'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck...
How to live in a world that's politically correct?
His workers no longer would answer to "Elves"
"Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves
And labor conditions at the north pole
Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul

Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety
Released to the wilds by the Humane Society
And equal employment had made it quite clear
That Santa had better not use just reindeer
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid
Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!

The runners had been removed from his sleigh;
The ruts were termed dangerous by the E P A
And people had started to call for the cops
When they heard sled noises on their roof-tops
Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened
His fur trimmed red suit was called "Unenlightened"

And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows
Rudolf was suing over unauthorised use of his nose
And had gone on Geraldo, in front of the nation
Demanding millions in over-due compensation

So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife
Who suddenly said she'd enough of this life
Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz
Demanding from now on her title was Ms

And as for the gifts, why, he'd ne'er had a notion
That making a choice could cause so much commotion
Nothing of leather, nothing of fur
Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her
Nothing that might be construed to pollute
Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot
Nothing that clamoured or made lots of noise
Nothing for just girls. Or just for boys
Nothing that claimed to be gender specific
Nothing that's warlike or non-pacific

No candy or sweets ... they were bad for the tooth
Nothing that seemed to embellish the truth
And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden
Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden
For they raised the hackles of those psychological
Who claimed the only good gift was ecological

No baseball, no football ... someone could get hurt;
Besides; playing sports exposed kids to dirt
Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe;
And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away

So Santa just stood there, dishevelled, perplexed;
He just could not figure out what to do next
He tried to be merry, tried to be gay
But you've got to be careful with that word today
His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground;
Nothing fully acceptable was to be found

Something special was needed, a gift that he might
Give to all without angering the left or the right
A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision
Each group of people, every religion;
Every ethnicity, every hue
Everyone, everywhere ... even you
So here is that gift, it's price beyond worth ...
"May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth"

--author unknown

I strongly urge you to call and or write your Sentors and Representatives to reject The Federal Marriage Amendment.

Throughout our country’s history, certain areas of law have been restricted to the jurisdiction of the states. Marriage laws have been one of these areas. To allow the Federal government to seize jurisdiction in an area of law not explicitly enumerated in the Constitution would be a violation of the Bill of Rights’ Tenth Amendment.

I am sure you understand the historical need to maintain the rights of the states to make legislation and to control their own affairs without undue interference by the Federal government. To cede this right, in any instance, may establish a precedent, which could, in the long run, severely reduce the power of the states in all areas of law.

Since the abolition of slavery over 130 years ago, the U.S. Constitution has been a document that expresses equality and expands the rights of all American citizens. Its positive expression and protection of those rights is its hallmark. It is the envy of countries and the hope of people around the world.

To add this proposed amendment would return the tone of our country’s most important document from one of hope and inclusion of all people to one of restriction and separation. It would be the first time since the civil rights movement that discriminatory practices would be codified into law. It would be the first time since the Civil War that inequality of American citizens would be Constitutionally mandated. It would radically change the direction of a document whose purpose is to “secure the blessings of liberty, to ourselves and our posterity.” If we start restricting rights of certain groups where does it stop? When do “our” own rights become infringed?

We live in a country that is about freedoms. That means at times as a country, we have to accommodate differences we may not personally embrace in order to ensure that all individuals share this freedom:
· In order to guarantee that everyone can freely express their views we must tolerate things like pornography and KKK marches.
· Even though we may think some religions weird or unorthodox they are allowed to exist so that our own beliefs and religious practices are not infringed.
· Our justice system may not convict every person who has committed a crime in an effort to ensure that no innocent person is wrongly judged guilty.
· Some religions such as the Roman Catholic and probably other conservative sects do not recognize divorce and re-marriage as an acceptable lifestyle, yet our government not only recognizes these unions, it also protects the faiths from requiring the recognition of such unions.

The whole systems of laws in our country is set up to ensure the widest range of personal freedoms and to foster tolerance and acceptance of others who may not be like ourselves. The only way to exist in a nation with such diversity as ours is to fully embrace those differences as a positive trait in our nation and not to divide our country by what makes us different.

Placing such a restrictive covenant such as the Federal Marriage Amendment on a document meant to enumerate and describe our freedoms as Americans would certainly do more long term harm to our national sense of purpose, our image as perceived by other nations, and the freedom of our citizens, than allowing the states to determine what the marriage laws are in their own respective jurisdictions.

Again I urge you to write your Senators and Representatives to reject the Federal Marriage Amendment.

I believe that ALL Americans, including gays and lesbians, deserve the rights, responsibilities, and
privileges that come with marriage. And right now, we have an unprecedented opportunity to make that
dream a reality. Please, join me in adding your voice to a million voices raised in support of civil
marriage for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender couples at www.MillionForMarriage.org.

You know i think the comedians are right.. California is like a bowl of granola.. what's not fruit or nuts is flakes. And the current mess out there seems to prove it more and more every day.

First of all, people are upset because the state has money problems. Almost every state has money problems due to the bad economy, the extra security efforts mandated but not paid for by Washington, and tax and program cuts in Washington mean more of a burden has been shifted to the states. California isn't in a unique situation. Everyday there are news stories about one state legistlature or another trying to deal with budget issues. California is the largest state, with an economy larger than that of most countries, so their problem looks a lot worse.

So now some rich Republican has paid people to go around the state to force a re-call election of the Governor who was elected only a year ago. They say this special election will cost the state of California 35 million dollars. When the government cannot pay the bills it has how is it financially responsible to force the government even deeper into debt ?

And the cast of characters lining up to be on the ballot looks more like Circus of the Stars than a group willing and able to serious consider the problems before the California government.

One of the least qualified, but most covered of these candidates is Arnold Schwarzenegger. We all know that he is a Republican and he backs Republican causes and candidates. But does that make him qualified to be a statewide elected official ?

While the Movie Making business is oftern mentioned in association with big budgets, it's reputation is more for slight of hand accounting than for inovation and frugality. While he is a major star, playing characters other than himself, he has rarely participated in the producing end of the business which is where the finances of a movie are delt with. His only two producing credits are for the films "The Sixth Day" and "The Last Action Hero" neither of which were huge profit makers.

In his announcement, he said that he was a man of the people but that he was wealthy enough to be able to finance his campaign without accepting any donations. I don't know many people in California or any other state who can say or do that.

How in touch is this "man of the people" who lives in a mansion in Brentwood (think OJ Simpson's neighborhood) and who spends most of his life surrounded by assistants and other movie people who themselves are probably not totally in touch with reality for the middle class. I don't recall any of my California friends mentioning being in the check out line at the local supermarket on Saturday morning behind Arnie and Maria and the kids.

Does someone who has multiple millions of dollars in his personal bank accounts understand the sort of restraint and spending cuts necessary to bring the finances of the state of California under control ??

Of course the other announced candidates are not much better. The ex-husband and wife team of Michael and Arrianna Huffington are both said to be running. That divorce is still in vendetta mode it seems. I don't know what Mrs. Huffington does except to go on the cable news channels and tell everyone else what they should be doing. Her voice is that of priviledge so i doubt she knows how to cut spending in a serious way either.

Comedian Gallagher has announced he will also be on the ballot of the special election. Can he bash government spending the way he bashes watermelons in his show. While he would make sure that meetings and speeches were entertaining, I doubt he would be taken seriously by those with the power at the state capital.

The state representative who paid for the recall petition drive with his own money is also running. Darrell Issa seems to have decided that if the election doesn't go you way, you can just pay for a new one. If the recall is not successfull I wonder how many times he can pay for a new recall petition drive and keep Californians perpetually going to the polls while nothing gets done in the state.

Hustler Magazine Larry Flynt has also announced that he is running. At least Mr. Flynt has run a succesfull business for a number of years no matter what you may think of its content. His magazine has spent a lot of time in court fighting for its right to be and still must be showing a profit to continue to find its way to convience store shelves. Mr. Flynt has a history of suporting individual rights and freedoms over the government and narrow-minded people's actions and desires. He truly believes in limited government and that government should stay out of people's personal business. Mr. Flynt is also confined to a wheelchair and can certianly be an advocate for minorities and the less fortunate in our society who are frequently over looked or over run by government today.

It's going to be a long and colorful race when the best alternative to the sitting Governor is the publisher of a tittie magazine.

 
personally... i think that if a person finds someone that's willing to put  up with them for the rest of their life that it shouldn't matter to anyone else who they are (so long as they are of legal age).
 
i think that people who say gay marriage will destroy the institution of marriage are on crack.. already today (without gay marriage) over 1/2 of all marriages end in divorce.. if anything it might help improve the statistics...
 
also if it helps make the idea of being gay more acceptable, then maybe so many gay/confused guys won't rush out and get married trying to "straighten" themselves out...
 
but i think the main thing that people need to understand is that in our country we have comingled the legal concept of a marriage and the religious concept of a marriage until they are practically indistingushable. 
 
A religious marriage is a comittment between two people before God. A civil marriage is a legal contract recognized by the government.  They are very different things. In our country we liscence religious officals to administer civil marriages concurrently with religious ceremonies.   A religious offical who was not authorized by the state could perform religious ceremonies but that marriage would not be recognized as legal.
 
In many countries it is necessary to get married twice.. once in the church and once in the courthouse or city hall. That is the way it is in such places as France and Mexico.   There a religious service does not create a legally binding contract in the eyes of the government... eventhough it may before God.  And a civil marriage is not recognized in the eyes of the church.  For instance, in Mexico in order to enter into a civil contract of marriage the groom must be able to show adaquate means to support his wife, etc. so young couples may choose to forgo that ceremony until they can meet the standards imposed by the state.
 
I don't think that recognizing a gay marriage in the sense of a civil contract would force churches to perform them against their will anymore than the government recognizing the legal validity of second (and third) marriages requires the Catholic Church to accept them as valid and perform those services in their churches. I think each denomination could make those decisions as they would see fit.
 
People like Jerry Falwell say that marriage is about pro-creation and that is why marriage has to be between one man and one woman.  And maybe in his religious view that is the case.
 
There are lots of reasons why people get married and currently the government does not make sure that two people are getting married "for the right reasons".   There are no fertility tests to sure that pro-creation is possible before granting a marriage liscence.  Women who have had hysterectomies are able to marry even though they are incapable of pro-creation.  Men who have had vasectomies are able to marry.  Women who have been through menopause and don't ovulate anymore are allowed to marry.  Therefore there can be no succesfull argument that a civil marriage is strictly about pro-creation.
 
Historically, marriage is about the consolidation of money and power.  Men married off their daughters to protect their land and assets. Men married off their sons to expand their empires and business holdings.  Creating a male heir to carry on the family was a the hope of the marriage in many cases but it wasn't the short term goal.  Neither was love.

Ultra-conservative spokespeople have stated that legalizing gay marriage will so lead to such things as bigamy and people marrying young children and even farm animals. This is of course a silly argument. The same argument was made by similarly narrow-minded people back in the days when the Supreme Court ruled in Loving v. Virginia to disolve state laws forbidding inter-racial marriages. Of course we know now that all of those scare tatics were nonsense then and they are still the same today.

In fact, the Supreme Court may have already paved the way for legalizing gay marriage in the Loving decision. In it they state that the right to marry who one chooses is a “basic human right.”

Unfortunately for the conservatives, there may not be much they can do to stop the eventual legalization of gay marriage. The Supreme Court has interpreted the Constitution's “Equal Protection Clause” to negate any law that was enacted with the purpose of discriminating. This would seem to stop any law excluding gay marriage.

Also, since civil marriage is a legal contract, the Constitution's “Full Faith and Credit Clause” comes into play. This part of the Constitution requires all the states to recognize as legal and valid any contract considered legal in the state in which the contract was made. This means that if only 1 state passes a gay marriage law, then every state would have to recognize the validity of that marriage contract. Not doing so would create a great upset, not only with heterosexuals who marry in a different state, but it would also create a precedent which could be used to attempt to invalidate contracts between businesses and create great havoc in our economy.

I guess the first real test of any of this will come when a gay couple who has married in Canada (or Denmark, or the Netherlands) presses for legal recongition of that marriage here in the states. It will probably take a while for the case to work its way through our legal system, like the recent Supreme Court ruling which overturned the few remaining state laws against sodomy (heterosexual and homosexual).

GEORGE W. BUSH
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20505

R E S U M E


PAST WORK EXPERIENCE
- I ran for congress and lost.

- I produced a Hollywood slasher B movie.

- I bought an oil company, but couldn't find any oil in Texas; company went bankrupt shortly after I sold all my stock.

- I bought the Texas Rangers baseball team in a sweetheart deal that tookland using taxpayer money.

- Biggest move: Traded Sammy Sosa to the Chicago White Sox & with my father's help (and his name) was elected Governor of Texas.


ACCOMPLISHMENTS

- I changed pollution laws for power and oil companies and made Texas the most polluted state in the Union.

- I replaced Los Angeles with Houston as the most smog ridden city in America.

- Cut taxes and bankrupted the Texas government to the tune of billions in borrowed money.

- Set record for most executions by any Governor in American history.

- I became president after losing the popular vote by over 500,000 votes, with the help of my father's appointments to the Supreme Court.


ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PRESIDENT

- I attacked and took over two countries.

- I spent the surplus and bankrupted the treasury.

- I shattered record for biggest annual deficit in history.

- I set economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any 12 month period.

- I set all-time record for biggest drop in the history of the stock
market.

- I am the first president in decades to execute a federal prisoner.

- I am the first president in US history to enter office with a criminal record.

- In the first year in office set the all-time record for most days on vacation by any president in US history.

- After taking the entire month of August off for vacation, I presided over the worst security failure in US history.

- I set the record for most campaign fundraising trips than any other president in US history.

- In my first two years in office over 2 million Americans lost their job.

- I cut unemployment benefits for more out of work Americans than any president in US history.

- I set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12-month period.

- I appointed more convicted criminals to administration positions than any president in US history.

- I set the record for the least amount of press conferences than any president since the advent of television.

- I signed more laws and executive orders amending the Constitution than anypresident in US history.

- I presided over the biggest energy crisis in US history and refused to intervene when corruption was revealed.

- I presided over the highest gasoline prices in US history and refused to use the national reserves as past presidents have.

- I cut healthcare benefits for war veterans.

- I set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously take to the streets to protest me (15 million people), shattering the record for protest against any person in the history of mankind

- I dissolved more international treaties than any president in US history.

- My presidency is the most secretive and unaccountable of any in US history.

- Members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in US history. (The 'poorest' multimillionaire, Condoleeza Rice has a Chevron oiltanker named after her).

- I am the first president in US history to have all 50 states of the Union simultaneously go bankrupt.

- I presided over the biggest corporate stock market fraud of any market in any country in the history of the world.

- I am the first president in US history to order a US attack and military occupation of a sovereign nation, and I did so against the will of the United Nations and the world community.

- I created the largest government department bureaucracy in the history of the United States.

- I set the all-time record for biggest annual budget spending increases, more than any president in US history.

- I am the first president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the Human Rights Commission.

- I am the first president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the Elections Monitoring Board.

- I removed more checks and balances, and have the least amount of congressional oversight than any presidential administration in US history.

- I rendered the entire United Nations irrelevant.

- I withdrew from the World Court of Law.

- I refused to allow inspectors access to US-kept prisoners of war and by default no longer abide by the Geneva Convention.

- I am the first president in US history to refuse United Nations election inspectors (during the 2002 US elections).

- I am the all-time US (and world) record holder for most corporate campaigndonations.

- My biggest lifetime campaign contributor, who is also one of my best friends, presided over one of the largest corporate bankruptcy frauds in world history (Kenneth Lay, former CEO of Enron Corporation).

- I spent more money on polls and focus groups than any president in US history.

- I am the first president to run and hide when the US came under attack (and then lied saying the enemy had the code to Air Force 1).

- I am the first US president to establish a secret shadow government.

- I took the biggest world sympathy for the US after 9/11, and in less than a year made the US the most resented country in the world (possibly the biggest diplomatic failure in US and world history).

- I, with a policy of 'disengagement' created the most hostile
Israeli-Palestine relations in at least 30 years.

- I am the first US president in history to have a majority of the people of urope (71%) view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and stability.

- I am the first US president in history to have the people of South Korea more threatened by the US than their immediate neighbor, North Korea.

- I changed US policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded government contracts.

- I set all-time record for number of administration appointees who violated US law by not selling huge investments in corporations bidding for government contracts.

- I failed to fulfill my pledge to get Osama Bin Laden 'dead or alive'.

- I failed to fulfill my pledge to get Saddam Hussein 'dead or alive'.

- I failed to capture the anthrax killer who tried to murder the leaders of our country at the United States Capitol building. After 18 months I have no leads and zero suspects.

- In the 18 months following the 9/11 attacks I have successfully prevented any public investigation into the biggest security failure in the history of the United States.

- I removed more freedoms and civil liberties for Americans than any other president in US history.

- In a little over two years I created the most divided country in decades, possibly the most divided the US has ever been since the civil war.

- I entered office with the strongest economy in US history and in less than two years turned every single economic category heading straight down.


RECORDS AND REFERENCES

- I have at least one conviction for drunk driving in Maine (Texas driving record has been erased and is not available).

- I was AWOL from National Guard and deserted the military during a time of war.

- I refuse to take a drug test or even answer any questions about drug use.

- All records of my tenure as governor of Texas have been spirited away to my fathers library, sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.

- All records of any SEC investigations into my insider trading or bankrupt companies are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.

- All minutes of meetings for any public corporation I served on the board are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.

- Any records or minutes from meetings I (or my VP) attended regarding public energy policy are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public review.

- For personal references please speak to my daddy or Uncle James Baker. (They can be reached at their offices of the Carlyle Group for war profiteering.)

From emails exchanged last year between David Armstrong, a former English Teacher, and employees of The Coca-Cola Company.


To The Coca Cola Company,

The slogan for Dasani mineral water contains and egregious error. The tag line is "Treat yourself well. Everyday." The word everyday is an adjective that is used to describe things that are routine or ordinary. "Everyday concerns" or "everyday life" would be two examples.

Your slogan should read "Treat yourself well. Every day." In this case every is a adjective modifying the noun day. This is a popular construction which is also used in such phrases as "every week", "every time", "every breath you take", etc.

I would also argue that the phrase every day by itself is somewhat unsubstantial as a full sentence. I will defer, however, to your superior knowledge of the language of mass communication. I do believe, though, that it would behoove the Dasani division of The Coca-Cola Company to make an attempt to appeal to the grammatically sophistocated beverage consumer by modifying your advertising to correct the aforementioned error.

Respectfully submitted,
David Armstrong.



Thank you for contacting the The Coca-Cola Company, Mr. Armstrong. We appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns regarding our new slogan for DASANI, "Treat yourself well. Everyday."

Advertising slogans aren't always constrained by the traditional conventions of formal writing; compromises are quite often made to develop a more effective message. When forming the new slogan for DASANI, we considered both Everyday and Every day. After subjecting both versions to testing, we decided to use the more impactful adjective form, rather than the adjective-noun phrase. Since Everyday is not an actual sentence and isn't part of a complete paragraph, we do not feel it is necessarily confined by the same literary bounds as formal writing.

We value feedback from our consumers. Your comments has been shared with the appropriate management here at the corporate headquarters and will certianly be taken into consideration as we move forward with our future plans.

Joy
Industry and Consumer Affairs
The Coca-Cola Company


Dear Joy,

Thank you for your prompt and informative response to my email message. I do appreciate your taking the time. I must confess, however, that I am not completely satisfied with your answer. I fail to see how the adjective everyday, which has a completely different meaning than the phrase every day is more "impactful." (By the way, impactful is not listed as a word in any dictionary that I am aware of. Was this neologism spawned by person who hatched your Dasani slogan?) You say you chose the "adjective form" as if you were choosing between two versions of the same thing - but the similarity is purely superificial.

Your slogan may as well read "Treat yourself well. Ordinary" or "Treat yourself well. Commonplace," because that is what it means, given the error. You say that you have subjected both versions to testing. I assume that means that you conducted focus groups, and that none of the invitees caught the error, or that the few who did were drowned out by the majority that found the totally irrelevant adjective everyday to be "impactful." Are we then to assume that poor grammar and abuse of the English language make for more effective marketing? If this is the case I have a couple of suggestions for future slogans you may wish to consider:

"Coke. Its the real thing."
"All ways Coca-Cola"
"Coke add's life."

Would you use such slogans? I wouldn't think so, and you defend your error on the grounds that "Advertising slogans aren't always constrained byt tradtional conventions of formal writing." Surely, there must be limits to this unpoetic license.

In closing, I am surprised that a firm such as The Coca-Cola Company does not want to extend its high-quality standards to include the language used to promote its products, and I anxiously await a decision from your superiors regarding my request.

Best regards,
David Armstrong


Thank you for your reply. We truly appreciate your feedback regarding our slogan for DASANI, and I will share it with the appropriate management. As for the word impactful this is simply the noun form of impact with the suffix -ful added to the end in order for it to be used as an adjective. Words with suffixes are typically not in the dictionary.

Rich Robinson
Advertising Specialist
The Coca-Cola Company


Dear Rich,

It as been a few days since our email exchange and I have yet to hear form your executives. You had promised to share my concerns with them, and I would have thought that the issues I raise were sufficiently urgent to warrant immediate attention on the part of your superiors. I would appreciate an update on the status of my request.

Your fine and reputable firm needs to act swiftly to repair this grievous attack on the English language, one which I have now seen plastered on the sides of buses, on billboards, and in numerous other public locations. Have you considered the effect of your nonsensical "Treat yourself well. Everyday" campaign on the nation's schoolchildren? How do you expect them to fare in their English courses when subjected to a barage of advertising with no respect for the rules of the language? And what of those who are learning English as a second language? Should they be told that standards apply only in the classroom and not to Corporate America?

In these days of increased scrutiny of corporate behavior, you would do well to ensure that your "messaging" has a positive impact on society. I submit that you are conducting a campaign that is offensive to those of us who care about the language and harmful to those who are attempting to master it.

In closing, although I appreciate the creativity of your comment "Words with suffixes are typically not in the dictionary," I believe that if you research this further you will find that many words with suffixes are in fact in the dictionary, and that words that are words are not.

Warmest regards,
David Armstrong

Dear Friend,

Please do something after reading this email. Do what you can, but please do something.

A few days ago Howard Dean did something we haven't seen in our country in decades.

He called on all of the American people to participate again in our common future.

Governor Dean spoke out loud and clear against the crisis of community our current President has created at home, and against the Bush administration's abandonment of the heritage of America as the Idealistic Moral force in the world.

And then he said this:

"The history of our nation is clear: At every turn where there has been an imbalance of power, the truth questioned, or our beliefs and values distorted, the change required to restore our nation has always come from the bottom up from our people.
You have the power to reclaim our nation's destiny."

Each of us acting alone -- which is what the Bush people think America should be -- leaves us powerless to change Washington or the direction of our nation.

But if Americans -- all of us -- do something, and do it together, we really do have the power to change forever the way politics is conducted in our country and make a profound impact on our nation's future.

Over 121,231 of us have signed up to support Howard Dean's campaign totake back our country.

Think about that, 121,231 Americans.

If each of us contributed $100 today it would mean over $12 million dollars in contributions to Howard Dean's campaign in one day and we would not only shock the press and pundits we would take a giant leap towards taking back our country.

And so I am asking you to join me today in giving what you can -- $100 if you can, but do something, contribute whatever you can afford to contribute but please contribute today.

http://www.deanforamerica.com/moveonfordean

Please do not delete this email before taking a common action with the other 121,230 of us who are committed with you to returning government to the people and helping Howard Dean become our next President.

Martin Luther King Jr. said "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

What is happening to our country today matters-- Howard Dean is not silent, on the contrary. In one day we can provide the resources needed to make sure his voice and ours is heard loud and clear -- "we want our country back."


Please forward this email on to someone else, to help me spread this message.

I am a supporter of Howard Dean and all that I ask is that today we all do something together to move his candidacy and the cause of America forward.

Thank you,

Martin Sheen

http://www.deanforamerica.com/moveonfordean

Dubya Quotes
"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."
..George W. Bush
"Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child."
..Governor George W. Bush

"Welcome to Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts."
..Governor George W. Bush

"Mars is essentially in the same orbit...Mars is somewhat the same distance from the Sun, which is very important. We have seen pictures where there are canals, we believe, and water. If there is water, that means there is oxygen. If oxygen, that means we can breathe."
..Governor George W. Bush, 8/11/94

"The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation's history. I mean in this century's history. But we all lived in this century. I didn't live in this century."
..Governor George W. Bush, 9/15/95

"I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy -- but that could change."
..Governor George W. Bush, 5/22/98

"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one word is 'to be prepared'."
..Governor George W. Bush, 12/6/93

"Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things."
..Governor George W. Bush, 11/30/96

"I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future."
..Governor George W. Bush

"The future will be better tomorrow."
..Governor George W. Bush

"We're going to have the best educated American people in the world."
..Governor George W. Bush 9/21/97

"People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history."
..Governor George W. Bush

"I stand by all the misstatements that I've made."
..Governor George W. Bush to Sam Donaldson, 8/17/93

"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe."
..Governor George W. Bush

"Public speaking is very easy."
..Governor George W. Bush to reporters

"I am not part of the problem. I am a Republican."
..Governor George W. Bush

"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls."
..Governor George W. Bush

"When I have been asked who caused the riots and the killing in LA, my answer has been direct & simple: Who is to blame for the riots? The rioters are to blame. Who is to blame for the killings? The killers are to blame."
..George W. Bush

"Illegitimacy is something we should talk about in terms of not having it."
..Governor George W. Bush 5/20/96

"We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur."
..Governor George W. Bush 9/22/97

"For NASA, space is still a high priority."
..Governor George W. Bush, 9/5/93

"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children."
..Governor George W. Bush , 9/18/95

"The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that George Bush may or may not make."
..Governor George W. Bush

"We're all capable of mistakes, but I do not care to enlighten you on the mistakes we may or may not have made."
..Governor George W. Bush

"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."
..Governor George W. Bush

"[It's] time for the human race to enter the solar system."
..Governor George W. Bush

Top Ten Things you don't want to hear on Trading Space's

10. Cover everything in tin foil.
9. I'm thinking sad clown motif.
8. Let's replace the sofa with bales of hay.
7. Two words: Giant Sandbox!
6. Do we really need that support beam ?
5. Bring on the bulldozer!
4. The theme of the room will be... Medieval Dungeon.
3. Fuchsia! Fuchsia! Fuchsia!
2. All we need is some chicken wire and some duct tape.

And the number one thing you don't want to hear on Trading Spaces is...

Break everything in the room and create a floor mosaic!

A CITIZEN'S DECLARATION

As a US-led invasion of Iraq begins, we, the undersigned citizens of many countries, reaffirm our commitment to addressing international conflicts through the rule of law and the United Nations.

By joining together across countries and continents, we have emerged as a new force for peace. As we grieve for the victims of this war, we pledge to redouble our efforts to put an end to the Bush Administration's doctrine of pre-emptive attack and the reckless use of military power.

-- justin austin
United States

to add your name to this petition click here >> A CITIZENS' DECLARATION

stand and show your colors
let's all go to war.....
the Lord will surely help us
i've heard it all before.

i've heard it all
a hundred times
i've heard it all before...
they've always got a holy cause
that's worth a dying for.

someone writes a slogan
raises up a flag
someone finds an enemy blame.

to leave the cities and the farms
and lead the country's call to arms...

and always the ending is the same
the same
the same.

the fields have turned to ashes.
the wheat has turned to straw.
and someone asks the question
"what was the dying for?"

the living can't remember
the dead no longer care
but next time this won't happen
upon my soul i swear.

i've heard it all
a hundred times
don't tell me it's different now
i've heard it all
i've heard it all
i've heard it all BEFORE.

- John Cullum in Shenandoah

29 have been accused of spousal abuse

7 have been arrested for fraud

19 have been accused of writing bad checks

117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses

3 have done time for assault

71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit

14 have been arrested on drug-related charges

8 have been arrested for shoplifting

21 are currently defendants in lawsuits

84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year

Can you guess which organization this is?

It's the 535 members of the United States Congress.

The same group of Idiots that crank out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line

This is to be sung to the tune of: "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands."
"George's Song" (Author unknown)

If we cannot find Osama, bomb Iraq.
If the markets hurt your Mama, bomb Iraq.
If the terrorists are Saudi
And the bank takes back your Audi
And the TV shows are bawdy,
Bomb Iraq.

If the corporate scandals growin', bomb Iraq.
And your ties to them are showin', bomb Iraq.
If the smoking gun ain't smokin'
We don't care, and we're not jokin'.
That Saddam will soon be croakin',
Bomb Iraq.

Even if we have no allies, bomb Iraq.
From the sand dunes to the valleys, bomb Iraq.
So to hell with the inspections;
Let's look tough for the elections,
Close your mind and take directions,
Bomb Iraq.

While the globe is slowly warming, bomb Iraq.
Yay! the clouds of war are storming, bomb Iraq.
If the ozone hole is growing,
Some things we prefer not knowing.
(Though our ignorance is showing),
Bomb Iraq.

So here's one for dear old daddy, bomb Iraq,
From his favorite little laddy, bomb Iraq.
Saying no would look like treason.
It's the Hussein hunting season.
Even if we have no reason,
Bomb Iraq.