Putain ... I mean, Puti

Ex-KGB and FSB spy Litvinenko was poisoned earlier this month by someone -- with Polonium 210. At first, everyone was calling it Thallium poisoning, heinous if true, but also requiring a fair amount to kill someone -- something like 5mg per kg. So if we assume 70 kg in weight, some 350 mg. Not a lot in absolute terms, but still fairly chunky, like an extra strength pain killer.

Thallium is used in optics production and some other sophisticated manufacturing techniques, but polonium 210 is found essentially in one place only: nuclear reactors. It can be produced by a particle accelerator, but ... can you think of a place where you can find one handy for hire? No, but in certain countries, you can find a nuclear reprocessing plant for hire -- or at least one where the right word by the right person can liberate some spare polonium. Like in Russia.

Putin and his cronies, of course, claim that they are not responsible ... but P210 is not an everyday product, is it? And who else has a reason to "off" Litvinenko, who has been scathing in his attacks on the Kremlin? It is complete BS to assume that he would commit suicide ... as the Kremlin has implied ... with P210. But it would be an interesting ruse to get at Putin with: nobody is going to think that Putin's men DIDN'T do it. So some anti-Putin types within Russia trying to bring discredit on the Boss? The trouble with that is that it is unlikely that "they" would have had the means to do the deed.

So what are we left with? A slightly bizzare assassination with a rare element that really could only have been an official state-sponsored hit" as an example to others. This does not bode well for the progress of democracy in Russia. First Politkovskaya, now Litvinenko -- who was investigating Polit.'s murder. The message seems clear: shut up or else.

Now for global warming ... nah, maybe next time.

LEBANON:

The Jewel of the Eastern Med is on the brink again: Gemayel was assassinated by ... Syrians/Hezboohah or some types like that. Gemayel was the Christian, pro-western leader that cemented Lebanon's ruling coalition. He was "hit" after Hezboohah had been complaining that they did not have the veto power over any and all legislation generated in that country. Of course, that would mean that they would control Lebanon absolutely, something that Gemayel and other members of the coalition would obviously like to avoid.

Other players are also interested: the Saudis want to protect their financial investments there and also the Sunni minority. France and the US want to avoid the Iranian-backed and inspired Hezboohah from taking control and asiduously court the Druze and Christian militias. Iran wants an ally/vassal in the West ... a foothold on the Med for their future operations and empire -- also all the better to nuke Israel with. Israel want anyone but the Hezboohah to gain power.

The Hezbahloonies threaten to riot and demonstrate to assert their voting bloc until they get the power that they want: because they are the majority group (although not in absolute numbers) they feel that they should have control. Iran backs this view. Syria, don't really care who it is, as long as they can actually run the place as their own piggy bank. So they are in bed with the Iranians and have re-armed the Loonies to the teeth.

All this is not good. And a disturbing similarity can be drawn with 1975 where another gent named ... Pierre Gemayel ... was killed destroying the fragile coalition and with results that we all saw: a 20 year civil war. Ultimately, demographics will triumph and as the Shia hordes out-breed the rest, Lebanon will convert. And Israel cannot let this happen.

Turkey Day Update

Whom to "poop-on-from-a-great-height" first? Local or foreign? Well ... of course, I must point out more French idiocy first. Then on to Nancy Pelosi, and finally Global Warming.

Segolene Royal, now really just known as Segolene -- sort of like Prince or the Artist Formerly Known as Prince -- is back in the news. She has taken to stumping with the theme of: "let France lead us into a glorious future" (or some such drivel) and encourages Britain to embrace France and the French-led drive for true European Unification. Part of her encouragement takes the form of emploring the English to avoid becoming a vassal state of the the United States.

Geddit? Play on Iraq-fears and the UK support for our folly, and tell them not to look behind the curtain (Wizard of Oz analogy) of European integration. Sego wants to take a core few countries a step further along the path to unity ... but a French-led unity. Hmmm. Despite the general feeling in the UK that they are now quite European, I would beg to differ: if the Brits ever really KNEW what the Frogs thought of them and what the Frogs are planning, they might suddenly feel quite insular. They would also have to consider re-learning that rusty school level French: you can bet that this would be high on the "unification" list of urgent requirements that Sego has planned. Also kiss off representational elections. More like the European Council farce.

Brits are used to some government meddling in their lives, but ultimately, they feel that enough's enough given provocation ... and they certainly don't feel that the pols in power have it right. That is in marked contrast to France and the Frogs. There, the government is essentially all-powerful (except when it comes to putting the Islamo-thugs in their place) and the peons do as they are told. Of course, they strike a lot and the CGT leaders would given the TUC nabobs kittens at their truculence. In fact, when you look at the actual working ethics of the man-in-the-street, as well as the individual goals they might have, you come to the conclusion that they are a lot closer to that of say, Joe from New Jersey, that Pierre from Montpellier. And not only because of the commonality of language.

Brits and Americans are not afraid of hard work and when that hard work directly puts cash in their pockets, they like it more. The UK is still a land of small businesses who are fiercely independent and hate government influence. France, to the degree it is still a land of shop-keepers (it is not), believes in regulation of the smallest detail of their lives and how to run their businesses. What hits the pocket book, hit home first. Ignore all other aspect of becoming more European -- if you can't control your destiny economically, you are not British. Which brings about a curious situation that a large percentage of the French under 35 want to immigrate -- at least in theory -- because of the complete lack of opportunity in France. Where to? Well, if you have any culinary skills, to the UK or ... the US. And increasingly, Frogs with computer skills are flocking to the US as the place where they can "make it."

So does the UK want to join the Frogs? As I discussed recently, the taxation issue poses the first step to true Europeanhood ... the loss of monetary control and submission to a vast welfare state.

I propose that instead of becoming Sego's vassal state, the UK BECOME a state -- or rather three or four of them, based on population and economic might. As a voting bloc, the UK would essentially be able to divide and conquer the US political system: the swing bloc. And, in the long term, be able to maintain their legal system, they morals, work ethics and a country free from the spectre of Islamic control. Yes, indeed ... Islamic control. You see, in the not too distant future France, Spain and other European countries will become essentially Islamic theocracies ... at least if they retain democratic principal long enough for the voting power of the Muslims to make itself felt. Where will you want to be when the Burqua becomes high street fashion? Orlando or Islamabad (ex-Rome or Paris)?

Brits like meat and potatoes -- so do we. Brits like their hols in the sun -- so do we. Brits like their beer -- so do we (and we all drink it pretty much the same now). Brits absolutely flip when they see the prices we pay for gas, food and clothes -- we are in shock at Euro-prices. Brits don't like someone telling them how and how much they should work -- nor do we. Brits like their lawns and houses -- so do we. In the basic things that we do say, watch, read and eat, Brits are far more like Americans than the French. When push comes to shove, both people are concerned about basic fariness and equity -- the French are only concerned with whether they can sell them some arms and a construction deal or two (surplus to your Swiss account).

The ease with which people have been able to visit the continent has made people far more comfortable with Frogs, Krauts, Dutchies, etc. than before ... but what Brits practice at home is more American. So join us and tell the Frenchies where to shove it. Surrendermonkeys. Which reminds me, Sego also mentioned a more vigorous European defense force; multi-country (I didn't use the word national anymore) armies, led and armed by ... the French of course. Maybe they will let the Brits make the paint. I just can't think of anything more ridiculous than a Englishman taking military orders from a Frenchman ... hoist the white flag!!!

What else? Hmmm. Nancy Pelosi had her butt handed to her (149-86) when the House dems rejected her nomination to House Majority leader. Phew, one asshole avoided. Now she is in a "catfight" to prevent Jane Harman (a one-time ally) from becoming the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee (a contra-diction in terms if there ever was one). May she lose again: moderate dems and virtually the entire intelligence community have stated that her candidate, Alcee Hastings, is spectacularly inept and corrupt. You see, Hastings was IMPEACHED and removed from the Federal judiciary for conspiring to take bribes. Yup, those honest, hard working dems ousting those bad GOP types: Pelosi had vowed, if the Democrats were elected, to run the "most honest, most ethical" Congress in history. It took about 30 nanoseconds for Snow White to drift.... Oh wait, ... Alcee is black and you wouldn't want to run afoul of the African-American Caucus.... So Pelosi want us to accept a convicted CROOK as HEAD of our intelligence oversight?

And Charles Rangel has also stepped out into the limelight as the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Can you spell "new taxes?" Welfare? And not because he is black, but because he is about as Liberal as they come.... Which brings me to the absolute ultimate in irony: Rangel stated that he would introduce legislation to re-institute the draft (again)!!! Yeah, baby! A Democrat trying to bring back the draft: and think about all those earnest (and ignorant) liberal college and high school students, dutifully voting as far left as they can manage -- and then finding out they have brought into power the only party that might put them in downtown Baghdad!!! I LOVE IT!!! Of course he won't get far -- the rank and file are fleeing from his doorstep as fast as their PAC-shod feet can move them. Oh, but don't forget Kerry telling the world in 2004 that if elected, Boosh would bring back the draft.

Lastly, the Stern Report on climate chaos published in Britain. A rather hysterical assemblage of haf-facts, mistruths and pure conjecture. As well as blatant lies.

I'll get to it next time.

Anarchy in the UK

Really good music, but also a portent of things to come....

You see, the EU's Court of Justice is reviewing a little case that threatens to blow up in Gordon Brown's hands/face. No, it is not a case involving the UK directly, instead it arises out of some Cheeseheads from the Netherlands wanting to import some French wine they bought on holiday. The only catch was that they did not accompany the wine home. So it becomes an importation matter -- and the Dutch government wanted to tax the wine bought in France. The advocate-general's decision (upheld on appeal approximately 80% of the time) is that the Dutch goverment has no right to re-tax or tax the wine at all. In fact, the AG's ruling basically states that only the taxation rate of the country of origin (within the EU) can apply.

Hmmmm. So what does that mean? It means the the Brits, who have the highest (or almost) excise tax across the board on all their sinful consumption, can order their ciggies from Latvia where a carton of smokes cost about $12 as opposed to $70 they get charged for the same smokes in the UK. And wine can be bought by internet from France (or Bulgaria or Romania which do not tax wine at all) and shipped to the UK. The loss to the UK treasury? About Stg. 15 BILLION per year. And that is only smokes and booze. Think about the insane taxes and levies put on electronic goods.

This places Britain in a tough place: they depend on the absurd punishment of the "wicked" and "sinful" for large sums of cash. They gouge consumers in every which way imaginable. And the money is spent. Where it all goes is not clear, but rip-off Britain manages to do it. It occurs to me that this decision -- which leads Europe down the road of harmonization of taxation and therefore monetary policy -- will eventually force the hand of not only the UK, but many other core EU nations to REALLY look at where they are going.

You see, maybe Romania (or pick your Eastern choice) doesn't NEED the booze tax, because its system of welfare support and ministries for everybody and everything is FAR less generous than, say, Germany's. You create a net bleed to the East and financial debt/death spiral in the West. If the Polish plumbers are willing to work twice as hard as the French, and the Latvians sell ciggies dirt cheap, where is the money going to come from to support the social welfare states that have been so lavish in the past? Are you going to see the French take home less pay and fewer vacation days? Raise the taxes on income until it hurts? Or cut and run from the system? For the UK, it is still feasible, for France and Germany ... a lot tougher.

Now, of course, it doesn't HAVE to be this way. The EU can collectively decide to adopt the American (hahahahahahahahahah) way and federalize. Yes that would mean that Joe Bulgarian has a vote just like Manfred Kraut. Hahahahahah. I can just see the steam rising from the collective German head as people in the European version of banana republics vote to cut themselves more of the collective pie. Just as in the US, the voices have spoken to put Pelosi and her gang of lefties in the driving seat. Yes, that does mean that we will all pay for tax inreases and Pelosi will try very hard to start to move the US to the EU model where the government is NOT accountable to the people.

But in two years, if Pelosi can be exposed as the stealth commie she is, we can vote her out of existence. As speaker, if she blows it, she could even lose her seat -- though given the insanity that poses for rational thought in San Francisco, that would be unlikely. But remember Newt Gingrich.... Now, in the EU, it is not so clear. Once in motion, there is precious little to stop the radicals and unifying forces from getting their way. Especially if you are part of the Euro. So, if the UK were to get cold feet once their new and improved taxation system works to destroy "rip-off Britain" -- they could, just, pull out.

Some more thoughts on the UK....

The Bank of England jacked rates again. While we here in the US (Boston in particular) have had something of a housing bubble, the south of England has had a stratospheric rise in property values over the last 10 years. Just barely in orbit. The result is that there are LOTS of people with no-principal mortgages, trick ballon mortgages, home equity loans -- the usual stuff. All predicated on an ever-increasing valuation of the market and low interest rates. Guess what? Rates are NOT going to work in your favor ... particularly with the coming taxation fiasco.

DO I advoate getting the hell out of Clapham (South London Dodge) right now while you still can? Well ... yes, actualy. But lets be clear, London is a separate beast entirely. Every crook/businessman from Russia, Malaysia and parts East and West (to say nothing of Middle East) wants to have a pad in London. So the property market there will hold up the longest. But what will happen in the dominoe effect from edges, the marginal lands and properties: as rates and budget woes beset Britain, those clever mortgages etc., will cause people to sell -- at ever lower prices. And in a wave headed towards Hyde Park, we will see prices adjust to rational levels. It will happen. And the silly AG's decision might just be the straw that does it.

Bye-bye Don!!

I posted my previous blog at about 10:00am this morning. At about 12:30 we get news that Rumsfeld is gone. I can only hope that my other suggestions are followed in such short order too! That would make for some real fun.

Boosh gets bad news

Democracy in action. Maybe not in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but certainly across the nation the people have decided to "throw the bums out." The House is now the domain of Nancy Pelosi (aka the Poisonous Dwarf) and even the Senate is at risk.

So what happened? In Mass., an apparently nice guy was elected largely because the Healey campaign decided to use attack ads. In retrospect (and even last month) it was clear that people don't want to hear bad things about someone that they WANT to like. It was a turn-off. And Healey really didn't have much a record to run on either. Healey's turning her back on Mihos and (who was the Green candidate, again?) to focus on Dooval during the debates was graceless, and ugly. The results show it.

Nationally, it is clear that the left succeeded in focusing attention on Iraq as the key issue for the vote. It proves that if you bombard the people with negative information and make it clear who is to blame, you can drum up the sentiment to oust the party and people responsible -- and Boosh is not a likeable character like Dooval, not even close.

Democrats are loudly proclaiming a "mandate" ... but it must be asked "to do what?" Nowhere have the Democrats put up a plan to do anything. You cannot claim that this election was won on "the issues" because that implies of necessity that there are differences in approach to given problems. The Democrats have failed to come up with ANY new approaches with which to create "issues." Look for the "solutions" to illegal immigration or the war on Iraq ... you can't find them.

Thus, the election was won by pointing out the bad -- and Boosh's handling of Iraq is inexcuseable -- and avoiding answering questions that might be inconvenient, such as: "what would you do if you were in power?" We shall see what that is starting now. Also note that control of the press was key in this regard: the press did not report or expose the fact that the Democrats have no solutions either -- instead they managed to make this a spite election. Not a good omen for the next two years.

Also, the timing of the various scandals has been masterful on the part of the DNC strategists: a constant parade of new allegations, bad news from Iraq and new "scandals" -- I heard one gleeful DNC operative last night crowing about the emotional impact on voters of "Foleygate" ... Foleygate? Are we ever going to be able to drop the "gate" suffix? Or is it to be reserved forever for GOP problems? For goodness sake, Foley (R) never had sex with any of his aides -- but Studds (D) bragged about it. But the press is not even handed.

It should be interesting to see how Katie Couric reports on the elections tonight: if we remember in 2004, she cried on the Today show in anger and frustration at Boosh's re-election. She should be happier than than a junkie in the police evidence lock-up tonight.

As a registered independent, I am ambivalent about the results, really. I abhor that Pelosi is speaker of the house, I detest that the Commonwealth has become a one-party state, and I am furious that voters have been emotionally manipulated by the press. But it does provide a golden opportunity for the system to cleanse itself. We will see (again -- we apparently need periodic reminding) what a one party state will mean to Massachusetts. It will be ugly. And it will take years after Dooval is gone to repair.

Nationally, Boosh needed a (excuse the term, but it seems apt) "bitch-slapping" to perhaps induce him to remove his head from his rectum. For the GOP, it also presents an once-in-a-generation opportunity to rehab from the lurch to the right that put them in this mess. You see, the Democrats won this election while taking a huge step to the left in the process. Iraq and Boosh's arrogance and ineptitude permitted it -- or even invited it -- and the left took the chance. The GOP, IF THERE IS ANYONE AWAKE OVER THERE, has the opening to move back to the center and fill the space left by the Clintons when Dean and Pelosi took over the DNC. While I would prefer to see the rise of a third party -- the Lieberman Party? -- if I can't get that, perhaps the GOP might find a way to include me and people like me once again.

First, the GOP needs to do some house-cleaning: (1) fire Rumsfeld; (2) force Cheney to retire; (3) sack Karl Rove; (4) dump the far right from all positions of influence and power ... they will still vote GOP because they have no place to go anyway; (5) save the DNC scandals for the run-up year to the election; (6) purge twisted bastards like Foley from the party; (7) get rid of the Santorum-like liabilities; (8) turn inwards from foreign adventurism (let the Iraqis kill themselves, don't commit troops, let the Europeans step up to their ambitions, extend an olive branch to Latin America); (9) get a grip on our trade deficit; (10) fight pork in the House; and (11) create a new medium for getting its message to the people. Oh, shut Boosh the f@@@ up.

For the next election the GOP needs to present intelligent people, articulate people ... and hopefully someone with a minority background. Condi for president?

Democracy?

I just voted at my local polling station. In an elementary school -- probably a good idea to foster the idea of exercising one's rights in front of school kids. A civics lesson if you will ... but the truth of the matter is far from that.

You see, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is NOT in any way a true democracy. The notion of a democracy brings forth the idea of the people (meaning substantially ALL the people) pouring into the polls to exercise their rights to elect representatives to put the people's ideas and needs to the legislative process. As a democracy Massachusetts must fail: (1) the turnout will be low, probably less than 30%, even as low as 20%; and (2) there are no choices to pick from -- substantially, Massachusetts is a one party state.

Looking at the ballot paper, I saw that Ted Kennedy was actually running in this election cycle. Strange, but I cannot recall seeing a single poster, bumper sticker, advertisement on television or radio. Nothing. It is if as though He does not need these things ... if He is on the ballot, he will win. And he probably will -- a concept so disgusting that it defies rational thought. There was a Republican "running" against him, but obviously so stealth that the GOP decided not to bother spending any money on that campaign either.

Markey -- a Democrat congressman -- ran unopposed. So too for the State Auditor, Secretary of State (actually there was a green candidate too, and I voted for her), District Attorney (northern district), and a host of other positions.

Is it apathy? If so that means that there has been a breakdown of a dynamic democratic system so profound that there is no meaningful debate left. Is it pragmatism? That is, does the GOP realize that the people of the Commonwealth are so uninterested/brainwashed/biased/ignorant that there is no point in wasting the money to run candidates? If so, that speaks so poorly for the inhabitants of the Commonwealth that the collective mind is so closed that even when presented with an intelligent and viable candidate, the GOP will still lose -- no matter how cogent are the arguments presented?

This is consistent with the observation that Massachusetts Democrats are overwhelmingly against the notion of doing what it takes to establish a democracy in Iraq. Why would they care about that when they don't even have one in their home state? The Massachusetts tradition is more akin to a Mullahtocracy: we tell you what is good for you and you worship at the feet of our greater understanding. Imam Kerry. Sheik Teddy. It fits, doesn't it? Don't ask us about the rationale behind our decisions, because only We understand the scriptures. Also fits in pretty well with the PC thought police in our universities -- they like the idea of a one-party one thought state too.

So I wrote in "Spongebob" for every "elected" position that was unopposed. Not very creative, a bit immature and ultimately depressing. And to think about our troops fighting and dying around the world to preserve ... what?

Time to pack up

I never thought that I'd actually come to this place: let's get the hell out of Dodge. Well not completely, but let's let the Iraqi people and their various financiers, supporters, inspirations, backers get on with it.

I propose that the best course of action is now to withdraw from all population centers in Iraq to "lagers" or bases in the desert. We would also cover the oil production facilities which we would run, paying all revenues (after costs) into a United Nations escrow account for the Iraqi people -- to pay for the reconstruction of the country. For you see, when we leave all hell will break out as each blood thirsty warring faction competes to kill as many of the enemy as possible. Mass murder. Civil war. Bloodshed in copious amounts. Even enough to cause the leftists and right wing isolationists in this country to reconsider their position that we should not be there.

The various interested parties have built up enough steam that nothing can contain it -- we need to let off the steam and there is no reason that AMERICANS should die in the process. Let's make our camps VERY heavily fortified and simply kill anyone that tries to come close (30 mile exclusion zone): for you can bet your last dollar that the various militia leaders will try and cause a refugee problem of biblical proportions -- and point them towards us (that's why the desert is a good place to go). Every Sadr/Shiite thug will want to cause the Sunnis to flee, and vice-versa. The Sunni insurgency will fight to obliterate the Iranian dominated Shia militias. These people have been dying to get this fight started for decades and have at least that many years of "debts" owing. In fact the debts go back to beyond the advent of the Prophet: these are warring tribes that have always wanted to kill each other. FINE. GET IT ON.

And when everyone is exhausted -- spent, dead, without energy or weapons, we can try again. In the meanwhile, let Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria pick up the refugee crisis. Let them clean up the mess that THEY created. If we are lucky, Iran will feel emboldened to make a military foray into Iraq to seize the oil and we can exterminate them in the type of military action that we are actually able to succeed in: all out war. In that type of engagement, Iran would be at best target practice ... it would also re-establish our "cred" in the region. Every Islamo-thug thinks we are easy meat because we play by the rules, but they also seem to have forgotten what we can do when we are allowed to. Shock and awe indeed.

There is absolutely NO point to the reconstruction of Iraq until all the trouble makers are dead - not pacified, but dead as in pushing up the gravel. At the moment, we build and they destroy. It costs us -- you and me -- far too much money. No mas. Let's make them pay for their own reconstruction with their own oil money -- after they get finished breaking all their toys and shattering their existence into something meaner than chaos. We will try hard to protect the oil BEING VERY CAREFUL UNDER INTERNATIONAL SUPERVISION NOT TO TAKE ANY, BECAUSE IT IS NOT ABOUT THE OIL.

But a word to the Iraqis: as we are protecting ourselves physically and your future in the oil revenues, don't mess with us. Don't hide in mosques, because we will flatten them. Don't hide behind your women and children, otherwise YOU are the direct cause of their demise. If we manage to continue to produce and sell oil, we will buy food for you and dump it directly by airlift into your cities to prevent it being commandeered by your "authorities" du jour. We will do what we can to help you to live through it. If you prevent us from doing that, you starve.

There is nothing that we, as Americans and occupiers, can point to that would tend to show us that Iraq is trying to help itself. The Iraqi government just took down the checkpoints, barriers and containment devices designed to keep the bad people away from the not-so-bad people. And everyone was cheering because it was deemed to be a blow for autonomy and against the Americans. Idiots. If we withdraw to our fortified lagers I don't think we will have to worry about all parties ganging up on us and attacking us, they are going to be too busy fighting like rabid slum gangs claiming turf to focus on us at all.

In the end analysis, there are far too many people bent on murder for us to stand in the way of them and too few people trying to create a better society to try and help them. Sorry. We did try.

In writing this, I am inescapably reminded of the biblical concept of Armageddon. I could easily see where this action might create the perfect storm of intra-Islamic stuggle, creating a new whole which then turns outwards in true global jihad.

Also, please note that the Israelis today shot and killed women in Gaza who turned out to form a human shield around a mosque in which gunmen had taken refuge. Apparently the idea was to smuggle the gunmen out in women's clothes surrounded by a large crowd of women. Enough of this hide behind the "innocent" shit. If Hamas forced the women out there, then they are the proximate cause of their deaths. If the women went out there on their own, they are co-conspirators -- part of the greater whole of violence -- and liable for the same crimes of violence as those they are "protecting." I regret that women, who by and large appear to be smarter in terms of avoiding violence, should ever participate in the greater Hamas plans for murder. But if they take part in it, then they should pay the price.

I feel absolutely certain that we have not seen the last of the Hezboloonies vs. Israel show: my guess is that we will see round two before next spring. Expect Israel to turn up with some new party tricks designed to turn the underground bunkers into rubble: "earthquake bombs" developed by Barnes Wallis in WW2 would work just fine.

Let them eat [cake, brioche, crow]

How could I resist? Having waited a few days to see what he would do to excuse himself, I was unable to wait any longer: Kerry has passed the fork test ... he's done.

I mean, there is no POSSIBLE way that Kerry can even begin to consider a race for the nomination in '08. More is the pity, because the man is a buffoon and would provide plenty of amusement during the race. But now, with Democrat candidates positively running to avoid being seen with him, he is well and truly "done." Of course, he will continue to be elected in Massachusetts, but that hardly comes as surprise when you consider that the senior Masshole blowhard is none other than Teddy two stories. Or as a friend of mine refers to him: "the Murderer."

So what about the "let them eat [fill in the goodies of your choice]" allusion? Well, it all stems from the basic notion of the "out of touch" politician who lives in a world so remote from the reality that we, as regular citizens, face on a daily basis. Does Dubbya fit the bill? Absolutely! Cheney? That goes without saying. But Cheney never tried to be folksy and Dubbya is out of touch with us in the way Sputnik was out of touch. Way out there and alone, bleeping away merrily.

The interesting thing, however, is not that Republican blue bloods are of that ilk, but that the politicians of the people, the Democrats are being exposed as such. You see, with a tight control of the press and media, their faux-pas are handily ignored, avoided, deleted ... made to disappear. Do you think that for one instance that Hillary gives a flying fornication for the little people? Really? If you do, you are delusional and so lacking in critical analytical capacity that I am at a loss to describe your woeful state. Maybe just call you a liberal ... that might do it.

Back to the plot ... lefties and liberals as representatives of the oppressed ... or oppressors in fact? Vile hypocrites who partake of the very same perks and abuses of privilege that they claim is the sole province of Republicans and capitalists in general. Kerry ... he of the "do you know who I am" motorcade and queue jumping fame. The environmentalist with (or without) the Suburban, the Hinckley Pincic Boat, but staunchly against a windfarm on his cherished Nantucket Sound. And the SCORN for the little guy. I know, his jibe was meant to be at Boosh ... if you believe that, you will also believe the Boosh papers that sank Dan Rather were true. You almost certainly believe in Michael Moore too (another man of the people addicted to five star hotels and Michelin three star restaurants -- between which he travels on a private jet).

The fact is Kerry exposed his true feelings -- only morons join the armed services. People like my niece who is in the Air Force because she can get an education that way. Nobody is going to give her a free ride to Yale and the only club she will be joining is on her base ... not the Bones. People like the little people all over Red State America that actually populate the military because it gives them chances to make better persons of themselves. Mr. throw someone else's medals over the wall. That about says it all: a profound lack of regard for people he regards as inferior to himself.

In a list of people who spring to mind who claim to represent the masses, there are some real doozies. Tony Blair's Presidential reign comes to mind immediately: vacations in Barbados, in Italian villas, Mauritius, safaris in Africa.... His unending lists of friends and cronies (largely liberals and lefties) who have been given seats in the House of Lords ... well that is just too frikkin ironic for me to get my head around. Breathtaking. Kerry would love it. So would Hillary.

The French and Russians may be the best examples of all. We all know how the Politburo lived, the perks afforded by party membership and the dynastic nature of rank, yada, yada, yada.... But look at France, and we can see Byzantine excess -- some committed by dedicated "socialists" elected by genuine Gitanes smoking union strikers called the CGT. A certain new left leader named (oh, so deliciously ironic) Segolene Royal has vowed to reform a presidency famous for its perks:

* Pompidou and Giscard held inumerable "hunting parties" each of which was hosted at one of dozens of presidential chateaus (read: national landmarks and other preserved establishments) -- with absolutely baroque dinners for all;

* Mitterand used to host vast parties at Versailles and insisted that the staff dress in period costumes -- even during summits with visiting heads of state;

* Mitterand loved to fly into Versailles by helicopter and have them turn on the fountains for him -- he liked them so much;

* Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands was flown to Paris by helicopted then taken to an exhibition with Mitterand in a 30 car motorcade ... she was heard remarking (in Dutch) that at home she'd have her head chopped off if she tried this;

* Mitterand is known to have kept at least two different mistresses during his time as President, and fathered at least one girl who only "came out" at his funeral;

* Mitterand and Chirac are/were known for the ladies -- and the stable of quickies that is available to them and paid for by the state should the "urge arise";

* Mitterand is known to have had a tea maker flown in from Morocco to teach his kitchen staff how to prepare a certain delicious mint tea that he had tasted in Morocco;

* Chirac has standing orders for his pilots to circle so that he does not have to land before 7am and interrupt his sleep;

* Chirac's personal budget is about $100 million and there in NOBODY with the authority to actually check how it is spent;

* Chirac's actual flying on government jets is only a fraction of the "presidential usage" of such jets -- leading to speculation that he lets his friends travel on them because certainly someone who is not Chirac IS;

* De Gaulle was known to demand the use of the diplomatic pouch to ensure a fresh supply of crawfish tails when they were out of season in France.

(Matthew Campbell, London Times). That list is only the start of an astonishing list of pecadillos common to French politics. And sets the tone for the new austerity to come in France: with Muslim kids setting fire to 100 cars per day in France claiming that they have no hope ... one cannot help but wonder a bit.

Cutting back to the United States, lets consider some other interesting characters: oh, lemme think ... hmmm ... DOOVAL? He who gets paid $2.1 million (not a Mass resident at the time) to defend Coca-Cola, and before that Texaco? Yes, he did write letters to support the release bids for poor, neglected rapists, and cop killers that is true ... because he knew that they did not get fair trials because they were black.

Hillary? Making enough on books? How's your Senate war-chest getting on? Bill's speaking engagement income enough? Babs Streisand helping out? George Clooney, George Soros and other men of the people too? Hills, before seeing that the vast deluded masses in the Empire State would actually vote for you, did you EVER want to live in New York?

How about New Jersey Sentor Corzine ... a Democrat and ex-senior partner at Goldman Sachs. I'll bet he's wondered where the mortgage money is coming from more than once. And those school bills must have terrified him ... and those property taxes! Good thing that with a little prudent saving he's got enough to take care of the debt of that third world country that he will want to be saving.... Oh. He wont?

Thinking about ex's ... how about Al-Gore (sounds sort of like an Al-Gerian oasis?)? You know down home Al grew up in tobacco country. And his father was a Senior Senator from Tenn. who owned a 250 acre farm. Young Al would be doin' chores during the summer ... while attending a private and expensive DC high school(St. Albans)... and goin' to Cannes to study Sartre and Camus. Now that's down home, "of the people" - like reading!! Bet he's going to get young Brendan down Southie to take an AP class in French existentialism, just like his buddies Kerry and Blowbag.

Howard Dean, love him or hate him, IS a man of the people. People who have rocks in their heads and/or may live in Vermont, but still a genuine guy. Completely off his rocker, but genuine. Too bad a single stupid "yee-haw" was enough to sink him ... all the way to the DNC leadership.

Then you get Kerry Healey. An intelligent, self-made woman -- who has been made out to be a mean-spirited bitch by the press (actually they just channeled their real feelings for Hillary and VOILA!). Hung out to dry by Romney. No silver spoon in her mouth. A decent woman who actually represents what the voters have been polled as wanting, but doesn't stand a snowball's chance in Hades. Now that's ironic. Also typical of Massachusetts, where they'll elect someone who has promised to spend $8 billion more -- of the taxpayers cash, doing things that thevoters have said that they don't want -- because he is identified as being a liberal Democrat. And it doesn't hurt that he's a well-spoken, educated black man either(the rich part is somehow forgotten in the press, but fits into the Corzine/Gore/Kerry/Kennedy mold).

Betcha Dooval wishes he were French!!