It's important to be warm

Political costumes to scare yourself silly.

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In my role as precinct captain, we have reached our goal of 63 solid Kerry votes and are up to 72! I’m so relieved. Still, more work to do, miles to go before we sleep, etc.

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At the MoveOn rally yesterday, I was struck by the wonderful feeling of singing the Star Spangled Banner in a room full of people who generally want a similar America to what I’d envision. As part of the whole aging thing, or else just part of being emotional by nature, I get choked up awfully easily. For a long time, I couldn’t stand anything so syrupy in its patriotism, but things have changed. It was back in the days when Ani summed up so much for me, I was only just realizing what a patriot could be. Of course, I’ve changed. I no longer savor in my old above-it-all attitude towards being an American. I see the good fortune and opportunities, and also the great, gaping flaws. This is an amazing and wonderful country, for the most part, and it’s just far too angsty to keep up the distain that I used to haul around for god and country. I’ve worked out neither, nevertheless I feel a lot closer to some sense of myself in both of those lofty concepts.

I’m often asked what it’s like to move back home, and I don’t know how to really answer it properly. But the one aspect that all the questioners really want to talk about quietly prevails. There is this deep sense of continuity, especially now, with all the political action. My milkteeth were cut on Civics 101; yesterday a kid I knew in back high school got the rally singing and clapping along to his first political song (the rest are mostly broken love songs, by his own admission). He was good, still sporting that tweaky grin of his, just a bit more shoulders and belly than he had at fifteen. He sang in a rally that was inside one of the first clubs I ever went to, under a new name now of course, different paint, same steel beams.

Along with all the usual rhetoric of such a rally, there was the unsubtle reminder that this election really has little to do with most of the people working for it. It’s all for the infant and little kids that were there in that room, as pointed out by the old union guy speechifying. One of the people I read online did a great entry in favor of Bush winning just so he can stink of the shitpile he’s created. At the same time, the writer acknowledges he can consider watching the long term play-out of events because he’s not a pregnant girl nor does he have car or house payments to make. It is luxury to be waiting for the revolution.

Perhaps not feeling that luxury anymore is what makes me get all maudlin when “the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there”.

Filed by joy at 1:54 am under politics
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No, not the fun wank, the annoying wank.

Pledge to stop a stolen election. After all, the pessimist is too often right.

Homeland Security is hassling a toy store. Geezus H. “Aren’t there any terrorists out there?”

EDIT:
I totally forgot to post this the other day. Knife Party. Secret back-door props to MK12.

Filed by joy at 10:53 pm under politics
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Please let the Red Sox have long coattails. Please…

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got this in an email:
National Celibacy Day
November 2
NO DICK – NO BUSH

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I got an email from Yes, Bush Can. I don’t know how or why or what the hell is up with this group, but as long as they’re pulling the Kerry lever, ok by me. Weird freakin’ stuff.

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If I had more time (har har), I’d read Guerrilla News Network, among so many other things. I (heart) indymedia. Wanna weep inside a little? Sure you do. Read this.

Filed by joy at 12:47 am under politics
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Ya know, I hate this election. I can’t stand the way I can’t stand this country. How the hell are half of Americans (who vote) gonna vote for this…this…AKK…I’ve clean run out of ways to describe the nasty man who happens to be president.

I’m so tired. I’ve spent so much time over my thirty years being embarrassed of being an American. It’s exhausting to be this aggravated all the time.

I never wanted to have a political blog (as in purely political, I am political by nature). I don’t really think it will be over on Nov. 3, but I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised. Either I’ll be thrilled that Bush is done, or, sadly more likely, trying to figure out how fast we can get the hell out of this country.

Canvassing is exhausting. After all, I don’t really like talking to people, or meeting new people, or going to strangers’ houses, and really it’s just against my nature. But, the guilt that I’ll feel if I don’t do everything possible, well, guilt is known to be all-consuming.

Ugh.

There’s also this drama with my neighbors, but I need to see how that shakes out before details. Short version, no surprise that all the kids next door are rather afraid of their dad. Not sure what I’m gonna do about it.

So, on to the linkfest:
Kari is on my good list for sending me The Freeway Blogger
She’s on my shitlist for making me crazy stressy over Electoral-Vote
One minute I love her, the next I’m all pissed. I’m such a flip-flopper!

And for the non-swing state readers, please consider Vote Pair

Ok, then there is Eminem hating Bush. Hoodies galore.

Rock on Jon Stewart, just because.

Filed by joy at 7:13 pm under life
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O M G
In every four-year term there is a chosen one. He alone will face the American public, the United Nations, and the forces of darkness. He is the President.
Buffy fans for Kerry. Can I get a gawddamn?

And now, introducing to the web for the very first time, Boris the Lizard.
He was found near the Orchid plant at the gallery, so I took him home.

Filed by joy at 2:58 pm under random
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I’ve been away, and now am learning to knit while Melissa visits. Things are good and I’m not online.

I will be canvassing for MoveOn this weekend. I let them recruit me. I feel overwhelmed, but much better about taking an active role in delivering PA for the Dems.

Here’s a few shards:
Bush wasn’t bugged, he’s just on medical risk watch.

Jon Stewart rocks all y’all’s houses. I don’t watch Crossfire but I’m so glad this episode is online. Thank you, Jon.

Sinclair is still doing great harm to democracy in the name of “news”. Situation=normal.

More anon.

Filed by joy at 10:32 am under life
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Ian sent me this video and also this ballot and I know all I talk about is the damn election and really, I fucking bored of it, too.

Nineteen days, y’all.

And of course, on beyond the election is the Sinclair broadcasting debacle. My illustrious pal E created Boycott Fox 53 against the local station, and it has national info, too. Another little thorn in the side of the evil empire…

Filed by joy at 4:50 pm under politics
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I’ve been ranting on about how Dubya ain’t the sharpest stick, but he does play up his deficiencies. Well, somebody went and proved it.

Lookie here.

Filed by joy at 1:22 am under politics
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When Bruce Springsteen tells you, the folks at watching at home, to get up off your couch, turn up the sound all the way on that TV, and take off all your clothes, well, by golly, you just want to do what the man says.

Hopefully his call to vote will work just as well.

Thank you Sundance Channel for the live concert broadcast and the behind the scenes stuff. I hope it is going to be archived somewhere on the Act for Change site.

Filed by joy at 12:04 am under politics
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I really don’t know what else to write about this. Plenty of other netizens have taken care of that. Start to read more at The Nation among so many others.

Go, click, sign: Stop Sinclair and write a letter to the editor, anything else you can think of.

Democracy, y’all.

Filed by joy at 7:57 pm under politics
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