Sarah Palin (AKGovSarahPalin) on Twitter
Sarah Palin has sent 11 tweets or whatever the hell they are called in the last 24 hours. Nearly one every two hours for God's sake. And I'm assuming the woman sleeps.
Now, I know that the last couple of days have not been typical. She is making news right now. A lot is going on. Still, media discipline would not have her responding to one thing after another. She would make one statement and let the rest wash over her.
I came to Twitter fairly late... Like about two weeks ago late... To be honest, I don't see the appeal. Strange 160 character missives about what happens to be passing through someone's mind at a given moment. Twitter actively discourages that inner filter most of us have that prevents us from going off half cocked. In other words, the easier it is to say something quickly, the more likely you are to speak without thinking. And the brevity enforced by the character limit only serves to make things less nuanced.
Anyway, I subscribed to Sarah Palin's tweet feed (or whatever it's called) shortly after news of her resignation spread. So far, I think she really needs to rethink her use of Twitter. Sarah, I think, is a little thin skinned. That's typical for normal people (which is what I think Sarah is) but it's a cardinal vice in professional politicians (which I think she clearly isn't). I don't blame her at all for being thin-skinned. If I had to put up with what she deals with daily, I would spout off too. The problem is that doing so isn't in Sarah's political interests. She seems to respond to every charge. That's a bad idea.
I used to say, or think anyway, that I liked Bill Clinton a lot better the less I saw of him. That was true. When I saw him on a daily basis, I thought about his duplicity, about his policies with which I disagreed. When I saw him rarely, I thought about his magnetism, his likability and his ability to communicate. I think Sarah needs to learn that less is more. Those of us who already love her will only crave hearing from her more if she portions out the time she gives us. And those who don't like her will not have her in their faces all the time. That will give them time to let first impressions fade and give her a new hearing when she returns.
I don't know. My political advice is probably worth what she (and you, by the way) is paying for it, but still...
Biden: US will not stand in Israel's way on Iran - Yahoo! News
In a normal administration this would essentially be a green light for IDF F-15s to start warming up their engines. It would have been a planned, choreographed statement intended to send a message both to Israel and Iran.
With Plugs Biden, however, how can anyone ever really know? Was this a signal? Was it a gaffe? Is Joe speaking with the authority of the government of the United States or did he once again exceed his brief and wander down a rabbit trail while enjoying the sound of his own voice?
Never have been a big fan of Tiki Barber and watching Jewel sing makes me want to retch.
But on the positive side, Natalie Morales looks like a princess.
Not Friendly, from the Senate - Kathryn Jean Lopez - The Corner on National Review Online
Lisa Murkowski went to the trouble of using a satellite phone to stick the knife in Sarah Palin. So much for our theory that she and Sarah were planning to trade offices. That was probably always sort of a half-baked idea anyway.
Maybe Murkowski is just getting in the first salvo in case she is afraid that Sarah is planning to challenger her in the primaries. Personally, I don't think she has anything to worry about there.
Five years ago today, Laurie Dhue was doing holiday duty and the MediaBlog was born.
It's been a long, strange trip since then... Laurie Dhue has given way to Julie Banderas. Our original idea of focusing almost exclusively on "The Media" collapsed by Day Two when we started talking about the 2004 presidential race. Back then we thought the scummiest thing about John Edwards was that he was a personal injury attorney. How naive we were.
Anyway, here's to us! We rock! Yay us! We hope you'll hang with us for another five.
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.
He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.
He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.
He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:
For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing taxes on us without our consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:
For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:
For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:
For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:
For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.
We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.
Okay, here we go...
Maybe Sarah Palin isn't planning to run in 2012. Maybe she's not even planning to run in 2016. Maybe it's as simple as she's being constantly harassed by groundless ethics claims, she's heavily in debt, her family is a focus of constant jokes and harassment and she's just had enough of it. She can leave office, make a bunch of money, maybe become a bit of a media personality, give her kids some time to grow up, have a little bit of a real life and push any sort of political future way, way, way down the road.
Sarah Palin is 45 years old. She is a credible candidate in 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024 and maybe 2028. She has plenty of time to run if she wants to. And maybe she just doesn't. Among those of us who pay more attention to politics than is healthy, there is a tendency to think that everyone in elective office (1) wants to move up to the next higher office and (2) has a master plan for doing so. If you're talking about typical politicians then those are probably safe assumptions. Sarah Palin has proven that she is anything but a typical politician.
Prepare for rant... I gave you blogporn so the least you can do is read a little personal drivel.
I have very little patience with "I wish..." I'm not one to engage in that sort of dreaming. I guess that in general I'm pretty satisfied with my life as it is. That's something to be thankful, I suppose. Not that it wouldn't be nice to win a million dollars or something, but I just don't see the point in wishing for things like that. I mean, wouldn't everyone like to win a million dollars? Is wishing going to bring it one iota closer to reality?
I think what it may come down to is that I'm a very practical person. My father-in-law said something like that about me a few weeks ago. I think it was the first time I ever heard him say something deep and sort of revelatory like that. For the most part, I tend to think he's a little on the loopy side. That one thing, though, he got dead on right. I am for the most part very no-nonsense, not especially sentimental, very practical. Very real.
Now, there are numerous downsides to that. It might make me a little unsympathetic from time to time. I think it definitely makes me a poor listener. I am lousy at small talk because I'm not interested in all the petty details of other people's lives. At the same time, I'm not going to bore you with my vacation slides. I'm not interested in you, but I have no illusions that you're interested in me either.
The upside though is that I don't waste a lot of time wishing for things. If it's something I can actually bring about then maybe I'll do it, but if I have no control over it then I'm not going to waste my time.
See? Told you it would be drivel. Yeah, I know... I just got through saying that I don't bother people with the petty details of my life and I've now spent about 300 words doing just that. Inconsistency is one of the defining characteristics of the human experience. Yeah, feel free to use that one. Throw it into your 8th grade term paper. Your teacher will think your mom wrote it for you.
After an absence, Miss Amy was back on the Today show this morning. And not just back but oh so pretty in pink. Unfortunately we're out of pocket so no screen caps from us. If I can find some decent ones online I'll make sure to share them with you.
Albino-One-Note-Andy-Newscrush AKA Anderson Cooper appears to have killed everyone at CNN and is running the cable news channel singlehandedly!
How else to explain that he appears to be handling the entire 8pm too 11pm shift all by his lonesome?
Palin resigns as governor, leaves plans secret - Yahoo! News
Anyone who reads this blog knows that we are fans of Sarah. We also like to think that our respect and, yes, our affection don't blind us to reality. When she was in a little contretemps with David Letterman a few weeks ago we offered the suggestion that she needed to get over it and move on. Sometimes the best kind of love is tough love. Fanboy devotion isn't going to help her.
Given all that, I think we have to admit that today's events are more than a little puzzling. I mean, when you suddenly call a press conference on Friday before the 4th of July you're usually trying to drop news into the dead zone of the news cycle. In other words, you want it to go away quickly and quietly. The big network anchors and correspondents are grilling on the beach at Martha's Vinyard. Nobody is watching the Sunday shows.
In other words, it's the kind of moment when you pardon Marc Rich-types or do a document dump that just happens to include all the credit card receipts from your visits to Las Vegas sans spouse.
It isn't when you announce your political future. Of course, Sarah didn't do that. Not really. She announced her resignation but didn't explain what, if anything, comes next. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense and, honestly, it worries me a bit.
The knock on Sarah Palin... Well, one of them anyway... Has always been a lack of experience. There have been plenty off other knocks but what sets that one apart is that there is a certain degree of validity to it. She doesn't have a ton of experience. Personally, I'm not a big believer in experience-for-the-sake-of-experience. If that's the defining criteria then lets forego elections and just bump the longest-serving politician we can find up into the top spot. Still, if you believe experience trumps all then Sarah is not your girl.
Anyway, I don't see how resigning from office helps Sarah advance her political career. If she is planning to run for the Senate in 2010 it probably makes sense, but I don't see how it helps her in any other way. And somehow I don't think that's the plan. I mean, the Alaska US Senate seat that comes up in 2010 is currently held by a Republican. Maybe Sarah is planning to challenger her. Or maybe Lisa Murkowski is planning on announcing her run for governor on Monday. Maybe. My spidey sense isn't buying it though. As for resigning to prep for a run in 2012... Again, not buying it... Too soon for that. Not too soon to plan, but too soon to leave the stage when, to be honest, she hasn't been on it for that long.
My fear is that there is a reason why she (seemingly) suddenly resigned when she did. A deep, dark sort of reason. I hope that is not the case, but it's the only thing that makes sense to me.
Time will tell.
Who the frack is Nick Cannon?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Another triumph for network pinhead Jeff Zucker!
You have life insurance, right?
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David Carradine... Dead.
Ed McMahon... Dead.
Farah Fawcett... Dead.
Michael Jackson... Dead.
Billy Mays... Dead.
You pull the plug on Kings but you're going to run I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here right down to the shitty end, aren't you?
Is Government Health Care Constitutional? - WSJ.com
It's just like the Wall Street Journal to ask silly questions.
Colby Curtin Dies Of Vascular Cancer After Watching Movie ‘Up’ (Photo!) | Bumpshack.com
No, no... Not really. Geez, those Disney lawyers have no sense of humor.
No, this is really a very touching little story about a girl dying of cancer whose last wish was to see the new Pixar movie "Up."
As you would expect, the evil bastards of corporate America told her to go pound sand. No, of course they didn't, Mr. Obama. They hand-delivered a DVD to her so she could watch it. They even brought along an armload of goodies.
No, my quibble here isn't with Disney or, obviously, the sick little girl. It's with the genius who wrote this headline. Makes it sound like watching "Up" gives you vascular cancer.
Which it doesn't. Probably. No, no it probably doesn't give you vascular cancer. But can we be sure?
Obama: More benefits for gay workers only one step - Yahoo! News
The Dear Leader doesn't have time to say a kind word for the Iranians who are dying in the street for freedom. He's too busy making sure perverts have a good dental plan.
Are you looking for a fun, affordable family vacation this summer? Have you thought about SeaWorld?
Yeah, I know. Shamu and dolphins. Ho hum. Well, for one thing, those shows are incredibly exciting both for adults and children. Besides, if you think Sea World is just about whales, dolphins and fish then you just don't know SeaWorld.
For example, did you know that along with amazing animal shows, SeaWorld also has amazing rides? Like the new roller coaster called Manta. Filled with dips, twists and turns, Manta is exciting, thrill-packed adventure for the whole family.
You don't have to fly across country to have a great time this summer. SeaWorld is just a quick drive away for many of us.
Want an even better deal? Along with the great fun and value you get from spending the day at SeaWorld, right now you also get a second day of fun. Buy a ticket to SeaWorld and you will get a ticket to Aquatica or Busch Gardens absolutely free. That's two days of fun for the price of one. You can't do better than that!
While certain other theme parks in the Orlando area are raising prices, only SeaWorld is helping you show your family a good time this summer.
Don't wait. Hit the road for family fun and adventure. Go see SeaWorld!
Orlando Sentinel - Oddo's back ... and more radio news
I guess it does.
Well, I wish it could be back to his old stomping grounds on the Phile, but I'm glad he's back in the family. And with a promotion of sorts, it would seem.
Sub collides with sonar array towed by U.S. Navy ship - CNN.com
The array was damaged, but the sub and the ship did not collide, the official said. A sonar array is a radar towed behind a ship that listens and locates underwater sounds.
Uh, no. A sonar array is not a radar, towed or otherwise.
Dumbass.
NOW's Media Hall of Shame: Letterman "Jokes" About Palin's Daughter
Do you really want to be on the same side as NOW? Shouldn't that tell you something? Let it drop, Sarah. You're not helping yourself. With the exception of the faux-see-how-balanced-we-are outrage from the NOW types, the folks who agree with you on this already love you, everybody else just thinks you're blowing it out of proportion.
And, for that matter, some of us who love you think that too.
Wright says 'Jews' keeping him from Obama - Yahoo! News
Does anyone really believe that The Dear Leader had absolutely no idea what his pastor of 20 years believed and said?
There really are only two choices here.
Maybe Obama joined the membership rolls of the Trinity United Church of Christ but then never darkened the doorway afterward. If so, he wouldn't be the first person to do so. And certainly not the first politician who felt like he needed to check the religious box on the application. Of course, that might make his claim of being a "committed Christian" just a tad suspect.
or
Maybe Barack Obama lied.
Yeah, it's kind of small. Best we could come up with. I mean, it could be the size of a flea... Do you really think we're not going to post a picture of Megyn Kelly in a little black dress?
Letterman sort of apologizes about Palin wisecrack - Yahoo! News
If you hadn't noticed, we're pretty big fans of Sarah Palin around here. Hot, conservative... What's not to like.
We're also pretty big fans of David Letterman. At least, we were once upon a time. We don't watch him much anymore. No particular reason other than that the show (and Dave) seems a little tired sometimes.
Anyway, the current brou-ha-ha (sp?) between Dave and Sarah... Long story short... Dave made a couple of jokes about Sarah and one of her daughters. The one about Sarah involved the words "slutty" and "flight attendant." The one about her daughter talked about getting "knocked up" by Alex Rodriguez.
Not sure why I did that recap since you were probably already well aware of the whole thing. Anyhoo... Dave's joke didn't specifically mention the daughter in question's name. Obviously the context refers to 18 year old Bristol, the one who was pregnant. The problem, of course, is that it was 14 year old Willow who actually accompanied mom on the trip.
Last night Dave kind-of-sort-of apologized. It would be more accurate to say he explained. He admitted that sometimes his jokes aren't that funny, sometimes they are in poor taste... The whole thing was self-deprecatory. He said, however, that clearly the joke was referring to Bristol who, given her age, is fair game and not to Willow who, given her age, is clearly not.
Why do I keep with the recaps? Geez... Again, anyhoo... I watched it and I take Dave at his word. To be honest, I think any reasonable person hearing the joke would understand that it was a reference to Bristol. We can disagree about whether it was very funny (I don't think it was and, for that matter, Dave doesn't seem to think so either). We can argue about whether Dave is partisan (he is). We can argue about whether even an 18 year old should be fair game. What I don't think we can realistically suggest, however, that Dave is some sort of pervert.
Unfortunately, that seems to be exactly what Sarah Palin and her entourage are trying to do. Quoting from her spokeswoman (in response to Dave's invitation, probably joking, for Palin to appear on his program):
"The Palins have no intention of providing a ratings boost for David Letterman by appearing on his show. Plus, it would be wise to keep Willow away from David Letterman."
Or, for that matter, from Todd Palin:
"Any 'jokes' about raping my 14-year-old are despicable. Alaskans know it and I believe the rest of the world knows it, too."
Or from the governor herself:
"Concerning Letterman's comments about my young daughter (and I doubt he'd ever dare make such comments about anyone else's daughter): 'Laughter incited by sexually-perverted comments made by a 62-year old male celebrity aimed at a 14-year-old girl are not only disgusting, but they remind us Hollywood has a long way to go in understanding what the rest of America understands - that acceptance of inappropriate sexual comments about an underage girl, who could be anyone's daughter, contributes to the atrociously high rate of sexual exploitation of minors by older men who use and abuse others.'"
By playing up Dave's age and Willow's she is making the point that Dave is a dirty, perverted old man. Now, I have a daughter and I wouldn't like anyone making a sexual joke about her whether she is 14 or 41. Like the Palins, I'm going to be very sensitive to that. However, if you are a public figure I think you have to recognize and accept that your adult children are going to be fair game to some extent. It isn't nice, it probably isn't fair, but it's real.
To sum up what has turned into a dramatically longer post than it probably should be... I think Sarah, Todd and her people are deliberately misinterpreting what Letterman said. He has explained himself and she needs to move on.
Deeds wins Democratic primary for Va. governor - Yahoo! News
Deeds, Shmeeds. Who cares. I'm just happy that the Old Dominion gave Terry McAuliffe a swift kick in the ass.
I do not have any web hosting space anymore. However, for awhile I maintained a blog on its own domain with a webhost. One of the hardest things to do was to find a good value on hosting services. There are so many different things to consider and so many different options. If I am being honest, I think I sort of got... Well... Screwed by my hosting provider. I didn't get very good service and I paid more for it than I should have. My mistake was to rely on ads. I should have done more research before making a decision like that. Of course, the problem was that while all the information was out there, it was hard to find it all in one place.
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David Duchovny is a miserable talk show guest. I have a feeling it will be a long, long time before he pays Conan another visit.
You know, I can clearly remember when I bought my first 56k modem. This is just amazingly fast I thought. Shows you how quickly things change. These days even the lightning fast speed we thought was amazing just a few years ago now seems just a little slow.
Yesterday's great is today's unacceptable. You can't settle for good enough anymore and thankfully you do not have to. As long is Charter is out there pushing the limits you can know for sure that tomorrow will hold something new, faster and better.
For example, there is Charter's Ultra60 service. What is Ultra60? Well, you can find out all of the details by visiting Charter's Ultra60 Information Page or maybe their Charter’s Twitter Feed. In a nutshell though, it is blazing fast broadband internet at 60Mbps.
What does 60Mps mean? It means better gaming. It means watching your favorite TV shows or movies in seconds rather than minutes. It means being able to work from home, pulling those huge files off your office PC in an instant.
Currently available in St. Louis, it is spreading across the country where Charter is available. Maybe to your area in the not to distant future. It's the fastest internet service currently available in St. Louis and one of the fastest in America.
Find out more by clicking on the links above. For high speed and great service there is only one place to go... Charter!
There. At least now you don't have to go all weekend without a little bit of those drool-worthy calves.
Seems our illustrious Lieutenant Governor is improving his qualifications for Attorney General. Boning up on the issues? No, of course not. Cutting back on his taxpayer-financed travel? Uh, not so much...
My Fellow Americans:
Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.
And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.
They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest -- until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.
For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.
Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment -- let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.
With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done, Almighty God.
Amen.
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
-June 6, 1944
I can honestly say that I have never heard of Spencer or Heidi Pratt. I had heard of The Hills but I had no idea that it was a "reality" program. If anything, I thought it was some sort of teeny-bopper soap opera in Fox or something.
Surely to God the day is coming soon when they fire Jeff Zucker's ass.
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A couple of thoughts...
-Put Andy on the couch.
-I think maybe Conan realizes that "The Tonight Show" doesn't matter anymore. That's why he's basically doing the same show he did on Late Night an hour earlier and a continent away. What do I mean by saying "The Tonight Show" doesn't matter anymore? I mean that the brand doesn't matter. Inheriting Johnny Carson's tonight show mattered. A generation of comedians and broadcasters longed for it. That show and that era are long gone. Conan may be glad to have the earlier slot but I don't think he or anyone is going to care about inheriting the mantle of Jay Leno. Which is good since Jay packed his mantle and is taking it to 10pm.
Friends, there was a time when we wondered if anyone could ever fill the place in our lustful hearts that was held by Laurie Dhue. Every weekend we looked forward to worshiping our favorite Amazon.
And then she was gone and we wondered what we would do... Where would we go?
And then there was Julie. Yes, she's dumber than a post, but even so... That skin! That hair! It was like the sun rising again.
Think we are exaggerating? Proof!
Soda Tax Weighed to Pay for Health Care - WSJ.com
Mark me well, Barry. If you or your minions in Congress decide to levy a tax on Coke in order to finance your destruction of the American health care system then the gloves come off. You think I'm an ass now, you just wait, my friend.
I've given you the next thing to a free ride the last few months because, quite honestly, I've soured on politics. I got burned out in the last election. And since there is nothing we as Republicans can do right now other than work toward 2010 and 2012 I really didn't see the need to raise my blood pressure.
If you try to tax my 64 oz fountain Coke then all that ends. It's not just on, Barry... It's AWWWWN!
Oh, and while we're at it:
"Soda is clearly one of the most harmful products in the food supply, and it's something government should discourage the consumption of."
Michael Jacobson
Executive Director, Center for Science in the Public Interest
Newsflash, fuckwad... It's not any of your motherfucking business. It's not any of the government's business. Instead of trying to get the government to arrest people who disagree with you (that's what they do if you don't pay your taxes, right?) and throw them into jail so they can be viciously gang raped how about you actually try to convince people that they might be better off cutting back on the Jolt Cola and drinking guava juice instead? Oh, right, that would actually give people credit for having intelligence and being able to make responsible choices without having your goddamn nanny state do it for them.
Fuck off, Jacobson. You've just earned the inaugural place on The MediaBlog Enemies List.
Finally, Archie will pick either Betty or Veronica - TODAY: Books
My money is on Betty Cooper. It's always the sweet, innocent ones who are really sluts on the inside. Besides, if it had been Veronica her daddy's money would have arranged for a quiet abortion somewhere out west. And, of course, a hit on young Mr. Andrews.
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Steele: Gay marriage costs small business - Washington Times
So we're supposed to appeal to younger voters by somehow convincing them that we're not opposed to gay marriage because it's an abomination in the sight of God and Western Civilization but because of the health care costs to small business.
And I guess we're opposed to abortion because of the negative impact it has on crib manufacturers.
This guy has not lived up to the hype. Between dissing Rush who, for well or for ill, is popular as hell with... Gosh... REPUBLICANS and then saying stupid sh*t like this, Mikey is wearing out his welcome real fast.
God help me, I'm a 14 year old girl, but I'm really looking forward to Glee on Fox. Yeah, I know. I need to get my testosterone checked.
Anyway, since every good show that I like gets canceled (Jeff Zucker? Call your office.), why don't they just save me the trouble and heartache and just cancel the damn thing now before it even airs. That way they can put on a second episode each week of whatever that fracking lie detector show was called. Or maybe something where they have naked virgins swim in pools of vomit with leeches. I mean, it is Fox afterall.
Dan Abrams looks like Ryan from The Office.
Flipping around a couple of nights ago... Tom Hanks on Charlie Rose... I remember when he was on Bosom Buddies... He's looking old... Kevin Spacey on the Tonight Show... I remember when he was sitting at a piano on LA Law singing "Dulcinea"... He's looking old... Robin Williams on Letterman... I remember when he was Mork... He's looking old... How is it that all these other people are aging and I'm not? Hmmm....
Ron Howard looks more like Vladimir Lenin every day.
Donald Trump Says Miss California Carrie Prejean Will Retain Crown - wcbstv.com
When Donald Trump is the sober, sane voice of reason you know that the apocalypse is nigh.
You have probably seen all of those TV commercials talking about the whole digital transition. Do you realize that if you subscribe to cable that isn't something you even need to be thinking about?
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Some Republican leaders prefer not to discuss Sarah Palin - Jonathan Martin - POLITICO.com
In the latest instance of a high-profile GOP member taking a passing swipe at the party's 2008 vice presidential candidate, former Massachusetts governor and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney jokingly dismissed Sarah Palin’s inclusion on Time’s list of influential people in an interview broadcast Sunday.
He asked, was “the issue on the most beautiful people or the most influential people?”
You know, Mitt, we were on your side around here, but snide little prickish comments like this don't endear you to those of us who gave you a pass on your sudden Come to Jesus on social conservatism.
Newsflash, Mitt... There are a lot of social conservatives who held their nose when they endorsed you. For most of us it was because your convenient conversion seemed a little... Well... Convenient. For more than a few, however, the holy underwear was almost a deal breaker.
Anyway, what I'm getting at is that while we might agree with you... Now... We don't entirely trust you so making a condescending and, yes, sexist about our girl Sarah probably isn't the brightest thing to do. And your selling point has always been that you were the brightest guy in the room. Better start showing it, Mitt.
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My Way News - Obamas take a walk, holding hands in the evening
Gosh, how sweet. Leave a tender moment alone, Christine. This is what passes for news at the Associated Press?
Real Radio (WTKS) personality Shannon Burke in jail, accused of shooting wife, dog -- OrlandoSentinel.com
Heck of a week there at Real Radio, folks.
Now the new bagaboo is picking up your dog crap because it could pollute the water supply.
I guess deer crap is sterile. And bear crap. And squirrel. Bunny. Pigeon...
The star of NBC's hottest new show is ... Chevy Chase? - TV Squad
We speak figuratively of course. The MediaBlog does not condone violence. No. Of course not. Not even against pin-headed, over-rated network execs who don't know their ass from a hole in the ground. No. That would be wrong. Very, very wrong.
Still, throw me a bone here, Jeffy. You pretty much send Kings off into oblivion but you've got a tingle running up your leg for Chevy Fracking Chase? Dear God, are you addled? Don't answer that.
Chew with your mouth closed.
Keep your napkin on your lap.
Don't wear your hat indoors.
Since a lot of folks are finding their way here when searching for Oddo and the Phile, I thought I should say a little something about what I think about the whole thing. I know you're just dying to know. Yeah. Sure.
Anyhoo, obviously I hate to see Oddo kicked to the curb. He's been with the Phile for longer than anyone except, I think, Mo and of course Jim. He deserved better but when the corporate ax falls loyalty and tenure don't count for beans. I think we all know that.
I would imagine the decision came down to dollars and cents for Clear Channel. Given his tenure, I would think that Oddo made a healthy living. Very few people are getting rich in radio and I'm sure Oddo is not an exception to that rule, but tenure alone probably meant that he was doing okay.
If there was anything beyond tenure that figured into the decision, I'm going to speculate that The Powers That Be might have thought along the following lines. Don't want to get rid of Moira or Jana... Doing so would destroy the male female balance. That leaves you with either Jack or Oddo. I have a feeling that some folks may have found them to be interchangeable and maybe redundant. As for why Oddo was chosen rather than Jack? Who knows? Money? Or maybe Jack does a lot of other things around the station? We know about his weekend sports show. He also seems to be the replacement host when Jim is out (Moira was for awhile but that never seemed to really work very well). It could be almost anything. Hell, Oddo is out sick a good bit. It might even be that.
Because they don't make widgets we sometimes forget (or I do anyway) that this is basically an office.
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Gays would get new protections under House bill
If you beat someone up you should go to jail. If you murder someone you should go to jail. If you threaten or terrorize someone you should go to jail.
So stipulated.
It doesn't matter if it is black vs black, white vs black, straight vs gay, lesbian vs blind... Do the combinations as you like. There is something wrong with punishing people more for hurting certain protected groups.
Amazon.com: Used and New: Sid Meier's CivNet
Don't suppose there's anyone out there who still plays CivNet, is there?
