Random Thoughts, Notes, & Incidents

When I check my statistics page to see how many people have come to this page one of the things it tells me is the searches folks have used to find me on Google and elsewhere. I'm always amazed at some of the searches that lead here.

For instance, for over a month I've regularly had hits from people looking for information on "bush and carey", either about the debates or the election in general. Lots of people apparently think W is running against actor/comedian Jim Carey, not Senator John Kerry. I'm guessing that if they vote at all, it will be for Bush. Either that or porn star Mary Carey, who was a candidate for Governor in our recall election last year, has jumped into the Presidential contest and I just hadn't heard about it.

One I've had a couple of hits on in the last week are searches like "Kerry raise drinking age." I haven't heard it, but I'm guessing that there's a rumor on the college campuses to this effect. If that's what brought you here, forget about it. There's absolutely no truth to this or reason to believe it even might be true. What you've experienced is the Republican tactic of "if you can't win 'em over, frighten 'em out of voting."

Interestingly, I haven't had any hits with people searching for the truth about the draft rumors. Both major candidates have made statements against re-instating the military draft. Kerry has made a strong point about how Bush has created a "back door draft" through the multiple tours of duty being served by National Guardsmen, and policies that have extended certain soldiers duty indefinitely.

My personal feeling is that it is true that neither candidate wants to bring back the draft. But... if things continue as they've been in Iraq, and if we expand the war into Iran (or South Korea or ...), we will have no choice but to begin conscription. I believe that is likely under Bush, but can be prevented under Kerry. But that's just my opinion.

One more point. This week's theme for the Bush campaign is to repeat the word "liberal" as many times as possible in relation to Senator Kerry. Well, as the President would say, "Bring it on." Remember: the more liberal candidate has won the popular vote in the last three Presidential elections (even if not the electoral vote).