Greenlee Gazette

Ann Coulter: Plan 10 From Outer Space

2009-11-09T03:18:00.003-05:00

Every once in a while, I feel the need to repost a previous blog post that deserves a little more attention. Blogging and blog readers are fluid and fickle, and worthwhile posts can go by the wayside, unnoticed. So, here is a post, from my dear friend and sometimes relief editor Stupid Monkey Planet on the strange beast that is Ann Coulter.

Guest posted by Stupid Monkey Planet

For a change of pace, here's a post by Stupid Monkey Planet, best friend and fill-in editor. Usually, he posts when I'm away, but today he was getting a bit creative. Time to start up that long-simmering blog of your own, isn't it, Monkey?

ANN COULTER: Plan 10 from Outer Space?

Maybe there is something to the theory about this creature being an alien. Note the appendages, hands, wrists and arms in particular. Some strange bone structure, odd joints and an awfully elongated features on it. Alienish. . .at the very least!!!???

My scientific guess is this is a shape shifting alien. . .from the "Rushlim Bag Moon" orbiting Uranus. I believe the stage the alien is now in what could be called a morphing phase. I think that it is doing it's best to imitate or morph into a woman after failing at being a man.

It does appear to be getting better at this shape shifting bit as it goes along. The breasticles appear larger on it lately. . .and sometimes there are less veins in its NBA basketball player-sized phalanges. I think it also possible that it changes shape with emotion when provoked or soothed. Look at the imagery, and judge for yourself.

That's my case. . . If you need anymore proof try this. . . TVLand

If you squint your eyes when you look at this last picture depicted in the series it is easy to see it/her as a man. Too bad for the ladies and gentlemen. . .she might have been a handsome man. . .if it wasn't for the alien shape shifting thing. ~From Da Monkey

EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm thinking the aliens might have gotten a little praying mantis or grasshopper in the DNA matrix of this creature.

$650 Ford!

2009-11-09T01:12:00.002-05:00

Bwahahaha!

Ford Unveils New Car For Cash-Strapped Buyers: The 1993 Taurus

News to No One: Sarah Palin Gives Underwhelming Speech

2009-11-08T22:04:00.002-05:00

Image from source, Think Progress

Full disclosure: I have a headache, and researching blog topics is hurting mightily. So, while this post may seem to some like a cheap shot (Palin bashing again?), it'll have to do. Plus, the picture is hilarious. Ouch. I may be back later if I can find a Tylenol 3 or something. . .

[Excerpt]

Palin gives a lackluster speech in Wisconsin, frequently uses ‘bogus’ or ‘awesome’ to discuss weighty topics.

During the summer’s debate over health care reform, right-wing activists and lawmakers latched onto former Alaska governor Sarah Palin’s false claim that President Obama and congressional Democrats were proposing government “death panels” that would “pull the plug on grandma.” While Republican leaders largely abandoned this myth, Palin revived it on Friday during a speech at a Wisconsin Right to Life fundraising banquet. In her remarks, Palin “repeatedly suggested that liberal social policies could lead to de facto euthanasia.” The speech was closed to the press and audience members were not allowed to bring cell phones, cameras, or any recording devices, but a few reporters still managed to sneak in. Politico reports that Friday’s speech was less than inspiring. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

SNL: "Really?!? With Seth & Amy" on Wall Street

2009-11-08T18:26:00.003-05:00

Amy Poehler made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live, joining Seth Meyers for Really?!? With Seth & Amy. The subject was Wall Street getting H1N1 swine flu shots before others. Great stuff.

SNL Skewers FOX "News"

2009-11-08T13:00:00.002-05:00

Saturday Night Live is as uneven as it ever was, comedy wise. Even the glory days of the "Not Ready for Prime-Time Players" had spotty episodes more often than not, we've just colored them with heavy doses of nostalgia. But the rule that still holds from the early days, is if they have a strong cold opening, monologue, first skit and Weekend Update, the episode feels more solid. Last night, the cold opening skewering of FOX "News" was hilarious. Weekend Update was strong, with a surprise appearance by Amy Poehler, and the other two bits were above average. So, great show, SNL!

Health Care Reform Passes in the House

2009-11-07T19:15:00.001-05:00

Image from source, MSNBC

Good going, Dems. It wasn't all of you, but you did it.

[Excerpt]

Landmark health insurance bill passes House

In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. . .

Read more at: MSNBC

Computer Woes, Pet Peeves and A Solution or Two!

2009-11-07T02:20:00.006-05:00

I've written a lot about computer woes and gripes since I've had this blog (not to mention Jeep repair woes, oy, $1,500 today!). You see, I'm a PC and have been since about 1987 or so. In other words, ever since the Commodore 64 died. I started with an Amstrad clone, with no hard drive, CGA monitor, two 5-1/4" floppy drives, DOS 2.something and the GEM desktop. Which was a pre, pre, PRE-Windows/Mac-type graphical user interface (GUI). There was no mouse.

I'm self-taught, and have graduated through the MS-DOS (and Dr. DOS and PC-DOS) versions, on up to Windows 3.1, 3.11 for Workgroups, 95, NT, 98, 98SE, Me, XP, Vista 32, Vista 64 and now Windows 7 Home Premium 32 & 64. That's a lot of learning, and a lot of acquired guru know-how to just ditch it for a shiny new Mac. Throw in the fact that (outside of a Justin Long) crush, I'm a Mac-O-Phobe. I've never had a good experience with an Apple product. I've never been bowled over by their "simplicity" or their "intuitiveness." In fact, I've often found them to be quite the opposite.

But being a die-hard PC does lead to a few headaches. Scratch that, a lot of headaches. So below, I'm listing a bunch of my pet peeves, by program. If you've arrived at this page through a Google search, and have any ideas, please leave me feedback!

Greenlee Gazette's List of PC Program Pet Peeves

1. AOL, Nonresponsive - (I know, why do I still use it? Because I'm set in my ways) AOL has always had the ability to lock up your entire computer for no discernible reason. And with the advent of Windows Vista and 7, it has a whole new trick. The twirling blue "wait" cursor will start spinning, and everything will stop responding. ALT+TAB will prove ineffective, and you can't switch programs. CTRL+ALT+DEL will still bring up the task manager, but you can't do anything with it. The screen resolution will turn slightly blurry, and may even "pale out," turning 50% white. This can clear up on its own, or can go on indefinitely.

SOLUTION: The only solution to this for me has been a) Holding in the power button on the computer until it shuts off; b) or hitting CTRL+ALT+DEL and choosing "log off." Option b) actually works pretty well in Windows 7, which actually reboots fairly quickly.

2. AOL, Internet Page Blank - This one is new with Windows 7. After a few internet pages have been opened, a click on a link, or a new web addressed typed will bring up a blank page. The "wait" icon may be twirling, but the page is doing absolutely nothing. Blank page. "Done" in the title bar. Sometimes it happens in a single window, sometimes in a tab.

SOLUTION: I may have this one licked. If you type CTRL+K in AOL, and then type in the key word "Browser Fix", you will then see a message ending with (0), confirming tunneling has been turned on within the AOL software. Sign off, and reboot. This has worked for me, though not 100%. But so far, it is much better. UPDATE: My problem is back. This worked at first, so maybe it will work for you.

3. Internet Explorer 8 & Blogger - This also started with Windows 7, but not until a few days ago. Maybe there was a change made in IE8, Blogger or Windows 7, I don't know. But in the normal posting window in Blogger, the "Paste" command is just gone. Can't be done. This renders the software cumbersome at best.

SOLUTION: Use FireFox or Google Chrome instead of Internet Explorer. UPDATE: If you want to continue using IE, try this: go to Tools/Compatibility View Settings in the IE tool bar, and then click the check box for “Display all websites in Compatibility View.”

4. Blogger - The biggest problem with this software is that it is not WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). Editing a new post will NOT necessarily show you what a published piece will look like. Even "Preview" might not get it right. Inserting a picture can throw your formatting all off, the size of text can go completely wacky for no reason, and the results and eccentricities change depending upon which browser you're using.

SOLUTION: Live with it.

5. Google Chrome - Some web sites think that Google Chrome is an old version of FireFox and will not function properly.

SOLUTION: Use FireFox or Internet Explorer.

6. Adobe Graphics Programs - This one's going to bite me on the butt one day. I despise the interface for all Adobe products I've tried, except for Acrobat/Reader. Adobe Illustrator and Adobe PhotoShop are the standard for the graphics industry, but not for the sign industry, where I am. So, I use CorelDRAW and Corel Photo-Paint instead. This isn't a problem. I love Corel. Corel even allows you to set their programs up to look exactly like Adobe products.

Adobe does not return the favor. I don't like the lack of customization, I don't like the floating palettes everywhere, I don't like the lack of a dynamic status bar, I don't like the print options, I don't like any of it. But if I end up in a different part of the graphics industry, I may be forced to adapt. Which would almost be like going from PC to Mac. Ugh.

SOLUTION: There isn't one. But I surely wish Adobe would come up with the option to lay the program out like a Corel application. You'd be doing out of work sign artists a huge favor.

There are many more pet peeves, but these are my biggies. Once again, if you've happened upon this post, and you have other ideas, or other pet peeves, please leave me a comment, or send me an email! Thanks.

Rachel Maddow's Mea Culpa on the Preamble to the Constitution

2009-11-06T21:41:00.004-05:00

Image from source, Newsbusters

It never fails. If I'm on a message board, or the comments section on somebody's blog responding to the rampant stupidity of something or someone, I will myself have a moment of stupid. I'll misspell something, I'll make an unfortunate typo, something. And seconds after hitting the "post" button, I'll realize what I've done, and have an oh crap! moment.

Much the same thing happened to Rachel Maddow on her program on Thursday. Maddow was covering the silly multi-thousand (millions!) protest on the Capitol steps, and poking fun at orange-faced John ~~Boner~~ Boehner. The facial-twitch affected House Minority Leader was gettin' all high and mighty, waving around his micro-copy of the United States Constitution. He then proceeded to recite part of the Declaration of Independence, calling it the preamble to the Constitution.

That's pretty funny right there, and Maddow--as she is often wont to do--called him on it snarkily. Unfortunately, she had one of those "oh crap" moments herself, saying the Constitution doesn't have a preamble, rather than that the Declaration of Independence doesn't have one (it sort of does, but it isn't really called that). I knew it as soon as she said it, and I wouldn't doubt that she did too, or at least shortly thereafter.

The folks at Newsbusters, an outfit that sees its mission as a watchdog on the dreaded "liberal media" has come down like a ton of bricks on Maddow. Which is expected, but rather unnecessary. As any watcher of TRMS knows, if Rachel makes a mistake, she almost always corrects it, which she did in her usual entertaining fashion. First up, here's Newsbusters' take on the story.

[Excerpt]

Maddow Wrongly Claims 'Constitution Doesn't Have A Preamble'

Did you know the United States Constitution doesn't have a Preamble?

Well, that's what the oh so arrogant, high and mighty MSNBC host Rachel Maddow told her audience Thursday night. . .

More at: Newsbusters

I'll have an update with Rachel's School House Rock mea culpa as soon as it becomes available.

UPDATE:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Tancredo Storms Off of The Ed Show

2009-11-06T19:51:00.005-05:00

A lot of political pundits have made issue of the massive amount of pro-war "support-our-troops" Republicans who themselves have never served in the military. They're called "chickenhawks," and Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado) is one of them. So when they start talking about veteran's benefits and the VA, they might not expect to be called on it. By a veteran! I'm not sure I remembered that Markos Moulitsas Zúñiga ("Kos" of DailyKos) was a veteran. I'm pretty sure Tancredo didn't!

Michelle Bachman Rally: Not Tea Baggers. Guy Fawkers!

2009-11-06T12:55:00.003-05:00

The crazy right walked right into the "tea bagger" double entendre, cluelessly using the imagery, and foolishly trying to use it against the President ("teabag Obama!") before having it turned on their own ridiculous movement. So, when Michelle Bachmann and the faux-grass roots groups bused in a bunch of villagers with metaphorical pitchforks and torches, the fact they did it on "Guy Fawkes Day" is just another nugget of comedy gold for Stephen Colbert.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Guy-Fawkers

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

U.S. Speedskating

Jon Stewart and the 11/3 Project: Glenn Beck's Internal Organs!

2009-11-06T12:48:00.004-05:00

If you've ever watched Glenn Beck on FOX "News," and were not somehow converted with his crazy ray, you've seen the blackboard, the wild eyes, the nutty conspiracy theories. And you've wondered, "how the hell did this guy EVER catch on?" Well, I still don't know the answer to that question. GB is nearly as unwatchable as Huckabee. But at least we've got Jon Stewart to mine comedy gold from the piles of manure caked straw Beck airs nightly.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

The 11/3 Project

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

Eugene Robinson's "Attack of the Palinites"

2009-11-06T02:27:00.002-05:00

Image from source, The Washington Post

I really like The Washington Post's Eugene Robinson's writing style and his wry humor on Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The Rachel Maddow Show. So, when he writes a column titled "Attack of the Palinites," how could I resist posting it?

The editorial is a warning to moderate Republicans, or even seemingly moderate ones to spiff up their conservative cred, or face the wrath of the tea bagging Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin disciples. I'm sort of hoping they don't take his advice. Watching the crazies take power from the GOP folks who used to pander to them is scary. But it is also very entertaining.

[Excerpt]

Attack of the Palinites

Democrats have some thinking to do after Tuesday's elections, but Republicans don't have time to think. They're too busy trying to survive the party's internal purge and avoid being shipped off to political Siberia. . .

Read more at: The Washington Post

A Response to Maine's Question 1 on Same-sex Marriage

2009-11-05T23:50:00.003-05:00

Okay, I usually don't put harsh language on my "front page." If I have something racy, naughty or in bad taste, I'll stick it "below the fold" with a warning and a link. But you know what? This couldn't be worded better, and its message would be lost if I blurred out a couple of "offensive" words. What happened to gay people in Maine on Tuesday (and to the people of 30 other states since 2000) is offensive. The majority voting against the rights--in this case rights already obtained--of the minority, is fundamentally un-American. So screw propriety.

Source: http://twitpic.com/o94bu

Keith Olbermann: Bachmann's Soreloserpalooza

2009-11-05T23:19:00.002-05:00

After seeing Olbermann's take on the Michelle Bachmann's "revolution" party on the Capitol steps today, I'm really interested to see what Jon Stewart does with it! From Thursday's Countdown with Keith Olbermann.

William Shatner Reads Levi Johnston's Tweets

2009-11-05T23:04:00.003-05:00

I don't watch The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien much, but I've got to admit, I love the clips when he has William Shatner on! Usually, they're tweaking Sarah Palin, which is one of my favorite sports. This time, they're going at her indirectly by having Shatner read the Twitter posts of Levi Johnston, erstwhile Kathy Griffin romancer, and almost Palin son-in-law. Enjoy.

Michelle Bachmann-Led Rally Out-Tea Bags the Tea Baggers

2009-11-05T22:45:00.004-05:00

Disturbing image from source, Daily Kos

If there was even any proof needed that the Republican Party has gone completely around the bend, to the furthest, scariest depths of the right, today's rally was it. You've got your buses, chartered by a faux-grass roots group. You've got your nutty signs. You've got your simultaneously vague and pervasive anger at everything, and this time, you've got actual mainstream elected Congressmen and women in attendance. More than that, the whole anti-government, revolution-inciting event was slapped together by Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann (R-Batshit Insane).

On one hand, all of this insanity is heartening to a Democrat like me, leading me to believe that the GOP can't possibly win this way. On the other hand, I'm terrified that somehow they will. The lunatics are truly running the GOP asylum, and I can't imagine what would happen if they ran the USA. And here I thought Bush, Cheney, Condi, Rummy, Rove and the rest were the end game. They look positively normal by comparison. Nazi imagery? Dead bodies? Dachau? Really?!?

[Excerpt]

While Democrats were touting AARP's endorsement...

. . .If Republicans wonder why most Americans view them as part of the fringe extreme, they need not look beyond this event. While Democrats were touting the endorsement of AARP, Michele Bachmann and the House leadership were rallying amidst signs like this, shoulder to shoulder with 2,000 teabaggers. . .

Read more at: Daily Kos

Jesus on a Pickup Truck!

2009-11-05T22:29:00.002-05:00

Jesus is everywhere, y'all! And if it isn't him appearing in various items, it's his mom. This time, it was JC himself, or at least a bearded dude who. . .let's face it. . .could be anybody.

[Excerpt]

Man says image of Jesus appears on truck window

Jim Stevens said he's not particularly religious and is clueless about why an image resembling Jesus Christ keeps appearing on his pickup. Stevens, of Jonesborough, said nearly every morning, an image that looks to him like the face of Jesus Christ has appeared in the condensation on the driver's side window of his Isuzu truck. A Johnson City Press photo of the truck showed a facial image. . .

Read more at: Yahoo! News

Previously:

Virgin Mary Appears in a Brain Scan?
News of the Weird: Jesus! Clean Your Shower!
The Second Coming of Cheesus!
Cheesus: Jesus Found in a Cheeto Bag
Jesus Found in Potato!
Jesus Found in Slab of Granite
Jesus Christ on a Pancake!Jesus is Everywhere!

Religion! The Movie.

2009-11-05T00:30:00.005-05:00

I've gotten into a huge online argument on Facebook recently. It started out as a rebuttal to a "friend"--actually a high school acquaintance--who was jubilant about the "Yes on 1" victory over gay marriage in Maine. I wasn't pleased, to say the least, and said so. But it devolved, as these things always do, to a discussion on religion. Which also always become a tangled mess.

I don't know why the very religious try to get us to all live by their rules. They'd hate it if we tried to pass pro-Muslim laws or pro-Mormon laws, and they had to live by them (unless they were Muslims or Mormons, of course). But that's what "Yes on 1" boils down to, codifying a religious belief. One that isn't 100% backed up by doctrine, in this blogger's opinion, but I digress (again).

But I got to thinking about religion in general. Everyone believes theirs is the best, the only, the correct one. And without fail, they also believe that everyone else's is wrong. With no evidence. But arguing that point is impossible. You see, people are so convinced that their own religion is right, they find it difficult to put themselves in another person's shoes. They can't step inside an agnostic's shoes (mine are 9-1/2 Ds, by the way) and even see where I'm coming from. So I'll explain it to you.

There are many ancient religions. Most of them have faded away, or morphed into new ones. Many of the newer ones even crib from the older ones, in order to sway new converts (or maybe due to lack of imagination). And nobody in the newer religions gives one ounce of credence to the fore bearers. A religious person is basically agnostic or atheistic as it pertains to all other religions but their own. I simply believe in one less than they do. I posed this little example in my argument, and was met with metaphorical blank stares.

I look at today's main religions as sort of a movie franchise. Judaism was the first one in this analogy, think Superman: The Movie. We've got the origin story, all the set up and backstory. It solidified the franchise, and was a big hit. So big, that somebody decided it would be a great idea to have a sequel.

Christianity is Superman II. It carries over some of the same themes, adds some new bad guys and characters. It fleshes out the story, adds some new elements (some sort of out of place in parts), and turns this baby into a blockbuster. It should also be noted that Superman's mother takes on more prominence in this one. With me so far? Many of the fans of the original aren't moved. They think it betrayed the original, and they just are not buying it. But the fans of the sequel swear by it. It's the best! And the only one worth watching. Until. . .

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut shows us what the story could have been like, with some different scenes (some not fully finished), with a very different interpretation of the story. This would represent the schisms in Christianity. Fans of this different version will swear that it's better than the previous edition, and in fact, the original sucks.

After Christianity came Islam. That's Superman III. Here's where my analogy gets a little bit strained, I'll admit, because that edition wasn't a hit. Pretend it was, and go with me. It was part three of a series, as Islam is. Part I and II had huge fan bases, and were totally put off by part III. It had its cool parts, but it just doesn't work for the Jews and the Christians. They ain't buying it.

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace was a low-budget, incoherent flop. This we can slot in as the Jehovah's Witnesses, which might be too easy, but you can't say it isn't accurate. Superman Returns would be of course, Mormonism. Pretty popular, but largely not considered to be a "real" part of the series. The characters are there, but they're different, and they don't even try to reconcile the continuity. And don't get me started on Superboy, Smallville, Supergirl, Lois & Clark. . . There you have even more schisms.

My point? Each installment has its fans. Few will like them all. And nobody who thinks theirs is the best can be swayed to accept the others as better than theirs. "Nice story," they'll say. "But mine is the best." Unlike religion, there are those of us who like some or all to a degree, or even none of them. But people like me see them all as just basically stories. Stories obviously told in their own time to their own audience. Stories that were built on what came before with little attention given to internal consistency. Go ahead and believe in Krypton. I'll just consider them all stories.

Chrysler Kills Jeep, Dodge & Chrysler Models

2009-11-04T23:26:00.004-05:00

Image from source, AOL News

It's always a little sad when a bunch of car models get eighty-sixed. Especially if you are the current owner of one, and don't want to see its value drop like a rock. The good thing is, if your particular favorite model gets dropped, it can develop a cult following, and be revived in a full-retro treatment. Cars like the Beetle, Camaro, Challenger and Charger got to see revivals. Of course, the ones included in this list may never be considered classics.

[Excerpt]

Chrysler Admits Faults, Unveils New Plan

If you wanted to see a group of executives perform a public mea cupla, I wish you could have sat next to me today for Chrysler's new business plan meeting in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The belabored automaker, recently out of bankruptcy and now owned in part by Italy's Fiat, admitted faults and promised the future would be different. . .

Read more at: AOL News

Frivolity Break: Piano Stairs!

2009-11-04T22:35:00.000-05:00

Conservatives Belatedly Criticize the Muppets

2009-11-04T22:30:00.002-05:00

Image from source, Raw Story

Because I've never had a picture of Oscar the Grouch on the blog before. . .

[Excerpt]

Conservative slams Oscar the Grouch for criticizing Fox News

Forget Tinky-Winky, or whatever his name was. Meet Oscar the Grouch.

A conservative blogger at Andrew Breitbart's "Big Hollywood" website -- the onetime right-hand man for conservative maven Matt Drudge -- is now targeting Sesame Street for its "unfair" portrayal of Fox News as "trashy news show. . ."

Read more at: Raw Story

How FOX "News" and the Teabaggers Lost NY-23

2009-11-04T22:09:00.004-05:00

As I wrote earlier, the mini-election yesterday was a mixed bag with enough political stuff to let both sides crow a little, and cry a little. Amazingly enough, it's being touted more as a GOP win than a Democratic one, even though that is very debatable. The most puzzling development is the downplaying of the loss of New York's Congressional District 23, a race that had a massive hard right-wing push for a "Conservative Party" candidate. They ended up losing a seat that has been held by Republicans since there were still Whigs around. Wow.

How Fox News and the teabaggers lost NY-23

A video montage showing how Fox’s coverage of the special election in New York’s 23rd Congressional District empowered Republican teabaggers to push aside moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava in favor of a hard-line conservative candidate Doug Hoffman, allowing the first Democratic victory in the district since the Civil War:

Source: DailyKos

Election Results: My Take

2009-11-04T01:22:00.002-05:00

Okay, the big question brewing already is, were the results of last night's elections a "referendum" on President Obama? My take? Not exactly.

What we have here is a rinky-dinky little off-year election. But we all were so invested in 2008, some of us still have a bit of the bug. Gays were also especially invested because of anti-gay ballot issues in Maine and Washington. Republicans and/or conservatives are all still a little bruised by 2008, and also energized by all the 9/12er, tea bagger, Glenn Beckian nuttiness, and desperately wanted a change in their fortunes.

So did it happen? Sorta. And also kinda not. In Virginia, a Republican took the Governor slot, something that was long predicted. Bob McDonnell, the guy who won seems like kind of a creep to me, but apparently the Democrat was a weak candidate, and Virginia has a history of putting the opposite party to the President in power. Whatever. In New Jersey, Gov. Jon Corzine, the Democratic incumbent, was fairly unpopular. There was also a third-party contestant. As I type this, the winner, Chris Christie has been getting some intense coverage on FOX "News," so they must be scoring it as a big win for their side.

Perhaps the biggest news, at least among office races, was the upset in New York's 23rd district. It's a district that has gone for a Republican for like 120 years. But the Beckians and the Palinites threw out the Republican there, and installed a "Conservative Party" carpetbagging candidate named Doug Hoffman. Dick Armey called the move the tip of the spearhead of a plan to do this around the country in 2012. But they lost. Boo-hoo.

The other big news is of course, the anti-gay measures. In Maine, after the legislature approved same-sex marriage, a ballot measure was offered up to reject it. And, by all appearances at this writing, it passed. It was tight, but it passed. In Washington, there was almost an identical situation, except there it was an "everything but marriage" measure that was to be voted on. But it looks like (again, it's not 100% yet) it passed. Again, slim margin, but to the good side!

So yeah, I'm bummed by Maine. I still think this sort of human rights issue shouldn't be up for popular vote in the first place. But at least it wasn't a constitutional amendment, and it can always be tried again. The margins get slimmer all the time.

Worlds Collide: Bill Clinton to Debate George W. Bush

2009-11-03T22:09:00.003-05:00

Holy moly. A debate between Clinton and Bush? I'm not sure I could take it. Bush rivals Sarah Palin as one of the speakers I can barely tolerate. I haven't heard him speak since he was President, though. He used to embarrass and infuriate me, but now that he's a private citizen again, maybe it would be good for a laugh. There is no doubt that Clinton can run verbal and intellectual circles around him. I've gotta wonder if there is going to be a narrow scope for the debate to keep it from turning into a bloodbath.

[Excerpt]

42 vs. 43 in Debate of Former Presidents

It's billed as "The Hottest Ticket in Political History:" A debate between Bill Clinton and George W. Bush at Radio City Music Hall. The event will happen in February as part of MSG Entertainment's third annual "Minds That Move The World" speakers series. . .

Read more at: Politics Daily

Hat tip to my mom for the link!

Kalamazoo, Michigan Upholds Gay Rights in Vote

2009-11-03T21:53:00.004-05:00

As of this writing, there is still no result in Maine or in Washington on the gay rights issues on the ballots there. Having been battered 0-30 in various state votes, a win in Maine would be a pleasant surprise, but I'm not ready to get my hopes up. This is, as I've stated numerous times before, something that shouldn't even be up for a popular vote.

Still, there is some good news. In Kalamazoo, Michigan, a gay rights measure passed. How 'bout that?

[Excerpt]

Kalamazoo, MI Gay Rights Ordinance VICTORY!

Kalamazoo residents approve nondiscrimination ordinance

“Our campaign started with a very basic idea, and today voters confirmed that we are One Kalamazoo,” said Campaign Manager, Jon Hoadley.

With only absentee ballots outstanding, 65 percent of Kalamazoo voters have approved Ordinance 1856 by a vote of 6,463 to 3,527, adding protections for gay and transgender people to the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance. This margin is larger than the number of outstanding absentee ballots that are currently being counted. . .

Read more at: iQreport