tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84568762011-04-21T15:21:05.737-04:00Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony!Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.comBlogger6231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-61717068466773665842007-01-10T17:14:00.000-05:002007-01-10T17:31:21.099-05:00

Behold, the stupidest column in history!This guy says Isiah would be the first guy he would call when building an NBA franchise because he's such a great judge of talent.He makes a cryptic reference to Isiah not being good at math, which is a cute way of saying that he has committed an amount of money roughly equal to the gross national product of Brazil to about 14 perpetually pissed-off guards

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-83604282363641728412007-01-10T14:48:00.000-05:002007-01-10T14:58:21.943-05:00

Some long overdue housekeeping--I have added Baby G & Dizzle's Kiwi Experience to my sidebar. It's a blog documenting an indefinite excursion to New Zealand by two dear friends who have chosen for whatever reason (PUFF PUFF) to both sorta-move 48 quadrillion miles away and refer to themselves as "Baby G & Dizzle," which I guess is OK with me as long as I never have to say it out loud.Anyway, I'm

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-77588086652522760842007-01-09T15:43:00.000-05:002007-01-09T16:16:14.633-05:00

I was diggin' through the crates of old Automoplane posts on Les Boulez and came across this one that made me smile: my initial reaction to the Kwame-Caron trade.It's amusing for two reasons:I actually express disappointment that we landed Caron and not Quentin Richardson. I'm just astonished I ever wrote this.I go on for about 4,000 words about how Caron can't hold a candle to Larry Hughes.I

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-47742904456419582582006-12-21T16:49:00.000-05:002006-12-21T16:54:54.983-05:00

Congratulations to Brock, increasingly sporadic TBJ chief cook & bottle washer, who is now engaged to the charming Shannon! Brock's a good cat and it's great to see that things are going so well for him. Hopefully Jenn and I will get to visit with him and the blushing bride-to-be over the holidays in WNY, but we'll see how the schedules work out.Speaking of, posting will probably be nonexistant

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1166718018430874892006-12-21T11:19:00.000-05:002006-12-21T11:20:18.453-05:00

Donald Trump says he's gonna sue Rosie O'Donnell. Christ in heaven, what has happened to this world when 2 people like this have money and attention.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1166642541698843922006-12-20T14:20:00.000-05:002006-12-20T14:22:21.720-05:00

It's funny because Anne Applebaum is a goddamn idiot.Via Atrios.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1166471537205129762006-12-18T14:50:00.000-05:002006-12-18T14:52:17.226-05:00

From the Simmons chat:Chris, Seattle: and The fact that everyone makes such a big dealabout an NBA brawl and not so much about a MLB brawl smacks of Racism, I don't care what people say. Bill Simmons: (2:35 PM ET ) Couldn't agree more. Everyone involved in this fight was black, so the players are now "out of control" and the whole thing is "a disgrace." But when a white baseball player charges a

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1166194367201361222006-12-15T09:48:00.000-05:002006-12-15T09:52:47.230-05:00

So we now know the New Way Forward is...wait for it...more war! Awesome. I could not be happier. I'm also hearing that "success" is now defined as "securing Baghdad." Ah, we truly have transformed the Middle East into a democratic paradise! Maybe after this fails we can define success down further, to, say "opening 2 new Starbucks locations within the Green Zone."My only hope is that this

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1166046261725066872006-12-13T16:12:00.000-05:002006-12-13T16:44:22.496-05:00

I'm with Bill Simmons on this one. I'm a little taken aback at the indifference both among league front offices and among the sports punditry to the fact that Allen freakin' Iverson is freakin' available.I'm not sure if it's the greatest game I've ever seen, but I know that if there is one moment in my dozen years as an NBA fan that I will never, ever, ever forget: the closing minutes of game 1

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1164052916061222912006-11-20T14:52:00.001-05:002006-11-20T15:01:56.083-05:00

In the midst of all the (admittedly appropriate) Vietnam comparisons, I think a lot of people are forgetting perhaps the key point about Vietnam, summarized by new papa Josh Marshall here: Losing/leaving Vietnam did not hurt U.S. interests. Like, at all. Those who argued for continued presence in Vietnam believed it was either some sort of lynchpin in the global struggle against communism or a

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1163786286150387842006-11-17T12:43:00.000-05:002006-11-17T12:58:06.173-05:00

For the record, I disagree with Pelosi's attempts to cut Steny Hoyer out of the House leadership team and I'm glad it was unsuccessful. I also think it's fine for the news media to report on how this reflects the tension with the Democratic Caucus, because that's true. There's tension in every political party at every level, but there's nothing wrong with the media reporting on it when it

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1163783909481353352006-11-17T12:16:00.000-05:002006-11-17T12:18:29.873-05:00

Retarded subhuman mutant Jim Inhofe: global warming happens because "God's still up there."I'm speechless. Completely speechless.Via TPM.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1163779817797909452006-11-17T10:27:00.000-05:002006-11-17T11:10:17.966-05:00

Charles Krauthammer continues his downward spiral. Here he seems dangerously close to admitting that the war was wrong:Our objectives in Iraq were twofold and always simple: Depose Saddam Hussein and replace his murderous regime with a self-sustaining, democratic government.The first was relatively easy. But Iraq's first truly democratic government turned out to be hopelessly feeble and fractured

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1163692218120970732006-11-16T10:35:00.000-05:002006-11-16T10:53:21.600-05:00

David Horowitz's pointless and baseless academic freedom jihad is going down in flames, which shouldn't surprise anybody.Horowitz is so pleased with the committee’s work that he said in an interview Wednesday that he sees it as a model for what he will do in the next year. He no longer plans to get legislatures to adopt his “Bill of Rights,” which calls for a diversity of views in courses and in

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1163190674790774462006-11-10T14:58:00.000-05:002006-11-10T15:31:55.143-05:00

If you're not familiar with the title, it's the bromide of choice among dickholes like David Horowitz and Stanley Kurtz who argue that TEH LIBRUL PERFESSERZORZ are trying impose mandatory gay marriage on the world and blow up Israel. They say there isn't enough right wingery in academe.Well, what about economics classes?There's a nonpartisan, empiricist aesthetic that offers the theories a sense

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1163110154581569592006-11-09T16:33:00.000-05:002006-11-09T17:19:50.526-05:00

George Will says Republicans shouldn't be that despondent because "they were punished not for pursuing but for forgetting conservatism." He opens the column with a potshot at the famed Bridge to Nowhere earmark in Alaska, a reference which seems strangely dated already and is meant to imply that Republicans got punished for a lack of fiscal discipline. He then goes on to say no, that's not

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1163088888258680922006-11-09T11:11:00.000-05:002006-11-09T11:14:48.286-05:00

Shorter WSJ editorial: Democratic victory means Americans don't want withdrawal from Iraq. Democrats should work with John McCain & President Bush to expand the military and send more troops to Iraq. Up is down and exit polls are made up, except when they say Republicans are better at fighting terorrism.It's password-protected, but I just saved you the trouble of reading it anyway.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1163019247977214792006-11-08T15:32:00.000-05:002006-11-08T15:54:08.076-05:00

Well, isn't this a lot more fun than last time? And the time before that? And the time...well, you get the idea.I wasn't ambitious enough to liveblog or anything, but I've been following the election results as closely as anybody (aided by the fact that it's part of my job). We all know about the House, but I'm gonna go ahead and call the Senate for the Dems too. Unless Allen finds some way

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1162936340677945132006-11-07T16:31:00.000-05:002006-11-07T16:59:18.513-05:00

I normally like Eugene Robinson, but I just don't think he gets it here.First off, there's the total fallacy that negative campaigning is somehow new or growing. Excuse me, but Lyndon Johnson basically suggested Barry Goldwater would blow up the world, and JQ Adams supporters ran "news" stories in their papers claiming Andrew Jackson was the bastard son of a negro slave. And, of course, there's

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1162923522813456322006-11-07T12:15:00.000-05:002006-11-07T13:18:43.093-05:00

Before we get to the election thoughts, I want to look at the issues of the day in the new NBA season. Topping the list (having rapidly closed the preseason lead held by the new microfiber ball, leading to recriminations and the microfiber ball firing its campaign staff) is the league's new approach (not sure whether it's actually a new rule or a "point of emphasis," but that's a meaningless

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1162161668987248642006-10-29T17:39:00.000-05:002006-10-29T17:41:09.010-05:00

Well, I did it! Roughly 1 hour and 9 minutes. That's roughly an 11-minute-mile pace, which is 1 minute better than I expected myself to do. Huzzah! Pics when I got 'em.Just as a note, the MCM 10K is possibly the worst-organized thing I've ever been a part of. Seriously, it was like they just said "we're havin' a race, y'all come" and then didn't bother to plan anything. Don't get me started.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1162094363512644702006-10-28T23:54:00.000-04:002006-10-28T23:59:23.533-04:00

The greatest coach in the history of professional sports is dead.9 rings in 10 seasons as a coach, competing against some of the greatest talents the game has ever seen (Chamberlain, West, Baylor, Robertson). For an encore, he managed the Boston Celtics organization to 7 more.No one touches Red. No one comes close. Today we lost a national treasure.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1161977340545093022006-10-27T14:39:00.000-04:002006-10-27T15:30:49.180-04:00

Real quickIf you have a debilitating disease, it is unacceptable to be involved in politics in any way, even (especially) if you're advocating for research on said disease. Stay at home, preferably with the lights off, so no one can see you.Even though every other minute of air time these days is taken up with campaign ads that directly and unapologetically smear specific political figures, it is

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1161715832334174042006-10-24T14:42:00.000-04:002006-10-24T14:50:32.386-04:00

Aww, Bill O'Reilly has a crush on Oprah!What's more, he's apparently been claiming, hilariously, that Oprah runs a biased talk show. Yes, this is Bill O'Reilly. Accusing Oprah. Of running a biased talk show.I think Bill Simmons would liken this to Mike Fratello calling someone short. What would you even say? You'd be taken aback, wouldn't you?Especially cute part:On the October 19 broadcast

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1161371799790169242006-10-20T15:08:00.000-04:002006-10-20T15:16:39.816-04:00

Thank goodness, we're finally turning a corner in Iraq! Moqtada al-Sadr's generous decision to use his murderous thug army to relieve the embattled Iraqi government of the burden of running an entire city in Southern Iraq is very thoughtful and ought to help get them over the hump.Just so we understand what's happened here, an extragovernmental militia (i.e., an enormous gang of violent

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1161352014135859922006-10-20T09:41:00.000-04:002006-10-20T10:08:46.410-04:00

Everybody and their brother says a change is a-gonna come on Iraq policy. WaPo also threw in this little gag to lighten the mood:Many senior Republicans with close ties to the administration also believe that essential to a successful strategy in Iraq are an aggressive new diplomatic initiative to secure a Middle East peace settlement and a new effort to engage Iraq's neighbors, such as Syria and

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1161115995433544722006-10-17T16:09:00.000-04:002006-10-17T16:13:15.490-04:00

Sometimes I wonder why someone bothers to tell a lie that they know no one will believe. But I guess keeping your mouth moving is a goal in itself for some people. Via Atrios.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1161113203441776402006-10-17T15:19:00.000-04:002006-10-17T19:06:41.553-04:00

Yay rah for the CT Republican who dares to admit he is one!It's fun to root for a guy who believes the absolute opposite of me about everything and spits weird distorted Republican nonsense about Social Security. But I've got this sort of "aww, isn't he cute" paternal vibe going towards him right now (poor widdle twooper is polling at like 4%, yes he is!). Plus I'm beginning to think donations to

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1161095271437538382006-10-17T10:26:00.000-04:002006-10-17T10:29:07.473-04:00

From a TPM reader:5 stages of Republican scandal:1. “I have not been informed of any investigation or that I am a target”2. “I am cooperating fully, but this whole thing is a political ploy by the Democrats”3. “I’m SHOCKED by the mistakes made by my subordinates”4. “I’m deeply sorry for letting down my friends and family. I now recognize that I am an alcoholic. I will be entering rehab

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1161046895118339412006-10-16T20:42:00.000-04:002006-10-16T21:01:35.173-04:00

Picked up Warrior's Code by the Dropkick Murphys after seeing The Departed yesterday, in which "Shipping up to Boston" was featured prominently. Just given it one listen so far, but I highly recommend it. I was a total wreck listening to "Green Fields of France," a cover of a protest song by Eric Bogle. I didn't used to be that into anti-war songs beyond a general "right on" sort of attitude,

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1160511120971754822006-10-10T15:51:00.000-04:002006-10-10T16:12:01.540-04:00

I expected a good chuckle reading Duke Cunningham's letter from behind bars to the reporter that exposed his seemingly endless corruption. But I didn't get one. Maybe it's because it's handwritten, but I couldn't shake a feeling of overwhelming pity and sadness while reading it. "Each time you print it hurts my family and now I have lost them along with everything I have worked for during my

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1160486205978774632006-10-10T09:05:00.000-04:002006-10-10T09:16:46.003-04:00

None of my liberal buddies want to believe me when I tell them the pro-business golfer types who run the Republican Party (i.e., the Bush-Reagan crowd) have basically zero regard for the heartland evangelical Christians who keep getting them elected. These days, the impulse of all liberals is towards maximum cynicism, and I guess they figure "Christian Right Bad, Bush Bad, Bush is Christian Right

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1160416253030500342006-10-09T13:47:00.000-04:002006-10-09T13:51:18.590-04:00

Guest-posting at the WaPo "PostGlobal" blog, Donald Gregg nails the problem with the Bushies' approach to diplomacy better than I ever could:[T]he Bush administration sees diplomacy as something to be engaged in with another country as a reward for that country's good behavior. They seem not to see diplomacy as a tool to be used with antagonistic countries or parties, that might bring about an

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1160413595034927432006-10-09T13:03:00.000-04:002006-10-09T13:07:02.186-04:00

Boy, I wonder what a God/family/America-hating IslamunistoDarwinofascistabortionocrat like me might want in his stocking this year...(Actually, it looks like the game is free, which totally takes away the Awesome Gift Idea factor. Stupid Al Qaeda knows nothing about marketing for the Christmas season, surprisingly...)

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1160169157922517492006-10-06T17:06:00.000-04:002006-10-06T17:12:37.943-04:00

GOP New Jersey Senate candidate Tom Kean Jr. calls for Hastert's resignation (link via TPM). Wow. This is big. With Mike McGavick floundering in the race against Maria Cantwell in Washington State, Kean is the only remotely realistic chance the GOP has of picking up a Senate seat (they stand to lose as many as six). In other words, he's the only real Republican challenger of note in this

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1160156857075753972006-10-06T13:08:00.000-04:002006-10-06T14:03:47.776-04:00

God, what would I do without Charles Krauthammer?Today he's trying to rebut the National Intelligence Estimate's conclusion that the Iraq fiasco is fueling terrorist recruitment, thereby making the U.S. less safe.The question posed -- does the Iraq war increase or decrease the world supply of jihadists? -- is itself an exercise in counting angels on the head of a pin.Yeah, why would anyone be

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1160144179204062522006-10-06T09:53:00.000-04:002006-10-06T10:17:01.676-04:00

This is obvious concern trollery from David Ignatius, but there are glimmers of truth to what he's saying about partisanship. If the Dems take the House, I don't really care whether they join hands with Republicans and sing kumbaya, but I do care what they do procedurally. I'd like to see an end to midnight releases of bills that hit committee the next day, secret one-party backroom conference

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1160141526963053622006-10-06T09:22:00.000-04:002006-10-06T09:32:06.990-04:00

Alright that's it, no more of this shit! I can't fucking take this anymore! It's always "the next six months are crucial," we've been hearing this for years! Turning point, light at the end of the tunnel, yadda yadda fucking bullshit! It's getting worse! I'm not fucking stupid!We failed. Mission un-accomplished. Of course, there wasn't really any mission anyway. There is no discernible

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1160140659960999382006-10-06T09:12:00.000-04:002006-10-06T09:18:07.270-04:00

It's time to move on. He's apologized a million times in the right way, unconditionally and sincerely. He's seeking counseling and doing the working with kids community service thing. The suspension's going to keep him off the field for a third of the season and take a third of his paycheck, which is a pretty big deal for a guy who doesn't make that much by pro athlete standards ($1.6 million a

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1160069978836560932006-10-05T13:33:00.000-04:002006-10-05T14:41:10.676-04:00

Further proof, like we needed it, that all sides of the Foley scandal are 100% Republican. I don't know why this is hard for people to understand--this is an in-house (or in-House, if you prefer) GOP problem. Democrats are only involved as sound bite donors for reporters.Yes, CREW had the e-mails, and they reported them to the FBI, not the media. The FBI, like Hastert, didn't do anything because

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1160060870242956492006-10-05T10:51:00.000-04:002006-10-05T14:42:15.413-04:00

Adam Morrison's career in the NBA is already bringing me joy.WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Adam Morrison looks just as he did as acollege star at Gonzaga, from the floppy long hair that bounces with every jump shot to his trademark mustache. Look, let's not call this thing a "mustache."Two days into training camp, it's clear the lanky, 6-foot-8 forward has the chance to find plenty of playing time for a

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1159993586993507892006-10-04T16:23:00.000-04:002006-10-04T16:26:27.016-04:00

How else to explain this sudden discovery of his own vocal chords? I'm glad he takes my advice seriously. Link from MyDD (who got it from ThinkProgress) via Atrios. Phew.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1159914758782404642006-10-03T18:27:00.000-04:002006-10-03T18:35:17.033-04:00

Free concern troll advice for Republicans: "We were too afraid of TEH BACKLASH FROM HOMOZ to protect children from being abused" is probably not going to win many hearts and minds. Just a thought.I must have missed the gay rights community's outpouring of support for Foley. So surprising, given that defense of pederasty is apparently such an important part of their agenda.Also interesting that a

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1159910538738212342006-10-03T17:08:00.000-04:002006-10-03T17:22:18.763-04:00

The "what-if" questions surrounding Colin Powell are indeed interesting, but I've got a more pertinent set filed under "why-doesn't."Colin Powell isn't dead. To the best of my knowledge, his mouth works fine and he's laryngitis-free. He's an extremely famous man and could command a mighty level of media attention if he wished to say anything. Why doesn't he say something, beyond the occasional

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1159899121706354282006-10-03T13:58:00.000-04:002006-10-03T14:23:01.840-04:00

What leadership:"I understand that these are pages that have all left the program," Hastert said. "This was after the fact. And you know — woulda, coulda, shoulda."Way to go Denny! You're so right--it's fine for Foley to stalk teenage pages as long as he waits for them to finish the program. Nothing inappropriate there, certainly nothing requiring the attention of your great office. I can't

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1159895337223912972006-10-03T13:05:00.000-04:002006-10-03T13:08:57.256-04:00

Has anybody soured yet on the idea of hiring senior administration officials based on their ability to play the piano and ice skate?Condi has been an unmitigated disaster in both of her major jobs. Remember the Niger yellowcake mess, how she either never got or didn't remember that memo, either? Isn't this approaching astonishing levels of incompetence? Shouldn't that factor in the decision to

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1159885600217451852006-10-03T10:19:00.000-04:002006-10-03T10:50:24.460-04:00

I tend to avoid following the news on the weekend (sue me, but I work in politics and I believe in the sanctity of the weekend), and I was up with Jenn & her family in Maryland yesterday for the Jewish holiday, so I was a bit surprised to return to work today and find this setting the world on fire.When I left work on Friday as the Foley story was just breaking, I thought it was an interesting

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1159466435227484622006-09-28T13:56:00.000-04:002006-09-28T14:12:06.213-04:00

It's nice that we're building an anti-communist memorial at the same time that we're ramrodding legislation through Congress to eliminate due process and rubberstamp Stalinist, Darkness at Noon-style interrogation techniques.Just another indescribably fantastic day here in the ol' Beacon of Freedom.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1159464276705581532006-09-28T13:09:00.000-04:002006-09-28T13:31:19.646-04:00

If this doesn't sum up David Broder in a nutshell, I don't know what does.The Dean praises Arnold for turning his political fortunes around...by abandoning all his principles. Seriously:Amazingly to some, he...now works comfortably, convivially, onforging compromises with the very same Democratic legislators and lobbyists heonce tried to run out of town.So...he sold out his original stated

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1158845668510752322006-09-21T09:27:00.000-04:002006-09-21T09:57:18.536-04:00

What planet did David Broder phone this in from exactly? I felt my brain melting while reading this. My favorite part is the assertion that Mike Bloomberg is bucking Bush and the Republicans by campaigning for Joe Lieberman against Ned Lamont. Yes, campaigning for a candidate who backs Bush on the war (and whom Bush has essentially endorsed himself) and is running against a Democrat is bucking

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1158775021239788552006-09-20T13:51:00.000-04:002006-09-20T13:57:01.266-04:00

I certainly don't agree with Hugo Chavez that the U.S. is the most evil force in the world. But isn't it sad that it's gotten to the point where someone could say this at the U.N. and (most likely) generate more head-nodding than outrage worldwide? Seriously, this is how much of the world views us. I think they're wrong, but I also think there were a lot of things we could have done

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1158713536908947342006-09-19T20:49:00.000-04:002006-09-19T20:52:16.930-04:00

I'll let the State/Stella/WHAS listserv do the talking (emphasis mine):After ten years of popular demand, The State is available again! The first seasonof the critically acclaimed 1993-95 MTV Series will be released on iTunes Music Store, starting Tuesday, September 26th. Depending on how many people download, MTV will release subsequent seasons, and then eventually, hopefully, a DVD. The first

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1158689078816025542006-09-19T13:42:00.000-04:002006-09-19T14:04:38.880-04:00

It's not that I disagree with the spirit of Anne Applebaum's argument here--certainly, violent attacks on Catholic or Christian buildings and people are far, far worse than anything the Pope is even capable of saying. But in prescribing a response, she trips over her own logic:Clearly, a handful of apologies and some random public debate -- should the pope have said X, should the Danish prime

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1158603638624462122006-09-18T13:57:00.000-04:002006-09-18T14:25:32.040-04:00

In reference to the Post piece on Bush cronyism in Iraq, DK discusses the weird pattern that some big stories have taken in the Bush presidency--namely, that a Big Thing is generally known and acknowledged by the public for a good bit of time before specific facts are reported.What DK doesn't discuss is how this pattern covers the Bushies' asses or at least mitigates political damage. People get

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1157995334555544682006-09-11T13:21:00.000-04:002006-09-11T13:22:14.583-04:00

As we undergo the mandatory (remembrance? / reflection? / celebration?) of Our Big Shared National Tragedy, I find myself forgetting what day it is, not that I care. My grandmother is dying and I couldn’t give a fuck about this stupid circus. All the fake grief we put on for all the strangers that died. A national drama and we all got to play a part. It’s not that it wasn’t an awful

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1157739624832222242006-09-08T14:14:00.000-04:002006-09-08T14:22:20.610-04:00

Dude, why? Why do public figures insist on saying stuff like this?I'm not angry at Arnold for this. It really wasn't that bad, and the lady he was talking about said it didn't bother her and was part of a private joke. Fine by me. But why say it? Why, after all that has happened in the media age to people that say stupid things off the cuff about race, would you not just keep your mouth shut? Is

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1157738300220001812006-09-08T13:41:00.000-04:002006-09-08T13:58:20.260-04:00

This brings up a point I think a lot of people have forgotten about: the run-up to the Iraq invasion wasn't the solo handiwork of Bush admin warmongers. They were aided, abetted, encouraged, and even duped to an extent by a bunch of sleazy Iraqi liars, both in Iraq and exiled in other places. Ahmed Chalabi isn't a name you hear much anymore, is it? Yet at one point we were basically ready to

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1157733061824747332006-09-08T12:28:00.000-04:002006-09-08T12:36:07.710-04:00

Der Krauthammer:There are two rationales for withdrawing from -- let's be honest, abandoning -- Iraq: (a) Iraq is not worth it, and (b) worth it or not, the cause is lost.The first rationale was articulated most recently by John Kerry: "Iraq is not the center of the war on terror. The president keeps saying it is. The president keeps trying to push that down America's throat. It's wrong, it's a

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1157732248170879082006-09-08T12:07:00.000-04:002006-09-08T12:26:11.476-04:00

I didn't fully realize the true stupidity of the ABC 9/11 propaganda-fest in this post. It didn't click at the time that not only does night 2 conflict with a huge MNF doubleheader, night 1 conflicts with the friggin' Manning Bowl. I mean, you want to talk about a real television event, this is it. Double Manning face potential! It's the beginning of Sunday Night Football's challenge to MNF's

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1157577430036540262006-09-06T17:12:00.000-04:002006-09-06T17:17:10.060-04:00

Here's an important self-diagnostic: if you care about this, you're an idiot.It's a teleprompter. Who cares who reads it? If you want the news, read it yourself (warning--you might have to think above a 3rd grade level at some point). If you want entertainment, watch something entertaining.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1157567963106329752006-09-06T14:33:00.000-04:002006-09-06T17:26:06.123-04:00

We all know that Jews, Buddhists, agnostics, atheists, and of course Muslims aren't real Americans, and as such their votes don't count. But here's a new wrinkle: Christians of color and Catholics don't matter either.Wow, Republicans won the white evangelical vote. Holy shit, what a coup. Aren't you a Republican pretty much by definition when you sign up as a white evangelical? Maybe CNN should

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1157477762696116942006-09-05T13:23:00.000-04:002006-09-06T14:42:21.073-04:00

The most ironic thing about this stupid exercise from ABC is that the first night of it conflicts with the first Monday Night Football game of the season. [Edit--whoops, actually it's the second night, which is possibly even stupider.] Good luck with that, morons. No wonder Limbaugh is pimping it--he still has sour grapes that Dennis Miller got to fail on the broadcast team instead of him.Even

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1157473446418273372006-09-05T12:20:00.000-04:002006-09-05T12:24:06.440-04:00

This latest chapter in the saga of poor Colin McEnroe and his mom is yet another thing that brings Catch 22 to mind.Colin's mom = Doc Daneeka.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1157133914622489362006-09-01T13:59:00.000-04:002006-09-01T14:10:16.086-04:00

OK, I now officially believe that Conrad Burns and Katherine Harris have a bet going over who can net the lowest percentage of the vote in their respective Senate bids. I hope for Burnsy's sake that he got her to agree to odds or some kind of point spread--losing as an incumbent is much tougher.Has anyone in the history of time ever run two campaigns this bumbling and snakebitten? The DC Ward 3

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1157118646185222282006-09-01T09:49:00.000-04:002006-09-01T09:53:41.840-04:00

Was commenting on Brock's post here and turned it into a post of my own.I'm not morally opposed to charter schools per se. But the main thing you have to remember about them was that they were conceived by voucher-type people looking for a way to bleed the resources out of the public school system without using that nasty V-word.And therein lies the problem--people have grown so cynical about our

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1157116830947792392006-09-01T09:16:00.000-04:002006-09-01T09:20:30.993-04:00

Here's a question: is there any difference, any difference at all, between what Pat Buchanan says here and what a KKK leader would say? I can't think of anything to differentiate it, except maybe a lack of ethnic/racial slurs, but even a lot of white supremacist leaders stay away from that stuff nowadays. I think his proposals would win unanimous support at any Klan or right-wing militia

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1157046715561953842006-08-31T13:44:00.000-04:002006-08-31T13:53:22.746-04:00

This is just hilarious.Incidentally, for those that are interested, I'm considering a last-minute bid for DC Mayor on the Connecticut For Lieberman Party ticket. Regardless, I'll definitely be at the Connecticut For Lieberman Party Convention in two years, to mingle with fellow Connecticut For Lieberman activists from around the country (I'm currently the chair, vice chair and treasurer of the DC

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1157042125069835232006-08-31T12:27:00.000-04:002006-08-31T12:35:25.093-04:00

So it turns out the groin strain was really only an excuse for Gilbert Arenas' departure from Team USA before the team was narrowed to 12 players. Apparently, he felt he was going to be cut and used the minor injury as public cover. He's now expressing some sour grapes about not being given a chance.It's not as bad as it first sounds, since he apparently discussed the decision to leave with

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156958372412464362006-08-30T12:39:00.000-04:002006-08-30T13:20:23.346-04:00

Snakes on a Plane only did $15.3 million in its opening weekend, so blogs are teh s uck. Via Atrios.Leaving aside for a moment the extremely dubious premise that the political and entertainment blogosphere are the same entity, still, huh?!Why should blogs be held responsible for the success of movies they anticipate when traditional media isn't? Do we need national columns denouncing the

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156945248928440242006-08-30T09:33:00.000-04:002006-08-30T09:40:48.950-04:00

Rush Limbaugh explains that the left made everybody fat. You included, Rush? So much for personal responsibility, huh, you tubby bitch? Why don't you see if you can find some prescription meds lodged underneath your sweaty man-tits to calm you down. Milwaukee was a blast by the way. Lots of beer and lots of food, but we also went running and threw the frisbee around (maybe Rush should try that

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156450925263653142006-08-24T16:17:00.000-04:002006-08-24T16:32:43.386-04:00

*Titter* I joked about this happening and now it's coming true!The Republicans are going to try to run a campaign against bloggers! They think bloggers are an election issue!!! Oh frabjas day, kaloo, kalay!This is, without question, the very bestest thing that has ever happened. I will never not giggle like an idiot whenever I think of a major political party going to the voters to complain

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156436278481009902006-08-24T12:01:00.000-04:002006-08-24T12:20:51.600-04:00

Atrios' sly reference to Catch 22 reminds me of all the funny parallels I see between the current state of the world and the novel. I was waiting for some appropriate event to bust it out, but what the hell.Bush = Col. CathcartRove = Lt. Col. KornCheney = Capt. BlackRumsfeld = Col. SheisskopfCondi = Major MajorHalliburton = M&M EnterprisesLieberman = Clevinger (perhaps about to disappear into the

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156434801348383772006-08-24T11:51:00.000-04:002006-08-24T11:53:21.370-04:00

I'm curious why, out of the myriad of wonderful racial stereotypes available to them, wingnuts seem to have a special fascination with this one.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156431437048139212006-08-24T10:50:00.000-04:002006-08-24T10:57:43.753-04:00

A bunch of dorks have spoken: Pluto is no longer a planet.Wow...76 crazy, beautiful years with Pluto as our 9th planet...I can't believe it's over, yet somehow deep down I think we all knew this day would come. There's nothing to do now but raise a glass, recount our favorite "Pluto as a planet" stories, and say "thank you, friend. Thank you for teaching us how to love, laugh, and live."So long,

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156367041363566972006-08-23T17:02:00.000-04:002006-08-23T17:04:01.383-04:00

Idiots.Meanwhile, hard-line opponents of stem cell science argue that the technique solves nothing, because even the single cell removed by the new approach could theoretically grow into a full-fledged human.Fucking idiots.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156351137252922662006-08-23T12:34:00.000-04:002006-08-23T12:38:57.276-04:00

Jesus. The liberal blogosphere was all over Chris Matthews for a long time, but I don't think enough people are giving him credit for becoming a serious, reality-based critic of the war. He absolutely eviscerates this miserable Republican House candidate here. The guy keeps spitting the old 2003 support-the-troops talking points and Matthews is having none of it. On top of that, Paul Hackett

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156340914717926222006-08-23T09:42:00.000-04:002006-08-23T09:48:34.743-04:00

David Ignatius has a column that might border on shocking to people who haven't seen Control Room. His main point--Al Jazeera is a positive and relatively objective player in the Middle East. Many American commentators have succeeded in conflating Al Jazeera with terrorist organizations, but in reality it's not that simple. While their coverage generally skews in favor of Arab/Persian interests

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156339718197668692006-08-23T09:23:00.000-04:002006-08-23T09:28:38.220-04:00

So I didn't even place at the DC Improv Comedy Showcase, which sucks. I did my best and I felt like I was killing, but what can you do? Judging this kind of thing is inherently subjective, and I guess the judges just didn't care for what I had to offer. I'm not gonna moan and complain about it, because it won't do any good. I just need to keep working at it and try again next year.At the very

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156275571288675432006-08-22T15:27:00.000-04:002006-08-22T15:39:31.316-04:00

Looks like I was even closer to the mark than I thought when I compared Pat Buchanan's new screed on immigration to the writings of A Certain Someone.Unlike 75% of the Internet, I don't make Hitler comparisons glibly or as a way to score points. I'm not mentioning him for effect, I'm doing so because Buchanan's views on what constitutes a nation track so well with those of Hitler. For Pat and

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156264975121916722006-08-22T12:34:00.000-04:002006-08-22T12:42:55.126-04:00

Looks like the GOP in TX-22 is gaining some measure of control, but only with help from the rich parents (the national party).I still put their chances at nothing. A write-in candidate has not won election to the U.S. Congress since 1982, and it's never happened in Texas' 160-year history as a state. And even with Wallace out of the way, there's a Libertarian actually on the ballot, which

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156264096417574412006-08-22T12:22:00.000-04:002006-08-22T12:29:47.646-04:00

I have a pretty wide-ranging sense of humor, from high-falutin flowery literary stuff to jokes that scrape the bottom-most depths of human decency. It's not that I don't get a kick out of the lowbrow--I love graphic humor about all manner of appalling and illegal sexual activities. But for whatever reason, I have always had a specific and visceral hatred of fart-related humor. It makes me die a

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156173836490632352006-08-21T11:18:00.000-04:002006-08-21T11:23:56.516-04:00

I don't really care whether Tiger Woods is the greatest individual athlete of all time, because I don't really care about individual sports. But can't we all agree that such sweeping assessments just cannot be accurately made in a column breathlessly pounded out the night of/morning after a major sports accomplishment? I mean, for Christ's sake, the sports punditocracy is really becoming a

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156172259070833602006-08-21T10:55:00.000-04:002006-08-21T10:57:39.093-04:00

IRS officials freely admit that a Bush initiative to transfer collection of small tax debts to private collection agencies will cost roughly eight times as much as hiring new collectors and doing it in-house. Nice work, government.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156167486153905812006-08-21T09:35:00.000-04:002006-08-21T09:40:45.210-04:00

Does anyone really buy this stuff? I mean, does anyone really think that immigrants are an existential "threat" to America? That somehow America ceases to exist if people keep coming here? I always naturally assumed that it was a disingenuous wingnut talking point, but looking at this summary of Buchanan's book I'm led to believe that some people are actually sincere about it.And I think I get

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1156027317327219972006-08-19T18:34:00.000-04:002006-08-19T18:41:57.350-04:00

Josh Marshall thinks pumping Dem campaign cash into the CT Senate race is just playing into Rove & Co.'s hands. Not sure if this conspiracy theory holds water, though. Since this race won't determine control of the Senate, isn't the GOP support for Lieberman just as "wasted" as the progressive Dem support for Lamont? Wasting money to make your opponent waste a comparable amount seems like a

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1155930118352992332006-08-18T15:39:00.000-04:002006-08-18T15:46:06.326-04:00

I read lots of other lefty blogs by way of clicking about, but my bookmarks/favorites list is relatively short on them. I don't consider most blogs good enough to be a destination in and of themselves--I click over when Josh Marshall or Atrios thinks they have something good to say.But Sadly, No! just earned a permanent bookmark slot with this offering, which made me laugh out loud at work and

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1155926912200236212006-08-18T14:37:00.000-04:002006-08-18T14:48:32.223-04:00

It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that the Santorum goons are singlehandedly propping up the Green Party Senate campaign in PA. What amazes me is that Romanelli draws 5% of the vote in a recent poll. For those of you keeping track at home, that puts him ahead of token CT Senate GOP candidate Alan "How Many Chips Can I Get For My Engagement Ring" Schlesinger.5% would be high for a Green

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1155923991964537992006-08-18T13:56:00.000-04:002006-08-18T13:59:51.986-04:00

MJ Rosenberg has a really interesting point about a key difference between the political cultures of the U.S. and Israel. Namely, Israel actually cares about holding its leaders accountable, whereas we obviously don't care what you do as long as it doesn't involve fellatio from a fat girl.For me, however, the really great thing about this piece is the background it provides on the history of

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1155920806835863562006-08-18T13:05:00.000-04:002006-08-18T13:10:41.753-04:00

I don't give a crap that I can't bring face lotion or KY Jelly on the plane anymore. But when you tell me I can no longer pack a spear gun in my carry-on luggage, I begin to wonder what has become of our American freedom....

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1155911920105773922006-08-18T10:28:00.000-04:002006-08-18T14:01:49.916-04:00

The Republicans' goose is definitely cooked. Not only will there be two prominent Republicans on the ballot (Edit--Whoops, I mean two prominent Republican write-in candidates), apparently some GOPers are even endorsing the Libertarian candidate! Nick Lampson can light up his cigar.I think I know what's really going on among the Republicans down there, however. Nobody really expects to win. They

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1155906454608708172006-08-18T08:57:00.000-04:002006-08-18T10:41:42.050-04:00

We all know that when a rogue state-within-a-state makes terrorist strikes across a border into another state, and the powers that be within the first state are unwilling or unable to rein in the rogue group, the victimized nation has the right to respond with whatever force it deems necessary against whatever targets it pleases across the border.Or at least it does when it's Israel.What about

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1155845322785655872006-08-17T16:02:00.000-04:002006-08-17T16:08:42.810-04:00

I and many others have been arguing this point since the terrorist arrests in London hit the news. But I don't think anyone hits the nail on the head as succinctly or satisfyingly as Josh Marshall with this line: Is there anyone in the country who can say honestly, in their heart of hearts, that when that moment of fear hit them after the recent reports out of London, they said to themselves,

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1155844384447446252006-08-17T15:48:00.000-04:002006-08-17T15:53:04.470-04:00

Very bad news for the Lamont campaign as a new Quinnipiac poll has him down double-digits to Lieberman in the general, with Lieberman comfortably over the 50% mark. That's a pretty big gap to make up, and I'm not sure the backing of Dem heavyweights like Bill Clinton is enough to shore it up, if and when that materializes in a form visible to CT voters.I'm in agreement with Josh here in that

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1155757577881160412006-08-16T15:46:00.000-04:002006-08-16T15:46:17.893-04:00

YouTube blogging may be the death of meJust figured it out today and it rules. Enjoy Eugene Mirman being awesome.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1155757147520980032006-08-16T15:39:00.000-04:002006-08-16T15:39:08.450-04:00

Old school nostalgiaRemember when hip hop was daring? I forgot how insane this video is...

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1155738418439004972006-08-16T10:13:00.000-04:002006-08-16T10:28:45.636-04:00

David Ignatius has a weird column on the Israel-Lebanon situation. I agree with his lead--skillful and active diplomacy is going to be necessary to stabilize things in this case and the Middle East at large. But he shows a bizarre disconnection from reality in a couple of statements.What, finally, is the war's legacy for the Bush administration? Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was lamentably

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1155734436628232812006-08-16T09:14:00.000-04:002006-08-16T09:25:01.180-04:00

In the interest of fairness, I must report that Joe Lieberman (through his douchey spokesman, but still) has answered the call of myself and others to promise to caucus with Democrats if re-elected. (You so know it was me and my audience of six that tipped the scales on this one.)Forcing him to clarify this promise was the right thing to do on a couple of levels. One, it recommits him to follow

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1155733823354348802006-08-16T08:57:00.000-04:002006-08-16T09:11:35.673-04:00

I can't muster as much excitement as the media and blogosphere at large over this. Part of it is that I believe pretty much all Southern conservatives (especially Stars 'n' Bars Allen) are closet racists anyway, so it isn't telling me anything I didn't already know. Another part of it is that I don't really believe it's going to drive away many George Allen voters, since they're just like him. I

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1155674830175549002006-08-15T16:18:00.000-04:002006-08-15T17:02:30.840-04:00

This is stupid for a couple of reasons.First, because he builds it up like it's going to be the most shocking statement ever when it really just restates the age-old "us or them, collateral damage unavoidable, blah blah blah" rhetoric that has always been used to explain away the death of innocents. I actually did brace myself for some stomach-turning genocidal screed, and as I read through I was

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8456876.post-1155667409408980342006-08-15T14:42:00.000-04:002006-08-15T14:43:29.430-04:00

Reed Hunt must read Automoplane.

Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758260307558289808noreply@blogger.com0