Guy knows like two things-- attacking Sarah Palin and knocking up and abandoning teenaged girls.

I guess we should be thankful the show's about the first one.

Loving Levi: The Road to the Mayor’s Office” will center on Johnston’s newfound fame as the baby daddy to Palin’s grandson Tripp. Johnston will trade on that notoriety to make his run for the Wasilla City Hall -- when he’s not pursuing a career in Hollywood, of course.

...

Johnston admitted that he wasnÂ’t thrilled at first about the mayoral campaign concept, which was pitched to him by StoneÂ’s Scott Stone and David Weintraub.

Ah. So he did just want to keep on doing the second one.

What the hell does this guy think he can do? Given his, erm, skill-set, what did he think he could do other than this Palin-baiting stunt nonsense?

Via Slublog, h/t Duchess Rebecca.

Posted by: Ace at 04:44 PM | Comments (150)
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Building bridges, baby.

Catch the fever.

I'm announcing tonight, that I am planning to build and open the first gay bar that caters not only to the west, but also Islamic gay men. To best express my sincere desire for dialogue, the bar will be situated next to the mosque Park51, in an available commercial space.

This is not a joke. I've already spoken to a number of investors, who have pledged their support in this bipartisan bid for understanding and tolerance.

As you know, the Muslim faith doesn't look kindly upon homosexuality, which is why I'm building this bar. It is an effort to break down barriers and reduce deadly homophobia in the Islamic world.

The goal, however, is not simply to open a typical gay bar, but one friendly to men of Islamic faith. An entire floor, for example, will feature non-alcoholic drinks, since booze is forbidden by the faith. The bar will be open all day and night, to accommodate men who would rather keep their sexuality under wraps - but still want to dance.

Bottom line: I hope that the mosque owners will be as open to the bar, as I am to the new mosque. After all, the belief driving them to open up their center near Ground Zero, is no different than mine.

My place, however, will have better music.

He actually is seeking more investors -- click over to the Daily Gut to fill out a contact form if you're interested in your own brand of cash-money tolerance.

Posted by: Ace at 03:21 PM | Comments (444)
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Is the country ready for Christienomics? Seems like we have to try, whether it's ready or not.

The Robert Redford reference in this snippet is to the movie The Candidate, in which he played an idealistic but wholly unformed protest candidate who unexpectedly won a Senate seat. The movie's last line is Redford asking, "What do I do now?"

There is an assumption in the political world that spending cuts will be unpopular: Americans, it is said, are ideologically conservative but operationally liberal.

But there is some evidence that voters will back governors who cut spending, such as Mitch Daniels, re-elected while Barack Obama was carrying Indiana in 2008, and Bob McDonnell and Chris Christie, elected in Virginia and New Jersey in 2009 and now enjoying good job ratings.

One reason is that as candidates, they let voters know what they would do. There are risks in taking stands. But there are also risks in looking as clueless as Robert Redford.

All I'd add is that the country's mood, as Pat Caddell says, "pre-revolutionary," and if the incoming Republicans think they can get by with more of the same-old, same-old, they're in for a rude awakening.

They will be turned out as well.

They have to do something -- and that means risky things. Things that could easily get them punted out of office by a public that does in fact tell itself it's for smaller government but in fact wants more spending.

But they have to do that just the same. Business as usual will not be tolerated.

They have to bet on change. Dance with the girl that brung ya.

As Jayne Cobb said... "If you can't do something smart, do something right."

Posted by: Ace at 02:46 PM | Comments (109)
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Hey, sorry to ask one more time -- but he's losing.

If you can, if you haven't voted... thanks. Balloting ends today.

A friend of mine did a short film series about geeks working for an online gaming review site, called "The GameRev."

It's entered in a competition. Voting is still allowed until tomorrow.

If you wouldn't mind, go here and scan down to the "T's" -- it's alphabetized under "T" for the "The" in "The GameRev," despite the fact that that's totally retarded.

You can also watch at the button there , but if you don't have time to watch, well I watched on your behalf my guess is that you'll think it's very funny and would want to vote for it.

But seriously, it's a cute look at game-geek culture and nerd heirarchies. A little like Grandma's Boy.

Posted by: Ace at 01:06 PM | Comments (158)
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Because I put a lot of of them up there, damnit.

Posted by: Ace at 12:03 PM | Comments (188)
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Bong Hits for Aqua Buddha.

I can say no more, as I was pledged to secrecy. GQ, however, was not.

Take me to the river. Drop me in the water. AQUA BUDDHA!

Posted by: Jack M. at 11:29 AM | Comments (129)
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Also, "unexpectedly," several networks are interested. (I assume that means cable networks.)

We're told Levi will actually begin shooting in Los Angeles on Monday and then cameras will follow him back to Alaska. No word yet on what the exact format will be...

Maybe he can go around surprising deadbeat dads with sudden televised confrontations, getting them to pay for their kids.

Oh... right, that wouldn't really work now would it?

Maybe it could be about a talented young man attempting to get a job in a good career.

Oh.... yeah, not quite right.

This kid really doesn't want to work, does he? I mean, I guess I know the feeling, but I mean, this kid is really shiftless, isn't he?

Next stop: Offering blow-jays at highway rest stops.

Hey, if you don't want to work, that's where you're going to end up.

Posted by: Ace at 11:01 AM | Comments (124)
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The most amazing thing about member of the self-proclaimed "reality based community" is just how divorced from reality they are.

Now that it's clear to just about everyone that Obama's economic promises ("predictions" for the hacks at Politifact) are unfulfilled and all the money he and the Democrats have spent over the last year and a half was wasted, liberal bloggers know what the answer is...more of the same!

Behold Greg Sargent (more on him here) of the Washington Post

The sputtering recovery is actually making it tougher politically over time for Dems to take new steps to solve the problem. The sluggish recovery has undermined public confidence in the Dems' general approach to solving the problem, making Dems more reluctant to attempt the next round of ambitious solutions. That, in turn, insures that the jobs numbers remain grim. And so on.

...What makes this even worse is the perverse dynamic I noted above. Republicans have pursued a very deliberate strategy to feed public pessimism about Big Government's ability to lift us out of the doldrums, pointing to the sputtering recovery as proof that the Dems underlying philosophy has been discredited.

The result is that it's even less likely that Dems will risk taking "another bite at this apple," as Josh puts it. The public doesn't focus on the details, and the failure to pass an ambitious enough stimulus has ensured that the Dem solution fell short of expectations, which paradoxically has left the public increasingly pessimistic about government spending as the best means to fuel the recovery. That in turn led Dems to conclude that further ambitious government action is politically unfeasible.

Yes, it's so gosh darn unfair that people are holding Democrats accountable for their failures! Of course if the mean Republicans would stop pointing out what a disaster the Obama/Democratic economic record is, people would let them keep spending and then we'd be in AWESOME shape!

The talking point that Republicans are simply the party of No is propaganda sprayed by the left like manure in the hopes something will grow from it. They offered up proposals at the time that would have stimulated the economy far better than the ever predictable Democratic call for more spending did. All they heard in return was, "I won". Yep you did, now you own it.

There's absolutely no reason Republicans shouldn't vote against programs they don't think will help the economy and point out to voters how those policies have actually hurt the economy.

"Reality based liberals" are immune to the real world consequences of their preferred policies (in more ways than one). They are like children who stick their fingers in their ears and shout so they don't have to hear bad news and can keep demanding more of the same.

I'm not going to defend the GOP's record during the Bush administration when it comes to spending. Let's just say it's not what a conservative would have wanted and leave it at that. At least now they are saying they have learned their lesson and will do a better a job when they get a chance.

Do I believe the Republicans have truly embraced fiscal discipline? Of course not. I am at least heartened that the GOP is acknowledging past mistakes. I have my doubts about how true their promises are but only time will tell. I'd rather keep a weary but hopeful eye on them than turn the idiot liberals loose on the economy any day of the week.

Slushop via Slublog

Posted by: DrewM at 09:56 AM | Comments (96)
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Looks like those preachy moralistic Reichwingers are at it again.

Oh, did I say preachy moralistic Reichwingers? My bad. I meant to say DEMOCRATS.

The new rules, contained in House Bill 187, were sponsored by state Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg. Initially, he said, he wanted to tax pipes, but when that didn't get support in the House he proposed limiting sales.

Rouson argued that pipes and other devices sold in "head shops" are used to smoke harder drugs, as well as marijuana. [doh]

The bill passed unanimously.

"I was concerned about the crack pipes that are sold in these stores," said state Rep. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Wellington, a co-sponsor of the bill. "I was going to be supportive of getting those out of the hands out the youth."

Rouson, a recovering drug addict...

Dude -- any stoner can make a bong out of a couple of soda cans and duct tape in about 5 minutes. You haven't "stopped" anything other than the sales taxes the state might have collected from head shops.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 09:26 AM | Comments (111)
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Trooper.

So why did Mrs. Obama go to Spain at this time? She's not tone-deaf politically. What was behind the "mother-daughter" vacation?

A White House source told me that Blanchard's father passed away and Mrs. Obama was not able to make the funeral at the beginning of July. Blanchard had promised her daughter she would take her to Spain for her birthday. She asked Mrs. Obama and Sasha to come with. (Malia is at overnight camp.)

"She felt it was important as a dear friend to do this," I was told.

Pretty nice meal for a wake:

The AP, quoting a menu released by the palace, said lunch "was Andalusian-style chilled gazpacho soup, char-grilled turbot, veal escalopes with mustard, Oriental rice with sauteed mushrooms, a Mallorca-style vegetable ratatouille and sliced fruit with ice cream, accompanied by wines from the northern regions of Rueda and Rioja."

Top Ten Activities To Honor Friend's Departed Father At Michelle Obama's Five-Star Funeral Jam

10. Barbecued shrimp slightly al dente out of respect for the dead

9. When snorkeling, bereavers hold their heads upside-down so brilliantly-colored coral fish appear to be wearing sad face frowns instead of happy face smiles

8. Commemorative Jet-Skiing

7. Morning's mani-pedi group outing begun by reading of appropriate Psalm, and then reading of a random cartoon from Marmaduke: The Classics, because you can't start your day off too heavy on the Spanish Riviera

6. Extreme zip-line excursion reminds everyone that life is fleeting

5. Resort's specialty drink? The "Mortal Coil Monsoon"

4. Waiters and bartenders only tipped 7% to remind them that there are things more important than money

3. Bereavement Para-sailing

2. Booze Cruise's Martini-and-crossed-swords flag lowered to half mast

And the number one activity to honor the dead at Michelle Obama's five-star funeral jam...

1. Moment of silence strictly observed after each Bama Slamma shot

Bonus! Number 0.

0. Every day after the spa, Michelle flexes her biceps and announces she's giving Father Blanchard a "two-gun salute"

Thanks to Phinn for suggesting something along those lines.

Couldn't? Warden, quoting some source regarding the assertion Mdm. Obama "couldn't" attend the funeral:

The summer started with a Memorial Day weekend trip to Chicago; the family went to the Camp David presidential retreat before July 4; they weekended in Maine, sightseeing in Acadia National Park, departing on July 16 and returning Sunday afternoon July 18.

Posted by: Ace at 08:20 AM | Comments (340)
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