By the way...

I'm actually blogging frequently, but not here...

Keep an eye on blogging.la where I've been posting at least once every other day. (Its largely Los Angeles themed posts, so my out of town readers might be bored... )

My theory gets a boost on Drudge Report

So, yeah... my theory that Cheney will quit or get dumped by the Bush Admin so Condi RIce can become VP was given a little more credibility after the Drudge Report linked to this article:

Insight Magazine: Cheney seen retiring after midterm elections

Senior GOP sources envision the retirement of Mr. Cheney in 2007, months after the congressional elections. The sources said Mr. Cheney would be persuaded to step down as he becomes an increasing political liability to President Bush.

The sources reported a growing rift between the president and vice president as well as their staffs. They cited Mr. Cheney's failure to immediately tell the president of the accidental shooting of the vice president's hunting colleague earlier this month. The White House didn't learn of the incident until 18 hours later.

A few months ago I was out of town when I got a call from someone I'd hired on another event. An attendee at one of the events had a heart attack and died. I received this call within two hours of the incident as a casual heads up. In turn, I called the heads of our company.

18 hours to report to your boss, the President of United States, that you shot someone seems ridiculous. So ridiculous, I'm not certain if this is accurate. But if it is, anyone who doubts that the Cheney camp wasn't discussing how to spin the incident and likely cover-up portions of it are removed from the reality of not just politics, but the world. Cheney isn't an idiot, nor is he clumsy. The time gap in reporting this to the press or the President was not a mistake or lapse in judgement. Maybe the incident happened exactly as he's claimed... but his actions following the incident would lead me to believe he didn't want his staff or anyone to reveal details to anyone for a reason.

In the meantime, Bush needs a fall guy to blame everything that is tainting his Presidency, from Plame-gate to Halliburton ties and now this shooting. A vp slot filled by a single black woman, and one with qualifications to boot, could keep the GOP in the White House solidly for another four years, if not longer.

Interview with former cop, current hunter, Republican, fellow Markland, on the whole Cheney shooting

In press lingo, the Cheney shooting story certainly has legs. Not so much over the actual shooting than the VP's office repeated delays on informing the public, and perhaps even the White House, of critical details. This, of course, raises many questions and suspicions, and highlights the concerns that people opposed to the Bush Admin have been saying all along: its secretive to a fault. Why did the news of Cheney shooting a fellow hunter take more than 24 hours to reach the press, and certainly hours before even the President knew? What was the VPs office frantically trying to spin or cover up? Was Cheney under the influence of alcohol? Was their discussion of having someone else take fault for the shooting? And why was their another extended delay in reporting that the shooting victim, lawyer Harry M. Whittington? At worst, if Cheney was found to have been negligent, or under the influence of alcohol at the time of the shooting, he could be charged with manslaughter if Whittington dies as a result.

Trying to gain some insight into this story I contacted my Uncle Skip Markland, retired Toledo policeman and a State of Ohio Certified Hunter Safety Instructor. He's also a diehard Republican. While some good points, he did actually inadvertently call me a moron.

I'm not certain I agree that they were thinking about claiming someone else did it, but one never knows. Unfortunately, this is what you will be reading in some left-wing moronic blog site.

Like mine.

Besides that, though, he offers some great common sense perspective on the issue, and put me in my place with my stereotyping of hunters. Here's some extended excerpts:

To blame anyone other than the VP is inappropriate. One thing that aggravates me is the stance of our political spokepersons when they claim that it "isn't all that serious" and that it "happens all the time". The Hell it ain't serious and it does not happen all of the time. Factually , hunting accidents are very rare with only a few incidents in each state per year so compared with all of the time that sportsmen spend in the woods hunting, a hunting accident is a very rare occurrence. That's why hunting is one of the least dangerous outdoor activities compared to many others including tennis and bicycling. When they say it isn't a serious incident, what they are saying is that the victim's wounds are not life threatening. It's only sheer luck that the man wasn't killed and I suppose it would take that for the Washington spin meisters to consider it serious.

On the delayed public notification:

From my history as a public servant, it is a very serious and newsworthy incident. I believe they would have been better served to release the information immediately. Accidents happen and our VP obviously did not do this on purpose. I think they made a serious mistake by delaying the press release and added to their PR problems on this one. There was nothing to hide and it isn't something that's going to go away. Do a press release and let the political chips fall where they may. It would have been in the headlines for a couple days and everyone would have forgotten it by the next month, except David Lettermen and Jay Leno but that's their job.

On hunting mistakes:

Keep one thing in mind. . . although we can all criticize the other hunter who makes a mistake, it can happen to the best hunter out there including me or you if you ever take up the sport. None of us are immune from making mistakes as hard as we try to avoid them. In hunting, one of the biggest problems that can lead to accidents is "tunnel vision". You are focusing so hard on making the good shot that you ignore everything else. This shooting is a classic example of that. I have even found myself guilty of this but fortunately I have never shot anyone or come close. It just happens so I do sympathize with the VP and any other hunter who causes such an accident. I have seen many interviews with hunters who have shot someone accidentally and these were truly unfortunate accidents. The hunters were good and safe hunters for the most part but made a tragic and very regretable mistake. (That's why hunting accidents are generally not prosecuted as crimes as I have heard some of our liberal media morons suggesting be done today)

Isn't it the norm for hunters to go hunting carrying a cooler and a couple six packs? Isn't it likely Cheney was drinking, if not drunk, when he shot Whittington?

It is possible but let me say this. You, in suggesting this, are accepting a common stereotype and myth that all hunters are drunk or have been drinking every time they go afield. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many hunters drink. Many hunters do not drink. The ratio of drinkers vs. non-drinkers is nothing different that the general population. However, very few hunters go into the field after or while they are drinking alcohol. So when you ask "How many hunters go quail hunting without some beer?" My response is "very few." Although I and many of my hunting friends enjoy our beer, we do not go into the field after we have been drinking. Do some hunters go into the field after they have been drinking? Of course. It certainly happens but once again they are certainly in the minority. And yes, they are the morons that create and advance these unwarranted stereotypes. So, we will never know if the VP had been drinking or they were trying to cover up his involvement unless someone comes forward or other evidence proves it.

In closing:

By the way, I went grouse hunting last Friday and never had a beer all day. Imagine that!! I did not shoot anyone either.

Now for the next theory to add to my left wing moronic web site: will this result on Bush asking Cheney to resign so Condoleeza Rice can become the Vice President, and thus possibly cement the Republican hold of the White House for another term?

Dick Cheney Blows Cap In Attorney's Ass (or face and neck)

I know how horrific it is to laugh at someone else's misery, but I can't quit chuckling at Dick Cheney's accidental shooting of attorney Harry Whittington.

As a Constitutionalist (the political party I just made up, I think) I believe in the right to bear arms. And I have no problem with hunting at all.

But Cheney and the NRA Republicans who talk about how safe a sport hunting is, and that firearms are perfectly fine in trained hands, are going to have a hard time attacking gun control lobbyists after this.

I'm About To Jump On the Impeach Bush Bandwagon

NATIONAL JOURNAL: Cheney 'Authorized' Libby to Leak Classified Information (02/09/2006)

Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis (Scooter) Libby, testified to a federal grand jury that he had been "authorized" by Cheney and other White House "superiors" in the summer of 2003 to disclose classified information to journalists to defend the Bush administration's use of prewar intelligence in making the case to go to war with Iraq, according to attorneys familiar with the matter, and to court records.

Is anti-Muslim bigotry becoming accepted in mainstream America?

Reverse Vampyr recently posted a quote from the Face of Muhammed blog that I believe is bigoted, hate mongering, and promotes religious intolerance. Here's the quote:

It is suddenly coming to our attention that Islam is not, cannot, and will not be integrated or assimilated to the values of freedom and democracy. Islam is not only a religion; it is a totalitarian and expansionistic political ideology.

Am I over reacting to this?

McCain vs Obama!

My favorite Republican, John McCain just sent a clean and solid blow to my favorite Democrat, Barack Obama in the form of an open letter.

Painful to me, as I respect the apparent honesty and bipartisanship of both men. But in the letter, McCain disputes Obama's efforts of trying to be non-partisan with regards to lobbyist reform, and shuffles his feet without going outright and calling Obama a liar.

"I would like to apologize to you for assuming that your private assurances to me regarding your desire to cooperate in our efforts to negotiate bipartisan lobbying reform legislation were sincere," is how it all begins.

I haven't dug into the background on this particular issue too deeply, but I sincerely hope these two can work it out. In the dreamland of Offline Adventures, I see a President John McCain with Vice President Barack Obama in our near future.

To All the Girls I've Loved Before

UPDATED 2/6/06: Susan Natalie doubted my original lineup was complete (see comments) and jogged my memory... I added two more (starred) and filled in details for #6.

I wondered if I could sum up every first kiss I've ever had, in order, in just a few words. No offense to anyone here...

first kiss, open mouth, holy crap that was hot
second kiss, way too easy, don't think i want to be a man slut
third kiss, most erotic ever, hope her boyfriend doesn't walk in
fourth kiss, sweet and subtle, a nice summer fling
fifth kiss, on a dance floor, with the first girl i meet in L.A.
sixth kiss, said she wanted to see stars - I thought she meant celebrities
seventh kiss, freakaholic, didn't call me the next day
eighth kiss, a-list model type, my inexperience and clumsiness scared her away
ninth kiss, again on a dance floor, later claimed she was too old for me
tenth kiss, seemed like fun at the time, big shot producer
eleventh kiss, heavy connection, but she never saw it til much too late
twelfth kiss, spring break raver, my mtv credentials finally pay off
thirteenth kiss, during a lapdance, she asked for my number (and then she called...)
*fourteenth kiss, IM flirting with old friend led to pumpkin carving date, wouldn't let me take off her bra
*fifteenth kiss, said she'd had a crush on me, how could I refuse?
sixteenth kiss, attracted by erect nipples that made the A cups look much bigger
seventeenth kiss, never happened, damaged a friendship, but who's to blame?
eighteenth kiss, my favorite, a redhead... haven't kissed another since

(I dedicate this post to Helena, who's shared many of her hot first kisses with her readers)

Muslims are to Iraqis what Looters are to Finders

Am I the only one who's noticed that some right wing bloggers will refer to people in Iraq differently based on their actions? When they're voting, or saying good things about the United States, these people are Iraqis? But when there are bombings or other violence, the people committing these acts are just Muslims?

LA Voice looking for writers

After posting news that blogging.la had recruited a handful of new writers, Mack Reed at the LA Voice encouraged anyone wanting to post at his blog to give him a shout. Mack's a power house blogger, and if he were posting a handful of different nicknames he could fool anyone into believing his roster was larger than than of blogging.la's. But I think the guy deserves a break and some well earned attention, so I'll repeat his call:

If you'd like to be part of LA's second greatest community blog, check out LA Voice. You can submit news/opinions/rants/etc. at any time (which are posted pending Mack's approval), or email Mack directly if you'd like to be considered as a "topic voice" focusing on angle of L.A. culture or news in particular, or as a "featured voice."

In the meantime, I recently made my first rash of posts for blogging.la - to keep up, check out the site periodically, or click here to see what I've been whining about.

A nice crunchy outside and a chewy center

Its a cake. A real cake. A yummy cake. For real.

Now I must vomit.

(thanks, I guess, to The Sneeze for pointing this out... now, who's got a birthday coming up?)

Oh, How I Love Fact Check

If you're sick of the partisan bullshit and muckraking as I am you should always keep an eye on Fact Check (that's dot ORG not dot COM, as Dick Cheney embarrasingly mistook it for). They site readily slams inaccuracies from Democrats as it does Republicans. Fact Check's statement is that they are "a nonpartisan, nonprofit, 'consumer advocate' for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding."

I'm mostly giddy by their disection of last night's State of the Union Address... here's the rundown of what they found Bush omitted or altered:

* He proudly spoke of "writing a new chapter in the story of self-government" in Iraq and Afghanistan and said the number of democracies in the world is growing. He failed to mention that neither Iraq nor Afghanistan yet qualify as democracies according to the very group whose statistics he cited.
* Bush called for Congress to pass a line-item veto, failing to mention that the Supreme Court struck down a line-item veto as unconstitutional in 1998. Bills now in Congress would propose a Constitutional amendment, but none have shown signs of life.
* The President said the economy gained 4.6 million jobs in the past two-and-a-half years, failing to note that it had lost 2.6 million jobs in his first two-and-a-half years in office. The net gain since Bush took office is just a little more than 2 million.
* He talked of cutting spending, but only "non-security discretionary spending." Actually, total federal spending has increased 42 percent since Bush took office.
* He spoke of being "on track" to cut the federal deficit in half by 2009. But the deficit is increasing this year, and according to the Congressional Budget Office it will decline by considerably less than half even if Bush's tax cuts are allowed to lapse.
* Bush spoke of a "goal" of cutting dependence on Middle Eastern oil, failing to mention that US dependence on imported oil and petroleum products increased substantially during his first five years in office, reaching 60 per cent of consumption last year.

The whole piece can be read via their website - I'd offer a direct link to this article, titled "Misstatement of the Union", but I think its important for the die hard right wingers to look at the site and realize they aren't Bush bashers by any means.

I have additional thoughts of what I thought were completely incredulous statements by W last night, but I think the pointers above are enough to digest for now.