On the 2010 Doltest of Dolts List

Columnist Peggy Noonan’s referral of Sarah Palin as a nincompoop may be my favorite line of the year. Nonetheless, 2010 (like any other year), provided an abundance of people that causes many of us to shake our heads. Granted, politicians could dominate the list with their I’ll-say-more-than-I’ll-do way of doing things, and much-of-want-I-say-is-an-exaggeration way talking, so I tried to minimize them.

Ladies and Gentlemen, A Frank Angle’s Doltest of the Dolts for 2010.

17) Philadelphia Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel – For not picking Joey Votto for the All-Star team, who was good enough to be the NL MVP. Ok, this one is personable, but my mouth is still sour!

16) Pat Robertson – For being able to talk, thus the odds are good he said something stupid in 2010.

15) Jesse James – Sandra Bullock … You cheated on Sandra Bullock … You lost Sandra Bullock! In the words of the great American orator Bugs Bunny, “What a maroon!”

14) Mel Gibson – Bugs Bunny speaks again.

13) Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin – For continually trying to stay in the news.

12) Charlie Sheen and Lindsey Lohan – For keeping themselves in the news. Get help and surround yourself with the right people!

11) BCS Executive Bill Hancock – He seems to think that because he tells us that the BCS doesn’t act as a cartel and is operating in the best interest of college football, we’ll believe it.

10) Tiger Woods – I’m a Tiger fan, but he screwed up more ways than one.

9) Former BP CEO Tony Hayward – Oh … he now has plenty of time to vacation on his yacht.

8] Rev Terry Jones and his Dove International Outreach Center for planning International Burn-A-Quran Day. At least they have been out of the news ever since.

7) Westboro Baptist – Rand McNally couldn’t help them find their way.

6) Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and the rest of the biased talk show buffoons. I’m not stupid and I can think on my own. Oh … and I neither watch or listen.

5) Bud Selig – He’s horrible and will be on my list as long as he’s MLB Commissioner.

4) Congressional Ethics Committees – Congressional ethics is a classic oxymoron. Then again, the public (who is angry at Congress, yet re-elected the majority incumbents) is getting what we asked for.

3) Christine O’Donnell – Let’s face it: she provided some of the year’s best quotes! Meanwhile, I hope that Dancing with the Stars does not try to resurrect her public image.

2) Party Leaders in Congress – This was the easiest way to include Boehner, McConnell, Pelosi, Reid, and their lieutenants on one line.

1) Sarah Palin – The nincompoop who keeps on giving.

Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 56

On a Sincere Cheer
Although the Olympics is turning into a distant memory, I still smile when thinking about Penguin fans giving Buffalo/U.S. goalie Ryan Miller a louder ovation than their own, but Canadian player, Sidney Crosby.

On Construction-Area Driving
Spring is upon us also means the start of the highway construction season in Ohio. One thing for sure – I do not like driving on an interstate with concrete barrier walls on my left.

By the way, I recently had a rental car on a trip with a push-button starter – my first experience with that keyless function.

On a Massage Table
A friend of mine is embarking on a new career as a massage therapist. I do look forward to the part of his training where he has to practice. As part of the process, he has to purchase his own massage table and considering the one with the breast openings. Now I was picturing the opening going all the way through the table … but in actuality is is holes in the padding.

On Political Action Money
Many politicians sponsor their own political action committee (PAC). These men and women of nobility use the money to fund campaigns of candidates in their party in other districts.

Is anyone surprise that four of the largest PACS are sponsored by the 4 highest ranking people in the House of Representatives? Yep – Mrs. Pelosi, Mr. Boehner, and their lieutenants (Mr. Hoyer and Mr. Cantor respectively lead the way.

Let’s see – I’ll give you money to help you get elected so you can vote for me in a leadership position and follow my lead. Yet please many still wonder what is wrong in Washington.

On a Commercial
I just saw a commercial against the health insurance bill that concluded with “Put our interests before special interests.” Of course the commercial was paid for by a special interest group.

On Spring Training Time
Spring training means baseball’s opening day is approaching. Not only is a special and celebrated day in Cincinnati, it is the start of the national pastime. Become of time constrains, I may fore-go providing my monthly analysis of the Reds. On the other hand, my all-time teams (based on first names) will continue.

On the Madness
Day 1 of March Madness brought forth the normal unpredictability!

On the House Leaders

Many scientific polls show the low approval rating the public gives Congress. It’s not pretty. In CNN’s recent unscientific poll 200 days into the new administration, all 50 states graded Congress with a D. Now that’s leadership, so congratulations on the perfect score!

Not long after the election I proclaimed

• The Democrats would lead the charge to bring back the Republicans
• President Obama would be blocked from establishing the center if he left legislation to Speaker Pelosi

Before continuing with words about House leadership, here’s a Michael Gerson (Washington Post) column about the causes of the end of President Obama’s honeymoon.

On John Boehner (R-OH)
The Republican minority leader isn’t one of my favorites. He went to change Washington, yet the tanned, chain-smoking babbler is now of the leading talking heads for special interests and partisan politics. Instead of continuing to display party-first arrogance through finger-pointing and making child-like videos involving Lucy the dog (who needs to learn new tricks), I suggest doing something productive for American such as resigning from party leadership so you can be replaced by a Republican pragmatist. Oh that’s right … the party doesn’t have a pragmatist that isn’t tied to special interests and party-first politics – and if you do, they are belittled by the majority of the party, thus bound for ineffective leadership.

On Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
As much as she may deny the fact, the House Speaker is a partisan ideologue who loves the power of controlling the path on all legislation. Madam Speaker, much of the American public wants sensible bi-partisan solutions, and (unfortunately so) she is the key to the legislative process. As Speaker she has the authority to lead a reform the current process. Oh no, and the special interests she represents lose their legislative gatekeeper? Of course not!

Maybe it’s time the House to elect a nonpartisan leader outside the 465 representatives; which is viable within the Constitution. Ah heck, that won’t happen either as neither party would give up their gatekeeper power, so it seems the country is left with her or elect a GOP House led by the babbler or his twit lieutenant. How sad.

I offer this chuckling music video as a tribute to these two politicians who have no interest in mainstream America.

On Torture Shorts

Torture and Guantanamo continue to be in the news. Here are some random thoughts on the latest.

On Congress
Seems Republican Leader John Boehner is questioning the handling of Speaker Pelosi’s knowledge of torture issues. Beware Mr. Boehner, as a leader I also have same questions for you regarding torture during the previous administration: What did you know? When did you know it? As I’ve noted before, I want to know who in Congress knew … that’s Democrats and Republicans!

Specifically on Speaker Pelosi, sure the meeting was classified, but there are ways to question. Madam Speaker, it seems that you blew it.

Meanwhile Republicans lost their bid for a bipartisan probe about Pelosi (252-172). Let me off a suggestion to everyone in Washington that also saves time and money. Just publish a list of all members of Congress who were briefed, and then it’s up to the citizens.

On Media Reports
Recently columnist Leonard Pitts used a Sergeant Schultz reference regarding Speaker Pelosi. Hmmm, wish I would have thought of that anology.

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich called for Speaker Pelosi’s resignation if she knew. Hmmm, wish I would have thought of that too. The difference being that I mentioned it first and he’s already changed his mind.

As the Democratic left continues to be upset on this issue (Newsweek), hats off to the President for working with the center. There’s something I really like about having the left and the right upset at the same time.

As former VP Dick Cheney continues promoting himself, columnists David Brooks and David Broder provide an interesting twist to ongoing barbs about national security.

If the current Obama policy is more like Bush-Rice than Bush-Cheney, does that mean some Republicans are currently against what they were previously for and some Democrats are now supporting what they previously opposed? The phrase from legendary Yankee announcer Mel Allen is fitting: “And how about that!”

On Auditing Capitol Hill

Whether about confirmations or a certain issue, Congressional hearings provide a chance for our lawmakers to exhibit the proverbial double standard. As committee members grill those in front of them with statements as “Just answer the question” or “I want to know”, these are the same people who forget the way they too do the dance-around-the-question 2-step when someone asks them specific questions, .

Since I’ve had enough, and in the spirit of what is good for the goose is also good for the gander, let’s set all 535 members on Capitol Hill on the witness stand … the witness stand to the public. I want the IRS to audit each of them … now! Pelosi, Boehner, Reid, McConnell, and all their lieutenants … You first … then the members of the Ethics Committee, and continuing all the way down to the newly-elected representative.

Tax issues got the best of Tom Daschle and Nancy Gillefer; meanwhile, Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner escaped the hot seat – well, at least temporarily. Why should it stop with nominees? Should we simply trust them because they have been selected to be our public servants?

Since gifts, perks, honorariums, expenses, travel, and other dollars pass through these people all the time, they have ample opportunity for both mistakes and intentional deceptions. So why not the audit? Those with troubles will pay the IRS with penalties AND resign their position.

Auditing the high-and-mighty in the hallowed halls will help all of us identify those with the highest integrity. We deserve it! Oops I forgot … even with the public’s low approval rating of Congress, the majority of voters proclaim that those representing them are fine, thus it’s everyone else.