Vote LaneLutter

Something about this time of year makes one want to be wistful; wishy-washy. How come whenever it gets cold outside everybody suddenly has the urge to shop? It might be a little uncreative to start harping on the commercialization of Christmas, but that’s a tradition too, one I can recall even back to some of my earliest Christmas memories. I look back fondly on those days, a kid who hated kindergarten and, even then, hated getting up early. I still remember a lot. I remember my aunts and uncle’s hand-me-downs, earth toned corduroys and tasseled leather vests, sandals, my favorite E.T. shirt, back when I had my full head of hair. I remember my parents, still young and full of moxie, and I remember my three little brothers as they grew, one by one, into the men they are today. Now my youngest brother is a Freshman at college, and he just happens live in the same building I lived in during my Freshman year at UCSC.
It blows my mind. There are so many reasons for me to turn away from the Holidays. I’m sick of corporations marketing directly at everyone who might be a little nostalgic for their childhoods. I’m sick of the Christian Right making this into a holy war and trying to get nativity scenes onto public property. I’m sick of all the damn advertising. I’m sick of seeing Santa portrayed as a business man in that one commercial. Santa wouldn’t push the easy button. There’s something wrong with all of this, and it’s hard for me to put my finger on exactly what it is. I could care less about the implications it may have on Jesus, who I have a grudging respect for, if not really a belief in. All I know is that Jesus probably wouldn’t have supported the death penalty.
Religion is the last thing I want to celebrate at this time of year anyway. I want to relive those childhood memories, get a few presents, eat some tasty food, and enjoy however much time I have left on this little planet. I want to spend some time shut in out of the cold with some egg nog and some amusing conversation. Why does God have to be a part of it? Why should I have to ponder my own sinful nature while I munch on cookies and hang up little blinking lights. Everybody knows what’s happening, what has already happened, but still we have a fair amount of Christians who keep trying to bring Christ back into Christmas.
I think they’re wasting their time. I suppose this means that I’m glad that the true meaning of Christmas has been lost. It seems a little wrong to actually support the over commercialization of what is supposed to be a true holy day, but that isn’t precisely where I stand either. I could care less about any of that. All that matter’s is what this time of year means to me. It means family, it’s an excuse to hang around with relatives you never see, it means junk food and turkey dinner, it means being giving and thankful, and taking nothing for granted, and that’s it.
Here’s to you and yours,
j

Looks like some of the neocons are having a change of heart.

"You can support the troops but not the president."
—Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)

"Well, I just think it’s a bad idea.  What’s going to happen is they’re going to be over there for 10, 15, maybe 20 years."
—Joe Scarborough (R-FL)

"Explain
to the mothers and fathers of American servicemen that may come home in
body bags why their son or daughter have to give up their life?"
—Sean Hannity, Fox News, 4/6/99

"[The]
President . . . is once again releasing American military might on a
foreign country with an ill-defined objective and no exit strategy. He
has yet to tell the Congress how much this operation will cost. And he
has not informed our nation’s armed forces about how long they will be
away from home. These strikes do not make for a sound foreign policy."
—Sen Rick Santorum (R-PA)

"American
foreign policy is now one huge big mystery. Simply put, the
administration is trying to lead the world with a feel-good foreign
policy."
—Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)

"If we are going to commit
American troops, we must be certain the y have a clear mission, an
achievable goal and an exit strategy."
—Karen Hughes, speaking on behalf of George W Bush

"I had doubts about the bombing campaign from the beginning . . . I didn’t think we had done enough in the diplomatic area."
—Senator Trent Lott (R-MS)

"I
cannot support a failed foreign policy. History teaches us that it is
often easier to make war than peace. This administration is just
learning that lesson right now. The President began this mission with
very vague objectives and lots of unanswered questions. A month later,
these questions are still unanswered. There are no clarified rules of
engagement. There is no timetable. There is no legitimate definition of
victory. There is no contingency plan for mission creep. There is no
clear funding program. There is no agenda to bolster our over-extended
military. There is no explanation defining what vital national
interests are at stake. There was no strategic plan for war when the
President started this thing, and there still is no plan today"
-Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)

"Victory means exit strategy, and it’s important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is."
-Governor George W Bush (R-TX)

Wait wait wait, my mistake. These are from back when Clinton invaded Bosnia. Forget i said anything.

So basically bush is evil and he needs to be stopped. him and his cronies are screwing this country and everyone who bothers to pay attention to the government knows it. i’m not really good with names or dates, but i can tell you what this is all about. its about money. anyone who even thinks for a second that we were in iraq to further the cause of democracy has been hypnotized.
it was planned by the owners of oil companies who stand to make record profits as it becomes easier and easier to corner the market. i don’t know why everyone in the government seems so afraid to bring up this incredibly obvious fact. they’re doing this to get rich, and the richer they are the stronger they are. plus they control the auto manufacturers, who keep churning out gas-guzzlers. they control the world bank and keep whole countries in debt while they simultaneously devalue their currencies. eventually no nation who plays by the rules can get around it.
like any empire, expansion and greed can only go for so long. once they run out of people and resources to steal our government will sputter and gasp for breath for a while before it crumbles and the oppressed take over. unfortunately americans have been slowly distanced from the activities of their government. most of their operations now take place in secret, and no one can really say what they have in store. americans don’t realize the corrupt practices that are necessary to our indulgent way of life. we don’t realize that the actions of our own government reflect back on us, and that in many ways we are unknowing accomplices in what is essentially a global crime-ring. sooner or later we’re going to have to stand trial for all of this.
i’m not saying its too late or making threats. i’m just saying don’t be too surprised when it happens. don’t think all these foreigners are mad because they hate freedom. they like freedom. they would probably like to have a little freedom for themselves.

So, here we go indeed. I’ve been meaning to do one of these "blog" for quite some time. i find the technology frightening, but now i have no excuse. infants are more comfortable with the internet than i am. im going to use this to rant about politics, post some writing of mine and generally talk shit about the world around me. also, our new episode of Fair and Balanced came out, so you should check it. stay tuned,
j