I figure that given the week in which I am starting this blog, my first major post should be on the election. The 2008 Election is no doubt a historic election that will change the face of our nation, but I think that there are certain aspects that are being over-looked. So I wanted to write a brief overview of the election as I see it.
10 Races of Significance
1. Barack Obama over John McCain for the United States Presidency
Obviously this is the election that everybody is talking about and the election that means the most. It was a bit of a back and forth election until late September when the Obama ticket started to pick up steam, got itself organized, and became a runaway train. The economy tanking also played a significant role as this significant loss appears to be more of an indictment of George W. Bush than of John McCain. This race troubled me throughout because of how messy it got at times.
10 Races of Significance
1. Barack Obama over John McCain for the United States Presidency
Obviously this is the election that everybody is talking about and the election that means the most. It was a bit of a back and forth election until late September when the Obama ticket started to pick up steam, got itself organized, and became a runaway train. The economy tanking also played a significant role as this significant loss appears to be more of an indictment of George W. Bush than of John McCain. This race troubled me throughout because of how messy it got at times.
There was a troubling amount of mud being thrown at two candidates that I respect and admire very much. Barack Obama was attacked as somebody who is not ready to be President (hopefully untrue), a socialist (untrue with confidence), and a celebrity (true but how is that an insult). John McCain was likewise attacked as a second George W. Bush (a totally uneducated 
accusation), an out-of-touch old-timer who is computer illiterate (untrue though war injuries do limit his computer skills), and a wealthy person with seven houses (about as relevant as Obama being a celebrity given that Cindy McCain is very independently wealthy).
accusation), an out-of-touch old-timer who is computer illiterate (untrue though war injuries do limit his computer skills), and a wealthy person with seven houses (about as relevant as Obama being a celebrity given that Cindy McCain is very independently wealthy).It is important to realize that while the “I’m Candidate and I endorse this message.” follows each ad that this is more party against candidate than candidate against candidate. Truth be told I think Barack Obama is a great beacon of hope for America and an inspiration to billions. I think he will do a commendable job in his attempt (and hopefully success) at restoring the American economy. I don’t think he is a socialist who really cares about “spreading the wealth” but rather I think he sees that many Americans have fallen and it is our duty as their country to pick them back up. McCain likewise is not in the pocket of Bush or the Republican Party. He didn’t get the title “Maverick” for nothing. They say he voted with Bush 90% of the time. I was unaware that Bush was given a vote in the Senate. What they meant was that he voted the party line 90% of the time. That is actually fairly low. Obama voted the party line 93% of the time. I believe McCain puts country first and always has. McCain is a member of a political party but when voting I feel he truly votes what he believes is right. I think that both candidates held and still hold views that will be wrong for America but I think that both of them really do want what is right for America.
2. Yes on Proposition 8 in California (also AZ Prop. 102 and FL Amen. 2)
Propostion 8 in California was a proposition to reverse California’s recognition of same sex unions and ban the practice. This to me was one of the most surprising, divisive, and idiotic decisions in this election. I am a California native and was born in Glendale (right outside Los Angeles) but I am considering wiping my hands of my former state. They voted in favor of Proposition 2 which gives more rights to slaughterhouse livestock but voted to take away rights from homosexuals. This is a state that went overwhelmingly democrat in the Presidential election and I believe that down the road this is going to be a decision that will haunt the Democratic party for their inability to provide for a demographic that has overwhelmingly supported them.
I think that this also somewhat detracts from the message of hope that Barack Obama has preached. His “Yes We Can” has become a rallying cry, especially for African-Americans. However, voters in one of the most democratic states in the union have had the audacity to tell homosexuals “No You Can’t”. To me this is still voting on pure hate. I don’t know that I can see another way to view it. Most proponents of the proposition are obviously going to try to use a religious based defense. However, homosexuals are not trying to get married in churches. They just want their government to recognize their unions. Therefore, seeing as we allegedly have a nation founded on the separation of church and state any religious defense of the amendment makes it unconstitutional.
I think that this also somewhat detracts from the message of hope that Barack Obama has preached. His “Yes We Can” has become a rallying cry, especially for African-Americans. However, voters in one of the most democratic states in the union have had the audacity to tell homosexuals “No You Can’t”. To me this is still voting on pure hate. I don’t know that I can see another way to view it. Most proponents of the proposition are obviously going to try to use a religious based defense. However, homosexuals are not trying to get married in churches. They just want their government to recognize their unions. Therefore, seeing as we allegedly have a nation founded on the separation of church and state any religious defense of the amendment makes it unconstitutional.
The official website for support of the proposition is http://www.protectmarriage.com/. However, I’m confused as to what exactly they want to protect marriage from. I may be even more confused on what it is that they think they are protecting. The sanctity of marriage. Please. The sanctity of marriage was raped and left for dead by heterosexuals decades ago. With rampant divorce, infidelity, and spousal abuse you are left with very little to protect. By allowing same sex couples to marry you could only improve marriage. Thankfully, the gay rights coalition is a fairly level-headed organization so I doubt that there will be violent backlash as they keep on fighting towards equality and hopefully within two or three years same sex marriage will be legal again in several states. Because let me tell you as a heterosexual if my government tried to tell me that I couldn’t marry the person I wanted to…I would rain hell.
3. Kay Hagan over Elizabeth Dole for North Carolina Senator
This is a huge loss for the Republican party and a fairly unexpected one. Granted Elizabeth Dole is has only been in office since 2003 with this being her first re-election bid but she is one of the most “well-travelled” and experienced Senators and has significant name recognition and pedigree. She served in the White House under five presidents serving as Reagan’s Secretary of Transportation and George Bush Sr.’s Secretary of Labor. She served as the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (the only woman ever to do so) from 2003-2005. Her husband is Bob Dole, a long serving Senator and former Senate Majority Leader who ran for Vice President in 1976 and President in 1996. She is the former president of the Red Cross and one of the best orators in Congress. She also happens to be North Carolina’s Senior Senator ever since the departure of John Edwards. This is puzzling as I can’t imagine that having Kay Hagan and Richard Burr as senators is going to garner North Carolina much respect in Washington.
This is a huge loss for the Republican party and a fairly unexpected one. Granted Elizabeth Dole is has only been in office since 2003 with this being her first re-election bid but she is one of the most “well-travelled” and experienced Senators and has significant name recognition and pedigree. She served in the White House under five presidents serving as Reagan’s Secretary of Transportation and George Bush Sr.’s Secretary of Labor. She served as the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (the only woman ever to do so) from 2003-2005. Her husband is Bob Dole, a long serving Senator and former Senate Majority Leader who ran for Vice President in 1976 and President in 1996. She is the former president of the Red Cross and one of the best orators in Congress. She also happens to be North Carolina’s Senior Senator ever since the departure of John Edwards. This is puzzling as I can’t imagine that having Kay Hagan and Richard Burr as senators is going to garner North Carolina much respect in Washington.
This election was a further indictment of the failures of the Bush administration as a further casualty was one of the GOPs most high-profile Senate leaders. The loss must also be attributed though to a fairly poor campaign in which certain attack ads may have crossed boundaries.
NOTE: Condemning a liberal for being godless puts you in comparison with Anne Coulter which is never flattering.
Barack Obama heavily contesting North Carolina also probably helped a good deal which has to hurt the Republicans even more. They may not have lost an election, they may be losing a state, a NASCAR state.
4. Ted Stevens vs. Mark Begich for Alaska Senator
A lot of people would say that this election being too close to call makes very little sense. I might be inclined to agree but I think that I can see exactly why this race is closer than one would expect. Common sense would tell you that Ted Stevens (pictured) is going to get trounced but current
predictions have him winning re-election. As of October 27, 2008 Stevens is a convicted felon. If he wins he will be the first convicted felon ever to be elected to Congress. Granted his margin of victory will be significantly smaller than that of his 2002 re-election in which he garnered 78% of the vote, however this result just goes to show you that the tactics the democrats employed in the 2008 Presidential election have cemented Alaska as red state for the very distant foreseeable future.
Alaska has only voted blue once since becoming a state in 1959 and that was for Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. The Democrats did nothing to change that in this election. When John McCain selected Alaska governor as his running-mate the Democrats decried her as totally and utterly unfit to lead. Unfortunately, they used her being from Alaska as validation of this. She flaunted her Alaska pride and they snickered at it. Bashing Palin for not reading newspapers: Acceptable. Bashing Palin for being inexperienced and not understanding foreign policy: Acceptable. Bashing an entire people for playing hockey and using snow mobiles: Out of Line.
NOTE: Condemning a liberal for being godless puts you in comparison with Anne Coulter which is never flattering.
Barack Obama heavily contesting North Carolina also probably helped a good deal which has to hurt the Republicans even more. They may not have lost an election, they may be losing a state, a NASCAR state.
4. Ted Stevens vs. Mark Begich for Alaska Senator
A lot of people would say that this election being too close to call makes very little sense. I might be inclined to agree but I think that I can see exactly why this race is closer than one would expect. Common sense would tell you that Ted Stevens (pictured) is going to get trounced but current
predictions have him winning re-election. As of October 27, 2008 Stevens is a convicted felon. If he wins he will be the first convicted felon ever to be elected to Congress. Granted his margin of victory will be significantly smaller than that of his 2002 re-election in which he garnered 78% of the vote, however this result just goes to show you that the tactics the democrats employed in the 2008 Presidential election have cemented Alaska as red state for the very distant foreseeable future.Alaska has only voted blue once since becoming a state in 1959 and that was for Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. The Democrats did nothing to change that in this election. When John McCain selected Alaska governor as his running-mate the Democrats decried her as totally and utterly unfit to lead. Unfortunately, they used her being from Alaska as validation of this. She flaunted her Alaska pride and they snickered at it. Bashing Palin for not reading newspapers: Acceptable. Bashing Palin for being inexperienced and not understanding foreign policy: Acceptable. Bashing an entire people for playing hockey and using snow mobiles: Out of Line.
During rants in more liberal media outlets such as TIME and Newsweek Alaska was referred to as “not a real state” and “leeching off the efforts of the 48 contiguous states”. The people of Alaska clearly saw this as unacceptable and this was their slap back even if they are spiting themselves. If Ted Stevens gets a presidential pardon from G.W.B. you can bet there will be outrage in the 48 contiguous states but many Alaskans will be just fine with it.
5. Mary Landrieu over John N. Kennedy for Louisiana Senator
This result is not surprising but it does say something. First of all, John Kennedy is unrelated to “the Kennedys” (you know which ones) so he can’t just buy this election with money and the reputations of his much beloved brothers (yes, that is a jab at my least favorite Senator). Secondly, Louisiana is rebuilding. There is strong Republican base and I don’t see Bobby Jindal slowing in his surge to power anytime soon but the minorities that were forced to relocate following Hurricane Katrina are moving back into the state and they feel jilted over how they were treated in the wake of Katrina. Much as I feel that the Democrats fucked up in Alaska, I feel that the Republicans fucked up in Louisiana, with the major difference being that Louisiana was a state that they stood to win and it cost them. Landrieu, on the other hand, had her home destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and has become a national spokeswomen to whom Katrina refugees can relate. With minority refugees returning to New Orleans her base will get stronger but her margin of victory is down from 2002 and I think this has a lot to do with Bobby Jindal re-igniting the Louisiana Republican power base. I think that Louisiana is going to be a state to watch politically in the years to come.
6. No on Measure 11 in South Dakota
Quite frankly this was another measure with which I was severely disappointed. Measure 11 would have outlawed abortion in the state except in cases of rape, incest, or severe health risk to the mother. (It should probably be stated right now in case you can’t tell that I am neither a Democrat or Republican as you can see but that I hold strong issues on both sides of the line almost everywhere.) I have heard people debate abortion and I have come to the point where I am getting tired of many of the argumentative fallacies that I am hearing.
5. Mary Landrieu over John N. Kennedy for Louisiana Senator
This result is not surprising but it does say something. First of all, John Kennedy is unrelated to “the Kennedys” (you know which ones) so he can’t just buy this election with money and the reputations of his much beloved brothers (yes, that is a jab at my least favorite Senator). Secondly, Louisiana is rebuilding. There is strong Republican base and I don’t see Bobby Jindal slowing in his surge to power anytime soon but the minorities that were forced to relocate following Hurricane Katrina are moving back into the state and they feel jilted over how they were treated in the wake of Katrina. Much as I feel that the Democrats fucked up in Alaska, I feel that the Republicans fucked up in Louisiana, with the major difference being that Louisiana was a state that they stood to win and it cost them. Landrieu, on the other hand, had her home destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and has become a national spokeswomen to whom Katrina refugees can relate. With minority refugees returning to New Orleans her base will get stronger but her margin of victory is down from 2002 and I think this has a lot to do with Bobby Jindal re-igniting the Louisiana Republican power base. I think that Louisiana is going to be a state to watch politically in the years to come.
6. No on Measure 11 in South Dakota
Quite frankly this was another measure with which I was severely disappointed. Measure 11 would have outlawed abortion in the state except in cases of rape, incest, or severe health risk to the mother. (It should probably be stated right now in case you can’t tell that I am neither a Democrat or Republican as you can see but that I hold strong issues on both sides of the line almost everywhere.) I have heard people debate abortion and I have come to the point where I am getting tired of many of the argumentative fallacies that I am hearing.
Proponents of abortion quickly jump straight to the argument of rape/incest or the mother’s health. This ballot measure did not endanger any of those abortions. It should be mentioned that these types of abortions are much less common as well. Though statistics are not predominantly available on the reason for various abortions it should be noted that the number of abortions reported to be performed in 2005 was over 4x the number of rapes reported to be committed in 2005. When you consider the fact that many rapists also where protection to avoid leaving DNA evidence, not all rape is vaginal, and that these numbers include sodomized male rape victims the number of abortions that could feasibly be rape victims drops even further.
My heart goes out to rape victims, they have suffered tremendously because of another despicable person and I’m not out there to deny them their right to an abortion but the fact of the matter is that the vast majority of abortions are for irresponsible people who are unwilling to deal with the consequences of their own actions. They are selfish. I firmly believe in a woman’s right to choose. She gets to choose whether or not she will have sex and whether or not she will use adequate protection. At this point her choice is over. Rape victims were not provided that choice so I’ll leave the door open for them but I am sick and tired of abortion advocates using these women for a despicable bait-and-switch so that irresponsible men and women can kill the children they don’t want to have.
7. Norm Coleman vs. Al Franken for Minnesota Senator
This is a race that is mildly ridiculous from a state that is largely ridiculous when it comes to political elections. If I ever decide to run for high political office I will do so in Minnesota because they have the most disorganized Democratic and Republican parties I have ever seen. Every election they attempt becomes a national joke. Norm Coleman, the incumbent, was able to defeat a former Vice President, Attorney General, and Presidential nominee in 2002, but lost to a man who wore spandex to get German-suplexed by Mad Dog Vachon, in 1998. (I’m sorry if that last sentence has a dangling participle.) Independents run up and down this state (which I like) but what would you expect from the only state to vote against Reagan in 1984. Now Coleman is in a dogfight with a former Saturday Night Live cast member and for all intents and purposes Al Franken should have kicked his ass but since the Reform Party in Minnesota is ten times more organized than the Democratic Party we’ll have to wait until December to figure out who won.
8. John Conyers over Rick Secula for Representative of Michigan’s 14th District
You might not think that this was a big election since John Conyers gathered 94% of the vote for a seat that he has held since Lyndon Johnson was President because the Republican Party does not even bother to contest a district that is 62% African-American. I must congratulate the Libertarian Party on putting up a candidate because apparently Republicans in Michigan’s 14th District (if their even are any) haven’t learned that just because you’re going to lose doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fight. In two years I hope they get it together because Conyers is the second longest-serving Senator and chairman of the House congressional committee and a man that I consider to have low more scruples (even for a member of Congress). It has nothing to do with his place on Nixon’s Enemies list; (I find that humorous yet ridiculous; read it and you’ll know what I’m talking about) it has to do with him being the face of the 2004 vote in which 31 Congressman (yes, I realize I also hate 30 other people) voted that Ohio’s electoral votes should not count because of irregularities in machine voting. I live in Ohio. If you want to investigate voting irregularities, be my guest, but don’t tell me my vote doesn’t count you unconstitutional motherfucker. Though, to be fair, he was just trying to screw over Ohio to win him points with Michigan voters.
9. Steve Driehaus over Steve Chabot for Representative of Ohio’s 1st District
This was a fairly big loss for the Republicans in my mind. Steve Chabot was the People’s Republican who was a long-serving member of the House but who you could believe was a regular guy like most of us. He was able to ward off defeat in the 2006 Election when his opponent inadvertently gave him a catchy nickname, Chabby, in an attack ad. Not to mention I think that Steve Driehaus is a bit of an elitist ponce and I could certainly appreciate the attack ads that showed him “roaming the streets of Washington looking for special interest money”. It made him sound like a prostitute. One that caters to “special interests”. Oh well.
10. Yes on Ballot Measure 2 in Massachusetts
The Ballot Measure 2 victory in Massachusetts marks a landmark victory for a demographic that was previously assumed to be overtly under motivated: stoners. They were able to pass the “Massachusetts Sensible Marijuana Policy” in which possessing small amounts of marijuana is no longer illegal. And quite frankly, good for stoners. I’d assumed they weren’t really big on the whole voting thing. Then again, maybe it wasn’t them. I have never smoked pot yet I am in favor of people’s right to if they so desire. I think that people with vices should posse up and stick together, that way my vice (gambling) might stand a chance (see Ohio Prop. 6). Another vice that got struck down was prostitution in San Francisco. This is another “bag” that isn’t mine but that I’ll allow others to carry. I won’t pay for sex but only because I think I’m too good to have to do so. The truth is that I’m probably not and I’m sure when I shed those last annoying vestiges of dignity the dam will probably burst.
This is a race that is mildly ridiculous from a state that is largely ridiculous when it comes to political elections. If I ever decide to run for high political office I will do so in Minnesota because they have the most disorganized Democratic and Republican parties I have ever seen. Every election they attempt becomes a national joke. Norm Coleman, the incumbent, was able to defeat a former Vice President, Attorney General, and Presidential nominee in 2002, but lost to a man who wore spandex to get German-suplexed by Mad Dog Vachon, in 1998. (I’m sorry if that last sentence has a dangling participle.) Independents run up and down this state (which I like) but what would you expect from the only state to vote against Reagan in 1984. Now Coleman is in a dogfight with a former Saturday Night Live cast member and for all intents and purposes Al Franken should have kicked his ass but since the Reform Party in Minnesota is ten times more organized than the Democratic Party we’ll have to wait until December to figure out who won.
8. John Conyers over Rick Secula for Representative of Michigan’s 14th District
You might not think that this was a big election since John Conyers gathered 94% of the vote for a seat that he has held since Lyndon Johnson was President because the Republican Party does not even bother to contest a district that is 62% African-American. I must congratulate the Libertarian Party on putting up a candidate because apparently Republicans in Michigan’s 14th District (if their even are any) haven’t learned that just because you’re going to lose doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fight. In two years I hope they get it together because Conyers is the second longest-serving Senator and chairman of the House congressional committee and a man that I consider to have low more scruples (even for a member of Congress). It has nothing to do with his place on Nixon’s Enemies list; (I find that humorous yet ridiculous; read it and you’ll know what I’m talking about) it has to do with him being the face of the 2004 vote in which 31 Congressman (yes, I realize I also hate 30 other people) voted that Ohio’s electoral votes should not count because of irregularities in machine voting. I live in Ohio. If you want to investigate voting irregularities, be my guest, but don’t tell me my vote doesn’t count you unconstitutional motherfucker. Though, to be fair, he was just trying to screw over Ohio to win him points with Michigan voters.
9. Steve Driehaus over Steve Chabot for Representative of Ohio’s 1st District
This was a fairly big loss for the Republicans in my mind. Steve Chabot was the People’s Republican who was a long-serving member of the House but who you could believe was a regular guy like most of us. He was able to ward off defeat in the 2006 Election when his opponent inadvertently gave him a catchy nickname, Chabby, in an attack ad. Not to mention I think that Steve Driehaus is a bit of an elitist ponce and I could certainly appreciate the attack ads that showed him “roaming the streets of Washington looking for special interest money”. It made him sound like a prostitute. One that caters to “special interests”. Oh well.
10. Yes on Ballot Measure 2 in Massachusetts
The Ballot Measure 2 victory in Massachusetts marks a landmark victory for a demographic that was previously assumed to be overtly under motivated: stoners. They were able to pass the “Massachusetts Sensible Marijuana Policy” in which possessing small amounts of marijuana is no longer illegal. And quite frankly, good for stoners. I’d assumed they weren’t really big on the whole voting thing. Then again, maybe it wasn’t them. I have never smoked pot yet I am in favor of people’s right to if they so desire. I think that people with vices should posse up and stick together, that way my vice (gambling) might stand a chance (see Ohio Prop. 6). Another vice that got struck down was prostitution in San Francisco. This is another “bag” that isn’t mine but that I’ll allow others to carry. I won’t pay for sex but only because I think I’m too good to have to do so. The truth is that I’m probably not and I’m sure when I shed those last annoying vestiges of dignity the dam will probably burst.
African-Americans
Losers
Republicans
Republicans
Homosexuals
Talk Show Hosts (pictured)
The West Coast
The Economy (Short-term)
The Fall-out as I see it
The ball is firmly in the Democrats court but I wouldn’t be too concerned if I was the Republicans. The Republicans over-played their cards when they had them and now it’s the Democrats turn. However, if the Democrats do likewise our nation’s problems won’t get fixed and the tide will start to turn again. The Republican Party is a more adaptable animal than is the Democratic Party and I expect to see a very different Republican Party in the next election. The Republican Party is greedy and therefore its fiscal bottom line comes before its social bottom line. This means that it is willing to bend its social policies to get back into power. The Democratic Party is self-righteous and therefore its social bottom line comes before its fiscal bottom line.
The ball is firmly in the Democrats court but I wouldn’t be too concerned if I was the Republicans. The Republicans over-played their cards when they had them and now it’s the Democrats turn. However, if the Democrats do likewise our nation’s problems won’t get fixed and the tide will start to turn again. The Republican Party is a more adaptable animal than is the Democratic Party and I expect to see a very different Republican Party in the next election. The Republican Party is greedy and therefore its fiscal bottom line comes before its social bottom line. This means that it is willing to bend its social policies to get back into power. The Democratic Party is self-righteous and therefore its social bottom line comes before its fiscal bottom line.
The Republican party cannot win in today’s America with its current social agenda. They need to get socially liberal. Latinos are becoming a growing demographic and they will need to take a more lenient stance on immigration also they are now primed more than ever to go after the homosexual vote. With the failure of Proposition 8 in California I see a grand opportunity to unseat speaker Nancy Pelosi. The Republicans cannot win a Congressional seat in San Francisco but a Libertarian who makes legalizing Same Sex Unions his or her main issue and can act as a voice for this demographic who was recently slapped in the face by its own party can. You might think that that sounds crazy but you would be underestimating the desire for people to vote for the issues that matter to them. A surprising percent of Jews are now voting Republican (it’s not just Lieberman) due in part to the GOPs rock solid support of Israel. If the Libertarians can take on Same Sex Unions as their main cause they could unseat Nancy Pelosi and that would be a win for the Republicans.
On the flip side of the coin, the Democrats now have total power and if they want to keep that power things have to get done. They will need to get fiscally conservative. They have to solve this financial crisis and that will probably necessitate borrowing against our national debt instead of raising taxes. I know that people are worried about our national debt but it’s not as bad as it sounds. We have seen during this economic crisis that when the American economy suffers, the world economy suffers. Therefore, it behooves other countries to maintain the current flow of the national debt. Let us pay off the interest and let us chill. Let’s also mention that the debt hasn’t gone down in about a century and that paying off what we owed to most countries would cause inflation that would bankrupt their economy. Each side is going to need to give and take and I would not be surprised if you were slightly confused by the parties that you saw during the next election.
Prime Toasta's Book Club
Book of the Week:
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Hakuri Murakami This enthralling narrative by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami is well worth the 611 page read. While a daunting task for casual readers it is easily one of the greatest novels of our generation. It follows the story of Toru Okada, an extremely passive twenty something whose search for his missing cat leads him into an incredible adventure that tackles such as issues as fate and death, war crimes, and purity vs. defilement.
PT Equation* = Twin Peaks + The Prisoner + The Suicide Club
Other Media Picks:
Movie: Double Indemnity - The definitive film noir with possibly the strongest and most hauntingly real depictions of the conflicted anti-hero and the femme fatale.
Movie: Double Indemnity - The definitive film noir with possibly the strongest and most hauntingly real depictions of the conflicted anti-hero and the femme fatale.
TV: Veronica Mars - Hands-down the best teen detective work ever. It features a hot, snarky, and persnickety (maybe even the persnicketyest) heroine with great weekly mysteries that compliment flawless story arcs.
Music: "7" from Enrique Inglesias - A quality album which features classic songs "Not in Love" and "Addicted" as well as even better songs like "The Way You Touch", "California Callin'", and "Free" which didn't recieve radio play.
*The PT Equation is where I tell you what other media selections the book in question is similar to.
A Week in the Life
This week was a big week for trying to pull my life together. I got myself a snazzy haircut on Tuesday with Erin Swietlik and then we went and watched the election. I went to a fairly feminine salon but the haircut is probably the best I've had in about 10 years and the stylist (Kelli) is very attractive.
The week started off on a negative. My Bar Trivia team (Over-Rated) is a perenial Top 5 finisher but we finished in about 10th place this week. It was truly an embarrassing performance which included me not remembering which teeth I had had removed when I counted them and Nick Rosati grossly over-estimating the population of the city in which he lives. A poor showing indeed and now that we are out of free appetizers we had better have some motivation to kick ass next Monday.
Nick did redeem himself on Wednesday when he scored a free dinner at super snazzy Boca. I haven't eaten at a restaurant this fancy in years and the food was excellent though my steak was so rare that I think it had a pulse. Afterwards, we went to P.F. Chang's for their shot glass deserts which are delicious. This is truly one of the great desert concepts America has invented. What a country.I also will be joining a Broomball Team. I have played broomball a few times before back in California but I will have to bone up on the rules because I'm pretty sure it's probably illegal in organized leagues to check people into the boards or running slide tackle them so that their inertia on the slippery ice forces them to unavoidably crashland when you go for their feet.
Looking forward to the Weekend. Still don't have a career to speak of.
Sports Round-Up
New Orleans Hornets have X-Factor needed to win
If you want my pick for who will win the NBA Championship this year it has to be my new favorite team: The New Orleans Hornets. You might be thinking that only a real jerk switches favorite teams, but I assure you my reasons are valid. Throughout my childhood I 
was a rabid Shawn Kemp fan and loyally rooted for his team until his retirement at which point I defaulted to my hometown Los Angeles Clippers as my favorite team. Well this season, the Hornets have done it. They have managed to yank my allegiance away by putting together a team that consists of my alma mater's (Xavier University) top two NBA alumni. With the signing of James Posey the Hornets now feature a rotation that includes All-Star David West (class of '04) and NBA Champion James Posey (class of '99). Through five games neither player has had a game scoring in single digits. However, the reason that the Hornets are going to be tough to contend with this year is the defense that Xavier Musketeers bring to the floor. James Posey has won two NBA Championships in 
three years while being surrounded by completely different players. He has been key to both of these teams because he plays lock-down phone booth style defense. I know that CP3 is still the MVP and hands-down leader of the team because he brings ball-handling and court vision that no other player in the league can match to go with explosive scoring but I think that this year is going to make GMs take a long hard look at the kind of defense that Sean Miller is teaching in the Cintas Center. I would also not be surprised if a few other former Xavier players (i.e. Josh Duncan, Stanley Burrell, Justin Cage, and Anthony Miles) were called back over to this side of the pond to compete for roster spots. Expect to see the Hornets win with up-tempo offense and lockdown defense with both Posey and West playing key roles.
My Prediction: Hornets over Celtics in 6.
Weekly Contest
Please e-mail your best bar trivia names to othersideofme4@yahoo.com or post them here. If I use yours or if I deem yours the best after having recieved 10 or more submissions I will mail you a $5 Wendy's gift card. Names should be funny and can be raunchy but don't need to be.
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