About
Captain Ed is a father and grandfather living in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, a native Californian who moved to the North Star State because of the weather. He lives with his wife Marcia, also known as the First Mate, their two dogs, and frequently watch their granddaughter Kayla, whom Captain Ed calls The Little Admiral.
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The Crows Nest
OpenCongress Web Widget
Ever wanted to announce your support or opposition to Congressional legislation? OpenCongress now has a web widget that allows bloggers to do exactly that. Take a look at this, and check out how easily you can build your own.
Maybe They're Flotation Devices?
The Australian Navy foots the bill for breast augmentations. The Labour Party would like to know why, and probably so would most of the voters in Australia.
The Thinking Blogger
Congrats to Fausta, who won a Thinking Blogger award. She thanks me for my friendship, but the truth is that Fausta makes it easy to be her friend. She's always positive and energetic, and she epitomizes the notion of a thinking blogger. Make sure to put her on your must-read list!
Ensign Calls For Return Of MoveOn Money
NRSC chair Senator John Ensign calls for Democrats to return all campaign funds donated by MoveOn, after their despicable New York Times ad today accusing David Petraeus of treason. "If Senate Democrats are serious about moving our country forward, they will denounce this outrageous ad and return the campaign funds MoveOn.org has lavished on them as well as the donations made through MoveOn.org -- the choice is theirs." Ensign's right, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the refund ...
Support The Al-Dura Petition
Roger Simon at Pajamas Media is circulating a petition to demand accountability for the discredited al-Dura report from France's Channel 2. This is, as Roger calls it, the "Father of all Fauxtography," and C-2 has never acknowledged its fault in airing the supposed murder of a Palestinian child. He wants C-2 to show all of the unedited footage of the incident in order to show that C-2 faked the murder. If they're resisting the demand, I'd say they have something to hide ....
There Goes The Undefeated Season
Notre Dame managed to get its first loss out of the way as soon as possible -- and as badly as possible. Georgia Tech came to South Bend and stomped the Irish, 33-3, in the worst home opener loss in school history. The offense fumbled twice and allowed seven sacks on Evan Sharpley, who must have longed to have Brady Quinn back on the field instead. If Charlie Weis doesn't turn this debacle around fast, he may want to start asking Ty Willingham for some career counseling ....
Would Early Primaries Allow More Donations?
Jim Geraghty at The Campaign Spot believes that candidates will benefit if primaries and caucuses get pushed into 2007. A loophole in campaign finance regulation appears to allow an extra $2,300 per donor for candidates if those elections are held this year. Be sure to check out Jim's analysis, and the surprising candidate that may benefit the most.
When Tom Met Jeralyn
One of the interesting aspects of politics is finding out that opponents are people, too. Jeralyn Merritt of TalkLeft met Rep. Tom Tancredo backstage at NBC's studios, and found him more likable than she had anticipated. Perhaps it was their mutual interest in Dog, The Bounty Hunter ...
Joe Lieberman A Right-Wing Nut?
That's what CAIR says, according to Joe Kaufman. He has a link to a CAIR official's blog post that calls Lieberman, along with John Bolton, former CIA director James Woolsey, and the Heritage Foundation's Peter Brookes as "extremists". Affad Shaikh also calls Dick Cheney a "fat bastard of a liar," apparently not meant as a pop-culture reference to the Austin Powers movies. (via Let Freedom Ring)
Broadband Homelessness
The Japanese have made homelessness more efficient, and more Net-friendly, too. Their Internet cafés have become homeless shelters for the struggling manual-labor sector. The problem has grown into such a problem that government intervention will shortly become a political priority.
Found My Law Firm
Power Line links twice to this story regarding an attorney at Faegre & Benson who refused to become a victim and helped capture a very dangerous man. Keith Radtke is a partner in the firm as is Power Line's John Hinderaker. Radtke is listed in satisfactory condition after getting shot in the back, but that didn't keep him from locking up his attacker in a wrestling grip until police could arrive. I don't know about you, but that's the kind of man I'd want as my counsel ....
Don't Click That YouTube E-mail
The latest in spam seems to be redirections from YouTube links in e-mail to IP addresses without domain names. They attempt to entice people by making it seem that they have been inadvertently YouTubed. I'm sure most people can see through this scam, but just in case, you've been warned ....
Rick Moran Escapes The Floods
Rick Moran has kept us up to date on his travails along the Algonquin River. Yesterday, the police showed up to get him evacuated before the river flooded his home -- but today, Rick finds that a minor miracle has taken place, and that his house survives ... at least for now. Keep Rick in your prayers, and keep checking in at Right Wing Nut House for updates.
Rule 1: Drag The Corpse On Over First
If I've learned anything in four years of blogging, don't try to be out in front of the death rumors, especially with the villains of the world. Saddam died a hundred deaths before we caught him alive in his spider hole, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi almost as many before his demise last year. Osama may or may not be alive, but everyone's avoided speculating on his fate for a while now. Maybe Val at Babalu Blog will get luckier with his "Castro Is Dead" story. We all hope so. I'll wait for the announcement ....
Hobbs Choice
Volunteer Voters is holding its annual "Best of Nashville" on-line polls, and one of the categories is for the best political writer. Our friend Bill Hobbs, now posting at Newsbusters, and he'd like his on-line fans to cast their votes. Drop by and put one in for Bill if you get a chance!
Comments (7)
Posted by Carol Herman | October 4, 2007 3:33 PM
Go wake the gas bag up!
Judge Porter just ruled that Larry Craig can't withdraw his plea.
And, if words mean anything at all, (especially to republicans, who like to "advertise" that they do) ... what are all the gas bags gonna do, now? They can't wear the prom dresses!
Caught in the stall, so to speak.
Where once the stalls were only for the horses.
We've come a long way, to watching both sides of the aisle remain clueless. Sure, they understand that a republican president has low "approval ratings." Well, so did Lincoln!
Still, you'd be hard pressed to find any of these gas bags really worthy of much. Except "playing politics."
While like ot or not, there's something called CYCLES. Where no matter what. Even no matter how well like a particular president can be. The ball leaves the hands of one side. For the others to grab a chance at swatting it.
Of course, for the Bonkeys, their last great "swat" was FDR.
And, so far? How are the gas bags gonna change, as we approach a rather consistent breakdown towards awarding both sides the crack in the middle?
Oh, yeah. October's coming. And, it's not a presidential election year. So the gas bags get to have an October recess. Hope they learn that what they thought of as a senate that doesn't change ... is a reality that diplomatic-pants-dancing is very unattractive.
Wake me, when the senate deals with its factions; and kicks a couple of these mules in the arses. Richly deserved kiester kicks are more in store than just about anything else!
Gotta tell ya, I just marvel at the collection of gas bags.
Oh, yeah. How will the "previously was a prosecutor," dork, Arlen Specter getting treated these days? He sits in a seat in the senate he does not deserve.
Call me, when he feels threatened.
Oh. And, what's it gonna take to send Larry Craig home? So he can continue his non-homosexual life.
You know how you got these turkeys, don't cha? Swearing they were gonna cancel ROE.
Instead? You need wider spreads between the stall's walls. You want me to say this in "sign language?" You mean, the gas bags can't read unless they see flipping fingers?
The senators on the republican side of the aisle have zero claims to fame, right now.
Yeah, they're gonna "tax" the Internet.
THEY ALREADY DO! You mean you don't read your telephone bills?
No. I do not consider McPain, or any other senator, the "first line of defense."
When it comes to us, out here? Guess what happens when you tax? Big differences between charging the public "pennies." And, then watching the government unaware of how trading really works.
Of course, the Bonkeys haven't got a clue.
But for all the good it does the pubbies? Like the affirmative action crowd, they're coming up short on leadership skills.
Posted by TJReady | October 4, 2007 3:42 PM
Actually, I think Sen. McConnell said "modems," not "motors."
Posted by purpleamerica | October 4, 2007 3:50 PM
He's even got a petition up at www.teammitch.com/petition.
Posted by dwightkschrute | October 4, 2007 4:20 PM
If McConnell's so against any raises in costs to consumers and the threat of innovation being discouraged then why doesn't he take a stand to keep internet service providers from being allowed to charge extra for priority web traffic?
I'm sorry but unless he's ready to step up and support Net Neutrality then all this is just empty rhetoric.
Posted by Teresa | October 4, 2007 4:20 PM
How does this play in with the whole "net neutrality" bill?
Posted by dwightkschrute | October 4, 2007 4:46 PM
Both bills are about protecting the rights of consumers. McConnell is right in thinking it's wrong for Federal or State Governments to levy additional taxes. Unfortunately, he's unwilling to take that stand when in comes to your ISP.
Yes, it'll be nice to not have to worry about having to pay $3-$4 more a month in taxes on your DSL bill. But taxes will be the least of worries when we switch to a tiered internet system that will jack up the prices to access high bandwith sites.
Posted by Carol Herman | October 4, 2007 9:17 PM
I'm with Dwight K Schrute. The gas bags are full of rhetoric. But they'll fold like cheap suitcases, when they've got to "fund" the companies that "donate" to their campaigns.
Not very dissimilar from "buying" love in a whore house. Where you pay the madame. And, then you treat your purchase, to your "luv."
Taxes, meanwhile, are a way of life to congressional gas bags. That. And, pork fests.
No cure in site.
Just because it's damamging, doesn't mean it's gonna stop.