The Bush I-Clinton Roadshow Takes the Low Road in New Orleans at Guess Who’s Expense? (Hint: Women, of Course)(UPDATE 1X–FULL VIDEO)

On Tuesday night (January 27)  as I passed by the TV, I saw Greta Van Susteren introducing a segment near the end of the show  called ” The Best of the Rest.”

There they were, former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton laughing it up on Monday in New Orleans at the National Association of Auto Dealers conference.  Greta has spent quite a lot of time featuring this duo; you can check out several videos at the “On the Record” site. However, the video I saw has not shown up on the site…buried, I guess.

First, here’s the only report that I can find on the event:

Bush, Clinton offer morale boost for auto dealers at New Orleans conference

by Jen DeGregorio, The Times-Picayune

Tuesday January 27, 2009, 7:18 AM

Eliot Kamenitz / The Times-PicayuneFormer Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton embrace during their address at the National Association of Auto Dealers conference in New Orleans on Monday.

Former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, who were in New Orleans on Monday to speak to members of the National Automobile Dealers Association, tried to assure one of the nation’s most troubled industries that it would survive an economic maelstrom that has swallowed more than 2.5 million jobs in the past year.

But survival will not come without sacrifice, they said. Clinton and Bush evoked the image of Hurricane Katrina to describe the level of perseverance they said will be needed to carry the nation through a recession that has been widely compared with the Great Depression. Citizens must pitch in to help one another as they did after Katrina, when countless volunteers descended upon New Orleans to help rebuild and donated millions of dollars to a relief fund headed by Clinton and Bush, the former presidents said.

SNIP

While Bush and Clinton focused on the economy, they also made time for some banter and shared personal anecdotes about their time in the Oval Office.

Clinton and Bush sat down for a casual chat with outgoing association Chairwoman Annette Sykora, who quizzed them about their victories and regrets in office.

SNIP

Both men sang the praises of President Barack Obama, saying his administration already has set the right tone to weather the economic crisis by encouraging an era of responsibility.

“We are bound together, and divorce is not an option, ” Clinton said.

There’s something missing in this report…the bit that Greta showed.

Greta prefaced the video with a big grin and much enjoyment over what Bush said and added that Clinton had a great quip after that.

I didn’t even hear the Clinton quip because I as so ticked off at what George H. W. Bush decided to deliver to the audience.  I was fuming from Bush’s rendition of how he was confronted by women protesters over reproductive issues.

According to Bush, he was irritated when he was in his limo and some women got right up to it waving a sign saying “Stay Out of Our Wombs.”  He mused about he couldn’t understand how they even got that close…then wisecracked (sic) “Believe me, that’s one place I wouldn’t want to go”…

Well, the audience ERUPTED in UPROARIOUS LAUGHTER from the audience!  I’m assuming the majority of  the audience was men.  Clinton was laughing, too, and delivered his line. The camera didn’t catch the reaction of Chairwoman Sykora, who was off camera in the video.

As I mentioned, I have no idea what Clinton said, but Greta thought it was very funny and, in fact, thought the whole segment was a laugh riot. Which makes me wonder about Greta.  We’ve got a former President mocking women about their intense feelings about controlling their own bodies and she thinks that’s funny?

I guess I should be grateful that she showed it since the newspaper report from The Times-Picayune chose not to report on it. WHY didn’t they?

As for Clinton…I wish I knew what he said.  Then again, maybe I don’t want to go there…

Frankly, writing this at the end of a day when I learned that Barack Obama dumped money for birth control from his bilious “stimulus package” to please Republicans, that video makes me even angrier than when I saw the clip on Tuesday night.  It seems like a gratuitous slap in the face considering that the bill was going to pass anyway.

But “3-Card Monte” Obama seems set into his groove.  One minute he gives the OK for family planning groups working overseas to talk to women about abortion, the next he’s robbing access to low-cost birth control to women in need here in the U.S.   What does he really think of his own wife and daughters?  Apparently he’s willing to sell women cheap when it comes to “bringing us together.”

This guy seems to like playing with women, keeping them on a string, giving them a little bit, then taking it away. He’s shuffling around issues as we expected because he has no consistent core values.  Keeping an eye on all his moves will be difficult.  All I’m sure of  is that women will ultimately lose the game with this guy. The misogyny exhibited in the campaign in the form of demeaning gestures, the behavior of Jon Favreau with a cardboard cutout of Hillary Clinton, and the apparent comfort with the likes of Ludacris’ video support is now in firmly in place at the top of our government.

What a inspirational role model for all of us…NOT!

By the way, apparently Medicare drug plans stopped covering  “sexual performance” drugs Viagra, Cialis and Levitra back in 2007 except for treating certain medical conditions like pulmonary hypertension (saving a CBO projected $2 billion between 2006 and 2015) . Let’s see if the Obama crowd reinstates coverage and gives women ANOTHER insulting slap. Nothing would surprise me at this point…

UPDATE 1

Many thanks to Harold who found a video of the exchange…from his comments!!  I will try to embed the video when I get back later…

Clinton laughed and said something along the lines of “I cannot afford to make a joke like that. You know what people would say if *I* made a joke like that” and he continued a while like that, then made a pretty stupid joke himself which I forgot.

Harold, on January 29th, 2009 at 9:02 AM Said: Edit Comment

I found the clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXuRlcUjoAE

Here is the video from the link provided above…but it’s from CNN, not Greta’s show.

So, the woman was “the ugliest” woman Bush I had ever seen… what a PIG he is…and Clinton just goes along for the ride.

Hip-Hop Inaugural Events Start TONIGHT (1/14/09)…Ludicras Co-Hosting “Urban Ball”

~~By InsightAnalytical-GRL

Hey, guess what’s starting today??  The first of a week-long series of HIP-HOP Inaugural events!

I happened to get onto this when I visited The Black Agenda Report, saw a graphic and clicked on it.

As it turns out, there are at least TWO hip-hop groups running events.  Tonight, January 14, the “Hip-Hop Caucus…Politics for a New Generation” holds its “kick-off” party.

By Saturday (January 17), the schedule begins to rev up as the Congressional Black Caucus gets involved in a “roundtable” discussion of hip-hop and politics; that evening, Mary J. Blige is featured in a nighttime event.

Hip Hop & Politics Roundtable

Return soon more information, or sign up here for Inauguration updates.  The Source Mind Squad, Chuck D, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. and Members of the Congressional Black Caucus
Time: 1pm-4pm

Venue: TBD

---

Then on the 19th there’s an event to honor MLK  being held in partnership with the Presidential Inaugural Committee….

Mon. Jan 19th

National Day of Service in Honor of Dr. King

In partnership with the Presidential Inaugural Committee the Hip Hop Caucus will organize community service efforts nationally and in Washington, DC.
Return soon more information, or sign up here for Inauguration updates.

There’s also a pricey “scholars” party being held during the week titled “Dreams from My Father” after Obama’s bio mostly made-up life story:

Sun. Jan 18th

“Dreams from My Father” American Scholars Inaugural Ball @ The “5 Diamond” Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown

Hosted By the National Intellectual Property Institute, the Hip Hop Caucus, Dave & Ray Ent., with The Source Magazine Time: 8pm – 2am Cost: Doctorate Level – $550 ($1000 for Couples) | Graduate Level – $350 ($600 for Couples) | Bachelor Level – Student Discounts Available (visit www.americanscholarsball.org) Venue Address: 2800 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC 20007

Then there’s THIS action being held by another Hip-Hop organization: the Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball.

The event has big name sponsors, Heineken and Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. HSAN’s mission statement:

Mission Statement:

Founded in 2001, the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) is dedicated to harnessing the cultural relevance of Hip-Hop music to serve as a catalyst for education advocacy and other societal concerns fundamental to the empowerment of youth. HSAN is a non-profit, non-partisan national coalition of Hip-Hop artists, entertainment industry leaders, education advocates, civil rights proponents, and youth leaders united in the belief that Hip-Hop is an enormously influential agent for social change which must be responsibly and proactively utilized to fight the war on poverty and injustice.

(“Social change”–like we’ve seen in Ludacris’ enlightened view of women??)

This event has big ticket prices, too…The “cheap” seats at $250 are sold out, but tickets at $500, $1000 General) , and $2500 (VIP) are still available!!!  ( I guess the VIPs get to drink more…)

CELEBRATING THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA…

(If you can’t see it, the banner reads: ” And the Hip-Hop Community for Inspiring the Transformation of America“)

Now, you might be wondering if Ludacris will be showing up! Oh, yeah, he’ll be in D.C.  Back in December the plans were set to have 2 American Music Inaugural Balls: one will be hosted by Dionne Warwicke (the one for the older crowd) and the other will feature our FAVORITE hip-hopper Ludacris along with OutKast’s Big Boi. From MTV:

On January 20, D.C.’s Marriott Wardman Park Hotel will hold two American Music events. Luda and Big Boi will co-host the Urban Ball, which is reportedly slated to include appearances from David Banner, Bobby Valentino, Lil Jon, T-Pain, Cedric the Entertainer, the Cheetah Girls, Fantasia and Monica. A number of former NBA players will also reportedly be on hand, including Jalen Rose, Kenny Smith and Alonzo Mourning. Tickets for the ball will run you $350. Spokespeople for Luda and Big Boi could not be reached for comment at press time.

The lineup for the Legends Ball, co-hosted by Dionne Warwick and Yolanda Adams, is slated to feature appearances by Chaka Khan, George Clinton, Kirk Franklin, Harold Melvin & Blue Notes, the Temptations with Dennis Edwards, Isaiah Washington and Reggie Miller. Tickets for this event will cost $450.

Here are our guys!!

Big Boi (L) and Ludacris (R)

MTV will be hosting its own ball…

One thing is for sure: MTV will be hosting its own “Be the Change Inaugural Ball,” co-hosted by ServiceNation, to celebrate the massive youth-voter turnout in this year’s presidential election.

I’m getting chills all over, aren’t you?  Somehow, I’m getting the feeling that all this is ONE aspect of the Obama-JFK “connection” made by Caroline Kennedy that is not quite on a par with what Jackie-O would have signed on for.  Ain’t no Pablo Casals in sight…

And what about all those poorer Obama supporters who can’t cough up all the money and/or don’t have “black tie”?  Well, there will be plenty of bars  open, of course. Although the original plan to let bars stay open for extended hours has been scaled back by one hour, there’s a lot of apprehension  about law enforcement personnel being stretched too thin.    You have to wonder if we’re going to see the scary stuff we saw on election night in Philly(see video of Election Night in Philly here).

From the Washington Post:

Inaugural ‘Last Call’ Moved Up

David Nakamura

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 17, 2008; Page B01

D.C. bars and nightclubs will be allowed to serve alcohol until 4 a.m., not 5 a.m., during inauguration week after the D.C. Council voted last night to modestly scale back the emergency legislation it approved two weeks ago.

Under the revised rules, nightlife establishments will still be allowed to remain open for food service round-the-clock from Jan. 17 to 21.

(SNIP)

Terry Lynch, executive director of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations, an ecumenical association, said his members strongly oppose allowing nightlife establishments to stay open later than normal.

Pointing to recent violence in Adams Morgan, Lynch said: “It just doesn’t make sense, given the situation we’re currently facing. There is a lack adequate police currently, and add to that the overwhelming nature of duties they’re going to face during the inaugural.”

If anything happens in the street on January 20, I doubt you’ll see it.  The “news” organizations are already drunk on Obama and won’t be paying attention to anything that might spoil THEIR ratings party…

The Obama/Media Combine Whoring Abraham Lincoln, Non-Stop

~~By InsightAnalytical-GRL

President-elect Lincoln, February 23, 1861

If there’s one thing that really bugs me about the present sorry state of affairs we find ourselves in, it’s the utter lack of “history.”  Everything goes down the rabbit hole, unless it is re-written and spun into a revised version of what actually happened before. Rarely is any news item put into context, unless it pertains to the career/personal life of a Britney Spears or some other “celebs  in the news.”

Obama, of course, in his Reno, Nevada interview during the primaries in which he waxed poetic about Ronald Reagan, completely dissed continued references to lessons “learned” from the Vietnam War. (And, I see how lately, Wes Clark has joined the bandwagon).  History? WHO NEEDS IT WHEN WE ARE CREATING OUR OWN FOR MASS CONSUMPTION!!

The only history that matters these days is “Obama History.”   Almost nothing is ticking me off more about  this cheesy media creation hitting D.C. than the misuse of the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. To see “Honest Abe” being used like a brand logo a la Mr. Clean or Ronald McDonald, especially by a liar like Obama, is more than just cheesy–it’s downright nauseating.

Of course, the general public doesn’t give a hoot, since they don’t know squat about Lincoln. How could they? They don’t know squat about ANYTHING other than football scores and the weather.  Knowledge about George Washington isn’t faring too well either, from what I can see.

Of course, when they took away the holiday for each of these Presidents and glommed them into one day–President’s Day–that was the start of the disrespect.  Hey, why have two holidays, one for the guy who was there at the founding of the nation  and one for the guy who held the country together during a civil war and got assassinated for his trouble, if you can have one day and can get all this history out of the way in one fell swoop? And even better…banks only have to close for one day instead of two! As an extra bonus,  it’s easier to have one big sales event rather than changing the ads for another one only a week or so later!

I’ll make a prediction: You’re going to see a “Obama Day” as soon as is possible. I bet it will celebrated on August 4th, Obama’s birthday, nicely slotted in between July 4th and Labor Day.  The sales planned that day will be especially big in the sporting goods stores (lots of opportunity to sell bathing suits) and the grocery stores will feature bologna, of course.  There’s no way you’ll see “white sales” because they would be deemed racist, of course!

Now, back to Abraham Lincoln, who has been used by the Obama camp to the extreme. I get the “Lincoln freed the slaves” angle and the narrative that ties into the first “black” President, coming from Illinois, no less.  The Lincoln references kicked off  in February 2007, when Obama picked the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois to announce his candidacy.  But since then, Lincoln has been cheapened by Axelrod and Obama and their marketing slaves who are in overdrive.

Over the weekend,  the Obama family visited the Lincoln Memorial:

Obama family visits Lincoln Memorial

By CHRISTINE SIMMONS, Associated Press Writer Christine Simmons, Associated Press Writer – Sun Jan 11, 12:52 am ET

WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama made an unannounced visit Saturday night with his family to see the Lincoln Memorial, paying tribute to a former president he frequently invokes as an inspiration.

It was a day in which Obama played the role of tourist, seeing the most famous monuments in the nation’s capital while experiencing the flavor of the city.

(SNIP)

AP – President-elect Barack Obama walks with his wife Michelle, and daughters Sasha and Malia, after touring …

snip

Obama will be back at the Lincoln Memorial soon. He plans to trace the train route that Lincoln took and hold a welcome event at the Lincoln Memorial ahead of his Jan. 20 inauguration.

Though he’s worked in Washington for about four years as a senator, Obama appeared to relish the sights of Washington on Saturday. Before arriving at the Lincoln Memorial, his motorcade drove on Constitution Avenue and then swerved around on a road right beside the Washington Monument. His family had the opportunity to get a full, close-up view of the monument for several minutes.

(MORE)

The whole tone of the article makes it seems that the Obama family are first-time tourists.  “Experienced the flavor of the city”??  “Appeared to relish the sight”??? Which makes me wonder…if  Obama and his family are so devoted to Abraham Lincoln, didn’t they hot foot it to the Lincoln Memorial when he first came to the Senate?? Maybe he was just too busy signing those book deals for later use in a the “unplanned” Presidential campaign…Of course, Obama didn’t really “work” in D.C. for four years, since half the time was spent running for President in spite of announcing that he didn’t have enough experience to do so…

Taking the train route that Lincoln traveled and the event planned at the Lincoln Memorial are  the culmination of this Lincoln blitz.  Some previous uses of Lincoln as a stage prop include:

1. The news that one of Obama’s kids will be doing her homework on Lincoln’s desk…and it was HER idea!!  Oh, please, who can buy this?? Well, Barbara Walter could and the whole video is still available with the ABC story:

Malia Obama Calls Dibs on Lincoln’s Desk

Obama Talks to Barbara Walters About Homework, History and Happy Family

By MARK MOONEY
Nov. 26, 2008

Malia Obama, the 10-year-old daughter of President-elect Obama, plans to make herself right at home in the White House and has already called dibs on using Abraham Lincoln’s desk for her homework.

(SNIP)

“She says, ‘You know, Daddy, I’ve got an idea,'” Obama told ABC News’ Barbara Walters during an exclusive interview.

(SNIP)

“She says, ‘Well you know how sometimes I have these, you know, big papers that I have to write? If I’ve got an important paper, a history paper, I think I’m going to go in that room where Abraham Lincoln, where there’s that thing where he signed it?”

“You mean the Gettysburg Address?” Obama asked.

Yeah. I’m going to sit at that desk because I’m thinking that will inspire big thoughts,” she told her father.

“Hey, go ahead kid,” Michelle Obama said with a laugh.

OH, YEAH, the kid thought that one up ALL BY HERSELF!!  Any actual PROOF she said it??  I doubt it…sounds like a canned speech to me at the very least, or another FAKE part of Obama’s life history.

And, by the way, isn’t that desk a national treasure?? The kid’s got “dibs“????  What if this little scholar spills a soda all over it? I guess we’ll never hear about it, so not to worry…I bet Lincoln’s own kids never did there homework on this desk…Lincoln was too busy trying to deal with the Civil War, I would guess.  And, oh, yes, the White House was plenty “kid-friendly” then, too…

I really am curious, though, about who will be the first guest in the Lincoln Bedroom…

Of course, there’s MORE!

2. Obama will be EATING LIKE LINCOLN!!  From ABC’s Jake Tapper:

Obama Will Eat Like Lincoln on Inauguration Day

January 10, 2009 11:41 AM

On Inauguration Day, not only will President-elect Obama be sworn in using the Bible that was used to swear in President Abraham Lincoln, he will dine like Lincoln as well.

The luncheon that will be served in Congress’s Statuary Hall to the president-elect and vice president-elect and their families — as well as congressional leaders, justices of the Supreme Court and pending members of the Obama Cabinet — will be modeled after foods that Lincoln ate and enjoyed.

The first course will even be served on replicas of the china picked out by then-first lady Mary Todd Lincoln at the beginning of her husband’s term in office.

(MORE)

What, only replicas of the Lincoln china????

3. Then there’s THE BIBLE mentioned above:

Via the Columbus Dispatch (original story in the Chicago Tribune)

Obama’s Bible choice another nod to Lincoln

Wednesday,  December 24, 2008 2:58 AM

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

KAILUA, Hawaii — When he places his hand on a Bible to be sworn into office on Jan. 20, Barack Obama plans to use the holy book used by Abraham Lincoln at his first inauguration in 1861.

The selection maintains the Obama practice of encouraging historical comparisons with the 16th president, who was the first from Illinois and one of the next president’s favorites.

In announcing his presidential bid in February 2007, Obama picked the Old State Capitol in Springfield, where Lincoln had served. He also plans to follow Lincoln’s example by taking a train to Washington for his inauguration.

Obama will be the first president since Lincoln to use this particular Bible, which is typically housed at the Library of Congress. The book was not the Lincoln family Bible, which was packed away among family belongings that were being shipped from Springfield.

(MORE)

Well, no replica this time….it will be the REAL bible that Lincoln used.  I sure hope it isn’t raining or snowing on Inauguration Day, for the sake of the Lincoln Bible, if nothing else…

***

Yup,  Barack Obama really “hearts” Abe Lincoln!!  They have so much in common especially since they both represented Illinois. Of course, Obamas got to Illinois in a rather roundabout way.  At least Lincoln came from the nearby frontier…

And there’s so much more they share…not. While Lincoln was struggling in the wilds and living in a lean-to and log cabin, Obama was, well, er, a different set of character-building experiences:

Obama: From unknown to nominee, a meteoric rise

By SHARON COHEN – Aug 22, 2008

CHICAGO (AP) — When Barack Obama arrived at the Democratic National Convention eight years ago, he was a politician in need of clout.

He had just been trounced in his bid for Congress. His credit card was rejected at the car rental counter. He couldn’t snare a floor pass, so he ended up watching most of the speeches on TV monitors in the arena. And he went home early.

His political future was uncertain.

Four years later, Obama attended the 2004 Democratic convention. This time, though, there was a sea change: He had been tapped to be the keynote speaker, a coveted spot for up-and-comers — and as a U.S. Senate nominee generating political buzz, he fit the bill.

Gosh, what difficulties Obama had to face!  Heck, at least  he was spared the the horrors of Lincoln-Douglas-type debates!

Poor Lincoln, being used by this crowd.  But, how can anybody be surprised, since the Obama machine has shown so little capacity for class and respect all along?  Yup, Abraham Lincoln, right up there with Ludacris…

***

Abraham Lincoln — Timeline, Photos, Words (The History Place)

Used Body Parts (Female)

~~By InsightAnalytical-GRL

A few days ago over at Partizane.com we were “treated” to a couple of really disturbing videos.  The subject of both was how women are presented in advertising. One video was a compilation of images by the GABRIELA NetworkUSA which is described as  “A Philippine-US Women’s Solidarity Mass Organization, est. 1989.”  It’s aim is to empower Filipinas living in the U.S., but the video is a must-see  for every woman. The other video which features images interspersed with a discussion of their impact by Jean Kilbourne is called “Killing Us Softly 3.” (The information on how much advertising we see seems to date from 1999, but the age of the video doesn’t diminish its impact.)

The post which features these videos is called BURN  IT DOWN WOMEN .

I’m old enough to remember when the objectification of women in advertising and other media was a real cause for women’s groups. Sadly, they don’t seem to really care about it now.  Instead, they seem more interested in endorsing misogynistic Presidential candidates and then whining about it.

***

For some reason I occasionally get email from the much detested Newsmax, although these days they seem almost sane when compared to the “mainstream media.”  Yesterday, the message was about a calendar, with a sample of what was included inside.

You can see what I saw in my email if you click on this link.  Frankly, it’s a really nice departure from what’s being dished out in advertising and cable stations like VH1, etc. Or a Ludacris video.  Or, worse, what passes as “reporting” on topics of a sexual or “cultural” nature which go for the most exploitative images of women producers can possibly find whenever possible.  Even watching one blonde after another on FOX gets to me, since they are all the same color blonde, it seems, and are made up like Kewpie dolls or older versions of Barbie. They are not individuals, just interchangeable talking mouths.

Now, if you don’t feel like going to the Newsmax store to see what’s there, I’ll give you a small sample.  These calendar pictures seem like a breath of fresh air, not necessarily because they are about Sarah Palin.  Just the range of pictures is a pleasant change, from home to campaign trail to her role as governor, all taken by a Wasilla, Alaska photographer named Judy Patrick who served as Vice Mayor of Wasilla when Palin was Mayor. A real woman doing things she normally does.

One could ask whether this sort of calendar “objectifies” Sarah Palin — does this go beyond admiration into the realm of objectification?  It seems more like a family photo album, but somebody is making money off it; I’m sure the photographer isn’t getting the lion’s share of the profit.  In the mall today, I saw one remaining calendar featuring Obama and his “words of hope.”  Where does that fit in?  Are these calendars just plain vanilla exploitation?  I don’t know…

Ironically, only a few days ago, BBC America repeated the movie “Calendar Girls” (2003) which starred Julie Walters, Helen Mirren, and nearly every older woman I’ve ever seen on Masterpiece Theater.

As you recall, the movie is based on a true story about how a fundraiser dedicated to raising money to purchase something as gift in memory of a late husband mushrooms into an international event.  There are nude older women, posed discreetly behind plants and buns and it’s good fun, but with the additional message of how the increasing hype jeopardizes a friendship.  (The story is highly fictionalized; see the facts, here.)   BUT, when you think about it, a nude woman, young or old, being used to sell more calendars and make more money is still what’s going on.  And the mature women are “girls,” of course.  Acceptable “objectification” for a good cause?? Mmmm…

Then there’s the promotion for the film–now THIS really IS “objectification.”

As Jean Kilbourne mentions in “Killing Us Softly 3,” the absence of the woman’s face is typical of how ads focus on one  body part, rather than the whole person.

Sigh. I feel like I’m in the process of dredging up all the stuff that’s hidden in the gravel on the bottom of the fish tank.  We really need to attend to this, don’t you think???  Hey, NOW…how about returning to reality and helping us out?? Consciousness raising, anyone?

***

Last night as I was writing this post, I had “Mr. Roberts” on in the background and noticed the pinup posters on the lockers of all the crew. I remembered how Betty Grable was THE pinup girl during WW II (I also recalled that she died on July 4th…I heard the news on the way to the 4th of July Party thrown by the U.S. Embassy in Rome back in 1973) …Today, this, a “re-make ” of a pin-up calendar in the style of WWII pin-ups.  At least they’ve got clothes on!!!

California Woman Raises Troop Morale, Funds With ‘Pin-Ups for Vets’ Calendar

The Past Week: November 16-22, Recaps & Random Thoughts (Critical Thinking vs. Elation; Pics from “Elation Central”; Drying the Tears of Progressive Groups; Medicare Part D Surprise from the Democrats; Face Reading; Housewives & Ludacris; Stray Dog Update)(UPDATE 1X–Dog)

~~Posted by InsightAnalytical-GRL

What is this, Week 2 of Clinton SOS speculation?  Which now seems to be moving toward a YES, she’s accepting it?

***

Over at the Black Agenda Report, we get to see what thinking citizens are mulling over. They’ve been holding Obama’s feet to the fire for months now, so it is not a sudden shift in their assessment.

Take a look at the piece this week entitled “Critical Thinking Amid the Elation.” Shannon Joyce Prince writes:

Obamist sections of the Left seem to believe it “doesn’t matter who Obama is, what he does, says, or stands for – he represents hope and change and that’s good enough.” Some folks are simply misinformed, and therefore blissful. “Many of the people that danced in the streets haven’t taken the time to do any research on Obama, so part of their euphoria is based on ignorance.” One is expected to partake in the party. “Those who castigate folks for not being appropriately jubilant at Obama’s election are insisting that blacks content themselves, in perpetuity, with symbolism instead of real change.”

MORE

***

But over at “Elation Central” (home office, Chicago) we see that there’s all elation, with not much thinking. Thanks to Chicago Correspondent Leslie for these items. She comments:

Honestly, I don’t think I can take much more of this

The larger picture was the front page of the RedEye today.

The smaller was in the Tribune.  I beg of whatever god(dess) there may be to rescue us from the madness.

(The larger picture shows people wearing tee shirts with a photo of that couple looking like they posed for the cover of vanity fair or glamour magazines)

***

We posted this week about how the Organic Consumers Association is already upset with Obama and Leslie sent us another set of messages from groups that are feeling a bit…consternated.  They include:

Peace Action which is upset about any possible “dial back” of Iraq withdrawal plans and the folks over at “The Progressive”:

“Dear Progressive Reader:

I imagine you’re feeling somewhere between exultant and ecstatic right now after Obama’s historic triumph. (I know that’s the reaction in my family, with my wife, daughter, and one of my sons all having knocked on doors for Obama.)

I want to take this moment to assure you that The Progressive and progressive.org will give you the crucial news about Obama in the days ahead.

The Obama Administration is taking shape before our eyes, and it is consisting largely of Clinton retreads.

As I point out in one of my postings this week, he has yet to throw a bone to progressives who helped elect him.” (big snip)

Matthew Rothschild
Editor, The Progressive”

Sincerely,

Gee, if this keeps up, I’m going to run out of thosed tissues that I’m using to help all these disappointed Obamacrats dry their tears…

***

Here in the reality-based section of what we call “life,” I had an infuriating moment when I went up to pick up my formerly $4/3 months supply of medication that I was buying “outside” Medicare Part D in a well-thought out plan to avoid the infamous “donut hole.”  Remember how Ted Kennedy et al vowed to change Medicare Part D for the better…then chickened out because it was just too darned hard to let the drug and insurance companies down easy??

Well, I had my 4 bucks out but was informed that it was no longer possible to buy outside Medicare Part D.  About a month ago, apparently, a directive came from on high that ALL prescriptions MUST go through Part D if you’ve got it.  I was entirely aggravated, wondering when all this had changed!  I then focused my hostility on the Democratically-controlled Congress, because who else would have been responsible for this change??  When did they slip it in and what was the deal?  I’ve been too busy to research it, but at this point, maybe it doesn’t matter…Democrats were in charge and approved. And, we pay more as a result…

Does this give you ANY confidence in what they will be doing for to us again in January?

***

Here’s something you might want to try out on all the bright lights now populating the skies of the incoming Obama administration.  It’s a new way to analyze personality, based on “face reading.”  Try it out!!

Check out this nifty free analysis tool here.  When I get some time I’m going to see how the results for Obama compare to what we wrote about here on Obama’s handwriting and manipulative skills via hypnosis/NLP techniques.

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Now we enter the hazy depths of “American culture” (or whatever passes for it these days) with the news that the “Housewives of Atlanta” drew huge ratings, even beating the “Housewives of Orange County” series. I glimpsed at some moments of HOA and was rather grossed out by the blatant adoration of really gross bling and the mostly uncouth group of women passing for Atlanta society.  But I see from the previews that HOC is also going to get a lot trashier.  Ah, womanhood!  This is what American seems to accept as normal and admirable, or at the very least, worth wasting a lot of time watching, while Sarah Palin or Hillary Clinton get crucified.  We truly are a “trash country,” it seems.  I’m waiting to see what shows up at the White House…If I see Ludacris show up, I’ll want to know if he sleeps in the Lincoln Bedroom.  Clinton had donors in there, but I don’t think any were of the same ilk as Ludacris…

Maybe he’ll do his Obama is Here opus at a State Dinner…

***

For you cooking fans, here’s something that I don’t know quite what to make of.  See what you think about “The Spon.”

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Finally, a garden and stray dog update…

The garden took a few real cold nights and I finally put up my plastic “greenhouse.” Have no pics yet, maybe next week.  I harvested the last peppers, or so I thought. I’ve been covering the plants in the pots and there are actually a few more big enough to be worth harvesting.  The mustard has gone crazy and I’ve spotted a few tiny broccoli heads already!

News on the stray dog….well, I actually went out a cam a couple of days ago and never caught anything although the food disappeared as usual.  I was thinking the dog came in from the side of the house to eat because I didn’t see any activity coming up the driveway.  The dishes weren’t visible, so today I moved them so I can actually see who’s eating the food! I’m wondering if it’s the white doves or crows, but it just doesn’t seem to be their work. And what about that black hair?  Unless it’s a cat who likes dog food?  That would explain a visitor coming up over the wall from the arroyo and visiting the water and food in the front of the house. And, there are cats who roam the nearby streets here and then go home.  But, who knows? I have a bunch of video I have to review, so I may have an answer tomorrow.  I’ll update this when I find out for sure!

UPDATE 1X

Well, it looks like yesterday’s afternoon visit was by…BIRDS!  I think they drank a bit and played around with the kibble!  Hard to tell if they were all doves or grackles…some were definitely dark, but not as big as crows.  I’ve got the camera on this morning so we’ll see if someone else shows up. Yesterday, you could tell from the messy area and one of the kibbles in the water that it was most likely birds.  But in the AM especially, the dish is cleaned with nothing left behind, so we’ll have to see if it’s the birds that are more polite eaters in the AM or whether it is a dog!!!

THIS MORNING…There were birds on the AM video and when I got the paper at 8:30 AM I saw the bowl was completely empty, except for crumbs. The birds were on the video so they may have been pecking at those crumbs. So, if it’s a dog, it is coming before 7:45 when I turned on the cam…I thought originally that it was coming between 6:30 AM and 7:45 (about about 7:45 kids start walking past on the way to the school bus stop).  I’ve been getting up later the last few days, so I haven’t been out to check at 6:30. With Sunrise at about 6:45, I’m  not sure the cam will catch anything because the area where I have the food is in the shadows as well…so, it may be too dark to see anything!  I’ll just have to get very early tomorrow to turn on the cam and see if it’s too dark to be useful…or post myself by the window and do a low-tech observation!!

THIS WEEK’S POSTS

*Submitted by Chicago Correspondent Leslie

**By Grail Guardian

***By Kenosha Marge

*Saturday “Toons” from Our Chicago Correspondent Leslie

**Howard’s Agony: Seems Like We’ve Been Here Before

The Scanner-Politics 11/20/08 (CHANGE?? Daschle at HHS, His Wife and Lobbying; Organic Consumers Org. So Ticked at the Thought of Vilsack at Agriculture That Their Petition is Already Going Strong; Froma Harrop on “Palin’s Next Career Move” Will Raise Your Blood Pressure) (Updated 1X)

Find the Sexism in the Picture, Learn “The Code”

**Attention NeoProgs: You DID NOT Defeat the PUMAs!

***The Rise and Fall of Great Expectations

The Past Week: November 9-15, Recaps & Random Thoughts (Suddenly Soiled Sarah Gets Advice from Katie Couric, Joke “Journalist”; Gov Luv; Sunday Telegraph, UK Previews More Clinton Trashing?; Major Stray Dog Update (Update 1X–Clinton Trashing in Progress in U.S. via AP)