Bunker Mulligan "Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." ~Mark Twain

Barbara Boxer’s crocodile tears, and Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones’ formal objection to the vote certification are based in a deep concern about voting irregularities.

They said their goal was to force lawmakers to heed problems that had been particularly evident in Democratic-leaning minority and urban neighborhoods and to consider the need for more voting reforms including standard election rules in all states.

Terry Shamsie is apparently a friend of Al Sharpton, whom he visited in New York almost immediately after being elected Nueces County Judge. Like Boxer, Sharpton views the last two national elections as problematic, with many inconsistencies. I hear many prominent Democrats voicing concerns, and have to wonder whether Shamsie shares them.

According to the Census Bureau, in 2000 Nueces County had a population of 313,645, with an estimated increase to 315,206 by 2003, 28.4% are under the age of 18. That means 225,687 people of voting age, and 90% of eligible voters are registered. Only 25% voted last election, one of the highest totals ever.

Lots of numbers, but what is it all about?

It is time for our Democratic leadership to quit talking and posturing, and actually do something. All the complaints about election fraud and disenfrachisement come from counties and districts controlled by Democrats–just as in Florida four years ago. Judge Shamsie can take that lead right here in Nueces County and assume a national leadership stance for other Democrats to follow.

Let’s purge the votor rolls in the county and have new registration. With an average of 85 registrations per day we can get everyone who voted last November back on the list by 2006. We can cleanse the rolls of thos who no longer live here, and ensure only legitimate citizens have the franchise.

Can anyone complain about that result?

Has moved here, and it looks like a nice new home.

Lago points out a new television episode depicting an American Muslim family which is involved in terrorism. CAIR is predictably upset that the show paints all Muslims as terrorists with a “broad brush.”

Sorry. I hear that far too often. The phrase is employed any time someone wants to avoid rational discussion of a topic. The show is about one family. It is about the threat of terrorism.

“At first I was shocked,” organization spokeswoman Rabiah Ahmed told the Daily News. “In this particular case, they show an American-Muslim family and they portray them as terrorists.”

I searched the CAIR web site looking for something on the topic, but nothing there yet. Plenty of other things, though. Abu Ghraib, Gitmo, passports being checked at the border, etc. Americans are infidels according to their broad brush.

This is an honor. I’d not heard anything of this before, but found it through looking at my stats.

Thanks to whoever nominated me. I appreciate the vote of confidence.

Hud mentions the Chinese years, his birth year being the Year of the Rooster. Mine is the Year of the Snake:

People born in the year of the Snake are romantic and deep-thinking, wise and charming, although they tend to dismiss others too quickly and are a bit stingy with money. Ideal jobs include teaching or psychiatry.

Not just another pretty face!

I received the following in an email. I did a quick search on the WaPo site, and couldn’t locate it, so I know nothing of its provenance. Nonetheless:

The Washington Post’s Style Invitational once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. Here are this year’s winners:

1. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
2. Foreploy (v): Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.
3. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.
4. Giraffiti (n): Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
5. Sarchasm (n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn’t get it.
6. Inoculatte (v): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
7. Hipatitis (n): Terminal coolness.
8. Osteopornosis (n): A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
9. Karmageddon (n): It’s like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it’s like, a serious bummer.
10. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
11. Glibido (v): All talk and no action.
12. Dopeler effect (n): The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
13. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you’ve accidentally walked through a spider web.
14. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
15. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you’re eating.