Dinner with Obama (and Michelle)

Here's another fundraising e-mail from Obama:

Friend --

If you win a seat at the next dinner with three other supporters and me, you'll get to bring a guest.

I thought I'd bring one, too -- so I invited Michelle.

She's in.

Donate $3 or whatever you can to be automatically entered to sit down for a meal with Michelle and me.

Michelle and I don't get to spend as much time as we'd like with the people who are building the 2012 campaign.

But we are incredibly grateful for all you're doing, whether it's volunteering and having one-on-one conversations in your communities or chipping in what you can to help build the organization.

We're looking forward to the chance to thank you in person, so I hope you'll take us up on it.

Make a donation today to be automatically entered for the chance to join us at the table:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Me-and-Michelle

Thanks,

Barack

Oh, that would be great - dinner with Michelle.

We could talk about obesity as we eat. Wonderful.

Actually, I really would like to have dinner with Barack. There are so many things I have to say to him, a lot of comments and questions.

Examples:

Are you trying to wreck the country, or are you just a miserable failure at being president?

Please name the 57 states you visited during your 2008 campaign.

What does "E-pants-ipation" mean?

Tell me about Bill Ayers. Is he as creepy as he looks?

Why do you bow so much?

Remember when you couldn't tell the difference between a window and a door at the White House?

You're a White Sox fan, right? Why did you call their former home "Cominskey Field"? How could a fan make that mistake? (More plus video on Obama and "Cominskey Field" here.)

Do you like Joe Biden? Are you jealous of him because he's intellectually superior to you?

Is Jimmy Carter your role model?

Obama: 'English Embassy'

Obama the Brilliant calls the British Embassy in Iran the "English Embassy."

Lucky for him he's the sitting president and not a candidate for the office.

From The Foundry:

It is gratifying to see President Barack Obama condemn the disgraceful storming of the British Embassy in Tehran by thugs acting at the behest of the Iranian regime. After all, Obama has been notoriously slow in the past to criticise the brutal actions of the Iranian government after initially extending the hand of friendship to it. But did he really need to make another embarrassing foreign policy gaffe while doing so?

In a press conference this evening, the president referred in stumbling fashion to the “English Embassy” in Iran instead of the British Embassy. One can only imagine the kind of howls of derision that would greet any presidential contender if that kind of basic error were made before, say, the editorial board of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Video.



Yeah, the guy's a genius.

Occupy LA: The End

The Occupy LA tent city is history.

More than 200 Occupiers preferred to get arrested rather than obey the law and clear the area.

From FOX News:

Los Angeles police say more than 200 people were arrested during a raid of the Occupy LA encampment.

Police Chief Charlie Beck said at a news conference that the arrests were mainly peaceful and there were no injuries.

Beck says an initial search of the camp turned up no drugs or weapons.

Around 500 helmeted Los Angeles Police Department officers burst out of City Hall doors and raced into the Occupy L.A. encampment early Wednesday, some firing rubber bullets while others began arresting a few of the protesters on the south lawn.

"Please do the right thing," one protester yelled at police as they began entering the encampment.

Defiant Los Angeles campers who were chanting slogans as the officers surrounded the park, booed when an unlawful assembly was declared, paving the way for officers to begin arresting those who didn't leave.

...Opamago Cascini, 29, said the night had been a blast and he was willing to get arrested.

"It's easy to talk the talk, but you gotta walk the walk," Cascini said.

The LAPD declared the Occupy L.A. site an unlawful assembly about 12:30 a.m. and gave demonstrators 10 minutes to clear the area or be arrested, LAPD Officer Karen Rayner of the Media Relations Section told MyFoxLA.com.

And what was accomplished by the Occupation?

The Occupiers had "a blast" living in tents and chanting and ranting for weeks and weeks?

This unlawful assembly should have been declared long ago and order restored.

The lawbreaking should not have been tolerated.

Breitbart has video of the final moments before police began the arrests.



Embarrassing.

Donald Trump: Obama Fundraiser, Rockefeller Center Tree

Donald Trump is ticked off about Obama holding a fundraiser near Rockefeller Center on the same night of the tree-lighting.

He calls Obama inconsiderate and accuses him of "doing one hell of a lousy job" as president.

Here's video:



Transcript

DONALD TRUMP: Thousands and thousands and thousands of people come to New York City to see the lighting of the tree. They bring their kids. Everybody's festive. Everybody's having a great time. They love it. It's a big, big occasion.

Now, we have a problem. We have a president that doesn't give a damn about inconveniencing people. And I want to talk about inconvenience. You will never see a mess like this tomorrow night.

President Obama is holding a fundraiser, another of his fundraisers, hundreds of them. Every day, he's holding fundraisers. He doesn't govern. All he does is raise money so he can try and get reelected, so he can put the country further in the hole. So, he's having a fundraiser right near Rockefeller Center, where thousands of people are coming to see the tree light up.

Isn't that a shame? The streets are going to be closed, everything's going to be closed because of his security. He needs great security.

Let me tell you, this president is a much different person than people know. He's a very inconsiderate guy. Stop with the fundraisers and start running the country, because you are doing one hell of a lousy job.

Paul Ryan for President

Run, Run, Ryan!



I'm not thrilled with the idea of Mitt Romney being the Republican nominee for president. I really don't think Newt Gingrich should be the nominee. Way too much baggage.

Of course, I prefer either Romney or Gingrich to Obama. That's a no-brainer. Anybody but Obama.

What I really want to do is vote for Paul Ryan for president in 2012.

I think he can be the next president of the United States.

Ryan could assure that Obama takes his rightful place alongside Jimmy Carter as a failed, one-term president.

Rand Paul and Mark Neumann

Rand Paul believes that Mark Neumann should be Wisconsin's next U.S. senator.

Paul writes:

Let me tell you a story you need to know about my friend Mark Neumann.

He went to Congress as part of the Republican Revolution as one of the leading anti-spending warriors in Congress. He served on the Appropriations Committee, fighting government spending every single day. Well, as you can imagine Mark voted against bills that contained "pork barrel" projects every week, and it angered the Republican leadership--so much so that they kicked Mark off the Committee! Mark didn't care. In a letter to the rest of the Republicans, Mark wrote, "If I’m kicked off this committee for voting my conscience, my only regret is that I don’t have more committees to get kicked off of." I love that story!

Fast forward to today: Mark Neumann is back running for Senate in Wisconsin and he needs our help. That is why I have endorsed him, and I hope you will join me by helping him immediately with the largest gift you can for his campaign.

I'm backing Mark Neumann because we need people up here in the Senate who are conservatives first and Republicans second. We need people who are not here just to be another generic GOP vote, but who want to really change the way business is done in Washington. That's the kind of person Mark Neumann is.

Some people love to talk about cutting spending and smaller government because they think that's what folks want to hear. But Mark Neumann has actually walked the walk; he is tough as nails and we can rely on him.

Mark Neumann is in a primary and the moderate "establishment" is trying to pick another candidate. In fact, Barack Obama actually praised this Republican for his early support of ObamaCare.

Think about that for a second! What is our party going to be about? Are we going lie down and take what the Obama Administration has done to our country? Or are we going to do the hard work of dismantling the Obama agenda and taking this country back? If that is going to happen, Mark Neumann needs to win in Wisconsin.

Now, let me tell you about Mark's Democrat opponent Tammy Baldwin: she is the most liberal member of the House of Representatives. She is one of the leaders of the Union Boss "Recall" movement that has raged against government spending restraint and reform in Wisconsin this year. And nearly every liberal special interest group you can think of is backing her campaign. She's already raising millions across the country from groups like MoveOn.org, Daily Kos, and Hollywood liberals. I hope you can see why Mark Neumann needs our help.

I am honored to stand shoulder to shoulder in the Senate with people like Jim DeMint, Ron Johnson, Tom Coburn, Marco Rubio, and Pat Toomey. We're fighting every single day in the Senate, but we need reinforcements. We need Mark Neumann up here in the Senate with us.

This could be the biggest Senate race in America this year. Mark Neumann has to win it. I'm all in for Mark Neumann. I hope you are too. Will you join me?



In Liberty,

Sen. Rand Paul

Lexus for Christmas

Jim Gaffigan tweets:

When are they going to air the commercial where the recipient of a car in a giant ribbon says, “A LEXUS! We can’t afford this, you idiot.”?

Jimmy Fallon: Nick Novak

JIMMY FALLON: On Sunday, Chargers kicker Nick Novak - did you hear about this? - he was caught on TV urinating on the sidelines during San Diego's overtime loss to Denver; marking the only time fans were really glad a player didn't go for 2.

Anders Behring Breivik: Insane

Mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik isn't a bad man, although he slaughtered 77 people and injured 151. He's suffering from an illness.


Anders Behring Breivik

Actually, Breivik's profile reveals this mad man shared a good deal in common with those considered sane.

Anders Behring Breivik, a 32-year-old Norwegian national, claims to be a fan of Winston Churchill, classical music, and gory movies like, "300," and "Gladiator," on his Facebook page.

He also claims on the page to be a fan of the sappy HBO vampire drama, "True Blood," and the serial killer show, "Dexter."

...He studied at the Oslo Commerce School, an instituion devoted to business and financial management.

In published photos, the alleged killer is shown to don a half smile, preppy clothing, and piercing green eyes that stare into the camera.

The Huffington Post goes on to cite a Twitter account for Breivik, in which he chillingly quotes the philosopher John Stuart Mill, saying, "One person with a belief is equal to the force of 100,000 who have only interests." The tweet was posted on July 17 and was the only one attributed to the account.

Breivik may have used a front company, Breivik Geofarm, he founded in 2009 as an excuse to legally stockpile large quantities of fertilizer and other chemicals which he could have used to build the bombs, according to Norwegian news stations.

On his Facebook page, Breivik describes himself as a fan of shoot-em'-up video games like "Modern Warefare 2," as well as the fantasy epic, "World of Warcraft."

So Breivik's killing spree has been declared the result of his illness.

The poor guy was sick. He's not responsible in that he didn't chose to commit heinous crimes. He didn't know what he was doing.

He needs treatment. He needs help, not punishment.

From the BBC: Norway massacre: Breivik declared insane

Psychiatrists assessing self-confessed Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik have concluded that he is suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.

They believe he was in a psychotic state during the twin attacks on 22 July that led to the deaths of 77 people and injured 151.

He was also insane during the 13 interviews he held with two psychiatrists, a news conference heard.

...The two psychiatrists, in their report, concluded that he lived in his "own delusional universe where all his thoughts and acts are guided by his delusions".

...Breivik, 32, is due to stand trial on 16 April for a hearing scheduled to last around 10 weeks.

It is unclear if the conclusions of the report - if approved by the panel - will prevent the trial from going ahead in its current form.

It will almost certainly mean that Breivik is detained into psychiatric care rather than receiving a lengthy jail term.

Before the report was made public, a lawyer for the victims said it did not matter what the conclusion was as long as Breivik was not allowed to go free.

"What will happen in the case, no matter what the conclusion, is that he (Breivik) will of course be incarcerated," John Christian Elden said.

"And if the outcome is criminally sane or insane, that is, first and foremost a psychiatric question. The most important thing in our clients' opinion is that he will not be able to walk the streets."

Breivik won't be free to walk the streets, but certainly being in a facility for the mentally ill is far different from being in prison.

I assume he'll receive treatment and medication to control his psychosis.

If Breivik is "cured," then what?

Will he be like John Hinckley Jr., the man who tried but failed to assassinate President Ronald Reagan?

From CNN, October 4, 2011:

Mental hospital wants to release failed Reagan assassin John Hinckley Jr.

The government mental hospital where John Hinckley Jr. has spent most of the last 30 years since he shot and tried to kill President Ronald Reagan is asking a federal court to allow Hinckley's eventual release to live with or near his aging mother in Williamsburg, Virginia.

The prosecution, in its own filing with the court on Friday, described Hinckley as "a man capable of great violence" and said his mental condition has not improved to the point of eliminating concerns "that this violence may be repeated."

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman has scheduled up to a week of court hearings on the issue to start November 28, the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Hinckley is now 56. He was committed to St. Elizabeths Hospital in 1982 after a jury found him innocent by reason of insanity in the shooting of President Reagan and three others, including the president's severely wounded press secretary, James Brady.

The hospital's lawyers and doctors filed their motion under seal, withheld from the public, when they asked at the end of this past July that Hinckley eventually be placed on "convalescent leave."

But government lawyers quoted the hospital's proposal, making it part of the court's public record, in their response Friday in opposing his release.

The day that changed presidential security forever

According to the government, the hospital has asked first for a series of extended visits to Williamsburg and then, "it be given the sole discretion to place Hinckley on convalescent leave in his mother's hometown."

His widowed mother, Jo Ann Hinckley, is now 85. She lives in a gated resort development not far from the James River in Williamsburg. Hinckley has been allowed several visits with her for up to a week and a half at a time over the last couple of years.

But he has been required to carry a GPS tracking device when away from the house and the Secret Service has kept watch on his movements. That surveillance would be loosened under the hospital's proposal.

I think the hospital's lawyers and doctors appear to be suffering from some mental illness.

Walker Recall: 300,000 Signatures

The Leftist media are thrilled to report that 300,000 signatures have been collected in the effort to recall Governor Scott Walker.

Of course, we have no idea how many are legitimate or if they really exist. No matter. Report it anyway.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The group attempting to recall Gov. Scott Walker says it has gathered more than 300,000 signatures in 12 days.

There is no way to independently verify the group's signature count because the petitions will not become public unless it turns them in to state election authorities.

But if its numbers are accurate, that would mean its staff and volunteers collected more than half of the 540,208 signatures they need in less than two weeks.

The group, United Wisconsin, launched the recall effort on Nov. 15 and has 60 days to gather the signatures. They are due Jan. 17.

The group has said it plans to collect 600,000 to 700,000 signatures so it has a cushion because Walker will have a chance to challenge the validity of the signatures.

But even if it hits its target early, the group still plans to turn the signatures in on the last day, Jan. 17, said Meagan Mahaffey, United Wisconsin's executive director.

From FOX 6:

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's opponents say they have collected more than 300,000 signatures in just 12 days, or 1,040 signatures per hour! That's more than half of the 540,208 signatures needed to force a recall election, with 48 days left before the signatures are due.

Clearly, this is not a grassroots sort of operation. Collecting that many signatures at that rate requires organization.

Amazing what unions and political machines can accomplish!

Video.

 
I really regret that Gov. Walker is being sidetracked with this.

Rather than devoting himself completely to working to improve conditions in Wisconsin, he'll have to campaign again.

It's a waste of time and money.

Although I look forward to voting for Walker again and celebrating his reelection, it would be far better for the people of Wisconsin if we could just avoid this lame stunt.

Of course, Big Labor and its obedient minions are determined to drag the state through a costly, pointless recall election.

Very unfortunate.

Ginger White

Ginger White is another nail in Herman Cain's political coffin.

The latest woman to come forward and accuse Cain of sexual impropriety claims she was involved with the presidential candidate for over a decade.

Here's video:







From FOX 5, Atlanta:

An Atlanta businesswoman is breaking her silence, claiming she has been involved in a 13-year-long affair with Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, FOX 5 senior I-Team reporter Dale Russell sat down with Ginger White, who had a story to tell.

“I'm not proud,” White told Russell. “I didn't want to come out with this. I did not.”

White was worried a political tsunami was headed her way. So, she decided to head it off, by confessing she was involved in a 13-year-long affair with presidential hopeful Herman Cain.

“It was pretty simple,” White said. “It wasn't complicated. I was aware that he was married. And I was also aware I was involved in a very inappropriate situation, relationship.”

Ginger White says she met Herman Cain in the late 90s in Louisville, Kentucky, when as president of the National Restaurant Association, he made a presentation. She was impressed. She says they shared drinks afterwards and he invited her back to his hotel room.

“’I'd like to see you again,’” White said Cain told her. “’You are beautiful to me, and I would love for us to continue this friendship.’”

She says in his hotel room, he pulled out a calendar and invited her to meet him in Palm Springs. She accepted, and she says the affair began.

“He made it very intriguing,” White told FOX 5. “It was fun. It was something that took me away from my humdrum life at the time. And it was exciting.”

She says he gave her his newly-published book, Leadership is Common Sense, and he wrote: “Miss G, you have already made a 'big difference!’ Stay focused as you pursue your next destination."

She says during the next 13 years, he would fly her to cities where he was speaking and he lavished her with gifts. She says they often stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Buckhead and dined at The Four Seasons restaurant. She says he never harassed her, never treated her poorly, and was the same man you see on the campaign trail.

“Very much the same, very much confident, very much sure of himself,” White said, describing Cain. “Very arrogant in a playful sometimes way. Very, ah -- Herman Cain loves Herman Cain.”

...Before our interview, we checked into Ginger White's background. We found she filed a sexual harassment claim against an employer in 2001. That case was settled.

We also found a bankruptcy filing nearly 23 years ago in Kentucky, and a number of eviction notices here in DeKalb County over the past six years. The most recent happened this month.

Ms. White says she has been unemployed, and she is a single mom with two kids struggling to make ends meet.

...We also found a lawsuit filed by a former business partner, Kimberly Vay, who once sought a "stalking temporary protective order" against Ms. White for "repeated e-mails/texts threatening lawsuit and defamation of character." The case was dismissed; but was followed by a libel lawsuit against Ms. White. A judge entered an order in favor of Kimberly Vay because Ms. White failed to respond to the lawsuit.

When asked why, under those circumstances, her claims against Cain should be believed, White said, “Because I admit it. Whatever happened with Kim happened. Just as there would make no sense for me to come out with these allegations against Herman if it absolutely wasn't true.”

Herman Cain, once again, insisted the allegations are false.

However, Herman Cain's attorney, Lin Wood, released the following statement:

"Mr. Cain has been informed today that your television station plans to broadcast a story this evening in which a female will make an accusation that she engaged in a 13-year long physical relationship with Mr. Cain. This is not an accusation of harassment in the workplace – this is not an accusation of an assault - which are subject matters of legitimate inquiry to a political candidate.

Rather, this appears to be an accusation of private, alleged consensual conduct between adults - a subject matter which is not a proper subject of inquiry by the media or the public. No individual, whether a private citizen, a candidate for public office or a public official, should be questioned about his or her private sexual life. The public's right to know and the media's right to report has boundaries and most certainly those boundaries end outside of one's bedroom door.

Mr. Cain has alerted his wife to this new accusation and discussed it with her. He has no obligation to discuss these types of accusations publicly with the media and he will not do so even if his principled position is viewed unfavorably by members of the media."

That statement takes a far different tone than Cain's initial reaction to the allegations. It sounds like Cain did have an affair with White.

It's a private affair that Cain will not discuss.

Throughout the barrage of allegations, Cain has repeated the mantra that he never did anything wrong or inappropriate.

Adultery is inappropriate, but does it disqualify him from running for office?

If Cain were a Democrat, of course not.

Jimmy Fallon: Obama and Daughters at Book Store

JIMMY FALLON: Over the weekend, President Obama took his daughters to a book store. Barack bought Malia The Phantom Tollbooth, while Malia bought Barack Economics for Dummies.

'12 Days of Christmas' Gifts - Cost in 2011

The price of Christmas gifts keeps rising.

Last year, it cost $96,824 to give your true love the items from the song "Twelve Days of Christmas."

This year, those same gifts will cost you over $100,000.

Of course, that's way out of most people's price range for gift-giving. Those of us in the 99 percent can't afford to give this fine expression of yuletide cheer to the true love in our lives. But most of us can pop for a $15 partridge.

In total, this is definitely the stuff of the one percent.

OCCUPY THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!!!

From the Associated Press:

The price of partridges, pear trees and turtle doves has spiked, pushing the cost of every item mentioned in the carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas" above $100,000 for the first time.

Holding mostly steady this year: maids-a-milking, ladies dancing, lords-a-leaping and gold rings.

The 364 items repeated across all the song's verses would cost $101,119, an increase of 4.4 percent over last year, according to the annual Christmas Price Index compiled by PNC Wealth Management. The broader government Consumer Price Index increased by 3.9 percent over the same period.

Those with the money to spend would end up with 12 drummers drumming, 22 pipers piping, 30 lords-a-leaping, 36 ladies dancing, 40 maids-a-milking, 42 swans-a-swimming, 42 geese-a-laying, 40 gold rings, 36 calling birds, 30 French hens, 22 turtle doves, and 12 partridges in pear trees. (The price does not include bird maintenance.)

But buying just one set of each verse in the song will cost $24,263 this year—a moderate 3.5 percent rise.

Eleven pipers piping will set you back $2,427, but that's a relative bargain compared to seven swans-a-swimming, which cost $6,300. That's a 12.5 percent rise over last year.

Jim Dunigan, managing executive of investment for PNC Wealth Management, said the core rate of increase is less than half the 9.2 percent jump last year.

"The story in general is wages are still a very sluggish part of this economy," said Dunigan, who noted that the price of eight maids-a-milking at minimum wage was $58—the same as in 2009.

Five gold rings even declined a bit, Dunigan said, to $645, from $650 last year.

But last-minute shoppers who turn to the Internet may be in for some surprises. The core list that costs about $24,000 in stores will come to $39,860 online—a whopping 16.1 percent increase over Internet prices last year. Dunigan said the high cost of shipping live birds explains some of the difference.

Six items didn't go up in cost this year: French hens, calling birds, gold rings, maids-a-milking, ladies dancing and lords-a-leaping. Pipers piping and drummers drumming rose 3 percent. The partridge is still the cheapest item, at $15, and swans the most expensive.

Gift cards aren't as flashy as lords a-leaping and swans a-swimming, but they're always a good choice.

There aren't the shipping headaches.

Michelle Obama Intro Song: Big Butts

What if Michelle Obama appeared as a guest on a talk show and this was the music selected for her introduction?



This clip perfectly reveals the double standard that conservatives deal with day in and day out.

Obama: Cyber Monday

Last year, I got some great deals on Cyber Monday.

This year?

We'll see.

One thing is certain. I will not be buying any Obama 2012 ornaments for our Christmas tree.

Nothing celebrates the birth of Jesus like an Obama 2012 decoration.

Good grief.

On Sunday, Team Obama tried to tempt shoppers with a 10 percent off coupon.



The Obama 2012 Glass Ornament Set is $25!

Definitely not a good deal, even with the 10 percent discount.

Anyway, I wouldn't politicize my Christmas tree.

Check out this item from the Obama Store:



So lame it's funny!

It's pretty sad that Biden is willing to be a laughing stock.

Nick Novak: Televised Leak (Video)

If a fan did what Nick Novak, kicker for the San Diego Chargers, did during the 4th quarter of the game against the Broncos, he likely would have been escorted out of the stadium.

CBS televised Novak relieving himself on the sidelines.

There had to be a better way to solve the problem.

Novak did miss what could have been a game-winning field goal. He was wide right. Hopefully, his aim was better and he had the necessary distance and accuracy to hit the cup on the sidelines.

Rose Pickering

As long as I've attended productions of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, decades, Rose Pickering was there.

She passed away on Thanksgiving night.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

To inspire herself before she went onstage, actress Rose Pickering would sometimes think about Brett Favre. But she could have taught him a few things about being an iron man.

Favre played only one position, quarterback, for a mere 20 seasons. No one has enough fingers and toes to count the number of roles Pickering played for the Milwaukee Repertory Theater during more than 35 seasons of performances.

As the longest-serving actress in the Rep's resident company, she played Amanda in "The Glass Menagerie," Lady Bracknell in "The Importance of Being Earnest," Elizabeth Proctor in "The Crucible" and title roles in "Juno and the Paycock," "The Matchmaker," "Miss Lulu Bett" and "Mother Courage," to cite a few of her declared favorites. She played wives, mothers, widows, ghosts, queens, murderers - and the occasional man.

Pickering, a fixture on local stages from 1973 until she took a leave in 2010 for medical treatment, died Thursday night of cancer. She was 64.

Pickering, who grew up in Delaware, met her husband and fellow Rep resident actor James Pickering in 1970 when they were both theater graduate students at Penn State. He joined the Rep company a year after she did. More than a dozen times, they played a married couple on stage. The Milwaukee Arts Board honored their work by giving them its Outstanding Artists Award in 1999.

For me, Rose Pickering was the heart of the Milwaukee Rep.

She was wonderful in comedies, possessing great comic timing, eliciting tremendous laughs from the audience with ease.

She was wonderful in dramatic roles, expressing a tremendous range of emotions with intensity and tenderness.

She was a treasure.

I can thank Rose Pickering for so many memorable moments, for enriching my life. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to experience theater with her.

Catholic Mass Changes

As usual, I went to Mass on Saturday.

It was the first Sunday of Advent and the first Mass I attended with the changes in the Roman Missal.

Over a year ago, when I learned that change was coming, I wasn't too happy. I was dreading Advent 2011, but it was far enough off that I just chose not to think about it.

By fall, there was no more ignoring the inevitable.

I was prepared to be like a person who only goes to Mass on Christmas or Easter and is virtually clueless.

As I learned more about the changes, I grew more comfortable.

Nonetheless, last weekend at Mass, I was sad knowing that it wasn't going to be same. The words I had heard and said at Mass for years and years and years I wouldn't experience again.

The new Roman Missal is a big deal, especially for people who actually go to Mass.

The changes are there, but it's still the Mass. Its structure hasn't changed. What happens hasn't changed. What it's about is the same.

The media are going overboard in their coverage of the changes. They've hyped it as something that it's not - dramatically different.



Absolutely, the familiar prayers and responses have some alterations, some significant changes in wording. Some sound and feel awkward.

It will take some getting used to.

"And also with you."

"And with your spirit."

OK, no problem there.

The Creed has some strange changes, like it's a bad translation, stilted.

The Lamb of God is exactly the same.

It's a mix of familiar responses and prayers and some odd things.

"Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed."

"Enter under my roof"?

I don't see how that addition makes it more meaningful, but it is what it is.

Overall, I'm sure I'll adjust eventually.

I would prefer not to have the changes, but there are changes. So, I'll adjust.

Kristi and Scott Walker: Right for Wisconsin

Here's Scott Walker's latest ad, featuring high school teacher and mom, "Kristi."



TMJ4 did a story on the ad and the treatment Kristi is receiving as a result of her support for Walker.

The anti-Walker Leftists are brutally attacking Kristi online.



This is such ugly stuff, typical from the rabid anti-Walker brigade.

Don't these people have consciences?

If they do, they're seriously deficient.

Kristi is a brave woman for appearing in the ad.

She obviously has a spine, but that doesn't mean the horrible online comments aren't hurtful.

I hope she knows that for each jerk attacking her, there are many more of us here in Wisconsin admiring her for expressing her support for Scott Walker.

Scott Walker Song: 'My Governor's a Jedi'

Black Friday Recall Walker Petition Drives

While crowds are out shopping, looking for bargains, on this Friday after Thanksgiving, the anti-Scott Walker crowd will be out trying to gather signatures to recall the governor.

From the Republican Party of Wisconsin:

Republican Party of Wisconsin Communications Director Ben Sparks issued the following statement regarding the numerous petition drives being held at private businesses and shopping outlets on Black Friday :

"Wisconsin Democrats continue to show their complete and utter lack of shame as they take their baseless recall effort to the doorstep of private businesses, harassing their customers to engage in what is nothing more than a selfish power play to suit the ends of liberal special interests.

"I doubt these businesses wish their stores to be associated with what is purely a partisan ploy, and these selfish acts on the part of the liberal activists will no doubt adversely affect these businesses. We encourage Democrats to have the decency of at least obtaining the permission of these establishments before demeaning their place of business to the level of a liberal petition booth.

"We encourage shoppers who witness any misconduct from petition gatherers on Black Friday to please contact the Recall Integrity Center at www.recallintegritycenter.com. Should petition gatherers not leave the premises upon request, we encourage businesses to contact their local law enforcement."

Here is a list of petition drives scheduled for 11/25:

9:00 AM- 6:00 PM – ShopKo, K-Mart, Pick-N-Save - Fort Atkinson

4:00 PM- 5:00 PM – CV Exhaust Pros Parking lot – 3900 Monona Dr, Monona

12:00 PM- 2:00 PM – Johnson Creek Outlets - Linmar Ln, Johnson Creek

9:45 AM- 2:45 PM – West Towne Mall – 66 West Town, Madison

10:30 AM- 3:00 PM – Wal-Mart Supercenter – Watertown

9:00 AM- 6:00 PM – Toys R Us – 355 S. Moorland Rd., Brookfield

8:00 AM- 5:00 PM – K-Mart – 5600 S. 108th St., Hales Corners

8:00 AM- 5:00 PM – Best Buy – 4610 S. 76th St., Greenfield

8:00 AM- 5:00 PM – South Ridge Mall – S. 76th St., Greendale

Midnight – Bayshore Mall – 5800 N. Bayshore Dr., Glendale

3:00 PM- 6:00 PM – Piggly Wiggly – 4011 Durand Ave., Racine

Midnight- 6:00 PM – Prime Outlets – 3001 S. Washburn St. #801, Oshkosh

Midnight- 6:00 PM – Target - 1900 S. Koeller St., Oshkosh

10:00 PM (Thanksgiving)- 6:00 PM – Wal-Mart – 351 S. Washburn St., Oshkosh

5:00 AM- 5:00 PM – Home Depot – 32—Deerfield Dr., Janesville

5:00 AM- 5:00 PM – Janesville Mall – 2500 Milton Ave., Janesville

5:00 AM- 5:00 PM – Hobby Lobby – 3023 Milton Ave., Janesville

5:00 AM- 11:00 AM – Bay Park Square Mall – 303 Ashwaubenon

5:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Best Buy – 825 Pilgrim Way, Green Bay

5:00 AM- 11:00 AM – Target – 2050 Lime Kiln Rd., Green Bay

4:00 AM- 9:00 AM – Wal-Mart – 2950 New Pinery Rd., Portage

Will the recall workers ask permission to engage in this political activity at these places of business?

Who knows?

I wouldn't want the recallers doing their politicking at my business. Any business that does permit the Left-wing activists to set up shop is aligning with the Walker haters. That's not smart. It's sure to disturb some customers.

I really don't see how Target could give the OK to the recallers. Target doesn't allow the Salvation Army on the premises to collect for the needy. It would be very weird for Target stores to allow political partisans to collect signatures, distracting their customers by trying to get them to sign recall petitions.

In any event, I doubt that people interested in getting Black Friday deals, serious shoppers, will want to waste their time signing petitions. Time is at a premium on this busy shopping day.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day

October 3, 1863

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

A. Lincoln

Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!

Macy's Thanksgiving Parade 2011 Balloons

Obama Pardons Turkeys (Video)

The Thanksgiving tradition of U.S. presidents granting turkeys a pardon continues.

Obama used his authority to pardon "Liberty" and "Peace."

Here's video:



Obama's looks like he's the Pope granting the turkeys a blessing. Watch his hand movements.

Here's more on the pardons, from the Los Angeles Times:

There was freedom for Liberty. President Obama pardoned the appropriately named turkey at the White House on Wednesday, an annual tradition before what the president said was "one of the best days of the year to be an American."

Actually, two birds will be spared from the holiday dinner table, Liberty and Peace. But Liberty enjoyed the national spotlight during a brief ceremony at the North Portico on Wednesday morning, in which Obama made a priestly gesture over the bird before announcing: "You are hereby pardoned!"

Obama tied the event to a series of executive actions he's been taking in recent weeks to jump-start the economy, steps that don't need congressional approval.

"Well here's another one: We can't wait to pardon these turkeys. Literally!" Obama said. "Otherwise they'd wind up next to the mashed potatoes and stuffing."

Daughters Malia and Sasha joined him for the event; the First Family will later participate in a service event in Washington.

Michele Bachmann and NBC Apology

UPDATE: NBC apologizes to Bachmann for Fallon song choice

GOP Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann received an apology from an NBC executive after an off-color song was played during her appearance on Jimmy Fallon's "Late Night," her spokeswoman said late Wednesday.

The Minnesota congresswoman received a personal letter from NBC's vice president for late night programming, Doug Vaughan, a day after she appeared on the show. As Bachmann walked onstage, the show's band had played a snippet of a 1985 Fishbone song entitled "Lyin' Ass B----."

Vaughan wrote that the incident was "not only unfortunate but also unacceptable," Bachmann spokeswoman Alice Stewart told The Associated Press. She said Vaughn offered his sincerest apologies and said the band had been "severely reprimanded."

...One of Bachmann's congressional colleagues, New York Democrat Nita Lowey, had called on NBC to apologize for its "insulting and inappropriate" treatment of its guest.

I wonder what "severely reprimanded" means.

Probably something like, "Guys? Try not to do that again, OK?"

Whatever, all the apologists on the Left claiming Bachmann was wrong to make an issue of the incident look pretty stupid.

At least Democrat Nita Lowey had the decency to call on NBC to apologize. It really was a no-brainer.

As Doug Vaughan wrote, the song choice was "not only unfortunate but also unacceptable."

It was also unfortunate and unacceptable that it took NBC so long to apologize to Bachmann.

I suppose the network was getting a lot of negative feedback and was shamed into action.

A forced apology is better than none I guess.

Or, maybe someone at NBC genuinely has a sense of decency and knows the difference between right and wrong.
________________

Michele Bachmann plans to speak with Jimmy Fallon today about the "Lyin' Ass Bitch" insult she received when she was a guest on Monday's Late Night.

She believes an apology from NBC is in order.

Here's video:



I agree with Bachmann.

I don't know why NBC is dragging its feet on this.

If the victim of the attack had been a liberal female, or any other female, an apology would have been issued immediately.

Apparently, NBC doesn't follow the rules of the "new civility" when it comes to conservative women.

Do you think David Gregory, political civility crusader, will make this an issue on Meet the Press?

Tommy Thompson: Repeal and Replace ObamaCare

Obama Anti-Catholic

Bishop William Lori comments on what some consider the Obama administration's war on Catholics.

According to Bishop Lori, our religious freedom is in danger.

"We certainly are experiencing right now some immediate and palpable threats to religious freedom."

From FOX News:

A series of new laws that go against the values presented in the Catholic religion, including a suggestion in the health care reform law that a Catholic hospital may need to provide contraception or perform an abortion, have some complaining that the president and his administration are anti-Catholic.

Bishop William Lori, Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, joined Fox and Friends to react. He said that while he’s engaged in a dialogue with the administration, “We certainly are experiencing right now some immediate and palpable threats to religious freedom.”

He went on to say, “Catholic hospitals, catholic charities, our schools, provide first-rate services, and I believe it’s the duty of government to accommodate our religious beliefs and convictions and allow us to perform those services according to our own light, even when we are engaged in a government contract.”

Here's video of the interview:

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Michele Bachmann, Jimmy Fallon: 'Lyin' Ass Bitch'

I am so disappointed in Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and The Roots in particular.

I saw the show last night and Fallon interview Michele Bachmann, but I wasn't paying attention to the music The Roots played for her entrance. As I wrote more than 12 hours ago, the interview was very light-hearted.

Jimmy Fallon treated Bachmann with respect. He made no inappropriate remarks. I enjoyed the segment.

I had no idea that The Roots took such a very disrespectful hit at the congresswoman.

From WCCO:

Jimmy Fallon’s house band the Roots didn’t have a warm welcome for Republican presidential contender Michele Bachmann when she appeared on the NBC show early Tuesday.

As Bachmann strode on to the stage at Fallon’s “Late Night,” the show’s band played a snippet of a 1985 Fishbone song called “Lyin’ Ass B****.”

The song begins with a distinctive “la la la la la la la la la” refrain — the only words audible before Bachmann, smiling and waving to the audience, sat down.

The song itself, about a relationship gone wrong, isn’t political. Among its cleanest lyrics: “She always says she needs you, but you know she really don’t care.”

...Bachmann’s campaign had no immediate comment.

Fallon joked on Twitter that Roots bandleader Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson was grounded. The show itself didn’t have any comment.

This really sucks.

I like Late Night with Jimmy Fallon because it's not typically so mean-spirited.

Questlove, drummer for The Roots, sort of apologized for the really offensive insult.

From ABC News:

The drummer for the house band on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” apologized sort of for his decision to play ”Lyin’ Ass Bitch” when Rep. Michele Bachmann appeared on the talk show Monday night.

“The performance was a tongue-in-cheek and spur of the moment decision. The show was not aware of it and I feel bad if her feelings were hurt. That was not my intention,” Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson said in a statement.

As Bachmann, congresswoman and GOP presidential contender, walked across the stage to sit next to Fallon Monday night, house band the Roots played a refrain from the song written by Fishbone.

Though the lyrics refer to a woman as a “slut trash can bitch,” the band sang the “la, la, la” of the refrain.

The band’s drummer sent a tweet prior to the show clueing viewers in on the song choice, writing: “late night walkon song devotees: you love it when we snark: this next one takes the cake. ask around cause i aint tweeting title.”

Later, he retweeted a fan’s reaction: “perfect entry song for her.”

As a fan of the show and nightly viewer, this really pisses me off.

Can you imagine what the reaction would be if a female Democratic member of the House and presidential candidate were greeted that way?

I guarantee it wouldn't happen.

Quest, what the hell?

He didn't only diss Bachmann. He dissed women.

Jimmy Fallon always says that he wants his show to be fun. He doesn't want to alienate anyone. That usually is the approach the show takes.

Well, I feel very alienated. It was an extremely classless move.

I don't support Bachmann, but good grief, give her some respect. She was a GUEST. That's no way to treat a GUEST.


__________________

UPDATE: Michele Bachmann was not pleased about the way she was treated when she appeared as a GUEST on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Bachmann gave her reaction to the insult on Twitter.

Big Hollywood has the screen shot of her Tweet.

MICHELE BACHMANN: When a sitting United States Congresswoman, current Presidential candidate, mother of five, and foster mother of 23 is humiliated on your television show, a snark-free apology is probably the best way to deal with the situation. It will be interesting to see if Fallon addresses the incident on his show tonight.

Fallon responded on Twitter.

JIMMY FALLON: I'm honored that @michelebachmann was on our show yesterday and I'm so sorry about the intro mess. I really hope she comes back.

JIMMY FALLON: Actually it was a really fun interview. She helped me with my Minnesota accent. (I still sound Irish.) http://bit.ly/vb4LCe

Fallon did not address the insult on his show Tuesday night.

Nothing at all was said about it.

I think that was a mistake. The intro song for Michele Bachmann selected and played by The Roots was so out of line that I think Fallon should have made an on-air apology, short and sweet, but at least something.

Of course, Questlove is an Obama supporter and so is Fallon. That's no secret. But to treat a GUEST with such disrespect is really inexcusable. This is a character issue. Addressing the matter on the show would have gone a long way to show that Fallon and The Roots and the show's staff sincerely regretted treating Bachmann so horribly.

This has nothing to do with political affiliation. It's all about showing respect for a GUEST, for another human being. Saying that Bachmann is a "lyin' ass bitch" was beyond the pale. It was terribly cruel, not what I've come to expect from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Why was she booked on the show if they can't stand her?

Invite Rachel Maddow again instead.

I've read political tweets from the show's writers. Maybe the staff thinks that the overwhelming majority of their viewers agree with Questlove and found the cruelty amusing.

I would hope that even Bachmann's political opponents would consider her introduction on Monday's Late Night to be disgraceful.
__________________

UPDATE: NBC apologizes to Bachmann for Fallon song choice

GOP Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann received an apology from an NBC executive after an off-color song was played during her appearance on Jimmy Fallon's "Late Night," her spokeswoman said late Wednesday.

The Minnesota congresswoman received a personal letter from NBC's vice president for late night programming, Doug Vaughan, a day after she appeared on the show. As Bachmann walked onstage, the show's band had played a snippet of a 1985 Fishbone song entitled "Lyin' Ass B----."

Vaughan wrote that the incident was "not only unfortunate but also unacceptable," Bachmann spokeswoman Alice Stewart told The Associated Press. She said Vaughn offered his sincerest apologies and said the band had been "severely reprimanded."

...One of Bachmann's congressional colleagues, New York Democrat Nita Lowey, had called on NBC to apologize for its "insulting and inappropriate" treatment of its guest.

I wonder what "severely reprimanded" means.

Probably something like, "Guys? Try not to do that again, OK?"

Whatever, all the apologists on the Left claiming Bachmann was wrong to make an issue of the incident look pretty stupid.

At least Democrat Nita Lowey had the decency to call on NBC to apologize. It really was a no-brainer.

As Doug Vaughan wrote, the song choice was "not only unfortunate but also unacceptable."

It was also unfortunate and unacceptable that it took NBC so long to apologize to Bachmann.

I suppose the network was getting a lot of negative feedback and was shamed into action.

A forced apology is better than none I guess.

Or, maybe someone at NBC genuinely has a sense of decency and knows the difference between right and wrong.

Ryan Braun: MVP

Congratulations, Ryan Braun!

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

For just the fourth time ever and the first time in 22 years, the Milwaukee Brewers can claim the league's most valuable player.

Leftfielder Ryan Braun was named the top player in the National League by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday, beating out Los Angeles Dodgers centerfielder Matt Kemp, who finished second.

Braun's Brewers teammate, first baseman Prince Fielder, finished third. The pair hit third and fourth for the Brewers, who won a team-record 96 games en route to their first-ever NL Central Division title.

Braun earned 20 of 32 first-place votes and finished second on the other 12 ballots en route to a total of 388 points. Kemp, who made a run at the triple crown for a Dodgers team that finished third in the NL West, received 10 first-place votes and 332 points in all.

Fielder earned one first-place vote, four second-place votes, 11 third-place votes and finished with 229 points.

Lena Taylor: No Answers

The mainstream media have propped up Lena Taylor, providing a forum for her to do damage control regarding the information brought to light by Media Trackers.

Taylor talked but she didn't give any answers.

Here's a press release from Taylor:

"There has not been any accessory to voter fraud committed as stated in these accusations. More important, one would assume that such outlets would spend more time telling the truth, ensuring they knew the law and not make wild accusations of voter fraud, based on overreaching logic, and other journalists would not be so willing to promote such baseless issues."

Taylor issues another denial and lashes out at her critics.

What she doesn't do is provide facts to refute the criticism.

From Media Trackers:

Milwaukee – On Monday November 21, Media Trackers released the results of a comprehensive investigation into voting irregularities at a property owned by Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milwaukee). The report found 23 individuals who voted from Taylor’s property in the April 5, 2011 spring election while a total of 36 individuals maintain active voter registrations at 1018 N. 35th St. At least one voter was an ineligible felon, and others appear to have used other addresses, including one in Chicago, as their legal residence, raising questions about the legality of their votes.

In response to Sen. Lena Taylor’s evasive answers to questions asked by the media, Brian Sikma, communications director for Media Trackers, released the following statement:

“Senator Taylor is evading the facts and refusing to provide factual information that would rebut the findings of our study. She repeatedly says that the charges are baseless, but she has yet to muster a single example of where the information we uncovered is incorrect.

“Not once has Senator Taylor offered a factual reason for why 36 voters should be allowed to register to vote from the home that she owns immediately behind her law office.

“Not once has Senator Taylor clarified why it is acceptable that 23 people voted from that address in the April 5th election when that property is zoned, according to media reporters and the City of Milwaukee, for no more than 18 individuals.

“Not once has Senator Taylor explained why an ineligible felon was allowed to vote using her home as a residence.

“Not once has Senator Taylor said why it is acceptable for individuals who no longer live at her home at 1018 N. 35th Street to continue to use that address as their voting residence.

“Not once has Senator Taylor or her mother explained why some of the voter registration forms corroborated by Lena J. Taylor incorrectly list Lena J. Taylor as the owner of Sen. Lena C. Taylor’s property.

“Senator Taylor needs to respond to the facts instead of hiding behind generalized statements. The integrity of the election process is fundamental to the success of a democracy and what has taken place here with Senator Taylor’s involvement undermines the public’s confidence in our state’s elections. Senator Taylor has said she believes that those who “assault the values and history” of our state should be held accountable. That is what Media Trackers is doing.”

Tony Rezko and Obama

Tony Rezko, Obama's buddy, is going to prison for 10 1/2 years.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

A federal judge sentenced Tony Rezko to 10 1/2 years in prison Tuesday, describing his actions under Rod Blagojevich’s tenure as “selfish and corrupt.”

Rezko, 56, has already served about 44 months. His daughter burst into tears at hearing the sentence.

U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve said she found it offensive that Rezko put at risk the Teachers’ Retirement System by scheming for kickbacks with a board member in 2004.

“You put their retirements at risk for your own greed and your own thirst for power,” St. Eve said.

A pale, thin Rezko gave a brief statement before he learned his sentence, saying “there are no words to describe the pain and regret,” he carries and the amount of suffering his family has endured. He apologized to the court and to his family.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Niewoehner said Rezko’s conduct was severe and included scheming with former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and others to control state deals so they could make money off of it.

“That’s about as bad as it can get in a political corruption case,” he said. “Illinois was for sale at the very top levels of our government.” Rezko’s attorney, Joseph Duffy, said his client would never commit a crime again.

Rezko grew clearly agitated as Niewoehner said Rezko overstated poor conditions in county jail. Niewoehner said Rezko got sunlight -- through skylights.

Rezko, a former top fund-raiser to Blagojevich and a onetime friend to President Barack Obama, volunteered to go to jail in 2008 immediately after his conviction on 16 of 24 counts of corruption, including fraud, money laundering and plotting to squeeze $7 million in kickbacks from firms that wanted to do business with the state during Blagojevich’s tenure.

Rezko’s lawyers asked that he be released with just time served.

The government, though, wanted St. Eve to send him away for 11 to 15 years.

We should all know the corrupt Rezko's connection with Obama. All of the dirty dealings should have come out during the 2008 campaign and received lots of attention.

Naturally, they didn't.

Of course, every detail, real or trumped up, about conservative and Republican candidates is examined under a microscope. When it came to Obama, so much was swept under the rug, so much was dismissed. Nothing was going to disqualify Obama from being the Democrat nominee.

God knows Hillary tried to make Rezko an issue but it didn't stick.

Let's revisit just a bit of Obama's history with his buddy, Rezko.

From June 22, 2007:

Do you think that the likable Barack Obama is Mr. Clean when it comes to ethics?

Don't.

Is he the embodiment of change, a new sort of government, hope that we can believe in and be proud of?

No. He's not.

Read what John Batchelor has to offer.

Here's more--

Mark Levin alerted his listeners to a piece from American Thinker, "The Obama-Rezko plot thickens."

There is much yet to be learned about the web of transactions involved, but it now appears that money originating from a convicted Middle Eastern wheeler-dealer found its way to indicted Chicago wheeler-dealer Tony Rezko, and then weeks later provided the means for a nearly simultaneous land transaction that enabled the Obamas to buy their home for substantially below asking price.


It certainly doesn't look like change we can believe in, when it comes to Chicago politics.

More on the Obama-Rezko connection and dirty politics, from Right Wing Nut House.

And more from the Chicago Sun-Times, here.

There's a strong chance White House hopeful Barack Obama's name will surface at indicted political fund-raiser Tony Rezko's trial, which is to begin next week.

In a ruling released Monday, a federal judge also made clear that Gov. Blagojevich, too, stands to come up at trial, as she made public what Blagojevich has long denied: that the governor is the "Public Official A" who's repeatedly referenced in Rezko court documents.

Obama's name was not mentioned, but U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve said she would allow prosecutors to present evidence about a portion of a $375,000 finder's fee that a Rezko associate, Joseph Aramanda, obtained through an alleged kickback scheme orchestrated by Rezko.

Prosecutors, she ruled, will be allowed to ask about how money from that fee allegedly was used "to make a political contribution" in Aramanda's name "because Rezko had already donated the maximum amount by law."

The ruling does not identify Obama as the recipient of that contribution. But sources have identified him as the "political candidate" who prosecutors say received a $10,000 donation from Aramanda -- at Rezko's direction -- during Obama's 2004 run for the U.S. Senate.

Obama has donated that contribution to charity. Aramanda's lawyer could not be reached for comment.

In addition, Rezko allegedly directed another associate, Elie Maloof, "to donate for the same reason," St. Eve wrote.

"The evidence is admissible," she added.

As with the Aramanda contribution, Obama has donated a $10,000 contribution from Maloof -- who was out of the country and could not be reached -- to charity. The two contributions are among $157,835 in Rezko-linked donations that Obama has given away.

Rezko was once part of Obama's senatorial finance committee.

Yes, Obama and Tony Rezko go way back.

You're known by the company you keep.

Obama's connection with Rezko doesn't reflect well on him.

Maybe Obama will pardon Rezko. It's the least he could do for an old friend.
_________________

Read more about Rezko and Obama.

April 25, 2007: Maureen Dowd bashes Michelle Obama for failing to rein in Obama's dealings with the sleazy Rezko.

Michelle conveys the appealing idea that she will tell her husband when he’s puffed up or out of line. She aims high — she ordered her husband to stop puffing on cigarettes as he started campaigning. But then, why didn’t she see the red flags on the Rezko deal?

In order to get a bigger yard for their new house on Chicago’s South Side in 2005, the Obamas got into what the senator now confesses was a “boneheaded” real estate arrangement with a sleazy political dealmaker named Tony Rezko, who has been indicted on influence-peddling charges.

On Monday, The Chicago Sun-Times reported more shady Rezko news: “Obama, who has worked as a lawyer and a legislator to improve living conditions for the poor, took campaign donations from Rezko even as Rezko’s low-income housing empire was collapsing, leaving many African-American families in buildings riddled with problems,” from a lack of heat to no lack of drug dealers and squatters.

Mr. Obama riposted that “it wasn’t brought to my attention.” But isn’t that where a dazzling, tough, smart and connected wife could help a guy out?

October 10, 2008: Charles Krauthammer writes about "Obama & Friends," including Rezko.

Convicted felon Tony Rezko. Unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers. And the race-baiting Rev. Jeremiah Wright. It is hard to think of any presidential candidate before Barack Obama sporting associations with three more execrable characters. Yet let the McCain campaign raise the issue, and the mainstream media begin fulminating about dirty campaigning tinged with racism and McCarthyite guilt by association.

But associations are important. They provide a significant insight into character. They are particularly relevant in relation to a potential president as new, unknown, opaque and self-contained as Obama. With the economy overshadowing everything, it may be too late politically to be raising this issue. But that does not make it, as conventional wisdom holds, in any way illegitimate.

Michele Bachmann and Jimmy Fallon

UPDATE: I saw the interview but I wasn't paying attention to the music The Roots played for Michele Bachmann's entrance. As I wrote more than 12 hours ago, the interview was very light-hearted. Jimmy Fallon treated her with respect. He made no inappropriate remarks. I enjoyed the segment.

I had no idea that The Roots took such a very disrespectful hit at the congresswoman.

From WCCO:

Jimmy Fallon’s house band the Roots didn’t have a warm welcome for Republican presidential contender Michele Bachmann when she appeared on the NBC show early Tuesday.

As Bachmann strode on to the stage at Fallon’s “Late Night,” the show’s band played a snippet of a 1985 Fishbone song called “Lyin’ Ass B****.”

The song begins with a distinctive “la la la la la la la la la” refrain — the only words audible before Bachmann, smiling and waving to the audience, sat down.

The song itself, about a relationship gone wrong, isn’t political. Among its cleanest lyrics: “She always says she needs you, but you know she really don’t care.”

...Bachmann’s campaign had no immediate comment.

Fallon joked on Twitter that Roots bandleader Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson was grounded. The show itself didn’t have any comment.

This really sucks.

I like Late Night with Jimmy Fallon because it's not typically so mean-spirited.

Questlove, drummer for The Roots, sort of apologized for the really offensive insult.

From ABC News:

The drummer for the house band on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” apologized sort of for his decision to play ”Lyin’ Ass Bitch” when Rep. Michele Bachmann appeared on the talk show Monday night.

“The performance was a tongue-in-cheek and spur of the moment decision. The show was not aware of it and I feel bad if her feelings were hurt. That was not my intention,” Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson said in a statement.

As Bachmann, congresswoman and GOP presidential contender, walked across the stage to sit next to Fallon Monday night, house band the Roots played a refrain from the song written by Fishbone.

Though the lyrics refer to a woman as a “slut trash can bitch,” the band sang the “la, la, la” of the refrain.

The band’s drummer sent a tweet prior to the show clueing viewers in on the song choice, writing: “late night walkon song devotees: you love it when we snark: this next one takes the cake. ask around cause i aint tweeting title.”

Later, he retweeted a fan’s reaction: “perfect entry song for her.”

As a fan of the show and nightly viewer, this really pisses me off.

Can you imagine what the reaction would be if a female Democratic member of the House and presidential candidate were greeted that way?

I guarantee it wouldn't happen.

Quest, what the hell?

Jimmy Fallon always says that he wants his show to be fun. He doesn't want to alienate anyone.

Well, I feel very alienated. It was an extremely classless move.

I don't support Bachmann, but good grief, give her some respect. She was a GUEST.


___________________

Last night, Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann was a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

She was promoting her book, Core of Conviction.

It was a very light-hearted interview.

Here's video:

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann stopped by tonight to talk about her family's Thanksgiving traditions, her book, Core of Conviction, and to play a little game of word association with Jimmy. Watch!

Part 1



Part 2

Halee Ludowise-Fischer and Jennifer Geren

Halee Ludowise-Fischer and Jennifer Geren, 15-year-old students at Nicolet High School, were killed in a car crash early Saturday morning.

My heart goes out to their families and friends. They must be overwhelmed with grief at the sudden loss of the girls.

It's unbearably sad.

Anyone, whatever one's age may be, is capable of making very bad decisions.

Certainly, sometimes kids may lack the maturity to behave responsibly. They're learning. They're in the process of growing up. They don't always do the right thing, and sometimes their choices may have devastating consequences.

I first read about the accident and the loss of the two young lives over the weekend. Yesterday, I learned more details of the deaths of Halee Ludowise-Fischer and Jennifer Geren.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The two Nicolet High School students who died in a car crash early Saturday appear to have sneaked out of their homes without their parents' knowledge shortly before the crash, according to a report by the Milwaukee County medical examiner's office released Monday.

The report made no mention of toxicology reports, which are pending.

According to the report:

Driver Halee Ludowise-Fischer and Jennifer Geren, both 15, were driving east on W. Good Hope Road in Ludowise-Fischer's mother's 2009 Mitsubishi shortly before 1 a.m. when a River Hills police officer noticed a taillight on the vehicle was out. He activated his lights and tried to pull the car over, but the driver sped off, running through two traffic lights. The officer turned off his lights and stopped the chase.

Shortly after, he saw sparks flying in the air when the girls' car struck a transformer.

Ludowise-Fischer drove for another half-mile and lost control of the vehicle, crossing over toward the westbound lane. She struck a stop sign on the northeast corner at N. Seneca Ave. in Glendale, then a utility pole. The car rolled onto the passenger side, and the hood wrapped around a tree less than a mile from Nicolet High School.

North Shore Fire Department rescue personnel tried to get into the car, where the teens were pinned. The two girls suffered fatal head injuries, investigators at the medical examiner's office ruled Monday. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Ludowise-Fischer had a learner's permit for driving.

Obviously, the girls made some poor choices and they paid with their lives.

As I said, kids make mistakes. They get in trouble. They do things they live to regret. Hopefully, they learn from their mistakes. It's part of growing up. Tragically, in this case, bad choices resulted in the worst possible outcome. It's heartbreaking.

Because I was somewhat familiar with what was previously reported about the accident, I was troubled by the coverage I saw on TMJ4's 10:00 PM newscast.

Of course, the families and friends of the girls are in shock. They're struggling to deal with their deaths. I don't expect them to be discussing the details that led to the tragic crash.

However, I was surprised by the comments attributed to guidance counselor Olivia Carter.

Guidance counselor Olivia Carter says accidents like this can't be prevented, but it's important for parents to communicate with their children.

"One of the things I want to encourage parents to do is continue to talk to their children, be a listener," Carter told TODAY'S TMJ4.

As everyone tries to make sense of such a troubling loss, they're reminded grief and devastation have no boundaries. Jenni geren's uncle, Bruce Pfleger, and family sadly, know all too well.

Pfleger told TODAY'S TMJ4, "You try to search for reasons for why something like this would have happened and there are no reasons. There is no logic to it. There's no explanation for it."

Here's video:



I understand the families' pain. My prayers are with them as they mourn the loss of their precious loved ones.

What I don't understand is what guidance counselor Olivia Carter is reported to have said.

Guidance counselor Olivia Carter says accidents like this can't be prevented, but it's important for parents to communicate with their children.

That's not true.

The sad reality is the accident was preventable. As a professional, Carter is not being responsible when she says "accidents like this can't be prevented." She's wrong. Of course, this sort of accident is entirely avoidable.

The details of the accident - deceiving one's parents, driving without a license, speeding, running lights to evade police - reveal choices that led to the tragedy. Different choices could have prevented the accident.

I wonder if TMJ4 screwed up. Given those circumstances, I can't believe a professional counselor would say the accident wasn't preventable.

Part of dealing with the loss is acknowledging the reality of what happened. As much as it hurts, denying the truth won't help in healing. It can only complicate it.

Right now, without question, family and friends need support and comfort as they grieve. This isn't the time for them to dwell on the girls' mistakes as they struggle with their loss.

However, when it comes to a counselor speaking to a reporter, it does a disservice to state that such accidents aren't preventable. It's an inaccurate statement.

Perhaps other 15-year-olds will make different choices because of this terribly sad accident.

Watching the TMJ4 report, one gets a false impression of the car crash that resulted in the girls' deaths.

Being sensitive to those in mourning is totally appropriate, but a news report shouldn't contain blatant inaccuracies and construct an alternate reality.

____________________

UPDATE: Driver in fatal crash had no alcohol in system, report says

Lena Taylor, Voter Fraud

Democrat Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor has some explaining to do.

From Collin Roth, Media Trackers:

Media Trackers discovered that over 20 individuals voted, some illegally, from one of Senator Lena Taylor’s (D-Milwaukee) properties during the April 5, 2011 spring election. According to a Media Trackers open records request with the City of Milwaukee Election Commission, the property at 1018 N 35th St. in Milwaukee currently has 36 active voter registrations and at least 23 individuals voted using the address.

Media Trackers was tipped off to Senator Taylor’s property by the Wisconsin GrandSons of Liberty, who found 11 individuals that registered on election day to vote from Taylor’s property, 7 of which were corroborated by Senator Taylor’s mother, Lena J Taylor.

“Using open records requests, we obtained copies of the 11,017 Milwaukee County Election Day Registrations and created a database to analyze the entries from all 19 municipalities in the county,” said Tim Dake of the Wisconsin GrandSons of Liberty. Dake explained further that “our volunteers ran numerous queries on the data and were surprised to see the name Lena Taylor appear on so many forms.”

According to property records obtained from the Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services, Senator Lena C. Taylor owns the property at 1018 N. 35th St. in Milwaukee. The property has 6 units and is zoned by the Milwaukee Zoning Code as RT3. According to the City of Milwaukee Zoning Code, properties zoned RT3 are intended to “promote, preserve and protect neighborhoods intended primarily for two-family dwellings.”

According to records from the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Senator Taylor’s mother, Lena J. Taylor, ran a delinquent and now defunct non-profit on the property called “Mama Delta’s Lovehouse.” The non-profit was allegedly a “homeless/temporary shelter” from February 2007 until March 2011, less than one month before the April 5, election. The organization was found delinquent in January of 2010, given a notice of dissolution in January 2011, and officially administratively dissolved as of March 15, 2011.

...Even if Taylor’s mother’s delinquent and dissolved non-profit were an excuse for the number of voters at 1018 N. 35th St., housing 36 individuals would be a violation of the City of Milwaukee Zoning Code for the property itself.

The issue with Senator Taylor’s property does not stop at the exorbitant number of active voters or the number of individuals who used the address to vote on April 5. When Media Trackers began to look at the individuals that voted from Taylor’s property, questions began to emerge about whether voters were ineligible to vote and whether they actually lived on the premises, let alone the state of Wisconsin. One individual was a felon voter and another may reside in Chicago.

According to court documents, there are at least 3 other questionable registrations at Taylor’s property. These individuals list different addresses in court documents from previous years but it cannot be determined when they registered to vote from Taylor’s property.

Roth concludes:

Senator Lena Taylor wants to recall Gov. Scott Walker for what she believes is his misuse of power, but in this case she appears to have been an accessory to illegal voting activities. Furthermore, Senator Lena Taylor was an outspoken critic of the Photo ID bill, but if that bill had been in place it could stopped some of the potential voter fraud that took place from her property.

Just last week, Sen. Lena Taylor re-introduced legislation to extend the right to vote to felons and other convicts the moment they leave jail. But instead of waiting to change the law, Senator Taylor appears to have been an accessory to at least one voter breaking current election law as it relates to felon voting.

Just after the August recall elections, Senator Taylor wrote “when you assault the values and history of the Badger State, you will be held accountable.”

The scope of this scheme indicates that Senator Lena Taylor and her mother need to be asked very serious questions about how the property was used, and how it came to be that 36 voters, some felons still on extended supervision, and others who appear to possibly be from out of state, were registered to vote at the address. At best this is gross negligence that undermines the integrity of the election process, at worst it is an offense against the state of Wisconsin.

True to form, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel runs damage control for Democrat Lena Taylor.

Daniel Bice and Jason Stein quickly put out Taylor's side of the story, denying wrongdoing.

A conservative group is accusing state Sen. Lena C. Taylor of being "an accessory" to possible voter fraud after some 20 individuals, including a felon on work-release, voted in the April election listing as their residence a Milwaukee group home operated by Taylor's mother on property owned by the senator.

But the Milwaukee Democrat dismissed the allegations, saying her mother, Lena J. Taylor, was simply providing homeless and other individuals with a place to stay and then encouraging them to vote. Many come and go and might use the address as the closest they have to a residence.

"She's done this, to be very candid, out of her own pocket," Taylor said. "I think what she does every day is admirable."

Media Trackers, a Mequon-based nonprofit that does political research targeting liberals, released records showing that 36 people were registered to vote using the address of Mama Delta's Lovehouse, a group home and homeless shelter run by Lena J. Taylor. The home is at 1018 N. 35th St., property that is owned by the senator and next door to her law office.

Of the 36 registered voters at that address, about 20 voted in the April 5 election for county executive and a state Supreme Court seat, records show. And 11 of those individuals registered to vote on election day.

Staffers at Media Trackers raised questions regarding several of the same-day registrants, including Russell Collins, 44, of Milwaukee. Records show Collins was convicted of a Class G felony for theft last year, and he was still doing work-release at the County Correctional Facility-South at the time of the April election.

Felons are prohibited from voting in Wisconsin elections until they complete their sentences, including probation, work-release or parole.

...In addition, [Brian Sikma, a spokesman for Media Trackers] pointed to city zoning records that suggested the group home should house no more than eight individuals. He said the senator should have known the group home was out of compliance with city zoning rules.

"At best, this is gross negligence that undermines the integrity of the election process," Sikma said. "At worst, it is an offense against the state of Wisconsin."

But the senator said her mother is being attacked for carrying out a Christian ministry in which she lives alongside the guests, treated them as family and had daily Bible study with them. Records show the state Department of Financial Institutions administratively dissolved Mama Delta's Lovehouse in March for failing to file paperwork for the nonprofit. For now, the home doesn't exist as a legal entity, although people still stay there.

The senator, who owns the building, said it had six units and each one had at least two bedrooms. She said she was certain the building was zoned for more than eight people and the building usually had a number of residents, many of whom came and went frequently.

I've never heard voter fraud referred to as a "Christian ministry."

In addition to the Journal Sentinel telling Taylor's story, "willing partner" TMJ4's Charles Benson interviewed Lena Taylor. The report led the 10:00 PM newscast.

Here's video:



Do you get the feeling that lots of properties around Milwaukee will be designated "religious shelters" in time for the 2012 elections?