I'm Not Asking for Very Much. Just a Taste. Just Enough to Wet My Beak!

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! That's apparently the smart tact taken by reality star and glamour model Kendra Wilkinson (wife of Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Hank Baskett) in the wake of news that Vivid Entertainment had obtained a Wilkinson sex tape (to be released May 28, with the title, as pictured above, "Kendra Exposed") (link to story at bottom).

It seems that Kendra and her handlers have negotiated a deal with Vivid to whack up the profits, such that Kendra will receive 50%. Kendra's maneuver strikes me as rather shrewd. More of these reality show stars and other celebrities should follow the same tact, rather than trying to legally fight the release of such tapes (which I can't recall ever working). After all, the damage has been done, the tape has been shot, someone's gonna release it, and none of that can be changed. So why not ask for a piece of the action in exchange for waiving all possible legal claims against the distributor? Seems to me like it makes the best of a bad situation.

And "bad situation" is not exactly putting it lightly. Far from your garden variety sex tape in which the star is shown hooking up in a private session with his/her significant other, this tape reportedly involves (1) multiple actual sex tapes put together into one tape, (2) Kendra featured with a woman named "Taryn," and (3) "multiple partners . . . featured as having intimate relations with" Kendra. On the bright side, Kendra's take from all this ain't exactly gonna be peanuts: There's already talk of a sequel, and the linked story says that Kendra's haul will be "seven figures, easy." How easy? Well, as the story blasts: "In fact, the only thing easier than earning this money: Kendra herself." Ouch. But at least she'll be taking a nice fat paycheck.

http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2010/05/breaking-kendra-wilkinson-video-details-orgies-lesbians-and-sex/

Putting the Cart Before the Jackass: Republicans Reportedly "Scheme About Committee Chairmanships They'll Hold If They Win Back the House."

(Link to story at bottom). Tell me something: Shouldn't republicans actually go through the little "formality" of actually winning back the House before spending too much time worrying about politicking for committee chairmanships? Talk about countin' your chickens before they're hatched! Hey, I've predicted as recently as yesterday in this space that the repubs will likely take back the House in November, but that result is far from assured. Frankly, I think this type of arrogant behavior by House repubs is pathetic. Just as with the democrat party, it's always about politics and very little (if anything) else in nearly every single word republican politicians say and every action they take.

If you (unlike me) happen to live in a congressional district with a repub incumbent who is one of those identified as maneuvering for a chairmanship before the House is even won, here's my best advice for you: In November, vote for a third party candidate or even vote for the dem if you feel you must. Feel free to kick that repub incumbent to the curb and teach him/her a lesson about taking your vote for granted. That's what I would do. As much as I believe that a measure of power balance between these two nonrepresentative parties must be restored to DC (and thus I hope the repubs do take back the House), even that very significant interest is trumped, in my view, by arrogant politicians who simply presume that they'll win re-election and that their party will take back control of the House. Politicians like that, regardless of party, deserve to get their walking papers.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37525.html

It's Good to See the Overconfidence of the Dems & Their Media Following the PA 12 Election Last Night. This Will Make November All the More Fun.

The linked Politico.com analysis takes much the same tone as I'm seeing from dems and their media today; that is, that last night's victory by dem Mark Critz over his republican challenger in the Pennsylvania 12th District's special election (to fill the House seat of the deceased John Murtha) shows that November really won't be that bad for DC dems in the House and Senate.

Problem is, PA 12 is not your typical congressional district, and the race that Critz won was just as atypical. PA 12 is a district in which registered dems outnumber repubs two-to-one, yet the district voted for McCain in 2008. Why? Because a lot of the dems in this district are pretty damn conservative, truth be told. That's why Critz basically ran on a republican platform (which I suspect was likely very disingenuous on his part), such that the tone of the race much more resembled a republican primary than the typical general election congressional race. Obama himself got nowhere near this race, because that would have been distastrous for Critz. There was also no incumbent involved in this race. Given these various facts, are dems really going to try to tell me that this race was typical of the ones that will be occurring nationwide this fall? Please.

But make no mistake: Repubs are just as delusional about what's going in the country right now as the dems are. There is not some massive wave of non-republicans looking to join the repub party. Repubs are not much more popular now than they were in 2008. Instead, what you have now from a huge swath of the electorate, including massive numbers of Independents (the ones who decide elections) and even many of the conservative tea partiers, is a two-pronged sentiment that is a major nightmare for DC Dems and incumbent republicans alike: (1) Intense fear of the dem-controlled federal government and far left direction that Obama & The Dems have been trying to ram down the throats of an electorate that largely wants no part of it; and (2) Distinct distaste for both of these parties, their current officeholders, and the broken political system over which they preside and gatekeep with an iron fist.

The result of this sentiment come primary time and come November may be the biggest sweeping away of incumbents (of both parties) of any congressional election in my lifetime. No incumbent dem or repub is safe (which I think is wonderful, by the way). So what's the bottom line from the massive kicking to the curb of incumbents this fall? Well, there will be very significant republican gains in the House and Senate, since dems hold the big majorities and will therefore be impacted most by the anti-incumbent fervor. I went on record a month or two ago predicting my belief that dems will likely lose the House but not the Senate. Absolutely nothing's changed. And we Independents continue to look very forward to November. Stick that in your Critz and smoke it.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37473.html

I'm Onboard With the DC Dems For a Change As They Push for Passage of a Beer Resolution

Colorado democrat Rep. Betsy Markey (pictured at left) is sponsoring the resolution, which extolls the virtues of entrepeneurship and job creation in the American microbrewery industry (link to story at bottom). Works for me. Now, if the DC dems would just introduce a bill establishing Universal Beer Access (i.e., access to beer for those who cannot otherwise afford it), they'd really have something brewin' in the beltway!

http://www.politico.com/click/stories/1005/house_passes_beer_bill.html

Who Is She, Obi-Wan Kenobi?Nancy Pelosi Supporters Say She Will Only Grow More Powerful in Defeat!

This story (Politico.com link below) immediately reminded me of the original Star Wars movie and the scene in which Alec Guinness' Obi-Wan Kenobi character squares off in a lightsaber duel with Darth Vader. During a break in the action, Kenobi tells Vader, "You can't win, Darth -- If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine." (YouTube link below).

Pelosi supporters are making a similar claim, opining that as long as the dems keep a razor-thin majority in the House following the November elections (allowing Pelosi to remain House Speaker), it won't matter if dems lose dozens of seats. In fact, they claim, it will actually be a good thing for Pelosi if dems do lose dozens of seats. They say that most of those lost seats would be "moderate" dems who can tend to be a thorn in Pelosi's side, and that the more-streamlined remaining majority would consist predominantly of ultra-far left progressives of Pelosi's ilk. Thus, they say, her grip on power (i.e. the Speakership) would actually be enhanced by dozens of dems losing (just so long as the repubs don't take a majority).

Nice theory, I suppose, presuming that the November losses predominantly kick only "moderate" dems to the curb and not any of the truly loony left-wingers. Frankly, I'll believe that when I see it. In the meantime, expect a lot more of this type of spin from dems in the months to come; that is, spin concerning how the almost certain republican pickups in November won't be that big of a deal or are actually a good thing for dems. Just realize that it's spin. No more, no less. BTW, no word yet as to whether republican wins in November will also give Pelosi the new power of being able to communicate with people from the grave -- the power that Kenobi gained when he permitted Vader to strike him down at the end of their duel.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37380.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-UAPOFeeFQ

Don't You Dare Express a View Not in Lockstep With the Anti-Arizona Immigration Law Folks! Or Else They'll Show Up in Droves to Protest You at Work!

That's a lesson being learned tonight by LA Lakers head basketball coach Phil Jackson, who in comments last week had the unmitigated gall to suggest that NBA teams should not be in the business of requiring their players to wear uniforms containing political messages (like the ones the Phoenix Suns recently wore to purportedly protest the new Arizona immigration law). OH MY GOD Phil! What were you possibly thinking! So the folks who are against the law have organized a large protest outside tonight's Lakers game in LA (link to story at bottom).

For the record, Jackson's opinion is not only entirely reasonable, but it happens to be right. Just imagine the uproar from the far left if some NBA team tried to force its players to wear a uniform trumpeting support for the Arizona law? And such a mandate would be equally wrong. NBA teams are not government entities, and so there is no First Amendment issue here. But doesn't the thought of a business or employer forcing employees to adopt and sport certain political views on a uniform (regardless of what the individual employee's own views might be) strike you as entirely overbearing, inappropriate and over-the-top? That's certainly not an employer for whom I would ever want to work. And that's precisely the point at which Jackson's recent comments were, at their core, getting. He certainly did not say, "This is a wonderful law and we need to support it!," although you wouldn't know that to see this ridiculous LA protest tonight.

Final thought: How about the snide little comment at the end of the linked story by USA Today writer Tom Weir? He closes by stating, "If [Jackson] had followed his own advice on not mixing politics and sports, there wouldn't be a protest scheduled tonight." In other words, Weir feels that Jackson should have either expressed an unqualified opposition to the Arizona law or else should have completely kept his mouth shut, and since he failed to do that, he's just gettin' what he deserved! Nice objectivity, there, Weir. That's as pathetic as this LA protest tonight, by the way.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2010/05/phil-jackson-riles-las-latino-community-protest-set-tonight/1

Episode 6 Tonight of "What Chilli Wants" on VH1: Business Is Picking Up! Enter the Remarkable Farmer D (But Don't Count Out the Other New Dude, Bill)!

(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: Through the organizational efforts of relationship specialist Tionna Smalls, tonight Chilli meets two men with whom she genuinely seems to be a enthralled (Farmer D and Bill). Tionna sees some very positive signs here, especially after Chilli makes a rare admission that she "was wrong." But not all is rosey in the ATL, as the previews of upcoming episodes indicate that another volatile Tionna-Chilli blowup is on the horizon!

Segment 1: The episode opens at the AQUAKNOX bar/restaurant in Atlanta, with Tionna meeting with a number of Chilli's lady friends (including Roxanne and Chilli's fellow TLC member, T-Boz). Tionna gets their sign-off on Tionna's idea of a "poker mixer" night at which Chilli can meet various men at the informal setting of the poker table (and in which Chilli's friends can also meet and talk to the same men). Additionally, Chilli's friend Christal has a stand-alone date suggestion -- Male calendar model Keston.

Next the scene changes to Chilli's date with Keston, involving a bike ride in the park. Chilli's first impression of Keston is that "he's really pretty." Chilli confides to him that it has been years since she's introduced any man to her son Tron. Then the conversation turns to relationships. Keston says his last relationship lasted over a year, but that fireworks erupted in that relationship when he did not feel comfortable calling the gal his "girlfriend," even after a year of dating. He explains that he's not big into the "label" thing, such as the moniker "girlfriend" apparently. His lack of ability to call his former gal "girlfiend" even after a year is clearly off-putting to Chilli, and she comments to him that she "feels sorry" for that lady. Keston twice comments that he thinks that Chilli tends to see too many things in "black and white" (meaning in absolutes). The date ends decent enough, with a hug and Keston telling Chilli that he will be in touch. After the date, Tionna and Chilli discuss it. Chilli says that Keston is "truly eye candy," but that she has some huge reservations about him because she feels that he had trouble being committed to a lady.

Segment 2: As mentioned above, "poker mixer night" has now arrived! Chilli proceeds to meet myriad men as 1 or 2 at a time sit down to play poker with her. First up are Spider (a basketball player) and Jason (a graphic designer who attends Chilli's church). After these dudes finish their poker with Chilli, they get the full-court grillin' from Chilli's friends (after all, that was one of the goals of this event). Next up at Chilli's poker table are Brandon and Reggie. Brandon makes an immediate impression on Chilli, because she finds him very funny (and he's certainly no ugly duckling either). Reggie seems nice but has trouble getting in on the Chilli-Brandon conversation. Reggie suggests a Push-Up Contest between he and Brandon. The two embark upon said contest, but predictably, all of the other men there to meet Chilli also join in on the contest. Brandon wisely breaks out of the contest to continue talking to Chilli. But when he reveals that he graduated high school in 2002, Chilli comments, "Oh Man." That puts him at around age 26, which Chilli clearly views as too young (Chilli is 30-something and is lookin' for a 30-something man).

Then Bill enters the picture -- the next man at Chilli's table. And the following facts are very important to future episodes: Tionna off-camera reveals to the audience that Bill was a dude she first encountered early on in the series when she was looking for potential Chilli dates at a Braves game in her luxury suite interviews of potential suitors. Tionna also reveals that she's been holding Bill in reserve, apparently for just the right moment to spring on Chilli (and there's no time like the present, since Chilli has simply not been connecting with the men that Tionna has arranged for her to meet recently). Like I said, remember those facts.

Anyway, Chilli immediately warms up to Bill and thinks he's cool because he's "not reserved" in the least. He's also 6'2", has no kids (not even one baby mama), and is a Christian who loves to go to church. All of those attributes coincide with Chilli's notorious "Chilli Checklist," of course. But what truly endears Bill to Chilli is that he's the only dude all night to actually pay her a compliment, telling her that "you are beautiful." They end their poker game with a big hug.

Segment 3: OK, so perhaps Bill is a serious candidate, but in this segment, Get a Load of Farmer D! Farmer D, real name Daron Joffe (and pictured above), is quite the accomplished businessman -- the founder and president of Farmer D Organics in the Atlanta area (a retail organic garden center). The segment begins with Tionna driving Chilli out to Farmer D's farm. Chilli has grave reservations about this one, noting that "I've never dated a farmer before." Clearly, Chilli expects to be meeting some dumb, boorish redneck out on this farm (Hey Chilli: Nice and intelligent men can come from farms, small towns and rural areas!, but I digress, especially since you were about to come to this realization on your own).

So they meet. Chilli is sporting a black cowboy hat, about which Farmer D immediately comments that he likes. Chilli's initial physical reaction is that Farmer D is most handsome, and the two ride off into the farm on Farmer D's tractor for their date. Chilli reveals off-camera that she's a "Georgia girl," and therefore is not really out of her "element" on a farm. Farmer D shows Chilli a bee hive, which has Chilli runnin', but it quickly emerges that she and Farmer D have "alot in common," which is impressive to Chilli. For example, they both eat raw milk and raw cheese. Chilli's off-camera assessment at this point: "He's just cool."

Then it's time to head back to the head of the farm, and Farmer D allows Chilli to drive them back on his tractor. As she toils along on the tractor, Farmer D comments that this probably isn't quite like most of Chilli's first dates, to which Chilli says, "This is the best one." Back at the head of the farm, as Chilli disembarks from the tractor, her posterior accidentally waves itself rather close to Farmer D's face. She apologizes for her "butt" being "all over your face," to which Farmer D responds, "Not like I'm going to complain." They then head indoors for lunch and grasp hands in prayer before they eat. Chilli's final comments on this date: That Farmer D was not all what she was expecting -- "Farmer D is pretty amazing," she says.

Final segment: Tionna and Chilli talk about the Farmer D date. Chilli observes that Farmer D is "really smart," is a "good age" at age 33, is "laid back cool," and that she really "felt a connection." Comparing her initial reluctance to go on this date with her ultimate impression after meeting Farmer D, Chilli then confides to Tionna that this date has taught her not to judge people and situations "so quickly." Then comes a moment reminiscent of true old-school "Happy Days" Fonzie stuff (recall that Fonzie, whenever he desired to admit that he was wrong about something, would lapse into, "OK, I was wr-wr-wr-wr-wr-wr-wr-wr -- OK, what I'm really trying to say is, I was wr-wr-wr-wr-wr..."). Because apparently (according to Tionna's comments), Chilli is not one to admit error very often (although, aren't so many of us human beings the very same way, truth be told?).

So, Tionna comes right out and says, "I was wrong" (not even stammering or stuttering around like Fonzie would) when it came to her first-blush reluctance to go on a date on a farm with a dude named "Farmer D". Tionna views this admission as a "real breakthrough," together with the fact that Chilli met two dudes this episode, in Bill and Farmer D, to whom she really appears to be open to a relationship. Tionna's closing remarks of this episode: Things are definitely "getting warmer," although Tionna still needs "it to be hot!" She tells Chilli that Tionna's just waiting for Chilli to "jump her little behind of top a somebody and tongue 'em down!" "Tongue 'em down?," asks Chilli.

Red Hot Preview of upcoming episodes: Even despite how well this episode went, not everything is exactly all studs and muffins in the ATL! In the episodes to come, it is revealed that despite the Farmer D-Chilli fireworks, Bill is still very much in the picture and he and Chilli have what Chilli describes as the "perfect date." Chilli then confronts Tionna over the reason why Tionna did not bring Bill into this picture earlier (since Tionna did not immediately hook up Chilli with Bill after Tionna first met Bill). Says Chilli, "You're the love expert, right?" Tionna responds, angrily, "Don't Go There!" Yadda, Yadda, Yadda, Tionna storms off after swiping their table of its contents. The argument continues in a parking lot, with Tionna shouting, "I could take my ass back to Brooklyn, and you will still be alone!" So Stay Tuned!

Final observations: When Chilli said "I was wrong," following her connecting very well with both Bill and Farmer D on this episode, the words "real breakthrough" came into my mind even before Tionna uttered them. And I'm hopin' one of these two dudes is going to turn out to be, finally, The One for Chilli. As for the upcoming verbal alteration between Tionna & Chilli, I have a fair amount of confidence that they will be able to patch things over afterwards, because the two of them really do seem to have a very genuine friendship. As for Chilli's questioning of Tionna holding back on Bill for awhile, my immediate reaction is: Chilli -- You've really connected with this dude Bill, and so why are you even worrying about when it was that Tionna first connected you to him!!! Be Thankful and Glad about the Connection Itself! Oh well. It is a reality series after all, and therefore we do need our fireworks!!! ;)

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