BACKLASH IS A BITCH!

I am very fond of looking for the “law of unintended consequences” to kick in and I see two instances where that is either already happening or could soon happen.

First: Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement of Senator Barack Obama. Her fans (site pests?) are being very vocal on her website (by the thousands) in their opposition to her endorsement. I just spent a fascinated 15 minutes reading through opinions offered by Oprah’s fans and couldn’t really get a clear focus on what upsets them the most: Oprah’s money or the fact that she has an opinion, or something else altogether – but the fact remains, they are upset with her over the endorsement. All the posts were interesting, some of them even bordered on literate, but I must ask – the poster on the discussion board who said that Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich were the most qualified candidates is either demented or kidding, right? The unintended consequence could, however, be a voter stampede to another candidate.

Second: The death of Benazir Bhutto yesterday has generated a great deal of emotional intensity in that very volatile part of the world. Nuclear weapons and excessive, unreasoning emotion are NOT a particularly healthy mix!

The naysayers vis-à-vis the former Prime Minister’s character and point of view are already weighing in and several articles I have read have likened her to a Pakistani version of Hillary Rodham Clinton: leftist, corrupt, money-grubbing and utterly unable to speak the truth under any circumstances. Then there are the columnists who point out that Mrs. Clinton met Benazir Bhutto ONE TIME and that Hillary's claim to have known her for “years” is therefore utterly unbelievable and crass. Seems like textbook First Grifter behavior to me! How do they sleep at night? (Probably very well is my guess.)

AS TO THE LAW OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, beloved of me if nobody else. When Al Qaeda attacked us on September 11th, they expected a certain response from the U.S. They had an imperfect understanding of our national character and, worse yet, a complete misunderstanding about who the new United States President really was. It has always been clear to me that Al Qaeda read far too many DNC talking points memos and Al Qaeda truly did believe that our President was stupid. It seems clear to me that they expected our national response to be just as trifling as it had been all the other times they had attacked us. They had not counted on an actual man being Commander in Chief. The unintended consequence was, of course, ultimately the destruction of the Taliban-run government in Afghanistan and the toppling of Saddam Hussein.

The violence being fomented in Iraq by Al Qaeda, rather than giving them added power, turned off the Sunni Muslims who are now doing everything possible to eject Al Qaeda from Iraq.

Now the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Whatever her past governing skills, or lack thereof, Al Qaeda has claimed “responsibility” (I hate that phrase more than you can imagine) for her death. They should be claiming shame and guilt! It is possible that the people in the provinces wherein the terrorists have traditionally been given sanctuary will be so utterly enraged by this claimed assassination that they will emulate their brethren in Iraq, reject the terrorists and drive them out of their hiding places and – hopefully – into the waiting and welcoming muzzles of American or Coalition weapons!

Well that’s my take on things, at any rate. How accurate? Who knows. Time will tell.

RIP BENAZIR BHUTTO

She was an intelligent woman, so I'm sure she knew that returning to Pakistan was a life-threatening risk. Hugh Hewitt at Townhall.com described her as a woman of uncommon courage. As always, Mr. Hewitt's assessment is entirely accurate.

PREDICTION: Even though Al Qaeda has "claimed responsibility" for the death of Benazir Bhutto, the left idiots will STILL not be willing to acknowledge that WE ARE AT WAR WITH THESE 7th CENTURY MANIACS!

And how on earth does ANYONE think that it's possible to "make nice" with a group of murderous lunatics who are PROUD that they have killed 21 people - 22 if you count the homicide bomber!

A SUPPLEMENTAL RANT!

Something has been imitating fingernails on the blackboard of my mind and it's time to let it out - for my own sake.

What's with the unkempt look that is creeping into the sports and entertainment world. Baseball players with major stubble on their faces. Singers as well. Josh Groban, much as I adore his talents, needs to learn to use both a hairbrush AND a razor. And just a hint to the VERY handsome Steven Cousins - shave before a skating performance!

Female entertainers and skaters - if you're going to color your hair DO YOUR DAMNED ROOTS more than once every 6 months or don't do it at all! Tanith Belbin, you know I absolutely adore you and Ben Agosto - but still, dark roots don't fly chica!

And can we talk about dirty skates - boots AND laces? Flopping laces on those skates? Both Kimmie Meissner and Sasha Cohen are guilty in this area. And Kimmie - you are pretty much all grown up - time to start being "Kim" - you aren't 6 years old and maybe if you started SEEING yourself as an adult, you'd start skating like one? I'm just saying.

Here's the deal: If you are a performer or a sports figure or that delicious combination of the two that is known as figure skating - part of your JOB is good grooming. It shows that you RESPECT yourself and your RESPECT your sport.

Nothing less is acceptable.

WHY DOESN’T THIS SURPRISE ME?

PARIS -- Didier Gailhaguet, one of the main players in the judging scandal at the Salt Lake City Olympics, has his old job back as president of the French skating federation. Gailhaguet was elected president of the French Ice Sport Federation on Saturday, receiving more than half of the votes and beating out, among others, disgraced judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne. Gailhaguet also was federation president from 1998 to 2004.

This creep should have been banned from the sport for the rest of his LIFE. Yet here he is again, back doing business at the same old stand. One can only hope and pray that the rule changes instituted since he was poisoning the well back in 1998 are sufficient to keep this slimey toad straight!

Only the French (or the Russians, or the Italians or the - - - well you get my point)!

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MY HANDSOME AND BRILLIANT COUSIN ERNIE

The purpose of fighting is to win.
There is no possible victory in defense.
The sword is more important than the shield and skill is more important than either.
The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental."
-- John Steinbeck

≈≈

1- Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he's too old to fight, he'll just kill you. [Note from Gayle: This also applies to old WOMEN. As my estrogen decreases, my fuse shortens!]
2- If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.
3- I carry a gun 'cause a cop is too heavy.
4- America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the mall. (Ain't this the gospel truth!)
5- When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away. (shoot first - then call 911).
6- A reporter did a human interest piece on the Texas Rangers. The reporter recognized the Colt Model 1911 the Ranger was carrying and asked him "Why do you carry a 45?". The Ranger responded with, "Because they don't make a 46."
7- An armed man will kill an unarmed man with monotonous regularity.
8- The old sheriff was attending an awards dinner when a lady commented on his wearing his sidearm. "Sheriff, I see you have your pistol. Are you expecting trouble?" "No Ma'am. If I were expecting trouble, I would have brought my rifle."
9- Beware the man who only has one gun. He probably knows how to use it.

≈≈

Memo to Reid, Pelosi, Murtha, Kucinich, et al.:
If you can't stand behind our troops, try standing in front of them!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

MAYBE MY LAST PRE-CHRISTMAS POST

(or not)

"The congressional leaders ran in the last election on a promise that they would curb earmarks. And they made some progress and there's more transparency in the process. But they have not made enough progress. "The bill they just passed includes about 9,800 earmarks. Together with the previously passed defense spending bill, that means Congress has approved about 11,900 earmarks this year."

President George W. Bush, 12/20/07

***

Lawmakers finally came to agreement Wednesday on a spending measure to hand Bush a partial victory over Iraq War funding, allotting $70 billion in emergency war funding. Democrats had pushed to strip out all money for combat operations in Iraq, but Bush had asked for nearly $200 billion.

***

Democrats are attempting to claim that they had LESS earmarks than in the prior, Republican-led Congress. It isn’t true and of course, they know that but math, as we’ve had cause to discover is not their strong suit. Bear in mind the “thousands” of scientists who support Gore’s global warming fiction? Turns out there are 53 of them. Hyperbole, thy residence is on the left!

Tax and spend is what the Dems know. Playing the race card is what the Dems know. Bold-faced lies – Dems do it out of REFLEX these days.

Counting properly – this the Dems do NOT know how to do!

Here’s the deal, folks – the Dems do NOT want to win in Iraq and they do NOT (regardless of what they SAY) support the troops. How much money was involved in those self-serving piles of pork they approved? Probably enough to give the President (and the troops) a more suitable amount of funding. But then, that wouldn't suit their BDS-driven agenda, would it?

They are dishonest, corrupt and on their best day self-serving.

Those Republicans and Conservatives who “sat on their hands” to “teach the Republicans a lesson” in 2006, may you burn in hell for loosing these maggots on our nation.

***

And to whoever is responsible for the outrageous intent of the NYT vis-à-vis Senator John McCain (and I think their nicknames are OINK and BOINK), you definitely will be burning in hell!

Got a question – is it possible that Bubba is showing early signs of Alzheimer’s? I'm just saying.

I HAVE BEEN TAGGED!

Gee Aaron, I hardly know what to say at such a munificent gift!

1. Wrapping or gift bags?
Gift bags - I am wholly incompetent in the gift wrapping department!

2. Real or artificial tree?
Because of the cat (whose curiosity is legendary but whose agility is somewhat lacking), a small, prelit, artifical tree that can be put up out of reach. It is decorated with a multitude of cat-related ornaments because cats are one of my passions.

3. When do you put up the tree?
When I feel the urge to do it. Probably this Saturday afternoon.

4. When do you take the tree down?
January 6th - "little Christmas" as my mother used to call it. We're Byzantine Catholic and that's REALLY our Christmas.

5. Do you like eggnog?
I detest the stuff! Now I could really GO FOR a Bloody Mary any time!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Ice Skates - my first pair, which led to thousands of dollars being poured into the sport over the next 12-14 years because once I tried it - I was HOOKED, I tell you, HOOKED!

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
We Catholics have the nativity scene to remind us of the REASON for the SEASON.

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Always was grateful for anything I received. My parents weren't encouraging to relatives who wanted to spoil me rotten - extravagant gifts were firmly DISCOURAGED but something as simple as a pair of knit gloves from Aunt Ida Kiplinger were treasured - especially because she always stuck a few pennies in the fingers and a few wrapped peppermints in the thumbs!

9. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I send cards to people who send me cards. And I will be getting my cards out this weekend, I swear!

10. Favorite Christmas movie?
A Christmas Carol (love that Scrooge!)

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
I tend to pick up (and give) gifts throughout the year and don't really give Christmas gifts per se. Instead, I cook or bake things for people.

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Dear Linda's lasagna and my own stuffed cabbage. Coincidentally, that's what each of us is making this year. I'm going to her house where we'll eat, watch DVDs and relax with the menagerie - then split the leftovers and each take half. [I will post the recipe for my stuffed cabbage this weekend on my blog if friend Michael can get my home computer modem replaced.]

13. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
I'm so over the clear or white lights. Not cheerful enough - give me multicolored every time. And remember those BUBBLE LIGHTS? If I could get my hands on some of those, I'd even consider getting a bigger [fake] tree for next year!

14. Favorite Christmas song?
O Holy Night and Silent Night - both were my late mother's favorites as well. Oddly enough, whenever I hear anyone singing Silent Night in any language, I HEAR IT in Hungarian! How odd is that?!

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

2. Share Christmas facts about yourself.

3. Tag random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.

4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Moving right along, I am tagging: The Anchoress, Sissy and Laura Lee

VISCOUNT MONCKTON ON THE "GLOBAL WARMING" CONFERENCE IN BALI

Don't you just love a lucid commentator? Following is an excerpt from Viscount Monckton's report on the goings-on at the global warming conference in Bali:

"As with the 35 errors in Gore’s movie, so with the 50 in his speech to the zombies in Bali, comfortably exceeding his personal best – all the errors tend towards an extreme and scientifically-unwarranted exaggeration of the imagined threat posed by “global warming”. The zombies, of course, lapped up every word handed down from on high by Baron Thursdi (Gore), for Bali was a science-free, fact-free zone, question-free zone. The probability that all 43 of Gore’s latest errors could have pointed by mere accident and ignorance in the direction of excessive alarm is less than one in a million billion.

Therein lies a danger that Gore has not yet seen. For he failed, yet again, to declare his financial interest before whipping up worldwide alarm with his trademark errors and exaggerations in Bali. He is a director of Lehman Brothers, a global finance house that wants to control the worldwide managed market in carbon-emissions trading. He founded his own “green” corporation, Generation Investment Management. He is a paid member of the Board of a renewable-energy company. In the UK, if he made a speech containing so many deliberate and unidirectional errors as he did in Bali, and if he failed to declare his financial interest, he would be committing a criminal offence. It is surely only a matter of time before a complaint is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, alleging that, through the numerous, extreme and scientifically-unwarranted exaggerations which Gore has relentlessly continued to peddle notwithstanding the warning in the UK judge’s verdict, he is in effect fraudulently promoting a false prospectors to potential investors. Indeed, his exaggerations are on such a scale, and have commanded such attention, and have done so much damage, that he may even have committed an offence under the Federal racketeering statute. I wanted to ask Gore about his failure to disclose his financial interest, but – as usual – he does not dare to take questions."

[emphasis Gayle's]

Viscount Monckton handles the “zombies” (his word – and a good one) in the best ways possible – with FACTS, ACCURACY and HUMOR.

There is nothing, nothing on earth, more dangerous than a messianic do-gooder with questionable intelligence and faulty research – and that would be your basic Albert Gore, Jr. – a man whose grades in college were LOWER than those of George W. Bush (as were John F. Kerry’s – so who is the dumb one) and who FLUNKED out of divinity school. Clearly, this is his only “respectable” means to fulfill his visceral need for adulation! Al Gore is both pathetic AND dangerous!

AMAZING UPDATE: Go to Townhall.com where you can read about how President Bush's intransigience on Kyoto has actually turned our nation into one of the least polluting nations on the planet! But don't expect the sheeplike MSM to publicize THAT!

Pelosi: Republicans `like' Iraq War

In an article written by Associated Press writer Charles Babington, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opined thus, yesterday:

Dec 13 02:23 PM US/Eastern

By CHARLES BABINGTONAssociated Press
Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lashed out at Republicans on Thursday, saying they want the Iraq war to drag on and are ignoring the public's priorities.

"They like this war. They want this war to continue," Pelosi, D- Calif., told reporters. She expressed frustration over Republicans' ability to force majority Democrats to yield ground on taxes, spending, energy, war spending and other matters.

"We thought that they shared the view of so many people in our country that we needed a new direction in Iraq," Pelosi said at her weekly news conference in the Capitol. "But the Republicans have made it very clear that this is not just George Bush's war. This is the war of the Republicans in Congress."

Asked to clarify her remarks, Pelosi backed off a bit. "I shouldn't say they like the war," she said. "They support the war, the course of action that the president is on." "And that was a revelation to me," she said, "because I thought the American people's voices were so—and still are—so strong in this regard."

Mrs. Pelosi, you ignorant leftwing dope, the American people didn’t vote the Democrats into the majority with a mandate to make this a nation of seditious cowards, trembling in a corner for fear the big bad wolf would huff and puff and blow our houses down. Americans were frustrated with the rampant spending of the previous Congress and at the atmosphere of shrill discord existing in our Nation’s Capitol.

Americans support our troops. Americans support SUCCESS in Iraq – something that is happening in spite of the cowardly cowering going on in our Congress.

Also, Mrs. Pelosi, where is it written that just because YOU and your looney cabal of leftwing zealots think something should be so, everyone should follow in lockstep? There's a REASON we have a two-party system, you dimwit! You are NOT the second coming of anything or anyone!

Madame Speaker, you seem to have no idea that every time you open your big fat, stupid yap, you give aid and comfort to those who would destroy our entire way of life. It is my earnest wish and prayer for 2008 that the American people have had enough of you and your ilk (and the poll numbers seem to say that they have) and will boot your sorry asses out of the U.S. Congress.

Stupid twit!

HERE FOLLOWS A LIST OF THINGS THAT CHAPPED MY HIDE IN 2007:

*All people throughout the country, in the mainstream media and in the political world, who are afflicted with Bush Derangement Syndrome. You are ALL demented loons and should be given lip gloss laced with Krazy Glue! Now and in perpetuity.

*The strong and pervasive scent of anti-Semitism in this “land of the free, home of the brave”, coupled with the distinct addition of a very anti-Christian attitude in public life and in the mainstream media.

*Mike Huckabee, you retracted the foul canard you directed at Mitt Romney’s religion – but it was still in your mind or you wouldn’t have said it in the first place. Any slight possibility that I would consider you as a Republican presidential candidate (we don’t need another Arkansas governor as president, thank you very much – especially not one who is a clearly-bigoted Baptist minister) vanished in a heartbeat.

*Hillary Rodham Clinton and her consort the former horndog in chief – how can I count the ways? Let’s start with their habit of rewriting history every 12 seconds. Bill Clinton SUPPORTED the Iraq War when it was going well, opportunistic liar that he is, but NOW he says that he didn’t. William Jefferson Clinton wouldn’t know a truth if it came up and bit him on his nose!

*Mayor Bloomberg of NYC and all other politicians who think that Americans need a “nanny” to tell them what to eat, what not to eat and everything in between. GET OVER YOURSELVES!

*Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Jack Murtha, Ted Kennedy and all the Democratic members of congress (and some Republicans – you know who you are Voinovich, Specter, et al.) who give them free rein to be anti-American seditious cowards on a regular basis, and dishonest with it which is the ultimate crowning insult! As always, I except the excellent Senator Lieberman from this condemnation. But the rest of you? You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves! You daily betray the country you swore to preserve, protect and defend.

*The mainstream media who give EVERY Democrat a free pass – particularly Hillary Rodham Clinton, aka The Spawn of Satan. This evil, dangerous leftwing presidential wannabe does, I think, literally get away with murder and nobody – nobody at all – calls her on it.

*Bill O’Reilly for being a bloviating gasbag who has taken sucking up to dishonest hucksters in public life almost an art form. Bill you’re 6’4+ – you’re going to pop a disc bending over to kiss all those butts! I notice that your pal Al Sharpton is finally getting the scrutiny he so richly deserves. It's a start.

*Albert Gore, Jr. for ramming his global warming hysteria down everyone’s throat to the detriment of third world citizens whose lives will be materially diminished due to ill-conceived, poorly executed efforts to avert a crisis that doesn’t exist.

*All the people who have been treating Albert Gore, Jr. like a demigod as he pedals his global warming religion throughout the world. Ever heard of critical thinking you morons? Clearly not.

*The secularists, one and all, who tried once again to ruin Christmas for the 94% of us who profess to believe in God. Here’s the deal – read the Amendment. All that it says is that no law shall be made regarding the “establishment” of a religion. Nothing whatsoever is said about this country being devoid of religious beliefs. In fact, an open minded study of the history of the times will clearly inform you that none of the Founding Fathers ever intended this to be anything other than a faith-based country.

*All those in this country illegally, GOODBYE! We didn't invite you into OUR HOME and we certainly didn't offer you MORE RIGHTS AND BENEFITS than are available to those of us who are here legally. You have the right to demand NOTHING from the citizens of this country. You do, however, HAVE THE RIGHT TO GET OUT! Take your drunk drivers, your gang members, your unwilling-to-speak English INVADERS who are not only too stupid or lazy to learn the language of this nation, but arrogant with it! If you don't like the country the way OUR COUNTRY is run, go back where you came from and reshape your own land to suit your requirements!

*Once again, although it is not politically correct to say this, to those immigrants who want to impose the standards and customs of their former countries on ours, I have only one thing to say to you: GET OUT! We do not need or want you in our country. If it was so peachy keen where you came from, why the hell did you leave and impose your sorry selves on US? This is AMERICA you ignorant morons. We speak ENGLISH. We respect each other (at least the vast majority of us do). We do not indulge in honor killings. We do not expect our women to walk 10 paces behind us, nor do we expect them to wrap themselves in burkas. In this country, it is a CRIME to beat up on your wife, your child, your neighbor or any person who happens to incite your wrath. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, in our Constitution or Bill of Rights that gives you a right not to be offended, nor is there anything that gives you any right to commit mayhem on anyone else!

*I believe in profiling. Those 19 murderers (let’s call them what they were, folks) were not from Sweden. They were swarthy, Middle Eastern men of a certain age bracket who had specific behavior models and heavy accents. They were believers in a specific religion, mired in the 7th century and its savagery, that has, over multitudinous centuries, waged war against the West and anyone whose values and beliefs are different than their own. Am I Islamaphobic? You bet! I think anyone who has even one functioning brain cell ought to be!

*HAPPY 2008!

PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA TO PISS OFF YOUR LOON-INFESTED BASE!

"We felt betrayed by the very people we helped to put into office. We have a particular break with the leadership of the Democratic Party," Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin said.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

AT LAST - SOME COMMON SENSE ON GLOBAL WARMING!

In an article in the Daily Mail (London) today, it is reported that the excellent Pope Benedict XVI is essentially saying “not so fast” to the ersatz global warming prophets of doom and suggesting that extensive scientific inquiry might be warranted before declaring impending doom. How refreshingly sensible and intelligent of him! How very adult!

While the prophet of doom (aka Albert Gore, Jr., high priest of faux science) seems to accept as “settled” his conclusions about the threat of global warming, I have been skeptical from his first utterance on the subject. This is a man who is on a “mission” and like many false prophets, he and his slavish devotees allow no discussion of alternative views.

I have repeatedly expressed total doubts about the threat of global warming, most especially because I well remember some 30 years ago when an impending ICE AGE was being predicted by the same nutbars and half-assed scientific types that now are screaming “Chicken Little – the sky is falling” to credulous buffoons who are too lazy to think for themselves, or incapable of doing so.

I have been a fan of Benedict XVI since his election as Supreme Pontiff and as a devout Catholic, I have followed his writings and speeches (get yourself a copy of his address at the University of Regensburg – the one that caused such a ridiculous fuss – it is astounding in its lucid research and reasoning - brilliant work) with great interest. It is my belief that, in his unique way, Benedict XVI will go down in papal history as a GREAT pope. Completely fitting for a Pope who loves both cats and Mozart!

DICK CHENEY IS RIGHT!

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) says a swipe that Vice President Cheney took at Democratic House leaders is “beneath the dignity of his office.”

Capitol Hill was abuzz Thursday with discussion of the vice president’s assertion in an interview with Politico that House Democratic leaders had been surprisingly supine: “They are not carrying the big sticks I would have expected.”

Cheney added that when he served in the House, “We would not have had a Speaker who, from my perspective, is that far out of the sort of mainstream — she is a San Francisco Democrat, certainly entitled to her views, but able to dictate policy as effectively as she apparently does to the rest of the caucus.” "

So what, exactly, did the Vice President say that was so offensive, you whiney leftwing ineffective troglodyte? You have taken over the House of Representatives, Mrs. Pelosi, imposed your San Francisco, un-American values on the entire body which is supposed to represent the rest of us who do not SHARE your values. You have had the hubris to declare yourself "the most powerful woman in the world" - and I'm surprised that that statement didn't activate Hillzilla's "hit squad".

Let me put it another way, Mrs. Pelosi, I have a 28-pound cat who could lick any one of those wimpy-assed, seditious, idiotic "yes" men in the Democratic caucus and I'd be delighted to arrange for him to prove it! Sam has teeth and he has both the knowledge and the will to use them. Can you say the same for your "pets"?

DECEMBER 7, 1941 - A DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY

My father and mother were moving the last of her possessions from Pittsburgh to Cleveland. They had just married in September of the previous year. They had stopped for gas when the news about the bombing of Pearl Harbor came across the radio. Since I was born in July of 1942, it's entirely possible that I was already a little bun in the oven!

Both my parents were conservative Republicans and neither liked FDR even a little bit - but they always said that his speech to Congress was the best they'd ever heard. And give the politicians of that time full credit - NONE OF THEM were the quisling, defeatist cowards that our current crop have proven to be! Americans were just that - AMERICANS. We weren't hyphenated Americans in those days. And certainly none of them were demented enough to suggest doing cartwheels in the U.S. Senate! I always knew Harry Reid was a questionable patriot but until this morning I didn't know that he was dopey as well!

Many things on the American landscape have changed, some of them even for the better, but I'm not sure our national CHARACTER is even close to being equal to the character of those who comprised "the greatest generation" - among those fabulous people were my cousin Eddie Chupick and my Uncle Jumbo. My father served as a troubleshooter in defense plants (he was an engineer and thus uniquely qualified to be on the lookout for sabotage and stupidity). He later said that stupidity was much more common, so in that respect I think probably we haven't changed a great deal.

Even all these years later, those who died at Pearl Harbor and in World War II which followed are and should be honored and mourned by all of us. In my family, we do have one cause for celebration. My mother's nephew Ernie met a beautiful and utterly charming British woman named Lucy while he was stationed in England. He married her and brought her home to us and she was a gift to us then and "at a certain age" she is still a gift to our entire family. And thanks to Ernie and Lucy - I have my 3 beloved cousins Debbie, Ernie and Scott and their wonderful families.

DID HE HAVE ME AT "HELLO"?

Maybe not at "hello" but Mitt Romney's speech yesterday showed me a man who has a lot more going for him than his looks. While I may not be fully ready to support his presidential ambitions, he HAS convinced me to study the man and his record more closely, something I was disinclined to do before yesterday.

So Pat - I'm still on the fence - McCain isn't totally out of the picture, but Mitt is growing on me. I do not like or trust Huckabee. And do we really need another ARKANSAS politician in the White House? I think not.

BE PREPARED TO LAUGH!

Head on over to Lifelike Pundits but be sure to have your earphones on and be prepared to laugh while a brilliant video makes its point with totally appropriate, rib-tickling humor! As always, Aaron displays succinct and intelligent judgment in posting this hysterical video!

RIGHTS vs. RESPONSIBILITIES

It’s December and we’ve had nearly a year of the Democratically controlled Congress. Reid and Pelosi proclaimed that they were going to reverse all the Bush Administration “abuses” within the first 100 days. They proclaimed that Congress would be in session five days per week, all day! They proclaimed a great many initiatives that would be accomplished during that time frame.

None of that has happened.

Despite a plethora of ill-conceived attempts, nothing major in the way of legislation has been accomplished. This, to my mind, is a good thing. Most of what the Dems proposed was witless, lacking in foresight and thoroughly un-American, informed as it was by multiple advanced cases of Bush Derangement Syndrome.

You know the interesting thing is, while the Dems were flapping about and making overly ambitious plans to redesign the American landscape as we have known it (for over 200 years), the President went about his business quietly and now what do we have?

Pollsters report that the approval rating of the U.S. Congress is at 11%. And while the President’s poll numbers (about which he does not care – refreshing in and of itself) are still in the high 30s, the economy, contrary to almost daily dire predictions of doom, just keeps ticking along. People have made the statement to me, as recently as this past weekend, that “the economy is in bad, bad shape” and I have asked for specific examples – which they cannot give. What it boils down to is that these incurious dopes have read something negative in the Washington Post (aka Pravda on the Potomac) or the New York Times (“All the news fit to line your trash can – don’t be unkind to your bird!”) and have accepted it as gospel. DON’T DO THAT!

Last night in the car pool, there was a heated discussion of the news media and the perception of the other riders in the car pool that we have freedom of speech and freedom of the press and the media can do what it likes! My rejoinder was simple. No, damn it, they cannot. Just as freedom of speech does NOT allow you to yell “Fire” in a crowded theatre, freedom of the press does not permit falsehood being marketed as news. Marketing OPINION under the guise of NEWS/FACTS is an egredious offense. But until (a) more people understand the RESPONSIBILITies that accompany the RIGHTS afforded the news media and (b) start raising hell at the top of their lungs in MASSIVE numbers (whilst refusing to patronize the offending media outlets) when those responsibilities are not honored – nothing is going to change.

Oh yes, and just in case you believe Harry Reid (why believe him about anything when he is incapable of speaking the truth), here’s a news flash for you, free of charge: THE FREAKING SURGE IS WORKING! President Bush and General Petraeus were RIGHT and Senators Reid and Clinton were WRONG (although they are wrong so often, it hardly merits a comment).

Sean Taylor, R.I.P.

Gone too soon. How tremendously sad that his little daughter will never know a father who loved her.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ONE AND ALL!

2007 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS!

Congratulations to The Ohio State University Buckeyes on another solid season of football. Bear in mind, y'all, that the team was not expected to do nearly as well as it eventually did do - so definitely congratulations (and no small amount of crowing) are in order!

GO BUCKS!

GO BUCKS!!! BEAT MICHIGAN!!!

There is nothing more to be said!

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE PERFIDY OF ATTORNEYS!

I'm just saying.

I'm also (briefly) unemployed!

Blogging will be light.

WHAT'S THE FREQUENCY, DENNIS?

This ineffectual, brainless cretin actually has the gross effrontery to question the MENTAL HEALTH of the President of the United States?

Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich questioned President Bush's Mental health in light of comments he made about a nuclear Iran precipitating World War III. "I seriously believe we have to start asking questions about his Mental health," Kucinich, an Ohio congressman, said in an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer's editorial board on Tuesday.

"There's something wrong. He does not seem to understand his words have real impact."

Dennis, you ignorant and pathetic dimwit, have you noticed the tinfoil hat on YOUR head? Did you consider, even for a second, the effect your ill-considered and STUPID words might have on the safety and well-being of the United States? Do you think at all?

George W. Bush is not the one whose mental health bears examination, but MOST Democrats are exhibiting a level of dementia that is truly terrifying!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OSU BUCKEYES ON A SUPERB SEASON - SO FAR!

Of course, if you understand the Columbus, Ohio mentality, you'd know that if Tressel doesn't win the Michigan game, he'll be booed at the first game of next season, even though the team is 9-0 right now!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE SPAWN OF SATAN!

You can go here to offer your greetings. Remember, be civil. I wished her plummeting poll numbers and a rapid decline into obscurity together with her serial philandering husband.

AW HECK, ONE LAST TIME!

The artist's heart was in the right place (well, the left place actually) but I don't think he did as good a job as he should have. For example, the ankles aren't accurately portrayed. But the complete insanity of the eyes is quite effective and accurate!

YOU BET I DETEST HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

However, and despite the fact that I have a few of the less flattering ones stored on my hard drive, I’m starting to think that the endless focus on Mrs. Clinton’s beauty – or lack thereof – is small-minded and demeaning to those who make the comparison, more so than to Mrs. Clinton.

I mean, let’s be honest, it’s FUN. She is capable of making some of the most astonishingly unattractive faces and there’s a picture floating through the blogsphere where she clearly is picking her nose! Yuck!

But I think – and of course some will likely disagree with me – that it is what’s in Mrs. Clinton’s brain and heart that deserves our intense focus. I truly don’t care when she looks “rode hard and put up wet” – as she frequently does.

Let’s focus instead on Mrs. Clinton’s core beliefs. These beliefs would, if fully known, cause most sane voters to reject her candidacy. And in the end, preventing Hillary Rodham Clinton from ever again entering the White House – even as a guest – is the most important task to accomplish.

I REALLY DON’T MEAN TO BE RUDE . . .

And, shy as I am, I don’t like to ask pointed questions, but - - -

WHAT IN HELL HAS THE CURRENT CONGRESS ACCOMPLISHED?

The president is not fond of using the power of the veto, and yet that seems to be all he has been forced to do lately. And has the House managed to override ANY of those vetoes? Not so much!

I don’t think this will gain traction for a long while, considering the stranglehold the leftwingnuts have on the mainstream media, but it is entirely possible that the self-proclaimed “Most Powerful Woman in the World”, La Pelosi, is on track to be named the WORST SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE in the history of this nation.

As near as I can tell, about all the current Congress (both sides of the aisle – don’t want to be accused of committing a hate crime after all) is comprised of is dopes, dimwits, traitors and loons!

At this, one of the most DANGEROUS times in our nation’s history, do we really need to be so ill-served?

OVERHEARD ON A D.C. STREET CORNER

I had a very high stress day yesterday - too much work, not enough time - so I slipped out for a very rare indulgence: a cigarette break! And there, standing on the corner of 12th and Pennsylvania Avenue, an attorney from another law firm joined me in observing several beggars pass by, gazing at us hopefully!

Finally, he turned to me and said (I'm not kidding): "On my next vacation I'm going to Calcutta - get away from the beggars!"

FAREWELL (KIND OF) SWEET TIM!

When I moved on 10/5 into my new house, something rare and precious and utterly beloved did NOT move with me. I'm referring to the beloved little bluepoint Siamese named Tim. The reasons included: 1. He is madly in love with Linda; 2. Linda is madly in love with Tim; 3. Zeus is madly in love with Tim; 4. Tim is ecstaticly happy at Linda's house; 5. I knew I could see Tim whenever I wanted and 6. I wasn't sure Tim was safe at my house.

This may have been the most difficult decision I've ever made but since Tim is thriving at Linda's house and is, as mentioned, head-over-heels in love with her (actually HE has HER wrapped around his dainty little paw) and I could not, in good conscience, surrender his best interests to my own selfishness.

Meanwhile, Sam's entire crabby disposition is rapidly evaporating since he has had me all to himself. He has also found himself a lady friend, albeit at a distance. There's a very lovely lady tuxedo cat who traverses my back yard from time to time - and Sam has been known to mewl at the window upon sighting her! I have assured him that she is unaware of and unimpressed by his importunings. Over the weekend, people kept coming by to fix things or bring things over or whatever - Sam was either cordial or completely oblivious to their presence, a major relief to me.

Unpacking is a pain in the fundament. However, it has occurred to me that there actually is NO schedule I need to observe - so I'm doing it one load of laundry and one box per evening - naturally more on weekends. If I could just find the can opener and my spatulas and knives, I'd be a happy woman!

IT HAD TO HAPPEN!

Now that Al Gore has won the Nobel Peace Prize for his global-warming-faux-religious crusade, it was inevitable that some Democrats would begin to urge Mr. Gore to run for the presidency – against Hillary Rodham Clinton. It has been clear for some time that a lot of Dems are not exactly doing backflips over having Mrs. Clinton as a frontrunner! There are a lot of Democrats who don’t like the smell of sulfur any better than we do!

And I wouldn’t count Gore out, folks! In the early 1960s, Richard Nixon had become a national joke, and then he was elected President. I don’t know if Mr. Gore has spent the time cultivating the grassroots functionaries of the Democratic Party to the extent that Mr. Nixon did but he may have done so.

And if I had to choose between eyes-spinning-counterclockwise Albert Gore, Jr. and that despicable Spawn of Satan – I don’t know - who would be the most dangerous? I know – a ticket comprised of both of them! THAT would be more dangerous.

Please, let’s pray that God continues to bless America. I know we’ve probably tried His patience a lot in the past 20 years – but let’s ask for one last kindness from Him even though we probably don’t deserve it.

GREAT ADVICE!

The brilliant Lorie Byrd hits a grand slam home run in her intelligent and well reasoned article "How to Lose in 2008 and Beyond" available here.

AL GORE WINS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Yawn!

The prize means little when you consider that it has also been given to one of the more murderous terrorists of the 20th century (Arafat) and the worst president of the 20th century (Carter).

Put it on your resume guys, if you must, but do not expect me to be impressed because the Nobel Peace Prize is meaningless when it is awarded to people who promote junk science, terror or just plain stupidity!

And speaking of Jimmy Carter - why didn't Wolf Blitzer challenge Carter's lies during their CNN interview? Why am I even asking this stupid question?

OOPS – SHE’S DONE IT AGAIN!

When it comes to manipulating the MSM to her advantage, there is no politician as adept as Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-Hades). Just about two weeks ago, Senator Clinton casually commented that “I like the idea of giving every baby born in America a $5,000 account that will grow over time.” an idea that did not actually originate with Mrs. Clinton, but rather more than 30 years ago with George McGovern who proposed a $1,000 bond to each baby born and was ridiculed by his own party as well as the Republicans.

Very quickly, Senator Clinton’s campaign made it clear that this wasn’t a policy position, but rather that Mrs. Clinton was sending up a trial balloon “idea” – although when she made the remarks during an address to them, the Congressional Black Caucus seemed to like what she had to say.

Some have claimed that this was Mrs. Clinton’s first mistake of the 2008 campaign and that the quick lockdown on the subject showed that her campaign is highly focused and disciplined.

I don’t think it was a mistake at all. I think it was a deliberately provocative remark that accomplished precisely what Senator Clinton wanted accomplished – lots of press attention, both electronic and print media.

Which is why I say that she is the most manipulative and cynical politician extant today.

Dear merciful heavens, how I dislike this corrupt and dishonest crone! And how I fear the damage she could easily cause our beloved nation.

CHRYSLER UNION WALKS OUT!

In one of the more short-sighted, boneheaded, just plain STUPID moves I have seen of late, the union autoworkers have walked off the job and gone on strike against Chrysler Corporation.

Here's a tip:

1. You are already paid quite generously for the work you do.

2. Your benefit package is second to none.

3. American auto makers are teetering on the brink of extinction because they are being priced out of the market by non-union foreign automakers who produce a car of exceptional quality (frequently here in America) without the added expense of paying exhorbitant wages and benefits to union workers.

4. Michigan's economy is already in the dumper and your actions are just making it worse. Of course, even though YOU Mr. Union Worker are to blame for your predicament, naturally being a union man and a liberal asshat, you'll blame it all on President Bush!

I would suggest that you accept whatever package is next offered to you and get your stupid butts back to work! I have NO SYMPATHY whatsoever if your family experiences any deprivation because you brought it on your own, shortsighted selves!

UPDATE: The strike was settled in 7 hours but now the Union is targeting Ford Motor Company, the weakest and most financially perilous of the former "Big Three" automakers.

A special salute to the dimbulb Chrysler union member who said, "I just want to protect what I've earned all these years!" You dopey female - the company goes bankrupt you'll be left with NOTHING WHATSOEVER! Want to rethink your attitude, lady?

BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID!

The woman is evil, the very personification of evil. The United States of America as we have known it all our lives could easily disappear, should this Spawn of Satan be elected to the Presidency. This duplicitous crone must be defeated and shown, at the ballot box, that her kind of sick, twisted, dishonest and despicable politician is no longer electable!

To the Dobsons of this world, I say unto you - do you want to have a tiny tantrum and show everyone what big ones you have? Or would you prefer to ACTUALLY save our nation from the Devil's handmaiden? Or to put it more bluntly - Dobson cut the crap! A third party candidacy is a ludicrous and just plain STUPID idea. Put on your grown-up BVDs and support any Republican candidate who can prevent this degenerate sack of excrement from being elected! THAT is the patriotic thing to do.

WHO SAID IT?

A little history lesson: If you don't know the answer make your best guess. Answer all the questions before looking at the answers. Who said it?

1) "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."
A. Karl Marx
B. Adolph Hitler
C. Joseph Stalin
D. None of the above

2) "It's time for a new beginning, for an end to government of the few, by the few, and for the few...and to replace it with shared responsibility for shared prosperity."
A. Lenin
B. Mussolini
C. Idi Amin
D. None of the Above

3) "(We)...can't just let business as usual go on, and that means something has to be taken away from some people."
A. Nikita Khrushev
B. Josef Goebbels
C. Boris Yeltsin
D. None of the above

4) "We have to build a political consensus and that requires people to give up a little bit of their own...in order to create this common ground."
A. Mao Tse Dung
B. Hugo Chavez
C. Kim Jong Il
D. None of the above

5) "I certainly think the free-market has failed."
A. Karl Marx
B. Lenin
C. Molotov
D. None of the above

6) "I think it's time to send a clear message to what has become the most profitable sector in (the) entire economy that they are being watched."
A. Pinochet
B. Milosevic
C. Saddam Hussein
D. None of the above

Answers:
(1) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 6/29/2004
(2) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 5/29/2007
(3) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 6/4/2007
(4) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 6/4/2007
(5) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 6/4/2007
6) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 9/2/2005

Be afraid, folks. Be VERY afraid!

h/t Tony Avak

BUT BEFORE I GO . .!

I may or may not have mentioned this opinion before, but General Wesley Clark is, in my view, the most textbook example of a horse's ass extant!

And now he has, out of his own dishonest mouth, provided all the proof a person needs:

From Townhall.com:

In a blog to the Huffington Post, former NATO Supreme Commander Wesley Clark called for Congress to immediately take steps to remove conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh from Armed Forces Radio.

Last week, Rush Limbaugh labeled any American soldier who supports an end to the war in Iraq as "phony," noted Clark. "We challenged Limbaugh through an email campaign to invite VoteVets.org's Jon Soltz to his show and repeat these same insults to an Iraq war veteran's face. Over 10,000 people responded and emailed Rush -- but to our disappointment, he has refused to respond to our request.

Oh, for the love of God! This lying gasbag knows damned well that Rush Limbaugh wasn't referring to our American soldiers overall, but rather two SPECIFIC examples of NON-SOLDIERS who pretended to have served in Afghanistan or Iraq (in much the way that General Clark pretends to have a functional brain) and then lied about the activities of our military! Talk about cynical opportunism. That is rapidly becoming the only way to describe almost any Democrat!

And finally - did you ever notice how, whenever they are trying to pull the wool over American eyes, the Dems in Congress label their intrusive, wasteful and ultimately unnecessary programs as being "for the children"! I guess children that manage to get themselves born, in spite of the Democrats, take on some sort of mystical meaning!

"HELLO, I MUST BE GOING!"


I am moving into my new house this coming weekend and, as a consequence, blogging will be light to non-existent!

I'll be returning sometime toward the middle of next week.

Take care.

ANOTHER OUTRAGE FROM THE LEFT!

The traitorous left is under the mistaken impression that they can get Rush Limbaugh off of Armed Forces Radio and it's our job to show them it's pointless to even try such foolishness. Visit the feedback page at AFR and let them know you stand behind Rush and show continued support of the troops!

Pass the word around, blogs get to it.

Posted by Macranger on Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007 at 3:56 pm.

Here is the page you need to show your support.

ARE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC REALLY HEARING THESE SEDITIOUS TWITS!?

According to Fox News today, Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin feels that the Democrats "have had it with being maneuvered and jerked around" on the war in Iraq so he said he will not allow a bill to come for debate to provide emergency supplemental funds for the war and suggested Americans should be compelled to pay for it through a "surtax."

You seditious creep – who in the name of hell do you think is paying for the war NOW? Are you under the impression that money for that war is materializing in some great “government funds station” in the sky? The American people have paid for this war from the start . What a completely asinine and arrogantly self-righteous piece of stupidity for him to allow out of his mouth!

"The president isn't going to get a supplemental this year. I am not going to report a supplemental out" if it simply is a request for funds and not a change in direction for troops in Iraq,"

Obey said.

You just knock yourself out Rep. Obey. When the time comes for re-election, we WILL remember and be sure that your constituents who were credulous enough to vote you into office the last time, will be disgusted enough by your current ignorant blatheringss to vote you out of office. The nice thing about electing an idiot to the House is that you can get rid of your idiot fairly quickly.

TODAY'S "MUST READ" BLOG!

Doug Powers weighs in on the Harry Reid/Harkin/Rush Limbaugh flap today and his analysis is witty and brilliant which is a really cool combination any time! So please do head on over to Doug's location where you'll find the following gems:

In short, if Rush Limbaugh says or does anything reckless, he harms himself. If Harry Reid says or does anything reckless, he can harm a nation, and I believe he’s doing just that.

###

Rush Limbaugh issued a challenge to Harry Reid to come on his program and have it out. My own challenge to Reid and many other Democrats can be summed up in a sentence: If you would act as if terrorists are half as dangerous to the future of America as Rush Limbaugh, we might actually make some progress in our national security. If Rush Limbaugh ever gives up “the golden EIB microphone,” it shouldn’t be because an out-of-control politician hell-bent on silencing his detractors issued a totalitarian - esque decree - it should be because Limbaugh sold it, in an act of bipartisan charity, to pay for Mr. Reid’s straight-jacket and court-appointed psychiatrist. [emphasis added]

JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THINGS WORK . .


When a Democratic Congressman defames American troops serving in a foreign country to protect our nation, that is the exercise of “Freedom of Speech”.

When a Conservative talk show host exposes a plethora of phony (as in NOT REAL or fraudulent) soldiers defaming American troops serving in a foreign country to protect our nation, that is the exercise of “Hate Speech” according to the Democrats.

The Democrats are once again trying to find a way to tinker with freedom of speech. Never mind that they indulge in LICENSE in this area, blathering any manner of uncivil, largely untrue and often defamatory or seditious nonsense – nobody is supposed to force them to justify or prove what they say!

That is – to put it mildly – b.s.!

R.I.P. BELOVED GIGI

Saturday at noon, Linda had the sad duty of euthanizing her beloved little female cat, Gigi. Gigi had a rich and interesting nearly 18 years on this planet and the beginning of the end was sudden and swift.

Gigi was originally the pampered little princess of Linda's mother. When Rita entered into her final illness, Gigi came to live with Linda and her then-fiance in Huntington Beach, California. Already resident in the household were two of the most wonderful Golden Retrievers anyone would ever want to meet, Amber and Cassis.

Now you have to understand, Gigi was an only child until that point and a totally inside cat. She didn't know what to make of these two enormous doggies, but rather quickly decided that she too was a Golden, to the point of sleeping with them in their doghouse! When I moved out to California for about 6 months and stayed with Linda and Doofus, Gigi was quite seriously annoyed that I brought my two boys, BooBoo and Rocky. She wanted nothing whatsoever to do with either of them and her attitude never changed. After all, SHE was a Golden Retriever!

When Linda moved cross country to Virginia, Gigi accompanied her in the moving truck, leading to one memorable episode during the trip when Gigi went into convulsions due to an excess of insulin in her little system. But all survived and for the past 8 years or so, Gigi has been a lady of Virginia, and she still had a dog - her beloved pit bull mix, Zeus, who loved her right back.

When I moved here, my two cats didn't know what to make of Gigi, who by this time was quite elderly, but still very much her own person. Sam was actively hostile (well - he's pretty much hostile to everyone but me at this juncture) and Timmy, ever the affable sweetheart, wanted to play with her. She wanted nothing whatsoever to do with THEM, but my lap was an instant destination and a frequent one.

The rapid onset of her illness left her, by late last week, completely blind and deaf as a yard of grass. I accompanied Linda to the vet on Saturday and Gigi has left to join her original family: Rita, Amber and Cassis. Our roommate swears he has heard her meow in the middle of the night, even though he knows she's no longer with us.

She was much loved, quite a personality, and a beautiful and loving (to people and dogs) companion. Linda is bereft, as am I, but with this post, I am celebrating the life of a wonderful companion and a very cool lady!

Rest in peace, sweetheart. Be seeing you.

I'VE TRIED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF KATIE COURIC, I REALLY HAVE . .

Well, here's Katie Couric speaking at the National Press Club 9/25/07:

“The whole culture of wearing flags on our lapel and saying ‘we’ when referring to the United States and, even the ‘shock and awe’ of the initial stages, it was just too jubilant and just a little uncomfortable. And I remember feeling, when I was anchoring the ‘Today’ show, this inevitable march towards war and kind of feeling like, ‘Will anybody put the brakes on this?’ And is this really being properly challenged by the right people? And I think, at the time, anyone who questioned the administration was considered unpatriotic and it was a very difficult position to be in.”

Katie, there is no other nation on earth where someone whose intelligence and abilities are as one-dimensional as yours could make the kind of outrageous salary that you are paid for essentially trashing your own country.

Why don’t you just shut the f**k up!

WILL THE REAL CARPOOLERS STAND UP?!

Our carpool morning starts each day with driver Lucille sticking her head out the window and shouting Boogety! Boogety! Boogety! This is, after all, the South! And some of us are definitely NASCAR fans.

Now I see that ABC has a new series, that has debuted to VERY mixed reviews, entitled “Carpoolers”. From the description of the various characters riding in ABC’s fictional carpool, they are entirely too predictable and tame. Consequently,I am offering our carpool’s services as a consultant to ABC on the series so that it’s realistic and, more importantly, so it will be intelligent and FUNNY. If not the current series, we’ll be happy to consult – for a suitably outrageous fee – on a new series. Just don’t ask 2 of us to ever live there again!

Lucille is an experienced legal secretary with zero patience for lackadaisical drivers. Because she lived (if you can call it that) in Los Angeles for some 40 years, she has the art of aggressive driving down pat. That is why, although it is MY car we use, it is Lucille that drives. I-95 is no place for sissies and I freely admit that, except for short hops, I find myself a complete wuss vis-a-vis I-95, in spite of the fact that I too lived for a very long time in Los Angeles (20 years). On the other hand, I am complete cynic yet oddly sentimental, and a consummate smart-mouth – equaled (but never exceeded) by Lucille. And did I mention that of all the humans walking planet earth, Lucille is by far my very favorite! But I am the better cook!

The other riders are a mixed group:

Hope is a paralegal, a unique and beautiful woman with two gorgeous small daughters and an adoring husband. Hope’s intelligence is phenomenal and her patience with foolishness is nearly non-existent. She is, in a word, a complete treasure.

Erica is also a paralegal, from Jamaica, young and an aspiring science fiction screenwriter, fueled both by her inate creativity and a desire to get out of law firms. I can’t fault her for fueling the first and feeling the latter. She sees herself as a certain kind of person; I’d never tell her this to her face, but she is so much more than she thinks she is able to be.

Janet appears to be – at least on the surface – “the little woman”. If you buy into that facade, you will do yourself a disservice. Whether she has kept it hidden from us or it is just surfacing in recent months, her wicked wit and humor are delightful. And more of the true Janet emerges every day, an emergence that is seriously good fun to watch.

During that hour plus commute, twice daily, many topics are discussed. For example, Erica has an enormous attraction to Hispanic men with very thin legs. I have suggested that she get her own website: chickenlegs.com but she has resisted that suggestion. Therefore, if you men on I-95 wonder why a car full of women is checking you out so intently – it’s us and we’re trolling for chicken legs. There are also discussions of those things that especially concern a woman as young as Erica – and she is considerably younger than 3 of us in the carpool.

Sometimes the subject of work arises in our conversation, but more often we find ourselves discussing Jason v. Sonny on General Hospital. Erica is mad for Jason and I am a staunch Sonny fan. Those dimples! And let the record reflect that when Erica and I are absorbed in our discussion, Lucille often feigns falling asleep from boredom and Janet and Hope quietly veer off in their own conversational direction.

Recently we have discussed the kind of house Erica will build when she is a famous screenwriter living in Hollywood. We haven’t had the heart to tell her that she really wouldn’t want to LIVE in Hollywood, except in a metaphorical sense. More importantly, it had never occurred to her that she cannot have the brick house she has always wanted if she chooses to live in Southern California. She actually asked if L.A. really did have earthquakes and we assured her that in less than a year, she would become INTIMATELY acquainted with the damned things.

So if ABC’s version of Carpoolers is as bad as the reviews have led me to believe, it’s their own darned fault if they get canceled. They didn’t consult US!

We are smarter, funnier and – with Lucille behind the wheel – we’re one heck of a lot faster!

TODAY'S MUST READ

For the sake of your mind and/or your soul, you must head on over to Common Sense America and read, more than once, Christi's remarkable commentary on the Episcopal/Angelican divide in America. She's always good, but this is beyond good - moving right over the line into GREAT! Thanks, Christi!

21 WAYS TO BE A GOOD DEMOCRAT!

This has been around several times, but it definitely needs to be repeated.

1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.

2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.

3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat than U.S. nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese and North Korean communists.

4. You have to believe that there was no art before Federal funding.

5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical documented changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUV's.

6. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.

7. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th-graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.

8. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.

9. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.

10. You have to believe that Mel Gibson spent $25 million of his own money to make The Passion of the Christ for financial gain only.

11. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.

12. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.

13. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, Gen. Robert E. Lee,Thomas Edison and A.G. Bell.

14. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.

15. You have to believe that Hillary Clinton is normal and is a very nice person.

16. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.

17. You have to believe conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and a sex offender belonged in the White House.

18. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag queens,transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected, and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.

19. You have to believe that illegal Democratic Party funding by the Chinese Government is somehow in the best interest of the United States.

20. You have to believe that it's OK to give Federal workers the day off on Christmas Day but it's not OK to say 'Merry Christmas.'

Last, but not least:

21. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right-wing conspiracy.

BOLLINGER "GROWS A PAIR" - SORT OF

HILLARY PROVES SHE STILL HAS HERS

The President of Columbia actually spoke to that dangerous sociopathic psychopath Ahmadinejad in a less than deferential tone last night. That doesn't really excuse the stupidity of the invitation to speak at a formerly prestigious American university that was extended to this mass murdering son-of-a-bitch, but at least it was a start.

Meanwhile, proving that consistency is her forte, the Spawn of Satan leveraged the possibility of an interview with serial rapist and adulterer Bill Clinton slated for GQ in order to quash an unflattering story about Herself that was due to appear in the same publication. If she is this heavy-handed as a candidate, can you even begin to imagine how she'd be in the event (heaven forfend) she is elected?! The mind boggles and reels at the same time!

AHMADINEJAD AND GROUND ZERO

This demented nutbar is the best argument in favor of the U.S. getting the hell out of the U.N. and then kicking the U.N. out of this country. And as far as I'm concerned, when they leave, the U.N. can take Columbia University with it!

Yes, I'm feeling VERY cranky today!

O.J. OUT ON BAIL

Frankly, my dear, I don't give a horse's patoot! Nor do I give a rip about Britney Spears and her debauched behavior. Ditto Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton.

There is a large group of people roaming around the world whose only desire in life is to see the American people suffer and die, and they don't care about dying themselves which is what makes them pretty doggone dangerous. We have a U.S. Congress that consists primarily of moronic twits who think if we just "talk nice" to these people, they'll love us! Trust me, they won't!

While accusing Republicans of being "corrupt", the Democrats in Congress largely overlook the endemic corruption existing in their own party. Hillary's fund-raising debacles are somewhat more than questionable? Move along folks, nothing to see here! Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi's real estate kerfluffles? Move along folks, nothing to see here! Don't have any clear agenda other than unreasoning hatred of the other guy? Go with what you have, particularly if your gross dishonesty and viciousness is aided and abetted by a complicit leftwing media. Oh, and while you're at it, call Fox News any vile and despicable name you can think of.

The purpose of the Federal government is to protect and defend this nation. WHENINHELL are these wastes of human skin who DARE call themselves Senators and Congressmen going to get on with the business they were elected to do?

Unite for Victory

I received this today from Merrilee Carlson at "Families United" .

Dear friends,

MoveOn.org and their cohorts in Congress claimed 2007 the "Iraq Summer" and boasted it was only a matter of time before they forced troops out of Iraq.

The Politico reported that one of the leading anti-war activists said this of the GOP, "We're going to smash their heads against their base and flush them down the toilet."

Friends, the radical anti-war groups have never been more serious and today they are getting help in Congress from Senator Jim Webb.

Senator Webb is introducing a deceitful amendment labeled, "Support the troops," but it is anything but supportive.

The Pentagon, General Petraeus, Secretary of Defense Gates and leading military officials all agree that this legislation is nothing more that a slow bleed on our troops which would actually tie the hands of the Generals on the ground, making it even more difficult to fight the war on terror.

We must stand United for a Strong America - please call and let your legislators know that we stand United and Strong and they should not be bullied into making a bad choice for America. Also, they should know that we believe this Webb Amendment will weaken our military's ability to keep troops where they are needed - when they are needed.

We need your help! Please call 1-888-362-2813 today. An operator will connect you to your Member of Congress. Please share your voice and let them know we proud Americans stand strong beside our troops and disagree with the Webb, that the amendment is just WRONG! Tell them that victory is America's only option in Iraq.

Who do you trust to fight the war in Iraq: General Petraeus or Congress? The Senators below are on the fence - make sure they hear from you today!

Senator George Voinovich (OH) - (202) 224-3353
Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK) - (202) 224-6665
Senator Arlen Specter (PA) - (202) 224-4254
Senator John Sununu (NH) - (202) 224-2841
Senator Susan Collins (ME) - (202) 224-2523
Senator Lamar Alexander (TN) - (202) 224-4944

I'm sorry to say that Webb is my current Senator and VOINOVICH (who I am convinced is either an idiot or senile) is my FORMER Senator.

I leave it up to you whether or not you do something about this.

Oh yes - and to those who sat on their hands last election, once again, thank you.

WHAT A MAN SHOULD BE!

UPDATE 9/20/07: Hillary Rodham Clinton is NO judge of character (Look who she married - a serial rapist and adulterer!) and this bitch is, in addition, a freaking IDIOT for calling Vice President Cheney "Darth Vader". I'm sure she's thinking that she's "all that and a bag of chips" and terribly clever, when the reality is that she is a dishonest, corrupt, shrill and unlikeable buffoon with all the grace and charm of a rabid and syphylitic hippo on the rampage! And no, I do NOT like the woman (just in case you hadn't guessed).

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT?


I’m not exactly defending Senator Barack Obama, but I found this comment by Rev. Jesse Jackson, notorious race-baiting hustler, to be more than a little offensive:

Jackson sharply criticized presidential hopeful and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for “acting like he’s white” in what Jackson said has been a tepid response to six black juveniles’ arrest on attempted-murder charges in Jena, La. Jackson, who also lives in Illinois, endorsed Obama in March, according to The Associated Press.

“If I were a candidate, I’d be all over Jena,” Jackson said after an hour-long speech at Columbia’s historically black Benedict College.

Maybe that’s why, you corrupt cretin, Senator Obama is in the Senate and you, Rev. Jackson, are NOT. Criminals are criminals and the color of their skin doesn’t change one whit the degree of their guilt. If the positions had been reversed and the person beaten was black and the 6 people doing the beating were white – I’d be JUST AS OUTRAGED.

And while we’re on the subject, Rev. Jackson, not ONE WORD of apology has emanated from your despicable and dishonest mouth since the Attorney General of the State of North Carolina unequivocally stated that the three indicted Duke lacrosse players were INNOCENT and that NO CRIME HAD OCCURRED. You were really anxious to grab as much “face time” for yourself as you could when disbarred District Attorney Nifong was using race-baiting to win election to office. Now that he has been completely discredited, you are missing in action from that situation!

If "acting white" means that the person isn't acting like YOU, Rev. Jackson, then my applause definitely goes to Senator Barack Obama! He's showing something you lack in its entirety: class.

Parker adopts baby from Africa

9/18/07 4:32 p.m. - 1 hour, 46 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Mary-Louise Parker has adopted a baby girl from Africa, her spokeswoman confirmed to People.com. When asked for comment Tuesday, Parker's spokeswoman, Tamar Salup, referred The Associated Press to the Web site.

Parker, 43, has a 3-year-old son, Will, with ex-boyfriend Billy Crudup.

It’s wonderful that these showbiz types want to give a home to a child that is orphaned and nobody, least of all this writer, would criticize that impulse. EXCEPT, how many orphaned children of color live in THIS COUNTRY and need homes? Granted, adopting an orphaned child from Detroit isn’t as EXOTIC – but is it any less praiseworthy?

WHAT LAST NIGHT’S EMMY BROADCAST SAYS ABOUT HOLLYWOOD
(but not necessarily about America)

Sally Field, a woman heretofore not known as a rocket scientist, proved that prior assessment to be quite valid when she confused her PRETEND life as the mother of a serving soldier with her REAL life where she has no child in the military - in a mightily bleeped acceptance speech. Please, for the love of God, don't give this dingbat any more AWARDS!

Robert Duvall may have all his marbles, but they weren’t on display during his incomprehensible and endlessly rambling acceptance speech for Best Miniseries. Who even watched it?

Neil Patrick Harris, who is openly gay, embarrassed himself with a leering set of one-liners aimed at Hayden Panatierre, one of the few 18-year olds who isn’t in rehab or running around flashing her crotch. She certainly deserved better despite the décolletage on the gown she was almost wearing sending a message of its own.

The evening abounded with one-liners, double-entendres and generally inappropriately political prattling, bad language and utterly indefensible smut talk and near-miss nudity. Note to Joely Fisher – the fact that you have a new set of implants does not mean that all of America is even slightly interested in nipple positioning!

Does this indict the American television viewer? Perhaps a tiny bit. But more than anything, it indicts the people of the television entertainment industry who display themselves as brainless, witless and wholly lacking in morality or ethics, in conjunction with sufficient arrogance to believe that they actually have some modicum of brains!

What – did you think Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan were isolated incidents?

Final note: These were the TELEVISION awards. Dare one ask why on earth the production was, as usual, lackluster at best?

AWESOME DISCOVERY - RIGHT IN MY OWN BACKYARD!

Today I discovered an awesome writer named Donnie Johnston who writes in the Fredericksburg Free Lance Star newspaper. The premise of today's column is "Why should anyone give a contribution to a politician?" Go read him - he's delightful!

DEMOCRATS - OFF THEIR MEDS?

I am more convinced than ever that most of the Democrats in the Senate (and a few Republicans) and far too many of the Democrats in the House are in serious need of psychological counseling and serious medication. They appear to be quite eager to sell their souls for the votes of the nutroots and sell out our country for political gain. In all of this, I do not refer to such as Joe Lieberman who is a man of principle and character. Even when I don't agree with his position, I respect his intelligence, courage and honesty. I cannot say the same for the likes of Harry Reid and his acolyte little Chuckie Schumer or Nancy Pelosi and a host of insane Dems in the House such as John "Slander the Trooops for Fun and Profit" Murtha. And while we're on the subject, why was Chuckie Schumer flapping his pie hole on Rosh Hashanah?

What is wrong with these people? How do we take back our country from this completely maniacal and destructive MINORITY (and I do believe that right now the tail is wagging the dog in a very real fashion)? The danger to our nation more and more seems to emanate from within its rather porous borders.