Thanksgiving 2012

President George HW Bush Pardoning the Turkey

If you are here on Thanksgiving, go! Spend time with your friends and family.  Eat a healthy dinner, politics can wait until Sunday.

Here is the History of Thanksgiving:
(From Plymouth Plantation)

Giving thanks for the Creator’s gifts had always been a part of Wampanoag daily life. From ancient times, Native People of North America have held ceremonies to give thanks for successful harvests, for the hope of a good growing season in the early spring, and for other good fortune such as the birth of a child. Giving thanks was, and still is, the primary reason for ceremonies or celebrations.

The First Thanksgiving

As with Native traditions in America, celebrations - complete with merrymaking and feasting - in England and throughout Europe after a successful crop are as ancient as the harvest-time itself. In 1621, when their labors were rewarded with a bountiful harvest after a year of sickness and scarcity, the Pilgrims gave thanks to God and celebrated His bounty in the Harvest Home tradition with feasting and sport (recreation). To these people of strong Christian faith, this was not merely a revel; it was also a joyous outpouring of gratitude.
 

The arrival of the Pilgrims and Puritans brought new Thanksgiving traditions to the American scene. Today’s national Thanksgiving celebration is a blend of two traditions: the New England custom of rejoicing after a successful harvest, based on ancient English harvest festivals; and the Puritan Thanksgiving, a solemn religious observance combining prayer and feasting.

Oh, you're still here? The rest is a personal post, so read on then!

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My sister talked to me this week about not being grateful for small things.

She was right, so this post is dedicated to her as this is all the things I am thankful for in the world:

1)  I am thankful for having an eclectic group of friends: Bloggers who opine, Goths who are great people, Capitol Hill Chiefs of Staff  (Karv and Todd) who help this country, and Politicos and Partisans who are some of the nicest people I have met and my friends from High School and College(s) who have seen me grow.. I am lucky to have all these friends;

2) I am thankful for having my best friend Ron who puts up with my Politicking and ever chatting nature; He is a Southern Gentlemen (who needs a nice girl), but I am just a poor kid from Queens. I try to look out for my Future Best Man  (when I find a nice or not so nice girl to settle down with).  He might be quiet, but he has a lot of smarts;

3)  I am thankful, with my disease, that the only addictions I have: Mainstream politics, beautiful Gothy Muses, comic books (Marvel still rocks! But I do like the Dark Detective from DC), and books (sci fi and non-fiction historical). My path could have taken me down drug addiction or alcoholism.   See! Mainstream Politics does keep you healthy!;

4) I am thankful I live in the City of Angels.  Where else can you live where Hollywood stars co-exist with us mere mortals under a cloudless sky?  The Industry is cool (I wish they would treat my Republican Tribe better), but were else can you Politic among Palm Trees and beautiful women?  And I love the challenge of being Han Solo among the Rebel Forces (Democrats run Everything = They are the Empire);

5) I am thankful my head is full of ideas.  From the Southland Fundraiser to the posts in the Valley, I always like creating.  Now, if only I can find a job that would let me do the same at $50,000/year....Step by step, JSF.  Writing is a calming thing.  If I opine or theorize, it is awesome researching and writing on the spot (I never plan the writing of posts, only the subject).  Thanks to all who donate to the Tip Jar that makes my job easier;

6) I am thankful living in the United States.  I grew up in the decaying towers of NYC in the 70's and then among the rising finances of DC until I landed among the sun and beauty of LA.  For me, Presidential Elections don't scare me (There is a future post on this for those scared of my Political Tribe), win or lose, I love my country the same.  Campaigning in LA (and among Goths) is fun.  I am a Congressional geek, tell me how Appropriations go compared to a Presidential race.  That a poor kid from Queens can learn the obscure and move among Politicos shows how great this country is;

 6A) One of the people who never get thanked are our Men and Women of the Outer Dark.  Thanks you all for putting your lives on the line for us, defending America in the dark.  Stay safe this holiday season.

7) Finally, I am thankful for having a great family.  My Sis is one of the most down to earth people I know (or as I like to say: She has her shit together) and My Mom is one of the coolest and nicest people you would ever get to know.  I am thankful both of these Ladies have helped through my disease and beyond.  When I do my posts to LAUSD, that's just a son trying to help his Mom.  Thanks Sis for helping me keep everything in perspective.

And finally, I want to thank all my readers from Studio City to Vegas to Moscow and all over the world -- THANK YOU!

The Alternate History of the Obama Administration: How to Change Washington in 09

I am a Comic Book geek.

A Marvel Comic Book geek especially.

I enjoyed their stories, then I enjoyed how  Uatu the Watcher would ask "What if?"

Tonight, hours before the Election, with the polls skewing all ways, I will show you how the Senate could have been fixed and the GOP could have been mollified.

But it requires listening and understanding.  History happens when you aren't watching, but I was.

On 60 Minutes, the question for the Senate majority and Minority leader was simple: why can't you work together? The point of divergence occurred in the CT Primary of 06 -- the "New breed" of Democrats primaried Senator Lieberman for working across the aisle.  

When it came time for the Tea party to elect members to the Senate, they followed the precedent set by the Democrats in 06.  Why work together if the other side doesn't want to? 

That's one answer.  Now, to get to the Alternate History of the Obama Administration.

Inauguration Day 1/20/09

After spending 6-8 years attacking President Bush, the democratic crowd let loose their attack on their Emmanuel Goldstein:

If I were the Senate Minority leader(an R), I would put the call to the House Minority leader(also, an R) immediately. "Saving Face," and "Class," should be shown on a day where there is a peaceful transfer of power.

These Democrats thought with their anger first, to hell with the consequences.  Well, the consequences of attacking Bush (on his final day, during a peaceful transfer of power) was to act like assholes.  How to respond?

If President Obama was the same guy who was sold in the 2004 speech, and let me quote:

 

The pundits, the pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I’ve got news for them, too. We worship an "awesome God" in the blue states, and we don't like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the red states. We coach Little League in the blue states, and yes, we've got some gay friends in the red states. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq, and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the Stars and Stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.

In the end -- In the end -- In the end, that’s what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or do we participate in a politics of hope?

But...he wasn't. 

Had he stood up on that day, at that time, the anger the GOP rank and file and Elected officials had over how President Bush was treated would not have erupted in a meeting later that evening.  

By not telling his people "This is not how we do things in America. We have opponents, not enemies," This would be a different post.

Onward.

The First year is the Hardest year

Clinton made the same mistake as Obama.  When the Election turned after his half term, he didn't have the phone number of the House Majority leader.

But Obama made a mistake Clinton did not -- Obama started his term saying "I won,"

Last I checked, in our fragile Republic, the Republican members of Congress were elected too.  

During the Bush Administration, the Democrats filibustered a whole slew of Judges.  Had the Obama Administration brought those names through, that would have been a MAJOR compromise before passing Obama's Pet project, health Care.

And if you want to complain about Filibusters by Republicans in the Senate, the precedent was set by Democrats, during Bush fils and starting during the 80's with a man named Bork (i.e. Borking). 

And before Obama went onto Health Care Project, would it have cost anything for Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid and President Obama to apologize how their partisans acted during the last Administration? 

History did not begin on 1/20/09, but it would have been smart (as Democrats and this President claims to be) to mollify how the GOP and their leaders were treated.  

Instead, nothing.

When the Democrats worked on Obamacare, the House Democrats locked out the House GOP; same with the Senate. 

(And we won't even mention how neither Democratic House or Senate neglected their Budgetary Duties)

And meanwhile, the provinces were exploding.

Tea Time: Obama Failed Again

The basis of the Tea Party is Fiscal Conservatism.

The Democrats, unused to having Fiscal Conservatives protest anything, did what they do best: call names, accuse everyone of racism.

Again, if the Senator Obama of 04 was real, he would have listened, he would have....."brought us together," to quote a former President. 

The racism charge has been going since 07, attacking Hillary! supporters and any opposition to Obama.  By attacking American citizens (most of the Tea Party crowds in 09 were new to politics, most voted for Obama). the Left burned many bridges.

When the choice comes for a Lefty Partisan to learn why people oppose or call names, what is done first?

Hint: They don't think they have any side to learn -- how else did the "False Equivalence," meme start?

The Dawning of a New Age

Why is the election close? Because Romney talks of "love of country," and Obama speaks of "revenge,"

This all could have been avoided in this Alternate world, but guess who is not that smart?

My question: Why do Democrats try name calling first rather then learn of their oppositions views? 

UPDATE 2:54 AM PST Hello Insty readers! After you vote, make yourself at home in the Valley.  

The Banality of the Bain Attacks (Even Bane Mocks You!)

[Some Comic Book Spoilers ahead that tie into Dark Knight Rises-- HERE THERE BE DRAGONS]

Yes, I'm a Marvel guy.

No, I don't go to Comic-con. (Too much hype, give me artist, creators and Stan "the Man" Lee)

But I already have my ticket for the Dark Knight Rises.  I've read the comics this movie was based on, Knightfall and No Man's Land) so I know what Nolan's artwork will be about.  (Expect a review when I return on Friday Evening).

To start this post, let me introduce you to Bane (Tom Hardy in the movie):

THE Moment of "Knightfall" 

Bane, born and raised in a South American Prison, created chaos in Gotham and led to the moment above.  

If President Obama is trying to use Bane = Bain Capital, that makes me laugh.

What does Bain Capital do?

"Established in 1984, Bain Capital is one of the world's leading private investment firms managing approximately $65 billion in assets under management. Our affiliated advisors make private equity, public equity, leveraged debt asset, venture capital, and absolute return investments across multiple sectors, industries, and asset classes. Since our inception, our competitive advantage has been grounded in a people-intensive, value-added investment approach that has enabled the firm to deliver industry-leading returns for our investors." 

Or in short, invest in business to create Commerce.  

Bane, above, acts like an Occupy (endorsed by President Obama and Minority Leader Pelosi), ready to destroy the world to get his goal (BREAK BATMAN!).  That doesn't sound like what Romney at Capital did.  

And the attacks about Romney and the paperwork (before he went to save the Salt Lake City Olympics), a Lefty got the banality of the attack:

"The problem is, Romney has a rebuttal that will probably sound plausible to Joe and Jane Heartland -- yes, he was still the Big Kahuna on paper, but he'd taken a leave of absence to (nobly) run the Olympics, and, well, you know those gosh-darn government documents! So confusing! Am I right?

"Apologies for the buzzkill, but I think, for once in his life, something Romney is saying is going to be regarded as relatable by the average American,"

And Steve M. gets it.

However, the multiple attacks on Bain Capital is exactly like the multiple attacks on the Koch Brothers and is exactly like the multiple attacks on Halliburton, etc. ad infinitium.

And when Democrats ask, why are we not getting any funds for our campaign?  All they have to do is look at the paragraph above to get the answer.

Attacking Romney on Bain capital in the Dog Days of summer also shows that President Obama has his "B" team working his campaign, and then adding silliness to stupidity, now they want to equate Bain = Bane (Batman).  Laughter still ensues.

Bane is a KPFK Liberal.  He is from the Southern hemisphere and is willing to overturn the current system to create his own.  That does not sound like Bain capital, Governor Romney or Republicans.

Now we know, President Obama's campaign has been reduced to Trolling this summer.

Fall is coming, are the Revolutionaries in the White House worried that they might be overthrown by the voters? Stay tuned! 

My question: Why do Democrats hate Commerce so much that they want to follow Bane's example in Knightfall?

Why Can't Hollywood Bring in the Crowds?

Since the New York Times paywall went up, I've become an avid Los Angeles Times reader (You'd think an LA Blogger would have made it part of his permanent reading material, but I'm not that smart /sarcasm).

And what do I read today?

With movie theater attendance in the U.S. and Canada down a whopping 20% so far this year compared with 2010, cinema operators and some studio chiefs surprisingly agree on at least one cause: The movies haven't been very good.

"I think it all boils down to the quality of the movies," said Gerry Lopez, chief executive of AMC Entertainment Inc., the nation's second-largest theater chain. "This year we just haven't had those kind of movies that cut across all quadrants of age, race and income."

Michael Lynton, chief executive of Sony Pictures Entertainment, agreed: "So far there is just nothing terribly compelling about what we're delivering as an industry."



It seems both Lopez and Lynton have figured it out. 
 
 
How many remakes have been made?  Does anyone jump for joy about another remake?
 
 
There are hundreds of spec scripts around this town, each one individually made of creative juices with original characters. 
 
 
How about instead of running to the San Diego Comic-con, you tap the ideas of people who are in town?
 
 
Heck, I nominate It's Just Some Random Guy (with a large You Tube audience) help Warner Brothers write their DC movies. 
 
(or he can do Marvel -- for those who know, he gets the comic and the movie geeks).
 
Watch his stuff here:



 
   
And while you're at it, if you have an Oscar worthy script ready for production, hire my favorite actress: Vita Lusty! (Her blog is here). 
 

If the Studios want to make more money, it's time to bring back the Studio system of making movies. 


And please, please, please, make sure your movies and award shows don't insult half your American political audience. 
 
We are media savvy and we vote (with our ballots and our wallets).
 
My question: How would you help Hollywood make money again?

Inception: Playing with Your head

I've been a fan of Christopher Nolan's work since Memento. 


The Dark Knight was heads above most Comic book movies (and I'm a Marvel comics guy), and dealt with the theme of rise and fall (Harvey Dent/Two Face and the Mob) and madness (The Joker).  Even I know, Batman would never read the same. 

And today (thanks to an old AMC gift card my dad left behind in Winter 2002), I caught Inception.  Here is the trailer:

The movie blew my mind.  My taste in films are either the truly stupid, inane cheap sci-fi (Ultraviolet) or the thoughtful head changers (12 Monkeys, Fight Club, Usual Suspects, etc.); Inception is sci-fi, but falls into the latter category. While my taste in films leaves much to be desired, wait till you see my library.  That is where I have my depth.

Imagine a world where lucid dreaming is a place where Corporate spies can search your mind for secrets.  Then Nolan writes a scenario where an idea must be given to the mark, in an Escher devised plan. 

Without giving away too much of the plot, Di Caprio's character has some past troubles that interfere with his job, and as the team moves up within the levels of dreaming (the last sequence is spectacular filmmaking), all the stories come to a head.  How many levels? Go and see.

Some people are are debating the ending, I have my own theory [Here there be Dragons -- Spoilers ahead] Di Caprio dies as the flight ends, hence the spinning top [Spoilers end].  Nolan makes us question the validity of our dreams and the secrets we hold inside. 

For once, Hollywood has backed an original idea not from Comic-con or a remake.  Woo-hoo! I wish the rest of the Industry would follow. 

I will try to see Inception again.  If you haven't seen it, go for the mystery and enjoy the magic of the mind.

My question: Have you seen Inception? What did you think? (When you answer, please put a warning of spoilers. Thanks in advance)

 

When Fictional Things Invade My Workspace

We are all knowledgeable about some facet of the world. Some Religion, some certain regions of the world, others Hollywood or Bollywood; My taste is Politics and Policy from the Right (having started on the Left).

There are two things I enjoy when I am offline (among other things): Marvel Comics and Doctor Who. I met Stan Lee at a Comic Convention with my dad back in 82; Now Stan Lee lives in LA, so someone please forward this post to him.

Let's start with Marvel. Certain comics always go to the front of the line: X-Men (all branches), the Hulk and Moon Knight to name a few. Fantastic Four were too establishment for me and Spider Man just cried "wimp," I liked Spidey when he teamed up with others, same with any member of the Fantastic Four. (The best Spidey written came after House of M was over; For the FF, the Civil War had the best writing)

After the Secret Invasion by the Skrulls (shape-shifting aliens), Norman Osbourn, Spider-man's main enemy has risen into a position that combines running SHIELD (now HAMMER) and Secretary of Superhuman affairs (appointed by President Bush, confirmed by President Obama). In other words, Osbourn is publicly a hero, while the Marvel Universe understood he was a villain.

During the American Son storyline, there is a page where Wolverine and Spider Man compare President Bush to Osborne. Whisky tango Foxtrot?! Wolverine, who is a former veteran, couldn't say a few good words about Senator McCain (R-AZ), also a veteran. After the Superhero Civil war, now Marvel is saying all their heroes voted for Obama in 2008?!?!

Doesn't fit the storyline. Most of the heroes have been fighting with each other since Avengers: Disassembled. And then they all agreed on Obama. Please let Brian Michael Bendis know, that's a crock. Just because the writer is Liberal shouldn't every member of the Marvel Universe is.

I'd like to see how Nick Fury voted since 1968.

Now my other fictional thing, Doctor Who. Remember the "Sound of Drums?" Harold Saxon (The Master) killed President-elect Winters before the Year That Never Was. Now in "The End of Time, part 1," Obama is President (and is being cited as giving a speech to fix the economy on Christmas Day -- that really is science fiction) Say, President Winters is a Southern Republican, how does Obama become president?

We're looking at United States Constitutional Law here:

Let me quote Article II, Section 1, clause 3:

"The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not lie an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately choose by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner choose the President. But in choosing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote; a quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two-thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall choose from them by Ballot the Vice-President."

In other words, the President and Vice president need not be of the same Political party. The Electoral College would decide who came in first and second place. But that was Amended.

The 12th Amendment was passed in 1803, and ratified the next year:

AMENDMENT XII

Passed by Congress December 9, 1803. Ratified June 15, 1804.

Note: A portion of Article II, section 1 of the Constitution was superseded by the 12th amendment.

"The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate; -- the President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted; -- The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. [And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. --]* The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States,"

There were other changes too, but given the budget that the BBC and Russell T. Davies had, they could have looked it up.

What made the old Doctor Who great, was that the Doctor for all his alien nature, still fought for Queen and Country with the Brigadier first, and then they worried what the rest of the world thought. The United Kingdom used to be an Empire and they knew more then the upstart Americans during the early iterations of the show. (yes, it was cool -- because of Doctor Who I studied up on the British Empire)

Now, Russell T. Davies is supplementing their Prime Minister with an American President. If I was British, I would be pissed off.

And I say this to all the fiction writers in books, TV and Movies, if you must bring politics into it, ASK! America is a two party System, I wish that, outside of us partisans (but the Left do not, that's another post), others would cheer on that fact. Use it. Even within the Republican party, there are differences.

But watching Hollywood, you would never know.

My question: Has some fictional book, TV or Movie talked about something you knew and then got it wrong?

The Republican Encyclicals: Letter to Karv and Todd

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Dear Karv and Todd,

It's nice to learn that the House Democrats do not believe in Democracy -- it makes writing these posts easier. As long as Democrats believe the lights should go out in the House or in Iraq or anyplace else that Democracy needs to rise, we can count on Speaker Pelosi to shut out that light.

This is the introduction post to the Republican Encyclicals, begat from the California Encyclicals (which were addressed to Todd), and the goals are still the same: It is a long term plan that Conservatives and Republicans can use to win. The Encyclicals are not just ideals, but strategies and tactics. In all the books talking of winning, ideas matter.

However, get used to this equation:

Ideas (15%) + Ideals (15%) + Image (25%) + Methods (15%) + Organization (30%) = New Republican majority


Why did I choose you guys? You know my family, you know me. You can get these ideas to the Floor of the House if they are good. However, Karv and Todd, I will be unavailable in the next month [see the next two posts], but when I return in September, there will be more.

Either I will visit DC with the Encyclicals in October or I will move there within 6 months of October. I see the tide coming, but some of us are determined to stand and fight.

To help make sense of the upcoming Encyclicals, first I suggest reading the California Encyclicals:

Prologue
Burbank, 1 and 2
Los Angeles 1 and 2
California 1, 2 and 3
Coda

(**so far, no one in California has sat down and discussed them with me yet -- and, yet, The California Republicans are still losing! Coincidence?**)

Here are things I will reference to help the case:

1) Frank Herbert's Dune series (the main books -- the reason will be written later)
2) Marvel Comics Story lines (I grew up on these and can't we just say the Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid are acting like Days of Future Past Sentinels?
3) Doctor Who -- which Democrat is like Davros?

While I'm busy in August, make sure people donate to Rep. Zimmer (R-NJ) and Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL-13) for this year's election.

Keep fighting the good fight!

Joe'y'