Saddam's dead...now what?

So Saddam Hussein is dead. Great. Now what? This is not the magic balm that will heal tensions that exsist between the Sunnis and Shi'a Muslims currently ripping apart Iraq no matter how much we want it to be. I don't think the Ba'athists will stop fighting just because he's dead...but that's just me.

The Joadies...are back!!

Roll out the red carpet! "The Joadies" are back!

Now last year "The Joadies" only had one category because the owner of this blog had grad school. But it's back this year with a vengance with new categories such as "Best Eccentric VA Blog", "Best Overall Blog-Left", "Best Overall Blog-Right", "Best Anonymous Blog That Later Was Outed or Outed Themselves", "Best Midyear Blog Name Change", "Best New Blog of the Year-Right", "Best New Blog of the Year-Left", and a couple of others including a special and touching "In Memory" ceremony.

"The Joadies" will be hosted by the Ghosts of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Not Samuel L. Jackson!

Stay tuned for more!

Bye Bayh! Obama is the man!

Evan Bayh decides not to run in 2008.

"The main reason for Bayh's decision was a belief that his chances of winning the Democratic nomination in a field likely to include such political heavyweights as Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.) were not high enough to justify the commitment of time and manpower over the next two years.

"The odds were always going to be very long for a relatively unknown candidate like myself, a little bit like David and Goliath," Bayh said in his statement. "This path -- and these long odds -- would have required me to be essentially absent from the Senate for the next year instead of working to help the people of my state and the nation." Bayh's decision to bow out of the race was first reported by The Indianapolis Star."

About a year ago, it was all about Clinton. She had the money stockpile, name recognition, and the possibility of being the first woman president. Nobody was talking about Obama. But Obama has to know he's getting some legitimacy now when Republican pundits and reporters trying to stop the snowball from turning into an avalanche by making fun of his name.

Obama has only four years in the Senate which is a bonus considering the attack ads that would come from twisting his votes. He can save the Democratic Party a lot of stress by eliminating some of the weaker riff raff (I'm looking at you Tom Vilsack. Dennis Kucinich you can stay for sticking it out in 2004) and saving us some money in the primary to fight in the general election. I whole heartedly support Barack Obama!

Confessions of a Grown-up Drama Queen

So we've had three days since this "scandal" broke and I believe nobody has offered any hard evidence besides idle speculation. Here's what I wrote on Wednesday and I didn't post because I thought better of it. But since there has been no evidence given, I don't feel bad now.

Image link.

"Jim Riley's post on this Webb "scandal" is borderline libelous. Oh sure he puts on the obligatory "if" here and "allegedly" there, but it's asinine to think that he doesn't have a strong opinion. Take this gem of a quote for instance:

"***IF*** the Webb campaign actually did opposition research on private citizens as is being alleged by Shaun Kenney (possibly including obtaining individuals’ credit reports) and now at least partially confirmed by NLS (we shall await what further proof is put forward before passing judgment), then this is a despicably Nixonian act, an abuse of power and a violation of the public trust."

Great Riley put his "if" in there but I love this line "...we shall await what further proof is put forward before passing judgment...". What does the drama queen do next? He says this "...then this is a despicably Nixonian act, an abuse of power and a violation of the public trust." So what was that about passing judgment? How can you trust a guy that says he will refrain from judgment in one breath and in the next accuses Webb of a "Nixonian act"? Just because he throws an "if" in there? I don't think so.

Riley then goes into a rant about obtaining "credit information" and how it was illegal. Okay, no one mentioned this but Riley. Not even Shaun in his original post mentioned this. In the comments, Riley mentions that "And just because you haven’t seen anything with regard to the possible obtaining of credit reports doesn’t mean that I haven’t been made privvy to such allegations." Did Shaun and Riley talk about "credit checking"? Are the former A-Teamers still on the job? Or does Riley have other sources that know more about this story? I would just for once like to see some evidence here instead of idle speculation while hiding behind the words "if" and "allegedly"."

It's been three days. Evidence? Anybody have any evidence?

So what happened to that "War on Christmas"?

Bill O'Reilly is a blubbering moron. But I think the height of his idiocy was last year was the "War on Christmas". Well it seems that this year he forgot his own rhetoric.

This makes me wonder where the secular progressive are this year? Are they lying in wait? Are they looking to pop out at the right moment to take the bell from the Salvation Army Santa? Or is it the fact that there's no book being released this year by fellow Faux News host John Gibson? Hmm...looks like those two took some Republicans for a ride last year at a cost of $24.95.

On gayness...or lack of

I'm really confused. By now most of you have read Greg Leticeq's post about Jeff Dion being gay with children. Not that it's any of Greg's damn business but he did stick his bigoted nose into this.

Republicans have a weird dynamic going with people who are not heterosexual. Most of the time, Repubicans want gays to remain in the closet when it suits their interests so they don't have to confront their fears or they think that it is really yucky. This applies to gays and lesbians who are subtle about it to gays who are loud and proud. See example below of loud and proud(Warning: Not James Young Friendly):

But now it looks like some Republicans (ahem...James Young) want you to be open about it if you're running for political office. I didn't know that someone's sexual preference was integral being an elected official. But I do know that being a moralist can make you look like a jackass.

Oh by the way, just in case I ever run for anything, I'm straight (although I do support gays and lesbians in their quest for equal rights). So now you moralists can rest easier in knowing there is one less gay person in this world.

You can donate to a fine, upstanding citizen in Jeff Dion here.

Chantilly wins again!!!!!!!!

Chantilly is going to the Virginia AAA Division 6 State Championship game! The Chargers defeated Varina 17-7 on the strength of a fumble recovery and interception both returned for touchdowns. Nate Worek will be returning to start at quarterback this week against Osbourn after suffering a concussion two weeks ago against Westfield.

The game, thank God, was moved up to Woodbridge from Hampton and it's 3 1/2 hour drive. Chantilly will be looking for it's first title since 1996.

ESPN weighs in on racial slurs

Usually ESPN.com is full of just sports scores and inane commentary but they shocked the hell out of me with a surprisingly insightful article on atheletes and the "n-word". The article has this quote which makes a lot of sense to me:

"But while [Jesse] Jackson is on his current crusade for equality, may I suggest he make a couple of stops into the locker room? Rappers and actors come and go. But athletes? They are forever. They visit our schools, do community service in our neighborhoods, live in our hearts. If they can get people to shave their heads, buy a pair of shoes, or consider wearing a pair of tights, they can change people's attitudes toward the n-word."

I have to agree with the author that athletes do have more of a responsibility whether they like it or not of being vocal about racism in this country. It's difficult for the "n-word" to go away when it is celebrated by some in music, film, and comedy. In the interest of lessening the tension of race in our society, black athletes and entertainers have the onus of striking down the "n-word". That might not amount to more endorsements or "street cred" but what it will do is allow the scab of the "n-word" to finally heal.

I wish I could have 262 days off...

Sometimes it takes a statement so ridicuously stupid to make you thank God that you actually have some brains. Check out this dumbass quote:

"'Keeping us up here eats away at families," said Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), who typically flies home on Thursdays and returns to Washington on Tuesdays. "Marriages suffer. The Democrats could care less about families -- that's what this says.'"

No, it says you're a shiftless, lazy Congressman (and I use that term loosely)that doesn't want to work for his constiuents. Five days a week??!?!?! Imagine that! You actually have to work FIVE days a week! Oh, the horror...

That's why the Republicans wanted to keep control of Congress. It wasn't to pass a budget or any meaningful legislation but to suck on the federal teat and stroke a nice paycheck. God forbid you actually have to do something for that money like the rest of us.

So do us a favor Congressman Kingston, resign your office immediately. Since you are so worried about your family and marriage, you should go and leave the governing to someone more capable of juggling their schedules.