I started the day interviewing a kid at a local Boys & Girls Club, a kid who at age 12 is trying his damnest to stay out of trouble while his mom works nights at your token box store monstrocity - and that's one of two jobs.

I ended the day interviewing an older wealthy retired couple behind the boundaries of their gated compound, on the merits of a proposed golf cart path that would link up country clubs across the city.

Once again, let this be proof ladies and gentlemen that there is a God - he above whom there is no greater and twisted sense of humor. Amen.


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Did anyone catch Bush's "Wild-Speculation!" soundbyte about Iran yesterday? As Chandler would say, could that BE any more rehearsed? I like how he threw "Wild Speculation!" out there twice, with a pause and that trademark shit-eating grin, in case anyone missed his new catch-phrase the first time. Seriously, blatant coaching of Rovian proportions. 'Not a huge event, but one of those "I can't believe this guy's seriously President of the United States" moments that still hits you after six years.


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Venezuela's been in the news - and on my mind. Last week I heard this piece on ATC, looking at the Chavez government's training of civilian militias, gearing up for a possible U.S. invasion. I was shaving and the story made me grin - 'probably missed a few whiskers around the mouth.

Most recently, Chavez threatened to expel the U.S. ambassador, after a diplomatic mission to one of Caracas' poorer** neighborhoods gone horribly, horribly wrong. Brownfield and his entourage visited a kids' baseball diamond to hand out equipment. They were run off in somewhat indignant fashion by protesters and hecklers, who then followed the motorcade - pelting it with eggs and other assorted goodies. The local authorities didn't do much to stop the bleeding.

Anyhow, I liked this graph my previous editor at the AP threw in his story:

"(The ambassador) came under harsh criticism for handing out gloves, baseballs and other gear to young baseball players shortly before Friday's confrontation. Chavez, who has supplied millions of gallons of discounted heating oil to poor Americans, called the ambassador's visit 'demagoguery' and an attempt by Washington to extend its influence."

You know? Ultimately this is what politics should be all about: Win the people over to your side with kindness and generosity, even if your motives aren't exactly 100 percent magnanimous. And clearly Chavez wins with millions of gallons of discounted heating oil over a few stupid baseball gloves. ("At the end of one, Venezuela 1, the United States nothing.")

But still, I like how AP Editor calls Chavez out for calling the kettle black.

The other morning when I heard that ATC "prepare for an invasion - the Americans are coming!" story, it occurred to me that while Bush and Chavez are total polar opposites - and I admire Chavez' efforts with the poor over anything our fearless leader has accomplished in six friggin years - they're still both capitalizing on a culture of fear to consolidate their political power.

Of course, we're playing right into Chavez' hands with that whole "rogue state preemptive war doctrine" thing, but still - the Venezuelan President knows exactly what he's doing, taking full advantage of the anti-American sentiment and even whipping his people further into a frenzy. And believe me, they really, really don't like us down there ... arguably with good reason. You should see some of the murals.

But by the time I left Caracas, there literally wasn't a single member of any opposition party left in Congress. Now he's got civilians gearing up for a U.S. invasion... Chavez hasn't invaded any other countries without reason, but I think it's interesting when you see socialist presidents and corporate puppet neocons using the same political playbook.

Wow, we've reached today's cruising altitude of senseless babble. Praise be to Allah I'm tired. Work's been an uphill climb lately...mayhaps I should get some rest. I bid thee all a splendid morning.



(**This means really fucking poor.)