Space Potato

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Looks like our site host didn't keep a backup database of the forum. Cory is working on getting something up in his spare time... I think. There's not much other news really. I'll post up the whole story when we finally get a forum up and running again. An empty forum... :(

Yeah I know, Aric and I both know, The Farm is down. You think we didn't fucking notice or something? What kind of callous monsters do you think we are? I mean seriously, we love the Potato Farm as much as all of you, perhaps even more. So don't you for one fucking second think that we don't care!

So anyhow, something happened with the billing on the site, something about Aric's billing address changing and all that bullshit. Well, that's been resolved and the main site is back up, but of course no one seems to care you heartless bastards.

But Aric's having some technical issues with our beloved Farm so if anyone out there who has vast computer knowledge wants to help out and get this shindig up and running again, let us all know.

Peace

So on Tuesday the nation put a check and a balance on the runaway train of oppression known simply as the Bush Administration. While I was of course happy about this outcome, I couldn't help but shake my head at a couple of propositions that passed here in Arizona.

We had the most propositions of any state, numbering 19 total. Which basically meant that there was reading required and so that obviously gave the advantage to the Democrats in some districts. But the ones dealing with immigration had me wondering whether the "conservative" populace really understood what is was doing.

Proposition 100: "That measure would prohibit bail for any person who is charged with a serious felony offense if the person entered or remained in the United States illegally."

This is not fair treatment under the law. Being an illegal resident is simply a misdemeanor. But if a citizen commits a misdemeanor, then a felony, he is granted or denied bail based on the felony offense. Why does a certain type of misdemeanor warrant such harsh, and unfair action?

Proposition 102: "That measure would prohibit a person who wins a civil lawsuit from receiving punitive damages if the person is present in this state is an illegal immigrants."

Punitive damages aren't some gift that a jury or judge awards a plaintiff, it is a punishment against the defendant who has been found responsible. So, if some guy finds an illegal's car and smashes it all to shit, he must pay the damages, but the plaintiff is unable to ask for punitive damages, and a jury is not allowed to award them.

The concept of inalienable human rights was of course championed by one of our nation's founders, Thomas Jefferson. The entire idea is actually a fairly conservative libertarian one at that.

People are bestowed certain rights regardless of what city, county, state, country, or nomadic community. That's what it's all about. Most conservatives would agree until you hit the country part. In essence, they are hypocritical of the entire platform of inalienable rights in much the same way our country was toward blacks for that unpleasant first part of our history.

Now, I guess it's the immigrant's turn to be mangled by the double-speak of the conservative noise machine. Inalienable rights......for U.S. citizens only.

Just a heads up to the four of you who still bother to check here even though Seth and I have been extremely lazy: Space Potato is going to do some election night coverage! I'll be hosting a chatroom and a shoutcast internet radio for the event from 9PM through however long I can stay awake.

I'll have some more info up here and on the forums in the coming days. Basically I'll chat a little bit about the news from various sources about the election and I'll be playing music by request all night, so be sure to free up some time and tune in! I'll post more in a few days.

Let's say for instance you're the president and congress has just passed a law that says that green dildos are now illegal. But hey, you really like green dildos. You just love violating American citizen's privates with your green dildo, or maybe you're even getting a little kinkier and torturing them with your green dildo. But you've got a problem, you can't veto the bill, because that pesky congress has the numbers and the power to override your veto. You know congress, your direct representatives in the government.

Your love of green dildos looks to be in distress. You have two more options: you can either abstain from signing and let it be ushered in anyhow, or you can bite the bullet (or green dildo), and sign the damn thing into law. Oh but wait a minute. You're the PRESIDENT! You can do one more thing when you sign the bill, you can add a Signing Statement!

Now traditionally presidents have used signing statements like, "Super Dooper Law Dudes!" or "Yeah, I think letting women vote is a super terrific thing for our country!" But lately, signing statements have been a way for presidents to assert their mighty executive powers (that they really aren't given in the constitution) to basically wipe their asses with the bill they've just signed in a symbolic "Fuck You!" to congress. Congress, you know, our direct representatives in the government.

So instead of wallowing in self pity over the loss of your green dildo, you can add a signing statement that says, "Yeah, but not my green dildo." or "Well, okay green dildos are illegal but not in a time of war." So you can keep ramming American citizens in the ass with your green dildo for many many years to come.

Up until Ronald Reagan, there had been a total of 75 signing statements added by presidents and most of them were of the "Golly gee willikers guys, swell law!" type. Then old Ronnie came in and realized the importance of his green dildo. George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton also realized that they could lose their green dildos as well. Between the three of them, they added 247 dildo saving signing statements.

Now we come to George W. Bush. He hasn't vetoed a single bill in his entire 6 years in office. Instead, he's added a whopping 750 signing statements to bills that congress has passed. For those of you who are bad with numbers, that's 100 times the number of signing statements by all the presidents before Reagan. That's 750 times he's basically told congress, you know, our direct representatives in the government, to go fuck themselves, and has pushed the balance of power over to the executive branch. Now you talk about a guy who really likes his green dildo! Holy shit.

Signing Statements in the News
More on the History and Legality of Signing Statements from Wikipedia
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