Mr. Ogonowski Goes to Washington – to Mock Senator John Kerry

by John Little in Politics, Videos

March 12, 2008 · No Comments

Jim Ogonowski does the viral/web thing right with his clever, low-budget, everyman approach. I don’t know if it will be enough to challenge Kerry but Ogonowski has a few other things going for him:

For the past 28 years, Jim Ogonowski served in the Air Force and Air National Guard. When the Air Force transferred its Tanker Task Force Mission, a global air refueling mission, to the Air National Guard in 1995, Jim readily accepted the leadership role as the Commander, responsible for planning, coordinating and executing the transatlantic movement of Air Combat Command fighter aircraft into and out of all of Southwest Asia and Europe. This role became increasingly mission-critical during operations following September 11, 2001.

Through Jim’s leadership, the office became the role model of the air command’s rapid response team. His outstanding performance led to his promotion to lieutenant colonel in 2000, as he deployed to virtually every corner of the globe during peacetime and war. In 2005, Jim was one of the organizers of the largest airlift in New Hampshire National Guard history, deploying 1,000 soldiers and airmen to provide relief during Hurricane Katrina. Upon his retirement, Jim was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his outstanding service to his country, marking the third time he received this prestigious award.

Service to country has been an Ogonowski family tradition. Jim’s two grandfathers were in the military. All his uncles, his father, brother and sister all served in the service. Jim’s son Charlie, a junior at UMASS – Lowell, is in ROTC and he too will one day be a military officer.

Jim Ogonowski believes that Washington has become too big, too corrupt and too partisan. Washington is broken and that the time has come to end the partisanship that is hurting our nation. Jim wants to return the government to the people. It is time we send someone to Washington who will stand up to the Washington insiders and special interests. Jim Ogonowski wants to go Washington to work with BOTH Republicans and Democrats to fix the mess, bring new ideas to the table, and make helping Massachusetts his top priority.

Jim has two children, Charlie and Catherine, and lives in Dracut, Massachusetts with his wife Kathy.

I should also add:

1. He’s not John Kerry (big plus)
2. He looks sort of like William Shatner
3. He has a sense of humor (This is really #1a)
4. He’s a Republican
5. After his brother, pilot John Ogonowski, was killed on 9/11 Jim worked his farm and helped the family save it.

There’s more at JimOgonowski.com. Send him a few bucks while you’re there. He’ll need a ton of money to challenge Kerry.

(H/T: TechRepublican.com)

Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency Office in Lahore Bombed

by John Little in Blogroll, Islam, Pakistan, Videos

March 11, 2008 · No Comments

CNN has the story:

Two suicide bombers exploded a car Tuesday at a building containing the offices of Pakistan’s national investigative agency, destroying it and killing and wounding people inside.

Police said 17 people died and 175 were wounded in the attack in Lahore, and three more were killed in a separate suicide bombing in an area of the city known as Model Town. All three bombers died.

The Federal Investigation Agency is a national investigative agency — similar to the FBI in the United States — and is surrounded by heavy security.

Two suicide car bombers drove their vehicle into the eight-story building housing the offices of the Federal Investigation Agency at about 9:30 a.m., according to the agency.

Lahore police describe the building, where about 1,000 people work, as destroyed.

Sadly, the death toll will probably rise for a while thanks to the significant number of injured.

Emperors Club VIP: Who is Client-10 in Chicago?

by John Little in Media, Politics

March 11, 2008 · 6 Comments

The Chicago Tribune wants to know:

Identified only as “Client-10″ in court documents, the man requested that the prostitution ring, Emperors Club VIP, send a prostitute known as “Chrissy” from Los Angeles to Chicago on March 4, according to the indictment dated March 5.

The FBI intercepted a phone call Feb. 22 between Client-10 and Temeka Rachelle Lewis, one of the defendants named in the indictment, asking about the possibility of “Chrissy” being flown to Chicago for a date on March 4. Lewis told the man that he would be responsible for the cost of airfare and other travel expenses, the indictment says.

Intercepted text messages show that a flight was booked for “Chrissy” from Los Angeles International Airport to O’Hare International Airport for March 4, returning to Los Angeles from O’Hare the following morning. It is not clear from the documents whether she arrived in Chicago.

I think everyone is waiting to see if Eliot Spitzer takes someone else down with him.

STS-123: Space Shuttle Endeavour’s Night Launch

by John Little in Sci/Tech, Videos

March 11, 2008 · No Comments

This is going to be a particularly exciting mission to watch:

The first module of the Japanese-built Kibo laboratory complex was packed inside Endeavour’s cargo bay, along with a Canadian-built robotics system that will enhance the capabilities of the International Space Station’s robotic arm.

The pressurized logistics module for the Kibo complex represents the first manned spacecraft for Japan.

“With this flight, I believe we fully became a real partner in the International Space Station project,” said Keiji Tachikawa, president of JAXA, the Japanese space agency.

Dextre is the robotics system that Endeavour lofted into orbit. With it, Canada is making a literal extension to what the nation already built. Canada built both the space shuttle robot arm and the robotic arm used on the International Space Station.

“Today we are marking another point in our space history,” said Guy Bujold, director of the Canadian Space Agency.

It will take the STS-123 crew more than two weeks in space and five spacewalks to accomplish the goals of the mission.

Stay tuned to NASA TV for the next couple of weeks.

Why Eliot Spitzer’s Emperors Club VIP Parties Hurt Hillary Clinton

by John Little in Politics

March 10, 2008 · 2 Comments

eliotspitzerdotcom Why Eliot Spitzers Emperors Club VIP Parties Hurt Hillary Clinton
Via Alexa

John Nichols @ The Nation on why the Eliot Spitzer story hurts Hillary:

The Clinton campaign immediately began sponging Spitzer’s name from the Senator’s campaign website–just as Idaho Senator Larry Craig’s name disappeared from the website of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney after Craig’s bathroom troubles in Minneapolis.

But that won’t be the end of this.

The Spitzer trip up is a made-for-TV — and really made-for-The New York Post — scandal. The media won’t let go of this one, and sooner or later Tim Russert and Chris Matthews are going to be obsessed with everything Hillary Clinton has to say about it.

Clinton will be answering breathless questions about all her governor’s troubles, about whether he should resign and, of course, about her impressions of what it means when prominent political players — like governors or, say, presidents in the 1990s — get wrapped up in sex scandals.

Double ouch!

This is really the last thing Hillary needed. Thomas de Zengotita thinks the scandal will blunt Hillary’s attacks on Obama:

This delicious piece of trash reminds everybody of the yuck factor that haunts the Clinton Restoration movement. It’s subliminal, but that could make it even better. Obama’s awful challenge right now is to remind Democrats of how McCain will destroy the Clintons in the general election without having Obama sink to the level of Hillary’s as far as I know knife thrust. Spitzer will remind everyone of Monica — and all the others too. He will remind them of blow jobs in the White House. He will remind them of how Hillary was willing to destroy women her husband exploited in service of their weird life-long power pact.

Expect Bill and Hillary to get even more enthusiastic about the “dream ticket” as they grasp for the consolation prize. Expect Obama to, quite correctly, tie her to a culture of sleaze and corruption and turn away.

The Emperors Club VIP Web Site

by John Little in Politics, Sci/Tech

March 10, 2008 · 1 Comment

emperorsclubvip The Emperors Club VIP Web Site

The Internet Archive Wayback Machine contains bits of what is alleged to have been New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s preferred international social introduction service:

Emperors’ Club VIP is the most preferred international social introduction service for those accustomed to excellence. Introducing the most impressive models to leading gentleman of the world is our expertise. We specialize in introductions of: fashion models, pageant winners and exquisite students, graduates and women of successful careers (finance, art, media etc…) to gentlemen of exceptional standards. When seeking an evening date, a weekend travel companion, or a friend to accompany you during your next business / social function our models are perfect preference.

We act for a select group of educated, refined and successful international clients who give their best in all they do and who, in return, only wish to receive the best. Catering to clients who will not compromise in any area of their life. We provide our customers and associates with full discretion, confidentiality and guarantee the most exclusive and discreet social introduction services. Our presentation and photos of each model are recent and accurate. The poses intentionally conceal their faces, as each model companion is either a University Student or, more commonly, a career professional. This guarantees privacy, public comfort and discretion for both our clients and models when dating.

Our meticulous standards of beauty, intelligence and charm ensure that you always encounter the quality you’ve come to expect in a woman, when with an Emperors’ Club vip model. Each of our companions is a product of an exceptionally fine background and a success in her right. All rendezvous are individually crafted to suit the needs of your specific occasion. Note that each model has place in her schedule for a select number of appointments per month, so your date will be a special one for both of you.

Our goal is to make life more peaceful, balanced, beautiful and meaningful. We honor commitment to our clients as we covet long-term relationships of trust and mutual benefit. Experience for yourself a service of obvious distinction…

You think Spitzer’s life is more peaceful, balanced, beautiful and meaningful at the moment?