Dispatch from the Road

I began this blog post while jetting across the country from Baltimore to Oklahoma City via Kansas City.  The Southwest flight advertised “Wifi” and I paid my $8, but alas, I never could get goo web performance, and so I had to resort to typing this in Word.

I’m heading back out to Lawton, OK for the final out-brief with my Army customer on work we’ve been doing for the past seven months.  Really interesting stuff, and the project has been something of which I am quite proud.  My little team of mostly Navy guys has been working closely with a great group of folks in the Army to help move a few important ideas down the field—and I think we have at least partially succeeded.  We’ll see in the next couple of years as their budgets come out, though.

For some reason, I decided not to don the tennis star rig for this trip. Perhaps because no one is fooled and I simply look like some Long Island poseur with an awful backhand and twenty extra pounds.   No, this time, I am in blue slacks, a white polo and a blazer—this way I only have to sub a button down and tie for the outbrief tomorrow and my luggage is kept to a minimum.  

At the airport, I indulged a bit and got a 20 minute massage and a shoe-shine, both of which were well-done and appropriately compensated.  Because of the shoe-shine, I was a little late getting to the gate, and my prime “A-56” boarding spot was about fifty folks in the rear-view mirror.  Much to my disappointment, there appeared only to be middle seats, until about halfway back I espied a nice aisle seat and headed for it.  When I arrived, I saw the poor, harried Mom in the middle, holding an 11 month old (Liam) and next to her, a 2 ½ year old “Lily”.  Across the aisle, was a young couple and their no more than 2 year old.  Just behind them, yet another toddler.

I decided that this was somehow karmic retribution for my massage and shoe shine, and I decided to 1) plunge in and sit amidst the aerial day care center and 2) enjoy it.  That’s right—enjoy it.  Smile.  Play with kids,  Be helpful to Mom.  Indulge Lily with bright smiles and significant interest in whatever it is she was saying.  

We got off to a great start, the kids taking the take-off with great aplomb.  Lily enjoyed it so much, she crapped her pants, about ten minutes after take-off into very bumpy skies.  The poor mother…she was mortified…had to get to the lavatory to attend to the dirty skivvies whilst the flight attendants barked orders to remain seated, etc.  She asked me for advice and I suggested she go for it. 

After changing Lily, she returned to the seat.  At which point, Liam crapped himself.  She was even more mortified.  I assured her, that there was no shame in this, that I am happy to get up so that they can go to the lavatory again, and that she should not worry about inconveniencing me one bit on the flight, as I had chosen to sit next to her.

We are (as I write) about forty minutes into the 2:18 flight.  Liam is asleep in Mom’s arms and Lily is watching a movie on an iPad.   Mom genuinely pleased with a quiet moment.  She did assure me few minutes ago that she would never travel with the kids alone again, without her husband.  I had not asked as to his whereabouts, but I certainly was interested.

In some way, I am looking at this beleaguered woman and thinking of The Kitten—who traveled with the Kittens for several years without benefit of “Dad” or any other male for that matter.  Perhaps that is why I’m leaning farther forward this time to be helpful.  I do so admire the equanimity and calm of this woman sitting next to me, and it is a reminder of great qualities of the woman I have at home.  There is no way in hell that I could do it.  Nope.  No way.

I don’t handle chaos very well.  I like order and predictability---the very opposite of the life of a parent of young children.  Today though, I decided to take it head on.  Clearly, I am worthy of no great acclaim for pulling off what others make look easy every single day.  But there is a lesson here—the whole “make lemonade” lesson when one is handed lemons.  I suppose I could easily have been my curmudgeonly self and either continued farther back in the plane to a middle seat, or silently sat and unsociably ignored the labors of the poor woman next to me.  But this time, I decided to get into the thick of it and actually try and make a bad situation for someone else a little more palatable.  I think I helped.  Ok, enough of this.

The tornado last week in Moore, OK (just outside where I will land in Oklahoma City) was a horrible thing—and after summer’s worth of trips to Oklahoma supporting the Army, I’ve come to conclude that the weather out here is really pretty horrible.  Hotter than all get out in the summer, windy always, and tornadoes are a common occurrence.  Oh, and huge hail too. I’m sure there are reasons to love living there, but I’ll take my cushy Eastern Shore life.

The trip to OK is only one night—a brief mid-day tomorrow and then the trip back home—arriving late Wed/early Thursday.  Then, I have two days back on the shore before I hop on a plane Saturday and head to Israel for a week or so.  More on this trip later, but suffice it to say, it will be a great trip—full of lectures/meetings/and from what I hear, gluttonous amounts of food.  Then it’s home for two weeks of R and R…and a serious return to bloggery here at the CW.

That’s enough for now.  Be well.

Obama, AP and Fox News: Be Careful What We Wish For

The ongoing stories of the Obama Administration's leak investigations and the possibility of First Amendment infringement (that is, the part of the First Amendment dealing with a free press), provide Republicans and Conservatives with some fine entertainment, but in the end, we have to stay out of this fight.  It isn't that we don't value a free press and its Constitutional protection--we do.  But as Justice Jackson told us in 1949, the Constitution is not a Suicide Pact.  The Press is doing a fine job fending for itself on this front, and this intramural battle is only one part of the larger comms point we should be making--and that is the overreach of government and the downside thereof.

Remember folks--we had a Republican President for 8 years.  During that time, President Bush's detractors at State, DoD and elsewhere LEAKED like sieves.  Really damaging stuff.  There HAS to be some penalty to members of the Press who step over the line, and Republicans do themselves and the country no good by simply jumping onboard the Press bandwagon in order to score political points. 

Memorial Day Reading

If you want something to remember on this day of memory, and you yearn during this long drought of honor in our national leadership, to be reminded of the greatness of America, try this.  I recommend all the Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia awardees for starters.

Big Fat Friday Free For All

Sorry folks, late again.  Tom de Plume let me have it though....

What's got you down?  Your 5th Amendment Right about to be revoked because you were arrogant and stupid?  Tired of reporters beating you up for reading their email? 

Complain about it!  What is on your mind? 

Is Time Running Out for Mr. Jefferson's University?

Here's an article in the Washington Post that is sure to inflame the passions of many a Wahoo regarding a review of UVa and the findings that they are slipping as an institution of higher learning.

I have no deep-rooted feelings about it but I wanted to give CW a reason to weigh in on the topic.  Entertaining spread of viewpoints in the comments section there too.

Les ravages du temps

Oh Mr. Hammer, I didn't know it could be like THAT!

Gimme a pack of Marlboro Lights and a strawberry blunt.

Big Fat Friday Free For All

What's the matter D'Artagnan?  Rough week, huh?  Yeah.  We know.  Hard to be the savior of the free world when everyone's holding you to trivialities, like the law.  And your promises. 

Don't hold back, friend.  Let it out.  Bitch, whine, kvetch. 

Powerballin'

I read today where my lump sum winnings from this coming Saturday's Powerball drawing will be $304M (out of $475M--though this pot will grow, assuredly).  Very few pursuits in my life summon up the strategic thinker and planner in me as strongly as a two-hour drive to DC whilst pondering my approach to sudden, unspeakable wealth.

CW, as of this Saturday

I thought really hard about this.  Essentially I walk away with $150M.  I'd have to spend nearly $10M a year to NOT make money (5% rate of return). 

I added up how things would change.  First year, roughly $3M goes out to pay off family mortgages and and set up college funds for nieces and nephews.  I figure $150K per kid.  If you've paid your mortgage off, good for you (Tom), but you'll only get the $300K for the kids. 

Mom and Dad can have what they want.  Probably buy my Dad $100K worth of Snickers bars. 

The Kitten doesn't demand much.  Probably some sick jewelry.  No problem there.

I'd buy a three BR condo in DC....pied a terre.  Nice, comfy place. Garage parking.  Valet.  I'd mortgage the place, as cheap as money is these days....

Probably buy a place in the Caribbean.  Tasteful. Small. 

Gotta pay Kitten tuitions, not cheap.

But in reality, I live a pretty good life already, I can't possibly eat more than I do, and outside of maybe buying this little beauty, I don't think there'd be a lot of conspicuous consumption.   I'd probably hire a personal trainer to get my fat ass in shape.  I'd get a massage every week.  Maybe gussy up the ManCave.

Clearly I'd stop working (for money)--but I would still be busy.  I'd go to Thinktanks and just take it all in. I'd ask a lot of inconvenient questions.  I'd hire someone to get me really goosed up on Maryland issues.  Really goosed up.  Maybe run against this abomination.   Be a big wheel in the next Presidential Campaign.  Write and think every day.  Maybe even write a book.

Mike--the guy who works the shitshift at Dunkin' Donuts, the guy who gives me my 0545 coffee  with a huge smile and a pleasant hello--pulling down a 3.6 in accounting at Salisbury U-- get him off to a good start when he graduates.  Hard working SOB.

My boy Tim--well, he won't write a tuition check.

Other than that, we're looking at that $150M growing to nearly $300M in ten years.  Stay tuned.

Why Men Don't Understand Women, Part 173*

**Not audibly safe for work.

Give this little ditty a listen, and try not to shake your head in knowing pain.

They Get It!

This has been a wild two weeks. First Benghazi comes to a head (sorta), then we get the AP scandal with the old media sounding like a cheated on woman in denial (Not MY MAN!) and now potentially the most dangerous of all for the administration, the IRS scandal. But I'm still not convinced the media will do it's job, they adore this guy! For them he's JFK, MLK, Nelson Mandela and Gandhi all rolled into one. They may feel jilted, but trust me, they will find a way to blame underlings or perhaps sequester cuts brought on by Republicans and they'll even try to brass their way through. In fact, it's already started.

Jeffrey Toobin gives us a taste of this method (WARNING: only to be used with a fawning, compliant media) with this opening line for a piece in the New Yorker "Washington's scandal machinery, rusty from recent disuse, is cranking back up to speed due to the alleged targeting of conservative groups by the IRS". The IRS has already admitted to the illegal targeting but he says "alleged". He goes on to ask "Did the IRS actually do anything wrong?" According to Toobin the real problem is our campaign laws and 501(c) organizations which are overwhelmingly Republican, and asks us to believe that Democrats would probably do the same thing but "...they lacked the Republican base for funding..." WOW! Hold the phone, I think we got a live one on the other end!

The thing is Benghazi is a confusing mess, and although it may get some traction with guys like us who are big into politics, it will not hurt the Democrats or Obama. It might be a negative for Hillary, but it can be overcome. The AP scandal is much the same thing. Was it wrong and illegal and should heads roll for AG Holder on down? Hell yes! Will it happen? Hell No! But the IRS scandal, now there's one the American people can sink their teeth into. They understand the IRS. That's where their money goes. Most Americans couldn't find Benghazi on a map with a gun to their head, and AP...who's that? But with the IRS, they get that one.

So we'll see how it plays out, but don't in a million years expect the media to do its job. Not gonna happen.

Glee

   Is it wrong to immensely enjoy the press corps waking from their slumber to hammer O, Jay Carney and Eric Holder?

   Because this is really something to behold.

A Tribute

      Happy Mothers Day to my wonderful Mom.  She will not read this, of course, because she doesn't understand the need for computers.  She doesn't spend much time in the room where Dad has the computer, though she occasionally goes in there to use the phone...the rotary phone.   Since they're out of town today, I'll be unable to call and wish her a Happy Mothers Day, because while she owns a cell phone, she doesn't ever answer it because she finds it confusing.

     Technology is hard.

     But my mom rocks.

A Tale of Two Athletes

      I'm a little late to this story, but I'm just now getting around to sorting through the stack of magazines that have arrived the last two weeks.  Among them were a couple of Sports Illustrateds, which I generally look forward to reading (it has some great writing).  The cover of the May 6 issue featured an 'Exclusive...The Gay Athlete.'  Inside, the reader was treated to a six-page essay on the journey of Jason Collins, the recently-out NBA player, followed by another five-page essay on 'what this means.'    Collins received a bizarre amount of attention for his act.  And a really weird phone call from the President, who called to thank him (what exactly he's thanking him for is unclear, and seems approximately as appropriate as his call to Sandra Fluke).
   
     I find this story ridiculous not because some dude in the NBA is gay.  Indeed, he may be one of the few among his brethren who will not father seven children by seven different women.  Collins shouldn't be criticized, but he certainly shouldn't be celebrated.  Isn't making a fuss about this an unusual response to a situation that is now supposed to be one of acceptance in our great effort to coexist?  Have we learned nothing from the bumper sticker??
   
    And let's just take a moment here and contrast the treatment of Collins with the treatment of Tim Tebow.  His avowals of faith may not be for everyone, I get that.  But Tebow is treated with nearly universal derision.  Isn't his behavior at least as exemplary as Collins' behavior?  Wouldn't a phone call from the President thanking him for the example he sets as a Christian be just as reasonable as a phone call to Jason Collins?

Genuinely Delightful Couple

If all your worrying about CW has you spent, head over to Powerline.blog for a refreshing video clip of two people who are perfectly suited for one another and who are guaranteed to make you smile and maybe even get up and dance. Enjoy.

CBR - Conservatoblogonary Resuscitation

Code Blue! Doctor Sally and Doctor Goldwater to ER stat!  Patient showed signs of recovery midweek but has slipped back into nolo scrivenarum and we've begun administering CBR.  Readers please keep CW in your thoughts as Doctors Hammer, Sally and Goldwater use their gifted (or acrid) hands to bring this beloved fish back to life.    

BBFFFFA (Belated Big Fat Friday Free For All)

Well here we are again.  Except this time we have a one day lag in announcing BFFFFA.  Hopefully this phase shift with the cosmos will not contribute any further to anthropogenic global warming that results in rising of the seas causing some enterprising boat builder to have to rescue all the fauna of the planet (except, like the dinosaurs and unicorns, white male conservatives and their blogs).  Anyway, an interesting week for the Administration in that, as Rush says, "random acts of journalism" broke out here and there and must have made The One wonder if there was a mutiny from the information arm of the democratic party. So, why not join the chatter right here?  This is your time to, as our MIA founder once said every week: "emote people, emote!"

THE HAMMER WAS WRONG (possibly)

It appears CW was dead on the money with his post a few days ago that "...President Obama is going to ruin Hillary Clinton". At least it's looking like he will try. Jay Carney ever so delicately threw Hillary to the lions yesterday, so their intent is certainly clear.
My thoughts prior to Wednesday's hearing and Jay Carney's vaudeville act yesterday was that if things got hot, which I thought was unlikely, then State and the White House would just get together and pick a fall guy. Leon Panetta was the most likely candidate if it had to be a "name" (the guy is old, about to retire, no future political ambitions etc.). But I think we've moved past that stage.
But don't count your chicken just yet. Everything is still dependent on how hard the media pushes the story. Your average Joe still knows nothing about Benghazi. Jay Leno (or somebody) interviewed people in Time's Square and one woman replied "I don't know who Benghazi is". The coverage has been sporadic to say the least. On Wednesday Fox covered almost all the hearing, CNN about 20 minutes and MSNBS none. The networks apart from ABC who broke the emails (with the one stylistic change) just brushed over it as best they could.  This Times editorial yesterday was pretty much the position I expected the media to take, but after that absolutely ridiculous tightrope walk of a press briefing, I think maybe we've hit critical mass.
So, what's going to happen? Well they'll have to subpoena Hillary and she faces a choice. She can take the hit and hope everything just blows over before '16 (which ain't going to happen in a million years and the Clinton's are smart enough to know it) or she can double-down and try to BS her way through (a dangerous game indeed) or she can come clean and depending on the facts of course, lay everything at Obama's door. After all, he's the boss. Regardless this whole affair has the potential to be a big-time game changer. The Clinton's and the White House playing musical chairs and the liberal media playing the tune; man it doesn't get any better than this! And I for one can't wait.

Random Thoughts from a Disturbed Mind

President Obama has just nominated fellow traveler Mel Watt (D-NC), to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The National Review describes Rep. Watt as "Wall Street's Favorite Racist" and after seeing Mel operate over the years, I could not agree more. His racist views and comments have been well documented, but that's not what really disturbs me. According to the Democratic Socialists of America website he is a member of the socialists party caucus in Congress (along with 70 other Democrats). So, the fact that he is a socialist, a race-baiter, and in bed with half the banks and finance houses in the country (and the #1 guy of Charlotte's Bank of America) who made a killing off the housing crisis, how long do you think it will take before we get "principal reduction" and return to the wild and woolly days of sub-prime lending? It nearly destroyed our economy last time (at least that's what they told us), so do you think we can stand another round of trillion dollar bailouts and the corruption and plundering of the treasury that accompanied the whole nefarious scheme? It's time to get government out of the banking business. No more "federally insured" anything. Regulate the hell out of banks for sure. Make them carry and pay for their own private insurance on deposits. Regulate the hell out of the insurers so if worse comes to worse we know the money is there. But what we can't do is pressure banks to make bad loans that eventually end up on the books of the federal government. If they want to make bad loans, let them take the hit, not us. And by the way, break 'em up. Too big to fail is too big period.

It appears the Democrats' "go to" Sugar Daddy George Soros made a quick $60 mil in three days shorting the Australian dollar. Now considering Soros funds the Democrat infrastructure of intimidation and mind control through his Tides Foundation, Open Society Foundation and Media Matters (to name just a very few) and considering we have the most leftist, corrupt President since forever, what would the potential for corruption in terms of insider knowledge from a government source be on this whole sordid episode?

I'm sure CW is elated fellow alumnus Mark Sanford won down in South Carolina. Real Politics' last poll had Sanford +1, and he actually won by 9 or 10. I'm thrilled he won but this guy broke my heart. He was destined to be a superstar for the Republicans, and he blew it like a chump. So we shouldn't really read anything into this race in terms of Sanford "being back", he ain't. This is a heavily Republican district and his opponent was a loser from the get go (Co-BEAR my ass, it's Cole-Bert) And dude, this is South Carolina. Those people make me look downright congenial by comparison. They ain't electing the sister of some leftist, smartass turncoat of a TV personality.

The Benghazi hearing starts today and we should be getting some fireworks. Drudge is leading off with a "I Blame Her" headline and a picture of a smiling Hillary, click on it and you get a real cool video of Jake Tapper interviewing the mother of one of the four dead. It's pretty heady stuff! A lot of names are saying this could be Obama's downfall, Mike Huckabee and John Bolton to name just a couple. I don't know but I can't see this happening. As Dennis Miller said last night, whomever pulls the old Woodward & Bernstein on Obama is finished. Bringing down Obama or even Hillary would be career suicide...and maybe worse. So if this is going to happen, it will happen without the help of the NY Times. And if I were Sharyl Attkisson I'd get a food taster.
UPDATE: It seems Ms. Attkisson is being hit from both sides.

On a personal note I think I've played out my Facebook stream. I lose friends quicker than Anthony Weiner on a girl scout page. I freely admit I'm not suited to FB, I'm just too belligerent. This is a typical conversation I had the other day:

XXX: How do you know Linda xxxxx?

Hammer: Who says I do? The name rings a bell but I deal with a lot of people. Who is she?

XXX: Your (sic) friends with her. Relax. Why so combative?

Hammer: Combative? Man are you kidding? You'll know when I'm combative. But anyway I guess   she friended me at one stage or another. Why, do you know her? And stop being such an accusatory asshole.

XXX: Ok we're done here. I was just trying to ask a question. Have a nice day.

Hammer: I was just giving you an example of combative.

XXX: Too late, not funny. Your (sic) way too judgmental for us to be friends. I hope you have a nice existence.

Hammer: God, people are so sensitive these days.

So, as you can see, maybe FB isn't the best fit for a guy like me (I should have guessed when Sgt. Major kept unfriending me). But let me just say this about that, if we were once FB pals and for some reason I offended you or insulted you or otherwise caused you distress, then let me say sincerely you can pucker up and kiss my sphincter because I could give a rat's ass. And that dear FB friends is from the heart.

  

The Ravages of Time....

1976, World's Greatest Athlete

2013, Kept Man

Small businesses accelerate hiring, help drive unemployment down to four-year low  

By J.D. Harrison, Published: May 3 (Washington Post)

Slowly but surely, small businesses are starting to accelerate their pace of hiring, helping drive down the overall unemployment rate to a four-year low last month.

Small business owners increased employment by an average of 0.14 workers per company in April, according to the latest report from the National Federation of Independent Business. That’s still slow growth by historic standards, but it marks the fifth consecutive month of gains after a topsy turvy year in 2012.

Hmmm? Five straight months. Let's see, that means the unemployment picture was starting the "recovery" in December, just after the election. So what happened I wonder? Did small bidnez get so pumped at the prospect of four more years of Obama that by golly they just had to go hire some folks? Just a second, let me think about this....hang on...I think it's coming to me...yes I've got it! The Compost is full of horse-derves. 

Here's the thang, yeah there's more jobs, but they're PART-TIME jobs. As El Rushbo explains:

Let me stick with this. “While the American economy added 293,000 jobs last month,” again, these are government numbers, “according to the separate Household Survey, the number of people employed part time for economic reasons,” i.e., “involuntary part-time workers…” That’s what the Labor Department calls them: Involuntary part-time workers These are people that have their hours reduced. That number of people employed part time for economic reasons “increased by 278,000 to 7.9 million, largely offsetting a decrease in March.

“These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.” At the same time, the U-6 unemployment rate — which is the number people out of work and the number of people who have given up and are no longer counted in the U-3 number — that number went up. It’s 13.9%.
The U-6 unemployment rate, which includes discouraged workers and part-timers who want full-time work, went from 13.8 to 13.9%.

And there’s more. There was a two-tenths of an hour decline in the length of the average workweek. I mean, this stuff gets detailed and filled with minutia. But the nut of it here is that it’s a part-time economy, and the number of involuntary part-time workers is skyrocketing. Now, remember, the economy added 293,000 jobs last month. The number of people employed part time increased by about the same: 278,000. So we’re not adding careers, is how I look at it.

We’re adding part-time people whose hours are being reduced because of Obamacare. There are anecdotal reports like this one from the Los Angeles Times: “Consider the city of Long Beach. It is limiting most of its 1,600 part-time employees to fewer than 27 hours a week, on average. City officials say that without cutting payroll hours, new health benefits would cost up to $2 million more next year…” So the City of Long Beach, in order to save $2 million that it does not have, has reduced the workweek for 1600 people that work for the city down to 27 hours.

So the idea the economy is recovering because of these new jobs is absurd, especially when everybody knows jobs are the trailing not leading indicator of economic recovery. No, what this is is a leading indicator of the destruction ObamaCare is about to wreak on our already weak and mismanaged country. But I'm sure this kind of BS plays well with some folks, like those at the Washington Post.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo

Will Obama Hang Benghazi Around Hillary's Neck?

Things are heating up on the thus far stone-walled investigation into the killings of our Ambassador to Libya and three others "a long time ago" (Jay Carney).  Some important "whistleblowers" are set to testify before Congress, and The Weekly Standard's Stephen F. Hayes has done some excellent reporting on how the State Department and White House conspired to erase references to terrorists in the initial reports of the Benghazi attack, involvement that at the point was well established.  If the MSM goes rogue and actually begins to cover this story, things could get hot for the President.  So, what will he do?

One of my Twitter follows "Drew M" (@DrewMTips) made a great point in an exchange with me today that if it gets hot, President Obama is going to ruin Hillary Clinton.  He'll hang Benghazi around her neck so fast it will make her frequently changing hairstyle head spin.  We'll see coverage of her famous "What Difference Does It Make" shriek and Mrs. Clinton's march to the Presidency will be stopped dead in its tracks by the man currently occupying the office.

Of course all of this depends on the MSM picking up the story.  Someone other than Sharyl Attkisson.

The Rumors of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

Thanks to both Mudge and Hammer for their compassionate concern for my well-being, and my continued apologies to those of you who actually enjoy my blogging and occasionally visit the site to read some of it.  I realize the wasteland that the blog has become, what with 80% of the posts coming from the acrid fingers of The Hammer.  Not that Mudge has helped much in diluting that stream.

My blogging suffers for several causes.  Hammer's right--the campaign did take a lot out of me.  I haven't been following politics as closely.  Frankly, the back and forth has left me a little cold.  I'm a bit dejected about the direction the Republican Party is taking--or not taking to be more correctly (as in, I see it not headed in any coherent direction), I frankly find it difficult to be charitable toward my fellow citizens who returned Barack Obama to office, and am downright angry about those who continue to defend his feckless performance.  The man is out of his league, and has been from the get-go. 

Also, some of you may have noticed that our nation's budgetary system is in a shambles.  This has had consequences, and has made my day job more difficult, which of course, crowds out the deliriously wonderful time available for blogging. 

Ironically, at this time of uncertainty, one of my projects comes to a close at the end of the month, and there is a ton of work to do.  A ton.

I ask your patience.  Things will get better and I'll be back.  

Blogger?...Blogger?... Blogger?

"Honey, the milk tastes fishy..."

Missing since 26 April 2013.
Last seen Lawton, OK.
Wearing polyester plaid leisure suit and porkpie hat with beige hushpuppy shoes
Answers to: Crime Dog, B-Diddy and THE cw. 

Please comment below if  you have any information as to his whereabouts. 

Big Fat Friday Free for All

Miss, for the last time, please quit ruining my BFFFFA picture.

It's late and I can't find CW.  So here it is folks, that's right, what all of us wait for each and every Friday here at the Conservative Wahoo.  I know we are all suffering from non-partum depression after the last election but that's no reason not to keep your gripe on.  So let 'em rip and put some key strokes in the comment section. 

Power Meets Glitz at the White House Correspondents' Annual Gala

Last night Conan O'Brien hosted the annual White House Correspondents' bash at the Hilton in Washington, DC, and what an evening it was! The event is always a hot ticket in Hollywood circles and this years crop of celebs and power players did not disappoint. Tinseltown titans Barbara Streisand, George Clooney, Steven Speilberg and Harvey Weinstein showed up to hobnob with the political elite, along with Shaqille O'Neal, Jon Bon Jovi and even Lindsay Lohan. But if you weren't lucky enough to score a ticket, maybe you caught one of the ancillary shindigs such as the Creative Coalition Celebrates Women in Media party held at the Ritz Carlton and hosted by Nora O'Donnell and Alex Wagner? Or perhaps the New Yorker Mag Cocktail Reception on the rooftop terrace of the W was more your thing? Regardless, be it the Hollywood Reporter/Google at the W (the "in" hotel this year), the Bloomberg/Vanity Fair at the French Ambassador's residence or MSNBC's "The After Party" at the Italian Embassy, you'll be in the company of the beautiful and the powerful.

So, let's get down to business; best dressed and worst dressed.

BEST DRESSED had to be the irrepressible Katy Perry. She looked absolutely killer in her Giambattista Valli gown with metallic, twig-accented belt. She tamed her opulent boobage (much to the chagrin of many a Washington insider) but we're betting she still raised a few flagpoles. 

KatyKat completed her knockout look with glossy tumbling waves and a single good ring on her index finger. VERY Roman!

WORST DRESSED was undoubtedly Australian comedienne Rebel Wilson ( I know, I've never heard of her either). She may very well deserve the Victoria Cross for bravely showing up in a Navy blue moo moo apparently adapted from the tent sale currently going on at REI. Ms. Wilson is all smiles at the prospect of faking a posh British accent while skulling free Fosters all night. 

But let's not forget why we're here; to watch a vulgar display of narcissism and self congratulation, and to bow down and kiss the ass of the corporate media, the politicians and the entertainment elite who control and manipulate us. We are just hicks and rubes out in "fly over" country who are in awe of the powerful, and rightly so. Our wonderful President and beautiful First Lady deserve our respect and gratitude as they could not represent the elite any better. Louis XVI would be proud.

Racism Is As Racism Does

    Not a day goes by when I don't get accused of racism. I rarely defend myself against such a scurrilous charge...well, because it's true. Now I'm not guilty of what I'm accused of, at least in the way the accuser usually means. And more often than not anybody who throws out this charge is just trying to discredit my argument and shut down debate. As I've said before, the ultimate crime in America today is racism. If you are deemed racist you'll be shunned and ostracized and every effort will be made to shut you up and shut you down. This happens in lowly chat-rooms or at the highest levels of discourse, just ask Pat Buchanan.

    But my racism is more subtle. Do I believe some races are inherently more intelligent than others? Well, yes I do. If the research is accurate, and I believe it is, then one could not conclude otherwise. But I also believe there are many factors that lead to success or a fulfilling life or economic prosperity or whatever you want to call it, and the relatively minute differences in across the board intellectual capabilities of particular races as compared to each other is a very minor factor indeed. Things like hard work, drive, initiative and just the will to achieve whatever goal you set for yourself, to overcome the inevitable obstacles (and there will be many), that my friends is infinitely more important than raw intelligence.
    So, do I believe racism exists? Yes I do, but not in the way you probably think. I believe most white Americans are accepting of other races and that most of our differences are cultural. But I do believe many cultures are inferior, at least insofar as they promote the values I believe in. I believe that many "civil rights leaders" have advanced a cast system propagating the belief that their ethnicity precludes them from receiving a fair shake, that society is inherently racist and that members of their race need the protection only offered by the highest varna, which so happens to be them. I believe they are the real racists, the real oppressors and the enemies of America. And I believe the left encourages and uses these people to tear down our system and way of life.

    So let's have a look at some real racism shall we? The photo at left is from an article in the NY Times entitled: U.S. Opens Spigot Afters Farmers Claim Discrimination. The piece goes on relate how the sometimes legitimate claims of discrimination by minority farmers was turned into a corrupt money grab by anybody and everybody (as long as they met the racial criterion) and ended up actually shortchanging those farmers who in fact were discriminated against. It tells how political forces conspired to shakedown the American people over the objections of career USDA officials and attorneys, and how the law was ignored. This is corruption so blatant as to remind one of Mayor Dailey's Chicago.
    And on the other side of the USDA coin, we have a man named Stephen LaRoque. Mr. LaRoque was a NC House Representative who had the impudence to accuse the local NAACP Chairman Reverend William C. Barber of racism. Well, as you might imagine this did not sit well with the liberal establishment. The effusive Rev. Barber is an important cog in the NC progressive machine and this kind of effrontery could not be tolerated. NC Policy Watch, a Soros funded "government watchdog" group outed Rep. LaRoque to the USDA, the FBI, the IRS the NC SBI and presumably the NCAA and ASPCA for "discrepancies" in grants and loans he oversaw. The Chairman of the House Rules Committee was indicted by a federal grand jury for theft and money laundering a short time later and was forced to resign. Although he maintains his innocence, his political career is over.
    Racism, bigotry and discrimination are ugly words, and uglier still in practice. But when they are used as political tools and as means to slander and destroy by some of the most hateful, racist and unjust, then what you are observing is pure evil. So I proudly declare myself a racist, and I'll take my brand of racism over their's any day of the week!

Big Fat Friday Free For All

What's got you down, friends?  Is your reviled predecessor now as popular as you are?  Is your baby boy admitting to crimes you say he didn't commit?  Did your "let's all put on our NFL jerseys and watch the draft party" turn out to be as stupid and geeked up as it was obvious it would be?  Emote, friends.  Share it.

Care to see where we ate dinner last night?   Check out the menu.  No way I'm weighing in this week.

Encountered this noble beast on the way to dinner in Lawton, OK

Dinner spot, Lawton OK.  Was shocked not to see Mudge there.

On the Road Again.....

For the last two days I have awakened to the alarm of a white work truck parked outside my first floor motel room in lovely Lawton, OK.  Early.  The front desk guy was sympathetic, and said he'd get the guy to move his truck (apparently he is working nearby on a job site)--but that the reason it was parked right out front was that it had been broken into last month.  Apparently the burglars are at it again.  Note to self, don't leave the Garmin GPS rigged anymore.

So there you have it.  I'm once again in flyover country, Lawton OK, where I've been since Tuesday.  Sorry (Captain Todd) for the failure to blog from the airport, but I was with two colleagues and their conversation kept me from my duties. We'll fly out late Friday afternoon and I'll get back to my Kittens somewhere around 0130 Saturday. 

Some of you are aware of the great struggles I have experienced with motel room coffee machines. I am happy to report no problems here, though I do continue to marvel at the industrial grade electrical cords that get attached to coffee makers and hairdryers in motel rooms. 

Is it just me, or do the rest of you find that the cheaper the hotel/motel, the more likely high speed internet is to be free?  The wickedly expensive Hawaiian hotels I've been shacking up in also rook you for daily internet.  Sometimes it is part of a "resort fee", whatever the hell that is.

Like the rest of you, I followed the bombing in Boston with a great deal of attention.  Twitter was indispensable for staying up to the minute in the latest scurrilous rumor, and occasionally there would be a report that was true.  I'm staggered by the pure number of reports that came out that subsequently were proven to be false. Some of the latest reporting indicates that the little miscreant in the boat was actually unarmed when apprehended, which sorta undercuts the whole "shootout at the OK corral" reports we got earlier.  And so it goes.  The media hops on stories like this like a hobo on a ham sandwich and gets much of it wrong in an effort to get much of it first. 

The flights out here were unmolested by the passive aggressive actions of air-traffic controllers, doing the wildcat slow-roll in order to inconvenience air travelers enough that President Obama can get more tax increases.  I think the President is seriously over-extended on this one, as no one I talk to hangs the flight delays reported on the Congress--just the President. 

I realize that my blogging has been pretty crappy in the face of stories that should get a Conservative pretty riles up.  The Gosnell Trial, the Boston bombing, the gun control fight, and immigration--all are in the news.  But the plain truth is that the Presidential election took a lot of wind out of my political sails, and I still don't think I'm quite up to fighting trim again.  As I've covered before, I have substituted the conflict of sports radio--in which I have no real interest in outcomes--with the conflict of POTUS Radio on SIRIUS--and the very important issues in which I do/did have interest in outcomes.  I am a hell of a lot better informed to opine on the NBA playoffs than I am on the intricacies of the immigration debate going on right now.  I don't think this is a permanent condition, but it does account for some of the laggardly performance of this blog.

Ok--that's all for now.  Big, hard, hairy day today.  Gotta go tackle it.

You're Firing Me For What?

Let's talk about Stacie Halas, former science teacher at Haydock Intermediate School in Oxnard, California. Ms. Halas ran into a spot of bother last year when her young charges accused her of moonlighting in pornographic films. No so answered Ms. Halas. She admits to being a porn actress, for a brief period, but only due to dire financial hardship brought about by her boyfriend leaving her high and dry. What's a girl to do asked Ms. Halas? Not porn says the California Commission on Professional Competence which concluded "Although her pornographic career has concluded, the ongoing availability of her pornographic materials on the internet will continue to impede her from being an effective teacher and respected colleague." I guess we can conclude somebody in California is still sane.
    So what's your point, you know, other than you like to talk about porn actresses? My point dear reader is education is useless without ethics and morality. How many times have we been told that education is the key? If we could only educate young people then everything will be ok. Let's spend more and more on education because if you think education is expensive, try ignorance. Ok maybe so, but education comes in many forms and guises, and one very important form is education by example. Now don't think Ms. Halas is an extreme case of the moral turpitude of many of our educators, there are loads of others much more dangerous and much more insidious than the frisky young science instructor. Just Google "criminal teachers" and click images (make sure your filter is on!!). You'll be treated to mugshot after mugshot, licentious Facebook photos and newspaper perp-walk images galore. 
    You want to know why the country is going to hades just take a close look at the education establishment with their unions and "rubber rooms"! Too often they're not about education, they're not about teaching and passing along our common values. They're about political indoctrination, baby-sitting and benefit packages. Plus they're a jealous master, just ask Ben Chavis out in Oakland who started a very successful charter school that was so bad it was shut down at first opportunity. But even if a kid does learn the three Rs, they graduate as moral bankrupts schooled in the arts of complaining, subversion and mob rule. We MUST break the back of the "education industrial complex" that is robbing us of our money, robbing our kids of a good education and robbing our country's future.

 "Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil."

— C. S. Lewis

BREAKING NEWS... Planning for Boston Bomb Began 48 Years Ago!

Ever heard of Hart-Celler? Probably not. How about the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965? OK, got a ping on that one? Of course they're both the same thing. In 1965 in the wake of all the new civil rights legislation, Phil Hart of Michigan along with Congressman Emanuel Celler (representing Brooklyn and Queens) sponsored Lyndon Johnson's new immigration bill. Up until then immigration was limited to persons of any nationality to 3 percent of that nationality present in the United States in 1910, with an annual admission limit of 356,000. It was designed to maintain the ethnic, cultural and religious makeup of the US and to accept only those individuals who could bring something to the table; i.e. the best and the brightest. LBJ signed the unpopular Hart-Celler in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty saying this "...was not a revolutionary bill" and would not change America's cultural identity significantly. Teddy Kennedy, a huge supporter of the legislation who in the name of his brother worked hard for its enactment, said the bill would have no impact on the demographic mix or cultural identity of the United States. They were both lying, and they both knew it.

Forty eight years later there are over 5.1 million foreign born residents in the New York metropolitan area alone. Los Angeles has 4.4 million, Miami nearly 2 million and Houston, Washington and Dallas about a million each. In fact, 51% of the residents of Miami, Florida are foreign born. Archie Bunker's home borough of Queens is nearly 50% foreign born with the largest chunk coming from...The People's Republic of China. Figure that one out!

So now we have de facto open immigration, and have had for years. If you can get here through hook or crook; student visa, tourist visa, stowaway or border jumper, then you're home free because it's nearly impossible to get deported. Plus, we allow the legal immigration of people who are sworn enemies of America and all it stands for. Particular nationalities such as the aforementioned Red Chinese, religions that are antithetical to freedom, ethnic groups such as Palestinians and proponents of political ideologies diametrically opposed to our Constitution. The bombing in Boston is directly on point. Why in the world would we allow immigration from Chechnya knowing these are some of the most radicalized, foaming at the mouth Jihadist killers in the world?

I believe immigration policy is the most important issue before us as a nation. It reverberates through everything we do from economic policy to foreign policy to national and domestic security. We cannot invite our enemies to live among us in the hope that they will come to love us. This family of Chechnyans in Boston were treated pretty well by this country, and if they could they would have blown us all to hell. We should use this tragic act of terror the same way Mr. Obama tried to use the Newtown killings. We should immediately call for a complete overhaul of our immigration system from top to bottom. We need to secure our borders as well as impose a moratorium on ALL immigration until we can digest the immigrants we now have. We do not need people coming here just to feed at the trough, we need people who want to contribute, are respectful of American values and wish to assimilate and BECOME Americans. Allowing in people like the killers in Boston is like a dog inviting fleas, and if there are enough the dog dies.

Neither shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be a cursed thing like it: but you shall utterly detest it, and you shall utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing. Deuteronomy 7:26

Best....Ad.....Ever.....

I know it is a bit risque, but this is a powerful ad.

LOW INFORMATION VOTER NEWS

The Boston Massacre

What can one say at a time like this?  Such senseless tragedy, innocents killed and maimed, for what? 

I've been following things on Twitter, and I am sickened by the discourse there.  Partisans on each side desperately trying for the single advantage they can gain on the other side.  While people cling to their lives.  While people mourn. 

I think I have to stop watching and reading about this for a bit.  Say a prayer for the dead, the dying, the grieving.

April 15th Reminds Me Why I’m Not a Republican

It’s tax days kids and if you’re one of the dwindling number of self-serving profit seekers, uncaring for the plight of the less fortunate, devoid of any feeling or compassion for the downtrodden losers of life’s lottery, well then my greedy money grubbing friend you may not have built that magnificent lifestyle you unjustly enjoy, but thank God you are still required to pay the tax on it. And for cryin’ out loud stop your bitching, you’ve got plenty of company. But not nearly as much as you should as nearly 50% of US residents (I’ll not say citizens) pay no federal income taxes at all. So for those people, all these budget and tax arguments fall on deaf ears (assuming the idiots could even follow it). And REPUBLICANS allowed that to happen.

We are in for an “Immigration” bill pretty soon. We are about to legalize and offer a “path to citizenship” to reportedly 12 to 13 million illegal aliens currently residing in our country. Now you may believe this 12-13 number, I don’t. I think it’s more like 25-30 million, but let’s assume it is in fact only 12 million. In very short order Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and even Texas will go the way of California and never vote Republican again. You see 57% of immigrants both legal and illegal receive some sort of government subsidy. Why in God’s name would they vote for a party that wants to reduce taxes (of which they pay nada) and take away or reduce their benefits? And REPUBLICANS allowed that to happen.

Since the end of the Cold War we have been traipsing around the world sticking our nose into this or that country’s business. From the Balkans to Afghanistan to Central America to the Horn of Africa and the Middle East; we can’t seem to mind our own business. And now it looks like the Korean Peninsula is heating up, just what we need! Correct me if I’m wrong, but is not Europe capable of defending themselves? Aren’t the Japanese and South Koreans wealthy enough to provide for their own defense? Why does it fall on America to maintain near Cold War levels of preparedness? Why do we have to pay to keep the sea-lanes open, for Chinese and Japanese commerce? And REPUBLICANS not only allowed this to happen, in many cases they instigated the policy.  

In March 2012 President Obama signed Executive Order 13603 which gave the federal government in times of a national emergency (as defined by the federal government) the power to seize:

“All commodities and products that are capable of being ingested by either human beings or animals”

“All forms of energy”

“All forms of civil transportation”

“All usable water from all sources”

“Health resources; drugs, biological products, medical devices, materials, facilities, health supplies, services and equipment”

Forced labor (or “induction” as the executive order delicately refers to military conscription)

Forbes, 4/29/12

Homeland Security has ordered 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition, so much in fact it’s hard to find ammo anywhere. They’ve ordered a shocking amount of hollow-point and sniper ammo. Plus Homeland security still isn’t done. Again, Forbes magazine reports…

“The Department of Homeland Security is apparently taking delivery (through the Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico VA, via the manufacturer – Navistar Defense LLC) of an undetermined number of the recently retrofitted 2,717 “Mine Resistant Protected” MaxxPro MRAP vehicles for service on the streets of the United States. These MRAP’s ARE BEING SEEN ON U.S. STREETS all across America by verified observers with photos, videos, and descriptions. Regardless of the exact number of MRAP’s being delivered to DHS (and evidently some to POLICE via DHS, as has been observed), why would they need such over-the-top vehicles on U.S. streets to withstand IEDs, mine blasts, and 50 caliber hits to bullet-proof glass? In a war zone… yes, definitely. Let’s protect our men and women, but on the streets of America?”

Furthermore just wait until Obamacare kicks in, there’ll be a whole assortment of anti-freedom, control measures you’ll all just love. And REPUBLICANS allowed, and continue to allow this to happen.

Here’s the thing, I am a Constitutional conservative. I believe in limited government and the rule of law. I believe most of our elected leaders have ignored their oaths of office to “serve, protect and defend” the Constitution. I believe we have been put on a path to national suicide by foreign malefactors such as George Soros, a determined and well-organized leftist movement and incompetent, self-interested politicians. I do not expect Democrats to act in the interest of our national traditions or the American people, but what I do expect is a vigorous defense of our national integrity and way of life from the opposition. I haven’t seen that in a long time, and neither have the American people.  I believe the Republican Party has participated in their own demise through omission (cowardice) or commission (cooperation with the left) to the detriment of our culture and our country. I believe the Republican Party is vacuous, venal and weak. I believe they have become so concerned with their own personal status and lifestyle, they have forgotten their own essential values (assuming they had them in the first place). I believe America as we have known it is over, that the forces of evil are taking control and the greatest system for the preservation of freedom and ending of human suffering, i.e. democratic capitalism, is being sacrificed in the name of “equality” which in historic terms is synonymous with mass murder. And I believe the Republican Party could have stopped most of this insanity, if only they had the guts.

THAT is why I’m not a Republican.

Departing Hawaii Post

It is nearly four o'clock in the afternoon here at Honolulu International Airport, and my red-eye flight departs in four hours.  The hotel allowed me a late check-out to 2PM, but seeing no profit in sitting in the lobby there, I decided to take a shuttle here where I could set up and think/blog/people-watch.  Solidifying my reputation as the world's most inconsistent impulse buyer, I jumped on the First Class upgrade when I checked in online this morning like a hobo on a ham sandwich.  Now a few hundred dollars lighter in the wallet, I have decided to economize and not purchase entry into the hermetically-sealed wonder of  the United Lounge (though--perhaps it comes with the ticket?).  Instead, I have camped out in the main drag of the United terminal, plugged into a convenient wall outlet, and join you now for a little blogging.

This part of the terminal is open to the elements, and while it is not uncomfortable, it is indeed sultry, something reinforced by my betrackpantsed rig.  For those interested, I have on the white UVA ball cap, a tasteful aloha shirt, the Adidas track pants, flip-flops, and a fleece tied around my waste for 10 hour flight warmth.  I look comfortable, yet silly.

My plan is to occupy myself intellectually until 5:30, at which time I will head to the mediocre restaurant here that serves a sirloin steak.  This has been a good week from a carbohydrate perspective, though I did find it difficult to pass up the wonderful bread and butter at two straight nights at Ruth's Chris.  Exercise was consistent too, yet when I get home Friday and weigh in, I fear there might not be too much progress, as the pure amount of fats and proteins I ingested was admirable.

I have a feeling this might be my last trip to Hawaii for a while.  The contract that I'm working that brings me out here ends at the end of May, and I don't know what the prospects are for follow on work, especially given the freak-show that currently passes for defense policy/budgeting etc.   While this was a good trip, I do find myself thinking that all in all, Hawaii is over-rated.  At least the places that I've gone, these large, factory resorts in Waikiki.  Real travelers tell me that there is a "hidden Hawaii", and I'm sure it is beautiful.  I just think that the Kitten has really rubbed off on me when it comes to travel.  She would not stay where I was this week if you paid her to.  She likes little spots, a few other guests, privacy and quiet.  I can't even begin to describe the poolside scrum, and the beach density was high. 

A new wrinkle on this trip was getting to observe various stages of Japanese weddings being held at and around the hotel.  Kinda has a Vegas feel about it.  The brides all look beautiful and traditional, while the grooms seem to be trying to outdo each other in how far they can go with stretching the tuxedo theme.  Clearly there is a "gangsta" motif being exploited.

The panel went swimmingly today, with General Dan presiding (and then jetting off to Guam to oversee the arrival of some Air Defense gear being sent there in honor of Dennis Rodman's friend in North Korea).  I was on generally good behavior and from the reviews I've heard, made some good points.  Certainly, there were a few very senior heads bobbing when I was rambling, which usually is a good sign.  Had some hard things for the folks there to hear, but they seemed to take it with aplomb.

The next six weeks are going to be an absolute grind, so this little respite couldn't have come at a better time.  Ok, that's all for now. 

CW on Internet TV!

For those with an interest (or with nothing else to do), tune into your internet dials today at 2:40PM if you'd like to look in on the panel I'm a member of entitled "Integrated Air and Missile Defense in the Pacific".  You'll also get to see General Dan, who is the panel lead.