Thursday Night's the Night! And the night.

It's season opener tonight!!  Saints v. Cheeseheads, way up nawth.  At least there's no snow!  It'll be sad when the reigning Champions go down in defeat to their immediate predecessors -- NOT!!!

But first, I need to do my very own coin toss to see whether I'll make the effort to watch the Young President's major, super-important speech du jour.  I think I'd rather watch the local pre-game festivities around town, but we'll see what the Fates decide. Drinking game words must include jobs, entitlements, investment, infrastructure, and get the job done.  Any other suggestions? 

(I hear the White House has already announced that the "details" of how to do what he wants to do won't be revealed tonight -- we'll have to wait a few weeks.  Haven't we already been waiting a few weeks to hear this latest oratory from on high?!?!  Moogie is not a particularly patient person.)  I don't think our president is much of a details-oriented kinda guy.

I guess it would be kinda cool to see Pelosi sitting amongst the peons, though, instead of on her Speaker's springboard perch behind the dais.  That's one plus in favor of watching The Most Important Speech Ever.  But, only one.

I plan to rant about the sentence handed down to Betty Jefferson soon, but first I need to get my blood pressure under control.

Did anyone else think Michelle Bachmann's hair was a little out of control last night during the debate?  I mean, being southern, I like big hair -- it's bred into the genes, after all -- but seriously! 

Did anyone else have trouble finding MSNBC?  I never watch it and had to do a page-by-page search on the Guide.  I'll probably have to do the same search the next time I watch it in a few years.  Or decades.

I think it's nearing cocktail hour -- and I hear a Cosmo chilling in the freezer!  Who Dat!!!  Geaux Saints!!!

Debt Crisis, Tea Party, and Brinksmanship

This is kinda interesting.

First, the Young President was not really "aware" of the Tea Party" protests.  April 15, 2009.

Then, the Young President referred to a bunch of folks "waving tea bags around."  May 2, 2009. So, I guess a voice was sounding through the din.

Next, there were the 2010 mid-term elections.

Today, the mainstream media blames the Tea Party for shutting down negotiations and moving us toward a default on debt.

We've come a long way, Baby.

Don't back down.

Seriously.  Don't back down.  Cut the spending.  Now.

(P.S. -- is our president a petulant schoolboy, or what?!?!  Pepper says if he were Boehner, he wouldn't show up tomorrow, and might just send out an email scheduling a bi-partisan/Executive Department meeting at 10:00 at the Capitol building, before the YP's summons for the same thing at 11:00 at the White House.  That'd be cool!  Then maybe they could have lunch in the West Wing afterwards.  I'd serve Chicken salad.)

Now You See Him . . .

New York Times columnist, Davids Brooks, published a column earlier this week entitled, "Obama as Convener in Chief."  He compares and contrasts several "management" styles  employed by American leaders, both past and present.  Surprisingly enough, he comes to a conclusion that the venerated JFK did us all a disservice with his famous Inaugural Address by giving rise to the notion that the President is a valiant, "heroic" Leader, a la Henry V at Agincourt.  And we've apparently been falling for that premise ever since. 

Brooks never does firmly nail down the current president's style.  Perhaps that's because the current president is akin to a chameleon, changing colors to suit the environment in which he finds himself.  He self-identified early on as a "pragmatist."  Today, having had the benefit of 2 1/2 years experience in witnessing The Obama Administration in action, I think we can clearly define "Obama Pragmatism" as something other than chameleon -- it's actually little more than pure weasel, if not outright hyena.

Brooks finds himself somewhat caught off-guard by the inconsistent presidential maneuvering.  I really like his characterization of the Obamaesque passive-aggressiveness:

"Still, I never would have predicted he would be this sort of leader.  . . .  Being led by Barack Obama is like being trumpeted into battle by Miles Davis.  He makes you want to sit down and discern."

If I could imagine Barack Obama being anywhere in the vicinity of battle, perhaps I can imagine wanting to sit down and discern.  It's more likely, however, that I'd want to sit down, put my head in my hands, and sing the blues. 

Kind of like I currently do, on a regular basis.

Maybe we really do need a Henry V.

Bouncing Baby Obama

So the Young President released a copy of the long form (or whatever it's called that he couldn't get his hands on for 2 1/2 years) certificate attesting to his birth in Hawaii in 1961 to Stanley Dunham Obama, Caucasion, and Barack Hussein Obama, African.  The birther/birthers-are-idiots melee has escalated to dramatic heights today while the Young President scoffs at the "silliness" of the whole issue.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette published an online "breaking news" piece on today's momentous event, and the comments are all over the place.  Referring to another comment challenging the massive gaps in what we know about BHO, one comment reads:

What rest of the records? Harvard says he went to law school there. Articles in the New York Times contemporaneous with him being in law school indicate that he was the first black editor in chief of the Law Review. Just what trash is the dirty tricks department of the RNC cooking up now? There seems to be no real dirt on this guy. Oh yeah, I forgot. His minister used to say controversial things! (I've been in many a church when controversial things have been said.) If you must, criticize that Obama has had two years to turn a cratering economy into a problem free one, just quit making up dirt on the guy.

We had information overload about Bill Clinton, even down to the facts that he donated his used underwear to charity and wrote it off on his income taxes, and was a chubby kid in the Hot Springs High band.

So, the commenter's accusation that someone is "making up dirt " on the Young President brings my nagging question about the guy to the surface: where are Obama's childhood friends?  Where are his college chums?  Did he and Michelle have any attendants in their wedding?  No one really seems to know anything about him. 

If nothing else, that's just sad.  Was he one of those unpleasant, or know-it-all, kids (my money's on the latter) whose mother (excuse me, his grandmother) had to tie a pork chop around his neck to get even the dog to play with him? 

I just don't know what to think about him, as a person, or how to find out enough information to make a decision. 

I do know, however, that "African" is not a "race;" it's a descriptive that identifies the continent from which someone hails, as in, "Ernie Els is an African."  I guess the folks in the Hawaiian Health Department in the early 60s foresaw the furor to come in trying to decide what to call someone with skin darker than a Polynesian, and just punted.

Then again, maybe IMAO has it all figured out.  This Birth Certificate was published over there:

And Panetta's going to the Pentagon?!?!

My head hurts.

The Young President's Latest WTF Moment

As Professor Jacobson noted over at Legal Insurrection, the Young President's "We Saved the Day" budget-deal speech in the waning hours of last night was "strangely detached from reality." 

Watching it again in the light of day merely reaffirms that initial reaction.  The Young Prez just kinda bounced around, focused oddly off into space (because the teleprompter was slightly offset from the camera), and spun the cuts wrangled by the Repubs while wearing that smug-O expression and spinning yarns about a sob-letter from some mother in Colorado, with the Washington Monument glowing in the background (as the original namesake was spinning in his grave, I imagine).

I think one sentence in particular from the speech elicits the appropriate response (emphasis mine):

"We protected the investments [?] we need to Win The Future."

WTF, indeed.

Thought For the Day

That is all.  You are excused now.

Winter and Discontent

I seem to be doing hit-and-miss posting recently!  Haven't even gotten to make my blog-rounds, but life seems to be calming down a bit now.  The last snowed-out houseguests left yesterday and made it safely home to Arkansas.  I'm slowly putting the house back together -- 9+ loads of linens over the last week! -- and I have now decided that while running a Bed & Breakfast may be good exercise, like aging, it ain't for sissies.

We've also had some uncharacteristically cold weather around these parts -- below freezing!  This is what greeted me this morning while forcing the 16 year-old shih tzu to go outdoors:

The Naughty Children Fountain may be icy on the surface, but they know how to keep the water flowing!

I'm not sure New Orleans birds know how to ice skate!  And check out the gardenias buds hanging out over the frozen water.  That poor bush is really confused.

At least the pipes have stayed intact.  KNOCK WOOD THREE TIMES!!!

I'm still trying to keep myself from throwing up over that wretched display of "look at me!" and "you should dial back the rhetoric" last night presented by the Young President (perhaps we should call him the Great Healer now that he brought Congresswoman Giffords back to consciousness with his very presence), so I won't even go there.  And here I thought he did a pretty poor memorial performance at Ft. Hood.  Egad.  At least he didn't distribute tee shirts to the mourners in uniform at Hood.  (Funny, until I googled "tee shirts at Tucson memorial" I wasn't aware that so many people were just as appalled as I was by the souvenirs of a Day with the Obamas.  There must be many great minds out there.)

I do find the blame-slinging in the Tucson slaughter intriguing.  We certainly couldn't hold Islam responsible for the slaughters at Ft. Hood or at the Recruiter's office in Little Rock, but we certainly could blame everyone on the right from Sarah Palin to bloggers for setting off that fruitcake in Tucson.

I guess I went there, huh.

Oh well, maybe I'm back!

Thanksgiving Correspondence and Documentary

I'm catching up on emails and stuff that got ignored or put on the back burner -- or completely missed -- over the holiday/party/SAINTS AND RAZORBACK VICTORY weekend.  Among the emails was this little missive from the Young President, with whom I'm apparently now on a first-name basis. I'm happy to pass along his Thanksgiving message (italics mine):

Terry --


When Michelle and I sit down with our family to give thanks today, I want you to know that we'll be especially grateful for folks like you.

Everything we have been able to accomplish in the last two years was possible because you have been willing to work for it and organize for it.

And every time we face a setback, or when progress doesn't happen as quickly as we would like, we know that you'll be right there with us, ready to fight another day.

So I want to thank you -- for everything.

I also hope you'll join me in taking a moment to remember that the freedoms and security we enjoy as Americans are protected by the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. These patriots are willing to lay down their lives in our defense, and each of us owes them and their families a debt of gratitude.

Have a wonderful day, and God bless.

Barack

Do you suppose he really wants to thank folks like me for everything I've done?  And, God bless?!?!  Now he finds God?  One thing's for sure -- I am indeed right there, ready to fight another day!

Heh.

At least he threw in a little bone for the military -- I'm certain his Progressive Pals were thrilled about that.

I also thought I would share a little video I shot (mainly to show our survivors what our last seconds on this Earth looked like) while heading over the river and through the trees to Aunt Penne's house in Bismarck, Arkansas.  In a driving rainstorm, with vicious winds knocking smaller cars off the road, temperatures fluctuating madly, and green clouds swirling overhead:

It was not fun. We had a lot to be thankful for once we got there!

Breaking News: Michelle Reveals The Next Element in Her War Against Obesity

ABC announced today that the Young President and the First Lady will be interviewed by Barbara Walters next Tuesday during a brief visit to the United States by the globetrotting First Family.  The interview will air on the Friday evening following Thanksgiving. 

The nausea resulting from thinking about how fawning and smarmy the interview will be is expected to curtail holiday food consumption dramatically.  Childhood, and other, obesity is expected to take a downtick as a direct result of the First Lady's cagey strategy.

Priorities, Priorities

Tiresome phrase, thy name is Obama:



I think my favorite is the reference to functional plumbing.  Do you think he and 'Chelle are trying to have another baby?

Stolen from Deadenders.

What's a Few More Wolves at the Door Among Friends?

Yep -- that's pretty much how he sounded yesterday.

NASA: New Mission Update

Some things just speak for themselves.

Transformation Accomplished

Well, I think he got that "transformative" thing accomplished. And NASA surely ain't continuing on "the same path."

Unfortunately, the "leap" was into the 11th Century. Without the knights in shining armor.

R.I.P. NASA.

Too Little, Too Late, Mr. President.

Seventy-one days after the initial explosion on the BP Deepwater Horizon and the United States is now prepared to accept assistance offered by at least twelve nations who have a little more experience with disaster.

Seventy-one days that could've seen a collaborative effort contain a considerable amount of the mess that's now befouling (and befowling) the Gulf Coast.

Seventy-one days while the Emperor fiddled around with Paul McCartney and varying tee times.

Seventy-one days.

The Obama administration's moratorium on offshore drilling was announced May 6th. Since then we've seen a migration of rigs to Brazil, more every day, taking countless jobs with them, and enriching whom? Hmmm.

A federal judge enjoined the moratorium, declaring its basis to be arbitrary and capricious, but the Secretary of the Interior thumbed his nose at the Injunction and said he'll just enforce the moratorium another way.

We continue to pump untold sums into Haiti, a literal third-world nation, and the Emperor fiddles on as the Gulf South slips inexorably toward a third-world status of its own.

What smells bad about this picture? Let me count the ways: 20 Billion, 40 Billion . . . .

Saturday's Stolen Video, Part Deux

I've noticed a trend in my postings lately -- lots of thievery involved!

Just call me malleable -- the government's example must be getting to me: ask, and if you don't receive, take!

Herewith, today's second (and I'm not promising it's the last!) pilfering from Moonbattery --



Heh. Don't you just love the little jig with Ellen?

Wait -- was that a racist comment?!?!

Change I Can't Believe In

Maybe I'm overreacting, but I'm pretty darn pissed off that the President of the United States has chosen to spend Memorial Day in Chicago instead of staying in Washington to honor our fallen in Arlington Cemetery, as every president in memory has done. That's just one of those traditions that doesn't need "hopey-change."

He tinkered with Memorial Day tradition last year when he dispatched a federal van and folks in uniform to place a wreath at the African American Civil War Memorial for the very first time. As had other presidents, he also sent a wreath to the Confederate veterans' memorial at Arlington, despite objections from his entourage. I guess after that magnanimous gesture he felt entitled to give special recognition to one particular race of American soldiers. Or did he send a wreath to a Caucasian Civil War Memorial somewhere that I don't know about?

It doesn't comfort me that, this year, he'll place a wreath at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois. Elmwood, Illinois, isn't the Tomb of the Unknown in Arlington Cemetery, symbolic of all America's fallen.

No. The solemn ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown will be delegated to Vice President Biden. Good ol' Joe Biden who, a few weeks ago, offhandedly suggested that the United States is no longer the "capitol of the free world" -- bestowing that title on Brussels and elevating NATO's importance in the process:

"As you probably know, some American politicians and American
journalists refer to Washington, D.C. as the 'capital of the free world,'" Biden
said. "But it seems to me that in this great city, which boasts 1,000 years of
history and which serves as the capital of Belgium, the home of the European
Union, and the headquarters for NATO, this city has its own legitimate claim to
that title."

I'm a little tired of our leaders trashing us and elevating the concept of a world order.
So, good ol' Joe will do the honors at Arlington and host the White House luncheon for families of our fallen.
This isn't exactly the "change" anyone should believe in.
Hey, America's military! Are you feelin' pretty good about the attitude this administration has toward you?

Fun for All!

Got this in an email today -- it looks like fun for the whole family (except for that "adult language thing!)!

Easy Rules for Baracko Bingo:
1. Before Barrack Obama's next televised speech, print your "Baracko Bingo" card.
2. Check off the appropriate block when you hear one of those words/phrases.
3. When you get five blocks horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, stand up and shout "BULLSHIT!"

Testimonials from past satisfied "Bullshit Bingo" players:

"I had been listening to the speech for only five minutes when I won." - Jack W., Boston

"My attention span during speeches has improved dramatically." - David D., Florida

"What a gas! Speeches will never be the same for me after my first win." - Bill R., New York City

“The atmosphere was tense in the last speech as 14 of us waited for the fifth box." - Ben G., Denver

Speaking of the Illegal Immigrant Issue . . . .

"We've gone though a very tough year and I've been working Congress very hard, so I know there may not be an appetite immediately to dive into another controversial issue," the president told reporters aboard Air Force One returning with him to Washington from a Midwest trip.

Oh, come on! Don't be a bunch of wussies! Beat us over the head with another big-government club!

I dare you.

And . . . He's Off!

So, the not-so-young-anymore president is back on the campaign trail -- his very, very favorite place to be -- to campaign for the healthcare reform bill which he has already signed into law.

What am I missing here? It's already through Congress (for the most part) and well on its way to litigation (thank you, Louisiana, et al!). What does he really hope to accomplish with this latest road trip?

I get this visual of him talking and talking and talking about the same ol' mischaracterizations with his eyes closed and his fingers in his ears. He can't hear us, but if he keeps talking long enough, we'll finally give in and accept his version of the song, wrong lyrics and all.

Also -- not that I'm really complaining -- but today he's in Iowa. Last week he was in Ohio. He's been in Pennsylvania and New York and Michigan and Colorado.

Does he ever go anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line to speak to the adoring throngs?

Like I said -- not that I'm down here in New Orleans, complaining . . . .

Moogie's Post-Mortem of the State of the Unionized Extravaganza

Just a couple of observations about the State of the Unionized speech last night --

(1) Apparently no one told Michelle that the SOTU speech is a business-attire event, not a cocktail-attire event. Purple satin? Really?

(2) One positive: unlike during last year's address to Congress, this year Pelosi appeared to be faking all her jump-up-and-down O-rgasms. Do you suppose he's man enough to deal with that?

(3) I have to agree with Andy: seeing one's Secretary of Homeland Defense -- the guardian of our security -- take a little nap during her boss's big appearance is more than a little disquieting.

(4) The Young President v. The Supreme Court. STOP! in the name of love! Think it oh-oh-ver!

(5) Using the phrases, "jobs," "clean energy," and "working families" for trigger-words in the State of the Unionized Speech Drinking Game makes for a tipsy citizen-viewer.

(6) One hour, 25 minutes, 31 seconds? See: U.S. Constitution, Amendment 8. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

(7) Conspicuously absent: Foreign policy? What Foreign Policy?