Saturday Morning: The Whistle Stop Tour of The "O" Train and more.....Obama Countdown 2 Days to go Folks......Inauguration Schedules and More....

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Hey Friends....I will be working all weekend, so only in and out of Blogatopia....but I will continue the Countdown....I have some posts below that are worth reading, one on Torture and War Crimes ( My letter to the President) and also I have posted Obama's Parade Magazine Letter to his girls.

We have much to look forward to....but we must not forget our Past and ALL that we have witnessed and seen....and been through....It is possible to have Hope and Courage and still acknowledge The Past....I hope that Obama knows that....
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Update 3PM::: The Whistle Stop Tour::::
((I was supposed to go clean a house today...but the lady cancelled at the last minute...Soooo I got to stay home and watch the Whistle Stop Tour, Lucky me))....Really Beautiful...Thousands of cheering people lined up on the Tracks as it traveled the NorthEast...even in the Frigid Temps ( 5 degrees without windchill)...They were waving Obama Lawn signs and also waving Happy Birthday Signs to Michelle....Obama stopped and gave a speech in Philly ( which I have posted) and now there thousands assembled in Downtown Baltimore waiting to hear Obama......He looks so happy to be able to reach out to people again... And if you want to feel the excitement of watching The Train Go by watch this video that was made by the tracks.... Change is On the Tracks Now.....The "O"Train....

More From the "O" Train....Baltimore 4PM....Part One.

And this is the 2nd Part...really good
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Click the Title and it takes you to the Inauguration Schedule of Events, even this weekend. And Please remember that there are events planned all over and on TV , not just in DC....also do watch for the WhistleStop Tour Obama has planned honoring Our History and Lincoln.....It has three stops today that you can watch....with a speech in Baltimore at 4 PM....

On the Music Front::
On another Musical Note::: FREE * FREE*FREE* *FREE**
Sunday, January 18th:::
"We Are One": The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial, free, live broadcast on HBO -- At 2:30 p.m. EST, HBO will offer a free nationwide broadcast of the We Are One concert featuring Bono, Bruce Springsteen, John Legend and more. Check your local listings to find out where you can watch the FREE HBO broadcast. Read ALL about it here.
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"The Rising" Bruce Springsteen...

((( For me...I will never forget seeing Obama in Cleveland with my son the first time...last winter..but then seeing him again in Downtown Cleveland with 83,000 people 2 days before the Election...and Bruce Springsteen played...and yes, he played "The Rising"...and This Land is My Land...and then watching Obama united on stage with his girls and Michelle and watching him introduce his girls to The Boss....it was special....very.)))
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When Obama finished speaking and met the crowds...they played Ray Charles "America the Beautiful"...( CSPAN showed it)...
so I think we need to hear some Ray....

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Photos From Baltimore ::::

Obama's Letter to His Daughters....(Click the Title to the Parade magazine)

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We will get to watch these girls grow up in the White House....and we will watch this family...finally Love, real Love has returned to the White House....

Amazing Video of the Hudson River Plane Crash,Click Title to watch

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2 Minutes into the Coast Guard Video you can see the plane skid onto the River, and then watch the passengers on the Wings and then watch the Ferry speed towards them...It is amazing that in under 2 minutes they were all on the Wings and the Ferry is coming to rescue them.( I thank Intellectual Redneck for finding this video....I linked him to the title- go say hello....)

Dave Letterman's Final Montage Great Moments in Presidential Speeches

To Restore Justice, There Must be Trials for The War Crimes and Torture Committed in Our Names.

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This man was tortured at GITMO in Our Name for 6 years.
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Dear President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder,
I am writing to you about Crimes , War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity that were committed in OUR Name by the Bush Regime. I am respectfully requesting that Your Administration Investigate and Prosecute the Crimes that were Ordered and Knowingly Carried out against Individuals that involved various levels of Torture and Causation of Inhumane Discomfort and Pain, this includes Renditioning of Individuals to Countries where they could suffer under Foreign laws, as well as Renditioning to Secret Prisons and Black Prisons where they could be held away from Scrutiny and Red Cross Observation.There were many Individuals that went to great trouble to attempt to subvert or re-write Our National Laws and International Laws and Treaties, as well as Defiance of The Geneva Conventions.

The Leadership that Gave the Orders must face Legal Justice, and that includes John Ashcroft, Alberto Gonzales,Donald Rumsfeld, and Mr.Bush and Mr.Cheney. These Crimes were ordered by them, and the laws were flagrantly violated , in Prisons, Abu Gahrib, Other Iraqi Prisons, and Gitmo, and other Foreign Prisons that have been established in clandestine Illegal Gulag System. The FBI, CIA and Military and Private Contractors were Ordered to Follow Orders from the Whitehouse that were in violation of Existing Laws and violating Providing Humane Prisoner Care as well as Basic Rights and going as far as to Torture. At Gitmo some of the these orders were even carried out on Minors. Orders were carried out even leading to Causation of Physical and Psychological damage.

Always in History when there have been War Crimes Committed, there have been Trials. In World War II, and even after Vietnam there were Trials against those that Committed Torture. In these Times there can be NO Exception, or break from Our History, even though Our Own Laws were and have been Violated. The Previous President attempted to Make Laws to Protect his Administration, not to Protect Our Safety. This would also require that the Patriot Act be Fully Dissected and Re-evaluated, as all laws that justify the Interrogation and Torture in Our Names are indeed still part of the Problem and Violation of Rights.

As a Nurse I am also concerned that Medical Personnel in the Military were used to institute or as a part of the Interrogation Techniques and as passive and active participants in a knowingly harmful process. This would also explain why Detainees were hidden from the International Red Cross as they experienced harmful care and treatment. At this point is Also Medically Necessary that ALL Remaining Prisoners and Detainees have Full Medical Exams By Civilian Medical Personnel and be finally accessible to the International Red Cross.

I also respectfully ask that if there is a War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity Investigation that Katrina must be included in the Investigation and Prosecution, as the President Knowingly Neglected Thousands of Natural Disaster Refugees that under International Laws should have been fully protected and cared for under his Leadership. ( per Standards and Laws explained by the U.N, and they did send an Disaster Assessment Team to NOLA in September 2005). It is also revelant that Our National Guard Troops were deployed illegally to War Zone based on Lies, and that left Our Home Disaster Stricken Areas without Enough National Guard to Render Care, Aid, and Shelter perpetuating a Cycle of Criminal Negligence.

I am respectfully asking that you appoint a Special Prosecutor, as well as Form a Special Investigatory Review Panel to examine those that have been harmed and mistreated by the Previous Regime, that it be based on the Investigatory panels that were put in place to work on the Nuremberg Trials. Senator Dodd's Father worked on the Nuremberg Trials, expertise on these trials should be willingly pursued and consulted. It also must be noted that the International Community also must be allowed to see that this Process is being carried forward. It is to be noted that Other Countries also have Concerns about War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity. They should be allowed some way to see that Justice is being restored in Our Country , whether it be with Public Hearings or Written Reports. American Citizens also must be given Transparency as well, with Hearings to be seen on CSPAN or some other Public TV or Youtube. American Citizens suffered 8 years of Lies and Propaganda, and many fear that there have been even worse Crimes committed in Our Names that we must Know.

Full Truth and Justice are needed to Heal Our Nation, turning Our Backs on Crimes will lead to Continued Damage and Pain in this Country.

Thank you for reading this letter and hearing my concerns. We place our Trust and Faith in your Constitutional Law Knowledge and Skills, and that we again have a Leader with a Moral Code and Integrity.
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( click title for BBC article about why Gitmo must be closed....and torture. )

More On Torture, and WHY it must be dealt with....

Obama to end HARSH Interrogations, and torture, BUT there is a Loophole possibility ????
NO....There can be NO Loopholes or Bending of The Existing Laws and Rules....There are no Compromises on such issues after what has happened and was done in Our Names in the past 8 years.
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Update 1.18.09
Someone told me later about Turley on Coundown...so I found him explaining WHY War Crimes must be Prosecuted....(my apologies for finding 3 days late)...

Late Friday Night Music......Something Completely Different....

I saw this band on Dave Letterman Tonight...sooooooo Incredibly Talented....If you are a David Bowie fan...you will be enthralled with this amazing band from the UK...Very Very Hot....wow...
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Airborne Toxic Event " Sometime Around Midnight".....

Click the title to hear more..."Wishing Well"....and how about Gasoline.....
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On another Musical Note::: FREE * FREE*FREE......
Sunday, January 18th:::
"We Are One": The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial, free, live broadcast on HBO -- At 2:30 p.m. EST, HBO will offer a free nationwide broadcast of the We Are One concert featuring Bono, Bruce Springsteen, John Legend and more. Check your local listings to find out where you can watch the FREE HBO broadcast.

Obama Countdown... 3 days to go folks...( Friday Funnies and Other news for your Hot Coco)

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"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step" Martin Luther King
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3am....
We are Negative 8 right now.....Negative 23 with wind....Dave Letterman made great COLD jokes last night...
"It's So Cold that I was walking through Central park and I saw a Squirrel knitting booties for his nutties"...
and" It's Soooo Cold that Sarah Palin shot herself a New Coat"...only Dave can make me laugh about The Cold......Speaking of Dave, here is Obama doing the Top 10 On January 24th, 2008, about Campaign Promises....I have good heat this winter thanks to a Wonderful New Heater....but I am still cold....There is plenty down below to see...The Plane Crash in the Hudson River, and music and news on many fronts, and even the Eric Holder video about WaterBoarding IS Torture...

Blog Round Up:::
Border Explorer reports on Chertoff's GoodBye Party...
Bad Tux my favorite Penguin has an interesting post up about War Crimes and more....
DK's Art Project and she did my photo, so cool, although it might scare small children....
Or you can go to the site and make your own. Do you need to Hear Some Obama....a really Powerful Video is linked to the Title.
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Obama News::
DC Lawmakers are looking at Delaying the DTV Switchover.....as they state that the Lawmakers say U.S. NOT ready....
Repugs are already Grumbling about the HealthCare Plans because more Children would get Healthcare.....
Activists sue over having rights violated and computers seized...
Obama is coming to Ohio to visit a Wind Turbine Factory......
Late last night there was a snippet on the Ticker about Bank of America being Bailed out for Billions by the Treasury, and I am confused, because I thought they were solid and had BOUGHT Washington Mutual ? And the articles said it was to help with their troubled assets, but I suspect that is NOT Mortgages and Homes on the line?
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Obama Music Countdown:::
"It's Our Time Now" Nicole Waters....

Bet Williams a mom wrote this during the Election Season, and her kids are in it too..." We're with you"....

Zydeco for Obama "Oui on Peut" from Louisiana 2008....

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Read the quote below that Martin Luther King wrote about Vietnam....but it is about War, and can easily apply to Iraq...
"Somehow this madness must cease. We must stop now. I speak as a child of God and brother to the suffering poor of Vietnam.I speak for those whose land is being laid waste, whose homes are being destroyed, whose culture is being subverted. I speakfor the poor in America who are paying the double price of smashed hopes at home and death and corruption in Vietnam. Ispeak as a citizen of the world, for the world as it stands aghast at the path we have taken. I speak as an American to theleaders of my own nation. The great initiative in this war is ours. The initiative to stop it must be ours."
Martin Luther King, Jr., The Trumpet of Conscience, 1967.

LIVEBLOGGING Bush's Final Speech of His Titannical Administration, tonight at 8PM, Foul Mouth Jar will be open, and heave shoes at your TV.....

Meet me here...I am SOoooo Ready for this Night,this will be the Last time we have to watch him drive the Podium drunk and listen to him murder our Language like a lost Criminal Crackhead Cowboy....Yeah, Bring It On ..Mission Accomplished King Asswipe...Don't MisUnderEstimate my ability to LiveBlog THIS Event....

8 PM this will be the Top Post....

(CSpan linked to my LiveBlogging Debate Posts, even emailed me..LOL...Please do let them link to this post , yeah...)
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Obama Countdown Blogging below....and yeah,Dixie Chicks "Not Ready to Make Nice " linked to the Title....and Pink's Dear Mr.President,

Obama Countdown......4 Days to go folks....

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"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent."Martin Luther King
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Okay so I am off this morning, hiding under the covers with the Critters...( like I am rushing anywhere when it is Single digits and Negative Something when the wind blows ???).And yeah, truthfully I would have called in sick to see the Eric Holder Confirmation Hearings ( do read more about them at this HUFFPO link, THINGS are getting VERY interesting at the JD)....First off I am also OFF tonight...so yes, I will be here Liveblogging Bush ONE Last Time....His Finale Speech...The End of the Emperor's NO Clothes and this Titannical Administration....So come back later if you like...I will be here...
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On Obama Watch::::
So this morning during Eric Holder's Hearings we learned that yes, indeedy WATERBOARDING IS TORTURE and the Video is Posted below.... ( and if you read the BBC article below about torture have Mylanta ready ).
About Iraq, yes the Pentagon is actually working on setting up TIMETABLES for Withdrawl....as Obama wanted.
( Meanwhile ARREST BUSH "celebrations are planned for next week, you can read more here, and see what you think .....)
Oh, and you know how Rove and Bush Thought that those Emails are "missing"....well geez it turns out they may indeed have been Found after all.....
Meanwhile House Dems have proposed a Real Stimulus Package that Includes JOB Creation...it is Not a Bailout....
And the Senate voted to give OBAMA the next 350 Billion which is a good start....
And for some Fun do go visit at Redheaded Wisdom, she has a scathing post up about Bush and a wonderful Art Project....And then Dada did an Amazing Prophetic Post that is a MUST SEE...seriously...
And up in Alaska in SarahPee land, Gryphen blogs about a small village that needs our help too, please read and do what you can....
and also go visit Station Agent at at Ice Station Tango, he suggests Obama break Bread with Bloggers...great idea...
More news to come later today, email me or leave me messeges in the Comments of Things we need to know....thanks.
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A year ago this week Obama had just started winning his Primaries....we all have been on an Amazing Journey...He is Our Leader now, No More Bush..." One Voice Can Change Everything... " video::

"The Tide is Turning"...by Roger Waters....Awesome Video Assembled by Bob Cesna...

"I got Soul But I am Not a Soldier " by the Killers ( and yeah, it is a Nike ad....forgive me...but I love this song) It's funny, but if you think about it Bloggers are Quiet Warriors...and we should all remember these past 8 years, because there was indeed a Battle Raging Within this Country....

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"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country." Lincoln's Second Annual Message to Congress, December 1, 1862.

Eric Holder Confirmation Hearings "WATERBOARDING IS TORTURE".....Finally !!!!

4 Minute Video of Leahy Asking Important Questions about Torture, listen to Holder's Answers....Stunning video.

( sorry it took awhile to find on Youtube...Linked to the title is BBC article about Torture at GItmo...)
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{{Over on Sidebar I have a Petition for a Special Prosecutor to be appointed regarding war crimes....and here is a video with more about this issue...}}

BREAKING NEWS::: US Airways Airbus , Flight 1549, enroute to Charlotte, Went down in Hudson River at 3:30 PM, Click Link to Updates

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3:56PM
So far MSNBC is interviewing Flight Experts, they are saying it is due to the plane running into a flock of Snow Geese, disabling both engines (?) They are showing the plane in the water, with Rescue and Ferry Boats in place attempting to rescue, 148 passengers, 5-6 crew. ( air and water are frigid cold). Unclear if Exits are underwater. Turn on your TV, Updates in the Comment Section.
MSNBC::::
NEW YORK - A US Airways plane crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon after striking a bird that disabled two engines, sending passengers fleeing for safety in the frigid waters, a government official said.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown said the US Airways Flight 1549 had just taken off from LaGuardia Airport en route to Charlotte, N.C., when the crash occurred in the river near 48th Street in midtown Manhattan.
MORE Coverage:::
CNN Coverage here.
LA Times
Newsday has Video and More.
UK- Times Online has more...
Even More video and news from Huffington Post
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4:30PM
MSNBC , the FAA is reporting that ALL Passengers and Crew have been Rescued and are accounted for at this point, WNBC is reporting that it was a Controlled landing and atleast one engine caught fire. They are being taken to 4 area hospitals for treatment and care.
Phone Number for Families ::
( plane was scheduled to go to Charlotte and then on to Seattle).
800-679-8215
8PM Update:::
Seattle PI is is revealing more about the Pilots....and Who they are...

Hudson River Plane Crash VIDEOS...( Updated as of 5:30PM)

Click the title to Huffpost Survivor Videos::
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NY1 News Video ( 9min),

Rick Sanchez Report as it breaks on CNN::

Interview with Survivor Passenger Jeff Colajay ... ( one of the first interview seen)

OBAMA INAUGURATION AND SCHEDULE: IT ALL STARTS THIS SATURDAY....

Click the title, it has all the Information about this Weekend, as that is when the Celebrations start....HBO is even showing the Lincoln Memorial Events on Sunday ( free on Cable- check your listings..)

Meanwhile in Gaza....( Isrealis Shell UN Building there and No One Says anything????)

About Torture...BBC article...

Read this article....and yeah, Bush thinks that No One Should have a Problem with HOW Detainees are "treated" ...Really ????omg....the Shame of this Administration...( and do scroll down to my link on the Nuremberg Trials on Youtube...there must be trials....)

Obama Countdown ....5 Days to Go...And What we are Reaching For...Let the Healing Begin...

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Martin Luther King 's Hopes are being Honored....finally.We all have a Dream Now.
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The Song today is Called "I Reach" it is a Beautiful song ( remade 80's song) with a photo Montage of What has made us as a People Reach for New Leadership and Reach for Change....it is very well done...and poignant. Each of us is Reaching for Change for Different Reasons....Reaching Out of Need, Out of Hope, and yes, even Out of Despair and Pain.Even people in Pain and Suffering can want Change and Reach for the Future. Perhaps that was Martin Luther King's Greatest Lesson, how even in the Greatest Darkness being able to reach for the Light and reach for Hope and to Dream Again. Last Winter when we saw Obama he said " We don't need more Heat in DC, we need More Light."

8 Long Years of Darkness is ending folks...and we helped make That happen...all of us.
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"I Reach"....by Zach Bruce...

Click title to learn more about this video.
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MINI Blog Round Up:::
Grace Nearing " Scriptoids".... I stumbled onto her blog, sharp and insightful..
Beach Bum has a great post up Saying Goodbye to Bush.....
And stop by and read Blueberry's Post about that Damn Snuggie Ad, and also about Obama Ben and Jerry Ice Cream.....
Distributor Cap really is dissecting the Finale of the Bush Regime....
And then DK does a nice wrap up of the Medals of Freedom Or "the Sting".,...
And Last but not least do go visit Ingrid, she has some great posts up about Gaza, but it is also her Birthday....so go wish her Happy Birthday...
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MORE NEWS FROM BUSH'S FINAL DAYS AS HIS TITANNICAL ADMINISTRATION SINKS....
And More on Crimes in the JD, LA Times article about Scholzman's Crimes while working in Civil Rights at the JD...So he broke the Law working for the JD, and then lied to the Senate about it.....

Now about Bush Crimes....there is NOW MORE to come....it turns out that Bush not get off scott free....That Some Dems want to seek Prosecution...well, I am hoping... And Jonathon Turley also weighed in Obama
will not be able to Look Away regarding these Crimes....

Speaking of Bush Crimes, finally Anderson Cooper speaks up about Bush and His Version of Katrina Memories.....Anderson WHO was There, should speak out....finally.

House and Senate to Launch YOUTube Channels....Oh dear what does this mean for CSPAN and my addiction to CSPAN ???
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So TVA situation is still a Mess ( yeah, like that would shock any of us ?)....and Erin Brockavich went to assess the situation this week, this article in Huffpost tells MORE and explores the Health aspects of the Contamination. Including the WATER aspects, which are very serious and impact many thousands of people... We can only hope that Obama's EPA and health teams really work on issues impacting so many....
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Scroll Down there is a video from Michelle Obama, a surprising Progressive Moment on The View and More....
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Bonus Video...because I can not help myself...:::
Because we are getting a Basketball Person in the Whitehouse...for real.......Marvin Gaye Sings the National Anthem...

Michelle Obama's Call to Service....Honoring the Change of this Weekend and MLK....

I am so excited about her being The First Lady......She is so amazing...and inspiring...

The Story of Ben's Chili Bowl in DC....and Obama's visit there this weekend and why it matters...

Obama went there this weekend on January 10th....it has quite a History...Opened in the 1950's...Always Served ALL Customers Black and White the same...and So I was watching the 1600 Pennsylvania Show with David Shuster yesterday and he explained how it had even stayed open during the riots in 1960s...and how the Night Obama won the Election the People had celebrated there and then moved in the Street and then the Police had escorted them as they marched sang and danced over to the WhiteHouse.....

The Party that Started at Ben's Chili Bowl and moved to the Whitehouse on Election Night....is posted, linked to the title...note how Dark the Whitehouse is...and the people Celebrating , No One stops them.....a beautiful thing... and it started at the Chili BowI.... need to take my son there for a Chili Dog....and some History...

Ann Coulter Lost her Damn Mind on The View, and Whoopi and Joy and even Barbara Did What needed to be done....FINALLY....

( Maybe Matt should learn a thing or two about HOW the women of The View handled this interview....and please do watch Annie the Narcisstic Bitch hit meltdown....)" Watch them take Out The Trash."...( Annie has whole Chapters in her NEW piece of shit book condeming Single Moms and their Children....she goes after Liberals, but her attacking moms really hits a new low..) The Video is about 8 minutes....but priceless....and packed with Annie- Pouting,paranoid and blathering like a rabid dog on a hot summer day....Badtux- I went ahead and posted it....

For Added Bonus I linked a Goodie to the title:::: Al Franken Educating Annie C- about the LIES in her Own Book July 2007...wow..and now he will be a Senator..Time's A Changin'....