Ouch!! Politco calls their party's field a bunch of mediocrities.

The candidates say it on debate stages. Voters say it at campaign rallies. It is a staple of Republican rhetoric that 2012 is the most fateful election in decades — a big and perilous moment around which national destiny will hinge.

Here’s what does not get said as often: This big moment on history’s stage is being filled by politicians who so far have looked way too small for the occasion.

Bad manners, to be sure, to state it quite like that on Iowa caucus day. This is supposed to be an uplifting exercise, when discerning Midwestern voters inspect their choices and command the rest of the country to see new dimensions of leadership in candidates who previously seemed like ordinary pols.


http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71026.html#ixzz1iPZlknlY

Stand strong, Iowa DUers. One more day left.

Afte that, you don't have to see the Republicans' faces until Autumn.

Hooorrrayyy!!! The kid goes back to school tomorrow!!!

It feels like it was longer than two weeks off!

Park ranger shooting suspect was mentally unstable gun owner with a history of domestic violence.

Barnes, who was believed to be carrying a cache of weapons, has had a troubled transition to civilian life, with accusations he suffers post-traumatic stress disorder and is suicidal.

He was involved in a custody dispute in July, during which his toddler daughter's mother sought a temporary restraining order against him, according to court documents.

The woman told authorities he was suicidal and possibly suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after deploying to Iraq in 2007-2008, and had once sent her a text message saying "I want to die."

She alleged that he gets easily irritated, angry and depressed and keeps an arsenal of weapons in his home. She wrote that she feared for the child's safety. Undated photos provided by police showed a shirtless, tattooed Barnes brandishing two large weapons.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/02/benjamin-colton-barnes-_n_1179815.html

"Santorum Salad" added to restaurant menu. No, this is not a joke.

A Pizza Ranch manager in Boone, Iowa, has renamed the restaurant’s chicken salad “Santorum Salad,” after Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum.



http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/updates/3354

Texas man tweets New Year resolution to "Assassinate Obama".

"One of my favorite sites on the Internet is Vile Tweets. If you can stomach the stupidity, it’s interesting to see the sorts of things people will write when they think they are hidden behind the wall… or, if you will, under a rock.

This clown, for instance.

Tbone Huffman @tboneh1 30 Dec
New years resolution= assassinate obama
from Corral City, TX

It only took a little while, but I know his real name. I know where he goes to school. And I’ve tweeted him to give him a chance to say if the guy in the Twitter picture is the same guy in the other pictures. They look pretty similar. They all have the same name. They’re all the same age, they all go to the same college in Texas.

We’ll wait awhile before pulling back the curtain. Give him a chance to reply.


http://www.turningovertherocks.com/2011/12/31/bad-tbone-naughty-tbone-mustnt-threaten-president/

Oshkosh, WI man filmed threatening life of recall volunteers. (VIDEO)

"On Tuesday afternoon (12/27/11) I set up to collect signatures in a middle school parking lot. There was no school in session, and it is a public school. I put out my signs, and pretty immediately a signer pulled in. I went to collect his signature. Another truck pulled in behind him. I headed over to it, and asked, "Would you like to sign the petition to recall Scott Walker?" I always ask this, as I don't want to assume anything. Right away this man asked me why I wanted to recall Walker. For me this is a red flag. Walker supporters want to waste your time. They think you come from out of state, and think you haven't a clue as to the damage Walker is doing to the state. And they act like you owe them an explanation. At that point I said, "Just one minute - I'll get back to you," so that I could finish up with the first guy.

Knowing the man in the truck was there to harass me, I went to my truck and got my video camera. I went to the first signer, and got the clipboard and put it away, so that it couldn't be destroyed. I started going the long way around his truck because I have learned not to walk in front of vehicles because people will try to run you over. I got half way around when I heard him say, "What are you doing?"

Carl: What are you doing?
Bob: I'm video taping you, sir.
Carl: You're really kind of a jerk, aren't you? Aren't you?
Bob: Okay, if you've got questions, the reason I'm doing this? (referring to Mr. Sosnoski's earlier question about his motivation to recall Walker).
Carl: Yeah, I do.
Bob: Okay, the reason I'm doing this is because I don't believe in Scott Walker.
Carl: What! That's not a reason! What's your reason?
Bob: I don't owe you any explanations, sir.
Carl: Well, then, you can't use this tape for anything, you know that.
Bob: I can too, sir. I feel like I'm being harassed.
Carl: You are being harassed. And pretty soon, you're going to be killed! Okay?

The man backed off and reached in his pocket. At that point, I didn't know if he had a knife or a gun. It was a phone. He called the city police and said I was harassing him.
I got into my own truck and locked the doors. I called 911. They told me to wait in the truck. In the meantime, Mr. Sosnoski was pacing around the vehicle. I didn't know if the window was going to get smashed or what the hell was going on. An officer came. He talked with him first, and came over to me. I went with him into his squad car so that he could view and better hear my video. That is where I saw the man's name, Carl Sosnoski. He is known around town, and owns the bar Players in Oshkosh.

When I asked the officer if I could get out of the squad car, he told me that he, too, supports Scott Walker. I said that I was sick of being harassed and said I wanted Mr. Sosnoski arrested. The officer said that Scott Walker supporters are getting their signs egged and are also getting harassed. I've always felt that the police are supposed to be non-partisan. I mean, I called for help and the help is on the side of the perpetrator. Even with the video evidence, the officer ended up giving Mr. Sosnoski the most minimal charge possible: a municipal city ordinance violation of disorderly conduct. If I had done what he did, I'd still be in jail."



http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/31/1050369/-Life-In-the-Age-of-Scott-Walker:-You-*Are*-Being-Harassed,-And-Pretty-Soon-Youre-Gonna-Be-Killed!?via=siderec

Happy New Year from the Pacific Coast!!!

Hope 2012 brings us plenty of good news and good times!!!

New Year celebration Philippines style.

I think this might be the most fun place to be on New Year.

Siouxsie and the Banshees - Last Beat of My Heart