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kylegarret

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[Jun. 21st, 2008|11:42 am]
Just remember: Yer not much if yer not Dutch!

Go Holland!!
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[Jun. 16th, 2008|06:31 pm]
So any news from the end of the world? Anyone?

Because, you know, the gays are marrying out here, and I was told that meant the world would end.
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[Jun. 13th, 2008|10:54 am]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7Z4dxjRv4g

For those who might have friends -- specifically women -- who are (as insane as this sounds) thinking of voting for McCain come the fall because Hillary lost the nomination.
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[Jun. 9th, 2008|03:03 pm]
Has anyone ever actually gotten a job using one of the online job search sites?

I'm asking because I've suddenly realized that most of them deny you any real ability to, say, follow-up on the resume you sent in. Which seems to be counterproductive.

I need to find a job soon. Like, in the next two weeks (need, in this case, is more a desire and less a financial concern, although it's a desire for it to not BECOME a financial concern).

Also, has anyone ever used Urbis.com?

That's pretty unrelated, that last question.
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[Jun. 8th, 2008|10:52 am]
It has been pointed out to me -- and rightfully so -- that I implied that ALL Hillary supporters are stupid. Which I didn't mean to do and I apologize for that, because I don't think they all are. Hell, had she won the nomination I would have been one of them.

I DO think that her fanatical supporters are, those who believe the primaries were "stolen" from her. And I have to wonder if they're so stupid as to vote McCain in the fall, which is just insanely stupid.

Considering how much is at stake in November, I can't understand how anyone who believes the things that Hillary stands for would even consider voting Republican. It's irresponsible.
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[Jun. 7th, 2008|07:33 pm]
Because I know you love the poltical talk, another entry from http://kylegarret.wordpress.com/

A week ago I was thinking about posting a blog stating that Obama should pick Hillary as his VP.

Even though adding Hillary (or someone like her) would play contrary to Obama’s anti-establishment theme, I felt that bringing her supporters on board was more important. It also felt like yet another case of Democrats wussing out; you wouldn’t see Republicans struggling with such an issue. They would look at the numbers, look at the electoral map, and then make the choice that would win them the White House.

It was time for the Democrats to pull the trigger for once.

But since then I’ve begun to have second thoughts.

Initially, it was a conversation with a friend, an Obama supporter who could be labeled an “Obamacan.” She was glad Obama won the nomination, of course, and planned on voting for him…but not if Hilary was on the ticket. She said she’d vote McCain if Hillary was on the ticket.

And what about that? What about all the “Obamacan” and independents that Obama would lose with Hillary on the ticket? She ran such a divisive campaign and has such a tumultuous past with certain demographics, Obama would be sure to lose votes. But what he lose more than he would gain? Probably not.

The kicker for me came a few days later, after reading and watching a few interviews with the more extreme Hillary supporters out there, those that seem so irrational as to switch parties if their candidate isn’t the Democratic nominee (and it’s completely irrational, given the similarities between Obama and Hillary’s platforms and the polar opposite world that McCain lives in). The rational Hillary supporters will come on board no matter what (particularly with her endorsement). So evidently it’s the irrational ones that Obama would be trying to win over by naming her to VP.

But I truly don’t think that would be enough for them. They don’t want second place. Naming her VP wouldn’t convince them to vote for a ticket with her on the under card. And if that’s the case, then what’s the value in bringing her on board?

Let’s ignore her supporters then. There’s a theory that she plays to certain demographics better than Obama does. But she’s not alone in this. There are plenty of qualified candidates out there that would appeal to working class whites. While I have my own concerns over Jim Webb, he would not only just appeal to that group, but also shore up any military questions about the Obama ticket. And that’s just the first guy I thought of. Hillary, as far as demographic appeal is concerned, is not special.

Not only that, but any other alternative choice isn’t going to bring the baggage that Hillary does. If Hillary were to be named the VP, how many times do you think we’ll see the clip of her claiming that John McCain passed the Commander In Chief threshold, but Obama hasn’t? It will be on 24/7 on Fox. The way she ran her campaign could be a liability to the ticket.

So there it is. I don’t think a VP spot will convince her hold outs to come over. Her demographic appeal isn’t unique. And she could be more of a burden than anything else.

Honestly, I think she’d be more valuable stumping for Obama, but not on the ticket. She needs to get out there and start talking about the issues, particularly those regarding women. She needs to make them realize that McCain is going to continue a Republican regime that treats women as second class citizens by cutting social programs specifically meant for women. Oh, and let’s not forget the fact that at least one Supreme Court judge will retire in the next four years…

I don’t know where Hillary goes from here, but I’m not sure it can be anywhere near the Oval Office.
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[Jun. 7th, 2008|10:57 am]
Now, I don't know that anyone who reads this is a Hillary supporter, or if you are you've been very quiet about it. But you might know someone who is. So if you do, I'd love for you to ask a question for me.

As of late, I keep hearing Hillary supporters say the nomination was "stolen" from her. I'd really like to know what they mean by that.

Because, for the life of me, I can't figure it out.

The easy answer would be MI and FL, but Hillary agreed before the primaries that those votes wouldn't count -- she signed off on it. So that doesn't add up.

At least Clinton seemed to give a good concession speech today and did the right thing: she mentioned the Supreme Court. Hillary supporters can whine all they want, but at the end of the day only one of the two remaining candidates is going to put a liberal judge on the court, helping to maintain Roe vs. Wade. McCain would help overturn that.

Even Hillary supporters can't be that stupid...can they?
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[Jun. 4th, 2008|04:07 pm]
Of the best best things about last night was watching the interaction between Barack and Michelle Obama as they took the stage. As they got done walking around and waving, they parted ways for him to give his big speech. If paid close enough attention, you could read her lips, and she said "I'm proud of you."

Then they did a fist pound, or pounded it out, if you will.

I thought it was a really touching moment, a glimpse at two people who weren't just husband and wife, but seemingly also best friends.

What's also awesome about that moment is this:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/trailhead/archive/2008/06/04/pounds.aspx

It's a round up of how various news article are trying to describe the fist pound to the best of their abilities.

Perhaps the best description, however, comes from the nutjobs at Human Events, the far right lunatics who would, I'm sure, be knee deep in JFK conspiracies if only JFK had been a Republican. This is how they described the moment:

“Michelle is not as ‘refined’ as Obama at hiding her TRUE feelings about America—etc. Her ‘Hezbollah’ style fist-jabbing ...”—Human Events

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

We can only hope that whoever wrote that is sterile.
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[Jun. 3rd, 2008|02:52 pm]
For those who don't follow these things the way I do, Obama is going to reach the "magic number" tonight.

After about 10, 10:30 tonight (east coast), the Democratic candidate for president of the United States will be Barack Obama.

I might cry.
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[May. 23rd, 2008|02:31 pm]

Ladies and gentlemen, another great moment in the Clinton campaign, this from the AP:

Responding to a question from the Sioux Falls Argus Leader editorial board about calls for her to drop out of the race, she said: "My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. You know I just, I don't understand it," she said, dismissing the idea of abandoning the race.

That's right, everyone, don't forget that Bobby Kennedy was ASSASSINATED in June.  Because, you know, that kind of thing happens...and might happen again, you know?  And if it did, it would be a good thing to have another person still in the race, right?

GAH!!

Seriously, doesn't she fail the intelligence test to be the nominee by saying that?

Delegates? Losing.  Superdelegates?  Losing.  Popular vote (both without FL and MI and WITH FL)?  Losing.  # of states?  Losing.  Ability to run a campaign?  Losing.  INTELLIGENCE?  Losing.
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[May. 20th, 2008|04:51 pm]
I'm just using one of those generic Yahoo templates, but there's a good amount of content on it and it's all current (as opposed to my soon to be former site):

http://www.kylegarret.com

There are still some sections I need to finish, but the immediate needs -- a place for more info on the book about my grandfather, for example -- have been met.

This being unemployed thing has been interesting.  I decided to spend the week focusing on my writing, which means I'm putting together new query letters for both of my books as well as a decent stack of short story submissions.  My goal is to get everything out by the end of the week so that next week, when I start job hunting in earnest, I'll have stuff out that I can just wait on.

The web site is on all the query letters, thus the need for its creation.
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Awesome. [May. 19th, 2008|02:32 pm]


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[May. 15th, 2008|03:58 pm]
 
You know how, after the 2004 election, all the pundits talked about there being a culture war going on?

I think the 2008 election will be an intelligence war:

http://therealnews.com/web/videoframeworksjsauto.php?currentid=1507&thisautoplay=true

This is the enemy.
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[May. 15th, 2008|10:21 am]
 More geniuses from Ohio, courtesy of Ben Smith at politico.com:

Clinton backer backlash

 

My colleague Beth Frerking reports on something we're likely to hear a lot more about in coming days: Grumblings from the almost-half of the party, disproportionately women, whose candidate is losing.

An Ohio-based group of Democratic Hillary Clinton supporters say they’ll work actively against Sen. Barack Obama if he becomes the nominee, arguing that Clinton has been the subject of “intense sexism” by party leaders and the media.

Led by Boomer-aged women, the group, Clinton Supporters Count Too, is holding a press conference in Columbus at noon to release this statement.

Organizers Cynthia Ruccia, 55, and Jamie Dixey, 57, both from the Columbus area, say they’re coordinating women, men, minorities, union members and others in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida and Michigan – all important swing states next November – to impress upon Democratic party leaders what they think has been outright discrimination – and not of the racial kind.

“We have been vigilant against expressions of racism, and we are thrilled that the society has advanced that way” in accepting Obama as a serious candidate,” Ruccia said. “But it’s been open season on women, and we feel we need to stand up and make a statement about that, because it’s wrong.”

With growing calls for Clinton to leave the race, she said, women feel like “we’re being told to sit down, shut up, and get with the program.”

Hard to know what to make of any given group, but the sentiment is clealry out there, and putting the party back together will be Obama's, and Clinton's, challenge.

Oh, and they're doing O'Reilly tonight, of course.

Kyle says: Here's an idea, ladies.  If you want a woman to be president then should probably find a female candidate WITH PRINCIPLES.  Don't just take whatever is handed to you and then get angry when she loses because of her faults.  GO FIND SOMEONE BETTER.

The fact that the women in this country aren't up in arms that the first viable female candidate they get is such a two-faced hack blows my mind.

Honestly, it's like the Democrats complaining that the '04 results in Ohio were rigged.  You know what a great way to avoid that issue is?  WIN BY MORE THAN 100,000 VOTES.

Quit whining and DO BETTER.

And the fact that they're going on O'Reilly tonight makes their views all the more laughable.

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[May. 9th, 2008|03:17 pm]
 http://cbs5.com/politics/poll.clinton.obama.2.720136.html

According to the above poll (and poll's should always be taken with a grain of salt), if the California primary were held again today, Obama would win.

Proof yet again that I am ahead of the curve.
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[May. 8th, 2008|10:21 pm]
 Dear Itunes,

Fuck you.

I don't even USE you, yet I have to be subjected to your god forsaken commercial every ten minutes during every single show that I watch.

I wouldn't use you now simply on principle.

Itunes + Ipod = annoying as hell.

xoxo

Kyle
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[May. 8th, 2008|06:43 pm]
 Nothing increases the amount of e-mail you get like losing your job!

I updated my various online resumes a few days ago and have gotten a constant stream of generic e-mails from companies since then.  I feel pretty safe in saying that there's a job waiting for me at Farmer's Insurance.

I did actually send my resume to someone.  The job is basically exactly what I do now, but for a lot more money.  And it's in West Los Angeles.  So we'll see.

My official last day is next Friday, which is nice because it means I can spend the week looking for a new job on the company dime.

It's become clear in the little looking at jobs that I've done that I am GROSSLY underpaid.  That's pretty awesome, actually, because making more money would be sweet.

My biggest problem at this point is the fact that I've figured out that I can live at the same level I do now for two months without a job and without dipping into my savings at all.  The tempation there, obviously, is to give myself a week to sit around and focus on sending out submissions and finding an agent for the book about my uncle (or the book I wrote before that).  We'll see.  Perhaps a week off is okay.

Anyway, Nicole and I are off to lovely Danville tomorrow night.  We have photographers and DJs to meet.
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Thank god that's over. [May. 7th, 2008|11:41 am]
 

FINALLY.

While people are spinning left and right this morning, the cold, hard facts are this: Hillary Clinton, even if Florida and Michigan were inlcuded as is (and that’s not particularly fair by any stretch of the imagination), cannot catch Obama in any way, shape, or form, not popular vote, not pledged delegates, not number of states, not anything.

Obama wiped away all of Hillary’s gains in Pennsylvania last night by destroying her in North Carolina, a swing state that will play a big part in the general election.  The close finish in Indiana will only garner Obama more superdelegates.

What does this mean, while Hillary is saying she’ll stay in the race until there’s a nominee?  Two things:

1) Hillary Clinton is now Mike Huckabee

2) Obama will no longer engage Hillary Clinton in any kind of debate, either formally or informally.  In the coming days he will spend all of his time talking about HIS plans and creating distinctions between himself and John McCain.

It should be really entertaining, as Hillary will clearly keep trying to make it seem like a race, while Obama will now all but ignore her completely.

The real issue is how long Hillary will wait to start repairing the party she has single handedly divided.

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[May. 6th, 2008|07:02 pm]

 Here's something weird:  I'm being phased out.

My company has been restructuring for the past month and today my assistant and I got word that we were soon to be out of jobs.  We weren't given a set date for that, but it will be sooner rather than later.

I'm oddly zen about this.  I've been with this company for 5 1/2 years, but it's been a pain in the ass for a while now.  And the fact that I could be making a good amount more pretty much anywhere else eases my pain a bit.

It's going to be a pain in the ass looking for another job, particularly since I generally stumble from one job to another.  As Nicole said to me, I guess I just need to figure out what I want to do.

Supposedly I'll get a severance package and my vacation days and I've got some money set aside, so I should be okay for at least a few months.  I imagine I'll have a gig before then, anyway.

Weird.

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[May. 3rd, 2008|05:44 pm]
This was posted on Ben Smith's blog on politico...it's really sad, actually, and somewhat upsetting, but also a little funny/strange:

Don't know if you watched the Derby, but the horse Hillary wanted (to win) came in second, collapsed and was killed on the spot.

Seriously.

Hillary's choice was the only filly in the race.

Obama's choice won.  It was a horse named Big Brown.
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