...is a laughable cause I guess, according to Rudy Giulani and Sarah Palin.

It's kind of ironic that the Republic National Convention talked about the civil rights movement with such importance and even showed footage of Rosa Parks, when the civil rights movement is a classic example of the community organizing that they laugh at.

I mean, yeah, what is so good about community organizing? So what if it gets people to participate in the politics for change in their own communities and nation? So what if a lot of community organizing is grassroots and faith based? Who cares that it empowers the very people you are supposed to be serving?

Go ahead and laugh at the spirit of the work done by Cesar Chavez, Jane Addams, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Giulani and Palin. We know it's not good enough for you.

Of course, Barack Obama is not the same type of community organizer like they were. But, why should that be a strike against him? Why should he be laughed at for being a community organizer in the poorest neighborhoods of Chicago? "Look at this guy running for President, he was a former public organizer, let's laugh at him because that type of work is not important, especially for someone running for President."

I'm all for attacking inexperience, but you might want to think twice about insulting the type of work that brought so much change to this country.

They are not elitist. Vote John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Just because I thought there needed to be a little more than my voice as to the choice of Sarah Palin for VP.

Her own state of Alaska has even been quick to point out that she is not the best qualified for the VP spot.

See http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/510249.html where she is ripped by a few state representatives.

As well as here http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/30/palin-has-much-prove/?opinion.

An Alaskan resident, though, has the reason of why she is VP: "Frankly, I think it just balances out the ticket," she finally said. "Obama knows nothing about foreign policy. He's a handsome, young black man. (Palin) hasn't been in office too long. ... And she's a beautiful woman." http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/510220.html.

They needed to balance out the ticket because McCain is too ugly. Of course, image!

Sarah Palin was booed in Pennsylvania when Palin "praised Clinton for showing determination and grace in her presidential campaign". Trying to get a little edge in with those Hillary supporters and she ends up facing some backlash from her base. This is working out better than I thought.

Sarah Palin, really????

So much for all that complaining about inexperience in the White House. McCain's criticisms on Obama as being inexperienced and not ready to lead gave him some ammunition. But because he emphasized the inexperience piece, his pick of Sarah Palin seems to defy his own logic. Maybe he has enough experience for the both of them? Either way, if you're going to use inexperience as a campaign attack, at least bring in some more with you. I don't think 1 1/2 years as a Governor counts.

She is going to be eaten alive on the campaign trail. Joe Biden is going to tear her up. I'm putting extras on it, but she hasn't been tested. She could be very good. But, I'm predicting a Dan Quayle relapse.

Next, one of my biggest issues with this pick. McCain is 72 and has had bouts with cancer. If he were to die while in office, would she be prepared to step in and run this country? Does her 1 1/2 years as a Governor prepare her for something like that?

There are better candidates for his VP than her and he should have chosen someone else. Maybe this is all he's got.

So Barry picked his his Vice President: Senator Joe Biden.

I didn't really know how to react to this considering Biden's plagiarist background and offensive past comments toward Obama at the beginning of the campaign. I'm sure Obama could've done better.

Oh well, I'm still voting for Obama and it can't be worse than John McCain.

McCain is under fire for his answer in a recent politico interview that asked how many houses he owns. He said he didn't know. I can tell you how many I own: zero.

But, the point here is that it shouldn't really matter to us how many homes he owns. The real truth is that most of us would like to be as rich as him and not remember how many homes we have either. And if we asked a celebrity how many homes they owned, they probably wouldn't remember and we'd have a good laugh.

Unfortunately for McCain(and fortunate for the Dems) is that he is in a Presidential race and while trying to paint the picture that Obama is out of touch with economic issues, McCain just painted it for himself. He should've dismissed the question as irrelevant and moved on. But no, McCain doesn't normally side step a question (a la Viagra vs. Birth control covered by Health insurance question) and answered with a resounding "I don't know". His managers backstage were probably cringing.

How does this comment hurt him? Nationwide the foreclosure crisis has hit a lot of folks hard and many hard working (and no so hard working) people are losing their homes. Whether it's losing a job, to having an adjustable rate mortgage, or to not asking questions on whether their loan was legit, the reasons are many for the foreclosure mess. Blame is spread around, but the fact is that a lot of people are losing homes. The last thing they want to hear is that a presidential candidate doesn't know how many he has. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080823/NEWS09/808230368. Like this single mom in Toledo, Ohio with a $500 mortgage payment who has been in her home for 17 years.

I had the chance to see McCain speak here in San Jose at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group's annual luncheon, but even then he still seemed out of touch with the people whose votes he'd be trying to win.

John McCain was asked to define "rich". He responded that if you mean income, it's around $5 million a year.

So that means $2.5 income would be middle class. And $1 million would be "comfortable". I must be living in a poverty third world countries envy.

He sounds like he is extremely literate in economics.

On Monday, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the federal Clean Air Act allows the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate Carbon Dioxide as a pollution.

The Bush Adminsitration, of course, argued the other way, saying that the EPA had no authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the clean air act.

What does that mean? States can order automakers (with the approval of the EPA) to cut greenhouse emissions from their vehicles paving the way for more hybrids and emission cutting technology.

It also means that future presidents can impose national EPA rules on vehicles and factories!

And of, course, it was a 5-4 decision. And who was the swing vote? Thank you very much Anthony Kennedy! I knew you were on our side. Closet tree hugger, I knew it.

Mark the ones you've seen. There are 239 movies on this list. Copy this list mail, go to your own facebook account, paste this as a note. Then, put x's next to the movies you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun!

(x) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
(x) Boondock Saints
(x) Fight Club
(x) Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story
(x) Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane
Total: 10

(x) The Princess Bride
(x) AnchorMan
(x) Napoleon Dynamite
() Labyrinth
() Saw
() Saw II
() White Noise
() White Oleander
(x) Anger Management
(x) 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
(x) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 17

() Scream
() Scream 2
(x) Scream 3
(x) Scary Movie
(x) Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
(x) American Pie
(x) American Pie 2
(x) American Wedding
() American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 23

(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
(x) Resident Evil 1
() Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
() The Village
(x) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 30

(x) Finding Nemo
(x) Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
(x) The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
(x) White Chicks
() Butterfly Effect
(x) 13 Going on 30
() I, Robot
(x) Robots
Total so far: 37

(x) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
(x) Universal Soldier
(x) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(x) Along Came Polly
(x) Deep Impact
() KingPin
(x) Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
(x)Meet the Fockers
(x) Eight Crazy Nights
(x) Joe Dirt
(x) KING KONG
Total so far: 48

() A Cinderella Story
() The Terminal
() The Lizzie McGuire Movie
() Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
() Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
() Halloween
() The Ring
() The Ring 2
() Surviving X-MAS
(x) Flubber
Total so far: 50

(x) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
() Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
(x) Ghost Ship
() From Hell
(x) Hellboy
() Secret Window
() I Am Sam
(x) The Whole Nine Yards
(x) The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 56

(x) The Day After Tomorrow
(x) Child's Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
(x) Ten Things I Hate About You
(x) Just Married
() Gothika
(x) Nightmare on Elm Street
() Sixteen Candles
(x) Remember the Titans
(x) Coach Carter
() The Grudge
() The Grudge 2
(x) The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 64

(x) Bad Boys
(x) Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
() Lucky Number Sleven
(x) Ocean's Eleven (New and Old)
(x) Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x) Bourne Supremecy
() Lone Star
(x) Bedazzled
() Predator I
() Predator II
() The Fog
(x) Ice Age
(x) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
() Curious George
Total so far: 73

(x) Independence Day
() Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
() Christine
(x) ET
() Children of the Corn
() My Bosses Daughter
() Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds
(x) Rush Hour
(x) Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 78

() Best Bet
(x) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(x) She's All That
() Calendar Girls
() Sideways
(x) Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
() Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
() Big Trouble in Little China
(x) The Terminator
() The Terminator 2
() The Terminator 3
Total so far: 84

(x) X-Men
(x) X2
(x) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
() Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
() Freaky Friday
() Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
(x) Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
Total so far: 94

() Swimfan
(x) Miracle on 34th street
(x) Old School
() The Notebook
() K-Pax
() Krippendorf's Tribe
() A Walk to Remember
() Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
(x) The 40-year-old-virgin
Total so far: 97

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 103

() BASEketball
() Hostel
() Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
() Highlander
() Mothman Prophecies
() American History X
() Three
Total so Far: 104

() The Jacket
(x) Kung Fu Hustle
(x) Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
(x) Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(x) Shaun Of the Dead
() Willard
Total so far: 110

() High Tension
() Club Dread
(x) Hulk
(x) Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) Chronicle Of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
() 28 days later
() Orgazmo
() Phantasm
(x) Waterworld
Total so far: 115

(x) Kill Bill vol 1
(x) Kill Bill vol 2
() Mortal Kombat
() Wolf Creek
() Kingdom of Heaven
() The Hills Have Eyes
() I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
() The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
(x) Army of Darkness
Total so far: 118

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x)Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
(x) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 125

(x) The Matrix
() The Matrix Reloaded
() The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
() Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
(x) Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
() Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal

TOTAL: 127/239 =~53%

Not too shabby.

Well, it's official: Saddam Hussein was hanged. All I can say about that: it was about damn time.

Of course, the Human Rights Watch International Justice Program had something to say about it.

"Saddam Hussein was responsible for massive human rights violations, but that can't justify giving him the death penalty, which is a cruel and inhuman punishment," said Richard Dicker, director of Human Rights Watch's International Justice Program.

Give. Me. A. Break.

In other news, the San Francisco Giants signed former Oakland A's ace Barry Zito to a seven year $126 million deal. Over-priced? probably. But, honestly, I don't care. Barry Zito is an awesome talent and all the people out there who criticize this deal and think it will backfire, well, you're entitled to that opinion. We'll just have to see. In the mean time, I'm gonna be out there in line when Zito's jersey comes out. Go Giants!

Juanita and I just watched Rocky Balboa and it was awesome. I highly recommend it.

Have a Happy New Year!

Election night was filled with excitement!!! Juanita probably thought I was crazy, but as a polisci alum, I was riveted. And of course, the good news!

As former Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay put it: "We took a whipping last night, and we understand that."

Yes they did, a big 'ol whoopin. Glad to see he recognized defeat, or did he?

To which Delay said: "The Democrats didn't win, the Republicans lost."

Esxcuse me? Haha, who did win? The independents? The Republicans loss, is the Democrats gain. You can deny it all you want Mr. DeLay, but I believe there is always a winner and a loser in any kind of race. You know, the type of losers that have to resign for corruption scandals. *cough*

And kudos to Bush for accepting the change in stride.

So in summary:

Democrats take control of the House of Representatives! You go Nancy Pelosi!

And now we're just waiting to see who gets the Senate. C'mon Virginia and Montana! Come up blue!

In local news: Arnie was re-elected for governor. Am I surprised? Not really...being the moderate he is. He put a Democratic sized whoopin on Angelides. And Angelides, well, is hardly anyone's candidate. He was a great Treasurer, though. Besides, when you have an all Democratic State Cabinet, life is good.

Chuck Reed elected to Mayor of San Jose BY A LANDSLIDE. I wasn't expecting such a huge margin!

All in all, it was a great night to be a Democrat.