Let’s see, who am I going to trust, Nancy Pelosi or the CIA?
I don’t know about you, but I’m going with the CIA on this. At the very least, this is probably a battle that Pelosi can’t win. Think about it; an organization that has spent years specializing in CYA vs an imbecilic politician of the worst stripe ...
It makes me wonder if we are witnessing the beginning of the end of Nancy Pelosi’s career.
By now I’m suspecting that many Obama supporters (those with intellectual honesty) are suffering a severe case of voters remorse. Aside from the several examples of bungling of foreign diplomacy to “tax cheats may apply”, the true scope of President Obama’s reign is beginning to become apparent. George F. Will sums it up particularly well with this.
In February, California’s Democratic-controlled Legislature, faced with a $42 billion budget deficit, trimmed $74 million (1.4 percent) from one of the state’s fastest-growing programs, which provides care for low-income and incapacitated elderly people and which cost the state $5.42 billion last year. The Los Angeles Times reports that “loose oversight and bureaucratic inertia have allowed fraud to fester.”
But the Service Employees International Union collects nearly $5 million a month from 223,000 caregivers who are members. And the Obama administration has told California that unless the $74 million in cuts are rescinded, it will deny the state $6.8 billion in stimulus money ...
Anyway, the Obama administration, judging by its cavalier disregard of contracts between Chrysler and some of the lenders it sought money from, thinks contracts are written on water. The administration proposes that Chrysler’s secured creditors get 28 cents per dollar on the $7 billion owed to them but that the United Auto Workers union get 43 cents per dollar on its $11 billion in claims—and 55 percent of the company ...
And most chilling of all:
The Obama administration’s agenda of maximizing dependency involves political favoritism cloaked in the raiment of “economic planning” and “social justice” that somehow produce results superior to what markets produce when freedom allows merit to manifest itself, and incompetence to fail. The administration’s central activity—the political allocation of wealth and opportunity—is not merely susceptible to corruption, it is corruption.
Oy, what have we wrought?
President Obama is quickly shaping up to be the most incompetent President ever. In fact, over the past several days, I’ve noticed many of the people who found it in themselves to vote for him are jumping ship by the droves. This guy is the latest.
President Obama’s team, unlike Bush’s team, demonstrates a thinness of skin that shocks me. When I somewhat obviously and empirically judged that the populist Obama administration is exacerbating the crisis with its budget and policies, as evidenced by the incredible decline in the averages since his inauguration, I was met immediately with condescension and ridicule rather than constructive debate or even just benign dismissal. I said to myself, “What the heck? Are they really that blind to the Great Wealth Destruction they are causing with their decisions to demonize the bankers, raise taxes for the wealthy, advocate draconian cap-and-trade policies and upend the health care system? Do they really believe that only the rich own stocks? What do they think we have our retirement accounts in, CDs? Where did they think that the money saved for college went, our mattresses? Do they think the great middle class banks at the First National Bank of Sealy and only the wealthiest traffic in the Standard & Poor’s 500?”
Keep in mind that this guy was an Obama supporter.
Makes me wonder what the President’s approval rating will be in, say, a year.
How many times have you heard that? It’s true, too. Almost always, the film adaptation of a book is a let-down. There are all kinds of reasons.
It turns out that good plots and an epic dimension translate well from page to screen. But the attempt to scale this model by making midsize movies from literary novels has been an ugly disaster. In our post-The Reader world, I can safely say that I’d rather personally digitize back issues of Talk magazine than see another movie based on Harvey Weinstein’s favorite book. Scott Rudin can fuck off, too.
Heh ...
I think that much of the problem lies in the fact that even the most mundane of novels not only requires, but also expects at least a modicum of intellectual effort, whereas the goal of the average Hollywood film is to make it as intellectually vapid as possible in a misguided attempt to appeal to a wider demographic. I’m not saying this is all bad all the time. Often times, some of the best films are the ones requiring little more than simply sitting along for the joyous ride.
All of this being said, I can think of some very good film adaptations of novels, though:
The Godfather, No Country For Old Men, and Lonesome Dove quickly come to mind.
A while ago I said that I would give President Obama a chance before passing judgement.
Well, it’s official now. President Obama is now the “Don’t blame me, I voted for the other guy” President.
He’s barely passed the four week mark and already he’s proof positive that a Harvard education does not negate the fact that blithering idiots can get a good education and still remain a blithering idiot. Everytime the guy opens his mouth you can count on the market taking a dive the next day. He is either incapable or unwilling to grasp basic fundamentals of economics. I mean, check this out.
The $318 billion President Obama wants to raise over the next ten years for his $634 billion Health Care Reserve Fund—from reducing the itemized deduction rate for families with incomes over $250,000, limiting it to 28 percent—that he wants to raise in FY2010.
- jpt
Update
The White House changed its information late Wednesday and now says that the tax hike will take place in fy2011.
Along with demonstrating the now commonplace occurrence of one hand not having a clue as to what the other is doing, this is a sure way to spark that ‘ol economy.
Not.
Also, President Obama is now, surprise, surprise, going after guns.
The Obama administration will seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 during the Bush administration, Attorney General Eric Holder said today.
Again, a misunderstanding of basic reality; the original assault weapons ban had no effect on crime levels. But common sense doesn’t seem to be high on the list of priorities in Obamaland.
If I remember correctly, President Obama ran on a platform of “change” and doing things different.
Let’s see, a Democrat spending like a psychotic sailor (even more the G.W.), raising taxes, pushing huge social spending even though history shows the folly, and going after guns. Wow, would’ve thought? There’s your change.
Not.
The only “hope” we have at this point is that he will be a one term debacle.
A few things I’m taking away from this; President Obama comes across as someone who is completely out of his league. I’m shocked at a news analyst declaring that President Obama was amazingly “articulate”. WTF? I suppose if you believe that long-winded, barely coherent rambling is articulate, then ... Well, I don’t know what to say. Also, he’s more than willing to spew outright lies; the “Bush tax cuts caused the recession” line comes to mind.
Also, why the hell does the Huffington Post have press credentials to participate in something like this?
The most shocking take away, though, is the fact that Helen Thomas has not been put out to pasture yet. Yes, Helen, there are Middle Eastern countries that have nuclear weapons. Pakistan and Israel come to mind.
About this whole stimulus bill; for the real rundown on what will result in its passage, go here. It’s not pretty.
I see that Daschle has paid his taxes for nothing. I’m concerned for B.O., he’s quickly running out of tax dodgers and lobbyist’s for his remaining cabinet position’s. Yeah, hope and change.
Just sayin’.
I just picked up this book, and I can hardly wait to sink my teeth into it.
In The Next 100 Years, Friedman undertakes the impossible (or improbable) challenge of forecasting world events through the 21st century. Starting with the premises that “conventional political analysis suffers from a profound failure of imagination” and “common sense will be wrong,” Friedman maps what he sees as the likeliest developments of the future, some intuitive, some surprising: more (but less catastrophic) wars; Russia’s re-emergence as an aggressive hegemonic power; China’s diminished influence in international affairs due to traditional social and economic imbalances; and the dawn of an American “Golden Age” in the second half of the century. Friedman is well aware that much of what he predicts will be wrong--unforeseeable events are, of course, unforeseen--but through his interpretation of geopolitics, one gets the sense that Friedman’s guess is better than most. --Jon Foro
Part of the reason that I love this stuff is that as time goes on, we’ll know just how right, or wrong, George is. Also, this is prime fertilizer for writers and story tellers.
You can probably tell by the frequency of my posts that this web site is pretty high on my list of priorities. OK, some facetiousness to start the day off with.
On a more serious note, concerning this whole 800 billion dollar, soon to be a trillion dollar bailout nonsense being pimped by our soon to be President B.O. The first thing that strikes me is how much this guy is shaping up to be pretty much just like G.W.; spending money like a drunken sailor. So far, the only difference I can see coming is a shifting of elites who will get their backs scratched by the administration.
Think about it, if B.O. was really concerned about “stimulating” the economy, and he’s really open to “bold” new steps, instead of figuring out ways to spend more of my (and yours) money, how about suspending federal income tax for, say, a year.
I guarantee that would do far more to “stimulate” the economy than any amount of government programs and spending. Within a couple of weeks the Dow would be back above 11,000 thus bringing up the value of those battered retirement accounts. For most people it would be like getting an instant 15 to 28 percent raise. Imagine how much easier it would be to make that distressed mortgage payment then. Also, think of the extra money that people would have to spend in general. Spending more means higher demand for things that people buy like cars, clothes, washers, eating at restaurants, whatever. To meet the demand, there would be much hiring of workers. See how this works? The most appealing aspect of suspending federal income taxes is that it would be economically “stimulating” without the evilest of evil middlemen getting their grubby hands in the mix; the federal government.
Then, after a year or so, the federal income tax could be phased back and there would be a substantially larger tax base from which to gather government revenue.
But, the very fact that the best solution is one requiring less government is the very reason why B.O. and other government types would never allow such a thing. See, their first priority is not to you or me, but, rather, to themselves and to those whose backs require scratching and palms need padded. Also, B.O., and other government types, want to control the money. He—they—don’t want to “stimulate” the economy as much as retain and build power through “wealth redistribution”.
So, when B.O. stands at the podium and, with chin tilted upwards with that contemplative demeanor he’s developed, waxes eloquent about the dire need to take immediate and bold action to help us get through these extremely difficult times, just know that he, just like G.W., does not really mean it. You’ll know this by his proposed solutions that require more government spending, comprehensive government stimulus schemes and acquiescence of future generations at the altar of firing up the printing presses rather than doing the most effective, simple thing which is to suspend federal income taxes for a year.
Yeah, “stimulate” this.
Ah, well, we did the Turkey thing yesterday which was a good thing. I didn’t eat too much.
I’m going to go through my list O links and purge some of them and add some others. Years ago, in another blog life, I used to pal around with this chick. If she talks like she writes, I have to wonder if she ever comes up for air.
Reading through the news today, I’m glad that I didn’t, nor ever will, participate in the so called Black Friday nonsense. I mean, c’mon, people. People die because there’s a sale at Wal?
A worker died after being trampled by a throng of unruly shoppers when a suburban Wal-Mart opened for the holiday sales rush Friday, authorities said.
Also, there’s this video of people going absolutely bonkers over the last Xbox at Wal. In some of the comments I see people shouting that Wal should be sued. Bullshit, I say. The problem isn’t Wal, it’s the mullet-wearing, tooth-missing, inbred, Natural Light drinking, half-shirt wearing, Trans Am up on the blocks in the back yard waiting for the next welfare check to “git ‘er up and runnin’” dolts that are to blame. My God, people, have some pride, will ya? I appreciate a deal as much as the next person, but ... I know that my above characterization sounds horribly elitist, but really, next time you go to WalMart, take a look around you and tell me what you see. Not all, I know, but just take a look around.
Anyway, on this Black Friday, instead of participating in it, I’m staying at home bitching about it. It’s much more fun.
An interesting article on cliches in film, or more accurately, how they have changed. There are the givens like the fact that no matter where someone on the screen lives in Paris, the Eiffel Tower will always be visible through their window. Really, keep your eyes open and you’ll notice it.
Fans of traditional western movies, for example, know that the gunmen on the American frontier settled their disputes fair and square, meeting in one-on-one main-street pistol duels, ideally at noon. I was shocked when Elmore Leonard said he made it a rule to omit that scene from the western books and movies he wrote. He claims no one would ever be so foolish as to do that.
Good on Elmore Leonard. Thankfully, for the most part, you’ll never see a western movie with two pistol-swinging gunmen facing each other down in the middle of main street. Nowadays, mainstreet is turned into a gritty, gut-shot, messy bloodbath. Think of Open Range or Unforgiven. Watching Open Range, I remember thinking that it felt like watching Vietnam War footage.
One “wisdom” not mentioned in the article is that, as of the past few decades, Republican or Conservative means bad.
When I was very young, I wasn’t subjected to much television or film. It’s not that I’m that old (46), it’s just a result of where I grew up at. The 60’s and 70’s, in the mountains of Idaho didn’t lend itself to much television. Try to see what kind of reception you get with rabbit ears while living in a town of 400 or so people at the bottom of the second deepest canyon in North America. Also, there tends to be very little in the way of local theater going experiences. What people mostly did for entertainment was bitch about the weather and government, and read a lot.
The reason I bring this up is because while growing up, my young eyes and ears caught much of what the old-timers would say and talk about. There was a certain standard of how a “man” was supposed to act. I still have vivid memories of ranch hands standing around the fireplace, holding cups of coffee and talking about one thing or another and through it all, for the most part, there was a certain code of behavior that was pretty cut and dry. That’s not to say that there were not those who did not or would not live up to expected standards. They just weren’t respected. In hindsight, I realize that human behavior is what it is and has not changed much for perhaps thousands of years, but, often times, people like to put on a good and/or righteous face. A few years later, when I became more exposed to film and television, I saw, in westerns, much of the same kind of “code” of behavior that I witnessed as a child when men with names like Jake, Jasper, and Arlin stood around that stove holding their coffee talking in low-toned, rumbling voices.
At the time I wondered if this code of behavior presented in the western films was a reflection of reality, or if the reality was a reflection of the cliché. I still haven’t figured that one out because I’m pretty sure that Jake, Jasper, or Arlin hadn’t had much exposure to films and television as well. Of course, I’m sure that they all had lots of experience reading Louis L Amour and other writers of the Western Mythos. I also must point out that some of the most well-read individuals I’ve every met were simple, rural types that I’ve come across in remote villages and mountain campsites. Show me a real cowboy who spends a good portion of their life in the outdoors away from people, doing the things that cowboys do, living the lonely life that cowboys do, and I would be willing to bet that they are extremely well-read. Think about it, what the hell else is there to do out there in the great wide open? You will rarely see something so incongruous as a bow-legged, filthy cowboy with a wad of tobacco in his mouth, punctuating his dialect with “y,all”, “fixin’”, and displaying the manners of someone ill-equipped to handle social interactions beyond telling his dog to “Git in the back of the truck” while at the same time, in casual conversation, throwing out a quote by Keats or Oscar Wilde or applying a Shakespearean incident to an anecdote. Trust me, this isn’t all that uncommon.
Which brings me back to the whole cliché thing. Sometimes the anti-cliché is the cliché.
Go figure.
This morning I, along with nine other sorry S.O.B.’s, went through the hell that is known as level testing in Krav Maga. This particular bout was for completing level 1 and moving on to level 2 training. It was nearly three hours of abject brutality. This was, without a doubt, the most physically exhausting experience of my life. But it’s all good because I passed. Hell, we all passed which which is cool because it’s not easy, and people do fail these tests. I did catch a knee to the mouth, causing a small split in both upper and lower lips. Had it not been for my mouthpiece, I would’ve lost some teeth and had some stitches instead of licking off the blood and carrying on.
Ah the things we do for fun.
From the moment G.W. Bush became the President Elect, nitwits were calling for his impeachment. Such people were, quite simply, idiots. Now, B.O. is the President Elect and the nitwits are already crawling out of the woodwork.
Barack Obama has not even been sworn in yet as the 44th president of the United States but groups are springing up online calling for his impeachment.
On Facebook, an “Impeach Barack Obama” group has attracted more than 700 members and a lively debate about the Democrat’s election victory on Tuesday over Republican John McCain.Another Facebook group of the same name has 160 members and urges others to join because “we might as well get a head start on the impeachment of Obama.”
Look, I’ll be the first to tell you that B.O. makes me real nervous. From what he’s said, done, and who he has hung out with for the past 20 years, I don’t feel real good about it. His views on the Constitution and “spreading the wealth around” are downright idiotic, and nitwit like. Yes, he says he will reach out, close divides, and all that feel good shit, and, yes, actions speak louder than words--something the majority of voters seemed to have forgotten,
But.
BUT ...
Unlike the dolts from the left who brayed “Bush lied ...” and who did everything they could to marginalize and tear him down, I will at least give the guy a chance and hope that I’m wrong about him.
If, as I fear, the left begins to threaten freedom of speech or my Second Amendment rights, or go all Woodrow Wilson or FDR, I’ll cry bullshit. But, until that happens, I’m plugging my nose, swallowing the caster oil, and giving the guy the benefit of the doubt. No Daily Kos or Move On bullshit here because the ends does not justify the means. Stupid nonsense from the left--and believe me, there’s plenty of it--does not justify stupid nonsense from the right.
I’m just saying.
You may be punished.
Vanessa Niekamp said that when she was asked to run a child-support check on Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher on Oct. 16, she thought it routine. A supervisor told her the man had contacted the state agency about his case.
Niekamp didn’t know she just had checked on “Joe the Plumber,” who was elevated the night before to presidential politics prominence as Republican John McCain’s example in a debate of an average American.
The senior manager would not learn about “Joe” for another week, when she said her boss informed her and directed her to write an e-mail stating her computer check was a legitimate inquiry.
The reason Niekamp said she was given for checking if there was a child-support case on Wurzelbacher does not match the reason given by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Director Helen Jones-Kelley said her agency checks people who are “thrust into the public spotlight,” amid suggestions they may have come into money, to see if they owe support or are receiving undeserved public assistance.
Niekamp told The Dispatch she is unfamiliar with the practice of checking on the newly famous. “I’ve never done that before, I don’t know of anybody in my office who does that and I don’t remember anyone ever doing that,” she said today.
This is another pathetic attempt at trying to silence someone who doesn’t think as desired or asks the wrong questions.
One of the biggest concerns I have with a Democratic super majority is the well documented desire from the left to implement the Fairness Doctrine. Freedom of speech and expression, and a free flowing of the market place of ideas without government or Party interference is crucial.
I’m just saying.
Tell me, what could possibly be the purpose of this other than to intimidate and silence?
Pathetic.