tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87399542024-03-06T23:41:22.788-08:00 Botteritown Tonightpronounced: /bo-'terry-town/ Random thoughts - Freshly posted!Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-76426246266785290042008-06-19T14:29:00.000-07:002008-06-19T14:32:34.242-07:0011-step Energy Plan for a Better Tomorrow1) Ignore the enviro-bullies - they haven't been right about anything, ever<br />2) De-list the Polar Bears (they're just fine, I tell ya!). Restrictions regarding any other "threatened species" that are in the way of energy production are waived. (i.e., spotted owl v. oil refinery - oil refinery wins)<br />3) Drill - drill - drill TODAY (in the Brakkens, ANWR, offshore CA & AK, Gulf of Mexico, etc)<br />4) Build more oil refineries starting TODAY<br />5) Build many more nuclear power plants starting TODAY<br />6) Regulate the energy futures market to be more of a real cash market (versus being treated as a financial instrument like what's happening now)<br />7) Build more coal-based electricity plants TODAY<br />8) Lose cap-and-trade ... it's the Oil-For-Food scam all over<br />9) Lose corn-based ethonol. It's stupid! If we must have ethanol (which we really don't), Sugar-based ethanol can be imported from Brazil for less than it costs us to make corn-based ethanol - and it's a better fuel, too. But still not as good as gasoline.<br />10) Create a federally subsidized "renewable energy incentive" program to help people install solar panels and windmills at a substantially reduced price (like what CA did a few years ago). This program would be available to individulas and businesses alike. Think "chicken in every pot," except with solar panels...<br />11) Kyoto: not now, not ever, never<br /><br />What will happen...<br />1) Energy futures will be removed as a speculative trading play and the price of oil will drop; also, the stability of oil will encourage investment in the broader-based markets (NYSE, NASDAQ, etc)<br />2) The removal of a corn-based ethanol market will encourage wheat and feed-corn production and the price of food will drop<br />3) Lots of jobs will be created - somebody has to develop, build, sell, and run these things!<br />4) Lots, I mean LOTS of new wealth will be created across the boards<br />5) The price at the pump will drop (fast, and a lot). <br />6) New alt. technologies will be developed and exported across the world resulting in a move away from oil<br />7) A global de-valuation of oil will greatly de-fund terrorist actors against the West.Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-11401018828718789392007-08-21T12:33:00.000-07:002007-08-21T15:38:24.085-07:00Vick-dictiveFull disclosure: OK, so I have a couple of dogs. Which means I like dogs - but I'm no peta-animals-are-fuzzy-people-type. I like a good hamburger as much as anyone (maybe more!).<br /> <br />That being said, this Mike Vick thing is one of the most ridiculously heinous displays of behavior I have seen - probably in my lifetime.<br /><br />The guy's a monster. <br /><br />He should throw himself on the mercy of the court, serve real prison time (1yr - 18mo.), pay the max fine(s), and never play professional football again. His cohorts should also serve time and pay fines, but it looks like that's not really going to happen.<br /><br />There is so much evil surrounding this scenario... <br /><br />I mean, geez! He (and his buddies) took dogs, an animal bred by humans over the course of hundreds and hundreds of years to be completely reliant and trusting on people to provide food, shelter, companionship and protection. <br /><br />He betrayed, violated, and twisted those dogs' hard-wired compulsion to Serve and Obey into attacking one another into submission (or death). But that wasn't enough for these guys.<br /><br />They took these beaten dogs - and they willing came to their Masters - and killed them viciously. <br /><br />Imagine the dog's basic thoughts: "I'm beaten. But there is Master. He will help me. I'll go to him. I'm sorry, Master. Forgive me. I love my Master. He gives me food. Is there food?"<br /><br />Instead of a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears, his Master picks him up and strangles him; or hangs him; or beats him against the ground; or electrocutes him. If the dog's lucky, it's just shot.<br /><br />What are those poor dogs' last thoughts? "I'm sorry! Forgive me! Save me! Master save me! sav..."<br /><br />And this went on again and again and again. Coldly passionate. Systematically entropic. Pathetically violent.<br /><br />And Vick was right in the middle of it.<br /><br />I think what I find most egregiously offensive is that these men took innocent beasts, trained them to their most aggressive natures, and then executed the animals in particularly cruel ways - after the animals did as they were trained. It was organized torture for the pure purpose of entertainment. <br /><br />There are lots of really bad things in the world, but only a few that are as disgusting as taking an innocent, domesticated animal without free will, corrupting, torturing, then slowly killing it.<br /><br />Yeah, I have dogs, so I may take this more personally than many. However, my guess is that a lot of people without dogs feel the same way.<br /><br />The public would be best served by expelling Vick from polite society - forever.Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1164568166897514312006-11-26T08:18:00.000-08:002006-11-26T11:09:27.226-08:00ThanksgivingYou know those papers we were all assigned as kids? The ones like, "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" and "What I Did for Christmas Break?" Well, this is "How I Spent My Thanksgiving." Enjoy!<br /><br />We drove, we visited, we ate, we visited, we ate, we visited, we drove, and we slept. The end.<br /><br />Hmmmm... there seems to be something missing. Oh yes, we ate before we slept, too.<br /><br />Ok, ok. Enough with the snarky.<br /><br />We had planned for some time that we would spend our Thanksgiving with family down south of the Bay. It was something we hadn't done in a very long time indeed, and we were really looking forward to it. We were going to Nona's house! Truthfully, that's always a treat in-and-of itself; but when the added value of Thanksgiving dinner is in the mix - why, four hours of bumper-to-bumper traffic couldn't keep us away!<br /><br />That morning we got up at the usual time. We were scheduled to arrive at Nona's at 2pm. We figured a three-hour drive, so we needed to leave out house at 11am. That gave us an easy morningtime. (I really cherish easy morningtimes. No matter how hard I try, I can get myself up and out of bed, but the next step of in the shower and ready to leave for someplace is a challenge for me. Those of you who know me well know what I mean.)<br /><br />So, we have an easy morningtime and are ready to go at 10am. Oh yes, we are early! Pretty cool, huh? Not only are we early, but we have a full tank of gas and we know where we are going and, most importantly, we didn't forget anything. In fact, we brought extra clothes just in case of a Thanksgiving Catastrophe that might Result In Needing To Change Clothes. Sweet.<br /><br />Oops, I need to back up a quick sec. One of the things I learned to make as a Southern kid at Thanksgivingtime is this side dish made of sweet potatoes (or yams). This is a time-honored dish not for the faint of heart. Really, if you have heart problems, you should skip this delicasy because it will surely do you in! It's made with roasted sweet potatoes, butter (real butter), whole milk, whole eggs, real sugar, real brown sugar, flour, more butter, and pecans. Lots. This was my project for the day before.<br /><br />OK, so we load up the car with ourselves, our Emergency Clothes, maps, soda pop (no one else drinks Diet Caffiene-Free Coke, so we bring our own), and two big-giant pans of freshly baked Southern-Style Sweet Potato Casserole. We are on our way.<br /><br />For those of you wondering, "But what about Cookie and Cosmo? Did they have to stay behind?" Well, yes. Not to worry, though. Our wonderful neighbors offered to let Cookie and the 'Mo stay at their house. It was a beautiful day, a little on the cold side, but happily, no rain.<br /><br />As we pulled out of the driveway, I remembered something. I dialed my neighbor - the ones taking care of Cooks and 'Mo. "Hi, Sharon. I wanted to let you kow we're on the way out. Also, there seems to be a dead pidgeon up under your eaves. We just thought you'd like to know... ... Of course, you could just leave it there as a warning to all the other pidgeons that roosting here is certain death... ... Yes, Cookie and Cosmo are in the back yard - and the gate's open... ... You can try, but you know how Cookie can be... ... Traffic? Not bad; we just passed your house and there's not another car in sight! [they are our next-door neighbors] ... OK, Happy Thanksgiving to you ... talk with you later ... Bye!"<br /><br />Usually, I drive. I drive and drive and drive. I'm a little tired of driving. So this time, I rode along with the understanding that I'd drive back (I have better night vision). It was nice to be a passenger!<br /><br />The in-town traffic wasn't bad at all. It wasn't until we were a little less than halfway that we encountered our first back-up. Few things are more unsettling for me than being completely stopped and parked on a freeway. There's just something so wrong about that.<br /><br />After a quick consultation with the map and handy 511 traffic line (thank you State of California), we decided to take an alternate route. Now, this isn't one of those madcap, zany stories about alternate route go wrong. In fact, I'm happy to say that our decisionmaking served us well.<br /><br />By the time we were three-quarters of the way distance-wise, it was noon-ish. We were in some Bay area burg and heading against the jam... and oh, what a back-up! I looked with awe at the miles of cars stacked bumper-to-bumper. From what I could tell, the source of all this was a toll booth. Incoming traffic didn't have to pay. As I gandered at the enormity of the sparkling snake of cars roping its way along the trough that was the road, I noticed two things, both of which gives me a jolt even now: The first was that there was two rows of cars literally parked in the road for as far as I could see (in fairness, it wasn't a perfectly staight road). The second was (shivers) <em>there were no exits off this road!</em> What would have happened is someone ran out of gas? Or had a heart attack? Or (gasp) had to go to the bathroom???! (again, those of you who know me well understand that of which I speak) A wave of clausterphobia tickles my toes even now. I wonder, are those poor people still stuck there?<br /><br />Eventually, the oncoming traffic-snake tapered off. Times like these make me wish for a device that could be used to broadcast into cars a warning, "Exit now! No Potty Zone Ahead!" God bless 'em.<br /><br />After a few more miles and turns, we found ourselves at Nona's. Yay! We parked and got out of the car. Standing was a gratifying challenge. When you're old like me you'll understand what I mean... We grabbed our gear and headed for the front door. The sumptuous fragrance of roasting meats and fixin's carried us nose-first up the two-stair porch like so many Looney Tunes cartoons. Ahhhh, we're here. It was 2ish.<br /><br />After a knock and a pause, the door was thrown open. Nona! Big smiles and bigger hugs were exchanged, and we were allowed entry. Nona's house is a single-level bungalow with oak plank floors, brick fireplace and kitchen, and love oozing out of every doily, figurine, teacup, and pillow. <br /><br />While Nona is a grandmother, she's not our grandmother. She is my sister-in-law. This was the first Thanksgiving the two older brothers and their sister (and families) had enjoyed together since ... I think ever, actually. Nieces, uncles, aunties, and friends filled the house with a warm chatter I love to hear. I tried to make myself useful in the kitchen, but was bustled out after a few minutes. I walked over and sank into the deep cusions of one of the sofas and was immediately greatful. Who knew being a passenger was so tiring??<br /><br />Pretty soon, it was time to eat. Yay! But who was going to carve the turkey? I'm pretty handy with a knife (just ask my fingers - the ones left... ha!), so I volunteered. Anyway, Nona had an electric knife, so what could possibly go wrong?<br /><br />I went to work... and a few minutes later, we had a boned turkey carcass and a pile of steaming white and dark meat - and no blood! A Thanksgiving miracle...<br /><br />All some-teen of us sat at our placecards and our youngest guest said grace. "Dear Heavenly Father, bless us and bless Mommy and Daddy and Nona and thank you for this food for the nourishment of our bodies in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost Amen." I opened my eyes and surveyed the spread.<br /><br />There was a salad with greens, avocado, cherry tomatoes, craisins, with a orange-vinagrette dressing. There was a b-i-g platter full of turkey (white meat in teh center and dark meat surrounding), a gravy boat filled with piping-hot, you know, gravy. We were treated to two kinds of stuffing, homemade cornbread, mashed potatoes, asparagus, pumkin mini-muffins, and sweet potato casserole. After a few minutes of passing and plating, we all settled in to enjoy our feast.<br /><br />I kid you not, a silence fell on the room. No one said anything for - no joke - about three minutes. The only noise was forks and knives working and chewing and "mmmm's." Then, someone said something, and everyone joined in and resumed their converations. I take it as a sign of pure culinary delight.<br /><br />After a respectable amount of dinner-ing, we all agreed ot was time to retire to the living room. A couple of us stayed behind to try to help Nona with the enormous clean-up ahead. I asked, "Would you like me to carve to other turkey, or do you want to keep it whole?" Yes, there was a second turkey, almost as big as the first one, and just as pretty. Nona said yes, so I went to work. A fork, a sharp knife, an electric knife with grease from the other turkey on the handel - what could possibly go wrong??<br /><br />Why, nothing! Yay! While I was slicing slabs of succulent turkey, Nona started coffee. Maybe it was the mood, or maybe it was he combination of everything else, but I'll be darned if that wasn't the most wonderful-smelling coffee I have ever sniffed in my life. I couldn't wait to have some. Alas, it was not to be. After the first round, it was time to make more coffee. Lucky for me, this batch smelled as good as the first!<br /><br />It was time to unleash the pies...<br /><br />We had pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies and a big, huge pumpkin log (think rolled carrot-spice cake with crean cheese icing). One of the nieces noticed that there was some whipping cream in the 'fridge. I volunteered to whip it up. Really, few things are yummier than homemade pies with fresh-whipped cream. As an added benefit, scoop a big, ole' dollop in your coffee for something really special.<br /><br />Most everyone had some of everything. Including me. I even had some pecan pie (minus the pecans). It was all sooo good.<br /><br />Before we knew it, it was 11pm. Most of the guests had gone home and it was just us and Nona. We could tell she had a really long day. A couple of us managed to get a couple of loads of dishes through the wash and put away leftovers and ingredients, and tidied up a bit, but there was still a lot to do. Nona assured us that she would finish up in the morning and that we shouldn't come to her house to work.<br /><br />We said our goodbyes and promises to get together again soon, took our leftovers, and headed back. I was driving, so of course it wasn't until about 10 minutes into it that I left the oh-so-familiar pillowy-soft blanket of tryptophan kick in. Nice!<br /><br />I said, "We have to talk." <br /><br />"Uh-oh."<br /><br />"No, it's nothing bad. I just need to talk about something because I feel like I'm about to nod off."<br /><br />"Uh-oh."<br /><br />"Come on... so how 'bout that pumkin log?" Me? I had never seen one as big as that. It was the size of ... ummm ... a very large rolled-up cakey-type thing indeed! And it was smackerlicious.<br /><br />A few minutes later, I woke up just fine. I think it was the car in front of the car in front of me who's tire blew out that did it. No kidding. A few minutes later, another car blew it's tire out, too. Yikes!<br /><br />Soon enough we were out of the city and zooming down the interstate, making monster time. A scant two hours later, we were pulling into our driveway. Ahhh. Home.<br /><br />We knew that Cookie and Cosmo would be in the house, so we made a beeline for the door to let them out and do their business. They were happy to see us and obliged by doing lots of business. Meanwhile, we unloaded the car.<br /><br />It was nice to be home. Glad that we went, for sure! But we were glad to be home all the same. <br /><br />We looked at each other and said, "Are you hungry? Yes..." and pulled out a few leftovers. We sat down and had a teeny-tiny version of the dinner we enjoyed just a few hours before. Like an echo.<br /><br />After a little while, it was time to get to bed. After giving the pups a pat, we crawled under the covers and were soon fast asleep, dreaming of the wonderful Thanksgiving day we were lucky enough to spend at Nona's.Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1163003942980325432006-11-08T08:04:00.000-08:002006-11-08T08:39:03.046-08:00CrankyIt's the morning after the big mid-term elections and I'm a cranky girl.<br /><br />Not so much because the the Dems (shiver) won; but that the GOP lost.<br /><br />The GOP needed to get scrappy. They needed to get edgy. They needed to put themselves on the line for their beliefs. They needed to call the Dems out and make a few filibusters happen. They needed to show some fire and passion.<br /><br />There seems to be a culture in the GOP something like, "we are above all that yelling-type stuff" and "we are rule- and tradition-followers; we are principled."<br /><br />That's great and all, but when the other guys are proverbially whaling on you with pipes and chains, for goodness sake pull out your proverbial gun. And proverbially shoot it!<br /><br />That they didn't seem to do any of that makes me sad.<br /><br />Terror War, Tax reform, Soc Sec, Immigration Reform, Judicial Advocacy... these are enormous issues that the Dems will get horribly, horribly wrong.<br /><br />And the notion of Pelosi and Speaker and Murtha as Appropriations - (gak ... I threw up a little in my mouth)<br /><br />You know, I have to interrupt myself here and yell out the the rooftops, "God help us all if the Dems betray and abandon a fledgling government AGAIN." The Vietman analogy they are so giddy to use will indeed be complete.<br /><br />We lost the House. We lost the Senate. But, GOP... thank goodness you have your dignity.<br /><br />I going to go sip a little coffee and pout a while.<br /><br />At least Arnold won.Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1151685519185639022006-06-30T07:57:00.000-07:002006-06-30T16:25:34.970-07:00&@#%! TreasonOK... I've said before that we need more shame in America - that's a little shorthand for a sense of public and peer pressure that encourages good or virtous behavior.<br /><br />For instance, having babies out of wedlock is wrong; divorce is to be avoided; lying is bad; so is cursing, bullying, subterfuge, manipulation, whining, or quitting. These used to be things frowned on, not encouraged. <br /><br />Today, they are glorified in our everyday lives through TV shows, magazines, books, movies, etc.<br /><br />The standard of 'if it feels good, do it' has so penetrated the American culture, that it seems kids today know little else.<br /><br />This trend of slipping standards is nothing new. Sociologists have been sounding the alarm about the end of American civilization since the 60s. They look at previous examples of great and powerful civilizations that ended in a wimper and see our culture heading down the same path. It happened with the Egyptians; it happened with the Greeks; the Romans; a arguement could be made that it's happening to the English (I don't agree with that arguement - it's too soon to say). Maybe it's inevitable. Maybe it's just another example of life's cycles... but it is still frustrating.<br /><br />***<br /><br />Now here we are. Today, we have a few knuckleheads (or maybe just one) somewhere in our own government that have taken it upon themselves to leak a vital, important, effective, secret process that helps our nation track and (eventually) kill people who are determined to attack us. And one of the country's top newspapers prints the story.<br /><br />Let's break this down: One day, a guy wakes up in the morning. At some level, he says to himself, "Today, I'm going to tell to the world about this secret." So he goes and contacts another guy and the Times (how much other media did he reach out to, I wonder?). <br /><br />OK, now this other guy gets told, makes notes, etc. He wakes up the the next morning and says to himself, "Boy, this is a great secret process that seems really effective in catching our enemies. But, it seems like it could be used on me, and I wouldn't want people to know how many times I get money from my mother..." So he decides - and this is his very best idea - to write it up.<br /><br />Next, this guy goes to another guy - his boss. He tells his boss about it. His boss' very best idea is to say something along the lines of, "sounds good - go for it."<br /><br />This boss-guy then goes to his boss and says something along the lines of, "Boy, do we have a great story coming up, guys! It's about a secret process the government is using to catch terrorists." And in some way, the boss-boss says, "sounds good - run with it."<br /><br />The boss goes back to the one guy and tells him to run with it - which he is already doing. But now he has the official blessings of his superiors; and at some level, he says, "I going to really stick it to these government guys!"<br /><br />So that guy goes back to the first guy and they go back and forth getting the whole story. The first guy is the belle-of-the-ball and feeling all important. The next guy is like a hungry dog at an unattended picnic spread taking in as much as he can, while he can. And the boss feels good knowing that one of his people is 'on the case!'<br /><br />Eventually, the guy is done. He has his story written and proofed. He turns it in. The boss looks at it and sees a scoop. He probably forwards a copy to his boss. That guy reads it and is pleased at the work.<br /><br />The government gets wind of the story (probably because the writer wanted to get a quote from them - that'll really stick 'em good!) The government says, "Hey, that's a secret we're still using. Don't publish it, m'kay?"<br /><br />So the next morning, the very best idea is to publish that story. That's their very best idea - the best one. So that's what they do. It's not like the thing was accidently printed. It wasn't something that just fell onto the page or was stuck to the backside of some op-ed. A number of people worked really hard to make this story go. <br /><br />Now the process is now dead. Other people and governments that counted on discretion in order to participate in this process are gone. Terrorists are able to find out what they were doing and change their operations accordingly and now, Americans will die for it.<br /><br />The government knucklehead (or -heads) has his story printed - it's been a week and I bet he's still giddy. And some of our guys are shot dead. <br /><br />The writer is a media darling. And some of our guys get their legs ripped from their bodies in an IED. <br /><br />The boss and the boss' boss are basking in the heady glow of fame. And some of our guys get kidnapped and decapitated. <br /><br />I bet there's a book deal in the works. And I bet right now, one of our guys is about to be nabbed and tortured.<br /><br />So, good job guy. You've made it so much easier to get money to the savages attacking us. You've made it harder to track and catch their leaders. I bet you woke up this morning with an overwhelming sense of energy and power. Meantime, some of our guys didn't wake up at all.<br /><br />Throughout this whole process I have to wonder if any of the decisionmakers really though out whether or not publishing the story was right. I strongly suspect all they saw was an exclusive, and that the right-ness was never an issue on the table much less discussed.<br /><br />See, this helping-out-the-other-side thing has a name: 'treason.' It's a big ugly word with big ugly consequenses. But that seems to be another thing lacking in our culture today... certainly in our media culture - ugly consequenses.<br /><br />The government recognizes this has has decided to take the extraordinary step to ... waggle their finger at the fact that a story was written without saying who it was that did it. What is this, kindergarten? <br /><br />In my world, the decision tree that allowed the story to print would lose their livelihood at the least. As a newspaper, a public trust was violated in that the paper went out of its way help harm (kill) our own people. They went out of their way to help an enemy that has sworn to kill us all... including them. These guys do not deserve the public trust. Their actions have shown (again) that in fact, they don't want it. Let's oblige them.<br /><br />The next thing I'd do is have the government interrogate the writer to find the leak. I would indict and try the leaker for treason and, if found guilty, invoke the death penalty. (I would consider a 20yr sentence in a federal facility if the accused co-operated)<br /><br />This is an ugly scenario. But while these guys are going aroung feeling really good about themselves, we are in a war for our survival. <br /><br />This conflict isn't a border dispute. It is a struggle not just to end our lives but to eliminate even the memory of our stories, our sensibilities, our humor, our passion, our ingenuity, our productivity ... us all.<br /><br />Treason: it's ugly, it's disgraceful, it's nasty, heinous and often murderous. It's what this is; and the people involved should be treated like the scum they are so desperate to aid.Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1151081443169476892006-06-23T09:31:00.000-07:002006-06-23T09:53:37.893-07:00Whew -- WAAAAY too much crazy showing!So, I have this inability to reign in the crazy. It's my fatal flaw. I'll jot something down that seems perfectly reasonable at the time. Then I'll go back and read through it (usually some time later) and I think, "Man! Who wrote that?!"<br /><br />Oh well -- it's a promise to myself to keep things in context and whole, warts and all.<br /><br />***<br /><br />Got a nice note from my friend Phil asking where the pictures were I promised to send him, like, six months ago. Oops. <br /><br />See, my husband, the love of my life, has gone through an amazing transformation. Through the miracle of <a href="http://www.paclap.com/Procedures/BariatricSurgery/bariatricsurgery.html#ds">DS surgery</a> and lots of hard work (and suffering), he has lost an astonishing amount of weight. Oh! Here's some more crazy: I have a blind spot in that I can't see weight loss on other people very well. It's like, "Yeah, I guess he's lost some weight." It's only when I see pictures side-by-side that I really see what I'm looking at. Weird.<br /><br />Anyway, here're a couple of pictures of my husband's journey so far. The first is Christmas of '04 and the next is Christmas of '05. <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7992/607/1600/John%26ChristinaXmas04.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7992/607/320/John%26ChristinaXmas04.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7992/607/1600/John%26Christina.Xmas05.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7992/607/320/John%26Christina.Xmas05.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br clear="all"><br /><br />Cool, huh?!Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1143395387850801492006-03-26T09:48:00.000-08:002006-03-26T09:49:47.860-08:00Expose the LeftI was tooling around and came across this site called Expose the Left. There was an interesting thread that I thought I'd contribute to. Here's what I said...<br /><br />I know I’m late to the party, but I thought I’d go ahead and toss my two cents in.<br /><br />In a former life I was a member of the few, elite, real newsmakers. I was a spinner, a fixer, a matchmaker … a PR Rep. The force behind 95% of every news story you read or hear. (mwaw-ha-ha-ha)<br /><br />Seriously, I can’t watch a newscast or read a story in a mag or paper without seeing the behind-the-scenes, between-the-lines forces.<br /><br />Here’s the unvarnished truth (‘cause I know you guys can take it!): the vast, vast majority of writers, editors, producers, and reporters are a facinating combination of personality. They have the yearning of artists and performers to be loved and the general laziness and arrogance of the prototypical teenager.<br /><br />That doesn’t make them bad people or anything like that, but it does make them extremely easy to manipulate. (You’d be amazed how many colomn inches a free dinner with a pretty girl or famous person can buy.)<br /><br />By the way, it’s true that Lib reporters are easier ‘shape;’ Cons are a slightly different challenge.<br /><br />The point is that there is a core value in liberals that is different that conservatives. This core value is enormously compatible with being comfortable about the manipulation of people and events to ‘get what you want.’ Conservatives lack this value, on the whole. That is one reason why cons seem to have a chronic inability to maintain a strong presence in the shaping of public opinion: they are unwilling or unable to ‘play the game.’<br /><br />Here’s the thing: if you want to get a story published or aired, start small, but always present a story package that is 90% done. Always have pictures. Always have a hook (and the story itself is never enough of a hook). And then do it again and again and again. Become a Source. Once you make it to Source status, you have the proverbial keys to the kingdom.<br /><br />It’s not easy, and it takes time. Years, sometimes. What is best is building relationships with budding journalists just out of school and work to help develop them into media professionals. The sense of loyalty is intoxicating, but if taken seriously, very rewarding.<br /><br />Liberals have a huge leg-up in terms of indoctrinating the media into a liberal mind-set because of what is taught. (oops, going hot-button-tangent!) But if conervatives recognize that and work effectively within that system, over time we will see the Liberal stranglehold on media loosen considerably. (full credit: it’s happening a teeny-tiny bit right now)<br /><br />See, it’s not so much about the truth. It’s about controlling the mike and controlling the guy talking into it.<br /><br />Yikes! I’m sure this all sounds very Orwellian/Machiavellian/Facistic, etc. But, in the words of that guy in the ‘92 movie ‘The Player,’ “That’s reality.”<br /><br />It’s an interesting strategy that the Conservatives are executing: if you’re not welcome at the cool kids table, change what and where is cool. A bold move that deserves a great deal of credit. The next step in this process is converting the viral media into the mainstream.<br /><br />I, for one, can’t wait to see what happens next. I think the Libs are in an ideological fight for their lives – and they ain’t doin’ too well.<br /><br />That being said, Libs have a lot of things going for them: they have 90% of media and media makers, 80% of the colleges and high schools, and about 50% of the electoral votes.<br /><br />Conservatives need to get busy! Get onto schoolboards, become teachers, have lots of babies, and continue to work every day and on every level to reintroduce an adult sense on responsibility and accountability to the American Media.<br /><br />It’s all very tiresome and ridiculous, I know. But you gotta do it – like making your kids study math. “Failure” is not an option.Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1142111065371701352006-03-11T09:02:00.000-08:002006-03-11T13:04:25.406-08:00Blogspot AuthorizationGeez -- for the first time in a while, I've had stuff to rant a little about. But it's been difficult to log-on to Blogsot. I was not authorized, apparently.<br /><br />Oh sure, I could have done this-ot-that... but whining about it afterwords is so much easier. (kind of like what our friends did in the pervious post -- snark!)<br /><br />I really like this blogging-thing. When I had this difficulty, it made me realize that I liked it even more that I thought I did. <br /><br />It's back now...<br /><br />Yay :)Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1141310768196225602006-03-02T06:35:00.000-08:002006-03-02T06:46:08.206-08:00Katrina Briefing Tape LeakI haven't heard the whole thing -- I admit it.<br /><br />But...<br /><br />From what I have heard, this is less of a gotcha for the Prez than it is for the Mayor of N.O. and the Gov of LA.<br /><br />The thing that first comes to mind is, why didn't the state guys take this storm as seriously as the Fed did?<br /><br />Some are saying that this is a big problem for the Prez, that it could billow into a full-fledged scandal. Maybe.<br /><br />I think it shows that the Feds were far more on-the-ball and concerned about this storm than the locals were.<br /><br />Lastly, I think it's important to say that nothing that anybody could have reasonably done bofore or after the storm would have made one iota of a difference with regards to the crazy-bad damge that was done to the cities hit.<br /><br />By the way, wasn't there another city/population center hit is MI &/or AL? How did their state officials handle the Katrina? It seems interesting that we never seem to hear much about them.<br /><br />We'll see what happens...Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1138929087099922352006-02-02T16:58:00.000-08:002006-02-02T17:11:27.110-08:00Offensive Cartoon?From all I've seen, which is just the one with the bomb-turban, this kerfuffle is another case of certain someones taking themselves way too seriously. Suck it up, guys ... if yours is the one true faith, a few scribbles won't make more of a difference than a belch in a hurricane.Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1138843431816250652006-02-01T17:11:00.000-08:002006-02-01T17:23:51.856-08:00SOTU AddressGood speech. I liked the tough parts. Too bad he didn't hammer tax code reform & simplification... but at least he talked about medical liability reform. His 'green talk' was ok - but of course the correct answer is off-shore and ANWAR drilling (oh yeah, I said it).<br /><br />The Dems are acting loopy and the folks are not buying it. But their donating constituency is loving it. More power to 'em!<br /><br />Pretty soon we're going to need to identify our next Prez. candidate. I wonder who it will be?Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1138738742643226782006-01-31T11:57:00.000-08:002006-01-31T12:19:02.680-08:00Why aren't we Funnier?I am a fan of woot.com. This guy Matt, who I suspect is the boss of the operation, podcasts these little tunes for each day's item. I love them. Especially the Bluetooth bits (they are addicting!!!).<br /><br />This reminds me of a question I've had for quite some time.<br /><br />With a very few exceptions, liberals have it all over us in terms of the funny-factor. <br /><br />I often wonder why.<br /><br />Is it because on the whole, conservatives lack the vile and bitterness present in so many of the really funny writers and performers of today? <br /><br />Is it because the entertainment industry is so completely rife with people who just want to be loved (a Lib core value) that conservatives - even those with promise - are 'encouraged' to develop other tradecraft?<br /><br />Maybe it's because we have the drive to create and build and nuture our families and community versus the constant, gluttonous internal examination that is required for truly funny bits.<br /><br />In any event, it would be nice if we could have more jibes at the libs on tv, more pokes at the Dems in the paper ... but I guess we'll have to settle for parody on radio for now. (sigh)Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1138668015039486512006-01-30T16:32:00.000-08:002006-01-30T16:40:15.050-08:00Happy New YearI know, I know... this poor blog has been neglected. Since I last opined so much has happened!<br /><br />I have to say I am quite happy that both Roberts and Alito have been confirmed. It is as it should be. (ahhhhh)<br /><br />Today is the State of the Union address... everybody's talking about this eavesdropping stuff. I wonder when everyone's going to understand that this issue is so a non-starter. I have to hand it to the radio guys out there, they are more patient and kind than I could ever be.Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1124496080974466662005-08-19T16:58:00.000-07:002005-08-19T17:01:20.980-07:00Adopt-A-BoxI've just volunteered to go through a box o' docs re: the Roberts confirmation.<br /><br />This'll be fun!<br /><br />PS. Did I mention that Hugh is my favorite radio host and occasional Con Law prof?Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1107305951751079672005-02-01T16:46:00.000-08:002005-02-01T17:04:24.326-08:00Comments on Recent Events...In no particular order...
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<br /><b>Pope John Paul II:</b> I was honored by a blessing by His Holiness in 1980 in Chicago. A great and godly man. I wish him well.
<br />Full disclosure: I'm a Methodist.
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<br /><b>John Kerry on <i>Meet the Press</i>:</b> What a marooon. This guy just can't make any sense at all. He is a joke, a rube, a ghost of an intelligent man.
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<br /><b>Iraqi Election:</b> A great and important moment in World History. My heart swells when I think on the enormity of it.
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<br /><b>Bush Inaugural Speech:</b> Grand. Sweeping. As large as the Montana sky. His most brilliantly delivered oratory ever. I just love this guy.
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<br /><b>Recent Capture of our Soldier:</b> John Adams a/k/a Lt Cody Action figure... If he loses his head, it's ok. It'll pop right back on. Is this a prank or are these guys serious? I tend to think that the website in question got hacked.
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<br /><b>Abu Grihab Convictions:</b> Convicted for what, exactly? I refuse to stipulate that anything close to <i>torture</i> occurred... <b><i>cause it didn't!</i></b>Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1105141565193834912005-01-07T15:29:00.000-08:002005-01-07T15:46:12.316-08:00Where has the time gone?Here we are at the end of the first week of 2005. Goodness! How the time flies!
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<br />I have been absent for quite a few days now. The holidays are over and everything is settling down to normal (whatever that means).
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<br />I have yet to get my copy of Blog... but I did get me copy of a new xbox game. Well, it's not really a game - it is the next big thing in home fitness. Check it out: you are able to set up your vital statistics (multiplayer is avalable, so your hubby can use it too!). Your 'personal trainer' is Maya, and she leads you through some 500 different excercises with periodic 'how are you doing' questions. The game allows for excercise equipment like a stability ball, free weights, and a step bench, and you have your choice of music, too. It's called Yourself!Fitness, and I think it's pretty cool.
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<br />Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1101071374776683362004-11-21T13:45:00.000-08:002004-11-21T14:43:12.953-08:00Our SoldierHere's my two cents with regards to the American soldier who was videotaped killing an Iraqi he happened upon during a security sweep.
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<br />There's been hints and whiffs of a war crime being committed here. That something out-of-bounds occured and should be addressed by an official body of the US.
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<br />Frankly, I agree. The full might and scrutiny of the United States of America should be applied to this obvious traitorous behavior. The full scorn and disgust of the American people should be felt by the singlular perpitraitor of this heinous act...
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<br />Who is the traitor? What is the act? What is the war crime? It is the network producer who released the content of this all-too-common tragedy of warfare. This short-sighted, weak excuse for a professional should be expelled from patriotic American scociety to live in France (or some other appropriate nation).
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<br />The decision to release that content comes from the same idiocy that interrupted regular programming to air a special report announcing the death of Arafat. Only this decision is much, <i>much</i> worse. It gives to our enemies propaganda to incite and inflame a population already restless. It further endangers our people over there and over here. And it does this to the exclusion of anything good or beneficial to our own people.
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<br />It begs the question, "Idiot, what are you doing?" And the answer, "People have a right to know..." is phoney baloney and they know it. (where that sentiment true, our airwaves would be filled with more of the good stuff, too) So, again, <b><i>"Idiot, what are you doing?"</b></i>
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<br />The frustration is endless. This soldier must live with the righteous - albeit still - stains of his actions from not only that day, but all the other days. Forever. He did nothing wrong. Period. In fact, if he <i>didn't</i> act the way he did, I would be hard-pressed as his commander to trust him in battle.
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<br />Our guy was <b>totally</b> justified in his actions. The video guys were totally <b>un</b>justified by their actions. The video guys need to go... and their replacements would be very wise to learn from their predecessors' collosal and dangerous derth of judgement.
<br /> Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1100453512173806892004-11-14T09:10:00.000-08:002004-11-14T09:31:52.173-08:00Ten DaysWell, it's been 10 days since my last blog entry.
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<br />Things are settling down now that the election is over. The lefty nutburgers are fading once again into the woodwork, although I think it will take a little while longer to punch themselves out.
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<br />I think the swan song of these guys was Lawrence O'Donnell's blurt about "a serious discussion of cessation on the next 20 years." Democrats tried that already once and it didn't quite work out. Do they want to go for 0 for 2?
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<br />Wouldn't it be great if these whiners took all that tantrum-energy and focused it on solving something - I mean <i>really</i> solving a national ill. One thing - just one! Now, they would have to do it all on their own (no taxes or whatnot).
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<br />With the Soros-level money men, movie stars and singers' millions, they could end poverty in the Appalachian Mountains. They could enrich the Arts programs in inner city schools. They could go a long way to improving the culture of violence and exploitation that plague young minority men in the population centers of America. They could do so many valueable things...
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<br />But they won't. They'll just rant and whine and spin tales of paranoia and conspiracy.Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1099599626715211742004-11-04T11:39:00.000-08:002004-11-04T12:20:26.716-08:00"Kerry never communicated is person..."I have heard again and again that the reason Kerry lost is because he did not effectively communicate <i>who he is</i> as a person. That he never <i>introduced himself</i> to Americans.
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<br />I reject this as supremely absurd and beyond riduculous.
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<br />The <b>reality</b> is that he did effectively communicate his personhood. He effectively broadcast his policies, ideals, personality, etc. Americans saw, understood, and decided who shall be President of the United States based on the full disclosure of Kerry on Kerry.
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<br />The decision was: No, thank you. Period.
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<br />No amount of revelations or communications would have changed the outcome (untruths and malicious manipulations notwithstanding). Kerry came, was seen, and was rejected precisely because he is who he is and what he believes. There's nothing underhanded or mean about that rejection. It is a reality of a presidential election. One (or more) guy loses - and there's nothing wrong with that.Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1099503965522780462004-11-03T09:25:00.000-08:002004-11-03T09:46:05.523-08:00A great sigh of contentmentWhat a night!
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<br />I can't say how happy I am to see Kerry's call to concede the contest to President Bush. Do you think he had a moment of clarity where he saw that there was no place for him in the Oval Office? Do you think he got a call from Bill after Ted left late last night? Do we really care?
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<br />I'm glad it's finally over, but I think there's some spanking to do. Namely, the MSM, exit pollsters, all those singers, actors, and sundry performers, and finally, the MoveOn guys <i>et al</i>. These guys have manipulated, cajoled, and perhaps even cheated some.
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<br />And George W. Bush beat them all, with a little help from us.
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<br />Yay!Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1099449481937464242004-11-02T18:35:00.000-08:002004-11-02T18:39:54.766-08:00BUSH!Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush!
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<br /><p><font size="6">BUSH!</font>
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<br />Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush! Bush!Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1099334751300098012004-11-01T10:42:00.000-08:002004-11-01T10:48:33.866-08:00Memo to OsamaTo: Osama Bin Laden
<br /> Third Cave on the Left
<br /> Iran
<br />
<br />From: Christina Botteri
<br /> Last house on the left
<br /> California
<br />
<br />RE: VIDEOTAPE SUBMISSION
<br />
<br />Dear Osama:
<br />
<br />Your repetition bores me.
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<br />A very sincere <i>up yours</i>,
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<br />Christina BotteriCosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1098815905666945702004-10-26T11:20:00.000-07:002004-10-26T11:38:25.666-07:00An Interesting AnalogyAfter reviewing the headlines regarding the bogus "munitions are gone" story and subsequent MSM rebuttals, something struck me...
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<br />The uncoordinated, yet unmistakable relationship between the likes of 60 Minutes/New York Times and the DNC/Democrat Elites is very much the same as the uncoordinated, yet unmistakable relationship between Saddam Hussein and Al Queda.Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1098716569714896302004-10-25T07:53:00.000-07:002004-10-25T13:18:52.116-07:00...Not if we win?!?!?Thanks again, <a href="http://www.drudgereport.com">Drudge</a>.
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<br /><a href="http://www.drudgereport.com/ee.mp3">Elizabeth Edwards, courtesy of CSPAN</a>, was caught on tape saying another evil thing. (the "Cheney family is ashamed of their daughter" was the first that broke through my radar)
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<br />This is a giant, steaming, black, tarry, lump of yuk for the Dems. Once again, shoing the true nature of the they have become.
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<br />I remain repulsed. My mom, who was so turned off by her first remark, says that I am "looking at it wrong." I said, "How else do you look at it? What would a smart lady like that be doing saying something so obviously ... well, threatning?"
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<br />Yikes! I am left shaking my head... I really wonder if this exchange will get any airtime. It should.Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739954.post-1098547554117503892004-10-23T08:40:00.000-07:002004-10-24T09:34:18.376-07:00Radio KerryThrough a series of small circumstances, I happened to hear the Democrat response to the President's radio address this morning. (too bad I didn't get to hear the President -- but thanks to the wonder of technology, I'll go get it here in a minute.)
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<br />I've been meaning to post on this for a couple of days, but am only now getting to it...
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<br />So, Kerry seems to be working double-time to undo the damage his wife Theresa did by saying that Mrs. Bush never had a real job, and then in some ways making it worse by saying she forgot that Mrs. Bush was a teacher and librarian (raising kids was notably absent from the job history -- oops!).
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<br />The subject of his radio address was written to address women... talking about how he will "fight" to close the so-called "wage gap," how raising the minimun wage to $7/hr will lift women and children out of poverty, filling grocery carts is hard, blah, blah, blah...
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<br />Is this an attempt to make up for his wife's collosal gaffe? Or is this an attempt to persuade all those Security "health-care-doesn't-matter-if-you're-killed-by-a-car-bomb" Moms that he's a better candidate?
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<br />I think that the former may be more true, because in this address he didn't mention his tough-talk on Iraq. If so, do we <i><b>really</i></b> want a President who must actively and publically clean up his wife's mistakes?! Do we really want a naturalized (is she?) billionairess in the White House shooting off her mouth every day because she so stinkin' rich she doesn't have to give a fig what anybody thinks? Do we really want to have to create a new Federal Department of Keeping Theresa Heinz-Kerry's Foot Out of Her Mouth (or, FDOKTHKFOHM).
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<br />Oh sure, it would be funny for a few weeks, but then it will become a national embarassment. Honestly, if President<i>(gak!)</i> Kerry has to run around apologizing for his gouche wife, how can he effectively lead? <i>Do we <b>really</b> want that?</i>
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<br />I think not.
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<br />###
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<br />PS. I want my <a href="http://botteritown.blogspot.com/2004/10/sad-state.html">elephant</a> back!
<br />Cosmoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392028345397096108noreply@blogger.com0