Taxes and Socialism

A milder anti-progressive tax column here. I understand it to a point and, in all honesty, I am for a flat tax rate if the first X number of dollars can be exempted. I don't know what that number should be because I'm just an opinionated ass and not a policy wonk, but I'm thinking somewhere around the 25 to 35 thousand mark. In addition to that, I would want to see a consumption tax in the single digits--closer to 5 than 9--that primarily benefits the welfare state. In that way, we would have progressive taxation by effect rather than design.

I really don't understand fully the angst behind Obama raising the tax rate 3-4% on dollars made over 250K, however. I really don't. I certainly understand not wanting to give my money to idiots in Washington (or even brilliant scholars in Washington)--that's easy. But it is not that that seems to fuel the anger. It is more the very phrase of "share the wealth" that seems to gnaw at these guys. As a conservative friend of mine calls it, "giving my money to people who haven't deserved it."

1. People who make 6-figures, effectively, get a tax break already by not having to pay Social Security taxes above the 90,000 mark (it's actually probably a bit higher than that now--not sure). They can keep 7.65% more of their income to invest and spend however they please on those dollars.

2. 95%+ of what the government does with taxes is a redistribution of wealth. The money goes to highways you never drive on, universities you never attend, weapons you never fire, retirees you don't know, national parks you never visit, etc. Governments have been doing it ever since we've had governments and taxation.

3. A concentration of wealth makes for a less robust economy (see: TODAY's economy with over half the wealth being controlled by 5% of the population). Coddling the investment classs in the hopes of effective trickle-down economics does not, and has not worked.

4. It's a 3 or 4 percent increase! The same rates we had during the very prosperous Clinton years! Get over it! We have to pay the bills somehow and, if the revenues don't come from the largest pool of income in the US, then from where?

There are more points I could make, but I'm so tired of this. President Bush and his giggling gaggle of GOP sycophants put an extra 5 trillion dollars onto the debt just in his term in office. That's approximately $16.5 thousand for every man, woman, and child in the US--obviously more for every taxpayer. And that is just the debt. It is time for adults to run the government now and fix his sorry mess and, if that means raising taxes a few percentage points on the most comfortable in our society, than that's what it means.

It is far from socialism. It is acting like a grown-up.

Polls

Pollster's latest is here. I'm always skeptical of polls, but they can be useful indicators. If they are right, we could be about to witness a landslide for Obama. Georgia is now a toss-up state and McCain only enjoys a 6% lead in Arizona.

It shouldn't be too surprising though. As I said back in June (well before this economic collapse), the task presented to McCain is so difficult, I don't know if any Republican could have won this year.

Helen

There is very little in this world I love more than a sassy old broad telling it like it is. Two of them is even better. Drop by Margaret and Helen's place if you get a chance. Helen has a pretty good missive on Palin.

Kinsley Makes the D Economic Case

My dad has often said "I always lose my job when Republicans are in power" (he is in construction). Now there are a few numbers to back up his suspicion that the Ds are better at running the economy.

Wooing Conservatives

Andrew Sullivan publishes a top-10 list of why conservatives should vote for the D. Pretty good, but I have no idea how convincing it would be on a per-voter basis (and I doubt he does either). What I appreciate most about it, however, is that he places the war on terror as #1. There is an argument to be made about a different approach to foreign policy from the Left. And, I would suspect, it will initially be a nasty debate within the Left itself--and then a more of an ideological one with the Right, as it should be.

There is fodder in the above paragraph for a number of books and policy debates, but I won't continue any longer--I've been cheating from work and personal obligations too long as it is to be writing this. But for what it's worth, a video of Republicans and Independents making their arguements better than I ever could:

IQ Litmus Test

This is....amazing. And this woman is dumber is than a sack of hammers (below).



Point 1: Obama is talking about putting the highest tax bracket back to 39%, as it was during the Clinton administration (note how Clinton's economy didn't exactly destroy American prosperity). That means the tax rate going from 36% to 39%--a 3% increase in taxes on dollars made over the 250K mark. If anyone out there is making over 250K and are aghast at a 3% increase on that slice of your income, I have three words for you: Boo Frickin Hoo. We've been bleeding our budgets red and Obama is raising taxes because he must. Why? Because of that irresponsible child masquerading as a President in the White House. If you have a problem with that--blame W and his merry band of hypocrites that ran the House and the Senate for the first six years of W's presidency and, together, spent other people's money like a pack of drunken sorority girls with new credit cards. It's because of them that we have to go around the world with a tin cup and a tamborine just just to pay the massive bills we've collected.

Point 2: If progressive taxation makes one a Socialist or akin to Marxism, then lump Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan in that crowd as well.

Point 3: Eh....what's the use? Crazy broads like this will be pushed to the margins soon enough, I guess. They will still have similar private thoughts--but they will either keep them to themselves so they aren't socially ostracized or will be put out to pasture. It won't be soon enough.

UPDATE: According to Paul Abrams, Obama would increase the top marginal rate 4%, not 3%. His overall view on it is here. (What he and I neglected to mention--and where Joe the Plumber shows his ass as someone who knows little about business or taxes--is that if he incorporated his company, as he should, he could pay himself a salary of 249,999 dollars and never face a tax increase under Obama's plan).

In the Genes?

Temper, temper...

Joe McCain, brother of John McCain, called 911 to complain about traffic. I'm serious. When the 911 operator asked him if he is calling to complain about traffic, his response was, "F*&k you." Could the McCain campaign get any more bad news?

And, short of being mentally handicapped, can you imagine anyone besides a self-righteous and self-absorbed prick calling 911 because he is frustrated with traffic? What could possibly be going through his head? I know he is no spring chicken, but I do think that the car radio was invented prior to his birth. Why not turn it on and listen to some music or, say....find an AM station with traffic reports on them...?

From the Pathetic to the Lugubrious

Apparently, Joe the Plumber's $40K/yr salary is still a trifle short of buying the plumbing company he wants and, instead, he is considering running for office.

Good news for Joe if he wins, Congressman don't make over $250k/yr either--so no worries about Obama taxing you more.

The Vet Who Did Not Vet

Pretty impressive and, appropriately, in the style of Dr. Seuss.

Another New Reader?

You may not believe it, but it's true. A reader stumbled upon my post regarding Hillarah and my self-absorbed mood of saying how I have long thought her a terrible choice for VP. The reader did not dissect the post, and I thank him/her for that. I didn't like it while I was typing it, and don't like it now, because the subject matter (at least for me) is too complex for a single post. It's full of holes and question marks but--given the constraints of a blog and my inefficiency with words--I had to punt and let it be where it was.

Anyway, the reader sent a couple links I thought I would share about "Generation Jones." It's new to me and I'm a bit skeptical about it, quite frankly. I understand the point, but I don't want to get too caught up in dissecting the electorate. There is a tendency, as with all efforts to classify human beings, to use social classifications as denominators in a algebraic equation when doing so. That was not the reader's point by any means (and I'm not suggesting that it was), but it can lead to mistakes in judgement if one isn't careful.

With the overlong disclaimer, however, I still do think this is a generational shift between baby boomers and those that are not--Generation Jones or otherwise. There is no way we can compete with the boomers on the "interesting" level. The 60s were too complex and transformative to compete with. But I don't think that's a bad thing. It makes us less self-absorbed, more open to shades of grey, more...pragmatic, really.

In that way, it puts us more in the modern human, and certainly more American, tradition. Kinda boring? Yes. Self-righteous? Thankfully no. Correct? Perhaps. But willing to talk about things without absolutes or some grand agenda fueling the discussion. Long live that which is Boring, I say (at least in politics ;-)).

So, without further ado, my reader's contributions here, and in the video below.

How Cool is This?

Yet another rip-off from Andrew Sullivan (please read his blog). This picture fit the cliche of being worth 1000 words--at least to me. Obama's comment to the photographer: he had already had them re-soled once at the start of the campaign.

As Long as I'm Feeling Self-Righteous...

Why not set myself up for a massive foot-in-the-mouth moment? I wrote a couple months ago that Hillarah was a terrible choice for VP. Actually, I said it a few times before then as well--likely more than a few times.

The 3 or 4 people that read this thing thought that I was over the top in my antipathy for Hillarah, and to a point I was, but it was motivated by a frustration with Ds (or at least non-current-day GOPs) to settle for what was 'winnable' vs. what was more bold and far better.

Obama has literally, quite literally, mobilized millions in his campaign effort. The vast majority of these volunteers do very small things such as make a few phone calls, plant signs, drive a couple people to early polling locations--nothing earth shattering. But the obvious brilliant simplicity of it is that it makes the election their election too. They have a personal stake in the outcome and--in a real way--effect the final tally beyond their single vote. It is enpowering. And, at the risk of sounding too Polyannish, it is the modern manifestation of Thomas Paine's dream and hope for the United States.

That is not to say that McCain's campaign doesn't do the same thing for its volunteers or that Hillarah wouldn't have. But can anyone imagine either of them doing it as well? Further, can anyone imagine the slime oozing out of the McCain campaign ads if Hillarah was the VP choice? With that much baggage?

Back to the intended point, this always had the chance to be a generational shift. I've said before that Obama's biggest qualification is that he is not from the Baby-Boomer generation. There are two generations younger than them that need a voice and a new politics. And it is those two generations that are really propelling Obama into the White House, rightly or wrongly. Hillarah represents neither of these two generations. That is not her fault (and it is Obama's luck), but that doesn't change the reality.

While true that Biden is not of Obama's generation, he doesn't obfuscate the platform in the way that Hillarah would have. And he gives the opposition little to oppose other than honest policy disagreements.

Even if, by some miracle, McCain wins this thing, it will be Obama's style, Obama's constituency, and Obama's campaign tactics that will guide the Ds in the presidential races in the future. It will not be Hillarah's. And that, in my humble opinion, is not only a very good thing, but a greater legacy than Hillarah could have ever left.

Ahem

So uhhh, told you so. Though I may well have underestimated him. Obama may be on his way to a landslide.

Two quotes of note from the article:

...[T]he pollsters are finding that some voters whom they considered "unlikely" voters have in fact turned out to vote. Zogby gives Obama a 21-point lead nationwide among people who have already voted, and SurveyUSA and Civitas peg his advantage among early voters in North Carolina at around 20 and 30 points, respectively.

And:

And according to Tom Jensen, Obama has a 68-24 lead among voters who did not cast a ballot in 2004.

Holy Shiznickels.

Lil' O'Reily

Not too far off...

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Colin Powell Endorses Obama

In case you haven't heard. Powell's endorsement won't really effect the election so much, I don't think. If he was out giving speeches for him, sure, but he's not going to do that.

What I think it might help accelerate, however, is a GOP reality-check. They seem to be the only thing in more disarray than the economy. When you lose the confidence of people like Warren Buffet, George Will, Peggy Noonan, and Chris Buckley, you have a problem. When you lose a man who is a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a former National Security Advisor, and a former Secretary of State--all of them under Republican presidents--you have a major problem.

Just Who is McCain?

The video below is the John McCain I miss--along with many, many Americans, I would imagine. (The part II of the video is here). Very funny, very decent, and very human. Obama did a good job as well, but wasn't near as funny (video here and here).

Here is what I didn't know about McCain. Make no mistake, the article is out to get him and show his warts. I understand that. But the article reminds me of friends and acquaintances that I have had, and still do have--people of great qualities, but not the type I would want as my leader.

Assuming that McCain is about to lose this election (certainly not guaranteed, but likely), I hope he makes more news like the video below rather than continuing on with the behavior and language he has exhibited in this nasty and divisive campaign. It seems like his worst qualities are showing now and, not to be morbid, he isn't going to be on this earth much longer. I would think he would rather be remembered as a great public servant than as a petty opportunist who--even in his 70s--never stopped being a bratty frat boy.

Ugly II

Andrew Sullivan finds this gem:



As Andrew points out, this is "On the official Republican website in the state capitol of the most populous state in the Union." Elevated campaign, indeed.

Ugly

A sampling of GOP supporters in PN below. It is a small sample, obviously, and hardly scientific. But it's still ugly--as in very ugly--and, no matter the defense, I haven't heard similar ugliness from the other side.

Land and Taxes

I've been watching this global economic panic like most everyone else and certainly have no answers, but I'm wondering who is vindicated in all of this? Paul Krugman, the recent Nobel Prize winner? Ron Paul, the Congressman who ran for President of the US and constantly harped on strict finance? Alexander Hamilton, who wanted a national bank? John Kenneth Galbraith, who advocated wage and price controls along with more government involvement with the market?

I have no idea. I'm sure there are many economists and pundits out there either feeling vindicated or who are now running for cover. But I can't help thinking that--in his own way--Henry George is the one most vindicated, however posthumously. Though notable for a few things, he is most remembered for his advocacy of a single tax on land--arguing that land and natural resources should belong to the public good.

It is Land, Real Estate, that was really behind this latest crisis. Before there can be sharply rising home prices, lax lending practices, defaulted mortgages, bankrupted mortgage insurance firms, or any of the things that have gone wrong, there needs to be land and the need for shelter. And it is land that governments have still not really figured out, I think. Land is certainly taxed all around the world in different ways, but I'm not sure what the best way to do it is. And I don't think many do.

Ideally, Henry George would have the dirt itself be as close to a zero-profit market as possible due to taxes taking away any increase in price. So, if one buys a plot of land for $1 million dollars and sells it for $2 million later, the $1 million increase in value would be taxed at 100%. Here is where it gets tricky, however. If one spends $1 million building something on the land and sells that building for $2 million, the $1 million increase in value for the building is not taxed at 100%. George would not have it taxed at all, in fact--just the dirt.

From what I understand, Philadelphia (and other cities in Pennsylvania) has a system something like this, where the land and the structure are taxed at different rates. No idea how well it works, but I imagine it has it's detractors. Hong Kong is known for steep land taxes so they can keep income taxes low. Even Winston Churchill favored a Land Value Tax early in his career. There are plenty of other schemes as well, of course (look here, if interested).

What I hope is that present-day economists look less at the details of government regulation, lending practices, interest rates, etc., and instead look at land tax policy again. Land is an expense to everyone from the richest to the poorest, inflating the price of everything from lease space, warehouses, factories, apartments, homes, movie theaters--anything with a structure on it--which, of course raises the prices of all goods and services. Hyper-inflated real estate prices sunk Japan into a decade-log recession back in the 90s and a mortgage crisis has caused a global financial crisis today.

I don't know how to handle it best (or really how to handle it all, truthfully--not a well trained economist). But I can't help but think that Real Estate is the last vestige of feudalism and, therefore, the hardest to deal with in a market economy. It has nothing to do with capitalism. Construction and development have everything to do with capitalism, however, and it seems quite difficult to separate the two in tax policy or overall land value. But I think it has to be done somehow.

If it can be pulled off, perhaps income and sales taxes could be lowered for everyone. Perhaps more affordable housing could result (requiring a 30-year mortgage for a modest home seems to be a failure of modern capitalism, truthfully), perhaps lower prices for goods and services could result. I really don't know. But at least it would make our supposed capitalist market economy much closer to that--a capitalist economy. As it is now, we are--quite literally--paying for our continued failure to effectively deal with the most basic of human needs: earth and shelter.

Most ironic of all, it is Real Estate--the most non-capitalistic element of our sainted market, capitalist economy--that is compelling capitalists around the world to forgo market principles and behave like socialists now. What I would give to bring Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and Henry George back from the dead to see where we are at now. Criticism would come from each of them, I'm quite sure. And we would probably deserve it.

Wish I had a Dog

Dogs saying hi to a soldier returning after 14 months. Enjoy:

Racial Stereotypes

Oh so sumptuous... The irony lifts the palate to new heights of ecstasy .

Leave Sarah Alone!

Delicious. The McCain camp wants to call "no fairzeez" if Gwen Ifill asks too many foreign policy questions.

Note to McCain camp: Your candidate is running on foreign policy! Nothing Else! His economic agenda is the GOP/Bush agenda but with cutting pork barrel spending (has anyone actually seen a barrel of pork, by the way? Just curious. Seems like an odd cliche is all.)

There is nothing else there. The chief argument for the GOP--and it is a serious one--is that McCain is more suited to lead the US through these turbulent times given the terrorist threat. The End. In fact, he is betting so heavily on it that he dismisses the economic side of things almost entirely. (Does anyone seriously believe that "Bush/GOP economic agenda, but a shade stingier," will actually be persuasive given the economic conditions we face presently)?

Given all that, how can the McCain camp--even for a second--try to protect their VP choice from being inexperienced and/or unknowledgeable about foreign policy? This would be a joke if it wasn't so serious. Instead, it's a sham. An utterly absurd, and insulting, sham.

Oh, John. Tell Me Again How Much You Love Me

Doh! Them pesky facts again!

"You were wrong"

I thought this was Obama's best moment. Calmly, cooly, taking what McCain had to dish out and then throwing it right back at him. It looked to make McCain absolutely squirm.

Daddy Issues

Irony just seems too puny a word for this one.

RIP Paul Newman

Clive has a good little story about him here.

Contrast

And plugging the CNN blog-line further, there is this blurb about Biden's tax returns and how he is comparatively poor amongst Senators. I don't really care about that, but I do like this nugget:

A McCain aide told CNN Friday the campaign would release Palin's documents, but on their "own timeframe."

Lovely. First, they keep her holed up in Alaska to avoid the press (saying that she will talk to the press when the campaign is ready), and now they are going to release tax documents "on their own timeframe." And Obama is the elitist? "Rest, ye peasants! The Court of McCain will hear your questions upon His Majesty's convenience." Charming.

What are they so afraid of? Oh, that's right, her apparently complete lack of knowledge regarding foreign policy--to include the Bush Doctrine. Do I think she is stupid? Of course not. But I don't think she has much interest or curiosity on the subject. Certainly not enough to know about the very doctrine that put us into Iraq, anyway--which is rather important, I should argue, since she is running to be, you know, the next in line for President of the United States and stuff.

And I wonder what else she might have no knowledge or opinion about like, say...the trade deficit, budget deficit, national debt, plummeting dollar, inflation on food and energy, Sino-Indian relations, nuclear arms in N Korea and Pakistan, Burmese unrest (call it "Mee-an-mar" and I'll kick you in the face), immigration, the political/security situation in Mexico, unfunded liabilities, anything. ANYTHING! Just give me an opinion. Show me that the thought at least crossed your mind. I don't have to agree, just know that you have an opinion. And please show me one before you were nominated, not the rehersed party line.

But, of course, I'm an elitist because I do things like...read, and have a small amount of knowledge about the world around me. And here is the scary part. The McCain campaign has taken a cynical--and potentially winning--bet. That Americans really are that dumb. That they expect, and react well to, patronage. That talking about pick-up trucks and football and Jesus is enough to win.

Maybe their calculation is correct, but their premise is wrong--I'm convinced. Sure, many don't give a hoot in hell about Burma, but I bet they would if they were told what the situation was. They may not really know the impacts of massive trade deficits, but they could know them in about 5-10 minutes and would certainly have an opinion about the subject thereafter. And many of them actually do read and keep up on things. And therein lies the challenge for Obama.

He's great about getting people filled with the religion of reform and change and happy days, but I should think his real challenge is to go to blue-collar America and tell them what the GOP's cynical bet really is. Tell them that the GOP thinks you are stupid. That if a candidate talks about something other than pickup trucks and God and 5-point bucks in the woods, he's an elitist. And then challenge them to ask questions from both sides that would expose just how versed they are on the subjects. Show them that they are not simpletons with no interest in anything 5 minutes past their noses. That they can, and do, care about a number of things. And, most importantly, that they want to have a leader that challenges them to do so vs. a Kindergarten teacher telling them how proud they are of us for being 'regular Americans' (whatever that means).

Biden is actually better suited for that. But Obama might be able to pull it off too. Guess we'll see.

Goddammit!

If McCain doesn't rescind/apologize for this add, we've had it. This is Rovian politics at it's purest, unfiltered level of bullshit. Actually, Rove is more clever--I take it back. This is just an outright lie. Yes, a lie. Obama and McCain voted identically on immigration reform (including a vote to stop a Republican-led filibuster) and yet the McCain campaign plans to air the ad anyway.

"Truth? Fuck it! So long as you win." That has been the last 8 years--where elections are the only moment of accountability, integrity is for chumps, and political success is measured by how well one can dupe the public. I just can't believe that McCain--champion of electoral reform!--is a part of it now.

Kim Jong is Ill

Looks like Lil' Kim might have suffered a stroke (get it? Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong is Ill....... nevermind). No idea what this might mean in that he might be back on his feet in a few weeks or he might be a puppet turnip for 10 years. Who knows? But his speedy death and pain is wished for heartily by your faithful blogger.

Even Sadder

So much has been said about the qualifications of Palin as the VP pick that the attempt to add further would be beyond unnecessary. Truth be told, I don't care about Palin. What I care about most is why McCain and his GOP advisers even considered her seriously. It was an idiotic, impulsive, cynical choice.

As such, it begs the question of just how seriously McCain and the GOP are about governing. Seriously. Are elections the only standard? However one views the election, frivolous or pedestrian are two adjectives not commonly thrown at it. Particularly given the last 8 years of 'winging it' with W, the GOP needed to show--above all else--that it was serious about governing again. This VP choice just re-enforces the argument that the GOP is, literally, not fit to govern.

A party that was once known for tolerance, fierce protection of privacy and civil liverties, and a dedication to laisse-faire markets and society is now the party of intolerance, torture, and a disgustingly self-righteous claim to proper society to mask their paucity of ideas to fit the world as we live in it now. And leading it is my Senator and one of my heros, John McCain.

His submission to the GOP as it is now is such a betrayal of Goldwater and the traditions of the GOP as to invoke nothing but heartbreak--truly. He knows better, but had to win an election and thought that this was the best way to do it.

So go ahead with Palin, Senator McCain. Appease the Christianists and betray Goldwater, agree that torture is ok if we do it, continue with the fantsay that there are quadrillions of barrels of oil off the US coastlines, continue with the fantsay that lower taxes always equals greater US prosperity. All you must give in return is my vote, my respect, and your soul.

I'm in

And I ask for your support. Join the ranks of this revolutionary campaign.

Interlude

Juan García Esquivel, King of Mexican Lounge Music, takes on Blue Danube with Kubrick as a visual background.



(Hat Tip: Clive Davis)

TSA Today

Bruce Schneier remains ever watchful of our glorious TSA. My favorite one of the many:

The third-grader has been on the watch list since he was 5 years old. Asked whether he is a terrorist, he said, "I don't know."

Though he doesn't even know what a terrorist is, he is embarrassed that trips to the airport cause a ruckus, said his mother, Denise Robinson.

[...]

Denise Robinson says she tells the skycaps her son is on the list, tips heavily and is given boarding passes. And booking her son as "J. Pierce Robinson" also has let the family bypass the watch list hassle.

The old "tip the skycaps well" ruse...clever girl, Ms. Robinson.

Onion Digs Deeper into Voting Demographics

As usual, the Onion digs deeper--this time into America's demographics. Finally, a news agency is tracking 'dental assistants who are going to go back to school to get their real estate licenses someday' demographic! One slight word of criticism, however. There is no mention of left-handed Haitian lesbian tennis players--crucial in Florida.

Bill Schneider, aka Baron Nozzle de la Douche, would be proud. Dig this joke at the end. (Overthrow of Greece...where does he come up with this stuff)?!


Latest Poll Reveals 430 New Demographics That Will Decide Election

Wealthy Mexicans Chipping Themselves

I knew kidnapping was an enormous problem in Mexico, but wow! The wealthier Mexicans are now getting chipped in the same way people do with their pets in the case of abduction.

I know it's a hell of a lot easier to say than do, but I cannot believe that Mexicans aren't taking to the streets in protest over police involvement with kidnappings. In the US and many other countries, people would be ready to burn down government buildings if it were found that police officers were involved in such a heinous crime as kidnapping. Yes, heinous. I would want to kill someone that killed a family member of mine, if I'm honest with myself--seems like a normal reaction. Anyone involved with kidnapping a family member of mine I would want to slaughter. And, continuing to be honest with myself, I would do it with no more compunction than stepping on a cockroach--possibly less.

Mexicans have a history of revolution. They will fight if you piss them off enough. I just wonder why they aren't angrier now. And, back to the chips, what happens if/when you can find an abducted loved one with this method? Do you go to the police?

Hillarah as VP

I don't know this Nate Silver guy much, though his site is always impressively up to date with polling data and the electoral map. But he thinks Hillarah is a wise choice, as do many, many people. I think it would be a disaster for a myriad of reasons that I won't get into now since I've done it so much in the past, but those that argue the "Hillarah for Veep" line seem to be looking at the election only. The guy will have a job to do after he wins office and Hillarah makes that exponentially more difficult.

Yes, you have have to win the office before you can govern, but my God...unless Obama gets caught with a dead girl or a live boy, it's over. He will be the next President.

Finally, if douche bag extraordinaire Bill Schneider agrees, time to reconsider. He is the very symbol of lemming political opinion in the media today. Can any of you remember an original thought or comment he has ever uttered? Even something remotely interesting?

Hillarah ain't gonna make it, Gents. Time to say goodbye.

Biden as VP

The press turned up its Jr. High gossiping to a fever pitch as they await Obama's pick for VP (feels only a microdegree away schoolgirls talking about who Johnny is going to ask to the prom but...it's their life, I suppose--should be excited).

My surprise has been the conventional wisdom that Biden is the "surprising" or "dark horse" choice. To me, he is almost the obvious choice and have said as much back in January (sigh, could have made a fortune on intrade). That's not to say that Biden has received the nod, but I just can't see much of a downside other than that he probably doesn't want it--at least comparative to a Secretary of State slot or still a ranking member of the Senate.

He's strong on defense, knows the Senate as well as anyone, has bipartisan respect, isn't afraid to scrap, good on camera, nationally known, in good with the Clintons, great family, doesn't dodge questions, moderate...why not? Yes, he can shoot his mouth off a bit, can be a little smug, had the plagiarism thing about 20 years ago, but outside of that...hard to beat if you ask me. Guess we'll see.

Whoever it is--and it will NOT be goddammed Hillarah, trust me--I hope s/he and Obama can help put the Clintons out to pasture as part of the election. We've suffered enough.

Monterey Redux--part 1 of possibly many

I don't know where to begin except chronologically. So, away we go:

1) Wednesday. Arrive in San Jose. Airport sux schweaty monkey nutz, but you live with it (and they are working on it).

2) Arrive in hotel in Santa Cruz (no hotels under $300/night available in Monterey area during the Historic races and Concours D'Elegance).

3) Go have chipotle prawns and scallops on the pier. Santa Cruz is a nice place to be. Dinner at Pasatiempo resort up the street a ways. Great burger while watching the Olympics.

4) Thursday. Off to Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Course--aka 'The Poor Man's Pebble.' Breakfast at Coastie's in Pacific Grove, Brother and I play with a charming older twosome (Mitch and Kitty--just friends, not a couple) and I played like a Casa del Fuego on the back nine (the coastal nine). 1 over on the back--with 3 missed birdie putts within 10 feet--and shot a +5 75 for the round. Hurts because it could have been better, but still could have been a lot worse. What a place.

5) Lunch at Gianni's--great pizza/sandwich joint in Monterey. Two pints of Carmel Wheat, mmmmmmm--great beer if you can get it ( a lot like Samuel Adams Summer Ale).

6) Shoot pool at Easy Street Billiards on Tyler Street in Monterey. I kicked my brother's tucas at 8-ball and then he kicked mine at 9-ball. He owns a pool table though, so overall, I won.

7) Drinks on the patio of Spanish Bay resort. Got a free shot of Laphroig 15 year whiskey. Missed the piper (whimper), but I'll see him next time.

8) Friday. Played Seascape Golf Course in Aptos. Kicked my ass. Kicked the bejeezus out my brother. We probably did about 2 grand in property damage the first nine holes. The second nine was better (less homes) and more dramatic. I recommend golfers play it if they think they can keep it pretty close to straight. Otherwise, pick a different course. It gives the term 'tree-lined' an an entirely different meaning and, if you ever have an even lie, you will know you are on one of the better tee boxes.

9) Nappy time back at the hotel. Mmmmmmmmm.

10) Rally in Carmel. According to my brother, rather boring compared to last year. Still, pretty damn cool. When seeing yet another Ferrari inspires a "huh, not bad," you are at least close to Carmel. Some amazing cars were parked all over the joint--including a 1930 Rolls Royce and (right behind it) a 1959 Bentley. We even saw a chain driven fire truck looking thing from 1918 with inlaid wood on the rear carriage parked behind a 1932 Packard (pics delivered later).

11) Dinner in Carmel at La Dolce Vita. Great setting. Good, but not great, food. Nicest waiter in the world. Excellent sauce on their calamari--I'll give them that for certain.

12) Saturday. Drive down Highway 1 a bit to Rocky Point Restaurant (see pic below). There was a funer....wedding going on at the time, but they made room for us. Food was better than I remembered it. Watched ground squirrels forage for food as the waves crashed against the rocks about 100 feet or so below--all glass walls in this place.

13) Off to the historic races! Imagine every exotic race car you've ever fantasized about seeing and then magnify it by at least 10 if you are a true afficianado--100 if you a pedestrian fan like me. The place is dripping in racing nostalgia. Two cars were taken out of the museum because it was time to race--including a 1978 Lotus and a 1959 Ferrari Testarosa. The winner of the whenever-1933 bracket was a 1932 Alfa Romeo--one of 5 left in the world with the 'original' stamp on it--and he drove it like he stole it. Oh, and the 1978 Lotus was driven by Mario Andriette.

14) Dinner a Chef Lee's in Monterey. Went a bit budget with this one. Service was awful, but food was good for the price.

15) Sunday. Breakfast at Friar Tuck's in Carmel. Wasn't really hungry, but food was good. Setting better.

16) On to the Concours D'Elegance--the premiere car show in the world. Forget what you might think you know about car shows. This show takes all day to see and a lifetime to drink in. Unless you happen to have seen $1.25 million dollar one-of-a-kind cars from 1929 next to the single Pinafiori Cadillac in the world (made in homage to Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy in 1961) as but a teaser to the real car show, don't try to compare notes with me. Have you ever seen a 1959 Stingray Corvette? The answer should be "no" because it was a concept car in 1959 that never saw production. But it's at the Concours. How about an 1894 Mercedes Benz...ever seen one? I have. Oh, and the setting is the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach! My brother and I were joking that they must have the greenskeeper chained to a bed in a remote part of Southeast Asia. Pebble Beach! The 18th hole! With ancient cars driving on it?! I would need black tar heroin to calm me down if I were the greenskeeper.

So, all in all, not a bad way to spend 4 or 5 days. I recommend it to any who can afford it--budget style or otherwise. And whoever is responsible for that blessed place, be it God, the Dark Lord of Hades, Thor, Quetzalcoatl, Zues, E=mc2, or Colonel Sanders...thank you. You have my undying devotion.

Monterey--Post Mordem

Just got back from My Beloved, and it hurts. There are many, many places on this earth I would rather not be than my hometown of Phoenix, but coming back here from Monterey, California almost feels like leaving 'that perfect woman' to come home to the wife (and the life) that you have vs. the one you truly want--heartbreaking, bittersweet and, above all, so longing for what could be.

I offer a picture of a breakfast setting my brother and I had at Rocky Point Restaurant along Highway 1. I ordered the first bloody mary because I like bloody mary's. I ordered the second because I knew I would have to leave soon. Fortunately, like the place itself, it didn't disappoint. May I present: The Lone Bloody Mary Cypress.

Obama in Trouble

The Onion uncovers a long held secret.

Adjust your bookmarks

Orwell as blogger starting 9 August. (His diary entries will be submitted in the form of posts).

A Trifle Uptight

Seriously. What is this guy's problem?

Poulos took a beating, and rightfully so, in the comments section of his earlier post regarding Obama's statement of being "...a proud citizen of the United states, and a fellow citizen of the world." He took initial attempts at defense by writing:

"My great scorn for Obama’s remark — even if it was lifted from Kennedy, or if it’s supposed to apply to all of us, the content of my objection stands — should not be confused with scorn for his appearance in Berlin or even his speech. It is undeniable that Obama is an incredible asset to what is often discussed as ‘America’s image abroad’, and should really just be described as America. In several important ways, Obama is full of crap, but it is our crap that he is full of, and people all over the planet still love it."

"...great scorn..." and "...full of crap..."?

Now, instead of just saying something to the effect of "fine, let's move on," he goes off on a self-absorbed and bizarre tangent about liberty and supposedly European absurdities of pan-human brotherhood and the greatest absurdities of the human condition and...whatever, Dude. Deep breath, Poulos, deep breath. Calm down.

To take the 5 word phrase of "...fellow citizen of the world..." in a near 30 minute speech and then extrapolate it into a rambling diatribe about our supposed delusions of pan-human brotherhood and the Left's menacing ambition of world government is not only terrifically pedantic and petty--it is childish, dishonest, and, quite frankly, unhinged. Further, it makes one wonder if he even listened to the speech!

Global warming and pollution just so happens to be global. International terrorism is called international terrorism because--you guessed it--it's international. World trade involves the world. Similarly, 'World markets' imply 'the World.' As such, logic would seem to indicate that Obama is quite right in saying we can't deal with these issues alone.

Then there is the fascinating irony in Poulos being so apoplectic about Obama's phrase and about how he is full of "America's crap" of human solidarity. A universal yearning for freedom and liberty is exactly the reason America was founded. It is Man's commonality and it does bind us together. This idea, this 'European delusion,' is the very foundation of the country!

Poulos may want to disagree with that, but he will be disagreeing with the language of the Declaration of Independence and every single administration since the founding of the nation. The continued existence and success of the United States, after absorbing almost every language, ethnicity, and culture on the planet however, would seem to indicate that Obama just might be on to something. If America has shown the world anything of value, it is that we are not so terribly different and that, yes, there is something that can universally bind. It doesn't make us brothers and sisters, but it does make us human beings that can, normally, coexist peacefully. And that's plenty good enough for me.

Days with my Father

So uh...., whew.

Just view this. Please.

Obama Does Berlin

And did it well (embedded below). How can McCain possibly beat this guy? Patrick Appel (guest blogging for Andrew Sullivan) has a round-up of blog reviews here.

Beyond the addition of yet another outstanding speech, however, is the fascination I have with the bitter reaction of some conservatives to it, and the cynicism others have even to the idea of him giving a speech in Berlin now.

I can perfectly understand disagreeing with Obama on any and all political points, but what could possibly be wrong with an American presidential candidate being respected, and even adored, by a European audience? How could it be a mistake to say "I am a proud citizen of the United States and a citizen of the world" (the 'citizen of the world' phrase used by both Presidents Bush and Reagan, btw)? What could possibly be so regrettable about *finally* having a President--after all these horrible 8 years--who is greeted with cheers vs. protests and venom and derision and mockery? Talk about "Change We Can Believe In!"

Have some conservatives become so twisted around that they honestly think being liked around the world is some sort of stain or cause for concern? That it will somehow turn off American voters? Sad, if true. But I very sincerely doubt that many Americans who are still on the fence or were leaning toward Obama watched this and said something to the effect of "Gosh, he did have my support, but now that he seems to be respected and liked in Europe I'm not so sure anymore. If only he was a lightning rod of worldwide animosity and mockery. Then he would have my vote for sure."

To someone who would never vote for Obama anyway, sure, this speech might not have done him any favors. But if anyone has looked more presidential than he did, commanding the attention of over 200,000 Berliners while giving yet another stellar speech (fully from memory from what I could tell), I would like to know how I seemed to have missed the last 30 years of my life.

I don't think these conservatives hate Obama, but I think they hate how good he is and--perhaps--hate even more the idea of having to accept Obama and a left-of-center government in the US for a long time to come. It looks as if the GOP will be in the minority for quite a few years now and, for them, that has to hurt.

Nozzle Rage

Kinda scary, actually...

JibJab

They got a new one, and it's perty darn fine methinks:

Don't Mess With China

These guys look pretty serious (or at least photogenic in drills). I especially like guys on the automatic walkers with mini guns. If I had a dollar for every time that stopped a crisis!

Actually....come to think of it, I don't think that would do much good. But here's to theater!

The Brass Ring

So I got a shot at a gig that pays big money for me to do cool stuff from home and--for the most part--make my own hours. It's not mine yet by any stretch, but things look good so far.

If I have a point in this post at all though, it's only to say that because of my field (IT Security) there are a range of well-paying opportunities available to me that just aren't there for most--even very well trained and/or educated people. Further, this job (as with all my previous jobs) really does nothing in the way of adding value to the economy in that it's service-oriented.

One gets the feeling sometimes that to really get the high-paying jobs, one needs to get into the service industry (and I don't mean just restaurants and hotels). We don't seem to value production and building in the same way we used to and I don't know why. But it worries me a bit. I think that one of the best things our new president could do would be to massively invest in the infrastructure of the US. It's bi-partisan, it's good for the economy, we need it, and it could re-establish jobs that actually add value to the economy as good, interesting, and rewarding occupations. Having to become a doctor, lawyer, broker, or IT weenie can't be the only way to make big bucks and have a rewarding career.

The downside of San Francisco

More than one douchebag abounds--though this glorious specimen is from Toronto, for the record.


http://view.break.com/527579 - Watch more free videos

Class

Jesse Jackson displays a slight lack of decorum (and/or a glimpse into his ego maniacal self). By the way, isn't it quite lovely how the old guard--left and right, black and white, seem to despise Obama? I can't help but think that it's for the oldest of reasons--they covet him. Well, that combined with frustration. He just doesn't fit a mold they've trained so hard to detect, and that whirring in their head is the sound of marginalization.

$250 a barrel

Remember that this is a dirty Russian scumbag talking, but he's a very powerful Russian scumbag.

The chief executive of the world's largest energy company [Alexey Miller] has issued the most dire warning yet about the soaring the price of oil, predicting that it will hit $250 per barrel "in the foreseeable future".

If You Have to Have Anal Cancer..

May as well make a few bucks out of the deal. You're so brave, Farrah! (I think I just vurped).

Reasons to Vote Republican

They make quite a sales pitch...

US Immigration Policy

I try not to be frustrated and angry, but then I read things like this. Gonzaga wants to recruit a shooting guard from Canada, but...

Kong, 20, is originally from Sudan, which is listed by the United States as a state sponsor of terrorism. Although he has lived in Canada since age 7, he does not hold citizenship there. He has been denied a visa to study in the United States three times, and it is unclear if he will ever satisfy the requirements for entry.

Even if the State Department thinks it's possible for a 7 year old child to fake being a refugee in order to hatch his mastermind terrorist plot--which is a bit of a stretch, I should hope--does his behavior over the last 13 years count for nothing?

I don't think the State Department is keeping him out because they think he's a terrorist. Even the drooling, giggling beasts at the INS aren't *that* stupid. I'm sure the young man is being turned down because some part of the process can't be fulfilled the way it normally is and it would put them in a position of having to rub a couple synapses together to work through. So they just reject the request and go put more coffee in their sippie cups because, well...fuck him--plenty of others standing in line.

Substantial reform of the State Department (and especially the INS and immigration law, since I mentioned it) would be enough to make a Obama a "good" president in my eyes. The task has to be daunting, at best.

Oh Johnny

Johnny Mac looks like a Jr. High Dorkus Aerileus up there. I knew he was a pretty lousy speech-maker, but this was just painful to watch and listen to.

You're giving a speech, Senator, not reading a limerick. And even if you were, it's not funny. And even if it was funny, your delivery makes it fall flat. McCain needs to stick with town halls and debates--this speech making just isn't for him and, at his age, he ain't gonna learn how to do it quickly enough.

Tommy Emmanuel

He's, uh....perty good.

Relax, Ds. Relax

So much fretting about whether Obama can win...please. Forget about Dick Morris, Karl Rove, and Ohio. Who phukin cares about them?

As an armchair pundit, it's easy to see Obama winning the following states:

WA

OR

CA

CO

NM

KS

MO

SD

MN

WI

IL

LA

MS

SC

NC

NY

VT

ME

CT MA

RI

NJ

NH

IA

DC

MD HA

That puts him at 286 electoral votes--16 over the 270 level necessary to win. McCain will probably have these states lined up:

MT

WY

ID

UT

NE

AL

TX

KY

WV

AZ

OK

That puts him at 93 electoral votes--177 shy of the necessary majority. Which, of course, means he would *have* to win Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Arkansas, North Dakota, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Georgia, Alaska, *and* Nevada *and* steal a few states from Obama just to win a razor thin majority of electoral votes. All Obama has to do is win over a state or two (or not) and walk into the Oval Office.

It's not that Obama could not lose, but the task presented McCain is so overwhelming, I don't think the best GOP candidate on her best day could pull it off.

Lugubrious

Lugubrious:

adj. Mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree.

A word I haven't used since college, probably, but the only one I can think of now. Will the Clintons please leave? Andrew Sullivan opines here and is pretty close to spot on, but it's not hard to do just that--meaning, not hard to report the very palpably obvious. Sullivan goes on to talk of McCain and Obama and how he looks very much forward to a McCain-Obama debate, as do I. But back to Hillarah (a constant theme), I think of the McCarthy hearings and the question directly posited him: "Have you no shame?" I wouldn't begin to compare Hillary Clinton to McCarthy, but I would ask her that same question.

Won more of the popular vote?! One gets a feeling that she is starting to believe her own bullshit. Caucus states, literally, don't count as part of the equation? She doesn't think that a single person in Michigan would have voted for Obama if he put his name on the ballot? She doesn't think the election dynamics would have changed a slight bit if they could both campaign in Florida? I've already said too much.

Her popular vote claim is not only very easily disputed and argued, one wonders what she intends to get out of it. It seems quite clear that she is all too willing to subvert the leading candidate of her party for personal gain/vindication. I truly believe that, at this moment, she hopes for a failure of the Obama presidency so she can say "I told you so."

It has to hurt. She had everything going for her until this uppity Negro inspired a movement and beat her--and narrowly at that, which makes it all the more bitter. But she is going out with such a lack of grace that she is actually staining everything both she and her husband worked for and accomplished. It didn't have to be this way. She made it come to this. Ugly. Vulgar. Arrogant to the point that it approaches the behavior of a sociopath. Leveraging racism, playing sexism, all to infuse doubt into the decision of voting for the leading candidate of her party.

Her actions and words suggest naked aggression on acid--or at least a lot of whiskey--and makes one wonder, does she love herself more than her party and her country? The answer has to be yes, which should not only disqualify her from office, but should give one pause and ask the question inapplicable to McCarthy: "Why are you running for the Presidency of the US?" I would like to hear the answer from her after a dose of sodium-penathol.

Why Kids Drink

And reason # 429,789,212 or so why Pinal County Arizona is vacuous blackhole for faith in mankind. A yearbook that has kids with tattoos and piercings?!?! Even alluding to potential homosexuality amongst the Student Body?!?! GASP! I haven't seen the high school yearbook in question, so I guess I shouldn't comment fully, but it's not like they showed kids hitting a bong or nudity or something clearly beyond the pale.

"To me it was glorifying things that were against the law for children in high school," said Van Camp, who is also pastor at the San Tan Heights Church.

He is a parent, so he has every right to be concerned--more right than me, truthfully. But aren't there more important things to worry about than a couple tattoos or piercings? Once these kids try to get a job, they will realize that showing off your tramp stamp and/or the piercing in your eyeball is counter-productive to personal wealth and they will drop it. Well, most will--some will not. But need I remind the Reverend that he lives in *Pinal County, Arizona*? It's a divining rod for Caucasian refuse. What could he possibly expect--assuming he leaves the house now and then? And besides, as was stated in the uplifting script of Caddyshack, the world needs ditch-diggers too.

Check to You, W

Al Sadr makes a bloodless, and potentially brilliant, move. Do you really want democracy in Iraq, Mr. President? Enough to let the voice of the Iraqi people potentially tell you 'no more?' Guess we'll find out.

BTW, when a half-crazed murderer and all-around thug can consistently out-maneuver you...time to admit that politics just isn't your thing.

Kid of the Year Nominee

A High School kid decomposes a plastic bag in three months. Humility check for any of you out there who tout your own cerebral prowess.

Ask an Imam

All those burning questions..? Well, now you know.

"Can I suck my wife's sweat after intercourse[?]"

The Imam should have answered with something like, "Sure, but that makes you pretty gross, Dude." I can't imagine sweat from anyone being to terribly tasty....

Endorsement of Endorsements

For a D, anyway--Obama in particular. The Sage of Omaha, William Buffet, endorses Obama. Talk about political cover! "Senator Obama, some charge that you will wreck the US economy with your _______ plan."

"Yeah, well, the richest stock market investor in the US supports me. Suck my balls."

Interesting to note that Buffet is looking for companies valued at 50mil euros, btw. Has the US dollar really started the process of losing its place as the world currency standard or is it just because the story came out of Frankfurt? Almost certainly the latter, but one wonders....

Best quote from the article for me:

"They say in the stock market ... buy stock in a business that's so good that an idiot can run it because sooner or later one will," he added.

"Well, the United States is a little like that. We can take a little mis-management from time to time"

Note to the GOP: OUCH!

Ted Stevens in Trouble

Oh Blessed Day! Ted Stevens of Alaska is in great trouble. The GOP has lost 3 special elections in a row and one of their most senior members is in danger of losing his seat in the Senate. In a way, this might even be too good for the Ds. They are almost certain to have control of both houses of Congress and the Executive. They better be prepared to deliver. In the meantime, I'm just glad that the old guard of the GOP is showing just how anachronistic they are. It was almost like a bad dream that Americans are finally, and thankfully, waking up from. (Now if we can just get rid of the old guard of the Ds).

For your amusement, Senator Stevens explains the Internet and its tubes:

If You Have a Gay Friend

Show him this:

Lorenzo : the Flying French Man...
by alatebo

If you don't have a gay friend, ignore this and--by all means necessary--KEEP IT AWAY FROM YOUR GIRLFRIEND. A Frenchman that lives with beautiful white horses on the beaches of southern France...? You can't compete Dude. Just can't.

Joe Klein on Wright

Joe Klein seems to get it about right again.

For all the palpable good that Wright has done his community, his parishioners have paid a subtle price, especially the younger, poorer, less educated ones. When he spreads canards like the one about the AIDS conspiracy, he is telling them that white power is so overwhelming that it's almost impossible to succeed. The success of Obama's candidacy sends the very opposite message, which may be why Wright is so threatened by it. If Obama wins the presidency—if we can break past the barrier of race—there won't be much of a market for oppression-thumping orators like Jeremiah Wright.

Amen.

Sober Discussion in Politics?

Obama on gas prices. Man, I hope this guy wins. I think he's even more sick of the gimmickry in US Politics than I am.

Chinese Discipline in the Schools

The Onion reports. When I think of the Chinese, "humor" doesn't leap to mind.

Meat in a Tube

Personally, I'm all for it. I don't eat beef or pork much at all anymore because of all the reports I've seen surrounding the livestock industry. Not only is it heinous at times, it has good potential of being unhealthy and even dangerous. But, we humans are set up to be omnivores--can't change that fact.

If we can "grow" meat we can eliminate ethics questions, leave a much smaller environmental footprint, and--conceivably at least--have greater safety controls. It may seem spooky or unnatural, but it seems better than leaving hogs in metal crates until they go insane or moving crippled milk cows around on forklifts.

Monterey Historics

I'm pretty sure one must be naked to have more fun than this.

Sheet Music Rollercoaster

I thought it was pretty cool:

Leave Hillary Alone!

Sean Wilentz is still pissed off that his girl isn't winning. Three words for you, Wilentz: Boo. Fucking. Hoo.

I don't disagree that (1) the primary system is pretty fruity and (2) that the DNC made it worse by disenfranchising both Michigan and Florida; it is, and they did. But does he honestly think for a minute that if Michigan and Florida voted for Obama the Clinton campaign would be saying "Wait a minute, those should count." Please. They're trying to block Texas caucus votes for Obama now because they don't favor Hillarah. Her campaign tried to break Nevada state law and took advantage of handicapped people to win there. But, to Wilentz, Obama is an underhanded snake, twisting his moustache whilst thinking of other ways to ruin Hillarah. Whatever.

Notice how Wilentz fails to mention the cross over votes Obama received throughout the country, how he makes Ds competative in the South--and quite possibly the Midwest--again, how he brought out millions of people to get involved with the process, how he scares the bejeezus out of GOP strategists, how the foreign press has gushed about him and, of course, no mention of Hillarah's repeated pathological fantasy of dodging snipers in Bosnia. (You don't think that story has long legs? McCain would bludgeon her with that--as he should).

Wilentz, like so many of his generation need to simply go away. I so detest the odor of this baby-boomer, junior high locker room psycho drama. Hillarah will lose and you will go to the margins, Wilentz. Just the way it is. I'm sure I will be pissed off like you someday when my generation is seen as more of a pain in the ass than anything else, but that doesn't change today's facts, does it? Just get out of the way and see if we can phuk up at least a little less than your generation did. Please.

Hitch is Still a Trifle Bit Angry

As seems to often be the case. But here he is on our enemy, Hillarah ("She has no tears for anyone but herself"), and here on Civil Rights leaders with less than a polite point of the finger at Obama.

Bireli yet again

Sorry, but this guy is insanely good. The sound quality is horrific and still he sounds incredible.

Antarctica Melting

Not exactly news, but some pretty cool (and rather frightening) photos.

The damage got started at the end of February when an iceberg dropped off and triggered the "runaway disintegration" of a 160-square-mile portion of the 5,282-square-mile shelf.

160 square miles, by way of comparison, equals about 4 Los Angeles'es.

Beyond Politics

Thought I would post about something other than Obama vs. Hillarah. A friend sends me this: a ranking of universities by how hot their chicks are (and, of course, my alma mater is ranked number 1--werd!). Quote:

In honor the NCAA tournament, the greatest sporting event known to man, Pop Crunch has ranked the top 50 universities by the attractiveness of their women.

This might seem like an easy job, but I can tell you after sifting through thousands of pictures of hot girls that it … really is an easy job and a lot of fun to boot.

Can't we all just get along?

Hitch on the Warpath

I would never expect Christopher Hitchens to pull punches, and he certainly doesn't with this one. Yet I get the sense that he is doing exactly what he accused other reporters of doing when the Iraq War broke out. Meaning, he is guarding himself against being the sucker.

I have no quote or videotape to back myself up in this charge as this is quite an unread blog, but I do remember Hitchens saying years ago, to the effect, that no one--most certainly a reporter--wants to be caught being optimistic about something that may possibly fail and, therefore, being skeptical about the war was (in a fashion) being conservative, or at least safe. Being anti-war in reporting was only marginally more courageous in that any cost/benefit argument could be levied against reports of Good News(TM). ("Freedom at what cost?" type arguments which can be made by even transparently insincere Sophomoric minds). Fine. I get that. But how is Hitch's latest screed any different in approach?

Obama is not anything close to a godsend--as Obama has repeatedly said himself. Will this/is this association with Wright be one of many potential dissappointments? OF COURSE it is and undoubtably will be. Obama does have feet of clay for anyone out there who might think him statue-worthy. I don't think Obama should have associated himself with Wright in the first place, but he did. I'm glad Obama is taking hits for it. He should take hits for it. But he isn't running away from it either.

My grandfather, whom I adored, said things that I've beaten other people for. Some of my friends have said things that have shocked me. I have said things that have shocked me--things which I still haven't forgiven myself for. But I am unashamed of my adoration for my late grandfather, unashamed to call my friends friends, and only partly ashamed of myself. Obama has reacted much the same in that he said Wright is like family to him and cannot be disowned (though that would be politically expedient). And he did not make any moral equivalence between Wright and his grandmother--as Hitchens asserts--except to say that they are both family. Flawed, mortal people in his family.

Were Obama to not denounce the idiotic and incendiary remarks of Wright, he would have lost my vote immediately. But were Obama to have completely disowned Wright as a matter of political expedience, he would have not only lost my vote, but would have broken faith with himself and truly shown himself as a fraud. As it turns out, he managed to keep both my vote and his manhood. Hitchens should at least see, and respect, the latter.

I Poop on You!

Triumph the Comic Dog meets reality with the Department of Homeland Security. Don't I feel safe?

Next order of business for the Bush adminstration...every American give a stool sample so they can track our feces.

Sam Harris on Obama's Speech

Thanks to Andrew Sullivan for showing me this. Sam Harris raises quite a few good points/questions regarding Obama's latest speech on race and religion.

From the article:

Like every candidate, Obama must appeal to millions of voters who believe that without religion, most of us would spend our days raping and killing our neighbors and stealing their pornography. Examples of well-behaved and comparatively atheistic societies like Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark--which surpass us in terrestrial virtues like education, health, public generosity, per capita aid to the developing world, and low rates of violent crime and infant mortality--are of no interest to our electorate whatsoever. It is, of course, good to know that people like Reverend Wright occasionally do help the poor, feed the hungry, and care for the sick. But wouldn't it be better to do these things for reasons that are not manifestly delusional? Can we care for one another without believing that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is now listening to our thoughts?

Yes we can.

Hillarah Dodging Bullets in Bosnia

According to everyone but her, it's pure fiction. From the article:

According to Sinbad, who provided entertainment on the trip along with the singer Sheryl Crow, the "scariest" part was deciding where to eat. As he told Mary Ann Akers of The Post, "I think the only 'red-phone' moment was: 'Do we eat here or at the next place.'" Sinbad questioned the premise behind the Clinton version of events. "What kind of president would say 'Hey man, I can't go 'cause I might get shot so I'm going to send my wife. Oh, and take a guitar player and a comedian with you."

Sinbad forgot about Chelsey as well. And, of course, President Clinton did fly to Bosnia prior to sending out Hillarah and his daughter. You think the McCain campaign wouldn't use this kind of stuff against her? They should use it against her. Give up Hillarah. It's only going to get worse.

I Have Found My Captain

By far, without any doubt, the most fair-minded and insightful speech on contemporary racial issues in America. Not perfect, but that would only make it unbelievable. This speech, and this man's judgement, I can believe and believe in.

Kos Gets it Spot-on

There is no other way to interpret Hillarah's actions with any honesty--she is nakedly pursuing power. Period. If it means civil war in the party, so be it. I've already written about how her campaign literally, literally, has taken advantage of the handicapped in their efforts to cheat. How they have tried to literally break election laws to win. How Billary has fanned the flames of racial tensions, etc. To my great astonishment, and as a credit to both Obama's great appeal and America's tolerance and sense of justice, they are still losing.

But she can win by staging a coup. And if Dean and a few others don't intercede, she will definitely give it a try. The Ds need to have a Come to Jesus meeting right about now--the Penn. primary at the absolute latest--if they don't want this election on a silver platter to be shat upon.

Quoting Kos:

It is Clinton, with no reasonable chance of victory, who is fomenting civil war in order to overturn the will of the Democratic electorate. As such, as far as I'm concerned, she doesn't deserve "fairness" on this site. All sexist attacks will be dealt with -- those will never be acceptable. But otherwise, Clinton has set an inevitably divisive course and must be dealt with appropriately.

To reiterate, she cannot win without overturning the will of the national Democratic electorate and fomenting civil war, and she doesn't care.

(empahsis his)

No Florida for Hillarah

Good news for Obama, Florida will not have any sort of re-vote or mail-in vote. One wonders how long this is gong to continue. Obama has 80% or more of the delegates he needs to clinch the nomination. Of course, Hillarah has 70-75% and I can't imagine how hard it would be to stop running after all the enormous time and effort has been made. But how can she really win anything now? Honestly.

Even if she does well enough to force a showdown in Denver--and she certainly could--the Ds will have a fractured, divided party just when it is poised to hold government positions at levels they haven't enjoyed since the 60s and 70s. To run in the hopes of being the spoiler is obviously petty and selfish, but it just seems so stupid as well. Howard Dean has to know it and, if things aren't settled after Pennsylvania (and they probably won't be), he may well have to have a chat with Ms. Hillarah.

My Ears!

1980s Glee Club meets hip hop meets off-off-off Broadway meets aging queen hipster. I couldn't watch it all the way through. My allergy to cringing precluded full enjoyment, I suppose:

My Eyes!

Not work safe...

OK, Mexicans

I've defended you all for years. My father lives in Mexico. I have family in Mexico. I've insisted that you are good for this country and that much of the anti-immigration stance in the US is based upon xenophobia and racism (and I still do). But you continue to support that pinche gorda blanca at almost a 2 to 1 margin. Why? What do you think she will ever do for you that Obama won't?

Face it, Mexicans. There is racism against Los Negros in your culture. I'm sure many of you voted for Hillarah because you honestly thought she would be better. But many of you just won't vote for a black person--be honest. And many of you face racism in this country almost every day. You should know better.

Theme Song for Tonight

A friend sends this to me as an attempt at amelioration. (BTW, aren't gay guys in LA supposed to be hip? These dudes look like dweebs).

Vote Hillarah or Your Children Will Die

Hurl alert!

Don't you love your children? Do you really want a teenage negro as commander in chief? General Hillarah will keep your babies safe. Just watch: