The Blog Ruiners

You cannot reason with paranoid partisan stooges. It's impossible. But, what you can do is underscore their lies in a manner that allows for those on the normal end of the spectrum to decide for themselves..............................................................................................LIE NUMBER ONE - I have "finally" decided to criticize the right. The real truth, folks, is that I've been criticizing elements of the right from day one (April 23, 2007). In fact, my very first post was called "Love-Fest With DeLay", a piece in which I sharply criticize O'Reilly for his powder-puff interview with the former minority leader. And, yes, I've been sharply critical of former President Bush (his mishandling of the war, especially) and his apologists in the media...........................................................................................LIE NUMBER TWO - I am a strong supporter of Senator McCain. The real truth here, folks, is that I have in fact been very critical of Senator McCain (I once referred to him as Bush on steroids) and DIDN'T vote for him. I've been critical of his flip-flopping and, yes, highly critical of what I've perceived to be a nasty/bellicose foreign policy. I have defended him at times, but only when 1) he was accused of being a North Vietnamese collaborator, 2) his war record was viciously attacked (one blogger went as far as to blame him for when his plane was annihilated by friendly fire, and 3) when he was "diagnosed" as having Alzheimer's............................................................................................LIE NUMBER THREE - I didn't criticize Senator McCain for his flip-flopping on "don't ask, don't tell". This lie is an easy one to disprove. On February 4, in a post entitled, "Miscellaneous 4", I criticized the Senator in no uncertain terms FOR EXACTLY THIS.................................................................................................LIE NUMBER FOUR - I failed to criticize Liz Cheney for her intemperate comments on the Justice Department. Again, this is an easy one to disprove. On March 11, in a post entitled, "The 800 Pound Second Generational Ramrod in the Room", I criticized her and, yes, I did it sharply................................................................................................LIE NUMBER FIVE - Keith Olbermann criticizes Obama far more than I criticize the right. This one, in particular, is ridiculous. Yes, Olbermann will on occasion chastise (gently, VERY GENTLY) the President. But it is ALWAYS when the President isn't liberal ENOUGH, never, ever, when his liberalism runs amok. Compare this to me, a person who has literally written hundred of post that criticize the right for being TOO RIGHT..........................................................................................LIE NUMBER SIX (and, yes, it's late, so this is going to be the last one) - I didn't condemn the violence and death threats that came from those Tea Party members. Not only, folks, did I condemn these actions (March 24, "I Knew Barry Goldwater..."), I criticized Fox News (March 27, "One Network's Innuendo....") for their whitewashing of them. It's like, WHAT, these frigging partisans can't read?

From the Safety of His Wheelchair

Charles Krauthammer is clearly a smart guy. But I'm telling you, RIGHT NOW, he's basically talking gibberish. His latest neocon swipe against the President is the one in which he states that we should have pushed harder for "regime change" in Iran (last summer, after the election controversy over there). And, yes, me-buckos, once again Mr. Krauthammer fails to deliver in terms of specifics. Push harder HOW? Moral support? Or his suggesting something of a much more strenuous nature? I mean, at the very least, this is something that could conceivably mean funding, weaponry, etc.. Granted, it's probably better to have a civil war (the object of which would be to get rid of the mullahs and not just Ahmadinejad, I would HOPE) over there PRIOR to their attainment of nuclear weapons and all. But, still, it's also something that would probably create a lot instability NOW. And being that we're presently knee-deep in two Muslim countries already.....

Snapshots

I can't ever remember feeling as badly for a person as I did last night for that for that Xavier player (women's college basketball; Xavier vs. Stanford). For those of you who didn't see it, not only did she blow a layup, she blew a second gimme just ten seconds later - either of which, had she made them, would have given the lady Musketeers the lead with seconds to go (yes, Stanford scored right after to win it, but at least it would have forced an overtime). Now, granted, there were some other things that also went awry for Xavier; missed foul shots (the second of which was the front end of a one on one by a player shooting 86% for the season), turnovers, etc.. But, honestly here, I'm pretty sure that people aren't going to remember any of them. Unfortunately.................................................................................................Oh, and if you think that I'm making too much out of this, think again. Donnie Moore (the Angels pitcher who gave up that gopher ball to Boston's Dave Henderson in the 1986 divisional series) ended up blowing his brains out. Skip "Money" Dillard (the DePaul guard whose missed free-throw versus St. Joseph's in a 1981 NCAA tournament cost them the game) ended up on skid-row. Bill Buckner.....I mean, what can I say? We all know about Bill Buckner. This frigging guy can't even go out in public, STILL!.....All I can say, folks, is that I hope that this young lady has a rock-solid support system going. This, in that, yeah, you bet, she's really going to need it.

To Compel or Not to Compel

I have very mixed feelings about this so-called "individual mandate". On the one hand, it does seem to be at least somewhat dictatorial - the federal government compelling its citizens to purchase a product. This, BUT, on the other hand, it's extremely hard to envision any sort of telling reform (absent single-payer and/or a voucher system) happening without it. We certainly can't get rid of preexisting condition clauses without it (this, in that people will simply wait UNTIL they're sick and THEN purchase the policy)................................................................................................As to whether the federal government compelling individuals to purchase health insurance is, in any way, equivalent to the states compelling these folks to purchase car insurance, again, it's significantly more complicated that those most embroiled in the argument have made it out to be. Yes, the government is compelling its citizenry to purchase something. But, it also must be stated that one case involves the federal government. The other one does not. That, and it could also be argued that the auto insurance mandate is a mandate that just as much protects other people (the liability component) as it does the insured driver (health insurance being purchased more to protect oneself). Granted, if a person doesn't have health insurance, the possibility exists that eventually the taxpayer ends up picking up the tab (so, yeah, other people can and often do get hurt).....Like I said up front, it's pretty damn complicated.

Bush League

I hate to dump on a coach/person right after he or she loses BUT, I have to tell you here, I am very happy that Kentucky's John Calipari-led Wildcats lost to West Virginia tonight. I'm sorry, but I just don't respect the guy. I mean, he's basically running an NBA farm team over there at Kentucky (yes, as he also did at Memphis prior to Lexington). In fact, the ONLY reason that John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Eric Bledsoe are even playing at Kentucky, is because they currently aren't allowed to play in the NBA (the league now has an minimum age-requirement). The very second that they're eligible - yep, you got it, each and every one of these young men will be kissing the bluegrass faithful, bye-bye. Absolutely. It'll be just like when Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans each bolted Memphis after one year. Not that Kentucky really has much to worry about, mind you. Calipari'll reload. That son of a bitch ALWAYS does.

One Network's Innuendo Is Another Network's Bread and Butter - AND VICE VERSA!!

The latest ploy by Fox News is that there isn't any "proof" (footage, etc.) that people actually spat upon Democratic Congressmen/women, called the African-American ones the N-word, etc.. It's only innuendo (they're lying, in other words), they're currently saying (well, that, and that the media is overblowing it - obviously)...................................................................................................But the thing is, folks, are they all frigging lying? I mean, sure, Nanci Pelosi and some of those nimrods - I wouldn't necessarily believe them, either. But, yeah, when we're talking about a national hero like John Lewis (a man whose bravery and integrity have NEVER been questioned), I think it's pretty clear that you can take it to the bank. If John Lewis says that he was spat upon, I believe it...................................................................................................Now this isn't to imply that everybody from the Tea Party movement is doing such crap. They clearly aren't (and, yes, Olbermann is big-time wrong to be painting with such a broad brush). My only point is that there they (Fox News) frigging go again, framing such an issue in a way that totally suits them, etc.. It is wrong, folks. And, no, just because MSNBC.....

Final Score From the Oscars

Sandra Bullock 1 - Alfred Hitchcock, Greta Garbo, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole, Barbara Stanwyck, Rosalind Russell, Carole Lombard, Stanley Kubrick, Orson Welles, Cary Grant, Glenn Close, Kirk Douglas, and Jean Arthur 0. Highlights at eleven.