Good Day

The legendary Paul Harvey has died at the age of 90, nine months after the death of his wife, Lynne Cooper Harvey, who doubled as his producer.

Flawless

The White House has unveiled the official portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama. She's in the Blue Room, dressed in her signature sleveless by Michael Kors.

It's 14:59 for Joe the Plumber

Joe (Samuel) the (not) Plumber came to Washington DC yesterday for a triumphant book signing tour for his new masterpiece, "Joe the Plumber, Fighting for the American Dream," co-authored (naturally) by Thomas Tabback. I guess I'd have to read the book to discover just how he's "fighting." A throng of 11 people wandered up to hear the super-stud him speak and he sold a grand total of 5 books. Fuck Yeah!

via Joe.My.God.

Jake Gyllenhaal Plays Ball

From Towleroad comes news that his Jakeness will star with Jim Carrey in a new film version of Damn Yankees, the 1955 Broadway musical. Jake will play the innocent baseball player, the same role played by Tab Hunter in the 1958 film. Tab, of course, came out as gay years after playing the role.

Actually, this whole post was just an excuse to post this picture of shirtless Jake swinging his bat.

Kenneth the Page Speaks!

Last night on Jimmy Fallon's new show, Kenneth the Page, AKA Jack McBrayer, responded to comparisons to Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Oh-So Revealing List-Mania!

Junior of Juice With Junior fame has challenged his many readers to a one-word answer quiz and chose me as the reader most likely to re-post it. How could I resist? I suppose it's kind of Facebookey but here goes.

1. Where is your cell phone? Pocket
2. Your significant other? Wes
3. Your hair? Young
4. Your mother? Heaven
5. Your father? Closer
6. Your favorite thing? Cocktail
7. Your dream last night? Wet
8. Your favorite drink? 6.
9. Your dream/goal? Bucks
10. The room you’re in? Office
11. Your fear? Confinement
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Retired
13. Where were you last night? Mexican
14. What you’re not? 20-something
15. Muffins? Tops
16. One of your wish list items? Sportwagen
17. Where you grew up? Edgefield
18. The last thing you did? Gym
19. What are you wearing? Stripes
20. Your TV? Newish
21. Your pet? Puppy!
22. Your computer? Newish
23. Your life? Meh
24. Your mood? 23.
25. Missing someone? Mom
26. Your car? Cutest
27. Something you’re not wearing? Spanx
28. Favorite store? Niemans
29. Summer? Lovin'
30. Favorite color? Red
31. Why did you laugh last? Jindal
32. Why did you cry last? Jindal
33. Who will repost this? Nobody
34. A place I go over and over: Gym
35. Someone who emails me: Doug
36. Place I would rather be right now: California

This fabulous idea brought to you by Extroverted Wallflower and Postcards From Hell's Kitchen.

Obama: Health Care Reform Cannot Wait

Barak Obama spoke to the nation last night and in case you missed it, the text is here. He spoke to us like adults, which still takes some getting used to after eight years of lower-case Bush. He called for health care reform and education reform now. The American people watched as the Republicans sat on their hands and refused to applaud health insurance for children. Amazing. Do they really think this is the road back?

Obama called on all Americans to commit to more education and, in possibly the most powerful moment of the night, said dropping out of high school is no longer an option. "It's not just quitting on yourself, it's quitting on your country." That's a line for the ages.

The Republicans had a rebuttal and naturally they hauled out Bobby Jindal, practically the only ethnic Republican they have. Jindal, predictably, called for more tax cuts, even though Obama's plan calls for the biggest tax cuts in history. He said the way to recovery isn't through raising taxes, even though that's not what this bill does. When has reality ever stopped a Republican? Unbelievably, he actually brought up Katrina and talked about private enterprise responding to disaster. Katrina, really? Does he think it's a good idea for a Republican to bring up Katrina? Basically, the only idea the GOP has is tax cuts. They're officially out of ideas.

Oscar Fashion Wrap-Up!

I've been far too busy at work this week to post about the all-important issue of the moment: Oscar fashion! Thankfully, I can rely on my New York Bureau Chief, Doug, to do the incisive sleuthing for me. Here is his report:

As for the Oscars...oh, Honey, I was in ecstasy! The gowns! The jewels! The stars! It was all too-too much for this queen!

I thought it was a good show. Hugh Jackman...scrumptious! Thrilled that "Slumdog" did so well. Over-the-moon that Sean Penn and DLB won for "Milk." And their speeches...perfection. Thank you, by the way, for including the transcripts of those two acceptance speeches. where did you find them online? [LS: Trade secret]

As for the gowns...my take:

As for the BEST...

** While I am not a big Angelina fan, she looked amazing...just like a 21st century Movie Star should look. The Madame X-inspired gown was a stroke of fashion genius. And the earrings (115 carots!) and giant ring were spectacular! And as if the dress and jewels weren't enough, I actually saw her SMILE more than once, including when the camera cut away from Jennifer "One Note" Aniston to Angelina and Brad! Who knew...?! She and Brad certainly are Movie Stars of the highest order.

** Penelope Cruz...the vintage gown, the hair, the jewels, the makeup...perfection! Some say she looked like a bride, I disagree. She looked like Audrey when she won her Oscar for "Roman Holiday."

** Sarah Jessica Parker...while I didn't love the hair...loved the dress, though others are kvetching that she looked like Glenda the Good Witch.

** Anne Hathaway...first runner-up to Angelina...exquisite.

** Slumdog's Freida Pinto...loved, loved, loved that blue dress.

** Benjamin Button's Tarji P. Henson...gorgeous layered dress...like a beautiful cream-colored rose.

** Nicole Kidman...people made fun of her dress...but I thought she and her gown were beautiful.

** Marion Cotilliard...much admired her black and blue number.

** Marisa Tomei...while I loved that origami look with all of the pleating...I actually thought it was too much. Usually I would not say "Too Much" is a bad thing. But this dress was constantly having to be fluffed and positioned for the cameras. Even for the Oscars, that is too much.

** Hugh Jackman...best dressed man.

** Sean Penn...while I normally am not a big fan of black on black dress, I thought he looked great.


Now for the WORST...

** Jessica Biel...absolute worst dress of the night...monstrosity...worst fitting gown I've ever seen on a red carpet. It was a pretty, pearly white. Other than that, I have nothing good to say about it.

** Kate Winslet...while she has looked quite wonderful at Golden Globes and SAG, her Oscar gray and black gown was awful. I thought her hairdo looked like a helmut.

** Sophia Loren...looks great for pushing eighty...but the dress was a drag queen's cast-off.

** Natalie Portman...E!'s highly entertaining and queen-laden Fashion Police chose Natalie, in a rather plain pink gown, as best dressed. I disagree. She looked gorgeous, of course, but I thought the gown was really boring. Not unattractive, just not the best of the night.

** Alicia Keyes...again, E! went nuts over her pink dress...but like Natalie's I found it to be really dull, flat, boring.

** Reese Witherspoon...she never looked worse...awful blue and black dress looked like the grandmother-of-the-bride dress.

** Phillip Seymour Hoffman...big talent, little fashion sense. Actually, make that NO fashion sense.

I have to say that I agree with Doug's take on Penelope's museum-piece that she carried like a true star. I also agree with Jessica Biel's oragami mistake...did she not have a brush? I loved Marisa Tomei's oragami masterpiece. I actually liked Kate Winslett's gown and loved her hair. I adored Viola Davis' lady Oscar look. But I guess if I wanted this post to be about my opinions I should have written it. Many thanks Doug! I hope you don't discover how good you are and start your own blog.

Monday's Man: Dustin Lance Black

The morning after his triumphant Oscar win for Milk seems an appropriate time to celebrate the talented screenwriter Dustin Lance Black.


These pictures (including the last one which I shamelessly stole from Junior) are from his Vogue Paris Hommes International photo shoot.

Sean Penn Wins Best Actor

Here is Sean Penn's moving acceptance speech from last night's Oscars.

"You Commie homo-loving sons of guns! I did not expect this, but I — and I want to be very clear that I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me. Often. But I — I am touched by the appreciation and I hoped for it enough that I scribbled down — so I have the names in case you were Commie homo-loving suns of guns. And so I, I wanted you to thank my best friend Sato Masuzawa. My circle of longtime support, Mara, Brian, Barry and Bob. The great Cleve Jones. Our wonderful writer, Lance Black. Producers Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks. And particularly, as all us actors know, our director either has the patience, talent and restraint to grant us a voice, or they don’t, and it goes from the beginning of the meeting to through the cutting room, and there is no finer hands to be in than Gus Van Sant. Finally, for those — two last finallys — For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, and, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that way of support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone. And there are these last two things. I’m very, very proud to live in a country that’s willing to elect an elegant man President. And a country, who for all its toughness, creates courageous artists, and this is in great due respect to all the nominees. But courageous artists who, despite a sensitivity, that sometimes has brought enormous challenge. Mickey Rourke rises again, and he’s my brother. Thank you all very much."

Dustin Lance Black Made Me Cry

Dustin Lance Black's powerful acceptance speech at the Oscars was the high point of the night for me. The text follows and you can click here to watch it.

"When I was 13 years old, my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas, to California, and I heard the story of Harvey Milk. And it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life; it gave me the hope that one day I could live my life openly as who I am and that maybe even I could fall in love and one day get married. […]
Most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he’d want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told they are less than by their churches, or by the government, or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value. And that no matter what everyone tells you, God does love you, and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally across this great nation of ours."

Watch it here:

Combine that with Sean Penn's well-deserved win, his acceptance speech about protesters with signs of "hate," and several clips of Milk men kissing, and it was an Oscars to remember. I'll even ignore the lame gay fright bit by James Franco and Seth Rogen.

If you want to read about everything else that happened at the Oscars, read Junior's lively live-blog here.

Oscar Loves Chameleons

Mick LaSalle, The San Francisco Chronicle's movie critic, has a fascinating look at this year's Best Actor race. He sees it as a contest between Mickey Rourke's performance which he terms an apotheosis and Sean Penn's chameleonic portrail of Harvey Milk. LaSalle's thesis is that Oscar regularly rewards chameleons while screen apotheosis stand the test of time. If his thesis holds true, look for Penn to win on Sunday and for future critics to see Rourke's loss as an injustice. It's interesting reading for serious Oscar junkies. An excerpt:

"Penn's performance in "Milk" is chameleonic. In it, we see a Penn we have never seen before. The actor represses his usual screen personality and seems to alter his very essence. He all but disappears and offers up a completely and beautifully realized new creation.

Rourke's performance in "The Wrestler" is an apotheosis. In the character of an over-the-hill wrestler, Rourke finds a vehicle through which to express everything he has ever been or wanted to be onscreen. The role itself seems to be a commentary and an elucidation of Rourke's meaning as an actor, and it is difficult, maybe impossible, to delineate precisely the border between actor and character."

Okay, Now it's a Depression

Muzak is filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy. Don't worry though, they'll keep the music going.

I had no idea Muzak was a South Carolina based company. Between this and TruckNutz, it's been a bad month for the Palmetto State.

Republicans Get Jiggy

New GOP Chair Michael Steele wants to make over the party's image by applying Republican principals to an "urban/suburban hip-hop setting." I have no idea what that means, but proving he's, like, totally down with the kids circa 2002, he says it'll be "off the hook!" But the Phatness doesn't stop there. A few days ago, he said Obama's economic stimulus plan "is just a wish list from a lot of people who have been on the sidelines for years.. to get a little bling, bling." "Bling bling!" That's, like, all urban and stuff.

Somebody needs to tell him that white people started saying "bling bling" around 1998 and when white people start saying it, you know it's over.

So, class, here we have adult cool done right:

Here we have adult cool that makes his kids want to change their names:

Portrait of the Millionaire's Wife

Today's New York Times has an interesting article on artists who paint celebrity portraits. It features Don Bachardy, the long-time partner of Christopher Isherwood and the subject of last year's documentary Chris and Don, a Love Story. It's worth reading just to check out that fabulous portrait of Gilligan's Island's Natalie Schafer.
An excerpt:

In 2006, [Bachardy] said, he was flown to France to paint a pregnant Angelina Jolie. He contends that if a subject — famous or otherwise — is uncomfortable with a portrait, it is probably not really because of modesty, or concern about appearances, but because the subject has not picked the right painter.“People get it backwards,” said Mr. Bachardy, 74. “They think it is the subject that is important. It is not. It’s the artist. They could get over that very easily if they chose an artist they really admired.”

Castrate That Ram!

My home town finally makes the news and it's for Trucknutz. Of course it is.



I'll agree that Trucknutz are pretty low class, but what's the warning for? Misdemeanor bad taste?

One of These is Not Like the Others

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the Stanford University Men's Swimming and Diving Team.

Via Squarehippies

Bristol's Choice

18 year old mother Bristol Palin sat down for an interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren and has apparently revealed that she's pro-choice. She said she's annoyed by reports that her mother forced her to have the baby saying "it was my choice to have the baby." Interesting words from the daughter of a committed pro-life activist. Greta asked her to clarify if she was talking about "the right to life and choice and things like that? This was your choice, this was your decision?" And Bristol said "yeah. It doesn't matter what my mom's views are on it. This was my decision." Watch it at about the 6:15 point here.

She also expressed scepticism about abstinence only education calling it "naive."

Monday's Man: Zac Efron

All right folks, barely-legal hairless boys are SO not my type, but there's something about Zac that always gets my attention.

Now comes word that Zac will star in the live-action film of Jonny Quest, the classic cartoon that totally made me gay. I wanted to be Haji. This is perfect jail-bait casting if you ask me.

I apoligize for the delay in posting, but it's a holiday and I work for the gub'ment, so I was off.

Equality in Hawaii

A civil unions bill has passed the Hawaii House of Representatives. It was one vote shy of a veto-proof majority. That one member supports civil unions but wasn't present to vote because he's preparing to deploy to Iraq with the Hawaii National Guard. Now the bill moves to the Senate were there should be enough votes to pass it.

Even Angie's Freaked

According to the Chicago Sun-Times Angelina Jolie is "totally creeped out" by Octomom Nadia Suleman with her litter of kids and allegedly plumped lips and nose job. Apparently Suleman isn't exactly a stalker, but has sent Jolie a number of "admiring letters."

Now Taking Donations!

Who said Octomom Nadia Suleman didn't have a plan for taking care of those 14 kids? She's got a web site up and running and she takes MasterCard, Visa, Amex and Discover! Donate today! Lip plumping doesn't last forever you know.

Who is This Hot Guy?

It's Dick Cheney in high school. Admit it, you thought he was cute when you didn't know who he was! If you feel like you need to take a shower, I understand.

Click here to see a bunch of other high school photos like a Mike Huckabee as a trouble-making punk, George W. Bush as a complete douchebag, and Joe Biden as a total hunkasaurus.

Via Sullivan.

Michelle Obama on Cover of Vogue

Style, class, gorgeous. See a slide show here.

Does this kind of make up for the Jennifer Hudson and LeBron James covers?

CSI Columbia

By now, you all know about the horrifying, notorious, oh-my-God-who-will-save-the-children photo of Michael Phelps taking a bong hit. It happened in Columbia, South Carolina, home of the University of South Carolina and Ft. Jackson Army post, so you just know pot smoking is shocking to all the college kids and Army recruits. I know I never heard of such brazen lawlessness when I was at USC (and lived near 5-Points, the scene of the crime). The intrepid sheriff of Richland County, one Leon Lott, pictured above with the department's armored personnel carrier cleverly called "The Peacemaker" (Lott is the one with the civilian clothes and the hard-on) is all over this so the good citizens of Cola can rest easily. According to WIS News 10, the Sheriff's department's investigation has already made eight arrests in this horrendous Mary-Jane epidemic. They've also confiscated the bong (helpfully defined in the article as "a marijuana pipe called a bong"). Apparently the super-cops found it because the goofball owner advertised it on Ebay for $100,000. The kid must have been high asking for that much...oh wait.

This stunning, shameful crime took place in Columbia, but the Columbia Police Department is not taking part in the investigation because they're a professional police department interested in being effective for the citizens of Columbia instead of grandstanding shit-kickers, but I digress. The Republican governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford, asked by Geraldo Rivera (you knew he'd get involved at some point, right?) if Phelps should be arrested said "I don't see what it gets us at this point." Smart guy. Even if Lott is able to make a case against Phelps based on a photograph, it would be a misdemeanor at best.

OK Leon, you've had your 15 minutes of fame and you've made your city look like Hooterville. Why don't you go lube your Peacemaker and leave the college kids alone.

Interesting trivia: WIS stands for "Wonderful Iodine State" because South Carolina soil has an abundance of iodine. That meant that, before iodine was routinely added to table salt, South Carolinians had a low incidence of goiters. Take that, Georgia!

More interesting trivia: From 1982 to 2000, the news anchor on WIS was Susan Aude, who was wheelchair-bound after being paralyzed in a car accident in college.

Grape Depression

From Lazy Circles New York Bureau Chief Doug comes this late breaking news from Ben and Jerry's. They've created a new ice cream flavor for the President called "Yes Pecan!" But there's no George W. Bush flavor! So Ben & Jerry asked ice cream lovers to help them come up with some names. Here are some of their favorite responses:

** Grape Depression

** Abu Grape

** Cluster Fudge

** Nut'n Accomplished

** Iraqi Road

** Chock 'n Awe

** WireTapioca

** ImPeach Cobbler

** Guantanmallow

** imPeachmint

** Good-Riddance-You-Lousy-Motherfucker Swirl

** Heck of a Job, Brownie!

** Neocon Politan

** RockyRoad to Fascism

** The Reese's-cession

** Cookie D'oh!

** The Housing Crunch

** Nougalar Proliferation

** Death by Chocolate... and Torture

** Credit Crunch

** Country Pumpkin

** Chunky Monkey in Chief

** George Bush Doesn't Care About Dark Chocolate

** WM Delicious

** Chocolate Chimp

** Bloody Sundae

** Caramel Preemptive Stripe

** I Broke the Law and Am Responsible for the Deaths of Thousands...With Nuts

"Maybe We Don't Know What We're Talking About"

During this whole stimulus bill debate, the press has acted as if the Republicans had the upper hand and had won the media war. Yesterday's Gallup poll demonstrated that the American people strongly support the President and oppose GOP obstruction. Apparently that came as a surprise to Joe Scarborough and his Morning Joe team on MSNBC who, to his credit, admits he got it wrong. Watch:



Does this mean Joe will turn into a serious journalist and stop running down Republican rabbit holes?
Via Talking Points Memo

At Least One Republican Gets It

The poll numbers I blogged about earlier demonstrate that the Republican's strategy of obstruction regarding President Obama's economic stimulus bill is not as brilliant as they may have thought. At least one Republican, Florida Governor Charlie Crist, seems to understand that. Tomorrow, he's appearing with the president at a pro-stimulus event in Ft. Myers. His office issued a statement saying:
"I am eager to welcome President Obama to the Sunshine State as he continues to work hard to reignite the US economy."

Smart guy. The GOP would be smart to put it's money behind this governor and not that clothes horse from the north.

"Hope My Boyfriend Don't Mind It"

Ivri Lider kissed a girl and liked it.

Maybe Obama Knows What He's Doing After All

Check out the latest Gallop poll on the stimulus bill here. When asked if they approve or disapprove of the way President Obama, the Democrats in Congress and the Republicans in Congress have handled the stimulus bill, respondents overwhelmingly approved of Obama by 67%. 48% approve of Democrats in Congress, with 42% disapproving and 10% no opinion. A whopping 58% disapprove of the way Republicans in Congress have handled the stimulus, with only 31% approving.

Hmmm. Maybe the Republican's Taliban-style insurgency and strategy of obstruct, obstruct, obstruct isn't quite the way back from the political wilderness after all.

There's been so much jabber in the media about the Republicans winning the media war over this and at the same time, there's been much hand wringing on the left over Obama letting the GOP get the upper hand. Maybe we all need to take a breath and let the adult in the White House do his thing.

Kathy Griffin: Not Enough Consideration

A lot of people watched the Grammys last night and you can find excellent highlights all over the net, like here. All I know is Kathy Griffin's For Your Consideration did not win best comedy album or whatever the category is. "Best album, comedy, rap, or barbershop" maybe. She lost to George Carlin who was a genius. Who can compete with a dead genius? She was like the Josh Brolin of the Grammys. It's just a thrill to be nominated, right? Right? She's probably already in the studio recording her Grammy winning album, "Damnit, It's My Turn" which will be followed by a one-woman show in Broadway which will be nominated for the Special Event Tony which she will win. She'll follow that up with a stunning star turn in the tragic biopic of the untold story of Joan Rivers' life, "Can We Talk" (seriously, she ought to do it) which will snag her the one award left for her to join the Rita Moreno Grand Slam Golden Circle...

Losing My Mind

Am I the only one who thinks Joe Jonas looks like Liza Minnelli during her Pet Shop Boys period?

Or do they just share the same hairdresser?

Monday's Man: Ofer Regirer

I saw the Israli film Antartica starring a galaxy of gorgeous men including newcomer Ofer Regirer. In the film, everyone hooks up with Ofer at one time or another. If only life were like that.

Here he is with crazy hot Oshir Sahar. This movie is not shy about gay passion. This is Ofer's first movie. Let's hope it's not his last.

SWOON

A lot of people have posted this gorgeous video from openly gay Mat Alber, but it bears viewing again.

To Sir With Love

Just for fun, here's Natalie Merchant's and Michael Stipe's amazing performance of one of my all time favorite songs, To Sir With Love. I don't believe they ever recorded it, but they should.

Justice Ginsburg has Pancreatic Cancer

US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Medical Center in New York, recovering from surgery for Pancreatic Cancer. Pancreatic Cancer is particularly tough and painful and has a low survival rate. One of the main reasons for this is it is rarely caught early. The announcement said that her cancer was caught in it's early stages, thankfully.

I had the privilege of meeting Justice Ginsburg in 1996. I, along with a group of Army JAG Corps classmates, were sworn in to the US Supreme Court Bar and there was a reception for us in the Supreme Court building. All of the Justices were invited but only Justice Ginsburg came. She graciously congratulated us and rather shyly went around the room speaking to all of us in small groups. It was lovely.

The fabulous picture above is of a young and very attractive Ginsburg working as co-founder of the Women's Rights Project at the ACLU. I found the picture on the ACLU website here.

Ball Boys

Kenneth in the 212 discovered this very important (though NSFW) health message on You Tube and published it as a public service. What a guy. I blatantly stole it so you could see a locker room full of naked guys squeezing their balls.

Aluf Haolam

That's the name of Ivri Lider's new song and video recently posted on his official You Tube page. At least, I guess it's new. It's in Hebrew and I have no idea what the song's about but the video is certainly interesting. Anyone into homoeroticism of the Fight Club sort will love it, especially the surprise at about the 4:26 mark.

Second Haggard Victim Talks

Yesterday, Michelangelo Signorile interviewed Grant Haas on his radio show on Sirius/XM OutQ. He has posted clips and many details on his blog and it's explosive and far more sordid than anything Ted or Gayle Haggard has admitted to in their recent media blitz. Among the highlights from Mr. Haas' allegations:

When Haas first told Haggard he was "struggling with homosexuality,"

"He began asking me questions about my sexual preferences in the bedroom. Questions about what types of sex I like (example: bondage, toys, groups, bathhouses, top, bottom, versatile, drugs). Ted explained to me that since I preferred to be in a “top” position that it would be easy to become straight because “an asshole is similar to a vagina.”

"Eventually he [Haggard] started asking me what kinds of things I was into (oral, anal, rimming, bondage, porn, etc.). Then he began to explain a “party formula” to me. He explained that the “party formula” usually involved taking crystal-meth, poppers, Viagra, renting pornography and jerking off alone or with others. He told me that he knew a lot of people who were into this type of activity and found it very enjoyable."

Read more at The Gist and Pam's House Blend.

Obama: I Screwed Up

After Tom Dashle dropped out of contention for HHS secretary, President Obama did something amazing. He went on five TV news outlets and said "I screwed up." It only took two weeks for him to admit a mistake, learn from it and move on. Compare that with eight years of a doofus in the White House who couldn't think of a single mistake and never learned from his massive failures. How nice to have a thinking man in the White House.

Let the Bidding Begin!

This is your lucky day! You can be the proud owner of Joe the Plumber on black velvet. You gotta love the title:

The Last of The Undecideds
Joe The Plumber
"A Republican Party Deep Thinker"

Go to Ebay and bid now before the National Portrait Gallery snaps it up!

Gary Collins in Lock Up

Gary Collins, award winning Hour Magazine host and Love American Style guest-star, has been arrested for driving a motor home while intoxicated. That's right, he was driving a motor home while boozed up. This isn't the first time for Mr. Collins either. 13 months ago, he was arrested in Glendale, CA for DUI while wearing loafers and bermuda shorts. He served 4 days and got 2 years probation for the shorts. Before that, he was arrested for DUI in 2004 in Malibu.

He's married, of course, to Miss America 1959 Mary Ann Mobley.

Future of the GOP

A Rasmussen poll recently asked Republican-identified voters (there are still folks who admit that?) about the smartest future course for the GOP after their humiliating defeat in November. 17% say the party has been too conservative over the past eight years, 30% say it's been just right, and a plurality of 43% say the GOP has been too moderate. Let that one sink in a bit. A plurality of Republicans think the reason the party crashed in November is Dubya, Cheney, Rummey, et al were just too gosh darn moderate! How conservative is conservative enough for these people? Gays thrown off cliffs? women executed for getting abortions? Maybe throw in a few more wars? Did they not notice that the most conservative candidates for the GOP nomination lost and lost big?

But wait, it gets better. Fully 55% of Republican voters believe the party should become more like....

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

Sarah Palin! That's right, ladies and gentlemen, you're looking at the future of the Republican Party! The woman widely credited with ensuring McCain's defeat, the woman who became a joke to most of the nation, Miss Alaska Runner-Up Sarah Palin! As a Democrat, this warms my heart. Go Sarah Go! Pick Joe the Plumber as your running mate! Start your campaign now!

Monday's Man: Jeff Glor

I've become a loyal viewer of The Morning Show on CBS, all because of their tradition of superlative journalism. Oh yeah, and the cute guys. On the weekends they've got hot Chris Wragge and that cute Lonnie guy with the weather, but sometimes during the week, the gods bless them with a dreamboat named Jeff Glor. He also reports on the CBS Evening News and occasionally even subs for Katie! His career is almost as hot as he is!

Looking for skin pics. I'll let you know if I find them.