Accidental Commentary

MyDD :: Cheney Speech: When Subliminal Messaging is Accurate

Mickey Mouse Silenced

Voice of Mickey Mouse Dies - The Daily Beast

Rush Limbaugh, however, remains on the air.

It's All in the Timing

When I last posted about the Carrie Prejean fiasco, my underlying theme was a lack of integrity, which was, I thought, reinforced by Donald Trump's completely arbitrary overuling of the pageant contract in order to allow this self-serving young woman to retain her tiara. By extension, I doubted the integrity of the pageant's officials in toto. It turns out that assumption was wrong by 1.

IndyStar.com | AP National | The Indianapolis Star

Former Miss USA Shanna Moakler resigned as co-executive director of the Miss California USA pageant on Wednesday, saying she no longer believes in the organization because of pageant owner Donald Trump's decision to let the state's controversial title holder keep her crown.

With this news, my initial assumption is now correct. And it's a damn shame, too.Technorati Tags: Miss California, Donald Trump, Weasels

True to Her Convictions?

Miss California Carrie Prejean appears on Dr. Dobson's radio program. Apparently, Satan has subcontracted temptation to Perez Hilton.

Miss California to James Dobson: 'Satan Was Trying to Tempt Me' - God & Country (usnews.com)

Dobson: Why did you give the answer you did with regard to the affirmation of marriage?

Prejean: . . . I felt as though Satan was trying to tempt me in asking me this question. And then God was in my head and in my heart saying, "Do not compromise this. You need to stand up for me and you need to share with all these people . . . you need to witness to them and you need to show that you're not willing to compromise that for this title of Miss USA."

And I knew right here that it wasn't about winning. It was about being true to my convictions.

Well, I'm certainly happy to hear about commitments to convictions, but I have to wonder about which convictions, and for how long. For example, at age 17 Ms. Prejean posed semi-nude for a Victoria's Secret lingerie ad, a photo session she denied when signing the contract with Miss California USA pageant officials. As a result, her state crown is now in jeopardy.

But to make matters of conviction even more muddied, Miss Prejean claimed the released photo was the only one taken. Not so, according to a second photo released after her initial explanation of semi-nude pic #1.

Not worry, though, Miss Prejean's immediate future is bright. Even if her serial lies cost her the California crown, she's already inked a deal with the National Organization for Marriage, word whore Maggie Gallagher's latest source of income, to appear in a $1.5 million ad campaign that will attempt to keep Satan and Perez Hilton from marrying someone of the same gender. At least Miss California is keeping her commitment to that conviction.

UPDATE 5/12/09: Creepy old rich guy cuts buxom blonde a break.  Sure didn't see that coming.

Make Cheese, Not War

Welcome Back, Roquefort - The Atlantic Food Channel

In its final days, the Bush administration imposed a 300 percent import tax on France's famous Roquefort cheese, among other luxury food imports from Europe. Designed as retaliation for a European Union ban on imports of U.S. beef containing hormones, the measure was announced on January 13 and was to take effect at the end of April. Had this happened, it would have eradicated the U.S. market for Roquefort.

Daphne Zepos recounts the historic use of fine food to make diplomatic gains. In this case, a 300% tariff on Roquefort was removed under Obama's watch. She wonders if, perhaps, the President was allowed to taste some of that wonderful cheese?

Let's Do the Math

Obama to cut slain officers program almost in half

There's a little snarky meme floating around this morning concerning a cut in budget for the Public Safety Officers' Death Benefits Program. Last year  the program was funded with $110 million. The proposed budget cuts that to $60 million.

The usual conservative opinionators, like Warner Houston,  are feigning outrage. How dare Obama dishonor the fallen?  Why isn't the liberal media all over this?

Well, it could be because the program was seriously over funded during the Bush years. Paying benefits to survivors in the $300,000 range, the program would have issued just shy of $40,000,000 last year for 133 slain officers, leaving a surplus of $70,000,000.Cutting $50,000,000 from that bloated budget doesn't seem like such a big deal, after all.

But what if the number of killed officers goes up in 2009? The numbers for year to date do indicate a 21% increase over last year, but it's hard to say if that increase will hold throughout the rest of '09. Even so, a bump of 21% would call for benefits to be paid for up to 160 recipients. That totals about $48,000,000, still well below the proposed $60 million budget.

Sure looks like fiscal responsibility to me.

Be On The Lookout. . .

God Indicted in Absentia on Bird Flu Related Terrorism Charges | Avant News

Funny how God never gets the blame, but if the Intelligent Design loons are correct, then the Almighty would turn out to be a real terrorist.

Washington, D.C., April 22, 2007 -- Following confirmed reports that the H5N1 avian flu virus has again been altered, making it even more resistant to anti-viral medications and increasing the risks of human-to-human bird flu transmission, a warrant has been issued for the arrest of God, the leading Suspect in what is now described as a global bio-terror conspiracy.