John Kass has written a good one in today's Chicago Tribune:

For sheer brazenness, nobody surpasses Rod

Kass makes some good points over former Black Panther Bobby Rush's commentary at Hot Rod's press conference, the one where he announced his appointment of Roland Burris to replace The One as an Illinois Senator. (Rush was co-founder of the Illinois Black Panther party in 1968).

Burris is a card-carrying member of the Chikaga and Illinois political machines. He's paid his dues, and he's paid his contributions to the right campaign funds, and now it is 'his time'.

He is also black, and Harry Reid's empty posturing to the contrary, the Senate Democrats flatly do not have the cojones to deny Burris entrance to their hallowed chambers, to deny him membership in their exclusive club.

Rush also played the race card in heavy-handed manner, pretty much threatening political annihilation to any Democrat who stands against this latest political clown act.

Kass correctly points out how it could have all been avoided:

Senate Democrats are talking tough now, saying they won't seat Burris, but that won't hold. The debate has been framed. The only African-American in the Senate leaves for the White House, another African-American is appointed to fill that spot, and Democratic politicians know they owe their livelihoods to African-American voters.

That talk about transcending race was just talk. Skin pigment trumps ideas, and Blagojevich, who may be facing a jury soon, wants all the friends he can get.

Of course, Tuesday's fiasco could have been avoided. Democrats in the state legislature could have stripped Blagojevich of his appointment powers and imposed a special election. Obama also could have demanded it. But as he has done so often in his career, Obama avoided a confrontation and looked the other way.

One can only wonder how Obama is going to handle the Iranians, the Syrians, the Israelis, Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda...and all those other hardball players in whose game The One is about to play.

So wrote Eli Zaslow, who was apparently aroused to the point of near ecstasy by the sight of a shirtless Barack Obama:

“The sun glinted off chiseled pectorals sculpted during four weightlifting sessions each week, and a body toned by regular treadmill runs and basketball games.”

Steady on, Eli. I don't think the president-elect is your type, no matter his position on gay rights.

Here's more:

Lust-struck Washington Post reporter Eli Zaslow...

Note that the same mainstream media rags roasted George Bush over his fitness routines:

Recounting how President Bush ran 3.5 miles a day, former Washington Post writer Jonathan Chait railed, “Am I the only person who finds this disturbing? … What I mean is the fact that Bush has an obsession with exercise that borders on the creepy.”

There's more over on The Anchoress:

Obama a godling

While you're over at The Anchoress, take a look at this one, too:

O Eve! Reconciled! which has nothing to do with droolingly pathetic 'reporters' of questionable sexual persuasion; check the poem by Sister Columba of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey.

"At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what the public thinks; it matters what 168 of us think."

- Gary Emineth, chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party

That's what he said in reference to the election of the next chairman of the Republican National Party. There are 168 people on the national committee.

Since he said it, he and his supporters have been trying to spin it so it doesn't sound as bad as it does. "You have to put it in context," said one fellow.

Context?

It seems clear enough to me. The RNC really doesn't require or desire any comment or input from the hoi polloi.

Emineth is behind the move to force current chairmain Mike Duncan to call a meeting of the entire committee on the morning of January 6. There is a meeting of the 80 member 'steering committee' that afternoon. What Emineth wants is the opportunity for all six candidates for the chair position to meet with, and answer questions from, all members of the national committee. The steering committee is seen by many as a Rovian tool established to maintain control of the party by Bush supporters and their henchpersons.

So on the one hand there is something constructive here, at least at first glance. Whether Emineth's motives will survive closer scrutiny remains to be seen, but he has shot himself in the foot rather nicely with that one comment.

That one comment illustrates the arrogance of the leadership of the national Republican party.

Last post on this I referred to the Repubs as a 'train wreck'. Now I'm thinking 'the Titanic' might be a better one, with grass-roots Republicans being fed this garbage being likened to Titanic passengers: "There, there, my good fellow, you really don't need that life jacket", the Republican captain told the Republican passenger, "the ship is really unsinkable, don't you know, and we know what's best for you."

The Eunuch of the Treasury, that vapid airhead Hank Paulson, who can't seem to make up his mind one way or the other what should be done, and who continues to grasp at straws and engage in knee-jerk reactions, has announced that he is dumping $6 billion into GMAC, the General Motors financing agency.

That takes him over the $350 billion limit set by the current Congress, but that's OK, he has 'wiggle room' so he can ignore the limits and snuffle from other funds.

One can only wonder if PCEOC and their henchpersons are going to throw the same fits over this as they did when the Army did the end run around the funding ban.

That ban was limited to funds appropriated in the Military Construction act. It did not prevent the obligation of funds from other sources, a point which PCEOC still doesn't seem to get, given the comments in the T-D recently.

The Eunuch of the Treasury, Hank Paulson, who got on his knees to beg Nancy Pelosi, is doing a similar deal. It isn't illegal, but he is circumventing the intent of Congress.

What's next?

Feds throw GMAC $6 billion lifeline

The GMAC investment commits Treasury to total bailout spending above the $350 billion limit so far by Congress.

Treasury has some wiggle room because $79.5 billion that it has allocated for purchasing stakes in banks has not yet been distributed. Regulators are still reviewing applications from many institutions.

However, to fulfill its commitment to the banks, officials will have to ask Congress to release at least part of the $350 billion remaining in the $700 billion financial sector rescue package it approved in October.

From wannabe Senator Caroline Kennedy:

"I'm really coming into this as somebody who isn't, you know, part of the system, who obviously, you know, stands for the values of, you know, the Democratic Party," Kennedy told the Daily News Saturday during a wide-ranging interview.

"I know how important it is to, you know, to be my own person. And, you know, and that would be obviously true with my relationship with the mayor."

Her speech was often punctuated with extra "you knows" and "ums." "Andrew is, you know, highly qualified for this job," she said. "He's doing a, you know, a great job as attorney general, and we've spoken throughout this process."

"You know, I think, you know, we're sort of, uh, sharing some of this experience. And um, as I've said, he was a friend, a family member, and um so, and uh obviously, he's, you know, he's also had an impressive career in public office."

"It's really, you know, it's not about just the Kennedy name," she said. "It's about my own work and what I've done with those values."

Like, dude, yeah, I, like, know, you know, and like, wow, dude, she like, knows stuff, you know? Like, we should go, like, you know, like, shopping and stuff like that.

...is being shoved down the throats of We the Taxpayers, as the automakers receive their first bailout checks today. GM and Chrysler are getting their first $4 billion today.

We have this:

While there are no specific plans for further cash infusions, many economists think that this problem is far from over, and that the U.S. auto industry could need $100 billion or more before it recovers.

Meanwhile, the CEOs of the Big Three have given up their private jets - or so they say. But further meanwhile, the UAW, the autoworkers union whose president, Ron Gettlefinger, refused to give up that demand for that juicy VEBA payout from the companies, continues to maintain its own resort. Yep. The UAW has a country club that would be the envy of any greedy, blood-sucking CEO:

UAW has $27 million country club

The United Autoworkers Union, which had a total net worth of $1.2 billion in 2007, owns a $27 million resort and conference center that features a $6 million upscale golf course, according to financial statements on file with the U.S. Department of Labor.

The union-owned golf resort was voted the Number 2 Best New Upscale Course by Golf Digest when it opened in 2000 and is currently ranked 35th on the list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.

Lifetime and annual memberships are available only for union members or retirees, while limited memberships are available to the public starting at $1,200 per year.

Holy batpoop, Robin! Chiarmonte's and the La Junta Golf Association, already heavily subsidized by the taxpayers, should go up there - on the taxpayers' dime, of course - and take a few lessons from Gettlefinger and those overworked, underpaid union members.

There you have it. We are funneling $4 billion into the automakers, while the unionized autoworkers get to play golf and shack up in condos, all at special rates.

Next time you are shopping for a car - presuming you can find a bank that will extend you the loan - remember this. Buy Hyundai. Buy anything, so long as it isn't made in a UAW plant.

So all the hooha over the land out at the rodeo grounds turned out to be much ado about nothing.

Randall Roberson and Kevin Waggoner were out in left field, taking council to task and reaming out city manager Rick Klein for their 'failures' in supporting the Ace of Spades and by extension, the Kids' Rodeo.

Let's see...

Ace of Spades is a private, non-profit corporation. They are not a city-sponsored recreation league.

The rodeo grounds, though city-owned, are not at all like one of the city's ball fields. The ball fields are used by hundreds, if not thousands, of people over a year's time, as are the city's parks. The rodeo grounds are pretty much closed off to the public, and for anyone to use the rodeo grounds, they must go hat in hand to...Ace of Spades. And, as just about anyone can tell you, Ace of Spades has a rather indifferent attitude toward such requests.

Ace of Spades thinks the city should 'do more'.

Why? The city already gives them taxpayer-based funds to help them pay for utilities out at the rodeo grounds. There is no requirement in the lease agreement for the city to do this. Quite the contrary, the lease specifically states that Ace of Spades is to be responsible for such costs.

Ace of Spades thinks the city should 'do more'.

Why? The city already allows Ace of Spades to use land not included in the lease agreement, albeit different land from that over which Roberson and Waggoner had their little hissy fit. The lease requires Ace of Spades to keep their animals contained...but Ace of Spades wants the city to pay for fixing the fence, even though the lease also states that Ace of Spades is responsible for upkeep of the property.

The city gives Ace of Spades money to help with upkeep, even though there is no obligation for this. That isn't enough, it would seem.

Ace of Spades whined - there is no other word for it - that the city wasn't paying for charges incurred by Ace of Spades, even though the charges made by Ace of Spades were unauthorized. Ace of Spades apparently though they could just shashay into the store and charge to the city whatever they wanted. An open account, as it were. Boy howdy, but I'd love to have one of those accounts.

The city has essentially given Ace of Spades $20,000 for track maintenance.

The city has essentially given Ace of Spades $60,000 in lighting improvements.

These could be considered 'payments in kind'. Income, of sorts.

How does that affect Ace of Spades status as a 'non-profit'? Are such payments required to be shown on filings with the Secretary of State? If so, were such payments shown?

And yet, Ace of Spades has the unmitigated gall to take city council to task, and to chew out the city manager, and then to make comment in the T-D that the city doesn't do enough for them. Ace of Spades seems to think they are due the same measure of support as are official city-sponsored activities.

Perhaps Ace of Spades should join the La Junta Golf Association in that trip up to the United Auto Workers' country club, there to confer with UAW president Ron Gettlefinger on how to perfect their ability to whine, and to polish their entitlement attitude. Roberson and Waggoner can lead that charge.

That's the title of a bit of political spoofery, set to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon". It isn't particularly well done as political satire goes, and in fact, one might accurately liken it to some of that blackface minstrel stuff that was so popular back in the 30's and 40's. It's the sort of thing that Republican Christian fundamentalists and other people who are fixated on dogma rather than substance might circulate around in endless email chains. If that were all it is, it would be just another bit of drivel such as we have seen from members of both political parties. But that isn't all that it is.

Chris Saltsman, who is a possible replacement for current RNC chair Mike Duncan, distributed a CD to the Republican national leadership which included the subject track. It also included "I Can Talk Like a Coal Miner's Daughter", a spoof of how 'down home' Hillary Clinton became during the campaign...or maybe it was when Joltin' Joe Biden discovered his coal-minin' roots...and several other little jewels. Some of them are even funny, in a middle-school sort of way.

But Saltsman is one of the top dogs in the Republican National Party. The Republicans obviously have 'issues', not the least of which is that they are perceived as a bunch of whitemeat losers out of touch with America. So wouldn't you think their leadership, their potential chairman, would have the political sense to avoid participating in this kind of thing? What's next? We'll be receiving endless chain emails from the RNC about how Obama is still a Muslim and isn't really a citizen of the US, and must be anti-American because he doesn't wear a lapel flag pin?

The Repubs have whined and cried that the Dems played the race card during the campaign. The Dems did, in fact, do just that, though with considerable political skill, since their man won. So why are the Repubs now doing the same thing, though with far less political skill, with their top leadership circulating a puerile bit of drivel like "Barack the Magic Nego"? In that context, it is yet another example of why the Republican Party is the train wreck that it is.

Worse, Saltsman doesn't even get it:

The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper that published a story about the CD on Friday, reported that Saltsman said members of the GOP committee have "the good humor and good sense" to see Shanklin's tunes as "lighthearted political parodies."

The GOP committee members need to develop the good sense to understand that most of the country is in no mood to be putting up with this useless nonsense from the Republicans or any other major political leadership. Of course, Saltsman's observation would explain why our political leadership on both sides of the aisle seems to have their heads firmly up and locked when it comes to solving the real problems besetting the nation.

We might as well have Ann Coulter in line for the chair of the RNC. She couldn't possibly be any worse than Saltsman.

GOP official blasted over "Barack the Magic Negro"

 

An ungrateful Sallie Mae

Some excerpts:

"I have wanted to be a Marine for as long as I can remember," [McVey] wrote in his officer training application. "After September 11, 2001, I knew more than ever that this was what I wanted to do. I wanted to serve my country, and after the attack I knew I wanted to join the Marines' ranks and go into harm's way so others would not have to."

Last summer, Second Lieutenant Ian McVey got his orders. He was to go to Iraq as a platoon commander with the Second Combat Engineer Battalion of the Second Marine Division.

On July 19, not long before his unit was to ship out, McVey's motorcycle was blindsided by a car driven by an 84-year-old woman near Camp Lejeune, N.C. He was killed instantly. He was 23 years old.

and

John McVey went through his son's things. Cluttered bureau drawers. Photographs and memories. He also had to settle Ian's college loans. He wrote to the lenders, asking that the debts be forgiven. Two wrote back, saying they would forgive the loans. The third, Sallie Mae, the government-created college loan provider that privatized its operations in 2004, refused. John McVey then wrote a very personal letter to Sallie Mae:

"In the process of his education, Ian amassed considerable loans. But Ian was steadfast in his desire to serve our country rather than begin a life in business where his income would have been double or triple his Marine service payment. Giving to our country was Ian's calling, and we admired and supported his choice of service. He was a good and noble son and better friend.

"We are asking that you forgive Ian's loans as his federal loans are being forgiven on the basis of Ian's choice of service to our country as a patriot and so that our family may not have to bear these financial burdens while we deal with the inconsolable grief over the senseless, tragic and untimely loss of our son. While life has not been fair, we pray that you will be."

Sallie Mae responded with a computer-generated letter that, aside from a "Please accept our condolences for your loss" stuck in the middle, was a demand for $53,144.

and

It is beyond obscene that a government now handing out billions in bailouts to boardroom executives whose idea of risk is using a 9-iron instead of a wedge on an approach shot could spawn a lender like Sallie Mae to soak the family of a young man willing to spill his blood for others.

Take a read of the entire article.

That is the title of an op-ed piece by Cameron Strang. It's over on the Relevant Magazine website, and has also been published in the Relevant newsletter, "850 Words of Relevant". The essay has to do with George W. Bush's program to fight AIDS in Africa.

Here is a link to it:

Bush's Unexpected Legacy

Here are some excerpts, posted with the permission of Relevant Magazine:

Two weeks ago, on World AIDS Day, Rick Warren hosted a Civil Forum on Global Health in Washington, D.C. The event was an hour-long interview between Warren and President George W. Bush to discuss the unprecedented work being done in Africa through his President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). As Warren said when introducing the president, “No man in history, no world leader, has done more for global health than President George W. Bush.” Not exactly something you hear much about in the media.

That's certainly true. The mainstream media is too busy snickering over the shoe-throwing incident and other vital issues of the day to bother with taking a look at what President Bush has done about the AIDS problem in Africa.


At Warren’s invitation, I actually had the privilege of meeting President Bush that day and was impressed with his compassion and humility. He campaigned in 2000 on a platform of “compassionate conservatism,” and PEPFAR was birthed out of that promise. As our country faces enormous economic challenges right now, it’s easy to overlook the work PEPFAR is doing half a world away. But millions of lives are literally being saved—10 million have been affected since its inception in 2003—and this past summer, those positive results prompted Bush to pledge a tripling of PEPFAR’s funding. When I traveled to Rwanda this past April, I saw evidence of PEPFAR’s work everywhere. Its importance to Africa’s efforts in the fight against AIDS cannot be overstated.

Strang actually recorded the interview between Rick Warren and George Bush. That interview doesn't seem to have popped up anywhere in the MSM. If you go to the link posted above, you can read a transcript of the interview. Here it is again:

Bush's Unexpected Legacy

Also, please visit Relevant Magazine for some interesting reading:

Relevant

Hoodoggie.

"Rahmbo" Emanuel is having hissy fits over the main stream media, who have apparently figured out they are really not the Obama Cheerleading Team. Some of them, anyway.

Emanuel: I'm getting death threats

This is the whackjob that was stabbing the table with a steak knife, shouting "He's dead! Dead! Dead!" with every stab, in reference to those he thought had crossed him. Apparently he isn't such a rough and ready stud when he is on the receiving end of the slime.

Now he is whining about the press. Whining. Getting all red in the face. Getting death threats, according to ABC News, over the "Hot Rod" affair. One can only wonder...is he getting death threats from Illinois citizens who have finally had enough of the Chicago political hand job, or is he getting death threats from the Chicago political machine itself? The way Rezko and the rest of them have been singing, I wouldn't be surprised if it were Emanuel's and Obama's homies doing the threatening.

This is the clown who is going to be the chief of staff to the President of the United States.

God help us. I can only imagine what kinds of 'entertainment' we are in for when these jokers are actually in charge. It's going to make the Clinton Follies look tame in comparison.

Ken Salazar voted "yes" for the automakers' bailout. The UAW cannot commit to becoming competitive with non-union manufacturers, and flatly refuses to take pay cuts to become competitive...so Ken Salazar wants to take our money and stuff it into Ron Gettlefinger's wallet. And the wallets of The Gettlefinger Constituency.

That's particularly interesting, since many Americans are in fact taking pay cuts. Just ask some of the workers out at Colorado Boys' Ranch who have taken substantial pay cuts. At least those people haven't been canned. Merry Christmas to one and all.

Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee wanted concessions from the UAW and the automaking companies. He proposed an amendment delineating those concessions. Corker's admendment was a lot tougher than what the Democrats wanted, and what the Buffoon in the White House wanted. So now Bush is going to let the Eunuch of the Treasury start shoveling out money from TARP?

Here is an excerpt from a Business Week interview with Corker:

Are you of the mind now that Chapter 11 is not a good option and that the better road is for the government to impose Chapter 11-like oversight and conditions, without the stigma of bankruptcy scaring off would-be car and truck buyers?

All along, my point of view has been how do we solve this. That's the world I came from. Where I am now [in the Congress] there is too little of that. I can tell you that the Senate and House Republicans have been totally uninvolved in the negotiations between the Congress and White House. We have laid out some thoughts. I do not believe that any plan can succeed (BusinessWeek.com, 11/20/08) that does not materially deal with the companies' capital structures. They have far too much debt. Labor issues and what labor is willing to put on the table are important, too. But the debt structure is far more important.

If we start writing checks, the bondholders will have no incentive to take a haircut on the debt. GM alone has $28 billion in unsecured debt, and $21 billion due to the UAW for future health-care payments. To put, in GM's case, maybe $70 billion of debt on top of that? There is no business model for that. The UAW has to take half their debt in equity, and the bondholders have to take half their unsecured debt in equity and a total of 30¢ on the dollar, or this has no chance to succeed.

This is a tremendous opportunity for GM and Ford [to achieve maybe four years of restructuring in one year]. I mean that in a positive way. This is an opportunity that comes along once in 50 years.

What's the hole in the plan?

First, we could lose the leverage over the union and bondholders if we start writing checks without spelling it out in the legislation. Second, the alternative is Chapter 11. The bondholders have credit default swaps. If the automakers file Chapter 11, some of them could make out as well if they don't cooperate.

But you do think that this could all take place without Chapter 11?

I have talked to Treasury about how it could go. They changed the capital structures of Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE) over a weekend. Of course, it could be done. We've thrown a lot of things out, but they have been rebuffed [by Democrats].

What specifically has been rebuffed?

I don't think there is a desire to put concrete concepts in the legislation. The most simple one is to force the UAW to be at pay and benefit parity with the foreign transplants by Mar. 31. I agree that the numbers thrown around about how much UAW makes have been wrong. But the total cost of benefits to workers and retirees are real numbers. You have to get those costs pared. And make the money conditional on the debt holders taking a substantial haircut. That language should be in the bill. There is a lot of dancing around. Do I think the language will be in the final bill? No.

Here is the entire interview:

Senator Corker and the Auto Bailout

Here's a link for new readers who are wondering..."who are these people"... in reference to Leece, DinkyDau Billy, and Tookie (aka Toot Sweet)


Who are these people?