Obama Has Finally Addressed Our Energy Needs

We don't need to drill for oil. We don't need alternative fuel. We don't need tax relief at the pumps. We don't need to invest in research. We don't need NAFTA price protection for imported Canadian oil. We don't need improved fuel efficiency. We don't need new technology.

Barack Obama has finally given us a sensible answer to our energy needs.

We just need to blow.



Wow, I have been so wrong. This guy really is a genius. And so well-spoken when off his script.

Kwame Kilpatrick Assaults Detroit (Again)

I've known some pretty selfish people in my life. There was that girl in kindergarten who wouldn't let me play with her dolls . . . I mean, action figures. There was the kid in junior high who didn't want to help me mow my lawn before we swam in his pool. There was the guy in high school who didn't like me borrowing his fastback Mustang for a date. And I'm not even going to mention all of you out there who snatch the last piece of pizza (you know who your are). But I don't think I've ever encountered a display of selfish indulgence like the one we are witnessing from Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Rather than exit the Detroit political scene and save the city from further national embarrassment, he has decided to continue wearing a mask of buffoonery that inspires countless effacing jokes that begin with "What do you call a city" and end with "Detroit."

Last week was just another punchline waiting for delivery. As The Detroit News reported, Detective Brian White and his partner, Joanne Kinney, were driving around the city to serve a subpeana when they notice a Fergson Construction truck parked outside the home of Kilpatrick's sister, Ayanna. Well, since the the city was also trying to serve a subpeana to the owner of that company (Kilpatrick's buddy, Bobby Ferguson) they decided to stop in to see if he was lounging about. What followed could only happen in Detroit under Kwame's administration.

[Det.] White went to the front door of Ayanna Kilpatrick's home with his partner, Joanne Kinney, looking for Bobby Ferguson. Ayanna Kilpatrick is married to Daniel Ferguson, Bobby Ferguson's relative. "He [Mayor Kilpatrick] grabbed me and threw me," White testified, adding that Kilpatrick was irate. Under cross-examination he said he was thrown into a collision with [his partner, Joanne] Kinney.

Ah, but that's not all the city's fine mayor accomplished on that day. The mayor then shouted at Kinney, "How can a black woman be riding in a car with a man named White?" Because nothing says leadership and class like racist comments. Well, except maybe the mayor's parting remarks:

"Leave my (expletive) family alone" and "get the (expletive) out of here" and instructed other people at the home, "Don't tell those (expletive) anything."

After Kilpatrick's latest episode 36th District Judge Ronald Giles added more fodder for the nation. What do you call a city who can't send their mayor to Disney World because he might miss a court ordered random drug test?

Obama's European Change/Hope Tour

By now virtually every political voice in the blogosphere has weighed in on Barack Obama's overseas Change/Hope tour, so I'm a bit hesitant to opine with an opinion that mirrors millions. Besides, if I skip that story I'm left with more time to blog about issues like hot dog danger.

The fact is that my opinion has already been summarized in an OP-ED by Robert A. George over at Booker Rising.

Sen. Obama speaking before 200,000 Germans is quite impressive - if he is running for president of the United Nations. However, he is not. He is running for president of the United States. Not a good image if he wants to counter the claim that he won't fight for American interests, even if Europeans or whomever don't like it. [Is] he gonna fight for me, or is he more concerned about Hans Weitzer's opinion over in Berlin?

Barack Obama's ego has no limit and the frightening hum a Euro-adoration seems to have inspired it to greater heights. The man who would post campaign posters on a Jewish holy site and then complain about a lack of reverence from the gathered crowd is beginning to believe the messianic language of his followers. The reality of the American condition and circumstance abroad have taken a back seat to the cult of personality. Proceed at your own peril.

Obama Supporters Push Censorship

Barack Obama supporters initiated an online drive to flag the YouTube video "Obama - Building a Religion" as inappropriate for minors in an attempt to make the video just a little more difficult for people to see. Seems like Obama's idea for change is getting more Orwellian by the day.

Ah, but I believe in freedom, in liberty, in fighting Marxist censorship with a defiant sword . . . well, really just with a keyboard in the upstairs office while everyone else in the house is asleep. Anyway, you deserve to see cakesecret's work so I give you the video that Barack Obama doesn't want you to see . . .

Batman's Secret Identity Revealed

Could George W. Bush be the Batman?

According to Nikki, that may just be the case. Check it out:

Batman and "W"

John McCain's Plan For Osama Bin Laden

My gut tells me that Osama Bin Laden is dead. I mean, we're talking about a 6'4" guy with diabetes, chronic low blood pressure, kidney issues and a possible heart condition who has supposedly been hiding successfully in caves for years. Sorry, but I have a hard time believing that this sickly psycho is still creeping around crevices convincing others to die for his cause while he tries to score another pre-teen Muslim chick.

But what if he is still breathing infidel-polluted air? What if we caught him? What would we do?

I've always felt that if we nail this wacko we should drag him to the U S of A for some frontier justice delivered by New York's finest. So I was a bit surprised when I heard John McCain's response when Wolf Blizter asked what he would do as president if we caught Bin Laden.

"We have various options. The Nuremberg Trials are certainly an example of the kind of tribunal that we could move forward with. I don't think we'd have any difficulty in devising an international -- internationally supported mechanism that would mete out justice. There's no problem there."

What?!? Deliver the devil behind 9/11 to an international tribunal? Why on earth would Mac deprive America of our need to open a red white and blue can of whoop ass on this guy? Well, according to the Republican presidential nominee:

it would be a "good thing to reveal to the world the enormity of this guy's crimes, and his intentions, which are still there."

Well, now I suppose I should think about it. Vengeance is sweet, especially if I ever get the chance to lay some on Jimmy Ford for kissing my girlfriend Chrissy back in the 3rd grade, but does vengeance have lasting value? I tend to distrust the world's justice, but they didn't show much leniency when they took care of Saddam Hussein. Perhaps McCain is right and the globe needs to see this murderer for what he is rather than see him as merely a problem for America. He may be a symbol for Islamic terrorism, but an international trial could turn him into a symbol of the world's new-found courage in confronting this form of evil. Yes, perhaps McCain is right, but I'd sure like to see Bin Laden on the business end of an NYPD/FDNY beat down.

Liberty/Bin Laden image pulled from Redneck's Revenge

Warning: Eating Hot Dogs May Not Be Healthy

In yet another example of crack reporting, CNN has divulged that eating too many hot dogs may be "risky for kids." According to the report by CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen, eating one hot dog a day can increase your chance of cancer by 21%. The American Cancer Society currently considers nitrates in processed meat to be the primary culprit.

Not covered in the report are undocumented reports that one hot dog a day increases the chance of diarrhea by 28%, nausea by 31% and calling in sick to work by 33.37%

The Price Of Gas And The Democratic Congress

Does anybody remember the vow the Democrats made to the American consumer? You know, the last time they promised hope and change; when they huffed and wheezed that if we gave them control of the congress they would give us lower prices at the pump. In fact, Nancy Pelosi went so far as to launch a press release explaining that her party had a "common sense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices." Of course, we saw a display of Pelosi's common sense On Larry King back in April.



What exactly was that "common sense" approach? They never actually revealed their plan but the results are as clear as the Sunday buffet table after a visit from Michael Moore. So before you blame "That dag nab oil-guy Bush" for higher prices at the pump, take a peek at the impact the Democratic congress has had with their "common sense approach" on this chart that I snagged from the Pirate King :

But apparently the chart above only reflects Phase I of the Democrats "common sense approach" to gas prices and it doesn't take Professor Trewallerny to divine the nature of Phase II -- if it involves the Democrats it involves taxes . . . and not the cutting kind. As reported by CNN:

With gas prices setting records daily, Republican presidential hopeful John McCain and former Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton called for a 90-day suspension of the federal fuel tax to give drivers a little relief at the pump.

The Democrats would have none of it and in the end voted down the attempt at easing our pain through this limited tax relief and, in fact, are considering raising fuel taxes by another 10 cents.

Now I'm left wondering, what is Phase III of the Dems "common sense approach"? Thoughts?

Barack Obama: Insanity Concerning Iraq

This is a must see ad from the McCain campaign concerning Barack Obama's view of Iraq. It'll never play in its entirety on the Tube, so check it out on the YouTube.



H/T: To Nikki for finding this one!

The Genius Of Barack Obama

OK, this is old news but it is new me. I just saw these Barack Obama gems on Baldilocks:

While campaigning in New Mexico, Obama said, "On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes — and I see many of them in the audience here today – our sense of patriotism is particularly strong."

Which is almost as funny (or sad) as:

Obama also spoke about his uncle, who was part of the American brigade that helped to liberate Auschwitz. He said the family legend is that, upon returning from war, his uncle spent six months in an attic. [Note: the Russians liberated Auschwitz]

Ahhhh, and since we're reminiscing:

Obama's Mis-state
Another Geography Lesson From Barack Obama

Obama Abroad

First he joined a Liberation Theology church to gain some street cred. Then he hooked up with the windy city's underbelly to create some political cred. Now Barack Obama is pulling up stakes to take his circus overseas for some foreign policy cred, and every clown in the media is somersaulting in his wake.

According to CNN:

Obama's trip, which includes visits to Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, is intended to bolster his foreign policy credentials amid concerns that he has not convinced voters of his suitability to be the next U.S. president.

Well, if he hasn't convinced voters, he has certainly herded the major networks into line as all of them have been rounded up into his posse to go across the pond. Quite a contrast from McCain's trip back in March which was without secret service or a single prime-time network news anchor.

Now, before you moan that this is just a glitz-laden attempt to gild a presidential candidate who has no foreign policy substance, consider what CNN believes we can all gain from this trip.

The trip would offer a more critical opportunity to gauge Obama's suitability for statesmanship, CNN European political editor Robin Oakley said: "People have been saying to me, 'Look, this guy has only been in national politics for three years, let alone international politics.' We don't really know exactly what he is going to do."

Ah, yes. Because everyone knows that a single field trip abroad with the fawning media will be a perfect gauge of how Obama will handle immigration, trade and terrorism. Maybe his next trip will be a stroll down Walgreen's analgesic aisle so we can get a handle on his capability to address health care issues.

The fact is that this is a trip with a two-fold purpose. To, as Susan Estrich told FoxNews, give Obama "a platform to fend off McCain’s foreign policy attacks" and to develop footage of hugs and kisses from Europeans to tell us how much they would love America if Obama was our President. The success of this trip, then, will depend on the gullibility of the American people. Will voters believe that a big-top tour around the globe gives Obama Foreign policy credibility? Will voters believe there is anything that will make Europeans love us?

Personal Note: I lived in Germany during the Clinton years and, despite what you hear from Chris Matthews, they didn't like Americans then either.

Talking To An Axis Of Evil

President Bush has decided to send the country's third-ranking diplomat to Switzerland this Saturday to participate in discussions with Iran concerning their nuclear enrichment programs. According to CNN:

Undersecretary of State William Burns will accompany a European Union delegation during a meeting with Saeed Jalili, Iran's top nuclear official . . . The move could dramatically alter the three-decade stand-off between the U.S. and Iran. Some western nations and Israel suspect Iran is intent on developing nuclear weapons and want Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment. Iran says it wants to develop nuclear power to produce electricity.

What is up with Dubya decision to participate? Has he decided that this particular axis of evil is really only an axis of sorta bad? Will we soon see pics of Ahmadinejad bareback riding in Crawford? I don't think this is anything that dramatic. Nor do I think this is a complete reversal of administration policy. According to State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack, U.S. participation in this event simply signifies our unanimity with the United Nations in wanting Iran to suspend their nuclear program. OK, so I have a problem with signifying unanimity with the UN, but I can't condemn the trips as it stands. According to the White House, they continue to hold firm that they will not meet directly with the Iranians until Iran takes certain steps.

"Iran needs to suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing related activities. Should they take that single step, the United States and its partners in the P5+1 will meet with the Iranian delegation any time, any place, anywhere to talk about a variety ... of subjects, but certainly our focus will be on the Iranian nuclear program."

So I personally don't have a problem with this particular trip. However, as long as Iran is identified as a terrorist state seeking to enrich uranium, let's not invite them to a Reykyavik picnic.

Rough Night

Had a little too much to drink tonight to compose a proper post, which is probably why I've been staring at this picture for altogether too long.

Skål

The New Yorker's Image Of The Obamas

The New Yorker has long been a practitioner of disturbing satire, much of the time being unintentionally dropped into their "serious articles." But have they gone too far with the cover scheduled to hit the racks next week?

According to The New Yorker:

[The cover] combines a number of fantastical images about the Obamas and shows them for the obvious distortions they are. The burning flag, the nationalist-radical and Islamic outfits, the fist-bump, the portrait on the wall? All of them echo one attack or another. Satire is part of what we do, and it is meant to bring things out into the open, to hold up a mirror to prejudice, the hateful, and the absurd. And that's the spirit of this cover.

According to Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton:

The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create. But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree.

According to The Khaki Elephant:

The image is absolutely ridiculous. Michelle's hair is completely wrong, Barack's wrist looks far too straight and powerful in the fist bump, and the flag they're burning doesn't seem to have all 50 stars.

Just Try To Keep That Manhole Covered

Officials in Flint, Michigan say they've had to replace hundreds of manhole covers and grates that were probably stolen and sold for scrap. The Flint Journal reported Monday that nearly 400 cast iron covers and grates have been taken from streets in the past year. A cover can fetch $20 from a scrap yard but can cost the city more than $200 to replace. --FoxNews

In other news

When Massachusetts became the first state to issue marriage licenses to gay couples in 2004, it left one big roadblock in place: Out-of-state couples need not apply. Now an effort is gaining momentum to repeal a 1913 state law that has prevented out-of-state gay couples from getting married. The law says couples cannot be married in Massachusetts if their unions would be illegal in their home states. -- FoxNews

Monica Conyers: Money For Sludge

City Councilwoman Monica Conyers has once again done the city of Detroit proud. She has apparently moved beyond bar fights and juvenile disruptions of city council meetings to a more profitable endeavor.

According to The Detroit News:

Federal investigators have electronic surveillance evidence that allegedly links Detroit City Council President Pro Tem Monica Conyers with receiving a payment or payments in connection with a city-approved sludge contract, two people familiar with the investigation said.

But did the green change the scene?

Conyers -- who changed her position from speaking in opposition to the sludge contract to voting in favor of it -- and at least one other council member are under FBI investigation in connection with possible bribes related to the $47 million contract with Synagro Technologies Inc. of Houston. . . . In November, the City Council voted 5-4 to award a contract to Synagro.

It sure looks like Monica's vote made the difference. As the wife of our country's second-longest serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives, John Conyers Jr., there's no doubt that she has a handle on politics, it's just the whole personal integrity thing she seems to forget.

Dear, Synagro
I'd be willing to drop some lettuce in a $47 million fund if you could clean up the sludge flowing through our local government.

McCain / Obama: The Younger Years

Saw this at Confessions of a Closet Republican and it made me laugh . . . which means it's circle time to share

And I could even ignore the you're/your confusion.

Tony Snow (1955 - 2008)

Rest With God

"To have faith is to believe in truth, believe that truth confers special power on those lucky enough to get a little insight, and to know in our hearts that all these things come from God, which is why we should never get too cocky about our successes."

"Many people don't give a rip about politics and know as much about public affairs as they know about the topography of Pluto."

"Every one of our greatest national treasures, our liberty, enterprise, vitality, wealth, military power, global authority, flow from a surprising source: our ability to give thanks."

"It serves notice that President Bush is serious about promoting freedom, because free societies are a lot more peaceable than dictatorships and monarchies."

"Millions of Americans annually commit themselves to such good works, and no country on earth comes close to matching our record."

"Sometimes, political campaigns make decent people act and talk like perfect buffoons."

"The business of peace requires more than showing up with paint brushes, foodstuffs and an oil pipeline or two."

"We can't afford blindness anymore. There are tens of thousands of thugs who loathe liberty and love death, and want to annihilate Western civilization."

"The real sin with Social Security is that it's a long-term rip-off and a short-term scam."

"In many cases, a bout with sickness stretches your soul, opens your eyes, and introduces you to a world of unimagined grandeur, possibility and joy."

"We've got to rebuild human hearts - and persuade people that hope isn't just possible, but essential."

Activation Problems With Apple's iPhone 3G

Yes, the long awaited iPhone 3Gs are out, but as with their predecessors, the release was not a smooth one.

A spokesman for AT&T Inc., the exclusive carrier for the iPhone in the United States, said there was a global problem with Apple Inc.'s iTunes software that prevented the phones from being fully activated in-store, as had been planned.

And that is but another reason why I am sticking with my current phone. Besides, there's no "i" in BlackBerry.

Nothing Says NASCAR Like Barack Obama

According to Sports Illustrated, who apparently still publishes more than that annual swimsuit issue, Barack Obama's campaign is considering sponsorship of BAM Racing's No. 49 Sprint Cup car for the Pocono race on August 3.

A BAM spokesperson has revealed the team will hold a press conference July 23 in Miami to reveal the partnership, currently a proposed one-race deal with an option to continue. . . . Obama Racing sources claim one of the options being considered would allow individual campaign donors to get their name on the race car for as little as $100. Obama will also be present for a second private fundraiser on July 30 in Miami, in which team owners Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau -- staunch Republicans -- will give the Democrat an opportunity to spread his message of change.

If true, Obama would become the first presidential candidate to join Viagra and Valvoline as a major sponsor in a premier NASCAR event. Since the majority of NASCAR fans vote republican, this may seem akin to John McCain playing for tofu in a PETA poker tournament, but I say it's a fantastic move. What better way to show your interest in the American working class by supporting American sports and industry with your name plastered across the hood of a Toyota.

Khaki Is Back

In fashionable wear and on the web.

I apologize to both those who have been checking for new material and to those who were hoping that I would never come back to spout my particular lunacies.

Sometimes life intervenes.