Life from the trenches....literally

What's in a Profile?

2010-05-04T21:24:00.001-04:00

So what exactly is in a profile anyway? Likes, dislikes, favorite coffee, brand of beer? Hmmm, a little of all and more I suppose, but it is very much more fluid than it suggests. Take mine for example, the one over there on the side there with the cute little dog, true as it was at the time, it is drastically different now. For starters, the little dog is now gone, no not dead, just lives with mom, who doesn't live with me anymore...see, there's another change! Yep, gone is the son, the little trailer in Florida, the "Palace". Things never seem to stay the same in life, but that's not necessarily a bad thing I suppose. A wise man once said "The only constant in this world is change".

So that brings me around to this post, and why I'm starting up again at all. Change, I seem to thrive on it much more than some. I'm in Galveston, Texas now, that's a change back to the seaside for me and that's a good thing. My son is in college, going to be a chef like his dad, that's a change that somehow seems eerily similar to my own path, and it is a good one as well, hell now can cook his own food and eat himself out of house and home, LOL! I can deal with that for sure. The wife? Well she got tired of staying home sick, so she got well and moved on, and well, that's not a bad thing for either one of us I suppose. I've been cooking up a storm professionally as of late, both in the kitchen and in the press, actually got a full page article printed a few months back that is kinda flattering if do say so myself. At the moment, I am gainfully unemployed again, and as much as I miss the check, I do not miss the stress of running one of the largest kitchens on the Gulf Coast!

My views? Well, they change all the time, I actually voted for Obama this time around, but mostly because of the lack of alternatives! I am, and always will remain an individual, neither left on all, nor right as well. The one thing that hasn't changed is my sense of responsibility to my own mind. (was that code for "I'm a self centered bastard?", hmmm...I digress..) Anyway, I've time on my hands again and a good read on life today, so here I am again to put my nose where it does and doesn't belong, hopefully with a wit you will enjoy. That's all for now I guess, other than to say, I really don't miss my wife, but Damn I miss that dog.

Henny Penny Was Right!!! (or was he Left?)

2008-12-30T21:31:00.005-05:00

Caroline, Israel, Bush, Hamas and Blagoya-whateverthe_f, now this is a NewsCycle!! To coin a phrase, "you know?". Actually Ms. Kennedy, no I don't know, otherwise why would I be listening to your skilled oratories? I can see this crew driving us over the edge on January 19, in comes Saint Obama...a day late and a scheckel short.

I have been wondering why I post on ReviewPoint more than here lately, maybe its because when I cue up a really bad new CD, I know what it is I am listening too?! CNN says "all out WAR", as if they get to decide? Nice story on the "Aid" boat bound for Gaza...(hmmm, looks like a War Zone, walks like a War Zone, sounds like a War Zone....must be a Duck?) Puhlease!

Why is it we have this desire to validate The Eagles' Dirty Laundry, over and over, " she can tell 'bout the plane crash, with a gleam in her eye". I can only imagine what the West Texas Wonder is thinking now, 'hey Daddy! Watch this! (oops, was that Iran?..hmmm...missed, oh well) So this guy Blagoyapuke does the deed, announces a Black to replace a Black, Congress says "foul Play" because he refused to take his toys and go home, meanwhile another oppressed hero is born and we don't even know who he is before the cannons of Sainthood are adorned, brilliant move for a Polish guy in the land of Micks, ( I can say that, I am a real life mick myself, so get off my ass about being correct!!..lol)

In walks little Miss Sonshine from New York, wait I thought these guys were from Maine, well actually Daddy Warbucks made his "liquid assets" out of Canada, but I digress. The only real problem I have with Caroline Kennedy actually, is that after years of artful dodging...why the F now? As if this is the Golden Age of Media, seriously? "Excuse me gentlemen and Ladies, but I really want to play in the Big Sandbox, you promise you won't watch?" Now there's a stellar performance in judgment. Listen folks, Camelot burned a long time ago, and there is no pulling of a Sword in the foreseeable future, unless you count the sword in the Suicide King's hand as Little George plunges it in deep just before the 20th...

"The End Is Near"

Can someone please speed things along? (No, Israel, not you...Oi Vay!, kids!!)

Will Hillary & Jim Jones Open The "Gates" of Hell?

2008-11-30T13:14:00.003-05:00

"There's a lot of people in Washington that feel relieved. These are known quantities, they've been around for a while," said CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider on CNN's "Late Edition Sunday." "And there's criticism. Some on the left say, 'Wait a minute -- we voted for change.'"

Is it risky business coming to 1600 PA. Ave soon? Mr. Obama set a major foundation of his candidacy on getting out of Iraq on a fast track, and timely basis, so what's up with this Triumverate of past Hawks waltzing in on the upcoming Ignauguration Balls? I mean, granted, HIll' knows Balls, but seriously, is this such a good sign to be sending out this early in the game yet pending?

I watched as Gates was floated out to retain his post, I thought to myself, " OK, continuity helps ...", and when Ms. Clinton softly landed as the impending Secretary of State, I mused "hmmm , well she does know a thing or two about the world, and Uncle Bill does retain a few key connections out there ...". Now we seem to complete this "Trifecta" with Maj. General Jim Jones, an outstanding Vet, to be sure, but lest we forget his ties to McCain?

"General Jim Jones effectively killed the possibility of an Obama/Jones ticket by appearing with John McCain at an energy related event during the recent Presidential campaign."

It seems to me, that we are dancing perilously close to the edge of the famous "Cliff of Lemmings" here, with Obama as a seeming Pied Piper in the lead!

Don't get me wrong, I like the man, I voted for the ticket, my first Democratic cast in my narrow 48 years, but I did so with a few memories of someone saying this war will end soon.

"Immediately begin withdrawing our troops engaged in combat operations at a pace of one or two brigades every month, to be completed by the end of next year"

I'm not geting that warm and fuzzy feeling anymore...
An awful lot remains to be seen in the coming weeks, of course, but I am for one, aman who shall be watching very, very closely.

Ho, Ho , HO! Happy Rehab America!!!

2008-11-24T11:13:00.013-05:00

Ok, so here I sit, unemployed now, car re-possessed, bank account closed, and fresh out of rehab. How is the World treating you these days? Just peachy here (that's one step short of ducky').

Secretary Henry Paulson...(any kin to Pat Paulson,I wonder?...I digress..)...he says I am doing just fine. Hmm...does it sound like I am on the bubble of success? I think more about where I am going to post a resume today than where my next meal comes from, thanks to a COSIG grant that supplies me an ample $25.00 per week for attending 4 intensive outpatient treatments a week, I even have a signed letter from the Psychiatrist that says I am Permanently Disabled. Oh Joy! Maybe I can cash in on the extravagant sum of $627.00 per month like my ex-wife? Happy Days indeed!
Yes indeed, all my Republican errors are now coming back to haunt me, not unlike the ghosts of Christmas' past!

I know, Bush 41 can play "Christmas Past", a joyful chap full of vim and vigor in repositioning us as the World's reigning goose egg. Spreading cheerful excess amongst lobbyist extraordinaire in generous Christmas fashion.

Bush 43, of course, is "Christmas Present", cameoed as a quaint little elf finishing Father Time's work. Spreading 41's prolific ideas of tax wealth and criminal shame...I wonder where he did his rehab?... Teasing the Country with tasty little morsels of "tax relief", while gouging the coffers in the name of "Trickle Down Economics". Trickle down, isn't that a description of the obvious result of a tot's impression after pissing his/her pants?

That brings us to "Christmas Present", surveys show "Deep Discounts", "Falling Prices", and let's not forget "Soaring Bail-outs for the Omnipotent Elite Corporations across America and the World at large. Merry fucking Christmas.

Dear Santa; Please send me a rope sometime, no, not to hang myself, although the idea has occurred, let me have a rope to tie all those selfish, altruistic, omnipotent a-holes in Washington together, and a plane as well to deliver them to N. Korea in a humanitarian aid drop. It might destroy a part of the Axis of Evil, but it might just lend a credible hint of hope for President-elect Obama's chance to lead us to some sort of recovery, kind of like "Rehab for the US", strip us of the bad, and put us on an ample budget of $25.00 per week, just like me...Congress roasting on an open fire,...

Texas Satire

2008-11-24T10:11:00.000-05:00

Ok, so at times I'm kinda like the red headed stepchild of liberals. I have taken all the online tests, and they swear I am a liberal. I consider myself an independent, and a centrist, but the tests never lie, right? So here I am on this liberal blog, talking liberal points after voting most of my life as a conservative, and I look around to see what? The Liberals are coming!!!!

Remember that freaky semi-rock song about the men in white coats coming, "They're coming to take me away, ha ha, ho ho..!",seems like it was early '70s, anyway I think they are the Liberals! I have been checking the blogosphere, and there seems to be this movement out there, sweeping the nation with bleeding hearts and carbon monoxide meters, hell, they have even been reported to accost confused individuals acquiring coffee in the morning while driving H3s in California! The very nerve of such tarts!!

Problem is, though, these sneaky little insurgents are disguising themselves as men and women from all walks of life, even as little teenage girls! I am utterly appalled at the brash tactics employed by these thugs to infiltrate the very fabric of our society! How dare they?! Is it not enough that we have to send our young to die in oil laden sands? Now we have to acknowledge it? As if to say these atrocities are our faults?

Puhlease! Everyone knows that they bombed us first! Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad?! (ahem..oops, wrong war, sorry..) Well, I think I remember hearing CNN declare them as rogue states or the Axles of Evil Knievel anyway. (What a waste of a perfectly good canyon!) And who the hell is this obvious immigrant guy Moulitsas? He sounds a bit too Greek for me if you know what I mean! (Wink, wink) And we all know what position the Greeks prefer!

And when the hell did my home state of Texas become so all fallutin' Republican? The last time I checked, Texas was full of little guys in little Towns, living little lives, hell just listen to the country hit "Little Bitty", and it’ll tell ya! I'm pretty sure The Liberals had something to do with this as well...(stroking my absent beard furtively, and wondering where the hell I was going with the Texas thing...Oh Yeah!)

If my Grand Daddy knew that his beloved brethren had gotten all carpet bagged up and sidled up to a bunch of damn Yankees who claim Texas lineage, as if to imply Texas Heritage was unimportant in that lie! How the hell did Natalie Maines get ostracized for disclaiming Bush as a Texan anyway? He ain't, and that's that! I am damn sick and tired of Texas taking the blame! So here is a born again Liberal's view upon modern history.

Kennedy was killed by a Louisianan drifter hired by someone with three initials that don't mean Texas. LBJ is a freeway in Dallas. Nixon only dreamed of having Texas roots. Ann Richards was, and is the first lady. The whole damned Bush clan started, and as far as I can see will end, well north of the Beltway, and have absolutely no claim to the Alamo, Goliad, Border Patrol, The Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, or anything south of Okla-fucking-homa.

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To God or not to God; A Liberal Interpretation

2008-11-21T16:38:00.000-05:00

So Doc Collins beat me to the punch with his quote, mine would only be slightly different...

"I am a scientist and a believer, and I find no conflict between those world views."

Mine would read "I am a liberal and a believer, and I find an acceptable conflict between those worlds."

It is no secret that I have a belief in Christianity, nor is any secret that I have sinned many times, I voted for George as Governor and President, Jeb for Governor, and yes even for Poor George the 1st as president way back when, but hey, God forgives...can you?

I found it fascinating to listen to Francis Collins, mapper of the Human Genome as he talked about his faith and his work.

"As the director of the Human Genome Project, I have led a consortium of scientists to read out the 3.1 billion letters of the human genome, our own DNA instruction book. As a believer, I see DNA, the information molecule of all living things, as God's language, and the elegance and complexity of our own bodies and the rest of nature as a reflection of God's plan."

Dr. Collins went on to juxtaposition his theolgical views with his "logical" views in a way that is rarely seen by men of great scientific wisdom, let alone we lowly liberalites. Make no mistake, I am not here to make converts or save souls, rather I am speaking about expanding one's inner liberal mind, if you will, to accept that "organized religion" and a "religious belief" have very, very little to do with each other.

Make no bones about it, the single worst blow for Islaam was Osama bin Laden, and the single worst blow for Christianity has been George W. Bush.

George the Extreme. George the drug addict. George the alcoholic. George the party man frat boy. George the arrogant. George the fool. And on the 40th year he arose from the blind and was born again. And he ascended unto the right hand of Dad, and did happily send young men to their deaths in foriegn heathenistic lands, and Dad saw and it was good.

A particularly interesting view from Collins' statement was

"Actually, I find no conflict here, and neither apparently do the 40 percent of working scientists who claim to be believers. Yes, evolution by descent from a common ancestor is clearly true. If there was any lingering doubt about the evidence from the fossil record, the study of DNA provides the strongest possible proof of our relatedness to all other living things.

But why couldn't this be God's plan for creation? True, this is incompatible with an ultra-literal interpretation of Genesis, but long before Darwin, there were many thoughtful interpreters like St. Augustine, who found it impossible to be exactly sure what the meaning of that amazing creation story was supposed to be. So attaching oneself to such literal interpretations in the face of compelling scientific evidence pointing to the ancient age of Earth and the relatedness of living things by evolution seems neither wise nor necessary for the believer."

Now I know that am block quoting an awful lot here, but I feel it is the only way that a few of my more staunch atheist amigos here will actually get to read this statement from a brilliant, "should be atheist", scientist. It is an excellent use of 2 minutes, so go ahead, indulge and read..but buyer be warned, there are truths ahead that may test the dogma of your atheism. I will close with a quote from G.K. Chesterstom, the British author who famously remarked

"Atheism is the most daring of all dogmas, for it is the assertion of a universal negative."

Remember...

2008-11-17T16:31:00.002-05:00

Wether Dem or Rep, Left or Right, click this title link to see what it is all about.

I'm Baaaack

2008-11-08T13:05:00.001-05:00

OK, I am back!!! This time with a vengeance, or maybe not? Start watching folks...

Weiners, Winers, and Winners

2007-03-30T20:49:00.000-04:00

Have you ever had a weiner at your feet? I mean a cuddly, warm, well bred all American Hot Dog curled around your sore bunyuns at the end of the day? Well, I have and I do.

My trademark insignia on my homepage, and my former icon here, both depict my faithful loverdog Cali as posed above. The most remarkable thing about this young girl is that at any given moment.... she could give less than two shits about our putrid handling of life, liberty, and world affairs.

Ain't it great to be canine? I mean imagine...who could care if Iran "Iraqs" the Arab World? Or better yet, who gives a shit if "Sunni Arabia" controls the interests of the "Shiite Republic of What-the-F-Ever"???

Callous as this post may seem, it occurs to me that the United States of America, should quite possibly unite at some point, and the civil wars of antiquated, deposed, subserviant, bass-ackwards, Crusade surving nations might just need to take a back seat to the actual trials and tribulations of the real world here at home.

Just a thought or two inspired by my weiner...

The Ass of Velocity (more commonly referred to as The Seat of Power)

2007-03-23T00:30:00.000-04:00

QUESTION: How do you get billions of dollars in Pork?

ANSWER: $50,000,000 at a time.

A few years ago, $50,000,000 might have turned a few heads, but with today's lottery prize amounts, it might not even pay the taxes on them. Kinda like war statistics, there was a time when the words "four dead" could inspire pop stars of the time to write songs, but now those words simply reveal a bored newscasters revelation of a two day body count of US forces. But I digress.

So, as I was perusing through H.R. 1591 on "Thomas", I know, I am really suffering from a social life, right?! No, actually it is my social life that drives to inquire beyond that which is readily given. In 1591's text are a description of all the proposed subjects and amounts of spending. Understand please, at the top of each page of 1591 read the following words "U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act, 2007 (Reported in House)", that is as of today, March 22, 2007.

What is not written at the top of 1591, or anywhere else in its volumes, are the justifications and/or reasonings to include non-U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability items in an emergency bill titled such. There have been eloquent appraisals of this discrepancy from both sides of the aisle. John Carter (R), Texas, spoke of salmon, trees, shrimp, and housing subsidies in his rant as being important, yet irrelevant to the subject.

On Wednesday the 21st, Patrick J. Murphy (D), Pa., put it best when he stood in support, yet with reservations

While I applaud the bill for providing for our troops serving bravely in the field, the bill contains $20 billion for programs and projects not related to funding and equipping our troops. Making sure that our men and women in uniform are well equipped is too important for playing politics, and I am extremely disappointed that these extraneous provisions are included in the bill.

So there it was, a three line quip about the Capitol Power Plant and $50,000,000. Now as I see it, this is the worst type of pig in the pen, the unhealthiest and fattest cut of pork, the 'salt-pork', if you will. Right there in black and white behind the one-liner that gives $165,000 to the widow of the late Rep. Charles Norwwod, (R) Ga., a part-time government employee since '95 gets an entitlement for his wife in an "emergency war bill"?!?!? But again, I digress, back to power plants. The Capitol Power Plant was built and bought for some 30 odd million early in the last century and has grown as a coal and steam power plant to provide services to the following facilities;

• CAPITOL BUILDING
• CAPITOL GROUNDS
• HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS
• SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS
• CAPITOL POWER PLANT
• SUPREME COURT BUILDING AND
GROUNDS
• LIBRARY OF CONGRESS BUILDINGS
AND GROUNDS
• BOTANIC GARDEN
• CAPITOL POLICE BUILDINGS AND
GROUNDS

An impressive clientel to be sure, and oh, did I mention the bill passed in 2004 that authorized the foriegn privatisation of this Power Plant? Hmmm, slipped my mind I guess.

Anyway, the website of the Capitol Architect boasts

Fiscal year 2003 marks the first time we are publicly reporting on our financial
position. An independent outside auditor has examined our balance sheet
and notes and has rendered an unqualified, or “clean,” opinion.
Our balance sheet reflects total assets of $1,825.5 million as of September
30, 2003. Of these assets, almost 52% are property and equipment. The bulk
of our remaining assets is our fund balance with the U.S. Treasury, which
represents unexpended appropriation balances.

And their emergency is what? Related to war how? Possibly just a good juicing up for yet another government sale to Dubai, or whomever the unmentioned foriegn interests are? And we trust who in Congress to keep the vigil? Many questions about more than three little piggies.

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Gonzo's Great Masquerade

2007-03-16T22:03:00.000-04:00

There are two absolute truths in life, I have discovered. Behind every good man is a great woman, and behind every news story is the truth, sometimes way behind.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel, (D) Ill., made a startling yet simple statement on the floor today. A statement that is probably going to fade from the forefront due to the media feeding frenzy of mainstream journalists tasting the blood of an impending doom over Attorney General "Gonzo's" expected short tenure.

"Today, as we learn more about the Attorney General's failure of leadership, many are eager to debate the future of Attorney General Gonzales and whether he will remain in office. But as we examine how these U.S. Attorneys were fired, we must not lose sight of the real story. What is happening to these ongoing public corruption investigations, from southern California to Nevada to Arizona to New Mexico?"

The plot thickens. So what about these "public corruption cases"? Where do we stand with this, and what exactly is Emanuel referring to? Well, I am so glad you asked!
Going back as far as January 19 of this year, Scott Lilly of The Center For American Progress wrote this in a piece called "Blood on the Courthouse Floor"

In an article headlined, “Bush Removal Ended Guam Investigation,” The Los Angeles times reported that “a U.S. grand jury in Guam opened an investigation of controversial lobbyist Jack Abramoff more than two years ago, but President Bush removed the supervising federal prosecutor, and the probe ended soon after.” With at least six prominent federal prosecutors recently removed from office, many of them managing large scale public corruption cases, many are wondering if history is not repeating itself.

Oh, and that brings me around to my third absolute truth, history always stutters. ( I know I said two absolute truths at the beginning of this post, but ask anyone you know, things always happen in threes.)

So what are these "stutters" actually? Well, Lilly goes on in his piece to describe the most prominent and known infractions as these...

"Among those fired were Carol Lam, the U.S. Attorney for San Diego, who last year won a conviction against Congressman Duke Cunningham (R-CA) in the biggest bribery conviction in history, and Paul Charlton of Arizona, whose office is investigating charges involving land deals and influence peddling against of Republican Congressman Rick Renzi (R-AZ).

Also stepping down is the U.S. Attorney for Nevada, Daniel Bogden, whose office last year won corruption convictions against two Clark County, Nevada Commissioners and may be looking into campaign law violations by at least one member of the state’s Congressional delegation. Next door in New Mexico, David Iglesia is being asked to leave after winning convictions in the past year of two former New Mexico State Treasurers."

Are we really still pandering to the defense on issues such as Abramoff and Cuningham? Is this administration in bed with the Mafia in Nevada? State Treasurers from one of the poorest infrastructure States in America? I for one intend to follow this story unfolding way, way far behind the hype. Possibly an even larger hype looms ahead?

I think that the esteemed Representative from Illinois puts in all in perspective when closes his statement with these most eloquent and foreboding words

"The fired U.S. Attorneys were aggressively investigating public corruption cases and they were fired ostensibly for job performance, which in this White House means you're guilty of doing your job. I don't suppose any of these U.S. Attorneys will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom award.
The question some of us want to know is where are these public corruption cases today? As Washington debates whether Alberto Gonzales, the Attorney General, survives by the weekend, some of us want to know whether we can bring back to life these public corruption investigations in these five jurisdictions."

Now that's great Snark!

Here piggie, piggie, piggie!!!!

2007-03-15T23:09:00.000-04:00

Rep. John Carter (R) of Texas, landed a stinger missle directly on target in session today. When discussing the House bill funding emergency war supplemental issues, the Honorable Mr. Carter stated with eloquence

Mr. CARTER. There is talk that the $100 billion war supplemental will include an extra $20 billion in goodies. Such projects are seemingly irrelevant to the mission our soldiers are expected to carry out. For example:

$60 million for the California and Oregon salmon fishery disaster of '06;

$400 million for timber revenue program in Oregon;

$400 million in low-income home energy assistance for State grants;

$448 million unrequested funds for State children's health insurance programs, and;

a half a billion dollars for wildfire management and suppression.

Now, these are valuable projects, but they don't belong in an emergency war supplemental. They appear to be nothing more than an attempt to buy votes at the expense of our soldiers in the war on terror. The supplemental is meant to be an emergency troop funding vehicle and there is no excuse for $20 billion worth of pork in that supplemental.

A State fishery program in an emergency war supplement? WTF? Kudos to John Carter from my great State of Texas, even if you are a Republican!!

He closed his one minute rant with a simple statement and proposition

Let this Congress respect our soldiers and deny this pork.

After The Storm

2007-01-26T20:44:00.000-05:00

What would actually happen if we got back to living our own lives? I mean, if all were still the same as far as the powers that be were concerned, but we actually got back to living our lives as participants instead of viewers? I often wonder about my time spent in pursuit of greater worldly causes, and of the time that actually denies me of in fact doing anything about "greater worldly causes"?

I'm no sage, but I have lived a couple of years, and it occurs to me that sometimes just doing our own little micro-cosmic thing can actually bloom out into a whole network of microcosms that actually achieve something.

The Hippies had it in the 60's, they spread some very definite messages about peace, individuality and pluralism, good and evil. Simply take a look at communes, free love, John Lennon, Ohio and Vietnam. The Yuppies had it in the 80's, they spread some definite inroads on capitalism, New Age and Punk, social intolerance, stocks and dot coms.

What is it then, that the 00's are going to tag as legacies? Afghanistan as a new Vietnam? Iraq as a large scale and extended version of the Watts Riots? Will GW hire the Dream Team to get him off at his impeachment trial, will Billy Graham sing out from the Pulpit " I have sinned!"?

Me? I plan to go out with the wife tonight, tip back a few, chat with some folks and enjoy the weekend, and when it all comes to bear, I will speak my mind. That is what I do, speak my mind, because it is my simple way of invoking thought. I hope to invoke a few thoughts this week on the failed War, the failed Presidency, the fallacy of the representation of the people, by the people.

I know my place, I am not part of the Deciders, yet I plan to talk and influence my little microcosm of deciders into how things will unfold in 2008. It is never to early, the time is now to set the stage, what will you do between now and a very fateful November? Have you thought about it?

4400, and counting...

2007-01-19T07:36:00.000-05:00

That is the number of signatures already collected on the United Methodist Church based petition to stop the Bush Library from landing at Southern Methodist University. Signed by Bishops, Ministers, Catholics, Atheists, and more, this petition is a clear message of disenchantment. Go take a look, read and sign if you like, but recognize the sentiment at least.

THE PETITION

We the undersigned express our objection to the prospect of the George W. Bush library, museum, and think tank being established at Southern Methodist University. As United Methodists, we believe that the linking of his presidency with a university bearing the Methodist name is utterly inappropriate. We urge the Board of Trustees of Southern Methodist University and the South Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church to reject this project.

Oi Vay! It's No Longer Cool To Be Country?

2007-01-11T18:16:00.000-05:00

Oh my God! The sky is falling!
Would you give me a freakin' break? Jimmy Carter is a man of principle who speaks his mind. Always has, probably always will. He has spent a lifetime being a conciliatory force between warring factions, so now when he takes a politically incorrect, yet somewhat intelligent stand on the modern Israeli/Arab conflict, now suddenly all those Jewish brethren who were happy to tag the Carter Center in their volunteer resumes for untold profitable benefit, now they find the man's politics untenable? CNN spins this as a mass exodus of staunch Carter follwers

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Former President Jimmy Carter's controversial book and subsequent remarks about the Israel-Palestinian conflict have prompted the resignations of 14 people from an advisory board of the Carter Center, the 25-year-old Atlanta-based humanitarian organization.

Come on!! Read the names for Pete's sakes! Abrams, Berman, Coles, Golden, Hertz, Kaufman, Levetan, Levy, Novak,Schwartz , Selig, Steinberg, Solomon, this could be the invite list to Hllywood premere, or a ritzy Bah Mitzvah! And this is shocking news to CNN? So what are they saying here, that the Jewish community needs no habitat houses? That the followers of Abraham have no interest in South America or the Carribean? That possibly the prior "world serving politics" of President Carter are not in the best interest of Jerusalem, or any interest at that? Well I for one say that my fellow sons of Abraham, Issac and Ismail (we all do not far too far from the same tree folks) can plainly pack up there toys and promptly go away, but just remember this folks...When it came to a message to be sent, it was definately a race card played. For shame.

State Of The Confusion

2007-01-10T00:30:00.000-05:00

an advance peek at the President's speech tonight...

My fellow Amuricans, I have met with my advisers, sponsors, advertisers, stock brokers, and co-conspiritors, and I stand before you tonight to inform you that The State Of The Confusion is good! Sadamma bin Laden is dead, hanged by the neck in front of a 5 share TV audience of his peerless foes, and rebroadcast to the masses by my good friends at CNN. Wicked Witch of the West, Pelosi, has been seen stirring her magic cauldron of sin, and my good friend Rev. Fellwell is in the midst of destroying the Yellow Brick Road in precaution as we speak. Vice President Haliburton has orders to bomb the DNC at a moment's notice, and I have just renamed Somalia as New Kansas.(Sorry Toto, we lost the old one...) Last, but not least, the evildoer of doom, Sir Kennedy of the Round Table, was seen dining at the lair of the insidious Osama Barrack, and has been stripped of his driver's license in retribution.
I have moved from my stance of the last address given, referring to an "Axis of Evil", to a more poignant position that says we are not simply faced by a triad of evil nations verses the World, but rather that we, Amurica, have joined my very good buddy Tony B. and England, in forming a new more powerful, faster than lightning, able to leap tall United Nation buildings in a single vote, Bilateral menage Au dux, to be forthwith known as the "New, New World Order Force"...or more lovingly referred to as "Neocon Nitwits With Oral Fixations". Welcome to my nightmare." hmmm...now where did I lay my binky?...

The State Of The Confusion, now that's a moniker I could live with more easily each January I believe. Each year it seems that Boy George crawls out from the bowls of his McRanch and bellows fodder even more fowl than on the previous year, until now when so much manure has been shoveled, that all that is left is Confusion, no longer any glimpse of a Union.

How much longer will we continue to tolerate this divisive Boy King and his madness? 20,000 more troops into a civil war without end? Support for a Prime Minister who picks and chooses the support he himself adds to the cause? A man who cannot listen to even his own party as they break ranks and cross lines in support of legislation borne by Democrats?

Boy Blunder proposes a "surge" of troops against the rising tide in Iraq. Equivalent likely, to the surge that is left in Ol' Joe's love machine after a 12 rounder with the Prom Queen's twin sister while watching CSPAN coverage of Clarence's confirmation hearings! The kind of "surge" that left us in a "police action in two former "non wars". The kind of surge that gets young men and women killed and exposes soon to come greater and even far more impotent "surges" in the future.

Here's a good one, the president "understands there is a lot of public anxiety" about the war, ya think? I mean with all that death and dismemberment stuff, you'd think the masses would be begging for more?! Hey, we could even get Simon Cowell to moderate, you know kinda like reality TV style, oops er wait, this is reality huh? The president "understands there is a lot of public anxiety", so should we say Xanax for everyone? Prosac? What ever happened to plain old peace talks? Now there's a shocker, problem is, we just let them hang the one to talk to, unless you really believe Maliki is in charge...hmmm...who would we talk peace with? Muhammad?Allah? The Iranians? Haliburton perhaps? Yes folks, there is no time for Kansas here, The State Of The Confusion is good.

A Return To Civility?

2007-01-05T12:04:00.000-05:00

I pondered for a moment just now, on wether or not to place a question mark at the end of my story's title or not. Is there a freudian inference there? Probably, but far be it from me to have the inteligence to figure it out, I just liked the look of a question mark there. See how that works? No need for a call to the Left to support my subersive questioning stance, nor any cause to rabble the Right by mocking my abscence of a period, even at the end of this very sentence (nice touch, huh)? Just a simple statement presented as a question because I happen to like the curvy little fellow.

As of this week, the Questions are in control for now, and the Periods are, well, shall we say,having a period of regret. Yet the band plays on, as do we all here. "Friday, January 5th, 2007, and that's the way it is." (God I miss Walter..) So for now the Walter Wannabees are the voice of the land, the spinners of yarn, and the tellers of tales here and abroad, taunting the Periods with Questions, some Questions more bold than others, and others just plain foolish! Enter the Exclamation Points, a rather pompous version of the Periods, known for their outlandish and unyeilding remarks...a Period that has been shafted, if you will. Exclamation Points have a great tendancy to not only offer a single sided view, but speak with absolute authority!

Watch this for example;
The Period says "The man had to die."
Question replies "Oh really? Did he now? And prey tell, who told you that?"
Exclamation joins the fray and declares on Period's behalf "And God so loved the earth, he gave his only begotten son!!!"
Mixed Metaphor enters stage right "I thought we were talking about Saddam? What the hell is going on here?!?" (note the cunning use of both ponderance and authority simultaneously?)

Here is the idea when applied to current political news;
The Questionable authority in the House was forced to step aside today, and hand over the gabble of greatness to Pelosi? "Wow, never saw that coming last June." stated a somewhat subdued Period. When asked to comment on the day's events, Exclamation Point replied with impuned authority "This is not only an outrage, it is against God's will!" A somewhat Mixed Metaphor was seen later talking with George Will, and asking him why the outrage was against him!?

When used to explain how Government works, it can go like this;
It was announced today that the Nuclear Agency Head was asked to resign today by the Bush adminstration. (Period)

What? The man with 40 years of experience in national security and nuclear nonproliferation issues? He led the negotiating team that worked on the START arms reduction treaty signed with Russia in 1991, didn't he? The guy who was widely respected for his knowledge of nuclear weapons and nonproliferation issues, and has been a target of some members of Congress? (Question)

"His departure is long overdue!" Barton, R-Texas, said Thursday, and besides, with Democrats now in charge of the House and Senate, there has been talk of hearings into the administration's response to security breaches at the labs! (Exclamation Point)

If the guy was put in charge of the henhouse with a stellar record of experince in nonproliferation negotiations and policies, was he really expected to be the "buck stops here" guy in a question of security? Hmmm wonder what that boss of his, er...Sam Bodman, yeah, wasn't he in charge when the first round of really bad security breaches happened? What the f@4??!??!!! (yep, the Mixed up Metaphor Guy)

Well, back to my original musing, why did I use a curvy dude, instead of a dot or worse, a dot that's been shafted?!....hmmm Oh yes, lest I forget. The Immortal and Timeless Guru of Network News From All Time, yes Charles Gibson the Gifted, predicted during his ramblings at President Ford's funeral that we were poised for a "return to civility" in not only American Politics, but also in American life in general. It must be so, because his copy editor said so, right after he talked with that jovial laughing fellow, er...Yeah!, Mr Mixed Metaphor, that was the guy, man he sure did laugh alot....oh well.

The Best Judges Money Can Buy.

2007-01-02T01:00:00.000-05:00

Sounds kinda like a line from a bad gangster movie. Chief Justice Roberts is warning that "Pay for federal judges is so inadequate that it threatens to undermine the judiciary's independence."

"Inadequate compensation directly threatens the viability of life tenure, and if tenure in office is made uncertain, the strength and independence judges need to uphold the rule of law -- even when it is unpopular to do so -- will be seriously eroded," Roberts wrote.

According to records, Federal district court judges are paid $165,200 annually; appeals court judges make $175,100; associate justices of the Supreme Court earn $203,000; the chief justice gets $212,100. Now don't get me wrong, I believe in getting a fair shake for your bucks, but when compared to private practice, these salaries are shameful! The Republicans blocke Dem efforts to address this, and for what reason other than to undermine the courts "superiority", so to speak?

Legislation languished in Congress in 2006 that would have provided a 16 percent increase in federal judges' salaries. The bill was introduced by Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California, Patrick Leahy of Vermont and John Kerry of Massachusetts.

OK, so I am usually for the litle guy, keep it simple, play it down etc.,...BUT, this is our freakin' Constitution we're talking about here, I want some people who make at least as much as your Jr. College ambulance chasers on my side!

A Question Of Ethics

2006-12-28T23:13:00.000-05:00

A question of ethics it seems, D.A., Bloggers, and Media alike.

I feel a certain priveledge, and yes a bit of a rush to have this wonderful podium from which to shout and wave my sword at windmills, indeed I think we all do. Bloggers are a wonderful lot in that they have helped point out injustice, expose the frauds, champion the defenseless, and yes hang the accused in the web, sometimes even before the truth is exposed?

Who then will police this 'police state of writers', this web of spin artists, even this group of self servers? I remember, even right here on this very site, the outrage spun out of control last spring when those "hooligans and thugs" of Duke stood exposed, accused, and all but convicted of rape, sodomy, and cold blooded womanizing! How dare these imputent sons of the rich defile such a virtuous Black Woman in her prime! Even good friends and colleagues of mine, right here, had vile and dispariging comments for these 'guilty' young men.

The bar cited 41 quotations and eight paraphrased statements made to newspaper and TV reporters, saying many of them amounted to "improper commentary about the character, credibility and reputation of the accused" or their alleged unwillingness to cooperate. Most of the comments were in March and April.
Among them:
_ Nifong referred to the lacrosse players as "a bunch of hooligans."
_ He declared: "I am convinced there was a rape, yes, sir."
_ He told ESPN: "One would wonder why one needs an attorney if one was not charged and had not done anything wrong."
_ He told The New York Times: "I'm disappointed that no one has been enough of a man to come forward. And if they would have spoken up at the time, this may never have happened."
Nifong was also charged with breaking a rule against "dishonesty, fraud, deceit and misrepresentation." The bar said that when DNA testing failed to find any evidence a lacrosse player raped the accuser, Nifong told a reporter the players might have used a condom.
According to the bar, Nifong knew that assertion was misleading, because he had received a report from an emergency room nurse in which the accuser said her attackers did not use a condom.

D.A. Nifong himself withdrew rape charges last week after nearly a year of statements that all but had these young men doing time in Attica, and where were the "bloggers" then? As of Thursday evening the North Carolina Bar Association has filed charges against Nifong, the D.A. who brought the case against these young men for violating 4 seperate rules in his zeal to manipulate the media and blogsites into anointing him in his next political conquest of political adventure, and we sit on our hands and say nothing to defend or deny our previous posts?

I, as always, strive to use my "pulpit" with revere and responsibility, I do not condemn my colleagues for their zest in rushing to the hot story last spring, merely I call to them to condemn, amend, or append their earlier stance.

The silence is deafening.

A Word From The Grave

2006-12-28T12:20:00.000-05:00

And so it goes that the truth speaks loud from the grave. How many of you who supported the late President Ford upon hearing of his death will still rise to his side at the news of his disdain and contempt at Bush's War? Will the Woodward interview be seen as a strong message from a great man, or more as a weak commentary from a dead guy? Rock on Gerry, you are the man again today!

"Rumsfeld and Cheney and the president made a big mistake in justifying going into the war in Iraq. They put the emphasis on weapons of mass destruction," Ford said. "And now, I've never publicly said I thought they made a mistake, but I felt very strongly it was an error in how they should justify what they were going to do."

Gerald Ford, Embargoed Interview, Woodward, Iraq War, Bush, Criticism of War, Voice From The Grave

Groanin' The Blues

2006-12-28T00:48:00.000-05:00

"Lord, I'm so tired of moanin', tryin' to groan away my blues...everytime I think of you", Eric Clapton put it best, "I would rather die of starvation, everytime in the desert sun.."

Saddam Hussein held out the last laugh on GW's "geehawd" with his farewell letter to the Iraqis, calling for mercy on 'Poor George's misguided soul’, I can't help but wonder how the Bush aristocracy will respond to the very words of Hussein, exonerating the 'Boy King' himself when Saddam the condemned one said,

"I call on you not to hate, because hate does not leave space for a person to be fair, and it makes you blind and closes all doors of thinking," the letter said.

Perhaps the greatest parry came when 'Saddama bin Laden', er, I meant Saddam Hussein said these piercing words meant as a single strike to 'God's Own Chosen One',

"I say goodbye to you, but I will be with the merciful God who helps those who take refuge in him and who will never disappoint any honest believer."

Wow, strong stuff from a radical "evil-doer". It will always be an enigma for myself and others when history looks back at these times and shakes a sad head at the incredible miscarriage of justice held out by this farce of a regime. But for circumstance, any "greater power" might have criminal war crimes to pass judgement on GWB, Condi, Rummy...depends on a viewpoint and where Johnny Cochran stands at the moment I suppose, just ask O.J., yet I can't help but wonder further, would 'King George' be disposed with such style and grace? We will probably never know, alas. It is not my intent to absolve Saddam of any crimes, only to point out with obvious and unanimous clarity that such crimes were never the point with "Boy George', his only service was to lend a hand to Daddy's failed adventures.

As said by Earth, Wind, and Fire, "That's the way of the world"

Hussein was captured while hiding in a hole in the ground near his home village north of Baghdad in December 2003, eight months after he fled the capital ahead of advancing American troops.

I might offer a bit of advice for future tyrants on the lamb in the future... run rabbit run, and Georgie...tread lightly in your senior years, young man that you are...the future holds an awful lot of time for the world to study, read, learn, and judge your actions as "Dear Leader". Perhaps Kim Il Jong can offer a few points...perhaps not.

Wings or Horns?

2006-12-26T12:13:00.000-05:00

Would ya look at the head on that housecat? Even in a random file picture, his horns are becoming ever more obvious!

Hitler and Religion

2006-08-25T21:29:00.000-04:00

Crossposted as "Feature" at "Bring It ON!"

Sometimes you just have to listen to your colleagues, sit back a moment, and then quietly respond. Thankfully my scheduled feature falls here on this Saturday, so as not to create too big a storm? Oh, what the hell, f' em!

The true beauty of this blog we call "BIO" here, is that it truly leaves us room to be whomever we are. Yes, we lean left in general, but what the hell, they let me sneak in! I was reading two posts today that struck a chord with me, Bush is Hitler, Republicans Are Nazis by Tom Baker, and Atheist by jerseymcjones

Now, in and of themselves, Tom and Jersey have very valid premises for their respective points of view, and judging by the number of comments received on both posts, they definitely hit home with some readers here in number. I simply beg to differ a little, and offer a slightly different perspective for our shared readers? That is the meat and potatoes of what I love about "BIO", variety and a chance for true discussion of the day's points.

For those newer readers who really want to follow along, refer to a couple of my older posts to discover who I am, and for our more crusty hard core following, well, refresh your memories. I have posts on Hitler, Religion, Political Persuasion, and General Nonsense to peruse.

In Tom's post, he speaks of alienating the perspective Republican vote converts with such language as Nazi's and Bush/Hitler referrals. While I can see his point of view, appreciate his sensitivity to the somewhat logically challenged brethren of the fold from which I originated, I dare say...Bull Shit! That, for those who may be lacking in interpretative skills, is Texan for the English equivalent of "Poppycock", or more literally translated as let the bastards roast in hell and get a life of their own!

I will not, nor have not, coddle some putrid, smug, silver spoons into thinking that GWB et al are anything less than they are; fascist, proven wartime Nazi supporters (see George Herbert Walker's 1930's and 1940's banking CEO record**try Wikipedia "how WW2 was financed", or "how the Bush Fortune came about"**) I for one was, how do we put this delicately? Woke the fuck up?! Simply by opening my eyes to the truth, as ugly as it was, I am a former fascist supporter, and it is that clarity of former fate that drives me forward to new good. While some of my former cell mates might find a repugnance in those references, I for one will never forget the shame, nor will I let any other so called "Born Again American" do so in my presence. We screwed up as young Republicans, we own our shame, and we stand up and fight for a difference. Plain and simple. Thanks for the absolution Tom, but it is ill-deserved, and un-earned.

Moving on to an "Atheist's" statement.

Jersey, Dude, love ya man, but I gotta say a few things for my own peace..ok brother? I grew up the son of a Preacher, and if you did as instructed folks, and read the pre-requisites listed above, you would know that my Father is also Gay. Paradox, eh? There's the beauty, let one man's organized religion be another's organized crime. I do not believe that I will go to "hell" if I do not go to church. I am not really sure if any church deserves acknowledgement. What I do believe is that to frivolously think that "It all ends in a slow ride in the back of a hearse" (Brooks and Dunn), is just a little too simple for me.

I think that all of those who abhor "Organized Religion" should unite and attack! Burn, pillage, ransack! But I will go on record as a former fascist, a believer in men., a scientifically educated person, that to attack "religion" with lines such as "Religion makes us unhappy with who we are." might be just a bit too narrow in focus. Perhaps a better stated thought would have been "Catholicism and organized religious beliefs make us unhappy with who we are"? I don't know for sure, but in simple terms, it is still all an interpretive set of thoughts meant to help one another cope, and it still beats Prozac.

Technorati Tags:
Hitler, Religion, Elections, Atheists, Moral Majority, Bush, Nazi, Politics

Simply A Matter Of Convenience

2006-08-14T02:22:00.000-04:00

Cross Posted at Bring It On!

OK, so I will say it here in my feature, loud and proud, no mincing words today. How convenient is this recent rash of "Terroristic Almost Strikes" and the US response in terms of Republican and Democrat benefit? Yes Virginia, I am eluding to a conspiracy, they happen all the time on today's International and political fronts, so why not this one? All I simply want to do is raise the reader consciousness on this a level or two. Let's review, shall we?

1.0 Israel grows nuts and invades Lebanon in clear violation of all UN and above table US restrictions.
2.0 Bush, Condy et al refuse to admonish the Israelis for a blatant violation of protocol.
3.0 Israel offers a lame story whereas Hamas supposedly tunnels the length of the Brooklyn Bridge in order to kidnap a lowly, yes lonely, Israeli soldier? This tunnel dug in a sandy almost impossibly unstable geological region for tunnels?
4.0 The Neocons exclaim holy war on those who would assault them (sound eerily familiar to those now known as "Islamic Fascists"? (just asking)
5.o Enter Britain in support, a terrorist plot previously "unknown" is discovered and Great Britain rises to the occasion with CIA support and foils said plot, and THEN....travel restrictions and inconveniences are put in place. Please make note that prior to the arrest of 29 and a major News release in support of, NO TRAVEL ISSUES were effected, yet we "knew about this for some time, and were in an ongoing investigation."?
4.9 Oh, and skip back to a second before said foiled terror strikes, to the defeat of "Republican Lite" Joe Lieberman, based primarily on the Lamont's campaign against Uncle Joe's bed manners with the Neocons and the warmongers of the Bush regime.
5.1 Enter stage left, Chertoff and his evil mignon Alberto "what's his name", and a series of lame explanations, condemnations, if not excuses for the recent set of events involving US Intelligence, ugh! (what an oxymoron!)

OK kiddies, did you know for example that "Homeland Security" has an arm called the Science and Technology Directorate, that is responsible for such things as the needed technology to detect bombs like those supposed liquid bombs that threatened the US and British passengers? And did you know that Bush wanted the anti-bomb funds, given to this Directorate, removed???!!!

The Bush administration, even as these alleged terror plots involving liquid bombs were being hatched, unsuccessfully, thanks to a bi-partisan fart of sanity, tried to literally steal 6 million dollars away from the S&T arm of "Homeland Security". Rep. Martin Sabo, D-Minn, was one of those who joined with Republicans to block the administrations recent attempted diversion of explosives detection money. He is on record as having said research and development is crucial to thwarting future attacks and that a bi-partisan fellowship agree Homeland Security has fallen short. Ya think?

Maybe Boy George don't need no stinking' research and development? Maybe Boy George gets his intelligence from a "higher source"?

Oh, and did I say that Japan gave us the technology as well as working liquid bomb detection devices that they have already deployed in their own airports? I mean, I for one, wholly understand, that given the barbaric and technologically backwards state of this rogue nation Japan, we should certainly allocate tons of money to research and substantiate the inner workings of any device provided by them to us, after all, it could be a Samurai plot of revenge! Puhleeease!!

Why is it that because they said it is so, we absolutely believe? Why is it, that because there are three initials, pick three!, in front of a report, that we act as lemmings and head to the cliff? Where is it written that because CNN reported it from the "insert name here" administration, it just has to be fact?!?!? Does anyone not follow the breadcrumbs anymore? Because to tell you the truth, I have been looking at a bunch of bread crumbs lately, and the only thing I can state for sure is that they are definitely unleavened. (if that just went over your head, than I have just wasted both of our's time)

So I asked the question up top, don't you think that all of this, just before the midterm elections in the most powerful nation (richest) in the world, is all but just a little too convenient to bring war, terror, death, doom and despair back into the voter's minds? Are we really ready to continue being hearded over the cliff like so many rodents? I for one think it is high time we turn our collective political thoughts inward, inward to what it is that will help us survive and recover from the nightmare of the last 45 years.

They killed Kennedy you know, is anyone ever going to notice?

Technorati Tags:
Hamas, Israel, Conspiracy, Bush, Blair, CIA, FBI, Homeland Security, Sciences and Technologies Directorate, Mid Term Elections, Lieberman, Lamont, Kennedy

Boris And Priest Maxi

2006-08-12T21:48:00.000-04:00

Boris Karloff is seen here defending South Park's Priest Maxi in a news conference called to defend the Priest's involvement in the recent charade of terrorist hoaxes staged in order to boost Republican sentiments in the up-coming mid term elections.

Both Boris and Maxi deny having any influence in the timing, or related handling of the England to US air flights' alleged terrorist plots, though both did comment that Bush and Blair always fly in private jets, out of touch with, and away from the realities of travel that the rest of the free world faces today.

The press conference was called when Attorney General Priest Maxi made this statement in defense of President Bush's recent decision to support Israel in destroying the Middle East in its entirety.

"God needs complex irony, and subtle farcical twists that seem macabre to you and me. All that we can hope for is that God got his good laugh, and a tragedy such as this will never happen again."

Technorati Tags:
Bush, Blair, Chertoff, Gonzalez, Priest Maxi, Boris Karloff, Terrorist Plots, Airline Travel Woes