Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Ray's Hell Burger
Just placed my order. Setting a baseline - burger, med-we, american, 7 cheese macaroni, and 20 oz Coke.
Jaywalking...
It's not just for Leno - just saw Greta Van Susteren walking against the light on Capitol Hill.
And speaking of Leno, check out his new NBC show at 10p on Friday, Oct 2, when a prerecorded segment is expected to include 2 member's of Ohio's delegation: 10th Congressional District Congressman Dennis Kucinich and 14th Congressman Steve LaTourette.
And speaking of Ohio's Congressional delegation, also on Friday, check out Michael Moore's newest creation (if you're into that kinda thing) - Capitalism: A Love Story - which will include 9th Congressional District Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.
And speaking of Leno, check out his new NBC show at 10p on Friday, Oct 2, when a prerecorded segment is expected to include 2 member's of Ohio's delegation: 10th Congressional District Congressman Dennis Kucinich and 14th Congressman Steve LaTourette.
And speaking of Ohio's Congressional delegation, also on Friday, check out Michael Moore's newest creation (if you're into that kinda thing) - Capitalism: A Love Story - which will include 9th Congressional District Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.
5 Recent signs of the Apocalypse
- Iranian rocket tests;
- Iranian secret, mountain nuke facility;
- proposed delay in Ohio’s income tax cut;
- with 6 games left, Eric Wedge and the entire coaching staff is canned, but will finish the season;
And finally,
- Eric Mangini, feeling the heat like a Browns' quarterback dropping back to pass, names Derek Anderson Sunday’s starting QB.
I need to get to church.
POTUS on the Go
- Iranian secret, mountain nuke facility;
- proposed delay in Ohio’s income tax cut;
- with 6 games left, Eric Wedge and the entire coaching staff is canned, but will finish the season;
And finally,
- Eric Mangini, feeling the heat like a Browns' quarterback dropping back to pass, names Derek Anderson Sunday’s starting QB.
I need to get to church.
POTUS on the Go
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Rain
The OH weather finally rolled in...just when I'm gettin ready to walk back to the house after a Buck's victory....
9 minutes
Front and center
Breakfast of Champs
Got back to the house and AA is living up to his name - he's got a beer cracked - and the crew's watching The Outsiders. Another classic.
The Country Cow
The Mad Cow is now the official bfast location of the annual trip.
Lazy Friday
Breakfast at the Mad Cow; a little bit of work; wings and pizza logs for lunch; cards, beers, and thrown the football in the afternoon; and the casino w/ Doyle, the Rabbi, AA is for Quitters, Bob, and Fluffy.
Sea Biscuit rolled in off Amtrak some time around 3a.
Final wave should be arriving today.
Sea Biscuit rolled in off Amtrak some time around 3a.
Final wave should be arriving today.
Friday, September 25, 2009
2nd and 3rd waves
Michael Corleone and Bob the Builder pulled into town and right up to See-Zurs for wings, pizza logs, and beers. The Rabbi and AA Is For Quiters slid in after work - 3 hours late, bit with the needed provisions - TP, plastic cups, cheesy poofs, and coffee filters.
What's ur handle?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Air raid
Classic. We arrive get out of the truck to the sound of an air raid siren, or was it a tornado warning.... Either way, let the riots begin.
Random Road Pictures
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
There's a Prize
Here's a fun game: Recall a single accomplishment of the United Nations in the one year since the last round of world dictators converged on the General Assembly to obtain free publicity for their crazed and inflated egos.
Go!
-Spin Doctor on the go
Go!
-Spin Doctor on the go
The Capital Grille, DC
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Newseum
En route to The Capital Grille. The Ohio front page out front at the Newseum: today's Plain Dealer.
Shoring Up the Hispanic Vote
This is just shameful. A labor lawyer shared the following email with me. It's written by a former union organizer and it makes my stomach churn:
Confessions of a Union Organizer
Immigrant Workforce – An Easy Target
All of the tactics used to sway the employees to unionize were based on deception, but there were specific times in my career when that deception reached levels that were most shocking.
The workforce in the Mexican or Hispanic immigrant community has been a strong part of union deception for many years. They were an easy target for many union organizers and as a Hispanic organizing director with many Hispanic organizers under me I certainly capitalized on this.
Many pre- 9/11 immigrant workers used fake identification to gain workers’ papers in the United States. They would have a social security number to use and most employers turned a blind eye to it. They only knew that they were hiring hard working family oriented people, whose main objective was to send money home to struggling family members. These were the “easy targets.” The laws after 9/11 have changed and a new law states that if any union has a government contract, social security numbers are checked and verified. Immigrants are not able to forge documents in this case.
However, for most workers’ it was a lot easier. It has been my experience that a lot of Mexican or other Hispanic immigrant workers will share a residence with other immigrants. I have seen homes with up to 15 immigrants living together. Most times these people would work together and I ALWAYS knew where to try to ensure job security. I promised to provide the strong “possibility” of Green Cards, which always seemed to hit home. Also, a lot of immigrant workers’ that I came in contact with could not read or write in English which made them an even easier target.
We also made use of all local and National Hispanic support groups including the Church to get them to support our organizing attempts; our goal was to make this appear to be a mini human rights campaign injecting a moral aspect into the organizing drive, to make people feel outraged over the perceived abuses by the company.
One of my luckiest days trying to get signatures came when I made a training visit with two of my lead organizers to an employee’s home. There were 13 immigrant workers living in the house but I expected many more signatures from that one home.
I always instructed my organizers that were making house calls keep a few cards filled out with fake names and information. They would give potential members a peek, without showing the actual cards, giving the illusion that other people in their community who were in the same situation had already signed with the union. This day was no different.
To my surprise a phone call came in while I was there. The “coyote” (a man who was paid to bring these, and many other immigrants, over the border to work) called to check on his people. I was there and he was NOT happy. He asked to speak to me and told me to leave immediately. He said that he knew who I was and what I was doing there. He didn’t want me interfering and causing trouble for him.
I didn’t cause any trouble in the home, and left quickly, but I made sure that I took his number with me. I called him as soon as I got in my car. My conversation was much different now. I explained with conviction that I would get my signatures and he was going to do it for me. I explained that I knew who he was also, and that my very next phone call was going to be to the authorities, unless of course he got me ALL of the signatures I demanded. Not only from the home visit of today, but ALL of the people he has brought here as laborers. They would unionize with me, and he would avoid a visit from the authorities.
It sometimes played out like a movie. And many late nights since then I have stayed awake thinking about how I was so easily able to deceive the people who so believed that I was there last hope. In their eyes I was the only answer to provide for their families and maintain job security.
*Confessions of a Union Organizer is a bi-monthly publication depicting real life experiences inside some of today’s largest labor unions and how they truly organize workers.
Ricardo Torres
President, Permanent Solutions Labor Consultants
www.pslabor.com
-Spin Doctor on the go
Confessions of a Union Organizer
Immigrant Workforce – An Easy Target
All of the tactics used to sway the employees to unionize were based on deception, but there were specific times in my career when that deception reached levels that were most shocking.
The workforce in the Mexican or Hispanic immigrant community has been a strong part of union deception for many years. They were an easy target for many union organizers and as a Hispanic organizing director with many Hispanic organizers under me I certainly capitalized on this.
Many pre- 9/11 immigrant workers used fake identification to gain workers’ papers in the United States. They would have a social security number to use and most employers turned a blind eye to it. They only knew that they were hiring hard working family oriented people, whose main objective was to send money home to struggling family members. These were the “easy targets.” The laws after 9/11 have changed and a new law states that if any union has a government contract, social security numbers are checked and verified. Immigrants are not able to forge documents in this case.
However, for most workers’ it was a lot easier. It has been my experience that a lot of Mexican or other Hispanic immigrant workers will share a residence with other immigrants. I have seen homes with up to 15 immigrants living together. Most times these people would work together and I ALWAYS knew where to try to ensure job security. I promised to provide the strong “possibility” of Green Cards, which always seemed to hit home. Also, a lot of immigrant workers’ that I came in contact with could not read or write in English which made them an even easier target.
We also made use of all local and National Hispanic support groups including the Church to get them to support our organizing attempts; our goal was to make this appear to be a mini human rights campaign injecting a moral aspect into the organizing drive, to make people feel outraged over the perceived abuses by the company.
One of my luckiest days trying to get signatures came when I made a training visit with two of my lead organizers to an employee’s home. There were 13 immigrant workers living in the house but I expected many more signatures from that one home.
I always instructed my organizers that were making house calls keep a few cards filled out with fake names and information. They would give potential members a peek, without showing the actual cards, giving the illusion that other people in their community who were in the same situation had already signed with the union. This day was no different.
To my surprise a phone call came in while I was there. The “coyote” (a man who was paid to bring these, and many other immigrants, over the border to work) called to check on his people. I was there and he was NOT happy. He asked to speak to me and told me to leave immediately. He said that he knew who I was and what I was doing there. He didn’t want me interfering and causing trouble for him.
I didn’t cause any trouble in the home, and left quickly, but I made sure that I took his number with me. I called him as soon as I got in my car. My conversation was much different now. I explained with conviction that I would get my signatures and he was going to do it for me. I explained that I knew who he was also, and that my very next phone call was going to be to the authorities, unless of course he got me ALL of the signatures I demanded. Not only from the home visit of today, but ALL of the people he has brought here as laborers. They would unionize with me, and he would avoid a visit from the authorities.
It sometimes played out like a movie. And many late nights since then I have stayed awake thinking about how I was so easily able to deceive the people who so believed that I was there last hope. In their eyes I was the only answer to provide for their families and maintain job security.
*Confessions of a Union Organizer is a bi-monthly publication depicting real life experiences inside some of today’s largest labor unions and how they truly organize workers.
Ricardo Torres
President, Permanent Solutions Labor Consultants
www.pslabor.com
-Spin Doctor on the go
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Not Safe
Instead of a missile defense shield, we have an Apology Tour. I'd say they're equally as effective in a world where nuclear nonpoliferation is an idea of the past.
-Spin Doctor on the go
-Spin Doctor on the go
Day 2 - Cleveland under duress
I'll be traveling for a couple of days, so here's hoping my return finds my city in better terms, or at least literate.
POTUS on the go
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
On Hurling Shoes and Insults
Reading the paper today, I was struck by two items just two pages apart. First, I read the Iraqi shoe-thrower was released from jail* after completing his punishment for attacking President Bush last year. On A6, I see the the U.S. House has "scolded" Rep. Joe Wilson for his outburst at President Obama.
Hmm. I seem to remember Democrats lining up to volunteer their shoes to anyone who wanted to take aim at President Bush. They thought it was funny and they considered the Iraqi journalist a hero.
However, in this environment, you're more likely to be called a part of an angry mob, or worse, a racist, if you hurl anything except rose petals and compliments at President Obama.
We all need to recenter ourselves on exhibiting a healthy dose of respect.
The Left should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for the way they treated President Bush. They threw every despicable insult in the form false accusations and mischaracterizations of his motives they could muster. The Left needs to acknowledge these mistakes to help set a new tone.
And to be clear, none of that history in any way justifies the actions of Rep. Wilson during the President's address to Congress on healthcare. What he did was wrong, and he knew it, as evidenced by his immediate apology. Nonetheless, I have compassion for the guy, who let his emotions get the best of him. And, I also give him credit for his swift apology. That's the fastest and most sincere "I'm sorry" I've ever seen in Washington.
For all the ways Rep. Wilson was wrong, racist he was not.
But that's what Maureen Dowd and Jimmy Carter think. You're either with the President, or you're a racist. This should frighten anyone who has a philosophical disagreement with the President and the direction the country is headed because in public life, the absolute worst thing you can be is a racist. Nothing destroys a public career more wholly than perceived racism. Senators Helms and Thumond couldn't shake those charges after a lifetime of public service, and Senator Lott held onto his job, but lost his leadership role. Real racism is inexcusable. But all accusations of racism are indefensible. What can you say other than "Um, no I'm not." And then someone says, "Yes, you are." You lose.
I can't comprehend how the distraction of a widespread race debate is going to help the President accomplish his agenda. First, he'll turn off some of his supporters, next, he'll drive away those who would be willing to compromise, and finally, he won't even have time to raise issues of substance because the policy window will close. But, maybe that's what some people want.
Politics is about setting expectations. It would naive to think that it wouldn't serve certain interests to blame any and all of the President's policy and legislative failings on a racist public that is unwilling to accept the ideas and leadership of the man who somehow managed to capture an overwhelming majority of votes just 10 months ago.
Hurling insults and racist accusations isn't going to achieve anything, except for divisiveness, and we have more of that than we can shake a shoe at.
*Another shoe-thrower took aim at a U.S. military vehicle today and was promptly shot dead as a suspected granade attacker.
-Spin Doctor on the go
Hmm. I seem to remember Democrats lining up to volunteer their shoes to anyone who wanted to take aim at President Bush. They thought it was funny and they considered the Iraqi journalist a hero.
However, in this environment, you're more likely to be called a part of an angry mob, or worse, a racist, if you hurl anything except rose petals and compliments at President Obama.
We all need to recenter ourselves on exhibiting a healthy dose of respect.
The Left should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for the way they treated President Bush. They threw every despicable insult in the form false accusations and mischaracterizations of his motives they could muster. The Left needs to acknowledge these mistakes to help set a new tone.
And to be clear, none of that history in any way justifies the actions of Rep. Wilson during the President's address to Congress on healthcare. What he did was wrong, and he knew it, as evidenced by his immediate apology. Nonetheless, I have compassion for the guy, who let his emotions get the best of him. And, I also give him credit for his swift apology. That's the fastest and most sincere "I'm sorry" I've ever seen in Washington.
For all the ways Rep. Wilson was wrong, racist he was not.
But that's what Maureen Dowd and Jimmy Carter think. You're either with the President, or you're a racist. This should frighten anyone who has a philosophical disagreement with the President and the direction the country is headed because in public life, the absolute worst thing you can be is a racist. Nothing destroys a public career more wholly than perceived racism. Senators Helms and Thumond couldn't shake those charges after a lifetime of public service, and Senator Lott held onto his job, but lost his leadership role. Real racism is inexcusable. But all accusations of racism are indefensible. What can you say other than "Um, no I'm not." And then someone says, "Yes, you are." You lose.
I can't comprehend how the distraction of a widespread race debate is going to help the President accomplish his agenda. First, he'll turn off some of his supporters, next, he'll drive away those who would be willing to compromise, and finally, he won't even have time to raise issues of substance because the policy window will close. But, maybe that's what some people want.
Politics is about setting expectations. It would naive to think that it wouldn't serve certain interests to blame any and all of the President's policy and legislative failings on a racist public that is unwilling to accept the ideas and leadership of the man who somehow managed to capture an overwhelming majority of votes just 10 months ago.
Hurling insults and racist accusations isn't going to achieve anything, except for divisiveness, and we have more of that than we can shake a shoe at.
*Another shoe-thrower took aim at a U.S. military vehicle today and was promptly shot dead as a suspected granade attacker.
-Spin Doctor on the go
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Barack Obama owes Capri Cafaro an apology
I couldn’t help but chuckle while watching the President’s remarks today at the Lordstown, OH Government Motors assembly plant.
Pictured: Capri Cafaro campaigning with Cong. Betty Sutton, for SteakMatters’ favorite politician, Marc Dann.
During his acknowledgement of dignitaries in attendance (and working off of note cards, not a teleprompter) the President said, “We’ve got state senator and minority leader Capri Cafaro is here [sic]. How are you? She’s a fireplug [emphasis added]. I remember her.”
You can also view the gaffe here at the 2:44m mark.
There are several levels of humor:
The first is that Cafaro stands about 4’9” and is, ahh, how do I say this? Ahh, well, let’s just say she’s husky for her height. So it was funny in my mind as an image of a short, stocky item on the side of the road, in my tree lawn, serving as minority leader kinda way.
The second level of humor is that once again, without the use of a teleprompter, the President demonstrated his inability to talk off the cuff and used bad grammar to boot. Think we’ll see that on some video montage of verbal gaffes, or is that kinda thing only reserved for former President Bush (43) and Vice President Joe Biden?
And the third level of humor was the President’s subconscious flub of an idiom by calling a short, husky woman a FIREPLUG(!!), instead of a ‘firecracker’ which would have been more appropriate and nice.
There are several levels of humor:
The first is that Cafaro stands about 4’9” and is, ahh, how do I say this? Ahh, well, let’s just say she’s husky for her height. So it was funny in my mind as an image of a short, stocky item on the side of the road, in my tree lawn, serving as minority leader kinda way.
The second level of humor is that once again, without the use of a teleprompter, the President demonstrated his inability to talk off the cuff and used bad grammar to boot. Think we’ll see that on some video montage of verbal gaffes, or is that kinda thing only reserved for former President Bush (43) and Vice President Joe Biden?
And the third level of humor was the President’s subconscious flub of an idiom by calling a short, husky woman a FIREPLUG(!!), instead of a ‘firecracker’ which would have been more appropriate and nice.
Pictured: Capri Cafaro campaigning with Cong. Betty Sutton, for SteakMatters’ favorite politician, Marc Dann.
POTUS
What Part of "Overexposed" Don't They Understand?
President Obama is scheduled to appear on Letterman and five Sunday shows this week. Maybe now we'll get the healthcare details we all want. Or maybe he's just to try to charm everyone into agreeing with the Administration's proposal. Either way, it sounds like a last ditch effort.
-Spin Doctor on the go
-Spin Doctor on the go
A Tough Nut to Crack
A resident of Pennsylvania just told me about this nutty U.S. Senator who supports ACORN:
I just got off the phone with Sen Casey's office, as he was one of the 7 Senators who voted against the bill to cut off federal funds to Acorn. Vote was 83-7.
I was told that he voted on his PRINCIPLE of voting against frivolous amendments.
I was also told that he will always vote on his principles, not on what his constituents support. His constituents elected him...now he makes the decisicions of what to support. That's his policy and if I don't like it, I don't have to vote for him. I was told this is a republic.
He was not elected to poll his constituents, but to vote his heart.
He ended by saying, if you don't like his policy, don't vote for him.
So I guess Pennsylvania has no representation in the Senate from him.
-Spin Doctor on the go
I just got off the phone with Sen Casey's office, as he was one of the 7 Senators who voted against the bill to cut off federal funds to Acorn. Vote was 83-7.
I was told that he voted on his PRINCIPLE of voting against frivolous amendments.
I was also told that he will always vote on his principles, not on what his constituents support. His constituents elected him...now he makes the decisicions of what to support. That's his policy and if I don't like it, I don't have to vote for him. I was told this is a republic.
He was not elected to poll his constituents, but to vote his heart.
He ended by saying, if you don't like his policy, don't vote for him.
So I guess Pennsylvania has no representation in the Senate from him.
-Spin Doctor on the go
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The Browns Suck
The basics of blocking and TACKLING. Its gonna be a long season.
Plus they're not covering...the spread.
Plus they're not covering...the spread.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
10 10
USC FG to end the 1st half.
Gotta say I like that Tressel pushed it at the end of the 2Q.
D is suckin' wind. Gonna be a tuff 2nd half.
Gotta say I like that Tressel pushed it at the end of the 2Q.
D is suckin' wind. Gonna be a tuff 2nd half.
Seats
R great sep 4 the big guy to th rt and th big guy to th 8:34:19 PM. 18 in on blchrs is not nuf space.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Go Tribe...?
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Smack talk
Princes walks over the Lincoln and says, "You cooking the steak? 'Cause it looks like your talking on the phone. I like steak so you better cook it good!"
She's 6! I've created a monster. A monster who likes STEAK!
POTUS on the go
Saturday, September 5, 2009
You decide...
POTUS on the go
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Do you know this guy?
From the 'What the F&@%' file:
According to news and police reports, some unidentified, pro-health care reform, Code Pink and/or MoveOn.org supporter dude bit the finger off of William Rice, 65, of Newbury Park, CA during a rally in Thousand Oaks, CA.
The police are attempting to identify the man in black (with all due respect to Johnny Cash, who is the true Man in Black).
Now I know we have readers in Cali, so if you know this guy, call the cops, then your doctor – for a tetanus shot. Ventura County Sheriff's Department investigations bureau at (805)494-8201.
A dead giveaway will be the black eyes and a busted nose (after getting popped in the face by a 65 year-old man) and a pinky-finger hanging out of his mouth. What a freak!!
POTUS
According to news and police reports, some unidentified, pro-health care reform, Code Pink and/or MoveOn.org supporter dude bit the finger off of William Rice, 65, of Newbury Park, CA during a rally in Thousand Oaks, CA.
The police are attempting to identify the man in black (with all due respect to Johnny Cash, who is the true Man in Black).
Now I know we have readers in Cali, so if you know this guy, call the cops, then your doctor – for a tetanus shot. Ventura County Sheriff's Department investigations bureau at (805)494-8201.
A dead giveaway will be the black eyes and a busted nose (after getting popped in the face by a 65 year-old man) and a pinky-finger hanging out of his mouth. What a freak!!
POTUS
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Out of Touch
I saw a litle tiny brief in the paper today that said: President Barack Obama reduced next year's pay increase to 2 percent from 2.4 percent because of an ongoing national emergency and serious economic conditions.
That's sacrifice? That's responsible governing? No way.
While most employers have enacted a pay freeze at minimum, and often coupled it with mandatory furloghs and pay cuts, our fearless 9:05 to 4:55 government workers are going to have to muddle through with only a 2 percent automatic pay increase this year.
It's irresponsible mismanagement. And it proves that nothing fundamental has changed in Wahington. Keep hoping...
-Spin Doctor on the go
That's sacrifice? That's responsible governing? No way.
While most employers have enacted a pay freeze at minimum, and often coupled it with mandatory furloghs and pay cuts, our fearless 9:05 to 4:55 government workers are going to have to muddle through with only a 2 percent automatic pay increase this year.
It's irresponsible mismanagement. And it proves that nothing fundamental has changed in Wahington. Keep hoping...
-Spin Doctor on the go
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