xtcian

stars at night - sure are bright

10/10/04

Greetings from Cut & Shoot, Texas!

Yes, it's a real place. Click here for our adventures last year, along with some cute pictures. We're in the neighborhood celebrating the 88th birthday of Tessa's grandmother Nonnie, who, upon asking how old she was, promptly said "one thousand."

I'm going to jot down a few notes about the 2nd presidential debate, even though it's probably old news to you fasty-fingers on the Internets. We were in the middle of southern New Mexico while it was on, so we cranked the satellite radio and listened to Kerry's rational discourse and Bush's hysterical blatherings under a crystal clear Milky Way.

In 1960, the televised debate between JFK and Nixon was called a landslide for Kennedy - but those who heard the debate on the radio gave the edge to Nixon. Not so much luck this time, as Bush clearly sounded unraveled and drunk on Rumplemintz, even on the fucking radio. There were debate moments that bred uncomfortable silence in the car, as both Tessa and I were wondering if Bush had actually eaten an audience member.

My feeling? If the debate had ended after 60 minutes, it would have been another Kerry shellacking. However, the last half-hour dragged, and Bush scored points just by surviving. I though Kerry didn't handle the abortion shit very well, but came through on stem cells. By the end, it was hard for me to tell who had "won," so I kept calling Sean on the cell phone for the dailykos mainstream TV wrap-up. As I suspected, it was considered a tie because Bush didn't actually blow a fuel gasket and completed a few sentences.

I think that's wishful thinking on behalf of some increasingly upset Republicans. The questions were almost point-blank directed at Bush's shortcomings, and I don't see how this debate will stop his slide in any districts that matter. I'd actually feel moderately confident about this election if I weren't sure the GOP has some nasty goddamn trick they're going to pull. Something worse than the Swift Boats, something worse than the Sinclair clusterfuck - and my guess it'll be a November Surprise, with little chance for reaction.

Speaking of which, this laptop I'm on is the only piece of equipment transmitting anything Democratic or progressive for about a hundred mile radius. I'm on a landline connection at Tessa's uncle's place, and when Tessa and I talk politics, we have to shut the door and whisper. If they only knew the kind of liberal sites I was visiting under their very own roof!

Her aunt and uncle are absolutely wonderful people, and every time I get rabidly furious at the way Republicans have hoodwinked good, ordinary folk, I always think of them. The GOP Machine has taken advantage of their sweet nature, and there is no real going back; they have swallowed the pill whole. I love Tessa's extended family as I love mine, but I'm really glad both live in the "safe states" of Utah and Texas.

Speaking of which, here are a few more pictures from our digs:

P.S. It's late, and I don't know if the news is true, but Tessa and I are stunned by the reports about Christopher Reeve. Click here for our accidental dinner with such an amazing guy.