Gratuitous Cute Animal Photo

My daughter's cat Eva decided to take a nap on some textbooks and homework:

If she's my daughter's cat does that make her my grandcat?

Political Quotes of the Day

All of these came from Obama at a Thursday night fundraiser via Mark Knoller's Twitter feed:

“Now’s not the time to quit…it took time to free the slaves…ultimately we’ll make progress.”

“I need you to be fired up.”

“There better not be an enthusiasm gap, people.”

The beatings will continue until morale improves.

Making it Easier for Community College Students to Transfer to CSU

My son plans to transfer to a California State University school next Fall, and although this bill may not directly help him, I think it's a good idea:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday signed legislation that guarantees admission to California State University to community college graduates, a change backers say will help more students earn four-year degrees.

The Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act allows students who complete 60 semester units at one of California's 112 community colleges to transfer to a Cal State campus and earn a bachelor's degree with an additional 60 units. It takes effect in fall 2011.

"This is a watershed moment for future college students across the state of California, who will now be able to more easily reach their goal of attaining a bachelor's degree," CSU Chancellor Charles Reed said.

Under the new law, California Community Colleges will create new associate degree programs for transfer students, who will have junior status when they enroll at one of 23 CSU campuses. Students who complete the programs will be guaranteed admission to Cal State, but not necessarily the campus of their choice, said spokesman Mike Uhlenkamp.

College officials believe the STAR Act, which was approved unanimously by the state Senate and Assembly, will save an estimated $160 million annually by making the transfer process easier and more efficient.

Currently, about 50,000 community college students transfer to a Cal State campus each year with an average of 80 semester units, far more than the 60 units required, according to the California Community Colleges Chancellor's office.

Those transfer students graduate from CSU with an average of 162 units, even though only 120 units are required for a bachelor's degree, according to a report from the California Legislative Analyst's office.

Supporters say the bill authored by state Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, will allow Cal State and California Community Colleges to serve an additional 50,000 students a year because students will be able to complete their degrees faster, freeing up seats for other students.

"This law is going to make a real difference for students," said California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott. "The current process is too complicated. It's easy for students to get frustrated, confused and waste time when the requirements change."

The governor also signed a companion bill by Assemblyman Paul Fong, D-Cupertino, that makes other changes to improve the transfer process and calls on the 10-campus University of California system to develop a similar pathway for community college transfer students.

Community college has worked very well for both him and us. He can knock out the general ed stuff he has to do and do it for a fraction of the cost of a four-year school.

Plus, we get to keep him around a little bit longer.

Today's Quick Hit Headlines

Some quick hits on today's headlines:

TOFU: First Lady's nutrition bill stalls in House...
Yep, the president refused to eat that crap.

GALLUP 2012: OBAMA 52%, CLINTON 37%
And that's before she announces.  When that happens you can turn those numbers around.

China rich make 'generous' gifts at Gates, Buffett dinner...
Yeah, but an hour later you want another generous gift.

USA 'Practically Owned' by China...
China's getting screwed.

Man gets probation in wrong-car defecation...
Is there ever a right car to defecate in?

Barney Frank blames 'right-wing media' for tightening race...
I'm sure the whole Fannie/Freddie scandal had nothing to do with it.

'Slavery' uncovered on trawlers fishing for Europe...
I didn't know you could fish for Europe  Is there a limit?

Rupert Murdoch Calls For Amnesty for 'Law Abiding' Illegal Aliens...
You can't be "law abiding" and illegal.

Whitman fires back about illegal immigrant maid...
In a state with 12% unemployment, huge deficits, crazy lib legislature, no mature voter gives a rat's ass about Meg Whitman's maid.

One third of 'extinct' animals turn up again...
Sometimes nature likes to screw with us.

Odds of Life on Nearby Planet '100 Percent'
That explains the strange phone calls.

N.Y. Gov Hopeful in Confrontation With Reporter
I was hopeful he'd punch the guy in the nose.

Teacher Accused of Taping Sex With 70 Kids
This guy will be particularly popular in prison.

Colbert Become Persona Non Grata to Congress

Looks like Stephen Colbert jumped the shark with his in-character testimony in Congress last week:

Members of Congress have been fooled time after time after time by Stephen Colbert, and after last week’s mockery, they have a message for the satirist who makes a living lampooning them: Colbert, you’re dead to us.

Colbert’s act had steadily been losing cachet on Capitol Hill, but his spoof testimony merely accelerated a pending divorce.

Lawmakers and their aides are repeatedly turning down requests for “The Colbert Report,” political advisers are suggesting members avoid Colbert like the plague and the infamous “Better Know a District” segment that put Colbert on the map on Capitol Hill appears to be dying out.

In other industries this would be called "ruining the brand".

Political Cartoon of the Day

From Toby Toons:

October Surprise

The October surprise for millions of employees will occur when they his their health plan's open enrollment period and find out that Obamacare will either eliminate their coverage or dramatically increase their costs. Campaign Spot has this letter from a reader:

The wife was talking with a friend of hers yesterday who works for Cigna. The gist of the conversation was, as the friend was having discussions with her clients regarding the changes that everyone is starting to see in their employer provided health insurance, how surprised they were that the costs were actually going up because of ObamaCare.

Apparently, there is a large number of people who bought the lines about "bending the cost curve down." My point is this: As people go through benefits enrollment, and come to realize that the expiration dates have been reached on Obama's promises, they will probably not look too charitably at the party that railroaded this through congress. At that point, the elections will be less than a month away.

October surprise?

And this from American Spectator:

McDonald's has put federal officials on notice that it may have to drop health insurance for 30,000 employees unless it gets an exemption from a new requirement in the national health care law, the Wall Street Journal reports.

ObamaCare forces insurers to pay out at least 80 percent to 85 percent of the revenue they receive in premiums on paying out claims, a percentage known as the medical loss ratio. The problem is, that's especially difficult to manage in so-called mini-med plans which offer scaled down benefits at a lower price, but have higher administrative costs due to a lot of worker turnover.

If the rule doesn't get altered, its ramifications could be greater than McDonald's -- as there are 1.4 million people with mini-med plans.

The McDonald's move is just the latest in a series of revelations that undermine the promises Democrats made when they were selling ObamaCare.

In May, burger chain White Castle announced that a separate provision in the law could cut its earnings in half, causing it to curtail expansion plans and slow hiring.

In June, an administration document revealed that more than half of those with coverage from their employers may have to change plans as a result of ObamaCare.

Earlier this month, insurers announced that they would have to raise premiums, partially as a result of new rules that force them to offer certain benefits.

And just this week, Harvard Pilgrim announced that due to new requirements and reimbursement rates under ObamaCare, they'd have to discontinue Medicare Advantage plans that currently serve 22,000 customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.

Everything you were promised about Obamacare was a lie. It must be repealed.

Political Video of the Day

From Townhall.com:

Fighting For the Right to Buy Cupcakes

Government intrusion knows no bounds:

Officials in Indianapolis are turning up the heat on a bakery that refused to take an order from a student group seeking rainbow-colored cupcakes for next month's National Coming Out Day.

A spokesman for Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said city officials are conducting an inquiry into the bakery, Just Cookies, which declined to take the order last week from a diversity group at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), which ordered the cupcakes for Oct. 11.

"The city's position is, it's the city's market, it's a public place," mayoral spokesman Robert Vane told FoxNews.com. "There is no litmus test for buying services or products at the City Market."

Just Cookies owner Lilly Stockon defended her bakery's decision last week, first telling Fox 59 that the shop doesn't make cupcakes, and then telling a reporter that she didn't have sufficient materials to make the rainbow colors.

But her co-owner husband, David Stockton, said he had a different reason for refusing to take the order.

"I explained we're a family-run business, we have two young, impressionable daughters and we thought maybe it was best not to do that," he told Fox 59.

Enter the city officials.

"Whatever this gentleman's personal views are, it cannot interfere with the providing of a service or allowing someone to buy their goods," Vane said.

Apparently there are no other bakeries in the entire city of Indianapolis, thus requiring city officials to dictate this bakery's menu.

I hope some conservative legal group jumps in and defends these people.  It's none of the city's business what these people sell or to whom they sell it.

This story is not only another example of government overreach, but a classic example of what's wrong with the whole gay political agenda.  If I go to a store to buy something and they don't have it, I go to another store.  I don't feel an entitlement to buy that item at that store.  If some wannabe gay activist goes to a store and can't get his every wish fulfilled, he files a complaint to force the store to comply.  It's a sign of the immaturity that drives so much of the gay agenda.

Don't Forget, Allred Tried to Get Schwarzenegger in 2003 Too

Gloria Allred is a professional muckraker for the Democrats. She's trying to mess up Meg Whitman's campaign right now, and in 2003 tried to do the same with Arnold Schwarzenegger. She's a sideshow freak and the human debris she trots out as her "victims" are her hand puppets.

Check out The Daily Caller's piece on the latest PR stunt by Allred.

Did Israel Go Old Testament on Iran?

This is interesting:

Deep inside the computer worm that some specialists suspect is aimed at slowing Iran’s race for a nuclear weapon lies what could be a fleeting reference to the Book of Esther, the Old Testament tale in which the Jews pre-empt a Persian plot to destroy them.

That use of the word “Myrtus” — which can be read as an allusion to Esther — to name a file inside the code is one of several murky clues that have emerged as computer experts try to trace the origin and purpose of the rogue Stuxnet program, which seeks out a specific kind of command module for industrial equipment.

Not surprisingly, the Israelis are not saying whether Stuxnet has any connection to the secretive cyberwar unit it has built inside Israel’s intelligence service. Nor is the Obama administration, which while talking about cyberdefenses has also rapidly ramped up a broad covert program, inherited from the Bush administration, to undermine Iran’s nuclear program. In interviews in several countries, experts in both cyberwar and nuclear enrichment technology say the Stuxnet mystery may never be solved.

They can go Old Testament this way, or they can go Old Testament the Sodom and Gomorrah way. The Iranians should count their blessings it was this way.

Dems Who Supported Obama Paying the Price

Voting for Obama's agenda is a potential political career killer (from the Wall Street Journal):

Rep. Patrick Murphy, a fresh-faced rising Democratic star and loyal backer of President Barack Obama's agenda, is facing the fight of his life in a suburban Philadelphia district Mr. Obama won easily two years ago.

Across Pennsylvania, another Democrat, Rep. Jason Altmire, is competing in a district Republican John McCain took by a wide margin. Mr. Altmire is running away with it, by running away from the president.

In their contrasting fates lie broader lessons for the coming midterms: Live by the president and you could die by the president. Democrats who have been thorns in the president's side are doing well in some of the toughest districts for their party, from Alabama to the steel belt of western Pennsylvania. But swing-district Democrats who have voted with the president in Congress are struggling, even if they're now asserting their independence.

Mr. Altmire voted against the Obama health-care and climate-change bills. "My opponent is trying to tie me in with the speaker and with the leadership. That's pretty difficult to do," he said.

Not really. Although Altmire may win, the question every Democrat must be asked is if he or she voted for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker and would they do it again? Altmire did and that should automatically disqualify him for re-election.

Back in January Obama Rep. Marion Berry recounted a conversation he'd had during a meeting with Obama in which he expressed his worried that by forcing so-called Blue Dog Dems to support unpopular bills Obama was creating another 1994 situation in which many Dems would be ousted. Obama's response:

'Well, the big difference here and in '94 was you've got me.'

Well, they got you, babe, but the magic is gone and being associated with Obama will prove to be even more dangerous for Dems than the association with Clinton was in '94.

OC Democrats Vote to Get High

Well I guess they'll need something to help them get over the election.  From the Orange County Democrat Party:

Whereas the current prohibition on the use and sale of marijuana, like the ill-fated national prohibition on the sale and use of alcoholic beverages, has not led to less use or less crime, but has instead increased the power of criminal drug cartels and organized crime; and

Whereas current state laws making the use and sale of marijuana have long been enforced in an unfair, discriminatory, and disproportionate manner against minorities and young people; and the arrest, trial and incarceration of those who use or sell small amounts of marijuana in California has unnecessarily added to the strain on our overburdened police, prison, and judicial systems; and

Whereas the legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana could save California hundreds of millions of dollars now spent in the arrest, trial and incarceration of non-violent marijuana users; while also raising hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue;

Therefore be it resolved that the Democratic Party of Orange County endorses and recommends voting YES on the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 (Proposition 19)

It's all about the money. The don't care about the effect legalized marijuana will have on the lives of the users. They just want the money.

And of course, marijuana possession and use will still be illegal under federal law, and someday when we get a real president again it will be enforced.

Meg Whitman's Maid Claimed to Be a Legal Resident

After yesterday's Gloria Allred dog-and-pony show (or perhaps a shrew-and-pony show) in which she trotted out an illegal alien who used to work for Meg Whitman, the press was ready to try, convict and sentence Whitman for crimes against humanity.

However, as usual, the press didn't tell the whole story.  From TMZ:

The documents, which Whitman claims Nicky filled out and signed back in 2000 during her application for employment, appear to show that the maid stated under the penalty of perjury that she was a “lawful permanent resident” of the United States.

Whitman also claims Nicky provided her with a social security card and valid California Driver’s License with her employment application … which Meg kept and has now handed over to TMZ.

Whitman has also issued a statement on the matter, saying … “After 9 years of faithful service, Nicky came to us in June 2009 and confessed that she was an illegal worker.” Whitman continues, “Nicky has falsified the hiring documents and personal information she provided to the employment agency that brought her to us in 2000.”

And, Whitman continues, “I believe Nicky is being manipulated by Gloria Allred for political and financial purposes during the last few weeks of a hotly contested election.”

This whole thing smelled like a set-up from the start. Gloria Allred is Jerry Brown's handmaiden.

UPDATE:  More from The Daily Caller here.

Today's Chris Christie Lesson in Government

If the teachers of New Jersey didn't like him before, they really hate him now:

Determined to turn New Jersey’s education system on its head, Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday unveiled a tough-love reform package that will make classroom achievement — not seniority or tenure — the basis for pay hikes and career advancement in Garden State public schools.

Christie is turning his take-no-prisoner’s style to the classroom, demanding a top to bottom overhaul of how New Jersey students learn and teachers teach. And that means undoing tenure, seniority and other union work rules.

“We cannot wait. Your children are sitting in these classrooms today. We cannot wait to make it better,” Christie told CBS 2’s Marcia Kramer.

Unqualified teachers will feel the lash. The governor is demanding that teachers in kindergarten through fifth grade actually pass tests in reading and math in order to be certified.

“It might lead to the firing of lousy teachers and bad principals who hurt our children,” Christie said.

Los Angeles could take some lessons from Christie:

The Los Angeles Times should remove teacher performance ratings from its website after the apparent suicide of a teacher despondent over his score, the union representing Los Angeles school teachers said.

United Teachers Los Angeles also has asked school administrators to join with them in the request to the newspaper, which published the ratings last month, union president AJ Duffy said.

The body of 39-year-old Rigoberto Ruelas Jr., a fifth-grade teacher at Miramonte Elementary School, was found Sunday at the foot of a remote forest bridge in what appears to be a suicide.

The motive for Ruelas taking his own life is far from clear. But union officials said he had been upset since the Times published his district ranking as a "less effective" teacher based on his students' standardized English and math test scores.

The suicide occurred more than a month after the Times published the rankings, so drawing any kind of direct connection is speculative at best. My guess is the union is latching on to this to try and intimidate the LA Times. I have my doubts that it will work.

No Recess Appointments for Obama

I'm surprised the GOP was able to get this deal:

Senate Democrats agreed Wednesday night to a Republican demand to block President Obama from making recess appointments while Congress is out of town campaigning for the midterm elections.

Democratic leaders have agreed to schedule pro-forma sessions of the Senate every week over the next six weeks, a move that will prevent Obama from making emergency appointments, according to Senate sources briefed on the talks.

Democrats agreed earlier in the day to a Republican demand to cut spending levels for government agencies in order to pass a stop-gap spending measure.

Democrats are eager to get back home to defend their record to voters and they couldn’t do that until the spending bill passed.

Under the law, the president can only make a recess appointment if the Senate is adjourned for more than three consecutive days.

By scheduling pro-forma sessions on Mondays and Fridays, lawmakers can take away Obama’s ability to make recess appointments.

This is essentially what Harry Reid did to George Bush for the last two years of his term. They would schedule these silly little sessions just for the purpose of keeping Bush from making any appointments. I don't really think this is the way to run the government.

Wiping Out a Generation of Dems

I think Dick Morris is probably overly optimistic here, but who knows:

Thanks to the leadership of President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid, the Democratic Party is facing the biggest defeat in midterm elections in the past 110 years, perhaps surpassing the modern record of a 74-seat gain set in 1922. They will also lose control of the Senate.

Republicans are now leading in 54 Democratic House districts. In 19 more, the incumbent congressman is under 50 percent and his GOP challenger is within five points. That makes 73 seats where victory is within easy grasp for the Republican Party. The only reason the list is not longer is that there are 160 Democratic House districts that were considered so strongly blue that there is no recent polling available.

You can read the rest of his analysis at the link. I don't think anyone else has gone as far out on the limb as Morris has at this point.

Another analysis I'd recommend is Jim Geraghty's conversation with the elusive "Obi Wan", an unnamed veteran political consultant.  Obi Wan was a valuable resource during the 2004 and 2006 elections and even he is having trouble making sense of this election:

Jim: So I’ve been getting a lot of e-mails lately, all asking, ‘What does Obi-Wan Kenobi think?’

Obi-Wan: Why wouldn’t they want to know what somebody from a galaxy far, far away thinks? With each passing day, this election looks more and more like it’s not of this earth.

Read the rest of it here.

2012 Will Feature a Different Electoral Vote Line--up

Although the final numbers aren't in yet, projections are being made as to what effect the 2010 will have on congressional (and electoral vote) apportionment in 2012:

Missouri is now estimated to lose a congressional seat (going from nine to eight congressional districts), while Minnesota would keep all eight of their current districts, reversing the loss of a seat that had been projected last year. The state of New York is now estimated to lose two seats (going from 29 to 27 districts … they had previously been expected to lose only one seat). Finally, Florida is now estimated to be gaining two congressional districts (going from 25 to 27 districts … previously they were expected to add a single seat).

Lotsa New Yorkers heading to Florida during the last 10 years. I wonder how much the lack of a state income tax in Florida has to do with that?

I Don't Like Early Voting

I'll explain more in a minute, but first this:

You’d never know it from the avalanche of TV ads, direct-mail pieces and phone calls that voters will receive in October, but most campaigns have only another week or two to change the likely outcome of their contests.

Sure, the midterm elections are still five weeks away, but the combination of early voting in many states and the difficulty of cutting through the coming clutter means that the best opportunity for campaigns to change voter attitudes is quickly coming to an end.

More than 30 states allow voters to cast their ballots well before Election Day. Early voting begins Oct. 9 in Arizona and Oct. 11 in Illinois. Early voting in Indiana starts 29 days before the Nov. 2 general election. In Wisconsin, it’s three weeks before Election Day. In Florida, early voting starts 15 days before the election.

Early voting has changed the tempo of campaigns, lessening the value of late TV spots and late campaign developments.

And absentee voting has been going on for some time in certain states. Thousands if not millions of voters have already voted, weeks before Election Day.

I don't like early voting. I understand why they allow it. It's supposed to make it easier for people to vote and to help encourage more people to participate, but do we really want to make it that easy? Having early voting and easy absentee voting simply provides the vote fraud organizations like ACORN with more opportunities for chicanery.

I don't mind if in big elections the polls are open a day or two before Election Day to cut down on the crowds. But allowing people to cast ballots weeks before the election means that they won't be making completely informed decisions. Late breaking news in a race could completely change their vote but it will be too late to do anything about it. I guess if you're a die hard for one particular party it may not matter, but certainly the independents ought to wait until Election Day to make sure they've got all the facts.

And I understand that late breaking news can work against my favorite candidates - the so-called "October surprise".  In 2000 the George Bush drunk driving arrest story broke on Friday just before the election and caused Bush tremendous damage in the polls that couldn't be corrected before Election Day.  That news probably contributed to the closeness of the race and the 36 day recount.

In 2004 Osama bin Laden chimed in on the Friday before the election with a video that reminded voters that bin Laden's candidate was John Kerry, and that certainly didn't make Kerry's chances any better.

Personally, I think voting should require some dedication and effort on the part of the voters.  People who can't be bothered to go to the polls on Election Day shouldn't be pampered, they should be ignored.  If they don't care enough to make the effort to participate, heck with 'em.

The Non-Revolt "Revolt"

The media is portraying the 39 Democrats voting against Nancy Pelosi's desire to adjourn the House as a "revolt", but not so fast:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had to stop a revolt from her own caucus this afternoon, when 39 Democrats sided with the GOP in an effort to block the House from adjourning until mid-November.

The more than three dozen Democrats were opposed to the House quitting until they took a pre-election vote on extending the Bush-era tax cuts.

The Adjournment Resolution was tied up on the House floor 209-209, when Pelosi made the rare move of coming to the House floor to break the tie herself. Speakers hardly ever vote on procedural resolutions. If Pelosi had not voted, the motion to adjourn would have failed.

Many of the 39 Democrats who voted to stay in session are among the most politically vulnerable and supported extending the tax cuts to all income levels. Democratic leaders and the Obama administration want the tax cuts to be prolonged only for individuals earning less than $200,000 and couples making less than $250,000.

Getting more votes than needed to prevent the adjournment would be a revolt. Coming up with all but one needed vote is a set-up. Those 39 House Dems were allowed to vote against adjournment in order to try and save their sorry butts in November, but Pelosi made sure she didn't allow too many of them to vote "no" and mess up her plans.  The fix was in.

Just the other day 47 Democrats said they wanted to extend all of the Bush tax cuts.  Today only 39 voted to oppose adjournment.  You do the math.

This is very similar to what happened on the Obamacare vote when a selected number of Democrats were allowed to oppose the bill so they'd look better back home.  It's all kabuki.

Obama's Crowd in Wisconsin Was Whiter Than Glenn Beck's "Predominately White" Crowd in Washington

Take a look at The Daily Caller.  Only some "predominantly white" crowds are bad.

San Fran Nan Now as Popular as BP

She hasn't fouled the Gulf of Mexico, but she has fouled America's political waters:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's negative ratings have hit an all-time high in the new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll. A full 50 percent of those surveyed have a somewhat or very negative impression of Pelosi, while just 22 percent have a somewhat or very positive impression of her.

Pelosi's negative rating is precisely the same as oil giant BP, which has taken a public relations beating in the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill. 

It'll be a lot easier to clean up the mess BP made than the mess Pelosi has made.

Campaign Slogan for 2010

Here's a slogan that one Republican is using in her ads that could be effective just about everywhere (from Campaign Spot):

“As long as Obama’s in the White House, we can’t let a Democrat represent us in Congress.”

And once a Republican is in the White House we still can't let Democrats represent us in Congress.

And check out Michael Barone's piece on the current polling.  If you could color the national map according to the polls you'd find some blue on the West Coast, blue in the Northeast, and a vast red sea in-between.

Trust in Media Falls Again

From Gallup:

For the fourth straight year, the majority of Americans say they have little or no trust in the mass media to report the news fully, accurately, and fairly. The 57% now saying this is a record high by one percentage point. …

Trust in the media is now slightly higher than the record-low trust in the legislative branch but lower than trust in the executive and judicial branches of government, even though trust in all three branches is down sharply this year. These findings also further confirm a separate Gallup poll that found little confidence in newspapers and television specifically.

Nearly half of Americans (48%) say the media are too liberal, tying the high end of the narrow 44% to 48% range recorded over the past decade. One-third say the media are just about right while 15% say they are too conservative. Overall, perceptions of bias have remained quite steady over this tumultuous period of change for the media, marked by the growth of cable and Internet news sources. Americans’ views now are in fact identical to those in 2004, despite the many changes in the industry since then.

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air thinks the turning point was Rathergate, the effort by Dan Rather to smear George Bush with false accusations about his time in the Texas Air National Guard. Rathergate was he event that pushed me into blogging in September, 2004.

Political Headline of the Day

From New York Magazine:

The White House Will Scold Democrats Until They’re Sufficiently Excited About Voting

Yeah, that'll work. Looks like the rainbows are wearing off at New York Magazine.

71% of Republicans Support the Tea Party

I don't think we need to worry about the GOP taking over the Tea Party.  The Tea Party is taking over the GOP:

In the survey, 71% of Republicans described themselves as tea-party supporters, saying they had a favorable image of the movement or hoped tea- party candidates would do well in the Nov. 2 elections…

The poll found that tea-party supporters make up one-third of the voters most likely to cast ballots in November’s midterm elections. This showed the movement “isn’t a small little segment, but it is a huge part of what’s driving 2010,” Mr. Hart said…

The tea party is a major driver of the so-called enthusiasm gap, with three-quarters of supporters saying they are intensely interested in the election…

Mr. McInturff said the tea-party movement had not necessarily drawn new people into the GOP. Rather, he said, “a substantial chunk of the Republican Party is rebranding themselves.”

The other 29% are trying to get people like Mike Castle and Lisa Murkowski elected and bashing Sarah Palin.

And they're failing.

It is a Tale Told by an Idiot, Full of Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing

Shakespeare's line from Macbeth could have been used to describe yesterday's Obama rally in Madison, WI:

According to UW-Madison Police, more than 26,500 people showed up for the rally, making it Obama's largest since the campaign. Most packed into the mall on what turned into a crisp fall night, standing shoulder-to-shoulder from Memorial Library to Park Street, while others spilled up Bascom Hill.

They held signs that read "Moving America Forward," while every so often someone would yell out, "Obama, we love you."

Emily Lawless, a UW-Madison junior from Lakeville, Minn., waited in line five and a half hours for the chance to see the president live.

"You're not going to remember your accounting class when you're 40, but you'll definitely remember this," she said.

Enthusiastic, but will they vote?

But the thrill of seeing the president doesn't necessarily translate into supporting Democratic candidates during a midterm election. Even Lawless admitted she would likely not vote. "It's too much work with the absentee ballot," she said.

Most experts agree the Democratic drop-off has come from the liberal, typically younger, wing of the party, which seems disillusioned with the leaders those voters helped put into office.

History tells us that Obama will be lucky if even 25% of the people who showed up bother to vote. Candidates chase the youth vote every election cycle and every cycle most of them stay home.

By the way the line from Macbeth that precedes the line in the post title is this:

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more...

Shakespeare was a prophet.

How Desperate is Jerry Brown? Gloria Allred Desperate

You know your campaign is in trouble when you have to trot out the angry feminist lawyer to attack your opponent:

Attorney Gloria Allred has called an 11 a.m press conference in Los Angeles with her newest client, a former housekeeper for Republican nominee Meg Whitman.

"Ms. Whitman’s former employee will be making what are sure to be controversial and explosive allegations about her former employer," reads a statement from Allred's office.

Allred claims the former housekeeper will "tell how she suffered as a longtime Latina household employee in Meg Whitman’s home and why she is filing a claim against Ms. Whitman."

Allred is a sideshow performer these days and her clients are automatically suspect. The last time she held a press conference she was representing one of Tiger Woods' former floozies.

And coming this far ahead of the election not only speaks of desperation but means this is probably a nothing story that won't have any significant effect on the race.

UPDATE:  Allred's presser is a disaster...for Allred.  Any damage to Whitman will be small and very temporary.  If the voters decided to blame this fiasco on Brown it could even end up helping Whitman.

Alan Grayson (D-LIAR) On His Way to Defeat

I can't even tell you how much this cheers me up:

A new poll by Sunshine State News shows Republican Daniel Webster leading Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson by seven points in Central Florida's 8th Congressional District.

Webster, a former state senator, tops the freshman congressman 43-36 in the survey conducted this week.

TEA Party candidate Peg Dunmire drew 6 percent and George Metcalfe, running with No Party Affiliation, garnered 3 percent. Nine percent remained undecided.

Grayson appears to have an uphill battle as the poll showed the congressman with a 51 percent unfavorable rating with the poll's 559 respondents.

I can't help but wonder if the Tea Party candidate is actually a conservative or just a shill used by Grayson to take votes from Webster. I don't know, so if anyone has information on that I'd like to hear it.

Meanwhile, one thing I'm really looking forward to is sending out the Tweet on election night that Grayson has lost.  Frankly, I think a Grayson loss will be cheered by many Democrats as well.  The guy's that repugnant.

God's Showing Off This Morning

Sunrise over Southern California:

The Vdara Death Ray

During my visit to Vegas in August we stopped by the new Vdara hotel just to see what it looked like.  I didn't see the pool area, but now wish I had:

Forget sunscreen. At one Las Vegas pool, you might want to consider full-body armor to protect you from the sun's powerful rays.

Guests at the new Vdara hotel have been complaining that because of an architectural flaw on the glass skyscraper, the sun's rays are being magnified and reflected onto an area of the pool, causing severe burns. There have been reports that even plastic has melted from the heat.

Bill Pintas almost lost some hair from his experience with the hot spot.

After a recent swim in the pool just after noon, he went back to his lounge chair.

"I'm sitting there in the chair and all of the sudden my hair and the top of my head are burning," Pintas told ABC News. "I'm rubbing my head and it felt like a chemical burn. I couldn't imagine what it could be."

Pintas shifted around and suddenly the back of his legs were burning. He ran to a nearby umbrella but even that didn't provide cover, let alone a shadow.

"It was as bright as outside," said Pintas, a Chicago lawyer who owns a condo at the Vdara.

 "I used to live in Miami and I've sat in the sun in Las Vegas 100 times. I know what a hot sun feels like and this was not it," he added. "My first inclination was thinking: Jesus we've destroyed the ozone layer because I am burning."

This reminds me of the problem the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles ran into after it opened. The polished stainless steel structure was focusing solar energy on pedestrians and neighboring buildings.  Parts of the sidewalk were heating to 140 degrees, and condo owners across from the Hall were seeing temperature increases of as much as 15 degrees in their units, not to mention the blinding glare.  The architect finally had to brush the stainless steel to reduce the glare and solar radiation.

You Mean We Haven't Had it Yet?

Many years ago I flew from Los Angeles to Kansas City with a stop along the way in Denver.  As our plane descended over the Rockies we pretty much got the stuffing kicked out of us.  We were crossing the front range and heading down into the bowl where Denver is and the pilot came on the intercom and said:

"We may encounter a little turbulence as we make our final descent."

One wag in the back of the plane yelled out:

"You mean we haven't hit it yet??"

I'm reminded of that story as I read this:

President Barack Obama is urging college students at a Wisconsin campaign rally to stick with him and vote in the Nov. 2 elections, promising that “change is gonna come.”

Obama is trying to rally the Democratic base ahead of critical midterm elections that are expected to be dismal for the party.

You mean we haven't hit the change yet??  How much worse is it gonna be?

There's a Problem in the Jean Pool

Yes, I spelled that right.  I'm talking about jeans and not genes.

I happened to click on an Amazon link that was for a sale on men's jeans.  My son could use some new ones so I decided to take a look.  Somebody needs to explain this to me.

Jean 1:

$39.50.  Seems reasonable enough.

Jean 2:

$258.28?? For jeans full of holes?  That look like they've been run over and dragged down the street?

Man, I'm really out-of-touch with today's fashions. I get my jeans at Costco. $18.

47 Dems Want Tax Cuts for the "Rich"

Maybe they're closet Tea Partiers:

Forty-seven House Democrats broke with Democratic leaders Tuesday to call for an extension of current capital gains and dividends tax rates for the wealthy.

In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Democrats echoed many of the arguments that Republicans have made in urging extension of all the Bush tax cuts, which are due to expire Jan. 1.

They argued that “our economy is fragile,” and that raising these taxes would discourage saving and investment that the economy needs to grow. President Barack Obama wants to extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for 98 percent of taxpayers but allow them to expire for the highest-earning 2 percent of households.

I have my doubts that any bill to retain the Bush tax cuts will make it through Congress. And even if one does that includes retaining tax cuts for everybody, will Obama sign it? Maybe not.

My Next Car

I want it (from Uncrate):

Holy replica, Batman! This 1966 Batmobile ($150,000) is an officially licensed replica of the car used in the classic TV series, and features intricate, authentic details like the double-bubble windshield, a working flame thrower in the rear, an aluminum roll-top dashboard, a flashing red beacon light, accurately-labeled knobs and buttons, and fins out the wazoo. Powered by either a rebuilt Ford 460 or GM 350 engine.

HolyCoast.com needs a Batmobile. Anyone got $150,000 they want to donate?

But then again, I wouldn't mind one of these either:

I'd paint a sign on the back of it that says:

HolyCoast.com, Stomping Out Flaming Liberals Since 2004

Uhura Gets a New Gig

I was flipping around the TV and saw meteorologist Vivian Brown on The Weather Channel:

I immediately had a Star Trek flashback:

I understand Spock is now doing the Tropical Storm forecasts.

Banning Texting While Driving Leads to MORE Accidents

When the government starts banning behavior there are always unintended consequences:

Researchers at the Highway Loss Data Institute compared rates of collision insurance claims in four states — California, Louisiana, Minnesota and Washington — before and after they enacted texting bans. Crash rates rose in three of the states after bans were enacted.

The Highway Loss group theorizes that drivers try to evade police by lowering their phones when texting, increasing the risk by taking their eyes even further from the road and for a longer time.

Let me just agree for the record that texting while driving is a bad idea. Anything that takes your concentration away from the road and directs is somewhere else is going to cause problems. However, do-gooder government bans of activities like this are the most ignored laws on the books and people will figure out ways to get around them.  In the case of texting they figured out a way that was more dangerous than the activity as originally banned.

Have I stopped talking on my cellphone while driving (also illegal in CA)? No. I thought I would play by the rules and use a blue-tooth device I had rarely ever used, but promptly lost it on the first long trip I took it on. I'm not going to replace it. If I need to make or receive a call while driving, I'm just going to go ahead and do it.

They can't stop all of us.

Tony Greene Goes Home

Tony Greene, who along with his wife TaRanda were part of the Southern Gospel group The Greenes, and who was also the brother of Kim Hopper of the Hoppers, passed away today at the young age of 41 after suffering infections and other medical problems. In 2009 he received a kidney transplant from his wife and has been battling a number of issues since.

Tony was removed from life support earlier today and lingered for a few hours longer as his family and friends gathered around the hospital bed singing "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".

One of my favorite Southern Gospel Christmas songs features Tony, his future wife TaRanda, and his sister Kim Hopper. This was recorded a number of years ago during a Gaither videotaping:





We rejoice for Tony but mourn with the family and friends.

UPDATE:  There's more info on Tony at The Singing News.

UPDATE2:  Dean Hopper tells the story of the last hours here.

Political Quote of the Day

From future former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi:

“I will still be Speaker in five weeks,” she said. “I have big confidence in my candidates. They’re excellent; they’re battle-tested. They know what they believe, and they’re doing just fine in their districts.”

And you know what, she's absolutely correct. She will still be Speaker in five weeks, but not because Democrats will hold the House, but because the new Congress won't be seated until January.

Religious Video of the Day

I have to admit I found this pretty funny  There's some truth in there somewhere:

Weekly KHND Interview Podcast

Here's the podcast from this morning's KHND interview.  We talked about the current polls, the scary things the Dems have in store for the lame duck session, and how some Democrats, including North Dakota's Earl Pomeroy, are running from Obama...to George Bush!

Powered by Podbean.com

It Sucks to Get Stuxnet

Just ask the Iranians:

Iran suspects that a foreign organization or nation designed "Stuxnet," a quickly mutating computer worm that has been infiltrating industrial computer systems in the Islamic republic, a high-ranking official said Monday.

"We had anticipated that we could root out the virus within one to two months," Hamid Alipour, deputy head of Iran's Information Technology Co., a part of the ministry of communication and information technology, told the Islamic Republic News Agency. "But the virus is not stable, and since we started the cleanup process three new versions of it have been spreading," he said.

I don't think Obama's got it in him to go after Iran with something this sophisticated. My money is on the Israelis who may have managed to do with some computer code what they couldn't do with bombs and missiles - disrupt the Iranian nuclear program.

Mazel tov!

UPDATE:  William Jacobson asks a good question:

Who wants to be the one to flip the "on" switch at an Iranian nuclear facility now?

Rasmussen Senate Rankings

Rasmussen has some new numbers out on the Senate races. The current balance of power looks like this:

Red denotes seats currently held by the GOP.  Blue for Dems.  You can click on the link to look at the numbers for each race.

The latest change moves West Virginia from Lean Dem to Toss-up with recent polling showing the Republican leading the Dem by 2-3 points in what can only be considered a shocker.  Pending scandals may turn Robert "Sheets" Byrd's old seat GOP.

I still think a wave election could easily swing all five toss-up states to the GOP, and a big wave could move CA, WA and DE that way too.  CT is also starting to look shaky for the Dems.  Wouldn't it be something if everything to the right of Solid Dem turned red?

Jimmuh Carter Hospitalized

Airsick:

Former President Jimmy Carter was transported by ambulance to a Cleveland hospital after falling ill during a flight, an airport spokeswoman said Tuesday.

"While on a flight to Cleveland, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter developed an upset stomach, and, upon arrival, was taken to Metro Health Hospital for observation," according to a statement released by The Carter Center in Atlanta. "He is resting comfortably and is expected to resume his book tour this week."

This is a change for Carter since he's usually making other people sick.

Political Photo of the Day

Actual photo that moved on the wires today:

If you look her in the eyes you're immediately turned to stone.

Alan Grayson (D-LIAR)

Florida Democrat Alan Grayson is easily one of the most despicable of the House Democrats, and that's saying something.  He's a clown who always goes for the most outrageous comment and acts in order to gain attention from the wacky left.  He's also a liar:

In an attack ad labeling his opponent " Taliban Dan" Webster, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson uses Webster's own words to prove the Republican thinks wives should be subservient to their husbands.

One problem: The Grayson campaign edited the original video, chopping it up and taking Webster's words out of context. Webster actually was advising husbands to bypass those particular Bible passages, according a longer video clip released Monday by Webster's campaign.

Grayson's 30-second campaign ad, which has gained national attention since it first aired on Saturday, also cites votes and legislation from Webster's time in the Legislature that some voters — particularly women — still could find objectionable. Webster has since refused to talk about those issues, including abortion.

But by twisting Webster's words, Grayson risks eroding some of the support he may have won from independent voters.

"Here he goes again," said Brian Graham, Webster's campaign manager. "Time and time again, Alan Grayson has shown that he cannot be truthful. The people of Central Florida are smarter than this. Grayson has to have realized that somebody would see this video and know that he was lying."

The TV spot includes short clips of Webster saying "…wives submit yourself to your own husband…" and "she should submit to me. That's in the Bible… ." The words "submit to me" are repeated twice more.

In the full video, Webster is talking to husbands at a gathering of a religious organization about biblical passages to choose when praying for loved ones. He says:

"Find a verse. I have a verse for my wife; I have verses for my wife. Don't pick the ones that say, um, she should submit to me. That's in the Bible, but pick the ones that you're supposed to do. So instead, love your wife, even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it, as opposed to wives submit yourself to your own husband. She can pray that if she wants to, but don't you pray it."

The good news is the local media is reporting his lack of integrity. This particular ad goes far beyond the normal manipulations of an opponent's record and were it not a political ad it would be actionable.

The people who live in the resort areas of Florida could do far better than this piece of human debris.

UPDATE:  Grayson gets smacked around by...wait for it...MSNBC!  He even crossed a line that the libs on MSNBC couldn't tolerate.

Obama to Hold Biggest Rally Since 2008, Sen. Feingold Will Skip It

Today Obama tries to resurrect the old magic with a big rally in Madison, WI, but WI Senator Russ Feingold, who is running for his political life, will not attend:

Democratic Party Chairman Timothy Kaine says he sees no slight in Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold skipping a campaign rally tonight where President Barack Obama is appearing on his behalf.

Kaine tells CBS's "The Early Show" that candidates "make their own decisions about these things." And Kaine, a former Virginia governor, says Feingold understands that Obama can energize the party's base.

Kaine says Obama is appealing particularly to college-age youths to become more active in the mid-term elections, saying "we just need to make them aware of the importance of these elections." Obama's standing in public opinion polls has been falling in recent months, and some Democratic candidates have been reluctant to appear with him.

Trying to get the youth vote is a wasted effort...always is. No matter how desperate the pleas from the candidates only a small percentage of the youth will actually show up on election day. It's been that way for decades. They could be at a rally today and still not show up to vote tomorrow.

As far as Feingold's decision not to attend, he knows Obama is political poison to many of the people of Wisconsin he needs if he's to retain his seat (and he won't).  While it might be temporarily satisfying to stand next to the president in front of a cheering mob, Feingold knows it won't help his candidacy.

Dems Plan 20 Bills for Lame Duck Session

Desperation:

Democrats are considering cramming as many as 20 pieces of legislation into the lame-duck session they plan to hold after the Nov. 2 election.

The array of bills competing for floor time shows the sense of urgency among Democratic lawmakers to act before the start of the 112th Congress, when Republicans are expected to control more seats in the Senate and House.

But, given the slow pace of the Senate, it also all but guarantees that Democrats will be hard-pressed to pass even a small part of their lame-duck agenda.

Included in this mess is the extension of the Bush tax cuts (which I don't think they're serious about), another shot at the Defense bill which includes Don't Ask/Don't Tell and the DREAM Act for illegal aliens, yet another extension of unemployment benefits (I think they're trying to take people all the way to when their bankrupt Social Security will kick in), plus I think you can expect them to take another shot at Card Check and Cap-and-Tax.

If the longshot Christine O'Donnell should win in Delaware she would be seated immediately and that would further complicate the Dem's plans by giving them one less vote in the Senate.

I don't expect the Dems to have much success with their agenda in the lame-duck session, but a Capitol full of angry Dems will still be plenty dangerous.

There May Be a New Speaker No Matter Who Wins the House

An insurrection is brewing:

Even if Democrats retain a slim majority in the House this November, Speaker Nancy Pelosi could have an insurrection on her hands from moderate Democrats looking for a change in leadership.

Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., who two weeks ago threw a colossal insult at his party by joining Republicans in a pledge to repeal the health care law, stepped out of line again over the weekend by telling a pair of Capitol Hill newspapers he wants someone other than Pelosi leading the chamber -- specifically pro-defense Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo.

Taylor's comments add an element of chaos into the mix. Worst-case scenario for Democrats would be that defectors like Taylor, who would almost certainly struggle to mount an effective mutiny inside the caucus, could torpedo the speaker vote in the full chamber and hand the post to Minority Leader John Boehner.

Nothing in the U.S. Constitution requires members to vote for one of the two parties' nominees -- perhaps no Democrat would dare vote for Boehner -- but enough votes for a de facto write-in candidate could act as a Pelosi spoiler if Democrats hold a slim majority.

This whole discussion is probably academic because I think the GOP will likely gain the 39 seats necessary to take control. If they do, what happens then?

We know that John Boehner will be the GOP nominee for Speaker, but who will the Dems nominate to be the symbolic loser? If Pelosi stays in Congress (and that's not a sure thing since former Speakers tend to resign rather than stay as a member of the minority) someone will likely nominate her, but I wouldn't be surprised to see another Democrat like Skelton get a nod as well. That would be a warning to the liberals that they lost power and they're not going to call the shots in the future.

Fatal Freeway Accident in Mission Viejo

While triple-tasking last night (blogging, watching TV, and listening to the Orange County Fire broadcasts) I heard the call for this accident which occurred just a short distance from my house:

The driver of a Toyota Corolla was killed Monday night when an SUV crashed into his disabled car on the I-5, authorities said.

Francisco Cinto, 40, had stopped on the southbound lanes of the freeway just south of Alicia Parkway at about 9:35 p.m., according to a collision report from the California Highway Patrol. The driver, who has not yet been identified, turned the car's hazard lights on when the vehicle became disabled.

The Corolla had stopped on the southbound lanes of the freeway just south of Alicia Parkway at about 9:35 p.m., according to a collision report from the California Highway Patrol. The driver, who has not yet been identified, turned the car's hazard lights on when the vehicle became disabled.

Shortly afterward, a 21-year-old driver in a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe crashed into the back of the Corolla, the report stated.

The 21-year-old man, who has not been identified, was driving behind another vehicle before the crash occurred. The vehicle in front of the SUV swerved suddenly in front of the Corolla to avoid hitting it.

The driver of the SUV was unable to avoid hitting the Corolla, crashing into the back of the vehicle at about 70 mph, the report stated.

The impact sent the SUV across all lanes of the freeway until it hit a concrete wall on the right shoulder of the southbound lanes.

The driver of the Corolla was found dead at the scene as firefighters tried to pull him out of the car, said Capt. Greg McKeown of the Orange County Fire Authority.

I knew it was going to be bad when I heard the CHP had completely closed the freeway and one of the first firemen on scene commented that he wasn't sure the patient was going to be "workable".  It took quite awhile for the extrication, and then shortly thereafter the incident commander informed dispatch the patient was "914c", code for deceased.

I get on the freeway at La Paz all the time and we forget that even a routine trip could be dangerous. This is the fourth fatal accident at or near that location in the last few years, including the crash in 2007 that took the lives of three small children.

Bush and the Gold Star Moms

Cynthia Garcia, a mom who lost her son in Iraq in 2006, attended a Gold Star Mom's reception with George and Laura Bush.  Here is her story:

I attended the event as a Gold Star mother, only because I am always honored when someone continues to remember our soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. I also wanted to meet the President and his wife. I had mentally prepared myself for a somber reception with a room full of crying mothers and just a heavy atmosphere, as these functions always bring back haunting memories for everyone.

I was nervous as I got out of my car and handed it to the valet in front of the Bush’s home and even more nervous to see the number of Secret Service agents at their posts keeping a watchful eye on everyone. I gave my name and showed my ID like I was asked and then I was taken inside. The home was full, about 80 women or so.

I was quickly taken to the Bush’s living room to have my picture taken with them. They hugged and kissed me and comforted me and thanked me for attending. I was greeted by them as if they had not seen an old friend in a long time. I felt calm and at ease. I had it together. I wasn’t about to break down. Not until he asked, tell me about your soldier.Then I lost it! Right before the picture was taken. Great!

We were then asked to take a seat as the President would welcome us and thank us for attending the reception. He went on to tell us how proud he is of our soldiers and how safe he always felt when being around them. Getting emotional at times he continued to thank us for raising such strong and unselfish men and women. He reminded us that our soldiers/children did not die in vain, and that our soldiers freed a lot of people and protected a lot of people for which he is eternally grateful. There was not a dry eye in the room. You can tell he is extremely patriotic.

The President then asked if we had any questions or comments. One mother went on to tell him how much people miss him and love him, he thanked her and in a laughing voice said "all except the guy that threw the shoe at me huh? Was that crazy or what?" We were all chuckling, then I said to him, 'that’s alright Mr. President, I’m Mexican, our mothers throw shoes at us all the time! I’m amazed you knew how to duck so fast!" The whole room chuckled and felt more at ease and continued to speak with him.

He asked us to please go eat some cheese and crackers otherwise he would be eating that for the rest of his life.

Mr. President came over to me at the cheese table and wanted to know more about my son. He thought I was pretty funny.

Thanks, Mr. President and Mrs. Bush, for a lovely reception.

Yes, I miss him too.

Political Quote of the Day

From AFL-CIO Chief Thug Richard Trumka:

...we need to fundamentally restructure our economy and re-establish popular control over the private corporations which have distorted our economy and hijacked our government. That’s a long-term job, but one we should start now.

"Popular control over the private corporations"...we call that socialism in any other context because by "popular" he means "government".

Mickey and Minnie Muslim

There's something new at Disneyland:

Disneyland officials have reached an agreement with a Muslim college intern allowing her to wear a head covering while on the job, Muslim community leaders and Disney officials said Monday.

Officials with the Council on American-Islamic Relations say the scarf acts as an Islamic head covering, called a hijab, in accordance with her Muslim religion.

Disney officials don’t call it a hijab — just a head scarf to accommodate an employees needs.

Back when I worked there (not long after the Earth cooled) Disney didn't seem too concerned with my needs. They seemed far more concerned with making sure I had my hair cut military short and I wore the uniform exactly as they assigned it.

And in case they hire a member of the religion of peace to serve as a costumed character, some plans are being made to accommodate their needs:

A Rose Parade by Any Other Name...

...will still take place in perfect weather on January 1st (even if it's pouring rain on New Year's Eve and January 2nd):

For the first time in its 122 year history the Tournament of Roses Parade will have a new name.

Parade organizers announced the 2011 version of the New Year's Day spectacular will be officially known as the 122nd Rose Parade, Presented by Honda.

The change is part of a new sponsorship deal with American Honda Motor Co.

As part of the partnership, the Tournament of Roses will create a new logo that incorporates the Honda logo.

The carmaker will also get the lead float in the parade.

Good thing they didn't get a sponsorship from Toyota or they might not have been able to get the floats to stop.

Political Cartoon of the Day

Well, sort of. This still was taken from Family Guy, whose new season kicks off on Sunday night. The guy on the left is Rush Limbaugh, who taped the episode that will air Sunday night.

Check your local listings.

Democrats Running Away From Obama....and Towards George Bush

My how things have changed in two years:

We’ve seen plenty of Democrats in tight races trying to distance themselves from President Obama. But one Democrat, North Dakota’s Rep. Earl Pomeroy, is taking this a step farther by actually embracing President George W. Bush.

Pomeroy is locked in what’s shaping up to be the toughest contest of his 17-year House career. He faces GOP state Rep. Rick Berg…

…In his latest ad, Pomeroy goes a step further, highlighting his support for the Bush prescription drug plan which he says Berg would “roll back.”

The ad opens with a bill signing featuring President Bush while a woman’s voice says, “When George Bush proposed a Medicare prescription drug plan, Earl Pomeroy voted yes, putting seniors before party.. Rick Berg would roll back prescription drug coverage.”

To be sure, Pomeroy sits in one of the most Republican states in the country. McCain carried North Dakota with 53 percent of the vote. And, his campaign notes that this ad was in response to an earlier ad by the GOP that attacked him for voting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi 97 percent of the time.

You need ask only one question of any Democrat candidate: Will you vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker? If yes, they're disqualified.

UPDATE:  Rob Port reminds us that in 2008 Earl Pomeroy called Bush a "man-made disaster".

112

The outside air temp gauge at 2 pm in Mission Viejo.


Los Angeles hit a record high of 113. It's just like Vegas, baby.

LA Times Push Polling for Boxer/Brown?

The results of a new LA Times California poll show both Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown and Barbara "Dumb-as-a-Box-of-Rocks" Boxer with comfortable leads, but just how accurate are those polls?  Not very, says the Carly Fiorina campaign:

The just-released poll by the Los Angeles Times is neither an accurate nor a reliable reflection of voter interest or likely participation in the upcoming election. Simply put, the Times poll overestimates Democratic voter participation by a wide margin, hence it produced skewed results that are inconsistent with other public and private polling in this race, including the respected Field Poll released on Friday. Specifically, the poll’s sample indicates that self-identified Democrats will hold a 16.75 percent advantage over Republicans, which is at least double what other credible polls indicate. In addition to understating the Republican vote, its results are based on 9 percent participation of independent voters when, again, other pollsters estimate that at least 20 percent of the electorate will be comprised of swing voters.

With such an errant sampling methodology, we are amazed that Boxer’s lead over Carly is not in the double digits as opposed to the eight-point advantage they are giving the incumbent. At this stage and in light of the dynamics of the race during the time this survey was in the field, that is a gap that can, and will, be bridged in the coming weeks.

For 10 days, while this survey was being conducted, Barbara Boxer spent several million dollars on unanswered advertising mischaracterizing both her own record and Carly’s record. It is notable that, despite this, Barbara Boxer was unable to increase her standing with voters in the Field Poll. We are now answering back with the launch of our advertising campaign just 72 hours ago, after both the Times and Field polls had been completed. As this campaign moves forward and as voters become aware of the facts about Barbara Boxer, the hyper-partisan career politician, the dynamics in this race will change quickly.

The San Francisco Chronicle, one of the most liberal papers in the state, refused to endorse Boxer. It looks like the LA Times has decided to pick up the slack by trying to effect the election with spurious poll results.

I'll never forget 1982 when on election day pollster Mervin Field announced on the evening news that Jerry Brown would be our next Senator and Tom Bradley our new governor.  Both lost.  California is not that predictable.

Now That Dems Are Facing Senate Losses They Want to "Reform" The Filibuster Rules

Imagine that.  When they had 60 votes in the Senate they had no interest whatsoever in changing the filibuster rules that requires 60 votes on many procedural matters.  However, with losses of anywhere from 7 to 13 seats likely in November the Dems suddenly have gotten the ole filibuster religion:

“It was already virtually certain that we would do something,” said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). “The gridlock has been so frustrating already that the prospect of it getting worse only adds additional logic to try and help the filibuster problem … This is an unprecedented abuse of the filibuster that is completely out of conformity with the traditions of the Senate, and all we’re trying to do is to get it back to its traditional use … The question is about how we do it, not whether we do it.”

Last week, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said that filibuster reform has been boosted as a top prerogative of Democratic leaders after the failed vote on his defense measure.

“These filibusters, on motions to proceed, cannot be allowed to succeed,” Levin said. “We cannot, to get our work done, allow filibusters to prevent us from getting to a bill. Those filibusters … have been used more than ever, by far, and they’ve resulted in slowing down legislation.”

Changing the filibuster rules will be an uphill climb — even though it would likely only require 51 votes in the new Congress. Several Democratic centrists oppose changing the chamber's rules. Furthermore, Republicans may capture control of the House and/or Senate this fall, rendering filibuster reform dead. Republicans have vowed not to pass such a measure.

Regardless, Democrats clearly need to convince more of their colleagues to back the effort if it has any chance to get 51 votes in 2011.

No one in the GOP should agree to any of this. And chances are several Democrats who will face the voters in 2012 will be reluctant to get involved in something like this because it won't play real well back home.

The filibuster rules have kept a lot of bad stuff from getting through Congress and there's no reason to change them now.  They protect the people from a majority gone out-of-control.

Superhero or Superzero?

I thought it would be instructive to hear from a lefty as he analyzes Obama's troubles. Here's part of Stanley Crouch's piece in the NY Daily News:

Obama has two problems: The first is that he has to battle an opposition that has sold out to the extremes of its base in order to gain power, integrity be damned. No matter how mentally unbalanced the charges, the GOP will buy in if those charges draw enough followers. Responsible Republicans like Peggy Noonan, George Will and David Brooks have not been able to hold back the devil dogs foaming at the mouth.

No matter how bigoted complaints about the President have been, Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh will lift their pitchforks and torches in agreement. They are confident that their so-called facts will not be seriously questioned - but if they are, Fox News will give them plenty of screen time to make a defense.

The second problem is naiveté and cowardice on the other side of the aisle. The far left feels betrayed because Obama has not turned America into Eden in less than two years. They do not believe that Obama has put up a good fight against those opponents who find the truth less important than gaining legislative power that will make it easier to serve their masters: the wealthy, the big corporations and the lobbyists who serve them most faithfully.

If you were playing some sort of lefty slogan drinking game you'd be unconscious after reading those three paragraphs. He hit just about every lefty talking point and favorite phrase.

As in the NY Times piece I referenced in a previous post, the comments following the column are almost more interesting than the column itself. They absolutely rip Obama. And this is another NY paper. Amazing.

Segway Company Owner Rides Into History

And off a cliff on one of his company's machines:

The multi-millionaire owner of the Segway company died in a freak accident yesterday when he rode one of the high-tech two-wheel machines off a cliff and into a river.

Former miner Jimi Heselden, 62, plunged into the River Wharfe while riding around his West Yorkshire estate in Boston Spa on a rugged country version of the Segway.

He bought the firm last December and was using one of the machines - which use gyroscopes to remain upright and are controlled by the direction in which the rider leans - to inspect the grounds of his property.

That won't be good for their marketing program.

Policies Haven't Worked So Obama Reverts to a Campaign Rally

On Tuesday Obama will try and resurrect the magic from 2008:

Since becoming president, Mr. Obama has gone small. Except for a few rallies during the height of the health care debate, the president has largely eschewed stadiums and wide open spaces in favor of smaller town-hall-style meetings or even backyard conversations.

But that is about to change.

On Tuesday, the president is scheduled to hold an old-fashioned campaign rally on the campus of the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Party officials said they expected thousands to cram onto Library Mall, an outside setting, to see Mr. Obama.

A senior Democratic Party strategist said the event would be the biggest political rally since the end of the campaign and is meant to recapture “some of the old excitement and energy from the 2008 campaign that was so essential to Obama’s and Democrats’ success.”

The strategist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the thinking behind the new approach, said the White House was also trying to leverage the single event with more than 200 “watch parties” across the country, much as Mr. Obama’s campaign did two years ago.

What's almost more interesting than the story itself is this is a NY Times article and the comments from readers are just absolutely ripping Obama and the plans for this rally. For instance:

Rah! Rah! 9.6% unemployment. Ha! Ha! Go 1.6% GDP growth! I don't know why...it doesn't make me feel any better...

Wasn't it just a few months ago that the Obama administration was saying that the left needed to be drug tested because they were too crazy? Now that he's supported nothing that you believe in, he wants you back. He must really think we are stupid.

This will be a FAIL of EPIC proportions. Oh, yeah, I have an idea...let's have a rally on one of the most left wing university campuses in the country. That'll really connect with the American middle class and independent voters! Tin ear.

This man/child knows nothing other than to be in a perpetual state of campaign and spending the taxpayers money. Unfortunately for the country, that's all he's ever known.

How brave! A gathering of students from a blue state. I wonder if they learned anythinh from the last time they voted for him? How about drawing a crowd in Elkhart Indiana, big man?

That's five of the first ten comments on the article. Even the readers of the NY Times think this is a dumb idea.

That Obama would have to go to a liberal state and a liberal campus in hopes of raising a decent-sized crowd is quite telling.  The days of filling great arenas and stadiums is over.

Of course, he could always go back to Berlin.  They still love him over there.

Midwest Could Be a Dem Killing Field

It's ugly nationwide for Democrats, but the Midwest seems particularly anxious to vote the Dems out:

Two years after President Barack Obama swept the Midwest, Democratic fortunes in the region are sagging, with the GOP poised to make big gains by scooping up disaffected independent voters in a wide swath of states hit by job losses, budget woes and political scandal.

From Ohio to Iowa, there’s a yawning stretch of heartland states whose citizens voted for Obama and congressional Democrats in 2008, but who have lost patience waiting for an as-yet undelivered economic revival that was first promised in 2006, and then two years later. Now, they look set to stampede toward the out-of-power party.

“There's little doubt that the Midwest is the Democrats' toughest region this year,” Democratic pollster Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling wrote on the firm’s website Friday, adding that the firm is also finding an enthusiasm gap of about 10 points down from what existed in 2008.

“If the election was today the party would almost certainly lose the Governorships it holds in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It's also more than likely at this point to lose the Senate seats it has in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Indiana, miss out on a once promising pick up opportunity in Ohio, and quite possibly lose their seat in Illinois as well. And there are too many House seats the party could lose in the region to count,” Jensen noted.

Top GOP pollster Glen Bolger of Public Opinion Strategies wrote in even harsher terms last week: “The Midwest is going to be a killing field for Democrats this year from western [Pennsylvania] through to the Plains, Republicans are going to sweep a LOT of Democrats right out of office.”

You can read the rest of the analysis here.

The Midwest looks bad, but even in New York State Dems could lose as many as 10 seats.  There is no such thing as a safe race if there's a "D" after your name.