High Lonesome

Tonight, Live Blogging Florida On The Rocks

FYI I will be live drunk blogging the Florida Primary later this evening.  While I don't personally hold that it is a sin to drink alone--come one, we've got the Patriot Act...are we ever truly "alone"--joining me this evening will be Clint, Mark, Pam, and the Lovely Aimee.

The martinis will be flowing!

GOP South Carolina Spring Break Debate 2008

Here we go again.  Another debate, another state.  We've been doing so many of these I'm not sure where we are.  I think it's South Carolina, but who knows.  All of these debate halls look the same after a while.  You know the rules...let's get this thing started.

7:03 MST  Debate kicks of with a musical number.  The national anthem being sung is so much more tasteful than that loser with the guitar we were subjected to at the GOP BoobTube Debate

7:04 MST  Name the candidates 101.  Wow, they let Ron Paul back in.  We'll be delighted some old fashioned RonUlan crazy tonight.  I think that Romney practices that smile in the mirror every night before he goes to bed.

7:05 MST  It's the R word.  "Recession"

7:05 MST  Romney  Recession BAAAD.  I'll stop the housing crisis, save the middle class, lower gas prices - WTF did he klepto Hillary Clinton's debate notes?? - Michigan?  What, am I in the wrong state?

7:07 MST  McCain won NH, he says, because he told the truth even if the pasty old fools didn't want to hear. it.

7:09 MST  McCain suggests we stop out of control spending.  Great idea, sir.  Why didn't you do something about that when it was happening.  I mean you were a leading member of the majority party of the time as I recall.

7:10 MST McCain says he was not elected Miss Congeniality.  Yup, and I bet he didn't win Miss USA either

7:11 MST Fuck-A-Bee gives us the "paycheck to paycheck" line.  Oh Christ. *eye roll*  Forigen Oil = Slavery.  He has ideas ideas ideas....which means he is going to spend spend spend.

7:13 MST  Fuck-A-Bee endorses the *cough* "Fair Tax" in 3...2...1

7:13 MST  Will Rudy be able to make the case for tax cuts??  It's a simple answer, Rudy.  Can he do it...let's listen in.

7:14 MST  Rudy brings up the notion of cutting spending.  MG Not one, but TWO Republican candidates have brought up the notion of cutting spending.  YES!!  A round of shots for everyone!!!  You go Rudy.  Oh, and give it up with the invoking the Name of Reagen every five seconds, Rudy.  You're not going to fool anyone.

7:14 MST McCain says Tax Cuts need to be made permanent.

*MG all this fiscal conservatism talk.  They're trying to get me in bed!!*

7:15 MST  Ron Paul tells us we're in a recession, it's going to get worse, we're all going to go bankrupt, and we'll all be in 1930 soup lines by Fri.day.  Wow, he brought up Austrian Economics.  So the 12 people who stayed awake in Macro 201 know what that means

7:17 MST  Thompson tells us Tax Cuts Work.  The Revenues went up, consumer spending went up,it's just too bad that the Bush Administration ran around spending money like teenagers with credit cards.

*damn*  Carl Cameron looks so gay...and not in a good way.  I bet he was the darling of the Political Science club!

7:19 MST Fuck-A-Bee is dolling himself up in conservative drag. Tries to shore up credentials.  But blows it with his weak assed Fax populism of loser.  Here he goes again with the single mom living paycheck to paycheck story line.  I wonder if he got that line from Bill Clinton?

7:21 MST  McCain admits we overspent.  I give him props for admitting that.  Global warming might be kinda real, but not in my life time.  Mumble mumble mumble.

7:23 MST  Romney makes it clear that he is NOT an abortionist, the MA Court is.  Also, his hair is as just as nice as Reagan so the mantel is his.

7:25 MST  Fred.. I *heart* you.  I've been dying for someone...anyone to act like a Republican in this damn race for months.  Oh...he's really sticking it to Fuck-A-Bee now...

"Thats not the model of the Reagan Coalition.  Thats the Model of the Democrat Party"

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you.  FINALLY someone said it.  Barkeep, drinks for all!  We're all Republicans today.

7:26 MST Fuck-A-Bee gives a huffy, pissy, snuffy answer that HE is a conservative and if the definition needs to be changed, then he'll change it.

7:28  MST Rudy tries to make the case for his being a conservative.  He is for low taxes, peace though strength, and devolve power to the people.  If only he really meant it *sigh* 

7:30 MST  Woo Hoo  Ron Paul  being asked directly about his crazy/scary/rabid supporters.  This should be good.  Ron Paul won't tell t he crazy Rhinelans to quit spewing crazy 9/11 conspiracy theories too bizarre for even the Democrat Underground.  He must be afraid of them.  Clearly he's going to change the subject by going stammer stammer stutter stutter.

7:36 MST  Fuck-A-Bee *waffles* on the question of the Iranian ships but is still able to throw in the pre-written sound bite about "be ready to face the gates of hell."

7:38 MST  Thompson makes a funny about the 70 Virgins of Martyrdom

*on a side note, What the hell is it with Islamofacists and virgins?  Give me the slut any day, you're going to have a much better time.*

7:42 MST  Ron Paul is looking goofier than usual.  He's got the crazy eye going this debate.  He's on a tear that we're all a bunch of war crazed bombing meanies that just want to find an excuse or something. 

Brit Hume *interrupts* the Paul Rant of Crazy to point out that everyone had opted for the passive response used. 

Ron Paul *claims* not to have heard and keeps babbling

7:44 MST  Romney makes a funny.  He suggests that Crazy Ron Paul quit reading  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's press releases. 

Ron Paul gives Romney the Look of DEATH!!!  Maybe he'll issue a Hillary Cackle and summon swarms of his RonUlans to the Romney residence with banners and chanting?

7:46 MST  McCain shoves the Iraq war question out of the template.  Woo Hoo!  Way to go, John!  It's about damned time you guys stand up and call the left's moral hypocrisy on this one.  *snap* *snap* *snap*

7:48 MST  Rudy brings up Reagan again [go figure].  Gives a good answer on the future of Palestine.

7:49 MST Ron Paul takes us to the Mid East via his prodigious mental powers.  There he shows us that the USA is just in the way, treating Israel like that step child who can't do anything right, bla bla bla.

7:52 MST Does Ron Paul realize that everyone - apart from the RonUlans - is laughing at him?

....  Nope ....

7:54 MST  Fred Thompson gives us not one, but TWO funnies

7:56 MST  Well, Romney isn't just for moving up the moderate voices in the GOP, but in the Islamic world as well.  ooOOOoo we used the word "modernity" SOOO highbrow.

7:58 MST Fuck-A-Bee gets a wasted money question.  This should be rich.  He glosses over the question to go and pick on Ron Paul.

7:59 MST Fuck-A-Bee calls Ron Paul on the carpet for his statement on Israel

Ron Paul gives the Fuckster the crazy eye AND the look of Death

8:00 MST  Ron Paul goes on a tare about Israel.  Oh lord, this isn't going to be good.

8:01 MST  Rudy to Paul  "I've been to Israel, Israel is a friend of mine, and YOU sir, don't know a Torah from a Koran.

8:02 MST  Thompson gets all tactical.  It's like a Tom Clancy novel.

8:03 MST McCain makes a Burka Joke

8:04 MST Ron Paul goes Postal

8:06 MST  Romney will take Washington apart.  Hopefully, when he puts it back together, he'll fix the traffic problems on the beltway and the crappy architecture.

8:08 MST Sheriff John McCain won't take lip from uppity senators.

8:09 MST The Fuck-A-Bee cares about the children.  So much that he is willing to take money from me to pay for them.  It's what Jesus would do, he tells me.

8:11 MST Fred Thompson continues to steal my heart with this Huck-A-Smack-down.

8:14 MST  Fuck-A-Bee reminds us that he is an Evangelical Christian *like we could forget*  And goes on to tell us a story of Jesus, the ones he likes to hear....

8:17 MST  Now the moderators are joining the fun of poking Ron Paul and his supporters of Crazy

8:19 MST  Ron Paul wants to borrow money from China....his meds must be wearing off if he actually said that...

8:23 MST  John McCain admits that while the American public might be foolish enough to be dooped by polling numbers in New Hampshire, they're not dumb enough to believe that congress is ever going to follow though with anything.

8:25 MST  John McCain teaches geography, did you know that Arizona is a boarder state?  There is no oceanfront property though, no matter what George Strait says.

8:26 MST Ron Paul wants us to quit securing boarders in Iraq

8:27 MST Rudy tells us that people don't need green cards to rape, steal, and murder.

Debate ends.  Next...even MORE "undecided voters" *wink* *wink*

I'm With Fred

This morning I am going to the Albany County Republican Convention to support Fred Thompson to be the next President of the United States.  Thankfully the media won't be there.  The parking by the library is bad enough as it is.

Why Fred?  Simple.  He is the only candidate in this race whole truly embraces federalism, limited government, and fiscal responsibility.  You know, the three things that are supposed to define us as a party.  I know that's why I signed up.

Government is a lot like your brother-in-law:  sometimes well meaning, usually incompetent, and guaranteed to waste you money.  The only reason why we tolerate government is because, like in-laws, they're "part of the family." 

For decades our friends in the Democrat party have delighted in this role.  Unfortunately, lately the Republicans have wanted to give them a run for their money.  "Compassionate" conservatism and the current administration's penchant for running around spending money like a bunch of drunken sailors have done more damage to the party than moveon.org could ever dream of inflicting.

CNN spent a lot of time on the eve of the Iowa caucus discussing the fight for the "heart and soul" of the Democrat party.  As expected they got it wrong.  The only fight going on in the Democrat party this year is over the messenger, not the message.  This is not the case with us.

In November 2006 congressional Republicans were punished, and rightly so, by their own for betraying the ideas for which they were empowered in 1994.  Normally one good electoral kick in the pants is enough.  Listening to Mike Huckabee and reading Mitt Romney's record it's clear they're both in need of some remedial education.  I'm sorry, boys.  we just don't have the time.

These are the times we live in.  We need leadership not coddling.  Fed Thompson is the candidate of either party that can fit the bill.

Hello, We're Picking the Leader of the Free World Here?!?

For the record, Iowa and New Hampshire aren't the only states pushing their primary colors next week.  We Wyoming Republicans will be holding our county conventions to select our presidential nominee.  You didn't know?  Don't worry, you're not alone.  The Washington Times only just noticed.

This isn't any great surprise.  The only time the media establishment takes heed to the goings on in this corner of the world is when Jake Gyellenhaal and Heath Ledger are busy getting their gay on in sappy Titanic-esq movies, or when some kid goes looking for love in all the wrong places and winds up tied to a fence post.  Either way, I think we all prefer to be ignored by the talking heads.

How will the candidates fare?  I really haven't seen any polling data, not that I've been looking that hard, so it's a lot of educated guesses and drunken party talk.  Well, mostly drunken party talk, actually.  Romney could do very well.  Especially in places like Lincoln, Uinta, Sweetwater, and Natrona counties.  I see John McCain doing very well too.  He's a good ideological fit and a well known name.  Thankfully, the Huckabee isn't all a buzz.

One way or the other we will know on Saturday.  Well, on the Republican side anyway.  The Democrat party has stated that they were going to "hold fast" to their original March caucus date.  I think this is a lot less about holding fast as it is about not letting everyone know they couldn't afford a meeting room and will be holding their caucus in the phone booth it the back bar of the Ranger.

I'm just sayin....

Huckabee to Announce New Initiative to Make US Energy Independent by 2009

The Huck-a-Boom continues despite John McCain's major endorsements and Vietnam War era hotness.  Now the former Arkansas Governor has his sights set on fixing America's dependence on foreign sources of fossil fuels, as well as falling Sunday School attendance.

I don't want to speculate on what the Huckster's plan will entail.  But if I were the Huck-a-Bois I'd be watching my back.

I'm just sayin....

Update: McCain

Wow.  I was just trolling around on John McCain's website.  It turns out that he was a total hottie back in the day.

Note to McCain for President campaign staff.  If you're really serious about defusing the Huck-A-Bomb, Pimp these photos all over the internets...STAT!

The Problem of Inevitability

Ah, conventional wisdom.  That wonderful tool of pragmatism used by those who wish to read our national political tea leaves.  Personally, I only do divination though the bottom of a martini glass.  I get a sharper image that way.  Kinda like HDTV.  Go Figure?  Be it tea or tequila, there is a problem with conventional wisdom.  It's usually wrong.

I know what you're saying.  That doesn't make any sense.  But heck, since when do people--or politicians for that matter--make a lick of sense?

Boi from Troy writes an interesting bit on his blog regarding the current troubled state of the Giuliani campaign.  He argues that Giuliani is sacrificing his electability by appealing to the ideological base of the Republican Party.

I think this is only half right.  The ideological drift is a perennial event in presidential campaigns.  You secure your base during the primary and then expand for the general election.  To win the GOP nomination the conservative wing, which is the largest, of the the party must believe their needs will be addressed.

In the pre-dawn stages of the campaign both Giuliani and Clinton had the kind of political gold money can't buy:  name recognition.  Let's face it most of the nation is sane enough not to obsess about political campaigns until their are nearly ready to vote.  Much of the polling data we've seen has been more about name recognition than a decision based upon policy issues.

That has changed.  We're at the stage of the game where the bulk of the voters have become engaged.  As they evaluate the candidates more closely the earlier boosts start to erode.  Think back to the earlier primaries in 2000 between Bush and McCain for example.

I believe Giuliani to be a good man, and, should he win the nomination, I would be happy to support him.  However, there is too great an ideological rift between us for me to support him during the primary.  Nor do I believe that he is the most electable candidate in the GOP field in a general election.

Conventional wisdom will continue to try and forecast the future.  Why not, it's fun and it keeps wise men out of trouble.  While nowhere in my worst screaming nightmare do I see Huckabee winning the nomination; anything can happen in politics, and usually does.

Liveblogging the GOP Debate: The 3 Martini Lunch Edition

Drink #1.  Gray Goose Martini, just a little [Laura Bush] dirty, 3 olives.

The bartender tells me they don't get CSPAN so we'll be forced to endure Wolf Blitzer's pre-debate commentary.  They're billing this like it's a NWF Megga Match.  Maybe Ron Paul will body slam someone?

11: 57 MST  Wow, Candy looks like she's subscribed to the Huck School of Weight Loss for Politicos.

11: 58 MST  Candidates are taking to the stage...walking around in circles....what, is that Alan Keys???  This is going to be interesting.

11:59 MST Hhhmmmm, CNN has brought together another panel of "undecided voters" *wink* *wink*

The Editor of the Des Moines Register is a drag queen?!?!

12:05 MST  I think I can see the steel plate in Ron Paul's head.

12:14 MST  Huck:  "When a snake bites you gotta suck out the poison."  *face palm*  I can't wait to see that in print.

12:06 MST  Romney is basked in the post NRO Endorsement Glow...I see no trace of garments?

12:09 MST  Huck didn't just say "a country has to feed itself" LOL

12:11 MST  Keys:  Abolish the Income Tax  WOOT!

12:19 MST  Preach On, Brother Keys

Who is paying more than their fair share of taxes?  ROMAL  The question is, who actually is paying taxes.  Lord knows it isn't the group they're aiming this question to.

12:22 MST  Will Ron Paul call for a return to the gold standard, you know he's dying to say it.

12:22 MST  Rudy Makes a Funny...."Let's give the death penalty to the death tax."

2nd Drink  12:24 MST  Mojito w/ Myers Dark Rum

12:25 MST  Ron Paul: FREE CUBA!!! *eye roll*

12:26 MST  Huck Makes a Funny:  "I can't part the Red Sea but I can part the Red Tape."

*Wow, dark rum does work in a mojito....hat tip Swanky Conservative *

12:30 MST  Ron Paul  Freedom Good.  Free Trade BaaaAAaaad

12:32 MST  Do You Believe Global Climate Change is Serious and Caused by Human Activity?  Raise your hands.

*dude, you've got to be kidding me*

Thompson.  I'm not going to raise my hand

crowd *applauds*

Drag Queen Moderator:  I'm the Queen of this show, bitches *whiplash*

I will so give my vote to any one says that Al Gore's speeches have caused global warming :)

Drink #3  Mikel's Martini --Stoli's Vanil, Stoli's Kaffe, 3 coffee beans [the questions are so slanted I might as well go Gorbi]

12:40 MST  Tom T:  It's the messicans THE MESSICANS

12:41 MST Huck *is-trying-to-channel-Bill-Clinton*  We know he wants to use the "I still believe in a place called Hope" line..

12:45 MST  Duncan HUNK?? *Dude, have you ever met any HS students?*

12:47 MST Romney is SO giving bedroom eyes to all those soccer moms out there  in TVland with this education question. 

12:49 MST  Key's totally calls the Drag Queen on passin' over da MAN.  Here comes...wait for it..wait for it...it's all about GOD

12:52 MST NEA BAAAAAD

12:54 MST  Huck is braggin' about edumickation in Arkansas [I thought Hillary fixed all of that in the 80's?  I guess Bill lied about that too.]

12:55 MST  Romney:  Dude, my state's HS students totally kicked the Arkansas HS students asses

12:58 MST Ron Paul has a meltdown in 5...4...3...2....

12:59 MST  Huck: can't...can't...can't we all just get along....

01:01 MST  Is it just me, or is John McCain nodding off....not that I blame him.

--Note we've gone over one hour in a GOP debate and this is the first reference to abortion??

01:05 MST  Rudy reminds everyone he was mayor during 9/11

Des Moines will NOT be out YouTubed....roll film!

*Drag Queen Moderator takes off gloves*

01:07 MST  DQM:  Rudy, you scammed the public when you were mayor of New York, will you do it again?

                  Rudy:  Look, Mz Thang, everything was so transparent when I was mayor that everyone knew about my mistress and my drag skills. *talk to the hand*

01:10 MST  Romney says his flips on abortion were just like Reagan's, so there!

Blogging the GOP Debate:  the 3 Martini Lunch Edition  4 Martini Lunch Edition

Drink #4  Gray Goose Martini Straight Up

01:14 MST  Huck didn't just tie his faith to health care policy.  AIDS patients quarantine brought up in 5...4...3...2

01:16 MST Romney reminds everyone that HE is a conservative too, even though he is from TAX-a-chusetts.  He even quotes Rush to prove it.

Drag Queen Moderator:  Make a New Year's Resolution for your opponents

*oh this will be good*

01:20 MST   *everyone* punts

*damn*

Up Next.....the "undecided voters" *wink* *wink*

CNN Blames Drag Queen Moderator for killing debate fireworks

Let it Snow

Today's winter storm gave us some much needed snowfall; about eight inches at last count.  A good thing too given the drought we've been having these past few years.  I was able to take a few pictures when I went out to feed.  If the weather clears, I'll take a few more tomorrow.

I'm ready to close out 2007.  Only one more trip out to the Peoples Republic of Orange County this year!  I don't think I'll ever understand the enchantment of that zoo, but it's a necessary evil.  The market looks to be as strong in 2008 as 2007.  I'm hoping for another great year.

Kel sent me an e-mail today noting that I've been neglecting the serious issues of the day.  I don't know what she's talking about.  I've covered everything from politics to sports to important cultural issues and our national treasures. 

Fine.  Just for you I will make a point to live blog tomorrows GOP debate and next week's DEM debate.  I've tried to steer clear of them up until now.  At the rate we're going, I'm going to be over the political process long before we get to the conventions this summer.

BoobTube 2.0: This time the Republicans

You would think having suffered though the Boob Tube Debate this past summer I would have learned my lesson.  Alas, no.  At 7:00, armed with a glass of merlot, I tuned in.

The opening song [ yes, you read that right, the opening was a musical number] pretty much set the scene for what kind of an affair this was going to be.  It also prompted me to pass on the merlot and head straight for the gray goose. 

Some questions were interesting, a few even bordered on thoughtful, but most were like their filming; sloppy.  We had the "what would Jesus do," question, the "do you take every world in the bible seriously" question, but thankfully we were spared the "say something nice about the person standing next to you" question.

The evening had its moments.  It was nice to see a more heated exchange between the candidates.  Even Ron Paul, who managed to be over looked in the opening "Debate Song" caught a line or two. 

Winners: Fred Thompson came across as presidential, and Mike Huckabee may now be viewed as more than some guy with a funny sounding last name. 

Losers: Mitt Romney learned the hard way only a Clinton has permission to hold both positions on any given issue at CNN, and the question screening crew at CNN who not only picked this sorry lot , but flew Retired Brig. Gen. Keith Kerr, who has endorsed Hillary Clinton and serves on a campaign steering committee of gays and lesbians, as an undecided voter.

Maybe I am too old fashioned, but we're talking about electing the leader of the free world.  This process shouldn't be entertainment or treated like another poorly construed reality show. 

CNN did get one thing right:  Anderson Cooper.  As the lone journalist who can make us ponder the notion of taking Katie Couric seriously, he clearly was the perfect choice to oversee this farce.