TOMPAINE.com - Wounded, Weary And Disappeared

Purple Hearts
Yes, the official body count of American soldiers during the Iraqi occupation has just recently exceeded the number killed during the "war" itself. But the number of wounded is officially set at around 800 men and women. And others in the know, according to this article at Tom Paine, suggest that it could really be up to the thousands.

Consider, for a moment, what being wounded in combat means. This is not like the disabled list in baseball. I mean, we're talking lost limbs. Lost eyesight. Lost hearing. Permanent paralysis. Gunshot wounds. Shrapnel wounds. Things like that.

The President has yet to visit the wounded at Walter Reed Hospital.

I think that speaks for itself.

Rejecting Wedgies
Wedge politics is a term to describe campaign policies meant to highlight the differences between segments in the electorate to incite them to vote one way or another. It is, by definition, divisive.

It was really originated by Richard Nixon, in his appeals to the "Silent Majority" in 1968, a code word meant to distinguish folks from the hippies, radicals, anti-war protesters, & civil rights demonstrators. But it was really raised to a whole other level by Lee Atwater, former GOP National chairman and manager of George H.W. Bush's 1988 campaign, with such things as the infamous Willie Horton ads. Needless to say, when they allowed party operatives to promote rumors South Carolina that John McCain had an illegitimate bi-racial baby as part of their campaign to crush his insurgency during the 2000 Republican primary, Karl Rove & our President proved they were zen masters of the wedge.

And this is why Michael Cudahy, a registered Republican, is now supporting Howard Dean for President.

Why
This gentleman on Common Dreams has EXACTLY articulated the reasons I support Howard Dean for President of the United States.

Favorite Quote: "His present positions do not unanimously agree with mine but I believe Howard Dean actually deals with evidence and reality and then arrives at a solution and a considered policy. In other words, I believe a citizen might be able to change Dean's mind."

Harry Lime Quote of the Day


"You mean the one from the four countries that got together and had a little, bitty summit?..... Yeah, the chocolate makers....."


- State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher, referring to a proposal by France, Germany, Belgium, & Luxembourg to create a European military command center separate from NATO.

For those of you who don't know who Harry Lime is, do yourself a favor and check out The Third Man. It's especially relevant now, in this "post-major combat" days.

No Chance In Hell
So, it looks like I'm going to have a Dean Hat-Trick today. Let the ranting commence....

I just had a conversation with one of my co-workers who'd heard Gov. Dean speak for the first time this weekend on C-Span. This gentleman, who'd campaigned for John F. Kennedy in the 1960 election, said that he believed Dean was his kind of candidate - he was thoughtful, strong, and had integrity. He said he would DEFINITELY vote for him.

But he also said that Dean has no chance in Hell of becoming President of the United States.

He cited the '60 election as an example: Nixon had spent the previous 8 years as the incumbent Vice-President from a popular administration. On paper, Kennedy had nothing even close to Tricky Dick's qualifications. But JFK was a good looking man and, in my friend's estimation, Americans vote with their hearts instead of their heads.

I cannot tell you how many times I've been told the exact same thing - people (usually men) love Dean but think he'll get creamed in the election. But when you listen to the reasons they cite, it tends to be something along the lines of this:

"The American people are too stupid to vote for what's good for them."

Now, to be honest and fair, I've said similar things myself. But then, I have to consider this: how often has the electorate actually made a mistake?

Gore actually got more votes than Bush, it's just that the election was within the margin of error and went to Bush on a technicality.

Was it a mistake for the public to vote for Reagan over Carter? Well, in light of that given moment in time (inflation, oil shortages, American hostages in Iran), it didn't really look like Carter was getting the job done. He was probably a better humanitarian than Reagan, but he wasn't handling the basic requirements of the job, namely peace & prosperity.

Was it a mistake to elect Bush over Dukakis? Or Nixon over Humphreys?

I think what all of these guys (Carter, Dukakis, Humphreys) had in common is that they allowed the opposition to paint them as soft. And the fundamental requirement of leadership is strength.

In the oath of office every President must take on his Inauguration Day, he pledges to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States". It's not a job for equivocation. You can't run a country by citing your credentials or brandishing a resume.

If you want to be the most powerful man (or, dare I say, woman, Mrs. Clinton?) in the world, you have to demonstrate that you are worthy of power. And power begins with strength.

George Bush is many things, but, no matter how many mistakes he makes, it is his illusion of strength that makes him seem insurmountable. All of the Democratic Senators who are running for President are losing ground to Howard Dean because they are clearly pandering to Bush's side of the electorate instead of standing up for something. Guys like Kerry, Gephardt, Edwards & Lieberman would all be crushed against Bush. I mean, really, if I want a Republican agenda, why would I ever vote for a Democrat masquerading as a Republican? The country is polarized, and rather than trying to steal from Bush's thunder, Dean is waking up the other side of the equation.

Trust me, my friends, a Dean vs. Bush election will be VERY, VERY ugly. But guys only fight dirty when they're afraid they'll lose.

And I think Karl Rove gets the "Duck Season - Wabbit Season" award for asking for the thing he doesn't want to make people think he really wants it so they'll keep it from him. They don't really want to run against Dean, because Dean won't bow to Bush like he's f'n Hirohito.

No Chance In Hell? We'll see about that.

"I LOVE me some John Ashcroft! Don't NOBODY be talking bad about John Ashcroft!!! YOU JUST SHUT YOUR STINKING MOUTH ABOUT JOHN ASHCROFT!!!!!!!!"

After Howard Dean said that John Ashcroft is not a patriot, Tom Delay has issued an official press release from his office calling Gov. Dean, among other things, a "cruel and extremist demogogue".

Whoa.

Ignoring the whole "pot-calling-the-kettle-black" aspect of all of this, who knew that the Attorney General had such a special place in the majority whip's heart. People might start to get ideas about them, you know....

Humbling Quote of the Day

"Seeing all those people out there, the enormity of it all really struck me. For the first time I realized what it really means to be President of the United States--seeing all those people out there, counting on you."

-Howard Dean, reacting to the 15,000 people who showed up to rally for his Presidential Campaign in Seattle last weekend.

You're Going To Hell

"Your" Going To Hell
I still am not completely convinced this is real, but it's certainly amusing for those of you who are not of the more fundamentalist bent. I'm actually fascinated by the fact that this person spent this much time on the site but registered an incorrectly spelled URL. At any rate, the most bizarre part of the site (other than the Hellraiser-like images) is the fact that really bad MIDI versions of popular songs such as Prodigy's "Firestarter" and Nine Inch Nails' "Closer" play while you find out how to save yourself from the fiery pit.
Be healed, my children.

Electoral College Calculator - version 2.2

College Scores
Here's a nifty little online tool that let's you calculate Presidential election results based on what states you expect your candidate to win. Let the speculation commence.....

I prefer the term "Volunteer" shops, myself
Demonstrating his commitment to cheap labor, the President has outsourced fundraising for his campaign to India.

Where to begin.....

Til Death Do Us Part
As processor speed in computers increase, silicon chips will become more and more obsolete because they'll melt under the increasing heat. So various scientists around the world are working on chips made of studier substances.

Like diamonds.

In fact, according to this Wired article, there are at least two American companies that have successfully grown synthetic 3 carat yellow diamonds in a lab for $100 a pop or less.

And the people at DeBeers are not happy. Not happy at all.

Favorite quote from the son of one of these diamond farmers: "my father's research was a good way to get a bullet in the head".

Red Meat for the Party Regulars
Since Gallup and Zogby aren't a broad enough cross section of the public to truly gage support for the California Recall, Taco Bell has decided to take polling into their own hands.

Let me repeat that: Taco Bell is conducting a poll for the California Recall, based around what kind of tacos sell the most between now and October 7th.

Is there anything I even COULD say about this?

Political Dis of the Day

"We're still focused on defeating question one on the ballot. Question two has become a sideshow with one less clown."

- a spokesman for California Governor Gray Davis, responding to the news that 2002 Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon had dropped out of the recall election.

Ain't Gettin' Any
While recently completing a course of study at Harvard (demonstrating once again why the Crimson can at best hope for a tie with Old Nassau in U.S. News & World Report), Al Franken wrote the letter, linked above, to John Ashcroft. In it, Franken asked the Attorney General to give his first hand accounts of sexual abstinence for Franken's alleged new book, entitled "Savin' It".

Priceless.

Unbecoming Conduct
The inspiration for, at least, the name of the fallen Spirit of America in Micah Wright's Stormwatch: Team Achilles, this site his a clearinghouse for vets, disgruntled soldiers, and their troubled loved ones back home as they try to mobilize in defense of their family and against the flawed plans of the Pentagon. Definitely worth a look-sie.

The Golden State's Forbidden Fruit
I've lived in California for exactly 4 years, as of next week, and I just saw my first orange grove this month. There was a time that millions of crates bearing California fruit where shipped all over the country, marked with a signature style of labels like the ones shown here, with slogans like "Don't Worry", or "Dainty Maid", or, my personal favorite, "Hustler".


Of course, our latest export, political anarchy, might be coming to a polling place near you, so get in on the new vogue. Buy some classic Ah-nold gear at the link abovee and show your support for the new regime.

Quote of the Day

"I'll probably be found dead in the woods."

-British WMD scientist David Kelley, in response to a question posed by an acquaintance in private, regarding the consequences if Iraq was invaded, even after Kelley had personally assured Iraqi officials that they would be safe as long as they complied with UN weapons inspectors.

Six months later, Kelley went missing after walking his dog, days after being fingered as the potential BBC informant who's suggested that Tony Blair's government had exaggerated the Iraq threat.

His body was eventually found with his wrists slashed, in a wooded area near his home.

Burning Bush Quote of the Day

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image...."

- The Book of Exodus, Chapter 20, Verse 4, King James Bible

One can only hope that Alabama Judge Roy Moore is as committed to the spirit of God's law as he has been to this Ten Commandment monument he had built to display in his courtroom in a blatant violation of the Constitution.

Irony abounds.

The New Republic
There are two very different experiments in direct democracy happening in this country right now.

The first, more hyped, more ill-conceived of the two is the Grand Guignol of Politics we call the California Recall Election, which came into being after paid volunteers worked day and night to get 2% percent of the population to over turn an election that was decided by 8 million voters. Now, 135 candidates have 8 weeks before they appear on a punch card ballot that could be up to 4 pages long and, on that date, even if 49% of the voters support Gov. Davis, a he can be replaced by anyone who's fortunate enough to get just one more vote than his nearest opponent. No majority needed and no run-offs in place. Our new governor could have a mandate from a whopping 5% of the electorate before trying to undo an $8 Billion dollar budget deficit in a legislature that requires a 2/3 majority to raise ANY new taxes.

Alot of numbers, I know. The short answer: a guy with very little political clout could be replaced by a guy with NO political clout or expertise in the midsts of a legislative crisis. And, if Davis is kicked out and replaced by The Terminator or, god forbid, Bill Simon, does anyone think that the Democrats will waste one second to stage their own recall?

The other exercise in direct democracy is Howard Dean's asymetrical political campaign.

As Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi describes in this interview, Meetup.com and Dean's Blog For America have created an environment where a politician can have a direct line of communication with his consituents, and where both Dean and his supporters assume responsibility for his campaign.

Case in point: one of the ideas yours truly suggested on Blog for America was a series of Dean tailgate parties. If you assume that the vast majority of the population isn't interested in the politics that effects their daily lives, then what are they interested in? Well, sports, for one. So, my idea was to make a showing at some sporting events. Don't be annoying and pester people about politics. Go there for the game, but were your Dean colors as a group. Eventually people will come talk to you.
Well, here's a recent posting on Dean's Blog:

Politics is not a Spectator Sport -- Baseball for America



Yesterday I asked Gray to find examples of Dean supporters using the Get Local website to rally at baseball games. Here are just a few:

Phillies Game, September 6, 7 PM, Veterans Stadium
Join us for one of the final baseball games at the Vet! We need 25 people or more to get the Philly4Dean.com up on the marque! If we get 40 or more people we get a deeper discount on tickets, so invite all your friends and neighbors to see the Vet one last time.

Dean Visibility at Fenway Park, Friday, Aug. 29.
Politics is not a spectator sport. Join in on a large visibility at, around, and in Fenway Park. Spread the word about Dean while greeting all the Fenway faithful (35,000 fans!) as the Red Sox face the Yankees on Friday, August 29th. Wear your Dean shirt, red socks, and bring your friends, family, and flyers.

The community impacts the candidate and each other. Can you imagine, just for a moment, what a White House Blog would be like? What kind of impact that could have?

I were my Dean button daily these days, and I generally get two responses. Most women say "I love Howard Dean! I think he's great!" and that's it. Most men say, "I love what Dean has to say, but he doesn't have a chance in Hell of winning." To which, my response is this:

If people who think he's great but can't win actually voted for Dean, he just might win.

Voting your conscience might actually elect a President this time around. Imagine that.

Now, I've spoken at length in the past about this issue of electibility, but I'd just like to consider one thing: if so many people think Dean is great, who do they think are the people who will vote for Bush? More importantly, WHY do they think these people will vote for Bush?

Anyway, keeping in line with the activism of the campaign, Dean is compiling a petition calling for a scaling back of the USA Patriot Act and opposition to it's successor, The Victory Act, which seeks to let John Ashcroft creep even further inside your business. Check the link above and sign up.

leaving the children behind.....
Princeton University's motto is "In The Nation's Service". Wendy Kopp, who graduated from my alma mater in 1989 took that idea to heart when she founded Teach for America in 1990 as a way to provide higher quality teachers in some of the most disadvantaged neigborhoods in the county. TFA would provide college scholarships to students who committed to teaching in inner city schools for 2 years after graduation. Over the last decade, TFA has helped over 9000 students through college, who then, in turn, helped educate over 1.25 million kids across the country.

A large part of why Teach for America was so successful was because it received substantial grants as a part of President Clinton's AmeriCorps initiative. Which is why many people breathed a sigh of relief last year when President Bush praised TFA as a model of the kind of civic volunteerism he envisioned for the whole country.

That is, of course, before Bush cut the funding to AmeriCorps and dropped Teach for America from the program completely. Over 3000 college students who'd been accepted into Teach for America this year are suddenly finding themselves without their scholarships just before the new school year and just as state universities across the country are increasing tuition by as much 40%. Let alone the kids who won't have the value of a young, dedicated teacher through the program.

This is the true face of Bush's fiscal policy. Don't forget it.