The Senate's Poised to Ratify Obama's "START" Treaty with Russia: More Lameduck Arrogance from the Democrat Party As Well As Republicans.

It's called the "START" nuclear arms treaty with Russia -- a deal negotiated by Obama and his minions, who are now about to jam it through the Senate during the lameduck session with most of the American population focusing their entire attention on their Christmas shopping. And more than a fourth of Senate republicans are onboard to help out. Chickenshit stuff.

Never before in American history has the Senate ratified a treaty during a lameduck session of Congress. Why have such an important matter decided by a bunch of people whom the American population has just voted out? Why isn't the most prudent and respectful course of action to wait until January, when this treaty -- which is not a simple one to digest or fully understand in terms of its risks, dangers and potential benefits -- can be fully debated and vetted by the body of lawmakers that America just voted in?

Hell, if at this point you go around spouting opinions that this treaty is either a great evil OR the greatest thing since sliced bread, then I have little respect for you as being much of anything other than a partisan hack. The fact is, we the public have not been privy to even a fraction of the information that these senators have received about the treaty and any side assurances (or threats) from the Russians that accompanied the treaty. Instead, that's all been fed to senators in secret hearings with Hillary Clinton and secret conversations with the Obama administration.

This is slimeball stuff, folks -- just what we've grown to always expect from the politicians in these two awful parties. They should be waiting until next year, but they refuse. They refuse to wait to allow the people we voted in to decide whether to ratify, and they refuse to wait until a point in time when the American public will be better informed and more focused on the issue.

That's because these sleazewad politicians on both sides of the aisle have little respect for the American people. And that's why we Independents (who control all election outcomes) will continue to vote these scumjob politicians' asses to the curb over and over again as we reach each successive election cycle. Ratify that.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46669.html

"If You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go":Pennsylvania Woman Allegedly Gets Really Pissed, Then Urinates All Over the Treats in a Convenience Store Freezer!

"If you gotta go, you gotta go" -- the famous last words of Sterling Hayden's corrupt police captain in The Godfather, uttered right before Melancholy Don Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) excused himself to the $hithouse at Louis' restaurant in the Bronx. To quote brother Sonny Corleone, Michael moments later came out of that bathroom "holding more than just his [junk]" and it was Bada Bing Bada Boom!:

Mikey whacked out the good captain (as well as Sollozzo the drug dealer) and officially put a real damper on the veal pasta dinner ("the best in the City") the threesome had been enjoying. In an instance of life (loosely) imitating art, urination was allegedly once again a source of culinary ruin one state over in Pennsylvania this week:

23-year-old Carrie Harkness (pictured above) was in her neighborhood Country Fair convenience store in Meadville, Pennsylvania, when employees asked her to leave. This enraged the young lady, who allegedly then provided employees with a whole new meaning for the phrase "pissed off." Harkness allegedly got her wee-wee on right there in the store inside a food freezer. But that reportedly wasn't the worst part.

As the linked story asks, "What kind of a person allegedly urinates in a convenience store freezer, ruining $508 worth of cookies, bagels, and other baked goods?" So let me get this straight: It wasn't just the act of wetting down the freezer -- nope, she had to go and ruin some perfectly good baked treats in the process!

And if this had merely been a freezer full of some bland ol' milk, cottage cheese and eggs, would this story be getting so much run and would Harkness be facing charges of criminal mischief and disorderly conduct? (No word yet whether Harkness will be advancing an "if you gotta go, you gotta go" defense to those charges).

Regardless, this story begs the question of why Harkness was asked to leave the store in the first place? There are precious few details on that question (never use the phrase "details are sketchy," BTW, because it's not a detail if it's "sketchy"). The only clues come from a largely nonsensical Facebook posting from Harkness, who said:

"Omg have you ever liked someone so much and go out with them and make a fool of yourself????? wish I could take back friday night!!!!! But youngstown is on point wish my friend could forgive me!!!!!!"

The only thing I can make out of that posting is that perhaps some dude worked at the convenience store and a smitten Harkness was there to see him. However, that's purely conjecture on my part (?????). But whatever Harkness was trying to say in that post, I have little doubt that she was very serious about it!!!!!! And Youngstown is right on point, damn it!!!!!

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/pennsylvania/woman-chaurged-urinating-grocery-store-freezer-ruining-508-food

You Can Say "Holiday Party" If You Please, But I'll Keep Saying "Christmas Party," Thank You...

...This weekend National Public Radio leftist-in-residence Nina Totenberg (whose main claim to fame was for her portrayal of Jerry's mother on the old Seinfeld TV series) actually apologized in advance for using the phrase "Christmas party" on a PBS program ("Forgive the expression," crowed the old battle axe) (link to story at bottom).

You know, I'm kind of funny like this: The more you try to impose upon me your view of what constitutes politically incorrect language, the more I'm going to intentionally go out of my way to use that very language -- over and over and over again. Put another way, Mrs. Seinfeld: Christmas party; Christmas party; Christmas party.

And if you have a problem with that, then you and Mrs. Seinfeld, along with a gaggle of midgets, stewardesses and manhole covers, can go down to the funeral parlor shithouse and tell it to the undertaker or something. Meantime I'll be heading to the Christmas parties (with no apologies necessary) and having fun, as usual. Stick that in your left-wing peace pipe and smoke it.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/12/20/nprs_nina_totenberg_apologizes_for_saying_christmas.html

You Want "S'More" of Me, First Lady? Sarah Palin Takes Another Potshot at Michelle Obama.

Sarah Palin doesn't much care for Michelle Obama's "fight against childhood obesity." First Palin thumbed her nose in the First Lady's face by bringing cookies to a Pennsylvania high school, and now she's even using her reality show (Sarah Palin's Alaska) to get in on the act. On last night's episode, Palin was trying to whip up some "s'mores" for her family when she got off the following blast: "Where are the s'mores ingredients? This is in honor of Michelle Obama, who said the other day we should not have dessert."

Palin sure has a way of rubbing other females the wrong way and being so rubbed herself. Just recently, it's been Kate Gosselin and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and now it's apparently the First Lady. My previous suggestion in each instance was that Palin have a Cat Fight with the other lady, but in the case of Sarah/Michelle, I'm instead going to suggest a Food Fight, perhaps held inside an UFC-style Octagon cage. There comes a time when two ladies just need to settle their differences once and for all.

But that aside, I really have little problem with the substance of Michelle Obama's informational message. It's not necessarily any good for you to have dessert with every single lunch or dinner, and it's doubtless the case that American kids could generally eat healthier. Plus, First Ladies always have to have their little causes that they like to go out and talk about. I get that. Fine.

Where I have issue is with Obama's efforts to increase federal government regulation in this area, such as by having the government fully regulate local school lunches. Unnecessary, overbearing, and far leftist -- the sort of things that don't play too well with most of us here in middle America, sorry. Talk and preach all you want about our diets. But keep your federal government mitts out of our local schools and stop trying to coerce what kids eat through excessive federal regulation and the allowance out-of-control lawsuits.

And for the record: I don't much care for "s'mores" myself. Never have. Not a big dessert guy. Not a marshmellow guy. Palin can keep 'em as far as I'm concerned. Or maybe she can offer some to Michelle personally if the promoters are ever able to put together the aforementioned Food Fight-to-End-It-All Cage Match.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/12/when-does-pailins-reality-become-palins-politics-sarah-palin-zings-michelle-obama-over-dessert.html

"We Seen the Deer Going Under!" Maryland Men Rescue Deer From Icy Water, Get Slapped with Tickets For Their Efforts.

Apart from bad grammar, I'm not sure what offense was committed by Jim Hart and Khalil Abusakran. The two men worked with others late this week to rescue a deer from the rigid water of Maryland's Patapsco River (pictured left). Said Abusakran: "We seen the deer going under. It couldn’t maintain. It was starting to freeze, and it was really getting bad." So they pulled the creature out of the water. And that's when Mr. Cop, sitting on the sidelines, reared his ugly head.

Copper actually had the gall to write the two men tickets for being in the water without life jackets! $90 fine for each man! Can you say ticket quota? How about dumbass? How about the pawn shop security guard from Pulp Fiction? Same difference.

And the funny thing is, the two men say that the cop just sat there and watched them going in and out of the water without ever saying a word (or apparently lifting a finger to help)! "He didn’t stop us at all," said Hart. But why would the cop stop them? After all, if he had done that, he wouldn't have been able to write them tickets.

Finally, the real kicker: The two men claim they didn't break any law at all, since reportedly life jackets are only required in Maryland waterways if you're a kid or a teenager (which neither man is). But why ever let a pesky little thing like the law get in the away of writing some good tickets, right!? They say crime doesn't pay, and too often being a good samaritan is little different.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2010/12/17/good-samaritans-face-fine-after-rescuing-deer-from-icy-water/

Would Republicans Really Ever Nominate Sarah Palin for President? New Poll Finds 6 in 10 Americans Would Not Even Consider Voting for Her in 2012.

With negative numbers like that, who needs Kate Gosselin? I've said before that Sarah Palin would have zero chance against Obama in the general election because of her high negatives, and the new ABC News/Washington post poll certainly supports that (first link at bottom). I just can't believe that republicans would ever consider nominating her, but yet she continues to be discussed as being as viable of a candidate for 2012 as anyone in the republican field.

For the record, count me among the 60% of Americans who wouldn't consider voting for Palin. And it's really nothing personal -- I just don't think she has the mentality necessary to be president (leaving alone the fact that I'm not a right-winger). Even though one of my prior blog posts is cited as the "Ronald Reagan" entry on TinaDupuy.com's Sarah Palin's Enemies List (where I had fun with Palin using "Bozo" instead "Bonzo" in the title of the old Reagan movie) (second and third links below), I am most certainly not a Palin hater.

I've often said that in addition to being hot, I also very much respect how she's been able to turn her 5 minutes of fame in 2008 into a fortune and a bona fide celebrity status. More power to her! But I just don't think she has what it takes to be president, sorry. And given some of those new poll numbers, apparently I'm not alone in that sentiment.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/17/poll-six-in-ten-say-they-wont-consider-palin/
http://www.tinadupuy.com/uncategorized/sarahpalinsenemylist/
http://independentrage.blogspot.com/2010/11/bedtime-for-bozo-sarah-palin-takes-dump.html

Grannies Nationwide Apparently Nix Geritol & Are Instead Poppin' Roids: The Latest Has Gopher State Granny Allegedly Knocking Over a Bank!

Earlier this week we had the Granny in Kansas (first link below) pounding an attacker into unconsciousness with a frying pan ("I beat him down," she said), and today we have a story from Minnesota about a 70-year-old Granny who allegedly robbed a bank after first duping a 26-year-old man to act as her getaway driver (second link below)! (No word yet whether Granny also had an unwitting "second story man" on the payroll for the heist).

The man (Luke Even Weimert) says he thought he was just doing a "good deed" for Granny (Sandra Leaann Bathke) by taking her in his Jaguar down to the bank so that she could pull some money out to pay her rent. Bank employees say Granny entered the joint, claimed to be packin' more heat than a Granny Clampett, and told them to cough up the dough.

Then Granny allegedly hit the pavement $3700 richer. She jumped in the Jag, and Luke Even Weimert even tried to drive her home. But apparently he neglected to "step on it" enough and to watch for tails, since Luke Even Weimert was even followed by the bank's vice president for eight miles. This even gave the VP enough time to write down Luke Even Weimert's license plate number and car description. Can you say: Granny Busted!

Cops quickly pulled over the Jag and cuffed & stuffed Granny. Even Luke Even Weimert was arrested as well, although he was later released and not even charged after telling his even-handed story to the cops. But Granny's going to need some epsom salt for the hot water that she's in!

Granny's currently being held in the can and may have a longer stint in store in the state hoosegow since she's facing a bevy of felony charges. And to think -- she might have been able to escape arrest in the first place if she had just thought to bring along a frying pan on this piece of work.

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/12/15/2521879/kansas-woman-knocks-out.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/12/17/national/main7159663.shtml?tag=cbsnewsSectionContent.12

Ward, Don't You Think You Were a Little Hard On the Beaver? "Beaver Management Research" Among 1000s of Earmarks in Senate's Omnibus Spending Bill.

And make no mistake: Senators from both parties have contributed mightily to these earmarks. They total almost 7,000 in number and $8.3 billion in cost -- all buried in the massive, nearly 2000-page spending bill that Senate democrats are trying to jam through before the end of the weekend during the current lameduck session. It's as if these senators paid not an ounce of attention to the November midterm election results.

I don't have a sense yet for their chances of success (i.e. how many republicans may vote for this monstrosity), but regardless: If your senator (regardless of party) votes for this giant piece of pork, then I think you know whom not to vote for come the next election. I know I will.

It is necessary for Congress to pass an appropriations bill by this weekend, but all of these earmarks are absolutely not necessary. Get a load of some of the crazy waste in this piece of crap legislation, which includes huge expenditures on such items as:

-The aforementioned "beaver management research" (whatever that is).
-Blackbird management (we can't discriminate in favor of just beavers, I suppose).
-Harvesting salmon.
-Monitoring aquatic invasive species.
-Building solar parking canopies.
-Using the National Guard in Kentucky to "eradicate marijuana" (they have no police there? -- this one was proposed by GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell).
-Polynesian Voyaging Society in Hawaii.
-Oyster safety (it's a dangerous world for oysters).
-Legume research in Idaho.
-Anthropod damage in Nevada (a Harry Reid special).
-A John Murtha Center in Pittsburgh.
-A Teddy Kennedy Institute in Massachusetts.
-Production of virus-free wine grapes.

With pork like all of that, who needs the swine industry anymore? Maybe studying that question can be the next earmark that these two parties toss into one of these bills.

UPDATE: Late today the news came down that Senate democrats have "abandoned" trying to push their massive omnibus spending bill through to a vote (put another way, I think it became clear to them that they would not be able to get enough GOP votes). While seemingly good news on its face, they still have to come up with (and quickly) some sort of appropriations bill to replace the abandoned bill. Let's just see what that new bill looks like and whether any of those ridiculous earmarks make their way into it.

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/opinion/article_d80be59e-08a3-11e0-927c-001cc4c03286.html
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46404.html
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=40633

Please Help Me, I'm Falling! Obama Reportedly Begs Dem Lawmakers For Votes on His "Tax Bill" Compromise w/ GOP, Saying His Presidency Depends On It.

If Obama truly believes his re-election turns on the passage of the "tax bill" (first link at bottom), then we have yet another example of Obama's completely inept political skills and perspective. First, if the "tax bill" did have widespread popularity throughout the country, then its failure would hardly be Obama's Waterloo (to borrow a deranged right-winger phrase from last year) since he has all the cover he needs: He tried to broker a compromise bill with the opposing party, but Congress (and he can blame members of both parties) shut him down.

Second, and more importantly, the "tax bill" does not have widespread approval in the country. Members of the far left -- hell-bent on pushing their mindless and incessant agenda of "hate the rich" and stick-it-to-the-wealthy even if it means raising taxes in the middle of a terrible recession -- hate the "tax bill." Plenty of people on the right, and many Independents alike (including myself), oppose this bill because it represents "business as usual" in Washington with all of its pork, earmarks and excessive spending completely unrelated to the issue of whether the current income tax rates should be kept in place.

In short, the outcome of the "tax bill," a full two years before the 2012 election, likely has minimal (if any) impact on Obama's chances for re-election. The fact that Obama apparently thinks otherwise illustrates yet again how Obama the great campaigner does not translate to Obama the smart politician in office. He makes political blunders and miscalculations at every turn. And that fact may be the only hope that republicans have for winning the presidency in 2012 -- since Lord knows they won't be putting up a particularly strong candidate against Obama.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/133909-obama-tells-lawmakers-not-passing-tax-deal-could-end-presidency-dem-says
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1TCwd8a780

Now For Your Long-Range Forecast:Hard Time in the Pokey? Weather Babe in the Big Apple Faces Rainy Outlook After Allegedly Fabricating Rape Story.

Her name is Heidi Jones, and she's a weather gal on WABC/Channel 7 in New York City. You may have also seen her on Good Morning America, where she's been a fill-in weather chick. But her skies have darkened now that cops have busted her for "perpetrating the ultimate snow job" -- giving police an allegedly false account of being the victim of an attempted rape (link to full New York Post story at bottom).

Heidi likes to jog. She runs in marathons, even sometimes broadcasting live while she runs them. So it would come as no surprise that she would be jogging in Manhattan's Central Park one afternoon in September. But the rest of her story reportedly "proved to be as unreliable as a five-day forecast."

She told cops that on that occasion, an Hispanic man grabbed her, dragged her into the woods and tried to rape her, only to have the rape thwarted by two mysterious passers-by (the ghosts of John Lennon & Babe Ruth, perhaps?). (BTW, nice of her to throw in the Hispanic angle -- after all, white dudes never commit rape, right?).

Heidi also told cops that the same Hispanic mystery man "somehow found her again" two months later and continued his harassment ("I know you went to police," she quoted the enigmatic hoodlum as saying). But the entire story was "all wet," reports The Post.

One issue was the fact that Heidi didn't report any of this until late November -- two months after the initial alleged attack in the park. It probably also didn't help that on the day of the second alleged incident, Heidi hit Twitter with the following happy tweet: "Here is ur turkey day forecast! Gobble gobble!"

After cops investigated her story and starting confronting her with inconsistencies, Heidi reportedly folded like a K-Mart deck chair in a summer typhoon. The Post reports that she admitted to cops that she concocted the whole sorry story, blaming the tall tale on her personal "plea for sympathy" following some mysterious, unspecified "setback" in her personal life.

But even that excuse may not fly much higher than a low-level stratus cloud: The Post reports that Heidi's myriad public posts on Facebook and Twitter "have been bright and sunny for weeks." Put another way: Setback-schmetback.

At the moment, Heidi is charged with filing a false report and could face up to a year in the joint. WABC has suspended her as a reported first step towards giving her the axe. And I'd assume that the GMA gig has also been swept away faster than a Mississippi $hithouse in a 500-year flood.

But at least Heidi was accurate on one part of her dismal forecast: On the day the cops slapped the ol' cuffs on her, she posted the following on Facebook: "You guys ready for the arctic chill? Ready or Not . . . Be careful!"

http://www.newyorkpost.com/p/news/local/wabc_weather_gal_in_rape_lie_cops_Dt6rDzCTktzVPJ049g2YlO

"It's Real, Damn You!" Man Allegedly Fires Squirrel at Hardees Drive-Thru Gal After Ordering "Extra Nuts" Instead of Thickburger for His Furry Friend.

America's drive-thrus are out of control! Last week (as detailed in this space) it was some teenager in Cali allegedly tossing a scalding plate of food back through a drive-thru window, and this week it's 26-year-old Chris Thompson (pictured on left) allegedly heaving a dead squirrel at an Illinois Hardees drive-thru employee who questioned whether the rodent was real (link to full story at bottom). I guess some people really take it personally if you question the reality of their favorite pet.

In a case that cops have labeled as "Male Threw Dead Animal Through Drive Thru Window," cops say that Thompson was introduced to his little deceased pal when a friend put the squirrel on the dash of Thompson's car as a "prank." Apparently taking a real liking to the creature, Thompson took to driving around with it.

Then he hit the Hardees drive-thru for some "grub" and tried to introduce the animal to drive-thru gal Deborah Roberts. She says that Thompson "began to pet the squirrel and make it talk to the female employees" inside the Hardees. How Thompson "made it talk" is not revealed in the story, but my assumption (absent some buddy in the backseat throwing his voice) is that Thompson was working some sort of lame-ass ventriloquist act.

Next Thompson reportedly tried to place an order of "extra nuts for his squirrel" while continuing to pet the deceased critter. And that's when all hell broke loose! The drive-thru lady -- not believing that everything in this picture was on the up and up (squirrels typically don't speak English, after all) -- starting giving a Thompson a big hassle over whether the squirrel was real.

At that, Thompson apparently flipped his lid. "Yes it is real!", he barked at the drive-thru lady and then proceeded to fire the animal's corpse through the drive-thru window right at the woman. Thompson's now been charged with disorderly conduct. The local police chief is quoted as saying that his department takes "incidents like this seriously" and that "such behavior would not be condoned" in his town.

However, Thompson is not without a defense (of course!). He says he thought the drive-thru window would automatically close if something was thrown at it and would "not allow the squirrel to enter the business." Put another, I guess, he's saying he only intended the dead animal to bounce off the drive-thru window and land on the pavement below (where it would welcome subsequent drive-thru patrons). Nothing "disorderly" about that!

As for the squirrel, a customer inside the restaurant (why not an employee?!?) reportedly went "beyond the call of duty, removed the animal and placed it in the snow outside the eatery" (as pictured above). That's where cops found it and snapped some photos for evidence. No word on whether or not cops bothered to give the animal a proper Christian burial after taking their pictures. Poor squirrel.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/animals/dead-squirrel-tossed-drive-thru-window

Michelle Obama to American Kids: You Need to Eat Better So That You'll Be Healthy Enough to Go Fight in Wars!

Appearing today to speak in favor of the "Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010" -- under which the federal government will regulate school lunches -- Michelle Obama spouted these rather mindless words concerning the alleged necessity of improving the diets of American children:

“Military leaders … tell us that when more than one in four young people are unqualified for military service because of their weight. Childhood obesity isn’t just a public health threat, it’s not just an economic threat, it’s a national security threat as well."

Gee, that's funny! I didn't realize we had returned to the Vietnam War era, complete with a military draft, and in which the federal government felt it necessary for most American men to be ready to go fight somewhere. I had thought that our volunteer military was staffed just fine these days? But I guess not. Instead, we need the federal government to whip our kids' diets into shape because they may just be needed for military induction and fighting sometime soon!

BTW, can you imagine if anyone other than a liberal democrat had uttered such moronic blather -- calling kids' diets a "national security" issue? Because after all, military bravado and waging wars are just fine with the far left and the American mainstream media just so long as a democrat is president at the time, right!

Oh, and just for good measure, Michelle says today that it's also necessary for the federal government to control school lunches because "we can't just leave it up to the parents" to look out for the diets of their children. Well, Ms. Obama, the Hell We Can't! It is the job of parents to feed their kids at home and -- if the parents have a problem with what's being served at school -- to provide their kids with a different lunch to bring. This is most certainly not a proper area for more overbearing federal government intrusion and regulation.

At the end of the day, this is all just more classic liberalism from the Obamas and their 20-percenter party. They know what's best for us. They will take care of us. We are stupid. The federal government is smart. We need only keep our mouths shut, bend over, and take their infinite wisdom right up our keysters. Well, I say, as always, nuts to that leftist shit!

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46303.html
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/michelle-obama-45-billion-child-nutritio

"WHOOPS! Saw-Reee!" The Top 10 Excuses the Jets' Assistant Coach Should Have Given for Tripping That Dolphins Player Instead of Apologizing...

You've probably already seen or heard about it last night or today: New York Jets assistant coach Sal Alosi sticking his leg out and intentionally tripping Miami Dolphins' player Nolan Carroll as Carroll tried to cover a punt. Alosi has already come out and admitted what he did and has tried to profusely apologize (link to story at bottom). But it struck me: Why did he necessarily have to go down that road so quickly following the incident?

After all, the first rule of the thug, slimeball and/or politician (same difference between the three?) is never admit anything to anybody -- you don't know nothin' and it's always someone else's fault. Hell, even without denying the incident, Alosi could have at least tried to put some political spin on the entire situation as if he was some sort of democrat or republican. For example, here are ten types of excuses and/or spins that Alosi could have utilized in lieu of a boring old admission and apology:

10. "I just had a knee-jerk reaction to the play, literally. It could have happened to anyone."

9. "Hey, I'm no Woody Hayes. I never laid a hand on the kid!"

8. "Carroll insulted my mama. No one does that. No one!"

7. "Hey, this is football. It ain't tiddlywinks."

6. "The ref didn't flag me. Therefore, it never really happened."

5. "I only thought tripping was illegal in football if a player did it?!"

4. "I've been a very angry person lately for Obama compromising with hostage-takers."

3. "I was just trying to bait Channing Crowder into saying he'd break my leg so that he would be the one to get in trouble."

2. "I think I may have Turrets syndrome."

1. "That video's being taken out of context."


http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/jets-coach-sal-alosi-trips-player-game/story?id=12382310

The Devil Went Down to Pennsylvania Avenue: How About Ol' Slick Willie Holding Court at the White House, Showing Obama How It's Done!

On Friday, we saw the truly bizarre scene of Barack Obama introducing former president Bill Clinton in front of the White House press corps to defend the Obama/GOP tax deal, since apparently Obama is unwilling or unable to carry to water all by himself. But the truly odd aspect of the whole spectacle was Obama citing to some lame excuse about "keeping Michelle waiting" and then leaving the room. Clinton stayed and carried on with reporters for a half an hour as if he had never left the White House (link to full story at bottom).

This scene for me immediately conjured up recollections of the lyrics of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by the Charlie Daniels Band: When Obama finished, Willie said, "Well you're pretty good ol' son -- but sit down in that chair right there, and let me show you how it's done." And that's exactly what Clinton did.

Clinton's half-hour in front of the press, and the ease with which he handled it, harkened back to his presidency. I don't particularly like Clinton, and I think he's a slimeball. But make no mistake: He's one of the very most skilled politicians of my lifetime -- equally at home off-prompter as on.

As a politician, Clinton makes Obama look like a 3-year-old on the first day of preschool. Obama is not particularly skilled on his feet, and he's only good on-prompter when he's actually engaged and interested in speaking (which is only a minority of the time). Far from the "most skilled orator in generations" (as the democrat party tried to make him out a few years ago), Obama instead could use to take some (OK, a lot of) notes on the Slick Willie.

Worse yet for Obama is the complete awkwardness of abruptly exiting stage right and leaving an ex-president to defend, on his own, Obama's tax deal! It was a telling moment, completely typifying the weak leadership skills that we've seen from Obama since Day 1. Obama ran a great and flawless presidential campaign, but (and totally regardless of what you think about his politics) he's been a bumbling, stumbling wreck of a president ever since.

Final note: You may have noticed that I've paid scant attention in this space to the Obama/GOP tax compromise story. That's because (1) it's boring on the whole, (2) it's likely going to be an ongoing saga until the end of the month, and (3) it represents just more of the same "business as usual in DC" from both parties. I'm in favor of extending the Bush tax cuts for all Americans, since even most left-wing economists would agree that you don't raise taxes on anyone in the middle of a bad recession. Taking up the issue again in two years would be fine with me.

But I can't support the current compromise for a different reason -- all of the pork, earmarks and spending that the democrats have tossed in, with the republicans apparently all too willing to accept. Like I said, business as usual in DC. I'm already starting to look forward to 2012, when we Independents can issue a fresh set of pink slip to the slimy politicians of both parties.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/At-Obamas-side-Clinton-backs-apf-4065249916.html?x=0&.v=1

"Fire in the Hole"? What Happened to a Pie or Grapefruit in the Face? Teen Goofus Busted After Rotten Prank Scalds Drive-Thru Worker Right in the Mush

The recent alleged actions of a 17-year-old in Roseville, California might not quite qualify him for "Public Enemy" status, but at least Jimmy Cagney only pounded that dame with a grapefruit. (Link to full story at bottom). Police say the kid was pulling a prank that some dumbass teens call "Fire in the Hole" -- a moniker supposedly inspired by the phrase that soldiers scream when they're about to detonate a grenade or other explosive in an enclosed space.

The prank involves teens videotaping themselves (since what good is it if you don't catch it on tape, right?) tossing food or beverages at drive-thru employees. But in this case, it was "a prank gone wrong" (to say the very least), and it could land the teen in a different kind of "hole" -- the one at the local hoosegow, that is.

Police say the teen and three other utes pulled into the drive-thru at a Boston Market restaurant with more on their mind than just the chicken pot pie. Having apparently received his order, the teen (after presumably yelling "Fire in the Hole") fired a plate of "creamed spinach" back at the 21-year-old drive-thru worker, nailing him right in the kisser. (Truth be told, the worker's first clue that something was amiss should have been when a teenager voluntarily ordered "creamed spinach" in the first place).

Apparently, as well, Boston Market serves up their creamed spinach pipin' hot, because the worker suffered second-degree burns on his noodle and had to be treated "for serious face and neck burns." Now the teen's been arrested and charged with "battery causing great bodily harm," and his running mates may face charges too.

The linked story doesn't say whether the battery charge is a felony or a misdemeanor, but I would assume it could potentially entail some time in the can for the teen. And with good reason (if he's the actual perp). I could see an ounce of humor in this if he had merely fired off a soda or a pie (or a grapefruit for that matter) at the worker, but tossing something that's scalding hot is simply no laughing matter. Not when possible time in the juvy is the only punch line.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20025219-504083.html?tag=cbsnewsSectionContent.6

Get This Bus Moving, "Bitch"!Female Passenger Allegedly Goes Berzerk on New York City Bus Driver for Slow Pokin'.

It's the case of the back seat driver gone bananas. Cops in the Big Apple say that 25-year-old Alicea Diaz (pictured on the left) didn't like the "pokey snail's pace" at which 60-year-old Jacqueline Benjamin drove the city bus and the "mind-numbing rides" that resulted. Diaz alleges that Benjamin drove the bus at five miles per hour and was "always making me late for work." And Diaz wasn't gonna take it any longer! That's when the attack began (allegedly) (link to full story at bottom).

The incident allegedly started with a little verbal harangue. "I'm tired of you, bitch. You're always making me late for work!," Diaz allegedly shouted at Benjamin. Then things reportedly got physical, with Diaz allegedly clocking Benjamin right in the face "with a closed fist" (it would have been a legal blow if she'd just kept it open-handed). For good measure, Diaz then allegedly "unleashed a hail of blows" upon the person of the much older bus driver.

Once through with her alleged attack, Diaz -- sporting a Bill Belichick-like hoodie -- apparently settled down a bit and tried to go ahead and get off the bus at her regular stop. But bus driver Benjamin was reportedly having none of that, restraining Diaz by her hoodie until the cops could arrive (damn pesky superfluous hoods). Diaz now faces criminal charges that include assault and "menacing." And she could face hard time in the hoosegow, since attacking a Big Apple bus driver is a felony.

But Diaz is already working on her defense. She claims she gave Benjamin the beatdown only in "self-defense." Diaz says the friction started when she complained about Benjamin not helping a wheelchair passenger. Diaz says that Benjamin then drove the bus really slow to retaliate. Then, upon reaching Diaz's stop, Diaz says the bus driver called her a "dumb ho" and grabbed her hoodie, naturally giving Diaz little choice but to beat the living hell out of the bus driver.

But something tells me that story may not fly so well -- not with the three witnesses who back up the bus driver's account, leastways. Methinks Diaz may also need to work up some variation of the ol' "feathers" defense that's being utilized (as recently documented in this space) by the airline that allegedly served a lizard to a passenger for dinner. Nothing like a good Plan B, after all.

http://www.newyorkpost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/driven_to_bus_rage_a60RzWK2FU17XQR6smJPLO

Rock Legend & Pop Culture Icon John Lennon Assassinated 30 Years Ago Today.

Lennon lived in New York City and often walked its streets. He never had an entourage or bodyguards, and he became quite adept at graciously dealing with the inevitable members of the public who would approach him to talk or to seek an autograph. Once such person was Mark David Chapman, for whom Lennon once signed an autograph outside Lennon's apartment building. It was that same Chapman who turned out to be a maniac and who murdered Lennon in cold blood outside that apartment building on this date in 1980 (link to full story at bottom).

In the years prior to 1980, Lennon had been very much out of the limelight as he stayed home to raise his young son. But in 1980, he had returned to his music, and his wonderful artistic creativity was once again flowing like never before. All of that was cut short by one crazed and cowardly slimeball with a gun. I have little doubt that Lennon, if still alive, would still be putting out relevant, thoughtful and memorable music to this very day.

Thinking back today over Lennon's body of work, here's a list of ten of my favorite Lennon songs from various points in his career (alphabetized and not ranked) -- somehow, Revolution 9 didn't quite make the list:

1. A Day in the Life

2. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)

3. I Am the Walrus

4. I'm Only Sleeping

5. In My Life

6. (Just Like) Starting Over

7. Nobody Told Me

8. Revolution

9. #9 Dream

10. Strawberry Fields Forever

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20024964-504083.html

Report: Kate Gosselin Really Hits It Off With Palin Hubbie Todd, Wants a Man Like Him Who Keeps His Damn Mouth Shut & Bows to the Lady's Every Wish.

Big surprise: Kate Gosselin and Sarah Palin -- who are about to appear together on Palin's reality show Sarah Palin's Alaska -- don't get along. As discussed in my right sidebar column this week, Kate & Her 8 and the Palin clan embarked upon a camping trip that saw Kate constantly complaining and finally almost losing it when Sarah slipped Kate a moose-meat hot dog (you just can't make this stuff up) -- the proverbial "final straw." From Popeater.com today (link at bottom):

"Kate and Sarah didn't get along very well, given that both are kind of alpha females that demand authority and, let's face it, attention."

But Kate and Palin hubbie Todd reportedly got along only too well, according to a source quoted by Popeater:

"Kate and Todd Palin got along extremely well. Todd would be the perfect man for Kate. He does exactly what he's told, is happy to stay home and look after the kids and is perfectly happy staying out of the spotlight. He's the opposite of Kate's ex-husband Jon and it doesn't hurt that he's very good looking."

And apparently the feeling's mutual. "Todd adores her," the source tells Popeater. So I wonder if they'll be staying in touch? For the meantime, Kate is reportedly "now on the hunt for someone similar to Todd."

But what if she can't find a Todd clone? Might she have to go back and look up the real thing? This thing has Kate/Sarah cat fight written all over it. Maybe Kate and Elisabeth Hasselbeck could go in cahoots to double team Palin -- an evening with Todd on the line.

The person I feel sorry for in this whole oddball equation: Todd himself. Being thought of as little more than a steer in the barn -- the man in the glass box with directions reading, "break in case of spousal public appearance becoming necessary." And if he ever dares to open his mouth, he's liable to get a load of buckshot in his ass. But I guess every Mama Grizzly's gotta have her Papa Gelding, no?

http://www.popeater.com/2010/12/07/kate-gosselin-todd-palin-sarah-palins-alaska/