DeMint, Media Matters and Robot Alley

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I was ragging on Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) this evening because apparently he thinks you can't be a fiscal conservative without being a social conservative. If you don't follow me on Twitter *eyeroll* it's your loss, loser.

Allow me to rag s'more (as in: "rag some more", not "rag smore" - that would be disgusting, who are you, people?): Anyway, as I was saying...Yes you can, Senator Dum-Dum. For example: I don't like big government, period. This includes being opposed to the out of control spending on blah, blah, overreaching and likely to fail programs and being against having big government all up in your personal business (i.e. the anti-gay, anti-euthanasia, censorship wand flailing, blah, blah, pro-marriage-amendment, jerks...aka social conservatives). Also don't be shocked if value voters fanboi, Senator DeMint turns out to be Senator Creme DeMenthe. IYKWIMAITYD (and if you don't, click the link).

What was my point??? Oh yeah, some of my followers got their panties in a wad annoyed with me for criticizing a fellow republican. Some of them even, thankfully, unfollowed.

Soooo, for the greater good and in the spirit of unity...I started following Media Matters' Senior Fellow Eric Boehlert. Senior Fellow? What the hell does that even mean??? Oh well, after five tweets I began to feel sorry for the junior fellows at Media Matters. Remember to bite down hard, boys.

And then I got inspired:

plus:

On October 20, 2010, creepy Hungarian, George Soros, gave Media Matters, *sinister voice* "one million dollars" to fight the evil empire that is Fox News.

plus:

Discovery Health Channel's "Sex Robot"

equals:

Robot Alley (via Xtranormal h/t Red Eye w/Greg Gutfeld) starring creepy Hungarian, billionaire, George Soros and Senior Fellow Eric Boehlert:

2012 Odds!!!

The midterms are over (for the most part). I mean, I still don't know who won the Alaska senate seat but I long for the days when no one cared about Alaska politics. What? I dreamt that? Oh. Well, at least nobody's talking about Delaware anymore. What? I dreamt that, too? Damn you, Ambien!

Anyway, onward to 2012! All abroad the "Who's Gonna Run" speculation train! According to 1800-sports.com, the artist formally known as Alaska's Governor matters the most:

Republican Nominee			Moneyline
Sarah Palin			+300
Mitt Romney			+400
Bobby Jindal			+500
Mike Huckabee			+500
Tim Pawlenty			+1000
Mark Sanford			+1200
Charlie Crist			+1200
David Petraeus			+1500
Newt Gingrich			+1500
Jeb Bush			+2000
John McCain			+2000
Rudolph Giuliani			+1500
Ron Paul			+2000

The odds for the democratic nomination:

Democratic Candidate			Moneyline
Barack Obama			-750
Joe Biden			+800
Hillary Clinton			+600

Joe Biden??? Oh dear.

In the general election, President Obama remains the favorite, for now:

Winning Candidate			Moneyline
Barack Obama			-130
Sarah Palin			+1000
Joe Biden			+1500
Michael Bloomberg			+2000
Mitt Romney			+1200
Bobby Jindal			+2000
Hillary Clinton			+1000
Mike Huckabee			+1500
Tim Pawlenty			+2000
Charlie Crist			+2500
David Petraeus			+4000
John McCain			+5000
Mark Sanford			+4000
Newt Gingrich			+4000
Condoleeza Rice			+2000
Al Gore			+2000
Rudolph Giuliani			+3000
Jeb Bush			+2000
Ron Paul			+5000
Evan Bayh			+2000
Bill Frist			+2500

Hmmm. . .not so fast, Vegas

From Newsmax:

"In the poll, [of 1,000 registered voters] respondents were asked: 'If there were an election for president of the United States today, and the only two names on the ballot were Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, whom would you vote for?"

Secretary Clinton crushed President Obama 60% to 40%. And speaking of crushing, looky what I found:

Click the pic to purchase. Also available, Corkscrew Bill. Oh, yes.

Ladies and gentlemen Political junkies, place your bets.

Olbermann Suspended, Outrage Ensues

Keith Olbermann has been "suspended indefinitely without pay" for violating MSNBC's ethics policy. Journalists must have permission from the President of NBC News, Steve Capus, before making any campaign contributions. Olbermann donated $2,400 to three democratic candidates, he did not seek prior approval to do so. A timeout from "Countdown" is the result. Ed Morrissey over at Hotair has the full story here.

I am shocked and outraged, SHOCKED AND OUTRAGED (repetition and all caps for sarcastic emphasis), that NBC News has such a policy. MSNBC is the most biased news station on cable TV. You know who else is SHOCKED AND OUTRAGED (all caps for actual emphasis), FAIR.org. In an "Action Alert", FAIR irately notes that NBC's parent company, GE, "made over $2 million in political contributions" and " spent another $32 million on lobbying this year". I'm fairly certain that whoever wrote that pooped in their pants.

Who else is pooping in their in pants over poor Keith Olbermann?

Michael Moore:
And The Huffington Post:
You can sign the petition here. Go ahead, you know you want to.

A Random Act of Kindness

Notice anything different? This site is more cheerful, no? I think it's the Vicodin.

Anyway, I wanted to share a couple of things with, all six of, you. Two things to be exact. Two things that have nothing to do with one other. Well personally, I believe that vodka goes with everything...but you already knew that.

1) Sobieski Vodka: It's cheap, it's crisp and delicious and most importantly you can get it in a 1.75 liter bottle (I love Tito's but I can't find it in combat size...I need combat size). Bruce Willis, who owns an interest in Sobieski's parent company, is playing the role of celebrity spokesman. What? You hate Bruce Willis. He hates you back. Hmmm...What about if I told you that Sobieski is Belvedere's cheaper brother? How much cheaper? A 1.75 liter bottle of Sobieski (isn't it fun to say, now try it with a Polish accent) only costs you around $20. Yes, you read that correctly. Na zdrowie!!!

2) If you're looking for a super fantastic sunless tanner. Look no further, St. Tropez Gradual Tan Mousse (Sephora, $30) is perfect. It's light, it dries fast, it doesn't smell like fandango and you won't look like Charlie Crist after using it.

No. I don't get anything for pimping either item. I share because I care. And you should too, jerk. But if the nice people at St. Tropez Ltd or Imperial Brands (or Tito's...or Sephora) would like to send me some things. I'd be open to their generosity.

Post Election Rant || UPDATE: I Smell a Newt

UPDATE: Newt Gingrich was involved, via his nonprofit organization Renewing American Leadership (ReAL), in ousting Iowa's three Supreme Court Justices last year. Perhaps as a penance for his cheating heart or perhaps to buy the support of Iowa evangelical leader, Bob Vander Plaats, either way...I'm not a fan. From National Journal:

ReAL poured $150,000 into the successful campaign by Iowa social conservatives in 2010 to oust three Iowa Supreme Court judges, who were targeted after the high court struck down a state ban on same-sex marriage.

*****

It's finally here...November 3rd. The midterm elections are over and as predicted, republicans took back the House of Representatives. The Senate majority stays with the democrats thanks, in part, to "true conservatives" and their crappy candidates. I hope Harry Reid and his pet are very happy together.

In Iowa, we vote yes or no on retaining our state's judges. The process was implemented in 1962. This year, three Supreme Court judges were on the ballot and three Supreme Court judges were booted. In case you are wondering, this has never happened before.

Why did this happen? On April 3, 2009 the Iowa Supremes unanimously (7-0) decided to uphold a District Court ruling (Varnum v. Brien); the case challenged the state's ban on same-sex marriage under the Iowa Constitution's Equal Protection Clause. Iowa's high court concluded:

"We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective. The legislature has excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally sufficient justification. There is no material fact, genuinely in dispute, that can affect this determination."

A penny for my thoughts? Okay. First of all, I think that the government should get the hell out of the marriage business. With 50% divorce rates, they're not very good at it. In Iowa a marriage license costs $30, it's not like they're making a killing on fees. I got married at the Justice of the Peace (on a Thursday, it was free). But since the Iowa government is all up in your marriage business, I agree with the court's decision. No, I'm not a lawyer. But, I am a pretty good judge. The same-sex marriage ban was discriminatory.

Let the voters decide!!! Normally this is a super awesome idea but it didn't happen, same-sex marriage has never been on the ballot in Iowa. The state legislature decided to ban it after Clinton signed DOMA. While we're on the subject of our fun-loving former President, he was responsible for DADT as well. Clearly, he hates the gheys. I keed, I keed.

What's Dutch for disgruntled, defeated, gubernatorial candidate? Vander Plaats. Bob Vander Plaats after being stomped by former Governor Terry Branstad in the primary toyed around with a write-in candidacy. He must have had a hard time shaking the political bug or perhaps he's just an angry man who likes being angry. Because he channeled that anger and energy towards the Iowa Supremes, in a big way. Vander Plaats' Iowa for Freedom (heh) with the help of Rep. King, Rick "I brought my dead baby home to meet his siblings" Santorum, the Family Research Council Action and the National Organization for Marriage ran a successful campaign to oust the "activist judges" complete with TV ads and a 45 county bus tour!

Wow, this is long. Hey look, a puppy.



I don't get it. Aren't conservatives supposed to be pro-marriage and pro-family? If you hate gay people then say just that. Don't hide behind marriage amendment chatter while slinging around mistruths like "activist judges".

Former Iowa Supreme Court Justice, Linda Neuman said that she saw none of the "judicial activism" in the high court's decision. Former United States Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor even weighed in on the controversy while at an event in Iowa. O'Connor, who was introduced by Chief Justice Ternus, said "the judges should not be subject to retaliation".

Former Iowa Governor Robert Ray (R) said he hoped voters could “look past the hype on individual cases”. Gov. Ray made these comments at the Iowa State Bar Association's 2010 Judicial Plebiscite release. Each year the state Bar's members are asked to rate Iowa's judges, 3,429 attorneys participated. How did these "activist judges" fare? Justice Michael Streit (rhymes with "right") 83.7%, Justice David Baker (rhymes with "maker") 82.8% and bringing up the rear (Iowa's first female) Chief Justice Marsha Ternus (rhymes with nothing) received a 72% rating for retention.

When asked about these ratings, Iowa for Freedom (heh) campaign manager, Chuck Laudner, noted that none of the judges received a 100%. Then he said "nanny-nanny-boo-boo" and pooped in his pants (well maybe...I wasn't there).

What happens next? Gov. Chet Culver (D) who was defeated by Former Governor Branstad yesterday could appoint new justices before the Former Governor/Governor-Elect is (re)sworn in. Two of the three, Ternus and Streit, were appointed by Former Governor Branstad. I'm confused are you? Anyway, Vander Plaats was pretty excited, I think he said "legislate from the bench" five thousand times in his "victory speech". Also, he's not very smart and he may or may not eat his boogers.

I'll leave you (finally) with this. Civil Rights have come a long way in this country but we have some work to do. The US Supreme Court had to rule on the legality of interracial marriage in this country in 1967. I wonder what would have happened if that had been left to the voters to decide. But, I know...that's different, or something.

*Streit was appointed by Branstad to the district court bench, Culver promoted him to Iowa's high court in 2001

Pardon the Interruption and the Cliché, But...Dude? WTF???

Please allow me to interrupt your nightly preliminary election math and midterm voting eve Twitter avatar decorating for a WTF story that's out of this world.

From FoxNews.com:

"The director of NASA's Ames Research Center in California casually let slip mention of the 100-Year Starship recently, a new program funded by the super-secret government agency, DARPA. In a talk at San Francisco's Long Conversation conference, Simon “Pete” Worden said DARPA has $1M to spend, plus another $100,000 from NASA itself, for the program, which will initially develop a new kind of propulsion engine that will take us to Mars or beyond.
There's only one problem: The astronauts won't come back."

Come again? Won't come back? What will they do there?

from Wired.com:

“The human space program is now really aimed at settling other worlds," Worden explained.

Settling other worlds? Colonizing Mars? Whoa.

Director Worden was fired by President Bush (43) for, presumably, whispering about such an unethical ambition. Worden was returned to his post under President Barack "I'm not doing long-term nation-building. I am not spending a trillion dollars." Obama.

According to Wired.com, Dir. Worden is interested in some elite private funding:

“We also hope to inveigle some billionaires to form a Hundred Year Starship fund”

Inveigle? Interesting word choice...

Wired.com added that Worden has chatted up Google's Larry Page:

“Larry asked me a couple weeks ago how much it would cost to send people one way to Mars and I told him $10 billion, and his response was, ‘Can you get it down to 1 or 2 billion?,’” Worden told the Long Now audience. “So now we’re starting to get a little argument over the price.”

Private funding for the space program to colonize Mars? My mind is officially blown.

RINO Slumber Party!!!

If you missed Lori Ziganto, Jenn Q. Public and me on The Jenny Erikson Show yesterday or just want to listen to it over and over again (who doesn't???), take a trip over to Jenny's site and feast your ears on the best thing to happen to the internet since "Charlie bit my finger".

Thanks again Jenny, Lori and Jenn.