tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86945125725164591012024-02-07T17:34:28.333-06:00PolitriX & TingsAn insightful (I hope) and interesting (I think) look at issues related to politrix (what you call politics), politricksters (what you call politicians), news, sports, music, entertainment, or whatever else crosses my dome (what you call brain).Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-80975715906523840652011-02-11T17:23:00.001-06:002011-02-11T17:45:18.289-06:00GIVE US FREE !!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-110127-egypt-unrest/ss-110211-egypt-transition/ss-110211-egypt-transition-06.ss_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-110127-egypt-unrest/ss-110211-egypt-transition/ss-110211-egypt-transition-06.ss_full.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>No matter what race, creed, culture, nationality, religion, or socioeconomic background, MAN YEARNS TO BE FREE. This innate desire to be free, has given birth to movements, given birth to companies, given birth to nations, and has revolutionized generations. An innate desire to be FREE to live, FREE to love, FREE to laugh, FREE to learn, and FREE to earn lies at the core of mankind. Out of this yearning to be FREE , the people of Egypt spoke, shouted, organized, marched, protested, <i>Facebooked</i>, <i>Tweeted</i>, and texted again and again and again until a regime was toppled and the 30 year reign of Hosni Mubarak was ended amidst this PEACEFUL REVOLUTION.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.justseeds.org/blog/images/EgyptRevolution_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.justseeds.org/blog/images/EgyptRevolution_lowres.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>What will eventually become of Egypt, the Arab World's largest nation, following the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, only time will tell. The challenges are enormous, the economy is in shambles, the people are poor, their patience is thin, and there is a long road ahead. However, what we witnessed over the 18 days that was the PEACEFUL Egyptian Revolution is something to be admired by all mankind. An intense desire of the people to live out their lives in accordance with their inalienable God-given rights, ignited a Revolution that was not to be denied. Despite the harsh opposition they faced, despite the government's brutal attempts to silence them, despite the days of hunger, days without shelter, days sleeping on the streets, and all other obstacles, they persevered until their mission was accomplished.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/040220/1322__hounsou_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/040220/1322__hounsou_l.jpg" /></a></div><b><i>"Give us FREE !! Give us FREE !! Give us FREE !! </i></b>", cried the African slave Joseph Cinque in the 1997 movie<i> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Amistad-Djimon-Hounsou/dp/0783231202?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">"Amistad"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0783231202" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> portraying the 1839 revolt aboard the slave ship by the same name en-route to the United States to auction off the FREEDOM of African men and women. This memorable line is often quoted and repeated because it symbolizes a sentiment felt by many who yearn to be free from SOMETHING or SOMEONE. Cinque did not have to be well versed in the English language to be able to communicate to others that FREEDOM is what he and his people desired and deserved because enslavement is an unnatural state that NO ONE wants to be a part of. We all have a desire to be FREE. To be FREE from whatever physical, psychological, and oppressive forces that bind us. Such was the cry of African slaves in past centuries , such is the cry of the Egyptian people today, and such is the cry of all mankind ... <b>GIVE US FREE !!</b>Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-69451656972009709312011-02-04T10:13:00.005-06:002011-02-04T10:24:00.311-06:00Global Warming 101<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVfTpCfVON3jSSh9qG4B131m-ljUTn-IG64HFTisUr4O6sprcgMpbCdxwjFYvTNwUYcjVS_-HVPSKwDYCuz3KzF48IHXgk_vjKNYNwa9BlX9ttfB52iXaU8F4LTCz9ntBXpsqXzj42zAK/s640/2254239487_ffbb4c0646_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVfTpCfVON3jSSh9qG4B131m-ljUTn-IG64HFTisUr4O6sprcgMpbCdxwjFYvTNwUYcjVS_-HVPSKwDYCuz3KzF48IHXgk_vjKNYNwa9BlX9ttfB52iXaU8F4LTCz9ntBXpsqXzj42zAK/s320/2254239487_ffbb4c0646_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Stop me if you've heard this before from those who are in denial that the phenomenon that has come to be known as <i>Global Warming </i>is real. <i>"Ha Ha Ha !! There'r blizzards and ice storms everywhere !! And these idiots believe in global warming !! Ha Ha Ha !! Pass me that bottle of Jack Daniels ...". </i>Yeah, I've heard this sentiment a lot from those who either refuse to look at scientific facts reflecting GLOBAL climate patterns of increasing temperatures in the earth's atmosphere or are unaware that these facts exist. They'd rather deal in the anecdotal, which quite frankly is easier to understand, and just focus on the fact that <i>"it's ass freezing cold on my block, so there couldn't POSSIBLY be Global Warming"</i>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mn055.k12.sd.us/MMS/science.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://mn055.k12.sd.us/MMS/science.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So why are we seeing somewhat unusual weather patterns this winter with fierce snow and ice storms all across the Northern and Midwestern regions of the United States ? Well, if you'll move all those dead brain cells you've gathered over the years to the side and think back to 6th Grade Science class, it will all make sense. The warming of a surface, in this case the earth's atmosphere, causes moisture to rise causing mass precipitation in the air. With the global increase in temperature of the earth's surface, there is an abundance of rising moisture leading to excessive precipitation in the atmosphere. Subsequently, what naturally occurs is an abundance of rain, sleet, snow and the miserable conditions many are experiencing this winter.<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=soulrebelprod-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000ICL3KG&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>With the anecdotal seemingly in contrast with the scientific, there are harsh disagreements about whether or not this phenomenon is real and if so what to do about it. Like many things in this country, it seems to come down to<b><i> POLITICS & POLITRIX !!</i></b> Painting with a big ole broad brush, those on the left seem to believe in the climate science and those on the right seem to be in denial about it. <i>Lefties</i>, largely speaking, believe that the behavior and habits of mankind are largely responsible for this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Inconvenient-Truth-Al-Gore/dp/B000ICL3KG?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">"inconvenient truth"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000ICL3KG" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> about climate change and the government should play a role in curbing our bad behavior. <i>Righties</i>, generally speaking, either disbelieve the science completely or agree to the science but believe that this is a naturally occurring climate pattern and has nothing to do with the behavior of mankind therefore ... <i>"KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF IT and ... (wait for it) ... LEAVE MY TAXES ALONE !! </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8le3yp7Pr2iwmH9SLJFS0g70XKS2Mq1l5iFpXQ6Fzfr7hEgP1yKoA-JtBiIyDNpXOsfYEx3rYMkDCMm95xGeQ459VJi_u6whp3phy3gEKGM2ZMNs4yZe8bqeajNL7OI-AceLnC_mMzpV/s1600/global-warming-polar-bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8le3yp7Pr2iwmH9SLJFS0g70XKS2Mq1l5iFpXQ6Fzfr7hEgP1yKoA-JtBiIyDNpXOsfYEx3rYMkDCMm95xGeQ459VJi_u6whp3phy3gEKGM2ZMNs4yZe8bqeajNL7OI-AceLnC_mMzpV/s320/global-warming-polar-bear.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><br />
There are certainly intelligent substantive discussions that we can have about what is the best way that we as a society can and should do to protect our environment and not screw it up for future generations. Is this the job of the government ? is it the job of the business community ? is it up to local communities ? is it just a matter of <i>to each his own</i> and personal responsibility ? or should we do nothing at all because it is beyond our control ? These are all worthwhile discussions to have once we can all open our minds a little bit and realize that what we're seeing in the climate patterns from Antarctica to the Americas isn't the norm. There is no "LIE" in scientific facts and we must AT LEAST come to the table with that basic understanding. Now, equipped with that understanding, the larger question is, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT ?? This, unfortunately, is where we typically run to our individual political corners, and block out our sense of reasoning. <i>After all, Al Gore did a movie about it ... so there couldn't POSSIBLY be any truth to it !! Right ? </i>These attitudes must change !!Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-7692624573232384572011-01-28T15:58:00.004-06:002011-01-28T16:08:09.451-06:00Tweet of The Day - Friday, January 28, 2011<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVK48yAZdAtrGzEhD704P3XK03HUVgprgsZ3-tbzSNP2wO4_zhVcennhQ8aoijrCrFXtLgxiu69-FqQDJNrlykMXy4vRncNf7j8sqrsm_mITFB8oQLYAhhuPQyyKurOEGztNWSpioWLO8/s1600/Tracy-Morgan%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVK48yAZdAtrGzEhD704P3XK03HUVgprgsZ3-tbzSNP2wO4_zhVcennhQ8aoijrCrFXtLgxiu69-FqQDJNrlykMXy4vRncNf7j8sqrsm_mITFB8oQLYAhhuPQyyKurOEGztNWSpioWLO8/s200/Tracy-Morgan%255B1%255D.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="149" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1fkMaiQD-ZLBbSTqpp6UT-R7OY1jjieZ08VTuwCV7rfrj3QQMFKVEbrgtiojPEKBPhHBW8oo727KyuzY_sltaLZmAIpn8AZCAcxELTKfDBv4wMmgM4SutYWFqRc2JqgHy0F_tgPzFfg/s1600/palin-in-runners-world%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1fkMaiQD-ZLBbSTqpp6UT-R7OY1jjieZ08VTuwCV7rfrj3QQMFKVEbrgtiojPEKBPhHBW8oo727KyuzY_sltaLZmAIpn8AZCAcxELTKfDBv4wMmgM4SutYWFqRc2JqgHy0F_tgPzFfg/s200/palin-in-runners-world%255B1%255D.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="182" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In reference to comedian Tracy Morgan crashing the "Inside the NBA" set on TNT set with Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley and SHOCKING THE NATION by saying ... and I quote .... <i>"Sarah Palin is great masturbation material"</i> <i>(his words, not mine, don't sue me)</i> comedian Andy Borowitz, followed up with this GEM of a Tweet ...</div><br />
<div class="tweet-row" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="tweet-user-block" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/BorowitzReport" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #009999; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Andy Borowitz" class="tweet-user-block-image user-profile-link" data-user-id="17293897" src="http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1199133183/Andy_Madeline_normal.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 32px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 32px;" /></a><br />
<div class="tweet-user-block-name" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 40px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 36px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px;"><a class="tweet-user-block-screen-name user-profile-link" data-user-id="17293897" href="http://twitter.com/#!/BorowitzReport" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #009999; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Andy Borowitz">@BorowitzReport</a><span class="tweet-user-block-full-name" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #999999; display: block; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Andy Borowitz</span></div></div></div><div class="tweet-row" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="tweet-text tweet-text-large" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Palatino, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: 24px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 8px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>I would have been more offended if <span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tracy</span> <span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Morgan</span> said Sarah Palin was great presidential material.</b></div><div class="tweet-text tweet-text-large" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 8px; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Palatino, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></div>I couldn't agree more !! Many have a fascination with Sarah Palin and a lot of that is directly attributable to her good "MILFY" looks. That's all good . Go ahead and have your "squatting in a deer-stand" fantasies about Mrs. Palin. However, what is HIGHLY OFFENSIVE is the notion that this dim bulb has the qualifications to be the President of the most powerful nation in the world with such recent intelligent takes as "the Russian focus on Sputnik and their space program is what eventually toppled the Soviet Union". Huh ? How do you pillow talk with THAT ??<br />
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</div></div><i>There are some really funny, thought-provoking, and downright HILARIOUS people lurking around in the Twitter-verse. The #TweetOfTheDay is dedicated to those tweeps that either made me laugh or stop and think.</i>Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-2416805285878301682011-01-26T17:38:00.000-06:002011-01-26T17:38:33.278-06:00"What has Obama ACTUALLY done so far ?" My Response to a FaceBook friendThe following is my Response to a FaceBook Friend asking "what has Obama actually done so far and would I actually vote for him again"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiAOEhThdtlAlawZPiN8qpNzPDrhr4IMMs49-UZEw8hcYC53z3xYQXbb7Qvw3aBLOfj5J1RZ6K9cTbn0gCfyJ1uQKWpkwnUKNnS3r9AwB69iKKObs-t5hUsS2EIqVAvZMitucwRr7tMs/s1600/obama-hope%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiAOEhThdtlAlawZPiN8qpNzPDrhr4IMMs49-UZEw8hcYC53z3xYQXbb7Qvw3aBLOfj5J1RZ6K9cTbn0gCfyJ1uQKWpkwnUKNnS3r9AwB69iKKObs-t5hUsS2EIqVAvZMitucwRr7tMs/s320/obama-hope%255B1%255D.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote><i>A little perspective is important in evaluating what has and has not been accomplished in the 2 years since Obama has been President. </i></blockquote><blockquote><i>In regard to the economy, it is very relevant to realize that the state of the economy at the time he took office in January of 2009 was THE WORST since The Great Depression by all statistical measures. Millions of jobs were been shed every month, the value of the stock market was LITERALLY half of what it is today (which affects people's 401Ks, pension plans, savings, etc.), record home foreclosures, credit markets frozen meaning banks would loan to NO ONE (i.e. small businesses, credit unions, etc.), and several other indicators of pending economic Armageddon. That type of economic situation will not turn around in a short amount of time NO MATTER WHO was President. Now, with that said all the moves made by the economic team not only LITERALLY prevented a 2nd Great Depression but the economy is now growing again by ALL MEASURES of economic progress. The bailouts of banks and of GM, like it or not, prevented a very bad situation from getting A WHOLE LOT WORSE. If we ran into a situation where Bank of America, Chase, General Motors, all went bankrupt (very real possibilities at the time) then we'd be pretty much looking at hell on earth in this U.S. of A. I supported the bailouts originally proposed by the Bush Administration cause I understood the consequences of doing nothing and in retrospect I am STILL convinced it was the right thing to do.</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>Now, regarding the deficit, don't believe the hype that Obama quadrupled the deficit in 2 years. First off, the Bush administration did some tricky financial math that left the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars along with a $600 billion Prescription Drug Bill OFF THE BUDGET so when Barack and his team got in there and put these expenses RIGHTFULLY on the budget, that alone put the deficit at record levels. So that's before 1 bill was passed and any action taken by Obama, that by correcting the deceptive bookkeeping of the past administration that a TRUE PICTURE of the deficit was given. Now what has since been added to the deficit are additional bailouts and the Economic Stimulus package. You can question whether these were necessary or not although it is FACTUAL that the bailout of GM not only worked but it LITERALLY saved the US Auto Industry and the ripple effect throughout the economy that would've taken place had nothing been done. The Stimulus package both created and save close to 2 million jobs and saved many states from being damn near bankrupt because of their budget shortfalls which would've forced them to layoff policemen, firefighters, teachers, etc. Imagine the HELL if that took place ? Yes this added to the deficit but the way I view this is that if a storm came and blew the roof off my house and I was flat broke I would have 2 options. I could either sit there and make a bad situation worse and allow the rain to continue and destroy all my property or I could get a credit card (i.e. add to my household deficit) and pay for someone to come replace my roof and prevent a worsening situation. This is precisely what the Obama administration did. They could have done NOTHING and not borrowed any money to address some immediate concerns and allow things to get worse or they could've "put it on the card" for the sake of the economy. Yes this added to the deficit but HELL YES it was necessary.</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>Now, regarding Healthcare, keep in mind that Democratic Presidents dating back to JFK have been trying to pass SOMETHING to improve the troubling state of healthcare in this country. Amidst FIERCE opposition from the Republicans who want NOTHING done on Healthcare and hence why their administrations NEVER EVEN ATTEMPT to do anything to fix the nation's healthcare crisis, Obama and the Democratic Congress GOT IT DONE !! Is it perfect ? HELL NO !! Is there more to be done ? HELL YES !! BUT it's a good first step and one that many have tried and just as many have failed. That's HISTORIC in and of itself.</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>Now I certainly DO NOT agree with Obama on everything he does (i.e. it's time to get THE HELL out of Afghanistan AND Iraq) and I got no problem criticizing and calling him out when need be but in regard to the question "what has he actually done" I hope this LONG ASS ESSAY answers that question. If not, check out this website which does a simpler job of addressing that question. -><a href="http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/"> http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/</a></i></blockquote>Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-24371332380639518392011-01-26T09:00:00.001-06:002011-01-26T09:00:13.653-06:00Tweet of The Day - Wednesday, January 26, 2011<div>DAMN THIS IS FUNNY !!</div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="tweet-row" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="tweet-user-block" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/CDubWrites" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #009999; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Chris Williams" class="tweet-user-block-image user-profile-link" data-user-id="19321832" src="http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1080778643/Me_normal.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 32px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 32px;" /></a><br />
<div class="tweet-user-block-name" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 40px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 36px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px;"><a class="tweet-user-block-screen-name user-profile-link" data-user-id="19321832" href="http://twitter.com/#!/CDubWrites" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #009999; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Chris Williams">@CDubWrites</a><span class="tweet-user-block-full-name" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #999999; display: block; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Chris Williams</span></div></div></div><div class="tweet-row" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="tweet-text tweet-text-large" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Palatino, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 8px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">@</span><a class=" twitter-atreply" data-screen-name="politrixntings" href="http://twitter.com/politrixntings" rel="nofollow" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #009999; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">politrixntings</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> </span>Michele Bachmann is like Sarah Palin the free-trial version wiith ads and pop ups.</div></div></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1glOBhyphenhyphenj06nJNOOti4x8GQ8Awd5gsFtEf75LgWTRWPTMVeTUpdgPIho1V92WcEae6a-Hd13qqLrXN1XBfz4yrh_T_ja70LI0P9CcM7zSgPTvT1LpyPclC2xUFotQBJ9yJRWpKzuvgtFQ/s1600/backmann-palin%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1glOBhyphenhyphenj06nJNOOti4x8GQ8Awd5gsFtEf75LgWTRWPTMVeTUpdgPIho1V92WcEae6a-Hd13qqLrXN1XBfz4yrh_T_ja70LI0P9CcM7zSgPTvT1LpyPclC2xUFotQBJ9yJRWpKzuvgtFQ/s320/backmann-palin%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>The humor and irony in this tweet lies in the fact that it is just so blatantly true. Think about all that you hate or love about Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann is only half of that, in essence, the FREE VERSION. She's "half as pretty", "half as popular", "half as young :-)", "half as annoying" but not even I would diss her by saying she's "half as bright". They might be equal peers on that front. So in conclusion, Michele Bachmann is "half of the half-governor". Guess that makes her the "Quarter Governor" ?</div><div><br />
</div><div><i>There are some really funny, thought-provoking, and downright HILARIOUS people lurking around in the Twitter-verse. The #TweetOfTheDay is dedicated to those tweeps that either made me laugh or stop and think.</i></div>Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-3239783044507546662011-01-11T02:07:00.002-06:002011-01-11T02:23:18.136-06:00Words DO Matter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/sticks-and-stones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/sticks-and-stones.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>"Sticks and stones may break my bones"</i> ... but you you know what ? SO DO WORDS !! Whoever came up with the oft repeated phrase that we've all known since childhood that , <i>"sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" </i>is a <b>boldfaced liar</b> and is SEVERELY underestimating the power of the SPOKEN WORD. Powerful words often induce powerful actions, for better or for worse. Our words have meaning and the ears upon which those words fall often serve as a starting point from which actions follow ... again, for better or for worse.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://arizona.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/30/gabby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://arizona.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/30/gabby.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>In the aftermath of this past weekend's mass shooting in Arizona that presently has Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords battling for her life and took the lives of 6 other innocent victims, a lot of discussion has taken place attributing much blame to the toxic political environment and discourse which now serve as a pillar of our national dialogue.To what degree the harsh tone of political debate ranging from the halls of Congress to the airwaves of talk radio had on this specific incident, we presently can draw no conclusions. All we know at this point is that a lone deranged individual with obvious mental health issues was able to purchase a gun legally and further took it upon himself to target and plot an assassination attempt on a sitting member of Congress leaving 6 dead and well over a dozen critically wounded.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/110110-loughner-hmed-230p.grid-4x2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/110110-loughner-hmed-230p.grid-4x2.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>As is often the case when such incidents take place, individuals of one political ideology or the other seek to place blame on the opposition and vindicate themselves of any responsibility. Until further evidence is gathered in the case of the deranged murderer Jared Lee Loughner, we can safely avoid making a DIRECT connection between his actions and whatever political beliefs he ascribes to. However, I make no political point and stand on no partisan ground when I say that RESPONSIBLE party leaders, Talk Radio Hosts, TV Analysts, prominent Bloggers and ALL who direct and heavily influence our national dialogue and debate, should take extreme caution and speak RESPONSIBLY in the tone and context of their speech.<br />
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Our leaders must realize that the words they speak and the images they portray are extremely powerful and fall on the serious and delirious alike. The resulting echo chamber of this harsh rhetoric creates a toxic environment in which the most extreme, the most boorish, the most reprehensible, and the most irresponsible speech and behavior is viewed as permissible. When serious influential political leaders utter statements such as <i>"be armed and dangerous"</i>, <i>"seeking 2nd amendment (the right to bare arms) remedies to political problems", "if ballots don't work, bullets will",</i> and other such obviously threatening and irresponsible statements, CREDIBLE political leaders have a RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEAK UP and denounce such rhetoric and correctly place such people on the fringe of society. OUR WORDS DO MATTER ... for better or for worse.Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-91492382011430299222011-01-06T17:04:00.000-06:002011-01-06T17:04:03.336-06:00What the HUCK ??<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/39/2011/01/huckleberry_finn_landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/39/2011/01/huckleberry_finn_landscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In an upcoming edition of the Mark Twain classic novel <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Huckleberry-Finn-Chapters-01/dp/B003VS0U08?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">"Huckleberry Finn"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003VS0U08" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> , publishers have decided to censor the use of "the N-Word" <i>(not "nice", "nylon", "neighbor", or "nightfall" ) </i>and replace it with the word "slave". Publishers say that this is not an attempt to "censor" a classic novel or to inject a dose of the "S-word" (steroids) into the notion of "Political Correctness". Rather, they claim that this is just their way of updating the novel to represent our 21st century world <i>(apparently they don't have the latest <a href="http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Not-Human-Being/dp/B00437DYLI?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Lil Wayne CD</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00437DYLI" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />)</i> .<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/slavery_maryland_0327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/slavery_maryland_0327.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>Though I can certainly appreciate a publisher not wanting to offend the modern day reader by spewing "N-Words" all over the 293 pages of this classic novel, the truth is that in a novel that represents tales from the mid-1800s in American society, there was A WHOLE LOT that was offensive at that moment in American History. This was a time when owning <i>"your very own priceless black slave"</i> was probably about as common place as owning a house with a 2-car garage is today. In those days, referring to a black man or woman with the use of<i> "the N-Word"</i> was very likely the least of their concerns in comparison to the numerous beatings and inhumane treatment that they endured for hundreds of years.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://americaspeaksink.com/wp-content/uploads/pob2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://americaspeaksink.com/wp-content/uploads/pob2.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>There is a WHOLE LOT about American History that we may not like, but <i>"it is what it was (and in many ways still is)"</i>. To attempt to sweep these ugly aspects of American history under the rug in an attempt to be <i>"politically correct"</i> is to deny a modern generation a brief look into the past from which we have evolved and fails to give them a deeper appreciation and understanding of the prism through which we view race and society today.Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-73722523667202644972011-01-05T17:29:00.001-06:002011-01-05T18:01:30.079-06:00Sorry "Sweetcakes" ... YOU'RE FIRED !!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cosida.com/images/2009/5/14/RS14631_20080806_franklin_ron013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.cosida.com/images/2009/5/14/RS14631_20080806_franklin_ron013.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>Ron Franklin, veteran ESPN College Basketball and Football Broadcaster, was FIRED for making some patronizing and disrespectful comments to female colleague Jeanne Edwards in an off-camera incident. As the <i>he-said she-said</i> story goes, Ron Franklin and the rest of <i>"the boys"</i> at ESPN were having a conversation involving politics in which Edwards <i>dared</i> to chime in and offer an opinion. According to sources present, Franklin then responded to Edwards <i>"Why don't you leave this to the boys SWEETCAKES ?"</i>. (from where I'm sitting right now, I can see the <i>"OH NO HE DIDN'T"</i> look on Jeanne's face). When Edwards retorted that she didn't appreciate being referred to in those terms, Franklin then did the classy thing and responded <i>"Ok then ... ASSHOLE". </i>(I gotta admit ... that's kinda funny).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://rlv.zcache.com/311_sweet_cakes_cupcake_sticker-p217413883974880797qjcl_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/311_sweet_cakes_cupcake_sticker-p217413883974880797qjcl_400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>For this incident, Ron Franklin and his many decades of broadcast excellence were given a swift kick to the curb by ESPN management just a few short days after <i>"Sweetcakes-gate" </i>began. Now, assuming this incident took place just as "sources" say it did, Franklin's words were CLEARLY unprofessional, disrespectful, disparaging, patronizing, and many other multisyllabic words that indicate "that was not cool". HOWEVA, I hardly see this as a "fireable" offense. Is it suspension worthy ? SURE. Is it worth being forced to attend "diversity and/or sensitivity" training ? OF COURSE. Franklin stepped out of line for the context of a PROFESSIONAL conversation (and we all know that this frequently happens in the workplace) but firing him for these patronizing words seems to equate his words with sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, or other VERY FIREABLE offenses that also routinely take place in the workplace. Oh well, after a long distinguished career, I guess that's just the breaks ... sweetcakes.Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-76906817800726769662011-01-03T17:48:00.000-06:002011-01-03T17:48:45.227-06:00NEXT YEAR Texans Fans ... For Real This Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-9K5ob3vC_A4H9LQj_S9L7j86VNm2vyoKRM5vPtEQnDUdtypi1daJDYQCXke1pXm9DzRmcr8WhKvGc4ylIQMfoNguHfbtn3zZA-oVJ06ahvczCMzHoC7qkNwX0xtlJiG-ETZmU2ou1c/s1600/fan%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-9K5ob3vC_A4H9LQj_S9L7j86VNm2vyoKRM5vPtEQnDUdtypi1daJDYQCXke1pXm9DzRmcr8WhKvGc4ylIQMfoNguHfbtn3zZA-oVJ06ahvczCMzHoC7qkNwX0xtlJiG-ETZmU2ou1c/s320/fan%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In yet another <i>disappointing </i>end to a <i>disappointing </i>season for the Houston Texans, a <i>disappointed </i>owner Bob McNair is telling millions of <i>disappointed</i> Texans fans that a <i>disappointed </i>Head Coach Gary Kubiak will be returning next year and that they should wait until next year to be further <i>disappointed </i>!! In this the 9th year of existence of the Texans franchise, this year had the most promise for a playoff run and thus the disappointment was the greatest when the clock struck 0:00 on a horrifically <i>disappointing</i> 6-10 season and NO PLAYOFFS !! A season that started with so much promise after trouncing the powerful Indianapolis Colts on opening day and getting off to a 4-2 start, flamed out catastrophically as the Texans could only muster up the effort to win 2 of their final 10 games.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrmuTdfJnOl0FwlY0ql6euxqeNXzImjqek6o06wGTqyeb6U8TBDImTNjf7ondI6rS1sFxA2GSIKOroeHR1wN4erW6KmXvw7PnV64-70xO7OuvtDqIFlDcagsQI6AyNJhAaIoCwGNr7n4/s1600/jesus_football%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrmuTdfJnOl0FwlY0ql6euxqeNXzImjqek6o06wGTqyeb6U8TBDImTNjf7ondI6rS1sFxA2GSIKOroeHR1wN4erW6KmXvw7PnV64-70xO7OuvtDqIFlDcagsQI6AyNJhAaIoCwGNr7n4/s1600/jesus_football%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a></div>In a state that lives, breaths, sleeps, eats, and digests football, the Texans ownership and executives have been getting by on just the sheer passion of its fan base for the <i>religion</i> of football in Texas, especially following the the absence of pro football in the state after Bud Adams uprooted the beloved Houston Oilers and moved to Tennessee over a decade ago. The goodwill and patience of the fan base has clearly run its course at this point however and the natives are beyond restless.<br />
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Although the vast majority of Texans fans wanted to see major changes at the end of the season, starting with the firing of Head Coach Gary Kubiak, owner Bob McNair didn't seem to get the memo and wants Texans fans to believe that <i>"NEXT YEAR ... no for real this time ... we will defy all logic and do the same thing, trot out the same product on the field, have the same coaching philosophy, make the same dumb mistakes, and MIRACULOUSLY we will get different results"</i>. Yep, Mr. McNair and go ahead and sign me up for that <i>Bridge to Nowhere's-ville</i> that you're also building. WE BELIEVE !!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzpmOSXOSh4wKaH_HYWJf0RhQa1W7if0aiqIKLN2QyWghpXjtIlAYyf3YiQnhLJnWQBgdgTVHkuJfzgHN2oBmzpZ8LPeMfQpJMOj5vhuAvsQXB_Vh2EjrzgMZ2cumdOFFfhWdSNhejYw/s1600/cubs-next-year%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzpmOSXOSh4wKaH_HYWJf0RhQa1W7if0aiqIKLN2QyWghpXjtIlAYyf3YiQnhLJnWQBgdgTVHkuJfzgHN2oBmzpZ8LPeMfQpJMOj5vhuAvsQXB_Vh2EjrzgMZ2cumdOFFfhWdSNhejYw/s320/cubs-next-year%255B1%255D.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>Bob McNair has one of the greatest character traits that an individual can have and that is a fierce sense of loyalty. However, when that loyalty becomes blinded by reality, that character trait becomes a major character flaw. In spite of the obvious signs that Coach Kubiak is in over his head with this position, McNair continues trotting him out there on the field expecting things to change. After all, why should Bob think any different ? As long as Reliant Stadium is sold out every week, fans continue to buy $8 hot dogs and $12 beers, pay $20 for parking, and spend gobs of discretionary income on Texans merchandise, why change a thing ? If the bottomline is all good, then it's all good, right Bob ? Well such is the life of a Houston Football fan which is starting to bare much similarity to that of a Chicago Cubs baseball fan and we continue to hope beyond hope that ... well ... THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR :-(Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-61509627072052495442010-12-22T10:54:00.000-06:002010-12-22T10:54:08.781-06:00Don't Ask but I'll tell you about Civil Rights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/twn_up_fls/dadt.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/twn_up_fls/dadt.jpeg" width="225" /></a></div>In the never-ending fight to guarantee Civil Rights for all mankind, the United States has scored another knockout blow with the repeal of the<i> "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"</i> policy ending years of legalized and systemic discrimination against gay men and women serving openly in the US military. There will come a day when we look back on this huge step forward and wonder "What was the big deal anyway ?" much as we (at least MOST of us) now look at the Right to Vote and other inalienable rights for African Americans and women. With this monumental achievement by President Obama and the US Congress, the nation is saying that when it comes to doing your country the great honor of military service it matters not what race you are, what sex you are, or what sex you prefer to have sex with.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OR8dKL3XDN8/TQel_OngamI/AAAAAAAAGX0/BL5GLoOonZY/s1600/dadt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OR8dKL3XDN8/TQel_OngamI/AAAAAAAAGX0/BL5GLoOonZY/s320/dadt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>As the US stays actively engaged in 2 official wars and military operations in several other countries while facing an inherent resource shortage, it is unconscionable to think service men and women would be dismissed from military service simply for <i>"who they think is cute"</i>. Besides the obvious homophobia buried in their souls, those in favor of maintaining this discriminatory policy tend to believe that allowing gays to serve openly in the armed forces would disrupt cohesion of military units. I say that if you are a US soldier and who your fellow soldiers choose to sleep with disrupts your focus and your ability to serve, then you don't need to be a US soldier.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amistadresource.org/LBimages/image_08_13_050_R05-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://www.amistadresource.org/LBimages/image_08_13_050_R05-2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>During the Vietnam War in the 60s at the height of the Civil Rights movement, I am CERTAIN that there were several US soldiers who probably weren't exactly thrilled about being in a foxhole with black soldiers. However, with that military sense of purpose and duty, whether or not you'd have a guy over for dinner has very little to do with fulfilling the mission that you have been commanded to achieve. Military service men and women are probably more resilient and disciplined than your average citizen. The mission will carry on just the same as it did before the repeal of <i>"Don't Ask, Don't Tell"</i>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/martin-luther-king.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/martin-luther-king.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It was the great Dr. Martin Luther King who stated that "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere". Injustice to gays serving in the military is a threat not only to them but is a threat to society at large. You may not be in the military and you may not be gay but wherever injustice and discrimination exist, we ALL have an obligation to speak up. After all, you never know when injustice and discrimination will end up at your front door. In that hour of need, you'll certainly want others speaking up for you. The following famous statement in reference to the silence of the German people as Nazis rose to power, speaks to the importance of fighting for equality and justice regardless of whether or not you believe it DIRECTLY affects you.<br />
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<blockquote><i>First they came for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>Then they came for me; by that time no one was left to speak up.</i></blockquote>Reflect on these thoughts as you consider what the repeal of <i>"Don't Ask; Don't Tell" </i>truly means.Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-87466258200298738682010-12-09T06:49:00.000-06:002010-12-09T06:49:43.844-06:00Democratic Cannibals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thejokester.net/images/cannibal.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://www.thejokester.net/images/cannibal.gif" width="320" /></a></div>In the latest Washington D.C. political drama, Republicans obstructed and blocked the Democrats from extending the <i>Bush Tax Cuts</i> for those making $250K and below which accounts for 98% of the US population. Republicans opposed this measure so as to guarantee that the richest 2% of this nation were included in this provision, further adding BILLIONS to the deficit that they claim to care so much about. In light of Republicans refusal to budge on this policy decision, President Obama reluctantly negotiated and struck a deal with the GOP resulting in everyone INCLUDING the richest 2% of Americans keeping their tax cuts originally enacted by <i>"Dubya" </i>back in 2001 which contributed mightily to flipping the <i>Clinton Surplus </i>into the <i>Bush Deficit</i> . And here's where the REAL drama begins.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bsnbc.net/s-OLBERMANN-SPECIAL-COMMENT-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bsnbc.net/s-OLBERMANN-SPECIAL-COMMENT-large.jpg" /></a></div>Republicans blocked Democrats policy objectives so CLEARLY liberal Bloggers, TV Analysts, and Talk Radio hosts would spew the full wrath of their venom on Obstructionist Republicans, right ? WRONG !! They are Democrats !! They instead choose to attack their own !! From sea to shining sea, across all liberal radio, TV, newspaper, and web sources, their very own President Obama was attacked as "spineless", "weak", a "sellout" and various other rants that would have you question whether you are watching MSNBC or Fox, listening to Keith Olbermann or Rush Limbaugh. On the day that the Republicans blocked not only the $250K but also the $1Million and under tax cut, casual passing mention was made by most liberal media sources of the fact that the Republicans ONCE AGAIN played the role of the "Just Say No" party who continue to place politics and party above country. However, on the day that Obama did the dreaded "C" word and "Compromised" with Republicans, the liberal media LITERALLY went left.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://raudryfylking.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/george-w-bush-devil-23386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://raudryfylking.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/george-w-bush-devil-23386.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>Although I agree with the idealist Democratic position on this tax cut issue, one that is also shared by President Obama, ideological idealism unfortunately must meet against the formidable force of political reality. Simply speaking, the ideal Democratic position required 60 votes in the Senate to pass that bill but after all votes were accounted for, Democrats could only muster up 53 votes, NONE of which included a SINGLE Republican. Without the <i>Great Obama Compromise</i>, when the clock struck midnight on New Year's Day 2011 and the ballons dropped and champagne bottles popped , millions of families would have awaken from their hangover to realize that their extended unemployment benefit checks had disappeared and ALL employed people would've realized that their paychecks were a lot smaller due to increased tax rates. A deal with the <i>Republican devil</i> had to be made or the nation as a whole would've suffered greatly in light of the obvious political realities.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.quickblogcast.com/8/0/5/7/3/146767-137508/flip_off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/8/0/5/7/3/146767-137508/flip_off.jpg" /></a></div>Quite frankly, the Democrats anger is misplaced, mistaken, and misdirected. Republicans were the ones willing to flip off the unemployed and raise everyone's taxes, be damned the consequences, in order that the richest 2% maintain their tax cuts. Obama chose to protect the fate of the unemployed and those who could least afford a tax increase rather than engaging in a political street fight on an ideological position and remaining politically popular with the left-wing. Democrats being Democrats, however, chose to instead cannibalize their own and attack the leader of their Party and the nation's President seeming as uncompromising as the far right. In a political climate that features Republicans unwilling to work with Democrats on ANYTHING for the good of the country, the Obama Administration has a monumental task in front of them to help the country rebound from horrific economic conditions. With the far left liberal wing of the Democratic party now ALSO on the attack, the political conditions have just gotten that much worse.Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-84955519011876706072010-12-07T02:02:00.000-06:002010-12-07T02:02:54.917-06:00Swinging from the Left<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://danburkeart.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Obama_Boxing.109224336_std.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://danburkeart.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Obama_Boxing.109224336_std.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>As a Democratic President going up against a Republican party firmly rooted in political obstructionism, Barack Obama undoubtedly expected to face a tough fight coming from the ideological right. I doubt, however, that he saw or expected as tough a fight coming from his left. As anyone who has ever been in a fight will tell you, it's the punch that you do NOT see that will lay you flat on your backside. President Obama is facing an increasingly combative and feisty opposition coming from the very far left of his own Democratic party that could prove to be very destructive to the party in future elections.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.crooksandliars.com/files/movieimages/2010/11/18766.jpg?key=1289867488" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://cdn.crooksandliars.com/files/movieimages/2010/11/18766.jpg?key=1289867488" width="320" /></a></div>For a President that ran as a left-leaning ideological moderate and pragmatist rather than a stubbornly ideological far-left partisan, Obama finds himself in the unenviable position of being too liberal for the right-wing and too centrist for the left-wing. For far-left uncompromising ideologues such as<i> Adam Green</i> of the <i>Progressive Change Campaign Committee</i>, anything short of the most liberal stance on all policy issues seems to be viewed as complete and utter failure, caving, and capitulating. Tune in to any 5-minute appearance by Adam as a guest analyst on any of the cable shows, and you are likely to hear the word <i><b>"FIGHT"</b></i> repeated at least 25 times. Mr. Green has even gone so far as to produce and broadcast a campaign-style <i>"attack ad"</i> against President Obama for not holding on to liberal positions. For many liberals such as Adam, it seems as if a staunch and stubbornly ideological <i><b>"fight"</b></i> is the ultimate prize regardless of whether <i><b>"compromise"</b></i> on ideological positions brings forth a much more desirable result for the nation as a whole.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://duplicitous46xyprimate.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/obama-compromise.jpg?w=449&h=672" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://duplicitous46xyprimate.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/obama-compromise.jpg?w=449&h=672" width="213" /></a></div>Being a pragmatist who is willing to compromise on most issues to move his agenda forward is precisely why Obama faces increasingly harsh opposition from the far left. In a desire to checkoff policy objectives and move on to the next battle, he often chooses negotiation, deal-making and compromise over fierce partisan battles which further infuriates the left. Rightly or wrongly, Obama seems to operate on the notion that <i>"if I have the votes for my position in Congress, then I'll fight for it. If I don't have the votes, then I'll compromise to get it done"</i>. In the healthcare debate and most recently in the <i>Bush Tax Cut</i> debate, Obama made the politically unpopular decision to compromise on the favored position of the left in order to search for a middle ground that could secure the necessary congressional votes. The question is, however, <i>"At what cost ?".</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/lens1878564_1231276759rightvsleft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>President Obama has a historic number of legislative accomplishments thus far in his presidency but his willingness to compromise on positions held near and dear to the far-left has put him at odds with this very important component of his political base. Liberal talk show hosts such as Ed Schultz routinely throw around terms such as "spineless" and "weak" in describing the President and seem to swing as hard as the most rabid right-wing lunatics when things don't go precisely their way. What Obama has to bank on is that his manner of governing will gain him more independents and moderates than the left swinging ideologues that he undoubtedly loses with each compromise. A risky political calculation indeed that I certainly hope works out.Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-53813722882487900452010-11-24T01:16:00.017-06:002010-12-22T11:12:06.819-06:00Democrats SUCK ... at Marketing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://gadgetsteria.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/failure-to-communicate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://gadgetsteria.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/failure-to-communicate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>"What we have here is a failure to communicate"</i>, as the oft repeated phrase goes, precisely characterizes the messaging capabilities of the Democratic party. For the many years that I have been closely following politics, one of the many observations that I have made is that Republicans are GREAT at <i>Marketing/Messaging/Communicating/Campaigning</i> yet SUCK at actually governing, while Democrats SUCK at <i>Marketing/Messaging/Communicating/Campaigning</i> but are GREAT at governing. Republicans do an excellent job of communicating to and rallying their mostly single-minded base while the much wider tent Democrats struggle to communicate a common message and rallying cry to their more diversely thinking base.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://onlinemechanic.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/mechanic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://onlinemechanic.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/mechanic.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>In life, business, and politics it is often not enough to simply do a good job. You also have to be able to effectively COMMUNICATE and SAY that you've done a good job in order for people to take notice. That is a short coming of the Democratic party. They seem to think it is enough to simply do good works and the keenly aware people will notice and sing their praises. Nothing could be further from the truth. Democrats do a horrible job of communicating their accomplishments. Simply speaking, the Democrats need a new transmission on their "Messaging Machine".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Rally+Wall+Street+Protests+Financial+Bailout+vScPs2kHS8jl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Rally+Wall+Street+Protests+Financial+Bailout+vScPs2kHS8jl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In what was already expected to be a rough election cycle for Democrats based on historical patterns of past midterm elections combined with the unacceptably high unemployment rate, the Democrats "failure to communicate" made a bad situation worse. Dems had a strong record of accomplishments to run on, but did a horrific job of emphasizing and running on that list of accomplishments. (<a href="http://www.whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/">Here's a long list ... excuse the language ...</a>). At the time that Obama took office, there was a VERY REAL possibility of the 2nd Coming of the Great Depression. Though highly politically unpopular, most Economists agree that the bailouts of the financial institutions WORKED and prevented the entire US economic system from spiraling downwards rapidly. Incidentally, those same "bailouts" were actually a LOAN and were paid back WITH INTEREST by the at-risk major financial institutions.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://catalystfaith.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/bailout.jpg?w=287&h=300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://catalystfaith.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/bailout.jpg?w=287&h=300" width="190" /></a></div>Last week, the iconic General Motors Corporation had an enormously successful IPO after staring Chapter 11 Bankruptcy directly in the face merely a few months earlier. Though Republicans fought hard against a government "bailout" of GM. criticized Democrats for "getting into the car business", and were seemingly just fine with the loss of over a million jobs in the pioneering US auto industry, President Obama and the Democrats stepped in and LOANED the necessary funds to GM, and ONCE AGAIN IT WORKED !! Democrats had this major success story of saving the US Auto Industry to run on as well but inexplicably didn't seem to make that a focal point of their 2010 "Marketing Campaign". Completely running from and hiding from a Healthcare bill that they fought for for over a year would take an entire blog post for me to rip apart the Dems on that, but that is yet another MAJOR accomplishment that Democrats failed to effectively communicate to the voting public.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://larrydowns.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c079f53ef00e555026f588834-320pi" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://larrydowns.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c079f53ef00e555026f588834-320pi" width="200" /></a></div>With every defeat, there comes a lesson. With a defeat the size of the one that the Democrats took at the hands of the Republicans in the midterm elections, there should be a WHOLE LOT of lessons to learn from. One of the major lessons that the Democrats should take from their "shellacking", is that if you fail to effectively communicate and tell your compelling story, your opponent will effectively tell a tall tale for you. And you won't like what they have to say.Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-66044264752745706772010-11-11T16:30:00.000-06:002010-11-11T16:30:32.657-06:00Support the Troops by BRINGING THEM HOME !!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cristyli.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Veterans-Day-2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.cristyli.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Veterans-Day-2009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Yep, it's that time of year again !! It seems that about once or twice a year, typically around Veteran's Day or Memorial Day, Americans SERIOUSLY think about the debt of gratitude owed to the young men and women who put their lives on the line daily to fight for US interests, regardless of whether or not they agree with the policies in place. War is HELL and these brave souls are thrust into the middle of it daily, while VERY FEW people ACTUALLY give 15 seconds of thought to what they truly endure on a daily basis.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://messengerandadvocate.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/iraq-war.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://messengerandadvocate.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/iraq-war.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>I wholeheartedly believe that if more Americans had FIRST HAND knowledge of the brutalities of war, there would a lot less Americans who support ongoing war efforts. It is extremely easy to sit back in one's Congressional office, behind one's radio microphone, in front of one's TV camera, at one's keyboard, and talk matter of factly about "fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them over here", "ridding the world of evil wherever it exists", "taking the fight to them", and a buncha other macho "kick their ass" talk. It's quite another thing to be on the frontlines of battle, hear the sounds of bombs and bullets all day, see your fellow comrades lose limbs and lives everyday, smell the stench of death every day, and several other brutal realities of HELLISH WAR.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://viralpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/support_the_troops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://viralpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/support_the_troops.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The vast majority of Americans sacrifice very little for ongoing war efforts and most of our leaders that make decisions about war have NO IDEA and no concept of what a battlefield is truly like yet the wars go on and on regardless of the loss of life, limbs, blood, and the trillions of dollars spent to sustain war efforts. All across the land, from California to Florida, "Support the Troops" bumper stickers can be seen but that means different things to different people. For some, "Support the Troops" simply means "let's continue to fight wars regardless of economic and human consequence". For me, "Support the Troops" means provide every single possible resource that is required for them to DEFEND this nation but DO NOT put them in harms way any longer than is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. With that said, I call on President Obama, Rep. John Boehner, Sen. Mitch McConnel, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Harry Reid, and all other leaders of this nation to "fold up the flags, turn out the lights, pack up all equipment" and end these senseless wars. Support the Troops by BRINGING THEM HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES !!Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-81010667727750394542010-11-09T15:48:00.000-06:002010-11-09T15:48:17.150-06:00BOTH Left AND Right are WRONG<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/nov2010/5/7/obama-pic-ap-172923777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/nov2010/5/7/obama-pic-ap-172923777.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"I had much more fun last election"</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>In the aftermath of the Midterm Election <i>"shellacking"</i> that the Democrats took at the hands and wallets of Republicans, both parties seem to be completely misinterpreting exactly what the results of last Tuesday's election truly mean. Was this a rejection of the Obama administration agenda ? Was it a yearning for the "good ole bad days" of Republican leadership ? Was it a protest vote born out of frustration of not enough economic progress in 2 years ? Was it Obama "not going far left enough" and disheartening the liberal base ? Wherever you stand on the root causes of a nationwide Republican resurgence, one thing is perfectly clear. BOTH liberal and conservative columnists, bloggers, and TV analysts have been insufferable in their over-the-top rhetoric in overanalyzing what the midterm results truly mean.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:qfX-2naUdUNV-M:http://www.tuxwerx.com/Blogs/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/wall-street-deregulation.jpg&t=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:qfX-2naUdUNV-M:http://www.tuxwerx.com/Blogs/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/wall-street-deregulation.jpg&t=1" /></a></div>For the overly giddy Republicans, they have taken the election results to mean that the country has "soundly rejected the Obama agenda" and is ready to try it their way again. They somehow have concluded that the country is now yearning for their "under-taxing", "over-spending", and "regulation-free" manner of governing which resulted in the worst recession seen since the Great Depression and the magic of turning a record budget surplus into a record budget deficit. How could we not miss such GENIUS policies ? "The Socialist, Big-Government, Anti-Business, Left-Wing Obama Administration has gone too far left" is their basic conclusion.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.abanet.org/publiced/youth/sia/cartoons/tugofwar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="http://www.abanet.org/publiced/youth/sia/cartoons/tugofwar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>For the far left, they've taken the opposite view that the Obama administration has not gone far left enough and that has "dispirited" the left and so they've concluded that they'd be better off not even voting. They believe that the President's attempts to work with, negotiate, and compromise with the Republicans shows him to be a weak passivist and not fighting hard enough for liberal causes. If the right believes you've gone too far left and the left believes you've gone too far right, chances are you are <i>smack-dab</i> in the middle and out of that comes an inherent frustration felt by both liberals and conservatives.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://topnews.net.nz/images/unemployment_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://topnews.net.nz/images/unemployment_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"It's the economy STUPID !!"</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Both left and right-wing conclusions since the election quite simply miss the mark. This election was about ONE THING that can be summed up in 5 words; <b><i>"Nine point Six percent Unemployment"</i></b>. Simply speaking, when unemployment is high, the voting populace gets frustrated with whichever party is in power and wanna<i> "throw the bums out"</i> to try something new. It matters not to most people from whence we have come, how deep the hole was that we are coming out of, what catastrophic circumstances DID NOT take place, and how much economic progress has been made, when the employment situation is not back to a level that most people are comfortable with, incumbents will get kicked out on their asses. It's as simple as that.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mediaite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/ed-schultz.radio_.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.mediaite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/ed-schultz.radio_.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Hmm ... I wonder why the base is dispirited ?"</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>So when liberal talk show hosts like Ed Schultz go on and on about <i>"how he's losing faith in the President because he keeps throwing olive branches out trying to work with the Republicans"</i> , they miss the mark and seem to miss the point that Obama is the President of Democrats, Independents, AND Republicans and he MUST now find a way to work with one Republican controlled branch of government. When Republican leaders like Sen. Mitch McConnell and the "soon-to-be" Speaker John Boehner say <i>"the American people have soundly rejected the Obama agenda"</i> they also miss the mark and choose to overlook the fact that the Republican Congress poll even LESS favorably than the Democratic Congress.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.technorati.com/10/09/01/17439/steve-jobs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://static.technorati.com/10/09/01/17439/steve-jobs.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"The people want ME, ME, ME"</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The only thing that we can and should conclude after the midterm results is that the people are fed up and frustrated with political gamesmanship, partisanship, and placing "party above country". They simply want JOBS, JOBS, JOBS. If either party believes that Election 2010 gives them a green light to stay bullheaded and stubbornly rooted in party politics regardless of what's taking place in the lives of REAL PEOPLE, they will do so at their own peril. The people have spoken. Do you speak their language ?Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-89312957848787324742010-11-01T18:14:00.000-05:002010-11-01T18:14:23.367-05:00Sanity Restoration Project COMPLETE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.nola.com/stewart-colbert/photo/9003723-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://media.nola.com/stewart-colbert/photo/9003723-large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In this election season with so much at stake in the midterm elections, it seems as if every weekend features a new rally aimed at revving up and exciting a certain segment of the population.This past weekend it was the comedians turn to have their impact on democracy. Comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert marched on Washington on Saturday, October 30, 2010 in the first but hopefully not last <i>"Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear"</i>. Though both comics are left leaning in their political ideologies, no one was quite sure what to expect of this rally from the King and Prince of political satire in this somewhat unusual but turns out very necessary rally.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/pwe/lowres/pwen273l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/pwe/lowres/pwen273l.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>For regular viewers of Stewart's "The Daily Show" and Colbert's "The Colbert Report", you're well aware that both comics take numerous shots at politicians being politicians with their frequent lies and bad behavior but both tend to dish it out a lot more towards <i>right-wing</i> politicians <i>(perhaps because they lie a lot more ... I'm just saying )</i>. With this in mind, one would expect the rally to be 2 and 1/2 hours of right-wing Republican bashing with about 30 minutes of<i> "Oh ... and Democrats, you need to do better also"</i> type talk. This assumption could not have been further from the truth. This rally was as "non-partisan" as possible and really didn't strongly advocate one political ideology over another. For the 3 hours of the rally, it turns out that it was about 2 and 1/2 hours of entertainment <i>(with performances by The Roots, John Legend, Cat Stephens aka Yusef, Ozzy Osbourne, Mavis Staples, The Ojays, Sheryl Crow etc.) </i>and about 30 minutes of very important thought provoking political commentary. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2010/10/31/31rally-blog4/31rally-blog4-blogSpan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2010/10/31/31rally-blog4/31rally-blog4-blogSpan.jpg" width="320" /></a>The political commentary was saved for the very end of the rally and should have left all with very important thoughts to go home and meditate on and discuss amongst their peer groups. As the name of the rally indicates, the main point of the rally was to <i>restore sanity</i> in a nation often overcome by fear, vile rhetoric, and not much room for substantive discussion. For about 15 minutes towards the end of the rally, Jon Stewart ventured out of comedian mode and into the mode of political philosopher as he made some very key points that underscored the importance of the rally.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://politicaldookie.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/ohitlerjugen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://politicaldookie.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/ohitlerjugen.jpg" width="164" /></a></div>The tone of the political discourse in this nation has taken a sharp turn for the worst, particularly since the beginning of the Obama Administration <i>(coincidence ? I don't think so)</i>. Whether on the <i>left-wing</i> or on the <i>right-wing, </i>the highlight of most cable news and AM radio talk shows features guests yelling at the top of their lungs shouting their point of view and completely drowning out the tone of what the other side has to say. When ideological disagreements turn in to the other side being characterized as Socialists, Marxists, Communists, Nazis, and a bunch more over the top rhetoric, it is difficult to find any common ground on which to work. We accomplish NOTHING as a nation when this is our only means of discussing intrinsically very difficult issues.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.toastmasters.org/OtherImages/Teamwork.aspx" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://www.toastmasters.org/OtherImages/Teamwork.aspx" width="200" /></a></div>In law offices, doctors offices, accounting firms, software companies, and many other businesses all across the United States, <i>Democrats, Republicans, Jews, Muslims, Christians, Blacks, Whites, and Latinos </i>find means of moving beyond their differences and working together EVERY DAMN DAY to get things done. Why can't this be done also in Washington ? The main point of the rally is that IT CAN BE DONE. We simply need to restore a little sanity, tone it down, and work together to advance the greater good of this nation. Difficult but NOT impossible. It's been done before. Why not now ?Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-26431759403667639992010-10-24T11:41:00.001-05:002010-10-24T11:54:16.207-05:00Open Season on Muslims<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://visuallens.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/muslim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://visuallens.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/muslim.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Whether Summer, Winter, Spring, or Fall, apparently any season is a season to openly crack on Muslims and still be in the mainstream of political thought and discourse in the United States of America. Nearly 10 years since the horrendous attacks of September 11, 2001, the rage and discriminatory feelings towards the ENTIRE Muslim faith, and not just the extremist violent wing, don't seem to have dissipated one iota and may even be on the increase. The climate of intolerance towards all Muslims seems to be socially acceptable in all circles. One would expect these thoughts to be acceptable in right-wing circles but apparently these thoughts have permeated liberal circles as well as is evident by recent happenings.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://crooksandliars.com/files/uploads/2007/09/juan-williams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://crooksandliars.com/files/uploads/2007/09/juan-williams.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Well-known and respected journalist and analyst Juan Williams of NPR and Fox News <i>(how's that for serving 2 distinctly different masters)</i>, was recently fired from NPR as a result of comments he made on Fox's popular <i>O'Reilly Factor</i> program. Juan apparently felt very comfortable expressing the uneasy feelings that he has whenever he is in an airport and sees someone dressed in traditional Muslim garb <i>(you know, since all Muslims are apparently terrorists)</i>. To put the comments of the lone liberal voice of reason of Fox News in its proper perspective, Williams said the following in a discussion with Fox's Bill O'Reilly.<br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>"Look, Bill, I'm not a bigot,” Williams said. “You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."</i></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hiphopisland.com/Got2know/Bloods%20and%20Crips/BloodZnCripZ.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://hiphopisland.com/Got2know/Bloods%20and%20Crips/BloodZnCripZ.png" width="260" /></a></div>The left-leaning NPR reacted swiftly and fired Williams shortly after the comments circulated throughout the mainstream media and blogosphere. In light of this firing, many have jumped to Williams defense, including Williams himself, by claiming that this amounts to "censorship" and "political correctness gone wild". Really Juan ? REALLY ? As a black man, you more than any other should fully realize the dangers of associating the actions of a few with the whole. Do the actions of Crips & Bloods gang-banging in South Central Los Angeles in ANY WAY reflect on you as a man and a professional ? OF COURSE NOT !! Juan, I wonder what your reaction would've been if another notable journalist and analyst had said:<br />
<blockquote><i>"You know Bill, I'm no racist. I have several black friends and even had one at my house last night. But I tell you, when I'm at a red light and see them standing there with their hats on backwards and their baggy jeans on, I get worried. I get nervous"</i></blockquote>THAT my friend is the EXACT equivalent of what you just said. I don't doubt that many people feel this way about Muslims and also about black people but that doesn't mean that it is OK to OPENLY and comfortably express these thoughts especially as an influential thought leader in the media spotlight. You expressing those feelings and being defended by people in both liberal and conservative circles, makes others feel quite justified in the similar feelings that they have. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gambling911.com/files/publisher/Ground-Zero-Mosque-083010L_0.jpg?1284079727" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.gambling911.com/files/publisher/Ground-Zero-Mosque-083010L_0.jpg?1284079727" width="320" /></a></div>As was quite evident during the passionate debate regarding whether or not an Islamic Community Center should be allowed to be built within a few blocks of Ground Zero, there is a climate of intolerance, hatred, and discrimination towards not only the extremist wing of Islam but towards the large majority of Moderate Muslims that represent a religion of Peace. It is disturbing how widely accepted these discriminatory views are. As a black man, I know VERY WELL what it is like to have the actions of a few cloud the perception of the whole. That is NEVER a good thing and voices of tolerance should speak out against such expressions, feelings, and voices of intolerance WHEREVER they exist.Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-89838026081290553362010-10-20T02:19:00.001-05:002010-10-20T11:31:04.787-05:00I Voted Today ... Did You ?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.elitedesignweb.com/IMAGES/vote3113.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.elitedesignweb.com/IMAGES/vote3113.gif" /></a></div>As one who was born in another country and has only being eligible to vote in the US for less than a decade, I make it a point to vote in every single election. It actually behooves me that a nation as powerful as the United States has such a poor record of voter participation in elections as especially as important as the one that we'll face in only a few weeks will be. And yet, people will continue to bitch, whine, and complain about everything under the sun as if failing to realize that we all have the ability to influence the direction of the country.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.planetc1.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/405-traffic-los-angeles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://blog.planetc1.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/405-traffic-los-angeles.jpg" width="284" /></a></div>I heard a statistic lately that stated that the US ranks 139th of 172 democracies around the world in average voter participation. In Presidential Elections, when US voter participation is generally the highest, the US averages a voter turnout rate of a mere 54%. That means that, on average, as you sit in traffic watching hundreds of cars pass by or as you sit at your favorite sporting event or movie, then about 1 out of every 2 people you see decided that they have better things to do than to participate in electing the very people that will represent them in local, state, and national government and will make decisions that WILL affect their lives. And the minute that the roads in their neighborhood aren't fixed, gas prices soar sky high, or their job gets outsourced overseas, then 2 out of every 2 of those people will be the FIRST ONES to complain.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive/phd110104s.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive/phd110104s.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br />
When it comes to the importance of voting, my guess is that either half the population doesn't know, doesn't care, or doesn't believe that their <i>ONE VOTE</i> will actually make a difference. Practically speaking, it is rare that <i>ONE SINGLE VOTE</i> swings an election one way or another. However, if 10 people have the attitude that <i>"well it's only one vote"</i>, and those 10 people each convince 10 of their friends to do the same, who then each tell 10 of their friends and also convince them not to vote, that quickly adds up to 1,000 votes which WILL swing an election one way or another.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://herd.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451e1dc69e20120a516b74a970b-800wi" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://herd.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451e1dc69e20120a516b74a970b-800wi" width="320" /></a></div>There is a tremendous amount at stake in the upcoming election and it is quite saddening to see that many of those who came out in droves to bring about a change in the direction of the nation in 2008, have thrown up their hands and are thinking about sitting out this election cause their change has not come fast enough. REAL CHANGE takes time, takes more than 1 election cycle, and is only achieved from the GROUND UP as citizens of this representative democracy fight day in and day out, from election to election, to push their agenda and force those who represent them in government to bring about policies that represent the way that they view the world. So in this coming election, make sure that <b><i>YOU VOTE</i></b> and then <i>call 10 friends</i>, and ask them to <i>call 10 friends</i>, who will then <i>call 10 friends</i>, and make sure that they <b><i>ALL VOTE</i></b>.<br />
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Oh and after you hang up the phone, call them back and say <i>"oh ...by the way, make sure you <b>VOTE DEMOCRAT !!</b>"</i>Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-12749843885614295772010-10-14T10:30:00.003-05:002010-10-24T09:48:37.649-05:00USA, Soviet Union, Afghanistan, Christine O'Donnell ? One Doesn't Belong !!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZqb7xRsE6LXeXFb657ZtLHvWSOaGNBL8lisQOa7YCLV24L0VxNltU5eU93jIok8KSa4jdRjpyS0guuNPNd4yBNb8r7DUe4lG31aeaCK_m2rWPZ8HcJb1K2JukdTGWLZBYjQrprgPPGoa/s320/Christine_ODonnell-WITCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZqb7xRsE6LXeXFb657ZtLHvWSOaGNBL8lisQOa7YCLV24L0VxNltU5eU93jIok8KSa4jdRjpyS0guuNPNd4yBNb8r7DUe4lG31aeaCK_m2rWPZ8HcJb1K2JukdTGWLZBYjQrprgPPGoa/s320/Christine_ODonnell-WITCH.jpg" /></a></div>Ahhhhh ... Christine O'Donnell, Republican Tea Party candidate for Senate in Delaware is the gift that keeps on giving as she continues to say the most wildly absurd stuff and not blink an eye in the process. To add to the list of <i>"I used to dabble in witchcraft back in the day" (I mean, after all, WHO DIDN'T?), "There are mice with perfectly functioning human brains in them", "I have classified information that China is trying to take over the US"</i>, the wicked witch of the east jumped on her sailing broom and pulled one out of big black hat last night and managed to rewrite history.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sjeltur.nl/wp-content/2009/02/usa-ussr.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sjeltur.nl/wp-content/2009/02/usa-ussr.gif" /></a></div>In a nationally televised debate on CNN last night versus Democrat Chris Coons, Ms. O'Donnell proved why anyone taking her Senate candidacy seriously should SERIOUSLY seek psychological counseling. As the debate shifted to the topic of US foreign policy and the ongoing wars, Ms. O'Donnell offered this lil nugget of wisdom:<br />
<blockquote><i>"Well if you remember when we (the US) were fighting the Soviets over there in Afghanistan in the '80s and '90s, we did not finish the job, so now we have a responsibility to finish the job"</i>. </blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/9/l_12af4478f1621be486f72d11b3639533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/9/l_12af4478f1621be486f72d11b3639533.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Screeeech !! DJ-rewind !! Pull-up !! Come again !! HUH ? WTF ?</i> The US and the Soviet Union, the 2 Super Powers of the 80's, engaged in a winner-take-all war at a "neutral stadium" in Afghanistan during the 80's and 90's and I MISSED IT ?? Perhaps I didn't pay my cable bill for a decade or more but that is BREAKING NEWS to me. I assume the witch-lady was probably referring to the decade-long war that the Soviet Union fought versus Afghanistan during the 80s but unless they were all disguised in fake beards and mustaches, there was not a single US army, navy, air force, or marine member on site during that war ... but WHO AM I to question the witch lady. I don't have <i>frequent flyer broom miles</i>.<br />
<br />
Over the course of the night as the candidates debated issues ranging from the US economy, federal deficit, healthcare, China, foreign policy, Supreme Court decisions, and more, it was abundantly clear that Ms. O'Donnell, as pleasant as she may be, simply does not belong on this stage.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFHGZJ3Gfuh9bAqsw4AhAElcALjSg3xeI58c3cvMXZV9HxeGi_UoonCYVzeuv2akrXf12giJI1IAYjMh92xJ9QKBPQLO6yJLU8DDaGZM1DVmYT4Q5Lsc4kmfUtOBM6fd6i-XC4nwGD88/s1600-r/200702231643290_OfMiceandMen-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFHGZJ3Gfuh9bAqsw4AhAElcALjSg3xeI58c3cvMXZV9HxeGi_UoonCYVzeuv2akrXf12giJI1IAYjMh92xJ9QKBPQLO6yJLU8DDaGZM1DVmYT4Q5Lsc4kmfUtOBM6fd6i-XC4nwGD88/s1600-r/200702231643290_OfMiceandMen-s.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>She is an interesting political figure who will likely sell a whole lotta books, make megabucks off speeches and such, given the new national spotlight that she is now under, but to put decisions that affect the lives of real people (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mice-Men-Steinbeck-Centennial/dp/0142000671?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">not mice with human brains</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0142000671" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />) into her hands is just simply irresponsible. But what else should we expect from the Republican party ? They are the same ones that gave us the utterly dim bulb Mrs. Sarah <i>"I can see Russia from my house"</i> Palin and tried to sell us on her being a heartbeat away from the Presidency. She managed to parlay her 15 minutes and months of fame into mega millions with books, TV contracts, and speeches. That same future awaits Christine which ain't too bad. Now scurry away and fly off on your lil broom and go make your millions. Just don't put our future in your hands ...Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-48124157652824249902010-10-12T17:10:00.000-05:002010-10-12T17:10:03.509-05:00The Favre GIVETH ... and the Favre TAKETH Away !!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/000/807/449/96146949.jpg.5222.0_crop_340x234.jpg?1264397434" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/000/807/449/96146949.jpg.5222.0_crop_340x234.jpg?1264397434" width="320" /></a></div>Stop me if you've heard this before. <i>"With under 2 minutes to go in the game, Brett Favre threw a costly interception leading to his team's defeat."</i> !! If I only had a dollar for every time future Hall of Fame Quarterback Brett Favre snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with a bad interception in crunch time, well, I'd have the type of money Brett signed with the Minnesota Vikings for at the beginning of this year. Last night, the old man did it AGAIN , with a chance to tie or even win a crucial Monday Night Football matchup against the New York Jets, Favre reverted to throwing to people dressed in a different uniform , and costing the Vikings an opportunity for a much needed victory.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:zUnQ2rZq77JFSM:http://whodatnationmember.com/who_dat_2-1.jpg&t=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:zUnQ2rZq77JFSM:http://whodatnationmember.com/who_dat_2-1.jpg&t=1" /></a></div>Look<i> (copyright Barack Obama)</i>, nobody with any credible amount of football knowledge will argue against the fact that Brett Favre is one of the greatest QBs that the NFL has ever seen and he holds records that will likely never ever be touched as the old man continues to suit up at age 41. However, for a QB as accomplished and as experienced as there has ever been, Favre throws WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too many interceptions at crucial moments in a game, that unfortunately will be a part of his legacy when he hangs up his cleats and quits playing on his 75th birthday. Whether in a Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, or Minnesota Vikings uniform, we can all recollect a costly interception thrown at the most inopportune of times that led to his team's defeat. Last year, a crucial interception towards the end of regulation of the Minnesota vs New Orleans NFC Championship game, paved the way for the WHO DAT NATION to get to and ultimately win the Super Bowl.<i> (I guess some good did come out of that costly pick)</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.stanzapub.com/readers/2009/09/13/favre_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.stanzapub.com/readers/2009/09/13/favre_1.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>Brett has and always has had a gunslinger's mentality that he WILL make something out of nothing and that has brought mega success for his teams throughout the years. However, that tendency can often come back to bite him in the arse when it's often best to opt for the safe conservative play. Prior to last night's game ending interception, Favre had rallied the Vikings back from a previously uninspiring performance with 3 perfectly thrown TD passes in the 2nd half to give them a shot at the victory. It was that sort of play that makes him one of the all time greats. However, as is far too often the case, he ended his team's chances with a beautifully thrown TD pass to the WRONG TEAM. Once again, the old gunslinger GAVE his team and their fans hope of an exhilarating victory but in an instant, TOOK away that hope with a game clinching interception. It is unfortunately the price of signing the old gunslinger; he giveth... then he taketh away !!Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-79026872126556350132010-10-08T17:21:00.001-05:002010-10-08T17:25:02.185-05:00Cowboys vs. Titans ... Is it possible for BOTH TEAMS to lose ?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sports.gunaxin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dallas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sports.gunaxin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dallas.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>As we approach another fun-filled football weekend, I've got quite the dilemma on my hands. The Texas Longhorns are off this Saturday (actually they've been off all year, but they're NOT PLAYING this weekend) so I can enjoy a peaceful Saturday without breaking any more TVs and punching holes in any more walls. However, my 2 most hated teams in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys (the most loved and most hated team in the league) and the Tennessee Titans (formerly our beloved <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Houston-Oilers-Campbell-Throwback-Distressed/dp/B002QMP64K?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Houston Oilers</a> that bailed on us and we still have scorned lover syndrome) face off this Sunday in the "Who Do I Hate More Bowl". This is gonna be a tough one.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.islandcrisis.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/i-hate-my-girlfriend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.islandcrisis.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/i-hate-my-girlfriend.jpg" width="200" /></a>Let's rationalize this. The Cowboys spanked my Houston Texans pretty good a few weeks ago and I've had to listen to <i>caca </i>from the INFAMOUS Cowboy fans and EVERYBODY knows how annoying they can be. Then there are the Titans fans. Where do I start ? Let me get this straight (from the perspective of fans of the former <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Houston-Oilers-Campbell-Throwback-Distressed/dp/B002QMP64K?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Houston Oiler</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002QMP64K" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000VAHQYM" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> fans who STILL consider the Titans to be <i>"our team"</i>), your ex-girlfriend (the Houston Oilers) <b>cheated on you</b> and left you for a dude who lives in Tennessee (the Tennessee Titans), and almost 15 YEARS LATER you've forgiven her and STILL want her back ? I simply don't get it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youthink.com/quiz_images/quiz1233outcome1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://www.youthink.com/quiz_images/quiz1233outcome1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So I'm left with 1 of 2 choices, neither of which is palpable. (1)Root for the Cowboys who aren't even in the Texans Conference meaning that win would be more or less meaningless for the Texans playoff hopes ... BUT then would have to hear Cowboy fans.(2) Root for the Titans who ARE in the Texans division, but SOLELY for the joy of seeing the Cowboys fall to a 1-3 start and have a frontrow seat as owner Jerry Jones goes into meltdown mode and starts whacking people, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sopranos-Complete-James-Gandolfini/dp/B002OID4VS?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Tony Soprano </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002OID4VS" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />style.<br />
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Hmmm ... what's a guy to do ? GOT IT !! A nice 3-3 tie after regulation and overtime with BOTH teams missing FGs in overtime thereby prolonging the agony and heightening the frustration. That would equally suck for both teams and that's ALL GOOD with me :-)<br />
<br />
Signed,<br />
<br />
Cowboy & Titan H8R !!Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-46015269447701386832010-10-06T17:42:00.001-05:002010-10-06T17:51:22.726-05:00Ignore Bob Woodward ... He's just selling books !!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.publicradio.org/content/2008/11/13/20081113_woodward_33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.publicradio.org/content/2008/11/13/20081113_woodward_33.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>In <i>"WTF"</i> news this week, notable journalist Bob Woodward of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Watergate-Scandal-American-History/dp/0894908839?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">"Watergate"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0894908839" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i> fame, came out<i> (no not like that) </i>and said that there is the possibility of a <i>"Barack Obama - Hillary Clinton</i>" ticket in 2012. Hiding behind the infamous <i>"sources say"</i> disclaimer, Woodward recently said it was<i> "on the table"</i> for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Living-History-Hillary-Rodham-Clinton/dp/B0008EH6I2?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hillary Clinton</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0008EH6I2" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> to replace Joe Biden on the 2012 Democratic Presidential ticket. <i><b>WTF Bob ??</b></i> Can we get through the midterm election in a few weeks first before stirring up the pot of division once again in the Democratic party ?<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Usain-Bolt-Story-Worlds-Fastest/dp/000737139X?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=soulrebelprod-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=000737139X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=000737139X" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />Although the White House, Hillary associates, and Hillary herself have discredited this story as being ludicrous and as one source puts it, "the dumbest thing I've ever heard.", Woodward still holds on to the <i>"I wouldn't eliminate it"</i> as a possibility disclaimer. Well, HELL, I wouldn't eliminate me defeating Jamaican 100 meter World Record holder <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Usain-Bolt-Story-Worlds-Fastest/dp/000737139X?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Usain Bolt</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=000737139X" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> in a footrace either, but it's NOT EXACTLY LIKELY to happen.<br />
<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=soulrebelprod-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1439172498&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>The only thing that I can conclude from this <i>WTF, out of left-field </i>supposition is that Bob is simply trying to sell books. With the release of his new book , <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Obamas-Wars-Bob-Woodward/dp/1439172498?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Obama's Wars</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1439172498" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> <i>(you know, the 2 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that Obama himself STARTED )</i>, concerning the division among the Civilian and Military leadership about strategy for the 2 ongoing Middle East wars, Mr. Woodward has been all over the tube doing all sorts of interviews and what would get people talking more than more "Obama-Clinton" drama, after their historic and divisive Democratic Primary fight a couple years ago ? Not that Bob exactly needs the publicity and the extra $$ that it's bound to bring in, but in regard to talk of a "Barack-Hillary" Presidential ticket, I'll simply say "Ignore Bob ... He's just selling books !!"Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-37068209931029318992010-10-04T23:35:00.002-05:002010-10-04T23:41:33.779-05:00ONE NATION ... Got our GROOVE Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://action.onenationworkingtogether.org/page/-/images/march-share.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://action.onenationworkingtogether.org/page/-/images/march-share.jpg" width="320" /></a>In what was built up to liberal antidote to the supposed right-wing exuberance to change Washington back to the bad ole Bush Days, an estimated 175,000 devotees, Democrats, and supporters of the progressive cause gathered on the Washington Mall on Saturday, October 2nd for the <i>"One Nation Working Together"</i> rally. With both mainstream and right-wing media outlets all but guaranteeing the demise of the Democratic Party come November, it was extremely encouraging to see such a large turnout of liberal voters marching, shouting, and chanting enthusiastically about issues such as saving the middle class, <i>jobs, jobs, jobs,</i> education, healthcare, immigration reform and other issues central to the progressive cause.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://images.politico.com/global/news/101002_onenation_rally_v3_ap_605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://images.politico.com/global/news/101002_onenation_rally_v3_ap_605.jpg" width="320" /></a>For the <i>One Nation</i> rally, the morale of the story was this. We, the representatives of the progressive cause in America, have worked entirely too hard to begin tilting the country in a progressive direction to give up the fight now. Though the Democratic party contains a wide tent with a wide variety of views which often result in bitter intra-party squabbles, one thing we must agree on is that it would be absolute LUNACY to drop the ball now, lose momentum, and put the Republicans back in control of either house of Congress. Though many of us liberals may not have gotten all that we want thus far from Obama and the Democratic Congress, and often felt as if our loud progressive voice has not been heard on issues such as comprehensive immigration reform, we must continue the fight and continue grassroots efforts to push the the conversation in Washington in the progressive direction.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://headz.ch/media/bilder/1397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://headz.ch/media/bilder/1397.jpg" /></a>If you believe the polls, the Democratic voting base has been asleep at the wheel and lost a bit of their mojo. Voter apathy from the Democratic base could very well put the progressive cause on life support. However, one thing that the <i>One Nation</i> rally pointed out LOUD & CLEAR, progressives are FINALLY waking up to the cause and realizing that there is still a whole lot at stake and we can't quit the game at halftime. There is still a whole lot to fight for and this rally was instrumental in getting that point across. Quite simply, this rally <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Stella-Got-Groove-Back/dp/B00066FAC6?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Got our Groove Back</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00066FAC6" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> </i>and we the progressive force are NOW on the move. All together now, WE ARE <a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Nation-Under-Groove-Funkadelic/dp/B0001P1HXS?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">ONE NATION UNDER A GROOVE</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0001P1HXS" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> ... getting down for MORE THAN just for the funk of it.</div>Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-21040576564052879642010-09-30T23:44:00.001-05:002010-09-30T23:54:05.469-05:00When will LeBron LeLearn ?Really LeBron ? It was all about race ? Really ?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.cleveland.com/cavs_impact/2009/02/large_lebron_press.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://blog.cleveland.com/cavs_impact/2009/02/large_lebron_press.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The media darling that was LeBron "King" James left this world on July 8, 2010. Prior to that date, the kid from Akron, Ohio with superfreakish athletic skills never before seen on a human being of that size was a media darling from the day he stepped into the national consciousness. The kid said and did all the right things, was a great player, lived up to the enormous hype, stayed out of trouble off the court. In this day and age, that is no small feat for a young individual to be awarded with MILLIONS of dollars at such a young age and not morph into a trainwreck of a person either on or off the court. LeBron was different ... that was until "THE DECISION".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://nimg.sulekha.com/sports/original700/lebrons-decision-basketball-2010-7-8-21-41-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://nimg.sulekha.com/sports/original700/lebrons-decision-basketball-2010-7-8-21-41-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>At the conclusion of an unprecedented NBA Free Agency period, when all everyone could talk about was "will he stay or will he go" in relation to staying with his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, or would he leave the "mistake by the lake" for the bright lights and big city glamor of a New York, Chicago, or Miami. With the exception of MAYBE the "Food Network" (and I think they may have had a "Whopper or Big Mac ? LeBron's Decision" special on earlier :-), virtually every network on planet earth had up to the minute coverage of "what would LeBron decide ?". The culmination of this summer long drama was to be "The Decision", a 1 hour long special on ESPN, where LeBron would undoubtedly say "I've gotten close to the Promiseland with my guys in Cleveland, and I'm staying home to bring a title to my hometown". And the crowd goes wild !! Right ? WRONG !! As you all know by now, in front of millions of eagerly anticipating fans all across the NBA nation, LeBron broke up with his High School Sweetheart, "The Cleveland Cavaliers", and slowly and painfully stated that "I've decided to take my talents to South Beach" and join the Miami Heat, the smoking hot Latina that came along after he got rich and famous. OH NO HE DIDN'T GIRLFRIEND !! OH YES HE DID !!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.opposingviews.com/attachments/0007/0803/cavaliers-fans-burn-lebron-james-jersey-d2938d31f250f9b5_large.jpg?1279737435" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://www.opposingviews.com/attachments/0007/0803/cavaliers-fans-burn-lebron-james-jersey-d2938d31f250f9b5_large.jpg?1279737435" width="320" /></a></div>It was at that very instant that the national attitude towards LeBron James shifted from "media darling" to "coddled, spoiled, unappreciative athlete". The people in his beloved hometown, who loved his very dirty drawers from he was probably in the 7th grade, now HATED HIS FRIGGIN GUTS !! The perception seemed to LITERALLY have changed over night as people largely viewed the way in which his decision was handled as "tacky, unprofessional, uncaring, heartless, all about ME, ME, ME". LBJ went from one of the most beloved athletes of all time to one of it's most hated, in about the time it takes to say "I've decided to take my talents to South Beach". And when it comes to the media, as we have seen time and time again, they seem to take a great amount of pleasure in hyping and building you up and an even greater pleasure in tearing and bringing you down. Just ask Tiger ...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT8jSkKvIRvtPKZRMM4ftCqwg5qmj7Z9hvDmquIiI6cpcL_ouc&t=1&usg=__yQyZzxxuVZgB0uPe7aWPTNiz24Q=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT8jSkKvIRvtPKZRMM4ftCqwg5qmj7Z9hvDmquIiI6cpcL_ouc&t=1&usg=__yQyZzxxuVZgB0uPe7aWPTNiz24Q=" /></a></div>And it is in this most unfamiliar position LeBron now finds himself, where the beloved has become the hated, where the media darling has become the media target, where he who could do no wrong is now he who can't stay out of wrong's way. Now enter CNN's Soledad Obrien. In response to the CNN reporter's question <i>"Do you think there's a role that race plays in this ?"</i> in reference to the harsh treatment LeBron has gotten since "The Decision", LBJ responded <i>"I think so at times. It's always, you know, a race factor."</i>.And the blogosphere and mainstream media-sphere went CRAZY !! <i>"LeBron Blames Race for Backlash", "Lambasted LeBron conveniently sees hurtful role of race"</i>, <i>"LeBron James doing more damage to reputation by pulling out race card"</i>, <i>"Lebron James won't back down from race comment" </i>were but a few of the headlines making front page news in major newspapers and Blogs throughout the nation. In what was a relatively tame and obvious answer to a reporter's question, the mainstream and underground media went absolutely BERSERK saying LeBron is playing the race card, and deflecting blame, and all sorts of over the top reactions.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u114/race_card.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u114/race_card.gif" /></a></div>LeBron simply stated the OBVIOUS in RESPONSE to a question about race which we all know is almost always a factor when talking about mostly inner city, mostly black kids, making mega millions of dollars, playing before mostly white fans, for teams owned by mostly white men (with Michael Jordan being the only exception). He simply responded by saying that there is almost always an undercurrent of race but his response was NOT "they only hate me cause I'm black". THAT is the race card; LeBron did NOT state that, yet still he is being lambasted for blaming his fall from the heights of "media darling-hood" on the infamous, never low on credit "race card" .<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://vectortuts.s3.amazonaws.com/tuts/140_Lebron_Toons/sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://vectortuts.s3.amazonaws.com/tuts/140_Lebron_Toons/sketch.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>So what is different today and what should LeBron learn from this whole experience ? The difference is simply that we are now living in a "Post 7-8-2010 World" , where everything LeBron says can and will be used against him in the court of public opinion. Whatever he says will be magnified tenfold, sliced, diced, mixed, shaken, and stirred in trying to get those words to align with the new image the media is trying to paint of LeBron as the "rich, overpaid, overhyped, Robin to Dwyane Wade's Batman, coat tail rider, heartless, uncaring, 2nd fiddle, point the finger at others, all about ME, ME, ME" persona. The media has sketched the outline of the image they want the public to have of LeBron. Now they simply have to get his every word and every action to fill in the missing shades and colors of their prefabricated image. This is what you must now learn LeBron. Choose your words WISELY !!Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694512572516459101.post-73858286210617090272010-09-28T13:55:00.006-05:002010-09-28T14:49:40.346-05:00Joe Biden was RIGHT ... STOP WHINING LIBERALS !!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSIZnguGK8_olX383s6aAR7xzo0DMSXbuy658APooL2jbMjljg&t=1&usg=__zPICEuI5sZdOOPrabxo47_BeAbY=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSIZnguGK8_olX383s6aAR7xzo0DMSXbuy658APooL2jbMjljg&t=1&usg=__zPICEuI5sZdOOPrabxo47_BeAbY=" /></a></div>Yesterday, VPOTUS Joe Biden raised a lotta eyebrows and caught a bit of heat from some on the left who got all "pissy pants" because the ever so eloquent and often not tactful and gaff prone Vice President stated that the progressive liberal base of the party should "STOP WHINING" in reference to what they perceive as not enough change in the 2 years since the Obama Administration has been in office. To put the quote in full context so I don't misrepresent the VP's thoughts, Biden urged Democrats to <i>"remind our base constituency to stop whining and get out there and look at the alternatives. This president has done an incredible job. He's kept his promises."</i> Some may have taken this the wrong way but I know PRECISELY what the Vice President was saying and I 100% agree with this sentiment.<br />
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I've written before on this BLOG, about <a href="http://www.politrixandtings.com/2010/09/lunacy-of-not-voting.html">"The LUNACY of NOT VOTING"</a> as many on the left are planning to sit out the midterm election in November because the change they voted for in 2008 has not come fast enough. I certainly understand the sentiment of not been pleased with the progress that has been made since Obama and 'dem took over control in Washington but I am capable of putting things in their proper perspective.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://petersantilli.com/wp-content/themes/thesis_17/custom/rotator/great-depression.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="http://petersantilli.com/wp-content/themes/thesis_17/custom/rotator/great-depression.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Point #1, there was a tremendous hole on all fronts in terms of an economy spiraling downwards towards "Great Depression - The Sequel - NOW IN COLOR" , a federal budget deficit expanding out of control, 2 ongoing wars in the Middle East, health care costs rising exponentially, and a host of other problems that make me wonder WHY IN THE HELL would anyone want to be President ? Point #2, politics is all about negotiation among often competing interests and it is natural in the midst of such negotiations for both sides to feel as if they didn't get what they really wanted. Point #3, the Republican minority has been as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Committed/dp/B000W2745K?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">committed </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000W2745K" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />as the reggae group <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Committed/dp/B000W2745K?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">"Third World"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000W2745K" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> (excuse the obscure reference but I love their song <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Committed/dp/B000W2745K?ie=UTF8&tag=soulrebelprod-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">"I'm Committed"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=soulrebelprod-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000W2745K" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />) and determined to bring the Obama Administration down by opposing and obstructing EVERYTHING they have tried to accomplish. Put all of this in context and you'll soon realize that many of the items on your wishlist of what you've wanted President Obama and the Democratic majority to accomplish have run up against very strong road blocks and it is through necessary deal-making and negotiation where some of what you've fought so hard for has been watered down and not fully representative of the progressive future you have worked so hard for.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pottokettle.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/bush-crying-baby.jpg?w=239&h=300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://pottokettle.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/bush-crying-baby.jpg?w=239&h=300" /></a></div>However, it is important to realize the progress that has been made in the liberal progressive direction and not "take your ball and go home" at this point. Change takes time and is retarded even more by Republicans (pun intended) who refuse to cooperate and work together in ANY WAY to tackle the nation's challenges. Their solution to EVERYTHING begins and ends with tax cuts. If you ask them what's the cure for cancer, they will say "tax cuts". If you ask them what's 2+2, they will way "tax cuts". If you ask them how do we solve global warming they will first say "tax cuts" then state THEIR FACT that it's nothing but a "liberal myth" to raise taxes. Yes, that is what we're working with or rather against so change will be increasingly difficult.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgds5s7zTDAIZC6IupJSbXsYmTlKQ8SxzNxcShzJ53JgXQVUmrmiqQ9jKr1-t9X0nHwAeHam5csQWLH-J_EXa5NJkJ8p-1TCcMWFM3reuWLVmG0uHKt_bX4kkXjt9bl6_O8SjOfu5hlAFQ/s320/emotional_eating-727434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgds5s7zTDAIZC6IupJSbXsYmTlKQ8SxzNxcShzJ53JgXQVUmrmiqQ9jKr1-t9X0nHwAeHam5csQWLH-J_EXa5NJkJ8p-1TCcMWFM3reuWLVmG0uHKt_bX4kkXjt9bl6_O8SjOfu5hlAFQ/s320/emotional_eating-727434.jpg" /></a></div>BUT if we give up now, and sit out this election and somehow allow more Republicans to enter the Senate and the House and further pollute and obstruct legislative progress, the change that you've fought so hard for will come to a screeching halt and in many cases they'll press the CTRL-Z button (nerd reference) button to undo what has been done to march towards our progressive future. So, YES , if you plan to sit out this November election then I encourage you to STOP WHINING about not getting your whole slice of cake and celebrate the fact that you've got the ingredients for the cake, you've mixed it together, the oven is warm, and you're bought to put that delicious cake in the oven. NOW STOP WHINING, VOTE, AND GET READY TO EAT YOUR DAMN CAKE !!Dubwisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01808567401273724408noreply@blogger.com0