Normally, I don’t endorse or support any candidate for the presidency. Namely, because my endorsement is the “kiss of death” to a candidacy (as well as to mutual funds). The last time “my guy” won the White House was 1984 and Ronald Reagan was the incumbent. Even my support couldn’t keep him down.

This year, I’ve quietly been pulling for Fred Dalton Thompson. Two reasons:

1. He entered the race later than the other candidates so there hasn’t been as much time for “the dirt” to come out but primarily because

2. He’s a Dalton. I’m a Dalton. Daltons are good people. Chances are, Fred and I are related because Daltons love to marry other Daltons. My grandfather and Judge Ted Dalton became aware of this when they first met and started tracing their ancestry to see if they were related. Genealogy wasn’t as popular back then and they didn’t have the internet to guide them. Once they realized that Daltons do indeed like to marry other Daltons, they decided to claim each other as kin. That concept has pretty much continued through to the present. If you’re a Dalton, we’ll claim you. And if you’re a Dalton that wants to be president, we’ll support you.

So why, despite our bloodlines, have I decided he won’t get my vote? I’ll gladly tell you - and it’s not pretty. The man dropped me as a friend on facebook. That’s right. Blood is obviously NOT thicker than water when you want to be president. What was my crime? I invited him (Dalton to Dalton) to join the Vote Ham Sandwich for PWC Commonwealth Attorney group. And he dropped me - just like that.

Fred’s obviously fickle and can’t be trusted. One day he’ll say Ahmadinejad looks tacky. The next day you’ll see them suit shopping together at Barneys.

If Fred doesn’t have the courage and conviction to back Ham Sandwich (who has the toughest stance on crime I’ve ever seen** - one I agree with COMPLETELY) then I don’t have the patience to back Fred. I may vote for Ham as a write-in candidate.

Your vote is yours to do with what you will. But remember: Fred dropped me like a bad habit. He’ll drop you, too.

**Ham Sandwich on Criminals:

* Criminals belong in jail.
* Only people who actually are criminals should be in jail.
* If you’re not a criminal, you should not be in jail.
* If you are a criminal, we should put you in jail.
* Jail is only for criminals.
* If there are criminals who are not in jail, we should find out who and where they are and put them in jail.
* Jail is good, but only for criminals.
* Criminals are bad. They belong in jail.
* Felons belong in jail, too.

Yes, Ben. You ARE good enough, influential enough and doggone it, people DO like you (sometimes). I want you to repeat this daily affirmation out loud each night as you push those pizza boxes aside and crawl into those star-spangled sheets of yours.

You’re not the first person to let your self-worth be determined by your ranking on a blog aggregator and ….. oh, maybe you are. Anyway, I’m doing my part to see to it that you regain your rightful position … on top of Lowell.

Now dry those tears and go get that picture of a “downstate Democrat getting a lap dance” for us. If the rumors are true, does his wife get a seat in the VA senate?

I like waking up on Sunday and checking out the most recent index of influential blogs.

I like reading the posts of the disgruntled bloggers who feel they belong at the top of the list.

I LOVE arching my eyebrow, putting my hand on my hip and saying, “Obviously you’re not aware that I’m the FIFTEENTH most influential blogger in the commonwealth!”

Thanks, Dave!

*BNN’s Virginia Blogosphere Influence Rating combines a variety of data sets to determine which blogs are most powerfully influencing the direction of the Virginia political blogosphere. The exact method BNN uses to calculate influence scores must remain proprietary in order to prevent attempts to game the system. BNN’s methodology takes into account the fact that all Internet data is profoundly limited in its reliability by using multiple data sets that, when combined, reveal a fair picture of activity in the blogosphere.

Dear Corporal Tyler Rock:

The war isn’t lost but this man is:

Keep up the good fight!

Love,

badrose

Feathery hat tip to Kilo.

On any given day, you might be sassy, surly, or sweet, but people always know your name. You’re there for your best pals through the good times and the bad times, and you’ve got a talent for turning everything into the best times. Now that’s something to toast!

Which ’80s TV Show Are You?

According to Islam101.com:

The vast majority of Muslim scholars and jurists, past and present, have determined the minimum requirements for Muslim women’s dress: 1) Clothing must cover the entire body, with the exception of the face and the hands. 2) The attire should not be form fitting, sheer or so eye-catching as to attract undue attention or reveal the shape of the body.

The rules are simple, even I understand them. Apparently, so did the most powerful woman in America.  While receiving the red carpet treatment in Syria, Nancy Pelosi dons her head cover (hijab):

But then later . . . From aljazeera.net, there’s this:

What part of “clothing must cover the entire body” did she not comprehend? More importantly, what skirt did she decide NOT to wear when meeting with Bashar al-Assad? The snakeskin mini-skirt with chains? Does she WANT Hezbollah to attack us?

Keeping the scarf handy, “just in case”:

Also according to aljazeera.net:

The top Democrat politician had earlier said she had “no illusions but great hope” for the talks which she said would focus on the fight against terrorism, Iraq and Lebanon.

Someone in the DemocratIC party (Josh Chernila?) needs to tell aljazeera that it’s offensive to be called a Democrat. (Remember what a slam-bang job Josh did reprimanding Lt. Gov. Bolling at the blog conference?) Sheesh - the DemocratICS really need to hire better PR people. My son had a more successful result when he changed his name to, “Chad Vader!” Chad keeps his entire body covered, by the way, EVEN his face and hands. Maybe he’ll get to go to Syria next time . . .

is going on over at Em’s Place, HERE and HERE.  I have it on good authority that no dogs will be harmed in the weaving of this tale.

For a wonderful reading experience, I suggest that you go on over and encourage him to keep going.  The last thing he needs is one more unfinished manuscript cluttering up his space!