Global Family Idiot

On tonight's anticipated Real Time with Bill Maher, he actually had two conservatives on the panel and one was Andrew Breitbart recently of Shirley Sherrod fame - so this night's show was going to be something more than the over-the-top overtly radical lib-fest it usually is (I mean seriously where does he get his audience from - the View after smoking crack?)

Besides Bill calling Sarah Palin a whack job on more than three occaisions, the panel discussed the new Republican Pledge, the woeful Health Care bill and the new Bob Woodward book. For most of these topics liberal whack job and creator of The Family Guy Seth McFarlane could offer little to defend health care or even attempt to explain the plan. While it has been much reported that Andrew B. got Bill Maher to admit that he approved of european socialism, the show's biggest gaffe occcured when they started chatting about global warming.

That bit was introduced by bringing out noted astronomer Carl Sagan's widow Ann Druyan where they discussed the topic "why no one takes science seriously". Ann then began to babble on unintelligably about the "truth" of science - frankly a real train wreck. This then of course morphed into a discussion of global warming. Scientist Seth argued that 95% of scientists agreed on the "actual science that proves" that global warming (whatever that is) is manmade - wow thanks for that definitive non-endorsement of the global warming phenomenon Seth.

While the conservative panelists refuted that their was this widespread agreement that global warming was manmade, Scientist Seth then pulled out a doozy. "We are seeing this in our own solar system right now. Studies show that the planet Venus was now incurring 900 degree temperatures and this is what could happen to Earth".

Gee Seth - is that because of all the MEN on Venus, driving their CARS and going to their FACTORIES? I don't think Venus is undergoing manmade global warming and I don't think a cap and trade policy will help them.

Typical underknowledged dilluded liberal speak.

Nah, It Doesn't Quite Add Up Barry

For some reason President Obama used his second Oval Office TV address to discuss the end of "combat operations in Iraq" (congratulations everbody) and to also discuss a few other odds and ends. Just for the record Oval Office pronouncements are supposed to be for fairly serious things - going to war, announcing new significant legislation - and also resigning (...drats, not this time). But for this event Mr. Obama, in front of hideous new green drapes installed while he was buying shrimp in Martha's Vinyard, decided to devolve this announcement into talking about economics and the "conflict at home" - in frankly what any sane person would describe as a wild stretch.

Of course one of the items pundits were looking for in this speech was whether he would praise his predecessor George Bush, for committing to a surge of troop strength in 2007 - of which he was vehemently opposed to as a Senator back then. Meaning that he is now trying to take credit for something he opposed. To his slight credit he did actually mention Bush - but he never really gave him credit (unfortunately even at a moment of purported triumph this is a man who cannot admit when he was wrong). Stay classy San Diego.

But he seriously lost me when he decided to make a major point in saying that "the seven year war cost $1 trillion" and how that "stretched our resources" such that it led to "record deficits". Then his speech wove into a blend of green jobs, putting people to work blah blah blah. And this is where he is just being intellectually dishonest - as he often is (whether he really means it or not). I frankly think he is just so above it he is oblivious.

Look, Barry. What you don't understand was one could construe the war, in itself, to be a stimulus. One could argue (as they did for World War II) that we put many people to work, supported many businesses - to the tune of $1 trillion - and in the end felled a dictator, took steps to try to develop a better country and maybe an outpost for some type of democracy in the Middle East, and established an active ally for US interests (and by the way - no one stole any oil as far as I can tell). And as you can see from the graph it didn't primarily add to the deficit (other government spending did -most of it Mr. Obama's).

Meanwhile Barry, what have you done? You spent that same $1 trillion on your ill-conceived stimulus in January 2009 that promised us great economic growth (and remember, we had to pass it "right now" - it had to be done immediately or the economy was going to crumble....), unemployment rates to not exceed 8% and now we are at 9.5% - and counting. You spent that $1 trillion on the Democrats wish list of every pet project and giving checks (not tax breaks) - actual checks to people who don't even pay taxes. What a plan! Give him a Nobel.

Do the math. Oh yeah, here's the calculator.

Risky Business

Regarding the Ground Zero Mosque issue once again - one thing I could never figure out was why New York Mayor Bloomberg was so forthright in his support for the mosque, and its location. Why would this former Republican be so out in the forefront of this issue when he must know he is alienating many New Yorkers and 9/11 families. Like the President he could have tried to stay out of the fray.

Well there is only one answer, I guess. It's bidness.

You see the Mayor runs the Bloomberg information business empire - information sharing of stock quotes, business news et al that has reaped him his current fortune. His company provides desk top sets to get on-line stock quotes and information like the big brokerage houses. Even as far back as 15 years ago I would go to the library to look things up on a Bloomberg station. Obviously promoting his business network to other regions of the world is, er...well, is his business.

Now it turns out he is trying to expand in Dubai and the rest of the United Arab Emirates as described here. This would be an amazing sales coup to be able to expand in the Middle East and thus be the leading purveyor of business and market information for the entire region. And one could guess that providing support for an Islamic cause just might further that type of platform. A quid pro quo. I mean, this is just normal business. I can understand this. Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Apparently this business venture has been in discussion for some time.

Look, this is certainly a bit of conjecture - maybe the Mayor feels very strongly about the constitutionality of the mosque issue (...sure he does - he certainly hasn't cared about the Greek Orthodox Church that has tried to rebuild in the past nine years in a spot right across from Ground Zero all this time) - but it doesn't really make much political sense. A plurality of the nation (70%) is opposed to the Mosque. There had to be something else. One thing I know - Guilianni would certainly not be doing this. So why would Bloomberg?

Bidness. Nothing personal - just bidness.

No Mas; No Mosque

President Obama's latest pronouncement on the controversial placement of a mosque and Islamic community center two blocks from Ground Zero again brought questions about his inherent ability to lead but also his understanding of international policy and diplomacy. Not only that - but on Friday he apparently held up the inherent principles of religious freedom at a White House dinner commemorating Ramadan - and then the next day walked back those comments saying he wasn't really opining on the merit of the placement of the facility. Yup - that's leadership alright. Waffler-in-chief.

The location of the mosque is really only significant in understanding the world that the people who killed us desire. It’s not that the people building the mosque or the place is a problem. It’s that the Taliban and our enemy would see it as a trophy. They would see it as the place Allah gave to them during a great victory. They would see it as a place that they wanted to worship (the worst of the worst terrorists would want to worship there as much or more than Al Aqsa).

The Islamic world is increasingly anti-American, if its media are a reflection of sentiment. Despite the alleged healing abilities of Obama, the Muslim world sees him as either (a) a failure and/or (b) weak. For them -- radical or moderate -- the erection of a mosque near Ground Zero isn't about tolerance; it's about submission - and its a very visible provocation.

And, hey, that's what the West is saying, too. Look at recent policies in France and the Netherlands -- they're moving away from concessions to non-assimilating Muslims in their countries. Their media paints Obama as either (a) a disappointment/failure and/or (b) weak. You can bet France would never let a mosque be built near the site of a major Muslim attack, and Sarkozy wouldn't utter the statement Obama has.

It’s good to hear Obama opine about the importance of ‘freedom of religion’. While I appreciate the leader of the free world's opinion on the first amendment, I wish Obama would use his new found appreciation for freedom of religion to encourage other nations to adopt the same policy.

In other words, instead of apologizing to the Muslim community, he should have said, this is what real freedom is. When people aren’t allowed to worship as they please, they are not free. In Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia where they do not allow freedom of religion (or even freedom to escape religion), their people are neither good Muslims (they are forced to be Muslims), nor are they free.

This actually could be a "teachable moment". All Obama did Friday was come out and say that he agrees with the 1st Amendment. Suddenly the MSM calls this "courageous" and "great leadership". The Sunday shows trumpeted his leadership. But here would have been a perfect opportunity to add that he thought the Muslim backers of this mosque "acted stupidly" in picking that site.

Obama would then unfortunately have a problem in teaching the countries he has groveled in front of on our behalf. Yes Obama, freedom of religion is important - leadership is even more paramount. Ask the Muslim nations if they agree.

And, then, of course, the next day he flipped flopped anyway.

A Real Commander-in-Chief

President Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush suprised homecoming troops at Dallas-Fort Worth airport last week. It was a total surprise for the incoming troops and a common selfless act by a true patriot. From the time President Bush first made his surprise visit to Iraq on the first Thanksgiving of the Gulf War he has shown an overriding endearment for our men and women on the battlefield.

Here are some more pictures of this happy and classy homecoming. Thank you Mr. President.

She Did - Of Course

Sarah put it as plain as day as anyone could. (See below)

Well Said. By The Way - Who Did Say This?

This is a recent speech/comment from a leading political comentator reacting to President Obama's most recent campaign speech again blaming everything on his predecessor. To me, this piece quite succinctly frames one of the most frustrating aspects of this administion. The author reminds us that Obama just didn't show up from a neighboring planet 20 months ago:

"Barack Obama was part of the problem while in Congress. Senator Obama pushed the fiscally irresponsible measures that Democrats, who held the majority, advanced while holding the government’s purse strings. And now, as President, he’s not just one of the pack anymore as a mere contributor to the problem – he now leads the problem. We are sick and tired of President Obama pointing his finger and screeching through his blame game about what he “inherited.” Up until 18 months ago he was fully engaged in that Congressional herd mentality of the Left as he just went with the flow, adding to the debt and deficit, instead of bucking his party’s leadership to stop the recklessness. (Did you ever hear him as an independent voice standing up and speaking out against his Democrat party’s overspending and over reach? Come to think of it, did you ever hear of his congressional record at all? For the life of me I can’t think of any time he used his bully pulpit as a sitting U.S. Senator to lead free market, equality-respecting pro-private sector efforts, nor to change up actions he now conveniently condemns. He could have refudiated them all.)…

Regardless of what the Democrats want you to believe, this is a tax increase on every American who pays taxes. Families will suffer because the Democrats’ tax hike will reinstate the marriage penalty, cut the child tax credit in half, abolish various personal exemptions, and impose limits on itemized deductions like home mortgage interest and charitable contributions. Investors and savers would suffer through increases in the top rates in long-term capital gains and qualified dividends. And the Alternative Minimum Tax would end up hitting 15 million taxpayers – up from 4 million in 2009.

We’ll all be feeling the pinch, but the ones who will be hit hardest by this massive tax hike will be America’s small business owners – the businesses that create up to 70% of all jobs in this country. According to a recent report by the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, small business owners will pay over half the taxes raised when the Democrats increase the top two tax brackets. In an already anemic jobless recovery, the last thing government should do is to impose even higher tax burdens on job creators. Instead of hurting “the rich,” such measures would end up hurting the unemployed."

Well said. So who did say this?

To the Moon, Alice!

Forty-one years ago this week we were celebrating being on the moon. Neil Armstrong was taking "one step for man, a giant leap for mankind."

Now NASA is dissembling the space shuttle program and shelving other programs planning to put ourselves back on the moon in place of promoting Muslim outreach programs to make them "feel better about themselves". Hmmm. What kind of nonsense is that? And what is exactly happening here?

Meanwhile the current politic is embroiled in race-baiting from both sides of the political spectrum - but mostly starting from the White House itself. In order to combat sliding numbers and anticipating an apocleptic result in the November mid-term elections the Obama White House has disintegrated into demogogary of any known opposition. This includes Republicans, white people, anyone making over $50K a year - or more appropriately, anyone who has a job and actually pays taxes.

This is a direct result of his failed policies most notably 1) the bloated $800 billion stimulus bill which did not produce jobs as advertised (how could it? it was a hodgepodge of wishlist projects strung together with tax subsidies to non-tax payers), 2) a health care bill that already is showing it will increase costs and lower coverage, and 3) just this week the President signed a 2.300 page largesse of a financial reform bill that makes the recent and unloved Sarbanes Oxley financial compliance law look like a lunch menu. All of these programs are ill-conceived responses to our current economic situation which will only make our future outlook worse. They have, and will, grow the deficit - and, maybe more importantly, they are all job killers.

While not content with making a bad economic situation much worse, the President seems very much intent on worsening race relations in this country. Advertised as the first "post racial President" (whatever that means) Obama can't seem to not put race out there front in center. This partially started with his discussion of the Professor and the Cambridge Police story which ended up with the famous Beer Summit in which he ended his last press conference (a year ago by the way) by saying the police force "acted stupidly". This administration has continued to basically play the race card every day of the year. Any critique of the White House is always shouted down as racist by the media or other left wing outlets.

Furthermore, as the Administration readies it self for defeat in the upcoming elections and to deflect such non-performance on the economy, the White House has engaged in a campaign to impugn the upstart Tea Partyists as racists - and then, almost predictably, chaos is ensuing. Attorney General Eric Holder does not prosecute Black Panthers obviously intimidating people at a Philadelphia polling place, the NAACP starts calling people racists - and then everyone (FOX News included) overreacts to a video of a low level bureaucrat speech in March - and the White House "acts stupidly" and dismisses her (and later invites her back). And just this week we are discovering that a group of liberal so-called journalists actively planned to label conservative commentators racist just to take the heat off the administration!

Time for everbody to calm down. Let's stick to facts - and the racism stuff needs to go. To quote Michael Douglas (as fictional left-wing President Andy Shepard in The American President) "we have serious problems and we need serious people to solve them".

Let's find a few and do that. I think we can in November. Not the thin-skinned bunch we have now.

And then its to the moon, Alice.

1970 Chevelle Tops Auction in California

From a recent news article - I had a 72 Chevelle Malibu in college. Unfortunately it never actually saw much of college - that is both a long and short story. But, for now, let's leave it at that this is still my dream car. When I see something close to it roll down the road I relish the time I actually drove such a vehicle.....

"Mighty muscle cars ruled the day at Barrett-Jackson’s “prime time” Saturday auction in Orange County, with a very rare and highly desirable 1970 Chevelle LS6 convertible reaching the high point at $253,000, including buyer’s fee.

This Chevy has it all, said Craig Jackson, auction CEO, as he cajoled the bidders: a top-notch restoration of a fully documented LS6 painted Fathom Blue and packing a 454-cubic-inch V8 and four-speed stickshift.

The 1970 Chevelle LS6 convertible, a rare holy grail for muscle car fanatics, is powered by a 450-horsepower V8. “This is a blue-chip car; it doesn’t get any better than this,” Jackson said.
The Chevelle was described in the Barrett-Jackson catalog as “arguably the pinnacle of the muscle car heap and one of the most sought-after combinations ever to pound the pavement.”
On the block, the bidding stopped at $230,000 when the auctioneer cried “Sold!” Jackson said that for that price, he would have bought the car himself, “if I didn’t have a rule not to bid against my own customers.”

Technically, the Chevelle finished second to the charity auction of another highly desirable 1970 Chevelle, a custom-built SS coupe whose sale benefited the Armed Forces Foundation. That car reached $250,000 on the block, but since Barrett-Jackson waives all fees for charity sales, the final price came in $3,000 behind the LS6."

Obama Picks Bush's Boy

Obama gets pissed about a stupid Rolling Stone article and fires his handpicked general in Afghanistan. so what does he do?

According to major press outlets the best commander-in-chief decision Obama ever made was to select George Bush's General of operation in Iraq? Read my lips carefully...Obama picked Bush's guy.

The same guy that MoveOn.org constantly advertised on their website until yesterday as General "Betrayus"? The same guy that Hillary and Chris Dodd and all other dithering Democrats demonized before the surge in Iraq in '07? The one that dufus VP Biden said would fail? And last but not least the one that Obama himself said was woefully misguided?

But according to the MSM now ...it apparently was a great, great move. Unbelievably pathetic.

The Truth

The reality? Big government tax and spend policies cripple the economy.
Obama’s trillion dollar stimulus package failed. Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi tripled the national deficit last year by nearly a trillion dollars – something unheard of in our nation’s history.After an unheard of record deficit last year of $1.4 Trillion the economy is on track to experience a $1.3 Trillion deficit this year. The democratic-media complex wants you to believe that this was Bush’s fault. It’s a lie.

The truth? Tax cuts grow the economy. During the Bush years, despite the 2000 Recession, the attacks on 9-11, the Clinton scandals, Hurricane Katrina, and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush Administration was able to reduce the budget deficit from 412 billion dollars in 2004 to 162 billion dollars in 2007, a sixty percent drop. In 2004 the federal budget deficit was 412 billion dollars. In 2005 it dropped to 318 billion dollars. In 2006 the deficit dipped to 248 billion dollars. And, in 2007 it fell below 200 billion to 162 billion dollars. During the Bush years the average unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, the economy saw the strongest productivity growth in four decades and there was robust GDP growth.

Not only were more jobs lost after the 9-11 attacks in 2001 than in the 2008 market crash, but more jobs were created by President Bush’s pro-business policies and tax cuts than by the Obama-Pelosi “spend your way to hell” Keynesian failure.The Foundry reported, via HotAir:
For objective observers the failure of President Obama’s $862 billion stimulus has become increasingly difficult to deny. But not for the White House. Last week, Vice President Joe Biden told Charlie Rose on PBS that the stimulus was “an absolute success.” Betraying a common perception about unemployment, Biden told Rose: “[W]e lost 8 million brand new jobs … since … 8 million brand new jobs since we hit the skids. On top of the 6% that were already unemployed. It took us several years to get there, it is going to take several years to get back to that number.” That is not quite true. In fact, the American economy has shed 55.4 million jobs since the recession began in the First Quarter of 2008. But at the same time the economy has only added 46.5 million jobs. Putting the two together produces the net approximate 8 million jobs lost that Biden referenced.

Our nation’s unemployment rate is hovering near 10% not because of record job losses, as Biden suggests, but because of record job non-creation. Private sector employers have gone on strike. Contrary to what the President’s economic wizards and New York Times columnists believe, massive government deficit spending does not stimulate job creation. President Obama does not have a secret vault of money he can just throw at the American people. The resources the government spends come from the economy. When the government increases spending, it crowds out the resources that business owners could have invested in their enterprises. Private investment falls sharply when government spending rises. According to Sherk, annual private fixed nonresidential investment has fallen by $327 billion since the recession started— a 19 percent drop. Less private investment means less hiring.

And then there is the rest of the Obama agenda that has created, and is creating, significant economic uncertainty: Obamacare, EPA carbon regulations, financial regulations and impending tax hikes. Renouncing these policies, and canceling the rest of the stimulus, would do more to spur private sector job creation than anything this White House has done so far.
Finally, today after months and months of the democratic-media complex misrepresenting the Bush economy, GOP Leader John Boehner defended the success of the Bush tax cuts.

The Hill reported:
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Thursday defended tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush, saying they did not lead to the deficit that currently confronts the country. “It’s not the marginal tax rates … that’s not what led to the budget deficit,” he told reporters, adding, “The revenue problem we have today is a result of what happened in the economic collapse some 18 months ago.” …Boehner on Thursday blamed budget shortfalls on increased spending, which he says is “scaring the hell out of the American people.” He also said that slashing marginal tax rates has actually buoyed revenue levels. “We’ve seen over the last 30 years that lower marginal tax rates have led to a growing economy, more employment and more people paying taxes,” he said.

It’s about time.

Republicans and conservatives need to learn the truth, understand the truth and communicate the truth. The democratic alternative is much too dangerous.

Raising Arizona

Nah, we don't have an immigration problem, do we?

Not when thousands go to the street when another different state passes a state law that emulates what already is a federal law to enforce current immigration standards. Hmmm - maybe this is what Arizona is talking about - a bunch of illegals roaming around acting like they belong when they don't - hmm, maybe they have a point.

Can't wait til California does this too.

Something to Truly Cheer About

This Master's was one for the books. With all the pre-tournament hype thrust on the multiple adulterer Tiger Woods, it is fitting that a the winner was a man fighting through his family battles with breast cancer - not only with his wife, but his mother as well. Phil hadn't even played that well in the past few months but for the first time in 11 months his wife and kids came with him to the Master's tournament and it helped boost his game. His wife Amy didn't even come to the course the entire four days until the last possible minute to be there for the final 18th hole.

And Phil's play? What many of his fans have always wanted from him. A gutsy scrambling show that stood sports on its ear. A truer champion cannot be found.

Death of a Nation 2

Still wondering how pro-life Representative Bart Stupak (and his nine other compatriate voters) could cave on his battle against federal funding for abortion in the new health care bill by buying the Executive Order BS that Obama sold him (and has not yet executed). Pure drivel. Sunday was a good night for Chicago politics. It’s nice to know some things never change; that back-room arm-twisting, extortion, blackmail, bribes, and pay-offs can still work wonders when applied to unthinking pie-in-the-sky I-don't-care-what-it-will-cost Democrats. Even ‘principled’ Democrats like pro-life Rep Bart Stupak folded like a Walmart lawn chair - or was it because of this? And isn't anybody the slight bit interested why 32 Democrats still voted AGAINST this?

Yes, our liberty took a serious kick in the teeth this weekend. The health care bill will put one-sixth of the U.S. economy in the hands of the federal government (it IS a takeover - just read the articles below). But even worse than assisting further in the bankrupting of our economy, our freedoms are now seriously diminished. And taxes will soar.

I seriously do not understand how we fight major wars to protect our freedom and then we elect socialists to rob it from us. We Americans became considerably less free on Sunday. And I don't buy this stuff the Obama ran as a centrist and went way left - he was a leftist from word one. When ABC anchor Charlie Gibson asked him during one of the debates why he would raise taxes when it would bring in less money - he didn't care - it was the principle to him - the socialist principle.

One of the best articles concerning the recent aftermath of Sunday's debacle can be found here in very simple and easy to understand terms. Some of you liberals might understand. And a twist by Jonah Goldberg about the inane end game of Obama is here.

Death of a Nation

Why am I Republican?

Because Democrats can't tell the truth. They either don't understand what they are saying or they are just liars. Either reason is not comforting. Watching our country devolve into a socialist gulag this weekend while flipping back and forth between March Madness (the basketball variety) and C-SPAN, I noticed this with regularity. Saturday afternoon I was able to see the inner workings of the Rules Committee as it setup the health care vote on Sunday. Many Republicans, most notably Paul Ryan (R - MI) and Pete Session (R-TX), gave very credible and fact filled presentations to make the argument that the health care plan is not paid for - that the CBO score does not include all of the elements needed to evalute the economic impact of the bill, that it will not reduce the deficit, that it will drive primary care physicians out of business and other small items. What was the Democratic response? Hyperbole, stories, metaphors, colorful soliloquies - and lies.

Not one Democrat can explain the economics of the deal - when cornered on the many missing items of the CBO score they go off on another story - they don't answer questions. And apparently they don't have brains. Because at a time when the economy is struggling, the deficit is high - and more baby boomers are joining the ranks of Medicare (another entitlement fund that is going broke) - they decide to raid Medicare of $500 billion to "partly" fund this monstrosity of federal miscreance. Meanwhile Paul Ryan (see video below) can rattle figures off the tip of his tongue. Representative Xavier Becerra D- CA who tried to refute him just basically said nothing. No substantive argument whatsoever.



And apparently no brains whatsoever. Please read here and here for two good quick analyses of what really happened Sunday night. And why you don't see these common sense discussions on normal TV - I have no idea. All you see is puffery.

Totalitarianism has begun.

Kiss Goes to High School - 1976

An excellent tale of the redemptive powers of rock and roll from my high school heroes (and great examples of capitalism in action). Stay through the opening commercial and enjoy - and, of course, shout it out loud.

And while I did not hail from Cadilac, I was a Class of "76'er from a bit farther south. And I did have Destroyer on my turntable.

Same Time Next Year

The Democrats like to say they "book-ended" the start of the health care debate a year ago and followed it up with Thursday's (Feb 25th) Health Care Forum moderated by Barry O. In a word the Republican's smoked them with facts, constantly questioning the President on his own plan (of which he could not provide answers) and all the Democrats did was recite stories of poor people and their hand me down dentures. Please see this excellent synopsis of Barry's failed strategy.

For the first time this year Republicans were able to expose the flaws in the Barry's plan and show the nation what it truly is - an incomprehensible sham on the nation. They borrow, or raid, from Medicare - a program that is already bankrupt and also pay for this is new taxes - without providing anyone any new coverage until ten years from now. An absolute shame.

Sarah on the Rise

Even as she is constantly criticized by nattering nabobs she is gaining strength - something apparently unthinkable a year ago.

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Again - I like her as an eventual VP.

As for our friend Barry and his everchanging agenda, please read here about his upcoming photo op with the GOP on healthcare.

It's Official...

...Taylor Swift can't sing at all. Last night on the Grammy's she had a great potential moment to sing a handful of tunes on a huge stage with hero Stevie Nick's and ...well she was just horrible. Off key the entire time - couldn't even sing her own song - and you had to feel for Stevie who never had that problem. And what the heck was the Gold Dust Woman doing up with the off-key pixie. You could see Stevie regretting this guest spot at the end.

On several public forums this past year Taylor has not been able to keep a tune - Saturday Night Live, Dancing with the Stars - nice kid, great story - terrible public singer.

By the way - Mary J. Blige is not much better. At least Taylor is a nice person.

Sorry State of the Union Address

An unheralded mess of teleprompted sound bites and mediocre ideas/programs. An embarassment by any means. And a bunch of lies.

Just pathetic.

Mickey Mantle in Pads

Is it just me or is everyone pulling out there Brett Favre screwed it up script and just handing it to him (after his Minnesota Vikings dissappointing loss to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship)? Yes he did throw an interception in the waning minutes while trying to find extra yards to get his field goal kicker on the field for the winning kick in the final seconds. Critics said he could run for the extra yards - but he had a gimpy leg after an almost fatal tackle just a quarter ago that left him severely hobbled - such that most did not even think he would come back from the hit and continue.

Yes. of course it Brett Favre's fault - he threw a pick -its all on him. I have never seen an athlete where people want to foist so much praise on and then in the next second tear him down. This season was a miracle of sports to behold. I have commented to many people, that where there are really few "sports heroes" - that this guy, history and all, is really Mickey Mantle. He is a guy you can root for, appears humble, says it like it is - and is pretty darn good.

But what was the real story of the game - it wasn't Favre's interception (or interceptions as the commentators wanted you to know about all game long - he had one after being crushed to the ground). The Vikings and more importantly running back Peterson fumbled five times (and actually more but that covered up some). THAT IS WHY THEY LOST.

In fact Brett Favre pulled himself off the ground and out of an injured ankle to lead the Vikings back to tie the game even though his teammates were laying the ball on the ground at will. they would have been NOWHERE without him. It was one of the guttiest performances of all time. And if they had won - and if there had not been 12 people in the huddle with 30 seconds left in regulation - the reporters would have been letting you know all about it.

But you won't hear that from the media - they just want to roast the arrogant and defiant Favre. How dare he actually try to take a team to the Super Bowl at the age of 41.

Media run amok.

Yes he can!

Thank you Massachussetts. Democracy lives.

In a stunning reversal of fortune a state congressman of MA drives his 200,000 mile Ford truck through bluster and White House nonsense to claim the 41st Republican seat in the Senate.

Thank God.

Speaking of God - that's Teddy Kennedy's car being pulled out of the Chappaquidiq with Mary Jo Kopeckne's body in it.

Karma, people.