Joke Of The Week

Whatever happened to George W. Bush?  While his vice-president, dickhead Dick Cheney, has been everywhere, telling anyone who will listen, how he was right about everything, W has been largely silent the last ten months.  Now we know what he's been doing, planning the opening of his public policy institute which he hopes will promote the domestic and international priorities of his two terms as president.

According to press reports, the George W. Bush Institute will serve as a forum for study and advocacy in four main areas:  education, global health, human freedom and economic growth.  Apparently, we now know, those were the priorities of his presidency.  Who knew?

Buick Targets Younger Buyers, Sort Of

No secret that General Motors has fallen on hard times, and possibly no division has fallen harder than Buick.  This year Buick sales are down 33% versus an industry average of 25%.  Image has long been a big part of Buick's problem.  They are perceived as the car of choice at the retirement home, rightly so with a median customer age of 68.  Judging from my own observations on the road, that's about right.

So in an effort to improve their image, Buick is introducing a sleek mid-size sedan, and reviving the Regal nameplate.  Statistics show that the mid-size segment is the largest part of the U.S. car market and Buick is staking a lot on this car.  The car is due in showrooms the second quarter of next year and will probably price out somewhere in the mid 20K range.

But here's the funny thing:  by their own admission Buick is targeting buyers in their 40's and 50's.  I guess compared to their current typical customer, that looks young.  I hope the Regal and Chevy's Cruze compact are successful.  Those dudes at GM owe us a lot of money.

Hero Of The Week

Marine Lance Cpl. Luis A. Figueroa
Age:  21
3rd Battalion
1st Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
Died 18 November, 2004
Anbar Province, Iraq

If She Would Just Shut Up...

...I would leave it alone.  But she can't and I won't.  This space's favorite least qualified national political candidate is embarking on a national tour to hawk her book, which is being released today.   From press reports it seems as if she uses the book, hastily written with the help of a ghostwriter, to blame everyone but herself for the defeat of the McCain/Palin ticket, and for painting her as an ill informed, ill prepared, unqualified nitwit.  She blames the staff of Sen. McCain, Katie Couric and the media in general.  The biggest laugh is her characterization of Couric as "badgering" and "biased".  Probably the most replayed segment of those interviews by Couric was Palin being asked what newspapers she read.  And she couldn't answer the question.  Now she wants to blame Couric for badgering her.  Ok, it's her book, she can say whatever she wants and the aggrieved parties can always rebut her assertions.

But here's the best part.  Palin claims that she was most upset by being billed $50,000 in legal fees by the McCain campaign as her share of expenses incurred during the process of vetting her for the nomination.  She claims that she was never informed that she would be personally responsible for any expenses related to her being selected as the VP candidate.  She goes on to claim that when she questioned the Republican National Committee regarding the legal fees, she was told that had the ticket won, the bills would have been paid, but since they lost, she was responsible.

Enter Trevor Potter, general counsel for the McCain campaign.  He says the campaign never asked Palin to pay any legal bills.  He suggests that Palin's personal lawyer billed her for work related to the vetting process.  Mr. Potter is generously giving her an out; he could have just said she's a liar.  Now everyone hold their breath while we wait for her to issue a correction.  It won't happen.  Politically, it's more advantageous to look like a victim than a compulsive liar.

Food For Thought

Pictured above, left to right, are Cpl. Kareem R.S. Khan, Capt. Humayun Khan, Maj. James Ahearn.

These men have four things in common:

1.  They are all U.S. Army
2.  They all were killed in action in Iraq.
3.  They are all Americans.
4.  They are all Muslims.

Who Do You Want Leading Your Team Today?

This guy...

...or this guy?

Keep Your Religion Off My Car

Let's finish the week with a topic sure to piss off somebody, religion.  Or in this case religion and the state and that whole inconvenient thing with the Constitution.  Seems Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer of South Carolina pushed through legislation in 2008 allowing the state to issue a license plate with a cross in front of a stained glass window and the phrase "I Believe".

I believe it's time for the right wing Christian zealots who keep pushing these issues to read the First Amendment to the Constitution.  Apparently so does U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie, who ruled the plates are unconstitutional because they violate, guess what?  The First Amendment ban on establishment of religion by government.  This same attempt has been made in other states, almost all in the Deep South, and every one has been defeated.

I'm not against religion; our forefathers came here to escape religious persecution.  And from that experience they recognized the inherent dangers in the majority imposing their religious views on the minority.  Mandating the state license plate depict a cross is not only unconstitutional, but just plain offensive.  If you lived in a state that had this plate, and it was the only plate available, how would you feel if you were Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh or atheistic? 

A private Christian group in South Carolina says they will now proceed with their Plan B, which is to take advantage of a state law which allows private groups to issue plates that they design.  I'm fine with that; if you want a plate with a cross and a religious phrase, then you can request one.  Just quit trying to force your beliefs on the rest of us.  Not in our schools, not in the workplace, not in government, and not on my car.

It's Time To Get Out

I have long supported the war effort in Afghanistan.  I thought it was the place we should have dedicated our resources post 9/11, not waste time, money and lives overthrowing a dictator in Iraq who posed no immediate threat to our security.  We knew that the Taliban in Afghanistan not only gave financial and material support to al Qaeda, but also provided safe haven and training facilities.  The Taliban and al Qaeda were our real enemies, not just vowing jihad against Americans everywhere, but carrying out a devastating attack on our own soil.

It appears the president is soon going to announce a decision on committing more troops to Afghanistan.  Speculation is that he will dramatically increase troop levels there, although not to the level that Gen. McChyrstal, the commander, would like.  The Taliban has been resurgent, and by nature and training, a field commander is naturally going to think that more troops and more firepower can turn the tide.  Maybe they can; I don't think it's possible in this instance.   I have come to the conclusion that "winning" in Afghanistan is impossible.

First there is the government of President Hamid Karzai.  He and his administration have been proven corrupt.  They are in it for personal gain, not the good of the citizens.  Then there is the Afghan military, fractured along ethnic and tribal lines, not nearly as dedicated or committed as the enemy.  And the citizenry themselves, split along the same ethnic and tribal lines; they may hate the Taliban, but they hate the American invaders more.  I recently saw a story that attempted to explain the loyalties of the typical Afghan.  The concept of a central government is not only foreign to them, but unwelcome.  Their first loyalty is to the village and valley in which they live.  They are mistrustful of outsiders, even Afghans who live in the next valley.  In short, they are not going to support a central government, much less a government perceived as installed and propped up by American military might.

If we leave Afghanistan, will the Taliban take over again?  Most likely, and that will mean oppression and harsh Muslim law for all.  Most clearly harmed will be Afghan women.  I understand the human rights argument.  I have just come to the conclusion that regardless of how long we stay, once we ultimately leave, Afghans will revert to the customs and traditions that have held sway for centuries.  How many American lives will be lost to get back to that point?

**  For a more cogent analysis of the situation, copy and paste the link below to read Bob Herbert of the New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/opinion/10herbert.html?_r=1

Heroes Of The Week

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

Champ Bailey Gets Punk'd

He Is Who We Thought He Was

If The Horse Could Talk

I swear to God I'm not making this up.  There I was one morning last week, in my customary spot at Dunkin' Donuts, enjoying my morning repast and reading the paper, when I came across this incredible story.  I started laughing out loud.  That was my first reaction.  Now I'm pissed.

Dateline Conway, SC.  Rodell Vereen was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for having sex with a horse.  Let that sink in for a moment.  Not a phrase you hear every day.  Sex with a horse.  And it's not the first time Rodell has been caught.  This is the second time in the last two years he has abused the animal.  In 2007 the owner of Sugar, Barbara Kenley, found Rodell asleep in the barn after assaulting her horse.  In that instance he pleaded guilty to buggery, was placed on probation and had to register as a sex offender.  In July 2009, Ms. Kenley became suspicious because Sugar was acting strangely and getting infections.  She also noticed dirt piled up near Sugar's stall.  So she set up a hidden camera, hooked it to a VCR, staked out the barn for two weeks and caught the horse fucker in the act.  She held him at shotgun point until authorities arrived.  Faced with taped evidence, Rodell pleaded guilty.

I know I laughed at first, but I now have second thoughts.  This man essentially raped the horse against it's will.  Forced it to have sex with a species with which it would not normally cohabit.  And to make matters worse, he passed along an STD to Sugar.  Three years in prison is not enough punishment.  They should tie this guy up and let him get ass fucked by a stallion, a big stallion.  Then castrate him.

Wait, there's more.  In researching this story I needed a picture.  I was going to just post a picture of a horse.  But I wondered if I could find something more compelling.  Now I'm sorry I tried.  Now I know that there are entire websites devoted to fucking horses.  For $39.95 a month you can get all the man fucks horse pictures and video you want.  I need a shower.  Then I think I'll throw up.

In Honor Of Ft. Hood

What Happens In Cincinnati (and Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo) Stays in Cincinnati

Ok, so we're probably not going to be the Vegas of the Midwest, but on Tuesday past Ohio voters approved a state wide referendum allowing casinos to be built in the four major metropolitan areas of the state.  It took five tries (and a recession) for this measure to be approved.  Previous attempts were doomed by everything from faulty ballot language to poor organization on the part of proponents.  But this time the promise of jobs and an infusion of tax money into a state with economic woes tipped the scales.

It is ironic that the major opposition to the casino proposal was spearheaded by a group called TruthPac.  TruthPac received the majority of their funding from the Mountaineer Resort and Racetrack in Chester, WV.  So a WV casino, located right across the river from Ohio, poured millions of dollars into trying to defeat a referendum allowing casinos in a neighboring state.  Self serving to be sure, but probably good business strategy.  What I resent is their scare tactics of the last couple weeks; they ran a tv ad campaign that claimed casinos in Ohio would lead to compulsive gambling, crime, prostitution and the breakup of families.  So I'm still trying to get my head around this one.  The casino operators are saying that having a casino nearby will cause all kinds of terrible things to happen in the host community.  Are they saying all of those things are a problem around their casino?  Are they saying the terrible consequences of having a casino in your town is OK for the people of West Virginia?  Because that's how I heard it.  If you are a compulsive gambler you don't need a casino nearby.  You will find a way to gamble.  If you want a hooker, you don't need a casino nearby.  You will find a hooker.  The Indiana towns with casinos have not seen an increase in crime.

Already, one day after passage, a downtown Cincinnati landlord with vacant property within two blocks of the proposed casino location is reporting that he is getting calls about leasing his buildings, primarily from people looking for space for restaurants and upscale bars.  This is a step forward for Ohio.  There will be jobs, tax revenue, tourists who will buy food, gas, stay in a hotel room and maybe take in a ball game.  Indiana built their casinos mostly in small towns where there is nothing to do; people drive to the casino, spend a few hours and then drive home.  In the Ohio cities there are lots of other things to do, zoos, aquariums, museums, professional sports.  People will come to gamble and stay to do other things.   And leave money in their wake.  The whole community will benefit.  Welcome Ohio, to a brave new world.

Hero Of The Week

Army Pvt. Algernon Adams
122nd Engineer Battalion
Army National Guard
Age:  36
Died 28 October, 2003
St. Mere, Iraq

RIP Phil Lumpkin

Phil Lumpkin, one of the greatest point guards in Miami history and a legendary high school coach in the Seattle area, has died at the age of 57.  Phil played two years in the NBA and later won 5 State Championships at O'Dea High School in Seattle.

If Not Us, Who?

Tomorrow is Election Day in Ohio.  Mostly local issues, city council, a few state wide referendums.  Turnout is likely to be small even with a state wide issue to allow casinos to be built in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland.  Mostly the voters will be those who feel passionate about some issue or another.  School levies are always a hot button issue for a lot of people; those with kids want their schools to remain good or get better, many without kids in school or the elderly see increasing school taxes as a financial burden, or see the schools they have as producing a lousy return on their investment.

Locally, we have a plethora of levies on the ballot that, if all pass, will bump our property taxes.  The board that serves mentally challenged adults wants more money, the public libraries want more money and the schools want more money.  I live in the City of Cincinnati.  We could argue for hours about the efficiency and effectiveness of the schools here.  Attendance is terrible, scores on standardized tests are terrible, the dropout rate is high, the school board is riddled with infighting and expenditures per student are the highest in the state.  We are certainly not getting our money's worth.

But here's the thing.  I believe the teachers want to teach.  I believe there are kids there who want to learn.  Much of the problems lie in the kids' home environment, not in the schools.  If you want people to stay in your city or move into your city, you must have strong, vibrant, effective schools.  I went to Cincinnati Public Schools, albeit in a much different era, one in which the schools faced few of the problems they do today.  Property owners then paid for me to get an education, an opportunity I chose to take advantage of.  There are still kids in those same schools today who want an education.  Somebody has to pay for it.  Ever since I've been a property owner it's been payback time.  I'll keep paying because I believe it's the right thing to do.

Why We Need A Public Option

The health insurance industry, fearful of reform and the possibility of a public option for health coverage, are scrambling to raise the rates they charge small businesses.  They are doing so at the urging of Wall Street; both investors and the insurance companies want to boost earnings before they may have to face competition for business.  Small businesses are reporting increases in their premiums that are 15-23 percent higher than a year ago.  One insurance broker, Charles J. Newman, who works with small companies, says the price hikes seem hard to justify, even factoring in rising health care costs.  According to Mr. Newman, "Frankly, I'm mystified by the size of the increases."

There is only one way to see this action on the part of health insurers.  It's a blatant money grab at the expense of small businesses and their employees.  This action makes it crystal clear why a public option is necessary.  Without it, the health insurance companies face no competition and will continue to rape small business and the public.  Republicans, who like to paint themselves as the guardians of the small business community, are eerily silent on these exorbitant increases.  Next time you see one, ask them why.

My Blogger's Bucket List

The blogosphere is a funny and interesting place.  You start a blog not knowing if anyone will ever read it.  Then a fascinating thing happens; somehow other bloggers find you or you find them, you exchange links, they start commenting on your posts, you comment on theirs, and before you know it you belong to this diverse community linked only by blogging.  These people, none of whom I've ever met face to face, have become a part of my daily life.  I can't wait to see what they've written; they can be funny, maddening, crazy or frustrating, but always interesting.  So I started thinking about this little community that I've become a part of and put together a bucket list of how I'd like to spend time with each of them if I knew my days were numbered.  So here goes.

Ladies first and that means Chanin of Blogbuster Sp.  I'll admit she knows more about sports in general than I do and more about football, college or NFL, than anyone I know.  I have the NFL Sunday Ticket solely to see all the Steeler games.  Chanin watches every game.  So before I go, I want to watch the Steelers win #7 with Chanin.  We could both wear our Ben jerseys, order pizza and celebrate by turning over a car or two.  It also doesn't hurt that she has a 65" TV.

Then there's Kden.  She seems to have a lot in common with Mrs. Grumpy; doesn't take anything too seriously, sees the humor in life, and realizes the only way projects around the house are going to get done is if she does them.  But what I would like to do on my Bucket List tour is have her teach me to take photographs as beautiful as hers.  Link to Pictorial Soul from my blog and you'll see what I mean.  It's like being in a gallery.

That brings us to G$ of The Money Shot.   I know this guy works for a well known national corporation, but his talents are being wasted there.  He writes some of the funniest material you will find anywhere.  He could have a career in comedy, performing or writing.   While writing mostly about sports, he manages to impart a uniquely twisted and hilarious viewpoint.  My Bucket List wish is to spend an evening with G$ and his posse with a heaping plate of wings and a bucket of cold ones.  I want to hear all the Naptown stories, I want to meet Mr. Ace, Damman, Lil' Strut, Naptown Wolverine, Drew, R Stiles, Upstate Underdog and all the rest.  I have a feeling that after a few beers I'll get to the bottom of their fascination with all things homoerotic.

Finally we come to Cotter of OFTOT.  This guy should be making millions giving seminars on time management.  At one point he was working full time, going to law school and blogging daily.  His blog is primarily about the Steelers, but written with wit, humor, arcane musical, social, and television references, and even tweaking Steeler Nation on occasion.   My Bucket List wish for Cotter is to go with he and his boys (and girls) on their annual trip to the Steeler training camp in Latrobe.  I've seen the pictures; I'm not sure I can keep up with them, but I'd like to try.

So there you have it, my personal Blogging Bucket List.  Now I need to start checking them off.

Hero Of The Week

 This week's Hero Of The Week did not die in Iraq or Afghanistan.  Matthew Hoh, a former Marine Captain, is very much alive and has a perspective on the war in Afghanistan that we should all hear. He sacrificed his career to make his views public.  Click the link below for his story.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33489374/ns/world_news-washington_post

Patriotism Is The FIRST Refuge Of A Scoundrel (With Apologies To Samuel Johnson)

A Lovely Sight Indeed

W Has A Brand New Gig

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream.
October 18, 2000

"Rarely is the question asked:  Is our children learning?"
January 11, 2000

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we.  They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
August 5, 2004

"I promise you I will listen to what has been said here, even though I wasn't here."
August 13, 2002

"I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Hanukkah."
December 12, 2001

The man who uttered these gems, along with countless others, is now getting paid to appear as a motivational speaker at an event featuring Terry Bradshaw, Dr. Robert Shuller and others.  Maybe he'll explain "Mission Accomplished".

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Brett Favre's New Job After Today