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Thursday, February 05, 2004
We're With You, Scooter. All the Way to the Big House
Looks like Cheney's little Scooter is about to take a fall for the Valerie Plame affair. Maybe there is some justice in world after all.
posted by Jerry Bowles
5:04 PM
The Year of the Monkey
In Chinese astrology 2004 is the year of the Monkey, and that’s good news for Kerry, the Goat; not good news for Dean, the Rat; mixed news for Bush, the Dog. (Whatever you read here, be sure to read the two paragraphs about Bush. You won’t believe it!)
A recent New York Times op-ed, “The Stars Have Voted,” based on Western astrology provides a horoscope picture of the candidates. It’s a fun piece, even it you don’t believe in this stuff the teensiest bit. (I believe that astrology, along with a lot of other Eastern practices, is another mirror for us to see ourselves—not the whole picture, but part of it.)
Kerry, was born in 1943 under the sign of Sagittarius, the last of the fire signs. “Over the last 18 months the planets have empowered him with core strength” and “the long-term picture depicts him achieving his highest goals.” Dean is a Scorpio, a water sign, and as you can guess, water and fire don’t mix well. The stars don’t paint such a positive picture for Dean showing his “erratic energy and emotional volatility.” Dean is also in a “time of the mythic ‘brother battle’ in which his confrontations with others really reflect his own inner conflict.” Bush was not covered in the piece, but Bush is a Gemini, an air sign, not to be confused with airhead.
How does Dean fair as a Rat? Well the good news is Rats, born in 1948 as Dean was (and in subsequent 12 year cycles, 1960, 1972, 1984, etc.) are clever, quick witted, sharp, and “keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agenda.” Rats love being on the outside, looking in, and they love to joust verbally, something you either love or hate about Rats.
How does Bush fair as a Dog? Well Gemini Dogs, like Bush, who was born in 1946, have “trouble trusting others.” Dogs are dogmatic (no pun intended, I’m sure). Dogs are generally quite trustworthy—now get this—“except for the occasional little white lies.”
“They quickly learn to use their outward attractiveness to gain their own ends, and when striving for these they will use any weapon in their armory—unscrupulous lying, and cunning evasiveness; escaping blame by contriving to put it on other people, wrapped up in all the charm they can turn on. In their better moments they may strive to be honest and straightforward, but self-interest is almost always the victor.”
Does this sound like anyone we know?
In the year of the Monkey, Rats should avoid “breaking friendships or partnerships at this time to avoid future repercussions” as Dean has done already done with Trippi. For Kerry the year of the Monkey is very good because “opposition is negligible” and “a promotion at work” gives him his highest sense of fulfillment.
posted by Josh
12:27 PM
Lee Atwater, Call Home
So the Republican strategy for November is clear. They're going to focus squarely on the issues: John Kerry is a commie, faggot-loving, gun-hating baby killer. Not only that, he was the really driving the car the night that Mary Jo and Teddy went off the Chappaquiddick bridge. That was a "dike" bridge, wasn't it?
When in trouble, always reach for the classy stuff. Paging Willie Horton.
I'm not so sure that "Dukakizing" is going to work this time around. For one thing, Kerry is tall and looks good in a tank. For another, he has been a presence--granted a rather boring one--on the national scene for a long time. He doesn't scare people. His voting record is varied enough that he is hard to pin down.
On the other hand, this is not the best year to hold the convention in Boston. Whoever the Democratic candidate ends up being (and no one with as many victories as Kerry so far has lost in modern times), the Massachusetts Supreme Court has handed the reckless media a wedge issue to run with during the convention. Is it too late to switch to Miami?
posted by Jerry Bowles
10:16 AM
Where things really stand
Beyond all the hype, spin and misinformation, the race shapes up like this going into next week, according to the Associated Press and USA Today. However, like the ads say... results may vary:
Total delegates: 4322. Total need to nominate: 2162. Total delegates chosen to date: 559. Individual candidate totals through Tuesday: John Kerry, 228; Howard Dean 118; John Edwards 100; Wes Clark 75. All others 38 (source, Associated Press, USAToday Wed. Feb 6th).
Delegates supporting candidates other than John Kerry: 331 or 59%.
Delegates backing John Kerry: 228 or 41%.
The corporate media is pimping John Kerry and treating the rest of the candidates as second-class citizens. They’ve literally put out a “media fatwa” on Howard Dean because his internet-based campaign connected with the people and stole their “mojo.”
The bottom line is, with only 13% of the delegates selected, John Kerry currently only has 10% of the delegates required to win the nomination of the Democratic party for president. Could this be the reason Terry "the top" McAuliffe is trying to give everybody the bums rush and make it seem like the Kerry candidacy is a done deal?
Josh has commented that I might be hoping for a brokered convention. I don't rule it out one bit considering the data provided by the AP above. I'm more worried about who the brokers might be, notably, special interests... the folks who can turn the Terry McAuliffe of 2004 into the Larry O'Brien of 1972 in a heartbeat.
posted by Groom
5:35 AM
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