SHTICK OPERATOR - IL CONGRESSMAN AARON SCHOCK

Blog-sites have been agog recently over the abs and overall physique of the young Republican congressman from the 18th district of Illinois - Representative Aaron Schock.

At 28 years old he is the youngest member of Congress - and also a nice piece of eye candy when compared to his fellow members in the House. He also seems to have the right idea of inclusion of minorities in the GOP could be the future of the party.

However, his appeal is wearing thin quickly as he apparently will say anything to "curry favor" with leaders of the Republican party.

Late this week I had the telly tuned to 'Hardball with Chris Matthews' while packing away groceries, and was absent-mindedly listening as the eternally wired host posed questions to both Rep. Aaron Schock and Rep. Peter King (R) of New York regarding Obama's pick of GOP congressmen to join his cabinet. As I half-listened to the televised patter something Schock said caught me attention, when he stated that "..it comes down to personality and the ability to carry the message forward.....obviously George Bush did a better job than Gore in the 2000 elections...."

Chris Matthews was quick to point out that Bush may have won on a technicality, but Gore handily won the popular vote despite his wooden personality, but Schock continued to regurgitate the same lies that the GOP has been spoon-feeding the public for the past 10 years.

I'm sure that being a "young'un" in politics Schock has a lot to learn but if he continues to operate on fluff and bullshit and not facts I'm not sure I want to be a part of the future he embodies.

(Of course this statement has absolutely NOTHING to do with the fact that Schock toed the GOP party line and voted against the Matthew Shephard Hate Crimes Act, and does NOT support gay marriage and gays in the military....)

You can watch the entire interview from 'Hardball" here:

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A LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

President Obama,

I must admit that lately I am disappointed with the direction your administration seems to be taking. Your recent stance on issues such as Don't Ask Don't Tell, not prosecuting those who authorized the use of torture and your now awkward plans regarding the closing of Guantanamo Bay is troubling. What began as a spectacular start to your presidency is quickly morphing into slick political maneuvering for what I see as either calculated approaches to policy to ensure either another term in office, or delivery of more seats in Congress to the Democratic Party in next year’s mid-term elections.

With regards to social issues – instead of channeling the strengths of notable leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi or Marcus Garvey, you seem to be embracing the weaknesses of the George W. Bush administration.

I am absolutely horrified by your speech yesterday that put forth the notion of ‘prolonged detention’ whereas persons deemed - even remotely - as possible threats to national security without actual cause, grievances or previous actions may be detained indefinitely. To me that translates to mean that if someone in authority doesn’t agree with my views or something I say - that they can put me behind bars for an unlimited time under the ruse of being a ‘possible threat’.

UNACCEPTABLE.

Where is the “Change We Need” that you promised?

I think you need to re-read your own book ‘The Audacity of Hope’ to remind yourself of your previously untainted thoughts prior to your appointment to the White House.
Because lately it seems that your administration is touting ‘The Audacity of Hype”.

PLEASE NOTE: members of the GLBT community are NOT second class citizens and should be afforded equal rights – if you can not repeal ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ at least issue an executive order to halt enforcement of that insidious law.

My faith in you is rapidly diminishing – can you make me a believer again?

(You may submit your own comments to the White House at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/)

IRAQI JOURNALIST THROW SHOES AT LAME-DUCK PRESIDENT BUSH

During a surprise visit to Iraq today President Bush addressed members of the Iraqi and foreign press in a farewell speech, during which an Iraqi journalist representing an Iraqi media house took off his shoes and threw them as a severe sign of disapproval at the lame-duck president.

My only beef with this?

The journalist MISSED the fucker.......damn......

ASSHOLE OF THE YEAR....,NO WAIT, THE DECADE..., NO WAIT, THE ENTIRE U.S.HISTORY!!!!

"Forgive me Lord/Allah/Yahweh/Krishna/Buddha for I have sinned":

I am sorry to confess that in the past few weeks I began to feel a little sympathy towards the current incumbent president, believing that maybe he really meant well and just went about it in the wrong way.

WRONG!!!

Reality bitch-slapped me in the face this week to remind me that 'Dubya' is one evil self-righteous asshole who tried to force his (not-well-thought-out) agenda that based on religious doctrine and blind ignorant patriotism.

What did he do? In his final days as president (and I use that term loosely) he is going around and using interviews and speeches to try to re-write a positive spin on exactly what happened with regards to the invasion of Iraq and subsequent occupation, and is trying to pin the current economic mess on Bill Clinton, the Republican Party, ANYONE BUT HIMSELF.

I would swear on the Bible (if I believed in at least 70% of it) it was the position of being prone in the church pew that instigated the idea for 'Dubya' to fuck-over the American people with his un-informed religious and self righteous rhetoric, thereby ruining all that was good that the American people stood for.

So I nominate, and declare as the winner, George W. Bush as 'Asshole Emeritus' for all of the recorded history of the United States of America.

(January 20th can NOT come soon enough. )

THIS WAS JUST TOO GOOD NOT TO SHARE!!

Thanx to Towleroad: A Site with Homosexual Tendencies for this ditty!

WHY I HATE GEORGE W BUSH

Time and time again I see the need to clarify my stance on my hatred for the current incumbent/incompetent president versus my tolerance of the Republican party.

I do NOT hate the Republican party - I disagree with some (okay, a lot) of items of their dogma - especially the 'faith and values' clause. I also disagree with the extent of their 'conservatism' in dealing with day-to-day issues facing today's society.

And tolerance is not their strong point.

However, most Republicans are loyal, patriotic, law abiding Americans who faithfully believe in the best interests of the country through free market principles with minimum government interference. So, to re-iterate: I do NOT hate the Republican party, I HATE GEORGE W. BUSH.

(And select members of his cabinet, but, that's for another posting.)

Why, Adrian, you may ask, do you so vehemently loathe the man?

Because I hold him accountable for a lot that has gone wrong with the current administration and the current chaos of the country, and because he cast suspicion on THE ONE THING I thought could never be compromised, bought, sold, and stood for principle and trust: the presidency of the United States of America.

Though his actions with the Saudis he has implied that we're at their beck-and call. Why was it that immediately after the attack on the World Trade Center when all air traffic in the U.S. were grounded, was the Saudi family of Bin-Laden allowed to fly out of the U.S.? Why does he make frequent visits to that country as if to file reports with his boss?

Through his actions regarding the Iraqi War he has implied that he was finishing a fight lost by his father, placing the lives of American soldiers for sale and barter. Why was Halleburton and other such companies granted un-contested lucrative government contracts for services to the armed forces stationed in Iraq? Why did he keep the arrogant Donald Rumsfeld in charge for so long to grossly mismanage the war effort?

Through his actions regarding Hurricane Katrina, the housing market and (pretend) ignorance to rising fuel costs he has shown his indifference to domestic economic issues.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: his attack on the LGBT community during the 2004 general election. He equated the LGBT community to terrorists and behaved no better than the recently chastised Rev Jerimiah Wright. Bush spouted nonsical rhetoric, using irrationality to stir up ignorance amongst the American people.

I'll never forgive him for that.

He knows better: through slip-ups when mikes were 'live' or from leaks in White House administration it has been shown that the man is NOT as stupid as he let's on, it's just an act to appeal to the common man, to show that he is one of them. HE CHOSE his path, the laziest path that left the burden of responsibility on his cabinet and not him.

AND HE PUT A PRICE ON THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY AND TAINTED IT WITH CORRUPTION.

May he rot in the annals of history as the worst president - EVER.

ON THE SUBJECT OF BUSH.....NO, THE NOT THAT ONE, 'DUBYA'...

Well then. It seems I've stirred up a hornet's nest with this one. I'm hearing from people who I hadn't heard from in eons.

One one hand someone made the valid point that going around touting gloom-and-doom will shake the confidence of consumers and investors. This is true - monetary systems used globally are based on the confidence that the declared value on a piece of paper will be backed by the issuing government, and stating one's doubts in the GDP of the country could have a negative effect on this system.

HOWEVER, recognizing doubts could also have a POSITIVE effect on the system also - if consumers and investors see an administration acknowledging current issues with the economy AND THAT SAID ADMINISTRATION IS PUTTING IN PLACE POLICIES AND PROPOSALS TO COUNTER-EFFECT ANY NEGATIVE INFLUENCES, they will stay the course - and confidence in the system can grow. Bush could have given an address to the nation to reassure the public, encouraging them to rally together in these hard economic times, AND put forth some ideas for congress to act on - such as creating new jobs by upgrading the current infrastructure, challenge large urban areas to implement aggressive plans to update and expand public transportation, be a more vocal advocate of nuclear power plants, etc. - rather than just throwing money at the problem. Not that I mind my $600 check, but it was used to help pay for necessities such as rent, utilities and food rather than buying luxury items to stimulate the economy - a scenario that has been seen and heard throughout the nation.

Over the past eight years Bush has shown over and over his steadfastness of ignoring the truth: the fudging of facts by his advisors that lead to the invasion of Iraq, Donald Rumsfeld and his numerous cock-ups, New Orleans, and now rising gas prices. His deliberate avoidance during a press conference in February of predicted $4 a gallon gas prices is a classic Bush modus operandi - pretend the problem doesn't exist and act oblivious....to the obvious. His latest statement is clearly irresponsible when companies such as American Airlines, Citigroup, GM and Bank of America are announcing large job cuts.

Right now I think Bush realizes that his last term as president has been a complete and utter failure, and he is coasting through these last months hoping they will be incident free, focusing instead on doing 'PR tours' around the globe. He's already being called 'the worst president EVER in the history of the United States' (not my words, but a phrase quoted far too many times in the media) and he just doesn't want to add mismanagement of the economy to that legacy - so he pretends all is well.

His approach is downright arrogance and ignorance.

Now, I need to get on top of my TALLER soapbox and address those who predict the downfall of the U.S. - it's never going to happen.

Why?

Americans have proven time and time again their ability to rise to challenges that affect their way of life, using 'American ingenuity amongst other things to conquer crisis. They have taken higher petrol costs and a weak economy as a challenge, and quickly adapt to a new way of life. Persons riding bicycles, and having 'stay-at-home' vacations, trading in gas-guzzlers for hybrids - these are examples of them adapting to change. The previous 'fall of empires' has historically resulted when a nation comprised of indigenous people try to take over the world - the U.S. is made up of a collective of non-indigenous people who came to this country for a better life, and their differences is what makes the U.S. strong and sets them apart from invading empires of the past.

So, don't write 'U.S.' off yet - we'll adapt, then you'll have to adapt to 'U.S.'. After all, "resistance is futile"........