What happens when you lose track of nine-billion dollars due to fraud, kickbacks, and overall misappropriation? Why you're awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom of course. Wow, what a golden age this is for dirty American politicians and government officials. Accountability? Nawh, who needs it.

Kerry lost. America lost. The world lost. The real kicker this time was that the masses still voted for Bush despite knowing exactly how he would rule a second term. They voted for Bush in record numbers knowing that half their country and most of the world sees him as a zealot, tyrant, a jerk and most importantly -- dangerous.

America has really shot its self in the ass, and this time knowingly by endorsing the reckless actions of this president and administration. Exit polls showed "moral values" was a significant factor in their decision for president, and if by that they mean Bush then I really do feel sorry for the other 49%. To help take the edge off, and inject some humor into this bleak situation here's a pictorial election-day guide, and Harper’s guide to expatriating. A sad day indeed.

The Frontline documentary, Rumsfeld's War is now available online. The joint project between PBS and The Washington Post is an interesting take on the real players behind the scenes and how the civilian leadership (Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and Cheney) basically bitch-slapped the uniformed military command at the pentagon into submission, thus botching the Iraq war planning.

What I found most interesting was the complete reversal of roles from the uniformed military command (Powell) dealing with the press day in and day out during the first gulf war, and the secretary of defense (Cheney) off to the side, to the present day operation with the secretary of defense (Rumsfeld) taking control and uniformed military command (General Myers) in the background.

Sure, Bush seems as incompetent as a five year old, and I wouldn't trust him to make me a sandwich, but people shouldn’t ignore the real brains (or lack of) behind the curtain, with their ideological assumptions of how to use and abuse American power.

Just doing my part in promoting this already well promoted website which is streaming clips from Fahrenheit 9/11, Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War, Going Upriver and other odds and ends. They've also reprinted a few other must read articles like the profile of George W. Bush, 'Without a Doubt' by Ron Suskind originally published in the New York Times, which is guaranteed to send chills up your spine.

Okay, so maybe it's not something that will work in the swing states, but it should help motivate like minded to get off the sofa, put on their shoes, both shoes, clean shirt, grab some food, and vote.

This shouldn't be a fringe issue, and it's a shame the issue of pain and suffering, namely medical marijuana, doesn't rank a little higher with Americans. To be fair, Guns and Ammo Magazine and Right-Wing Christian Nutjob Monthly are rumored to endorse BC'04 any day now ;-)

link via wonkette

Hey America, how are you? I'm fine. Just thought I'd drop you a note to let you know what's going on in the rest of the world, and more specifically how we feel about your current commander in thief George w. Bush. Here's some recommended reading from The Guardian series: What the world thinks of America.

For those still undecided voters, I think I speak for most when I say -- What's your major malfunction? I assume these undecideds are registered to vote, which shows some commitment in that they understand their responsibility in a democracy, but what else do they need to see?

Can you imagine grocery shopping with one of these people? Be sure to wear comfortable shoes. Oy veh.

A few words from Ed Vedder during the Vote for Change concert finale in Washington DC the other night. If you missed the live webcast you can see this video and a few others here.

Howard Fineman on the desperation of the Bush campaign. Sure, but that Kerry fellow -- you know, he looks French and flip flops and stuff...

Howard Fineman on the desperation of the Bush campaign. Sure, but that Kerry fellow -- you know, he looks French and flip flops and stuff...

If you caught the debates you might have heard VP Dick "The Dick" Cheney's slip-up recommending the name of a website (factcheck.com) owned by George Soros. The same billionaire, philanthropist George Soros dedicated to preventing another disastrous Bush presidency. In honour of Dick's slip I've compiled a little list of web URLs that he might find interesting.

Warning, open these addresses at your own risk as they may not be suitable for children, the blind, and undisclosed location dwelling fear mongerers.

Comedy Central may not have the most in depth coverage from the first presidential debate, but they do have by far the funniest.

Slate's Rob Long on the GOP's "Almost Famous" celebrities,

Should have seen this coming, so-called blackhat hackers that want to protest the RNC in New York by ---not letting anyone read its website. The real protesters in NYC will have a hard enough time getting credible media coverage without these asshats violating the opposition’s free speech. I despise Bush as much as the next bag of bones with a pulse but it makes no sense whatsoever to thwart someone’s free speech then in return expect to be heard freely yourself. You can only have two positions on free speech, for it or against it. Sadly these hackers have made their position clear.

Mr. P. Diddy, formally known as Puff Daddy, sometimes known as Puffy, never formally known as any symbol but formally before that know by his mother as Sean Combs now wants to be known as politically aware. Diddy had this to say on CNN yesterday.
Good for Mr. Diddy Puff. I'm truly happy for his new found passion and don't mean to criticize but does anyone else have a growing suspicion that P Daddy simply "borrowed" that message from some other established speaker then rearranged a few words then changed the timing a little?

Is it just me or is anyone else frightened by the name "Department of Homeland Security"? I don't think they could they have picked a more orwellian name. Well, short of the Soviet Union's "Motherland" or Nazi Germany's "Fatherland" that is.

It probably would come as no surprise that I voted for the Victoria Green Party candidate Ariel Lade. The Greens failed to will a single seat in Ottawa, but because of changes under the Elections Finances Act, parties that are able to get 2% of the popular vote will receive $1.75 per vote in federal funding. Even though I knew it would be a close call for the Greens to simply win one seat in parliament I didn't feel my vote was going to be for nothing and that I had to vote for the "lesser of two evils."

The Green Party received some 580,000 votes, an increase of 458% since the 2000 federal election resulting in more than a million dollars in public funds each year. Now you can see why Jim Harris released a "Victory Speech" without winning a single seat. In his speech Harris thanked supporters and criticized the current electoral system. Below are a few quotes which really resonated with me.

Looked everywhere for audio from the Howard Dean Ralph Nader debate today, Dean's site, Ralph's site, C-Span (which had it but didn't work), a search on feedster, and finally found it on NPR of all places (yeah now I know they sponsored it).

I have the utmost respect for both men and IMHO neither came out battered and bruised like many in the blogsphere seem to be saying. Personally I agree 100% with what Nader says, I just don't believe that kind of change can be brought in at the presidential level, that is with the current system that is in place. I believe radical change works best at the local level and works it's way up the political ladder. The fact that the Green Party snubbed Nader this year and nominated David Cobb speaks volumes about Nader's candidacy this year. Why he feels the need to break out on his own instead of working for real change within in a growing progressive movement like the Green Party is beyond me, yet at the same time I really hope this doesn't tarnish Nader's incredible career. Dean did his job and got his point across clearly and diplomatically saying,

"I believe that in the end the people that I care about are served better with a John Kerry presidency than they are with a George Bush presidency."

"We can not let the perfect become the enemy of the good. The stakes are too high."

This election season the US is no different from any other. And with only two real choices for Americans it's like deciding between Coke and Pepsi. Sure, accept the Coke (that did Coke) is laced with arsenic and will fucking KILL you.

Too bad there's no juice on the menu. That's all, thanks for your time.

Andrew Rasiej has put NYC's Giants Stadium on hold for September 1. Which is also the same day as the Republican National Convention in New York City, in hopes that Bruce Springsteen, an outspoken critic of Bush and the war will preform in VoteAid: "Concert for Change".

help draft Bruce.

via Joi Ito

News from Miami case dismissed!

A few interesting comments in an article in the nytimes regarding reaction to Michael Moore's new film premiering at the Cannes Film Festival.


I hear this a lot as one of the main criticisms of Moore's films almost making himself the center of attention instead of the issue he is trying to shed light on. But sounds like he's listened to the critics and taken a different road with his new one.

and this

As a supporter of Greenpeace, I'm going on trial on Monday for protecting the rainforest in the Amazon.
view the animation "Administration's Most Wanted" and Take Action.

Read more, NYTimes: "Typical Greenpeace Protest Leads to an Unusual Prosecution "

I've been watching the testimony live on CNN and was really shocked by the opening remarks by Sen. "Global warming is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people" James Inhofe. I don't have a transcript now but he basically went down a list of atrocities committed Saddam's government, of course leaving out the magic 3 words "with American support", as if to say, If Saddam's thugs could torture, rape and kill why can't we?

The Center for American Progress today launched a comprehensive Claim vs. Fact database www.claimvfact.org that documents statements from conservatives like President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Members of Congress and Fox News personalities, and compares those statements to the facts. Each fact is sourced, and in many cases includes a web link directly to that source.

A personal favourite of mine from the database, with video to back it up.

Dick Cheney and Antonin Scalia star in Justice is Duckblind

gut wrenching photos from anonymous photographer in Iraq

link via consumptive via MetaFilter

... so Antonin, you're saying there is a price?