August 24, 2008

Chinese Gymnasts Investigated for Cheating? Blame the USA!

My latest over at PJM:

To those who think her being underage — per requirements put into place in 1997 in order to ensure the safety of the athletes — should not be an issue because her performances were so outstanding, I pose this question: why have rules at all for any sport? Rules exist for a reason — to give competing athletes common ground from which to start. There are rules against steroid use, for instance, which no one seems to have a problem with — nor should they. Swimmers, runners, and other competitors are tested for these drugs on a daily basis throughout the competition. Age limits in gymnastics might seem unfair, but unless those rules are challenged and subsequently changed, they should be abided by.

Yet in addition to the comments arguing whether age should matter or not, there were a fair number of those that suggested the only reason this investigation has commenced is that the U.S. team took second place. In other words, American sour grapes. Here’s a sampling (all spelling and syntax from the original):

Read it all here.

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August 21, 2008

Caroline Kennedy: Obama's Ambassador to Britain?

Obama is making ambassadorial appointments already? Did I sleep through November 4?

If Barack Obama makes it to the White House, Britain seems set to have its first Kennedy as American Ambassador to the Court of St James's since JFK's father, Joe.

Mandrake hears that it will be payback for Caroline Kennedy JFK's only surviving child and a power broker in the Democratic Party, for being such an enthusiastic cheerleader for Obama.

Will we ever get away from the Kennedys? A dynasty founded by a bootlegger and Nazi sympathizer? How their "royal" status was conferred, I will never know.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised at this rumor, though, seeing as we've learned that Team Obama is already preparing for the transition from campaign to Oval Office occupancy.

What's that I smell? Oh yes, the whiff of arrogance. Seems to be getting stronger every day.

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Obama’s Poll Numbers Are ‘Slip Slidin’ Away’

My latest at FSM:

According to historic precedent, the stars favor Democrats this year as a sitting president’s approval ratings usually have a large impact on whether voters will pull the lever for the same party’s candidate. Currently, President Bush’s ratings are hovering around 30% - hardly anything to write home about. (Yet considering job approval ratings for the Democrat-led Congress are less than half that, Bush looks like he’s the head boy, beating out Nancy “Save the Earth” Pelosi and Harry “Oil Makes Us Sick” Reid.) Still, precedent is precedent. Until 2008.

It’s shocking when you consider that Obama has received just about the biggest media build-up in the history of our nation. And with so many well-informed Hollywood celebrities unafraid to show their backing of The One™, the public was sure to follow suit. I mean, if we aren’t afraid to imitate Jennifer Aniston’s hair, surely we aren’t afraid to imitate her politics.

Read it all here.

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August 19, 2008

Will Rank-and-File Democrats Vote for Obama?

My latest at Pajamas Media:

Considering Obama’s inability to get much more of a lead in the polls than the margin of error in a year which, based on historical precedent, the White House should go to the Democrats, perhaps my friends aren’t the only party faithfuls with doubts about the presumptive nominee.

What could Obama, the politician who has promised to deliver “hope and change,” possibly be hiding? What’s not to like about his experience, competence, and strength of character?

Read it all here.

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August 13, 2008

George Clooney: Number One on Obama’s Speed Dial?

My latest at Family Security Matters:

Those of you who think there’s nothing behind the “celebrity” charge the McCain campaign has been lobbing against Barack Obama may want to read this article from the UK Daily Mail. Obama might not be Sienna Miller’s BFF (best friend forever), but apparently he and George Clooney have hit it off and, according to the article, text each other regularly and speak by phone a couple of times a week.

Aside from sharing manscaping tips, what could a former community organizer/Messiah and a college dropout/former television doctor have in common? In addition to “giving him advice on things such as presentation, public speaking and body language,” Clooney is using his expert credentials to push Obama to “be more ‘balanced’ on issues such as U.S. relations with Israel…George is pro-Palestinian. And he is also urging Barack to withdraw unconditionally from Iraq if he wins.”

Read it all here.

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August 10, 2008

American Men Whoop Some French Ass in the Pool; Smash French in 4x100 Freestyle Relay

Silly Fwenchies...gold medals are for Americans!

So exciting...just finished watching the men's 4x100 freestyle swim relay and the French, who were going to "smash" the Americans (per Alain Bernard) ended up being smashed by Michael Phelps, Cullen Jones, Jason Lezak and Garret Weber-Gale. (Hope I got all the names right.)

Sweet, sweet victory. My family and I were jumping up and down screaming at the television, watching it all unfold live.

The Fwench were unavailable for comment...just as it should be.

Will update with a link and photos in the morning...this happened just over half an hour ago, so nothing's up online yet.

UPDATE (Monday 8 am): Here's a link to story about this incredible relay race. What makes this even better is that Jason Lezak, who swam the final leg of the relay, is the oldest male American swimmer on the team (age 32)...and Alain Bernard, the blowhard who wanted to "smash" the Americans, is the one who lost it for his team. Had he not been such an ass before the event, likely this post would not have been written...

Below are photos of our men savoring their well-earned victory. Go USA!

UPDATE TWO: Oh, one of the French swimmers, Amaury Leveaux, said, "A fingertip did the victory. It was nothing." I doubt it would be "nothing" had the French won by a fingertip. Call the wahmbulance.

"A fingertip did the victory. It was nothing." Waaah!

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Bush-Bashers Face Looming Identity Crisis

Better late than never...I was on vacation last week and didn't catch the day Pajamas Media posted my latest article for them. So here it is...enjoy!

George W. Bush will be leaving office in mid-January 2009, leaving professional Bush-bashers up the proverbial creek without a paddle. Once Bush is no longer in office and, one presumes, enjoying his retirement on his ranch in Crawford, Texas, who will Americans blame for all the ills known to plague modern man?

The few days of national unity against an evil force that seeks to destroy America after 9/11 notwithstanding, President Bush has been blamed for just about every problem known to plague humanity. Not only is he responsible for the fact that Europeans think we’re just a bunch of boorish cowboys who don’t know a salad fork from a demitasse spoon — yes, I know they’ve always thought that, but it’s worse now, right? — but he’s also responsible for:

Find out what here.

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August 09, 2008

The Little Red Hen...Updated for 2008

I didn't write this, but enjoy!

Once upon a time, on a farm in Virginia , there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered quite a few grains of wheat.

She called all of her Democrat neighbors together and said, "If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?"

"Not I," said the cow.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Not I," said the pig.

"Not I," said the goose.

"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen, and so she did.

The wheat grew very tall and ripened into golden grain.

"Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Out of my classification," said the pig.

"I'd lose my seniority," said the cow.

"I'd lose my unemployment compensation," said the goose.

"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen, and so she did.

At last it came time to bake the bread.

"Who will help me bake the bread?" asked the little red hen.

"That would be overtime for me," said the cow.

"I'd lose my welfare benefits," said the duck.

"I'm a dropout and never learned how," said the pig.

"If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination," said the goose.

"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen.

She baked five loaves and held them up for all of her neighbors to see.

They wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, "No, I shall eat all five loaves myself."

"Excess profits!" cried the cow. (Nancy Pelosi)

"Capitalist leech!" screamed the duck. (Barbara Boxer)

"I demand equal rights!" yelled the goose. (Jesse Jackson)

The pig just grunted in disdain. (Ted Kennedy)

And they all painted "Unfair!" picket signs and marched around and around the little red hen, shouting obscenities.

Then the farmer (Obama) came. He said to the little red hen, "You must not be so greedy."

"But I earned the bread," said the little red hen.

"Exactly," said Barack the farmer. "That is what makes our free enterprise system so wonderful. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive
workers must divide the fruits of their labor with those who are lazy and idle."

And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, "I am grateful, for now I truly understand the Democrat System."

But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her. She never again baked bread because she joined the "party" and got her bread for free.

And all the Democrats smiled. "Fairness" had been established.

Individual initiative had died, but nobody noticed; perhaps no one really cared...so long as there was free bread that "the rich" were paying for.

EPILOGUE

Bill Clinton is getting $12 million for his memoirs.

Hillary got $8 million for hers.

That's $20 million for the memories from two people, who for eight years, repeatedly testified, under oath, that they couldn't remember anything.

IS THIS A GREAT BARNYARD OR WHAT? Remember to vote often and vote correctly.

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