Hey Joe...Where ya going with that drink in your hand?

Via Maggies Farm and a toast to Jimmy for the title.

The Obama Press and the Audacity of Dopes

As an illustration of how low the media is willing sink in its support of Barrak Obama, the dopes at MSNBC had the audacity to run this line during Sarah Palins acceptance speech in Ohio.

"How many houses does Palin add to the Republican Ticket"?

The press wonders why they are on the fast track to financial bankruptcy? (See links below) It's because they themselves are for the most part professionally and ethically bankrupt! " Even leftist Bill Maher thinks the press has lost all perspective when he noted that “The coverage after, that I was watching, from MSNBC, I mean these guys were ready to have sex with him.” So before I go on a rant about the imminent demise of the press and how they have essentially abdicated their role as the fifth estate let me answer their question.

She has her family home in Wasilla and this little gem in Juneau, the Alaska Governors Mansion. That would be TWO.

I find the fixation on McCain's housing situation laughable. I'm sure there is a degree of envy involved in the fact that Mac married up. But as I aways say, "It's not your fault if your daddy doesn't have money, but it is your fault if your wife's daddy doesn't have money." Get over it.

Bloomburg: "Tribune, MediaNews May Wind Up in Default as Ad Sales Evaporate"

Newsosaur: Defaultomatic

Palin?

UPDATE: Saturday, August 30, 2008

I caught the news that Sarah Palin might be named as the vice presidential nominee a few minutes before heading out the door and just had time to post the Mc-Palin logo which I had an file from a week ago when Obama named Biden as his running mate. You see, in a knee jerk reaction to the Biden announcement I wrote that Palin would be the logical choice as the McCain pick. You wont find that on the post however because upon further consideration I had to stick to my first assessment of her as a prospective nominee.

Since then I had been pondering who would be the best choice and there was no one that I could really get excited about. I backed Romney during the primary but as VP the more thought about it I felt there were aspects that were troublsome. Guilliani, Thompson, Leiberman, no way. Pawlenty or Jindal maybe, but again they seemed like safe choices that wouldn't do anything to shake up the race. The more I thought about it and the more I learned about Palin the more sense it made. I realized she was a candidate that I could get exited about.

The text message from the wife read, "I really like her" and I was immediatly run over by the bandwagon. (but then she "really liked" Huckabee and we know how that turned out). My original fears were that she would look inexperienced sitting next to Biden in a debate but having seen her in her acceptance speech and in other venues Biden will come off looking like Darth Vader. She has every bit as much solid government experience behind her as any of the other candidates and she is admired by the people of her state. Other reactions here, here and here. Alaskan Bio Here, Video Here.

The wife wondered how long it would be before the press started making fun of her hair. It became obvious pretty quickly that hair was probably pretty low on the list. As expected, the KO's loons immediately began to wallow in thier own crap but a better gauge of the brilliance of this pick is how Obamaite Andrew Sullivan and others are peeing like puppies over Mac's choice.

Good Luck Sarah, lets win one for the 49th State.

Krauthammer on "The Friends of Obama"

Who can forget the FOBs "Friends of Bill"? But who are the next generation FOBs, "Friends of Barrack". Charles Krauthammer makes the interesting observation that at the Obama convention FOBs were glaringly absent.

Eerily missing at the Democratic convention this year were people of stature who were seriously involved at some point in Obama's life standing up to say: I know Barack Obama. I've been with Barack Obama. We've toiled/endured together. You can trust him. I do...

So where are the colleagues? The buddies? The political or spiritual soul mates? His most important spiritual adviser and mentor was Jeremiah Wright. But he's out. Then there's William Ayers, with whom he served on a board. He's out. Where are the others?

Read the whole thing.

Is he ready?

According to these experts, not so much. According to himself, he's needs to start cramming.

Humor: Clinging to our guns.

Are you a Democrat, a Republican, or a Southerner? Here is a little test that will help you decide.

You're walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children. Suddenly, an Islamic Terrorist with a huge knife comes around the corner, locks eyes with you, screams obscenities, praises Allah, raises the knife,and charges at you. You are carrying a 40 caliber Glock, and you are an expert shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family. What do you do?

Think
Think
Think
Think
Think

Well, that's not enough information to answer the question!
Should I call 9-1-1?
Does the man look poor or oppressed?
Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire him to attack?
Could we run away?
Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand?
What does the law say about this situation?
Does the Glock have an appropriate safety built into it?
Why am I carrying a loaded gun anyway, what kind of message does this send to society and to my children?
Is it possible he'd be happy with just killing me?
Does he definitely want to kill me, or would he be content just to wound me?
If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he was stabbing me?
We need to raise taxes and make this a happier, healthier street that would discourage such behavior.
This is all so confusing! I need to debate this with some friends for few days and try to come to a consensus.
If this was your answer you are a Democrat.

A Republicans Answer:
BANG! __________________________________________________

A Southerner's Answer:
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Click..... (Sounds of reloading) BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Click
Daughter: 'Nice grouping, Daddy! Were those the Winchester Silver Tips or Hollow Points?'
Son: 'Can I shoot the next one!'
Wife: 'You're not takin' that to the Taxidermist!'

(Thx JJ)

Unity Fest 2008

I had to work last night and missed the opening events of the Democrats Unity Fest but from what I have been able to glean form the nattering nabobs this morning this quote from Obama worshipper Andrew Sullivan sums it up as a "Themeless Bore".

"My hopes weren't high for tonight, and hoisting Ted Kennedy into some kind of speech will probably provide all the drama TV craves. But seriously: what a crashing, distracted, short-attention span craptacular so far."

Catharsis

Back to School

The summer of 2008 has somehow slipped away and it is time to head back to the "U" for a another fun filled, and thankfully the final, year of education. Sorry to say very few of the things on the honey do list were completed and except for the week at Oshkosh the camper never left the garage.

I am predicting that this fall will be somewhat of a challenge due to the fact that for the first time I am taking 16 credit hours plus I still have to finish a independent study course in Greek and Roman history that did not get done over the summer. So while I will probably continue to post the occasional mindless drivel here at the Salmon any serious writing energies will have to be directed to those stranded on the Iowa Island of Acedimic Liberalism.

Bam! Who didnt see this ad coming?

McCain spokesman Ben Porritt

"There has been no harsher critic of Barack Obama's lack of experience than Joe Biden. Biden has denounced Barack Obama's poor foreign policy judgment and has strongly argued in his own words what Americans are quickly realizing -- that Barack Obama is not ready to be President.

Politics certainly makes strange bedfellows and this has to be one of the strangest. Biden is the quintessential egocentric pro war (before he was against it) gaff machine who has held no job outside of the US Senate. The man who raised nary a blip of support in his own runs for the presidency is asked to join forces with the man he once declared as not fit to hold the office. The left will dismiss Biden's war vote simply because he is the bottom of the ticket but other than his supposed grasp of foreign policy this is hardly a choice of a cutting edge hope and change candidate. This is insider status-quo writ large. It's no wonder that the democrats are looked at by 51% of the electorate as soulless empty suited drones of the collective and the "Barry and Joe Show" will do nothing to dispel that impression.

Biden's 3 AM Phone Call

It’s 3 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep. But there’s a phone in Joe Biden's house and it’s ringing.

"Huh...What the...Hello"

"Joe it's me Barry. Man you gotta take the VP spot."


"Dude it's like 3 o'clock in the frikin morning. And we've already been over this!"

"I know Joe but I really need you man. I can't get anyone else to take the job, and the convention is Monday, and if I don't find someone by then I'll have to take that bitch and her husband, and..."

"Take a breath man you aint on the pipe again are ya?. What about that congressman from Texas? What's his name?"

"Fell out of his chair laughing then dissed me by telling the press how honored he was to be vetted. Bastard! You gotta help me! Joe look, lets uh um be ahh... honest. I need someone who already knows the world’s leaders, knows the military — someone tested and ready to lead in a dangerous world. That's you Joe, to a MF "T". If I was there right now I'd knuckle bump ya bro, you da man!"

"That would be me alright. But look, it really is a crappy job and....

"Come on man look what Cheney was able to do. You'd be the power behind the throne!"

....As you know I really like John McCain and I was the one that said that "your not ready and the presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training,'"

"Water under the bridge, under the bridge. You can even call me articulate if you want. Please Joe, tell me you'll do it?" Pleeeeease....sob sob sob

It’s 3 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep. Are you sure you want to read that text message?

Karma?

Quiz: Are You Smarter Than a Sociopath

Read this question, come up with an answer. This is not a trick question. It is as it reads:

A woman, while at the funeral of her own mother, met a guy whom she did not know. She thought this guy was amazingly appealing. She believed him to be her dream guy and soul mate so much that she fell in love with him right then and there, but never asked for his number and could not find him. A few days later she killed her sister.

Question: What is her motive for killing her sister?

Think
Think
Think
Think
Think

Answer here at Maggies Farm. Let me know how you did.

An Obamination

The Salmon Channels Nostradamus

Quatrain 8-29 "The Ticket"

Quote

Caecilius Metellus to the Roman Senate (100 BC) "It is certainly sordid to do the wrong thing and anyone can do the right thing when there is no danger attached; what distinguishes the good man from the others is that when danger is involved (personal or political) he still does right." (Qtd. in Plutarch, in Gaius Marius)

A more accurate translation:

"To do harm is proper of the evil spirits; to do good without taking risks is proper of the ordinary spirits; the man of heart never ever deflects from what is fair and honest, never looking to rewards or to threats." (Wikipeidia)

Today I am desperately trying to complete an essay on the fall of the Roman Republic and the lives of Marius, Sulla, Crassus, Pompey, and Caesar but as you can see a wandering mind has forsaken me. Focus Damn it Focus! Screw it Cato I'm going to the garage.

Reasons to Return to Alaska

#5. Money. aka. The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend

JUNEAU, Alaska —Here are two reasons to smile if you live in Alaska: Your annual oil royalty dividend will likely be bigger than ever and the checks will go out earlier than ever before.
Nearly every man, woman and child received $1,654 each in last year's distribution. This year's payout is expected to be higher, but it hasn't been calculated yet.
But added to this year's check will be an extra $1,200 from the state's oil-rich treasury to help offset high energy prices, a factor driving the early distribution.

Obama Convention Credentials, Distressing.

From Denver's 9News.com, via Hot Air.

It is silly to parse every move of the messiah and his obvious need to wrap himself in patriotic symbolism, (although Dr. Phil could make a full time job out of it) but today it has been noted that the image on the Obama credentials for his sermon on Mt. Invesco appears to be an inverted flag which is the international sign for distress.

However, it looks more like the flag is not furled at all but laying on the ground which brought back memories of this very special moment in Obama campaign history.

The question is, was this really the inspiration for the artwork on the ticket? Or are the media mavens at the DNC purely "artistes"?

Update: I just caught a snippet of Obama speaking to the VFW and he just warned everyone again not to question his patriotism. Moi?

PC Hypersensitivity

The New York Times reports that a group of the "hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history" have taken to the streets to protest the use of the word "retard" in the Ben Stiller release of "Tropic Thunder". This movie is a comedy and the purpose of comedy to be irreverent, to make us look at the sillyness of ourselves. It is not hate speech! Who didn't love Steve Martin as Nevin R. Johnson ("I was born a poor black child") in "The Jerk" or the racial overtones in "Blazing Saddles."

I am sure that anyone that looks hard enough can find something to be offended about in just about anything. (sarcasm alert) In fact, I took my daughter to see "Kung Fu Panda" yesterday and I was aghast to see pigs and geese depicted as stereotypical slanty eyed Chinese. Then his little tidbit jumped off the page as I read the transcript to the Obama/ McCain Saddleback Forum.

Obama: You mentioned one person I'd be listening to and that is Michelle, my wife.... I think any leader needs somebody who can get in your face and say " Boy, you really screwed that one up. You really blew it."

She calls him Boy? Insensitive x&Y%$, I'm outraged!.

This example, like the Tropic Thunder case is PC hypersensitivity at its worst. Seems ridiculous doesn't it.

Flotsam and Jetsam: Signs, Signs everywhere a sign...

This sign is an old joke to Alaskans but with the number of bear incidents in Anchorage this year I thought perhaps they could use a little humor. (Click to enlarge)

Every time someone tries to explain the labyrinth of conspiracies that us unwitting sheep are ignorant of I always tell them, "You are going to have to draw me a picture cause I just ain't seein' it." Well, someone has finally done just that. It's all so much clearer now.

Courtesy Funny Signs

With the DoA Big Foot found in Georgia this week (or maybe not) this sign will certainly cut down on the Bigfoot roadkill problem in your neighborhood.

Orwell

If there is a more influential or often quoted writer of the 20th century than George Orwell I can’t say who it might be. His most famous work, “1984” of course led to the term Orwellian to describe the decline of western civilization into the dystopia world of Oceania. Both ends of the political spectrum often quote Orwell’s work to highlight the transgressions real or imagined of the other. In fact I recently stumbled across a C-Span panel discussion featuring George Soros clutching a copy of “1984” to prove his point that the Bush administration is Big Brother incarnate. You could argue that Orwell’s world was the result of “Ingsoc” ,English Socialism, which seems closer to the ideology of Mr. Soros.

Orwell also produced a body of work beyond “1984” during his career, insightful commentary on the turbulent 20th century. "Animal Farm" is of course the most prominent but his other works are also historically relevent. In "Why I Write" (1946) he noted that his goal was, “ to make political writing into an art”, this is particularly evident in his essays. Here are exerpts from a few personal favorites.

On Jews:

When you go through the Jewish quarters you gather some idea of what the medieval ghettoes were probably like. Under their Moorish rulers the Jews were only allowed to own land in certain restricted areas, and after centuries of this kind of treatment they have ceased to bother about overcrowding. Many of the streets are a good deal less than six feet wide, the houses are completely windowless, and sore-eyed children cluster everywhere in unbelievable numbers, like clouds of flies. Down the centre of the street there is generally running a little river of urine.

In the bazaar huge families of Jews, all dressed in the long black robe and little black skull-cap, are working in dark fly-infested booths that look like caves. A carpenter sits cross-legged at a prehistoric lathe, turning chair-legs at lightning speed. He works the lathe with a bow in his right hand and guides the chisel with his left foot, and thanks to a lifetime of sitting in this position his left leg is warped out of shape. At his side his grandson, aged six, is already starting on the simpler parts of the job.

I was just passing the coppersmiths’ booths when somebody noticed that I was lighting a cigarette. Instantly, from the dark holes all round, there was a frenzied rush of Jews, many of them old grandfathers with flowing grey beards, all clamouring for a cigarette. Even a blind man somewhere at the back of one of the booths heard a rumour of cigarettes and came crawling out, groping in the air with his hand. In about a minute I had used up the whole packet. None of these people, I suppose, works less than twelve hours a day, and every one of them looks on a cigarette as a more or less impossible luxury.

As the Jews live in self-contained communities they follow the same trades as the Arabs, except for agriculture. Fruit-sellers, potters, silversmiths, blacksmiths, butchers, leather-workers, tailors, water-carriers, beggars, porters—whichever way you look you see nothing but Jews. As a matter of fact there are thirteen thousand of them, all living in the space of a few acres. A good job Hitler isn’t here. Perhaps he is on his way, however. You hear the usual dark rumours about the Jews, not only from the Arabs but from the poorer Europeans.

“Yes, MON VIEUX, they took my job away from me and gave it to a Jew. The Jews! They’re the real rulers of this country, you know. They’ve got all the money. They control the banks, finance—everything.”

“But,” I said, “isn’t it a fact that the average Jew is a labourer working for about a penny an hour?”

“Ah, that’s only for show! They’re all money-lenders really. They’re cunning, the Jews.” (Marrakech, 1939)

On Atrocities:

I have little direct evidence about the atrocities in the Spanish civil war. I know that some were committed by the Republicans, and far more (they are still continuing) by the Fascists. But what impressed me then, and has impressed me ever since, is that atrocities are believed in or disbelieved in solely on grounds of political predilection. Everyone believes in the atrocities of the enemy and disbelieves in those of his own side, without ever bothering to examine the evidence. Recently I drew up a table of atrocities during the period between 1918 and the present; there was never a year when atrocities were not occurring somewhere or other, and there was hardly a single case when the Left and the Right believed in the same stories simultaneously. And stranger yet, at any moment the situation can suddenly reverse itself and yesterday’s proved-to-the-hilt atrocity story can become a ridiculous lie, merely because the political landscape has changed. (Looking Back on the Spanish War 1942)

On Facism:

It will be seen that, as used, the word ‘Fascism’ is almost entirely meaningless. In conversation, of course, it is used even more wildly than in print. I have heard it applied to farmers, shopkeepers, Social Credit, corporal punishment, fox-hunting, bull-fighting, the 1922 Committee, the 1941 Committee, Kipling, Gandhi, Chiang Kai-Shek, homosexuality, Priestley's broadcasts, Youth Hostels, astrology, women, dogs and I do not know what else.

Yet underneath all this mess there does lie a kind of buried meaning. To begin with, it is clear that there are very great differences, some of them easy to point out and not easy to explain away, between the régimes called Fascist and those called democratic. Secondly, if ‘Fascist’ means ‘in sympathy with Hitler’, some of the accusations I have listed above are obviously very much more justified than others. Thirdly, even the people who recklessly fling the word ‘Fascist’ in every direction attach at any rate an emotional significance to it. By ‘Fascism’ they mean, roughly speaking, something cruel, unscrupulous, arrogant, obscurantist, anti-liberal and anti-working-class. Except for the relatively small number of Fascist sympathizers, almost any English person would accept ‘bully’ as a synonym for ‘Fascist’. That is about as near to a definition as this much-abused word has come. (What is Fascism? 1944)

What brought this subject to mind was that this week the “Orwell Prize” is releasing entries from Orwell’s personal diary on a daily basis which should over the long term prove to be an interesting insight into one of histories most prodigious writers. I can only imagine that he would have made a hell of a blogger.

That's Life:

On the first day, God created the dog and said: 'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.' The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?' So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said: 'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.' The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?' And God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said: 'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.' The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?' And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created man and said: 'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years.' But man said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?''Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'

So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you.

Thx Rick

Threat Level: Elevated

Been a while since I have pulled out the Threat Level tag.

1. Dead guy found in a Denver Hotel room
2. Dead guy has in his possession a pound of cyanide.
2. Dead guy is Canadian of Samali decent
3. Dead guys hotel is two blocks away from the site of the upcoming Obama coronation ceremony/Clinton cat fight.
4. The Post reports: "An online threat posted in July by a man with a similar name warned of death.
"Having the bible in one hand, and a bread in the other hand, is not a correct thing! Kill Them , Kill them, Kill them, that is my massage (sic),!" read the posting by Abdirahman Dirie on the 'Solmali's for Jesus' Blog.

The FBI's reaction?

"The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is assisting in the investigation but FBI spokeswoman Kathy Wright said the incident has no apparent connection to terrorism. (say what?)
"You have a suspicious substance that was found in a hotel room in conjunction with person being a foreign national, and we have a lot of questions and that is why we are assisting," Wright told the Post.

I'm sure this just an innocent misunderstanding.

Excuse Me While I Puke (Again)

From the mouth of the Messiah:

“America is …, uh, is no longer, uh … what it could be, what it once was. And I say to myself, I don’t want that future for my children.”

Exactly what is it about America that Obama would like to return to. Perhaps to the days when his children would not have the chance to live in a million dollar home in the burbs while attending private schools? Or to the days of yesteryear where the idea of a man like Obama holding the highest office in the land was simply obsurd?
And This:

“Sometimes it’s easier to hold onto your own stereotypes and misconceptions. It makes you feel justified in your ignorance. That’s America.”

That's America? Justified in my ignorance? I would wager that if he pontificated those sentiments from nearly any bar stool in America he would be picking his condescending ass up off the floor. Essentially Obama, his wife, or the loonblogs, (try as they might) can't help but make these remarks. These are the basic tenents of their philosophy.

RE: "Because your concepts differ from mine you are ignorant. Because you hold beliefs that differ from mine you are bigoted. Because we hold differing ideals or there are flaws in our society you are evil and we as a nation have failed. Just follow me and I will supply all your needs, raise you up from the darkness of your ignorance, and put you on the path of rightousness so America can once again be that Shining City on a Hill."

No thanks Barry, I don't buy it.

Flotsam and Jetsam: Moose

Awwww!



Oooh!

Oshkosh Recap.

I had sincerely hoped to post during our Oshkosh Airventure last week but technical difficulties prevented me from doing so. Although our campground claimed to have wireless Internet available the position of our scenic camping spot located behind the metal shed next to the antique combine prevented reception. Secondly, after 8 or 9 hours of strolling through the miles of aircraft and acres of displays we were more interested in nursing sore feet and having a juicy steak and several beers:) In any event here is a short recap of our journey.

We departed the banks of the Cedar and arrived on the shores of Lake Winnebago late Monday afternoon. We set up camp under the final approach to Runway 36 with the steady drone of aircraft arriving at Oshkosh overhead. (Including the Boeing Dreamlifter)



On Tuesday we arrived at the gate at 08:00 and as expected we were stunned and amazed at the shear quantity of things to see and do. We proceed to spend the morning walking the flightline from the main entrance to the end of the field admiring the myriad of of aircraft that had flown in for the event.

The afternoon was spent strolling through the four huge hangers at Aeroshell Square that houses vendors selling everything aeronautical from avionics to wingtanks. The daily airshow commenced at 2:30 with a salute to the military featuring a variety of war bird demonstrations capped off by the Redbull aerobatic helicopter (See Video).

We returned to the airport early Tuesday and began our inspection of the the new planes offered by the various manufacturers. Prominent this year was the new Light Jet aircraft sucb as the Cessna Mustang and the Eclipse 400 which looks and flys like a V-tail Bonanza on steroids.

Later we toured the swap meet, the home builts, and the warbirds sections of the field. What always impresses me about the warbirds is the love, dedication, and attention to detail that goes into the restoration and maintenance of these classic aircraft. Certainly most of the P51 Mustangs look better now than when they came off the assembly line during WWII.

On the final day we made our way out to the Oshkosh float plane base and spent a leisurely morning watching the departure and arrival of a variety of aircraft. The most unique of these being a turbine equipped DeHaviland Beaver sporting an American Flag paint job on the left side and the Canadian Flag on the right side. The flag motif was carried through to the interior with stars and stripe upholstery on one side and the maple leaf on the other.

Later we journeyed back to the field and spent the remainder of the day admiring the static displays at the Oshkosh Museum and the Classic Aircraft hangered at Pioneer Field. I was amazed at the tremendous number of people either camping under the wing of thier aircraft or in the campgrounds. It seemed to far outnumber the attendance of my last visit. That said, Oshkosh is so big that you never have the feeling that you are fighting a croud or traffic during the event. Once again it was superbly organized. Hats off the EAA organizers, and many thanks for another outstanding event. I will be sitting by the phone anxiously awaiting the announcement that I have won the Cirrus 20 the EAA raffled off this year.

I also want to thank Gray for making the trek down from Alaska for a great week!