Stop Alito

Click here to stop Alito.

Happy Halloween, and Merry Fitzmus!

Movie Review: North Country

The movie North Country is based on a true story about a landmark class action sexual harassment case that took place here in Minnesota. It stars Charlize Theron, Sissy Spacek, Woody Harrelson, and Frances McDormand. (McDormand was also in the dark comedy Fargo, which also took place in Minnesota). North Country is an unpleasant movie, but an important one. It shows how men can make absolute fools of themselves and create nightmare conditions for others. It also shows how people can break destructive patterns when they stick together and stand up for what’s right. Intimidation and unwelcome sexual advances have no place, especially the workplace.

That’s not to say that it’s impossible for respectful relationships to develop. My parents met at work, and all four of my siblings met their spouses in work-related situations. In general, though, it’s best to error on the side of caution. If an action or comment is clearly unwanted, exercise some self-control and don’t do it again.

Commander in Chief

I sure like the new "Commander in Chief" TV show starring Gina Davis as President of the United States. With her high IQ, perhaps she should be called Genius Davis. Actually, I like to sing her name to the tune of "Amadeus." The show, on Tuesday nights on ABC, is similar to West Wing but less specific on partisan policies and more focused on family issues. I still like West Wing because they always name the political parties and cover persuasion strategies.

Anyway, the show has people talking about a possible woman president in 2008. Hopefully not Hilary, who advocated more troops in Iraq, or Condoleezza, who went shoe shopping during the New Orleans Flood (aka Lake George). I would prefer Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA). Last time around the Greens nominated Patricia LaMarche for Vice President. It has been over 20 years since Geraldine Ferraro appeared on the Democratic ticket.

If the guys prevail again, perhaps we will see Senator John McCain (R-AZ) vs. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI). The two teamed up for the famous McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, but may find each other behind opposing debate podiums. I would still prefer Cynthia McKinney.

Bench the bad boys

Apparently some of the Minnesota Vikings football team behaved like real Vikings on a recent boat cruise on Lake Minnetonka. The boat’s crew reported that players took over the bar, poured their own drinks, and that some of the players started having sex with prostitutes on the floor while others cheered, and some even propositioned the waitresses.

I’ve heard that the coach is limited in what kinds of discipline he can impose. In addition to criminal penalties, the league sometimes steps in with fines and suspensions. Still, I think it would be a bold move on the part of coach Mike Tice to bench any lawbreakers. Considering their lackluster 1-3 start, I’m not sure they have much to lose. Their new goal can be to simply win one game with their reduced roster. Now that would make for an interesting season!

Morning Sedition and Wendy Wilde

Air America’s Morning Sedition program may be cancelled, perhaps because they didn’t shy away from controversial subjects within the liberal community, like pornography. They interviewed one of the stars of "Deep Throat," and they interviewed the guy who ran a web site which provided porn for soldiers in return for gruesome photos from Iraq.

Locally, their replacement is Wendy Wilde, who is moving from a late morning time slot. I like that she interviews Greens from time to time, but sometimes she’s a little ditzy on the details. She also indulges into some amateurish musical forays. Her coquettish "Minnesota Bushy Boys of Company B" sounds a little too acquiescent to me.

White House to jail house

If Rove is not indicted, maybe someone else will. Maybe there will even be a chain reaction. Then we could have a motorcade from the White House to the jail house.

Bush may need that lawyer

If Bush is implicated in any of these scandals involving Karl Rove, Tom Delay, or Jack Abramov, he may wish he had kept his lawyer, Harriet Miers, rather than nominating her to the Supreme Court. Then again, maybe she'll be the one who gets him off the hook on appeal.

Money laundering

Money laundering is where you put the dirty money in, and take the clean money out. Sounds like that’s what Tom Delay did.