Prince Charles Finds His Cause: Short Showers

Britain's Prince Charles is urging his countrymen to take short five-minute showers and "snub the tub" to save energy.
It's part of Charles' latest campaign to save the earth.
But spokespersons for the Prince refuse to say whether or not he follows his own advice. They simply say that the Prince follows most of the tips on his "save energy" list.
Let's face it, Prince Charles has become a bit of a joke.
As long as his mum is alive and continues to reign, he has nothing to do. And it appears as if the Queen will live as long as her mum, who lived past the ripe old age of 1oo.
So Charles is left to find projects for himself.
But nobody takes him very seriously. He's like an overgrown adolescent.
It's possible that he may indeed be a very fine person -- bright, thoughtful and caring. Yet, we only know him by his public persona. That's the only thing we have to go on. And that ain't exactly sterling.
Though the Queen remains personally popular and widely-admired and respected, she presides over a somewhat daffy and disconnected brood.
Money can't buy everything, mates.

Are You A 'Snooki' Fan? Shame On You!

Does President Obama really know who Snooki is?
Do you know who Snooki is? Do you care?
Let’s recap. On the daytime TV gabfest The View, when asked about Snooki, Obama replied, “I don’t know who that is.” But two months ago at the White House Press Correspondents Dinner, Obama dropped Snooki’s name as part of a joke about his indoor tanning tax.
So, either Obama has forgotten about Snooki or he’s flip-flopping on Snooki or he never really knew who she was in the first place and he simply went along with a joke that some speechwriter composed for him.
To be sure, Snooki is quite a joke.
She ain’t one bit funny, but she is a joke. She’s a sick joke on all of those who watch the inane TV show Jersey Shore And the show is a sad, sad commentary on the state of the popular culture in this country.
I thought we had reached a new low when someone asked then President Clinton whether he wore boxers or briefs and Clinton actually answered: “Usually briefs.”
But now we have the President of the United States nattering with a bunch of hags on daytime TV about the trashiest show on cable.
Jersey Shore is cheap and tawdry and its characters are dumb, self-centered, hoodlums.
Recently, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi was arrested at the Seaside Heights beach for disorderly conduct and cast member Ronnie Magro was arrested in the same town last November for getting into a fight with another young thug. And when the cast of the MTV reality show made a personal appearance in North Jersey earlier this year, fights broke out among the crowd forcing the closure of a thoroughfare and leading to the arrests of four people.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is right when he says that Jersey Shore is a “negative” for New Jersey. Christie noted that the show “takes a bunch of New Yorkers, drops them at the Jersey shore, and tries to make America feel like this is New Jersey.” And the Governor added: “When they say this is New Jersey, it’s not New Jersey. If you want to come to the Jersey let’s go. I’ll show you the real New Jersey. The Jersey shore is a beautiful place.”
Christie nailed it. This gutter-level, manipulative TV show is nothing but an excuse for a bunch of loud-mouthed, bronzed young jerks to defile themselves and others while showing off their tattoos.
In its casting phase, Jersey Shore was reportedly called “The Guidos.”
So, it shouldn’t surprise anyone at all that the show is offensive to Italian-Americans. The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) has blasted Jersey Shore for reinforcing the “guido” stereotype of Italian-Americans. Philadelphia lawyer and NIAF President Joseph V. Del Rasso, pointed out that “the reality of the Italian American experience is much different” from that depicted on Jersey Shore.
“New Jersey’s ‘reality’ of Italian Americans includes Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., General Raymond T. Odierno, Bruce Springsteen, and Governor Chris Christie,” Del Rasso noted. “It also includes a diverse group of white- and blue-collar individuals with varying socio-economic and educational levels who share a common position: that the outrageous behavior evident on Jersey Shore, which is laden with promiscuity, debauchery, and violence, is a disgrace.”
Even The View’s uber-liberal Joy Behar has admitted that the characters depicted on Jersey Shore “make it hard for young Italian Americans to be taken seriously in the work force.”
And the New Jersey Italian-American Legislative Caucus has gone so far as to say that the Jersey Shore “violates the spirit of the New Jersey’s hate crime laws.”
Caucus Chair, Senator Joseph Vitale said: "The bias-related acts displayed by employees of MTV Networks in the production and marketing of ‘Jersey Shore,’ by their nature, are confrontational, inflame tensions and promote social hostility. These acts are contrary to the spirit of New Jersey law and jeopardize the active and open pursuit of freedom and opportunity."
Though its cast members may be breaking their share of laws, I’m not sure Jersey Shore is illegal.
And I’m certainly not advocating that a pay TV program should be censored. You buy the channel, you get the program. It’s your choice.
But you also have the choice not to buy and/or not to watch.
Still, Jersey Shore is filthy and relentlessly assaultive.
So, with tough midterm elections approaching, I can understand why President Obama might want to put a little distance between himself and Snooki., Ronnie Magro and the other members of the show’s cast.
I certainly wouldn’t want to be associated with them.
Mr President, Jersey Shore is a national disgrace.

Depends On How You Define 'Extreme' . . . Yes?

When it comes to who's "extreme" and who isn't this video from the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee pretty much says it all. Our thanks to the NRSC for allowing us to share it with you. Find out more at the NRSC web site.

Toomey: Cap 'N Trade = High Taxes, Job Losses

In an op-ed in the Wilkes-Barre (PA) Times Leader, Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate Pat Toomey makes some good points about the proposed federal cap 'n trade bill that his liberal opponent, Joe Sestak supports.
Here's part of what Toomey says:
Last spring, Congressman Sestak co-sponsored and voted for a cap-and-trade bill that would impose a massive tax on energy. If you put a massive tax on energy, all forms of energy – from electricity, to gasoline, to natural gas – become more expensive. That means families have higher electricity bills, it costs more to fill up at the pump, and businesses, especially energy intensive industries, will have to deal with skyrocketing costs. The inevitable result will be fewer jobs, and the industrial base in Northeastern Pennsylvania would be especially hard hit.
Read the full piece at the Times Leader.

Even On The Vineyard: Bush Outsells Obama

The Boston Globe is reporting that vacationers and residents at Mahhhthahhhs Vineyahhhd aren't quite as excited about President Obama vacationing on the elite New England island this year. In fact, there's been a rather dramatic change (even in Massachusetts) in the attitude toward Obama.
In the story, here's how one island merchant puts it:
“Last year, Obama gave you goose bumps, but I don’t think you’re going to see that this year,’’ said Alex McCluskey, co-owner of the Locker Room, who sold more than 4,000 “I vacationed with Obama’’ T-shirts last year. But so far this year, he said, his hot item is T-shirts of former President Bush asking, “Miss me yet?’
read the full story at the Boston Globe.

Christie Moves To Spur Growth, Save Energy

Today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie continued his commitment to grow and strengthen New Jersey’s economy by utilizing and promoting energy initiatives as key to the State’s technology future by signing the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act. The bipartisan measure will spur economic growth in the Garden State through the development of renewable energy resources and the creation of green jobs.
The legislation will establish an offshore wind renewable energy certificate program (OREC) and will make available financial assistance and tax credits from existing programs for businesses that construct manufacturing, assemblage and water access facilities to support the development of qualified offshore wind projects.
"The Offshore Wind Economic Development Act will provide New Jersey with an opportunity to leverage our vast resources and innovative technologies to allow businesses to engage in new and emerging sectors of the energy industry,” said Governor Christie. “Developing New Jersey’s renewable energy resources and industry is critical to our state’s manufacturing and technology future. My Administration will maintain a strong commitment to utilizing energy as industry in our efforts to make our State a home for growth, as well as a national leader in the windpower movement.”
"This is a terrific step for New Jersey,'' said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin.”It makes us a leader environmentally, while at the same time providing New Jersey with a major economic boost from jobs that surely will be created by this green industry. Certainly, we would rather have wind turbines, and the environmental and economic benefits they offer, than oil rigs off the coast of New Jersey.''
"We are far ahead of most other states in developing a technology that is better for the environment and will help the state's economy,'' Commissioner Martin said.
The bill directs the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to develop an offshore renewable energy certificate program that calls for a percentage of electricity sold in the state to be from offshore wind energy. This percentage would be developed to support at least 1,100 megawatts of generation from qualified offshore wind projects.
Through the legislation, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) will provide financial assistance to qualified offshore wind projects and associated equipment manufacturers and assembling facilities.

Having A Right vs. The Right Thing To Do

The Daily Local News of West Chester is out with a fine, well-crafted editorial on the Ground Zero mosque.
Here's part of what it says:
There are dozens of mosques already in the New York City area where American and foreign Muslims are free to practice their religion daily. This fact is testament to the religious freedom that exists in this country. America is a country where different religions are not only tolerated, but celebrated.
However, to most Americans the site where the Twin Towers used to stand — buildings that were attacked for being symbolic of Western dynamism and culture — is now hallowed ground. . . .
There is a difference between what is legal in this country and what is right. . . .
Americans retain the right to peacefully protest this plan, which some understandably see as an affront to the memory of the victims and heroes who died there.
Voluntarily moving the mosque to a different location would show the world that America's Muslim leaders can be sensitive as to the feelings of non-Muslims, just as we expect our leaders to be when it comes to treating our Muslim brothers with respect that is their due as human beings.
You owe it to yourself to read the whole editorial at the Daily Local News.

Christie Gains NJ Voters Confidence, Scores High

The Quinnipiac University poll is out today with great news for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Here are some of the highlights:

New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie is winning the hearts and minds of New Jersey voters who approve 51 – 36 percent of the job he is doing and say 51 – 39 percent that the Governor is more a “leader” than a “bully,” according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. . . . In today’s survey, Christie gets a 75 – 13 percent thumbs up from Republicans and a 61 – 29 percent approval from independent voters. Democrats disapprove 63 – 24 percent. The Governor’s approval rating is higher than for other players in Trenton:

• Voters disapprove 28 – 17 percent of the way the State Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney is doing his job, with 55 percent undecided;
• Voters split 19 – 19 percent in their approval of Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, with 63 percent undecided; ·
  
• Voters disapprove 45 – 28 percent of the State Assembly; ·
  
• Voters disapprove 46 – 30 percent of the State Senate. . . .

Most New Jersey voters give Christie passing grades after six months in office:

• 15 percent give him an A;
• 32 percent give him a B;
• 20 percent give him a C;
• 16 percent give him a D;
• 14 percent give him an F. . . .
  

President Barack Obama’s approval rating has dropped to an all-time low in New Jersey, a split 47 – 47 percent, down from a 50 – 46 percent approval rating June 17. Democrats approve of the President 80 – 16 percent while Republicans disapprove 80 – 14 percent. Independent voters disapprove 53 – 41 percent, compared to a 52 – 45 percent disapproval June 17.
From August 9 – 17, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,190 New Jersey voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points.

Read more about the poll at Quinnipiac.

Michelangelo Pistoletto: From One to Many

In the fall of 2010, the Philadelphia Museum of Art will present a major exhibition devoted to the work of Michelangelo Pistoletto (b. 1933) in the Dorrance Galleries for Special Exhibitions. Widely recognized as a key figure in the development of Italian art in the 1950s and 1960s and a founding member of the Arte Povera movement, Pistoletto has also gained increasing recognition in this country as an important influence on a younger generation of artists involved with the participatory practices that have become increasingly prevalent in contemporary art during the past two decades.
The first major survey of works by Pistoletto in the United States in more than twenty years, Michelangelo Pistoletto: From One to Many, 1956 - 1974 will place his art in the context of the cultural transformation of Western Europe that occurred after World War II and relate his work to developments in Italian and American art since the 1960s, including Pop Art, Minimalism, Arte Povera and Conceptual Art. Drawn from public and private collections in Europe and the United States, it will include some 100 works, many of which have never been exhibited in this country.

Washington State: Dino Rossi Sparks GOP Surge

Here's an important message that we just received from Senator Jim DeMint and the Senate Conservatives Fund:
Washington State has an unusual primary system. All of the candidates, Republicans and Democrats alike, run on the same primary ballot. The top two candidates selected by voters in the primary compete against each other in the general election. Last night, Washington State primary voters chose Dino Rossi to run against incumbent Democrat Senator Patty Murray.
Washington State has an unusual primary system. All of the candidates, Republicans and Democrats alike, run on the same primary ballot. The top two candidates selected by voters in the primary compete against each other in the general election. Last night, Washington State primary voters chose Dino Rossi to run against incumbent Democrat Senator Patty Murray.
This is yet another victory for conservatives and it's yet another example of Americans ignoring Washington elites and fighting to take their country back.
I want to personally thank the thousands of grassroots supporters in Washington State and across the nation for making this happen.
I also want to thank the members of the Senate Conservatives Fund for supporting this outstanding leader. Because of your commitment, the Senate Conservatives Fund invested over $50,000 in this race in just two weeks.
Dino Rossi is exactly the type of leader we need in Washington. He believes deeply in the principles of freedom and will stand up to the big spenders in both political parties.
Get the full story at the Senate Conservatives Fund and be sure to visit Dino Rossi's web site.