Bill Whittle's Afterburner: 'Sarah Palin was Right'

Funny, I was just talking about this earlier, "ObamaCare's Just for the Little People."

Elliot Sloan Wins Big Air Gold at X-Games Los Angeles 2013

At LAT, "Elliot Sloan wins X Games gold in skateboard big air":

Elliot Sloan moved from New York City to Vista, Calif., 7 1/2 years ago and has been chasing a dream ever since. On Thursday night at Irwindale Speedway he finally achieved it, winning his first X Games gold medal, in the skateboard big air event.

"This is probably a game changer, to have one of these under my belt," Sloan said. "I'm so relieved right now. It's the last one out here, so to end it like this on a high note, it's definitely something I've been looking forward to all year." The X Games are moving from the Los Angeles area to Austin, Texas, next year.

Sloan used a tail grab 720 (two full rotations) and a tail grab 540 to notch a total score of 90.165, edging 13-year-old Tom Schaar and denying Bob Burnquist a golden sweep of all four X Games skateboard big air events in 2013.

Earlier this year, Sloan, 25, took bronze at X Games Barcelona and silver at both Brazil and Munich, falling to Burnquist each time. Before Sloan's winning run, Burnquist fell hard off the quarterpipe, later saying he broke his nose.

"It's the same stuff I've done all year," Sloan said. "Unfortunately, Bob went down on the one run he usually makes, which is crazy. ... It's awesome, but I would have preferred to beat him at his best."

More at the link.

'Complicit in evil...'

From the comments at the Other McCain, "Vile Lie-Peddler @Karoli Kuns and the Posthumous Vindication of Breitbart":

There is a point where "that incredibly stupid" becomes unbelievable and "complicit in evil" becomes the most obvious explanation.

So many leftists have just gone off the deep end and plunged into pure evil, defending murderers and pedophiles.

And yet they continue to influence so many people who are just to lazy to think on their own and we continue to slide into the abyss with monsters like this leading the way...

Karoli's a vile woman, no doubt. But she's not alone. The left is "complicit in evil" all around. That's what the regressive left is all about.

Flashback: Jake Brown's 45-Foot Slam From X-Games 2007

I remember watching this on television at the time. The dude got up and walked away.

At the Los Angeles Times, "Jake Brown's epic fall is not forgotten":

It has been six years, but fans still ask Jake Brown the same questions: "How did it feel? What was going through your head? How are you still alive?"

It's understandable, but how Brown walked away from a 45-foot free fall really isn't.

It has become the main part of his legacy in the skateboarding big air event — not landing the first ollie 720, winning a gold medal after years of trying or skating on two broken ribs in Barcelona earlier this year.

"I haven't really seen too much of that change. It's still the same six years since I did that," Brown said. "Yeah it's always brought up, but I'm just here to skate and try to help us progress. I just want to leave a positive mark on the sport."

On that day in 2007, the Australian landed the first 720 in big air competition over a 55-foot gap before losing control, his body flailing in mid-air before smacking the wood ramp. His shoes flew 50 feet, his head was under his back due to the whiplash and the Staples Center crowd was eerily silent.

Fellow big air gold medalist Bob Burnquist was at the top of the ramp when he thought he saw his friend for the last time.

"I fell on the ground and started crying because I thought he had died," Burnquist said.

Brown's injuries were a fractured wrist, fractured vertebrae, bruised liver, bruised lung, ruptured spleen and concussion. And yet he still got up and walked off.

Two years later, Brown won the gold medal in that same event, when he realized mental preparation underneath the helmet is almost as important as technical prowess above the board.

"I thought I was good right away, but it took me a couple of years to mentally get back to where I wanted to be," Brown said. "Everything is heightened at that level: the danger, the rush, the reward."

More at the top link.

Hilarious Jimmy Kimmel on Anthony #Weiner 'No Quitter' Campaign Ad

I was ROTFL the other night when this was on.

Lauren Silverman Husband Names Simon Cowell in Divorce Papers

Made for the tabloids.

At the Mirror UK, "Simon Cowell could face DNA test and court appearance over fling with friend's wife that left her pregnant," and "The secrets of Simon Cowell's "love boat" cruises with Lauren Silverman and her husband Andrew."

Also, "Simon Cowell jokes 'I haven’t read the newspapers' as he's questioned about baby."

Obamaphone Blowout!

On Hannity's last night.

"Let Me Finish, Then You’ll Be Educated On Something!"



FLASHBACK: "Free Obama Phones."

ObamaCare's Just for the Little People

The special gall here is that the man's slated to be one of the key enforcers of the brutal ObamaCare regime. And he clearly and honestly confesses that for people with coverage already, moving into a new "environment" is going to be badly inferior to what's available to people of his status already.

When the left thinks they know what's good for America, they make sure to exempt themselves from the ramifications of those "wonderful" changes. This, in a word, is evil.

Via the Lonely Conservative, "Video: IRS Official Wants to Keep His Current Health Plan, Doesn’t Want Switch to OCare."

Lauren Silverman Demands Marriage and Reality Show From Simon Cowell

Well, that's what you get for not wearing a raincoat.

At London's Daily Mail, "Marry me and give me a TV show! Simon Cowell's 'gold digger' pregnant lover 'has demanded he marry her and give her a reality TV show'."

Roger Waters Responds to Charges of Anti-Semitism

At Algemeiner, "Roger Waters Defends Himself Against Charges of Anti-Semitism: ‘I Have Many Very Close Jewish Friends’."

And Twitchy, "Comfortably dumb: Roger Waters says he’s not an anti-Semite; Some of his best friends are Jews."

@jaketapper Ah he used the old line of "Some of my best friends are self-hating Jews."

— UnfrozCavemanZionist (@CygnusA81) August 1, 2013

BACKGROUND: "Roger Waters Concert Exhibits Hateful Anti-Semitic Images and Props."

Mugabe Wins Zimbabwe Election: Opposition Decries 'Huge Farce'

Well, this is no surprise.

At the New York Times, "Challenger to Zimbabwe’s President Says Election Was a ‘Huge Farce’":

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Morgan Tsvangirai, the challenger to Zimbabwe’s longtime president, Robert Mugabe, asserted Thursday that the country’s presidential election had been a “huge farce” and called upon international observers to investigate what he described as widespread irregularities.

Senior leaders of Mr. Mugabe’s party, ZANU-PF, meanwhile, said they expected a huge victory, retaining the presidency and recapturing a majority of the Parliament.

“This victory is so sweet,” said Saviour Kasukuwere, a top minister in Mr. Mugabe’s party, who added he was handily re-elected to his parliamentary seat. He rejected the accusation that the vote had been manipulated.

“President Mugabe did not rig this election,” he said. “President Mugabe was voted overwhelmingly by the people of Zimbabwe.”

But Mr. Tsvangirai said the vote failed to meet “international standards for a credible, legitimate, free and fair election.”

The Zimbabwe Election Commission has not released official results in the presidential election, but from the tone of Mr. Tsvangirai’s statement, it appeared that his party, the Movement for Democratic Change, was headed for defeat.

“In our view, the outcome of this election is illegitimate,” Mr. Tsvangirai, 61, said in a statement. “But more importantly, the shoddy manner in which it has been conducted and the consequent illegitimacy of the result will plunge this country into a serious crisis.”

The vote, which took place Wednesday, was meant to resolve years of political crisis in Zimbabwe, ending an uneasy power-sharing agreement that put the ruling party and the opposition into government together.

More at the link.

PREVIOUSLY: "Zimbabwe Opposition Grows Bolder."

Edward Snowden Granted One-Year Asylum in Russia

The Los Angeles Times reports, "Edward Snowden granted asylum, leaves Moscow airport in taxi," and "Snowden asylum may presage rocky period in U.S.-Russia ties."

WASHINGTON — Now that Russia has granted temporary asylum to former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, the question is not whether the decision will hurt U.S.-Russian relations but, rather, how bad the damage will be.

Russian officials maintained Thursday that the action was "insignificant," in the overall relationship with Washington. But the White House reacted angrily, a contrast with President Obama's first term, when the administration was eager to strengthen ties with Russia to enlist the Kremlin's help on an array of issues.

More at the Guardian UK, "White House 'reconsidering' Russia summit after Snowden given asylum."

And I always love watching Democracy Now! Communist Amy Goodman cheers against the United States, and of course bringing on clueless hacks like Spencer Ackerman adds a special comedy to the reporting. This guy's a crack international affairs analyst!

CNN Reports Massive, 'Unprecedented' CIA Intimidation Campaign and Cover-Up

Flopping Aces has it, "CNN: CIA “intimidating” operatives to ensure they keep quiet," and Hot Air, "CNN bombshell: Dozens of CIA operatives were on the ground during the Benghazi attack, agency in panic over revelations."

And at Big Peace, "REPORT ON CIA PERSONNEL TAKES BENGHAZI FROM 'PHONY' SCANDAL TO IMMENSE COVERUP."

There has always been something unsettling about the September 11th attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, and a Thursday report on local CIA activity the night of the attack only adds to the unease. CNN is reporting the CIA may have had upwards of 35 personnel in Benghazi on the night of the attack, and that "as many as seven [of these] were wounded." An unnamed source claims these individuals are subjected to polygraph tests as frequently as once a month to monitor them for possible leaks to news outlets.

Since the assault's immediate aftermath, the Obama administration was worked diligently to ensure the details of that night remain secret—even as the family members of four murdered Americans killed search for answers. The White House initially refused to label the onslaught as a terror attack, despite the assassination of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stephens. Caught in the final months of the President's reelection campaign, his subordinates instead promoted the idea of spontaneous protests caused by a YouTube video.

More recently, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) alleges that Benghazi survivors have been bound by non-disclosure agreements from the federal government so their knowledge of the night's events cannot be made public. Americans have learned U.S. Diplomatic Security personnel like David Ubben and others were in Benghazi during the attacks, as well. They survived but have been kept from Congress and the public since the attacks took place.

Consequent with this news is the revelation that President Obama was missing from the situation room while the attack took place. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta was in the situation room and said after seeing Obama for a 5 PM meeting, he did not see or hear from the President again that night—though the attack lasted for hours.

More, "Exclusive: Dozens of CIA operatives on the ground during Benghazi attack."

'I'm not a monster' — Ariel Castro Sentenced to Life in Prison Plus 1000 Years

At the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "Judge sends Ariel Castro to prison for abduction, rape of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight (slideshow)."



More video, "Judge paints lonely future for Castro," and "Victim confronts Ariel Castro: 'Your hell is just beginning'."

Simon Cowell's 'The Ex-Factor'

I posted on this yesterday, "Simon Cowell Reportedly Expecting Baby With Hot New York Socialite Lauren Silverman, Who's Still Married to One of Cowell's Close Friends Andrew."

And here's today's New York Post, "Simon Cowell knocked up his pal's wife, and now he's getting trashed in their divorce --- First pics of Cowell's 'baby mama' after it was revealed reality TV mogul got friend's wife pregnant; gal pal called a 'gold digger'."

'Asian Girlz'

Folks say it's quite possibly the most racist song ever written.

Here's LA Weekly with the clip, "Offensive 'Asian Girlz' Video Sparks Talk of Protest."

Lyrics at Angry Asian Man, "OKAY, SO THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE WORST THING EVER MADE."

Via WeSmirch.

Penelope Cruz Super-Sexy for Agent Provocateur Lingerie

I'm late getting up to speed on the big news for the day.

So, to get things rolling, here's the lowdown on Penelope Cruz, at US Magazine, "Video: Penelope Cruz Directs Super Sexy Lingerie Ad For Agent Provocateur Line."

Oh My! Michelle Malkin Slams Omni-Hating Race Hustler Al Sharpton!

Well, he's Jew-hating, white-hating, and everybody else in between-hating.

Michelle unloads with righteous indignation at skeezy race hustler and MSNBC shakedown shark Al Sharpton.

"This guy is a shakedown artist who hates cops, who hates whites, who hates Jews, who has stoked his rent-a-mob to murder Yankel Rosenbaum..."

And take notice at that Morton Downey clip with Sharpton going off on that vile racist, homophobic "punk faggot" rant. Gawd, that man is awful --- but perfect for MSNBC.

Zimbabwe Opposition Grows Bolder

From this morning's New York Times, "Mugabe Keeps Grip Before Vote, but the Opposition Grows Bolder."

And, "Zimbabwe Vote Tests Long Rule of Mugabe":

DOMBOSHAWA, Zimbabwe — For Nyaradzai Majuru, the choice of how to cast her ballot was simple. Before she and her husband received a two-acre plot of land that had been seized from a white farmer several years ago, they were penniless subsistence farmers on a scrap of communal land. Now, they grow green beans, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and cabbages that they sell in the market.

“Our life is better now because of President Mugabe,” said Ms. Majuru, 27, her youngest child tied to her back with a blanket, referring to Robert Mugabe, 89, who has led this country since it shook off white rule in 1980. “I support him all the way.”

But for 40-year-old Elizabeth, a janitor at an agricultural college in this small farming town 20 miles north of the capital, life has only gotten worse under Mr. Mugabe’s rule. Hyperinflation wiped out her savings. Hunger gnawed at her family. A lucky few got land, but the country’s economy was destroyed, she said, declining to give her last name out of fear of reprisals by the government.

“We need change in this country,” Elizabeth said. “We are tired of this old man.”

They were among the millions of Zimbabweans who went to the polls on Wednesday in what many here are calling the most pivotal election since the nation voted out white rule. Despite frigid predawn temperatures, people lined up before the polling stations opened, eager to decide whether to end or extend the three-decade tenure of Mr. Mugabe, a liberation war hero who still holds a tight grip on the country.

In Harare, the capital, there was none of the violence and intimidation that characterized the disastrous 2008 presidential election season, when 200 people died in a state-sponsored crackdown on the opposition and others seen as supporting it.

“This is a huge change, the fact that people can stand around and talk openly about their views,” said Namo Mariga, an agribusiness entrepreneur, after casting his ballot in the upscale suburb of Borrowdale. “The atmosphere is much freer.”

The election pits Mr. Mugabe against the former union organizer Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change. Mr. Tsvangirai won the most votes in the first round of the election in 2008 but refused to participate in a runoff because of the attacks on his supporters. A deal brokered by regional powers put the two rivals into an uneasy power-sharing agreement, and both are now seeking an outright victory to govern alone.

“It is quite an emotional moment sometimes when you see all these people after all the conflict, the stalemate, the suspicion, the hostility,” Mr. Tsvangirai said after casting his ballot. “I think there is a sense of calmness that finally Zimbabwe will be able to move on again.”

Sporadic problems were reported in a number of regions. Lines were long in urban areas, raising concerns that not everyone would be able to vote Wednesday. The challengers said the Zimbabwe Election Commission had deliberately reduced the number of polling stations in their strongholds to discourage voters, but the commission denied it. Some voters who registered recently found that their names were not on the rolls, but they were able to cast ballots using the registration receipt.

“We’ve already made clear this election is illegal, illegitimate, unfree and unfair,” said Tendai Biti, the secretary general of the Movement for Democratic Change, at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon. “We are participating with a heavy heart.”

The planning for the election has been chaotic and rushed because Mr. Mugabe unilaterally set a much earlier election date than other political parties had anticipated.

But early reports from election officials and some monitors said that the voting had gone well. Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria who is leading the African Union observer delegation, said that based on initial reports the voting had been peaceful and orderly, and appeared to be free and fair.

Continue reading.

And at CNN, "Focus turns to vote-counting in Zimbabwe's hotly contested election."

Partial results should be available Thursday. I'm not holding my breath.

Bill O'Reilly Eviscerates the Far-Left's Grievance Industry

Shoot, O'Reilly's like must-see TV these days.

Who knew?



O'Reilly's going to sue the New Haven Register, which so far has not apologized. See, "MATT DeRIENZO: Editorial on Nugent, Fox News opens conversation about race."

DeRienzo admits the newspaper erred but doesn't come out with a forthright apology for the screw up. I'll bet we'll see one by the end of the week. That editorial just softens up the ground.