“Uncounted": NOT the Celluloid Equivalent of Yelling Fire In A Crowded Theater

Yesterday, 1/30/08, my sister invited me to attend with her the Minnesota premiere of “Uncounted, the New Math of American Elections" by David Earnhardt at the Riverview Theater in South Minneapolis (see http://www.uncountedthemovie.com/the-issues.html).

Although I was aware of many of the issues raised by the documentary, I was unaware of the lack of action in response to these issues. This is surprising and very troubling in light of all the problems experienced in the last four election cycles.

I am not a conspiracy theorist nor a fringe political junkie, but rather a mainstream Minnesotan and attorney and greatly troubled by the issues and uncontroverted facts highlighted in the film. The discrepancy between exit polls and eventual vote tallies alone demands greater scrutiny by the mainstream press.

Please use your voice and whatever privileged bully pulpit you may have to seek answers and demand change on behalf of all citizens. The integrity of our voting system is NOT a partisan issue. If democracy and the legitimacy of our political system means anything to you, YOU MUST SEE THIS FILM! Thank you for your consideration.

I'll Take You There...or Maybe Not

Last night, my sister and I ventured out into a brittle 14 degree (f) below zero, 36 degree below zero windchill, St. Paul night to see our presidential candidate, John Edwards for what has turned out to be one of his last campaign appearances. With the strains of Springsteen's "The Rising" still ringing in my ears, I woke up this morning to NPR on my clock radio informing me that Edwards is bowing out of the race.

I must say that I can't help but feel a little whipsawed here. My progressive candidate, who pumped up an overflow crowd at the Carpenters Union Hall on St. Paul's Eastside last nite, speaking truth to corporate power and vowing to stay in the race to the bitter end, is calling it quits? Say it ain't so.

In reality, Edwards faced an insurmountable challenge. The only candidate who refused to take money from pacs and special interests, could not possibly wage the war of financial attrition with the public warchest when his opponents refused to abide by the public financing limitations. With such an uneven playing field, the candidate who had the superior message, issues and detailed plans on how to address this nation's problems got muscled out by the money of influence and ignored by a press more concerned with the personalities and egos of his bickering opponents.

Perhaps one of this campaign cycles biggest disappointments will be the loss of the Edwards' campaign taste in music. While his Democratic opponents used everything from Canadian Celene Dion to the Uk's Police and Ireland's U2, the Edwards people got revved up on good ol' American music, specifically soul music. Although Edwards was his customary, lawyerly 45 minutes late last night, the crowd, which was bundled up for the frigid artic cold and now getting uncomfortably hot in the packed union hall, was swaying to the beat of Sam and Dave ("Soul Man" and "Hold On I'm Coming"), the Isleys ("Shout"), Ike and Tina Turner ("Ain't No Mountain High Enough") and Mavis Staples' "I'll Take You There". Well, I guess not.

A First for Everything

Well it has only been one year ago this month that I created this blog site and my profile before getting around to actually composing my first blog post.

What a long strange year it has been! Personally I have been in a holding pattern, bored with my profession and career, sick of the lies and distortions coming from the political right out of D.C. and the campaign trail, inspired by the campaigns of progressive candidates like John Edwards and Al Franken and saddened by the loss of my good friend, Bubba. Although 08 got off to a rough start with Bobby's death, I am hopeful of the changes to come as the year unfolds.

I finally got a new cycle, fuel injection with ghost flames on the pearlized white tank. I finally hope to get the chance to take a long road trip and reaquaint myself with this country's beautiful landscapes and people. I know both have changed dramatically since my last long road trip in May-June of 1986.

In a couple of Fridays I will hear whether I will be hired by a large corporation and trade in over twenty years of self-employment and identity for a reliable paycheck, medical benefits and the beginnings of a retirement savings plan. It's more than a fair trade. Now let's see what fate brings...