Woodward on W

Bob Woodward who has spent considerable time hanging around with Bush and snooping under desks for juicy tidbits offers some criticism of the Bush White House in hopes that Obama can benefit:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/14/AR2009011402791_pf.html. Obama is no doubt bright and will probably avoid some of Bush's mistakes, but he'll be sure to step on his dick a lot during his time in office--it's unavoidable no matter how smart you are and besides, Michelle says he's packing. Get it? Get it? Anyway, I remain a little dumbfounded at the often times paltry advice that Bush received along the way combined with his seeming inability to weigh and evaluate evidence. It appears that Obama is surrounding himself with some smart people and I hope he gets the input he needs and knows what to do with it. Of concern to me is the number of Clintonistas coming aboard--not so much regarding whatever baggage they have from Bill's Happy Happy Fun Time, but when they inevitably clash with "outsiders" in the White House and the four (or eight) year pissing contest for favor with the president ensues. That's not even considering the circus that will develop with Lady Hillary (hereafter known in this blog as, Princess Broadbutt). Speaking of big asses, I used to see Ann Richards around a lot and she had a butt as broad as a doorway. Little known fact there for you. Also, she sat behind me once when I went to see "Master and Commander" and talked all the way through the goddamn movie. That's probably why she lost the election to Bush. Say what you want about him but he knew when to shut the fuck up at the movies. I drove by the state capitol once on a cold, blustery Sunday and saw W out on the lawn by the Terry's Texas Rangers statue throwing a football around with some of his buddies. Should have rolled down the window and shouted, "Take the commissioner of baseball job, George. It pays better and you won't have to take shit from the New York Times." It's all my fault. I suck.

KHAN!!!!!

Ricardo Montalban dead at 88. Rich corinthian leather will never be the same.

I Double Dog Dare You

The link in the previous post listed "Prince Mongo" of Memphis as one of the more infamous local celebs - or "fucking idiots" as those of us with day jobs like to call 'em. Senor Mongo was already well known to me, as I grew up in the city that gave us the Blues, outrageously good BBQ (pork) and MLK day.

Reading about Mr. Howl-at-the-Moon reminded of another Memphis oddity. There's a little place in South Memphis called "Voodoo Village" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhtJyuFo-98. Been there for at least 30 years. Now, it might not seem like much, and it probably doesn't look too imposing. But I'll guarantee you this: when you're 16 years old and sitting in a car filled with pimply-faced crackers just like you, it's midnight on a Saturday and so dark you can't see jack-shit, you're slowly cruising through this place that you've only heard nasty rumors about from the older boys who said that you and your little pansy friends didn't have the balls to check it out late at night, and suddenly - just about the time you decided that them older boys was right and you just wanted to get the hell outta Dodge - the locals - you know, the ones that don't look like you, don't act like, don't dress like you, and most importantly don't like you one little bit - seemingly come out of nowhere and try to block your exit from this dead end hell-hole of a street...

well, it becomes the scariest place on the face of this planet. Trust me.

Local Talent

Some amusing profiles of "characters" found in various locales: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/21075. Austin has this fellow at right, named "Leslie." You'll see him around town, often in a thong and high heels, along with a beard, though he's pictured here in a rather demure skirt and blouse combination with some sensible flats. It's an interesting look. He's reportedly a Navy veteran, along with fellow comrade in arms, Shellback. Anchors away, boys.

Lowry on Bush

Rich Lowry of NR weighs in on where Bush screwed up in his presidency: http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NTQyZTkxY2Q0MzQwZDVhMTZlMmFlMTU0YjQxMWFmOWE=. Not much of an argument here. Certainly irritating is Bush trusting his generals too much in Iraq. A little review of Lincoln during the Civil War would have been instructional--don't be afraid to fire the sons of bitches if they ain't getting the job done--we're not and never have been short of generals. He eventually learned the lesson or had someone whisper it in his ear with the hiring of Petraeus and the subsequent surge, but the PR damage had been done. As president, he was the decider, but he was also one piss poor of an explainer.

One thing about him, though: he didn't throw like a girl.

Hitchens on Islam and Self-Censorship

I don't always agree with Hitchens, but he's one bright lad one hundred percent of the time: http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/02/hitchens200902. A nice read on the unrelenting backwardness coming from the Muslim world and the limp wristed response from the West. Hitchens does state that to be "literate" you need to have read something by Rushdie or some other Indian poet or writer. Uh, I've read a lot of Flashman novels that depict Sir Harry's exploits with various Indian lasses--does that count? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?

Interesting Obits

Colonel David Smiley

Colonel David Smiley, who died on January 9 aged 92, was one of the most celebrated cloak-and-dagger agents of the Second World War, serving behind enemy lines in Albania, Greece, Abyssinia and Japanese-controlled eastern Thailand.

After the war he organised secret operations against the Russians and their allies in Albania and Poland, among other places. Later, as Britain's era of domination in the Arabian peninsula drew to a close, he commanded the Sultan of Oman's armed forces in a highly successful counter-insurgency...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/4210129/Colonel-David-Smiley.html

Harry W. O. Kinnard - "Nuts:

Lt. Gen. Harry W. O. Kinnard, who inspired the storied retort “nuts” to a German surrender ultimatum during the Battle of the Bulge, died Monday in Arlington, Va. He was 93.

General Kinnard parachuted into Normandy in the first hours of D-Day. He received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism during Operation Market Garden, the airborne attack in the German-occupied Netherlands. And he helped pioneer the airmobile concept, sending troops into combat aboard helicopters during the Vietnam War. ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/us/11kinnard.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries