Gun Control

It's been a while since I gave up hope for real gun control. There are lots of battles to fight, and this isn't on the top of my wish list.

Then, it's stories like this that make me think, "Oh, thank god we didn't extend the assault weapons ban."

FIVE DEAD IN HUNTING DISPUTE
Alleged gunman arrested after fight over tree stand.

...The incident happened when two hunters were returning to their rural cabin on private land in Sawyer County and saw the suspect in one of their tree stands, County Chief Deputy Tim Zeigle said. A confrontation and shooting followed.

It’s not known who shot first, Zeigle said.

Both men were wounded and one of them radioed back to the cabin. Other hunters responded and were shot, he said. Some of the victims may have shot back at the suspect, Zeigle said.

The suspect was “sniping” at the victims with a SKS assault-style rifle, Zeigle said. He was “chasing after them and killing them,” he said.

Sorry Everybody

I think I'm behind the ball on this, but I just found it (and 4 people I recognize so far.)

Sorry Everybody.

fantastic.

Also, my wife is feeling decidedly more cordial than I am ready to be. For now.

Christmas Album

I think I made a Christmas album.

I was walking around the Container Store, lamenting the fact that they're playing crappy Christmas music, when a cover Little Drummer Boy came on - and I'm pretty sure it was me.

I have no memory of ever cutting a Christmas album -but since everyone else has, I guess it's possible.

Cagan concedes

In conclusion, to my staff, and the hundreds of people who volunteered their time and donated their hard earned dollars to my campaign, I can only say this: Not good enough.

Not good enough, America. Not good enough.

TIVO MAKES ME FEEL BETTER

I haven't seen my Tivo in a month or so.

I sat down tonight and saw Mrs. Kerry on The View, which reminded me how much I care for her and that I'm pretty lucky to have met her. If for no other reason, getting to know THK (just a bit) made it all worth it.

Then Tivo gave me Rev. Jesse Jackson and Sen. Bob Kerrey on the Daily Show, talking about keeping the fight alive. Jackson looked on as Martin Luther King was assassinated and Kerrey survived getting blown up in Viet Nam AND dating Deborah Winger. If they can look ahead to the next fight, I can certainly snap out of it.

Then Tivo gave me that one Buffy the Vampire Slayer where everyone is in a musical. It's the one where everyone is trapped inside a sort of Sci-Fi "Rent" - where Emma Caulfield does a dance number in her underwear and Alyson Hannigan sings a lesbian love duet. This serves as a reminder that the world is still spinning.

Tivo and this glass of Bakers (7 yr, small-batch bourbon) are really putting things in perspective.

11.04.2004

Still no idea what to say here.

thirteen things from scranton

* My last campaign 2004 event was a big rally in the new Scranton High School auditorium. We had a capasity crowd. I used all my old convention signs. It was a GREAT finish.

* Every restaurant in Scranton has the same menu. Must be a law. I recommend the Rueben.

* I have managed dozens of counter-protest squads (goon squads.) Nobody in any of my events has ever touched a protester - and we have always let them into the general seating area. (And then we just surround them and drown out their cheers.) They almost always just go away.

* There are people in the world who do not respond well to high-stress situations. Please do not get on headset. Please do not operate sound equipment.

* For the record: some Nextel phones will make a wireless mic' make a terrible clicking sound. Teresa Heinz Kerry can cover though -she actually turned it into a pretty funny bit about a ghost talking to her. Trust me: it worked.

* The entire town of Scranton seems to be very eager Democrats. Besides San Francisco, it's hard to find a place more saturated with lefties. Who knew.

* There is nobody on Earth more tenacious than a retired nun. She decided she was going to meet, talk to, get a photo with, and share a stage with Mrs. Kerry. Any time I spent trying to control that was a waste and just silly in retrospect.

* Holy Mackerel, hanging a 24 ft wide American flag is incredibly hard. Getting it not to droop. Getting it nice and taught. Handling it properly, though your patience is at an end. Tough.

* Do not, while waiting on the ropeline, try to sell/offer Mrs. Kerry one of your school-fundraiser chocolate bars. It's just a bad idea to shove a box of anything into the face of a Secret Service protectee. (Sorry, kid. I know you were just kidding around.)

* Mrs. Kerry and her staff were just giddy on this final campaign day. It was like a bunch of kids on their last day at school. If they had a full breakfast of chocolate. And the teachers said they could just sign yearbooks all day. And they were all off to really good colleges. That's what Nov. 1 was like.

* I made that face in my last picture with Mrs. Kerry. Maggie tells me not to make that face. Why do I do that?

* I think we're going to win. I really do.

* Maggie flew to Boston last night and I drove 80MPH straight from Scranton to Boston (4hrs flat). We got in late and crashed at a friends. I'm going to wake her up now and head down to get our election party credentials...

Wish us all luck!