The Republic of Chad

It was about 1:15 p.m. on Super Tuesday as I drove back to the office, my “I Voted 2008” sticker in hand. And I was incensed.
A four- (and a half) year college graduate, I’m generally an intelligent person. But it took me months to figure out how I’d vote in this year’s presidential primary. I knew precisely for whom I wanted to vote, as an earlier blog explains, but I wasn’t precisely sure how I’d do it. I reiterate that I’m a fairly smart man.
The confusion arose over my preferred political affiliation. Having learned a thing or two at university, I’ve been a proud GDI – or God Damn Independent – for most of my adult life. Having shunned the Greek system, I’ve so far turned up my nose at the Republicans and Democrats.
But the way our voting system works, if you’re non-affiliated, at least for the first couple years – or in this case elections – you’re basically a loser. Luckily I did my homework and discovered I could request a crossover ballot and vote for a Democrat, but countless others in Los Angeles County weren’t quite as lucky.
Or smart. And it’s not entirely their fault.
I was still fuming on my commute back to the rock quarry because I had to make a minor scene at my polling place due to confusion from the workers over my right to vote someone else besides another non-affiliated candidate. It was shades of freshman year in college all over again.
Los Angeles County has a rule that allows us non-affiliates to cross the party lines to Democrat, but it seems you have to explicitly ask permission. So much for our inalienable rights, as long as you say “pretty please.”
My situation turned out OK, but I must wonder about the other 780,000 un-affiliated voters in Los Angeles County alone. Were they able to decipher the madness?
It’s pretty bad when Dean Logan, the acting county registrar, doesn’t even have a clue what’s going on. As I still muttered under my breath the ridiculous situation I just found myself in, Logan himself told journalist Warren Olney on KCRW’s “To the Point” radio show that his office had issued several PSAs in recent weeks to inform voters of the situation. I’m a fairly discerning citizen, a journalist myself, who stays abreast of such things. Granted, I don’t watch much TV, but I never once heard a whisper of such ads. My bad for not watching “American Idol.”
So there I sat in traffic as I listened to Logan hem and haw his way through the interview, as other panelists voiced their concern over Los Angeles’ system. Logan told Olney that the registrar's office had forecasted that the unaffiliated voter fiasco wouldn’t be an issue and that polling place staffers had been extensively trained to deal with the issue. Oh really?
Then two of the other interviewees corrected him with their own assertions that it could very well affect the Democratic primary. One even brought up the 780,000 unaffiliated voters who could be affected. Olney asked Logan if this number sounded right.
A long pause ensued. Logan responded that such a figure wasn’t at his immediate disposal, only to be answered by another interview subject that indeed the number was correct, taken straight from the state registrar’s web page. A simple Google search will turn up some 3 million voters statewide who are also unaffiliated. I’m so glad we have someone in charge who knows what he’s talking about. Or not. But isn’t that apropos with G.W. Bush still in the Oval Office? He, after all, got there (twice) amid shady happening in the polling booth.
And you think our country’s messed up voting system is only confined to Florida and Ohio?

Man on Fire

Being a man who loves women, and especially hot women who love women, I've been known to tune into "the L word," Showtime's dramatic interpretation and revelation of lesbian culture in America. Whilst I know nothing of what it's like to be a lesbian, I am friends with lesbians and have a cousin who hails from this side of the sexuality fence. But, to me, the series seems realistic. After all, how much better can a Friday night get when you're going to a club called "She Bar."
Believe me, I've used my imagination.
The several episodes I've seen have been good enough, most well remembered for the sex scenes. They've been filled with good acting and the subject matter provocatively entertaining and oftentimes humorous. No offense to the good writers, but I'll never watch again.
If I portray myself as a typing dichotomy, here's precisely why: one bad apple ruined it for the whole orchard.
For men, "bros before hos" is not only a pithy saying but a mantra. It's the Book of Proverbs for single guys, and there should be nothing sexist about it despite the connotations. Quite simply, your male friends come first because, most likely, they were there long before she came along. And most likely they'll still be there long after she's gone.
I welcome women to think likewise. Power in numbers, I say.
So when you witness a pretty bird peck out the heart of one of your best boys, it's on sister.
This is neither TMZ.com nor a plug for the Tom Leykis Show. I'm a journalist, so far be it from me to resort to gossip or serve as a publicist for a self-described woman hater. After all, I love women. But I refuse to allow myself or my friends be taken advantage of.
What an L word regular did recently to one of my friends, while not uncommon or completely reprehensible, forces me to say something. In an all-too-common occurrence, especially in Los Angeles, a beautiful woman mesmerized a man and strung him along until he was nothing more than a heap of used yarn strewn about the gutter. Yes, men use women all the time. It's not right, but it happens. So, you ask, what's wrong with a woman using a man every once in a while for an expensive dinner, or much more?
Basically, two wrongs don't make a right. Say what you will about my friend -- and believe me I along with others have already -- but he no more deserved this treatment than a woman does from a man. End the double-standard!
It's time to stand up for our brothers -- and sisters -- and put an end to this age-old game of deception. I recognize as much as anybody that shit happens and things change. For all I know, or my friend for that matter, this certain actress might have very good reason for pushing him away. It could be another man, or woman. Maybe this person's career and schedule will be taking her out of the country and the timing's just not right. That's life. I know this and accept it. But this situation reminded me of something much larger which deserves all of our attention.
For the love of God be a real man -- or a woman -- and be truthful with each other! We all can easily fall in and out of love or like and want to cut and run, but what's with all the dishonesty? As Elvis Costello wrote, "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?"
Wouldn't the world be a much better place if we all just leveled with each other and said what's really on our minds? Why the need to illicitly draw things out with $200 sushi dinners or booty calls when all the while you know it's going nowhere but the recycling bin? People, we have more dignity than that. So treat your fellow man -- and woman -- with the same respect you'd expect. Whether straight or gay, we all deserve the same consideration. It might well be a Utopian view but one that's been nagging at me for a while.
End the game of charades.
It took my friend's ego being broken these two weeks before Valentine's Day to finally do something about it. Because "the L word" I think is not simply about lesbianism but love.
So let's spread it. It's Friday night, and guess what TV show is on.