I'm baaaaaaaack, sort of

I haven't posted in a long time, done in by the Scott Brown election, but my daughter tells me she misses my posts, and I like to make my children happy. So in December the world was going mad over Tiger Woods. Tiger frenzy has subsided a bit, especially after the Masters, where although he played well, he didn't win. I watched some of the Masters. For some reason, I find golf on TV strangely compelling. Unless a player is complete toad, I tend to want the ball to go in the cup. Tom Watson reached Toad status by saying something snarkey about Obama at an awards ceremony, and Retief Goosen is a permanent member of the Toad Club, along with Vijay Singh. Reteif for his mean and incorrect comments about Tiger dogging it during a tournament and making out that his knee was a problem. Tiger went on to have knee surgery and miss months of playing. Vijay Singh just for his generally stupid comments about women. But no longer is the press fulminating about all Tiger's transgressions, but perhaps since I don't read the tabloids, I am blissfully unaware of the latest woman claiming to have sex with him. One of the more disturbing aspects about Tiger was his brief hire of ARI FLEISHER!!! My god, not Ari. Who on earth would want ole Ari as their spokesperson. I guess Tiger's thinking was that if Ari could keep the public from uprising against the Idiot Prince, he could even represent Satan or at least the Pope. He must have figured his transgressions pale in comparison to those of the Bush administration, so why not give Ari a whirl. However, Ari blessedly disappeared from the scene, which was a great relief.

Still not over it

I have been brooding about the reflexive anti Obama stance of the neo cons and the repugs about Obama's reaction to the situation in Iran. When you hear that we will be treated by liberators if we invade Iran, you know you are about to hear gobbledygook. Listening to the McCain and company talking about the sanctity of the democratic process, they clearly have no idea how our country is perceived by the rest of the world. To the rest of the world, we had a president for eight years who was not freely elected, but selected by cronies of his father, and what a beaut he turned out to be. So when the world hears we are OUTRAGED by the undemocratic actions of Iran in squashing the demonstrators, it has a very hollow ring. I was listening to NPR this afternoon, and I am not sure what program I was listening to, but it was a call in program. They got Abdul from Saudi Arabia on the phone, and he let loose. First he said How can we drone on about democracy when our previous president was not elected. Go Abdul. He went on getting more and more exercised and it was beautiful. I am still haunted by 2000 and wonder what would have happened if people had taken to the streets. Of course I know, we would have been squashed like little bugs.

People I don't miss

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/06/13/2009-06-13_anchors_away_takes_leap_of_faith_meade_skydives_with_bush_41.html

What is the matter with the senior Bushes? First, a little while ago I saw George Sr. with a young shapely woman in a bathing suit draped over his lap. He had the Gary Hart like goofy grin of an old geezer with a young floozy. The next day, and I swear this is true (oh, if only my technical skills could cut and paste photos ...I need my tech support) sitting on lounge chair poolside with a muscular young man standing next to her. Honestly, I can't say she was leering at the pool boy but it seemed a pretty bizarre scene. Now I hear the George Sr. jumped out of a plane with a shapely young "news" woman strapped to his back. There are many shots of his descent. He is smiling a strange smile, all the time it looks like the skin on his face has met one of those super hand driers that horrify me when encountered. It doesn't exactly make me feel youthful when I see the skin on my hands being blown into strange ripples. After the jump there was a shot of George Sr. with his boys. W seemed like his usual smirky self and Jeb was stoic.

Michelle Ma Belle

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/30/AR2009033003332_2.html?sid=ST2009033103841

An interesting phenomena is afoot. During the primary and run up to the election, the MSM constantly asked the question was Michelle Obama too angry, too black, not black enough, etc? Guess what, she is incredibly popular. This article in the Wapo makes out that she used to be barely tolerated but now she is loved. I am not sure that she was ever so unpopular, but I do grant that she is extremely well liked, no thanks to the MSM. Remember the flap over whether or not she should wear sleeveless dresses? The end result of that idiotic press meme is that now everybody want Michelle arms. Remember when she was portrayed as an Angela Davis wannabe? Turns out, most people's point of reference is Claire Huxtable not Angela D. Remember when she was excoriated for saying that for the first time she was proud of her country (not the exact quote, but how it was reported)... After having endured eight years of having a buffoon and a master criminal in the White House, those words might have some relevance to many. What I wonder, is has the MSM lost its ability to create a lasting meme? After a fair amount of pounding in the press Barack has high approval ratings, while Congress/Wall Street/Auto Industry see their approval steadily sinking. Poor Al Gore, even though he invented the internets, they came too late to save him.

How Dare He

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/03/how_dare_you.php

Ari Fleisher was on the Chris Matthew's Show yesterday, in a foolish attempt to rehabilitate his love bucket, W. I didn't recognize him at first - no glasses and something bizarre has happened to the skin on his face - the texture and color looked very strange (please God, let me not find out that he has some horrible disease, so I won't be punished for mocking the afflicted.) He was so obnoxious after a while I had to mute the sound, but I did hear some choice exchanges. Matthew's brought up the economy, asking was the economy better when W left office than when he took office. Ari's non answer? 9/11, no more threat from Sadam, and we weren't attacked. There are so many stupid items in this statement, it is hard to know where to begin. First, that doesn't exactly answer the question about the economy, except in some ways I guess it does. A non answer means the Bushies left the economy in the crapper and have no arguement, except to blame it on Clinton, by alluding to inheriting a so called resession when W took office. So in typical Republican mode, he talks about something different. What threat from Sadam? When Matthew's brought up that we were attacked under Bush's watch, Ari said, "How dare you!" What? 9/11 didn't happen when Bush was president? Matthew's brought up the infamous memo Ben Ladin Determined to Attack Inside the United States, and Ari pooh poohed it, saying in essence, Oh we got thousands of those kinds of memos. And I guess they ignored them all. Ari got pissy with Matthew's saying, "Do you interupt all your guests?" I guess Ari has never watched the show, so this must have come as an ugly surprise (ha ha). As many have pointed out, the Bush years were a terrorists recruiting dream, not to mention, the incalculable damage done to our nation's economy, so the spectacle of Ari talking about the wonderfulness of the Bush years was stomach churningly awful.

A Plea for Divine Intervention

After Obama's non State of the Union, Bobby Jindal had the unenviable task of giving the Republican response. Unenviable for a multitude of reasons, I mean after all, what can the response be if your party is the one that created the disaster that has befallen the country? What do you say when your party is completely bereft of any ideas? What do you say when Obama has such a strong mandate for change? And how do you follow someone who is one of the strongest orater in memory. Some would argue Ronnie's gifts, but frankly I always thought that he seemed like a simple minded, mean, ignornant, lying fool, irespective of his ideology. I clearly never felt the Ronnie magic. When Jindal walked out to give his speech, he looked like death warmed over, and someone on MSNBC, said either "Oh god," or what I heard, which is probably wrong, is "Oh my god." It is hard to figure which is worse. "Oh god" could mean here comes that insufferable bore, and "Oh my god" could mean, jeez he looks awful and we now have to listen to him. Asking for divine intervention to be spared from the speech was probably a good idea. Jindal was awful. Aside from spouting the mantra of the Republicans, taxcutstaxcutstaxcuts, he had the nerve to talk about the rebuilding of New Orleans as a triumph of volunteerism with no government assistance, completely disregarding that Katrina was the calamitous event that lifted the veil for many Americans to see what no government would mean. The sight of the hapless Bush in his helicopter with his stagey look of concern, as he desperately tried to recapture the 9/11 magic, an obscene thought in itself, was deeply disturbing. It was indeed his Oz moment, when he gave that speech in the eirily empty square in New Orleans. The curtain pulled back to reveal the what the Bush administration was all about - the image of caring, while thousands of people were struggling for survival and begging to be rescued in the richest country in the world.

Strange Bedfellows

I know it is incredibly tasteless to write anything about Travis the chimp, but somehow when I read more about the bizarre relationship between owner and chimp, I can't help myself. The other day I saw a picture of Travis, leaning back with a blanket at his feet. He had a slightly dissipated and louche look, aside from being one ugly chimp. Overweight and seedy looking, perhaps from eating so many lobster dinners and boozing too much has taken a toll on Travis. My husband told me that every night Travis would brush his owners hair before they would would crawl into bed together. I mean, other than Laura Bush, who sleeps with a chimp? Yikes, the damn chimp looks like he is about to light a cigarette.

Important matters

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2009/02/62471161/1

The economy is in the toilet, we are involved in two disastrous wars, a new president in office, and what is a key concern of the former Chief of Staff whose former boss was the architect of this debacle? OH MY GOD!!! Obama doesn't always wear a shirt and tie or demand that other do in the Oval Office. Dan Bartlett was quoted as saying that he went to the White House one Saturday, not wearing a tie, and Bush screamed at him for fifteen minutes and wouldn't let him in the sacred Oval Office. How psycho is that? At least Barack actually is doing some work, attempting to clean up the mess left by the previous occupant, who insisted on all people, I guess other than him assuming the photos of a jacket Bush playing at President are not photoshopped. He has such tremendous respect for the office of President, he shredded the Constitution and ruined the country, and destroyed our reputation abroad. Who knew that such a small man could make such a huge mess.

It sure will be nice to not have W to kick around anymore

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/11/bushes-interview/

Has this been the longest period between an election and inauguration ever? Maybe it the spectacle of W trying to argue that he was a great president. When I read the headline, Bush 41 got choked up when describing his son's legacy, choked up is right, we are all choking on his presidency. But that is not what he meant. Apparently, he went on to say, That no president has been so tested... Now, that is completely absurd. Uhh, WW I, WW II, uhhh the Civil War, just to name a few events were rather significant tests. Maybe he was the president when tested, found most lacking. Hearing W trying to defend his response to Katrina, saying that if he had gone to New Orleans, it would have taken troops away from rescuing 10,000 people from rooftops. First, 10,000 people were not rescued from rooftops, and who was suggesting that he go there? No one, what people wanted was for HELP to go to New Orleans, not him. The spectacle of the people of a major city in the US hungry, thirsty, desperate, miserable, etc. while the government did little or nothing was shocking. Some how TV reporters and there crews made it to NO, why couldn't government help? Oh that's right, Republicans don't beleive in government.

The Hornets Nest of the Middle East

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/03/AR2009010300320_2.html?nav=rss_email/components

Israel has started a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. I can't but believe that this is a really bad idea. I do not think it is possible to eliminate Hamas by force and indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets, The article in the WAPO said that the Israelis are dropping leaflets telling people to evacuate; however, there is no place to evacuate - they can't leave, and every part of the Gaza Strip is being bombed. The vacuum in world leadership is exacting a terrible price. Sarkozy is flying to Israel to try to negotiate a cease fire. Where is the Doltish Dauphin? Why he must be on vacation. In some ways it might be good that he is paying no attention - things do seem to get worse when he gets big ideas.

The AP at it again

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090101/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_temporary_home;_ylt=AmGmFSv.oWi87ayKzh_YnOis0NUE

This is a very snarky AP piece about the where the Obama's are staying while they wait to be able to occupy Blair House and then the White House. The article mentions that the house the Obama's vacationed in is worth 9 million dollars. Hmmm... every other mean article has described it as an 8 million dollar home. The AP piece then goes on the describe how luxe the Hay Adams is, even mentioning in a slightly condescending tone that hypoallergenic bedding is available, because "Malia has allergies." But nowhere does it raise any kind of issue or criticism of the fact that the Bushies have leased out Blair House. And how do they expect the O's to vacation with the security concerns, not to mention the number of secret service agents needed. What kind of hotel do they expect them to stay in? The O's are not trying to take over the White House early, they being responsible parents, want to have their children start school at the beginning of the semester. But being a responsible parent sure isn't George's way. I seem to remember some golf/cruise taken when Jenna was having her appendix out.

Where were they when we needed them?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/28/dan-rather-cbs-lawsuit-bush

This is an interesting piece about Dan Rather and his lawsuit against CBS and their firing of him post 2004 election. Good for him. Although he was the king of hyperbole, he is a decent guy who got severely shafted. As he points out, no one has disputed the facts of the Dauphin and his weaseling out of service in Viet Nam, and what is to me, the most significant point, is how supine the press has been during the Bush administration. The list of people that they proposed to "investigate" the 60 Minutes story was riddled with right wing ideologues. Ann Coulter? please. This is a woman who thought it was a terrific idea to send white powder to the NYT as a joke. The press has never really talked about their abject failure to examine the so called evidence leading up to the war in Iraq. As David Gregory said, it wouldn't have been polite. No doubt, now that a Democrat is in the White House, they will find their so called spines.

So what?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/22/AR2008122201852.html

This is a good column by Eugene Robinson. It contains an astounding quote from Bush. Just when you thought you were suffering from outrage fatigue, the Doltish Dauphin ups the ante. Apparently, in an interview with Martha Raddatz on ABC, Bush took credit for defeating al-Qaeda in Iraq. When Raddatz pointed out that al-Qaeda had not been in Iraq before we invaded, he answered, "So what?" So what? So what? Ask the parents of the 4,000+ dead Americans, ask the parents of the horribly injured Americans, ask the Iraqis whose country we have decimated, ask the Americans who have seen billions of reconstruction dollars poured down a rat hole in Iraq with no positive outcome (unless you count obscene Haliburton profits), ask the Americans who care about our image in the world, the list could go on and on. Honestly, the man apparently could care less. As he once famously said, "Who care what you think?"

House of Shame

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/business/21admin.html?hp

This is a long and depressing article in the NYT detailing some of the intense crony capitalism that went on in the Bush administration, and his blind faith in unregulated markets. The extent to the damage that the Bush administration has done is unthinkable. I lay the entire Wall Street debacle at his lumbering feet. So much for the CEO presidency. The rampant stupidity and disregard for warnings about the house of cards that was sure to collapse is astounding. Was it willful ignorance or did they ignore every warning because they were getting rich. This bone ignorance brought the world Bernie Madoff who used his connections at his Fifth Avenue synagogue to find victims for his ponzi scheme.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/opinion/21rich.html?ref=opinion
Frank Rich's column details the absolute rampant crookishness and the different worthy charities, universities, pension funds, and people of Madoff. What on earth could he have been thinking? He reminded me of that horrible pharmacist in the mid-west who watered down chemotherapy drugs, so he could be a big cheese at his church. How can these people live with themselves.

The edumacation president strikes again

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laland/2008/12/photo-of-the-we.html

So the Obama's can't stay in Blair House, in order for their children to be able to start school right after the break. How creepy is that. I thought Bush cared so much about education. Oh, but I forgot - the Doltish Dauphin is orchestrating a WONDERFUL transition, except for his final f--- you to the environment and the American people. And as he and his acolytes attempt to rewrite history, with the DD saying, outrageously and plaintively, I sure wish I had gotten better intelligence about Iraq. As he prepares for riding off into the sunset to spend time at his beloved ranch - I'm sorry, as he swans off to a swank neighborhood in Dallas. But what will happen to all that brush?

Into the light

I saw Obama on the Meet the Press, and he was swell. Tom Brokaw wasn't as annoying as he usually is, but I can't believe that they turned over the venerable MTP to that bore David Gregory. Obama was very relaxed, and talked about many things, including that the White House is the peoples house, foriegn affairs, the economy, and that science and culture will make a comeback. It seemed so strange to think that he is actually going to be President, I still can't believe it. In my lifetime there has been such a history of electing idiots and psychos that it almost seems unimaginable that there is going to be someone in the White House with a brain. Yes, I know Clinton was extraordinarily smart, but in many ways his flaws crippled his Presidency. And I guess, too that Poppy Bush was not as horrible as Junior, and in fact, even though he had sold his soul, seemed a step up from Reagan. So there wasn't that feeling of coming out of the darkness. There also seems to be some feeling among the gas bags that politics is not sport, that it has real consequences, the times are too horrible to focus on the usual innanities, and that they want Obama to succeed. I heard Kathleen Parker on the Chris Matthews show and she almost gushed over Obama.

Just what was he prepared for?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/01/bush-i-was-unprepared-for_n_147405.html

I couldn't bring myself to watch the Bush interview with Gibson, since Gibson destroyed all credibility during his questioning of HRC and Obama during their debate in the primary. He tried for redemption during his interview with Palin, but I may be aged, but my memory is not that short. And Bush, well, he is unwatchable. In the interview he talks about being unprepared for war, sorry that he destroyed the economy, and sorry that he accepts responsibility for the steep decline the Republican party. That is the only positive part of his ruinous presidency; however, at what a cost. And being sorry about the economy doesn't quite cut it. At no point during his disastrous presidency did he ever give any indication of having a clue as how the other 99.9% (can't really say half any more) of the country lived.

Poisoning the People

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/washington/30labor.html?th&emc=th

I am so sick of hearing the gas bags go on and on about what a marvelous transition it has been, and how gracious and presidential the Doltish Dauphin has been. In my book, presidential and the DD should not be mentioned in the same sentence. What the gas bags ignore it the push to "burrow" the incompetent Bushies, and the rush to push through regulations to pollute the environment and poison the American people.

The Spirit of Brownie lives on

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/29/AR2008112901776.html?hpid=topnews

The Bush administration knows no shame, but we knew that didn't we. What with their last minute regulations that favor oil companies, I guess it shouldn't surprise me that they think it is a swell idea to install incompetents in high level civil service posts. So the lingering effects of the Bushies will linger on. I am sure that each person "burrowed" into a government job is either longing to destroy the agency they work for, or they are so incompetent that they will do so, just by attempting to do their job. For people who hate government, they sure do like to cling to it.

A turkey with a turkey

How about this for a study in contrasts? You have Barack with his totally adorable daughters at a homeless shelter about to serve food. And then you have the doltish Dauphin pardoning a turkey, making a face that makes him look more gormless than usual. I guess his daughters are somewhere sleeping off their excesses of the night before.