The Great Pumpkin(s)

Happy Halloween from the First Family, The Team and SteakMatters.com

- POTUS

p.s. A tip from SteakMatters, bring your political yard signs in this evening. They are especially venerable to ghosts and goblins on Halloween nights…boo wah ha ha ha!

Barrack Obama and Herbert Hoover--Kindred Spirits

There is an old saying with which most of us are familiar: Those who can not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I think most Americans have some respect for that saying--well, except for Barrack Obama.

Obama asserts in his tax policy that 95% of Americans will see a tax decrease under his plan. That's interesting in and of itself given that 40% of the American people pay no income tax. What must happen, then, is that the 5% of Americans (which in and of itself is questionable because they keep dropping the income threshold) who will realize a tax increase, that will fund the rebate of the 40% who pay no taxes. Convoluted, I know...

My point: In 1932, with unemployment at 20 percent, President Herbert Hoover inexplicably signed a bill that increased taxes, and in effect, reversed the cuts supported and signed into law by his immediate predecessor, Calvin Coolidge.

Not only did Hoover's tax increases more than doubled rates at the bottom of the bracket, but he also increased the top marginal tax rate by 38% (from 25% to 63%). The effect of that nonsense should have been predictable--if not to Hoover, then to at least his economic advisors or economists.

Again, those who fail to learn from history's mistakes are doomed to repeat them. The result of Hoover's tax increases? The Great Depression.

Today, Barrack NoBama wants to ignore the lessons of history and increase the top tax rate (in order to "spread the wealth") in an environment much like during the Hoover era. Obama has suggested a payroll tax increase and an income tax increase. Like the Hoover/Coolidge scenario, Obama is determined to rollback the Bush tax cuts.

Unfortunately, millions and millions of American voters are ignorant. They see the nice smile, the handsome man, the articulate delivery. What they don't see--what they are too ignorant to see--is that Obama's economic policies--his quasi-Socialism--his radical associations are doomed to repeat the events of past. The good thing about being around for awhile is that you accumulate experience--and I'm not talking about Obama's lack thereof--I'm talking about the American experience.

But, thanks to a media that's in the tank, thanks to a current President with the popularity rivaling that of Art Modell to Clevenders, and thanks to apathetic sheep that is the majority of the American electorate, we are about to elect one of the most inexperienced, radical presidents in the History of this nation.

The polls are narrowing (not that i believe the polls)--but this race is close. So vote--and as they say in Chicago (and the Ohio Secretary of State's office), and vote often.

--G

Blatant Abuse of Power

This Jones-Kelly lady should have to resign. If this were done under a Taft or Voino administration, Democrats would be livid--and of course they would have the media to do their dirty work. Just like Brunner, just like former AG Dann--the Strickland administration seems to be throwing their promises of non-partisanship in the trash.

From the Columbus Dispatch:

A state agency has revealed that its checks of computer systems for potential information on "Joe the Plumber" were more extensive than it first acknowledged.
Helen Jones-Kelley, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, disclosed today that computer inquiries on Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher were not restricted to a child-support system.

The agency also checked Wurzelbacher in its computer systems to determine whether he was receiving welfare assistance or owed unemployment compensation taxes, she wrote.
Jones-Kelley made the revelations in a letter to Ohio Senate President Bill M. Harris, R-Ashland, who demanded answers on why state officials checked out Wurzelbacher.
Harris called the multiple records checks "questionable" and said he awaits more answers. "It's kind of like Big Brother is looking in your pocket," he said.

If state employees run checks on every person listed in newspaper stories as buying a business, "it must take a lot of people a lot of time to run these checks," he said. "Where do you draw the line?"

The checks were run after the news media reported that Wurzelbacher was considering buying a plumbing business with more than $250,000 in annual income, Jones-Kelley wrote.
"Given our understanding that Mr. Wurzelbacher had publicly indicated that he had the means to purchase a substantial business enterprise, ODJFS, consistent with past departmental practice, checked confidential databases ," she wrote.

"Not surprisingly, when a person behind in child support payments or receiving public assistance is receiving significant media attention which suggests that the person appears to have available financial resources, the Department risks justifiable criticism if it fails to take note and respond," Jones-Kelley wrote.

The results of the searches were not publicly released and remain confidential, she wrote. Wurzelbacher has said he is not involved in a child-support case and has not purchased any business.

Jones-Kelley wrote that the checks were "well-meaning," but misinterpreted amid the heated final weeks of a presidential election.
Wurzelbacher became a household name when Republican presidential hopeful John McCain frequently referred to "Joe the Plumber" during his Oct. 15 debate with Democrat nominee Barack Obama. The checks began the next day.

Wurzelbacher, who has endorsed and campaigned for McCain, had been caught on videotape challenging Obama about his tax proposals during a campaign visit to "Joe's" neighborhood in the Toledo suburb of Holland.

Republicans have painted the checks on Wurzelbacher as a politically motivated bid by Democrats to dig up dirt and discredit the McCain ally. The Obama campaign has said it has no ties to the checks and supports investigations.

The administration of Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland has said the information was not improperly shared and that there were no political motives behind the checks.
The Dispatch has uncovered four uses of state computer systems to access personal information on Wurzelbacher, including the child-support check authorized by Jones-Kelley.
She said on Monday that her department frequently runs checks for any unpaid child support obligations "when someone is thrust quickly into the public spotlight."
Republican legislators have challenged Jones-Kelley's reason for checking on Wurzelbacher as "frightening" and flimsy.

Jones-Kelly also has denied any connections between the computer checks on Wurzelbacher and her support for Obama. She donated the maximum $2,500 this year to the Obama campaign.
Ohio Inspector General Thomas P. Charles is investigating whether the child-support check on Wurzelbacher was legal.

--G

Well--We KnowWho al Qaeda is Supporting

DUBAI (Reuters) - An al Qaeda leader has called for President George W. Bush and the Republicans to be "humiliated," without endorsing a party in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, according to an Internet video posting.

"O God, humiliate Bush and his party, O Lord of the Worlds, degrade and defy him," Abu Yahya al-Libi said at the end of sermon marking the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr, in a video posted on the Internet.

Libi, a top al Qaeda commander believed to be living in Afghanistan or Pakistan, called for God's wrath to be brought against Bush equating him with past tyrants in history.
The remarks were the first from a leading al Qaeda figure referring, albeit indirectly, to the U.S. elections. Muslim clerics often end sermons by calling on God to guide and support Muslims and help defeat their enemies.

Terrorism monitor SITE Intelligence Group said in a report on Wednesday that militants on al Qaeda-linked websites have for months been debating the significance of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama or Republican John McCain.
Some posters have also argued over the merits of trying to attack the United States before the election or waiting until later, the report said.

But SITE said it did not expect al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden or deputy Ayman al-Zawahri to openly favor a candidate.

"To support a particular candidate would debase al-Qaeda's long-standing argument that the United States government is a corrupt institution no matter who is at the helm," SITE director Rita Katz said in the group's November newsletter.

In 2004 bin Laden issued his first video in more than a year just days before the U.S. elections. It derided Bush and warned of possible new September 11-style attacks.
Bin Laden made little mention of Bush's Democratic challenger, John Kerry, telling Americans: "Your security is not in the hands of Kerry or Bush or al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands and each state which does not harm our security will remain safe."
Kerry has attributed his loss in part to the video's high-profile reminder of the terrorism issue.
In 2006, after Democrats captured Congress, Zawahri issued an audio message saying all Americans remained al Qaeda's enemies regardless of party, SITE said.

SITE said militant postings on al Qaeda-linked websites typically discuss Obama in terms of his race, or his religion and foreign policy. Some forecast a racial crisis dividing the United States if he wins. Others say his planned phased withdrawal from Iraq would be a boon to al Qaeda's affiliate and give it a base for Middle East expansion.

Republican presidential nominee John McCain has been portrayed as likely to allow "the continuation of Republican control and aggressive policies toward the Islamic world."

--G

Bravo, Kelsey!

I've always been a fan of Kelsey Grammer. He was brilliant on Cheers--and Frasier is one of my all-time favorite shows. I just figured he was another Hollywood lib, though. Imagine my shock when I received the following email tonight:

G%@*--
This is not an easy time to be conservative. In 6 days we might wake up to read that Barack Obama and liberal Democrats have seized total control of Washington.

Take it from me. For 20 years, I played Dr. Frasier Crane on TV, and it is not easy being openly Republican in a Democrat town like Hollywood. But even when the odds are against us, we must never stop fighting for this country.

Will you help stop liberals from seizing total control of our government?
Barack Obama and his liberal allies claim to support the working man. They want us to think they are all Joe and Jane Six Packs. But we all know -- that when they think no one is listening -- the liberal elite arrogantly snicker about the unwashed masses in fly-over country and suburbia.

They ridicule Sarah Palin...they laugh at Joe the Plumber...and they condescendingly refer to middle-class Americans as "bitter." Will you help stop the liberal agenda?

America doesn't want Barack Obama and a rubberstamp liberal Senate to "spread the wealth around."

Regular people get it. The liberal agenda of bone-crushing tax hikes and out-of-control spending in the middle of an economic crisis is a disaster waiting to happen.
Will you join me in taking a stand against Barack Obama and the liberal agenda?
The 2008 election is one of the most important we'll ever live through.
With just 6 days until Election Day, time is running out to protect the firewall. So, we must move fast. Please contribute at least $30 today.

For all of us, there comes a time when the choices are so stark, the risks so great, that we have to take a stand.

Sincerely yours,

Kelsey

Why, yes, Kelsey--I'm glad to help!

--G

The Anti-Lefty

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (Ticker)—Former PGA golfer John Daly recently spent a night in jail after Winston-Salem police found him drunk outside a city restaurant, the Winston-Salem Journal reported Wednesday.

Lt. Tyrone Phelps told the newspaper that Daly was held at the Forsyth County Jail early Sunday morning to sober up. According to the Winston-Salem Journal, paramedics went to a Hooters restaurant at 1 a.m. after receiving a report that Daly had passed out.

When police arrived, they found Daly intoxicated and unwilling to go to a hospital. He was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. “He didn’t want to talk to the (police officers),” Phelps told the newspaper. The newspaper reported that Daly was traveling on a tour bus and told police that the people on the bus did not want him back on it after the Hooters closed.
According to North Carolina state law, police can in some cases jail a person overnight to sober up.

Daly was later released on an unsecured bond. A winner of two majors, Daly, 42, has not had a PGA Tour card for the past two years. In March, Butch Harmon quit as his swing coach.
At the time, Harmon said of Daly that “the most important thing in his life is getting drunk.”

A sad, sad story. It appears he's losing the battle with this nasty disease.

--G

Some Election Season Humor

Dear Red States:

We’ve decided we’re leaving.

We intend to form our own country, and we’re taking the other Blue States with us.

In case you aren’t aware, that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California. To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood. We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole’ Miss. We get 85 percent of America’s venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama. We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share.

Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition’s, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms. Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we’re going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they’re apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don’t care if you don’t show pictures of their children’s caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq , and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we’re not willing to spend our resources in Bush’s Quagmire. With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent of the country’s fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation’s fresh fruit, 95 percent of America’s quality wines, 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT. With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia. We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.

Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacred unless we’re discussing the war, the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties.

Finally, we’re taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico.

Peace out,

Blue States

Obama Redistribution of Wealth Audio

I can't believe the American people are poised to elect this wacko socialist. Amazing.

--G

Irony? You decide.

I was tubing in Comet country for J-Man when I came across the above signs. I had to snap a photo. I couldn’t help but find the irony in the Obama and O'Neill signs next to an oil company's notice of exploration.

Drill, Baby, Drill!

- POTUS

Biden Angered By Tough Questions

If we had more reporters like this, willing to ask the TOUGH questions, we'd all be better off! Well done! What does this station get in return? Banished from the Obama campaign...no more access.

Chinese Democracy!

As I reported before on Steakmatters, I've long-anticipated G n R's release of their new album, Chinese Democracy (see earlier post http://www.steakmatters.com/2008/06/g-n-r.html)

Well it's almost here. In fact they've released the first single. It's a pretty damn good song. I'm not sure it is worth the 15-plus year wait--you be the judge.

Welcome back, boys!

--G

She's a Fraud

Unlike the New York Times, CNN or MSNBC, we here at Steakmatters, and me specifically, can retract a story when it turns out to be false. Such is the case with this WACKO chick who claimed to be robbed and beaten by an Obama supporter. Ashley Todd, 20, has admitted she made up the story.

There is no place for this kind of disgusting behavior in our society. She needs to be prosecuted and thrown and jail. Her behavior is repulsive. As if racial tensions in our society aren't bad enough--things like this do not help.

'Nuff said.

--G

McCain For President

McCain for President
By Charles KrauthammerFriday, October 24, 2008; A19
Contrarian that I am, I'm voting for John McCain. I'm not talking about bucking the polls or the media consensus that it's over before it's over. I'm talking about bucking the rush of wet-fingered conservatives leaping to Barack Obama before they're left out in the cold without a single state dinner for the next four years.

I stand athwart the rush of conservative ship-jumpers of every stripe -- neo (Ken Adelman), moderate (Colin Powell), genetic/ironic (Christopher Buckley) and socialist/atheist (Christopher Hitchens) -- yelling "Stop!" I shall have no part of this motley crew. I will go down with the McCain ship. I'd rather lose an election than lose my bearings.

First, I'll have no truck with the phony case ginned up to rationalize voting for the most liberal and inexperienced presidential nominee in living memory. The "erratic" temperament issue, for example. As if McCain's risky and unsuccessful but in no way irrational attempt to tactically maneuver his way through the economic tsunami that came crashing down a month ago renders unfit for office a man who demonstrated the most admirable equanimity and courage in the face of unimaginable pressures as a prisoner of war, and who later steadily navigated innumerable challenges and setbacks, not the least of which was the collapse of his campaign just a year ago.
McCain the "erratic" is a cheap Obama talking point. The 40-year record testifies to McCain the stalwart.

Nor will I countenance the "dirty campaign" pretense. The double standard here is stunning. Obama ran a scurrilous Spanish-language ad falsely associating McCain with anti-Hispanic slurs. Another ad falsely claimed that McCain supports "cutting Social Security benefits in half." And for months Democrats insisted that McCain sought 100 years of war in Iraq.
McCain's critics are offended that he raised the issue of William Ayers. What's astonishing is that Obama was himself not offended by William Ayers.

Moreover, the most remarkable of all tactical choices of this election season is the attack that never was. Out of extreme (and unnecessary) conscientiousness, McCain refused to raise the legitimate issue of Obama's most egregious association -- with the race-baiting Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Dirty campaigning, indeed.

The case for McCain is straightforward. The financial crisis has made us forget, or just blindly deny, how dangerous the world out there is. We have a generations-long struggle with Islamic jihadism. An apocalyptic soon-to-be-nuclear Iran. A nuclear-armed Pakistan in danger of fragmentation. A rising Russia pushing the limits of revanchism. Plus the sure-to-come Falklands-like surprise popping out of nowhere.

Who do you want answering that phone at 3 a.m.? A man who's been cramming on these issues for the past year, who's never had to make an executive decision affecting so much as a city, let alone the world? A foreign policy novice instinctively inclined to the flabbiest, most vaporous multilateralism (e.g., the Berlin Wall came down because of "a world that stands as one"), and who refers to the most deliberate act of war since Pearl Harbor as "the tragedy of 9/11," a term more appropriate for a bus accident?

Or do you want a man who is the most prepared, most knowledgeable, most serious foreign policy thinker in the United States Senate? A man who not only has the best instincts but has the honor and the courage to, yes, put country first, as when he carried the lonely fight for the surge that turned Iraq from catastrophic defeat into achievable strategic victory?
There's just no comparison. Obama's own running mate warned this week that Obama's youth and inexperience will invite a crisis -- indeed a crisis "generated" precisely to test him. Can you be serious about national security and vote on Nov. 4 to invite that test?

And how will he pass it? Well, how has he fared on the only two significant foreign policy tests he has faced since he's been in the Senate? The first was the surge. Obama failed spectacularly. He not only opposed it. He tried to denigrate it, stop it and, finally, deny its success.
The second test was Georgia, to which Obama responded instinctively with evenhanded moral equivalence, urging restraint on both sides. McCain did not have to consult his advisers to instantly identify the aggressor.

Today's economic crisis, like every other in our history, will in time pass. But the barbarians will still be at the gates. Whom do you want on the parapet? I'm for the guy who can tell the lion from the lamb.

The Scarlet Letter

I'm sure you've all read the story. If you haven't, this young lady was at an ATM in Pittsburgh. She took out $60.00 and was promptly robbed of it.

The robber, noticing a McCain bumper sticker on her car, proceeded to beat her about the head and face. If that weren't enough, he left her a little gift---he carved a B in her face. Yes, B for Barrack. He must have been standing at the top of her head as she lay on the ground because the B is carved backwards. Either that or he is illiterate--for a Barrack supporter, I don't suppose that's a stretch. At least he'll benefit from NoBama's tax plan.

This is what our society has come to--support the wrong candidate and get beat down for it. I wish that little bitch (the robber, not the young lady) would have tried that shit on me. I'd have carved a G in his ass...

--G

The "Elite" Media

You've all heard me venting my frustrations and articulating my utter disgust with the so-called "elite" media. They are doing their best to manipulate and mold the minds of every-day Americans into believing that the McCain/Palin ticket is a continuation of the Bush/Cheney era--and that NoBama and o'Biden are the answer to all the worlds woes.

How vitriolic are they toward anyone who would question the Messiah? Just ask Joe the Plumber. Here's a guy who asked NoBama a simple question about his tax policy--and to Nobama's credit, he gave the guy a truthful answer (spread the wealth)--and all he's received in return is the media investigating his entire life, his motives, questioning his intelligence and attacking his character.

The good news is, they've been so blatant in their one-sidedness, the media itself has become part of the story. For the first time, Americans, I think, get that the media is in the tank. It's really quite sad--the fourth estate is no more. Why do I know this? The latest AP poll has the race a dead heat. A dead heat!! That means despite the media's slanted, biased coverage in favor of Obama; despite the attacks on Palin's qualifications, intelligence, and character; despite the Media's attempt to paint McCain as unhinged, short-fused and aged; despite a tanking economy; despite McCain being in the same party as one of the most unpopular presidents in modern history; and despite McCain/Palin are running against "Our Lord and Savior" Barrack Hussein Obama--the race is still tied.

Joe The Plumber righted the ship. McCain can now use him as vivid example of just how un-American Obama's "spread the wealth", socialistic philosophies are. He can demonstrate by example that those policies advanced by Trotsky, Lenin and Stalin and, now Obama, are not the cure for what ails us.

People might be uncomfortable reading that. I was a little uncomfortable typing it. But you sure won't see that analysis on CNN, on MSNBC, on ABC, on CBS, etc.

I think it's telling that we know more about Cindy McCain's past drug issues than we know about Barrack Obama's use of cocaine and other illegal drugs. I think it's telling that we know more about Sarah Palin's wardrobe than we know why Michelle Obama received a promotion at her state university job and a tripling of of her salary soon after her husband was elected to the illinois state senate. It's all telling. And, because this race is still a dead heat, the American people are telling the liberal, elite media that their smoke and mirrors isn't hiding the stench.

--G

13 daze and counting

Can you tell by my recent posts I'm politic'd out?

Stack of Steak

Limbaugh has his ‘stack of stuff’, me, I have my “stack of steak”. Here is some stuff I’ve been meaning to get up on the blog:



Ever eat a 3.5lbs steak, grilled in a wood-fired oven? I did. Along with wood-fired pizzas and clams; olives and so much more food I can’t even remember it all. Hats off to Tony Soprano for a birthday dinner fit for a king, or a President.




Thanks to Pa Bell for inviting me and the Prince to Browns Training camp. (I told you I had a lot of old stuff in the stack.) It was great - we had food, an air conditioned chalet, and autographs for the kids afterwards. The Prince would much rather play football than watch it, but it was a guys night out so it was fun anyway. The sad part is that the training camp looks to be the best part of the season….



We had a blast this year in NMB this year. Went to our usual for our anniversary dinner – Chuck’s Steakhouse. It’s a local favorite. Known for its super sirloin steak, I stuck with the old standby – NY Strip with a goblet of beer. FLOTUS got the surf and turf, which Princess shared in the turf. Prince got French fries, oh yeah, and the best steamed buns this side of Windy Hill Beach, if you know what I mean, and I know you do.


Brat’ in da Hood isn’t the only one who likes to cut down trees and split wood. I had several trees taken down at 1600 Pennsylvania and rented a splitter from the friendly neighborhood CCM. The auto re-tract didn’t work, which was a pain, and it rained the last 2 hours of splitting, but I got it done. Only problem…I had to much wood and not enough covered storage. I got it handled eventually, but what a pain, especially after having the 2 stacks fall during recent wind storms. Here’s to global warming…I mean climate change....

I’ve Created a Monster

Princess celebrated here birthday recently. She got to choose the menu. Guess what she wanted…STEAK. (or as she likes to say, “Steaky”) Since we were having the whole family over, I strolled down to the local warehouse store and bought my self a nice big bloody hunk of beef tenderloin.

I slow cooked in on the grill for 45 minutes to perfection. Even the First Dog got in on the action, eating some of the cutoffs. Needless to say there was nothing leftover.

Pa. man chews through belly-busting, 15-lb. burger

From Yahoo news, compliments of He Who Has No Name....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081017/ap_on_fe_st/odd_big_burger

CLEARFIELD, Pa. – It took Brad Sciullo 4 hours and 39 minutes to finish a
marathon. A meat marathon, that is. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound western Pennsylvania chef is the first person to eat a monstrosity called the Beer Barrel Belly Bruiser: a 15-pound burger with toppings and a bun that brought the total weight to 20.2 pounds.

The mountain of beef is the product of Denny's Beer Barrel Pub, about 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh in Clearfield.

Sciullo, 21, of Uniontown, said he was surprised he finished the sandwich Monday. "About three hours into it, things got tough," he said.

When asked what possessed him to eat a burger that big, Sciullo said: "I wanted to see if I could."

The burger included a bun, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, onions, mild banana peppers and a cup each of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and relish, pub owner Dennis Liegey said.

For completing the challenge in the under-five-hour time limit, Sciullo won $400, three T-shirts, a certificate "and a burger hangover, as I call it," Liegey said.

OMG

This is the party (and one of its "leaders") that alot of our fellow americans are considering voting into the White House. This guy is an absolute F#$%% idiot.

--G

Role Model

I'm not a big movie-goer. I just hate supporting the Hollywood liberal elite. So, it's a rare occasion that I express interest in going to see a movie. This trailer had me laughing out loud...and im a big fan of that pig-of-a-man who plays "Stifler" on all the American Pie movies, Seann William Scott.

Having said all that, I'd love to see Role Model. Check out the trailer--funny stuff.

--G

Deez Nuts

More squirrely shennanigans are taking place in Columbus. The nuts appear to be in abundance--three of whom found their way to the statehouse steps. I was actually going to write a more detailed post on this video, but jonathan martin of politico.com beat me to it.

Just to set it up, Strickland, Coleman and Sherrod Brown are on the steps of the statehouse in columbus opining on the McCain campaign's "shamefulness" relative to his and Palin's use of the word "socialist" when describing NObama's economic policies. Where I come from, "spreading the wealth" smacks of socialism. But hey, what do I know?!

I looked for the video where Strickland, Coleman, and Brown condemned the Obama campaigns use of the term "racist" and "fascist" or (insert ad hominem attack here), when referring to either McCain, Palin or both--but gee, I just couldn't find that video for some reason.

Anyway, instead of the press conference, the big, orange squirrel standing behind the trio stole the show. Enjoy.

--G

Lefty on Entourage

A special Steak Matters shout out to Lefty who made a special appearance on Entourage - the best show on television. Good to know that he has an acting career in the bag if his game tanks!
L

Morons of Cleveland

Lefty and I had dinner at Morton’s The Steakhouse in Cleveland. While the company was great, the restaurant left much to be desired for one thing and one thing only – price. As a location that prides itself on catering to the business and the business traveler…even on an expense account…the prices were OUTRAGEOUS!

Lefty and I both got the ribeye, which is a great cut, known for it flavor, which we both appreciate, but for which we got because it was the cheapest thing on the menu. All the other steaks were way overpriced by a Hamilton ($10) to a Jackson ($20). I’ll tell you this much, you can get a better cut, aged to perfection in DC for half the cost of what Morton’s had theirs listed for.

So when asked, “What’s the best steak in Cleveland?” I can tell you that dollar for dollar, Morton’s doesn’t make the list. You’d be better off saving your dead Presidents and buying a whole tenderloin to feed the family for the Princess’ birthday….

- POTUS

Deaths of Note (they come in 3’s)

Robert Nett (1922 – 2008)
Colonel Nett (ret.) was a U.S. Army Officer and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service in during the campaign to recapture the Philippians in World War II. With his passing, there remains only 99 living recipients of this highest of honors.






Gene Hickerson (1935 – 2008)
The Legendary Cleveland Browns Guard and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2007) Gene Hickerson passed away today ending a long fight with Alzheimer’s and failing health. While Pops recalls his tough nosed play, got to know him through his restaurant – Gene Hickerson’s at the Hanna. They served a great steak and the service was always impeccable.





Frank ‘Lefty’ Rosenthal (1929 – 2008)
Sports handicapping pioneer Frank Rosenthal passed away in Miami Beach, FL. His story was the inspiration for the movie Casino and the character Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein played by Robert DeNiro. Lefty secretly ran four casino’s in Las Vegas for the family back in Chicago. One of them – The Stardust – was the last of the great casino and was a favorite place to play for FLOTUS and I on our trip nearly 12 years ago. I shed a tear when it was imploded.

File This One Under: WHO CARES!?

Obama has already locked up 99% of the Black vote anyway. So Colon Oscopy has cleared his conscience--good for him. Relative to the election--it means ZERO.

--G

Another Reason Not to Trust Polling

Check out the spread on this poll from the liberal bastions AP and Yahoo. Their latest joint poll included 873 Democrats and only 650 Republicans.

Here is the good news for McCain supporters, however. The poll showed Obama up only 2 percent at 44% to 42%. Encouraging news.

On another front, for the second day in a row, Gallup's poll of likely votes has it within the margin of error at 49% to 47%, Obama.

--G

Gallup--Within Margin of Error

Gallup Daily: Likely Voters (Traditional)
Results based on a three-day rolling average

Obama: 49
McCain: 47

Gallup Daily election tracking reports the percentage of “likely voters” who say they would support each candidate when that group is defined based on respondents’ self-reported past voting behavior, as well as current voting intentions for the 2008 presidential election. This more tightly defined group includes about 60% of the general public, somewhat greater than the typical 50% to 55% who have turned out in recent presidential elections.

2nd Sign of the Apocalypse (in the same day)

Giants 14

Browns 35 Final

The Browns are winning!?!

I simply can't believe it. With 8:07 left in the 4th quarter the Browns are beating the 4-0 NY Giants!?! Never in a million years!

- POTUS

Investing in the new economy

Special thanks to Sib for the following email chain, which she is inclined to forward these on a regular basis....

If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Delta Airlines one year ago, you will have $49.00 today.

If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in AIG one year ago, you will have $33.00 today.

If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Lehman Brothers one year ago, you will have $0.00 today.

But, if you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drank all the beer, then turned in the aluminum cans for recycling refund, you will have received a $214.00.

Based on the above, the best current investment plan is to drink heavily & recycle. It is called the 401-Keg.

A recent study found that the average American walks about 900 miles a year.

Another study found that Americans drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year.

That means that, on average, Americans get about 41 miles to the gallon!

Makes you proud to be an American!

POTUS

Bemus. It’s a wrap.

It’s hard to believe that it’s already been 8 days since our return from Bemus. On our return trip we calculated our consumption:

1 handle of Crown
1 handle of Vodka
At least 15 dozen wings (hot, mild, garlic, etc.)
At least 10 orders of pizza fingers (5/order)
1 dinner salad
2 M&M ice cream cookie sandwiches (one pictured)
Countless 24oz Miller Lites
Multiple 24oz Bud Lights
Several Pitchers of Yuegling (w/ the ice sleeve)
Too many to count pints of Yuegling (w/o the ice sleeve)
5 lbs of Jack’s Corned Beef
5 lbs of Gallucci’s Sausage (sweet) (pictured)
1 bottle of Tums
2 cases of water
1 case of Gatorade
5 Bemus Breakfast
20 large coffees
2 Beefs on weck
2 rounds of shots, I think
2 rounds of Irish Car bombs, I think

Our economic impact was calculated in excess of $2000, and we didn’t even go to the Seneca Casino in Salamanca, NY. And just so you don’t think this weekend was all about us, we here at SteakMatters.com support childhood cancer research (pictured) compliments of a donation by Hardgrove.

Once again our service was excellent with Beth (pictured) hustling to keep our drinks cold, our wings hot, in spite of having to handle half the seats in the house.

I’d have to say that our one disappointment with the weekend was that with all we spent, we were never once comp’d a round of drinks, shots, or even an order of wings.

OK so the moment you’ve all been waiting for. The 2008 Bemus Man of the Year. The envelop please…and the 2008 Bemus Man of the Year is award to… the whole crew – Seabiscuit, Doyle, Fuzz, Hardgrove, Michael and POTUS. (Yeah, we really punted on this one. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your perspective, no one ‘stepped to the plate’ to distinguished themselves from the rest of the crew.

Thanks again to our friends in Bemus. 357 days and counting.

POTUS

Sign of the Apocalypse

At 8:30a this morning, Browns fans had already established a ‘beachhead’ in the muni-lot near Cleveland Browns stadium in advance of tonight’s Monday Night Football showdown with the New York Giants. Tents and flags were already up, along with smoke from their grills, presumably cooking breakfast, wafting into the morning’s dawn. Interspersed among the former school buses and RVs painted orange and brown, were the commuter cars of individuals who decided that making a contribution to the Nation’s economy was more important than tailgating.

- POTUS

Toledo 13 - Michigan 10

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Toledo posted one of the biggest wins in school history today when they beat Michigan 13-10 in Ann Arbor. K.C. Lopata missed a 26-yard field goal with 4 seconds left, leaving the once-mighty Wolverines off to their worst start in 41 years.

Alex Steigerwald's career-long 48-yard field goal bounced off the crossbar to put Toledo ahead early in the fourth quarter. The Rockets (2-4) became the first Mid-American Conference team to beat Michigan in 25 games.

The Wolverines (2-4) are off to their worst six-game record since 1967, and their streak of playing in 33 straight bowls is in jeopardy.

The Messiah, Well, According to Louis Farrakhan

IF this doesn't get your attention, I give up.

-G

A-CORN = A-HOLE

This is turning out to be one of the most polarizing elections in the history of these United States. It's actually come to light today something that most of us in the business have known for years. ACORN is a left-wing, liberal organization doing its best to rig the election.

Compounding the fraud is the utter partisanship of a Secretary of State (Brunner) who makes Katherine Harris look like Mother Teresa. I'm not sure who is more of a failure of all the newly-elected Democrat statewide officeholders, Marc Dann or Jennifer Brunner. Given the fact that Dann had to resign for ineptness and sexual scandal, that's saying something! She had the nerve to say to Fox's Greta that there is no proof or any reports of voter registration fraud.

Watch this video, see if you draw the same conclusion. The crookedness is stunning. Ohio will be a joke come November. Rest assured, however, that Ohio is not the only state these thugs are operating in.

--G

What I Don't Know

The second of three McCain/Obama debates was watched my millions of Americans last night. Frankly, I doubt many made it past the first half hour. It was boring--even by debate standards. It was, however, telling--if you paid attention to what was being said (as opposed to how it was being said).

Let me make a few observations. Obama is a strong-looking, handsome, articulate, bright man. McCain, while bright and articulate (sometimes), looks his age and walks and moves like an old man. There is one thing I like about Obama: he doesn't do what many politicians do (i.e. McCain, Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Joe Biden), and that is feign interest or seem overly theatrical in delivering his message. Bill Clinton bit his bottom lip when he was trying to emphasize a point; McCain uses the term "my friends" and lowers his voice almost to a soft whisper when he's trying to connect with voters on a particular point; Al Gore...well he's ALL fake, so it's hard to enumerate all of his mannerisms. My long-winded point is--Obama is Obama. He's very business like and although he may BE fake, he at least does not act it.

My take: McCain is in trouble, but not out of it. He blew another opportunity to tie Obama to his extremist, crooked, Chicago friends--but he didn't. Perhaps the format was not conducive to such an attack--I personally think he could have worked it in.

Both candidates are terrible on the economy. So, that was a draw in my opinion. The profound difference to me was the difference between the two with respect to their demonstration of foreign policy expertise. Obama seemed to answer the questions with confidence, but his answers were "canned" and superficial at best. McCain clearly has a vast knowledge of every single foreign policy issue. He exudes confidence as he articulates his answers to very tough questions. He clearly understands the nuances. Obama was outclassed here.

Where Obama failed miserably last night (in my eyes), and why, therefore, he lost the debate, was his answer to the final question. To paraphrase, a internet questioner asked: What don't you know, and how will you find out the answer?

Instead answering something to the affect of "well, there is alot I don't know, but I'm going to work hard and surround myself with able, competent advisors"---or something like that---Obama's answer: Well, let me tell you what I DO know...bla bla bla. Arrogant. And telling.

McCain's answer was sufficient, if not spectacular.

Steakmatter's readers, let me tell you what I DON'T KNOW.

1. I don't know how Obama paid for his college education. Did he pay for it or was it paid for by Dr. Khalid al-Mansour. Presumably, al-Mansour is a lawyer, an orthodox Muslim, a black nationalist, and an outspoken enemy of Israel. In 1995, al-Mansour wrote a book, “The Lost Books of Africa Rediscovered.” In that book he alleged that the United States was plotting genocide against black Americans. Does Obama share these beliefs? I DONT KNOW.

2. I don't know if/when Obama knew that his pastor of 20 years, Jerimiah Wright, hated America or, as he so affectionately termed our country, the United States of KKK. This man married him to his beloved Michelle "for the first time in my adult life I'm proud to be an American" Obama. This is the same minister who praised the words and work of Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam. This is the same Farrakhan who has called white americans "blue eyed devils" and Jews "bloodsuckers". Obama was part of Wright's church for more than 20 years. Does Obama agree with Wright and Farrakhan? I DON'T KNOW.

3. I don't know the nature of the relationship between William Ayers and Barrack Obama. Ayers, in his mid-60's now, spent 10 years as a fugitive in the 1970s when he was part of the "Weather Underground," an anti-Vietnam War group that protested U.S. policies by bombing the Pentagon, the U.S. Capitol, and other government buildings. Ayers and his wife (and fellow terrorist) introduced Obama to Chicago's political elite in the 1990's. In fact, they hosted a meet-and-greet at their house to introduce Obama to their neighbors during his first run for the Illinois Senate. In 2001, Ayers contributed money to Obama's campaign. Ayers also served with Obama on the board of a not-for-profit foundation, the Woods Fund of Chicago. So, the question remains: How can you fight terrorism when you give speeches with, you sit on a board with, you're friendly with, and you never speak out against a known terrorist, William Ayers? I DON'T KNOW. (Dick Morris analyzes the relationship HERE...good read).

I find it stunning and very telling that the media sent an army of lawyers and investigators to Alaska when Sarah Palin was announced as McCain's VP choice. So many lies and mistruths were recklessly thrown about as they searched and prayed for that golden nugget of dirt. This same, blood-thirsty bunch will not lift a finger to investigate and get answers to the aforementioned questions about "The Messiah", Barrack Hussein Obama. The media might be in the tank, Gwen Ifill might be in the tank, Tom Brokow might be in the tank, Keith Olberman might be in the tank---but GOTSOO and those of us at Steakmatters aren't in the tank. And, damnit, we think the American people better demand some answers to these questions before they vote for "Change".

GOTSOO

Tonight We Celebrate!

Tonight we celebrate not because John McCain went on the offensive and actually had a pulse this evening, but because...

First, I received the title to my car. It is officially mine...so when the bank throws me and the First Family out of 1600 Pennsylvania, we'll have a place to stay.

Second, the Prince had a football game this evening. He had 3 TDs, including one following an interception. He also caught to passes for the point(s) after. He'd have had the third one, but a defensive pass interference prevented the reception. The highlight of the evening: Inspite of getting a black eye in a head collision, he went back in and on the next play took it 60 yards, with an awesome cutback, across the grain, about 30 yards into the run. It was an ABSOLUTE THING OF BEAUTY!!

- POTUS

p.s. - Stay tuned for the Bemus wrap and the Bemus Point Man of the Year Announcement.

We’re Baaack….

If it’s October, it’s our annual guys’ weekend to Bemus Point, NY on the beautiful shores of Chautauqua Lake. This year marks our tenth annual trip. While attendance is off this year (me, Mike Hardgrove, Michael Corleone, Doyle Brunson, and the Fuzz), its still been a great time so far.

We started out on Thursday evening. We all piled into MC’s Jeep Commander. Doyle rode in the third-row seat, which even those he’s short, was like subjecting him to a Vietnamese torture for the 2 hour ride. We put half of our stuff on the room, in Doyle’s supposedly waterproof car top back, but needless to say, our stuff was soak from the downpour we drove through on the way up. Doyle had exacted his revenge for the riding in the jumpseat.

MC has Sirius satellite, so we listened to the Boss on the way until the VP debate came on then we switched over to the Fox News station. We listened to about 30 mins of the debate by the time we arrived at the house. We unpacked, wrung our cloths out and headed to our final destination – Shaggy’s at the See-Zurh House.

As we cleared the top of the steps and walked into Shaggy’s the bartender looked up at us and deadpanned, “You’re back.” as we’ve made such an impression on them over the years…. So it was ten minutes until the kitchen closed so we put in our wing orders. – 20 hot, cooked crispy for me, everyone else got mild, garlic and one other flavor. We also order some pizza fingers, which are pepperoni pizza egg rolls. To the credit of those at the bar some were watching the debate, but this being a mini-vacation for me, I thought it best to sit with the Crew, eat wings, watch the Thursday night college game, and tell stories.

The wings were awesome! Nice and crisp. The sauce was spicy, but not uncomfortable to eat. The pizza fingers were good too, but the accompanying marinara was forgettable. Washed it all down with pitchers of Yuengling. Well the bar was supposed to close at 11:00 pm, we walked out, and I use that term loosely, at 1:30 am. Special thanks to Beth our waitress for putting up with us. Back at the house we told more stories and watched a movie from the 80s. A real classic. Why? I don’t know.

On Friday we ate a breakfast casserole that Mrs. Brunson made for us and watched more movies – Risky Business and Goodfellas – and the post debate coverage. We rolled back up to See-Zurs for afternoon cocktails, which turned into evening cocktails. We headed back to the house for some Jack’s Corned Beef and a game of poker. Doyle, uncharacteristically went out early, followed by Hardgrove, and the Fuzz. I battled back from being short stacked on big hand to MC, but I took on the Fuzz and went on a run that had me put MC and win it all.

A debate was raging on the death penalty and other political things, so again, wanting to enjoy my vacation, I chose to watch a movie – Clear and Present Danger. I’m not quite certain when the evening ended, or how I made it to my bed, but it was all good. I guess MC, Grover and Fuzz made it up to Shaggy’s a couple of Irish Car Bombs and more Yuengling on tap.

Well I gotta run, we’ve got Italian sausage and peppers and onions baking and college football on the TV. Post at you soon.

- POTUS

Pictured: Some old dude spouting politics (and claiming he wrote the revised Ant and Grasshopper story - thanks for the link Ron Jaworski) at See-Zurhs; our bartender Heidi; Doyle, Fuzz (pictured) and MC went for a run. Me and Hardgrove, in sandals, did not.

The Juice Gets Squeezed

OJ Simpson is looking at the some hard time for armed robbery and kidnapping. Just like Al Capone, they couldn’t get him on murder, so they got him on something else. Juice you turned into a real scumbag.

Tonight’s decision comes 13 years to the day after another jury declared Simpson not guilty in the double-murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

He’s looking at 20 to life. He’s in custody awaiting sentencing on December 5. Good riddance.

- POTUS

The Smoking Gun

A must read article, ‘Fannie Mae Eases Credit to Aid Mortgage Lending’, as printed in the New York Times on September 30, 1999, nearly nine years to the day that our economy almost came to a screeching halt, predicting exactly what has happened. Some highlights:

Discussion of the Clinton Administration’s pressure:

Fannie Mae, the nation's biggest underwriter of home mortgages, has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people….

Loans to sub-prime borrowers:

In addition, banks, thrift institutions and mortgage companies have been pressing Fannie Mae to help them make more loans to so-called subprime borrowers. These borrowers whose incomes, credit ratings and savings are not good enough to qualify for conventional loans, can only get loans from finance companies that charge much higher interest rates -- anywhere from three to four percentage points higher than conventional loans….

Maybe homeownership isn’t for everyone:

''Fannie Mae has expanded home ownership for millions of families in the 1990's by reducing down payment requirements,'' said Franklin D. Raines, Fannie Mae's chairman and chief executive officer. ''Yet there remain too many borrowers whose credit is just a notch below what our underwriting has required who have been relegated to paying significantly higher mortgage rates in the so-called subprime market.''

The Smoking Gun:

In moving, even tentatively, into this new area of lending, Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times. But the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn, prompting a government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980's.

The Clinton Administration's abuse of power:

In July, the Department of Housing and Urban Development proposed that by the year 2001, 50 percent of Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's portfolio be made up of loans to low and moderate-income borrowers. Last year, 44 percent of the loans Fannie Mae purchased were from these groups.

The change in policy also comes at the same time that HUD is investigating allegations of racial discrimination in the automated underwriting systems used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to determine the credit-worthiness of credit applicants.

Its an 8min video montage from 2004, but worth the time and bandwidth.
- POTUS

POTUS the Prolific Poster

...an alliteration I never thought would cross the cusp of my crusty cakehole.

Well done, P.

--G