Carmichael's Position

Fein Outrage and the World Will Believe You… Or not

Ya know, once I got sort of caught in the act of hatching a practical joke on my college roommate.  I was not in the room where a couple of buddies of mine I had recruited were dismantling said mark’s bed.  Well the target came back early from class and discovered the two assistants with screwdrivers in hand and bed in slight disarray, well… I mean pieces.

He then headed to where my two partners in crime told my roommate I could be found… the terlet.  He noticed my size twelves under the stall door and began to inquire as to what I was up to…

Him: Uh John?

YHS: Yeah?

Him: What are Stu and Greg doing to my bed?

YHS: Dunno… What are they doing to your bed?

Him:  Taking it apart!

YHS: Why would they be doing that?

Him: That’s what I would like to know!

YHS: Well hell, let’s go find out!

I finished the business at hand, washed said hands and then we two headed to our dorm room, me with complete distain plastered across my face.  Upon entering the room, I explode with a “What the [expletive deleted] are you two doing to Mike’s bed?!!”

Initially, Greg, sitting among the various pieces of the bed, with screwdriver in hand stared at me in disbelief, knowing full well it was I who had concocted this entire scheme.  His silence lasted for only a couple more mili-seconds before both he and Stu decided there was absolutely no way they were going to “Take one for the team!”  and began to tell Mike in full detail how I had painstakingly laid out the plan of ill-will.  It was a good plan, so Mike obviously had no choice but to believe my cohorts, and yeah because it was such a good plan I had to confess.  Ah well, all in fun.

You: Uh John?

YHS: Yeah?

You: You head’n somewhere with this?

YHS: Yep…

The above story I tell here as an example, juvenile as it is, of the same rat I smell relating to the VC-25A (That’s the 747 aka Airforce One) fiasco over NYC yesterday.

CBS 2 News in NYC is now reporting:

FAA Memo: Feds Knew NYC Flyover Would Cause Panic

Threatened Federal Sanctions Against NYPD, Secret Service, FBI & Mayor's Office If Secret Ever Got Out

Furious Obama Apologizes: "It Will Never Happen Again"

The article continues (emphasis mine):

A furious President Barack Obama ordered an internal review of Monday's low-flying photo op over the Statue of Liberty.

CBS 2 HD has discovered the feds will have plenty to question.
Federal officials knew that sending two fighter jets and Air Force One to buzz ground zero and Lady Liberty might set off nightmarish fears of a 9/11 replay, but they still ordered the photo-op kept secret from the public.

In a memo obtained by CBS 2 HD the Federal Aviation Administration's James Johnston said the agency was aware of "the possibility of public concern regarding DOD (Department of Defense) aircraft flying at low altitudes" in an around New York City. But they demanded total secrecy from the NYPD, the Secret Service, the FBI and even the mayor's office and threatened federal sanctions if the secret got out.

Which “Federal Officials” and who is “They”?

The flyover -- apparently ordered by the White House Office of Military Affairs so it would have souvenir photos of Air Force One with the Statue of Liberty in the background -- had President Obama seeing red. He ordered a probe and apologized.

Ok, here’s where I call BULLSHIT! 

That plane NEVER goes anywhere without the President knowing.  He was briefed!  Trust me!  The White House Office of Military Affairs had to get at least a “Mother May I” from POTUS.  Who probably said, “Sure, sounds like a great idea, I’d love to have some new photos of MY beautiful jet flying by our monument to Liberty.  It’ll make me look like I give a crap about liberty.  But whatever you do, don’t tell anyone, because if word gets out that I wanted my plane Air Force One to fly around just for a photo op costing taxpayers 100’s of thousands of dollars, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

And now that the poop has hit the turbo-fans, Mr. President is “SEEING RED!”

Uh… yeah. 

Just because you were on the pooper and your Military Affairs Chief had the screwdriver in hand, doesn’t mean you should be assumed clueless… we have plenty of other reasons to assume you’re clueless… but in this case I smell a scapegoat on the way.

By the way… anyone have tapes of ATC that day?  I would like to know the call-sign for that particular VC-25A’s mission.  If it was “SAM 28000” or “SAM 29000” ok fine… but if it was “Air Force One” Obama will have a MUCH bigger problem to try to cover up.  Which in a way would explain a bit more of the secrecy.

Tom Walker Now Writing an Official Sports Car Column

My buddy Tom Walker, oft somewhat agreeable antagonist to many of my postings here, is now writing his own “for pay” column over at  examiner.com.  He is the designated “Denver Sports Car Driving Examiner.”  However, knowing Tom, I am sure his articles will apply to you even if you live in Vienna Georgia, or Manhattan Beach California.

Tom is a pretty knowledgeable car dude, and I’m sure will bring a thoughtful, informative take on the sports car genre. I am looking forward to reading his takes on Sports Cars, especially since I am a proud, recent inductee to the Sports Car Owners club. 

Pay Tom a visit, the more the merrier, especially since I think part of his compensation comes from unique hits.  My advice was to include bikini clad models in his reviews, but alas he is not usually one to resort to tricks like that to drive internet traffic.  Although I’m sure we’ll be seeing some topless… cars on his pages periodically.

Also he is of British heritage, so you may have to pardon an occasional reference to the “Boot” or “Bonnet” ;-)

His first two articles are already up:

• How do you define a sports car?
• A hatchback for the people

I’m going to add his column over in the left pane of Carmichael’s Position so take a look over there for his latest postings, and visit a few of my other friends’ articles too, all entertaining.

Please tell me this is a Misprint

Wow I really hope this is not how the US plans to respond when our Allies need our help. If this is not a misprint I would seriously recommend we reprioritize our compassion.  Sure we’re willing to bail out AIG, Fanny and Freddy for Billions but $50,000 to a Nation who just suffered through a 6.3 magnitude Earthquake? 

What? No Pork to be found?

From Brietbart.com

US gives $50,000 for quake-hit Italy

The United States said Monday it would donate 50,000 dollars in emergency aid to Italy after a powerful earthquake killed at least 100 people.

"We send our heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed in the earthquake. Our embassy in Rome will provide 50,000 (dollars) in emergency relief funding," State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters.

Italian authorities told the United States they did not need rescue teams, Wood said.

President Barack Obama earlier offered his condolences on a visit to Turkey and voiced hope that the United States could send rescuers.

The earthquake killed at least 100 people and injured 1,500 more as it reduced medieval buildings to rubble in the central town of L'Aquila.

Wood said there were no reports of US citizens among the dead or injured but that the US embassy in Rome was reaching out to Americans living in the region.

I Know, Let’s Pelt them with Marshmallows!

Or other equally damaging UN ideas.

In response to the rogue nation of North Korea (aka Norks) launching a missile fully capable of striking Alaska or any other nearby nation like Japan or South Korea, the UN is convening an EMERGENCY Session of the security council.  BIG DEAL!

The U.N. Security Council will hold consultations on the launch at 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday. U.N. diplomats said no country was considering imposing new sanctions but a resolution on stricter enforcement of earlier measures could be discussed.

“Stricter enforcement of earlier measures…”  Huh?  So you’re your telling me you numbskulls enacted earlier measures without plans to “Strictly Enforce” them.  What was your plan?  Say “Pretty Please with Kimchi on top?  This is precisely why the UN stands for Useless Numbskulls!  Business as usual.  Only now with our current administration, you are more empowered to sit idly by while we orate ourselves into oblivion.

Lets change the name of the United Nations to a more accurate moniker… how about Action-less Society of Sniveling Hottentots Obviously Lost Evermore… I’ll let you see the acronym.

The only thing worse than the UN’s ineptitude is the institutionalized lack of quality reporting by any press agency anymore.  Both the AP and Reuters reported part of this story stating that The NORKS claimed their rocket achieved its goal of depositing a satellite into orbit.  Yet then go on to claim that US, Japanese, and South Korean sources say it failed to reach orbit. 

Um… Seriously how tough is this to verify?  How about going out on a limb there boys and girls and unequivocally stating… The NORKS are FULL OF SHIT! Any 10 year old with a telescope can verify that nothing new is in orbit along that trajectory!  But no, in the press train’s ever increasing desire to be as vague as Jell-o and as accountable as OJ Simpson, always make is sound like the facts are debatable.  Sometimes they are not, you jackasses.  Did it reach orbit or not?  Just state it!

Flag Draped Coffins Now Available For Propaganda

News out today that reverses the Bush Administration’s policy of not allowing filming or photography of the Flag Draped Coffins of KIA military personnel.

From Reuters:

Pentagon to allow pictures of flag-draped coffins

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon will relax its ban on media coverage of returning U.S. war dead by allowing families to decide whether to allow photos and television footage of the flag-draped coffins of their loved ones, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday.

Gates ordered the change after reviewing a 1991 ban that prevents news organizations from recording images of war dead arriving at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where the Pentagon has its main mortuary.

"If the family of one of the fallen says that they do not want media coverage ... then that will be the decision. There will be no media decision. If they say that's OK with them, then it will be available," Gates told reporters at a Pentagon briefing.

…President Barack Obama asked for a policy review early this month and Gates said that drew a call for change from the U.S. Army, which represents the largest portion of war dead.

"My conclusion was that we should not presume to make the decision for the families," Gates said.

Here’s the problem… what is now the threat of violating the “Family’s” wishes?  Will the “family” now have to sue AP, CNN, or MSNBC  whereas previously there was threat of National enforcement.  And who in the family has the authority?  I’m sure Cindy Sheehan would have reveled in having her son’s flag draped coffin shown across the front page of the New York Times, whereas the father would have said absolutely NOT! 

Here’s a Quote form the Liberal attention Sponge herself back in 2005…

"This war has been so sanitized to the public," said Cindy Sheehan of Vacaville, whose son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, was killed in Iraq and who has become an outspoken critic of the war. "There are huge segments of the American public that don't even have to think about the war if they don't want to."

I’m pretty sure AP, Reuters, CNN would have PUBLISHED FIRST and ask for forgiveness later.

The ban was on photographing caskets while the military is transporting them home from combat.  The family always had the authority to allow photography of the coffin in ceremonial circumstance.  Two excellent, respectful, approved by the family examples are these:

The ban was in place to prevent the Press from using the image of mass caskets in a propagandist way only to advance an anti-war agenda, with no concern for the effect on other military personnel or the families who had suffered a loss but do not share the anti-Bush agenda.

As proof I submit that when Liberal P.O.S.’s couldn’t use the images of real soldiers who sacrificed their lives for a cause, they created their own!  With the following statement:

I kept looking at our mock procession and thinking about how Bush had the REAL flag draped coffins flown home in the dead of night, prohibiting photographs, etc. It's just infuriating.

Infuriating because insensitive turds like these were prevented use a soldier’s final image as leverage for their propaganda?  What if the killed soldier, would have absolutely disagreed with the use of his coffin for such a vile cause?

This is absolutely perverted!  And disrespectful!  You tell me, why else would the press want to use an image of a fallen soldier?  Not to support the cause, only to illustrate the cost of war.  Well, most of us are WELL aware of the cost of war.  But what is the price of Liberty? Protection? Human Freedom?

Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines volunteer for service, they are aware of the risks and look out for each other in combat and mourn the loss of every brother and sister in arms.  To leverage the death of these in such a way is disgraceful.  We bring those that served and paid the ultimate price home in a ceremonious, traditional, honorable, dignified, and respectful way… covered in the flag of their nation.  This is done to illustrate our thanks as a nation.  It should never be used to spit in the eye of the nation or an administration.

That’s just my opinion…

Guns Kill People and my Pen Writes Bad Checks

OH MY GOD!!!!  There are 3 TOY GUNS in the back of a locked SUV in the school parking lot!!!  OH THE HUMANITY!!!

We need to find out who’s vehicle this is and expel them before something… uh… um… uh… I mean before a liberal wets his pants and is embarrassed!  Too Late!

This is the summation of what happened to a 3.5 AP student headed to the Merchant Marine Academy here in Aurora Colorado.  [From 7News Denver]

'Young Marine' Faces Expulsion For Replica Rifles…

For Marie Morrow, the equipment left in the back seat of her car was for an upcoming competition. She said she never expected it would lead to her being suspended from school -- or possibly expelled.

Morrow, who says she has a 3.5 grade point average, is a member of the Douglas County Young Marines. She said she spins the practice rifles for the organization’s drill team.

Staff members at Cherokee Trail High School were alerted by concerned students who thought they might be real, said a Cherry Creek Schools spokeswoman.

"They went inside. They were anxious. They were frightened," school district spokeswoman Tustin Amole said.

The mock rifles are made of wood, with duct tape, to resemble a real rifle.

Amole explained the school district’s policy mirrors state and federal laws about weapons in schools, and calls for "mandatory expulsion" when possessing a dangerous weapon in any school building.

A student conduct handbook states a dangerous weapon includes "a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, or a firearm facsimile that could reasonably be mistaken for an actual firearm."

DAMN IT!  Stop!  You bunch of ninnies!  Damn if that’s the way you’re gunna be, if I were a student I’d go running into the principal’s office, all a flutter with tears just streaming down my cheeks, anxious and freightened!!! Because that’s my response anytime I see a Subaru with an Obama sticker in plain sight! And there are WAY too many of those in the school parking lot!

By the way here is the Colorado Statue that seems somewhat in conflict to what is being said by the school board, but I probably missing an addendum… (emphasis mine)

18-12-105.5. Unlawfully carrying a weapon - unlawful possession of weapons - school, college, or university grounds.

(1) A person commits a class 6 felony if such person knowingly and unlawfully and without legal authority carries, brings, or has in such person's possession a deadly weapon as defined in section 18-1-901 (3) (e) in or on the real estate and all improvements erected thereon of any public or private elementary, middle, junior high, high, or vocational school or any public or private college, university, or seminary, except for the purpose of presenting an authorized public demonstration or exhibition pursuant to instruction in conjunction with an organized school or class, for the purpose of carrying out the necessary duties and functions of an employee of an educational institution that require the use of a deadly weapon, or for the purpose of participation in an authorized extracurricular activity or on an athletic team.

But Wait There’s More…

(3) It shall not be an offense under this section if:

(a) The weapon is unloaded and remains inside a motor vehicle while upon the real estate of any public or private college, university, or seminary;

Replica made of Duct Tape!  Pretty sure… uh… TAIN’t LOADED!

Cripes!!!  Now before I begin on my rant I will have all y’all know I am not a member of the NRA nor a subscriber to Guns and Ammo or any other special interest group that has a Pro-Gun Agenda… the following diatribe is mine!

The Pop-Culture fear of guns has made me crazy for years.  All of the discussions of banning Hand Guns, Prohibiting assault weapons, limiting clips to 10 instead of 15 rounds is philosophically and factually idiotic. 

Tell you what… I’m gunna point my hand gun at you.  Let’s just say it’s an older Beretta with “One in the Pipe” and 15 in the clip.  I’ll allay your fear… I pull the clip out and eject 5 rounds from it… reinsert the clip point it back at you.  Feel better?

Look either ban all guns in all circumstances or SHUT THE HELL UP!  Our institutionalized fear of firearms stems from, who else, the sensationalistic press!  And I’m sick of it!  Every time someone gets killed in a firearm related incident the topic of firearm legislation leaps to the forefront of everyone’s mind.   Usually stating that this type of gun needs to be banned!  Or everyone who has a gun needs to be licensed and traceable!  Usually the dipshit mass murderer is using the wrong tool for his ambitions anyway! Usually because he saw it on TV or in the Movies!  You wanna off a buch of people in the school yard?  Rifle ain’t the way… Wanna protect your house from a break in?  Assault Rifle ain’t the way!!!  Look… here’s a couple of facts:

No matter what the gun LOOKS like they ALL do the same thing!  Allow a projectile (Bullet) to traverse a barrel, focusing the energy facilitating an accurate conveyance of the mass to another mass (perp, target, tree, moose, beer can, earth, etc…).  People who want to ban assault style weapons yet not eliminate hunting rifles fail to understand this simple intrinsic fact.  Now understand, some guns perform this task better than others, generally the longer the barrel the higher the likelihood what the SHOOTER Aims at will indeed be hit.  But in close?  Gimme a shotgun any day!

Just because a gun looks just like those used by the military or by SWAT Teams, read “BADASS…” makes it no more lethal, or accurate than your Dad’s 308 Winchester.  It ain’t the clubs… It’s the golfer!

Now here is something for you… it is either a Gun or it is NOT… A TOY GUN is not a GUN!  It is a TOY!  A Replica Gun is not a GUN it is a REPLICA!  Just like your pretend girlfriend is not a real girlfriend!!! She is a blow up doll!

And just like your blow-up doll, I understand that there are places you should not take your toy gun, cuz you know it’s inappropriate.  Church, your doctor’s office, and maybe even school, unless…  Your toy gun is a REPLICA and used in a sanctioned activity like Military Drill Teams! Cuz God knows we really don’t want our youth spinning REAL Guns!  Might damage the gun!  And take it from a guy who used to drill with REAL Guns (and shoot them too!)  In a California School no less!!!!  We treated those weapons with care, respect and discipline!  Personally I preferred to drill with the replicas, they weighed less and you weren’t as concerned about dropping one!

Personally I think firearm safety and responsibility ought to be a required class in EVERY Junior High!  That’s right Junior High if not Elementary School!  And the class should be taught by a Police Firearms Instructor or Military Instructor, Trust me there is no better training!  AND they will not teach from an uninformed position of fear!  They will teach from a knowledgeable position of respect!  We will reduce the incidents of accidental injury caused by idiots that THINK they know how to handle a weapon because they saw it on TV! 

And now for your viewing pleasure I leave you with professionals with REAL GUNS!!! At a Sporting Event no less!!!

If this is what Marie Morrow aspires to be… More power to her!  Semper Fi!

The Word Is DEMOCRAT!

Ok by now many of you have heard or read that Illinois' DEMOCRAT Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested for any number of conspiracy charges, leveraging the vacated Barak Obama US Senate seat.

All those honestly surprised by this revelation raise your hands... I'll wait... Anyone?... Anyone?... Buel----- never mind.

I say "Democrat" in as clear of a fashion as possible here because the AP and other wire services have an incredibly annoying habit of burying the perps party affiliation deep in an article if said perp is a DEMOCRAT, however if said perp is a REPUBLICAN then usually that is made clear in one sentence, one phrase or one anxiously awaited adjective!

So as an example from today's headlines in an AP article here is the text up to the first mention of the word Democrat (or in the AP's case the much more ambiguous "democratic")

Ill. Gov. arrested in Obama successor probe

CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on charges of conspiring to get financial benefits through his authority to appoint a U.S. senator to fill the vacancy left by Barack Obama's election as president.

According to a federal criminal complaint, Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board who had been critical of him fired.

A 76-page FBI affidavit said the 51-year-old Democratic governor was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti.

Now even thought the article is not about the previous Governor George Ryan, the AP must make mention (probably attributing the reference as illustration of irony... which it is...) that the previous Governor had corruption issues too.  Guess which Political Party he was affiliated with?... Well you won't have to, the AP tells you within 4 words... 

... Blagojevich took the chief executive's office in 2003 as a reformer promising to clean up former Gov. George Ryan's mess.

Ryan, a Republican, is serving a 6-year prison sentence after being convicted on racketeering and fraud charges. A decade-long investigation began with the sale of driver's licenses for bribes and led to the conviction of dozens of people who worked for Ryan when he was secretary of state and governor.

Look, these guys are politicians, and by their very nature, corrupt, especially in Chicago where a long and oft much celebrated history of political power brokering and corruption reigns.  So what else are they going to do?  They know no other way, especially since receiving that scruples vaccination back in college.  My vote, put 'em all in the Pokey!  And let 1,000 randomly drawn names from the Chicago Bears Season Ticket holders run their government.

Odd Poll Question... Not a Surprising Answer Actually

I was reading the Investor's Business daily Tracking poll (Historically one of the most accurate) and was surprised at a couple of the metrics/demographics they use to delineate voting groups.  There are the usual age, sex, political party affiliation, race, income, etc... but the one at the end of the list I have not seen before. 

"DISPLAYS FLAG"...

Hmmm, now that's an odd question.  But Yep, that's the response I would expect.  Not a surprise.

Now before you Commies err... uh.... Democrats go off on me for accusing you all of being unpatriotic, seriously I'll bet many of you dyed in the wool Obamatons are not surprised by that result either.  (Or the one about religion either for that matter...)

Which brings up some interesting perspective... If posed these questions to someone you did not know, would you be able to through these statistical stereotype results be able to identify a McCain or Obama voter?  I bet I could... assuming he or she were honest in answering.

Meaning, could I bet you ten bucks that I can determine who you'll vote for by how your answers align with the poll results?

If I were able to establish that you are a....

1. Teacher's Union Wonk
2. Atheist
3. Making $9.47 per hour part-time
4. With a BA in Liberal Arts
5. Single Chick
6. Who has no clue who Chuck Schwab is....
7. is 47 years old... and still single!
8. Loves her view of the Fire Escapes of the six buildings out her window and finds it easy to sleep through the sounds of Buses, Subways and Garbage Trucks
9. And is honestly surprised to learn that more People live outside the New York Metro area than in it...

Well...?

Oh... I forgot... Actually DOES display "A" flag in her window...

Well?.... Where's your bet?... Obama or McCain? 

Cartoonist Could Use Your Help

I have long been a fan of political cartoons, I love the ability of an artist to convey a poignant message in a minimal amount of space.  I've enjoyed both Conservative and Liberal cartoons if the imagery and message is delivered well.

I've long been a fan of the creative musings of Berke Breathed, Garry Trudeau, Cox & Forkum (John & Allen) and many more...  One of my recent favorites, I stumbled upon a couple of years ago in a blog post, is Chris Muir, the writer and artist for Day By Day.

Chris blends a edgy even sexy artistic style, with mainstream political issues we face daily.  He weaves together thoughts and philosophies of both Left and Right through the lives of 4 main characters and often illustrates the simple naivete of a position taken by today's political headliners, PAC's, and fringe groups by pitting one against the other in his characters' actions and words.

Chris obviously falls more on the Right side of the political spectrum, which I find refreshing (Duh...)  because as seems to be the case with everything artistic or media related, the majority of cartoonists come from a left leaning slant, understandable considering idealism and passion often drives great art.  Two traits the left has a PLETHORA of and two traits we conservatives often have to ask advice on how to.... um.... fake... learn!  Yeah... learn!

So I was a bit dismayed this morning when I read the following from Chris Muir:

Unfortunately, technology finally ended my main job ... , which left DBD my only income.

He is left to turn to his readership for donations in the form of a fundraiser to continue publishing Day By Day.  Which I actually respect a great deal.  It is never easy to ask for compensation... when was the last time you asked your boss for a raise?  But Chris has a bit more of a difficulty, we are his boss, all of us who enjoy his strip daily, intermittently... whenever. 

Chris is following capitalism in the truest form... he is asking for donations to the cause.  Personally I think it is more an issue of we consumers, pony-ing up and paying for the quality of writing and creativity we all enjoy.  Idealistically Chris obviously produces Day By Day because it is what he enjoys...  Pragmatically however he cannot continue to focus on creating these daily gems and pay the bills without some compensation.  He is truly an independent publisher.  And much like a server at your favorite restaurant... his livelyhood weighs heavily on... for lack of a better analogy... "TIPS!" from his patrons.  So if you like the service/product you've been consuming and want to consume into the future, he requests that you show your support in the most pragmatic way... with your wallet. 

Here's his deal... He is looking for donations to keep things going, in his words.

...according to 'The Long Tail' theory of Internet readers, there's usually a core 1% that come through for Internet publishers. All donations are critical, and I also ask again of that '1000'. Look what Leonidas did with the 300-except I don't have a 6-pack, I'm not a leader, and the thought of all of you in G-strings frankly worries me a bit.

But we share the same beliefs, I think.

The site's been redone, there's a forum coming up, there's an email subscription, searchable archives, new avatars, a new DBD banner that shows the strip in a popup (so you have more advertising space on your own blog),twitter, free Wowio DBD ebooks, and when you donate to DBD you receive pdfs of never released drawings of DBD's start back in 1998 (yes, 2 years before DBD went up), examples of just how different Jan, Damon, Sam, and Zed were before 2001.

Depending on which of the 4 Donation Levels you select, there is also a DBD Playing Card deck, Sam posters, plus Original DBD hand-written script sheets complete with hand-signed strips that derive from those scripts.

That was the carrot, now for the stick, and...I don't have a stick.

I'll still try & get DBD out.

I think you can tell from the strip that I'm something of a minimalist. I drive a Honda that was new when Arsenio was hot. My first vacation in 12 years, and I go to Iraq to research for the characters. This isn't for sympathy, but clarity. I love doing DBD. Every hard-earned dollar you send here is for one purpose-to make it possible for me to improve and continue DBD for you (and me!).

In a PC correct era, DBD's characters speak with you on issues you find important. PC still rules the MSM, whether newspapers, the networks, or well-funded 'pundits'. DBD connects with people directly, the only comic where the readers are the source and the feature. You might depend on DBD, but the reality is DBD depends on you.

Help keep our voice out there. In one day, all of you got DBD more than halfway through 2008. Again, whatever amount is donated, I'll give directly back in DBD strips.

And yes. This time I will leave the Fundraiser up for a month, not a day.

Chris Muir

If you too would like to contribute to Chris's work, I recommend you go here and throw a few bucks his way!  [Link]

Obama Campaign Couldn't Have Planned this Better!

Kwanza Christmas comes early for the Obama campaign!

The New Yorker Magazine released this cover it plans to publish for its July 21 Edition!  So how could something so tasteless be beneficial for the Obama Campaign?

Think about it... for the next few days (possibly longer depending on how much traction this gets, or is allowed to get in the mainstream media... I suspect quite a bit actually) we will be talking about how disrespectful this is, how insulting, how racist, etc...  Republicans and democrats alike will have to agree this is tasteless. 

In order to really demonstrate our disdain for tripe like this we Republicans will be forced to state things like: 

"Of course Barack Hussein Obama is a Patriotic American who loves his country... He would never do anything to weaken our stature in the world!"

"Having Michele carry an AK-47 is a travesty!  She's always been for GUN CONTROL!"

"Besides!  Good Democrats would NEVER BURN THE AMERICAN FLAG!... in a fireplace... in private... no press attention for "The Cause" to be gained in such a private act!"

"Oh... the picture on the wall illustrating support for Osama... well that's just silly!  Barack isn't a Muslim!"

Seriously, this cover is a boon for the Obama Campaign.  Just as the polls are beginning to narrow because real issues facing Americans are becoming harder and harder to ignore, the Obama camp can only benefit from redirecting attention from serious issues like Terrorism, Green Environmental Economic Destruction, Federal Economic Intervention levels, Energy Policy, His lack of any tangible leadership experience etc... Obama is able to refocus on the one element where he can leverage sympathy and empathy.  The Stereotyping, race-bating, religion-bating baseless attacks of the ignorant.

"Drown me! Roast me! Hang me! Do whatever you please," said Brer Rabbit. "Only please, Brer Fox, please don't throw me into the briar patch."

"The briar patch, eh?" said Brer Fox. "What a wonderful idea! You'll be torn into little pieces!"

The New Yorker is a long time supporter of Liberal ideals and as such one must be suspicious of a cover that so negatively portrays their guy!  There is an ulterior motive, don't doubt otherwise.  Getting Republicans to publicly proclaim that all of these satirical stereotypes imbedded in this cartoon are categorically false is the ultimate goal of a cover like this!

• Barack is not a Muslim - he's said so.
• Michelle is not a terrorist - She's proud to be an American... now.
• Obama would never celebrate Osama... Obama hopes more than anything that slippery sombitch is caught!... in 8 months!... So he can face trial...
• Burning the American Flag in such a fashion is a travesty!... We've already covered the "Proper Democrat Way to Burn An American Flag"
• Michelle in Camo?  Now that's just WAAAY over the top!  Michelle would NEVER be in Uniform!

Tune in to all the talking head shows and watch how many times issues are brought up over the next few days.  Remember once again how we treat BARACK is the topic of conversation!  Not how Barack will treat us... poor, poor Barack!