December 21, 2007
December 20, 2007
Hunting Retailers Are Having a Tough Year
Daniel Gross, Slate Magazine, December 20, 2007
This fall should have been an excellent time for companies that cater to well-heeled hunters and fishers. The farm-based economies of the Great Plains and Midwest are roaring. And the onset of the presidential campaign season, during which you often find city slickers posing as big-game hunters, usually provides a boost—for retailers and comedians alike. President Bush, in what now looks like foreshadowing, went out to shoot for doves during his 1994 gubernatorial campaign, and instead brought down a killdeer, which was protected by state law. John Kerry’s duck hunting in the fall of 2004 failed to sway rural voters. More recently, tough guy Vice President Dick Cheney bagged a septuagenarian, and ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney bragged about his long history of hunting varmints.
But this fall has been a terrible one for those in the business of making and selling rifles and shotguns. And for the dwindling core of optimists who believe the American consumer is doing just fine, the stock charts of companies like Cabela’s, Gander Mountain, and Smith & Wesson should cause them to check their scopes.
Cabela’s, which started as a catalog retailer in Nebraska in the 1960s, has enjoyed explosive growth: It now boasts 26 stores, with seven more to open soon. (As Cabela’s grew into a huge phenomenon—Cabela’s is to the rural well-off what REI is to blue-staters, or L.L. Bean to preppies—clueless New York-based editors occasionally dispatched writers like Manny Howard to decode the alien, rural culture of the company for their urban audiences.) But Cabela’s has done poorly in recent months. Its third-quarter earnings, reported on Nov. 1, were decent, although the company reported disappointing margins. But as the geese began to migrate south, investors soured on the company’s prospects. As this three-month chart shows, Cabela’s has lost 40 percent of its value since September.
Like Cabela’s, Gander Mountain is a Midwest-based (St. Paul, Minn.) purveyor of hunting and fishing gear that evolved from a catalog retailer into a large (115-store) chain. After a solid first half of the year, Gander Mountain has tumbled. In its third quarter, which ended Nov. 3, same-store sales plummeted 8.4 percent from 2006, and the company reported a loss. The culprits, according to CEO Mark Baker: “warm weather across northern states, which affects our critical fall hunting seasons, and soft consumer demand across our store base.” Baker also said the fourth quarter wasn’t looking much better “in light of continued softness in consumer discretionary purchases.” But what’s good for geese has been bad for Gander Mountain. As this three-month chart shows, the company’s stock has lost about 60 percent of its value this fall.
Ex-Mormon Cartoonist Steve Benson, Says Romney Not Telling The Truth
Dave Astor, Editor and Publisher, December 20, 2007
NEW YORK — As an ex-Mormon, Arizona Republic editorial cartoonist Steve Benson has strong opinions about current Mormon Mitt Romney. He said the Republican candidate’s recent speech on religion should not be trusted by media people and other Americans.
In his talk, Romney said “I believe in my Mormon faith” while also noting that the church’s “teachings” would not influence his decisions if elected president.
“Yeah, right,” responded Benson, adding that “Romney also believes in misrepresenting what his Mormon Church actually espouses.”
Benson is the grandson of former Mormon leader Ezra Taft Benson.
He told E&P that, in his view, a Mormon believer is required by church doctrine (as dictated by the church’s “living prophet”) to “obey God’s commands” over anything else. He said “Romney, like all ‘temple Mormons,’ made his secret vows using Masonic-derived handshakes, passwords, and symbolic death oaths that he promised in the temple never to reveal to the outside world” — and that Romney also secretly vowed to devote his “time, talents” and more “to the building of the Mormon religion on earth.”
BartCop.com Volume 2087 – Dems Cave Again
BartCop.com Volume 2087 – Dems Cave Again
In Today’s Tequila Treehouse…
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Rollins Hid Payoff Secret |
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Ron Paul’s Problems  |
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Ugly American Makeover |
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Judge slaps Fascist W |
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Think you had a bad day? |
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Republicans Hate Jesus |
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Gang Raped by Halliburton |
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Bush’s Torture Policy |
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Is Jennifer L Hewitt Fat? |
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December 19, 2007
Ron Paul’s problems
Written by Zen Ferret
So what does Ron Paul believe in?
Lets find out how’s he’s rated by votes and comments:
How has he voted?
Voted YES on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
Voted YES on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions. (May 1998)
Rated 67% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002) [ A mixed record NOT a strong pro civil rights record.]
Don’t ask, don’t tell is a decent policy for gays in army. (Jun 2007)
Anti corporate power? Nope
Voted NO on allowing stockholder voting on executive compensation. (Apr 2007)
Voted YES on Bankruptcy Overhaul requiring partial debt repayment. (Mar 2001)
Opposes “hate crimes” legislation. (Sep 2007)
Present scientific facts that support creationism. (Sep 2007)
Equal funds for abstinence as contraceptive-based education. (Sep 2007)
Tax-credited programs for Christian schooling. (Sep 2007)
Guarantee parity for home school diplomas. (Sep 2007)
Voted NO on allowing Courts to decide on “God” in Pledge of Allegiance. (Jul 2006)
Voted NO on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges. (Mar 2006)
Voted YES on vouchers for private & parochial schools. (Nov 1997)
Abolish the federal Department of Education. (Dec 2000)
Supports a Constitutional Amendment for school prayer. (May 1997)
Voted NO on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol. (Jun 2000)
Voted NO on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels. (Aug 2001)
Voted NO on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR. (Aug 2001)
Repeal the gas tax. (May 2001)
Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 76% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-family voting record. (Dec 2003)
Voted NO on establishing nationwide AMBER alert system for missing kids. (Apr 2003)
Minimum wage takes away opportunities, especially for blacks. (Sep 2007)
No “sexual orientation” in Employment Non-Discrimination Act. (Sep 2007)
Voted NO on restricting employer interference in union organizing. (Mar 2007)
Voted NO on increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Jan 2007)
Voted YES on zero-funding OSHA’s Ergonomics Rules instead of $4.5B. (Mar 2001)
Rated 47% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a mixed record on union issues. (Dec 2003)
Rated 30% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
I have never voted for a tax increase; and never will. (Nov 2007)
Voted YES on making the Bush tax cuts permanent. (Apr 2002)
Voted YES on eliminating the Estate Tax (“death tax”). (Apr 2001)
Overhaul income tax; end capital gains & inheritance tax. (Dec 2000)
No Fairness Doctrine: no equal time if morally objectionable. (Sep 2007)
Voted NO on establishing “network neutrality” (non-tiered Internet). (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on disallowing the invasion of Kosovo. (May 1999)
Voted NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks. (Jul 2001)
If you think Al Gore and 99% of the worlds scientists are right about Global warming, Ron Paul is NOT your man. Is is rated 5% by the League of Conservation voters. One of the only things he actually does take strong stands is against the environment. Yay?
Maybe he isn’t a kook but he is a very conservative Republican.
Or at best? Worst? a right wing libertarian.
Bart’s Note: But, for a Republican, he seems kinda sane.
Fire damages Dick Cheney’s office
A fire has damaged US Vice President Dick Cheney’s ceremonial office in a building overlooking the White House and forced more than 1000 government workers to evacuate.
Hmmmm……. I wonder what potentially incriminating files have been “lost” in this mysterious blaze.
Jamie Lynn Spears: Actress, Sister, Mother?
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/12/19/spears.sister.ap/index.html
In a bit of unexpected news today, parents all over the country found out that Jamie Lynn Spears, star of the tween show Zoey 101 will be joining their ranks. While many are agonizing over what to tell their children about this supposed scandal, they are overlooking the positive choices that Jamie Lynn made, such as deciding to keep her child out of the limelight. While her sister is seen as the epitome of bad celebrity parenting, it seems that younger may be wiser as the teen star prepares for motherhood.
Tancredo Set To Quit
Bye, Bye, Tom Tancredo. Thanks for forcing us to remember that there are still people that are incredibly stupid and bigoted and that unfortunately bigots can make up part of our govenment. Also, thanks for wasting people’s money and time on a absolutely fucking ridiculous campaign. Hope you enjoyed your short time in the spotlight now crawl back into your little cave.
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Ron Paul Won’t Return White Supremacist’s $500
Alex Koppelman, Salon, December 19, 2007
Maverick Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul has been dogged by questions about his supporters throughout the campaign. Commentators have pointed to the collection of New World Order conspiracy theorists and white supremacists who make up a small proportion of his constituency and to previous questionable statements on race at least partially attributable to the Texas congressman. Paul’s campaign doesn’t seem to be afraid of the charges, though. According to a spokesman for Paul, the campaign will be keeping one donation that has raised a few eyebrows.
Harold Meyerson: Hard-liners For Jesus
Harold Meyerson, The New York Post, December 19, 2007
As Christians across the world prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, it’s a fitting moment to contemplate the mountain of moral, and mortal, hypocrisy that is our Christianized Republican Party.
There’s nothing new, of course, about the Christianization of the GOP. Seven years ago, when debating Al Gore, then-candidate George W. Bush was asked to identify his favorite philosopher and answered “Jesus.” This year, however, the Christianization of the party reached new heights with Mitt Romney’s declaration that he believed in Jesus as his savior, in an effort to stanch the flow of “values voters” to Mike Huckabee.
My concern isn’t the rift that has opened between Republican political practice and the vision of the nation’s Founders, who made very clear in the Constitution that there would be no religious test for officeholders in their enlightened new republic. Rather, it’s the gap between the teachings of the Gospels and the preachings of the Gospel’s Own Party that has widened past the point of absurdity, even as the ostensible Christianization of the party proceeds apace.
The policies of the president, for instance, can be defended in greater or (more frequently) lesser degree within a framework of worldly standards. But if Bush can conform his advocacy of preemptive war with Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount admonition to turn the other cheek, he’s a more creative theologian than we have given him credit for. Likewise his support of torture, which he highlighted again this month when he threatened to veto House-passed legislation that would explicitly ban waterboarding.
It’s not just Bush whose catechism is a merry mix of torture and piety. Virtually the entire Republican House delegation opposed the ban on waterboarding. Among the Republican presidential candidates, only Huckabee and the not-very-religious John McCain have come out against torture, while only libertarian Ron Paul has questioned the doctrine of preemptive war.
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Ye Olde Scribe Presents: Presidential Gold; Texas P.
This week’s Scribe begins with a slightly renditioned song…
Come and listen to a story about men named Junior and Jeb
Rich, bratty, snots, always well-fed
Junior has a nack for shootin his mouth off so rude,
And makin comments far worse than crude.Oily they are, rich from black gold, and Texas P.
Well corpses and oil have made them trillonaires,
Us plain folk wish dey’d get da hell outta hair!
Fuckin up dah country from Harlem to Californi-eh
Leavin our children with lotsa bills to payHills of bills, that is.
Swimmin pools full, gay reporter porno stars.Don’t be so quick to say good-bye to Jeb, Junior und kin.
They’re eager to give ya a gift you fer kindly droppin in.
You’re all invited back again to this locality
Have more heapin helpins with Rudy, Mitt or HuckabeeSet your ass back down for spell. Take your underwear off. Put it on your head. Ya’ll shut up now, y’hear?
Ye Olde Scribe Presents: Presidential Gold; Texas P.
Here at the headquarters of YOS International and Booby Hatch Defumigating Company: deep within the BOWELS where… if you’re unlucky, you might find his secret laboratory, Scribe’s most recent acquisition is being tested. (more…)
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December 18, 2007
Jessica the Jinx
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10483045
Jessica Simpson blamed for Cowboy’s terrible collapse.
They couldn’t score one touchdown all day – and it’s her fault?
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Long week; so much going on, so little coverage – it’s the Holiday Season
So here’s a quick recap, so much to dig into If I got paid I could not cover it all:
1) Hillary is sinking. This is not the most important story of the week, but I guess it has the most interest. What a surprise. A candidate turns her back on the activist base of her party to appeal to people that will never vote for her. You know why Hillary? Because your name is Clinton and THEY HATE YOU. Just look at what Steve Adubato had to say on MSNBC:
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