Madoff and Blagojevich: Both as Crazy as The Day is Long

As 2008 winds down, it's only fitting that two of the year's biggest nut jobs are on the front pages on the final day of what has been a nutty year:

Word has it that the legal team of Bernard Madoff, the biggest criminal in world history, will use the insanity defense to try and keep their man out of the clink. At first blush, this makes a ton of sense to me.

Because the man is clearly, manifestly, and totally out of his mind and has been so it appears for quite some time.

It is unfathomable to me that a guy can swindle a reported $50 billion from individuals, charities, hospitals, friend, etc. over the course of THREE DECADES, and not be out of his head.

The topper for me was when he cavalierly walked to the fucking courthouse BY HIMSELF after he was busted--even though he didn't need to and could have had his lawyer represent him in court.

Dude. Newsflash: You just got caught stealing $50 billion from thousands of victims. PEOPLE GET KNOCKED OFF FOR LOSING 1/1000TH OF THAT! He is both nuts and very lucky he's still alive....

Which brings us to quack #2, Illinois governor Rod Blogojevich. In between this asshole's two ears lies not a brain inside a skull, but apparently a foot plus of solid concrete.

The punk gets cold busted over and over again accepting bribes, attempting to sell his state's Senate seat, etc. On tape, chattering away on the phone, over the course of years, and he not only refuses to resign and face the music, but goes ahead and appoints the new senator anyway!

He's not only nuts, but he's also a stubborn idiot.

Caroline Kennedy for Senate? Well, you know....

She isn't doing well at all coming out of the gate.....

Condi Rice Lives in a Parallel Universe

Q: Looking at the big picture of what’s the whole foreign policy of this Administration – you come out of the academic tradition so I think it’s fair to ask, what kind of grade do you give yourself and this Administration on foreign policy?

RICE: Oh, I don’t know. It depends on the subject. I’m sure that there are some that deserve an A-plus and some that deserve a lot less. … We’ve left a lot of good foundations.

The truth of the matter, of course, is that the Bush foreign policy over the last eight years has been an unmitigated disaster. In all honesty we would have been better off with a chimpanzee as Secretery of State and Bonzo the Clown as president. The United States has never, ever, been held in lower regard throughout the world, the president is detested everywhere, and the country wasted incredible goodwill in the aftermath of September 11 by its arrogant, violent policies. Goodbye Condi. You WILL NOT be missed...

National Republican Leader Distributes ‘Barack The Magic Negro’ As His Christmas Greeting

Oh how cute and charming! Republicans are racists?? No way! That was years ago!!! Full story here.

Obama's Workout Regimen Should Inspire Every Man

As this article discusses, Barack Obama does not fuck around when it comes to exercising. The cat's worked out now for an astonishing 48 consecutive days.

What a great role model for every man, woman, and child in the entire world.

The age old excuse that we all use, "I'd love to workout more but I'm so busy with work..." officially does not work anymore.

If the president of the United States can find time to exercise every day, so can we.

Limbaugh Led Fringe Right Gears up to Take Down Obama

Forget about giving a new president elected by the American people by a solid margin in a time of international crisis a chance.

To the fringe right wing in America, to whom Rush Limbaugh is their messiah, Obama needs to be taken down. Right away. Using any available means.

The mere notion that America's current economic crisis was somehow 'manufactured' by national Democrats in order for them to gain electoral advantage would probably seem to be loony to most people.

But unfortunately, in an unfortunate peculiarity of modern day America, right wing nut jobs like Rush Limbaugh have a daily audience of millions nationwide--albeit primarily in 'flyover country'.

It's been proven that if a figure of authority says something--however outlandish, over and over again, it starts to become believable. Hitler was a master at this.

Rush Limbaugh to his legions of 'dittohead' followers is pretty good at it too. Let's hope this time, unlike with the Clinton administration, he's unsuccessful.

Madoff Investor Commits Suicide

I thought it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. The money that vanished in this Madoff fraud is astonishing, literally wiping out generations worth of family wealth overnight.

Again, Bernard Madoff, if convicted which seems imminent, stands to go down in history as the biggest thief in world history.

Saudi Arabia Rejects Divorce Plea From 8-Year-Old Girl Married To 58-Year-Old Man

Ahhh, our steadfast ally Saudi Arabia. One might be tempted to think that they would qualify for Bush/Cheney's 'Axis of Evil' list, but alas no...Hell no! They've got tons of oil...

Indeed, every three months or so either W or Dick himself seems to go to Saudi Arabia on bent knee, practically begging them for more oil--even though this kingdom is every bit as brutal as Saddam was under Iraq.

Aren't dynastic monarchies bizarre? The Bushes, the Saudi kings...Anyway, I digress--

Mind boggling inconsistencies in foreign policy has been a hallmark of the Bush administration. Just another reason to thank our lucky stars that our long national nightmare is just about over....

Obama Talks Science in Weekly YouTube Address

Because the truth is that promoting science isn't just about providing resources--it's about protecting free and open inquiry. It's about ensuring that facts and evidence are never twisted or obscured by politics or ideology. It's about listening to what our scientists have to say, even when it's inconvenient--especially when it's inconvenient. Because the highest purpose of science is the search for knowledge, truth and a greater understanding of the world around us. That will be my goal as President of the United States--and I could not have a better team to guide me in this work

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Spitzer Family Invested in Madoff

Suffice to say that 2008 was a shitty year for Elliot Spitzer. Or, as Queen Elizabeth would say an 'annus horribilis'.

Not really surprising that the Spitzer family had money with Madoff, however, as many in the New York City high society Jewish scene did and have lost millions.

Something tells me that Ashley Dupre, aka the Spitzer Whore, was uninvested....

Bernie Madoff Certainly Wasn't Acting Alone

The mere suggestion that a single person could successfully manage a $50 billion highly sophisticated financial fraud dealing with hundreds of so called 'sophisticated' rich investors spanning nearly all the world's continents is patently absurd.

Indeed it is profoundly curious that neither of Mr. Madoff's sons or his brother Peter had any of their personal money invested in his side hedge fund business---in other words the Ponzi scheme.

The feds are rightly focusing on his wife Ruth, who appears to have had at least a hand in the fraud, along with a guy named Frank DiPascali, who apparently handled all investor inquiries and the day to day management of the fraud.

There will be plenty of more shoes to drop in l'affair Madoff, already the largest thievery/fraud in world history. Stay tuned.

Franken Behind by Only 2 Votes

Following the Minnesota Senate recount has been the equivalent of complex math since November 4, however it does appear that the race has tightened significantly in Franken's favor. Don't worry, reams and reams of litigation and court rulings are still to come....

YouTube of Obama Speaking about Rick Warren

Liberals and the fringe left really need to take a chill pill with regards to Obama picking evangelist Christian Rick Warren to speak at his inauguration. For God's sake, it's not like he's making him Attorney General or anything. The political environment in this country for the last 20 years has been completely toxic.

Parallel Universe Update: Cheney Says W Will Be Popular in 30 Years

I guess we long ago should have stopped being dumbfounded and shocked by the diarrhea that so often spews from the lips of our venerable outgoing Vice President Dick Cheney, but add this whopper to the list.

Bush, Cheney, and indeed most of the hierarchy of this disastrous presidency have basically lived from day one inside of their own, comfortable, fuzzy twilight zone like parallel universe.

Inside this psychedelic bubble they were immune and unfazed by the overwhelming dissent and outright opposition by scores of countries and the UN itself in the run up to the war in Iraq.

Can't find any WMD's? Look harder. Still can't find any? Cook up some evidence. We know the score. We're right, everyone else is wrong.

It's incomprehensible to me that George W. Bush will be looked on as anything but the worst, most unfit, laziest, most stubborn, crass, snide, and disastrously awful president in American history.

Not only for the next 30 years, Dick. But the next 3,000 years.

Bernie Madoff Has Balls Like Shot Puts

How this guy can show his disgraced face is beyond comprehension. He is lucky he didn't get shot dead...

Mugshots of 2008 from The Smoking Gun

Nothing more than the picture at the right needs to be put here. See the rest here:

YouTube Video of Bernie Madoff: The Biggest Thief in World History

This starts getting real good at the 5'20 mark...

Why Caroline Kennedy as New York Senator is Bad for America

It's bad for America just like George W. Bush as president was bad for America. Or Jeb Bush as governor of Florida. Or Jay Rockefeller as Senator of West Virginia. Or Hillary Clinton as holder of the very Senate seat that Kennedy aspires to.

WE ARE AMERICA, NOT GREAT BRITAIN OR SAUDI FUCKING ARABIA! WE ARE A DEMOCRACY, NOT A MONARCHY! WE BELIEVE IN THE CONCEPT OF MERITOCRACY, NOT POWER BASED ON INHERITANCE OR LINEAGE!!!! WE KICKED THE BRITISH OFF OF OUR LAND OVER THIS VERY QUESTION!!!

What, might I ask, besides her famous bloodline would make Caroline Kennedy even remotely qualified for the extraordinarily powerful and important position of US Senator?

Answer: Nothing! Nothing except for the womb from which she was spawned! Is that qualification? How on earth??!

Maybe in Saudi Arabia. Maybe in Quatar. Maybe Jordan, whatever. Certainly, certainly not in America.

The whole notion of monarchy and entitlement based on bloodline should be puzzling and nonsensical to everyone, but especially to Americans.

And especially in light of the unmitigated disaster that the reign of Bush II.

Video of SNL Blind Governor Patterson Skit

The guy is legally blind. I was pretty shocked when I saw this...

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Madoff in Perspective

Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked.
--Warren Buffett, 2008

Its hard to fathom just how monumental the scope of the fraud that Bernard Madoff committed over the course of his decades long Wall Street career. The number being tossed around, $50 billion, is almost too staggering to even comprehend. Indeed, if true, it would dwarf Enron.

I'm wondering how Madoff slept at night. The guy had this scam going on for the better part of three decades. You're talking about a crook of historic, never seen before magnitude. The biggest thief in the history of the world.

Again, take a look at the picture on the top right. You are looking at the biggest crook in the history of the world.

He robbed charities, endowments, universities, hospitals, and individuals of all shapes and sizes.

And the amazing thing about it is that he might have never been caught if it weren't for the brutal recession and drastic drop in the stock market that occurred this year.

He's 70 years old and had been running the scheme successfully for nearly 40 years. He could have easily taken this to his grave with him--which is probably what he thought would happen.

The cookie finally crumbled due to the massive losses of other investments that his investors had suffered. Short cash, they began asking to redeem from his fund. The rest, as they say, is history.

Re-read that Buffet quote at the top. It's worth it.

YouTube Video of Shoes Getting Thrown at Bush in Iraq

The journalist also called Bush a 'dog'. As this article says, In Iraqi culture, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of contempt.

My Encounter with Mike Huckabee

I just ran into former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee on the street on my way to grab a cup of coffee here in midtown New York.

He was carrying a roll behind suitcase and I'm pretty sure he's in town promoting his new book. I recognized him and shouted, "Hey governor!", and he turned around and noticed me.

I shook his hand and told him that I was a fan of his--which I am. He had a firm handshake, smiled broadly, looked me straight in the eye and said, "Well thank you!"

Huckabee was and is a breath of fresh air for the Republican party. Even though he's a very socially conservative guy, he comes off as sunny and optimistic--in stark contrast to the nasty, dour guys in the party like Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh, John McCain, etc.

I mean, the guy pardoned Keith Richards, after all. He can't be too much of a right wing loony-tune.

He has a big political future ahead of him.

YouTube Video of Powell Blasting Palin, GOP

More on Powell's recent comments here...

Video of Daily Show, Hall And Oates Paying Tribute To Alan Colmes

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Hall & Oates Pay Tribute to Alan Colmes

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Powell Rips Limbaugh, Fellow Republicans

It's clear Colin Powell feels remorse over his support of Bush Jr. and the rest of the neocons and far right lunatics, and is trying desperately to salvage his legacy.

Of course, when he had a chance to make a real difference, like before his infamous UN testimony on Iraq's nonexistent WMD's (see picture at right), he was cowardly and did nothing.

Kind of like Nazi soldiers who used the defense of 'we were just obeying orders' when on trial after WWII.

But better late than never, General Powell.

Video of Jon Stewart, Mike Huckabee Clashing Over Gay Marriage

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Mike Huckabee Pt. 2

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Scores of DC Republican Staffers Struggling to find New Work

It's tough for anyone in America looking for a job these days, but especially so if you are a Republican in Washington.

The party just lost 52 seats in November, plus the George W. Bush administration is winding down after 8 years--which will throw another several hundred job seekers into the mix come the end of January.

Just a thought: maybe some of these people should consider changing parties?

O’Reilly And Rove Agree: Reports On The Bad Economy Are Part Of A Media Cabal To Help Obama

The right wing media elites are in deep deep denial since the election. These rich blowhards wouldn't know a bad economy if it hit them in the face.

Illinois Governor on Obama: "Fuck him."

Wow, who knew what a whack job the Democratic governor of Illinois was? I guess one might have derived that something wasn't quite right with the dude judging by his haircut, but besides that....

Shocker: Romney Stockpiling Cash for 2012 Presidential Run

No surprise with this news, but the guy really ought to study what happened to John Edwards from 2004 to 2008. He, too, basically never stopped running for the entire four years and it didn't help his effort a lick.

A key difference between those two, however, is the fact that Romney is filthy rich. Way way wealthier than Edwards. His issue is that he comes off as sort of an automaton robot like being. You know, if you cut him a white substance would pour out of his skin instead of blood.

He comes off as kind of like Al Gore: stiff, wooden, and artificial. Unfortunately, all the money in the world can't erase those characteristics in a politician.

Video of SNL: Amy Poehler's Hillary Clinton On Secretary Of State Selection

MSNBC Producer Flips Out on Air

Uh, something tells me this dude will not have a job come Monday morning...

Minnesota Recount Update: Coleman Maintains Lead

Maybe I'm reading this wrong, but it's becoming difficult for me to see how Franken can win this. On election day Coleman won a razor tight majority, which triggered a recount. Now with 99% of the votes recounted, he's maintained a lead of a few hundred votes. Game over Franken, right?

The Sarah Palin 2009 Wall Calendar: Just in Time for Christmas!

This thing is bound to sell like hotcakes up here in New York City, in fact I'm tempted to order one for myself at this very moment. Here's the text that was e-mailed out to conservatives promoting the calendar...Never before seen photos of Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and Trig! Screw the new laptop--I want this!!!!:

Sarah Palin went from virtual obscurity to huge popularity as Presidential Candidate John McCain's running mate. Since then she has re-energized the Conservative base of the Republican Party. As a front runner in the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination, she is showing America that she is willing to reform her own party and politics as usual.

Now you can have your very own 2009 calendar featuring never before seen photos of Sarah, with Todd, Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and TrigPalin.

Rove: Obama Beat McCain Because of Money

Gee Karl, amazing how you don't mention the fact that McCain picked as his VP choice a woman who America soon learned couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time.

Or the fact that your boy, George W. Bush, is the least popular president in American history. Oh yeah, he's also the dumbest, worst one ever as well.

Let's hope the Republican party continues to look towards Karl Rove for advice. The guy is clearly living in a parallel universe.

Jon Stewart: End Times Countdown - Bush Exit Interviews

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

End Times Countdown - Bush Exit Interviews

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Franken Now Up in Minnesota Senate Race?

Wow, this would be really shocking. Most people including myself have assumed that Franken would eventually lose this race as his opponent Norm Coleman has maintained a steady lead since last month's election.

For Democrats, a Franken win would more than make up for their loss in the Georgia runoff yesterday and raise their seat advantage in the Senate to a dominant 59-31.

The dwindling number of Republican moderates in the Senate (Olympia Snowe, Arlen Spector) will yield an enormously disproportionate amount of power next year, with both the Democratic majority and the rump Repbulican minority showering them with gifts and promises in exchange for their vital support....

Jeb Bush Considers 2010 Senate Run

Jeb, W's younger brother, is clearly the more intelligent of the two Bush boys, but then again that isn't saying too much.

He's always had presidential aspirations of his own, and running for the Senate in two years would do nothing to enhance that ambition--he'd be better off lying low and steering clear of the political morass that is the US Senate.

Or has he come to the determination that with his brother being the most unpopular, and arguably the worst president in American history, that America would never elect another Bush president? Probably.

Video of Awful Looking Karl Rove being Interviewed by NBC's Matt Lauer

Report: Gregory to be Named Meet the Press Moderator

I kind of saw this one coming. Tim Russert is irreplacable for all intensive purposes, and quite frankly Tom Brokaw has done a sub par job trying to fill the void. Nothing to do with Brokaw, but Russert's style was so penetrating, so subtly confrontational...

Gregory had filled in from time to time for Russert in the past, so he was a logical choice. And thank God they didn't choose Keith Olbermann or Chris Matthews, who as Jon Stewart points out, have become nearly insufferable as of late...

YouTube Video of Hillary Clinton Remarks on Becoming Next Sec. of State

The Daily Show's Best Sarah Palin Moments

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

The Daily Show's Best Sarah Palin Moments

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

YouTube Video of Hitchens and Begala Debating Hillary as Secretary of State

Police Hunt for Wal-Mart Shoppers Who Trampled Worker to Death

Items on sale at the Valley Stream Wal-Mart included a Samsung 50-inch Plasma HDTV for $798, a Bissel Compact Upright Vacuum for $28, a Samsung 10.2 megapixel digital camera for $69 and DVDs such as "The Incredible Hulk" for $9

Are you fucking kidding me? I mean, shit happens, but what type of an utter loser would get up at 4am in the morning to save $20 on a vacuum cleaner?? And then step on and crush the skull and internal organs of a helpless person underneath them??? I don't know what else could possibly illustrate the decline of America so lucidly...