News – Election Eve Roundup

US

Tomorrow is the day. Bush and Kerry are making their final pushes for votes. Though I’ve already decided I’m not voting for either of them. So, to be fair, I’ll break my general silence on the day to day minutia of their misguided politicking for votes. So Reuters has them with Bush holding a scant one point lead. All considered, that’s pretty pathetic given the world event resources he’s been given to work with. Sure, Bush is likely to win. But it’ll be a pretty sucky win, likely leading into a pretty sucky second term. But despite all that, Bush is chillin. Sounds about right, considering he’s not worried about Osama going uncaptured. Cheney stumps for Hawaii’s votes amid his big 11 hour campaign-a-thon, even wearing something festive to offset his dour personality. Meanwhile Kerry is looking to shore up black voters, which he’s been losing some of this round. Question is, will the democrats do something next round to make it seem like their loyalty means something? Who knows. Edwards is stressing empathy for the middle class in his politicking round up, contrasting with Cheney’s brandishing of the latest Osama tape. But if you want futher election silliness, the latest loss of the Redskins can be thought of as bad news for Bush.

So what does all of that mean? A big fat goose egg to me. Nice to know they’re flagrantly wasting so much money to spread their ineffectual messages, which in the long run will end up leaving the nation divided for the next four years because neither of these chuckleheads will make the steps required to reconcile our differences for the good of us all. At least, that’s how I see it. Here’s to another four years.

Most people seem to think the Republicans will keep majority control of a divided congress. Personally, I think we need more independents in the mix. More like parliaments in other nations. No matter which party has control, it’s the same general bull.

Tom Ridge says we have no specific election threat, which is pretty much what anyone could have guessed from prior vague, ominous warnings months ago. We do enough to sabotage our own elections with the impending voting machine madness that could come down on the count like a ton of bricks. Likely, in part, because of crappy testing methods.

Explainer tells you what the ‘October Surprise’ is all about.

Iraq

Here’s a quandary for you. If The US knew all about Zarqawi and the Khurmal camp in Northern Iraq, why didn’t they hit it and hin between mid 2002 and the start of the Iraq war? They had no issue bombing the heck out of the no lfy zones for other reasons. Layng waste to a militant camp, you’d think, would have been a no-brainer.

At least one rocket struck a hotel used by migrant workers in Tikrit, killing at least 15 Iraqis and wounding eight.

Baghdad’s deputy-governor, Hatim Kamil, is shot on his way to work. Two of his bodyguards were wounded in the attack.

Iyad Allawi stresses his dwindling patience with the situation in Falluja. I’m sure it’ll help when steam is blown off by some form of all out attack on the city. Of course, as with most situations of that nature, consequences will be reaped by all sides.

A new video tape has surfaced, shot nine days after Saddam’s fall, that shows that big cache of explosives still there after US forces had control of the country. Interesting. Still doesn’t answer the question of where the disconnect was in those explosives not being secured. Of course, questions remain as competitors duel over the story. Hopefully this will have the effect of drawing the full story from amid the initial speculation.

Zarqawi gets aggressive in spreading the fear, sending letters to the Mosul and Baghdad offices of the Independent Electoral Commission to let them know they’re dead if they get involved with the upcoming election. Nothing like personal correspondence to get a point across.

So how many Iraqi civilians really have died in this war? The 100k noted in a previous entry was a consideration for new info, not that I really had much faith in the number. It seems a bit too high on the extreme side. Regardless of how many, it’s a fact that the number is suppressed by an administration eager to keep the war as bloodless as possible. Though I’ve seen some Bush supporters shrug off any number of Iraqi casualties as acceptable losses for the most part, so it likely wouldn’t effect Bush’s base.

Afghanistan

Kidnappers of three UN workers are negotiating their release with the government and denies extending the deadline placed on their lives.

Israel/Palestine

A Palestinian suicide bomber hits an open-air market in Tel Aviv, killing three Israelis and himself, wounding 32. The cycle continues. And to top it off, seems Arafat won’t be stolen away by natural death. Just not a good day for peace. Though perhaps a step is made as Arafat’s subordinates start to dig their fingers in. Depends if they’ll keep those grips should he return. Though perhaps.. perhaps he won’t be fit to resume control so Mahmoud Abbas and Ahmed Qureia can take control. Two moderates would be a delight on the Palestinian side.

General

Paper Mario has all the graphical appeal of a game for kids, but it’s a challenging, fun game that even serious gamers can enjoy if they open their minds. I should know, I have it. Lovely little game, similar in some ways to the prior Mario & Luigi Superstars game for GBA.

Today’s Papers has musings on foreign leader support for the candidates, Gallup saying 30% of Florida voters have already voted with Kerry ahead 51% to 43%, more minutia of the campaigns and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Teacher steals student’s prosthetic arm</A.

College student arrested for forging Subway Sub Club stamps

Nigerian spammer gets pwned

If you live on the seventh floor of a building and are tired of waiting for the elevator, do not put up flyers telling women to lose weight by taking the stairs

Teacher kicks student for wearing Republican shirt

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Coming to a Wheaties box near you: 2004 Red Sox. Photoshop unlikely Wheaties boxes

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this Chinese construction site

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this Boston Red Sox fan jumping from a lightpole

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this soldier building a habitat</A