Amici:
The Principessa Ann Marie is still too sick to pose for pictures (she’d probably kill me if I took one of her today, she has the flu) ... so yous will have to wait until next week for the "This dog (Rigoletto) and all dogs and Casa Stella" against Romney picture I had planned. In the meantime, in Thursday’s New York Times there was an article titled A Dog’s Grace ... and it’s another reason why anyone who owns a pet of any kind shouldn’t consider that cardboard cutout, roof-racking MF’er ...
The Debate … this was pretty much what Democrats had hoped for … that the President would change his strategy of not preparing (or taking Quaaludes before going on stage). Whether it was Red Bull or vigorous preparation, or a combination of both, President Obama did what he needed to do Tuesday night. A resounding victory that stopped the bleeding and restored some faith for the cheerleading crowd at MSNBC. Rhetoric aside, Obama exposed the Rominator (Modern Mitt vs. the Grover Norquist model we’ve had to endure throughout the Republican Primaries when he was begging for the wingnut vote). Ultimately, Rominator is a guy who will say whatever the crowd in front of him wants to hear (i.e., the $50K a plate dinner where he dismissed 47% of the country). Romney’s 5 point game plan was shredded with simple math. Obama’s refusal to let the Republican candidate spew nonsense he couldn’t explain was very effective: “That’s not true, Governor.”
The assumption going in was that Romney would be strongest on the Benghazi debacle (and it was a debacle, ignored requests for security in that region of the world is pretty incompetent by any standard), but the President turned that one into a huge victory (with a little help from the moderator) with some clever semantics, taking responsibility, and later scolding the GOP candidate for being offensive. I would’ve preferred they engage in the Afghanistan mess Romney refuses to set a timeline for (which means it can go on forever), and how much that insanity continues to cost the country in blood and coin (since he’s so concerned about the deficit), but that subject didn’t come up. The Afghanistan issue were Biden’s best moments vs. the little Ayn Rand wannabe last week when Biden repeatedly asked the GOP VP candidate if he preferred keeping Americans in the line of fire rather than Afghani nationals and/or did he want to start another war (in regards to Iran).
Binders full of women … the line of the night, no doubt, was this beauty (“I went to a number of women's groups and said, 'Can you help us find folks,' and they brought us whole binders full of women”). No sooner than the words flowed from his Mittness’s mouth than Democrats across the country were smiling ear-to-ear. I immediately googled Playboy’s archives for those complete yearly catalogue holders …
Although both candidates were asked the same questions, it was apparent to me that Candy Crowley was not as objective as she should’ve been. Obama’s completely lackluster performance in the first debate certainly offset any chance of moderator aid last week (and there didn’t seem to be any from Lehrer), but the fact the President attended Martha Raddatz’s wedding and she and her husband attended the President’s wedding seemed more than enough to disqualify her from being an “impartial” moderator. It just wasn’t kosher. Couldn’t they find a single journalist without wedding ties? But Joe Biden did just fine vs. the Ayn Rand wannabe (Paul Ryan never gets to walk that back, no matter how many times his church tells him he can’t like Ayn Rand anymore).
In round two Candy Crowley could have put all accusations of media bias to rest had she asked the President a question NO ONE has asked (on behalf of the people it affected most, a question Republicans won’t dare ask). Mr. President, in 2007 you promised to put on a pair of comfortable shoes and walk the picket line should collective bargaining rights ever be threatened. Well (speaking of the broken promises), where were you in Wisconsin?
The toughest moderator I’ve yet to witness in any of the televised debates (ever) was the one Mike Wallace of FOX (of all networks) hosted during the GOP primaries. He went after everybody with equal fervor and held them all to the same fire. And trust me, I’m no fan of anything FOX …
Ultimately, this presidential election isn’t much different than any other. They’re all “the most important election in our lifetime” ... every four years, like clockwork ... but the reality is, so long as money talks (see Citizens United), and until the collective voting public accepts we’ve been sold a bill of goods with this two party system, change for the betterment of the greater good of society will only come either extremely and painfully incrementally or in the flash of violent revolution. TK says it’s a pick’em ...
Someone we can relate to … In the meantime, these are the cards we’re dealt (Romney vs. Obama) … and if we’re going to vote for people we feel comfortable having a beer with ... or someone we can relate to ... or someone who can relate to us, here’s the formula to consider: One guy has elevators for his cars, offshore accounts, so-called “blind trust funds” he uses as an excuse to claim zero responsibility for pulling money out of our economy, has flip-flopped on every major issue of our day since he first started running for president a dozen years ago ... and, ultimately, when traveling on family outings, he roof racks his dog (literally puts his dog in a cage and straps it to the roof of his car). How many of yous do that? How many would even consider it? If there are people out there who can answer yes to roof racking your dog(s), I’ll assume you’re a moron, never mind somebody I can ever relate to.
So, either you vote for a guy who talks a great game and doesn’t quite deliver (especially to unions and labor in general) ... or you can vote for an over-privileged moron who takes better care of his cars than his dog.
Romney won’t make it better … but he’s sure to speed the plow toward revolution some day …
Boycott Apple … why we should boycott Apple … because a report last week showed the company was not only exploiting workers in China (60 hour work weeks in crap conditions), they were paying production people here $25K a year … apparently upon hearing about the report hitting the media, they immediately announced a 25% US salary raise (wow) … so think about that the next time you can’t wait to play with your apple … if there are no other manufacturers of similar products to buy from, how about doing without? Believe it or not, you can survive …
Radio … driving to and from work (and/or the hospital) is the only time I get to listen to radio. Mornings my choices (in order) are: ESPN, IMUS, WFAN and the Philly Show (Angelo and the Morning Show 94WIP, which I can't get clearly driving home for some reason). Coming home it’s Marc Levin, WFAN and ESPN/sometimes 94.1 Philadelphia’s fan. Why Levin, yous ask? Frankly, because this guy is so friggin’ crazy, it’s actually entertaining to hear him for a few minutes each day. I’ve yet to make it beyond one commercial break, but that’s because he goes from funny to boring extremely quickly. His funniest moments come during one of his famous rants when he goes batshit crazy yelling into his microphone. For extra fun, one has to listen to the names he’s assigned some of what he calls the leftist, socialist, marxist media. “MSLSD, Rachel Madcow, Morning Shmoe, Chris can I have another drink Matthews, and the rest of the conga line of freaks over at MSLSD, the Washington Compost, the New York and Los Angeles Slimes,” etc. The other funny stuff has to do when he takes a call from one of his choir; sometimes one has to wonder if they have teeth in their mouths when they speak.
NFL Report Card ... So much for the Cheatriot running game and/or their defense ... Brady passes 58 times and their secondary let receivers get behind them when they absolutely couldn’t ... that running game (lack of one) led to one big Loss ...
The Falconettes 6-0 record is very misleading ... be careful betting this team. We liked the Raiders getting 9 ... if Carson Palmer wasn’t giving away points, the Raiders would’ve won outright.
The Dog Killers went down, as predicted here at TK ... and the Lions tried their best to blow the game (they really did). Both teams can use some discipline ... probably new coaches while they’re at it … and just like that, Andy Reid backstabs one of his own. Faced with almost certain extinction his own fat self, Reid fired the guy he moved from coaching the offensive line (for ten years) to defensive coordinator. Poor Juan Castillo. Way to go Andy! Class act. It’s not like you’re the guy overseeing that disaster … or that your QB sucks. It must be the fault of the defense that Mike the dog killer Vick can’t hold onto the football or stop himself from throwing to the wrong team. Way to throw one of your most loyal people under the bus. The only good thing from all of this is how stupid your owner must feel for a) signing the dog killer in the first place and b) keeping you another pointless season.
Rivaling the Dog Killer coaching staff, no doubt, is ours ... for the honor of being the dumbest coaching staff in the league. My beloved New York State Buffalo Bills had the game won with 4:00 remaining, but after running a play on first down and killing 30 seconds, they went “wildcat” and tossed an interception on second down in the end zone, letting the Cards back in the game with enough time to tie it and go to overtime. Imbeciles ... the Bills won in spite of a terrible coaching staff. The five sacks were a pleasant surprise, but let’s see if they can do it against an offensive line that isn’t rented.
The Moonachie Blue team looked awesome. Not only does Eli own Giselle’s husband, he also owns the 49’ers, our pick for this year’s super bowl champions. The only thing that can screw up Moonachie Blue outside of injuries is if Eli becomes a pass happy lunatic. I think Coughlin will keep him from doing so. Tough schedule? Doesn’t appear so anymore.
The Pack ... they were due to return to form and they took it out on a Texan team that was due for a beating. That fugazy loss to Seattle will now loom large as the season progresses.
TK’s locks of the week ... using the point spread (demanded by some a’yous) ... how about this result: 9-4. Locks below picked on 10-18-12 during lunch at work.
Take 49’ers and lay the points (-7.5) … the 49’ers are pissed off and will score on defense …
My beloved New York State Buffalo Bills have two advantages this week … the Tennessee Tuxedos lost their QB and we’re playing at home … take the Bills and lay the points (-3) …
We like the Cardinals (+6) getting points in/at Minnesota …
The Brownettes are rockin’ and rollin’ … but the Coltless have Luck … we say take the Colts and lay the points (-2.5) …
Houston at home vs. the seriously injured Wes Cravens is a no brainer. Take the Two-Steppers and lay the points (-6.5) …
The Pack (-5.5) is THE LOCK OF THE WEEK vs. the Ramettes in St. Louis …
The Cowgirls at the Superman Blues (Pantherettes) … Tony Romo’s Ribs need a comeback and Superman should make it easy with a few picks … take the Girls and lay the points (-2) …
Moonachie Blue is the team to beat, but they always seem to nap within their conference … this week RG III covers the points spread; the G-man win, but won’t cover … Washingtonians (+5.5) …
The Bucaroons aren’t kidding and the Aints’ are (themselves) … take the Bucs and the points (+3) at home …
The Cheatriots hate Moonachie Green almost as much as Knucks hates the Cheatriots … New England covers easy … lay the wood (-10.5) …
The Silver and Black aren’t good for winning, but they are for covering … take the Silver and Black and lay the points (-4) over Jacksonville …
The Pirates and the Reds in Cincinnati … and both teams need the game … but the Bengalis just lost so take them and the points (+1.5) over the Steelers …
In the Monday night fiasco, we like the Lionettes of Detroit and the points (+6) against the Cutlerettes of Chicago …
—Knucks
The Ghost of Tom Joad … the people Romney doesn’t have to worry about.
