Monthly Archives: July 2009

Why the Suds Summit Was a Failure

By Duane Lester - - 3 Comments

These days, I am not known for my drinking.

These days…

However, I am not without experience. And it’s that experience that tells me that today’s “Suds Summit” was an abject failure. And here’s why.

Unless you weigh 95 pounds soaking wet, it takes more than one beer to get the brutal truth. I mean, look at the picture.

You know these guys drank their beer, talked superficially about the incident and went to meet the press.

If they really wanted to mend fences, there should have been a five beer minimum before the conversation started. Minimum.

By then, Biden would have blurted out something like, “Skip, I can’t believe what you said about Borley’s mother! That took some balls!”

Then Skip and Obama start laughing because of A) Biden’s reference to Crowley as Borley and B) what Skip said about Crowley’s mama. Then Crowley fires back with something, more beers arrive, more drinking followed by lesser inhibitions until finally you get this:


Everyone’s too drunk to hurt one another, but also too drunk to keep from saying things they normally wouldn’t.

Then, the truth finally comes out and some progress can be made. They go out for some Five Guys, Biden in the back of the limo yelling, “GIMME THE KEYS! GIMME THE KEYS!”

Finally, they get to the point where they let bygones be bygones and they walk away cool with one another.
What you had today was just a show to make Obama look like an everyman. Nothing was solved there.

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Sidebar Additions

By Duane Lester - - 0 Comments

As you can see, I’ve added some things to the sidebar. The graphics are also links to some of my favorite articles and I would love to hear your opinion of them. The graphics, not the articles. Well, ok, both then.

Do you think the graphics are too much, or do they look good? Sound off in the comments.

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Ed Martin Considers Run at Carnahan's Congressional Seat

By Duane Lester - - 0 Comments

Ed Martin, former Chief of Staff for Gov. Matt Blunt of Missouri, is considering a run for Rep. Russ Carnahan’s seat. Here’s the press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

Press Contact: Brenda Madden Kimberlin, (314) 496-1799

Ed Martin Considers Run for Congress to Serve Missouri’s 3rd District

(St. Louis, Mo.) July 29, 2009 – Ed Martin, a resident and business owner in south St. Louis, today announced he is considering running for Congress to serve the people of Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District. Martin has formed an exploratory committee to consider running for the District which encompasses Jefferson and Ste. Genevieve counties, south St. Louis, and parts of west and south St. Louis County. Martin formed the committee after receiving encouragement from friends, neighbors and people across the district to consider running against Congressman Russ Carnahan (D), whose is expected to seek a fourth term in November, 2010.

“The people of the 3rd District are a critical economic engine for America,” said Martin. “These workers and families want leaders who will stand up for them for jobs, lower taxes, less spending and a government that lives within its means. What has become clear is that Congressman Carnahan is not listening to – or speaking for – the people he promised to represent. Examples include his voting record for the so-called ‘stimulus’ bill, for a massive national energy tax, and his public advocacy – in lockstep with Speaker Nancy Pelosi – for a disastrous government takeover of health care which will lead to rationing and endanger Medicare. I have always stood up for what I believe in and I’m considering running for Congress to make a difference by standing up for our neighbors and fellow citizens in the district,” said Martin.

Dave McArthur, Vice President of McArthur’s Bakery in south St. Louis County, is among those asking Martin to run for Congress after Carnahan voted for the controversial “Cap-and-Trade” national energy tax, which McArthur has publicly stated would force him and other businesses to go out of business. “We need someone who will stand up for our interests and not simply parrot the lines offered by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the national Democrats,” said McArthur. “With SaveAB.com and his other work in service to our community, Ed has shown he will step up and lead. We need Ed in Congress and I’m doing everything I can to gather support – from fellow business owners, colleagues, friends and family – for Ed.”

Dave’s brother, Randy McArthur, will serve as treasurer for the committee. Randy, an active community leader and job creator who is CEO and President of McArthur’s Bakery, was recently appointed to serve on the Missouri Community Service Commission by Governor Jay Nixon. Mary Beth Wolf, managing supervisor at Fleischman-Hillard and 3rd Congressional District representative on the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education, will serve as deputy treasurer.

Martin has been meeting informally with 3rd District voters for several months. The sessions, called “Ask Ed Anything,” have given Martin a clear view of what voters want from their representative. “I’m talking to people, but more importantly, I’m listening,” said Martin. “Public service is about giving a voice to the people you represent.”

For more information about Ed’s background and his committee, “Ed Martin for Congress,” visit EdMartinforCongress.com.

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Stereotypes Abound at White House, President Invites Two Irish for Beer

By Duane Lester - - 3 Comments

This is an interesting twist on the Gates-Crowley story. Turns out they have some ancient ancestors:

In a PBS series on African-American ancestry that he hosted in 2008, Gates discovered his Irish roots when he found he was descended from an Irish immigrant and a slave girl.

He went to Trinity College in Dublin to have his DNA analyzed. There he found that he shared 10 of the 11 DNA matches with offspring of Niall of the Nine Hostages, the fourth century warlord who created one of the dominant strains of Irish genealogy because he had so many offspring.

Ironically, James Crowley, whose name in Gaelic means “hardy warrior,” is also descended from the same line as Gates, having very close links to Niall of the Nine Hostages.

So the two men who took part in what is now an infamous confrontation outside the Gates home near Harvard this month are actually related through common Irish lineage — one of the more extraordinary aspects of the incident that has sparked worldwide headlines.

Wait a minute here…they are both of IRISH DESCENT? And the president asked them both over for a beer?

Well, that sound pretty racist to me. Why does it have to be beer? Why couldn’t it just be a soda? Is it because the president thinks all the Irish do is drink?

Sounds like a clear cut case of stereotyping by the president. What do you think?

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Stereotypes Abound at White House, President Invites Two Irish for Beer

By Duane Lester - - 3 Comments

This is an interesting twist on the Gates-Crowley story. Turns out they have some ancient ancestors:

IrishIn a PBS series on African-American ancestry that he hosted in 2008, Gates discovered his Irish roots when he found he was descended from an Irish immigrant and a slave girl.

He went to Trinity College in Dublin to have his DNA analyzed. There he found that he shared 10 of the 11 DNA matches with offspring of Niall of the Nine Hostages, the fourth century warlord who created one of the dominant strains of Irish genealogy because he had so many offspring.

Ironically, James Crowley, whose name in Gaelic means “hardy warrior,” is also descended from the same line as Gates, having very close links to Niall of the Nine Hostages.

So the two men who took part in what is now an infamous confrontation outside the Gates home near Harvard this month are actually related through common Irish lineage — one of the more extraordinary aspects of the incident that has sparked worldwide headlines.

Wait a minute here…they are both of IRISH DESCENT? And the president asked them both over for a beer?

Well, that sound pretty racist to me. Why does it have to be beer? Why couldn’t it just be a soda? Is it because the president thinks all the Irish do is drink?

Sounds like a clear cut case of stereotyping by the president. What do you think?

UPDATE:

Doug Powers writing at Michelle Malkin notes the stereotyping as well.

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