Well the happy glow of democratic inclusion faded fast. I’m just shocked. I’ve always known that political offices are filled on the mandate of the great unwashed; the same people that make TV shows like Survivor and Elimidate successful. But I always thought they had more common sense than this.

I’ve sat on job interview committees at work before, and there was always some attempt made to find a qualified person, with relevant job experience. Even interns need a little relevant coursework. But this … Schwartzenegger is a doofus!

Voting felt good. I have my little “I have voted” sticker on my shirt, and the day seemed vaguely brighter when the machine sucked my ballot away, despite our extended marine layer.

I always get a happy little rush from being part of the community of citizens, a flush of vindication that our faith in the peaceful elevation of individuals to power is not misplaced. So long as the will of the people is not supplanted tonight, as it was in Florida 3 years ago, I can hold firmly to that faith. But if some cynical asshat tries to run roughshod over our little styrofoam voting booths with some misbegotten litigation, I’ll be tempted to take to the streets with a sharpened garden hoe.

Yahoo! News – Voting in Calif. Recall Hits Home Stretch

That was a complete rip-off! Tampa Bay got screwed with their pants on last night. The leaping call on Simeon Rice was the most bogus call by an official since Bush v. Gore. Pitiful. [news]

I’m off to vote. Let’s hope today shines brighter for the noble cause of truth, justice and the American way.

Well, boys and girls, here we go. The spotlights are up, we have our little bags of warm peanuts, the ringmaster knocks back a stiff belt to steal his nerves against the abject absurdity that heaves and shuffles beyond the curtain. The band strikes up the march … it’s Show Time!

Behold the shocking, undulating, inexplicably furry parade of freaks that is Total Recall 2003. They carp, they grouse and sling mud. Watch out for your fine washable duds!

Focus your eyes on the center ring and don’t blink, we’ve got an overbuilt over-actor who can just barely think!

Sorry, fans. I could keep this up but six sentences into it, it stopped being fun. It’s hasn’t been funny for weeks. I can’t believe the people of this state are even considering answering the worst fiscal crisis in memory by installing a body-builder turned bad actor in the state’s highest office.

It’s ridiculous. For any normal job in the private sector, at any supervisory level, they require relevant prior experience. But you can get the biggest management job in California with no meaningful experience at all. The man has never been elected before! Let’s hope and vote that he isn’t this time.

Yes, I believe that the Bush administration is behind Governator Schwartzengroper.

As for Davis, he’s boring, stick up the butt, made some mistakes, but 47 States plus Imperial Bushdom have deficits. It’s the economy stupid. Bush’s fault.

Therefore, this blog recommends: NO ON RECALL. YES ON BUSTAMANTE. Now let the clowns do their diabolical worst …

“’Cause I’ve been blind

Oh, so blind

I wasted time

Wasted, wasted, all too much time

Walkin’ on the wire, high wire

But I must let the show go..

I must let the show go..

I must let the show go on.”

— The Show Must Go On

3 Dog Night, 1974

P.S. Circuses with animals are prisons of pain, carnivals of cruelty.

Flammable shirts for the fire department?

It’s too late now, the Baghdad Fire Department has seen firefighters in American movies, and they want some cool gear. You know, turnout coats, big shiny helmets, suspenders to keep your pants up, etc. They appreciate the DVD player in the firehouse, and the flammable nylon t-shirts with English lettering, but a fire truck would be nice. Shoot, how ya gonna keep ‘em down on the farm?

Poor guy’s pretty banged up. He landed on his left side, hitting his head, elbow and foot and doing damage to each. No concussion, though, thank God. Dad has a broken heel and a broken arm. Apparently he fell about 5 feet. He’s tough and in good shape for his age, but broken bones are serious for anybody 71 years old.

Ironically, the man was a lineman for Edison for 35 years, and falls off a loading dock in the city dump. If you’re wondering whether a claim/litigation for premises liability has cross my mind, you betcha. Maybe we’ll discuss it when he’s better.

I don’t understand the surprise over Rush Limbaugh’s incendiary remark on ESPN. In the words of NFL VP Joe Browne, “ESPN knew what it was getting when they hired Rush Limbaugh.”

Limbaugh is a man very much like George W. Bush, in that he’s deeply in love with his own opinions, seeing very little need to question them.

“Judge men not by their opinions but by what their opinions have made of them.”

— Georg Lichtenberg