She's Baa-a-a-ack!(Actually, She Never Went Away. You Did)

President Obama has a surprise waiting for him as he starts his summer vacation in Martha's Vineyard (who knew he owned property there?) and it's not gun toting astroturfers. It's Cindy Sheehan. Seems she's still upset that even after riding the antiwar sentiment to power, Barack and the rest of the Democratic party have now turned there attention to not solving America's health care crisis, as opposed to not solving it's financial crisis, among other crises facing the administration these days.
Moreover, Obama is continuing the Bush administration policy of rendition of "terrorism" suspects, or heck, anybody it damn well pleases.
So even though the war in Iraq has been proven to be based on lies, and deception, the Democratic party still thinks we should still be fighting it. Good for them. And after exploiting the antiwar vote, they feel it's more important to not do anything about ending these shams, lest chickenhawks label them surrender monkeys.
It's interesting that the antiwar movement barely received the coverage the anti-health care reform crowd is getting these days, and it wasn't until Ms. Sheehan began her vigil outside George W Bush's Crawford ranch that the media paid any attention to the movement. Because, with the arrival of Cindy, a grieving mother who wanted answers as to why her son had to die, that the corporate media could put a face on the movement that war shills could use to paint it as "looney". But I doubt if any of the astroturfers will demonstrate the tenacity of Ms. Sheehan, her pain and anguish are real, as opposed to what amounts to actors hired by the health industry lobby to disrupt serious debate about reforming our seriously fucked up health care system. And I'm sure health care reform will be a lost and distant memory before we see any end to the wars of choice we are fighting in the Middle east.

A World Class Memorial In A Third World State

"We are asking fans of Michael Jackson to help contribute to a world-class memorial for a world-class superstar by helping contribute to keeping this place safe."-Matt Szabo, press secretary to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
So who should pay for the spectacle that was Michael Jackson's funeral? The state is broke, it certainly can't afford the extravagance. You can't ask the family to pay for it, they're too busy fighting over his financial legacy.And even though his estate is looking to reap profits from record breaking record sales, don't expect them to contribute anything to this "world class ( somehow, to me, Michael Jackson and class are opposite ends of a spectrum) memorial.
That leaves Jackson's fans, the enablers, the apologists, and the idiots who bought into that whole "King-of-Pop" bullshit and believed that Michael was something more than a gifted singer and dancer and believed he changed the world by making pop music videos, dressing in pseudo-militaristic garb, and mutilating his face beyond recognition.
It is said that Michael Jackson bridged a gap in our culture between black and white, and in the end, it was his wealthy celebrity friends who got to participate in this "world class memorial" with out contributing a dime. But by asking his relatively pauper fans to foot the bill, the state of California has crossed the line.

Outrageous Vs Outrage

I don't watch the news. Around here, the network news comes on the same time as syndicated reruns of That 70's Show, which is much more honest in it's presentation than the news.
There was a time when the network news was populated by journalists, who brought you actual news about the days events. A bit dry, and colorless, it nonetheless was the prestige arm of all the broadcast networks. It was their way of compensating for broadcasting inane shit like Gilligan's Island into people's living rooms.
Of course, it didn't generate as much revenue because it wasn't cheap, it wasn't tawdry, it wasn't trash. So few people watched it.
The eighties was birth of tabloid television. Suddenly, this type of "news" became a ratings force because slack jawed television watchers could cluck their tongues at the latest celebrity scandal and say "See, even with all that money and fame......" Agents, managers and publicists took notice and realized the truth of the old maxim "There's no such thing as bad publicity". For every negative action there is a positive reaction, and while some people may be offended by pantyless pop stars, others would think it epitomized a kind of rebellion, against what and why were pointless, because it didn't matter.
This snowballed into more ratings as more viewers, despairing over their television addled lives, clung to these reports as a way to build their ow self-esteem. "Well, I may not have much money, but I wouldn't do that" being their favorite saying.
Now it has spread to the network news programs, which now are locked in a battle for carbonated beverage advertising revenue, so boring old stories that are really important get sidelined for more trivial stories for gossip fodder around the watercooler.
All three major networks ran stories about the topless Hannah Montana photos, but none of them ran a story about Pentagon military analysts used by the networks and their ties to defense contractors.
In five years, poor Mylie Cyrus will be a washed up has been, still hounded by the papparazzi hoping to document her latest round of bad behavior, while some other fifteen year old pop star will have grabbed the attention of television watchers who only want to feel better about their own dismal existence, but it will be too late for America. Because a slew of slack jawed celebrity addled mouth breathers feel that keeping tabs on the wrongs our government perpetrates just isn't exciting enough to pay attention to.

Bitter? Damn Straight!

Barack Obama's speech about 'bitter Americans' turning to God, guns or antipathy has resonated with both the Clinton and McCain campaigns who both seized the opportunity to label Obama as elitist, which, coming from a couple of fucking millionaires is as about as cynical as it gets. It also proved that not only are the Clinton and McCain people out of touch with the problems facing American citizens, it also shows there is really no difference between McCain and Clinton.
What do working people, not only in PA, but in the rest of the country have to be bitter about?
Four years ago, gas prices were fixed at around $1.20 a gallon. Ten dollars for gas would fill me up for the week. Today, that same ten dollars doesn't even get me half a tank in a car with a smaller tank and engine, and only gets me to work and back twice, with just enough to make it back to work one more time. I should be happy about that?
Four years ago, thirty dollars was enough groceries for me for a week, with enough food for during the week, plus on the weekends (and Wednesdays) when my children stay with me. I used to be able to feed my kids breakfast cereal on the weekends, now I can't even afford to buy a box to eat during the time they're at their mothers, because milk has to be figured in, and the price of that has gone through the roof as well. (As a side note, I will concede that the kids are better off without breakfast cereals and milk, both being not very healthy, and full of additives and rBGH)
In the last three years, my rent has gone up 14%, electricity costs more, and even phone rates have risen as well. While I used to be able to afford DSL, I now use Dial-in-for-free, which gets me on the internet, but is slower than a Bush governmental response to a natural disaster.
My taxes have gone up, and yet, I get nothing from it. The roads I drive on are crumbling under my wheels. Sure, I vote in elections, but my political influence is nil, since I cannot afford to donate thousands to any campaign. What do I get from candidates? Empty rhetoric such as

"If we start acting like Americans," Clinton continued, "and role up our sleeves we can make sure that America's best years are ahead of us."

What the fuck is that supposed to mean? I'm already working full time, now you fucking multi-millionaires want me to work more? Fuck you! That's why we have public servants, to act in the public good and do what's best for all Americans. Don't ask me to sacrifice any more because I don't have anything left to give to you blood suckers!!!!!!!!!(As you have probably sensed by now, I have turned to antipathy rather than God or guns, which is probably best for everyone)What the fuck are you willing to sacrifice?
As I said earlier, both Clinton and McCain have seized upon this truism as a way to distract the media from their favorite talking points, Clinton's continual lies and McCain's complete incompetence ( mentally, that is) when it comes to the facts. Fuck them both. Perhaps these two live in a dream world where if you hum loudly enough and repeat "It's alright, it's alright" enough times then things will be all better. Sure and click them ruby slippers together and maybe the good witch will take you home to Kansas, but guess what, Toto? We're not in fucking Kansas anymore!!!

Ozombie BinLaden

I've decided that if I were to convert to any religion, it would have to be Islam. Why? because even tough he's been dead for six years now ,Osama BinLaden keeps making audiotapes How kick ass is that? I mean, the best Jesus Christ can do is appear in a burnt tortilla in Mexico, but Osama keeps making tapes! And, while Jesus was the Son of God, Osama was merely a follower of the prophet Mohammed.
Is it coincidental that Osama keeps making tapes whenever the Bush administration needs a boogey man to shake at the television watchers? Here it was yesterday, the five year anniversary of the bungled invasion of Iraq under dubious reasons, and a majority of people saying the war's not worth it (to a response of "So?" from Dick Cheney), all of a sudden Osama makes an audio tape (easier to clone a voice than find a look alike) sounding an awful lot like John Hagee (I mean, without all that love for Israel Hagee wears).
So if this guy can keep making tapes long after he's worm food, than Islam is the bestest religion of all, the rest of them are weak little girly religions compared.