Awesome

Totally, friggin' awesome:

Former first lady Barbara Bush gave relief money to a hurricane relief fund on the condition that it be spent to buy educational software from her son Neil's company.

The chief of staff of former President George H.W. Bush would not disclose the amount earmarked for purchases from Ignite Learning.

Since Barbara Bush's gift, the Ignite Learning program has been given to eight public schools with high numbers of Hurricane Katrina evacuees, the Houston Chronicle reported.

"Mrs. Bush wanted to do something specifically for education and specifically for the thousands of students flooding into the Houston schools," Jean Becker said Thursday.

The money was donated to the Bush-Clinton Houston Hurricane Relief Fund, said Steve Maislin, president of the Greater Houston Community Foundation, which administers the fund. That fund has no connection to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, he said.

Barbara Bush chose to promote Ignite because she supports her son and has genuine enthusiasm for his company's program, Becker said.

I have genuine enthusiasm for Neil as well. Chinese hookers, hobnobbing with Russian tycoons, complete failure, hidden from the public eye. Just the guy you want running a company that provides educational software. In fact, when I think of education, George W. Bush comes to me. If anyone needs the software it's HIM!

EJ Dionne

Worth reading.

Name The Country

That would never curb a money making opportuity for the timber Industry? Hmmmmmm....

If you guessed China, well, YOU ARE CORR...WRONG!

The Chinese government announced plans on Wednesday to increase existing taxes and impose new ones on April 1 for everything from gas-guzzling vehicles to chopsticks in a move to rein in rising use of energy and timber and the widening gap between rich and poor.

New or higher taxes will fall on vehicles with engines larger than two liters, disposable wooden chopsticks, planks for wood floors, luxury watches, golf clubs, golf balls and certain oil products.

Coincidentally, responsible New Jersey Governor, and former Wall St. tycoon, Jon Corzine recently raised taxes for things like limos and health spas. Those are excess expenditures, usually on the moderate to upper classes. It's called being an adult. Being responsible.

Maybe

I really wish my President would stop "defending" the Iraq War and convincing people to believe his false reality, and start focusing on running the country.

I'd be somewhat more confident in the man if he knew the Dubai Ports deals was happening. Instead, he didn't. He's busy "defending" his war all over the country. He has delegated all responsibilities to others, and has become only a cheerleader for his massive blunder:

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. Bush spoke before a nearly packed house at the Capitol Music Hall in Wheeling Wednesday, defending the Iraq War, at the town hall-styled event.

Approximately 2,200 people filled the historic site, including an estimated 400 to 500 family members of military personnel during Bush's first visit to the Wheeling area since making a campaign stop here in August of 2004. Also in attendance were West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, Wheeling Mayor Nick Sparachane and U.S. Rep. Shelly Moore Capito.

We get it. It's over. You fucked up. No one believes you. You've already told us this is the next President's responsiblity. We get it. You're no longer responsible. So please, start doing your job, and stop wasting taxpayer dollars flying around the country trying to protect your image and legacy.

Bill Clinton was trying to solve problems in the Middle East at the end of his term, and all I heard was he was trying to "remake his legacy." Please! Does anyone think for a second he didn't know every single thing that was going on in his administration? He was actively trying to solve what was viewed as the biggest problem in the world up until his last day. Jimmy Carter was working until the last second to get hostages released after he bunlged the operation. But he was working non-stop to fix problems. ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK.

This idiot is doing nothing but trying to protect his broke, false, bogus image. He must have loved it when people thought he was tough, and a leader. He walked with chest out. He wants that back. But that's all he wants: to protect his own image.

Everyone knows Iraq is never working out, and the President has already passed the buck. Please stop wasting our fucking time, and do something else. Please, don't touch, or talk about Iraq, or the War on Terror anymore, you one-trick-puppet.

The Word is Out!!!

I received this from GOP.com. As a member I'm privy to such great material from Ken Mehlman:

Dear David

The word is out. Their position is clear. Last week, Sen. Russ Feingold floated a reckless plan to censure the President, and some Democrat leaders have ecstatically jumped on Feingold's bandwagon.

And, if they gain even more power in November, they won't stop there.

Feingold says that censure actually represents "moderation" and calls the terrorist surveillance program an impeachable offense. Dick Durbin, the number two Democrat in the Senate, fails to rule out impeachment if Democrats retake Congress. Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin is talking "high crimes and misdemeanors." And 31 House Democrats are calling for a committee to look into impeachment. Their leader? John Conyers, who would become House Judiciary Committee chairman under Democrat control.

The Democrats' plan for 2006? Take the House and Senate, and impeach the President. With our nation at war, is this the kind of Congress you want? If your answer is a resounding "NO", I need you to make an urgent contribution to help us win this fight.

Give us money! Stop this!

The word might be out, but more importantly, when's Ken Mehlman going to be.

It's Weird

When someone you know, and actually like, is being hunted down in the Tonbrdige robbery case.

Odd Couple

The Duke vs the Prince.

Lots of People are Wrong

And this guy is one of those people. The guy who thinks the Jets made a mistake by letting go of John Abraham. I am not one of those guys.

The Jets are picking 4th in the draft, so lets look how things should shake out.

The first pick will be Reggie Bush, whether it's to Houston, or someone else, he's the pick. It's doubtful the Jets will get to #1, but with an extra first rounder, anything is possible. But still, it's not happening.

The second pick is to New Orleans, who no longer need a QB since they signed Drew Brees. That means Matt Leinart, Vince Young, and Jay Cutler will all still be there. The Saints just lost their best offensive lineman (LeCharles "Buckeye" Bentley), so getting another is important. Hello D'Brickashaw Ferguson at number 2. It's possible the Saints could steal Mario Williams or another defensive player, but I'll take a shot saying they don't.

Third pick is to Tennessee, and they need a QB. They have Norm Chow as offensive coordinator, and he was Leinart's OC at Southern Cal. Hello Matt Leinart.

Then the Jets pick at #4. Having signed Patrick Ramsey they don't desperately need a QB. If Leinart is there they will take him, but he won't be. Young will be a bust, and Cutler is too much of a name risk for them. Cutler will be great, but being that he is, afterall, Jay Cutler, they won't do it. This is where they get Mario Williams from NC State. A player who is not only bigger than Abraham, and as fast, but who will also be better. At 6'6, 280 lbs he's the perfect end for the Jets new 3-4 system. Granted, AJ Hawk would also be a great fit since you now need more LBs, but an end the size of Williams is too much to pass up.

Reggie Bush aside, Williams is the most physically gifted player in the draft. Granted, when you look back at what makes a team great it's players like Ted Bruschi and Mike Vrabel. Hawk is that type of player, but still, the Jets will pass.

Later on the Jets get to use their 29th pick to fill another need, and there are many. If they do go QB, LB, or RB early, they can still fill needs at 29. This is a LINEBACKER HEAVY draft, for sure. But I'd bet the Jets go out and grab (Buckeye) Nick Mangold to replace Kevin Mawae.

So, maybe I'll be wrong too.

That's Good

We have rights?

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that police without a warrant cannot search a home when one resident says to come in but another tells them to go away, and the court's new leader complained that the ruling could hamper investigations of domestic abuse.

Justices, in a 5-3 decision, said that police did not have the authority to enter and search the home of a small town Georgia lawyer even though the man's wife invited them in.

However, if you're last name is Khan, you actually have to have a third person who also says no, in addition to the two homeowners, to keep cops out.

An Adult

This is how an adult runs a government:

"To those who thought my financial background would mean I had some magic bullet in my holster to balance the budget, I am sorry to disappoint you," Corzine said before a packed Assembly chamber at the Statehouse. "My answer is as simple as old-fashioned arithmetic. We can't keep spending more then we take in..."

The governor certainly couldn't be accused of playing to the crowd, or the cameras. He walked in wearing a blue pinstriped business suit, carrying his speech in a black binder. He wrote it himself and acknowledged it lacked "elaborate ar guments or fancy rhetoric." He chose to read from the text rather than a TelePrompTer, often glancing downward instead of making eye contact with his audience.

Former Democratic Gov. Jim Florio said, "What he's talking about is an intellectually honest approach to government. For the first time in 12 years, we're getting back on track with fiscal integrity and responsibility. You expect people to be applauding these messages?"

Florio lost his re-election bid in 1993 after raising sales and income taxes and triggering a populist re volt.

It's sobering, but realistic. At least Corzine is willing to do what's right, just like Florio.

Americans are like Children. They want Santa to promise them gifts, even if mommy and daddy can't afford it. Then they'll cry if they don't get it. Well, Santa is fiction, and so is the concgept of getting everything you want without paying for it.

Seeing is Believing

I think we tend to forget just how retarded this President really is. You really should take a few seconds to just watch him on the podium.

It's under the VIDEO section, right on top. Jump ahead to the Q & A portion.

Fox 5 News

I thought it was just last week, but I'm wrong. After "24" ends, the top story on FOX 5 NEWS, the local New York FOX affiliate, is "Jack Bauer has been saving the world, but can he continue? FOX 5 has the story..."

Fear not for there are other stories they're selling. During "24" the promo promised us a crazy important story about a "man who ended up BEHIND THESE BARS! For what you ask? You might not beleive this, but it was his moustache! FOX 5 HAS THE EXCLUSIVE!"

Some news is fit to print, and other news, well, that's fit for FOX.

It's not like they even have to do it. They make the choice.

FOX 5 runs "Prison Break" and "24" back to back. Two shows which can keep your attention for 2 hours. It's bedtime/wind-down time for most folks at this point. Don't you think people can handle the actual news at this point? Haven't they had enough entertainment for the last two hours? Here they are watching shows about fake criminals and terrorists, so I guess the last thing they'd want to hear about is real terrorists, and real soldiers making a real sacrifice.

Soldiers have mustaches too!!!!

"John, we ran the war as the top story last night. What do you have for me tonight?"

"Well, I think we should lead with it again. I mean, the President actually claimed that golden flowers weren't growing in Iraq. I think it should be on top."

"Please. Back to back nights with Iraq? No chance. What about that guy who was jailed because of his moustache? Or Jack Bauer? Is he still in a bind?"

My Leader Confuses Me

So I just woke up from a 1193 day coma, and decided to go back and start reading news reports about this crazy ass war in Iraq. I remember when I first went into the coma there were reports on the television of how we were going to rain hell on this country, and things would be relatively easy. I really can't believe it's still going on?

What happened? Who dropped the ball on this one?

Going through all this material is very tiresome, so I figured in order to make it easy I'd just limit myself to the straight, hard, cold facts: I'd take the words of my President. Afterall, a great nation must have a great leader, who makes decisions. Tough decisions. I figured his words would be the best guide as to what has transpired. This is where confusion set in.

Now, I remember the previous war with Afghanistan and al Qaeda (if someone can send me info for how that played out I'd appreciate it. I hope we got that guy they kept talking about). I also remember how dangerous al Qaeda supposedly was (is). So today I read an up to date news story about how the President saw Iraq:

“The last three years have tested our resolve. The fighting has been difficult. The enemy we have faced has proved to be brutal and relentless. We’re adapting our approach to reflect the realities on the ground. The strategy which worked in Tal Afar did not come overnight; it came after much trial and error.”

Mr Bush added: “I wish I could tell you that the progress being made in Tal Afar is the same in the rest of Iraq. It is not.” The President also said that more sacrifices were necessary, adopting Churchillian rhetoric. “We will fight them in Iraq; we will fight them across the world; we will stay and fight until the fight has been won.”

Are Iraqis moving to other parts of the world? Are we going to hunt them down everywhere? Someone sent me a note telling me he was speaking more about al Qaeda, which really confused me. Before I drank myself into this coma I remember hearing there were no al Qaeda in Iraq, and now I'm being told there are. Even more confusing is the President's surprise by their relentlessness and brutality. I mean, again, we were told these people were pure evil. Why is he then so surprised?

I'm really so confused. Why is he surprised by any of this? Also, how has the President's "resolve" been? I feel bad that it has been tested for 3 straight years. I hope he's still able to be the strong leader the polls told me he was the day I drank a keg of moonshine. His approval rating was so high pundits were rounding off to the nearest hundred.

I'm going to keep reading, and hopefully I'll be able to make some sense of all of this. It's all so confusing. I do think it's really cool that one day this will be written about in history books. I wonder what they'll say? Maybe I should just wait until those are published. Maybe the company that made this book will write one.

:)

Can't believe I'm just seeing this great quote:

"I don't know about Brad Pitt, leaving that beautiful wife to go hold orphans for Angelina," Douglas snipes in GQ's April issue, hitting newsstands March 21. "I mean, how long is that going to last?"

I've got 10 bones that it out lasts Cruise and Holmes.

Some Clips

Some people have requested some clips, so, here are some clips from yesterday.

Condi Loves Her Man

Sports and Education

Bill Bradley, Josh Hartnet, Bob Kerry, Keith Hernandez and the Media and the Ports and the Message

Who is God?

Someone knows:

But, in an interview on British television, the former prime minister of Iraq, Ayad Allawi, said his country already has descended into civil war.

"If this is not civil war," he told the BBC, "then God knows what civil war is."

Well, I guess this makes Bush God since he knows!

Really?

Ready to Die has officially died:

Notorious BIG’s classic 1994 album Ready To Die has been taken off the shelves by a US judge after a jury ruled it contained an illegal sample.

The copyright infringement relates to the album’s title track, which the jury ruled borrowed part of the Ohio Players’ 1992 track Singing In The Morning without permission. The record labels representing the band were awarded a total of $4.2m in damages, and the sales ban affects the album and title track in any form, including downloads and radio play.

News of an "illegal sample" has sent shockwaves through the hip-hop world. Expect local music stores to focus even more on tattoos, haircuts, and strobe lights...as well as, ice cream, fried chicken, turntables, microphones, t-shirts, neon lighting, headphones, receivers, speaker sets, tassles, glitter, gold chains, and of course, FUBU jackets.

New Polls

According to Zogby almost 50% of Americans support the idea "to let states legally regulate and tax marijuana the way they do liquor and gambling."

Close to 59% of Democrats polled supported this, while only 33% of Republicans did. Of course, those numbers swung dramatically when the people at Zogby asked the Republicans if they were for, or against, the "War Against Boredom." At that point, 70% agreed something needed to be done, immediately!

Photos

I feel like the Abu Gharib photos were almost as representative of Mardi Gras as these are.

Bag Jobs?

The White House's legal counsel will find a way to make "black bag jobs" legal.

Assuming this gets to the Supreme Court, one can bet that Clarence Thomas will ask to be searched...or do the searching...

Civil War

They think things are going well:

President Bush and his senior advisors Sunday sought to mark the third anniversary of the Iraq war with declarations of progress, but found themselves embroiled in renewed debate about whether the nation had fallen into civil war.

In statements to reporters, appearances on Sunday morning TV news shows and an op-ed article, Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Army Gen. George W. Casey, the senior U.S. military commander in Iraq, declared that the United States was making progress toward stabilizing Iraq and defusing sectarian tensions.

But those upbeat assessments faced sharp skepticism from U.S. legislators from both parties and from a senior Iraqi political leader, former interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who has been a staunch American ally. They contended that Iraq was now in the midst of a civil war between Shiite and Sunni Muslims.

Mr. Bush had this to say, "It doesn't make sense to call this a civil war because the combatants are anything but civil. Do you see what I'm saying? The media is making this to be something it isn't!!!"