Apologies for absence of my rambling thoughts

To all that have enjoyed my little rants on topics from Media to Government, I do apologize for the long spans in between blogs.

'Tis the season of holidays, family joy, office parties, flu sickness, and overtime.

New blogs shall be coming soon.. Maybe sooner then you think

So in the meantime, here's some comedy to hold you over

So Slap the Tap, save me a Guinness and skip the peppermint oreos.

Cheers!

How "Obamacare" Killed Twinkie Appreciation Day

No matter if you’re Republican or Democrat, there is a common thread of thought, there always has to be a villain. Not just a group, but a person, as it’s easier to lay blame on one or many then to look deeper into the issue.

I purposely took the last 2 weeks off from blogging to decompress from the vile, hate and finger pointing of politics, yet I gave in briefly from time to time to Social Media conversation of the topic of the day and sure enough, people will fight for what they see is right, regardless of fact placed before them.

We live in an “I’m right, you’re wrong so suck it” society, where no matter how misinformed one is, they are righteous in their thought and the other is dead-fast wrong.

For instance, many have been fighting over the shutdown of Hostess Corp and how many have chosen the “correct” side and discredited any other thought to fact. If so many people loved Hostess so much, why did it go bankrupt 2 times in 25 years?

The immediate answer of course is the Union(s).

Now, the other person could bring up the fact that in the 25 year time-frame, Hostess was mismanaged and gave large bonuses to their CEO’s while taking concessions from the Union(s).

So which side of opinion is correct? Both sides are correct, but this is America and how dare anyone believe two sides could be slapped with destruction of a company.

As for all those that petitioned the White House and asked for Government intervention to save an Iconic name like Hostess, well, just hang out at the 7-Eleven a little bit longer because Hostess in one form or another will return.

But when people start to bring “Obamacare” into the argument, it just shows the ignorance of people needing more to blame, as “Obamacare” never was in play in the fight over Ding Dongs and Twinkies.

Before I go further, I have never been a fan of Unions nor “Obamacare,” yet I also believe that they are not the complete ill of today’s American business practice either.

Over the past year, business has repeatedly stated they would suspend hiring and/or lay off employees if “Obamacare” still stood on Election Day 2012 and shortly after midnight on Nov 6, sure enough, business by the handful started updating their press releases of upcoming layoffs.

Even though many of the press releases struck the same chord, much of the public only read the first two paragraphs of the proposed number of layoffs, yet hidden in many of the press releases were the words “global layoffs.”

A good example is that of Dana Holding Corp. DHC had already laid off some staff prior to the Nov 6 election, citing “$24 million over the next six years in additional US health care expenses.” Yet towards the bottom of the release it additionally stated that “to cover that six year cost, more cuts will come from their worldwide workforce of 25K.”

It should be noted that DHC board member, Mark Gallogly, was one of Obama’s biggest campaign bundlers and DHC holds a supplier contract with Tesla Motors, who also received a Dept of Energy loan worth $465 million under the Recovery Act.

A list of upcoming layoff press releases that has gotten much circulation on the Interweb comes from FreedomWorks.

If you haven’t heard of FreedomWorks by now here’s a quick review; FreedomWorks is a 2 part “grassroots” tax exempt PAC group run by former GOP House Majority leader Dick Armey. There’s FreedomWorks, Inc., that calls itself a “social welfare” organization and then there’s FreedomWorks Foundation, the charitable offshoot. Even though they are “separate” they share all expenses from staff to office address.

I do find it funny that a tax exempt PAC group like Freedomworks that attacks the government machine is chaired by an ousted former politician that profited during his time in government.

But the list provided by FreedomWorks is misleading as my own employer is listed as pushing layoffs due to “Obamacare” but that’s not the case. My employer’s layoffs were “global,” much coming from our European market in part of selling a section of the company.

But it’s easy to make the story sound larger when just adding any BillyBob’s or TechniMart company that has a press release announcing layoffs.

Yet, there are some companies taking advantage of “Obamacare” to pad profits and get easy Media coverage as well.

Applebee’s and Denny’s have scolded franchisee groups for stating they were cutting employment or adding a “Obamacare” surcharge to the final receipt due to “Obamacare” costs, as their words have hurt business for the main company.

Now it seems Papa John’s Pizza has become a rallying point for many, so much that people have called for a “Papa John’s Appreciation Day” in hopes it equals that of “Chic-Fil-A Day” of months past.

The two do not equate in their purpose.


Chic-Fil-A was about a man’s belief in his Religion while Papa John’s Pizza is about man’s belief in his profit margin.

Papa John’s founder, John Schnatter had stated back in August 2012, he would have to raise the cost of his product some 15cents to cover the cost of “Obamacare” for his employees. And after the November election, a press release by Schnatter stated he will begin placing his employees on part-time status so they don’t qualify for “Obamacare” and still raise his prices to cover “Obamacare.”

So to beat paying “Obamacare,” Schnatter will slash employee hours, yet still use the rise in pricing to add to profits. Then again, I prefer the local pizzeria menu then that of cookie-cutter menus.

What will be interesting will be how the Media reports the next two quarterly earnings reports from these companies as well as many others after the layoffs, adjusted pricing, and so forth to come.

I bet many will see an upward spike in earnings.

That’s it, Slap the Tap and pour me some Cockeyed Cooper while I check out the latest Ebay Hostess Twinkie sale.

Cheers!

2012 Election Recap: The people have spoken- the bastards!

“The people have spoken- the bastards!*”
-Dick Tuck

Well it’s finally over, no more debates, political commercials and political strategists. But what does America do the day after a Presidential election they’ve dedicated 4 years of their life to? Well, half gloat and dance while the other half will play Monday morning quarterback as to WTF went wrong.

I admit, that going into Tuesday’s election I had no idea how it would conclude, except for notion that the Capital would remain status quo. Yet with two lackluster candidates the adage of “Why should I vote for someone I don’t want to ouster someone I don’t want?” became true around the country.

All the cards laid on the table led to the Great “O” getting his pick slip as people drooled over their favorite polling websites. But what led to the Great “O’s” re-election? Everything all Media, both Conservative and Liberal cleared a path with their insistence of “If it bleeds it leads” mentality.



Absolutely the Democrats were able to turn the conversation away from the economy but towards social issues and all Media played their part, not just the Liberal based Media.

Think about it in the final months of the campaign, Social Issues rose to the top and the GOP is not strong on Social Issues, it becomes foot-in-mouth disease for them.
Sandra Fluke, “War on Women,” Contraception, Rape, Abortion, Social Welfare programs and so on, all led in favor of the Democrats, because they can play the “heartfelt shoulder” leaving the GOP seeming cold hearted.

The biggest of Conservative mouth pieces of Limbaugh and Hannity played their part as they couldn’t turn the course back to the economy as much as they tried. Social Issues were headline news and that’s what the listeners wanted to talk about because we are of short-minded people.

The GOP hierarchy from Priebus to Boehner, hell, even to the Koch Brothers needs to stand up and face the fact that around the country they did not have the strongest of dogs in the fight.

Akin and Mourdock should’ve won, yet, foot-in-mouth on social issues led them to their eventual lose, costing the GOP two seats.

A second attempt by WWE CEO Linda McMahon to win a Congressional seat came not with victory but loss of millions out of her bank account.

For Heaven’s sake, Pennsylvania Senator challenger Tom Smith couldn’t beat sleepy Bob Casey, a man who needed to say nothing 6 years prior to beat Rick Santorum.

Yes, the Republican constituent and even the disenfranchised Democrat spent Election night screaming of “Moving to Canada” or “Obama stole the election thanks to Auto bailouts” for the re-election of the Great “O.”

Honestly, when going back to www.270towin.com, Obama won re-election even without Ohio, as Pennsylvania, Virginia (!) and Florida fell in his name. Without Ohio, the final tally would’ve been: Obama 308 – Romney 230.

Had Romney won both Florida and Ohio the total would have been: Obama 279 – Romney 259.

The fact that Romney couldn’t carry Massachusetts and Michigan, two States where he is beloved by many tells a missed story.

Anyone remember 2004 when John Edwards couldn’t carry North Carolina for the Kerry ticket? It was his home State and he couldn’t carry it just like Paul Ryan couldn’t carry Wisconsin in 2012. The difference between the two VP candidates is that Ryan is loved in Wisconsin and Edwards wasn’t expected to win a second Senatorial term in North Carolina.

I have no doubt in my mind that Mitt Romney is the compassionate & charitable man we’ve seen through the years, yet, simply he was not the strongest candidate for the GOP, he was just the last one standing when the primaries ended.

I see Nov 7, 2012 as a time for the GOP to rewrite themselves, bury the obstructionist attitude and put forth constructive effort to show the people they can do the job. The idea that they were given the House to be just obstructionist was a hoax; they were just a better option than the Democratic option.

By doing so, they can run the 2014 mid-term election on a new “We did this” slogan with completed legislation. I’m not talking about tossing all their convictions, but compromise is what this country needs to get the machine rolling.

However, as suspected, they have already moved pass 2014 and onto 2016.

That’s it, Slap the Tap on the Freedom Pilsner and place an order for that Chris Christie 2016 “Fat Guys United” bumper sticker.

Cheers!








Come listen to a story of a man named Ted
Poor billionaire couldn’t keep his family fed
Then one day he headed to the Polls
Up popped Socialism’ bubbling stool

Socialism that is, free phones and wealth distribution for all

Well next thing you ol' Ted's a millionaire
Accountant said Ted taxes are killing you over here
He said tax shelters is the place your money outta be
So he loaded up the Porsche Cayenne and moved to Calgary
Canada that is, Hockey, Mounties, free healthcare

Well now it’s time to say goodbye to Ted and all his kin
And they would like to say fuck you for voting Obama back in
You’re all invited to kiss his riches goodbye
As your helpin of his taxes saves your ass as he sigh

Top 1% that is, set a spell, write off you are
You all can suck it, y'hear

*- Quote from preface of Kinky Friedman- You Can Lead a Politician to Water But You Can’t Make Him Think, 2007

Social Media helps breed the ignorant political mindset

Sorry if the truth hurts, however in today’s America, Social Media overload has created a swarm of stupidity that people will not accept the truth and would rather keep “sharing” misinformation.

As we know, you can’t put anything on the Internet that’s not true!


As we enter the final hours of the most partisan and despised Modern election cycle since Truman/Eisenhower, one thing is certain, Social Media is the driving force for pushing the wedge further into the partisan divide and recovery is beyond sight.

For every anti-Romney Facebook posting, there are 3 anti-Obama posting, yet the truth behind these postings are abbreviated to fit the narrative disgusted theme.

We have such an insatiable need for news, that we run with every report as fact upon its initial release and when later reports come forth, many refuse to believe any correction.

Think about the tidal wave of information that has been digested by everyone concerning the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

As we’ve learned about gas stations closing due to dry pumps, power stations not producing electricity and out-of-state power company employees from Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina being turned away at the New Jersey border by Union workers wanting them to sign Union contracts to help out.

This nugget has been "shared' by many yet that's only part of the story.

In truth, the Alabama and Georgia employees were turned around by their employers that never made it past Maryland. Yes Union contracts played a role, but their employers turned them back, not a scuffle at the border.

Wouldn’t someone think that these Union employees should be working and not forming picket lines? Many lacked that common thought and felt the need to “share” the story immediately due to disgust over Unions or the lack of decency for those in need.

Here’s some more info for the nugget-size minds, call it gentlemen’s agreement between Utility companies that they help another provider when disaster strikes, as the distressed provider pays the wages of the traveling crews. It’s not done out of kindness, but out of necessity.

So rigid is Social Media, that “keyboard bravery” is overly abundant as well is complacent in the breeding today’s Internet arrogance.

I recently saw a posting (picture above) on a friend’s wall from a “shared” source that stated:

“I don't care if you are offended, if you are embarrassed, or if you don't agree, even if you don't support O-dick-bag. Truth be told, I don't care AT ALL about your feelings. I take great pride in offending people. I take even more pride in offending liberals. I take even MORE pride knowing I piss them off. If you want to fall into the category with the cry baby liberals, that is YOUR problem, not mine. “

I posted a message to the “shared” source simply asking “You have the right to post whatever you wish, but are you offended when someone posts the same about conservatives or Gov Romney. Just wondering, not trying to start a fight.”

I received an “F*ck You” response and deletion of my post.

Yes, we are such an opinionated driven lot that it’s easier to spout political views while denouncing any disagreement that it leads to a CAPITAL LETTER, misspelling, vulgar rage and the keyboard is one’s protective shield to hide.

We can’t help ourselves as Social Networking has given us a path to mock friends and family during football season or to introduce everyone to a new addition to the family. What was once done religiously by pencil is now a mouse click away.

When we should be encouraging people to vote, we are instead misleading and misguiding many into a new form of “bread and circus” politics.

Alas, once this election is final, we will not have a moment to breathe as the masses will return to Social Media with gloating meme or vile of disgust in the result.

That’s it, slap the tap and poor a round of Yards Brewing Tavern Ale for all my “friends” in thanks to the end of the annoying political commercials in favor of the annoying Old Navy Christmas commercial.

Cheers and good voting to all.

Where are we as a nation now that the 2012 Presidential campaign is almost over?

Where are we as a nation now that the 2012 Presidential campaign is almost over?

We, as a divided political nation are about one Social Network post away from delusional madness, because if there’s one thing for certain, this campaign has proved; the partisan divide has widened, people have lost the ability to talk in a calm mature manner, and people will post whatever no matter the content just to get someone enraged.

As technology grows and more avenues open for people to voice their political opinion, the more distant the civility horizon becomes. We are at the moment in time when simple disagreement once was to just walk away, not now, nope we now must badger and poke further to make sure one gets the final word no matter what it may be without regard of the verbal opponent. “Keyboard bravery” or “Keyboard strong” has become this decade’s version of writing on the bathroom stall.

Yes, it’s easy to stand tall from a mouse click away, throw verbal abuse after verbal abuse to another, and then block them when the battle obviously has been lost.

I’ve been on discussion boards and been through these battles, only to be the one blocked by my adversary. I fight my political discussion board battles clean, I try to steer away from name calling and lead the opponent further into their thought.

It’s a game, yet when the opponent obviously sticks to one side of the argument, frustration sets in for them. Capital letters, misspelling, curse words galore, and quoting one’s IQ makes them all the more game for fun until you call them “cupcake” and they block you from seeing any more posts.

So bad is the divide, “people” of some sort feel it’s necessary to warn everyone that if Obama loses the election there will be rioting of a National “Rodney King” magnitude. And yes, I’ve heard Media report, been told by family and received messages from people that plan on taking Nov 7 off work and not send their children to school for fear of rioting and violence.

If these “riot” conversations are true, why is Media not attempting to tap down the flames instead of stoking the fire as they are?

So how did we come to this point?

Who pushed the buttons to this point?

It may sound silly but the Media has held our collective hand to this abyss. No one will believe it, because why would Fox or MSNBC not report the truth? It’s called ratings and the adage of “if it bleeds it leads” is a placard on the newsroom wall.

Over the past 4 weeks, the partisan divide has widened due to Punditry Worlds reviews and so-called reporting that one would think they were on a grade school playground listening to their demographics arguing the misleading points.

Until people stop refusing to change the channel and spend time listening to the other side or click to another website to read another view, the divide will widened ever further. It’s come to the point that one must click on Drudge Report to read an article and then find a similar article at Thinkprogress, cut and paste parts of the article to get the complete detail of a story.

Yes Yellow Journalism of the internet age rules the partisanship divide and it seems as the day grows longer is when the vulgarity grows louder and that’s by the pundit host from both walks of political life.

A good ear in a political conversation can tell who listens/reads who in Punditry World, it’s all in the “facts” they use and it’s almost forbidden to add another view or counter “facts” to indulge further thought. Take the ever present argument of the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline.

As the everlasting argument begins “If we drill here, fuel costs will go down, American jobs will be created, and our dependence of foreign oil will dry up,” yet that is mere political talking point banter with Punditry World leading the way.

Simple research, wait, who has time for research when their favorite talker did it for them, right? Wrong.

The original TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline application never guaranteed American jobs in the numbers we’ve been told through Media, as their repeated number seems to grow with each breathe. 500 jobs one week rolls into 1500 jobs the following week and ends up at 20K jobs in the end and it’s that number that gets repeated.

TransCanada’s only mention of jobs in their application mentions “possible 4,000 temporary jobs” and those jobs are sporadic at best from manufacturing and construction. However, half of the manufactured piping and steel used in the construction of the pipeline has already been imported from China and Japan.

Landowners in Texas are forming opposition and filing lawsuits against TransCanada due to shady business practices and the lack of guaranteed American jobs.
Nor had/has TransCanada guaranteed that the oil flowing through the pipeline will be sold in the US to start with.

But, the misleading talking point Punditry World will not discuss those facts and instead argue what has already been voiced.

How bad is the argument over oil and pricing?

When mentioning on a post that Big Oil has pulled out of sending natural gas drilled from the Alaskan North Face to the lower 48 and selling it to Asia instead, many people will defend Big Oil because they can’t point a finger at the current Administration.

Yet, if it were a Republican President, MSNBC’s Ed Shultz would probably be reporting from the North Face tonight, screaming about a piss poor job that fictional president was doing with a mass of Liberals freezing behind him.

If it doesn’t fit ones narrative, it’s easy to argue with limited facts. But who wants to know full facts in an argument?

As long as “we the people” play the snakes to the Media Piper, we’re screwed as a nation, just look over the past 20 years for proof.

That’s it, Slap the Tap, pour me some smooth Black Strap Stout and get off my barstool because the Election Day countdown clock just started and Chris Matthews’ tingly leg meter just spiked.

Cheers!

Town Hall Forum Recap: How To Hold In A Fart On National TV

So after 2 Presidential debates and 1 VP debate what have we learned? Absolutely nothing other than the partisan divide grows larger every day and Punditry World only likes the moderators when they work in their favor.


As Media outlets restarted their debate def-com countdown clocks on Tuesday morning, the parade of partisan wonks lined the sidewalks of Hofstra University, drank their kool-aid and counted the timing of tingly spasms in Chris Matthews’ leg.

I, however, was more worried about which Presidential debate drinking game to follow for the night and what insightful comedic commentary would ensue on my Facebook & Twitter pages.

One of the biggest questions for the night on Social Media wasn’t if O’Barry would show up or of Willard raided Barry Manilow’s closet, but where the hell did these 80 “Undecided” voters come from and did they take the “pinky swear of death” to verify such?

Have no fear because since 1992 the Commission for Presidential Debate has contracted the Gallup Organization to survey and use Jedi mind tricks to probe prospective undecided individuals of their political bias to sit in a stuffy auditorium and act as if they are holding in a fart while attending Sunday Mass.

So for 90 grueling nauseating minutes of interruptions, stare down contests, zingers, laughs and political mythology, we still received no answers and felt pity for those 80 “undecided” souls.

Yes, both candidates bickered about the other’s IKEA instructional plans on how to fix our economy using their MacGyver survival booklet.

In the previous Presidential debate, Willard talked about his “12 million” jobs plan that somehow became discounted during the VP debate by running mate Paul Ryan to “7 million” jobs, yet returned to the original “12 million” for this Presidential debate. Did you get all that, because Punditry World missed it.

So how does the plan roller coaster, well it seems Ryan’s statement is correct and here’s how: Willard’s numeric wizardry involves numbers provided by economists.

Economists projected future jobs forecast tells us that 3 million jobs will be added over the next 4 years with today’s current economic climate and that 2 million jobs will return to the manufacturing sector thanks to the Chinese Intellectual Property lawsuit.

Willard’s plan actually calls for 7 million jobs created, not the 12 million he’s been fibbing about. Yet, like most politicians, simple math only adds up to what they want us to believe, however, my 1st grader can tell Willard that 3+2+7= 12 (million).

But that’s just math, Punditry World and constituents don’t care how the number comes about, they only like a solid even number.

Have no fear, because O’Barry’s jobs creation plan follows Willard’s, but he’s only looks at the 5 million over 4 years, relying heavily on the return of manufacturing from China. Tada!

The large misconception that Punditry World and the lemmings care for talking about was over the term “Terror” and the Benghazi consulate attack.

We’ve seen the replay from Fox to MSNBC to the Daily Show, everyone has interpreted what really transpired between Crowley, Willard, and O’Barry in retrospect to what was said, how it was said, and when it was said by the President in the Rose Garden concerning the Benghazi consulate attack.

O’Barry stated that “the day after the attack, I stood in the Rose garden, and I told the American people, the world that we are going to find out exactly what happened, that this was an act of terror.”

That is factually true, so point to O’Barry, but Willard wouldn’t let him off the hook and kept pressing that it took O’Barry 14 days to announce the Benghazi consulate attack as terrorism.

What everyone should be focusing on is when Willard kept pressing and O’Barry called for Crowley to “get the script.”

Per the transcripts, Crowley stated, “He did call it an act of terror. It did as well take — it did as well take two weeks or so for the whole idea of there being a riot out there about this tape to come out. You are correct about that.”

This is what many have missed. Crowley actually backed up both O’Barry and Willard in her answer.

The other question is how did Crowley produce one upon request?

This all leads into what a sham this Town Hall forum actually was, from Gallup to Crowley to the staged antics and everyone screaming on social Networks as to who actually won the debate.

My final count for the Presidential Debate drinking game was:
Willard- 18 bottles
O'Barry- 15 bottles

Good thing I recycle.

In the end, it’s another draw between campaigns with Willard having one decided victory and the sigh we heard at the end of this shameful forum was from the so-called “undecided” voters unclenching their butt cheeks in relief.

However, the lemmings will believe their guy won hands down beause their favorite Punditry World talker said so.

That’s it, slap the tap on some frosty cold Oban Bay Kilt Lifter and pass the Animal Crackers. Cheers!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/us/politics/transcript-of-the-second-presidential-debate-in-hempstead-ny.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Wire/2012/1018/Presidential-debate-101-When-did-Obama-label-Libya-attack-terror
http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-romney-town-hall-debate-how-voters-were-selected-2012-10
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/10/secret-debate-rules-obama-and-romney-agreed/57974/
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/August/12-civ-1036.html

VP Debate Reaction: The lost footage of "Up" sums it up

As Democrats wallowed in an emotional abyss for a week as their leader, O'Barry, gave one of the most pitiful unemotional detached presidential debate performances of modern history the previous week, Republicans danced with glee upon his political grave.



But somewhere in Danville, KY, a man was placed in hiding, stood in front of a mirror and repeated to himself “who’s got 2 thumbs, great set of teeth and doesn’t give a f*ck? This guy, Joe Biden.”

That’s right, the plight of the Democratic Party presidential survival stood on the shoulders of the human gaffe-laugh track, VP Joe Biden. And amazingly, after one debate a party’s political emotional abyss turned into rainbows and unicorns.

As I mocked, laughed and cursed while watching the debate and gave commentary on Social Networking, I was shocked by other comments attacking Biden. Don’t these people know who this guy is?

I guess not, because if they did they would’ve known that this is the real Joe Biden; arrogant, smirky, obnoxious, and asshole-ish to the highest degree. And the Democratic Party needed him and he knew it.

But as Democrats waited for their hero to emerge, the Republicans danced with glee for a week, mocking Biden, Pres O’Barry for his poor performance and even though they wouldn’t say it, they were acting as if they had the Chris Matthews’ “tingly leg syndrome” after Romney’s performance.

To the Conservative cheerleaders of Hannity, Malkin, Coulter, and a few FOX News anchors, O’Barry’s 2nd term was dead.

I watched the VP debate with anticipated interest, not because of Biden, but because I wanted to see how Congressman, err I mean, Mr. Ryan would perform. And by my best estimation, Mr. Ryan performed extremely well on the national stage.

Why did I correct myself and call him Mr. Ryan? Well that’s because that was one of the agreed upon requirements by the Commission of Presidential Debate with both campaigns.

Yes there is such a commission and the reasoning behind the salutation of “Mr.” instead of “Congressman” was due to the very low Congressional approval ratings and the Romney campaign did not want to associate Ryan with Congress.

As I said, I was pleased with Ryan’s performance as many in Con-Punditry World should be, however as they did somberly praise Ryan, they spent more time attacking Biden for his “Un-Vice Presidential” antics in front of the cameras during their after show.

They too forgot who Joe Biden really is.

The complaints about Biden’s performance from the Conservative Right’s cheerleading section shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, it’s a given. Hell, there should be a drinking game for the after debate talk shows.

Biden’s theatrics during the debate was nauseating at times and other times I was left wondering if he would blow a blood vessel as he interrupted Ryan like a runaway steamroller.

Ryan, held his own, stayed calm, seemed flustered to start the debate but reigned himself in and stayed strong with his dreamy-eye angelic school boy charm.

One must be thick skinned to be a VP, as historical their presence is nothing but a shadow behind the president. Dick Cheney is the modern day exception to the rule, yet was the model for the Biden choice over the popular Hillary Clinton.

Both Biden and Ryan attacked policy, both domestic and foreign, with flair, intrigue and fact. Well as some stated on my FB page “Biden's truth and facts are his and his alone" can justly be said of Ryan as well.

As Biden pushed Ryan to further the Romney tax policy, Ryan towed the campaign line and pushed the "6 Economic Studies" theory that agree with their plan. And this is where Biden failed.

Biden needed to address these "studies" as pure fiction because they are not studies but op-ed pieces that ranged from The Wall Street Journal to The Heritage Foundation from partisan Conservative media.

As the bickering leaped to Afghanistan, Biden's forward thinking of "we need to leave as they need to survive on their own" as well as "they, as well as our allies, want us out" was followed up with Ryan talking about "we need to stay there as long as necessary as they need to us to survive" thought made me wonder "should we consider Afghanistan as part of the 47%, leeches and moochers that need US government funding?"

When Ryan attacked the idea of higher taxes for the wealthy and small business, I am not positive, but I believed Ryan may have slipped when he stated "if everyone paid income taxes last year, including successful small business doubled their income taxes this year we'd have a deficit of $300 billion dollar deficit."

As my Twitter feed exploded and my running commentary on Facebook gave me blisters, the joy of many or was that delusion, of the decided victor is left to them alone.

Last I saw, the current U.S. deficit was around the $1.4 trillion mark.

Personally, I'm calling the debate a draw as both men gave vehement and valid responses. However, people will turn to the Polls to determine who the debate, it just depends on what Poll one believes in.

As I mention often, I hate Polls, because I disagree with them. Yes, I disagree with them in that polling 200 people within moments after a debate or event does not speak for 300+ million of this nation.

Please leave the poles to strippers and firemen.

One of the best after show comments placed on my Facebook page was "it looked like the polite, young, middle aged son having a conversation with his confused father in a nursing home"

That’s it, Slap the tap on a frosty cold Alimony Ale, refill the Cheeto’s bowl and here’s hoping this election cycle ends quickly because the Pundit Media is already looking towards 2016.

Cheers!

Presidential Debate Schedule: Please return to your regularly scheduled program

What the hell was the Commission on Presidential debates thinking when it created the Presidential and Vice Presidential debate schedule?

Did they not consult the TV Guide as to what is more important to the American viewer because these debates are messing with DVR scheduled recordings?

These debates are going to interfere with my regularly scheduled programming. Its worse enough that CBS makes me have to wait 30 minutes later on a Sunday night to watch the Amazing Race, but this is inexcusable.

Quick, call Alex Jones over at Infowars.com; I smell a conspiracy of political indoctrination by both Republicans and Democrats alike. But now they are going to make me choose between watching the VP debate Biden vs. Ryan or the Steelers vs. Titans this Thursday. Have they no shame? Don’t they know my fantasy football team depends on this game?

As my 6 year old half-pint bodyguard, ConJay, likes to say “Geez Louise!”

This Presidential Debate schedule is a boondoggle for the politico and sports fan like me, because sports will win 85% of the time, especially when it comes to football, any rank of football.

As we look at the only VP debate, the punditry and their minions are near orgasmic blindness waiting for this debate. I’m positive the debate will garner high ratings, as Con-talk radio has been promoting it as “the Biden Gaffe hour.” It’s more likely to be compared to watching an episode of the Munsters; Eddie vs. Grandpa, minus Cousin It.



But the VP debate is not a ratings juggernaut by any means, it’s more like Olympic Handball, very little viewership. Ratings history shows that during the time slot for such debate, Networks average 15% of viewers; only Bush vs. Ferraro and Biden vs. Palin have racked up 23% of the viewers.

Not only does Biden/Ryan have to contend with NFL’s Steelers/Titans game, it also has ESPN Arizona State/Colorado and of course the season finale of Project Runway.

Hell even the rerun of Jersey Shore scheduled in this time slot will receive higher ratings.

Many Americans get pretty uptight when their regular scheduled program is pre-empted by some “special” or news program. It’s not like students at WVU are burning couches in the streets at the end of a political debate. But then again, it’s WVU and they’d burn a couch if they won a game of checkers.

But the rest of debate schedule has larger issues coming up.

The next Pres debate is scheduled for Oct 16. To me, the Town Hall forum is the best of the three as the candidates get to walk around the stage and receive questions from the audience. This is the style of debate that helped Clinton in ’92 win the presidency because it showed his “true” likability factor.

But on this day, the debate will have to contend with Major League Baseball’s ALCS Game #3. Well not the game itself, but the ratings as more people will be betting on the game then betting on whether or not O’Barry will stage a comeback.

And by skipping down the TV Guide to the final debate on Monday, October 22, the debate will have to fight over the NFL’s Bears/Lions on ESPN, a possible MLB NLCS Game #7 on WTBS and WWE Raw on USA!

However, thank the Network gods that the Oct 22 debate is scheduled for 9pm, because we don’t want to interrupt the brain numbing shows of Dancing with the Stars, The Voice and X Factor, all major money makers for the networks, but part of the reason of social decay as we know it.

Could you imagine the outcry from the masses if they miss an episode of one of the above shows, it would be equal to that of the Granny brigade when Young and the Restless is preempted for some odd reason. Never piss off grammas!

Just look at the conspiracy back in May 2011 when Navy SEALS captured and killed America's enemy #1, Osama bin Laden, and NBC interrupted the last 15 minutes of Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice.

Viewers were livid and cried outrageous conspiratorial expletives at their flat screens all because they believed Pres Obama held a grudge against America’s favorite promotional whore Trump in the release of Obama’s birth certificate.

Yes, let’s hold off on capturing America's enemy #1 till 945pm eastern standard time so we can interrupt a two bit hack giving 3rd rate celebrities some relevance to their has been careers. Kudos to you Pres Obama, checkmate.

But that’s how we are these days, short sighted and narrow minded in a “me me” generation.

In 1980, when Cable was still in its infancy and roof top antennae stretched across the suburban sky, roughly 80 million Americans watched the only debate between Pres Jimmy Carter and GOP candidate Ronald Reagan. No one complained that they were missing an episode of the Love Boat!

Fast forward to today and see how our lives have been manipulated by Cable TV and modern technology. Just look around, wherever you may be and you’ll see Android and I Phones being pecked at or an I Pad or two being flicked or a laptop being plugged in to keep up with Social Media and their favorite websites.

And Lord forbid anyone at anytime try to make actual conversation with another with actual eye contact, let alone have a respectful conversation about politics.

Contrary to my ramblings during the debates on my Twitter and Facebook pages, I actually enjoy watching the debates, alone. And out there, somewhere some geeky pimply face kid has just become the latest millionaire by creating a politicalmatchmaker.com website for the masses, because no one wants to see what happens when a Liberal and Conservative get together for a one night stand.

Wait that sounds like an awesome premise for a new Reality TV Show, quick get me Trump’s number.

That’s it, Slap the Tap on another Guinness and return to your regularly scheduled programming

Cheers!

Twitter: #bigpopapolitics
Facebook: todd Kelly (bigpoppapolitics)

1st Pres Debate Reaction: Who da’ thunk Big Bird was an Enemy of the State

In the first Presidential debate of 2012, President Obama spent too much time trying not to say “George W Bush” and leading Willard Romney into questions for specific policy information. By leading Willard to proverbial “water” got kicked in the balls and there is no way the Liberal Pundits can spin it to favor the president.

And with that said, it’s time for me to have fun and tell O’Barry what he should’ve responded before I drive to the White House, slap him around and give him debate pointers.

First of all, fire John Kerry as your practice partner. What the hell were the two of you doing in Nevada, wind surfing in the desert?

No wonder you looked drab, tired and unconscious during the debate, John Kerry can suck the life from anything under the sun. Where was the O’Barry enthusiasm we saw at the DNC Convention a few weeks ago?

Secondly, let’s talk the debate, O’Barry you simply sucked.

O’Barry lacked any sort of appeal and cemented the notion that he’s only as good as the teleprompter in front of him. What happened to the “Great Orator?” Instead O’Barry looked like a sweaty pimply faced 4th grader trying to do a book report on a book you never read!

O’Barry’s fight, ambition and futile rebuttals were pathetically trumped by Willard before he finished the sentence.

Willard said he likes part of the Affordable Care Act, the rebuttal should’ve been about how there’s very little difference between the two of them and how it was former Romney advisers that modeled the creation of the Affordable Care Act.

And if Willard likes parts of the Affordable Care Act so much, why change it?

Willard talked about how he did not raise taxes in Massachusetts to pay for “Romneycare.” Immediately O’Barry’s response should’ve been “Correct, you worked with a Democratic legislation but raised many fees and license application costs in the process to offset cost.”

Let’s see in Willard’s first 2 years as Mass Governor, he and the Dem Legislature raised close to $350 million by raising fees on such things as Marriage License ($4 to $50), Mortgage Recording fees ($36 to $158) and even Firearms Registration fees ($25 to $75), plus adding fees to services that were once free.

Willard mentioned “firing Big Bird and ending federal funding of PBS” and the appropriate O’Barry response should’ve been about how Sesame Street, as well as PBS, has helped educate children for decades from all economic levels. Sure, slyly interjecting the “47%” into the conversation by using Sesame Street or note that Federal funding of the Public Broadcasting System costs $1.35 per taxpayer, less than a large McDonald’s latte!

Willard gave us the “5 point plan” idea of 12 million jobs, energy independence, and yadda yadda yadda.

Willard’s example of energy independence of the Keystone XL Pipeline was a fumble that O’Barry failed to pounce on. As I’ve talked many blogs ago, the Keystone XL Pipeline (TransCanada) never promised the amount of jobs the GOP and their pundits keep repeating, nor was there any promise that materials needed were to be crafted and manufactured here either. As a matter of fact, the mountains of pipes laying in Oklahoma right now were imported from Japan and China.

But no, O’Barry, just stood there and doodled in his Blue’s Clues notebook.

On and on Willard went, even introducing how grocery prices have risen under the O’Barry administration and he stood there, lifeless. The door was open to spin this nugget with a zinger and nothing but air escaped his mouth.

Let me answer this one for you O’Barry (as I’ve been doing this entire blog): “Yes, grocery prices have risen for multiple reasons, some out of my control, such as Congress leaving town before even attempting to forum on an Agriculture bill. And then there was the Midwestern drought, I mean seriously, contrary to Rush Limbaugh I can’t control the weather (ZING!).”

Ugh, no wonder I drink when discussing politics.

What O’Barry did do well, give Punditry a treasure trove of missteps and depression pill popping video to dissect and spin.

Yes, the Media spent all day preparing and sparing for the first debate. It was as nauseating as ESPN on Super Bowl Sunday and even more nauseating 24 hours later.

All these Con-talking pundits, like Ann Coulter, that spent weeks whining and crying about having such a despondent candidate in Willard going into the debate are glowingly orgasmic the day after.

Hell even Coulter is talking about Willard as if they regularly have tea and crumpets at the country club.

Meanwhile, Chris Matthews’ tingling feeling in his leg when O’Barry speaks has changed to urinating himself in disbelief during the ultimate meltdown on live TV.

However, the greatest stupidity goes to Current TV chairman Al Gore and his explanation that O’Barry flew in just 2 hours prior to the debate and that the high altitude of Denver caused O’Barry’s vague actions during the debate.

I just want to hold Gore’s head next to the exhaust pipe of a 1978 VW Rabbit diesel because all that clean air he promotes has rotted his brain.

One stupid factoid of the debate comes from MSNBC’s Chuck Todd in that O’Barry had more face time with the American audience as he spoke 500 more words then Willard. Apparently too many meaningless words.

Willard was better prepared and schooled for the debate compared to the sappy O’Barry. Out in Punditry world, some Liberals are using the idea that Willard was a seasoned veteran after going thru months of Primary debates. Or was he?

Let me throw this nugget out for people to chew on.

Since O’Barry likes sports, maybe he purposely failed at Wednesday’s debate to give Willard some over confidence and then at the Open Forum debate in a few weeks becomes “Super Orator” and breaks Willard.

Its ok Liberals, it’s up to Joe Biden to rescue the campaign







That’s it, Slap the tap and pour me a frosty cold Guinness, pass on the Blazin’ Buffalo & Ranch Doritos, and pray that Oscar the Grouch moderates the rest of the debates.
Cheers!

Willard Romney's tax plan: Unleash the ax wielding tyrannical tax midgets

Images of ax wielding tyrannical tax midgets run through my head during the final weeks of a presidential campaign as the candidates start to give more information of their policy ideas and the Media jumps to dissect those thoughts, pro or con depending upon your party of choice.

Over the past few weeks, Willard Romney has given glimpses of his economic policy, mainly his tax plan. Yes, everyone learned that he’s given up on the mooching “47%,” you know the grandparents, the working single parent who attends class at night, the disabled veteran and the millionaire, those that make up 30% of the 47%.

When answering questions concerning some of his policies, Willard’s most common suspenseful response has been “Well we’re not sure yet, but we’ll know after the election.” That’s the type of detail less answer to keep the pundits squawking that he has no plan or his plan is just the right for the country.

Yet, he does have one plan out there and that’s his tax plan.

Back in August, Willard gave the pundits a nugget saying he wants a 20% tax cut for all economic levels, which has given many cause to do back flips of cheer down the yellow brick road.

But with this being known, he then gives a stump speech in Ohio on Sept 26 saying;

“Small businesses most typically pay taxes at the individual tax rate. And so our individual income taxes are the ones I want to reform. Make them simpler. I want to bring the rates down. By the way, don't be expecting a huge cut in taxes because I'm also going to lower deductions and exemptions. But by bringing rates down we will be able to let small businesses keep more of their money so they can hire more people”

I can understand wanting to help small business, from the decades old ma & pa stores to the newly opened to the independent truck driver, yes there should be some sort of reformed tax code for them. It’s the “Don’t be expecting a huge cut in taxes” part of the speech that is confusing.

One day Willard wants a 20% tax cut across the board and shortly later tells people he doesn’t want huge cuts and just wants to lower deductions & exemptions. It’s almost no wonder why Willard has a likeability issue, he can’t stay on course.

No wonder poor ol’ Seamus feared for his doggie life on the Family Truckster rooftop

I’m all for tax reform in one form or another, yet a 20% tax cut across the board and elimination of credit and exemptions for everyone sounds rather rash. Sure it will (I assume) close every loophole people love to sink their teeth into, but how can government programs survive with less than what they are getting now?

Willard stated the other week he believes education is a State issue but that Federal Government should do more to help monetarily wise. How when there will be 20% less going to the government bank account under his plan?

Willard wants to spend more on defense, which I still hold the belief that defense should control their own budget not some member of a Congressional committee, but once again, how do you spend more when taking in less?

A government running partially on 20% less tax revenue won’t go far, something will have to give, especially with unemployment and the lack of company hires. If the notion that his tax plan will bring unemployment rates to less than 3% in hopes that corporations will hire is delusional.

At the current tax plan, with all the credits and deductions given by our government to corporations, they’re still hiring at an alarming pace of molasses in the middle of winter.

Absolutely, the idea of everyone, no matter their economic level, will be taxed 20% less is interesting, yet I don’t see it happening.

If the idea makes it way to Congress, Congress will have to answer to the many Special Interest groups that paddle them like Neidermayer on a Pledge’s naked rear end. (Yes, got in an Animal House reference)

Just imagine how corporations from all sectors would react to such a plan? I truly believe they would turn on Willard because they like their loopholes and shelters.

Nobody likes doing taxes, well except accountants, because it’s confusing and nauseating with all the different forms. Sure many will say "oh preparing my taxes is going to be much easier without keeping all those receipts and remembering to write off little Billy as a child credit.

Yet, there are many credits and deductions many people do enjoy.

We, as citizens, enjoy our tax loopholes. Around tax season, there are countless times I can recall listening to sales reps and higher management talking about how they need to find another deduction because they maxed out the amount of charitable (mainly Church) and work related deductions from mileage to travel to cell phone reimbursements.

No longer would the businessman/woman be able to deduct “lunches” as a business expense.

And think of all the whack-out creative loopholes people use on their tax forms that we hear about every year, all gone.

Oh I know out there is some very patriotic chest thumping flag waving individual agreeing to the idea of 20% tax cut across the board as fair, until the day comes and that 20% missing affects some government program they once enjoyed.

That's the problem, we're all talk and no action. Yes, we want government restraint on spending, we want them to limit what they spend, we want to cut duplication in government, we want reform, but once it comes down to it, we scream when the reform affects us.

For some reason, I enjoy the idea of ax wielding tyrannical tax midgets running around the Capital, knocking on the doors of our elected officials. Could you imagine how much the government could recoup by taxing Boehner on a tissue usage?!

That’s it, Slap the Tap on the Human Blockhead brew and let me know when the Bikini Basketball League begins.

Cheers!

Class Warfare: The Exclusion of the “47%” Demographic

Over the past 48 hours, I’ve been debating on Facebook with many over Willard Romney’s “47% victims” fundraiser video leak and it’s strange to realize that many liken those “47%” as welfare, deadbeat, leeches of our society.

As Willard stated on video, "All right, there are 47 percent who are with him {Obama}, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to healthcare, to food, to housing, to you name it."

Yes, there is no doubt that there are people in our society that believe the government owes them and they’ll find the way to get that entitlement, but it’s the “47%” stamp that is misleading.

Yes, the pundits love to keep the term “47% don’t pay taxes” looping on their programs but even they are misleading the public with a false claim. The “47%” do not pay federal taxes, yet still pay into Payroll, SSI, Medicare, State and Locality taxes.

I don’t completely blame Willard for this misleading statement as it’s been manipulated by the Punditry in a regular loop for the past year and it’s still misleading.

However, I can blame Willard’s campaign staff for letting him use the phrase and basically eliminating a massive grouping of voting demographics, because it bunches everyone under the “47%” claim as a whole, when his staff should be breaking down the group into subgroups; the elderly, the disabled, the impaired, the underemployed, the veteran, the millionaire and so on.

Yes, I said “the millionaire” as some do not pay federal income tax, but are excluded in thought by everyone because they find it hard to believe someone with money wouldn’t pay their tax.

Honestly, the fact that Willard is not backing down but standing firm on his statement shows he does, indeed, have a backbone, it’s his campaign staff that is a spineless bunch and should be fired.

Willard needs to show that he is fighting for all Americans, no matter their economic value.

Willard needs to show he will fight for the poor, but as he stated earlier this year, he’s not worried about the poor because they have a “safety net” with entitlements. These are the people that are part of the “47%” he was talking about in the video and he’s not worried about them.

With his statement of exclusion he has cemented the thought that he is only for the higher income value voter.

I agree the entitlement and tax system are in shambles, I would say 85% of Americans would believe so also. Every tax payer is using the system in one form or another.

How would people feel if the tax code is redefined? We all enjoy the tax credits of home ownership, college loans and child(ren), but what happens if they go away? People will be screaming in front of the Capital Building & White House. We enjoy those credits.

There are people, legitimately using the entitlement system for legit reasoning, these are the people Willard needs to represent and help with policy changes. But, sincerely to all politicians, stop talking about fixing the system and do something. It’s easy to lay blame on a certain percentage, but never discuss where the problem begins and begin the hard work to correct.

It also appears that Willard is just going to phone the election in for the next 40+days as he has no scheduled stumps on the current weekly calendar in big swing states, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t having high donor closed door fundraiser elsewhere.

Why is he not stumping in Ohio, Virginia or Florida, yet worried about New Hampshire?

New Hampshire has 4 electoral votes! Florida has 29, Ohio has 18 and Virginia has 13. He needs the big states, but is worried about the smaller ones of New Hampshire, Iowa, Colorado and Nevada.

There are Ohioans that are part of the “47%” that Willard needs to fight for. Just look at some of the numbers; 1.7 million Ohio families are receiving food stamps costing roughly $249 million/monthly in assistance and 2.08 million are enrolled in Medicaid costing around $1.4 billion on monthly average and that’s after Gov Kasich took office and reformed policy.

By not scheduling stops in big battle ground states with 40+ days left before the election makes it appear that Willard is waving a white flag of submission.

Where’s the fight? Where’s the substance? Is this what we can expect from a Pres Romney administration?

One can only hope that Willard’s spine stiffens more and wins each of the 3 upcoming debates, but I think there are a bunch of Ohioans replacing their trailer park plastic pink yard flamingos with Obama/Biden 2012 yard signs after hearing that Willard has given up on them.

That’s it, Slap the Tap, pour the Dog Bollocks beer and play with the Electoral Map at 270towin.com.

Cheers!

Separated at Birth: Obama & Jimmy "Rog" Walker

SEPARATED AT BIRTH #45671

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

JIMMY WALKER ("ROG" FROM GOOD TIMES)

"OBAMACARE IT'S DYNO-MITE!"

ENJOY.. SLAP THE TAP ON THE GUINNESS.... CHEERS TO THE WEEKEND!

Separated at birth: Mitt Romney & Teacher Vernon (Breakfast Club)

SEPARATED AT BIRTH # 34231

GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MITT ROMNEY



MR. VERNON (THE BREAKFAST CLUB)


IT'S ALL ABOUT THE HAIR AND BARRY MANNILOW'S CLOSET

SLAP THE TAP, CHEERS!

9/12: The day after that widened the American political partisan rift

There is no doubt that every American remembers every aspect of their daily life when al Qaeda terrorists over took 4 airplanes and inflicted pain and horror upon our soil 11 years ago. If not, the Media will help you remember what you forgot.

For the past 11 years, Media and Social outlets help us to “never forget” with visuals from sorrowful political figureheads giving heartbreaking accounts or documentaries of that day’s event.

On Sept 11, 2001, we woke up to a political partisan divide after a highly contested Presidential election and shortly after the first plane hit the World Trade Center, we became “united in patriotism” that lasted roughly 24 hours before the Media started to pick apart the story and lay blame to this/that person and to this/that political party.

Hey this ain’t your grandparents America any longer; this is the new Millennia America, where a “united patriotism” lasts as quickly as the partisan Media will allow.

I expect to take heat for this blog, for questioning the patriotism of this country that I’m proud to live in, but just because you raise Old Glory every morning and bake apple pies doesn’t mean you are any more/less as American than your neighbor who doesn’t.

Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Media and political punditry were vehemently pointing fingers at either Pres Clinton or Pres Bush. Some harshly mocked Pres Bush for staying at Booker Elementary School in Florida and reading the book “My Pet Goat.”

What was the man to do, jump up and yell “take cover we’re under attack” and run out the door?

No, Pres Bush did exactly what I expect any President to do, stay calm in his surroundings and not force in fear.

I don’t fault Pres Bush’s actions on Sept 11, he did an excellent job keeping this country together and the most harden Bush-hater should give him praise.

Yet the conspiracy theories flew and those people were called “loons” or part of the “liberal establishment to besmirch” Pres Bush, yet ignoring their own who agree with such theories.

I’m no fan of Michael Moore or his “Fahrenheit 9/11” movie, but people ran to the theatres to see it. Moore is as corrupt as his movies portray others to be, but the whole 9/11 Truther brigade belongs to both sides of the aisle.

Right wing pundits will spend obscene amounts of time discrediting Moore, while ignoring their own in Alex Jones, he of so many conspiracy theories that he is considered the authority on 9/11 being an inside job, yet no one takes him to task as they did Van Jones. (Hello Mr. Beck)

It didn’t take long for email boxes to be littered with spam entitled “Nostradamus predicted 9/11” or “Col North Warned Us of Osama bin Laden during the Iran-Contra hearings in 1987.”

Many of these were forwarded on obnoxiously and each time debunked. Hell even Col North debunked them. But people still forwarded them because somewhere, someone will believe it because Uncle Joe sent it and Uncle Joe doesn’t lie.

After 9/11, many found a so-called awakening, a “born-again Republicanism.” Many were pleased with Pres Bush’s actions and the blame game towards Democrats and Pres Clinton that they immediately re-registered or registered as Republican.

The “born again Republicanism” theory lacks legs because statistics show that prior to any September during an election cycle there are more Democrats registered, then after September more Republicans are registered.

Skipping forward 11 years later, Media and Social outlets are larger and have a greater hold on the American public. Many of these outlets held a 9/11 remembrance in their own fashion. Well except for NBC.

For a network trying to redefine itself as a News leader with slipping ratings, the stupidity to hold an interview with Kardashian clan leader Kris Jenner at 8:46am, while other networks held a moment of silence only cements why their ratings are dropping against the likes of Sid the Science Kid on PBS.

Maybe, had NBC interviewed former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani or former DHS Sec Tom Ridge, there would be less uproar.

However, it’s very disturbing that after 11 years, the Media pushes 9/11 on their viewers. On Sept 11, 2012, MSNBC ran a rebroadcast of the attacks while FOX and CNN ran the remembrance speeches from Pres Obama and VP Biden.

But as I listened and flipped around the multitude of media outlets yesterday, I began to wonder, why are these outlets not performing the same coverage on Dec 7?

Generations later, are we that disconnected by the tragic event of Pearl Harbor?

Nowadays, Media gives respect to Pearl Harbor as an afterthought, a quick 10 minute sound bite with a moment of silence and then right back into political banter or the latest Pop Culture phenom.

Dec 7, 1941 has been tagged “as a day that will live in infamy,” yet barely discussed today. Is because America had closure with entrance into WWII and victory over Japan a few years later?

One has to think how the “greatest generation” feels to be pushed aside as forgotten, how American patriotism didn’t point fingers a mere 24 hours later, but pulled together, put all aspects of life aside and trumpeted a call to move victoriously forward.

America received closure on May 2, 2011 when members of SEAL Team 6 finally captured and killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda. But once again, it took Media mere hours to decimate the “15 minutes of patriotism” when all were jubilant of his death.

Heck it took less than that as many cried a conspiracy theory that the networks interrupted the final minutes of Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice with the breaking news. Because, after all, it’s more important to know which 3rd rate pseudo celebrity was about to be told “you’re fired.”

It does not matter how “united” we perceive ourselves to be after a tragic event, we are not our grandparents, meaning patriotism of events only happens in a quick spurt and then fades into a blame game to keep you from changing the channel.

That’s it, Slap the Tap of the Sam Adams Oktoberfest brew, and thank those in uniform, both military and emergency services alike, for their dedication to preserve our safety and freedoms.

Cheers!

*you can follow more of my rambling and ranting on facebook and twitter*
Facebook- todd kelly
Twitter- @bigpopapolitics

http://www.factcheck.org/2009/04/warned-about-bin-laden/
http://www.futurity.org/society-culture/after-911-new-crop-of-loyal-republicans/
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/11/the-bush-administration-know-it-alls-who-failed-to-heed-warnings-before-9-11.html
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blnorth.htm

The Delusional National Convention or the Liberal Vagina Monologues

How does one sum up the first 2 days of the Democratic National Convention; Jobs, Minorities and Vaginas oh my!

It’s no lie that both Parties will use anything as a prop during the convention. They make everyone feel all warm, fuzzy and loved. But in the end they don’t remember your name till Election Day and this year the Democrats are pulling out all the power props.

From Eva Longoria to Sandra Fluke to anything to do with Planned Parenthood, it’s making its way onto the stage. I particularly enjoyed the “Sisterhood of Congressional Pants” on display Tuesday and Wednesday with all the Democratic ladies on stage to introduce themselves to the delegates.

And the camera feed doesn’t help with the power prop issue either.

I’ve been using the Foxnews.com Livestream video stream and I’ve mentioned on Twitter and Facebook how I’m tired of all the celebrity shots or kissing baby shots. As I mentioned this, many have told me they were watching the convention on TV or other online sites (apparently it’s all the same feed) and others are tired of it as well. Pay attention to the speaker, not Tony Shalhoub picking his nose.

But the conventions are truly about who’s the next up n’ coming politician for the party. The RNC let everyone see how Gov. Christie, Senator Rubio, Gov. Haley, and Rep. Ryan handle themselves and this is your leading cast in 2016. Well, only if Willard loses.

I was wondering who might be the future bright star for the Democrats and with speaker after speaker constantly turning on stage; I’ve twiddled the list to: Minneapolis Mayor Ryback, Gov. Deval Patrick and Gov. Mark O’Malley.

Yes, I understand I don’t have VP Biden or Sec of State Clinton listed, only because I believe it’s time for them to move along and find their true life’s worth.

Wednesday’s delusion went epic rock star when Pres Clinton hit the stage and women of all ages threw their panties at the podium.

Everyone remembers the first president they voted for and mine was Clinton, I voted for him in ’92 & ’96 and dammit I will find a loophole in the 22nd Amendment so I can vote for him a 3rd time as well.

“Bubbha” proved he has not lost a step and swallows up the limelight like Monica Lewinsky on… err, you fill in the blank.

It took Media seconds to start fact checking Pres Clinton’s speech and well they found out that he was 80-20 on his numbers and exaggerations. Here are some:

1. Clinton boasted that “under Romney Medicare will go broke in 2016.” That’s partially true in that Medicare won’t go broke but the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will if the Affordable Care Act is repealed by 2016.

2. Clinton clearly misrepresented when he said the“2009 Stimulus bill cut taxes for 95% of the American people.” The tax credit temporarily cut taxes for 95% of Earned Income and those with collecting pension or unemployment checks saw nothing.

Those are two quick examples of political over exaggeration, but many fact checkers gave credence to a couple of other Clinton thoughts:

1. Clinton claimed that “Since 1961, 42 million private sector jobs had been added while a Democrat sat in the oval office, compared to 24 million under a Republican Oval Office. “ Turns out it’s true, it’s damn true. As a matter of fact, when comparing the poor job creation between “W” and “O,” Pres Bush beats Obama by 1,000 jobs monthly. “W” averaged 63,500 jobs monthly over 8 years compared to “O’s” 62,500 monthly average in 4.

2. Clinton claimed “Republicans blocked Obama’s jobs plan costing a million new jobs.” It’s true according to Moody’s Analytics that Obama’s jobs package would’ve added about 1.6 million jobs and as Senator Mitch McConnell stated as to why the Republicans blocked the plan, “they didn’t want to give Democrats a political edge in 2012.”

Now, there’s still one more day left in the Delusional National Convention and that means one more day of fact checking after Obama’s speech, minus the Greek columns behind him.

Yes, I’ll watch Thursday night to listen to Obama and the others speak of success, misconceptional government budget and jobs numbers and ladies vaginas, but I’m hoping actress Scarlett Johansson decides to wear her Avengers Black Window outfit for the festivities.

Obama needs to be spectacular as his spotlight was taken away by Pres Clinton, just as Romney’s spotlight was taken away by Clint Eastwood’s empty chair.

That’s it, Slap the Tap and raise a Guinness to Tammy Duckworth and all our brave men and women in uniform. Oh look there’s Tony Shalhoub picking his nice again!

Cheers!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/bill-clinton-job-creation_n_1861071.html?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=Politics
http://factcheck.org/2012/09/our-clinton-nightmare/