podpolia

It's interesting to see what the various superstitious traditions predicted as far as the election goes…

…somehow, I do not think this 'crusade' is the fault of Bush.

Quite a nice story, although no doubt there will be people clamoring that that religious zealot Bush is starting another crusade.

Decisions, decisions… to move or not to move?
If it hadn't said they were Americans, I might think they were Russians from around the Balakovskaya power station. Not an accident, but a malfunction? That doesn't sound good.
Puff Daddy — er, “P. Diddy” has learned that propaganda is not the answer. He now realizes he should have “let them [American youth voters] make the decisions.” Welcome to democracy. The article is worth reading, if only for this phrase (said in all seriousness, apparently — this IS mtv) “A more informed Diddy has been sticking to a bipartisan approach…”
Oh well. After reading this they'll all be screaming that Bush “stole the election” and “disenfranchised minority voters.”
Wait, they're already saying the second one.

The Slate analyzes the Guardian's letter writing fiasco and its effect on the election.

This amuses me a great deal, but unfortunately it is all to representative of the thought of many on the left today. The author goes about lecturing about the ignorance of the evil 'red states' while making egregious errors about everything from history to religion to anything else. Claiming the other side is ignorant and unable to be taught is foolish at best, and dangerous at worst: it indicates a totalitarian mindset that the enlightened 'we' know what is best for the unwashed masses, and should be able to enforce our will upon them.
Believing in conspiracy theories like this one — that Republicans exploit racism to hold office, that they are secretly manipulated by evil capitalists and dark religious entities — indicates a paranoia, and completely disregards the realities of history, but also of the political and social landscape of America as a whole. The United States was built as a democratic republic, and claiming that more than half of the people in the United States are too foolish to vote (simply because they disagree with the author ideologically) is counterproductive and ultimately detrimental to the spirit of democracy.
It goes to show something that I have believed for years — many of those who regard themselves as (to use the author's terminology) “blue state types” believe that they are wonderfully open minded and believe in the basic goodness of everyone. Everyone, that is, except those who disagree with them politically. Therefore, these political infidels are not worthy of things which the founding fathers believe are basic rights. A quite telling quote from the last paragraph, about those who disagree with the author: “They cannot be allowed to keep any secrets.” These secrets, of course, are the ones inherent to “cheat[ing] and intimidate[ing]” which “red state types love to” do.
I cannot believe that someone who can seriously hold beliefs like this can call themselves by the name “Democrat.”

A good analysis of the Kerry campaign.

…maybe the rat was flying this one…

It looks like Arafat is more or less done for. Couldn't happen to a better man, but might indicate problems in running Palestine. We will have to see how the power struggle works out now, but hopefully the terror groups will be unable to maintain control and a REAL government will be set up that can participate in the peace process.

In other news, rat brains in a petri dish flying airplanes.

Moving to Canada now that Bush has won may be harder than many people expected.
Then again, they never left the last time, so why start now?
In other news, Putin welcomes a Bush win. As does the NYSE.