AP Finally Notices that the Obama Inaugration (Obamapalooza, Obamafest) is Getting Pricey

To quote the AP,  “Unemployment is up. The stock market is down. Let’s party”. Oh but wait there is a lame justification, its not a party according to Obama transition team, “It is not a celebration of an election. It is a celebration of our common values.”

How could anyone in the face of such economic times think its a good thing to over spend for a pomp and glitz? As politicians tell us to be responsible and tell corporations how to spend their money, Obamapalooza has spent without conscience. Is this the right message? Where is the outrage? Imagine, just imagine if GWB had ever done something quite like this? Remember when Democrats complained about the Federal deficit?

The AP finally woken up and realized that Obamafest has got expensive. Although they are a day late and a dollar short in reporting the fact that the price tag to Obamapalooza, President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration gala, has gotten way out of hand, especially considering the present situation of today’s US economy, they did at least address the situation in an article, ‘Obama hosting pricey party in a dicey economy’. Can you only imagine if Republicans spent like this during such economic times for a party. Why is anyone surprised, their Democrats and what do Democrats do best, SPEND! Have an issue, got a problem, throw money at it. That’s the ticket.

The price tag for President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration gala is expected to break records, with some estimates reaching as high as $150 million. Despite the bleak economy, however, Democrats who called on President George W. Bush to be frugal four years ago are issuing no such demands now that an inaugural weekend of rock concerts and star-studded parties has begun.

Obama’s inaugural committee has raised more than $41 million to cover events ranging from a Philadelphia-to-Washington train ride to a megastar concert with Beyonce, U2 and Bruce Springsteen to 10 official inaugural balls. Add to that the massive costs of security and transportation — costs absorbed by U.S. taxpayers — and the historic inauguration will produce an equally historic bill.

In 2005, Reps. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., and Jim McDermott, D-Wash., asked Bush to show a little less pomp and be a little more circumspect at his party.

However, believe it or not with the skyrocketing costs of the Obama Inauguration reaching $150 million, believe it or not they actually tried to keep prices down. Can you imagine if they didn’t try? As Wizbang states, “and here is the spew-inducing quote of the day — I’m warning you, swallow your coffee first.” And yes Wizbang, we like   “PortaPottyPalooza” much better.

It appears that Town Hall find the quote of the Obama transition team to be quite comical as well as to the backlash of all the inaugural pomp and circumstance during tough economic times.

Read more

Global Warming in Holland … The Netherlands Canels Freeze Over … The Return of Hans Brinker

The ghost of Hans Brinker says, Al Gore and global warming be damned as thousands of Dutch strap on their silver skates.

Hey Al, they didn’t seem to get your memo on global warming in The Netherlands. For the first time in 12 years the Netherlands’ canals froze this month. The Dutch strapped on their skates ala Hans Brinker as the freezing temperatures afforded an increasingly rare chance to skate across their flat country.

After more than a week of cold, an estimated 2.3 million skaters, out of a population of 16 million, have taken to frozen canals and lakes, according to a poll released ahead of the weekend.

That number is expected to double if Queen Beatrix decides to don her skates as well.

Canals in the Netherlands no longer freeze every winter, so the chance to ice skate outdoors created a frenzy in Kinderdijk and elsewhere in the south. (Michael Kooren/Reuters)

“The number of opportunities you have to skate in the Dutch winter is decreasing,” said Jochem van de Laarschot, who usually speaks on behalf of Dutch food retailer Ahold but took a half a day off last week to skate.

A Rare Deep Freeze Warms the Dutch Soul

UPDATE I: 44% Say Global Warming Due To Planetary Trends, Not People

A recent Rasmussen poll shows that 44% of people now believe that global warming is due to planetary trends and not people. Hey Al, you seem to be losing the battle even though you have all of the liberal MSM in your pocket. All this and Al Gore is losing the propaganda war. In July 2006, 46% of those polled said that global warming was primarily caused by man, while 35% said it was planetary. Americans now are not buying that they are to blame.

Al Gore’s side may be coming to power in Washington, but they appear to be losing the battle on the idea that humans are to blame for global warming.

Forty-four percent (44%) of U.S. voters now say long-term planetary trends are the cause of global warming, compared to 41% who blame it on human activity.

Seven percent (7%) attribute global warming to some other reason, and nine percent (9%) are unsure in a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Blaming man for global warming support waning. How soon will Al Gore be blaming man for the impending Ice Age?

Red State gets the prize for the best title of post for loss of support from the blame man crowd … “An Inconvenient Poll”.

Jail House Video of Casey Anthony and Parents Cindy & George Anthony Released … “But I’m so beyond frustrated with all of this” … What about Caylee?

“… I am frustrated and I’m angry, and I don’t want to be angry. This is the first time I have truly been angry this entire time. But I’m so beyond frustrated with all of this that I can’t even swallow right now. It hurts.” (Casey Anthony, 08/14/08)

Just when you thought it could not get any worse for Casey Anthony and the perception that people have of her and the dysfunction family dynamic, along comes another jail house video that would make Sigmund Freud shake his head. The video was from a jail house visit from August 14, 2008 when Casey Anthony was first arrested prior to Leonard Padilla initially bailing her out of jail. Its the first time according to Casey Anthony that she has been so frustrated and angry and that she is beyond frustrated with all of this. One might have thought that she would have been more frustrated and angry over the fact that her 2 year old daughter Caylee Anthony had been missing since June 2008. However, when you do not report your child missing to authorities as Casey Anthony did not do, your frustration and anger is probably not a consideration. Casey Anthony defense attorney

Jose Baez said to Greta Van Susteren (VIDEO) that everyone is misconstruing who the real Casey Anthony really is. Actually Attorney Baez we are not, you are spinning. Baez says things are taken out of context and that watching the tapes “you really don’t get a grasp on who Casey Anthony is at all” Baez then said, “Casey is not the person that she is being painted out to be … she is certainly nothing like what’s being portrayed”.

Actually Jose, she might be worse. The jailhouse tapes are a complete window into the dysfunction of the Anthony family and a psychologists study into family dynamic relations. There is nothing taken out of context … the tapes are very straight forward and see Casey in her element reacting to her parents. One thing is for certain by the tapes, she does not like to be confronted and if she is not in control she gets volatile. She also seems to have no mechanism to deal with her anger. Are we supposed to think that it was any different the day Caylee went missing? For Casey Anthony it is all about her as she whines and at times becomes angry with her parents, Cindy and George Anthony, playing the victim as her 2 year old daughter has been missing since June.

Cindy:We need to have something to go on. Casey:Mom, I don’t have anything. I’m sorry. I’ve been here a month. I’ve been here a month today. Do you understand how I feel? I mean do you really understand how I feel in this? I’m completely, completely out of the loop with everything.

More narcissism and family dysfunction from the August 14, 2008 video:

The video was shot in August and shows the Anthony, 22, growing frustrated throughout her conversation with George and Cindy Anthony, to the point where she tells her parents she’s angry.

George Anthony tried to tell his daughter that she is in control and that her defense attorney works for her. Cindy Anthony later asked a more pointed question: “I was in Lake County two days ago. Is there anything there?” Casey Anthony responds “Mom geez! I’m sorry. I love you guys. I miss you.”

From Fox News and Greta Van Susteren “On the Record:” Casey Anthony in New Jailhouse Video: ‘I’m So Beyond Frustrated!’ The jail house video between Casey Anthony and her parents in many ways is a microcosm of the dysfunction in this family and show exactly how a master manipulator who wants complete control was never dealt with by her parents and instead was only enabled.

 JAIL HOUSE VIDEOS WITH CASEY, CINDY AND GEORGE ANTHONY

Part 1

The following portion of the conversation can only be described as WTF. However, the key line is when Casey Anthony responds to her father and say, “Well, no, I am not anymore.” Obviously from a Casey pint of view she had been in control of things until she was put in jail. What parent says to their child that they are employees working for their child? The enabling continues.

• GEORGE ANTHONY: And listen, I want you to know, you are the boss through this whole thing, OK?
• CASEY ANTHONY: Well, no, I`m not anymore, Dad. I haven`t been since I got here.
• GEORGE ANTHONY: Oh yes, you are. You are the — think of this for a second…
• CASEY ANTHONY: Dad, I`ve been…
• GEORGE ANTHONY: Listen…
• GEORGE ANTHONY: No, just listen to me for one moment, OK? Just listen to me for one second, OK? Listen, think of you owning this conglomerate, this huge business. Jose is one of your employees. So is the sheriff`s department. So is the FBI. So am I. So is Lee. So is Mom. You know, we`re all working with you. And if for some reason, something`s not being said or being done, you can make a change. You`re the one who can say, Listen…

Read more

Plug Pulled on Circuit City in US … Will Shut Down and Close Remaining 567 US Stores

Economic Darwinism: It appears that more people will be added to the unemployment roles in 2009 as Circuit City has decided to close its doors.

Circuit City, the US’s second largest consumer electronic chain is pulling the plug and shutting its doors for good and going out of business. Circuit City had filed bankruptcy in November 2008 and hoped to emerge in a more stream-lined version of itself has sadly decided to liquidate all of its stores and assets and go out of business. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Huennekens gave final approval to the liquidation plan Friday afternoon. The news is sad and the plight of their employees in the US is even more sad but can anyone really remember the last time the went to a Circuit City instead of Best Buy? Maybe this was just the inevitable process from not being able to deal with competition.

Most of the chain’s 34,000 store employees will be laid off. Closing sales will begin as early as Saturday and will last until the merchandise is gone or about the end of March.

Just last week, Circuit City, with 567 stores, was in talks with two potential buyers, but it was unable to reach an agreement with its creditors and lenders.

“We are extremely disappointed by this outcome,” said James A. Marcum, acting president and chief executive of Circuit City Stores. He called the liquidation “the only possible path” for the 60-year-old company.

Read more

Zenaida Gonzalez & Annie Leigh Downing’s Excellent Adventure: Zannie and Annie Go to Traffic Court

When asked the question, do you’re Clients still believe a Zenaida Gonzalez is responsible for what happened to Caylee? Brad Conway, attorney representing George and Cindy Anthony responds:

“They do, but not the Zenaida represented by Mr. Morgan…”

If your like me, you are as bewildered as one can get at the insistence of “Camp Casey”  to continue to suggest that a person with this name is involved in the abduction and murder of 34 month old Caylee Anthony. Perhaps Attorney Baez and his Cum Laude Clan are preparing their Columbo moment in this regard while fighting over who gets to be Colonel Mustard in the study .

Although listed as a witness for the Prosecution released by the State’s Attorney’s office on January 11, 2008, Annie Leigh Downing’s Interview with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office has never been made public.  Her cell phone records and any IM or text messages between her and Casey Anthony have also never been made public although other witnesses have.

Failure To Yield

That may be the gross understatement of the year describing Casey Anthony. But in this scenario, it is actually a traffic citation, one of two, given to a Zenaida Gonzalez, on May 24, 2008.

Click to enlarge

No, again, this is not the Zenaida represented by Mr. Morgan, this is a different Zannie, with a birth date of January 11, 1986. Wow. Just a mere 3 months older than Casey.  Did they go to school together? Have mutual friends? Fellow Fusionite?

Nope, Not the Best Driving Record

Annie Downing had a rough couple months this Spring in the traffic area. On March 30, 2008, she received citations for both Speeding 15-19 mph over the speed limit, and for not producing her driver’s license and insurance card. While the presentation of those documents on April 18 cleared that part of the citation,  the speeding ticket remained open on her record until 2 online requested and subsequently granted extensions later on July 1, 2008. Why do we care?

Co ink y Dink or Other

There are only 3 plausible scenarios where  a material witness in a homicide case whose statement has been withheld, and  a woman with the name at the center of the linchpin of Casey Anthony’s defense get traffic citations on the same day. Throw in the tidbit that Casey met Tony Lazzarro for the first time at a party that same evening, and you have what appears to be in retrospect, the beginning of the omen for Caylee.  To be able to best portray the relevance of the above ZG incident as compared to known relevant dates in this case, I offer the following three theories with accompanying timeline.

Theory 1: Casey is using Zenaida as an alias

Read more