Raising my middle finger

Time.com's Claire Suddath asks "Why are Southerners So Fat?"

I'm looking forward to her article on why Yankees are so f***ing rude.

It's easy to get them confused

Obama trips up.

Or maybe he was just having a little fun.

I would have.

Paul Sanford wins big in Alabama Senate race

A conservative Republican replaces Democrat Parker Griffith, who was elected to the U.S. House last November. And this actually is a laughing matter.

Thought for the day

If you believe that money grows on trees, why on earth would you try to clear the forest?

A Dream

If you haven't heard Ms. Susan Boyle sing yet, please do. It's guaranteed to brighten your day as much as it did mine.

Checking in

It's been quite some time since I've posted anything, huh? No worries. Just taking a little time away. This blogging thing can get stressful, believe it or not. I'll be back full speed soon enough.

Take the Limbaugh challenge

I'm a conservative and a Republican, and I'm unabashedly unashamed of Rush Limbaugh. I agree with him 90% of the time. As for the 10% of the time I don't agree with him, I still appreciate him for his sincerity.

Rush Limbaugh says what he believes, straight up and without reservation (unless perhaps a dutiful regard for the four Cardinal virtues* constitutes a "reservation").

How many politicians or other celebrities do that? Heck, how many of us who blog regularly - or semi-regularly, as has been the case with me of late - do that?

And so I join Andrew Klaven in challenging my friends - the liberals, the conservatives, and the fence-straddling moderates - to take the Limbaugh Challenge:

I listen to Limbaugh every chance I get, and I have never heard the man utter a single racist, hateful or stupid word. Do I always agree with him? Of course not. I'm a conservative; I think for myself. But Limbaugh, by turns insightful, satiric, raucously funny and wise, is one of the best voices talking about first principles and policy in the country today.

Therefore, I am throwing down my gauntlet at your quivering liberal feet. I hereby issue my challenge -- the Limbaugh Challenge: Listen to the show. Not for five minutes but for several hours: an hour a day for several days. Consider what he has to say -- the real policy material under the jokes and teasing bluster. Do what your intellectual keepers do not want you to do and keep an open mind. Ask yourself: What's he getting at? Why does he say the things he says? Why do so many people of goodwill -- like that nice Mr. Klavan -- agree with him?

The mainstream media (a.k.a. the Matrix) don't want you to listen to Limbaugh because they're afraid he'll wake you up and set you free of their worldview. You don't want to listen to him because you're afraid of the same thing.

Don't believe me? Well, then, gird your loins. Gather your courage. Accept the Limbaugh Challenge. See what happens.

I dare you.

* The four Cardinal virtues, according to Christian tradition, are prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude.

Why the President uses a teleprompter

Jake Tapper:

The first appearance by a sitting president on "The Tonight Show" may well end up being the last.

President Obama, in his taping with Jay Leno Thursday afternoon, attempted to yuk it up with the funnyman, and ended up insulting the disabled.

Towards the end of his approximately 40-minute appearance, the president talked about how he's gotten better at bowling and has been practicing in the White House bowling alley.

He bowled a 129, the president said.

"That's very good, Mr. President," Leno said sarcastically.

It's "like the Special Olympics or something," the president said.

When asked about the remark, the White House said the president did not intend to offend.

"The president made an off-hand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics," White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton said. "He thinks the Special Olympics is a wonderful program that gives an opportunity for people with disabilities from around the world."

Facing tough questions about the performance of his Treasury Secretary, $165 million in bonuses for AIG officials and anticipating a fight over his $3.55 trillion budget, the president has not had a particularly good week, and it's unlikely this will help matters.