Kowabunga

We Don’t Want Her, Either!

It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything about former Congressman Cynthia “Assault and Battery” McKinney. I guess she misses the limelight. IN this episode, we find the Moonbat extraordinaire trying to run an Israeli blockade. Again.

From FoxNews:

Tags: Israel, McKinney

Posted in Current Events | No Comments »

Congratulations Senator Bozo the Clown

I haven’t been writing in a while. Bad thing to do. Now I find myself living in a state that has become the butt of America. Minnesota is sending a real Bozo to the U.S. Senate. No surprise there. Al Franken, one of the biggest bafoons in in Amrerica, has won the court challenges to the corrupt recount of the 2008 vote.

The election last November was originally found for Norm Colman, in a very tight contest. Only during the recount, where different standards were applied in different districts, as opposed to a uniform standard as defined by Minnesota law, did Franken succeed in stealing the election.

As part of the aftermath, I was listening to Mike Galliger on my drive to work, and how he (correctly) blames a few so-called conservative Republicans that refused to vote for Coleman over a some marginally important issues (like ethanol subsidies). A call from the Twin Cities helped vindicate his rant against Minnesota voters.

Fortunately, not all of us were that short-sighted and voted for Barkley as a way of protesting Coleman. Unfortunately, too many people used a vote for Barkley as means of not voting for Coleman and being able to claim that they didn’t vote for Franken, so it isn’t their fault. I hate to break it to you, but if you are in that category (and I know some people who are), it IS your fault that Minnesota is not the laughing stock of America. Your short-sightedness has caused this.

Which is better:

A) voting for a candidate who has no chance of winning, regardless of whether you agree with him on issues.

or

B) voting for a candidate who can win, even if you only agree with him around 50% of the time.

If you chose A, then you are part of the reason we now have a Bozo the clown in the U.S. Senate.

For those of you who voted for Barkley out of protest, did you realize that he is closer to Franken on the issues than Coleman was?

A long time ago I learned my lesson about voting for third party candidates. When you do so, you don’t get the lesser of two weasels. You get Bozos. Like Clinton in ‘92. (Yeah, that’s right. I was one of the millions who voted for Perot. A regret I have learned to live with.)

So to all of you Minnesotans who thought that voting for Barkley as a protest because you just “couldn’t hold your nose and vote for Coleman,” all I can say is Thanks a bloody lot.

On the flip side, Franken will certainly help push Obama’s new drug policy on America: “You must share!” Junkies in America, Rejoice!

Tags: Coleman, Franken, Minnesota, Senate

Posted in American Politics, MN Politics | No Comments »

Auction House Does Soldier Good

When someone does a good deed, it is only right that it is acknowledged. In the case of Heritage Auction Galleries of Dallas, it is only fitting that their act of good will be publicly noted.

The story involves a National Guard captain preparing to be deployed (second tour) to Iraq and a very rare book that Heritage will be auctioning for Capt. Nathan Harlan. The book is volume one of The Federalist”, published 1788. It is a rare first edition.

The good deed is that Heritage Auction Galleries is waiving their normal fee of 20% commission for the sale, so that Capt. Harlan will receive all of the proceeds from the sale. My hat’s off to you! Check out the full story on yahoo.

And I wish Capt. Harlan well in his upcoming deployment and a safe tour of duty.

Posted in Armed Forces | 1 Comment »

Two Attacks, Two Presidential Responses

Two acts of terror took place this week, each resulting in two different responses from the White House.

In the first, abortionist George Tiller was murdered for the sole reason that he provides abortion services, especially (and specifically late-term abortions). Scott Roeder, Tiller’s accused killer, is anti-abortion and Christian.

The second incident was an attack on an Army Recruitment Center where two soldiers were shot; one died as a result of the attack, while the other was gravely wounded. Private William Long, who died, and Private Quinton Ezeagwula had done nothing wrong; their sole “crime” in the eyes of their assassin was that they chose to serve their (OUR) country by enlisting in the Armed Forces. Their accused assailant, Abdulhakim Muhammad, is an American and converted Muslim with terrorist connections in Yemen and was under investigation by the FBI at the time he took up arms against our country and gunned down to American soldiers in Little Rock.

In the case of the murder of George Tiller, President Obama was quick to condemn such heinous acts of violence. This is appropriate. No one I know would condone such an act, regardless of their views on abortion.

Yet in the case of the attack on military recruiters by a Muslim terrorist, President Obama has been mute; no condemnation has been made. Does this mean that Obama is okay with such murderous acts against our military? I would hope not. But just to be clear, I doubt that McCain would have been silent in regards to either of these attacks; condemnation of both attacks is the correct action.

Since the attack on the recruitment center, more has come out about their attacker and his plans (from FoxNews):

A senior U.S. official tells FOX News that more targets were found on the computer of a man charged in the fatal shooting at a military recruiting center in Arkansas - suggesting the accused gunman may have been part of a larger plot to attack military targets and may not have been acting alone.

Officers found maps to Jewish organizations, a Baptist church, a child care center, a post office and military recruiting centers in the southeastern U.S., New York and Philadelphia, according to a joint FBI-Homeland Security intelligence assessment obtained by The Associated Press.

I am currently unaware of any similar finding in the case of Tiller’s accused killer.

One case is a murder of one man by one man, both private individuals. The other is a case of an attack on our Armed Forces, the taking up of arms against our government, with plans to commit additional attacks on our military, as well as against private organizations including places of worship.

You can argue and debate about whether or not Tiller’s murder was motivated out of religious convictions (the accused is Christian), or purely motivated by a man who detests the wanton killing of innocent life (abortions). Although there is no doubt in my mind that abortion is wrong and a heinous crime in and of itself, this does not provide justification to murder a man who provides abortion services. Nothing can justify such an act as Tiller’s murder.

Muhammad, in his attack on the military, did so for religious reasons, acting as part of the greater Islamic Jihad against the West. He even stated as much to investigators:

Authorities said he targeted soldiers “because of what they had done to Muslims in the past.”>

and

At Tuesday’s court hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Scott Duncan said Muhammad told investigators that “he would have killed more soldiers had they been in the parking lot.”

Yet it is reported that Muhammad has pleaded “not guilty” to the charge of capital murder. How he can do that and keep a straight face is beyond me. And a lawyer that would encourage such a plea should not be practicing law in any state in the Union.

And the President has not uttered one word of condemnation of this act of murder, terrorism, and, yes, armed insurrection. Obama’s silence says it all.

Godspeed Pvt. Long. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family and the family of Quinton Ezeagwula. I wish Pvt. Ezeagwula a speedy and full recovery.

My pryaers also go out to the family of George Tiller.

Posted in American Politics, Armed Forces, Current Events | No Comments »

MarCon 44 AER

Elements of the IKV Rakehell rendezvoused with the JaPa, the Cold Death Quadrant commander, and additional elements of the CDQ (Black Thunder, Ice Dagger, Phantom Cat, Warhammer) at MarCon 44/KAG Attacks! in Columbus, Ohio.

Sue’La, Bindi, and myself, arriving later than planned due to an unscheduled trip to the ER (Little Miss took a fall down a staircase at the hotel we stayed at en route, and ended up with a bump on her forehead…fortunately, it was not serious), found ourselves at the con with everything in full swing. Due to the delay, I missed some of the panels I wanted to see on Friday. Okay, ALL of the panels I wanted to see on Friday!

Mordok joined me on my panel on non-genre films SF Fans should see. It was a small turnout, considering it was already 10PM and up against the parties. However, it was a lively discussion and many films were recommended by those in attendance. At the same time, Qob, with assistance from Qe’Pa, ran a panel on “Getting a Head in the Klingon Empire,” a discussion/demo on doing Klingon makeup, that was well attended.

After these panels, most of the Rakehell, along with the Black Thunder and many other far-travelling KAG members, found ourselves in the KAG suite where I produced a bottle of 17 year old Glen Goyne Single Malt Scotch, while Korvas produced a bottle of Stag’s Breath. There was also Moxie to be drunk, and other intoxicants. Many great conversations during this casual get together, as it was the first time many of us had met face-to-face. It was 2AM before I returned to our room to crash. Bindi was still up and lively.

Getting up way too early on Saturday, I headed down for the KAG general assembly where discussions on KAG and various awards were given as well as promotions and recognitions made. Death howls for two departed comrades were made. There was a guy from one of the local TV stations there as well.

A challenge was issue in the form of participating in the blood drive: KAG vs. all other clubs combined. KAG won with 13 warriors shedding their blood for the cause, versus a mere 7 between ALL of the other clubs combined.

IN the afternoon, the grand assembly (and photo op) on the BIG stair case was the place to be. This was the ceremony where Kerla handed over the reins of running KAG to her successor, Krikor. Many banners were displayed and many rousing speeches were made. Special thanks to Karl Sherman who took pictures with my camera, and Zaheer, who put my wife’s camera to use, for this event.

The masquerade was well attended and had a number of great entries. No idea what the results were as I had to duck out early to go help prep for the KAG party.

The KAG party was THE place to be on Saturday night. In fact, I don’t think there were any other parties, despite rumors that there was something called “Bar Fleet” down the hall. I never made it out of our suite. Many KAG members supplied the party with a variety of consumables, from the aforementioned Moxie, to Bloodwine, Andorian Yer In, Romulan Ale, Single Malt Scotch, Hot Sex (the Rakehell’s flagship drink), and much, much more. The room was packed tight with the many people who were there. Then there was the chocolate ceremony! Kris, the founder of KAG, supplied several 10 pound chocolate bars for the event. KAG took two prizes for best party during MarCon: best Saturday night party (okay, maybe there were other parties, but ours was the place to be!), and best themed party. This is thanks to the many KAG members who supplied banners, decorations, and all the other things that goes into making a great party the BEST!

Sunday: finally got to see a panel that I wasn’t involved with, this was on steampunk costuming (visualize Steampunk Klingon!), and I got to see the dealers room. MarCon has an excellent dealer’s room, one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. I never made it into the art show.

(photo gallery at end of post)

Sunday night was capped off with dinner at a local Mongolian BBQ. I don’t know who started the spitball fight, but it pretty much ended when they seated some mundane at the next table to us (directly down range from me). Many of us die-hard’s lounged around the lobby and bid farewell to those departing that evening.

The convention site was a good layout, with a food court adjacent, giving us ready access to eats outside of the hotel’s restaurant.

This was a great convention, and the KAG anniversary was darn good as we were able to meet so many people and forge new friendships. Attendance included members from Canada, the U.S. (coast to coast), and Germany (Athena!). The camaraderie, conversations, antics and good times were the stuff of legend and much honor was heaped upon those in attendance. All that was missing were the many members of KAG who could not attend.

Tags:

KAG Klingon Klingon Assault Group KAG Attacks

Tags: KAG, Klingon, MarCon, Sqotty MacKlingon

Posted in MarCon | 1 Comment »

Non-SF Genre Movies

I’m doing a panel at an upcoming convention on non-SF/F/H genre movies that fans should see. This panel was a big success at Convergence last year, so now I’m taking it on the road. I have also added a fw new films to the list.

Here is the new updated list:

To Have or Have Not(1944)
Casablanca(1942)
The Big Sleep(1945)
The Maltese Falcon(1941)
We’re No Angels(1955)
The Petrified Forest(1936)
The African Queen (1951)
The Searchers(1956)
Stagecoach(1939)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence(1962)
The Shootist(1976)
Rio Bravo(1959)
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon(1949)
The Wings of Eagles(1957)
True Grit(1969)
The Quiet Man(1952)
The Three Godfathers
The Naked Spur(1953)
Destry Rides Again(1939)
Winchester ‘73(1950)
It’s A Wonderful Life(1946)
Harvey(1950)
Man of the West(1958)
The Magnificent Seven(1960)
Three Violent People(1956)
The Long Riders(1980)
High Noon(1952)
The Hallelujah Trail(1965)
Tombstone(1993)
The Buccaneer (1958)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Spartacus(1960)
The Three Musketeers (1948)
Ben-Hur(1959)
Gone with the Wind(1939)
The Seven Samurai(1954)
Babettte’s Feast(1987)
Life Is Beautiful(1997)
Das Boot(1981)
We Were Soldiers(2002)
The Longest Day(1962)
The Great Escape(1963)
Kelly’s Heroes(1970)
They Were Expendable(1945)
The Dawn Patrol(1938)
Beau Geste (1939)
Men of Honor(2000)
From Here to Eternity(1953)
Captain Blood(1935)
The Sea Hawk(1940)
On The Town(1949)
Singing in the Rain(1952)
The Right Stuff(1983)
1776(1972)
The Sound of Music(1965)
The Gold Rush(1925)
The General(1927)
Beach Party(1963)
North Shore (1987)
Snow Dogs(2002)
Eight Below(2006)
Iron Will(1994)
Mickey Mouse Three Musketeers(2004)
The 13th Warrior(1999)
Death Wish(1974)
The Sand Pebbles(1966)
55 Days in Peking(1963)
Ocean’s Eleven (1960)
Thunderball(1965)
From Russia With Love(1963)
Lassiter(1984)
Our Man Flint(1966)
Top Secret(1984)
Ronin(1998)
Quigley Down Under (1990)
Yellow Sky(1948)
Zulu(1964)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Seven Men From Now (1956)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)
High Road to China (1983)
Trading Places (1983)
Romeo and Juliet (1968)
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Arrowhead (1953)
The Ten Commandments (1956)
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
The Hunters (1958)
Bridges of Toko-ri (1954)
Bridge on the River Kwai
Twelve O’Clock High (1949)
The Bravados (1958)
How the West was Won (1962)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
The Three and Four Musketeers (1973/4)
The President’s Analyst(1967)

Tags: Movies

Posted in Movies | No Comments »

Anderson Cooper’s Non-Apology for Teabagging Comment

Anderson Cooper and his famous comment referring to what protests during the April 15th Tea Parties as “teabagging”, is back in the news. During the Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture series, Cooper was asked about his reference to the protests as being “teabagging.” His response:

Calling it a “stupid, silly, one-line aside,” he touched on the attention it received. “I think it’s an incorrect statement to say I was, in any way, trying to disparage legitimate protests,” said Cooper. “I don’t think it’s my job to disparage, or encourage, which oddly other networks seemed to be doing. Protest is the great right of all Americans, and it’s not my job in any way to make fun of people or disparage what they’re doing.”

The original video that started this:

Here’s the full video (embed disabled):

Cooper said he regretted making the comment. “If people took offense to that and felt that I was disparaging their legitimate right to protest, and what they were doing, then that is something I truly regret, because I don’t believe in doing that,” he said. “Having this discussion just takes away from the real story.”

He is half right; it was a “stupid, silly, one-line aside.” It is also not his job to make fun of people exercising their right of free speech. As for the rest of his statement, including his further explanations and non-apology, he is full of so much horse-hockey.

Fact: by making a statement such as that, “teabagging” he was disparaging the tax protest movement sweeping the country on and since April 15th (although, for some of us, the movement goes back a lot further). Question: if he doesn’t believe in disparaging the right of the People to protest, then why did he do it? Question: What is the “real story” and why hasn’t he covered it in a fair and balanced manner without making sexual comments? Question: why is this clown still working for whatever network it is he works for? If I made a comment like that about someone at my job, I’d be given my final check and shown the door, whether I apologized for the remark or not. Why has this not happened to Anderson Cooper? Imas lost his show for making a repugnant slur, why is Cooper getting a pass for his incredibly insensitive and demeaning remark about hundreds of thousands of people exercising their right of free speech?

Anderson Cooper Teabagging

Tags: Anderson Cooper, Tea Party Rallies, Teabagging

Posted in American Politics | No Comments »

Big Government Defeated in California

The people of California actually got something right on Tuesday when they resounding voted down the Taxinator’s efforts of “budget reform”. (Budget reform is Liberal speak for tax increases.) Of the six ballot initiatives, the only one that passed was the one that put the breaks on pay increases for elected officials and other constitutional officers, which is a good thing.

Between this resounding defeat, with each of the five tax initiatives being voted down by, on average, a 65% vote, a 30% margin over those supporting more taxes, should send a message to the Tax and Spend Liberals (after all, we have some Republicans that fit that description) in Washington. Especially since they have discounted the Tea Party movement. Are they paying attention? Or are they cloistered off in their Ivory Tower and ignoring reality? (My money is they have their heads in the sand and are ignoring reality.)

A friend of mine in San Jose once remarked when the Taxinator became governor that she wished he would go back to Hollywood and make movies. I have finally seen her point, although for entirely different reasons. Arnold should stick to what he does best: making movies, not managing the People’s money.

Tags: California, Taxes, Taxinator

Posted in Taxes | No Comments »

Cronyism at the RNC

Heretofore I’ve had a fairly good opinion of Michael Steele. I am disappointed in him right now as news is breaking that he has hired a number of friends and family to high level positions at the RNC at exorbitant salaries. From FoxNews:

When Michael S. Steele took over as chairman of the Republican National Committee earlier this year, he brought along longtime personal assistant Belinda Cook and gave her a salary nearly three times what her predecessor made.

Okay, I don’t have a problem with his bringing along a long time personal assistant with him. I think that makes sense and is appropriate. But not at a salary three times her predecessor. Unless her predecessor was making less than, say, $20K per year.

Reading the Washington Times report, they give some real numbers on the PA salary. It seems that the predecessor was earning a bit shy of $30K. Now I can agree that is a bit low, but $86K for a PA is a lot of change. A more realistic salary would be in the $40K range. But wait, there’s more: that’s the take home pay; Cook’s salary before deductions is stated to be $125K/year.

Mr. Steele hired another family friend, Angela Sailor, to be the party’s outreach director at a salary of $180,000, more than double her predecessor’s compensation, though new responsibilities have been added to the job, according to a high-ranking RNC official and Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.

Double the predecessor’s salary? Okay, has the position’s responsibilities at least doubled? Seriously, I doubt it. And, in reality, $90K a year is a lot of horse feed, putting a person in the top 10% of salary. But $180K? That’s a huge salary boost. What other field gets that kind of salary doubling?

Cronyism at work? It sure sounds like it. Even if it isn’t, this kind of salary abuse, and it is abuse when you triple the salary for a position, does not endear me to givng the RNC any money this year.

Steele has been having a bumpy ride since he became the RNC chair. It looks like that bumpy road may have a few sink holes for him as well.

Tags: Cronyism, RNC, Steele

Posted in GOP | No Comments »

Outrage T-Shirt

Okay, I figured it was time to counter all of those Bush-era “if you’re not outraged” bumper stickers with something that is more specifically aimed at the Obama administration.

So far, the Obama has done a lot to be outraged about, from quadrupling the budget deficit for 2009, (now at $1.84 TRILLION), the take over of banks and the auto industry, the termination of CEOs and plans to cap employee compensation, and all the way to socializing our health care.

The last is the one most shocking as many Liberals claim they hate government intrusion into their lives, but they are willing to let a government bureaucrat determine what health care they can have. Talk about a way to expand government, increase taxation, and bankrupt America. Nothing will do it faster than nationalizing health care.

Tags: conservagear, Obama

Posted in Obama | No Comments »

Obama Political Failure #22

Comrade Obama has had a stunning realization. Our current deficit spending can’t keep on going.

From Bloomberg:

President Barack Obama, calling current deficit spending “unsustainable,” warned of skyrocketing interest rates for consumers if the U.S. continues to finance government by borrowing from other countries.

“We can’t keep on just borrowing from China,” Obama said at a town-hall meeting in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, outside Albuquerque. “We have to pay interest on that debt, and that means we are mortgaging our children’s future with more and more debt.”

I need a picture of Obama with a lightbulb going on in his head. Just an absolutely brilliant thought. As in “no kidding, Exlax! figure that out on your own?”

And who will he blame for this? Probably bush, despite that Obama has managed to quadruple the budget deficit for this year in just over 100 days, and THAT was all his doing; Bush had nothing to do with it.

Let’s look at the facts: Bush’s last budget deficit was $450 Billion. That’s a chunk of change, and Liberals across the country railed against it, complaining that he was spending our children’s future. Okay, I can agree with that. I also think a $10.5 Trillion national debt is an obscenity, and Bush, with the help of congress, had doubled the debt during the previous eight years.

Now we have The One, and his first act as President of the United States was to push new bailouts, nearly a trillion dollars upfront, but estimated total cost is closer to $2.5 Trillion. The budget deficit, is now over $1.84 Trillion for this year, and is expected to be nearly that high for years to come because of Obama’s spending. And Obama is just now figuring out that this kind of debt is unsustainable? Prior to Obama, the largest the budget deficit ever hit was $458 Billion; that was Dubya’s last budget, and yes, it is a huge number. Bush during his entire administration, all years combined (deficit and surplus) comes in at a hefty $2 Trillion. Obama’s first deficit, just one year, is nearly equal to all eight years under Bush combined.

And Obama is just now realizing that this is unsustainable.

On January 21, 2009, the national debt stood at a huge $10.625 Trillion. Another big number, and it took years to get that big. Congress annually ups the debt cap, and, as with all things, when more debt is approved, spending increases to fill it up to the cap.

As of May 13th, 2009, the national debt, with the help of Congress and Obama’s TARP, it has hit $11.255 Trillion. That is over $600 BILLION in new debt that our children and grandchildren will have to pay. It’s not just us footing this bill. And Communist China gets rich off of it.

And Obama is just now realizing, after spending so much money that we have the biggest budget deficit in the history of the country, even when accounting for inflation, that this is unsustainable.

I think Jefferson was on to something when he said that no public debt should extend beyond the current generation. It is immoral to saddle one generation with the debt of another generation.

But Obama is worried that Communist China will not continue to buy our public debt.

Obama was supposed to be the great unifier, not the divider. But it is apparent to me that the only thing he is unifying is our money with China. And that is not good for our country.

Barack did manage to trim $17 Billion out of the budget, mainly out of National Defense budgets. Just so he can justify another $81 Billion on additional spending elsewhere.

But, hey, Obama now realizes this can’t go on. At least not without taxing working Americans into the poorhouse.

Tags: Budget, Obama, Obama Political Failures, Taxes

Posted in American Politics, Obama, Obama Political Failures | 1 Comment »

Obama Adminstration Continues to Whine About Economy

The Obama Administration marks a new kind of change that I never thought I would see in our Federal government. It’s a kind of change I am not surprised at seeing, and has manifested many times during Obama’s first few months in office. It is whining and complaining about problems that arose during the previous administration, rather than knuckling down and dealing with the hand that was dealt.

From the White House Office of Management Budget we get:

OMB projects that the deficit will be about $90 billion higher in FY 2009 and also in 2010 than it did in February. The deficits in these years, now projected to be 12.9 percent and 8.5 percent of GDP, respectively, are driven in large part by the economic crisis inherited by this Administration.

Yes, they have inherited a recession, just as Bush, in 2001, inherited a recession from Bill Clinton. But Bush never complained about how he inherited it. Bush also inherited a far more serious problem from Clinton: Osama bin Ladin and al-Qaeda. Clinton had numerous opportunities to eliminate bin Ladin, and every time he took a pass at the opportunity.

On the flip side, Obama and members of his administration frequently blame the Bush Administration for the current economic crisis, whining about how they inherited the problem, and then seem to think that they have carte blanche to make things worse by quadrupling the budget deficit in their first year. As if that will fix the economy. Some change. More like chump change, which is all we’re going to have left in our pockets by the time Obama is done taxing working Americans into poverty.

Let’s face a few facts. You can’t end a recession through deficit spending and/or by raising our taxes. What you get is more recession, more unemployment (as exhibited by the now 2 million jobs lost from the American economy since Feb.1, 2009, an 8.9% unemployment rate - the highest in 25 years - and all this despite passing the bailouts that the Left claimed would fix the economy), less money in the economy as it is seized from working Americans via confiscatory tax policy, which, of course, begets more unemployment and a deeper recession.

If Obama and the Dems now running Congress were serious about revitalizing the economy, they would stop passing bailouts, cut taxes across the board, cut Federal spending in a meaningful fashion (and not screwing the military or intelligence services), starting with anything that smacks of income redistribution (welfare!). Unfortunately, they won’t; at least not until more of us lose our homes and jobs, and end up on welfare.

Tags: Bailouts, Economy, Obama

Posted in American Politics, Obama | No Comments »

Sykes and Obama

I think most people have heard Wanda Sykes sicko attacks on Rush Limbaugh during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner this past weekend, in which she wished Limbaugh would drop dead of kidney failure. So far, the only White House response has been that they didn’t pick her to do the entertainment (okay, that’s true) and that some things, such as 9/11 (Sykes also alluded Limbaugh may have been the 20th hijacker) should be left to reflection and not joked about. Also, fair enough. What I want to know is why did President Obama think that these “jokes” were funny? He clearly believed them to be funny as he was visibly laughing at them. What kind of leader is he?

This is not about Rush Limbaugh. I don’t listen to his program, partially because of when it is on, and partially because I don’t care for his on-air personaility. There are other people I would rather listen to than Limbaugh. It’s about sicko “jokes” wishing someone would drop dead and a sitting president who thought such a joke was funny and laughed at it. That is something I take issue with.

Tags: Obama, Sykes

Posted in American Politics, Obama | No Comments »

Thoughts on Prejean

I’ve been silent about the Carrie Prejean, Miss California, and her being castigated by the Left for her response to a question posed to her during the Miss USA pageant. It is something we all know about, and the response of the little twit that asked the question.

What I want to know is why the little twit, and all those on the rabid Left who have attacked Prejean for her belief that marriage should be between one man and one woman, a belief that is in line with President Obama, insist on attacking her, but are mute when it comes to Obama? They have the same viewpoint on the issue. So why the different treatment?

As Mike Gallagher pointed out on his show, there can be only two reasons: they, the people instigating these attacks against Prejean, but not against Obama, are hypocrites; or, they believe that Obama lied about his position on this issue in order to get elected, making him a political opportunist. Quite frankly, I believe it is a mix of the two. Many of the people attacking Prejean are hypocrites, and Obama is a lying political opportunist.

Tags: Obama, Prejean

Posted in American Politics | No Comments »

2 Million Jobs Lost in First 100 Days

On Friday (I’m a little late on writing about this), the jobs report came out that 539,000 more jobs were lost in April. Although an improvement over previous months, it is still high, and pushed the unemployment rate up to 8.9%, the highest level since 1983. Yep, unemployment is higher now than it was during the early years of Ronald Reagan.

Just a couple of months ago, Nancy Pelosi was predicting that if Obama’s $800+ BILLION bailout was not passed, a half million jobs would be lost (she actually said 500 MILLION Americans would lose their jobs, but in reality, we all knew she meant 500,000). Well, the bailout passed and more than that many Americans have lost their jobs. How’s that for change?

For the three full months since Obama took office, and with the help of a Democrat controlled (and highly partisan) Congress, 2 MILLION Americans have lost their jobs. That’s a great benchmark for his first 100 days in office. In all fairness, when Bush inherited the Clinton recession in 2001, Americans lost three million jobs in 2001, for which Bush was regularly castigated and demonized by Democrat operatives and their lapdogs in the media. Yet they don’t slam Obama for doing the same. Okay, there is a difference: unemployment was between 5 and 6 percent under Bush, not rapidly approaching double digits as it is under Obama.

Tags: Bush, Jobs, Obama, Unemployment

Posted in American Politics | No Comments »

Powell Still Doesn’t Get it

Once upon a time I believed Colin Powell was a great leader and had the potential to lead the GOP and become the first black president of the USA. Then he turned socialist and threw his cards in with Barack “Dances with Terrorists” Obama. Today, in an article in the National Journal, Powell proves once and for all that he is completely out of touch with the Republican Party, the American People, and reality. I never thought that I would see the day when a former General would be receiving a Moonbat Award, but that day has come, just in time to help commemorate “100 Days of Idiocy in the White House”. Even my mother used to like Colin Powell. Used to.

Powell said the GOP is “getting smaller and smaller” and “that’s not good for the nation.” He also said he hopes that emerging GOP leaders, such as House Minority Whip Cantor, will not keep repeating mantras of the far right.

Okay so far. The GOP is getting smaller, and sure, that’s not good for the nation. (Conversely, the Democratic Party getting smaller would be a good thing for the nation.) I know nothing of Congressman Cantor, but to say we should “not keep repeating the mantras of the far right,” what does he mean by that? We should begin to support abortion? How about taxes? Limited government? Winning the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Securing our borders and enforcing our existing immigration law? Stop the bailouts? Privatizing Social Security? Keeping government out of our health care? Those are all right-wing ideologies. And he thinks pushing those agendas is a bad idea?

But wait, it gets better:

“The Republican Party is in deep trouble,” Powell told corporate security executives at a conference in Washington sponsored by Fortify Software Inc. The party must realize that the country has changed, he said. “Americans do want to pay taxes for services,” he said. “Americans are looking for more government in their life, not less.”

What rock has Colin Powell been living in for the past month? Hundreds of thousands Americans came out across the country on April 15th to protest taxes and out-of-control government spending. Did he miss that? Is he saying, “well, gee, I know they’re out protesting taxes and obscene spending and bailouts, but hey, deep down, they really love big government and backbreaking taxation.”

Message to Colin Powell: General, sir, most Americans hate seeing so much of their hard earned money seized by government and then pissed away bailing out businesses and individuals who made bad choices. We hate government waste, whether it is $1600 for a hammer that the Air Force paid back in the ’80s, or the billions to AIG, which shipped much of that to payoff foreign creditors. General, sir, the GOP isn’t getting smaller because it is drifting to the right and scaring off moderates; it is drifting to the left and pissing of Conservatives, and it’s the Conservatives who are leaving the party.

Powell described the 2008 GOP candidate, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, as “a beloved friend” but said he told him last summer that the party had developed a reputation for being mean-spirited and driven more by social conservatism than the economic problems that Americans faced.

Okay, reality check: Liberals think anybody who doesn’t agree with them as being “mean-spirited.”

Powell also criticized other GOP leaders, for bowing too much to the right.

He blasted radio commentator Rush Limbaugh, saying he does not believe that Limbaugh or conservative icon Ann Coulter serve the party well. He said the party lacks a “positive” spokesperson. “I think what Rush does as an entertainer diminishes the party and intrudes or inserts into our public life a kind of nastiness that we would be better to do without,” Powell said.

I’m not a big fan of either Limbaugh or Coulter, but the fact is, on the issues, they are right on the money. Whether or not they help or hinder the party is debatable. Quite frankly, though, I think their impact is more neutral. Yeah, the party does lack a positive spokesman. Michael Steele is proving to weak for the job of party leader, McCain choked in the election and has too many negative points (Campaign Finance Reform and “the Gang of Fourteen”) to be that spokesman. Palin gets slammed by the Left for being a woman (has Oprah had her on the show yet?), and, let’s face it, anyone who espouses Conservative views is going to be considered “negative” by the media and the Left.

He also said that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain’s running mate last year, is “a very accomplished person” but became “a very polarizing figure.” He said the polarization was created by Palin’s advisers.

What, Obama wasn’t “a polarizing figure”? Reality check: Obama was the most polarizing candidate in my life time, and for all of the wrong reasons (Hey, man, I don’t look like those other presidents and I have a funny name).

Powell has proven, once and for all, that when it comes to politics, he is a lightweight, and should stick to military matters. Although with his statement about the military and a new command to combat cyberwarfare, “take it slow, make sure you get it right,” I have to wonder about that. We’ve been taking cybersecurity slow for way too many years. If they can’t get it right by now, then they never will. “Take it slow?” How the heck did you get to be a general with an attitude like that?

So, for Powell’s Moonbatting about the state of the GOP and the American desire to pay taxes, the General has become the latest winner of the Moonbat Award.

Tags:

Colin Powell Moonbat GOP Conservatism

Tags: Colin Powell, Moonbat, Moonbat Award

Posted in American Politics, Moonbat Award | No Comments »

Onion Does Trek Movie

The Onion knocked one out of a park with a spoof of what they think Trek fans reaction to the new Star Trek movie will be like. The video is a real hoot, so check it out.

Trekkies Bash New Star Trek Film As ‘Fun, Watchable’

Tags:

Star Trek the Onion

Tags: Onion, Star Trek

Posted in SF Fandom, Satire | No Comments »

Tax Cut Rally 2009

It was 9:30 in the morning when I arrived at the State Capitol for the tax-cut rally. I came up early as I wanted to make sure I got a good parking space, as parking near the site of the event would be at a premium as it caught closer to “show time”. The volunteers for the event had already been busy setting up tents to house the exhibitors; food vendors were set up and busily cooking food for the expected masses. They would not be disappointed. Even this far in advance of the scheduled start time of 11AM, I was not the only activist there. A few early risers were also there with their signs ready to go. It was a good indication of what to expect for the day.

The tents would play host to a variety of sponsors as well as various political special interest groups. The groups were quite diverse, including an Ayn Rand group passing out pamphlets, the NRA, various Republican groups, Constitution Party, Libertarians, and others.

I chatted with one couple briefly who were running one of the exhibit tables. I can’t remember which one, but when I told them I drove in from a very left-leaning community, they said, Oh, Northfield, eh.” Perceptive! Turned out their son and his family recently relocated to Northfield, and I tried to assure them that there are some sane people there. Okay, we’re heavily outnumbered by the loonies, but there are some.

People continued to arrive.

Still plenty of time to kill, I wandered through the various War Memorial displays that were on one part of the grounds. There I learned a story of a WW2 incident that I had heard of before. It was about the sinking of the USAT Dorchester and “the Four Chaplains.” Wikipedia has a good article about it; in brief, it was torpedoed and when the order to abandon ship came, four soldiers did not have life jackets. Four chaplains, seeing this, handed the soldiers their own life jackets, then, holding hands and praying together, the four chaplains went down with the ship. It literally brought a tear to my eyes.

Meanwhile, more people showed up, and wandering through the tents again, as more exhibitors had completed their set up, I ran into Brad and Laurie, some friends of mine from MarsCon a couple years back. Shortly thereafter, I ran into Robert, retired Army and from my local district; Robert and I have a number of mutual friends, including our State Rep., Pat Garofalo.

People continued to stream in; Chris Baker of KTLK made some announcements; things were getting ready to start.

Signs, everywhere. T-shirts with all kinds of sayings about taxes were in abundance; Congressman Michelle Bachman was here. Coolness. Things were kicking into gear.

I’d have to review the video of her speech to give you the points, but the gist was: taxes bad, cut-spending good. Kind of what you would expect from her, and some of the other speakers. Governor Pawlenty, and, unlike the Tea Parties with some of the less popular elected, he didn’t get “booed”. Okay, he has actually been doing the best he can holding down the DFL driven tax increases with the veto pen (although it was overturned last year with the help of some RINOs). Hey, and no teleprompters.

Another speaker whose last name eludes me, but is known as Lucky, spoke to ther throngs of taxpayers. He issued a challenge for everyone there to start looking at their payroll receipts, specifically at the part that details out how much government is bilking you for, and then to send a letter to your rep (Okay, that should be letters to all your critters) and ask them “for what?” What are they spending all of that money on? Damn good question, if you ask me! I have video of that and will post it once I have a chance to download and edit it. He was a rouser! I wish he would run for office.

Jason Lewis, the point man for pushing this event, made his appearance, last on the list, and went on about some of the tax issues going on, as well as telling a few stories and jokes. Although I have been going to this particular rally for several years now (I missed it last year), I was surprised to learn that it had been going on for 10 years. It has been getting bigger every year, and this year was no different.

At a guess, I would say some 5,000 people were there in total, with the number stabilizing at about 3,000 at any given time as people came and went throughout the day (and no police anywhere that I saw, unlike at your typical Moveon.org or Code Pinko sponsored rallies). Albeit, there was probably some security there when the governor showed up, but that is to be expected.

Borders Books was doing a brisk business on conservative books, and the Liberty Shrine was wall-to-wall people checking out the exhibits. And the line for cheese curds? Never fewer than 30-40 people from what I saw.

photo gallery:

Tags:

Tax-Cut Rally Minnesota St. Paul Jason Lewis

Tags: Tax Cut Rally, Taxes

Posted in American Politics, Away Missions, MN Politics, Taxes | No Comments »

Comedians Refuse to Tease Obama

I ran across this article that purports that comedians are not taking jibes at Obama, which is true; but it isn’t because of his popularity they don’t do it, but because they are some of His worshippers. What is shocking is the gibe they do quote from Bill Maher:

Not long after the historic presidential election, Maher joked that Republicans were feeling particularly superstitious: “They say the country is having bad luck because there’s a black cat in the White House.” The studio audience erupted in loud groans and boos — a reaction, Maher observed in a recent interview, that exceeded his often scathing attacks on organized religion.

“Obama is the new God,” quipped Maher of the poorly received dig, which he pointed out pokes at conservatives more than the commander in chief.

Let’s be precise in describing Maher’s “joke”. He implies that Republicans and Conservatives are racists in this joke. That is an outrage! It is not because of the color of his skin that we don’t like what Obama is doing to our country. It is because of what he is doing, politically, to our country that we don’t like Obama. I shouldn’t be surprised that Maher would tell such a repugnant and despicable “joke”. I am surprised by the reaction; either the audience didn’t get it or they were outraged by Maher’s “joke”. Regardless of the reason, the response was the right one to give.

Here’s a joke. Who spends money faster than a drunken Liberal in Congress? Obama. The 2009 budget deficit now stands at $1.8 TRILLION, more than three times the size Bush’s last deficit, something the Democrats complained about no end. Yep, sorry joke, especially since the joke is on the American taxpayer who has to foot the bill for multi-trillion dollar deficits for years to come. Rest assured, though, the worst is still to come.

The piece goes on to describe some of the foibles of past presidents, that made them easy targets and touches on the question of whether or not a joke about Obama would be perceived as racist. But, hey, it’s okay to tell a joke that implies Republicans are racists.

They are also missing a great way to rib President Teleprompter. Not just on policies, but on his reliance on the teleprompter. Like how Obama went to Europe and had 24/7 teleprompter coverage.

As for attacking his policies, Obama is presenting a field day of opportunity, not just on budget and spending, but his forcing out GM’s CEO, the tax problems of many of his cabinet nominees (including tax cheat Geithner whose appointment was confirmed). How about calling the Obama’s out-of-touch with the First Lady’s sporting a pair of sneakers that cost $540? Is Michelle Obama proving to be more like Imelda Marcos? And the shoes were from a French designer. You’d think she’d at least buy American.

Meanwhile, I still hear Obi-Wan’s voice echoing in my mind, “Use the teleprompter, Barry.”

Tags: Obama

Posted in American Politics, Obama | No Comments »

On Specter’s Defection

It’s all over the news that Senator Arlen Specter (Confused - PA) has switched parties (again), joining the Democrats (this time). The piece I like the best is the last several paragraphs on Breitbart:

The five-term senator repeatedly cast his switch as a decision of principle. But he also said his own pollster had told him his chances of winning a Republican primary in Pennsylvania next year were bleak.

Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., said that in a private meeting with Republicans, Specter “gave a purely political explanation. … He said: ‘I’ve looked at the polls. I can’t win as a Republican, I can’t win as an independent. The only way I have a shot is to be a Democrat.’”

As recently as late winter, Specter was asked by a reporter why he had not taken Democrats up on past offers to switch parties.

“Because I am a Republican,” he said.

There it is, Specter is only concerned about staying in office, pure and simple. He doesn’t give a rat’s behind about principles, and I wonder, based on his voting record (he voted for Obama’s stimulus package that helped boost the 2009 budget deficit from $450 Billion to $1.6 Trillion). It’s about keeping his overpaid job (yes, all members of Congress, and the various appointees, are overpaid).

I have a question for Arlen Specter: Are you willing to repay all of the campaign contributions you have received during the last several years to anybody who contributed to it because you have switched parties? I mean, seriously, if a candidate I gave money to switched parties on me, I’d be demanding a refund. Now, not everyone who contributes to his campaign may give a hoot which party he belongs to, but there are also a number of people who provide campaign funding who do so based on party affiliation. So, fork it over, pal.

Olympia Snowe of Maine used this as an opportunity to assert that the GOP needs to move to the “center”. That is a formula for the GOP to lose elections. Why? Because people who want a someone that supports a socially liberal agenda will always vote for a liberal Democrat, if one is available, regardless of how far left a Republican drifts. Think about. A liberal voter is given a choice between a liberal Democrat who espouses a “soak the rich” socialist agenda and a Republican who claims to be a “social liberal and fiscal conservative (aka a cheap liberal), who is that voter going to vote for?

Snowe is also wrong in her argument in that what we really want is a real choice! I don’t want to have to choose between an expensive liberal (like al Franken) and a cheap liberal (like Norm Coleman). I want a choice that is a real conservative; someone who believes in the founding principles of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. I want someone who believes in fiscal responsibility, limited government, free markets, and understands that when the Second Amendment says “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” means exactly that, and not some power of the States.

As for Specter’s defection, maybe this time Pennsylvania will give him the walking papers he so richly deserves. As for his being a Republican, good riddance.

Tags: Senate, Specter

Posted in American Politics | No Comments »