The Kenosha Kid's Blog

Ann Coulter is a moron

2011-07-10T09:59:00.002-04:00

On Friday's episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, Coulter proudly stated that the United States "could run 37 Iraq Wars for what we spend in one year on Social Security."

Here's what we spend in one year on Social Security:

In 2010, total income was $781.1 billion and expenditures were $712.5 billion, which meant a total net increase in assets of $68.6 billion.

We couldn't run the air-conditioning for 37 Iraq Wars for that much.

As a topper, Coulter stuck around for Overtime, and claimed the United States was bombing Egypt.

Ep. 218: June 24, 2011 - Overtime

Why does this woman still appear on television?

A Headline In Search of a Story

2011-05-23T20:39:00.003-04:00

The only things missing from this story about Obama doing what they call "opposition research", are the little details of journalism: who, where, what, when & why.

Obama digging up dirt on potential opponent Chris Christie
President Obama's re-election campaign is trying to dig up dirt in the Garden State.

Despite New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's repeated pronouncements that he will not seek the GOP presidential nomination, Obama operatives are compiling a dossier of what they call "opposition research" -- material that could be used to damage Christie if he changes his mind, The Post has learned.

Not reviving the blog, basically just parking a picture here

2011-05-05T23:03:00.003-04:00

An ongoing fight between between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei has taken a turn for the weird, as several of the president's closest advisers have been arrested and charged with being "magicians" and invoking djinns, or spirits.

from Gawker

2010-02-04T23:48:00.000-05:00

Pakistani ambassador rejected because his name is NSFW in Arabic
Posted By David Kenner Wednesday, February 3, 2010 - 4:48 PM Share

Despite having served for years as a distinguished Pakistani diplomat, Akbar Zeb reportedly cannot receive accreditation as Pakistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The reason, apparently, has nothing to do with his credentials, and everything to do with his name -- which, in Arabic, translates to "biggest dick"

Happy Thanksgiving! Also.

2009-11-26T09:48:00.000-05:00

Way to go Ohio

2009-11-23T00:51:00.001-05:00

Scary video, but very telling. They all identify with Palin, and it's easy to see why - when confronted with a question, they make up their own facts just like she does.

The beginning of the end of the Republican Party

2009-10-31T11:59:00.001-04:00

NY-23 GOPer Scozzafava Suspends Campaign

In a huge development in the NY-23 special election, Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava has announced that she is suspending her campaign, citing an inability to win in light of recent polls and a lack of money -- leaving this race as a vote between Democrat Bill Owens and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, and a strong message that the Republican Party can no longer nominate moderate candidates, or else face a right-wing revolt.

It's between the Democrats and the Conservatives now! The Republican Party is going the way of the Whigs.

PS - Scozzafava = "the bean shuffles" according to freetranslation.com

Friday Music Video

2009-09-18T18:21:00.001-04:00

Too-far-ahead-of-their-time English band The Sorrows couldn't score a hit in their homeland, so they moved to Italy. From 1966.

Patrick Swayze Dead at 57

2009-09-14T21:15:00.006-04:00

Jim Carroll too. Give me a few minutes to tally the score.

People who pick up 33 points for picking Patrick Swayze:

Terry C
Macacawitz
HoneyBearKelly
Wes (defending champion)
Dancinfool
Karin
Z-Man
Sarik

THE LEADERBOARD:
Macacawitz - 73 (Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze)
Wes (defending champion) - 46 (Patrick Swayze, Ted Kennedy)
Terry C - 46 (Patrick Swayze, Ted Kennedy)
HoneyBearKelly - 33 (Patrick Swayze)
Dancinfool - 33 (Patrick Swayze)
Karin - 33 (Patrick Swayze)
Z-Man - 33 (Patrick Swayze)
Sarik - 33 (Patrick Swayze) [possible DQ for entering twice]
Libby - 32 (Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon)
General Zod - 13 (Ted Kennedy)
Theodoric of Athens - 13 (Ted Kennedy)
Bill Buckner - 13 (Ted Kennedy)
Pansypoo - 12 points (Robert Novak)

Dunk the President, Win a Prize

2009-09-11T11:41:00.002-04:00

Rep. Wilson Outburst Leads Senate Dems to Close Loophole in Health Reform Bill
In the Senate, Democrats in the so called "Gang of Six," began moving quickly to close the loophole Rep. Joe Wilson helped bring to light with his outburst during President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night.

And there you have it. All you have to do to get the President to swing legislation your way is call him a liar during a joint session of congress. After the Van Jones debacle and the Yosi Sargant fiasco, it's apparent that Fearful Leader will bend over forewards to anyone that insults him. Maybe if I change my voter registration to Republican and spit in his face, I'll get a free car.

People Who Died

2009-08-26T20:55:00.004-04:00

Ted Kennedy, 77

Dominick Dunne, 83

Ellie Greenwich, 68

People who scored 13 points in my Dead Pool with Ted Kennedy:

sarik
Terry C
General Zod
Theodoric of Athens
Bill Buckner
Wes (defending champion)

Too soon?

Robert Novak Dead at 78

2009-08-18T21:24:00.004-04:00

Robert Novak is dead, and that's 12 points to Pansypoo, who picked him as an ELEVENTH choice. If anyone has a problem with that, you can try commenting on EVERY one of my posts like my number one commenter, and then I might listen.

DEAD POOL LEADERBOARD:

Macacawitz: 40 points (Michael Jackson)
Libby: 32 points (Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon)
Pansypoo: 12 points

Parody or not?

2009-08-15T08:40:00.000-04:00

I can't tell.

Saturday "The Brat" Blogging

2009-08-08T16:52:00.000-04:00

LA punk from back when LA punk was, uh, LA punk.

People Who Died

2009-08-07T15:11:00.001-04:00

Willie DeVille

John Hughes

both 59 yrs old RIP

Pammie's hit the big time!

2009-08-04T21:12:00.004-04:00

My neighbor Pamela "Atlas Shrugs" Geller has hit the wingnut bigtime:

I am happy to announce that I've joined the Newsmax family. I will be blogging for Newsmax, along with esteemed luminaries Christopher Ruddy, Dick Morris, Michael Reagan, David Limbaugh, Steve Emerson, Edward I. Koch, Ben Stein, Frank Gaffney, Dr. Laura, Herbert London, John Stossel, and Bernard Kerik, among others.

That's quite a lineup of felons, liars, nepotistic opportunists, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, toe-suckers, Nixon speechwriters, and Methodists that she is joining. She'll fit right in.

Dear Village Voice

2009-07-31T11:22:00.002-04:00

Please get your shit together.

The Dark Side of the Farce

2009-07-26T21:02:00.002-04:00

"Join me and we can rule Alaska as mother and daughter! Or you shall learn the power of the Dark Side!"

Photo of Piper Palin by Bob Hallinen of the Anchorage Daily News. Concept inspired by Dependable Renegade. I am aware of all internet traditions.

Caption Contest

2009-07-10T09:59:00.004-04:00

Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi (R) greets President Obama as he arrives for a round table session.

Here's a picture I stole from Talking Points Memo. It's just begging for a funny caption, and I got nuthin'.

Saturday Polysics Blogging

2009-07-04T13:31:00.001-04:00

Latest single. Happy 4th of July!

Why is Sarah Palin resigning?

2009-07-03T16:49:00.002-04:00

1. Willow is pregnant
2. "Crossed the line" with Governor Sanford
3. Devastating Vanity Fair article
4. Putting good of nation over her own petty ambitions

Saturday Polysics Blogging

2009-06-27T22:47:00.001-04:00

It's been awhile. This is very recently uploaded. The song is 'Nice' live at Club Quattro 4/09/09

Dead Pool Update

2009-06-25T22:40:00.004-04:00

Farrah Fawcett, dead at 62. And Libby picks up another 28 points.

Michael Jackson, dead at 50. Macacawitz picks up 40 points for the lead.

Dead Pool Update

2009-06-23T09:48:00.002-04:00

Ed McMahon is dead at 86.

4 points to Libby Spencer.

Fire Letterman Protest

2009-06-16T20:17:00.004-04:00

This is what happens when you apologize to the wingnuts.

Dillhole John Ziegler holds forth to his troops

Fortunately there was a counter-protest:

The red-haired guy was a brilliant agent provocateur/performance artist/parody troll who never broke character

I am in easy spitting/pie distance of John Ziegler

How YOU doin'?

Bitchslapped!

2009-06-16T09:24:00.002-04:00

Letterman offered a grovelling apology to the Palins last night. Now he learns what happens when you back down from these people:

Letterman's 2nd Apology Last Night:

"I'm glad he's acknowledged we're right. I think it's a good first step in the right direction,
but I don't think it's enough."

John Ziegler
www.FireDavidLetterman.com

Flopping Aces:

Still pathetic, still lame, and the perv should go. The simple fact that he felt it ok to tell a joke about her kids like that is the problem. You don’t find it happening about Obama. Nor Biden. The MSM, including these late night shows, are in the tank for the left so they wouldn’t dare.

Via Hot Air comes this great question:

What really motivated Letterman to do this? Sincere remorse? A cynical play for more ratings? Or the simple fact that he was starting to lose sponsors over it?

They've got him on the run and they will continue to beat him like a rented mule. Bill Maher showed how it's done on his last show; when you're slapped, slap back harder.

Willow Palin is 15

2009-06-12T11:49:00.003-04:00

Is there anything the Wasilla Grifters won't lie about? Did Willow even attend that Yankees game?

"Any 'jokes' about raping my 14-year-old are despicable. Alaskans know it and I believe the rest of the world knows it, too."

- Todd Palin

"Concerning Letterman's comments about my young daughter (and I doubt he'd ever dare make such comments about anyone else's daughter): 'Laughter incited by sexually-perverted comments made by a 62-year-old male celebrity aimed at a 14-year-old girl is not only disgusting, but it reminds us some Hollywood/NY entertainers have a long way to go in understanding what the rest of America understands - that acceptance of inappropriate sexual comments about an underage girl, who could be anyone's daughter, contributes to the atrociously high rate of sexual exploitation of minors by older men who use and abuse others.'"

- Governor Sarah Palin

Willow's year of birth is listed as 1994 in the letter by Cathy Baldwin-Johnson released by the McCain campaign. (PDF link)

The Scandal Gap

2009-06-07T13:13:00.001-04:00

I want to know what our President is doing to close the Scandal Gap with Italy. I mean, Dijongate? Is that really the best we have?

Is She Really Going Out With Him?

2009-05-28T21:39:00.002-04:00

Via Watertiger, apparently The First Dude tried to break up the romance between Bristol Palin and Levi Redneck.

The father of Bristol Palin disliked ex-fiance Levi Johnston so much that he offered to buy his daughter a car if she split from the hunky high school dropout.

Which is as good an excuse as any to post another Shangri-Las video:

One day my dad said, "Find someone new"
I had to tell my Levi we're through
(whatcha mean when ya say that ya better go find somebody new?)
He stood there and asked me why
But all I could do was cry
I'm sorry I hurt you (the leader of the pack)

Vroom Vroom!!!

Rahm Emanuel at Sarah Lawrence College Commencement 2009

2009-05-23T17:19:00.003-04:00

KENOSHA KID EXCLUSIVE!! MUST CREDIT THE KENOSHA KID!!
I managed to smuggle one of my many researcher/reporters into this elite event!

I'm White House Chief of Staff, I don't need an honorary doctorate bitches!

The bright shiny faces I see before me are the children of our future, teach us well, yadda yadda yadda

~~Sheep being prepared for the slaughter~~ Graduating seniors listen attentively

I was told there would be cake.

Badass!

2009-05-19T00:05:00.001-04:00

Troll Logic

2009-05-13T11:05:00.001-04:00

Troll Logic: The Motion Picture

Inspired by actual troll droppings on an Eschaton comment thread.

Tuesday List-o-Mania

2009-05-12T14:54:00.004-04:00

Most embarrassing university buildings.

Ralph Engelstad Arena, University of North Dakota. Named for late owner of the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino in Vegas. Ralph used to throw parties for his employees on Adolph Hitler's birthday. Threatened to withdraw funding from building if Fighting Sioux nickname and/or logo were ever changed.

Frist Campus Center, Princeton. Named for ex-Senator Bill Frist. Hobbies include dissecting cats and diagnosing comatose patients from videotape. Bonus fun fact: frequently seen during exterior shots of House M.D. as the hospital House works in.

Claudia Cohen Hall, University of Pennsylvania. Named by Ron Perelman for late ex-wife Claudia Cohen, the most annoying gossipeuse ever to appear on television. Bonus points: she actually slept with Al D'Amato.

Feel free to add your favorites in comments.

Department of WTF?

2009-05-12T01:20:00.001-04:00

German beat group The Lords, performing their hit Poor Boy. Haircuts by The Ramones, choreography by Freddie and the Dreamers.

On the radio

2009-05-08T13:59:00.004-04:00

On the radio again today, 5pm-6pm EST. The two themes will be "9" and birthday boys.

Listen here!

Never mind, it was CANCELLED!!

Why I Love the New York Post

2009-05-05T00:04:00.001-04:00

RIKERS INMATE MYSTERY DEATH

A Rikers Island inmate died mysteriously shortly after he tried to hit a correction officer with a dinner tray, authorities said yesterday.

Gee, wonder what happened there?

Gaaah! Swine Flu!

2009-05-01T23:02:00.000-04:00

On the radio

2009-05-01T14:32:00.001-04:00

Me again, from 5PM - 6PM EST Listen here.

Saturday Random J-Pop Blogging

2009-04-25T12:47:00.001-04:00

"Paran Naum," fictional band from the movie Linda Linda Linda, perform the title song

On the radio

2009-04-24T13:16:00.002-04:00

I'm going to be on the radio again tonight, inshallah, from 5PM EST to 6PM EST. You can listen here.

Today's theme: Oh the Places You'll Go!

Condemned to repeat it

2009-04-19T22:48:00.002-04:00

Remember the 90's? Soundgarden and Zima, Beverly Hills 90210 and the Militia of Montana? Well they're back!

Mr. Carl Swensson of the State of Georgia successfully organized a Common Law Grand Jury, and that Grand Jury reviewed evidence against Barry Soetoro, AKA Barack Obama, and is recommending an indictment. The U.S. Attorney, who was presented with that recommendation, has refused to discuss it by saying, "We only deal with lawyers." The Attorney General's office of the State of Georgia has also been presented with that recommendation and has also refused, saying, "We don't represent citizens."

(snip)

You will also find that Common Law Grand Juries in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio also have seen the evidence and are making a presentment to charge the illegal alien Barry Soetoro AKA Barack Obama. More Common Law Grand Juries across American are being scheduled as of this writing.

These guys are clearly amateurs. Doesn't anyone remember Admiralty Flags?

My first contact with the ideas presented by this type of group was in justice court and county court at law cases against individuals who identified themselves as members of the "Posse Comitatus," a nationwide group of citizens united in their belief that the federal and state governments have unconstitutionally exceeded their proper spheres of influence or power, and need to be stopped, by force, if necessary. In 1980 a group of such citizens filed a document in the Gillespie County deed records purporting to be the "Charter of the Posse Comitatus of the State of Texas, County of Gillespie." The charter makes all members "sovereigns," declares all current laws null and void, and sets out the group's mission as protection of the United States and Texas Constitutions and the "Constitution of the Free and Independent State of Texas" (!) as interpreted by the members.

(snip)

Most courtrooms in Texas are decorated in much the same way: there is a bench for the judge, counsel table(s) for the parties and their attorneys, chairs for the observers, and flags, of both the Texas and the United States. The flags sometimes are adorned with golden fringe around the edges. Beware, those of you who must practice in a courtroom with a fringed flag! You will undoubtedly be assailed with the argument that the fringe on the flag denotes a court of admiralty. Your defendant will then point out with great glee that since the offense alleged did not occur on the high seas, ipso facto, the "admiralty court" in which you find yourself has not properly obtained jurisdiction over him!

Sadly, the last time this line of legal thought was used, it was a bunch of whack-adoos holed up on their 'sovereign' ranches, not being spouted by Fox News and the Governor of Texas.

I'm having a movement

2009-04-15T20:59:00.003-04:00

Inspired by today's Teabagging Parties, I have decided to launch my own grassroots political movement.

Why should our corporations blow jobs on foreigners when they could hand jobs to Americans?

Earthquake in Italy

2009-04-06T10:23:00.005-04:00

At least 92 dead. The epicenter was L'Aquila, a town with many historic churches that I visited last summer. Here's a before and after:

That's the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Suffragio in the background of both pics, it looks like it took a hit.

UPDATE: Better view of the damage at La Repubblica
Now they are saying over 150 dead.

My first YouTube

2009-04-05T19:08:00.001-04:00

How does it look/sound?

Radio Radio

2009-04-03T09:51:00.002-04:00

I'm going to be on the radio tonight at 5PM (EST). Listen here.

or here.

N or NW (1938)

2009-03-17T21:09:00.002-04:00

Actual instructional film from the British General Post Office on how to address a letter, seems more like Busby Berkeley meets Jean-Luc Godard with a side order of Maya Deren.

Do not take His name in vain

2009-03-13T15:08:00.002-04:00

How petty is the Republican Party? This petty:

McCain Threatens to Oppose Interior Nominee Over Reagan Remark

Oh boy. What did that dimocrat say about Saint Ronnie?

“Like Ronald Reagan before him, President Bush has embraced the Western stereotype to the point of adopting some of its affectations—the boots, brush-clearing, and get-the-government-off-our-backs bravado.”

Strong stuff. Also, demonstrably true. So what now?

Asked whether he stood by those remarks, Hayes said “the prose is overly florid, and I regret that.”

That didn’t appease McCain.

“So you had to throw Reagan in there?” McCain continued.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” Hayes said.

Way to demonstrate the courage of your convictions, fella. What profit a man to become Interior Secretary if he loseth his soul?

Nobody expects...

2009-03-10T18:01:00.001-04:00

Be careful the next time you see Jebus in your grilled cheese, Ratzinger is clamping down:

Catholics who claim they have seen the Virgin Mary will be forced to remain silent about the apparitions until a team of psychologists, theologians, priests and exorcists have fully investigated their claims under new Vatican guidelines aimed at stamping out false claims of miracles.

The Pope has instructed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly the Holy Office of the Inquisition, to draw up a new handbook to help bishops snuff out an explosion of bogus heavenly apparitions.

People Have Their Uses

2009-03-06T19:51:00.001-05:00

The Creation performing their hit "Making Time" in 1966. The mindblowing part is about 1:38 in.

Win One for the Gipper

2009-03-01T14:14:00.000-05:00

Motivational speech, US Army style:

The Jews and the Bicycle Riders

2009-02-10T22:15:00.000-05:00

A high-ranking diplomat at the Foreign Office has been arrested after allegations that he launched a foul-mouthed anti-Semitic tirade.

Middle East expert Rowan Laxton, 47, was watching TV reports of the Israeli attack on Gaza as he used an exercise bike in a gym.

Stunned staff and gym members allegedly heard him shout: 'F**king Israelis, f**king Jews'. It is alleged he also said Israeli soldiers should be 'wiped off the face of the earth'.

His rant reportedly continued even after he was approached by other gym users.

After a complaint was made to police, Mr Laxton was arrested for inciting religious hatred through threatening words and behaviour and bailed until late next month.

Link

Damn you, Israel!

2009-02-03T09:22:00.001-05:00

Sri Lanka hospital shelled for fourth time

(CNN) -- Three people were killed and 10 wounded when a hospital treating victims of Sri Lanka's civil war was shelled for a fourth time in two days, the International Committee of the Red Cross told CNN Tuesday.

Artillery shells slammed into the hospital in the northern district of Mullaittivu on Monday evening. Strikes on the hospital on Sunday -- including one that hit the pediatric ward -- left 11 people dead, including some children, according to an aid worker who spoke to witnesses.

Government forces and Tamil rebels are locked in a battle for the remaining rebel strongholds in northern Sri Lanka, where the the country's ethnic Tamil minority has been fighting for an independent homeland since 1983.

Humanitarian groups say as many as 250,000 unprotected civilians are trapped in the area. The civil war has left more than 70,000 people dead.

Great Moments in Religion

2009-01-25T10:42:00.002-05:00

This charming bishop just had his excommunication lifted by Pope Benedict.

Obviously not a fan of Errol Morris.

Deparment of "I wish I'd said that"

2009-01-24T13:39:00.002-05:00

Charles Lenchner of Peace in the Middle East nails something that has been bothering me lately, but I haven't been able to put into words:

Why Using Nazism and the Holocaust to Support Palestine is a Grave Error

1. Because if the killing of some hundreds, or even thousands of people is "genocide" on a par with the Holocaust, then where do you go when the death toll hits five or six figures? Just as the Israeli response in Gaza is deemed "disproportionate" by the international community, we need to recognize that some verbal responses are "disproportionate" as well.

2. Part of the desire to use the Holocaust against the Jews/Zionists/Israelis is a natural and understandable desire to 'tweak the noses' of one's opposition. This kind of dark sarcastic or spiteful language isn't unique to this issue, but it's rarely as harmful. The problem is that political messaging to observers doesn't work when couched in this kind of language. In the same way that email often fails to convey humor, dark and spiteful doesn't convey political messaging well.

3. The Holocaust is an awful tragedy that befell the Jewish people. Taking that experience and turning it around as verbal barbs against the same group is tasteless and offensive. It's like white people using the "N word". Even though Blacks do it, you can't.

4. The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has spread, and now includes many other groups. The Lebanese, for example, who paid an enormous price as a consequence of the Nakba. Or the Jordanians, whose demographics were drastically altered. By using Holocaust imagery and language, you are conveying that the opposition isn't merely Israel, or the Zionists, but all Jews. This has the effect of portraying your side as anti-Semitic, thus strengthening Israel's case. It also helps unite Jews in active or passive support of the Israeli PR effort.

Notice I'm being careful in my words to convey mostly strategic reasons to avoid this kind of imagery. There is of course, the moral and ethical imperative to treat other groups, and the sacred cows of those other groups, with a certain degree of respect. That doesn't mean supporting Israel just because most Jews do; Israel is a legitimate political issue. Violating Jewish sensibilities to score rhetorical point for Palestinians is cheap, mean-spirited, hateful, dishonest and vicious. These are sentiments that play well (sadly) with some overwhelmingly Arab, Muslim and far-left audiences. Since it comes at the cost of building support for Palestinian rights in the Western world, we can also say that using this language is also, ultimately, a blow against the Palestinian cause.

Inaugural Video

2009-01-20T12:44:00.001-05:00

Betta than Panetta

2009-01-08T09:31:00.003-05:00

So Obama has chosen Clintonista hack Leon Panetta as CIA director. I have a better idea:

Valerie Plame!

Has actual Intelligence experience
Unmistakable FU to the Cheney Administration
Strengthens Obama's support with 'smokin hot blonde' demographic

Rally in Support of Israel, NYC

2009-01-06T20:18:00.004-05:00

View down 2nd Ave

Chase Manhattan, Yitzhak Rabin Way, Israel, and the NY Yankees color coordinate. COINCIDENCE??!!1!!

"We will not be silent" sign IRONY ALERT!!

Counter-demonstrators... ANTISEMITES!!!

Pam Atlas Shrugs puts in an appearance.

"Stop Jihad" sign next to Halal Food truck.. IRONY ALERT!!

Saturday Oddity

2009-01-03T18:49:00.001-05:00

Dude dances to a car alarm. Not me!

2009 Celebrity Dead Pool

2009-01-01T19:43:00.006-05:00

Due to popular demand, I am starting the NEW dead pool before announcing results of the OLD dead pool (hint: Wes won with Charlton Heston (6 points), Buckeye and Karin had Studs Terkel who was worth NEGATIVE six points, and mad props to Arkenor and Culture of Truth for predicting OJ would go to jail).
results are preliminary and subject to change depending on how loudly people complain

Welcome to the 2009 Celebrity Dead Pool. We are using similar rules as last year, to wit:

1. Pick ten celebrities who you think will die from 1/1/09 to 1/1/10
2. You aren't allowed to murder the celebrity.
3. The point system works like this: you get one point for every year UNDER the age of 90 that the celebrity dies at. Anyone over 90 gets negative points.
4. Whoever gets the most points, wins.

First Darwin Award Nominee of 2009

2009-01-01T11:32:00.001-05:00

Death of an AIDS Skeptic

Christine Maggiore, an AIDS activist-turned-HIV/AIDS-skeptic, died in her home Saturday of pneumonia, according to the Associated Press.

The Los Angeles coroner's office has yet to determine if her pneumonia was AIDS-related. If it was, it could serve as an ironic end to her work, promoting the idea that there is no definite link between HIV and AIDS, and that HIV tests are inaccurate.

(snip)

"They caused the death of thousands of South Africans by delaying treatment and spreading infections," said Dr. Charlie van der Horst, a professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Van der Horst referred to a journal study that estimated 330,000 lives were lost to new AIDS infections during the time Mbeki blocked government funding of AZT treatment to mothers.

"There is a space in hell reserved for them," said van der Horst.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T21:50:00.002-05:00

FTW

2008-12-22T18:57:00.003-05:00

It's that time of year again for wacky internet awards. Andrew Sullivan has his "Daily Dish Awards" which includes a "Poseur Alert" award "for passages of prose that stand out for pretension, vanity and really bad writing designed to look like profundity." A great idea, but I can't figure out how he missed this classic from Pasty:

Which is why when I talk of Obama’s memoirs, I place “Barack Obama” as literary construct in quotation marks: there is, in any verbal recounting, necessary recourse to narrative technique and tropes — so it is hardly controversial to separate Barack Obama from “Barack Obama” as he exists in words alone.

Where the interest lies is at the point of agency and authorship. For if Bill Ayers has indeed ghostwritten at least portions of Barack Obama’s memoirs, as some are alleging, then it is fair to say that the “Barack Obama” of those memoirs is more even than a construct: he is at least partially a fictional character, given that it is “his” words that ostensibly create “him” — making it follow that, if the words creating him are not his own, then “he” is really a kind of living literary portmanteau, a blend of influences, an ontological hybrid insofar as he exists publicly.

The Editors at the Poorman Institute seem to have missed it for their "Golden Winger Awards for Excellence in Wingnuttery." Is everyone asleep at the wheel?

Saturday Oddity

2008-12-20T12:23:00.001-05:00

Breaking!

2008-12-18T21:12:00.003-05:00

OBAMA APPOINTS 'JOE THE PLUMBER' TO SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Today President-Elect Obama appointed Samuel Wurzelbacher, who plays a character called 'Joe the Plumber' to the Securities and Exchange Commission. "In the spirit of bipartisanship and healing, I am proud to bring Mr. Wurzelbacher to Washington with my team."

The appointment provoked an outcry from liberal bloggers, however. A Vermont blogger known only as "MTodd" wrote "What the fuck is this about?" on his web log. Mr. Wurzelbacher defended himself in his first press conference.

"Hey, don't sweat it. As the owner of a fictional plumbing business, I am well qualified to work in the ergonomics field. Furthermore, I promise "not" to work as a mole in the Obama Administration, leaking material to hostile journalists and prosecutors. I totally got this."

The Bush Touch

2008-12-16T20:04:00.004-05:00

Bush reassures Detroit: Aid is on way

The White House gave troubled Detroit automakers public reassurances Monday that short-term government help was in the works as a key senator suggested the aid package could reach a total of $15 billion for General Motors and Chrysler.

Embarassment of 0-16 is just two losses away
Despite looming infamy, Marinelli say he refuses to make changes for the sake of making changes.
John Niyo / The Detroit News

INDIANAPOLIS -- Rod Marinelli addressed the specter of an 0-16 season with his team a couple weeks ago as they prepared to face the Minnesota Vikings.

Two losses later, his players simply can't avoid the talk.

But Marinelli doesn't want to hear about the pressure mounting to avoid making history as the first NFL team to go winless in a season since the league schedule was expanded to 16 games in 1978.

That's right Marinelli, stay the course! And thank you Mr. President!

Gubernatorial Fail

2008-12-12T16:28:00.006-05:00

Spitzer resigns, capping stunning fall
N.Y. governor — ‘Client 9’ — was allegedly repeat prostitution customer
Associated Press, March. 12, 2008

ALBANY, N.Y. - On Saturday night, Gov. Eliot Spitzer was at the annual Gridiron Club dinner in Washington, where President Bush serenaded reporters with a funny song about leaving office. By then the governor knew full well he could be leaving first.

A day earlier, federal prosecutors had told the governor he had been snared in a prostitution operation, according to senior Spitzer aides who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Indictment For Governor Of Kentucky
The New York Times, May 12, 2006

Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky, a Republican, was indicted yesterday on charges that he illegally rewarded political supporters with state jobs.

Mr. Fletcher, who is charged with three misdemeanors -- criminal conspiracy, official misconduct and violating the prohibition against political discrimination -- has denied any wrongdoing and has accused the state attorney general, Gregory D. Stumbo, a Democrat, of being politically motivated in his investigation.

Ohio's Gov. Taft Faces 4 Misdemeanor Charges; Indictment Cites Unreported Gifts
The Washington Post, August 18, 2005

Ohio Gov. Bob Taft (R), a member of one of the most distinguished families in American politics, was indicted yesterday on four criminal misdemeanor counts for failing to report a series of golf outings, dinners and other gifts in a scandal that has rocked the powerful state Republican Party.

The violations carry maximum penalties of a $1,000 fine and six months in prison, although it is doubtful the governor will face prison time for the ethical lapses. But the damage to Taft's reputation and to the party's fortunes could be far more severe, political analysts said.

Rowland Begins Serving a Yearlong Prison Sentence
The New York Times, April 2, 2005

John G. Rowland, who was Connecticut's youngest governor and who was a rising star in Republican politics, entered a federal prison camp in western Pennsylvania on Friday morning to begin serving a yearlong sentence.

Mr. Rowland, 47, who was governor for more than nine years before resigning last July amid an impeachment inquiry and a federal corruption investigation, will be known as Inmate No. 15623-014.

New Jersey governor quits, comes out as gay
CNN, Friday, August 13, 2004

(CNN) -- Dropping a political bombshell, New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey announced his resignation Thursday after revealing that he is gay and that he had an adulterous affair with a man.

Former Governor Ryan Is Indicted in Illinois;
Racketeering and Fraud Are Alleged
The Washington Post, December 18, 2003

Former Illinois governor George H. Ryan, nominated this year for the Nobel Peace Prize, was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on charges of racketeering, mail and tax fraud, and lying to law enforcement officials.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Ryan improperly accepted free vacations, passed confidential information to friends who used it for personal gain, and brokered side deals for a personal cut of public contracts. The value of the gifts, services and loans allegedly totaled $167,000. Ryan is also charged with directing more than $300,000 worth of gifts, services and loans to a friend, hiding the transactions and then lying about them to investigators.

"The state of Illinois was for sale," U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said at a news conference this afternoon. "It was cronyism. People were given inside information, and they acted on it. . . . He knew he was breaking the law."

I know there are still some people hot on profiling swarthy people at airports, but wouldn't it make more statistical sense to wiretap all 50 governors?

You Never 'Did' The Kenosha Kid

2008-12-12T12:08:00.002-05:00

Woman released in Ruffalo death

Police released a woman arrested in the shooting death of actor Mark Ruffalo's younger brother after being shown evidence that the wound was self-inflicted, the result of playing with a gun, her attorney said Wednesday.

Police records confirmed that Shaha Mishaal Adham, 26, left the Beverly Hills Jail, where she had been since surrendering Monday.

Scott, 39, is a hairdresser who has worked in salons in Santa Monica and Beverly Hills and has held a California state cosmetology license since 1991.

Like his brother Mark, Scott was born in Kenosha, Wis., before moving with his family to San Diego.

RIP Bettie Page

2008-12-12T11:31:00.001-05:00

50s pin-up queen Bettie Page dies

Bettie Page, one of the most famous US pin-up models of the 1950s, has died in Los Angeles, aged 85.

Separated at Birth?

2008-12-06T19:37:00.002-05:00

Stephen Colbert's parody of a distinguished portrait, and George W. Bush's, uh, distinguished portrait?

h/t Dependable Renegade

NY Post strikes again

2008-11-25T20:19:00.003-05:00

The newspaper that bring us the political wisdom of Dick "Condi vs. Hillary" Morris, Rich "We're Winning" Lowry, Michelle "Anchor Baby" Malkin, has signed Fox News liberal Kirsten Powers to add more fail to their lineup. Yesterday KP wrote the "Suck It Libs" editorial that seems to be the new black:

LEFT AT THE ALTAR
LIBS BEMOAN O'S CENTRIST PICKS

WHILE most of Democratic America is basking in the Obama victory glow, one contingent despairs: liberal bloggers and activists.

Shocked that the man who ran as a post-partisan candidate seeking the middle ground is being post-partisan and seeking middle ground, these people are blasting Barack Obama's early, centrist decisions.

(cut to chase)

Later, I grew up and realized that the country doesn't necessarily share all my views, that a president has to work with all sides to achieve his goals. I saw this time and time again in the Clinton years. So my (no doubt unwanted) advice to those despairing now: Take a deep breath and grow up.

Take that nasty liberal bloggers!

Brennan out of running for top intel post

5 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — John Brennan, President-elect Barack Obama's top adviser on intelligence, has taken his name out of the running for any intelligence position in the new administration.

In a letter Tuesday, Brennan wrote letter to Obama that he did not want to be a distraction. His potential appointment has raised a firestorm in liberal blogs who associate him with the Bush administration's interrogation, detention and rendition policies.

Wait, what?

Saturday Giusy Ferreri Blogging

2008-11-22T15:51:00.000-05:00

The new single, Novembre:

May God Strike Me Dead If I'm Lying

2008-11-21T13:17:00.001-05:00

TPM:

Attorney General Mukasey was roughly twenty minutes into a speech defending the administration's torture policies and particularly arguing against prosecutions of people who made decisions in the aftermath of 9/11 (essentially arguing against what he believed amounted to the criminalization of policy differences).

Some seven or eight minutes prior to the incident a heckler start shouting, calling Mukasey a "tyrant." But the AG seemed unfazed by this; and members of the audience shouted the heckler down.

The eyewitness tells me that Mukasey seemed particularly in earnest about the argument he was making. And when he first began to falter it appeared he was merely choking up. Soon, what at first appeared to be choking up blended into slurred words. Twenty to thirty seconds later he collapsed, his fall broken by a nearby FBI agent.

It was apparently a fainting spell, so yes, I can make fun of it.

I could never get the hang of ideology

2008-11-18T21:21:00.002-05:00

Why the Lieberman saga ended in accord
In defeat, he showed defiance; in victory, Democrats show magnanimity

By Tom Curry
National affairs writer
msnbc.com
updated 5:43 p.m. ET, Tues., Nov. 18, 2008

WASHINGTON - In a closed-door meeting that lasted nearly two hours, Senate Democrats decided, by a secret ballot Tuesday, to keep Sen. Joe Lieberman, the independent from Connecticut who’d harshly criticized Barack Obama during the campaign.

The Democrats passed a resolution to let Lieberman remain chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.

Me I do the only thing that still makes sense for me..

Ban Heterosexual Marriage

2008-11-15T12:50:00.000-05:00

SECTION I. Title
This measure shall be known and may be cited as the "California Marriage Destruction Act."

SECTION 2. Article I. Section 7.5 is added to the California Constitution. to read:
Sec. 7.5. No marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

In order to qualify for the ballot, the marriage definition measure needed 694,354 valid petition signatures, which is equal to 8% of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2006 General Election.

Start collecting those signatures!

Don't have much else to say

2008-11-08T18:42:00.001-05:00

Congratulations President-elect Obama!

2008-11-05T09:52:00.000-05:00

Don't Forget to Vote!

2008-11-04T14:39:00.001-05:00

Socialized Political Campaigns

2008-10-30T14:27:00.001-04:00

Big Government stepped up for John McCain's campaign today:

A local school district official confirmed after the event that of the 6,000 people estimated by the fire marshal to be in attendance this morning, more than 4,000 were bused in from schools in the area. The entire 2,500-student Defiance School District was in attendance, the official said, in addition to at least three other schools from neighboring districts, one of which sent 14 buses.

Senator, are you a Marxist?

Respectable Republican Cloth Coat

2008-10-27T23:13:00.001-04:00

The vice presidential candidate addresses the cost of a wardrobe in this video.

Separated at Birth?

2008-10-24T21:40:00.004-04:00

McCain mouthpiece Nancy Pfotenauer and Lama Su mouthpiece Taun We?

Sunday Random Blogging

2008-10-19T15:31:00.001-04:00

"California Dreaming" in Italian. The name of this band is Dik Dik.

Oh No Michelle!

2008-10-17T15:31:00.004-04:00

Michelle Malkin is outraged, OUTRAGED that there is a liberal media conspiracy attacking 'Joe the Plumber'

The Left declares war on Joe the Plumber
by Michelle Malkin

(snip)

Obama’s followers couldn’t handle the incontrovertible truth. Left-wing blogs immediately went to work, blaring headlines like “Not A Real $250k Plumber!” Next, they falsely accused Wurzelbacher of not being registered to vote (he’s registered in Lucas County, Ohio, and voted as a Republican in this year’s primary).

(snip)

Then, suddenly, the journalists who wouldn’t lift a finger to investigate Barack Obama’s longtime relationships with Weather Underground terrorist Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright sprang into action rifling through citizen Joe Wurzelbacher’s tax records.

Damn those liberal bloggers, and the journalists who take marching orders from them. This, by the way, is from the cover of the NY Post issue that carried Malkin's column:

LEAVE MEGHAN ALONE!!!

2008-10-13T18:52:00.002-04:00

She's not pregnant, she's just big-boned!

I know what boys like

How 'bout some tossed salads and scrambled eggs Frasier?

WATB Journo reveals why they (heart) McCain

2008-10-08T23:59:00.001-04:00

Here.

The McCain folks are more helpful and generally friendly. The schedules are printed on actual books you can hold in your hand, read, and then plan accordingly. The press aides are more knowledgeable and useful to us in the news media. The events are designed with a better eye, and for the simple needs of the press corps. When he is available, John McCain is friendly and loquacious. Obama holds news conferences, but seldom banters with the reporters who've been following him for thousands of miles around the country. Go figure.

The McCain campaign plane is better than Obama's, which is cramped, uncomfortable and smells terrible most of the time. Somehow the McCain folks manage to keep their charter clean, even where the press is seated.

(snip)

Maybe none of this means much. Maybe a front-running campaign like Obama's that is focused solely on victory doesn't have the time to do the mundane things like print up schedules or attend to the needs of reporters.

But in politics, everything that goes around comes around.

Shorter journalist: Give us a cleaner plane and printed schedules or we will fuck you up.

The Palin Posse

2008-10-08T23:32:00.002-04:00

Perhaps you have seen this story floating around lately:

About 20 seconds into an interview I attempted with Brent McDonald, 52, I was stopped by a Palin campaign worker in mid-sentence. “The press is not allowed out here,” she said.

I asked why. “I”m just telling you what they are telling me,” she replied.

And now we find out why:

Blogger Interrupted via Wonkette.

I'm not one to gossip

2008-10-05T21:38:00.002-04:00

I'm not one to gossip, so you didn't hear this from me, but could it be true that John McCain's melanoma is worse than he lets on?

Working the Referees

2008-10-02T09:51:00.002-04:00

You're doing it right:

1. Accuse media figure of being biased

But there is nothing “moderate” about where Ifill stands on Barack Obama. She’s so far in the tank for the Democrat presidential candidate, her oxygen delivery line is running out.

2. Media figure bends over backwards to prove they aren't biased

"The proof is in the pudding. They can watch the debate tomorrow night and make their own decisions about whether or not I've done my job."

3. Profit!

The Fundamentals of our Economy are Strong

2008-09-30T13:34:00.000-04:00

Soldiers Spit on Hippies

2008-09-26T13:57:00.002-04:00

In a story that is bound to be told down through the generations, the Princeton University marching band was attacked while attempting to march through The Citadel:

The altercation began when the band marched, with prior approval from The Citadel’s administration, through a guarded entrance onto the campus. The band’s traditional march through the home team’s campus brought the performers into contact with The Citadel’s cadets, who were outside for field activities.

...

In the skirmish that followed, several band members were physically attacked and spit on, band members said, adding that at least one member had his instrument broken.

Why is tonight different from all other nights?

2008-09-25T20:24:00.001-04:00

Because today Sarah Palin answered four questions from the media.

CNN: On the topic of never letting this happen again, do you agree with the way the Bush administration has handled the war on terrorism, is there anything you would do differently?

A: I agree with the Bush administration that we take the fight to them. We never again let them come onto our soil and try to destroy not only our democracy, but communities like the community of New York. Never again. So yes, I do agree with taking the fight to the terrorists and stopping them over there.

POLITICO: Do you think our presence in Iraq and afghan and our continued presence there is inflaming islamic extremists?

A: I think our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan will lead to further security of our nation, again, because the mission is to take the fight over there. do not let them come over here and attempt again what they accomplished here, and that was some destruction. terrible destruction on that day. but since September 11, Americans uniting and rebuilding and committing to never letting that happen again.

POLITICO: Do you support the reelection bids of embattled Alaska Republicans, Rep. Don Young and Sen. Ted Stevens?

A: Ted Stevens trial started a couple days ago. We’ll see where that goes.

POLITICO: Are you going to vote for them?

[no answer.]

JERSEY JOURNAL: What do you think of bailout package before congress?

A: I don't support that until the provisions that Sen. McCain has offered are implemented in Paulson's proposals.

Never again. That was some destruction.

There's another one

2008-09-23T07:34:00.002-04:00

As Lucianne Goldberg spawned Jonah Goldberg, so Ann Althouse spawns John Althouse Cohen. And yes, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree:

This comment alone has given people grounds to doubt the sincerity of his politically convenient conversion to Christianity as an adult. I don't personally care what his religious views are, but a lot of voters obviously do care and doubt whether he's really a Christian.

Ooookaaaay. I think it's time we stopped making fun of wingnut bloggers for being celibate basement-dwelling cheeto-eaters, and thank the FSM that they are celibate, basement-dwelling cheeto-eaters, lest we see more Dumbass 2.0 whinings.

9/11

2008-09-11T21:10:00.001-04:00

All of you bastard people read my blog, and not one of you thought to send me a 9/11 card?

Trig 3:16

2008-09-09T20:11:00.004-04:00

Right-wing operatives have been accusing Democrats of worshipping "Obamessiah," but when it comes to creepily hagiographical descriptions of candidates, no Democrat can top Rich Lowry's epistle to the Madonna of Wasilla:

Palin said in an interview shortly after Trig was born: "I'm looking at him right now, and I see perfection. I keep thinking in our world, what is normal and what is perfect?" That is the subversive promise of children like Trig, undermining all our superficial assumptions about what's truly important.

The Palins will have a humbling, heartbreaking and inspiring lesson in life's priorities from Trig. Here's hoping it's one that, one way or the other, the rest of us share.

Apparently the Miracle of the Airplane and the Miracle of the Bridge weren't enough, for Sarah so loveth the world, that she gave her only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Those Who Don't Know History

2008-09-08T23:07:00.004-04:00

We have a saying here in New York.. I think it's in New York, it might be New Jersey, but the saying goes "Those who don't know history.. those who don't... won't get fooled again!" Which brings us to Ralph Peters opining on Russia vs. Georgia in the NY Post:

Given Putin's brutality and the belligerent threats from his gang (including Flunky, the eighth dwarf, a k a President Dmitri Medvedev), it may be time to dust off our anti-Soviet strategy from Afghanistan: Arm and fund militant separatist movements in the Russian-occupied Caucasus.

Because it worked so well the last time around..

Please Welcome My New Advertiser

2008-09-06T14:22:00.000-04:00

Snorg Tees!

RNC is Over

2008-09-05T11:21:00.000-04:00

I found their choice of a theme song to be a bit odd:

What a Difference a Day Makes

2008-09-01T12:49:00.002-04:00

From Michelle Malkin's site, yesterday, commenter madchef had this to say:

On August 31st, 2008 at 3:48 pm, madchef said:

The left is unable to understand that most Americans have good morals. They embrace the Jamie Lynn Spears of the world as what is “normal”. In Hollywood it is fine to have a “my babies daddy”, that is the culture that they endorse. If a pregnancy gets it their way they abort it. There is no room in this country for God fearing decent folks, so they try to tear down the rightous, lest others see their wickedness.

God bless the Palin family.

Hee hee.

Victory Gin all around

2008-08-31T12:51:00.002-04:00

One candidate is tricksy because he went to school in Eastasia. The other candidate has loads of foreign policy experience because she lived near Eurasia. Citizens of Airstrip One, you know what to do.

John and Cindy McCain announce VP pick

2008-08-30T15:03:00.001-04:00

I don't know, she looks a little young.

Republican Convention Set

2008-08-28T17:47:00.003-04:00

We've heard ad nauseum about how the Democratic Convention set resembles a "Greek temple" (according to the GOP talking points that the MSM is dutifully following. Based on pronouncements coming out of the McCain campaign, here is my best guess what the Republican Convention set will look like.