Thanks Firedancer, this parody is beautiful. For those who would like to learn more about our ranking, please visit the World Health Organization here.
Patrick Swayze and Jody Powell Die 9/14/09
New York Times:
Patrick Swayze, the balletically athletic actor who rose to
stardom in the films Dirty Dancing\and Ghost,
and whose 15-month battle with advanced pancreatic cancer
drew wide attention, died on Monday, The Associated Press
reported. He was 57 and lived near Los Angeles
NPR News:
Carter Spokesman Jody Powell Dies At 65
At one point during their long working relationship, President Carter said his longtime press secretary “knows me better than anyone else except my wife.” At his death the Georgia native was the CEO of the public relations firm Powell Tate
Jody Powell lived on the Eastern Shore and apparently died of a heart attack.
Their deaths are our loss.
[UPDATE: Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary, has died today, September 16. She had been fighting Leukemia for several years. ]
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Another early death:
9-12 Tea Party March on D. C. –The Aftermath
So how did the big march go in Washington? Apparently quite well, from what I could tell. The protestors all seemed happy and having a great time. Many of the signs were creative.
Some signs seemed to be not so tasteful. Many of these signs were handed out at the rally. (see below)
According to ABC news,
Conservative activists, who organized a march on the U.S. Capitol today in protest of the Obama administration’s health care agenda and government spending, erroneously attributed reports on the size of the crowds to ABC News.
Matt Kibbe, president of FreedomWorks, the group that organized the event, said on stage at the rally that ABC News was reporting that 1 million to 1.5 million people were in attendance.
At no time did ABC News, or its affiliates, report a number anywhere near as large. ABCNews.com reported an approximate figure of 60,000 to 70,000 protesters, attributed to the Washington, D.C., fire department. In its reports, ABC News Radio described the crowd as “tens of thousands
60,000-70,000 participants certainly isn’t too shabby. Protestors always get into it with the Capital Police and D.C. Fire Department over numbers.
Fox News Commentator/host Glenn Beck was a big supporter of this initiative. He was not in attendance.
According to sources, most of the protesters were conservative, disliked President Obama, didn’t want health care changes, and hated government spending. Isn’t America grand when this many people can get together to express their opinions. Where were they a year ago? Where were they before the election? President Obama was very clear as to the changes he wanted.
It seems like a lot of hoopla after the fact to me. Perhaps they are gearing up for the midterm congressional elections. Help us understand. What is the objective? What do the protesters hope to achieve? I understand they don’t like Obama, any of the proposed health care plans, spending, big government. What are the positives they want? Someone please explain.
Did Candidate Bob McDonnell Drop the F Bomb?
During a radio interview, WTOP Radio host Mark Plotkin asked Candidate McDonnell if he would consider raising the gas tax to help fun the transportation budget. McDonnell’s responsed no and allegedly uttered an expletive to help punctuate his point.
After reading parts of his thesis, I rather like this new Candidate McDonnell. At least he seems human.
You be the judge.
Here’s the link Huffingtonpost got off of NLS blog.com
or
UPDATE from CNN Political Ticker:
UPDATE: McDonnell communications director Tucker Martin said McDonnell’s remark was nothing more than a verbal flub.
“At one point Bob was speaking quickly, and in trying to say ‘funding mechanism,’ he stumbled and accidentally said another word,” Martin said. “It was unintentional, and anyone who spends any time around Bob knows he does not use such language. It was an accident. It is that simple.”
Martin called it “disappointing” that the Deeds campaign is spending “so much time and energy aggressively pushing this absolutely trivial matter to every blog and media outlet they can think of.”
“At one point Bob was speaking quickly, and in trying to say ‘funding mechanism,’ he stumbled and accidentally said another word,” Martin said. “It was unintentional, and anyone who spends any time around Bob knows he does not use such language. It was an accident. It is that simple.”
Tina Fey Nets Emmy for Sarah Palin Impression on SNL
Tina Fey received an Emmy Saturday night for her impression of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Life. She thanked her parents who are life long Republicans for their patience.
It will be interesting to see if Ms. Fey receives a congratulatory note from Ms. Palin. I am betting yes.
You betcha!
Sabre Disengages his Rider– Cav Man Bites the Dust
If at first you don’t succeed, try try again. Cav Man got a rather abrupt jolt from his horse Sabre in Saturday’s game. After William and Mary beats you opening game, I suppose anything is possible. The score was 26-14. Today, when Cav Man bit the dust, the score ended up being a 30-14 loss with Texas Christian the winner.
Saber 1 Cav Man 0
How embarrassing.
Wah-hoo-wah,
Wah-hoo-wah.
Uni-v, Virginia,
Taxpayer March on D.C…. aka I Hate Obama Rally
Today is the big event billed as “Taxpayer March on D. C.” In actuality, it is the “I Hate Obama Rally.” The GOP seems to be latching on to these conservative protests. A few top Republicans will speak to the crowd tomorrow; Republicans like Mike Pence, Eric Cantor, John Boehner, and Jim DeMint. However, top Republican strategists are concerned, according to the Washington Post:
But top Republican strategists and many party observers also worry about the impact that the most extreme protesters might have on the party’s image, including those who carry swastika signs or obsess over the veracity of Obama’s Hawaiian birth.
Mark McKinnon, a former adviser to Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and other Republicans, said there is an “opportunity for Republicans” to tap into legitimate fears about an overreaching federal government. But he said that “right-wing nutballs are aligning themselves with these movements” and are dominating media coverage.
“It’s bad for Republicans because in the absence of any real leadership, the freaks fill the void and define the party,” McKinnon said.
Who are the real Republican leaders? McCain seems to be the Senior Stateman of his party with Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee turned TV entertainer following up. Who knows what Sarah Palin is or where she fits in. Eric Cantor certain has a following as does Bobby Jindal. Are these people involved with these “I Hate Obama” shenanigans?
The groups behind these ‘tea party rallies’ are rather undefined and loose-knit. Saturday’s march is sponsored by the same loose-knit coalition of groups that helped to organize health-care protests over the summer and anti-tax rallies in the spring. They include the Tea Party Patriots, ResistNet and Freedomworks, a Washington-based organization headed by former House majority leader Richard Armey (R-Tex.). The march has also been heavily publicized by Fox News host Glenn Beck as part of his “9-12 Project.”
The groups behind the protests include a broad array of self-described libertarians, independents and other factions, who have emerged as a force largely independent of GOP leaders in Washington. Some of that is by design: Leading activists among the conservative groups say they remain suspicious of a party that endorsed runaway deficits, a Wall Street bailout and other Bush-era policies they found objectionable.
Mainstream Republicans need to be very careful about who they align themselves with. The gun toters and the mustache drawers will be called out if they try to run for office.
The appearances underscore the increasing efforts by conservative Republicans to embrace the anti-Obama protests, even as others remain uncomfortable with the more extreme elements that frequent such gatherings. Some protesters this year have loudly disrupted community meetings, brought guns to Obama events and likened the president to Adolf Hitler
Perhaps those with the tinfoil hats will leave the GOP. Once that happens the rest of us can discuss real politics rather than erasing fake mustaches off pictures of the President.
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Joe Wilson: Fund Raiser Extraordinaire
This has been a really somber day, both weather-wise and in spirit. I need to laugh. As I combed through some of my various favs like Bill Maher and other irreverent beings, I thought nahhh…Bill is a little crude, a little too in your face. So I settled on satirist Rick Horowitz.
Yup, more on Joe Wilson. I understand that fund raising has really taken on new zest and zeal since his outburst of uncontrolled emotion. Wilson helps out both sides, it seems–his own and his opponent’s.
His opponent, Rob Miller, who no one had ever heard of, has amassed something like $800,000 in the past 2 days and Wilson has gotten an extra Half million or so and lots of atta boys. Letterman has made him infamous by citing my favorite:
#2 “It’s been weeks since a politician embarrassed the state of South Carolina.”
Now the House Democrats want to make him a real martyr by passing some resolution condemning him if he doesn’t apologize on the floor of the House. Such theater and high drama from all!
On to Satirist Horowitz:
A message from Former President Bush
In his first 9-11 since leaving the White House, former President George Bush issued the following statement through his spokesman:
“Eight years ago, our nation and our freedom came under attack. On this solemn anniversary, Laura and I hold the victims and their families in our thoughts and prayers. We honor those who volunteer to keep us safe and extend the reach of freedom — including members of the armed forces, law enforcement officers, and intelligence and homeland security professionals. Their courage, service and sacrifice is a fitting tribute to all those who gave their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. On this day, let us renew our determination to prevent evil from returning to our shores.”
Most of George Bush’s presidency was defined by 9-11 and its aftermath. Has much changed since then? Are his words still relevant? Was he offering his opinion about Afghanistan and Iraq?
There is quite a stir going on now about sending more troops into Afghanistan. Is it necessary? I thought President Obama was committed to finishing things in Afghanistan. Is he faltering now like Congress?
Susan Boyle to Perform on Season Finale of ‘America’s Got Talent’ Tonight
FYI
WORLD-RENOWNED SINGING SENSATION SUSAN BOYLE TO PERFORM LIVE IN THE U.S. FOR THE FIRST TIME ON SEASON FINALE OF NBC’S SUMMER HIT ‘AMERICA’S GOT TALENT’ ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Post Removed Regarding Potomac River Incident
The post regarding the Coast Guard firing on a boat on the Potomac River was taken down because it is now reported that the incident was a Coast Guard training exercise. Today is too sensitive to have a post like that stay up over a training exercise.
The media, including the 2 majors, CNN and Fox all were reporting the incident as an high alert incident in the vicinity of the Pentagon where the President was speaking on the anniversity of 9-11.
CNN is sputtering mad. They had heard the incident on the scanner. The media was not alerted that there was a training excerise being held. The word ‘criminially stupid’ is being tossed about. Stay tuned.
Obama Heads to the home of the Bulls and Bears
President Obama heads to Wall Street this Monday to urge financial reform. Financial regulatory systems need an overhaul to avoid the abuses and failures that led to near economic disaster last year.
Most of the focus this past summer has been on health care reform which is also part of our national financial woes. However, the banking, mortgage and insurance industries need to come back to being blips on the radar if serious reform is to take place and future disasters are to be avoided.
According the Washington Post:
He will urge members of the financial community “to take responsibility, not only to support reforming the regulatory system but also to avoid a return to the practices on Wall Street that led us to the financial crisis,” an administration official said Sunday.
Building up to that message, Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said recently that “greater urgency” is needed to push through regulatory reform and insisted that “fundamental change is necessary.” National economic adviser Lawrence H. Summers said in an interview that “this crisis will leave a legacy of strengthened regulation.”
Interestingly enough, while the job market hovers just under 10% unemployment, and retail spending is still flatlining, the stock market has gone up on average 45% since March. September which historically is the poorest month for stock gains hasn’t been that bad. Since September 1, the Dow has risen nearly 300 points. According to Bulls and Bears (Fox News) the average Joe 6 pack is just poking a toe back into the water and is investing in the stock market again after the melt down that began last September.
So who will howl about financial regulation? Probably those who are being regulated and need it the most. What are some reforms that contributors on anti see a need for?
[ UPDATE: TEXT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ADDRESS TO WALL STREET]
True Compass
Teddy Kennedy’s memoirs come out today, Sept. 14. The name of his book is True Compass : A Memoir. No other member of the family has written their memoirs. It was very important for Senator Kennedy to complete his book before he died.
Part of 60 Minutes tonight was about the much awaited Ted Kennedy memoir. Much of the discussion of the book was with his son, Medium Teddy. (Senator Kennedy was Big Teddy, his grandson was Little Teddy.) Medium Teddy is the son who gave the eloquent eulogy at his funeral that stopped everyone in their tracks. He spoke of how his father went with him ever step of the way up an icy hill after he had lost his leg.
A great deal of what we know of the Kennedy family is through tragedies. Following Chappaquiddick Big Teddy became the bad boy in the minds of many Americans. Because of his liberal politics, others growled and snarled over him. Perhap through his memoirs we will see a person we didn’t know existed. I look forward to buying and reading his book.
The 60 Minutes Segment:
Forever Vigilant — 9-11-01 — We Will Remember
Initial News Bulletins
8 years ago. It seems like yesterday and it seems like a life time ago. It feels like 2 wars ago, and yet we are still at war– we have troops in harm’s way. The war in Afghanistan, where many of the criminals of 9-11-01 got their training, rages on, and Americans lose lives daily.
Every one of us has added to our collective memory that knowledge of knowing exactly where we were and exactly what we were doing the moment we learned that our country was under attack, much like older people can tell you what they were doing when they learned of Pearl Harbor or where they were when they first learned of the assassination of JFK. No incidents have recorded themselves quite as permanently, quite as indelibly, as those three events in the minds of Americans. You and every sentient person alive on 9-11-01 will forever have this memory in common.
This thread will be an open 9-11 thread. Many of you have much to share regarding this day.
Links of Interest:
Slideshow Tribute (Enya and Lee Greenwood)
Tribute to 9/11 Victims (has thumbnail pictures) slideshow
Republicans hold on to Death Panel Notions
Notice who all is sitting in the video. Check out the left side of the room. President Obama calls out those who have lied about death panels who will supposedly kill off senior citizens. Why are all the deathers sitting there? I would think shame would bring them to their feet. I only wish President Obama had called out Sarah Palin by name, since she was one of the ones who was loudest and proudest over the notion of Death Panels.
