The team at JibJab (site my be down right now) have released a new video and it has been almost four years since their last election satire. It’s ushers Bush out and introduces Obama and McCain to some jibjab hazing and of course it has a appearance by the Clintons. The pokes at McCain are right on but I don’t really understand the shots at Obama. Make sure you go to the JibJab site when it is up to check out the other laugh out loud videos by them.

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Former White House press secretary Tony Snow, twice member of the Bush Administration died at 53 years old from colon cancer he was suffering from for a number of years early this morning. The media spent the morning talking about what a nice guy Tony was and how hard he fought his cancer. I will not disagree with either count and I know it’s not polite to speak ill of the recently deceased for at least a couple of days but here goes anyway.

The media has been concentrating mostly on his time as White House press secretary. I like to talk about Mr. Snow’s first stint in the White House for President George Bush in 1991, as chief speechwriter and later as Deputy Assistant to the President for Media Affairs (1992–1993). Snow’s most important role was after the takeover of Afghanistan and the people did not want to hear about another invasion into Iraq and it showed in the polls at the time. He was very instrumental in running the public relations campaign (propaganda) fueled by the lies feed from Bush and company to make the case for a another war. As we know, public opinion turned and the war in Iraq was on and is still going over four long years later.

When we think about the cost of the Iraq war (over 4,000 American troops dead, 80,000 to million Iraqis dead, and will hit the trillion dollar price tag), George Bush possibly may not have been able to make it happen without the hard work of Tony Snow. Our country has owes a great debt to Mr. Snow and I mean literally.

Tony Snow was only the front man for the criminal gang known as the Bush administration so I hope he passed away peacefully.  Since Congress won’t punish them, hopefully God will have more fittings ends for the rest of the gang — Rove, Rumsfeld, Cheney, and Bush.

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This became a question I started to think about when I read this short article in the Buffalo News yesterday about a young girl who was raped and thrown from a car…

NIAGARA FALLS — Lured by the promise of crack cocaine and alcohol, a 17-year-old girl told police she was raped after going to party with two men she met at a Portage Road grocery store Saturday.

The victim, a former Youngstown resident currently staying with a friend in the city, told police she met the men around noon Saturday and decided to go with them after they offered to supply her with crack cocaine and alcohol. The three used both substances while driving around the city.

At some point, one of the men raped the victim, and she was later kicked out of the car, police said.

First, I need to start by saying that it obvious form my blog that I am a progressive person. I also always have been pro-choice, pro-woman rights, and believe no means no. I just wonder if sometimes a woman can put her self in a situation where the only result you could expect is to be raped.

I am not talking about a situation where a woman who wears a short shirt and had a couple up of drinks who runs into the wrong guy and some one then says she deserved it. The girl in question from the story who is 17 years old meets two guys that she does not know in a store and proceeds to leave with them because they offer her alcohol and crack cocaine . Come on now! The only way this story could have ended if she did not give it up willingly was that she was going be raped.

I know forcing someone to have sex by force and blaming the victim is not politically correct but can their be a situation where we tell the victim take look at yourself and get some help to change your life. What I am asking is can the girl be in the wrong just the same as the two men? I am not saying the guys who were involved are not scum bags and should not be prosecuted. I really would like to hear the opinions from women and men on this so please leave a comment. Any women who have had a similar real life experience and who would like to share please do so. Please note I am not looking for legal arguments but how society should view this episode.

Happy Independence Day America, on this 4th of July! I just have a couple thoughts to air before I go to my girlfriend’s family reunion where we will feast on food and engage in various friendly (ha!) sporting competitions. It’s my understanding also that her brother has enough fireworks to overthrow a small Latin American country (OK, think peace now) so it should be a fun time.

-Republicans are more patriotic

Since the Reagan administration the far right wing of the Republican party has tried to monopolize God and patriotism. I say it is high time the people realize the real patriots are progressives who want to move America forward again and improve our way of life. I think the people are starting to realize the status quo is not a option anymore now.

-Stop with the hate America crap

The “hate America” label seems to be a new invention of idiotic right wingers. When anyone dares criticize any of the wrong headed policies or war crimes of the Bush administration or has a different point of view, they will since have no counter argument shout back you “hate America”. Let’s save the “hate America” label for the “real” terrorists.

-Fireworks

It is a American tradition on the 4th of July to blow ones self or someone else up but it’s time to end this practice on the foreign policy front. Americans need to let the powers to be know that the bombing (by us or Israel) of Iran is not a viable option or in our best interest. We can’t fall asleep while waiting for the election.

-Let’s take the word “independence” to heart

This time next year if we have the right President in office we should have a plan to start withdrawing our troops from Iraq. We need to let Iraq follow their own path for independence now.

I can’t think of better day then the birth of our nation to officially mention on this blog I will be giving my vote to Barack Obama for President. Who better to usher into the White House but a man who is the most like all Americans? I can’t think of anyone who has run for the highest office in our history that is not only racially mixed but also comes from a diverse cultural background. I think all Americans can see a little of themselves in Obama.  While Mr. Obama is not a perfect man (still a mere politician), I trust him the most to fix our economy, work on health care access for all, to uphold our civil rights, and have a plan to bring our troops home. I believe he will try to address our problems with us together instead of using rhetoric to divide us like the last administration. My fellow Americans, please think clearly and not be misled so you can do the right thing and make the next election day a historic one…

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“Hookers double your stimulus rebate” is the new headline hitting blogs across the country and now being reported on CNN. It seems many Nevada brothels, like the world famous Bunny Ranch and the Chicken Ranch are seeing some lean times because of high gas prices. Their main customers who are truck drivers have little money left to spend on some relaxation with a lady after filling up the rig these days. While it’s sad to see the ladies earning less, they like everyone else need to and are adjusting to the new economic reality of fuel prices. So if find yourself in Nevada looking for some quick love, please help the local economy and the working ladies by taking advantage of the deals.

While this is a lighter look at high gas prices, I am thinking about a more serious post on the issue so stay tuned. In the mean time think about these questions… Who benefits the most from high gas prices? Does gas prices have less to do with supply and demand then market speculation? Why is George Bush doing nothing about high gas prices?

I have never talked about sports before on this blog but have been a long time fan myself. This rant is based on a recent column by Jerry Sullivan of the Buffalo News.

Jerry Sullivan
Updated: 06/24/08 7:06 AM

A few days ago, I was listening to an update on sports radio and heard a reference to Citizens Bank Park. I searched my brain for a few seconds and came to a stunning realization. I had no idea who played there.

The White Sox? No, that’s U. S. Cellular Field. Reds? They play in Great American Ball Park. Pirates? PNC Park. Or is it PETCO? No, that’s the Padres. How about the Diamondbacks? Didn’t they change it from Bank One Ballpark? Yeah, but it’s Chase Field now.

Read the rest of “Corporations play games with names” at the Buffalo News

I always have hated the constant name changes of sports stadiums. I am with Jerry on trying to remember all the new stadium names. When I was a kid could rattle off the stadium names of most of the pro sports teams. Today? Forget it… I was shocked to learn even Wrigley Field has it’s naming rights up for sale now. The Cubs fans need to revolt or the Wrigley Company somehow or someway needs to secure the name again. I am not sure what would do if my beloved Boston Red Sox sold the name of Fenway Park to the highest bidder.

What Jerry Sullivan did not address in his column is what we can do about this? I think the solution is very simple. The only reason naming rights have value is because of the exposure they cause. Why does everyone including you and I, sports reporters like Jerry, or the media seem to be compelled to use the corporate name of any sports venue? Why can’t we all just adopt a common used alternative name for any corporate named stadium for our use?

In Buffalo here, the Sabres play at HSBC Arena but why not just refer to it as the original working name of the Crossroads Arena? The Buffalo Bisons baseball team has played at Pilot Field, North AmeriCare Park, and Dunn Tire Park. Come on now… Why can’t the local media just refer to it as the Downtown Park like most people do already and be done with it? No worries with the Buffalo Bills since the owner, Ralph Wilson just names it after himself.

It’s time we stop being held hostage to the lastest naming rights change of our favorite sports team’s home. If the people and media stopped using the corporate name then the naming rights would have no value anymore. The teams themselves really don’t need the revenue from naming rights or else they would just get players salaries under control. Just a idea…

Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker and Tits.

The seven words that were banned on broadcast TV that made George Carlin famous has died at the age of 71.  Mr. Carlin’s unique brand of irrelevant humor that was ground breaking and politically charged will always be remembered by me. My good friend Matthew, at Capitol Street just recently posted about George Carlin being awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and now he is dead.

I had to post a couple of videos of his comic stand up to pay tribute to the man.

One of his seven words bits…

“The American Dream” is one I have had listed in my favorite videos on the right forever. Jordan of “Jordan Says” had a good post on the passing away of George Carlin and I will quote her commentary on this routine which is right on…

Remember the lesson - “they” don’t want well-informed, well-educated citizens capable of critical thinking. The best way to honor Carlin’s memory? Don’t be a sheep. Ruffle feathers when you need to, rattle cages, whatever. Use your brain to think for yourself….that’s what it’s there for.

George Carlin’s “Religion is bullshit”…

George Carlin reduces the ten commandments down to three and the last was my favorite…”Thou shalt keep thy religion to thy self”

We will all miss you…

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Patrick Kelly, one of six people charged in the case, will go on trial Monday.

MINEOLA, Texas (AP) — In the windowless front rooms of a former day care center in a tiny Texas community, children as young as 5 were fed powerful painkillers they knew as “silly pills” and forced to perform sex shows for a crowd of adults.

Read the rest of the story on CNN

This has to be one of the sickest things I have read involving children and sex. This happened in the small town of Mineola, Tx with a population of 5,100. According to the article, the sex shows which were held on a regular basis involved more then the children and the six adults charged but was reported to be attended by a audience of 50 to 100.

Key parts of the article…

The one-story building where prosecutors say four children — the three siblings, now ages 12, 10 and 7, and their 10-year-old aunt — were trained to perform in front of an audience of 50 to 100 once a week has been vacant since the landlord ousted the alleged organizers in 2004.

Down a slight hill is a retirement home, and even closer is the office of the local newspaper. Doris Newman, editor of The Mineola Monitor, said rumors of swinger parties spread around town but that no one mentioned children being involved.

Newman, who can see the building from her office window, said she remembers the parking lot filling up with more than a dozen cars at night.

In August 2004, an editorial under the headline “Sex In the City” opined that if the swingers left quietly, “we’ll try and forget they’ve infiltrated our town with their set of moral standards.”

“It’s not that we’re trying to look the other way,” Newman said. “But there’s a lot more to Mineola than that.”

My question is how did the town itself not know what really was going on in that house? There was up to 100 people attending the sex shows and I doubt they were all from out of town. It seems like there must have been some in the town that who were not participates but knew what really was going on there. Why did someone not espouse this sooner? The residents callings them “swingers” seemed to be a way for them to hide from the real truth. I think their was another crime that was committed and it did not happen in that house.

The Rev. Tim Letsch is opening a church in the yellow-plastered building where the children were abused. He acknowledges that building a congregation might be difficult because of the stigma attached to the property.

“You got to decide whether you’re willing to forgive those kind of things,” Letsch said. “It’s a hard deal. Especially for a spiritual person to walk in and say, ‘This happened here.”‘

Why in the world would a small town that already has 30 churches need another one? The house should be bulldozed and not left standing! Really, why would anyone want to live in or use that house? The people of this town need more to do then go to church and pray apparently.

I admit did not research this behind the story on CNN. If anyone who is local to the area that knows more infomation or can link to local news sources that adds to the story it would be welcome.

The contrast between Barack Obama and John McCain is fertile ground for the political cartoonist these days. I really have been in need of a laugh of late so like to share a couple of recent comics that have given me a few chuckles.

I love the Doctor Who and David Tennant reference in This Modern World strip by Tom Tomorrow. In the near future, we will witness even more unseen new changes and the only question is - are the people ready?

“click” on image to enlarge

Another favorite of mine is Tom the Dancing Bug by Ruben Bolling who sees Obama-McCain as an all to familiar theme that has been played out before…

“click” on image to enlarge

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from a CNN ireport (video)…

A man who was part of a anti-gay marriage protest interferes with same-sex couples trying to get marriage certificates in Yolo County of California. This loser at one point tries to say that his religion is being prosecuted because of the allowing of gay marriages. What?! The funnest part is the protester looks a little gay himself to me and maybe in the closet?

I just don’t understand why some people have nothing better to do then try to deny the same rights they have to someone else.

I had wrote a post a while back on one possible solution to the whole same-sex marriage issue is to just get government out of the marriage business! Basically, I suggested we just pass a federal law to only recognize civil unions which would have the same rights as a married couple now. If a couple wanted to be “married” they would go to their church. This way a same-sex couple to get “married” only need to belong to a church that allows it. I think this would make it harder for the religious nuts to be opposed to same-sex marriages since we still do have freedom of religion in this country.

Getting back to the title of this post… Maybe pro-gay marriage advocates in one of the two states that allows same-sex marriages should crash a heterosexual marriage to protest the union. I doubt that would happen since those type of people tend to have more class then the Jesus freaks.

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