BOOG CITY A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FROM A GROUP OF ARTISTS AND WRITERS BASED IN AND AROUND NEW YORK CITY’S EAST VILLAGE ISSUE 75 • 2012 ELECTION SPECIAL • FREE 2012 Election: You Make the Call BY CHRIS CASAMASSIMA only to say “you have GOT TO BE Many criticisms leveled at Videos complete with laugh tracks Contributing Editor KIDDING ME” about some of the Obama are the fault of an and wiffle bats to the groin. And asked the following question to proposed legislation out there. obstructionist legislative branch, after all the performers were done a host of people: “In about 250- No, my needs are not even and even when the Dems had with their shtick, and taking off their I 300 words, tell us about your remotely being addressed by pancake makeup, Republicans choice of (or whether or not you’ll a particular candidate. I am an went with the clown who least vote for) president this fall, why you anarchist and I believe in things as frightened the children. will/won’t choose them and if/how seemingly extreme as trans-abled Romney is the poster boy their policies reflect your community’s individuals wanting to live their lives for entitlement. He thinks of the concerns.” Here’s what they said with one of their arms surgically working poor as service animals or (replies are ordered by state). removed, because that is how they parasites, and his frequent gaffes identify. Not only does no particular show how sheltered he is. He wants Lafayette, Colo. candidate cover my needs, even the office more than he wants to j/j hastain represent them, but in some cases serve. Obama is not perfect, but my rights as a Gender queer person he’s the only choice a rational are even suspect. This is the body. person can make. This is my body. That is your sweet Brent Fisk is a librarian, writer, body. You may be infinite to yourself control of the House and Senate, and city league basketball phenom. and I wish, oh I wish that there was he was poorly served by Pelosi One of those three might be a slight a government that could morph with, and Reid. Instead of passing a exaggeration. hold, and sustain such sense. raft of populist legislation, they j/j hastain is the author of sev- dragged out the debate on health eral cross-genre books, including care and let divisiveness creep in. the trans-genre book libertine monk Give Republicans a year to work Katie Bohinc (Scrambler Press), anti-memoir a their dark arts, and they’d make Washington, D.C. vigorous (Black Coffee Press/Eight most Americans fear ice cream Utopia Ball Press), and The Xyr Trilogy: a and puppies. Metaphysical Romance. It’s not as if I don’t see the It is always a choice NOT to value in a loyal opposition, but vote. I would choose to not vote until Bowling Green, Ky. from day one McConnell’s priority That Eros knows Nothing there is a viable “other than these Brent Fisk was to make Obama a one- Of the word Better two poles” option-of-candidate who I’m smack in the middle of a dark term president. There are valid actually had a likelihood of winning, red state, so every four years I waste discussions to be had on the size, Our only Hope but people not being able to have my vote. Still, I’m supporting Obama. role, and efficiency of government, an abortion is just abhorrent to me. Why people think a candidate will but Republicans turned it into a All’s fair So this year I will step in (knowing sync perfectly with their political circus. And when it came time In Love and War that my vote will probably not be philosophy is beyond me. It’s about to select their candidate, did counted correctly and that whatever the preponderance of actions and they give the American people a Our every is pre-decided about which of the beliefs. Obama is not perfect, but I viable alternative to Obama? The Demise poles will win will not be even never bought that Messiah crap the Republican primary debates were remotely affected by my vote) if Republicans tried to hang on him. like watching America’s Funniest Vote Tuesday November 6 2012 Election: You Make the Call Lafayette, La. in protecting our rights and civil excuses its own violence. While I national debt—here too one is Marthe Reed liberties through the appointments of understand the reality of stewarding logically and ethically (but perhaps Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor wars begun by the former presidential not emotionally) obliged to vote to the Supreme Court, in passing administration, I am outraged by the against corporate-libertarian the Fair Sentencing Act that undid warmongering of President Obama’s top-down economic policies. If the racist distinctions between crack administration: the drone killings, the Romney’s ilk wants to call itself and powdered cocaine users. Do I indefinite detentions, and more. the job creators, then they’re need to go on? I have always been an Our nation can continue to make Independent who is undecided until progress in fulfilling its promise to the last moment that I enter the assure justice and equality to all its polling station to cast my vote. Few citizens and residents and creating a concerns are as important to me as better future, or we can be afraid, give fostering peace. I have never for a in to dangerous “comfortable” illusions, moment believed that any political give in to irrational disappointment that candidate truly cares about peace. the world did not change 180 degrees But I never give up hope. I will vote again for Barack in four short years. Martin Luther King For me it comes down to this: 1) Obama, because he has worked tells us, “In the End, we will remember Will I vote for Jill Stein’s ticket (of assiduously to fulfill the nation’s not the words of our enemies, but the the Green Party) and make a quiet promises of justice, equality, and silence of our friends.” Barack Obama statement against warmongering that freedom. Facing an unimaginable has been a potent, vocal champion nonetheless has little tangible effect obligated to speak also of the economic crisis, he has worked to of justice, a fast friend in the face of on actual election results; or 2) will wealth and commodity creators, protect the interests of the middle- calamity, ignorance, and upheaval. I I vote for President Obama’s ticket who outnumber them, which they class against the rabid, debunked will vote with pride for Barack Obama in hopes that his administration will can’t do while simultaneously “pro-business” (read: trickle-down) in 2012. finally make good within a second serving their interests with any kind theories of the Republican party, Marthe Reed’s books include term on the many promises for peace of rhetorical consistency. Even so, which owes its existence entirely to Gaze (Black Radish Books) and that he made four years ago? (The as the environmental catastrophe the far right fringe whose antediluv- Tender Box (Lavender Ink); a third other presidential candidate merits we’re beginning to experience is ian notions have more in common book is forthcoming from Moria. no mention.) It is tragic that peace invisible in this campaign, I feel the with the Taliban’s than are suited to She has published three Dusie advocates like me have such limited election to be a futile exercise. the economic, environmental, and chapbooks. choices. Voting brings me no joy. Jared Schickling’s latest books of social realities of the 21st century. Tree Turtle (www.treeturtle.com) poetry are t&u& lash your nipples to It is Barack Obama who has Baltimore is the director of operations for the a post history is gorgeous and The assured the protection of health care Tree Turtle Kratz Center for Creative Writing at Pink (both BlazeVOX [books]). He is for nearly all Americans. It is Barack Goucher College, and a language a founding editor at Delete Press and Obama who has worked with our arts teacher at Goucher and the the proprietor of eccolinguistics. allies and via diplomacy as the first University of Baltimore. and primary means of engagement North Babylon, N.Y. in international conflict. Lockport, N.Y. Ian Wilder It is Barack Obama who led Jared Schickling the way on fair pay for women, in The only thing I’m sure of is that promoting a means to legal status my vote will not be “for” any of for children of illegal immigrants, in the options available to me as a standing up for women’s rights and voter. But, whatever it is, it will be reproductive freedoms. It is Barack a vote against the Republican Party Obama who led the way in resisting because, as far as I can see, to vote the Defense of Marriage Act and for Romney and Ryan is to know for undoing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, in On Sept. 25, 2012, President sure that you’re voting against clean recapitalizing of the banks at almost Obama appeared live on ABC energy, fair elections, women’s no cost to the U.S government, in Television’s morning talk show rights, biology, climate science, kicking banks out of the federal The View. While lambasting the the separation of church and state, student loan program and increasing extremists who murdered the United animal rights, workers’ rights, the I am voting for Green Party Pell Grants.