More evidence the media only likes bad news...

For some reason, I don't see a successful missile defense test getting as much pub as the couple of misses the program has had in recent months. The most surprising thing to me was that the success today was not the first (you would never know it from missile shield coverage), this was the FIFTH positive intercept. I have never heard of even one of those successful tests, yet I have heard of a handful of misses.

Yet another instance of the media's attempts to portray America as weaker than we are, be it out of guilt or politics, the media does not cheer American victories.

"This successful flight test demonstrates the tactical, operational
capability of SM-3 and the Aegis BMD Weapon System in real-world conditions,"
said Edward Miyashiro, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president, Naval Weapon
Systems. "Successes like we've seen today provide decision makers the confidence
to proceed with deploying in quantity, providing the Nation with a robust
capability that will defend the U.S., deployed American forces, our friends and
our allies. Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense is for real."

Churchill Update...Ms. Malkin comes through

I had been trying to figure out how to link to some audio clips I found at a Denver radio station (these guys are relentless in their tracking of the fake Indian) but it seems I no longer need to wonder. Michelle Malkin has a great compilation of outrageous audio clips and has posted transcripts.

Churchill 1
Churchill 2
Churchill 3
Churchill 4

Included are tips on how to massacre Wall Streeters and Ward lamenting the fact that US citizens hadn't slaughtered thousands of American's before the Arabs.

More Hitler fun at DU

This is brilliant... (why do these folks keep losing elections again?)

Bush Worse than Hitler

Hitler served in the military and was intelligent and had courage. They are both
genocidal maniacs. Bush's cabinet is very Hitleresque: torturers, terrorists,
genocidal hatemongers. To see Bush as less bad than Hitler is to subject America
to a fate worse than what happened to Germany. There were liberals in Germany
who knew what Hitler was up to. Like most of those at the du will likely be,
they were the first ones thrown into the death camps. There are 6000+camps in
the United States and HR 418 is the authorization to close the borders and turn
them into death camps. If you don't have your passport in order, get it in
order. Your life could depend on when you leave - not if you leave. American's
only current hope is the Internet. That is the only real difference between us
and Nazi Germany.

Flat Tax Praise...Music to my ears

President Bush lavished praise on the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic for the economic policy choices they have made, specifically their decision to implement a flat tax.

“I complimented the Prime Minister on putting policies in place that have helped
this economy grow. The most important responsibility we have at home is to make
sure our people can find work. And the president put a flat tax in place; he
simplified his tax code, which has helped to attract capital and create economic
vitality and growth. I really congratulate you and your government for making
wise decisions.”

On Drudge.

Morning Roundup

First, this Syke's show today is great. The morning crew was fairly bland, but Charlie did play some new Churchill soundbites where he not only advocated the 9/11 attacks ("why did it take Arabs to do what we should have done long ago") he actually instructs a man as to how best kill people on Wall Street ("shave your beard, cut your hair and wear a suit"). I am looking for the soundbites when I can, but there was a family death so I will be out of the office Friday and Monday so I am trying to get ahead here today.

Just finishing up on Syke's show was Rep. Ryan doing a fantastic Charlie Rangel impersonation. He was also extremely eloquent and down to earth when describing his Social Security plan. From what I have read and heard, his plan is easily the best. I got a chance to hear him speak in 2000 when he opened at the Bradley Center for then Governor Bush. He was inspiring and it was obvious he had a bright future in the party. If he can manage to get something done with this Social Security bill, or just be passionate and get some exposure, this man could have an impressive political career.

Second, Anne Coulter has a great article today. I am a little hot and cold with her, sometimes she crosses rhetorical lines and her point is lost in hyperbole. Her article today, however, manages to straddle that line without crossing it.

First, liberals claimed Gannon was a White House plant who received a press
pass so that he could ask softball questions a perk reserved for New York
Times reporters during the Clinton years. Their proof was that while "real"
journalists (like Jayson Blair) were being denied press passes, Gannon had one,
even though he writes for a website that no one has ever heard of but still
big enough to be a target of liberal hatred! (By the way, if writing for a news
organization with no viewers is grounds for being denied a press pass, why do
MSNBC reporters have them?)

Let check his resume...Churchill not an Indian

Seems like falsifying a resume is more than enough reason to fire a guy. Especially if his ethnicity more than likely played an intrical role in much of his career advancement.

"Is he an Indian? Do we really care?" he said, quoting those he called his
"white Republican" critics.
"Let's cut to the chase; I am not," he said.
His pedigree is "not important," Churchill said: "The issue is the substance
of what is said."

Well, if he used being Native American to continue to move up the university food chain, then yes it is an issue.

Audio from the Carpenter/McGee flap...

WTMJ news clip

Found at My View of the World, a fantastic blog featuring multimedia focused on Milwaukee.

Some efficiency from the Urinal

In other words, I am impressed. They got this story up much quicker than I anticipated. I have heard audio clips on TMJ and they are somewhat disappointing in their hillarity value, but incredible in their "what the...?" value. If I can find them, and figure out how to post audio, I will. If not, other more accomplished folks will probably have (already do?) audio clips. If I find those I will be sure to link them.

Carpenter, who is gay, confronted McGee after the alderman accused Barrett of
not pushing for charges against off-duty police officers suspected of severely
beating Frank Jude
Jr. McGee cited other instances in which he said the mayor had disrespected
African-Americans.
McGee has called for a one-day boycott of the Shops at
Grand Avenue and white-owned stores at the Midtown Center to pressure the
district attorney's office to charge the officers in the Jude beating.
After
McGee finished his remarks, Carpenter took him to task for refusing to apologize
to members of the city's gay and lesbian community for McGee's use of the slur
"faggot" this month when describing police officers allegedly involved in the
Jude beating.
Carpenter shouted: "Why are you disrespectful? Why don't you
return phone calls? When will you apologize for using the term faggot when
referring to police officers? You're an embarrassment."

I liked that last line, the one about being an embarassment. Remember the flap with Carpenter and Gwen Moore two years ago on the assembly floor? Yeah, you're a real Jefferson Smith, Tim.

Stuart Scott must be stopped...A Rant

I was sitting here at my desk, zoning out and watching some Sports Center clips when I realized something must be done. It has been fomenting for months, with the progam taking metoric steps into the toilet and I realized it's cause.

Stuart Scott.

The man must be stopped. He is a menace to sports fans everywhere, and is turning ESPN into ESPMTV. It stinks. The only worthwhile programming besides live sports is Pardon The Interruption, and that's because Kornheiser is a crusty old genius, and the 5 pm Sports Center when Dan Patrick is on, because that man can deliver sports.

I will not go into all the reasons I despise Stuart Scott, from his googly eyes to his "booyah's" the list is essentially endless. Every day he says something stupid. Anyway, I have taken two steps in the past week to combat this problem. Earlier in the week I encouraged my friend to start a I hate Stu web page. I am assuming he will read this at some point today, so get to work on the site. I want it operational by March Madness (when that jag will undoubtedly unleash some more pseudo-slang on the unsuspecting sports world).

Secondly, I wrote an email to Keith Olbermann. His show is terrible. It gets 16 viewers on the average night. Before his show is in the toilet, I wanted to enlist his help. After all, Sports Center began its decline with the exodus of Kilbourn and Olbermann over money and ego. (wise decision by both...) Since they left SC has tried to go after new emerging demographics, so they brought in the obnoxious Stu. He was terrible before he got hit in the eye with Chad Pennington football, and he is even worse now. To hear him makes my ears pop and to see him makes my eyes pop out of focus trying to follow those zigzagging eyes.

From time to time I am liable to go off like this on Stu. I mean no harm to anyone but him, for he has seriously inhibited my abilities to receive sports news and highlights in a timely and enjoyable fashion.

This is what I wrote Olbermann (remember his departure started this disgusting slide into mediocrity at sc), and I encourage you to do the same. Eventually I will find other contacts and people more immediate to Stu, but for now I figure Olbermann's show is bad enough, and his ratings are so in the toilet, that perhaps he will pursue another blogger fueled media personality hit. (The first part is off topic only because I wanted to make it pertinent to his new post today. Also, it seems any mention of Bill O'Reill makes KO all hot and bothered).

Mr. Olbermann,

Although I still can’t get over the anger at
your leaving SC (nice career move by the way, now instead of hundreds of
thousands, dare I say millions of viewers nightly you get seventeen vegans in
tin-foil hats pissed that you aren’t still talking about Rove’s computer vote
machine hacking program) I do enjoy your one person feud will Bill
O’Reilly. Has he gotten the memo that you guys are fighting, because I
want this to blow up. Nothing impresses me more than when news people make
themselves the news. Definitely a sign of professionalism.

Is there any way you can do a story about how Stuart Scott is an
idiot who needs to just go away? Make that one of your Countdown
segments…Stuart Scott stinks, and is ruining Sports Center. Come on, do a
hit piece on him. Bring him down like Dan Rather. Instead of
fixating on a gay prostitute, lets focus on important issues.
Guckert/Gannon is gone, the next Bloggerman target (get your DU boys on this
too) has to be the removal of Stuart Scott from Sports Center.

I know you have no say, and have some weird grudge/sexual tension
with Kilbourn, but please, step up to the plate. Get your 18 viewers and
their four hundred malnourished canines on the case.

Mr.
Olbermann, I envision a day in which hugs and hand pounds are frowned upon,
where booyah brings on a beat down, and the only person “getting swoll” will the
man on the stretcher who got “jacked up” for saying “get swoll.”

You can help me sir, perhaps you can invite your crush O’Reilly in
on the fun (seriously Keith, fixate much?)

Thanks for your time
Olbermann email screeners,

ESK

Carpenter verbally "bitch slaps" McGee Jr.

No link or solid story yet, but TMJ just reported openly gay Tim Carpenter got in the face of Mike McGee Jr (the racist African American flamethrower who called cops accused of assault "faggots") at City Hall. Apparently Carpenter launched into his diatribe, demanding an apology to the gay community from McGee Jr. at some sort of "hate whitey" rally. Actually, I think it was more about his call for a boycott, and more outraged vitriol demanding the accused officers be condemned without trial.

The exchange supposedly ended when McGee fled to the Alderman offices with Carpenter following close behind. I expect JSOnline to get their Daywatch updated with the story, and this will surely be big news in a few hours, at least by tonight. I only hope TV cameras were there (at least tell me we got audio...ten to one says McGee called Carpenter an evil racist bigot for daring to question a man of color).

Vodkapundit's must read...

damn it, when are these guys not right about a must read? Of course, they pull the money quote as well.

"I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting three
weeks ago, 8 million of them, it was the start of a new Arab world." Jumblatt
says this spark of democratic revolt is spreading. "The Syrian people, the
Egyptian people, all say that something is changing. The Berlin Wall has fallen.
We can see it."

Sports News...seriously, this made me tingle! (And Diener ends MU's hopes for respectibility this season)

Packers eye hockey on green and gold pond

The franchise is in talks with the Western Collegiate Hockey Association to
stage the main event: a match featuring the University of Wisconsin Badgers
hockey team and another WCHA opponent.

Humiliating the Gophers at Lambeau Field in front of 35000 fans would possibly be the greatest moment of my hockey-fan life. Screw the McNaughton Cup, screw the NCAA championship, lets humiliate the Gophers live on NATIONAL television.

The only disappointing this about this is that they aren't going to try and pack the stadium, like they did up in Ann Arbor a few years back for the Michigan Michigan St. game.

Marquette press conference sometime today

Announcing the end of the MU basketball world, TD is hurt, most likely for the season (why else the press conference?) Hurt his hand in practice (we talkin bout practice? come on man, practice?...practice?) When there is a story I might link to it, might not. It's not really newsworthy, they were in the toilet long ago.

Most used headline over the last few years?

Governor promises to veto bill

I feel like I've seen this one before. It looks like Doyle is going to, shockingly, veto any tax freeze proposed by Republicans. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that had the republican's proposed the exact same bill to the governor that he is touting now last year, Doyle would have broken out that well worn veto pen.

The Legislature Tuesday handed Gov. Jim Doyle a three-year freeze on
property tax bills, but the governor promised to veto it today...The 20-13
Senate vote sent the governor a bill locking in the current annual statewide
property tax levy for public schools, now $3.6 billion, for three more years.
The measure would also require local governments to limit property tax levy
increases to an amount equal to new construction in their communities. That has
averaged 2.6% statewide in recent years.

We can be assured of the same headline Friday when the guv decides that it is much too much of an imposition to force people to show who they are when they vote. [As an aside, I live in an apartment complex. As such, my name is grouped with all the other people (overwhelmingly young) who live in that complex and have registered to vote. I can see who has and has not voted yet with a cursory glance at the open binder on the table at the polling place. The past three election, I literally could have voted a dozen times, using a dozen names who had yet to come and vote. If you go at the end of the day with a group of like-minded hoodlums, you could stuff a ballot box. Enough boxes stuffed, the vote is tilted. Since Wisconsin is one of the dwindling states that encourages such felonious fraud you can be damn sure that organizations like MoveOn (and similar right leaning groups) will take full advantage of this and begin focusing on the inner city and Madison, where questioning a minority's motives is akin to flying the stars and bars].

The voter ID bill will be passed and vetoed, and yet again Doyle will be undercutting the will of the people. I want an ad, starting this fall, that just runs a list of all the bill's Doyle has vetoed. End it with a link to an info website. Cheap and informative, as long as it is run early and often it could be extremely effective in laying the groundwork of "Doyle as oppressor."

Too busy to post...

But I did just have time to check up on our favorite nutters over at democraticunderground.com just now over a quick working lunch. I figured they would have some very choice things to say about the purported assassination attempt. While I was wrong, I wasn't the only person thinking that way. It seems some at DU were also worried their compadres would make fools of themselves and cheer the news (or bemoan the fact that it wasn't successful). It's not a farfetched fear, since they cheered the passing of President Reagan with gusto and exuberance.

Biting my tongue - till it bleeds

Careful with your responses, people.

I almost didn't post this for fear of someone saying something
asinine

Please do not post messages or jokes that could be construed as advocating
harm or death to the president, or that could be construed as advocating violent
overthrow of the government of the United States.

Oh well, they behaved themselves today, and I personally am surprised. OF course, they do think the news is a "Rovian plot" to take attention away from a story that died two weeks ago, but hell, they can have their fantasies.

This story does not pass the smell test. They just want another "terraist"
to crucify.

In the Rove campaign-to-take-heat-off-shrub, this is another sympathy ploy.
Pathetic.

As soon as I heard the story I thought it was another Rovian ploy to gain
sympathy for our dear president. They can say anything they want and get away
with it. Why, who is going to actually check and investigate the story? Our news
media?

Just another day in tinfoil paradise...

"Russian Scientists Develop Tablet to Prolong Drunkeness"

The headline says it all. Who said that abject national poverty never lead to innovations that benefit all of humankind?

Russian scientists have developed a product that can keep a person drunk,
Britain’s Daily Telegraph wrote.The tablet called RU-21 Red was developed in
Spirit Sciences, a laboratory based in California but with research facilities
in Russia. The same scientists had earlier worked on secret programs for the
Kremlin and had made the famous RU-21 product that cures hangovers.If you take a
tablet you need less alcohol to stay drunk, the scientists were quoted by the
paper as saying. “RU-21 Red prolongs drunkenness and enhances intoxication,” the
company co-founder, Emil Chiabery, born in the ex-Soviet republic of Georgia
said.

Sadly, the four paragraph story managed to make me jump with glee, and only seconds later curse our American bad luck...

“I’m not sure I’m going to market it in the U.S.A. I don’t want it to
become a party drug. We are for responsible drinking,” Chiabery said.

Chiabery you magnificent bastard, don't hold out on me!

Paris Hilton's Phone Book (sorry, I couldn't resist)

In the latest dumb blonde posting, I found a solid link to the "big story" on todays slow news day. (WARNING: Link contains nudity).

There are even some text messaging conversations on the page, damn does she suck. Anyway, there's nothing real interesting, I just figured I'd give everyone a bit of a diversion on this slow President's Day.

Sample of photos taken from Paris Hilton's phone:

President's Day

Since the marktes are closed today and there is no mail, I have off today. I'm a little upset that I am awake this early, since I was out downing wild turkey with my Hunter S. Thompson obsessed roommate last night. It really is a shame, but it doesn't seem anyone has any insights so far as to why. The democraticundergrounders are claiming another Bush hit while more reasonable people are looking to his breakneck life and adulation of Hemingway. Who knows? Unlike some, it is not difficult for me to appreciate and enjoy artists with divergent political position from mine (Dylan anyone??) so I was shocked to hear it on Drudge radio last night. Fittingly, I heard it on my way to a bar on a Sunday night, to drink with a guy who read two of Thompson's more obsure works in the last week. Being the bearer of bad news is never great, but he took it well, ordered shot after shot, and eventually stopped saying "Holy shit!"

Moving on, I found some President's Day arts and crafts for everyone to enjoy, since I will be busy all day (no work usually means no posts) you will have to entertain yourselves.

Three Cornered Hat
Cut three 12" X 3" strips of construction paper for
each child. Let the children make three-cornered hats like the ones worn in
George Washingtons Day. Have each child staple together the ends of the three
strips of construction paper(making a triangle). Children can then wear their
hats for their other activities.

Lincoln's Bracelet
Provide children
with 3-6 pennies. Cut clear contact paper in half, enclosing the pennies. Adjust
bracelet to slip on child's wrist.

Cherry Trees
Glue twigs on
sheets of sturdy white paper to make trees. Let children attach small red circle
sticker "cherries" or use finger prints dipped into red finger paints.

Game - Chop Down The Cherry Tree
Sit in circle. One player is the
Cherry Tree, who stands in center of circle with eyes covered. Adult chooses one
player to touch Cherry Tree & say,"Chop, chop." Cherry Tree falls down
gently & player returns to place in circle. All players then say with deep
voices, "Who chopped the cherry tree?" Cherry Tree opens eyes & guesses who
it was. That player then becomes Cherry Tree, & the game is repeated. We
laugh a lot while playing this!

Enjoy these wildly stimulating activities with all your friends!