Kitty Litter

 
WHO IS SHERYL UNDERWOOD?



I’ll admit that I didn’t know who she was, that is until Aaron at SomethingToCryAbout told me I should.
Sheryl Underwood:
If you're a republican and don't know about Sheryl Underwood you need to be schooled!
Listen to her tell liberal, black, NPR host Tavis Smiley why republicanism is the right way to be here. Click on the link, "Friday Comedy: Sheryl Underwood." You must have Real Player to hear the interview.

 
FUKKITT

Kamp Kerry seems to be telling Nader to fukkitt:


Nader Accuses Democrats of 'Dirty Tricks'
The Kerry campaign dismissed Nader's complaints, arguing that Democrats were following the rules when they legally challenged Nader's signatures to get on the ballot. "These are rules that have been on the books for years and they ought to be followed."
…
Friday as Nader campaign spokesman Kevin Zeese warned Democrats about future ballot challenges.
"John Kerry may be making an enemy of Ralph Nader if he doesn't stop the harassment," Zeese said. "We've been focusing our criticism on Bush rather than Kerry, but Kerry has a pretty lousy record himself."

I hope Cheney tells Her Royal C to fukkitt:


Hillary: Cheney Needs 'Anger Management' for 'F'-Word Outburst
U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, blasting Vice President Dick Cheney on Tuesday for allegedly using the "F" word during an argument with Sen. Pattrick Leahy last week, said he needed to enroll in an "anger management" course.

Her Royal C is not above shouting the “f” bomb herself. Even Boston’s own Botoxicated Brahmin was quoted as puckering up to say the naughty word.

“Erstwhile Gore backers” are telling L’Fraude to fukkitt:


Gore No More: These erstwhile Gore backers cited, among other reasons for their switch, Bush's strong leadership since Sept. 11, Gore's descent into madness, and Michael Moore's anti-American propaganda.

And, proving that sanity does exist, moviegoers everywhere are preferring Spidey to F9/11, thereby telling Fatty-Fatty Too-Much-Moore to fukkitt without even uttering the words.


SPIDER-MAN 2 $64,255,524 (2 days)

FAHRENHEIT 9/11 $39,091,363 (9 days)

Notice, too, that 8 out of the 9 days F9/11’s box office numbers are “estimates.” Curious.

 
TOP THIS!



I wasn’t going to post anything today (see “July” below), but I couldn’t let this stand. It’s being reported that Slick’s heavily-hyped doorstopper has “broken all nonfiction sales records for a first week … 1 million copies in its first eight days.” Before Slick’s record, there was Rush Limbaugh’s first book, “The Way Things Ought To Be” which “became the fastest-selling hardcover non-fiction book in the history of its publisher, Simon & Schuster Inc. Sales totaled 2.5 million copies in less than a year.” His second book, “See I Told You So” sold 250,000 in the first 72 HOURS. It sold 600,000 in the first 9 days, and by 6 weeks it had sold 2 million. Yesterday, he talked about the possibility of a third book. Is there any doubt that that, too, will sell big time? But the biggest difference is that people actually read Rush’s books!

 
JULY



The first half of 2004 is officially history. Although we won’t notice any difference for a month or so, the days are already getting shorter. A minute here, a minute there; it all adds up. The fall/winter issue of the JC Penney Catalogue arrived two weeks ago. Halloween candy is just around the corner. The stores have their summer merchandise on sale, and I expect to see winter coats on display any day now. We haven’t even had the worst of the heat’n’humidity, and we’re already being enticed to buy our winter woolies. Welcome to July.

I won’t be blogging Friday as Nurse G and I, with Little H in tow, will be visiting my mother. Her recovery from surgery hasn’t been going as smoothly as hoped, so she went back into the hospital last Sunday night.

And now for something completely different …

I mainly listen to music on the treadmill. My workout music at the moment:
* “I Like It Like That” CD by Tito Nieves (Yeeeeeeeah, baby, I like it like that!)
* “Espresso Logic” CD by Chris Rea, especially “Julia”
* “The Best of Bonnie Raitt” CD
* “I’m The Only One” and “Come To My Window” by Melissa Etheridge
* “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight” by Eric Clapton (Remember when Dr. Joycelyn Elders used to refer to him as Eric Clapner?)
* soundtrack to the movie “Car Wash”

Okay, now I have a question for you: What music are you listening to these days?

 
ARE THEIR SHOTS UP-TO-DATE?



Gore, Moore and the Dogs of Anti-War
The left this week has indeed unleashed two of its most caustic canines, both of whom are yapping at the heels of President Bush. Both were guilty of the crime they so often level at his administration: using the Iraq War for political purposes.
…
If mainstream Democrats want to hitch their wagon to the ravings of Al Gore and his MOVEON enablers and seek to gain a perverse hipness by endorsing the America-bashing Moore, they will sink further into the political sunset.
And if the dogs of anti-war continue to bark, they will, like most strays, soon be panting by the curbside as they are left in the dust by the Bush ‘04 express.

 
LET THE HANDICAPPING COMMENCE!



For the pessimists:
A Long, Hard Slog Indeed
This is conservatism’s darkest hour.
…
But night is darkest just before the dawn.

For the optimists:
The major mathematical models are predicting not simply Bush victory, but Republican landslide. The Ray Fair presidential vote equation as well as the economy.com state-by-state point in the same direction: Kerry, basically, has no chance.

Thanks, Aaron!

And ...
Canadian bettor wages $110,000 US on Bush re-election
Fri Jun 18,12:43 PM ET
LONDON (AP) - A Canadian bettor has gambled $110,000 US, about $150,000 Cdn, that President George W. Bush (news - web sites) will win re-election in November, the largest wager Ladbrokes bookmakers has ever taken on an American vote, it said Friday.

 
FROM THE GROUND FLOOR UP



ACE has posted an incredible story.

A space elevator within 15 years?
To grasp the idea, we have to reverse our thinking. It hangs from the ground and falls into the sky -- thanks to the Earth's spin and centripetal force.

 
BUZZZZZZ



Like we’re surprised?

BIANCA Jagger, who transformed herself from a rock 'n' roll divorcée into a "human rights activist," has jumped on the Michael Moore bandwagon. At the London premiere of "Fahrenheit 9/11," Bianca said the documentary will make people realize they "shouldn't vote for Bush again . . . Not only is [Bush] dangerous for America, he is dangerous for the rest of the world." Also on hand were Elton John's partner David Furnish, who said the singer is a big Moore fan, Jude Law and galpal Sienna Miller, Anastacia, Peter O'Toole and Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes, who declared the war in Iraq to be an "unmitigated catastrophe."

 
BADA BING, BADA BOOO



CHENEY TOWN
Press reports to the contrary, Vice President Dick Cheney received several warm, extended rounds of applause at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night.
The New York Times, as well as other media outfits, reported that Cheney was booed. But the boo-birds were only heard after the applause and the cheers died down a bit. "
"The vice president would not have come down from the owner's box to sit in the stands if he was getting booed," says a vice presidential staffer. "He's got a thick skin. He knows what to expect from New York fans at Yankee Stadium with the Red Sox in town."

 
THIS IS BIG!


A worker hangs a seven-story spiderman on the side of the Suncoast Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas (news - web sites), Monday, June 28, 2004. The casino is home to a cinema multiplex. 'Spiderman 2' opens June 30 across the United States. (AP Photo/Joe Cavaretta)

Fatty-Fatty Too-Much-Moore has just been knocked off his perch by a comic book hero. Spider-Man 2 made more in its first night than Fahrenheit 9/11 has in eight nights. PLUS, with the exception of one night (the 3rd night), F9/11 sales have gone down from the previous night. In other words, F9/11 may have buzz but it does not have pull at the box office.

FAHRENHEIT 9/11 $35,714,000 in 8 days

SPIDER-MAN 2 $38,600,000 1st day

 
DE-LOUSED, BUT NOT DE-LOVERLY


In this image made from video, Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) speaks in a court room at Camp Victory, a former Saddam palace on the outskirts of Baghdad, Thursday, July 1, 2004. (AP Photo/via APTN)

Saddam In Custody -- Moore, Soros, Dean Still At Large
By Ann Coulter
The Americanization of Iraq proceeds at an astonishing pace, the Iraqis are taking to freedom like fish to water, and the possibilities for this nation are endless. It's hard to say who's more upset about these developments: the last vestiges of pro-Hussein Baathist resistance in Iraq or John Kerry's campaign manager.
…
Come to think of it, it's no surprise they want Saddam Hussein back. He made the Democrats seem moderate by comparison.

Thanks, Lucianne!

 
BUZZZZZZ



The fab Fly has some good buzz going.

Celebs Voting Early & Often
Michael Moore isn't the only celeb with several active voter registrations in various locations.

 


Crush Kerry has linked the story about Nicholson Baker’s latest book, “Checkpoint,” a novel about guys discussing how to kill President Bush. This is not the first brush with the Oval Office for Baker. If you recall, he also wrote “VOX,” the yuppy phone sex bible made popular by Monica Lewinsky. Supposedly, she and Slick re-enacted the book. How romantic.

Mr Baker's new novel, Checkpoint, features two characters who spend much of its 115 pages discussing how to assassinate President George Bush. They don't actually do the deed, or even attempt it, but the book is - according to early snippets - replete with deep-seated anger and elegantly nasty epithets hurled at both the President and his cabinet.

 
LEGACY AT A STANDSTILL



Good article packed with graphs and stats, all worth reading. Looks like his doorstopper book has not budged his ratings. All that money and we’re still glad he left.

Clinton’s Book Preaching to the Choir

 
CALLING ALL TREKKIES



Heads UP, Boss!

KIRK BEAMING BACK?
Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, the executive producers of "Star Trek: Enterprise," have floated the idea of Shatner guest-starring on the UPN series this coming season.
It would be the first time Shatner has ever crossed over into any of the four "Star Trek" spinoffs.

 
BACK TO POLITICS


This will remain a great picture, regardless.

I’ve had my disagreements with Tony Blair in the past, and most certainly with that twit he’s married to, but PM Blair has been a steadfast ally with Bush when it came to the war on terror. He paid dearly as witnessed in his sliding approval ratings back in the UK. But now that the handover has taken place, he is returning to bolstering his image at home. We should never forget his invaluable help, so thank you, Tony Blair.

Blair seeks distance from Bush for elections
Key points
• UK government to become more critical of Bush following handover of power
• Polls reveal Blair suffering from association with Bush with Labour voters
•[ Foreign Secretary] Straw criticises Americans for demobilising Iraqi army
TONY Blair is to drop his policy of unflinching support of George Bush’s foreign policy, deciding that the handover of power in Iraq has now released him from his diplomatic obligations.
The Prime Minister has made it clear to Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary and Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, that they can now point out where disagreement with the Bush administration occurs.
…
But the new regime - where Britain’s 8,000 troops are effectively policing Iraq for the new government - has changed the dynamic to the extent that discreet dissent can now be voiced.
…
Mr Blair remains haunted by his mistake in allying himself too closely behind Bill Clinton and the Democrat Party, who have long been Labour’s soulmates across the Atlantic.
…
Mr Blair has ordered his MPs and aides not to attend the Democrat National Convention in Boston next month, lest this is seen as favouritism.

 
JUSTIFYING THEIR MEANS



Rush has been talking about this for years about how bad news for America = good news for the Dems. The Dems must secretly cheer every dead soldier and every stock market dip. Abu Ghraib was mana from heaven for them.

Blood for Power
The [Democratic] party wants to return to the White House, and it needs death and disaster to get there.
…
(Maybe Moore can reprise a scene in his film and ask liberals if they would be willing to send their children to die in exchange for Bush's defeat.)
…
[Vietnam] was the most bloodthirsty peace movement in American history.

 
SCHLOCK LIVES



Fatty-Fatty Too-Much-Moore reprising a lost “art.”

The Exploitation Flick Returns
Fifty years ago, exploitation movie pioneer Kroger Babb lost his shirt trying unsuccessfully to hawk his premier product, an alleged sex film entitled Mom and Dad, to New York sophisticates.
…
While some micro-budget film producers still produce straight-to-video pictures that follow traditional exploitation formulas, today it is Michael Moore who most embodies the spirit of Kroger Babb.
…
Rather than admit that the film is little more than another work from a humorous, but low-talented hack, Moore's fans must continue to inflate the importance of his unimportant movies, if only to avoid being judged as an army of suckers.

 
FRIENDSHIP, eh?



I wish I could link to NewsMax.com’s newsletters, but I can’t. Therefore, I’m posting the entire piece here.

Insider Report from NewsMax.com
June 21, 2004

Canadian Textbooks Spur Anti-Americanism
A new study by University of Alberta Professor of Education Amy von Heyking reveals that anti-Americanism is a prominent theme of Canadian school textbooks.
Coinciding with the 60th anniversary of D-Day, Heyking's study found that Americans are presented to students as young as grade school aged as dishonorable bullies, compared to "orderly, harmonious and gentlemanly" Canadians.
Heyking - a specialist in the history of curricula and teaching materials - reviewed 75 different classroom textbooks in the subjects of Canadian history, geography, civics and social studies in secondary and elementary schools.
Heyking says, "After the Second World War the United States emerged as a champion of democracy around the world. This allowed Canada to trumpet its status as middle-power broker to negotiate and compromise in a way that the United States couldn't."
Canada Free Press reports that textbooks have consistently painted American society as "revolutionary and lawless," and dismiss America's role in World War I, claiming the "tide had already turned" by the time American forces entered the fray.
Canada's last two liberal prime ministers, Paul Martin and John Chretien -- products of Canadian classrooms -- are enthusiastic lovers of the U.N. and call U.N. adviser to Secretary General Kofi Annan a friend and mentor.
Canada also refused to assist in the efforts to create democracy in Iraq and has criticized the U.S. and its allies.
One of Canada's candidates for re-election on June 28, liberal MP Carolyn Parrish, proclaimed, "I hate those American bastards," and MP Colleen Beumier is known as "Baghdad Beumier" because of her sympathies for Iraq.
Entire chapters in Canadian textbooks are devoted to "bad housing as the American way," and a significant factor in America's crime rate.
But the anti-American sentiment is not new in our northern socialist neighbor. According to a popular Canadian textbook from 1934, American children are raised in "filthy tenements, driven out upon the streets to play in gangs."
Chalk it up to Canada's long time malady: jealousy.

 
G’DAY?


A graphic explaining the final results of the general election in Canada, as the Liberal Party won but lost their parliamentary majority.(AFP)

I don’t pretend to understand Canadian politics. The Liberal Party won but lost? Mmmmm-k. Where are Bob & Doung McKenzie when you need them?

Some issues know no borders, like dirty politicians.
Judge rules Heatherington fabricated stalker
A small-town Alberta politician who sparked an international manhunt after disappearing on a trip to the United States was found guilty in Lethbridge court on Tuesday of fabricating a stalker and writing dirty letters to herself.


Canada is still the #1 destination for cry-babies.
At least two U.S. military deserters -- Pvts. Brandon Hughey, 19, and Jeremy Hinzman, 25 -- this spring crossed the border into Canada asking for sanctuary. A Quaker-aided Canadian “underground railway” was there to receive them.

I say keep ‘em.

 
ALWAYS CAMPAIGNING



Does the name Belinda Stronach ring a bell? She and Slick supposedly had a thing, which really isn’t news considering how many things Slick had/has going. The surprise about Ms. Stronach is that Slick was giving her campaigning tips and she’s a conservative. Looks like he gave her some good advice. I wonder how much it cost her?

Belinda Stronach elected to Canadian parliament
Belinda Stronach, the daughter of Magna Entertainment Corp. founder and auto parts magnate Frank Stronach who left her position as chief executive officer of Magna International to pursue a political career, was elected Monday to represent Newmarket-Aurora, Ontario, in the Canadian parliament.

In the meantime, another one of Slick’s bleached blondes was in San Fran promoting Karl Marx.

San Francisco rolls out the red carpet for the Clintons
"Many of you are well enough off that ... the tax cuts may have helped you," Sen. Clinton said. "We're saying that for America to get back on track, we're probably going to cut that short and not give it to you. We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."

 
MIRACLES



Ali, who blogs Iraq The Model, was working in the hospital when news of the transfer of power took place. He and his friends were watching the coverage on Al-Jazeera when Mr. Bremer, who was leaving Iraq, stopped to give a speech and then to recite a poem in Arabic.

Small party and great hopes
The speech was impressive and you could hear the sound of a needle if one had dropped it at that time.
…
I was deeply moved by this great man’s words but I couldn’t prevent myself from watching the effect of his words on my friends who some of them were anti-Americans and some were skeptic, although some of them have always shared my optimism. I found that they were touched even more deeply than I was. I turned to one friend who was a committed She’at and who distrusted America all the way. He looked as if he was bewitched, and I asked him, “So, what do you think of this man? Do you still consider him an invader?” My friend smiled, still touched and said, “Absolutely not! He brought tears to my eyes. God bless him.”

Thanks, Lucianne!

 
BLOGGER ROUNDUP 2



Check out Crush Kerry’s Observations on the News
This Is Getting Too Easy It seems every day we come up another example of the inherent bias at the New York Times. Today's example. President Bush has erased an 8 point deficit to tie John Kerry in the latest poll (more on that later.) Their Web Headline "Bush's Rating to its Lowest Point"




You’d never guess that Aaron’s Something To Cry About is still a newborn blog – it’s that good! He’s got lots of news from all directions, but please, will someone set him straight? Scroll down about 12 posts (maybe a few more) and read his claim that “the best show on television: Six Feet Under.” Y’gotta be kidding! How about Sopranos and South Park, just to name two! Can anyone come up with others?

 
BLOGGER ROUNDUP



I have a cell phone, an analogue TracFone actually, which causes spasms of guffaws in techie purists. “Y’gotta be kidding! ANALOGUE?” I paid less than $20 for it; I never get a monthly bill because I buy air time up front; and I’ve been able to use my obsolete analogue in places where the most up-to-the-nano-second digital models can’t get squat for a signal. I could call Kerry Hater’s Pat in Arizona on it, if I knew his number.

But I do agree with Roberto at Dynamo Buzz about some of the people who use cell phones:

Giving a cell phone to a rude person is like giving a bazooka to a terrorist.




Tyler, at Red Line Rants, and I are in total agreement on this subject:
The Belmont Club touches on a topic that's chaffed me for a while -- the liberal ridicule of member nations in the Coalition that invaded Iraq.

The Coalition:
At this time, 33 non-U.S. military forces are contributing to the ongoing stability operations throughout Iraq.



Buy this button here.

For laffs, read the long list of Kerry nicknames Pat found. Can you think of any others?

 
CAT BITE FEVER CONCLUSION

My hand, recently mauled by my adoring cat DiDi, is pretty much healed. Aside from an occasional twinge of stiffness, my hand can once again wash dishes and make beds, do laundry and clean up after DiDi. A pink lump remains on the back of my hand, but “my plastic surgeon,” the ever-gorgeous Dr. Mark Anthony, assures me that it will gradually disappear. Unfortunately, unless I opt for totally unnecessary plastic surgery, as I too am drop-dead gorgeous, I have no reason to return to Dr. A. with the $240-smile. siiiiiiigh.

The ER visit came to $1300+. No bill as yet for the lab work.

 
THE WORD


'Mr. President, Iraq is sovereign. Letter was passed from (U.S. administrator Paul) Bremer at 10:26 a.m. Iraq time -- Condi,' prompting Bush to scribble back: 'Let freedom reign.'

 
THE GOOD NEWS

 
CONGRATULATIONS!

 
THE WORK AHEAD

THE IRAQ HANDOVER: KNOW THE ENEMY
The conflict inside Iraq is now between a transitional regime committed to the building of democratic institutions and a bunch of monsters who like to cut people's heads off. The choice could hardly be more stark.
It is a bitter irony of the present moment that there will be precious little difference between Iraq's so-called "insurgents" and the anti-American Left when — as is inevitable — they both begin attacking the new government for being an American "puppet regime."

 
X-FILES



Kathleen Willey: Monica Finally Gets It
"Monica knows the truth and Paula knows the truth and Vince Foster knew the truth and Gennifer knew the truth and Juanita Broaddrick knows the truth," Willey told WABC.
…
[A]re we all lying?"

 
SHIFTING INTO HIGHER GEAR



Bush Spotlights Extremists
The Democrats have been engaged in courtship of left-wing extremism for some months now, and no one has held them accountable. William Kristol recently noted how inept the Bush Campaign has been at using such extremism as a weapon against Kerry.
Kennedy last month hyperventilated about Abu Ghraib: "We now learn that Saddam's torture chambers reopened under new management: U.S. management." Kerry, asked about that statement the next day, said, "He's my friend and I respect him, but I don't agree with the framing of that." The framing? But that was that -- no follow-up from the Bush campaign to wrap that comment by his buddy Ted around Kerry's neck and to cause him days of discomfort.
The new Bush video suggests that is about to change.

 
AU REVOIR, CH’IRAQ!



Economist: Chirac Isolated, On His Way Out
His popularity ratings have plunged, his party is in disarray, his attempts to dominate the European Union have fallen flat, a top aide and protege was convicted of corruption, and Jacques Chirac's future as France's president is at best cloudy.
…
[Britain's Economist] magazine suggests "Many new (EU) members remain suspicious of France, thanks to (Chirac's) high-handed behavior over Iraq. Much of their hostility to France, says one Polish official, was caused by Mr. Chirac's bullying."

 
MOORE IN HIS PLACE



He may be a slovenly asshole, but I’ll say this for Fatty-Fatty Too-Much-Moore: He’s probably better liked by the lefties than Kerry is.

Rush:
[D]o you realize [The Rush Limbaugh Show] reaches more people in a 15 minute period than saw the Michael Moore movie over the weekend? That's one way of expressing it. Almost by double the number.
…
Fahrenheit 911's opening weekend box office puts it in 222nd place among all films in their opening weekends, all films this movie comes in and placed 222. It is just one step ahead of Lara Croft Tomb Raider, The Cradle of Life which opened with numbers that put it in 223rd place. But, Michael Moore and his opening of Fahrenheit 911 will forever trail Legally Blonde 2 Red, White and Blonde.

 
BIRTHING A NATION


Iraq’s new leaders from left, president Ghazi al-Yawar, vice-president Ibrahim al-Jaafari, prime minister Iyad Allawi and deputy Barham Salih after the signing-in. Picture: Scott Nelson/ Getty Images

And the Dems claim this was done 48 hours earlier than had been planned because everything was crumbling. Yeah. Right.

History is made two days early in Iraq
Key points
• Announcement of handover of power made during NATO summit
• NATO confirms plans to help administration with training of armed forces
• New interim leaders pledge sworn in on Koran at handover ceremony
The early transfer had been under discussion between the new prime minister, Iyad Allawi, and US officials for at least a week, but it was only on Sunday that Mr Bush was informed that the Iraqis were ready to go ahead. Only half a dozen senior coalition officials were in the know. The official reason given was that Mr Allawi was ready to take control; unofficially, it made sense to deprive the insurgents of an opportunity to launch a bloody new offensive.
…
"This is a historic day," said Mr Allawi, "a happy day, a day that all Iraqis have been looking forward to."
…
"I warn the forces of terror once again. We will not forget who stood with us and against us in this crisis," he said.

 
PICTURE THIS!



Oops! On second thought y’better not. Fly reports that, thanks to the cozy relationship between Hollywood and DC, just taking a camera into a movie could put you behind bars for three years.

The Photographer as Criminal
Copies of the famous photograph above, taken in the 1950s by renowned artist Winston Link, hang in many leading museums, including the Getty and the Met. They sell for $5,000 and more at major auction houses.
Had Link taken the photo today, however, he could end up in the pen doing hard time.

While searching the photographer, Winston Link, I came up with this fascinating personal info on him.



Darkroom terror: Famed train photographer held captive
According to court records, Link became a virtual prisoner in his own home because of Conchita Link, now his ex-wife.
Mrs. Link has just been charged in criminal court with stealing more than a million dollars worth of her husband's photo prints. What's more, Link alleges she trapped him in his own basement in 1991, using chains to prevent him from getting past the top stair.

 
SENATOR SNOOPY



and his bandaid boo-boo.

 


Current Baghdad weather

 
DUDE, WHERE’S MY OSCAR?



THE FILM THEY DON'T WANT
By Arnold Ahlert
I'D like to make a doc umentary entitled "What We're Up Against." I'd include the following:
* Scenes from the destruction of the World Trade Center: jets crashing, people jumping from the upper floors, the towers' collapse, the months-long digging through the rubble — and the excruciating body-identification task faced by the medical examiner's office.
* The "beheading videos" — from reporter Daniel Pearl right through to Korean Kim Sun-il.

 
DUDE, WHERE’S OUR 1ST AMENDMENT?



I choose not to listen to Moore while I choose to listen to Rush. We still have that right, but for how long?

MUZZLING MICHAEL MOORE
Have affairs really come so far that government has vested in itself the power to constrict the political debate — right before an election, when voices and opinions matter most?
All in the name of "reform?"
This is what the McCain-Feingold law has wrought.
Michael Moore's a jerk, but the First Amendment doesn't care about that.
Neither should Congress and the FEC.


Speaking of Fatty-Fatty Two-Much-Moore:

“Fahrenheit 9/11” was #1 at the box office.

HOWEVER …
Though Fahrenheit's $25,115 per theater average is extraordinary, it's not unprecedented. It ranks as the seventh highest all time for a wide release (adjusting for ticket price inflation knocks it down to no. 28) and the third best this year behind The Passion of the Christ's $27,554 and Shrek 2's $25,951. However, they were super-saturation releases playing at 3,043 and 4,163 theaters respectively -- the lower the theater count, the easier it is to have a high average as the release isn't diluted by less populous locations with lower ticket prices.

 
Buzzzzzz



Bill Gates gets in trouble with the “eco-police” in Sardinia for 300 torches? Hey, at least he’s not using electricity!

High taxes, which come with success, made John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas become a conservative. Think Fatty-Fatty Too-Much-Moore will come around?

 
WHERE WERE YOU?


wide-eyed numbness

“Love In A Time Of Danger” (posted below) reminded me of a poll that Tyler post on Red Line Rants (a.k.a. Red Liner Ants:), specifically question #2:

Another Poll
2. Where were you on September 11, 2001?
Awoke to a friend's e-mail at 8:50 a.m. I turned on the TV and there it was, the North Tower of the World Trade Center up in smoke. I sat there watching in disbelief as the second plane hit the South Tower... I spent the morning in my apartment, skipping my classes, making calls, glued to the news coverage.

Kitty: Where was I? I live in Upstate NY near Corning. I was getting ready for work and happened to pass through the living room. Something about the appearance of the Fox News people on TV made me stop … an expression of wide-eyed numbness, obviously not scripted, not unlike Bush's expression in the picture above, which was taken when he was told. Fox was showing film footage of the first tower being hit. As I stood there watching, the second tower was hit. The first tower might have been an accident, but not the second one. New York City was under attack. That’s when I began making phone calls to family and friends.
It seemed as though I was the only one on the road as I drove to work around 11:30 that morning. There was an eerily sunny calm over Corning, and I remember thinking that I could have rollerbladed naked down the street and no one would have noticed because the streets were completely and totally empty. Everyone was inside the businesses which had a radio or a TV. The bars and restaurants, the barbershop and Faulisi’s Newsstand were all crowded, but solemn, as people were glued to the coverage.
I worked at a shoe store, so Boss and I were basically alone. Our district manager called by mid-afternoon and asked how business was doing. “Two pairs. Nobody’s out.” He then gave us our only laugh for the day: “Well, you can close early if you want but I think people will quickly tire of this and go out shopping.”

We know that President Bush was reading a story to little school children when he was told.
Where were you?

 
A TWO-HANKY READ



Pat posted this on Kerry Haters and said we’d thank him; as usual, he’s right. But just in case you didn’t see it posted at KH, here it is again.

Love In A Time Of Danger
Had things been different, she is the kind of woman who might be one of my best friends.
Instead, I'm dating her husband.

 
SCALING MT. CLINTON



I read every Mark Steyn column that comes my way. Fortunately, Lucianne is as much an aficionado of his irreverent, insightful humor as I, which means I need look no further than Luci’s Must Reads. This particular Steyn runneth over with pull quotes; selecting only a few was excruciating.

The Wrong Way to Mount Rushmore
The foothills of the vast tome are deceptively easy, when Mr. Clinton is merely telling a heartwarming personal anecdote about every single person listed in the Arkansas telephone directory between 1946 and 1992. But in the higher elevations after page 700, it's heavier going: Up in the clouds, way above the out-of-his-tree line, the president advances the theory that he was obliged to submit to random sexual advances in order to uphold the important constitutional principle that Republicans are uptight about oral sex. I think I've got that right, but by then I was finding it hard to breathe and beginning to see double.
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Unfortunately, on the page, without the big smiles for the life-affirming anecdotes and the lip-biting for the setbacks, the Clinton personality shrivels and dies.
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Mr. Clinton's book is a double flop: Either stake your claim to join the guys on Mount Rushmore or embrace your destiny as a guy who rushes to mount more. The president does neither and winds up with a book that reads like the world's biggest Rolodex punctuated by self-doubt.