Republicans Only Interested in Opposing Obama

The conservative Washington Times has compiled a list of Republicans who were against President Obama's Stimulus Bill and now either are trying to get money from it or praising it. What hypocrisy! If the stimulus bill were a passed by a President McCain would there be such opposition and criticism? No. This is all about tearing down President Obama. Last week, President Obama criticized Republican lawmakers who would support a bill but withdraw their support once he signed on with his support. Democrats should pin the Republicans as not caring about the country, only about their right-wing ideology. Rachel Maddow has done a piece on their hypocrisy. You go girl!

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Bengals Should Pursue Brandon Marshall

Denver Broncos wide receiver, Brandon Marshall, is aptly named, "The Beast." That's because he's a unique blend of speed and power. After the catch, he runs over defensive backs. For the last three years he has caught 100 or more receptions. He does have baggage. He seems to have minor criminal problems. He was benched on the last game of the season, a game that the Broncos needed to make the playoffs. The Broncos lost that game and didn't make the playoffs. But there is no doubt about his talent. He made the Pro Bowl this year.

It is this talent that the Cincinnati Bengals need for their offense. Let's face it, Chad Ochocinco is the only receiver QB Carson Palmer can trust. Laveranues Coles was a bust as a free agent. Often he was not where he was supposed to be and dropped balls. Andre Caldwell needs more seasoning. Jerome Simpson was a terrible second round pick because he can't get on the field. That pick was especially bad since the Bengals could have had the stunning DeSean Jackson. Currently, there is no good choice for tight end. The difference between the Super Bowl champs Saints and the Bengals is the ability to throw the ball. The Saints can do it and currently the Bengals struggle. Adding another weapon like Marshall will free up Ochocinco since teams will no longer be able to double team him. It will also free up all of Palmer's other targets.

Marshall is a restricted free agent. Meaning after the Broncos tender him an offer at the highest level, any team that signs him must compensate the Broncos with a first and third round pick. That's costly. It's more painful because of the draft picks. But let's face it, the draft is not a guarantee of giving you the type of stud that Marshall is. Plus he's only twenty five. David Krieger of the Denver Post writes that it's likely the Broncos will come to terms with him but there is still a chance that he may be traded. After going 10-6, the time to win is now. Owner Mike Brown should make a bold move and get Brandon Marshall either through trade or sign him off the Broncos. What do you say Mike? Go for it!

Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart Take on Sarah Palin's Hand Notes

Let's face it. If Sarah Palin becomes President, she will be comedy gold. I mean you can't ask for material like a presidential candidate writing crib notes on her hand. That's what high school kids did to cheat on tests. Spanish verbs. Math equations. Your core values as a presidential candidate because you're an idiot and can't remember them. Anyway, Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart of Comedy Central do hilarious bits on Ms. Palin's hand crib notes she used at the Tea Party Convention.

Here's Jon Stewart of the Daily Show video.

Here's Stephen Colbert's take. I love his explanation of when we can use the word, "retard" according to Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin Can't Remember Core Principles

You know Sarah Palin wants to be President. Yet at the Tea Party Convention in which she was the featured speaker she was caught with what looks to be reminders of her core principles. Stefan Sirucek of the Huffington Post reports that she wrote on her left hand, "Energy, Budget Cuts (with Budget scratched off and replaced with Tax) and Lift American Spirits." It seems from the videos that Sirucek has collected that Palin gazes at the hand during a Q and A session. Before that, she was trashing Obama and one of her criticisms was the use of the teleprompter. What a hypocrite! But the frightening thing is that she can't remember her core principles. Oy Vey. This woman wants to be President? God Save the United States.

GTA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony video game review

Disco is not dead. At least not in Liberty City, the fake New York City in Rockstar's latest add-on game, The Ballad of Gay Tony, for Grand Theft Auto IV. (GTA IV) You play Luis Lopez, the Dominican right hand man to Tony Prince, night club impresario who owns two dance clubs, the straight Masionette 9, and the gay Hercules. Oh, did I mention that Tony is gay? Anyway, Tony gets into trouble with the mob, requiring you as his muscle to bail him out.

Along the way, you meet up with other characters in Liberty City, a couple who had short roles in the original Grand Theft Auto IV. These guys will have "work" i.e. criminal missions for you to do. There's Ray Bulgarin, the Russian mobster who nearly killed Niko Bellic in an ambush. He's even less redeeming here, a pig of a man. We also finally meet Yusif Amir, the developer. He's probably the most fun loving Arab character depicted in any popular medium. You also get to hang out with your two drug dealing friends, Armando and Henrique from the old neighborhood.

It's hard not to like Gay Tony as his worst vices are drugs and bad gay lovers. After all, he gave Luis a job after prison and a lifestyle of the rich and famous. Luis pays him back by looking after his welfare. It's this relationship that drives the story. As you complete the story, you run into other threads from the original GTA IV and The Lost and the Damned, (TLAD) the other add-on game. Most of them have to do with the diamonds that you have seen all the way from the beginning of GTA IV. So, it helps if you at least played GTA IV.

Gameplay is your typical GTA fair, except that battles are bigger. Expect bigger firefights. There's some wild missions, that include hijacking a train, destroying a large yacht by attack chopper, battling a pursuing biker gang with sticky bombs, etc. These missions make for a more flamboyant affair than Niko's adventures in GTA IV. Hey, it ain't called "The Ballad of Gay Tony" for nothing. One new feature allows you to replay missions after you complete the main story. Add parachute jumping, racing, drug wars, disco dancing and you are a going to have one great time in Liberty City.

There are new vehicles and weapons. Sticky bombs stick to most any surface. You then remote detonate them. Assault SMG is a more powerful SMG. There's an Advanced MG, a belt driven machine gun. The explosive shotgun is an automatic shotgun that can fire explosive shells which can bring down choppers. Two new vehicles are the APC and the attack chopper Buzzard. The APC fires artillery rounds like a tank while protecting you from harm. One caveat, the APC can be destroyed by numerous hits from small firearms. The Buzzard is a chopper that fires rockets along with machine gun rounds.

Of course, this being Grand Theft Auto, expect some satirical commentary from media sources of television and radio. Watch the anime spoof "Princess Robot Bublegum" and the sci-fi cartoon "Republican Space Rangers" to experience some sexually charged comedy. Weazel News makes a comeback as the thinly veiled shot at conservative Fox News. WKTT Talk Radio adds "Conspire" a talk show that features paranoid right-wing fantasies, ala Glenn Beck. Unfortunately, the jazz stations have been removed. But disco lives. Station K100 gets new dance music. Radio VLADIVOSTOK gets taken over by disco. Other missing entertainment are comedy and variety shows.

Not much has changed as far as graphics. Unlike his counterpart, Johnny, in The Lost and Damned, Luis can change clothes. However, you can't buy new clothes from the stores. But, look you don't play any Grand Theft Auto game for pretty visuals. You play for the gameplay.

You can download the game from XBOX Live or buy the game on disc which adds The Lost and the Damned. The difference is that if you buy the game as a disc it will cost you about twenty dollars more. However, according to Rockstar you get an additional radio station in Vice City FM.

The Ballad of Gay Tony is a fitting conclusion to one of the great games of the decade. It's one last great blast of fun from Liberty City. The grade is A.

Reds Sign Orlando Cabrera

The Cincinnati Reds signed free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera today. The terms are 2.02 million with a mutual option of four million in 2011. Last year Cabrera batted .284 with 77 RBIs. He led the American League in RBIs. Okay, he also had 25 errors. But you are not serious about winning if you run the light hitting Paul Janish out there everyday. Janish can field but he has trouble hitting the ball out of the infield. With offensive production from the outfield in question, you could not afford to start the .211 hitting Paul Janish.

Here's the report from the Reds website.

Bengals Open Dialogue with Hamilton County

It looks like the Cincinnati Bengals are trying to be good citizens. The Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting that they are offering 40 million in concessions to alleviate shortfalls in the stadium funds due to declining sales tax revenues.

The Bengals should do so without strings. Since the tax was a sales tax, everybody who lives in the county has paid for Bengals' stadium and made the Brown family rich. This city will always support a professional football team. Drops in attendance are due to poor play not due to a lack of enthusiasm. Let's hope this leads to a more harmonious relationship between the Bengals and the county.