I DON'T ESPECIALLY LIKE RON PAUL, BUT

here he makes a lot of sense as opposed to all the overblown panic being bandied about. The man is a physician after all! That doesn't mean I would vote for him for President. I mean, even a broken clock is right twice a day!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The always insightful Anchoress has some thoughts newly posted yesterday that are worth your time and attention. Among them:

No, I’m not bitter; I’m just tired of the nonsense; I’m tired of elected officials hog-tying America’s potential and capabilities for an unproven climate scam, I’m tired of a house and senate incapable of doing anything beyond spiting each other and obstructing any sort of change or progress on issues from energy, to education to social security to illegal (and legal) immigration. I’m tired of watching the nation simply roll over and accept the argument that the solution to anything is “more government and more bureaucracy” instead of simply rejecting that notion outright. I’m tired of being told that America wants and needs the sort of socialized medicine that is bringing supplemental-insurance purchasing Canadians down to the lower 48, and bringing Britain to her knees, rather than even attempting real-market reform, and I’m tired of not liking any of these candidates for president. It’s been a very long campaign season - it began right after the November ‘06 elections - and it has been dreadfully uninspiring. I want a do-over and all-new candidates, preferably none of whom are professional, career politicians. I know I can’t have it. But it’s what I want. I’m not bitter, but damn, I gotta tell you…I’m not happy, either.

I agree with every single word she writes, and in this case, she is saying what I have long thought, only in kinder terms than perhaps I would use!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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?

WHEN IS A “JOURNALIST” REALLY A STALKER?

The question arises because, after granting a rather generous amount of his time to the news media during his vacation, French president Nicolas Sarkozy lost his temper with two American news photographers covering his vacation Sunday, jumping onto their boat and scolding them loudly in French. Sarkozy and companions were headed for open water in a boat on Lake Winnipesaukee when he spotted Associated Press photographer Jim Cole and freelancer Vince DeWitt aboard Cole's boat, continuing to invade the quiet of his vacation in New Hampshire.

When does the “public’s right to know” become trumped by the public’s right to SAFETY? Or the right to a simple bit of peace and quiet?

Whether or not the stalkerazzi had anything whatsoever to do with the death of Princess Diana, the fact is that during her life, they frequently endangered her safety. The same can easily be said for Lindsay Lohan who is, no question, a deeply troubled young woman but who also has a legitimate beef against the Hollywood bottom feeding stalkerazzi who have more than once endangered her life AND the lives of bystanders with their tactics. I have seen videos of their activities vis-a-vis Ms. Lohan on the PUBLIC STREETS and they behave in a manner that can only be characterized as disgraceful and irresponsible! This young woman is troubled enough without these dangerous pinheads entering the equation!

While I understand the need to protect freedom of the press, is it not prudent of us to curtail the LICENSE being taken by the press? And why is it that legitimate news personnel must be vetted and issued proper identification and credentials, while these paparazzi do not? And if they are not credentialed and therefore identifiable and accountable, then they should be treated like the invasive thugs they truly are – lock ‘em up and throw away the key!

WHY PARIS HILTON SHOULD GO TO JAIL FOR 45 FULL DAYS

This, to me, is a much larger issue than the jail time sentence meted out to notorious trollop and party girl Paris Hilton.

Paris Hilton pleaded “no contest” to drunk driving. She was given probation, required to attend an alcohol education program and her license to drive a vehicle was suspended. She acknowledged this sentence IN WRITING and signed her name to the document. What about this is difficult to understand? Even for her?

Not once, but TWICE, she was pulled over for driving without a license. The first time they let it slide, the second time her skinny ass was hauled into court. In addition to the fact that she pleaded ignorance (which under the law is no excuse) of the fact that her license to drive a car was suspended (and then tried to blame it on her PUBLICIST for heaven’s sakes), when she was pulled over the second time, she was driving with her vehicle lights off. What? Did the moron think they wouldn’t notice her? Granted this is L.A., but even THERE a Bentley tends to attract attention. Further, she had NOT (as required by the terms of her probation) entered and completed the alcohol education program, nor has she done so at this writing.

Now she has started an internet campaign for leniency (and is asking her fans to “sihn” the petition), while her family is campaigning for a pardon from Governor Terminator! Advice to Ah-nold: Don't do it!

What exactly does this 26-year old female (who SHOULD be old enough to know better but clearly isn’t) contribute to society other than conspicuous consumption? Yet little girls try to emulate her. And THAT is why she should be forced to put on her “big girl” panties (or any panties at all) and do the time, because most assuredly she DID do the crimes.

It’s time this heedless bunch of indulged babies understands that there are consequences to their actions. Further, driving under the influence is NEVER okay and that is also a message that can and should be sent by this incident.

I have seen drug and alcohol abuse up close and personal in my own life. I am the adult child of alcoholic parents and someone I deeply loved died of a massive drug overdose. It is a debilitating and family-destroying disease that claims lives daily. Far too often, the lives that are taken because of alcohol abuse are INNOCENT lives. There are statistics out there that say that for every ONE TIME that someone is nailed for driving impaired, they have done it 100 times or more!

So yes, send the worthless twit to jail – and if she keeps on whining about her well-deserved punishment, make her serve the full 45 days, instead of giving her half off for good behavior.

ROSIE'S REPLACEMENT?

Let's see: she's a flaming liberal, crude, a crotch-grabber (remember the Star Spangled Banner performance?), loud-mouthed and opinionated.

Yeah, from ABC's standpoint, that'll work! Of course, Cynthia McKinney is unemployed too.

THIS IS THE SEVENTH DAY OF THE SHARPTON-JACKSON WATCH

The always provocative Sigmund, Carl & Alfred declared April 12, 2007 to be the FIRST day of the Sharpton-Jackson Watch, thus:

"We’re waiting to see how fast Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson will demand the cancellation of recording contracts and removal from the public stage of the most foul mouthed, racist and bigoted rap artists. Reverends Sharpton and Jackson, we’re waiting."

UPDATE: 4/18/07 - Al, Jesse: We're still WAITING! What's taking so long? No money in an apology? What wimps you both are!

NOW THAT DON IMUS IS [TEMPORARILY] UNEMPLOYED

Does that mean that:

1. Rosie O'Donnell will start ascertaining the TRUTH of her bloviating before she does it?
2. Snoop Doggie Dog, 50-Cent and Ludacris will start moderating the content of their lyrics?
3. Al Franken will moderate HIS hate speech?

Naw - I didn't think so either!

Do I think Don Imus will be permanently unemployed? I doubt it!

THE DON IMUS APOLOGY TOUR

By apologizing on Rev. Al Sharpton’s show? Give me a break!

The LAST PERSON who should be receiving apologies from anyone is Al Sharpton. Can we spell Tawana Brawley? In my opinion, just like the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sharpton is black strictly for business purposes. And when it suits their purposes, I think that both Sharpton and Jackson will shamelessly exploit a situation, especially if there’s a buck to be made. I am amazed that neither of them has been hustling all around Durham, NC since March of 2006, trying to make a personal profit from the shameless persecution of the three Duke lacrosse players for the non-rape of a lying, fraudulent non-victim, all at the hands of a political hustler, ethics-challenged district attorney. Is it possible that even Sharpton and Jackson have standards?

What Don Imus said was offensive and completely indefensible. Why the outrage now? He says things like that nearly every day! But as long as he was making MSNBC and CBS money, and not drawing a whole lot of attention to his despicable comments, both networks were delighted to take the money and run. I have tried to watch his morning show – I find it thoroughly incomprehensible.

Here’s my view. If you are in the public eye, like Don Imus, or a Michael Richards, or even that lunatic Rosie O’Donnell, you ought to have the balls to own what you say without apology. If it offends someone – so what? If it makes you look like an idiot, then maybe you ought to just admit that you ARE an idiot. If it makes you look insane and demented, then Rosie it’s time to enter a treatment facility.

I’m sorry – nowhere in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights is there a right to “not be offended” or not have your little feelings hurt. There’s too damn much political correctness and pussyfooting in America today and we’d all be better off if there was more plain speech and less “nuance” being employed.

We’d also all be a lot better off if the Reverends Sharpton and Jackson reserved some of their ire and vocal chastisements for the various “rap elite” like Snoop Doggie Dog, Ludacris and others of that ilk whose lyrics glorify violence toward women, rape, murder (particularly of policemen) and all manner of violent and anti-social behavior, most especially including a total lack of respect for women, black or white. If there is to be civility on earth, gentlemen, let it start with YOU. But then, there’s no profit in that, is there?

NBC, MSNBC, CBS – keep Imus or fire him. I don’t really give a rat’s eardrum. But if you keep him and start expecting him to be more respectful or politically correct (1) don’t be surprised if he wanders off the reservation sooner rather than later and (2) you’d best be expecting the same kind of politically correct locutions from everyone else on your network INCLUDING demonstrably brain dead Keith Olbermann and the dumb yet strangely opinionated Chrissy Matthews.

ACADEMY AWARDS

For fatuous, self-congratulatory, shallow idiocy - you cannot beat the Annual Academy Awards broadcast and last night was no exception.

I have to say that giving an Academy Award to that sanity-impaired, bloated, bloviating, slide-show-producing lisping bonehead who used to be Vice President of the United States destroys into infinity any possibility of ever respecting any nomination for documentary.

Ellen deGeneres was clearly out of her element. The acceptance speech by that Italian composer (entirely in Italian) was the unintentionally hilarious highlight of the show. The look on Clint Eastwood's face was priceless.

Tip to performers who actually HAVE figures - we don't need to see your superstructure nearly bouncing out of the top of your gown! A little mystery please.

I adore Helen Mirren and respect Forrest Whittaker. Alan Arkin won for being around forever. It's long past time that Martin Scorcese won.

Beyond that, the entire show was boring, utterly banal and hardly something to encourage attendance at movies. I actually DVRd the show and zipped through it quickly this morning. My NetFlix subscription looks better and better to me all the time!

FANTASTIC QUOTE FROM AN OSCAR NOMINEE

But I have never had anything to do with the Oscars. Never even attended before. When you are not nominated, why go? It's like attending an orgy if you're castrated. Director Guillermo del Toro, nominated for “Pan’s Labyrinth

On the basis of this comment alone, I hope he wins!

DEATH OF A CENTERFOLD

The death yesterday of Anna Nicole Smith at the age of 39 was both shocking and almost predictable, given the astonishing turmoil of this young woman’s life.

I have read and heard some amazingly nasty comments essayed about the death of this young woman. I found them reprehensible in the extreme. This was a human being above all else, albeit her appearance and demeanor seemed almost cartoonish at times. She was an 11th grade dropout whose only currency was beauty – and that she had. She was seriously uneducated and, from all appearances, not blessed with much intelligence. But she gave life her best shot and her largest mistakes seem to have stemmed from allying herself with some questionable men. From today’s perspective, perhaps her smartest decision was her marriage to Billionaire Marshall who seemed to sincerely care about her – although not enough to make his final wishes explicit on paper!

The death of her son, in her hospital room, 3 days after the birth of her daughter seems to have been the final blow in a life that was marked by persistent striving. The death of one’s child is the cruelest blow a woman can suffer – and the newborn daughter for whom she was responsible clearly was a comfort, but in the end no substitute.

As to the two men in her life: Howard K. Stern strikes me as a somewhat murky character (“slick” men don’t appeal to me at all), while Larry Birkhead’s insistence on an immediate DNA test to determine the paternity of Anna Nicole’s daughter (and her custody) can be viewed as either the efforts of a dedicated and sincere father or of someone to obtain and retain custody of Anna Nicole’s only heir.

And so, while Anna Nicole may have found peace at last, and reunion with her beloved son, the legal turmoil of this young woman’s tumultuous life seems certain to continue for a great many months, if not years, to come. In the end, it’s entirely possible that only the attorneys will profit.

I pray for the future of her 5 month old daughter and hope that, whoever is determined to be her biological father, that man will give this innocent little girl a safe, secure and PRIVATE life filled with the love and tranquility that so eluded her mother during her all-too-short life.

UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE UPDATE: Can this case get any more insane? Now Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband is claiming that HE is the father of Anna Nicole Smith's daughter? The man is 59 years old, is married to a 90 year old woman (gee, maybe they had more in common than you'd think) and is the same man who (with Zsa Zsa) sued the manufacturers of Viagra because it had made him "impotent without it"!