So, what I am going to do with myself? First, I have to drop-off Daisy for an extremely needed grooming appointment. Next, I think I am going to go for a bike ride. There is a local "Athletic Club" that gathers mostly for cycling and tomorrow they are doing a 34-mile ride. I am not quite in that kind of shape, but I might see if I can tag along for a little. Finally there is a lot of yard clean that I would love to get done. I have made so much progress this year, I am looking forward to continuing that.

.... watching the Micheal Moore movie called "Slacker". It documents his tour of the country leading up to the 2004 Presidential Election. It is amazing to me how much buzz he was able to generate about all the misrepresentation Bush had made and yet Bush still won the election. I really don't understand why Micheal Moore gets such a bad rap. He cares so deeply for this country and it's people and our freedoms. It seems like he his keeping a quiet profile this year in hopes of not stirring up the Republican base. It seems to be working - see my next post.

Anyway, this movie is really about his efforts to get people to vote. The movie is not necessarily motivating at this stage, but for me it really illustrates an interesting point. Despite the effort he put in, the voter turnout was still VERY VERY low. I am hoping that this year's election finally does show a CHANGE in that trend.

In case you are unaware the nonpartisan group works to recruit low-income voters, who tend to lean Democratic and it has been reported that around 280 addresses have been registered that do not exist, people have driver’s license numbers that cannot be verified and even Social Security numbers that cannot be verified either. Some registration forms did not have addresses at all.

Missouri has been a key state in previous elections as typically how Missouri goes in voting is how the country has voted. With that point put aside, Tuesday of this past week authorities in Nevada seized records from ACORN after finding fraudulent registration forms that included the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys.

If you briefly listen to the mainstream media one would believe the election is wrapped up but this is yet another sign that Obama supporters need not be so confident. Keep in mind that the Zogby poll has a three point difference and they have been the most accurate of polling data in recent years and think back to Jimmy Carter versus Ronald Reagan, it was nearly days before the election that a majority decided to go with Reagan. Obama fans- don’t hang your head too high just yet…McCain fans- Keep your head raised, it’s not over yet.

Now, one of the other issues that has been announced from the Obama campaign is that originally Ayers and Obama’s kids went to school but the mainstream media gave the campaign a free pass in regards to the issue being that there is a significant age gap between the ages of Ayers’ and Obama’s kids. Ayers’ children are in their late twenties to early thirties while Obama’s kids haven’t even hit puberty.

We saw it with the extremist Rev. Jeremiah Wright, we saw it with Obama’s own grandma and here we see it again, Obama is throwing yet another person under the bus denouncing the person as that’s not the individual that I’ve known. A spade is a spade Mr. Obama and simply saying that someone is not the person that you knew does not rid you of your questionable ties with some shady anti-American people such as Ayers and Wright. Shame on you, shame on the mainstream media for letting this slide and shame on those American people who are simply looking the other way in this matter.

Friends:

Let me cut to the chase. The biggest robbery in the history of this
country is taking place as you read this. Though no guns are being used, 300
million hostages are being taken.

Make no mistake about it: After stealing a half trillion dollars to line the pockets of their war-profiteering backers for the past five years, after lining the pockets of their fellow oilmen to the tune of over a hundred billion dollars in just the last two years, Bush and his cronies -- who must soon vacate the White House -- are looting the U.S. Treasury of every dollar they can grab. They are swiping as much of the silverware as they can on their way out the door.

No matter what they say, no matter how many scare words they use, they are up to their old tricks of creating fear and confusion in order to make and keep themselves and the upper one percent filthy rich. Just read the
first four paragraphs of the lead story in last Monday's New York Times and you can see what the real deal is:

"Even as policy makers worked on details of a $700 billion bailout of
the financial industry, Wall Street began looking for ways to profit from
it. Financial firms were lobbying to have all manner of troubled
investments covered, not just those related to mortgages.

"At the same time, investment firms were jockeying to oversee all the
assets that Treasury plans to take off the books of financial institutions, a
role that could earn them hundreds of millions of dollars a year in fees.
Nobody wants to be left out of Treasury's proposal to buy up bad assets
of financial institutions."

Unbelievable! Wall Street and its backers created this mess and now they are going to clean up like bandits. Even Rudy Giuliani is lobbying for his firm to be hired (and paid) to "consult" in the bailout. The problem is, nobody truly knows what this "collapse" is all about. Even Treasury Secretary Paulson admitted he doesn't know the exact amount that is
needed (he just picked the $700 billion number out of his head!).

The head of the congressional budget office said he can't figure it out nor can he explain it to anyone. And yet, they are screeching about how the end is near! Panic! Recession! The Great Depression! Y2K! Bird flu! Killer bees! We must pass the bailout bill today!! The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Falling for whom?

NOTHING in this "bailout" package will lower the price of the gas you have to put in your car to get to work. NOTHING in this bill will protect you from losing your home. NOTHING in this bill will give you health insurance. Health insurance? Mike, why are you bringing this up? What's this got to do with the Wall Street collapse?

It has everything to do with it. This so-called "collapse" was triggered
by the massive defaulting and foreclosures going on with people's home
mortgages. Do you know why so many Americans are losing their homes? To
hear the Republicans describe it, it's because too many working class idiots
were given mortgages that they really couldn't afford.

Here's the truth: The number one cause of people declaring bankruptcy is because of medical bills. Let me state this simply: If we had had universal health coverage, this mortgage "crisis" may never have happened. This bailout's mission is to protect the obscene amount of wealth that has been accumulated in the last eight years. It's to protect the top
shareholders who own and control corporate America.

It's to make sure their yachts and mansions and "way of life" go uninterrupted while the rest of America suffers and struggles to pay the bills. Let the rich suffer for once. Let them pay for the bailout. We are spending 400 million dollars a day on the war in Iraq. Let them end the war immediately and save us all another half-trillion dollars!

I have to stop writing this and you have to stop reading it. They are
staging a financial coup this morning in our country. They are hoping
Congress will act fast before they stop to think, before we have a chance to
stop them ourselves. So stop reading this and do something -- NOW!
Here's what you can do immediately:

1. Call or e-mail Senator Obama. Tell him he does not need to be sitting there trying to help prop up Bush and Cheney and the mess they've made. Tell him we know he has the smarts to slow this thing down and figure out what's the best route to take. Tell him the rich have to pay for whatever help is offered. Use the leverage we have now to insist on a moratorium on home foreclosures, to insist on a move to universal health coverage, and tell him that we the people need to be in charge of the economic decisions that affect our lives, not the barons of Wall Street.

2. Take to the streets. Participate in one of the hundreds of
quickly-called demonstrations that are taking place all over the country (especially those near Wall Street and DC).

3. Call your Representative in Congress and your Senators. (click here
to find their phone numbers). Tell them what you told Senator Obama.
When you screw up in life, there is hell to pay. Each and every one of you
reading this knows that basic lesson and has paid the consequences of
your actions at some point.

In this great democracy, we cannot let there be one set of rules for the vast majority of hard-working citizens, and another set of rules for the elite, who, when they screw up, are handed one more gift on a silver platter. No more! Not again!

Yours,
Michael Moore

****

Nanners has discovered the "true" list of books that Sarah Palin wanted to ban in Wasilla. In an effort to offend the crazed VP hopeful yet again, Nanners has taken it upon himself to find and read ALL of the books on that list, starting with Bill Clinton's "My Life."

It's gonna be a treacherous journey (have you read "My Life?" Ugh), but in the end, it's all for the sake of offending Sarah Palin. Morally, that is what is right.

Sarah Palin Video(s) of the Day --

Here's a rather funny swiftboat-inspired spoof ad:

And here's the story about the banned books, the true reason why Nanners fundamentally stands against Sarah Palin. This country does NOT ban books. Age restrict, yes. Outright ban, never:

****

Nanners has decided to slight VP hopeful, and anti-abortionist, Sarah Palin once more by posing nude for 'Vanity Fair' magazine. Nanners is now nine months pregnant with Palin's unborn child. Here's a first look at that high-class photo shoot:

Nanners plans on keeping the child despite growing concerns that the child may, in fact, be "the spawn of some kind of moronic demon, possibly the anti-Christ," as one doctor stated.

Nanners had originally wanted to abort the unnatural humanzee child due to heath concerns, but he could not afford to do so after paying for his own rape kit (as you may recall, Palin raped Nanners silly in early January). Making matters worse, Palin insisted that Nanners and she be married, but in recent weeks, Nanners has backed out of the much-anticipated interspecies marriage.

Nanners is due in the coming weeks (probably the first week of November) and many decisions need to be made before that unholy day arrives. Wish Nanners the best of luck!

Sarah Palin Video(s) of the Day –

Here's a 'greatest hits' compilation of the all the recent Sarah Palin interviews!

...And because they are hysterical, another one of Sara Benincasa's 'Sarah Palin Vlogs'...this time, it's a post-debate vlog!!

Los 400 estadounidenses más ricos – de verdad, son sólo cuatrocientos – poseen MÁS que los 150 millones de estadounidenses de más abajo en su conjunto. ¡400 estadounidenses ricos tienen más guardado por ahí que medio país! Su valor neto combinado es de 1,6 billones [1.600.000.000.000] de dólares. Durante los ocho años del gobierno de Bush, su riqueza ha aumentado en casi 700.000 millones de dólares – el mismo monto que ahora quieren que les demos para el “rescate.” ¿Por qué no van simplemente y gastan el dinero que ganaron bajo Bush para rescatarse? ¡Todavía pueden repartirse casi un billón de dólares que les queda!

Claro está que no van a hacer eso – por lo menos de buenas ganas. George W. Bush recibió un superávit de 127.000 millones de dólares cuando Bill Clinton le entregó el poder. Porque ese dinero era NUESTRO dinero y no el suyo, hizo lo que prefieren los ricos – lo gastó y nunca lo lamentó. ¿Por qué diablos íbamos a pensar en darles más de nuestro dinero a esos capitalistas inescrupulosos?

Quisiera proponer mi propio plan de rescate. Mis sugerencias, enumeradas a continuación, se basan en la singular y simple creencia de que los ricos deben salir del lío sin ayuda de nadie. Lo siento, muchachos, pero ustedes nos lo inculcaron una vez de más: No...hay...almuerzo...gratuito. ¡Y gracias por animarnos a odiar a los que reciben asistencia social! De modo que no habrá dádivas nuestras para ustedes. El Senado, esta noche, va a tratar de acelerar su versión de una ley de “rescate” para que sea votada. Hay que detenerlo. Lo hicimos el lunes con la Cámara, y podemos hacerlo de nuevo hoy con el Senado.

Es evidente, sin embargo, que no podemos seguir protestando sin proponer exactamente lo que pensamos que debe hacer el Congreso. Por lo tanto, después de consultar con una serie de personas más inteligentes que Phil Gramm, mi propuesta es la siguiente, conocida ahora como “Plan de Rescate de Mike.” Tiene 10 puntos simples, honestos, Son:

1.- NOMBRAD A UN FISCAL ESPECIAL PARA ENJUICIAR CRIMINALMENTE A TODO EL QUE HAYA CONTRIBUIDO A SABIENDAS EN WALL STREET A ESTE COLAPSO. Antes de gastar más dinero, el Congreso debe comprometerse, por resolución, a enjuiciar criminalmente a todo el que haya contribuido al intento de saqueo de nuestra economía. Esto significa que debe ir a la cárcel cualquiera que haya abusado de información confidencial, fraude de valores o cualquier acción que haya contribuido a provocar este colapso. Este Congreso debe pedir un Fiscal Especial que persiga vigorosamente a todo el que haya creado este lío, y cualquier otro que intente estafar al público en el futuro.

2. LOS RICOS DEBEN PAGAR POR SU PROPIO RESCATE. Puede que tengan que vivir en 5 casas en lugar de 8. Puede que tengan que conducir 9 coches en lugar de 13. Puede ser que el chef para sus mini-terrier tenga que ser reasignado. Pero no hay manera de que, después de hacer que los ingresos familiares bajen más de 2.000 dólares durante los años de Bush, la gente trabajadora y la clase media tengan que desembolsar aunque sean diez centavos para financiar la próxima compra de un yate. Si verdaderamente necesitan los 700.000 millones de dólares que dicen que necesitan hay una manera más fácil para que los junten:

a) Cada pareja que gane más de un millón de dólares al año y cada contribuyente que gane más de 500.000 dólares al año pagarán un impuesto adicional de 10% durante cinco años. (Es el plan del senador Sanders. Es como el coronel Sanders, sólo que él se propone freír los pollos apropiados.) Eso significa que los ricos todavía pagarán menos impuestos a los ingresos que cuando Carter fue presidente. Eso reunirá un total de 300.000 millones de dólares.

b) Como casi todas las demás democracias, cobrad un impuesto de 0,25% por cada transacción bursátil. Eso reunirá más de 200.000 millones de dólares en un año.

c) Como cada accionista es un patriota estadounidense, los accionistas renunciarán a recibir un cheque de dividendos durante un trimestre y en su lugar ese dinero irá al Tesoro para ayudar a pagar el rescate.

d) Un 25% de las principales corporaciones de EE.UU. no pagan actualmente NINGÚN impuesto sobre los ingresos. Los ingresos federales corporativos ascienden actualmente a un 1,7% del PIB comparado con un 5% en los años cincuenta. Si aumentamos el impuesto sobre los ingresos corporativos para volver al nivel de los años cincuenta, eso nos da otros 500.000 millones de dólares.

La combinación de todo eso debiera bastar para terminar con la calamidad. Los ricos podrán conservar sus mansiones y sus sirvientes, y a nuestro gobierno de EE.UU. (“¡LO PRIMERO ES EL PAÍS!”) le quedará un poco para reparar algunas carreteras, puentes y escuelas.

3.- RESCATAD A LA GENTE QUE ESTÁ PERDIENDO SUS CASAS, NO A LOS QUE CONSTRUIRÁN UNA OCTAVA CASA. Hay 1,3 millones de casas en ejecución hipotecaria ahora mismo. Es lo principal de este problema. Así que en lugar darle el dinero a los bancos como regalo, pagad 100.000 dólares para cada una de esas hipotecas. Obligad a los bancos a renegociar la hipoteca para que el dueño de la casa pueda pagar su valor actual. Para asegurar que esta ayuda no caiga en manos de especuladores y de aquellos que han tratado de ganar dinero jugando con casas, este rescate es sólo para la primera residencia de la gente. Y, a cambio del pago de 100.000 dólares por la hipoteca existente, el gobierno compartirá la propiedad de la hipoteca para que pueda recuperar parte de su dinero. Por lo tanto, el coste total inicial del arreglo de la crisis hipotecaria en la raíz (en lugar de hacerlo con los avariciosos prestamistas) será de 150.000 millones, no 700.000 millones de dólares.

Y dejemos algo en claro. Las gentes que no han podido pagar sus hipotecas no son “riesgos inaceptables.” Son nuestros compatriotas, y todo lo que querían era lo que todos queremos y que la mayoría todavía obtenemos: una casa que podamos llamar nuestra. Pero durante los años de Bush, millones de ellos perdieron los puestos de trabajo con paga decente que tenían. Seis millones cayeron en la pobreza. Siete millones perdieron su seguro de salud. Y cada uno de ellos vio como su salario real bajó en 2.000 dólares. Los que se atreven a despreciar a los estadounidenses que fueron afectados por un golpe de mala suerte tras el otro debieran avergonzarse. Somos una sociedad mejor, más fuerte, más segura, y más feliz cuando todos nuestros ciudadanos pueden permitirse vivir en una casa propia.

4.- SI VUESTRO BANCO O COMPAÑÍA RECIBE ALGUNA PARTE DE NUESTRO DINERO EN UN “RESCATE”, ENTONCES SEREMOS SU DUEÑO. Lo siento, así son las cosas. Si el banco me da dinero para que pueda comprar una casa, el banco será “dueño” de la casa hasta que yo lo devuelva todo – con intereses. Lo mismo vale para Wall Street. Todo el dinero que necesitáis para manteneros a flote, si nuestro gobierno os considera un bajo riesgo – y necesarios para el bien del país – lo recibiréis como préstamo, pero nosotros seremos vuestros dueños. Si cesáis los pagos, os venderemos. Es lo que hizo el gobierno sueco y funcionó.

5.- TODAS LAS REGULACIONES DEBEN SER RESTAURADAS. LA REVOLUCIÓN REAGAN HA MUERTO. Esta catástrofe sucedió porque permitimos que el zorro tuviera las llaves del gallinero. En 1999, Bill Clinton propuso una ley para eliminar todas las regulaciones que regían Wall Street y nuestro sistema bancario. La ley fue aprobada y Clinton la firmó. El senador Phil Gramm, el principal asesor económico de McCain, dijo cuando se firmó la ley:

“En los años treinta... se creía que el gobierno era la respuesta. Se creía que la estabilidad y el crecimiento provenían de la dominación del gobierno sobre el funcionamiento de mercados libres.

“Estamos aquí para revocar [eso] porque hemos aprendido que el gobierno no es la respuesta. Hemos aprendido que la libertad y la competencia son las respuestas. Hemos aprendido que si promovemos el crecimiento económico promovemos la estabilidad mediante la competencia y la libertad.

“Estoy orgulloso de estar aquí porque se trata de una ley importante; es una ley desregulatoria. Creo que es la ola del futuro, y estoy terriblemente orgulloso de haber sido parte de que se convirtiera en realidad.”

La ley debe ser revocada. Bill Clinton puede ayudar dirigiendo el esfuerzo por la revocación de la Ley Gramm y por el restablecimiento de regulaciones aún más duras respecto a nuestras instituciones financieras. Y cuando hayan terminado de hacerlo, pueden restablecer las regulaciones para las líneas aéreas, la inspección de nuestros alimentos, la industria petrolera, OSHA [Agencia de la Seguridad y la Salud Ocupacionales], y toda otra entidad que afecte nuestras vidas de todos los días. Todas las provisiones de supervisión para cualquier “rescate” deben contener dineros para su imposición y penas criminales para todos los delincuentes.

6.- SI ES DEMASIADO GRANDE COMO PARA PERMITIR QUE FRACASE, SIGNIFICA QUE ES DEMASIADO GRANDE PARA EXISTIR. El que se permita que sucedan esas mega-fusiones y que no se impongan las leyes antimonopolio y anti-cartel ha permitido que una serie de instituciones financieras y corporaciones lleguen a ser tan grandes, que la idea misma de su colapso llega a significar un colapso aún mayor de toda la economía. Ninguna compañía debiera tener ese tipo de poder. El así llamado “Pearl Harbor económico” no puede ocurrir si hay cientos – miles – de instituciones en las que la gente tiene su dinero. Cuando se tiene a una docena de compañías productoras de coches, si una se revienta, no enfrentamos un desastre nacional. Si existen tres periódicos con propietarios distintos en la ciudad, una compañía mediática no puede decidirlo todo (Ya sé... ¿Qué estoy pensando?! ¿Quién lee un periódico en estos días? ¡Seguramente estamos contentos de que todas estas fusiones y adquisiciones nos hayan dejado con una prensa fuerte y libre!) Hay que promulgar leyes para impedir que las compañías sean tan grandes y dominantes que con un solo peñasco en un ojo, el gigante se cae y muere. Y no se puede permitir que ninguna institución establezca esquemas monetarios que nadie puede entender. Si no pueden explicarlos en dos frases, no debieran aceptar el dinero de nadie.

7.- NINGÚN EJECUTIVO DEBIERA SER PAGADO MÁS DE 40 VECES LO QUE GANA SU EMPLEADO PROMEDIO, Y NINGÚN EJECUTIVO DEBIERA RECIBIR NINGÚN TIPO DE “PARACAÍDAS” QUE NO SEA EL SALARIO MUY GENEROSO QUE ÉL O ELLA GANARON MIENTRAS TRABAJARON PARA LA COMPAÑÍA. En 1980, el presidente promedio de una compañía ganó 45 veces lo que ganaban sus empleados. En 2003, estaban ganando 254 veces lo que ganaban sus trabajadores. Después de 8 años de Bush, ahora cobran 400 veces lo que gana su empleado promedio. El que algo semejante haya podido pasar en compañías públicas desafía la razón. En Gran Bretaña, el presidente de compañía promedio gana 28 veces lo que recibe su empleado promedio. ¡En Japón, es sólo 17 veces! Lo último que oí es que el presidente de Toyota se da la gran vida en Tokio. ¿Cómo se las arregla con tan poco dinero? En serio, es una vergüenza. Hemos creado el lío en el que estamos al permitir que la gente en la cúpula se hinchen más allá de lo creíble con millones de dólares. Esto tiene que terminar. No sólo ningún ejecutivo que recibe ayuda por este lío debiera beneficiarse al hacerlo, sino todo ejecutivo que llevó a su compañía a la ruina debiera ser despedido antes de que la compañía reciba alguna ayuda.

8.- FORTALECER LA FDIC [Corporación Federal de Seguros de los Depósitos Bancarios] Y CONVERTIRLA EN UN MODELO PARA PROTEGER NO SÓLO LOS AHORROS DE LA GENTE, SINO TAMBIÉN SUS PENSIONES Y SUS CASAS. Obama tuvo razón ayer cuando propuso expandir la protección de la FDIC para los ahorros de la gente en sus bancos a 250.000 dólares. Pero el mismo tipo de seguro gubernamental debiera ser dado a los fondos de pensión de nuestra nación. La gente nunca debería tener que preocuparse de si podrán contar o no con el dinero que han ahorrado para su vejez. Esto significará una estricta supervisión gubernamental de compañías que administran los fondos de sus empleados – o tal vez signifique que las compañías tengan que entregar esos fondos y su administración al gobierno. Los fondos de pensión privados de la gente también deben ser protegidos, pero tal vez sea hora de considerar que los fondos de pensión no sean invertidos en el casino llamado mercado bursátil. Nuestro gobierno debiera tener un deber solemne de garantizar que nadie que envejece en este país tenga que preocuparse de que pueda terminar desamparado.

9.- TODOS TIENEN QUE RESPIRAR A FONDO, CALMARSE Y NO PERMITIR QUE EL MIEDO DOMINE LA SITUACIÓN. ¡Apagad la televisión! No estamos en la Segunda Gran Depresión. El cielo no cae sobre nosotros. Los eruditos y los políticos nos mienten tan rápida y furiosamente que cuesta no ser afectado por toda la ofensiva del miedo. Hasta yo, ayer, os escribí y repetí lo que escuché en las noticias, que el Dow tuvo la caída más grande en un día de su historia. Bueno, es verdad si se habla de puntos, pero su caída de un 7% no llega ni cerca del Lunes Negro en 1987 cuando el mercado bursátil perdió en un día un 23% de su valor. En los años ochenta, cerraron 3.000 bancos, pero EE.UU. no tuvo que cerrar. Esas instituciones siempre han tenido sus altas y bajas y todo termina por arreglarse. Tiene que ser así, ¡porque a los ricos no les gusta que sufra su riqueza! Tienen un interés creado en calmar las cosas y volver a meterse al Jacuzzi.

Por loca que se haya vuelto la vida, decenas de miles de personas obtuvieron un préstamo para un coche esta semana. Miles fueron al banco y obtuvieron una hipoteca para comprar una casa. Los estudiantes que acababan de volver a la universidad vieron que los bancos estaban más que contentos de endeudarlos durante los próximos 15 años con un préstamo estudiantil. La vida ha continuado. Ni una sola persona ha perdido parte de su dinero si está en un banco, o en valores del Tesoro o un Certificado de Depósito [CD]. Y lo más sorprendente es que el público estadounidense no se haya tragado la campaña de amedrentamiento. Los ciudadanos ni pestañaron, y en lugar de hacerlo dijeron al Congreso que tomara ese plan de rescate y se lo metiera por donde le cupiese. ESO fue lo impresionante. ¿Por qué no sucumbió la población ante las advertencias repletas de temor de su presidente y sus compinches? Bueno, sólo puedes decir ‘Sadam tiene la bomba’ tantas veces antes de que la gente se dé cuenta de que eres un mierdecilla. Después de ocho largos años, la nación está cansada y simplemente no lo aguanta más.

10.- CREAR UN BANCO NACIONAL, UN “BANCO POPULAR.” Si realmente ardemos por imprimir hasta un billón de dólares, ¿por qué no nos lo damos a nosotros mismos, en lugar de dárselo a unos pocos ricos? Ahora que somos dueños de Freddie y Fannie ¿por qué no establecemos un banco popular? Que suministre préstamos a bajas tasas de interés a todo tipo de gente que quiera tener su casa, comenzar un pequeño negocio, ir a la universidad, encontrar una cura para el cáncer o crear el próximo gran invento. Y ahora que somos dueños de AIG, la mayor compañía de seguros del país, tomemos el paso siguiente y suministremos seguros de salud para todos. Medicare para todos. Nos ahorrará mucho dinero a la larga. Y no seremos Nº 12 en la lista de expectativa de vida. Podremos tener una vida más larga, gozar de nuestra pensión protegida por el gobierno, y viviremos para ver el día en el que los criminales corporativos que crearon tanta miseria salgan de prisión para que podamos contribuir a reacostumbrarlos a la vida civil – una vida con una linda casa y un coche que no use gasolina que haya sido inventado con ayuda del Banco Popular.

Atentamente

Michael Moore

MMFlint@aol.com

MichaelMoore.com

P.D. Llamad ahora a vuestros senadores. Esta noche van a intentar su propia versión de Saqueo de EE.UU. Y que vuestros representantes sepan que estáis de acuerdo mi plan de 10 puntos.

*Traducido del inglés para Rebelión por Germán Leyens

http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=73688

****

In an effort to offer the American people one more choice, Nanners has decided, 'Hey, if Sarah Palin can get into office sporting a flag pin and glasses, and no experience, maybe I can too!'

So, from this day forward, Nanners has dedicated himself to being your third party VP candidate. If any of the third party folks want him, he's ready for the job. He DOES have his glasses and flag pin. That's all you need, right?* 

Plus, Nanners can debate like a motherf***er!!

*Please be aware that Nanners is, in fact, pregnant with Sarah Palin's child and may soon be giving birth to the humanzee antiChrist, but that shouldn't stop him from his duties--if Palin can poorly raise five children, so can he!!

Sarah Palin Video of the Day –

A classic spoof that melds the infamous 'Miss Teen USA' viral video with the Palin-Charlie Gibson interview...classic!

Plus, one more shout out to Sara Benincasa and her awesome parody, "Sarah Palin's Vlog!" Here's another installment:

While the John McCain presidential campaign is fleeing Michigan, scrappy daredevil Rocky "Hardcore" Hauri is filling the void.

Rocky, who's worked a variety of odd jobs to supplement his stuntman income, knows far more about the economy than McCain. And also knows exactly how many houses he has. If you think those are ridiculous comparisons, perhaps you shouldn't be coming to a daredevil Web site for political commentary. Fact is, with that ridiculous $700 billion bailout, we're all walking the tightrope now -- without a safety net.

So, in promotional appearances for the "Hell Drivers" movie, Rocky is trekking across Michigan this month to attend film festivals in Bay City, Grand Rapids and Flint. Here's the official Rocky Tour Schedule:

October 5 -- Hell's Half Mile Film Festival, Bay City: The ironically named "Hell" film and music festival is a perfect match with our brand -- and in the place that gave birth to the Bay City Rollers. We're loving it.

October 18 -- Flint Film Festival: Michael Mooreville, though he has nothing to do with this festival. One of the 450 cities worldwide that's lost more than 10 percent of its population since 1950. But most important, "The Vehicle City!"

October 25 -- Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival in Grand Rapids: This theater is absolutely gorgeous and we LOVE the film mix of Hollywood classics interspersed with indie gems. We're actually programmed up against Monsters, Inc. Is there any kid alive who hasn't already seen that?

Rocky just got back from the Hell's Half Mile Festival and here is his brief review:

"They freaking loved it!!!!!!"

"They" being the audience. Six exclamation points from Rocky, sometimes a very mellow and reserved personality, is the equivalent of four stars from Roger Ebert.

Rocky will be our eyes, ears and heart out in Michigan, because unfortunately our film festival travel budget is extremely tight. Well, let's just bare all and say "extremely depleted."

Ironically, as Mr. Hardcore travels across his home state, he rarely performs at local shows due to promoters' liability concerns. Rocky addressed this problem in an exclusive interview with the Midland Daily News:

“Michigan motor sports fans are getting the shaft,” Hauri said. “Promoters have no idea what we do and how simple it is.”

Perhaps Rocky's Magical Michigan Tour will convince local promoters to let him show his stuff on the racetrack. In the meantime, Rocky's nostalgic journey is the ultimate tribute to his father, legendary stuntman and thrill show mechanic, John Hauri.

The elder Hauri starred in the Aut Swenson Thrillcade, a wild blend of circus acts (including a Miss America archery champion) and stunts; and Danny Fleenor's Hurricane Hell Drivers.

We LOVE the pirate-themed helmet. Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Stay in touch here for more eyewitness accounts and testimonials about Hell's Half Mile and the rest of the Michigan tour dates. We are hopeful that we can also arrange a Detroit-area screening and possibly Ann Arbor, too. If you are a car or motorcycle enthusiast from Detroit or Ann Arbor or anywhere else we haven't screened in gorgeous Michigan, please get in touch at helldrivers @ comcast. net

Ayer cogí un resfriado de los buenos. De esos, en los que te gastas 5 paquetes de pañuelos, y sientes que las fábricas de “kleenex” se están enriqueciendo a tu costa. Lo peor de todo esto, es que también tengo pesadillas. Y muchas, además.

Una de las pesadillas que tuve anoche, podría decir que es uno de los más surrealistas que he tenido en mi vida. Más raro aún que aquel sueño que tuve, en el que Michael Moore, y Jose Manuel Parada, se fusionaban y se convertían en un “Transformers” de esos.

Pues bien, el sueño fue el siguiente:

Es un día normal, en el que me levantó todos los días de la mañana para ver “Intereconomía TV”. Ese gran canal, con una gran dosis de programas con fino humor inteligente (esto debió de ser una publicidad subliminal que se instaló en mi cerebro, creo yo). De repente (y sin razón alguna), salgo a la calle, con mi gorro gracioso y mis pantalones en la cabeza, para comprarme un par de “Gremlins” en la tienda de al lado. De camino, me encuentro al señor que siempre sonríe, y que viste de una forma estrafalaria y divertida (chaqueta a cuadros, corbata, y calzoncillos puestos en la cabeza). Empiezo a hablar con él:

¿Qué tal andamos?. ¿eh?- Yo

¡Hoy han quemado mi casa, y mi mujer ha desaparecido MISTERIOSAMENTE! (se empieza a reír, y de repente se empieza a escuchar el “Wake Me Up, Before you Go Go” de Wham!)- El señor con los calzoncillos puestos en la cabeza.

Tras esa breve y entretenida charla con ese hombre tan raro, sigo caminando alegremente para llegar a mi destino (comprar los malditos “Gremlins”), hasta que, de repente, aparecen de la nada El Oso Yogui, y su inseparable compañero “Boo Boo”. Yo, sorprendido, les empiezo a hablar:

¿Qué hacéis aquí?- Yo

Hemos venido del futuro, para enseñarte una horrible desgracia que te ocurrirá en el futuro. Si. El futuro. ¿He dicho ya futuro, Boo Boo?- El Oso Yogui

Si Yogui- Boo Boo

¿Y qué voy a hacer?- Yo

No te preocupes amigo (se empieza a reír de forma estúpida), ¡Boo Boo!, ¡Rápido, la máquina del tiempo!- El Oso Yogui de las narices

Y ya está. Fin de la pesadilla. Tras este mal sueño, me levante, y vi una nota encima de la mesa, que ponía algo así como:

“Hemos perdido nuestra pasión. Creo que nuestro amor ha llegado a su fin. Es la hora del DIVORCIO. Firmado: ALF.”

Tras leer dicha nota, me sentí triste. Ese entrañable extraterrestre se ha marchado de mi vida PARA SIEMPRE. Esto ya no tiene sentido sin ALF…Pero lo que más me dolió de dicha nota fue una frase que aparecía en el reverso, que decía algo así como:

“No soporto tus ronquidos, cabrón.”

Maldita seas Alf. Eres un cobarde. ¡Nos veremos en los tribunales, maldito muñeco de espuma que se cree extraterrestre! Quizás nos encontremos por allí, bailando el "Wake Me Up Before you Go Go", nunca se sabe..

Things are hoting up both locally and nationally...

NDP leader Jack Layton will be in Guelph on October 12th 2008 for a campaign event at the Woolwich Arms at 9. 00 p.m.

For those of you who would like to see Slacker Uprising, Michael Moore's new movie the NDP Youth are having a screening at 8.00 p.m. on October 8th in Room 442 University Centre. The event is free and open to all.

You can also download your own copy. Cool!

Hey, guess what? Michael Moore is fat! And, well, he likes food just as much as he hates America! And he's fat!

That seems to be about the wittiest jab that is lobbed against the Left in the proudly Conservative “comedy” from David Zucker, one of the creators of “Airplane!,” “Top Secret!” and “The Naked Gun.”

Now, those titles alone are enough to earn comedic immortality, but they have recently been tainted from the stench of such overheated comedic concoctions as “Scary Movie 3 and 4,” “BASEketball” and “My Boss's Daughter.”

Sure, Left-leaning Hollywood should not be above comedic jabs. Unfortunately for Zucker, that movie was made a few years ago, called “Team America: World Police,” which took a number of shots at some of the most politically vocal actors today (I still wonder what Matt Damon did to tick off directors Trey Parker and Matt Stone to deserve such a lashing).

Confusing a challenge to authority as unpatriotic, this cheaply made, painfully unfunny screed does the Right no favors for those who claim their comedic well is arid.

The film begins with Zucker trotting out his former go-to slapstick magnet, poor Leslie Neilson, who is well past his pratfall days, as he regales his grandkids of a Dickensian tale during a July 4^th celebration.

Ebenezer Scrooge is replaced by Michael Malone (played by Kevin Farley, hired presumably because of his girth, not his talent), a documentary filmmaker whose liberal flicks are the toast of the towns of Hollywood and the Gaza Strip.

His tale is based on “A Christmas Carol” (at least the source material is better than other “parody” films such as “Meet the Spartans” and “Disaster Movie,” which merely strings other films together), wherein Malone is visited by three ghosts – Gen. Patton (played by Kelsey Grammer), George Washington (a shockingly waxy looking Jon Voight) and country singer Trace Atkins as the Angel of Death.

Unlike Dickens, each ghost repeatedly slaps the stuffing out of Malone in order to get him to “love America.”

And while Zucker once smartly packed his parodies to the brim, here he too often keeps it in cruise control, coasting with neither humor nor message, but just awkward setups without any comedic payoff. And the humor that does make the cut feels well past its expiration date. Seinfeld references, a Jimmy Carter speech, Gary (“Dif’rent Strokes”) Coleman comedy and such top-billing cameos as Dennis Hopper, Kevin Sorbo and James Woods? Really? Grammer, who as the main ghost Patton, exudes as much manliness as Bruce Vilanch (his “Cheers” wife Lillith would have cut a more frightening figure than he does here), and yet he’s by far the most watchable of the lot.

Meanwhile, it seems that every few seconds we are reminded just how inconsequential Malone is a director and what little impact his films have.

The over-riding question, then, of “An American Carol” is that if Moore...excuse me, Malone is such an insignificant figure as he's often ridiculed to be, then why is he held up for such derision in this film? It seems the film may have been more effective for parodying his filmmaking tactics than merely making lame character assassinations against him. (Again, he’s a fatty!)

The most comedic aspect of the entire film is a cameo from blowhard Bill (“We'll do it LIVE!!!”) O'Reilly, who pretends to be civil while getting yelled out by a guest on his television program.

The film also makes a bizarre solemn juxtaposition to Ground Zero amidst what is otherwise supposed to be a comedic moment between Malone and Washington. For a comedy, there seems to be a prevailing mood of anger that is an awkward fit.

The British are light years are ahead in the humor department, for they understand an essential element that “Carol’s” creators will never admit to – humility.

They are too busy espousing pride and hubris, which are traits that often do not lend themselves to comedy. They confuse finding faults within ourselves as some sort of weakness, resorting instead to finger-pointing, mockery and cheap shots at “others.”

To use a phrase that often has been reserved for the Left this election, this is the definition of “elite.”

Daily Worcesteria reports the state Republican party has filed a complaint with the Office of Campaign and Political finance against John Direnzo, the Michael Moore supporter who painted a school bus to use as a rolling billboard for the Millbury Democrat's state Senate bid.

Apologies for not linking sooner -- this was part of a post that was eaten last week.

This effort had been put forth by pro-Obama group, Vote Today Ohio, and took advantage of a loop hole in the state’s elections laws that allowed people to register and vote at the same time without having to prove residency.

We have all heard of voter fraud in the past but this brings a whole new meaning to the possibilities of the potential voter fraud nightmare we could be facing in November. To think, if McCain becomes our 44th President of the United States, the Liberal Democrats will be outraged because even they would be unable to grab the Presidency from the Republicans. Either way I am sure conspiracy theories will come out of this if Democrats come in runner up yet again.

            I am sure the new movie will be interesting.  At least to the stoned one’s credit he is not presenting this new movie as a documentary.  He is, however, claiming to have inside information on the Bush Administration and thus suggesting that his story is credible.  Who knows, maybe the DVD special features will finally prove that the Bush family was behind the Kennedy assassination.  Or maybe he can prove that the World Trade Center twin towers never existed—they were merely an illusion.

            The good news is that few people take Oliver or Michael seriously anymore.  They have their followers, their faithful—I am sure Charlie Sheen gets his call girls from Oliver’s black book.  Michael Douglas, whatever happened to him, probably thought he should play Bush; he was the last President after all.

            And now, we find out that the Chinese might be behind the funding of the movie.  Gee, do these guys know that the Soviet Union died and communism no longer holds its charm.  Of course, the charm of communism was only felt by those in power and the Elites in the West who thought that Alexander Solzhenitsyn was a false prophet.  Of course, these are the same people who claim that Ronald Reagan did not have anything to do with the end of the Soviet Union.  They are the ones who booed Solzhenitsyn at Harvard.

            Oh, if we could just return to the days of justice, when a man could be tried and convicted before he was shot, but after he had been tortured so badly that he was happy to be shot.

            One day there will be a museum for guys like Stone and Moore—it will have a room titled “The Idiots of Hollywood.”  Well, maybe it will be more than a room—it might take an entire state.  Maybe we should put it in the Midwest; that would force these clueless Hollywood folks to actually visit the real America.

****

VP hopeful and genuine crazy woman, Sarah Palin, decided to fling some mud at Barack Obama this week (Nanners prefers poo, but that's another story) in an effort to boost support of her Palin-McCain, err, McCain-Palin, campaign. She claimed that Barack Obama "pals around with terrorists." Harsh, misguided and disappointingly racist words.

Most thought Palin was referring to an old activist buddy Obama once met, a guy named Bill Ayers. In fact, Sarah Palin was actually speaking about Barack's PC tech-support relationship with Nanners, which is casual at best.

She has claimed 'off the record' that Nanners is nothing more than a "no good, two-timing towelhead--a true terrorist of America." Well, Nanners does like to wear a towel on his head, but that's just to be silly, or after a nice, hot shower. He hardly wears it for the deeply religious reasons various other cultures do.

As for being a terrorist, well, Nanners does support 'The Sea Shepherd,' which is widely considered a terrorist organization in some countries, but they fight to protect animals from extinction and to restore the balance of our unstable ecosystem. Perhaps being called a terrorist isn't always a bad thing?

Perhaps it depends on what the cause is--what's been done to determine such 'terrorist' action. Weren't our founding fathers considered 'terrorists' of Britain during our countries' volatile birthing pains? If Obama likes Paul Revere, does that mean he "likes terrorists?"

The way Nanners sees it, unless harm is done first by the organization, no harm should be caused. But he takes his 'terrorist' activities on a per-case basis, so Nanners suspects he won't be converting to any 'Extreme Islamic movements' in the foreseeable future. But if he sees eye-to-eye with a group that's hoping to restore balance, humanity and peace to our great nation, then he's all about being a 'terrorist.' 

Sarah Palin Video of the Day –

Comedian Sara Benincasa does an absolutely perfect imitation of Sarah Palin in "Sarah Palin's Vlog." Check them out, you won't be disappointed!

i seem to remember the john kerry and moveon.org swift boat veterans for truth rebuttal film (called something, something... upstream?) being distributed via bittorent, as well as "good copy, bad copy" which we showed last spring... are there any others?

does LEGITEMATELY distributing a film FOR FREE via bittorrent trackers mean that someone could screen it freely? not legally probably, but does that line of thinking hold up as far as the big picture goes? if something's freely available (slacker uprising for instance) what's the difference between putting it on a big screen and showing it to a ton of people for free, and telling them to all go home and download it for themselves?

We had a fun but busy weekend.  The kids and I attended my hometown's Fall Festival on Saturday, and Eliza experience her first parade.  She was timid at first, not knowing WHY these firetrucks kept going by intermittently honking and buzzing their sirens, but once she realized that waving back at the friendly people seemed to get these same people to come over and hand her candy, she warmed up pretty quickly.  Linus, of course, is an old hand at this, and the sugar buzz hit both of them at the same time and with the same intensity.  The three of us went to mass after the parade (David being at home harvesting), and I emerged an hour later feeling like I had been at a wrestling match.

Sidenote:  I think the only reason anyone would go to a parade is if a) they're in it or b) have small children.  I cannot imagine David and I going to a parade without the kids.

Sidenote 2:  Linus shook Adrian Smith's hand, and I flashed him my brightest smile and told him, "Thanks for voting no on the bailout."  (for those who might be wondering who Adrian Smith is, he is our House Representative in Congress.)      

We were able to see family that was back in town that we don't get to see often, so that was great.  On Sunday, I attended a bridal shower for a high school classmate.  It's strange and nice to see the girls and catch up--I stayed too long, but could've stayed longer.  Strange because nearly ten years have passed since graduation, but we could just pick up right where we left off!  And really, girls, it's really impossible that we've aged 9 years---you all look fantastic.  With it, going places, doing things...awesome.  Here is a picture of those of us who could make it to the shower:

Friday night, Dad and I went to An American Carol.  I recommend this movie.  It was highly entertaining.  I laughed a lot.  I'm going again with David.  I feel vindicated, in a way, from all that Michael Moore tripe.  Somewhat of a spoiler, but Michael "Malone" is the Scrooge character, and he is led through various time periods in US history by General George S. Patton (Kelsey Grammar), George Washington (Jon Voight), and various others, including Dennis Hopper, Leslie Nielson, and more.  Among my favorite scenes:  They visit a typical four year university lecture hall, where the America-bashing, pot-smoking professors suddenly break into a very YMCA-ish song and dance, while the indoctrinated students nod in time.  ("Just like it's 1968, '68!")  Also, a scene where Neville Chamberlain, after ceding various countries to Hitler, spit-polishes Hitler's boots as he and his associates, who can barely contain their glee, sing their rendition of "Kum-bah-yah."   The movie really is great fun at the expense of liberals.  It is very slap-stick, so don't go expecting a serious film.  But, while all in great fun, you keep thinking to yourself, "That's so right-on!" 

Seriously, it has taken me about five trips to the computer today to write this post.  I've gotten interrupted quite a bit.  A lot of people who have blogs sometimes express their dismay at not keeping up with it frequently enough.  That isn't my problem.  I could write all the time--at my family's detriment!  I think I'll try to step back a bit, perhaps every other day.  Or get up really early in the morning.