1984, while it lasts

Someone was kind enough to put the entirety of the most recent 1984 movie up online.

It's a good version, and is worth watching every so often, if only to remember that both the far right and the far left will, if given a chance, peddle totalitarianism as a cure for society's ills, both real and imagined.

Spartan Spectator Sods Off

A "Support Our Troops" Ribbon? Really?

After years of their "defending western Civilization" by badmouthing Leftists, non-White students, Islam, Muslims and occasionally Jews, we have word that Kyle Bristow, whose time as chairman of Michigan State University's branch of Young Americans for Freedom saw it branded as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, is calling it quits on his blogging activities.

I have decided that I will not blog anymore after I graduate from the communist-infested hellhole of Michigan State University. I am moving on to bigger and better things, and I unfortunately will not have the time to continue blogging about the decline of Western civilization.

I plan to take the blog offline in a few days time.

In the comment section on that post, he elaborates: "I'm going to be busy with law school in the very near future, so I won't be able to continue blogging." What law school he's planning on attending is, at this time, unknown.

This is a reversal from his previous statement that he was going to continue blogging, but that the Spectator was going to be his blog, and no longer connected with MSU YAF.

There is no clear explanation as to why he went from one position to the other, though I suspect he may be trying to flush his "youthful indiscretions" down the memory hole as he embarks on the next stage of his life.

He should know that's not possible, courtesy of sites that maintain caches of internet sites, and those who have faithfully cataloged his antics (such as the SPLC and YAF-Watch). But I guess you can't blame the guy for trying.

Also left unresolved at this time is the threatened lawsuit against the SPLC for branding them as a hate group. Since many of Bristow's statements and actions since that time have pretty much confirmed what the civil rights organization was saying in the first place, they may have abandoned that course of action in the knowledge that they'd probably lose.

Hopefully, with the departure of Kyle Bristow from the scene, MSU YAF will soon lose its stigma of being a hate group, and go back to being a what most other YAF chapters are: abrasive and zealous campus defenders of bedrock conservative principles, whose only real hate is reserved for leftists (and, to some extent, homosexuals). I wish MSU YAF's officers good luck in this endeavor, as they will have to do some major pushing to get out from under the heavy rock Mr. Bristow dragged on top of them during, and after, his tenure as chairman.

As for Mr. Bristow, himself, I hope he discovers that it's possible to be a paleoconservative without adopting the hateful baggage that is sometimes associated with that political stance, and comes out of law school a force for positive change, or at least an upholder of equal protection of the law for all citizens, regardless of their race, religion, or sexual orientation.

But... I'm not holding my breath on that one.

EDIT: 11/25/08: as of this evening, the Spartan Spectator is readable by invited members only. I guess that's all, folks!

The Truth Will Out: Gulf War Syndrome Was Real

After almost 17 years, and however many denials, a panel has determined what some knew all along: Gulf War Syndrome is real

Gulf War illness, dismissed by some as a psychosomatic disorder, is a very real illness that affects at least 25 percent of the 700,000 U.S. veterans who took part in the 1991 Gulf War.

It's likely cause was exposure to toxic chemicals that included pesticides that were often overused during the war, as well as a drug given to U.S. troops to protect them from nerve gas, a frequent weapon of choice of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

And no effective treatments have been devised for the disorder.

Those are three key conclusions of a Congressionally mandated landmark report released Monday by a federal panel of scientific experts and veterans.

...

When veterans with Gulf War illness go to Veterans Administration hospitals for treatment, their problems often aren't taken seriously, Steele said. "VA docs often know nothing about it and aren't able to help them. Sometimes they treat them as if they are head cases or malingering," she said.

James Binns is chairman of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses.

"We have no treatments that work," said Binns, a Vietnam veteran and former Pentagon official. "I would like to see the new administration take this more seriously. When you look at all the studies, it's as clear as the nose on your face that this [Gulf War illness] is real."

Time for some well-heeled, nay-saying medicos to eat crow, dig a hole and disappear.

The New, Cynical Civility

I read an interesting article on alternet about the new "civility" we're seeing from the formerly-rabid right. If you're wondering why the talking heads went from demonizing Obama to saying "lets all be Americans" -- and wondering where to find some more honest opinions on the web -- here's some pointers.

I started my Fox News Election Day Agony Watch at 6:30 a.m. I was expecting a lot of last-minute shrieking about voter fraud, ACORN and Barack Hussein Osama terrorist-mongering, the climax to a vicious campaign that Fox had been promoting over the previous month or two, but what was so strange that day was the relatively subdued, quasi-civil tone that Fox was taking.

...

The Fox execs also did their best to affect a civil, gracious tone. That's why watching the Fox News agony-of-defeat spectacle was more subtle than I'd expected: The mob leaders had decided to abandon the mob -- meaning if I wanted to get a glimpse into the raw screeching agony that the right wing really feels when the camera is turned off, I would have to head into the blog world, where they could squeal their lungs out in safe anonymity.

You can see this in action over at Davey Horowitz's blog at Frontpage, too. In "A Historic Victory", he writes:

I think it's important for all my fellow conservatives to take a moment in the next few days to reflect on these facts and not rush into the partisan struggles which are bound to crowd our political space in the years to come. Let us reflect on the fact that sharp as our divisions are, we are a nation that settles our differences at the ballot box and not in civil strife. Let us do the American thing and give this man the benefit of the doubt and the opportunity to prove his mettle by assuming his role as the leader of our nation -- one and indivisble; let us see if he will live up to his promises to heal the country's wounds and unify its contending factions. ... There will be time enough to hold him to account if he does not honor his promises, and to celebrate with him if he does. In the meantime, let us celebrate this historic moment in America's progress, and do everything we can to show the generosity of spirit that has made America a land that we love.

This after giving his page over to the folks who were all too happy to drum up fear of the candidate, and wonder if he was a Muslim.

Is a little honesty too much to ask? Just come out and say what you mean, folks.

From 52 to 48, With Love

This has to be one of the best things to come out of this election. Photos from those who voted for Obama to those who voted for McCain, and vice-versa, urging us all to remember that we're Americans first, and political animals second. Reminding us to be civil, and that we do what we do for love of country, and hope for its future.

i would love to have a place for obama supporters, mccain supporters and supporters of third parties (over 1%) to reach out in a gesture of reconciliation...

simple messages from individuals.

perhaps it is naive. the differences are real, i know. but we have to repair the damage done from this election cycle somehow...

the fringes (all of them) have been allowed to dominate our conversations for too long. to create a cycle of hate, ill-will and revenge.

Rules on how to participate are here

A moment in history...

(Thanks to Odiedragon for the graphic)

Tips for Conservatives Fleeing the Country

A few pointers for those hardcore conservatives who would rather "cut and run" than stay home in a Democrat-controlled country. Why settle for Canada? (Though you may want to pretend you came from there...)

My story is here, at Op Ed News

America - Now under Alien Orders!

What a wonderful evening! I spent the night at work almost glued to two internet sites, both of which were doing the electoral math in different ways, but both agreeing that, in spite of it once being 3 to 8 (vermont versus kentucky) Obama was ahead from the second tally on.

After waiting nearly forever for the store to close (new register system = new hassles), I went over to a friend's to watch it all spiral down. There was a joke that we'd wait until the main networks called it, then flip over to FOX News to see how long it took them to admit it was all over, but they actually admitted it early.

And then it was just a very good concession speech by McCain (interrupted by rude booing from his supporters twice) and a very, very good speech by Obama. No, I didn't cry, but I felt something I haven't felt in a long time.

Hope.

I'm no naive wiener. I know that he can only do so much, and may not deliver on what was promised. Not everything he promised is desirable, either. But I really felt, for a moment there, like we'd finally turned a corner after a really long, hard crawl in the dark.

Is this the end? No. Crappy anti-Gay legislation passed all over the country. There's people out there who are going to be assholes about the fact that we have a leftist Black president who spent time in a Muslim country as a child.

But we've got a chance now to spend at least the next two years fixing things that need fixing, and doing things that need doing. If we waste the chance, it will be not because we got opposed, but because we didn't dare, or didn't let the hope carry us on.

I feel good, today. Worried but hopeful. Happy, too.

And to all my conservative friends out there who are all so dismayed that America's mood has moved to the left... at least for now... maybe you should smell the roses and join me in the winners circle, eh? ; )

(blows kisses to an old, dear friend)

voting time - 2008

And here's words on why you should not vote...



Justin Timberlake: (on sarcasm) "I can do anything... I was in a boy band."

Vote 2008 - Don't Stand for Dirty Tricks

It's less than 24 hours to the election. Are you ready to deal with people trying to disenfranchise you?

An excellent article on MSN.com tells us what's been going on...

Complaints have surfaced in predominantly African-American neighborhoods of Philadelphia where fliers have circulated, warning voters they could be arrested at the polls if they had unpaid parking tickets or if they had criminal convictions.

Over the weekend in Virginia, bogus fliers with an authentic-looking commonwealth seal said fears of high voter turnout had prompted election officials to hold two elections — one on Tuesday for Republicans and another on Wednesday for Democrats.

... and another one on the same site has warnings about specific tricks that are being used.

5. Your polling place or the election date has changed.

This is a classic keep-the-enemy-home-on-election-day strategy -- and any such election-eve switcheroo is highly unlikely to be authentic. If you receive an e-mail message, text message or phone call in the run-up to Nov. 4 stating that the voting date or your polling place has changed, call your the office of your local supervisor of elections directly to confirm the information before changing your voting plans.

The Obama campaign produced a video about it, here. Given that it comes from his campaign, it is, of course, not without bias. But what got me creeped out was the report that people were walking around in parking lots taking pictures of people's cars and license plates, trying to intimidate folks to leave.

All I can say is - DON'T PUT UP WITH ANY BULLSHIT. Bring an ID to the polls, stand in line with your fellow citizens, and if you see anything that looks hinky, if people try to dissuade you from voting, or something who claims to be "with the election board" tries to get you to step out of line, tell them to get stuffed, and let the election workers know what's going on.

You have a right to vote on November 4th. Do not let ANYONE take it away from you.

And may the best candidates win!

Looking Back in Disgust

Now that the election's a scant two days away, and a new President will be chosen for the country, it's time to look back over the last 8 years (if you can stomach it) by way of a list of Bush Administration Scandals that the folks at Writechic Press have been kind enough to make for us.

Here it is, all 250 items.

If you've got nothing better to do but make yourself mad all over again until Tuesday, when you can actually do something about it... here you go.