Cursor's Media Patrol - 11/06/06

Recent statements by the vice president appear to indicate that he views the outcome of the election as "an irrelevant trifle" that will have no impact on the conduct of the war, as he also prepares an election-day offensive. Plus: Pro-marijuana ads target Bush and Cheney.

"Democracy Now!" discusses voter suppression in the midterm elections, People for the American Way provides a roundup of problems already documented, and "thousands of lawyers" fan out across the country looking for voting irregularities.

A new automated "twist on push polls" is being used to steer voters to Republican candidates in tight races across the country, including "repeat-call-back robocalls" that are designed to seem as if they are from the Democratic campaign, in order to suppress voter turnout.

After the "hell disaster" we have visited on Iraq, "we cannot even claim moral superiority" to Saddam Hussein, Robert Fisk contends, as questions about U.S. complicity in his crimes, and the potential negative social consequences of the 'trial of the century' are raised.

Regulations set to go into effect in January are said to require everyone entering or leaving the U.S. to have "specific prior approval" from the Department of Homeland Security.

As Daniei Ortega 'heads to Nicaragua vote victory,' NPR's coverage of his campaign is criticized for "turning history on its head," concerning the conflict between the U.S. and Nicaragua in the 1980s.

YouTube commenter suggests that "Dedicated to Haggard" might have been improved if the soundtrack was from somebody gay, like George Michael.