Life's a Beach

For the record this is where we sometimes walk/run/stumble in the evenings after work. It's the beach near the Hollywood Riviera near Redondo. And trudging through that sand is one heck of a workout.

Meet the Mess

On a weekend that was "welcomed" by a Friday announcement that the deficit is at a new level of $1.4 trillion, triple what it was just a year ago, the big news at the Obama administration sponsored NBC's Meet the Press sunday talk show was a 40-minute piece on "women in the workplace". Seriously, with the healthcare debate in full throttle, an army general asking for more troops in Afghanistan for over three months now, the burgeoning deficit - and this show devotes almost it entire duration to this ground breaking topic. Astounding.

The show started and ended with the underwhelming comments from Senior White House Advisor Valerie Jarrett who was introduced to the show with a slew of softballs from man-boy host David Gregory that was just an embarassing display of journalism. Gregory did not care about any of her answers because he was never going to refute or respond to anything she said - he just wanted to get to that fabulous "women in work" segment with Maria Shriver. (who surprisingly was not on her cell phone).

GREGORY: How is the President going to increase jobs?

JARRETT: Oh well the President has a plan, he passed the stimulous and it is only half spent and we just have to wait until it works...he wakes up everyday trying to find new ways to create jobs.......

Of course this is all paraphrased from the real show but it was plain embarrassing. Why does the world and the main stream media continue to impughn Sarah Palin, who actually held a real goverment job, and this woman can come on, say nothing and be thanked for her "contribution to the show". This woman who helped Obama get elected (good job Valerie) but has not one original principaled thought in her head - or at least did not show it. (And was perhaps going to profit mightily from the Olympics coming to Chicago since she owned real estate that would have benefited from the Games).

But you know that is not really the point here. The point is Valerie Jarrett? - empty suit; same old cliched circular explanations of nothing. And Meet the Press? - the Sunday version of the View.

Embarrassing, America. Just embarrassing.

In the Neighborhood

It seemed everytime I looked up Vladimir Guerrero was striking out.

That was how long Game 2 of the ALCS (American League Championship Series) went tonight in the rain and howling cold of the new Yankee Stadium between said Yankees and the Los Angeles, nee Anaheim, Angels. Frankly, as much as I love playoff baseball (I comment to many that it is the most dramatic of ALL sports) I was getting quite bored with the playoffs so far. The previous series bored me to tear (Phillies/Rockies) - and I am fairly a purist - but I couldn't take it.

But during the 5th inning of this Angels/Yankees game it started getting good - and while making tacos and brownies and margaritas, the night was becoming grand. Then in the 9th inning, I think, something strange happened.

On what looked like a routine double play, 4-to-6-to-3, the play at second base was ruled safe. At first I was outraged (because I am rooting for the Angels) but replays clearly showed that the Angel shortstop, Eric Aybar, didn't touch second base as he threw towards first. In fact, he didn't even step toward the bag! He had both feet behind it like he was the friggin' catcher.

Well, God bless 'em, Angels skipper Mike Scossia came out and argued vehmently and then so did the FOX announcers Joe Buck and former major leaguer Tim McCarver. They reacted in a way I thought was somewhat unimagineable. While it was clear that the Angel shortstop Aybar did not touch the bag they claimed that everyone knows about the "being in the neighborhood" play - which means - that in most double plays the shortstop or whoever may graze the base as they fire to first base but the play may not always be synichronous with the ball in the mitt and the foot on the base. Meaning when he catches it from the second basemen the shortstop may be past the bag. That's "in the neighborhood".

And I understand that - but I never liked it. As long as I have watched professional baseball, I have always hated this slight of hand at second base. I can't tell you how many plays I thought have been wrong. But usually the instant replay shows that no matter how smooth, or bang-bang the play is - the umps usually get it right.

But on this play, the Angels player Aybar just stood behind the bag, took the flip from 2nd and then threw to first - without ever trying to TOUCH the BASE!!! But according to Buck and McCarver this is just normal stuff and "thank god the game wasn't determined on that play".

This comes after the news announced yesterday that the offical NBA rules have been amended to say that a player in transition can take TWO STEPS towards the basket. Of course that has been recognized for years now in the NBA but to acknowledge it in the rule book is another thing. Now LeBron can take five steps in order to be called for travelling I guess.

And a rule change I guess Buck and McCarver would applaud. I couldn't believe how they harped on this for every inning afterward as the game went into extra innings. Baseball men. Hardly.

Rules are rules. Play by them.

The Ego Has Landed

Irresponsible.

That is the only way to label President Obama's ill-conceived trip to Copenhagen and to give a campaign-style emotive speech to try to win his adopted home town Chicago the 2016 Olympics. This "presentation" occurs on the day that unemployment hit a 30-year high, while he has yet to "decide" on a strategy in Afghanistan, and also while he is apparently trying to rest nukes away from the Iranians - you know, the ones he thought he could placate by "talking" with them. And then a few hours later Chicago becomes the first City voted out of a four city contest.

Stupid.

That is what anyone had to feel when they heard Michelle Obama's speech to the IOC (International Olympics Committee) talking about how her Dad had multiple sclerosis and "she sat on his lap while watching Nadia, Carl Lewis and Olga". Well that is some long lap to last over those 12 years of Olympics (and she was 20 when Carl Lewis was wearing his pumps). And who sits in anybody's lap to watch the Olympics? The commercials are too long. (Of course, we also had to hear from Michelle how it was such a "sacrifice" to jet to Copenhagen with Oprah to give her little speech.)

Embarrased.

That is what this nation must feel as they watched their President trash the US again and say the only reason the Olympics should be awarded to Chicago is because 1) he had his presidential victory party there and 2)"he could take his daughters to see the games " at the end of his second term. What rubbish. One IOC member said "Obama's speech was high on emotion but lacked any detail". Well at least that is consistent - just like health care, just like the stimulus, and just like cap and trade. The man doesn't understand details.

I actually read two California papers this week that trumpeted how Obama's improved standing in the world and "overwhelming acceptance in the international community over Bush" would be just what was needed to get Chicago's bid. These articles just categorically assumed as fact that, since eveyone appeared to "like" Barry better, than people would fall over with their legs in the air and do whatever he wanted.

Well, the IOC isn't a host of deluded and ignorant elitist citizenery (and manufactured voters organized by ACORN) who respond to such emotional demogogory. And, in fact, in some circles it looks like this last minute trip, where it was just assumed that this mythical rock god imagery was just going to save the day, just simply backfired - and maybe even insulted the IOC.

And what is more important is you don't minimalize the office of the Presidency by going over and shilling for some contest. And you certainly don't do it unless you know it's in the bag. Talk about political miscalculation - you make a big show and go over there and trash your country and talk about sitting on laps and you get bubkus - and then you got to turn around and get tough with Iran?

Sheer idiocy my friends. I guess French President Sarkosy was right when he said this week that "Obama is extremely naive and has an endless ego". Well hopefully that ego has landed.

David Loserman

Okay, he's got in it now.

So glib, so on top of it. So pompous. Just last week he had his hero Obama on and drooled over him. Previous to that he made a lame joke about Sarah Palin's kids impugning their sexual imbiguity (i just typed that because I liked the word). Needless to say he was lambasted for that tasteless joke about a minor. And he wouldn't let that go - he insisted it was okay to attack someone in the media world view like they were fair game and it was really okay what he said because he was just joking.

And now he's porking everyone around him. And he was extorted - and he let everyone know on his show and still got laughs.

You know when I got out of college in the 80's Dave was the all the rage and I just loved him. He was a counter Johnny Carson, actually gave Jay Leno his big break (he would have him on the show all the time) and the band was fab also.

But now he is just a overly cranky and irritable liberal leftist. And now a whore. Who seems impelled to tell everyone on his show every bad thing he has done.

And still hasn't really apologised to Sarah properly.

Dave, just get the heck off the TV.

I'm the Juggernaut, Bitch!

My 20th fantasy football season started this year in Biloxi, Mississippi at the end of August with a band of buddies from all walks of life. My team is known as the Juggernauts - a term I chose, from amongst other things, sports lingo and basic comic book lore. As I prepared to meet old high school, college, work and other aquaintenances (and basic gambling derelicts) for our annual draft (which had somehow grown from my simple back yard event, including pissing in the shrubs, - to now being held at any far flung casino resort that a simple majority of team owners could stomach) I looked for appropriate "draft-wear' - something that could hold up to the annual five-hour smoke-filled haze that for some reason we so drearily love. Last year my "I Wish I Was WaterBoarding" T-shirt scored both populist and political points from the mostly southern group so I was looking for something similar. However I was bored with various other political t-shirts of the day. As I looked for something on the Juggernaut comic character from the Marvel Spiderman and X-Men comics, I was surprised to find that someone had "goofed" on the Juggernaut from an old TV cartoon series - and that it had become such a You Tube sensation that it had spawned a whole level of t-shirts carrying the moniker shown above.

Of course everyone at the draft thought I had them made - but I didn't - just ordered off the site. Apparently the You-Tube video (made in 2005) became so popular that they even mentioned it one of the X-Men movies (shown below).

And yes, I think that bitch was Juno. Juno and the Juggernaut. How poetic.

He's a Scary Man

Obama was very angry last night my friends.

As he defended his forever meandering health care (insurance) reform plan - in his 29th speech on the topic - President Obama warned those that disagreed with him that "we will take down your name and call you on it". Earlier he had asked for new ideas to the plan - you know the one he wanted passed in August before the Congressional recess. He said that nice. Then later he screamed at people if they dared disagree with him.

Here's a surprisingly critical piece by AP written right after the speech that shows holes in his argument. And here is a well written response from a true American. As usual the President has promised too much and can't pay for it - for the 29th time. And everyone knows it.

No wonder he's angry.

Cities on Flame.....

Thanks for everyone who called and asked if the Hard Place was ok out here in la-la land. Yes we are - and we generally are all the time when fire season comes, although we had one close by for the second time in four years. Not to go into any geographical specifics but there just shouldn't be any fire west of the 405 freeway. Thankfully it was vanquished rather quickly - and like last time I was out of town anyway.

This was the PV fire. The Rockette said she could see the glow over the hill from the house. Obviously these guys had a better/closer/more inconvenient view.

And then here it is after it was put out. Drove by it yesterday. A little scorched but pristine as ususal. And thank you God for the rainbow.

Here's to our firefighters who do a difficult job very well every day.

Welcome to our "300"

Ha, Ha, Ha- Ha, Ha - Ha, Ha, Ha

Obama has now had several chances to explain his dreaded health care reform bill - you know, the one he wanted Congress to pass weeks ago. He had a press conference, where he was supposed to clear things up but only made new commenting on a local police story. Then he had his own Town Hall meeting in Portsmouth, NH in the aftermath of his congressional lackies not even being able to complete sentences in their own town halls - and what did we see? Plants, little girls with big questions who are daughters of Obama campaigners who don't even live in New hmpshire, other obvious selected questioners - but what was even worse - the President STILL cannot explain his plan - and then continues to lie about 1) single payer issues, 2) end of life issues, 3) who really endorses it and 4) then makes a major gaffe essentially comparing his health care plan to the post office. So what does that give you as our President?

The Joker.

Who Helps a Man in Need? Who Couldn't Care Less - Race Baiter In Chief

As noted in the post below (made immediately after his press conference that Wednesday) I said that Obama had played the race card. And that he had done it on purpose because for some reason he thought this was a winning argument to tackle on a night where he did not have any winning arguments (besides accusing pediatricians for choosing tonsilectimies over cough lozanges and accusing insurance companies of making too much profit - amongst other libelous and humourous if it were only not that serious accusations he now customarily makes).

This one famous black author sees the President as someone who has gone back on many of his promises - especially of one of leading a post-racial America. Instead he is one who enflames it with ill-thought out comments. Who is a great communicator? Oh yes, the community organizer.

And this columnist says Obama should stop his incessent race baiting.

Meanwhile the famous Beer Summit was apparently Obama's "teachable moment" for what was really sticking his foot in his mouth - nothing less. As he likes to say, almost indeterminably, its' not about him.

As you can see by the photo above.

Grin and Bear It

The President's ill-advised health care bill is taking some serious heat and is surely not going to be passed by his stated August deadline. More important it is a disaster waiting to happen. The CBO (Congressional Budget Office) has already stated that it will not cut costs (the bill's stated intent) but will increase costs. Still, Barry wants to get what he thinks is a win and a part of history no matter how much he damages the country. You see with this President - it's not what is right - but is what it is about him.

When asked during a campaign debate why he would raise taxes when it was proven it would decrease revenues he said "because it was fair". And then Charlie Gibson asked again -"but you will get less money if you raise taxes so why do it" and Obama the great one said "because it is fair".

So he doesn't care about results - he cares about what he cares. Doesn't matter what really happens. It's all about him.

Could you have thought there would be a President more narcissitic than Bill Clinton. Meet Barry to E+10?

The fine New York Post columnist puts the negatives of this bill in startling clarity.

So tell me - who of you voted for this fool?

UPDATE: July 22 - After the President's press conference on health care - even MSNBC is unhappy with the President's performance - said he missed a big chance to explain his plan - and didn't. I haven't seen Chris Matthews this disappointed since Chappequidock. And then half of his show devolved into this stupid issue of a black Harvard professor being arrested in his own house - and why was this a question at this press conference? Because a losing President could play his own race card at the end of a terrible showing. Plain and simple. The entiere MSNBC crew seemed to be scratching their heads at what they anticipated was supposed to be a strong argument from the President about details to his "signature" health plan.

Instead -six months in and he's playing the race card. Pathetic.

Obama Throws Like a Girl

...and was booed! By probably the most polite and respectfull baseball fans in history - and from America's heartland - St. Louis. Not only that but he couldn't get the ball to the plate and Albert Pujols had to scoop it about a yard in front of the plate to basically save him. Nice jeans by the way - that's a good sloppy presidential look. See below:

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And what was the deal with this camera angle? Obviously Fox Sports was told not to show home plate because someone knew he couldn't make it. In fact in ESPN's shot you can see that Pujols is standing ON home plate - not behind it. Hey play from the lady's tees, Barry.

Now watch this pitch. And under incredible symbolic pressure.

Freedom Fighters

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence ?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, ninewere farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated,but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full wellthat the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home andproperties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced tomove his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken fromhim, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember: freedom is never free!

Bitch, Puhleeeze....

I really can't understand the mass hysteria and the idol worship regarding Michael Jackson's, while somewhat untimely, not that surprising, death. The overreaching comparisons of his career, talent and impact on the entertainment world - and on some stations - the world itself were wildly out of proportion and just plain hysterical. Yes he was a great pop act - no question. And he had some memorable songs - thirty years ago. But I heard him compared to legends like Elvis, The Beatles - and Frank Sinatra?!!!

Bitch, please.

He is no Elvis, no John, Paul, George or Ringo and no goddamned Chairman of the fucking Board.

Miss California 2009

When did we reach the point that espousing what has been the view of civilized society for the past 5,000 years is suddenly considered “controversial”? It seems like only a few years ago that were told that we had to be more “tolerant” of the homosexual lifestyle. Most of us were willing to do that. Then it wasn’t enough to just tolerate them, we had to “accept” them. Then companies had to go bankrupt to offer them “domestic partner” health insurance benefits. (Anyone remember the expressions Moral Hazard and Adverse Selection from Economics class?) Then it was a call for “civil unions” which rapidly escalated to a call for full marital benefits. Now we have Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr. (AKA Perez Hilton), throwing a hissy because Miss California dared to express an opinion that deviated from the party line after he ambushed her. He then proceeded to attack her on the most vile and personal level that would never be tolerated if it were directed at him. Now the pinheads from Access Hollywood have (light)weighed in on the subject as well. And E-Network chick Guilianna Rancic twittered to no one in particular that as a "journalist" she was sick to her stomach and couldn't stand this contestant!!! Then the guy who ran the Miss California pageant couldn't hide his displeasure on a tv interview with her view on gay marriage - basically saying somtimes these "mistakes" happen at pageants. Once again, I’m confused. When did this collosol shift in mores occur. And by the way - aren’t the liberals always preaching to us that we are the ones who need to be tolerant of opposing viewpoints?

1934 or 1984...or 2009?

Check out this cartoon from 1934 - does it look and sound familiar? This is what many learned people who believe in history have been clamoring about - this spend your way out of economic woe isn't the panacea it seems - and it definitely was thought a wrong premise back then. Of course you it would be rare to even find a cartoonist with a brain who believes in sound economic principle and if you did would he be brave enough to run it?

Shame, shame, shame Mr. P.

Jackass

President Obama, the wise one, the Messiah, trying to get away from the AIG bonus debacle he and his congress created (not inherited from somewhere) decides to leave Washington, DC and go to California and give lukewarm erratic speeches and appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno as the first sitting President to appear on a TV show and says this:

Towards the end of his approximately 40-minute appearance, the president talked about how he's gotten better at bowling and has been practicing in the White House bowling alley.

He bowled a 129, the president said.

"That's very good, Mr. President," Leno said sarcastically.

It's "like the Special Olympics or something," the president said.
When asked about the remark, the White House said the president did not intend to offend.

"The president made an off-hand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics," White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton said. "He thinks the Special Olympics is a wonderful program that gives an opportunity for people with disabilities from around the world."

The man, the President, is an incompetant and unfeeling boob. In the midst of a badly mishandled financial crisis, the one he said was the worst since the great depression, he creates a firestorm over frankly meaningless AIG bonuses that he and his Congress approved and then jets to California to insult disabled children. And then he thinks its a great idea to tell everyone about his picks for March Madness. This guy is a frat brother - not a President. And he is a joke.

His performance on Leno shows that the man does not even understand how commerce works. And this is the President of the most free land of the world?

Meanwhile, while one UK paper lists the top 10 gaffes of this administration (after only 60 days) the previously insulted Great Britain (see below), has their journalists contemplating another unfortunate question: Is this is the end of America?

London's Calling

So it is now time in Obama's young presidency to welcome the United States greatest ally - Great Britain. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife come across the pond to meet the new leader they had heard so much about, and in which, Europe apparently sponsored for much of his election.

But unlike the response usually garnered by the Great Britain PM's first meeting with a new President there was no grand press conference with flags of both countries waving, no White House Dinner - just a lack luster Oval Office meet and greet which saw Obama tired and out of touch - and an address to Congress which was not telelvised or even covered by any of our 24/7 around the clock press.

But what really was alarming about the juxtaposition of an outgoing administration, that really knew foreign policy, and this new administration, that I am sure have trouble picking out Kansas on the map, was the exchange of ceremonial gifts. Gordon Brown had spend considerable time in crafting a pen and pencil set and other gifts out of timber from a 19th century British vessel that purportedly transported slaves. He also brought a 7-volume biography of Winston Churchill with him.

But, of course, we now understand that Obama has no use for Churchill at all. In one of his first executive actions after taking office he had the bust of Churchill that was given to Bush by Great Britain after 9/11 sent back to GB. Actually sent it back! And this is the man who is to somehow repair our purported damaged relations with nations?

So Obama follows this up with a great gift to the Prime Minister - 25 DVD's of America's greatest films (and the the US DVD format doesn't even work in GB). Might as well have given the guy a t-shirt. See here.

This frankly is boorish behavior that trumps any slight that any liberal can even attest to Bush. And the British press is up in arms. See here.

And now the White House response to this uproar (that somehow caught them blindsided) is that the poor President is just too tired nowadays with this economic stuff and being Pres and all. Seriously - this is what they told the Brits. And apparently this is all being also supported by a nameless source who says "he is just overwhelmed with the work that comes across the table. He never knew the amount of work that would be there - and the flaw in his character that I see is that he thinks he can manage that and do all of the other things". See here.

And who is this source? Colin Powell. Only took him 7 weeks to turn. Ladies and gentlemen this is pathetic.

Apocolypse Now

It is amazing that in a year that a black President can be inaugurated - which to its very core repuidates slavery and its entrappings and enboldens the very heartstrings that the Civil Rights movement of the 60's was made of - that even because of that - this new black President is now going to enlsave the American people and its economy by forcing massive and ill-advised spending programs along with increased taxation on virtually every slice of American life.

And this if freedom? The new President Obama wants to reshape America, a success story of a nation 200+ years young, into his own delusional vision and in its very thought crush the future of our country. By increasing taxes on an a ever-decreasing percentage of "super earners" - the so-called"two-percent solution" -he throws the entire burden of taxation on a small sliver of the population thus causing the other super majority of the population to appove of increasing spending programs since it does not impact them at all. And this, my friends, is the road to socialism. See here.

At the same time he told most of the nation that they would all get a tax cut - that is now a lie - and a further greater lie, or truth, will be that after it is determined the top 2% cannot pay for his increasing irresponsible spending programs then the middle class will have to take up the burden (here).

Meanwhile in just seven weeks his announced plans of 1) inaction to the banking crisis, 2) ridiculous rushing through of a stimulus package (a trillion dollars y'all) that won't stimulate anything, and 3) his clear denuciation of all that is capitalism in the year 2009 are all wrecking the market and everyone's economic hopes. And Obama can't blame anyone else anymore - his own actions have just deflated the market and the short-term investment and retirement aspirations for many (here).

Here's to hoping he has "relations with an intern" soon so impeachment procedings can commence. Unfortunately such an admittedly playful (and wishful) situation will not solve the problem because that will leave Joe 'gaffe a day" Biden in the way, and then after that Nancy Pelosi. George Washington is certainly rolling over in his grave. More attestment to this embarassment can be found here, here, Lies here.
bush here