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Stay the Course?

nonnie9999 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:09:00 +0000

In May, President Bush revealed that he had given up playing golf because of the Iraq war. “I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal,” said Bush. Apparently though, he’s fine with golf as long as it raises money for GOP candidates.

From The D. C. Examiner:

If you’re a high-flying Republican, and you can afford to take next Monday off to fly to Maine, have we got a treat for you.
On that day, former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush are hosting a high-dollar fundraiser for John McCain near their home in Kennebunkport.

Original DVD cover.

According to a solicitation sent by the McCain camp, for the low, low price of $5,000, you can play a round of golf at Cape Arundel Golf Course, Bush’s home course.

“Both President Bush and Governor Jeb Bush will be stopping by to greet the foursomes,” the missive promises. “The course is reserved for this private group, and VIPs will be visiting during your round of golf. This event is a great way to end a weekend getaway, and we would be honored if you can attend.”

Back to Think Progress:

It’s unclear what Bush will do while everyone else is ignoring the war and golfing. Perhaps he’ll ride around in golf carts or simply make swinging motions with his arms.

No word on whether Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will attend but she may, considering that golf helps her while she’s “trying to stay in shape.” As ThinkProgress reported, Rice recently told the Golf Channel that despite the fact that Bush has given up golf to honor U.S. troops, she has been “playing and playing a lot” since the war began.

Closin' tabs.

Erin Ptah — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:46:35 +0000

Buddhism may be dying out in Japan. And part of the problem may be commercialization. Does that mean it's time for a Buddhist Martin Luther?

Oh, and they found a cool rock that either predicts Jesus or shows that Jesus was just cashing in on the buzz of the time, depending on how you want to interpret it.

Some rumination on how it's darned hard to make jokes about Obama. I almost always laugh when TDS and TCR rag on him, but so much of the audience resists it—well, Jon comments on that in the article. (And Maureen Dowd brings some delicious snark.)

Schools are using more forcible restraint on problem kids. Most cringe-worthy line: "And the children, who have an array of psychiatric diagnoses, from attention deficit to autism, often do not understand what is happening or why."

For something more thoughtful and less stomach-churning, check out this psychiatrist's consideration of when to give out his email to patients. Also, therapists can have trouble dealing with rich people.

And on a brighter note entirely, Massachusetts is on the verge of knocking down yet another marriage-related limit, partly because recent developments in California have revealed that same-sex marriage brings the cash. We get rights, the state gets money . . . everybody wins!

Finally: Is it just me, or is this reviewing a book of RPF about Laura Bush?

Tony Snow Kicks The Bucket

celebl0g — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 05:02:32 +0000

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Tony Snow, the former White House press secretary, has died after a long battle with colon cancer. He was 53.

A written statement from President Bush stated, "Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of our dear friend -- America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character."

Snow died at 2 a.m. Saturday in Washington, D.C.

Jus' 4 Fun - The Daze Observationz - Fryday, 11th a' July, 2008

theblackwhole — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:20:02 +0000

~Have ya heard? They're takin' dog meat off the menu durin' the Beijing Olympics...Damn! That wuz 1/2 the reason I wanted ta go in the 1st place. I had my eye on some serious French Poodle w/ Noodlez, some Great Day 4 Great Dane, some Mutt Butt, n', a' course, some Golden Retriever Beaver! What'z a Culture Vulture ta do now?

Michael Vick n' I wuz plannin' on havin' a REAL Bad-Ass time over there this Summer, but, uh...he Busy right now--(4 about the next 21 monthz, actually)...n' now This?! = )

~I love the way Asian chicks giggle. It alwayz soundz sooo Giddy!...Like there'z actually a reason ta be THAT excited--even when ya know there'z not. Guess I been hangin' out @ the University waaay toooo much, lately! = )

~Iz it jus' me, but...why iz it that white chicks don't age az well az women of color--almost any otha color but, well...white?

--I pritty much already know the answer ta this, but dazzle me with yer brilliance, nonetheless!

--Feel free ta leave a comment below...don't worry, I can take it...Bring It On.

~Allow me ta take it even further while I'm @ it. Jus' ask any Black Man, or any otha red-blooded American male over 30, for that matter. We all know that the above iz true. Think not? Point out any white chick that comparez ta Lena Horne, Ruby Dee, Diahann Carroll, Dorothy Dandridge, Angela Bassett, or Iman. 'Nuf said.

Ok...not really. The only white chick at a comaparable age, that haz demonstrated any real parity ta theze sistas in termz a' her body a' work iz Barbara Walters...n' no one who matterz iz screamin' ta do her.

But even she haz recently copped ta havin' succumbed to her own case a' Jungle Fever (more on this subject, a' course, inna 'notha post) in her recent autobiography, but wuz toooo chickenshit @ the time a' the romance ta admit it publicly. I guess money n' public perceptionz were mo' important to her @ the time. But notice that b/4 she kicks the bucket she wanted ta let it be known ta ALL the world that she'd had Black dick, damn it, n' It Wuz Good! But she didn't even take the courtesy a' checkin' in w/ the brotha in question 1st b/4 publishin' her book. Real classy, Babs! Ok...now I'm done w/ this...for now.

~See. We really do know ev'rythang 'bout y'all...n' y'all don't even know ev'rythang 'bout yerselvez...bet THIS ONE came az a shocker ta ya, tho'!

~But while we're on the subject a' white chicks...ever noticed how France's 1st Lady iz MUCH HOTTER than "ours" (n' not jus' b'cuz she'z younger n' pritty-er)...a' course u haven't.

That'z b'cuz the lamestream media in this country iz the BIGGEST propagator out there a' the fake-ass "America's #1" propaganda that Absolutely SATURATEZ the broadcast airwavez. Actually...they're 2nd only to yer government, itself. So, whenever anybody outside their view(s) duz sump'n cool or haz sump'n else better goin' on...we NEVER hear about it b'cuz it'd make THE BIG LIE that much mo' obvious ta thoze who haven't been sucker'd into it.

That + they're afraid a' losin' market share over the Loserz who still buy into THE BIG LIE--Lock, Stock, and Gun Barrel.

FTR - France's first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy released her new 14 track CD, "Comme si de rien n'etait" (As if nothing had happened), today.

U can check it out for free (if u register) @ https://www.carlabruni.com

The site, itself, iz highable functional, easily navigable, verrry girly, n' tre chic--But Uv Course! Would u expect or accept anythang less than stylish from an Italian/French chick? = )

The music's not groundbreakin' by any meanz...I'd say it'z kinda a French Norah Jones w/ a lil' bit a' early Rickie Lee Jones thrown in, if I wuz ta pigeohole it right outta the gatez...

Tracks #3 l'amoureuse + #4 tu es ma came + #6 ta tienne + #9 le temps perdu are the onez that rest best on my earz...

Nuthin' on there really rocks out, tho'. I guess when yer starchy hubby'z runnin' the show, ya can't go whippin' out yer inner-Madonna (let alone yer outer-Led Zeppelin = ) on 'im n' the resta the country any ol' way ya like!

Ok...1 outright slam I gotta take, even tho' she iz...did I mention it already? hot Hot HOT!...iz the 1 English language track on there. It soundz like a cheezy adult nursery rhyme...if such a thing exists. She should stick ta French.

But ya gotta dig a chick w/ a cool accent...even if ya don't undertand word-1 a' what'z she'z sayin...

I can't speak a' lick a' French...even after havin' spent a killer coupla weekz there a number a' yearz back...BUT...after listenin' ta her stuff, I quickly realized that I sure could stand ta lick sump'n French again soon.

...n' I Sure Az Hell AIN'T talkin' 'bout no damn "freedom fries"!{ ( 8K

I may hafta steal her away from her LOSER husband.

~I'll let gwb (twb - that white boy - actually) keep Laura Bush, tho'...4 obvious reasonz. = )

[I'm sure she'z a NICE lady n' all (n' her work in spreadin' the Gospel a' Literacy IZ Laudable)...but I bet "her album" would suck!]

Also FTR - I'm no mo' a Francophile than I am a "my country, right or wrong" American. We're all tempoary Citizenz a' the Planet...n' the sooner we have a' Critical Mass a' people who realize this n' ACT on it in their daily livez...the better off we'll ALL be... = )

Mrs. Sarkozy sings a bit

sandhyaraman — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:42:44 +0000

Happy Birthday Mr. President

Carla Bruni, wife of French President Sarkozy, has a new album released today in the UK and on the 22nd in the US. I've been a fan of hers for a while, so this is pretty exciting. I'm also having a bit of fun imagining other world leaders' wives releasing albums. Seriously, wouldn't you love a Laura Bush hip-hop album. Hilary Clinton could use another grammy. (Yes, another, she already has one for her recording of her book It Takes a Village and Other Lessons Children Teach Us, 1996).
I could see PM Gordon Brown's wife Sarah with a CD though. Maybe European leader's spouses are better suited to hit the mainstream music market.

Anyhow, Comme si de rien n'était (As if Nothing Happened) was streamable for a couple of hours Wednesday prior to its release, allowing us to have an early listen. It plays well, combining sweet singer-songwriting vocals with a French spin. I'll admit my French is a bit rusty since high school, so I won't do a length analysis of her lyrics (she wrote 11 of the 14 songs on the album). I can tell you that "Tu es ma came" talks about drug addiction, a provocative topic for the wife of a head of state. Overall, I enjoyed the CD. It's something to listen to passively while reading or writing, to calm your mind, and if you're looking for something for that sort of occasion, this is it.

As If Nothing Happened is Bruni's 3rd full-length album.

Headache for Laura Bush: Dreams for Maureen Dowd

neilbco — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:26:58 +0000

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

In a column in today's New York Times, Maureen Dowd attempts to portray what appears to be a potentially very offensive book about the first lady, Laura Bush, as just another book that

anyone might read. With utter unctuousness Ms. Dowd says, "It’s the sort of novel Laura Bush might curl up with in the White House solarium if it were not about Laura Bush. It would be interesting to hear how that lover of fiction feels about being the subject of fiction." This is an incredible, unsupported assumption on the part of Ms. Dowd. It assumes she knows the reading habits of Laura Bush, particularly with regard to sexually detailed novels. Given what Ms. Dowd says later, it is unlikely she has such information. MORE

http://senseandnonsensnb.blogspot.com/2008/07/headache-for-laura-bush-dreams-for.html

9 Year Old Sends Desperate Plea to Laura Bush to save Father from Deportation

rachelfirm — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:20:10 +0000

From New York Daily News:

The brave 9-year-old son of a Brooklyn minister is praying First Lady Laura Bush will help "save my dad."

After failing to get a response to three letters he sent to President Bush begging that his reformed father be pardoned for a nearly two-decade-old drug bust, Chigozie Okorie decided to plead his case to the person closest to the leader - his wife.

"Please help me and my dad," the East New York fifth-grader wrote to the First Lady. "My dad made a mistake in 1989 when he was young."

The boy's father, Chibueze Okorie, is in jeopardy of being deported to Nigeria.

Because of a stringent federal law passed in 1996, immigrants convicted of crimes, even minor ones committed years ago, are rarely allowed to remain in this country. Okorie's best hope may be a presidential pardon.

The nonprofit group Human Rights Watch says nearly 680,000 immigrants, many of them parents, were deported under the law between 1997 and 2005.

Since 1992, after he served an 18-month prison term, Okorie, 46, has stayed far from trouble - becoming a poster boy for rehabilitation. As minister of evangelism at the Church of Gethsemane in Park Slope, he has devoted his life to counseling prisoners and ex-cons.

"My dad has changed and is working for our church," the boy wrote Mrs. Bush. "Please help me and my dad and speak to President Bush."

Click here for the full article.

REALITY 2.0

artrosengarten — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:13:09 +0000

Higher Reality

As the official rector of the outside world and championed by its king, The Brain, “physical reality” commands today the elite, hands-off, status of gold bullion, pure oxygen, or Laura Bush. Say what you will about the Iraq fiasco, The Church and The Corporation, the price of oil or the depleted ozone layer, but PLEASE…leave our "reality" alone...(“Ya BIG meanie!”).

It, it seems, no longer is open for discussion in the civilized world. Case closed, It won. Reality the one constant we still depend upon (unimpressive though it may be) is now the negative matter of an invisible framework of gluons holding the world-edifice upright. No one enjoys marinating the steaks of sacred cows, especially today beneath the “resistance-squads” of the academy like sniper guards in the prison towers “at-the-ready” to respond to any threats posed by an army of witches. The evidence-based guard dogs and gate-keepers of practical reason and laboratory science will not go gently into that good night of non-empirical reality, “should it exist.”

Existential Reality

Of course under the great stress of Reason one weakens at times to embrace “reality” poetically, as the French have tried. “Art must take reality by surprise” wrote one such playwright. But here again, reality is taken off the hook. We assume It exists independently like a chocolate eclair, having measurable proportions, or filling space beyond our tentacles of perception, in some cases. Existentialism, like a weak stand-up comic, has even tried construing reality’s worst hollowness to contain some stark sensual realm of alienated beauty, a kind of “tough-love” for the self-absorbed and sado-masochistic. On the other hand, the literary French giant Marcel Proust wisely allows: "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."

Two Realities

Semantically-speaking (as happens automatically, whenever we open our traps), one soon discovers ‘reality’the term depends upon how the word ‘real’ is technically defined. Actually, in fact, there are (at least) two realities to consider. One is real reality, the other unreal “reality,” what I prefer to call ‘the reality thing’-- or simply, as we have done here, “reality” [or 'quote reality']. Below I’ve listed three modern dictionary definitions of ‘real’ (upon which true reality is based) followed by three definitions of what I believe more accurately connote 'unreal' reality or “reality” or perhaps less awkwardly, ‘the reality thing’ (biased as it is in modern thingism):

Real (Webster's)

1. genuine and original, and so not artificial or synthetic;

2. of basic, or critical importance;

3. fundamental or essential

“Real” (Webster's)

1. having actual physical existence;

2. verifiable as actual fact…rather than as a product of dreams or imagination;

3. everything that exists in the actual world.

Thingism

Notice how “conventional wisdom,” and common sense are loaded to the gill in unreal “reality.” Thingism,as I call it, reflecting the Western attachment to the sensorium, has ascended to the sine qua non of modernist reality. Its buzzword currently is “evidence” (rhymes with "schmev-idence"). Evidence “helps somebody to come to a particular conclusion." To this I have four easy words to remember: "weapons of mass destruction."

Evidence surely has an important place in the scheme of reality, but like statistics it is also easily manipulated. Nevertheless, it's become the bottom-line rite of passage for today's “candidates of reality.” Obviously, Santa Claus and extra-terrestrials are still waiting to be seen. Evidently, new candidates must be constructed, researched, tested, validated, legitimized, and legislated evidentially, that is, minimally they must leave some footprint or reindeer-dropping. For legitimate citizenship in reality, one need demonstrate "sub-atomic particle evidence" vis-a-vis material reality existence, "energy exchangeevidence" vis-a-vis causal reality existence, "tangible (or microscopic) physical evidence" vis-a-vis legal reality existence, "neural pathway evidence" vis-a-vis pathologic reality existence, and "behavioral change evidence" vis-a-vis therapeutic reality existence--yes, you will need a stamped current VISA--BEFORE real existence IS ACHIEVED, recognized as such, credited as substantial, actual, or essential. Reality 2.0, one must conclude, shows real limitations with respect to its universal applications.

Reification (the bias of Thingism) collides like skateboards into granite walls with so-called 'Mind' schools of reality. Western Platonism and Neoplatonism, Hermeticism, Qabalah, Magic, Depth Psychology, Esoteric Christianity, etc., as well as many Eastern Nondual/Essentialist traditions like Zen, Vajrayana, Madhyamika and Dzogchen (Buddhism), Taoism, Advaita etc., to say nothing of Native American and other shamanic traditions around the world, which posit to the contrary, true Reality is ultimately metaphysical, transcendent, intangible, essential, invisible, mental, and empty. Wrote the Indian Mahamudra master, Tilopa (988-1069 CE):

"As the darkness of the night, even were it to last a thousand years, could not conceal the rising sun, so countless ages of conflict and suffering cannot conceal the innate radiance of Mind."

"Make It So"

“Reality” isn’t intrinsically real, we just make it so (like a command from Star Trek Captain Picard) with our words. It is no more real than “vacation consultants,” Tom Cruise marriages, tanning salons, or Sandwich Spread. This is also the dirty little secret of ‘The Secret’: reality is a construction of mind. The Buddhists have a phrase for things of this nature, namely, “not existing from their own side.” Things are dependents, that is, they are inherently “dependent-upon” other things--an observer’s perception, physiology, mental status, language, belief systems, cultural filters and so forth to mutually "co-arise," and BEYOND that, they are ultimately “unfindable” in themselves. This holds true even for the lab-coated “physical evidence” junkies living the high life from the illusory “reality sandwiches” of modernism. Perhaps Buddhist interdependency is illustrated in the elusive and understated landmark American poem of the great 20th century American poet, William Carlos Williams, entitled:

The Red Wheel Barrow:

so much depends

upon

a red wheel

barrow

glazed with rain

water

beside the white

chickens.

The poem tells us that “things are what they are,” beautiful, momentary, local, inter-connected. Nowhere is there a hard and fast distinction made regarding thingness. They share simultaneous factors and conditions, including the mind moments of the perceiver. Williams awakens this essential fact in the poem’s disarming opening: “So much depends/upon...” depends upon what? The answer for me is the vast web of particulars that coarise within single event, existing “synchronistically” in THIS present moment, timelessly like white chickens, co-arise in experience by way of perceiver(s). Indeed, so very much is mutually dependent.

Visit Art's:

--Website: http://www.moonlightcounseling.com/
--Discussion Group: TAROTPSYCH http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/tarotpsych/

Barack und George. Ein Lustspiel

modernerperformer — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:10:08 +0000

Erster Akt

"Oh wär' ich doch ein Narr!
Mein Ehrgeiz geht auf eine bunte Jacke."
Wie es Euch gefällt

Erste Szene

Zimmer im Weißen Haus. 2005
Barack Obama steht eben auf und geht zur Tür des Blue Rooms. Ein junger Marineoffizier steht wenige Meter vor dem Durchgang und stellt sich Obama in den Weg. Aus dem Blue Room hört man laute Wortfetzen, darunter deutlich die von George W. Bush.

Marineoffizier. "The photograph session is over! The president needs to get to his next appointment!"
Obama. (stoppt, will umdrehen)
Bush. (erscheint im Durchgang und winkt Obama zu sich herein) Obama!
Obama. (geht am Marineoffizier links vorbei die wenigen Schritte auf Bush zu)
Bush. (nimmt Obamas Hand, schüttelt sie kräftig) Come here and meet Laura. (zu Laura, die einen halben Meter hinter Bush im Blue Room steht) Laura, you remember Obama. We saw him on TV during election night. (Bush wieder zu Obama) Beautiful family. And that wife of yours-that's one impressive lady."
Obama. (schüttelt Lauras Hand und spricht zu Bush) We both got better than we deserve, Mr. President."
Bush. (hinter leicht vorgehaltener Hand zu Obama): Come over here for a second. (Beide gehen in eine Ecke des Raumes, Bush spricht leise) You know, I hope you don't mind me giving you a piece of advice."
Obama. Not at all, Mr. President.
Bush. (nickt kurz und blickt Obama an) You've got a bright future. Very bright. But I've been in this town awhile and, let me tell you, it can be tough. When you get a lot of attention like you've been getting, people start gunnin' for ya. And it won't necessarily just be coming from my side, you understand. From yours, too. Everybody'll be waiting for you to slip, know what I mean? So watch for yourself."
Obama. Thanks for the advice, Mr. President.
Bush. All right. I gotta get going. (Beide treten zusammen von der Bühne ab, redend. Obama legt im Gespräch freundschaftlich seinen Arm über Bushs Schulter)

leicht verändert aus: Barack Obama, "The audacity of hope"

Jokes for Monday

melsthoughts — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:59:02 +0000

Maxine Wins My Vote!!!
PLEASE READ....MAXINE IS SHARP!

Minorities...
We need to show more sympathy for these people.
* They travel miles in the heat.
* They risk their lives crossing a border.
* They don't get paid enough wages.
* They do jobs that others won't do or are afraid to do.
* They live in crowded conditions among a people who speak a different language.
* They rarely see their families, and they face adversity all day every day.I'm not talking about illegal Mexicans;
I'm talking about our troops!

Doesn't i t seem strange that many Democrats and Republicans are willin g to lavish all kinds of social benefits on illegals, but don't support our troops and are now threatening to defund them?

Please pass this on; this is worth more than the short time it takes to read it.

President Bush, First Lady Laura and Dick Cheney were flying on Air Force One.

George looked at Laura, chuckled and said, "You know, I could throw a
$1,000 bill out of the window right now and make somebody very happy."

Laura shrugged her shoulders and replied, "I could throw ten $100 bills
out of the window and make ten people very happy."

Cheney added, "That being the case, I could throw one hundred $10 bills
out of the window and make a hundred people very happy."

Hearing their exchange, the pilot rolled his eyes and said to his co-pilot,
"Such big-shots back there. Sh*t I could throw all of their
@sses out of the window and make 56 million people very happy."

Defending Michelle Obama

lunchcountersitin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:28:38 +0000

It is great to see so many in the Afrosphere/Afrospear stand up for Michelle Obama. She has been the subject of many attacks that seem to be uniquely based on her ethnic origin.

The Black Snob addresses the issue head on:

Look at the image of angry black women on television. Politically you have Maxine Waters of California, liberal Democrat. She’s always angry every time she gets on television. Cynthia McKinney, another angry black woman. And who are the black women you see on the local news at night in cities all over the country. They’re usually angry about something. They’ve had a son who has been shot in a drive-by shooting. They are angry at Bush. So you don’t really have a profile of non-angry black women. -- Syndicated columnist Cal Thomas on Michelle Obama being an "angry black woman," FOX News Watch, June 14.

Black people have long had to live with the stigma that we're rougher and more horrifying than other people. That somehow we're more violent and scary and immoral, stereotypes that have existed since wealthy white landowners had to come up with excuses why it was OK to enslave an entire group of people. Black men are menacing and black women are vulgar harridans, screaming obscenities while engaging ball busting.

Many were appalled at Cal Thomas for bringing up the "angry black woman" meme, viewing it as both racist and sexist, and it is. When other women speak their mind, they're just talking. When a black woman says why she's proud of America after seeing the results of her husband's historical campaign she's an awful witch who wants to destroy all white people. The complete 360 degree turn of hyperbole is attempted over and over again. And with so few images of black women in the media it's easy to fall back on old stereotypes -- the whore, the mammy and the bitch.

Michelle Obama is too chaste and married to be a whore, too independent and smart to be a mammy, so all that's left is the bitch. And that is the category all educated, independent minded, straight-no-chaser women, black or white, are put in.

The Jack and Jill web site asks, where are the feminists who defended Hillary Clinton against sexists attacks, and why aren't they defending Michelle Obama? It's a good question, and there hasn't been a good answer that I've seen.

Heck, even Laura Bush has defended Michelle Obama.

Meanwhile, the Michelle Obama Watch site has been created to, in the site's words, to be "a repository of all of the criticism, praise, and general chicanery thrown at Michelle Obama between now and November." It's worth a quick look.