ConstantCommentary® Vol. IV, No. 114, October 12, 2000

So Sue Me . . .

by Mike Jasper


The choice is clear

Americans are fucked up. I'm an American. Guess what?

It's not our fault. It's the government's. You see, every four years we're faced with two perplexing media events that peck at our time and nibble at our groins -- The Summer Olympics and the Presidential elections. It's too much, it's just too fuckin' much.

Two weeks ago, I dealt with the Olympics. Now I'm ready to wade through the slime of American politics. Why? I don't know. I'm confused. Maybe I need to drink more. Maybe I need to start taking drugs again.

Or maybe my readers need to get off my fucking back. (Holy shit. Where's this coming from?)

It gets worse. I can't make up my mind exactly which lying sack of shit to vote for. There's just too many lying sacks of shits these days. Lately, I've been thinking about voting for the Green Party candidate. Then turning gay. Then swallowing the gun.

I also took a close look at the Reform Party, but decided my German was too rusty. The Libertarian candidate has a certain appeal, but I still would like to use some government services. Like sidewalks.

Once again, I'm stuck between an ass and a pachyderm place. So last night, I watched the debate between Al Gore and George Bush to see if I could glean some insights before the election. Sure enough, the second debate was much more informative than the first. I didn't fall asleep this time.

I still see room for improvement, though, so I've come up with some advice to improve the next Presidential squabble.

For Bush: Don't laugh at Gore's jokes. You sound like you just took a bong hit.

For Gore: Don't use the word reinvent. Ever.

For Bush: Don't make sniffing noises. It creates a bad impression.

For Gore: Either fully support gay and lesbian rights or lose the sibilance.

For Bush: Don't start an attack on the Clinton administration about issues such as Prudhoe Bay, only to support it three seconds later. Give yourself 30 seconds at least.

For Gore: Don't quote passages from the Bible. This is politics, not pro football.

For Bush: Try not to look so stunned when Gore's quoting health care figures from your home state. He's probably making them up anyway.

For Gore: If you're going to comb your hair like Jack Haley, at least learn the words to "If I Only Had A Heart."

For Bush: You told entirely too many jokes near the end of the debate. But at least you didn't say, "Hey, I'll be here all week. Try the veal."

For Gore: You still sound like a Presbyterian minister. Could you at least sound like a fuckin' Baptist minister? Study Jesse Jackson, boy.

For Bush: The Texas Legislature meets once every two years, not four. I understand your confusion. They don't always tell you.

And one note for moderator Jim Lehrer: There's no need to keep interrupting Al Gore. There are better ways to stay awake.

Did I get any positive impressions from the debate? Sure. They're both well-groomed and nobody vomited. Did I see a clear-cut winner last night? Sure. The New York Mets, 6-2.

I've studied the Governor of Texas for six years and scrutinized the VP for eight. Sometimes, the differences between Beavis and the Tin Man seem too miniscule to matter. But last night, I had a moment of clarity and now the choice is clear.

I'm voting for the Ivy League-educated, rich-kid son of a famous politician. I'm voting for junior.

* * *

STAY WITH ME PEOPLE: I've been getting e-mails that read, "You're voting for Bush?" No, no, no. I never said that. Let me explain. Bush went to Yale, Gore went to Harvard. Both are sons of rich fathers. Bush is the son of ex-President George Bush. And Gore is the son of former Senator Al Gore, Jr. See? And they're both juniors... see? (I guess Al Gore, Sr. isn't as famous as he said he was when we got drunk together.)

So who am I voting for? The guy I usually vote for. The guy who needs the money. Me.

* * *

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: This column aims to be funny. If you can read anything else into it, you're on your own.


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Mike Jasper is a writer and musician living in Austin, Texas. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, he has strong ties to Seattle, St. Petersburg, Florida and North Platte, Nebraska. He can be reached at column@mikejasper.com or PO Box 91174, Austin TX, 78709 or 24-hour voice mail at 512-916-3727. Accessible? I think so.
© 2000 by Mike Jasper, All Rights Reserved. ConstantCommentary® is published every Thursday except for holidays, planned and unplanned. All material is the responsibility of the author. Special thanks to those who helped along the way: Jeff Cox, Susan Maxey, Catherine Clay, Cathleen Cole, Valerie Sprague, Ian Wolff, Laura Martin and Karin Stephenson. (You may download this article, print it out for personal use and e-mail it to your friends. But you must never, ever give Kurt Vonnegut the credit.)