Let's Start a BOTM Club

UPDATE: Looks like BO and Joe started a BOTM Club. Read the Washington Post, Say Cheese: Obama Lunch Turns Juicy Eat-and-Greet.

Now here is a group I'd like to join, the Burger of the Month Club. Read The New York Times, Turkey Burgers Don’t Count.

If you live in the NW Florida area, and you'd like to start a club, let me know.

Umpire or an Empathizer?

Should the judge be an umpire or an empathizer? Read the Washington Post, Behind Justice's Blindfold.

Who Will Be the Republi-Con's Clinton?

More about those phony-baloney, cult-like Republi-cons.

Read The New York Times, Jack Kemp’s Futile Quest, A Hole in the Center, and/or The Long Voyage Home.

Poor, poor Republi-cons, it is looking like forty years in the wilderness for the Republi-cons.

Bush, the Hypocrite-in-Chief

On June 26, 2003, then President Bush issued a proclamation to mark the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. In it Bush said that the United States is "committed to the worldwide elimination of torture and we are leading this fight by example" and vowed to prosecute torture and to prevent "other cruel and unusual punishment."

Not surprisingly, the statement upset members of the CIA, who Bush had authorized to use brutal tactics on members of Al Qaeda.

Read The New York Times, Interrogation Debate Sharply Divided Bush White House.

Can you say hypocrite.

Is Christianity a Religion Anymore?

UPDATE II: Secular Christianity? "A recent Supreme Court decision reveals the strange reasoning that "saves" religion by emptying it of its content." Read The New York Times, When Is a Cross a Cross?, which notes:

"It is one of the ironies of the sequence of cases dealing with religious symbols on public land that those who argue for their lawful presence must first deny them the significance that provokes the desire to put them there in the first place.

It has become a formula: if you want to secure a role for religious symbols in the public sphere, you must de-religionize them, either by claiming for them a non-religious meaning as Kennedy does here, or, in the case of multiple symbols in a park or in front of a courthouse, by declaring that the fact of many of them means that no one of them is to be taken seriously; they don’t stand for anything sectarian; they stand for diversity. So you save the symbols by leeching the life out of them. The operation is successful, but the patient is dead."

UPDATE: In Italy, the cross is "a national symbol of culture, history, identity, tolerance and secularism." Read The New York Times, European Court: No Crucifixes in Italian Schools.

BTW, secularism means "indifference to or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations." So as I understand it, the cross is a symbol of indifference to or rejection of religion.

Can anybody explain that to me?

Christmas is just a big shopping holiday, the Ten Commandments is just another historical document, and prayer is just an old habit. So is the cross just some kind of nonsecular universal symbol of death?

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What do you think?

WWJT (Who Would Jesus Torture)

"The more often you go to church, the more you approve of torture." Read the Washington Post, Why the Faithful Approve of Torture.

Some people are ChINOs (Christians in name only).

The YDKB Challenge Friday at NoBullU on WEBY

Listen to the voice of wisdom and reason in a wilderness of partisan rhetoric -- No political insanity, no conservative hypocrisy, no liberal foolishness -- Just straight talk, straight at you, and that’s no bull!!

NoBullU will broadcast today from 4:05 to 6 p.m. at 1330 AM WEBY and on line, courtesy of Cyber Smart Computers.

Topics:

Local and state: after all the pissing and moaning following the last show, it is time for the You Don't Know Bert challenge, you name the topic and give a brief description where you stand on the issue and I respond, one topic only per call; and

Nation and international: Fear, Anger, Hatred + Talk Radio & FOX News = Violence.

But I'll discuss anything. (Disclaimer: the host reserves the right to end any discussion and hang up on you.)

So tune-in, call-in, but only if you can handle the truth!

WARNING: You may not want to call in if you have veritasphobia, especially if you are a certain veritasphobic politician.

Our VP, the Stupid Politician Tautology

It is hard to believe that this man is only a heartbeat away from the presidency:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Obama should sent him to Mexico, on an airplane, in coach, and tell to ride the subway for an hour; or start looking for a new VP.

Who is Your Real Friend?

Here is the test: Lock your partner and your dog in the trunk of the car for an hour.

When you open the trunk, who is really happy to see you?

Bush's Legacy

UPDATE II: As I have said before, while Clinton was a great Republican president, in the sense that he united and strengthened the Republi-con party, Bush was a great Democratic president.

The Republi-cons "overreached in interpreting the results of the presidential election of 2004 as a mandate for the party. This resulted in the disastrous elections of 2006 and 2008, which combined for a total loss of 51 Republicans in the House and 13 in the Senate — with a corresponding shift of the Congressional majority and the White House to the Democrats." So says one of the few remaining moderate Republicans. Read The New York Times, We Didn’t Have to Lose Arlen Specter.

Then read the Washington Post, Arlen Specter's Switch for first thoughts by politicians, strategists and political observers. With the exception of Gingrich, the consensus is that the switch does not bode well for Republi-cons.

All hail Bush, God's chosen one to destroy the evil Republi-con party and savior of the Naive-crats.

UPDATE II: From the Washington Post, Arlen Specter's Switch and GOP's Identity Crisis:

"Specter's move is about his own political survival. . .

But there is also something to Specter's public explanation of his decision: "Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."

Moderates like Specter have been run out of what, as November's election showed, has become a niche regional party in thrall to its far right wing. Just take a look at this map that illustrates how votes shifted between the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections."

If you were a contrarian, you might argue that this is good news for the Republi-cons. Read the Washington Post, Good News for Republicans! Maybe it is good news for the Republi-cons, maybe they are delusional, only time will tell.

One Republi-con has had enough, rumor has it that Senator Arlen Specter will change party affiliation to Democrat AKA Naive-crat. Thanks to Bush the Republi-cons are most a party of angery, old, white guys in the South.

Cheney for President

It is too bad Cheney didn't run for president in 2008, it would have put a stake through the heart of the Republi-con ideology. Read The New York Times, Cheney for President, which notes that:

"At the very least, a Cheney-Obama contest would have clarified conservatism’s present political predicament. In the wake of two straight drubbings at the polls, much of the American right has comforted itself with the idea that conservatives lost the country primarily because the Bush-era Republican Party spent too much money on social programs. And John McCain’s defeat has been taken as the vindication of this premise.

We tried running the maverick reformer, the argument goes, and look what it got us. What Americans want is real conservatism, not some crypto-liberal imitation."

Maybe Cheney will run in 2012! Imagine, Palin/Cheney, wouldn't that be a dream ticket, for the Naive-crats that is.

Kiss a Sick Person Today, It Might Save Your Life Tomorrow

You may want to get the flu now, while it is mild, because you'll have immunity if a deadlier form develops. Read The New York Times, Where Will the Swine Flu Go Next? As the article notes, past well-known flu pandemics seem to have come in waves, the second wave generally being the deadliest.

Of course, you can wait and hope an effective vaccine is developed.

:-x

Fear, Anger, Hatred + Talk Radio & FOX News = Violence

Two deputies were shot on Saturday in Fort Walton Beach. (I actually saw a bit of the response. I was driving to a local soccer tournament when a patrol car came around the corner with lights flashing and siren blaring, nearly out of control. It was about 1 p.m. and he was likely responding to the shooting.) The wife of the man who shot the deputies said that "her husband believed that the US Government was conspiring against him. She said he had been severely disturbed that Barack Obama had been elected President."

The local paper, the Northwest Florida Daily News, wrote an article titled 'None of it makes sense'. But the shooting does make sense, and you can thank your local Republi-cons.

The Republi-cons have a great election strategy, FEAR, ANGER and HATRED, although as Bush showed, it has proven to be a less than successful governing strategy. It has proven to lead to violence.

This is one example.

And only one county over a man shot five Chilean students, killing two. A neighbor of the shooter recalls him (the shooter) asking "if I was ready for the revolution to begin and if I had any immigrants in my house to get them out." Thanks again Republi-cons.

The local affiliate for the Republi-con fear, anger and hatred, NewTalk 1260 WFTW, with the regulars promoters of the same: Rusty, Sheepish, and Stupid (respectively Rush, Hannity, and Savage).

The area votes overwhelmingly Republi-con.

There has also been an Obama sign war brewing in the county, before the last election someone burned Obama signs, and since the local paper thinks it newsworthy to report on every anti-Obama sign.

Of course the influence of talk radio reaches beyond NW FL. In Pittsburgh, a man shot three police officers. He "had been upset about losing his job and feared the Obama administration was poised to ban guns." Another right-wing media myth perpetuated by talk radio with help from FOXNews, and the NRA.

Another example, in Tennessee a man went on a fatal shotgun rampage in a church "prompted by a hatred of liberalism and Democratic leaders who have hamstrung the nation's war on terror."

As the Rwandan Genocide showed, the news media can incite and fuel violence.

So thanks to the Republi-cons, it all makes sense. The equation is Fear, Anger, Hatred + Talk Radio & FOXNews = Violence.

Don't Judge a Person By Her Appearance

UPDATE II: Snap judgments can be wrong, but scientists say they're only natural. Read The New York Times, Yes, Looks Do Matter.

UPDATE: Should Boyle get a makeover and cash-in? Read the Washington Post, Susan Boyle Makeover Would Add Grace Notes.

"Don't judge a book by its cover" is a metaphorical phrase which means don't determine the worth of something based on its appearance.

But conservative columnist George Will, thinks you should judge a person who wears denim as shabby. Read the Washington Post, Denim Demon, in which he writes:

"Denim is the infantile uniform of a nation in which entertainment frequently features childlike adults ('Seinfeld,' 'Two and a Half Men') and cartoons for adults ('King of the Hill'). Seventy-five percent of American 'gamers' -- people who play video games -- are older than 18 and nevertheless are allowed to vote."

Wills goes on to say that he thinks we should all dress like Fred Astaire, except the womenfolk, of course, who should dress like Grace Kelly. I suppose he would endorse a dress code for the voting booth.

But forgive Will, he is just picking up where Daniel Akst left off in his opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal, Down With Denim, in which he writes:

"Although a powerful force for evil, denim has achieved a status that will come as no surprise to fashion historians. Like camouflage fabric, aviator sunglasses and work boots, blue jeans were probably destined for ubiquity thanks to an iron-clad rule of attire adoption. "The sort of garments that become fashionable most rapidly and most completely," Alison Lurie reminds us in "The Language of Clothes," "are those which were originally designed for warfare, dangerous work or strenuous sports.""

Sounds like these two conservatives don't like being seen in the company of fellow shabby Republi-cons, who generally wear denim, camouflage fabric, aviator sunglasses and/or work boots.

Juxtapose those opinions endorsing the idea to judge people by their appearance with Susan Boyle. When

"the frizzy-haired, squarely built Boyle walked onto the stage of "Britain's Got Talent" to barely suppressed snickers from the audience and skeptical eye rolls from Cowell, the unfailingly caustic judge on both "American Idol" and the British TV show.

The audience laughed mercilessly as Boyle did a saucy hip wiggle and said she'd like a chance to prove she could be as good as Elaine Paige, a legendary singer often called the first lady of British musical theater.

Those present were clearly prepared to howl.

Then Boyle opened her mouth."

You might say that "all that is gold does not glitter." Close your eyes and listen.

So the next time you hear a hypocritical Republi-con spew forth fear, anger, and hatred, tell him to read Matthews 7:1, "Judge not, that ye be not judged."

P.S.

You might also reference:

Luke 6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.

Luke 6:41 "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

Romans 14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

Romans 14:13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this-- not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.

Class Today at NoBullU on WEBY

Listen to the voice of wisdom and reason in a wilderness of partisan rhetoric -- No political insanity, no conservative hypocrisy, no liberal foolishness -- Just straight talk, straight at you, and that’s no bull!!

NoBullU will broadcast today from 4:05 to 6 p.m. at 1330 AM WEBY and on line, courtesy of Cyber Smart Computers.

Topics:

Local and state: 'Pensacola Jeff' will be a guest at 4:35 p.m.; and

Nation and international: is it EIT (enhanced interrogation tehniques) or just torture by another name; the New York bankers' coup d'état; and judge not.

But I'll discuss anything. (Disclaimer: the host reserves the right to end any discussion and hang up on you.)

So tune-in, call-in, but only if you can handle the truth!

WARNING: You may not want to call in if you have veritasphobia, especially if you are a certain veritasphobic politician.

Not All Republi-Cons are Delusional

Many Republi-cons seem delusional nowadays, but not all. Read the Washington Post, True Confessions From the Trail.

Obama Thinks You are Stupid

UPDATE II: Did you know that Bush funded an "education policy attaché" based in Paris, whose annual salary, housing allowance and business expenses exceed $630,000? It will be one of the 'symbolic' budget cuts. Read the Washington Post, President's Critics See a Dull Knife.

UPDATE: Conservative columnist George Will notes that $100 million is "about 13 minutes of federal spending, and 0.0029 percent -- about a quarter of one-hundredth of 1 percent -- of $3.5 trillion. The title of his column in the Washington Post sums it up well, Obama's Budget Follies.

In a worthless gesture you might expect from a Republi-con, Obama has given his Cabinet 90 days to cut $100 million from the federal budget. Read AP, Obama's latest budget-tightening effort hardly makes a dime's worth of difference.

$100 million just ain't what it used to be.

To Bow or to Kiss, What Should a President Do?

Everyone is upset that Obama bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia:



But personally, I prefer that to holding hands and kissing the King:



Of course, maybe Bush and the King had a bromance.

So what should a President do, bow or kiss?

PS

I vote none of the above.

Who Needs the Truth When You Have Right-Wing Media

UPDATE: 'Pensacola Jeff' will be a guest tomorrow at 4:35 p.m. at NoBullU on WEBY.

BTW, a bit of triva, 'Pensacola Jeff' is a trivia master. He was a 2007 Jeopardy Tournament of Champions wildcard semifinalist. So get those answers ready, and lets see if he know the questions.

A couple of blurbs about right-wing media, and the truth:

From RicksBlog.biz:

"The Virginian-Pilot reports that retired Rear Adm. Lou Sarosdy denies that he wrote a wide-circulated email that criticizes President Barack Obama for not authorizing the military to act more aggressively during the stand-off, which ended with snipers killing three Somali pirates. The e-mail claims that Obama rejected two proposed rescue plans and that Phillips was saved only after naval officers at the scene decided on their own to proceed."

And 'Pensacola Jeff': One brave soul speaks the truth, and is greeted by boos, at teabagging party in Pensacola, FL.

Is 'Pensacola Jeff' the new Joe the Plumber? Watch the MSNBC video where he preaches the truth to the disbelieving Republi-cons:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Pensacola Jeff has a blog.

I'll try to get him as a guest for the next show.

How to Tell the Sex of a Fly

From an email:

A woman walked into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a fly swatter

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Hunting flies" he responded.

"Oh! Killing any?" she asked.

"Yep, 3 males, 2 females,' he replied.

Intrigued, she asked "How can you tell them apart?"

He responded, "3 were on a beer can, 2 were on the phone."

Too cute.