NEWS: Bush still sucks

"Bush is the first incumbent president to have an approval rating below 50 percent one month after winning re-election."

The above quote came from a poll that CNN conducted over this last weekend http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/12/20/poll/index.html. So I must ask: People, why did you vote for him?

Do you actually think the Iraq war is a good thing? Do you like that the rich benefit? That are economy is tumbling down? That the whole world (yes the whole fuckin world) hates us? That the politics of fear, manipulation, and greed have prevailed? Or did you vote for Bush because a sudden moral fervor washed over you as you entered the booth and you thought you should vote with your conscience and not your lifestyle?

Putting President Bush in office again is like disregarding the report Condi Rice showed to Bush in August reading: "Al-Qaida determined to strike inside the US." The failure of Americans to see the harm that this man's policies have on our country is the exact same "failure of imagination" that our government had about the threat of Al-Qaida. All people see is that we are involved in a war in Iraq, which is somehow tied to the war on terror, so Bush is a man of action - which they like. It doesn't seem to concern Americans that this was the WRONG action and will have disastrous results for us for many more years to come. Do we really want to "go it alone" in everything we do? The fact is, we CAN'T anymore. We don't have the stature, the resources, or respect anymore. The next four years absolutely cannot mirror the last four years. So the question is then: can Bush change? I just hope Americans don't need to see another Sept 11 before they press the president to implement productive and positive policies.

The Bush administration does whatever it wants to, plans a unified message, and sticks to that even if facts prove them wrong. I'm always amazed to read things like "Fifty-two percent of respondents to a new poll think Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld should resign amid recent criticism in Congress over his handling of the war in Iraq...Despite the criticism, President Bush strongly came out in support of his Pentagon chief during a news conference Monday" (from same article as above). Its like “Hey Mr. President, the sky is blue” “No its not! It’s orange! And what a brilliant color of orange it is!”

The administration is simply out of touch with reality. But what pisses me off is: why couldn’t people remember how bad the last four years were when they went to vote? Furthermore, why couldn’t people envision how bad the next four years will be if we continue the same policies? Just because Bush has a great campaigning strategy - I will give him that (or I should say Mr. Rove) - is that a good reason to elect him to office? The truth is, anyone would be better in office. People are just realizing it now, a month later. "I told you so" just doesn't seem to cut it though.

Don't Bogart That Joint!

Although its not 4:20 right now, I want to talk about drugs. I'm talking about everything - alcohol, weed, cigarettes, you name it.

Aside from all the wonderful stuff that drugs can do to your body, they also seem to have an amazing affect in bringing people together or driving them apart. They can even do both between the same people.

Most people try drugs because other people introduce them to it. However, for them to continue regularly, they will naturally create drug using buddies either with their supplier or with other habitual users. This much should be clear.

Cigarette smokers will likely meet more smokers due to their visibility in close proximity and the inevitability of asking the other smoker for a cigarette or a light when one is needed. Drinkers go out drinking with other drinkers and people who toke always find more people to toke with.

But the really interesting thing I found is the type of bond that is created among users, especially among the mind-altering drugs users. There is usually intense conversation (unless a person is completely pissed) and the repetitive gathering creates something special and completely unique on its own. A certain trust is created; probably from the expectancy that the other is likely to relate to their urge soon and they will form a connection with that someone for at least a period of time. People don’t like being alone and they are usually drawn to drugs because they are bored. They know that they always can be social with the other users during the time they’re using. It’s relieving, and it generates confidence.

But they can be just as divisive when they’re between a user and a non–user; repelling each other in the opposite direction. However, I don’t want to talk about this because it’s usually an ugly business that you can imagine anyway.

The fascinating thing is the bond between the users. I met my girlfriend that way. I met my best friends in college that way. I’m closest with my grandmother out of my whole family in part because we both drink wine and vodka together and we talk when we do. Whenever I smoke with my friends it’s the same deal. I guess non-drug users can use all the same arguments for their relationships. But when do they know when to instigate their “session,” where they talk about intense issues? Two edgy people can hardly talk to each other about anything sensibly without breaking out into some kind of fight or becoming angry. Stress under stressful conditions always compounds, not decreases. I dunno, maybe not. I’m not one of those edgy people, I just see them and I see it happen.

I think there is a reason why the Indians had a peace pipe. Drugs chill people out. Not that I’d ever tell someone to start using something they haven’t already tried, I’m not an advocate for these sorts of things because some people simply can’t handle them. But when used correctly, I believe they can have a positive effect on an individual’s life. There, I said it. Now put that in your pipe and smoke it.

I've Been Cured, Praise God!!

Today I was in traffic school. Have you ever been to traffic school? I mean the physical classes and not the test you can take online. It's really like an AA meeting. It's mostly filled with minorities, but you have the one or two rich folks who are really pissed of that the hundred dollar bill they slipped the cop didn't get the charges dropped. You got the guy who's done the most outrageous things you can think of (the total addict and abuser), the people who are upset at everything including cops, laws, insurance companies and auto companies (these are the people who are in denial) and finally you have the reformed sinners who "know what they did was wrong and will never ever violate the law again."

I've found that people absolutely love reformed sinners. In fact, they even love sinners who are not reformed because then they can try to convert them. Work is needed. The converter has a job. This is how religions, governments, and rehabilitation clinics (whatever their purpose may be) stay in business. But the reformed sinner is special because they are the example, the finished product, the justification of the reformers work. For instance, Israel parades around Palestinians who have renounced terrorism all across the world to speak at schools and prisons about how they "found the error in their ways." But this paints an inaccurate picture of the situation. The reformed sinner is not the result of truth. In fact, they are most often the result of brainwashing. I'm not saying that there can't be a reformed sinner that truly believes what they're saying. But somehow I just find it hard to believe that an extremist can honestly renounce something that they once felt so passionate about and go the complete opposite way. What's to say that the new man isn’t just putting up a front or will revert back to his old ways? The only thing an extremist indicates to me is a weak and narrow mind that is susceptible to the next strong influence that happens to cross their path. There is no balance, nor independent contemplation. These people are mindless and, unfortunately, prevalent in today's society.

It's Better the Second Time

Oh thank God. We beat the University of Spoiled Children again. Honestly, the feeling is unbelievable. Beating someone that you hate - who truly deserves getting the shit beaten out of them - is one of the most redeeming feelings I can think of. Being on the winning side, in general, can almost always put a smile on my face. But when the other side is exceptionally despicable and callous, not to mention disgusting and classless...well, you get the idea. I hate them. And I love beating them.

I would say in general that I do most things out of love. I picked my subject area for my career out of love. I pick my girls out of love. I play hockey because I love it. I do the things I do because I love doing them, for one reason or another. But out of these loves you notice that there is a cancer that can inhibit the normal bliss you experience when practicing your love. And this cancer corrupts, eats up and potentially destroys that which you so much love. The fight you must take against this cancer is driven by hate, but ultimately it's for the preservation of the thing you love.

U$C, at times, has made me hate hockey. And I don't mind losing. If you question that, look at the last four years I played hockey and notice that I always stuck with the program despite a club record (I think) of a worst 4 year streak. This is the reason for my rant. Because I can tell you for a fact that no victory I have ever achieved against anyone or anything has ever been as sweet as against an opposition that I hate. And if you haven't figured it out by now, I hate $C a whole fuckload. And victory, my friend, is very sweet.