November 12, 2004
Censor this
So there was a big furor over the airing of Private Ryan on ABC last night, with many affiliates dropping it off the schedule for fear of FCC fines. This all stems from the Janet Jackson Nipple-thing at the super bowl and the record setting fine as a result.
So now ABC finds itself in a position to send a message to the FCC. They could have gone about this one of two ways. Either by broadcasting the movie, violence profanity and all and waited for the FCC to come after them, but this time they would probably have more popular support - what with the message of the film and all. Or they could take the approach of publically vocalizing their fears of airing this movie, which despite it's theme and message IS gut-wrenchingly violent and peppered with profanity. In this way, the message is sent to the FCC... lighten up or you'll stifle free speech and create an atmosphere where media second guesses itself and will more often err on the side of caution. Which is more often than not, bad for the people.
November 03, 2004
Blah-g
How did this happen? It seemed like it was going our way. The choice was so clear; as close to a choice between good and evil as has ever been seen. I guess there really are forces unknown. A majority of people (apparently) that I will never understand.
It just seems so unlikely, so beyond comprehension that the popular vote - the majority of voters - in this country would go for Bush. By a margin greater than in 2000. Especially now, after everything that has gone down. Considering everything we know about this man and his administration. Are these people brainwashed? Is it just that they are afraid? Is it a national paralysis brought about by the politics of fear?
Everyone joked about leaving the country if Bush was re-elected because no one really believed that it could happen. After being elected in 2000 under such suspicious circumstances, how could we allow this mistake to be perpetuated - by popular mandate? I cannot believe that John Kerry could lose by a greater margin than Al Gore.
Living in New York, maybe it's easy to lose sight or perspective on the country as a whole. When everyone you meet feels as passionately as you do about getting Bush out of office, it's easy - maybe too easy - to forget that there are rabid supporters of Bush hunkered down all over the country who will vote the party line no matter what the cost.
This from 1972 when Nixon, mired in an unpopular war, swept the election even as the Watergate investigation crept closer and closer to the Oval Office. It seems appropriate today as well...
... This may be the year when we finally come face to face with ourselves; finally just lay back and say it - that we are really just a nation of 220 million used car salesmen with all the money we need to buy guns, and no qualms at all about killing anybody else in the world who tries to make us uncomfortable.
November 02, 2004
Projections
ABC says that Bush just won Florida and now Kerry has to win Ohio to remain in the game. This sucks. Everytime Bush's electoral votes go up my heart sinks. It's so hard to be objective when everyone in New York is so pro-Kerry and anti-Bush. I lose perspective and it's easy to forget that there is an entire nation of people that I will never understand.
I'm exhausted and yet how can I sleep until I know?
Go Vote!
The lines were pretty good at the polls today. I got there about 8:00AM and as soon as I realized that I already knew my district number and could bypass the info line, things really picked up.
GO! Go Now!
