What a Week! (And it's only Tuesday)

Swine Flu

To think that just a short week ago, the vast majority of us were blissfully unaware of the H1N1 strain of the flu, which is a blend of genetic material from pigs, birds and humans. Wow, that must have been some party!

Several cases of the illness (but no deaths) have been reported in the United States, with most of the sickies having recently returned from trips to Mexico, where the virus is suspected to have claimed 159 lives thus far.

Maybe we should, um, close the borders to prevent unnecessary exposure of the swine flu to Americans. I wonder what inept Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano would say to that plan of action? She doesn't like it much. In a press conference, she stated "We're already doing passive surveillance at the border. You would close the border if you thought you could contain the spread of disease, but the disease already is in a number of states within the United States."

Wow, what would make her call for the Mexican border to be closed? A horrific drug war that's killed dozens of American Citizens caught in the crossfire in the past few months? Oh wait... Speaking of Napolitano, here's a fun site to check out- firejanetnapolitano.com



Air Farce One

Thousands of people evacuated from buildings on both sides of the Hudson yesterday after a 747 was spotted flying just 1000 feet over Ground Zero. You can imagine the terror felt by those in New York as they remembered the 9/11 terrorist attacks in Manhattan and DC less than a decade ago.

Turns out that the plane was one of the two that serve as Air Force One, the President's personal aircraft. What was it doing flying so low to the NYC skyline? Come on, do you really need to ask? Photo op.

The Air Force apparently had permission for the 10a.m. flyover, but no one bothered to warn the masses. Whoops.


Arlen Specter
Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter officially switched teams today. He now bats for Team Democrat. This came as no surprise to many, as the stimulus supporting moderate has made no secret of his liberal leanings. A few of my favorite comments on Twitter-

@Crevek: Would I be mixing metaphors if I said it is a glorious day that Arlen Specter has finally come out of the closet?

@snarkandboobs: Upset about Specter. I mean, where else are we gonna find a completely unreliable vote and someone to quote irrelevant Scottish law?

@TLOT: NEWSFLASH: Specter leaves GOP, joins DNC, everyone says "He was in the GOP?"


Lingerie Bowl

And to top it off in sports news, San Diego is now the proud home of the San Diego Seduction, a Lingerie Bowl Team. I have not yet been officially asked to join the team.

Miss California

During the Miss America Pageant last Sunday, Miss California Carrie Prejean may have sacrificed the crown in exchange for her honesty on a hot button topic- homosexual marriage.

Prejean was asked by celebrity blogger Perez Hilton (who is incidentally is openly gay), "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit. Why or why not?"

The drop dead gorgeous and obviously courageous Prejean might have briefly wavered, but stuck to her convictions and replied, "Well, I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage...And you know what, in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be - between a man and a woman. Thank you very much."

Perez has since called her a "dumb bitch" on his infamous website. Hmmm... what happened to, "Dissent is patriotic," which was the war cry of the left for the eight year duration of the Bush Presidency? On that note, Carrie is not even technically dissenting, since she stands with the majority of Californians that voted yes on Prop 8 last fall.

I have to wonder what would have happened if she had worded her response differently, perhaps saying, "I agree with President Obama on this issue. I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Now, for me as a Christian — for me — for me as a Christian, it is also a sacred union. God’s in the mix... Because historically — because historically, we have not defined marriage in our constitution. It’s been a matter of state law. That has been our tradition. I mean, let’s break it down. The reason that people think there needs to be a constitutional amendment, some people believe, is because of the concern that — about same-sex marriage. I am not somebody who promotes same-sex marriage, but I do believe in civil unions. I do believe that we should not — that for gay partners to want to visit each other in the hospital for the state to say, you know what, that’s all right, I don’t think in any way inhibits my core beliefs about what marriage are. I think my faith is strong enough...that I can afford those civil rights to others, even if I have a different perspective or different view."

Guess what? That italicized text came directly from the Chosen One's silver tongue last summer during the Saddleback Presidential Forum.

Just some food for thought.

Smart Girl Politics Meet and Greets

If you're near one of these areas, stop by and say hello!


San Diego
The Vine
1851 Bacon St
(between Newport Ave & Niagara Ave)
San Diego, CA 92107
(619) 222-8463
theobvine.com
4 pm local time

Northern VA
Continental
1911 N. Fort Meyer Dr.
Arlington, VA 22209
6:00-? pm

Houston:
Berryhill Baja Grill
1717 Post Oak Blvd.
Houston, TX 77056
6:00-? pm

New York:
Sheraton Mahwah Hotel
1 International Boulevard
Route 17 North
Mahwah, NJ 07495
6:00-? pm

Orlando:
The White Wolf Cafe
1829 N. Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32804
6:00-? pm

Raleigh:
Mimi's Cafe
1115 Walnut Street
Cary, NC 27511
6:00-? pm

Atlanta:
La Paz
2950 New Paces Ferry Rd. SE
Atlanta, GA 30339
6:00-? pm

Lansing:
Tavern on the Square
206 S Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
6:00-? pm

Miami/Ft. Lauderdale:
The Blue Martini Lounge
2432 E. Sunrise Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
6:00-? pm

Chicago:
Exchequer Restaurant and Pub
226 S. Wabash
Chicago, IL 60604
2:00-? pm

Keep it Classy, MSM!

The main stream media has almost collapsed into a fit of giggles this week over the Tea Parties held around the country and, at last count, attended by hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Why is a massive, peaceful demonstration by freedom loving Americans cause for such hysterics?

For CNN, MSNBC and other media outlets, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use the word "teabagging" in a sentence.

Teabagging, for those who don't live in a frat house, refers to a sexual act involving part of the male genitalia and a second person's face or mouth.

Wow. Very mature. Almost as mature as someone that uses the argument, "I won," when people don't agree with him, or smirks while he slyly flips off his opposition as he's accepting victory.

Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is standing by the reports released by the DHS last week warning law enforcement across the country of violent right wing extremists and our penchant for violence.

And sure enough... the DC Tea Party was shut down temporarily due to those violent right wing extremists. Someone had the gall, no, the audacity, to *gasp* throw a box of tea bags at the White House! Granted, in today's world, that wasn't a very smart move. But if that was the most violent thing that happened at the hundreds of protests on Wednesday, I don't think that the DHS has a leg to stand on.

The People are Speaking...

... Are our elected officials listening?




By the way, that first chick making her voice heard is yours truly. :-)

Right Wing Extremeist Tea Parties

I have to start this post with a conversation I had with a friend earlier this evening.

Friend- "So what are your plans tomorrow?"

Me- "It's the 15th tomorrow... I have a tea party to go to!"

Friend- "What are you going to do with your kids while you're there?"

Me- "Well, they'll probably be there with me..."

Friend- "What?? I worry enough with you going to these things! Do you really think they're safe there?"

Me- *laughing* "I've been to two of these things already and seriously, it seems like half the women there have their small children with them! It's been a really great time to connect with other like-minded individuals."

Friend- "If you're sure... I trust you."


These tea parties have been wonderful. They really have been. I know they are protests, but really, they are just American citizens coming together to make a point that there are MANY of us that do not agree that the way to end the current recession is spend more money and invite more government oppression into our lives.

I have met so many caring, passionate people at the two tea parties I've attended in the past month, and I hope to meet many more tomorrow on Tax Day, April 15th. There has been no violence, no secret HuffPo or ACORN plants (that I know of), and nothing but love and pride for the freedom that our country stands for. I would be proud to have my daughters stand by my side and voice the opinion that We the People want the opportunity to work hard and achieve something of our lives.

Even my five year old daughter understands that it is wrong to take something from someone that has earned it and give it to someone that has not. "But why don't those people work hard like you and Daddy?" She has asked me on more than one occasion.

My answer? "Sometimes people can't work Baby, and when people have hard times, other people should help them. Like we give money and clothes and toys to people that don't have a lot."

Her response?

"But Mommy, if they can work, they really should."


Yes Darling Daughter, they should. Have I taught you yet the term "enabling"?


Anyway, back to my point. The Tea Parties have been the most wonderful expression of our Constitutional rights that I have ever personally witnessed. And then I read a report from the Department of Homeland Security warning law enforcement officials across the country of right wing extremism and even racism.

Ok, let me get this straight. The President of the United States of America can pal around with "God DAMN America" pastors and "We didn't do enough" domestic flag burning terrorists, but the tea party protesters are the dangerous ones? People that just want the freedom to choose their own job, doctor, and schools for their children? Oh man, watch out for those right wing nuts! All they want is FREEDOM from an oppressive government.

We can't have that, now can we?

Random Mish Mash of Thoughts

I've been MIA while working on a charity event for my daughter's school, so I thought I'd post some thoughts that have gone through my brain since my last post.

I was already less than thrilled with Obama's Leno appearance. I was aghast when he poked fun at the Special Olympics. "It's like — it was like Special Olympics, or something," he said in reference to his bowling game.

The man doesn't seem to have a filter. Every time he's separated from his beloved teleprompter, he blurts out something completely inappropriate and unbecoming of his position. He was barely in office when he blurted, "I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any seances."

He has to be the world's worst gift giver. British PM Gordon Brown gifted the new President with an ornamental pen holder made from the timbers of the Victorian anti-slave ship HMS Gannet and a first edition of the seven-volume biography of Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert, among other things. In return, Obama allegedly gave Brown a "special collector's box" of 25 classic American DVDs. DVDs which are unplayable in the UK without special converters.

Do we even need to talk about the Ipod/Queen fiasco?

Speaking of the Queen... I cannot believe that Michelle O. touched her. I understand that many people may not be aware of proper protocol regarding royalty, but as First Lady, you think she'd have brushed up on her What To Do When You Meet the Queen Skills.

Meanwhile, while Michelle wasn't showing enough respect to her Majesty, the POTUS was busy bowing at the waist to the king of Saudi Arabia. Are you kidding me? When I heard this, I honestly thought it was a joke, or a conspiracy theory. But I've seen the video. It's a clear bow. Anyone that says otherwise would probably try to argue that guns kill people, or spoons make people fat.

No wonder no one is investing in anything these days! We have a President that is so impetuous that he runs around showing himself subservient to leaders of conflict ridden countries, thinks it's entirely appropriate to give unplayable DVDs to PM Gordon Brown, goes around firing CEO's of private companies(GM), taxing the bonuses of those that had nothing to do with this financial mess other than have the misfortune of working for a company that received bailout money (AIG), and is refusing to accept repayment from the companies that want to give the money back!

It all seems like a bad dream. This administration has gone so far off the edge of sanity that people are finally starting to wake up. Little by little, the glitter is wearing off, and all that's left is a swarmy deceiver with no real experience, no conscience, no patriotism, and no desire to help anyone but himself.

Let's start taking our country and our freedoms back. I want freedom to fail. If I have freedom to fail, it also means that I have freedom to succeed.

Attend a Tax Day Tea Party rally this Saturday, and a Tea Party Protest next Wednesday, April 15th. For more information about finding one in your area, visit here.