There’s really nothing else to say, but wow!

Could I vote for an Al Gore presidency?  You bet your ass I could!  He was the best choice in 2000 — even if his VP pick was a political, rather than a correct, choice.  Would the world be a different place in a post-September 11 Gore presidency.  I don’t know.  Anyone who believes they can answer that question is a political hack of the highest order and biased to begin with.  I do believe we wouldn’t be at war with Iraq.  As this love letter to a Gore presidency states, Gore was the only well-known Democrat willing to take a stand against Iraq — the only one with the balls. 

Here’s the real question:  would America vote for a Gore presidency?  I really don’t know.  Republicans have, and continue to, spread lies about things Gore said or did.  There is contempt among many "moderate" Democrats for the man and an opinion that he is weak.  Moreover, Gore’s actions following the 2000 election brouhaha did little to endear him even to the people who voted for him.  He would have a lot to overcome.  The thing is, in the six years since that weakened man lost the election Gore has changed much, done much, and people have a little more respect for him.  Those "moderate" Democrats who still see through the lens of September 11 will never like the man, but it’s not those people Gore needs to win over.

Personally, I think I would literally have an orgasm if we had a Gore/Edwards ticket come November, 2008.  The things these two smart men could do!  What I don’t want to see is another Kerry presidential run.

Am I a bad person because I’m dreading the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks?  Hell, even though I live far away in Missouri I still feel emotional about the whole thing, and I can’t even imagine what New Yorkers, survivor families, and survivor emergency personnel are thinking and feeling.   I guess what I mostly dislike is the way others use September 11, 2001 as their personal billy club to push people around, to shame people who don’t believe as they believe, to force others into supporting their agenda.  It’s fine to respectfully eulogize the dead, but when you turn them into propaganda –whatever the good intentions behind the propaganda –  you only dishonor them.

So, where was I?  Sitting at my desk at work trying to balance a large, very nasty bank statement thinking about the lunch date I had later in the day.  Needless to say, work came to a stop for a couple hours as everyone was glued to the television screen in the lobby or desperately trying to get information off the ‘net.  Then, a couple hours later, we just went back to work and tried to get through the day.

Oh, poor, poor Fox News Channel.  While they still remain number one among the three cable news networks, their bubble of hot air may be springing a leak.  According to several reports, ratings for the Fox News Channel are down almost across the board, while CNN has shown some rather impressive increases with MSNBC getting their own little jump in the ratings.  I’ve never, ever been a fan of FNC and have only viewed any of its shows on rare occasion.  Granted, the political slant is an issue, but I think that fact that they are a sham of a news organization is the biggest reason.  Yeah, I know CNN and MSNBC have their own biases, but I will debate anyone who says it’s a soley liberal bias.  Anyone who can say that hasn’t really watched either network over the last six years.  Their bias has more to do with being frightened of left out than any corporate political viewpoint.

I shouldn’t be surprised by the moronic actions of the assholes at American Family Association, but sometimes they do surprised me.  These idiots are asking their cadre of dimwits to inundate the FCC and CBS affiliates with protest letters because CBS plans to air its updated September 11 documentary unedited for language.   These people are such fools, such morons, such utter assholes.  This is a historical film featuring actual people in actual events and these idiots want CBS to bleep the curse words uttered by firemen and policeman in the middle of a terrorist attack.!  For God’s sake people, get a life and shut the fuck up!

Turns out the DNA found on JonBenet Ramsey does not match John Karr, the man who admitted to the killing.  I’d like to feel some sympathy for the family, but considering they started talking to film and television producers within days of Karr’s arrest, I just can’t bring myself to do it.

Is it me, or is Sharon Stone becoming the Joan Crawford of the 21st century?  Considering how fame-crazy Stone is, she’d play herself in a tell-all movie about her life.

Far be it from me to agree with anything George Will says, but on this one subject, the 60-year-old restrictions on Japanese military, we agree.  I fully understand why American occupiers felt the need to insert Article 9 into the constitution they created for Japan following the end of World War II.  Japan inflicted much damage on the pacific region and American soldiers, so of course we would want some guarantee they would never go on the attack again.  However, modern Japan is very different from the war-like country it was 60 sixty years ago.  They are a strong democratic nation in an area dominated by Communist China and maniacal South Korea, they have long since paid amends for WWII  (hell Hiroshima and Nagasaki alone should have been payment enough), and we need them.  We need a strong Japanese military in the region.  As Japanese leaders say, they are within shooting distance of South Korea’s missile.  Japan could be the first line of defense if Kim Jong-Il decided to send a few of his missile to California.  Japan is already a power in the region; Article 9 means little.  It’s outdated and should be stricken from their constitution.

According to Bill Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard, college men will be thrilled about the Plan B birth control pill being available over the counter "…because they can have ‘a wild night’ and ‘the burden is off them.’”  What an ass!  First of all, the availability of birth control is not going to increase or decrease the number of college men AND women having sex.  Secondly, that kind of sexist remark is exactly why I don’t understand women who vote Republican.

Does anyone really watch the Emmys anymore.  Personally, I haven’t watched since the telecast that aired a few months after September 11, which really was a great telecast featuring a heartwarming tribute to all those who lose their lives on that day.  Of course, just because I won’t be watching doesn’t mean I’m not sharing my unwanted opinion.

Lead Actor–Comedy:  Of the shows with nominees I only watch two:  King of Queens and Two and a Half Men.  While I enjoy both those shows, along with Kevin James and Charlie Sheen, neither are Emmy worthy actors.  I don’t watch the other shows, but what I’ve seen of Steve Carell in movies and clips from his show he’s certainly the most deserving.

Lead Actress–Comedy:  Stockard Channing and Debra Messing?  Really?  Of the actresses nominated my personal favorite is Lisa Kudrow for The Comeback.  She played a character that was totally different from the Buffet sisters she’s most well-known for playing.  HBO canceled this series too quickly and showed no support for what could have become a very popular, quirky series.  If it can’t be Kudrow, then it should be Jane Kaczmarek. Who should have been here and won?  It’s past time Lauren Graham got some attention from the old geezers at the Academy.  Also, Alyson Hannigan of How I Met Your Mother deserves some attention, maybe not win, but at least get noticed.

Lead Actor–Drama:  As much as I loved The West Wing and as much as I thought their final season was their best in years, this should really be a race between Kiefer Sutherland and Dennis Leary.  Of the two, I think Leary is the most deserving; and I don’t like the show.  The person who should have been nominated and won in this category is Edward James Olmos for his exceptional portrayal of Commander Adama on Battlestar Galactica.

Lead Actress–Drama: Hands down, the winner of this category should be Kyra Sedgewick.  Hands down!  As much as liked the misspelled Commander in Chief (it should be Commander-in-Chief), the show went downhill after Bochco took over and Davis’ performances were lackluster.  Also, if there is one good thing about the cancellation of The West Wing it’s that we won’t have to endure the never ending nominations of Allison Janney.  This was the weakest season yet for Janney’s character and she sure wasn’t in it enough to be nominated as Lead Actress.  Again, I have to return to Battlestar Galactica and Mary McDonnell’s beautifully portrayed President Roslin; by far, more deserving than Allison Janney or Geena Davis.

Supporting Actor–Comedy:  Other than Will & Grace and Two and a Half Men I don’t watch any of nominated shows.  All I can say is Jon Cryer and Sean Hayes don’t deserve them.  Neil Patrick Harris of How I Met Your Mother would have been a better and more deserving choice than either of these two.

Supporting Actress–Comedy:  Again, I don’t watch most of these shows.  All I can say is no on Megan Mullaly and hell no on Alfre Woodard for her disastrous performance on Desperate Housewives.  Don’t get me wrong, both are very, very good at what they do, but Mullally doesn’t deserve it and Woodard’s plot was a major reason why Season 2 of DH sucked.  Alexis Bledel and/or Kelly Bishop of Gilmore Girls would have been much better choices.

Supporting Actor–Drama:  For me, this would come down to Gregory Itzin and Alan Alda with Itzin being the most deserving of the two.  Alda was great as the likable Republican candidate on West Wing’s final season, but Itzin’s crazed performance as the power-hungry president on 24 was the highlight of the season.

Supporting Actress–Drama:  Again, it comes down to two people for me:  Chandra Wilson for Grey’s Anatomy and Jean Smart for 24. I really enjoyed Smart’s performance as the manic first lady on 24, probably her best work since Designing Women, but I think Wilson is the better of two.  There’s no chance in hell she would have won, but Tricia Helfer, "Number Six" on Battlestar Galactica, gave some of the finest performances I’ve seen this year; especially in the two Pegasus episodes where she was pulling double-duty.  For that matter,  Katee Sackhoff’s "Starbuck" was damn worthy, as well.

Outstanding Comedy Series:  Other than the fact that Two and a Half Men doesn’t deserve it, I can’t say much since I don’t watch any of the other shows.

Outstanding Drama Series:  Please, oh please, don’t let it be The West Wing.  Again, season seven was fantastic, but the show has already won more Emmys in this category than it rightfully deserved.  My personal choice here is Grey’s Anatomy.  The series really came into its own in season two and became a better show than its lead-in, Desperate Housewives.  Who damn well deserved to be nominated and win in this category?  Battlestar Galactica is by far one of the finest drama series on television, equally if not better than all the shows nominated in this category.