X-Tra Rant

First via Atrios ad the Philly Enquirer:

Yes, please Nader supporters. Vote your conscience for a guy who is a) letting and using Republicans to get him on the ballot in some states b) taking money from rich republicans and c) using HOMELESS people to pass out petitions and then not paying them.

I don’t know about you but my conscience is sickened by the formerly upstanding social crusader.

And also via Atrios and The Morning Call, Kerry & Edwards spoke to 15,000 in Scranton, PA. The best part of the article though was the following quote:

I hope there’s alot more former Naderites out there like you who watched Kerry’s speech Thursday.

St. Ralph indeed: Kerry leads Bush >54-41 heads up, but 50-40 with Nader involved.

He’ll be sainted by the Religious Right if he screws up another election for the Democrats.

Crossposted to the travel blog, X-Tra Rant On The Road.

Well my first real trip since we went to Iowa for the Democratic Primaries. This time, Kelly and I are going to New York City for a few days. We’ll be leaving (on a jet plane!) early on the morning of Thursday, August 12th for NYC. We’ll spend the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th there then leave for home on the afternoon of the 16th.

We’ll be doing hopefully lots of cool stuff. We want to try and hit a Mets game, see some museums as well. Go to Brooklyn for a day, Coney Island (I want to eat at Nathans’ and have a hot dog there. Just not 35+ of them in 12 minutes Lots of other stuff too.

Anyway, I won’t be posting high quality pics until I get back but while I’m on the trip check out my Photo Blog! X-Tra Rant: The Photo Blog. I’ll be taking plenty of pictures the whole trip. But if you check it before August 12th you’ll just see random stuff around Indy
(You can also see the last 5 photos from my photo blog over to your right…)

Well I’m going to try and make a comeback. Since the Democratic Primaries fell apart for Dean I’ve pretty much taken a break (or made a few scattered posts in the spring).

But I’m feeling much better now. The Democratic COnvention really inspired me again, especially the speeches of Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and of course John Kerry

I was super impressed with Kerry’s speech last night. Didn’t back down, brought it to the GOP but also infused the whole speech with hope. The best part was when he said something to the effect of “We are not pessimistic, we are the optimists. Thinking America can do no better is true pessimism.”

Great stuff.

Transcripts of some of my favorite speeches of the week. Of course if you can track down video they are even better that way. Try this page on MSNBC.

• David Alston (served with John Kerry in Vietnam)
  
• Former President Jimmy Carter Took on Bush, but did it like your grandfather giving you a stern talking to. You KNOW you deserve it.
  
• Former President Bill Clinton They call him Big Dog for a reason.
  
• Howard Dean You can tell he wanted to rip into his fiery speech but took one for the team and was subdued and powerful.
  
• John Edwards Our next Vice President.
  
• Former Vice-President Al Gore Who SHOULD be President right now….
  
• John Kerry Our next President. Very powerful. Very very very good.
  
• Illinois State Senator Barack Obama and the next Senator from Illinois. Best speech of the week. I had tears in my eyes and was cheering and clapping at the bar we went to to watch that night’s speeches.
  
• Ron Reagan son of Former President Ronald Reagan. A great speech on why Stem Cell Research MUST move forward.
  

Go here for all transcripts.

Anyway, look soon for a post about a bit of fun I had with the office Freepers the past couple days. You might dig it (if I have any readers left)