Final Appeal

The campaign is drawing to a close, and may in fact be a forlorn hope.



Money quote:

Don't Hope for a stronger America, vote for one!

Barack Obama, The Early Years

Lowered expectations...

What starts at $250,000 and drops down to $150,000? The Obama bin Biden line of demarcation between the wealthy and the middle class... At this rate, the line will be $50,000 by inauguration day.

Biden at Mass

Seen at American Papist...

`Nuff said:

Phillies!

It appears that Tampa indeed did suck it.

Democracy, every 20 years

I live in Connecticut. Every 20 years our constitution requires the following question on the ballot:

Shall there be a Constitutional Convention to amend or revise the Constitution of the state?

That's it. A simple Yes or No. But it's not so simple. The group leading the charge for Yes wants to bring initiative and referenda to the Land of Steady Habits. The groups opposed say that initiatives and referenda will lead to outside money coming into Connecticut. And to prove it they are bringing in outside money by the bucket load. According to news reports, the "no" folks - as of the end of September - had collected over $800,000... some $300,000 was from the National Education Association. The "yes" folks had raised all of $12,000.

It seems everyone who's afraid of the voters clearing their throats in order to be heard is arrayed against this vote. Take a look at the list of organizations who oppose the question. It runs from the ACLU of Connecticut to the Windsor Democratic town committee. In between there is a slew of unions (including mine) and other groups, including some you've never heard of. "Queers without Borders?" "Liberals Like Christ"? (is that as in "similar to Christ" or as in "we like Ike" like?). The Connecticut Trial Lawyers association is there as well. Just perusing the list would have made me want to vote Yes.

These groups are concerned that initiative and referenda would make Connecticut - one of the bluest of Blue states - a hot bed of conservative nuts. You know, just like California and Massachusetts, two of the 31 other states who have initiative and referenda.So I say vote Yes. Let's have a full up, no kidding Constitutional convention. A convention could be dangerous - anything could find it's way in or out of our current constitution. Scary things like term limits even.

Amazing landing

What to do when aerobatics cause your wing to 'become separated from the fuselage'?

This guy knows!

Wizards of Washington

Seen at Theo Spark's place... The Wizards of Washington:



"We're not in Alaska anymore, Toto!"

Writers Block

From ABC's website (!?!) comes a piece by Michael S. Malone (he of the silicon valley writings).

He is now officially ashamed of the media.

But worst of all, for the last couple weeks,I've begun -- for the first time in my adult life -- to be embarrassed to admit what I do for a living. A few days ago, when asked by a new acquaintance what I did for a living, I replied that I was "a writer," because I couldn't bring myself to admit to a stranger that I'm a journalist.

Think about that. Here's the "about the author" bit from the end of this piece at ABC:

Michael S. Malone is one of the nation's best-known technology writers. He has covered Silicon Valley and high-tech for more than 25 years, beginning with the San Jose Mercury News as the nation's first daily high-tech reporter. His articles and editorials have appeared in such publications as The Wall Street Journal, the Economist and Fortune, and for two years he was a columnist for The New York Times. He was editor of Forbes ASAP, the world's largest-circulation business-tech magazine, at the height of the dot-com boom. Malone is the author or co-author of a dozen books, notably the best-selling "Virtual Corporation." Malone has also hosted three public television interview series, and most recently co-produced the celebrated PBS miniseries on social entrepreneurs, "The New Heroes." He has been the ABCNews.com "Silicon Insider" columnist since 2000.

Malone may not be the ultimate insider, but he's clearly a card-carrying member of the MSM.

Here is his key point:

No, what I object to (and I think most other Americans do as well) is the lack of equivalent hardball coverage of the other side -- or worse, actively serving as attack dogs for the presidential ticket of Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Joe Biden, D-Del.

If the current polls are correct, we are about to elect as president of the United States a man who is essentially a cipher, who has left almost no paper trail, seems to have few friends (that at least will talk) and has entire years missing out of his biography.

That isn't Sen. Obama's fault: His job is to put his best face forward. No, it is the traditional media's fault, for it alone (unlike the alternative media) has had the resources to cover this story properly, and has systematically refused to do so.

Why, for example to quote the lawyer for Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., haven't we seen an interview with Sen. Obama's grad school drug dealer -- when we know all about Mrs. McCain's addiction? Are Bill Ayers and Tony Rezko that hard to interview? All those phony voter registrations that hard to scrutinize? And why are Sen. Biden's endless gaffes almost always covered up, or rationalized, by the traditional media?

While I do hold BO responsible for some of this (see the strong arm tactics against dissenters, Joe the Plumber, etc), Malone hits this one right on the money. There is no way BO would have stood up to a tenth of the scrutiny that McCain, and especially Palin, have endured. Can you imagine the wails from the media if John McCain had simply issued a one page letter from his doctor? But it's OK for The One.

As the saying goes, read the whole thing.

Dean Barnett, RIP

I have just learned that Dean Barnett has just passed away.

I first read him at his soxblog, then followed him to the big leagues at Hugh Hewitt's blog and then The Weekly Standard.

I loved his writing style. I regret I never heard him - and his Boston accent - on the radio.

"Well done, good and faithful servant!"

All Hail The One

Too good not to post! Seen over at Theo Spark's place:

Phillies up 3 games to 1

It looks like my declaration of Phillies allegiance just might pay off.

And don't look now, but the injury riddled Patriots are 5-2... Up next: The Colts... In Indy.

Halloweeen

Happy Halloween, from Theo Spark:

London, 1904 edition

Incredible. A clip of London from 1904. I saw this over at Powerline. It's from a movie that was made to entice Australians to travel to England. And that would have been no small feat in 1904.

London, 104 years ago, sadly before sound and color (colour?)... but happily before Londonistan:

World Series

So the Tampa Ray Bays (Mike Ditka should copyright that) and the Phillies are tied... and I was still 'conflicted' about who to root for. But a dedicated Red Sox blogger has changed all that for me. Put me in the Phillies camp. Texas Gal is pulling for the Phillies and blows away one of the few reasons I had for tepidly rooting for the Rays.

I could give two shits about whether the AL wins the series - I have no loyalty to any team other than the Sox, much less will I ever feel compelled to root for a team simply because they were arbitrarily placed in the same league and division as my team. Tampa can suck it.

Texas Gal's blog has quickly become one of my favorite Red Sox blogs... It's wicked good. Go visit!

23 October, 1983

The Reagans pay final respect to US Marines from Beirut

I am a day late in observing the 25th anniversary of the attack on the Marine barracks in Beirut.

The global war on terror started, in my opinion, when the Iranians occupied our embassy in Tehran. The Iranians continued their war against us - including this attack in 1983. We cut and run. Reagan should have gone after the Hezbos then and there. Instead we reinforced the lessons the terrorists learned when they took our diplomats hostage: Terrorism works, or at least is low risk. The list of subsequent terror attacks in Lebanon and around the world culminated with 9-11.

25 years ago today I was in Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB. I was near the end of basic, and allowed the minor freedom of going to a recreation center for Coke and junk food. Several Marines where there. And a television. And idiot talking heads. I was mad. As I commented elsewhere:

...and for the first time in my life I saw barely contained Righteous Fury. It wouldn't be too long before I really understood the combination of anger (at the attacker and "higher ups") and the twinge of 'survivor guilt' (an unreasonable emotion if you've done your duty, but if you do your duty you're more likely to feel it, in my opinion).

We continue to honor their memory, even as many have forgotten, and would treat with their murderers "without pre-condition".

We cut and run then, and it brought us 18 years of grief. Soon our nation will elect Barack Obama president. You do the math.

McCain Ad

Thanks, Joe!!

The lapdog media

Via RedState: Orson Scott Card schools the media in "Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights?"

An open letter to the local daily paper — almost every local daily paper in America:

I remember reading All the President's Men and thinking: That's journalism. You do what it takes to get the truth and you lay it before the public, because the public has a right to know.

This housing crisis didn't come out of nowhere. It was not a vague emanation of the evil Bush administration.

It was a direct result of the political decision, back in the late 1990s, to loosen the rules of lending so that home loans would be more accessible to poor people. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were authorized to approve risky loans.

What is a risky loan? It's a loan that the recipient is likely not to be able to repay.

The goal of this rule change was to help the poor — which especially would help members of minority groups. But how does it help these people to give them a loan that they can't repay? They get into a house, yes, but when they can't make the payments, they lose the house — along with their credit rating.

They end up worse off than before.

This was completely foreseeable and in fact many people did foresee it. One political party, in Congress and in the executive branch, tried repeatedly to tighten up the rules. The other party blocked every such attempt and tried to loosen them.

As they say in the blogosphere - RTWT

Worst Playground Design. Ever.

Who could have possibly thought that an enclosed slide like this would be a good idea? Especially one that's un-circumcised?

From the not so good folks at Fail Blog:

Larceny

Stolen from the Coalition of the Swilling:

Reluctantly

Go Rays...., or something...

Well... I've always been an AL kind of guy. About the only times I've pulled for the NL team has been for the Dodgers (the Kirk Gibson series) and almost anytime the Yankees were in it (but not every time).

The thing is I'd be happy for the Phillies fans if they won it too...

Just when I think I'm reconciled, I come across this: The Top 10 Reasons to Despise the Rays.

Back to indecision...

Update

10/25/2008: With the series tied no one can accuse me of band wagoning. I now declare my support for the Phillies.

It's Over

The Rays win it. I haven't decided if I should "rally to the AL cause", or be bitter and embrace the Phillies. I guess I'll have to console my self with the Patriots... oh, wait....

Even at 3

Sox take game 6, 4-2. I should have known... Texas Gal at Center Field reported that during batting practice, Big Papi:

...was taking batting practice, he crushed a ball to deep right-center field, some 430 feet from home plate and deposited a ball into the fish tank with live Rays in it.

He put his arms in the air and screamed "I just killed a Ray."

Not Dead Yet

For obvious reasons today:

Incredible, but Rays still lead 3-2

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays hadn't blown a lead bigger than 3 runs all season.

Until last night/this morning. 7 run lead. League Chamopnship on the line... At Fenway... as summarized by our friends at soxnation.net:

Thin skinned Frogs

I guess when they aren't putting out car fires lit by "youths" or opposing the creep of English words into their language, the French actually play sports.

Until someone whistles during their national anthem:

Football matches in France will be called off immediately if spectators jeer during the French national anthem, says the country's sports minister.

France's national anthem was booed in Tuesday's friendly win over Tunisia.

"Any match at which our national anthem is whistled at will be immediately stopped," said Roselyne Bachelot.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said the booing was "insulting" and that in the event of a repeat it would be necessary "to call off matches".

"It's insulting for France, it's insulting for the players of the French team, it should not be tolerated," he added.

"I think we should stop the matches when the anthems, whichever they are, are booed."

Now I happen to think that it's bush league to boo a country's national anthem. Especially if said country is hosting the event. And I also think France has a darn good, stirring national anthem. Far better, in fact, than the deserve. But calling off a game? And now Sarko wants an investigation? WTF? Just what are they going to do when they find out they get booed because some people don't like them?

Has anyone noted that calling off a game = conceding victory? Wait, this is France... Conceding victory doesn't hurt your resume...

Down 3 games to 1

While we have been here before... this is not 2004. This is more like how I expected the Angels series to go.

We prepare for the worst while we hope for the best.

The New Dollar

By way of Israel Matzav:

Why should the USAF have all the fun?

Kevin at Exurban League posts today about a ready to fly RC (remote control) kit. What's so newsworthy about it? It's a model of the Predator:



For a mere $125 plus shipping and handling, this baby could be yours!

And yes - This is the droid you are looking for. Checkout the video:

Series tied at 1

After last night's marathon of pitching mediocrity, and subsequent Sox loss, I roamed the innertubes looking for consolation. I washed up on the shores of Theo Spark's Flickr page. Where I saw this beauty from almost 2 years ago... I still find it uplifting...

Red Sox v Rays

Daisuke Matsuzaka started the game with 3 walks in the first, but took a no hitter into the 7th, as the Red Sox took game 1 2-0 over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Which makes these T-shirts even more ironic... put on sale before the ALCS by the Rays Shop at mlb.com... I guess putting "AL East Champions 2008" on the shirt wasn't enough for them:

41 Years Ago Today

The Bolivians "Did the Work American weren't willing to do".

Che was executed, then this picture was taken:

Angels and devils

Once again, from soxnation.net.

And a flashback from last year:

Your daily economic update

`Nuff said. Stolen without remorse from Theo Spark

ALCS

Stolen from the fine folks at soxnation.net.

Lester goes 7 strong innings... but mistakes by Okie and Masterson opened the door. But some guy named J-Bay...

And since I was remiss in posting after their loss the other night, I direct you to soxaholic for your daily comic strip needs.

Up 2-0

The Red Sox have beaten the Angels in game 2... thanks to a 9th inning home run from JD Drew:



Big Papi doesn't seem to mind someone else doing the late inning heroics.

Game 3 Sunday Night at Fenway. I feel for the Angels fans. I really do. I've seen "that look" before. So often, it was a look worn by the Fenway Faithful many times. It even pained me to see it on St. Louis fans in 2004.

Sorry Angels fans, the rally monkey was a no show against the Sox. Again.

Fannie and Freddy are orphans

Q: Will any one point the finger where it belongs?

A: The National Republican Congressional Committee has:

Why is Piper smiling?

Maybe because it's just the kind of kid she is. But maybe, just maybe, she's thinking "Get your photo op now, you bastard. My mommy just kicked your butt."

Photo stolen without shame from Flopping Aces.

An Obama Youth Rehearsal

From the incredibly creepy video department. Barack Obama inspired drill team, or something.

They enter to the chant of 'Alpha-Omega'... as in BO's the Alhpa and Omega?

"Because of Barack Obama, I'm posting this video!"

Red Sox Win Game 1... and Pats News

So the Red Sox have beaten the California Los Angeles Anaheim Los Angeles at Anaheim Angels... for the 10th playoff game in a row. I was very worried going into this game...

I check for early summaries to catch up on the early innings I missed, and what do I see at Yahoo sports? Al Freakin' Davis... not content to run his football gulag into the ground, he has to reach up from his scooter to drag my Pats down? Mr. Davis, at long last, have you no decency sir?

Patriots coach Bill Belichick denied Wednesday the claim by Raiders owner Al Davis that New England had a workout with Randy Moss before obtaining him in a trade with Oakland.

Davis said Tuesday that the Patriots had tampered with Moss before the deal in April 2007 that brought the wide receiver to the Patriots for a fourth-round choice that year on the weekend of the NFL draft.

“I’ve told the story about Randy many, many times,” Belichick said in a conference call with members of the media covering the 49ers, “and the first time I ever talked to Randy was the Sunday morning of the second day of the draft last year.

“So that’s the first time I met him. That’s the first time I talked to him. There was no workout. There was no other contact with him.”

Davis made the tampering accusation after ending a news conference in which he announced the firing of coach Lane Kiffin.

I think it's time that the Commissioner of the NFL sits down with Al and explains a few things - namely when you fire someone with a contract you have to pay him (I think Davis still owes money to Shanahan for Pete's sake)... and secondly, your crazy Hitler in the Bunker management style is killing the team and harming the league.

I hope Kiffin gets a job at a good Division 1 school. A switch to NCAA would probably be a good fit for him.

And Al? Hands of my Patriots, you fetid freak.