Momcat's Vegan Project: NFL BOYCOTT SPREADS! BOYCOTT PUPPY TORTURERS AND BORING NFL FOOTBALL, PLEASE!

AN NFL ALTERNATIVE: REAL FOOTBALL PLAYED

ON AN AUTUMN DAY ON AND AROUND

THE MADISON, CT LONG ISLAND SOUND SHORELINE

BY

NON ANIMAL-ABUSERS

FOR NO PROFIT MOTIVE AT ALL:

Nobody gets any salary and $1.00 is collected

       by Mom--Patty--and placed into

a not-so-secure metal

cash box, if you have

the buck.

No armed security required or utilized.

Though an ambulance is running

and two paramedics

are at the ready,

just in case.

The players wear protective

gear, but are miniatures of

their NFL[and NCAA]

counterparts.

4th Graders, most well under 5 feet

tall.

The cheerleaders were given equal

billing and wore

modest attire, compared to

the sexploitation

utilized by the NFL via

Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders,

for example.

On a chilly October eve, some

covered up in jackets

and what-not.

Next to the football field was a beach.

Another football game was being played there.

The general rules were the same, but no

striped officials were needed to

adjudicate disputes,

and dispute resolution

occurred amicably

and with justice for all.

No one in this

game

received any salary, either.

"Mom"

was the only official evident

for this pick up game.

She was reading a self-help book

and is an R.N. from

British Columbia where they

have "government medicine",

even better than "government

option", she says.
I believe her.
She, I believe, is an expert witness
on medical matters, more so
than anyone who
testified during the
Congressional fiasco on health care.

Three of the players were her sons

and her pride was evident.

She gave one of them

the metallic blue Nerf

football with which
they were playing.

The Madison Tigers were down by 7 in the first quarter,

it mattered, but nobody seemed

too concerned about the score.

And the cheerleaders cheered and

were athletic and synchronized just as well

as the football teams themselves,

and were far more beautiful

than the Dallas Cowboy

Cheerleaders.

The Final Score:

The NFL is playing no game whatsoever.

It is out for profit at any cost.

The Philadelphia Eagles are playing no game whatsoever.

They are out for profit at any cost.

Michael Vick is playing no game whatsoever.

He is out for profit at any cost.

The MYFCL(Madison Youth Football and

Cheerleading League) is sponsoring

children at play with a game

that may be rough and challenging(both

cheerleading and football,

if both are done correctly I do believe) that was

made for kids.

That such play prepares kids to

live morally and ethically

upstanding lives.

Perhaps the pick-up game

on the beach is teaching

those values even more

effectively than the more
organized game
on the field.

And neither game

featured the profit motive.

Neither does Canadian Medicine.

Neither does "Mom."

Relative to the U.S., Canada's life

expectancy is growing by leaps

and bounds.  Ours is lagging
behind with
the private profit motive
 scheme we have
going still, despite
the progress made this year.

And the quality of the lives of all involved

in both games yesterday

was measurably enhanced by those

games.
Especially my own.  What an evening!
[Thank you MYFCL, adults, and especially
the kids!]

Not so, with the NFL, the Professional

Golfers' Association(hi Tiger...  Woods),

or most professional and

Division 1 NCAA financial sports conglomerates

today.

And neither were the canines mercilessly

abused by Philadelphia Eagles'

quarterback Michael Vick.

Augie the Doggie and Bluebelle the Wonder Cat

The Weekend is here. Please enjoy it, and

please be kind to animals.

Boycott the NFL this weekend,

if you're a football fan,

don't go to a game

or watch on TV.

Have a pick-up game 

with some kids instead, 

or go to an amateur event

involving kids and be

a good role model 

instead, please. 

Please tell your friends.

Boycott the Philadelphia Eagles.

Boycott Michael Vick.

Put an end to animal cruelty.

It's time for the BP prosecutions

to begin.

Adopt an animal instead

of buying one if you can, but

adopt, please.

Be a hero to yourself, your family

and to your new

canine or feline

family member. :-)

Donate today as generously

as you can to

la-spca.org


Sally Alexander contributed heavily
to this photo essay, and contributes
love and support to my Unabashed
endeavors every single day of my life and for
that I can never thank God nor her enough.  Photos
taken with a cell phone around sunset
at Madison, CT on October 21, 2010.

Missile Madness: Party of Hell No Stymies Kissinger, Baker and Obama--No Party is Attempting to Hijack National Security and Stop New START!

Sen. Jon Kyl, Republican, has flip-flopped on the biggest vote of the year. "Trust but verify" is a premise that even Republican Icon Reagan pumped in his presidency in his own public and private pronouncements in negotiations with Mikhail Gorbachev during the era of Russian dominance via their scumbag Soviet "Union" conspiracy, before Gorbachev assisted in bringing the whole "communist" scam that was the USSR to a grinding halt(it wasn't Ray-gun's arms race that did that forya, it was leaders such as Gorbachev, Pope John Paul II, Lech Walesa, Alexsander Solzhenitsyn, Andrei Sakharov and more, as well as the will of the people throughout eastern Europe and central Asia).

Even reactionary former Secretaries of State such as Henry "Let's-spread-war-secretly-from-Vietnam-to-Laos-and-Cambodia-and-enable-Pol Pot-to-start-his-massacre-and hide-it from-the-Congress-and-American-People + give-away-the-store-to-North-Vietnamese-negotiators-and-win-the Nobel Peace Prize-after-allowing-58,000-American-troops-to-die-for-him-and-lose-all-3-wars" Kissinger and his successor Republican James Baker got into the photo op with President Obama to pump the new New Start treaty negotiated with President Medvedev of Russia and signed in the spring by Obama and Medvedev.

Sen. Kyl says the lame duck Congress doesn't have TIME to debate and vote.  The "Party of Hell No"[Speaker-to-be Boehner's words] is now led by active addicts/alcoholics Beck and Limbaugh who admit to having neither sponsors nor programs and are manic/depressives and Obsessive/Compulsives.  Even Kissinger and Baker know this is essential and the No Party wants to get this vote delayed at all cost till the next Congress when the numbers in both houses shift to their favor.

IT'S ALL ABOUT BEATING BARACK IN THE 2012 ELECTION AT THE DIRECT COST OF REAL NATIONAL SECURITY! THEY'RE GOING OVERBOARD NOW!

Our species now has the capacity to annihilate our own and others by two means now only, so far. Global warming and NUKES.  The United States of America has had the audacity ever since they carved up Europe along military defense lines immediately after WW II in backroom arm-twisting style talks with Josef Stalin, along with Russia[via their whole Soviet "Union" scam and the "communist" USSR of theirs that folded decades ago, now] to develop and deploy intercontinental NUKES and aim them at the rest of the world. And since then we've both yelled at and threatened anyone else having the audacity to do the same for any motive including self-defense! The nerve of us!

Even Baker and Kissinger can smell this coffee. Priority number one this week has to be pressuring the Republicans to vote on this bill in the Senate. If they can defer the vote, they know they'll never have to vote against it and have it held against them. IT'S PARLIAMENTARY AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BULLSHIT AT THE DIRECT EXPENSE OF NATIONAL AND SPECIES SECURITY STRAIGHT UP! Let's get this one done people. Pressure every Republican in the Senate NOW! Support your President. Potentially the greatest leader of this century and even of the millennium if he can get this one through.

YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! RUN FOR ME AGAIN PRESIDENT OBAMA PLEASE. I KNOW HOW MUCH OF A SACRIFICE I'M ASKING YOU FOR, BUT PLEASE I NEED YOU AND SO DO MY LOVED ONES NOW AND IN THE GENERATIONS TO COME. RUN, BARACK, RUN! FOR PRESIDENT IN 2012! LANDSLIDE! I'M SMELLING ALL 50 STATES IN YOUR ELECTORAL COLUMN, SIR! RUN, PLEASE!

Media Matters: UNABASHED LEFT CHALLENGES RUPERT MURDOCH ON ALAN COLME'S FACEBOOK FOX NEWS' OWN WALL!!! YIPPEE! YIKES!

Unabashed Left woke up early this morning and began dismantling the Rupert Murdoch media conglomerate, that includes Fox News, The NY Post among others.  As well as challenging the ties at NBC that attempted to suspend Keith Olbermann last week and wound up huddled in their boardroom at 30 Rock in Manhattan announcing on Sunday, approximately one business hour later, that Keith had been "punished" enough following and outpouring of love from hundreds of thousands of fans, bloggers, and just plain advocates for the U.S. Constitution, especially that great First Amendment!

Please take a gander at facebook.com to see Unabashed commentary and some greetings for Rupert and the folks in the boardroom at NBC. :)  Remember, for all your political, military affairs and comedic needs its unabashedleft.blogspot.com   Have a nice day Rupert. 46.2 degrees, 46.2 dew point, no wind at all in Wallingford, CT this blessed day.  Augie the Doggie, Bluebelle, Meow and Momcat all say hi. And goodbye. With affection, Steve....

Political Pearls: Mohammed The Pizza Slinger and Republican and Democratic Headquarters

This is a true story about American demoocracy(little "d") in action just two weeks ago or so. Unabashed Left decided to campaign for the Democratic(big "D") party late in this year's campaign. Wallingford, CT[sometimes affectionately and sometimes not-so-affectionately referred to as "Wallyworld"] has a "center"[small "c"] of town. One of the main drags in the center[small "c"] of Wallyworld is ingeniously entitled Center[big "C"] Street. In the center of town on Center street in late October democracy was in gear at Democratic Party headquarters at the bottom end of Center Street; not so much so at the Republican Party headquarters in the middle of Center Street, and even more so at the pizza joint just above [the also ingeniously named]"Main Street" on Center Street owned by an Arab pizza slinger named Mohammed. :)  Melting pot. <3 - democracy(little "d"). Warm fuzzy feeling. :)

Anyhow, in the middle of a busy campaign day 8 days before the election, I was hungry.  I stopped off at a take-out pizza joint to grab a couple of quick slices[being new to Wallyworld, this was a bit risky, not knowing the quality of the take out pie slices <) I was about to receive]. Feeling hungry but not greedy[I am most definitely a Democrat] after hopping out of my 1996 Ford Windstar Minivan with the dents, scratches, stickers and magnets(stickers and magnets featuring Congresswoman Rosa Delauro, Pink Ribbons, a Chiropractic magnet, 12 step logos, and more--all layered in thick dust--joyously festoon the back of my hurricane-chasing minivan, a definite Democrat-mobile] it's already well-known for around Wallyworld, I parked across the street and walked in to a previously unvisited pizza <) take-out store front. Through the door to the kitchen I saw a cook slinging pizza <) dough into a round flat object which would eventually be the crust of a crispy/tender pizza. The cook stopped what he was doing and came out. I was not certain, but he appeared to be other than Italian in ethnic or national origin.

I am from the New Haven area where a district known as "Wooster Square" features the best pizza and the best Italian cuisine restaurants on the planet, that are not in the shadows of Mount Vesuvius or the Coliseum in Rome, for example. IE: A pie at Pepe's restaurant on Wooster Street is a near orgasmic experience. Therefor, the ethnic or national origin of the man slinging pie crusts in Wallyworld center[little "c"] that day was pertinent to me. So I introduced myself as Steve, and he introduced himself at the owner, Mohammed.

I thought for a second. Acting on my own behalf, not as a Democratic[big "D"] party representative, I inquired of Mohammed's ethnicity. Arab, was his reply. I decided to order slices of pizza. <)  But I purchased the drinks \-/ elsewhere at a bargain. I cut a deal with Mohammed. People back at Democratic Headquarters might be hungry as well, so eating slices <3 on my own, in front of others, did not appeal to me. So I purchased his entire slice pie and had him heat it up. He gave me a discount for buying so many slices. I told him that I was a Democrat, not representing the Democratic Party, only myself at the moment, but that Republican Headquarters was also on Center Street.

I asked Mohamed for some extra menus and informed him that I'd bring them to Democratic Headquarters at the bottom of Center Street and place them conspicuously in the store front and do the same at the Republican Headquarters in the middle of Center Street if they were agreeable to doing so.  I told him I'd order another whole pie <) later in the day and more during the week. He gave me a discount on my next order of pizza <). I was happy. Mohamed the pizza slinger was happy. Democracy[little "d"] in action. Warm and fuzzy feeling. <3 Melting pot. American flag.

I joyously trotted in to Democratic Headquarters and deposited the hot pizza <) conspicuously on a table at a little beehive of activity at the bottom of Center Street and deposited Mohammed's menus there for all to see and from which they might order more pies. I grabbed a small stack of Mohammed's menus and walked happily to the middle of Center Street in the center of town to Republican Party Headquarters. It was anything but a beehive of activity. The woman on the phone just waved me off-signing for me to wait. That was it. Just the one semi-rude young woman. In the middle of Center Street in the Center of Wallyworld where a Republican Mayor named Dickinson has been mayor way too long, and the Town Council is dominated by way too many Republicans[7 to 3 is the current count on Town Council].

When she finally finished her conversation as I stood waiting with Mohammed's bright green and happy menus she asked "What do you want?" I told her the story of Mohammed's pizza <) joint just a walk away. She was unaware of Mohammed's pizza <) joint. I shook her hand and gave her my Unabashed business card and the stack of menus and suggested that they order good pizza <) [as it turned out, the slices that afternoon were excellent as take-out goes] from Mohammed and support local small business and feed the army of volunteers at Republican Headquarters that wasn't there at the Headquarters on Center Street in the center of Wallyworld which was NOT a beehive of activity. Republican Party Headquarters in the middle of Center Street.

I happily trotted back to Democratic Headquarters, once again a volunteer for the Democratic Party. I told my friends the story. They laughed and laughed. In fact they L'ed OL. :D  We went about our campaign and Tuesday November 2nd finally arrived. THE BIG DAY. :) Democracy[little "d"]. Warm fuzzies. Melting pot. American flag.

In the middle of the day I was briefly at the bottom of Center St. at the Dem Headquarters and decided to take a walk to the middle of Center St. to GOP Headquarters and offer an olive branch. Peace. Warm fuzzy feeling. Melting pot. Democracy[little "d"] in action. Pink hearts. American flag. <3 Arab-American pizza. <)

Once again, in the middle of this busy election day, Republican Headquarters wasn't all that busy. A different woman was out front on the phone just waving me away semi-rudely and several well-dressed businessmen and women-looking people were mingling behind her. Mohammed's menus were still on the desk unmoved from over a week ago. My Unabashed business card was not. No food was evident at all. When I approached the business types they wanted me to go, they were in a hurry, that was clear. But I was prepared. I had several Unabashed business cards at the ready to hand out, shook some hands and offered my own personal olive branch. Feeling unwelcomed, I left with their permission.

Back out in the bright midday sun I once again cheerily trotted back to the beehive of activity that was the Democratic Party headquarters on the bottom of Center St., convinced now more than ever that the Dickinson administration in Wallyworld must go and the numbers at least reversed on the Town Council in November a year from now--and Wallyworld returned to it's honorable Wallingford, CT Revolutionary War/Colonial roots, INDEED.

We Democrats were busy, busy, busy all day till polls closed at 8pm. In one city in CT the polls closed at 10 due to irregularities, so the numbers coming in to the Congresswoman Rosa Delauro victory party in New Haven that my lovely wife, Sally, and I attended were slow and one race was tight. But in the end: Democratic Governor-Elect apparent Dan Malloy, U.S. Senator-elect Dick Blumenthal and the entire Democratic state ticket had won; all 5  Congressional seats had been retaken(the number had been 4 Dems and one Republican previously); every Democrat in Wallingford who ran won, minus one state rep candidate. IT WAS A CLEAN SWEEP FOR THE DEMOCRATS IN WALLINFORD CONNECTICUT PRETTY MUCH--WHAT'S KNOWN IN POLITICS AS A LANDSLIDE VICTORY.

We are organizing now to retake Wallingford for the Democrats next year from the Wallyworld Republican Party and finally end the endless and solidly mediocre-to-downright poor Dickinson administration. Those Republican "Dicks" get us every time. "Dick" Nixon. "Dick" Cheney. Mayor "Dick"inson's administration will end in approximately 14 months following the election the first Tuesday in November, 2011 in Wallyworld which will once again be transformed into respected, loved and admired Wallingford, CT. Thanks for the pizza <) , Mohammed!

Political Pearls: Saturday Night Tea Party--Tea Partier Can't Keep Protest Sign at Obama Rally From Blowing Away And Other Stupid Tea Party Tricks

A Picture of 14 Year Old Pound Pup Augie Doggie, Just Because It
                           Makes Me "Feel Good."
On a windy Saturday outside the Arena at HARBOR Yard in Bridgeport the weekend before election day(October 30, 2010) a 60ish white male Tea Partier came inside the yellow police taped in area and the long, massive lines of supporters that had arrived to see President Barack Obama support now Governor-Elect apparent Dan Malloy and others.  He had a huge white pad of paper of the sort used at trainings and what-not.  On the pad was written: "Pelosi, Reid, Obama: The Three Stooges."  This silly Tea Partier was about to launch a solo protest.  He was the only protester present.

Within 45 seconds the wind started to blow his sign and all the paper got out of control.  He had no clothespins, tape or any device to keep his paper in line.  His protest was already pretty much over.  I glanced over, and even the Secret Service appeared to snicker. They appeared to be lol-ing. He grew increasingly frustrated as the winds off Bridgeport Harbor frustrated every one of his efforts to straighten out his sign.  The paper wrinkled and crumpled. It ripped and his face was turning red.  This particular Tea Partier was unprepared. Indeed.  He muttered obscenities under his breath.

Unabashed Left approached the protester.  I interviewed him as he struggled with his sign.  "Do you believe that referring to the President, the Speaker and the Majority Leader as Stooges raises the level of political discourse within the nation?"  "The Tea Partier said "Well they started it."  I asked, "When, and can you quote them and give me sources to document your claims?"  "I don't have the precise times and dates but they started it!" The angered Tea Partier shouted.  The paper flying up over his head. 

"If they said bad things first, then in what way will calling them 'Stooges' elevate the level of political discourse in the nation?" I inquired.  He asked "Why don't you get out of here?" I said "About my question, how does calling people 'stooges' raise the level of political discourse in the nation?"
He used an expletive.  The paper was still out of control, but the Tea Partier persisted trying to manage his one man protest pad of paper and the sign against the persistent and gusting winds off the water.  I asked, "Really, what's the reason you're here? Why?"  "Because they started it," he shouted against me and the wind. "No, seriously, why are you really here?" I persisted. "BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD!" was the Tea Partier's only honest answer of the day.

                          Facebook Stupid Tea Party Tricks                     
I've posted on facebook frequently on local, state and national issues.  Often Tea Partiers take advantage of me and others by posting scumbag sort of comments on others' walls, and I put in facebook friend requests to them and inform them of my friend request on the walls they've offended.  Often they message me privately after I eagerly plead with them to comment on this blog or even guest blog.  Their private messages are always more pathetic than anything they'd post publicly.  They try to take advantage of me in that way.  They imagine that somehow I wouldn't take these comments and publish them for my readers' comedic enjoyment.  So here they are!

Jerry Shafer on facebook "likes" Sarah Palin and has a picture of President Barack Obama in "whiteface" as a clown up on his profile and likes a band called "Chickenfoot."  I sent him the following messages:

"Blog for me please! Be my friend? Pleeeze!! Interesting photo of the President in whiteface you have on your wall. I want to debate it publicly. Pleeeeze! Be my friend. :)  Here's the link again. unabashedleft.blogspot.com. "

I followed this one with:

"Wanna debate? Please comment or do a guest blog for me, I'll be glad to authorize you in a heartbeat my friend on my website.  Here's the link and my email is unabashedleft@gmail.com   HURRY PLEASE!  unabashedleft.blogspot.com

Tea Partier/Republican Jerry Shafer replied:

"I'd rather be Waterboarding..."

I replied:

"How about Monday night, live on network TV. Name your time. I'll bring a camera. It's not torture, is it?"

And my concluding message to Jerry:

"By the way, you've gone public anyway. All these quotes have been published at unabashedleft.blogspot.com. Congratulations, you are a published author. ;)  "

Jerry has not yet accepted my friend request.

                   A Final Stupid Tea Partier Trick

Right-winger Ben Blue took offense to some comments I made to the half-governor of Alaska Sarah Palin.  Ben also refers to himself and signs one of his scumbag private messages to me as "Drunken Ben."  His facebook profile contains no information identifying him in any meaningful way except the following quote from "Drunken Ben" Blue:
"Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice. Pull down your pants and slide on the ice."

So Ben Blue took offense to my remarks on the half-governor's wall by remarking to me where no one could see:

"Palin was closer to serving 3 years than only 2 years. A little over 2.5 years.  Fact: She was heading into a "lame duck" reelection year with frivolous lawsuits that since have all been either dismissed or found in favor of Gov Palin. Fact: She wasn't rich like the Obamas or Kerrys so she had to deal with hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees just to fight of these frivolous democratic attacks. Instead she handed over the last year of her term to Sean Parnell who was on board with her agenda....
If you are going to be fair, how about asking Obama why he quit on his people in Illinois?...At least Palin had the decency to not pretend to be one thing, yet do another...If you are going to hammer Palin about her resignation, you should also hammer Obama and countless other MEN who ... Your attack on Palin is getting really old and frankly at this stage in the game, most of us are laughing at you. Have a nice day."

I replied: "Not in CT--clean sweep here my friend! Just like it will be in 2012. Differences: Sarah was an executive and an administrator, not a legislator--quitting when she got famous and ruined any chance McCain might have had at winning because of her incompetence and by coming down to the lower 48 and signing TV contracts for millions and positioning herself to run in 2012 was self-centered and self-serving.  I'm not worried about being fair to pols. If a governor(such as Palin) or President(such as Nixon) quits before their term is up, they leave a cabinet and administration to run. Legislators do not! Your meager "analysis" is typical of drunks like Beck, Limbaugh and problem people with evident tanning problems and other personal problems like Boehner and McConnell. Besides Obama...won... by an unexpected margin. Sarah just managed to bring McCain's poll results DOWN! Why did you even mention men, let alone capitalize MEN?  Are we confusing eroticism with our politics now? Or are you a misogynist? RU supporting her because you find her sexy? Just think about it. I'm a married guy. Sarah's attractive, cute and sexy. Ben. God bless you. A link to my blog is attached, please comment, and I'll invite you to guest blog if you'd like. Steve   unabashedleft.blogspot.com "

Ben replies: "We are all laughing at you because you claim to be intelligent, yet you continue to run our country into economic oblivion. 2012 will be interesting, and I hope that you still are launching your sexist attacks and the old quitter montage against Palin while she is clobbering you with QE2, energy policy and zero-based budgeting.  You have fun down there in the pit of personal attacks now, OK?  :) *grin*

Drunken Ben Blue couldn't stop there he followed his own message with the message: OMG look at the money she made here, or OMG look at what her daughter did there.. or OMG she asked for bendy straws at a speech...For once I would love a debate about why you don't like Sarah Palin that doesn't mention the following: HER MONEY, HAVING AN IVY LEAGUE EDUCATION(NEITHER DID ABE LINCOLN AND IT CERTAINLY HASN'T HELPED THE BUSHES OR OBAMA), HER SAYING "I CAN SEE ALASKA FROM MY HOUSE'(BTW SHE NEVER SAID THOSE WORDS, YOU ARE QUOTING TINA FEY), HER KIDS, HER HOUSE, ETC...ETC...  God Bless and Have a Nice Day
Drunken Ben

I replied one last time:  "IC. You're assuming things, and are confused Drunken Ben. When did I ever make claims to be "intelligent?" Date, time and source, please for these claims of mine. When did I make comments about her daughter? Date, time and source for these comments of mine? Did she ask for "bendy" straws at a speech? I was unaware of that.  You still haven't answered my question.  On sexism: The only reason I mentioned her gender at all was because you referred to MEN in caps, sir.  Why did you mention men and why did you capitalize MEN? ..."

I then offered a list of Obama issues and accomplishments including reversing the unemployment decline from the "Great Recession," the pending Peace Agreement in Afghanistan, passage of the TARP legislation, Wall Street and Health Care reform, 100,000 troops out of Iraq and the rest gone next year, Barack's Nobel Peace Prize and his only 22 months thus far in office.  Drunken Ben has not accepted my friend request and would only slander me privately and would not go public--at least the rightie thought he could get away with sneaking. :D lololololol

Media Matters: KEITH OLBERMANN REINSTATED, FIRST AMENDMENT WINS!!!

A Bright Sunny Day For Keith Olbermann

Not even one business day after suspending MSNBC's Countdown host, funnyman and anchor Keith Olbermann, the ties at NBC have capitulated to the clamor for Keith's immediate reinstatement.  He will be back for his post-suspension debut on Tuesday evening at 8pm -- real must-see TV!

Keith was alleged to have exercised his Constitutional rights by making small campaign contributions to three Congressional candidates.  And exercising his rights under U.S. labor laws as well.  MSNBC President Phil Griffin said that a two-day vacation and massive support and love demonstrated for Mr. Obermann, who has risen to the top of MSNBC ratings as an anchor and was beating Anderson Cooper of the AC 360 circus on CNN in his rebroadcasts just one hour after their original airings at 10pm[until Lawrence O'Donnell recently took over that time slot] and was threatening Fox dominance, was "punishment" enough.  Olbermann went from astute sports anchor to leading and often controversial news anchor and commentator. He took the industry by storm, to say the least, and this event can only catapult his career even further.  No harm there!

The two days of punishment was no doubt suffered Saturday and Sunday--a very long two-day weekend, no doubt-- by classless suit and tie executives Griffin, NBC News President Steve Capus(who shamed my own first name in this scheme) and NBC Universal(as if any silly little gang of Manhattan execs like this can claim the Universe--the nerve of them) CEO Jeff Zucker.  Hundreds of thousands flooded the 30 Rock phone lines, their mail room, email, facebook, Twitter, blogs and more; haranguing these petty profiteers into caving in to the bottom line.

The bottom line is NBC profits, and Olbermann's mass appeal, and the appeal of his issues.  Health care for every American.  Peace in the Middle East and South Asia.  Infrastructure spending.  Jobs, jobs, jobs.  Funding for the poor.  Continuing Social Security and Unemployment Compensation.  Expanding Education opportunity for kids, not abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, such as has been proposed by Rand and Ron Paul.  Civil Rights.  Disability rights. Justice. Waterboarding is torture.

The bottom line is that the NBC execs showed their true colors and wound up *blushing* big time.  Thanks for another belly laugh at another board room, Keith. :D LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOL

Media Matters: KEITH OLBERMAN SUSPENDED BY REACTIONARY NBC! SUPPORT KEITH NOW, HE SUPPORTS YOU!

Keith Olberman of MSNBC's "Countdown With Keith Olberman" aired weeknights at 8pm, has been unfairly suspended by NBC for small campaign donations.  In exercising his constitutional rights Keith may have made a technical violation of NBC personnel rules.  No laws have been violated, only NBC's own rules are alleged to have been slighted.

Mr. Olberman, a one-time ESPN broadcaster and astute analyst and observer of sports in this nation has catapulted to the top of the nations news media in recent years due to his perceptive and often humorous commentary, insight and observations.  During the endgame of his father's life recently he inspired millions with his sensitive portrayals and self-revelations of his feelings and his openness about the aging process and of dying and of real family values.  Thank you so much for that Keith.  Each Friday night he concludes his broadcast all this time later with dramatic, or comedic or ironic readings from James Thurber as promised at the time of his father's death.  These readings are always touching and evidence of Keith's commitment to his own commitments, a value I've benefited from greatly.

His sense of humor and his occasional sense of outrage delight me almost nightly.  I recently assisted an 83 year old friend transitioning from her home of 50 years to her new life in a skilled nursing facility here in CT.  I enjoy watching Keith at night with her in her private room before bed, and it is an anchor for her, especially during this difficult period of transition in the endgame of her own inspiring, touching life rife with public service, like Keith's in many ways, of her own.  Her favorite part of Countdown she always tells me is "The Worst Person In The World" segment he does satirically each night.  She loves, in particular, when Newt Gingrich makes the list.

NBC profiteers from having 4 liberals in prime time on MSNBC opposing their own reactionary Wall Street broadcasts opposite Keith, Rachel and the others on their "money, money, money" network CNBC, NBC and their other members of their mostly right-wing "family of networks."  That's what Rupert Murdoch's Fixed news network calls liberal media bias when they are inciting racial hatred by calling Attorney General Eric Holder's Justice Department racist by committing slander and claiming that Holder's Justice Department dropped the case against the idiot handful of "New Black Panthers" who intimidated voters a few years ago when the case was actually dropped 11 days before President Obama's inauguration.

Keith is a great satirist and astute guy, and an advocate for commonsense liberalism, that's just flat-out honest.  We need him on-air, the First Amendment demands it.  We'll boycott NBC and MSNBC if we must, but maybe we won't need to if NBC comes to its senses, especially NBC exec Phil Griffin( phil.griffin@nbcuni.com is the email address for that suit and tie) and ends this suspension and offers a sincere and public apology to one of the funniest, most astute, gentlest, and most decent satirist and social observers on cable or anywhere.  Also a great commentator and anchor as the times require.

Under the new ROBERT'S Supreme Court RULES OF election ORDER, unlimited anonymous Wall Street executive cash bought the US House speakership for John Boehner.  Keith's relatively small, constitutionally guaranteed and 100% legal donations affected the results of Tuesday's election by not one iota. Probably an error in judging the truly reactionary nature of NBC greed on Keith's part.  Let's back Keith to the hilt on this one guys!  Let's get him back on the air ASAP, PLEASE!!!  We love you, man--and I'm 100% behind you Keith!  For whatever that might be worth, because you've been 100% behind the USA for years, sir.  Thank you for your continuing service.  Flood this email:  phil.griffin@nbcuni.com

Political Pearls: ELECTION SPECIAL: BREAKING NEWS--DAN MALLOY WILL BE CERTIFIED THE WINNER IN CT

DAN MALLOY HAS WON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN CT!  It is now 12:55 pm and Dan Malloy has enough votes, even without those who voted after 8pm in Bridgeport. He's won a very close election against Tom Foley, the Republican candidate.  Democrat Dan Malloy, Dick Blumenthal and all the statewide candidates and 5 congressional district candidates on the Democratic side appear as of this hour to have won!

IT'S A CLEAN SWEEP FOR CT DEMOCRATS!  The right candidates won in the Nutmeg State, the way too-lengthy Rell/Rowland Administration in Hartford is finally over in January.  Yesterday the U.S. House delegation was 4 Democrats and 1 Republican, now it's 5 Democrats.  I spoke with a happy Rosa Delauro last night at her victory party, but it was certainly a subdued gathering given the other events of the day.  I thanked her for all her amazing help to my home town, Wallingford, and she was, as usual, responsive, available and eager to communicate with her district on the busiest political night of the year.  THANK YOU ROSA!

The State House and Senate went Democratic as well.  I want to thank the hardest working State Representative I know, Mary Mushinksy from the 85th District and congratulate her on a well-deserved victory.  THANK YOU MARY!

Denise Merrill will be the new Secretary of the State in January, also a much-deserved win by her, replacing a great incumbent, Susan Byszewitz.  A complete and thorough investigation of yesterday's election, especially the ballot shortage, especially following the Y2K fiasco in the count, recount and one vote party line victory revolving around Florida's Presidential vote(remember "hanging chads,"  Al Gore's victory in the popular vote totals, Jeb Bush and Florida Secretary of the State Kathryn Harris' nonsense, resulting in the 5-4 party-line Supreme Court 1 vote margin giving George W. Bush the Presdency in the 2000 election) is obviously necessary and I am confident that Susan and Denise will give us the facts.  THANK YOU SUSAN AND DENISE!

Dan, a misdiagnosed former special ed student with a visual impairment has climbed to the highest elected office in the state of Connecticut(West Haven was the proud home of the World Special Olympics a few years ago under the leadership of then-Mayor Richard Borer--THANKS RICHARD) from a special ed classroom.  THANKS DAN!  Many are misdiagnosed, and many people, including myself, tend to live both up or down to others' expectations.  Dan apparently made the difficult choice to choose not living down, but only to live up to, and surpass, the expectations of others.  What an inspiring story for the state, nation, and the species, regardless of your politics!

Dick Blumenthal made some campaign mistakes early, but won by double digits because he is the right and moral man that should have won. Because he's right on the issues.  Because he's had a career of public service that's made him the most popular political candidate of either party within the state during my lifetime.  THANKS SENATOR-ELECT BLUMENTHAL!  He holds the promise of being the best CT Senator ever, and the promise of future advancement(one day the White House will have a vacancy again, Ned Lamont, Dan Malloy, and Dick Blumenthal).

Ned Lamont ran a good campaign against Dan for the nomination, and then threw his full weight behind Dan for this election(hear that Joe Lieberman?).  THANK YOU NED LAMONT.  Joe Lieberman needs to be replaced and the most competent, most qualified, most hard working and dedicated next US Senator elect for the state of CT in 2012 is Ned Lamont. RUN, NED, RUN, PLEASE!

But more importantly, thanks to all the candidates nationwide, poll workers, volunteers from any and all parties and to all who took the time to register and vote.  The real winner was little "d" democracy, which has been evolving and growing stronger for 234 straight years in this melting pot of an experiment in this portion of North America they chose in 1776 to refer to as the United States of America.  Despite occasional steps backwards at times in this long journey, we did it again.  We had a largely peaceful election.  So the people won, yet again.

Let's just not try to export our experiment agressively overseas the next two years I ask all those elected to federal office, I plead.  And please talk to each other, reason things out, be respectful, civil, even cordial and friendly in your discussions and afterwards.  No name calling or threats, implied or otherwise would be nice.  Compromise, please.  Let laws be passed, budgets be passed, and friendships with opponents happen, please.  At all levels;state, federal and local.  And in the 2011 election and following let's please just be friendly and "loyal" in our opposition please boys and girls.

And thanks to all, regardless of what your opinons may be,in both the private and public sectors for engaging in one of the highest callings I can possibly imagine: Public Service.  And congratulations to Leader Reid, and to House Minority Leader, and likely U.S. House Speaker and third-in-line to the Presidency, John Boehner.

Political Pearls: BARACK OBAMA/BILL CLINTON UNITE IN CT TO ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT DAN MALLOY FOR GOVERNOR AND DICK BLUMENTHAL FOR SENATE!!!

AT RALLIES IN BRIDGEPORT AND HARTFORD PRESIDENTS BILL CLINTON AND BARACK OBAMA STOOD AS ONE TO THROW THEIR FULL AND ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT BEHIND DAN MALLOY FOR CT GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL RICHARD BLUMENTHAL FOR US SENATE!!  THE PARTY IS COMPLETELY UNITED FROM 2008 BEHIND THE STRONGEST TICKET CT DEMOCRATS HAVE EVER PRODUCED!

DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS ON CENTER STREET IN WALLINGFORD IS A BEEHIVE OF ACTIVITY AS DEMOCRATS ARE PRIMED FOR A LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN CT TOMORROW, PROVIDED TURNOUT IS HIGH AND THEY ARE MISSION ORIENTED, HAVE DIRECTION AND THE GOAL IS VICTORY.  GET OUT AND VOTE.  POLLS OPEN AT 6AM EASTERN TIME IN CT AND CLOSE AT 8PM.

IN WALLINGFORD DEMOCRATS ARE FANNING OUT CANVASSING DOOR TO DOOR, MAKING CALLS AND WORKING HARD, AND UNHERALDED FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR TOWN, STATE AND NATION.  ROSA DELAURO SUPPORTERS ARE IN WALLINGFORD TODAY EN-MASSE TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT TOWN.  THANKS ROSA!!!

THE HARDEST WORKING AND NICEST STATE LEGISLATOR I'VE EVER MET, REPRESENTATIVE MARY MUSHINKSY HAS BEEN TIRELESS AND EFFECTIVE FOR THE 85TH DISTRICT AND NEEDS AND REQUESTS YOUR SUPPORT AND ESPECIALLY YOUR VOTE TOMORROW, TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2010--ELECTION DAY 2010.

IF YOU LOVE YOUR COUNTRY, AND WANT LOW TAXES, A GOOD ECONOMY, PEACE AND HONEST OPEN GOVERNMENT GET OUT AND VOTE.  TURNOUT IS ALL THAT MATTERS ON ELECTION DAY, NOT CAMPAIGN FINANCE, NOT WEBSITES, NOT CALLS, NOTHING IN OUR DEMOCRACY MATTERS MORE THAN VOTING TOMORROW!!!  IF YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A PATRIOT, PLEEEEEEEZE VOTE!

OURS HAS BEEN AN IMPERFECT HISTORY, I KNOW MINE HAS.  I BELIEVE OVER THE COURSE OF TIME MISTAKES HAPPEN, AND NO 0NE IS PERFECT.  SAME GOES FOR DOCUMENTS, COMMUNITIES, STATES, NATIONS, POLITICAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATES.  BUT LAST TIME A DEMOCRAT WAS PRESIDENT(BILL CLINTON) WE WERE AT PEACE.  NO TERRORISM HAD YET HAPPENED IN THE HOMELAND, THE BUDGET WAS BALANCED, AND THE ECONOMY WAS BOOOOOOMING!!!! 

UNDER BARACK OBAMA IN 20 MONTHS MORE HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED TO END "THE GREAT RECESSION" AND END WAR IN THE POST CHENEY/BUSH MOP-UP THAN ANYONE COULD HAVE IMAGINED.

INSTEAD OF INCREASING UNEMPLOYMENT MONTH AFTER MONTH UNTIL IT HIT DOUBLE DIGITS, ITS GONE DOWN 10 SUCCESSIVE MONTHS AND IS IN SINGLE DIGIT TERRITORY.  COMBAT OPERATIONS ARE ALREADY OVER IN IRAQ.  A PEACE AGREEMENT AMONG ALL PARTIES IS AT HAND IN AFGHANISTAN. A START TREATY HAS BEEN SIGNED WITH RUSSIA.  BARACK HAS ALREADY WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.

IF YOU LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND GOOD GOVERNMENT AND WANT TO HAND A SAFE, PROSPEROUS AND PEACEFUL WORLD TO THE NEXT GENERATION TOMORROW, VOTE FOR MALLOY, BLUMENTHAL, DELAURO, ALL THE CT CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES AND CONSIDER ALL YOUR LOCAL CANDIDATES CAREFULLY AND VOTE DEMOCRATIC IF YOU POSSIBLY CAN!  REGARDLESS, DRIVE PEOPLE TO THE POLLS WHO MIGHT NOT GET THERE OTHERWISE!

WEATHER IN CT SHOULD BE LIKE TODAY, NO RAIN, SUNNY, COOL, BREEZY.  SEEYA AT THE POLLS AND SIDEWAYS MOON TOYA. :-)

Momcat's Vegan Project: NFL Sunday: The Score: The Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, NFL Boycott Against Immorality In Sports And Against Animal Cruelty Snowballs. Morally Error-Prone People Such As Tiger Woods, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Vick May Be Realizing They've Forsaken Their Rights To Role Modelling For Our Nation's Children In This Lifetime Finally! Wake Up Major Leagues! MLB, NBA, NHL, US Olympic Committee, NCAA Too!

         One of my many canine heroes-14 year old pound pup, Augie, taking    
                             a well-deserved nap as I blog. MR. VICK.



It's Sunday in the U.S. of A. and it is now a tradition to watch the NFL on this day.  More people do that now than populate our churches Sunday mornings.  When I spent time on the alter a few years ago as a lay minister for the Episcopal church of my choice, my friend and Pastor spoke from the pulpit often about her frustration with low attendance, and spoke privately about the dip in plate receipts during the NFL season, even though services were in the morning and we were here on the East Coast where the sun rises first in the nation in this time zone.

Church meetings at the evangelical church I enjoyed and continue to support always decline in attendance during playoffs, of whatever sport is in season.  My United Church of Christ pastor often noted that churches were far more populated during the Advent season prior to Christmas in the days of old. Since the super popularity of the NFL following their years[and now decades] of marketing after the very first Superbowl between The Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers[and especially following the fusion of the old NFL and the AFL] and their morphing into the NFC and the AFC under the one conglomerate umbrella of the multinational marketing giant--the new and not-at-all improved National Football League--that emerged from of the NFL/AFL merger.

I was a fan in the AFL days.  Rooted for Coach Vince Lombardi's Packers against the upstart Dallas Cowboys in the real championship game both years of the first two Superbowls.  I crossed my fingers as Bart Starr led the greatest team of all time against Dallas, and then walked over their first two AFL opponents in the first two Superbowls--two versions of the Kansas City Chiefs.  When the biggest upstart of all time, panti-hose and all(it was his secret, rumor had it, to keep him warm in the coldest of games), Joe Namath, with his hair hanging out of his helmut, generalled his New York Jets to the AFL's first victory in inter league play in the next Superbowl, he won me over and opened my mind up to the possibilities of the AFL.  He reminded me of another sports hero of mine in those days, Joe Pepitone of the NY Yankees, whose long locks were also visible beyond his batting helmet.  Playing in Mickey Mantle's shadow must have been rough on Joe, a great player. :)

And what about Reggie Jackson, hitting 3 home runs in one world series game.  Most exciting TV sports event I ever witnessed, except, of course the whole Munich Olympics tragedy involving Israeli athletes and Palestinians that sports broadcaster Jim McKay brought to us reluctantly with such passion and feeling. :(  And Cassius Clay/ Muhammad Ali giving me so much to root for besides his boxing!

I don't watch much TV sports anymore.  I admit to being riveted to the Master's stop for the PGA this year, because it was Tiger Wood's first time back(way too soon--that "press conference" with his mother in the front row and the hug following it was a nasty media event--in my book you don't invite your Mom to that one when you're justifying your sexploits like his and his marital infidelity).  The right couple won that tournament, Phil Mickelson and his wife.  Her battle with breast cancer, and his clawing in that tournament and final win by several strokes clearly put a Tiger into the tank, that he deserved to dwell in this year.  Mickelson's searching the gallery for his beautiful wife after his final putt on the 18th and the "hug heard 'round the world" spoke more volumes than anything ever written about marriage vows of fidelity ever have! Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Mickelson for one of the TV highlight films of all time!

Now, back to Michael Vick and the current NFL.  The rules of the game have changed.  Its boring now to begin with.  "Fetus ball" at the end of a game when a team is ahead and the quarterback is allowed to curl up with the ball and fall, untouched by the defense, can be ruled in such a way that the backs' safety and the progress of the game and everyone's integrity can be maintained.  The TV time outs, and all the time outs have slowed a 60 minute game to a crawl.  Boring.  Some games take 10 years to finish, it seems to me.  But who really cares at that point.  Lets force offenses to get plays off a lot more quickly.  There is more time between plays in NFL football now than in any sport I've ever watched.  Inter-Conference play between NFC and AFC is bad.  A lousy concept completely.  The notion of some teams having weaker schedules than others is a turn-off for everyone.  And get rid of the instant replay rule.  Refs are supposed to make bad calls.  They're human, that's the whole point.  And home fans are supposed to get livid at bad calls against the home team.

Ever been to the Bronx and witness a Bronx cheer when an umpire makes a bad call against the New York Yankees?  "Kill the ump!"  They say, but it's not a real physical threat.  To this day, no ump at any MLB game has yet been assassinated for a bad call.  An occasional beer bottle maybe(how 'bout no beer at games?).  The real Bronx Bombers are in the stands, the fans who chatter and make every opposition pitcher who dares strut out to the Yankee Stadium mound shudder and think twice with each pitch home.  The Yankee fans are the ones who are primarily responsible for their dozens of world series victories.  I wound up at Fenway for a couple of years, and the mood in the crowds there is much different.  More polite, genteel almost.  But they're getting there.  Louder, and a bit more aggressive.  They're winning more seasons now, and broke that Bambino curse finally! Lol.  Having been raised 70 miles from the old stadium that Ruth built, and spent 5 years in Boston, I publicly proclaim my permanent neutrality.  I feel very strongly both ways when it comes to the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. :)  About the only major controversy in life that I profess neutrality about whatsoever.  And in the northeast of the U.S. of A. that debate is far more controversial than War versus Peace.  Just mention George Steinbrenner in Connecticut and see what happens.  If you do it in the Bronx and have an opposing view, I advise football hardware for protection. :-D

How about a shot clock for the NFL.  Ball has to be hiked every 10 seconds on the game clock, and only 3 timeouts a game.  And halftime, and a minute at the end of the first three quarters and that's it for stopping the clock.  And just eliminate the 2 minute time-out.  That was the beginning of the end of good football.  In what the rest of the world calls football[and only we call soccer(ethnocentricity on our part--the rest of the world also likes the metric system instead of yards--even increments of 10, instead of 12 inches in a foot, 3 feet in a yard, 100 yards in a football game, and 5,2 hundred and how many feet in a mile???)], time-outs are few and far between, and substitutions almost non-existent.  Once you're on the field you play and that's pretty much it.  Unless you're carried off the field on a stretcher.  Now there's some action for you.  Football, to the rest of the world, is that game.  I propose a new name for the game played by the NFL.  How about Assaultball.  Those guys have to wear so much padding they remind me of 5 year olds bundled up to play in the snow.  A bit agressive a game, dontcha think?  Only spread as far as North America.  Wonder why, and wonder why our national psyche is so fascinated with so violent a "sport." 

And I get a kick out of the symbolic sexual suggestivity implied in the "huddles," the quarterback patting the center's behind and wiping his hand on that center's buttocks towel when barking out the play, the celebretory bumps following a 'score', the dancing in the end zone and what-not.  At ths point the game is a testosterone-ridden phenomenon reflective of our entire culture; dominating the world with ICBM phallic symbols, to say the least.  No homophobia intended or implied, just an observation about a game that prides itself in it's appeal to heterosexual males(just look at their sponsors' advertising--lol).

Have you seen the "cage" type of fighting that's allowed to be marketed now?  It's just assault with the gloves off. Ridiculous.  Connecticut senatorial candidate Linda McMahon on the Republican side took the WWF and molded it into the WWE, allowed metal chairs, non-wrestlers, bikini-ed models and such to be utilized as part of her assault "comedy" shows and marketed it to kids.  Those are her "family values."  Thanks for contributing massively to the violence and sexploitation in our culture Linda!  More Americans are behind bars in this nation per-capita than anywhere on earth, including Stalin's Soviet "Union" of the cold war days.  Thank you CEO McMahon!!  BY THE WAY, VOTE FOR CHARM-FREE(IN IT'S ENDORSEMENT OF MR. BLUMENTHAL, THAT'S WHAT THE NY TIMES CALLED HIM) SENATE CANDIDATE ATTORNEY GENERAL RICHARD BLUMENTHAL OVER THE WRESTLING MILLIONAIRE(SHE'S THE
$50 MILLION DOLLAR WOMAN, SPENDING $50 MILLION OF HER OWN EASILY-EARNED CASH ON HER EGO CAMPAIGN FOR THE U.S. SENATE) AND DAN MALLOY FOR CONNECTICUT GOVERNOR, PLEASE.

But the worst thing the NFL and people who have already had their personal scandals, such as Vick, Beck, Limbaugh, and Tiger Woods, are doing is making the mistake of thinking that there isn't a clear point at which your personal bungles are so morally bad that you can never serve in your prior public capacity.  Vick's torture of dogs was so recent, and his summertime involvements with his co-conspirators so recent, and his actions so morally corrupt that neither he nor the NFL should even consider him playing ever again.  The NFL markets products and services to kids.  He is a role model and a bad one!  It really is that simple. Boycott, football fans, boycott!

Beck and Limbaugh have had their personal scandals as well, and need to stay off the D.C. Mall and not give right-wing speeches on historic civil rights' anniversaries in the shadow of real Republican Abraham Lincoln's Memorial.  And potential Republican Presidential candidates(hi Ms. Palin) need to not be seen with, nor behind, nor involved in any way with recovering alcoholics and addicts who admit they're no longer in recovery(hi Glenn, hi Rush).  Tiger Woods needs to hang up his Izods.  You're washed up and for good reason.  I don't think you'll ever golf the same again.  Too bad though.  You rushed it.  That media event/press conference involving Mom and no questions blew it for you.  Then jumping right into the Master's so quickly.   A bit too greedy, my friend.

But let's spread the NFL boycott for now.  Boycott Michael Vick.  Boycott the Philadelphia Eagles.  Boycott the NFL.  Please.  And please tell your friends.

And remember that former BP CEO Tony "Wayward" Hayward killed more dogs and cats with his Gulf of Mexico oil spill(he's hiding from U.S. extradition and potential courtroom and Congressional testimony in former KGB-er Putin's Russia right now, politics and economics sure does make for some strange bedfellows, don't they indeed) than Michael Vick did, so donate today and always to http://www.la-spca.org/ .  Either click on that link, type it into your browser or click on the title of this post and get out your credit/debit card please.  The Louisianna chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals continues to do awesome work for the domestic animal victims of the botched post-Katrina phenomenon, and all the damage done by the BP executives for profit when they skipped safety measures and killed 11 workers on that oil platform in March and with their stonewalling ever since.  How can they possibly "Make this right" when dead people and animals are involved.  At least change the slogan for your PR campaign new BP CEO Doug Suttles, who ran away to Texas the day the video of leaking oil ended.  Again the tax-deductible link is:  http://www.la-spca.org/       :)  Peace to one and all....

Sociological Stuff: The Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge overlooking the Hoover Dam opens and the NFL still needs to fire Michael Vick and End Animal Cruelty!

                  Sideways Moon To Ya--Let's Keep It Available For The Kids
                                 Shame On You Tony Hayward And BP!!!
    

                   Augie Patrolling The Yard In August And Keeping Me Safe 


The NY Times reported yesterday on the opening of the new Colorado River Bridge, an engineering marvel including a bridge for vehicular traffic and a pedestrian footbridge overlooking the Hoover Dam, another technological marvel itself.  The article, composed by Marc Lacey and entitled "Come For The Highway. Stay For The View" is a nicely written piece about a bridge chock full of symbolism of all sorts.

Officially the "Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge," the structure overlooks an infrastructure project from decades ago that contributed hugely to bringing us out of another rough economic time in our American life, and a massive hydroelectric dam that proved the functionality of hydroelectric as an alternative to the carbon-spewing coal power plants we, China, and many others are still overdependent upon.  Climate change has rendered the value of this lesson all the more poignant in this century and millennium.

Governor Mike O'Callaghan of Nevada was also a Korean War veteran and newspaper editor.  Hard copy papers are dying fast(the loss of the Christian Science Monitor hard copies is still hard to take) and the First Amendment matters far more than the widely misconstrued Second Amendment, especially this campaign season.  Perhaps one possible "Second Amendment Remedy" would be to repeal it, and start that "right to bear arms" notion from scratch again once Democrats are again firmly in power.

Pat Tillman was the Arizona Cardinals NFL football player killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004 fighting for the U.S. government run, at the time, by Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, and Donald Rumsfeld.  Attempts to con his family and the nation into the belief that he was killed by the enemy have been widely reported this year, and his family is still seeking answers on that one.  And our efforts to expand the boycott of the NFL and force Michael Vick's resignation or firing and to boycott the Philadelphia Eagles, in particular, continues!!!

The O'Callaghan/Tillman Bridge unites Nevada, where a "Second Amendment Remedy" Tea Party candidate named Sharron Angle is trying to unseat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.  Her ludicrous campaign, including running away from a press conference she actually called, avoidance of mainstream press, raising money hand over fist on Fox news without shame, and absurd and inciteful and ignorant comments on issues has rendered her vulnerable to loss against the Majority Leader despite the attacks by the right on his character and competence.

The other side of the Bridge connects to Arizona, home of Governor Jan Brewer, author of what I have come to label the "Brown Bill"-- if you're Brown you're busted.  Giving probable cause to pull people over that even police officers don't want.  Seat belt laws, bad lights, moving violations, registrations, and more are enough probable cause for any competent law enforcer to pull someone over without forcing them to profile ethnically, and no competent cop wants it.

Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, traffic was diverted away from the Hoover Dam because it's been thought a likely terrorist target for scumbags like Bin Laden.  The O'Callaghan/Tillman Bridge rectifies that situation.  President Obama's only been in office for 21 months and is still doing the post-Cheney/Bush economic/civil liberties/foreign policy/defense/terrorism mop-up operation he's been stuck with since January 20, 2009.  And a fine job he, Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid are doing indeed.  The Tea Partiers are griping about mentioning Bush and the prior administration, and we can well understand why.

It's called "The Great Recession" now already.  A peace agreement is finally at hand after 7 years of incompetent prosecution of the war in Afghanistan.  Wires were tapped again illegally for the first time routinely since Nixon, another incompetent Republican "President."  Roberts was named to the Supreme Court and the new "Roberts Rules of Order" for elections are a nightmare!  And please lets not forget that Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush were in office and responsible for national security for 9 months when they botched it and enabled 4,000 or so American souls to perish with 4 airliners on 9/11!!!  They hit the Pentagon of all things!!!  Only the bravery of the passengers prevented the White House from being hit, and the incompetence of the boobs who "masterminded" this plot is typified by the fact that Bush himself was in Florida that morning.

Condoleeza Rice has said that she had to yell at Bush and hang up on him because he didn't have the sense to know that he needed to stay out of the District of Columbia that fateful day.  And the American voters are going to consider voting Republican again at all??? Amazing!!!  The classic American Electorate ADHD I suppose.  But NOT.  They are too smart, and the House and Senate will be in the good hands of the Democrats come January once again I  am certain.  Thanks to the likes of silly candidacies such as the pro-meatball, anti-masturbation candidate for Senate in Delaware Christine O'Donnell; Rand Paul the libertarian extremist Senate Republican candidate in Kentucky; and Sharron Angle the way-too-radical Senate candidate in Nevada who threatens armed insurrection by talking about "Second Amendment Remedies."

So the good news is that THE DEMOCRATS WILL RETAIN BOTH HOUSES IN NOVEMBER!!!  YIPPPEEEEEE!!!

And remember, please to donate today to la-spca.org as generously as you can.  Peace[and I do believe it is at hand in Afghanistan--mark my words, maybe before the dawn of 2011].

Momcat's Vegan Project: Football And Torturing Dogs--Michael Vick

Our 14 Year Young Family Member Augie the Doggie, Mr. Vick!

Word has it that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL television affiliate is boycotting the Philadelphia Eagles games this year due to opposition to puppy torturer Michael Vick being allowed to earn millions and pretend he has anything to offer the kids the NFL targets for merchandising as a role model.  We will investigate and get back.  Suffice it to say that such a  move would reflect well on any station participating in the boycott, particularly given corporate mentality today, as exemplified by the NFL's money grubbing materialistic cash at all cost philosophy.

Who cares about the Eagles this year.  Lets spread this boycott!  Boycott Michael Vick, the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL now!!!  And please donate to: la-spca.org today as generously as possible.  Peace...

Momcat's Vegan Project: BOYCOTT THE NFL AND MICHAEL VICK--END ANIMAL CRUELTY NOW!!!

FORTEEN YEAR OLD POUND PUP AND HERO AUGIE THE DOGGIE ENJOYING A COLD DAY IN AUGUST BY THE POOL THIS PAST AUGUST MR. VICK.

Why oh why has the NFL allowed Michael Vick to model his role for the nation's children.  The NFL is misguided in so many ways it should be boycotted.  It happens to be my belief that dogs are spiritual beings having a temporary canine experience just as I am a spiritual being myself having a temporary human experience.  The latter is one of the pillars of the Judeo/Christian/Islamic tradition.  Regardless, the central pillars of morality with any value whatever are such values as mercy, charity, love, compassion and care.  Michael Vick is none of these.  His all too short "debt" to society was purchased with his ridiculously large NFL salary[and what about those salaries and profits, NFL?].

Many of the wonderful pups Vick mercilessly abused, tortured and maimed for profit[already the highest paid multi-millionaire in the NFL] are still alive and living lives without the severe physical pain inflicted by Vick, but suffering the emotional consequences of his horrors with loving families and organizations such as Best Friends Animal Society which are still picking up the pieces from his selfish reign of terror against helpless canines.  He admitted to his crimes!

Just this year, before the beginning of this foolish NFL season, which should be boycotted by anyone who shares their life with a dog, ever did, or ever loved one, Vick was again in the news.  The terms of his parole reportedly included terms preventing him from associating with known ex-felons altogether, and specifically as well as especially his own co-conspirators.  At a Virginia Beach bar where a birthday party was being held in his "honor" words were allegedly heard being spoken between Vick and a "co-conspirator guest."  A felon.  If this were in fact the case, in and of itself a violation of his parole.  This man was shot outside the bar by another party-goer allegedly.  WAKE UP NFL AND NFL FANS!!!  BOYCOTT THE NFL NOW!!!  GET VICK OFF THE PAYROLL AND OFF THE GRAVY TRAIN HE ROBBED HIS CANINE VICTIMS OF!!!

Face it NFL, players are role models, otherwise don't sell advertising, and products to kids.  No matter how you wrap him up, even reformed one day, God willing, is no role model for the kids you target for profit.  He blew it for life in that regard.  If you're reformed or reforming, face it Vick.  You're no role model for kids ever in this particular life.  Resign today!  Now there would be an example for kids!  What a lesson for us all you could teach, sir.  And NFL, if you don't fire him for good then you are a bunch of[as Jesus said to the clergy in Jerusalem] hypocrites!!!  NFL, you are in a unique position to stop the abuse of animals, and of the long decline of American culture that you've so richly been participating in for years.

BP's oil spill earlier this year killed thousands of kittens, cats, dogs and puppies, probably more than wildlife.  Unemployed families had to give up these loved ones.  The cover story on the August 16th 2010 edition of Time magazine, beautifully written and thoughtfully researched by Jeffrey Kluger is mandatory reading for any animal lover and and NFL fan.  The cover photo is of a beautiful black pug.  The higher mammals all think and they all feel emotion.  They all also feel physical pain, many far more acutely than you and I.  Elephants are ingenious and emotional.  Primates intelligent and nimble, and creative tool inventors.  Dogs can anticipate seizures, and do for humans so afflicted, guide the blind and assist the deaf and routinely save human lives.

The only mammal to threaten life on the planet is the one called Homo sapiens.  The primary threats currently are our nuclear weapons[those of America being among the two largest arsenals on Earth], of course, and now climate change caused primarily by our greedy laziness resulting in carbon emissions beyond what our thin coat of oxygen can take, and it is likely too late to repair that damage, but let's please not give up hope.  U.S. economic and foreign policies have resulted in taking the carbon emission issue out of our own hands and placing it in so many others worldwide[for example, the Communist regime in Beijing is responsible for the largest tonnage of pollution in the world now, surpassing America's own, thanks to our policies--and India is coming up fast and so are so many others].

Dogs are man's best friend, so let's please be theirs.  And all the others, felines included(dontcha just love 'em all?).  In any long-term relationship I've cherished, I've owed amends.  And amends, in my book, are not just saying you're sorry, but proving, one day at a time, that you'll never do it again.  And not profiteering off your mistakes, nor pretending to be a role model for people not to abuse dogs once you've been convicted of abusing dogs, for example.  And giving up on the notion that you are any sort of role model afterward by returning to a hypocritical NFL for ego and cash.  Who cares whether the Philadelphia Eagles win or lose as long as a filthy rich spoiled dog abuser is in charge of that offensive offense?  Not I.  Nor should any dog lover, or anyone who ever was or loved a kid, for example.

I recommend a visit to the http://www.la-spca.org/  today!  Donate please as much as you can.  They did and continue to do awesome work for the domestic-animal victims of the likes of Tony Wayward Hayward and his BP cronies(Hayward, now hiding from US extradition in Vladimir Putin's Russia at last check).  If you click on the title of this essay, you'll get to the site.  Thanks to you Deborah, I hope you like this one.  You are an inspiration and a gentlewoman indeed.  ABSOLUTELY. 

I want to conclude this essay by inviting Michael Vick, NFL execs and all its employees, and all my readers to check out the awesome poem to be found at:  http://www.rainbowbridge.com/

You'll be very glad you did, I do believe.  Thanks to Augie, Meow, Momcat, Bluebelle, Iggie, Gout, Trixie, Lennie, Mollie Brown, Cricket, and many, many other unconditionally loving felines and canines who contributed to the research for this article.  :)

If there has to be an NFL season with Michael Vick involved, how about we all root for a New Orleans Saints repeat, and for the Philadelphia Eagles to stumble to the bottom of the heap this season.  Nothing against the City of Brotherly Love, just the NFL and Michael Vick's audacity at pretending to be some kind of example for the city's kids to emulate.  Dontcha think?