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Proud member of the vast, left wing conspiracy. 

The links below were checked and updated August 18th 2003

George Dubyah Bush "news" -- honestly, I haven't added to this in some time now.  Everyone knows that he's an aggressive dufuss.  

Elections -- Election 2002--my take on what went wrong, Scam Pain 2000 -- fun stuff on the Republican coup d'etat.

For Voting Information (preview your ballot), bot to E-Democracy.Org (assuming that there actually is democracy here, of course.)

For presidential election outcomes and exit polls, visit CNN's site.

interesting off-site links

• Open Secrets.org: Money in Politics  This site tracks the flow of money from special interests and pacs to politicians.
• Move-On.Org -- the most powerful grassroots political organization in history, thanks to the Internet.  Every liberal and opponent of the Bushreich should sign up for their mailing list and participate in their petitions.  
• Who Decides?  Check your state's grade on defending reproductive freedom (NARAL sponsored).  Find out how close you are to ending up in a state like South Dakota.  
• League of Conservation Voters -- In spite of all appearances to the contrary, my primary interest is in the environment and the long term viability of this planet.  Democrats and Republicans have both moved slower than tree sloths in getting the things done we need to in order to mitigate the environmental damage.  Consider voting for Green Party and other environment friendly candidates.  I'm sorry, Dick, market based solutions will not solve the problem of clean energy. 
• Pagan Unity Campaign--"So vote it be!"
• Critiques of Libertarianism -- Sure, Marx was delusional when he thought humans would gladly do what he said, but I fail to see how the libertarian perspective deserves to be taken any more seriously than Marxism.  Mike Huben took the time to give us the philosophical apparatus to rip their ontological throats out--if for some reason you feel inclined to argue with someone who believes that property rights make any more sense in a government-free society than do taxes.  Can you say "Somalia, Sierra Leon and Liberia"?  Say, is it just me, or does it feel like America is sliding in that direction?
• Politics and Science @ US House Committee on Government Reform (Henry Waxman) Great fact-based short analyses of silly ideas like abstinence only education and denial of global warming.  The abstinence only piece is especially important.  Read it.
• Reproductive Health and Rights Center (choice.org)
• CNN Election 2000 returns and exit poll statistics Incredible details down to the county level, and exit polls.  There is some very informative data here.  
• The Reagan Years.  If you are one of those living with a distorted recollection of the 1980's, visit this nice web site.  Part of a larger project, Liberalism Resurgent, which provides useful counterarguments to supply side economics.

A Bit Fringey

• Disinformation.com  News, information, interviews, and all sorts of things you'll never see on CNN.  The ultimate site for intelligent trouble makers.
• World Policy Institute Arms Trade News and WPI Reports and WPI Updates: lots of information the Bush administration would love to make go away.
• Hermes Press--The New Enlightenment: A Journal of Social and Metaphysical Inquiry  This quirky site is full of fascinating, subversive and entertaining intellectual criticism of the scumbags and dimwits who run the world.   The quality of the info varies, so I don't recommend it to those who are easily swept into conspiracy theories.  Ah yes, conspiracy theories...the problem with the Bush administration is that there are just way too many plausible ones.  It's tough to decide on your favorite.  
• Paul Wolf's COINTELPRO site--how the FBI and CIA have been undermining dissent and freedom in America since the 1960's.  No, it didn't start with Bush.  In fact, the framework and foundation for the Patriot Act was laid with Bill Clinton's blessing after Oklahoma City.  Letting(?) the World Trade Center get blown up gave the plan the final thrust that it needed to get past the resistance of right wing libertarian resistance.  Isn't it strange how quickly the Patriot Act was ready for submission to congress after 9/11???  Think Reichstag Fire, folks  More conspiracy theory stuff, but it is all rather provocative.  It is interesting to ponder the deep chasm between the nature of Clinton's alleged crimes (none of which were ever proven, except for one that was caused by the harassing investigation into a man's private business) and the admittedly conjectural and circumstantial suspicions and assumptions carried by Bush's detractors.  
• Public Information Research--dig into the hidden and disturbing intelligence and disinformation generated in regards to everything from organized crime to flying saucers.  I just started exploring it, but it looks like it's well researched, though a lot of it is older information.  However, that's good, because a lot of information about things that happened before 1985 just isn't available on-line.
• Michael Moore's web site  
• The Days and Nights of Death--hypertext presentation of images and poetry for the brutal killings of protesters at the G8 meeting in Genoa, Italy.  This is what happens to those who try to resist the onslaught of globalized "free markets".  
  

Voter Information

• Issues 2000: Most presidential candidates, all the issues.  Still a cool site, even after the Supreme Court Coup d'Etat.
• Politics1 Very complete listing of the presidential candidates.

The State of the American Legal System

Attorney General John Ashcroft unveils his two-fisted
 plan for school safety.

Who are the Real Cowards?

The Republicans love to criticize people for draft dodging.  But, of all the right wing whackos and goons in the government today, try to find one who actually served in the military.  Who actually has military service in their resumé?  Who is sending our children in harm's way?  [click here]  Do you think Rush Limbaugh would speak kindly of a liberal who got out of serving in Vietnam because of "anal cysts?"

While we're at it, why does Bush need such ominous and aggressive security for his appearances in public?  I don't think that even Nixon, unpopular as he was, had anything like the negative effect on such a large part of the population.  What does it mean that he can only handle discussions of matters of importance with people who agree with him?  Bush cancelled his fund-raising visit to my town of Minneapolis at the last minute.  Perhaps it's because the last time he came, there were a lot of protesters here to greet him.  This time, the group will be far larger, I'm sure.  What does it tell you that the president is afraid to face disagreement?  

• Handgun Control.org  Sandy and I have always been against the possession of handguns and assault rifles.  That's largely because there are way too many angry alcoholics with bad tempers who carry them illegally loaded under the seat of their pickup trucks.  In other words, I am not convinced that the people who really want to own powerful firearms are the right people to be carrying them hidden in their coats.  Now that we have a budding, oppressive military dictatorship in America, I'm feeling more confident that the NRA's favorites for the last election will turn on their constituents, and begin taking firearms away from people.  

• Michael Moore responds to crackpot lying liars who are attempting to discredit his incredibly popular "Bowling for Columbine."

Coalition to Stop Gun Violence 

• Tolerance.Org  

• FBI's Megiddo Report: Why the FBI stopped caring about witches and started worrying about violent, racist doomsday cranks.  There are a few serious errors of research here, and some dubiously broad claims made about neopagan groups like Odinists.  However, in general, I feel the FBI is on the right path here in scrutinizing apocalyptic, racist, anti-government conspiracy mongers--which before 9/11 were nearly all right winger Republicans and Libertarians.  While I believe that freedom of thought and word are absolute necessities, we as a society need to understand that certain discourse is highly antisocial and destructive.  The greatest problem of social philosophy is that of resolving these two competing claims to moral imperative: personal freedom vs social well-being for the greatest number.  One thing I know for certain: a world defined by the ideals of Apocalyptic, racial separatist Christian homophobes is vastly more disturbing than a world of open acceptance of cultural exchanges of all kinds accompanied by an effective social welfare system that might go haywire due to the excesses of some do-gooder liberals who get too excited about sensitivity training sessions.  A philosophy or policy based on either fear or anger (like extreme conservatism) depends upon ignorance and suppressing thought (asking questions).   Immigrants and oddballs make it difficult for us to remain stupid.  In light of the fact that fiscal conservatism is linked to handguns, anger, superstitious fear of racial mixing, opposition to socialized health care, fundamentalist religious fanaticism and homophobia, we consider ourselves to be staunchly anti-conservative, and find the Megiddo Report to be a surprisingly enlightened gesture on the part of that government agency.  Still, in light of recent events, and my own reviewing of Clinton era repression of the Right Wing, I am starting to realize that it was Clinton who tried in vain to start this very sort of terrorysteria, and repeal of constitutional rights.  The left and the moderates stood placidly by as Waco and Ruby Ridge showed us the underbelly of democracy: a growing police state.  It was easy to pull off when the Weaver and Koresh were such dispicable creatures.  

• See also our analysis of Hate Crime statistics.

•  

Democrats and Ralph Nader--The Alternatives that Aren't

The most exasperating thing about the current political situation is that at least until the 2000 Pseudoelection, 9/11 and Halliburton/Harken, the differences between the Republicans and Democrats were almost nothing.  The early stages of the post-9/11 tragedy excitement were filled with some rather unsavory promiscuity between these parties.  Dick Gephardt and Paul Wellstone are prime examples of Texas cowboy boot polishers.  However,  the media-synthesized mask of competency over Bush has begun to crack under popular pressure to find out who is to blame for driving their retirement portfolios backwards 15-20 years.  These oil bastards and inside traders robbed us all--even many employees of the corporate controlled media.  

Democrats let Ashcroft in without any reasonable fight in spite of the simple and blatant fact that he is a vindictive, partisan, crackpot with unspeakably quaint religious convictions.  

Democrats let the Patriot Act pass without reading it, and most of them have not spoken out against it yet.  Mark Dayton of Minnesota came out with a vitriolic anti-Ashcroft campaign attack on August 22nd on MPR.  It's about time somebody got a spine in Washington.

Democrats let George Bush Sr. buy the failed election for his son, who seems to have an uncanny talent for failing upwards.

Democrats let the insane War on Terror spin out of control and drive the rest of the world away from us.  The media is hiding from us the depth of global fear and anger toward America right now.  Naturally, Tony Blair is behind us, but the rest of England is as ashamed of Blair as we are of Bush.  Our puppet governments in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are supporting us, even as the crowds are practically bashing the palace doors down there.  

Democrats are trying hard to squelch investigation into Lieberman and Robert Rubin, who probably deserve as much blame as any other politician or public servant.    (The more I think about it, the more I realize that the differences between having Cheney or Lieberman for vice president are quite unimportant.)

As much as it might pain that windbag Limbaugh, the differences between the Democrats and Republicans are so small now as to be almost negligible.  Those few who still hold to their congenital faith in Democrats tell me that they have to bow down in order to survive politically.  I hardly think that's a reasonable excuse.  If the Republicans are such bullies, then it's time to unveil the bully.  The Democrats have done little more than slow down the inevitable.  Soon, they will vote for Bush Sr.'s revenge in Iraq.  Soon they will approve some Federalist Society judicial nominees.  Soon they will give even more power to "Homeland Security."  The only reason to vote for these spineless louts is a remote chance that they might slow down the process of destroying America.  

And then there's Ralph Nader.  I love the Green Party platform.  I even agree with a significant portion of what Ralph says.  However, it's not enough to be an incisive critic of what is wrong with American politics and economics.  There is also a significant amount of evidence of venal and maniacal behavior on his part.  There were also numerous warning signs that he is an ego-maniac sexist.  Very little of his verbal platform relates to women's issues.  His treatment of Winona LaDuke during the campaign was both appalling and counterproductive.  He can't expect us to vote for someone he doesn't even let speak in public with him.  He did absolutely zilch to show to America that she is competent to do the job.  As far as I'm concerned, he hasn't done squat to prove to me that HE is competent to do the job, not to mention healthy enough.  I bet even that twad Dubyah could beat the tar out of Ralph.  But, that won't happen because Ralph was being funded by Republicans and his own mutual fund investments in companies he attacks.   

I enjoy listening to Michael Moore, but his devotion to Nader is incomprehensible to me at this point.  It's not a valid argument that because choice A and B are both bad that choice C is better--especially if there is a choice D.  Sandy and I are looking hard at all the fourth and fifth party candidates this year--to make a statement.  

Sandy and I are both very pessimistic about our choices in the next election, unless, by some miracle of ethical integrity, the Democrats actually take up a worthy opposition to the fascist fanaticism of the REAL axis of evil: Cheney, Rumsfeld and Ashcroft.   As far as we're concerned, Republicans are always a bad choice.  Ralph Nader is a tragically flawed non-option.  It remains to see what the Democrats can churn out for the next two elections, but it's going to take some major changes in rhetoric before I support some of these corporate lickspittles.  Things aren't looking good right now...

Paul Wellstone's Memorial

Garrison Keillor joked that St. Paul is named after Wellstone.  It would be mawkish if it weren't for the fact that the joke is surely very irritating to some Christians, but probably not to the Catholic Church.