Happy Flag Day to all!

Hadn't noticed this before, but His Majesty may need a new Royal Shoe Cobbler.

(Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.)

I see a few holes developing in those soles. What gives, Majesty -- same shoes every day? The risk -- badass foot odor faster than you can say Janet Napolitano May Be Watching Me Since I Used the Phrase Swine Flu.

Ahmadinejad blames the media. The far left blames Bush. The far right blames His Majesty. I get blamed by family members for causing 9-11.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,526137,00.html

All this blame, and my head just starts to spin like a shithouse toilet paper dispenser on a Mississippi construction site. The blamegame is the device of the doctrinaire, the simple-minded, the anti-intellectual, and the slimey politician looking to appeal to the lowest common denominator. For all of those who engage in it on a regular basis, why don't you **** yourselves.

(As an aside, my thoughts on the Ahmadinejad re-election: Seems to be a lot of accusations flying around about fraud in the election results. NO! No freakin' way! I really cannot believe that! Not for a damn moment. But regardless, what does it matter? As I have expressed in this space before, Ahmadinejad is a cartoon character, a flunkie, a lackey, a lapdog, a sidekick. The Ayatollah leads Ahmadinejad around like Michael Vick's body guard detail at a PETA convention. Which is why it's so completely absurd how your Hannity's and Slimebaugh's and other far right freaks of this country try to prop up this buffoon in their rhetoric as the next coming of Hitler or Stalin or something. It simply doesn't jive with reality.)

God Save The Queen...AND The King!

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/06/13/Britain-celebrates-queens-83rd-birthday/UPI-73451244910889/

Congratulations to Queen Elizabeth for the celebration of her 83rd birthday (frankly, I thought she was at least 96) -- it's been quite a ride. And as for His Majesty, his royal subjects will be celebrating the same come August 4. My question: Have there yet been any rumblings about a possible Holiday? Will I be getting that day off? I could use one.

Lady Gaga! She should record a cover version of Queen's Radio Ga Ga.

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

I might just be buying.

Also, it occurred to me that I need to get more ladies into this space. I mean, just look at some of the regulars: Sarah Palin is absolutely HATED by a large swath of society, and Carpethead Janet Napolitano is, well, Carpethead Janet Napolitano. So I'll try better.

I have to give California gay rights groups credit tonight for sticking up to His Majesty.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hVLXVV6bmG_wjIN5b_AzLQvPaKiwD98PFONG2

I've previously made myself clear in this space that I couldn't give a rat's behind about the gay marriage issue, but I have been very critical of the far left for attacking beauty pageant contestants on this issue while being almost completely silent towards His Majesty and not having the guts to question his position (never retracted) that he opposes gay marriage. At least these groups in California have the resolve and conviction to consistently stand up for what they believe in -- something that can't be said about most of those inhabit both of our two political extremes.

OK, at Draconem's request, I took another Political Compass test tonight.

I've taken this damn thing at least twice before, along with a number of other "political gauge" tests. And as I was telling Draconem, these tests almost always tell me that I am slightly left of center, even though in my own biased personal opinion, I think I am slightly right of center. Here were my political compass numbers, consistent with past takings of the same "test": Economic Left/Right: minus 0.75 (meaning ever so slightly to the left); Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: minus 4.36 (meaning leaning a bit more to the left, but not a huge amount). But as I commented to Draconem, who the hell knows what intentional or institutional spin or bias this survey tries to place on things (in my experience, EVERYONE, and EVERY WEBSITE, has an angle). It's quite possible that this site tries to slightly veer people to the left out of the website's own personal interests. But who the hell knows. I don't. Me: Frankly, I really couldn't give a rat's ass. Because I know who I am: A truly free-thinking Independent who has some liberal views, some conservative ones, and a whole host of other ones somewhere in between. That's how it should be for any intellectually honest, free-thinking human being. And ultimately, my goal is to encourage anyone who reads me to strive to be just such an individual. As I like to say, THAT'S what I'm talkin' bout!

(BTW, Draconem is the cool dude behind Master Blog Report, along with SoCalTigr -- these two fools have been crazy enough to give me a forum for my rather unique panoply of viewpoints, and I would encourage all readers everywhere to check out their very cool new website! -- http://www.masterblogreport.com/).

Picture, Transcript has now been released from His Majesty's most recent telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/06/09/world/worldwatch/entry5076128.shtml

Transcript -- His Majesty: "So Benny. How you doin’, man! I’m just sittin’ here, kickin’ back in the ole Oval Office. I’m about to light up a fag, as I think they say in your country. No wait, that’s Gordo – sorry, man – my bad – wrong prime minister. So anyway, Benny, what’s happenin’, what’s shakin’, what gives, man? So Benny, dude, ever thought about ditchin’ the old PM thing and becoming a Monarch? You oughta try it out a few months – it rocks, just like my main gal, Hillary, especially now that I got her officially on the backburner. But yeah, I was just telling Gordo the same $hit the other day about turning himself into a King, but Gordo said they already gotta a monarch over there. Now, I gotta say, Benny, I’ve only got a few minutes over here – my main man Hugo’s supposed to be shootin’ me some texts here pretty soon. Huey's startin’ this crazy-a$$ government-run cell phone industry down there, and he’s just itchin’ to try it out. Yeah, the government runs the cell phone business and gives out free phones to all the subjects. If this $hit works out good down there for Big Huey, then maybe we’re on to something here. I mean, I got Nancy and Harry down there on the Hill, and they’d take over the portable $hithouse industry if I so much as snap my royal fingers at ‘em. What’s that you say? Iran ??? What you talkin' 'bout, man? Dude, I’m gonna have to talk back at ya on that one – I really need a drag, and I think I just heard Big Huey givin’ me a shout out on my royal blackberry. Damn, man, and I didn’t even get a chance to talk to you ‘bout Beni Hana – I wanted to see if you’re related to that dude. I love that man’s joint when I don’t have time to wait on a damn cheeseburger. Anyhoos, I so gotta run, Benny – talk to ya, babe."

OK, KC Star's Mike Hendricks & far left: Isn't anyone who's a repub or right of center to blame for the actions of this slimeball?

http://wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1693510

...by virtue of all such people being responsible for creating an "atmosphere of hate" (or some other such ludicrous catch-phrase you'll invent) which is squarely to blame for the act of murder perpetrated by this freak. That this or very similar sentiments will quickly be coming out of the far left blogosphere is like getting ready to watch the local Thanksgiving day parade comin' up Main Street, just like the obligatory gun control stories we'll likely see out of the so-called "mainstream" national media tomorrow. Big yawn.

Rush Slimebaugh today: "Independents are nothing but liberals who don't have the guts to admit it."

(This was from a few minutes of his radio show that I heard at lunchtime.) Now, here's the weird and funny thing: I didn't even find this blather particularly angering. Slimebaugh is just so completely wrong and misinformed on that viewpoint, and just so stuck in his doctrinaire world view (in which there only exist liberals, conservatives and mealy-mouthed "moderates"), that I kind of feel sorry for the guy. I suppose if there had been even some small iota or grain of truth in what he said, I might have gotten all riled up (as I tend to do easily) and started dropping "go **** yourself"s and such, but here the guy's just so out-of-touch and incorrect that I found it impossible to get irritated. I must say, though: Hey Slimebaugh -- why don't you read just one page of this blog, any page at any time, and take in 5-10 posts. And if you still believe that this Independent is really just some cowardly liberal, then I'll be forced to believe that you are simply beyond all reason and professional help, man. Sort of like the guy at the funny farm who claims he's Napoleon even after shock therapy and a frontal lobotomy.

And while I'm thinking about it. I'd like to give a shout out to my fellow "from-a-town-of-9000" friend, Russell B!

I recall some shit that went down back in the day that meant that Russell hasn't had the easiest of roads since high school. But I think ole Russell is "alive and doin' fine" right about now. A very nice guy. And it was a pleasure to hang out with him Saturday night and to buy him a classic White Grill "The Mess" come Sunday morning! Man, that $hit was fairly delicious. Not quite "The Stretch" of Broadway Diner standards in Columbia MO, but fairly close and damn tasty!

FoxNews in its right wing slant now sees fit to expose us to a "debate" from Slimebaugh-esque "ditto heads" Mark Levin & Sean Hannity.

I swear these people just will never get it. There are people, a majority of this country, who is NOT WITH THEM and deplores them on the far right and far left. Listening to these 2 far right freaks "debate" things is kind of like listening to a locust dropped to the bottom of a Mississippi Shithouse with a shot of toilet bowl cleaner aimed its way just for good measure (if you ever want to hear the true sound of what Hell might sound like, just try that trick (divorced from the Shithouse, obviously)). The far right and left will NEVER get it, and therefore I will NEVER shut up, at least until we hairlip these freaks two sheets to a southwest Missouri mudhole. Listen no further than my Top 2 Songs of Independence from a few months back -- Megadeth's Peace Sells and Max Frost and the Troopers' Shapes of Things -- and you will experience a great feel for what the **** I am talking about.

Methinks His Majesty made a REAL Jackass out of himself today. (Hey, I've been there myself, BUT I don't purport to be our Sovereign Monarch either).

http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUSN0938720120090609

His Majesty pointing Bill Clintonesque fingers around at people and telling them to watch their spending and that we now need to "spend as we go". (BTW, what's with these dem presidents pointing their fingers, literally, at people all the time -- I was always taught that such was rather rude -- but I digress). I mean, His Majesty giving that kind of advice or directive to ANYONE reminds me very much the His Majesty's slimeball-in-arms on the other extreme -- the inherently corrupt and intellectually dishonest Newt Gingrich -- pointing his own putrid finger recently at the inherently dishonest Nancy Pelosi and calling her a "liar, despicable, dishonest, vicious and trivial." Much like the finger-pointing thing, I and decent Americans everywhere have always been taught that pots should not call kettles black.

http://independentrage.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html

(Yes, I'll use just about any excuse to link up my Slimeball Sandwich recipe and post on a current post!)

But I must say, Majesty, you are starting to continue to really disappoint me on a daily basis, which means you're trending the absolute wrong direction. And believe it or not, Majesty, even though I may be from a town of 9000, I think that I at least have somewhat of a pulse on the mainstream of this country. Have a nice day.

3 Guesses: What do these 7 dudes all have in common apart from their rather gruesome, nightmare-inducing mugs?

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/06/09/letterman-attacks-sarah-palins-slutty-flight-attendant-look

Not exactly the Magnificent Seven. But now that any rational, sane individual has been thoroughly shock-therapied with that pictorial panoply resembling some long-lost deleted scene from George Romero's original Night of the Living Dead, here's what else these individuals have in common: They are all old, grouchy, mean-spirited, unthinking, doctrinaire, curmudgeony, hateful, slimey liberals, out of touch with the overwelming majority of this country and perhaps as good of an example as I can posit off-the-cuff for the far left's poster curmudgeons who represent a good deal of everything that is currently wrong with this country.

And by the way, these people all REALLY HATE us so-called "white trash", "redneck" people from towns of 9000. Case in point: The above link details the latest slimeball rant (disingenuously postured under the guise of "comedy") from one of these freaks, i.e. David Letterman's new references to that famous former mayor of a town of 9000 -- Sarah Palin -- as a "slut" (one who sports the "slutty flight attendant look") and her daughter as one who might visit New Yankee Stadium and get "knocked up by Alex Rodriguez." These are the poster curmudgeons of the far left! My goodness, where do I sign up! How can I join such a wonderful group! They are a regular barrel of laughs over here! Not. (I will give one ounce of credit to one of these fools: I've previously heard Moore say that politicians' kids like the Palin daughter should always be off-limits -- I credit him at least for that remark.) But hey, I have to give these idiots some additional credit as well. They serve the purpose of reminding me on an almost daily basis of how I could NEVER join them. And members of the far right -- go **** yourselves too!!!

That's right, I'm Back in Black, ladies & gentlemen. With a flurry of posts tonight to announce my return!

I've been out of pocket for a number of days. Work conference to attend followed by a 20-year High School reunion in my little hometown of 9000.

Our class was relatively modest -- about 150 -- and only 30-40 showed up. But it was nice to see all the folks and talk about some of the old times. I really do find inspiration in my small town roots, as much as that background may offend your typical member of the condescending, pseudo-intellectual far left, as evidenced by His Majesty's reaction to the selection of Sarah Palin as Tired Old Man's running mate ("Senator McCain has seen fit to select a former mayor of a town of 9000 to be his running mate for president."). Well, anyway, Your Majesty, go **** yourself tonight, because I had a tremendous amount of fun hanging out amongst my fellow small town old friends. And get this, Your Majesty: An overwelming majority of my classmates can still to do this day speak in complete sentences! Go figure! But anyway, the next day, as I was waking up out of my coma, a thought struck me that gets more at the general point that while we can't ever forget the past and where we came from, we can't wallow there too long either (I'd say one night every 10 years or so is about right!): As I was driving home in a half-dead stupor late the next morning, I recalled a line from Rick Nelson's early 70's tune, Garden Party: "If memories were all I sang, I'd rather drive a truck." So let's keep thrusting and foisting ourselves into the future, always the future, although never forgetting where we came from. That's what I'm talking about.

21,000 New Troops coming to Afghanistan. And I'm still waiting for His Majesty to articulate the plan (any)for what the freak we are doing there now?

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-08-voa43.cfm

Of course, if we currently had a repub president presiding over this mess, then the far left blogosphere would be insane in their venom (and for good reason). But since the far left is largely incapable of intellectual honesty or of actually criticizing their Monarch, we just get chirpin'-crickets silence by in large. Silly, pathetic, far left. Have I suggested recently for all ya' all to go **** yourselves? If not, then I'll go ahead and posit that sentiment at the current moment.

And something else about this story sort of got my goat today: "U.S leaders said they are concerned about the civilian casualties." Oh really? What about the 70 American solider casualties so far this year? Any concern there? I'm not going to claim there isn't, but that civilian casualties would be singled out with no mention of the soldiers really pisses me off.

So I'm still asking His Majesty? What the **** is the plan for Afghanistan? The silence is DEAFENING.

Sarah Palin on Hannity tonight. She's so freakin' hot!

As I've said before, I don't care for a lot of her far right politics and views, and it's unlikely that I could ever vote for her for president. But I still like her. And from a town of 9000 ta' boot!

O'Reilly likes to rant & rave about the far left's indifference and dislike of Jessica's law & of punishing child rapists in a harsh way.

I couldn't agree more, frankly. What do you say, far left? Sometimes I can't even purport to describe the lunacy that underlies your world view. Sometimes, it's just damn impossible to even surmise about the rationale for the things you believe. So speak up. Or just continue to be the cowards that you always impress me as being.

Sue Everybody! Punitive Damages!

http://www.kansascity.com/385/story/1233640.html

Hey, LaRussa, methinks someone needs to sue you, first seeking a permanent injunction barring any re-growth of that awful mullet you've sported most of your life, and additionally seeking an affirmative injunction forcing you to smile once per century. Sue Everybody!!!

BTW, what the hell is a "foundation attorney"? That's a new one to me.

I LOVE FREEBIES! Just like Senator Cleanface.

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

I'm at a conference today with a row of vendor displays and as many freebies as I can load up (more gum, miniature chocolates, coffee mugs, and bouncy balls than one could ever want). This is one of my favorite parts of these conferences. And it got me thinking about Harry Reid (whom I do not like, although I recently defended him in this space against out-of-Nevada efforts by far right interest groups to affect his next election) and Dick Smothers' Senator Cleanface character from the movie Casino -- such character is supposedly based on Reid. In the movie, Senator Cleanface is depicted as LOVIN' his freebies, although on a much grander scale that anything that will ever be offered to me. He was takin' in free ("comped") dinners, hotel rooms and show girls like there was no today, let alone tomorrow! I've always said I'm not really the "politician type," and therefore would never run for any office -- but maybe I need to re-think that. Or at least move to Las Vegas.

I actually thought this was a decent Talking Points from O'Reilly in anticipation of His Majesty's "muslim speech" today.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525080,00.html

I think this Talking Points is from last night. My thing on O'Reilly (because I don't think I've ever expressed a view on him in this space) has always been that's he basically just a loud-mouthed blowhard, and quite frankly much the bully to many who come on his show. But he also purports to be an Independent, and I give that some credit for that. I think he's definitely to the right of me, but he makes some pretty decent points here and there. But I digress. The good point I thought he made in this Talking Points is that Obama was in kind of a tough spot with this speech. The far right in the US was going to attack him no matter what he said, same as the Islamic extremists overseas. And it appears that such is exactly what occurred today, based on a quick review of the Net tonight. (But on the flipside, the predominantly liberal national media in the US was going to gush all over this speech, again no matter what was said -- so at least Obama had that positive going for him! And that also appears to be exactly what happened.). Frankly, I'm been out of pocket all day and haven't even had a chance to read any of the coverage about what Obama actually said. Maybe later tonight or in the morning. And rest assured, if he said anything that particularly outrages me, or (on the other hand) that I think was very well-stated, then I'll blog about it. Otherwise, I won't. The point of this post is just to say that O'Reilly had a good point when he said that this was no easy speech for Obama to deliver in Cairo.

Rest in Peace, David Carradine.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gtLjW61Ww5Z32FjMC3hNzRZo5F1wD98K4J380

As I was a huge fan of re-runs of the original Kung Fu series and even more of a fan of the updated Kung Fu: The Legend Continues syndicated show in the 1990's, I'm very saddened by David Carradine's passing. Sounds probably that he committed suicide, although not entirely clear yet. Regardless, very sad news today.

"NBC News Anchor bows before President". I really don't understand what the big deal is here.

http://www.drudgereport.com/

After all, I've always been taught that subjects are supposed to bow before The King. Proper royal etiquette and all.