TAKE THAT, YOU *### SOMALI PIRATES!

Now you've gone and done it. Senator John F. Kerry (D-Fantasyland) is coming after you! Easily one of the more delusional members of a completely unconnected-to-reality body of legislators, Senator John F. Kerry has boldly and fearlessly warned the Somali pirates that if they don't cease and desist, he is, by golly going to come after them in his bunny suit! And woe betide them if THAT happens!

Dear merciful heavens, Senator, can't you just shut the f**k up!?

MORE THOUGHTS ON THE PASSING
OF BEAUTIFUL BABY CAKES

Further to the passing of the estimable Baby Cakes over this past weekend, I have had people say to me in the past, “He was ‘only’ a cat!” to which I replied then and would reply now that our domesticated animals have been and continue to be a gift of God and there can be no heaven for me where those animals aren’t present and honored for their many gifts to humankind.

Certainly I look forward to seeing the full panoply of pets I have loved and lost over the years, particularly the much loved and still-missed BooBoo and Rocky who lived to grand ages of 18 and 15 respectively. Amber and Cassis were two golden retrievers I well loved. Gigi was an utterly spoiled, totally lovable kitty who was beloved of my sister until she left us at the great age of 18!

It is no accident that convicts are frequently helped by programs that involve them with the care of animals of varying sizes. It is no accident that our seniors and infirm are helped by “therapy” animals – both dogs and cats (although Sam the Wonder cat probably wouldn’t ever qualify for that job – he’s entirely too unpredictable and grumpy).

Our domesticated animals provide companionship, amusement, unquestioning love and a friendship that is difficult to equal. They keep us connected to what is the better part of our nature because we have made them dependent upon us and we therefore owe them an enormous debt of responsibility.

When I spend time with the deeply shy pit bull Zeus or the ever needy Corgi mix named Harley at my sister’s house, I am experiencing the uncritical devotion for which dogs are so well known. When the utterly adorable bluepoint Siamese Tim comes and sits on my lap, I am honored by his affection (although truth be told – his philosophy seems to be “any lap in a storm”). When Sam comes and cuddles up with me in the middle of a cold and stormy night, there is more comfort there than just the physical warmth he brings to my arms – albeit 26 pounds of purring cat is one hell of a lot of warmth!

I think that, in many ways, our interaction with our domesticated friends brings out the very best in our souls. And so, when a beautiful creature like Baby departs our midst, we are diminished in a very painful and very real fashion.

Farewell, beautiful boy. I truly hope that you have found my handsome BooBoo and the rascally and deeply lovable Rocky and that they are easing your transition until we meet someday.

FAREWELL BEAUTIFUL BABY CAKES!

Fellow blogger and dear friend Sissy Willis and her husband, the estimable Tuck, lost their beautiful cat Baby over the weekend. He was a delightful fellow, dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew him - either in person or through the blogsphere. There has always been something about a pink-nosed kitty that warms my heart! Baby was no exception.

Our love and sympathies go forth from me and Sam the Wonder Cat!

A Very Merry and Blessed Christmas
To You All

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." -Isaiah 9:6-7

PRAYER REQUEST

Five days per week, I spend about 3 hours daily with my friend Joyce - carpooling to and from our Washington, D.C. work places. During those commutes, the conversations are wide ranging, frequently funny, sometimes slightly insane but always provocative and deeply interesting. During the first 6 months of this commuting routine, Joyce frequently told hilarious stories on her husband Mark who is a West Virginia good old boy and a great deal more. Last January, however, the stories pretty much changed when Mark was diagnosed with a primary site brain tumor - a glioblastoma which is a particularly aggressive tumor. We've all heard a great deal about this type of cancer due to the subsequent diagnosis of the same tumor in Senator Edward Moore Kennedy.

At that time, Joyce was told that because it was a primary site tumor, complete removal of it was virtually impossible and that even removing as much as possible did have the risk of Mark losing his sight, his cognition or his ability to walk. As it happened, Mark came through the surgery fairly well (although he did tell the doctors in the Recovery Room that he had just had a hysterectomy - pure Mark humor to be sure) and has since been going the chemo and radiation route. He refers to his once-per-month chemo regimen as "taking my hormones" - do you see why he delights us?

Unfortunately, last Friday, Joyce and Mark received the news that the tumor had returned and now on January 20th Mark will be undergoing another brain surgery. He is not yet 60 years of age. He has 4 adult children who love him and a great many grandchildren who adore "Poppy" with good reason. His particular favorite is his eldest granddaughter, our beloved Jillian, who with her mother has lived with Joyce and Mark her entire 9 years on this planet!

Please pray that Mark comes through this approaching surgery with faculties intact so that he can enjoy whatever time remains to him with his wife of 38 years and his children and his grandchildren, as well as the assorted animals in the family - all of whom have unique relationships with him - and those of us who are "adopted" family and love him too. Of course I want Mark to have many more years of decent health but if that is not in his future, please pray that whatever time he has left will be free of pain and filled with love as long as possible.

I can and do say "God's will be done" but at the same time - I really hope for everyone's sake that the next year or more will be good ones for Joyce and Mark and their entire family.

AS IF D.C. RESIDENTS DIDN'T HAVE
ENOUGH PROBLEMS!

December 19, 2008 --

OPRAH Winfrey wants to be as close to Barack Obama as possible. Insiders say Winfrey has started a preliminary search for a home in Washington, DC. A nine-bedroom Georgetown mansion she's said to have asked about is listed at $50 million, but another source said, "She has never personally been to see it." We're sure Winfrey will try to swing by during Inauguration week. Her rep didn't return calls.

Another neighborhood to avoid! I'm sure the gawkers will be out in force once she's settled in - just what D.C. needs - more tourists!

WHY IS PELOSI PRODDING THE PRESIDENT?

WASHINGTON -- Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi called on President Bush to act quickly to prevent "the imminent insolvency of the domestic auto industry," as dismal new unemployment data surfaced Thursday.

Is somedamnbody looking for cover? The Democrats have a strong majority in both Houses of Congress and couldn't get the job done. I can think of no other reason for Crazy Eyes Pelosi to be trying to inveigle the President into doing her job for her except that - once again - she has demonstrated fully her incompetence and wants some precipate action of the President's to hide behind.

Don't buy into that loopey dimwit's twaddle, President Bush. It's a no-win proposition.

BUT WE HAVE TO LIVE HERE!

It is a little over a month until Barack Hussein Obama is inaugurated as 44th President of the United States of America. Whatever your feelings − pro or con − about the upcoming administration, kindly spare a thought for those of us who live and/or work around the District of Columbia.

*The District is a total of 68.3 square miles, of which 61.4 is land, with 6.9 square miles comprised of water. Permanent residents equal (as of 2006) 558,292. During the workday, the population of the District swells to 5.3 million people, and the District’s ability to deal with that influx waxes and wanes on an almost hourly basis. Suffice it to say, traffic is a nightmare during rush hour almost always, the so-called commuter trains coming into the city are only moderately reliable and the Metro is crowded and filled with far too many people whose rudeness is exceeded only by their poor personal hygiene! I’m not saying all, or even most. Just too doggone many. There are lots of buses but, at least on Inauguration Day, their routes will be severely limited.

*As a basis of comparison, Los Angeles, California has 9,948,081 people with a land mass of 4,061 square miles. L.A. is overcrowded and is not, in my view, a livable city. I know. I’ve lived there. Just do the math – with just a tiny fraction of L.A.’s land mass, we’re expected to provide for nearly half of the population of L.A. – probably for several days.

*Just for a start, what does D.C. plan to do about its numerous homeless, many of whom are elderly and/or simply mentally challenged (as in NUTS)?

*From what we are currently hearing, private vehicles will be forbidden in the District at least part if not all through the Inauguration weekend. So much for the “People’s Inaugural” since I’ve heard that ONLY limousines are going to be permitted. I know of at least two law firms overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue that are planning to have clients come to their offices on that date to watch the Parade. The Secret Service will have their hands full vetting the guests at just these two parties, and I’m willing to bet any amount of money that these two are only the tip of the iceberg. Are they insane? Do I really have to give my opinion?

*Four million people and 10,000 buses are expected. Wherever do they expect these people to sleep overnight? Hotels as far away as Richmond (well over 100 miles and remember the travel restrictions) have been sold out for months!

*How are they expecting this flood of visitors to be fed? It is rumored that hot dog vendors (a principle source of nourishment for many of us who work in the District because it’s affordable and pretty doggone tasty as well - but there are only about 300 of them at the best of times) are going to face huge restrictions and may not even be able to ply their wares. Those jumbotrons on The Mall aren’t going to be audible over the rumbling tummies of 4,000,000 hungry people who also – by the way – will have only limited access to porto-potties! Remember folks, you aren’t allowed to bring any WATER, FOOD, CHAIRS – nothing, nada, niente − with you on the day of the Inauguration for security reasons. Guess the restriction on bottled water will have an unexpected side benefit, eh?

*While we’re on the subject (and even if we are not), let’s talk about hygiene – if there truly is the gigantic shortage of porto potties that is predicted, where are people going to relieve themselves? The mind reels.

*I live in Fredericksburg, about halfway between The District and Richmond. I am off for the Martin Luther King holiday and on Inauguration Day and I’m taking the rest of that week off. I somehow think that it will take at least that long to get The District back to what passes for normal.

SOMETIMES A PRESIDENT-ELECT
JUST CANNOT CATCH A BREAK!

He hasn't even taken the oath of office yet and already President-elect Obama is receiving major bad press! It is true that, much more than Republicans, Democrats eat their own.

The cause this time? The invocation speaker for the Inauguration:

GAY LEADERS FURIOUS AT OBAMA

Ben Smith, Nia-Malika Henderson
Wed Dec 17, 5:59 pm ET

Barack Obama’s choice of a prominent evangelical minister to deliver the invocation at his inauguration is a conciliatory gesture toward social conservatives who opposed him in November, but it is drawing fierce challenges from a gay rights movement that – in the wake of a gay marriage ban in California – is looking for a fight.

Rick Warren, the senior pastor of Saddleback Church in southern California, opposes abortion rights but has taken more liberal stances on the government role in fighting poverty, and backed away from other evangelicals’ staunch support for economic conservatism. But it’s his support for the California constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage that drew the most heated criticism from Democrats Wednesday.

Disenchantment seems to be galloping in at a dizzying rate of speed! On the popular Perez Hilton gossip blog (don't judge me because I'm human), Perez came right out and said that this wouldn't have happened if Hillary Clinton had gotten the nomination! This may turn out to be the shortest honeymoon any new president has ever had!

Another Example of Journalistic Half Truths!

This time from Marie-Claire.com.

Not just money — gobs of it. Nicole Buffett's grandfather is the legendary investor Warren Buffett, whose $58 billion fortune made him the richest man on the planet, a mantle he seized from Bill Gates last fall. So deep are Buffett's pockets that when the financial markets cratered in September, the so-called Oracle of Omaha single-handedly buoyed Wall Street (at least for a day) by plunking down $5 billion on troubled investment bank Goldman Sachs. ("Canonize Warren Buffett," cried one headline on CNBC's Website.) But there's a bitter irony to Buffett's beneficence. Wall Street's white knight is also an unforgiving hardhead when it comes to his own granddaughter, whom he cut off two years ago after a falling-out. "For him to discard me like that was devastating," Nicole says matter-of-factly. "It permanently divided our family."

When Nicole was 4, her singer-songwriter mother married Warren Buffett's youngest child, Peter, a composer for commercials and films. He later adopted Nicole and her identical twin sister, who were embraced as kin by the larger Buffett family — especially Susan, Warren's first wife, an avid music lover and cabaret performer. "A lot of people don't realize that my family is full of artists," says Nicole. (Susan Buffett, who died in 2004, was an early buyer of Nicole's art and named Nicole one of "my adored grandchildren" in her will.)

Okay - so now we come to the truth of the matter. Nicole Buffet lives in Berkeley, California on $40,000 per year approximate income from selling paintings. She was "cut off" by Warren Buffet, a notoriously private man, because she ran her mouth about him in public. Granted, this doesn't rise to the level of ax murder, but WARREN BUFFET earned the millions, not this self-entitled female. She knew the deal from an early age because the education of his grandchildren - the complete education of each and every one of them - was paid for by Warren Buffet and each of his grandchildren knew from an early age that from then on they were on their own.

So what is the point of this article in Marie-Claire.com? Is she just whining for the sheer bloody pleasure of it? I don't know but this article raises my hackles to an appreciable degree. Listen lady, plenty of people manage to live quite respectably on $40,000 per year. And if you cannot manage your money to do so, that's not Warren Buffet's fault - or anyone else's for that matter. Poor thing - she doesn't have cable. Why should I care?

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMMM......!

Russian treason bill could hit Kremlin critics

By DAVID NOWAK, Associated Press Writer David Nowak, Associated Press Writer 26 mins ago

MOSCOW – A new law drafted by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's Cabinet would allow authorities to label any government critic a traitor — a move that leading rights activists condemned Wednesday as a chilling reminder of the times under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

The draft extends the definition of treason from breaching Russia's external security to damaging the nation's constitutional order, sovereignty or territorial integrity. That would essentially let authorities interpret any act against the interests of the state as treason — a crime prosecutable by up to 20 years in prison.

If we had this law, there would not be enough room in our prisons to accommodate the number of leftwingnut bastards who have trashed our current President due solely to Bush Derangement Syndrome. And yet, I don’t think any of us would – even though the vision of comeuppance is delicious – in any way want a law like this. And yes, our current situation isn’t really all that far away from it, is it?

WILL WE ENDURE THE SAME BROUHAHA THAT
SARAH PALIN ENGENDERED?

The 2-time mayor of Wasila, Alaska, and sitting governor of the state of Alaska was deemed by the leftwingnuts to be “too inexperienced” to join the McCain ticket as vice presidential candidate. Now this . . .

Caroline Kennedy to seek Clinton's Senate Seat
By MICHAEL GORMLEY, Associated Press Writer Michael
Gormley, Associated Press Writer 14 mins ago

ALBANY, N.Y – A person close to the discussions says Caroline Kennedy will seek The U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton. Kennedy has told Democratic Gov. David Paterson she wants the job should Clinton be confirmed as secretary of State for President-elect Barack Obama.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Monday because neither Kennedy Nor Paterson have acknowledged she is seeking the position. If appointed by Paterson, Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, would hold the seat once occupied by her late uncle, Robert F. Kennedy.

Other Democrats seeking Paterson's nod include New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

Will the Sarah Palin standard of experience be applied to a woman who has not, so far as I am aware, ever held any public office, has never had an actual job and has nothing to offer except a political pedigree?

Yeah right – and the Pope is a 7th Day Adventist! The neverending hypocrisy and double-standards exhibited by our bretheran in the Democratic Party is almost excruciating in its depth and variety!

By the way,
"What limits the number of times someone can be elected governor of Illinois?
The US Attorney."

H/T Attorney Jack in Columbus, Ohio - one of the nicest and smartest fellows I know.

ONCE AGAIN, THE DONKEY IN THE

ROOM IS BEING IGNORED!

No, I'm not referring to Eddie Murphy.

The Governor of the State of Illinois has been arrested by the FBI and charged with multiple counts of corruption, alleged to include putting the soon to be vacant seat of Senator Barack Hussein Obama up for sale to the highest bidder. Nowhere in the article is there any reference to the fact that Governor Rod Blagojevich is a Democrat.

That's right folks - Nancy Pelosi can prattle on all she likes about the Republican culture of corruption, but we don't have Blagojevich or Rangel making a mockery of our pretensions to ethical purity and Mrs. Pelosi really should learn to keep her pie hole firmly shut. Nearly everything that emanates from the foul and festering abscess she calls a mouth is either incoherent or untrue anyway.

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!

"Liberals voice concerns about Obama

Carol E. Lee, Nia-Malika Henderson Carol E. Lee, Nia-malika Henderson

Mon Dec 8, 4:22 am ET

Liberals are growing increasingly nervous – and some just flat-out angry – that President-elect Barack Obama seems to be stiffing them on Cabinet jobs and policy choices.

Obama has reversed pledges to immediately repeal tax cuts for the wealthy and take on Big Oil. he’s hedged his call for a quick drawdown in Iraq. And he’s stocking his White House with anything but stalwarts of the left.

Now some are shedding a reluctance to puncture the liberal euphoria at being rid of President George W. Bush to say, in effect, that the new boss looks like the old boss.

“He has confirmed what our suspicions were by surrounding himself with a centrist to right cabinet. But we do hope that before it's all over we can get at least one authentic progressive appointment,” said Tim Carpenter, national director of the Progressive Democrats of America.

OpenLeft blogger Chris Bowers went so far as to issue this plaintive plea: “Isn't there ever a point when we can get an actual Democratic administration?”

Even supporters make clear they’re on the lookout for backsliding. “There’s a concern that he keep his basic promises and people are going to watch him,” said Roger Hickey, a co-founder of Campaign for America’s Future.

Obama insists he hasn’t abandoned the goals that made him feel to some like a liberal savior. But the left’s bill of particulars against Obama is long, and growing.

Obama drew rousing applause at campaign events when he vowed to tax the windfall profits of oil companies. As president-elect, Obama says he won’t enact the tax."

We let these ignorant infants VOTE!?

Listen you dumb bunnies - he hasn't been INAUGURATED yet! And he cannot pass a law! He can propose that laws be enacted but then it's up to CONGRESS. Before you start bleating and acting like idiots, LEARN THE FREAKING CONSTITUTION, you morons! I have got to tell you, I'm actually having a scintilla of sympathy for the lad from Chicago! He's going to have his hands FULL come January 20th!

O.J. SIMPSON - CONVICTED FELON

IS OFF TO PRISON FOR A LONG, LONG TIME!

O. J. Simpson appears to be a thoroughly nasty piece of work. Lots of superficial and manipulative amoral charm there, but not a lot of depth or moral center. Kind of like a black version of former President William Jefferson Clinton, except that O.J. lacks President Clinton's brains.

From what I can gather, the judge in the current Las Vegas case issued a sentencing that was so complex that very few people are certain of exactly how long the minimum sentence for O.J. is exactly. They only know that it appears to be a minimum of 15 years. There is also disagreement on when he will be eligible for parole - either in 9 years or, again, 15 years. This means that O.J. won't be out playing golf and thumbing his nose at the Brown and Goldman families for a very long time and when and if he finally does get out of prison he will be between 70 and 75 years old. Good.

I have always believed absolutely that O.J. Simpson was guilty as hell in the 1995 murders and quite literally got away with murder. This conviction isn't much - but it's better than nothing. If nothing else it definitively proves that the man isn't really all that bright! Who tape records an armed robbery? I mean really!

PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA SETTING THE TONE?

Rumblings are beginning to surface vis-a-vis the so-called press conferences being held by President-elect Barack Obama. These rumblings clearly indicate that some of the bloom is already coming off the rose - and he hasn't even been inaugurated yet (assuming that he legally can be).

His demeanor is being described by some radio commentators as "somewhat aloof and imperial" and that is a perception of President-elect Obama that will not serve him well in future months. Note has also been taken of his disinclination to answer press questions beyond 1 or 2 at most.

Here's a tip for our putative 44th President - YOU work for US. And you are answerable to US. You might want to jettison the snarky attitude and start acting like the public employee you most assuredly are!

THE SUIT(S) TO PROVE THAT

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA
IS CONSTITUTIONALLY ELIGIBLE TO BE PRESIDENT

12/01/2008
Obama Fomenting A Constitutional Crisis: Constitutional Lawyer Discusses Ramifications Of Controversy
By John P. Connolly, The Bulletin
Controversy continues to surround President-elect Barack Obama's eligibility to serve as president, and a case involving his birth certificate waits for its day before the U.S. Supreme Court. A constitutional lawyer said were it to be discovered that Mr. Obama is not a natural-born U.S. citizen, it would have grave consequences for the nation.

The fact is that Senator Obama was probably born in Hawaii, just as he has claimed. The more troubling question is why has he not put the matter firmly to rest, as only he is able to do? And so, the soap opera continues with a lot of government resources being consumed. Why? So he can prove his is bigger than anyone else’s?

Does he honestly believe that he is completely above any requirements to prove his eligibility? Is he just doing yet another middle-finger-salute? Is his arrogance so complete that he feels no necessity to respond to specific questions about his place of birth and his constitutional eligibility for the Presidency – and himself a so-called professor of constitutional law?

For the man who will have his finger on the nuclear trigger, this is not a schoolyard game, nor should Senator Obama allow it to continue. Either produce the damned birth certificate or admit you’re a fraud – but do it now and do it definitively so we can move on to either inaugurate you or figure out who in the name of hell is our President-elect!

MINNESOTA ELECTION RECOUNT IN VIOLATION OF BUSH/GORE SCOTUS RULING

And friend Paul has a post that should be read. Yes, as indicated by Kitty, Stuart Smalley is trying to steal the Minnesota Senate seat he didn't WIN. And violating Federal law in order to do it.