Hangin In

"Still hangin' in there," as Colonel Bigfoot Thompson says, "like a hair on a biscuit."

Five rounds of SBRT gamma-knifin' radiation, and only slightly worse for the wear & tear.

I probably made it much worse on myself than it had to be.  One of the technicians who locked me into this contraption each day...

...clucked disapprovingly at my Tar Heel hat lying on the counter nearby on day 2, and expressed her love for the Blue Babies from Durham.  I then made the mistake of offending her (the one responsible for monitoring the dosage) by asking, "Do you think this current crop of Blue Devil footballers is a case of Don't Ask Don't Tell as applied to college athletics?"

GZZZZZDT - that's the sound the machine makes as it's zapping you.

I got her back on the last day, though.  I told her supervisor that if she touches my junk again, I'd have her arrested.

Seriously, thanks for the prayers and well-wishes.

I Got Your Fear Mongering Right Here

I keep hearing about Obama's extended overseas travel and brief stopover back in America and subsequent additional overseas travel.  It's easy to surmise that his reason for vacating the country would be to avoid shouldering any responsibility or accountability for the destruction his policies have wrought, but it could be he's avoiding something far more sinister.

Could be, he's keeping his distance from Brutus and Cassius.

Think about it.  There was a time when every America-loving patriot, maybe not wished for but certainly wouldn't have cried over, Barack Hussein Obama's untimely demise.  Such is most definitely no longer the case.  No single person can claim more responsibility for waking up the general populace than the O!Bummer.  Talk about being the great unifier!

May I digress?  Sure.

Back when I was in the Titty Bar business, everyone in the club knew the importance of proper lighting.  Keep it dark, or even better, keep the lights changing from flashy to dim, dim to flashy, strobing, pulsating, but ever-changing and never steady.  The purpose is obvious; never let the guys with the money see those entertainers (apologies to the many fine-looking ladies I've known, you're exempt from this discussion)...especially those known as "day-girls", and get a really good look at the object of their desire.  With very limited exception, the money dries up damn fast, when certain features are presented in the steady light of day.

Such is the case with this administration.  He isn't even pretty, anymore, to his own would-be devotees.  And for those of us on the Right, and truly anyone with their eyes open, he is easily identifiable as that which is evil, corrupt, political, unAmerican, anti-business, statist, unaccountable...I could go on and on...but the point is that we've never had a better poster-child for "wrong" than him.  There has never been a better catalyst for waking up average America than to have such blatant personification of skullduggery.  Simply put, Obama as a target of ire (less than an actual target) for Republicans is a good thing, and we''re likely to enjoy the fruits of keeping him alive.  At least as a target for impeachment proceedings, I might add.

On the other hand, and this is getting to my greater point (a long-winded process, I'm sorry to say) that his scarcity on the scene might ought to be attributable to very real concerns for his safety...safety from his so-called friends.

If you agree with me that he's doing much good to galvanize the Right, and those folks on the Left (who are not total idiots, by the way) can see the same thing happening, what better time to shake things up?  If you're him, and you know how devious and despicable his comrades can be, would you be turning your back on any of them?  How easily would you sleep if you suspected that your own Brutus's needed to pin some scandalous dirt on their political rivals to maintain power?

Putting it another way, if Nancy knows she's currently #3 (until unseated as speaker by the swearing-in ceremonies) how passionately might she cling to that title if she considered a senate-floor stabbing could be afoot?

If the Dems could assassinate Obama and pin it on the Republicans (enter complicit left-wing media?), how would fortune smile on their power?  Would Soros authorize the sacrifice of his puppet if it meant the end-game would be at hand?  As Bricktop says in the movie Snatch, "You're really not much good to me alive now, are you Turkish?"

Fantastic, I know.  But, if I can imagine it, why then not they?  Does the Teleprompter-In-Chief imagine that possibility, too?

Does Princess Nancy?

Another question: Where's Joe Biden been?  Does he have a food-taster?  Is he deep in a concrete bunker somewhere?

Shouldn't he be?

Dear Obama: Continued good health to you, dickhead.  Watch your back.  Don't go changin'...

Suck Less

Yesterday was Veterans Day, and I was driving down the road from the Land of Livermush to fetch yet another dose of poison at the "Bleed 'em with leeches" Baptist hospital, and I noticed that traffic was lighter than usual.  Odd, I thought, until reminded why by an elementary school sitting dark and unused.

I suppose I already knew that schools were closed for Veterans Day, but I have to admit that the proof just chapped my hide.

If I get elected king (and it ain't that bad an idea), but if I get elected king only Veterans and their immediate family members get to take Veterans Day off work.  If you're some sucking-the-community-tit gubmint employee like a public school teacher, and you "have to" take the day off because the school is closed, at least have the compunction to take the money you received for sitting on your duff all day and donate it (without fanfare, thankeeverymuch) to something far worthier.  Like VALOUR-IT (h/t to my friend Kate, whose Team Marine is kicking ass, btw).

Or take those funds and send them to the Warrior Legacy Foundation.

Not that you get to feel particularly good about yourself...you'll just suck a little less.

Happy Veterans Day

To all those US Servicemen and women who have who have placed themselves in harm's way, and those who continue to do so, and the families of the finest and most honorable folks in all society,

Thank you.

Cavewoman Poll v2

On a recent cross-country train trip, I was seated next to the E*Trade baby.  He says to me, "Dude, can you puree livermush?"

And I'm like, "What?"

And he says, "You are the livermush guy, right?"

Me: Yeah, but you're on teevee.  You're the E*Trade baby.  Everybody knows you.  You're famous...I just have a well-written and very clever blog.

ETB (enthusiastically): Yeah, well, I'm famous, but I wouldn't be much of an E*Trade baby if I lived in a cave, with nothing more than a dirty diaper.  I have to stay on top of trends, you know?

Me: That makes sense.  Thanks for noticing.

ETB: Speaking of living in a cave, it's time to bring back the cavewoman poll.

Me: You noticed that, too?

ETB: Dude, where do you think all your site traffic comes from, adults?  And here's an idea for you: intead of regular actresses this time, how about using other recognizable TV personalities?

At this time, the E*Trade baby had to go back to the dining car for a meeting with his publicist.  But, I promised to get his management folks a sample of pureed livermush and work up a new CW poll per his recommendations.

Tallying the responses from the last cavewoman poll was daunting.  And we had our share of voter fraud, as you might have expected.  Talk about some hanging chads.  All I'm going to say is...new rule: one vote per crib.

The overwhelmingly popular choice from poll #1 was Scarlett Johansson.  Or maybe that was just my choice regardless of the popular vote, I don't quite remember.

Here's the premise: I've got a wheelbarrow full of cash, and I want to do a remake of One Million Years BC.  Who shall I cast in the leading role (Raquel Welch's Loana)?



Last go 'round, the choices included several big-name Hollywood actresses that any filmgoer would recognize.  This time, however, to mix it up a bit, let's limit the casting call to females employed (on air) by the Fox News/ Fox Business channels.

Those of you who never stray far from your local news numbnuts may not be particularly familiar with this collection of talent.  And if you haven't yet considered how Juliet Huddy or Courtney Friel might fill out a loincloth, now's your chance to free your imagination.

My short-list casting call might include, but not be limited to:
Courtney Friel
Shannon Bream
Sandra Smith*
Juliet Huddy
Megyn Kelly (although she's a lawyer and not a real person, I know there are folks who like her)
Gretchen Carlson
Tracy Byrnes
Alisyn Camerota
Shibani Joshi*
Nicole Petallides*

*Fox Business Network...If you don't get it.  Demand it!

Feel free to write in anyone I've missed in the comments, and I'll launch the poll in the next week or so.  All comments should be respectful to both the newsbabes persons and especially the first most-perfect cavewoman, Ms. Welch.

Thanks for the advice, E*Trade Baby!

No Bailout

If you're one of my elected representatives, when California comes seeking assistance from the federal gubmint, just say no.  The voters there have chosen to embrace liberalism instead of responsibility, and should be required to shoulder all of the burdens pertaining to their awful choices.

As Dennis Prager points out in today's TownHall.com,

We watch as one of the greatest places in the world -- with its extraordinary natural beauty, almost uniquely beautiful weather and agricultural abundance -- wastes all of this as a result of having become a left-wing experiment. What is particularly saddening is to see a state whose success was achieved because it was a Mecca for the adventurous in spirit do everything possible to crush that spirit and drive away those who have it.

There is a silver lining here: clarity. Americans living elsewhere need not elect liberal Democrats to know what will happen if they do. They only need to look at California if they want to see what happens to a state governed by the left (and, for that matter, they can look at Texas to see what happens to a state's finances when governed by the right).

The left and its teachers unions have ruined public education in California. The left and its public service unions have saddled the state with $500 billion in unfunded pension liability. California's left-governed cities have set themselves up as "sanctuary cities" for those who have come into America illegally. And the left passes more and more rules governing the behavior of California citizens. Two examples: San Francisco just banned McDonald Happy Meals because they come with a toy and therefore entice children to eat fattening food; and the Democratic legislature has made it illegal for a California employer -- even in a retail operation -- to ask a male employee who comes to work wearing a dress to wear men's clothing while at work.

And the left and its voters have cursed (and continue to do so) the rest of the country with the likes of Pelosi, Boxer, and other career shop-a-holics and big-government fiends.

No bailouts, no pork, no "stimuli", no earmarks, no lifeline.  Sink or swim, assholes.

I ask this rhetorical question of my fellow citizens...If you were asked to support a special tax to prop up the Golden State's "left-wing experiment", how violent would your reaction be?

Catch Magazine #14

You love great photography and videography, right?  No matter where you are, unless of course you're already wading a crick and waving a stick, you'd rather be fishing, right?

The best onliine fly-fishing magazine available is Catch Magazine.  And it's free.  Can't beat that.

Go there now.

Puttin' My Money Where My Mouth Is

It ain't over.

This coming week, I have to go get some SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radio-Therapy), also known as Gamma-Knife, on three pesky little tumors in my chest.  And I've told you folks that the worser cancer is that which infects and infests our civilization.  Wanna know how serious I am about that?

I just sent (an otherwise sorely needed here at the International House of Livermush) $25 to Renee Elmers' fund to monitor the validity of a recount (which should NOT be happening) called for by that vile chunk of rancid carrion Bob Etheridge.

Remember Boob Etheridge?



Renee Elmers's district does not include me, but her representative voice certainly does.  I've heard her speak, and she is good people.

If you've said to yourself that those folks up in Minnesota should have done more to ensure voting integrity in the case of Al Franken stealing his Senatorial election, and looking back wonder whether a measly 25 bucks might have made a difference, know this: Your money today or this week can be directly applied to fighting voter fraud by a good candidate against an awful one.  You're stuck with funnyman Franken; you gonna let that happen again?

Alerted by Bubba (Thanks, Bud).

Renee Elmers:

Donate now.

Thanks, Skipper

Rest in peace, George 'Sparky' Anderson.  We're better for having known you.

Drivin' the Car

I like the "President's" car metaphor, but not the picture he paints with it.  He's driving it, all right.  But, he's drunk.  Or, he's smoking crack again.  But he's driving very recklessly, and his car is not road-worthy, and he is endangering the lives of everyone else on the road.  I think of his metaphorical car, and I picture that wobbly rig the Little Rascals built.

"We ain't gots no brakes, Alfalfa, we's free-wheelin'!"

Pull over, asshole.  Don't make us ram your punk ass into a bridge abutment.

Yield the right-of-way to vehicles capable of maintaining a safe speed in the fast lane, and operators who aren't obsessed with putting on makeup, driving with their knees, talking on the cell phone, and musing about their next appearance on Comedy Central or The View.  Your learner's permit has been revoked.

Or, as Michelle Malkin puts it today, Take Your Olive Branch And Shove It.

Now you say that if Republicans want to discuss changes to the healthcare fiasco, you're ready to listen?

Rrriiiiiight.

Like you and your cronies were listening when you rammed that scheme, "deem-and-pass-it-so-we-can-find-out-what's-in-it, down our throats?

Driving the economy does not require, as you pretend, Democrats Corruptocrats and Republicans working together.  It requires you getting your ass out of the way.  Time for the adults to retake the wheel.

But if it be a sin to covet honour, I am the most offending soul alive. -Shakespeare

Read Skookum's open letter.

Stand and salute with your bowfinger, those who would name you as their enemy.

Rockin' the Tar Heel State...and updating...

Brief notes around much dancing of the happy dance at Livermush Central...

Lots of good news last night and this morning.  This from Katelynd Mahoney and The National Review, quoting Newt Gingrich:

Bigger, this is bigger than 1994. It’s a more decisive repudiation, the total number of seats will be bigger, I think the governorships are bigger, I think the state-legislature things, like [the Democrats’] losing North Carolina for the first time since 1898, is bigger.

H/T to the John Locke Foundation for the link.

Lots of evidence abounds, however, of much work yet to be done.

~
From the G'boro News & Record, a Republican majority in the NC General Assembly for the first time in over a hundred years.  That's both legislative houses, by gosh.

And I'll bet it's like fingernails on the chalkboard for the limpwristed McClatcheyites at the Charlotte Obscurer to report this.  Of course, the slant they kneejerk to is that mysterious big money played a more influential role for voters than did our raging bile over statism.  Witness:

State Republicans had an above-average fund-raising year, boosted by massive expenditures by Raleigh businessman Art Pope to support groups aligned with the GOP. Freed from limits on corporate contributions by a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, those outside groups flooded districts with campaign mail attacking Democrats and bought large blocks of time on radio and television.

And this is why Tea Party work is only beginning.  The institutional, liberal spin machine isn't taking the day off, so neither will we.

Not just a wave.

A cleansing.

Video Monday

Less than one day remains of the most lopsided disadvantage American citizens have ever had versus their own government.  Tomorrow won't eradicate their corruption, but will only beat it back an inch or two.

Today, some videos to keep you focused...

From Bubba.  I wonder how many times I've been in this exact same discussion.



From Sister Toldjah and reasonTV:



The possibility of voter fraud does worry me, but the ineptitude and/or ignorance of actual voters presents a much deeper threat.

Remember?




I wonder if Ziegler is interviewing voters again this go-round, as it'd be interesting to see if they're any better-informed.
~

UnAmerican

From the who-to-avoid-this-election-year files...

One of your choices here in the Old North State for Court of Appeals judge responded to the Free Enterprise Foundation's following question:

Of the judges currently serving on the United States Supreme Court, whose judicial philosophy most closely reflects your own?

His answer was:

Sotomayor.

The same Sotomayor whose Supreme Court judicial body of work to this point is still best described as "scant".  The same Sotomayor who ruled against fire-fighters who passed a standardized aptitude test for advancement but were denied advancement based on their skin-color.  The same Sotomayor who contends her heritage and gender counts more to qualify her than does her comprehension of the US Constitution.

This candidate also says he thinks NC taxes on businesses are "about right", and among his business experiences writes "Yogurt Shop."

Run screaming.

But he's not any worse in my book than Tim Spear, down in the 2nd District (around Dare County).  BigGovernment.com reports on the ad from Spear that features a photo of soldiers, and with the caption: "In combat, you always want another soldier covering your back."

The soldiers in the ad's photo are German.

The ad also states that "In North Carolina, one legislator is covering our soldiers' backs."

TimSpearGermanSoldiers-2 2 -

The ad could have said, "...covering our American soldiers' backs", but does not.  In fact, nowhere in the ad will you find the word "America" or "American."

When I say "our soldiers," I'm referring to American soldiers.  I'm convinced Spear's "our" means a far different group of guys.

Spear is running for re-relection to the state House, and his opponent is Bob Steinberg.  Take out the trash.

Nekkid

Okay, dammit, I'll do another Cavewoman poll.  I know how you like that kind of diversion.

It'll take some putting together, so consider some items to help with strengthening your resolve whilest I work on it.  Plus, diversion is right now the last thing you need.  Eyes on the prize, kiddies...less than a week to go.

From Shenendoah/John Galt FLA, via Western Rifle Shooters, a reminder that your vote is important, maybe vital, but not necessarily the last important function that will be required of you this year regarding your country's future.  Only the most naiive chess-player looks at a devastatingly bad move (like potentially losing control of the House and Senate) and doesn't consider the possibility of a fork by their opponent.

You may sleep at a later date my friends but now, more than ever, it is time to approach this nation’s guardianship with your eyes wide open.

Even if the candidate you like wins, it won't be enough if you and I allow him to be seduced by the power and perks of his shiny new office.

Paraphrasing something Bubba said recently, we aren't sending you (congressperson, senator) up there to make friends or find common ground.  If you don't immediately start fixing fuckups, and righting wrongs, you'll be held accountable in a most ungentle fashion.

And speaking of accountability, now is not the time to take anything for granted.  Suppose you went to your polling place and voted straight ticket, but the machine reversed your selection, recording votes for the opposite party.  Yep, I could be talking about a faraway land like Chicago or New York or Los Angeles.  But I'm not.  The New Bern (NC) Sun Journal reports on this happening in Craven County...just down the road a piece.  Isolated incident?  I seriously doubt it.

Suggestion: make sure you have your camera-phone with you when you go to the polls, and record any malfeasance or irregularities.

Stop Supporting your Destroyers

And don't eat their Red Herrings...

I once heard someone trot out Bernie Madoff as an example of a modern-day John Galt, supposedly because Madoff functioned only to satisfy himself.  The only similarity is with self-preservation being the ultimate motivation, which is not evil in and of itself.  The important distinction is that Madoff profited from cheating others out of what they'd earned, and the comparison is an affront (or should be) to anyone who understands the difference between earning and stealing.

The difference is paralleled by the not-too-subtle difference between Capitalism and Cronyism.  Madoff's schemes bear more similarity with Obamacare, union bailouts, and influence peddling than anything the novel's John Galt (or today's John Galts) ever did.  Capitalism is the exchange of value for value, and is only perverted by the inclusion of outside influence or presumed obligation.

And those on the left, those who would enslave you to their service under concepts like "common good", submit their own poster-children like Madoff as red herrings to divert your attention from their own schemes.  Don't get fooled.



To paraphrase, I love my life as it is God's gift to me, not as if God lent it to me to hold in trust for your benefit.

Worth Noting

I imagine that not everybody has a photographic recall of all those candidates' positions on all the various issues in preparation for the trip to the ballot box.  Lord knows, I don't.  Heck, I could donate 15 IQ points to the O!Bummer and still qualify for Mensa, but can't remember whether (and why) I liked Judge So-And-So.

Here's an idea you can use.

Go to your Board of Elections website for your county, and print off a sample ballot.  Then, go to this website, compare the apples and oranges, and keep score on your sample ballot.  Much easier than counting yard-signs or bumper-stickers on your way to work, and infinitely more responsible, no?

This process helped me sort through the choices for candidates for Court of Appeals, the following earning my endorsement and vote:

Ann Marie Calabria

Steven Walker

Dean Poirier

And a Supreme Court Associate Justice, Bob Hunter.

Some folks I'd vote for if I lived in their district:

Renee Elmers (her opponent is Boob Etheridge, the guy who choked a student reporter for daring to ask him a question).

Harold Johnson.  Fukkin-A, I'd vote for the Big Guy.

Bill Randall.  He spoke at the RTC rally, and Bubba likes him...nuff said.

Greg Dority, maybe...running against Mel Watt.  Watt apparently advocates violence against peaceful Tea Party attendees, since he hasn't denounced that violence perpetrated outside his offices (and presumably to his benefit).  Or, by gosh, maybe Lon Cecil simply for his survey response to the question: Do you believe the US Congress should enact "Cap and Trade" legislation that would enable government agencies to cap the amount of emissions a company may produce or require that company to purchase credits if it exceeds the government-set emissions limitation?

Spuh-lendid.

Still more endorsements to come...

~

What I'm Afraid Of

Thanks to my friend Bubba, and from the Labor Union Report, here's what scares the hell ot of me. 

We've already seen the willingness of the liberal left to fraudulently affect elections.  According to the article linked, the power to subvert the electoral outcome lies with corrupt Secretaries of State (my bold is their italics).

"Here is a prediction: Across the country, there will be races that some candidates will lose even though poll numbers, right now, indicate otherwise.

As you read this, at present, you should know that there are only seemingly disconnected anecdotal dots that are starting to connect. However, if the dots do fully connect, we may not know until well after the November 2nd election if, in fact, America’s democratic election process will have become the victim of the biggest fraud in our nation’s history. What’s worse, with early voting beginning this week in many states, it may already be too late to do anything about it."

The article presents several facts (including ties to George Soros and SEIU) that are disconnected only by assumed coincidence.

The integrity of the voting process may well be the next-to-last hope for America.  Absent any confidence regarding the final tally, what recourse shall remain for those who cherish Liberty?  Even looking objectively at the possibilities, I don't think it'll be pretty.

I had a brief exchange the other day with a store manager who was benefitting from my devotion to capitalism (he was ringing up my purchase at his register).  He said, "no matter who you're for, one thing we can still say in this country is that we'll have our election without having to worry about tanks in the street afterward."

In a world where the integrity of the ballot is indisputable and untarnished, I'd tend to agree with my friend the merchant.  I wish I could rest that easily.

Read the linked article and tell me what you think.

Not Playin' For The Tie

My favorite quote from this year is still Ann Coulter's:

There are a lot of bad Republicans.  There are no good Democrats.

And this perfectly illustrates the value of the Tea Party.  For Republicans, and particularly those conservative and Constitutionalist republicans, the Tea Party movement has proven to become a very effective vetting process for weeding out those RINOs, Republican In Name Only, and supplanting career politicians (otherwise valuable only for the big "R" after their name) with genuine leadership candidates.  For Dems, I don't think there's a single candidate who's found a way to embrace the concepts of original intent, limited government, and American exceptionalism.  So, the universal approach for the donkeys has been to demonize the Tea Party.  You can't blame them, though.  They know their policies are the impetus for the Tea Party brand of community organizing.

Newt may be a valid example of a bad Republican to many, because he can't be counted on to choose that which is right over that which is politically expedient.  Nancy is perfectly representative of the all Democrats: government is the answer and private citizens organizing to take umbrage must be ostricized and belittled.

Don't get swept up in any wave to legitimize any potential Newt candidacy just because of this video (h/t Gateway Pundit), but he's right about the very basic difference in the two parties.



Early voting is now open in many places.  If you're like many folks I know, and just can't vote for a Republican simply because an ancestor might "roll over in his grave," please do the rest of us the courtesy of recusing yourself from the process.  I know how it is; I was once the same.

Thing is, though, there will be, in this election, very real consequences to your actions.  Your efforts in 2008 have placed our country in the most perilous situation we've ever seen.  A vote for a Democrat is a vote against America.  Plain and simple.

You can vote for a Republican or against a Democrat.  Better yet, vote for the REPUBLICAN Republican, as vetted by Tea Party endorsement or vote against a Democrat.  Or vote against an incumbent.

Personally, I'll take the paycheck and the right to earn it and keep it.  Time to take out the trash, folks.

Institutional Control

There'll always be folks who pretent to be something they aren't.  Case in point: a recent commenter to an online article claimed to be a UNC fan who isn't disappointed the football team members cheated, but that they had gotten caught.  I'm a Tar Heel fan.  I hope all the cheaters get caught and receive stiff punishment, whether they be star players with questionable scruples, manipulable and manipulative fellow students,  coaches with selective attention spans, and most importantly the scum-bag agents.

There's lots of commotion in the lamestream media these days about so-called "institutional control" among the athletic departments of major colleges.  Carolina-hating Caulton Tudor wants Butch Davis fired and Bomani Jones (who?) writes for ESPN.com that "Davis' defense rings hollow."  The thrust of their points?  That the head coach should have known about (or knew, and covered up) improprieties committed by several of his players and one coach.  Much of that rhetoric reminds me of the Nifong vs. Duke LaCrosse witch-hunt, so I say consider the source before subscribing any value to their perspectives.

Former assistant/co-head coach John Blake certainly appears to have been doing as many things wrong off the field as right on it, and someone that knows him as well as Butch Davis did or does admittedly could have given much more scrutiny to Blake's allegiances and behavior.  But the student-athletes?

I remember when I was a just a high-school athlete, and hearing reports from former teammates who had gone on to the college level, of boosters palming C-notes to them in the post-game locker rooms.  Perhaps the coaches charged with monitoring their behavior were intentionally looking the other way.  Until a diligent coach got wise (or suspicious) and banned locker-room visitation, how easy was this practice?  For what it's worth, I played a little college ball to and witnessed zero ethical or institutional misdeeds.

Knowing the current schemes by agents to recruit "runners", fellow students who earn a few bucks befriending and distributing gifts to athletes on behalf of those agents, how much "control" can anyone have regarding the kids.  The best you could hope for in such situations is a player having the self-control and wherewithal to refuse something he hasn't earned.  You can try teaching that, but it's a tough climb trying to mandate it.