Appeasers, Inc.

Only Steyn can put the whole Bush-Obamania-appeaser dust up this way.

Increasingly, the Western world has attitudes rather than policies. It's one thing to talk as a means to an end. But these days, for most midlevel powers, talks arethe end, talks without end. Because that's what civilized nations like doing – chit-chatting, shooting the breeze, having tea and crumpets, talking talking talking. Uncivilized nations like torturing dissidents, killing civilians, bombing villages, doing doing doing. It's easier to get the doers to pass themselves off as talkers then to get the talkers to rouse themselves to do anything.

Even though he didn't even mention Obamania by name, I'm sure their narcissism will have them convinced he was.

What party are they?

Apparently, Marc Dann moved Dannimal House to Colorado

DENVER (MyFOXColorado.com) - It was a night filled with costumes, kegs, and partying. One problem, it took place at the Colorado Governor's Mansion.

According to the Denver Post, photos posted on the internet show Governor Bill Ritter's 22-year-old son August Ritter III drinking from a keg at a recent masquerade party held at the historic home.

The other picture shows August Ritter and an unidentified female playing around with the state flag.

An invitation, reading, "Mansion Masquerade-Because Life is Too Tasty Not to Party"-was also posted on a social-networking site asking guests to bring a date "of legal age."

I noticed that no where in the article does it say what political party the governor is a member of.

But this one might be a no brainer since we've just ended our own Dannimal House era.

What party is the governor?

Suburb invaded by city morons

Apparently, some morons escaped the city of Cincinnati and landed themselves on the city of Mason city council.

Kings Island and The Beach Waterpark customers could face higher ticket prices if Mason City Council imposes an admissions tax it has discussed.

Council's finance committee has talked over the issue, which was aired at a May 5 public hearing.

Vice Mayor Peter Beck, chairman of the finance committee, says a second public meeting will be held soon for business interests and residents.

snip

The city is considering the tax because road and infrastructure improvements near the two amusement areas will cost millions, Mayor Tom Grossmann said. Mason also bears the cost of police and emergency services to the park.

Helllllloooooo!!!!!! Did it ever occur to one of these Mason idiots when they aggressively annexed Kings Island into the city they would have to incur some of these costs as part of the annexation?

The city collects 1% from every single worker who works at that park, most of them teenagers. In addition, Kings Island pays 1% on their corporate profits to the city. I find it almost impossible to believe that the tax base that comes out of Kings Island doesn't pay for the infrastructure supplied by the city (fire, police roads).

If it doesn't, what is wrong with the city of Mason? This park operated quite comfortable inside the Deerfield township since the mid-seventies and the township seemed able to cover the infrastructure demands without a city income tax.

Why can't Mason?

Someone call Mark Mallory and tell him to come get his village idiots.

Saturday Humor

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Paid sick day abuse

So you are one of those people who believe the little guy gets screwed when they get sick and need time off.

Read this

At the Internal Revenue Service, one employee over a two-year period took sick leave on 13 of the 14 Tuesdays after a Monday holiday.

That's an extreme case of sick-leave abuse, but the IRS employee had plenty of co-workers who also liked to take Tuesdays off, a report by the Inspector General for Tax Administration found.

For weeks that had a holiday falling on a Monday, 27 percent of all sick leave at the IRS was taken on a Tuesday in 2005 and 2006, the report said. And 24 percent of all sick leave taken by IRS employees during non-holiday weeks was on a Monday.

Employees would never abuse a benefit right? Or maybe they just happen to all get sick from playing with their kids over the weekend.

So if you have business with the IRS soon; don't plan on doing anything Tuesday after this coming Memorial Day.

Friday Funny Flight of the Conchords

A deserter wants a pass

Matthis Chiroux is the kind of young American US military recruiters love.

"I was from a poor, white family from the south, and I did badly in school," the now 24-year-old told AFP.

"I was 'filet mignon' for recruiters. They started phoning me when I was in 10th grade," or around 16 years old, he added.

Chiroux joined the US army straight out of high school nearly six years ago, and worked his way up from private to sergeant.

He served in Afghanistan, Germany, Japan, and the Philippines and was due to be deployed next month in Iraq.

On Thursday, he refused to go, saying he considers Iraq an illegal war.

"I stand before you today with the strength and clarity and resolve to declare to the military, my government and the world that this soldier will not be deploying to Iraq," Chiroux said in the sun-filled rotunda of a congressional building in Washington.

"My decision is based on my desire to no longer continue violating my core values to support an illegal and unconstitutional occupation... I refuse to participate in the Iraq occupation," he said, as a dozen veterans of the five-year-old Iraq war looked on.

Forgive me if I'm not sympathetic. But unlike a dumb ass reporter, I like to do things like think about facts.

Am I right or wrong. My understanding of the military is that you enlist for a three year hitch. So somewhere along the line, this guy reenlisted while the Iraq War was going on. He knew full and well he would probably get an assignment to "participate in the occupation".

If he didn't want to spend a hitch in Iraq, why in the hell did he re-up?

He admits himself that he was a poor student so he probably did not enlist for education benefits. So why did he enlist and, subsequently, re-enlist.

For the record, I was also recruited heavily by the military in the late 70's, early 80's. Since I was a young, ding dong, liberal, I had interpreted military service as the last bastion for society's losers. Trust me, I had fewer options than this punk did as a young person (anyone remember 12% unemployment). It wasn't until I actually started meeting people with military experience that I learned that I was the one who missed something; not the military.

Hopefully, he'll get his ass thrown in the brig soon.

The worst GOP senator

Over at NRO The Corner, they have some posts on the worst GOP senator.

Thinking about it there's quite a selection to choose from....

Lindsey Graham
Arlen Specter
Olympia Snowe
George RINOvich
Trent Lott
Charles Grassley
Chuck Hagel
John McCain
Ted Stevens

Who's your favorite "worst GOP senator". Put your nomination in the comment section.

Tonight's Bengal Pep Rally

Tonight's Bengal Pep Rally (aka DUI check point) will be in Clifton on the corner of MLK and Clifton Ave.

So if you want a Chris Henry autograph, that's the place to be tonight.

Stay tuned for the latest in Ineffective Use of Police Resources.

Close those pay day loan stores

Dear Governor Strickland

I am totally behind your efforts to close all these "pay day" loan stores across the state.

These stores have sucked money out of poor people's hands for years now. Never mind that the state has extracted more money from poor people through the lottery & cigarette and alcohol taxes but it's obvious that we can't have private businesses such as JB Byrider, Jackson Hewitt and HR Block (which we also want you to close soon) cater to that segment of the population.

For those people who think that this segment of society won't have access to short term loans, they need not worry. I have full faith that our capitalist society will come up with many ways to serve this group of people.

In fact, I've got a crew all ready to supply loans to people who are strapped for cash.

Sincerely,

Carmine Corleone,
"Independent Businessman"
Youngstown

The lady doth protest too much, methinks

Apparently, Obamania is upset that Bush labeled people who think you can just talk your way into getting people to believe that it's not a good idea to push Israel into the sea as appeasers.

Obamania is upset that they've been labeled as appeasers. They don't seem to have a problem with actually being appeasers, just being labeled as one.

These guys are crying so loud it makes me wonder exactly how wimpy these babies really are.

I know it's fashionable for people to talk out their issues. But liberals follow the "let's just talk" game plan my ex wife made so fashionable; we badger you incessantly about how horrible you are and when you're finally exhausted, you'll change. Well, I got so sick of hearing it, I dumped her ass just like Ahmadinejad will do to Barry.

Seriously, name one great issue where "talking about it" made a difference? The UN is full of "let's just talk about it" pussies. What problem has the UN actually solved? All the UN has ever done is offer "Hugs for Thugs".

I actually heard a talking head last night speak to The Billary's engagement with North Korea as successful. Are you kidding me? The whole goal of those talks was to keep them from building nukes. All talking did was NOT prevent them from building nukes and is now allowing them to export their technology around the world.

Remember Mommar Gadafi? (how do you spell his name anyway). He was another in a long line of middle eastern thugs until Ronald Wilson Reagan sent some bombers over their to take him out. Once we got his attention, he's not so much of a problem anymore is he? It wasn't a diplomat who got Kadafi's attention, it was a couple of cruise missiles.

So Obamania.... you can get all huffy about being called an appeaser, but the scale don't lie.

Edwards looking to choose Derby winner

Coverage of Edward's endorsement over at Scrappleface

Former Democrat presidential hopeful John Edwards Wednesday endorsed Sen. Barack Obama’s White House bid, but said he’s still undecided about which horse to pick in the Kentucky Derby, which was run on May 3.

Accountant Wanted

As a result of my business expanding in recent years, I'm currently looking for a CPA for an office sharing arrangement at my palatial office here in Loveland, Ohio.

The ideal person would be someone who already has an existing small practice or is thinking of starting a practice in this area with the end game being to merge practices and/or buy out my practice.

As part of this arrangement, I can provide this person with a great deal of per diem personal tax work during the tax season.

In addition, I'm also looking for a part time, clerical person to perform duties such as answering phones, filing, processing tax returns, and bookkeeping for our clients. the ideal candidate would be able to work sparingly until tax season starts, at which time, we'd need a 25- 40 hour commitment.

Knowledge of taxes and/or Quickbooks will be helpful but not required.

If you or someone you know is interested in either of these positions, please email me at gtvcpa@yahoo.com.

Now, we'll go back to our regularly scheduled assault on stupidity (aka liberalism). Thank you.

Bush hits one out

As soon as I give Bush kudos for his speech to Israel, I'm sure he'll follow it up with some "Save the polar bear" speech.

None the less, he hit one out here.

"Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along," the President said to the country's legislative body, "We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: 'Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.' We have an obligation to call this what it is –- the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history."

The fact is, the total failure of liberalism is it's inability to call out, let alone deal with, evil. After all, how do you confront evil when all opinions or actions are believed to have merit. Well, except for conservative beliefs.

The GOP panic

According to the WSJ, the GOP is petrified about this fall's election.

Democrats won with 54% of the vote in a district that a Republican won with 66% in 2006 and that President Bush carried in 2004 by 25 points. It was the GOP's third special election loss this year, and it has Democrats predicting that November will be another rout of 2006 proportions. Oklahoma's Tom Cole, who runs the National Republican Congressional Committee, captured the GOP reaction when he declared that "There is no district that is safe for Republican candidates."

This is the lesson Republicans should have learned in 2006, but the Members preferred to blame their failure on President Bush and Iraq. House Republicans pooh-poohed their own earmarking scandals, spending excesses and overall wallowing in the Beltway status quo. Rather than rethink their habits, they re-elected the same party leaders and even kept Jerry Lewis as their chief Appropriator. Congressman John Shadegg of Arizona is right when he says that "Since the 2006 elections, Republicans have done absolutely nothing to redefine themselves. We can't even get behind an earmark moratorium bill."

In all seriousness. Why should the GOP care? Exactly how does the US look with their leadership over LollaPelosi & Co.?

If it's just about power, they'll lose each and every election from here until the end of time. After all, how do you compete against a party who promises something for nothing when you have no vision or mission to accomplish.

It's not rocket science, but apparently only the architect, Karl Rove, seems to get it.

Various

The top celebrity global warming hippycrites here.

The Top Ten on camera meltdowns here.

An excellent piece on Ted Kennedy's relationship with the KGB during the Reagan administration here.

Some guy named Edwards

I go to the Drudge Report this morning to see this guy named John Edwards, a man with a nice head of hair, is endorsing Obamania.

Question, is he related to that Kerry Edwards chick I keep seeing on bumper stickers in bad neighborhoods?

Marc Dann RIP

Save the Polar Bears Update

If driving a car or cooking JTMs on my gas grill causes global warming, and global warming is detrimental to the welfare of protected polar bears, does that mean Greenpeace or the Sierra Club can sue me?

The Interior Department has decided to protect the polar bear as a threatened species because of the decline in Arctic sea ice from global warming, officials said Wednesday.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne scheduled a news conference to announce the action. It comes a day before a court-imposed deadline on deciding whether the bear should be put under the protection of the federal Endangered Species Act.

This is the first time that the Endangered Species Act has been used to protect a species threatened by the impacts of global warming. There has been concern within the business community that such action could have far-reaching impact and could be used to regulate carbon dioxide.

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"Fake" Christianity

If wearing a flag lapel pin is fake patriotism, is a cross on your campaign brochure fake Christianity?

DNC or the BCS

A funny piece on how the DNC resembles the BCS

• Whether it's Super Delegates, or BCS ranking algorithms, no one really understands the details.
• The delegates, much like the BCS-influencing voters, are separated into two distinct groups.
• One group is the pledged delegates/Coaches Poll, they oftentimes predetermine their stance, and practice homerism.
• The other group, unpledged delegates and AP Voters, earn their seats just by being current or former party officials. They can announce their decision early, or wait and cast a passionate vote at the end.
  
• You can have a better record in the regular season, win the head-to-head matchup, and still not be chosen as the best by a committee.
  
• Blowout victories in meaningless contests help sometimes. To illustrate, A.P. #2, Hillary is struggling, but fortunately she had a November home game Tuesday against a MEAC payout victim. It might not have mattered, but hanging a 77 on the scoreboard sure energized the fan base.
  
• The BCS committee/Super delegates don't necessarily have either of the teams/candidates best interests in mind, but rather their own larger interests

Who will she vote for #51

Meet Cheyenne Burton. Why is Cheyenne in the news?

Cheyenne Blanton, 17, wept, but her boyfriend, Joseph Nagle, 16, betrayed no emotion as Judge Ronald Craft declared the teens were not amenable to treatment in Juvenile Court.

Despite vigorous arguments from the teens' lawyers, Craft said, "Quite honestly, I don't see any factors against transfer (to adult court)."

The couple, who are parents of an infant together, now will be transferred from the county's Juvenile Detention Center to the county jail.

At the same time, the case will go to a grand jury, which will consider whether to keep or change the current charges: aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, vandalism, kidnapping and felonious assault.

The charges arise from an attack in February against 18-year-old Ashley Clark in her Hanover Township home.

The teen begged her attackers not to hit her in the head, considering that she previously underwent brain surgery to alleviate seizures.

But her attackers struck Clark in the head anyhow and also hit her repeatedly with a baseball bat, breaking several bones in her feet. One foot remains injured and Clark still walks with a limp, said her father, Bobby Clark of Hamilton.

Let's assume that Cheyenne will be 18 and out of prison come the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Will she vote for?

The anti corporate crusader in Ralph Nader?

The messiah, Obamania?

A third Bush term in John McCain?

Or is she pro freedom chick who loves Bob Barr, libertarian?

Is the game over or what?

I find the media's fascination with The Billary's insistence on staying in the race hilarious.

Let's look at this using a sports metaphor... say basketball.

Obamania's up by twenty with about two minutes to go in the game. Should The Billary just pack it in knowing that victory is a near impossibility or should they keep playing until the game is actually over?

Let's take the game of golf. Would a guy playing Tiger Woods just pack it in if he was down by ten strokes with two holes to play?

I've actually never quite understood the nobility for candidates to concede defeat or, in The Billary's case, drop out before the victory is actually locked up. You shouldn't need to concede anything. The vote count is the vote count. Just like a score is a score. You don't see coaches getting on the PA systems of games exclaiming that they appreciate the support of the fans and congratulating the opponent before the game is actually over.

Why are politics different? I think it's a wimp thing. Since nearly every politician is a self absorbed, chicken shit, we've created this culture where we have to show defference to the losing candidate. It's no surprise these are the same people who created soccer games with no scores.

What's even more amazing are all these pundits who keep writing about a something that's a non factor. If it's truly over for The Billary, why are you writing about it? It must not be if you keep clamoring for The Billary to get out of the race.

At least Obamania, has recognized that you don't give continued air time to a lost cause.

So here's a clue for the brain dead media. If you think it's over for The Billary, ignore it. Just like I change the channel when the Red's put Todd Coffey in the game. I know it's over, now let's check out American Idol.

On a somewhat related subject. Can you imagine the media's reaction if Mike Huckabee served up a FORTY point beat down victory after McCain became the presumptive GOP nominee?

Even more friends of Obamania

An interesting piece on some of Obamania's paid staffers

All along, Barack Obama has pled ignorance with regard to the people with whom he associates. Former Weathermen Underground terrorist Bill Ayers is just a college professor, according to Obama; Reverend Jeremiah Wright is just a spiritual advisor without political input. These are absurd claims in their own right. But whether or not Obama should be held responsible for the statements of his friends, he should certainly be held responsible for the people he puts on his payroll.

The clue phone is ringing for the GOP

From Real Clear Politics

In a major blow to national Republicans, a Mississippi congressional seat that once voted for President Bush by a twenty-five point margin elected a Democrat on Tuesday. Prentiss County Chancery Clerk Travis Childers beat out Republican candidate Greg Davis, the mayor of Southaven, by a 54%-46% margin, a spread that several Republican strategists on Capitol Hill characterized as a startling wake-up call for a party in dire straits.

Voters cast ballots for the fourth time in three months for the seat, vacated when Republican Roger Wicker was appointed to fill the remainder of Senator Trent Lott's term. After winning the primary and the runoff election, Childers came within 410 votes of winning the first round of the special election against Davis on April 22, beating the Republican by a 49%-46% margin.

Last night, Childers, a conservative Democrat, again outperformed Davis in many rural counties. Childers did better than in April in eighteen out of twenty four counties, while he underperformed in just two counties. Childers held steady in three of the remaining counties, while Winston County produced just ten votes. Most importantly, Childers held firm in Lee County, the district's largest and home to Tupelo, winning 58% of the vote, while improving his showing in DeSoto County, Davis's home field. Childers won 25% of the vote in DeSoto County, better than his anemic 17% showing in April.

Thoughts

What is more important for the republican party?

1) Having majority power so they can spread the spoils of victory to supporters
2) Winning their own individual elections but remaining a minority so you can blame democrats for spending while you're lining the pockets of your supporters
3) Actually, having a cause and advancing the cause via your political party?

When Newt whipped out the Contract with America it was so simple because it was so principled. It really never occurred to me that it was anything earth shattering. After all, isn't that what party platforms are supposed to be about?

Yet republicans still don't have a clue that conservatives want smaller and more accountable government and they're more than willing to not support a candidate if they won't deliver that; just ask Mike DeWino.

What's even more amazing... conservative principles win. They have at least a 90% winning percentage when candidates run on them. In Mississippi, Childers is described as a CONSERVATIVE democrat. What part of that can't republicans understand?

Maybe one day the tone deaf GOP will hear the clue phone ringing. But, more importantly, maybe they'll actually answer it.

Another Darwin Award Winner

The latest candidate for a Darwin Award winner

Savannah police say a homeless man was electrocuted after apparently trying to steal copper from wires on a utility pole.

The Savannah-Chatham Metro Police say the man, whose identity was withheld until notification of relatives, fell from the pole near the Amtrak station Sunday night after he tried to cut live wires at the top.

More than 100 cases of copper theft were reported to Savannah police last year, and it continues to be a problem.

I guess the thought of a job never occurred to this guy.

Sharpton must use Wesley Snipe's accountant

It looks like Rhymin' Rev Al must have used Wesley Snipes CPA for tax advise.

Big corporations give him money. Presidential candidates seek his endorsement. He has influential friends in Congress and the governor's mansion. The Rev. Al Sharpton has emerged over the past decade as perhaps the nation's most prominent civil rights leader, a status that was demonstrated again this week when he led protests against police brutality that briefly shut down six of Manhattan's major bridges and tunnels.

But he still carries baggage from his early days as a fire-breathing agitator: Government records obtained by The Associated Press indicate that Sharpton and his business entities owe nearly $1.5 million in overdue taxes and associated penalties.

Now the U.S. attorney is investigating his nonprofit group, a probe that an undeterred Sharpton brushes off as the kind of annoyance that civil rights figures have come to expect from the government.

Thanks to Mark for the heads up. If you run across any articles or blogs of interest to you please feel free to forward them to my email site at gtvcpa@yahoo.com.

As my business continues to grow, I'm having a harder time keeping up with the blog. So any items would be greatly appreciated.

Marine's exceed recruiting goals

Boy for such an unpopular war, how is it that the Marine's are able to exceed their recruiting goals.

WASHINGTON - The Marine Corps far surpassed its recruiting goal last month and could eventually be more than a year ahead of schedule in its plan to grow the force to 202,000 members.

All military services met or exceeded their monthly recruiting goals in April, with the Marine Corps signing 142 percent of the number it was looking for, the Pentagon said.

The Army signed 101 percent of its goal, recruiting 5,681 against a goal of 5,650. The Navy and Air Force met their goals — 2,905 sailors and 2,435 airmen.

A big ole salute to our young men and women who've made a tremendous sacrifice by volunteering for service.

Oh, by the way, I didn't see Katie Perky report on this last night.

Prager

Dennis Prager on the question of "Is the Country headed in the right direction?"

Today's most widely accepted political belief is that because an unprecedentedly high percentage of Americans -- 81 percent -- believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, the Republicans are headed for a major defeat this coming November.

If this is the case, it can only be because the American voter translates "headed in the wrong direction" as "because the Republicans have had their way, so it's time to let the Democrats have theirs."

That should not be the case. I count myself as one of the 81 percent who believes America is headed in the wrong direction, and that is precisely why I am voting Republican. Moreover, I suspect I am not alone among the 81 percent in ascribing the wrong track to the leftist, not the conservative, influence on American life.

I concur

I guess it's "true" patriotism now

Obamania spotted wearing a flag pin.

Remember when Obamania made the claim

"You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin. Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for, I think, true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security, I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest.

"Instead," Obama added rather grandiosely, "I'm going to try to tell.the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism."

Well I guess it's OK now for the messiah to wear one. Here's a report on his WV visit.

For only the second time in many weeks, Obama wore an American flag pin on his suit jacket. He has said he stopped wearing such pins routinely because he felt they became a substitute for ‘‘true patriotism’’ after the 2001 terrorist attacks. He recently wore a flag pin, for a day, given to him by a veteran. Campaign aides gave no explanation for Monday’s decision, except to say that sometimes Obama wears a flag pin and sometimes he does not.

It must be a fashion statement for the bitter, gun hugging, white guy.

Save the Polar Bears

U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken recently ordered the Interior
Department to decide by May 15 whether polar bears should be listed under provisions of the act.

If the polar bear is to be declared threatened it must be because the Interior Department accepts the forecasts of continued global warming, and a significant reduction in Arctic ice. There are two reasons why that decision, if it is made, will be momentous.

The first is the possible wide geographic reach of the global warming argument. The snail darter almost killed a single dam. The polar bear could, in theory at least, stop everything. Suppose someone wants to build a coal-burning power plant in Florida.

Environmentalists might challenge the construction on the grounds that the plant will emit greenhouse gases leading to global warming and an increased threat to polar bears.

The second impact of this ruling is that it will likely end all Arctic exploration for oil and gas, at least in the U.S. Given surging world demand for oil, increased supply is the only thing standing between us and $200-a-barrel oil.

More...

Pot Friendly Prez

I didn't realize BO was a "state's rights" guy. Wonder if he ever inhaled?

As the candidates prepare for a May 20 primary in Oregon, one of 12 states with a California-style law, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois has become an increasingly firm advocate of ending federal intervention and letting states make their own rules when it comes to medical marijuana.

More...

Obama's incmpentent staff

Jake Tapper with all the errors made by Obamania's staff.

We started covering Sen. Barack Obama's inability to hire good staffers in June 2007, when he blamed staffers for some opposition research trying to link Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, to outsourcing in India; for injecting some venom in the David Geffen/Hillary Clinton fight; and for missing an event with firefighters in New Hampshire.

In December, we noted again that Obama was blaming the answers on a 1996 questionnaire on a staffer; and was blaming his touring with "cured" ex-gay gospel singer Donnie McClurkin (which antagonized gays and lesbians) on bad vetting by his staff.

Those five buck-passing incidents were apparently not enough.

Yesterday, in an interesting New York Times look at Obama's rise in Chicago politics, we learned that in 2004 some Jewish supporters became alarmed to learn that in a questionnaire Obama refrained from denouncing Yasir Arafat, or from expressing strong support for Israel's security fence.

Reports the Times: "In an e-mail message, Mr. Obama blamed a staff member for the oversight, and expressed the hope that 'none of this has raised any questions on your part regarding my fundamental commitment to Israel’s security.'"

So the question to Obama.

Are you hiring incompetent staffers because you are incompetent or are your staffers convenient fall guys for your incompetence?

Tapper has an interesting conclusion....

So, for those keeping track at home, that's ten instances of Obama publicly blaming his staff for various screw-ups.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10!

(You of course could also add Austan Goolsbee, Samantha Power, Gordon Fischer, and retired Gen. Tony McPeak.)

That would be 14. We will continue to keep track.

And for the record, yet again, let me state that I find Sen. Obama's staff unfailingly competent and polite, courteous and efficient, and I once again express my regret that Sen. Obama does apparently not feel the same way.

Bad News for McCain

It looks like conservatives are finally going to have a candidate to vote for this fall.

The presidential field just grew by one.

Former US Representative Bob Barr of Georgia announced that he will run as a Libertarian this year. He first must win that party's nomination at its national convention that begins May 22.

A conservative former Republican, Barr could end up hurting presumptive GOP nominee John McCain -- just as some Democrats fear that Ralph Nader's independent candidacy could bleed votes from the Democratic nominee.

Global Warming Challenge Update

The latest score for the global warming challenge.

Warm - 138 (118 plus 20 bonus points for four record warm days in January)
Cool - 139

I'm still waiting for some global warming believer to take me up my wager.

I only know one thing for certain. If we get anymore global warming this year, I'm going to freeze my ass off.

Disappearing jobs

So you are one of those people who hurt for someone who just lost their job.

Watch this video of the John Deere Equipment eat up a tree. Now the poor logger who lost his job, but maybe saved a limb, can fill out an application at John Deere to build one of these bad boys.