August 13, 2009
Puppet show?
.
When I decided that I would vote for Barack Obama last November, I was not as pie-eyed about him as millions of his supporters seemed to be. Despite the fact that Obama was my first winning ballot cast for president, my vote didn't seem any better or worse than its predecessors - it still possessed that hold-your-nose, lesser-of-two-evils feel that has dominated our national elections probably since they began.
So there is an article by Drew Westen that, besides providing some perspective for those who may have been a little drunk on the Big O and his suspiciously meteoric rise to power, brings hearty agreement from me. My apologies to those who have accused me of leaning on my pundit appreciation too heavily, but honestly (Blogovia take note) - what's the point of me blathering on about something when the likes of Mr. Westen can provide so eloquent a treatise. Besides, I think he gets paid better for it.
Oh, and as you read Westen's article, bear in mind the possibility that Bill Hicks was spot-fucking-on:
.
When I decided that I would vote for Barack Obama last November, I was not as pie-eyed about him as millions of his supporters seemed to be. Despite the fact that Obama was my first winning ballot cast for president, my vote didn't seem any better or worse than its predecessors - it still possessed that hold-your-nose, lesser-of-two-evils feel that has dominated our national elections probably since they began.
So there is an article by Drew Westen that, besides providing some perspective for those who may have been a little drunk on the Big O and his suspiciously meteoric rise to power, brings hearty agreement from me. My apologies to those who have accused me of leaning on my pundit appreciation too heavily, but honestly (Blogovia take note) - what's the point of me blathering on about something when the likes of Mr. Westen can provide so eloquent a treatise. Besides, I think he gets paid better for it.
Oh, and as you read Westen's article, bear in mind the possibility that Bill Hicks was spot-fucking-on:
"I have this feeling that whoever is elected president, no matter what you promise on the campaign trail - blah, blah, blah - when you win, you go into this smoke-filled room with the twelve industrialist capitalist scum-fucks who got you in there. And you're in this smoky room, and the lights go dim and this little film screen rolls down silently from the ceiling. And a big guy with a cigar goes, "Roll the film." And it's a shot of the Kennedy assassination from an angle you've never seen before. It looks suspiciously like it's from the famous grassy knoll. And then the screen goes up and the lights come on, and the big guy says to the new president, "Any questions?"
"Um, what's my agenda?"
.
Labels: humour, madness, No Ordinary Bill, politix, President Obama
October 03, 2008
One bad mutha...SHUTCHOMOUTH !
.
This just in:
I am a Wachovia customer. As I have deposits that amount to half a gnat's turd in the grand scheme of things, I have not been worrying much in the face of news about the bank's travails. But now I'm inclined to go get mine, slide (not stuff) it into the mattress and let these assholes duke it out without me.
But the BIG economic news, of course, is that the Bush Bailout+ finally, after five grueling days of uncertainty for Wall Street and its minions, slithered its 451-pages of graft through the House, which had wisely slapped down a much trimmer bill earlier this week.
Many economists are regarding October 3, 2008 as a date that will live in infamy. I use that turn of phrase to point out the irony of how the world's richest man, as told to Charlie Rose on Wednesday , regards the entire U.S. economic situation.
So, what are we being bombarded with? How about the "Exemption From Excise Tax For Certain Wooden Arrows Designed For Use By Children" which, appearing on page 301, is among hundreds of tax relief sausages cooked up on the big Congressional barbe-queue [sic]. The EFETFCWADFUBC, as I will fondly dub it probably just this once, applies (I think) to manufacturers of "certain wooden arrow shafts...consisting of all natural wood with no laminations or artificial means of enhancing the spine of such shaft (whether sold separately or incorporated as part of a finished or unfinished product) of a type which after its assembly (1) measures 5/16 of an inch or less in diameter and (2) is not suitable for use with a bow as described in bullah, bullah, bullah..."
What is this saying about Congresspeeps who, finding Monday's 108-page version of a free (and credit) market/home/business-saving $700 MMM financial rescue objectionable, switched their nay to yay for the fattiness that includes a children’s wooden arrow excise tax exemption in it? Only that as usual, they are all too willing to give their constituents the shaft.
With a h/t to DCup - "Because what goes around comes around"
This just in:
Wells bids $15 MMM for Wachovia; scuffles with Citi
Reuters, Friday October 3, 2008
NEW YORK - Wells Fargo & Co agreed to buy Wachovia Corp for about $15 billion, upstaging a government-backed Citigroup Inc bid for Wachovia's banking assets with a deal that would catapult it into the top ranks of national consumer banking.
Citigroup demanded Wells Fargo drop its surprise bid, which comes four days after Wachovia preliminarily agreed to sell its banking assets to Citi...
I am a Wachovia customer. As I have deposits that amount to half a gnat's turd in the grand scheme of things, I have not been worrying much in the face of news about the bank's travails. But now I'm inclined to go get mine, slide (not stuff) it into the mattress and let these assholes duke it out without me.
But the BIG economic news, of course, is that the Bush Bailout+ finally, after five grueling days of uncertainty for Wall Street and its minions, slithered its 451-pages of graft through the House, which had wisely slapped down a much trimmer bill earlier this week.
Many economists are regarding October 3, 2008 as a date that will live in infamy. I use that turn of phrase to point out the irony of how the world's richest man, as told to Charlie Rose on Wednesday , regards the entire U.S. economic situation.
So, what are we being bombarded with? How about the "Exemption From Excise Tax For Certain Wooden Arrows Designed For Use By Children" which, appearing on page 301, is among hundreds of tax relief sausages cooked up on the big Congressional barbe-queue [sic]. The EFETFCWADFUBC, as I will fondly dub it probably just this once, applies (I think) to manufacturers of "certain wooden arrow shafts...consisting of all natural wood with no laminations or artificial means of enhancing the spine of such shaft (whether sold separately or incorporated as part of a finished or unfinished product) of a type which after its assembly (1) measures 5/16 of an inch or less in diameter and (2) is not suitable for use with a bow as described in bullah, bullah, bullah..."
What is this saying about Congresspeeps who, finding Monday's 108-page version of a free (and credit) market/home/business-saving $700 MMM financial rescue objectionable, switched their nay to yay for the fattiness that includes a children’s wooden arrow excise tax exemption in it? Only that as usual, they are all too willing to give their constituents the shaft.
With a h/t to DCup - "Because what goes around comes around"
Labels: gummint, madness, No Ordinary Bill, Nothing about Yoko, politix, rants, taxes, terms of enragement
December 15, 2007
Hang in there, Bill
.
Dear Bill,
Happy Birthday, dude! Wow, 216 years since you were RAD-ified! Where has the time gone, bro? It seems like just last week you were rising up as the law of the land and laying down the promises of free speech, peaceable assembly, exercise (or not) of religion, petition (airing of?) grievances to the gummint and at least nine other great things that citizens of these United States have been able to depend on across the centuries.
But lately some foks [sic] who claim to be your pals have been giving you a hard time. Doesn't seem fair to be pressing so hard on a person of your vintage, but press they have. And speaking of press, the big dogs among them have hardly been exercising that right to freedom you put up for them way back. And the kids? Man, poor little Article VI has had its hide tanned but good by these thugs. It's gotta be painful for someone of your age and wisdom to see Six and lifelong pal Habeas torn asunder.
But hang in there buddy, help is on the way. In fact, Sunday night Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. New York time is a big pow-wow with you as the guest star! Congressman Dennis Kucinich's presidential campaign is sponsoring the first of three gatherings of experts and scholars for a forum to shed new light on the U.S. Constitution and its relevance to current political issues such as the war in Iraq, threatened aggression against Iran, and the Patriot Act. It's going to be simulcast online at www.KucinichTV.com. This first program will focus primarily on you, Bill. World-renowned author Gore Vidal will kick-off the evening with a five-minute video message. Congressman Kucinich will then join a panel including John Kaminski, Chair of Maine Lawyers for Democracy, who will present a sort of "This Is Your Life, Bill O'R," and I'm confident you'll have plenty to reminisce about those heady days of Reconstruction with your stalwart pal XIV and his faithful sidekick the Due Process Clause. Who knows? Perhaps Chief Justice Warren will pop by to entertain the younguns with tales of how Miranda v. Arizona squeaked by 5-4. Ray McGovern, retired CIA officer and commentator on intelligence-related issues since the late 1990's, and Steve Cobble, co-founder of afterdowningstreet.org will also be on the panel.
Isn't that GREAT, Bill? I sure hope all the football fans and Desperate Housewives can forego their Extreme Makeovers to give a listen. They might just be moved to slide a contribution to the congressman's campaign, the only one out there with the impeachment of the two highest office-holders in the land on its platform.
On this auspicious day, Best Wishes for many more!
Love, O' Tim
P.S. - You won't remember this, but look at this awesome photo I dug up at the Archives of Lil' Billy and the Fathers in the Nursery!
Dear Bill,
Happy Birthday, dude! Wow, 216 years since you were RAD-ified! Where has the time gone, bro? It seems like just last week you were rising up as the law of the land and laying down the promises of free speech, peaceable assembly, exercise (or not) of religion, petition (airing of?) grievances to the gummint and at least nine other great things that citizens of these United States have been able to depend on across the centuries.
But lately some foks [sic] who claim to be your pals have been giving you a hard time. Doesn't seem fair to be pressing so hard on a person of your vintage, but press they have. And speaking of press, the big dogs among them have hardly been exercising that right to freedom you put up for them way back. And the kids? Man, poor little Article VI has had its hide tanned but good by these thugs. It's gotta be painful for someone of your age and wisdom to see Six and lifelong pal Habeas torn asunder.
But hang in there buddy, help is on the way. In fact, Sunday night Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. New York time is a big pow-wow with you as the guest star! Congressman Dennis Kucinich's presidential campaign is sponsoring the first of three gatherings of experts and scholars for a forum to shed new light on the U.S. Constitution and its relevance to current political issues such as the war in Iraq, threatened aggression against Iran, and the Patriot Act. It's going to be simulcast online at www.KucinichTV.com. This first program will focus primarily on you, Bill. World-renowned author Gore Vidal will kick-off the evening with a five-minute video message. Congressman Kucinich will then join a panel including John Kaminski, Chair of Maine Lawyers for Democracy, who will present a sort of "This Is Your Life, Bill O'R," and I'm confident you'll have plenty to reminisce about those heady days of Reconstruction with your stalwart pal XIV and his faithful sidekick the Due Process Clause. Who knows? Perhaps Chief Justice Warren will pop by to entertain the younguns with tales of how Miranda v. Arizona squeaked by 5-4. Ray McGovern, retired CIA officer and commentator on intelligence-related issues since the late 1990's, and Steve Cobble, co-founder of afterdowningstreet.org will also be on the panel.
Isn't that GREAT, Bill? I sure hope all the football fans and Desperate Housewives can forego their Extreme Makeovers to give a listen. They might just be moved to slide a contribution to the congressman's campaign, the only one out there with the impeachment of the two highest office-holders in the land on its platform.
On this auspicious day, Best Wishes for many more!
Love, O' Tim
P.S. - You won't remember this, but look at this awesome photo I dug up at the Archives of Lil' Billy and the Fathers in the Nursery!
Labels: Kucinich, No Ordinary Bill, nuff said
