grand Poobah and wait. Wait for the abuse story to pass, the courtmartial's to begin and the Presidential race to heat up. The press will be so busy they won't even know how to pronounce Abu Ghraib...Grib...Gharib....Whatever.

Once the media shit storm passes, push members of congress to pass legislation allowing you to deport foreign born prisoners suspected of terrorism, or collusion with terrorists, to a country like Saudi Arabia (Jordan, Syria, et al) that can and most definitely will torture the prisoner. Problem solved. Optimism maintained.

Will somebody pass me the Kool-Aid?

Seriously how can the Pentagon plausibly deny responsibility for the torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo when it's clear that the Bush administration supports prisoner abuse?

The GOP argument will be black and white: It's better to remove dangerous terrorists from our soil than succumb to the liberal agenda of supporting terrorism in the name of human rights.

I'll let you know when I find a solid definition for moral clarity.

Losing Their Balance

Remember Newt Gingrich?

How about the Contract With America?

Remember how the Contract promised that it would balance the budget?

Yeah, well fuck that.

I'm Back...

2004-09-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

The good news is that I'm back in the fold. After a week in Orlando and a golf tournament yesterday I am online and couldn't be happier. With the first debate looming and my only source of information for an entire week being the free USA Today and CNN Headline News, I felt as though I was becoming stupid.

Of course that may have been caused by the Jager and Red Bull shots that the salesmen fed me all week.

You couldn't escape the hurricane damage. Blue tarps on roofs, windows covered with plywood, twisted metal and toppled tree's everywhere.

We have humidity in Missouri, no doubt, but we can't hold a candle to Florida's humidity. It reminded me of a joke I once heard at a local comedy club. I'm paraphrasing:

You ever talk to a person in Florida all you'll ever hear is how horrible the humidity is...Oh the humidity...The humidity...Well, I'm from Missouri and we have humidity too, only we don't brag about it...

Apparently that comic never spent much time in Florida.

Let's hope Bush handles the reconstruction in Florida better than he's handled the reconstruction in Iraq.

I'm still getting it together so I'll be more in tune tomorrow.

Life Moves Fast, Time Moves Even Faster

2004-09-17T06:48:00.000-07:00

I must admit that it's difficult to post new and interesting things every day.

I try to keep it as original as possible around here but between working, training for a marthon and remodeling a bathroom it's been a little difficult lately. Things will lighten up over the next week or two...I hope.

Next week, however, duty calls and I will be in Florida on business and without an internet connection. If anyone would like to fill in while I'm gone, send me an email and I will hand over the keys.

In the meantime enjoy your Friday, your weekend and these links of interest:

"The art of medicine is in amusing a patient while nature affects the cure," Voltaire.

Not only is this cat a shitty doctor, but it appears he's also a crook. Sounds like a terrible person but a fantastic republican (the two seem to go hand in hand). If Bush and Cheney had their way I wouldn't be able to sue the good doctor Coburn for removing my testicles instead of my tonsils.

Me: "Doc, what the fuck?"
Doc: "Sorry."

Putin His Foot Down

I wonder, when Bush looked into Putin's soul, what did he see? I don't think it was a desire for democracy in Russia.

Why Do 22 Republican Members Of The House Hate America?

"A study of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows that the percentage of corporate profits ending up in paychecks during this economic recovery has sunk to a post-World War II low."

We already knew that democrats hated America but this is a real blow to the GOP.

"America must have the best intelligence possible to win the War on Terror and to make America and the world safer."

There's what George Bush says, and what George Bush does.

Memo To Self

2004-09-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

Let it go, man

Okay, I'll admit, I'm having a hard time letting go of the argument over assault weapons. I'll concede that the ban had loopholes, that you could legally possess a rocket launching, .50 caliber, folding stock, thirty round magazine rifle provided it was built before September 13, 1994. I also know that there were "lookalike" weapons, every bit as powerful, falling within the letter of the law that would allow you to wreak havoc in your neighborhood. I'm not arguing that point. I'm only asking this simple question: If the ban prevents the death to even one innocent, isn't it worth it?

I emailed George Woods, host of AM Kansas City, and asked him the same question. For those of you from Rio Linda, George is a local conservative talking head and my archenemy. I email him every time he lies or says something stupid, which is daily, so you can understand why we're not friends. The following is his reply to my question:

I think my problem with this deal is that the ban wasn't really a ban, as it (1) had an expiration date, and (2) it did not address the "lookalike" guns, which, if my understanding is correct, are as powerful as the "banned" ones. In other words, the net effect was nil--anyone who wanted something which was just a different version of an AK-47 or an UZI could just go out and get one.

And how can you adequately measure the success (or failure) of a ban, if it really isn't a ban?

THANKS for listening and writing! I appreciate it.

George Woods
A.M. Kansas City M-F 5-9 a.m.
TalkRadio 710 KCMO

My reply to his reply:

Interesting point. Faulty logic.

If the AWB really accomplished nothing why is it that the overwhelming majority of national police organizations, police chiefs and officers supported the ban's extension? Surely they have first hand knowledge, more than you or I cold ever want to have, about the inherent dangers in increasing assault weapon production. It just seems to me that it's bad enough that weapons like the .50 caliber assault rifle used by Donin Wright would be a hell of a lot more deadly if equipped with say a thirty round magazine and a grenade launcher. I'll ask again. Isn't it worth it even if it saves one life?

Based on your logic isn't it reasonable to say that Bush's tax cut isn't really a tax cut because it has an expiration date? Seems rather silly when you really think about it, doesn't it?

Usually George is quick to respond, but alas my inbox is empty. I'll keep you posted.

Wait, am I missing the point?

It doesn't matter that "memogate" is true any more than it mattered that the Swift Boat Veteran's story was true. It's taking the media focus away from the GOP floated Kerry negatives and onto the President's breakdown's in character. Have any of you listened to Limbaugh, Hannity or even second rate conservative talent like Tony Snow? All day spent trying to defend Bush, refute the story and those involved with the story. The best Kerry bash any of the three could come up with focused more on Begala, Mcauliffe or Carville and the possibility that they were the "leak."

Not only will there be media types interested in making CBS and Rather look like fools, which they're doing quite effectively, but it will polarize those looking to expose the President's National Guard record. The more eyes looking for the prize the more likely they are to find something legitimate.

The bad guy's are having to play defense, while Kerry gains momentum talking about legitimate issues. I love it.

Read this memo

The irony of Cheney's comment that "if we make the wrong choice, then the danger is that we'll get hit again," seemed to be lost on the vast majority of media outlets.

Unless I've walked through a worm hole, I'm pretty certain that Bush and Cheney were running the show when two passenger jets slammed into the side of the World Trade.

Anyway, you've likely heard of the memo that Bush received on August 10, 2001 that warned of an impending attack from Al Qaeda and Bin Ladin. Up to this point, I'd only read of them but never actually read them. I now, present to you, the Presidential Daily Brief or PDB, the memo we should all be reading.

Lunchtime Links of Interest

2004-09-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

First he decides to skip the Republican National Convention, then he says that John Kerry would respond to terrorism in a "robust way." Knowing all this, it should come as no surprise then that Colin Powell believes Cheney, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz are all "f*cking crazies."*

*Learned about that last link through Eric Alterman, one of my political hero's.

Despite championing himself as the champion for small business, it seems that those who actually run small business' are finding it difficult to afford health insurance.

Read Paul Krugman.

On a side note, it appears that the Weapon's of Mass Destruction have been found. They're in Lawrence, KS.

You Didn't See What You Think You Saw...

2004-09-14T06:22:00.000-07:00

What Mushroom Cloud?

Condoleeza Rice didn't "think" it was nuclear but wasn't certain. She even suggested that it may have been a forest fire.

Colin Powell wasn't really certain what it was, but he was "skeptical" of reports that it was a nuclear test.

The President, as is the norm with North Korea, was nowhere to be found.

How is it that nobody in this administration has any idea what's going on in North Korea?

Fuzzy Math.

"I'm running against a fellow who's promised at least $2 trillion in new money so far." George W. Bush, Sept. 13, 2004.

So let me see if I've got this right. We can either vote for a candidate who is proposing $2 trillion in new spending and a plan for funding it, or we can vote for George Bush who plans to spend $3 trillion and who will figure out how to pay for it if we just give him four more years.

Here is an idea...

On November 2nd we should do something abou this. Iraq and terrorists are not the only enemies we have in this country.

Elephantitis

2004-09-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

The Rank and File

While not scientific, I would appreciate it if you would participate in a little experiment.

Even if you've never fired a gun, it's likely you can recreate the movement of pulling the trigger. Now, get a watch or timer, and set it for some unit of time. I chose a minute, you may choose whatever you like. Start the clock and count the number of times you're able to pull the "air trigger" with your index finger.

What did you come up with?

In one minute, I was capable of pulling the "air trigger" 147 times.

If I was holding an assault weapon I could literally kill 100 of the 122 male inhabitants of Freedom, Oklahoma in just under a minute without reloading. In fact, it's likely, assuming I could convince the entire town to line up uniformly and stand still once I opened fire, that I could execute all 265 inhabitants of the town in just over two minutes. I would only have to change the clip twice. Impressive, huh?

It was announced late Wednesday night that congress would allow the assault weapon's ban to expire on Monday, September 13, 2004.

Bill Frist, Republican Senator from Tennessee told reporters that the expiration of the ban was "the will of the American people." Interesting considering polls found that two thirds of American's actually supported an extension of the assault weapons ban which was introduced by Bill Clinton in 1994.

At first, I questioned Mr. Frist's ability to speak on behalf of the American people. He is, after all, a politician and a Republican. Then I questioned his math skills, because, if only one third of American's support a sunset on the ban, was he really speaking for the majority? Of course, who am I to question Bill Frist? Before becoming a bigot senator, Bill Frist was a bigot surgeon and surgeon's are smart, or they're supposed to be. I tried to think about something else, but I just couldn't stop thinking that bigot senator doctor Frist's math was "fuzzy." So I tried to frame this little dilemma in a way that would make sense to me, bigot senator doctor Frist and the Michigan Militia.

If I have three Uzi's and the ATF takes away two, would I still possess the majority of my Uzi's?

If you answered no, you're correct. If you answered yes, don't fret, because doctor's and senators make good money. If you answered f*ck the ATF, you should save your next two paychecks from Pizza Hut so you can be the first in your militia to legally purchase an assault rifle. If you asked me to define the word "majority" then you're a conservative radio host and you should commit suicide.

To be fair, the polls that I referenced earlier were commissioned by the Consumer Federation of America and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. Which means they're not only "anti-gun," but democrats and most likely in bed with Ralph Nader, "but that's speculation." So I decided to conduct my own informal poll.

I called Scottbo.

Scottbo: Hello?

Me: I'm conducting an informal poll.

Scottbo: For what? The web site? People are going to think I'm a hick.

Me: No they won't, they love Scottbo.

Scottbo: Ask your questions?

Me: Are you a "rank and file" police officer?

Scottbo: I don't get it.

Me: I'm guessing it means you don't hold a position of management. I was watching Hardball last night and Wayne LaPierre, a big wig with the NRA said that "the rank and file think [the ban] is a cosmetic sham." Basically he was saying that the police chief's who supported an extension were serving a partisan political agenda in the name of real cops when, in fact, real cops want assault weapon's on the street.

Scottbo: I don't want assault weapon's on the street.

Me: So you support the ban. What about your partner?

Scottbo: He feels the same way.

Me: Great. What about the rest of the KCPD?

Scottbo: Tough to say because most of 'em think we should be carrying them.

Me: You may need to...

Scottbo: Sounds like it. I guess I would say the majority would be in favor of the ban.

Me: Majority? Perfect.

There you have it, the majority of "rank and file" cops in Kansas City support the ban on assault weapons. It's not scientific, but then again neither is the NRA or their Chief Executive Wayne LaPierre.

"These guns are not used in crimes," Wayne LaPierre.

In the early morning hours of February 23, 2004, Donin Wright was seen by neighbors carrying several yellow trash bags into the vacant property he owned at 9409 Grandview Road in Kansas City, MO. Construction debris littered the yard, a violation of city code for which Wright had previously been cited, fined and sentenced to ten days in jail. His sentence had been suspended with the understanding that Wright would remove the debris or obtain a conditional use permit. Wright never removed the debris, never obtained a permit and was expected to appear in court the next day, February 24, 2004.

Later that same morning Wright and live-in girlfriend Janet Clark gave their two vehicles to a neighbor, signing over the titles and giving explicit instructions that the vehicles must be moved from Wright's residence at 9400 Grandview Road - just across the street from the vacant property he was seen entering earlier that morning. When the neighbor inquired about Wright's impending court date Clark responded that "he's not going to court, we've made other plans."

At 1:30 PM, during a telephone conversation with what police will only refer to as "a witness," Wright stated that he was "getting ready to par-tay."

Approximately two-hours later Kansas City Fire battalion 107 and MAST paramedics responded to reports of an explosion and fire at 9409 Grandview Road - Wright's vacant property. Upon arrival firefighters found the house ravaged by flame.

One minute after reporting to dispatch that they were in "full defensive mode," the radio stirred again.

107: Everybody get back! Dispatch, we've got gunfire on the scene.

DISPATCH: Okay, Truck 15...We'll let them know on the scene. Can you go to TAC 2?

107: Send us lot's of police!

DISPATCH: Grandview Command, Truck 15's reporting, ah, gunshots going off inside the residence.

107: That's a negative. It's not in the residence. It's across the street. Yeah, dispatch, we got police on the scene. We got someone shooting.

DISPATCH: Copy Grandview Command. Grandview Command, are you gonna need HAZMAT out there?

107: That's not my worry right now. Everybody take cover! Has anybody been hit, this is 107, has anybody been hit? That's a negative so far.

"So far" would only last eight minutes. Mary Seymour, a MAST paramedic, was shot twice in the chest. The bullet's broke four ribs, collapsed a lung and grazed her heart. She collapsed in a ditch in front of Wright's residence at 9400 Grandview Road. Officers on the scene provide a shield of gunfire as five brave firemen carried Seymour out of the ditch and into safety. Miraculously, she would survive.

A second explosion at Wright's residence sent debris 1000 feet into the air, ignited thousands of ammunition rounds that were part of his extensive gun collection and threatened to ignite the many pipe bombs planted throughout the home.

Scottbo and his partner had just started their shift when a "code one" rang out through the police radio. They were among the last of nearly forty officers to join the fight.

The party ended for Donin Wright and Janet Clark at 4:09 PM, twenty-seven minutes after the first shots rang out. The fire, which had been set off by the first explosion at the residence had finally reached the stockpile of pipe bombs. Investigators would only find their charred skeletal remains.

"It was insane. One guy with a .50 caliber assault weapon held forty cops at bay for something like twenty-five minutes, " said Scottbo, "it's a wonder that paramedic survived."

That .50 caliber weapon was a Barret M82A1 with a ten round clip and a high powered scope. It's a close cousin to the M107, the rifle preferred by military snipers the world over. The M82A1 is a legal assault rifle.

"It's not an assault rifle," Wayne LaPierre.

On September 13, 1994, domestic gun manufacturers were required to stop production of semi-automatic assault weapons and ammunition clips holding more than ten rounds except for military or police use.

The 1994 law also prohibits manufacturers from producing firearms with more than one of the following assault rifle features:

Folding/telescoping stock
Protruding pistol grip
Bayonet mount
Threaded muzzle or flash suppressor
Grenade launcher

Whoever thought of adding "grenade launcher" was really on to something.

Looking at this your probably thinking there isn't much to the law, that in truth, semi-automatic assault weapons have been legally bought and sold throughout the United States since 1994. If that's what you're thinking, you're correct. You'll never be elected to senate, and will likely never perform an appendectomy, but at least you can grasp the fundamental aspects of the assault weapon's ban.

To go even further, it's also a fact that any assault weapon built before September 13, 1994, even those equipped with grenade launcher's and bayonet's, were "grandfathered," making them perfectly legal. So, if you should ever find yourself in the market for a .50 caliber assault rifle, say for self-defense or deer hunting, and feel that an added grenade launcher would give it a "customized" look, then make damn certain it was built before September 13, 1994 or after September 13, 2004. Otherwise, you're in violation of federal law.

"They're mainstream. They've been around for 100 years," Wayne LaPierre.

Now, before you label me as a socialist, communist, liberal, democrat who hates gun's and hates America, I should point out that I own a gun. I actually own three guns - two .22 caliber handgun's and a .22 caliber rifle. The rifle and one of the handgun's are antique's passed down from one generation to the next, and the third is the only gun I've ever purchased.

I enjoy going to the indoor range with Scottbo and exercising my second amendment right to riddle a paper target with bullet holes. I do not hunt and will not hunt - not because I think hunter's are bad people - but because I could not shoot a defenseless animal. I just happen to love animals and I will never get over the robin I killed with a pellet gun one summer as a child. It was a life altering experience.

I do, however, take issue and draw the line at assault weapon's, or as my friend Top Secret call's them, "terrorist weapons," that threaten the safety of our nation's police, fire and medical personnel. I'll also include women, children, men, dog's, cat's, robin's and all of God's creatures in that threat. I think we've all earned the right not to have our head torn off by "the largest commercially available cartridge in the world, the .50 caliber."

My little brother is a cop. I don't hold any illusions regarding the relative safety of his chosen profession. I understand that on any given day, while serving and protecting the people of Kansas City, he may be asked to give his life. I can handle that because I have faith in his training, his partner and his judgment. I can handle that because what he is doing is right and just. I can handle that because he's Scottbo.

I can't handle Senate Majority Leader Tom DeLay calling the assault weapon's ban a "feel good piece of legislation" that did nothing to keep gun's out of the hands of criminals. There is nothing about making it easier for the Donin Wright's of the world to get their hands on a grenade launching assault rifle that feels good. Maybe there is, I don't know, I'm not a doctor or a senator, but I bet Mary Seymour thought otherwise when two .50 caliber bullets ripped into her chest.

Isn't it worth your time Mr. President, isn't it worth a vote ladies and gentlemen of the senate, if it keeps but one of these terrorist weapons off the street?

On Monday, September 13, 2004 the answer will be no.

Shame on you Democrats for being too chickensh*t to push for gun control legislation in an election year to avoid being labeled "sensitive."

Shame on you Republican's for pandering to the NRA's pocketbook rather than committing to the individual safety of the American public.

Shame on you Mr. President for being just as guilty, but on a much larger scale, as your Republican counterparts in the senate.

Shame on you all.

Links of Interest

2004-09-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

As I work to complete my latest Elephantitis column, which I will post later tonight or tomorrow morning I thought I'd at least provide some links of interest:

President Bush was against the intelligence czar before he was for it.

What do you mean it's not over? The President said it was over!

You mean we're still in Afghanistan?

Who need's clean air? Apparently, children.

Saving Private Scottbo

2004-09-08T06:58:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know me are aware that I have more than a passing interest in the safety of our men and women in blue. Scottbo is a good cop, but an even better brother, so it's imperative that congress and President Bush extend the assault weapons ban.

If you need additional motivation read this manifesto. I learned quite a bit about assault weapons. They're easy to handle, have little recoil, are easily modified and are perfect for "close quarter tactical operations," so you can kill the small band of terrorist's who have invaded your kitchen.

If you'd like to email Todd and tell him what you think click here. I did and felt much better for it. Just remember to use small words and simple language. Todd has trouble understanding intelligent recourse.

Dear Todd,

I read your stuff on assault weapons. My little brother is a cop. He thinks that assault weapons are bad because they're a danger to him. I think they're a danger to everyone. I think you're dangerous. I also heard that you drink imported beer and drive a Toyota. Real men don't need guns to fight terrorists, they need karate. I bet Chuck Norris doesn't own an assault weapon and I promise he can kick your ass and some serious terrorist ass. Maybe someday I'll visit Oregon and look you up. Then I'll kick your ass myself in honor of all the innocent men and women who've died because they were on the wrong end of an assault weapon. Asshole.

Jeff Chambers
Liberal with a capital "L"

The Cut and Paste Campaign

"I'm running against a fellow who's proposed already $2 trillion of new programs, see. And so they said to him, they said, how are you going to pay for it? And he said, oh, that's easy, we'll just tax the rich. The problem is we've heard that before, haven't we? Yeah. You know what happens. They hire accountants and lawyers, and you get stuck with the bill. But we're not going to let him get away with it." George W. Bush, September 4th, 2004.

"He offers a new federal spending program to nearly every voting bloc. He expands entitlements, without reforms to sustain them. 285 new or expanded programs, and $2 trillion more in new spending. Spending without discipline, spending without priorities, and spending without an end. Al Gore's massive spending would mean slower growth and higher taxes. And it could mean an end to this nation's prosperity." George W. Bush, November 1st, 2001.

I wonder if they've actually read Senator Kerry's plan? Or Al Gore's for that matter?

What Was That About "Massive Spending?"

"I refuse to accept the premise that surpluses are going to decline if I'm the president. I think they're going to increase, because my plan will increase productivity by cutting margin." George W. Bush, Dec. 7th, 1999.

Just because he "refuses to except the premise" doesn't mean that it's not true.

Link of Interest

A great Op/Ed piece from Bill Sapphire over at the NYT. Both parties are dead wrong about the 9/11 czar. Let's not rush to add another layer of bureaucracy, or another obstacle to intelligence.

George Woods is Funny, Not Smart, But Really, Really Funny...

George Woods, conservative talking point pundit and host of AM Kansas City (710), publicly thanked the loyal listeners who emailed him a picture of Senator John Kerry meeting with Du Muoi, General Secretary of Vietnam. You see, Du Muoi is a communist and communist's are evil. Not terrorist or dictator evil, but evil.

This picture is being used by Republican's as yet another attack on Kerry's Vietnam war record by painting him as sympathetic to the Viet Cong. Of course, this photo was taken in 1993 during a diplomatic trip to the communist country in support of "normalization," a measure instituted by President Clinton in 1995 and supported by the current administration. I decided to email George and include a photo of my own. Here is my original message and his pathetic reply. I'll let you be the judge.

Dear George,

I never knew you were so interested in photography. Especially like this one of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. It's not the same quality as the Kerry photo from 1993, but then again, Kerry wasn't in Vietnam to finalize the sale of weapons. I like you George. You make me laugh.

His reply...

Cute, Jeff, cute, You fail to see the difference though: Rumsfeld isn't for President while Kerry is. Of course, liberals have no sense of humor so I'm glad I made you smile. That's one more person than Al Franken is making laugh, so I guess I've done my job.

George Woods
A.M. Kansas City M-F 5-9 a.m.
TalkRadio 710 KCMO

I don't know, maybe he's right. Maybe President's or Presidential candidates should avoid communists altogether.

A Valuable Lesson

2004-09-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more disheartening than putting together a post, publishing it and getting an error message. I've now learned that it's best to work through each post in Word, then bring it over to the site and paste it. This morning's post was lost. I was heartbroken.

Though I have neither the time nor the inclination to put together another post I will, at the very least, provide the links of interest.

I like Paul Krugman.

Does anyone else get the sense that Iraq is ready to explode?

This is often referred to as "hitting the nail on the head."

Why Does Hurricane Frances Hate America?

2004-09-03T11:47:00.000-07:00

Lunchtime Reading and Other Observations...

Because the soon-to-be-wife didn't have any errands for me to run over my hour long respite from the grind and because Rush Limbaugh is a good capitalist (he charges for streaming audio) I was unable to catch his show on the AM dial. Therefore, I've been forced to use my imagination.

Rush: "You know folks (shuffling of papers), you know, the lengths to which the socialist liberal media will go to keep you from the truth never ceases to amaze me. President Bush gives the greatest stump speech since Ronald Reagan and all they're talking about is this thunderstorm in Florida. Oh, I'm sorry, hurricane, right, right hurricane. Isn't it also known as a tsunami? Whatever, I don't know, sounds like commie to me. What's that? Oh, I didn't realize that. Folks I misspoke, a tsunami is not a hurricane, it is a tidal wave. John Kerry would like it if a tsunami hit Florida so he could go windsurfing (boisterous laughter). Did you see that? Old Frenchy himself out there windsurfing! I digress. So the liberal media would have you believe that Florida is somehow in danger of being swept away by this hurricane. And by the way, they've named it Frances, hmmmm, Frances, kind of like France. You see? You see how the libs subtly push their socialist agenda to keep Bush out of the headlines? It doesn't stop there, no, no, no, they've really got to drive it home. They get old Bubba himself to fake chest pains! Quadruple bypass? Are you kidding me? Can you believe the depths to which they'll sink to keep the truth out of your hands? Incredible. Don't even get me started on the Islamic militants holding the school hostage in Russia. We all know that the libs love Islam more than they love America. I, I might just give up. They're making it more difficult to fight, and it's sapping my strength, but I persevere for you. When we come back we'll go through the stack of stuff and give you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

Like I mentioned earlier, guy's like Rush and Hannity provide me with many hours of comic entertainment.

You should definitely stay abreast of this development.

William Saletan provides a terrific recap of Bush's acceptance speech on Slate.

And another history lesson courtesy of the Terminator.

Letting Them Speak On My Behalf

2004-09-03T06:20:00.000-07:00

It's the Friday before a long weekend, I stayed up late working on the next Elephantitis column and...Did I mention it's Friday? With that in mind, I've decided to let actual writer's speak on my behalf...At least in part.

Paul Krugman is smart, and he's right. (It's a NY Times link, and if you're planning to read this blog regularly it's wise to register with the Times. It's free, only takes a couple of minutes and is completely worth it.)

Random Point: Overheard on conservative talk radio while driving to work this morning: "The New York Times has a socialist, euro-trash agenda." Seriously, I love conservative talk radio. It rates a perfect 100 on the unintentional comedy scale.

Finally we're hitting back. We democrats can't be afraid of playing rough. That's not to suggest that we take the Republican strategy of giving a front page lie to the press, letting them perpetuate it, then bury the clarification on the back page. I'm talking about taking advantage of the great division this administration has created throughout this country. Roughly fifteen million people forked over hard earned cash to see Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," and the rest of the country has at least heard of it, read about it or talked about it. And while I'll agree that it's editorialized, it does ask the necessary questions that this administration has not answered.

Nearly 52% of American's disagree or have serious concerns about the administration's handling of the Iraq war. Question motive or the plan for peace, bring up Halliburton or the Coalition Provisional Authority's mis-handling of $8.8 billion and Republican's question your patriotism. Fine, question at will, because I'm prepared to say that there is nothing less American than sending our men and women to war without a plan for peace. How can the President get away with calling for restraint on "federal spending" when he has turned the nation's largest surplus into the nations largest deficit? Is that the American ideal?

That's not fiscal responsibility Mr. President, that's leveraging my future, the future of my children for a "miscalculated" war and for a tax cut that burdens the middle class.

I'm just getting warmed up.

Michael Moore says we are going to win. I agree.

Take care and have a great weekend. I'll be back on Tuesday.

Sympathy and History

2004-09-02T05:43:00.000-07:00

Sympathy for the Living

During my morning commute, listening to Republican talking points pundit George Woods of AM Kansas City, it was suggested that retiring Senator Zell Miller is likely the "most hated man in his party." As a member of the Democratic party I must say that nothing could be further from the truth, at least from my perspective. I don't hate Zell Miller, I feel sorry for him. Rabies is an incurable disease, like herpes, that usually ends with the poor creature being put to sleep. Senator Miller's plight should serve as a warning to all of us with pets. Stay current on vaccinations and keep your pets away from Republicans.

Professor Dick's History of Defense 101

"History has shown that a strong and purposeful America is vital to preserving freedom and keeping us safe - yet time and again Senator Kerry has made the wrong call on national security. Senator Kerry began his political career by saying he would like to see our troops deployed "only at the directive of the United Nations." During the 1980's, Senator Kerry opposed Ronald Reagan's major defense initiatives that brought victory in the Cold War. In 1991, when Saddam Hussein occupied Kuwait and stood poised to dominate the Persian Gulf, Senator Kerry voted against Operation Desert Storm." Vice President Dick Cheney, Republican National Convention, September 1st, 2004.

Inspired by Vice President Cheney's history lesson I thought it prudent to do a little investigating on his strong support of defense initiatives. I learned a lot Dick, thank you for the motivation.

BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLES:

The Kerry Record:
Kerry has supported at least $8.5 billion in defense authorizations for the Bradley program

The Cheney Record:
Bush-Cheney Budget Terminated The Bradley. "Major weapons killed include the Army's M-2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the Navy's Trident submarine and F-14 aircraft, and the Air Force's F-16 airplane. Cheney decided the military already has enough of these weapons." [Boston Globe, 2/5/91]

BLACKHAWK HELICOPTERS:

The Kerry Record:
Kerry has supported at least $13 billion in defense authorizations on versions of the Blackhawk.

The Cheney Record:
"Terminate The Black Hawk. The Pentagon's internal budget deliberations recommended termination of the Black Hawk program under Secretary Cheney." [Aerospace Daily, 5/15/90]

B-2 BOMBER:

The Kerry Record:
Kerry has supported over $16.7 billion in defense authorizations for the B-2 program

The Cheney Record:
Cheney Proposed Cuts to B-2 Program, According to the RNC, B-2s Were Crucial to Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to the Boston Globe, in 1990, "Defense Secretary Richard Cheney announced a cutback of nearly 45 percent in the administration's B-2 Stealth bomber program, from 132 airplanes to 75." [Boston Globe, 4/27/90; From RNC Research Memo, Kerry's Military: As He Would Like It, 7/18/03]

F/A-18 FIGHTER JETS:

The Kerry Record:
Kerry supported at least $60 billion in defense authorizations for the F/A-18 and F-18

The Cheney Record:
Cutbacks Hit Industry Hard: Workers and the industry were hit hard by Cheney's decision for "major cuts" in the F/A-18 program and upgrades to the F-18 in the late 1980s [Flight International, 6/27/90; Los Angeles Times, 12/17/89; Aerospace Daily, 5/26/89; Aviation Week and Space Technology, 5/1/89]

PATRIOT MISSILE SYSTEM:

The Kerry Record:
Kerry supported at least $10 billion in defense authorizations for the Patriot program.

SOURCES ON KERRY SPENDING: Congressional Quarterly Almanacs, 1986-2002; House Armed Service Committee Authorization Conference Report Summaries; Conference Reports for Defense Authorizations, FY1986 to present

Wait there's more...

"We have to get on with the business of cutting. We have to cut out those things we don't need. We have to cut out those things that we can do without in the military area, that we can do without in terms of the complex that is the Department of Defense. Over the course of the last year, since I've been Secretary, I've recommended terminating, canceling, shutting down 20 separate weapons programs." - Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, 4/30/90

"The F-14B, of course, we're terminating in '90. There's no new money in it for '91. The AHIP, the Phoenix missile, the F-15 aircraft, et cetera -- all of those are being terminated in '91"The Apache helicopter, of course, ends in '91. The M1 tank, we're proposing to shut down the M1 tank production lines in '91." - Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, 2/1/90

Defense Secretary Cheney tried "to reduce active-duty troop strength" from 2.2 million to 1.6 million while making "deep cuts in the Reserves and National Guard." - NY Times, 8/4/91

If President Reagan "doesn't really cut defense, he becomes the No. 1 special pleader in town. The president has to reach out and take a whack at everything to be credible [meaning] you've got to hit defense." - U.S. Rep. Dick Cheney, 12/16/84 (Center for American Progress, Claim v. Fact Database)

Funny, we're still using most of the vehicles and weapons that the Vice President wanted to cut. Here endeth the lesson...

Did I say that?..And other lunchtime items of interest

2004-09-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

The bad news is that we can't win the war on terror, the good news is that we can win the war on terror.

I agree with Senator McCain, we do "need a leader with the experience to make the tough decisions and the resolve to stick with them"

You know, someone like Senator John Kerry, who did vote for the $87 Billion before he voted against it. The difference? The amendment (s.amdt.1796) to the original bill (s.1689) asked for the President to reduce his tax cut from $690 billion over the next ten years to $600 billion over the next ten years. So, in all honesty Senator Kerry voted for a bill that would have actually provided funding for the $87 billion, as opposed to increasing what is already the largest national deficit in history or God forbid raiding social security.

I've got my eye on Iran, does the President?

Look here and here and tell me what you think. Is it a stretch to suggest that the Israelis have more than a passing interest in Iran? Would you be concerned if your mortal enemy was OPENLY DEVELOPING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION?

Elephantitis

2004-09-01T05:31:00.000-07:00

The Great Conversion

As a Democrat I’m finding it very difficult to dislike Arnold Schwarzenegger. I, like so many young men of my generation looked up to Arnold as the epitome of cinematic heroism. I was in awe of the physical stature, the uncanny ability to break a neck with one move and the indelible personality. Even now, as I watch him speak at the Republican National Convention I am encumbered by fond memories of a childhood touched by films like “Conan”, “Commando” and “Predator.” That being said, I must remain “steadfast," if I may borrow the term, in my mandatory dislike for Republican's everywhere.

My younger brother was always the biggest kid in class, a miniature Arnold if you will, who, when provoked, would shout “hyper-maniac” to the heavens then attack with arms flailing wildly. Unlike the others who challenged the animal within, I knew his many weaknesses, so I was fond of poking and prodding just to get a laugh out of his fits of insanity. My laughter would fuel his anger, the barrage would intensify and his confidence would grow, until it wasn’t funny any more and I would end it in a manner that only older brothers can understand.

One of the easiest ways to unleash the “maniac,” outside of the repeated beatings in Nintendo Baseball Stars, was to slight his greatest hero, Rambo. The same kid who feared “the kids with no heads” (department store mannequins that are only a torso, no arms, no head), and once claimed to have been bitten by a frog, idolized John Rambo. It wasn’t just posters in the bedroom, red head bands and plastic utility knives. It was something much deeper, like naming your first hamster “Hambo” or signing your homework as “Scottbo.”

To mock Rambo was to tear down the very foundation of my brother’s existence. Rambo was a loner, a Libertarian if you will, who’s only desire was to live a quiet life away from the long arm of big government. However, if provoked by some oppressive entity or bigoted lawman like, say, John Ashcroft, he would strike back with the fire and fury of hell.

The foundation began to crumble following the tragic and unspeakable death of Hambo. It seems, when faced with an imposing menace, like a cat, little brave Hambo was no match. The hamster was, of course, replaced and the seed of change was planted. While the family expected that this new addition would receive the Rambo treatment with an original moniker like “Hambo II” or “Ramster,” we were all a little surprised when the little critter came to be known as “Schwarz.”

Slowly but surely Rambo’s stranglehold on my brother’s heart began to dwindle. First it was the posters, then the headband and finally the name. Scottbo was no more. Then one day after being repeatedly pummeled in Baseball Stars my brother looked at me and calmly said, “Commando could kick Rambo’s ass.” Thus began the great conversion.

It would take time, for an older brother’s influence is strong, and it seemed, for a moment at least, that I had created a liberal for the ages. He went off to college to study Psychology, read Bukowski, Carver, Amis and claimed that he would name his first born son Holden. I was so proud. He even went further to the left than even his loving brother could have imagined when he proudly emblazoned his Honda Civic with a PETA sticker. All was right and good in the world…until he graduated.

I suppose old habits die-hard and the pull of Arnold’s ass kicking legacy is stronger than a brother’s love. The cycle started with a career choice, Kansas City Police Officer, continued with the buzzed haircut and ended with a new truck. The fuel efficient PETA Civic was no more. He was still a Democrat, though more moderate than ever, but still on the left side of danger.

It all fell apart last April in the parking lot at Kauffman Stadium. It was a beautiful afternoon, Opening Day of the Royals season and there was much hope among the gathered throng (funny how things turn out). As we shared a beer, my now centrist Democrat brother regaled me with stories of criminal blunders and gruesome crime scenes. Amazing the things cops see and hear on a daily basis. It was right around that time that the bombs began to drop.

EXT. KAUFFMAN STADIUM – PARKING LOT – DAY

JEFF and SCOTTBO, brothers, stand behind a parked car, trunk open, cooler stacked with ICE COLD BEER. They appear to be having a hell of a good time.

SCOTTBO
I’m going hunting this weekend.

JEFF
Come again?

SCOTTBO
Hunting. You should try it. It’s really kind of fun.

JEFF
No thank you PETA. Or should I call you Nugent?
I don’t shoot defenseless animals.

SCOTTBO
They’re not defenseless. They can run.

JEFF
New subject. You been following the primaries?

SCOTTBO
Naw, I’m voting for Bush.

JEFF
God damn you Arnold Schwarzenegger!

SUDDENLY A FIERY METEOR TEARS THROUGH THE SKY AND CRASHES INTO JEFF KILLING HIM INSTANTLY.

FADE OUT

I'm working hard, I swear...

2004-08-31T06:49:00.000-07:00

While I plug away on site content, I thought it would be nice to provide a little light reading.

If you think we're leaving Iraq anytime soon, or believe that the major battles are over, make sure you read this.

Dick Cheney is a scary guy, but there is hope.

And finally, a good read on that "disingenuous filmmaker" that McCain spoke of last night.

Coming soon...A couple of columns:

"Shrugs and Kisses, Ignoring the North Korean Threat"

and

"F*ck You, Bob Dole"

George Bush: Flip Flopper

2004-08-27T06:12:00.000-07:00

I'm just getting started on this blog, there will be more to come. Take a look at this NY Times piece that proves, yet again, that Bush is a "flip flopper." (free reg. req.) What was that about dictators and deadlines? I'm confused.