Month: February 2004 (Page 3 of 3)

When your biggest endorsement comes from Bob Dole, on The Daily Show, after you’ve already dropped out of the race, it kind of puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?

I wasn’t even going to go last night. The invitation said it was a reception at Club Majestic downtown for the Dean campaign, but they made it clear that the candidate himself would not be there. I was feeling antisocial overall, and I’d forwarded the invitation to a bunch of people and didn’t get much of a response.

But then my friend Wayne called me and said he wanted to go to hear Dean speak. So I broke the news to Wayne – Dean won’t be there. Yes he will, Wayne said, I read it in the paper.

And I looked on some local news sites, and there it was – Howard Dean would be appearing just a few blocks from my house.

So we went, and stood on the balcony at the last two open spots, where you could pretty much see the stage if you craned your neck way out over the railing.

It was so worth it.

Just to see and hear him in person was a rush, honestly. And as disheartened as I’ve been lately with the political process, Dean’s drive, his focus, his enthusiasm were just the shot in the arm I needed. (The roar of the crowd didn’t hurt either.) And I began to think again that maybe, just maybe, there’s some life left in his candidacy. And in this country.

After the (all too short) speech, Wayne and I sprinted downstairs to try to shake the governor’s hand. But we couldn’t break through the five-deep crowd that surrounded Dean. So we left, me clutching the yard sign that my condo rules say I can’t put in my window.

And it felt good.

“The Massachusetts Constitution affirms the dignity and equality of all individuals. It forbids the creation of second-class citizens.”

“The history of our nation has demonstrated that separate is seldom, if ever, equal.”

Pretty soon this will be a non-issue. But today, it’s a big deal. Now if someone on the national stage would just have the backbone to talk about the difference between civil and religious marriage, maybe we’d really get somewhere.

As Howard Dean’s chances slip further and further into shadow, I’ll take any little bit of good news I can get. Good riddance, Joe.

Ostensible Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry’s first wife was named Julia Thorne, the same name as Sydney Bristow’s brainwashed alter ego on “Alias.”

And yes, I will be seeking treatment immediately.

We will have a black President, and a woman President, long before we will have an avowed atheist or even agnostic President of the United States. Possibly even after we have an out gay President, but I think that’s a toss-up.

“I was reading the Times, and they were talking about weblogs. And it occurred to me that I have no doubt someday I’ll open the Times and they’ll be talking about your weblog.”
-my wonderful friend Amanda

“Hey Adam – I just read your 100 things (yes, it is a slow day at work). I think it is absolutely hands-down the best 100 things I’ve seen. Ever.”
–Hot Toddy

“Thinking of you . . .
‘Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.'”
-my amazing friend Lisa

Thank you all for the kind words. Hey, people with book jackets get to do this all the time, don’t they?

The phrase “Janet Jackson’s boob” is just intrinsically funny. There’s no getting around that.

UPDATE: Best. Boob. Comment. Ever. (from Atrios)

“Some day our country is going to have to take a long hard look at itself and wonder why it tolerates massive amounts of violence on TV, but a single Boob is capable of driving us collectively insane.”

According to an AP story, President Bush missed the infamous Super Bowl halftime show – where Justin Timberlake snapped off Janet Jackson’s boob protector – because he was asleep.

—————
“I don’t want to admit it, but because this White House starts early, I missed it — again,” Bush told reporters after a Cabinet meeting. “Saw the first half, did not see the half time — I was preparing for the day and fell asleep.”

Half time started before 8:30 p.m. EST. Sunday.
—————

Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

Sat through the first episode of “Survivor All Stars” last night, struggling to stay even minimally interested in the goings-on. Richard is evil, Ethan is sweet, Alicia is confrontational, yada yada yada. Other than a few shirtless shots of Ethan (yeah baby), I was extremely bored. I think they should stop beating the dead “Survivor” horse and move on.

Plus, Tina and Ethan’s little mini-alliance clearly failed – Tina was the first voted off. Now they’ll toy with Ethan for a while, letting him help them do better in challenges, and then chop his head off. Sad, really.

I’m sure I’ll check in occasionally – this is supposed to last until May. But the question is, does “Survivor” get anyone excited any more?