Please go over to Amazon and "recommend as helpful" Jesus General's priceless review of Going Rogue:

The book also fails to expose Mrs. Palin's intellectual brilliance and keen grasp of foreign policy issues. Why wasn't the text of her recent speech in Hong Kong included? Although it remains secret, it's rumored that she viciously rebuked the Vietcong king for his assault on the Empire State Building. That's a speech we've been waiting for nearly 75 years to hear. It's big news and should have been included.

...a few bad reviews won't stop her. She's seen much worse from her kitchen window. It can't be pleasant to gaze upon Antichristograd every morning as you brew your coffee.

We all love Jesus General. You might also enjoy/recommend his review of Carrie Prejean's book. Priceless.

Landslide winner of the "vote for your favorite Carrie Prejean LOLcat" balloting at my tiny blog. Open thread below...

Sadly, No!: According to the Virgin Queen of the Right Wing Baloney-sphere, the title of "Teabagger" was worn with pride by our colonial forebearers. No, really.

Dependable Renegade: Seriously Meghan, put the iPhone DOWN. But first, tweet Carrie Prejean a message from the General.

Earth Bound Misfit: "Republicans for Rape" isn't just a vote, it's thirty votes. And now it's a blog. Susie Bright (NSFW) points to a simple statement on "how to prevent rape." Highly recommended.

Distributorcap NY: Discovered at Schwabs.

Mike Finnigan returns tomorrow; send tips to finnsagain AT aol DOT com.

Thanks for nothing, Bill Maher, for planting the image of Palin as Carrie's Mom in my head. Click here for larger. (h/t Heather and BG)

Also recommended tonight: this online episode of Murphy Brown. Fourteen years ago and it was all there: Limbaugh, Gingrich, looking stuff up on "the Internet", the "Liberal Media Elite", all afloat in a wishful fantasy that somehow both sides were equally wrong and we could all work together if only the Left bent over a little further.

Open thread below...

digby: Gates is lucky he didn't get roughed up or tazed

TalkLeft: Cheney wanted to use the Military to make U.S. terrror arrests

Mugsy’s Rap Sheet: A special place in hell for healthcare reform opponents

Raw Story: Spitzer: Federal Reserve is 'a Ponzi scheme, an inside job'

Hysterical Raisins: What Tom Coburn does when he's not birthin' John Ensign's babies

From the Left: Carrie Prejean opened the Del Mar horse racing season with a song

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Well, well, well, it looks like Shanna Moakler is proved right after she quit the USA Pageant and called Carrie Prejean a liar. Prejean wasn't fulfilling her contract with the pageant and after The Donald went to bat for her and saved Prejean from being fired a few weeks ago---he finally had enough and dumped her. I guess the wingnut circuit and FOX News will be her new home now.

TMZ:

Sources connected with the pageant tell us even Donald Trump has now had it with Carrie, because she's violating her contract by not getting clearance to do her extracurricular stuff.

We're also told Carrie has been a no-show for appearances she was supposed to make for the pageant organization.

The firing, we're told, is strictly based on Carrie breaching her contract. It's not based on her political and moral views.

Olbermann grabbed audio of her being interviewed on a radio show and she didn't even know that she was fired. Her initial response to the news was a jumbled mash up of words that made no sense.

Olbermann: They said they didn't tell her, she found out doing an interview with Bill Bush.

Prejean: Hmmm, that's the first that I've heard of it Billy. It's just because of my answer I think, ha. None of this would be happening right now if I just said yea, gays should get married. You're right Perez Hilton. The only one that likes me is Donald Trump, hahaha.

Bush: And he gave his blessing to terminate you, you gonna call him?

Prejean: Well I think that he definitely is a business man and I know that he's looking out for my best interests and right now and I think that maybe he thinks that's my best interests right now.

Let's see. Trump saved her job so that has nothing to do with her anti-gay marriage answer, and he just fired her, so... I still don't understand her Trump answer ... Oh, well....

via Booman: A Kansas preacher and gay rights foe whose congregation is protesting military funerals around the country said he's coming to Idaho tomorrow to picket the memorial for an Idaho National Guard soldier killed in Iraq.

A flier on the Web site of Pastor Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church claims God killed Cpl. Carrie French with an improvised explosive device in retaliation against the United States for a bombing at Phelps' church six years ago. "We're coming," Phelps said yesterday...read on

This is beyond sick. Don't let anyone say anything different. He represents what the extreme religious right is all about. They might put on a friendly face on 24/7, smile and giggle and seem harmless. Its all a ruse. I'll be posting video of the wingnut Roy Moore soon and you'll see what I mean.

Simon Cowell is apparently nursing an ambition to be a political pundit.

"I think 'American Idol' has always been a red state competition," he tells Entertainment Weekly. "I think mainly it's a Southern competition."

He elaborates: "I think Carrie [Underwood] is reflective of what's going on in this country. There are a lot of girls saying, 'I'm bored of girls dressing like sluts.'...There's a difference between what the record industry thinks and what Wal-Mart customers think. That's one of the reasons why Carrie is doing so well."

Simon, have you ever stepped foot in a Wal-Mart? I don't think "Slut-it-up "clothes are big in their inventory. I did notice that you berated Carrie for wearing clothes that made her look like an old-maid though.

Carrie Underwood and Nikko Smith smoked on American Idol last night. I've found that the singers have been inconsistent this season, but Tuesday's show was by far the best. There were other very good performances as well, but I particularly liked these two.

Download | play -WMP

Download | play -QT

(please link post to http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/03/22.html#a2086)

Helping the contestants was the fact that they had to choose songs out of the Billboard Book of Number ONE Hits, which limited some of the poor song choices that had happened in earlier shows.

The outstanding rhythm section augmented by a full string section and terrific background singers really helped kick the singers into high gear. While the contestants may not be as unique as Fantasia was last year (William Hung need not apply) at least so far, I think this season holds great promise the rest of the way and may very well contain the best overall talent of any of the previous American Idol's.

(ps- Needed to take a break from politics and the lunatic fringe)