When is an "activist" not an "activist"?

Hmmm, what do we call someone who has been "indicted on federal charges of unlawfully possessing and disclosing classified information"?

Thinking people would call him a SPY. But the AP doesn't seem to want to associate accused spies with a Democratic congressperson.

Media reports have suggested that Harman, who represents the Venice area of Los Angeles, was overheard in an NSA wiretap seeking lenient treatment for two former pro-Israel activists.

The activists later were indicted on federal charges of unlawfully possessing and disclosing classified information.

The press still can't call Cuba a dictatorship

To them, it is still a glorious "revolution." And Castro was kind enough to rid the Cuban people of the evil "US-backed dictator." Such a sweetheart.

Obama may set new policy on Cuba's aging revolution

Five decades after Fidel Castro toppled a U.S.-backed dictator to take power in Cuba, the Cold War rivalry with Washington could be thawing as President-elect Barack Obama looks to ease sanctions against the communist-run island.

Obama has made clear he favors relaxing restrictions on family travel and cash remittances by Cuban Americans to Cuba, which this week marks the 50th anniversary of Castro's revolution.

2 Democrat MA State Senators Resign

But you wouldn't know they are Democrats based on most of the news accounts. Strange how that always seems to happen.

Dianne Wilkerson, who "allegedly" took $23,000 in bribes is described as "Embattled." Here's a great picture of her stuffing cash into her bra.

The other guy, James Marzilla, has been accused of groping at least four women in parks. His wife has reported that he checked into a mental institution for treatment of bipolar disorder. Sounds like the next stop is Hollywood for this guy.

Gall bladder surgery anyone?

I just had my gall bladder removed on Sunday. From waking up at 8am on Friday with 102.7 fever, to seeing my doctor at 4pm on Friday, to going to the ER at 6pm, to being diagnosed at 2am on Saturday morning to having the surgery at 4pm Saturday afternoon to returning home at 5pm on Sunday, it took a total of 57 hours (diagnosis to surgery was only 14 hours). And I complained every step of the way how long everything was taking.

But not so fast. In some parts of Canada where I can find information, the average wait time is a little bit more. For example in Alberta, the "target" wait time after diagnosis is 23 to 62 WEEKS. Yes, weeks. Not hours, not even days. And you can bet the average wait time, if not exceeding the target, is very close to the maximum as it was with most of the other types of surgery on which I could find statistics.

You see the problem with finding the numbers is the government doesn't seem all that keen to publish them. They are very good at publishing when they have lowered wait times to come closes to their targets, but even then they talk in vague statistics and percentages - not in hard numbers.

The best place to find information seems to be on message boards and reading the posts of actual patients. One patient from Ontario complained a few weeks ago about her 10 month wait for her gall bladder surgery. She was looking for advice on how to lessen the pain while she waits. I have one suggestion for her: Head south. They may have a way to ease your pain. It's called surgery.

Sadly, not once did she even question the sense of the Canadian health care system. Pretty sad that she has 9 months of pure pain ahead of her but she is so brainwashed she can't even see the real cause of her discomfort.

Canadian medicine borders on the medieval. Sure, there is 100% percent access to the health care system! Anyone at anytime can go visit the witch doctor and have the leeches suck out the their blood. Good job, Canada.

Is it O.J. or is it Obama

At the risk of being called a racist, the resemblance is undeniable.

How dare they rely on that silly Constitution

And you probably thought it was the job of law enforcement to protect and defend the constitution. What were you thinking.

The Sheriff's Department has begun the process of revoking hundreds of concealed weapon permits across Orange County.

This week, department officials confirmed that 146 letters have been sent out advising current license holders that their permits to carry firearms in public – called CCWs – are being revoked.

The letter, sent out under the signature of Captain Dave Nighswonger, advises current holders that if they feel that additional information should be considered they have roughly one month to provide additional good cause information for the department to consider before the revocation becomes final.

"Most of them are not coming back with the information we need," said Nighswonger. "A lot of them are arguing the second amendment (to the U.S. Constitution)," he said.

A Great Slip by E!

Talk about a Freudian Slip.

The ghosts of O.J. Simpson's past are speaking out about his Friday night conviction for double murder armed robbery and kidnapping.

Fred Goldman, who believes O.J. killed his son, Ron, and Nicole Brown Simpson 14 years ago, told CNN that his family is "absolutely thrilled to see the potential that he could serve the rest of his life in jail where the scumbag belongs."

Simpson was acquitted of murder in 1995 but was found liable for their deaths in the 1997 civil suit.

Mario and Joe on the politics of the bailout

McCain Playing Politics

By Mario Giardiello

Let me get this straight: McCain voted for the $700 billion bailout bill, and now is calling on President Bush to veto it. “He was for it before he was against it” is an expression that I have come to detest; but never has it been used before with a politician that has changed his mind within 24 hours without any new facts. And when pressed on MSNBC why he voted for it, he was as incoherent as Palin talking to Katie Couric about Supreme Court decisions or the bail out bill itself.

If McCain once represented the maverick style politics that is needed to shake up D.C., he has succumbed to Rove-like politics. The Bushies have over-prepared McCain and Palin so much they are confused by their own thoughts and they fail to make any sense. Between McCain’s fake smile and blinking eyes he looks like a ventriloquist’s dummy. And he ain’t much smarter, ya’ll.

Talk About Playing Politics

By Joe Giardiello

Once again Liberals like Mario are trying to have their tortillas and eat them, too. If McCain voted against the bailout they would have criticized him for voting against “saving the economy,” whatever that means. But since he voted for it despite opposing the pork barrel earmarks, they criticize him for not sticking to principles.

Then they make the absurd claim that McCain called on Bush to veto the bill. Huh? Maybe they should read what McCain actually said, not what they wanted to hear.

SCARBOROUGH: Why did these [pork barrel] items have to be in this critical bill?

MCCAIN: Well that’s just the way the system is working in Washington and the reason why it’s got to be fixed, and it’s got to be changed. And no matter what the stakes are, you’ve got to stop this by starting to veto bills that come across the president’s desk. … It’s insanity and it’s obscenity, because it’s a waste of taxpayers’ dollars and it goes on, and until we stop it, until we get frankly a president who will say, I’m gonna veto these bills, I’m gonna make the people famous that put them on there, uh, famous.

If liberals had the reading comprehension above the level of comic books, they would see the point was the system (that Barack Obama supports) is broken. He says he is going to veto bills when he is president.

Do liberals really think McCain was calling on Bush to veto the bill? Or are they just playing politics?

Haha

Maybe justice delay is justice served. No more searching the golf courses for the real killer.

I'm no astronaut

But it seems to me that if the spacecraft broke up into dozens of pieces, that really can't be called a "successful reentry."

Europe's unmanned space cargo vehicle successfully reentered the atmosphere over the south Pacific Ocean Sept. 29, breaking up into dozens of fragments that fell into the ocean along a pre-selected path that had been cleared of maritime traffic, European Space Agency (ESA) officials said.

But really that was what they expected it to do, so it actually was successful but you would think they could have come up with better language.

Ted Stevens needs to go

But not because of this scam case by federal prosecutors. Everything they say is suspect. The case should be dismissed, but then we are probably forced to keep Stevens around.

A federal judge angrily rebuked the Justice Department on Monday for mishandling a witness against Sen. Ted Stevens, a dispute that delayed and initially threatened to derail the case against the Alaska senator.

The dustup didn't yield the mistrial or dismissal that the Republican senator was hoping for but, with Stevens running for re-election during his corruption trial, it reinforces his story line that he is the victim of overzealous prosecutors.

Stevens is charged with lying on Senate financial disclosure forms about more than $250,000 in free home renovations and other gifts he received from VECO Corp., a powerful Alaska oil pipeline contractor.

The witness dispute began this weekend when Robert Williams, the VECO employee who supervised the renovation project, called defense attorneys and said prosecutors had ignored important facts in the case.

Williams said the government's estimates for how much time he spent at the senator's house — and how much that time was worth — were overblown, according to court documents.

"That's just ..." defense attorney Robert Cary said in court Monday.

"Problematic," U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan said.

"It shocks us," Cary replied.

The value of the renovation is key because Stevens paid $160,000 and says he assumed it covered everything. Prosecutors say the job was so expensive, Stevens must have known his $160,000 wouldn't cover the tab.

Sullivan was livid that prosecutors sent Williams, who was under subpoena to testify in the case, back to Alaska without telling anyone. That raised suspicion among defense attorneys that prosecutors were trying to hide information that could help them.

Williams had been suffering from health problems and prosecutors said they decided they could bring the case without him.

Sullivan was not satisfied.

"Why wasn't I consulted? I'm peeved now. It's a federal subpoena to appear in my court," Sullivan said, his voice rising. "I think the government is treading in some shallow water here. What should the sanction be for that?"

Prosecutor Nicholas Marsh said the government was trying to consider Williams' medical problems, but he struggled to explain why prosecutors didn't tell anyone.

"Certainly looking back on it, we understand where the court's coming from," Marsh said.

That's what we call bullshit by prosecutors looking to pad their resumes with a high profile conviction.

And the Big Winner of the First Debate Is…

By Joe Giardiello

Bill and Hillary. By a long shot. I am now more convinced than ever that Hillary will have her second bite at the apple in 2012. She will get the nomination next time because Democrats always seem to be running the last presidential election all over again. But more on that in the future.

If you’re asking who won the debate between the second and third place finishers, it was John McCain. As much as I hate to agree with Mario, alas, I find I have no choice. For only the third time this presidential cycle he is actually right. John McCain won this debate. (If you want to know the other times he was correct, they are 1) Hillary should have been the Democratic nominee, and 2) Hillary would win New Hampshire even after her devastating loss in Iowa).

According to the people who were watching the debate more sober than me, Obama agreed with McCain 11 times. Note to Obama: If you agree with the guy so much, why don’t you just vote for him? While there is no problem agreeing with your opponent in a debate, one of the cardinal rules is you don’t say you do. You simply state the same opinion as if you were the first one in the free world who ever had such a brilliant thought. Obama uses the “I agree with John” line because he’s trying to think about what he actually wants to say. So much for the grand orator.

Let’s face it – Obama is the ultimate one dimensional candidate. He has not had an original thought in his life.

Case in point: Obama is fixated on the idea that he was opposed to the war in Iraq from the beginning, as if that qualifies him to be president. That’s fine as far as it goes. Unfortunately for the Democrats, Obama’s pea brain can go no further. He seems to think if the war in Iraq was never fought, the fight against terrorism would have ended in Afghanistan. Never mind there is no logical reason to believe that. After all, al Quaida had attacked U.S. interests in at least six different theaters in the previous years.

John McCain, on the other hand, recognized the strategy in Iraq had failed to change with the changing circumstances. But then he doesn’t get his information from a teleprompter.

Yet not once did Obama suggest any plans to fight terrorism other than he would get that video tape making Osama bin Ladin. Hey Obama, if all he’s doing is making videos or audio tapes, at least he’s not flying planes into our buildings.

What Obama did do repeatedly was torture us with a collection of “Ummms,” “Ahhhhhs,” and st-st-st-stutters. I stopped counting at 47. Hey, I had pizza in the oven. I couldn’t wait around for the young man to compose his thoughts.

About the only thing Obama had going for him the whole night was the stiffness of John McCain. It was a stiffness that could only have come from serving his country and being tortured by our enemies.

And another thing – Who was leaking information to the state Senator from Illinois about the weapons program of Saddam Hussein? Obama stated one of the reasons he opposed the war was because we didn’t have reliable intelligence about WMDs. That would undoubtedly come as a surprise to the Clinton Administration, the Democratic leadership in Congress, the EU and the UN who all believed there was enough intelligence. So exactly where was he getting his information? The only person who would have known conclusively whether Iraq had WMDs or not would be someone whose middle name is not (or should that be was not) Hussein.

Up next – the Vice Presidential Debate. I can’t wait for that one. There will be a draft Hillary campaign unleashed before the debate is even over.

What Obama Doesn’t Understand…

By Mario Giardiello

From the opening handshake, Obama seemed more presidential and confident, holding McCain’s hand firmly and looking him in the eye. McCain couldn’t even look at him. Then he proceeded with what some pundits are calling the best start of a debate for any candidate. He gave the specific step by step rescue plan for the economy that was clear and confident. He used the same numbered response later in the debate for at least one other issue (how he would deal with Pakistan). If he stuck to this strategy (not a tactic) then he would have won this debate handily instead of a draw that many seem to think it was.

McCain, on the other hand started weakly saying, “I’m not feeling too good about a lot of things lately…” What is there for him to feel good about? Polls are down almost as much as Wall Street, his maverick counterpart is embarrassingly unintelligible, and he isn’t getting any younger.

Despite all that, as hard as it is to say, my candidate for the President of the United States lost the first debate. Round one went to McCain because he was constantly on the offensive, which caused Obama to be knocked off message and on the ropes. Barring the positions on the issues, McCain made it clear that his experience was his greatest strength. His name dropping and trips abroad set him apart, as did his incessant reminder (true or not) that Obama just didn’t understand the complexity of the issues. Obama’s good judgment and intelligence may not be enough to engage the independents to look deeper into the issues.

CNN and MSNBC were holding on to the hope that McCain’s attacks were seen by independents as a negative. On the contrary, I believe the voters who have an independent streak admire the strength that McCain showed. There is no doubt that Senator McCain appears ready to be President, and many are still left wondering about Obama. “What Obama doesn’t understand” is how to be more direct and tough in a debate.

As a liberal, I sided with Obama on every issue other than his hawkish stance on Pakistan. But the debate wasn’t about the issues. It was good judgment versus experience, and experience won. Experience makes us feel safer in times of such uncertainty. Change and good judgment may make a good president of the Harvard Law Review, but it doesn’t guarantee winning a debate or the Presidency.

Some have suggested just because Obama is an extraordinary orator it does not mean he would be a better President. Similarly, just because McCain is a better debater, that does not make him a better President. So I continue to have faith that Obama is the “hope that I can believe in.” But all of a sudden, hope has a different meaning. I’m hoping he can hang on to a 6% - 8% lead until November.

One thing is for sure, Hillary and Bill are happy tonight.

Racist, illiterate Democrats and the people who love them

Yes, this was the federal judge who was impeached for corruption.

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Florida Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings pointed to Sarah Palin on Wednesday to rally Jews to Obama.

"If Sarah Palin isn’t enough of a reason for you to get over whatever your problem is with Barack Obama, then you damn well had better pay attention," said Hastings. "Anybody toting guns and stripping moose don’t care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks. So, you just think this through."

Hastings, who is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, made his comments in Washington, D.C., while participating in a panel discussion sponsored by the National Jewish Democratic Council.

And you have to love this spin.

Asked what the congressman meant, Hastings spokesman David Goldenberg told ABC News that he was trying to argue that Palin is an "extremely conservative woman who is out of touch with mainstream America."

Barack Obama Holds Lead Among Arab American Vote

No shit. That's what Zogby considers breaking news. I wonder if they asked in the poll who was responsible for 9-11. And if 23% of Arabs think Bush is doing a poor job, doesn't that automatically mean he is doing a good job?

Joe Biden's Dan Quayle moment

Of course if Dan Quayle had done this it would have been headlines for days. But Biden does it and gets a pass.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden found himself in an embarrassing situation during a Missouri campaign appearance Tuesday.

During a stop in Columbia, Mo., Biden was speaking before a large crowd when he decided to give special recognition to State Senator Chuck Graham.

"Chuck, stand up, let the people see you," Biden shouted.

However, Biden did not realize that Graham is confined to a wheelchair.

"Oh, God love you. What am I talking about? I'll tell you what, you're making everybody else stand up, old pal. I'll tell you what, everybody else stand up for Chuck. Stand up for Chuck!" Biden said.

You can see the video at WTOP.

Defeated Ex-Senator Lincoln Chafee: A loser on so many levels

This is the jerk-off the misguided Republican Party spent millions on defending in a primary challenge and general election in 2006 - even after he refused to support Bush in 04. Now, without even ever having met Sarah Palin, he has the gall to call her a "cocky wacko."

Now, Defeated ex-Senator Lincoln Davenport Chafee probably considers himself a learned man. He is, after all, a visiting fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies. How impressive. How hoity-toity. You would think, as important as he undoubedly thinks he is, he could have thought of something a tad more clever than that.

This guy is so clueless, he things Sarah Palin has energized the Democratic Party. No wonder he is a defeated, ex-senator. While Obama and Biden flail about looking for a way to attack Palin, they dig themselves in deeper and deeper. Women are fleeing the Obama sinking ship in record numbers.

And not for anything, but just imagine if a visiting fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies said such a thing about a Democrat, like Barack Obama for instance. He would be out on his ass in a minute. The same should happen to defeated ex-Senator Chafee. But we all know it won't because Democrats are held to a different (and much lower) standard.

Biden must be schooling Obama

At least Biden plagerized political leaders. Obama steals cartoons.

• "Watch out Mr. Bush! With the exception of economic policy and energy policy and social issues and tax policy and foreign policy and Supreme Court appointments and Rove-style politics, we're coming in there to shake things up!"--Tom Toles cartoon, Washington Post, Sept. 5

• "John McCain says he's about change too. So I guess his whole angle is: Watch out, George Bush--except for economic policy, healthcare policy, tax policy, education policy, foreign policy and Karl Rove-style politics, we're really going to shake things up in Washington."--Barack Obama, Sept. 9

From Best of the Web

Now Biden sticks his foot in his mouth

If Biden didn't understand how this comment was perceived, he's stupider than previously thought and certainly not qualified to be president.

During a campaign event in Columbia, Missouri, Biden did not mention his Republican counterpart by name but said, "I hear all this talk about how the Republicans are going to work in dealing with parents who have both the joy ... and the difficulty of raising a child who has a developmental disability, who were born with a birth defect."

Biden's support of stem cell research is at odds with the position taken by the Republicans' vice presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whose 5-month-old son, Trig, has Down syndrome.

Palin, an evangelical Christian, opposes stem cell research because it involves the use of human embryos, but her running mate, GOP presidential nominee McCain, does support stem cell research.

And oh, by the way, Palin does not oppose "stem cell research." She opposed embryonic stem cell research has shown no promise in finding cures and must create human life in order to experiment on it. She supports stem cell research that uses adult stem cells - the research that has proven successful in finding cures.

Obama calls Palin a pig

What is wrong with this guy? Is he really in this total free fall?

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama told an audience Tuesday that GOP presidential nominee John McCain says he'll change Washington, but he's just like President Bush.

"You can put lipstick on a pig," he said to an outbreak of laughter, shouts and raucous applause from his audience, clearly drawing a connection to Palin's joke. "It's still a pig. You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change. It's still going to stink after eight years."

And hasn't his handlers told him the "hip" thing is a losing proposition?

"Look, she's new, she hasn't been on the scene, she's got five kids. And my hat goes off to anybody whose looking after five. I've got two and they tire Michelle and me out," he said.

Reuters Poll Envy

It seems strange this is the only poll that Reuters decides to give a headline. Maybe because it is the only one this week that shows Obama ahead. Every other poll shows McCain ahead by as much as 10 points.

Obama narrowly leads McCain in Washington Post/ABC poll

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama narrowly leads Republican rival John McCain by 47 percent to 46 percent among registered voters in a Washington Post/ABC News poll released on Monday.

If this guy were a Republican...

...every stage of the case would be on the evening news. I'm guessing this will be the only story about it. Of course what can we expect from the same liberal mainstream media that ignored the corrupt Democratic Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick story.

Once-powerful Pa. senator faces long fraud trial

A longtime power broker in Pennsylvania politics earned nearly $100,000 a year as a state senator, up to $1 million a year as a rainmaking lawyer and millions more from the sale of a family bank.

However, prosecutors say freewheeling Philadelphia Democrat Vincent Fumo used little of his own money as he took yachting vacations with friends, spent lavishly on a 33-room city brownstone and hired operatives to spy on ex-wives and political foes.

Fumo faces trial Monday in federal court on charges alleging he used $3.5 million in what he called "OPM" — other people's money — to keep his political machine well oiled and fund a lifestyle that included three vacation homes and heated sidewalks outside his mansion. The trial is expected to last a full three months, after a week of jury selection.

Fumo is accused of misusing nearly $2 million in Senate funds and of raiding the coffers of a neighborhood charity after using his political clout to steer $27 million in corporate donations to the charity.

Some in Europe awakening to global warming scam

Finally someone in Europe talking sense about the global warming scam.

Wilson row over green 'alarmists'

The Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has angered green campaigners by describing their view on climate change as a "hysterical psuedo-religion".

In an article in the News Letter, Mr Wilson said he believed it occurred naturally and was not man-made.

"Resources should be used to adapt to the consequences of climate change, rather than King Canute-style vainly trying to stop it," said the minister.

Peter Doran of the Green Party said it was a "deeply irresponsible message."

Mr Wilson said he refused to "blindly accept" the need to make significant changes to the economy to stop climate change.

"The tactic used by the "green gang" is to label anyone who dares disagree with their view of climate change as some kind of nutcase who denies scientific fact," he said.

The minister said he accepted climate change can occur, but does not believe the cause has been identified.

"Reasoned debate must replace the scaremongering of the green climate alarmists."

Typical NPR Coverage

This is the best NPR could come up with in covering the Republican Convention.

Palin's Teen Is Pregnant; News Overshadows

Republican officials in St. Paul, Minn., devoted the first day of their national convention to fundraising and relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Gustav, tossing aside overt political appeals in favor of requests for help scheduled by first lady Laura Bush, and Sen. John McCain's wife, Cindy.

But overshadowing activities on the floor was a surprise statement from the McCain campaign that running mate Sarah Palin's unmarried, 17-year-old daughter is pregnant.

Obama's Youth Vote

Yeah, really something to be proud of.

Mario and Joe from the Republican Convention

Fired up and Ready to go to Sleep

From Mario Giardiello

As I turned the channel to FOX news last night, I thought I was on the wrong channel. It looked like an AARP meeting, not a political convention. I never saw so many wrinkles, bald spots, spectacles, and liver spots. The women were either sallow eyed, had too much make-up on, and/or had overly bloated lips. There were more cowboy hats than heads full of hair. This party is old and dying. May they rest in peace.

There is mostly old white guys represented, and their woman who followed them there. Once in awhile the cameras would pan over the crowd and it was scary. This is not a representation of our country, but of a Grand Poo Bah meeting. Where are the young people? Where are the people of color? Where are the handicapped? Do they hide these people like Denver hid their homeless by giving them movie tickets? Of course not. Anyone who has ever felt left out, discriminated against, or does not look like the rest of the Republican Party would not be at their convention. The representation of the Republican Party is superficial, and shallow. They do not represent our entire country and their days are numbered.

Cindy McCain symbolizes this superficiality. She’s the prettiest ugly person I ever saw. The closer the camera gets the more she looks like a Barbie bobble head. Is her head always so stiff and bobbing in agreement? The speakers aren’t always saying something agreeable, and she is busy nodding in agreement. Does she even care what she is hearing?

And what is their platform after all? Could they possibly exploit fear once again? After eight years of this tactic working why would they abandon it? And if we have to depend on wishy-washy independents to decide who should be the next president, then we liberals are in trouble. These are people who still don’t know whether they believe in the need for government to regulate big business or the need for big business to drive innovation and free markets, apparently not understanding there can be a sensible balance.

Yes, the days of the Republican Party as we know it is numbered. After all, just a few years ago, many of us liberal had much respect of McCain as a moderate (until we looked more closely at his voting record). I listened to Bush, Thompson, Lieberman, Huckabee, Romney, Giuliani, Laura Bush, and finally Palin and they were all on message. We had to sit through each of them gushing over McCain’s record as a war hero, talk about Obama’s inexperience, and tout the Republicans as the party that will keep us safe in such uncertain times. There is no dispute that McCain has more experience and he is enough of a “maverick” that Obama’s outsider appeal is diminished. If the Democrats don’t come out fighting on Monday we are done.

After the 3^rd night of the Republican convention, I can safely say, we liberals are in deep trouble. People will vote for McCain’s experience and security. I now understand we made a mistake not putting Hillary on our ticket. We have ourselves to blame.

She’s My Gal

From Joe Giardiello

Let me be the first to say it: Why couldn’t she be our presidential candidate. Oh well, we live and learn. I was certainly on the fence as to whether to support John McCain in November. It all depended on his running mate. And that was only because I believe that McCain will appoint conservatives to the Supreme Court.

Now I can say I have sipped the Kool-Aid and it is sweet. I almost can’t wait for the day the McCain Administration rides off into the sunset so we can get the President in office we want. So long Romney, good riddance Huckabee. You had your chance and you will not get another after tonight.

No doubt there are a few dozen (maybe even a few hundred) of Obama’s advisors sitting around with their chins on the table. Maybe by now they are picking them up and looking around at each other. “Uh oh,” they are all thinking, “What are we going to do now?” It is an excellent question.

So speaking as one who has run dozens of campaigns, let me try to answer that. Go home. Take a vacation. You have already made millions from the campaign so what are you worried about. Obama couldn’t break 50% with constant positive media attention and coming off a successful convention. There is no reason to think he can now.

Truly a star has been born tonight. Plucked right out of small town America and she will single handedly roll over the liberal, elitist establishment and show Washington how things are supposed to be run.

Here’s to one term for John McCain.

Palin-McCain 08

They still have a gallows in Washington

It's true, Washington is the last state in the union that will actually hang a murderer. If only the government in Washington had the courage to carry it out.

A man fatally shot a sheriff's deputy responding to a call Tuesday in northwestern Washington state, then led authorities on a car chase and killed five other people before turning himself in, officials said. Two others were wounded.

A state trooper was among those injured in Skagit County, north of Seattle, authorities said. The dead were found at multiple scenes, state trooper Keith Leary said at a news conference.

Among the dead were the deputy and another person killed at the same location; two construction workers who were found shot nearby; a person killed at another location; and a motorist fatally shot on Interstate 5.

A motorcyclist was shot and wounded at a gas station in the town of Alger, and the trooper was wounded in the arm as the suspect raced along Interstate 5, authorities said.

That suspect, reportedly a man known to Skagit County authorities, eventually turned himself in at a Skagit County sheriff's office in Mount Vernon.

Bobby Jindal must hate his family

This is the question the New York Times magazine asked Bobby Jindal. I'm not kidding.

If the Republican Party bills itself as the party of family values, what should we make of the fact that you rejected the name your parents gave you, their political affiliation and their religion?

Hinduism teaches there are different paths to God, and that may have played a part in their ultimate acceptance of my decision.

DEMOCRATS DISPLAY DESTRUCTIVE DELIGHT

By Jeff Crouere

www.ringsidepolitics.com

September 1, 2008…Once again a major hurricane is hitting the New Orleans area. Once again, I have evacuated my family along with millions of harried Gulf Coast residents. We are worried about our family members, friends, property, and pets. It is stressful time for all of us in this region of the country.

It was just three years ago that Hurricane Katrina devastated our area creating horrendous damage and killing over 1,600 people. Unfortunately, there are tens of thousands of people who have not been able to return home. Thousands of homes remain damaged and unoccupied. Sadly, our community has not recovered from Katrina; yet, now we have to face another killer storm. It is a tragic situation that is more than nerve wracking for all of us in the New Orleans area and throughout the Gulf Coast.

In the midst of this tragedy, liberal propagandist Michael Moore, a bloated blowhard, has insulted every resident of the threatened region. Moore told fellow Republican hater and lunatic liberal MSNBC host Keith Olbermann, that Hurricane Gustav was proof that there “is a God in Heaven.” Moore crowed that it was delicious irony that President Bush was scheduled to speak to the GOP convention at the same time the devastating hurricane would be rampaging across the northern Gulf Coast.

By celebrating the political ramifications of Gustav, Moore and Olbermann were displaying more concern about partisan politics than the well being of millions of Americans. It was a disgusting display of nasty partisanship at a time of national crisis. Any decent human being should be more worried about the safety of fellow Americans than scoring political points.

Of course three years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans area and the federal response was lame and delayed. Yet, the local and state response was equally inadequate. This time, the federal government has been proactive and very aggressive in evacuating local residents and preparing for this hurricane. The actions of Louisiana state government led by new Republican Governor Bobby Jindal has been the antithesis of what happened during Katrina. At that time, Democrat Governor Kathleen Blanco was overwhelmed, overly emotional and ill-prepared. She clearly was not able to convey any leadership or inspire any confidence in state government. In contrast, for this emergency, Governor Jindal has acted quickly and confidently and certainly saved lives by his leadership during this crisis.

Regrettably, several leading Democrats are using this tragedy to score political points. Former DNC Chairman Don Fowler said that the hurricane demonstrates that “God is on our side.” A shocking video captured a heartless Fowler laughing about this tragedy and saying that it would negatively impact the Republican convention. In another example of horrible insensitivity, liberal Fox News contributor and Temple University professor Marc Lamont Hill said that Republicans must be “praying for tornadoes” so that President Bush will skip the convention. This type of disgusting partisanship is why many people are tired of politics.

Let me be clear to these liberal Democrats, no sane Republican official is praying for tornadoes. In fact, Republican leaders gathered for the convention are very concerned about the impact of the storm and will lead an effort to assist in the recovery of the area. For example, President Bush did not attend the convention so that he could manage the federal response to Hurricane Gustav.

It is time to remind these callous Democrats that God did not send a hurricane to help one party or to harm people to score political points. The God that I worship is a merciful and loving God that watches over all of his flock, regardless of political affiliation.

This tragedy should be an opportunity for people to put aside political labels and pull together to insure a quick recovery from this disaster. The last thing anyone should be doing at this point is to try to take political advantage of this tragedy. The comments of these leading Democrats are incredibly cruel and show complete insensitivity to the plight of their fellow Americans. Now is not the time to play partisan politics, there will be plenty of time for that once this threat passes.

Hateful Democrats

Some crank that calls herself a Democrat (of course she may be "transgendered" - who can tell in the modern Democratic Party) had this to say about Sara Palin. These are desperately hateful people who are already reacting to their inevitable loss in the presidential election.

Horny old man: Could Sarah Palin actually be THAT desperate?

I just got an e-mail from my friend Joe Thompson. Joe used to work in the Louisiana oil patch back in the day and has apparently seen it all. "Jane," wrote Joe, "You aren't the only one shaking your head over John McCain's choice of a running mate. From my point of view he is a horny old man, who selected a horny young woman and intends to screw America all the way to the White House and beyond."

This part is classic. Democrats are so moral and upstanding they would never think about dirty politics.

Whoa, Joe! You gotta stop thinking like that! You're a Democrat. Democrats fight fair. Making nasty innuendos and spreading disgusting rumors is Karl Rove's job. You're out of your league.

Then I got an e-mail from my friend Hanna. "C'mon, guys," she wrote me and Joe. "Nobody would actually voluntarily touch that repulsive old geriatric case John McCain .... not even Palin... for a Vice Presidency ... would she?"

Perhaps Palin might not eagerly jump at the chance to become John McCain's next Cindy -- and I bet that even Cindy herself is currently letting said opportunity slide (perhaps she's too busy right now mourning the fact that Austin Kutcher is married?) -- but I imagine that there are whole bunches of desperate octogenarian ladies living in rest homes in Florida who still think that John McCain is a BABE.

Damn they are angry. Of course I guess I would be too if I was going to lose to John McCain.

Clinton supporters for John McCain

It's still unclear who many of Hillary Clinton's voters are going to support. Either they are so pissed off at her losing and will vote for McCain (or just stay home) or they will stick with their party and figure Obama is the lesser of two evils. Only time will tell but for now, there seem to be a growing movement moving in the direction of McCain. Here are two groups:

Hillary Clinton Supporters for John McCain

Hillary Clinton Supporters Count Too

"Some would say that point was passed months ago"

That was the comment of a MSNBC "News" caster in response to a guests comment that at some point the Clinton campaign is going to be seen as whining. Fair and balanced as always from the good folks at MSNBC.

Those Awarded the Medal of Honor

MICHAEL P. MURPHY
Lieutenant, United States Navy

"27 and 28 June 2005. While leading a mission to locate a high-level anti-coalition militia leader, Lieutenant Murphy demonstrated extraordinary heroism in the face of grave danger in the vicinity of Asadabad, Konar Province, Afghanistan.

"On 28 June 2005, operating in an extremely rugged enemy-controlled area, Lieutenant Murphy's team was discovered by anti-coalition militia sympathizers, who revealed their position to Taliban fighters. As a result, between 30 and 40 enemy fighters besieged his four-member team.

"Demonstrating exceptional resolve, Lieutenant Murphy valiantly led his men in engaging the large enemy force. The ensuing fierce firefight resulted in numerous enemy casualties, as well as the wounding of all four members of the team. Ignoring his own wounds and demonstrating exceptional composure, Lieutenant Murphy continued to lead and encourage his men. When the primary communicator fell mortally wounded, Lieutenant Murphy repeatedly attempted to call for assistance for his beleaguered teammates.

"Realizing the impossibility of communicating in the extreme terrain, and in the face of almost certain death, he fought his way into open terrain to gain a better position to transmit a call. This deliberate, heroic act deprived him of cover, exposing him to direct enemy fire. Finally achieving contact with his Headquarters, Lieutenant Murphy maintained his exposed position while he provided his location and requested immediate support for his team.

"In his final act of bravery, he continued to engage the enemy until he was mortally wounded, gallantly giving his life for his country and for the cause of freedom."

JASON L. DUNHAM
Corporal, United States Marine Corps

"(O)n 14 April 2004. Corporal Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah, Iraq, when they heard rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire erupt approximately two kilometers to the west. Corporal Dunham led his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards the engagement to provide fire support to their Battalion Commander's convoy, which had been ambushed as it was traveling to Camp Husaybah.

"As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced, they quickly began to receive enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered his squad to dismount their vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several blocks south of the ambushed convoy. Discovering seven Iraqi vehicles in a column attempting to depart, Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the vehicles to search them for weapons. As they approached the vehicles, an insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham.

"Corporal Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground and in the ensuing struggle saw the insurgent release a grenade. Corporal Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines to the threat. Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation, Corporal Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. In an ultimate and selfless act of bravery in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines."

MICHAEL A. MONSOOR
Master-At-Arms Second Class, United States Navy

"(O)n 29 September 2006. As a member of a combined SEAL and Iraqi Army Sniper Overwatch Element, tasked with providing early warning and stand-off protection from a rooftop in an insurgent held sector of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by his exceptional bravery in the face of grave danger.

"In the early morning, insurgents prepared to execute a coordinated attack by reconnoitering the area around the element's position. Element snipers thwarted the enemy's initial attempt by eliminating two insurgents. The enemy continued to assault the element, engaging them with a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof.

"While the SEALs vigilantly watched for enemy activity, an insurgent threw a hand grenade from an unseen location, which bounced off Petty Officer Monsoor's chest and landed in front of him. Although only he could have escaped the blast, Petty Officer Monsoor chose instead to protect his teammates. Instantly and without regard for his own safety, he threw himself onto the grenade to absorb the force of the explosion with his body, saving the lives of his two teammates.

"By his undaunted courage, fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of certain death, Petty Officer Monsoor gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

PAUL R. SMITH
Sergeant First Class, United States Army

"4 April 2003. On that day, Sergeant First Class Smith was engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his Task Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Realizing the vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley Fighting Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers.

"As the fight developed, Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket propelled grenade and a 60mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel carrier.

"In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers."

Obama=Big fat baby

Far be it from me to defend Hillary Clinton, but she's a oak compared to whiner extraordinaire B. Hussein Obama.

Clinton said this:

"My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California," she said.

"I don't understand it," Clinton said, referring to calls for her to pull out of the Democratic nominating race, which ends on June 3 with primaries in South Dakota and Montana.

And this is pussy boys response:

"Senator Clinton's statement before the Argus Leader editorial board was unfortunate and has no place in this campaign," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

Why exactly? Because Obama, in his fantasy land, wants to think he is under constant treat of assassination? What is the liberal fascination with the idea that he will be shot?

Still think you didn't benefit from the Bush tax cuts?

According to the Tax Foundation, here is the savings of middle-class taxpayers under the Bush tax cuts compared to the Clinton years - the tax code Democrats want to return to.

Comparing Income Taxes under Bill Clinton and George Bush

Individual Income Tax Due in 2008, Bush Law versus Clinton Law
For taxpayers who take the standard deduction and have no children
Taxpayer	Tax That Would Have Been Owed under Clinton-Era Tax Law	Tax Owed under Current Law, with Bush Tax Cuts
Single, income of 30,000	$3,157.50	$2,756.25
Single, income of 50,000	$7,262.50	$6,606.25
Married, income of $50,000	$5,085.00	$4,012.50
Married, income of $60,000	$6,585.00	$5,512.50
Single, income of $75,000	$14,262.50	$12,856.25
Married, income of $75,000	$9,426.50	$7,762.50
Single, income of $125,000*	$29,378.50	$26,472.25
Married, income of $125,000*	$23,426.50	$19,462.50
*This chart does not take into account the Alternative Minimum Tax