Life is too short to compromise time and resources... it may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand: "Sit down and shut up", but that's the worthless, easy path; that's a quitter's way out. And a problem in our country today is apathy. It would be apathetic to just hunker down and go with the flow.

Nah, only dead fish "go with the flow".


(She sounded like a friggin crazy lady yesterday. She's quitting a job to avoid the quitters way out...)

I like this one too...

"And so as I thought about this announcement that I wouldnt run for re-election and what it means for Alaska, I thought about how much fun some governors have as lame ducks travel around the state, to the Lower 48 (maybe), overseas on international trade as so many politicians do. And then I thought thats whats wrong many just accept that lame duck status, hit the road, draw the paycheck, and milk it. Im not putting Alaska through that I promised efficiencies and effectiveness! ? Thats not how I am wired. I am not wired to operate under the same old politics as usual. I promised that four years ago and I meant it.

Its not what is best for Alaska.."

(She seriously might be mental. Sorry Palin peeps.)

We dodged such a bullet on this one.

I think she is going to get out of politics. I think this David Letterman thing made her nuts. Also, I think since the Ted Stevens thing blew over- they are going to find something about her that is going to nail her to the wall.

Somethin is up...I would be amazed if she tried to run for Prez.

She's still smokin' hot though!

Well, in the Minnesota state, it's weird enough.

The current Guv. just tossed in he isn't going to run for re-elect of governerness again,
as the popular chatter is he is the next Rep. runner for Prez.

Normie Coleman finally gave up the battle for the Senate (after 190 or so days) to Al Franken.

How co-inkly-dinkly be that?


Franken as a senator (2 year term) might get the boot unless he gets Paul Wellstone popular.

Coleman as the governor of Minn.

Pawlenty as president.



If the affairs and such haven't soured the public on the return of the Republican rule and Barak doesn't recourse the now ill-floating boat (that was run onto the shoals BY the republicans) that's the picture.
Though, I don't vote, so I don't get an opinion.


But I still get seasick.

Why don't you vote?
It's simple and free to sign up, all you have to do is dodge jury duty once in a while.

I already had a stint of jury duty some years ago.
I'm bout due for another soon and I don't need voting to give me the lock in.

I got summoned to be on Federal District Jury for a week - got dismissed the day before I had to go in - and am free of jury duty for the next 3 years.

You don't vote because you might have to serve on jury duty? You are a pathetic piece of shit. I'd hate to see you put out doing your duty as an American citizen. Tell this to the families that have lost loved ones fighting for this country. I guess the 4th is all about a day off for you.

I hope you die.






Sorry, but when I think "bubba" an "wiggly" in the same word, let alone sentence, this is the image I get.
And It makes me visibly shaken to know that THIS is the American Right to vote and go to war and all that Red, White and Blue stuff.



From time to time, the usual moment seems terribly beautiful.

I can take the name calling. Just a handle. You want to kill me for telling the truth, I guess I must have hit a nerve. If your answer to be "visibly shaken" is to not take part in your right to vote then do what you say. You have no right to bitch.

That woman drives me nuts! Yarrrrrrrrrr!

I was called for jury duty once ih Ohio and twice so far in Hawaii but haven't had to serve yet.
In Ohio, work was sending me to Virginia Tech to learn gas chromatography so, they excused me.
My first summons in Hawaii came just after I moved to Maui and the court is in Honolulu so they excused me from that one.
The last time they sent me a letter as a heads-up that I may be called on from August through October but they never got back to me.
I guess they got the scoop on me and decided it was best to not have me anywhere near a courtroom.

GUILTY!

If I show up in this getup do you think they'll let me off?



I'm going to have to reschedule at any rate.

I am

LOL! You'll be admitted in a heartbeat!

I don't really know too much about the justice system except for the 3 times I've been on the wrong side of the bench. And all 3 times, I was WRONG. Totally guilty.
So, is there a reason for jury's? I suppose it keeps the police honest. But seriously, I don't think prosecuters are thumbing through phone books to find innocent people to blame shit on.
By the time you get sat in front of a judge, I think it's time to man up to whatever you did and not waste peoples time.

Time one: Picture it, 1987 in Glenford, Ohio. It was my sisters graduation and we were celebrating at her boyfriends house which also just happened to be my best friends house. We thought it would be a great idea to take the mufflers off of our three wheelers and go riding through town.
We were wrong.
On the way back to the house, two cops pulled out and blocked the street in front of my school. I didn't have any brakes so, I hit a cop car. Not smart.
On court day, my dad went with me and saved my stupid ass.
No jail time, no restriction on getting a drivers license, just had to write a 3000 word essay on why I'm an idiot.
Done and done.

Time two: Johnston Atoll. I went in to my commanders office to ask him when I would be able to leave.
He got all indignant, threw his finger in my face, and told me I could leave when he said I could.
I punched him.
He punched me so hard I blacked out.
Great Times!
It probably would have ended at that but, my First Seargent heard the commotion from his office and came in to bust it up.
That meant that I was going to have to be tried by the Island commander.
That didn't end well.
I was busted down to a Private first class, docked 3 months of pay, and barred from re-enlistment.
It was wrong of me to disrespect my commander, I admit. But he disrespected me too. I am NOT your fucking toy. And I will gladly break your finger off and shove it up your goddamned ass if you ever stick it in my face again.
We'll just call that one a draw even though I totally lost!

Time 3: A really nice police officer in Ohio arrested me while I was changing a flat tire outside of a bar.(Seriously, he was totally nice) I was wasted and he probably saved some lives that day.
They were all very nice at the station. I blew a .225.
Stupid.
I didn't drive that night but that was only because I had a flat tire.
I was arrested on Saturday, bailed myself out so I wouldn't have to go to jail, and sat in front of the Mayor on Monday.
I pleaded guilty because, DUH!
I lost my license for six months, got fined $5000 dollars, and felt like a total tool.
Because I was.

And THAT, my friends, is way more than you ever wanted to know about me.

Do you still have your 3,000 word essay on why you're an idiot?

Nothing like gunfire and screaming blood thirsty indians to wake you up in the morning! - Barkenstein

Dave,
If it is still around, it would be filed at the Newark county courthouse in Licking county, Ohio.
Junish, 1987.
If you think I'm an amazing writer now, just wait to see how I wrote as a tweener!

Franken's term is 6 years not two. Minus the 7 months of nonsense that Coleman just put him through, of course.

Yep. Just heard that today. On the way up to the lake.
Something stuck on two year terms for senators.

Might be something else.
Shows how much I pay attention when they aren't making news blurbs.
Behavior issues and such.




No nerves struck Bubba.

Just saying.
A poke at the overly patriotic.
Same as the poke at the non voting.


Pictures aching for posting.
Achmed's pic was requested by Rainy and happened to be in the file.

...was just passing through.

Thank the FSM.

I am

Space Trucker,
I apologize for the POS comment. That was uncalled for. I guess I was the one with the struck nerve.

While at a 4th of July party, Palin quitting Alaska came up in conversation. There was snickering but then one woman in her sixties spoke up and said she likes Sarah Palin and hopes she runs in 2012. I laughed and she was indignant and I realized she was serious.
I've known this woman to have liberal views, especially about woman's rights so I was surprised.
"What do you like about her?" I asked.
"She's a great public speaker." the woman answered.

I changed the subject.

From CNN.com: Friday was "deliberately chosen" for the announcement because of its proximity to the July Fourth holiday, Van Flein said: "She declared her independence from politics as usual."

She sounds insane. Maybe getting into politics wasn't such a good idea for somebody who doesn't like politics.

Land sakes alive, the steak's alive.

Doc - that's a bit spun too, I think. A Friday release before a Holiday is an attempt to minimize length of coverage and attention - as if that were possible for a story like that. The hope is that the next news cycle will swallow it up early the following week. I'll lay odds that they were hoping to use the Jackson funeral as leveraged noise as well.

Appy - Ha! I had a similar moment this weekend!

I was at the Chatham, MA town parade for July 4th, and all sorts of groups were parading by. The cub scouts, the Ancient Mariners (singing Pirate songs), bands of all stripes and so on.

At one point the Chatham Republican party marches by. People are polite, but there is total silence as they go by. I couldn't resist shouting, "Hey, need a new leader? I hear Sarah Palin is looking for a new gig!" I also shouted "Go Deval" at this guy Christie whose planning to run as a Republican in the next MA Gov. race.

Both got a big laugh from the surrounding crowd, but I felt jerky after. I should have let them have their happy July 4th moment and left them alone.

I forgive myself because of the passion I feel about how badly they fucked up the world over the first 4/5ths of this decade, and in the same vein as the anon who got so mad at those who didn't vote, I tend to hold those who did responsible for what their choices did to us. A monkey could have seen Bush was an idiot who had no business running a country in 2000. Still, I would just say it loud enough for the Mermaid to hear if I had it to do over.

Why do you think she did this, Squid? It makes no sense to me really. She's given several reasons, but I have a hard time swallowing any of them (because she was a lame duck, because Letterman picked on her, because she wants to be president (?), because of investigations...).

I don't remember anyone ever quitting their job in politics for these reasons. Usually, they're outted for some major indiscretion, but I don't see one here. Isn't Alaska really screwed right now, too? Because she didn't want stimulus money or something?

What's your take? I don't follow politics much, so maybe I'm missing something.

ETA: I think that she doesn't want to be stuck in Alaska anymore.

Land sakes alive, the steak's alive.

I think she is going to outside the Staples Center this afternoon- pushing a shopping cart with old laundry screaming obscenities at people attending the Michael Jackson tribute.

Just had to get that image out of my head.

Anyway- who CARES why she quit?? I can see no possible good she can do to help ANYONE get elected, much less herself??!

How long til she gets an exclusive deal with Home Shopping Network?

This morning the tv told me she "took time away from a family fishing trip to discuss her resignation". Then it showed her standing in hip waders by a boat talking to a CNN reporter about how she was quitting because all her time was being devoted to fighting corruption charges while she was governor.

It was absurd.

This is kind of sick and inappropriate:

Well, the truth is, I have no idea. This is crazy by every political yardstick I own.

Early reports are that it's not playing well in AK - that they are calling her a quitter. I can't wait to see a poll. I know I expect the people I vote for to stick it out and serve their sworn duty, so I'd be mad if I were them too!

So - if you want to focus on running for President in 2012 I'd think you'd want to be a sitting Governor with a good record. By most accounts things were going pretty well on her watch, so one can only speculate:

1) Someone has something on her that they're going to release -the 'other shoe' so to speak. I see this one as unlikely. I trust the McCain machine's ability to clean that up, and the stuff that was already shredded and the people that were paid off will likely stay that way.

2) Something is going to fall apart in the state that she wants to distance herself from. I see this as unlikely because how could she? If it happens even in the next few years, she's going to share some blame.

3) She wants to spend more time influencing the religious right vote around the country in an attempt to build a base of values-driven voters that can't be beat in 2012. This one seems like a maybe, but she has proven that she has no shortage of time to travel and politic as a sitting Governor - as have many others in the past - so I still think remaining a sitting Governor she could have accomplished this. This won't work, but she might try. She could certainly help conservative voices win local elections to eliminate the teaching of Darwinism in the bible belt. I think she could be a "Duke Maker" if not a king maker or Queen herself.

4) She was offered a lucrative deal as a commentator on Fox. I kinda think this one is it. That she's finally been told that the Republican party is never going to let her get anywhere nationally ever again, and she wants to strike while the iron is hot to cash in on her fame. Moderate and monied Republicans fled her participation in the ticket last fall like wildfire - and there frankly aren't enough values voters to win a national election in this country. Add to that the brazillions the left would spend to amplify her own stupid words to destroy any bid she might make, and she's got no future I can see. She's definitely already got the book deal, so maybe she wants to milk that for all the cash its worth on a book tour without the encumbrance of working to solve the problems of the people of Alaska. Those hockey moms will just have to live without her.

5) She's really cracked and wants out. One commentator I heard noted how personally she takes all this stuff, and just how much bleeds through her speeches when she goes off into nonsense land. As vapid and egotistical as she is, she may actually realize that she's over her head on the national stage and want to step out of the limelight to live some other kind of life. Some combo of speculations 3 and 4 would be consistent with that, but maybe it's even more a desire to really step out for a couple years and then come back in hopes that historically short voter memories might allow a future rebirth in politics when she's had some time to polish herself up a bit. I don't see how that's possible in the Information Age, but maybe she thinks it's her only option. The argumment may go, "Hell, Marion Barry got re-elected by DC voters after smoking crack while mayor." AK voters might be that quirky, but not the lower 48, and not for the top job.

So - this is not something any politician I'd consider smart would do. Then, I think Palin is pretty fucking stupid, and about the worst prepared person to lead anything I've seen come down the pike in my political career - so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Maybe there will be some secret brilliant master stroke revealed in the future that we'll all go, "Wow!" - but I wouldn't bet my retirement on it.

LOL@ Rainy!

Thanks, Squid.

Land sakes alive, the steak's alive.

My vote is Fox too. Seems like she is such a publicity whore that she won't stay out of the limelight for long...

Whatever happens, as crazy as she is, I would not count her out in 2012. If by then the economy is still in the dumps, I can see people wanting to move in the opposite direction, with the helicopter wolf hunting, Joe sixpack drinking with soccer mom.

Which "people" are you referring to?

Certainly not the ones who pay for Republican elections who aren't going to be ready for another stupid head of party any time soon. Watch the backlash within the Republican party if you don't believe me. They will still want the values voters, but they know they can't win without the middle now. The two pitches are currently mutually exclusive, so I don't think an extremist in either camp has a snowball's chance in hell at the moment.

Huckabee is the one to watch.

"At the moment" is the key. You've been following politics for a long time, Squid and you of all people should know that the political climate changes faster than a toddler and his diapers. Look how fast some on the left are criticizing Obama, because he's not moving fast enough on their agendas. And would you have thought a couple of years ago that an ex SNL star would be a US Senator? Or how about when Marion Barry was re-elected, after serving time for smoking crack?

Don't count Palin out. A lot of people love her. She might be having a nervous breakdown TODAY, but like the Terminator, she'll be back!

Well, that's why I said the line. My point was that I'd be surprised if she can come back from the enormity of her stupidity - she pissed off all the wrong people on her own side. Them with the cash and they who hold the keys to the doors.

Maybe, but if it really was just about getting the money, how did McCain end up with the nomination? And why has Steve Forbes always crashed and burned? Plus, if crazy was a negative attribute, then how do all these secretly gay, anti homosexual types keep getting elected? They're obviously mentally ill, yet they're omnipresent?

I'm tellin ya, Palin is a political tidal wave, who's good old boy image connects with a lot of voters.

Quitters never win and winners never quit. So there.

I was with two guys today that were still fried about the Letterman Palin stupidity...so Mevins got a point. There are a lot of people out there that still LIKE her...

I can't predict the future. You guys could be absolutely right. Wanna bet $20 on whether she's the nominee in 2012? I'll take up to five of you on that she won't be.

Let me try to say it this way: I think Palin's ONLY friends are the religious wing - and she's got an uphill fight to expand beyond that. I think she created a whole new kind of Republican - those that are sick to death of not having the best and brightest fronting their party and are now vociferously involved in making sure it doesn't happen again. So sure - if she can change their minds, she could be the next nominee. If my aunt had testicles she'd be my uncle.

We all think that something is broken in Washington- Americans LOVE an outsider going to Washington trying to fix it. You look back on the campaigns of recent years and there is a trend...

Carter was an outsider.

Reagan was an outsider.

Clinton was an outsider.

Dubya was an outsider.

Obama was an outsider.

They all run on the platform of change. If we have to choose between SMART and an OUTSIDER- we as Americans get confused. SMART sometimes means crafty and untrustworthy in our culture. OUTSIDER's have this element of chance- and we like that in a candidate, for some fucked up reason.

Believe me, I wish the best and the brightest were the criteria for being President, as they should be- however that's just not the case.

People like Palin cause she was different- and outsider. Too bad she is a fucking dimwit. I don't think this is drawn along religious lines...

So are you in for $20?

It is a misread of my content to suggest that I'm saying this is drawn along religious lines. I'm saying that that segment of the population, to the extent that is a targetable demographic in a political campaign (which it clearly is) is her only remaining base of support from which to even consider a run for President. I'm talking the math of how she'd put together a winning campaign - it just ain't there right now, and none of my crystal balls can even imagine where she gets the other pieces to add up to a win.

On a side note- at the hotel where I am staying this week, on Spankovision they have a porn movie called "Nailin Palin", which I almost rented for the novelty of it-

I think she will be a fine Fox commentator...just wonder what format- interview or rant?

Also, please leave your crystal balls out of this discussion-

I'm more interested in why you're perusing the spank-o-vision titles than Squid's crystal balls.

Does your company pay for that?

You spend as much time in hotel rooms as I do, and you will make forts out of complimentary soap in the shower...The porn titles are just an appetizer before I really go mad.

Nah, I am a good employee. If I buy porn I pay for it separately. I have never gotten tagged for expenses-

I'd rather see $14 bucks extra on the hotel bill for porn than $200 (or whatever the going rate is) on the credit card for an escort.

I mean, that's a savings of $186, and in this economy, every dollar counts!

It's always the same thing with you, Lizzlee.

I wasn't actually speaking from personal experience on this one, Caps. Unless you count tales from a friend.

I meant the penny pinching.

It's the paper towel thing, isn't it?

Besides, I like to think that consistency is one of my better qualities. I'm like the McDonald's of Odd Todd.

Yeah, I know I'm leaving myself wide open on that one.

Billions and billions served.

All but Obama were governors; hardly outsiders. Everyone ever running tries to say they are outsiders but they never are. True outsiders (Pat Buchanon) are outside for a reason and will never be elected. Obama wasn't a governor but I would call him more of a newby then an outsider.

Not so Wilma.

Governors are by most definitions Washington outsiders.

The theory is that they have not been compromised by the machine that grinds out laws in Washington, are closer to the people by having focused on administration of a single state, and that they have specific experience turning in budgets (often with balance budget amendments), managing bureaucratic staffs and departments, and bottom line governing-in-action rather than policy-in-abstract that Senators and Congressmen get hit on.

You may be arguing that with the incestuous nature of both party politics being what they are, they really don't live up to the term outsider - but in a race, pretty much everyone who has not served directly in Washington for Congress or an Administration will cast themselves as an outsider to that process, untainted by years of the kind of wheeling and dealing necessary to succeed in DC. Some who HAVE been in Washington for years will still try to cast themselves as outsiders or at least "Mavericks." Rahm Emmanuel perplexingly cast himself successfully as an outsider in his Congressional race despite a lifelong career in DC prior to that.

Somewhat illogically in my mind, it works to tell people that you know nothing about how to get things done in Washington, and that's perceived as a good thing. I will tell you that without question the reverse is true, all protestations about "Changing the way we do things!" aside. Change becomes such an umbrella term - change the ideology, change the process, change blah blah blah. I usually respond to simply, 'Change the PERSON." The process has been set forth by the Constitution, subsequent case law and enacted law. The process is the best humanity has come up with so far, and ain't changing at it's fundamental roots. I credit Bush for clever work-arounds that were probably impeachable that he got away with - but this whole bit is a digression anyway.

Governors can most definitely wage the most credible outsider campaigns of any potential candidates for President, followed closely by large-city mayors. They have both the experience running a government, and have not worked in Washington.

True outsiders like - say Steve Forbes who was mentioned yesterday - or Ross Perot, have to contend with complaints that they've never actually had to do ANY kind of goverining coalition building - which so far has been universally lethal to their campaigns.

I guess I look at polical office as rungs on a ladder and I see it as one structure. I can see the flaw in that thinking.

Before Bush, I never thought who held the office of president was all that important. I thought there was a limit to how much bad one person could do because of the checks and balances. Before Bush, I really thought the House and Senate would do the job of making sure the executive branch stayed within the law, at least. But I was younger then...

I just wanna say, Squid really knows his Washington shit. I enjoy reading his take on politics.

Squid- Interesting that you mention mayors of big cities. I always thought Bloomberg should have been a presidential contender. I never understood why the GOP never rallied behind him??

I signed up for Sarahs twitter

Here's the last three tweets:

Todd and I share the sorrow felt by so many as Ft Rich soldier makes ultimate sacrifice

So AK kids: take time to take your parents fishing: "You learn more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation" -Plato

Smilin' dipnetters fill freezers tomorrow- Fish & Game opens Kenai fishery; I'll be up North for 2nd Amendment legislation/policy in Frbanks

I'd guess because he's too liberal for the party's base to run as a Republican, and may not like his chances as an indy?

He runs a pretty liberal city, is a former Dem, and there were other 'moderate' choices in the Rep field like McCain and Rudy - who shared a similar resume further buttressed by his experience handling 9/11.

I'm not an expert on the guy though.

Too much baggage with McCain and Rudy. Bloomberg: 8th richest man in the USA- seems like he would kick ass and take names.

Palin is a freak. Belongs on Fox...

Oh, I meant looking back at the last election, not going forward.

Hopefully if you meant looking forward he's not been tossed around much, it's because it's too damn early to be talking about the next Presidential election!

Nope! This is EXACTLY the right time to start talking about the next election...Git your gloves on.. ITS GO TIME!

That way the reasonable Republicans can have their party back.

I am

I already said watch Huckabee!