Tough.

Chuck Norris will make you cry.

Get Well, Coach

Sportsman of the year the decade the century ever.



Statement from the family of Coach Smith.

Part of the Solution

I updated Saturday's post to somewhat disassociate the House of Livermush from implications of blanket friendliness regarding the NRA.  It appears that they consider Liberty, as Jesse Helms famously said, "as a roll of bologna, to be bartered away a slice at a time."

Erick Erickson says that the NRA has thrown you/us under the bus.

Their claim of fighting for the 2nd Amendment, while failing to send bullets or take them regarding its parent document (uh, the Constitution), means they aren't part of the solution, but remain part of the problem.  That problem, in part, has been that our representatives have been more concerned with their own self-preservation than with that of their constituents (whether those constituents be of elected representatives or the NRA.)

I'm checking out the GOA.

Shop at Fleggaard

A departure from the regular programming here at the House of Livermush, this is just the best ad ever.
Fleggaard is, I've concluded, some kind of Danish discount superstore.  Of particular entertainment value is the moment when the third skydiver pulls the cord for her "chute."  This is NOT SAFE FOR WORK.

This is a video ad for a sale on washing machines: Fleggaard.  I may not need a washing machine, but I do want to go to their store now.

If you're a man, and you're not gay, you can not help but love this.  I challenge you to disagree that there's ever been a better commercial for an appliance.

'Nuther Fleggaard ad just for the women-folk.  Sensitive.  Sweaty.  With a sing-a-long...in a blimp.

Is that the answer to the question, "Where have the Village People been since YMCA"?

Okay, so here's a more serious video.  Y'all have a great Monday.

NRA ad

If you believed the old adage, "what you don't know, won't hurt you" you may have been suckered in to the BarryO mystique.  After all, there wasn't any real evidence that he wanted to destroy America, at least none that was reported on the network news, right?

He seemed affable and very cool.  A person would have to be terribly cynical to suspect that his voting "present" and guarding his college and personal history meant he had anything sinister (like "healthcare", Cap & Trade, card-check, SEIU, ACORN, Van Jones, worldwide appeasement and bow-a-thon tours, bribery and influence peddling) to hide.  Likewise, nobody should have predicted his likely ineptitude regarding the disaster in the Gulf or those idiotic rules of engagement he's handcuffed our soldiers with, just because he'd never really led or governed anything.

Your sarcasm meter should be pegged in the red.

Try to split your mind in two screens of view.  Recall all the vacuous platitudes you swallowed in '08 on one screen, and compared that to the inaction, idiocy, or outright sabotage you're getting from this Administration now, on the other.

Now, if you don't have any reason to believe in Kagan's devotion to the Constitution other than her own rhetoric (like, say, an actual body of work?), at least consider the possibility that she's another wolf in sheep's clothing.  I agree with the NRA that there's plenty of reason for concern, if not alarm.



Call your representatives and have them oppose the confirmation.

UPDATE: But, let's not presume that this ad means that the NRA is forgiven for its recent sins.  It is certainly encouraging that such a powerful organization is spending money and resources to oppose the confirmation, but the NRA needs to start remembering (publicly) that the 2nd Amendment is part of a greater document, and that enemies of that Constitution should be and will be held accountable, regardless of their lip-service or special conditions.

Hey NRA, lie down with the dogs...wake up with fleas.  And then, you'll be sleeping out on the porch.

Fair-weather patriots.

Correction

I'd like to issue a correction/retraction regarding my post yesterday, where I wrote that Afghanistan is "now largely Obama's war."

It's fair to say that he has, to an extent, taken ownership of this war.  But, his only real contributions to it have been 1) ordering more troops to the region, but 2) not sending as many as requested, or 3) not sending them in anything resembling a timely fashion, and 4) hamstringing those troops with suicidal rules of engagement.

The war in Afghanistan is our war, America's war.  Obama only assumed ownership as an effort to usurp a military victory.  His ownership is no different than the false image of Che Guevarra as some kind of warrior (the only times Che pulled a trigger was when his enemies were beaten and tied and blindfolded).

In fact, you could make a case that Obama's actions are more consistant with someone angling to lose this war than win it.  This is a lot like a baseball game where the good guys have a slim lead, late in the game.  The starting pitcher did a great job putting our guys in a position to win, but the relief pitcher has come in and, under the misguided imperative of an unscrupulous manager (Obama), has walked the bases loaded.  That relief pitcher (McCrystal) has effectively taken himself out of the game, as a sacrificial lamb for his beloved teammates, and the Closer has now taken the mound.  If General Petraeus isn't forced to pitch underhand, we still have a chance at success.

With apologies to Ann Coulter, Bill Kristol, Michael Steele, and anyone else, this is our war.  Our going there was appropriate in the first place, and our remaining is still necessary, but not as mere targets for the bad guys.  If Obama can simply keep his mouth shut, stay in the dugout, give Gen. Petraeus what he asks for, when he asks for it, he'll keep the Taliban and AQ on the defensive, swinging and missing.

One other thing, O'Bastard:  This thing is more like baseball than soccer (guh).  You play till you win...not until some mystery-clock expires.  Leave the grown up stuff to the grown-ups.  Stay the fuck off the field.

SaraCuda. You Betcha.

Now, here's an idea I can wrap my arms around...

Draft Sarah Palin for RNC Chair, sign the petition.

Why do I like Sarah?

I like the fact that her political strength comes largely from her apolitical demeanor.  I like the fact that her party is a reflection of her values and not the source of those values.  I like the fact that she has values based in her faith, and values based on the Constitution, relies on both and doesn't confuse the two.  I like the fact that she has real public decision-making experience.  I like the fact that she has greater fondness for action than rhetoric, and that her rhetoric is always based on her own historical experience, as opposed to intangible platitudes.  I like the fact that she has a deep regard for Liberty.  I like the feeling that she disdains the special interest groups, in favor of limited government.

Do I think she'd be a good President?  Yes.

But, I also think she'd wield enormously positive influence over a Republican party that has for far too long sought its own perpetuation over the Founders' vision of Liberty.  And making a real impact, a positive impact, on our society is something she says she aspires to.

Even before reading about this idea (I heard it from Jim Hoft at BigGovernmentdotcom) I wondered who'd be good to replace Steele if it came to that.  And her name was the first that came to mind.

I don't necessarily subscribe to the notion that Steele must be ousted, just for his remarks over Afghanistan being Obama's war (See Ann Coulter's essay at TownHall on why, yes, it largely is now Obama's war), but his leadership has been mostly uninspiring, if not outright ineffective.  I believe her presence in that position immediately legitimizes it, and de-fangs the entire establishment-politics syndrome that keeps rewarding career incumbents whose focus has strayed from serving the Constitution and their constituents to serving themselves.

I like Sarah, and I like the idea of her being drafted to Chair the RNC.

WHEREAS the current Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele, has woefully and repeatedly misstepped in his capacity as party Chair, failing to provide the leadership and vision necessary to battle the Progressive Socialist Left’s agenda, and

WHEREAS he has also failed to cultivate and facilitate emerging Conservative candidates who are able to convincingly argue that Liberty is superior to dependence upon the State Apparatus, and

WHEREAS Sarah Palin, by way of radical contrast, consistently and enthusiastically argues on behalf of Liberty, Free Enterprise, Individualism, and a small and Constitutionally limited Federal Government, and

WHEREAS she has also demonstrated an innate affinity with the great majority of Liberty-Loving Americans, a capacity to inspire them to action, and a willingness to act as a National Leader on important Conservative Issues,

THEREFORE, We, the undersigned, submit that Sarah Palin, as soon as is practicably possible, ought to replace Michael Steele

I was the 200-'something'th signer, and hope you'll join me.  Let's make it a million signers by the weekend.

New Addition

While I continue working on a few things in my drafts folder, I'd like to direct attention to a new resident in the ST&L blogroll: Big Peace.

Its creator, Andrew Breitbart, also known for his Big Government, Big Hollywood, and Big Journalism sites (which you should already have bookmarked and visit daily) says,

The site is pro-freedom, pro-liberty, and pro-American but will not be an outlet for false information or propaganda.

And from its editor, Peter Schweizer,

We are launching Big Peace on the 4th of July because we happen to believe that America is the last and best hope for mankind.

We are launching Big Peace on the 4th of July because we believe that freedom is an essential ingredient and condition for peace.

We are lauching Big Peace on the 4th of July because the American spirit of independence and fight, exhibited by our soldiers, is what ultimately keeps us safe.

I read elsewhere this morning that our own federal government has grown by 16% in the past year.  So, on one hand our actual independence seems fleeting.  But on the other, thanks in part to folks like Mr. Breitbart and the company he keeps, we have plenty to celebrate.

A belated Happy 234th Birthday, America!

50 Feet Further Than Last Year

Yesterday would have been, if my math is correct, my friend Donnie's 58th birthday.  And it's been nearly 17 years now since the car wreck that killed him, on his way to work.  That's longer than the time we were friends, longer than I knew him.

It amazes me that I'm no better adjusted to a world without my friend today, than I was on that stormy Monday...17 years ago.  I was better for knowing him.  But, I'm worth less every day and every year since.  That's just the way it is.

I miss you, my friend.  I'll raise a freshly squeezed Budweiser to you, sir.  I wish you a happy birthday, on that great golf course in the sky (or is it a great blues bar?).

Whichever, would it kill you to call and say you're squeezing the phone tight?

Linky Love Tuesday

I'm just going to publish a little linkarama for this Tuesday.  Maybe I'll serve up some more self-produced nuggets later, but these caught my eye this morning, and I felt like sharing.

I keep linking to Lemuel and he refuses neglects to reciprocate for whatever reason, but today he does give us some good reason to celebrate the fact that NC Dumocrat Congresscritter Ethridge (district 2) has likely slapped and manhandled his last student.  Go meet the Republican opponent to Boob Ethridge at Hillbilly White Trash.  North Carolina politics is fixin' to get a whole lot prettier.

That guy makes me wonder whose desk Mel Watt has been hiding under regarding what happened last week on the steps to his office.  Has anyone heard Watt distance himself from the thug that punched a peaceful Tea Party rallier, or remotely condemn that behavior?

Other unrelated good work this A.M. comes from Mary Grabar at American Thinker, entitled Keeping Up With the University of Stupid.  Actually, it's great work.  What does the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), have to say about the University of Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Berkeley...and your favorite school?  I'll tell you this from the whodathunkit department: Arkansas gets an A.  Read the article wherein she also links to this site for the report card.  Does your Alma Mater consider Gender Studies and Environmental Science valid as core curriculum material, as worthy replacements for mathematics, foreign language, philosophy, and real science?  Mine got a B, with poor performance in Literature, US Government or History, and Economics.  The score does not mean the university does not teach these things, just that they aren't required.  The shame.

Kick Here

If you're the guy occupying the Presidency, and you're "sitting around talking to experts" in an effort to learn whose "ass to kick," recognize my upstretched hand.

It is I.

I am America.  I am your opposition.  I am the person whose Liberty and singularity you've methodically sought to abolish.  I am Joe the Plumber.  I am Capitalism and self-reliance.  I am John Galt.  I am a white man devoid of white guilt.  I thumb my nose at Islam and their prophet.  I'm John Wayne.  I'm a Southerner with a truck, and I stand with Israel.  I pledge allegiance and honor the Anthem and the Flag with my hand over my heart.  I abhor and shun perversion, and would never hire a child-molestor to be "safe-schools czar".  I never showed up at my job just to vote "present."  I'm a friend of the Tea Parties.  I'm an ecologist who doesn't subscribe to the global warming hoax.  I'm a US citizen, and able to prove it.  I sing God Bless America... with conviction. I am the original captain of the Olympic Ass-Kicking Team.  And whipping me would win you the esteem of all your true believers...like Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, Bill Maher, Michael Moore, Janeane Garofolo, Hugo Chavez, ad nauseum.

We could get a Pay-Per-View event set up, sell access at $50 per household, and pay down the national debt.  Or someone could just lock the two of us in a room for ten minutes.  Let your "expert" James Cameron set up a video camera in that room, and he can sell the "cold-cockumentary" at the theatres.  That'd be my preference, but I ain't too picky. Even if it's just the two of us, for what it's worth, you won't be the "smartest person in (that) room."

I just got sliced open last weekend and still have some staples in my gut, but like John Wayne says to Bruce Dern in The Cowboys, "...on my worst day, I'd still beat the hell outta you."

Any time.  Anywhere.  For any amount of money.

You think you're a bad muthafucka competent leader?  Come meet one.  I'm America, and I'm calling your punk ass out.

Intellectual Left?

Contradiction In Terms

The politically charged arguments you have with the screaming-hair-afire nutcase liberal in the cubicle next to you (or in the comments section of your favorite blog), leave you exasperated, and it's not because he has insight and wisdom which you cannot refute.  The reason arguing with him or them gets you nothing but aggravation is because deductive reasoning, logic, and even knowledge are something they avoid.  Want proof?  Check out this article in the Wall Street Journal.

Daniel B. Klein and Zogby researcher Zeljka Buturovic surveyed 4835 American adults with eight questions, all based on economic principles.  They also asked those participants where they stood politically: progressive/very liberal, liberal, moderate, conservative, very conservative, and libertarian.  The scores are reflective of each person's ability to apply reason and logic to the questions, and designed to give partial credit for actually not knowing, as opposed to pretending to know...which gets no credit.

Consider one of the economic propositions in the December 2008 poll: "Restrictions on housing development make housing less affordable." People were asked if they: 1) strongly agree; 2) somewhat agree; 3) somewhat disagree; 4) strongly disagree; 5) are not sure.


Basic economics acknowledges that whatever redeeming features a restriction may have, it increases the cost of production and exchange, making goods and services less affordable. There may be exceptions to the general case, but they would be atypical.


Therefore, we counted as incorrect responses of "somewhat disagree" and "strongly disagree." This treatment gives leeway for those who think the question is ambiguous or half right and half wrong. They would likely answer "not sure," which we do not count as incorrect.

In this case, percentage of conservatives answering incorrectly was 22.3%, very conservatives 17.6% and libertarians 15.7%. But the percentage of progressive/very liberals answering incorrectly was 67.6% and liberals 60.1%. The pattern was not an anomaly.

All the other seven questions are shown in the article, and the ratio of correct answers (demographically sorted) are given as well.  The results are illuminating as to what your debate adversary has in his arsenal of wit, but it still won't help him see the inanity of carrying on the argument.  The argument will only come back around to some, "but what about Bush?"

Which is why the only manner wherein I choose to engage them, anymore, is to smite them with ridicule.  Debate with these fools is no more productive than seeking automotive repair advice from a special needs child.

This also reinforces my argument for a national competency exam as a requirement for voter eligibility.  Am I the only one lamenting the fact that our society is now defined by that which represents average, as opposed to being defined by those people, ideas, institutions, and endeavors which are exceptional?

Experimental Surgery

During the whole process of surgical process, nowadays, every caregiver asks you to rate your level of pain, 1 to 10, with ten being the highest.  And closing in on the time for slicing, they ask several times if you know what procedure you're having.  The first several times they asked, I answered dutifully, "I'm having my appendix removed...I'm having an appendectomy..."  And so on.  I think that has something to do with their worry over liability issues.

As they wheeled my gurney into The Room (what we on the inside call the O.R.), they asked me again, and I told them I was undergoing an experimental operation (inspired by something Ann Coulter said recently) to remove all concept of reason and accountability, in hopes of turning me from a Constitutional Republican and into your run-of-the-mill Democrat.  Cracked 'em up.

I thought about saying "Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week," but feared they'd take me up on that idea.

After surgery, again, they resumed asking me to rate the pain-level, and I played along most of the night.  In the wee hours yesterday, though, I took to quizzing every nurse and doctor who visited: On a sale of one to ten, with ten being the best patient you could ever imagine, how would you rate me as a patient?  There's a level of emotional detachment most caregivers have to own to get through their jobs, but I felt like making it easier for them to like me.  All of them were a bit off-put at the question.  Funny, that they all rated me a 10, though, and the main nurse gave me a 4.5 until I was just about to walk out the front door, when she came running after me...to tell me I was really a ten.

Some good folks, them nurses.

EDIT: Crap.  The link to the Ann Coulter essay doesn't accurately quote the author of the notion, but I'll find it.  It's still good reading, but not the exact origin.

They Can't Kill Him!

I had a slight case of emergency appendectomy Friday night!  A little worse for the wear and tear, but I am still kicking ass and taking names.  The appendix had not ruptured, but had completely worn out its welcome, kind of like the dumocrats.

Back in '07, I had the famously awful medical experience with the, ahem, "best cancer hospital in the world" (MD Anderson, Houston- according to US News & World Report).  Then, except for one radiation oncologist, the whole place could burn to the ground and wouldn't truly be missed.  I can only expect that USN&WR hasn't anything good to say about Catawba, 'cause aside from one unidentified male voice in the recovery room (and we'll get to the bottom of that) and maybe a rookie anesthesiologist, these guys were top notch in every regard.  I've got two fat lips from the breathing tube, and laryngitis, heavy congestion and slight concern for pneumonia.  If you're new to the anesthesiology game, I guess you have your first time sometime.  No hard feelings for that.

There was an exchange between myself and a male voice in the recovery room, though, that's sticking in my craw somewhat.  The conversation ended with me saying to him, "be here when I get untethered from all these tubes, and we'll decide who's an asshole, asshole."  I was only semi-conscious, and hadn't yet opened my eyes, lucky for him.  But the gals (and they were the sweetest!) got him the hell out of there, and did a good job of "having no idea who it coulda been..."

The world is full of telephone tough-guys.

All things considered, though, I can't complain about the treatment.  The ER was predictably sloth-like, but I had a serious surgery and the whole roundtrip from my front door took less than 24 hours.

The stuff they gave me to bring me out of sedation kind of helped keep me up all night, and during that time I was hit by an idea for a new business venture.  Time will tell whether it's Divine Intervention or delerium, but I'm now inspired to act, and we'll see how it goes.  Wish me luck.

For those concerned over my tenacity, I tried to just ignore the whole feeling-like-I-was-stabbed thingy.  I tried rubbing some dirt in on Wednesday, and fully intended on toughing it out till Monday, had it not been for Freckles (aka Princess Nagsalot).  She's a pain in the ass, but I owe her a lot of credit for getting me to go.  Thanks, honey.

Y'all take care of yourselves out there.

The Enemies Of My Enemies Are My Friends

My buddy Ted sent me the following video, forwarded on from a friend of his.  His friend, the originator of the email, seemed to have more affection (based on the language in his text) for Obama than for Reverend Manning.  That is, the friend's words belied a bit of condescension regarding Manning, which from my point of view is misplaced considering how loathsome the alternative (Obama) is by comparison.

A brief search suggests that this video is from around the time of the 2008 election, so it's not quite cutting edge media.

I believe Dr. Manning is correct that an uprising is at hand, and he is quite welcome on the team of good guys.



"This man is destroying what God loves!" says Reverend Manning, whose doctorate is in philosophy, according to the Atlah Ministries website.

Dr. Manning's delivery may seem a bit comical, if you listen to it as if it's a news program, which is as it is designed to appear.  But, Dr. Manning is a preacher, and he's speaking to his congregation in a way to which they can relate.  The thing I believe caught my friend's friend's attention is the disgust from one black citizen regarding the Obamination.  Well, let me be the first to tell you, there's lots of influential black men and women who aren't singing Obama's (or his fellow corruptocrat's) praises.  You aren't likely to see them, if you get your current events from the ostrich media.  Want more from Reverend Manning?  Right-click the above video and watch it at YouTube...and you'll see another dozen such vids in the sidebar.

Regular readers of the ST&L will know, however, one of my favorites is Alfonzo Rachel.  Who, incidentally, also has an essay at Big Hollywood where he shoots Bill Maher (figuratively, dipshits) in the foot.

Enjoy:

30 Seconds Of Census-Boy

As a companion-piece-slash-follow-up to the my most recent (lack of) effort, allow me to redirect your attention to our new media king, James O'Keefe.  You remember James.  He's the one who videotaped the scumbag ACORN employees who thought they were assisting a young pimp and his hooker set up a whorehouse for underage Salvadoran slaves, whilest getting around the whole income tax inconvenience.  His (and Hannah Giles') efforts scooped the entire mainstream media and effectively shut down Obama's favorite criminal enterprise.

What's he up to now, you ask?  How about exposing those scammers from the census for what they are!

Disclaimer time: I personally know three (3) people who are currently (or recently) employed as census-takers.  One of them I have a lot of respect for, and do not wish to cast a blanket indictment upon his character.  The other two?  Well, no livermush for you, assholes.

If James O'Keefe does not win the Pulitzer Prize for journalism, then the Pulitzer is hereby exactly as illegitimate as the Nobel Peace Prize.



So what do you want to bet that the 30 seconds Census Boy who "knows who I am" spent in my driveway, somehow became multiple hours of government-funded (read: your tax dollars) waste?  The waste Mr. O'Keefe displays is a billion dollars, assuming 20% of their time "working" is imaginary.  I can vouch for some of these locals, that 20% seems about right.

Please also consider visiting my friends at Big Government for the bottom line on the Department of Justice's destruction of O'Keefe's evidence against Sen. Landrieu, and more on the fraudulent census taking.

"I Ate his Liver With Some Faba Beans and a Nice Chianti"

Just getting around to making a note of this, but Sunday evening, while I was slopping the hogs, a feller pulled his Toyota pickup truck (with University of Florida Gator-Plate on the front) into the driveway.  He'd only gotten about two steps from his truck when I recognized the "Enumerator" badge dangling from the laniard around his neck, and held up my hand.  "Already been counted," I said.

I could tell he was put off at meeting someone less-cooperative than he'd expected, and as he pulled out and drove away, he shouted back at me, "We know who you are."

I bet you do, census boy.

Credit Where Credit's Due

At the White House yesterday, the O!Bummer hosted the University of Connecticut's women's basketball team, NCAA champions, and said, "I want to point out that the team has not lost since I was elected president."

In fact, their last loss came in March of 2008.  And since his predecessor is responsible for everything else, let's be perfectly clear.  Any credit for their success is directly attributable to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.

Perhaps the Apologizer-In-Chief should more appropriately take credit for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers' "success-rate" during his occupation of the Oval Office.

Just sayin'...

Hooray, by God, For Oath Keepers

"It doesn't matter if we're 'allowed or not', that's wrong." -SSgt. Joshua May

Allow me, please, just a few pertinent points, and then enjoy the video.  During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, some National Guardsmen were ordered to confiscate firearms (all kinds of firearms) from citizens in New Orleans.  Stewart Rhodes founded Oath Keepers, in part, because of those actions, but also as a manner of reinforcing the foundation that a U.S. Serviceperson's Oath is to defend the Constitution.

S.Sgt. May wasn't in Oath Keepers during Katrina (because it hadn't been invented yet, duh), but his actions embody the very essence of what Oath Keepers is.

S.Sgt. May did a couple of things worth celebrating.  He joined, and represents, the National Guard for the right reason: to help protect his neighbors.  He understands and embraces the Constitution.  He has the balls, regardless of whether his CO agrees (and with some perceived risk to his security clearance, being in Military Intel), to stand up and declare that disarming citizens is wrong.  It's a great thing that his fellow soldiers knew enough to agree and support him, and that's why I'm a big fan of Oath Keepers.  This is why we now have such a thing as Oath Keepers, to give a foundation of support and knowledge of the Constitution to those soldiers such that they can feel confident and secure in doing the right thing.  Oh, but if there'd have been a few more Sgt. May's there in Louisiana...

Here's you a feel-good video for the day:

Easy To Understand

Klavan calls it Financial Crisis 101, as in This is some rudimentary education.




Thanks to Big Government...like Tony the Tiger says, they're great.