Marathon Pundit: November 2007

Friday, November 30, 2007

O'Reilly Factor welcomes ALF back to television

One of the great minds of the 1980s, lovable alien ALF, returned to television Friday evening, as Bill O'Reilly welcomed the onetime TV star onto the O'Reilly Factor.

Although ALF has had a tough go of it since his NBC show was cancelled in 1990, including a trip to rehab, ALF still has the quick wit and keen analytical skills that endeared him to millions television viewers.

His Michael Vick dog-grooming franchise offering has failed, and the entertainment industry views him as typecast. But ALF would like to regularly appear on the Factor, and in all seriousness, Bill O'Reilly seems to think it's a good idea.

Let's hope ALF returns. Who else would be better at interviewing Dennis Kucinich?

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entertainment

television

ALF

nostalgia

80s

O'Reilly

fox

Kucinich

Illinois GOP wants to make you "Governor for a Day"

Scroll down my blog to read about what a cushy job it is running a state with 12 1/2 million residents, that is at least for now, both an industrial and agricultural dynamo.

Do you want such a life? Well, if you live in Illinois, you can for a day--thanks to the Illinois Republican Party.

You won't get the governor's paycheck, but you also won't have to fight off federal prosecutors looking into your campaign fund.

From an Illinois GOP press release:

In light of the recent expose on the carefree lifestyle led by Governor Rod Blagojevich, the Illinois Republican Party is conducting a special drawing across the state to make one lucky Illinoisan Governor for a Day.

"While we can’t give you a $155,000 taxpayer funded paycheck to do nothing, we will attempt to come close by giving you what we believe one day in the life of Rod Blagojevich might be like," said ILGOP Spokesperson Lance Trover.

The winner of Governor for a Day will begin the day at the hour of their choice. From then, they will be ushered to a salon for a haircut and massage. Following their time at the salon they will be treated to a first-class lunch which will be followed by a tour of the City of Chicago including visits to the Sears Tower and other Chicago landmarks. Ensuring they are treated just like our current governor, the winners will end their day by attending a Chicago Blackhawk’s game.

"While it is clear this sort of lifestyle is normal for Rod Blagojevich on any given day, it’s far from normal for the average Illinoisan," added Trover. "Hopefully this day will give one hardworking Illinoisan the opportunity to live like the Governor they help fund with their hard earned tax dollars."

The special drawing will kick off at noon on Friday, November 30, in front of the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago and the Illinois Capitol in Springfield. ILGOP staff will be present handing out free drawing tickets at both locations.

To ensure all Illinoisans have a shot at being Governor for a Day, anyone can email their name and contact information to GovernorforaDay@ilgop.org and they will be assigned a specific number for Wednesday’s drawing. One entry per person.

The winning number will be announced on WeAreIllinois.org at noon on Wednesday, December 5, 2007.

Best of luck to all entrants. And just remember: being Governor of Illinois is not hard work, as long as you don’t show up.

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Hay--oh....Ed McMahon on Andrea Shea King tonight

The legendary Ed McMahon will be a guest on tonight's Andrea Shea King Show on BlogTalk Radio.

Listen tonight at 9pm Eastern, 8pm Central Time. More details here.

Hat tip to Third Wave Dave.

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entertainment

television

Ed McMahon

Marathon Pundit exclusive: Lt. Gov. Quinn's letter to U of I president about military scholarship scandal

The below letter has been authorized as authentic. Thanks to Marathon Pundit commenter R. Gerritt for submitting it last night under the blog comments section.

Thank you R. Gerritt, and thank you Lieutnenant Governor Quinn.

November 20, 2007

Dr. B. Joseph White
President, University of Illinois
364 Henry Administration Building, MC-346 506 S. Wright St
Urbana, Illinois 61801

Dear President White:

I am writing to express my continuing concern about the University of Illinois' Executive MBA program's treatment of our veterans.

On March 3, 2006, I joined Robert van der Hooning, then Assistant Dean for Professional and Executive Education at the University's College of Business, at a University of Illinois-sponsored luncheon to promote the College of Business' commitment to award free tuition for its Executive MBA Program to Illinois servicemembers who have served in the Global War on Terror. At that time, the University pledged to provide up to 110 full academic scholarships to the 20-month Executive MBA Program, including tuition, mandatory fees, books, meals, and lodging.

Since that promising beginning, I have been deeply disappointed by the University of Illinois' failure to fulfill its promise to our veterans. Instead of honoring our pledge to our veterans, the University ofIllinois has cut back on its promise.

I am writing this letter to formally request a full listing of all veterans who have thus far received the tuition waiver from the College of Business, along with a list of all veterans who have applied for an been denied admission and total enrollment numbers for the Executive MBA program over the last two years. I expect the University of Illinois to make good on its promise and set an example of ethical behavior for all of its students.

I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Pat Quinn Lt. Governor

cc: Dr. Richard Herman, Chancellor, UIUC
Members, University of Illinois Board of Trustees

Illini

illinois

university of illinois

MBA

Sudanese mobs calls for execution of "teddy bear" teacher

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, show your shoe
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, that will do!

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs-
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers-
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the lights-
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say good-night!
(An old nursery rhyme)

Who would think cute teddy bears would cause so much anger? As most people by now know, Liverpool school teacher Gillian Gibbons, who left comfortable England for impoverished Sudan to teach kids there, let her students vote on the name of the class teddy bear. The children, most of them seven years old, voted for "Muhammad."

That got her a sentence of 15 days in a prison for inciting religious hatred. Again, were talking about a teddy bear. Gibbons could've received a six month stay in jail with a 40 lashes, so within the twisted standards of Islamofascist Sudan, she got a merciful sentence.

That has not escaped the notice of imams in Sudan. They riled up their flocks during Friday mosque services, as about 10,000 Sudanese rallied in Khartoum, chanting among other things, "No tolerance: Execution," and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad."

The National Organization of Women, a group of poltroons, has not come out on a firm stand on this atrocity.

Radio talk show host and former Los Angeles NOW Chapter president Tammy Bruce had this to say about NOW and Gibbons, "The supposed feminist establishment is refusing to take a position in this regard because they have no sensibility of what is right anymore. They're afraid of offending people. They are bound by political correctness."

And a note to my many Sudanese readers: It's just a teddy bear.

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NOW

Murtha: Surge is working

Well...how will the far Left, people like my own congresscritter Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), react to the news that virulent anti-war Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) says the Iraq troop surge is working?

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

"I think the 'surge' is working," Mr. Murtha, a Democrat, said in a video conference from his Johnstown office, describing the president's decision to commit nearly 30,000 additional troops at the beginning of the year. "But the thing that has to happen is the Iraqis have to do this themselves. We can't win it for them."

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