Michael Moore: 17 Reasons Not to Slit Your Wrists
1. It is against the law for George W. Bush to run for president again.
Provocateur Michael Moore shows some optimism over on Alternet. A sampling:
The Future Is for the Passionate
Whew, that's over. Or maybe it is. As I type this, it is Election Day, and our blogs are on fire over this election. Jakob just showed up wearing his "voting shoes" (American flag Converses), and people are calling in voting problems from around the area. I just wrote on the blog that there is a special place in hell for anyone who would try to stop anyone else from voting. Apparently, that wing of hell will soon be standing room only.
It's Mourning in America
Rick Perlstein of The Village Voice writes:
Faith, Certainty and the Presidency of George W. Bush
Here is the must-read New York Times Magazine profile of George W. Bush that is garnering so much attention. It starts with this quote from Reagan policy adviser Bruce Bartlett and goes from there:
Returns: National Elections
OK, it's getting there. Polls will start closing soon. Please use this thread to discuss the returns as they come in.
Returns: Local & State Elections
Use this blog to discussion Mississippi and Jackson elections. Yes, non-Jacksonians are welcome. Here's to America and freedom.
JFP Election After-Party, Blogging at Soulshine
After you vote Tuesday, head to Soulshine in the Hal & Mal's complex to watch the returns on the big-screen TV, and either celebrate or drown your sorrows–Happy Hour prices all night long. The JFP will be blogging from Soulshine about the returns and whatever the hell else we feel like adding to the blogosphere. So if you can't make it, check in on this site to keep yourself up-to-date with what's going on here and in the outside world, and be sure to add your comments.
Open Thread: Catharsis
If it doesn't fit somewhere else, say it here. Don't libel or toss around ad hominems, though. Otherwise, get it off your chest, serious or not.
Open Thread: Media & How They're Doing
I'm getting a little tired of all the hopeful predictions from media that this one is going to be just like Florida. They seem to be relishing the idea, because it's good for their bottom line. What are your thoughts about media coverage of the election today and tonight?
Open Thread: Post Exit Polls, Predictions Here
All, use this thread from here on out to share exit polling info and such. We'll start an actual Returns thread when the polls close.
Just In: USM Ballots Missing; Protest Planned
It starts. We just got this from LiveJournal tonight from "ThatGuy":
A protest is being organized for tomorrow for all disenfranchised students. please call Kim Dixon at 601-266-3385 for more information. [...]
Is Mississippi a Swing State?
The JFP has been telling readers for weeks that the presidential race is much closer than people think in Mississippi. We reported Sept. 30 on the state-by-state poll by the American Research Group that showed that Bush was only pollng 51 percent in the state, Kerry 42 percent with 5 percent undecided, and a 4 percent margin of error. We've been shocked to see no other state media report these numbers. The Tupelo daily even said they didn't think any national polls of the state had been done and the Associated Press on Monday reported that the race is closer here than people think—but without reporting these numbers. Today, finally, Sid Salter—who writes about politics for The Clarion-Ledger—is admitting that Bush's lead is shrinking in Mississippi. But still no numbers—at least about this race. Salter does tell us that John F. Kennedy only got 36.3 percent of the vote here, that Bush I beat Dukakis with 59.7 percent of the vote, and and the best Bill Clinton got was 44.6 percent of the vote here. But where's the actual news—that mere weeks ago, Bush was only polling 51 percent in Mississippi and that Kerry has a real shot if people turn out and vote? Why not tell us this?
Keep the Faith
All, this is an example of what I mean. A Jackson woman I've never met took the quote I posted this a.m. and made this image for me.
Wow: Look At Them Web Stats!
More and more people keep discovering the JFP site/blog, and sticking around. Here are our numbers for October 1-31, 2004: Total Sessions (Visits): 54,262
Why I'm Voting for George W. Bush
Although it is clear that the JFP has fully endorsed John Kerry, we would like to offer a forum for those who support George W. Bush to give us the reasons why. I ask Kerry supporters not to fill this blog with reasons to vote for Kerry—although anyone is welcome to challenge and discuss the reasons that others give for supporting Bush. I urge everyone to include back-up links where possible and to keep this discussion respectful. Ad hominem attacks will be deleted without comment.
IRS Probes NAACP; Group Calls It Suspicious
The NAACP has revealed that the U.S. government if probing it for crossing the line into politics. AFP reports:
Molly Ivins Calls the Election for Kerry, the ‘Uniter'
Molly Ivins this week:
Without fear of contradiction, I can say that George W. Bush has turned out to be a divider, not a uniter, for the past four years. Sheesh, if we get any madder at each other there will be fisticuffs, brethren, I say fisticuffs.
Appearance of ‘Man Who Got Away' Doesn't Matter
The New York Times reports that the re-emergence of bin Laden isn't having an affect on voter opionion:
4,000 Al-Qaida Members Escaped at Tora Bora
Editor & Publisher is reporting: "Today, in a story sent to Knight Ridder newspapers, the bureau examined the current, and perhaps crucial, election debate in the aftermath of the new Osama bin Laden video: Did the U.S. military let the terrorist leader escape in Tora Bora nearly three years ago? [...] The report revealed that two KR reporters and two photographers were at Tora Bora during the battle, and photographer David Gilkey of the Detroit Free Press and reporter Drew Brown traveled there a year later, interviewed Afghan fighters, retraced al-Qaida escape routes and talked to Pakistani intelligence officers who were tracking al Qaida. 'Their reporting,' KR recalled today, 'found that Franks and other top officials ignored warnings from their own and allied military and intelligence officers that the combination of precision bombing, special operations forces and Afghan forces that had driven the Taliban from northern Afghanistan might not work in the heartland of the country's dominant Pashtun tribe.'"
Losing Your Voting Virginity
In a story printed in our one of the JFP's youth voting issues, Jane Eisner argues that older people should help young people celebrate the right to vote—and give them a reason to vote:
Songwriter to Bush: Stop Using my Song!
AP is reporting::
Report: 100,000 Iraqi Citizens Killed in War
Bloomberg is reporting:
Rankin Anti-Liquor Flier Bashes Jackson
The Clarion-Ledger is reporting:
Springsteen: ‘The Future Is for the Passionate'
80,000 Turn Out for Kerry, Springsteen in Wisconson
Salon reports:
Bush Campaign Doctors Campaign Ad
This story is burning up political circles. Salon today:
Just In: Ashcroft Sending Poll Watchers to Mississippi
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ANNOUNCES FEDERAL OBSERVERS TO MONITOR GENERAL ELECTION IN STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY (including) Jones, Kemper, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, and Winston Counties, Mississippi.
Giuliani Blames Troops
Nothing like supporting our troops. Salon reports:
Madison Mayor's Husband Arrested for Corruption
Clarion-Ledger reports:
Jermal Clark - District 3
Two Democrats are vying for the position. Jermal Clark is challenging incumbent Frank Figgers Jr., who has served two terms. Clark, however, is not running a very vigorous campaign from what we can see.
NCAA Places Mississippi State on Probation
Here's MSU's take on it.
Today the NCAA placed Mississippi State University on a four-year probation for four years because of football recruiting violations that occurred between 1998 and 2004. The NCAA stripped the university of eight scholarships over the next two seasons and banned Mississippi State from any 2004 postseason play. Also, the NCAA cut the school's expense-paid recruiting visits in each of the 2004-05 and 2005-06 academic years to 45, which is 11 fewer than the NCAA maximum. Former Coach Jackie Sherrill escaped a bit unscathed: Allegations of unethical conduct against him were dismissed.
Zen and the Art of Optimism
I don't know about you, but this election season is damned stressful. Even as George Bush rolls out television ads with wolves lurking to terrify Americans into voting for him, it's the idea of a second Bush term that scares the crap out of me. I truly am worried about the future and what's happening to American freedoms during this arc of history.
Eminem's October Surprise
His new video.
ABC Poll: Voters say U.S. on ‘Wrong Track'; Kerry Ahead
ABC News is reporting: "Skepticism about the nation's direction is boosting John Kerry's campaign for president: Fifty-five percent of likely voters say the country is on the wrong track, and their discontent is fueling Kerry to an even race against President Bush. Overall, 49 percent of likely voters now support Kerry, 48 percent Bush, 1 percent Ralph Nader. Given polling tolerances that's essentially a tie, but it is the first time since Aug. 1 that Kerry's held a numerical advantage, however slight, in ABC News polls. A weekend advance did it: Saturday and Sunday were two of Kerry's three best individual days since this daily tracking poll began Oct. 1. Today's results are based on Thursday-Sunday interviews. Discontent is the necessary element in removing an incumbent from office, and Kerry clearly has harnessed much of it: Among likely voters who say the country's on the wrong track, 84 percent support him."
Daily Newspaper Endorsements: Kerry Leads So Far
Click story for a full list, updated as more come in.
Editor & Publisher is keeping track of daily newspapers' presidential endorsements. Through today (Oct. 23): "Sen. John Kerry continues to pile up the newspaper endorsements, but in a reversal of past trends it was President Bush who nabbed the larger papers in today's update of E&P's exclusive tally. While only adding four papers to his total, Bush did win the backing of two big papers. [...] Kerry now leads 48-34 in the number of papers that back him. In our updated chart below, we find that Kerry now leads Bush in the circulation of papers backing him by almost 2-1, but just a few days ago the incumbent trailed 5-1 in that category. Kerry's papers have 8.9 million readers while Bush's clock in at 4.7 million, so far."
Factcheck.org: Would Kerry Throw Us to the Wolves?
A misleading Bush ad criticizes Kerry for proposing to cut intelligence spending — a decade ago, by 4%, when some Republicans also proposed cuts.
Sinclair Opts for 'Fair and Balanced' After All
New York Times reports: "After stirring up protest over its plans to broadcast a documentary critical of Senator John Kerry, the Sinclair Broadcast Group presented a program last night that gave short shrift to that film and offered instead a measured analysis of the debate over Mr. Kerry's Vietnam War record. The hourlong special program, produced by the news department at Sinclair, a major financial supporter of Republican candidates and which regularly features conservative commentary on its newscasts, included as many backers of Mr. Kerry as critics.
No Evidence of Election Terror Plot
CNN is reporting that talk about an election terrorist plot is overblown: "U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials say they have found no direct evidence of plans for an election-related terror attack after a five-week investigation, the Washington Post reported in its Saturday edition. Citing unnamed officials in an article on the newspaper's Web site, the Post said a key CIA source who claimed knowledge of such plans has since been discredited, casting doubt on earlier pieces of evidence pointing to an attack. [...] But even after hundreds of interviews, immigration arrests and other efforts, law enforcement officials said they have been unable to detect signs of a plot in the U.S., nor have they identified specific targets, dates or methods that might be used, the paper reported."
Rapper Eminem Slams Bush in Rolling Stone
First American Conservative, now Eminem. This excerpt is from the issue of Rolling Stone that hits the streets the first week of November: