Gee guys, who knew women were so easy to get into the sack? Putting out starts at only $29.95 (plus tax).

I think Kristen Gwynne has it about right:

The ad, by Telaflora, a flower delivery company, will air during the Super Bowl. It basically tells guys that all women want to be showered with meaningless gifts, and that buying us these presents will pay off sexually. For women, the message is somewhere between the obligation to sleep with a man who buys you a gift, and that sex is a good way to bargain for dumb things like flowers.

Can you imagine having this amazing experience? Do stick with the whole video–it will make your day.

How come we can’t get along as well with each other? Or at least just be curious and move on?

Women have come a ways in the last century, but the media can’t take any credit—usually quite the contrary. And look what Lego is doing to address the aspirations of women—Going backwards.

New studies reveal that media sexism was the major factor in dooming Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2008. The BBC’s elite Women of the Year list appears to have been selected more for the size of their weddings or who they married than what they have accomplished. Oh, and one Woman of the Year was a female Panda bear. (I’m not kidding.)

Now Lego, previously slanted towards boys, is pushing a variation just for girls.

Little full-figured women have names and jobs—mostly traditional women’s jobs. Surely borrowed from the success of the American Girl doll series with their many outfits costing about the same as clothing for a fully grown human, they have been tagged with names and backstories. Unlike the original Legos where creativity can burst forth in the form of fantastic edfices, these girly Legos appear to be simple 3-dimentinal puzzles with only one right answer. Brad Wieners writing for Bloomberg Businessweek describes their evolution:

Twenty-nine mini-doll figures will be introduced in 2012, all 5 millimeters taller and curvier than the standard dwarf minifig [male figures]. There are five main characters. Like American Girl Dolls, which are sold with their own book-length biographies, these five come with names and backstories. Their adventures have a backdrop: Heartlake City, which has a salon, a horse academy, a veterinary clinic, and a café. “We had nine nationalities on the team to make certain the underlying experience would work in many cultures,” says Nanna Ulrich Gudum, senior creative director.

So, this new line was apparently based on extensive research on what girls want and how they play. But I see a vicious circle here from media (be beautiful and thin or be a loser), to impact on girls, to how girls play and what girls want.

Ugh—I am getting my niece a microscope whether she wants one or not! Gotta start somewhere.

Just when you thought Canadians didn’t have a fiesty sense of humor. Or, are they serious?

There are more coming–and they get pretty wild! You can just imagine the little video clips they have strung together. Ouch!

OK, nothing illegal. But if we have to pay taxes to keep the US alive (especially now), doesn’t it look bad for an extremely wealthy—the most wealthy–presidential candidate who touts his love for this country to utilize methods of avoiding paying taxes?

Smells like a dead fish left too long in the sun to me.

Politics is a dirty game. But when it comes to smears, should some sort of statute of limitations for matters unrelated to one’s political/leadership record apply? Maybe with very few exceptions (e.g., murder and treason)?

Ron Paul got heat for newsletters coming under his name in the 1980s and 90s containing racist and anti-Semitic slurs. He claims he did not write or read them, although quotes (perhaps out of context) suggest some culpability.

Newt Gingrich’s old baggage still gets a lot of play. He’s a guy who led the charge against Bill Clinton for lying about an affair while he was busily having one himself.

So it’s no surprise that Mitt Romney’s lashing a crate with his dog Seamus atop his vehicle while travelling across the country back in 1983 is in today’s news again. In a recent Los Angeles Times Op Ed, Megham Daum describes what is apparently the only agreed upon facts on the matter.

Somewhere along the way, the dog began to experience, shall we say, digestive trouble that made its presence known via, uh, streaks on the back windshield. Ever the efficiency enforcer, Romney pulled into a gas station, hosed the dog off, put him back on the roof and continued the trip.

The debate continues as to whether this was cruel and unusual treatment or something, as Romney claimed, the dog routinely enjoyed. (I know my dogs would not like it—they would be terrified and, well, we would be scrubbing down our car for days.)

What do you think about the relevance of old stuff? Does any of it say enough about enduring character related to fitness for high office?

Oh, Just had the share the photo of a true dog-lover about whom nothing ugly has surfaced.

The “US v. THEM” mentality leading our country downhill at warp speed needs to change. Compromise has become a dirty word, but the country will never rise again unless we learn to listen and see what can be worked through as Americans first.

In an emial to No Label subscribers, Walker, a former U.S. Comptroller General, writes:

On the Friday before Christmas, the federal government released its annual report on America’s financial condition — and it wasn’t good. It showed that the federal government has a negative net worth of $14.8 trillion, as well as total liabilities and other obligations of over $550,000 per household! Did you miss the story? Most people did, and that’s what most politicians wanted to happen.

This report is vital because one of the biggest obstacles to fixing America’s finances is the need for all of us to agree that we are headed for bankruptcy and we must change course. Today, different leaders use different numbers to make partisan and ideological points while our financial condition gets worse and the possibility of a U.S. debt crisis increases with the passage of time.

What’s that? $550,000 per HOUSEHOLD?

So here I sit in California watching our governor trying to cut the budget and theratening to slice 3 additional weeks off the school year if taxes are not raised.

Here’s what I worry about–a nation of stone-cold broke people too stupid to do anything about it. Or maybe I just got up on the wrong side of bed.

2011 was not a good year for Rick Perry. At the top of his political career, he entered a race many thought would pluck him from Texas and set him gently down again as the GOP nominee. Mostly he just got sat down with a thud.

And, yes, he names his boots

In June of 2001, Rick Perry ordered a pair of new cowboy boots. The makers asked what name he wanted (most people apparently put that on the inside) and Perry allegedly responded

I was at a loss,’” Perry told ABC News. “And then on the 12th or 13th of September, I called them back and said, ‘I know what I want on my boots. I want an American flag on each one of them and on the left one, liberty and on the right one, freedom.”

Ross Ramsey wrote about those boots and where they stand today.

It’s been a long 12 months for Rick Perry. The Texas governor started 2011 in triumph, at the peak of his political power, with a high gloss on his boots and a national audience of conservatives eager for just the tale he was telling.

He ends the year treading water. His boots — “Freedom” and “Liberty” — might as well be named “Oops” and “Dang.” Even if he pulls out of this, it’s been embarrassing for him and for his home state.

He took the family name out into the world and made a hash of it. Texas was still recovering, in some quarters, from George W. Bush’s presidency — the idea that a pair of Tony Lamas and a twang were the first two signs of the apocalypse.

Those outside Texas think our memories are short, that our mental engines are a couple of quarts low. That whenever we see a new problem, we hide our checkbooks and start researching biblical rationalizations.

Some believe we name our boots. Look, not all of us have boots. Not all of us who have boots name them. And when we do, the names are on the part of the boot you can’t see unless we’re showing off. The bottom line: You can ask us to change, but the boots stay. They’re cool. Now hush.

So, I just had to do the toon. Can’t miss a good chance for a cynical smile.

A follow-up to Larry’s Greetings.

May your year be filled with excitement, lots of fun, and excellent health.

We may not be off to a great start in the political realm. The GOP is cannibalizing itself and the Democrats give us no choice. Globally, things feel tense no matter where it is. The economy, well…

BUT for each of you personally, we at No Quarter wish you well. We will continue here to explore the issues no matter how sensitive or controversial and aim to inspire thoughtful and civil dialogue.

Happy New Year!

I resurrected my earlier rendering of The Donald to start a discussion of his latest move. No longer a Republican, Trump has officially become “unaffiliated.”

Why? So if the Republicans come up with a nominee he thinks will lose to President Obama in 2012, he may just invest his millions and run himself.

According to spokesperson Michael Cohen, “Mr. Trump has said for almost a year that if he is not satisfied with who the Republican candidate is, he may elect to run as an independent. This change in party affiliation certainly preserves his right to do so, after the finale of ‘The Apprentice’ in May.”

It’s unclear who Donald Trump would find unacceptable. He has been critical of Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman in the past.

Or maybe his ego is so deeply bruised because only two candidates agreed to appear on his now defunct debate that he spun into an out-of-control ego meltdown.

I suppose Donald Trump could finance his entire campaign. He claims he can get on the ballot in all 50 states.

But has anyone let him in on the fact that a vote for Trump is a vote for Obama?

OK, I know what you’re going to say. What’s Bill Clinton up to by saying such nice things about Jon Huntsman (traced back to last July, by the way)?

But watch the video, and then let’s check out what’s going on.

So, Clinton didn’t actually endorse Huntsman, and he didn’t say he was voting for him. Clinton will remain a loyal Democrat despite being slammed under the bus by our current President in 2008. What Bill Clinton has honestly done is take a good look at this man’s record and make an evaluative statement. Then he speaks the truth about it.

Bill has also said that Mitt Romney is doing a lot better this time around and that he is surprised at how well Michele Bachman is doing, that she comes across as a real person. He has apparently been silent on The Newt, Ron Paul, and Perry.

Now if anyone thinks of Bill as “Slick Willy,” it isn’t because he wants Huntsman to be the nominee so he can be defeated. Huntsman will pick up Republican as well as Indies and many Resume Democrats who want someone up there with the right experience and proven successes, and Obama’s team worries a lot about that.

Instead, it may just be because revenge is best served up ice cold.

Or, best explanation, he studied Jon Hunstman’s record and was impressed with it. Bill Clkinton has never been afraid to just say what he thinks.

One that particularly caught my attention is their recently released 12 ways to make congress work. I’d like to know how you feel about these 12 ideas.

1. No Budget, No Pay
If Congress can’t make spending and budget decisions on time, members shouldn’t be paid on time.

2. Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointments
All presidential nominations should be confirmed or rejected within 90 days of the nomination.

3. Fix the Filibuster
Require real (not virtual) filibusters and end filibusters on motions to proceed.

4. Empower the Sensible MajorityAllow a bipartisan majority of members to override a leader or committee chair’s refusal to bring a bill to the floor.

5. Make Members Come to Work
Make Congress work on coordinated schedules with three five-day work weeks a month in DC and one week in their home district.

6. Question Time for the President
Provide a monthly forum for members of Congress to ask the president questions to force leaders to debate one another and defend their ideas.

7. Fiscal Report to Congress: Hear it. Read it. Sign it.A nonpartisan leader should deliver an annual, televised fiscal update in-person to a joint session of Congress to ensure everyone is working off the same facts.

8. No Pledge but the Oath of Office
Members should make no pledge but the pledge of allegiance and their formal oath of office.

9. Monthly Bipartisan Gatherings
The House and Senate should institute monthly, off-the-record and bipartisan gatherings to get members talking across party lines.

10. Bipartisan SeatingAt all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party.

11. Bipartisan Leadership CommitteeCongressional party leaders should form a bipartisan congressional leadership committee to discuss legislative agendas and substantive solutions.

12. No Negative Campaigns Against IncumbentsIncumbents from one party should not conduct negative campaigns against sitting members of the opposing party.

Note: Each of the 12 ideas are explained in more detail here.

Of course, the problem is getting Congress to do the right thing. Not sure the foxes can be cajoled out of the henhouse.

While the remaining Republican candidates are bouncing all over the place and on top of each other, Jon Huntsman’s very slow but steady creep up the polls might surprise us.

Stranger things have happened. And it doesn’t get much stranger than this GOP primary.

So, who do you think created this blast at the now presumptive GOP nominee?

Guess!

No, it wasn’t Mitt Romney.
No, it wasn’t the Democrats
It was Ron Paul–see here.

So, if Newt becomes the GOP nominee, the Democrats won’t have to spend much on negative advertising. They can just use what his own running mates created.

So, who’s left who can win?