Let the Civil War Begin.

Today the Senate finance committee approved the so-called "Baucus bill" supported by Baucus the Montana senator (pictured above along with Obama and Pelosi). The bill does not contain a "public option." Other competing bills in the Senate and House do contain the public option. The unions are already lining up against the Baucus bill. So are the radical "progressives," likely including Pelosi based on recent statements she's made. The linked story below says the "war" now begins within the democratic party to see how far leftward the Baucus bill will be taken as the dems in the Senate attempt to merge it with a competing Senate bill (containing the public option), not to mention the House versions of the bill containing the public option. It should be interesting to observe this process from the sidelines. So what's my view on the Baucus bill? I have no idea, since it's 1300 pages long and not much of anyone has read it yet. I can guarantee you that repubs will oppose it about 99%. But to me, the presence of a public option in many of these bills has always been my biggest concern and source of opposition, because I'm convinced that just about any public option is designed to and will result ultimately result in a single payer system, i.e. total government control of American health insurance (which I very much oppose). Put another way, I may well be able to support the Baucus bill once I know more about it, but I highly suspect that the bill ultimately voted upon by the Senate and House is likely to bear little resemblace to the current Baucus bill. The big issue is whether or not the bill voted upon will contain a public option of some type. I think it likely will, but with some kind of "trigger" or other qualification that gives Obama his endgame: Which is that something passes on which he can claim victory and which is ultimately satisfactory to the far left (even if they'd like to see something stronger than what ultimately passes). Stay tuned...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28256.html

Hilarious Utterance by Hannity Tonight.

I actually did "laugh out loud," although I was laughing at Hannity rather than with him. He said that the typical liberal definition of "peace" is the absence of conflict, and then he went on to provide his alternative definition. Hannity said his definition of "peace" includes a component of having the ability to bring about the "destruction" of your enemy. I'm not so sure that's quite what John Lennon had in mind when he asked us to Give Peace a Chance. But I did have to laugh. Turning the concept of peace completely on its ear: Only from a conservative! ;)

Sounds Like the Organized Aspect of the "Tea Party Movement" Has Just As Small of a Tent as the Republican Party From Which It Claims to be Separate.

In other words, if you're not a dyed in the wool conservative, they have no place for you. The headline story on Politico.com today (link below) talks about the organized aspect of the "tea partyers" and how they are currently looking to attack GOP politicians viewed as not being conservative enough, such as Florida's GOP Governor Charlie Crist. We see the same sort of thing from the far left all the time when it comes to attacking non-liberal democrats. Folks, these are two largely out-of-touch, small-tent parties which are controlled by their extremes. And there is at least 40% of this country that neither party represents in any way, shape or form -- a group just as big or bigger than the individual groups (i.e. liberals and conservatives) represented by the dems and repubs. That 40% needs to make a lot more noise and let these two parties know what we think about them. Until that happens, the dems and repubs will just do what they've always done -- try to get your vote by disingenuously acting more "moderate" during the general election, only to show their true colors once in office. And in the end, it's the same old story: We're not represented by anyone.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28157.html

An Incredibly Outrageous, Hypocritical & Blinded Statement By Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill.

As reported on Politico.com, the statement from yesterday to which I refer (from McCaskill's Twitter): "I feel that I'm in an alternative universe. For eight years some people called anyone who disagreed with the President's foreign policy or war in Iraq unpatriotic. Then in the course of two weeks, those same people cheer when the United States does not get selected for the Olympics and boo when our President is the unanimous choice for the Nobel Peace Prize. Go figure."

First a preface: Ma'am, you're correct that republicans did act outrageously when they were giddy about Obama's Olympics failure and when they exploded into a venemous frenzy (as I described it yesterday in this space) of outrage over Obama's absurd, yet unsolicited Nobel Peace Prize award. However, as a member of the democratic party, where in the you-know-what do you get off accusing anyone of living in an "alternative universe" or of lashing out at people who disagree? Ma'am, we just spent an entire summer in which members of your party used rhetoric conjuring up images of nazis, right-wing extremists and racists to describe anyone who disagreed with Obama & The Dems' health care reform desires, sweeping into their vile allegations all of the many Independent, non-liberal and non-conservative throngs who attended the town hall meetings. Ma'am, your party acted just as disgracefully, over and over and over again last summer, as republicans on their worst day. You are either completely blinded by political persuasion and ideology or you are completely disingenuous. Either way, you're out of touch, and your statement above is disgraceful given the conduct of your party last summer.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/1009/McCaskill_GOP_living_in_alternative_universal.html

Keep an Eye Out for a Hot New 2010 Series Called THE CHILLI PROJECT on VH1...

Starring Sandra “Pepa” Denton of Salt-N-Pepa, Chilli from TLC, and Tionna Smalls (pictured) the Legendary Big Apple Blogger! Check out the below link, although it reports that the new series remains un-named (and since I just revealed the name, I'm at least more up on things than that site!). I for one can't wait to watch Tionna & Company doing their thing on this new series!

http://blog.vh1.com/2009-06-29/more-sober-house-fit-club-pepa-and-chilli-on-the-way-from-vh1/

I Guess All the Vague Apologies for Past American Transgressions At Least Bought Him One Thing.

Barack Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize today for his 9 months as American President. And of course the far right is immediately whipped into a venemous frenzy. Yawn, predictable, tired, same old story. Myself? I think awarding such a prize to a 9-month president is absurd, but I also couldn't really give a rat's behind. I think we have much bigger things in the country and internationally to be worrying about these days. So why a blog post from me on the issue? (1) Because this is what everyone's talking about today; and (2) I've got nothing better at the moment. And will I continue to ask myself questions and then proceed to answer them? No, this post is over.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28129.html

Another Day, Another Example of the Tiny Little Tents Which House the Republican & Democratic Parties.

Today's example comes from the Empire State, where New York conservatives are beating up one of their moderate fellow republicans (link below). This sort of thing, to me, always begs the question of why someone who is non-liberal or non-conservative would ever want to join either one of these two parties in the first place? Especially since the two parties are completely controlled by their extremes and have no place for you if you are not a part of that extreme. It also speaks to the need for Independents, non-conservatives and non-liberals to start uniting with a view towards running viable independent and/or third party candidates for elected office. The climate in the country right now is perfect for this to start occurring (dems continue to lose popularity, while repubs aren't exactly making huge popularity gains). It continues to be a crying shame how so many people never question or rebel against the far right and far left dominated two-party system that we allow to control this wonderful country. But regardless, I'll continue to make it a devoted principle.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28071.html

Can the Far Left Really Tolerate No Federal "Public Option"?

It would appear, at least with respect to the so-called "Baucus bill" currently in the final stages of development in the Senate, that things are heading the way of a bill that does not include a federal "public option," but rather only a "public option" administered by individual states or groups of states (see link below). I find it hard to believe that the far left would sign off on this, and if it appears that they are doing so in the days to come, I for one will be highly suspicious of what's really contained in this bill. But in the meantime, I'm not going to worry about it too much, since the senate finance committee hasn't been sharing any bill language with you or me at any recent juncture. (As resolved in this space several weeks ago, I'm not inclined to debate the merits of theoretical constructs such as "cooperatives" and "state options" until there's actually a concrete written bill available to the public and which appears to be a serious bill that will actually get to the senate or house floor). Stay tuned...

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/07/state-run-health-insurance-plans-gain-support/

Strange Bedfellows.

The two ideologues from opposite political extremes squared off tonight on Hannity's show. It was actually a fairly calm, somewhat rational, and generally civil exchange. For being able to express themselves without anger, bitterness, name-calling or hatred -- i.e. what you typically see from these types of people (although perhaps not as much when you get a couple of them together in same room) -- I give them credit. As for the "debate" itself -- a bit bland since they talked almost the entire time about mortgage and lending industry issues (the subject of Moore's current documentary), which was interesting for about two minutes. I would have liked to have heard more about some of the other hot issues of the day, such as health care reform and Afghanistan, but that's only a small complaint.

I've Heard of the Bunker Mentality, But This Is Ridiculous!

The latest accusation in the sordid David Letterman scandal: That he had a "bunker" at the Ed Sullivan theater where he would take young staffers to have sex. Although it was referred to by staffers as "the bunker" (allegedly), apparently it was actually a makeshift bedroom high atop his show set. I wonder if Biff the Stagehand (if that guy's even still on the show) guarded the door? Regardless, sick stuff from a much older boss in relation to his much younger underling employees (these weren't some gals that he met in a bar). And this guy actually has had the nerve on a weekly basis to run a monologue asserting that Sarah Palin is deranged?

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/10/04/2009-10-04_untitled__4dave04m.html#

Weird Stuff from TV Network ABC.

Related two-part strangeness from television network ABC:

1. ABC's decision in the first place (which I'm just hearing about) to remake the obscure 1980's series "V" -- which concerned an extraterrestrial alien invasion of the world. "V" wasn't exactly the greatest example of 1980's television. It wasn't terrible, but it was fairly bland and mediocre. As such, it would seem odd to pick that series for a remake.

2. But hold on! A rumor being reported on the first link below is that the remake series, which is currently scheduled to start airing in November, is running into hesitancy at ABC because the series deals with "aliens," even though apparently the show's characters are not allowed to use the "A" word on the show. And if there's any truth to that, then why did ABC send the show into production in the first place (as the same link also notes)? Weird, weird, weird.

http://io9.com/5373641/is-v-in-trouble-because-abc-is-scared-of-aliens

http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/410544_tvgif25.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQoSCEMzJYE

Look at the GOP Non-Conservatives Raisin' a Ruckus!

In the past few days, both John McCain and NY Times columnist David Brooks (pictured second above) (both of whom I very must respect) have been seriously pissin' off the conservatives, including fellow Missourian Rush Slimebaugh (links below). The way I look at it, if you're getting under Slimebaugh's skin, you're doing something right. Couple this with how the democratic Blue Dogs have been angering and enraging to no end the ultra-radical-left-wing of the democratic party (they call themselves "progressives"), and we have the makings of some very nice stuff goin' on 'round here! Now, here's the next step we need to see: Some of the non-conservative repubs having some very serious discussions with the non-liberal dems, and realizing they have a ton of common ground, both amongst themselves and with a huge swath of the population of this country. I'm looking for a starting point for a very viable, very serious, very groundbreaking, centrist third party. I think the conditions are ripe for it, if only the political players will realize what they could accomplish if they went down the road I outline above. To quote one of my favorite rock stars and songwriters of all-time -- you may say I'm a dreamer, but [hopefully] I'm not the only one. I'm very encouraged by a lot of what I'm seeing out of the non-extreme-positioned politicians and pundits nationwide these days.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/27832.html
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/27844.html

Were University of Kansas Jayhawk Fans Behind the Obama Hammer & Sickle Billboard in Kansas City?

After all, KU fans have previously shown the high level of obsession necessary to drive a group to spend money on billboards that taunt people they don't like (second pic above). So I suspect the Jayhawks! But in all seriousness: The far right needs to take a chill pill. It is actually possible to criticize Obama & The Dems (as I do frequently) without inserting communist or other vile imagery/rhetoric. It is actually possible. And it's also advisable. Because when you resort to the sort of silliness on display in the current billboard, any merit and bona fide substance that may exist in your message is completely lost. And not that you would care about this, far right, but as an Independent, I do: When you engage in this kind of foolishness, you only provide the far left with ammunition in its effort to paint everyone who disagrees with it as an extremist. And especially for that, shame on whomever it was that bought this billboard (and I still suspect the Jayhawks).

http://www.kctv5.com/news/21176602/detail.html

What A Guy!

David Letterman today reveals on his show that he's had multiple sexual relationships with show employees, and then he tries to play himself off as the victim since one of those employees tried (allegedly) to extort money from him. I can recall one of Letterman's old catch phrases from back in the day (when he used to be funny, cutting-edge, and without all the far left bitterness and anger) -- "Phone the neighbors, wake the kids!" Well, these days, he should probably change it to "Leave the neighbors alone, and hide the kids!", because this dude is a slimeball. Folks, he is the TOP BOSS on this show -- since it is HIS SHOW -- meaning that when he's going around sleeping with employees, he's sleeping with underlings, i.e. employees over whom he's the boss. That would appear to be textbook sexual harrassment. Lord only knows how many employees this slime has hit on who were not interested in sleeping with him. "Victim"? Good one, Letterman. More like predator, you piece of slime. How sad what you have become. I used to love ya in high school, back in the day. Now, you just make me sick.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33131361/ns/entertainment-celebrities/

If You Have a Problem, If No One Else Can Help, And If You Can Find Them...

I just saw today that filming is now underway on the New A-Team movie (first pic above), of course based on the popular TV series from the early-to-mid-1980's. Previously, about the only thing I'd heard about this was that a movie was in the works and that Bradley Cooper (most recently in The Hangover) would play the Faceman character. The below link has some great photos from the initial filming. I'm intrigued by UFC fighter Rampage Jackson as Mr. T's character, Bosco "B.A." ("Bad Attitude") Baracus. He may be perfect for that role. I think Cooper should make a great Face. Liam Neeson as Hannibal? Can he get "on the jazz" as well as George Peppard? We'll see, I guess. And I've never even heard of the Murdock guy (Sharto Copley). Looks like Jessica Biel as Amy Allen. Hopefully the movie will be well made and fun to watch. They certainly have some decent star power going in the cast. I'd assume that the plan is for a summer release next year, although the linked article doesn't say. Gotta love it when a plan comes together.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1217409/Pictured-Silver-haired-Liam-Neeson-commands-The-A-Team-new-look-cast-seen-time.html?ITO=1490

Consigliere?

I heard ultra-far-right conservative Michelle Malkin (pictured first above) on FoxNews tonight referring to one of Obama's Chicago cronies as Obama's "consigliere," which is of course a longstanding title in the American mafia for a mafia boss' personal adviser and confidant (see above pic from the original Godfather movie depicting Don Corleone's (Marlon Brando's) "Consigliere," Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall), interacting with his boss). OK, so how are such mindless, derogatory references, comparing democrats to mobsters, any different from the far left describing vocal opponents of their health care reform plan as "mobsters" last summer? Answer: No different. I sometimes think that I just largely fall on deaf ears because most people who read this space for some reason think that they have to chose a side between these two bullshit parties. Why? They are equally pathetic in the way they are both dominated by their radical extremes, meantime failing to represent the majority of this country in any way. And on a related note, I see this fool Alan Grayson (democratic US congressman from Florida) over the past day describing anyone who opposes the dems' health care reform plan (as I do) as supporting a "holocaust" in America. Do I really need go on here? Folks, free your minds, and free your inherent tendencies to think that have to side with either of these 2 parties, because you do not. Distrust them because they are deservant of our distrust. And keep your eyes on them always, because they are both constantly trying to slip something past the goalie. That's the best advice I can give tonight.

Postscript: Although Malkin may be a Deranged Right-Winger, I don't mean to take anything away from her -- She is indisputably hot, even if the above pic doesn't necessarily portray that aspect so well (BTW, is that pick really from 1992 -- looks much more recent?).

Three Times? Sick stuff.

Tonight on his FoxNews show, Sean Hannity aired three separate times the disgusting video of sub-human slime gang members beating a teenager to death in Chicago. It wasn't necessary to show this video once, let alone three times? Hannity's reason? To try to stick it to Obama, of course -- specifically, to question whether Obama should be pushing to bring the Olympics to a city where this sort of thing would take place (the very same angle the Drudge Report has taken the last 24 hours by posting the video on its site -- wow, how surprising). First, Hannity's argument is a stupid one. As if virtually every city doesn't have brutal murders and gang killings. Second, the video adds nothing to the substance of his point (not that there is much substance); instead, it's only calculated to play on passions and emotions to promote his far-right agenda -- sort of a Willie Horton moment. I personally found it quite distasteful and highly annoying, and Hannity ought to be ashamed of himself.

What's the Story Behind The Story on Obama's Olympics Trip?

Leaving aside the issue of whether Obama's trip to Copenhagen to lobby for an Olympics to be awarded to his beloved Chicago is truly the best use of his time (it's not) given such things as, oh I don't know, a war in Afghanistan currently lacking any dedicated or articulated plan but still piling up bodybags on an almost daily basis -- Leaving that little issue alone, I'm a bit intrigued by the whole trip because it would seem that Obama stands to lose a fair amount of face if he is not successful on this trip (accord: link below). I don't buy that Obama would take such a risk if his chances for success were truly up in the air. And so I wonder what Obama knows that we don't. I would bet (could be wrong, of course) that there is very little chance that Obama will not be successful in this endeavor.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27677.html

"I'm Blind But I'm Not Oblivious."

Great line today from embattled New York Governor David Paterson (democrat), who's being pressured by Obama & The Dems not to run for re-election in 2010 (link below). For a dem party that so revels in calling Sarah Palin a "quitter," they sure are quick to want to pressure Paterson (the country's first legally blind governor and one of the few African-Americans ever elected to a gubernatorial office) to do the same thing for which they chide Palin. But hypocrisy by either of these two parties is never much of a surprise and, besides, my focus here is on Paterson. I might not agree with most of Paterson's politics, but I credit him for sticking up to the White House (Paterson says he intends to run for re-election) and indicating that he's not just going to ride off into the sunset simply because Obama snaps his fingers. I admire the gumption.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/27/im-blind-but-im-not-oblivious-paterson-says/

Eating Their Own: "Liberals Seek to Defeat Democratic Congressman" For Being Too Centrist.

The linked story below details the efforts of liberal political action committee Accountability Now to bring about a defeat of non-liberal democratic congressman Jim Cooper of Tennessee. Folks, this is what the democratic party is all about. It is controlled by its dominant far left base, and to the liberals and "progressives" who inhabit that realm, there is no place in the world -- let alone in their party -- for anyone who is not also a liberal or "progressive." When you get down to brass tacks, dems are an intolerant, small tent party -- no more, no less.

Now, unfortunately, the republicans are no different. They are controlled by the far right and have little place in their party for non-conservatives. Just by way of one example: Free-thinking U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a republican, is very much loathed by conservatives, the same way free-thinking Joe Lieberman (an "independent democrat" who caucuses with Senate democrats) is completely despised by liberals.

In our political system, if you think for yourself and let your viewpoints come out where they may, thereby eschewing the blinded world view of political ideology, you are an outcast with no place in either of the two dominant parties. Problem is, about 40% of the country does not consider itself liberal or conservative -- a block as big or bigger than people who consider themselves liberal or conservative. And that 40% has no party that represents them, no serious candidate to vote for, and essentially no representation in our political system. They also run into all kinds of roadblocks if they even dare to try to express themselves, as we saw this past summer when vocal non-liberal/non-conservative folks concerned about Obama & The Dems health care reform plan were labeled nazis, right-wing extremists, brownshirts, racists, etc., by the far left-controlled democratic party.

In sum, both parties should be absolutely ashamed of themselves, because they do not represent a huge swath of this country. And that's a principle to which this space will be devoted 24-7, 365 days a year, until the cows come home.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/25/liberals-seek-to-defeat-democratic-congressman/

I've Heard of Debtors' Prison, But Government Health Insurance Hoosegaw?

As is being reported today on Politico.com (link below): Apparently in the developing Senate version of Obama & The Dems' health care reform bill, if you fail to purchase health insurance (the "public option" or otherwise) and can't pay the resulting fine that will be levied on your behind, then you could face jail time. Nice. I guess that's one way to accomplish universal health care coverage.

http://www.politico.com/livepulse/0909/Ensign_receives_handwritten_confirmation_.html?showall

Credit to Obama Twice in One Week?

I haven't seen the video or read very much about this yet, but on first blush Obama's demand today that Iran allow inspections of an apparent hidden Iranian nuclear plant strikes me as very presidential. Nice job, Obama.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/25/accuse-iran-building-secret-nuke-plant/

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon: The Deranged "Jaws" Mayor Reincarnated?

As previously discussed in this space, Missouri DNR officials for 4 weeks put the kibosh on releasing a report to the public showing unsafe E. coli levels in the Lake of the Ozarks around Memorial Day. They did so "because they were concerned about the impact it would have on tourism and the public" (first link below). The report was not made public until late June, thereby ensuring no effect on Lake tourism during the interim, and by the time the report was finally made public, the E. coli levels had returned to safe levels -- how convenient. And TODAY the revelation that Jay Nixon & Staff, despite their earlier representations that they did not know about any of this until late June, actually knew about this report the day after the MO DNR found out about it (i.e. in that last week of May) (second link below). So is Nixon the reincarnation of the demented mayor from Jaws who refused to take steps to make his waterways safe to the public (the Jaws mayor needed to close his beaches; Nixon needed to release the report) out of a concern that tourism would be hurt? Sure seems like it.

And as an aside, I've never cared a whole lot for Nixon. He's always reminded me of a dem version of Kit Bond -- A Missouri political fat-cat and career politician, just kind of hanging on forever without ever accomplishing much of anything remarkable except for perpetuating his own political longevity. I mean, the guy was Missouri AG for like 47 years (yes, I am exaggerating). I don't care too much for political fat-cats or career politicans. I say give them a reasonable amount of time to accomplish something in a particular office, and then it's time to move on. I've never understood how we embrace term limits only at the highest level of the federal and state executive branches, and rarely extend term limits to lower executive branch offices nor to the legislative branch (where it is particularly needed) . Term limits should be across the board. (Unless your name is Manuel Zelaya, of course, because our Administration supports his return to power in Honduras even despite the Hugo Chavez-influenced "I'm now President for life" mandate which he foisted on his people and which was responsible for Hondurans kicking his ass out the country).

http://independentrage.blogspot.com/search?q=deranged+mayor

http://www.kansascity.com/842/story/1466896.html

Postscript: Am I being a little hard on Nixon? After all, I've never thought he's a bad guy or anything. And I recall at least one thing on which I give him big kudos -- As AG he led the fight to prevent the old Boonville railroad bridge over the Missouri River from being torn down. I haven't exactly followed the day-to-day of Missouri state politics for a number of year now, but I additionally have little doubt that Nixon is infinitely more qualified to be Missouri Governor than the two fools who preceded him -- Blunt & Holden, who were the worst two Missouri Governors of my lifetime. Further, Nixon now is in an office that imposes term limits (2 terms), so maybe I am just being an overly Grumpy Gus tonight. Well, without any grumpiness, anger, or over-the-top rhetoric, just how boring would this blog be? [INSERT "you're right, a heck of a lot more boring than it already is" retort here].

What Lies Beneath?

I saw this fascinating story today (link below) about the underground culture of sewer dwellers below the Vegas strip. I've heard of the "urban explorer" culture that seeks to explore sewer drains and city sewer systems, but I hadn't before read about an entire community that actually lives in such places. Seems like a pretty sad state of affairs, although some of these folks do seem to be quite content with where they are.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2651937/The-people-living-in-drains-below-Las-Vegas.html