Just One Reason why Obama won’t win: Vanity
Posted by oceanguy | July 18, 2008
Charles Krauthammer in the Washington Post on Obama’s excessive and extreme Vanity:
Obama is a three-year senator without a single important legislative achievement to his name, a former Illinois state senator who voted “present” nearly 130 times. As president of the Harvard Law Review, as law professor and as legislator, has he ever produced a single notable piece of scholarship? Written a single memorable article? His most memorable work is a biography of his favorite subject: himself.
It is a subject upon which he can dilate effortlessly.
American voters are too smart to gamble on the ephemera that is the Obama phenomenon.
Topics: As a Democrat, Words | 2 Comments »
I’ve Been a Long Time Gone
Posted by oceanguy | July 18, 2008
1. Long Time Gone… Crosby Stills & Nash
2. Right Place Wrong Time… Dr. John
3. There’s a Moon Out Tonight… Capris
4. 96 Tears… ? and The MYSTERIANS !
5. Don’t Take Your Guns to Town… Johnny Cash
6. Don’t Throw Your Love on Me so Strong… T Bone Walker
7. Baby It’s Cold Outside… Ray Charles
8. 60 Minute Man… Billy Ward & The Dominoes
9. Spanish Eyes… Al Martino
10. One Bourban One Scotch and One Beer… John Lee Hooker
Video of the Week… Timeless Classic about Time
Topics: Friday Shuffle | No Comments »
Unimaginable
Posted by oceanguy | July 16, 2008
The cruelty of Kuntar’s original crime was unimaginable. The stupidity of Olmert’s deal to release him is almost as unimaginable.
Here’s the story of Kuntar’s crime. For years the Arabs have whined for the murderer’s release. And at one time I had hope Isreal would stand firm releasing him. It’s a bit much to ask Olmert to stand firm on anything of importance, I know, but what I wrote then still fits the situation.
What is it in Arab culture that lets them see triumph in trading 400 thugs for one person and the remains of three others? Do they value life so little? What is it in Arab culture that makes them perceive our concern for life is a weakness?
How do the same people droning on and on about “immoral occupation,” explain the morality in the palestinians’ disregard for the value of life?
I don’t like the idea of this prisoner exchange, not because it isn’t a moral thing to do. But the Arabs are not, as some would have us believe on the same moral plane… thus the message they receive is not the same as the message sent. This exchange is a bad idea precisely because it rewards the terrorists with that which they perceive as a victory and only encourages them to kidnap even more people…
When asked during his much anticipated press conference whether Hizbullah would resort to kidnapping again, Nasrallah, cracked a smile and answered, “Yes, yes.”
This runs counter to Isreal’s interest and it runs counter to the interests of the entire Western World. Not only does Israel RELEASE Kuntar, Shimon Peres PARDONED him. Even Haaretz points out the obvious:
People celebrated in the streets of the Hamas-controlled coastal territory, and handed out sweets in support of Hezbollah.
“Today is a great victory for the resistance movements and to Hezbollah, said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. “It shows that the only successful way to free the prisoners is by kidnapping soldiers.”
Is it moral to take action that you KNOW will lead to more death? It appears that the Olmert government believes, that it is moral, but you must continue with their assumption that appeasement is the answer. Buying love and buying peace, while giving away your respect has been the left’s answer. When will they realize it doesn’t work.
Topics: Countdown to War | No Comments »
Wesley Clark - Useful Idiot
Posted by oceanguy | June 30, 2008
I once described Wesley Clark as one of those military officers who believed their Fitness Reports… I still believe it.
I don’t think the military is unusual in having a problem of inflated evaluations, but it’s a system I’m very familiar with. Whatever the cause of the phenomenon, I lived it during a 20 year career in the Navy, both as an evaluator and as one being evaluated. Grades are inflated to the point that Ratings of “above average” are a slap in that face that could be career killers. “Superlatives” were merely average grades. The whole evaluation process was often laughable. I had one evaluation as a young 24 year old Lieutenant Junior Grade which described me as “sagacious” and “perspicacious.” Yeah, at 24 I may have thought I was, but I still laughed at the comments, and was almost embarrassed during my evaluation interview.
Later, as a squadron department head, I had a Commanding Officer rank 3 of the 4 Department Heads as being the “#1″ of the group. With grade inflation and descriptors approaching the ridiculous, the ranking of the peer groups was the only true value of relative strength… and even that was corrupted by this poor leader who thought he was doing everyone a favor. Since we were in different year groups, our records would likely never be in front of the same selection board at the same time, so he felt safe in ranking us all as “1 of 4.” Again, I thought it was both funny, and harmful.
Of the three “top guys,” one really took it to heart. Unfortunately he was not alone. In every unit there were a couple of guys who actually believed what was written in those fantastic fitness reports. Those people often became insufferable, as the system just moved them along, promoting them and giving them more responsibility until, eventually, the Peter Principal would govern.
I look at Wesley Clark and I see one of those men who believed their fitness reports. For his entire career he was almost certainly told he was superlative… just like 90% of his peers… if he hadn’t been he’d have never been a General… and through the luck of timing, and maybe a politically minded mentor, or through his own burning ambition, he wound up in charge of something important at a momentous time. The fact that he was basically fired, doesn’t matter, because through it all, even after he was removed from the post, he believed his fitness reports. In fact his firing was publicly presented in such a way as to keep his superlative self-esteem intact. He was a success while being fired.
It’s not at all surprising to me that such a man, one who feels great about his accomplishments while ignoring the reality of the results, winds up as a voice in today’s Democratic Party. A sympathetic press, eager to have a military hero as a Democratic spokesman, rush to hold him up as an icon to their commitment to National Security. It’s not at all surprising that, given that platform and his unfailing belief in his own fitness reports, that he would pull out his crank and stomp on it while attacking a genuinely courageous and soft-spoken hero. It’s extremely offensive, but not at all surprising.
Clark is like a man who incessantly calls himself a Capital ‘G’ Gentleman… like a man who refers to himself as a mensch… or a man who tells everyone within earshot about his latest Mensa group get-together. Since we haven’t read his fitness reports, he must read them to us. You know, I wouldn’t say he’s a fraud, but he’s definitely not suffering from a lack of self-esteem .
Clark might be a more compelling figure if he exhibited a bit more humility, but he seems to prefer the limelight and playing the useful idiot for a group that has so little respect for, and even less knowledge of, our Country’s Armed Forces. The Obamarama campaign appears intent on attacking McCain’s military service, and all military service in general, but Clark isn’t bright enough to understand that; he only cares about those flattering things written about him.
Meanwhile, John McCain is humble about his service to a fault.
Wesley Clark, STFU.
Topics: As a Democrat | 8 Comments »
Video Shuffle
Posted by oceanguy | June 27, 2008
1. You Can Call Me Al… Paul Simon
2. Don’t Worry Be Happy… Bobby McFerrin
3. Gimme All Your Lovin’… ZZ Top
4. It Wasn’t Me… Shaggy
5. Jungle Love… The Time
6. Hot for Teacher… Van Halen
7. Sweet Dreams… Eurythmics
8. Love Shack… B52’s
9. Pour Some Sugar on Me… Def Leppard
10. Addicted to Love… Robert Palmer
Topics: Friday Shuffle | No Comments »
More Change We Can’t Believe In
Posted by oceanguy | June 20, 2008
I’m surprised the Washington Post has taken such a critical stance on Obama’s decision to renege on his commitment to take public financing for the General Election. Once again, BHO is proving that either he has serious problems with judgment or he has serious problems with telling the truth. He certainly has no problems compromising his principles. So what does he actually stand for??? No one can possibly know.
I especially liked this little snippet from today’s WaPo Editorial:
Pardon the sarcasm. But given Mr. Obama’s earlier pledge to “aggressively pursue” an agreement with the Republican nominee to accept public financing, his effort to cloak his broken promise in the smug mantle of selfless dedication to the public good is a little hard to take.
Despite the MSM feeding us all BHO, all good, all the time, I have faith that the American electorate will see through the facade and recognize that insincere platitudes are not sufficient reasons to put BHO in the White House no matter how beautifully they are uttered. I’m only left to wonder what excuses the Democrats will proffer and what nefarious conspiracies they’ll complain about as they decide that another election was stolen.
Topics: As a Democrat | 2 Comments »
Homeland Security
Posted by oceanguy | June 18, 2008
Here’s an example of Airline Security Rules and the minor inconvenience they can cause. It’s the text of an e-mail sent out to the local Alumni Chapter… the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Looking for a little help for a newly commissioned USNA Ensign and his wedding plans this weekend.
Please share with any or all Jacksonville Naval Officers
The airlines are preventing his swordsmen from transporting their ceremonial swords on the airplane, so Ensign W.T.Door is scrambling to find some temporary replacements in support of his wedding this weekend. The wedding is to be held in the Riverside area of Jacksonville with follow-on activities at NAS Jacksonville.
The recently graduated academy swordsmen will be staying at NAS Jacksonville.
Ensign W.T Door’s wife to be (Miss Local Young Lady; w.t.door@nospam.com) is working now to determine exactly how many swords are needed and at what length.
If any of the members of the Jacksonville Chapter have a sword that can be used to support the wedding, please contact either W.T. or Miss Local Young Lady directly at w.t.door@nospam.com or (904) 555-USNA (W.T.’s cell). They will work out all the details of carefully receiving and returning all of the swords.
Topics: Life | No Comments »
Need to get away Shuffle
Posted by oceanguy | June 13, 2008
1. 96 Degrees in the Shade… Third World
2. In the Summertime… Mungo Jerry
3. In the Summertime… Shaggy feat Rayvon
4. Burning Down the House… Talking Heads
5. Red Shoes… Elvis Costello
6. Mellow Yellow… Donovan
7. Warmth of the Sun… Beach Boys
8. Don’t Touch Me Tomatoes… George Symonette
9. Stir it Up… Bob Marley
10. It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere… Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffet
Topics: Friday Shuffle | No Comments »
Next Food Network Star
Posted by oceanguy | June 11, 2008
I am a FoodTV junkie. Emeril Lagasse, Alton Brown, the Challenge Series, Ace of Cakes, Iron Chef, Ina Garten, Tyler Florence, Paula Dean’s Sons, Guy Fieri, even Bobby Flay’s Throwdown… all shows I love. But lately the Network seems to be getting a bit off track and The Next Food Network Star might be the biggest offender.
I don’t particularly care for Bobby Flay, Giada nor Paula Dean, but I understand their appeal. I can even see a niche for Ellie Krieger and the Neeley’s. Although I don’t watch, I wouldn’t say it’s a misjudgment by the network to have them on air. But I think they are seriously missing an opportunity with NFNS.
As I’ve said before, the game part of the show is designed to break down all the contestants… to make them all look bad. Especially in the past two seasons, there has rarely, if ever, been a challenge in which all the contestants did well, and we were genuinely disappointed to see someone go. Instead, every judges table is the same: a few contestants are relieved at being excused from further humiliation and are told that they will be moving on. Those lucky pledges retire upstairs while the rest are made to sweat through even more humiliation. Evidently Tears Are Good in the producers’ eyes. The game is designed to break all of the finalists down and weeds them out by who survives the harassment. That formula does not really test who the best person and personality for a show might be. It’s nothing more than a hazing ritual as they try to join the Food TV Cooks Fraternity. It’s rubbing me the wrong way, and I don’t like it.
I watched this week’s version of hazing the pledges and already I don’t like any of them. The Gay black guy has no personality, the young kid is clueless and needy, the chick with the severe clothes and make-up is hiding behind her bangs and the rest of her tough look, the overly self-conscious Indian chick [”look at me, I’m different!]… and the most memorable of the rest of the pledge group are the overly bubbly cheerleader, and the black guy with the shaved head. The rest are pretty nondescript… but it’s probably not their fault.
The producers are to blame for designing a game that shows the most unattractive traits of their stars-to-be. The game makes it easy on the judges because they’d be right in kicking almost anyone off in any given episode as almost never is there a tough decision to make because everyone did well. It’s a public game of gotcha that I’m not enjoying.
I recorded this weeks’ show and watched it late, and I’m not particularly looking forward to the next episode. I’ll watch, but my interest is seriously waning. It’s generous for me to refer to NFNS as the JV game of cooking reality shows. Sticking with the sports analogy, the show is really more like a pick-up game at the tailgate party before the big game… It’s just not very good.
At the moment, the show is really bad, but it doesn’t have to be that way. They could probably save a bunch of money by stopping these outlandish challenges designed to see who falls apart first, and have some competition where the contestants are matching strength against strength. Make it tougher on the judges than on the wannabe TV stars. Give the judges the tough job of sending someone really good home and having a bunch of other really good people left. I’m sick of seeing a bunch of losers with all but one breathing a huge sigh of relief for moving on. The current formula virtually destroys the Next Star’s career before it even starts. [I didn’t watch even one of Amy Finley’s shows.]
So, count me out as a loyal fan of NFNS, they might be able to get me back, but not without a major revamping of the way they design the game.
Others writing about the show:
Reality TV
Yum Sugar
Kate at TV Filter
Side Dish
Annie’s New York Eats
Topics: Next Food Network Star | 1 Comment »
Jay Rockefeller’s Change to Believe in.
Posted by oceanguy | June 9, 2008
Here’s Rockefeller in October of 2002, during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq:
“There has been some debate over how ‘imminent’ a threat Iraq poses. I do believe Iraq poses an imminent threat. I also believe after September 11, that question is increasingly outdated. . . . To insist on further evidence could put some of our fellow Americans at risk. Can we afford to take that chance? I do not think we can.”
Here he is last week:
“Before taking the country to war, this administration owed it to the American people to give them a 100 percent accurate picture of the threat we faced,” Rockefeller said. “Unfortunately, our committee has concluded that the administration made significant claims that were not supported by the intelligence.”
Rockefeller’s flip-flop lie is only remarkable in that the Washington Post actually published an editorial pointing it out. Rockefeller shamelessly lying in accusing the President of lying… nice.
Topics: As a Democrat | No Comments »
You May Not be Enamoured with McCain…
Posted by oceanguy | June 8, 2008
… but you’d be wise to heed Thomas Sowell’s warning.
At a time like this, we do not have the luxury of waiting for our ideal candidate or of indulging our emotions by voting for some third party candidate to show our displeasure— at the cost of putting someone in the White House who is not up to the job.
I can’t explain it any better than he, so please read it all, but here’s the opening:
Not since 1972 have we been presented with two such painfully inadequate candidates. When election day came that year, I could not bring myself to vote for either George McGovern or Richard Nixon. I stayed home.
This year, none of us has that luxury. While all sorts of gushing is going on in the media, and posturing is going on in politics, the biggest national sponsor of terrorism in the world— Iran— is moving step by step toward building a nuclear bomb.
The point when they get that bomb will be the point of no return. Iran’s nuclear bomb will be the terrorists’ nuclear bomb— and they can make 9/11 look like child’s play.
An Obama Presidency, depending on Iran’s technological and political advances, could prove disasterous. An Obama Presidency would virtualy assure Iran will be unhindered by any American initiatives or confrontation. Indulging emotions or stubbornly sticking to choices made early in the Primary season, is a risky choice to make.
Hat Tip to Smooth Stone
Topics: As a Democrat | 1 Comment »
Song Stuck in my head…
Posted by oceanguy | June 7, 2008
For the past day and a half, in response to that nauseating SF Chronicle article article about BHO and the Obamessiah phenomenon, I’ve had this paraphrased Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Weber ditty going through my head…
Nay’Bama
‘Bama ‘Bama No;
‘Bama nay ‘Bama
NO bama
I hope you catch it to…
Since some of you may not be familiar with the tune, here’s a clip from the 1973 movie from You Tube:
Topics: As a Democrat | 2 Comments »
Now there are Three in Puerto Rico
Posted by oceanguy | June 7, 2008
What made the biggest impression on me in last nights episode of the Season 4 Top Chef Finals? It was the phone in poll. Ninety-nine percent of the voters wanted Lisa to get the boot… Now I know, I’m not alone. But that didn’t happen and the angry one is in the position that where the title could fall into her lap. What a shame.
My extremely shallow first thought on seeing the show was: they should have picked a cold weather place for the finals… I’ll say no more about their appearance. That being said, Lisa’s personality had mellowed a bit and was not quite as contemptible during the challenges in Puerto Rico as she had been all season. Is that because she had time to actually watch an episode or two between leaving Chicago and arriving in Puerto Rico? Whatever it was, I wouldn’t say she was exactly likable, but she wasn’t as disagreeable as she had been. Still, she should have been the first one sent home just because she didn’t really belong in that elite group.
But what was up with her expecting “Congratulations” from Richard and Stephanie? That was a bit self-centered to me. I’d have been silent too. Jeez, with her negative, volatile and angry personality I’d have had no idea she was actually happy about being on the bottom again and barely making it through to the finale. Lisa, STFU… you’re not a nice likeable person. Silence from yoru competitors was likely a matter of them not knowing what to say that wouldn’t offend you. That and the fact that Antonia was a nice person and will be missed by the show, the fans and the other contestents. Sadly for you , had you been the one sent home, not many would have missed you… check out the fan poll! The other three had less than one percent voting them off. Wow. ust consider yourself lucky that Antonia was not at her best.
The editors gave us a warning early on in the show that Antonia didn’t bring her A game to San Juan. When Nikki was heard commenting that Antonia just wasn’t as sharp as she has been. You just knew she was in real danger of blowing it. And blow it she did.
In a nicely designed challenge, our cheftestents were given a whole pig to create three dishes for a cocktail party of 125 people. As we would expect, the cream really rises to the top. It certaianly looked like Richard and Stephanie were comfortable and produced Top Chef quality dishes.
Stephanie showed one huge reason why she deserves to be the winner when her primary dish was ruined by havig the rubbed meat left out of the fridgetator all night. I was really feeling Dale’s pain when he realized he might be the reason that Stephanie was sent home. He redeemed himself, though, with the suggestion of doing the fried pork rinds, and in true Stephanie fashion, she executed it flawlessly and got kudos from the judges for a dish that was basically an afterthought. Lisa would never be able to pull that off, but Stephanie did it with ease.
Richard showed his imagination in creating his dishes which, combined with his culinary skills, shows why he’s my favorite to win. Remembering a childhood friend drinking Malta and deciding it would be a nice flavor enhancer, turned out to be a genius move. He had a coherent story for each dish and evidently exectued them flawlessly. Good For him.
Now we’re down to the finale. Richard, Stephanie and Lisa. I’ll be happy with either Richard or Stephanie as winners, either will be a great Top Chef. It’s not likely that both of them will stumble, but that’s exactly what Lisa needs to have happen because she is clearly out of her league with them… In matters of taste, technique, imagination and personality, both Stephanie and Richard outshine her. So, it’s really a two horse race that I hope is a photo finish. It’ll be a real shame if one of them gets tripped up or makes a questionable decison in their last challenge. I can’t wait to watch.
Topics: Top Chef | No Comments »
Why Obama’s Associations are So Important
Posted by oceanguy | June 6, 2008
The growing list of flip-flops, or nuanced positions, or whatever you want to call them that BHO has taken during the campaign are proof that his politics of change are the politics of changing your words to fit your audience, and when caught, to incrementally admit a mistake all while trying to nuance his explanation. In other words, he is either unprincipled to the extreme, or his principles are so extreme that he’s afraid of alienating too many voters by letting those views come to light.
BHO is for everything and for nothing…. he stands for everything while he stands for nothing… His strongest statements are apt to be changed and nuanced within minutes of leaving the stage. The latest flop, [after making so many Jews flip] is over his statement to AIPAC that, “Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.” Of course before that statement was even widely reported he and his campaign had back-tracked, and “clarified” his position:
“Jerusalem is a final status issue, which means it has to be negotiated between the two parties” as part of “an agreement that they both can live with.”
We cannot trust what BHO says or promises on the Campaign trail have no reliable. He keeps showing us that. His record si too thin to draw many conclusions from except he’s not one to reach across the aisle in compromise. So with no record and despite his eloquence, what he says cannot be trusted, judging his competence comes down to an examination of the company he keeps, and the friends he’s chosen to associate during his adult life. In my mind, he’s not ready to be President if the most reliable way of evaluating him as a man and a leader is the type and strength of his associations… but that’s the situation we find ourselves in.
Of course, if “feeling good” about him is more important than knowing him, then neither his associations or his record matters. If you can listen to one of his expertly delivered prepared speeches and feel good… if you can project your own hopes and wishes onto a man who has been diffident to take principled stand on controversial issues, then you are perfectly happy with BHO as a candidate and a possible Commander in Chief. But that is a particularly dangerous way to approach such an important decision.
To know BHO is almost impossible for those of us outside his inner circle, so it is not only natural, but it’s necessary that we take a close look at the associations he has developed. We must learn all we can about the people he chooses to align himself with, to spend time with and to trust. And when I do that, I’m reminded of my grandmother’s admonition, “If you lay down with dogs, you’re going to get up with fleas.”
Topics: As a Democrat | 1 Comment »