The President Lied and Jersey Died Didn't Really Care...

When The President was on The View they gave him an (incredibly easy) 'impromptu' Pop Culture quiz. With tough questions like, "Did you know Lindsay Lohan was in prison?" "Have you switched to the iPhone yet?" (Ladies, why would he switch to the iPhone...he has the Blackberry Bold?) "What's on your iPod?" "Do you think Mel Gibson needs anger management?"

And, of course, an episode of The View wouldn't be complete without a dig at Sarah Palin "Do you think Snooki should run for Mayor of Wasilla?"

Obama answered, "I've got to admit, I don't know who Snooki is."

Funny Mr. President, I remember your minions making such a big deal over how funny they thought you were at the White House Correspondents Dinner --and one of the clips I recall was you saying that "Snooki, JWOW, the Situation and House minority leader John Boehner" would be exempt from the Tanning salon sin tax.

Hmmm. Joke about Snooki and now you don't know Snooki?

Of course this is really no big deal in the scheme of things... Just makes you wonder if he's THAT SCRIPTED or if he can't have a casual conversation without BOTCHING PAST LIES?

"You Have the Right to Look Ridiculous!"

"A Bronx judge has thrown out a summons issued against a Bronx man for wearing saggy pants, finding that "the Constitution still leaves some opportunity for people to be foolish if they so desire."

Judge Ruben Franco said that although Julio Martinez may have offended the fashion police with his low-hanging and underwear-exposing pants, his manner of dress didn't deserve a ticket from a cop.

"While most of us may consider it distasteful, and indeed foolish, to wear one's pants so low as to expose the underwear . . . people can dress as they please, wear anything, so long as they do not offend public order and decency," the judge wrote..." (source)

First, I would like to comment that I thought the NYPD had a bit more to occupy themselves with than ticketing someone for exposed boxer shorts. If the Philly cops decided to follow suit, they would be doing nothing but giving fanny citations. I see this "style" everywhere. And it's spreading to the suburbs... (I read once that this was a prison fashion that denoted a willingness to 'be the girl' --don;t know if that's true, but tell kids that and the trend would probably end with a quickness...)

Anyway, my point was, as horrific the style (like the new one of wearing pulled up black socks with white sneakers AGH!) it's ridiculous to try to legislate fashion trends.

That being said, I would agree to Big Brother stepping in on one occasion...to outlaw these suckers! One of my Democrat friends assures me this is a bill that would garner bi-partisan support!

Caption It...

The View: President calls Blacks "a mongrel people."

RWN did a poll among Conservative Bloggers on RACE (guess my answers didn't make it in time...?) the results are interesting...

Was President Obama the first Prez to stoop to do daytime TV while still in office?

Send ICE to the Protest...

"The Obama administration won a victory in federal court Wednesday when Judge Susan R. Bolton halted two key provisions of S.B. 1070, Arizona’s much-debated immigration law. Or did it? The law has placed the spotlight on the federal government’s failed immigration policy and prompted similar proposals in other states. The Justice Department lawsuit has scored points with the immigrants-rights crowd, but those advocates are not exactly happy—what they really want is for Congress to take up the issue. And the pro-enforcement crowd is not pleased with the administration’s decision to fight the law. As the battle over the law continues on a path toward the Supreme Court, here’s how commentators are interpreting Bolton’s ruling..." (source)



As I'm watching all the footage of the protests over Arizona's halted immigration law, I can't help but think this was the perfect bait and trap if the federal government had the cojones. Forget the border, get ICE and the Border police at these rallies/protests... I'm sure there's a goldmine of paperless people... Go ahead, misuse the word and call me a racist.

Jose Melendez-Perez: What's the Story?

I just read this story and I'm wondering why I hadn't read about this guy before...

"Joint Terrorism Task Force Agent Jose Melendez-Perez, an American hero who arguably prevented an attack on the nation’s capitol on September 11, 2001, sits in political purgatory.

Melendez-Perez was an immigration inspector conducting secondary screenings at Orlando International Airport when Jose prevented the would-be 20th hijacker, Mohamed al-Kahtani, from gaining admittance to the United States. And because he rejected Kahtani, United Airlines Flight 93 was short-handed on 9/11—a fact several members of the 9/11 Commission say helped ensure that the flight did not reach its intended target—the capitol dome.

As he boarded his return flight to London, Kahtani turned around, caught Jose’s eye, and said, “I’ll be back.” Jose remembered that moment when the planes struck the Twin Towers on the morning of September 11.

Kahtani was later apprehended after fighting alongside the jihadists surrounding Osama bin Laden at the battle at Tora Bora. He was shipped to Guantanamo Bay. The 9/11 Commission determined that while Melendez-Perez was interrogating Kahtani, Mohammed Atta was waiting to pick up the young Saudi. And because the immigration inspector rejected Kahtani, United Airlines Flight 93 was short-handed on 9/11. It was the only aircraft hijacked by four terrorists, not five..." (source)

It seems that Melendez-Perez took his company car home a day that he was having car trouble. During that night the car was broken into and his possessions were stolen. Among those possessions was his firearm. He has been removed from his position for the Administrative (not criminal) investigation as to why he had a company car (not even the firearm being stolen!)

So the article asks the next logical question:

"Is there more to the story? Some kind of bureaucratic payback, perhaps?

This is quite a burden for a man who has 44 years of service to the federal government—26.5 of them in the military. He also has a son currently stationed in Afghanistan. Jose is 64 years old and will turn 65 in January.

And it’s not the way to treat a hero—one who has an anti-terrorism award named after him..."

Kerry will pay taxes

On Saturday, I posted commentary on John Kerry’s attempt to get a tax break by registering his new luxury yacht in Rhode Island instead of the state he represents in Congress. A mere 4 days later he announced that he will pay the taxes… [source]

Nothing like governance by public opinion poll / press reaction. Straight from the Clinton playbook.

Lying for sex means jail time in Isreal

A Palestinian man is facing an 18 month jail sentence for ‘rape by deception’ for lying to a woman about being Jewish, single, and looking for a long term relationship. The woman claims that otherwise she wouldn’t have had sex with him- in an office building stairwell 30 minutes after they met! Really? [source]

Clearly this upstanding woman was taken advantage of… isn’t she lucky that the law in Israel protects her from these vicious lies? Ug.

Imagine if a similar law existed in the US… It would definitely change the dating scene across the country.

Proactive Parenting

I was going to take a non-posting mental health day today...but then I read this and had to put it up:

"A mob of angry parents helped to capture a man arrested for allegedly fondling two girls, police said Monday. Parents confronted the stranger Sunday when they saw him inappropriately touch a 5- and 10-year-old girl at a Kissimmee park.


The parents kept him in custody at the park on Lakeshore Boulevard until police could arrive and arrest him. The stranger told police that he blamed his behavior on schizophrenia.

According to a report, after 42-year-old Enrico Colon-Conde touched the girls, he started running away, but a group of angry parents took off down the sidewalk and surrounded him until police showed up..." (source)

Do you think at Lenscrafters, those are actually called the 'pedophile frames'...beause they all seem to sport the same ones?!

And, could it be possible that Oliver Stone has surpassed Sean Penn and Ed Asner in doucheyness?

Caption It...

"You Lie!"

Almost a year ago, when Rep. Joe Wilson yelled "You lie!" to the President, I think we were all a bit stunned (even if we agreed). Now I just wonder if Representative Wilson saw back then what we're all beginning to see now.

The President does seem to have a fibbing issue.

More bluntly, he seems to lie about everything. Now I know that politicians have to fudge details and embellish here and there...but to outright lie...over and over?

About his relationship with Jeremiah Wright, his relationship with William Ayres, about the extent of his involvement with ACORN, about pronouncements he made as a Senator while Bush was at the helm, about not taking money from lobbyists or PAC money, and mainly about having a transparent administration (to name just a few).

Now, yet another fabrication surfaces:

FIRST:
"President Obama joined British Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday in condemning last year's release of the only person convicted in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, but both men stopped short of pledging a full inquiry into how the release unfolded and whether embattled BP executives had anything to do with it..." (source)

NOW:
"The Lockerbie scandal has just become even murkier. According to a Sunday Times report yesterday “the US government secretly advised Scottish ministers that it would be “far preferable” to free the Lockerbie bomber than jail him in Libya.”

The newspaper obtained a leaked document which reveals that Richard LeBaron, deputy head of the US embassy in London, had written to Alex Salmond, Scottish First Minister, ahead of the release of the Lockerbie bomber. The correspondence indicates that the Obama administration’s opposition to the “compassionate” release of the Lockerbie bomber may not have been as clear-cut as it has subsequently claimed..." (source)

Natural Climate Fluctuations Part 750

"While this month's sizzling weather may feel unbearable, with the temperature hitting a high of 97 degrees yesterday, tying a record, it pales in comparison to the heat wave that city residents endured in the summer of '96 -- 1896, that is.

In his new book, "Hot Time in the Old Town," historian Edward Kohn details how New Yorkers faced hellish conditions over 10 brutally hot days in early August. Over that time, 1,300 people died in Manhattan alone, making it the worst urban heat-related disaster in US history.

With the city's heat index routinely surpassing 120 degrees and nighttime temperatures never once dropping below 70, the city was transformed into what one local newspaper described as "an inferno of brick and stone." (Really interesting story)

Wow, you mean...Before SUVs and private planes?!

Constitutional End-Around

Busy day today, so I’ll throw a topic out there for you to discuss amongst yourselves:

The Electoral College.

A few states are passing legislation that will undermine the electoral college and bypass the need for a Constitutional amendment by awarding all electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. This would allow the Presidential election to forseeably be decided by as few as 11 states to acquire the 270 electoral votes needed, and also forseeably cast all of said state's electoral votes for a candidate who did NOT win the states' popular vote.

Constitutional?

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Here’s one article: link

And a dose of Megan Kelly for good measure.

PS- Here are the by county election results maps from the past 3 elections:

2000:

2004:

2008:

91,000 Classified U.S. War Records Leaked

"In a statement, White House national security adviser General Jim Jones took pains to point out that the documents describe a period from January 2004 to December 2009, during the administration of George W. Bush."

Wow. The Blame Bush came with an unprecedented swiftness!

By now everyone knows that 91,000 war docs have been leaked to Wikileaks (who in turn published items without ever once contacting an official to ascertain if any of the information could cause the loss of American lives...) -and it constitutes the biggest intelligence disclosure for this country...ever.

But what about Pfc. Bradley Manning? The 22 year old that leaked the information and then bragged about it. It seems that Bradley "never felt supported in life." SO, I'm wondering how a 22 year old Pfc that obviously has inferiority issues and mentally instability is in a position where he has access to steal the 91,000 top secret files?! I thought getting intel clearance was a big deal and I assumed it came with a psych eval... There are websites claiming Manning is transgendered. I love a tranny as much as the next girl, but I think that could have been a RED FLAG for mental insecurity...

Can you believe there's already a Help Bradley Manning site? I guess at this point if he isn't convicted under Article 32, he'll be subject to DADT.

Has Ms. Sherrod "Come a Long Way?"

Shirley Sherrod claims to "have come a long way" but she must have been pretty far down the road because her opening statements belie her self-proclaimed "redemption" at the conclusion.



This comment (posted under this video at Gateway Pundit) stood out:

"The number of conservative people who want to go easy on Mrs. Sherrod and dump on Brietbart shows just how much power the left has at manipulating our behavior. Still to this day it is extremely difficult to get a unified condemnation of racial bigotry when the offender is a far left socialist. The fact Mrs Sherrod would preach to a crowd of black people that the loud opposition to Obama is based on his black skin color disqualifies her from public service. If she really believes this, anyone who files a complaint with her office is not going to get a fair shake. They will just be dismissed as a racist, or worse be forwarded to the IRS for an audit." -DonH

Caption It...

Ronald Reagan Quiz

TAKE THE QUIZ

Politicians, Leaders, and Taxes

We have an abundance of politicians in this country, what we need are a few more leaders. A few more individuals who will legislate and execute policies according to their conscious and common sense (where it exists), not their own interests. Here’s a recent example:

Senator John Kerry is dodging six figures of taxes ($437,500 in sales tax and an annual excise tax of about $70,000) on his 76 foot, New Zealand built yacht by keeping it registered in Rhode Island, which has no boat tax, instead of paying the fees that his beloved Massachusetts levies on its citizens. [source]

His Chief of Staff defended the registration by stating that, “The boat was designed by and purchased from a company in Rhode Island, and it’s based in Newport at the Newport Shipyard for long-term maintenance, upkeep and charter purposes, not tax reasons.” OK, got it, but why can’t it be moored in Newport for maintenance as needed, yet registered in the Senator’s state of residence? If the Senator isn’t trying to avoid taxes, then why not lead from the front, and support the established tax code? He’s clearly a fan of taxes, voting on more than a few occasions to raise them. Surely he’s not living a double standard, is he?

My first point is that I’d put my money on the ‘avoiding taxes’ theory, not the ‘designed, purchased and maintained’ theory… It would be very easy for Senator Kerry to register the boat in MA and set the example (if he truly thought that as a representative of the people charged with ensuring the existence of sound policy). He should play by the very rules that he has helped to create (tax laws in general, not necessarily this specific tax). Now, that being said, he is simply doing what any of us would do, taking advantage of an available tax loop hole, following his instincts, and most likely, his own deep seeded convictions that he’d rather not admit to if he took a good honest look at himself.

My second and broader point is this- politicians are continually caught in the middle between whatever form of logic they personally subscribe to (or the little voice inside- ha), and a hybrid of political necessities, deals, re-election bids, etc… the politics vs. the leadership. It is my opinion that we need some leaders to lead, and try to rise above the politics.

Which leads to my final point (stay with me)- In this instance, if I am correct in assuming that Senator Kerry is in fact taking the opportunity to dodge a half million dollars in taxes and fees, then perhaps deep down in the dark recesses of his subconscious that he doesn't like to admit exist, he feels that the system is unfair and excessive. Who knows. I do think that if more of our law-makers took a few moments to examine the multi-layered tax code, they would admit that we need a system that’s simple and fair. I don’t object to the sales tax, I do object to the excise tax in MA being annual… and it’s criminal that the code first taxes your income, then taxes any interest you should happen to make if you save your hard earned dollars for a large purchase, and finally comes back again and taxes the dollars when spent (then in some cases such as this one, makes an annual visit with an excise tax).

We as a nation will not be able to keep this up. The ever increasing tax burden will eventually cripple our economy. That is why I support the FairTax. The most through and well researched system ever devised. Simple, effective, transparent, and most importantly, the biggest economy stimulator you could ever hope for. I encourage everyone to research it. I just received a second book on the topic and plan to order next a book with a dissenting view in order to hit it from both sides.

My apologies for my tangential path of logic on this one… I skipped around a bit.

Don't Feel Too Bad for Ms. Sherrod...

That one clip may have demonstrated a moment of regret at her instinctual proclivity for bigotry toward whites... And even though the Administration that she undoubtedly voted into office, hastily fired her without even reading a full transcript (NOT READING seems to be a running theme with the Left!) doesn't mean she didn't warrant firing. Just not for that clip. Now she's out there blaming Fox...and the Tea Party. That immediately erased ANY sympathy I was feeling for her:

"ROBERTS: So, the question I have is, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture came to you and said you have to step down, why didn't you just say, wait a minute, you don't know the full story. Here's the full story, why should I step down?

SHERROD: I did say that, but they, for some reason, the stuff that Fox and the Tea Party does is scaring the administration. I told them get the whole tape and look at the whole tape and look at how I tell people we have to get beyond race and start working together..." source)

And, lest we forget, in the 'redemption' part of the video she still espouses a class warfare philosophy claiming that it's not about Black and White, it's about the HAVES vs. the HAVE NOTS. It's precisely that attitude that fosters racism and division.

But wait, it gets worse.

"RDLN Graduate and Board Vice Chair Shirley Sherrod was appointed Georgia Director for Rural Development by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on July 25. Only days earlier, she learned that New Communities, a group she founded with her husband and other families (see below) has won a thirteen million dollar settlement in the minority farmers law suit Pigford vs Vilsack..." source)

Really?

I'm sure there are people digging into this Pigsford group as we speak and there will be many more revelations about Ms. Sherrod, her questionable hiring and hasty firing in the days and weeks to come... Does ANYONE in Obama's administration understand the meaning of VETTING?!

I'm sure by tomorrow the whole firing will be Bush's fault.

Grotesque, Groping Gore

"Al Gore is in more trouble.

The National Enquirer reports in a bombshell story that police have investigated charges from two more female massage therapists who claimed they were abused by Gore.

The allegations come on the heels of an ongoing Portland, Ore., police investigation that reopened after the supermarket tabloid recently revealed accusations by a licensed massage therapist who says Gore groped her four years ago..." source)

Al, for the love of God, just ask one of your staff members where the local washy-washy is and stop this insanity...some massage therapists really are there to give you a massage...you bloated weather alarmist.

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Enough With the Blameshifting

Can you believe Fox and the Conservative media is being blamed for Shirley Sherrod's "resignation!?" And the MSM can say whatever they want and the Obamatrons will believe them! Beck defended her! Breitbart had the 'redemption' segment of the video posted on his site! Are these Obama apologists for real? Are they just so hell bent on not being wrong-- on not looking like a rube that fell for the whole cultish 'hope and change" thing- that they're willing to swallow and defend anything!? This isn't partisan swill...I really want to know.

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Six Years!

My 6 year Blogiversary was the 16th of this month. As you all know I've had a few moments of disillusionment when I have allowed myself to be tempted by the idea of ending this internet adventure...

But, SIX YEARS! We've all been through so much! Through the demise of The Man and I's business, the birth of my incredible 'surprise baby,' Free and Redleg's 7,000 deployments, CB's blog fame, ~Jen's~ twins, Kali's baby, AFsis and Keith's wedding, the birth and death of tons of blogs along the way, the departure of old friends and contributors and the constant appearance of new ones!

The other day I went back and read the comments from some of my more personal posts and was really overwhelmed at what a strange medium this is. Some of you have been around for all six years...we 'talk' all the time, yet we've never met. Your words of congratulations and encouragement when I found out I was pregnant the last times were invaluable to me. You comments while I was in the hospital got me through the 16 hours of labor! So many of you have touched my life in one way or another. God that sounded sappy...this is what internet deprivation will do to a gal!
Anyway, I wanted to say thank you for all the words of encouragement, feedback, comments, love letters and even snarky emails. The past six years have been a helluva ride!

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Today's sign that the apocalypse is upon us

“USC president-elect Max Nikias announced Tuesday in a letter addressed to ‘Members of the USC Trojan Family’ that the school will return its copy of Bush's award to the Heisman Trophy Trust and remove ‘all jerseys and murals’ that recognize the running back's college career by mid-August.”

“Bush's trophy has been on display in USC's Heritage Hall, alongside copies of the Heismans won by former Trojans standouts Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Matt Leinart, Carson Palmer, Charles White and Marcus Allen.” [source]

"The Trojan Family honors and respects the USC sporting careers of those persons whose actions did not compromise their athletic program or the opportunities of future USC student-athletes." Said USC President-elect Max Nikias.

Anyone else find it strange that they would scrub all memory of a young kid wooed by the big money of professional sports, but not that of a man convicted in civil court of the wrongful death of his wife and another man, and who is currently serving 9 years in the pen for armed robbery and kidnapping?

So if your actions do not compromise the USC athletic program ($$) or the opportunities of future USC student-athletes($$$), you’re good to go.

Translation- if it doesn’t cost us millions in bowl money, we don’t care and will continue to honor you.

PC Hell (and other stuff)

This is the second time I'm writing this post... I stayed up writing it last night, and then being the genius that I am, decided to clear all my stored emails on my phone this morning... That's the kind of week it's been.
Computers just don't seem to last in my house. I guess it's the whole having kids thing. Yesterday I was uninstalling some pesky popups and tool bars that had snuck in on a WoW trial, and I must have inadvertently deleted something important. The screen went all wonky and completely against The Man's advice I did a system restore. Now I have a blue screen. Lovely. That's the kind of week it's been.
So, if my computer hadn't decided to don the blue screen of death, I may have been posting about the way the rule of the Obama administration makes you feel like you've entered a poorly directed episode of the Twilight Zone-except this one has a huge prop budget. Blago would have been enough to take down most Presidents-- the implications of that has to be worse than a cigar and an intern or eavesdropping on plumbers...
The stories of impropriety just keep coming. The MSM vowing to cover up any story that might hurt Obama. Isn't the press supposed to be the fourth branch of government...a check and balance in our Democracy? And then we hear a Carter/Clinton appointee claiming that accusations of racism against the Tea Party (though unfounded) are working and the fact that the Tea Party has to spend time defending themselves instead of focusing on other issues...it will help the Democrats in the midterms. I know politics is a game, and politicians are shady...but this administration takes that to a whole new level.
And Glenn Beck. I'm so upset about Glenn. Last night I kept thinking about him and Rush...see no evil and hear no evil...we've relied on them to do the heavy lifting and they have to bear the burden... Dear Glenn: Duke Eye Center!
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Caption It...

Atlas Shrugged Moment

The most recent FCC report on the nation’s broadband network echoed of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged. I refute that 65% of Americans having high speed internet access is “a detriment to economic growth.” I’d like to see some data on what levels other countries are currently at.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski states that "Broadband is critical 21st century infrastructure, to which every American household and small business must have access to maximize our nation's economic growth, catalyze investment, spur job creation, and ensure our global competitiveness." [source]

Excuse me? Isn’t it the other way around? Small business and economic growth will create jobs and the demand that will encourage investment and make expansion of broadband networks a fiscally sound business decision for the providers, not the other way around.

Since the FCC is so worried about our global competitiveness (didn’t think it was the FCC’s lane, but OK), let me check that international data I mentioned earlier… *quick Google search*, wow, yes, according to the graph, we are clearly at a disadvantage internationally… [source]

Make no mistake, this latest FCC report and others like it brought on by the telecommunications act of 1996 will only squeeze the profit margins of telecommunications providers and use your tax dollars to pay for internet access of those who cannot afford it.

Who else is tired of this culture of entitlement?

Stealing Valor is Free Speech?

"...A law that makes it illegal to lie about being a war hero is unconstitutional because it violates free speech, a federal judge ruled Friday as he dismissed a case against a Colorado man who claimed he received two military medals.

Rick Glen Strandlof claimed he was an ex-Marine who was wounded in Iraq and received the Purple Heart and Silver Star, but the military had no record he ever served. He was charged with violating the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it a crime punishable by up to a year in jail to falsely claim to have won a military medal.

U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn dismissed the case and said the law is unconstitutional, ruling the government did not show it has a compelling reason to restrict that type of statement..." (source)

This is a REALLY hard one for me. You know I'm as pro-service member and veteran as a civilian can be, BUT... I vacillate here. As despicable as it is to lie about serving your country (or to hold signs that say "God hates Fags" outside of a funeral), are we going to legislate all lying and uncomfortable speech or just some? Is Stolen Valor going to apply to the guy who uses the false information on a resume or the guy trying to get laid when he's out of town?

The emotional side of me wants lying about service to be illegal (especially when I read the stories of the guys throwing themselves on grenades to save their 'brothers'), but the logical side begrudgingly agrees with the judge...we have to embrace free speech --even when it sucks. Right?

Funemployment

Has anyone out there heard of this concept of ‘Funemployment’? I stumbled upon an article today that describes the trend of frustrated people who have been laid off or have quit of their own volition to take a break from work and travel, volunteer, or simply be still. [source]

The Urban Dictionary's defines this trend as:

“1. a happy time in one's life when one is not employed and is not wanting to be employed. People wonder how I pay my bills when I'm on funemployment”

“2. The condition of a person who takes advantage of being out of a job to have the time of their life. I spent all day Tuesday at the pool; funemployment rocks!”

In an LA Times article, Kimi Yoshino professes that, “As frivolous as it sounds, funemployment is a statement about American society. Experts say it's both a reflection of the country's cultural narcissism -- and attitudes of entitlement and self-centeredness -- and a backlash against corporate America and its "Dilbert"-like work environment.”[source].

She interviews David Logan, professor of USC’s Marshall School of Business who muses, "Recession gives people permission to be unemployed, why not make use of the time and go do something fun?"

He may be onto something, but it’s not all narcissim and self-entitlement. Many folks are finding their lives out of balance—the break from the daily grind is finally giving them a chance to reflect on their experiences and to re-evaluate what is important in their lives. Some are using the chance to reinvent themselves and discover which vocation could provide not only income but satisfaction.

So instead of the short sided definitions above, I would propose to you that funemployment is actually the result—when someone takes a setback, re-evaluates their career, and changes course, finding fun employment. Perhaps a positive result of this economic downturn is the growing number of people who are experiencing this. It’s tough to lose your job. You may want to take a ‘paycation’ with your severance or unemployment, but after that it’s time to discover what to do next, and the best course of action may not be to find the same job somewhere else.

Dave Ramsey once said (he may have been quoting someone else when I heard him say it) that the key to being satisfied with your work was to figure out what it is that you love to do. What do you love to do so much that you would do it for free? Figure that out , then become so good at it that people will pay you to do it.

Now, all that being said I think it’s time for our politicians to come clean of special interest and realize that our economy suffers from their manipulation of the open market system. They can’t simply bail out failing companies who should be allowed to fail, then go back and say the system is broken and that greater restrictions are needed. The ever rising burden on businesses, large and small alike does nothing but push corporations overseas and make it harder for small businessmen to get started. Indeed it seems as if it is in fact our own government who is displaying narcissism, attitudes of entitlement and self-centeredness. Shocking, I know.

So if we want more Americans to find ‘funemployment’, trust capitalism.

Tea Party, Racism and the NAACP

I haven't posted about the NAACP's 'resolution' because it makes me too upset. Not feigned, good post upset...but truly too pissed off to write coherently and succinctly about it--so excuse me in advance if this is a bit disjointed...

The easiest thing to do is scream 'racist' when you have no rebuttal. It's been done for ages. The other day Al Sharpton kept saying, "What's so hard about Tea Party leaders saying they condemn the racist elements of the Tea Party?"

I'll tell you what's so hard about that 'Reverend' (OMG, did I really forget to tell you all I am now an ordained minister?!) is that mean the Tea Party leaders giving in to your insanity and validating the idea that there are 'racist elements' within the Tea Party movement.

I spent quite a few hours over the weekend scouring the web for offensive Tea Party signs. I looked through PAGES and PAGES (some of you people out there are so witty and delightfully sarcastic!) of signs in any search combination I could think of and the two posted above are the 'raciest' I could find. Now, I don't think the one on the right is racist at all, but it does mention the word 'slavery' and the one on the left I wouldn't carry and furthermore I don't really get it...

Two signs does not an 'element' make in my opinion.

Now, on the news NAACP reps keep saying there were signs that say "Lynch the President." If that sign existed, it would be all over the NYT, NPR, KOS, and the DU. It's not. It's nowhere. It doesn't exist. So, I decided to go over and look at the Tea Party resolution on the NAACP's site...surely they would have the Lynch sign. Nope. Though, they did come up with four signs that offended them as opposed to my two:



I didn't get the Mac Daddy one, so I did something the NAACP obviously didn't do and I researched it. It seems a BLACK PASTOR in Harlem dubbed Obama the long legged Mac Daddy. And, I'm not quite sure if quoting the late Gary Coleman constitutes as racism...

So, we've come up with 4 "iffy" signs out of how many hundreds of thousands have attended tea parties over the past two years?

(If you're bored today you can read the whining and crying in this Democratic Underground thread about Biden saying he and Obama didn't view the Tea Party as racist...)

So, sorry Reverend Sharpton, we're not going to pacify you by condemning an "element" that doesn't exist so you can turn around and pull a quote that says Tea Party leaders admit to racism. FOUR SIGNS OUT OF THOUSANDS (and those signs were probably Kos Kids). Most likely there are some racists that are in the Tea Party...I'm sure there are. Just like there are racists in LaRaza, the New Black Panthers , in Islam and yes, even in the NAACP. But until you acknowledge that this movement is not about Obama's half Blackness and about smaller government and self governance and that Tea Party members were almost as frustrated with Bush as they are with Obama...you will have to continue to pull the tired, old racist card...

Karma?

I feel a little bit morbid to use this as an example, but in our world where so much seems senseless at times, every so often you see something that does… do you believe in karma?

EMT Accused of Ignoring Dying NYC Pregnant Woman Is Killed

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Republican Loyalty Quiz

The choices on this one made me laugh... I think I would like the person that wrote it.


The Republican Loyalty Quiz
10 Questions to Test Your Allegiance to the GOP

Your score is 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. You are a devoted Republican. You are quick to rally behind the party, even if you have not agreed with every decision Republican leaders have made. The few differences you have are nothing compared to your complete and utter disdain for the Democratic Party and the elitism, cowardice, and godlessness for which it stands.

TAKE THE QUIZ

And just to be fair to rbb, Kay and Nate, I took the Obama Loyalty Quiz too (This one is pretty funny too -Obama-sistible!):

The Barack Obama Loyalty Quiz
10 Questions to Test Your Allegiance to Barack Obama

Your score is 1 on a scale of 1 to 10. You are a fierce opponent of Barack Obama. He is the embodiment of everything you despise in a politician: an elitist, morally superior, gun-grabbing, religion-bashing, terrorist-coddling appeaser who threatens all that is good and decent in America. Plus, he bowls like a girl.

TAKE THE QUIZ

(...and I want that Tea Party Barbie! For YOUR 'Don't Tred on Me' shirt...GO HERE and enter DTOM for free shipping!)

New Mumia Daniel Faulkner Documentary

...and it seems this one bogged itself down with pesky FACTS.

One of my brothers, an avowed leftist entrenched in Academia, was a 'Free Mumia' guy as were his crowd of friends. I challenged him to really read the facts of the case and then see if he could still support Mumia (and that it really shouldn't be a Left or Right issue when someone is murdered). One thing I have to say for my borderline Socialists brother, is that he will always read what you offer up. When he was finished reading all the info out there on the case, he no longer believed that Mumia was innocent and has been on the side of GOOD every since. One small victory at a time...

A new documentary seeks to do something similar: present the public with something rarely associated with Mumia Abu Jamal...THE FACTS.

"Unlike any other film treatment to date -- most notably pro-Jamal documentaries “In Prison My Whole Life” and “A Case for Reasonable Doubt” – “The Barrel of a Gun” benefits from extensive access to principles on all sides of the debate as well as exhaustively researched and one-of-a-kind archival documentation to present an alternative view of the crime and the historical events that led up to and may have caused it." (source)

It has a TON of interviews (though I don;t know what qualifies Ed Asner to comment about the case?) :
Daniel Faulkner's widow Maureen Faulkner; Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell; prosecutor Joe McGill; Philadelphia district attorney Lynne Abraham; Abu-Jamal attorney Robert Bryan; celebrities Ed Asner, Mike Farrell, Danny Glover and Sister Helen Prejean; former Philadelphia police commissioner Sylvester Johnson; Pam Africa, head of The International Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia Abu-Jamal and widow of MOVE founder John Africa; author David Horowitz and radio talk show host Michael Smerconish.

If you are here in Philly, tickets went on sale TODAY for the September 21st premiere.

(Gary Cherone (of Extreme & Van Halen) wrote a song for the documentary that...are you ready, condemns Mumia for the murder and supports Faulkner!)

I was lucky enough to be able to meet Maureen Faulkner and slip her a Blonde Sagacity card :)

Mel Gibson Mania

I am so sick of hearing about Mel Gibson, especially as Roman Polanski is set free...

Did everyone really need all these tapes to prove that Gibson was a scumbag? Maybe the fact that he left his wife of 1,000 year and his 72 kids for this chick should have tipped everyone off. I have no sympathy for her...did she think an honorable man would have ditched his family and been with her in the first place?

On the other hand, Roman Polanski's 13 year old victim didn't enter into the 'relationship' knowingly. She was raped and sodomized.

So excuse me if I don't get all worked up that Mel had yet another drunken rampage and was mean to his homewrecker... I'm still wondering why no one cares that a rapist went free.

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Obama's Bad Poll Numbers Are YOUR Fault!

Rasmussen polls show that only 24% of Americans 'Strongly approve' of the way President Obama is preforming as President. 42% 'Strongly disapprove.' And WashPo begrudgingly reported that 6 in 10 Americans lack faith in Obama.

Liberals are scrambling to explain this. Over the past week I have heard some priceless explanations (like Americans don;t understand that a President doesn't have control over many of the things they're mad about...I think President Bush would have been happy to hear that!), but I think I like Bill Press's excuse the most:

"I think this says more about the American people than it does about President Obama. I think it just shows once again that the American people are spoiled. Basically, spoiled-- as a people, we are too critical. We are quick to rush to judgment, we are too negative, we are too impatient. Especially impatient. We want it all solved yesterday, and if you don't, I don't care who you are -- get out of the way.

And again, basically spoiled. To the point where it makes me wonder if it's even possible to govern today. I gotta tell you, I don't think Abraham Lincoln -- who certainly didn't get everything right the first time -- could govern today. I'm not sure Franklin Roosevelt could govern today, the way we are again. Just about like spoiled children. And it's Americans, and it's the media, and if we don't get instant gratification, then screw you is basically our attitude." (source)

I'm going to take a wild guess that he didn't afford Bush this cover. And this is a (former CNN) guy who is on the air lecturing us spoiled Americans about how "the Radical Right has poisoned America's Airwaves."

There is still a hard-core group of Obama-defendants...I honestly think it has something to do with white liberal guilt... It seems THEY are the ones who can't manage to take race out of the equation (and no, I can't blog about the NAACP/Tea Party resolution because I get a migraine every time I think about it...)

Felons Vote for Democrats

That was the part of the article about Al Franken's ill-gained Senate seat that jumped out at me. Not that I'm particularly surprised, but it's nice to have in writing for when someone like rbb asks for written proof of what everyone already knows...

"...341 convicted felons in largely Democratic Minneapolis-St. Paul voted illegally in the 2008 Senate race between Franken, a Democrat, and his Republican opponent, then-incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman.

The final recount vote in the race, determined six months after Election Day, showed Franken beat Coleman by 312 votes -- fewer votes than the number of felons whose illegal ballots were counted, according to Minnesota Majority's newly released study, which matched publicly available conviction lists with voting records..." (source)

I was going to point out that I wouldn't even want the win if it was convicted felons that had rallied behind me and put me over the top...but then again, Democrats are probably against the no voting restriction places on rapists, murderers and pedophiles...because who are we to tell someone that raped a child that he can't have a say in our Democracy...

And, what no one is saying about this story is --what happens from here? This was no insignificant election. Stuart Smalley was the 60th vote that got Obama care through. Does this throw that into limbo? Does the State do an investigation or does a comedian get to keep his illegitimate seat?

Pimp my GITMO

Not only has Obama left his campaign pledge to close the gates and end the service of tasty, Halal, Mango chicken forever unfulfilled...but now he's going the other way. Playing Pimp My GITMO apparently. Maybe a reality show to raise money for the deficit is in the works?

"...President Obama has not fulfilled his pledge to close the detainee prison at Guantanamo Bay, but he has brought Skype, Playstation3 and "life skills" classes to the detainees at the island facility.

While the 181 men being held in the prison wait to learn their fates after the administration fell through on its January 2010 deadline to move them out, 90 percent now live in a communal environment that includes Skype, the online video chat service, and access to a 17,000-book library.

That's up from 40 percent of detainees a year ago.

The "Twilight" series, a hit among so-called "tweens," is also popular with detainees, the camp's "librarian" said..." (source)

And I've seen pictures of foosball tables. They'll probably all have a Nook before I do...

Burqa Ban?

As much as the fact that the French government banned burqas (and that the Brits don't see that ban as anti-Islamic) gives me pleasure... I just don't think that religion should be dictating fashion or laws in any country. We can't gloat about a backwards government that would ban a "Western" mullet if we're banning things too.

This is always the concept that the Left gets tangled up in when it comes to free speech --you have to embrace the right to do it even when you hate what the person is saying.

So, I embrace Muslim women's rights to be sheathed and subjugated...it can't be any worse than how some Baptist women have to dress, right?

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Finally Saw The Hurt Locker...

...and for the life of me I can't understand why the Left liked it so much. Once the head of the Philly Young Democrats posted that "everyone should see it"...and then it won Hollywood awards. I ticked it right off my list. It had to have an anti-war, anti-Bush, anti-military message if Hollywood and the Left was giving it such high accolades...right?

So, last night my eyes needed a break from the Bible-small font of Atlas Shrugged and I decided to put my prejudices aside and watch the movie.

I really liked it. The beginning was filmed in such a way that it caused physical anxiety. Each person that walked by, each cell phone and video camera, each and every piece of trash or box in the street, every cat or kid or man...all could be a potential weapon or enemy to end the life of an American soldier. The film portrayed that (justified) paranoia so well.

I kept waiting for the Oliver Stone-esque Kevin Dillon character to rape and dismember an Iraqi girl with no remorse...didn't happen. In fact, aside from the main character's tendency toward adrenaline highs, all the characters are pretty honorable: risking their lives attempting to save an Iraqi man strapped with bombs and grieving the supposed death of a local Iraqi boy.

So that brings us back to the question of why the Left heralded a war movie that wasn't made by Oliver Stone and wasn't anti-war? I'm confused...

Once Again, Rush was Right

Rush coined the phrase "Club GITMO" and was the first to bring attention to the better-than-average living conditions the terrorists residing there were privy to (remember the mango chicken?)... The DUers and Kos Kids lost their friggin minds over this...

But, like the bumper sticker says...even on drugs, Rush is right..and it must have killed WashPo to have to publish this headline:

Six detainees would rather stay at Guantanamo Bay than be returned to Algeria

"...Given the choice between repatriation and incarceration, the men choose Gitmo, according to their lawyers..." (source)

I feel pretty confident in saying that our worst prison is better than most of the countries these little fanatics came from... It's hard to get mango chicken delivered to your tent...

Still More Ironies in Arizona

As if a State being prosecuted by the Federal Government for upholding the laws of that Government, while states that offer sanctuary to those laws are praised, wasn't strange enough... Then we have the fact that case being prosecuted by someone that defended a indisputable traitor to this country and is related to one of the very people breaking federal immigration law (conflict of interest perhaps?)

On top of all that mess, we have the fact that the Obama Administration (amidst the largest environmental disaster to date) had decided to bring the suit to begin with though most Americans agree with Arizona and 5+ states are seeking to replicate SB 1070. Some surveys have shown as many as 60% of American support the law in Arizona and are opposed to Obama's intervention.

But despite the opposition, the law suit will be brought anyway using the money of those that oppose it.

So, those same taxpayers that are paying for a law they oppose, are now willing to put up more money to fight that law suit...even in these tough economic times. Almost $700,000 has been sent to Governor Jan Brewer's office to aid to the legal fight that awaits.

"New Yorkers are among the most generous donors to a legal defense fund set up to fight President Obama's challenge to Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigrants.

Nearly 300 New Yorkers have ponied up $11,956 online to the fund that this week had raised almost $700,000, according to numbers compiled by the Arizona Governor's Office.

Donors from only five other states have given more to the effort than New Yorkers. And four of the five states that gave more are on the southern border.,," (source)

If you want to donate to the fight against Eric Holder, Tony West and the Obama Administration and send the message that they can't play politics with border security:

KeepAZSafe.com

Guest Post by Mo (Back from R&R*)

President Bush’s Secret Plan to help the environment in New Orleans?



We all know that President Bush was responsible for Hurricane Katrina (that’s what the MSM told me). If this is true, then clearly new research conducted by Tulane University has uncovered further details into his plan: to wash away lead contaminated soil. Apparently his efforts were wildly successful, dropping lead levels in most neighborhoods by 50% or more. Furthermore, lead levels in Children of New Orleans under the age of 6 have fallen by 33%. [source]

I would argue that further study is warranted, but that we potentially have the greatest environmental success story in history on our hands, all because of one man’s vision and leadership. Well done, sir!

Sadly, it’s not all good news for President Bush as arsenic levels are up...

(Now that he is rested and relaxed, Mo has agreed to becoming a contributor here at Blonde Sagacity...we have boots on the ground in the house! Welcome Mo!)

I Wonder What Obama is Doing Tonight?

I believe today is the 83rd day of the largest ecological disaster ever, BUT in case you were worried another disaster had been narrowly averted.

Rest easy Americans, the Christmas tree for the West lawn of the Capital has been found in Wyoming!

...And, instead of going down the the Gulf (or even Florida) to help out the people/economy down there and lend some much-needed morale, the First family has decided to vacation in Maine.

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Palin 2012

First this:

"Last year, after Bristol and I broke up, I was unhappy and a little angry," began [Levi Johnston's] mea culpa to People. "Unfortunately, against my better judgment, I publicly said things about the Palins that were not completely true. I have already privately apologized to Todd and Sarah," he continued. "Since my statements were public, I owe it to the Palins to publicly apologize." (source)

Then a few days later:



A Palin 2012 run is the only conclusion one can come to...right?

Fish Stories Anyone?

A favorite thing to do with my boys (when they're not torturing each other) is walking/running/fishing in our local park. It's a nice escape from my house/stress/the world. I took the boys fishing the other day, but we made the mistake of taking the baby, who is now 21 months, and thinks he can do whatever his brothers do...



Speaking of fish, my friend's new episode of Field and Stream's Hook Shots in out (they're in Nebraska trying to get the record Walleye in this one):



And speaking of my famous fishing friend, he writes for New Jersey Angler and they've been using some of my pictures for lures that are too new to have artwork yet. Pretty cool.


See, I totally can write a post without bitching about Obama!