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Comment on: Not So Friendly Fire

Pork: The Other White Meat

97 Comments

hahahahahaha, Sarge!

Man, you hit the nail right on the head.

Too bad that nail's not some political hack...........

Brian

It's a fantasy of mine. LOL! I guess I'll have to be satisfied with Jackpines Whack-a-Troll.

It All Goes Back To Whose Ox Is Gored

Everyone decries pork politics.
Everyone knows which states have the most corrupt politicians. everyone wonders why OTHER states do not throw the corrupt bums out so Washington will be clean again.

Yet

Every state applauds THEIR politicians for bringing federal money to THEIR home state. Nor can they throw out their congressman. After all, he has SO much seniority he can get SO much for THEIR state.

Yep. It all goes back to whose ox is gored.

Transparency

It turns out that you can do whatever you want in office and the voters will reelect you without batting an eye. All this earmark stuff is wonk-chow. In a country where half the people can only read well enough to stop at a stop sign lines in a budget appropriations bill are not going to cause a stir. We havent linked this behavior to the growing crisis caused by rising tax rates.

Sgt Relic

I have a favor to ask of you.

Please check out my latest blog entry "A time for Action".

If you agree, please write a similar entry on your blog.

Let's get the word out and take the battle to Al Gore and other global warming prophets!

FATBACK-SLAPPING

Can't you just see it? All those hogs slapping each other on their fatbacks? Just a-slappin and a-sloppin and a-grinnin. Especially Webb. Lord, I cringe when I accidentally look at him.

Oddly enough, my Repug. Senator (short for repugnant Republican) voted against the ban, while my Dem. Senator, for whatever reason (could be VP-hopefulness), voted for the ban. One could have hoped the Repug. senator would have sense enough to do what was right, but then he seldom has as far as I'm concerned.

My Dem. Senator votes intelligently much more often.

As a whole, as you so eloquently stated (and I paraphrase), they haven't a care in the world as to whom they represent. They know: they represent themselves, for whatever reason.

Go figure.

Buck

I agree. The seniority system is another element of the incumbent retention act. Some are starting to realize that the party has no interest in offering a new candidate until the old one is beaten. The concept of letting an incumbent lose is a tough one for voters to embrace.

Skep

Your absolutely correct and the process of earmarking has become even stealthier since democrats have cleaned up congress.

Most elections are fairly close affairs with the winner coming away with 3 to 5 point victories. The only workable strategy I have been able to come up with is for those who pay attention, or roughly that 3 to 5 %, to be willing to suffer the opposition winning to get a better candidate in the next cycle. Senators are a particular problem since they serve 6 year terms.

This is only an example...

an example of how corrupt our politicians are and how hard will be for McCain to change the Washington Landscape if he wins.

Obama, and earmarks queen Clinton voted with McCain just as a front. Now they can say: "see... I told you I am against corruption".

I'm not gonna defend Webb.

He came in promising not to be like all the other corporate apologists, but he's already voted in their favour.

Joe

I quite agree, hence my conclusion. As I said, underwhelming!

Friggle

You are dead on about Webb; what is up with that hairdo? This was one of those votes when the Whips tell the members they have the votes to pass whatever so anyone who needs cover back home can vote against. All part of the grand incumbency retention act.

Doc Steech

You state the problem exactly. More still, it seems that only republican voters are actually willing to do anything about it. As I said in the article, if these guys are bringing so much money into the state why do my taxes continue to rise?

Joe

It's a good strategy. If all the candidates voted the same way there is nothing to debate. McCain loses on this one because of his position on pork.

Stan

Webb has failed to deliver on his campaign rhetoric. He got sworn in, picked up his water bucket and headed for the backbench. Credit Russell Potts for Webb's election. If Potts doesn't pull his 3.5% of the vote from Allen, Webb loses. Add Allen's maccaca moment and you have the classic "shooting yourself in both feet" campaign strategy.

BBQ

SInce you live in the area, somewhat, is there a local DC BBQ sauce designed to go with the Capital pork? Sounds like a good idea if not.

It's why I call them the bipartisan PIG

That would be Party-In-Government, and it's not just the feds. The Wisconsin state Senate skipped town for the session without so much as taking up a bill that would require some sunshine on the pork and keep the conference committee from airdropping pork in.

Hey Sarge

I'd appreciate a link to the vote on this. I gotta see if my Senators continued being conservative or if they are showing signs of RINO disease.

Davecat

I am certain that the Heinz/Kerry people have a complete line of Capitol Pork BBQ Sauces. Names such as Spicy "K" Street BBQ Sauce w/Bacon springs to mind.

Steve

PIG! I love it. So they passed on the pork issue? Bravely done. Our General Assembly has to come back for a special session to try fix last year. The pesky ole' VA Supreme Court of Va didn't like last years plan which was largely based on taxation without representation, always a crowd pleaser in VA. The other half of their tax scheme involved draconian traffic fines, but just for Virginians, also wildly popular. Idiots!

Crawfish

I don't know what happened to the previous post. It seems to have disappeared. Here is the link again.

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/AmandaCarpenter/2008/03/ 14/senate_kills_demint-mccain_earmark_ban

speaking of pork...

New posting on animal rights over at my place. Come on by.
Man, this is easy this week!

Sarge

Yeah, our state is going down a scary path. I blame it on my area.

And I love the post. After all the talk about it, very few can step up.

Pork...

Let's hope McCain can do something about it when he's pres...

Hill or Ob sure wouldn't lift a pinky to cut it, that's for sure...

Sgt.Relic

If I had my way, everyone of these porkers would be butchered at the trough. Then we could vote in a whole new pack of pigs and see what they do. It's never ending, the corruption.

Like Frigglesnitch, I can't stand to even look at that Jim Webb. All I remember when I see him is that he wanted to punch out GW. Big man, that Webb.

BBQ Sauce

IMHO (and I'm a pro at knowing), get *DOWN* to Houston and check out Williams Smokehouse (especially) for the BBQ sauce. And their beef link sausage is amazing. Not to mention their ribs ...

And just as a black style Houston BBQ place can be the best we Houstonians have to offer, so can it transend to the presidency ...


OBAMA '08!!!!

VDaddy

If your in NOVA you may be right.

Sheila

I would seem McCain would have to do it with a veto pen but by my count 71-29 is veto proof.

Pepp

I understand that it is the function of the congress to vote appropriations and that many times local requirements are best addressed by local representatives additions to general appropriations bills.

My big objection comes from the insertion of appropriations unrelated to the general bill, any earmark a representative is not willing to publicly sponsor, and projects that are clearly not a function of the federal government.

IMHO, they hide them because they can't explain them.

Yes, Webb creeps out lots of folks.

Stan

I would never disturb the experience of eating a fine rack of ribs with something as mundane as who gets to be president. Who makes sausage out of cows? Is that a Texas thing?

Stan

You have gotta get some REAL BBQ. C'mon up to Cowtown (that's Ft Worth for you non-Texans). The best BBQ anywhere is found at Angelo's or Cousin's Barbeque.

Dangit!

I've got one Senator (Cornyn) and one RINO (Hutchinson). Time to fire off some letters!

Shameless plug

New article up at the farm, First Lady Michelle?

I am in the heart of it, Sarge

In Fairfax. Just down the street from Old Town Fairfax...

Its scary to see the trends.

Sarge

today's race speech just got Swamped

hey Sgt

Thanks for the news, although it never seems to change. And I believe Sen. Webb likes to be called "Weirdo".

Craw

I'm sad to say your doing twice as well as we are.

VDad

We're holed up south of the canal in Great Bridge. That would be that little splotch of red just south of Norfolk. If you look it up on a map it's marked "Here Be Conservatives". LOL!

Scarlet

I'm sure glad to hear that. Townhall policy prevents me posting some of the more frequently used "nicknames". HaHa!

Look on the sunny side...

...due to 'global warming,' they will all be bacon soon.

D*mn Sarge,....

I read the title and thought I was about to read an article on Western BBQ vs. Southern BBQ. An article filled with the "smell" of hickory (or cherry or mesquite) smoked pork loins. Of the hint of Greek red pepper sprinkled on pork chops. Of the taste of "Abe's" BBQ sauce (made in Clarksdale, MS, since 1924) liberally splashed on "torn" smoked pork roast meat and placed on a bun with slaw.

Instead, what do I get? More of my tax dollars spent by Dumocrat politicians.

I can solve this problem in a very simple manner: Make an open hunting season on politicians, with the legal limit being all the ammo you can tote.

There, problem solved. Now back to more interesting items: Is a good red wine better with BBQ, or is ice tea (with a hint of lemon) a better beverage to "cleanse the palate"? Perhaps a good beer? My wife likes Coca-Cola; but I believe that its taste is too strong and interfers with the subtle tastes present in BBQ.....

All

Now I'm getting double posts on my own blog. Terrific!

Ghost

Sorry to disappoint. According to Gingrich there are over 500,000 known species of politician in this country. That's a lot of ammo.

Personally I favor NC style minced pit BBQ, vinegar base, with hot sage, on a bun with cole slaw and Texas Pete liberally applied. I like to reserve the tomato based sauces for pulled pork and ribs. I guess everyone has a favorite sauce, I get mine from a hole in the wall place called Ken's. Ken makes his own sauce and it is a killer.

I always preferred an ice cold beer, even without the BBQ, which probably explains all those meeting I wound up going to. These days I find that a sweating glass of sweet tea goes just fine. I agree about the Coke. Too sweet.

The wine drinkers around our house have an affinity for Cabernet Sauvignon but I can't personally attest to its complimentary nature.

Many people of told me that my lifelong love affair with pork is responsible for the heart problems but I am more inclined to think it was the deep fried snickers. What do think?

Texas BBQ

Sarge -
> I would never disturb the experience of eating a fine rack of ribs with something as mundane as who gets to be president.

"Mundane". That's a perfect description of former President Bush's favorite BBQ (Otto's), IMHO.


> Who makes sausage out of cows? Is that a Texas thing?

Great questions! Williams Smokehouse is who makes sausage out of cows. And it's quite a rare thing, even here in Texas.


> You have gotta get some REAL BBQ. C'mon up to Cowtown (that's Ft Worth for you non-Texans). The best BBQ anywhere is found at Angelo's or Cousin's Barbeque.

I don't get there often, but I'll make certain to check 'em out (as I never had when I was getting there often.) My fav. D/FW/Denton BBQ (so-far) is Peggy Sues (across the street from SMU. Lots of Republican'ts in that neighborhood's future, unfortunately.)

Stan

The beef sausage is intriguing. What kind of spices go into something like that? Are they breakfast links or can you slap'em on a bun?

It Can't Be BBQ!

I can not believe that one of Heaven's most fine-tasting foods would be responsible for any health problems. (Can you imagine what a BBQ in Heaven will be like? I truly get the anticipation of flavors beyond belief and good fellowship with people like Joshua, Luke, and Alvin York.)

I know that the health problems probably come from the stress due to "dealing" with the typical, low-life, pork barrel, Dumocrat politicians.

As to the amount of ammo to deal with the "over 500,000 known species of politician in this country", that is why God invented reloading equipment and hemp rope.

BTW, I have never tried "Ken's" BBQ sauce; but it appears from your description to be similar to Abe's. I think I will go with ice tea as the best beverage.

Stan

Peggy's is pretty good. Another Dallas area BBQ tradition is Dickey's BBQ. When I was younger, there were only 2 Dickey's restaurants, and the grandson of the owner was a friend of mine (same YMCA Indian Guides group and he lived 2 blocks away...we competed against each other in private school football in later years). They are a chain now, and have lost a bit of the magic, but are still above average.

In Cowtown, near Angelo's is another one that, for some reason, I can't think of the name of right now. Angelo's and the other one are on White Settlement Avenue. I haven't been there since early 2003, thanks to the Navy taking me away from Texas again.

A good smoked beef brisket is the best food from a real Texas BBQ joint, followed by ribs, sausage, shredded BBQ beef sandwich, chicken, then ham...in that order. Pulled pork is a Tennessee and Carolina thing that I've never developed a real taste for.

Crawdaddy's Right.

Pulled pork is foreign to Texans.

JC

Damn you're uick Jam Apple. I am ROFLMAO!! And Sarge, you said it!

Crawdaddy,

are You refering to "Soda Springs" BBQ? I used to live down the street from that place years ago.


Nee, I'm not always "quick."

Pulled Pork ...

To a Yankee, pulled pork is a completed act of self-gratification. To a politician, it's a badge of honor to attract constituent votes. Either way, you go blind. In the pols world, you go blind to how much your pork is costing everyone, including your constituents.

Remember, "penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the offense."

Perhaps McCain ought to put that sentiment into his next anti-pork legislation.

JC

Pulled Pork is very common in this area since Pig Roasts are a favorite charity fundraiser feature. It has never been my first choice. I much prefer minced BBQ in a vinegar, red pepper and sage sauce. We don't see much beef BBQ although it is available at some rib places. I had always thought of beef BBQ as being a Texas specialty.

Nee, Mhu Cao

Nee, Thanks for commenting.

Mhu Cao, That particular phenomenon is not fixed geographically. I myself am extremely near-sighted, although I have never held office. I was an adolescent. LOL!

That was a real loss for McCain since he actually seems serious about controlling these air drops. Hill and Obama voting with him doesn't give him much traction on the issue.

Re: Texas BBQ

> A good smoked beef brisket is the best food from a real Texas BBQ joint,

Actually, that's as false as our elections are becoming. When I worked in the BBQ industry here in Houston, chuck was what was being used, and it's much better than brisket for BBQ. Around the time I left the BBQ industry, brisket was being introduced, and it was grabbed upon by the industry because it's so much easier to prepare.

We used to buy it by the quarter (I think the term is), cooked it for awhile, and then we had to do something called "debone" it (in which we removed all the bones, gristle, etc. It was a very nasty job. But it made for excellent and *AUTHENTIC* Texas BBQ)

Re: Crawdaddy's Right

Jimmy -
> Pulled pork is foreign to Texans.

I totally agree. I've never tried it. I only heard about it's existence because I listened to the Al Franken Show when it was on the air (Please ask me the context! :-) .)

Sarge

> I had always thought of beef BBQ as being a Texas specialty.

I think you're correct on that. If done correctly, of course. :-)

But pork ribs are done very well here in Texas as well at least here in Houston, as is a variety of sausages. For instance, there's a couple of cities in central Texas famous for their pork sausage (Elgin and Lockhart.)

Craw, Sarge

Craw, I think I did try Dickies when I was there, but I must not've been all that impressed by it.

Sarge, bun type.

Stan

There are two competing versions of minced pork BBQ in VA. Because of my proximity to NC, I can drive there in about 15 minutes, the vinegar based sauce is most popular. Pierce's BBQ located about half way to Richmond from here is a tomato based BBQ which is very popular as well.

We have the occasional "Bull Roast" put on by some organizations as charity fundraisers.

Smithfield VA is about 30 minutes away and their name is synonymous with Ham. Since my experience of Texas is limited to changing planes in DFW I really don't have much of a frame of reference.

hey Sgt. - about low country bbq

It is addicting. I never had it that way when I first got to Carolina. Awesome. especially the cracklin' and the hush puppies. And sweet tea. mmmmmm

btw- has anyone ever had mutton? Moonlite BBQ in Owensboro, Ky makes delicious mutton.

Nope

Don't know nuttin' 'bout no mutton.

Jimmy

Dude, I think you should check out that old tune, what is it, Handy Man? Don't "*KNOW-NOTHING*" 'bout ... .

I suggest James Taylor's version for a start.

SP

I like the low country sauce on ribs, wild 'bout hush puppies but not so much about cracklin'. The only thing I know about mutton is that people put jelly on it. That doesn't seem quite natural.

JC

Only a glutton can eat mutton. I don't have the "calorie credits" to indulge.

mutton is sheep

slow cooked for a long time. It is really good for you health wise as compared to other meats. BBQed of course with a tomato based sauce. Mayo, sliced mutton, pickles and bun. Chips and a Coke. Yeah buddy!

some folks like chopped but I'm not responsible for them.

Sarge

Theres a great strategy for a Republican victory... the Dems have such a brutal primary that they end up hating their nominee even more than we hate ours and so more of them stay home than Repubs. The way things are going now the only people who are going to vote in November are McLame's mother and Bill Clinton. The rest of us will be raging at home.They'll have to do a recount.

Skep

You may have something there. I'd bet Obama lost Granny's vote after his speech.

SP

I seem to be suffering the dreaded TH disappearing comment. I'll try again.

I was aware that mutton is sheep but that still doesn't explain why anyone would want to eat it.

My one experience with mutton was with lamb chops. I was encouraged to put mint jelly on them, I suppose to kill the taste. It struck me as being gamey in much the same way as a venison roast that has not been marinated in vinegar and onions overnight. It seemed to have a strong wild taste.

mhu cao - the government's pork

All I can think of to say (and will I get thrown off?) is to stick it to 'em.

Also, "Weirdo's" nickname is perfect, and I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one whose stomach churns uncomfortably at the sight.

All of which reminds me -- my husband and I race to lunge at the "clicker" to shut off various commercials. Now we do the same with B.O.; I do the same with Weirdo.

Especially will I not watch or read anything else that B.O. has to say. It might be fun to watch him trying a balancing act, but in the end it's just not worth the nauseating process. I've seen enough for a lifetime.

Oink

One of Wisconsin's Senators voted on the good side of this issue. Russ Feingold (D-Socialist Wing) The other Wisconsin Senator, Herb Kohl (D-Lefty) cancelled him out by voting to keep the pork.

Side Note. Herb Kohl owns the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. He was recently quoted that his struggling franchise is commited to Milwaukee. "The Bucks will always play in Milwaukee" stated Senator Kohl.
I look for them to be moved wihin 2 years.

NEW POST AT MY BLOG!

Third Eye

So who do you think Feingold was taking his lead from, McCain, Marx or Lenin?

Yeah, I'd say if a pol promised the Bucks would stay they are probably already in negotiations. Coming Over.

Now that's projecting, Sarge.

It's the Republican'ts that are running this country like it's the USSR.

In fact it's quite a common thing for Republican'ts to do. They take their own failures and project them on to their (perceived) enemies.

For instance, 9/11 happened under Bush II, and even though the Clinton administration warned something like it was being planned against America, Republican'ts blame Clinton.

Clinton didn't blame Bush I for when they bombed the Trade Center's parking lot, even though Bush I probably didn't warn Clinton about it.

ear mark reformer

my hiney.

I think McCain's strategy is just take whatever everyone else is doing and do the opposite. He doesn't care about these issues.

Shining

Since McCaint's stratigy seems to be to emulate Bush's excuse 4 running our country (which was like: "anything other than what Clinton was doing") I don't disagree.

Stan

Actually that's called "Red Baiting". If the three presidential candidates don't want me to see the socialist agenda they have planned then they shouldn't post it on their websites.

As to the rest, you are now starting to get into "truther" territory. When did you become a Paulbot?

SC

Once you take out the issue of the war the differences between the candidates start to get skimpy. IMO, the fact that the Senate vote wasn't even close says none of them took the candidates position to be real.

How's the trip going?

Sarge

What "Socialist" agenda????

You're engaging in "straw man" argumentation, IMHO. Attack your real opponent (our Government), you're missing your target as per usual.

Stan

And a happy strawman day to you too.

Sarge

What, you're peeved that I didn't wish you a happy Easter? Well if it make you happy -

Happy Easter Sarge (and also to anyone else that celebrates it)!

beltway girl

Welcome to my place and thanks for posting a comment. The NRO piece is similar to several that the minority leader has written here on TH since his "We get it" campaign began.

His most recent article appeared on TH on the 21st which was a combo praise piece for McCain as a pork fighting "maverick" and the usual "We get it" mantra. I posted a comment on that article questioning his leadership on pork reform and asked the following:

"Can he (the minority leader) explain why Rep. Flake, a strong anti-earmark crusader and a "maverick", was not given the appropriations assignment? Mr. Boehner lacks credibility on this issue, not from a personal standpoint, rather on leadership."

As the minority leader he had an opportunity to facilitate this appointment, but because Rep. Flake is viewed as a "maverick" of questionable loyalty Mr. Boehner went with Rep. Bonner bringing to 3, the total number of Mississippi porkers on the committee. Putting aside the obvious pork loving Bonner; is it really show leadership to place three members from a single state delegation on the appropriations committee?

The minority leader suffers a leadership gap IMO since he confuses talking about reform with actual reform. He had a chance to put a mongoose among the snakes and instead sent another snake. Maybe he needs Bill Clinton to give him the definition of "it". LOL!

Stan

Thanks for the greeting it was an enjoyable day filled with friends, family and food.

Back inthe day

You know before pork was the other white meat, we did chilli! Texas style. Got a new post up.

Re: Pork makes the best ribs...

That's probably very true (though I've experienced very decent beef ribs.) Kind've like pork making the best bacon ...

In fact, when I wrote about deboning cow quarters (what makes up chuck), the biggest bones were the ribs ... probably unused because pork makes the best ribs ...

Speaking of deboning (though the video I'm pointing to called it "boning") animals for food purposes, check out my latest post on my blog ...

All

Nee - Love that chili, on my way over

Sheila - Baby Back Ribs are Hog Heaven, yeah, I know that's a terrible pun.

Stan - I'll take a look.

Stan

Also one of favorite bits from SNL, slightly ahead of "Bass-o-matic". LOL!

Sarge

Do you happen to remember 'Pre-chewed Charlies'? (also featuring Dan Aykaroyd)? :-)

Yes

An early parody commercial about a restaurant for people with false teeth wasn't it?

Sgt. Relic

Shameless plug. New article up at my blog called Black Liberation Theology. Come on over when ya get a chance.