And Then Came Baby, Quietly

Now I understand why Nicole Kidman chose to adopt children while married to Tom Cruise, as opposed to giving birth to any child of his. It's no secret that Cruise is a Scientologist, so I'm not telling you anything new, and that Scientology promotes what is called a 'silent birth', where the woman is encouraged to give birth silently...no talking, no moaning, no screaming. Silence is also expected from anyone in the vicinity of the birthing mother and newborn child (the husband, doctor, and nurses). The belief is that the mother and child would be traumatized by any spoken words or sounds durning the birth experience.

Cruise has been prepping a very pregnant Katie Holmes for the upcoming 'silent birth'. I hope that he holds her hand every step of the way, with words of encouragement; at the same time pulling his scrotum up over his head while squeezing a bowling ball out of his ass in between her contractions, silently. Shhh! Quiet Tom! Hey! Don't you dare! Calm...shhhh. I've given birth sans drugs so I have confidence that Tom can do this. Piece of cake!

Silent birth, clearly thought up by someone who's never actually had to give birth. Why does L. Ron Hubbard want women punished for doing the most natural thing her body was designed to do?




The Sun Online Tabloid

Urgent - A Good Cause!

Dear Friends,

I have just read and signed the petition: "End Global Poverty - Empower
Women of the World"

Please take a moment to read about this important issue, and join me in
signing the petition. It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a
difference. We are trying to reach 15,000 signatures - please sign here:

www.thepetitionsite.com

Once you have signed, you can help even more by asking your friends and
family to sign as well.

Thank you!

Melanie
**Their target date for 15,000 signatures is tomorrow, March 31st!

Bush Gone Wild: Cancun 2006

It's spring break dude and, like, our eternal frat boy is, like, ready to totally hit the ultimate vacation hot spot, sans Speedo. How totally awesome is it that his 'meeting' with Mexican President Vicinte Fox just happens to be during spring break in Cancun of all places? That rules! He was positively jovial and perky at a press conference that commenced prior to take off, destination: party town, bro!

Bush spoke for an hour and 29 minutes before the Freedom House, an organization dedicated to the spread of freedom around the world. He was full of wisecracks.

He hasn't been this excited in quite sometime. He was quick with the quips, yukkin' it up...hurling the zingers! Who's your daddy?! What could he be looking forward too that would make him so freakin' happy? Does he anticipate seeing some boobies? Wet t-shirt contests or maybe some girl-on-girl action? Perhaps. That does make most men giddy. Sometimes they're such simple creatures. I'm telling you...the guy never left the frat house. Nothing makes him happier than a whiff of spring break. I wonder if he'll come home with a pierced tongue and a tattoo that simply states "I heart Turd Blossom"? Good times...gooood times.
Bush Gone Wild 2006

The Eye of the Beholder

One man's trash is another man's seductive sculpture, or something. This should go straight into the 'Great Big Book of What the Fuck?'. A life size sculpture of Britney Spears giving birth, naked on a bear skin rug was created by Daniel Edwards and will be on display in Brooklyn's Capla Kesting Fine Art gallery. The name of the piece is "Monument to Pro-Life: The Birth of Sean Preston"... frankly, I couldn't care less if it is a monument to pro-life or pro-choice, I think the whole thing is just plain creepy as all get out. I've posted the link below that shows a front and side view of the sculpture. Mercifully, that was all; I've no desire to see what this thing looks like from the rear.

I see many flaws with his sculpture, however. First, Britney Spears had a C-section, so my guess is it wasn't done while on her hands and knees. Call it a hunch. Second, Spears is into animal rights, so I doubt giving birth on a bear skin rug is something that would appeal to her. But then again, Kevin Federline is her husband, so there's no accounting for taste.

Thirdly, Edwards claims that the sculpture is not meant to be political. With a name like "Monument to Pro-Life" I can see why people were confused. My personal opinion is, who gives a shit what it's supposed to say. It screams 'creepy', in big, bold, capital letters!

Spears Immortalized in Stone

When History Repeats Itself

Every once in a while, we need reminding of what makes this country so great. Enjoy the following quotes from some historical men. Men that, the likes of Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, and Ann Coulter, would consider treasonous.

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty nor security."
-Benjamin Franklin

"When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny." -Thomas Jefferson

"The people are the rightful master of both congresses and the courts. Not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it." -Abraham Lincoln

"There are more instances of the abridgement of freedoms of the people by gradual and silent encroachment of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations."
-James Madison

"The means of Defense against Foreign Danger have become the Instruments of Tyranny at Home."
-James Madison

"I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually." -James Baldwin

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke

"We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home." - Edward R. Murrow

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President or that we are to stand by the President right or wrong is not only unpatriotic and servile..." -Theodore Roosevelt

"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President or any other public official..." -Theodore Roosevelt

The next time you hear Sean Hannity pontificate and spew something like, “At what point do we say you are undermining the troops, you are hurting their leader, that this is beyond political discourse, this is hurtful to what they’re doing, their effort?”, in Fox News fashion to accomplish their agenda of silencing dissenters; remember the aforementioned quotes by men far wiser than the current political talking heads.

I'm Somebody Now!

In the memorable words of Steve Martin in The Jerk, I'm somebody now! My blog and I are part of an article in the local Santa Clarita section of The Daily News. I know no one cares a hill of beans about that except for my parents (who are just beaming by the way because their little girl made it in the paper), my family, and myself...but I'm gonna gloat about it a little here because it isn't everyone that has an article written about them! It's a decent article and I'll even overlook the fact that the writer misspelled my name, Melanie, by spelling it as Melanine which sounds like some kind of toxic chemical you'd store organs and tissue in...it also conjures up images of cancerous melanomas.

I admit I had some misgivings about speaking with Eugene Tong, the author of the article, because I wasn't sure how I was going to be represented. With todays partisan political climate, you just never know what someone is going to say about a Liberal. After reading the article I don't have any regrets.

For anyone who is interested in reading it, I've attached a link below, and for those who are visiting because of it...hi!(waving) and thanks for stopping by!


Local bloggers throw in their two cents

Is Our Children Learning?

No Child Left Behind is leaving our children behind. Everything GW Bush attempts to accomplish is a complete and utter failure. His agenda should simply be "Oh, why even bother". It's even doomed at its inception. How did we ever allow a man, who is unable to utter the English language without completely mangling it beyond recognition, to design a plan that would somehow improve the education system? Let's face it, he isn't exactly an exemplary model for higher learning. If one of my children graduates from Yale speaking that way, I'll smack 'em! Then demand a refund from Yale. I cringe at the thought of Bush making education the cornerstone of his administration.

A well rounded education is a thing of the past under BushCo. While other industrialized nations students are able to learn multiple languages, play an instrument, immerse themselves in the arts, and sports, in addition to math and reading; the students of the United States are learning to test to whatever standards the powers that be deem current. That's 'No Child Left Behind'...learn the basics to pass the mandatory tests so that the schools will not be punished for low scores. That is Bush's goal for our children.

Yale?! Who am I kidding? I must have been high back there for a minute...what was I thinking? My kids won't be going to Yale. They can kiss Oxford goodbye while they're at it. 'No Child Left Behind' is not exactly churning out Rhodes Scholars by the truck load. Then again, with instruction time for history and social studies being scaled back to make time for math and reading, perhaps Bush's ultimate agenda is that our children will never have to learn about what a miserable failure he was as a president.

"Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?" ~ George W. Bush

Link to article Schools Cut Back

A Fabulous Family

It must be an election year because right on cue, the anti-gay machine has been fired up. This time around it's not gay marriage though, it's gay adoption. These insipid moral wedge issues are exactly the reason GW Bush was re-elected in 2004! Have we learned nothing people? In Massachusettes, Catholic Charities would rather get out of the adoption business altogether than adhere to the new anti discrimination laws that allow homosexuals to adopt. They'd rather a child go without a home and loving family than send them to one of 'those' people.

Even though public support for gay adoption is on the rise, there are still some states introducing bills that ban or restrict it in some way. Florida, Mississippi, and Utah already have laws in place... Florida bans it outright, in Utah only married couples may adopt, and in Mississippi, my personal favorite: single gays may adopt but not gay couples. Well considering gays cannot get married anyway, how inane is that law? Aren't all gays technically single?

Conservative groups argue that homosexual relationships are less stable than heterosexual marriages. Oh, puh-lease! That statement implies that both scenarios are unstable, only one moreso than the other. That's like comparing 'bad' and 'worse'. It is worth noting that there aren't any conclusive findings that support the conservatives claim. As a matter of fact, a study written by Illinois State University adoption expert Jeanne Howard found that "virtually every valid study reaches the same conclusion: The children of gays and lesbians adjust positively and their families function well''.

Who are these conservatives kidding with their argument? Why not come right out and say what you really mean? Granting homosexuals adoption rights gives them legitimacy. That's your real gripe. Conservatives are also of the belief that it is nurture and not nature at play when it comes to homosexuality. So perhaps they believe that by placing adoptive children in the homes of gay couples, the kids will turn gay? Evangelical Christians are the largest group still strongly opposed to gays having the right to adopt, and they believe that homosexuals are the worst kind of sinners, so it's understandable why they'd be against it. Just ask Pat Robertson. They're a tolerant bunch(simply oozing sarcasm).

There are more than 100,000 children in foster care that are awaiting adoption and are denied a home with a family they can call their own because of the religious views of some, and those that just think homosexuality is icky. Apparently it is more important for those that their sense of comfort is appeased because, afterall, it really is all about them.

"Men never do Evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from Religious Conviction" -Blaise Pascal

The Last Word

If you aren't easily offended, I recommend checking out the controversial episode of South Park. It's funny as hell! I'm surprised it aired at all and you should be at least 18 to watch it because it's pretty graphic. The politically incorrect show has ridiculed, mocked, and criticized just about every group, issue, and religion at one point or another; at least they don't discriminate and are consistent.

When Isaac Hayes quit the show after they had, in his opinion, gone too far when Scientology was the butt of the joke, the series creators decided to kill off Hayes' character Chef. Man! Did they ever! They didn't just kill him, they annihilated him! They destroyed him! I doubt Hayes will ever come back. They may have gone too far this time...but it's still hilarious.

Trojan Man Part Deux

On Wednesday, March 8th I blogged an entry about the "Roe v Wade For Men" suit.
Their stance:

Contending that women have more options than they do in the event of an unintended pregnancy, men's rights activists are mounting a long shot legal campaign aimed at giving them the chance to opt out of financial responsibility for raising a child.

The gist of the argument: If a pregnant woman can choose among abortion, adoption or raising a child, a man involved in an unintended pregnancy should have the choice of declining the financial responsibilities of fatherhood. The activists involved hope to spark discussion even if they lose.

Their argument has been rolling around in my head ever since I first read the article because A) There are already thousands of dead beat dad's out there, and B) It is just another excuse to get away from one's responsibilities. I've also been considering some issues that the founders of this suit may not have considered. Here is just one example...

Let's say both parties approached their sexual relationship as one that pregnancy was not the desirable outcome. Let's say all precautions were taken on both parties parts in the way of birth control, and still a pregnancy occurs. Let's also say that the woman has decided on the option of adoption as opposed to abortion, because anyday abortion is avoided is a good day (we pro-choice liberals aren't the baby killers Ann Coulter would have you believe we are). And, just for arguments sake, let's say the woman is uninsured.

Now there is the cost of a pregnancy to contend with. What is the man's financial obligation? The suit outlines the right to decline the financial responsibility of raising a child. But what if the woman isn't keeping the child, nor raising it? What if she is simply (okay, not simply) a vehicle that delivers that child to the adoptive parents? Is the man responsible for any cost of the pre-natal care? The hospital bill? Any pay from her employment that she might lose from days missed as a result of possible complications of said pregnancy?

Then, of course, there is the possibility of the child being born with complications that require surgery, and a lengthly hospital stay. What portion of the cost is he responsible for then, when the cost could be upwards of several hundred thousand dollars?

Is he even responsible at all, legally, if they are an unmarried couple? Would the woman have to formally sue him for his fair share should this scenario take place? Much in the same way she would to obtain child support if she were keeping the child to raise?

In my opinion, it is women who, overwhelmingly, get the short end of the stick... and men just dip their stick.

Men's Rights Group Eyes Child Support Stay


Pregnancy & Birth Cost

I'll Answer That

This is just a quick, drive by post... Sean Hannity asked Robert Novak on FNC's Hannity & Colmes tonight, "Why isn't the message of success on the economy, the message of success in Afghanistan and Iraq, why does it not seem to be getting out that much?"

I'll answer that, while laughing: It is, because dear Sean, the success only exists in your head. We cannot hear the voices that are telling you these tales. Sane, rational people do not think that Iraq is a smashing victory because a school was built. While the Taliban was run out of Afghanistan, they were not responsible for the tragedy of September 11th. Osama bin Laden, the reason we went to Afghanistan in the first place, remains at large.

Oh, and Robert Novak's answer? The message of success is not getting out because Democrats are still upset over the 2000 presidential elections. You're laughing right now, but I'm dead serious.

Oh, The Things They Say!

I get so tired (emphasize tired) of hearing from the Republican talking heads how hateful the left is. This from the group that spews forth such hate-filled bile at an unprecedented rate. So I've decided to compile a small list of some of the doozies, most of them recent, some of them infamous classics. My real inspiration came from 3/20/06 segment of FNC's Hannity & Colmes, where Sean Hannity LIED, unopposed for what seemed like an eternity. Let's take a stroll down a dark and scary memory lane... Let's start with the Queen of Mean...

Ann Coulter:

Liberal soccer moms are precisely as likely to receive anthrax in the mail as to develop a capacity for linear thinking.

We need to execute people like John Walker in order to physically intimidate liberals, by making them realize that they can be killed too. Otherwise they will turn out to be outright traitors.

I have to say I'm all for public flogging. One type of criminal that a public humiliation might work particularly well with are the juvenile delinquents, a lot of whom consider it a badge of honor to be sent to juvenile detention. And it might not be such a cool thing in the 'hood to be flogged publicly

My only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times Building.

We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. We weren't punctilious about locating and punishing only Hitler and his top officers. We carpet-bombed German cities; we killed civilians. That's war. And this is war.

Liberals love America like O.J. loved Nicole.

Press passes can't be that hard to come by if the White House allows that old Arab Helen Thomas to sit within yards of the President.

Okay, Ann just has way too many. Time to move on to...

Bill O'Reilly (Mr. Fair and Balanced, my ass):

You know, in a sane world, every country would unite against Iran and blow it off the face of the earth. That would be the sane thing to do.

If Al Qaeda wanted to get in here [the United States], it's easy, because "[t]hey've got all kinds of Muslim crazies up in Canada running around.

Listen, citizens of San Francisco, if you vote against military recruiting, you're not going to get another nickel in federal funds. ... And if Al Qaeda comes in here and blows you up, we're not going to do anything about it. We're going to say, look, every other place in America is off limits to you, except San Francisco. You want to blow up the Coit Tower? Go ahead.

Now, this is a conservative city, Richmond. I mean, this is not Madison, Wisconsin, where you expect those people to be communing with Satan up there in the Madison, Wisconsin, media.

Okay, seems a search on Bill turns up quite a few as well, next up...

Sean Hannity:

Is it that you hate this president or that you hate America?

There used to be a time where the left cared about humanity, about security, about liberty. But obviously that's not the case anymore because if they had had their way, and now we're talking about the appeasement-minded, surrender-minded Democrats of today.

I could spend an hour just running through the list of attacks almost from day one by the Democrats against the troops, against their effort, against their president – everything from calling him a liar on a daily basis to John Kerry accusing them of terrorizing women and children in the dark of night. How are the troops reacting to that?

So the mayor of New Orleans would have used his own buses had the people had been white?

Hang - hang - hang on a second. I want to get perspective in this sense, that earlier today, Fox was showing the images of the convoys, of the people getting in there with the convoys. There was food. There was medicine. There was water. And there were supplies - what is the time frame, is anybody saying, that we're going to get that, that was going in there today, to the people that you're talking about?

Hannity's real problem is his denial of all things seated in reality. Is he really that stupid or is he purposely being obtuse? If I had to describe him in one word, it would be "enabler". Oh, yeah, and he lies...a lot. Next up...

Rush Limbaugh:

Claire Shipman and Jay Carney are, uh, slave owner and husband. Well, husband and wife, if you prefer that, and, and slave master. I take it back, slave master, not slave owner. Slave master and wife!

Anytime an organization has the word 'peace' in it, throw it out. It's just a bunch of long-haired, maggot-infested, dope-smoking, FM peace-types that have an agenda.

It's in Massachusetts. The last place you want to be is between a -- a liberal woman and her morning-after pill. You don't want to be in her path when if -- if -- if she needs her morning after. Just get out of the way and then Wal-Mart didn't stock 'em.

How can this be if the majority opinion of the country is pro-choice? Well, the answer to the question is, the majority opinion of the country is not pro-choice. And to whom do we owe gratitude? The militant feminazis, the militant feminists who have made every abortion, regardless of the cost, mandatory, who have made it clear that that's the sole reason they exist. I mean, every abortion possible can happen. Over the years, militant feminazism has backfired on them.

Enraging liberals is simply one of the more enjoyable side effects of my wisdom.

Feminism was established to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream.

The difference between Los Angeles and yogurt is that yogurt comes with less fruit.

You know why there's a Second Amendment? In case the government fails to follow the first one.

Okay, that's just wasting too much of my valuable time. Limbaugh's done a lot of smack talkin'. Let's end our little compilation with that popular Christian leader...
Pat Robertson (grab a cup of coffee and get comfy):

Lord, give us righteous judges who will not try to legislate and dominate this society. Take control, Lord! We ask for additional vacancies on the court.

Just like what Nazi Germany did to the Jews, so liberal America is now doing to the evangelical Christians. It's no different. It is the same thing. It is happening all over again. It is the Democratic Congress, the liberal-based media and the homosexuals who want to destroy the Christians. Wholesale abuse and discrimination and the worst bigotry directed toward any group in America today. More terrible than anything suffered by any minority in history.

The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.

I would warn Orlando that you're right in the way of some serious hurricanes, and I don't think I'd be waving those flags in God's face if I were you, This is not a message of hate -- this is a message of redemption. But a condition like this will bring about the destruction of your nation. It'll bring about terrorist bombs; it'll bring earthquakes, tornadoes, and possibly a meteor.

I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected him from your city. And don't wonder why he hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that's the case, don't ask for his help because he might not be there.

Maybe we need a very small nuke thrown off on Foggy Bottom to shake things up.

You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war ... We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability. We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator. It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with.

Sweet Jesus, that's enough!

Bush's Plan

President Bush revealed his strategy for Iraq yesterday. I warn you, it's complex, a difficult concept. Almost beyond the realm of possibilities. Ya wanna hear it? Here it go...he's going to let some future president handle it. That's his grand plan. To tell you the truth, if that future president weren't a whole 3 years away from now, that wouldn't sound like such a bad idea, considering Bush has managed to turn the war in Iraq into an uber-clusterfuck. He's like King Midas, only in his case everything he touches doesn't turn to gold, it turns to a sticky,tar-like substance, that smells exactly like shit.

Did you ever wonder what they called the "Hundred Years War" just 3 years into it?

Does anyone remember this from 2003?

On CBS's "Face the Nation" on March 16, Cheney said the fight would be "weeks rather than months. There's always the possibility of complications that you can't anticipate, but I have great confidence in our troops." Cheney also predicted the fight would "go relatively quickly, but we can't count on that." That same day on NBC's "Meet the Press," Cheney said, "I think things have gotten so bad inside Iraq, from the standpoint of the Iraqi people, my belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators." It was then he predicted that the regular Iraqi soldiers would not "put up such a struggle," and that even "significant elements of the Republican Guard . . . are likely to step aside." Asked if Americans are prepared for a "long, costly and bloody battle," Cheney replied: "Well, I don't think it's likely to unfold that way. . . . The read we get on the people of Iraq is there is no question but what they want to the get rid of Saddam Hussein, and they will welcome as liberators the United States when we come to do that." Cheney has spoken that way for months.

In September 2002, he said that "you always plan for the worst," but he also said, "I don't think it would be that tough a fight; that is, I don't think there's any question that we would prevail." In a speech in August, he cited a scholar's view that "the streets in Basra and Baghdad are sure to erupt in joy in the same way the throngs in Kabul greeted the Americans."

Well we're looking at, at least, 3 additional years brought to you by BushCo.

Link to Bush Article


Link to Cheney Interview

Helen Thomas Kicks Ass!

I've given Helen her much deserved props before, and God love her! She's done it again! In addition to her hard earned Kudos today, I'm also sending her an enormous cyber hug. She somehow earned her way out of her GW Bush imposed probation and was called upon by the President today during the White House press conference. Here is the exchange:

Helen. After that brilliant performance at the Gridiron (dinner), I am -- (laughter.)

Q You're going to be sorry. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Well, then, let me take it back. (Laughter.)

Q I'd like to ask you, Mr. President, your decision to invade Iraq has caused the deaths of thousands of Americans and Iraqis, wounds of Americans and Iraqis for a lifetime. Every reason given, publicly at least, has turned out not to be true. My question is, why did you really want to go to war? From the moment you stepped into the White House, from your Cabinet -- your Cabinet officers, intelligence people, and so forth -- what was your real reason? You have said it wasn't oil -- quest for oil, it hasn't been Israel, or anything else. What was it?

THE PRESIDENT: I think your premise -- in all due respect to your question and to you as a lifelong journalist -- is that -- I didn't want war. To assume I wanted war is just flat wrong, Helen, in all due respect --

Q Everything --

THE PRESIDENT: Hold on for a second, please.

Q -- everything I've heard --

THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me, excuse me. No President wants war. Everything you may have heard is that, but it's just simply not true. My attitude about the defense of this country changed on September the 11th. We -- when we got attacked, I vowed then and there to use every asset at my disposal to protect the American people. Our foreign policy changed on that day, Helen. You know, we used to think we were secure because of oceans and previous diplomacy. But we realized on September the 11th, 2001, that killers could destroy innocent life. And I'm never going to forget it. And I'm never going to forget the vow I made to the American people that we will do everything in our power to protect our people.

Part of that meant to make sure that we didn't allow people to provide safe haven to an enemy. And that's why I went into Iraq -- hold on for a second --

Q They didn't do anything to you, or to our country.

THE PRESIDENT: Look -- excuse me for a second, please. Excuse me for a second. They did. The Taliban provided safe haven for al Qaeda. That's where al Qaeda trained --

Q I'm talking about Iraq --

THE PRESIDENT: Helen, excuse me. That's where -- Afghanistan provided safe haven for al Qaeda. That's where they trained. That's where they plotted. That's where they planned the attacks that killed thousands of innocent Americans.

I also saw a threat in Iraq. I was hoping to solve this problem diplomatically. That's why I went to the Security Council; that's why it was important to pass 1441, which was unanimously passed. And the world said, disarm, disclose, or face serious consequences --

Q -- go to war --

THE PRESIDENT: -- and therefore, we worked with the world, we worked to make sure that Saddam Hussein heard the message of the world. And when he chose to deny inspectors, when he chose not to disclose, then I had the difficult decision to make to remove him. And we did, and the world is safer for it.

Q Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: You're welcome. (Laughter.) I didn't really regret it. I kind of semi-regretted it. (Laughter.)

Q -- have a debate.

THE PRESIDENT: That's right. Anyway, your performance at the Gridiron was just brilliant -- unlike Holland's, was a little weak, but -- (laughter.)

Sorry.

Great big kisses to you Helen Thomas! You made him stutter and sputter! Mwah!

Link to Editor & Publisher Helen Thomas

The New Party of Fiscal Conservatives

The Democrats. Not what you were expecting now was it? Kudos to the Senate Democrats for unanimously voting against raising the government spending limit to $9 trillion. Now that the national debt represents $30,000 for every single person in the United States, just remember, you have the Republicans to thank for it. Or as they're more commonly known...the party formerly known as fiscal conservatives.

Mookie, Please!

Spike Lee get's his knicker's in a twist over just about anything, even someone complimenting a talented black actress. Lee criticizes George Clooney's Oscar acceptance speech when Clooney said,

This Academy, this group of people gave Hattie McDaniel an Oscar in 1939 when blacks were still sitting in the backs of theaters. I'm proud to be a part of this Academy. Proud to be part of this community, and proud to be out of touch. And I thank you so much for this.

Here is Spike Lee's beef du jour:

Lee says, "To use that as an example of how progressive Hollywood is is ridiculous. Hattie McDaniel played Mammy in Gone With the Wind.

"That film was basically saying that the wrong side won the Civil War and that black people should still be enslaved.

"C'mon! I like George a lot. I'm not hating on him. But I don't think he really thought it out.

So what is Spike really saying here? Did Hattie McDaniel not deserve the Oscar? Was her performance sub-par? Was she not a convincing character? She wasn't the cream of the crop for 1939's best supporting actresses? Her award wasn't for what the movie represented, it was for her achievement in her acting abilities. Lee is so quick to scuffle when it comes to all things African-American, that he doesn't stop to think about what he's actually saying. It was progressive for the Academy, in 1939, to bestow that honor on an African-American woman, period. Chill out Spike, for just a second, and really process what was said here.

Spike Lee Article

Glimmer of Truth

During an appearance on "Meet The Press", General George W. Casey made this nugget of truth available to the public:

"It was an operation to go out into an almost uninhabited area," Casey said. "I think, frankly, it got a little bit more hype than it really deserved because of the use of the helicopters to get the Iraqi and the coalition forces there."

He was, of course, referring to Operation Swarmer that was dubbed by the Pentagon as, "the biggest air assault since April 2003". If there is anyone on this planet that doesn't believe that it was a very costly (to taxpayers) publicity stunt, to boost GW Bush's plummeting poll numbers, then they're really just too stupid to live.

Lights, Camera, Action

What kind of person attempts to use his powers of persuasion to lead us to believe that war is good? That we should feel positive about war? A war president who no longer uses the word 'war' that's who. George 'Dubya' Bush has been on a cheerleading mission (cheerleading is something he actually does have experience in) to get the American people fired up to feel good about the war in Iraq.

The problem Bush has is that he thinks of the war in Iraq as a television show. Something that can be turned on and off. He usually makes certain to mention the "images we see on our television sets" when discussing the war. I used to joke about it, but now I'm beginning to really believe that he thinks the war is happening in that box. That people, American's and Iraqi's alike, aren't really wounded or killed, that they're all just following a script, and that they've got a stellar make-up and visual effects department. Unfortunately, the budget didn't allow for proper gear and armor, but sometimes when you're making a movie you have to cut corners somewhere, and usually it's the props department. But still, he probably thinks it's the best movie he's ever seen.

"In the face of continued reports about killings and reprisals, I understand how some Americans have had their confidence shaken," Bush told the City Club of Cleveland. "Others look at the violence they see each night on their television screens and they wonder how I can remain so optimistic about the prospects of success in Iraq. They wonder what I see that they don't."

No. We understand why you remain so optimistic...you're clearly certifiable. Bush and his administration, and perhaps the staff at Fox News are the only people still optimistic about this war. Bush might as well of finished the statment, "They wonder what I see that they don't." with, "It's the power switch on the t.v. All you have to do is turn it off when the news gets too bad, then problem solved. No more bad things happening."

He discusses it as if the events aren't really happening and it is the images themselves that are the problem. He did the same thing with the Abu Ghraib photo's as well. So just keep this disclaimer in mind the next time you hear or see news that disturbs you, or puts a damper on the warm fuzzies you might have had for the war in Iraq... All events in the film are completely fictional. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. No animals were harmed during the making of this film... And in no time at all, you'll be able to hold the same positive attitude as our Commander In Chief.



Link to Bush Article


Bush Doesn't Use the Word War

They're Listening

The right can't seem to figure out if liberal Hollywood has a voice worth hearing or not. Interestingly though, it seems that conservatives pay very close attention to what Hollywood says or doesn't say, does or doesn't do. They claim that the "looney-left" doesn't say anything worth listening too. "Who cares what they have to say?", they say. "Who even listens to them?", they ask. Apparently, conservatives do.

A moment of silence was not observed for the troops during the 2006 Academy Awards telecast, and Ben Stein has got a bee in his bonnet about it. He used it as anti-liberal Hollywood fodder at a recent Republican fundraisier:

Speaking Thursday at a Kent County Republican Party fundraising dinner, the conservative humorist, writer and political pundit said movie stars and film industry professionals failed to highlight the sacrifices of soldiers during the Academy Awards on March 5.

"Not one prayer or moment of silence for those who have given their lives," said Stein, who also has acted ("Ferris Bueller's Day Off") and hosted a game show ("Win Ben Stein's Money"). "And they complain about (falling box office numbers). Stop spitting in the face of Americans and maybe we will go to the movies."

He said the real stars aren't his Beverly Hills neighbors but the soldiers "wearing body armor in 130-degree heat, pulling 24-hour shifts" in the so-called Sunni triangle, the dangerous area of armed insurgents in Iraq.

I wonder if he accused the NFL of also spitting in the face of Americans, when they too, overlooked a moment of silence for the troops during the Super Bowl this past February? I highly doubt it. I also imagine that the troops who are stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and were able to get the chance, were more likely to be crowded around the television to watch the Super Bowl than they were to watch the Oscars. But Ben Stein couldn't very well insult the American institution that is football, now could he? That would be counter productive for his Republican fundraising mission...hating the left is great material for such a function. It always goes over well.

Link to Ben Stein

He's Lookin' Out For You

Thank God I've got Bill O'Reilly lookin' out for me and my kids. O'Reilly is bent out of shape about CBS's Without a Trace airing before 10pm that contained an orgy scene. "What about the unsupervised children at home?", he worried on the March 16, 2006 segment of The O'Reilly Factor. "Who's lookin' out for them?", he pondered angrily. Of course, in typical Fox News fashion, the scene was played repeatedly while Bill expressed his concern for America's youth and their impressionable minds. This all took place at 5pm PST in my living room, while my children sat at the kitchen table doing their homework, with the sun still shining.

I guess O'Reilly decided that just in case any children missed the scene during its regularly scheduled air time, it was his duty to air it at an even earlier time, thus ensuring that it would be seen by as many children as possible. This did anger me, because I'm pretty careful about what I let my children see. I get my panties in a bunch when Comedy Central shows the Girls Gone Wild commercial's before 9pm, while we are gathered around the boob tube watching The Colbert Report. Although, now I'm reevaluating the values that I'm instilling in my children by exposing them to the likes of O'Reilly. Someone should take my mommy badge away.

Bill O'Reilly's insistance that my children and I see the "for mature audiences only" scene before dinner time irritated me enough to send him an email. Turns out you have to be a premium member at Bill O'Reilly.com in order to email his highness. So I figure, what the heck, I'll sign up because I really want to give him a piece of my mind and bring to his attention that he is, in fact, a dumbass. Imagine my surprise when I clicked on "Premium Membership" and found out it was going to cost me $4.95 a month or $49.95 a year just to send this assclown an email.

Perhaps, by chance, he'll stumble across my blog someday and see what I've got to say because I wouldn't pay someone to put him out if he were on fire let alone pay to write him a letter.

Erin Go Bragh!

When it comes to the cast of biblical characters, St. Patrick trumps Jesus Christ. I mean, really, what's the big deal about postponing the observance of the sacrifice that JC made for us, by dying for our sins and all? For crying out loud! St. Patrick's Day falls on a Friday this year people...and we Irish gotta get our corned beef on! Well, I am Irish, but I'm not Catholic and I don't particularly care for corned beef, nor do I normally celebrate St. Patty's Day...did I mention I'm Irish?

Bishops from several states have given the green light to Roman Catholics to go ahead and eat that meat on Friday. It will not be considered a sin. It is far more important that they eat the traditional St. Patrick's Day meal than stick with Lent in honor of Jesus Christ. The hypocrisy of the Catholic Church knows no bounds. They wag their self-righteous finger in our faces about our morality, but then compromise their own morals for corned beef brisket. Lookie-here how this guy is going to make it up though:

In exchange for his corned beef meal, O'Leary said he plans to give up something else, such as chicken wings or beer on a weekend when he's watching sports on television.

It's no wonder I have such a hard time taking religion seriously.


Bishops Bend Rules For St. Patty's

The Huffington Hullabaloo

Since I mentioned it in my blog entry "Four Times the Kudos" (below), it's only fair that I post a correction for the few people who follow my blog, and for those who might stumble upon it.

It turns out that Ms. Arianna Huffington, of The Huffington Post, was not quite honest when it came to a certain blog entry on her site, suposedly written by a certain celebrity, George Clooney. There was apparently a miscommunication about quote's from Clooney that were authorized to be used on her site. Ms. Huffington structured the quotes as if it were a blog entry from Clooney himself. A complete misrepresentation to her readers, and a practice that I personally find quite deceitful.

Image is a fragile thing, particularly when one is a celebrity, and Ms. Huffington had no right to take it upon herself to represent Clooney as a poster on her blog. While there were those of us, like myself, who admired, what we thought was a legitimate entry from George Clooney, and are proud of what he said publicly, there were just as many who were eager to verbally tear him apart. Now I know he's a big boy and can handle himself, but it is up to him to decide how to present himself and which battles he wants to fight. He doesn't need Ms. Huffington dictating how he should appear to the public, and it certainly isn't up to her to pick his battles for him.

She owes him an apology, pronto...publicly, not just on her site.


Clooney to Arianna: I Did Not Blog

Bitter Much?

I loved the movie Brokeback Mountain. LOVED it! It is one of the most heart-wrenching love stories I've ever seen. I loved the book. I loved that everything that was in the book was in the movie. Every actor in the movie gave a performance of a lifetime. The movie itself was beautiful to look at. I went through the whole gamut of emotions while watching this masterpiece unfold before me on the big screen. I laughed, I cried, I physically ached for them for what they all had to endure. It was a great flick.

It did not win best picture at the Oscar's, and Annie Proulx, the author of Brokeback Mountain, is fit to be tied! In a letter she fired off to The Guardian, she ranted and raved about how the movie was robbed by Crash.

"If you are looking for smart judging based on merit, skip the Academy Awards next year and pay attention to the Independent Spirit choices," Proulx advises.

She even lashes out at Lionsgate, the distribution company behind "Crash."

"Rumour has it that Lionsgate inundated the academy voters with DVD copies of Trash - excuse me - Crash a few weeks before the ballot deadline," Proulx writes.

She decries the "atmosphere of insufferable self-importance" inside the Kodak Theatre, the Oscars site, and describes the audience as a "somewhat dim LA crowd." The show, she writes, was "reminiscent of a small-town talent-show night."

"Clapping wildly for bad stuff enhances this," Proulx writes.

Annie. Oh Annie, Annie, Annie...bad form Annie. Yes, it lost, but suck it up honey! When you describe the atmosphere and the audience at the Kodak Theater, you are insulting the very people who brought your story to life! The actors, cinematographer, the director, writers, the producer's, et all. Most of whom, were in the audience that night. You should be thrilled that your story inspired Ang Lee to make it, and that it got the recognition it deserved! It was a wonderful movie and you should be very proud!

Every movie nominated was "bad stuff" except for yours Annie? Wrongo sister! This was the first year in a long time that there wasn't some fluff up there. I'm really disappointed in your reaction and that you had to besmirch the merits of Brokeback Mountain because of your wounded pride. Great book, great movie, get over yourself.


Annie's Rant


Annie's Rant in The Guardian

But Will You Still Respect Me in the Morning?

More on pregnancy rights for men. If a woman lies to a man, assuring him that it is safe to have sex and she has taken care of protection, is that a verbal contract? Or is it irresponsibility on the man's part to take the woman's word for it? Particularly if it is the man and not the woman who, at this time in his life, does not wish to have children.

That gives me an idea on trying to come up with a solution for the "Roe v Wade for Men" movement. It's perfect and it helps weed out the undesireables for us ladies in our neverending quest to catch a man. The man has to present a written contract to the woman, before he has sex with her (it can be at dinner or in the heat of the moment, which ever), that states that if her egg and his sperm should meet and take a liking to each other during the throes of passion he will not be held responsible financially or otherwise...and the woman has to sign it before de-pantsing and her thong finds itself hanging from the ceiling fan. This legal document would prove two things, nevermind that it adds a whole new dimension to the term "court"-ship.

First of all, it let's the woman know just what kind of man she is getting herself involved with. A man who is just looking for a good time. One who is not ready and/or afraid of committment. One who will leave her high and dry should she find herself pregnant after he willingly deposits his seed in her body. And one who probably won't call her in the morning... because (and this is the second thing) if the woman DOES sign it, it shows that she is the kind of woman who would have sex with a man like that, and she probably isn't the type to take home to mother.

What a useful tool for finding Mr. or Mrs. Right. I believe that it is the responsibility of both parties to take care of birth control. If a woman doesn't want to find herself pregnant, then she damn sure better make sure she doesn't. Same for a man. If he doesn't want to have children, he better make damn sure he doesn't knock her up. Take responsibility for your own birth control, use it properly, and responsibly, and maybe, just maybe that roll in the hay that rocked your world won't come back to...well... really rock your world.

Another angle of this arguement that I haven't heard much discussion on, is that if BOTH parties did not intend for a pregnancy to occur, and BOTH parties agree on abortion as an option, the man is not required to help the woman in any way. He does not have to drive her to the doctor, hold her hand, or pay for half of it. He is not required legally (perhaps morally)to offer emotional or financial assistance. He literally gets to walk away, unscathed.

Four Times the Kudos

Some Dem's and/or liberal's are mad as hell and aren't going to take it anymore and are making their dissatisfaction known, in writing or on the Senate floor. Kudos to the following four...

Molly Ivans for bitch-slapping the Democratic Party, hopefully giving them a little wake up call:

Mah fellow progressives, now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of the party. I don’t know about you, but I have had it with the D.C. Democrats, had it with the DLC Democrats, had it with every calculating, equivocating, triangulating, straddling, hair-splitting son of a bitch up there, and that includes Hillary Rodham Clinton. [More...]

Enough of the D.C. Dems

I've got a soft spot for the following kudos recipient, Helen Thomas...she's got some brass one's that ol' broad. I dig her! She's good people. She earned her kudos for going after her own, the press, with the following:

The naïve complicity of the press and the government was never more pronounced than in the prelude to the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. The media became an echo chamber for White House pronouncements. One example: At President Bush's March 6, 2003, news conference, in which he made it eminently clear that the United States was going to war, one reporter pleased the "born again" Bush when she asked him if he prayed about going to war. And so it went. [More...]

Lap Dogs of the Press

Not only is he smokin' hot, but he's a liberal too! Smart, talented, charming, did I mention hot? Kudos to George Clooney for opening up a giant can of whoop-ass on the Democrat's in his post on the popular blog, The Huffington Post. Here is where he let it fly:

The fear of been criticized can be paralyzing. Just look at the way so many Democrats caved in the run up to the war. In 2003, a lot of us were saying, where is the link between Saddam and bin Laden? What does Iraq have to do with 9/11? We knew it was bullshit. Which is why it drives me crazy to hear all these Democrats saying, "We were misled." It makes me want to shout, "Fuck you, you weren't misled. You were afraid of being called unpatriotic." [More...]

I Am A Liberal. There, I Said It.

Last, but certainly not least, kudos to Senator Russ Feingold for recognizing that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then the duck is a lying sonofabitch! I applaud his effort to censure President Bush! At the same time, I'm flippin' a giant bird to the Dem's who are distancing themselves from him. Now is the time to unite, not the time for political hand wringing...cowards!

"A formal censure by Congress is an appropriate and responsible first step to assure the public that when the president thinks he can violate the law without consequences, Congress has the will to hold him accountable," Feingold said. [More...]

Feingold Draws Little Support for Censure

I concur you badass mutha fuckahhh!

The Reigning King of Hate Speak

That would be Pat Robertson in case you weren't already aware. President Bush was worried about the message that would be sent to the Middle East by ending the ports deal...Criminy! He should be more worried about inciter's of hate like Pat Robertson. Robertson made the following comments during his live broadcast of "The 700 Club":

Islam is not a religion of peace, and that radical Muslims are "satanic."

Robertson's comments came after he watched a news story on his Christian Broadcasting Network about Muslim protests in Europe over the cartoon drawings of the Prophet Muhammad.

He remarked that the outpouring of rage elicited by cartoons "just shows the kind of people we're dealing with. These people are crazed fanatics, and I want to say it now: I believe it's motivated by demonic power. It is satanic and it's time we recognize what we're dealing with."

Robertson also said that "the goal of Islam, ladies and gentlemen, whether you like it or not, is world domination."

Of course, once again, he had to later "correct" his comments to convey what he "really" meant. He's always backtracking to wash down both feet with a tall glass of water.

In a statement later Monday, Robertson said he was referring specifically to terrorists who want to bomb innocent people as being motivated by Satan. In the news story, he noted, radical Muslims were shown screaming: "May Allah bomb you! May Osama Bin Laden bomb you!"

Robertson's comments were not included on the organizations website out of fear that they would be misinterpreted. No Pat. No one misinterprets you...we TOTALLY get what you mean. You mean what you say the first time you say it you senile, hate-filled, old fart.


Link to Robertson Comments

Confidence Is Key

"Bush Confident Iraq Will Avoid Civil War" was yesterday's Associated Press headline. "Confident" is a popular choice of words with the president. He uses it liberally. So I thought I'd list some of the issues and events that Bush feels or has felt confident in. A Google search of "Bush confident" turns up 19,500,000 results. That's a shitload of confidence! This should be fun.

1) Bush confident Iraq will avoid civil war~ March 11, 2006
2) "I authorized the sale because the proper procedures were followed and I am satisfied the sale poses no risk to national security. However, since members of Congress are not yet convinced, I will delay the transaction for one month to allow them their own review. I am confident that the Congress will reach the same conclusion as I have." ~ February 2006 regarding UAE ports deal
3) I am confident in our plan for victory [in Iraq]... we are in this fight to win, and we are winning. ~ GW Bush, SOTUA 2006
4) Bush confident Bin Laden will be brought to justice ~ Afghanistan March 1, 2006
5) With violence rising again in Iraq, Bush said he is confident the Iraqi military will eventually be equipped and trained to defeat the insurgency and allow U.S. troops to come home ~ June 1, 2005 Washington Post
6) Bush confident about economy for 2006 ~ January 6, 2006 USA Today
7) Bush confident warrantless wiretaps are legal ~ January 26, 2006 AP
8) Bush confident U.S. will overcome all difficulties and challenges including hurricane disaster and terrorism. ~ September 10, 2005
9) "But I'm confident we can handle it, and I'm confident we can handle our other priorities. It's going to mean that we're going to have to cut unnecessary spending," Bush said regarding $200 billion dollar estimate for Katrina rebuilding. ~ September 16, 2005 Reuters
10) "The president has confidence in the Federal Reserve when it comes to monetary policy and their ability to address any inflation concerns," White House press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters.~ October 14, 2005
11) Bush confident Harriet Myers will be confirmed ~ October 8, 2005 Boston Globe
12) “In the midst of this struggle … we have confidence in our cause because we have seen the power of freedom to overcome the darkness of tyranny and terror,” Bush said in an August 30 speech to World War II veterans in Coronado, California, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Allied victory in the Pacific.
13) Bush confident Iraq's democracy will be successful~ June 24, 2005
14) "That era is over, and we can be confident -- as in Germany, and Japan, and Eastern Europe -- liberty will overcome oppression in the Middle East." ~ February 5, 2004
15) Declared a "real threat" remains from al Qaeda, including the possibility of more hijacking attempts. "I'm confident we will thwart the attempts," he said.~ July 30, 2003 CNN
16) "I'm confident the truth will come out, and there is no doubt in my mind that Saddam Hussein was a threat to the United States' security and a threat to peace in the region," Bush said -- 90 days after declaring major combat operations over .~ July 30, 2003 CNN
17) "I've got confidence in George Tenet. I've got confidence in the men and women who work at the CIA, and I look forward to working with them as we win this war on terror." despite the agency's failure to warn him that certain allegations about Iraq's nuclear program were false.~ Bush, July 12 2003, CBC News
18) Bush "has every confidence the intelligence he received was accurate intelligence, and weapons of mass destruction will be found," he said. ~Ari Fliescher, June 18, 2003 AP
19) "The president has said before that he is patient, the American people are patient, and he is confident that in time we will find this," Fleischer said.~ AP June 18, 2003
20) "I have great confidence in our FBI and CIA," the President said in Berlin, in opposition to 9/11 query panel~ May 23, 2002 CBS

Judging by the decline in his poll numbers, I would gather that it is safe for him to be confident that the American people are losing confidence in him.
I'll leave you with this gem. Thefollowingcomments are Dick Cheney's but Bush had confidence in Cheney's remarks:

Cheney's comments Monday echoed a January interview with National Public Radio in which he said, ''There's overwhelming evidence there was a connection between Al Qaeda and the Iraqi government. I am very confident that there was an established relationship there."

Peace out.

Progress?

Holy time warp Batman! It's the 1950's! South Dakota, Mississippi, Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, respectively, are proposing and/or passing laws that ban abortion. Rumor has it that SD also has a bill in the works to ban contraception. Christian pharmacists nationwide are refusing to dispense prescription contraceptives. Missouri has a bill pending in the state legislature that would recognize Christianity as the official state religion. Intelligent Design on the verge of being taught in our schools. Censorship is alive and well; just ask our soldier's which websites and blogs they are permitted to access (hint: it's not Air America, Wonkette, or Al Frankin). We're being conditioned to believe that there is a communist...oh hold on, excuse me...terrorist under our bed and in our closet. Fox News crucifies anyone (mostly liberals but they aren't opposed to eating their own young), publicly, and persistently if they do not toe the party line. All under the pretense of 'fair and balanced' "news". It's no House Committee on Un-American Activities, but it smells like McCarthyism.

And that's just the short list! Oh man! How do I break it to my mother and her generation? Thanks ladies for your strides and sacrifices that blew the doors of opportunity open for us, your daughters...quit humming the tune 'We're gonna make it on our own' and throwing your hat's in the air ala Mary Tyler Moore, and just ignore that smoldering bra in your hope chest because you got PUNKED!

What's a modern Gen X gal like myself to do? How do I shed my feminism and conform to a prehistoric ideal that is foreign to me? I could hold a seance for all my thirtysomething girlfriends. Perhaps if we whip out the ol' Ouija board and channel June Cleaver, Lucille Ball, and Harriet Nelson they can share their wisdom of survival with us, in such a 'by-golly-gee-wiz' sort of way, why, you'll think I'm Doris Day in no time!

Yeah. Yeah! And the men could all wear hats again! Ooh! Oooooh! And smoke all the time! Yay! Oh gosh...and just think of all of the hours I can spend at the beauty parlor, deciding between a permanent or a finger wave (since they were sans hairdryer) gossiping with the gals while we get glamified for our men! Oh joy! This just keeps getting better! Just think of all of the free time I'll have to learn new recipies and how to get stains out of darn near everything since my husband will be doing all of the thinking about important things for me! And we'll all get a lot more sleep since we'll only be having sex for procreation and not recreation.

NOT! Quit messing with my freedoms, my civil liberties, and for God's sake don't confiscate my hairdryer! When you mess with my hair, it's on!


Missouri Resolution 13 Link


Daily Kos


States Propose Abortion Ban

GW Bush aka The Albatross

KERPLUNK! That, my friends, is the sound of Bush's approval ratings taking a giant crap. Just when he thought they couldn't possibly go any lower...they, um...predictably do. But he's not sinking alone folks. He's going down and he's taking prisoners. In a game of "That's You but What am I?", the White House reminds senior GOP Congressmen that, while his numbers are shamefully low, their's stink on ice.

For Republican leaders who are in an election year and considering a bid for the 2008 Presidential election, removing the albatross that is GW Bush, from around their neck is priority "A" number one. For someone who was once the poster boy for the Republican party, Dubya has besmirched the good name of convervatives everywhere. Wait. Do the words 'good' and 'conservative' go together in a sentence? Nope. Five point penalty for improper use of syntax. My bad.

A quick break down on Dubya's approval numbers:

36% ~ Domestic Affairs (WINCE!)
43% ~ Foreign Policy & Terrorism (GULP!)
40% ~ Economy & Iraq (YIKES!)
37% ~ Overall Job Performance (OUCH!)

As far as Congress is concerned:

The AP-Ipsos poll, which has a margin of error of 3 percentage points, gives Republicans reason to worry that they may inherit Bush's political woes. Two-thirds of the public disapproves of how the GOP-led Congress is handling its job and a surprising 53 percent of Republicans give Congress poor marks.

By a 47-36 margin, people favor Democrats over Republicans when they are asked who should control Congress.

Dem's need to get their act together now! Now is the time to unite, take a firm stand, and reclaim our country! I beg you!


Bush By The Numbers Link

A New Guessing Game

More on the ports... DP World is backing out and handing over the operation to a U.S. entity. Just who is that entity?

"Because of the strong relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the United States and to preserve that relationship, DP World has decided to transfer fully the U.S. operation of P&O Operations North America to a United States entity," DP World's chief operating officer, Edward H. Bilkey, said in the statement that Warner relayed to other senators. The announcement did not specify which American company would be involved.

So who does know who that American company is? And which company is it? Ohhh it's all so exciting! The anticipation is almost too much to bear! Which company could it possibly be? Any bets? My money is on Halliburton. Call it a hunch.



Link to Dubai Article

Moral Obligations Fox News Style

I should change the name of my blog to "Bill O'Reilly Bugs the Absolute Crap Out of Me, What Say You?" because I'm gonna talk about him again. It's my own fault for voluntarily watching his show lately. It's like passing a car wreck...you can't help but look even when you know you shouldn't.

Today's news reports that Teri Hatcher came forward and admitted that she was molested by an uncle when she was 5 years old, when she discovered that a 14 year old girl had committed suicide after being molested by the same man. (Link below). I applaud her for putting aside her personal anguish to help with the conviction of a child molester.

Enter Bill O'Reilly and his own personal bloviating platform, The O'Reilly Factor. His guest was psychotherapist Sheenah Hankin to whom he hypothesized the following: Understanding that a child would not want to come forward, not being emotionally mature enough to handle the reprocussions of outing their molester, but once that child becomes an adult, is it their moral obligation to identify a known child molester in order to save any would be future victims? Sheenah Hankin agreed with him and stated that she has a moral and legal obligation to advise her patients to do so. His exact words:

applauded Hatcher for coming forward, and urged other victims to do the same. "You should summon up the courage to do it, because Ms. Hatcher's testimony put this guy away for 14 years. No one is going to hold it against someone who was molested when they were five years old."

Message? No one is going to hold it against them when they're five years old but they might hold it against them when they're an adult. It is the victims fault for any would be future victims of the molester. O'Reilly and his guest might have well just come out and said that it was Teri Hatcher's fault that another girl was molested and consequently committed suicide because Hatcher didn't come forward when she turned eighteen.

How can a victim be held responsible for a criminal's behavior? How can anyone be held responsible for an adult's behavior? And why, oh why do I continue to indulge my morbid curiosity by watching The O'Reilly Factor?



Teri Hatcher Admits Link


The O'Reilly Factor 03/08/06

Trojan Man

I'm still chuckling at the lunacy of the following AP report (link below).

NEW YORK (AP) - Contending that women have more options than they do in the event of an unintended pregnancy, men's rights activists are mounting a long shot legal campaign aimed at giving them the chance to opt out of financial responsibility for raising a child.

The National Center for Men has prepared a lawsuit - nicknamed Roe v. Wade for Men - to be filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Michigan on behalf of a 25-year-old computer programmer ordered to pay child support for his ex-girlfriend's daughter. The suit addresses the issue of male reproductive rights, contending that lack of such rights violates the U.S. Constitution's equal protection clause.

The gist of the argument: If a pregnant woman can choose among abortion, adoption or raising a child, a man involved in an unintended pregnancy should have the choice of declining the financial responsibilities of fatherhood. The activists involved hope to spark discussion even if they lose.

"There's such a spectrum of choice that women have - it's her body, her pregnancy and she has the ultimate right to make decisions," said Mel Feit, director of the men's center. "I'm trying to find a way for a man also to have some say over decisions that affect his life profoundly."

Yes, and I have an answer to that "say over decisions" you're looking for...it's called a C-O-N-D-O-M! I know it's a foreign concept for some men to take responsibility for birth control but it is possible to not leave it to the woman to "make a decision that will affect his life profoundly". If pregnancy is not the desired effect of intercourse, it is the responsibility of BOTH parties to make sure all precautions are taken. I realize that accidents happen and nothing is 100% fullproof, so keep this little factoid in mind the next time you're getting ready to get down... pregnancy is a very real possibility no matter how careful you might be. You ARE responsible for that child should the woman decide to give birth. Babies are a consequence of sex. I learned that when I was nine.

Just another attempt by men to skirt their responsibilities.



Mens Rights Group

Quote of the Day

There are times that a public figure will utter a statement, so lame, that it bears repeating (and pointing and laughing). Today's honor, for stating the painfully obvious, goes to none other than our Commander in Chief, GW Bush, whom I imagine will be a frequent front runner (I'm still shaking my head)...drumroll please....

"You've got a pile of stuff here," the president remarked at one point as a small bulldozer shoved a mattress, toys, a cooking pot, several pairs of blue jeans, a single brown shoe and a pair of women's underwear down a nearby street.

Yes. During his tenth photo op to the ravaged region, the above was his observation. Response to Bush: No kidding.


Link to article

Are They Too Liberal or Aren't They?

Forget terrorists, it's become increasingly obvious that Bill O'Reilly is terrified of movie actors. Apparently O'Reilly isn't hip to the fact that Hollywood does not create the laws which we are obligated to live by. Actors are civilians, non-elected citizens, who are free to speak their minds like any other citizen of the United States.

Prior to the Academy Awards, that aired on Sunday, March 5th, Bill O'Reilly was predicting that the stars (read George Clooney) would use the venue as a platform to air their political opinions. He droned on, ad nauseum about the 'out of touch looney left' in Hollywood. Then, the Oscars came and went without much political hullabaloo, save for Clooney's elequent acceptance speech...to which O'Reilly took credit for the lack of 'in your face' grandstanding. He also made the following ominous claim (I wish I had the official transcript from the show):

that today's media environment makes it harder for stars to make outrageous statements. "The world has changed, with cable news watching every move they make. Whatever you say politically, 50% of the people aren't going to like. And for movie stars who want people to spend money to see them, there's no percentage in it."

Cable news is watching every move an actor makes? Why, in God's name would they be doing that? When did that become a journalists duty? I can understand it if you're a reporter for the entertainment section of a particular news outlet, but The O'Reilly Factor is not such a show...even though, I admit, that it can be infuriatingly entertaining at times.

So which is it Bill? Is liberal Hollywood making outrageous statements or do they 'tone it down' depending on the venue? They're either too liberal or they aren't Bill. Any more contradictions like that and people might stop taking you seriously. (wink). The next time you want to go after individuals who make outrageous statments, you may want to remember that any statement made pales in comparison to the vile and putrid rants of Ann Coulter.



The Factor 03/06/06

The Raping of Democracy

Just when you think the Bush administration couldn't sink any lower, they take an even bigger crap on the United States Constitution, particularly the First Amendment. You remember that one don't you? I know it's hard to recognize nowadays, but it goes like this:

First Amendment – Freedom of speech, press, religion, peaceable assembly, and to petition the government.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The WashingtonPost reports that:

The Justice Department also argued in a court filing last month that reporters can be prosecuted under the 1917 Espionage Act for receiving and publishing classified information. The brief was filed in support of a case against two pro-Israeli lobbyists, who are the first nongovernment officials to be prosecuted for receiving and distributing classified information.

It's all so reminiscent of the Nixon administration...it's so nostalgic. Not in a "California Dreamin' - Woodstock" sort of way. More like a secretive, Deep Throat, Watergate sort of way. Freedom of the press is to be a thing of the past. Not that the press has been particularly stalwart lately, but come on! Why is the Bush administration trying to shut them up altogether? All the white house has to do is yell "Boo! Terrorist! Boo!" and suddenly the free press isn't allowed to publish any information. Well, I guess they can publish it but now they're threatened with prosicution if they do. It is just another indication that dissent will not be tolerated by Bush and company.

The former Yale cheerleader who is running our country (into the ground) and is the biggest cheerleader for global freedom and democracy, at least as far as paying it lip service, certainly has no trouble completely stripping and shredding the foundation that our country was established on.

Then Inspiration Struck

Not authorized. That is what I read as I tried to view my own blog this morning. I could get into the 'works' of it, the template, the settings and such, but not the actual blog home page that you're reading right now. Luckily (not that I was glad others were having trouble) I wasn't the only blogger left scratching their head wondering why they weren't authorized to access their own blog. If you aren't authorized to view your own blog, then who the hell is? Many of us left our questions of "what the heck?!?!!?" on the blogger help message boards.

One blogger pondered that perhaps those of us who'd found ourselves locked out of our blogs, were being read by the FBI. I have to admit that it was a scenario that crossed my mind before I even read his (her?) musings. I wondered if it were just the liberal sites that were down and two men in black suits, flashing FBI badges would be banging down my front door at any moment to drag me off to Guantanimo, never to be heard from again. But I hear they get fruit juice there, so it can't be all bad. *Imagine me rolling my eyes right about now*

So I spent some time perusing the current AP news, looking for inspiration for todays entry...

A great big "FUCK YOU" to the governor of South Dakota!!! The bastid signed the bill, approved by the house, that will make it illegal for a doctor to perform an abortion in the state, even in cases of rape and incest. How, in the name of all that is female, is this bill even legal? The decision that came of Roe v Wade makes it illegal for the governor of South Dakota to do exactly what he just did! From Wikipedia:

Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973)[1], was a landmark United States Supreme Court case establishing that most laws against abortion violate a constitutional right to privacy, overturning all state laws outlawing or restricting abortion. It is one of the most controversial decisions in U.S. Supreme Court history.

Let me repeat that, because it bears repeating: "...overturning all state laws outlawing or restricting abortion". Helloooo? Governor Mike Rounds is breaking federal law to push his moral agenda. Get the rope. And if you're a citizen of SD, your tax dollars will be used to pay for any opposing court challenge. His quote today (although declining requests for an interview, of course):

"In the history of the world, the true test of a civilization is how well people treat the most vulnerable and most helpless in their society. The sponsors and supporters of this bill believe that abortion is wrong because unborn children are the most vulnerable and most helpless persons in our society. I agree with them," Rounds said in the statement.

Certainly a fetus is vulnerable, I'll give him that. They're vulnerable because they can't possibly survive outside the womb and without being physically attatched by human tissue to it's mother. What makes the governor believe that the fetus living in the womb of a mother who does not wish to carry to term isn't just as vulnerable? You're telling someone who has decided that they don't want to be responsible...to BE responsible. It isn't as if the state can take the fetus from an irresponsible mother to be and put said fetus into the child welfare system...got foster womb? You put a woman in a situation where you've removed her choices and you've created a desparate situation. Desparate women carrying an unwanted child do desparate things.

Governor Mike Rounds of SD hasn't made a fetus less vulnerable by eliminating aboriton as an option. They're just as vulnerabe as they've always been because they are at the mercy of the woman (or girl) who's body is being occupied.

How's about this... any man who doesn't want a child, is required to get a vascectomy before engaging in sexual intercourse. If a woman is forced to carry a pregnancy to term, then a man who doesn't want a child shouldn't be able to physically create one. Fair enough, don't ya think? Sounds ridiculous, no?

Yeah, I thought so too. About both scenarios.





Roe v Wade


SD Governor Signs Law

FNC Pre-Oscar Smack Down

With Ken Lay of Enron on trial, the Dubai ports deal, and Bush's poll numbers at an all time low, it's no wonder that Fox News' focus this morning was on the Academy Awards and liberal Hollywood. Tony Snow, of Fox News, is predicting disappointing numbers in total viewers for tomorrow evening and blames it on the Academy for not including any blockbuster movies in it's nomination line up. He's also anticipating first time Oscar host, Jon Stewart, to not draw enough of a crowd, claiming that anyone who doesn't watch Comedy Central won't know who Stewart is. Take a walk outside of your comfort zone Tony...baby steps.

Mr. Snow, a 'blockbuster' movie does not equal a great movie, or even a good movie. A blockbuster movie can be, and often is, crap. Fluff. Lots of lights, bells, and whistles, but not much substance. Do you really think that Big Mama's House II is a better movie than Good Night and Good Luck just because it was a higher grossing film? C'mon! This year Hollywood has produced a number of films so full of substance you almost need a Ph.D. in order to absorb the intellectual plots that were so marvelously written. Yes, there are some nominees for best picture that are controversial to our times, but you forget Mr. Snow that the entire world and fifty percent of the U.S. do not hold your rose colored view of our current administration and perceived positive reputation as a country. The Oscars are televised worldwide. Three of the nominated films have just recently opened internationally. Brokeback Mountain is currently the number one movie in Hong Kong. Munich is number one in Greece and Syriana is number two in France and Italy.

I predict the 2006 Academy Awards will be a huge success. Brokeback Mountain will win Best Picture and Directing, Heath Ledger will win best actor (I know the favorite is Phillip Hoffman), and George Clooney will bring home two awards, one for Best Supporting Actor in Syriana, and the other for Best Original Screenplay for Good Night and Good Luck.

Good luck to all of you, and Tony Snow...find some culture and couth.

It's Always the Same Answer

When the question of 'why' is asked of the Bush administration, the answer is always ultimately the same....Halliburton. It all makes perfect sense now:

A revamped deal to allow Dubai Ports World to take over six major U.S. ports - including Manhattan's cruise ship terminal and the Newark, N.J., container depot - would have to be something along the lines of the Marine One contract.

British- and Italian-owned AgustaWestland had to take on Maryland-based Lockheed Martin to win the contract to build the president's helicopter last year.
"A lot of people are talking about this, a subsidiary or a deal like that," a congressional source confirmed.

One snag to such a deal may be that sources say the U.S. company best equipped to partner with DP World is Halliburton, once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney.

Just when I think this administration has ceased to amaze me, they pull another corrupted rabbit out of their hat. I'm reeling. 'Nuff said.




Link

On A Personal Note

I want to wish my friend Jennifer a very happy birthday today! We're eating at Cafe Bizou in Studio City tonight... seems the only time I can get out of this God forsaken, kid-friendly-chain-restaurant-addicted-town is when I meet my friends in, like, the valley for dinner, ya know? Note to Santa Clarita/Valencia chamber of commerce: Adults live in this valley too!! Incorporating some culture wouldn't kill you guys!

Jen has decided that she is no longer celebrating birthdays, this being her 35th! So we girls are going to accommodate her wishes and celebrate her un-birthday by randomly going out for no particular reason. Riiiiight. (wink) Jen is the best! I adore her! She's been my friend for going on sixteen years now. She's helped me through some of the toughest times of my life, celebrated the best of them, and was the best roommate, and still is the best vacation buddy anyone could ever have! She has the greatest non-judgmental "hey dude, it's your life, so whatever blows your hair back" attitude that I wish I could pull off as well as she does. I love you Jeffiner!! You're the best!!!

I'm also giving the raspberries to Marisol for ditching us tonight to go to the Bon Jovi concert. Her with her backstage passes and whatnot...bite me. I'm not bitter.

It will be back to business as usual around here tomorrow. Tonight is party time!

Toodles!!

Then Benjamin Franklin Rolled Over in His Grave

The U.S. Senate renewed the Patriot Act by an 89-10 vote. The bill also made permanent 14 of the original 16 temporary provisions. I'm losing what little faith I've been holding out for the Democratic party. You've let me down guys and gals. You suck. I expected it from the Repulbican Senate...not you. You're supposed to be better than that. I must restate it, you suck right out! The only Senators not currently on my suck list are Jim Jeffords of Vermont,Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Daniel Akaka of Hawaii, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Tom Harkin of Iowa, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Carl Levin of Michigan, Patty Murray of Washington and Ron Wyden of Oregon.

The new and improved, great-taste-less-filling Patriot Act also includes a dandy provision in there that would make it more difficult for meth labs to obtain their ingredients by requiring pharmacies to sell, what were once over the counter cold medicines, from behind the counter. What in the world? What does that have to do with the war on terror? Didn't some of us predict this when the Patriot Act was originally drafted and passed in the wake of 9-11? Yep. We did. We predicted that the terrorism laws would eventually be applied to just about any crime. And, well, there ya have it. Comtrex and DayQuil are now off the shelves! Our national security depends on it...or something.

Kudos to the ten Senators who took a stand to protect the liberties of the American people by voting 'no' on this violation of our freedom. I leave you with a quote worth pondering...

“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”~Benjamin Franklin November 11, 1755


http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060302/D8G3M3583.html

Much Ado About Nothing, Yet

Move along. Nothing to see here. Ports deal? It ain't no thang. Congress gets forty five days for a briefing on security measures and such, and all will be just dandy, business as usual. Except for this little tidbit that the London High Court hasn't even approved the DP World's takeover of Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, and the judge has delayed his decision until Thursday:

In London on Tuesday, a high court judge delayed until Thursday a decision on whether to approve DP World's takeover of Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. Two shareholders and a joint venture partner of the British company objected to the deal. The judge had been expected to approve the deal Tuesday.

As an aside, Trent Lott was rather upset with President Bush's vehement claim that he would veto any legislation presented to stop the ports deal:

Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said the White House was "slow to react" to the criticism. Lott also called the president's threat last week to veto legislation Congress passed "very unwise.""It offended me. He threatened me," Lott added.

Oooohh burn! I wonder if Bush will still be welcome to sit on the front porch of Lott's newly built Mississippi home?




http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060301/D8G2J1QO0.html


http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050902-2.html