There Must Have Been a Sale on Ugly Belts

A Little Shopping "In-Cognito" with an AP Photog...

Michelle 'just a regular gal' Obama popped into a Target this week to do some shopping.

And brought a photographer from the AP with her.

It has to get old not being able to be anonymous. But despite the Post's contention here that Mrs. O is always eager to get out of the bubble, I suspect the White House's motivation behind the shopping trip was an attempt to portray her as an average American.

Ensuring a photographer captured the experience? COME ON.

Eugene Robinson is a Fool

The Washington Post's Eugene Robinson today takes a break from writing about the racist elements of the Tea Party to bring us the breaking news that Chris Christie is fat, and that his weight is a legitimate campaign issue should he jump into the race.

Robinson pushes back immediately at the suggestion that it just might not be any of his business, because he informs us that the moment Christie stepped into the public arena, it became an issue for all of us. Kind of like Obama's smoking habit. (I remember all those columns in the Post discussing that in 2008, don't you?)

The column delves into the cost and danger of obesity, which is legit I suppose, but I doubt he'd be writing about the obesity 'epidemic' if buzz about Christie wasn't getting louder each day.

Oh-here's a picture of Obama's Surgeon General. Appointed in November of 2009. Eugene must have been busy since that time, because I would think that the introduction of this woman would be a great opportunity to start a national dialogue about obesity.

Panera Bread: A Cafe with a Conscience

The CEO of Panera Bread, being a good liberal and all around sweet guy, decided to conduct a social experiment at three of his stores. He thought it would be fun if customers paid what they will. For example, if a wealthy housewife decided her Frontega Chicken panini was worth a C-note, then by Jove put the money in the jar. If a college student felt like paying two bits for his hot, cheesy and delicious Asiago Bagel and La Lapa coffee from the Central Valley of Costa Rica, well so be it.

It was a brilliant idea but somehow it just didn't work out. It seems the homeless, indigent and insane decided Panera Bread was just the place for their next soirée! Come one come all and you'll love the price...and they did. The Portland location ended up hiring a “community outreach associate” which is to an upscale cafe what a big hairy bouncer is to a tittie bar. The CEO (obviously devastated by the experience) said “There’s a palpable sense of people in pain attracted to our store” and many have a "sense of entitlement". Really? Who could have foreseen this?

Alas it seems humane nature and those pesky laws of economics will not bow to the altruistic and generous ethos of our more progressive corporate citizens.

Thursday With Mitt

I attended a fundraiser in Bethesda last night put on by the Romney Campaign. I would estimate the crowd at 250,and my, were they a good looking bunch. My hats are off to some of my older Republican brothers who seem--despite being older and relatively unattractive--quite capable of squiring about young and attractive wives. Who says there's no profit in ideological purity? Good energy in the room--Mitt is polished, friendly, and pretty much the real deal Boy Scout he comes off as. He's upbeat--which I consider critical--and he has even learned to be a little funny on the stump. He took three questions from the audience, one of which was mine--about coming defense cuts. He knocked it out of the park. I was supporting Romney because I thought he was most likely to beat President Obama. I now support him because I want him to win.

Big Fat Friday Free For All

Yes friends, once again we find ouselves at the end of a week, full of the stuff of life about which to complain. What's on your mind? Better out than in!

A Conservative Plan to Soak The Rich

Mark Thiessen has a smart column in today's Washington Post, in which he lays out how St. Paul of Ryan would end subsidies and initiate means testing for wealthy beneficiaries of taxpayer largess.  I gotta be honest with you--there isn't an idea in this column I don't support.  Not a one.  The Kitten and I have been having a lot of discussions lately in which she accuses me of being soft on my Conservatism (this, from a closet lefty) because I support means testing, and because I support programs that would peg retired healthcare premiums to one's retirement pay--so a retired three star would pay more than a retired staff sergeant. 

She gets on me about this.  Her point is that presumably the healthcare is the same--so why should "richer" people pay more for it? This is a good question and it caused me to do a lot of thinking on the subject.  Additionally, means testing Social Security and Medicare benefits strikes her as horrific, adding to the horror is her perception of my inconsistency.

So here goes.

I believe in the graduated income tax (uh oh, here comes Hammer).  I believe it is fairer to ask people who make more money to shoulder more of the burdens of government--proportionally as well as in real terms.  In theory--the graduated system works well.  Now, we've screwed the system up in a way that creates a huge (47%) class of wage earners who pay no income tax, and that's wrong.  But the concept of a graduated tax sits well with me.  Do I think the rich should pay MORE now?  No--of course not--we should cut spending, and ensure everyone pays SOMETHING in income taxes.  But the system is already pointed in what I consider to be a fair direction.

Military retirement healthcare?  Not so much.  The system is bankrupting DoD (along with other personnel costs).  There's nothing "graduated" about it.  A 3 star retiring this year with 35 years of service will take in over $13K a month in pension in his first month of retirement, while an "E-6" retiring this year with 20 years of service will take in $1700 a month in his first month of retirement.  For BOTH, the healthcare premium for their families under "Tricare Prime" is a little under $500 a year (or $42 a month)--which turns out to be .3% of monthly income for the three star but 2.5% of the E-6's monthly retired pay.  Where is the fairness here? If it were graduated (and proportional) the three star would pay $342 a month--certainly do-able on $13K a month. 

As for means testing Social Security and Medicare, the Kitten can't believe I support it.  She thinks it is cosmically unfair to means test it--but again--the system is bankrupting, and social security represents an already skewed transfer of wealth from the young and productive to the old and unproductive.  Sorry folks, that's indisputable.  Where older folks have the means, they should have their benefits strung out over a longer period of time, in essence, reducing their checks.  In a system in which more and more people are taking more out of the system than they put in (longevity), we need a way to extend the program's life to pay for what essentially is old-age welfare for those who live longer than what they paid in will support. 

Hard choices here folks, and if we all don't start rowing in the same direction soon, the whole system will crash.  

Mudge is an Undesirable Dinner Date

The Obama campaign recently devised a plan to raise money, by raffling off Dinner with Barack. Our very own Mudge entered the raffle and I don't know about you, but I thought to myself 'Game over. No way can Obama find a better date.'

Alas, he didn't make the cut. The Obama campaign is now casting a wider net for a prospective dinner partner. To add insult to injury, raffle tickets are now going for 3 bucks vice the original 5 bucks.

A grave injustice has been done, folks.

Michael Moore Helps Us With What is Patriotic

Wow--if I didn't know better, I'd think I was reading from something in Atlas Shrugged...but no, this is Michael Moore, telling us that waiting longer for medical procedures is patriotic.  Be afraid, America.  Be very afraid.

Florida Straw Poll

Good for Herman Cain...bad for Rick Perry.  What about Mitt, you may ask?  He basically sat it out, just like he sat out the Iowa Straw Poll.   Straw Polls are great places for someone in the pack who must throw all their resources at the event just to keep going.  Cain's organization did that, and did it well.  Romney's keeping his powder dry for the primary season.

Rick Perry's in trouble, folks.  That's why Christie is making noise again.....

A Miserable Performance

I arose at 0415 yesterday to drive to Charlottesville to meet with the other members of the 25th Reunion Giving Committee for planning/discussions.  Got home after the game last night at 2330--sorry for no blogging in between.

What did happen in between was ridiculous.  Virginia's football team lost to the University of Southern Misssissippi, 30-24.  We were pretty much outplayed, out-athleted, and out-coached from wire to wire.  A couple of real concerns manifested themselves:

1.  Tackling.  Like most UVA teams, this one tackles poorly.  I wish I knew why that is, but it is a perennial problem there.

2.  Defensive backfield.  We have a freshman starting at cornerback, and he's been targeted successfully by our last two opponents.  They picked him apart yesterday. If he's the best we have, than he needs help.  If someone is sitting on the bench who doesn't give up the big play like he does, that guy ought to be on the field.

3.  Big plays.  We gave up 3rd and longs with startling regularity--including a back-breaking 3rd and 24 when the score was 27-24 in the fourth quarter.

4.  Special teams.  Two huge gaffes yesterday.  USM pulled off a ballsy fake punt deep in their own side of the field--not a single guy on our team paid any real attention.  Additionally, when we scored a touchdown/2pt conversion deep in the 4th--momentum was on our side--you could feel it.  At kickoff?  Our kicker kicked it out of bounds, giving USM great field position.  You've got a field 50 yards wide to kick into--why OOB?

5.  Offensive line.  Really poor blocking for the run game.

Bottom line?  We're better than last year, but we're not good. 

Post-Debate Thoughts

Here are mine (sorry, too long for the comments in the other post-debate post):

Romney: Still strong. Not weakened at all through these debates; to the contrary, appears to be getting stronger. Has a polished answer for everything, and was even spontaneously funny at times. Odds are by now he should have had an awkward moment at these debates, but he is holding strong.

Perry: Appears to just have a cursory knowledge of many issues. And simply not a good debater. (If he gets smarter on the issues, does/will his debating skill matter?) Was handed a golden opportunity to slam Mitt and completely screwed it up-I was almost embarrassed for him. Took a lot of shots on immigration yet held firm. He may be wrong on this issue, but one thing to keep in mind is this guy understands the Latino vote better than any of the other candidates, and that will matter in 2012.

Bachmann: If possible, made herself look even more foolish than normal. 'Barack Obama has worse poll numbers than any other President in history.' ? 'I believe you should keep every dollar you earn.' ? Seems terrified that we'll forget she raised 23 foster kids-invokes it at every debate. I've really grown weary of her. I wonder if she'll last to Iowa.

Santorum: Pretty strong. Good on Afghanistan and the greatness of America. Let his intolerance show on a question from a gay soldier. (An aside to Mr. Santorum-next time you get a question from a serviceman, start the answer with a thank you for their service.) Making an issue of DADT at this point is a total loser, it's a law with as much likelihood of being overturned as Roe v. Wade. Way too socially conservative, but strong on everything else.

Cain: Fantastic. Should have chosen a Georgia Senate run for his first political office. Crowd loved him too. Hope there's a home for him in a Republican administration.

Huntsman: Still a total non-factor. Wore an ugly tie. Most remarkable thing about him was the shot of his wife, who is quite pretty and wore a dress showing off a massive rack. Gave Romney a gift when he said 'as an alternative to Obamacare, I would let the states experiment with what works for them to come up with solutions.' It went unacknowledged by everyone, though it would have been a great follow up by one of the moderators.

Gary Johnson: Goofy. But earned his right to be on that stage with the joke 'my neighbor's two dogs have created more shovel-ready jobs than the President.'

Newt: Strong and clever, as always. Seems to enjoy being contrary, sometimes to his detriment. A good audience question was 'who on this stage would you choose as your VP?' and he dismissed is as a 'Hollywood' question, which was a bit of a slam to the questioner. He doesn't have to always be a grumpy old man, but he comes across that way at times.

Ron Paul: Was Ron Paul. He fortunately got no foreign policy questions.

Perry is bound to lose some altitude from the shaky debate performances, and better spend the next few weeks doing nothing but prepping for the next debate. It's not too late for him, but a few more performances like this and it will be.

I think the next debate is October 11.

The Republicans Debate Again

This one snuck up on me, so I didn't get to advertise live-blogging.  Instead, I sat and Tweeted my thoughts to those who might wish to read them.

Here's a fairly good rundown on the debate from Politico.

Perry just isn't debating as well as I thought he would.  I found his answers on immigration ridiculous, somehow attempting to equate failure to provide taxpayer subsidies to illegal aliens with abandoning people.  His foreign policy answer sounded like he swallowed a briefing book and threw it up.

Mitt was solid, but didn't handle the "Race to the Top" thing very well.

Newt--a gem.

Santorum--whiny, but effecitve

Johnson--a waste

Huntsman--interesting, but plastic.

Cain--a gem too.

Bachman--pretty good answer on religious freedom, at least from history perspective.

Big Fat Friday Free For Alll

What?  Friday again?  Well then, you know what to do!  Bitch, bitch, bitch!

Narcissism on Display

A group photo at the UN. Look at the poor dude on his right. It's not all about you, Barack.

David Brooks Really Wants to Believe

Poor David Brooks. The self-described 'Obama sap' really wanted to believe. He wanted to believe he was a different kind of politician, one who could move beyond the 'stale ideological debates.' He wanted to believe he was going to 'break out of the conventional categories.' He still foolishly believes the President wants to do something about the country's structural problems. To this day, he believes in the governing style Obama talked about in 2008.

Alas, the light has dawned on Mr. Brooks. His column today captures well his angst.

I'm trying hard-and failing mightily-to feel his pain.

Is It Time to Cut the Cord with UNC?

For years now UNC athletics has been a cesspool of corruption. From the points shaving scandals of the '60 which led to the demise of the prestigious and beloved "Dixie Classic", to Mack Brown's "academic exceptions" to Butch Davis' professional mercenaries, Carolina has consistently displayed a willingness to flaunt the moral, ethical and legal rules, protocols and conventions, all the while using their network of venal politicians and media flunkies to point an accusatory finger at other institutions. UNC's hypocrisy and vindictiveness knows no bounds.

But this time there is no Bill Friday, NCSU '41, (a man of impeccable intelligence, integrity and accomplishment) to save them. This time there will be no knight in shining armor. This time they are naked before the world.

With the recent expansion of the ACC, my feeling is we don't need Carolina anymore. I say expel them from the league. One rotten apple will spoil the barrel and a rogue university running roughshod over other conference schools that actually have standards, honor and decency, is completely unacceptable.

Romney and Perry

Today's WaPost has an article on the contrasts between Governors Perry and Romney.  I realize that some might see this as the liberal media dickering, trying to drive wedges into the Republican Party, yada yada yada.  The truth is, the WaPost has it right--if the race comes down to these two men, it will feature two vastly different biographies, two vastly different personalities, and two vastly different approaches to life.  And I couldn't ask for more--this kind of differentiation is what primaries are all about.  The Republican Party will be better off for having had a gloves off primary, and whichever candidate wins will be much more seasoned when the time comes to take on President Obama.

Fred called it a head (Romney) vs. heart (Perry) thing.  Not a bad way to think about it.  Whatever the outcome, we will have a strong candidate.  Let the games begin.

Republicans and Defense

Over at the other blog, I've written something on Republicans and Defense if you care to take a look. 

Dysfunction in the Obama White House

Ron Suskind--who wrote one of the more important books on the Bush Administration response to 9-11--has a new book out in which he examines the sausage-making in the Obama White House. The story isn't pretty, but I wouldn't go too far with it.

Firstly, I find there to be delicious irony in the complaints of senior women that they were left out of the mix.  How's that diversity thing workin' out for you, Barack?  Nothing like biting the hand that feeds you, ladies.

Secondly though, pretty much every Administration has these kinds of issues.  Let's face it--the folks drawn to White House and Cabinet service aren't a bunch of wilting flowers.  They are strong, ego-driven folks, many of whom sit in their offices convinced of their intellectual superiority to the man that hired them, and just as convinced that his success is dependent upon their brilliance. 

Is anyone surprised Larry Summers is popping off?  I think the guy is brilliant, and I think he's mostly right--but a team player?  Not so much. 

No--Mr. Obama isn't any better or any poorly served by his staffing choices than were Bush I/II, Reagan or Clinton.  He's simply poorly served by his own policy choices. 

An Ongoing Interview

The Kitten, Kittens and I are interviewing this youngster an eye to keeping him.  His name (for the time being) is Baloo.

Mudge--he's got a brother and two sisters left.....

My vote is in.  Baloo stays.