"Whoever attentively considers the different departments of power must perceive, that, in a government in which they are separated from each other, the judiciary, from the nature of its functions, will always be the least dangerous to the political rights of the Constitution; because it will be least in a capacity to annoy or injure them."
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Alexander Hamilton, 1788.
We agree. Congress can and has done much more damage to the citizens of the United States than the Courts have. Why? Probably because the Supreme Court's job is to interpret law, where Congress makes laws. Bad idea in our view.... One thing that would never annoy us? Aussie babe Lisa Gleave - although injuring ourselves with her would be just fine. MEOW !!!!!
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Fires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes ? Nope, just a Nuclear Meltdown at Newt Gingrich's Headquarters. When your entire Senior Staff jumps ship, that IS NOT a good sign... We would like to see where they all end up though. I saw this occur with Rudy Giuliani's SC Campaign in 2008 (actually, they fired people). How did that work out. The good news? Gignrich may soon have plenty of time to play Capt. Bligh in the local dinner theater production of Mutiny on the Bounty.. MISTER CHRISTIAN !!!!!!!!!
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Palin Plays the Media As She Tows the Campaign Line ....
It was all Sarah Palin, all week as she toured America's famous historical landmarks. It was classic Caribou Barbie: well publicized, opinionated, with the usual faux pas or two.. So the big question is whether Palin is in or not in 2012. So far, we're 0-1 on handicapping candidates. Our guess is Palin is out, but she wants to the conscience of the GOP next year.....
Yeah, Palin's negatives within the party and especially outside are pretty lengthy. While she may be a darling of the Tea Party, the TP's still don't run the party, nor are they the majority nationwide. She's likeable, but the presidential gravitas that we look for still is absent. Get her off the teleprompter or to speak extemperaneously, and watch the flubs come a flyin'..
Also, just like Mike Huckabee, the post 2008 life has been much, much easier - and rewarding. Financially.... Palin is cleaning up on the speaking circuit and with the book deals. Why run for President? But, just because you're not running for office doesn't mean you can't wield power, right? Ask Bill Clinton... Nope, that is our guess. Much like last year in South Carolina, when she helped Nikki Haley, Palin wants to shape America in her vision. Whether America agrees with her or not - or even the GOP for that matter - remains to be seen.
Palin is a great cheerleader and headline grabber, which is more than we can say for just about everyone else in the party, with the exceptions of John (The Crying Game) Boehner and Paul Ryan. If she can tighten her game up a bit, she can be an effective tool for the party. More effective than if she actually ran....If not, she could end up making the GOP look divided .... and foolish. We'll see.
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"No people will tamely surrender their liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and virtue is preserved. On the contrary, when people are universally ignorant, and debauched in their manners, they will sink under their own weight without the aid of foreign Invaders."
- Samuel Adams, 1775.
Simply put, the Beer Man is saying that Stupid Is As Stupid does.. Knowledge is power, and a lack of it by the people wil lead to it's own undoing.... Meanwhile, Kathy Gardiner and her lovely booty give us thoughts of debauchery..
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After this week, we're sure no one wishes they were an Anthony Weiner (D-NY)..... Here's our advice from an amateur Congressman: if you are an elected official, stay off Twitter. Honestly, has any good come from a Senator or Congressman posting on Twitter? We didn't think so. So Weiner, what was the result of that 'professional investigation' anyway?
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Finally, Something the Entire Senate Can Agree On.....
Guess we'll have to change his name to Barack Zer-Obama !! In case yu missed it, the Senate took up resolutions last week to consider budget proposals for FY 2012. First up was the one pushed by the Obama Administration. Long rumored to be one long on fuzzy math and short on actual cuts, it was quite possibly the first resolution to have bipartisan support since a bill promoting the Boy Scouts, or naming a Post Office after someone...
Yes, it was a score worthy of a Super Bowl involving the Buffalo Bills ..... 97-0 ! Zippo. Nada. Nunca. Bubkus. Insert your favorite here... Stunning that they would be so far off from reality that they couldn't even find a Senator from California, New York or Massachusetts to vote for it. Clearly, the message was sent - be serious, guys.
Then, in typical DC fashion, they voted down the bill passed by the House of Representatives as well by a partisan 57-40 vote. So, as usual, they did a lot of voting....... and nothing was accomplished in the end. That's Washington for you, folks. But even we are stunned by the rebuff from Obama's own party. Makes us think of a song.....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvry0GTkwSc
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School Budgets Pass to the Tune of 96% In Yankeeville ..
Like we've stated a few dozen times since we moved back to Long Island, the property taxes suck up here. People pay more in taxes than you likely do for the mortgage. About 60% of that tax bill goes towards supporting the 124 school districts here. Unlike South Carolina, teachers and cops are very well paid here. Finding one making six figures is not uncommon, along with the Class A benefits and retirement that you and I pay for. A couple weeks ago, those school budgets went up to it's annual vote. With everyone facing tough times, there was a lot of questions whether they would pass this year...
Thanks to some rare budgetary restraint, fear and the usual voter apathy, only five of the districts budgets failed. To their credit, many of them saw the handwriting, and wrote budgets with small increases in the 2-4% range, although there were tricks. Many have statutes with 'alternate budgets' if the listed one fails. For example, one district had an alternate budget with a whopping 22% jackup if the 2% increase failed. Nothing like voting with a gun to your head, is there ?????
So, another year has passed, and the neverending mantra of 'It's For the Kids' has worked again. I don't expect anyone Down South - especially if you're more liberal - to understand. I'm single, so I can apartment the next 20 years away without concern for how impossible it is to own a house here, which is why I left in the first place. Not everyone is that lucky. For example, my friend John is moving to Virginia in 2 weeks. Want to guess why? Maybe we'll make our kids so smart, that they can figure out how to fix this mess...
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"Every man who loves peace, every man who loves his country, every man who loves liberty ought to have it ever before his eyes that he may cherish in his heart a due attachment to the Union of America and be able to set a due value on the means of preserving it."
- James Madison, Federalist No. 41
Sound advice from our 4th President. Those who love our country will be more apt to make good decisions for it. Another thing we' like to be attached to is Carin Ashley. We could have picked any one of 20 pics of her!
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I wanted to drop a note to our readers on a personal note.. Part of what makes SC6 different is that I often will keep you up to date with my personal life. Yes , it usually ends up to the detriment of myself. But, that is part of what makes this blog great - we pull no punches, and let you in past that fake veil of Superblogger with no conscience..
Don't think I haven't noticed that the posts have been few and far in between recently. Somehow, the hits to the blog haven't dropped, but that can't last for long. Nothing new eventually ends in less interest.. So, what has been going on? Mostly, I've been just plain busy. The schedule is still the same - out at 700am, home at 745, with band practice on Mondays... But wait, there's more...
The social calendar has been quite busy, and that usually means good things, but not really in this case. Here's the thing: I've been kinda seeing two women sort of at the same time. If either was consistent, I'd say that's correct. But it's not, so it's ultimately frustrating. One is in the beginning phase: we've gone out three times over 3-4 weeks. She has a schedule just as bad as mine, with days off not matching mine, and she has a kid to take care of, so I am far down the priority list..... justifiably so. No idea where this is going, but it's moving about as fast as California falling into the ocean...
Number 2 is complicated, but let's just put it this way: It's someone I can't have and shouldn't be involved with, but I kind of am. No, no sex - it is me we're talking about here.... But, I am basically everything he isn't , except for providing. That is the frustrating part. Had I done this a long ways back, I would not be in this position. Now I can do 50 things right, but all it takes is for him to do one thing right, and I'm almost back to Square One. Yeah, that's how it should be, but the regret of not having said these things way back is there..
Needless to say, all of the bouncing around, and staying out til 400am on work days is wearing on me - especially when it mostly ends up with nothing. No, this isn't what I planned. I can hardly handle one girlfriend at a time. Right now, it's like I have two, but I really have none. Worst of both worlds... Typical. We'll figure this out eventually - or they'll figure it out for me, like usual... Sorry for being out of touch lately.
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Today, we're posting a video from Los Angeles based trio, Foster the People. Like lots of bands, you can trace their influences. They sound a lot like Blur or The Gorillaz, but we liked the chorus on this one lot.. 'All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, you better run, better run, outrun my gun'. Reminds us of the old Reebok pumps from the early 90's..... Here's the clip.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDTZ7iX4vTQ
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Palin and the Other Big Ticket Names Seem to be Skipping Next Year.....
With Memorial Day, it is now the unofficial beginning of Summer... Normally, it represents the dead season in politics. However, for presidential races, it is the time where teams are built, and plans for raising cash and tactical strategies are made. Barack Obama has a clear path to next November, with no serious roadblocks to the election. That's usually the first reason people do not like running against an incumbent.
Still, with Obama having a clear vulnerability next year, it is surprising to many to see such a weak field coming from the GOP. Mike Huckabee is out. So is Donald Trump and Mitch Daniels. Sarah Palin seems to be declining... And why not? For these guys, running for President is a huge hassle they don't need. Ask Rudy Giuliani. He went that route, and got eviscerated at the hands of his own party in 2008. The guy could have just kept doing speaking engagements, but he thought running was a good idea. How'd that work out?
I'll be honest... Right now, I couldn't even tell you the GOP field that are officially in. It's that 'weak'. Why do I put it in parenthesis? Because weak is based mostly on on their name recognition. Yeah, a couple of them need to go home, and others have weak platforms. But a few are workable candidates, although the odds get longer as time goes by, and they fail to raise money.
You see, as Barack Obama sits quietly on the sidelines, the Republicans will be battling, getting free exposure, and one of them will have a meteoric rise from relative obscurity, much like Obama did on 2008. Who will it be? Who knows.. With the GOP in such a mixed mess right now, who knows if we will go for a hardline conservative (and defeat), or go slightly more centrist.
Yeah, Obama will be hard to beat next year, despite his weaknesses. He will have a boatload of cash, and plenty of time to set up a game plan. But, there is room for a Republican nominee to sneak in a win next November. If he/she can put together a sensible plan and be on point with the message , it can happen. Not easy, but possible. We'll find somebody....
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"I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death."
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Thomas Paine.
Yes, we all wish for being able to learn from our mistakes, and standing steadfast into the wind. To not shrink from adversity. Our advice to avoid shrinkage is to check out April Scott - conscience approved!
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For some people , Oprah Winfrey not being on at 400PM is The Apocalypse .... For the rest of us, who have been a little busy at that time, we won't notice...
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It's been a while since we put up a new music pick - or anything else for that matter. Today, we're going to post Alt Rock faves Death Cab For Cutie. Although our favorite song is still 'I Will Follow You Into the Dark', we like the latest track from their new album 'You Are a Tourist'. Hope you like it...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkk5wViJo-I
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Bad Baby !! SC6 Admonishes the Admonishers at the FCGOP.
There is an old adage that there is a time and place for everything.... Earlier, we posted on the upcoming debate to ban smoking in Florence City. Our stance then and now is that both sides have a point, and that we would remain neutral on the issue. It is still the same now. When issues like these come up, there will be the chance that voting will not fall on party lines. That appears to be the case, as GOP councilmen Buddy Brand and Glynn Willis both voted to ban smoking indoors.
Before the vote, possibly in an attempt to bully them into changing their votes, the Florence County GOP passed resolutions against both Brand and Willis for their stance. Now, disagreeing on an issue is natural, and it will happen - a lot. Being upset is fine, and letting your elected official know that you disagree is the American Way. However, we think the FCGOP went waaaaaaaay too far in publicly admonishing Brand and Willis in a party vote.
A public party vote against one of your own is a serious thing, and it's limited to actions (usually personal conduct) that bring shame or a bad light on the party. To give you an idea of how limited it is (or should be), when Mark Sanford took his Argentinian vacation, the county party didn't censure him. To have a vote take place on an issue that is obviously up for debate shows that the FCGOP has some growing up to do. Secondly, if members of the party are willing to dump Brand and Willis for a smoking ban alone, they are morons. One vote is not a councilman make, especially this one...
Yeah, freedoms are going to be limited, but the last time we checked, the Right to Smoke wasn't on the Bill of Rights. You'll get by. They've had this law up here for a decade, and smokers have adjusted. The bigger issue here is the FCGOP's reaction to the vote of Brand and Willis. They overstepped their bounds, and in the end, the current leadership will pay for it. We're all on the same team - start acting like it, and stop being the Party That Eats It's Own.
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SC Leaders Are Publicly Shitting Bricks, But We Don't See Much To the NLRB Board Hearing In June....
The big brouhaha this week in the Palmetto State was the announcement that they will entertain a hearing about the legality of Boeing's North Chucktown plant. We haven't seen so many politicians wake up from their desks and spring onto the podium since they dumped the styrofoam cups at the Capitol cafeteria... Like most stupid events, the hearing is nothing, and everyone knows it...
The gist of the complaint is that Boeing, which has a unionized workforce based in Washington State, is trying to sidestep paying union wages by building the $2 billion plant in South Cackilacky. In a very small way, it's correct, but on the whole, it's bullshit. Of course Boeing is trying to save some bucks by building the 787 Dreamliner in the Palmetto State, which is a Right to Work state. Last time we checked, Boeing's goal is to make a profit, and a good one at that.
The determining factor - and the complaints major flaw - is that to prove that case, they have to show that Boeing is building the plant at existing workers expense. They're not firing people in Washington and hiring in SC - they're just adding labor in another location. It's totally legal.
How obvious is this case? Even Democrats aren't talking about this case. As much as the Democrats owe Labor, they know they have no leg to stand on here. This case will die, and Boeing will continue on. It was nice to see everyone serving the public in South Carolina get off their asses ,
and let us know they're still alive.... Back to bed guys!
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"The foundations of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality, and the preeminence of free government be exemplified by all the attributes which can win the affections of its citizens, and command the respect of the world."
- George Washington, 1789 Inaugural Address.
We rarely trust people who publicly flaunt their morality anyway... However, if we can find well-intentioned people with the country's well-being as their focus, we can win. One thing that does command respect? Spanish hottie Paula Prendes... Muy Caliente !!
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Mike Huckabee's Showing Off His Strong Pimp Hand, But Is He Running Or Not Next Year?
After last week's tepid Presidential debate, it appears the major players on the GOP side are beginning to get into the race. Newt Gingrich is in, Donald Trump appears to be out. Mitch Daniels is thinking hard about it. Meanwhile, the world waits with baited breath on word from 2008 Third Place finisher Mike Huckabee on whether he will run again as well. Here is our prediction...... Wait for it...... Almost there.
OK, here it is.... Huckabee is going to run. If for any reason, we hope he will run for the sake of ending his TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE Fox News show. I saw one episode, and Public Access Cable puts on better shows. Shaaaaaa-Wing! Party on, Garth!
Now, for more legitimate reasons why we think he's running. First off, he had that show as a free platform for his campaign. Secondly, he's already booked for Fox News Sunday, which tells us the most. Why all the hubbub if you're not running. No-Runs are simple: you put out a statement. This is almost as hyped as the Lebronathon of last summer. He's in.
We'll consider Huckabee, but it always depends on the field entered. our mind is wide open. To us, there is no clear moderate voice for the GOP in the race yet - and there may not be. When the field is set, we'll make up our minds yet. But, we do have at least one positive from it already ..... the end of the worst show on TV. Politics CAN be a good thing....
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Change the 'ap' to a 'ut', And We Have a Deal .....
On the whole, we are OK with the way Governor Andrew Cuomo has run New York. Like his dad, he is not a favorite of the Unions, and that's fine with us... Since he was lucky enough to run against angry bat swinger- nut job Carl Paladino, his war chest is full, even after the election. So, he's been using it to forward his agenda..
Some of it has been for good in our eyes. Medicare reform was his first thing on the list. Now, Cuomo has turned his focus onto property tax reform. Let us give you the skinny. Property taxes in New York - and especially Long Island - are outrageous. Nassau County is now the highest taxed county IN AMERICA .... Suffolk County is not far behind at Number 12 nationally. The low end is above $6-8000 annually. Most pay $10k, and Joe and Carol pay $17,000 a year for a middle class house. When residents pay more for taxes than most others pay for their mortgage, then something is wrong. Taxes are up 80% in the past decade...
Cuomo wants to stem the tide, by implementing a 2% tax cap. While it sounds nice, we find it typical of many Democrats who just can't seem to find the tax paring knife.... Maybe it's a case of pushing that which you can pass, rather than what you should do, but to us, Cuomo is throwing a single bucket of water on a blazing fire...
We're going to use the Doc Brown Space Time Continuum - Alternate Reality chart to make our point... Except we don't have it, so we're going to use a two line chart of Afghnanistan's population instead.
Simply put, the top line is where taxes are without a cut, and the bottom line is if you cut, then cap taxes.
That lighter green area is the money taxpyares would save, and it affirms what we all know - New Yorkers are paying too much taxes in the future, they are paying too much taxes now..... To us, a one time small cut - any cut - then capping it at 2% makes sense. It address both problems. Secondly, Cuomo is wrong in stating that making smaller tax increases in the future will create jobs. Running the same bad path, only at a slower rate only delays the inevitable.
Cut , then cap.
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For Sale: Fixer Upper in Abbottamad... One Owner, Recently Vacated. Need Some Interior Repairs.
There was a bit of eery irony for me, as the news of Osama Bin Laden's death came to pass. Coming back from Flotown, I missed the I-95 turnoff around DC, and Matt and I went smack into downtown and Northern Virginia. We passed the Pentagon, White House and Capitol areas just before the announcement was made, and then we crossed the Verrazano Bridge into Brooklyn, with a clear view of the south end of Manhattan, where the World Trade Center towers once stood just afterwards... Safe to say, there are many who can say that.
Yes, Bin Laden is dead, and justifiably so.. So, now we have the question of where do we go from here? We don't think there is a lot of closure for the victims' families.... They are still gone, and no one's passing will fill the void of the loss of a loved one by such evil means.
Does this mean that the War on Terror is over? No, and far from it. We suspect that the cutting off of the head of the snake will lead to the eventual dismantling of Al-Qaida, and it's support of the Taliban. However, that will take time, and the total elimination of both groups is doubtful. We will be in Afghanistan and Pakistan for quite a while, but a downsizing in the next year or so is very possible..
As for Pakistan, we have mixed feelings: No, I'm not a big fan.. In general, Pakistanis hate us with a vengeance. I knew a guy named Amir (Prince in Arabic) a few years before 9/11, and this kid railed on how much America sucked and was Anti-Arabic... One of my co-workers suggest that he move back to his Pakistani shithole, and go fuck himself. My guess is he's there now, or dead in a sand pile in Waziristan somewhere.
Oh yeah, it was pretty embarrassing to find Bin Laden about three feet from Pakistan's West Point... Is all of Pakistan not to be trusted, and the money cut off? Not quite. Politically, I think we have decent support from a country that needs to walk a tough tightrope. The military? Big difference... I don't trust the Pakistani military, and this gives us solid proof. The problem is most of our support is military... To the tune of $2.5 billion a year.....
Decisions need to be made, but not just yet. Next year is a different thing... Bin Laden is gone, and the race to stamp out Al-Qaida now goes into full gear. Good riddance, asshole! We doubt you have 69 virgins in Hell..... Is it hot down there?
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Chad Connelly Elected SCGOP Chairman .....
No doubt Moye Graham is a happy camper today, as Clemson man Chad Connelly won election as GOP Chair of the Palmetto State yesterday in Columbia... Winning by acclaimation during the second vote over Bill Connor and Stephen Brown, Connelly succeeeds Karen Floyd. While we'll miss Floyd's style, spunk and her legs, she leaves with a good record, although here is a major financial question that looms on the near horizon....
While Connelly's extensive motivational speaking skills will rile up the delegation and party insiders, his biggest challenge is raising money. With $92,000 in the bank, it leaves the party about $1.2 million short of what it needs for next year's First in the South primary... The donation cup will need to be filled up quick, and in this economy, it won't be easy.
That brings us to the big question: does the state legislature step in and finance the primary to keep South Carolina's position as a major player in Republican elections? It's not a matter of IF they can do it (they do have a supermajority after all), but SHOULD they. To us, the answer is no.... Hell no. The private bill of a group should not be left to the taxpayers to be footed. It sets a bad precedent, and like anything else, if the SCGOP is spending beyond it's means, then they need to cut back elsewhere.
It's a simple matter of putting your money where your mouth is... You're for limited government? Well then, cut back on the frills and expenditures, and tighten your belt. Or, get out there and raise some more dough. Connelly is taking over a pretty smooth ship. Aside from this issue, there are few other challenges. Good luck, and Hail to the New Chief..
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"If individuals be not influenced by moral principles; it is in vain to look for public virtue; it is, therefore, the duty of legislators to enforce, both by precept and example, the utility, as well as the necessity of a strict adherence to the rules of distributive justice."
- James Madison, 1789.
No, public service, with very few exceptions, is a job where you make the rules up as you go along. It only leads to reversing directions, confusion, and ultimately a stagnant country. However, it's not too vain to take a peek at Diane Lane. Rarely, do we post women older than me, but if your wife looked like that at 46, you'd be showing her off too...
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Uhh.... Did something happen this week? While we agree that not much good would come from showing the blown out face of Osama Bin Laden (easy doubters, whether you personally are satisfied is irrelevant), the hopes that this will guarantee an Obama win in 2012 are way premature... We need only go back to 1992. Bush 41 thought his asswhipping of Saddam Hussein the year before was all he needed. It's still the economy, folks. This will wear off well before next November..
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Watch Out, We're In Flotown This Weekend !!
Just a quick note to warn you that we had a bit of a family emergency this week, and we've had to take a day off to come back to Florence. Sorry for not warning you, but trust us, this is not a pleasure trip - it's a quick hit, and we need to get back to Yankeeville on Sunday night. We'll try to visit the usual crew (a Four Horsemen full quorum is a very real possibility), but time is short..
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Drones and Dinners? 'Leveling the Field' Not The American Way..
After realizing that simply knocking out Moammar Gaddhafi's power plants and other minor complements were not allowing the rebels to keep from getting their asses kicked, the Obama Administration decided to up the ante... just a tad. To us, this is Un-American...
Yeah, they dropped $25 million on humanitarian aid, and made arrangements to fly drone missions on Libya. Aside from a buddy of mine who owns a Halal Food Store, we don't see much benefit from the continued nickel and diming of assistance to the rebels. As my Dad said, 'Shit or Get Off the Pot!!' No, public speaking is not his forte, but in this case, it makes sense.
Yeah, we get it.... We're trying to NOT push too much on this, but this is not how we do things .... ever. Leveling the field to give the rebels a chance is not the American Way. We have a long history of stacking the deck, and making sure that whatever our interests are, that is the end result.... We don't 'give the other guy a chance' .... we sit on his/her face until he/she taps out like a sissy in a MMA Cage Match! Especially with a dictator like Gaddhafi.. Why make it look like he deserves any hope of staying?
If Reagan were President today, he'd send in the entire 82nd Airborne in, complete with Lee Marvin and Chuck Norris, and flatten Libya like a pancake. Luckily for Gaddhafi, he never had to tangle with Reagan. Wait...... Oh yeah. Forgot about that. Guess 25 years does make a difference. Maybe Obama is waiting out Gaddhafi to die, then make a move. Could happen, but we doubt it. War is like Poker - you don't bet to maybe win. You either bet to win, or you pull your chips from the table. Bluffing rarely wins.....
Just ask Chris Ferguson... Glad to see he got a gig after the Black Crowes broke up.
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The Dogfight For Our Next Head Shows No Clear Leader ...
In the coming weeks, Republicans in the Palmetto State will head to Columbia to drink their asses off, schmooze, get their pictures taken, raise money - oh yeah, and select a new Chairman, along with passing any changes to the party platform. In that order....
Much to everyone's disappointment, i will not be attending the SCGOP Silver Elephant Dinner or the Convention - AWWWWWWWW!!!!! You'll have to trudge on without me. I went to three of these as a candidate and delegate, so I can see the difference between the ones I went to. Katon Dawson ran unopposed on the first two, and the last one appeared ready to be a tight battle - that is, until Kevin Hall dropped out due to health issues, clearing the path for a realtively easy win for Karen Floyd.
We don't see this ging on in 2011.... Now, we haven't been tracking Straw Polls for SCGOP Chair with a fine toothed comb, but we have read a bunch of them as they've come in, and to us, there is no clear winner. Barring a dropout of one of the two leaders will mean we will be heading for a long, multivote battle for our next leader.
Each candidate has won a poll, with Bill Connor and Chad Connelly showing the best overall results. Stephen Brown won Charleston handily (hometown vote?), but lagged elsewhere, and Ben Kinlaw had trailed as well. This has made things interesting. Kinlaw and/or Brown dropping out will not change much, with the exception of swaying Charleston one way or the other. The odd part is that Connelly and Connor were tied to each other during Connor's Lt. Governor run, so they are essentially splitting their own vote. If either drops out, then the race is over - the other wins. But, that appears slim...
The Number Three candidate generally has the power in these types of races, and that appears to be Brown. He might make a deal to pull his supporters either way - if he can - in exchange for some type of concessions. if I were Brown, that's what I'd do. Even then,it might not turn the tide. Connor waited so long , and his opening statement was so odd that it made delegates wonder how much thought he did put into this race, and he's paying for the delay. A month or so earlier, and this race would be his. Instead, he's running against his buddy Connelly. It could be messy, and it often is. Eventually, the smoke will clear, and we'll have a leader. Maybe not one with a clear, strong consensus, but a leader nonetheless...
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"To cherish and stimulate the activity of the human mind, by multiplying the objects of enterprise, is not among the least considerable of the expedients, by which the wealth of a nation may be promoted."
- Alexander Hamilton, 1791.
Absolutely, letting people be active in their imaginations and productivity helps create and grow a country. Meanwhile, Desislava stimulates us as well.. To pull off a singular name, you gotta be hot...
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Yeah, it's been almost 2 weeks since we last posted, and we're kind or cramming these ones in here as well. It's been very hectic here, but rest assured, it's good times here.
The major catastrophes have pretty much ended or leveled off, and we're back to a wide variety of topics for the cartoonists to pick on... As one who appreciates his break time nap, we went for the newest PATCO member..
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Old Fart Band Refuses to Give Up, So You Might As Well Come and Enjoy Yourself...
After practice for a few months to tighten up and learn some new material (aka, stuff before 1996) , local legends in their own minds, Narcdog, will once again play live. the show will be this Saturday night, April 16, 2011 at Katie's on Middle Country Rd in Smithtown, NY - right next to the Smithtown train station.
We've been playing together on/off since 1988, so delusions of fame have long since passed for us. But, we still like jamming, and apparently so do most people who see us play at least once. We'll be giving away free Narcdog t-shirts and playing everyone's favorite game, Narcdog Trivia, where the titel of King or Queen of Narcdog Trivia will be given away (it's a Burger King Crown). No cover charge either. Nothing in life is free or easy, except us apparently..... Hope to see you there.
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He May Be Almost 70, But He's Still Kicking Ass !!
Old rockers are a funny tribe. It used to be when you turned 40, you were too old to rock. Maybe even 30.. Anyway, old rockers never die - they just write shitty material. Not Paul Simon... A music stalwart the past 45 years, Simon releases a new album on Tuesday. Judging from the first two tracks we've heard, he shows no signs of slowing down from writing inventive and funny music. The guy is just damned good, adn even at this age , he is still two steps ahead of you and I.....
Today, we give you an unofficial clip of his newest release, 'The Afterlife'. Like the title infers, it's about passing through the Gates of Heaven - only to find that - much like the DMV - getting in is a series of lines, bureuacracy and traffic jams. It never ends.... Enjoy the clip!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLDQZYQYFiQ
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Last year, a prostitute ran up to a house in Oak Beach, Long Island frentically asking for assistance, when she ran away - and was never seen again. A search was made for her in the nearby beachline, where five female bodies were found. None were her. Last week, another search was made, and three more prostitutes who worked on Craigslist were located. Again, none of them were the girl from last year. So, the search continues this week....
The thing that makes this case different is the area where the bodies have been found: Ocean Parkway, just a mile or two from where I worked my summer job at Robert Moses. Ocean Parkway is a 12 mile two lane road between Captree Island and Jones Beach on a strip of barrier island no wider than a couple hundred yards - so thin that hurricanes often blow across the road.. It might seem impossible for someone to bury 8 bodies on the roadside dunes without anyone seeing something, but as busy as the road is during the day, at night it is pretty desolate.
The cops seem to have an idea of who the killer is, but they're not outright saying it yet. One would think it's a local from either nearby Oak Beach, Gilgo Beach or Captree. Between the three, there couldn't be more than 1000 residents in the pricey area. Finding the local kook or sociopath souldn't be tough - not as tough as getting the hard proof needed to convict whoever he/she is...
The westbound (Inlet Side) lanes of Ocean Parkway will be closed again tomorrow all day, as police in Nassau and Suffolk Counties comb the dunes for more evidence, and possibly more bodies. Where this all leads to, no one knows for sure yet. Hopefully it end with an arrest and conviction, and the area will be a haven for fun... like I remember it.
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In the effort to stem gun violence, without actually resorting to taking guns away from law abiding citizens, law enforcement agencies, particularly in cities, are turning to technology. One of them is called Shot Stopper. While it does not actually stop a gunshot, it can aid cops in catching the offender, without the necessity of citizens naming names. Whether these initially were proven they actually worked was unsure. But now, data shows they do.... A lot.
The Shot Stopper sensors are placed in selected high crime areas, where they can detect numerous different data from a gunshot. They not only detect where the shot came from, but how many shots were fired, and what type of gun the used, based on the sound. Knowing that if you fire a gun in this area will almost ensure you'll be caught has had a great effect. In Nassau County up here, they were placed in high crime areas in Uniondale and Roosevelt. In these areas 134 shots were fired the previous year. This year, with Shot Stopper in place, it dropped to 8. Think having a 94% less chance of being shot is proof you're safer? You bet....
From what I know, this technology is being used in higher crime areas in Flotown as well, and I'd like to see what effect it has had there. Unless a person is total uncaring, wants to get caught, or is a retard, he/she will think twice about firing a gun in town, knowing the Eye in the Sky is watching....
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It's been a strange ten days or so. Perhaps it's because a good part of it was to be expected, but when other new things come along, it seems to magnify things even more, and you wonder when things will get better....
I kind of refer to the week between March 31 and April 5 as Death Week. The 31st was the 1st anniversary of the passing of my good buddy, Loisann, and the 5th was the 20th anniversary of my Mom's dying. The combination of old and new made this year a bit more to deal with. The group of friends that Lois had made her loss easier, but there is really no one who understands on it... Then, the real news got bad..... Fast.
Joe's best friend and college roommate, Rick, got appendicitis, and it has become a worst case scenario. Rick is a hulk of a guy, who lives life a bit to excess. Personalitywise, he's a laid back, easygoing guy, but he loves to eat and drink. When the internal pain got so bad, they took him to hospital, where they had reservations about opening him up. But, his appendix burst. Then, it got really bad...
After cleaning up all the toxins internally, they had him under, where he bit down on his breathing tube, where he went into cardiac arrest, and was offically dead for 16 minutes. Were it not for the doctor not giving up on him, he'd be dead. They put him on ice for 2 days to keep brain swelling down a week ago, but since then, it hasn't gotten much better. He now has pneumonia. His kidneys have shut down. He's on a breathing tube. Essentially, his body has shut down...
Rick's a tough guy, but once these things happen, how tough you might be go right out the window. Joe is a bit of a wreck, and Carol's pretty down too... All I can do is to support my friends, and be there for them when they want to talk, babysit Stevie if they need it, and maybe distract them when they are down. As for you guys, I have one request: pray for Rick. He's only in his 40's, and no one knows, even if he does recover, what his life will be like. We could use a miracle.
The one good thing for me? Where last week is filled with what seems to be everybody's passing, next week is when it seems when all my friends and families have birthdays. Guess it all evens out, doesn't it?
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But, not all things were bad this week.... Yesterday, Sarah recieved her first communion. It was a perfect day at Sts. Philip and James Church in St. James, NY - not a cloud in the sky, and maybe 60 degrees. More importantly, it was great to see lots of kids becoming closer to and understanding God and the sacrifices made for them.
First communions are great, in part because seeing 50-60 7 and 8 year olds dressed to a T, taking their first Eucharist and 'wine', representing the body and blood of Christ. It was my first service in a Catholic church in some time, and things have changed. I remember Catholic services being quite dull and rigid - each service was the same- and the priests were pretty shy and dull. I think the message that The Church needs to 'sell' itself has sunk in. It wasn't a Broadway show, but I'd equate it with a Baptist service. Sorry, no snakes or speaking in tongues....
I'll be very honest here on one part: during the service, watching all the kids and their parents, the thought that I missed out on all the great small and big things in life sunk in. Except for Ben, who seemingly could care less, all of my friends have kids or are married and planning on it. Yeah, it was all great watching someone so close to me do this, but the thought that this should have been 'my kid' was not lost on me. It took me about 2 hours and three glasses of wine at the reception to drag myself out of the funk.
Speaking of which, as usual, Joe and Carol threw a great reception afterwards, succeeded by the afterparty at the house. I had to make TWO beer runs, and they requested at third when I finally put my foot down, and went home at 2:00am. Word is, a few of them are a bit under the weather. But, overall it was a great day. Congrats, Sarah!
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Today, we continue our look back at the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War - as it happens chronologically. This week is the date of the actual start of the war, and a great item of importance to many South Carolinians: the taking of Fort Sumter.
A month earlier, the Federal Government was faced with the question of what to do with Fort Sumter. A small battery located in the heart of Charleston Harbor, surrounded on all sides by five other batteries, the thought of abandoning Sumter was on the table. However, the North decided they would not leave any post, even one as vulnerable as Fort Sumter. It was just a matter of time..
On April 11, 1861, South Carolina officially demanded that the US surrender Fort Sumter. Capt. Robert Anderson, commander of the fort, declined to leave. With the troops dug in, Anderson and his men waited as the deadline expired that midnight. They didn't have to wait long...
At 4:30 am on the 12th, cadets from The Citadel, led by Gen. PGT Beauregard, fired the first salvos into Sumter, and continued for the next 24 hours. While the battery looked like it was nearly flattened, there was not a single casualty on the attack - a bloodless first fight in what became our bloodiest war ever...
Finally, on the 13th, Anderson surrendered, leaving Fort Sumter in the hands of the Condfederacy.. The Civil War was on. Those states that waited on the sidelines had to choose. Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina all finally seceeded. Then, the race to gather troops, and to supply build and train armies began.. Not all of it was glamourous: citizens in Baltimore rioted in the streets, but most volunteered to take part in the Great War - which most thought would only last a few weeks. There would be plenty of time to fight.... The only thing not known yet was when and where the North would move to put down the insurgency. It would be much harder than they thought...
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"The first and governing maxim in the interpretation of a statute is to discover the meaning of those who made it."
- James Wilson, Study of Law in the United States, 1790.
Meaning, or more correctly, the motivation, is paramount to determining whether laws or legislation are worthy. On the other hand, discovering more about Mugdha Godse would be worthy of our time...
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We zigged where others zagged this week. While the majority of cartoons were about the budget battle and impending shutdown, most of the cartoons were cliche'... So, we decided to post this one instead. Maybe if the employees spent more time fixing the planes, rather than shoot trash talking commercials, this might have been avoided....
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Congress: Making the Easy Things In Life Much More Difficult Than It Needs To Be....
So, it's April 9th, and we finally have a 2011 budget. Yeah people, the whole budget battle that's been going on is for THIS YEAR'S budget, not next year. This budget's due date was October 1st, 2010. We find it all pretty funny to see Representatives and Senators cram like Med Students the night before Final Exams - only to find out that the exam was actually six months ago..... At least they know the info now, right?
Secondly, they somehow picked, prodded and investigated every nook and cranny in the budget..... and got a whole $38 billion. Please note the sarcasm here.... How much is $38 billion? All of 1%. It's easy for Congress to jack up discretionary spending 84% in 2 years, but cutting 10% it TOUGH. It's heartless, and it'll ruin the economy. Bullshit.... The only people who bitch that any spending cuts will make people homeless or destitute are the ones who have made a living by ripping off the government. Everyone else makes due and gets by. Need proof? We take you back to 1946.... Forward the clip to exactly 6:00, then watch the last minute...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu2uJWSZkck&feature=related
Yeah, the first guy was a typical government prick. He was an asshole, and got his $242.00 - go choke on it. Notice he was the one bitching the most and loudest. But, everyone else was sensible and honest. They didn't need everythign they had, they just asked for a little of it, and everyone got by, and in the end, they were all better off. Sound familiar?
Maybe Congress can get a hold of this clip before they start negotiating for 2012's bill, which is already halfway to being due - again. 2012 will be the serious budget battle, because Congress only had six weeks to work on this. Next year's budget is open season, and it needs to be. If we can add $787 billion - and it doesn't affect the economy either way - then we can cut $200 billion on the bullshit, and the same result will happen. Of course, neither side will go that far. Maybe half that. It's a start...... but can they finish? That won't be so easy.
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Which One Is the Democrat, And Which Is the Republican? We're Not Sure ......
In the perfect fashion that makes us wonder if DC can ever do anything of measure, the House resolved the annual budget crisis.......... by passing a One Week Band-Aid Bill. Praise be to God! Seriously, we are really wondering what the hell is going on there...
We'll have either of two things occur: the two sides are close enough to pass something laetr this week, and they can then get on to other matters. Or, we will see a government shutdown. Can Congress do anything? Will Obama finally stop watching from the sidelines, and tell both parties where the compromise will be? Really that is all any number will be - a compromise. Unless they can make a balanced budget - HAHAHA !! - there will be no winner. We all lose. We should be used to it by now....
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Yeah, We've Got a Couple Questions About Connor's Run..
As we notice the trend that the SCGOP Chairmanship seems to now go to the best known statewide candidate who didn't win, we'll say this: If Lt. Governor hopeful Bill Connor does become the next leader of the party, he'll be fine. Maybe not great, but fine.
Yeah, we'll admit that Karen Floyd did an even better job than we thought she might. The 6th District local meeting fiasco aside, the SCGOP did a lot to be more open and accessible, and they raised an assload of cash. Whoever takes over has some sizable stiletto pumps to fill...
For a while, there was a lot of doubt of who that just might be. Honestly, we needed a program to figure out who was who. There was a little settling of who might be the front runners .... then the landscape shifted a bit. Within a few days, the rumor and recruiting of Bill Connor to run for SCGOP Chair turned into an actual candidacy.
First off, therein lies the first problem: Connor's true motivation and wanting to be Chair. Like any office, running for Chair is planned well ahead of time. Maybe Connor felt that running 15 months showed overkill, and this time, he'd do it the easier way. Or that this race will be just that - easy. He might be surprised at how much harder it could be. Lots of endorsements have been made already, and most people recognize the late timing on this. No, he'll have to work for it - just not 15 months!
If Connor does win, we see a few significant events:
1. The Tea Party Now Runs the GOP. Connor was their favorite candidate in SC last year, and he didn't work amicably with them - he was one of the few to encourage them, even at the expense of the Republican Party.
2. GOP Power Will Drop. This happens no matter who wins. After the strong ties that Katon Dawson and Floyd had, the drop to the next Chair will be precipitous. Connor was not a big fundraiser, and the SCGOP thrived on that. Maybe Floyd can give him her Rolodex...
3. Ken Ard has no office in HQ Anymore. This should be interesting... Though I never heard a bad word from Ard or Connor about the other, their supporters went apeshit all of 2010. Last year, neither had clout. A 2011 with both having standout roles in the party will be fun to watch.
No, nothing is set in stone yet. These things do take money, and we're not sure if Connor has any left. He has the name recognition Chad Connelly and the others lack, but SCGOP members don't view the gig as a figurehead role. There is work to be done, although Connor's work ethic is above question. However, we always ask why so late? Those who fail to plan......
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That's 21 THOUSAND, Folks!
Just a quick note to gloat a bit, and to say thank you for making March the second best readership month ever - 21,200 page views, just 600 short of an all-time high. Considering that it was October - right on a midterm election - to almost top it when politics is pretty much out of fashion, isn't that bad.
We're not sure why exactly. We've been pretty preoccupied with work and something we wish we could bring up, but can't. Sorry, I've learned to keep my mouth shut... Whatever it is, we'd like to say thanks again. Maybe we'll fien those other readers in April...
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"If we resort for a criterion to the different principles on which different forms of government are established, we may define a republic to be, or at least may bestow that name on, a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people, and is administered by persons holding their offices during pleasure for a limited period, or during good behavior."
- James Madison.
We agree, as far as government, all things need to be equal. Women however, are not always equal. Ask the boobilicious Kelli Garner.....
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Japan seems to have made a sudden exit from the political cartoon world, which proves that even the worst of disasters has a shelf life... Instead , we found the start of baseball season, Michele Bachmann (who we don't really need running for President), and the sexual bias lawsuit against Wal-Mart. That one was the funniest one to us..
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Although he hasn't offficially announced it yet, it appears that Donald Trump has already gotten his first supporter to be President - The Daily Show's Lewis Black. No, it's not an endorsement for all the right reasons, but that doesn't matter.... Is he really running? Maybe, although we like his devious use of Fox News to get his name out once a week to millions before he runs. Can't do that once you do make it official.... Anyway, here's why we love Black, even if we disagree with him a lot.
www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-march-22-2011/back-in-black---trump-2012
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