Last mention of the Letterman-Palin Feud (unless they actually fire him which would be ridiculous)

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I find it hard to believe that a joke clearly about Bristol Palin by David Letterman has gotten so much media attention.
The joke wouldn't have made any sense if it was about anyone other than Bristol Palin but then it's not as sensational a story.

Today there's pressure to fire Letterman... seriously?
I would not be happy if someone made such a joke about one of my children and I would likely have complained about it...
BUT this is totally blown out of proportion.
Sarah Palin parades her children out when it suits her and then attacks when people comment on it.
I feel sorry for the younger Palin girls who now have been made a spectacle of again.
Someone asked if the joke was made about one of the Obama's kids if all hell wouldn't have broken loose.
Yea, sure- especially since they're both under 18 and neither one is a single parent.

Grow up. Bad taste. Unfunny joke. Not the cause of all that is ill in the country.
Could we go back to REAL news now...?
You know the stuff that REALLY matters!

Apparently freedom of speech only applies to "some" people. Interesting.
I remember McCain making quite a few off color in very bad taste jokes over the years-
(the Chelsea Clinton joke "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno." was from 1998.)
Talk about insensitivity to young women's self esteem. Yet Sarah had no problem running with him as VP.

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I have no idea where this country is. This is what masquerades as news these days?

Important stuff out there in case the media has forgotten:
Home grown terrorism waiting in the wings (anti-government pro-gun: always a great combination) like James von Brunn.
Iran's election results and aftermath.
The economy. Bank Bailouts. Automotive industry. Mortgage and foreclosure disasters.
War in Iraq/Afghanistan.
Health care reform.
Gas prices going up yet again even though...

Well you get the idea.

There must have been a collective cringe amongst all comedians and talk show hosts this past week.
Though not many of them stepped forward to defend David though they have all done equally awful jokes.
David did apologize. He seemed to mean it.
We've all heard far worse on the air but I guess it wasn't about the Palins.

This is not news. Stop all ready.

Interesting CBS fired Don Imus (who I'm no fan of) for his rude and in bad taste comments about a women's basketball team but who was truly surprised by them? I thought he was known for being offensive almost every day of the year. Ooops.
Letterman's track record stands up. Been watching him for what seems like forever. Sorry Sarah your complaint has been heard, it's gotten more air time than it deserved and you need to back AWAY from the video feeds now.

We get it: Tasteless joke/Bad David/Sarah Angry/Dave sorry/World goes on bleeding...

G'night.

Laura
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Espada Jr., Monserrate, Palin, Letterman... back to the news and this is it?

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Finally starting to watch the news again and am very upset with NY State Legislators:

Most notably: Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens.
The control of the state senate has moved over to the republicans for all intents and purposes right now.

Now of course as with what seems like all our politicians these days both men have legal troubles as the NY Times reported. "Highlighting the often elastic nature of ethical stands and alliances in Albany, Republicans who earlier this year were calling on Mr. Monserrate to resign after his indictment on felony charges that he stabbed his companion with a broken glass are now welcoming him as part of their power-sharing coalition.
While Mr. Espada has been fined tens of thousands of dollars over several years for flouting state law by not disclosing political contributions."

"Democrats were pushing bills to give tenants more rights, strengthen abortion rights and legalize same-sex marriage this session. And the move underscores the continuing tumult of New York politics, where there have been three governors in less than three years and four Senate presidents since last summer."

Gov. David A. Paterson, at a news conference Monday evening, called the move “an outrage” and said Albany had become a “dysfunctional wreck."
Well, I don't know about a dysfunctional wreck but maybe a complete joke. Oh yea surely.

All right NY State get your act together. I'm so sick of the infighting.
Sick of the corruption on both sides of the fence.
Sick of pretending that we are progressive leaders in the USA anymore.

Sick of believing that our government is really on our side when so often it's only in the interest of money brokers, wealthy special interest lobbyists and big business.

While we all exist on the crumbs you throw our way and why the hell can't we behave and be thankful anyway?
Greedy corrupt bastards all around.

I've been proud to be from NY all my life but recently I can honestly say I'm not happy at all.
I seriously don't know if I even want to be here anymore.
And if you knew me at all you'd know that says a lot.

Good luck Barack Obama seems like you might need a lot of it.

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Sarah Palin: Please shut up about David Letterman.

Enough. You had our sympathy the first thousand times you mentioned it. Everywhere.
You're sounding shrill and just as offensive at this point as he was.
But you can't see it can you?
It's too bad he made the joke. He's a comedian with a talk show...
How about you play fair dearest damsel in distress (or was it a lipstick smeared pit bull I forget) and take Limbaugh or O'Reilly to task for the hateful ugly things they say about people:
Oh wait I know why you won't: I forgot.
YOU agree with them so that makes it different. Oh you betcha.
Won't 2012 be fun guys and gals?

The candle of freedom of speech burns hot and fast from both ends.
Just wondering sometimes what the hell we're gonna be left with.

***********
On June 3rd I wrote this about the recent loss of my mother on May 30:
"I don’t know exactly what I feel right now.
Just incredibly weird.
Like something’s horribly wrong but I can’t wrap my mind around it.
I’m not numb at least not yet. I’m not angry either.
But I know myself well enough to know both are coming.
I hope I’ll be ready."

Nothing has changed. I still reach for the phone to call her every day. I still feel basically the same.
My world is way off kilter but not enough for me to come to terms with where I am in time and place.
I can't go back to where I was before.
I can't realistically stay where I am now and I can't move towards where I've never been before.
Not yet anyway.

I realize this makes no sense except maybe to me.
I completely get where I am now, I've known this day would come.
It's just that I'm not sure what to do with myself. Don't want to upset anyone unduly but...
And I have a lifetime worth of anger I couldn't express because I would never hurt my mother...
Not that we never disagreed but I felt my mother had enough to deal with without my adding to it.
Do I need grief counseling? Maybe.
Oddly enough right now I have little to nothing to say.
Don't have the words.

G'night,

Laura
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Congresswoman Foxx's statements about Matthew Shepard's death were a hoax! Wait: you mean it wasn't... she actually did said that?

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Yet once again I find myself astounded by the fact that our representatives don't think before they speak. I'm talking about the North Carolina Republican Congresswoman that said that Matthew Shepard's death in 1998 wasn't a hate crime. It shouldn't be used as an example in support of a bill to expand on the definition of hate crimes to include violence motivated by sexual orientation.

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx states:
"We know that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn't because he was gay," Foxx said during debate. "The bill was named for him, the hate-crimes bill was named for him, but it's really a hoax that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills."


After the shit hit the fan, Ms. Foxx stated: "The term 'hoax' was a poor choice of words used in the discussion of the hate crimes bill," "Mr. Shepard's death was nothing less than a tragedy, and those responsible for his death certainly deserved the punishment they received."
Um, yea no doubt about it.

I'm so sick of people making such cavalier statements... so callous and thoughtless. Hate crimes are hate crimes. Civil rights are due to all across our nation and freedom from fear for their safety should be too. Hatred breeds hatred.
But then again the way death threats are thrown around whenever someone disagrees with someone else on an emotional issue (or almost any issue it seems) these days I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever accomplish the tolerance and acceptance our forefathers had hoped we would towards all our people in this nation.


In the age of news clips on rotation 24-7, You Tube and other media you would think that people would be more aware of what they say. It's too late when you've made such an asinine statement to retract it. The damage is done.

Think about it Ms. Foxx: What exactly did you mean to say?
Do you think there are no hate crimes against gay or lesbian Americans? Do you believe that expanding a hate crime bill is somehow a bad idea? Do you believe that even if Matthew Shepard's death wasn't a hate crime (and I do NOT believe that for a second) that violent crimes against gay citizens shouldn't be carry the same weight as other hate crime victims? Do you believe that Matthew's death wasn't a hate crime? Because you somehow KNOW better? Really what did you want to say? Please elaborate because I can't begin to fathom it out. Enlighten us.

According to ABC News Foxx spokesman Aaron Groen said the congresswoman relied on articles that she later realized were faulty and especially regrets upsetting the Shepard family. He said she declined further comment.

Oh yes, that makes everything better. She was ignorant of the actual circumstances under which Matthew Shepard died and spoke anyway or she relied on someone's research that said what exactly about his death...? Certainly not what most people believe.
Next time Congresswoman do the research yourself, take five seconds online.
As a matter of fact Virginia dear, I would have expected a government representative to know more about a most jarring case that caught the nation's attention because of it's nature.


Matthew Shepard's death was horrible. That is not the way most robberies end, it went far above and beyond.
Ms. Foxx's statements are outrageous. Please find a better representative North Carolina, or demand more from this one that you have.
And her explanation: weak and mind numbingly lame... It was just "a poor choice of words?" or "I didn't have the facts."

Yet again I suggest people think before they open their mouths to speak. Think. Please.
I also suggest people take more of an active interest in those they elect (and therefore hire) to represent them in government.
Some of the things Senators and Congresspeople have said recently are downright shocking.
I don't want to have a beer with any of them and I hope they only drink on their own time.
I want them to be intelligent, well informed and educated enough to run this country somewhere other than into the ground.

The House did pass the bill: The Matthew Shepard Act officially: The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007.
Now it has to go through the Senate. Let's hope it passes. If you read up on this- it's an important update to The 1969 federal hate-crime law for numerous reasons.

Nothing more to say.

G'night,

Laura

What the heck is going on with the news these days… and how can we stop it?

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Texas secession. I've mentioned before how Chuck Norris has stated numerous times that Texas might be better off as it's own country. Seems that the Teabagging parties brought Texas Governor Rick Perry out into the limelight again. It's a joke when he says Texans could get so fed up that they would want to secede from the union, right? Look ya'll if Texas was going to secede from the United States then why, oh why, couldn't they have done it prior to the year 2000? Then GW could have been the President of Texas with good ol' Walker Texas Ranger as VP.
Governor Rick Perry says

Sarah Palin's father is getting in the act against Levi Johnston. A lot of "he said-she said" nonsense going on in Alaska. Drop it, it's a family matter. Both families seem to have issues. Sarah is starting to sound a bit shrill. The hoopla would go away if you let it, or maybe you like the attention. Do you need to get the last word in always? How about we keep our dirty laundry hung out on our own Alaskan porch across from Russia. Most politicians let things die out on their own, perhaps Sarah you should stop worrying so much about Levi and what he does or doesn't say... You could find other important things to do like, oh you know, like governing Alaska.

Rush Limbaugh the Oxy-moron. How is it possible that Rushie now is defending the poor teenage Somali Pirates that were shot in the rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips? Does he sometimes forget what side he's on, or who he is? Forget the Oxycontin Rush, find something that calms you down and allows you to think rationally again. Oh and you haven't left NY yet... get moving on that would you?

Ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich is going to be on reality tv? A survivor-like knock-off show on NBC called: "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" What a joke. You can't make this stuff up. Well he'd be on the show if he's not in jail that is... wait a second maybe it would qualify as probation, we could call it public service to deter bad behavior in others with the threat of complete public humiliation.
I think they should call the show "Are You F*%#ing Serious?"

Nadya Suleman: Octomom now wants to own the word "Octomom" and has filed an application with the Patent and Trademark Office so she can control it's use and sell stuff for her own gain. What a surprise eh? This woman is either batshit crazy or a smart, calculating, self-serving bitch or maybe both and more. Hey, copyright that honey. I do however wish her children all the luck in the world they might need it.

Tax Day: I realized two things on April 15, 2009 while I was watching some of the teabagging parties on the television (and no it wasn't on adult pay for view). 1) There are a lot of people extremely angry about taxes, that don't understand the tax bills or what they will actually pay at all... but they do understand being very angry. 2) Grown men and women wearing hats with numerous tea bags dangling off the brim, bobbing and swirling, knocking into each other with every movement actually scare the hell out of me for oh so many reasons.

And my final thoughts:

Single sex marriage is bad.
Young teens sexting is child pornography.
Waterboarding isn't necessarily bad.
Oh civil rights be damned.

G'night,

Laura
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Can you contain your excitement now that Teabagging Day is finally here... Wait what did I say?

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If you don't understand by now why the term teabagging has most of the news commentators hard pressed (sorry) to try and keep a straight face while reporting on conservative teabaggers planning teabagging parties, then please look it up in Wikipedia or something.

I was surprised by how many newsfolk (and others) didn't know the double-entendre value early on while they blissfully encouraged teabagging across the nation in tax protest. The news suddenly became a hysterically risqué fun house to many people.

One such humorous report from MSNBC did a segment that just cracked me up. It was deliberate of course, tongue in cheek so to speak.
It was titled: GOP's taste for teabagging
While the anti-tax "tea parties" are officially toothless, conservative teabaggers are full-throated about their goals. They want to give President Obama a strong tongue-lashing and lick government spending; spending they did not oppose when they were under Presidents Bush and Reagan.

If that doesn't at least make you crack a smile, listen to Rachel Maddow report after she totally gave up on trying to report for days without laughing. Most reporters as the days went on gave up trying to hide the linguistic challenge.

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

I found myself these last few weeks reveling in the hormone fueled sexual humor of a teenage boy, which is an amazing feat since I've never been a teenage boy. I found myself laughing out loud at accidental and deliberate statements like:
April 15: The teabaggers' seminal moment. The GOP bones up on teabagging the nation. We even have Dick Armey teabagging. Tea bag Obama and Pelosi. The conservatives are hoping the government feels the full thrust of the bottom up grass root teabagging campaign.

Ah, comeon, I know it's juvenile, I really do but...
All I can find myself saying is "Happy teabagging on tax day... but why stop there? Seems to me teabagging is a great new way to protest the government. Wait, not that new, I hear it went on during the Boston Tea Party. You are partaking in a great national tradition.

Knowing the alternative definition of teabagging turned even the more serious newscasts into political satire of sorts. It made such easy sport of Glen Beck and others. I guess teabagging was seen as an innocuous enough word that there couldn't be anything wrong with using it. There really should be a lot more vetting going on before choosing terms and people it would seem.

Yes, I'm smiling.
But now I'm leaving before I get in even deeper hot water...
Gulp.

G'night.

Laura
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Obama’s sentiment about sediment on 60 minutes…

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Chalk this post up to my interest in how the English language is used (and misused). I thought college linguistics was fascinating. I guess my fascination with presidential speech patterns is somewhat understandable.

Bear in mind that the last president particularly drove me to distraction with his misusing or mispronouncing about every thirteenth word that he uttered. I suppose I’m used to being hyper sensitive to listening to the chronic mistakes GW made.


I’m guessing most folk probably didn’t even notice this and if they did wouldn’t care but the other night (Sunday to be exact) on 60 minutes President Obama interchanged two words. He was talking about Guantanamo, Cheney and the creation of more anti American “sediment.” He clearly had meant to say “sentiment.” Many people mix those two words without realizing it, just take a look at the internet.
For the record: sediment is the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid, while sentiment is a feeling, emotion, attitude or opinion towards something.

However, that wasn’t the interesting thing… everybody makes mistakes and the rest of the interview was pretty coherent. Afterwards I listened to what the different station’s pundits had to say about the 60 Minutes segment and they varied from “it was awful he laughed inappropriately at the economic crisis” to “he was informative, sincere and spoke directly to the issues.” Of course no one mentioned the mistake because it’s not a very important one in the scope of a speech.

I had to laugh though because when I got to Rachel Maddow afterwards they had shown the clip where Obama misstated as part of a story on Cheney. When Rachel spoke about it she very clearly enunciated the word “sentiment” with a smile. I’m pretty sure she noticed the switch. So is that the jaws of the liberal/socialist/left leaning media monster that we keep hearing about being too gentle on Obama? So she’s mean to that nice, sweet hearted old Dick Cheney while she’s indulgent towards that contemptible, nasty Barack Obama. Mildly amusing. And not to be soft on Rachel but she was a Rhodes Scholar and has a doctorate in political science. I think she can take it.

If it had been Bush it would have just been simply another day, another speech, another mangled word, because after all George W was certainly our most “misunderestimated” president.
Wait what’d he say?

G’night,

Laura

Senator Chuck Grassley on AIG bonus checks.

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The great sound bites from our representatives just keep on coming. Look at the bright side if there wasn't an economic crisis we'd never really know half of the things most of them ever said. Though sometimes I think I felt better without all the noise from all sides.
So Senator Chuck Grassley republican from Iowa states:
"The first thing that would make me feel a little bit better towards them if they'd follow the Japanese model and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say I'm sorry, and then either do one of two things--resign, or go commit suicide."

He did later back down from saying he really didn't want them to kill themselves... likely after someone said, "Uh Chuck Ole Boy, you can't recommend suicide as policy and you might just be offending some Americans out there. Please put out one of those disclaimers stating that what you said isn't exactly what you meant."

Awful lot of those disclaimers going around out there on all sides.
Not helping.
Not helping at all.

Then we move on and get this beauty of a Grassley clip about AIG-



Thanks Chuck for putting that image in the minds of everyone that heard it.
Eeewww, I feel like I need a shower.

Intriguingly Rush Limbaugh doesn't seem to be bothered by this extreme capitalism and the bonus checks. He turns the whole crisis into an attack on capitalism and the basic tenets of our country.


I'm beginning to think no one really knows what to do, the rules just keep changing and people like Barney Frank and John Boehner keep talking ad nauseam.
Makes my head hurt.
Martha Stewart goes to jail, Madoff finally goes to jail, and AIG folk get bonuses for f**king everything up. Awesome.
Wow, I bet lots of small businesses would have loved to get bailed out when they were failing.
I still would have rather they bailed out the taxpayers rather than the banks and wall street.
Sigh.

G'night,

Laura
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Meghan McCain of the McCain Dynasty says “kiss my fat ass.”

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I got a real kick out of Meghan’s response to Laura Ingraham’s comment about her being a plus size: “Kiss my fat ass” (which is something model Tyra Banks said previously). I find it disturbing that such a personal comment aimed at Meghan was made about her weight and even more pissed off that it came from a woman. She should be ashamed to perpetuate the image that you shouldn’t take seriously someone that’s not skinny. Meghan’s an attractive young woman who is entitled to her opinion, she didn’t belittle anyone. Meghan had criticized Ann Coulter’s political beliefs not her dress size. What is with conservative talk show hosts anyway? At least Meghan has her own mind and refreshing spunk!
To quote many others: You go girl.

I’ve seen Meghan McCain turn up on so many shows recently that I’m beginning to wonder if she’s being groomed to be part of a new improved future McCain political dynasty. She has stated repeatedly recently that she’s uninterested in ever running for any political office, but there she is on Fox and Friends, The View, Rachel Maddow, etc. I think I might have just disproved the idea that only the republican right wingers can spin a conspiracy theory behind every tree (hugger). I’m a little suspicious when she states that this mantle of “the new face of the young republicans” somehow “falls on her shoulders.” She seems to be representing herself as a member (or spokesperson) of the new improved younger (though not close to achieved) republican party. I’m not sure how 24 year old moderates fit into the broader party picture.

Meghan isn’t the mainstream republican party, perhaps she (and others of different views of what the party should or shouldn’t be right now) are more like the “independent party” or maybe what should be called the “moderate party.” I call them the Indemoderatarians… because I believe that if you siphoned off the moderates from both the democrat and the republican party (and that’s where you are Meghan) there would be a pretty good size middle of the road more interesting and appealing party. I doubt either party would be happy if the general population found less extreme beliefs in a new party, one that all age groups, backgrounds, income levels and ethnicity felt welcome in.

However the republican party still identifies with and caters to the religious right’s very conservative base. As long as they feel it necessary to do that there’s no real place for people like Meghan. I believe the republicans themselves have a term for them: RINO (Republican’s In Name Only) which they call the likes of Olympia Snowe and Arlen Specter. I guess ostracism doesn’t only happen in Nathaniel Hawthorne stories but at least they don’t want them to wear red letters of identification. On the other hand maybe they would make them if they could…

If the republican party keeps stuck to the extreme conservative base they will bleed off the moderates and will have to deal with the fact that they won’t win elections without pulling moderates back in from both sides.
I keep hearing that Meghan’s more moderate but I’m unsure where she stands on the right to chose for women, gay rights, universal health care, religion’s place in policy and government, global warming, stem cell research and many other issues. Honestly I’d rather see the answers polled from all those under 25 that are out there in the population than from the daughter of a republican presidential candidate who’s been exposed to politics since she was very young.

The fiscally conservative and socially liberal (though not necessarily young) moderates that would vote republican if given the chance will have to wrest the control of the party from the die hard extreme conservative right’s “cold, dead hands” which won’t be an easy task since the base is a very vocal one that absolutely hates to be challenged or criticized.
Good luck Meghan.

G’night,

Laura
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The threat of domestic terrorism. James Cummings in Belfast, Maine

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The story of a Belfast, Maine man, James Cummings, that was shot by his wife Amber (who alleges years of sexual and physical abuse) was found online a while ago. Surprisingly it hasn’t gotten the attention that you would have expected from the media. I kept waiting. Much more time and effort was spent on the recent Cramer/Stewart feud (I’m guilty too) and whether Ann Coulter’s book sales are down and what that means (and who cares?) then this more disturbing story.

Bangor Daily News, Maine Feb 2009

What bothers me is that James was a white supremacist Hitler fan that as it came out over the course of a few months time (he was shot Dec. 9) had the makings of a dirty bomb in his home, including radioactive material and instructions. Now since this story has come out (without all that much ado) people tripped all over themselves to state that the radioactive material wasn’t all that dangerous, perhaps, but the real point is that he was serious about putting together a bomb. Pair this with the fact that if his wife hadn’t shot him (thank you) he might have actually harmed people in his OWN country, in his own state or town. What we don’t know was what was inside his head. A home grown domestic terrorist, perhaps not as capable in carrying out a plot as Tim McVeigh turned out to be but just as dangerous to innocent people. Was he a lone gunman type wing nut or was he in contact with others? Apparently he was upset with his cherished democracy having elected Barack Obama as our nations first black president by both popular and electoral consensus. This fact is repeated about his not liking Obama while his danger to people is consistently downplayed. Seriously, not that dangerous? Yeah. Only because he’s dead.

I’m fairly sure that if he was of Muslim faith or probably even just of middle eastern ancestry we would have heard far more about the whole thing. It barely made the public discourse. What I worry about is how many other wing nuts are out there plotting. We worry about “foreigners” so much we miss the fact that we do have our own home grown anti government factions and yes, plenty racists too. Political correctness would like us to believe we’ve gotten past racism but for many we haven’t.

All the nonsense ranging from the amusing if not stupid statement Chuck Norris said about how tough Texas should succeed from the nation rather than go the way of socialism (and that he could be president of Texas) to Limbaugh’s “I want Obama to fail” really isn’t helping bring this country together at a time when we need to work hard to unite and have faith in our country, not tear it apart from the inside out. The key word here is WORK HARD to heal and compromise not divide.

Senator Jim DeMint, of South Carolina (who opposes any real government expansion) said “conservatives might have to take to the streets to stop America’s slide into socialism.” What exactly does that mean? During the election Rep. Michele Bachmann urged investigation into which members of congress were “pro-America or anti-America.” (and do what with them?) Just because someone doesn’t agree with you doesn’t mean they are Anti-American. I would think that even though they disagree all the time our representatives are all pro-American and were freely elected by pro-American voters.

I appreciate everyone’s free speech but frankly I despised GW Bush right from the start, which is my prerogative in a free country but I never wanted him to fail or wished him any harm. Never would I disparage American soldiers though I can be against a war. Never would I want my government to fail because I didn’t agree with a policy. I am proud to be an American from New York. We must report on all possible acts of terrorism equally and denounce it whenever we find it.

Chuck Norris's article text. Black Belts and Succession?

I wonder would Chuck Norris be President of Texas, King or dictator?

G’night,

Laura
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The Talking Ann Coulter doll… everyone should have at least one.

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Can you believe there is a talking Ann Coulter doll? I’m not sure why you would you want one, but there it is.
The Ann Coulter an “America’s Real Action Heroes” figure clothed in her trademark minuscule black dress.

Ann Coulter talking right wing barbie doll

Now I realize that you might be saying to yourself “so what, it’s not surprising that Ann has a doll” and you would be right except for what this amazing little talking doll actually says…
You have to go to the site where they sell it to listen, and I recommend doing just that right here:

And she talks too, listen up…

I think it would be far better if it was a talking bobble head doll.

Other “talking action figures” include:
George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Donald Rumsfeld, Dr. Laura, Kinky Friedman and Elvis Presley.

Now I understand Bush, Clinton, and Reagan but a talking Donald Rumsfeld? Why? Bad enough the real one talks.
Here’s another odd one. Though I would think if it was true to the real Dennis Miller’s character the doll should be called a “ranting” rather than a “talking” doll. I don’t think it looks much like Dennis, actually it’s just a little scary, get that smile.


Wait, shouldn’t there be a Rush Limbaugh doll if there’s one of Dennis Miller? Rush probably controls his franchise and wouldn’t approve of it. Should be one dressed in black that flaps it’s arms, and hops up and down while it talks.
You can view and listen to all of them here:

Talking Action Figures


Absolutely amazing what one can not only find but actually buy out in cyberspace.
Not quite sure what these dolls say culturally about us or as a society. Hmm.


G’night,

Laura
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Ann Coulter and Bill Maher lecture series at RAdio City Music Hall.

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This was fun. Of course in NYC the audience was a bit more balanced to the more liberal Obama crowd than Coulter’s group but it was nice. A little too much shouting out of audience members thoughts but not too bad as long as they weren’t too near to you. Happy to see shushing taking place on both sides.

Here are some photos that I took along the way.
The weather was perfect, missed the rain totally in city. Fairly warm and comfortable didn’t seem like March.








Not great photos only taken with my rather simple cell phone but gives the feel of it.

Bill was in reasonably good form, subjects ranged from Limbaugh, Iraq and Afghanistan, Liberals, science, religion, Bush, Obama, Economy, Madoff, 2012 elections, Palin… and more. Ann was not as loud as she often is, made a few good points but sometimes her facts are a bit off and she gets a bit confusing compared to others. Of course they’re both rather opinionated!


Was quite interesting and entertaining. I think the only other place this pairing in the lecture/debate series can be seen is in Chicago. So fun can’t be had by everyone. Glad I got to see it.
I enjoy trekking around the city alone, good exercise and plenty of things to do!
I think I fell asleep on the train home...

Karl Rove and James Carville debate moderated by Charlie Rose… that should be a good one. ha.

Well, G’night,
And have a pleasant tomorrow, er, today!

Laura

Would someone in the republican party please step forward and tell Limbaugh to stop running off at the mouth…

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So now Rush has stuck his foot in his mouth once again.
Sensationalism and self promotion or sheer stupidity I have no idea which (though I have an opinion).
Would someone in the republican party please step forward and tell Rush to stop talking like he’s in charge of the party before he totally destroys any credibility you have with swing voters, moderates and independent voters.

He’s an overblown bigoted gadfly. And you all praise the intolerant bullshit crap that comes out of his mouth each and every day?
In this clip Limbaugh states on health care legislation: "Before it's all over, it'll be called the Ted Kennedy memorial health care bill"



Your spokesperson Rush keeps saying things that if the so called “evil, liberal, socialist, elitists” made equally outrageous statements and then the democratic party praised and called it smart and true you would all be screaming bloody murder.
Instead you defend him and call the other side the morally corrupt group. Amazing.

The more power you give him, the worse he seems so get.
Pick a conservative with a brain next time around.

I don’t represent any party and speak only for myself but I do find you repugnant Rush.
You are a windbag with a microphone.
And he’ll huff and he’ll puff and blow your house down...

February 2009 saw 650,000 more jobs lost. I suppose that’s somehow Obama’s fault. What a mess.
Now it seems Madoff is going to get some sort of a deal? Outrageous.
How is he any different from a crack cocaine or crystal meth dealer?
Bastard should be in jail all ready… a real jail.
And justice for all indeed.

G’night,

Laura

The Super Bowl Commercials are far more fun than the news.

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Everybody’s still fighting discussing the economic stimulus and of course making it the best package it can be. (cough, cough)

I still have problems about giving money to the people that were in charge of failing banks, businesses, and companies… no less giving them bonuses.

Bonuses for what exactly?

One of our representatives wanted to limit the CEO’s pay to the same amount our president gets for running the country. Well, these guys live in a different world… one where they get millions of dollars in bonuses. Imagine that, cause I can’t. And if you screw things up too much you get a severance package and move on to another company, kinda like unwanted teachers, priests, administrators and other professionals. Great. Free market enterprising.

So maybe if they could make a top cap on the wages of the CEO’s if they accepted money from the government, these pompous overpaid jerks would quit and the taxpayers could hire someone that could actually run a company better and for less pay. Hey, just thinkin’

Macy’s going to bleed out 7000 jobs. ::sigh::

The republicans do realize tax cuts alone won’t save us right?

Anyway the Super Bowl was great, ended the way I thought it would but there were some great plays along the way. What a run down the field James Harrison made, pretty cool eh?

The Boss is still the Boss!!! And I noticed that Max Weinberg brought along the rest of the band from Conan O’Brien’s show. That must have been a lot of fun for them all!

I recommend taking a bit of time out bypassing the depressing political news to watch the Super Bowl commercials. My favorite were: Both Doritos ads, Hulu.com, Pepsi’s refresh anthem, Sprint Roadies, Career Builder.com and the silly Conan O’Brien Bud Light ad.

Enjoy!

Watch all the Super Bowl commercials here!

Very much looking forward to snow tomorrow, maybe enough for a great soothing walk!

G'night,

Laura

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Fifteen days to the close of George W Bush's amazing legacy...

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This is why I think we need more than the luck that we've been running this country on:

I see the democrats and the republicans as opposing factions that are part of the same enormous problem.

The best analogy I explanation I can give is reflected in the behavior of packs of dogs.

The republicans have at least one powerful dog that immediately upon seeing the prize knocks all the other dogs out of the way and lunges at the meaty bone to grasp it. It runs off with the bone in its mighty jaws. The rest of the republican dogs take off in a flash after the top dog with the bone. There are usually three plans in the pack’s mind.

1) The idea of catching up to and stealing back the bone. This a ploy to wrest the lead dog’s position of power by gaining control over the bone. Ultimately nothing truly changes and the chase remains on. The only difference is the dog leading the charge.

2) The pack races in pursuit hoping to scoop up any stray morsels of meat that jar loose during the mad chase. They are always happy to take credit for any hunks of meat they can scavenge as if it was won in a fight or given freely to them although they did nothing themselves. This is a popular republican dog belief that roughly follows the idea that if you throw enough shit at the wall, something is bound to stick eventually, but in the mean time, there's enough excess crap to go around and sustain most of the other dogs.

3) The longest term goal is in the hopes of convincing the lead dog to share while offering loyalty and services in exchange (officially the I stroke your belly you stroke mine position). Though the democrat dogs often mimic this goal they're rarely successful at it as their loyalty is not as structured as the republican dogs.

No matter which belief governs any one dog’s behavior, their strong point is that all the republican dogs at least run in the same general direction even though their loyalties may lie in different places. On at least a primeval level the dogs recognize the concept of strength in numbers (and stampeding over the opposition). They're far more conservative and rigid than the democrat dogs. They only want to further their beliefs and causes. They don't particularly care about the well-being or representation of those dogs not behaving according to the laws of their pack.

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The democrats believe in fairness to all dogs (at least in principle) and care about the plight of “the everyday or main street dog.” In the name of impartiality and tolerance they take the bone and throw it up for grabs over all the dogs making it almost impossible for one particular lead dog to keep control over the pack for any amount of time. Their pack's behavior is governed by somewhat different behavioral rules from the republican dogs.

1) In the event one dog becomes too powerful and holds onto the bone too long the others nip, nag, bite, bark and growl at the top dog until they bring it down. Upon rare instances they psychologically injure the lead dog making it useless for any position of authority but do allow it a pity factor. The injured dog then is allowed to whine endlessly without reprimand.

2) They meet in order to decide their game plan for holding on to the bone in large groups. When they can't agree on protocol they actively attack the dog holding the bone or those even remotely near the bone. The democrat dogs then get any hold on the meaty bone they can and spend all their time, tearing and tugging it back and forth. They stay in one place and get nowhere fast.

3) There isn't actually a third rule since there aren't any democrat dogs alive that still can remember deliberately overcoming the perpetual tail chasing around in circles in order to consistently succeed. The democrat dogs would be so intensely involved in arguing every possible course of action they could take before any option could be put in effect. They would inevitably take their eyes off of the bone. All it took was one unprotected moment for a lead republican dog to swoop in and steal the bone away. Often it took quite a while for the democrat dogs to realize their loss.

The democrat dogs have a major problem with remaining in power over the republican dogs because they can't seem to get out of their own way. They self-destruct with in fighting and a lot of barking without biting. They periodically gather to rebuild the group in order to have something to tear apart again. They are more liberal and scattered in their beliefs and therefore often sabotage any power they accidentally acquire through unintentional solidarity. They understand the merit of the republican dogs strategy for living but choose not to follow it. The democrat dogs see themselves as representing every living dog and want to give them their day. Unfortunately every dog doesn't want the democrat dogs to represent the dogs they don't agree with.

This political impasse between the packs always leads to stalemate and selective justice for the general masses of dogs, for neither the republican or democrat dogs make a huge difference over the long run.

Many see themselves as free-range dogs that are happy to live out their days trying to balance work and play to maintain their many obligations. They don't understand why all dogs can't live and work together toward mutual goals. But the free-range dogs aren't in charge and the democrat and republican dogs maintain that they know what’s best for all dogs and must protect them from not only themselves but the dog eat dog world they live in.

I wonder what a dog biscuit is worth these days?

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No political news tonight just the bedtime story...

G'night

Laura

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Forty days left of Prince George and his merry men...

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This might be a short post because it's been a horrible rainy day and now it's pouring and windy here.
My cable keeps going off and on which makes the internet unstable and has to be reset each time.
Went down in the basement and it's been raining so hard for so long that there are three puddles down there.
Nothing to get damaged near them but enough with the rain all ready, don't want the basement to flood.

I love the political machine... no let me rephrase that, I'm constantly amazed by the vast lack of common sense that permeates both parties. That and the "do what I say but not as I do" mentality.

Let's look briefly at a few of the stories:
Of course there's the obvious one Blagojevich. Now Bernard Madoff arrested for securities fraud.
So who is Madoff anyway and why should we care? Well, he's a former Nasdaq chairman. Great huh?
That's why I don't like Mr. "parachuted over from Goldman Sachs" Paulson in charge of the bailout money.
Conflict of interest to me.

Here's yet another dumb statement since Caroline Kennedy while not in the public eye all the time has done many things.
She's a lawyer, she's raised money for NY public schools, she chairs, serves as director, and does more than many others.
But, here's the thing: NY democrat Gary Ackerman (Queens) states that her qualifications are apparently only that she has "name recognition, but so does J Lo... I wouldn't make J Lo the senator unless she proved she has great qualifications, but we haven't seen them yet." ::sigh:: Number one I'm from NY and still am pissed at Gulliani, now... look, Gary's entitled to feel what ever he wants to about Kennedy and the senate seat but seriously J Lo??? Reminds me of the comparison between Obama/Britany/Paris in that McCain ad. Wtf were you thinking, better yet, were you thinking at all? Wow.

Whether or not Caroline gets the senate nod hopefully doesn't depend on nonsensical statements said by a congressman.
It's so great to see the hypocrisy of the political system doesn't favor just one party. There are ridiculous folk on both sides that don't seem to understand they should think about what they say BEFORE they say it.

The auto bailout didn't get through the senate... not a surprise I kinda expected it. So now what happens?
The loss of jobs, lack of morality, global recession, heating oil prices, mortgage crisis, stock problems, two wars, polar ice caps melting and all the other problems facing us... makes this a rather disturbing end to 2008.
Tough to raise that ole holiday cheer. Just doesn't feel the same to me this year. Grateful for what we have, yes.
Thankful for my family, yes. But there's an underlying anxiety for the future. Being trained in social work makes you aware of the struggles people have, and this is a very tough time for many Americans, especially hard on children. No way around that fact. Blame it on who ever you want it still doesn't fix anything.

Donate to food banks if you can, they can always use money, non-perishable food items and most of all volunteering some precious time.

The reason I'm really late with this post because I was finishing the second day of baking and packaging 18 plates of cookies, one large box of cookies for my husband to take to work and all those left over are for my mom, brother and of course us!
Only just finished. Promised myself I wouldn't go on the computer until I was done.
These cookie packager are some of the fruits of my labors for the past two days.
Take a breather Laura and de-stress. (I think I've almost forgotten how).


G'night,
Hang in there everybody
Going to bed.
Hopefully I can sleep with all this wind.

Laura

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It seems that each new day brings new political intrigue...

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I figure that no matter whether you think along the lines of the spectrum
"It's the economy stupid." or "It's the economy elitist."
Most everyone will agree today that "It definitely is the economy."

So there's going to be an $85 billion dollar bail out of AIG, right on the heels of the bankruptcy declaration of Lehman Brothers and the government take ove of Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac.
Interesting how we're so against socialised medicine but Corporate Socialism jus' ain't a problemo.

So it's been yet another politically charged day, who would expect anything less?

How about the very wealthy prior Hillary supporter Lynn Forester de Rothschild switching her support over to McCain. Interesting... she stated it was because she "loved her country." What?
Okay this election is just getting too weird and unbelieveable.
The issues that belonged to Hillary (healthcare, working class issues, prochoice, etc.) do not belong to the McCain/Palin docket at all.
And on the other side of the stage (because we must maintain the tit for tat nature of this thing) is what Carly Fiorina, the woman dismissed by the board of Hewlett-Packard who stumps for McCain, said when asked about Palin said she felt Palin wouldn't be able to run a company like Hewlett-Packard. She qualified this with adding that neither could McCain, Obama or Biden but I imagine she'll be delegated to the background of this campaign. Didn't run the party line. Palin is superwoman afterall.

The economy is more than just "troublesome" to me. We are in serious debt and denial is not going to keep us going... the national debt is staggering and continues to increase at an alarming rate.
Why we're considering the republicans for a third and even more conservative term I just don't know. Deregulation of many industries has caused a weakness in our economy that we're starting to see the effects of now. McCain still talks as if we take care of the top corporate levels the bottom will follow. Trickle down...
Obviously while McCain sympathizes with the middle class, he wouldn't any longer know what it was like unless he found himself back in it (and that isn't happening.) Forget the lower class, and for those who are out of jobs, he offers conservatism and more Horatio Alger bullshit. Doesn't work for most people who are so busy trying to pay their bills and on such a tight budget they can't afford getting sick or these job losses.
Is McCain going to stop the bleeding of jobs from this country over seas?
Does anyone care?

Well, the housing market is in horrible shape. Construction down, foreclosures, and the bailout (sorry I guess it's a takeover which is a spin word for sure) of the mortgage lenders.
Heard on the news the other day that there was one good thing in all the bad housing market news.
My ears perked up. The commentator stated that "There are now many good buys out there to be had if you're looking for property." Yea. This is true I suppose, but again it's rather cynical.

"Gee honey," Ann said as she and her teenager (from her first marriage) helped ready her 3 children for school. "Listen to that on the tv, we could get a good deal on a home if only we had some credit, extra money and weren't two months behind on the rent and heating bills."
David sighed and stood up. "Yea, that's like saying that the bright side of our situation is that at least we won't go bankrupt since we don't own this house in the first place. Homeless perhaps but..." Everyone piled out the door leaving everything quiet. It was that night that their 16 year old daughter told them she was pregnant. All ready six people in three tiny bedrooms, this will go well. Yea, I feel your pain common man, you have my best wishes and we know you'll do what's right. Somehow we'll help you out, vote for us (and I have some land I'd like to sell you in the Florida swamplands.)

I have a problem with Palin. If she were to become president unexpectedly, she would have to rely on others to help her out with the many things she'd have to be up to speed on. Do you realistically think McCain is going to surround himself with bunches of mavericks?

Today I woke up to Good Morning America with Robin & Diane's sisterhood of the traveling rail reporters.
I had no idea really about this multi-state trek but honestly I can't read, watch and know everything can I?
So, McCain was interviewed and he did say he would like to repeal Roe VS Wade.
He states he's Prolife and feels that "We need to ask young American women who are faced with this terrible decision that we will help them have the courage to bring a baby into this world and we'll have the compassion & help them in every way that they can address it... So look, this is an issue that we have to change the culture of America those of us who respect the rights of the unborn that's the thrust of our effort and I'm happy to note that we are adoptive parents and it's enriched our lives and we hope that that will encourage others to do the same."

Might it be too much for you to elaborate what that idea of "we have to change the culture of America" is all about. Change it to what exactly? What culture pray tell? I thought we were the melting pot country.

Maybe installing lifetime conservative judges to the Supreme Court of the USA with an agenda to overturn Roe VS Wade doesn't bother people but I resent the implication that I don't respect life by believing that the government should not legislate my personal choices on reproductive rights as a female. This upsets me so very much. I don't like abortion as a means of birth control BUT there are instances where a woman might need to make a very heavy and difficult decision to terminate an early pregnancy. Don't assume that it's only "young women" in trouble that might seek an abortion, there are many other scenarios. The government should not be in the business of forcing... yes, forcing... women to have children.
It's far too complicated an issue to belittle others decisions without knowing their circumstances.
Abstinence only didn't work in the 20's, 40's, 60's, 80's or today.

Well let's see what tomorrow brings.

48 days to E-day and counting...

G'night
Get some sleep if you can.

Laura


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Forty-seven days to E-day and counting... Election overload.

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I'll take this opportunity to apologize for the number of posts here in "one day."
I actually cut and pasted my blog from elsewhere that I started a few days ago.
I prefer the format here, so here I am.
After today I'll be back on schedule for my daily posts.
Also sorry they're so long. I don't seem capable of making a short post, too much on my mind I guess...
I don't believe out shouting, name calling, personal attacks, or constant interrupting are legitimate tactics in debate.
Actually I think they're a sign of fear, anger, disrespect and distraction from having a true discussion on a topic.

I thought this was worth listening to in light of the Dems that went over to the McCain side yesterday:

She sounds so knowledgeable... Hmm...
Still a lot of things going on in politics.

How about that Sarah Palin challenging a "Stump the Candidate" session at the town hall with McCain?
Too bad that WAS her answer to the question asked (being her qualifications/knowledge in foreign policy).
After saying that she took the mic down and turned while McCain took over by talking about her knowledge of energy policy...
Which is only nominally better than her nonexistent Foreign policy knowledge.

Stock market up a bit again today... Still don't feel better... regular see-saw effect it seems these days.
Or is it a roller-coaster? Where it stops (up or down) no body knows.
Who's lending us all this money to take over or bail out these companies?
Last I knew we didn't have any money and owe a ridiculous amount to China et al.


On Tuesday morning, McCain said the U.S. economy is "fundamentally sound." McCain later in the day sought to clarify the remark, saying that it was the American worker who was "fundamentally sound."

I guess by calling the American worker "fundamentally sound" it means he thinks we're not totally crazy???
I'm beginning to wonder...
And Obama/Biden make more and more sense to me.


Goodnight and have a pleasant tomorrow...

Laura