A 2004 commentary by Doug Bandow of The Future of Freedom Foundation points out how much we love war, well at least politicians love war:

War has become a centerpiece of American politics. The war on terrorism is the focus of U.S. foreign policy. A real war is being fought in Iraq. Jimmy Carter proclaimed the “moral equivalent of war” over energy. Some analysts are advocating a war on obesity.

But, says Bandow, “the longest-running ongoing ‘war’ is the war on drugs.” And since then, our attitudes have changed a bit. A 2008 Washington Post story by Alfonso Cuéllar reminds us:

Two decades ago, illicit imports of cocaine, heroin and marijuana and their use by Americans topped the list of public concerns in nationwide surveys at 22 percent. In January, a Pew Research Center poll found that only 1 percent of the population considered drugs and alcohol the most important problem facing the country.

Nixon Declared the war in June 1971, but the content of the Wikipedia article probably reflects public sentiment in its outsized section on criticisms.

NH State Representative Delmar Burridge recently introduced HB 0037 proscribing death by firing squad:

When the penalty of death is imposed, the punishment for a defendant convicted under RSA 630:1, I(g) shall be execution by firing squad.

Burridge would likely describe himself as “principled,” like when he reported one of his constituents to the cops because of his advocacy for marijuana decriminalization.

The photo above is a still from a Ridley Report interview with him.

Former 2008 Presidential Candidate Lee Mercer shares your concern for circumstances and issues. He wants to crack down on treason and recognizes Democratic concerns about expansion of executive power.

One sunny day in January, 2009 an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue, where he’d been sitting on a park bench. He spoke to the U.S. Marine standing guard and said, “I would like to go in and meet with President Bush.”

The Marine looked at the man and said, “Sir, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides here.”

The old man said “Okay”, and walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, “I would like to go in and meet with President Bush.”

The Marine again told the man, “Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides here.”

The man thanked him and again just walked away.

The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same U.S. Marine, saying “I would like to go in and meet with President Bush.”

The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said, “Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Bush. I’ve told you already that Mr. Bush is no longer the president and no longer resides here. Don’t you understand?”

The old man looked at the Marine and said, “Oh, I understand. I just love hearing it.”

The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, “See you tomorrow, Sir.”

Via Bob Garlitz.

From the Borowitz Report:

In the first two weeks since the election, President-elect Barack Obama has broken with a tradition established over the past eight years through his controversial use of complete sentences, political observers say.

“Every time Obama opens his mouth, his subjects and verbs are in agreement,” says Mr. Logsdon.  “If he keeps it up, he is running the risk of sounding like an elitist.” More…

Story via, picture from jmtimages.

We all knew the sordid details of Palin’s candidacy would emerge, but who figured they pour out so soon or on Fox News? Via Borkweb.com

Presidential Limos are armored, yes, but Gregg Merksamer reveals that George W. Bush’s limos sport five-inch thick glass, more than twice as thick as in Clinton’s limo. Merksamer should know, he wrote the book on so-called “professional cars”. He says half an inch is enough to stop a .44 magnum at point blank range, and BMW’s X5 “Security” model features only a little more than that. So what’s it mean when a person needs ten times that amount?

John McCain’s election team apparently told staff at The Phoenix Biltmore to have extra whisky on hand for their election party tonight. They’re not just planning to drown their sorrows: Republicans and Republican-leaning independents drink more whisky than the national average.

Sweet photo by Bearfaced, though I almost used this picture of barrels (or this one).

I think this election has designers more involved than most. (Via DottieboBottie.)

Via Jon Link: Sarah Palin’s debate strategy flowchart.

Eh. At least she had a strategy. What’s McCain’s plan going to be for tonight?

John McCain thinks fuel efficiency is for sissies. I guess he figures our oil supply is infinite, or that fossile fuel consumption has no effect on climate change. He probably also thinks the Holocaust was a hoax — somebody should ask him.

For now let’s call him a “drill and burn Republican.”

No, I’m not likely to vote for any republican candidates, but this is funny. From the producers:

I’m Voting Republican is a satirical look at the likely outcome of another four years of Republican government. The not-so-subtle message behind the film is the importance of a united bloc of citizens willing to take the time and effort to vote Democrat in order to improve America’s domestic and foreign policy.

Written and directed by Charlie Steak, who previously appeared in Synthetic Human’s award-winning film Drain, I’m Voting Republican features 28 actors and would not have been possible without their efforts and the support of many others. In the research during the development of the film, we came across the quote “Democracy is not a spectator sport.” We hope you agree. Check it out, pass it on, and please, register to vote. Democrat.

“Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.” via

Stolen from Jessamyn’s photostream.

What does it mean about the state of democracy when viral video darling Obama Girl Amber Lee Ettinger shows up in NH? And Chuck Norris too? (Chuck Norris political facts.)

It probably surprises no one that Kucinich’s press secretary’s 18 year old daughter is more articulate than Amber and Chuck combined. Ugh.

Mentioned earlier, but worth mentioning again: TrueMajorityACTION’s Take It Back campaign. Among the videos and political graffiti of the moment, don’t miss Freedom, Beat Box Bush, and Hijacking Catastrophe.

And as funny as the Brazillion Joke is, we need a government that doesn’t lie, a government that’s smart, a government that cares for its people, its soldiers and foreign civilians and our elections.

bush, election, george bush, george w bush, iraq, midterm, midterms, politics, progressive issues, bush, election, iraq, katrina, midterm, war, take it back, true majority, vote, voting, w, war

found by lorelei in Copenhagen.

discovered by Kieran’sPhoto’s’ in Cork.

bush, election, george bush, george w bush, iraq, midterm, midterms, politics, vote, voting, w, war

Karen forwarded mgarthoff’s Freedom, tagged: bush war election midterm iraq katrina on YouTube.

Freedom, bush, election, freedom, george bush, george w bush, iraq, katrina, mgarthoff, midterm, midterms, politics, video, vote, voting, w, war

Preaching to the choir, or encouraging them to sing louder? TrueMajorityACTION’s Take It Back campaign amuses, but will it motivate the middle? Will you join?

politics, progressive issues, t8k it < <, t8k it <<, take it back, true majority

mr. pro-life and his wife, kirsten faith pro-life

names, pro-life, politics

Today’s terms
tags: , concert, music, political criticism, politics, show, the sun, they might be giants, tmbg
echo through pine walls
stretch sun along desire’s coast

They Might Be Giants, playing at Mohegan Sun, drew roars of approval from the crowd when John Flansburgh went off-lyric sheet during The Sun (which they amusingly described as part of their Venue Songs series):

…The heat and light of the sun are caused by nuclear reactions between a failed foreign policy, a failed domestic policy, and a failed presidency…

I’ve not known TMBG to be at all political, just smart. But then, the past six years have awoken a lot of people to outrage. Take note of Call Connected Thru The NSA, a free download from the They Might Be Giants music store.

Don’t forget: TMBG as a podcast. This show is said to be released as a later episode of the podcast.

concert, music, political criticism, politics, show, The Sun, They Might Be Giants, tmbg

I just bought Whiskey Blanket’s It’s Warmer Down Here (2004) on the basis of a few tracks they offered on MySpace.

It’s hip hop, socially critical hip hop (crit hop?), set atop a well constructed downtempo trip hop music bed (yeah, I’ll cut it with the hops already). It immediately brought to mind MC 900 Ft. Jesus’s The City Sleeps and other tracks, but with better, sharper raps and without the MC’s somewhat whiny voice.

Land of the Free stands atop a woody-sounding synth asking us who or what we’re willing to die for, while Cultivation hooks us with a cello trick while speaking of economic and political inequality. What’s the rest of the album hold? I’m looking forward to finding out.

Looks like WHisky Blanket’s performing Saturday night in Boulder, so close and yet so far away from my conference in Denver.

Top photo by Sarah Cass.

boulder, boulder co, colorado, crit hop, cultivation, free mp3, hip hop, land of the free, mp3, music, politics, rap, social criticism, trip hop, whisky blanket

Way back near the end of 2005, Lot 49 reported that the Federal Election Commission had basically ruled that bloggers are journalists:

The Federal Election Commission today issued an advisory opinion that finds the Fired Up network of blogs qualifies for the “press exemption” to federal campaign finance laws. The press exemption, as defined by Congress, is meant to assure “the unfettered right of the newspapers, TV networks, and other media to cover and comment on political campaigns.” The full ruling is available at the FEC site. A noteworthy passage: “…an entity otherwise eligible for the press exception would not lose its eligibility merely because of a lack of objectivity…” (emphasis added)

So, yeah, it’s double-edged, I mean that last line is basically the Fox News Channel exemption, but it also gives those bloggers who consider themselves citizen journalists a leg to stand on.

And the folks in that camp should be happy to have the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s help. As Donna Wentworth says, Bloggers: You Have a Right to Remain Vocal.

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