Creature Pelosi: Do As I Say, Not As I Do.

On Friday, dem House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (second in the line of succession to the presidency) announced that she's going to start cracking down on Congressional travel perks, forcing members to start flying coach and not permitting them to take along spouses on the government's dime (first link below). This from an individual who racked up $2.1 million using Air Force jets in 2008 and 2009, including (1) $101,429.14 for in-flight expenses for alcohol and food and (2) 31 trips in which Pelosi family members traveled along (second link below). Who does this person think she is, anyway? A monarch? A dictator? Because that's most certainly how she acts on a daily basis. If you happened to need a weekend dose of "p-a-t-h-e-t-h-i-c," there you have it.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37274.html
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=123472

Get a Load of This Loony Lineup Topping Tonight's Politico.com! Here's a Question: Who's the Biggest Nut of This Bunch?

Politico's story (linked at bottom) concerns how Sarah "Sister Sledgehammer" Palin (Politico's nickname) is targeting a number of female and male dems nationwide for defeat in the 2010 House and Senate elections (with her primary focus on the House). So what about my question -- The Biggest Nut of this Bunch?

Actually, I don't know a great deal about the three pictured dems (pictured above from left are dem House members Betsy Markey of Colorado and Debbie Halvorson of Illinois, followed by Palin obviously and then Missouri's dem Secretaty of State Robin Carnahan, who's running for U.S. Senate) -- Carnahan is the only one of the three dems whom I've even heard of before. As a result of my ignorance, My Biggest Nut in the Bunch prize will have to go to Palin.

Make no mistake, nothing I've sporadically seen or heard from Carnahan has ever impressed me, and the odds are that Markey & Halvorson are, at a minimum, your typical garden variety lock-step DC liberals or, at a maximum, part of the hateful, leftist progressive movement that controls the dem party. But since Palin is the only one of this motley crew with whom I'm overly familiar, she gets my vote for biggest nut.

And it's a well-deserved honor. Over the last year-and-a-half, without the reins of the McCain campaign muzzling her, Palin in my view has become an increasingly nutty, zany, high-pitched, cartoon character of a deranged right-winger, and most certainly not someone for whom I could ever vote for president. Sorry, tea partiers, but she is simply not presidential material: I've recently been prone to calling Obama's behavior non-presidential, and so you can see that I have absolutely no problem calling it both ways. Now, I still very much respect Palin's (1) hot appearance, (2) smalltown background, (3) over-the-top ability to reduce the progressives' playbook to first-grade-style playground insults, and (4) shrewd ability to become rich off her own name. That's Stuff's America, Baby! But I could never vote for her, as expressed.

And a final comment: I didn't much care for Palin's rant yesterday warning republicans not to move to the center to try to win the Independents, because (she says) the Independents will move to the conservatives if only conservatives strictly adhere to their doctrinaire, totem-pole ideology. Sorry Sarah: While many of us Independents may vote republican at the federal level in November in order to restore a much needed measure of power balance to DC, we ain't lining up to join your party or your ilk anytime soon! I think Aerosmith said it best on this front: DREAM ON!

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37285.html

The Missouri Missing Crisis? Big 12 Commish, Member Schools Aim to Confront Missouri, Nebraska About Their Desire to Stay in theBig 12 Conference.

Big 12 Conference Commish Dan Beebe is talkin' tough, indicating that Missouri and Nebraska officials (who have not so quietly been looking into the possibility of a jump to the Big 10) are in for a real grilling next month at the conference's annual meeting in Kansas City. Said Beebe to 810 WHB radio over the past day: "I think we need to come to terms with that when we meet in Kansas City. I think we need to have a very frank conversation about where we’re going and who’s going to be on the plane when we take off. I will be very direct."

Could Missouri and Nebraska be in for an Adlai Stevenson/UN/Cuban Missile Crisis-style ambush (pictured above) at next month's meeting? That's in reference to 1962, during the height of that crisis, when Stevenson (US Ambassador to the UN), on the UN floor, directly confronted the Soviet representative on whether the Soviets were placing missiles in Cuba. One can envision an exchange that might go something like this for Missouri athletic director Mike Alden:

-Beebe: "Alden, do you deny, Sir, that your university has every desire in the world to bolt from this conference and join the Big 10?"

-Alden: "I'm not in a position to comment on that subject."

-Beebe: "Do you deny, Sir, that Missouri has been making every effort to impress the Big 10 and to garner an invitation to that conference?"

-Alden: "I had difficulty hearing that question. Can the secretary read it back?"

-Beebe: "No, no! Don't wait for my question to be read back. You heard me. You answer 'yes' or 'no'!"

-Alden: [Shakes his head, refusing to answer.]

-Beebe: "Sir, I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over!"

-Then Beebe trots out some surveillance photos showing Alden entering a Chicago restaurant with the Big 10 Commissioner, and things only deteriorate from there...

Should be a fascinating meeting next month. (BTW, the entire Stevenson/UN incident upon which the above is based is very well depicted in the 2000 motion picture Thirteen Days, with actor Michael Fairman in the role of Stevenson).

http://www.kcconfidential.com/?p=15800#more-15800

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adlai_Stevenson

Pot Meet Kettle: Top DC Dem Steny Hoyer Accuses GOP of Being Pushed Too Far to the Right. A Dem Accusing Others of Extremism! That's Choice.

As linked at bottom, today House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) (second in command to that wonderfully "Nice Lady," Nancy Pelosi) purported to provide a little friendly advice to his adversaries on the right, warning that the Tea Party Movement could be doing harm to the republican party (of course it wasn't intended as advice at all, but rather was just the latest left-wing blast against the tea partiers). Said Hoyer: "I think the Tea Party folks are pushing the republican party to an even narrower base, which I ultimately think will not be something that the Independents believe is a good thing for the country . . . I think the republican party now has the narrowest base that I have ever seen for the republican party."

Of course, Hoyer at least comes within a mile or two of an ounce of truth in those statements. There is little doubt that the tea party movement is a conservative-dominated movement, which has resulted in many Independents (such as myself) having no desire to get involved with them despite a fair amount of substantive common ground on a number of issues (at least within the economic realm). But are the tea partiers so off-putting in their conservatism that Independents are just being repulsed by them or by their close connection to the republican party? In a word, No. That's what dems like Hoyer want to ultimately accomplish with statements like those today, but it's simply not occurring. Poll after poll for at least 9-10 months now have demonstrated that Independents who voted for Obama & The Dems in 2008 have been running from that side faster than the University of Missouri from the Big 12 Conference. And frankly, I don't see that changing too much between now and November. If anything, that trend will only accentuate.

Final thoughts: The unmitigated nerve of one of these top-dog dems to accuse any other party of being too extremist and as having a tiny-tent base is like a Mississippi $hithouse accusing an Alabama $hithouse of forgetting to use its deodorant. Hoyer: You are a part of federal dem machine in DC, controlled by far leftist progressives, that has driven the federal government farther to either extreme (by far) than I have ever witnessed in my almost four decades on this planet. You insult the intelligence of the American people with your statements today. And as I first said on Sunday Bloody Sunday, and have oft-repeated since -- we Independents will see your ilk come November.

http://congress.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/05/11/hoyer-says-tea-party-is-narrowing-the-republican-base/

ENOUGH ALREADY of Political Clowns Like Obama & Schwarzenegger Joking Around & Making Light of the Very Dire Arizona Immigration Situation.

(Link below to the latest -- Schwarzenegger's crass & unfunny attempt at humor). Feel free to have bona fide concerns with the language of Arizona's new immigration law. From what I've read, I have concerns as well (although, as a non-Arizona resident, I have not bothered to spend the time to actually try to read and digest the language of the new statute -- Tell me something, have you?). But for prominent politicians like Obama and Schwarzenegger to try to tell trite little jokes about Arizona's immigration situation completely makes light of and mindlessly ignores what has become a very serious situation there with widespread illegal immigrant-related murders and kidnappings, not to mention Arizona very quickly and alarmingly transforming into the most porous border for illegal crossings amongst the border states.

Are Obama and Schwarzenegger making any real attempts to find solutions to these problems, such as a two-pronged approach of (1) stiffening up on illegal border crossings and (2) finding a reasonable solution and path to American citizenry for the illegal Mexican immigrants who are currently within the United States? Of course not. Instead, they're just laughing off the situation.
P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C! Not that I'd expect much more from Obama, but Schwarzenegger really disappoints me here.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20004676-503544.html

OUCH! "Kimbo Sliced" Last Weekend? The Notorious Mixed Martial Artist Gets His A$$ Kicked Yet Again: Just a Few Observations...

(Link below to story about Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson being dominated by lightly regarded MMA fighter (and former NFL'er) Matt Mitrione this past weekend). First I say that I rarely tread into the world of sports commentary, because the guys & gals who inhabit that realm are completely devoted to that world and absolutely know their stuff (much more so, in my experience, than all the blowhards out there who try to comment on political issues), whereas I'm just a rabid, yet passing observer, of the sports world. That said, I have been fascinated by and have casually observed the Internet sensation that has been known as mixed martial artist Kimbo Slice. After all, Americans love a supposed bad ass. And Kimbo made his beans street-fightin' in Florida and only losing once amongst all of his various street fights, as very well documented on YouTube (although I've never watched one -- read on...).

I personally grew up absolutely loving the over-the-top bombastic world of professional wrestling as well as the sweet (yet very brutal) science of boxing. But I've never warmed up to mixed martial arts. Simply put, I don't much care to watch the sight of a man who has been knocked down having another man jump on top of him and pound the living daylights out of his skull. Frankly, I find the same rather repulsive and sub-human. But that's just me. I fully realize that MMA has a HUGE audience nationwide, and I'm cool with that, even if it's not my cup of tea. But as indicated above, as a dude who does enjoy a certain amount of violent sport in his life, I am (just like so many Americans) capivated by image and reputation of the alleged bad ass.

And so it is that I have followed Slice's "career" from the written word. I frankly have not cared to watch even one of his street fights or MMA matches, but I have followed his results. What I see is a man who is now 36 years old and is suddenly trying to transition into the world of MMA. In case you haven't noticed, the top-of-the-line MMA fighters are amongst the true bad asses of this world -- Not only extremely tough and violent men, but highly trained in fighting and defending against multiple fighting styles. As much as I do not care for watching their sport, these men are true professionals, most of whom have labored day-in, day-out, all day long, in their endeavor for many, many years. That's a tough world to hack your way into for a 36-year-old street fighter like Slice. And so I don't find it surprising that he has very much struggled trying to enter that world at his age. But might there be another way?

Although again, I've never watched any of Kimbo's "work" and instead have only read about it, I would assume that his exemplary street fighting record was largely a result of the fact that he's very heavy-handed, as they say, meaning dude can really throw a punch. As such, perhaps he should try his hand in the world of professional boxing, where it seems (if you can swat), you're never too old to have that famous "puncher's chance" in any given fight. The Immortal George Foreman was perhaps the best illustration of this principle. So I think, now that Kimbo has been officially given his walking papers from the UFC, he might want to consider boxing while his name can still garner a bit of jack and publicity. That window will totally close before too long, after all. And I can't imagine he wants to return to the street fightin' scene, since I think he's garnered about as much as one human being can from that world.

http://sickhop.com/2010/05/09/kimbo-gets-sliced-tkod-in-second-round-ufc-fight/

Episode 5 Tonight of "What Chilli Wants" on VH1: Chilli Absolutely Bares Her Soul to Try to Find the Right Path.

(If you're not familiar with this show, try this primer: http://independentrage.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-reality-show-what-chilli-wants.html)

Nutshell synopsis: In the most emotionally charged episode yet, Chilli (at Tionna's suggestion) visits a professional therapist and, following a heart-wrenching session, Chilli really seems to have gotten at the core of why she's lacked success finding a man and puts in place a new action plan for going forward.

Segment 1: Following the blow-up between Chilli and Tionna at the end of last week's episode, the two meet at Chilli's house the next morning for a workout. Chilli indicates that she's still a bit pissed, but also says she's open to re-evaluating her dependence upon her "Chilli Checklist" (her stringent list of attributes that her man must have). Tionna thinks that Chilli could benefit from seeing a professional therapist, and Chilli seems agreeable. There will be no more dates for Chilli for now, says Tionna, since Tionna concludes that Chilli should focus on her own issues first. Then they start their workout (with Chilli indicating outside Tionna's hearing that since Chilli is still a little mad about the previous night, Chilli's really "gonna work her out"). First jumping jacks, then light weights, then pushups. Both Chilli and Tionna are working hard. Then Chilli says, "So let's get to the workout." Tionna observes, "That wasn't it?"

The segment then switches to a TLC photo shoot with Chilli and T-Boz. This brief opportunity to get away from the regular events of "What Chilli Wants" seems to be a refreshing change for Chilli. She vents a bit about Tionna to T-Boz, noting that Tionna's "ass is 25" and complaining about Tionna "pissing [her] off" at the end of the last episode. Chilli confides in T-Boz that she has agreed to Tionna's suggestion for Chilli to see a therapist, and then jokes that Tionna should see one too: "She needs some damn help!" (couldn't we all, BTW -- nothing wrong with that!)

Segment 2: Tionna has Chilli meet with a couple who's been together almost 50 years. They are referred to as Ms. Annie and Mr. Ralph. The purpose of the meeting is so that Chilli can meet and interact with two people who have found "true, everlasting love." Ms. Annie reveals that the key to her relationship with Mr. Ralph was "learning to compromise" (saying that there were always certain things about him that she didn't really like). Mr. Ralph then offers his own views on what makes a lasting relationship: "When you find a soulmate, they become your best friend, and there's nothing you wouldn't do for each other." Then Ms. Annie lends some advice specific to Chilli, telling Chilli that she won't find all the qualities she wants in any given man, but that if she can find a man totally devoted to a lasting relationship with her, then she should be able to let go of some of that control that is indicative of her Chilli Checklist.

In the second half of this segment, Chilli has dinner with her son Tron. Chilli looks forward to when Tron is a bit older and starts dating young women, and she's grooming him for those future days. Chilli notes that she has "dibs on Sasha Obama" as a potential future date for Tron. She also advises him (as almost any good mother -- or father, for that matter -- would) not to smack when he eats. She also gives him the advice that if he does nice things for a young lady, and if the young lady does not appreciate that, then he has probably met the wrong young lady. Then, as an apparent surprise to both Chilli and Tron, Tron's dad (and music producer) Dallas Austin shows up out of the blue. It's a nice moment, because Tron loves to see his dad, and despite the fact that things never worked out between Chilli and Austin, she does credit him for being a "great father" to Tron.

Segment 3: Chilli, with Tionna tagging along, meets with therapist Dr. Tiffany Davis. Near the start of the session, Dr. Davis asks Tionna to excuse herself for a little while so that Dr. Davis and Chilli can have a real heart-to-heart. After Tionna exits, Dr. Davis asks Chilli to talk about her past boyfriends. Chilli starts with Tron's father, Dallas Austin, with whom Chilli was first involved at around age 20 as a member of TLC. As indicated in this report's title, Chilli absolutely bares her soul at this point. She says that early on in their relationship, Chilli got pregnant. During this period, Chilli was very scared and felt that she lacked support. The voices around her were tugging her in the direction of not going forward with the pregnancy, since she was only 20 and in a hot group, whose success might be jeopardized by a nine-month pregnancy and the motherhood that would follow.

Chilli then reveals that she gave in and broke to that pressure and decided to have (and did have) an abortion. Chilli cries, further revealing that this ordeal "broker her spirit" and really "messed her up." She says that thereafter, she didn't "feel like I'm my strong self anymore." She says she very much regrets having the abortion and says that she cries almost every day since about her decision. Chilli also says that she tried her best to make up for what she believes was a bad decision by devoting herself to having a child with Austin (which obviously led to Tron's birth). Finally, she says that things just never worked out between herself and Austin since "he was always true to himself" and "I wasn't try to myself" during their relationship.

Chilli then talks briefly about her relationship with Usher. She says that she loved him, but that he just wasn't working as a long-term relationship. Ultimately, she found him to be a guy with whom she just couldn't live for the rest of her life. The segment concludes with Chilli agreeing with the therapist that Chilli is willing, in her future relationship endeavors, to "go outside the comfort zone" supplied by her Chilli Checklist if she meets a man who is also willing to depart from his own comfort zone (seems like Ms. Annie's advice of "learning to compromise" has begun to sink in).

Final segment: Dr. Davis and Chilli bring Tionna back into the room. Dr. Davis reveals to Tionna that there is "good news," since Dr. Davis and Chilli have gotten at some real issues and have found a way of going forward. They discuss how Chilli's Checklist resulted from a "place of hurt" in Chilli's life, meaning that following failed attempts by Chilli to "led with her heart" in relationships (such as with Austin and Usher), Chilli threw out the heart and completely "led with her head", resulting in the creation of and adherence to the Chilli Checklist. Chilli says that she is willing to consider a serious relationship with a man who does not meet all the attributes of her Checklist, i.e. she is willing to start opening her heart again, in addition to following her head, when it comes to the men in her life. End of episode.

Quick final thought: While I've always been personally skeptical of professional therapists and the good they truly do for those who visit them, I have to say that Dr. Davis really seemed to be a professional on the top of her game. She very quickly appeared to get the root of Chilli's angst and to offer constructive potential solutions to the same. I was impressed. Best of luck to Chilli and Tionna going forward as they work on instituting the new action plan that resulted from this episode!

Preview segment to upcoming episodes: Tionna sets Chilli up with some dude named "Farmer D" (or "Farmer Dee" -- I don't think they put the spelling on the screen, much like my Dolvette/Dalvette quandary from earlier in the series!). At any rate, Farmer D seems like a real trip, and I can't wait to see that one! Also, Tionna organizes a multi-dude "mixer" so that Chilli can meet a number of guys at the same time. I've loved this series from the outset, and the remaining episodes, I'm sure, will not disappoint!

"Rock Star" President?Or Conservative, Grouchy Old Curmudgeon?

In comments today, "US President Barack Obama lamented Sunday that in the iPad and Xbox era, information had become a diversion that was imposing new strains on democracy, in his latest critique of modern media" (link below).

Said Obama: "With iPods and iPads and Xboxes and PlayStations, -- none of which I know how to work -- information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation."

Who is this guy, John McCain (who doesn't even know how to send an e-mail)? In this day and age, a 40-something man who says that among iPods, iPads, Xboxes and PlayStations, he cannot operate even one? I know that they say that university professors tend to be a bit out of touch, but to-the-moon removed?

OK, all kidding aside: The most concerning thing about Obama's statements today is the hostility he has towards the information age. Freely flowing information is the fundamental building block of what makes us free human beings. Rather than being a "strain on democracy," it is at democracy's very core. There can never be "too much information" or "a lot of diversionary information," as Obama appears to believe. Will there always be bad and false information out there? Of course. But we are members of a most intelligent species, and we are capable to sorting through the mess and determining the truth. It's called the open marketplace of ideas. And not since the Nixon administration has America seen an administration so openly hostile to that concept as the current one so visibly appears to be.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hcoyG-Ck3-VwZB7fqpUFXbffoObg

TOILET TIRADE: I've Heard of Not Wanting to Share the Bathroom, But This Is Ridiculous!

The New York Post reports today (link at bottom) of 56-year-old furniture store janitor lady Rosie Vaughan (pictured on left), who finally said enough's enough when it comes to people trying to use the store bathroom while she's trying to clean it. As she cleaned the bathroom Friday, 35-year-old store salesman Alen Bairamoukov insisted upon using it. This time Rosie had reached her limit, and a hard-core wrestling match broke out right there in the $hithouse.

Rosie allegedly went berserk and "bashed a toilet-tank lid" over the salesman's noggin. Just for good measure, after "smashing the porcelain lid" up-side the salesman's melon, Rosie allegedly proceeded to go Twilight on his a$$, reportedly biting him right on the neck. He was also cut on the left hand during the melee. To her credit, however, Rosie reportedly quickly realized what she had done and called 911. She now faces assault charges, but is claiming self-defense.

The salesman's side of the story? He said, "I've had a good relationship with her for many years [and] I never expected anything like this." So the salesman, who claims he suffers from gastritis, says to her, he says, he says, "Rosie, I'm dying, please, I have to go inside." But he says Rosie told him, "Go next door!" When he refused, that's when all hell broke loose. No word yet on whether Rosie will be getting her walking papers from the store as a result of this little altercation. I say keep her on! If robbers ever try to knock over the store, they'll have to deal with Rosie!

http://www.newyorkpost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/janitor_gal_bathroom_beatdown_9xbL6ECy7UcdgqGU8fQoKK

Damn Pesky Independents: Charlie Crist Leads Hypothetical 3-Way Race in the 2010 Florida U.S. Senate Contest.

A new Mason-Dixon poll (link below) has Crist leading conservative republican Marco Rubio by 6 points and liberal democrat Kendrick Meek by 19 points (Crist 38%; Rubio 32%; Meek 19%). By all appearances, Crist is doing well with Independents, non-conservative republicans and non-liberal dems -- precisely the coalition that a viable Independent must build to be successful. For example, the poll reports that Crist is receiving double-digit support from democrats.

Crist's early numbers have to drive the republican party absolutely crazy. That's because, if Crist is not in this race, then Rubio likely trounces Meek. As it stands (and yes, I realize these numbers don't mean a whole lot this early), Rubio will still trounce Meek, but unfortunately the victory will go to Crist. Now if we could just see a few more high-profile dems or repubs turn Independent before, during or after the party primaries, we could really have some fun leading up to November! Even if Crist and other such Independent candidates lose, the amount of venemous anger they generate from whichever party they left is well worth the price of admission for this spectator. Not to mention the precedent that such candidacies set for the future.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/07/crist-leads-in-new-florida-poll/?fbid=HbhPsEoZJE6

"Karl Rove, Republican Party Plot Vast Network to Reclaim Power"! STOP THE PRESS!

That's the banner headline story today on Politico.com (link below), detailing the efforts of GOP "operatives" to organize and raise funds in order to obtain election successes in 2010 and beyond. Gee, the republican party working on organizing, fundraising and advertising with a view towards election success? That's something new. Can't have that, now can we? After all, organizing, fundraising and advertising should be within the exclusive purview of the democrat party.

BTW, it's actually a very good article. I'm just poking fun at its ridiculous title, since apparently these days it constitutes a "vast plot" to engage in political organizing activities -- or at least for the GOP to do so. Rush Slimebaugh was talking about this over the lunch hour and he actually made me laugh for once, saying to the effect that republicans better find out right away who leaked the news that the GOP is working on trying to win elections and to defeat democrats in November: "Our secret's out!", he proclaimed (or something like that -- I'm just going from memory).

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36841.html

You Think These Days Are Bad? Try the Decade of Fake Wood Paneling, Cheesey Clothing & Hairstyles, and Computers That Looked Like This...

That would be the 1970's -- which I view as the last decade of the "old days," immediately before the inception of so many of the modern conveniences that we have now long taken for granted, such as affordable and widely available personal computers, microwave ovens, cable television, remote-controlled TV's, video games, and the ability to record and watch movies other than in a movie theater or on broadcast television. I basically grew up in the '80s and recall just a little bit of the '70s, which frankly is fine with me. The '70s were definitely a different time. I just randomly stumbled across this picture today and had to post it. You know, apart from the clothing and hair, that gal kinda has it goin' on!

"Tea-baggers," You Say?Class Act, Mr. President.

A new book to be released May 18 by Newsweek columnist Jonathan Alter quotes Obama as using the derogatory sexual term "teabagger" to refer to the tea party movement (link below). Writes Alter in the book: "Obama said that the unanimous House vote against the Recovery Act 'set the tenor for the whole year':
' That helped to create the tea-baggers and empowered that whole wing of the Republican Party to where it now controls the agenda for the Republicans.' "

For anyone who's taken even an occasional look at this space, you will know that I do not identify with the conservative-dominated tea party movement (since I might as well just join the republican party), and at times I've been fairly critical of the tea partiers. But use of the term "teabagger" really rubs me the wrong way -- not so much when I see it used by some obscure far left blogger (which I've seen so many times, the effect's worn off), but instead when more prominent members of the media occasionally use it. And when the President of the United States is using it (allegedly), he's lowering himself to the level of the most vile elements of the far left blogosphere. It's classless. And it's certainly Not Presidential.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/05/strong-brew/

Gotcha! Florida GOP Lawmaker "Caught Looking at Porn During Floor Debate." But Since When Are Topless Ladies Considered "Porn"?

As shown above, republican State Senator Mike Bennett of Florida has been caught on tape looking at a photo of several topless ladies. The tape was shot was by a Florida news outfit (Sunshine State News) during a Florida Senate floor debate on controversial abortion bill late last week. In the links at bottom, Bennett claims he was bored by the debate and was just as surprised as anyone when the picture just happened to pop up on his laptop screen. He claims he was just opening an e-mail that he thought might be related to that pesky floor debate that had him so damned bored. "I opened it up and said holy shit! What's on my screen? And clicked away from it right away," Bennett said to the Sunshine State News. Adding to the weirdness of this story is the fact that Bennett also reportedly downloaded two videos during the "boring" debate, including one showing a dog shaking off after emerging from some water.

A few observations here: First, and as posited in my headline, when in the hell did we start calling photos of topless women "porn" (which is the word being used uniformly in the media coverage of this story). I'm sorry, but mere nudity (and not even full body nudity at that) is not even properly called "soft-core porn" for cryin' out loud. Instead, it is what it is: A nude photo. Here's an interesting question: Would the term "porn" be tossed about so lightly by the media and blogosphere if this dude was a democrat? Probably not (except, of course, by your Breitbarts and other right-wing bloggers of the world).

Second, methinks 'ol Mikey boy has just a little bitta 'splainin' to do, above and beyond the topless picture he pulled up. This was a floor debate on a "controversial abortion bill," and Bennett says he was "bored"? Of course he was, but still -- what a dumb thing to say politically. And what's with downloading the video of the dog shaking off? On that front, I can't put it any better than blogger Kyle Munzenrieder of MiamiNewTimes.com: "Either Bennett has some weird fetishes or was just really, really bored with all this talk about ladies' rights and what not."

http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/sen-mike-bennett-caught-looking-porn-senate-floor
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2010/05/sen_mike_bennett_caught_lookin.php
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/04/mike-bennett-porn-florida_n_562365.html

In the Wind: "Time For a Third Party," Declares Moderate Dem Talking Head & Pollster Doug Schoen.

Today's piece on Politico.com by Schoen (a regular talking head on Fox News for whom I have a decent measure of respect given his obvious independent-mindedness) is linked at bottom. Schoen (who, BTW, is hated by the far left -- which I view as a real badge of honor) in this article makes the case for how and why Independent candidates and/or a new "centrist" third party could be extremely viable these days even given all the system roadblocks that dems and repubs have undemocratically put in place to try to prevent viable third party candidates (such as efforts by powerbrokers in both parties to preclude third party candidates from getting on the ballot). Here are the highlights (and I could not more agree with every bit of it):

- Why could a "centrist" third party succeed? Schoen writes: "Broad-based majorities view elected officials as self-serving, corrupt, fiscally irresponsible and out of touch" (citing a Pew Research Center poll). "Both parties' polls have dropped."

- How could such a third party succeed? Schoen: "This new third party must embrace all Americans' concerns" by "drawing on the general disaffection with government -- specifically the out-of-control spending and burgeoning budget deficit and national debt."

- Schoen points out that such a message would not only resonate with centrist Independents and moderate dems and repubs, but also even with many in the predominantly conservative Tea Party Movement.

- Schoen notes that there are now at least three viable Independent gubernatorial candidates -- in Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

- Schoen details how the general electorate would be open to a new third party: "Recent polling by the New York Times shows that close to 50% of the electorate say that they would benefit from a third party." Schoen notes that this is consistent with the fact that Pew Research Center polling has consistently shown for 15 years that "about half of the electorate wants a third major political party."

- Schoen discusses how in recent U.S. history, "when there has been similar anger, we have seen viable third party presidential candidates who run on reducing the government, cutting spending and balancing the budget." Schoen notes John Anderson in 1980 and Ross Perot in 1992 (who, by the way, had a very legitimate chance of winning the presidency before he weirded out, dropped out of the race abruptly, only to later return -- still, he received such a large block of Independent and republican votes so as to hand Bill Clinton the presidency).

- Schoen closes with some very well-put words concerning the fact that while it will definitely not be easy for a viable third party to become entrenched in our longstanding two-party system, Independents everywhere should have every reason to believe in the possibility: "Voters are looking for an alternative to the established parties. The big impediment to a third party, until now, has been the political elites’ efforts to keep alternative candidates off the ballot. But unless we have the opportunity for a third party, this crisis of legitimacy can only get worse. And the risk to our system grows more perilous."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36688.html

Episode 4 Tonight of "What Chilli Wants" on VH-1: Chilli Walks Out on Tionna!

(If you're not familiar with this show, try this primer: http://independentrage.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-reality-show-what-chilli-wants.html)

Nutshell synopsis: In a most tension-filled episode, relationship specialist Tionna T. Smalls (I never knew her middle initial before tonight's episode) sets up TLC's Rozanda "Chilli" Thomas on a slew of new dates, with Chilli rejected every single dude. By the end of the episode, things very much come to a head between Tionna and Chilli, culminating with an angry Chilli walking out on Tionna!

Segment 1: Chilli and Tionna are back to the ATL from Vegas. Tionna observes that "Chilli's hurting" after being stood up by Floyd Mayweather in Vegas. Tionna reveals to Chilli that she has lined up a string of new dates for Chilli with various suitors. Tionna's one condition: That Chilli cannot hit these dates with any of her notorious "Chilli's checklist" items while the dates are in progress. First up is a "kickboxing date" with kickboxer Tracy at an ATL gym. Tracy rubs Chilli the wrong way almost from the start, and Chilli wants to walk out when some of Tracy's sweat flies off and hits her on the neck. And Chilli breaks her vow not to grill these dates about the Chilli Checklist, inquiring of Tracy how religious he is. Chilli is turned off to find that he's not a regular churchgoer, as well as with the fact that he tends (in Chilli's view) to use big words unnecessarily. Chilli is attracted to Tracy ("he's so cute"), but ultimately dismisses him as lacking charm and as having a "smart mouth."

Segment 2: Chilli and Tionna head to Sunny's Hair & Wigs in the ATL. Tionna's goal in taking Chilli to this wig shop is to get Chilli to "loosen up" by trying out a new look. Funniest moments of the episode: Tionna puts on a blonde wig in order to become "the black Marilyn Monroe" and struts around the wig shop as such. She even gets Chilli to try on said wig! Ultimately, Chilli allows Tionna to pick out a wig for Chilli to wear (a very full and long dark-haired wig). But Chilli has reservations, commenting that wearing the wig makes her "feel like I'm in some witness protection program."

This segment continues with Chilli's next date (as set up by Tionna) -- a bowling date with T.J., to whom Chilli is immediately attracted and describes as a "pretty boy." Since Chilli immediately sees some potential in T.J., and since she doesn't really care for the wig that Tionna picked out for her, Chilli quickly excuses herself to the ladies room to remove that wig. She then returns to T.J., who gives no indication that he notices any difference (which Chilli seemed to appreciate). The two of them then bowl a game, and Chilli comments that she was having a really good time and that T.J. has a "nice butt." But she doesn't like that he lacks hair on his chest and that he didn't let her win the game. Again, Chilli disregards her earlier pledge and hits T.J. with a bit of the Chilli's Checklist, asking T.J. if he's close with his family (and he gives great answers). Then out of nowhere, Tionna waltzes into the bowling alley in order to check up on things. Tionna (thinking to herself) is not happy that Chilli has removed the wig that Tionna selected for her -- since it exhibits that Chilli is not taking Tionna's advice. Tionna pulls T.J. aside and encourages him to plant a big 'ol smoocheroo on Chilli. Chilli figures this out and quickly ends the date, since Chilli does not kiss on the first date. At the end of the day, I think Chilli really liked T.J., but Chilli still dismisses him out-of-hand as being "too young" for her.

Segment 3: Chilli goes on a string of new dates set up by Tionna. First up is a bona fide MENSA genius (I don't think his name was revealed), whom Chilli finds not to be so smart. Next up is a pro golfer, whom Chilli dismisses as "needing some time on the treadmill" (i.e. packed a few too many extra pounds in her opinion). The next candidate is an Iraq war veteran, but Chilli again is not impressed, commenting that she wants to have another baby and so (in her view) she needs something better than the guys that Tionna is setting up for her. Her final date of the episode is with Bernard, an Olympic athlete who has won gold and silver medals in track. Chilli again breaks her earlier vow not to apply Chilli's Checklist on these dates and quickly ends this date when Bernard says that he likes to have drinks when he goes out (Chilli's Checklist Item #1: No Drinking).

The segment ends with Tionna, calling it "Report Card Day," seriously confronting Chilli about all of these dates on this episode after which Chilli very quickly dismissed the various candidates. Tionna comments (away from Chilli) that "this chick don't like nobody" and that Tionna is "starting to feel like this is a waste of my time." In Chilli's presence, Tionna tells Chilli that Chilli seems to be "confused," not knowing what she really wants in a man.

Final Segment: Tionna's confrontation meeting with Chilli continues. Tionna tells Chilli that she's not finding the "goodness in guys," but instead is just looking for negative traits which Chilli can use as a justification for rejecting them. Chilli retorts that she's a "package deal" with her son Tron, and therefore she does have very high standards. Then Tionna uses the word "bitch," which Chilli really does not like, telling Tionna that "bitch" is a part of Tionna's "New York City lingo." Tionna then gets back to the subject, telling Chilli that "you're not going to find a man" because "you're standards are too high." Chilli storms out of the room in a huff. End of episode.

Preview of upcoming episodes: Tionna convinces Chilli to visit a therapist concerning her relationship woes. Chilli and Tionna go to the female therapist together. Chilli confides, "Something happened; I'm not my strong self anymore; I think I'm going to cry."

My final comments: This was the first episode on which it really started to become clear that Chilli is not simply a woman (1) with a funny and stringent checklist of required male attributes and (2) who tends to have problems finding the right man. Rather, as Tionna is noting in her various comments, there do seem to be some real issues here that are threatening to prevent Chilli from ever realizing her current dream and desire to meet the right man and to have another child. I thought it was a wonderfully insightful observation by Tionna that Chilli is failing to look for any of the good in the men she meets, instead focusing on finding some negative trait that she can use as a reason to reject those men. I think the professional therapy step is an excellent idea, and I'm really rooting for that process to help Chilli work her way through things and find that right man!

Everybody's Talking About It: A National Enquirer Report Today Entitled, "Obama Cheating Scandal: Shocking New Reports"

This report (link below) is best described as really doing little more than suggesting that Obama may have had an affair in 2004 with "gorgeous" (I agree with that part) former campaign aid Vera Baker (pictured above) (Baker worked on Obama's 2004 Senate campaign).

Let me start by saying that it appears that what The Enquirer currently has is pretty flimsy -- so much so, in fact, that I don't think they should have even run with it without having more. The only thing they have (or the only thing they are revealing) is the account of a limo driver who allegedly says that he took Baker to a "secret hotel rendezvous" at a hotel at which Obama was staying. But there's no indication that the limo driver has any idea what occurred in the hotel, and so how the hell would he know that this was some "secret rendezvous," which implies that it was sexual in nature. If this lady worked on his campaign (and apparently was very involved in it), I would assume they met all the time, including in hotels (ever seen the "mayoral election" season of HBO's The Wire?). Further, The Enquirer is also reporting that "anti-Obama operatives" have offered money to this limo driver for his account, which calls into question his motives here. In short, this is pretty weak stuff (at least so far) from The Enquirer.

But let's look ahead: If things do turn worse for Obama on this alleged "story," and if that's because it's actually true that he had the insinuated affair, then Obama needs to make sure that he does not pull a Bill Clinton. I recall 1998 very vividly. I could have easily gotten past the Monica Lewinsky scandal if Bill Clinton had early on nipped it in the bud by fessin' up. But instead, he tried to lie, squirm and weasel his way out of the story -- an awful exhibition of behavior that I cannot accept or excuse when it comes to any President of the United States.

If this thing heads south on Obama, and if it's true, then Obama will need to come out quickly and apologize for the 6-year-old incident and say that he and Michelle have or are trying to move on from it. If there is any truth to this thing, and if Obama does something similar to what I've just outlined, then I'll be able to get past the story very easily (just as I could have in 1998 if Clinton had reacted appropriately). In other words, this whole thing is a big non-story for me unless it turns out to be true and further, Obama tries to handle it in some inappropriate or dishonest fashion. And since Obama is a fairly bright politician, I tend to doubt that he would try to do that.

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/reports_obama_cheating_scandal_vera_baker_investigation/celebrity/68590

Hoosier Hideosity: "I'm in Love with My Grandson - and We're Having a Baby!"

This story from Britain's The Sun (link below) is just too weird to pass up mentioning today. 72-year-old Pearl Carter of Indiana has announced to the world that she and her grandson, 26-year-old Phil Bailey, are in love and are having a baby (through a surrogate). The happy couple is pictured on the left. They apparently had never met until recently, and Granny claims it was love at first sight: "From the first moment that I saw him, I knew we would never have a grandmother-grandson relationship. For the first time in years I felt sexually alive."

This May-December romance reportedly heated up right after the couple met. After a boring first week of "shopping, bowling and eating out," business really picked up in Week Two, when, "giggly on wine after a night out, Pearl decided she wasn't going to deny her feelings anymore." Says Granny: "I called Phil into my bedroom, sat him on the bed, and then I leant over and kissed him. I expected rejection but instead he kissed me back." But Phil confides that rejection was the farthest thing from his mind: "I wanted to kiss her there and then. My feelings were overwhelming."

And to all of you haters out there, Granny is waiving a defiant hand: "I'm not interested in anyone else's opinion. I am in love with Phil and he's in love with me. Soon I'll be holding my son or daughter in my arms and Phil will be the proud dad." For good measure, Phil also offers his two cents: "I think Pearl is gorgeous," he said. No word yet whether wedding bells may be a part of this deranged picture.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2954310/Gran-and-grandson-to-have-baby.html

Charlie Crist's Declaration of Independence: The Start of a New Trend Nationwide?

That is: A trend of moderates in both parties -- kicked to the curb by the increasingly right-wing and left-wing powered republican and dem parties -- becoming Independents and running as viable candidates against the loony left-wingers and deranged right-wingers that the two parties invariably will place before the electorate. Just today, CNN's Political Ticker blog has a piece entitled, "More Moderate vs. Conservative GOP battles ahead" (link below), which details a number of high-profile races nationwide that are setting up as primary battles between moderates and those who would accuse them of "not being conservative enough."

I do hope that Crist's Independent turn does set a precedent that other non-conservative and non-liberal candidates across the country can look to and seriously consider whether they should run as Independents themselves. Our political system -- controlled by the two extremes (and increasingly so) -- is simply broken. We need to shake it up. And the only way that will happen is for viable third-party and Independent candidates to start running for elected office against the liberals and conservatives. I say, go Charlie and go Independents!

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/29/more-moderate-vs-conservative-gop-battles-ahead/?fbid=hocPT83h71w

Jesus H. Crist! Report: GOP Florida Governor Charlie Crist to Run for U.S. Senate as an Independent!

FoxNews is reporting today (link below) that Crist has made the decision to run as an Independent and will officially announce it at a presser tomorrow. Of course, Crist -- the very popular GOP Governor of Florida -- has been trailing badly in the polls to staunch conservative Marco Rubio in the GOP Senate primary race. But recent polls have shown that Crist could very well win a general election matchup against Rubio and likely dem nominee Kendrick Meek if Crist runs as an Independent. Crist says that he's received widespread support from Florida voters who have told him that he should run as an Independent.

My reaction here is one of satisfaction, although tempered with a dose of reality. Make no mistake, Crist looks a lot like Joe Lieberman in this situation. That is, he's becoming an Independent for no reason other than the fact that it's in his best political interests (at least on the short-term) to do so. I'm under no illusions about that. But at the same time, Independents nationwide desperately need viable candidates running for office as Independents. Without that, the majority of this country that is neither liberal nor conservative will never be able to break or even make a dent in the extremist-controlled vice grip that our two political parties incessantly wrap around the throats of the American people. And for that reason, I today say, Give 'Em Hell, Charlie!

http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/04/28/crist-to-run-as-independent-in-fl-sen-race/

Who Is This Man? A Multiple Choice Test for The Washington Post...

a. Barack Obama

b. Malcolm X

c. Denzel Washington

d. Martha Washington

e. Usher

f. All of the above

(Answer at bottom)

I posit this question and answer just in an effort to provide a little help and education today to the Washington Post, which apparently has problems telling the difference between Obama and Malcolm X. Read more at: http://gawker.com/5525783/the-washington-post-cannot-tell-obama-from-malcolm-x


(Answer: C playing B in the 1992 motion picture, Malcolm X)

The Soon-To-Be New King of Tweet --Hugo Chavez?

Methinks Venezuelan socialist dictator Hugo Chavez is about to have a few more "followers" than just Danny Glover and Sean Penn. It's being reported today (link below) that Chavez is about to join Twitter. Says Chavez: "I'm going to have my online trench from the palace to wage the battle." And he's not just joining -- "he wants to dominate it," says CNN. One of Chavez' Venezuelan media henchmen is quoted as saying, "I'm sure he'll break records for number of followers."

And I think that dude's probably correct. Chavez is likely to have tons of "followers" on Twitter, if for no other reason than the curiosity factor and entertainment value. Heck, there's a good chance I'll add him. I think an occasional anti-American rant from Chavez on Twitter has the potential to be highly entertaining, as I've found many of his past rants. I just ask that he not bore me, because then I'll drop him faster than toilet paper in a Mississippi $hithouse. For example, if he becomes one of those people who likes to tweet constantly about the most mundane details of their day, then I'm done. You can feel free to offend me, but never, ever bore me.

http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/27/report-hugo-chavez-is-joining-twitter/?hpt=T2

Are These the Heroes of Centrists and Independents Everywhere? Hardly.

So-called "Independent" Joe Lieberman (who caucuses with the dem party in the Senate and who voted for Obama & The Dems' health care monstrosity against the clear will of the American people) says today that he may run again as an Independent in 2012, but then again he won't "rule anything out" and might run as either a dem or repub (link below). Wow! How's that for some real conviction and guts!

I'm sorry, but so-called "centrists," or "moderates," or Independents such as Lieberman and his best buddy, John McCain (yes, I realize that McCain has never professed to be an Independent), are not "mavericks" or "centrists" or Independents in any sense of those words. Instead, they are just typical politicians -- just like their brethren on the far left and far right -- in that they will do and say whatever is in their best political interests irregardless of what they may actually believe.

We've seen this on full display in Arizona in recent weeks, with McCain (facing a re-election primary challenge from a far-right conservative) disgustingly trying to appeal to the ultra-far-right and trying to distance himself from the "maverick" moniker that he only so willingly embraced over the past 10 years when it was in his best political interests to do so. And we see it too today from Lieberman, who promises to keep his options fully open as to whether he will run for re-election as an Independent, a dem or a repub. These men are not heroes of mine, I can tell you that (I voted for neither Obama nor McCain in 2008, for the record). As expressed, they're just typical.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/26/lieberman-opens-up-about-becoming-an-independent/?fbid=3uHbVqMf_rG#more-101337

On Episode 3 Tonight of "What Chilli Wants" on VH-1: Chilli Is Stood Up For the First Time Ever!

(If you're not familiar with this show, try this primer: http://independentrage.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-reality-show-what-chilli-wants.html)

Nutshell synopsis: Chilli -- in her quest to find the right man -- has a definite thing for boxer Floyd Mayweather, and as a result is not really interested in other prospects, but that mentality gets set on its ear by the end of this episode.

Segment 1: Christian "Chris" Harrington (who genuinely seemed to really fluster Chilli in Episode 1) is back! He comes over to her house for a second date, a lunch date. Chilli is herself cooking spaghetti (very cool) for the lunch. But little does Christian know that he's in for a real grillin' from Chilli's friend Missy Elliot. And indeed, Missy does lay into him, but he does a great job in response -- to quote Chilli, "he held his own." Although Chilli and Christian share a very nice, tight hug at the end of this date, Chilli afterwards indicates that she's not too enthusiastic: "He's cool as a friend. But he ain't gonna make it." Then she says that she just keeps thinking about Floyd and whether she and Floyd might be able to turn their longstanding "friends" relationship into something more.

Next, Chilli is shown preparing with TLC for their upcoming appearance at Justin Timberlake's charity show in Vegas. Interesting factoid: This is to be TLC's first concert appearance in the U.S. in 7 seven years (in the wake of the 2002 death of TLC core member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes). After that, series co-star Tionna Smalls (the relationship specialist who is trying to help Chilli find her man) makes her first appearance, and she and Chilli talk about the plan for Chilli to meet up again with Floyd in Vegas when Chilli's there for the concert. Chilli reveals to Tionna, "I'm a little crazy about him. I'm looking at him a little different." Finally in Segment 1, Chilli -- before heading to Vegas -- gets a chance to spend some quality time with son Tron at the local go-cart joint. At lunch, Tron encourages her to "make me proud" at the Vegas show.

Segment 2: In the funniest segment of the episode, Tionna actually meets up with a Vegas oddsmaker to try to handicap the odds of Chilli (in light of Chilli's very stringent "Chilli Checklist" of attributes that any man of hers must have) actually meeting a man in the ATL with whom Chilli will fall in love. The handicapper goes through each of the myriad elements of the Chilli Checklist, each time slicing the ATL's population down even further. Finally, the handicapper concludes that there are about 300 men in the ATL with whom Chilli might fall in love, and even that would be contingent on them falling in love with her. Get this one: He ultimately concludes that the odds of Chilli falling in love with a man in the ATL are about 2.8 million to 1! The handicapper very astutely notes at that point that such odds are considered fairly "astronomical". Upon hearing this sobering news, Tionna (who obviously does not want to fail in her high-profile endeavor to find Chilli a true love) resolves to endeavor to encourage Chilli to focus on Floyd (since he's obviously become the love of Chilli's heart).

Segment 3: We are backstage in Vegas prior to the charity concert in which TLC will be performing. Chilli is understandably nervous, since TLC hasn't done a live appearance in the U.S. in a number of years. Some of Lisa Lopes' family members come backstage, and some very touching moments ensue between them and the living members of TLC. Then TLC hits the stage and gives a rousing performance. Chilli herself described the performance as not "missing a beat."

After the concert (it's not clear it was the same night or the next day -- but probably the latter), Chilli is shown on her way to meet up with Tionna for a dinner with Floyd. Chilli remarks, "I'm on my way to meet Floyd -- feel nervous -- feel vulnerable." Chilli shows up lookin' fine, and Tionna comments, "Look at you, hootchie mama!" But then Floyd fails to show up on time, and Chilli is visibly starting to get pissed as we are sent to the final commercial.

Final segment: Even after a commercial break, Chilli is still waiting on Floyd. Then Floyd calls and tells Chilli that he won't be able to make it. Although the reason he gave for his absence is not revealed on the show, Chilli feels stood up, proclaiming that "I ain't never been stood up before!" She admits that this was "heartbreaking," and is obviously saddened, but I have to say that she handles the situation with a ton of grace and does not break down. She also reveals the present that she was going to give Floyd at this dinner: A large framed photograph of the two of them together previously. Then there are indications that Chilli may be starting to realize what I have said since Episode 1 -- that Floyd just ain't interested in anything beyond friends: Chilli talks about this being a sign and about the handwriting being on the wall. Tionna agrees, commenting that "Floyd's too cool for school." GOOD! Maybe Chilli now can really seriously think about whether Christian Harrington might be a real prospect. I still think he is, based upon Chilli's initial reaction to him in Episode 1 (read my prior blog post, as linked at the top).

Short preview segment to upcoming episodes: Tionna confronts Chilli about being "picky and shallow" and comments that she (Tionna) is "starting to feel like this is a waste of time."

Final observation: I would be the first to admit that I'm not a huge reality show viewer. So many of these shows are inhabited by completely mindless, obnoxious, egomaniacal prima donnas (of both sexes) whom no one in his/her right mind would ever want to be around in real life. But part of what keeps me watching What Chilli Wants is the fact that the two stars (Chilli & Tionna) both strike me as very genuine and personable people. Sure Chilli has her very tough Chilli checklist, but frankly she would be the last gal that I would ever describe as a "Diva" -- she's just too nice; too likable. Same with Tionna.