Banned Words

Lake Superior State has their annual list of words which, by their overuse, have earned our scorn and deserve banishment.

Green is out along with Carbon Footprint. Both are overused and under-understood. Over the side they go. May the nouns be replaced by verbs.

Maverick gets jettisoned because of repetition into meaninglessness. One wonders how Scott Walker can frame his campaign without this one. Frau Bucher may never write again.

First Dude? LSU says it best.

"Skateboard English is not an appropriate way to refer to the spouse of a
high-ranking public official." Paul Ruschmann, Canton, Mich.

Go. Read the list for yourself. You'll find the expression which I will do my best to avoid in the new year. May I be strong enough to do without Not So Much.

The Best Rock And Roll Song Ever

Let's let 2008 run up to the barn while we enjoy a tune from The Boss, shall we?

Lucky Man

As I was cleaning up after supper tonight I washed the Princess teacups from the Little Miss' first tea party and three wine glasses from a fine meal with two of my very favorite people.

Life is good, indeed.

Well. I Didn't See That Coming.

Congratulations are in order to Mary Beaver. Now she won't have all that pesky "spare" time to worry about.

Evansville EMS coordinator to be appointed to county board

Thanks, Mary. And thanks again to the other two candidates.

A Note To John Smalley

First off, Congratulations. It is still an honor to take charge of a local institution.

Please remember that you are now the curator of the legacies of Roundy and Dieckmann and Butler and a thousand others who have informed and entertained Madison, Dane County and the state of Wisconsin for more than a dozen decades. Treat those memories with respect and you'll be respected in turn.

Lastly. When someone says they are handing you the reins, you might want to make sure it's not an anchor rope.

Weather Question

Does it feel as if someone just pushed the reset button?

Merry Christmas To You All

A Packer Question

How do you coach, "Don't let them block the kick?"

Isn't that pretty basic?

A Quick Question

Does today seem longer to you, too?

What I Know

I don't know if Caroline Kennedy is qualified to be a Senator. So far she hasn't shown any great gift for campaigning which is, for better or worse, a huge part of the job. The mini-gaffe, showing up for her listening tour at the office of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown who is also a candidate, shows that her organization could use a little fine-tuning of its own.

I don't know about the Hilary question. Is there enough residual antipathy to Kennedy's support of the President-elect to create friction with former Clintonites?

I do know this. Some of the loudest squawkers about Caroline Kennedy's interest in the office are tossing off words like "dynastic" and "entitlement." I know that a lot of these same squawkers had no trouble voting for Shrub twice for Preznit and are looking to Jeb as a probable candidate as soon as the days get long and the memories of GWB grow short.

"Piffle," I say. Let her come through the process. She can't possibly be the worst Senator and there's time for a correction to come. If you have a list of reasons that Caroline Kennedy is unfit to serve bring it forward now so we can see and Gov Paterson can use it in his decision. If all you have is a lingering animus toward JFK perhaps your voice isn't a useful part of the decision-making process.

Take A Break From Wrapping Presents

Cemetery Fees, Snow removal and the Wastewater Plant Project Public Hearing. Don't say you didn't hear about it.

NOTICE: The regular meeting of the Public Works Committee for the City of Evansville will be held on the date, time, and place stated below. Notice is further given that members of the City Council might be in attendance.

Public Works Committee
Regular Meeting
Monday, December 22nd, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.
Public Works Shop, 535 South Madison Street, Evansville, WI

*Please note the special time

AGENDA
1 Call the meeting to order

2 Roll Call

3 Motion to Approve Agenda

4 Motion to Approve minutes of the following meeting; October 28th, 2008.

5 Citizen appearances


A Public Hearings;
1. Waste Water Facility plan Public Hearing
· Staff Report
· Public Hearing
· Final Comments by the Public Works Committee

6 Construction Updates

A Main Street Progress Report
1. Discussion and possible motion on new way-finding signs

B Capstone Ridge Phase 2 Progress Report
C Westfield Meadows Progress Report
D Celtic Ridge Progress Report
E Lake Leota

7 Site plan Reviews

8 Communications from City Engineer –

9 Communications of Public Works Director –
A Discussion and possible motion(s) regarding snow removal.

10 New Business
A Bill Hurley will be present to discuss cemetery fees and policies. Public works will discuss and may act on motions related to cemetery.

11 Old Business
A West side water issue (to remain on agenda indefinitely)

12 Parks and Recreation Report

13 Adjourn

Mason Braunschweig, Chair, Public Works Committee
Please turn off all cell phones while the meeting is in session. Thank you!

Gloria Gaynor And Me, Baby. We Ain't Afraid Of The Winter's Scourge

With a plucked piano, no less, Igudesman & Joo




And the answer to the question nobody asked, "Whatever happened to Rollerdisco?" With Ms Gaynor herself.

From The Archives; A Christmas Favorite

RUDOLPH'S NIGHT OFF

'Twas the night before Christmas
and Rudolph was lame!
The vet from the North Pole said,
"Footrot's to blame.

I'll give him some sulfa,
it's the best I can do
But stall rest is needed
the next week or two."

"Great Scott!" cried old Santy,
he turned with a jerk,
"I won't git through
Pierre if my headlights don't work!

On Interstate 40
I'll surely get fined
And lost in Montana if
I'm flying blind!"

"No cop in his right mind
would give any clout
To a geezer who claimed
that his reindeer went out!

"He gathered the others,
ol' Donner and Blitzen,.
Were any among 'em
whose nose was transmitzen?

They grunted and strained
and sure made a mess
But no noses glowed brightly
or ears luminesced.

"It's bad luck in bunches,"
cried Santy, distressed,
"We'll fly Continental,
the Red Eye Express!"

"I'll just check the schedule,"
he put on his glasses
When up stepped 'ol Billy,
the goat from Lampasasas.

He shivered and shook
like a mouse on the Ark
But his horns were a beacon...
They glowed in the dark!

Santy went crazy! He asked,
"Why?" with a smile"
I just ate a watch
with a radium dial!

Where I come from in
Texas we don't have thick hide
My skin is so thin
it shines through from inside."

"If that's true then let's feed him!"
cried Santy with glee"
Gather everything burnin'
and bring it to me!

"So Billy ate flashbulbs
and solar collectors,
Electrical eels and
road sign reflectors,

Firecracker sparklers,
a Lady Schick shaver
And Lifesavers,
all of em' wintergreen flavor,

Jelly from phophorescellous fish,
Day Glow pizza in a glittering dish,
Fireflies and candles
and stuff that ignites,

Then had him a big bowl
of Northering Lights!
He danced on the rug
and petted the cat

And after he'd finished and done all of that
To store up the static 'lectricity better
They forced him to eat
two balloons and a sweater!

When he opened his mouth,
light fell on the floor,
Like the fridge light comes on
when you open the door!

His Halloween smile
couldn't be better drawn
When he burped accidently,
his high beams kicked on!

"Hitch him up!" cried ol' Santy,
and they went on their way.
I remember that Christmas
to this very day

The sky was ablaze
with the stars shining bright.
They were shooting and falling
all through the night.

And I realize now,
though my fingers are crossed,
What I really was seein'...
was ol' Billy's exhaust!
--Baxter Black--

Just Thankful No One Got Hurt

There are ten thousand snarky things to be said but for now just hope he can turn it around for himself and his constituents.

Add a, "Well done," for Mike Sheridan's reaction as well.

Amazing, Ain't It?

Does it make you wonder that so many Republican Senators feel that the government has no place setting wages when the minimum wage is discussed yet feel it entirely appropriate to demand wage cuts from the UAW?

If all they truly want is wage parity perhaps they should ask the foreign automakers in their states to adjust contracts upward to match those of the Big Three.

Optimistic Criminals

Anyone who thought that it was still remotely possible to embarass Little Al Unser enough to collect blackmail should be in a different line of work.

Stolen from the Deadspin comments:
Rubbin' is racin'

Sometimes I Have To Remind Myself That Bob Fosse Wasn't Roy Gideon

The incomparable Fosse with Tommy Rall from "My Sister, Eileen," in 1955.

Is That What You Mean?

The local grocery is going with a new promotion in which purchases earn points which can be used for discounted gasoline purchases. They're calling it, "Turn Groceries Into Gas."

I know some boys who've made that particular transaction into an art form.

It still hasn't risen to the delicious lunacy of the "Dick's Insider Club," yet, though.

Stimulating The Economy, One Free Agent At A Time

Dangit.

A Little Brains, A Little Talent and a bottomless wallet.

Damn Yankees.

How Bad Was Your Day, Honey?

A Denver police detective reported his unmarked police car was stolen from the driveway of his Arvada home Tuesday.


The detective reported the car missing just after 5:30 a.m.


The grey-four-door Ford Taurus has a Colorado license plate 356-DHS. It is believed a police issued shotgun was inside the trunk of the car, said a police spokeswoman.

A Haughty Spirit Takes A Tumble

How incredibly stupid and venal can one man be?

Federal authorities arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Tuesday on
charges that he brazenly conspired to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left
vacant by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder.

Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold
state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale
of Wrigley Field, according to a federal criminal complaint. In return for state
assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board
who had been critical of him fired.

He knew he was the subject of investigations and still he couldn't stop himself from rank, crass stupidity. Incredible.

BTW, Proverbs 16:18

Hoping For No Change

Hmmm. Cautiously optimistic, indeed.

If he comes back to Milwaukee it's a huge victory for the little guy but they'll have to look at using him differently. If CC is here for the year Macha won't be able to ride him for 9 at a time and hope to have him in September.

How Is It Possible?

How can a three-year-old child, an itty-bitty three-year-old, force two adults out of a king-sized bed and then trash the covers as if it were a deer yard?

These Guys Never Got The Joke

The old joke is that burglars broke into the Police Station and stole the fixtures from the privy. Officers had nothing to go on.

[add rim shot here]

These two fellers must have never heard the joke.

A police radio and a firearm were recovered Friday when Lafayette County
Sheriff's Office deputies arrested two South
Wayne-area men suspected of burglarizing a village police
department.

Just A Quick Note To Rick Graber

The people who already know your name also know your record of failure to produce on goals. That's not the kind of name recognition that gets you elected Governor.

Said another Republican activist who has been involved in statewide
campaigns: "Graber has no shot to win the nomination. None. Zilch. Zero. If
there was a way to convey a less than zero percent chance, I'd use that
word."

67 Years

Remember

Learn

War With Christmas

It's been a quiet December so far. There's been very little of the nattering and fund-raising to "Save Christmas" from whatever ephemeral, fevered imaginings. But I did see this story about an attack on Christmas traditions and the nuclear family.

Authorities say a west Florida man who lives with his parents has been
arrested on a felony assault charge after he used a Christmas tree as a weapon
to attack his father.

The story doesn't state the cause of their disagreement so we can only speculate that it was something about the rightful place of public subsidy of holiday displays in governmentally owned common spaces.

For a story of another holiday season spat, go see what Capper has to say about it.

Fine Upstanding Citizen Update

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- A Tri-State woman is in critical condition
Wednesday after police say her husband shot her while they were having sex.

Timothy Havens, 38, told Springfield police he was reaching for
something on the nightstand when the pistol went off, hitting his estranged wife
Carolyn in the upper chest.

Not enough?

His arrest Tuesday for the weekend shooting was for violating a civil
protection order that Carolyn had taken out against him earlier this year.

Havens is reputed to have said that he kept the pistol on the nightstand in case he should have to overthrow an unjust government before morning or if Pakistani terrorists were to pop up in his half bath.

Um, Elliott?

Nathan has a new piece of equipment for you and I know how much you like new tech.

Wisconsin Unemployment Numbers Soar

They say that a new broom sweeps clean and the Obama administration is following that precept.

While many of our US ambassadors are career civil service hires there are a number of these positions which are filled by political appointees. It is often a post to a prestigious or physically attractive location that is filled as a reward to a contributor or a former loyal employee. With the changing of the administration comes the call for letters of resignation from these political appointees.

That means that Rick Graber, fresh from a mission to find vote fraud in the Czech Republic, will be back in the private sector. Maybe he can snag on with John Gard Consulting. If he were to bring along his client list then John would be able to boast of having an actual client. And, wouldn't it be fun for the rest of us watching Graber and Gard trying to be cordial?

Mark Green will also be coming back to the states. I'm torn about this. Green has been a great representative for this country in Africa. President Obama could certainly do worse than Ambassador Green, that is, if Green and his family wish to stay in Africa of course. If Green comes back to the US, where does he wind up? Ex Republican Reps are a glut on the market in Washington. There's not a lot of call for Republican lobbyists anywhere right now. I can't imagine that there's any great enthusiasm for another Green for Gov run, especially given The Tosa Ranger's 2-year plan to suck the lifeblood out of the Wisconsin Republican donor base. It sounds like he's a candidate for "Private Practice."

Which brings us to another Wisconsin political resignation. The US Attorney system normally rolls completely over with the change of administration. Yesterday we saw that Steve Biskupic, the USA for Eastern Wisconsin was going into private practice. Given the Republican disdain for lawsuits by private citizens can we assume that Biskupic is headed into that lucrative "Private Prosecution" field? No, he's looking forward to

"nice and boring corporate civil cases."

That's a right-wing safe way of saying he'll be listed as "Defendant's Counsel" on lawsuits like that.

What Do You Get When You Drag Eight Gold Medals Through A Trailer Park?

Meet the Parents and a new career.

America can be so proud of its heroes.

When You Say

When the CEO of one of the Big Three automakers is complaining about "Legacy Costs" it's useful to remember that what he's talking about are obligations incurred by his predecessors in an effort to keep costs low at the time.

Union members bargained in good faith to take less monetary compensation in exchange for the promise of the company to provide benefits, which were a lower cost to the company at the time, for a set period of time. Unions were, perhaps, naive to believe that the manufacturers would uphold their end of the bargain now that it's easier to blame retired workers who gave their careers to build what the decision makers have pissed away.

Shucks

I could hear heads exploding from here. Just imagine the rise in blood pressure medicine sales if this had come true.

But he says he has no interest in being a junior Senator. I can't say I blame him for that.

The Boys Were Busy Yesterday

There is nothing quite like the smell of fresh cut pine. The shelves are stout and plenty wide and make the beautiful Mrs grumps very happy, indeed.

A Question For The Ages

What is this, "leftover stuffing," of which the ancients speak?

Deep Thought

Should the Blogger spellchecker include the word, "blogroll?"

Things For Which I'm Thankful

Family. We have our times of craziness and selfishness but we also have times of laughter and grace. We are what we choose to be and overall we choose to be delightful.

Friendship. On several levels we have the chance to be more connected than ever before. I am grateful for the time and attention of wonderful people. Some of them are good enough friends to be able to say, "Stop." I value them.

Country. We live in one of the greatest countries ever to take a spot on the planet. Even when we wander off the path I'd choose it has the sense and ability to self-correct.

Technology. I would not have thrived at saddling a horse every morning to work as a scrivener at the chandler's shop. 'Nuff said.

Second Chances. Deserved or not, sometimes we all need a hand. Sometimes we're smart enough to use them wisely.

The Juice. The spin of the wheel, the field high in turn four with two laps to go, both bowers and the king, the phone ringing off the hook with one container lost in Long Beach and the airfreight needing to be cleared N-O-W, whatever it is. I love it.

The Opportunity. Sometimes it is an honor just to be nominated.

Too Big To Fail

Jib brings us a frightening vision of Christmas yet to come. Santa needs a bailout.

May I Make A Suggestion?

Now that they're looking for a real liberal to replace that milquetoast, Colmes, may I suggest...

Capper and Hannity

In Honor Of Birthdays, Cardinal Or Ordinal

McSweeney's has a list of texting shortcuts for the elderly. You know, those who may have just had their 40th birthday. My favorite is bolded.

New Texting Acronymsfor the Elderly.
BY TOMINDA ADKINS
- - - -
BIMD: Back in my day

ROFLACGU: Rolling on the floor laughing and can't get up

ML2N?: Matlock tonight?

OMGWTF: Oh my. Gee whiz. Tutti-frutti.

MBDC: My bad. Damn cataracts.

WIOLATS: Wore it out like a turn signal.

GTALNINFTCW: Gee, thanks a lot, now I'll never finish that crossword.

A Note To My Children

Just because Tim McGraw has a signature fragrance, that doesn't nean that it's the perfect gift for your dear old Dad.

Thank you.

Can We Agree On This?

Elvis Presley has, they say, been dead for 31 years. I'll let that sink in. Thirty.One.Years.

The Fireside is using an Elvis simulacrum in their ads and if a professional theater company can do no better than that they might consider turning the whole place into a used car lot. DeJope Casino is using an Elvis impersonator in their ads to little positive effect.

Digging around in the past a dredging up tarnished legend is not a good way to build an ad campaign. Show some originality, People. Show some style.

That's what Elvis did.

Happy Birthday

You don't look a day different from yesterday.

Analyze This

With a hat tip to Zach, I went to the Blog Readability Analyzer. The result is what the result is.

On Backs Scratched and Introductions Made

Once upon a time introductions were formal things involving footmen and silver salvers and white gloves and whatnot. Today they are much more likely to be a series of grunted, "Dudes,' and rather cursory gestures.



I'll take a moment to make an introduction to you, my four readers, of someone you should have been reading all along. I mean, for Heaven's sake, that he's been right there in my blogroll for the whole time. This introduction comes requested, but not coerced, by said gazetteer as a way of rolling new eyes across readily available opinion, occasional news and, from time to time, sensational photos meant solely to build traffic.



It is, with all that in mind, truly my pleasure to point you all to From Where I Sit, a blog written by an erstwhile wheel-chair equipped ex-cop turned shamus with the improbable name of Elliott Stearns, backed by his faithful, if merely mortal, sidekick Michael Caughill. To make matters even more untidy Caughill, in the manner of Watson, has written a book about Stearns who...Oh, bother. I'm sure I can't do it justice. Go see for yourself.

I'll leave you with these words from another who used both Stearns and Elliot in his names.

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

Go. Visit From Where I Sit and see if he doesn't bring us back to a better understanding of the place we started.

The Top Ten Questions You'd Least Like To Hear At A Job Interview

With all due respect to Dean, I offer the ten questions you hope to never hear at a job interview.

1. Does this chair make my butt look fat?
2. Do you have any experience with numbered accounts in offshore banks that don't exactly give receipts?
3. Are you allergic to phosgene?
4. Would you please pull my finger?
5. Don't you think that Michael Phelps is just the ginchiest?
6. Ginger or Mary Anne?
7. Are you willing to take a bullet for the company?
8. Boxers or briefs?
9. Is that a seed there on your lapel?

And, the worst possible question you can be asked at a job interview is...

So, have you met Cheney yet?

My Guess

My guess is that Hilary Clinton will be allowed to say she declined the position of Secretary of State.

Obama Upside
Party unity is restored.
He gets to look like a peacemaker. (see Lieberman)
He gets Bill Richardson as SoS.

Hilary Upside
She doesn't have to manage the snakepit at State
She gets the bump "Just to be condsidered."
She can blame Bill for her declination.
Since SoS is rarely a two term job she can stay in the public eye until 2016, the next realistic opportunity for a Presidential campaign.

No Bailout For Detroit!

The Lions got themselves into this mess. Let them get themselves out.

Presented Without Comment

A single-story home in Sargent was damaged by fire Wednesday morning
after the homeowner accidentally set the fire while cleaning cobwebs from the
eaves around the exterior of the residence with a blow
torch.

Why Do These Stories Come From Sheboygan So Often

After they exchanged words, the man asked, "What are you going to do about
it?" and Dodge head-butted him, breaking his nose and opening a cut that
required five stitches.

They say that basketball will face a surge in popularity across the country with the refurbishing of the White House court. Shall we assume these two will not be invited to any state dinners?

Keep Them In Your Thoughts

Local Judge John Shabazz is not well and may never take the bench again. Keep him and his family in your thoughts, please.

So Much For The "Loyal Opposition"

The "Impeach Obama" drumbeat starts 2 months before the inauguration and yet we're supposed to believe that these are Serious People.

I dunno. Seems like a stretch.

Funner and Funner

This fight just gets better and better as the powers that were scramble to lead the leavings into the future. The upside is huge for whoever has their hand on the tiller when the wind changes.

Today we get news that an ex-Presidential candidate with a popular following and a reputation for laziness wants to play, too. From the Rutherford County TN Daily News Journal.

Fred Thompson may try for RNC post

Those Republicans do like their movie stars, don't they?

It Ain't Strange If You're Paying Attention

Some people are bound and determined to find fault with everything. Excuse me a moment while I point out a couple of things.

1) SOLE didn't estimate costs for the dredging project at or around $2M. Engineers did that based on best practices and common experience. It's what's called an educated guess. No real costs could be known until after the bids were opened.

2) The bids weren't opened until Monday night. Before that nobody knew what the bids would be. That's why they call them sealed bids.

3) Get over the creek walls already. The creek walls are a separate project that was budgeted several years ago. They are near the lake but have no more to do with this discussion than the tank does.

4) In response to your questions to me. 1) It's a recession and somebody is looking for work for his crew. We got lucky. Enjoy. 2) No. 3) Please see all of the conversation above. There was an advisory referendum asking for $2M for the Lake Leota project. Because it was advisory it's not binding. See? 4) Authorizing an upper limit and taking out a loan are two separate things. Stop mixing things up. It's only stirring up your blood pressure.

Fighting Over Roadkill

From The Washington Times:

Gingrich, Steele duel privately for RNC job

Neither man is an RNC member but both are passionate about leading the rebuilding of the party.

I'm not putting money on either one of these guys but it's nice to see them fighting like Democrats for the position.

Good Numbers. Good News.

In the wake of last week's overwhelming vote of support for a Lake Leota dredging project costing no more than $2M the Public Works Committee held a special meeting last night (Monday) to open the bids for dredging.

6 bids were submitted, all with a base price for moving 200,000 cubic yards of clean dirt to the Every property and with a contigency cost for moving rock or weeds, if necessary, to some other location. On the high end was a bid of $1.8M with contigencies for as much as another million.

The bid which will be submitted to the City Council Tuesday night was a much more reasonable and far easier to swallow $885,000 with a contigency cost of $7/yd. That contigency cost would mean that, even if 10% had to be hauled offsite, the total cost for dredging would be $1.25M, far below the projected cost.

It's no secret that I'm an old softie. Our wedding was the last in Leonard Park with the Lake in place. The dam had already been opened when we had our service on the hill. I've seen and read about the meetings and celebrations held with Lake Leota as a focal point. These numbers are very good news, both for the lake and for the taxpayers of Evansville.

The company which submitted the low bid is a Wisconsin company with experience working in the cranberry bogs of the central part of the state. They know how to work if the water is rising.

This is exciting news. By this time next year we should have our lake back.

Remember

Today is Veteran's Day. Take time to say, "Thank You."

Then let your actions through the rest of the year show that you mean it.

7499th Composite Squadron

Wiesbaden, Germany

Mark Made A Funny

You all remember Mark Graul? Campaign manager for Mark Green's flop-run for Governor? Jack Abramhoff's little ticket buddy? He made a funny in my Sunday paper.

"Good policy is good politics and if that happens the Democrats are going to
have a good election two years from now," said Mark Graul, a Republican
consultant. "If they run hard to the left and exclude Republicans from being a
part of the solution they're going to be in a tough political environment two
years from now. With victory comes responsibility."

Coming from almost anyone else that might be considered as sage advice. Coming from "Scorched Earth" Graul it comes off as a bit tainted. Graul learned a lot of lessons in Washington. Reaching across the aisle wasn't one of them. Graul could be the poster child for the wing of the Republican Party that wants to veer off into territory where the CFG and AFP start to make sense.

I have a feeling that the Dems in the Assembly will be reaching out this session, looking to spread whatever it is that needs spreading as widely as possible. Let's just see how many of the Republicans that are left are willing to take the proffered hand.

The Roommate From Hell

'We knew that he was bored as the aquarium is closed for winter, and at two
feet, seven inches Otto had discovered he was big enough to swing onto the edge
of his tank and shoot out a the 2000 Watt spot light above him with a carefully
directed jet of water.'

What other trouble can a bored octopus cause?

'Once we saw him juggling the hermit crabs in his tank, another time he
threw stones against the glass damaging it. And from time to time he completely
re-arranges his tank to make it suit his own taste better - much to the distress
of his fellow tank inhabitants.'

A Good Way To Spend A Cold Afternoon

The Drama Department at Evansville High School has a matinee of Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon this afternoon.

I saw the show Friday night and it is very well done. It would be worth your while to take a couple of hours out of your afternoon to support these young actors and crew.

Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club Chapter Kickoff On Wednesday

One of the primary speakers at the Economic Summit was Terry Whipple of the Juneau County Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club. Mr Whipple is coming back to Evansville on Wednesday to kick off a new chapter of the organization.

On Wednesday, November 12, 2008, the newly formed Evansville Inventors
& Entrepreneurs Club (I&E) will host its first meeting at the Union Bank
and Trust community room.

In recognition of the event, Terry Whipple, creator of the nationally
acclaimed Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club model for rural economic development, will be the guest speaker for the kickoff meeting.Terry is the Executive Director of the Juneau County Economic Development Corporation and the critically acclaimed Juneau County I&E Club. He is the brain behind the
wildly successful Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club model. Terry’s goal was to
create a contagious innovative environment in which persons could investigate
the potential of their ideas within a supportive group of like minded
individuals. It has been amazingly successful in Juneau County and has spun off
similar clubs throughout the state and nation.

The Observer has the rest. The public is invited.

My Take- Winners and Losers

Winners

Everyone who cast a ballot. Record turnouts across the country show a renewed passion for participation.

Democrats. I'm not sure you can call it a landslide but it looks like a stampede from here.

Sauk County. Not only did they have the sense to elect a good man in the 50th, they also had the presence of mind to replace Doc with Fred Clark.

Brett Davis. In a year when the letter "R" was toxic Davis increased his MoV to 3700 votes this year after two squeakers.

Kim Hixson. Since he won't need the recount this year he can bequeath it to Trish O'Neill who'll want it to find those last 32 votes.

Evansville. A 1000 vote margin gives a clear mandate for restoring the lake. This should end the equivocation and tentativeness.

Losers

Cate Zeuske. Now she's facing months of job hunting for her husband. Can you imagine John Gard in his bathrobe hanging around your kitchen table smelling of Old Spice and flopsweat?

Movement Conservatives. It looks as if Grover Norquist and the Newtster have succeeded only in making the Reoublican Party small enough to drown in the bathtub.

Challengers. It was another incumbent year in the Assembly with only Hines losing his seat.

I Got My Flu Shot Yesterday.

Was there any other news?

Yes To The Lake

1742 Yes

749 No

Let's call that definitive and move on. Shall we?

Time To Get It Done

Reality Check

Christmas ads start in earnest on Wednesday.

Mazel Tov!

Proven, Indeed.

Heartwarming

This came in through the email from Richard. I have redacted the name in the story on the bare chance that the story might be true.

Enjoy
--
Local dancers will remember **** ****-****, who was known to get a tad testy from time to time. I just received this message from him about his latest run-in with the Big Blue Machine:

Yesterday I went downtown to run a few errands. I went into the local coffee shop for a snack.
I was only there for about 5 minutes, and when I came out, there was this cop writing out a parking ticket. I said to him, "Come on, man, how about giving a retired person a break?"

He ignored me and continued writing the ticket. His insensitivity annoyed me, so I called him a Nazi.

He glared at me and then wrote out another ticket for having worn tires. So I proceeded to call him a donut-eating Gestapo. He finished the 2nd ticket and put it on the windshield with the 1st.

Then he wrote a 3rd ticket when I called him a moron in blue.

This went on for about 15 minutes. The more I talked back to him the more tickets he wrote. Personally, I didn't really care. I had come downtown on the bus, and the car that he was putting the tickets on had one of those bumper stickers that said "McCain in '08".

I try to have a little fun each day now that I'm retired. The doctor tells me that it's important to my health.

Maybe So, Aaron. But Are You This Cool?

Guess Who

Guess who forgot to set clocks back before bedtime?

Pleasant Surprise

Somebody wrote a decent script for the opening of SNL and John McCain delivered it well. Score one point each for the candidate and teh funny.

If Denial Was A Pickle Eating Contest, You'd Be Queen Of The Fair

That's what the radio ad said this week.

In other news, Senator Stevens says that felony conviction wasn't really a conviction.

You Will Never, Ever Be That Cool

Halloween, Quickly

Sisters, apparently. One dressed as a Princess, the other as a scholar in pink graduation gown and mortarboard. Coexisting uncomfortably side by side. What would the two, together look like?

One Darth Vader, struggling with his helmet. Two young Jedi, lean and taut. They seemed less interested in tracking down the Sith Lord than in my basket of Smarties, however.

Remember When?

Do you remember when the silly people were certain that Joe Biden would have "health problems" during October and would step aside in favor of Senator Clinton for VP?

Do you remember when the wise people said it wouldn't happen?

Whatever happened with all of that?

Rough Numbers

Registered Voters in Evansville= 2800 or so

Expected turnout for 2008 Presidential election=65%

Expected voters=1820

Already voted (as of 10/29)= About 400

Call that 22% voting early with three business and 4 mail days to go.

Have you voted yet? Half of this household has.

He Said What?

A Man Of His Convictions

Senator Ted Stevens.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

One For James

Yard signs don't vote. Really big yard signs don't vote either.

Otter could be writing for McCampaign these days.

Dead! Bluto's right.

Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we
could do it with conventional weapons that could take years and cost millions of
lives.

No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation
absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's
part.

Al's Back

Local Politics 101 is back in action and Al is still The Meeting Coach. I think that makes him the first on my blogroll with two solo blogs.

Deep Thought

Courtesy of my Little Brother.

Rice is what you order when you want to eat a million of something.

It's Becoming Impossible To Mock These People

The truth is, indeed, stranger than our imaginations.

Who was the highest paid individual in Senator John McCain’s
presidential campaign during the first half of October as it headed down the
homestretch?

Not Randy Scheunemann, Mr. McCain’s chief foreign policy adviser;
not Nicolle Wallace, his senior communications staffer. It was Amy Strozzi, who
was identified by the
Washington Post this week as Gov. Sarah Palin’s traveling makeup
artist, according to a new filing with the Federal Election
Commission on Thursday night.

Ms. Strozzi, who was nominated for an Emmy award for her makeup
work on the television show “So You Think You Can Dance?”, was paid $22,800 for
the first two weeks of October alone, according to the records. The campaign
categorized Ms. Strozzi’s payment as “Personnel Svc/Equipment.”

In addition, Angela Lew, who is Ms. Palin’s traveling hair stylist,
got $10,000 for “Communications Consulting” in the first half of
October

There's more if you can stand it.

Taking It To The Terrorists (sic)

From The Independent

Standing in front of her net curtains, a half-eaten pancake on one side
and a bottle of washing-up liquid on the other, no one could possibly confuse
the bespectacled Icelandic lady with Osama bin Laden. But just to ram the point
home, she brandishes a handmade sign: "I'm not a terrorist!"

After Gordon Brown used anti-terror laws to freeze the assets of an
Icelandic bank, the Land of the Midnight Sun is fighting back. Given Iceland
does not have an army, the uprising is less Viking warrior and more citizen's
revolt. Yesterday, more than 35,000 people – a ninth of the population – signed
an online petition to let the world know that Icelanders are not
terrorists.

The Icelanders have shown their violent nature for all the world to see.

A photographer, Thorkell Thorkelsson, has turned his Reykjavik studio into a
protest chamber, inviting people to pose with weapons to show how "dangerous"
Iceland is. One man turned up with a gun made from Lego bricks; another had a
snowball, and Hulda Edelvy, a pensioner, brandished a staple remover and
pliers.

And then they fell back on that greatest bugaboo of all the true-believers, moral relativism.

"It is so unfair, and so ridiculous; using a terrorist law against Iceland
is like using a terrorist law against the Vatican," Mr Thorkelsson told Reuters.
"The difference is there are more weapons in the Vatican."

Shorter Jeff Larson

Not only is he Sarah's clothes mensch. You read about his charitable giving here first.

Oh, those wacky Republicans! Standing up for anything that's smarmy.

One More Weekend

Didja miss Escanaba In Da Moonlight last weekend? You have just three more chances. Click on the poster at right for details.

Can I Get A, "Whoop, Whoop?"

Now that Murdoch's New York Post has had to swallow their overweening pride and issue a retraction of the Michele Obama dining on room service lobster story, when do you suppose we'll see a recognition by the local bloggers who've blown that story up?

I took, "Never" in the pool. When do you think they'll so much as acknowledge that they were telling tales?

I'll offer those bloggers a little biscuit to chew on while they think about their sins. Righty bloggers, feel free to check out the veracity of this.

The Republican National Committee has spent more than $150,000 to
clothe and accessorize vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family
since her surprise pick by John McCain in late August.

According to financial disclosure records, the
accessorizing began in early September and included bills from Saks Fifth Avenue
in St. Louis and New York for a combined $49,425.74.

The records also document a couple of big-time shopping trips to Neiman
Marcus in Minneapolis, including one $75,062.63 spree in early September.

-------------------------------------

UPDATED: Fair enough. Fred does the right thing.

I'll Be Voting "Yes" On The Lake

I hope you can all read the chart on the left. It's the one from last night's Gazette showing the total impact on a $100,000 residence of the Lake Leota dredging project over twenty years of the bond.

Now, I know that not very many folks live in that mythical $100,000 house. So let's double the impact, because I think most of us live in a house that's paying taxes on something under $200,000.

In the first year the impact would be $100 or $8.25 per month or $2.07 per week. Something less than 30 cents a day at any rate. But looking at the way the bond is structured, that impact will fall a little each year so that over the 7300 days of the bond the total impact to our mythical $200,000 house would be less than a quarter a day.

Lake Leota is what it is, a scenic millpond in a relatively small city. But it has been the center of civic activity in this city for very nearly 175 years now. It has been the center of controversy before and, most likely, will be again some day. It's just that in a time when our city is struggling to maintain its identity, to be something more than a bedroom for Madison or a feeder for Janesville's industry, we need to hang on to what we have and to make it shine.

I had my wedding in Leonard/Leota Park with the lake as a backdrop. So did my daughter and I know that we weren't the only ones who have done so. The park and its pond have been civic and social gathering places for decades. We shouldn't pass that up for a quarter a day.

"Listen To The Generals," They Said.

A look at Colin Powell's front yard.

Solidarity

Standing up against the disrespectful mobs, I'm posting this flag in solidarity with our downtrodden brothers in Ohio. To the battlements, men and women!

Don't let the banner fall!

Clarification

I know that you've been bartending for a while. I know that people like you and that yours is a popular place for the locals to hang out as an alternative to the place downtown.

All I'm saying is, that if your first instinct when I ask for a bourbon and water is to reach for the Seagram's 7 Crown, you might want to do a little label reading while you're stocking shelves.

K? Thanks

Is It A Bad Thing?

Is it bad when your 401k statement comes and it has a teardrop tattoo?

Booooiiiiiiiiinnngggggg!

Now that's a great spit-take.

Contest Time!

Your chance to compete for glory. Caption this picture from last night's debate.

Lucky Guess? I Think Not

My prediction in the Recess Supervisor's comment thread was something like this.

Grampy is in Waukesha and Wausau today and La Crosse tomorrow. If he
can't get back under the MoE by next weekend there's no sense to running the ads
for the faithful.

McCain is out of Wisconsin on 10/18 at 4 PM.

Today we get this from WisPolitics.

The Republican National Committee hasn’t booked ads for the next week in
Wisconsin TV markets after running a series of spots attacking Barack Obama and
congressional Dems, according to TV sources.

I believe the expression is, "Running down the hawsers."

Do These Suspenders Make Me Look Husky?

From the city's website, a Kelly Gildner photo.

The show opens Friday night. Get your tickets now.

Alert System

You just know that GWB will pull something to ratchet up the anxiety level in the next three weeks but this McCampaign warning system is clever.

Weekend Boxoffice

Body of Lies got beaten by the second weekend of Beverly Hills Chihuahua but it looks as if An American Carol may turn out to be a rare thing, indeed.

Almost all of Ken Hendricks' investments made money.

Get The Scoop On Escanaba In Da Moonlight

Head over to ECT's Homepage.

What's The Plural Of "Doofus?"

And why doesn't Florida get good candidates?

ABC:
Rep. Mahoney (D-FL) Agreed To $121K Payoff For Former
Mistress

'Cause I Can

Lance is right. These things are fun.

Checking In

Will any of the whiners who've been on about "Obama and this school" or "Schools and politics are improper" be saying anything about this?

John McCain Friday 10/10
Lakeville, Minnesota
Lakeville South High School
5:00 pm (CDT)

It's okay. I didn't think so.

The Quote That Defines "Irony"

"Are Americans having an opportunity to ask all the questions and are
we receiving straight answers from our opponent?" Palin asked.

Funny, But True

I'll call it my Quote of the Day. John Stewart about Sarah Palin.

"Have you noticed how [Palin's] rallies have begun to take on the
characteristics of the last days of the Weimar Republic? In Florida, she asked
'Who is Barack Obama?' Hey, lady, we just met YOU five f-ing weeks
ago."

Who Didn't See This Coming?

That big homeowner bailout program McCain sprung on the country from Nashville? Yeah. It's really a payout to his buddies in the banking industry.

Obama Campaign Economic Policy Director Jason Furman said in
the campaign statement opposing McCain's plan: "John McCain wants the
government to massively overpay for mortgages in a plan that would guarantee
taxpayers lose money, and put them at risk of losing even more if home values
don’t recover. The biggest beneficiaries of this plan will be the same financial
institutions that got us into this mess, some of whom even committed fraud."

More maverickiness in action. Someone should ask him about it today in Waukesha or La Crosse.

Checklist

County cop? Check

A Douglas County Sheriff's deputy returned home from the hospital Monday
night after being bitten by a prairie rattlesnake over the weekend in
Parker.

Poor decision making? Check

"He began playing around with the snake with his baton and putting his foot
out trying to see if it would strike, finally he chose to pick it up and it
striked him," said John Eischen

Compounding the problem by driving? Check

Roberson had a severe reaction to the venom while back behind the wheel of
his patrol car. That caused him to drive over an embankment and crash.

Bad result. Double check.

"He must have either lost consciousness or had something so severe happen to
him that he put down the gas pedal and the car drove over an embankment into a
field area and (the car) got high centered," sheriff's spokeswoman Cocha Heyden
said.

Well, hell yeah!

Witnesses said that before Roberson arrived on the scene the snake had
been struck by rocks and was disturbed.

"I think it was really the other people's fault because they were kind
of teasing with it before they were thinking about killing it, so I think the
snake was already really agitated," Eischen said.

Disagreement In Terminology

I'm sorry, Senator Obama, health care is not a right in America.

It is, however, one of the key indicators of how a country values its citizens and, as such, should be a universally provided benefit.

The View From Here

Just Askin'

Does McCampaign use the word, "pivot," way too often?

Comparisons

By now I'm sure that you've all seen this trainwreck but have you seen teh newest?

Snap Reaction

I wasn't overly impressed with either candidate last night. I thought McCain looked unsteady on his feet at times, as if he were very tired from it all. I thought Senator Obama came off as unpolished, even when launching into set-pieces he should have known he'd be using.

Neither scored a knockout punch in my eyes. Obama scored points, I thought, in the by-play around Iran and Pakistan. Neither one convinced me that they had a clue as to how to fix healthcare funding.

Not a great night for America, but at least we get to see our candidates. I'll give the win to Capital D Democracy and wait for the next one.

Checking For Clarity

John McCain doesn't have to be "tied" to or "connected with" the Keating Five. It is an undisputed fact that he was one of the lawmakers who were members of The Keating Five.

That's why they called them that.

Dissing The Umpires

Notice that in this press release Darrin Schmitz never says, "Mike Gableman did not lie." Schmitz never says, "Gabelman's ad was true." Schmitz can't even work up a defense of, "We believed it was true when we said it."

The best Schmitz has got to defend the indefensble is, "The judges are biased and won't let us say whatever we want to say."

What brought all this on?

The state Judicial Commission levied charges today against state Supreme
Court Justice Michael Gableman, alleging he knowingly misrepresented facts in a
campaign ad that helped elect him in April.

If only we'd had some kind of inkling Gabelman was less than honest in his ads. If only someone had spoken out.

The Hunt For McCain's October

Adm. Painter: What's his plan?
Jack Ryan: His plan?
Adm. Painter: Russians don't take a dump, son, without a
plan.

John McCain has launched his last ditch plan for taking over the White House and it includes all the sludge-pumping he can muster.

Captain Davenport: They're pinging away with their
active sonar like they're looking for something, but nobody's listening.
Jack Ryan: What do you mean?
Captain Davenport: Well, they're moving at almost
forty knots. At that speed, they could run right over my daughter's stereo and
not hear it.

McCain and his Mini-maverick are pumping so much chaff into the air that it's nearly impossible to sort out issues from slanders. But that's not the part that worries me. I don't think the American people are going to fall for US Weekly politics in a time of a crashing economy and two, nearly three, wars. What I'm worried about is what McCampaign is trying to incite.

Palin then went on to blame Katie Couric's questions for her "less-than-successful
interview with kinda mainstream media." At that, Palin supporters turned on
reporters in the press area, waving thunder sticks and shouting abuse. Others
hurled obscenities at a camera crew. One Palin supporter shouted a racial
epithet at an African American sound man for a network and told him, "Sit down,
boy."

That's not enough for the Embarracuda, though.

"Boooo!" the crowd repeated.

"Kill him!" proposed one man in the audience.

Palin went on to say that "Obama held one of the first meetings of
his political career in Bill Ayers's living room, and they've worked together on
various projects in Chicago." Here, Palin began to connect the dots.

Will that be enough? Will the crowd come to their collective senses after someone gets hurt or killed? How does the Secret Service feel about having to stand in front of crowds that are being exhorted to shouts of, "Treason?"

Admiral Josh Painter: This business will get out of control. It will get out of
control and we'll be lucky to live through it.

McCain is about to learn that the problem with dancig with a bear is that the bear gets to decide when you're done. Truly sad.

"Not Ready To Articulate It"

Hey, look! It's a pony!

A Little Quick Math

An American Carol grossed $3,810,000 over the weekend in 1639 theaters.

That's $2324.59 per theater for three days (Oct 3, 4 & 5)

That is about $775 per theater per day on its opening weekend, even though it's been the talk of the Intertubes for 6 weeks.

Let's be charitable and say that each theater showed it for only four shows a day. That means a gross of $193.72 per show.

Again, let's be charitable and balance the $5 Matinee tickets off against the $8.50 big-city evening shows and call the average price $6 a pop. That means an average of 33 people were interested enough to go see An American Carol.

You'd be hard-pressed to find another commercial flop of that type. Even Expelled did a first weekend of $2,970,848 on 1052 screens. Using the same math as above that would be attendance of nearly 40 per show. So, using only box office data for opening weekends, we can conclude that the passing wind that was Ben Stein's last movie was almost 20% more successful than this attempt at, as one reviewer called it, masochistic revenge fantasy.

Moving Heaven and Hell and Afghanistan

Off-script at last, we can see the real Sarah Palin. She's misplaced a country.

“They are also building schools for the Afghan children so that there is
hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan,” she told
several hundred supporters at a fundraising event in San Francisco.

And, on a task so simple as reading off a Starbuck's cup, she's managed to misquote Madeleine Albright.

Albright responded to Palin's remarks in a statement to the Huffington Post
on Sunday. "Though I am flattered that Governor Palin has chosen to cite me as a
source of wisdom, what I said had nothing to do with politics. This is yet
another example of McCain and Palin distorting the truth, and all the more
reason to remember that this campaign is not about gender, it is about which
candidate has an agenda that will improve the lives of all Americans, including
women. The truth is, if you care about the status of women in our society and in
our troubled economy, the best choice by far is Obama-Biden."

Oh, and she's pallin' around with her favorite domestic secessionist.

More Email Funnies

This came in over the Intertubes over the weekend. Enjoy.

While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75-year old Kansas rancher whose hand was caught in a gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man.

Eventually the topic got around to Sarah Palin and her bid to be a heartbeat away from being President. The old rancher said, 'Well, ya know, Palin is a post turtle.'

Not being familiar with the term,the doctor asked him what a post turtle was.

The old rancher said, 'When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle.'

The old rancher saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain. 'You know she didn't get up there by herself, she doesn't belong up there, she doesn't know what to do while she is up there, and you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put her up there to begin with.

It Ain't What They Are. It's What They Said.

Use strategy, people. Use tactics.

Take three minutes.

Advice Nobody Asked For And A Random Thought

Get your hair out of your face. It makes you look unserious and ditzy. Joe, you too.

A random thought.

Suppose, just suppose that SP turned out to be an unwitting Trojan Horse.

The TV crowd was huge, exceeding the Presidential Debate numbers by 40%. I think it's fair to say those were people tuning in to see Palin, whether to root for or against her they turned out. She did, as my wife said, distressingly well.

But, just as big a surprise was Joe Biden striking hard against, not Palin, but John McCain. The senator took shot after shot that Palin wasn't ready for and didn't refute because she had been coached to deflect criticism of her.

That's oversimplistic of course but it sure looks like it's being borne out by the reaction poll numbers.

Money Quote Of The Morning Shows

Rudy! sez (on CBS Good Morning): "Americans are ready for someone who's not a Washington insider."

Mr 911 seems to forget that we been suffering through Outsider Leadership for nearly 8 years and have had quite enough of neophytes. Thank you very much.

The Overnight Polls

I had rehearsal last night so I missed most of the debate and have to rely on the members of my household who did watch.

My wife said that Palin did, "Fairly well, dammit." I marked her down as being for Biden.

I asked who was the stronger candidate, Palin or Biden. the owl in the fencerow just said, "Who?" I've marked him as Undecided/No Answer.

When I asked who was the stronger debater Miss Mikhaila (she's 3) said, "Shrek." I've marked her as being in the Nader/3rd Party column.

How did you score the debate?

Enough Reality. Let's Dance.

Maybe We Can Buy Her A Friend

Sarah Palin's ratings are falling faster than the Dow lately but Vets for Freedom has an idea. They're gonna pay frat boys to show their support.

The practice of paying volunteers is perfectly legal, and having scores
of rowdy pro-war supporters cheering on the backdrop of TV sets can be an
effective way for Vets for Freedom to disseminate its message.

But keep in mind, some of the people demonstrating outside the VP
debate had a choice to make: take the money from Vets for Freedom or subject
themselves to a night of hazing and binge drinking. On Thursday, we will see how
many chose the former.

This may not be the first time.

Secondly, they will get lots of media attention! My organization did a
similar thing in Mississippi last week and a ton of them were on TV. Meaning,
the guys could wear their [REDACTED] gear while holding up our signs and get
attention for their frat.

What's in it for the Greeks?

Vets for Freedom field staffer Laura Meyer offered a fraternity at the
University of St. Louis a "sizable donation" - plus free lunch - if it could use
their pledges to demonstrate outside the VP debate.

Reached by phone, Meyer said the total amount of cash the frat could
earn was between $200 and $250 for organizing 20-plus members. She also noted
that the program was a success in generating publicity during last Friday's
presidential debate.

I wonder if that explains the college boys standing behind McCain when he was busy blamethrowing on Monday.

It would certainly be cheaper to buy the Governor a puppy.

Oldies, But Goodies

Didja hear about the loan shark from Stoughton?


He loaned out all his money at high interest rates and then skipped town.











Sounds sort of like the whiners blaming poor people for forcing banks to give them loans which they should have known were no good. Huh?

Oh, BTW

The Circus came to town yesterday.

There Is A Hole In Our City Today

Art Phillips touched hundreds of lives in Evansville. As a police officer, a school board member, county Supervisor, and as a genuine, warm-hearted person he made our city a better place.

Godspeed, Art, and thank you.

Elliott- This Is What Creepy Looks Like

Now this is what a Cult Of Personality looks like. Note the shots of both Brezhnev and Mao with the Trickster. Hear the youthful voices raised in praise.




If you look closely at this one I think it's Fraley in the baseball cap.

Where'd He Go

We seem to have lost Al. I hope it's only temporary.

UPDATED: Ask and it shall be given to you. Check out Al's new blog The Meeting Coach.

Earning A New Nickname

Katie interviews Incurious George.

SP can't name a single newspaper? Won't name a single magazine? Doesn't recognize the object of a direct question? Puzzling and troubling all at once. It's Troubuzzling that she just seems to rattle on when asked a direct question that she doesn't have a note for.

Things That Make You Go, "Hmmmm?"

How is it "Gotcha Journalism" when your running mate was answering a question form a voter at one of your carefully controlled interactions?

What is your call for bipartisanship worth when you pair it with an ad buy slamming the other party?

Who isn't laughing?

Punitive Politics

I swear, I had nothing to do with it.

MoDo Barred From McPlane

The Observer and The Bear Trader

From The Observer.

"I have to laugh at all the folks that say "I am getting sick and tired
of having the little guy pay......"

"That notion is ridiculous"--bear trader said: 'By definition, IF YOU
are the one paying....YOU are the little guy. You have been the one paying
forever."

Trapped In A World He Never Made

Okay, let's have a quick check for clarity.

Steve Kagen and Flyin' Jim voted together on the bailout. Paul Ryan and Tammy Baldwin voted together on the bailout.

What's next?
Dr. Peter Venkman: This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.
Mayor: What do you mean, "biblical"?
Dr Ray Stantz: What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath of God type stuff.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Exactly.
Dr Ray Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!
Dr. Egon Spengler: Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...
Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave!
Dr. Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!