Dope [Deleted]

[Deleted due to factual errors. Sorry for any inconvenience]

Current Hemorrhoid

"...you [Republicans] have ideology that’s really not based on any sort of substance that can move an agenda forward, that can really help people in this country.”

Hmmm... I wonder who said that? 'Probably some left-wing ultra-liberal Democrat', you're probably thinking.

Wrong! Those are the words of Dede Scozzafava, the Republican who ran for the New York 23rd congressional district, but dropped out of the running and endorsed the Democrat candidate.

She continued, “I don’t think it’s good for the health of our party. Any party that just tries to purge members that might have any sort of independent thinking, I think, eventually will run itself to very much of a minority status..."

We tried to purge her... get a load of that!

I know little about her stances, although I do know she is anti-baby. When she dropped out, she endorsed the Democrat running in her race, Bill Owens, and not the conservative Independent, Doug Hoffman. Seems to me that she was not exercising "independent thinking", she was thinking like a liberal. Which means she should run like a liberal. You can't claim to be "purged" just because you don't get elected.

However, she says she plans to stay with the Republicans, even after getting ripped out of the New York State Assembly last Monday. Why would she stay in a place she feels like she's not wanted? Well, to explain, Scozzafava said: “You know, the original Republican Party was all about less government interference in the lives of individuals. It was about promoting self-sufficiency versus government dependency.”

I have no idea why that statement has anything to do with anything. Not to mention that what she just proclaimed the Republican party to be, in my view, still is the case. Hoffman, her Independent opponent in her failed election, supported that. Owens, the Democrat, almost certainly did not, as the Democrats are generally for big government.

Whatevs... Scozzafava is a weak Republican; a RINO, like Arlen Specter. If she departed for the Democrats, she would be no loss to the Republicans. Just as Specter was no loss, nor would senators Snowe (R-ME) and Collins (R-ME) if they switched.

Having somebody who votes consistently liberal in a party of conservatives truly is a Republican In Name Only. We could never count on a conservative vote from Specter, and I don't think we can from Scozzafava.

But Scozzafava seems to think differently about her own record, “...I voted 95 percent with my Republican leader in the State Assembly..."

Well, perhaps that is true. But that would only prove the Republican leader to also be a RINO. So, I think we'd all be better off if Scozzafava left the party, and left us all alone. At least she wouldn't be quite as annoying. Think of it as a hemorrhoidectemy.

Idiots & Patriots

THE IDIOT

Last week, congress filed a bill (that I wish I had heard about) to strip ACORN, a left-wing activist group, of it's government funding. Had I actually known of this, I would have driven to their headquarters and danced in front of it. Okay, no I wouldn't. But I would have celebrated by whooping it up with Cheez-its and fruit punch, k?

Anyway, back on topic... ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis basically cried in a press-conference over the matter, and her organization is launching a lawsuit against the government. They claim that the bill was of attainder, meaning it was unfairly directed at one group. That would make it unconstitutional.

However, ACORN is really one to talk... Perhaps you might remember when tapes were filmed of controversial meetings with ACORN officials, in one of which they met with a pimp and prostitute, helping them on tax evasion and setting up a brothel.

Basically, congress had every right/reason to slice them out of taxpayer dollars, that would apparently be funding illegal prostitution houses, as well as God knows what. So, unconstitutional or not, Bertha Lewis is this weeks Idiot.

PATRIOT

Last week, the Republican National Committee realized it had a large fault in its insurance policy: it covered elective abortions.

Obviously, there's a serious issue involved there, as the Republican stance is pro-life. But, apparently, elective abortions have been offered from their insurance company, Cigna, since 1991.

"Money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose," RNC Chairman Michael Steele said, "I don't know why this policy existed in the past, but it will not exist under my administration. Consider this issue settled."

Well, then, it's settled! Thank you, Michael Steele, for doing the right thing and acting so quickly. For this, Steele is a Patriot.

2010 Booyah!!!

A national internet "blog", I guess you'd call it, Politico, announced in an article Tuesday it's picks for the top 10 senate seats likely to turn over in the 2010 election. BOOYAH! Most of them are strongly Republican! And they don't even have my second-favorite pick! So, without further delay, take a look at the amazing hope coming next year.

10. New Hampshire

We bid adieu to Sen. Judd Gregg, a great (Republican) senator from The Granite State. Gregg is retiring this year, leaving his senate seat to be widely contested.

Democrats seem to like Rep. Paul Hodes, who has raised around a million bucks in his campaign fund, a modest sum in the world of politics. He has yet to prove himself as a strong candidate, and has already had come under attack for avoiding health care town halls a few months back. On the Republican side of the aisle, former state attorney general Kelly Ayotte is the front-runner, although she faces fierce primary competition from State Board of Education Chairman Ovide Lamontagne and RNC committeeman Sean Mahoney. Regardless, though, I believe the candidate who emerges victorious on the Republican side will have little problem in beating Hodes.

9. Kentucky

Goodbye, Jim Bunning! We love you! Bunning is also retiring this year, leaving his seat behind him. So we cut to the races...

Both parties are forced to come against major primaries this election. The Democrats are stuck in a bitter struggle for their party's nomination, the candidates being Attorney General Jack Conway and Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo. The Republicans, on the other hand, face a battle of their own.

Ever heard of Ron Paul? You know, that Texan who ran for Prez last year, but lost the primaries? Well, his son, Rand, is staring at the nomination for Bunning's seat. But while he's loved more by Kentucky bigwigs and people closer the the far-right, national Republican are endorsing his competitor, Secretary of State Trey Grayson. Grayson is a capable man, and an excellent overall candidate.

Regardless, if the difficult primaries are any indication, Kentucky's seat will be a hard win for either party.

8. Missouri

Farewell, to yet another retiring GOP senator, Kt Bond. Unfortunately, this race is likely to swing Democratic, as MO Secretary of State Robin Carnahan will almost certainly be the leading nominee.

Former Republican congressional whip Rep. Roy Blunt is looking at the title, but it competition will be fierce.

7. Ohio

We say goodbye to yet one more retiring Republican candidate, Ohio Senator George Voinovich. Farewell, George!

Former White House Budget Director Rob Portman is the favorite Republican candidate, and has already raised a hefty hefty hefty 6$ mil to run against the future Dem. nominee Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher. It looks good for Portman to take, which would be very nice, to say the least.

6. Pennsylvania

At last, a race I could tell you so much about! After all, I do live here, right? I've been watching this one.

This is the first race so far that doesn't have an senator retiring. After Sen. Arlen Specter flip-flopping Democrat, his poll numbers have crashed through the floor. Republican candidate Rep. Pat Toomey leads Specter 48% to 36% in the polls.

Remember Specter's immortal party-switching speech? He declared, "I am unwilling to have my 29-year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate..." Well, his 29-year senate record will be be judged by the Pennsylvania Democratic primary electorate. I, as well as many others across the blogosphere, are predicting fiercely that Specter will not even take his new party primaries, and that it will, in fact, be Rep. Joe Sestak, who will face the unchallenged Toomey in the election.

5. Illinois

Dost thou rememberist when Obama won election? Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was impeached for trying to sell his senate seat? Well, Democrat Sen. Roland Burris ended up taking it, but he apparently isn't staying long: he's now retiring.

This forced Democrats to scramble around trying to find someone they like, as their original pick, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, declined to run. They have finally emerged with their front-runner Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois state Treasurer.

The tough blue-state is looking like a win for the Republicans now. They've chosen Rep. Mark Kirk, who's stubbornly held a congressional seat in suburban Chicago, a feat in itself. So, we're hoping that we can finally nail a Republican into office in a state full of Democrats.

4. Nevada

If there was one race that I could take off this list and replace with one of my own favorites, it would be this one.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is up for re-election in Nevada 2010. Unfortunately, the two Republicans who could have actually taken him out (which would be amazingly wonderfully awesome), declined to run. So, former state Republican Chairwoman Sue Lowden has snatched up the Republican race, but she is most certainly not the favorite against powerhouse Reid.

3. Colorado

Appointed Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet is up for re-election, but he faces a tough primary against former state house speaker Andrew Romanoff. This race is still mysterious and mystical, and we know little about it. With the exception that former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton will most likely be the GOP nominee. But she, too, will face a contested primary.

2. Connecticut

Republicans are looking at a pickup against notorious Sen. Chris Dodd. While navy blue Connecticut is deep in the Democratic camp, Dodd is a weak candidate among Connecticut's citizens. Now, Republicans have to decide who is going to be the winning candidate... out of four good choices. Rep. Rob Simmons, Ambassador Tom Foley, anti-tax activist Peter Schiff, and CEO Linda McMahon will make Connecticut a race to watch closely.

But now, the one I think we've ALL been waiting for... The number one most seat most likely to turnover is...

1. Delaware

Joe Biden moved into the White House, leaving no incumbent in his Delaware senate seat. Republican Rep. Mike Castle jumped on top of it, and it's agreed he's the only senator who might actually make this a good race. It may all depend on Biden's son, Attorney General Beau Biden, who will keep the name bonus from his father.

Now, I could've told you all of that by sending you to the article. But, there's one thing you can't find in that article: my second-favorite pick.

My favorite ranked sixth in Politico's list, that being the Pennsylvania race. But my second-favorite is this:

11. Hawaii

Perhaps this is more what I WANT to see, rather than what will happen. Regardless, 8-term senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii has, in my opinion, been here waaay too long. Lame-duck Governor Linda Lingle is a potential Republican candidate who, I believe, has the greatest chance of knocking out Inouye than any other candidate ever has.

Inouye will be 86 years old in 2010, meaning by the end of his term, he'll be pushing 90. I hope his old senility will be a factor in his re-election

Overall, I predict a 2010 BOOYAH! So, BOOYAH!!!!

Nose

GOVERNMENT. Loves to nose it's way in and mess around in other people's business.

The California Energy Commission is scheduled to vote on Nov. 18 on a proposal that would limit retailers to selling only television sets that require less power than they do today. A full third less. This is, in particularly, going to harm the HDTV industry.

This would ban the sale of every single plasma TV over sixty inches, and ban about 25% of today's large screen TV's statewide.

Plasma offers the cheapest prices for 50"+ screen televisions. An energy efficient LED TV about the size would cost twice as much. The plasma would cost only 1,200$ online. For the same price, you could receive a 32-inch LED TV.

Meaning what? Well... no manufacturer will make what it can't sell, even if it's only one state. Eventually, due to the California law, we may see this issue across the entire nation.

Plasma Display Coalition president Jim Palumbo cited the California Energy Commission for "its flagrant misinformation campaign." Palumbo's group says the state's site has not been updated to reflect the fact that many newer TV models burn the equivalent energy of two 75-watt household light.

There is no reason for California to stick it's nose in the TV business. They need to address certain issues before they start nailing business from selling in their state. It is simply government meddling in places they have no reason to be in. Because, unfortunately, the CEC never gave any reason or justification on why they were doing this specifically.

I mean, we can guess that it was to save energy. But why start at TV's? If you want to save energy in California, why not ban celebrities?

For example, famous-for-nothing Paris Hilton has an enormously large mansion in the Hollywood Hills area. Perhaps large enough to keep at least 100 of those TV sets.

Or maybe, Oprah Winfrey? Apparently, no one actually knows where she lives. But a palatial mansion twice the size of Paris Hilton's is rumored to be it.

Hulk Hogan has TWO homes. One in California, one in Florida. Both at least the same size as Paris Hilton's.

What if we banned all the stars? For the following, I'm going to say that they could all save 50 TV sets. Ban Frankie Avalon, Harrison Ford, Mel Brooks, Julie Andrews (I heart Julie, but I can make the sacrifice), Ann-Margaret, William Shatner, Carol Burnett (100 TV's for two homes), Steve Martin, Steven Spielberg, Diana Ross, Jim Carrey, Roseanne Barr, Jay Leno, Shirley Jones, Chevy Chase, Bill Cosby, Danny Devito, Bob Dylan, David Hasselhoff, Ron Howard, Madonna, Gary Busey, Cher, Bette Midler, Eddie Murphy, Don Rickles, Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen, Tony Danza, Tom Selleck, Charlton Heston, Sylvester Stallone, Shirley Temple, John Travolta, Jane Fonda, and Jamie Lee Curtis. And I only named about a third of the stars who actually live in California.

By my estimations, without even seeing those stars homes, we saved the equivalent energy of 2250 TV sets. And got rid of a mess of pond scum.

Okay, okay. This isn't practical, and all these people have a right to live there, and blah blah blah, I know, I get it. But the point is that there are certainly other things the CEC could have done besides banning TV sets, even if blowing up stars homes wasn't one of them.

Whatevs... the fact is, it's just another place where the government stuck it's nose where it doesn't belong.