Category Archives: My 2 Buck$ of the Day

Reflecting on the Biggest of 2008

Posted on December 30, 2008 | 3 Comments

2008 has come to an end and as usual it is time to reflect. The year has provided us with big stories, scandals, laughs and a few tears.

The big news stories of 2008

Barack Obama wins presidential election becoming 44th president. This is the biggest story of the year. Hope and Change better be comin’ because Hopeless and the Same old Shit really suck.

California rescinds the right to marry from gays and lesbians. This is scandalous but belongs with the news stories. On a day when our country elected a black man as president, 3 states voted to discriminate against an entire community. And these intolerant bastards have the balls to defend their actions. It reminds me of the old ‘some of my best friends are [fill in with minority of choice]’ bigotry. Our mission for 2009 must be to work to right this horrific wrong.

Bankruptcy, Bailouts and a Recession. We are watching businesses fail at an alarming rate. Circuit City, Linens and Things, KB Toys, Bennigan’s and many, many other companies have failed this year. The mortgage industry has collapsed thanks to sub-prime loans and the tax payer is taking it on the chin with this no-strings-attached bailout. The Big 3 auto manufacturers are struggling and had come to DC with their paws out. The newspaper industry looks to be on very shaky ground as the New York Times took out a loan and other papers are now terminating home delivery. Americans are losing jobs and their homes and less than 2 months before leaving office still-President Bush tells us that we’re in a recession. Really? I hadn’t noticed.

The New York Giants beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. This story was big for me in a couple of ways. I was born in New York and have rooted for the Giants forever – so the Super Bowl win is enjoyable to me. But as I grew up in Miami and went to Miami Dolphins games for many years, I was thrilled that the Patriots lost thus preserving the 1972 Dolphins as the only perfect season.

We are all Georgians. Did John McCain realize that he was talking about a country and not a state when he proclaimed that ‘we are all Georgians?’ Yes, since his foreign policy advisor is on the payroll to lobby on behalf of Georgia. Unlike Bush, maybe McCain didn’t see Putin’s soul? I suspect that this story will become much larger in 2009. And let’s not overlook the Israel – Hamas increased hostility in Gaza. PE Obama really will have his hands full – as will Sec. of State Hillary Clinton.

Is China Purposely Poisoning Us? My defunct website in 2007 used this as its page heading. I felt the media was missing key stories involving imports from China. Reports of tainted pet food, chicken and fish feed, toothpaste, imported fish, honey and tires were hidden by the MSM but linked by my old site. It wasn’t until our children’s toys proved to be tainted did this make headlines. That and the execution of the Chinese head of food safety in July, 2007. This story grew in 2008 but in my opinion it still isn’t getting the attention it deserves.

I have missed others like the Mumbai Hostage Crisis, the Burma cyclone and China earthquake. And did I mention that gas prices are now below $1.60. Is it a coincidence that the speculators bolted from the market beginning in July? Shouldn’t people be going to jail over this?

The big scandals of 2008

John Edwards lies about affair – thus destroying his political career. He spoke up for the poor. He could have been a great VP or head of the DOJ. It wasn’t the $400 haircuts that destroyed him; it was the affair that he lied about even after the National Enquirer discovered it. Meanwhile, David Vitter’s career goes on. Newt Gingrich is doing well. John McCain was just his party’s nominee for the presidency. They all cheated but didn’t suffer the same fate as Edwards and Eliot Spitzer.

Rod Blagojevich tries to sell Barack Obama’s old Illinois Senate seat. Chicago politics at its finest. John Edwards has an affair and is gone from politics but Blago pulls a political stunt and is still around.

Eliot Spitzer and the high priced hooker. True, he was probably set up for this fall since he made significant enemies as Attorney General of New York. But that doesn’t excuse what he did. True, he did the right thing and resigned – and resigned quickly. Has anyone seen David Vitter’s resignation? David Paterson succeeded Spitzer and promptly announced to the world that both he and his wife had been unfaithful. You can’t make this stuff up.

The $150,000 wardrobe. Sarah Palin became the Republican VP nominee and went on a shopping spree. She bought clothes, clothes and more clothes. She spent more than Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. But she’s giving it back – after it’s worn? Uh, I mean, they’re giving the clothes to the poor. Just what a homeless person wants – a $5,000 dress. Screw a good meal, a warm shower and a job. They don’t even lie well.

The Ted Stevens Conviction. And he almost won re-election. Alaska seems to be the only place where the government officials are more corrupt than Chicago. Stevens will be going to jail unless Bush decides to pardon him. Don Young could be following in Stevens’ path in 2009. And I didn’t mention Trooper-gate.

The Ponzi Scheme – Remember the old pyramid schemes? Well this one takes the cake – or the $50 billion. The ponzi scheme was run be the former chairman of NASDAQ Bernard Madoff. It looks like he bilked investors out of $50 billion. This has the makings of one of the largest scandals of all time. One person has already committed suicide.

People / Things I hope stay in 2008 and never surface again.

Joe the Plumber. Screw his book. His story isn’t that riveting. And he can keep all the JTP knock-offs like Tito the Builder, Mario the septic tank cleaner, Sam the butcher, and Sarah the Governor.

Sarah Palin. I know she is due to surface in 2012 but I’m going to wish long and hard that she won’t.

Billy Mays. He first annoyed me with DiDi7 and now seems to market every gimmicky product. The kids mock him and I really wish his 15 minutes were up. Mighty Putty, OxiClean and that product that removes Dings from my car are just a few of the As Seen on TV products that he pitches. He is almost as bad as Kevin Trudeau. He is the clown who I first remember seeing sell that Mega Memory garbage. Thanks to a court order, he can not sell products only his BS books. So he is hitting us up with a barrage of books – Natural Cures, More Natural Cures, The Weight Loss Cure, Debt Cures – all coincidentally that ‘THEY don’t want you to know about.’ Trudeau is a con-man who has already pleaded guilty to larceny.

I’d love to see many, many other people fade away like Britney, OJ and Ken Blackwell (he’s running for head of the RNC). I am sick of reality programs and wish that they’d put programs on that are intelligent and make me think.

Companies / Products I hope don’t join us in 2009

Companies that want to buy my scraps of gold. This looks like a ploy to take advantage of seniors yet they also advertise on children’s channels (which I don’t get). How gullible must one be to send their scraps of metal and take their word on the value?

The Barack Obama coin / collectable plate and those mall kiosks that sell Obama’s t-shirt. Are there really that many people who purchase Obama merchandise? I guess now that the shirtless Obama pictures are circulating around the web, we’ll see a new set of products hit the market. And I’m sick of the World Trade Center / 9/11 products. Who thought of that 9/11 $20 crap? Ooh, ‘It’s the first time that the 9 and 11 were added up to total the 20 dollar value?’ Give me a break.

Time share calls. This one is a personal one. I don’t own a timeshare and I never have but somehow I have gotten on a ‘this guy owns a timeshare’ mailing list. I get multiple calls on a daily basis asking me if I wish to sell my timeshare points. I am on the Florida and National Do Not Call lists but it doesn’t seem to work nor does my repeated requests to get off of their mailing lists.

In case this is the last post you read from me in 2008 – May you have a happy and healthy 2009. May the change we voted for be what we need to get us back on the right track.

Hope to see you in 2009.

Gene – My 2 Buck$

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Posted in Barack Obama, Democrats, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, My 2 Buck$ of the Day, Politics, Sarah Palin

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The Candy Cane is Mightier than the Knife

Posted on December 2, 2008 | Leave a comment

Never piss off or threaten someone with a Christmas lawn ornament. I bet Donald Kercell, of Sacramento, will be thinking of that the next time he wields a knife at neighbors who are gathered outside.

Donald Kercell

Donald Kercell

Kercell’s neighbors were hanging outside on Thanksgiving. Drunk and clearly stupid, he wandered over to their house going after them with a knife.

After cutting the clothing of a few of the neighbors (there were reports of minor injuries) one of them decided to fight back and pummeled Kercell into submission with a 2-foot long plastic candy cane lawn decoration.

Was that candy cane solid plastic or the kind made of thin plastic with the lights running through it? If it was the latter, there is no question that Mr. Kercell is the most pathetic individual of 2008. He was beaten to the ground by a fragile piece of plastic.

Why Kercell went over to the house is still unknown as of this writing but I have to figure that being alone and drinking on Thanksgiving could have played a part in the anger and then to see his neighbors having a jovial time out on the lawn could have set him off.

So now Kercell has something else to hang his head about. You have a knife and you getting beaten by a man with a piece of plastic. Good thing a garden gnome wasn’t involved.

candy-caneKercell was arrested for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Meanwhile, the Candy Cane Vigilante was determined to be acting in self-defense and thus was not arrested.

So Christmas saves Thanksgiving for these Sacramento residents.

From the ‘I Swear I’m not Making this up’ file.

Sources:

Sweet Smackdown:  Man Beats Attacker — With Candy Cane

Attacker Beaten with Candy Cane, Police Say

* * * * *

Part II – So who exactly is Donald Kercell?

On May 19, 2007, The Sacramento Bee published a story written by Steve Wiegand, who probably never expected anyone to read this story a year and a half later.

A Concrete reform try in Danger describes Kercell as a then 48-year old concrete working meth-head.

May 19–Don Kercell thinks he’s earned a second chance.

The Contractors State License Board does not agree.

And therein lies a tale of choices and consequences; crime and punishment; addiction and rehabilitation; public protection and personal redemption — and second chances.

Kercell is a 48-year-old resident of Rio Linda. In his youth, he discovered two things. One was that he had a talent for working with concrete.

The other was methamphetamine.

The former, coupled with an impressive work ethic, kept Kercell gainfully employed much of the time. The latter put him in prison.

“I guess I started (doing meth) when I was 20,” he said in an interview. “I’ve done drugs half my life, but I’ve always worked.”

In 1995, at the age of 36, Kercell’s life hit the skids. Over the next decade, he was convicted of, and served time for, an array of crimes that included drug possession, possession of an assault weapon, battery and drug manufacturing.

While doing a three-year term at Soledad, he was pushed “kicking and screaming” into a full-time drug rehabilitation program.

“They had a lot of good things to say,” Kercell said. “There were some things I disagreed with, but the bottom line is I’m done with it, and I’ve been clean and done everything right since I got out.”

Kercell had previously done time – for battery. I also guess he was making his own meth. I am sad to report here that the last sentence is no longer true. Now he can add that he was beaten by a plastic candy cane to his list.

That was in March 2005. After working here and there, Kercell answered a help wanted ad placed by Jim Alexander Concrete Construction in September.

“I’d say 99 percent of the guys who answer those ads are worthless,” Alexander told me, “but it was clear from the start that Don knew what he was doing.”

Alexander said Kercell is not only a whiz when it comes to concrete work, but a model employee: “He hits the job running, he is reliable, he’s easygoing and he’s honest.”

In late 2005, Kercell decided to try and get his own concrete contractors license, as a way to make more money and be able to legally freelance side jobs while working for Alexander. He took a course to prep him for the exam, paid his fees, posted his bond and aced his test.

But the CSLB rejected his application. According to board spokesman Rick Lopes, it wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction to Kercell’s drug and prison past. Nearly a fifth of all license applicants have criminal histories, Lopes said. But fewer than 4 percent are denied licenses on that basis. Those denied fall into three general categories of offenses: burglary, consumer fraud and violent acts.

“Our main role is to protect consumers,” Lopes said, “and if there are concerns, we are always going to err on the side of not granting the license.”

The board’s concern that tripped up Kercell’s chances has to do with a fight he had nine years ago. In 1998, Kercell said, he was returning from visiting his mom in Arizona when he got into a fight with a Southwest Airlines flight attendant at the Sacramento airport.

Kercell says the other guy swung first. But airport security cameras weren’t working, and Kercell’s word as an ex-con was considered less than golden. Because he was already doing time on a parole violation, he agreed to plead no contest to the battery charge since he wasn’t facing any additional jail time.

“I never should have done it (pleaded out),” Kercell said. “I never would have if I’d known it would cause this trouble.”

Honest, hardworking and violent. I can’t tell you the number of times that I’ve seen a flight attendant take a swing at a customer.

On June 6, Kercell will take his appeal of the board’s denial before an administrative law judge. If the judge turns him down, Kercell’s only practical choice is to wait a few more months and reapply.

“All I want is a license,” he said. “I’m through with drugs, with all the trouble it causes.

“I just want a second chance.”

Now Kercell is going to get his second chance . . . . IN THE BIG HOUSE.

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Posted in My 2 Buck$ of the Day, News, Uncategorized

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Teacher in trouble for wearing Obama shirt to school

Posted on November 26, 2008 | 9 Comments

It’s time once again for something out of the ‘I swear I’m not making this up’ file.

Dennis Yuzenas

Dennis Yuzenas

Bak Middle School of the Arts is located in West Palm Beach, Florida. Elizabeth Kennedy is the principal of the school and was watching the school news on November 7th (after the election of Barack Obama as the 44th president) and saw that Dennis Yuzenas, an American history teacher, was wearing an Obama T-shirt and ‘said “It’s a good day to be an American,” or words to that effect.’

Someone call the cops. We have a live one here.

Kennedy cited Yuzenas for ‘engaging in unethical political activity’ and wanted to have him sign a memorandum that would be placed in his file. Yuzenas refused to sign this memo.

What I find interesting is that this was AFTER the election.

“Last Friday, November 7, you wore a T-shirt that clearly showed which candidate you supported during the recent Presidential Election and appeared with students on the in-school news broadcast sharing your positive view regarding the outcome of the election,” the memo read.

“As per the Code of Ethics and the above state School Board policy, students may not know your political view,” it continued. “This could be construed as using your position to influence others. It is my expectation, that in the future as you teach students to clarify and express their own political views, you will remain neutral.”

That’s strange because I knew the political view of each of my Social Studies teachers. That didn’t mean I didn’t learn contrasting points of view. It’s just that good teachers bring passion.

Yuzenas was flabbergasted. He said he did his best to remain apolitical during the campaign.

“I am very liberal, I admit that, but I was trying to be ultra, ultra fair,” he said. “My car has a “Republicans for Obama” bumper sticker and peace sign on it, so I parked it in a place where the kids couldn’t see it.”

His remark on the news, he said, was one of patriotism in support of the new president-elect. Another teacher had jokingly referred to the school as the “Barack Middle School of the Arts” on the same broadcast.

As for the T-shirt, Yuzenas said it was part of his lesson plan that day.

“I was talking about the role of art in society,” he said, “and tying in this T-shirt to Picasso’s Guernica.”

The shirt, which showed a red-and-blue image of Obama with the word “Hope” under it, is the work of Shepard Fairey, an obscure Los Angeles street artist. The image, which Fairey made into 300 posters, caught the attention of the Obama campaign, which liked it so much that the image was mass produced, becoming an iconic image of Obama.

“It’s making education relevant to kids,” Yuzenas said. “How much more relevant can you get in an arts school than talking about the role of an artist in an election?”

Kennedy does make a strong argument for keeping a teacher’s political views quiet.

Kennedy, in her third year at Bak, said that the popularity of Yuzenas, one of the founding teachers of the arts magnet school, makes it even more important for him to keep his political views to himself.

“The kids could go home and say, ‘We know who Mr. Y voted for,’ ” she said.

Kennedy said she thought it would be OK for a teacher to wear a T-shirt showing the sitting president, but not the president-elect right after an election where the Florida vote was relatively close.

“We’re not here to offend anyone,” she said. “We’re here to educate. Forty-nine percent of the people voted the other way in the election.”

I suspect that Kennedy was the one offended. But was Mr. Y engaging in ‘unethical political activity’?

Yuzenas said he didn’t sign the principal’s memo because he’s not in violation of the ethics policy.

School Board Policy 2.59 allows teachers to express their own “political, social and religious values” if the “total presentations is essentially balanced and fair.”

Teachers are expressly prohibited from allowing their interaction with students to further their own “political aims or views.”

Yuzenas pointed out if he’s a propagandist, he must be a lousy one, because his students showed the strongest support for John McCain during a school-wide mock election.

“I don’t want students to think like I do,” he said. “I want them to think.”

So one teacher called Bak Middle School of the Arts – Barack Middle School of the Arts. So I bring to you the school formerly known as Ludlum Elementary School in the Hempstead Union Free School District near New York City. The school board voted unanimously to rename the school Barack Obama Elementary School, effective immediately.

This particular article, however, starts with the prepositional phrase – ‘At the behest of its students . . . ‘

Really?

The school board voted to change the name of the school because of 5-11 year olds? I was worried letting my kids pick out colors for their rooms.

If you figured this was just the beginning of schools, parks, streets, landmarks being named for Barack Obama, you would be absolutely correct.

Officials for the Long Island district say they think the school is the country’s first to be named after the first black president-elect, although similar efforts to rename schools, parks and streets are under way elsewhere.

The Clear Stream Avenue School in Valley Stream, N.Y., also on Long Island, will consider a renaming resolution in December. Students at the Clark K-8 At Binnsmead school in Portland, Ore., are seeking to rename it after Obama. And the prime minister of the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda has said he wants its Boggy Peak renamed Mount Obama.

Most of the 466 Hempstead pupils are black or Hispanic, and Obama’s election was a big source of pride, principal Jean Bligen said Friday.

Some of the children read essays about Obama and the election at the school board meeting on Thursday night. “That really was effective,” Bligen said.

The change will be formalized at a ceremony in December. School officials hope Gov. David Paterson, the state’s first black governor and Hempstead High School graduate, will attend.

Built in the 1920s, the Ludlum Elementary School was named after Dr. Charles Ludlum, a local physician who served on the school board for about 40 years.

He’s not even sworn in yet and the honor of the namings has already begun.

Anybody been to the George W. Bush Sewage Treatment Plant lately?

Sources:

Obama T-shirt earns middle school teacher a trip to principal’s office

New York elementary school is renamed for Obama

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Posted in Barack Obama, Democrats, Election 2008, My 2 Buck$ of the Day, News, Politics

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Political thoughts for the Day

Posted on November 18, 2008 | Leave a comment

Why would anyone think that John McCain would have any interest in working with Obama?  Speculation in the media is that he is once again becoming the maverick that lost his way during the general election cycle.  Really?  The man is endorsing Saxby Chambliss.  McCain said the ad run by Chambliss attacking Senator Max Cleland in 2002 – it’s “worse than disgraceful – it’s reprehensible.”

The U.S. Senate Democrats have had no ‘stones’ whatsoever for 8 years.  They can verbally chastise Joe Lieberman all they want but the vote that will take place today is a closed ballot vote.  In other words, they can be tough in public and weak at the time of vote just like the last 8 years.  I suspect that Lieberman will receive nothing more than the verbal attacks he has already faced.  He will be permitted to keep his Democratic leadership with one caveat:  stay loyal to the party.  The problem here is that Joe only knows ‘whatever’s best for Joe.’ 

How is it possible that Alaska still has 24,000 uncounted ballots from the election 2 weeks ago?  Seriously, is one person counting the ballots?  I wonder if it is the same guy that examined the hanging chads in Florida in 2000.  I know all eyes are on the Begich – Stevens race, which Begich is building up a nice lead, but I am trying to figure out how Don Young is leading Ethan Berkowitz when Young trailed big on the final day of polls and Young is currently under FBI investigation. 

I thought I recently heard that Sarah Palin could not capitalize financially while holding elected office in Alaska.  I recall hearing that when it was rumored that she could land a talk show after the election.  I have yet to find anything in Alaskan law that stipulated that.  But if it is true, how is it she can sign this huge book deal?  I guess it is with a ‘wink’ and a nod.  Hmmmm. 

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Posted in Barack Obama, Democrats, Election 2008, John McCain, McCain - Palin, My 2 Buck$ of the Day, Politics, Republicans, Sarah Palin

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Extending the Tours, The McBush and Wbama Campaigns, and Scrapers

Posted on July 5, 2008 | 1 Comment
Happy July 4th

It’s the Fourth of July weekend and I’ve decided to take the weekend off from politics but a few things caught my eye that I couldn’t let go. (It shows how well I’ve taken the weekend off.)

The Pentagon announced that they are extending the tours by a month for the troops who were ready to come home. I guess the Pentagon was thinking that it’s only a month. I’m thinking: why did they announce it Thursday before the 3 day weekend when no one was paying attention?

This Wesley Clark thing is getting out of hand. He didn’t diminish McCain’s military service. After all, you can not diminish the fact that McCain is a military hero nor would anyone diminish the torture he endured as a POW. All Clark did was point out that McCain’s military service does not qualify him to be president. McCain is running on his service and Clark brought up an important point that must be discussed. Instead, the media is attacking Clark for the comments. Well, isn’t that typical?

As a Floridian, I have known about Charlie Crist, the Republican Governor for quite some time. I know that he had the reputation of being more of a moderate but ran for governor as Jeb Bush’s third term. He said that with few exceptions – the environment, the school standardized FCAT test program, etc – that he would run the state as a ‘status quo’. Once in office, he moved sharply to the center angering Republican Speaker of the House Mario Rubio, which sent me a message. Now Crist has changed his long-standing position on the environment and offshore oil drilling to align himself with McCain’s new position that aligned McBush with Bush. Recently, we heard that Crist was dating – a woman. We had always quietly heard, here in Florida, that Crist was gay – not that it matters – unless you are a Republican. Now weeks later the nearly lifelong bachelor (he had a brief marriage right out of college that lasted less than 1 year) has announced his engagement to . . . the woman. Consequently, there are rumors that Crist is now the leading candidate to become McCain’s running mate. We know how the Republicans hate ‘the gays’. How can you be gay if you’re married?

Recently, we have seen Barack Obama’s positions seemingly shift toward the center and the right. His rhetoric regarding Iraq recently seems to be shifting toward the right as more details about his positions come out. I recall during the debates, that he held a more phased out approach along with Clinton. Kucinich and Gravel would have pulled them all out immediately. Edwards would have only left troops to protect our interests. It appears that Obama is sounding the same – unless you are the media. (See a pattern?)

Obama is also talking about voting for the FISA ‘compromise’ giving the telecoms immunity and killing the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. This goes against Obama’s previous position that he would filibuster any bill that would grant immunity to the telecoms. Is this a flip-flop, political pandering, a bold political move to get more moderates and Republican voters or a lame, weak-ass move?

Now, Obama is going after the bloc of voters that are questioning whether they like McCain as their candidate. Obama is talking about increasing the Faith Based Initiatives program that Bush gave great lip service to without really promoting. This could be the ultimate prize if Obama can pick up these voters. It seems unlikely that they would vote for McCain – doubtful if Crist is the VP choice – unless McCain goes with Huckabee or Brownback instead as his running mate. Obama seems to be sounding more like W-bama lately and his base is getting annoyed, but then who else would the left vote for?

And finally, it appears the content of my blog has been stolen. The term for this is ‘scraping’. I know this site has been used as a source, referenced by other sites, spammed, linked to, etc. None of that has been a problem for me as I’ve always been credited and you could always link back to my site from these sites. In fact, it is pretty cool seeing your writings referenced elsewhere. Scraping however is copying the entire content and posting it elsewhere and no credit is given to the author. I know they say that you haven’t hit it as blogger until your work is stolen but . . . I guess I should take it in stride. I guess it will be funny if I read this on the other site. Has anyone else encountered this, what were your reactions and how did you respond?

Hope you all are having a fantastic Fourth of July weekend.

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© Copyright 2008 by my2bucks.wordpress.com

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Posted in Barack Obama, Election 2008, John McCain, My 2 Buck$ of the Day, Politics

A humorous break from the political grind

Posted on June 25, 2008 | Leave a comment

This political season has been so long – with the primaries starting in January and the campaign’s starting 8 months before that. The general election cycle is just kicking off concluding in just over 4 months.

Sometimes it is necessary just to take a break from it all . . . and laugh.

We will be briefly entertained by the singing Presidents of the United States – if you can call this singing.

Anyway, here it is, your Moment of Zen (thank you Jon Stewart)

 

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Posted in Election 2008, My 2 Buck$ of the Day, Politics

George Carlin – Thank you for the laughter

Posted on June 23, 2008 | 1 Comment

For me,  George Carlin was a hero of sorts.  I know I don’t stand alone in that sentiment.

He stood up to authority by questioning it and making fun of it.  

He constantly challenged the norm.

He pulled me out of despair when on August 2, 1979 my boyhood idol, Thurman Munson, was killed in an airplane crash.

As a boy, I didn’t think I would ever get pulled out of my state of mourning, especially not by that evening’s guest host of The Tonight Show.

He’s made me laugh ever since.  I’ve seen him in concert numerous times over the years, most recently for the last show of the millennium – December 31, 2000 - when he concluded with “Happy Real Millennium.”

Thank you for giving me 3 decades of laugher.  You will be sorely missed.

I leave you with the routine that helped me 29 years ago – Baseball and Football

RIP Geor-ge-or-ge-or-ge.

 

 

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Posted in Comedy, Entertainment, Humor, My 2 Buck$ of the Day, News

Traitor Joe, Angry Keith & VP Edwards

Posted on June 16, 2008 | Leave a comment

Droopy LiebermanLieberman betrays the Democrats . . . Again: Recently Obama kicked Lieberman’s ass in the Senate after Traitor Joe made comments about Obama after the candidates pandered at the AIPAC conference a couple of weeks ago. Now it appears that he’s at it again and is ripe for another ass-kicking.

“If Israel is in danger today, it’s not because of American foreign policy, which has been strongly supportive of Israel in every way. It is not because of what we have done in Iraq. It is because Iran is a fanatical terrorist, expansionist state.”

The implication here is that Obama is blaming US saber rattling in strengthening Iran. How much longer will the Democratic Party leadership look away while Lieberman goes off half-cocked attacking the party he caucuses with? Hey, Harry Reid. Where are you?

Olbmermann in the New YorkerAngry Olbermann piece in the New Yorker: The current issue of the New Yorker has an article on the storied career of Keith Olbermann. It is very interesting to read about how brilliant and creative his mind is and how quickly he has previously worn out his welcome. It sounds like he’s a bit temperamental. Seriously, this news doesn’t surprise me. After all, the man called the president the ‘Idiot in Chief’ and told him to ‘shut the hell up’. I bet many more Americans agree with his comments than agree with this president. I say – Keep it coming, Keith.

Click here to read the New Yorker story on Keith Olbermann.

Obama and EdwardsIs Edwards softening his position on VP?: I would love nothing more than seeing John Edwards join Barack Obama on the Democratic ticket this year. I took notice of him in 2004 as John Kerry’s VP candidate in the second stolen Bush presidency (see Ohio). I really loved the 2007-08 version of his message and I became a huge fan of his wife, Elizabeth. He was convincing in his lack of interest in being Obama’s VP for months now. That is, until yesterday on This Week with George ‘I still have fantasies of a 2nd Clinton presidency’ Stephanopoulos.

Edwards: “I intended it to say that this is not a thing that I’m seeking,”

Stephanopoulos: “And you haven’t ruled it out, though, completely, even though it’s his decision?”

Edwards: “Well, I’d take anything he asked me to think about seriously, but obviously this is something I’ve done and it’s not a job that I’m seeking.”

It is doubtful that Edwards will be asked to be the VP under Obama, though a major role in his administration would be likely. Attorney General, Supreme Court Justice and Poverty Czar have all been thrown about. Any way this goes, at least we can start hoping again.

Countrywide FinancialDid Dodd get special refinancing treatment?: It appears that numerous political people received special refinancing terms from Countrywide Financial including Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), former presidential candidate. Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo had an open policy with Senators that they receive special treatment.

“As a United States senator, I would never ask or expect to be treated differently than anyone else refinancing their home,” said Dodd.

Needless to say, with the market busting, how much of a sweetheart deal is it for these politicians? It still may cost them their homes and possibly their Senate seats.

R.I.P. Tim Russert: I was just starting to appreciate his work this year. I saw him a few times on Meet the Press but mostly watched his political coverage on MSNBC. I loved watching the primary team of Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews (I always waited to here him say something ludicrous), Brian Williams, the legendary Tom Brokaw and Russert. You knew how much respect he drew with his peers when Brokaw would say that he really wanted to hear what Timmy had to say about something. Rest in Peace. You were too young to go and the hole you leave will never be filled.

Tim Russert 1950 - 2008

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Posted in Barack Obama, Election 2008, My 2 Buck$ of the Day, Politics

Vacation – A Time to Relax

Posted on June 12, 2008 | Leave a comment

Relaxing Gulf sunsetThere is nothing like a vacation to recharge the batteries. Getting away from the stress of work, home projects and news. Every so often, 5 days away is just what the doctor ordered.

Sitting on a beach – relaxing under an umbrella – watching the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico.

I made myself a promise to stay away from the news. So of course I limited that to watching Clinton’s concession speech, reading the Sunday NY Times and Monday-Wednesday’s USA Today and Wall Street Journal. I only watched Keith on Tuesday. I allowed myself to watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. But that was it.

I steered clear of all internet activity barely checking email.

What I did see over my morning coffee was too much for my vacationing brain to handle:

  • No Triple Crown winner this year.
  • Dontrelle Willis to the minors – that one is huge for a Marlins fan.
  • Hillary conceded – Mark Penn blames the money. (Guess he hasn’t been paid yet)
  • Kucinich with strong backing from Wexler introduced articles of impeachment against Bush . . . finally!
  • The Supreme Court begins its final stretch in this year’s cases and moving more to the right.
  • The passing of legendary sportscaster Jim McKay at 86.
  • Here comes the new iPhone.
  • And Windows 7
  • A relaxing sunset on the Gulf of MexicoWhat’s up with the tomatoes?

I did receive an email smearing Obama. I responded to about half of it before I quit. I am on vacation. It was time for another piña colada. It was time to keep my promise.

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Posted in My 2 Buck$ of the Day

Primary Fatigue, BillO and More

Posted on June 3, 2008 | Leave a comment

Primary fatigue comes to an end?

It looks as if Hillary Clinton will suspend her campaign today and endorse Barack Obama as the nominee.  Clinton has offered her campaign staff 1-way tickets to either her speech in New York City or home to wait for further instructions. 

“I want to say also that this may be the last day I’m ever involved in a campaign of this kind,” President Bill Clinton said while campaigning for his wife in South Dakota.

What’s next for Clinton?  A VP nod?  She now says that she’s open to it.

An AP story this morning quoted Clinton campaign advisor Terry McAuliffe as saying that Clinton would concede the nomination tonight.  Then he reportedly denied those initial comments.  I guess we’ll see tonight.

President CarterReports have surfaced that former President Jimmy Carter will endorse Obama this evening.  No surprise here considering Carter has said that his entire family already supported Obama. 

Rep. Robert Wexler (FL) spoke before a senior citizen group today and was greeted with jeers because of Wexler’s support for Obama.  Most seniors in Florida are ardent Clinton supporters and resent Wexler’s position.  Wexler is popular with his constituents and most Democrats because of his position of the impeachment of VP Dick Cheney and his desire to question former Bush advisor Karl Rove.  That’s all well and good but don’t dis the Hillary.

 

Books – Books – Books

Scott McClellan is making the rounds promoting his new book “What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception”.  Last night he entered the ‘No Spin Zone’ took on Bill O’Reilly for 3 segments on the Factor.   BillO spun the book to imply that it was a hatchet job on Bush.  It was also clear that BillO never actually read the book.  He criticized the interviews Scottie has already done for NBC.  Without saying so, O’Reilly meant Tim Russert and Keith Olbermann.  At least on Countdown, Olbermann took direct quotes from the book and asked McClellan to comment.  O’Reilly just used the administrations spin and challenged McClellan to dispute those facts.  I found it very difficult to subject myself to the full 3 segments but am proud to say I made it.    General Ricardo Sanchez

Bet you didn’t know that General Ricardo Sanchez co-authored a book released last month.   Wiser in Battle:  A Soldier’s Story details the chaos that took place in Iraq and the blunders from the top.  This book is a must-read in order to get the inside scoop from a former on-site commander in Iraq.  Sadly, this book doesn’t get the attention it deserves because of competition from the tell-all from Scottie boy.

 

Political Medical Notes:

Senator Kennedy underwent surgery yesterday to remove the brain tumor.  He was awake during the 3 hour procedure.  The next steps for him will be for him to undergo chemo.  Reports from the hospital say that Kennedy is doing well and was walking around the hospital and visiting with family.  Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to Kennedy and his family.

Senator Robert Byrd was taken to the hospital yesterday.  He was lethargic and had a high fever.  He will remain hospitalized for a few more days to treat a mild infection.  This is the third hospital visit this year for the 90-year-old Senator from West Virginia.  We wish you a speedy recovery, Senator.

On a sad note:  General William Odom passed away of an apparent heart attack on May 30th.  He was an opponent of the war in Iraq, speaking out prior to the invasion.  He last co-wrote a piece with Zbigniew Brzezinski for the Washington Post – 27-May-2008 – called A Sensible Path on Iran.  He was 75.

General Odom

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Posted in Barack Obama, Election 2008, My 2 Buck$ of the Day, Politics, Scott McClellan

Scott McClellan: Sad & Puzzled

Posted on May 30, 2008 | Leave a comment

I am sad and puzzled. I am sad and puzzled that Scott McClellan stayed quiet for as long as he did.

I watched him sit for nearly an hour with Keith on Countdown last night and didn’t shed one sweat bead. Not one. Either the A/C is better in the MSNBC studios compared to the White House press room or he was too tired counting his money to sweat. Maybe he was just telling the truth.

Remember for the last months of his time as press secretary, McClellan perspired profusely. I had never seen anything like it outside of Tony Blair’s appearances in the House of Commons or that old SNL sketch where Billy Crystal would just start sweating uncontrollably. Was he under the gun with no fire in the belly because he didn’t believe the lies any longer?

Why did Scottie come clean now? Why did he wake up out of his Kool Aid induced coma? Could it have anything to do with the White House’s refusal to endorse McClellan’s mother in her campaign for Texas governor?

Why did the Republicans stay quiet when news of the book leaked last November? Why did they wait until the book came out to talk? Why did they only say that they were sad and puzzled? Why didn’t they start attacking the points? In the coming days and weeks we should be seeing the talking points change to either attacking the points in the book (which would make their claims more believable) or attacking McClellan. Rove has already said Scottie sounded like a left-wing blogger. If they pick up their smear game instead of attacking the points or keeping quiet and allowing this noise to die on its own, then you will know that Scottie was on to something.

What was the deal with the Jeff Gannon comments? It sounded awfully like he and Scottie boy had something going. This is the same Jeff Gannon who lobbed softball questions to Scottie and Georgie. He also had unlimited visits to the White House.

Gannon (real name: James Guckert) had this to say:

“Add me to the growing list of those who are having great difficulty understanding McClellan’s motives. I spent two years as a White House reporter, much of it during McClellan’s reign. At no time did Scott ever indicate, either publicly or privately, he had the misgivings he expressed in this book.

“What I hear about the book does not sound like the Scott McClellan I knew for two years. I can say without fear of contradiction, that I knew Scott better than any other White House correspondent or Washington reporter.”

Is Gannon/Guckert upset because Scottie never shared his true feelings publicly or privately? Privately?

Gannon/Guckert knew Scottie better than any other WH correspondent or DC reporter?

Dude? He was a male hooker with many, many, many visits to the WH. What is he implying? Don’t make my post his picture.

Robert Wexler is calling for Scottie to testify before the House judiciary committee. Why waste your time. Just read the book. Then nail Rove to the wall. Chairman Conyers is ready to kick some ass. Bring Rove in NOW!!!!!!!!!

Katie Couric and others have started to speak about their experiences. Let’s see if this breaks the media out of their shells. We need them if we are to get our country back.

This story is just starting. It should be fun. (I look forward to Sean InsHanitty’s memoirs. But I won’t hold my breath.)

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Posted in My 2 Buck$ of the Day, Politics, Scott McClellan

My 2 Buck$ for the Day – 28-May-2008

Posted on May 28, 2008 | 1 Comment

Sadly, this week there are so many places to begin the My 2 Buck$ feature. Let’s try to organize this in some rational fashion.

As discussed in last week’s feature, Senator John McCain’s campaign is packed with lobbyists. Since that time, 6 have resigned from his campaign. Charles Black claims that he has retired from lobbying and as such should not be considered among the crowd. Former Senator Phil Gramm who lobbies for legislation for the mortgage crisis is spending time advising McCain about his economic policy. Both are still with the McCain campaign. The continued fall-out of lobbyists on his campaign should be interesting to follow.

McCain has been called McBush and McSame. His campaign has been accused of being the third term for George W. Bush. Just how much are Bush and McCain’s policies McSame? Since Bush has been in the White House, McCain voted 85% with the Republican Party. So much for ‘The Maverick’. So much for ‘Mr. Moderate.’ You would at least expect McCain to run away from the party this year in order to establish his own candidacy. Not quite. McCain has voted 100% with Bush in 2008. Would McCain’s presidency equate to a third Bush term? You decide.

McCain – Hagee – Parsely – oh my. McCain actively sought and was proud to receive the endorsements of John Hagee and Rod Parsley. Hagee has called the Catholics ‘The Great Whore’, blamed Katrina in New Orleans on a ‘homosexual parade’ that was scheduled for the day Katrina hit, and said Hitler was a hunter with a gun sent by God to guide the Jews to Israel and kill millions in the process. So McCain felt he had to reject Hagee’s endorsement. Parseley, on the other hand, said Islam was a profound threat to the United States and called for Christians to eradicate the ‘false religion’. So McCain finally did what he felt he must – reject Parsely’s endorsement.

Even though his best friend in the Senate, John McCain has rejected Hagee’s endorsement for his previously mentioned remarks, Joe Lieberman (www.traitorjoe.wordpress.com) decided it was fine to schedule a speaking engagement at the Hagee Summit in July called ‘Christians United for Israel’. Let’s get this straight: Joe Lieberman – who is Jewish – is speaking at a summit headed by John Hagee – who said that Hitler was a hunter sent by God to kill Jews and shepherd them to Israel. WTF?

I must move to the other party. This Republican campaign is driving me nuts.

When Obama was speaking to veterans on Memorial Day, he had mistakenly mentioned the wrong concentration camp that his great-uncle helped to liberate. He mistakenly said Auschwitz instead of Buchenwald. Is that a huge deal? You decide. And when did ‘concentration camps’ get renamed to ‘Nazi death camps’?

Clinton invokes RFK. How many times have we heard this mentioned since Friday? Hillary immediately stated her regrets if anyone was offended and specifically referred to the Kennedy family. So of course, people were offended because she really didn’t apologize. And not to Obama or McCain. Of course, I’ve always heard that the worst way to apologize is to say ‘I’m sorry if you felt I hurt you’. She didn’t even say sorry – she said regret, so I understand the offense. But would that have stopped the onslaught from the media? Would that have stopped the Special Comment from Keith Olbermann? Should it have?

Miscellaneous Notes:

I look forward to reading Scott McClellan’s new book. It looks like it will have some really interesting stories about how the liberal media was right all along but just shirked their responsibilities. Cheney and Rove are the criminals we all thought. Bush is out-of-touch and was duped by the brains in the administration. The so-called liberal media is loving this now. Imagine how they would have loved it had they actually been doing their job for the last 7½ years! Sounds like a fascinating read.

2008 Election Polls: In the general election polls both Obama and Clinton will beat McCain however in the state-by-state polls that comprise the electoral votes, Clinton crushes McCain while Obama only edges him. I find that fascinating since Clinton has been playing small venues, McCain moved a fund raiser to a smaller venue due to lack of ticket sales and Obama speaks to 75,000 in Oregon and 16,000 at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, FL. Who’s doing these polls?

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Posted in Barack Obama, Election 2008, John McCain, My 2 Buck$ of the Day, Politics

My 2 Buck$ for the Day

Posted on May 21, 2008 | Leave a comment

We endured 2 more primaries yesterday.  The good people of Kentucky and Oregon got their say.  The uneducated and the bigots came out in support of Senator Clinton and the educated and open-minded came out for Senator Obama.  If you don’t believe that statement, look at the demographics for these 2 states and how the votes were dispersed. 

I am on the edge of my seat with anticipation for the Puerto Rico and South Dakota primaries.  I’m going to go deep out on a limb and predict an Obama victory in South Dakota and a Clinton victory in Puerto Rico. 

I know that the Democratic Party came up with this whole delegate / so-called super delegate election plan in order to simplify the nomination process.  Well, I can safely say that it didn’t work.  When one candidate refuses to accept the rules after accepting the rules, one can see where the disconnect could occur.    

To this day, I am trying to understand why the Clinton supporters will refuse to vote for Obama in the general election.  He won the delegate count fair-and-square.  He took the high ground and wouldn’t go negative.  Meanwhile repeatedly, Clinton, her husband, her campaign and her surrogates have said negative, even insulting, comments about Obama.  What I find amazing is the Clinton team’s accusations that Obama has smeared Clinton from the get-go – consistently throughout this campaign.

Just  how many lobbyists are there on the John McBush campaign?  I knew about Charles Black and his background AND how he ties to Mark Penn, Clinton’s campaign advisor.  What I didn’t realize was that Mister Campaign Reform is not playing at all by his rules.   I now wait for the so-called liberal media to ferret out each lobbyist and make this information public.  I’ll just sit here and hold my breath.

It’s a great time to live in Florida if you are a campaign wonk.  All 3 remaining candidates are in South Florida trying to get an early start on November.  Clinton and Obama were prevented from campaigning here last January so now we are having a series of rallies.  Clinton (no lie) will play the University of Miami and 2 retirement communities.  Obama on the other hand will perform at a synagogue and at the hockey arena where the Florida Panthers play (right down the street from my office).  And if you look around, you will even find McBush hanging out on South Beach.  (Okay, I made that up, but he is campaigning here as well.)

My2Buck$ wants to take a moment here and wish the Honorable Senator from Massachusetts Edward Kennedy and his family our best wishes.  Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

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Posted in My 2 Buck$ of the Day