Commander of Nothing

Last week on 60 minutes President Obama stated that their were some inherent structural issues with the economy that affected job growth - for example there were now, miraculously, ATM machines that are now taking jobs away from bank tellers.  Not to mention that ATM machines have been around for about 20 years now, this utterance definitely belied the fact that the commander-in-chief is certainly no commander of the economy - or any business sense at all. The reality is such advances in technology does create jobs and improves productivity for the economy as a whole.  What is more befuddling and even daming is the next week Obama was in a robotics plant claiming their work was "producing jobs" this time around - so what is it - does automation help or hinder?  Even the President of the United States doesn't know.  Only his teleprompter does.

And now after his disasterous press hearing this week it is clear the man has no concept of even arithmetic.  He launched into a full-scale class war to argue why he can't even lead.  By blaming Congress and Republicans and, mysteriously private jet owners, he launched into one of the most incoherent economic arguments of all time.  "If we keep on giving tax breaks to billiionaires, and millionaires and private jet owners we can't keep food clean and give out scholorships" he claimed.  Not a sillier arguement has ever been made by a President on TV.  He is just clueless.

Much of this concern goes directly to his syle of leadership - which is non-existent.  In fact in this recent piece Michael Barone compared Obama to Chauncy Gardiner, the hapless gardner that accidently fell into fame and wealth played by Peter Sellers - the name of the movie?  "Being There".  Which is barely what we can say about our President.

"The Big Man Joins the Band"...in the Sky

Best Album Cover - Ever.

Clarence Clemons, saxaphone player extraordinaire, well-known good guy and "Minister of Soul" died today after suffering a stroke barely a week earlier. His sound with the sax was all things joyous, boistrous, soulful, almost lyrical - and one that basically knew no other.  He recorded many solo records on his own and just recently played on Lady Gaga's recent release.  But, oh yeah, he also played in that guy Bruce Springsteen's band.  In fact Clarence may have been the heart and soul of the E-Street Band that has played epic concerts (and recorded even more epic works) with Bruce for over four decades.  If you ever can, please watch Bruce's last good concert tour which was really his late return and reunion with the E Street Band in 1999-2000.  The New York concert from that tour can be seen often on cable (most notably Paladia) and it will demonstrate to you frankly how every member of that band contributes to the sound, but outside piano player Roy Bittan, Clarence's saxaphone is probably the most iconic sound of all. 

And it is lost.  Years earlier organ player Danny Federici also died and created a vacancy in the band.  It may now be said that the E-Street Band is probably really no more - and that is sad indeed.  If you never saw a show in their heyday then you seriously missed a musical iconic event.  And a key component to each concert was Bruce's almost gospel-like introduction of bandmembers which almost always ended with a story of how he met Clarence (highlighted in "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" by the immortal lyric "when the change was made uptown and the Big Man joined the band").  Clarence was every bit of the show as Bruce.

Here is another worthy testimonial from a serious fan.  His greatest solo was probably on the final song of Bruce's Born to Run - Tonight - in - Jun-gle-land.

Barbara Walters Should Retire...Now.

Baba Wawa is frankly working on borrowed time.  For the past year in her infrequent appearances on her show The View she has often derailed the "fine free-flowing conversation" with comments and remarks that sort of resemble those of your crazy great grandmother at the dinner table.  Recently she just said that if Sarah Palin can ramble around with presidential aspirations then Anthony Weiner should be able to stay in office - even though he has admitted to exchanging immoral texts to young women who are not his wife.  (And this from a woman who wrote a book describing her sexual conquests of Congressman.)

On the following day, she then announced that Weiner shouldn't really be blamed for his behavior because it all has to do with the prevelance of Viagra (what?) - and this comment drew a loud groan from the usually unthinking View audience.  Then, two days later after taking a day off (and apparently witnessing the rest of the View girls give it to Weiner) she came back and insisted that if Bill Clinton could survive his impropriety than so could Weiner.  She did this by claiming the preposterous notion that now "Clinton is beloved and they have a very good marriage."   Yeah - and pigs fly.  Hang 'em up Barbara.

Meanwhile, in other hyperbolic nonsensical uttering, uber liberal Janeane Garafalo actually thinks Weiner isn't responsible for his actions and blames it all on the Republicans.

Weiner Gate

It's about time....

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy - oh, not so much for the embarassment of acting like Brett Favre while being a US Congressman, but the fact that he has his own Wikepedia page just for this scandal!  I mean this guy has been just a general liberal and flamboyant pain for the last several years - a man who bleats loudly for anyone to hear about how evil the Republicans are on a host of issues from health care to tax cuts.  Did you also know that Rep. Weiner also once sponsored a bill on sexual deviance on the internet?  Talk about hypocrisy - and not to mention the two-face-ness of the press on this one and Weiner, and his liberal blog force blaming everyone except himself.  And, of course, it just gets worse and worse.

Sarah Baracuda

Not really quite sure why the media has such a hard time understanding Sarah - she just wanted to go on a bus tour like many Americans do on Memorial Day weekend.  She had a nice ride with Rolling Thunder on Sunday and despite what a few left wing commie blogs said everyone welcomed her with open arms.  And if you're going to be in New York later on why not check out a local pizza place with the Trumpster - not a bad gig I say.

I'm pretty sure she's not running - but that won't stop the press from hyperventilating and almost blaming every catastrophe in the world on her.  The gal has spunk.  And lookie here - here's a Democrat who thinks she could beat Obama!

Joplin, Missouri

After...and before:  Joplin, MO

All one can say is 'wow' - I mean look at this devastation of a nice hamlet town in Missouri - Joplin.  This article shows more pictures.

American "Idols" Into Lame Finish

Pia was the best.

I have written my opinion on so many blog sites that I feel I have posted this many times.  I was not impressed with the two finalists Scotty and Lauryn (loved Pia and Haley) but congrats to Scotty anyway.  I don't know how these two (he and Lauryn) got to the finals (besides the obvious cheering from the "non-partisan" judges) given the superior talent amongst the final 11, but so be it.  Last year's winner Lee Dwyze sucked also.  People have written about the power of southern states voting but that doesn't explain why Dwyze, from Chicago, won last year with no discernable talent, over the very talented Crystal Bowersox.  What does explain some of it is the fact that this was the first year one could vote on-line via Facebook, and up to 50 times with a mere tap of your mouse, but only by signing over access to all of your information - and your "friends" information - to AT&T.  That kind of disclosure prevents me from voting on-line - but it won't stop 12 year olds.  That's why Ryan Seacrest can crow from week to week about the record  breaking vote totals - well you have on-line voting from tweeners now.   They are going to have to change that.  Lauryn Alaina's duet with Carrie Underwood showed us why.  Many on blogs say she will be the next Carrie.  When Lauryn croaked out the first verse of "He Cheats" we could see this was certainly not the case - thank god Carrie came on to finish the song properly.

So was Haley.

The final show is generally good for solid entertainment value and it did start out great with 4th place James Durbin singing with Judas Priest, but it really fizzled at the end with an overwrought slow Beyonce song (where she pleaded "make love to me" over 30 times on a purported family show featuring young country singers that many "fans" claim is "what we need") along with a bad Broadway Spiderman song featuring U2's Bono and The Edge and some other offkey guy - really dreadful.  What we really wanted is Pia - who many thought should have won - to sing a feature song.  But I guess finishing 8th place doesn't give her a platform on the finale (no - we had to watch JLo shiver for the wife-beating Mark Anthony) and even Haley couldn't bring it up a notch singing a non-plussed duet with Tony Bennet - a nice gig any other time - but rumors were she wanted to sing a new song she rehearsed with her father.

Tweener voters couldn't attend.

AI - you need to fix this krap.  They think they had a successful year - and the overall talent was entertaining (loved Casey as well) - but they did not create an atmosphere to let the best win at all.

Campaigning with Osama, er, Obama

The truth hurts.

Shoot to Thrill

I spent the weekend in Sedona, AZ and didn't spend too much time on politics.  But, when I returned, I thought some of the threads being spun were terrific.  Specifically, the one that juxtaposes the killing of Bin Laden with the legitimacy of enhanced interogation techniques such as waterboarding.  Fox News" Chris Wallace had a White House security team member as his guest on Sunday and he posed the most interesting question of the past 10 years - "why is it legal to shoot an unarmed Bin Laden in the face twice, but we somehow cannot waterboard similar terrorists to unearth intelligence in the war on terror?" 

Of course, the confused official could not come up with an answer, because there is none.  In recent days some media types have rhetorically asked why Republicans can't give credit to Obama on this issue and it's precisely because of these antics - they won't ever own up to the fact that frankly being tough on our enemies actually yields results.  Even at this moment, Attorney General Holder would still like to imprison Bush officials who provided legal analysis regarding enhanced interrogation techniques - but in the same breadth want to give Obama full credit for taking Bin Laden down.  You can't have it both ways Barry.  And there's the rub.

Gitmo Hypocrisy Marches On

This podium ain't big enough for the two of us.

Here are two great threads that describe in detail the hypocrisy (as described in my May 2nd post below) surrounding the zealous over-celebration of Obama the great in "finally getting Bin Laden" in light of the fact that every George W. Bush anti-terror mechanism he left in place helped the US get him.  And these were the things that the left, and Obama, campaigned and managed against during his term. 
 First Rush Limbaugh's excellent take.  And then Dana Loesch even adds more to the fire with leaked internal Democratic party talking points that stress to the liberal faithful to not give any credit to Bush.  These are must reads if you care about the leftist media spin. Boy, I really liked that call to unity Obama was talking about.  Way to go, lefties.  And, additionally, political analyst Michael Barone lays to bare the real irony here - that the very policies Obama and the left decried help bring Bin Laden down - and now they want overriding political credit for it.

By the way, Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone.  You too, Barry.

Can't Gitmo Satisfaction

The Situation Room: What? "Red Eye" isn't on?

Congratulations goes out to President Obama, the country's national security team and our military in executing a strategic ground strike with brave Navy Seals to exterminate Osama Bin Laden.  It is another step in our continuing "war on terror" - but it is not the "most significant achievement" in this war (as the President claimed) and it does not bring an end to our conflict with radical Islam.  Personally, I was never obsessed with "getting" this guy as some in the media were (just as others in the media thought "we should finish the job in Iraq" after the first Gulf War - but, surprisingly, did not support the later war, where we did).  It is now proven that Bin Laden was isolated with only communication through trusted couriers and with no internet or TV at his compound (which by the way was not a "mansion").



The  OBL"mansion"

But credit should go to all who were involved with this and I look at it obviously as a victory for the country.  But it is interesting in Obama's overly self-congratulatory speech last night (his use of the words "I", "my", "me" and "mine" were on full display as usual) is that this event occured primarily by following the Bush anti-terror policies that he has kept in effect in his two-and-a-half year term.  It is quite clear that intelligence was gathered by the existence of detainees at Gitmo (something he ordered to have eliminated on his first day in office), by rendition (interrogation and detainage of prisoners abroad), and aggressive interrogation techniques (i.e. waterboarding) - all of these things he campaigned against and even tried to indict Bush staff over during his current term (and these were the most significant accomplishments on the war on terror - the things that have kept us safe).  Now he's out there showboating claiming it all occured "at his direction".  And wasn't the term "war on terror" outlawed in his first year? - not anymore; he rolled it out for the first time last night and even said Bin Laden wasn't a Muslim (then why did we bury him like one?")


"Party on, Garth"

Another reaction I had was to the seemingly spontaneous celebrations, mostly by young white college students studying for the final exams, in front of the White House and in Times Square - and the incessant, and to me, jingoistic chants of "U-S-A".  If people think the very existence of a jail-called-Gitmo outrages terrorists (which I don't believe) then what do you think a bunch of coed's yelling "U-S-A" while broadly "just partying on, Wayne" can do?  I never have really liked that chant whether its at an Olympic hockey game or in the streets.  I mean, keep it in your pants, man. Look like you've been there.

An Inconvenient Truth

I have writers for this, Seth.

Yes, there was a White House Correspondant's Dinner and all of the "reporters" yucked it up.  Obama took shots at Trump, who was there, as did MC Seth Myers from Saturday Night Live.  A review of the events was covered at Nicki Finke's Deadline.com.   But if you are a conservative, you apparently cannot post there.  Most of the comments to her blog are straight liberal BS.  But if you post a conservative thought you are excommunicated.  This is a little know truth outside of the blogosphere - you generally have a tough time posting on liberal blogs.  Conservative blogs will take your krap all day long, but liberal ones won't.  There you have it America.  Liberals censor you.  Repubs won't.

And by the way - why did Barry finally release his real birth certificate this week?   To bury it in Donald Trump's face at this event.  Hmm, kept it a secret this long (2.5 yrs) just for that Barry?  Thin skinned?

The Royal Wedding: Let the Brit's Talk!

Lucky you weren't listening to Fox!

I am currently watching the ramp-up to the wedding royale out here late West Coast time.  Coverage started before midnight so its not that big of a deal.  I was quite thoroughly enjoying Fox News simulcast with Sky News (the prime British news network) listening to the locals describe the scene in fantastic scenic minutae and with details of the locations and persons arriving early for the wedding.  Then at 1 AM west coast time Fox News American anchors including the left-leaning Shepard Smith started their broadcast and basically ruined the whole royal vibe.  Shep mocked wedding goer's hats - basically sounded like a yankee southern hick - and the blonde gals (who I basically like)  kept bringing up how Princess Di got screwed around by big ears (what does that have to do with anything?).  Hey, its a nice event.  Describe the wedding and shut up.  I would have been very happy to have kept on the Sky News channel and not listen to Yanks screwing it up and sounding annoyingly like Katie Couric.  Oh, thank god we now have Brit analyst Imogean Lloyd Webber on the scene to save the day!  Shut up, Shep!  And by the way it's "Posh and Becks"!  No matter - I turned to KCET and got a lovely Brit feed there.  Where are my bangers and mash?

Obama's Debt Circus

Obama's much ballyhooed speech last week, setting his tone for deficit reduction,was nothing more than the same old hot wind coming from the Democrats for over 50 years now - but more importantly, even Obama added a more vacuous twist by insulting Rep. Paul Ryan's budget plan after he specifically invited him to a front row seat for the address.  It just wasn't mentioned - it was a full out attack against Ryan and any other Republican who actually thinks we might have to address our financial house.  Now I didn't expect Obama to really agree with Ryan's plan (and I might not agree with everything there as well) but to demagogue somebody who has actually put forth a plan to address our financial issues while Obama has absolutely punted on the issue is, uh er, comical.  Because, he wasn't really addressing the nation's issues, he was just addressing his 2010 re-election campaign.  And that's not leadership - and not what this country needs.  So what did he do this weekend?  He was off to Chicago to plan his re-election and talk about da' Bulls.  Now, that's a three-ring circus.

UPDATE (4/18/11):  After Obama's debt speech about doing nothing Standard & Poors downgrades US debt - hmm, how's that for a timely response?  Nice going, Barry.

Capt. Stimulus Sleeps at Obama Address

Say It Ain't So, Joe.

And do you remember that this was the guy who was supposed to be in charge of the $787 billion stimulus program?  And he can't even stay awake as Obama - three years later - tries to explain to people how he's going to pay for it?

Well, when you mention it - it seemed like alot of people there were sleeping through that dreadful, non-productive speech.

American Idol Sucks

Wow- what a terrible show.  Why is this non-talented guy in the show?  And as usual the judges said nothing about how BAD he is.  Are they on drugs?  My god - even after last week's debacle they still say "oh Paul you are so special?"  And I have seen no "stage presence" by anybody so far.  The only guy who "moved" was the rocker guy at the end.  But he really is just so and so.  He's no Adam Lambert.  So much for that "entertaiment value".  The show has died.  And the judges suck big time.  And it has obviously shown that Pia was head and shoulders above everyone (see post below).  Who will be the Amercian Idol?-nobody special - and no one that will sell records. So stick it tweeners.  And stick it haters. Shark. Jump.

UPDATE:  The jazz duet between Casey and Haley on the elimination show was just amazing.

The Incapable President

I reallydon't know what I'm saying.

Obama's speech today talking about his new plan to reduce the deficit - only a couple of months after he prouduced the largest budget in American history was one of the biggest swings with a "wiff" in political history.  He has clearly staked himself as the lamest President in history.  All we got was class warfare politics now 18 months away from the election.

It is somewhat laughable to read in some circles that Obama "won" the budget battle this past weekend - or even showed leadership in doing so.  Realistically, Obama had his hat handed to him.  But interestingly enough that hasn't prevented him from taking credit for something he didn't even want to happen.  Obama came into this budget fight wanting to "freeze" spending.  Well he got his budget reduced by $40 billion and it would have been more but he conceded to conditions or "riders" attached to the bill to accept a lower number and look like he beat back the Republican hordes.  But now he has agreed to allow a vote on repeal of Obamacare in the Senate and several studies into it eficacy.  It doesn't really matter that the Senate won't repeal it this go round - the publicity and talking points during the arguments leading up the vote are going to continue to point out how bad his "landmark legislative acheivement" really is - and that will take alot of air out of his re-election campaign.

Some new tea-partiers will hoot and hollar and say we didn't get the $100 billion budget cuts that were once talked about but we never were going to get those.  This is a step in the right direction, averts the "government shutdown" issue that Republicans would lose on no matter whose fault it is and keeps the fight going.  It also lays the path for Congressman's Ryan REAL budget plan.

American "Idiot"

Take that, Nigel Lythgoe.

Personally, I feel American Idol proverbially "jumped the shark" last Thursday when front runner Pia Toscano got voted off the show, theoretically in ninth place.  Since her departure there has been much written how possibly too much of the voting is controlled by young girls voting for their heart throbs and not model-attractive 26-year olds with a great voice.  And, inexplicably you have a vocal minority of folks who said she "didn't move" enough (in her gargantuan four full weeks on the show) or "connect" with an audience.  This being said of a women who in Week One received a standing ovation from the audience and judges after she slayed The Pretender's "I'll Stand by You".  In fact, what is somewhat more bothersome then her outster are the plethora of comments saying how "arrogant" she seemed and blah blah blah.  As one other commenter said - "now we know how Obama got elected" -(and/or as I say, how he continues to enjoy favoribility ratings of over 40% by doing nothing and getting us in even more wars).

At least we now have the news that Pia was signed to a record deal the very next morning by Interscope records - something that cannot be said by the majority of the remaining talentless contestents.  Regardless, I find the whole situation unsettling.  She was clearly the best and whether she ultimately won or not isn't the issue.  She unexplicably placed ninth, thus - the show is dead to me. 

Aggies in NCAA Women's Title Game

Take that, Mitch Albom.

As noted in several posts below, many sport prognosticators seem to just overlook "the other teams" involved in the NCAA Tournament.  On this morning's "Sports Reporter's" the ESPN crew was asked who could best beat returning champion UConn; was it Notre Dame who they are playing tonight in the semi-final or Stanford, who beat them earlier in the year?  To a man the "sports reporters" said Stanford.  As an aside, the moderator did mention that Texas A&M was the "other team" in the Final Four.  So what happened in the "other" seminfinal game tonight? 
Scoreboard.
Texas A&M 63, Stanford 62.  See the remarkable story here.
UPDATE:  Notre Dame 72, UConn 63.  Hmmprhh.
EVEN BIGGER UPDATE:  Texas A&M 76, Notre Dame 70 - Aggies National Champs

Dodger Gangsta Punks

All are welcome?

The Los Angeles Dodgers-San Francisco Giants rivlary is fairly historic in these parts.  As a transplanted Texan living in LA, I have no great love for the Dodgers, or for even going to Chavez Ravine to pay $10  for a Dodger dog.  However, one year I did enjoy going to the park just to loudly boo Barry Bonds. But what happened in the the parking lot on Opening Day on March 31st is basic thuggary.  A Giant fan, with two of his friends wearing Giant garb,was assaulted in the parking lot after the game by two Latino gang members.  He's in critical condition. The two thugs are at large.

Coma esta, Gigantes!

What was even worse was this evening's news item I just saw run on the local TV station - they interviewed several latino Dodger fans standing in the beer line at tonight's Giant game and almost to a "man" they said if the Giants fans come into their house they were going to put them down.  The nice demure female reporter kept asking "really, you are saying they can't come into the stadium or they face physical harm?" - and the guys sort of said "si".  ("The river runs red with Burgundy's blood!").

Welcome to LA.  It's not Chinatown anymore.