Zach Vargo

As you heard in recent news that US troops are pulling out of the cities in Iraq allowing the Iraqi Government to take full control of their country since before we invaded back in 2003.  Luckily, Former President Bush did not follow the Democrats plan of completely removing all US presence out of Iraq in 2008.  I wonder how Joe Biden feels since he told Bush that “complete democracy in Iraq was not possible.”

I want to thank the Bush Administration for believing in a sustainable democracy in a country once ruled by tyranny, because I know the current administration won’t.  There is still work to be done over there, but it is nice to know that Bush’s policies are making a positive impact around the world even after leaving office.  I also want to thank the troops for their courage and patriotism.  Hopefully, this will be a permanent success.

I was reading from a site (link below) that there a possible movie deal coming out about the life of Billy Mays.  Right now there is word that casting has already started for a Michael Jackson movie as well.  The rumor is that if a Billy Mays movie is being made, the actor to portray the pitchman would be Steve Carell.  You can see the similarities in the picture.  Hopefully, a movie portraying Billy Mays’ life does get released and it is a box office hit.

Link:

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Steve-Carell-May-Be-Sold-On-Billy-Mays-The-Movie-13779.html

While we were already mourning the losses of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson, God decided that it was time to take Billy Mays.  At the young age of 50, he passed away yesterday.  The doctors think it was because of heart disease.  This man could have persuaded me to do anything. Rest In Peace…

Here is a video of Billy Mays ordering food at a drive-thru which he did for the MJ Morning Show.

For five straight weekends, Obama has been out on the golf course.  The media’s reaction? They love it.  When Bush was golfing in 2003, the media slammed him for golfing while the troops were fighting and dying for their country.  Obama is golfing when troops are dying in GWOT, Iran is murdering protestors, and North Korea is trying to wipe the United States off the face of the Earth.  Does anyone see the problem here?

I do not criticize Obama for golfing, there is only so much he can do with current events and golf is a relaxing sport.  However, when the media becomes hypocritical, then I have a serious problem.  The media pretty much forced Bush to lay down the clubs, but now seem to be encouraging Obama to play more often.

In August 2003, Bush gave up golfing after receiving word of the United Nations headquarters was bombed in Iraq.  The media had a field day criticizing Bush for making the “huge” sacrifice in support of the troops.  Bush said, “I don’t want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf. I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal.”  Veterans got angry over that statement, one even went as far as saying “Thousands of Americans have given up a lot more than golf for this war. For President Bush to imply that he somehow stands in solidarity with families of American soldiers by giving up golf is disgraceful. It’s an insult to all Americans and a slap in the face to our troops’ families.”  Honestly, what more could Bush do?  Did people expect Bush to pick up a weapon and fight on the front lines?  It was just another easy attack by the media, especially since Bush did not actually give up golfing until October 13, 2003.  It has been recorded that Bush only played 24 rounds of golf during his 8 year tenure.

As for Obama playing golf, he has gotten more than plenty of praises for it.  The Washington Post posted an article on June 9, 2009 with the headline that read “Just the Sport for A Leader Most Driven.”  Obama has played 11 rounds of golf since taking office 6 months ago.  Obama has more on his plate right now than Bush did 6 years ago.  With all the threats from Iran and North Korea along with the wars we are already fighting, he still finds time to grab his clubs and hit the course.  

Our media should be fair and balanced, but of course they give all of their efforts to praise Obama.  The hypocrisy is becoming even more sickening.  I honestly do not think that a President playing golf should even be considered as a media topic.  I am sure that being our nation’s leader is a pretty stressful and hectic job, and they should be allowed to take a vacation or time out of their busy schedules to relax and clear their heads.  Constantly being under stress starts clouding your judgement and we do not need a leader who breaks downs during a critical time.  It is good that the media stands behind our president, but shouldn’t it stand behind ALL of our presidents? I am also curious as to why Obama gets a lot of credit?  

http://thenationalscene.com/media-critical-obamas-golf-trips-par/comment-page-1/#comment-76

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/nation/media-cheers-obamas-golf-outings-but-used-to-criticized-bushs-trips-to-the-course

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/15/georgebush.usa

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/13/bush-i-gave-up-golf-for-t_n_101595.html

http://forthardknox.com/2009/06/25/golf-obama-vs-bush/

This happened in Turkey and this kid escaped without a single bruise or scrape on him.  You have to see this video.

Can’t say that I didn’t it coming.  I really hope that everything works out in the end.  I was listening on the radio today, and they had a discussion about how the paparazzi are going to be about a thousand times worse because of the news.  I really feel sorry for the kids now.   

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,528260,00.html

Father’s Day is coming this Sunday and let me tell you, I was on the ball this year.  Normally, I wait until the last minute on getting his gifts by shopping the Saturday before (I was even worse for Mother’s Day this year, shopped for a present on that day).  But not this year, I took the initiative to go out and buy the presents a week early.  Go me, right!?!  Whether or not I got him a gift on time or not, it is a time to appreciate everything he has done for me.  

My father has been the biggest influence on me so far in my life.  He always pushed me to better myself in every way.  Living in his house for 18 years was rough, though he tells me I had it easy, and even though I’ve been going to college the past 3 years, he still puts me to work.  His philosophy is too always find new challenges and keep moving.  My father is a man who never sits still and claims “he does more by 9 o’clock than most people do in a day.”  But he really does.   After spending 20 years in the Navy as a pilot, he has felt that life in the private sector is very monotonous.  He opened up a tax business 2 years ago, because he was tired of getting hammered on taxes and he wants to help other people with theirs.  On top of being a business owner, he works full time as a project manager, is working on becoming a Certified Financial Planner, plays softball, and spends his weekends doing chores.  He can be very busy, especially during tax season peaks.  

Since tax season is over, he has more time to read books.  So I bought him a couple of books that he should enjoy.  Not only do I wish my father a happy Father’s Day, but every father out there as well.  You all deserved it.

So Jon and Kate are making a huge announcement on Monday’s show.  Although TLC is not commenting on this announcement, so they don’t spoil anything, they are encouraging viewers to make their own hypothesis.  Since the fifth season premier, viewers witnessed Kate stating that their love for each other had been growing more distant.  That show attracted 10 million viewers, but the shows since the premier dropped viewership by more than half.  Currently the show is under fire due to violations of child labor laws according to the Pennsylvania’s Labor Department. 

My hypothesis for the announcement is that they are ending the show and attempting damage control on their sinking ship of a marriage.  At least that is what I hope.  Trying to raise 8 children, all of whom are not old enough to take care of themselves, is hard enough, but imagine trying to do it when you’re separated.  Are they going to live near each other, in the same house, or are they just going to divide the kids up?  I really do not see that as a possibility.  I really am rooting for this family to stay together since the way I see it, nobody wins in a divorce, especially with children in the equation.  So I am actually going to watch this episode.  I’ve seen episodes from the first couple of seasons and thought it was a cute and humorous show.  

I know TLC is sweating this because the show is the most popular one on their network.  We will see what happens come Monday between 9 and 10 pm.  Also, why is the Pennsylvania Labor Department just now starting to investigate child labor violations after 6 seasons? Someone explain that to me.

Tom Tom is now offering a download of Homer Simpson’s voice to their portable navigation device, at the cost of $12.95.  I wonder if he says “D’oh!” whenever you take a wrong turn.  I don’t know if you could stand Homer in the car after a few hours, but I know for a fact that this would never get old for me.  The link below has a couple sound bytes of the phrases that come with the download.  They are offering other voice skins for the Tom Tom as well, including Austin Powers and John Cleese.  Check it out.

http://www.tomtom.com/page/simpsons

During an interview with CNBC, a fly persistently flew around the President’s head. Naturally, President Obama shooed it away, but it kept coming back. So the President decided to swat and kill the pest. It was a nice slap, especially since he got the little bugger on the first attempt. Now PETA is disappointed with the President for not showing “compassion even for the most curious, smallest and least sympathetic animals.” As for future encounters with the common house fly, PETA is sending the Katcha Bug Humane Bug Catcher so that no more flies will be killed by Obama’s wrath.

I really think PETA is going overboard with being kind to all living things, but at least they did not resort to their radical measures that are most commonly associated with the organization. House flies are not endangered and would be dead within 20 or 30 days anyway. Also, the President was trying to have a serious interview and having a fly buzzing around your head would be very distracting. Although I do not agree with the President on most things, I do have agree that was an impressive swat.