Just Who is In Charge of the GOP?

Photo from source, BBC News

That's an excellent question. Another would be, "Who would want to be in charge of the GOP?"

[Excerpt]

Who leads the US Republican Party?

There can be little doubt as to who is currently in charge of America's Democratic Party.

From behind his desk in the Oval Office, Barack Obama can usually rely on the members of his party to follow his lead.

But the divided nature of the American political system means that the party that does not hold the White House does not have a single figure it can look to for leadership. . .

Read more at: BBC News

Rep. Kaptur Calls Out Republican Using "Democrat Party"

Republicans are fond of calling the Democratic Party the Democrat Party. The reason is clear (and spelled out here). It is a way for them to avoid using the patriotic imagery that "democratic" implies, plus it sounds harsh, and--bonus!!!--irritates members of the party.

Many prominent Republican politicians, and nearly all right-wing talk radio and cable news blow-holes use the incorrect term. And while I have no problem believing that Sean Hannity might be too stupid to know he's using it wrong, I'm quite sure that most of them do. The galling thing is when these people and their defenders deny that it's on purpose. In fact, in the link above you'll find one of them digging for places where more liberal people have misused the term. It's like the insistence that FOX "News" is fair and balanced and not right-leaning. . .even though almost all FOX defenders are right-wingers.

Anyway, a member of the House of Representatives, Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) finally called out one of her colleagues for saying "Democrat Party" repeatedly. It's about time.

GOP Seeks to Deny Obama "Up or Down Vote"

Photo from source, Think Progress

If we heard it once, we heard it 8,000 times, in one variation or another: Up or Down Vote! Up and Down Vote! Up/Down Vote! When it came to George W. Bush's judicial nominees, Democrats were lambasted for daring to raise an objection. Tom DeLay--who was not even in the Senate--was among the voices supporting the "Nuclear Option." This was a plan to remove the filibuster option, and would have left Democrats with zero power in the Senate.

Democrats had to make nice, and reach a compromise on Bush's wacky choices in order to keep the Republicans from following through on their threat. But now, of course, the shoe is on the other foot. Republicans are in the minority, and their only power--besides whining and stomping their feet, and appealing to Lord God Limbaugh--is the filibuster. And they aim to use it. Where's your Up/Down now?

[Excerpt]

After Trying To Abolish Filibusters Of Judicial Nominees In ‘05, GOP Threatens To Filibuster Obama’s Nominees

In 2004, frustrated by successful efforts by Senate Democrats to block 10 of President Bush’s judicial nominees, Senate Republicans threatened use the “nuclear option” to remove the minority’s right to filibuster judicial nominations. “One way or another, the filibuster of judicial nominees must end,” said then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) in a speech to the Federalist Society. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Left Behind Author Miffed at Rachel Maddow

Jerry B. Jenkins, one of the authors (the other being Tim LaHaye) of the awful apocalyptic fiction series Left Behind is miffed at Rachel Maddow. Last Friday, Rachel aired an edited portion of an interview with the two men, and Jenkins took issue with the presentation.

Now, I saw the interview, and the only potentially negative thing I saw was that Jenkins barely said a word. Well, beyond the inherent ridiculousness of the whole "end times" belief system. But Rachel isn't one to gloss over something like this, and--in a very classy move--has posted the entire interview on her web site, and acknowledged that she's sorry that Jenkins didn't like the interview.

[Excerpt]

Full video: 'Left Behind' authors join Maddow

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Since 1995 there has been a massive cultural phenomenon that has pretty much taken place under the radar of the secular media. It started with the release of "Left behind: A novel of the Earth's last days," an apocalyptic tale of good and evil - a fiction book, but based on the Bible's Book of Revelation. . .

Read more at: The Rachel Maddow Show

Subliminal Image in New Jack In The Box Logo?

I've found quite a few web sites out there where I can get lost for hours; Wikipedia, IMDB, I Can Has Cheezburger?, Engrish and FailBlog are just a few. But as a graphic artist who specializes in logo design, I find Brand New (a division of Under Consideration) particularly interesting.

A while back, I linked to them because of a story about Pepsi-Cola's dreadful new "butt-crack" logo design. Since then, I've been checking in every so often to see what brand has gotten a redesign.

One of the new ones is for Jack in the Box, the west coast regional hamburger chain. Their old logo was very dated, but also kind of cool. The way the letter forms fit together was quite creative, even though the "OX" part looked sort of like a Jesus fish. In fact, I've nicknamed it Jack in the Bejesus because of it. I'm mixed on the new logo. It isn't bad. It isn't great. It's OK. But--as a commenter noted in the replies to the excerpted article--is that a breast subliminally outlined in the extended "K?" Sure looks like it to me!

[Excerpt]

Just Jack

I don't travel much to the West Coast, so my only face-to-face experience with the fast food chain of Jack in the Box is limited to one tasty burger back in the late 1990s and I remember it was quite satisfying. . .

Read more at: Brand New

One thing that Jack in the Box hasn't changed is their consistently funny ad campaign, featuring the big-headed clown in a suit. It's been running for 15 years, and though they literally threw Jack under the bus for the Super Bowl ad, they're still going. Check it out.

Update: The Fat Thing and My Low-Carb Diet

Photo from IMDB.com

From the time before I started this blog until late September of 2008, I was around 180 pounds, a personal worst. I'm 5'8-1/2", and went about 25 years eating absolutely anything I wanted while remaining rail thin. Some time in my late 20s, the weight crept up, and I found it settling about 10 pounds higher per new decade. When I turned 40, I was just off of my (second? third?) Atkins diet, and was at a reasonable weight. But as I slid into 41, there it was, 180 pounds, or there abouts.

In late September last year, I'd had enough, and decided to give the Atkins Diet one more go around. By this time, I'd learned all of the tricks (some of which you can find here), so it wasn't too difficult. Except for the fact that the Atkins craze died about four years ago, and pre-packaged low carb foods are much harder to come by these days.

I got my weight down to a much more reasonable 160 pounds, where it has remained (give or take two or three pounds both ways) since about November. My waist dropped from a 34" to somewhere between 31" and 32." And while it would be nice to see 30" pants again, it will take a heavy exercise program to see that happen, and I haven't gotten the gumption for that quite yet.

Since I've grown to accept that 160 pounds (ish) is my new stable weight if I'm careful, I've loosened up on the diet. Now, once or twice a week (usually on weekends) I'll have a cheat day. Raising Cane's chicken, or Chinese food. Maybe pizza. And then it is right back on the low-carb diet. This has produced no measurable weight gain, and it certainly makes me happier.

I've also gotten creative on the non-cheat days. I thought I'd share a couple of my recipes, in case you're in the same position.

Jamie's Low-Carb Pizza

Pre-heat oven to 410, with pizza pan on the rack, so it gets hot. Get a Mission low-carb flour tortilla. Get the white ones, because they taste a lot closer to the real thing, and don't have the icky Atkins soy-flour aftertaste. Spread a couple of spoonfuls of Ragu (or equivalent) pizza sauce on it, and spread liberal amounts of sliced pepperonis and mozzarella cheese on top. Chop up some pepper rings to put on top, and any other meats you might like. After the oven is hot, take out the pizza pan, and immediately transfer your pizza onto it, and put into the oven. If you have a convection feature, turn it on. Cook until the cheese is bubbly and browning, and you're done. Very tasty, and not far from the real thing.

Jamie's Low-carb Tuna Melt

Follow instructions for the oven and tortilla in the above pizza recipe. Mix tuna, chopped onions, chopped dill pickles and chopped pepper rings with a couple of spoons of mayonnaise. Spread tuna mixture and sharp cheddar cheese onto tortilla, and bake just like the pizza.

Both of these are interesting, and relatively low-carb dinners to jazz up your routine. And while I haven't really done the carb math here, the tortillas are 7 net carbs, and the rest of the ingredients are either carb-free, or pretty low. Enjoy!

One more thing: There are still low-carb Splenda-sweetened ice creams on the market, so check your various grocery stores to see what's available. Blue Bunny makes some fantastic ice cream bars (Sweet Freedom raspberry is like candy), and there is also "Watch N Carbs" and a few others. You can also find sugar-free chocolate syrup, and add dry roasted peanuts if you like a little salty and sweet. There used to be (much) more, but there are still enough varieties to save my sanity.

The Young Turks: Red States Consuming More Porn

Maybe consuming isn't as good a word as possibly consumating, but it's funny either way!

Another Liberal Talk Radio Network Bites the Dust?

Photo from source, Phoenix New Times

Damn. I wasn't a fan of On Second Thought radio, not that I had the time to become one. The only program I listened to on the network, The Nancy Skinner Show, was just filler for me in the middle of my listening day (I listen at work via KTLK-AM via my computer). After my favorite program, The Randi Rhodes Show was unceremoniously pulled from the air--under still murky circumstances--the network that ran her show, Nova M Radio, went bust.

It was replaced by On Second Thought, which has only been in existence for a couple of weeks. But yesterday's Nancy Skinner was a re-run, which was very odd given that she's only been around since early February. Now, if the story below is accurate, we know why.

I have to say, my attention to the format has been waning. Not because of lack of interest, but because of lack of talent. I still love The Stephanie Miller Show, but only have the opportunity to hear the last hour or so. Thom Hartmann is great, but his show was always just a whistle-whetter for Randi for me. With the gaping hole in my listening day, I've kind of tuned out, at least figuratively.

While the story below calls the misfortune of liberal talk radio "the curse of Randi Rhodes," I think she might be the only thing that can save the format. After all, it would seem that Nova M and On Second Thought couldn't survive without her. Maybe she and Air America Radio can bury the hatchet, and bring her back. Stranger things have happened in radio.

[Excerpt]

The Curse of Randi Rhodes: Nova M's Successor "On Second Thought" Padlocked in Phoenix

I'd been tipped off that KNUV 1190 AM, formerly the flagship station of the liberal Nova M radio network, and briefly, the home of Nova M's successor network, On Second Thought, had been padlocked. So I had to see for myself, as On Second Thought's driving force, Mike Newcomb, was apparently doing his afternoon show today as usual. At least, that's the way it sounded to someone who's not a regular listener of Newcomb's show. . .

Read more at: Phoenix New Times

Truth About Bush Torture Tapes & Memos Revealed

There were revelations about the Bush Administration's policies on torture today, and I wanted to write about them. But, I've been fighting a cold off and on for three weeks, and I'm pooped. So, why not get an opinion on it from Rachel Maddow while I sit back for a while? Thanks much!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

"Train From LA to Vegas" Lie Gets Weirder

In an effort to slam President Barack Obama's stimulus plan and Harry Reid, the right-wing punditry (and politicians like Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal) have been spreading a lie about a train from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Supposedly the stimulus plan includes beau coup bucks for such a thing. But no such prevision exists.

You could tell it was a talking point, because it was continuously referred to as a train from "Disneyland to Vegas." It has now become a train from Disneyland to brothels. Shameless.

[Excerpt]



Latest Stimulus Lie: Harry Reid ‘Is Committed To’ A ‘Red Light Express’ To Nevada Brothel

. . .It’s a super railroad, of sorts — a line that will deliver customers straight from Disney, we kid you not, to the doorstep of the moonlight bunny ranch brothel in Nevada. I say, to the moonlight Bunny Ranch brothel in Nevada. So should your tax dollars be paying for these kinds of projects?. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Liberal Talk Host Ed Schultz Talks About Rush Limbaugh

I'll try to lay off the Limbaugh (uggghhhhh) after this post, but this one is pretty good. Here, Ed Schultz, the top-rated liberal talk radio host talks about Rush Limbaugh, and his role in the Republican Party. It boils down to, what does it say about your political party when your strongest leaders are talk show hosts? It's good stuff.

Rush Limbaugh: It's Not Over Until the Fat Man Rants

CPAC, the Conservative Pathetic A-hole Collective (I think that's what it's called) is over, but the stories out of there will feed political punditry, comedy routines and this blog for some time to come.

They saved the big cheese for the last day. Rush Limbaugh. Politicians try to distance themselves from the formerly fringe, now front-and-center de facto leader of the Republican Party, only to beg forgiveness later. Right-wingers have been yukking it up, saying we liberals consider Barack Obama to be "The Messiah" (when only they use that term for him). Well, 'pubbies. Who's your messiah now?

[Excerpt]




Limbaugh at CPAC: It’s Not Over Until the Fat Man Rants.

It’s Not Over Until the Fat Man Rants.

That’s what you can conclude from Limbaugh’s virtually drug-addled, Messianic, Hallucinogenic "speech" to a Saturday CPAC audience that seemed right out of Nathaniel West’s monstrous crowd scene in "Day of the Locust."

Limbaugh was dressed in black, as if he were the Pillsbury Doughboy trying to imitate Steven Seagal. . .

Read more at: BuzzFlash

GOP's 14-Year-Old "Wunderkind" Jonathan Krohn

Just a couple of days ago, I ran a post called Today's GOP: A Cast of Cartoon Characters, where I pointed out what an assortment of oddballs currently lead the Republican Party. Sometimes these folks disown the title "Republican," and opt for "conservative," but they're pretty much interchangeable these days.

Anyway, one of the current crop I left out was 14-year-old Jonathan Krohn. He's deemed a "Wunderkind," and is treated with as much awe as are many of the others in the CPAC bunch. Now, Jon may be a nice enough kid--politics aside--but c'mon. He's 14. He's the age most of us are when we're trying to figure out the best time to sneak away and lock ourselves in the bathroom for goodness' sake. But there he is on (surprise, surprise) FOX "News," opining away.

Bill Maher, Ann Coulter and Karl Rove, Oh My!

I'm a fan of Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and have run into several. . .um. . .non-fans who deride the program for its lack of dissenting views. These people--who in the same breath will froth at the mouth about the "fairness doctrine"--think that Olbermann is a coward for not having guests who disagree with him. Not that it would matter, because these people would still hate Olbermann regardless.

But, boy oh boy, is there a forum out there that will make these Olbermann-haters delirious, if their argument is genuine. A series of events called "The Minds that Move the World" is hitting the road, with a stellar lineup of political punditry, with someone for everyone to love and/or hate. People like Bill Maher (love!), Ann Coulter (hate!), Anderson Cooper (looooove!) and Karl Rove (forget it, there simply aren't strong enough words for this one).

Other names involved in the events are Arianna Huffington, DL Hughley, Mike Huckabee, Janet Reno, Alberto Gonzales, John Ashcroft, Charlie Rose and James Carville. Some lineup, huh? Now, if only we had some Federal agents with orange jumpsuits and shackles waiting out back for Rove and Gonzales, it would really be an event!

[Excerpt]

Bill Maher Heads MSG Speakers Series

MSG Entertainment kicks off their 2009 "Speaker Series: The Minds That Move The World," with comedic political commentator Bill Maher and political host and commentator Ann Coulter going head-to-head at Radio City Music Hall on March 9th at 8:00 p.m.

The "Speaker Series" is a timely and important series of events that will provide attendees with a unique framework for understanding America’s current political landscape and place in world politics, through the insights of some of the most prominent political figures of our time. . .

Read more at: BlackStarNews

Michael Steele Disses then Apologies to Rush Limbaugh

Image from source, Amazon.com

Back in 1993, I bought my grandmother--a died in the wool, if not logically grounded Republican--Rush Limbaugh's book, The Way Things Ought to Be. Grandma loved the guy. Me, I found him to be a curiosity. I often watched his television program, not as a fan, but for the sheer audacity of it. It was right up there with The Morton Downey Junior Show, or even The 700 Club for its loony, fringe theories and pronouncements.

Limbaugh was successful with his book, and (of course) his radio program, but his TV show tanked. Maybe it was that "TV adds 20 pounds" thing, I dunno. But the point is, Limbaugh was not a mainstream personality. His political ideas were far, far right-wing, and he was basically only taken seriously by like-minded individuals. Like my Grandma.

Since 1993, with the ascendancy of Newt Gingrich, the "Republican Revolution" of 1994, and the two term purgatory of the George W. Bush presidency, Limbaugh (and a host of other far-right ideologues) have ascended into the mainstream. I'm not convinced that his views are mainstream, as the lock-step conservatives seem to constitute a fairly constant 25% of the populace, but Limbaugh is now front-and-center the guy in charge of the Republican Party.

I liken it to a cult. Cults are typically kooky religious sects with charismatic leaders, and are derided by most religious (and non-religious) people. But when cults get big enough, and are around long enough, they become religions. And their leaders go from whack-jobs to "Reverend." Well Reverend Limbaugh and his disciples are now the public face of the Republican Party. And even the official Republicans now have to bend and kiss his ring. Or ass. Take your pick.

[Excerpt]

Limbaugh blasts Steele, the GOP


On the same night he was offering the keynote address to the Conservative Political Action Conference, Rush Limbaugh drew criticism from an unlikely source: Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.

In a little-noticed interview Saturday night, Steele dismissed Limbaugh as an “entertainer” whose show is “incendiary” and “ugly.”

Read more at: Politico

And then. . .

Steele to Rush: I'm sorry

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says he has reached out to Rush Limbaugh to tell him he meant no offense when he referred to the popular conservative radio host as an “entertainer” whose show can be “incendiary.”

“My intent was not to go after Rush – I have enormous respect for Rush Limbaugh,” Steele said in a telephone interview. “I was maybe a little bit inarticulate. … There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership. . .”

Read more at: Politico

Top 10 Conservative Idiots, March 2, 2009

You just knew that Bobby Jindal was going to lead the pack this time, didn't you? They had a lot to work with this week, with CPAC too. Enjoy.

[Excerpt]

The Top 10 Conservative Idiots, No. 359

March 2, 2009

Jindal All The Way Edition

This week Bobby Jindal (1) learns some valuable lessons about public speaking, Rush Limbaugh (2) can no longer button his shirt all the way up, and Samuel "Joe The Plumber" Wurzelbacher (3) is STILL FINDING WAYS TO GET ONTO MY &%@*#% LIST. Elsewhere, Michael Steele (7) is leading the GOP to the promised land - he's just forgotten to mention that they'll have to spend forty years in the desert first. . .

Read the list at: Democratic Underground

Frivolity Break: Hey Little Sparta The Mean Kitty Song

Oh, why not. I like kitties. Even mean ones.

Which Came First, the Snuggie or the Slanket?

Photo from source, New York Times

Well, neither as it turns out. The strange cult-like world of Snuggies is generally the antithesis of the type of thing that interests me. But the story-behind-the-story can often times be more interesting than what is on the surface. Or wrapped around you like a backwards bathrobe.

This post was prompted by my last one, which featured Bill Maher using the Snuggie as a metaphor for America's apathy and general dimness. And I have to admit--I own a Snuggie. But only because it was a free promotion from a local casino. And once I got one, I immediately knew that I'd have felt ripped off if I had bought it. It's a very cheap, very unpleasant material, too thin for a lap blanket. It's pure "as seen on TV" cheese, just like its commercial.

The earlier (but not earliest!) version seems like the better bet, higher priced (and no free useless booklight), but apparently much nicer fabric. Plus, the whole attitude of the company looks hipper, if that matters to you.

[Excerpt]

Snuggie Rode Silly Ads to Stardom Over Rivals

ONE of the most memorable, and parodied, of current infomercials is for the Snuggie, a blanket with sleeves whose users resemble converts to a cozy cult. Jay Leno mocked the Snuggie in a monologue (“Why don’t you just put your robe on backwards?”), as did Ellen DeGeneres on her syndicated show (“They should throw in a pointed hat so you can look like a wizard.”). . .

Read more at: New York Times

Bill Maher's New Rules, Feb. 27, 2009

Even in the new political environment, it's good to have Real Time with Bill Maher back on HBO. His hiatuses are always far too long, but he always comes back when a mess of political stuff is going down. And this week's "New Rules" do not disappoint. Especially Maher's use of a Snuggie to define America's soft, squishy culture (and brains).

Blogiversary: 21 Months! (Almost) 4,500 Posts!

I've been taking it kinda easy around here this weekend, mostly because we had quite a bit of overtime at work, right on through Saturday. I'd moan and groan about that, but--in this economy? Are you kidding? So, I just cut back on the blogging.

But tomorrow is yet another blogiversary, another small milestone that I'd have never imagined would roll around when I started this blog. 21 months, and (nearly) 4,500 posts. That's sort of a dual milestone. I've said in the past that I have had three goalposts for the blog. Since the election, many bloggers have called it quits, or drastically scaled their blogs back. I didn't want to do that, but I needed goals to focus on, since the urge to blog was--well--less urgent after November 4.

My three goals are 1) 2 years blogging, 2) 5,000 posts and 3) 100,000 visitors. As fate would have it, it is possible that I'll hit all three at the same time, which will undoubtedly spur me on, and force me to set new goals!

February was a kick-ass month for visits to the blog (and thank you for that). One year ago, February was the month of shame, a black-hole of very few readers. But this year, in 28 short days, I had the third best month of the blog's existence. That's saying something, since traffic fell by four-fifths after the election. And I came within spitting distance of second best month. Only October stands significantly higher.

I'll probably be back here next month with a tale of woe, on how tragically short the visits were in a 31-day month. But for now, I'll take it as a victory. So, thanks for reading, and bring your friends!