Nail Em Up

Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the longest serving GOP senator, was indicted on seven counts for concealing more than $250,000 in gifts from oil services company VECO Corp.  VECO employees remodeled his home and the company traded a 35 year old Mustang for a 1999 Land Rover, among many other things.  Since federal agents raided the offices of six legislators' offices in 2006, including Ben Stevens' (Ted's son), five have been sentenced to prison and VECO's CEO, Bill Allen, pleaded guilty in May 2007 to bribing state officials.  With Allen's cooperation, hopefully the government will be able to nail this 84 year old bastard and send him away for the rest of his short life, and with a miracle he could end up in a federal pound-him-in-the-ass prison.  Corrupt politicians like Ted are disgusting and they're increasingly becoming a Republican problem that will simply hand Democrats more seats this year, but with the party in its current state I'm not sure I give a damn.

Obama Camp Censoring the Media

The new New Yorker magazine cover features every caricature of Obama and his wife that have been perpetuated by the far right (Obama the muslim, Michelle the angry radical, etc.).  Putting aside the fact that I think the Michelle caricature is accurate, I think it's ridiculous for the Obama camp and its supporters to be in an uproar about this.  It lends a little credibility to the Muslim caricature that he can't handle a simple cartoon from a magazine that is know for its heavily satirical articles read mainly by more intellectual people who stay abreast of the real issues and facts and not the far right nut jobs that such caricatures are targeted towards (i.e. the ones who would never vote for him anyway!).  How many people who believe that Obama is a Muslim supporter of bin Laden even look at the cover of the New Yorker or know what the hell the New Yorker is? More proof that God forbid anyone say or print anything negative about the man who will end poverty, war, sickness, and other ill afflicting the world within his first six days in office.

R.I.P. Tony Snow

His principles were misguided in the way that only someone's on the far right (or left) could be, and his demeanor typified the arrogance we expect from this administration, but he seemed like a good person.  Rest in peace.

Rove Does Whatever the Hell He Wants? Shocking

Karl Rove ignored a congressional subpoena requiring him to testify today about allegations of political pressure at the Justice Department.  The arrogance of this administration, which has hidden behind executive privilege for all of its misdeeds, is appalling.  They've treated this country as a playground bully would, breaking the rules and making new ones as they go.  However, I can understand why Karl Rove took advantage of his powers.  I picture him as the real-life "Buddy Pine" (a.k.a. Syndrome) from "The Incredibles."  He was the pudgy dork that everyone picked on in school and then he gets powers and goes after everyone else so he can feel important.  He was a pudgy dork then and he's a pudgy, pathetic loser now.  I only wish there was a way to send him to a nice "pound-him-in-the-ass" prison.

Jackson Wants Barack's Nuts

Jesse Jackson is making headlines again, this time for insulting Obama.  Though Jackson says his comments about wanting to cut Barack's nuts off are soundbites taken out of context and he still fully supports the candidate, they come as somewhat of a shock from a man who would put the interests of black America before those of America as a whole.  Jackson cares about blacks and only blacks, so for him to say anything negative about the first black candidate is surprising.  People like Jackson and Sharpton are divisive forces within the black community and the Democrat party, and both groups would be better off if such people disappeared from the limelight.

One Death Closer

This post may not end up being the most tasteful but neither was Jesse Helms, who died yesterday at the age of 86. Social conservatives were quick to laud Helms. The White House said, "America lost a great public servant and true patriot". I won't question his patriotism, though it may have been misplaced on some issues. He served in WWII so I have to give him credit for that. I will question his status as a "great public servant". Men like Helms are no such thing. They're great self servants, successfully pushing their own biases into the public forum.

Helms was a segregationist, though less and less outspoken as racism became more taboo. When he ran against Harvey Gannt, black former mayor of Charlotte, he aired a TV campaign ad that said "You needed that job, and you were the best qualified, but they had to give it to minority because of a racial quota." Racial quotas are definitely wrong, but the message was clear...vote for a black and lose your job.

Helms was an excellent representation of the ignorance spread by social conservatives. On the issue of homosexuality, he once attributed AIDS to "people deliberately engaging in unnatural acts." However, his shear stupidity may be best exemplified by this piece of direct-mail..."Your tax dollars are being used to pay for grade school classes that teach our children that CANNIBALISM, WIFE-SWAPPING, and the MURDER of infants and the elderly are acceptable behavior." I crack up every time I read that, especially when I realize there is more than one person who believes this stuff. Okay, I can kind of see how conservatives of the Helms variety are dumb enough to think that kids will become gay (cannibalism?) by hearing their teacher talk about tolerance (God forbid), but wife-swapping!

Helms' death takes the party one small step farther from the grasp of religious nut jobs and brings it one small step closer back to reason. He "served" this country far too long.

Siding With Obama (At Least on One Issue)

There are few issues I can side with Obama on, but I have to give him credit for a speech he made two years ago to the liberal Christian group Call to Renewal that is now making national headlines thanks to James Dobson. Dobson, of Focus on the Family, attacked Obama today for that speech made in June 2006, in which Obama stated, "Which passages of scripture should guide our public policy? Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests slavery is OK and that eating shellfish is an abomination? Or we could go with Deuteronomy, which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith? Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount?" EXACTLY!

During his radio program, Dobson actually had the balls to say, "I think he's deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own world view, his own confused theology,". So using the Bible to attack homosexuals isn't distorting anything? That one small reference in the Bible still applies because manipulative, self-serving, narrow-minded scum like you say it does? I see. The extent of the hypocrisy among evangelicals never ceases to amaze me, along with their holier-than-thou attitudes. What's more, it's disgusting how men like Dobson get out there and lead congregations against certain actions and people based on their own biases while using the Bible to justify it. All the while they're guilty of some of the very same sins (see Ted Haggard).

McClellan Tells Congress What It Should Already Know

Former press secretary Scott McClellan testified before Congress that the Bush administration has been less than truthful on majors issues including Plame and the CIA leak case and the Iraq War, which he also details in his recent book "What Happened". Regardless of his reasons for coming out with this now, whether for book promotion or an attack of conscience, he's merely another voice confirming what we already know, that this a deceitful and inept administration. I doubt his testimony leads to any new developments in Congress' pursuit of the administration, but it is nice to have a former high-ranking Bush official lending more legitimacy to criticisms against Bush and Cheney. I'd like to think it helps quiet some of their supporters, but anyone still backing these bastards is blind, deaf, and completely dumb.

And Then There Were Two

Unfortunately, Hillary has dropped out of the race. Comically, she is calling for unity weeks after it was apparent she had no chance of beating Obama. I was really enjoying the beating Obama was taking - his dirty laundry being aired by a family adept at muddying someone's good, or not-so-good, name. Hillary's withdrawal also brings reality a little closer. McCain, an elderly candidate no matter how he spins it, is now squarely facing off against a sprightly black man who packs stadiums with people overcome with his eloquence. Hopefully McCain can succeed in keeping Obama's dirty laundry (Wright, Rezko, Ayers, etc.) right under the public's nose, along with the policy issues that Obama is so incredibly weak on, such as his anti-capitalist, populist economic agenda and total lack of foreign policy experience.

Obama Will Get the Nom

God help us. It's frightening looking at the throngs of mindless supporters at his rallies, so overcome with the thought of casting their votes for the first black president that you can practically feel the collective orgasm. Their blissful ignorance feeds itself. The guy is truly a great magician.

Obama's Wesleyan Speech

Obama took over for Ted Kennedy at the Wesleyan commencement ceremony this past weekend. He focused mainly on inspiring the graduates to pursue careers in public service and forget about "the big house and the nice suits and all the other things that our money culture says you should buy." Many on the right will try to vilify him for being hypocritical, just as they did with Gore and global warming. That's the easiest criticism and the one most likely to stick with people. He did a stint in public service, so I won't go there. The real discussion should address what he actually said.

The public sector is definitely in need of young, talented college graduates, but this country thrives on innovation from the private sector. You would never get that from an Obama speech, which is always laced with populist, anti-private sector rhetoric. Unlike some Democratic politicians, I think he actually believes in a populist agenda and that's scary. His economic policies are toally disconnected from reality. He talks about raising the capital gains tax to 28% from 15%. The last time this was done revenues declined. Interestingly, only a small fraction his portfolio is comprised of stocks. He has talked specifically about restricting entire industries. He wants to rein in big pharmaceuticals, the companies that account for our medicinal breakthroughs. He wants to impose a windfall tax on oil companies at a time when we need the oil companies to take those profits and invest heavily in infrastructure to increase production in order to meet rising demand from developing countries. I'm not a mathematical whiz, but I'm pretty sure that less incentives equals less innovation.

How can someone so smart be so stupid? It definitely speaks to his oratory skills that he can get so many people swallowing his "Yes We Can" bullshit without actually analyzing what he's saying. He's like a really great magician, one who can make you think about the mystery and not the science. This country is among the greatest innovators in the world. Under a president Obama that may change.

Lastly, Obama ended his speech with this gem, "At a time of inequality, we need you to work for opportunity." It sounds like Michelle got her hands on this. She likes to believe that racism is around every corner, but this is not the 60s and racism is not pervasive. After he told them "That's your task, Class of 2008" I'm sure everyone was ready to start chanting "Yes We Can" like a bunch of lemmings.

The Case for Gun Control

This headline is exactly why gun control is necessary...

"Florida Police Say 7-Year-Old Girl Accidentally Shoots Sleeping Mom Twice"

There are many incidents like this every year across the country. Obviously, some people are too stupid to take it upon themselves to ensure their own safety and that of thier kids. And while the small government side of me says to hell with the adults, we do have an obligation protect those too young to know better. The gun was on the nightstand for God sake. All the girl had to do was reach up and pull the trigger.

Petty Principal

South Carolina principal Eddie Walker quit rather than allow a gay-straight alliance club at Imro High School. This is ridiculously childish. God forbid gays and straights try to get along at a young age. Who knows, those immoral subhumans might try to recruit straight students to help achieve the "gay agenda".

Gay Marriage Ban

The California Supreme Court recently overturned a law banning same-sex marriages that had been approved by California voters. Opponents of the ruling, blinded by shear hatred of homosexuals, argue that the court had no right getting involved and overturning the will of the people. The simple counter is that by that logic the Supreme Court had no right ruling the way it did in Brown v Board of Education. After all, southern states had discrimination laws against blacks that were approved by voters. How are blacks any different than homosexuals? That may sound like an insult but seriously, they're all human beings and citizens of this country.

Why should two gay guys who have been in a committed, loving relationship for years be denied the same benefits as two straight people who have a terrible marriage and hate each other? What's more, why the hell is this an issue wasting tax payers' time and money? Don't we have at least a hundred issues more pressing? Some would say no. Some would say this is the beginning of the downfall of society, that the next steps are legalization of bestiality and pedophelia. Some are idiots.

There is no rational justification for the discrimination. People try to use religion to hide their personal bigotry but without success. Regardless, religion has no place in government. Admittedly, I have a slight bias against homosexuals. Seeing two guys kiss makes me cringe a little. But I'm capable of rationalizing that bias and understanding that it isn't reason enough to discrimante against them. This is a tide that can only be slowed, not reversed. It would be nice if more people realized this and moved on to more important issues.

Bush Shifts the Blame, Again

In the same interview in which he expressed his solidarity with soldiers' families (see below), Bush once again shifted blame for faulty intelligence to the many unnamed "intelligence communities all across the world." He conveniently leaves out his and Cheney's push for that faulty intelligence and their push even after entering Iraq to continue creating the intelligence necessary to justify the decision. What's sad is that after nearly eight years of complete ineptitude there are people so delusional and stubborn that they still swallow the crap Bush and the rest shovel out. And more frustrating, they are prominent people who affect others, like Limbaugh, Hannity, and O'Reilly.

War Hurting Bush as Much as Anyone

Turns out our fearless leader gave up golf back in 2003 because "I feel I owe it to the families [of the soldiers] to be in solidarity as best as I can with them". The comments came during a recent interview regarding the faulty intelligence that lead to the Iraq War. What do you even say to something like this? I'm sure the families of our fallen soldiers are comforted by the fact that our cowardly president temporarily gave up his hobby.

Always a master wordsmith, Bush also said that he "didn't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf". "Some mom"? Damn some moms for spoiling all the fun. He'll have to play more of his second favorite game out of the public eye. Hide and seek with Spot. The guy is so completely out-of-touch with America it's obscene. If he gave a damn about the Katrina disaster I wonder what he would have done to show his solidarity with those families. Given up video games perhaps? Not finishing his vacation would have been a nice start. How is it that the greatest country in the world has twice elected such a stupid, callous, immature rube?

Clinton Should Drop

At this point there is virtually no chance Clinton could become the nominee. Obama has won a significant majority of the super-delegates and once-ardent supporters are switching to the his camp. There were many people on the fence who ultimately sided with Obama at the last second. I think her memory of this uncertainty among voters is now clouding her judgement at a point when nothing she does will reverse their decisions. If she hopes to get those votes when she runs again, she should try not to piss them, and the party in general, off. At this point, she's just helping McCain, which seems to be obvious to everyone but her.

Attacking Wright "Unfair"?

Pastor Wright recently did an interview with PBS complaining that critics were being "unfair" and "devious". Poor thing. I can see how he might view the criticisms as "unjust". It's not like there's anything unfair about calling this the US of KKK or leading a congregation in singing God Damn America. This piece of shit deserves every bit of vitriol he's getting, and I'm sick of hearing him, Obama, and Obama's supporters crying about how unfair the whole thing is. Whether you're black, brown, white, or whatever, this is politics. Deal with it.

The "soundbites" we've been hearing are more than just the work of devious, white supremacists intent on keeping the black man down. They are statements that represent Wright's core beliefs, beliefs that he reinforced at a recent eulogy with similar statements. Obama attended his "church" and was taken under his wing and damn it Obama deserves all of the scrutiny he's getting, including his relationship with Ayers. But God forbid we critize too loudly the first black man with a shot in hell of becoming president. That makes us all racists. I think his supporters would blindly defend him through just about anything.

Fair and Balanced Moment of the Day

One of FOXnews.com's primary headlines today reads,

"'Eco-therapy' confronts apocalyptic anxieties of eco-freaks going nuts over global warming and the environment".

Wow. Eco-freaks going nuts. LOL. How do they claim to be a real news network and keep a straight face?

Catholic Hypocrisy

Since the news is currently flooded with stories on the Pope and his visit, I figure now is a good time to air some criticisms/questions I have of Catholicism. The aspect of it that irks me the most is the worship of a man who is elected by other men to live in a palace whose artwork alone could end world hunger. And if you threw the palace into the auction, you could probably end poverty too. Yet throngs of followers line up to catch a glimpse of him like fans at a Miley Cyrus concert.

Here is a man who preaches about helping the poor, yet he wears Prada and surrounds himself with a private art collection that by all accounts is priceless.

Here is a man who is supposedly the only one who can speak with God, yet he's elected by mere men. But if those mortal men receive divine inspiration from God at election time, why then do they often disagree and require several rounds of smoke signals to get it right?

Growing up I understood the pope to be a man who was supposed to live as Jesus did, devoting his life and worldly possessions to helping those who cannot help themselves. That was when I was about 10 and didn't know any better. This institution was born out of man's greed and desire for power. No where in the Bible does it mention a leader like the Pope. Look back at all those centuries when the Vatican was amassing its wealth. How did they do it? The popes acted like ruthless, machiavellian dictators and waged war on other countries. Becoming pope was just as ruthless, eliminating rivals and bribing others for their support. And yet people still worship him like Jesus without questioning why this man lives larger than royalty but who tells those with a tiny fraction of his wealth to go without in order to serve those in need. Wake up! This is bullshit.

And all of this grandeur trickles down to the Catholic communities around the world, where lavish churches with gold-plated fixtures are erected to pray to a God who tells us to do the exact opposite and give to those less fortunate. That is what Catholicism basically boils down to. An ostentatious religion of grandeur designed for show.

Plus, the current Pope looks like pure evil. Just look at those shady, sunken eyes. Hollywood couldn't create a more sinister-looking villain.