Nobody 760

Sunday, March 15, 2009
Nobody # 760

Nobody Asked Me But:

Can you believe it? After being bailed out to the (off key) tune of $170+ billion, A.I.G. is going to pay $165 Million in Bonuses – to the same executives that took the company to the brink of collapse.

I think it is safe to assume that these incompetents will laugh their way to the bank.

As part of Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer USA, it is tough being the butt of their joke<<<

THE PRESIDENT’S WEEK

UP – For his frequent FDR-like talks with the American people about what he is doing and trying to do.

DOWN – for reconsidering his campaign opposition to taxing employee health benefits.<<<

“Chicken Every Sunday.” No. That’s not a Turner House menu. It is a book that was given to my mother by her sister. It is a very interesting and funny story about life in Tucson in the early 20th Century. One fascinating tidbit is that the author’s paternal grandmother was the second American woman to live in Tucson.<<<

“The Bruins (are) in Ruins.” So proclaimed the cover story of Sports Illustrated in 1980. Larry Brown was the first year coach, and UCLA had lost more games at that point in the season then since Coach wooden started winning national championships in 1964. By season’s end, the Bruins had made the story a lie by finishing runner-up to National Champion Louisville.

Friday night UCLA again looked in ruin, as they were totally out-played and out-toughed by cross-town rival USC who competed while the Bruins merely watched. Once again, after three years of excellent achievement, expectations are high and disappointment higher.

Will this year’s team provide the same almost perfect ending as the 1980 team? I hope so but doubt it.<<<

Is it true: that Israel excels in war but has no talent for peace? I know that it takes two to make a lasting peace, and the Palestinians have failed to do their part, but as long as Israel’s Radical Right is allowed disproportional influence, Israel will continue to partner in the failure.<<<

And as long as American politicians bow so low to American Jewish conservatives we will be ineffective in our efforts to be a peace mediator.<<<

Have they no shame? Obviously not! The main thing we are hearing from Republicans is - “We know our policies caused this economic crisis, but it’s the Democrats/liberals fault.”

WHY WOMEN ARE THE SUPERIOR SEX

If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.

If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.<<<

CRITICS CORNER – THE MOVIE I WILL WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN

Joe Morgenstern – Wall street Journal - Jules and Jim
David Ansen - Newsweek - – The Third Man
Manohla Dargis – New York Times - – The Wizard of Oz
Todd McCarthy – Daily Variety – Lawrence of Arabia
Ella Taylor – LA Weekly - – Rules of the Game
Kenneth Turan –LA Times - The Earrings of Madame de……

Jim Turner – Hannah and Her Sisters.<<<

I used to be an absolutist, but then I got older.

Ron Brownstein wrote a column last week for the National Journal entitled “The Indulgence of Absolutism,” in which he sounded the alarm about liberals following the bad example of conservatives by trying to purge their party’s moderates.

Are they such slow learners or lousy historians that they do not know that in America radical politics, right or left, is a quick trip to the loser’s circle?

It is all right to have large ambitions as long as you remember to take small steps.<<<

Quote of the Week: “We’ve seen a race to the bottom. States are lying to children. They are lying to parents. They’re ignoring failure, and that’s unacceptable. We have to be fierce.”

President Obama’s education reforms: David Brooks writes that the President, when formulating a reform plan is naturally inclined to be data driven. I think this is fine if not taken too far. Measuring data is a tool, not an answer. Good teaching is an art as much as it is a science.<<<

TWO MORE RUSHMORES

Chicago – Ernie Banks, Michael Jordan, Mike Ditka and George Halas.

Michigan – Joe Louis, Gordie Howe, Al Kaline and Magic Johnson.<<<

I am a huge fan of “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington,” but it is time for the Senate to do away with the filibusters. In a democracy, minority shouldn’t rule except when protecting The Bill of Rights.<<<

I was shocked, shocked I tell you when I read last week that Bristol Palin and Levi Johnson are not getting married after all. I thought there’s was a love match made in Far-Right field.<<<

And while on the subject of Palins, did you read where Governor Sarah billed Alaska $17,000 per diem while she was living at home instead of the governor’s mansion.

She would have charged more, but she knew we were in the midst of a recession.<<<

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!<<<
























Education Secretary Arne Duncan