Election Countdown W is as disappointing as the administration it depicts.

That hair doesn’t just happen, it takes our tax dollars to make it look that good.


I got a chance to see W last week and I have to say, it was not as good as it could have been. Now the timing of its release is clearly deliberate, depicting a failing administration right before America chooses a new one. I’ve heard some pundits crying foul, but give me a break. All this does is give them more opportunities to yell “liberal Hollywood”, so everyone wins.

In my opinion, it was this rush to get the film done before the election that actually hurt it. When I watch other historical movies, there is usually a couple decades between the event and the film. This time allows our memories to be more forgiving. When you watch a film about events from current headlines, when the real people are fresh in your mind, it taints the viewing. It felt like I was watching a Saturday Night Live sketch when Colin Powell and Dick Chenney were portrayed by well-known actors. The portrayal of Bush felt as over the top at times as a performance from Will Ferrel.

The story was interesting but didn’t sustain the entire length of the film. I get that they’re saying George is lazy and has daddy issues, but that was where it stopped. Its big reveal was that George Bush went out of his way to try and create a need to attack Iraq. WOW, really, that is shocking. I’ve been hearing that in the news for months. There was nothing fresh about the performances or the story.

Toward the end, I was so bored that I actually fell asleep. Now, I haven’t fallen asleep in the theater since I use to see 11:30 screenings in college. I was disappointed and wish that Oliver Stone had taken the time to let some time pass between the film and the administration. It would also allow him to rework the script and work with the actors. I say wait till its out on DVD and see what you think then. At that point we will have a new president and be able to laugh a little more at this little film.

Election Countdown: Sarah McCain Palin Ciptak

READ THIS STORY FROM THE AP WIRE

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. -- A new father has secretly named his baby girl Sarah McCain Palin after the Republican ticket for president and vice president.

Mark Ciptak of Elizabethton put that name on the documents for the girl's birth certificate, ignoring the name Ava Grace, which he and his wife had picked earlier.

"I don't think she believes me yet," he told the Kingsport Times-News for a story to be published Tuesday. "It's going to take some more convincing."

Ciptak, a blood bank employee for the American Red Cross, said he named his third child after John McCain and Sarah Palin to "to get the word out" about the campaign.

"I took one for the cause," he said. "I can't give a lot of financial support for the (McCain/Palin) campaign. I do have a sign up in my yard, but I can do very little."

My Thoughts

Just when you think celebrities have the market cornered on stupid baby names, someone does this. This is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. This guy went against his wife’s wishes to “get the word out.” What does this guy think, people didn’t know the names of the candidates? I can only imagine how ticked off Mrs. Ciptak is! She just goes through the trauma of birthing a child and then learns her husband does this. It is things like this that make me sad about America.

I am not smart, but I am not this stupid. I hope he likes the couch, because I have a feeling he’ll be sleeping on it for quite some time.

Pretty arrogant, considering you’re IOWA!

If I lived in Iowa, I think I'd understand Caucus Fever.



I think it is kind of ironic that my first Blog is going to be about something political. I am not a political fellow and in no way plan on having an overtly political blog. I guess I was so moved by the state of Iowa, that I felt the need to blog. Over the past year I have purposely chosen to avoid media coverage of the 2008 election. It was clear that unless Britney Spears engaged in some shenanigans, the news stations felt the need to blabber on about primaries. Don’t get me wrong, I consider myself a fairly active member of this democracy, but no need to listen to blabber for 2 years before I vote is just too much.

I was watching the news a few days ago before a little event called the Iowa Caucus. There was a focus group where they got the opinions of a “random selection” of voters. They were asking questions to get a pulse of these voters which may indicate what the entire state feels. Now I already hate focus groups. Every time I have been a part of these gatherings, I find myself frustrated. People think they are Roger Ebert when they blabber about what they felt about the movie in question. A real arrogance permeates every statement and it gets overwhelming. I always leave a focus group grumbling about the idiots that are convinced that their opinion is brilliant when they are really just someone who responded “Yes, I want free movie tickets.”

Okay, so I am already not happy to be watching election coverage and a focus group for that matter. Then someone was asked why they changed their vote from one candidate to another. They responded confidently that their initial choice didn’t spend enough time in Iowa making his presence known and therefore they weren’t voting for him. They felt he didn’t know the needs of the citizens of Iowa because of his little time spent campaigning there and therefore was not receiving their vote.

My issues are two-fold. First off, vote for the candidate that you agree with on the issues and call it a day. A president should be concerned about the war in Iraq, the economy, foreign relations, and things of this sort. The president should not care about whether he shook enough hands and kissed enough babies at the Moose Lodge in Okaloosa. This is the most powerful leader in the free world that you are choosing. You elect city council members who understand the needs of your city. You elect governors who care for the needs of Iowa. You elect a president to lead our nation.

My second issue with this person changing their choice in president because they didn’t spend enough time in the state is that we are talking about IOWA! Your most popular attraction is the Herbert Hoover presidential library. You really don’t matter! Now this is coming from a Los Angeles Native but I got news for you, I don’t care if a candidate spends time in my city. You are IOWA, just because you go first doesn’t elevate your importance in the grand scheme of things.

My hope is that all of us who can vote will do just that. My hope is that Americans would not pick a candidate because of their race, gender, or party. My hope is that we would look into the issues and make an informed decision. God bless America, even if we are overpopulated with ignorance.