So, it's an election year and I can just feel the neocon fear machine gearing up for another round of scare-tactics and propaganda. For the record, I am predicting an "October Surprise" of some sort(definitely terrorist related...the capture of a high-ranking member of Al Qaeda or something similar, so as to prove that only one party can properly handle terrorism and conjure up as much fear as possible).  Chances are, the government already has big news(or plans), but will wait until right before the election to release the information, so that they can maximize the political gains.  It has happened before and I expect the same again.  We've already had numerous "threats" foiled just to remind America that terrorists ultimately seek our demise. However, this election year I am going to ask my fellow citizens for a small favor. Think for a minute. Use a little introspect. Since 2001, what has the republican majority done? Well, besides rubber stamp every single bill the president wants passed. The reason that neoconservatives keep going back to the same well repeatedly is because we haven't yet sent them the message that it is now empty. Look at their agenda. What domestic policies have made the United States a better place? Healthcare, education, social security, fixing the deficit???? Go through the legislative records of the ruling elite and you will see, as I have, that absolutely nothing has been done. We are so enthralled with war and fear, that our representatives have gotten away with almost complete impotence on domestic policy, and failed foreign policy.  Our leaders parade around the events of 9/11 without any regard or consequence for their shameless politicization of that tragic day and use it at every opportunity to further extend the most anti-American agenda in history. In the same breath however, they disregard the shortcomings of the federal response to hurricane Katrina, the ignoring of repeated warnings leading up to 9/11, Osama bin Laden still living as a free man, and of course-the fact that every single justification for the war on Iraq has been totally disproven. We are dealing with incompetence on a level never before seen in this country. It's time they pay for this inaction.

     In closing, tell me if this sounds familiar: "It is natural for the common people to not want war but, after all, it is a country's leaders who determine policy and it is an easy matter to convince the people. Whether they have a voice or not, the people can always be made to do what their rulers wish. It's easy. All you have to do is tell them they are under attack and condemn the pacifists for their lack of patriotism and for exposing their country to danger". That wasn't a quote from the president, vice president, or even an American. The man's name was Marshall Goering, a Nazi during WWII. The irony of this quote is unbelievable. If you flip on FOX News, you will see pundit after pundit repeat that "pacifists are emboldening the enemy, liberals side with the terrorists, Al Qaeda is rooting for Ned Lamont in Connecticut", and so on. It's beyond insulting, but the good news is that the opposition is now the majority. In democracy the majority makes the rules, and if our democracy is functioning correctly we have the power to change our course. True conservatives and progressives need to find their common ground and realize that we are more alike than we are different. I am sick of the insults for short-sighted political gains and the shameful bickering. No more fighting. No more domestic wars to promote self-serving and hateful agendas. It's time for some fucking unity. The day is coming very soon when we will need to rise up and rid this country of the governmental disease that is the current administration and its allies. We, as Americans believe in liberty, freedom, and all that is right and good. We cannot let this monumental disaster of a president render our dissent as futile. We have a right and an obligation as patriots in this nation to do what is in our best interest, as does our government. They have failed us in that duty over and over again, and it is high time they pay the price for their actions. If this nation continues down the same path of eroding liberties, morality, and testicular fortitude, the terrorists will truly have acheived what they were seeking in the first place. The United States has been the victim of a continually flawed policy, and the only way to fix that is on November 7th. The people in power, republicans especially, must go. We need to ask ourselves these questions: Are we going to forfeit our civil liberties, live in fear, and submit to our governments every action? Or, are we going to stand up and truly defy the people that seek our destruction by doing something we have done for over 200 years... Celebrate our freedoms by using them. That is the only way that our actions will ever speak louder than the words: "Proud to be an American." Thanks for reading.

-Brandon

If by Fine, you mean Not Fine, then Everything is Fine

This is how it feels to not be in control. It no longer seems to matter how bad it gets. We'll still get the rosiest of pictures from the government- -and be completely content. How do you define a "Patriot?" Is it someone that falls in line and doesn't question the load of bullshit that they spit? This is how it feels to not be in control....and everything, everything is still fine So what the fuck gives? When did we become the very thing we fight against? When did we decide to stray from the need to resist? When did minorities seize to be treated like human beings? When did homosexuals sign away their rights to the wrong wing?

Apostasy Rising

This is the beginning of the end some wine to wash away my sins I don't need to fill this empty hole to save my dying soul so i'll just turn my back and walk away. I know how it feels to lose my faith my faith in god, my faith in love, my faith in everyone i know. I know how it feels to lose my faith I'm in a hole, I've lost control, I feel it all just slipping away. Another day, another slap in the face. Another cold embrace from a burning place And an angel tried to save my soul from the devil's stranglehold But I still turned my back and walked away. What's done is done. It's done. Frustration to the point of complete exhaustion I've lost control, i'm in a hole, i feel it all just slipping away

The Architects of Broken Souls

There's a knock at the door and a chaplain outside with a flag in his hand. Tears in her eyes she won't answer the door because she already knows She never thought this day would come and end to everlasting love. Now she's alone. Running and running and running away. She's forgotten how to breathe, doesn't know who to blame All she knows is that her only love is never coming home A broken promise and a broken home A break in silence for the broken souls A broken promise and a broken home.... built by the architects of broken souls. There's a debt that we owe to the rest of the world and that's why we're alone We're running we're running we're out of time There will be dire consequences for all of the crimes that cost us our dignity, trust, and lives And when the time comes for you to stand up and be a man You'll sit back on your throne built by the working class' broken bones we won't even try to protect the ones protecting our own. See, Mr. President I've tried to see the world through your eyes. It's a world that's predicated on deception and lies Taking advantage of the bliss of ignorance during war by protecting the rich using the blood of the poor. And as the body count of this war just continues to swell, so does the security of your pending reservation in hell. The only one who knows the truth that "WE THE PEOPLE" deserve. Is a god that you pray to that cannot hear your words. So save your breath and your empty apologies. Your words mean nothing and will never bring them home.

God Save the Scene

Its another sad day in History and a musical fucking dichotomy Testicular fortitude thrown out the window for sodomy. And they have nothing to sing about which gives me nothing to think about. Except that I wanna destroy it all. I wanna destroy it all Turn off the radio Destroy it all from the inside out. Destroy It is not a matter of secrecy, theres a complete lack of creativity. Payola substitute throw out the talent and ability. Big corporations that sell their souls.God save the scene. Kill the radio! (chorus) Its not a way of life its just an easy way out This musics in our blood and weve been doing just fine alone. Its not a way of life its just an easy way out Its not you buying inIts you thats lazy selling out. Its not a way of life its just an easy way out This musics in our blood and weve been doing just fine alone. I wanna destroy it all Turn off the radio Destroy it all from the inside out. Destroy.

This is the End

Fall on your knees And pray that God will save your soul, your pride, and dignity. You have everything you want but its still not enough.. And its not what you need. Yeah, peace through religion. Its sounds plain and simple- But bullets and bombs have no place in the temple. Killing in the name of god is why We have this divide. Your religion-this division Wont bring world peace. Only injustice and destruction Your religion-this division Wont bring world peace. This is the end so brace for the worst. You aim to please. So hold on for dear life to all of the worldly things. Dont pay attention to senseless philanthropy. If its not for you.its not what you need. The hand of hate holds the blade of greed- That pierces the skin of our unity Exposing the blood of ignorance you bleed. Its our blood you bleed.

Revolution Time

In one quiet breath they took a sweep of control. Its revolution time and revenge is tenfold. And weve been knocked down and knocked out. And some of us washed away. My friend, your time has come and its time to pay. And just so that you know, you are on your way out. Its time to look around Its time to make a change Its time for revolution. One voice inside yourself Tells you to make a change. Its time for revolution. We wont live our lives on our knees. 300 billion spent and 300 more (dead) The poor need food, but all you feed them is war. And my heart still bleeds blood that is red, white, and blue When you are questioning me for second-guessing you. They need healthcare, not warfare. Its unfair this disparity. We took two steps forward and ten steps back We took one wrong turn on a one-way track. A ruling body of intellectually diseased Dont know the difference of war and peace. The corporations and republicans are making laws Like a tyrannical mnage trois No concern for minorities Fascist majority. Divide the nation like the Berlin Wall. This one goes out to everyone in this sovereign nation Left in the cold by this administration. From the homeless on the streets To the troops being exploited From the towers in New York To the city of New Orleans. Were moving forward, or so Im told But reproductive rights for women are now on hold So whats next? Im perplexed. Is the future on the decks? Because you still cant get married if your of the same sex..

If I could Breathe(Part I)

Broken Arms, hands are bleeding. Lungs are shot. Im barely breathing. Everything I love is gone when I grab it. Its hard to hold on when you never had it. I woke up short of breath today My only love just washed away. I know I need a new start But there is no red blood in a black heart. Its time to strive for nothing. Its time to fall for something new. Its time to open up some brand new wounds. If I could breathe, I think Id run away. Rid myself of all these ordinary scars. If I could see I think Id realize And try to see right through your ordinary eyes. I woke up robbed of life today. My heart and mind are in decay. I know I need a new heart But my body cant take another black scar.

Heaven is Falling from a Black Sky(Part II)

No need to reach for the sky when its falling No need to steer from rejection when all that you know is all that you see and No need to reach for the heavens. Its falling. Dont need to drop to my knees and pray to a God I dont even believe in. Everything I do is left undone. Like a day without a rising sun. Like a victory without defeat. My life is cluttered and incomplete. Like a war without catastrophe Or a home without a family. Like love without monogamy My life is like a sonnet without simile. Its like trading in your riches for a dirty rag. Or 49 stars on a burning flag. Like an empty chamber in a loaded gun. A life full of regrets and left undone.

Screaming Blue at a Red Wall

I want to let you know exactly what its like To be the lonely opposition in a nation full of spite With indecision, thought collision. Breathe in breathe out. Shut us out now. Ive got something to say But no one to say it to. Ive got something to pray But no God to pray to. Ive got a message to send But no one to take it to. It reads, We know whats going on. We all are one We all are free We all have rights but they will never see. De mock racy..enforce it at the point of a loaded gun. We all are one. A brand new enemy, a new sensation. A social virus infects our nation. No regrets or accountability. Breathe in, Breathe out. Shut us out now. Slit out throats and walk away. Slit our throats and walk away. One bullet, one barrel, one gun, we all are one. Slit out throats and walk away. Who will be the one to pull the trigger? Slit our throats and walk away. One bullet, one barrel, one gun. Who will be the one? Slit our throats and walk away. One bullet, one barrel, one gun. We all are one.

So, Texas is apparently jumping on the gay-bashing bandwagon. It would be impossible to describe how incredibly disheartening this is. Our newly elected congress has decided to take it upon itself to begin legislation to amend our state constitution to ban gay marriage. Now, for most people apathetic to this particular situation, the blatant infringement of these individuals’ rights seems unimportant, but I ask you this question: How the fuck are we, as Americans, supposed to preach unity worldwide if we aren’t even able to accept a person’s sexual preference here at home? If blacks and whites had not stood together and said, “NO MORE“ during the civil rights era, where would we be now? Homosexuals, as well as heterosexuals need to rise together and stop this social regression. We are moving backwards with this administration in power, and it is time for it to end. Now, I know a lot of people in the United States get that gross feeling in their gut when they are pressed with the thought of two men or women kissing. Oh, god-forbid.... I know how much an intra-gender relationship affects a redneck in rural Texas, or a soccer mom in white suburbia, so my opinion in regards to the jesus fearing, homophobic jerk-offs that will inevitably show up at the polls in great numbers next year when it goes to the voters is this........ Please stay home. Homosexuality, in no way concerns you. If you are truly worried about the sanctity of marriage, then you should worry about the church not marrying two people of the same sex. After all, it is God that determined homosexuality was an abomination, right? Well, I have a bit of news for you. God, nor Jesus wrote the fucking constitution of the United States or Texas. If a church refuses to marry a homosexual couple, that is their decision and right. I am in no position to tell them that they are wrong for that. We shouldn’t say though, that two people who have been together for twenty years can’t go to the courthouse and elope. Where the fuck is the logic in that? Did I miss the point in U.S history where we stopped being tolerant of others??? The right wing has never even given gays the time of day until now. How ironic.... They finally start paying attention so that they can unashamedly discriminate against them. Nice, assholes. Do we really need to ban something that is already illegal???? Talk about a waste of fucking time and tax dollars. You know, the “fiscally responsible” right wing hasn’t exactly proven to be all that sensible with our money lately. These are the same people that WE have put in charge, so it is time for a change. In 2006 we will have the opportunity to send some of these people back home with their families. Until then, we MUST let our voices be heard. If you feel that banning gay marriage is a complete encroachment of people’s rights and a waste of time, then you need to vote against the amendment. We, as the youth of America are partially responsible for the re-election of Bush. Wait...... I’m sorry. This is the first time he was elected. Oops. He was appointed by the Supreme Court in 2000. Silly me. Anyway, we didn’t show up at the polls in the vast numbers anticipated and helped give this election to the republicans. So, in closing, we as citizens have a responsibility to not alienate other Americans. We are supposed to be ONE in this country. We really need to start fucking acting like it.

-Brando