We celebrated New Years a day early (with a list of my favorite Bush in 30 Seconds ads)

Last night, we had a New Year's party at our house. Not a typical New Year's party, but one of 1400+ house parties around the country dedicated to take back our country from "King George" and learn more about the person whom I personally believe is capable of improving our lives, Howard Dean. We had about 30 friends and neighbors show up, plus their kids. Besides the usual food, drinks, conversation, and music, we showed a DVD with a brief bio of Dean, and Al Gore's recent endorsement of Dean. Plus, we showed a compilation of some of my favorite entries — listed below — to the Bush in 30 Seconds contest.

(Americans who want to take our country back are encouraged to contribute even small amounts to the campaign to go up against Bush's big-business war-chest. You can contribute via our party's home page -- beneath the image of the baseball bat, click the "Contribute" link.

My very favorite ones: Update, 1/16/04: Only the winners and finalists are available online anymore. Sign this petition to MoveOn.org to ask them to bring back all the others.

• True War Amazing production values -- this was not made by a guy with iMovie, I bet.
• Fantastic Iraq Beautiful, amazing graphics on this one. One inaccuracy now that they got Saddam, though.
• Instant Messaging 9/11 This ad took my breath away when I realized what I was seeing in the background.
• In My Country A man dark skin and an accent explains what is going on in his country. Why should Americans care?
• Republican Legacies My submission; I wanted to target Republicans and swing/independent voters to show them that even though they may have supported Republicans in the past, George W. Bush doesn't belong in the White House.

Other great ones:

• What is Presidential? Similar to mine, very elegant.
• George W. Bush -- He's NO Republican Kind of like mine because it compares Bush with Republican ideology.
• Ask Yourself It starts out making you think it's a Pro-Bush ad.
• You're Fired! How would a company deal with a CEO that puts their company into huge debt?
• Seriously Just a mother in a park. This would never actually "play in Peoria" but it's silly!
• Leave no Billionaire Behind "Kids across America are doing their part..."
• Ducting the Constitution "You're a Patriotic American." he says while applying duct tape to the doors and windows.
• Focus Group A very quiet group of people. Are you one of them?
• Bush Diner What happens when kids try to order from the menu?
• Grace and Deficit Another ad with a cute little child; this is one of my favorites.
• Three Strikes, You're Out Three big, bad lies.
• Honor & Integrity? A laundry list of quotes and lies.
• Al Keyda A silly and scary little story.
• Thank You A message from Haliburton to its biggest benefactors.
• Amerika 2008: The new 1984. Let's hope it never comes to this.
• Child's Pay Our children are getting a head start in paying off our country's deficit.
• Where Did All the Teachers Go? A quiet, haunting ad about the loss of education in America.
• The Truth Some clever editing of Bush's words turns his words into the truth.
• The Enemy Similar to the above; this will probably appeal to the younger voters.
• Lessons "This is what I mean by Compasionate Conservatism."