Friday, July 1, 2011

Fourth of July Weekend Open Thread!

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that it's time for a little vacation. So leave your oratorically soaring and/or inflammatory comments here for a couple days.... go back and read old articles if you're bored.... check out the film site.... go outside, get some sun -- you're so pale. Or better yet, tell us (1) why you think Americans are special and (2) what the world would be like without America!

66 comments:

AndrewPrice said...

Anybody see that Obama is having trouble raising money? LOL!

I can't imagine why? He's been such a great President.....

T-Rav said...

SARAH PALIN 2012!!!!!!!!!!!

(Hey, you said inflammatory.)

AndrewPrice said...

Two can play at that game...

Obama/Huntsman 2012!!!

AndrewPrice said...

T_Rav, Or how about this one:

Obama/Palin 2012

Because somehow... it makes sense.

rlaWTX said...

http://patriotpost.us/document/the-declaration-of-independence/

T-Rav said...

Ooh, how about Obama/Paul 2012, facing off against a Palin/Huntsman ticket? How's that for making your head spin...

Tam said...

There is a Harvard study that says 4th of July parades and celebrations "energize only Republicans, turn kids into Republicans, and help to boost the GOP turnout of adults on Election Day. 'Fourth of July celebrations in the United States shape the nation’s political landscape by forming beliefs and increasing participation, primarily in favor of the Republican Party,'"

On the other hand, the green weeinies want us to atone for our carbon sins against the planet this weekend because apparently, "FOOD is responsible for 10 to 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. By many estimates, cooking represents more of a meal’s carbon footprint than transport. For certain vegetables, it accounts for more emissions than agriculture, transport and disposal combined."

So, for the sake of our future as a free nation, go to a parade! and grill on, Patriots!

AndrewPrice said...

rlaWTX, Here's your link: LINK

The Declaration of Independence? Is that some sort of self help book? ;-)

AndrewPrice said...

T_Rav, That would do it. Of course, that kind of race would require a third party candidate so you should also consider:


Ted Kennedy/Robert Byrd 2012

You can still vote for us in our home states...

and

YourNameHere/Biden 2013

Or....

You could vote a straight Zombie Party ticket... Braaaaaains 2012

AndrewPrice said...

Tam, Now that is a party platform I can support!

On the Harvard Study, I've heard this garbage my whole life. Socialists think that if they could just keep kids from (1) knowing anything about America, its history, its traditions, or its symbols, (2) knowing anything about patriotism, (3) knowing anything about fairy tales, and (4) knowing anything about "gender stereotypes", then we would have a whole generation of little duds ready to be programmed to vote Democratic.

Personally, I think that's how you raise a generation of serial killers and cattle molesters, but that's pretty much the same thing.

Unknown said...

Andrew: But he doesn't seem to be having a lot of trouble raising big bucks from big corporate wheeler-dealers whom he claims to hate. Note on our Daily Caller link: "Exec at NBC parent corporation Comcast raises $1.2 million for Obama." This is the same President who is going to continue trying to raise taxes on the "rich" by repeating the mantra: "Corporate jet, corporate jet, corporate jet."

Have I ever mentioned that I hate Obama?

AndrewPrice said...

Lawhawk, I saw that. And if memory serves (and it does despite T-Rav's attempts to scramble my brains), NBC spent months blasting News Corp (Fox News) for donating money to Republicans. So either that was pure slander or NBC has consciously set out to do something they called unethical. Hmmm. Imagine that.

wahsatchmo said...

Tam -

I saw that link as well, and it cracked me up. Of course gestures of patriotism energize Republicans, because the Democrat platform is based on self-loathing. You can't admire America and be a Democrat, because your entire belief system is (1) only you and your fellow travelers know what wrong with this country; (2) what's wrong is that we're generally successful as a species and a country; and 3) the act of complaining represents righteous and effective action, so long as it's directed against America or Republicans.

If you're not complaining about America or Republicans, you're not doing your duty as a Democrat. Pointing out your own moral and ethical failures is okay, but it's the government's responsibility to prevent you from suffering any losses as a result since it’s America's fault that you suck.

This is why Democrats love their Pride in Mediocrity Days (Gay Pride, Earth Day, Slut Walk Day, etc.) and despise Pride in American Exceptionalism Days (Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veterans' Day).

T-Rav said...

Andrew, "Cattle molesters?" Where in God's name did you grow up??

wahsatchmo said...

T-Rav:

I believe that the acceptable term is "Bovine Love Facilitator".

Writer X said...

Hilarious. After chiding Congress for not working hard enough, the Prez takes off for a weekend retreat. I wish he'd stay gone.

Happy 4th, Everybody!

T-Rav said...

wahsatchmo, I must have scrambled his brains more than I thought.

Meanwhile, I can't think of a better way to celebrate the Fourth than with lots of barbecuing and meat-eating to drive the greenies even crazier than they already are.

Ed said...

I saw Greenspan said the the stimulus did nothing. Yet Bill Clinton insists we just didn't spend enough. Huh?

Does anybody know anything about Thaddeus McCotter.

AndrewPrice said...

wasatchmo, So what you're saying is that the Democrats should be holding "American Loathing Day" parades to entice kids to join their movement? LOL!

By the way, I agree with you, the Democrats have premised their very existence on complaining about out country's supposed flaws. Thus, anything that instill pride runs counter to their belief system and would naturally tend to disrupt it.

AndrewPrice said...

T_Rav, I grew up in a place where we heard rumors about what was going on in Texas! In fact, I've got a plethora of Texan jokes that I could tell.... except Bev would kill me.

CrispyRice said...

Happy Independence Day everyone!!

And hey, Andrew, you did a list of patriotic movies at one point, can you post a link to that? Feeling in the mood for that this weekend! :D

AndrewPrice said...

wasatchmo, Careful, you'll create a new job category for the government to classify and soon we'll be supporting these people.

Ditto on the cattle tippers.

AndrewPrice said...

Writer X, Obama really is a joke -- everything about him. And no doubt, he and the Missus will spend their time at some hugely expensive resort, where they can pig out on unhealthy foods and complain about the dirty Americans who haven't "raised their game" to his satisfaction yet.

Could you image the media outrage if this guy was a Republican?

AndrewPrice said...

T_Rav, The Fourth is kind of a cool holiday that way -- it makes liberals cry for all kinds of reasons. I say live it up and rub it in! :-)

AndrewPrice said...

Ed, I saw that! LOL! They were citing Greenspan as support for the stimulus when it started and he even endorsed Obama's economic plan. Now... it was all a big failure. Yep. Reality wins again.


What's up with McCotter? I know a bit about him.

AndrewPrice said...

Crispy, Sure. Here's the link: Patriot Films. Enjoy!

Also, check out Jed's Gettysburg review (LINK), which is really good too.

Ed said...

Andrew, McCotter announced that he's running for President.

CrispyRice said...

Cool, thanks! And also, I just heard about McCutter. Did we know that he was going to run? I only know a little bit about him from Big Hollywood. I take you you'll be profiling him too?

AndrewPrice said...

Ed and Crispy, Ah, I hadn't heard yet that he officially announced. I know he was thinking about it.

I will definitely profile him, just as I'm doing with the rest.

McCotter's a Representative from Michigan. He's generally conservative, he plays in a band (guitar I think), and he is definitely a favorite at Big Hollywood having posted articles there and being a regular guest on Red Eye.

Off the cuff, I doubt he's a serious contender as he has zero name recognition and lack of fund raising connections, but like I said, I'll profile him. :-)

wahsatchmo said...

Andrew -

They can't call it "America Loathing Day" because Democrats can never be honest about anything. Instead, they'll call it "Sustainable Transgendered Vegan Diversity Tolerance Day". Robert Redford will give a confused, rambling speech about Obama's nearly limitless IQ which has somehow been short-circuited because those mean Republicans made him comprise on their "Death to Puppies" bill so that Obama could pass his "Fix the Economy, Environment, and the World and Make Muslims Love Us While Not Raising Taxes One Dime and We Really Can't Cut Anything Out of the Budget Without Killing Grandma and Your Children Which Is What the Republicans Really Want to Do Because Sarah Palin" Bill.

AndrewPrice said...

wahsatchmo, "Sustainable Transgendered Vegan Diversity Tolerance Day" -- LOL!

Now that would be a parade! First, you couldn't use anything the burns carbon, so they will have to walk. But the vegans aren't strong enough to walk. So the drag queens will need to carry them.

But that's going to be a problem because the Black Panthers and Nation of Islam tolerance stormtroopers aren't going to like being slowed down by the drag queens because they have all kinds of tolerant things to beat into people along the route.

I envision something between a gay pride parade and the Bataan Death March. It should be fun! :-)


At least, it should be fun until Redford starts droning on. Now there's a guy who should never be allowed to speak in public.... like most leftists.

In fact, I think to top the parade off, we should let Louis Farrakhan speak. He can do his numerology thing!

AndrewPrice said...

For those looking for a quick first impression of Thaddeus McCotter, here are some key points:

1. He belongs to both moderate and conservative House groups.

2. He has no website at all (other than his official House website).

3. There is virtually nothing in his legislative record that has gotten him noticed to date, except that he was the first Republican to oppose the TARP -- calling it "American socialism."

4. He was an avid supporter of Bush's Iraq policy.

Ed said...

Andrew, What do you think about the Dominque Strauss Kahn thing. It's pretty amazing they arrested the guy if the "victim" was telling people she was going to make money on this.

Tennessee Jed said...

I am having my roof replaced today as a result of damage from hail storms a couple of months back. Sure glad it wasn't yesterday, I was driven from the field early this morning, just stopped in to say hey, and am beating another retreat forthwith.

As the Brits might say, "carry on" or the southerners, "see y'all later" :)

AndrewPrice said...

Jed, A new roof is not an excuse for missing Commentarama! LOL! (I'm in and out today too - playing taxi service.)

AndrewPrice said...

Ed, That's a tough one. On the one hand, they probably didn't know any of this until they arrested him. On the other, it sounds like the whole case is about to collapse. There are several problems with her testimony and her connection to drug dealers will raise questions about whether or not this was all a clumsy blackmail attempt -- or who knows, this could end up being something underhanded vis-as-vis French politics?

At this point though, in my opinion, the prosecutor owes him an official decision -- not some face saving measure, but either stand by the claim or announce that there is no crime. I hate that so many prosecutors leave it "well, I think he's a criminal, but I'm not going to try the case." To me, that's character assassination and should be unethical. Sadly, prosecutors get away with it all the time.

Anonymous said...

In the latest edition of Newsmax Magazine there is an article about green weenie efforts to ban fireworks. One of their suggestions for an alternate form of celebration would be to throw confetti, provided it's from recycled paper, of course (no I'm not kidding). Other suggestions included attending a laser light show or participating in a parade promoting green energy. I wonder if they have any information about the clean-up after the confetti throwing or parades? Somehow I doubt it.

I thoroughly plan to enjoy our fireworks this year. Unfortunately, the towns around here having fireworks displays are getting few and far between (mostly because of a tragic accident a couple of years ago in Ocracoke where 4 people were killed). I feel bad for those folks who can't have them due to the threat of wildfires.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

TJ

AndrewPrice said...

TJ, I've got to tell you, I'm sick and tired of the left trying to ruin everything! What is wrong with these people? And why can't they just wallow in their own misery without trying to foist it on the rest of us? Grrrrr.

You know, these are the same people who want Christmas taken out of the Christmas play, suspend kids when they wear American flags to school, whine about Columbus Day, and a whole host of other asininity. They should all be mauled by bears.

T-Rav said...

Andrew and TJ, at least the bears would be efficiently recycling them. (Too dark?)

AndrewPrice said...

T-Rav, Little is too dark when dealing with these kinds of leftists who want to take away everything everyone else enjoys.

T-Rav said...

By the way, interesting news about the carnage and suffering in WI since the anti-teachers' union bill was signed into law: one school district, which had had a $400,000 projected deficit and was in danger of shutting down, is now able to project a $1.5 million surplus. Partly as a result, they will now be able to restructure their classes, reducing the average class size by about three students. Oh, the humanity!!!

AndrewPrice said...

T_Rav, I saw that. In fact, I was thinking about writing about it! The most amazing part to me was the bit about the health care -- how they had to buy health insurance from a company owned by the union. And that company told them there would be a huge premium increase this year. But now that they have a choice, suddenly that same company has decided to offer a discount instead of an increase!

That should be considered criminal behavior on the part of the union.

rlaWTX said...

no fireworks around here except the carefully controlled ones at the baseball stadium... BUT we are now in the low to mid 90's !!! we broke a previous record of 14? straight 100+ temp days... it's amazing the diff b/w 95 and 105!

can you post the link about WI?

And, Andrew, you'd better watch it about Texan jokes - unless they are Aggie jokes, or if you can turn them into OK jokes! ;)

StanH said...

Happy 4th everyone!

You can bet my grill will be fired up.

AndrewPrice said...

rlaWTX, I can imagine why you all wouldn't have fireworks. We're not allowed to have them in the city for the same reason -- the city is so dry fireworks would probably burn it down. In fact, we've had several fires in recent days that took a couple days to put out -- nothing like Texas, NM or AZ, but still enough to put a haze in the air.

Don't worry, I'll watch the Texan jokes... though at least one was an Aggie joke. :-)

AndrewPrice said...

Stan, Happy 4th! Make sure to use extra carbon! :-)

StanH said...

You can count on it! You’ll be able to spot my barbeque from the Space Station.

AndrewPrice said...

That's the spirit Stan! I can't wait to see liberals on television all upset about all the BBQs! :-)

T-Rav said...

rla, here's the link. Andrew'll have to make it functional, though. It's a fairly awesome story, all around.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/2011/06/union-curbs-rescue-wisconsin-school-district

AndrewPrice said...

T-Rav, Here's the link: LINK


As an interesting aside on this, just as I first saw this article, I also saw an article in The Economist that has to be taken apart. It's utterly ridiculous. It's trying argue that cuts in education are unacceptable because schools won't be able to add Mandarin Chinese classes and because kids will be forced to pay fees for things like Prom and Band (something that's always been true).... and our poor, poor kids will be forced to buy used instruments full of other kids' spit because of the economy. Boo hoo hoo.

I'm serious, this was their argument. Massively higher class sizes, prom fees and used musical instruments full of spit. Apparently, instruments can't be cleaned.

T-Rav said...

Oh dear, our kids won't be able to learn Chinese! Wait, that might be a good thing; maybe it'll force the Chinese to keep learning English and thus not be able to fully take over as world superpower. And who cares if the instruments are full of spit? I used to play the sax, and I wouldn't have cared if it had other kids' spit in it. In fact, the other kids at school used to spit on me all the time! Or wait, maybe I was spitting on them...yeah, I'm pretty sure I was spitting on them. Hmmm....where was I? Oh, right, yeah that's a stupid argument.

AndrewPrice said...

T-Rav, It was an incredibly stupid argument, that's what struck me. Then I saw the Wisconsin thing and said, this needs to be addressed. So I'll work on it for Tuesday.

Seriously, taxpayers should be forced to pay billions more in taxes so kids don't have to buy used instruments for an after school activity? Only a true assh~le liberal could think that is a compelling argument.


On China, I've got interesting data on that too -- turns out that the laws of economics cannot be repealed and China is hitting the prosperity wall, so it's super growth is about to grind to a halt. It's pretty interesting stuff, but the China story of world dominance is about to come to an end... as predicted.

Ed said...

Andrew, I've been seeing the China story too, though the MSM doesn't play it much for some reason. I guess they don't want to talk about foreign stuff or maybe it just doesn't fit with the idea that America's days are number. Either way though, America is and always shall be the best. I look forward to your article on it!

Ed said...

Also, Happy 4th Everyone!

America... Heck yeah!

AndrewPrice said...

Ed, America will always be number 1, I have no doubt about that.

And the China stuff is the same garbage the media-left said about Germany/Italy in the 1930, Russia in the 1950s, Japan in the 1970s/1980s, Europe/the Asian Tigers in the 1990s, and now China, and India in 2020. None of it will ever come to pass because it's based on flawed theory and an assumption that a small sample of data will be stretched out forever in a straight line. But economies don't work that way.

DUQ said...

Any interest in the upcoming Zack Snider Superman movie?

Tehachapi Tom said...

I was off line all of yesterday, weird tech devices, and missed out on being current.
Belated response.

I agree with Tam, food causes the carbon footprint. Example; CO2 combined with CH4(Methane) will give you two molecules of water H2O and two Carbon molecules or soot by another name.
The only conclusion of course is to make food unavailable or so costly that the production of methane is curtailed to 1880 levels.

AndrewPrice said...

DUQ, Not much honestly. Snider did well with 300, but the rest of his work hasn't impressed me. And Superman isn't really all that interesting to me -- especially the metrosexual they've turned him into. I take you're interested?

AndrewPrice said...

Tom, If environmentalists don't like it, then they should invent low-emission cows. Or they could stand around behind cows making sure to "absorb" any emissions that come out of said cows before they can hurt the planet. That sounds like a good job for environmentalists! ;-)

Anonymous said...

^I'm not paying much attention to Snyder's Superman but I sincerely hope they don't do the same thing (origin story -> Superman foils Luthor's crooked land deal). I wasn't a fan of Bryan Singer's film but I thought Brandon Routh was much better than people give him credit for. If he came off as "metrosexual" (an overused term that people use to mean anything nowadays), it's because of the subpar material he was given.

Let's see... I decided to fly back to FL for the 4th of July. I was gonna take a bus to DC, then I realized, "Everything will be much more expensive this weekend!" Incidentally, two friends of mine had to move back in with their parents and I'm curretly contemplating a return to school since I can't be a temp with two Associate's Degrees forever!

AndrewPrice said...

Scott, I wasn't aware metrosexual was an overused term these days? I take it to mean -- weak-willed, effeminate pretty boy.

So are you giving up NYC? Or am I misreading this?

P.S. School is overrated. Have you considered piracy? It's very profitable -- just ask any Somali. Besides, living in Florida, you wouldn't even have a long commute. :-)

Anonymous said...

Yes, I think it is overused, at least on certain websites where it comes across as code for: "Actor I don't like." :-)

I'm not giving up on NYC (you didn't misread anything) but, as expesive as college is, it's even more expensive up there. And, yes, degrees. I can't throw a rock without hitting an article titled "Is college worth it?" Long story short, I don't even know what I'd major in and it may not be worth it anyway. There are no guarantees. The girl I know who moved back in with her folks has a Master's degree and works at the mall!

Piracy isn't for me. But you are correct, the commute wouldn't be too bad... unless I-95 is backed up. :-)

(I'm heading out so I'll chime in later.)

AndrewPrice said...

Scott, Yeah, I've seen that. But just because idiots misuse a word doesn't mean we should abandon it? Besides, this is a great word -- it's a very fitting word and it's much better than the more wordy "effete pretty-boys."

Don't believe the general meme that education is not worth it. I know it's popular to say that right now, but it's pretty stupid. The proof that education is always the superior choice is unassailable.

BUT, there is a catch, and this is where people get confused. It depends on the kind of education you get. People who get worthwhile degrees and make good use of their time have little problem finding jobs throughout their careers. But too many people are getting pointless, time wasting degrees (e.g. American Studies, Gender Studies, etc.) and they rarely bother learning anything or taking advantage of their time. These are the people who show up in the surveys as "college educated" but working at the mall or unemployed.


Still, piracy is your best option. Let me send you some brochures! :-)

T-Rav said...

By a strange coincidence, all the actors I don't like are in fact metrosexuals. Yeah, kind of weird, but whatever.

Meanwhile, as an fyi, I'm still working on my "TWD" review. I've got most of a rough draft down, but it'll be a few days with revisions and all.

AndrewPrice said...

T_Rav, I'm not a fan of metrosexuals either. But there are a lot of non-metrosexuals I don't like as well.

No problem on the review. Take your time. (Also, sent you an e-mail about it.)

T-Rav said...

Andrew, just checked my email and saw that. Will do.

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