I too have been seriously trying to look at it from both angles, but I still feel "anyone but Bush" has its points, globally speaking. He's not qualified for Chief Executive. He's not quite a great communicator. I can't get very happy about Kerry, really, but. I believe Bush may have made a few right decisions, but I fear it's like a stopped clock telling the time.

The only thing that really stuck with me from Moore's 911 movie was not one Senator. The rest seemed overwrought about daily news, or somewhat questionable as a proposition. Please, please, don't re-elect a single Senator. What on earth are they good for?

Homer Simpson was voted greatest man in America by a landslide. You can trash our president, you can trash our also-rans, but be careful what you say about our heros. Or we'll bomb you or something because of your known ties with Al Kinda. I'm talking about a man. A man--who gave up a ride in the Duff Beer blimp in a really stupid attempt to try to make his daughter Lisa feel better about herself. A man--who... now I'm getting choked up--ah, go fuck yourselves!

   There was a great scene in the Sopranos when Tony's analyst spoke of what was needed if they were ever going to get at the truth, and Tony said "Da trute--I'm a fat crook from Jersey" which summed it all up pretty neatly. The truth isn't so big an elusive mysterious conspiracy-theory freaking goddamn deal, after all. Yes, Virginia, some people admire and fantasize about the winners on top, fair and square, or, um, not, and they hate and look down on those a rung below them. Yes. That's what I think, I think that's the way it is, as a matter of fact.

   I don't say there aren't other ways of looking at Bush, or other ways of liking him, or mean to insult anyone who supports and likes him. But I don't know them, or what they think, and I'm just trying to understand the people I know. I like and respect these people in ways, and learn from them, and if Bush loses, I will go on that way. But if Bush wins I think I will have to let some tenuous friendships go. I just can't quite get around it, hard as I try. I'm not that well informed. I can't match wits with the best of 'em on political forums. I just keep hearing David Bowie singing This Is Not America, with the Pat Metheny Group, Sha na na na na na. And a little piece of me really will die.