Peter Robinson shared this graph via The Corner, and more people really need to be aware of this occurrence (which is why I’m sharing it with the two, maybe three people that still read this site):

This is how much the money supply has been increased in the past year according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. I have to say that this is probably the first time I’ve seen a graph that has actually scared me. I’m not an economist, but I don’t think you have to be one to see that we’re in for some tough times ahead. Mega-inflation anyone?

I’m not a conspiracy theorist (yet), but this is the most compelling argument I’ve seen yet for the rumors surrounding the future implementation of the amero. If someone were to intentionally try to devalue the American dollar and turn it into the peso, would you do it any differently? Again, I’m not sold on the idea of some secret plot to merge us into a North American Union (not that this is even being done in secret), but as of right now I’m struggling for a rational answer for why this is being done. Of course the increase in available cash will be a momentary patch on the current economic downturn, but surely the “geniuses” in charge of the Fed know the problems that this will cause very shortly down the road.

Also, the fact that this is being almost completely ignored by the media is absurd. I follow the news pretty closely on a daily basis (granted, not as in-depth as I did before), and I was aware of the influx of cash, but I was unaware of the magnitude of this unprecedented action until this morning. Someone who is more knowledgeable about things like this seriously needs to convince me that I’m just whipping myself into a frenzy for no reason, because I am more than just a little alarmed right now.

-MPAW

  

I know this is a sad and disappointing day to many people (myself included), but let’s remember one thing above all: as Conservatives we believe in this country and the principles it was founded on no matter who is in power. We are not liberals who go on a temper tantrum saying how “stupid” the country is because the majority voted the other way. Right off the bat, here are some actual positives of the results from last night:

• I got to watch The Shield last night! The early call of Ohio meant I could go on with my regular routine.
• More seriously, the election of Barack Obama is actually a repudiation of a long held Liberal contention that America is a racist country. I desperately wish that this historic event could have involved someone who is not an empty suit, but it’s hard not to acknowledge that the crossing of this barrier is a good thing for America. The more commonplace events like this are, the less traction race baiters like Jesse Jackson will get in their attempts to divide us (although The Onion tries. Heh).
• Branching off from the “liberals think all Americans are idiots when they’re out of power” notion, it will be nice to have the other half of the country like America again, even though they’re trying to radically alter it. Perhaps now that they share some responsibility, they will have the luxury of taking the War on Terror seriously instead of just squatting on the carpet repeatedly and fingering George W. Bush as the culprit. On a personal note, I’m looking forward to not seeing those “1/20/09: Bush’s Last Day In Office” bumper stickers anymore.
• While it may appear that the country wants to move to the left, remember that there’s a sizeable portion of the electorate that still doesn’t know anything about Obama other than “HOPE!”, “CHANGE!” and that he comes from outside of George W. Bush’s party. Obama’s liberal voting history runs counter with the centrist campaign that he ran. This presents two scenarios, and both of which (I hope) would end up positive for us: 1) If Obama’s smart enough to know he has to campaign as a moderate to get elected, then he’s smart enough to know he’ll have to govern as a moderate to stay in office. Given the voting results he has the right to govern the way he wishes and if he can hold off the Pelosi radicals in his own party and live up to the message of compromise in his victory speech then he should be applauded. 2) The more likely scenario I see is that there’s going to be tremendous pressure from Congress to bite off more than they can chew immediately and Obama will go along with it. Let’s also not forget that the Democratic Congressional leadership is completely inept and Obama’s first major accomplishment as President will be the first accomplishment of any magnitude of his political career (aside from winning the offices he holds of course). Hopefully this will result in some major missteps (see the first couple of years in the Clinton administration) and the damage will be limited. However, even if a large portion of their agenda is enacted, I still believe this is a center-right country and we’re not ready to accept socialism. Hopefully this will result in a major backlash in two years (see 1994). In 2012 Obama will not have the benefit of having his entire career shrouded in a cloudy haze. If he is truly a wolf in sheep’s clothes then it will be easier to hold him accountable in four years.

For this to happen though, we have work to do. It may just be relief that the eternal election is finally over, but I feel invigorated somehow, especially in comparison to 2006. While `06 was bad, it never felt like rock bottom. This does. This is the Dems’ biggest victory since LBJ over Goldwater, but let’s remember that four years after 1964, LBJ was so unpopular he couldn’t even run for re-election. In 2012 we won’t have perceptions of the Republicans running the country (even though the Democrats have controlled the Congress the past two years) and we won’t be weighed down by having to defend an unpopular president who doesn’t even defend himself (a situation that would have doubtlessly been prolonged had McCain won).

I haven’t figured out exactly what action items need to be taken to restart the Conservative movement, but here is a short reading list in the meantime that I recommend to everyone.

1. The Constitution of the United States and the Federalist Papers – Let’s start with basics. We all think we know the Constitution, but it’s been a long time since high school. Let’s look at it with fresh eyes to keep ourselves centered. While the Constitution has been endlessly distorted by liberals, one only has to read the Federalist Papers, written primarily by Alexander Hamilton, to see how off base they are. If the 18th century linguistics don’t wear you out, check out the Anti-Federalist Papers as well to see what the arguments against the Constitution were. It’s interesting to see which concerns were valid and which ones didn’t pan out.
2. Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg – I read this book earlier this year and it is one of the most educationally shocking books I’ve ever read, even while being much more reasonable than the title would indicate. There is history in here that is so out there that your instant reaction will be that it can’t be true. However, in every instance that I researched, Goldberg was vindicated. This is an absolutely essential read for a Conservative not only to understand what’s wrong with Liberal thought, but also to weed out your own Conservative fascist leanings. Honestly, if you only read one thing on this list (other than the Constitution of course) make it this one.
3. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand – I believe it was meant as a satire of progressives to show what will happen when we punish the achievers, but the extremes described in this book that desperately needed a better editor are quickly coming to pass.
4. An Inconvenient Book by Glenn Beck – Look! Pretty pictures! You could use a break from all this heavy stuff anyway.

Speaking of Mr. Beck, his must-read list following the election included Liberal Fascism as well as The 5,000 Year Leap and The Forgotten Man. I have not read the latter two, but I intend to. That is all for now class, book reports are due at the end of the month!

Remember even when elections don’t go our way – even ones as seemingly devastating as this – that the pendulum swings back quickly. Four years ago the hot phrase was “permanent Republican majority.” There’s always hope for America because it’s populated by Americans. Let’s act like it by first shoring up what we believe in and then fighting for it.

-MPAW

  

I offer to you a quick time line:

1988:


1992:

1996:

2000:
Did it ever really end???

2004:

2008?:

I gotta be honest, I’m actually more offended by the fake southern accent than the lipstick thing, but if Obama loses this may very well be the “Dukakis in a tank” moment that people will attribute his loss to. Whether it was meant for Palin or not (I personally don’t see how you interpret it any other way), it certainly displays a total lack of political judgment from Mr. Greatest Orator of our Generation. Can’t say I’m not enjoying it either.

Also, it’s a stretch to say that it doomed his campaign, but I just love this picture too much not to post it again:

I’m sure one of these days we’ll have Democratic nominee for president who isn’t a douchebag, right?

-MPAW

  

I found another negative to Sarah’s speech on Wednesday: it set the bar too high for the actual nominee. I’m not gonna do a full analysis because the speech can pretty much be taken at face value. It was pretty straight forward in a State of the Union kind of way. I’m gonna have to disagree with the Conservative punditry consensus because I think McCain bombed (mostly because of his delivery). Of course, the idiots interrupting the speech at the beginning didn’t help. I’m talking about both the protesters and the general nonsense of convention chanting. Side note: At a sporting event when someone interrupts play, the broadcasters specifically try to avoid showing the intruders lest others be inspired to do the same. I’m wondering why the same isn’t done at conventions. I’d claim it was party bias except I don’t think anyone on our side has ever tried to shut up a Democratic speaker. Ahem.

Back to the speech, you would think that when he was practicing his handlers would instruct him not to suddenly smile at the end of a line. Just terrible, terrible delivery. McCain’s audience beat out Obama’s (to which he owes Mrs. Palin), it’s just a shame the speech itself didn’t rise up to that occasion.

While the speech wasn’t great, there were three parts that I thought were gold. 1) His recounting of his time in captivity was great. Particularly the “they broke me” part. I frankly got tired of hearing about it throughout the week, much as I got tired of hearing it from John Kerry, but hearing it again from his mouth was moving in it’s honesty. 2) His admitting the GOP lost their soul and the public’s trust may have not gone over well with the crowd, but it’s the truth and I would think it played well with the American public. I wish more speakers acknowledged the fact that the Republican Party screwed up and deserved to get booted from power (even if the default benefactors of that have no business running the show either). 3) The “fight with me!” climax was great and a much-needed boost of energy to end things.

Also notice that there was suddenly no mention of “executive experience”? Oh yeah. That’s because John McCain doesn’t have any either! That phrase burned my skull every time it was used for that very reason. I think McCain’s legislative and military leadership more than makes up for that, but I just don’t know why they insisted on that phrase.

Finally, I want to say that the organization of the convention in general was terrible. Whoever decided it was a good idea to have giant jumbo-tron behind the speakers should never be allowed near the planning of such an even again. Particularly if that person also came up with the idea to start out McCain’s speech with a picture of a random building as the backdrop. Terrible stuff. It would look more at home on a landscaping website.

Yes, I know this post had very little to do with the title and picture. I like Sarah Palin and Anchorman. Sue me. If it ends up being a not-so-close race and I end up voting for McCain, it will more likely be because I want to further her career than because I have a great love for the Senator from Arizona.

-MPAW

  

I’ve sometimes wondered if viewers in 1964 of Ronald Reagan’s “Time For Choosing” speech on behalf of Barry Goldwater had a clue as to the history they were witnessing. They couldn’t possibly imagine that the b-movie actor on the screen would one day lead a political revolution that would transform American politics for a quarter century, but they had to recognize the potential in the man who three years later would become the governor of California.

It is still far, far too early to say Sarah Palin is Reagan’s successor (a week ago, only us politics geeks even knew the name . . . and that was pretty much all we knew) but man, what a way to introduce yourself to the American public! When watching the speech one couldn’t help but think we were witnessing something special and possibly the birth of the next generation of Conservative leadership. If you didn’t see the speech, do yourself a favor:

Before I get carried away with the hyperbole, let’s also remember that it was still just a speech (albeit the best one in recent memory). It would be ridiculous for people who have been calling out Obama for months as being an empty suit who gives nice speeches to then say, “Well here’s our Messiah!” after just a single night. Palin still has to prove herself, but to her credit she has, you know, done something in her time in office as opposed to a certain leftist false Christ. The weeks (and hopefully years) ahead will be the judge to whether she is the right person for the job.

As for the speech itself, there was one aspect that didn’t hit me right and that was the mockery of Obama’s work as a “community organizer.” There’s nothing necessarily wrong with being a community organizer (assuming of course we ever find out exactly what that entails), and it would’ve been nice to acknowledge that fact. That being said, the Obama campaign fired the first shot by mocking Palin’s experience as a small town mayor (as if that’s prepared her less for the presidency than Obama’s work). Of course, if anyone deserves the right to strike back, it’s Palin after the week she just went through. Not to mention it was a really funny line.

Bottom line is Palin did everything she needed to do. She introduced herself to a country that prior to this only knew her from the shameless slander coming from the media for the past week (seriously, it was outright war). She introduced her family (who couldn’t possibly be more likeable), and handled the controversy surrounding her daughter in a roundabout, but classy, way. She built up McCain and enumerated her accomplishments in office. She savaged Obama and totally tore apart his record (or lack thereof). Most importantly, she showed poise and guts given the circus that surrounded the proceedings. She may not be the most experienced candidate for the job, but she showed she wouldn’t be a deer in the headlights if something were to happen to a President McCain.

A PBS announcer last night said, “It’s been a while since Republicans have had reason for pure, unbridled joy.” How true that statement is (it’s been about 4 years by my count). You know the hype is well deserved when the best the left can do is say, “Yeah, but it was written by one of George W. Bush’s writers!” Sarah Palin still has a lot to prove, but for the moment Conservatives have the right to believe in the hype and be optimistic about the future of the movement.

  

If anyone deserves the longest blog title ever, it’s Sarah Palin. Maybe I’m just being like an Obama zombie, but I think her speech tonight was a grand slam. Maybe the finest GOP convention speech I can remember (although Zell Miller’s in `04 was pretty great too!) It’s too late for me to do an in-depth analysis, but man, I’m pumped! Until I have time to process and write about what I just saw, enjoy these Sarah Palin facts:

• Sarah Palin prepped for this speech with a ritual sacrifice of Susan Estrich.
• Sarah Palin has actually traveled backwards in time from after the roll call to accept the nomination retroactively.
• Sarah Palin doesn’t actually have an accent, it’s distortion from her telepathic broadcast directly into your brain.
• Glasses sales up 150 percent since Sarah palin became nominee.
• The diamonds in Sarah Palin’s earrings were crushed with her very hands.
• Sarah Palin’s use of the word “Haberdashery” will bring it back in style.
• Sarah Palin is the reason compasses point North.

  

I have to leave for Penn State soon for football weekend #1 (woo!), but all the media outlets are saying McCain picked Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his VP running mate. I don’t have time to do much research on this at the moment, but I’m going out on a limb and say if this rumor is true that she would be the hottest Vice-President in American history. Evidence:

She can break my Senatorial ties any day! Umm, I’m not sure what that was supposed to mean.

-MPAW

  

Wow. As McCain released the classy Congratulations message earlier today, he also brought the YouTube pwnage:

Hard to refute your own words. Here’s hoping this can be cut effectively for a TV-length ad ASAP.

-MPAW

  

I’m so glad I only decided to watch two nights of this DNC nonsense because I feel drained after just one. Here’s hoping I have enough in me to get through the ascension of “The One.”

PREGAME: Spotlights? Really? Are the Democrats really that oblivious to the “rock star” criticisms or am I overly optimistic about how much traction that criticism has gotten?

9:54 – This crowd looks like it’s about to splooge already. I hope they can hold it until the Obamessiah actually takes the stage.

9:56 – Oh, how I wish it would have rained in Denver tonight.

9:57 – Ordinarily, I wouldn’t see the big deal with the whole White House/Greek temple stage design (I vaguely remember GWB having a similar stage in 04), but after the pattern that has already been set with the faux Presidential seal and the messianic speeches in general, I think the man either has an unparalleled ego, or has no problem playing along with the delusions of those that see him as their savior. Either way, it’s disconcerting at best and disgusting at worst.

10:02 – “His childhood was like any other.” . . . 10 seconds later. . . “I met my father only once when I was 10.” Yeah, not so much.

10:04 – All this focus on Obama’s mother, and yet that is not the parent he spent an entire book talking about. That would be the radical leftist father.

10:05 – Michelle and Barack’s first date was with a basement of “hopeless” people? Who wouldn’t be attracted to that?

10:06 – Joking aside, the Obamas are such an American success story that it’s amazing that they can only see suffering and misery in this country.

10:07 – “And when he was elected for the Senate, he remembered what he was fighting for.” Gee, how could he possibly keep that up for the whole three years???

10:10 – Obama is seriously unrecognizable in these pics of him as a chubby kid.

10:11 – He just shook hands with an Ohio State fan! He just lost Michigan and central PA.

10:12 – Aaaaaaaand the speech finally starts. Let’s see if he can deliver on all this hype.

10:13 – I don’t know how this sounds on other networks, but on PBS it sounds like he keeps saying “Thank you” to a not-so-loud crowd. I’m sure that’s misleading though.

10:14 – I had my doubts about how this set up would go over, but it’s hard not to be impressed by this crowd. It would be more impressive if it looked like this though.

10:16 – “Change” count = 1

10:16 – I swear if I hear about Joe Biden’s damn train ride one more time…

10:17 – I guess a flag pin is no longer a symbol of “fake patriotism.”

10:19 – “Not everything that’s going on is the fault of Washington.” Of course, I haven’t heard a problem yet that Obama doesn’t claim to be able to fix from his temple in that same city.

10:21 – Ha! These clowns will chant anything.

10:22 – “I’m not ready to take a 10% chance on change.” Some of us think the problems in this country are caused because we’ve changed too much already Mr. Junior Senator from Illinois.

10:23 – It’s not even a “mental recession.” The economy is still growing (don’t be fooled by the misleading AP headline in that link by the way). Maybe you shouldn’t make such statements on the same day the last quarter’s figures were announced.

10:25 – “Discredited Republican philosophy”???? It’s led to nearly 25 years of practically uninterrupted growth since the Reagan policies took effect.

10:27 – Well, the gloves are off. Let’s hope this pisses John McCain enough to do the same.

10:28 – So far zero specifics, but a lot of “yeswecanyeswecan.”

10:29 – That’s nice that you admire your grandmother, but what have you done that shows you’re capable of running anything, let alone a country? A: Nothing.

10:31 – “Government cannot solve all of our problems” . . . but it should still throw money at all of them apparently.

10:31 – “I am my brother’s keeper.” Absolutely. Except that is a personal mandate, not one that should be coerced by the government.

10:32 – Haha. All these teary-eyed women are going to have more of the same on Election Day.

10:33 – “I will cut taxes on 95% of Americans.” And then raise them so high on the people that actually pay the salaries of those 95% that no one will have any money!

10:35 – He’s actually giving some specifics on energy, but I don’t see how it’s anything different from McCain’s “all the above” policy (except McCain acknowledges that drilling now will help things until a more permanent solution is found).

10:36 – You are here because you worked hard and made your own opportunity Senator Obama, not because anyone handed it to you.

10:37 – FREE HEALTHCARE!! FREE EDUCATION!! I’d have to be craaaaazy to give these away so vote for Crazy Barry today!

10:38 – “I want my daughters to have the same opportunities as our sons.” How are you going to guarantee equal wages when they get “punished with a baby” I wonder.

10:40 – Personal responsibility. This I actually like a lot.

10:40 – “That’s a debate I’m ready to have.” Except you declined all of McCain’s offers to debate throughout the summer, guy.

10:41 – So you’re advocating invading Pakistan now, Senator? Just shows how little he knows about foreign policy or how little he thinks Americans know about it.

10:42 – “We’re the party of Roosevelt and Kennedy.” More recently, you’re also the party of pussies like Carter and Clinton so don’t call on the legacy of great Democrats from 40+ years ago.

10:45 – That white speck on his mouth is really bugging me.

10:46 – “I look forward to debating with John McCain.” And I can’t wait to get you away from a teleprompter.

10:46 – Who has questioned your patriotism Senator? (other than crackpot chain emailers). Methinks thou dost protest too much.

10:48 – Never thought I’d see the day that I’d hear the phrase “maintain the 2nd amendment” at the DNC.

10:50 – I can’t tell if this is just my own biases at play, but the bulk of these attacks come off like those from a cocky child actor.

10:51 – “It’s not about me, it’s about you” Bee Effing Ess. After giving a token sentence on personal responsibly every bit of “change” suggested here comes from Washington.

10:53 – I’ve heard of a lot more Hillary Democrats voting GOP, than Republican voters going Obama.

10:54 – You can tell Obama grew up in the Reagan era. His speech is saturated with Reaganesque talk that mask big government solutions that go completely contrary to what Reagan believed.

10:56 – I’m wondering if this speech is coming off as overly ambitious to the layperson as it does to me.

10:56 – And we’re done. My gut is telling me that this will be far more effective for those that don’t have a Conservative BS detector. I hope I’m wrong, but I can see that Obama bounce (that finally showed up today according to Gallup) hitting the 10 point mark over the weekend. Incidentally, if it doesn’t then I think Obama’s campaign is probably boned.

10:59 – As fireworks are going off and some random country song is playing, you know what song is in my head right now? Megalomaniac by Incubus.

10:59 – Haha, keep pumping out the images of the weepy women. This Beatle Mania crap can’t play well in blue collar Pennsylvania. (I’m giving a pass to black members of the audience on this one by the way).

11:00 – It is, of course a big deal that a black man has received the nomination for President of this country. It’s something for us to be proud of (even if I think that candidate could barely be less qualified to hold that office), and I look forward to the day when it is not a big deal.

11:05 – It might help if some of these tears were apparent on Obama himself instead of his disciples. You know, if he showed some indication of actually being humbled by what he had accomplished as opposed to just saying he was.

11:06 – Well, I’ve had enough. I have a feeling this will be a bit like a big budget summer movie that wows you while you watch it, but will be forgotten within a couple of days. It’s now up to John McCain and the Republicans to counter this spectacle. Incidentally Juan Williams (as left leaning as they come on Fox News) is right now saying the speech was inadequate, so maybe I’m being overly pessimistic in how this effective this will be on people who don’t really pay too much attention. And now Bill Kristol (as consistently wrong of a pundit as they come) is praising it, so that may be even more assurance that I’m wrong after all. I’ll see you next week at the RNC to find out.

  

We’ve known for a while that when it comes to airport security, our national security is literally in the hands of some of the dumbest young minds this country has to offer. If you care to argue with me face to face, please visit me by way of the Philadelphia International Airport. By the time you board the plane that conversation will no longer be necessary. That being said, this story is mind boggling:

We’ve discovered a 4.5 hour time frame each night when virtually anything can be brought into the secure side of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. There’s no metal detector, no X-ray machine, and it’s apparently not a problem.

If this story is true then it really is scary to comprehend the incompetence here. Particularly if management already knows as claimed and are taking no steps to fix a problem that is so easy to fix it seems like they’re going out of their way in creating it to begin with. It’s hard to imagine this happening right after 9/11, yet we’re practically inviting it to happen again even with multiple reports of a “hot summer” for terrorism.

By the way, since you all are thinking it anyway I can confirm your suspicions: I mostly made the post so I could make that headline. I’m clever and a half, let me tell you.

-MPAW

  

I defy you to read this headline and not crack up:

The Daily Record:  HERO CABBIE: I KICKED BURNING TERRORIST SO HARD IN BALLS THAT I TORE A TENDON

I think it’s every little boys dream to someday compress a terrorist’s bundle.  I miss the days when people in this country had the balls want to take them away from terrorists.  I fear it’ll take another 9/11 before that happens again.  Until then we always have Paris Hilton to distract us.  Sigh.
-MPAW

  

As a Conservative, something that you just have to learn to live with is idiot celebrities spouting off on how dumb they think everyone else is. One of the worst examples that comes to mind is Cameron Diaz saying “if you think rape should be legal, then don’t vote.” She’s a mental giant, that one.

Even more frustrating for me is when a band gets on it’s high horse and starts preaching. Particularly irritating was Green Day’s American Idiot. Yes, the band whose career is built on a song about manipulating your bundle on an album named for fecal matter thinks that you should listen to their political opinions. (Yes, I realize the album isn’t really about making a political statement, but it was presented as if it was).

Examples of this go on and on forever, which is what makes the Arctic Monkeys’ position on Algore’s series of global warming concerts so refreshing (when I think rock, I think “AL GORE!”). When asked why they were not participating, they replied as follows:

YES! Thank you! Finally, here’s someone who gets it (besides Alice Cooper of course). We just want you to shut up and entertain us. Of course, that’s not to say that you can’t use your celebrity for any cause whatsoever, but stop taking political sides here! You are ruining music for me! Incidentally, Favourite Worst Nightmare is one of my favorite albums of the year thus far, so this is all the more reason for you to check out the Arctic Monkeys if you haven’t already.

-MPAW

Breitbart.com: Arctic Monkeys shiver at Live Earth ‘hypocrisy’

  

Apparently Matt Lauer has issued an apology for not wearing a seatbelt during a piece featuring Mitt Romney after apparently grilling Governor Corzine on the issue.  Here is his statement:

“As the guy who just interviewed Jon Corzine, the governor of New Jersey, for that same issue, I should have set a better example. There is no seat belt law in New Hampshire, but, again, it was the wrong example to set.” 

Umm, if you owe us an apology for anything it would be for being a hypocrite in your treatment of a man who has already paid the price for not wearing a seatbelt.  I personally think that seatbelt laws are asinine.  It’s also intensely stupid not to wear one.  Is it not my right anymore to endanger my own life?  Cutting your fingernails with a chainsaw isn’t a smart thing either, but we don’t have a law against that.  Maybe we should let the police actually focus on preventing murders or robberies or, you know, people from hurting people other than themselves.

Mitt Romney also issued a statement for the poor seatbelt-less example he set in the interview (as if millions of children are thinking it’s cool to not wear seatbelts because Mitt Romney doesn’t wear them).  Also included in the article was this gem:

Meanwhile, President Bush was criticized this month after he was shown driving unbelted on his Texas ranch. 

Because you never know when one of those steers is going run a red light, right?  At least this should take the heat off of the big controversy last week over Bush not washing his hands before dinner.

I should probably mention that I didn’t hear of any of this before reading this one article, so if I’m blowing all this out of proportion, it’s because the article did.

WBZTV: Romney, Lauer Apologize For Not Wearing Seatbelts

-MPAW

  

While I have your attention with the 24 thing and all, I thought I would mention that I’m considering dipping my toes back into the frigid pool of political blogging.  Yes, it’s taken me that long to get over my disgust with the Republicrat party.  Frankly, I’m still not over their betrayal and certainly am not enamored by any of the current candidates running for President in any party, but there’s enough going on to piss me off that I may be sounding off from time to time in the 24 off season (hey, I gotta write about something, right?)  Just don’t expect any 2008 election analysis quite yet.  It’s over 7 months until the primaries and a year and a half until the actual election!  I was burned out after 2004 (and that was only 6 months worth of blogging!), so I’m certainly not going to start stressing until things start to heat up.  I suggest you do the same.  The only reason we’re even talking about this right now is because we have 3 major cable news networks that need something to fill up their 24 hours of broadcast time.  Adjust your life accordingly, and in the meantime I’ll try and see if I can’t overcome a little bit of this obnoxious cynicism.
So you know what really grinds my gears?  This immigration bill.  Please accept this article by the great George Will as my opinion:

The Washington Post: A Bill That Earned Its Doubters

You want a really simple solution to this problem?  Sure you do.  Crack down mercilessly on the people hiring illegals and there won’t be any illegal immigrants.  You bypass the accusations of racism (indirectly anyway) and when you shrivel up the demand you kill the supply.  Problem solved.  Next. . .?
-MPAW

  

Today Flyers center Keith Primeau retired due to head injuries. It feels like forever since I’ve followed hockey closely, but for some reason I feel a little sad about this. He deserved a better exit from the game than this. Good bye and good luck, Keith. Your 5OT goal in the 2000 playoffs against the Penguins is still my favorite Flyers moment and will always hold a special place in my heart.

ESPN: Flyers’ Primeau retires because of lingering concussion

By the way, speaking of sports news, I’m hoping to put up a blog with the tale of our trip out to South Bend last weekend. That means it probably won’t happen. If it doesn’t, keep bugging me.

-MPAW

  

Due to more technical issues this is the earliest I could post about Zarqawi’s special vacation to hell.  I don’t have anything to add, but it just felt good to hear that news didn’t it?  Finally some good news from Iraq that’s too big for the media to ignore.

-MPAW

PS - If you were wondering, an animated GIF of Balki’s Dance of Joy cannot be found on the internet.  Someone needs to fix that immediately.  In the meantime, this is the best graphic I could find.

  

Why does President Bush always insist on addressing the nation on whatever night 24 is on?  At least he was wise enough to give the speech at 8pm instead of 9pm.  Otherwise, he might’ve lost the 30% that still like him.  I guess I can wait an extra 20 minutes if I have to.  By the way, he better get with the program on immigration.  If the Republicans don’t wisen up on immigration they can forget about getting this man’s vote.  You can probably expect analysis of the speech here later in the week even though I have ridiculously low expectations at this point and I’d really rather not think about politics ever again.

-MPAW

  

So The Da Vinci Code movie is coming out this summer and the controversy is already starting to brew. I freely admit that I haven’t read the book, but I’ve heard good things. That’s not the point of this post. Apparently “the number two official in the Vatican doctrinal office” has urged for a boycott of the film as it is “stridently anti-Christian. . .full of calumnies, offences and historical and theological errors regarding Jesus, the Gospels and the Church.” Yah, because boycotts always work, right?

This is what I don’t get. Why am I the only one that recognizes that organized boycotts almost always fail, and usually add to the revenue of a film/book because it gets more press and stirs up controversy? Is there something that I’m missing that this is the strategy that is always taken even though it never really seems to work? If someone takes The Da Vinci Code seriously enough to urge a boycott, all you are telling others is that they should take it seriously too. Look at The Passion of the Christ and Fahrenheit 9/11. I don’t believe either of those movies would have been as big as they were if it weren’t for the months of hatred spewed towards them very publicly by their respective enemies.

I’m not saying don’t recognize it. If there is a popular pop culture phenomenon that has the potential to damage your cause, maybe release something that recognizes that this is not accurate, but that you can’t count on accuracy from Hollywood anyway. Don’t take it seriously and people will feel stupid for doing so themselves. Frankly, I think that anyone who renounces their faith because of any movie wasn’t truly in that faith to begin with, and anyone who is dumb enough to base their theological beliefs on a Ron Howard film probably deserves eternal damnation. Luckily, these decisions are not mine to make.

-MPAW

Link: Yahoo News: “Boycott Da Vinci Code film”: top Vatican official

  

Wow. The President did something that didn’t make me roll my eyes today when he named Tony Snow as his new Press Secretary. If you are a Rush Baby as I am, then from time to time you’ve listened to Snow when he subbed for Rush (and of course you’ve probably seen him on Fox News as well). I’m a fan. You can never go wrong in adding a Reagan speech writer to your team, but more than that, Snow is a true conservative who certainly is not afraid of criticizing the president. Witness the following (via The Corner):

Bush has “lost control of the federal budget and cannot resist the temptation to stop raiding the public fisc.” [3/17/06]

“George W. Bush and his colleagues have become not merely the custodians of the largest government in the history of humankind, but also exponents of its vigorous expansion.” [3/17/06]

President Bush distilled the essence of his presidency in this year’s State of the Union Address: brilliant foreign policy and listless domestic policy.” [2/3/06]

“George Bush has become something of an embarrassment.” [11/11/05]

Bush “has a habit of singing from the Political Correctness hymnal.” [10/7/05]

“No president has looked this impotent this long when it comes to defending presidential powers and prerogatives.” [9/30/05]

Bush “has given the impression that [he] is more eager to please than lead, and that political opponents can get their way if they simply dig in their heels and behave like petulant trust-fund brats, demanding money and favor — now!” [9/30/05]

You can be sure in his first press conference he will be asked about that November 11 quote. All I’m really hoping for is that this infusion of outsider blood will reinvigorate and refocus the administration. It’s been adrift for quite some time (not to mention out of touch with it’s core supporters). If you don’t have conservatives on your side while the liberals hate your guts, you’re not likely to get the support of moderates or anyone who isn’t a habitual GOP voter. I’m hoping for the best, but at this point it’s really hard for me to be a true believer in this administration anymore.

-MPAW

  

. . .but I never thought it would actually be implemented some day. The headline sounds horrifying, but the article is actually kinda interesting:

Japanese Moviegoers Get Chance to Smell Colin Farrell

Basically it sounds like it’s just a larger than average Glade Plug-In potpourri system, but it would be interesting if they would be able to develop other non-flowery and non-fruity smells and how that would enhance or destroy a movie going experience. Now that movies have pretty much pushed the boundaries of what they can do to shock us visually, will they now try and do the same thing with our sense of smell? What if you could actually smell a decaying body in a horror movie or a fart in a comedy? Or maybe this will stay in Japan for crappy Colin Farrell movies and go nowhere. And that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing.

-MPAW