The republicans have become a party that treats every suggestion for the common good as a direct attack on their personal liberty…Inflate my tires? Fuck you, get me more oil. Don’t even suggest you’re going to screw with my ability to cheat on my taxes. Yes, this week the president had the audacity to suggest that billion dollar corporations with fake offices in the Bahamas be taxes at the higher rate of not being able to steal anymore. You’ve heard of opposite marriage, they’re practicing opposite patriotism. This last Earth Day, Rush Limbaugh celebrated by praising coal fire power plants and the plastic bag, while Glenn Beck cheered a man on while chopping down trees. Not really an ideology here, you’re just being a dick. When the president suggests things that are for the greater good, it’s not a slight against your fragile manhood. I know, I know, you’re a rugged individualist, except you’re not, you’re just a dick.
—
Bill Maher (via soupsoup)
I just wanted to save this one. For the record, I think Bill Maher’s a dick, too, even though I agree with him most of the time. Does that mean I’m a dick?
Scorpios
I was putting antifreeze in my car today. I’m inept at such things. Pouring the fluid into the funnel was easy enough, as was figuring out where to put the funnel, but I couldn’t tell how much fluid was in the runoff bottle (or whatever it’s called). There was a fill line on the outside of the bottle, but it was made out of an opaque plastic, shrouding the bottle’s contents in mystery. I poured until an old water/antifreeze cocktail gurgled out of its mouth—the one thing my dad had warned me against. I started up the car and checked the oil, because that’s something I’m good at.
While I was wiping off the dipstick, a middle-aged black man on a Razor Scooter zipped up next to me. He was friendly enough. He smelled kind of like licorice. He told me that he was trying to panhandle up the block and some guy told him, “You think just because Obama got elected president that I’m going to start talking to blacks?”
We got to talking, and he told me his life story—but just a portion because he had places to be. He served 15-20 years upstate. He was trying to get somewhere to apply for a job, and he needed the money to get himself down to Richmond Rd. and get cleaned up. He showed me all his documentation to show me he wasn’t lying. He said he’d just celebrated his birthday on the 9th. I told him mine was on the 1st.
“Scorpios!” he exclaimed. I looked for some change in my car and even checked my wallet while I was in there, but all I had was a nickel, which I handed him.
He told me he was glad I at least heard him out, and added, “Thank you for saving my life.” And then gave me a man-hug.
"We're Playing a Numbers Game"
I spent all day working the polls as a door clerk. One of our machines broke down after the first person cast his vote, and since I was assigned to a predominantly African-American/Democratic district, there were rumblings among those in line (and we had a line out the door that started forming at 5:30 a.m.) that the fix was in. Regardless of how the drama played out, that wasn’t the way I wanted it to go down. I don’t think anyone did.
But the machine was fixed—and then later had to be fixed again—and the rest of the day was really calm. I did nothing. People trickled in at a steady pace, and I said “Hello” and “Good morning” and held open the door for the few people in wheelchairs. At the end of the day, the results were decidedly “blue,” but that was the expected outcome.
Down the block on Van Duzer St. was a bar, and I figured after a 16-hour day, I could use a drink. I drank a local brew and a whiskey and watched the numbers come in. At 11 p.m., when NBC named Barack Obama President-Elect, shit went bonkers. Cheap champagne was passed out. People cheered, danced, chanted. It was pretty overwhelming. When Obama took the podium for his speech, you could’ve heard a pin drop (when there wasn’t applause). I walked out right after and—I’m sorry to say—bummed a smoke from a guy outside. He said, “Sure. Americans helping Americans.” He then told me, “That was the best speech I’ve ever heard, and I voted for McCain.”
It was nice to feel that kind of comraderie again. I don’t know if it will last, but I’m pretty stoked to be in America right now. My car will fit three more if anyone else wants to take the trip to Washington for the inauguration.
I wonder if this would be covered under Obama’s health plan.
McCain supporters are beginning to scare the crap out of McCain: At a rally today, McCain had to deal with some very powerful anti-Obama sentiments that quickly devolved into out-and-out bigotry.
TPM pays special attention to the crowds’ chemical imbalance:
You’re scared of an Obama presidency?
You know what scares me?
THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU LIVE IN MY FUCKING COUNTRY.
This kind of shit freaks me out the most. Part of me worries how crazy people might get if Obama wins.
Eagle Fly Free
I didn’t watch the debate today. I thought about it. I’ve been keeping up on this election, probably more so than any other, because it’s such a buzz topic. Everyone seems interested in the principal players because they’re so darn interesting—except maybe Biden. I haven’t really figured out his part in this drama. As for the other three, you have a promising young leader, a decorated and respected war hero and a gun toting, bible thumping ex beauty queen from the edge of civilization. All of them locked in a battle to restore respect to a country that has endured almost eight years under one of the most moronic leaders the world has ever seen. It makes for good TV. Maybe a new president (whoever wins) will give people hope that their shitty lives will get slightly less shitty.
It’ll get better. It has to, but it’s going to take a while, and I feel bad for whoever is going to shoulder the healthy burden the current administration has built.
I didn’t watch the debate today, because I just wish it was over already. Let’s just put the names in a hat, appoint a leader, give him a firm and friendly pat on the back and say, “Good luck, dude-bro,” and be done with it. It’s like all the hours of coverage that lead up to the Super Bowl. They analize everything: How the quarterback fares in warm weather; how many yards the running backs have amassed in domes; how well the defense performs in day games as opposed to night games. All of those things go out the window once the teams take the field. That ball bounces in funny ways.
My mind’s made up, too. I made up my mind a long time ago. I always vote Democrat. When I was a freshman in high school, I used to watch Rush Limbaugh on late night TV, and I thought he was funny. I thought I should be a Republican. But the more I watched Rush the more I thought, “Is that the person you want to be? All grouchy and close-minded?” I made up my mind that I was going to be a Democrat then, and it just stuck. I’m ridiculously stubborn and loyal. I even voted for Kerry. That’s dedication.
After putzing around online, getting caught up on Heroes and transcribing an interivew that’s late, I watched some clips on this Hulu site, which I’m just now finding out about. It was pretty much what I expected. Lots of repeating points that have been repeated for the past year or so. Time to stop talking and get down to it.
{photo by me and my cell phone. … art.}
