I still find it ironic that we celebrate Labor Day by taking the day off.

Of course he is because folks this is still ‘Merica.  Land of the Free, home of the rich and influential.  According to RawStory.com this dude was indicted for trafficking 400 people, and yet he’s a crusader against employers who hire illegal immigrants.  “Hello pot, this is the kettle…you’re black!”

It’s the typical dichotomy found in the Grand Old Party.  They want freedom of religion, but not if you follow Islam.  They want states rights, but plan to ‘federalize’ Ground Zero.  They want smaller government, unless they’re running it, and then they want to make it huge.  I want them to buy a mirror and look into it.  I’m so tired of listening to people talking out of both sides of their mouth.

home of the brave and also the insanely stupid.  I caught wind of this headline today:

Why do 1 in 5 Americans believe President Obama is Muslim?

I’m sorry, what?!  And this actually comes from a distinguished source, the Pew Research Center took a poll indicating that 18% of Americans think Obama is Muslim.  Bizarre.  I mean I just don’t understand how these people completely missed the memo about his being a Christian.  Sure he’s not overtly practicing the way Bill Clinton was, but still.  Did they even follow the last election?  I’m absolutely flabbergasted.

The Frog and I have been watching The Wire this past year and we both agree it is some seriously brilliant television.  What we didn’t realize is how prescient it truly was.  In it a dirty politician finesses his way out of corruption charges using nothing but his silver tongue.  Couldn’t really happen, right?  Unless you’re Rod Blagojevich.  The ex-Illinois governor’s trial ended in a deadlock on 23 counts and conviction on just one…lying to federal agents.  So the only thing he’s guilty of is lying about not lying?  Only in America people, only in America.

Recently Minnesota based Target corporation made a $150,000 donation to the gubenatorial campaign of Republican Tom Emmer.  Emmer is an outspoken opponent of gay rights, one of Target’s chosen demographics.  You have to ask yourself what bozo CEO, Gregg Steinhafel, was thinking when he did this.  Did he honestly believe the contribution was so small as to go unnoticed?  Well it didn’t and gay rights activists jumped on it essentially painting a target on Target.  Yup, a boycott.  I have to admit I’m kind of gratified to see that the first corporate act under our Supreme Court approved “corporations are people” judgement had them stepping into a pile of shit.  I’m even more tickled to watch the Target CEO apologize publicly, not for the donation mind you, but for disappointing Targets employees and their customers.

Ironic aside:  Target corporation was founded by the family of Mark Dayton one of the democratic candidates in the gubenatorial race.  Doesn’t look like he got a contribution.

I was taken aback last week when I read that Kate Gosselin (of John and Kate Plus 8 and Dancing with the Stars fame) and Sarah Palin (well you know who she is!) went on a camping trip together.  It’s just so bizarre.  I mean, how did they even meet?!  Is there some book group for fame whores?  Do they share a publicist?  Did they meet at an Ed Hardy trucker hat giveaway suite?  The mind simply boggles.

Sarah Palin is set to give the kids a lesson on how to avoid bears.  Yeah, I guess it’s one of the few subjects the self proclaimed, “Mamma Grizzly” actually knows about.  I wonder if she’ll bring her gun?  Personally, I think the kids would be better off if someone had taught them how to avoid Sarah Palin.  I mean if you thought mom and dad’s custody battle was ugly, wait until Levi Johnston crashes the camping trip.  Let the fireworks begin!

Sarah Palin’s contract demands were found and published this week by dumpster diving students at Cal State Stanislaus.  What does our esteemed speaker need you wonder?  Does she want M&Ms sorted by color and with all the brown ones removed?  No…that’s too Van Halen for our former Alaskan governor.  What she won’t speak without is business or first class airfare, and bendy straws.  Yup, bendy straws.  If there aren’t two bottles of still water waiting for her at the podium she’ll wipe her notes off her hand and head home.  Crazy?  You betcha!

The Bachelor season finale happened this week, and while I have a strict policy never to watch this show I did read on ABCNews.com that Jake proposed to Vienna.  This got me thinking.  In the 14 seasons of The Bachelor a significant number have proposed, but only 1 has actually made it down the aisle.  In fact a little research revealed that in the 14 seasons they’ve been on the air proposals vs. non-proposals are split exactly even, 7 for 7.  Most couples who did become engaged were decoupled before the final episodes aired.

Now I’ve been a single woman, given it was many, many years ago, but I had 2 serious relationships before meeting and marrying the Frog.  That means my odds simply dating like a regular person were way better than anything a woman is going to find on reality television.  1 in 14 ladies.  Think about it.  Do you really want to marry or are you just in it for that 15 minutes of fame?

Dr. Faber (a.k.a. “Dr. Doom”) spoke at a investment conference in Tokyo last week and warned his audience to stock up on farmland and gold in preparation for the next “dirty” war.  In his keynote speech at the Annual Investment Forum he suggested to pension fund managers and investment bankers that their cell phones would cease working, the Internet would shut down and water sources would be poisoned during this upcoming war.  His advice?  Move out to the countryside (apparently cell phones and Internet will work there…), and take gold since you can carry it.  I don’t know about you, but carrying gold sounds like a ridiculous prospect.  The Frog and I discussed it and decided instead we’d stock up on Black Pepper and Brita filters and ride out the upcoming Apocalypse.

The Obama Administration has just announced that since it can find no exit strategy for the war in Iraq it’s doing the next best thing, rebranding.  Yup, like Comcast-Xfinity, Operation Iraqi Freedom will now be know as Operation New Dawn.  Operation New Dawn, doesn’t it just give you a warm fuzzy?  It’s apparently set to coincide with the drawdown of troops in Iraq (I’ll hold my breath).  Military families are up in arms about the Admistration’s attempt to end a war by simply changing it’s name.  Oh and did I mention that Operation New Dawn is how the Iraqis referred to the 2004 battle for Falluja?  I don’t think they’re going to be happy when they get this memo.