Are you serious? We’re actually even considering letting this administration “fix” something else before leaving office?

I posit George Bush has been akin to the anti-Forrest Gump. Whereas for loveable Forrest was a dimwit who blundered his way into unbelievable success, Bush is an unloveable dimwit who has blundered this nation into an abysmal morass of failure. 

So, before we go doling out 700 BILLION no-strings-attached dollars (that’s the equivalent of, oh, six more years in Iraq, in case you’re counting) to his henchmen, I hope you don’t mind that I have just a couple of simple questions:

1. After September 11, you said those responsible would pay. How’s that working out? I mean, minus the fact that you essentially let him go in Afghanistan so you could fight a totally unnecessary and ultimately counterproductive war in a completely different country.
2. How do you assign someone who despises the United Nations to be the ambassador to the United Nations?
3. You say we’re fighting evil doers but then set up hidden prisons to detain and torture people. I say this as a preface to asking: which Bible are you reading again?
4. Your “Clean Skies” program actually put more pollutants into the air. In college, did you major in Irony?
5. You authorized illegal wiretapping of American citizens. You broke the Constitution. You intentionally manipulated the will of Congress through ‘signing statements.’ Are you aware of the definition of ‘asshat’?

There’s more. Like, how can you fail at being the manager of the Texas Rangers and think you’re qualified for the office of President. I wouldn’t hire you as a shift manager at Denny’s. Why is it that everything you do is wrong and turns into a flaming shitball of failure? Are you cursed? Should I pity you? 

And now, now we’re going to have an American fire sale, squeeze the last bit of cash out of our coffers and into the pockets of your minions before you are gone. To think: I was done hating you because, really, after Iraq, how could you fuck up anything worse? It’s inconceivable. But by gosh golly, here we are. So, maybe that’s like a success? You win at failing?

To think if 260 people voted the other way in 2000 … 

I’m aghast.

via triumph of bullshit

remember how i used to write about september 11, worrying that people were forgetting, that it was becoming just another day?  i still feel that way, but worry that i, too, with time, am feeling as though my emotion is… lessening.  i'm ashamed of myself.

i had a horrible panic seize my heart last night when trying to talk to zane about what 9/11 was - i couldn't remember the year of the attacks.  i know it's a simple detail but it seemed so … disrespectful.  like i couldn't be troubled to remember exactly when it happened.  i feel guilty and worry that with more time the anniversary will really become just another day.  how horrible.  i feel awful - that i am awful.

7 years on. i still can't re-read it.

• a list of what big companies own what organic brands. i found this depressing, though roxy disagreed.
• short people get more jealous than tall people.
• oh yes, can we stop discussing the iraq / al qaeda link now? because the government has finally admitted there was no link when we invaded.
• and finally, the oddest crime i've heard about in a while:
  

or: how i learned to stop worrying and love the white  space.

my mind is going. i can feel it. i can feel it. my mind is going. there is no question about it.

it's funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on the screen.

fate had determined that he should leave none of his race behind him, and that he should finish his life poor, lonely and childless.

all work and no play makes kurt a dull boy.

(i'm keeping it together by listening to this song on repeat)

I will only vote for the 9/12 candidate.

a great op-ed on america's insistence on 9/11's "theme".

it is also so sad to me that everything plays out like it has. the last 7 years, most all of my friends have remained steadfast in their opinions. most everyone on here, after 9/11 but pre-iraq, was anti-war in iraq. (yes, there were exceptions). over the last 7 years, the support for bush has declined. but it has never declined enough to make a difference and the last 8 months or so, with rove and gonzales and everything else, hasn't done anything but make us all tired.

it has become a countdown to the election. apathy has set in and now all we can do is wish that next january would arrive faster. maybe that's why all the primaries have been pushed up and we have gotten all excited about the elections — it allows us to stop thinking about our current situation, where we feel helpless. and have felt helpless the last 7 years.

but the points in the op-ed above are good ones: 9/11 is over, our tactics in the 'war on terrorism' are awful and the entire episode has made us look and behave like idiots.

in un-related political news, gavin newsom (sf's mayor) pulls a trick from 'the wire' and suggests ending the war on drugs:

"If you want to get serious, if you want to reduce crime by 70% in this country overnight, end this war on drugs," he told reporters at City Hall on Thursday. "You want to get serious, seriously serious about crime and violence end this war on drugs."

now this is a dialogue worth having.