The mind fixates on the weirdest things when it's under stress, so I'm going to include a rare poll concerning the subject that's been the subject of my fixation. How many of you have passports? If memory serves, a bit of hay was made by the fact that St. Sarah from Wasilla didn't have one - at least during the 2008 POTUS campaign; she's got one now since she's "blessed" international audiences with her butchering of the English language since the end of the campaign.
This subject matter is probably on my mind these days because I spend a great deal of time wishing I was anyplace else other than where I am. And, I'll admit that I don't have one & don't really want one. However, I'd wager my reasons for not getting one are a little different from "that woman's" at the time before she realized she could make a lot of money spewing her spewage overseas. One of St. Sarah from Wasilla's most "endearing" qualities is having no intellectual capacity or interest in much of anything & enjoying a willfully ignorant bliss. I would like to think I'm NOTHING like that, but there's still a whole lot of this country that I haven't seen yet that I'd like to see & not too much beyond our borders that I'm just dyin' to see but not for any "my country, love it or leave it" reasons. Clear as mud? ;D So, if you do have a passport, where have you been? Feel free to discuss this subject within the comments about tonight's show! :D
Let's get to "this day in history." On Aug. 12, 1881, Cecil B. DeMille, a leading American movie producer and director for over 40 years, was born. Now, I could give a rat's a$$ that he directed 2 versions of The Ten Commandments; about 5 minutes & 15 seconds into this clip, the Waco Kid shows off his movie knowledge! ;D
On this date in 1944, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., eldest son of Joseph and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, was killed when an explosives-laden Navy plane blew up over England during World War II. Senator Ted Kennedy's True Compass gives a chilling account of what the Kennedy household was like when they got the news.
On this date in 2004, New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey announced his resignation and proclaimed himself "a gay American." I remember that he gave a heck of a speech announcing it with his wife by his side, but then, if memory serves, his divorce got rather nasty.
Let's Countdown!
#5 "War on the Middle Class" AKA "GOP VS. USA" AKA "Working America" AKA "GOP’s Class Warfare" - As we recall, the GOBP memo for months has been to call the unemployed lazy & not wanting a job because they like not working. Extension of unemployment benefits would just be an incentive to not go out & find a job among all the oodles of jobs that can be found out there; said jobs might not be able to pay bills or feed your family. But, get them jobs anyway because of the GOBP has their way, the undocumented workers that currently do those jobs will be kicked out of the country! Ugh...wasn’t planning on seeing GWB’s mug tonight; thanks, Keith! ;D Newt Gingrich has joined the fray against the unemployed:
... [the Wall Street Journal] quotes an engineer who admits he turned down more than a dozen offers because the salary would have been less than he made on welfare. This story encapsulates the problem of the long – term unemployed. The depth and length of this recession is at risk of creating a permanent pool of unemployed Americans, who get so used to being unproductive that they are willing to accept welfare indefinitely instead of taking a job.
Hey! There’s the Governor of SC! He stopped hiking the Appalachian Trail long enough to accept some stim coin to save jobs in his state. Well, hell, he’s got nothing to lose, so why not do the right thing? He’s not going to be Governor anymore soon, and he’ll be free to go to Argentina to spend the rest of his pathetic hypocritical life with his soul mate. ;D Uh – oh, most Americans, according to Pew anyway, think President Obama enacted TARP to the tune of 47% as opposed to the guy who ACTUALLY did it – GWB. Here’s the guy that Newtie chatted about in his little diatribe against the unemployed – HA! Mike Hatchell used to be a cop; then, he became a mechanic & had his own business. WHAT? $450 a week in benefits can’t feed a family, pay a mortgage, or pay your bills?! Someone better get Newtie on the uptake on this score!
On the other hand, don’t do that; let the GOBP keep looking like the heartless clueless NIMRODS they look like now. The jobs Mr. Hatchell was finding would pay less than half of what he used to make. The hourly wage for most of the jobs Mr. Hatchell was being offered was $7.75. What’s minimum wage these days? Sara Hatchell had some choice words for Newt, too. Hell hath no fury! ;D She’s been out of work longer than her hubby. Golly, Howard Fineman has to follow the Hatchells. Small Price to Pay Goldilocks wouldn’t defend what Newt had to say?! WHAT??!! $HIT!!! Howard made a great point about how the Dems & President Obama have to talk about the economy & so many other issues. It’s not "big government" VS. "small government." It’s SMART government VS. what GWB did!
#4 "Health Crisis in the Gulf" AKA "Gulf Health Scare" - Children in the Gulf region are going to be especially susceptible to mental crises than most other kids. A lot of them also have rashes & breathing problems since the oil spill. There’s going to be a free clinic in New Orleans at the end of the month to coincide with the 5 – year anniversary of when Katrina struck, but more funds are needed for the effort. OK, y’all know where to donate, but I’ll remind you again. ;D Dr. Irwin Redlener is talking health implications in the Gulf. Just because the oil stops flowing doesn’t mean the crisis is over – especially in an area that still hasn’t fully recovered from Katrina. Dr. Redlener pointed out that this area of the country was historically under – served by the medical community even BEFORE all this $hit happened. Both BP/BS & the federal government want all this shtick over yesterday. 25% of the families in the area are considering leaving for good; most of the families who live down there have lived there for a long long LONG time.
** A dude in Pittsburgh wanted to change his name to Boomer the Dog. My morning radio silly guys talked about this story this morning! Look at all the balloons in England – neato! People in the Ukraine got jealous, so they’re sending off their own balloons. Look at the little elephant guy/gal in Vienna! AAAaaaaWWWwwww!!!! **
#3 "Immigration & Misinformation" - For all the fuss about "anchor babies" by some "people," that route is actually the SLOWEST way to become a citizen of this country. Oh well, like THAT will stop those braying about "anchor babies" from their continued braying about the subject. Pesky things like FACTS have never bothered these people. These "anchor babies" cannot begin the official citizenship process for their parents until they’re 21! It’s a lot quicker for an undocumented worker to marry a citizen of this country, by golly! Here’s Professor Melissa Harris – Lacewell; she pointed out that kids ARE anchors in a good way. :D Professor Lacewell wants to have actual discussions about how people who live here, regardless of whether they’re "legal," can be safe productive tax – paying members of this country. Golly, what kind of fun would THAT be? Scaring the bejeebus outta people is much more action – packed.
"Tea Time" Sharron Angle was supposed to go to some tea bagger thing along the border. She backed out, and the head tea bagger ain’t a happy bagger! Thankfully, JD Hayworth & Sheriff Joe Arpaio are still making their previously – scheduled appearances.
WPITW – Boss Limbaugh is denigrating universities again. He’s basically a drop – out, remember, because he left before nearly flunking out. Senator McCentury is promising no more "aisle crossing!" Marg Baker wants to put undocumented workers in internment camps because it worked so well in the 40s.
#1 "Aqua Buddha" AKA "Holy Sea" - Oh boy...I’m deciding how exactly I should feel about this segment. OK, I’m bailing – sorry. I’m not offended per se; it’s just damn dumb & beneath Keith.
Speaking of Keith being "beneath" something, you’re back to the woodshed a bit tonight. Thanks for reminding us about the free clinic efforts in New Orleans & the continuing story in the Gulf; THAT’S what we expect from you. However, Judge Vaughn Walker’s Prop 8 stay ruling doesn’t even get a mention – especially in light of your powerful special comment & support of marriage equality, and we get a segment about Aqua Buddha?! BOO! So, again, since you didn’t bring up the story, I will.
Today’s Prop 8 decision concerning whether to allow gay couples to immediately begin marrying while the case is in the appeals process is odd, the best term I can use right now I guess. I was watching a live feed from the front of San Francisco City Hall in the run – up to the announcement, and when the crowd began to cheer, I thought, "OK, let the weddings resume!" But, in actuality, the stay is in effect until August 18th at 5 pm Pacific time. Now, as I read Judge Walker’s decision (only 11 pages this time!), I think he’s expecting the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to rule on this issue in the affirmative before then. Now, I expected a bit of an upturn in the speed of activity, which is usually slower than molasses in January, but the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to rule on the merits of Judge Walker’s decision & whether Prop 8 proponents actually have a damn case by NEXT WEEK would be a speeding up of usually – s...l...o...w proceedings to infinity & beyond! I wonder what happens if the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals DOESN’T rule on this by next week, though? THAT’S the big question. At this pace, if an appellate ruling does come down next week, SCOTUS will absolutely hear this case in the next term if they agree to hear it. And, as I mentioned when Judge Walker’s initial ruling went down, it takes only 4 SCOTUS justices to agree to grant certiorari (or agree to put a case on their docket). I think "justices" Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, and Alito are just DYIN’ to get their hateful grimy little paws on this case. However, paranoid cynical lil’ ‘ol me will repeat what I said when the original Prop 8 ruling from Judge Walker came down. I would really REALLY wait until all court action is done before walking down that proverbial aisle. Now, I’m just speaking for myself here, but I cannot imagine going through a ceremony with the person I loved then have to sit & wonder if someone else was going to swoop down & say, "Nope, you’re not married after all" like what happened last time.
One part of today’s ruling especially struck me. If I’m reading what Judge Walker ruled correctly, the only real legal chance in hell of Prop 8 proponents succeeding in the appellate process is if some state official decides to "go to their side" & be "official" Prop 8 proponents representing the State of CA. Jerry Brown & the Governator have already said they think the marriages should resume NOW. So, where do these Prop 8 proponents think this state official is going to come from? From the ruling:
As it appears at least doubtful that proponents will be able to proceed with their appeal without a state defendant, it remains unclear whether the court of appeals will be able to reach the merits of proponents’ appeal. In light of those concerns, proponents may have little choice but to attempt to convince either the Governor or the Attorney General to file an appeal to ensure appellate jurisdiction.