Notice from Democratic Mission Control - Unauthorized use of this frequency may result in disciplinary action.
Democratic Mission Control - This is Road Dog Voter. We have a problem. GOTV unit malfunctioning. Do you read me?
Democratic Mission Control - This is Road Dog Voter. We have a problem. GOTV unit malfunctioning. Do you read me?
SOS; SOS; SOS:
This is first transmission using this frequency.
Break
Transmission follows:
Vessel/GOTV unit history:
Break
- GOTV hardwired Democratic.
- GOTV use heavy until end of Vietnam War - no malfunctions.
- GOTV inactivated due to government restriction - Worked for VA.
- Vessel worked in private sector 10 years - GOTV use minimal.
- Vessel worked overseas 15 years - GOTV plugged into absentee ballot connection.
- Vessel returned from overseas in 2005. GOTV updates installed in preparation for 2008 mission.
- GOTV use heavy 2007/08. No malfunctions noted.
Break
Current status:
Malfunctioning since shortly after 2008 mission completion.
Communication being received garbled from Mission Control.
Diagnostics on board indicate problem not located within vessel.
I repeat:
Diagnostics on board indicate problem not located within vessel.
Garbled messages affecting GOTV motivational control and energy levels.
I repeat:
Garbled messages affecting GOTV motivational control and energy levels.
Break
Diagnostics identifies 2 critical messages needing Mission Control fix:
- GOTV communicates Mission Control exonerates GWB regarding torture and no investigation necessary.
Problem first noticed shortly after 2008-mission completion. Affecting vessel’s critical systems.
Jonathan Turley on torture
- GOTV communicates Mission Control drops single-payer. Public option lost as a result. GOTV indicates HCR is causing serious battery drain.
Margaret Flowers, M.D. Open Letter to President
Many other messages being received garbled.
I repeat:
Many other messages being received garbled.
Check of other vessels in the area indicate similar GOTV motivational control and energy problems.
Break
This message has been transmitted using many different frequencies.
Break
This vessel transmitting using GOTV unit’s emergency power.
Break
Vessel in holding pattern awaiting Mission Control fix.
I repeat:
Vessel in holding pattern awaiting Mission Control fix.
Break
Over and out.
***********
So much for the space parody but that pretty much sums up where I’m at right now.
I’ve heard the arguments. Incremental progress, look at the alternative, there is always the lesser of two evils etc. But the best one for me is “It’s the issues” and there are certain issues that affect my motivation and energy level.
The big one is the issue of torture. This country tortured during the Bush administration. It was proven without a doubt for the world to see. There was nothing ambiguous about it. You don’t “turn the page” on torture. Geneva is not a treaty of convenience. This policy of “We don’t do it now” and “It’s time to turn the page" is unacceptable and it will ALWAYS be unacceptable! Torture is a rock bottom, to the core of your being issue. It is non-negotiable.
Next is the issue of Health Care Reform. I am a former medical insurance underwriter. I decided who did and did not get health insurance. In my opinion HCR that mandates taking out insurance but only has for-profit players to choose from is not a healthy system. I was furious when single-payer was taken off the table from inception. I called, wrote letters to the editor, blogged and signed petitions in support of the public option. I know HCR does some good things but at its core it is seriously flawed. I’m not enthused about its enactment. It's passage does not motivate me and still makes me angry.
These are not the only issues, of course, but these are my two biggest.
Is my attitude and motivation improving? I guess you could say so. I’ve gone from having dreams that Bush would be arrested for war crimes on Inauguration Day to being resigned to the fact that there is no hope of investigation or prosecution from this Justice Dept. so I'm awaiting action by an international court or a foreign government. I’ve gone from a low of calling all my Democratic Reps. and telling them I will not vote for their re-election if health care is passed without a public option to now planning to vote for them.
When I think back to that feeling I had on Inauguration Day to the feeling I have now, there is no comparison. I feel “Lost in Space”. Can’t get that feeling back without a strong fix from Democratic Mission Control. Sorry! That’s just the way it is.
So I’m “Sending out a SOS, Sending out a SOS.”