US Politics: same as usual

I can't believe THESE are the kind of people who are vying to lead our country. No wonder our country is slowly going down the toilet...so sad. We have no chance.

Was it true, Lauer asked, that the vetting of Sarah Palin was so woefully inadequate that no one from the campaign traveled to Alaska to interview her husband or any of her political opponents?

"I wouldn't know," McCain said. "The fact is that I'm proud of Sarah Palin, I'm proud of the campaign we waged, she energized our party, she will be a major factor in American politics in the future, and I'm proud of our campaign."

Somewhat taken aback, Lauer told McCain that he found it "somewhat surprising" that he didn't know anything about the vetting process, adding "You were the presidential candidate."

McCain testily shot back by saying that he had no intention of "looking back over what happened over a year ago," adding, "I'm sorry, you'll have to get others to comment on it."

From the new book 'Game Change' by New York magazine's John Heilemann and Time Magazine's Mark Halperin:

- that the affair between John Edwards and his campaign videographer was known about and kept quiet by three of his aides from early on. Edwards comes off in the book as a man with a massive ego and delusional tendencies. His wife Elizabeth is described by insiders as being "an abusive, intrusive, paranoid condescending crazywoman."

- that former President Bill Clinton was involved in an affair in 2006 that many thought would derail Hillary Clinton's run for the presidency and he offended Ted Kennedy deeply while trying to win his endorsement for his wife's campaign by saying the following about then-candidate Obama: "A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee."

- that Sarah Palin believed Saddam Hussein to be behind the attacks on 9/11, didn't understand why North and South Korea were separate (the Korean War) and that she could not properly pronounce Joe Biden's name. The book contends that Palin was a mentally unstable person prone to wild mood swings, describing her being hopelessly lost in a "catatonic stupor" at one point during the campaign.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

This weekend is supposed to be about remembering American soldiers who have done so much for this country. Even if I don't agree with war, I do appreciate soldiers being dedicated and carrying out the job they signed up for. That said, I'd like to honor those soldiers: by posting photos of chicks in bikinis to celebrate the beginning of summer (cause that's kind of what the weekend is about too).







NOTE: I've had these photos to spank it to on my laptop forever. If anyone can figure out where they're from, I'll prviide the link. I think it was a website called "Las Vegas CR" or something?

unSupreme Court

Welcome the United Puritanical States of America (UPSA)!

The Supreme Court recently voted to uphold the FCC going crazy collecting fines for cursing/swearing on television networks. Do people get out of control with cursing? Yes. But this ruling opens a huge can of worms with censorship in any media form. Is Catch In The Rye indecent? Is a swear word on a blog indecent? Is Fatal Attraction indecent? Is Lady Gaga's Poker Face indecent? If Justic Scalia (and other conservative babies) had their way, probably:

"Even when used as an expletive, the F-word's power to insult and offend derives from its sexual meaning," wrote Scalia.

I really don't think Americans realize what our rights are and how quickly they can erode if we let them. Just Stevens thinks words are just that:

"As any golfer who has watched his partner shank a short approach knows, it would be absurd to accept the suggestion that the resultant four-letter word uttered on the golf course describes sex or excrement and is therefore indecent," he wrote. "But that is the absurdity the FCC has embraced in its new approach to indecency."

Thanks God liberal and "minority" Americans Obama will be able to appoint new Chief Justices in his first term. This country needs some fixin'!

QUESTION TO PONDER: why do Americans with conservative theology ideology scream "Socialism!" when it comes to monetary issues, but scream for oversight and policing when it comes to entertainment?

Obama blasted for being as stubborn stalwart as Bush?

100 days into the Presidential term, so you know what that means? Time to start getting negative. Which, coincidentally is exactly what the US needs right now to fix the economy and America's reputation abroad. According to recent polls:

the Pew Research Center says Obama has the most polarized early first-term job approval ratings of any president in the past four decades, part of a long-term trend of partisanship becoming more apparent in the measurement.

Now, I'm not saying Obama has done anything spectacular yet or that everyone has to love every decision he makes right now, but clearly, some shady politics are brewing. Political windbags are saying politics are becoming increasingly bipartisan due to redistricting and new media outlets. Uh huh. Let's cut the BS:

Given that bipartisanship is a two-way street, it's possible that Republicans are too resistant to working with the president, while Obama himself isn't willing to compromise enough. At the very least, there are deep and sincere differences between Republicans and Democrats, and they may be too difficult to overcome. Republicans contend Obama hasn't delivered at all.

So let's get this straight? Former President Bush gets to play "you're either with me or you're a terrorist/liberal/un-American" hard ball for 8 years, and he's considered stalwart and dedicated. President Obama trie playing hardball, and he's not compromising and not delivering...in 100 days? I love how this country thinks!

For 8 years, President Bush messed up this country (and the world?), in more ways than one (financially, environmentally, theologically) and we can't cut Obama a break 100 days in. Brilliant!

My only hope is that if Obama can fix this country and return it to the great place that make Americans proud and makes other countries envy, people will remember that the GOP and their conservatism is what almost ruined this country, not elevated it.

9-11

It's amazing it's been 7 years. It doesn't seem like that much time has passed. And how different is the country now? And the world, for that matter. I knew it would never be the same, I just didn't realize how.

Joining the fire department gave me a unique perspective on what some of the NY crews must've gone through on that day. You know you sign up for duty and danger will be involved. And every time you pull hose into a burning building, hop on a roof with an axe or use the jaws on a crushed door, you know there's a point where your adrenaline and training take over. And then its over, and you go back to your family, job, etc. You do it because someone has to and you accept all of the sacrifices that comes with it. It's great getting to ride in parades, people asking you about the action you've seen and kids wanting to try on your gear, but it can be a hard life (much harder than most people realize).

On 9-11, I just can't imagine how guys dealt with it mentally. Adrenaline and training don't shield your eyes or your heart from extreme suffering. And for the guys who lost their lives, accepting the ultimate sacrifice, hopefully being unshielded allowed them the witness the ultimate peace.

Part of me is sad right now. But, I'm actually more angry. Angry that we never caught Osama bin Laden (when I beleive we could've right away in Afganistan). Angry that we can't get through an airport line without being strip-searched, but our borders and shipping yards are virtually unprotected. Angry that the Ground Zero memorial still isn't built, 7 years later. Angry that the Iraq war, which was initiated in the name of 9-11, has propogated an increase in terrorism, has destroyed the American economy and killed thousands of lives.

But, life goes on for us. We're the lucky ones. We're not in the line of fire. We weren't in the attacks. We're Americans entitled to rights and freedoms. We make livings, go on vacations and get laid. Try to take some time today to remember how lucky you are. And remembered the men and women who aren't so lucky.