From The Hollywood Elite Desk...

Sarah Palin made the rounds in Hollywood this week. A town that she has used in fundraising efforts by demonizing. Those "celebrity types" and the dangerous "Hollywood elite."

They're poisoning your children! They don't have your values! Lesbians! Hollywood is yet another monster in the closet to fear and hate.

Unless they put some coin in your pockets.

Reports have Sarah Palin and uber-producer Mark Burnett shopping a sort of Wasilla Hillbillies reality show.

Money has been discussed. Somewhere in the cul-de-sac of $1 million bucks an episode. That is so rogue. What better way to prove the Hollywood elite are the enemy than by joining them. It's so rogue!

As Sun-tzu wrote, "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." Well played Mrs. Palin. Well played. Destroy the enemy ... from within.

Even more exciting than getting our last half-dozen presidents together is getting the guys who played them all together. They want you to join The Main Street Brigade.

(via Bits and Pieces)

All things are possible with a proper search engine.

(via Greg Laden's Blog)

It was 20 years ago today when Nelson Mandela was released from from a 5 meter square cell at Robben Island Prison. He was falsely imprisoned for 27 years He went on to become South African Prime Minister and united a nation. And partially, the World.

Today brought back some memories. I was reminded about hearing about apartheid when I was kid. It was when I spent my hard earned paper route money on U2's Rattle & Hum record. So, 1988. Bono talks about "artists against apartheid" during "Silver and Gold." I couldn't believe it. The whole concept blew my mind. Segregation in modern society. My best friend was black. How can adult act like this? A lot to take in when you are a cocky 12-year-old, ready to fight for justice and my buddy Kevin. We could perform the whole "Super Bowl Shuffle."

(I once beat the teeth out of a punk who called Kevin the N-word during an elementary school track meet. Right there on the infield during the softball toss. Parents were horrified. I felt great).

In junior high, we went on a field trip (God the bless whoever invented the concept of the field trip.) to the Pike Place Market. While there, I bought a little button that read "BAN APARTHEID." White lettering on a black background. That little badge found a proud place on my jackets for a few years. I thought I was the coolest kid in a 25 mile radius. On the side of justice and equality. "You don't know what apartheid is, 14-year-old kid in the lunchroom, well let me tell you about it. FREE NELSON MANDELA!" Okay, that didn't happen, but the rest of the story is true.

When Mandela was finally released in 1990, I wept. I was 15-years-old, but already cynical. This was a victory for the side of justice.

God Bless you, Mr, Mandela. Earth owes you a thank you today. For your inspiration and and in the abolition of apartheid.

Thank you Mr. Mandela.

"Only dead fish go with the flow ... and spend $549 to hear me ramble on like Robert Plant and shell out $65 bucks on a Tea Party hoody."*
Sarah Palin
* I may have embellished that quote a bit. It is off the top of my head, I remembered it the best I could.

For an old fashioned little girl tea parties, doting mums spent a few bucks on toy (fake) china tea set. And a couple dollars on tea, milk and sugar. Maybe $3 bucks for fancy white laced gloves. All in all, a bargain for a classy, good time.

The grown up right wing tea parties aren't adhering this bargain tradition. In fact, this past weekend, a major Tea Party event was an all-out capitalistic orgy of money over fist.

In Nashville, angry white folks paid for transportation and overpriced food, had to stay at the sprawling Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center, negotiate all the definitely for-profit vendors hawking all manner of tacky kitsch. Unlimited numbers of bad taste T-shirts were available as well as tea-bag necklace for $89.99. It's like swap meet bargains.

You could get into the convention for $349. if you want to hear Sarah Palin attempt to speak in coherent sentences, that's a total of $549. Didn't this start as a grass roots, non-profit demonstration where one if the battle cries was "spending is out of control?" Originally, the only real cost was poster-board and giant ink markers to draw Hitler mustaches on the President. I think Kinkos made most of the money with the original protests. "How big can you make this concentration camp picture?" As for Mrs. Palin, $549 dollars, really? I know the organizers had to jack up prices to cover you 100 large speaking fee, but come one. (It's what best for Alaska, apparently.) Neither Bruce Springsteen or Paul McCartney charge $549 for a concert, And Paul is going to sing "Yesterday."

Fill up the shark tank, chum the waters and have Fonzie rev up his motorcycle, the Tea Parties are ready to jump the shark...

We kid, but Sarah Palin getting caught with crib notes in her hand was comedy gold.

At a town hall meeting in New Hampshire, President Barry Obama was taking impromptu questions from the crowd. The tone was actually civilized at this event. You've come a long way from Nazi symbology and demands for an already produced birth certificate, protesters. Great work. Very progressive. Oh, wait, you've been trained like Pavlov's pooch to recoil at the use of that word. Sorry.

The President took a question from a gentleman in the back. Then all of us that are still 14-years-old boys at heart nearly lost it. Including Jon Stewart.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Dick Swett Incident
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Hang on ... still laughing ... Where was Dick Long and Harry Seaward? They couldn't make the rally?

It turns out that Richard "Dick" Swett served in the House of Representatives from 1990-1992. Perhaps reelection would have taken place if he made the logical move and ran as Richard Swett. Or even Harry Seaward.

The Republicans are popping champagne corks. The Dems are pointing fingers and placing blame. The reason doesn't matter, Scott Brown is the victor in the Massachusetts special election that was held due to the death of Teddy Kennedy.

The seemingly all talk, but little progress Democratic party took a symbolic hit, when a Senate seat the was Kennedy's for about 47 years was taken. Some are seeing this is a wake-up call to the President Obama-led party.

That doesn't seem to be the point. Brown, though he tugs along a fairly sketchy past, both in action and rhetoric, the dude is bring bear skin rug, happy trail, Brut-style sexiness back to Washington. That photo really is Tea Bagging Senator-elect Scott Brown. Posing for Cosmo in 1982 as part of their "America's Sexiest Man" contest. I guess Ed Asner didn't participate. Hai Karate!

If this is a trend, I think we have found the next Governor of California...

"About all I can say for the United States Senate is that it opens with a prayer and closes with an investigation."
Will Rogers

They're boring. They're boorish. They're childish. They're conniving. They're damn near futile. Ladies and gentleman, your United States Senate!

The immature, transparent and gimmicky tactics used by the Senate to block each other's legislation is mostly done out of spite and forced loyalty. The old phrase "voting your conscience" has gone the way of the Nicolas Cage's artistic integrity: on it's last legs.

However! There is a simple fix to make the Senate more honest and effective. Hand-to-hand combat.

Instantly, the Senate floor debates become as accessible to the "common" (read: stupid) man than a VH1 dating show. You thought that broad pooping on the steps of Flava Flav's mansion was compelling television, wait till you see a junior senator from Tennessee stick a butterfly knife into the eye socket of an aging appropriations committee chairman. Must See TV is now on C-Span.

From The Wish It Was Literal Literary Desk...

As the valiant cadets at West Point waited for the Commander in Chief to take the podium and tell them what they will be doing for the next couple years, cameras flashed on an odd sight. A young man was briefly shown killing time reading the book "Kill Bin Laden."

"Just prepping for the speech, Sir. Ready when you are."

This may be a Top 5 B-roll moment of all time. Just amazing. It would be the greatest news story in the history of ever if this young man actually did kill Osama Bin Laden. The odds aren't great, but man, would that be a coinkidink for the ages.

While reporters continue to have more fun than anyone has ever had fact-checking a politician's biography...

Sarah Palin took a break from her, uh ... job (?) and embarked on a book tour to promote her new memoir. She took on some pretty tough interviewers and after over a year after the "gotcha" question was first asked, Palin told us what news sources she reads. We've been on pins and needles waiting for the answer, (would Soldier of Fortune, Wolf Blast Weekly or WWE Magazine make the cut?) but she was smart not to rush an answer. Mrs. Palin took her time, and gave a calculated, gaff-free response. Well played, ma'am. Well played.

During one of the hard-hitting interviews, Gretchen Carlson from Fox's highest rated comedy show Fox and Friends, asked Palin if she would consider challenging President Obama in 2012. And if so, would she consider as her running mate, the most prolific chalk board practitioner of all the self-caricatured commentators, Glenn Beck.

"Of course not, that's crazy," she answered. That's what she answered, right? No? Seriously?!? Oh boy. She actually giggled perkily and alluded it was an interesting idea while managing to use the word "hoot." Didn't dismiss the idea at all.

I've been thinking. We need this to happen. Sweet fancy Moses do we need this presidential ticket.

America needs the comedy.

For months there have been rumors that Alexandra Kerry, daughter of Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, was contemplating a run for office in her former home state.

The 36-year-old film producer/director had been coy about the possibility of running for the seat vacated by the death of Ted Kennedy. But last night she sent the clearest indication she would run.

Alexandra was arrested in LA under suspicion of DUI.

DUI?

Hey Massachusetts, I think you found your candidate.

Via Link

"Every revolution was first a thought in one man's mind."
Ralph Waldo Emerson


There is a long and proud tradition of protest and change in America. Going back as far as the country itself. Ordinary citizens have gathered inspiration and said "change needs to be made."

As with most anything, be it wars, presidential administrations, literature and art or sporting achievement, we have a need to compare the present to the past. It gives us a reference point. What do Josh Gibson's Negro League numbers mean? We'll put them side-by-side with Babe Ruth's. Discuss.

In that spirit, I think we need to take a look at two of the significant movements of recent times. That of Civil Rights in 1960's, and the Tea Parties of this past year.

A good old fashioned tale of the tape. Ring the bell. Ding, ding.

Regardless of whether the JesusFish on your car has feet or not, you cannot deny the sheer awesomeness of this kid. ¡Qué cojones!

If, like me, you would like to watch this video accompanied by Survivor's "Eye of The Tiger," I've taken the liberty of embedding it below. You're welcome.

Except for these gun enthusiasts...

Pennsylvania mom Meleanie Hain made headlines last year when she brought a loaded Glock to her 5-year-old daughter's soccer game. Just in case a bear stormed the pitch and tried to score a goal for the rival Ladybugs squad. Parents were outraged. The NRA cheered.

Last week Meleanie was having a web chat with a friend when her husband Scott shot her with a different 9mm handgun. Scott shot the soccer mom several times, then went upstairs, grabbed a different gun - a shotgun - and blew his brains out. This leaves 3 orphaned soccer lovers. Meleanie's loaded Glock was nearby in her backpack. If only it had been closer she could have defended herself.

Then there was the soon-to-be newlyweds John Tabutt and Nancy Dinsmore. Two 62-year-old Floridians that were supposed to be married today. John heard noises downstairs and was positive it was a fearless cat burglar. A close-by firearm was procurred. John crept down the steps to save the day. These crooks weren't going to get away with stealing his commemorative Dale Earnhardt Jr. collector plates. There was a moving figure in the darkness. John fired. It was Nancy. She's dead. No wedding. No joy in Mudville.

So, other than these poor unfortunate souls, guns will keep you safe.

Have a good weekend ya drunken monkeys...

From The YBNBY International Studies Desk...

Many are surprised at President Barry Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize this morning. Including, I imagine, Obama himself. Sure, at first glance this may the first major award won for Not Being George W. Bush, but at least Europe is hating us less.

Among the shocked were the reporters covering the announcement. They were aghast.



Enjoy the rest of your day listening to the hacks yell that the Nobel Prize has lost all meaning and how "you know, other socialists have won this thing too." Anyone want to wager that there will be a sound bite by the end of the day of someone on Fox News saying "Even Adolf Hitler was nominated for the Nobel Prize by Swedish parliament in 1939!" Good one guys. I'll put the bet on the board at 6-5 and pick'em.