Archives:October, 2008 | The Fireside Post October, 2008 | The Fireside Post
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Archive for October, 2008

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Tortellini and Alfredo

Last evening we were knocking around the kitchen, looking for an easy but tasty meal. There was some fresh Tortellini in the fridge so we did some experimenting. Tortellini is a ring shaped pasta, usually stuffed with a meat and cheese, or just a cheese mix. We prefer the fresh tortellini, but we have some […]

15Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Tortellini and Alfredo | Continued
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Gender and Ages and Race, OH MY!

Here at The Fireside Post, we intend to drive home our suggested connection between the elements of this election cycle and the the kooky world of Frank Oz.  Allow me, if you will, to expand on it a bit. There are some great messages of hope and tolerance in the Wizard of Oz.  The movie […]

15Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Gender and Ages and Race, OH MY! | Continued
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And Now For Something Completely Different

John Cleese is not a conservative. Now the hard question: Does European disdain help or hurt McCain at this point? UPDATE: Meanwhile in Kansas, the Democratic Senate candidate, Jim Slattery, has broken new ground by cutting an ad that depicts Sen. Pat Roberts pissing on voters. I can’t wait for the next ad, featuring “Number […]

15Oct2008 | | Comments Off on And Now For Something Completely Different | Continued
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Biden Turns Up Heat on McCain in Ohio Stops

By Perry Bacon Jr. MARIETTA, Ohio — Early in his campaigning as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, Sen. Joe Biden noted often that John McCain was a longtime Senate colleague and “a friend,” and his rhetoric focused on their differences on policy. Even now, in a speech here today, Biden said, “John McCain is a genuine […]

15Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Biden Turns Up Heat on McCain in Ohio Stops | Continued
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The Early Word: The Cost of Going Negative

Just hours away from the third and final presidential debate and less than three weeks from Election Day, a New York Times/CBS News polls finds that the increasingly negative tone of the campaign waged by Senator John McCain appears to be resonating with voters — but not in the way the Republican nominee hoped. The […]

15Oct2008 | | Comments Off on The Early Word: The Cost of Going Negative | Continued
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Executions in Saudi Arabia Quadruple, Amnesty Says

There was a surge in executions in Saudi Arabia last year, according to an Amnesty International report released Tuesday. The kingdom put at least 158 people to death last year, a sharp increase from the 39 executions the human rights group monitored in 2006 (the yearly totals had been under 100 since 2001). The statistics […]

15Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Executions in Saudi Arabia Quadruple, Amnesty Says | Continued
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Ohg Rea Tone on Demise of Rush Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh sucked the life out of the Reagan Ideology. Brutally dragging the mantle of a great man into the gutters of hate and despair, Rush and his cohorts have twisted and distorted reason into book sales, advertising, government corruption, torture, war mongering, nation building, and finally economic despair for most Americans. Fanaticism is a […]

15Oct2008 | | 4 comments | Continued
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Bush’s Two Minute State of The Union

From the horses ass (or mouth, whatever), we get the whole truth.   In these times of struggle and turmoil, in an election year when all is clouded in distrust and double-talk, we finally get a glimpse of some honesty from the White House.   I have to admit, I am glad to see this administration breaking […]

14Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Bush’s Two Minute State of The Union | Continued
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The Latest on the Polls

OBAMA 53, MCCAIN 39 Bring on the hate speech Senator McCain and Governor Palin – you are showing your stripes.  The American people are happy that you have chosen to show yourself honestly – the picture does not match the words – but we get the picture.

14Oct2008 | | Comments Off on The Latest on the Polls | Continued
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Live Debate analysis – McCain, Obama, Video Excerpts

We will be posting live on the final debate between McCain and Obama.  Tonight we will refine our process to include live analysis, and possibly scoring points as the debate unfolds.  The pictures framing this paragraph reflect our expectations and bias. Stay with us: Bob Schieffer is the moderator – the format is a sit […]

14Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Live Debate analysis – McCain, Obama, Video Excerpts | Continued
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Home made Alfredo sauce

This writer likes to cook but sometimes we feel lazy and want an easy meal. One of my other sins is pasta. Laziness and gluttony – sins flavor sins, one good sin deserves another, that’s my motto today. We have an Alfredo sauce that is sinful. Here is what we do. Ingredients: 1 pint of […]

14Oct2008 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Men At Work

We were driving down the street this morning and we noticed three men putting in a retaining wall. We saw a couple of shovels and a wheelbarrow. There were stacks of those pre-formed hex-shaped concrete ‘stones.’ The men had dug out the bank and were placing the stones in place. No more mowing of a […]

14Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Men At Work | Continued
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Treasury Chief Says Banks Must Deploy New Capital

WASHINGTON — Describing the government’s financial bailout plan as “extensive, powerful and transformative,” Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. said on Tuesday that the injection of $250 billion into the nation’s banks was needed to restore confidence and avoid a collapse of the financial system. Read Full Post Here

14Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Treasury Chief Says Banks Must Deploy New Capital | Continued
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Not Just a Hockey Mom: Palin Embraces Sports Mothers of All Stripes

SCRANTON, Pa. — GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is expanding her political base. At the GOP convention in St. Paul, Minn., she was all about the hockey moms. But this afternoon, as she made her way to the stage at Scranton’s Riverfront Sports Complex, the Astroturf on the floor reminded her that she needed […]

14Oct2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Group Answers Charges of Voter Registration Fraud

A prominent community organizing group and representatives of the McCain campaign held dueling news conferences in Washington on Tuesday to press their cases in a simmering controversy over allegations of fraudulent voter registrations. Former Republican Senators John C. Danforth and Warren Rudman, who chair the McCain campaign’s Honest and Open Elections Committee, warned of a […]

14Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Group Answers Charges of Voter Registration Fraud | Continued
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Mickey Mouse Complaints

With three weeks to go, and absentee voting well underway, both campaigns — and outside group — have been asking voters and the media to look at the possibility of election fraud. At McCain rallies, supporters intone “ACORN” and “FBI! FBI!” with increasing regularity. And, it’s true, ACORN — a predominately left-leaning group with (limited) […]

14Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Mickey Mouse Complaints | Continued
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Who is That Masked Man? (Obama)

Every time we hear McCain or Palin say, “Who is Barack Obama?” we have to laugh to ourselves.  They remind us of the town folks in the small town that has just been rescued by The Lone Ranger – they always ask, “Who was that Masked Man?”  The next person marvels, “I don’t know.  But […]

14Oct2008 | | 2 comments | Continued
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McCain Has Become Irrelevant

John McCain is speaking as we type this post.  McCain is presenting his new economic plan.  The fourth or fifth iteration in the past three weeks.  No one is listening because we all know that in two days, or a week, McCain will have a new and different proposal.  McCain is playing to the polls […]

14Oct2008 | | Comments Off on McCain Has Become Irrelevant | Continued
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The GOP Legacy – Wars, Death, Hatred, Socialism

This is a banner year in American Politics.  This is the year when the people rise up and crucify the self serving, greedy, power and control, mean spirited Republicans.  That was a mouthful, don’t you think.  It is written in the spirit of McCainian Anger.  The American people should be angry.  WARNING to readers – […]

14Oct2008 | | 6 comments | Continued
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Wicked: A marriage of literature, art, and music

We marvel att the marriage of art and technology and the ingenuity of those who can master that integration.  Steve Jobs and his folks at Apple are prime examples.  In the same vein, there is a marriage of literature, art, and culture that can culminate in the same kind of experience.  Probably the best example […]

14Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Wicked: A marriage of literature, art, and music | Continued
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Gallup’s New Likely Voters Model

In an effort to measure the impact of Obama’s candidacy on the electorate, especially among young and minority voters, Gallup has begun publishing presidential tracking poll results based on two different “likely voter” models. Read Full Post Here

14Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Gallup’s New Likely Voters Model | Continued
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McCain is Mean Spirited – Slams Congressman Lewis

Congressman John Lewis has condemned the McCain Campaign for ‘…sowing the seeds of hate and division..” and he mentioned the segregationist Governor George Wallace. John Lewis is characterized as a ‘measured man’ – careful with his language…  There are few men in Congress as respected as John Lewis. This writer believes that John McCain has […]

13Oct2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Wicked, The Snape Effect, and Storytelling

There is a reason that we humans are fascinated with stories. There is a deep connection that we have with the stories of others. From history to social studies to literature, all learning is founded in story. Even in mathematics we learn that a powerful way of getting an answer with numbers is to tell […]

13Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Wicked, The Snape Effect, and Storytelling | Continued
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Obama Wins – Thanks to ACORN

Obama will win this election, no doubt about it.  He speaks about hope, change and civil liberties.  When he speaks everyone listens, from the elite to the redneck.  His Leftist support group ACORN has helped to spread his message, but they don’t stop there.  They have helped bring voters to the booths in record numbers […]

13Oct2008 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Education and the Presidential Election of 2008

Education, experience, life – what is really important when choosing a President.  Morality, integrity, honesty, compassion, empathy – we could go on with our hopes for the next President – but for now, let’s look at education. John McCain “…graduated, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. 1958, and the National War College, Washington, D.C. 1973…”  […]

13Oct2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Can McCain Win The Debate?

McCain can win this debate – but he will have to hire Bill Clinton as a stand-in to do so.  We are seeing very clearly that words do matter – and Bill Clinton is the modern master of words.  McCain is a seasoned politician, able to deflect criticisms, able to spin content; but this debate […]

13Oct2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Frugal Halloween Costume Ideas

My wife and I went to the local department store to get costumes for our children. We could not believe what the prices are anymore. As a child I remember Halloween costumes being nothing more that two pieces of plastic colored to look like your favorite villain or hero. With a plastic mask painted as […]

13Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Frugal Halloween Costume Ideas | Continued
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Desmond Tutu on Homosexuality

I received an email today – as I do many times during the course of the week – from a family member who must be convinced the we see the world in the same way.  I am sure that many of you have someone that prowls your email this way.  Based on some skewed version […]

13Oct2008 | | 3 comments | Continued
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Paul Newman – Salad Dressings, Gunslingers and Plastic Jesus

Paul Newman led a life we can all admire and hopefully emulate. He wasn’t just a good actor, he was a great humanitarian. This writer is not fully qualified to write a biography of this man, we would just like to host a brief celebration of his life. This writer’s first introduction to Paul Newman […]

12Oct2008 | | 4 comments | Continued
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Obama’s Journey – Don’t Stop Believing

Barack Obama is  on a journey.  The destination is unknown, but every mountain, every valley, every raging river will be crossed with determination, with hope, with optimism.  The forest is full of danger, the valley in the shadow of death, Obama fears no evil. Obama knows that the truth is with him.  His cup is […]

12Oct2008 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Sarah Palin – I’m so Pretty

Natalie Wood perfectly captured the essence of Governor Sarah Palin in the 1961 musical West Side Story.  As we learn more about the Alaskan Governor through media interviews and scandal investigations – we realize the shallowness of this person, Sarah Palin. We apologize to fans of Natalie Wood, Natalie really was pretty and talented. The […]

12Oct2008 | | 5 comments | Continued
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Finding Love On-Line For Old People

This writer is a member of the AARP – that should tell you something.  We are on the AARP e-mail list.  Yesterday we received an email titled, “Ohg, Find Love On Line.”  We are laughing as we write – the imagery of old people and internet dating was just too much for our sensibilities.  Perhaps […]

11Oct2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Immigration – Underground Railroad

We are talking about people. Suffering people. oppressed people. Oppressed by poverty, by repressive land owners, by corporate greed, by poor health care, and by an unresponsive government. North, they are told. North to a land of opportunity. A land where they will not be subjected to the fierce drudgery of poverty. They have relatives […]

11Oct2008 | | 11 comments | Continued
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McGrinch

Media has painted McCain as the Grinch. Here is the story. This McGrinch was a citizen of Peopleville. The residents of Peopleville where a happy bunch, who all would come together for the best interests of the people. There where mainly two types of people in Peopleville. The Republiwhys and the Demawhats. They were a […]

11Oct2008 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Salmon Patties

About 30 minutes preparation and cooking time. 1 extra large egg, beaten 1/4 cup of milk 1 finely chopped (grated?) medium yellow onion 1 tablespoon fresh dill, or 1 teaspoon dried dill 1/4 cup chopped parsley (optional) 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 16 ounce can salmon – drain or not. 1 – 2 cups […]

11Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Salmon Patties | Continued
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Greatest Generation – And Neocons.

Our father was a veteran of World War II.  He came home with four Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart, never to speak of his experience.  He kept his silence until his death at age eighty-five.  He did not talk about the atrocities of war because the memories were too painful.  As America entered other […]

10Oct2008 | | 3 comments | Continued
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Belonging in the Lower Class

As we grow up from a child to adult, we are always looking to be a part of something. We are constantly in search of whom we are and our purpose. Throughout our adolescence we play sports, participate in the band, or other school activities. As we mature the path becomes more precise. Our experiences […]

10Oct2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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John McCain is Dangerous

There is no other way to say this – John McCain is Dangerous.  We marvel at how McCain’s temper has been dismissed by his colleagues as passion or masculine maturity.  John McCain is an abusive person. This video is partisan – we admit – but the people are real and their perspective is real.  And […]

10Oct2008 | | Comments Off on John McCain is Dangerous | Continued
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Wanted: Leadership, Not Beer Buddies

Way back when this writer was a young man, we used to stop at the local watering hole to soak up some suds with our beer buddies.  Joe Six Pack was always the first to arrive, and the last to leave.  After two or three cold ones we could solve most of the world problems.  […]

10Oct2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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The Marines in Iraq

What is it about Marines that make them so special?  When called upon to serve they do not ask why – they merely pack their bags and go.  They do what is asked of them.  They believe in their hearts that their missions are honorable – that they are in the service of America. How […]

9Oct2008 | | Comments Off on The Marines in Iraq | Continued
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Manicotti – an easy baked dish

We are getting ready for an Italian Thanksgiving in Kansas City. We have been experimenting with some Italian dishes that are quick and easy, and of course – all things pasta. Here is one that we like: Manicotti Ingredients: 2 cups of spaghetti sauce (try the home made stuff) 1 egg, lightly beaten 2 cups […]

9Oct2008 | | 3 comments | Continued
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Eazy Hot Wings

I made these myself when I was short on cash but had alot of chicken.  I make these without any exact measurement, time frame or temp so you may need to adjust to your taste. You may use your choice of wing sauce, I prefer tabasco with a little rib rub mixed in. The ingredient […]

9Oct2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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McCain Disgraces Greatest Generation

The McCain campaign has catered to the Skin Head, Nazi, KKK, white supremacy mentality.  We know John McCain, he has been around a long time.  McCain has never catered to the wacko class of degenerate Rush Limbaugh followers.  So what happened? Falling poll numbers prompted desperation.  The McCain camp has been like a rat backed […]

9Oct2008 | | 11 comments | Continued
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Teddy Roosevelt, Racism and the Presidency

Teddy Roosevelt was the Vice President under McKinley. He went about the ceremonial duties of the Vice President of that time – accepting an invitation by Booker T. Washington to visit Tuskegee Institute. But fate interceded, McKinley was assassinated and Roosevelt became President. Roosevelt offered a dinner invitation to Booker T. Washington which was readily […]

9Oct2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Sarah Palin – Terminator Transformer

The genre was resurrected by a different Governor – Arnold Schwarzenegger – and has been taken to the next level by Sarah Palin.  This is the story of robotics – mindless creatures programmed to defend their creator.  The Terminator film series took this to another level – beyond mere defense – the robots are offensive. […]

9Oct2008 | | 4 comments | Continued
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McCain and T. R. Roosevelt

John McCain likes to say that one of his heroes or idols or whatever is Teddy Roosevelt – the Republican President at the beginning of the 20th Century.  This writer is also a fan of Roosevelt.  While there are similarities in these men, there are also distinct differences. These differences are rooted in their upbringing. […]

9Oct2008 | | Comments Off on McCain and T. R. Roosevelt | Continued
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Johnny Horton sings Republican Theme Songs

Johnny Horton sang a bunch of ballads for a couple of decades. The Republicans seem to have taken up the mantle of Horton in the 2008 Presidential Election. North to Alaska is a nice marching tune to line up the rank and file – well, the rank anyway. [wp_youtube]JSt0NEESrUA[/wp_youtube] And how about The Battle of […]

9Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Johnny Horton sings Republican Theme Songs | Continued
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When We Oppose An American War

What happens when we the people do not agree with a war our government has engaged? We have seen this before, we are seeing it happen now – and we will probably see it again in the future. Are there boundaries of protest? Are there definitions of war that all of us can agree on?

This writer has been as perplexed as anyone on the issue of Iraq. We Americans were united in our determination to punish the people who attacked our country on September 11, 2001. In less than two months Afghanistan was on fire, the Taliban scurrying for cover, and Al Quaeda running for the hills of Tora Bora. All of us cheered the success of our military.

This writer is a child of the 1960’s, we turned 18 during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. America was losing 300 soldiers each week in this restricted police action. There was no end in sight and the country united against the war.

8Oct2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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McCain-An American Patriot

There is a lot of talk about Senator McCain being nothing more than a bitter, nasty, war mongering, blood thirsty, terrorist of a man. Oh and he is a POW. My friends, have you forgotten how angry America was when the towers were bombed? Maybe those directly affected remember, but not the general public. People […]

8Oct2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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McCain, Palin is Great Because I was a POW

John McCain had a news flash for Americans in the town hall debate the other day.  McCain was clever in demonstrating his comprehension of American politics.  Some of his jargon is difficult to follow – probably because his language was affected while serving as a POW. Highlights from McCain’s debate answers: The moderator is a […]

8Oct2008 | | 3 comments | Continued