From San Francisco's Noe Valley...

...Happy Halloween.
(Photo courtesy: B-man)

Our Little Daily Double

Tonight on "Jeopardy's" Daily Double: The category? "Going to the Dogs." The answer? "This cutie from New England is one of the few breeds to originate in the U.S." The question? "Who is Miss Chloe?"

What?

Well...ok..."what is the Boston Terrier"...but a Dad can be proud, can't he?

Bill O'Reilly Is a Whiney Little Bitch

Following his appearance on David Letterman's show last week, the Whiney Little Bitch of Fox Jazeera is having quite the hissy fit:

You owe me an apology.

Well, let's lay this out in terms you seem to understand Billy Boy...

Letterman's "Late Show" gets 6.4 million viewers a night. Your show? 1.2 million.

But numbers aside, how many times have people appeared on your show and been treated twice as worse by you than you think you were treated by Letterman? You interrupt and you bully and you never let people get their point of view across when it conflicts with your own warped views.

You can hand it out in droves, but you can't take it? You whiney little bitch.

Laura Bush Channels Barbara and Tom

First Lady Laura Bush has crossed over into territory once reserved only for her mother-in-law: She's a bitch, plain and simple. When asked about Michael J Fox’s advocacy for candidates who support embryonic stem cell research Mrs. Bush channeled Tom Cruise's "expertise" on all things medical, responding that it was wrong for Fox and others to suggest that increased support for embryonic stem cell research could lead to cures for Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

It’s always easy to manipulate people’s feelings,

said Mrs. Bush.

With all due respect, Laura...shut up. You don't know what you're talking about. And neither does Rush Limbaugh.

See the video here (courtesy of Think Progress).

For U.S. Senate: Dianne Feinstein

Well, here were are. One week to go until the mid-term elections and everyone is playing the guessing game. At this point I will refrain from making a full-on prediction of what will happen next week. While things look good for the Democrats, I want to see how the polls look this weekend before I can predict whether or not they'll take over the House of Representatives and/or the U.S. Senate.

Things look good, but between Republican gerrymandering, Diebold, and evangelical voters willing to follow the GOP off a cliff, I'm not comfortable predicting exact numbers at this point.

In the mean time, I'll start listing my endorsements. And the first one is what Dick Cheney might call a "no-brainer"...

Senator Dianne Feinstein should be re-elected to the United States Senate. In her 14 years in the chamber Feinstein has taken a moderate approach to the problems facing the nation and consistently offers a consensus approach that is sorely lacking in both houses of Congress today.

Her Republican opponent, former State Sen. Dick Mountjoy, is a conservative idealogue who is absolutely wrong for California. Fortunately for Ms. Feinstein he is but token opposition and she will find herself coasting to an easy, much deserved victory next week.

The Angels of "United 93"

I watched "United 93" this past week and it is a movie that stands above any film I have seen this year. It is brilliant in its structure (the movie is told in real time) and compassionate in its intent (director Paul Greengrass refused to make the film without the support of the families of the passengers and crew).

Those who argued last spring that it was "too soon" for a 9/11 movie were making their arguments based on psychological wounds that, for some, haven't healed. And that is unfortunate, as I found the film quite therapeutic. I have never (never) sobbed so hard at a film.

The movie doesn't exploit, nor does it point any fingers or draw any conclusions. It simply watches events as they unfold. Greengrass' decision not to use mega-stars for this story was deliberate; as was the decision to keep away from the Hollywood formula of portraying the characters as people with histories and sappy backstories. What we know about the passengers of this doomed flight are what we would have known had we been sitting next to them: absolutely nothing, save some details of what they were wearing or how they styled their hair or what book they were reading.

And that is what makes the staggering horror of the final moments of this film so monumental. You are right there with these passengers as they fight the ultimate fight to overtake their hijackers. American Everymen emerging from the chaos of that unbelievable morning with courage and heroism.

Even five years later there are many who still exploit 9/11 for political gain or turn its history into popular myth. But not "United 93." This film is masterful and heartbreaking; sobering and vital. And it honors the memory of the passengers and crew...those wonderful, brave angels.

"Help, I've done it again..."

Your Song of the Day is an absolute gem..."Breathe Me" by Sia.

This hauntingly beautiful song of personal helplessness swells my chest with emotion each time I listen to it. Sia's vocals are raw and a bit unpolished, yet soft and perfect at the same time. Along with the haunting piano played through out, the combination results in one hell of a perfect song.

Lovelight

I met my buddy Gil (and those solid, bodacious melons of his) for happy hour at the Midnight Sun last night, where we saw the new Robbie Williams video. It turns out I was wrong. The first single from Williams' new CD "Rudebox" is not the title track. It is "Lovelight."

The track is a remake of a 2005 Lewis Taylor single that is superior to this new version. Robbie does an admirable job though, and hopefully this track will be the one to break Europe's number one male pop star here in the States.

Here is the video...

Shut Up and Sing

Wow...this movie wasn't even on my radar. "Shut Up and Sing," a documentary about the Dixie Chicks and the whole bizarre political climate that blacklisted them in the mainstream media during the run-up to the Iraq War, will be released in New York and L.A. on Friday (with wide release scheduled in November).

You can see the trailer here. (Press the play button on the right.)

Make sure and watch the last couple of scenes. The President says something that caught my ear:

They shouldn't have their feelings hurt because people don't want to buy their records.

There, my friends, is one of the main differences between Bill Clinton and Little Boy George. Had the Chicks criticized Clinton, and had the public started destroying Chicks CDs, Clinton would have defended the group and their right to free speech.

But no. Not the Republicans. Not their voting base. As one old fart in the preview put it, "I'm all for free speech, but my god not in public."

That sound you hear are our founding fathers rolling over in their graves.

The Dixie Chicks latest CD - and the first single, "Not Ready To Make Nice" - went to number 1 this past summer and have sold quite well. But there are still lingering effects from that episode of 4 years ago. The group has had to cancel Southern tour dates because tickets in Bush Country just aren't selling.

I will give my thoughts on "Not Ready To Make Nice" at the end of the year when I review my choices for the best songs of 2006. Suffice it to say, the song is quite cathartic for those of us who opposed this war from the beginning.

In the mean time, take a look at the preview...and a good listen to the single.

Shut Up, Harold

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Harold Ford:

I do not support the decision today reached by the New Jersey Supreme Court regarding gay marriage. I oppose gay marriage, and have voted twice in Congress to amend the United States Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. This November there's a referendum on the Tennessee ballot to ban same-sex marriage - I am voting for it.

Uh, Congressman Ford...first off, you're running for a Senate seat in Tennessee. So, the way I see it what New Jersey does is none of your damn business. Second, the New Jersey court didn't mandate gay marriage. It mandated equal protection under the law.

I have been rooting for you as the polls bounce back and forth between you and your opponent, and I still want you to win. But believe me, I won't be all that disappointed if you come up short on Election Day.

162

That's how many times the White House has issued a statement about the Iraq War using the term "stay the course."

(Hat tip, Crooks and Liars.)

How Rude!

Robbie Williams' new CD, "Rudebox," was released in the U.K. yesterday. (No word on when it will be out here in the States.) The new set features a remake of the recent Lewis Taylor classic "Lovelight" as well as collaborations with the Pet Shop Boys and William Orbit.

The title track (and first single) is your Song of the Day.

To Stay the Course or Not to Stay the Course...

Press the play button and watch the big lie...

Pathetic

Previous remarks by President Bush on Iraq-

Aug 30, 2006: We will stay the course.

Aug 4, 2005: We will stay the course, we will complete the job in Iraq.

Dec 15, 2003: We will stay the course until the job is done, Steve. And the temptation is to try to get the President or somebody to put a timetable on the definition of getting the job done. We’re just going to stay the course.

Apr 13, 2004: And my message today to those in Iraq is: We’ll stay the course.

Apr 16, 2004: And that’s why we’re going to stay the course in Iraq. And that’s why when we say something in Iraq, we’re going to do it.

Apr 5, 2004: And so we’ve got tough action in Iraq. But we will stay the course.

Yesterday on "This Week"-

George Stephanopoulos:

James Baker says that he’s looking for something between "cut and run" and "stay the course.

President Bush:

Well, hey, listen, we’ve never been "stay the course"...we've been — we will complete the mission, we will do our job, and help achieve the goal, but we’re constantly adjusting to tactics. Constantly.

The man is just pathetic.

The Gerrymander Quandry

Quote of the Day:

There's a big anti-Republican wave out there. But that wave will crash up against a very stable political structure, so we won't be sure of the exact scope of Democratic gains until election night. We really don't yet know which is ultimately more important - the size of the wave or the stability of the structure.

-Pollster Mark Mellman.

Until late last month I wasn't all that certain that the Democrats would make the gains necessary to win back the House of Representatives. And even now, as the Republican Party seems to be crashing in on itself, I still believe that if the Democrats regain majority status, it won't be of blowout proportions.

The "structure" Mellman speaks of is a combination of gerrymandering (drawing districts in odd shapes - many districts have miles-long stretches that are all of 50 yards in width - to help keep them in Republican hands) and a strong evangelical vote. And while evangelicals may stay home on November 7th, those who do vote will instictively vote Republican.

So at this point I think the Democrats may pick up the 15 seats they need for control, but their majority will be paper thin. And the Senate will probably stay Republican, but barely.

I think.

Back From Boston

Wonderful city and I'll give you the low down on the trip a little later. But in the mean time, it's good to be back.

Short Hiatus

Email from my dear friend Beth:

Where've you been, darling? I've been religiously checking your blog and haven't seen an update for over a week. Then again, it may be my computer, but I've tried refreshing and everything.

No, it's not your computer...just busier than busy here at work the last week or two. And I leave tomorrow for a few days in Boston. I'll be back to bloggin' when I return on Sunday. There is, after all, an election coming up!

Recommended

Brent and I threw "Kinky Boots" in the DVD player earlier this week. It's a rather conventional British comedy. As it plays you will realize that you've seen this movie before, only in other forms with other actors.

But what separates "Kinky Boots" from the others is the performance by Chiwetel Ejiofor. He plays Lola, the drag queen in which Joel Edgerton's Charlie Price believes he can make the perfect pair of women's boots...boots that will withstand the weight of a full grown man in drag.

Ejiofor doesn't do the typical "man pretending to be a woman" routine, but rather plays the character simply as a drag queen - without the stereotypes. It's one of the best male performances I've seen this year and worthy of an Oscar nod.

I give the movie three stars and suggest you give it a look.

Sweeter Than Ever

Your Song of the Day is "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" by Susan Tedeschi.



(For you, B-man.)

Raw Abuse of Power

It is my sincere belief that next month's elections should be about the pitiful performance by the current Republican-led government on Iraq and the war on terror; and their pillage of the national treasury. But most importantly, when voters head to the polls, I want them to cast a vote against the raw abuse of power by this Republican majority and their president.

At the congressional level that is what the Mark Foley scandal is really about.

And then there is the President. He has taken abuse to a whole new level, committing impeachable offenses left and right.

Yesterday, when signing the Homeland Security funding bill - a bill that specifically stated "no one but the privacy officer could alter, delay or prohibit the Homeland Security department activities that affect privacy" - George attached a "signing statement" that says he will interpret that section "in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to supervise the unitary executive branch." (Mr. President, define "unitary" for us right now.)

The spoiled boy-coward needs to be stopped. If voters keep Republican majorities in Congress this November, there's no telling what this president will do in has last two years. (Emergency cancellation of the 2008 presidential election, anyone?)

Yer Doin' a Heck of a Job, Foley!

FEMA Director Michael Brown, President Bush, and Rep. Mark Foley (Republican-FL)

This picture should be used by every Democrat in every print and TV ad they put out between now and Election Day. And the caption should be simple:

"Had Enough?"

Fox Jazerra Sinks to a New Low

At least three different times last night, during Fox Jazerra's O'Reilly Factor, disgraced REPUBLICAN Congressman Mark Foley was listed as being a Democrat.

With another network, I might have called it a technical error. But with what we know about Faux News...and after their Fascist darling Sean Hannity tried to blame the Foley scandal on Bill Clinton...well..."you decide."

(God forbid these guys ever get a hold of the History Channel!)

Looking Forward

Ok...enough about the predatory Fascists who are running the country. Let's look forward to the November elections and hand it over to John Mayer, who has your Song of the Day. "Waiting on the World to Change."

Republican Senate Leader: We Surrender

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (Republican-TN), who is mulling over a run for president in 2008, suggests the Taliban be brought into the Afghan government.

Vote. Them. Out.

The Dots Were Connected

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and former Attorney General John Ashcroft both received the same CIA warning connecting the dots about a probable al-Qaida attack in the U.S. that was given to then-National Security Adviser Condi Rice in July, 2001...two months before the attacks of 9/11.

Today's Episode of "Clinton Did It"

Hannity, yesterday, regarding the Foley scandal:

You know something? I don’t want to bring Clinton into it. You’re gonna say, well, Monica was 19… Monica was a teenager and she was an intern...

-Sorry, Sean. Monica was 23 when whe was working at the White House.

The Republican Party: Enabling Sexual Predators

Super hella-busy at work this week and will comment more on the Foley scandal before tomorrow. But a few random thoughts...

The fact that the Republicans are defending this guy is absolutely mind boggling. Of all the things that were wrong with the Democratic Party of 1994 (when the GOP took control of both houses of Congress), not one had anything to do with pedophilia; not one member was accused of being sexually predatory toward 15 and 16 year olds.

I had my doubts about whether the Democrats could re-take the House this fall. Gerrymandering and the evangelical vote were probably going to keep the Republicans in control by a couple of seats or so. But this scandal, in which the Speaker of the House (second in line to the presidency after the V.P.) was an enabler, plays on the nightmares of every parent in the country: A person in a position of power using that power to make the moves on their children.

It's sick and twisted, and has busted an already leaky dam. Even if they have to hold their nose while doing it, many Republican parents will head to the polls next month and vote Democratic purely out of disgust. And can you blame them?

Again, more later. But in the mean time, view Jon Stewart's take on this mess here.