Obama is Alive and Hiding in.....Pakistan? (Serious vanity...:-)

Yes... Neo-Fairbanksian...

ROTFL...

Yea for me!!!! [Claps hands together.]

My short take on the vanities, they're liars.

HA! That must be it!

Well, I see another thread has been swarmed by your thread killing crew

Dudee, lighten up. It is a vanity post, after all.

That or bait.

November 3rd, 2004 - After a Lincoln Town car with Maryland plates and a trunk load of cash left the Alan Keyes Campaign Headquarters in the early morning hours, authorities moved in...

That or bait.

Time to stop cutting it and fish.

X-Rap™ - Xtreme Action Slashbait™

The “X” stands for Xtreme. This Rapala slashbait cuts, darts and slashes its way through the water.

I just looked at your profile. You're from Illinois. I didn't know. Who better to ask: what's the general feeling of having an out-of-State person come in and run for Senate there?

My Dad's family are from there, from long ago. I have a feeling my Grandfather wouldn't be too pleased with what's going on.

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/236414p-202969c.html

Perennial Republican candidate Alan Keyes - this time running for the U.S. Senate in Illinois against Democrat state legislator Barack Obama - has made it crystal clear that he has no use for gay people.
Keyes recently trashed vice presidential daughter Mary Cheney, an avowed lesbian, as "a selfish hedonist" after claiming gay marriage "is based simply on the premise of selfish hedonism."

So it came as no small irony yesterday when a cluster of political Web sites, including the well-known blog wonkette.com, suggested that Keyes' 19-year-old daughter, Maya, has herself come out as a lesbian.

Their evidence? What appears to be Maya Keyes' own personal blog chronicling life as the lesbian daughter of a fervent social conservative.

"He has been ... campaigning round-the-clock to make sure that people like yours truly will never be able to enjoy the same benefits he already has," the apparent Keyes blog states. "Sometimes I cannot believe I am related to this man. Haha though I'm sure he feels the same way about me."

Yesterday, Keyes campaign press secretary Connie Hair told me that the candidate would have no comment until he personally and publicly addressed the issue - which he planned to do during a campaign appearance last night at a Methodist Church in Grove, Ill.

"All I'm doing is passing that information," Hair added. "It's my day off."

Maya Keyes could not be reached for comment yesterday. But an apparent excerpt of her Web journal, posted on the DailyKos.com site, reads: "I was out at lunch at Chili's with my dad and his aide and our adorable gay waiter stopped me when I was coming out of the bathroom to say how much he liked my bright rainbow bracelets. He then told me he understood how hard it could be being queer in a conservative family and I should hang in there. Then again today in Naperville some random queer boy in passing shook my hand and told me that 'Lots of us are pulling for you, be strong, be proud!'"

Gay GOP supporter Patrick Ross, president of the Chicago Chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans, told me yesterday: "His statements regarding gays and lesbians have been hurtful and painful to Illinois gays and lesbians and their families. ... We strongly oppose Alan Keyes' Senate candidacy."

The DailyKos site, meanwhile, noted: "If this is a hoax, and it very well could be, it's a pretty good one."

Strategy open to debate

Thursday's presidential debate is probably Democratic nominee John Kerry's best shot at shaking up the race in which he's trailing President Bush.

What does Kerry have to do? Lowdown surveyed a panel of experts:

Image consultant Holly Horning: "He's got to make better eye contact and do more open body gestures - he does too many closed body movements, which, psychologically to someone who's watching him, says, 'Don't come near me. I'm unavailable, I have a secret.' He's got to come across on a very executive level. He's got to dress powerfully yet not be intimidating."

Conservative pundit Tony Blankley: "He needs to convince the public that he actually wants to win the war in Iraq and on terror as much as the President does. Clever repartee will not help him. Kerry's strategic problem is that a small majority of the country wants to prevail in Iraq, and he hasn't proved that he believes in that. He sounds like a guy trying to weasel his way out of it."

Democratic strategist Mike Feldman: "The Bush campaign and Republican Party have worked very hard to portray Sen. Kerry as being on all sides of this issue. Kerry has an opportunity to articulate clearly his positions on foreign policy, Iraq and national security - he's got a clean hit."

Republican strategist Mike Murphy: "He has to watch that aloofness, and he's got to connect with the camera and speak in a comfortable vernacular. But Kerry can just show up and the media will give him a nice pat on the head. The media wants a race and the whole narrative is that Kerry is now back into it, because he's been floundering. He's going to be held to a bar that is artificially and unfairly low."

Ragin' Cajun Democrat James Carville: "I think this whole silly expectations game is just all goofy. I think Kerry's gonna do fine, and he doesn't have to shake up the race. He's in much better shape than most people believe."

Carville's "Crossfire" associate Paul Begala: "Bush's strategy is very much like Carter's was in 1980. With Carter, it was that the other guy, Reagan, is crazy. With Bush, it's that Kerry is too weak and waffling. All Reagan had to do was show America he wasn't going to blow anybody up. If Kerry demonstrates that he is strong, he takes away the impact of six months of Bush attacks."

The briefing

Pot calling the kettle black?: That's third-party gadfly Ralph Nader, caught on camera in "Crashing the Parties 2004," a PBS documentary airing tomorrow night, complaining about loyal Democrats who have the gall to protest his candidacy outside a "Nader for President" house party.

"They are such whiners, carpers," Nader whines and carps. "That's the sign of a decadent party. Instead of focusing on their own infirmities and their own abandonments."

Poetry or prose?: Saucy sex-advice columnists Em and Lo - Brooklynites Emma Taylor and Lorelei Sharkey - will be presenting "Sex Ed for Grown-ups: Keeping the Government Out of Your Bedroom" at tomorrow night's abortion-rights event at the Bowery Poetry Club.

"We've always said that the moment you think you know everything about sex, your sex life is over," Em told Lowdown yesterday. "We wanted to take that approach and amp up the political angle of it."

Lo added: "The whole point is to get people motivated to be active, not take their sexual freedoms for granted: the freedom to choose, the freedom to have access to good health information, the freedom to buy an, um, marital aide in Texas and not get arrested."

With Hudson Morgan

First Tennessee is ready if he is.

Might work downstate, but I don't know how it'll fit with all the Lincoln stuff

Private. J. Clay March
Co. A, Rock City Guards, 1st (Feild's) Tennessee Infantry

On May 13, 1861, at the age of 26, March enlisted in the 1st Tennessee Infantry Regiment. His service in the Confederate army came to an abrupt halt on December 31, 1862, when he was severely wounded at the Battle of Murfreesboro. He later served in an engineer unit, but never fully recovered from his wound. Both of these images were produced by the C. C. Giers gallery of Nashville. The image on the left is from a hand-tinted ruby ambrotype, and the image on the right is a carte-de-viste (CDV) of the same pose.

Above information from Confederate Tennessee Heroes

Captain John Frank Wheless,
Co. C, Rock City Guards, 1st (Feild's) Tennessee Infantry, 1862

John Frank Wheless was born on February 3, 1839 at Clarksville, Tennessee. After the death of both parents in the 1840s, John Frank was schooled by his elder brother, Wesley.

He enlisted on May 9th, 1861 at Nashville, Tennessee and joined Company C. 1st Tennessee Regiment Infantry as a Lieutenant. He was promoted to Captain of Company C after Shiloh. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky. After being exchanged, he served as Assistant Adjutant and Inspector General on Lieutenant General Polk's staff through the Chickamauga campaign. He became disabled for field service and resigned his commission on February 26th, 1864 at Griffin, Georgia. He was then appointed Assistant Paymaster of the Confederate Navy. (His older brother Wesley was a prominent banker in Nashville, and had trained John Frank in the art of finances.) In April, 1865, he was assigned to the naval command escorting the Confederate Treasury from the evacuation of Richmond to the final disbursements in Washington, Georgia.

After the war, he served as Inspector General of the state of Tennessee, governor Albert Mark's administration, and was also a successful businessman. He died on August 10th, 1891 in Nashville, Tennessee, survived by his wife, Frances McAlister Wheless, and was buried at Mount Olivet (near the Confederate Cemetery).

There is a detailed account of his life in the "History of Davidson County, Tennessee" on pages 433-435. written by Prof. W.W. Clayton, 1880.

By the way, Wesley Wheless died of Cholera in 1861 while doing business at Liverpool, England, and his body secretly returned to Nashville in a piano box. (Due to the problem of sailors being superstitious) He, as well, is buried at Mount Olivet in Nashville.

Above picture from Confederate Tennessee Heroes
Above information from Steven Smith of High Point, NC, whose Great Great Grandfather, Wesley Wheless, was John Frank Wheless' older brother.

Private Joseph L. Campbell
Co. C, Rock City Guards, 1st (Feild's) Tennessee Infantry

Joe L. Campbell was born in September, 1939, at Drumaboden, County Donegal, North of Ireland, of Scottish parentage of the "Clan Campbell," across the channel in Argyleshire, Scotland. In 1851, at the time of the troubles between "Landlordism" and Tenant's rights, Mr. John Campbell and wife, Martha Lytle concluded to come to America to find better facilities for their children, two girls and five boys. Joe being the eldest. They bade farewell to the British Isles, took steamer from Londonderry to Liverpool, and there embarked on a sailing ship, the Forest King, bound for New Orleans. After a voyage of nine weeks they landed at New Orleans the latter part of September and made their way to Franklin, Tenn. where three of Mr. Campbell's brothers had located years before and settled on a farm in Williamson County. Joe got his education at the famous Harpeth Male Academy, and Alexander and Patrick Campbell were graduates of the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Joe being a natural genius and a draughtsman of no mean ability, at the age of nineteen he took a position as draughtsman and head of the pattern-making department of the Brennan Foundry, at the foot of Broad Street, and enjoyed the distinction of getting up the drawings and patterns for the first cannon made by Brennan and afterwards made famous by Capt. John W. Morton's Battery..

At the first call to arms, in 1861, Joe joined Company C, Rock City Guards, 1st Tennessee Regiment, and went through all its campaigns at Cheat Mountain and Perryville. He was badly wounded while carrying the colors at Murfreesboro just after the regiment had crossed the Wilkerson Pike, driving the enemy toward the ,Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. When Bragg fell back from Murfreesboro, Joe Campbell, with other wounded, was left behind, and was captured (together with his brother John, a mere boy, who afterwards made his escape by swimming Stone's River on January 4, 1863). Later on Joe was taken to Johnson's Island, where he had to endure the horrors of a Federal prison for about seven months. He was finally exchanged, and got back to the regiment south of Chattanooga just before the battle of Chickamauga. Still lame from his old wound, there was of course no duty required of him; but his messmate, Sam Seay, tells that when the bustle and rumble of the battle came on nothing would do Joe but to take the colors and go in with his comrades, where he laid down his young life on the altar of his adopted country.

A neat, simple, and substantial granite marker has been placed in Chickamauga National Park by Mr. J. F. Campbell, Manager of the Tennessee Cotton Oil Mills at Nashville, to mark the place where his brother, Joe L. Campbell, color bearer of the 1st Tennessee Infantry, was killed on Saturday afternoon, September 19, 1863, in the general assault made on the enemy's lines posted on a wooded ridge just west of the Reed or Winfrey House and south of the Alexander Bridge road The marker is two feet by twenty inches by three feet above concrete foundation. It bears the following inscription, which has been approved by the War Department Washington:

Joe L. Campbell,
Color bearer 1st Tennessee Infantry,
Maney's Brigade, Cheatham's Division, C. S. A.,
Killed here Saturday afternoon, September 19, 1863

In addition to honoring the memory of the gallant boy it will show to future generations and the members or the famous 1st Tennessee where the old regiment faced the enemy and did their full duty on that sanguinary field. The marker will show probably less than one hundred feet between the lines at this spot.

Above information from Confederate Veteran and Private Family History

Captain James Park Hanner
Co. D, Williamson Grays, 1st (Feild's) Tennessee Infantry

Hanner was forced to resign his infantry commission in December of 1861 due to an illness, but upon recovering his health he returned to service with Confederate artillery in July of 1863. Hanner was a notable participant in the dedication ceremonies for Franklin's Confederate Monument in 1899, as it was he who pulled the rope to unveil the statue.

Above information from Confederate Tennessee Heroes

Corporal James R. Neely
Co. D, Williamson Grays, 1st (Feild's) Tennessee Infantry

This image was made in Staunton, Virginia in January of 1862, during Genl. T. J. Jackson's "Romney Campaign". Neely survived that campaign only to receive a bullet wound to his leg at Perryville, Kentucky on October 8th of the same year. The wound required amputation of his leg at the hip. He was listed as being in the "Confederate Invalid Corps" at the time of the surrender in the Spring of 1865.

Above information from Confederate Tennessee Heroes

Henry Howe Cook,
Co. D, Williamson Grays, 1st Tennessee, April, 1861.

Henry Cook was 17 years old when this photograph was taken, just before leaving his home in Franklin. On one side is a six-shooter Colt's revolver, and on the other side a large Damascus blade (made at a blacksmith's shop). In Cook's hand can be seen a small book. This is the pocket edition of the New Testament, which, when through with the picture, he placed in his knapsack. The regiment's chaplain, Dr. Quintard gave each member of the regiment a New Testament, and on the fly leaf was written: "God is our sun and shield." When the regiment went to Virginia Cook was discharged on the account of ill health. After recovering he enlisted again at Fort Donelson in the 44th Tennessee. After the surrender he escaped and participated in the battle of Shiloh. When the war ended he studied law and became a Judge.

From Photographic History of The Civil War, Vol 9, page 311.

James M Brandon, Edmond Brandon, Alexander Brandon
Co. H, 1st Tennessee Infantry

The above picture shows three brothers who enlisted together in Company H. From left to right: James Brandon (killed in action at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain GA. and mentioned on p.129 and 133 of Co. Aytch), Edmond Brandon, (also mentioned in Co. Aytch on p. 134). Edmond moved to an area near Waco, TX after the war and was murdered in a robbery by some local farmhands in 1891. On the far right is Alexander Brandon who also served in Co. Aytch and also survived the war and died in 1892. There is also another brother, John Brandon who served in Co. Aytch. Yet another brother, Charles L. Brandon, served in Co. K, 7th TN Infantry (Sumner Co.) being captured during Pickett’s Charge up Cemetery Hill, spending the remainder of the war in Fort Delaware Prison, Delaware. Charles was pardoned by President Lincoln on April 14, 1865. Later that same day, the president was assassinated.

I am grateful to Walt Cross and Tom Horn for the above information on the Brandon Brothers, which can be found on the Web at http://www.geocities.com/pheon.geo/.

Corporal Alfred Osborne Pope Nicholson, Jr. (1840-1915) (right), and unidentified companion,
Co. H, Maury Grays, 1st Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, 1861. (Franklin Fulton).

Nicholson is wearing an eight-button medium grey frock coat with dark blue or black standing collar. The cuffs are plain. His pants are medium grey with what looks like a 2" dark stripe on outer seams. He wears a black brimmed hat with a light coloured plume.

From Co. Aytch, Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment by Sam Watkins, Morningside Re-print (1982) pages 49-50.

Private Sam R. Watkins, Co. H, 1st Tennessee Infantry

Author of Co. Aytch

Possible picture of Watkins on left..

I bet he could get more than 17% in Illinois even if he started now.

My Dad's family are from there, from long ago. I have a feeling my Grandfather wouldn't be too pleased with what's going on.

In your grandfathers day a black couldn't have run for Senate, much less two. It's probably a mistake to take what's presented here by the Keyes campaign too seriously. That's why these threads are vanities, plausable deniability.

Agreed. But I didn't mean necessariuly because of a black Senator. More because of the what is going on in politcis there.

Bet Alan is considering pulling out right now over the issue with his daughter.
If not, I would not be surprised if she doesn't do something to really embarrass him. Bad attention is better than no attention.
What a sad situation. Makes one pause to consider.
If he does, what will he do with all the donations and campaign funding dough? Return it?

Agreed. But I didn't mean necessariuly because of a black Senator. More because of the what is going on in politcis there.

I know, I'm trying to look for a silver lining.

...running for high office, you gotta be quick with ears and mouth, both. I think it's fair to say that at that time, AK was in a mode where he figured he had to use the media's abuse, for the sake of his campaign.

Why, I think that's what I said, alright. This doesn't mean, nor say, that he sought to abuse anyone, himself, nor that he did abuse anyone. It also does not mean that I agree with his perception of the time.

Your selfish hedonist from birth,
u

I know, I'm trying to look for a silver lining.

Get involved in the new ground being broken at the grass roots, and you will be able to see it, SJ.

Private. J. Clay March Co. A, Rock City Guards, 1st (Feild's) Tennessee Infantry

Captain John Frank Wheless, Co. C, Rock City Guards, 1st (Feild's) Tennessee Infantry, 1862

Private Joseph L. Campbell Co. C, Rock City Guards, 1st (Feild's) Tennessee Infantry

Captain James Park Hanner Co. D, Williamson Grays, 1st (Feild's) Tennessee Infantry

Corporal James R. Neely Co. D, Williamson Grays, 1st (Feild's) Tennessee Infantry

Henry Howe Cook, Co. D, Williamson Grays, 1st Tennessee, April, 1861.

James M Brandon, Edmond Brandon, Alexander Brandon Co. H, 1st Tennessee Infantry

Corporal Alfred Osborne Pope Nicholson, Jr. (1840-1915) (right), and unidentified companion, Co. H, Maury Grays, 1st Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, 1861. (Franklin Fulton).

Private Sam R. Watkins, Co. H, 1st Tennessee Infantry

Private. J. Clay March
Co. A, Rock City Guards, 1st (Feild's) Tennessee Infantry

Captain John Frank Wheless,
Co. C, Rock City Guards, 1st (Feild's) Tennessee Infantry, 1862

Private Joseph L. Campbell
Co. C, Rock City Guards, 1st (Feild's) Tennessee Infantry

Captain James Park Hanner
Co. D, Williamson Grays, 1st (Feild's) Tennessee Infantry

Corporal James R. Neely
Co. D, Williamson Grays, 1st (Feild's) Tennessee Infantry

Henry Howe Cook,
Co. D, Williamson Grays, 1st Tennessee, April, 1861.

James M Brandon, Edmond Brandon, Alexander Brandon
Co. H, 1st Tennessee Infantry

Corporal Alfred Osborne Pope Nicholson, Jr. (1840-1915) (right), and unidentified companion,
Co. H, Maury Grays, 1st Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, 1861. (Franklin Fulton).