tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100150402024-03-13T10:56:33.760-04:00DemagoguePattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800032607384677543noreply@blogger.comBlogger3357125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-76175860332965260172010-01-25T12:55:00.000-05:002010-01-25T12:55:51.934-05:00Sarah & Vinnie Suspended - The Real Answer is...The suspension of Sarah and Vinnie from Alice 97.3 Radio Show has brought listeners at an awe. Why? The Radio general manager issued an apology because Vinnie allegedly issued a negative statement against gays last Friday in their secret show. That is why <a href="http://toothing.blogspot.com/2010/01/sarah-and-vinnie-suspended-sarah-vinnie.html#more">Sarah and Vinnie got suspended</a>. <br />
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Also there were many complaints issued particularly to Vinnie because he always make uncouth remarks that offended many radio listeners. So there! I hope the <a href="http://toothing.blogspot.com/2010/01/sarah-and-vinnie-suspended-sarah-vinnie.html#more">Sarah and Vinnie apology</a> was more profound than cheesy!Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800032607384677543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-75758198362489909712010-01-24T15:44:00.001-05:002010-01-24T15:44:41.334-05:00Kelly Kulick Tops PBA Tournament of Champions<div>No one would expect that <strong><a href="http://toothing.blogspot.com/2010/01/kelly-kulick-news-kelly-kulick-reigns.html" target="_blank">Kelly Kulick</a></strong> will emerge as the top dog in the recently concluded Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas today. As we all know, Kelly is a well-known as a professional woman bowler who managed to get former PBA Champion Chris Barnes to his knees. Not only that, Kelly Kulick also dominated over No. 3 ranked <strong>Mika Koivuniemi</strong>.</div> <div><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_PBTRFTF_dFw/S1yxKtSIN7I/AAAAAAAAAE0/qqVvCx3Q0tM/s1600-h/Kelly%20Kulick%20News%20-%20Kelly%20Kulick%20Wins%20PBA%20Tournament%5B4%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Kelly Kulick News - Kelly Kulick Wins PBA Tournament" border="0" alt="Kelly Kulick News - Kelly Kulick Wins PBA Tournament" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_PBTRFTF_dFw/S1yxN1ICZHI/AAAAAAAAAE4/8OUZIXNc_q4/Kelly%20Kulick%20News%20-%20Kelly%20Kulick%20Wins%20PBA%20Tournament_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="404" height="405" /></a> </div> <a name='more'></a><!-- adsense --> <div>So with her emerging victorious from the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tournament of Champions 2010, <strong><a href="http://toothing.blogspot.com/2010/01/kelly-kulick-news-kelly-kulick-reigns.html" target="_blank">Kelly Kulick</a></strong> deserves a big round of applause. We sure hope to see more of this fascinating 32 year old bowler in the future!</div> <div></div> <div></div> Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800032607384677543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-81983502739273791612010-01-21T19:59:00.004-05:002010-06-03T14:56:02.476-04:00American Idol 2010 Spoilers - Top 24 Contestants in Photos<div>Everybody's itching to know who's gonna be the <a href="http://bashhh.blogspot.com/2010/01/american-idol-2010-top-24-contestants.html" target="_blank">American Idol 2010 Top 24 contestants</a> who'll shine in the <strong>Hollywood round</strong>. Although nothing is still sure about who's already qualified for the American Idol 9 Top 24, websites and AI fanatics have already dug deep into qualifying the <em>creme de la creme</em> of this year's batch of aspiring singers.</div><div><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_PBTRFTF_dFw/S1j4R2gl1SI/AAAAAAAAAEs/i8e-LO0aq8k/s1600-h/American%20Idol%209%20Top%2024%20Finalists%20Photos%5B4%5D.png"><img alt="American Idol 9 Top 24 Finalists Photos" border="0" height="377" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_PBTRFTF_dFw/S1j4WnXrP0I/AAAAAAAAAEw/NtuFq1b69mc/American%20Idol%209%20Top%2024%20Finalists%20Photos_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="American Idol 9 Top 24 Finalists Photos" width="469" /></a> </div><div>Did your favorites make it? My current favorite is <a href="http://bashhh.blogspot.com/2010/01/john-park-american-idol-audition-if-i.html" target="_blank">John Park of American Idol</a> Chicago audition. He's the Korean guy who gave Shania Twain the giggles. How about you? Are your bets in the Top 24 for this season?</div><br />
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<div>And what about Eurovision, the European version of Idol? Are your <a href="http://www.partybets.com/">partybets.com</a> wagers in?</div><div></div>Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800032607384677543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-28783819761558199412010-01-10T11:07:00.001-05:002010-01-10T11:07:39.527-05:00Hong Kong Acid Attack 30 Injured<div>Another spate of acid attack in Hong Kong has placed many people cautious in roaming the streets there. Investigations are now underway as a yet to be identified man in his 30s splattered two bottles of sulfuric acid to passersby in the busy Temple Street, a favorite haunt of both tourists and local for its outdoor market and shops.</div> <div><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_PBTRFTF_dFw/S0n7NyNo3SI/AAAAAAAAAEk/Ne-77006L14/s1600-h/Hong%20Kong%20Acid%20Attack%2030%20Injured%5B3%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Hong Kong Acid Attack 30 Injured" border="0" alt="Hong Kong Acid Attack 30 Injured" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_PBTRFTF_dFw/S0n7Sa_ISDI/AAAAAAAAAEo/vc_z_-mioFE/Hong%20Kong%20Acid%20Attack%2030%20Injured_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="514" height="339" /></a> </div> <a name='more'></a><!-- adsense --> <div>In an unofficial count, there are about 30 people, including children, who suffered burned skin and were rushed to the hospital. Probers are also identifying if this is the same person who's responsible for past acid attacks. In the recent months, there have been four acid attacks in separate occasions and shoppers in the busy district of Mong Kok were often the targets. </div> <div></div> <div></div> Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800032607384677543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-37927081892735319992010-01-08T13:29:00.001-05:002010-01-08T13:29:53.185-05:00Jim Leavitt Fired<div>It's a shocking news today - <strong>Jim Leavitt Fired</strong>! Yes, the current University of South Florida (USF) football coach got his leaving papers after he allegedly hit one of his players while Jim was reprimanding him. In an interview, Leavitt is said to be flabbergasted at the University's decision saying that he's "disappointed" because the accusations against him were false and unfounded. <div><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_PBTRFTF_dFw/S0d5j82unnI/AAAAAAAAAEc/HcraYGsxfI0/s1600-h/Jim%20Leavitt%20Fired%5B3%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Jim Leavitt Fired" border="0" alt="Jim Leavitt Fired" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_PBTRFTF_dFw/S0d5n3aTEDI/AAAAAAAAAEg/Dn7vHJzTUIc/Jim%20Leavitt%20Fired_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="376" height="430" /></a> </div> <div></div> <a name='more'></a><!-- adsense --> <div></div> <div></div> <div>No official yet from the university could confirm about the <strong>Jim Leavitt fired</strong> news today. According to the grapevine, the student Jim Leavitt grabbed by the throat is named Joel Miller. The incident took place last November 21 last year and Leavitt hit him, not once but twice. So sad for college football fans hearing this news.</div> <p></p> </div> Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800032607384677543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-14063482295553171592008-10-25T08:56:00.003-04:002010-01-08T08:03:22.170-05:00Bush Plays LimboHow low can you go? How low can you go? <br />
<br />
Looks like he touched the pole at...<br />
<br />
22% approval and 72% disapproval. <br />
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Think he'll hit the teens before the moving truck pulls away from the White House?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-32532683107234618952008-10-24T19:35:00.004-04:002008-10-24T20:22:23.963-04:00Ashley Todd is not our "October Surprise"All day long as this story unfolded I was heartsick. This story felt very personal from the first moment I heard about it yesterday because I am a Pittsburgher. The story might be a hoax but the street corner and the neighborhood and the sick racial-sexual game she was playing was very real. Scary real. <br /><br />Imagine how you'd feel if this happened in your own backyard? In a city that you love and that you're proud of, a city that you recently moved back to and have a lot of hope for its future as a widely unrecognized gem? <br /><br />I was deeply concerned that this was the exact kind of incident that could have serious unintended(?) consequences-- stoking racial tensions that exist in MOST cities on some level or another. It was such a viseral story, the cutting and branding of one's face. Later on she added that he molested her as well. It was such an awful racist archtype, reaching into history to conjure up a story that in another time would have gotten innocent black men lynched in retaliation. The victimization of a white woman at the hands of an angry, terrifying black man. <br /><br />I know the so-called racism of western PA has been put in the national spotlight. I'm not denying that it DOES exist, however I see more interracial families here than I've seen in any other city that I've lived in. I've lived in a lot of other cities-- DC, Boston, Chicago, San Fransisco-- and Pittsburgh actually has less racial division than I've seen anywhere else. <br /><br />As a Pittsburgher I am deeply OUTRAGED that she did tried to do this to us. I've been thinking a lot about what I would say to her if I could sit down with her. I would ask her if she understood the ugly, divisive history that she tapped into and ask her how she would have felt if her "attack" had driven other people to commit acts of violence against innocent people? Or that she tried to influence the election by creating an imaginary black man as a stand-in for the threat that some white people see that Obama poses to America?<br /><br />I'm extremely appreciative of the Pittsburgh police for their speed and proficiency at getting to the truth of the story. Imagine if the investigation had lingered for days? a week? What if they hadn't uncovered the hoax until after the election? What might have transpired in that time? How would that have played out on the national stage? Imagine the McCain campaign ads. The mind reels. <br /><br />So it's very hard to have too much pity for her considering what she tried to do-- it literally turns my stomach and makes my eyes burn. I just hope that she can learn from what she did, that she understands that in her attempt to fake a hate crime that she committed a hate crime against Pittsburgh itself.<br /><br />------<br />Update: As of now there are over 1,400 stories about "ashley todd pittsburgh" in the news all over the world. Nice going, Ashley, you're an international celebrity! You may very well be the final push that helps a lot of fencesitters make a choice-- that they don't want anything to do with such a dirty campaign. Yes, I mean the McCain campaign because the McCain campaign has been caught pushing this story into the news yesterday before any of its facts were verified.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-45700645035055426702008-10-23T12:37:00.001-04:002008-10-23T12:39:07.470-04:00PA Voting-- Get Your Wonk On!A new poll today has Obama maintaining a 13% advantage in PA. But polls are just polls. However, looking at the raw registered voter numbers, I'm not sure why McCain's camp think that they can change PA from blue to red. <br /><br />In 2004 Kerry won PA by a small margin-- by 143,000 votes-- BUT dems did not have a 1.1 million registered voter advantage. <br /><br />PA in 2008:<br />Registered Dems: 4,060,647<br />Registered GOP: 2,917,747<br />Registered Indepedents: 869,707<br /><br />PA in 2004:<br />Kerry: 2,938,095 (registered dems: 3.9 million)<br />Bush: 2,793,847 (registered gop: 3.4 million)<br />Statewide average voter turnout: 62%<br /><br />For McCain to win PA he'd have to get ALL the independents AND over 20% of registered dems. Voting turnout is expected to be high, Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) alone is predicting an 85% turnout. Between 2004 and 2008 dems gained 500,000 registered votes and the GOP lost 200,000 voters. <br /><br />So we'll see what actually happens on November 4th, although there are over a million reasons in PA alone to be pretty optimistic.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-51754905154634458942008-10-16T00:29:00.002-04:002008-10-16T00:33:57.538-04:003rd Debate ReviewMcCain was McSnide. Obama was his usual solid, unflappable self. <br /><br />I love how Obama challenged him-- twice-- to bring up Ayers. <br /><br />Although I was disappointed that when ACORN was brought up that Obama didn't point out that McCain himself has been to ACORN events-- or does anyone really believe that Mickey Mouse is going to actually vote in Florida? It's truly pathetic that ACORN is being scapegoated by the likes of Limbaugh and Hannity.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-36498317452361024662008-10-15T23:54:00.003-04:002008-10-16T00:04:01.053-04:00Report from Outside the Beltway: Revving Up for the ElectionTonight I had yet another firsthand encounter with Obama's infamous grassroots ground game. I was invited via email to go to a "GOTV organizing meeting." <br /><br />So about 500 people showed up to do Obama GOTV work for about 10 neighborhoods in the east end of Pittsburgh. The energy in the room was electric and absolutely fantastic. <br /><br />You could tell that even the well-organized Obama campaign folks were surprised by the number of people in the ballroom. After a few enthusiastic speeches from local pols, they clearly outlined what Get-Out-the-Vote work is and the purpose that it serves and what is needed in exact numbers to make it happen. <br /><br />They seriously had their sh*t together-- they got 500 people to each make 10 calls before they left the room. I signed up for 4 canvassing sessions and running a precinct on the day of the election. They pretty much demanded that everyone find a way to contribute any and all time that they could in the next 20 days-- in a really good way. If everything works as planned, as pointed out tonight, the road to the White House may very well go through Allegheny County. <br /><br />Wow. Once again, I am incredibly impressed with the grassroots organization of the Obama campaign. In a word-- unprecedented. <br /><br />The past few weeks have been nothing short of amazing. I have been volunteering throught the Squirrel Hill office and have been incredibly impressed with that office-- they put many of the "professional organizers" I've known to shame. Last Friday I went to the impromptu protest where several city blocks of downtown Pittsburgh were shut-down by a very festive, fun crowd who were there to register their contempt for Palin slinking into town to raise money at a $1000 plate fund-raiser.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-42293776670784236682008-10-07T23:54:00.006-04:002008-10-08T00:04:04.387-04:00Post-Debate Commentary TranslationFrom one of the many nutty nitwits at <a href="http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NGE0ZWY0NWIxNzI4YjllNzk2Yjk1NDc2YzUxMjFkMzM=">The Corner</a>-- apparently even Obama's mother isn't off-limits when it comes to snide talking points about health care reform. <blockquote>Obama thinks health care is a right, not a responsibility. Bringing up his mother as the case study is not clever. Very sad that she died at 53 of cancer, and had to spend time arguing with insurance companies. I'm sure she was a wonderful, fascinating person. But she was not a paragon of responsibility. </blockquote>Is that because she used food stamps?!? Apparently feeding your children = irresponsible. Or was it because she had more than one husband? What the hell?!? Or was about it the cancer itself? I don't get it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-16809264244151412762008-10-02T02:08:00.003-04:002008-10-02T02:16:06.009-04:00Will the real Sarah Palin please stand up?The Palins are worth <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-10-01-palin-assets_N.htm">$1.2 million</a>-- last year alone she and her husband crossed Obama's "wealthy" line in income. They're rich people who own a half a million dollar home, commercial fishing boats, a plane, as well as real estate investments.<br /><br />So all of her aw-shucks-we're-common-folk-just-like-you stuff is a whole lot of hooey.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-83514116568405753732008-09-30T09:34:00.004-04:002008-09-30T10:22:20.654-04:00Why the "Bailout" FailedThis financial crisis has not been adequately explained to the American public and the "bailout" is not an actual "bailout of Wall Street." Wall Street is already pretty well screwed. Banks will continue to close, investment bankers are going to lose their jobs, a lot of rich people will become substantially less rich. What the more aptly named "rescue plan" is about is trying to stop the Wall Street financial crisis-- fueled by greed and deregulation-- from crashing down on Main Street in the form of a credit crisis.<br /><br />Here is what people need to know-- most companies and small businesses rely on credit to make payroll. Some businesses NEED credit for people to buy their products-- car sales, real estate (residential and commerical), student loans, etc. If credit dries up for a long period of time we're looking at widespread layoffs as businesses contract-- many businesses will close altogether. We have a economy that is driven by consumerism-- if the money dries up so does the economy in general. If the stock market tanks it will hurt the average person, either directly by shrinking their 401k or pension, or indirectly by harming the economy in general.<br /><br />This could lead to systemic failure that will hurt A LOT of people in the short-term and be hard to get out of in the mid and long-term. A "rescue" from the government is intended to keep credit available so that much of this won't happen-- it won't stop the pain completely but it's the difference between a kick in the head or someone chopping your legs off at the knees.<br /><br />As I see it those who are supporting the bill as a necessary evil have not done enough to educate the public. The Bush Administration royally screwed up when they introduced the "bailout" in the first place-- they failed to educate everyone about why this is needed and they completely underestimated how little trust the American public has in Bush and his administration. It goes way beyond the fact that Bush is a lame duck-- he's the least popular lame duck <em>evah</em>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-7414900171739965042008-09-25T21:16:00.004-04:002008-09-30T10:13:55.766-04:00Palin's Couric InterviewIn a word-- scary. Some other words come to mind as well, like mindbogglingly ignorant. Palin actually believes that she's qualified and ready to be VP so that makes her kneenockingly arrogant as well. Palin's interview was like watching a 7th grader do a book report and they haven't read the book. They stand there, visibly frustrated, trying to bs their way through it and failing miserably. She wasn't even coherent in most of her answers. She doesn't even have the most rudimentary political skills-- if you don't know the answer STOP TALKING. Say something vague and change the subject to something you do know something about. <br /><br />If Obama doesn't win I am prepared to secede individually. I will declare my house and its land a foreign, independent nation. Seriously.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-90238176939187148792008-09-23T18:52:00.007-04:002008-09-30T10:25:58.248-04:00Bailout = Ransom?Why do I feel like the Bush-Paulson "bailout" plan is nothing more than a 3-page ransom note for $700,000,000,000 from the very people who helped to kidnap the economy-- and if we don't pay up they're going to kill it for good? Can they be believed or trusted? Is it overly hyperbolic to call what is going on "economic terrorism"?<br /><br />So much more needs to be done to make sure that this isn't just a totally INSANE power grab by the Bush Administration. It's the most arrogant request by a lame duck president in the history of lame duck presidents.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-8227980832371130812008-09-21T19:31:00.002-04:002008-09-21T19:44:04.325-04:00Simply McCainWhenever I turn on the teevee and see McCain or one of his minions one word instantly and incessantly pops into my mind:<br /><br />McDouchebag.<br /><br />McCain has NO credibility left whatsoever. It's as if he has electrodes attached to his private man parts that shock him every time he tells the truth or says anything based on reality. His surrogates know this as well. That's really the only explanation left.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-76276060213883737842008-09-13T10:14:00.002-04:002008-09-13T10:19:46.713-04:00The Most Dishonest Presidential Campaign EVAHMcCain is blatantly lying REPEATEDLY right out of the gate. He lies about his own record, Sarah Palin's, and he lies about Obama's. Not to mention that Palin is lying as well. But not regular stretch-the-truth kind of lies. BIG BOLD-FACED ONES. The MSM is actually talking about some of them and Dems are talking about them. Writers in newspapers-- both editorial and on the AP-- are writing about the lies. Does it matter?<br /><br />It's a pretty amazing strategy, actually, because it's much harder to argue with someone who is completely and shamelessly making shit up. It leaves your oppoenent bewildered and slackjawed and stuttering-- "but, but, none of that is true!" It's much harder to forumulate your own argument because you're standing their in a sort of stunned righteous anger.<br /><br />What the campaign is betting on is that McCain has the whole honorable POW thing to innoculate him. They seem to think that convincing others that he is lying will be especially difficult-- especially after 8 years of Bush we all expect some level of distortion and spin.<br /><br />I fully expect that McCain's next stage of his strategy will be to spend a lot of time talking about the importance of truth and honesty in government-- because that means he's truthful and honest, right?<br /><br />The bottom line is this-- we have never seen a campaign quite like this so a lot of people don't seem to recognize what is going on. Here's to hoping that they do catch on. My one hope is that at this rate of lying he has to make up a real doozy that could seriously catch up with him. Something so obvious that it doesn't look like spin against him. That's the problem with lying-- you have to keep track of all the lies because eventually you're lying about the lies in a way that increases your chances of exposure.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-56894057809641457462008-09-08T22:36:00.002-04:002008-09-08T22:39:17.246-04:00Palin Pays for Her Popularity in Alaska-- LiterallyA lot of republicans have repeated the claim that "she's the most popular governor in the country!" whenever talking about Governor Sarah Palin.<br /><br />Well, I'd love my governor too if he wrote everyone in my family a check for <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/03/EDAR12MTTR.DTL">$3,200</a>! I wish that dems were as half as organized as the GOP when it comes to repeated responses-- it would make a great talking point whenever some GOPer says it like it means Palin is the <i>best</i> governor in the country.<br /><br />It would also help illuminate just how *differently* Alaska functions from every other state in the country. You know, like the fact that no one there pays income or sales tax. Because they get most of their money from oil company revenues or federal tax dollars from the lower 48. Frankly her experiences as governor might even be less germaine than any other state and makes her especially woefully unprepared to run the country.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-58183975638831515992008-09-08T17:30:00.002-04:002008-09-08T17:38:07.328-04:00How to Undo McCain/PalinIt's all about the "maverick."<br /><br />McCain/Palin are branding themselves with the SAME BRAND. It is the hollow label they are both using to separate themselves from the GOP and Bush. It's the key to taking them BOTH out with the same attack. They're NOT mavericks, they're both full of crap.<br /><br />That "maverick" brand is a fake and needs to be shredded-- neither one of them are mavericks. They're just packaging-- like when a product stays the same but calls itself "new and improved" to pretend it's something new. Don't fall for it, Mavericks = Pretenders<br /><br />Obama needs to push them on that label, something along the lines of this:<br /><br />A simple McCain v. McCain ad. <em>The Daily Show</em> already did a preview of it last week, showing how McCain has taken polar opposite views between now and 2000. First he was against overturning Roe, now he wants it overturned and so on.<br /><br />Attack Palin on her bridge to nowhere garbage and her love of pork. The maverick label is meaningless. She's just more of the McSame.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-18920356671300720242008-09-08T08:19:00.003-04:002008-09-08T20:33:09.806-04:00Palin is a Proud Puppy Killer!!!!Just when I thought I couldn't like Sarah Palin less I read stuff like <a href="http://www.salon.com/env/feature/2008/09/08/sarah_palin_wolves/">this</a>.<br /><blockquote><p>In early 2007, Palin's administration approved an initiative to pay a $150<br />bounty to hunters who killed a wolf from an airplane in certain areas, hacked<br />off the left foreleg, and brought in the appendage. Ruling that the Palin<br />administration didn't have the authority to offer payments, a state judge<br />quickly put a halt to them but not to the shooting of wolves from aircraft.<br />...<br />The controversy over Palin's promotion of predator control goes beyond animal rights activists recoiling at the thought of picking off wolves from airplanes. A raft of scientists has argued that Palin has provided little evidence that the current program of systematically killing wolves, estimated at a population of 7,000 to 11,000, will result in more moose for hunters. State estimates of moose populations have come under scrutiny. Some wildlife biologists say predator control advocates don't even understand what wolves eat.<br />...<br />Last year, 172 scientists signed a letter to Palin, expressing concern about the lack of science behind the state's wolf-killing operation. According to the scientists, state officials set population objectives for moose and caribou based on "unattainable, unsustainable historically high populations." As a result, the "inadequately designed predator control programs" threatened the long-term health of both the ungulate and wolf populations. The scientists concluded with a plea to Palin to consider the conservation of wolves and bears "on an equal basis with the goal of producing more ungulates for hunters."<br /><br />Apparently Palin wasn't fazed. Earlier this year she introduced state legislation that would further divorce the predator-control program from science. The legislation would transfer authority over the program from the state Department of Fish and Game to Alaska's Board of Game, whose members are appointed by, well, Palin. Even some hunters were astounded by her power play.<br /></p></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-80857202476026627282008-09-05T22:51:00.002-04:002008-09-05T23:22:03.577-04:00Palin-- The GOP Swoons After the First Date<div>The GOP just had their first date with Sarah Palin and they are SWOONING. So much that they seem to be happy to ignore all the red flags-- you know, like the fact that she's currently under investigation for ethics violations and has not been cleared of them. (Imagine if Obama or Biden had this hanging over their heads?) On top of that she's seriously monkeying around with the investigation, refusing to cooperate while saying that they're happy to do so. </div><div> </div><div>The only person I'm finding surprisingly honest about his "anxiety" about her selection is none other than David Frum. Although he represents the more wonky wing of the GOP-- not to mention a member of the arugla-eating, latte-drinking "elite" crowd is sounding like someone who feels like his party is officially being taken over by people whom he doesn't admire very much-- namely, the religious right. </div><div> </div><br />I think Palin might actually scare me more than John McCain does. So far what has come out since the annoucement is a lot of pretty bad stuff. Although the more I read the more they do sound like "soul mates." Palin has been described as "brittle" and McCain's temper is infamous. They both seem to define "maverick" the same way-- tough, uncompromising, intolerant of opposing views, and quick to judgement.<br /><br />Also, just saw an interview with Mike Wooton and Walter Monegan on "Anderson Cooper 360. " At first blush it appears that their stories seem pretty credible and Wooton in particular says he's only granting an interview this time so he can set the record straight.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-91090670669457541102008-09-03T19:41:00.004-04:002008-09-05T22:50:24.538-04:00Playing the Refs?After watching Palin's speech-- surprise, surprise-- she's taking on the "press" for attacking her and her family.<br /><br />Nice new strategy there, let's declare a pre-emptive war on the press for asking basic questions about who she is, her background and McCain's vetting process. That also serves an additional purpose --it could work to minimize the negative reports from Alaska about her record of trying to ban books, firing anyone who gets in her way, as well as a reputation for being "brittle." Apparently being a "maverick" means you doing whatever the hell you want and getting pissed when someone questions you about it.<br /><br />I really hope that is something they keep up-- it makes them look weak and certainly won't help them get them kind treatment from the press. I always worried that the press's deep affection for McCain "the Maverick" would hurt Obama-- looks like they might be getting ready to trash that relationship by playing the "victim card." Ironic, eh?<br /><br />Well, unless the press then bends over backwards to try and make McCain/Palin feel like they're being treated "fairly" by the "liberal media." Although Chris Matthews-- who usually bugs me-- just had a nice rant about how she's attacking the press for doing its job. Matthews just accused McCain/Palin of "ginning up" this fight to garner sympathy and fight back against questions about Palin.<br /><br />So not only are they attacking the Dems as elitists but now they're going after the whole "Washington elitist establishment." I know this has worked in the past, let's see if it works again.<br /><br />Just an aside, it's nothing short of HILARIOUS to see Mittens Romney attack the "east coast elite." I suppose he forgot that he was the governor of MASSACHUSETTS or that he has an MBA/JD from Harvard. I think it's funny that in their attempt to appeal to "regular people" they are attacking the educated, successful republicans in their own party.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-74608289975238099392008-09-02T20:34:00.005-04:002008-09-02T20:54:12.097-04:00Awakening From a Long Slumber(snort, snort, cough, cough, ahem)<br /><br />I think this blog just woke up. Or at least I have.<br /><br />There have been so many things over the past year (and more) that have nearly prompted me to start blogging again. Yet somehow I managed to get through the whole Dem primary without picking it up again. I came close many times but managed to get no futher than just logging in.<br /><br />Then the Bristol Palin story happened.<br /><br />I am incredibly pissed off.<br /><br />I also feel as though I am having a reaction to this story that no one else seems to be expressing. I'm 32 (almost 33) but my inner 17-year old is RAGING on Bristol's behalf.<br /><br />There is something deeply unsettling about the way the campaign and Palin herself handled the news. I'm pissed on that her mother told the world about this-- why didn't her mother try to protect her a little? Why did they voluntarily put Bristol in the spotlight this way? Why didn't she respect her daughter's privacy and leave her back in Alaska instead of putting her on stage holding her little brother to conceal her "baby bump"? Why not leave her in Alaska to quietly get married ASAP and then announce that she's married and having a kid soon?<br /><br />To me the answer to these questions are one-- Palin herself appears to be exploiting the young woman's pregnancy to score points with the "pro-life" crowd. The GOP talking heads are already claiming that it makes Sarah Palin seem like a "regular" person. It's all about Sarah Palin and not at all about treating her daughter and her life with a little diginity, with a little respect. I think it makes Sarah Palin seem like a pretty shitty mother, frankly. She seems to treat her kids like political props in ways that are above and beyond the way that most pols do.<br /><br />The McCain campaign and Sarah Palin propped Bristol up there and put out a press release about her pregnancy and then have the nerve to say that the media is invading their privacy. Seriously? They did it first. They can call it a "pre-emptive strike" against the media all they want but they could have handled it completely differently.<br /><br />I find the whole thing truly sickening.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-1173328670664270082007-03-07T23:24:00.000-05:002007-03-09T22:33:39.030-05:00NaptimeDemagogue is taking a bit of a nap. We started this blog in <a href="http://demagogue.blogspot.com/2003_03_23_demagogue_archive.html">March 2003</a>, so it's possible at this point that we've just slipped into a temporary coma or it might be the big sleep.<br /><br />So, until further notice, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10015040.post-1172509120349998372007-02-26T11:51:00.000-05:002007-02-26T14:00:50.716-05:0010 Things You Might Not Know About IranAs the war of words between the Bush administration and the regime in Tehran continues, how much do you really know about Iran? For example, did you know that until recently, 15-year-olds could vote in Iran? I didn't.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0702250015feb25,1,7282337.story?ctrack=1&cset=true">This article</a> in Sunday's Chicago Tribune provides some interesting tidbits.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0