What a poor reporting job…

By JP Bender

This past Friday, two news stories from Alaska were available to the main stream media; one of serious significance the other pure nonsense.

Nationally, the media paid a great deal of attention to the nonsense story while ignoring the serious one. The nonsense story made page one with circus banner headlines while the other one failed to make page one or even ROP (rest of paper).

The nonsense story told of 24,199 pages of printed-out e-mails that former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin either sent or received on her official state government account. The e-mails covered her first 21 months as governor, from December 2006 to September 2008. The remaining 10 months’ will be released at a later date.

News organizations had first requested the e-mails soon after Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) made Palin his surprise choice as a running mate in the 2008 presidential race.

The e-mails showed Palin corresponded with staff members about many requests for media interviews. One showed the media needed to know about the governor’s favorite poem, and if she believed that dinosaurs and humans coexisted on the earth.

Palin responded, “Arghhhh! I am so sorry that the office is swamped like this - Dinosaurs, even?” She promised to work on answers to some of the stupid questions, while agreeing with one staffers assessment that he was “dismayed” by the moronic media.

This nonsense story took about a thousand days of delay. The e-mails were distributed in a set of five 55-pound boxes, with sensitive information redacted. The copying fees came to $725.97 for each news outlet and The Washington Post claimed it would post the e-mails online.

The important story came as Alaska Public health officials warned everyone to avoid eating shellfish they harvest from the Southeastern tip of the state after high concentrations of a poison than can kill humans was found.

State officials said scientists monitoring algae blooms near Ketchikan discovered some of the world's highest-ever recorded levels of toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning -- a potentially fatal ailment that can paralyse vital organs.

The most poisonous shellfish discovered were baby mussels at a dock in Ketchikan with toxin levels of more than 30,000 micrograms per hundred grams of shellfish meat. This is well over the 80-microgram levels considered toxic, according to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.

According to scientists at the University of Alaska, those levels are so high that a single mussel could kill several people.

State officials took immediate action and posted warnings on the region's beaches, docks, stores and other public places, while police issued warnings on marine radios, the department said.

Paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins are absorbed by certain shellfish from algae, and symptoms of poisoning start with tingling and numbness in the mouth, and can spread through the body. The high levels of toxins were linked to a proliferation of certain types of algae.

If only I had known in advance, I would have taken the time to secure five 55-pound boxes of these same shellfish for each of the news outlets on assignment in Anchorage. Staff members could have munched on them while reading the Palin e-mails. Then there would have been three stories coming out of Alaska on Saturday; one nonsense, one serious and one about the numerous job openings in voyeuristic news organizations.

What the hell is in their water?

By JP Bender

I think the United States EPA should launch an immediate investigation into the content of the drinking waster for the residents of the state of New York. At a minimum the EPA should issue a written advisory warning to all elected officials to drink only bottled water from adjoining states.

The recent history of damage is clear and the present danger requires such a written warning. It has affected the following to the point of concern:
Elliot Spitzer served as the 54th Governor of New York from January 2007 until his resignation on March 17, 2008 in the wake of the exposure of his involvement as a client in a high-priced prostitution ring. Prior to being elected governor, Spitzer served as New York State Attorney General. He currently is a political entertainer and is the co-host of In the Arena (previously Parker Spitzer), a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on the CNN cable network,
Congressman Eric Massa (Tickle Me Elmo) resigned, after claiming he was forced out by Obama’s White House former Chief of Staff (and now Mayor of Chicago) Rahm Emanuel, because he refused to vote for Obamacare. Massa also claimed that he had knowledge of corruption in the Democratic Party concerning the way they were trying to pass the horrid Healthcare bill. On top of that, the Congressional Ethics Committee’s investigation of inappropriate behavior in relation to allegations of sexual harassment toward three of Massa’s male congressional staffers. He soon became known as the “Tickle Me Elmo” member of congress.
Congressman Chris Lee, from New York’s 26th Congressional district, also must have sipped some of that same water. On February 9, 2011, Lee was found to have been responding to a personal ad from a woman on Craigslist. Claiming to be a 39-year-old divorced lobbyist but using his real name, he used a Google Gmail account to send her a shirtless photo taken with his Blackberry phone.The female recipient searched his name, discovered he was a married Congressman, and turned over her email correspondence to the New York news blog Gawker. After confirming the facts, Gawker published its exposé on February 9, 2011.

Lee resigned from office the same day.He also issued a statement of apology, saying, “I regret the harm that my actions have caused my family, my staff and my constituents.... I have made profound mistakes and I promise to work as hard as I can to seek their forgiveness.”

Speaking of asking for forgiveness and promising to work hard, we have the embattled Congressman Anthony Weiner, who now admits to posting lewd photos of himself on Twitter. Weiner also said he engaged in several inappropriate conversations with more than six others. He lied to his wife, lied to the news media, and lied to members of congress. After trying (lying) to do damage control, he was forced to admit that Weiner’s wiener was a real photo. Of course, being a member of Congress, he is quite adept at lying.

Oddly enough, the congressman should be thrown out of office due to his ridiculously over-inflated sense of self-importance. His precious bruised ego notwithstanding, Congress should throw him out – immediately. Weiner must have had a full gallon of this water.

Warning to all who travel to New York – DO NOT DRINK THEIR WATER.

Over the Memorial Day weekend… the long hot summer began…

By JP Bender

Miami Beach, Florida, became a war zone during urban weekend. People claimed to the press they were scared for their lives. Poet “Da Real One” was gunned down in front of Miami Poetry Café.

Violent crime exploded in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, when police received reports of five armed robberies, a stabbing, a shooting and an incident involving a shotgun being pointed at a security guard during a nearly eight-hour period in the city early Sunday and Monday.

Unruly crowds shut down a Nashville, Tennessee Water Park. Police had to shut down Wave Country Monday during its opening weekend as a large crowd became unruly at long lines in the intense heat.

Questions continue to swirl as police investigators search for whoever fired shots during one of many fights in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, early Sunday morning.

At a rib fest in Charlotte, New York, fights involving about 50 youths broke out late Monday night and police had to clear the area after arresting many people.

The Long Island, New York police department says it had to call for backup to quell a beach melee involving hundreds of people that spilled out onto the streets and a nearby bus depot. Long Beach police say they are investigating the incident. There was no immediate word on arrests.

But I guess we should forget about these incidents, because the mainstream media wants to continue to cover and report on the unrests in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Iran. Everything in America is OK. Lets focus on foreign problems. The incidents at home seem only to be a form of diversity in America and after all, we have a democrat in the White House.

Well to me, this diversity is yet another expression of disrespect for the laws of this country and a complete contempt for the constitution. The current administration wants foreign countries to form a democracy, while it tolerates chaos in our own country. This is a violation of our basic human rights in America. When you analyze this, and add it to the list of other government violations, you can easily become depressed and angry.

Our government is taking our rights away at an alarming pace. They violate the 1st Amendment by placing protesters in cages, banning books like “America Deceived II” and censoring the Internet. They violate the 2nd Amendment by confiscating guns. They violate the 4th and 5th Amendment by molesting airline passengers. They violate the entire Constitution by starting undeclared wars for foreign countries.

Where can the American electorate turn? The democrats are not the solution, as they are the problem. The current leadership of the Republicans does not offer any solutions, just public displays of crying before the cameras. The current crop of GOP candidates is a joke. As a harbinger, this could be the beginning of a long – hot – summer.

Quotes For 2012 GOP Field

From JP...his thoughts on the very undistinguished GOP field.

As I watch the 2012 political season unfold, I swear I am at a loss for appropriate insults for both the candidates and the cable/network "news interviewers." So I did some basic research and I now have some ready to use in the next 18 months... JP


"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." Winston Churchill
"A modest little person, with much to be modest about."  Winston Churchill
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure."  Clarence Darrow
"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary." William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)
"Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?"  Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)
"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it."  Moses Hadas
"He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know." Abraham Lincoln
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." Groucho Marx
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." Mark Twain
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends."  Oscar Wilde
"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play, bring a friend... if you have one."  George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill
"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second...if there is one."  Winston Churchill, in response
"I feel so miserable without you, it's almost like having you here."  Stephen Bishop
"He is a self-made man and worships his creator."   John Bright
"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial."  Irvin S. Cobb
"He is not only dull himself, he is the cause of dullness in others."  Samuel Johnson
"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up." Paul Keating
"He had delusions of adequacy."  Walter Kerr
"There's nothing wrong with you that reincarnation won't cure."  Jack E. Leonard
"He has the attention span of a lightning bolt."  Robert Redford
"They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge."  Thomas Brackett Reed
"He inherited some good instincts from his Quaker forebears, but by diligent hard work, he overcame them." James Reston (about Richard Nixon)
"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily." Charles, Count Talleyrand
"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him." Forrest Tucker
"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?"  Mark Twain
"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork." Mae West
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." Oscar Wilde
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts...for support rather than illumination."Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
"He has Van Gogh's ear for music." Billy Wilder

JP, that just about says it all...the people I'd rather see running for president aren't...and those that are, are undistinguished.

A British View: Pat Condell

Here's an amusing comentary on Osama bin Laden's demise...



I do like the bit about the pork chop and fireman's axe...Thanks for sending this to me JP

The Great 2011 Debate

By

J P Bender



So the first 2012 presidential GOP debate is now history – and nobody other than the Fox News Network were dupes to cover this charade. It is a darn shame that the Republican Party has lost its way and given us such a sorry lot to select from in the 2012 primary. As for me…it is “Boot Newt”, “Dump Trump” and “Make Hominy out of Romney”. Most of the rest are lightweights and just more of the same. I might be able to support someone like Gov. Daniels, of Indiana, if he had someone like Sen. John Thune on the ticket as VP. Oh for an independent candidate who has the qualities and character of Ronald Reagan or Harry Truman? God knows our country needs someone like that to lead us out of the mess the clowns in both parties have gotten us into.

Government Changing National Emblem

The following is by a retired journalist in the Denver area...

The government today announced that it is changing its emblem from an Eagle to a Condom because it more accurately reflects the government's political stance.

A condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of dicks, and gives you a sense of security while you're actually being screwed!

It just doesn't get any more accurate than that.

Unfortunately, I think he''s right.

Hat Tip:  JP

Proposed lineup changes for MSNBC

By JP Bender

Being at home a lot these days, I have had the opportunity to watch some pretty bad programming. So I got to thinking, there could be some changes to spice up the worst of the worst.

With recent developments within the entertainment industry, I think that it’s time for MSNBC to consider an option shake-up in staffing their cable shows. These changes could launch MSNBC to higher ratings – or not.

I would propose every morning, just before the Way Too Early Show, Singer Christina Aguliera could sing live, our National Anthem, Many new viewers would tune in just to see if she ever gets it correct and of course, no alcoholic beverages would be allowed on the set. With this new addition, promoted and marketed correctly, I would think the nationwide ratings would double from 224 viewers to well over 600 viewers.

Then on Morning Joe, Lindsay Lohan, America’s favorite mess, could replace Mika Brzezinski. Looking at this young beauty with no talent would be a welcomed change to listening to the constant nonsense chatter offered by an uninformed airhead, who dresses like it’s either Halloween or the Ringling Bros. Circus in coming to town.

There would be no need to change daytime programming since everybody is watching serious programming on other channels – the Food Network, The History Channel, The Travel Channel and of course the Cartoon Network.

During the evening meal, Melissa Leo could appear and just like at the Oscars, she could drop the F-Bomb to start off the evening. I don’t know how Rachel Mad-Cow will handle the upstaging, but I think she is already accustomed to being in last place.

At night, Charlie Sheen could replace Lawrence O’Donnell on The Last Word program. This isn’t as radical as it sounds. Neither one of these actors makes any sense nor nobody takes either one seriously. Their ramblings make Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi look like a Phi Beta Kappa scholar. I heard that O’Donnell claims to be a Socialist. Are there any provisions in the Socialist Party to expel such a weirdo?

I now sit back and await these changes, along with others that the network brass might come up with to help increase viewer ship. Watch out FOX, with these new proposed changes, you might lose .0003 percent of your viewing audience.

I know my day will go better.

Democrat suggests 'ObamaCare' rhetoric should be banned from House floor

By

J P Bender  

House Republicans and Democrats started Friday morning's debate over whether to defund last year's healthcare law, and as part of this debate sparred over whether members should be allowed to call that law "ObamaCare."

After two House Republicans called it "ObamaCare," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) asked the chairman whether these "disparaging" remarks should be allowed on the House floor.

"That is a disparaging reference to the president of the United States; it is meant as a disparaging reference to the president of the United States, and it is clearly in violation of the House rules against that," she said.

Because Wasserman Schultz only asked if it would be appropriate to curb the use of the term "ObamaCare," the chairman said he would not rule on a hypothetical. But he did urge members to "refrain from engaging in personalities or descriptions about personalities in general."

I don't remember any Democrat taking the floor of the House of Representatives, to ask their fellow Democrats to refrain from using the term "Reaganomics".

Reaganomics (a portmanteau of Reagan and economics) attributed to Paul Harvey, which referred to the economic policies promoted by the U.S. President Ronald Reagan during the 1980s. The four pillars of Reagan's economic policy were to:

1. Reduce government spending,
2. Reduce income and capital gains marginal tax rates,
3. Reduce government regulation,
4. Control the money supply to reduce inflation.

To bad we didn't listen to President Reagan then - or we wouldn't be in the mess we are in today. Rep. Wasserman Schultz is a mental midget.

Us vs Them

By

JP Bender

An age old proven method, to attain and control the political agenda of arrogant, elite, propagandists in their pursuit to control a nation.


In dictatorships like Adolph Hitler, Idi Amin, Benito Mussolini, Kim Jong Il, Fidel Castro, etc., the Us vs. Them philosophy was used to demonize those not in the inner circle and to sway the citizens into a frenzy for hypnotic support.

It has always been an effective way to seize power in dictatorships. Blame others for past problems, constantly hammer away that we know better than the common man and we will make your life better from the cradle to the grave. Once in power the common man is quickly forgotten and is no longer a factor.

Now the Us vs. Them approach has gained a newfound foothold, not in a dictatorship in a foreign country but in a democracy – right here in America.

Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, David Axelrod, Rahm Emanuel, along with a host of whore “journalists,” have successfully convinced America that it is Us vs. Them.

The mantra that it was all ‘George W. Bush’s fault’ started the demonizing within hours of Obama’s swearing in ceremony. You remember that day – when millions of Americans were told that hope and change was now a reality. That mantra continues to this day and if you don’t hear it five times a week you must be in the Antarctica.

We were assured that the new administration would be open and transparent and would operate on a bipartisan basis, after all this was a new dawn and Americans would come first.

We quickly were told, by Pelosi and Reid, that bipartisanship was not possible because the president had a congress with a majority to stop filibusters and he didn’t need minority support. The republicans were obstructionists because they wouldn’t support the White House’s agenda.

We soon learned that trillions would overshadow wild spending by Bush; but it all started when Bush wasted a mythical five trillion surplus handed to him by Bill Clinton. Radical programs, unpopular with Americans, were rammed through Congress, without reading them to find faults and their true costs. Step by step, Obama is building a record of major legislation that's equal to that of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Obama has given us the most sweeping financial regulation since the Great Depression, provided the expansion of health care, which Democrats have wanted for more than six decades. A $862-billion stimulus package that locked in long-sought Democratic priorities.

Despite the fact economy remains shaky. Obama went further with a big-government, big-deficit approach than some voters wanted, notably independents, who now have turned against him. Obama has broken some of his own promises in the process thus becoming a backroom deal-making politician to get his health care reform package. But the loyal members of the liberal media don’t cover this part of the news.

Americans give the president mixed reviews. According to the latest Gallup Poll, only 44 percent approve of his performance in office, while 48% disapprove.

Obama’s biggest problem is that unemployment remains high and people are worried about their jobs, their paychecks and, if they have any, their savings.

The White House reported last week that the economic stimulus had saved or created about 3 million jobs. Some tout that success while others don’t think it is a reasonable estimate. The liberal news media accepts that finding equal to the word of God. But most don't buy hypothetical conclusions, because Obama said that unemployment would stay below 8 percent, if Congress enacted his stimulus package; instead, it jumped past 10 percent and is now hovers at 9.5percent.

Many question benefits yet from such major initiatives as healthcare, which is being phased in over several years. The price tag has already risen by $250 billion according to the Office of Management and Budget. It seems in their haste to provide data, some issues were overlooked.

The White House is preparing to launch a new summertime campaign to turn that around. This past Friday, senior White House adviser David Axelrod stressed the president's achievements, and said the political benefit would take care of itself.



"Obama’s motivation was not politics. Someone once said that good government is good politics, and it's certainly true," Axelrod said, referring to a quote from the late Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley.



Axelrod cited the new financial regulations that will protect credit card users and mortgage borrowers, the health care law's guarantee of insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions and the student loan overhaul's expansion of aid to college students. The news media reported all of this without questioning or verifing.



If we have learned anything in the first 18 months of the Obama administration, there are two important points to remember; it is all George W. Bush’s fault and it’s Us vs. Them. What happened to the We as in We The People?

Free Home Offer: A Modern Cautionary Tale

This came to me in an email from a very good friend whom I admire deeply...and I couldn't help posting it...

Free Home offer
by
J. P. Bender

I was in my neighborhood restaurant this morning and was seated behind a group of jubilant individuals celebrating the successful passing of the recent health care bill. I could not finish my breakfast. This is what ensued:

They were a diverse group of several races and both sexes. I heard the young man exclaim, “Isn’t Obama like Jesus Christ? I mean, after all, he is healing the sick.” The young woman enthusiastically proclaimed, “Yeah, and he does it for free. I cannot believe anyone would think that a free market would work for health care. They are all crooks and thieves and don’t deserve all of that money.”

Another said, "The stupid Republicans want us all to starve to death so they can inherit all of the power. Obama should be made a Saint for what he did for those of us less fortunate.”

At this, I had had enough. I arose from my seat, mustering all the restraint I could find, and approached their table. “Please excuse me; may I impose upon you for one moment?”

They smiled and welcomed me to the conversation. I stood at the end of their table, smiled as best I could and began an experiment.

“I would like to give one of you my house. It will cost you no money and I will pay all of the expenses and taxes for as long as you live there. Anyone interested?”

They looked at each other in astonishment. “Why would you do something like that?” asked a young man. “There isn’t anything for free in this world.”

They began to laugh at me, as they did not realize this man had just made my point.

“I am serious, I will give you my house for free, no money what so ever. Anyone interested?” In unison, a resounding “Hell Yeah” fills the room.

“Since there are too many of you, I will have to make a choice as to who receives this money-free bargain.” I noticed an elderly couple was paying attention to the spectacle unfolding before their eyes, the old man shaking his head in apparent disgust.

“I tell you what; I will give it to the one of you most willing to obey my rules.”

Again, they looked at one another, an expression of bewilderment on their faces. The perky young woman asked, “What are the rules?”

I smiled and said, “I don’t know. I have not yet defined them. However, it is a free home that I offer you.”

They giggled amongst themselves, the youngest of whom said, “What an old coot. He must be crazy to give away his home. Go take your meds, old man.”

I smiled and leaned into the table a bit further. “I am serious, this is a legitimate offer.” They gaped at me for a moment.
“Hell, I’ll take it you old fool. Where are the keys?” boasted the youngest among them.

“Then I presume you accept ALL of my terms then?” I asked. The elderly couple seemed amused and entertained as they watched from the privacy of their table.

“Oh hell yeah! Where do I sign up?”

I took a napkin and wrote, “I give this man my home, without the burden of financial obligation, so long as he accepts and abides by the terms that I shall set forth upon consummation of this transaction.” I signed it and handed it to the young man who eagerly scratched out his signature.

“Where are the keys to my new house?” he asked in a mocking tone of voice. All eyes were upon us as I stepped back from the table, pulling the keys from pocket and dangling them before the excited new homeowner.

“Now that we have entered into this binding contract, witnessed by all of your friends, I have decided upon the conditions you are obligated to adhere from this point forward. You may live in the house for only one hour a day. You will not use anything inside of the home. You will obey me without question or resistance. I expect complete loyalty and admiration for this gift I bestow upon you. You will accept my commands and wishes with enthusiasm, no matter the nature. Your morals and principles shall be as mine. You will vote as I do, think as I do and do it with blind faith. These are my terms. Here are your keys.”

I reached the keys forward, and the young man looked at me dumbfounded.

“Are you out of your freaking mind? Who would ever agree to those ridiculous terms?” The young man appeared irritated.

“YOU did when you signed this contract before reading it and understanding it, and with the full knowledge that I would provide my conditions only AFTER you committed to the agreement,” was all I said. The elderly man chuckled as his wife tried to restrain him. I was looking at a now silenced and bewildered group of people.

“You can shove that stupid deal up you’re a** old man, I want no part of it,” exclaimed the now infuriated young man.

“You have committed to the contract, as witnessed by all of your friends; you cannot get out of the deal unless I agree to it. I do not intend to let you free now that I have you ensnared. I am the power you agreed to. I am the one you blindly and without thought chose to enslave yourself to. In short, I am your Master.”

At this, the table of celebrating individuals became a unified group against the unfairness of the deal.

After a few moments of unrepeatable comments and slurs, I revealed my true intent. “What I did to you is what this administration and Congress did to you with the health care legislation. I easily suckered you in and then revealed the real cost of the bargain. Your folly was in the belief that you can have something you did not earn; that you are entitled to that which you did not earn; that you willingly allowed someone else to think for you. Your failure to research, study and inform yourself permitted reason to escape you. You have entered into a trap from which you cannot flee. Your only chance of freedom is if your new Master gives it to you.

"A freedom that is given can also be taken away; therefore, it is not freedom.

With that, I tore up the napkin and placed it before the astonished young man. “This is the nature of your new health care legislation.”

I turned away to leave these few in thought and contemplation and was surprised by applause.

The elderly gentleman, who was clearly entertained, shook my hand enthusiastically and said, “Thank you Sir, these kids don’t understand Liberty these days.” He refused to allow me to pay my bill as he said, “You earned this one, it is an honor to pick up the tab.”

I shook his hand in thanks, leaving the restaurant somewhat humbled, and sensing a glimmer of hope for my beloved country.

Use reason.

There's no such thing as a free lunch - SOMEONE has to pay, and you may too late realize that the one who will be paying is YOU.

TANSTAAFL=There Ain't No  Such Thing As A Free Lunch