Friday Night Thing Back on Monday

I listen to a wide variety of music with probably the exception of country and heavy metal. I do have three genres of music that are near and dear to my heart. Those are "Old School R & B", "Classic Rock" and "Old School Hip-Hop."

I fell in love with old school R& B as a child. I grew up in a tight-knit community where I had the exact same neighbors for the twenty plus years I was there. Backyard parties and barbecues would have folks like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson blaring from speakers, and the smell of the food would drive me crazy. I would watch the grown-ups dance and play cards, and of course consume large amounts of alcohol. But after listening to that music through my childhood, I have since had a love affair with it.

I was not privileged to enjoy classic rock until my first year of college. Of course I heard it before but never paid to much attention to it. My roommate was a avid fan of Led Zeppelin, and after a night of sampling some of his very potent weed, I also became a huge fan. I bought the box set and then branched off to pick up groups like Cream, the Eagles and Santana.

Old school hip-hop and I really fell in love in high school. 1987 Eric B & Rakim "Paid in Full" album was released and from there I was a literal addict of hip-hop. I listen to it before with folks like L.L. Cool J with his "Radio" album, and course classics like Whodini and others, but Rakim took me to another level. I had the cassette tape and played it over and over to it broke, and I had to buy another. I was even in a group in my younger years, we recorded a couple of albums, none released sadly.

With all that being said, every Friday I will post a song that I love from one of the three genres for all to enjoy. I will take the weekends off from now on to spend time outdoors with my Son and family, life is too short short, right? The songs I post, I can tell you I have fond memories from each, I hope you do to, take care.

Newt Gingrich: "Let's Pay Teens to Not Get Pregnant"

To hell with improving our communities and teaching kids safe sex or abstinence, let's just give them cash:

Newt Gingrich who is a potential presidential candidate for 2012 says states should consider paying teenager girls not to get pregnant. He also says that states should consider paying teenage girls who become pregnant to take prenatal vitamins to forestall paying additional health expenses for neonatal care down the road.

The remarks were made during a tour of Michigan on Wednesday. Gingrich is the founder of the Center for Health Transformation, a not-for-profit group advocating the partnership of private and public interests for health care reform.

Along with his remarks about pregnant teenagers, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives also said Wednesday that state legislators should consider paying poor children to read and individuals not to smoke.

Hey Newt why not pay kids to stay out of gangs, or what about paying people to go to college? Hey I got it, Let's pay those drug dealers to stop dealing. My Son has a smart mouth,, why don't I pay him to be polite? What about paying kids not to wear baggy bags to?

What happened to the government staying out of the way? What happened to parents raising kids up the right way? What happened to the days where the fear of God was put in you by Mom or Dad, and you dared not cross them?

Let's start having the government wipe our asses too.


Source: WTVM.com

Adler Planetarium Finally Getting That New Projector

An earmark that John Mccain made part of his campaign against Barack Obama, will finally makes it's way to becoming reality. The Adler Planetarium Museum in Chicago is and has been a huge attraction for Chicagoans and visitors since 1930. It is the first planetarium built in the western hemisphere and is the oldest in existence today.

Last October, Republican presidential nominee John McCain criticized Obama for supporting an unsuccessful $3 million federal funding request to help pay for a new projection system at the Adler. In McCain's view, the "overhead projector" was an example of Obama's approach to pork-barrel spending.

In my lifetime I have probably been to the planetarium around 75 times. I have traveled as a child in school once or twice a year. I have been with my friends numerous times, and my most special time was with my Grandfather who past away a few years ago.

I can say I'm glad to see them get help with the almost $4 million dollar cost of the projector, the rest of the money will come from private donations and grants. But believe me, the memories from my times at Chicago's museums are and will be priceless to me.

Nancy Peolsi Not Speaking for the Democrats

Our gracious loudmouth Speaker of the House says she is open to another stimulus bill, this comes to a surprise to everyone including all of her peers.

“If there’s appetite, there’s not in my office,” said Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.). “Enough for now. No mas. No mas.”

“It is too soon,” said House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.). “No sensible person is trying to guess what will be appropriate policy six months from now.”

“It sounds to me that would be a monumental lift,” said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). “Somebody’s going to have to convince me how they’re going to pay for it.”

We just dropped 787 billion dollars this month, and not even 20 billion has been released yet and Ms. Pelosi opens her motuh and starts talking about more spending, please.

Staffers said Wednesday that Pelosi wasn’t saying that another package was definitely in the works — but they also said that it would be “irresponsible” to rule out the idea that another stimulus might be needed.

Aides to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey (D-Wis.) also denied a CNN report that he has asked his staff to start drafting a second stimulus bill.

This has not stopped republicans from pouncing on Pelosi's statement about another stimulus. She has given them more fuel to add to the fire of spending our way out of a stimulus. For any democrat to even hint at another stimulus is not only asinine but irrational.

Nancy, please keep your bright ideas to yourself!

Former Cook County GOP Chair Gets Ass Kicked by Wife

After being confronted by his wife for allegedly being with two prostitutes, the former chairman of the Cook County republican party Gary Skoien, was attacked by her with a toy guitar and repeatedly punched and beaten. The incident happened around 1 a.m. this past Sunday in their Barrington-Inverness home (a upper class suburb of Chicago).

The attack was brought on after his wife came home to find him in the company of two women who Eni Skoien claims were prostitutes. Gary Skoien claimed Wednesday that these women were just friends. He was found with his two lady friends in the couple's children's playroom, probably just hanging out or something.

Eri Skoien has been charged with misdemeanor domestic battery and a 21-day restraining order was issued.

This will give Gary Skoien plenty of time to finish giving his two female companions a tour of his house at 1 a.m. in the morning again. Gary Skoien is currently the Palatine Township GOP committeeman.

UPDATE: 3/19

Eri Skoien has now filed for divorce, and it looks like they will now be in a nasty custody battle for their children.

Congressman Calls Limbaugh a Coward, Challenges Him to Debate

Hoping to make a name for himself, Brad Sherman, a Democratic congressman from California sent a letter to Rush Limbaugh in response to Rush attacking his position regarding CEO's from bailed out banks flying around in corporate jets.

Sherman has challenged Limbaugh to debate him, but has been unsuccessful in doing so since early February, before the whole Rush face of the republican party thing. After several attempts to get a response from Limbaugh the letter was sent.

"You are a coward," he assessed. "Very truly yours, Brad Sherman."

Limbaugh has yet to respond, said a spokesman for Sherman. Limbaugh's producer, Kit Carson, told the Huffington Post he hadn't seen the letter, but that he couldn't speak for Limbaugh.

We won't hear from Limbaugh till Monday since he is taking the next two days off. I am guessing that the mouth of the GOP will have plenty to say then.

Sen. David Vitter Throws Hissy Fit at Airport

Have you had an encounter with someone who acted like a pompous jerk? Well a United Airlines employee in Washington ran into republican United States senator David Vitter who was thirty minutes late for his flight heading to New Orleans last Thursday.

The former prostitue loving senator reportedly opened a armed security door in an attempt to board the already sealed aircraft. Vitter then went off on the United employee when he attempted to stop Vitter from breaking a federal law (he should have let him go through) after the alarm sounded.

After setting off the security alarm, the Louisiana senator proceeded to berate the airline employee and informed him of his status as a standing United States senator, basically a "do you know who I am" tirade.

Sometime during the altercation, the airline employee informed Vitter he would call security, which prompted Vitter to yell at the employee that he could call the police if he wanted to and their supervisors, who, presumably, might be more impressed with his status as a senator.

As the employee walked off to find security, Vitter as seen by witnesses got a better sense of judgment and proceeded to sneak away before the employee returned with security.

I give you another great leader and voice of the republican party everyone!

Source: Roll Call


HERE IS SOME FOOTAGE OF WHAT THAT EVENT MIGHT HAVE LOOKED LIKE:

UPDATE:

Vitter's Responds:

"After being delayed on the Senate floor ensuring a vote on my anti-pay-raise amendment and in a rush to make my flight home for town hall meetings the next day, I accidentally went through a wrong door at the gate," Vitter said in a statement. "I did have a conversation with an airline employee, but it was certainly not like this silly gossip column made it out to be."

What is the GOP Thinking? Or Not Thinking

The one thing conservatives and liberals both agree on, there is no leadership in the republican party. Since the presidential election in November last year, the republicans have been on a retooling mission of sorts. Basically they have been trying to figure out the party's direction to help them regain power again in 2010.

With their party currently still lost and desperately needing more minority support, you would think somebody would have made sure the GOP brand was represented well at the recent United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 19th Annual Meeting.

So how many representatives of the republican party were there you think? Come on guess? Well they would certainly try to match the 20 senators from the democrats side right? Wrong, absolutely no representation from the senate for republicans were at this event (reported by rightwingnews,com). Also only two GOP state reps were there, and guess what, they were Hispanic.

While the democrats are winning over Hispanics by a 2 to 1 margin, and continue to think outside the box as evident with the great work of the DNC last year, the republicans seem to still be satisfied with a group of aging old White guys.

Grumpy Jim Bunning Refuses to Release Poll Results

For those who did not know, Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky political career is tanking fast. He already has threatened to sue the NRSC because he accused them of picking someone to run against him, and now he has the most recent poll results he had conducted but refuses to release them.

"Let's say I did the polling," the senator told reporters on a conference call this morning.

What does that mean?

"That means it's none of your g--d--- business," Bunning said, who then followed up with a laugh. "If you paid the 20 grand for the poll, you can get some information out of it."

Courier Journal

Kentucky's junior senator is rated by many political analysts as the most vulnerable among next year's senators up for re-election.

Bunning has been at odds with party leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., over his desire to seek another term. McConnell and others have given not-so-subtle signals that they want Bunning to step aside.

Bunning has gone so far as to accuse Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, of lying and has threatened to sue the NRSC if it fielded a primary opponent against him.

The Courier-Journal reported Feb. 28, based on three sources, that Bunning said at a private fundraiser that if the leadership continued to make it difficult for him to raise money, he could resign and let Kentucky's Democratic governor, Steve Beshear, pick a replacement. Bunning denied he made such a statement.

In any case, Bunning is holding fundraisers and went ahead with a poll.

Asked if people could infer he was not happy with the results, Bunning replied: "You are going to infer any damn thing you choose, so why should I try to influence it?...I'm not going to say a word. So you can only speculate."

Cat Fight Between Limbaugh & Gingrich?

We saw yesterday that along with poking shots a the Obama administration yesterday, Newt Gingrich commented on the ever going saga that is Rush Limbaugh. He said that anyone who wants our president to fail is quote "thinking irrational."

Limbaugh struck back surprisingly hard at Newt Gingrich who is considered by most to be one of the strongest voices of the GOP.

“You know, I’m frankly getting tired of talking about Newt,” Limbaugh began. “I mean, it’s a pointless exercise.” He then ripped Gingrich for being a typical “fly-by-night,” finger-in-the-wind politician who can’t be trusted:

They are fly-by-night operators, and most of them stand for nothing until they see a poll about what the American people want, and then they go out and try to say one way or another what the American people want while trying to falsely hold onto an ideology at the same time — and you can’t count on them. You can’t depend on them. They will sell you out; they will throw you overboard to save themselves, faster than anything. And they’ll use you on their way up as often as they can at the same time.

Limbaugh claimed that Gingrich is simply jealous of his influence. “I know that Newt would give his whatever to have what I’ve got,” he said. “So would any of these other critics of mine. … Newt Gingrich wishes they were running TV ads against him. But they’re running TV ads against me. So I love it. I’m up for it.” Listen here:

If nothing but this being the outcome for the White House fueling this debate, to see Gingrich and Limbaugh snipe at each other, it's worth it.

New GOP Goal........Attack Dems

(Rep. Patrick McHenry R-NC)

GOP Rep. Patrick McHenry, a key player in helping craft the Republican message, has offered an unusually blunt description of the Republican strategy right now.

“We will lose on legislation. But we will win the message war every day, and every week, until November 2010,” said Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., an outspoken conservative who has participated on the GOP message teams. “Our goal is to bring down approval numbers for [Speaker Nancy] Pelosi and for House Democrats. That will take repetition. This is a marathon, not a sprint.”

McHenry is standing by his quote.....

Another Weak Attack From Conservatives on Obama

This is it? This is what you come up with to attack him now? He uses a teleprompter are you serious. So because he chooses not to bury his face in a podium and values that his words are taken genuinely and correct, that is somehow wrong. Wow, I think you got him. I wonder who else would dare use teleprompter on a regular basis, I wonder............... Thanks to AmericaBlog

Nancy Reagan Praises Obama Today

It can be looked at in two ways regarding embryonic stem cell research, one is that this opens the door to great advancements in medicine and cures for hundreds of ailments, and two it is an immoral act that kills innocent lives.

That is a debate that will never fully be settled, without God himself intervening. Of course christian conservatives have been the biggest voice against stem cell research even though the same science and scientists that they balk at, are the ones who created the technology that saves their lives when they seek help for cancer, have children, are injured etc......

Today Nancy Reagan a long time advocate of stem cell research and wife of former president Ronald Reagan who many conservatives considered the greatest republican president commented today on president Obama's signing of the reversal ban on federally funding stem cell research:

“I’m very grateful that President Obama has lifted the restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research,” she wrote in a statement released shortly after Obama reversed the Bush administration limits. “These new rules will now make it possible for scientists to move forward. I urge researchers to make use of the opportunities that are available to them, and to do all they can to fulfill the promise that stem cell research offers."

“Countless people, suffering from many different diseases, stand to benefit from the answers stem cell research can provide. We owe it to ourselves and to our children to do everything in our power to find cures for these diseases – and soon. As I’ve said before, time is short, and life is precious.”

Her statement also illustrates how support for the research crosses party lines, even though many in the anti-abortion movement strongly oppose the research on moral and ethical grounds.



The Debate will continue:

Liberal Gun Lovers Told to Leave

So us liberals who love guns are not welcome in Oklahoma it now seems. Thirteen year-old Lane Dunkley and his father Daniel Reddy a former marine, who both live in Tulsa went to Broken Arrow to a hunter safety course normally required to get an Oklahoma hunting license.

But when father and son arrived at the lesson, the volunteer instructor, Kell Wolf, asked if any of the students voted for President Barack Obama, Reddy raised his hand.

According to Reddy and others in the room, Wolf called Obama "the next thing to the Antichrist" and ordered Reddy and Dunkley from the room. When Reddy refused, Wolf said he would not teach "liberals" and would cancel the course if Reddy didn't leave.

So Reddy and Dunkley left, as did a few others.

Luckily, Lance Meek, hunter education coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation received more than one complaint on Wolf over the incident and ended up firing the 15 year instructor for his actions.

I guess you can't like guns and vote for "anti-christ" at the same time.

READ THE ENTIRE STORY HERE

Lindsey Graham & David Vitter Only Want Their Earmarks in the Omnibus Bill

Why don't all of congress just admit it. They are all addicted to earmarks. I guess it is a necessary evil in the domain of politics.

When it comes to dedication, politicians are more loyal to pet projects that are dear and near to the hearts of their biggest contributors.

Lindsey Graham joins the list of hypocritical GOP senators that blast earmarks and spending only to quickly and staunchly defend their own.

Graham spoke today on "Meet the Press", "Should the president veto this bill?" NBC host David Gregory asked Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Sunday.

"I'll leave that up to the president," Graham replied. "I wish he would veto the bill. We'd get back together and come up with an earmark reform process."

Graham then told Gregory that he is not opposed to "members designating money to be spent in their state as long as it has a federal purpose, is transparent, and people understand what the money's going to be spent for."

Gregory then pointed out that Senator John McCain has been railing on Twitter about Graham's own earmark of $950,000 for a convention center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

"I voted to take all earmarks out, but I will come back in the new process and put that back in," Graham insisted, saying that the convention center is important to stimulate the local economy. "I think I should have the ability as a United States senator to direct money back to my state as long as it's transparent and it makes sense."

I guess he can be the only judge of what is and what is not an earmark.




On Monday David Vitter went on wing nut Laura Ingraham’s show to defend his 142 "projects" worth 242 million dollars:

Miracles are Instant........Change Takes Time

In the now 47 days since Barack Obama has taken over a president of the United States of America we still are in a recession. We still have thousands of troops in Iraq, and now have an additional 16,000 troops heading to Afghanistan.

Our economy continues to slide further into decline like it has since April of 2008, and shows no signs of stopping. Unemployment recently rose to 8.1% the highest in 25 years, and every month numbers grow in the number of newly unemployed. Iran still remains a serious threat to the U.S. and Israel and continues to show defiance.

Foreclosures are becoming more and more common, our American auto-makers are becoming similar to the extinct dinosaurs.

With our country in such a dire strait, who do we look at for results.......... our Commander in Chief of course.

Obamamainia during the 2008 election created thanks to the likes of people like David Plouffe and David Axlerod a iconic type figure in Barack Obama. Conservatives would rather use the word Messiah. Ironically them using that term is blasphemy unless you are describing Jesus Christ. Since the majority of Americans chose to pin their hopes on Obama, conservatives have made him seem like a cult figure rather than just the man he is.

No he can not walk on water, raise the dead, bring world peace, bring supreme harmony or any other miracle you can think of. Because many people liked him and wanted to hear him speak or find ways to profit off his name and image, that somehow makes him a savior of man. This is what the republican party has used in their arsenal of meaningless attacks against him.

In fact this strategy has worked in their favor so far, having him seem like a messiah would mean he would be able to solve all of our problems immediately after assuming power. To our surprise the "Great One" has not been successful in solving the crisis' that face our weakened nation.

He now seems to have fooled us into believing he was the answer to our problems. Surely this man who sounded as if he could solve all the world's problems could do so within 45 days, right?

He must have lied to us. He can't wipe out famine with a wave of his hand, nor can he feed the many from one basket. Must I accept the fact that he is a mere human who must be allowed time fix our current dire state? Do I now realize that like our other so called leaders, he will need to be judged on what he does over time rather than his first week in office? How disappointing.

I guess since he lied to us about being our savior, we will just have to wait and see if he can do the job over time as a mere mortal........damn.