Sunday, July 31, 2011

John Boehner, (big belly, skinny legs) screwing the Pooch: from Newsweek


 As Washington seems paralyzed, our economy stagnates, and America's full faith and credit is on the brink, it is useful to recall how we got here. This was not an act of nature. There was no unforeseen earthquake, no tsunami, no hurricane that wiped out our surplus. It was instead a Republican House, a Republican Senate, and a Republican president who squandered the surplus. In full possession of the federal government for the first time since Eisenhower, the GOP—with, to be fair, some help from some very foolish Democrats—systematically dismantled the economic and fiscal policies that produced the strongest economy and largest budget surplus in our history.
Specifically, they did four things: cut taxes (with a heavy tilt toward the rich), waged two wars on the national credit card (one of which was against a country that had nothing to do with 9/11 and posed no serious threat to America), passed a prescription drug benefit with no pay-for (the first entitlement in American history without a revenue source), and deregulated Wall Street (which helped turn the American economy into a casino and touched off the Great Recession).
I recap all that not to further depress you, Dear Reader. But it is striking how absent that history has been from the coverage of our current crisis. I can understand why the GOP doesn't want to remind folks of how they screwed the pooch. Indeed, they have a competing myth—that Washington went on a spending binge; radical young President Barack Obama went crazy with the national credit card. That, of course, is nonsense. But too few Democrats—and almost no media commentators—have countered the mendacious right-wing storyline.
As the economy teeters on the precipice of a double-dip recession, as millions of Americans search in vain for a job, as tens of millions of homeowners are underwater, as poverty soars and the middle class is hammered, the Speaker of the House is pushing a proposal that—let me repeat Greenstein's analysis—“could well produce the greatest increase in poverty and hardship in modern U.S. history.” Deep cuts in every domestic priority—from education for disabled children to food safety to homeland security to clean air and water. Followed by painful cuts in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. But not a dollar in new revenue. Not one corporate loophole closed, not one billionaire asked to pay one penny in higher taxes.
Oh, and if they don't get their way they will cripple the Treasury's ability to pay the debt—the debt, I hasten to add, that their policies created.
It has become a trope of the right to accuse Obama and the Democrats of trying to remake America in the image of Europe. That, of course, is silly as well as insulting to the people who gave us the Magna Carta and the Enlightenment, not to mention spaghetti. But in whose image would the radical Republicans remake us? Certainly not in the image of the Founding Fathers. The Republicans are already seeking to make Swiss cheese out of Mr. Madison's masterpiece, littering the Constitution with amendments on budgeting, the line-item veto, gay marriage, abortion, school prayer, restricting birthright citizenship, and more.
Seems to me the GOP seeks a banana republic: a toxic blend of right-wing populism, anti-intellectualism, debt defaults, and an end to the ladder of economic opportunity. They would divide us into a few Haves and a lot of Have-Nots. And they would slowly crush the heart of progressive America—the rising middle class created by Democratic economic policies of education and empowerment. All while preserving, protecting, and defending a tiny oligarchy of millionaires and billionaires.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Pilot ditches in Lake Huron, survives

He says he was flying a 1966 Cessna 150, a two seater plane with a small HP engine (150 hp) and he was FOUR HOURS into his flight !  Wait !!!!  that plane has 5 hrs fuel max.  You should have 1 hr reserve, and 30 min extra just in case.  thats 3 1/2 hrs before you land, refuel.  besides, after 3 hrs in a small plane, you need to land and stretch, pop your ears.  And this guy is flying OVER WATER!  I would never fly over water, unless i could glide to land from where i was (depending upon altitude etc).  He ends up ditching, but doesnt leave plane with a life preserver !  He SHOULD HAVE HAD A RAFT !  you can rent them from Sporty's Flight Shop - this guy is really lucky to be alive.  amazing survival story.  Now he is bullet proof - whats the chance that anything like that would happen to him again?!!!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Obama's speech on budget breakdown and default

Pres. Obama gave a great speech tonight, one of his best.  he has great speech writers. but i think it really expresses his sentiments. but look at his gray hair - the job is really aging him.  He is still physically fit, but appears much older.  anyway, if you read the entire text of his speech, it was great.  even referred to ronald reagan.  reminded everyone about George W. and his spending, his tax cuts, how the burden of taxes increased on the middle class and working poor under George W.

John Boehner, on the other hand, gave a speech that can only be described as demagogic. he said things that were patently false, or in the words of the congressman from SC, Joe Wilson, "that's a lie!"  To show that joe wilson is not the only emotional immature member of congress, John Boehner (who oftens cries when he gets emotional) sounded like a 12 yr old brat who is nah nahing someone during recess.  read his full text, and you can see the absolute false hoods.  BTW, take a good look at John:  he gets tanned, his hair is tinted, his shirts are custom fitted, and his ties must cost a small fortune (several $ hundred a piece at least).  And THIS is a guy worried about working people?  His "small business" he ran that he refers to was a restaurant bar he inherited from his parents - all he had to do was pop out of the womb. This is a guy who paid $150,000 in golf fees last year, he belongs to an exclusive all  male club in ohio ( no blacks or jews) and he has playing rights at 16 resorts compliments of his rich cat friends.  This guy is a slick looking Newt Gingrich - where do the republicans GET these guys?  Central casting?  "Get me a congressman who is vain, dresses in expensive clothes, is a member of a sexist-racist country club, someone who has done absolutely nothing in life to achieve success other than emerging from his mother's womb" and voila!  John Boehner shows up :  someone called me? 

Michelle Bachman kidnapped by gay nun in women's restroom


In 2005, the congresswoman ended a town hall event early and rushed to a nearby public restroom when questions arose about her support for a proposed Minnesota constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage. Pamela Arnold, a lesbian, and Nancy Cosgriff, a former nun, followed the Minnesota Republican hoping for some answers.
"Help me! Someone get me out of here!" Bachmann reportedly screamed from the bathroom. "Help! You're holding me against my will!"
"I was amazed and concerned when she erupted in this emotional outburst without provocation... I tried to apologize for any misunderstanding," Cosgriff told theHerald.
"Arnold, who is just over 5 feet tall, was stunned, and hurried to open the door," according to The Daily Beast's Michelle Goldberg. "Bachmann bolted out and fled, crying, to an SUV outside."
Bachmann later told police that she was "absolutely terrified and has never been that terrorized before as she had no idea what those two women were going to do to her."
Declining to prosecute, the Washington County attorney wrote, "It seems clear from the statements given by both women that they simply wanted to discuss certain issues further with Ms. Bachmann."

TrollHunter ! Norwegian film


Trolls !!!!!!!!  yelled the trollhunter.  This is a "documentary" taken from some film that belonged to three college students, presently missing, that shows their activities up until their disappearance.  Turns out, they were stalking a TrollHunter and eventually joined him in his Troll hunting pursuits.  According to this "realistic footage," Norway has a government agency that kills Trolls when they wander into territory inhabited by humans and begin killing cattle, destroying homes, forests, and killing people.  this is of course a secret agency because the "official policy" of the government is that Trolls do not exist.  The film is a very elaborate pseudo documentary, and its really funny at times, and at other times, very realistic.  The director makes you almost believe you are seeing footage from some college students who are documenting a real life Troll Hunter.  Great film, funny at times, and realistic at times due the details included in the dialogue.  For example, a scientist examines the blood of a troll, the TrollHunter has the skin and fur of Trolls in his trailer, the goo from the Trolls looks real - very clever movie, a must see.  Also provides beautiful scenery of norway, and an insight into nowegian folklore.  

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

great arab films about Algerians and France

wonderful film, kinda depressing at end, the injustice of racism, practiced by the French (of all people, esp after they had to put up with the superiority of the german occupation). Jamel Debbouze stars (Angel-A) and also Roschdy Zem who was in Outside the Law, a great film about the fight for Algerian independence and very controversial in france.


Ghadaffi's fashions: Boutique to open in NYC !

Yes, Pres. Obama has made an offer to Ghadaffi:  leave Libya now, and the US will assist him in opening a boutique in NYC so he can sell his fashions.  He will also be allowed to pitch a tent in central park.

I think this is a great offer:  gets him out of Libya without us spending more on NATO campaign;  starts a good business in NYC and creates jobs;  his millions of $ could be invested in Goldman Sachs, helping to jump start stock trades; his virgin bodyguards would arrive with him, and NYC hasn't seen adult virgins for decades.




Ghadaffi's female snipers and bodyguards

here is report about Ghadaffi and female snipers from Columbia.  Not a bad gig - cool uniforms, weapons training, salary, prestige, - of course you have to kill civilians, and you might get killed yourself, then again, if you were an impoverished woman in Columbia, this job might be attractive.

Or, a woman could sign up to be his bodyguard.  Requirements include being a virgin (i guess they check that?)

I still think Ghadaffi should leave Libya, immigrate to NYC, and open up a boutique featuring his designs.  It would be a hit.  the US government would spend less if they would just offer to set him up in business in NYC.  All he would need is a tent in central park......

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

"tell them we are being attacked and denounce pacifists as unpatriotic"

It's "guess this quote" time!  Here it goes:
"Naturally the common people don't want war...that is understood.  But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship.  Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders.  That is easy.  All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.  It works the same in any country."

Ok, time to guess - was it Dick Cheney?  Donald Rumsfeld?  one more guess....Richard Nixon?  NO!!! It was Hermann Goering ! (seen as a young pilot in WWI, and in his Fokker...no jokes about the Fokker...)

You know, Hermann thought that after Germany surrendered, he might be called upon by the allies to lead Germany against a war with Russia - he actually thought the allies would want him, and continue the war only this time against their soviet allies (Stalin at this time was called "Uncle Joe" and affectionate name...)


I don't know about you, but this quote reminds me of 2002 and the run up to the Iraq invasion, and the 2004 re election campaign.  

Saturday, July 02, 2011

watch Al Jazeera English

Here is great documentary about US Medevac teams in Afghanistan: proud of those guys! and Gals too! This was filmed by british director, for Al Jazeera, the middle east world news network.  Very positive video about US troops, shown by Al Jazeera, watched by millions around the world.  Here is more info on watching other news from Al Jazeera:  (they have live broadcasts 24/7, also on You.Tube - take that CNN or FOX!!!)

On their web site

On You.Tube


'nuff said...na na na na, goood byyyeeee




War profiteers: The Bush Profit Machine THIS IS CRIMINAL !!!!!


A member of Jordan’s royal family is accusing an American oilman and former GOP fundraiser of bribing the Jordanian government to facilitate his fuel shipments through the country to U.S. forces in Iraq.
The allegation emerged in a civil lawsuit pitting the billionaire American businessman, Harry Sargeant III, against an ex-business partner, Mohammad al-Saleh, the brother-in-law of Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
Al-Saleh, the plaintiff in the case first reported by NBC News in May 2008, claims that he was cut out of a lucrative one-third share in Sargeant’s firm, the International Oil Trading Co., based in Boca Raton, Fla., and replaced by an ex-CIA official with deep contacts in the Jordanian government.
The crux of the bribery allegation involves a $9 million wire transfer from Sargeant’s firm, directed to a mysterious figure in Jordan’s intelligence agency identified in court documents only as “Pasha.”
Let me interpret this for you: Our Republican President invades Iraq, his Vice President arranges no bid contracts for his former firm Halliburton (and KBR) and the head of the Republican Party of Florida gets a no bid contract to Harry Sargeant III and his International Oil company to supply OIL TO OUR TROOPS and Harry arranges a $9 million bribe to Jordan to allow him to ship the oil across Jordan into Iraq.  (and someone in Jordan is suing Harry because they didn't get their piece of the action- yes, suing for their share of the bribe-what lawyer took that case???) We are talking billions of dollars here, to republicans, friends and fundraisers of George W and Cheney.  They invade Iraq and their friends receive massive war profits.  This is obscene.  Why isn't the Justice Dept prosecuting?  Why is there no a select committee on investigating war profiteering perpetrated by the Bush administration?  I mean, even Argentina prosecuted its previous General for war crimes....what gives with the USA?  Would it seem to "partisan?"  oh, those democrats, playing politics by investigating and prosecuting bush and cheney and their friends......we are talking about billions of dollars.  And what about the irony??? We invade the nation with the second most oil reserves in the world and we have to pay this SOB billions to IMPORT OIL TO IRAQ across Jordan.  Where did this jerk off get the oil?  From the Saudi's?  He buys oil on the market, probably sitting in supertankers of shore somewhere, they filled up in saudi arabia, he negotiates any kind of price for oil (no bid contract) he charges USA price plus (his pre arranged % profit, probably 30% just like KBR's contract) and then the ships sail back to middle east, unload and ship oil across Jordan to Iraq, and the oil ends up a few hundred miles from where it was originally drilled, in Saudi Arabia. That way there are lots of middle men to price gouge and lots of profits all around for all the Bush/cheney friends.  See the picture of Gov Crist of Florida, and King Abdullah of Jordan, and the guy in the middle is Harry Sargeant III, the CEO of International Oil Trading Inc.  this SOB should be in jail like that scum Madoff.   But thats not the only investigation: Italy is investigating oil companies that supplied oil to Iraq and bought it from other countries (Kuwait) and supposedly bribed their way into the contracts.  It seems like bribery is the way to go for business success, especially if you have friends in high places.  
I am moving to Quebec asap - I am so sick of the BS we are fed by our government, the lives lost in Iraq, and the billions made by friends of Bush/Cheney. How do these bastards sleep at night?  With drugs?  

Friday, July 01, 2011

Real life "Hurt Locker" - bomb goes off in Thailand

A real life bomb went off while a bomb expert was trying to defuse it.  He survived, but is injured.  Turns out there were 3 bombs on that street, each designed to go off slightly after one another.  Bomb one goes off, responders arrive, bomb two goes off and hurts more people, then they think its safe and bomb three goes off.  Bastards!  Islamic militants were blamed.  If Islamic militants want to demonstrate their moral outrage over the Thai government and society, why don't they target the sex trade?  Try to close down sex harems? Instead of blowing up cars they could be closing places of prostitution, including child prostitution, sex slavery.  That would be constructive, and it would show the moral superiority of their religion.  But i guess that wouldn't  get as much attention as car bombs.  BTW, cars and buses are the perfect platform for bombs: their chassis is strong, but the body is weak, esp buses to save weight, so the bomb goes off sideways and up, not so much down, and does the most damage, esp to the inside of the vehicle, like a bus.  You can search bus bombs israel on you.tube and find deeply disturbing pictures of bus bombs (you have to be 18 yrs old or at least say you are to view).  Bastards!  

Common Cold - Day 8

This is day 8 of my cold, still congested, fatigued.  Colds last 7-10 days so i am waiting for this to be over.  i haven't been sick for over a decade, so i guess my time was up.  Don't know what kind of virus this is but it is something i obviously have not been exposed to before.  BTW, viruses prove evolution if you define evolution as adaptation (which the textbooks do) - cold viruses mutate constantly, so once your B cells recognize one type of virus it morphs into another kind and the body just doesn't have the antibodies T cells to kill it.  It takes the body a while to recognize the new virus and get rid of it.  Remember in 2008, the Republican Pres primaries,  candidates were asked who doesn't "believe" in evolution and half of them raised their hands?  and i bet at least one of them had a cold at the time.  Idiots.......