Archive for January, 2009

Rod Blagojevich: ‘I’m Not A Crook!’

January 30, 2009 at 1:58 pm · Filed under News, Politics, Rod Blagojevich ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Well, at a time when you’re finally able to pronounce his name correctly after hearing it a million times in the news for the past few weeks, Rod Blagojevich is being removed from office by unanimous vote.  But don’t worry, even though now  ‘Ex-Governor of Illinois,’  he won’t be forgotten any time soon as a very colorful and interesting trial looms with public playing of incriminating tapes of him trying to sell the senate seat vacated by President Obama to the highest bidder.  It’ll make for a few weeks of political theater and a lot of late night jokes   :-).   And then, after his probable prison sentence, we’ll read all about it in a best-selling book, after a little more controversy is created to push the book sales ….. after all, this is America!   🙂

ROD  BLAGOJEVICH :  ‘I’M  NOT  A  CROOK !’

Okay, so Blagojevich may be a crook, or  ‘cuckoo,’  as somebody called him, and he may have crossed the fine line between legality and illegality, but I can’t help but wonder how many politicians today say  ‘I’m glad it’s him up there having had his phones tapped and not me!’   By the way, I thought the same during the farce of Bill Clinton’s impeachment.  I’m going out on a limb now, but I think it’s safe to say most people, especially the ones who voted to impeach him, said to themselves as well  ‘I’m glad it’s him up there getting caught lying about sex, and not me!’  🙂

‘I’M  GLAD  IT’S  HIM  UP  THERE  AND  NOT  ME !’

The larger point I want to make, though, is this:  Regardless of Blagojevich maybe having been a little too brazen about trying to sell this seat, it is a common practice for most politicians to sell favors.  You and I may donate $50 to somebody’s campaign out of love, because we really want that person to win, and naturally don’t expect anything in return.  Only a fool can think that the same is true for large donors.  There are usually favors attached to any large donation.  Why else would we end up in a lot of cases with policies favoring these interest groups which often turn out to be bad for the average person?

PUBLIC  FINANCING  OF  POLITICAL  CAMPAIGNS !

So, unless the system is changed completely, we will continue to have  ‘Pay-to-Play’  politics as usual and once in a while we’ll have another Blagojevich getting caught because of being too cocky about it.  The only way, it seems to me, to avoid that is to end the practice of politicians having to raise enormous sums of money to get elected.  And the only way to end it is to have public financing of political campaigns, as it is common in many other countries ….. and maybe then we’ll see

POLICIES  THAT  ARE  ACTUALLY  GOOD  FOR  THE  AVERAGE  PERSON !   🙂

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Things To Do In A Snow Storm …..

January 29, 2009 at 1:57 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged , , , , , ,

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Well, I guess it’s safe to call this the big snow storm of 2009.  As I am sitting here writing this, I’m trying to take advantage of the time my power is on because it has been on and off for some time now.  Of course, there are lots of people who have been completely without power, so I’m just grateful for having some from time to time.  I fixed another pot of coffee to get my caffeine fix, just in case I won’t be able to do it later  :-).

Anyway, looks like Mother Nature is showing her love across a wide area of the country.  Looking outside, even though it stopped snowing for right now, we have several inches of snow accumulated on top of a sheet of ice from freezing rain.  It actually looks quite pretty with all the icicles.  Once the sun comes out, it’ll be a picture perfect postcard photo  :-).

Unfortunately, the layer of ice on trees and power lines has downed quite a few.  Some limbs in my neighbor’s yard have come down already, thankfully not hitting anything, but I’ll keep a watchful eye on the rest of the tree as it now looks rather damaged.  Not that I could do anything about it, if indeed it decides to fall ….. :-).

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So, what is it to do on a day like this, when everything is out of business ….. :-).  Well, if you’re lucky enough to be left with some power, make the best of it:  write a new blog post while the fireplace is going, have a bottle of wine, some chocolate ….. and if you have somebody special to share it with, even better ….. :-), and you’ll be okay for a couple days …..

Of course, you also could catch up on cleaning and paperwork, etc. ….. Nah ….. 🙂

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Rush Limbaugh: ‘I Want Obama To Fail!’

January 26, 2009 at 3:20 pm · Filed under Barack Obama, News, Politics ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

‘We’re not sexists, we’re chauvinists–we’re male chauvinist pigs, and we’re happy to be because we think that’s what men were destined to be.  We think that’s what women want.’ — Rush Limbaugh, Three-Time-Divorcee, Addict, Self-Proclaimed Chauvinist Pig, and Spiritual Leader of the Republican Party

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Just when we thought that with the election of Barack Obama and the exit of George W. Bush, our good work would be over, we are being reminded, yet again, how much is still left to be done, one idiot at a time.

Case in point, Rush Limbaugh, spiritual leader of the Republican Party, three-time divorcee, addict, and self-proclaimed chauvinist pig, had to put his ignorance on public display again.  At a time when we have come together as  ONE  to tackle all the tremendous problems we are faced with, and President Obama enjoys the support of between 70 and 80% of the population, which, I may add, includes a lot of people who didn’t vote for him, some people on the Extremist Right-Wing Nutjob Base of the Republican Party just can’t help themselves.  Normal people, sensing the seriousness of these times, not only for America, but the World, want things to improve and President Obama to succeed, because it will mean improving their own lives as well.  But not Rush …..

‘I  WANT  OBAMA  TO   FAIL!’ — Rush Limbaugh

….. And with that, you also want America to fail!

ARE  YOU  PATRIOTIC,  RUSH ?

Faced with the prospect of badly needed government regulation and oversight, and a stimulus plan that will actually create jobs, the likes of Rush Limbaugh just don’t seem to get it.  The lack of oversight and the  ‘anything goes’  attitude were part of the reasons that got us into this mess to begin with.  So, if President Obama sees the need to bring some sanity to our lives, which includes oversight and regulation, and reversing all the horrible policies of the Bush era, that’s how it’s going to be!  Even normal Conservatives, who usually advocate for smaller government, understand that.

Here’s my message to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter et all:

YOU  JUST  GOT  YOUR  COLLECTIVE  BUTTS  KICKED,  SO  GET  WITH  THE  PROGRAM !!!

Or, as President Obama said much more eloquently when being faced with griping by some Congressional Republicans in reference to his stimulus plan:

‘I  WON !’ — President Barack Obama

That’s right ….. Elections have consequences ….. And thank God, in this case positive consequences, now that we have smart people in charge!

Message to Congressional Republicans:  We overwhelmingly elected President Obama and want him to do what he thinks is necessary to get us out of the ditch the Bush administration, with your help, has gotten us into.  If you want to continue to obstruct, we will vote you out in a heartbeat!

….. AND  MESSAGE  TO  RUSH:   TAKE  ANOTHER  PILL ! ….. A  CHILL  PILL !!!  …..  AND  STAY  IN  THE  NEWS  FOR  A  VERY  LONG  TIME   🙂

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Just because …..

January 26, 2009 at 1:45 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged , , , , , ,

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No guy is worth your tears, and the ones who are won’t make you cry.

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PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: The Dream Fulfilled

January 19, 2009 at 1:52 pm · Filed under Barack Obama, News, Politics ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happiness Is …..
Appreciating The
Awesomeness Of  This
Historic Moment

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

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‘When The Nation Is Threatened, The Statesman Appears.’ — Tao Te Ching

What better symbolism than to have Barack Obama’s Inauguration one day after we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday?  Black and White people have come together as  ONE  to see King’s dream fulfilled at this memorable moment in time.

As a large crowd gathered in Washington, DC to be part of history, didn’t you also feel the positive vibes and happy feelings all around you?  It’s quite amazing if you think about it, considering the terrible times we are in, and the hardship many people are feeling right now!  This man, Barack Obama, who people in Africa consider the first ‘African President,’ has inspired so much optimism and hope for a better day, not only in America, but around the world.  How does he do it?  And how does he remain so cool, calm and collected, simply the ‘Calmest Guy in the Room,’ despite all the major challenges we are faced with?

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WILL MEAN SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS TO SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE!

On Inauguration Day, the six-year-old black kid saw a black president with his family moving into the White House, and things will never be the same.  The thought that you can be anything you want to be, will manifest itself in that little guy’s head, and he will grow up to see the world around him in a totally different light.

His 80-year-old grandma who like many others remembers the struggle, and never thought she would see the day a black president would be elected, can happily say from now on  ‘Yes, in my lifetime!  I have seen America, Black and White, coming together and not only fulfilling MLK’s dream but electing the best person stepping forward, not only for America, but the world.  An inspirational leader with a first class temperament and intellect!’  I cannot even begin to understand the pride and joy black people of her generation must feel.

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The fifteen-year-old Muslim teenager in Pakistan realizes that America can’t be so bad after all, if they overwhelmingly elected a black person with the name Barack Hussein Obama, who looks like much of the rest of the world.  America’s face to the world has changed in an instant on election day, and all of a sudden, it has become much more difficult for the likes of Al-Qaeda to paint America as this big demon that needs to be defeated.  And if that’s a first step toward changing hearts and minds in the Middle East, then we’re off to a successful start.

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And people around the globe, especially in Europe and Africa, are looking at this with complete awe and amazement.  I cannot tell you the stories I read in overseas papers and heard from friends, of scenes of joy and happiness, people celebrating in the streets, much like here, on election day.  And now it’s an even more profound feeling of joy since Obama has been inaugurated.

All Americans, who at times felt hostility when traveling to other countries, and even being questioned about what has been going on in America over the past eight years, will again be able to proudly say, as a friend of mine recently did while on business in Europe  ‘Yes, I am an American.  And proud of it!’  You may be surprised by the response.  As in my friend’s case, the little old lady behind the counter in a bakery in a small French town, came around, gave him a kiss on his forehead and said  ‘We’re so proud of you and Obama!’

And who wants to argue with that?

It’s a beautiful day!

IT’S  BEEN  A  LONG  TIME  COMING.   CHANGE  HAS  COME  TO  AMERICA !

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Bye Bye Bush!

January 19, 2009 at 1:30 pm · Filed under George W. Bush, Humor, Politics ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

THE    END    OF    INSANITY!

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The end of the world as we know it:  No more  ‘Bushisms’  🙂

For everybody who is already suffering from  ‘Bush Withdrawal’  :-), here’s a montage of David Letterman’s

GREAT MOMENTS IN PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHES

Click on link below and  ENJOY!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxkpm7bH7j4&eurl=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/16/letterman-presents-final_n_158705.html&feature=player_embedded

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My Funny Encounter With A Traffic Cop

January 15, 2009 at 3:01 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged , , , , ,

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Well, it was one of those unpleasant things in life.  For the second time in about 17 years, I got a speeding ticket the other day.  I usually take those things with humor, because you know, that when you do get caught, you more than deserve it for the many, many, many times you have been driving just slightly above speed limit.  🙂

It was a cold Sunday morning, around eleven, and I was on the way to give somebody a massage, rubbing his stress out of him, driving on a road I had used a hundred times before.  All of a sudden, my radar detector which will have to be the best gift I ever received (saved my butt many times), went off just one time and I looked around me and saw the police car making a U-Turn and getting right behind me.  He clocked me from the other side and for some reason my detector didn’t pick it up on time.  Oh my, here came the flashes, so I pulled over.

After a couple of minutes, a smiling cop came over to my car and I opened my window with the words  ‘Not on a Sunday morning!  Shouldn’t you be in church?’  And he laughed out loud  ‘Well, I’m doing my good deeds on the streets of Louisville!  Do you know the speed limit here?’  ‘Yes, I do, 35mph.’  ‘You know how fast you were driving?’  ‘Well, I guess slightly more than that.’  ’53mph, to be correct.’  And with that he looked into my car, noticing the radar detector  ‘What, the radar detector not working?’  ‘Yeah, but too late!’

He laughed walking back to the cruiser to check my information.  When I saw him coming back, still smiling, I was wondering how much this little Sunday morning rendezvous would cost me.  ‘Here’s your ticket, $170, but you can go to court and traffic school if you like.  By the way, just a little tip from a friendly cop:  When driving downtown, put your radar detector on the other setting, it will go off earlier!’  And we both laughed ….. One of those things that make you smile all day  :-).

Of course, I’m still on for the fine, court and traffic school ….. :-).

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Bush In Bizarro World

January 14, 2009 at 5:46 pm · Filed under George W. Bush, News, Politics ·Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

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Up is down, left is right, black is white ….. and George W. Bush is now officially residing in ‘Bizarro World.’   We certainly have seen many sad performances before, but Bush’s final press conference tops it all.

So, the lack of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the prime reason for us invading the country, was a ‘disappointment’, not a mistake.  I assume the more than 4,200 dead soldiers, their families and the dead Iraqis are also very disappointed.

The ‘Mission Accomplished’ sign and rhetoric like ‘Bring it on’ were the two ‘mistakes’  Bush could cite, forgetting to mention the many, many, many things going wrong over the past eight years, some of them obvious mistakes, some incompetence, malfeasance, lack of compassion, ignorance.  Here’s a suggestion:  Why not calling your entire presidency a mistake?  Somebody should have asked this question ‘Name one thing that has improved since you came to office’ ….. (deer in the headlights look).  Let me help you out:  NOTHING!!! 

The most telling moment of this farce of a press conference came however, when being asked about what could have been done better with Katrina.  Oh, a thousand things come to mind instantly for any normal person, starting with the slow response causing people to suffer and die.  Even several years after this horrible event, this 43rd President of these United States still doesn’t seem to get it.  It was actually quite amazing that his answer was limited to whether to land ‘Air Force One’ in New Orleans or Baton Rouge and whether that would have interrupted the rescue mission.  What in the world is going on in this man’s head?  Anything?

Well, I guess, the country is in full support of his presidency, as we only have ‘very few critics’ speaking out, according to him.  These ‘very few critics’ amount to only about more than 70%.  I always wonder who the people are who still approve (in the low 20%).  That’s basically the hardcore Republican base, but you do wonder whether these people are so blind that they don’t see what’s going on?  Sometimes I catch myself pulling next to a car on the Interstate, still sporting a ‘Bush/Cheney’ sticker.  I just want to take a look at the person who, even though they might have voted for him, isn’t ashamed enough about what has happened to the country to have quietly taken it off by now.  🙂

So, we have to endure one more Bush TV event, his ‘Farewell Address.’  My suggestion:

SAY NOTHING, JUST QUIETLY LEAVE AND DISAPPEAR INTO OBLIVION.  NOBODY IS LISTENING ANYWAY!

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Sarah And Joe: The Poster Children Of The GOP

January 12, 2009 at 2:50 pm · Filed under Joe The Plumber, Media, Politics, Sarah Palin ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

‘Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.’ — Abraham Lincoln

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….. Of the ‘Know-Nothing, Nutjob, Racist, Ignorant, Religious-Right, Extremist’ wing of the Republican Party.  After  getting only a short break in the aftermath of the election not being bombarded with them on TV, here they are back again, making ‘news.’

Sarah, Sweetheart, grow up and take responsibility for your own ignorance and inaptitude instead of whining and blaming others.  Everybody knows by now that you were completely unqualified for the position you were seeking and actually quite scary with your extremist views.  It didn’t have to take the media to point that out, you did a pretty good job yourself.

And Joe The Plumber ….. What can be said about you that hasn’t been pointed out already?  Just like Sarah, you have become a comic character.  When I heard that the conservative website ‘Pajamas News’ hired you as a ‘War Correspondent’ going to Israel, I laughed so hard, almost fell off my chair.

But it was nothing compared to the nonsense coming from you, yet again, when being interviewed about it.  Among other things, you obviously don’t feel in danger when you’re in the middle of an escalating conflict because you, as a Christian, have ‘special protection’ from GOD.  I urge you to make that statement repeatedly in the middle of Jewish and Muslim people while you’re over there, I’m sure they’ll appreciate speaking with somebody with ‘special protection.’  I mean, you can’t make this stuff up!  If it wasn’t so sad, it would be comical!

The ‘Religious and Loony Right’ has finally found their perfect poster children:  Sarah and Joe.  At this point I’m thinking, maybe I should suffer a little seeing them on TV, hopefully for a long time to come, out of pure self-interest.  The ‘Know-Nothing’ wing will feel empowered and make it very difficult for the normal Conservatives to rebuild a shattered party.

And that’s a good thing ….. It will ensure Democratic victories for a long time to come …..

So, keep it up, Sarah and Joe!

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Ann Coulter — Menace To Society

January 7, 2009 at 2:40 pm · Filed under Ann Coulter, Media, Politics ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

‘The deeper you get with Ann, the less sense she makes.’ — NATIONAL REVIEW, Conservative Magazine

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Well, it’s that time again ….. Stirring up some controversy in order to promote her newest hate-filled book to the loony right-wing.   And so we are bombarded with this person all over TV, yet again.  And I thought that her jaw being wired shut after breaking it, would keep her awful voice silent for a bit longer.  But no, controversy sells books, so here she is again with her twisted mind, blaming everything going wrong, I guess especially over the past eight years, on Democrats and Liberals.

If she wasn’t such a sad sight to see, it could actually be comical.  I have to say that I try not to have negative feelings towards others and respect everybody’s right to say what they please, but there are two people I certainly would prefer to disappear to an island where they can’t be seen or heard ever again, and Ann Coulter is one of them.  You can use your imagination about the second person…..won’t be difficult to figure out…..and Thank God, he will be out of sight pretty soon.

I always wonder how people like Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity can sleep at night as their hateful diatribes can have real life consequences if one of their adoring fans commits violent acts after being inspired by these ‘Merchants of Hate.’  Success in life is not always measured by how much money you make, but what kind of person you are, and what contribution you make touching other people’s lives in a positive way.  And I have a good feeling that these people won’t be looked upon kindly…..

Until then, keep up the controversy and hate, it sells well with the loony right-wing fringe!

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