A good way to end Mother's Day is by parading around in your apartment in your underwear, listening to Sade, and drinking whiskey...
Uh...good to know for next year... Email from China: I got this lovely email from an American reader in China after my "facebook/twitter" post:
There was a time, not long ago, when vinyl record covers were considered works of art.There was a time, not long ago, when friends would sit around and listen to music together. There was a time, not long ago, when people would play stupid board games. There was a time, not long ago, when families would share the joys of laughter at the dinner table. Some memories can never be downloaded. Perhaps some ideas should never change.No matter where the next road takes me,I'll always remember that along the way,It's not the place, but the peoplewho make us who we are... Music: The email above prompted me to post two versions of the song below. The first being a cover by Madonna... before you dismiss it out of hand, watch it, it is one of my favorite videos. Then, of course, the original is posted below that...
So bye bye Miss American pie, drove my Chevy to the levee....
Manning the Barricades: Short form of Economist Intelligence Report on potential social upheaval here. With option to read it all. Thanks to S. in Rapid City for the forward. (My mother's side all hail from the Black Hills...FYI...major soft spot for entire area. )
I (don't) want to live in Chimerica! More on the "not so poor anymore" Chinese, and the "not as rich as we think we are" Americans here.
The Bible contains six admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn't mean that God doesn't love heterosexuals. It's just that they need more supervision.
Lynn Lavner
MUSIC: Go on - lunch (and a few other things) is almost over ...Sing! Dance! Knock something over. Kiss a sexy Puerto Rican!
Elgin Marbleized: I have no sympathy for this law suit. Clippers owner, Donald Sterling, may be a horrible, rotten, no good, racist. So? Being a dick is not against the law. Ask Keith Olbermann and Andrew Sullivan...Sterling also employed Elgin Baylor for decades. Sorry, dude, Obama won - the race card cannot longer trump the common sense card. And if you don't like how people talk in the workplace - you ought to try being gay in this country for a week. I know you are black in America - but you don't know the half of it, Elgin. In the "victim derby" gays win. Hands down.
Financial Injection: How to save the banks? Shoot up!
Music: Have I mentioned that I love classical guitar?
Entirely pointless trivia about me that I interject here because it makes me happy to do so: My mother won the Big Deal on Let's Make a Deal. (door #2 - FYI)
Clinton at State and McCain at Defense? What next - George W Bush as National Security Adviser? Looks to me as if Obama is ensuring that he will never get the blame for anything. Or he is playing both his opponents so he can publicly reject them in short order. Once an assho**e, always an assh**e. Also by choosing a GOP for the cabinet Obama is getting glowing press - as if appointing a member of the opposing party is exceptional or ground breaking. It is not. Going by memory only here...other presidents who put members of the opposing party in their cabinets: Lincoln, FDR, Ike, JFK, Nixon, Clinton...I am sure there are many others. Seriously, when will the delusional Obama press come to? 3 months? 6 months? Never? In fact... A few weeks ago I posted Zeffirelli's version of the Romeo and Juliet balcony scene. Here is Bernstein/Sondheim version:
The farce that Obama represents change marches on. Mr. President-elect Barky is populating his transition with Team Clinton. A move I heartily endorse, being one who sees the Clinton years as being as close to sane as we've gotten in recent history. (Poor Gerald Ford attempted to keep the ideologues at bay - but, alas, 1976 was no time to be a GOP President.)
As for Hillary being Secretary of State-I am of two minds. As a Clinton loyalist I'd love to see her job match her abilities. Ted Kennedy, determined to the last to throw elbows at the Clintons (they had the gall to WIN!!! - twice no less!!!) kicked Hillary to the curb on healthcare Thus rendering her unable to influence healthcare in the Senate - so why shouldn't she bolt? If she is not going to be President then the State Department is a good choice. However, the best choice is as a justice on the Supreme Court.
Obama got the low down on the God-awful situation via intelligence briefings after he won and suddenly the promises he made to make Kerry and the New Mexico gas bag Richardson for the Sec. of State post are not operational.
The down side for Hillary would be her boss - a man who cannot and should not be trusted. Chances are good he will lead the country into one foreign policy nightmare after another. Breaking it to the Kos Kidz that world peace and pounding our rifles into drums for Love Circles on the campus quad is OFF THE TABLE - and that much of the errant nonsense the Obama Pods spewed about Iraq during the campaign was, in fact, errant nonsense - will go down hard on the latter day hippie saints in Cheetos Blog land.
Obama is cagey and he'll blame Hillary for every dumbass mistake he makes.
Rove will be leaving cackling messages on Donna Brazile's answering machine as the 2010 campaign heats up.
The fact that Obama has finally come to on the shores of Lake Michigan and realized he now needs ADULTS running things, not compliant talking heads and Lord of the Flies bloggers-and is therefore is tapping Clintonites-proves that, at the very least, he does not intend to fail. Though he more than likely will.
Uber Zionist Rahm Emanuel on the scene gives me some hope that Israel is not going to be ditched. As for Biden-he looks more and more like a backbencher to history. Spiro Agnew with a comb over. The more he talks the less relevant he becomes.
So GO BARRY! REHIRE the Clinton team - I liked them then and like them now. Also, I do want to see how your ass kissers at Huffington and MSNBC justify your slide over to Clinton land. They love trashing the Clinton's for no rational reason so much, after all.
Then again, the DNC might start wondering why they threw the nomination to you to be begin with - if you are just going to recreate Clinton's Admin. Coulda had the real deal...but..uh...she has no penis...so you got to jump to the head of the line.
Clinton Dems actually know how to WORK for a living. Maybe you and Michelle will learn something from your new hires.
A music choice for tonight: The True Blood Theme. Very sing-able.
Update: A pic that a proud puma sent in to L.R. after voting is at the bottom of this post.
For fun, a poll- it is a day for voting, after all:
Turns out I must spend much of the work day away from my office (which is also my dining room, fyi.) in the glamorous fleshpot the entertainment elders call "Old Hollywood" - I will be unable to get online ( a situation that, oddly, causes me to feel naked). I say unto you, fabulous Liberal Rapturites, GO FORTH AND VOTE! I will no doubt attempt to avoid watching returns when I get back - but fail - and tune in - and post something... I am so glad the campaign part of this adventure is finally ending... For a while now I've wanted to move on to the "blogging about McCain from the Left" part of the story- or the "watching the country turn on Obama" part of the story.
UPDATE: Just got back from voting. I did not vote 4 BHO. I actually feel CLEAN. I will happily vote for him in 4 years if he wins today and proves himself. Until then I still believe merit should matter.
5 people I know have voted already - all have voted DEM before. Here is the breakdown: McKinney - 1 McCain - 2 Nader- 1 Write in - Hillary Clinton -1
McCain and Palin must TELL THE TRUTH TO THE PEOPLE ABOUT OBAMA AND HIS CORRUPT FRIENDS. I don't care if it helps in the polls or not. We must know what we are getting in this man., Obama. I am surprised by this, but it is apparently true: many people do not know about Obama's connections to Odinga, Ayres, Rezko and many others.
We must hold the media to account this time. No forgetting. We must go after CNN and MSNBC and the rest. They are not just being biased, they are endangering the country.
That's all, Folks! Many, many, things have ended this year...I believe one more event is over today: the election. I see no way the Democratic nominee loses. On his side: he's got the anxiety of the people, the media, Wall Street, and the Chicago machine. Not bad. tuff to beat that in any year. Much less a "Democratic" year.
Tell me why I'm wrong. I'd sure like to know.
Is there an "October" surprise that had an effect on an outcome? I can't think of any.
Is there a 527 (where are the 527's????) ad run in October that has effected an outcome? I don't know of any. They all run in the summer.
Rezko is now talking to prosecutors. Will this matter in the next 5 weeks? Doubtful.
Is there a "whitey tape?" Doubtful.
I sat and waited for Clinton to take Obama out. It would have been easy enough. She never did.
Now we sit and wait for McCain to take Obama out. I could create the ad. You could create the ad. It is easy pick 'ens with this guy. Yet, McCain only releases of series of glancing blows about "ready to lead" - (this line is already worn out. The line is: "DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHO THIS GUY IS?")
The whole thing is fishy. Obama is easy to take down it - yet no one is doing it. Why?
First up: the pic was taken by a friend in NYC. The graffiti goes with today's post. I particularly like placing the "...or else" below the alphabet for effect.
More than likely Obama will not choose Hillary Clinton as his running mate. The foolish and mindless contempt his hardcore base has for the Clintons goes right to the top - as we saw in the primaries. Still if he's as smart as some say....here's why he might...
Reasons why Hillary Clinton is the politically right choice for VP and reasons why BHO may want her:
1. Some are insisting BHO is a Communist. Some say he's a corporate stooge. (They are only mutually exclusive after he gains power.) I favor corporate stooge born of the Chicago machine myself. But one thing is certain: Obama looks out for Obama. If the socialist organisation ACORN helps him - he's their man. If Goldman Sacks writes checks - he's their man. If the black theology church helps him - he's their man. This is the one distinctive pattern of his public life. With rare exceptions (the infants born alive act) , if there is no definable benefit and he must act - he punts. This year, the Left wing of the Democratic Party has had it's best run since 1972. But the party remains Clinton based. Hillary proved this over and over again in the primaries. With a big assist from the media and the DNC - BHO pulled off the "win." But it is an unnatural fit. BHO's poll numbers may actually be high at this point. A strange inversion is occurring - the more people look at BHO the less they like him, the more people look at McCain the more they like him. Many factors remain that favor BHO in the general. But one by one McCain is picking them off. The past 2 months have been very good for McCain. I have no idea if he can keep it up. But it is savvy so far. This brings me back to Clinton. Obama the opportunist knows Hillary commands a large audience. He knows this is the best ticket. Webb would have been great. Nunn is a strong choice. At this moment in time though Clinton brings in exactly who he needs - and he knows it. Why do I think he knows it?
2. Both Clintons have been given a strong presence in Denver. Over and above what is perfunctory. I don't think Obama "blinked" in a battle with the Clintons - I think he opened his eyes.
3. Clinton delivers states.
Ohio is now in the McCain column by a whisker. Biden or Bayh do not change that. Clinton does.
Arkansas is certainly a McCain state- unless a certain ex-President is sent home to do some heavy lifting for his wife. Bill Clinton can deliver Arkansas.
Now Florida - again we have McCain winning in a close race. Unless he chooses Crist - Clinton can switch that state to blue - by a whisker...
New Mexico should go to Obama- barely - Clinton can solidify New Mexico.
Now to my home state: California. Is it loco to think California is winnable for McCain? No. California is strongly DEM in voter registration. But unless a Clinton is on the ballot there is no certainty a Dem wins. For all our "blue" credentials there has been only 5 years in which a DEM has been governor since 1982. That's 21 years GOP - 5 DEM. Since 1889 there have only been 22 years of DEM gubernatorial rule total. 16 of those are from the Brown family exclusively. Gore and Kerry won the state. I would argue for the former - that the landslide for Gore here had everything to do with Clinton. As for the latter - his landslide here was a no to Bush more than a yes to Kerry. California likes moderate GOPs. "Moderate" and "Maverick" are labels that appeal here. Ask Arnold. "Effete" and "Out of Touch" are damning here. Ask recalled Governor Grey Davis. McCain may put his best efforts elsewhere. But California is do-able if he continues degrade the Obama brand. A Clinton on the ballot in California makes a GOP win here impossible. Additionally, gay marriage is on the ballot - which will bring the GOP base out in force. Some moderate voters - esp women - will vote no on gay marriage and FOR VP Clinton. They won't "split" for Obama/Biden. BHO and Axelrod have to be looking across the landscape and see some scary stuff. Clinton can deliver where he's weak.
4. Party Unity. Much has been written about "deadender" PUMAs. This is nonsense. PUMAs are a force. BHO knows this. 2 months of insults and attempted marginalization have only solidified PUMAs against Obama. This amounts to 20-25% of Democratic voters. Hillary can't bring them all back. But she CAN bring 5-10% back. That's more than enough in a close race. And the Democrats can leave Denver with a legitimate claim to unity. Hardcore PUMAs may be right - but they will be marginalized.
5. Experience. This is important to me so I hammer at it a lot. But from a purely political stand point Obama had better watch his back on this GOP talking point. Anyone on BHO's short list has more experience than him - so they help. Clinton is the only person who can make begin to deflate what will be the main problem Obama has against McCain. Hillary did an amazing thing during the primaries - other than winning the majority of votes - she re-created herself. In political speech "experience " is often code for "tough". Hillary's brand now is "tough fighter". Even in the Clinton hating media, even among Clinton hating conservatives. Obama will never win the toughness argument with McCain. But he can accent his strengths with a "tough" team. Here's an example: Kerry needed to appear more "tough". Edwards made his convention speech and looked like a boy scout. Where as Bush negated the experience question in 2000 by choosing Cheney. We've all grown to hate him - but in 2000 he added much needed ballast to the GOP ticket.
Even if he chose Attila the Hun the attack on Obama's experience is inevitable - and justified. Biden, Nunn and Hillary Clinton ALL add to Obama's toughness factor - not hard to do - but only Clinton adds toughness and a base and is a known quantity.
Clinton is the best choice he has.
2 Caveats: much depends on McCain's choice. If he goes too far Right he blows the election. Conservatives can squeal all they want - but in this case they will pony up. Obama scares the Right too much.
Also- Sam Nunn brings much of Clinton's strengths to the ticket. It is a politically sound choice. However, he is an unknown to most of America. He adds no sparkle. no pizazz.
As for the eruption a Clinton pick would cause on the Daily Kos, Huffington, Arugula chewing, Dum-Dum Left - they will get over it by the second day of the GOP convention. They'll scream and make offensive and actionable remarks - and then settle down and focus on their DEAR LEADER.
Finally, BHO loves to be compared to Lincoln and Kennedy. Both made seemingly contradictory choices VP because the politics of the moment demanded it. Lincoln chose a Democrat during the civil war. JFK chose a Texan he did not like and no one in his family liked because he knew a Catholic from the Northeast was a tough sell in the South, and he needed at least some of the South.
I still can't quite see the Obama Resentment Express getting over itself enough to choose Clinton - but he does want to win. Either is ego is so big he won't choose her or his ambition is so voracious that he will.
