Election Day in Iraq

That first picture was of a girl who came with her parents. She didn't actually vote herself. They're not in Milwaukee, after all.

Here's where I got the pictures.

One blogger's list of the 50 worst sports announcers

He himself admits that lists like these are highly subjective.

Still, Boomer Esiason doesn't even appear on his list. That right there means you can't take this list seriously.

Well there's at least one healthy segment of the economy

Baraboo maker of Terrible Towel at 450,000 and counting

For a small Baraboo company, the Terrible Towel count is 450,000 and rising.

McArthur Towel and Sports LLC, towel-maker to the Pittsburgh Steelers, is riding high on this Super Bowl weekend, and will be riding higher still if Pittsburgh wins.

Since the Steelers won the AFC championship two weeks ago, the firm has produced nearly half a million Terrible Towels, the 15-by-24-inch pieces of terry cloth that fans have been waving wildly above their heads since 1975 to spur the team on.

If the Steelers become Super Bowl champions, McArthur has orders for another half million or so towels, President and CEO Gregg McArthur said.

The benefits extend beyond the company, which employs 32 people in Baraboo. McArthur contracts with a nonprofit workshop in Chippewa Falls, which employs people with disabilities, to do the dyeing and printing.

On the other end, sales of Terrible Towels benefit a Pennsylvania school that cares for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Since 1996, the school has received more than $2.5 million from Terrible Towel sales.

I'm still cheering for the Cardinals.

But Does It Meet California Emissions Standards?

Hat tip to my NJ Buddy Bill the Mets and Jets Fan.

Chris

More Proof Living Well Can Extend Your Life Expectancy

Since no one died I can enjoy this joke guilt free

"Living Well Is The Best Revenge"

Chris ;)

In Regards to Feingold's Proposed Amendment

I could write up my thoughts on the issue, but Brad at LIB is on the same page as I am letter for letter, so go read his take. I see no reason the issue of temporary senate appointments needs to be decided on the Federal level via a constitutional amendment. Each state currently has the power to decide how those seats will be filled, and it should remain that way. Don't like the way your state does it? Take it up in your state capital.

Republicans voting against the "stimulus" means they don't care!

My, aren't those Congressional Republicans irresponsible, voting against the trillion-dollar-plus "stimulus" package. At least, that's what liberals are saying about it.

About...this:

Only ten per cent of the “stimulus” to be spent on 2009.

Close to half goes to entities that sponsor or employ or both members of the Service Employees International Union, federal, state, and municipal employee unions, or other Democrat-controlled unions.

This bill is sent to Congress after Obama has been in office for seven days. It is 680 pages long. According to my calculations, not one member of Congress read the entire bill before this vote. Obviously, it would have been impossible, given his schedule, for President Obama to have read the entire bill.

For the amount spent we could have given every unemployed person in the United States roughly $75,000.

We could give every person who had lost a job and is now passing through long-term unemployment of six months or longer roughly $300,000.

Yeah. Voting no was a travesty.

What an odd poll

Got a link to this from the U.S. Gun Owners’ Association Facebook group: a USA Today poll, asking "Does the Second Amendment give individuals the right to bear arms?"

It’s 97% yes as of right now, with nearly a million votes cast. That means even liberals are voting yes.

But, y'know, duh. The question isn’t whether we have the right – it’s what restrictions can be reasonably placed on that right. For example, should Dave Casper be allowed to own an A-10 Warthog?

#rncchair: Steele wins 91-77!!!

That's how Reince Priebus twittered the news.

Jim Geraghty was blogging it, too, and has a groan-inducing headline.

As far as I'm concerned, that's one down, one to go:

Re: Another Example of all the animals being equal

Chris, look at it from her side. She has to understand how this government thing works, then she has to put it to use for all the little people, who really then get off letting her do all the hard work, so shouldn't the rep of all the little people get to use her skillz to help herself a little?

Okay, /sarcasm.

Nonetheless, it's a valid point about the mindset of government representation - they figure out how to game the system for their constituents (and to keep their career alive), so why not use their "special knowledge" to help themselves on just this one little thing?

Really, she's just doing it for her constituents.

Another Example of: All the animals are equal but some are more equal than others

"State senator sought ticket's dismissal" MJS

What is it with politicos, they get elected and all of a sudden think they are above the law.

I wonder if she did the "Do you know who I am" thing?

Chris

The Greatest Snack Food Stadium Ever Built

Sometimes, genius manifests in unusual ways:



That's a snack-food model of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa (minus the giant pirate ship). Note the use of cheese spread for the Steelers' end zone, and salsa for the Cardinals'.

One thing: I’ve got a problem with using twinkies for the walls. If you can’t take the time to mortar walls of tortilla chips together with guacamole and cheese, then you’re really just mailing it in.

Not pictured: the blimp. Oh, yeah, there's a blimp. Guess what that's made of.

Looks Like I Am Not The Only Gun Owner Worried About the Obama Administration

A short little clip from the Lou Dobbs show from that hot bed of conservatism CNN

Have you bought a gun lately if that answer is no, then get off your ass and do it while you still can.

Never forget owning firearms is a RIGHT not a privilege. The government has no right to know how many guns you own, what type of guns you own or where you store them

I believe we are about to enter a period of attacks on our Second Amendment Rights that will make the Clinton/Brady Bill era seem like a walk in the park.

What can you do as an individual
First if you are not already a member join the National Rifle Association it is the biggest and best voice we gun owners have. I am a card carrying life member.

If you are on face book join the United States Gun Owners group(hat tip to Lance for that one)

Go buy a gun and learn how to use it. Do not worry if you have never shot a gun it is not hard to do. Most gun stores that have indoor ranges have classes for people new to the sport. Trust me do it now while it still relatively easy.

As always I will be happy to give group or individual lessons to people who want to learn how to shoot and how to defend their homes and family.(Gbfan001@gmail.com)

Be vocal do not let the Anti-Gun people scare you or shout you down, be a proud gun owner.

I do find it amazing the same people who wet themselves over the chance the government might be reading their email or listening to their phone calls because of the Patriot Act. Have no problem forcing guns owner to give all kinds of information to that same government. Just another example of the hypocrisy of the left

Do not allow what happened in Australia and England to happen here. Get organized the Anti Gun people are.

"The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
Chris

Jimmy Carter, part XLIII

The forgettable one-termer and erswhile worst former president EVAH waxes loquacious on - what else? - the Mideast.

And uses the opportunity to declaim what could arguably be one of the few props left to Nixon. Claiming the honors for himself, natch.

Behold the textbook example of the mock interview by fake news maven Jon Stuart:

1. Stuart sets up the fawning, slavering excuse of a softball Q, and Carter graciously rocks it.
2. Stuart offers completely uncritical follow up.
3. Stuart pretends to challenge Carter's point; Carter comes through again.
4. Stuart offers a pandering excuse for "research/critique", thus allowing Carter to claim establishing relations with the "one true China," and stake hope for Mideast peace in - no, I won't say it - find out for yourself. Chris, this one's for you. Check it.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Jimmy Carter Pt. 1

Daily Show Full Episodes
Funny Political Videos

More Funny Videos
Comedians on Tour

It's like a runaway train!

My new Facebook group, "The New York Times should hire Lance Burri as their new token conservative," has grown 300% 200% in a single day!

Tax Breaks Brought To You By Last Year's Assembly Republican Majority

From the Wisconsin State Journal:

For individuals, this year's state tax changes include:

-- Exempting Social Security payments from state income taxes.

-- Raising the post-high school education tuition deduction to $5,114, from $4,843.

-- Expanding the deduction for at least part of the cost of health insurance premiums. For example, people who are self-employed or retired can deduct two-thirds of the cost of their premiums, up from one-third of the cost last year, and that will rise to 100 percent on next year's returns.

None of which would have happened without Assembly Republicans.

Oh, and I loved this part about the estate tax (emphasis added):

Eliminating the estate tax is another big change, said Julie Bogle, tax manager for Smith & Gesteland, Madison...

While the cost of living here may be lower than in some other states, "when you added in the estate tax, that was a significant problem for people," she said. "They had $30,000, $40,000, (or even) $50,000 that would be due, that wouldn't be due if they moved across the border to Iowa."

Incentives matter.

How many more jobs would the stimulus bill create if we increased NOAA’s money from $400 million to $401 million?

This has been bugging me about the so-called “stimulus” bill. It’s $825 million on paper – something over a trillion dollars once it’s all said and done. Or so I’ve read.

So here’s my question: did they first decide that they were going to spend $825 million and then figure out how? Or did they look for all the ways they could “stimulate the economy” and “create jobs” and it all added up to roughly $825 million?

Can anybody even answer that question?

Here’s another one: according to Jim Geraghty, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is getting $400 million in the “stimulus” bill.

How many jobs will that create? And if that will create X amount of jobs, then wouldn’t $401 million have created marginally more?

Or did somebody actually do an analysis and decide that, once the $400 million threshold is reached, the law of diminishing returns sets in and we’re better off spending the next $1 million elsewhere?

Doyle is worried about people smoking

The State Of Wisconsin is standing at an economic cliff trying not to fall off and our fearless Governor is worried about getting a state wide smoking band passed.

Talk about messed up priorities.

Once again I call on the State of Wisconsin to put its money where its mouth is.

Outlaw the sale and use of Tobacco, Stop collecting the Tax dollars from tobacco taxes

If smoking is as bad as the Governor thinks how can we allow the sale of that product?

Now we all know that will not happen the Governor is a hypocrite he would never call for an out right tobacco ban because he is as hooked on the Tobacco tax dollars as the smokers are hooked on Nicotine.

Chris

What Is A Conservative To Do

Charlie is wondering why no one is calling in about the Stimulus bill.

Here is the problem I know my Congressman is going to vote against it. So me making 200 calls to Congressman Sensenbrenner's office would be a waste of time.

My Two Senators could give a rats ass what I think since I am not a brain dead liberal. Honestly I do not think Senator Kohl is a living being anyway, think living walking wax doll for what he is worth.

Plus right now the Left can do what they want and they will consequences be damned.

So at this point the only thing left for those us on the right to do is

Duck and Cover


For all the good that is going to do us lol.

Things are bad now and due to the actions of "The One" and the Liberal Congress it is going to get worse.

Right now the only thing we can do on the right is try and position ourselves to survive the coming storm. Now how you do that will very from person to person family to family. But it is time to batten down the hatches and prepare to ride out the storm.

We need to work together to help protect each other live responsibility if you can help out other conservatives in any manner please do that.

Try and think of ways we can help each other out.

Just coming to the BBA and leaving your comments helps it shows other people that they are not alone there are still conservatives out there.

Start and keep teaching, we are going to have to win this fight one mind at a time we know our Ideas will win when put up against Liberal ideas. If and it is a big if we can keep our elected leaders true to our ideas.

If you know of a Conservative who has lost a job in this economy and can help then get a foot in the door for a new gig please do it.

Let bygones be bygones, if a fellow conservative has done things to piss you off forgive them and remember they are not the enemy the left is.(I for one know the list of fellow conservatives I have pissed off is long and distinguished so I am hoping that I can for be forgiven for some of the crap I have pulled)

If you have a skill that you can teach other conservatives that may help them weather the storm offer it up once again teach teach teach.

I am sure there are hundreds of other ways we can help each other out. Feel free to ad your ideas as you think of them.

Right now we as a group need to go into Lagger(Circle the Wagons)

Look out for each other do what you can and keep moving forward.

Chris

A Man With A Briefcase Can Steal More Money Than Any Man With A Gun

What a wonderful quote from Don Corleone.

Today when the Liberal Members of Congress pass their "Stimulus" Bill which will amount to them looting 800 Billion Dollars from the taxpayers of this nation. Remember that quote.

Think of what they are about to do in broad daylight.

You get the government you deserve and damn the American people are about to reap what they sowed.

Chris

Wisconsin Should Be So Proud

Today when the Liberals in Congress pass their bogus "stimulus" bill they will be lead by Long Long Long Long Serving Wisconsin Congressman David Obey. So every line you read about more money for things that will not do a thing to stimulate the economy remember to thank Congress critter Obey who happens to be the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations.

Did you know that David Obey has been in Congress 40 years, that right there tells you how wrong our system is. Like Ted Kennedy Obey has done nothing in his life but be in Congress.

That is what struck me when I heard yesterday that Obey was leading the rip off of the American people was how long he had been in Washington.

If there ever was an example of why we should have term limits Congressman Obey is it.

12 years in Congress should be enough time for anyone.

We need to change this system if we are ever going to take our government back.

Chris

Governor Doyle to take Pole Dancing approach to budget problems

Tonight is the Governors State of the State speech where he will give us a little bit of an insight into how he intends to make the state work even though we are 5 BILLION in the hole.

Basically Doyle is going to dance around the issues then get down on his knees and hope that the Great Liberal Sugar Daddy President Obama makes it rain.

And it is looking like President Obama and his minions in congress are fixing to spend our money like salesmen at the nudie bar with the company credit card.

Things to watch for tonight during Doyle's speech, endless promises to WEAC that they will get every dime he promised them. Little to no talk about cutting the size of the state government. Few if any real ideas other than begging for those Magic Federal Dollars.

I cannot wait to see the performance tonight.

Chris

Credit Where Credit is Due

I know some of you may be booing & hissing but we have to give credit where credit is due or our criticism is not going to be taken seriously.

Let us all give Senator Russ Feingold a round of applause for voting against the Geithner nomination. Tim Geithner does not deserve the job he is getting. He has proven himself untrustworthy with small matters and therefore should not be trusted with large ones.

Tim Geithner is either stupid or criminal — neither one very flattering. The Geithner case sets a troubling precedent lowering the bar, what happens the next time a nominee with lesser qualifications & similar scofflawery comes up? Shame on any Republican senator voting to confirm Geithner. At least Governor Paterson in New York had the sense to not appoint someone with similar problems.

Dislike Feingold or not, at least he doesn't get pushed around when it comes to his beliefs.

Bravo Senator Feingold!

Why I should be the next token conservative columnist at the New York Times

As you may or may not have heard, Bill Kristol has left the New York Times in order to pursue new opportunities debating bubble-headed Hollywood celebrities. Or something like that.

This brings up an important question: will the NYT now proceed without an actual conservative writing for their op-ed page? Or will they replace Kristol with another conservative candidate? And if so, who will it be?

James Lileks? Mark Steyn? Jonah Goldberg?

How about Ann Althouse? I know, she’s not a card-carrying conservative, but she’s close enough most of the time.

My answers: no, no, no, and no. They’re too established. Too known. They won’t bring a special edge to the job that somebody like…

…well, like me.

Hey, just bringing on another old conservative hand – another known-quantity conservative – won’t spark the chat-room flare-ups like bringing in somebody nobody’s ever heard of before. Hiring me will mean controversy. Controversy means attention. Attention means readers.

In fact, I can personally guarantee at least three new subscriptions to the Times, should I begin writing for them. And remember: that’s a minimum.

Not to mention, I’ve got the big-fish-small-pond thing going right now. Or…well, maybe a medium-sized fish. A slightly-bigger-than-average fish?

Taking the small-ponder out of the puddle and dropping him into the ocean – that’s drama!

Am I as good a writer as my example established conservatives? Maybe not. Have I got the same experience? The background? Do I know what it's like putting my writing out in front of thousands - maybe millions - of readers?

Well, no. But all the better, I figure, because...

...

...um, I was going to twist that into a positive, but now I can't remember how. Feh. Gives them a ready-made excuse if they have to fire me. And then they've given a staunch conservative a chance, and it just didn't work out. How's that?

So it’s settled: the Times should bring me on as their new token conservative columnist. Thank you for your support, and I'll remember you while I'm accepting my Pulitzer.

When's the last time there were seven consecutive posts on this blog not written by me?

Because that just happened today.

Jimmy Carter

Invented the Internet!

Well, no. He's simply taking credit for opening diplomacy with China as well as denying that Nixon was working with the "real China."

I'll try to dig up the Daily Show vid later.

Have at it - rip Nixon a new one. Rip Jimmy a new one.

Don't believe it till their checks clear.

"Coggs, Clark to repay county for inauguration trip"

No time frame for when they will pay it back though, I will believe it when the checks clear.

Best line from the MJS story ""We just think it's the right thing to do," the statement says." No the right thing to do would have been not to go to the Coronation on the taxpayers dime in the first place. They are not sorry they did it, they are sorry they got caught. But that is typical for a Milwaukee Politician.

Oh and lets take a moment to give credit to every other Liberal politico who did go to the Coronation but paid for it out of pocket or with campaign funds. Thanks you for not shafting the people you supposedly work for this one time :) Well done.

One small win for the taxpayers if they really pay this bill
Chris

Maybe it isnt the guns, but the people who live in Milwaukee

The MJS racist columnist has another post about gun crime in Milwaukee and the need for gun control.

I will once again ask if just having guns leads to gun crime where is the gun crime in Waukesha county or Washington county?

Sorry but I will let the MJS Racist Columnist in on a secret, we have more guns than you can shake a stick at out in Waukesha county. We just tend to also believe in the rule of law and usually do not shoot at each other out here. Hell when I get done writing this post I am going out to Cabela's to pick up a small mountain ammunition I bought to beat the coming Obama tax increase on ammunition. I just have no plans to shoot my neighbors with it. Well maybe those kids form the Lutheran school who keep walking on my lawn but I am still mulling that one over. ;)

My guess is if you took every gun out of the North Side of Milwaukee tomorrow they find new and time tested ways to kill each other. Knifes, baseball bats even the occasional 2 x 4. Guns are not the issue the people who live in those crime ridden area and how they follow societies rules are.

If you are a law abiding member of society no one will need to fear you no matter how many guns you own.

But you see people we are not allowed to blame the people who live in those crime ridden neighborhoods no people like the Racist Columnist from the MJS need to blame mindless machines which cannot kill or injury anyone without someone operating them.

Come on Eugene explain to me why all the guns in homes in Waukesha county are not killing everyone what makes them different then the evil guns that are terrorizing Milwaukee County?

The scary thing is a lot of the people in power would love it if Ammunition cost $5000 a bullet and do not be surprise if they try to work towards that goal.

My recommendation if you are a gun owner is start buying ammo in bulk now before they can implement those ideas. Ammunition will not go bad if stored properly so it will last for ever if you buy it now. I have been stock piling for the last 6 months every time I get a chance and a few extra dollars. Cabela's has very good deals and will ship it UPS right to your front door.

Hell in my mind you can never be too rich too thin or have too much ammo in the basement ;) well one out of three isn't that bad lol

Oh and if you do not own a gun yet to shoot all that ammo I am telling you to buy get off your ass and go get one now hell buy two if you can just to piss the liberals off

"the right of the people to keep and bear Arms,
shall not be infringed."

Why can't the left understand that one line?
Chris

Hey Idiot Snowmobilers! Enough With The Slaughter!

Ugh. This time it is in my backyard.

The familiar flock of ducks beneath the Main Street bridge in Fort Atkinson has been virtually wiped out, the apparent victim of inconsiderate snowmobilers.

A total of approximately 62 ducks were killed in two massacres over the weekend on the Rock River, near PremierBank, where they were congregating in the open water beneath the Main Street bridge.

A well worn path of snowmobile tracks indicate the snowmobilers were traveling at high speeds, possibly to skim over the open water, a stunt referred to as "shooting the hole" or "water skipping."

Fort Atkinson police were initially alerted to the ducks' slaughter at 12:19 a.m. Saturday.

A man told authorities that he and his wife had walked over the bridge around 7:30 p.m. Friday and observed the ducks on the water, alive.

However, just prior to coming to the police station, crossing the Main Street bridge, he saw the line of approximately 30 dead mallards around midnight.
[...]The slaughter continued Sunday evening, as a Fort Atkinson police officer observed another 32 dead ducks strewn across the ice in the next trussel to the north from the last group that was run over, bringing the total to approximately 62.

Look, jackasses. There has been plenty of media attention to snowmobiler slaughter of wildlife this winter. Perhaps, in another time and another place, I'd buy the possibility of accidentally hitting a few ducks after crossing open water, which is idiotic in itself (actually, I think anyone who snowmobiles on the river is an idiot). But there is no excuse this winter. Snowmobilers, it is time to put some serious pressure on your peers. There is nothing funny about this pointless killing of wildlife, and it is sullying all of you.

At Some Point would it not be cheaper to just not sell cars in California?

Seriously when do you the automakers just say the hell with it and close up shop in states like California?

It is amazing how slavishly devoted to the Green Religion people like Obama are. Parts of our domestic automakers are already in shambles living off handouts from the US taxpayers but he feels the need to put an even bigger regulatory burden on them.


I am torn I would love to see the UAW hammered by massive layoffs they did support and vote for "The One". But I also do not want to pay the taxes to keep all those Union Thugs on the Government Dole when their plants are closed and shuttered for good.

But then again as a taxpayer I will have to pay for all the bailout money the Automakers will get to stay running and to keep paying the Union Thugs past and present.

Kind of a Damned if you do, Damned if you don't situation if I ever saw one.

Elections have consequences and all those UAW Union Thugs are about to see what they get for voting for "The One"

Man this is going to be a fun 4 years :)
Chris

One of the few ways a Dem can get a position in Waukesha County

Have his buddy the Democratic Governor give it to him

Well enjoy your one year in that seat Judge Congdon that seat is up in April of 2010 according to the story.

Hopefully the good people of Waukesha County will choose more wisely when they are given the chance to vote.

Chris

"Filled to the Brim with Awesome."

That's how Jim Geraghty is describing the stimulus bill, and he's got examples of exactly that awesomeness.

Funny how most of those examples seem to pad the budgets of government agencies. Or...no, I guess that isn't funny. Or even unexpected.

Here's my favorite of his examples:

An additional $50 million to the National Endowment for the Arts "to be distributed in direct grants to fund arts projects and activities which preserve jobs in the non-profit arts sector threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support during the current economic downturn."

Shoulda listened to my mother and been an artist.

Headline: Republicans Are Resistant to Obama’s Stimulus Plan

First thought: what, is there a vaccine or something?

Second thought: too bad our wallets aren't.

Third thought: resistance is futile.

Link

So, did anybody else spend yesterday scowling morosely at the TV and wishing that a football game would start?

Or was that just me?

One more video for you all on this Monday

This is a neat video of Cable Cars in one of my favorite cities San Francisco. And not to blow my own horn but I do have a photo credit in this(as GBFan) my shot of a cable car going up California street made the cut lol.



San Francisco Cable Car from kkfung on Vimeo.

All Politics and no play make us dull boys and girls ;)

enjoy the video some great shots that give you a great perspective on the hills in SF and what it is like walking up and down them.

Chris

When will the Obama Slogans End?

I was driving into my son's gymnastic meet yesterday and right where Hwy 16 and 94 meet, what did I see staring down at me from Clear Channels massive electronic billboard?

President Obama's huge mug with the slogan "Yes We Can" under it. I mean it was quite eye catching in a Big Brother Sort of Way



And yes I know our love for Big Brother, oops President Obama is supposed to be without doubt or question. But when will he get past the slogans and acting like he is still campaigning for the job?

Yes We Can, What???

Lets hear some specifics

Yes we can coddle terrorist.

Yes we can raise your taxes.

Yes we can make your energy costs soar with our slavish devotion to our Green Religion(that one is a little long winded might not fit on the sign.)

Yes we can attack your 2nd amendment rights.

Now see how easy that was and I am not even a God like "The One" just think of the ones he could come up with ;)

I do find it amazing the people who latched on to Mission Accomplished for 6 years just love their slogans now.

So I call on President Obama to move beyond cheap campaign slogans and start telling us what he is really going to do to oops there I go again for us.

Yes we can: Resist Obama with every legal means we can find
Chris

Something Beautiful to help get your week started off right

I am contemplating starting a weekly video, sort of a Monday morning pick me up(I know I was a little late today) I want to keep hammering on the idea of our world did not end when the Messiah ascended to the top of Mount Olympus. Refuse to be bitter should be our mantra. We deny the left a victory when we keep living our lives our way.

So here you go enjoy this video Garota de Ipanema(Girl from Ipanema) sung in its native Portuguese. Dont worry if you do not speak Portuguese you know the words ;)



Refuse to be Bitter

Chris

I bet even Jay will enjoy this lol

Can Acronyms have Accents?

This is from the WisPolitics Budget Blog:

According to figures released today from the House Appropriations and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees, and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Wisconsin could receive more than $3.2 billion from the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act under the proposal before the U.S. House of Representatives.

The American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act - AERRA. Sounds like one of the Kennedy boys saying "error."

Ironic, from one viewpoint. Fitting, from another.

U.S. Aggression, Brutality Continue under Obama

Four days into the Obama administration, and we're still "air-raiding villages and killing civilians." ABC News:

The CIA's bombing campaign against al Qaeda leadership in Pakistan continued with two more attacks today, an indication, senior officials say, that President Barack Obama has approved the U.S. strategy that has killed at least eight of al Qaeda's top 20 leaders since July 2008.

…Pakistani officials and villagers told ABCNews.com that 17 people were killed in two successive strikes against compounds in North and South Waziristan.

The London Times:

Security officials said the strikes, which saw up to five missiles slam into houses in separate villages, killed seven "foreigners" - a term that usually means al-Qaeda - but locals also said that three children lost their lives.

During the Bush administration, war-supporting conservatives met this kind of news with the hope (and faith) that our military knows what it's doing; that the strikes really were necessary and successful; that reports of civilian casualties were exaggerated in order to score public relations points. And if not, then we accepted our share of the responsibility, and hoped that more good would come of the action than bad.

Liberals foamed at the mouth at our injustice and brutality.

Now, during the Obama administration, which of the two groups will meet this kind of news the same way as before, and which will change?

Hat tip Gateway Pundit

Abrahamson campaign still advertising for interns on UW Law School website

I'm pretty sure this is illegal:

Chief Justice’s Campaign Using Public Website to Obtain Campaign Staff

State Representative Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), Ranking Republican on the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee, is challenging Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson’s use of the UW-Madison Law School to obtain campaign workers by calling it an “internship.” The Abrahamson campaign positions are being treated as “career opportunities” in the eyes of officials at the UW-Madison Law School. Use of public resources for campaign purposes is prohibited under Wisconsin law.

That press release is from Thursday. Fred and Steveegg have both blogged it, and the Cap Times did a story about it (although that was more about a liberal group's extremely weak attempts to deflect the issue).

The webpage is still up. This is clearly using publicly-owned resources in support of a political campaign. That's illegal.

I love this: Blago citing Doyle as a character witness!

Blagojevich drops Doyle's name at news conference

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said this afternoon that he hoped to get a chance to tell his side of the story during next week's Illinois Senate impeachment trial.

But Blagojevich, a Democrat, suggested that Gov. Jim Doyle, among others, would be a good witness in his defense.

Blagojevich made the statement this afternoon during a news conference in advance of the impeachment trial scheduled for Monday in the Illinois Senate in Springfield.

The Illinois governor specifically mentioned Doyle and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Blagojevich said that he and the two governors worked together to ease the importation of prescription drugs from Canada to the Midwest.

In response, Lee Sensenbrenner, a Doyle spokesman, said: "Obviously, the governor has no connection to what's happening in Illinois. We don't have a reaction to his remarks."

Well of course they have no connection. Blago tried to sell his official decisionmaking and got in trouble for it. Doyle never got in trouble.

By the way: somebody who's good at such things should photoshop Blago's hair onto Doyle's head.

UPDATE - That wasn't a shot at Doyle's hair, or lack thereof. His hairstyle is far more attractive than Blago's.

What's gotten into you people?

Nearly half the posts this week have been written by somebody other than me. Usually this place is a Lanceapalooza with an occasional yawp out of somebody else, but this week's been like somebody brought a tub of bad chili to the office and suddenly you guys can't control yourselves.

And I know you're not just trying to out-post me, because any one of you guys could have done that just for the sake of doing it.

A question for Liberal Milwaukee County Tax Payers

Does it bother you at all when you are the ones picking up the tab for a trip like this.


I am sorry if this was one of my local politicos, I would be burning up their phone lines this morning and saying in my best Rickie Ricardo voice "You have some Sussplaining to do"

I mean this is criminal if you ask me to pay $644.00 a night for a Comfort Fraking Inn????

Come on that is insane. Let me put price into perspective that amount of money would get you a Club level, 1 Bedroom 2 room Suite, City view, High floor at the San Fransisco Ritz-Carlton.(a lovely hotel that I have been lucky enough to stay at)

So Milwaukee County Supervisor Toni Clark stuck you Milwaukee County taxpayers with a Ritz bill to stay at a comfort inn.

And lets be honest there was one reason and one reason only Clark and Coggs went on this junket and it had nothing to do with meeting lobbyists. This was a Junket pure and simple to see "The One" ascend to Mount Olympus.

So once again let me ask people like Jay and Capper, are you cool with these two County Supervisors taking in the the Ascension on your dime? It is your money not mine so if you are cool I am cool with it. I mean it is not like Milwaukee County had anything else they could have spent that money on right?

Curious to see what if any answer I get on this
Chris

Messiah Watch

Movie star Susan Sarandon compared President Obama to Jesus. Broadway and film actor Alan Cumming thought of him more like Mahatma Gandhi.

“He is a community organizer like Jesus was,” Sarandon said Tuesday night on the bright blue carpet leading into the Creative Coalition’s 2009 Ball at the Harman Center for the Arts in Chinatown. “And now, we’re a community and he can organize us.”

From The Hill — Celebs compare Obama to Jesus, Gandhi (Betsy Rothstein)

So where's he going to put them?

Obama breaks from Bush and orders Gitmo to close

This part was disturbing:

House Minority Leader John Boehner was among a group of GOP lawmakers who quickly introduced legislation seeking to bar federal courts from ordering Guantanamo detainees to be released into the United States.

I wasn't even aware that was a possibility. Sent to prisons in the U.S., sure, but released into the U.S.?

Lakeshore Laments returned to the Blogosphere’o’Cheese yesterday and I wasn’t informed?

I’ve half a mind to not even link to him in retaliation.

Cap Times: fix health care to fix economy

The Capital Times says we have to fix health care if we're going to fix the economy:

There is an unhealthy tendency on the part of politicians and journalists to see discussions about economic recovery and health care reform as separate debates.

In fact, one of the most important steps on the road to economic recovery -- or, more precisely, toward a new, responsible and sustainable prosperity -- involves the fundamental reform of this country's broken health care system.

Right, because we never, ever had a strong healthy economy before we enacted single-payer health care.

Single-payer health care means less money for research; less money for doctors and other health care professionals; less money for equipment. All of which results in less available care. And all that at a very high cost! What's not to love?

Maybe nothing (or, more likely, maybe everything). But here's a question: If health care in this country is “broken,” then how do you describe health care in other parts of the world?

A Rightie’s “to-do” list

Or, maybe more accurately, a “don’t-do” list.

My favorite:

DON’T pretend you’re being brave when you criticize your government. Not while people in other countries actually, y’know, DIE, when they do that

What a Difference Eight Years Makes

Byron York reports about eight years ago the Washington Post Headline reads:

Vote On Ashcroft Is Delayed A Week; Democrats Cite Need for More Review

Now, what is the headline? You guessed it:

Republicans Obstruct Holder's Path to Justice Department

Don't try to tell me the WAPO is "objective", it is not. Now, that is no pejorative, the WAPO has every right to report on events the way it feels. In fact, I think it would be a lot better for the national debate for news bodies come out and admit what side they shill for.

Sometimes it's hard to be honest.

On Right Wing News, a list of best quotes from Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles.”

I haven’t read the book, but I read the quotes. Here’s my favorite:

Dan Casstevens, formerly of the Dallas Morning News, tells a story about Frank Szymanski, A Notre Dame center in the 1940s, who had been called in as a witness in a civil suit in South Bend, Indiana.

'Are you on the Notre Dame football team this year?' the judge asked.

'Yes, your honor.'

'What position?'

'Center, your honor.'

'How good a center?'

Szymanski squirmed in his seat, but said firmly: 'Sir, "I'm the best center Notre Dame ever had.'

Coach Frank Leahy, who was in the courtroom, was surprised. Szymanski had always been modest and unassuming. So when the proceedings were over, he took Szymanski aside and asked why he had made such a statement.

Szymanski blushed.

'I hated to do it, Coach,' he said, 'But, after all, I was under oath.'

-- P.358

Hey, we've all been there. Well, I have.

Please let's not emulate FDR. Because my kids all need shoes.

Dick Morris hopes the BO-FDR comparisons don’t come all that true:

When FDR took office, he was enormously successful in averting a total collapse of the banking system and the economy. But his New Deal measures only succeeded in lowering the unemployment rate from 23 percent in 1933 when he took office to 13 percent in the summer of 1937. It never went lower…Unemployment rose to 17 percent in 1938 and, in 1940, on the verge of the war-driven recovery, stood at 15 percent.

…But in the name of a largely unsuccessful effort to end the depression, Roosevelt passed crucial and permanent reforms that have dominated our lives ever since, including Social Security, the creation of the SEC, unionization under the Wagner Act, the federal minimum wage and a host of other fundamental changes.

One wonders whether there’s still room for such monumental changes. One fears that there is.

Morris has a prediction, as well:

Obama's record will be similar, although less wise and more destructive.

Can't you make that twenty-eight hundred per man woman and child?

Charlie links to info about the House Democrats’ “stimulus” bill, and particularly about some of the details you might not have seen elsewhere. I’ve picked out a couple of my favorites here, but you should click over to see more.

1. The House Democrats' bill will cost each and every household $6,700 additional debt, paid for by our children and grandchildren.

2. The total cost of this one piece of legislation is almost as much as the annual discretionary budget for the entire federal government.

3. President-elect Obama has said that his proposed stimulus legislation will create or save three million jobs. This means that this legislation will spend about $275,000 per job. The average household income in the U.S. is $50,000 a year.

4. The House Democrats' bill provides enough spending - $825 billion - to give every man, woman, and child in America $2,700.

Not to be too grabby, but I’ve got six men, women, and children in my family. That’s $16,200. Now: some of that money we’ll put away for the kids. College, probably. The rest…and, by “the rest,” I mean half-ish…we’ll spend. I swear. No savings, no paying down existing debts. Spend.

I promise.

Of course, a one-time shot like that will provide a one-time shot to the economy. To do something more lasting, they should send it to us little by little: say $200 per man, woman, and child per month for the next year (the other $300 per m/w/c is for bureaucratic overhead). That will stimulate the economy.

At least, until our grandkids can’t afford the payments anymore. But, hell, by then I’ll be dead and gone. So screw it!

I really need to start going to the Oconomowoc Common Council meetings

So I can tell them to stop doing stupid things like being in favor of stuff like this

Oconomowoc backs high-speed rail proposal

Here is my question how can it be High Speed if it is going to stop in every Poe Dunk town like Watertown and Oconomowoc?

Why do I need a high speed train to go to Milwaukee? I can be in Milwaukee in less than 30 minutes from Oconomowoc hell I can get to Chicago in 90 minutes if the traffic is right.

How much will this Choo Choo cost we tax payers? Because you know it will never pay for itself.

Maybe we can pay for it with some of those Magic FEDERAL dollars that do not come from tax payers like all the Governors and Mayors want to do as they beg for scraps and bailouts from DC.

Government at all levels is stupid

Chris

WTAQ & Jerry Bader Featured on Rush

This morning, listening to WTAQ I heard Jerry Bader talk about contact they received. Some school or schools in Green Bay broadcast WTAQ during the inauguration ceremony. As you know, at that time Rush Limbaugh is on and Rush rebroadcast the inauguration feed but embellished it. He had the "Hussein" bleeped out (so as not to offend McDole) and it is said he eventually provided live and concurrent analysis. I did not listen to this, I had Winter Was Hard playing grim music for a grim situation.

Anyway, today on WTAQ Jerry expressed disappointment in that he felt the notice they got of Rush's decision to air the inauguration was misleading. However, a teacher from a middle school in Green Bay phoned in & wrote to WTAQ castigating them and demanding an apology. The teacher said her lambsies were reduced to tears by Rush. Of course, she deplored the disrespect from Rush to the event and or the President.

Well, Rush in his opening segment read the e-mail and replayed the VM left. He didn't refer to the teacher by name.

I think the office and the event deserve respect, but I am not going to shed any tears or take any effort to denounce reasonable ridicule. After years of having a president who reflect my values being derided as Hitler, as a fascist, as a dunce, etc and myself equally derided. All I can say to the offended is enjoy it you have well earned it.

Why the deer and the ducks, but not the babies?

Indications are that this will be the last national pro-life day for a long time...

"President Bush today declared Sunday a national pro-life day to foster respect for human life and his declaration may be the last one with pro-abortion incoming president Barack Obama taking over the White House next week. Bush has declared an annual pro-life day every year during his tenure.

In one of his final actions as president, Bush declared January 18 to be “National Sanctity of Human Life Day.”

“All human life is a gift from our Creator that is sacred, unique, and worthy of protection," the presidential proclamation read." Source: President Bush Declares Sunday National Pro-Life Day, Last Before Obama

Closer to home, much of Wisconsin was in an uproar about a handful of idiots that ran over some deer and duckswith their snowmobiles...

"Authorities announced breaks Thursday in two recent cases in which snowmobiles were used to slaughter five deer in Waupaca County and 57 ducks in Fond du Lac.

In Waupaca County, Nicholas D. Hermes, 22, of Weyauwega was charged with five counts of being party to the crime of mistreatment of animals. A criminal complaint accused him of running down the deer with two other men on snowmobiles Jan. 8 in the Town of Lind.

The other men, brothers Robby D. Kuenzi, 23, and Rory A. Kuenzi, 24, also of Weyauwega, were in custody Thursday but had not been charged.

In the Fond du Lac case, a Department of Natural Resources official said a man has admitted his involvement in the duck deaths, discovered Tuesday in an area of open water and ice on the Fond du Lac River near Lake Winnebago." Source: Breaks reported in cases involving wildlife killings - JSOnline

Don't get me wrong -- there's no excuse for this stuff, however, let's put it in perspective for a moment. Vicki McKenna nails it here; "I want people to be outraged about the deer, don't get me wrong, I do, I just want the to be JUST AS OUTRAGED about children being ripped apart limb by limb using my tax money". The "Reported Induced Terminations of Pregnancy in Wisconsin, 2007" [most current - 2008 not yet available] reports that "the number of induced terminations of pregnancy reported for Wisconsin residents in 2007 was 8,099". That's a little over 22 babies per day or roughly one per hour. So, on average an innocent, defenseless child is murdered in Wisconsin every hour -- day in, day out -- 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. As Vicki so succinctly put it "your horror is misplaced here"...

Why are the deer more important than the babies? Listen to the rest of Vicki's comments here and here and get ANGRY with a righteous anger over this issue; 6 deer. 57 ducks. 8,099 babies...

You call this a Messiah?

The Obama Presidency is 24 hours old

The military prison at Guantanamo Bay is still open

US Troops are still in Iraq

Victory cannot yet be declared in Afghanistan

The US Economy is still moving like a run away train towards a depression.

24 hours and no improvement in anything, is it too early to declare the Obama Presidency a dismal failure?

I expected more from someone known as "The One"

What kind of two bit Messiah did you people on the left stick us with?

;)
Chris

Caption Bill & Hillary at the Innauguration

Let's see what ya got.

Oh Holy Night

I received this via email from Kevin. Enjoy.


Oh Holy Night
Written: A. Adam, 1847.
Lyrics: C. Hohner, K. Binversie, 2008.


Oh Holy Night!
The Democrats have voted
it is the night of the Dear Savior's rise!
Long Lay the world in foolish right wing thinking
Till He appeared and the Dems saw His worth
A thrill of hope run up the leg of newsmen
For Yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Refrain
Fall on your knees
Worship the Chocolate Jesus
Oh night divine
Oh night, when Barack was sworn
Oh Night divine
Oh night divine

Led by the Dems, Reid and Pelosi
With glowing hearts, our hands we extend
Led by the One his eyes so sweetly gleaming
to live as Kings in the promised land
Bring us from the lowly existence
Of our trials to be the Chosen One!

Truly He came to tax us all to death
His laws are tax and his game is to spend
Chains shall he make for the slave is each other
And in His name all taxes shall increase
No hymns of joy, a mournful chorus are we
Let all within us Curse his wretched name

Channeling MLK

An admittedly satirical political blog imagined Martin Luther King had this to say about President Obama's election:

...as long as people judge him as a black man, and not on his character, this nation will not have reached the day that my dream is fulfilled.

Hat tip Grandpa Steve

That especially caught my eye after having seen this story all over the place:

Most blacks say MLK's vision fulfilled, poll finds

Does Mike McCarthy need a driver?

Because Mike Holmgren’s old one is available:

PITTSBURGH -- In a stunning development that no one in the NFL expected, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden late Friday afternoon. And in what could be even more of shock, the Bucs plan to replace Gruden with Raheem Morris, who has never been anything more than a position coach in any of his six seasons in the league, SI.com learned Friday night.

Sure, Obama’s bringing us Hope and Change…

…but those words were already part of the language. Let’s see him come up with strategery and misunderestimate!

True Dat, Inauguration Day Version

In an email from Eric, proprietor of The Tygrrrrexpress:

I am still less amazed by a black man being President than the Arizona Cardinals reaching the Super Bowl.

Word.

Goodbye, President Bush

Here’s hoping retirement is…well, it would have to be easier, wouldn’t it?

There’s been a lot of talk lately about what Bush’s “legacy” will be – I was sick of that word used in that context back during the Clinton second term, and I’m still sick of it now.

(Does anyone remember: was there talk of Bush I’s “legacy?” Reagan’s? Carter’s?)

Anyway, I hope history takes a good objective look at the man and his policies. If it does, I think he’ll come out looking a lot better than today’s look at him looks.

That’s the gist of my column at FoxPolitics.net today. An excerpt:

In his Pulitzer-prize winning book "Profiles in Courage," John F. Kennedy wrote about eight American politicians who, in the words of this description: "crossed party lines and/or defied the public opinion of their constituents to do what they felt was right and suffered severe criticism and losses in popularity because of their actions."

Somebody tell me how President George W. Bush doesn't fit that description.

Well, he does. Read the whole thing.

I for one want to welcome our new Leftist Overlord

Now that it is official the One/The Messiah has ascended to top of Mount Olympus. I would like to take this moment to wish President Obama good luck and success because I understand if he fails it is likely the country will be damaged by his failure.

I would also like to take this moment to Denounce Jib and Lance in an effort to keep myself from being shipped off to a reeducation camp out is the Utah desert.

I mean it I really believe in "Common Sense Gun Control".

I really think we should negotiate with Iran with no preconceived conditions.

I could not agree more that we need to raise taxes on everything.

I believe the rich should be rounded up and shot and their wealth redistributed between the proletariat.(Unless their name is Kennedy or they are Hollywood rich because I understand all the pigs are equal but some are more equal than others)

I will follow what ever 5 year plan, The One tells us to follow.

See I ready to believe what ever the One Tells us to believe

See that is me Chris Team Player :)

Please do not send me to the camps ;)


This post was done without the expressed written or implied permission of Kevin

Chris

Never Forget A Lot Can Change In 4 Years

As bleak as it seems as we count down the hours till The One/The Messiah takes office do not forget how much can change in 4 years.

In 1940 British troops were driven off the European Continent in what became known as the Dunkirk Miracle(an early exercise in spin if there ever was one) by Nazis

In June of 1944 they returned along with their Allies and together they went on to liberate all of Western Europe from the evil that was the Nazis

So no matter how bleak today seems remember a lot can happen in 4 years.

And heed Jibs warning do not become the bitter little trolls the Left became 8 years ago and remain so to this day. We are better than that and we are better than them so lets act like it.

Take your shots have your fun but remember in the end we have to save our country from those people so start thinking of ways we can do that(but run them by Kevin first so he can give you his ok alright) ;)

From today we only look forward towards the 2010 midterm elections that is the next battle

Now go pop in a DVD and just refuse to suffer through the Messiah lovefest that will pass as News for the next 48 hours

Chris

Van Mobley spoke Saturday in Sauk County...

...and BBA TV was there!

At long last, the video I promised from Saturday morning's Sauk County GOP caucus, where Van Mobley, professor at Concordia University and a candidate for DPI Superintendent, was the keynote speaker.

Clip 1: Mobley talks about his history with the Republican Party.



It's true, if he makes it past the primary, he'll be labeled "the Republican candidate," with all that represents. He'll be opposed on that basis alone, regardless of the policies he promotes while on campaign. He'll be smeared as in the pocket of big business; as a teacher-hater; as the enemy of public schools on that basis alone. He's a Republican. Nothing else will matter.

I think an appropriate rebuttal will be: so?

On why he's running:



On him being the only candidate who's publicly said the QEO should stay put, and why:



I took about 8 minutes of video, which I've uploaded on YouTube. Here's the link, if you want to watch the whole thing.

He took a few questions later. Among his answers: don't start a 4-year-old kindergarten program when you don't know what your financial outlook will be (Baraboo's school board recently voted the program down, but the bureaucracy wants to bring it back).

Also, he said he'll fight against any mandates on public schools, and that he'll fight for "every scrap" of stimulus money we can get once they "split up the pie."

All in all, I thought Mobley was an impressive speaker who would make a good candidate. I didn't see or hear anything to shake me away from supporting Rose Fernandez – although, I'll repeat, I don't know a great deal about Fernandez' larger philosophy.

Part of me would love to see Mobley get through the primaries, just so we can have a fight with the liberal element and their "but he's a Republican!" campaign.

I wonder if Mobley's asked to speak at Democrat events. If he hasn't, he should. It is a non-partisan office.

Ooo – what about a Mobley vs. Fernandez general? That'd be fun.

Football proves that the Laws of Supply and Demand really work

Is anybody else noticing how every single snap is more interesting today?

And now there are only TWO football games remaining.

I don't know how we're not panicking yet. Way to stay calm in the face of catastrophe, America.

A few notes:

Arizona 32, Philly 25. I was cheering for the Cardinals, and now I'm gonna cheer for the Jim Leonhard-led Baltimore Ravens. Problem being, I don't really like the Ravens. I just like Leonhard. If the Ravens win, it'll be hard for me to cheer against Arizona.

When did professional football players get so young?

Larry FitzGerald is Randy Moss without the crap attitude.

The internet's been broken all day today.

Not that I've had a lot to say. I did get to meet Van Mobley yesterday - he's the Concordia professor who's running for DPI Supe. I got some video - I'll be posting it tonight or tomorrow.

Re: We're better than this

Regarding Tom's post.

I don't think much of it one way or the other. As long as Tom isn't waving it in everyone's face to make sure people around him know he did not vote for Obama (PBUH), even though I figure most people who regularly read the WI blogs understand that Tom didn't vote Obama (PBUH). That is what a lot of it was about, people wanting to let others know they voted "correctly" unlike those other "boobs n rubes". Jay Nordlinger over at National Review has been writing a lot on this of late.

While, it is important for us to keep high-minded about the debate and resistance to the Obama (PBUH) agenda, we should not lose our senses of humor. One facet of my disgust with the left's behavior with respect to President Bush was their darkness about it. Even when a lot on the left were being humorous there were dark undertones to the humor. Tom's post was a simple inversion, he took one of the left's daily primal scream and turned it back on them.

As Chris said, Tom's post did not cross any lines of decency, the only possible offense is that of cliché.

We're better than this

I know it has been a tough eight years. The left has been on an all out gutter war since Al Gore uttered 'Florida'. I understand wanting to play 'their' game. I understand wanting to give them a taste of their own medicine. But I thought we had more self control and were better than things like this (and I don't mean to single out Tom. It is the way it is spreading that bothers me). Perhaps we're not. I guess I was disillusioned in thinking that conservatives carried themselves with a little more dignity. Going after soon-to-be President Obama on principals is fine, expected even, but playing their inane game isn't going to win a single vote in two or four years, friends.

Scott Walker: A Little Distrust of Government Motives Can Go A Long Way

Jo Egelhoff of FoxPolitics.net makes an important point about Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walkers "refusal" to accept stimulus money for his county:

Milwaukee County Exec. Scott Walker recognizes that free dollars are NOT free. “’Free money’ sounds nice until you read the fine print and realize Milwaukee County taxpayers may be required to provide a local match that they cannot afford.”

Walker would take bail-out dollars only on a case-by-case basis, i.e., only if they meet these specific criteria:

• No local match is required by the federal government
  
• No long-term commitments are mandated by the federal government
  
• No future operating or maintenance expenses will result

See, Walker isn't refusing the money: he's making sure taking the money doesn't hurt his county – or commit his county – in the longer term. He's refusing to run slobberingly all over the place begging for cash and thanking the oh-so-generous Feds for Saving Us All!

You wouldn’t know that, to read his critics.

We also might remember: Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner was one of the only members of Congress to vote no on Katrina aid. He did so because there was no accountability required. He was vilified. And he was right.

Heroes of Flight 1549

Via Backyard Conservative:

The hero of Flight 1549, Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III.

And the co-pilot took the shirt off his back for a passenger. He hails from Wisconsin.

P.S. The name of the captain of the first ferry boat that reached the plane--Vince Lombardi.

Now that's change you can believe in!

Believe in? Of course! You'd never be able to ignore it!

And there's more of us where that came from (you'll just have to click the link to figure out what I meant by that)!

A Brit Defends Dubya

History will show that George W Bush was right

The American lady who called to see if I would appear on her radio programme was specific. "We're setting up a debate," she said sweetly, "and we want to know from your perspective as a historian whether George W Bush was the worst president of the 20th century, or might he be the worst president in American history?"

"I think he's a good president," I told her, which seemed to dumbfound her, and wreck my chances of appearing on her show.

He has specific examples, which he believes will vindicate Bush from his critics – including those still trying to discredit him, as if that will do them any good – once history is written from an objective point of view.

This part speaks to a particular, often-pinched nerve of mine:

Similarly, the cold light of history will absolve Bush of the worst conspiracy-theory accusation: that he knew there were no WMDs in Iraq. History will show that, in common with the rest of his administration, the British Government, Saddam's own generals, the French, Chinese, Israeli and Russian intelligence agencies, and of course SIS and the CIA, everyone assumed that a murderous dictator does not voluntarily destroy the WMD arsenal he has used against his own people. And if he does, he does not then expel the UN weapons inspectorate looking for proof of it, as he did in 1998 and again in 2001.

I would only add that, as late as March of 2003 – only weeks before the U.S. invasion of Iraq – the United Nations released this report from their inspection teams, detailing enormous quantities of biological and chemical weapons and delivery systems, which they either suspected Saddam to have, or which they had destroyed already.

If we can’t agree on anything else, can we agree that they couldn’t have destroyed those weapons if Saddam didn’t have them?

It’s Not Cold Enough for Obama

Why does he hate the environment so much?

IFL: Inauguration Will Produce 575 MILLION Pounds of CO2!

That’s the Institute for Liberty. Some examples of enviro-unfriendliness at Barack Obama’s inauguration:

• Celebrities, politicians, and bigwigs using 600 private jets will produce 25,320,000 POUNDS of CO2
  
• Personal vehicles could account for 262,483,200 POUNDS of CO2
  
• In the parade, horses alone will produce more than 400 POUNDS of CO2
  
• The total carbon footprint for the Inauguration will likely exceed 575 million POUNDS of CO2
  
• It would take the average U.S. household 57,598 years to produce a carbon footprint equal to that of the new president’s housewarming party

They have a longer report on pdf – click here for that. Interesting.

The IFL admits that their estimates aren’t scientific. Heck, they could be completely wrong for all I know. I post it mostly for the entertainment value. Oh, but I do concur entirely with this:

The IFL is quick to note that it’s not criticizing the travel or commerce involved — those can be good things that keep America moving and prosperous.

Barack Obama – good for the economy!

So you think it's pretty cold outside around here?

It is very cold...in space.



Ricardo Montalban, dead at 88. Corinthian leather. Fantasy Island. Khan.

Or should I say: Khaaaaaaan!!!

It'll be at least seven times warmer by this time next week

I want to discuss Rose Fernandez' plan for MPS more closely...

...but I just don't have time right now. Here's the YouTube video - 5 minutes long.

For now I'll just say: "we'll break you up into smaller independent districts" is a heck of a negotiation starting point.

At the risk of engaging in self-centered naval-gazing, I have an announcement to make:

I’m going to close up shop over at LanceBurri.blogspot.com for the foreseeable future. It used to be that I really looked forward to writing and posting there, but lately it’s simply become a chore. Something I have to do, not something I want to do.

Plus, I just have this recurring feeling that I’m mailing it in. Not really putting any effort into it. So I’m taking an open-ended break.

Do not panic: I’m not quitting blogging. (Brief pause while you exhale in relief.) I’ll continue to post here at BBA, and I’ll continue writing weekly over at FoxPolitics.net, just as long as Jo continues to let me.

But, until further notice, LanceBurri.blogspot.com is closed.

Okay, maybe not

Jo Egelhoff dumps all over my hope that Wisconsin might still get a Governor Barbara Lawton. Her reason: Governor Doyle won't ever get a spot in Obama's administration, because he'll never pass Obama's 7-page questionnaire.

What would the Obama folks say about a $300 fine for violating Wisconsin’s ethics laws by accepting Packer tickets? Pay ‘n play or just a friendly game of football?

Or what would they say about the trumped-up Green campaign allegations by Doyle buddy/lawyer Michael Maistelman?

Or what would they have said when Doyle wouldn’t give his $10,000 donation back after Governor Blagojevich’s buddy and top campaign fundraiser Christopher Kelly was indicted and ultimately convicted of federal corruption charges?

And then there’s Travelgate and those close associations with Tony Rezko and Dennis Troha and Nick Hurtgen. And Marc Marotta wasn’t one that escaped pay-to-play allegations either. Now ….. who am I forgetting?

No Lance. Governor Doyle might even be more hot to handle than Governor Richardson. Neither guv gets past that 7-page scandal-avoidance triple-check.

Okay, so I forgot about the questionnaire. And who knows - Governor Lawton might be an extremely effective governor. Still. Can't a guy dream?

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie...

...he's gonna be ordered to attend government-mandated diet and exercise classes.

Link.

Imagine a country where the government regularly checks the waistlines of citizens over age 40. Anyone deemed too fat would be required to undergo diet counseling. Those who fail to lose sufficient weight could face further "reeducation" and their communities subject to stiff fines.

Is this some nightmarish dystopia?

No, this is contemporary Japan.

The Japanese government argues that it must regulate citizens' lifestyles because it is paying their health costs.

I'm holding out hope that this isn't true, but it sure sounds possible. Why do we have helmet laws, seatbelt laws? Why are communities outlawing trans-fats, or restricting new fast-food restaurants? Because when people make bad health decisions, it impacts us all through our taxpayer-funded health care programs.

This "reeducation" program in Japan is simply the next step.

Oh, and I might point out: when we ask the government to spend billions upon billions to "stimulate" the economy, we might just get something similar coming out the other end.

Could we have a Governor Lawton after all?

Okay, probably not, but at the very least, President-elect Obama's choice for Attorney General has some tough days ahead:

Eric H. Holder Jr. is facing increasing resistance to his bid to become the next attorney general, emerging from President-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet nominees as the prime target of Senate Republicans, both because of troubling episodes during his service in the Clinton administration and because of the sensitivity of the post overseeing the Justice Department.

…"The attorney general nominee, Mr. Holder, has got serious questions to respond to with regard to his role in the . . . pardons at the end of the Clinton administration and some other matters," McConnell said yesterday. "Beyond that, I don't anticipate trouble for the new president's nominees."

It's highly unlikely that this'll mean anything, but given the problems the Obama transition has had so far...well, maybe. And then maybe he picks Governor Doyle, instead, which makes Barbara Lawton our new Governor.

Hey, it's possible.

Hat tip Robert Stacy McCain.

Can you get an aircraft carrier named after you without being President first?

NORFOLK, Va. – It's the perfect gift for an old Navy flier: 1,092 feet of flattop.

"What do you give a guy who has been blessed and has just about everything he has ever needed?" asked President George W. Bush from aboard the Navy's newest ship. "Well, an aircraft carrier."

The USS George H.W. Bush, a steel-gray vessel longer than three football fields and built at a cost of $6.2 billion, was commissioned Saturday with its namesake, the 41st president, and other members of the Bush family on hand for the ceremonies at Naval Station Norfolk.

Cool. If only you didn't have to be President to get something like that. Seems like a lot of trouble to go to.

If only they'd released these in time for Christmas!

What a great stocking stuffer!

HARARE, Zimbabwe (CNN)—Zimbabwe’s central bank will introduce a $50 billion note—enough to buy just two loaves of bread—as a way of fighting cash shortages amid spiraling inflation.

Hat tip to Owen.

Cold is on the Way

Ugh. Here is this week's forecast in the southern part of the state:








There was a time in my younger years when reveling in the extreme cold was a point of pride. I'd participate in outdoor activities under dressed just to prove I was stronger than nature. Now, when I'm paying my own heating bills, I just try to remember how nice Wisconsin summers are.

Alert - Updated

There are only five football games remaining. This is not a drill, people. This is not a drill.

Alert update note: while we sympathize with our Metric-Football-fan cousins to the South (brought to our attention by Folkbum), we are suffering from too much pre-offseason anxiety ourselves to do any more than that.

But while we're on the subject of football, how about that Jim Leonhard yesterday, huh? Five tackles, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble. That means he's been directly involved in three of the Ravens' eight postseason takeaways. And a 29-yard punt return. Not bad for a former UW walk-on from a town about a third the size of some of his college lectures.

Is he crazy, or is he just a genius?

The Bacon Explosion.

Yeah, he's a genius. A mad genius. Seriously, my cholesterol's up fifty points just from reading that.

Needs cheese, though. It's in violation of the First Burri Rule of Cooking, otherwise.

Found that via The Corner.

A Hollywood Conservative Vents

This is a long paragraph, but it's still a small excerpt:

Somehow along the way, so many of you forgot one simple, undeniable tenet: We’re the good guys. We’re not imperialists, or else we would’ve nuked the oil countries into radioactive dust, then moved in and taken the oil. We don’t ‘torture’ prisoners, or lawyers for the Gitmo ‘detainees’ would have CNN photographing the horrid scars and missing limbs. We don’t bully smaller, less developed nations. On the contrary, we expend our more precious asset: the blood of our brave, bright and courageous young men and women – all in committed effort to free them from despotic, brutal dictators. We are not brash. In 1991 we amassed a coalition of 34 nations before we acted to oust Saddam Hussein from Kuwait, and this after months and months of negotiations and U.N. resolutions. Twelve years later after waiting six months and seeing fourteen U.N. resolutions ignored by Hussein, George W. Bush had accrued a multi-national coalition and a majority vote in Congress before sending troops into Iraq. We are the big dog on the block. And yet we ask no penance from lesser countries. Instead we offer aid in the form of cash, medicine, and humanitarian help. When we go after bad guys in war, we don’t carpet bomb, or blow up civilian-filled buses. We have smart bombs that pinpoint targets to limit collateral civilian casualites. We’re the good guys. Only an entrenched self-loathing hatred of America will prevent you from seeing that.

Read the whole thing.

Hat tip to Charlie.