Volume 3 Issue 4
February 5, 2004
Setting up the Last Stands
A closer look at the Bush AWOL debate, how does the gay marriage decision effect the campaign, and strange things in the toilet
The delegate count has been updated again on the site today. Sharpton did indeed win one in Delaware, and the New Mexico count has been finalized with the counting of provisional ballots. No big changes, Kerry continues to have a big lead in the pledged delegate counts. Onto the insanity...Some big issues today that could effect the Presidential race. I'm taking a light day today, will comment on some of them over the next few weeks.
Where was George? The Boston Globe has a great piece today examining the Bush AWOL controversy, and concluding that there is a year-long gap in which there is no evidence Bush showed up -
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/bush/articles/ 2004/02/05/bushs_guard_service_what_the_record_shows/
Campaign Issue #1? The Massachusetts Supreme Court yesterday ruled out any option other than full gay marriage, beginning in May -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A12273-2004Feb4?language=printer
It looks like Bush will now endorse a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage -
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/05/politics/05MARR.html
But if the GOP uses this as a campaign issue, could it backfire on them?
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/161544p-141662c.html
Letting the Dogs loose on Kerry: The GOP has let 'em rip -
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/05/politics/campaign/05MASS.h tml
Do or Die: Dean has set his Waterloo...in Wisconsin. If he does not win there on February 17, he will pull out of the race -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A15010-2004Feb5?language=printer
Reverend Al Gets one! Well, after waiting for the final totals to come in, it's true...Al Sharpton earned 1 delegate in Wilmington, DE on Tuesday. He got 15.3% of the vote in Delaware's largest city, earning him one of it's delegates under state party rules. This leaves Dennis Kucinich as the only candidate still in the race yet to earn a pledged delegate in a primary or caucus -
http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2004/02/05sh arptonwinsone.html
Feb. 7 - Michigan: Kerry is pretty much a sure thing in Michigan, which is a disappointment to party leaders, who were hoping for a big contest here. Turnout is also expected to be low, which hurts the state's case to take over for New Hampshire as the first-in-the-nation contest -
http://www.freep.com/news/politics/mcamp5_20040205.htm
Feb. 10 - Virginia: Both Edwards and Clark need this state to stay alive. Expect only one to be in the race come Feb. 11 -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A14076-2004Feb4?language=printer
Feb. 10 - Tennessee: Unless of course, they split VA and TN, the other state that Tuesday. Then it could go on for another week or so -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A14077-2004Feb4?language=printer
Bad John Edwards Photo of the Day:
What do I look like, fucking Answer Man? Ask Jesse Ventura here!
Howard Dean Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah! Moment of the Day:
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeah! Wait until John Kerry finds this in his bed!
(The actual caption for this photo is a bit disturbing as well: A 19-year health study has shown men who eat fish regularly have a better chance of living longer despite fears of contamination with mercury or other toxins. Umm...yeah.)
The WMD: CIA Director George Tenet defended the agency today, but also said that the administration hadn't pressured them to change intelligence. Rather, he said it was a case of the administration looking at selective intelligence. Tenet also said that WMD may still be found...so he must be smoking whatever Cheney and Rumsfeld are passing around -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A15287-2004Feb5?language=printer
Homeland Insecurity: The FBI wasn't informed of the White House Ricin letter for 6 days, hampering the investigation, and hinting at the level of disorganization still present in our security agencies -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13983-2004Feb4.html
But on the good news front, Congress may soon adopt a new "digital mail" system, where they no longer handle mail, instead it's scanned at a computer center and delivered. The process would only take 1 day, as opposed to the weeks it takes now for the irradiation process. While someone could still conceivably put something in a letter, it would at least not such the Congress down -
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/7877256.htm
Sad, sad DC: Another shooting in a DC school. And now the mayor decides he wants to put police officers in the schools. Am I the only one that thinks that shouldn't have been done years ago?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14067-2004Feb4.html
Give Halliburton a call, They'll Take Care of It: A Texas woman struck oil this week...in her toilet -
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Southwest/02/04/oil.everywhere.ap /index.html
