Some Things Never Change
Next week, I’ll be in Philadelphia on business, so I may or may not do a column from there. Seeing how this is web-based, I really don’t have an excuse aside from not wanting to have to cover the same ground over and over and over. However as those on the other side keep saying the same things over and over, I’ll probably never get a break….
You Wanna Say That To My Face…?
It must be nice to have a liberal ego. You could feel as if you had the mission to say whatever you wanted and everybody would love you. As a conservative, I am under no such illusion.
Liberal politicians can hate the president, abhor his policies, and denigrate anyone who supports him, but if you’re taking cheap shots at soldiers on the front lines of a war, there are some things better left unsaid. This is a lesson well learnt by a couple of Democrats last week during a visit to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. If it weren’t for the ego that probably told them they’d be welcomed with open arms, they probably wouldn’t have been caught anywhere near there.
“Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat, and Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii Democrat, met with several soldiers during a visit led by Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John W. Warner, Virginia Republican. Pentagon officials said soldiers criticized the harsh comments made recently by Senate Democrats.
“Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, last month invoked widespread military outrage when he compared Guantanamo to the prison labor systems used by communist tyrant Josef Stalin, Cambodia’s Pol Pot and Adolf Hitler.”
– Bill Gertz, Washington Times
It must be nice to be a United States Senator. You can kiss everyone’s ass trying to get elected, just to feel like you’re royalty enough to chew out whomever you want once in. I’ll bet the good Senator Durbin has never been in a situation where he was on duty in a facility surrounded by people who want to kill you in the most painful, humiliating way possible; in a country where every other person wants to do the same. And to appease the ideologues on his side, he basically accused everyone technically defending his right to exist, of committing a war crime.
‘”They got stiff reactions from those home-state soldiers,” one official told us. “The troops down there expressed their disdain for that kind of commentary, especially comparisons to the gulag.”
“A spokesman for Mr. Kennedy had no comment. A spokeswoman for Mr. Akaka confirmed that the senator met with soldiers from Hawaii but did not recall receiving any complaints during the meeting.”
Is there some instruction in the “How To Be A Politician” booklet that says when you get caught with your foot in your mouth, your response should be “I don’t recall….” Didn’t we go through enough of that crap in the nineties? And I’d hate to be judgmental, but if you can’t remember what you did or said and it was fairly recent and very important, are you mentally fit enough to be a United States congressman, senator, or higher? Should we have a standard?
There are a lot of things one can forget, but it always seems to be the important stuff with these people. The timing for the memory lapse is almost always most convenient.
Like This Is News…
Ever wonder why the music industry is so frightened by the hemorrhaging downloading is doing to the business? One guess: it’s because the music is lame, a lot of the artists are lame, and it’s so bad that the record companies have to pay radio stations to play their songs.
Now that practice is infamously known as “payola.” There have been many past crackdowns on the practice, because for all intents and purposes, it’s dishonest.
Yes ladies and gentlemen; the very industry that goes around suing welfare mothers because their kids are “stealing” music is paying off radio stations to play songs that stink.
“From Epic, home of J-Lo, a memo from Nov. 12, 2002, a “rate” card that shows radio stations in the Top 23 markets will receive $1000, Markets 23-100 get $800, lower markets $500. ” If a record receives less than 75 spins at any given radio station, we will not pay the full rate,” the memo to DJs states. “We look forward to breaking many records together in the future.”
“Take Jennifer Lopez’s awful record, “Get Right,” with its shrill horn and lifted rap. It’s now clear that was a “bought” sensation when it was released last winter. So, too, were her previous “hits” “I’m Glad” and “I’m Real,” according to the memos. All were obtained by Sony laying out dough and incentives. It’s no surprise. There isn’t a person alive who could hum any of those “songs” now. Not even J-Lo herself.”
– Roger Friedman, Fox News
Now I don’t want to appear to be picking on J-Lo. God knows I don’t need her mad at me. New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has gotten Sony Music – now known as Sony/BMG – to pay a $10 million settlement on this recent payola scandal. Don’t know about you, but a settlement is basically an admission of guilt. I’ll pay you off now so you don’t bust me hard later.
So the next time the record industry laments the fact that their sales are lagging and try and blame it on downloaders, maybe they should work on finding “talent” and writing real songs. That way, they don’t have to pay off radio stations to go against their instincts (playing lousy music), they will save money, and try and find some A&R (artist and repertoire) personnel who look for more than a pretty face, nice tits, and a tight ass.
But no: while they were lining up authorities like Mary J. Blige to lecture us about the virtues of honesty, Friedman reveals “Black-and-white evidence of plasma TVs, laptop computers and PlayStation 2 players being sent to DJs and radio programmers in exchange for getting records on the air. And not just electronic gifts went to these people either. According to the papers released today, the same people also received expensive trips, limousines and lots of other incentives to clutter the airwaves with the disposable junk that now passes for pop music.”
Makes me want to download an album. Too bad they’re not worth the time.
Where’s The Fence?
Sometimes it’s real hard trying to be a law abiding citizen when at almost every turn, people who break the law are continually being rewarded while stupid people like myself obey the law and see no benefit for doing so. Except my conscience is clear… big deal, right?
According to the Associated Press, illegal aliens (not undocumented workers, Cardinal Mahoney) can now come to the United States and get a home loan! Makes me want to fly to Mexico City and take the hike back so I can cash in as well.
“At least two out-of-state banks are offering home mortgages to illegal immigrants in metropolitan Phoenix, and others are likely to follow, according to a recent report by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals.
“All immigrants need is an individual taxpayer identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service, a steady income for at least two years and a good credit rating.”
I have a Social Security number. So far, so good. I’ve had a steady income for more than the last two years. My credit rating is so-so.
But because Pedro and Consuela VIOLATED A FEDERAL LAW and entered the country without proper authorization, a bank will give them money? Only in America….
“Dozens of immigrants in metro Phoenix already have been approved for these loans, often for up to $150,000. Their biggest challenge is finding affordable houses in a market where the median home value is teetering on $250,000.”
My heart bleeds. They should be taking that loan and paying bail.
Hillary in ‘08: Let’s Break It Down
“I’m having a great time being the Pres-, I mean, Senator from New York.”
Now I know it rubs you the wrong way when I use profanity. Maybe that’s why I’ll never get a network or radio gig. I do appreciate the “time and place” argument, but this is my blog and behind closed doors, I’ll bet the more sanctimonious amongst us cuss.
So, as far as Hillary goes, does she and her media groupies actually expect us all to buy this shit? Check out these quotes from fawners at Monday’s “high-profile” speech to the Democratic Leadership Council….
“She has `it’. Some people don’t; some people do.”
– Ray Buckley, vice chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party
“It doesn’t surprise me that she’s becoming more moderate. I think the country is becoming more and more moderate, more and more conservative.”
– Leroy Comrie, a city councilman in the New York borough of Queens.
“She’s one of the shining stars of the party. She energizes the room. She energizes the party.”
– Peter O’Malley, Chicago congressional candidate
“I think she helps to reinforce the message, and she helps shine the focus on the Democratic Party, the core values of our party, the core values of our country.”
– Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, leader of the DLC
Now don’t get me wrong: Hillary can be beat. But let’s not be naïve and think the press will give both presidential candidates in 2008 a fair shake. We’ve seen the quotes from those in the press that acknowledge the fact they gave preferential treatment to John Kerry last time out (worth anywhere between five and 15 points) and the clown still lost.
But unless we’re ready for a pity party when the first “mean-spirited” salvos are tossed towards that “strong”, “intelligent”, “tough-as-nails” woman with the help of Katie, Paula, Judy, and Diane, Hillary will be the pretty-in-pink damsel who’ll be the victim of a bullying man.
That is if a man runs against her. Knowing the Clintons as we do, I don’t see a long protracted primary. Hillary isn’t much for one-on-one confrontation, as evidenced by her cowardly recoil gesture during the debate with softie Rick Lazio.
Be sure the field will be cleared for her again. So who should go up against her? Who’s flying around the world right now, pressing the flesh with all the world leaders right now? It’s not Jimmy Carter. The only man who can beat Hillary… is not.
It’ll be Condi against The Hill. I stand by that prediction, and it will be fun to watch.
One Free “Bomb The Subway” Card
We’ve had this discussion before; at least openly since September 12, 2001. You would think it would be a matter of common sense for all, but alas, that trait comes to only a percentage of us nowadays.
Political correctness will be the downfall of modern civilization, which pretty much is what the terrorists want and what our liberals generously give. In fact one theory has it that we will not see another terrorist incident in the United States only because such an event would unite (however temporarily) liberals and everyone else against the terrorists.
Al Qaeda won’t rock the liberal boat because having Howard Dean and Cynthia McKinney at Bush’s throat is better than any dirty bomb in Manhattan.
But according to a January 2004 “For Official Use Only” handout from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. border authorities are to be on the look-out for people who are:
1. Nervous, unresponsive (blank stare), or preoccupied.
Could be your average American teenager.
2. Stiff in the torso or lacking lower mobility or flexibility.
That’s called hemeroids. Back off.
3. Shaved head or short haircut. A short haircut or recently shaved beard or moustache may be evident by differences in skin complexion on the head or face.
Do any of you active duty or vets out there remember your first day of bootcamp. Remember what we looked like? Next thing you know, they’ll want to arrest Bruce Willis….
4. May smell of herbal or flower water (most likely flower water), as they may have sprayed perfume on themselves, their clothing, and weapons to prepare for Paradise. However, not all suicide bombers are using scented water, because it is widely recognized as an indicator.
Could be a teenager again. They do have a problem with bathing. Could be “Axe.”
5. Forceful behavior or actions (such as pushing through a crowd or entering a restricted area to reach a desired target).
I got into trouble once before for alluding to the fact that such behavior is exhibited by women at shoe sales. Needless to say, you don’t have to be a terrorist to be rude.
6. May been [sic] seen praying fervently, giving the appearance of whispering to someone.
Ever watch a Benny Hinn infomercial…?
7. Recent suicide bombers have raised their hands in the air just before the explosion to prevent the destruction of their fingerprints. They have also placed identity cards in their shoes because they want to be praised and recognized as martyrs.
Yes, and Barry Bonds, Pedro Martinez, Sammy Sosa, and almost every NFL wide receiver raise their hands to the heavens after scoring. Terrell Owens puts Sharpies in his socks. Let’s try and be a little more reasonable, shall we?
Look for MIDDLE EASTERN MEN…!
See you in a couple weeks, big events notwithstanding.
