annika's journal
annika's journal
...it's not dark yet, but it's gettin' there...
With the loss of Ohio, I think its safe now to turn off the tv and the radio. Nancy Grace is talkin' crime on CNN. Chris Matthews just ejaculated in his pants. Over on talk radio, in between snippets of crappy music, Hugh Hewitt is probably still saying the polls are wrong. If he replays the water polo coach interview, consider that Hugh's way of throwing in the towel.
Bronco Bomber is now president-elect. This is indeed a historic event. Congratulations are definitely in order, but you won't hear one coming from me. As I said before, Obama is a bad guy, with bad plans, and a lot of bad friends who are now office seekers.
But yeah, this election is earth shattering in significance. Electing America's first African American president is something for us all to be proud about. Maybe the world will stop calling us racist, though my guess is they'll just call us half racist. But that'll be something, I guess.
In the coming days, we'll begin to see Obama put flesh on the skeleton of what I call America 3.0.* I agree with the pundits who expect some conciliatory gestures to the center during the transition period. Most likely these will be limited to one, maybe two cabinet designees from among the growing pool of liberal turncoat Republicans.
But the more interesting question is: what will be Obama's "gays in the military." I.e., what will be his first big move that makes voters say "whoa, I didn't sign on for that." Who knows. It's not like he made a secret of the shit sandwich he's gonna feed us. People just didn't care, or didn't believe. And the $500 check they'll get (which I won't qualify for) is not gonna be much consolation when they get downsized. But whatever. I plan to say I told you so as often as possible, so be forewarned.
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* First there was America Beta, 1776-1789. Then came America 1.0, 1789 to 1868. Most recently was America 2.0, 1868 to 2008.
The enemy is at the gates. Now is the time. Live free or die.
This is America. We are Americans. May it always be so.
There is a chance. We can dodge this bullet. I can't do it alone. None of us can. But with faith in our holy Father, we can do it together.
There are dark days ahead no matter who wins after tomorrow. But pray, and pray hard, that we will not be led into a darkness greater than we dare imagine. When you wake up tomorrow, dedicate the day to this hope, and your vote will become your prayer.
And if we fail tomorrow, let us not fail in the greater fight to come.
Be ready.
As is my tradition, here are my ballot initiative recommendations for California voters.
Proposition 1A: SAFE RELIABLE HIGH-SPEED PASSENGER TRAIN BOND ACT. Here's a surprise. I have my hard and fast rule about bond measures* and I'm going to make an exception for this one. I like rail. This measure would help fund a high speed rail line connecting northern and southern California. Transportation alternatives are always a good thing, and I'm going against my rule because this type of infrastructure improvement cannot be done without public financing. Plus this is the type of system Europeans know and love, and since Obama's going to turn us into a European style socialist state, we might as well have a European style rail system to go with it. I VOTE YES.
Proposition 2: STANDARDS FOR CONFINING FARM ANIMALS. This initiative would help eliminate some (though not all) of the inhumane factory farm confinement procedures that should be offensive to anyone with a conscience. It's a matter of humanity. I VOTE YES.
Proposition 3: CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL BOND ACT. Putting the word "children" in the title doesn't change the fact that this is a bond measure. I VOTE NO.
Proposition 4: WAITING PERIOD AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION BEFORE TERMINATION OF MINOR'S PREGNANCY. It wouldn't make much sense if I voted to protect farm animals, yet voted against protecting the unborn. I'm just sayin. I VOTE YES.
Proposition 5: NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENSES. SENTENCING PAROLE AND REHABILITATION. Both law enforcement officials and DiFi are against this one. It must be bad. Although the title makes it sound benign, it's actually another unnecessary liberal interference in the criminal justice system. I VOTE NO.
Proposition 6: POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING. CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND LAWS. I checked out the revisions to the law in this lengthy bill, and I didn't see any problems. I was especially convinced by the addition of an exception to the hearsay rule for witness tampering. Essentially, the hearsay rule requires that witnesses testify in court, or not at all. But if a gang intimidates a witness into not appearing for trial, this law would allow a witness's previous out-of-court statement to be heard by the jury. I VOTE YES.
Proposition 7: RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION. I don't like excessive government meddling in the energy business. Here, the government would mandate sources of energy and I think that is best left to the free market. I VOTE NO.
Proposition 8: ELIMINATES RIGHT OF SAME-SEX COUPLES TO MARRY. Vote your conscience on this one. The will of the people, not judges, should prevail. We are a democracy, at least for the time being. But remember, amending the California Constitution will not stop gay marriage, since it will still exist in other states. Nobody mentions this, but the "Full Faith and Credit" clause of the U.S. Constitution requires that a gay marriage recognized in one state must be recognized by all. So knock yourself out. If Proposition 8 passes, don't be surprised when a few years down the road five more judges rule it unconstitutional. NO RECOMMENDATION.
Proposition 9: CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. VICTIMS' RIGHTS. PAROLE. This is more tinkering with the criminal justice system, this time in favor of victims' rights. The clincher is that victims will have more of an opportunity to be heard at various events such as bail, plea, sentencing and parole hearings. And it establishes victim safety as a consideration in determining bail or release on parole. I'm all for that. I VOTE YES.
Proposition 10: ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. BONDS. Another bond, so you know it's a no. But get this language: "Provides $3.425 billion to help consumers and others purchase certain high fuel economy or alternative fuel vehicles." Creeping socialism, I'm telling you. Next year, I'm thinking of introducing a bond measure that will provide 3.4 billion dollars to help us all get new blu-ray players. That would be nice, wouldn't it? I VOTE NO.
Proposition 11: REDISTRICTING. This initiative would take control of redistricting out of the hands of the politicians and give it to people who would most likely be selected and receive bribes from those same politicians. Still, something needs to be done about redistricting, and I'm willing to give anything other than our current system (where legislators get to gerrymander their own districts to ensure their own re-election) a try. I VOTE YES.
Proposition 12: VETERANS BOND ACT OF 2008. Surprise again. I guess I'm feeling generous because at first I was going to stick to my rule against bonds. But I see this is a measure to provide low interest home loans for veterans. I think veterans are a good risk, and plus we're involved in two foreign wars right now and we're going to owe our veterans big time as they return home after keeping us safe. I VOTE YES.
That's it. Feel free to print this page out and wave it proudly as you enter the voting booth on Tuesday.
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* I have an easy way to decide most bond issues. I vote no as a rule on every bond measure, no matter how tempting it sounds, except for prison bonds, which I always vote yes on. It seems to me that bond measures are a way for Sacramento to spend beyond its means, even though excessive spending is our biggest problem. My philosophy is that the legislature should do its job, cut spending and have sensible priorities, so we won't have to rely on bonds to get things done.
What the fuck is this shit?!
A Civilian National Security Force?! Let me repeat my question. Does anybody know fucking History?! At all? If so, does the idea of a Civilian National Security Force scare the shit out of you? It should. Think about it. One party about to assume control of all three branches of government, then suddenly we need a "Civilian National Security Force."
Does that remind you of anything? Two letters maybe?
In somewhat related news, today I got some of these:
and did some of this.
They didn't like us before Bush, and they still won't like us after Obama. Sure, there will be a honeymoon period, just like with all presidents. But after Biden's international crisis hits, and Obama does that thing that Biden warns will cause their poll numbers to drop, we'll be back to the good ole days of the "great satan," (an epithet that was coined, lest we forget, during the Carter administration).