The Seattle Times has a front page article today on a way to make money, lots and lots of money. Send some politicians a couple of grand, get back contracts with the governerment worth millions in which you will make hundreds of thousands of dollars. 100 times your initial investment. It is that simple.

Readers Digest version... local boat building company is not selling any boats until they start contributing to local politicians campaigns. Suddenly, Congress decides they have to have a boat that nobody wants and ends up not being used.

Year after year, the Washington lawmakers did favors for the tiny company, inserting four "earmarks" into different bills to force the Navy and Coast Guard to buy boats they didn't ask for — $17.65 million in all. None of the boats was used as Congress intended.

The congressional trio say they were helping Guardian Marine because it had a great product. But each has also received generous campaign donations from the company's three executives, its sole employees: $14,277 to Baird, $15,000 to Murray, and $16,750 to Dicks.

[Patty] Murray said she might not have pursued the earmark "if we had been able to look forward and know that Sept. 11 was going to happen."

But the bill actually passed three months after Sept. 11. Before the final vote, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., attacked Murray's earmark.

"The Coast Guard did not request this vessel, does not need this vessel, nor does this vessel meet the Coast Guard's requirements," he said on the Senate floor. "The Coast Guard's resources are already stretched thin and this will only hamper its ability to meet its new challenges since Sept. 11."

So is this illegality, dishonesty or stupidity? There really is no other choice.

Here is an an online database that lists, by congress member, what earmarks they inserted and campaign contributions that can be tied to earmarks they inserted.

Also, here is a PDF that lists the biggest offenders. Any guess who is at the top of the list? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
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Posted by: Open Blog at 04:53 PM | Comments (22)
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*Sigh*

You know when you are first dating someone and you do all sorts of stupid things in order to earn brownie points?

Oh wait...this is AoSHQ...of course you don't.

Anyway, this is my story. I thought I'd share.

(Because this story involves EPIC POETRY it will be continued below the fold. I can't be held responsible if you actually continue to read from here.) more...

Posted by: Jack M. at 04:08 PM | Comments (54)
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I've been hearing a lot of doom and gloom lately about Republican prospects for 2008. Some people almost sound like they've given up.

Well, I haven't. And neither has William Kristol, who wrote this much needed, uplifting article for Republicans in the Weekly Standard.

He makes some good points:

The Democratic nominee looks likely to be either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Hillary is furiously triangulating (it's a family tradition), criticizing Obama for saying he'd meet with the Iranian mullahs and then saying she would, voting for a hawkish resolution on Iran then cosponsoring a dovish one. But even Bill's triangulation got him only 43 percent of the vote in 1992 and 49 percent in 1996--and in terms of political skills, Hillary's no Bill. Obama, for his part, seems no more experienced in dealing with serious affairs of state than Jimmy Carter did in 1975. Obama could conceivably follow in Carter's footsteps and get the nomination--but America learns from her mistakes.

Kristol doesn't even mention the fund-raising scandals that are dogging Hillary, threatening to blow wide open any day now.

This video about Hillary's 2000 Senatorial Fund-raiser/Hollywood Gala has been Google's top ranked video for three days running, (October 10-12) according to Gateway Pundit.

With her scandal ridden past, how can she be considered anything but damaged goods?

While a half-term senator and a one-term senator fight it out for the Democratic nomination, the GOP candidates include an experienced senator who's a war hero, the most successful political chief executive in recent times, an impressive businessman/governor, and a canny lawyer/senator/actor with Washington experience and a nice, middle-American background and manner.

Come on, compare and contrast.

Kristol predicts that the Republican candidate will trail behind the Democrat in the polls next year, (like they always do), and then the Republican will rally, and probably win.

Posted by: Open Blog at 01:49 PM | Comments (48)
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US soldiers burnt Holy Koran, says report

(emphasis mine, but it is the headline.)

“If the perpetrators do not apologise to Afghanis and to all the Muslims of the world, and if they are not brought to justice and punished for what they have done, we will stand against you, you will see an uprising"

Let's see... a raid on a remote village close to the Pakistan border with probable deep support for the Taliban nets 4 arrests and counter-claims of Koran abuse. AFP isn't the least bit skeptical.

They do indirectly note that the ROP is prone to passionate response:

Afghanistan is a deeply devout country and allegations of abuse of Islam have in the past touched off protests that have turned deadly.

Obviously AFP dismisses the concept that a fatuous media response to such claims could have the effect of encouraging said protests.

From Snapped Shot, a selection of outrage to suit your cause. I think the second pic down is most apropos.

Posted by: Open Blog at 11:10 AM | Comments (16)
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If you haven't made your picks in the various and sundry AoS themed pools on Yahoo you have until 12:55 Eastern to get'em in.

If you are looking for some hints about which way to go on the games, feel free to take a look at mine and pick the other way.

Posted by: DrewM. at 08:01 AM | Comments (24)
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Because I view big time college programs, with their payoffs to players, low graduation rates and illegal boosterism, as nothing more tham minor leagues for the NFL.

But, this season, with the upsets over LSU and Cal yesterday, is developing into a real confusing one to determine who will play in the BCS Title Game.

Any thoughts people?

Posted by: Open Blog at 07:55 AM | Comments (32)
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No, really.

According to the nominating committee: "Once a person has been sent a letter and voted into the Hall of Fame, it would be kind of like breaking a promise."

I understand irony is good for old politicians like Craig, who "initially said he intended to resign but now vows to serve out the last 15 months of his term."

Sen. Craig reportedly made it through the ceremony without accidentally falling on anyone's penis.

Posted by: Open Blog at 09:37 PM | Comments (16)
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Supercool Winkytool.

"Ja! Ja! Das ist gut! Wanken die Winky!"

Pretty sure next time LauraW gets freaky with her hubby, she'll scream "Tygorz!". Or moan. Or mutter. Honestly, I don't care to know what it is she does when excited.

By way of Rathergood, which has a socially relevant song about Hover Bacon.

Posted by: Open Blog at 07:46 PM | Comments (18)
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Apparently Mitt Romney had a flash of grandeur the other day and in a swipe at Rudy Giuliani announced, "I do speak for the Republican wing of the Republican Party…"* Now, we all know Mitt has his critics who will argue his past positions and statements make that claim questionable at best (remember his, “I’m not trying to return to Reagan-Bush”?) but does anyone think that John McCain is in position to argue with him about it?

Yet, McCain decided to do just that and interjected himself into this fight at the start of a campaign appearance.

When Governor Romney donated money to a Democratic candidate in New Hampshire, I don't think he was speaking for Republicans. When he voted for a Democratic candidate for President, Paul Tsongas, I don't think he was speaking for Republicans. When he refused to endorse the Contract with America, I don't think he was speaking for Republicans. And when he was embracing the Democratic position on many major issues of the day, I don't think he was speaking for Republicans.

So you'll understand why I'm a little perplexed when Mitt Romney now suggests that he's a better Republican than me, or that he speaks for the Republican wing of the Republican Party.

McCain obviously doesnÂ’t want to let Romney and Giuliani run off and make this a two man race but itÂ’s a little odd to see McCain get into a fight with someone over their deviations from Republican orthodoxy. ItÂ’s not as if he hasnÂ’t strayed on more than one occasion himself and letÂ’s not forget that he was more popular with Independents and Democrats in 2000 than he was with Republicans.

I am guessing we will be hearing from Fred Thompson on this ‘issue’ very soon.

*I am not sure adapting Howard DeanÂ’s "I represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party" slogan for his own use helps RomneyÂ’s claim of being Mr. Republican. Kind of strange.

Posted by: DrewM. at 07:41 PM | Comments (14)
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Fuckin. American. Stud.

60 years ago today tomorrow, Gen. Chuck Yeager, USAF (ret.) busted the sound barrier.

He was twenty-four years old.

I didn't have a child at that age.

October 14, 1947, WWII ace (ace!) Chuck Yeager broke the barrier of the speed of sound in the Bell X-1 experimental aircraft, an aircraft some described as a "bullet with wings".

The rest as they say, is history.

Nicely done sir.

Posted by: Dave In Texas at 06:13 PM | Comments (50)
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