“No Government Spam” Law Needed?

 

Nice little dust-up yesterday between Fox’s Major Garrett and WH Press Secretary Robert Gibbs over unsolicited emails from 1600′s David Axelrod asking for support for Obama’s Health Care Plan…

Yup, yup, yup… There is a list that Gibbs can check… No wait! Umm… Err… He had to move on to something more constructive.

And so it goes. Thoughts…

• I for one don’t want my name on a government spam list. Then again, I’ll probably never hear from them because I sent in an FOIA request to obtain the transcripts concerning the infamous NYC flyover. They never contacted me on that one either.
• If the government is tracking email addresses, what else is it tracking?
• Does the government destroy or ignore emails (like my FOIA request) because they come from persona non grata? I believe that’s against the law.
• Did I hear Gibbs say the phrase that he didn’t want to let Garrett suggest that someone was “Violating the law”?!? So is there is a list of “friendlies” (recipients of the Axelrod email) and “enemies”? And if so, does that imply perceived unlawful behavior by 1600?

So maybe we need another law – a “No Government Spam” law, or perhaps a “Leave the Emails Alone” law. But then again, the “Do Not Call” database was a complete flop, as far as I can see… just like other government-run entities (can you say “Amtrack”? Or “USPS”? Of course you can!)

Or maybe we just need to look a lot deeper into this, and find out what’s really happening.

Deep sigh,

Alan Speakman

Dog-Killer Signs with NFL’s Eagles

UPDATE: HotAir is taking a poll. Go vote.

Gerry was right. The Philadelphia Eagles lost sight of their moral compass enough to sign Michael Vick yesterday. Even though the Eagles were one of the 26 teams who said they had no interest in Vick, they have clearly given up any pretension to being anything other than desperate.

The NFL Fanhouse site suggests that while this may not have been the worst choice the Eagles could make, Vick is still a very iffy proposition:

This is an experiment. Philadelphia, which could use a third quarterback option after backup Kevin Kolb‘s MRI revealed a sprained MCL in his left knee, is kicking the tires on a used luxury car. And the Eagles’ mechanics better look over this carefully before they make a final decision.

It remains to be seen how the Eagles fans feel about this. I would hope that not a single ticket sells for any Eagles game, home or away.

Professional football is a great game, but there are thugs a-plenty in the NFL already. The last thing it needs is the poster child for such vile behavior.

Stoutcat

RIP Les Paul, The Guitar Player’s God

 (Update: I was able to find a nice concise video on Les Paul that I felt appropriate and have inserted it below. It’s well worth the few minutes it takes to see the master at work, even into his 90s. His type may well never pass this way again.)

RIP Les Paul…

You may have seen a brief tribute on Michelle Malkin’s web site and wondered, “why does that name sound familiar?” Les Paul, the man credited with the invention of the solid-body electric guitar and mult-track recording,  passed away at age 94.  For anyone even remotely connected to the recording industry, Paul (born Lester William Polsfuss) is considered “the guitar dude of all guitar dudes.” But he was far more than that. He blazed trails in the recording industry that set the standard from which virtually all future innovations would spring.

The Gibson Guitar company showed a lot of interest in a guitar design Paul had come up with in the ’50s and they struck a deal to have the guitar sold under their brand, but his name associated with the model. It has become the guitar of choice for guitarists from Keith Richards to Slash (Guns ‘N Roses), from the Doobie Brothers to BB King. It didn’t matter what the musical genre was. Guitarists who played with orchestras chose the Les Paul model.  It is nothing less than the ultimate guitar icon.

But Paul’s contribution to the music world went way beyond the invention of the electric guitar that made rock & roll possible. He was also the innovator who discovered how to create multi-track recordings, enabling singers to harmonize with themselves and opening up a whole world of possibilities in the field of sound technology. Virtually every recording technique and trick can be traced back to the work of Les Paul.

As a guitar player myself, I owned a Les Paul which, sadly, left my possession thanks to a thief. I didn’t cry… well, not in public, anyway.  But there was a feeling in the pit of my stomach that no medicine would cure for weeks. I wasn’t just robbed. My friends couldn’t console me… ” They stole my Les Paul. Don’t you get it?”  They say time heals all wounds, but I can honestly say, some 25 years later, if I ever catch the guy that stole my Les Paul… Yes, folks, that’s the bond between a guitarist and his Les Paul.

Actually, I just hope whoever stole it played it well and often, but treated it with the respect a masterpiece like that deserves. If I could know that, I’d be at peace about it.

When the history of the recording industry is written, one of the most prominent names mentioned will have to be Les Paul, inventor, innovator and “Godfather” of guitars.  For more on Les Paul, visit his web site.  

Bon Voyage, Les. “They’s gonna be some good rockin’ in Heaven tonight!”

H/T: Michelle Malkin

Gerry  Ashley

At Last, New Jobs Are Being Created!

 

Silver linings, folks, You’ve got to concentrate on finding the silver linings these days, and here’s a doozy gleaming through the dark economic clouds: President Obama’s new healthcare initiatives really are creating new jobs… lots and lots of new jobs!

RedState reports on the thousands of jobs posted on Craigslist advertising for people to work countering all that fishy mis-information floating around and shouting over the voices of the “mobs” that gather at the town hall meetings.

Talented leaders to work for health care reform ($11-$16/hour)

Help pass Obama’s Health Care Reform! Earn $325-$550 per week!

Why spend your summer stuck behind a cash register when you could WORK FOR CHANGE!

And VerumSerum chimes in with who’s behind it all, and it’s just who you’d expect.

Just to sum up the big picture here based on what we know now… One of HCAN’s partners is mobilizing people nationwide to “fight” against opponents of reform and is partnering with a group that has put ads for paid canvassers ($4,000 to $6,000 for the summer) on Craigslist nationwide. In effect, HCAN is hiring people to literally get in people’s faces and push Obama’s agenda.

This is what the left considers “grassroots.” Meanwhile, a memo written by a guy in Connecticut which was sent out to 10 people is proof that reform opponents of Obama Care are part of a deceptive astroturf campaign. Hopefully that’s all making perfect sense now.

So you see, although no bill has been passed yet (or finalized, or debated, or even actually, you know, read), the President’s heath care overhaul has already jump-started the job market. Why, I expect to see the unemployment rate plummet within the next few weeks, if not sooner.

And I have some beautiful beachfront property in Florida for sale, too. Cash only. Call me.

Stoutcat

Mad as Hell?

 

If you haven’t heard Leah from New Hampshire, she’s definitely worth three minutes of your time. Leah called into the C-SPAN’s Washington Journal show last Saturday, and everyone got an earful of righteous indignation, eloquently stated:

People are as mad as hell, and they’re not going to take this much longer. 

H/T: HotAir

Stoutcat

Don’t Underestimate…

 

The spirit of the Tea Parties is still going strong.

Oh yes, I am the Mob. Are you?

H/T: ShirleyRTC

Stoutcat

Welcome Back to the NFL, Michael Vick

Michael Vick

 This is a joke, right? No… Sorry, I just wish it were.

As unbelievable as it might seem, Michael Vick, the former NFL quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons will soon be back playing in the NFL.  You know, the same Michael Vick who was convicted of sponsoring a dog-fighting league and of the brutal torture and death of dogs that didn’t win their fights. Yeah, him. It seems to be only a matter of which team will outbid others for his services.

Take a moment, America, to think about what this says about us as a society: It doesn’t matter how vile you are or how horrible a crime you commit. If you can connect with your tight end on third down, “Hey, bud, it’s all good!”

I’m sure many of you are dog lovers. I will purposely avoid rubbing your faces in the details of what horrors and atrocities Vick plied on these poor dogs whose one shot at life was spent in abject terror and horror at the hands of an absolute sadist who saw their suffering as a way of making money while establishing his “thug credentials.”

Note: Take heart, there is a happy ending for the vast majority of dogs recovered from Vicks. More on that in a minute.

If you want, you can read about Vick’s meteoric rise from the streets of “Bad Newz” (Newport News, VA) to the NFL in a Sports Illustrated article. I have absolutely no interest in doing so.

Incredibly, after years of funding and participating in the brutalizing, torturing, and killing of dogs, all Vick got was a slap on the wrist; he was sentenced to 23 months in Federal Prison, but served only 18 months. There’s a reason why they call it the criminal justice system, folks. He spent less time in prison than the amount of time he spent torturing and killing who knows how many dogs? In a perfect world, Vick would be too old to do anything but drool on a football by the time he would be released.

Even more incredible: Now that he is out of prison, Roger Goodell, Commissioner of the NFL (which apparently stands for National Felon’s League), has reinstated Vick, which means Vick is eligible to look for a team that has no conscience or sense of moral outrage. And according to the NY Times, there are several teams talking to him now, including the Green Bay Packers.  Welcome to professional sports, USA style. 18 months later, all Vick has really lost (assuming an NFL team is sick enough to welcome him back), is a year and a half at the money trough. Possibly before this week is out, he’ll be back to making more money in one season than many of us will make in our lifetime.

Next Sunday, 60 Minutes will pander to Vick, giving him his big “comeback” spot where he will get to recite talking points provided by his lawyer to show us how remorseful he is… (Say, does anyone remember when 60 Minutes had some journalistic integrity? Oh wait… Me neither).

I was discussing the inevitable Vick come-back the other day with a friend who had studied psychology. He mentioned, “The kind of brutal cruelty displayed by Vick is the kind that can only be attributed to a true sadist. And you don’t rehabilitate a sadist. It’s only a matter of time before something else happens.”

Oh, goody.

He suggested that somewhere out there in the NFL there is a 340-pound tackle who also happens to be a dog lover. When given the opportunity to sack Vicks for a loss, said tackle may just “accidentally” land all 340 pounds on Vick’s knee, bending it in a direction knees normally don’t bend. With his career gone (along with the millions of dollars in income), imagine what such a sadist might do to make ends meet.

You know, if only Ted Bundy had been a little quicker off the line of scrimmage…

Vick-tims of a sadist

I’ve saved the best for last, however:  Click here for a heart-warming story about the rescue of Vick’s dogs, the unprecedented progress they’ve made, and the things some of them are doing today. One of them is now actually a therapy dog working with the elderly.

Fortunately, pit bulls can be rehabilitated with love and treatment over time.  As for Vick, don’t bet the farm on it.

I understand he’s waiting for an invite to the White House for a beer. If an injury does end his career, maybe President Obama will hire Vick to train his ACORN thugs how to keep order at Town Meetings.

Oh…gooooody.

Gerry Ashley

Who Am I Today?

 

Let’s see, this week, I guess I am the Mob:

Earlier this summer I was Neda. This past Spring, I was simultaneously Roxana Saberi and Israeli.

Last summer, I was Sarah Palin.

Also last summer, I — along with everyone else — was Georgian (the country, not the state).

Oh, and last autumn I was Joe the Plumber.

Who am I today? I am a typical American. I got where I am through hard work and with the love and support of my family and friends. I am proud of my country and think it’s the best place in the world to live. I am proud of our military men and women who put their lives in danger for us every day. I am proud of my family and my neighbors. I identify with other hard-working people, whether they carry briefcases or wear hardhats.

Today, I am one of a growing number of people who are becoming alarmed at the direction in which this country is headed. I am a part of what was once known as the Silent Majority, but I’m finding my voice now.

Today, and tomorrow, and next week and next year, I am millions of Americans — tens of millions, a hundred million — who are about to take back our country.

Who am I? By myself, I’m nobody. But watch out. You’ll know me when you see me. I’m part of that Mob.

Stoutcat

Being Civil at Town Meetings

As a conservative independent, here are my $.02…

As the town meetings unfold, I urge conservatives and Republicans to remain civil. I’m watching Neil Cavuto now (4 PM EST), and there are all there pictures of citizens in town meetings losing their cool. Bad idea – that’s not us. Those are the tantrums of Code Pink and the Demobrats, but not us. We are after all, the ilk of the older American tradition of disagreeing without being disagreeable.

Here’s my suggestion. Go to the town hall meeting and when you get your chance, state your question something like this:

“My question Senator Smith is specifically how do you intend to deal with the stunning $55 trillion deficit considering that we’re adding another $1.3 trillion? AND I want you to know that if you give me the usual “politician babble,” I will turn my back on you and leave and I will tell all my friends of my experience and I don’t think anyone should ever vote for you even if you run for dog catcher.”

Obviously, I used my favorite issue of the debt… you can use health care or whatever. But the point is that we conservatives can make a point without yelling, shoving, or worse. Those are the behaviors of spoiled children – namely “The Left.”

So IMHO, ask your question and wait for an answer. If you get baloney, politely leave. If the union thugs lock you out, peacefully document the event and spread just the facts.

With that, I’ll step away…

Alan Speakman

Forget the Town Hall Meetings

 

Clearly, what we need is more Beer Summits. What could possibly go wrong?

Stoutcat