A satirical comparison to Bush's use of 9-11 imagery.

Blame Bush

Remember in the winter of 2003 when Colin Powell presented our case for invading Iraq to the UN? Remember when he mentioned the Al Qaeda sect Ansar al-Islam as proof that Iraq harbored Al Qaeda? Of course, these Al Qaeda members existed freely under the US/British patrolled no fly zone in Northern Iraq, so and Saddam had no contact with them. In fact, as this report shows, Bush could have taken out this terrorist group at any time, and actually weighed the option. We now know that famed terrorist Abu Musab Zarqawi (mastermind of many attacks in Iraq on civilians, including the recent attocities) worked with and organized this splinter cell. And Bush had an opportunity to kill him, but for some reason refused. Why would he do that, after 9-11? It's disturbing...

Bull horn usage up 35% this term

Bush is a "Tested" "Leader" who made American "Safer and Stronger".

Does anyone else really miss, "I'm a uniter, not a divider." and "I'm a reformer with results"? Those were the days...

Any guesses on Kerry's campaign slogan?
1. "Not as robotic as Gore"
2. "I'm a big tall tree."
3. "Do you know who I am???"
4. "May I throw your medals?"
5. "Will somebody find me a VP to make me look more appealing?"
6. "I PROBABLY don't cheat on my wife"

My favorite is #3...

Can Bush use 9-11 in his campaign?

As much as it makes me want to puke, Bush certainly can use 9-11 in his campaign for President. After all, Bush didn't make very many mistakes in the few months after 9-11. He didn't divide the country (at least not at first). He pointed at Afghanistan on a map and said, "Destroy that country!!!" He used a bull horn in New York. He has a right to run on his record. Democrats who attack him for "using the memory of 9-11 for political purposes" are incorrect.

The question is: What did Bush do after 9-11 that was so wonderful? What will America remember? I remember plenty of great speeches/actions by Colin, Rudi (except when he tried to extend his term/lie about the NY death count), and Hillary. Even Rummy. But what did Bush do? He was still the prattling frat boy moron that he always was. Thousands of tons of rubble and 3000 deaths didn't change that.

Go ahead Bush - run on 9-11, and end up like Churchill. David Broder compared you to him after 9-11, after all...

This campaign is about the present and the future. The mess in Iraq, the stagnant economy, and the fiscal crisis.

The Senate!!!

The Democrats' chances in the Senate look better and better every day. Ben Campbell (Colorado-R) announced today that he will not seek a 4th term. That throws the seat into the tossup category. It's odd that he waited so long to decide...

Expect Colorado Governor Bill Owens (R) to seek the seat. If he gets the nomination, he'll cruise to a win in November...although...he is separating from his wife right now, and rumor has it that he fathered a bastard child (sorry, I find that phrase amusing when used with Republicans).

Naturally, that could hurt him...

But it could also prompt Gary Hart to enter the race (obviously thinking, "Hey...my adultery problem has been neutralized!"). Gary Hart has become a quasi-national figure and would make this a tough race for Owens.

There's also the possibility that Bill Udall (Colorado congressman) could throw his hat back into the race. He's considered a Democratic heavyweight in the state (I'll take Kos's word on this one...)

Another note on Owens: He's #2 on the GOP Presidential hopeful list in 2008 (#1 being Jeb). Of course, a bastard child could change that significantly.

My apologies to all of the bastard children out there...

Right now (counting Colorado) the Democrats have 1 sure pickup (Illinois), 2 likely pickups (Oklahoma and Alaska) and 2 possible pickups (Colorado and Pennsylvania).

The Republicans have 2 sure pickups (Georgia and South Carolina), 1 likely pickup (North Carolina), and 3 possible pickups (Louisiana, Florida, and South Dakota).

The balance right now is 49-51. So they either need to win the Presidency and tie, or pick up 2 seats. It's going to be hard...

But WAIT!!! The Presidential race will impact the Senate race in two ways:
1. John Kerry will have to give up his seat if he wins the Presidency. The governor of Massachusetts is a Republican and will appoint a Republican to the seat.
2. Whoever Kerry picks as his VP will have to vacate their seat (if they're in the Senate). The only possible Senate VP picks are Evan Bayh (my favorite), Bill Nelson (long shot) and Karl Levin (longer shot). Bayh would be replaced by a Democrat (he's up for reelection this year) but Nelson would be replaced by a Republican. It's worth thinking about.

But WAIT!!! (part 2)
The Massachusetts legislature is currently working on a law that will mandate a quick special election for an open Senate seat (instead of an appointment). That would allow the Democrats to easily retake the seat if Kerry vacates it.

More posts to come

My midterms are almost done, and with the nomination battle coming to a close, there are many things to write about. Expect about 50 posts over the next week on a wide variety of topics (including the campaign finance post that I promising).

Oh, and just in case you didn't know yet, John Kerry is our nominee.

Republican tax increases coming?

According to this Washington Post piece they are. Wow. The Senate is a liberal place compared to the House.

GOP lackey over at the NY Times

Apparently the GOP have penetrated the NY Times. Her name is Elisabeth Bumiller. In this pathetic little piece she tries to paint George W. Bush as a tolerant man.

If you watched the debate Saturday, you may remember her as the rude reporter who continually badgered and interupted the candidates (and lost her cool when Kerry called her on it).

GOP lies

Fred Kaplan over at Slate exposes the RNC's lies regarding John Kerry's voting record.

Economy heading for a double dip?

More than 2,400 employers across the country reported laying off 50 or more workers in January, the third-highest number of so-called mass layoffs since the government became tracking them a decade ago.
Only in December 2000 and December 2002 were the number of large layoffs higher. A total of 239,454 workers lost their jobs in the January layoffs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported yesterday, based on unemployment insurance claims filed with state employment agencies. Among them were 17,544 temporary workers.
From the AP

Record layoffs are not a good sign...

Dean Undone

Read this great WaPost piece on the unraveling of the Dean campaign.