Happy Columbus Day!

In fourteen hundred ninety two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue!

If George W. Bush . . .

A friend sent the following along and, well -- we just find it intriguing, that's all.
If George W Bush was an idiot . .. . .
If George W. Bush had been the first President to need a teleprompter installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of how inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?
If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had reduced your retirement plan's holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had made a joke at the expense of the Special Olympics, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?
If George W. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had visited Austria and made reference to the non-existent "Austrian language," would you have brushed it off as a minor slip?
If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current in their income taxes, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to "Cinco de Cuatro" in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), and continued to flub it when he tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?
If George W. Bush had mis-spelled the word "advice" would you have hammered him for it for years like Dan Quayle and potatoe as proof of what a dunce he is?
If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on Earth Day, would you have concluded he's a hypocrite?
If George W. Bush's administration had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually get what happened on 9-11?
If George W. Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans, would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence?
If George W. Bush had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved?
If George W Bush had proposed to double the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had then proposed to double the debt again within 10 years, would you have approved?
So tell us again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive?
Can't think of anything? Don't worry.
He's done all this in 9 months -- so you'll have three years and three months to come up with an answer.

Daggett Endorsement OK's Corzine

The hopelessly liberal Newark Star Ledger has endorsed third party candidate Chris Daggett for Governor.
Are you surprised?
You shouldn't be.
I predicted right here that the newspaper endorsements would go to Daggett.
And this will probably be the first of many.
Daggett is the mainstream media's new Wonder Boy. And Boy, is he a Wonder. You have to wonder how a guy who's already pledged to raise Joisey taxes even MORE is gonna clean up the runaway taxing and spending in this state.
Here's what the Star Ledger says about Corzine in its endorsement of Daggett:
Corzine is an eminently decent and likable man, and not without achievement. We especially salute his unflagging commitment to state education and his success in changing the Abbott school aid formula to ensure that money intended to help poor children follows them whether or not they live in specific districts.
Commitment to state education? Where the hell has the Star Ledger been? Corzine is in bed with the teacher's union.
But, you get it.
The Star Ledger really, really wants to endorse Corzine again but knows it can't.
They understand Corzine's abysmal record as well as you do.
But there's no way they would endorse Christie so they have to endorse Daggett as the best way to stop Christie and elect Corzine.
The Star Ledger knows that a third party candidate can't win in New Jersey.
It's never happened and it ain't gonna happen now.
Daggett is so badly placed on most county ballots that voters won't even be able to find his name.
Indeed, the newspaper admits: "You’ll have to hunt to find him."
Yeah, and you'll have to hunt to fins out what he stand for, too -- other than raising taxes.
Here's what the Star Ledger says about Christie:
Christie’s principal claim on voter support is based on his record as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey — and it’s not without merit. The Star-Ledger opposed his appointment to that post originally, only to be pleasantly surprised as Christie surrounded himself with capable, qualified people and performed well.
Translation: Yes, we opposed the appointment of the man who has become the most successful U. S. Attorney New Jersey has ever seen. And yes, Chris Christie is a hugely successful crime fighter in the nation's most corrupt state. But hey, that's only because he surrounded himself with "capable, qualified people." So, we're still not (God forbid) willing to admit we were wrong even though we know that Chris Christie really does have a plan for cleaning up the state, cutting spending and lowering taxes.
Here's what the newspaper says about Daggett: "His mastery of detail is impressive."
Mastery of detail?
If that were the mark of a leader Jimmy Carter would have served two terms. If mastery of detail is the criteria than any faceless, polyester-clad bean counter in our massive state bureaucracy could run the state while biding his time waiting for his pension to click in.
The Star Ledger is a joke.
The newspaper wouldn't know a typical New Jersey tax bill from a page ripped out of the phone book nor would it know an average New Jersey taxpayer from an Iowa corn husker.
The mainstream media are out to play yet another cruel joke on New Jersey: Vote for Daggett, Re-elect Corzine.
Don't let them (and Daggett and Corzine) get away with it.

We Can't Afford Corzine

Yesterday, Governor Corzine promised to continue the same failed tax-and-spend policies that has mired New Jersey's in its current economic mess. Governor Corzine's campaign pitch is a simple request for New Jerseyans to double-down on his devotion to higher taxes to make-up for his irresponsible, short-sighted, and bloated budgets. Even more insulting to struggling New Jerseyans, the Governor's latest scheme to raise taxes comes even as his running mate, Senator Loretta Weinberg, admitted last night that taxes are too high in New Jersey. By Governor Corzine's own admission, his plan to solve his self-inflicted budget problems is to raise taxes by at least $1 BILLION in the next year alone. That's on top of the $9 billion in taxes he has already raised, on top of the highest property taxes in the nation, the highest overall tax burden in the nation, and while New Jersey suffers under the highest unemployment in 33 years.
"Governor Corzine has proven time and again that his first, last, and only options in a budget crisis are to raise taxes and cook the books. Yesterday, he promised to keep on doing to New Jerseyans what he has been doing to us for the last four years. We're apparently going to have to say this until we are blue in the face: we can't afford your higher taxes anymore, Governor Corzine," said New Jersey Republican State Committee Chairman Jay Webber.
"Governor Corzine's latest admissions make his agenda crystal clear. If he is reelected, the next four years will look exactly like the last four - more friends, family, neighbors, and jobs will be leaving New Jersey because they simply can't afford to stay. It's time we put an end to this madness and elect a real leader like Chris Christie, who actually cut spending, cut taxes, and restore hope to the people of our great State," added Webber.

Jodless Rate Stalks Dems

From Fox News:
It's the unemployment rate, stupid.
That could be the rallying cry for Republicans in elections next year, and possibly in 2012, as they seek to regain power in Congress and the White House.
Despite signs of improvement in the economy, the unemployment rate keeps climbing -- up to a 26-year high of 9.8 percent in September -- potentially providing Republicans political ammunition and putting Democrats on the defensive.
Republicans have seized on the rising jobless figures as proof that President Obama's $787 billion stimulus package was a spectacular failure. But Democrats insist that the economy would be in far worse shape without the spending injection.
Either way, top economists told FOXNews.com that even with the job growth attributed to the stimulus package, it won't be enough to compensate for all the job losses since the recession began.
"The hole that has been blown in the labor market is enormous," said Heide Shierholz, an economist with the Economic Policy Institute.
In a new study by the institute, more than 53 percent of respondents listed unemployment and lack of jobs as the most important economic problem facing the country. The survey also found that 51 percent of respondents supported the stimulus package but an overwhelming majority, 81 percent, said the Obama administration still has not done enough to tackle unemployment.

Sakozy Boosts Son, Jean

From Charles Bremmer at The Times of London:
President Sarkozy caused embarrassment among his political allies yesterday with news that his 23-year-old student son is to be handed the powerful post of boss of Europe’s biggest business district.
As the Opposition cried nepotism, stalwarts of Mr Sarkozy’s Union for a Popular Movement said that the President was going too far in lining up Jean [pictured], a third-year student, to head the public agency that runs La Défense, the island of corporate towers in the west of Paris.
Patrick Devedjian, a Cabinet minister and the current Défense boss, is being moved aside for the President’s second son. He reacted bitterly yesterday with a quotation from Corneille, the 17th-century dramatist: “For souls nobly born, valour does not await the passing of years.” Privately, other UMP officials said that Mr Sarkozy was exposing himself to accusations of dynasty building.
Patrick Jarry, the Communist Mayor of Nanterre, which borders La Défense, said that the President’s younger son had no legitimacy and no qualifications for such a post. “This is nothing less than an attempt to ensure the permanence of the clan and lock down the executive power in the area,” he said.
If the job is confirmed in December, the ascent of the fledgeling politician will be even more meteoric than that of his father, who won the mayor’s post in Neuilly, the rich suburb that adjoins La Défense, at the age of 28.

Site Celebrates 'Manboobs'

From Flash News:
Manboobs are a common, but nonetheless magnificent phenomenon. While most people scoff at men with breasts, the site MarvelousManboobs.com celebrates them.
Creator Matthew Inman encounters manboobs everyday in places like restaurants and says, “Anyone who’s over 40 has some form of manboob.”
In his study of men’s chesticles, Inman has discovered that there are two types of manboobs – the muscular type and the fat type. Muscular manboobs are formed by intense pectoral workouts and can be seen on the likes of young Arnold Schwarzenegger, whereas the fat type, “Look like the man once had nice breasts but then got pregnant and now they’re saggy.”
Inman made sure to leave out some of the photos of fatty manboobs he’s found online because “they’re just horrific.”
He names former Monkees frontman Davy Jones as the ultimate purveyor of manboobs because his are an, “Odd hybrid between muscular and fatty,” which he finds “impressive.”

Saints On Wheels

Over the weekend we attended the beautiful Feast of St. Nicholas at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish deep in the heart of South Philadelphia.
We were blessed with an absolutely golden autumn day - bright and sunny with balmy breezes. The sky was so wonderfully blue and all around us were vivid images of the richness of Philadelphia's most famous and most beloved neighborhood.
Joined by Aimee and Carole Cirucci and our dear friends Mark Tarasiewicz and Michael Viola we delighted in the music of the Verdi Band as the festival began with the American and Italian national anthems followed by the procession of the saints through the narrow streets of South Philadelphia.
We walked with our patron saint, Saint Anthony. But others followed their own saints, including Saint Padro Pio, Saint Rocco, St. Rita, St. Jude, St. Joseph and of course, St, Nicholas. The Blessed Mother was also part of the procession and as you might expect, she attracted many followers as well.
As a child I remember the saints being carried in these processions. But now the saints are moved on wheeled platforms. As the saints go by (with the music of the band leading the way) people pour out of their row homes to pin one, five, ten and twenty dollar bills on ribbons attached to their favorite saint. They are paying homage to these great martyrs of the faith and also venerating them. At the same time these devotees are also thanking saints for previous favors granted and/or asked for additional favors. The saints are asked to intercede to the Lord on behalf of the faithful.
This is the old Italian way. And it continues to endure.
It reminds me of the old Italian saying: A ciascun santo la sua candela. Offer to each saint his candle. And, more broadly interpreted: Give honor where it is due.
What a joy it was to walk through the streets and see so many loving, intact families and so many well-kept homes, small gardens, caring neighbors and old-fashioned trust and devotion.
As the procession continued we winded our way we were back to Ninth Street between Moore and Morris Streets for the huge, three-block long festival with food, games of chance, shops and non-stop entertainment. Italian delights included pasta, porchetta, roast beef, sausage and peppers, broccoli rabe, mozzarella sticks and tripe. Homemade wine was also on the menu along with espresso and an a wide array of pastries. The whole thing continued till the grand finale at 9 PM which included fireworks.
We wish we could have stayed till the gala conclusion.
Perhaps we will next year.
All photos by Michael Viola

My Fear For Jersey

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

People get angry. They shout and scream and say they can't take it any more.
They decry the high taxes, the wasteful spending, the corruption, the sheer arrogance of state "leaders." They swear they will rebel at the ballot box.
That's what they say. That's what they always seem to say in New Jersey.

And then they get snookered. They get conned. They get fooled. They get distracted. They get bought. And they wind up falling into the same old senseless pattern while reinforcing the state's image as the "dumb belt."

And the state's mainstream media are complicit in this dastardly scheme.
Yes, they're complicit.

Right now the media are pushing this line: "We really, really don't like Corzine (believe us, please - we really, really, REALLY don't like him) and we know he's a failure BUT that doesn't mean that we (or you) have to turn to Chris Christie,
No, no -- because there's a third, nondescript, seemingly affable, somewhat naive candidate who most people don't know but who still shows promise. And, if only you did know this third guy better, you'd probably like him and want to vote for him."

This is where the media are moving. This is what they seem to be thinking. And this is where a lot of them seem to want to take the state's many "independent" voters. And this is why I believe that many of the state's newspapers may actually endorse the third guy.

But what's really behind all of this?

Here it is: Pushing Chris Daggett (who has absolutely NO chance of being elected) is the one sure way to guarantee the re-election of Corzine and give us four more years of high taxes, runaway spending, corruption and iron-fisted Democrat boss rule. Because Daggett takes votes away from Christie. He can't win. No third-party candidate has ever won the Governor's seat. But Daggett can be a spoiler.

In fact, since we don't have runoff elections in New Jersey, a vote for Daggett allows Corzine to retain the Governor's office without attaining a majority of the votes. It effectively robs you and I of majority rule.

Think of it this way: Daggett is a dagger to the heart of all those who want to see an end to Corzine's reign.

But the media don't mind. In fact, if Daggett guarantees the election of Corzine that would be just fine with them. Because they could then have it both ways: not endorsing Corzine while keeping Christie out of the Governor's Office. Be sure of this: One thing most traditional media types probably don't want to see is the election of a real outsider, a real independent-minded leader who isn't a died-in-the-wool liberal. And that would be - Christie!

So, now you must ask yourself: Do I really want to change New Jersey?
Or do I want to be conned again, fooled again and bought again by a man who has already spent more than $100 million "purchasing" elective office?
Ask yourself: What's the only real way to get off this merry go round where I'm jerked around while others benefit?

There's only one answer: Chris Christie.

Christie: Corzine's Job Mess

New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie has called on Governor Jon Corzine to use his time with Vice President Joe Biden to press for a reversal of the plan to close a US Postal Service facility in Gloucester County and put 650 New Jerseys out of work. The closure of the Philadelphia Logistics and Distribution Center in Logan Township was reported in today's Gloucester County Times.
"New Jersey already has the highest unemployment rate in more than 33 years thanks to Jon Corzine's tax increases and job-killing policies. Instead of posing for photos, Corzine should be standing up for New Jersey families by standing against this hurtful plan when he sees Vice President Biden today," said Christie.