You want my opinion about the first debate? Well, I'll give it to you anyway. Kerry and his supporters still have the acid grins today, riding the successful debate wave of last night. George alternated between a litany of memorized facts and exclaiming how hard the job is, but never broke out of the zone. He appeared hesitant, short-tempered and defensive much of the evening. Rather than effectively advocating his positions, the president robotically repeated the same phrases like an unprepared frat boy during oral exams. It's easy to shout "Bring 'em on" to a foe thousands of miles away. It's quite another to effectively defend a dismal record without a script and Vice President Cheney whispering in your ear. It came off as disingenuous. After all... You, sir, are no John Kerry.



Jon Stewart was walking the treacherous tightrope between 'satire' and 'bite me' when he talked to Rudy Giuliani on The Daily Show. And Bush News Fox News is so beyond biased that if George Bush shot and killed Bill O'Reilly's grandmother, O'Reilly would say, "Hell of a good shot, Mr President, hell of a shot." And doddering old Ralph Nader. I used to have huge respect for him, but he's simply embarrassing himself now. But I have renewed hope today and I look forward to more electrifying debates.



(See you in the ayem for SMM.)

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Online Petition to deny John Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman, parole; which comes up next week. Link



Apathy? That's so September 10. Voting is what's hot now and activists pound the pavement to get out the vote here in Asheville, NC.



Deadlines to register to vote. Link



List of Bush/Kerry parodies on Yahoo! today. (scroll to bottom)



{Today's Quote} - "The future will be better tomorrow." ~George W Bush



If he were my Bush, I'd shave him off.

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2004 Presidential Debate Drinking Game

I knew there had to be a Debate Drinking Game out there someplace; a google search led me to Wonkette's version. I agree that we don't need another excuse to drink, as the sun rising in the morning was as good as any other excuse. was. So, anytime:



• Anyone tells that story about Bobby Kennedy turning up the thermostat before the Kennedy-Nixon debate: Take a sip of a hot toddy.

• Doris Kearns Goodwin mentions Lyndon Johnson: Pee outside.

• Someone shows a clip of Al Gore sighing: Recount your chads.

• A Republican operative compares Kerry to a classical orator: Drink an ouzo-and-hemlock cocktail.

• A Democrat operative uses the phrase "can't run on his record": Go to Stetson's.

• A Republican operative cites Kerry's prep school debate team experience: Try on a cheerleader outfit.

• A Democrat operative says that Bush "has never lost a debate": Try to look yourself in the eye.

• Someone plays the "you're no Jack Kennedy" clip: Lose anyway.

• Someone proclaims that "the entire race may come down to this": Move to Canada. (Better make room: Bryn, Maggie, Kim, Kevin, Linda, Lynn, Riri...)



Start drinking for real after the jump.



Drink One Sip If:

Anyone says "terrorism"

Anyone says "Halliburton"

Anyone says "flip flop"

Anyone says "Saddam Hussein"

Anyone blames "the media"

Anyone mentions their own military service

Anyone says "September 11"

One candidate interrupts another candidate



Drink Two Sips If:

Bush says "cut and run"

Kerry says "W stands for wrong"

Either candidate talks past their time limit

Kerry brings up Bush's "Mission Accomplished" moment

Bush mentions Crawford, TX

Anyone looks at the wrong camera

Anyone whips out "evidence"

Anyone says "Osama bin Laden"

Anyone mentions blogs

Anyone invokes the hurricane sympathy vote

Anyone mentions "North Korea"

Kerry mentions Bush wants to reinstate the draft

Everytime you see anyone wearing the yellow "LiveSTRONG" bracelet



Finish Your Glass If:

Anyone in the audience gets dragged out of the auditorium

Anyone in the audience gets off an unscripted question

Bush mispronounces any word or name

Anyone says "Osama bin Hidin'"

Anyone uses a sports metaphor

Anyone attempts to speak Spanish to pander to Latinos



Do a Shot If:

Bush mentions the deficit

Bush accuses Kerry of being "French on terrorism"

Kerry accuses Bush of being a pansy for avoiding Vietnam

Bush admits he made a mistake ("miscalculation" counts)

Ralph Nader shows up insisting on airtime



Finish the Bottle If:

Anyone challenges anyone to a duel

The moderator rips off his mask to reveal his true identity is Karl Rove

(via wonkette)

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Your S.P.O.T.
Some Buddhists (and others) have what's known as a SPOT: "Special Place of Tranquility" and it translates well to anyone at any spiritual level. (Word Doc)

Basic SPOT items are:
prayer or meditation beads, amulets, candles, incense and holder, bells, crystals, and flowers. Incense takes the center of the alter, shelf, or table, with a candle and a bell on the right and flowers on the left. Your SPOT should have a universal flavor that can also be individually customized.

You can chant, pray, meditate, or do a reading while lighting the candle, ringing the bell, or using the prayer beads in any order or rhythm that fits you. A minimal SPOT visit could just be ringing the bell and doing gassho (bowing with palms together), and you could have a more involved SPOT visit when something other than routine rolls around or mood dictates it. It can be as basic or grandiose as you wish.

(gassho (gah-'show) is a zen affirmation of life from an intention of humility, gratitude, and mindfulness together with a quick bow with palms together)

Something I enjoy doing at home for spiritual nourishment and to keep me grounded and thought you may want to incorporate it into your daily life, too.

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Visualize Kerry & Fast For Bush



[1] Light a candle. Gaze at the flame. Get calm.



[2] Slowly repeat the intentions, or listen to the audio version. See the visualization ideas as very real.



Give a spiritual component to this Presidential election. Because visualization has great power to do good, here are some ways to promote, spread, and multiply Kerry Visualiation to help change the American consciousness.



Ok. It's an unorthodox campaign approach. With so much at stake, you should use every tool at your disposal, right? (via: Asheville Magazine)



Fast For George W - Don't eat for Bush. Hundreds are fasting today for Dubya.



:: :: :: :: ::

Attention: Starbucks! Another freethinker on the loose. He only asked to have his Cappuccino Grande made with Fair Trade coffee and "...they both glanced across at me, making me feel like I'd asked her for a sexual favour rather than a cup of coffee." Link



more good chit

Rox Populi

Net Politik

Stew Albert

Freakshow Art

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