Just For Mike...

Ahh, vintage commercials...

I have to agree with Casey on this one...

...This is awesome.

Politics, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.
--Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

Today's Musical Selection:

Joan Baez--Blowin' in the Wind

It looks as though Obama will win...

...and Americans seem intent on abandoning the economic system that has produced the highest standard of living and the greatest prosperity in the history of the planet. I don't say it's without problems. There are good times and bad. However, in the overall sense, our economy has produced a more prosperous society than has ever been seen before. Obama is a socialist. He believes in the redistribution of wealth through taxes and social programs. He has said so himself, so I won't belabor that point. However, we need to ask ourselves this question: Have we ever seen an economically strong socialist country? I can't remember one. The Soviet Union couldn't feed its own people. The Chinese have engaged in population control measures that can only be called draconian and they still have trouble feeding themselves and still managing to compete in world economic circles, especially in areas of quality control. Also, socialist governemnts in the 20th century were responsible for well over 100,000,000 deaths, so there's a moral dimension as well. So, I leave this election cycle with a vote for a cause that's foreordained to fail and look for my future activity to the advice of Dylan Thomas:

Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

If nothing else, I will rage against the dying of the light...

Today's Musical Selection:

Skid Row--Wasted Time

I liked this one...

Unedited SNL Bailout Sketch

I'd vote for this guy...

Stylin' and Profilin'...

A-Dub vs. Trent Edwards

Reminds me of what Leon Spinks used to say to people. People would ask him, "Leon, What do you do?" Leon's answer: "I knock motherf*****s out."

It looks as though I'm unable...

...to perform the second half of my civic duty, at least according to Travis. I'll definitely vote, but shutting up about the choice we're about to make probably ain't gonna happen. According to the polls, the American people seem to be on the verge of choosing Senator Obama as President. Because of this, I am posting ten questions I have for the Senator, or any of his supporters about how his upcoming Presidency will affect me and others. Sorry, Trav...


1. Senator Obama has promised to cut taxes for 95% of Americans if he is elected. He has also proposed about $800 Billion in new spending. How does he propose to reconcile the two?

2. Senator Obama has promised to close “corporate tax loopholes” so that Corporations have to pay the actual tax rates specified in the law, about 30-35%, if I remember correctly. I am in favor of clearly written laws, so closing loopholes doesn’t bother me. However, I am at a loss as to how a de facto tax increase on companies already having financial difficulties would help our economy in these troubled times. Please explain.

3. Senator Obama has accused John McCain and other Republicans of advocating tax cuts for both “the wealthy” and “corporations that ship jobs overseas”. His answer to these problems seems to be to tax both “the wealthy” and “corporations that ship jobs overseas”. I don’t understand how he intends to prevent the wealthy from investing their savings in other places to avoid the taxes (thus hurting the US economy) or how he intends to prevent corporations from moving offshore to avoid the taxes (thus hurting the US economy and taking the jobs a lot of people need with them).

4. How does Senator Obama intend to keep Corporations from passing their tax burdens on to the consumer in the form of price increases? Or, to put it another way, will the individual get some sort of tax reduction, only to see it obliterated by higher prices because of higher taxes on the companies that provide goods and services?

5. Senator Obama has proposed a “windfall profits” tax on petroleum companies. What exactly is a “windfall profit”? Also, in relation to the previous question, how will he prevent the petroleum companies from passing on these increased taxes to consumers in the form of price increases? It seems that, at a time when gas prices are already very high, this could be a serious problem.

6. Senator Obama has proposed at least some level of “nationalized health care/socialized medicine”. How does he intend to make sure that, under his program, the quality of American health care continues to be the best in the world? Evidence seems to indicate that other countries with these kinds of programs, such as England and Canada, seem to suffer in terms of the quality and availability of medical services. Is such a drop-off acceptable to Senator Obama as the price of doing business or does he have some sort of plan to keep it from happening?

7. Senator Obama voted against requiring notification to the parents of minor children who cross state lines to get abortions. How does this sort of vote reinforce the American family at a time with the family unit is in trouble in America?

8. Senator Obama has often voted for, and advocated, restrictions on individual gun ownership. He has also stated that abortion is a woman’s right under Roe v. Wade (1973). How does Senator Obama now see gun ownership in the light of D.C. v. Heller (2008)?

9. Several prominent Democrats, including Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have endorsed the idea of reinstating the Fairness Doctrine. How would Senator Obama respond to such ideas? If implemented, how would he protect the First Amendment rights of his opposition on talk radio and the internet from the economic realities that would, almost certainly, force them off the air and the Web under such rules?

10. In his first Presidential debate with Senator McCain, Senator Obama was unable to decide which of his proposals he would cut due to the financial crash and bailout. I would like to know the answer to the question as posed by Mr. Lehrer during that debate.

Today's Musical Selection:

The Byrds--Turn, Turn, Turn.

A couple of interesting political things...

Who's responsible for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae?

Could it be this guy?

And Joe, who was president in 1929? And was he really on TV?

And, one other point I'd like to make. Senator Obama has told us many times that 95% of us would get a tax cut under his administration. However, he has also proposed over $1 trillion in new spending on items such as universal healthcare and mandatory pre-kindergarten programs. I personally would like to know how, while giving 95% of us a tax cut, he intends pay for these new programs? I'm just curious, mind you.