Barack Obama told Diane Sawyer he’d “rather be a really good one-term president than a mediocre two-term president.” Well, you’ve got a lot of work to do then, Mr. President. So far you’re looking like nothing more than an asterisk President (as in *First black guy to become US President. His single term marred by ineffectiveness and partisan rancor. Succeeded by Sarah Palin, who, by executive order, deported him to Nigeria for failure to produce his original birth certificate). Of course, this is all just part of Obama’s pre-SOTU posturing.

In other Presidential Posturing news, Obama reportedly will propose a three-year freeze in “non-security” discretionary spending. So, money for mercenary contractors and escalating (maybe even starting; nothing’s better than being a “War President” after all) our military presence around the world is OK, but as for insignificant, trouble-making, do-nothing government agencies – like the EPA, Health and Human Services, and the Department of Interior, among others – well, they’re just gonna have to tighten their belts. If this plan sounds familiar to you, it might be because it was already proposed – by St. John McCain. It was a proposal strongly derided by a certain former Presidential candidate.

“The problem with a spending freeze is you’re using a hatchet where you need a scalpel. There are some programs that are very important that are underfunded.”
[…]
“That is an example of an unfair burden sharing. That’s using a hatchet to cut the federal budget. I want to use a scalpel so that people who need help are getting help and those of us like myself and Senator McCain who don’t need help aren’t getting it. That is how we make sure that everybody is willing to make a few sacrifices.”

“It sounds good,” Obama says of the [spending freeze] proposal. “It is proposed periodically. It doesn’t happen. And in fact an across-the-board spending freeze is a hatchet and we do need a scalpel because there are some programs that don’t work at all. There are some programs that are underfunded and I want to make sure that we are focused on those programs that work.”

Hatchet, bad. Scalpel good. Get it?

Obama will also supposedly talk about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in his State of the Union Address. It’s not clear what he’ll say, but my guess is that he’ll try to pander to “the gays,” by talking a lot, saying very little, and promising even less. I don’t think the gay folks are gonna keep falling for this stuff, Mr. President. Don’t be surprised when you face a primary challenge from Harvey Fierstein, is all I’m sayin’.

You know, I got an e-mail from Dan Plouffe yesterday, asking me to attend (or host) a SOTU “party.” As I’ve pretty much just plain had it with the Obama Administration, I clicked the “unsubscribe” link, which offered an optional spot to tell them why I was opting out. So I told them. I told them how proud I was of this country on election night back in 2008, and how hopeful I was. And I told them how that pride and hope had turned to disappointment, disillusion, and despair (okay, despair might be pushing it a little bit, but I needed another “d” word).

I told them that their rhetoric was empty, and they’d sacrificed “change” (assuming “change” was ever anything more than an empty campaign slogan) in order to pander to a small minority of conservatives. I said that they’d thrown Democrats and Independents who had “hoped” for an end to government bought and paid for by corporate special interests under the bus.

From the un-regulated Wall Street bailout (while regular people are thrown out of their homes), to turning over health care reform to insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry, to escalating the war in Afghanistan, they’ve managed to squander a tremendous amount of goodwill in one short year. All in the name of “bipartisanship.” Except they haven’t been bipartisan, because the only party this Administration seems to care about sucking up to is the Republican Party.

Why am I unsubscribing? Because I’m sick of their empty words, and I’m just plain tired of reading them. And if they think I’m giving them another penny of my money, they’re nuts.

I don’t expect anybody of any importance to actually read what I wrote, but it made me feel better to write it (for a few minutes).

Oh, by the way, did I mention: Syracuse 73, Georgetown 56?

It was a big weekend here at the old homestead. For the first time in longer than I can remember (mostly ‘cuz I can’t really remember shit for very long these days), our kitchen cabinets have doors on them. They look very different, and I’d forgotten what a pain in the ass it is to have to open doors to get stuff out. I also built a shelf and storage area for the above the refrigerator/next to the microwave area. It’s far from perfect, but didn’t cost me anything, since it’s all made from scrap wood and stuff left over from tearing the old stuff out (in other words, I am being “green” by recycling). And it gets the job done, so it’s good enough for me. Fortunately, my wife isn’t fussy, either (I mean, she married me, so how fussy could she possibly be).

The weekend wasn’t without its casualties, though. For one thing, I broke the only belt sander belt I had. The belt sander is how I “even out” my woodworking (along with caulk and Spackle, of course). Now I have to go out and get a new one (and to thin,k I’ve only had that one on there for a mere twelve years or so). It’s been so long since I’ve bought one, I have no clue what size it is (3″ x something or other). It’s a Craftsman – has to be close to 50 years old, if not older.

Also, I recently (like, last week) purchased a little magnetic stud finder, and Sunday was my first chance to really use it on a “production” job (as opposed to just playing with it). Nothing fancy – just a couple of strong rare earth magnets encased in plastic with a bubble level in between. You run it along the wall in a “S” pattern, and when it finds a nail or screw, it just sticks there (like magic). Oh, I suppose you could just get a strong magnet and use that, but the level is kind of nice. It’s very simple, about a million times easier to use (and more accurate) than my electronic stud finder (assuming you don’t have abnormally thick walls or they forgot to screw down the sheetrock at every stud or something), and comes in handy to hold a drill bit or whatnot so you don’t lose it when you’re changing back and forth from the drill to the driver (I really need to get another cordless drill). Unfortunately, if you don’t keep an eye on it, somebody in your home may carelessly set a metal oven rack down near it, then put it in the oven and bake it at 325° for three hours, melting the shit out of it (doesn’t do much for the bubble level, either).

So, here’s a tip to the Do-It-Yourselfers out there: be sure to check for tools in your oven – early and often.

Ed Schultz apparently told Robert Gibbs he was full of shit. Far be it for me to agree with Fat Headdy, but I’m forced to concur. I heard Gibbs on the news a couple of times last week, and, while he spoke, he said absolutely nothing. Of course, what can he say, really? I guess all he could really do was tell Eddy to go Cheney himself.

“I told him he was full of sh*t is what I told him. I mean I did.” Schultz told an audience in Minnesota over the weekend. “And then he gave me the Dick Cheney f-bomb the same way Senator Leahy got it on the Senate floor.”

Schultz continued: “I told Robert Gibbs, I said ‘And I’m sorry you’re swearing at me, but I’m just trying to help you out. I’m telling you you’re losing your base. Do you understand that you’re losing your base?'”

The MSNBC host…has repeatedly accused the Obama administration of giving up too much ground to moderate and conservative Democrats as well as Republicans on health care reform.

“We have to get these people who have infiltrated the Democratic progressive movement, and get them the hell out,” Schultz said.

All I can say, is, “you tell ’em, Ed.”

On a side note, how pissed off do you think Randi Rhodes is that Ed (or Rachel, for that matter) is on MSNBC, and Randi is on, well, whatever the hell it is she’s on these days? Not that Randi has a big ego or anything. 🙄

Congratulations are in order for the New Orleans Saints. It’s nice to see a team that’s never been to a Super Bowl finally get to go to one. And the people in New Orleans certainly deserve something to celebrate. As for the Colts? Screw ’em. I hope the Saints wipe ’em out.

BTW, what’s up with the Pro Bowl being before the Super Bowl? No pro-bowl players on the two Super Bowl teams? How stupid it that? Not that I really give a crap about the Pro Bowl (or the Super Bowl, to be honest; it’s just on too late for a school night), but still.

Big night here as Georgetown comes to town for “Big Monday.” We hate Georgetown here – and we really hate losing to them (especially at home). Hopefully SU will play a bit better than they did on Saturday.

Oh well, I hear the sirens, so I guess I’d better make like a good little Eloi, and head off to do my duty.

On Press the Meat today, Ferretface Mitch McConnell is on to gloat, plus we’ll hear from President Obama’s Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett. Then it’s a roundtable with the Washington Post’s E.J. Dionne, the BBC’s Katty Kay, Hell’s Peggy Noonan, and NBC News’ Chuck Todd.

Faze the Nation has St. John McCain, Illinois’ Dickie Durbin, and a triangletable discussion with Nancy Cordes and Jan Crawford on the SCOTUS ruling turning over the government to the highest bidders.

On Fux News Sunday, Weaselface Wallace has Bob Gibbs on to taunt, plus Texas redneck, John Cornyn. And the usual fuxheads, of course.

Terry Moran takes the wheel over at the Goebbels network, as This Weak boasts a lineup of David Axelrod, douchebag Senator Jim DeMint and Bob Menendez. Then the Axis of Drivel is reunited as George :jerk: Will, Cokie “the hag” Roberts, and Sam :omg: Donaldson are joined by Republican “strategist” Matthew Dowd.

On CNN, Fareed Zakaria speaks with former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski on how to move forward in Haiti. Plus a panel of historians give their perspectives on what Obama should do next, now that he’s pretty much f*cked everything up so far.

Of course, the real story of the day is the rematch of Super Bowl III between the Jets and the Colts. Nobody give the Jets much of a chance to win today, but they didn’t give them any chance at all of winning back on January 12, 1969, even though a guy by the name of Joe Namath guaranteed a Jets victory. The following 40 years or so haven’t exactly been good ones to be a Jets fan (the one saving grace is that the Jets have still won more Super Bowls than the Buffalo), but maybe this year will be different. After all, the Jets held their training camp up here in Central NY at SUNY Cortland, so that must count for something. Or not. We’ll see.

Have a good one.

Conan signed off the Tonight Show for the final time last night, bringing an end to the most important thing in the whole wide world. Now we can move on the next, most important thing in the whole wide world, which might very well be Sarah Palin’s new hair style. Or maybe there’ll be a missing blond girl, a runaway Jiffy Pop bag, more fake Tiger Woods sightings or something even more important (Octomom in a bikini, anyone?). Either way, we need some sort of diversion.

Speaking of diversions, Barack Obama has taken off the tie and hit the road. He’s now a populist man of the people, going after those darn old Wall Street bad boys and promising strict regulation of the financial industry. Thank goodness. Things are really gonna change now, you betcha. :yawn:

I’ve been trying to think of a new way to make money so I can quit my job. In light of the new all-white basketball league, I’m soliciting investors for a new business proposition. My plan is to found an all-black hockey league. The BHL. Or maybe we could capitalize on the #1 spectator sport in the god-fearin’ US of A by starting an all-black auto racing circuit (BLASCAR). I dunno. Whatever the investors are up for is cool with me; no reasonable offer refused, but I will be needing your check by Monday.

My other option is to maybe find a corporate sponsor to finance a campaign for office. There was a time when I had higher standards, but the clock is running out on this lifetime, and the world (or at least this country) is turning to shit no matter what I do, so WTF? I’m not photogenic or “buff” enough (nor do I have a wife with a “curious hand”) to run for anything statewide or national, but a local office would be OK. I was born without an ambition gene, so I’m easy.

I’ve been told I have a good speechifying voice, and I think I could pull off a pretty decent “man of the people” act (way better than Obama, with his natty attire and big words; more of a short, non-lisping Alan Grayson kinda thing). I’m sure Wal-Mart, Time Warner, Verizon, or Home Depot could always use a County Legislator or Town Councilor in their pocket, and I’m willing to both work cheap and stay bought. Just get me good season tickets to SU games (where I’ll be happy to be seen wearing your corporate logo). I think those are the qualities that will be most important for a politician in the new world order.

Oh well, time’s a wastin’, and there’s kitchen duty to be done.

I can’t say that the news of the inevitable death of Air America really bums me out all that much. It’s been dead to me for so long now that this really makes no difference to me. Oh, I feel bad for the people that worked there, of course. Being out of work sucks. But as for AAR itself? Meh. It’s kind of funny how the morons of the world kept continuing to insist that the evil George Soros was behind AAR and backing them financially. Too bad he was never actually involved in it, or they’d still be on the air (and probably with the original lineup – sans Senator Al Franken – that made it so good). Only an idiot would believe that, but then the wingnuts have no shortage of idiots. Air America’s big problem was that the guy who was supposedly backing it financially (Evan Cohen) turned out to be a fraud, and then the guy they brought in to save the network (consummate asshole Danny Goldberg) turned out to be a humorless chump with no vision (and no radio background), who took evrything that was good and killed it. Right before things were about to really take off, too. And things only went downhill from there. Oh, but there was an awful lot of potential there at the beginning – back on April Fool’s Day, 2004. If I mourn anything today, it’s that Air America, not the thing that it had become. And there’s always Sedition Radio for when I miss the old days (at least until the computer it’s running on craps out, or I get sick of dealing with it). It’s funny, though. There’s always at least a couple of people tuned in, and when the stream craps out, I hear about it in a hurry. Hard to believe Sedition Radio and this place have both outlived Air America. Never underestimate the power of a handful of stubborn bastids, I guess.

I tried switching to a different lo-cal morning news show yesterday. It just didn’t work out. They’re rather serious and professional (at least by local morning news standards), whereas the channel I’d been watching before has a collection of male and female equivalents of Les Nessman. So I switched back today, and good thing I did, or I’d have missed out hearing about the “relentlessly unrelentless” rain in California. Gosh, I missed these guys.

I somehow managed to hurt a whole bunch of my parts without really noticing. About the only thing I did was slip on the ice at the park the other day, landing squarely on my back. It didn’t really hurt at the time (except my pride, since people were looking; the good news is that I had just finished tying off a poop bag. Had I slipped a moment earlier, it could have been pretty messy), so I don’t know if it’s related, but yesterday was a day filled with pain (and today isn’t starting out much better).

First off, I’m hobbling around because it feel like somebody decided to remove about an inch of my left Achilles tendon. Makes it hurt like hell to extend my foot forward (or to lift it up, for that matter). Also, my thumb hurts. Fortunately, I don’t use it all that much. Of course, my knees and back hurt, but that’s a given. The really odd one is my neck. Or should I say throat? The muscles on both sides hurt when I turn my head, and are also very sore to touch. I don’t know if I strained my neck somehow, or maybe this is some sort of cancer of the jugular lymph nodes or something. Oh well. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was getting old or something.

Now, I know some people are kind of appalled by sports talk, but I just have to mention the phenomenon that is the UCONN womens basketball team (and I really don’t like UCONN). If you don’t know, they’re in the midst of a 57-game winning streak (having gone undefeated and winning a national championship last year). This is the second longest winning streak in womens NCAA basketball history. The longest? UCONN from 2001-03, when they won 70 games in a row. This past week alone, UCONN beat #3 Notre Dame by 24 points, and #7 Duke by over 30. In the 2000’s so far, UCONN won national championships in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009.

Even if you hate sports, you have to be pretty impressed with that.

Oh well, I guess I better get going. Takes me a while to hobble up the stairs these days.

So, can Senate Democrats finally stop kissing Joe Lieberman’s ass now? Because that alone would make the loss of the MA Senate seat worthwhile. According to the exit polls, 25% of registered Democrats in MA voted for Brown. Arianna Huffington says this might be a “blessing in disguise” if Democrats get their act together before 2010. Yeah, right. If you think Democrats were feckless wonders before, just wait and see what they do next. For starters, I all but guarantee you they’ll roll over and seat Brown before the election is certified. Oh well. I still think they ought to tell Lieberman to go Cheney himself.

Wow, back to work today, and I’m just not feeling it. I’m looking forward to today about as much as Martha Coakley is, I think. At least maybe we can stop hearing how the Democrats have a “filibuster-proof” majority (as if Joe Lieberman was a Democrat). And let’s not forget Robert Byrd is about a million years old, too. Oh well, on the bright side, for me as an individual, I don’t think my life will change either way. Assuming my life not changing can actually be considered a “bright” side. Beats living in Haiti.

Speaking of Haiti, Matt Taibbi slams David Brooks’ recent column on the disaster down there.

One would have thought a column on the Haitian’s lack of an achievement culture could maybe wait until after the bodies were cold, but… hey, who am I to judge?

Personally, I think Haiti could lift its Satan’s curse by changing it’s name to Lovi (plus they need to lay off that Voodoo stuff and quit with the Zombies).

Oh well, as you can tell, I’m not feeling particularly inspired today, so I guess I’d better just go get ready for work before I resort to talking about sports and weather.

I was considering going in to work today, just to bank the day to use later. But, well, screw that idea. Never pass up an opportunity to take a day off.

It’s starting look like a Republican is going to win Teddy Kennedy’s Senate seat. What’s up with you people in MA? I think Obama has done the political equivalent of what Bush did after 9/11. So much good will squandered so quickly. Pretty amazing. So much for health care reform.

The two biggest big news stories of the weekend were the Golden Globe Awards and Michelle Obama’s birthday (oh, and something’s going on down in Haiti, too). Much to Marc Maron’s chagrin, I guess, Avatar won Golden Globes for best movie drama and best director. I haven’t seen it, myself, but Marc doesn’t approve of the movie on the grounds that it cost too much to make, and that all that technology is just a waste of money. Quite true. I also wonder why they spend so much money on color film, sound, and multiple cameras. Not to mention paying the actors so much money.

Sportswise, it was a pretty good weekend. On Saturday, #5 SU traveled to #9 West Virginia and (though they decided to throw away a 10 point lead with less than 2 minutes to go and make things interesting) beat the Mountaineers in the first showdown between 2 top-ten teams in Morgantown ever. Then, on Sunday, the Jets beat San Diego. Plus the Vikings kicked the shit out of Dallas (rubbed their noses in it, big time). I’m not especially a Minnesota fan (don’t dislike them, either – who can dislike Minnesota?), but I despise the Cowboys, and love to see them not only lose, but get embarrassed. Plus, while I’ve never really been a Brett Favre fan, you have to like seeing an old guy do well (kinda like John Elway, who I never really liked until he got old and won a Super Bowl).

Oh well, time to start the ML King festivities.

There’s a bit of a pattern on the morning shows today, if you’re sharp enough to pick it out.

On Press the Meat, it’s a Haiti kinda day, with Bill Clinton, George two-terms mandate Bush, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Rajiv Shah, and the deputy commander of the U.S. Southern Command, Lt. General Ken Keen.

Faze the Nation has Clinton, Bush, Keen, Shah.

Fux News has Clinton, Bush, Keen, Shah, plus ferret face Mitch McConnell

On the Goebbels network, This Weak (no longer with George Snufalufagus) has Clinton, Bush, Keen, Shah.

CNN’s State of the Union has Clinton, Bush, Keen, Shah, plus Eleanor Holmes Norton.

Fareed Zakaria isn’t really with the plan. He looks at how Haiti’s past plays into its present troubles (pact with the devil, I guess), plus the gigantic Wall Street bonuses, and nation-building in Yemen.

Have a good one.