Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Great Moments in Right Wing Hypocrisy - by David

As expected, the right wing political machine and their unquestioning minions are lambasting the Obama administration and Director of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano for failing to stop "Underwear Bomber" Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab from initiating his explosive underwear device aboard an airliner over Detroit last week. Remember "Shoe Bomber" Richard Reid? The similarities are striking between the terrorist acts themselves - the failed explosives, the heroic airline passengers, and then the responses of each administration in office. Look it up. 

The real winner today is Tom Ridge, former Director of Homeland Security under the Bush administration. To his credit, he did not join in the main feeding frenzy with the other right wing wackos. However, on the Larry King Show he was clearly critical of the fact that the Underwear Bomber will be tried in a U.S. federal court. Said Ridge, "I don't think he deserves the full range of protections of our criminal justice system."


Well, fast rewind back to the Shoe Bomber. The same Tom Ridge and the Bush administration publicly took great pride in the fact that Richard Reid would be tried in federal court, proof positive of our superior democratic system. Oops.


Well, clearly it is a better system! But the range of hypocrisy and the extent of the political lying from the right is astounding and embarrassing. 

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Dogs Watch TV, Too - by Oscar


Sunday night I took in a couple dog buddy-hero shows on TV. I can do anything they can do, AND I can watch TV, too. Great fun!




Saturday, October 24, 2009

New Link FAV - by David

I've just accidentally found a great political blog/website to rival The Onion! *** The People's Cube ***
Below are a couple of great visuals from The People's Cube. If the text is a bit small, just click on the pic and it will open larger in your browser window. Enjoy.




Saturday, October 3, 2009

Great Moments in Right-Wing Spin - by David


It's all over the blogosphere. The likes of Drudge, Michelle Malkin, Rush Limbaugh, et al, celebrating Chicago's (and Obama's) loss for the 2016 Summer Games, tying it all up to old-style Democratic Chicago politics, the waste of taxpayer money, progressive pandering to the world, etc. Big deal. More right-wing spinification, as well as hypocrisy. See it all at:
Huffington Post

Saturday, September 19, 2009

The Dachshund Train - by David

In the Dachshund train Tootsie's always the lead and Jimmy's always the caboose.

Notice all the stuffing on and around their day bed. Tootsie and Jimmy take pretty good care of their toys. Oscar, on the other hand, literally kills toys. He works at them until all the stuffing is out, and/or until the little squeaky thing squeaks no more.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

AARP... Finally - by David

I just mailed in a 1 year membership to AARP and I'm trying to make sense of it all.

We just returned from a getaway to Orcas Island in the San Juans, WA. Zenny and I had been ignoring those AARP mailings for several years. But this particular AARP invitation had been sitting around the house for about a week... as if calling for action. So I mailed it today along with a $16 check. AFTER I mailed it, I came to the realization that we had returned home without my favorite pair of hiking boots.

Someone else is now enjoying my favorite 12-year old Nike hiking boots because I got up from a post hike rest, sans boots, and left them at the resting spot on Mt. Constitution. What was I thinking? Or not thinking? It's funny to imagine that that "someone else" might be a bear, deer, or even Sasquatch.

I don't care about the boots. (Wait, yes I do!) But I do care that I experienced the failing memory or focus of an aging human, now a new member of AARP.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Political Word Games - by David

New words for the political lexicon. I had the idea, but someone else got there first. Thanks Urban Dictionary!

Palindrone (noun)
A rambling or incoherent speech made by a politician, which makes as much sense backwards as forwards.

Palindrone (noun)
A person who blindly follows a politician, believing everything they say based solely on personal likability or perceived common values, while ignoring the horrifying consequences of said politician's stand on issues.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Dachshund Reunion


This was our homecoming after 2 1/2 weeks away on vacation.

Friday, July 10, 2009

What Do Dachshunds Think When Their People Go On Vacation and Leave Them at Home?

"I'll show YOU. I'm going to find some new, creative places to poop in the house. You won't find them all 'til August. Remember, I'm an expert at burrowing under towels, sofa covers and blankets!" (Tootsie Roll)

"I've had my way with more than a few legs of your expensive furniture. I didn't get them all yet! I'm still the world's worst dog and don't you forget that!" (Oscar Mayer)

"Huh? Our people are coming back? I thought Lorna and Shawn were our new people." (Jimmy Dean)

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Thursday, April 30, 2009

The Swine Flu - by Carnac the Magnificent

Remember the old Tonight Show routine, Carnac the Magnificent, played by Johnny Carson and straight man Ed McMahon? Ed gives an envelope to Carnac, who then holds it to his head and divines the question to an answer. Here goes...

The Answer:  The swine flu



The Question:  How did Dick Cheney get back home to Wyoming? 

Saturday, April 18, 2009

49 States Could Secede From Texas - by David

Governor Rick Perry of Texas hinted at a Texas Tea Party on April 15 that Texas could secede from the United States of America if the federal government continues to strangle Americans with taxation, spending and debt.  
Well, let's beat 'em to the punch. How about if the other 49 states secede from Texas!?

This does create a minor problem, though. To avoid the expense, in these tough economic times, of changing every American flag in the world from 50 stars to 49, we will have to invite a new member into the Union. Puerto Rico? Guam? Or really thinking outside the box, how about Cuba? 

Anyway, I think it's a great idea! I've always felt that the neo-conservatives, right-wing Republicans, corporatists, fascists, Libertarians, and any others who generally misunderstand or disagree with the foundations of our great democratic republic, should have their own place, their own Petri dish if you will, to grow their tax free small-g government Nirvana.

The results will be predictable. What do you get when you have a private-property rich, public-property and public infrastructure poor, tax free, no safety net, no safety or food standards, weak federal government nation? You get a third-world country. Texas will eventually come back, Stetson in hand, begging to rejoin the other 50 states. I'd welcome them back as long as they pay their way, including changing all those flags to show 51 stars. 

If any "tea baggers" happen to be reading this, let the record show that I am a former libertarian and member of the GOP, but still a capitalist. Don't even think about calling me a socialist or a fascist, because I'm not. Neither is our president. 

Faux News Brings Out the Tea Bags and the Scum Bags – by David

I observed with mild interest a group of tea baggers preparing for their tea party near the Trader Joe's in downtown Beaverton on April 15. Since I don't watch Fox Noise, nor read any of Dick Armey's websites, I didn't know too much about it in advance. It was supposed to be a grassroots effort. Yeah, about as grassroots as the occupation of Iraq. 

The brainiacs behind neo-conservatism and liberatarianism certainly know what they are doing. But millions of like-minded sheople have been duped. For that, I feel sorry for them. They don't truly understand the historical foundation of this country, don't know economics, don't know economic history, don't understand that the government is "us" and we are "it", and don't know what "tea bagging" really is. (This is a family blog, so if you don't know, look it up on UrbanDictionary; you may or may not be grossed out).

Let's break it down:
** The original Boston Tea Party was to protest taxation without representation. Ummmm, there WAS a fair, untainted election (finally) and the good guys won. 
** According to organizers, they were protesting, among other things, the threat of gigantic federal deficits brought on by those tax and spend Democrats. For the record, here's a new 9/11 for you:  of the 11 trillion dollar federal deficit, 9 trillion was brought to you by a Republican president and congress. Sadly, many were just protesting all things Obama, using the same talking points and tactics invented in those right wing think tanks. 
** Some tea baggers think there should be no taxes at all. Others think their taxes are too high. For the record, federal tax rates are down across the board compared to 30 years ago. But the tax burden for some is UP (and the deficit for all) because too many others are not paying their fair share. 
** They probably think that our country can and will survive with low taxes and a much smaller, weaker federal government. So speak up, tea baggers! What do you want to give up that you're paying for now? Transportation? Public safety? Free public schools and hospitals? The safety net? Social Security and Medicare?  Federal guidelines and regulations in health, food safety, workplace safety, banking & finance industry, and so on? 

You know, I wish there was a place... a place where all like-minded tea baggers could go and live together. What a great social experiment that would be, though doomed to ultimate failure. That gives me an idea! Thanks Rick Perry, governor of Texas!




Add Image











Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Hello World Rebuttal - by Tootsie

Yeah, welcome to my world, you annoying, obnoxious little twit. You learned the pee pads with one lesson by Oscar? When you're a puppy, everything looks like a pee pad - the carpet, welcome mats by the front door, dirty clothes left laying around. You're not that accurate even when you do try. Keep trying kid.

OK, I have to admit you are a quick learner. David is teaching you the poochie bells to ask to go outside and you're catching on quick. 


Speaking of catching on quick, now I 
have to tolerate another little bag of male dog hormones. How annoying. 


Thursday, March 26, 2009

Hello World - by Jimmy

It's a big, big world here, but I'm settling in OK. Tootsie didn't warm up to me too quickly. In fact, at first she didn't want anything to do with me. Oscar was a bit that way, too, at times. But now he's starting to see me as a little brother. Even Tootsie's coming around now - I'm becoming just another member of the pack. 

My people tell me I'm very smart and brave. Oscar showed me how to use the puppy pee pads - one time only - and I've used them ever since. I think they want me to learn how to use the poochie bells to ask outside, just like Oscar does. I'm not sure I can reach them yet. Brave? Oh yeah. When Tootsie yells at me for just existing, I come back for more, undeterred. Oscar is a bit rough with me (and Tootsie), but I'm holding my own. 

Saturday, March 21, 2009

We agonized for days over the name for our new little wiener dog. We tried out about 3 names, which totally confused him. We started out with "Hershey Bar" because of his dark chocolate coloring. But that just didn't jive with our naming routine established with Oscar Mayer. (OK, Tootsie Roll kinda doesn't fit either; she always badly needs a bath, so we're changing her name to Haggis). But now the deed is done; he has a name. Below is the Facebook post last week. 

Naming a dog is kind of like making sausage:  the finished product is a whole lot more appealing than watching it happen. I never "sausage" a long and drawn out process. This was the wurst! We've finally rendered a name for our new little wiener dog! It took long hours of shredding, grinding, pounding, and boiling over the many choices. Would it be Link Sausage? Pepper Oni? Slim Jim? Brad Wurst? Frank Furter? Vienna Sausage? Piggy N. Ablanket? Or something totally boring and unrelated? Like Rover, Spot, Goofy, Clifford, or Fido.

When it comes to naming dogs, summer sausage and some are not. Our new little link in the family dog pound is definitely of the wiener variety, and needed a name accordingly. All it took was a family walk in the park, just rolling along nose to tail to nose to tail to nose, then a sudden "link" back to a memory of last week's trip down the breakfast sausage aisle at the local Piggly Wiggly. Of course! Finally, it's all neatly stuffed into the casing and tied off at the ends! His new name is...

Jimmy Dean.

New Member of the Pack - by David


Two weeks ago we added a new little member of the wiener dog pack. He was born on December 12, 2008, so he's now almost 3 1/2 months old. Stay tuned for the naming process, then his eventual promotion to doggy blogger. 

Monday, February 9, 2009

I just finished watching President Obama's national TV press conference. Finally, once again, an articulate and knowledgeable American world leader. 

Monday, February 2, 2009

About 10 years ago I imagined retiring in 20 years at about age 65. Ten years later, I'm looking forward to retiring in about 20 years. Where did it all go? "Trickle down" was really "bubble up".

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Rush Limbaugh: "I hope he fails" - posted by David


Let the record show. I NEVER heard anyone say these words about George W. Bush: "I hope he fails". But Rush Limbaugh said it. See the whole story at http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/20/limbaugh-obama-fail

There is a huge difference between how George Bush began his presidency in 2001, compared to that of Barack Obama in 2009. Sure, there were or are unhappy, dissatisfied voters who didn't "get their way". That's just the way it is in in our democracy. The difference is that any disapproval of Bush was the direct result of the outcomes of his actions and policies. But for Obama, president now for barely a week, there really are no results yet. In fact, the right-wing slime machine has been up and running, in full gear, since last November 5. 

What do you have to say about this? What do you think? Is this the way you want your neighborhood, community, city,  state, or nation to be?

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Dream Doggy Beers - by Oscar

Lorna, the younger daughter of my people, once talked about an interest in becoming a brewmaster. There are already some beers with a canine theme - Hair of the Dog in Portland and Flying Dog Pub in Aspen. So I have some suggestions for Lorna's beers based on the names of my cousins, Chloe, Stanley and Jason.

**Chloe Bimbo Blonde Hefeweizen**
Your unfiltered basic - looks better than it tastes
(or is it the other way around?)

**Flat Face Stanley Stout**
In a wide-mouth bottle for easy drinking, no dribbling

**Jason IPA Lot**
Extra hops, more taste, and a little "lift" in every bottle

Monday, January 19, 2009

Squirrels and Socks: One Great Mystery Solved - by Tootsie

I can sit on top of the family room couch for hours on end, watching out the window for those pesky squirrels running across the top of the fence. I just can't figure out how to catch one. If I could only climb trees. If only I were only a bit taller. If only these were ground squirrels.

David is always complaining about missing socks. I think all men must have a drawer full of mismatched socks. It's one of life's greatest mysteries. Where do they go? While there are many theories, I think this mystery has been solved.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

This 8-Year Republican, Neo-Conservative History Will Not Be Re-written


I don't want any conservative to look at my January 16 post titled "The True Bush Legacy" and think that I'm just another Bush-basher. I'm not. As far as I can tell, Dubya is a nice guy. All bashing is best directed at the people and policies that surrounded George W. Bush. Of course, as Commander-in-Chief Guy, he is ultimately responsible. 

It's just that Dubya was most likely a patsy, a tool. Or was he the greatest, most brilliant political frontman and actor of all time? That is the only history yet to be written. At best (for Bush), Bush was nothing but a figurehead in executing the new Republican, neo-conservative world vision. Sarah Palin was to be the perfect follow up. 

The neo-conservatives were born during President Johnson's Great Society. Things picked up for them with the fall of Nixon, at which point they began working toward creation of a coalition between traditional Republican business interests, wacky neo-conservative foreign policy and economic ideas, and the Religious Right.

Leaving aside any elements of religion and so-called family values, here are the hallmarks of this coalition:
  • Government is a corrupt, inefficient monolithic entity that must be suppressed until it is small enough "to drown in a bathtub", in the words of Grover Norquist. Ronald Reagan put in his 2 cents worth with his "nine most feared words in the English language - I'm from the government and I'm here to help" zinger. 
  • We, America, are freedom and democracy. Suppressed people everywhere will fall to their knees and kiss our feet when we liberate them. They will adopt what we do and become like us.
  • Supply-side economics, never ending tax cuts, trickle-down economics. This was the total subversion for economic gain of Arthur Laffer's "curve". What is the ideal tax rate "t" that maximizes tax revenue?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Laffer-Curve.svg   We don't know. Regardless, we've gone way beyond "t" so that we will either spend our way into a depression, or government will be made small enough to drown in a bathtub. 
As for bullet number 1 above, we are the government; government is us. Bullet 2, only when we are a respected citizen of the world. Bullet 3, if you buy into neo-conservative voodoo economics, then you've been fooled; fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, um, um, um, can't get fooled again. The bottom line is that you've been tricked into voting against your own economic self-interest. 

My little diatribe is just the tip of the iceberg on the 8-year Bush legacy and the 45-year history of neo-conservatism. Paul Krugman has a whole bunch more that you would know if you have not been getting your news from reliable sources:

Do not allow any of this history to be stolen or re-written. George W. Bush's legacy has only one remaining question:  George W. Bush - The eternal optimist, a lovable but tragic Don Quixote figure, a patsy, a tool? Or the most brilliant actor and political frontman in United States political history?

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Wanted: Custom Clothing for Dachshunds - by Oscar

Remember some of my nicknames? - Noodle, Gremlin, Magwai, Stripe. Well, they've given me a new one - Tube. 

It's winter, I'm cold all the time, and my clothes keep coming off as I run and play all over the place. So I'm running around the house naked and David tells me I look like a "tube". A tube! A paper towel roll with 4 legs, a head and a tail.

Tube. So I need better, more form-fitting clothing. I'm imagining something like a zippered knit tube-sock. (I'm too active for velcro). Or maybe one of those hideous aerobic exercise leggings popular back in the '80's? Yeah, that's before my time, but I've encountered a couple around the house... Zenny.  Those leggings are great for playing hide-and-seek with Tootsie.

Can anyone help me? It's a long time until summer.

By the way, the pic is apparently a 1910 postcard from the archives of one of MY favorite websites:   http://dachshundlove.blogspot.com .