Beautiful Sunset

This is an absolutely stunning sunset! What makes it even more stunning than normal is the fact that this is not a picture of dusk in the Mojave Desert, it's not early evening in New Mexico, or even sundown on the fictional "Star Wars" planet of Tatooine. This is a picture of sunset...on Mars !

Impeachment Now

What the fuck will it take to get rid of these war criminals and hand them over to the International War Crimes Tribunal!?!...

A long-delayed Senate committee report endorsed by Democrats and some Republicans concluded that President Bush and his aides built the public case for war against Iraq by exaggerating available intelligence and by ignoring disagreements among spy agencies about Iraq’s weapons programs and Saddam Hussein’s links to Al Qaeda.

I don't care if these guys only have 228 days left in office. The Senate should send this report over to the House of Representatives, who should use it to vote for impeachment of both Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney. The articles of impeachment should then be sent back over to the Senate, and that body should vote to remove these criminals from office and ship them off to the Hague for prosecution by the War Crimes Tribunal. It's the only way our Constitution will be saved.

Speaker Pelosi can serve out the remaining seven months of the presidential term and, in the interests of keeping Americans united, name a moderate Republican as vice-president.

The argument that congress shouldn't impeach now due the fact that there are only seven months left in the Bush presidency is a slap in the face of our founding fathers. George Bush and Dick Cheney have abused their power as no other president and vice-president in American history. They are, without a doubt, war criminals...and they should be punished accordingly.

Say it with me: Impeachment Now!

The Meeting

The political theatre over the last eight years has made political junkies like me absolutely thrilled. Who knew back then that within the following eight years we would see a very close popular-vote-win/electoral-vote-loss presidential election (prior to that it hadn't happened since 1888); followed by a close primary fight that would leave junkies like me both ecstatic and exasperated, and end with the first woman or the first African American presidential candidate of a major political party?

Just as that primary fight is being put into the history books, the winner of that contest, Barack Obama, met last night with the loser, Hillary Clinton, in a scenario tailor-made for a Hollywood movie.

Obama's campaign airplane was filling up with reporters for the trip back to Chicago, where Obama was planning to spend the weekend resting and spending some much needed time with his family. When the candidate didn't get on, reporters started wondering what was going on.

When the media found out he gave them the slip and that he was on his way to a one-on-one meeting with Hillary Clinton, TV trucks high-tailed it to the former first lady's D.C. home. And there they camped out and speculated about what these two candidates were discussing following a long and bitter primary campaign.

Only it turns out...they weren't inside the Clinton house.

Classic political theatre!

Instead, they were holded up inside the Washington-area home of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) who, according to the New York Times, "...set up two chairs [in her living room] facing each other...served them water...nothing else." Aides to both candidates were sent to Sen. Feinstein's private study and Secret Service agents stayed outside of the meeting room.

What role Feinstein played beyond hostess and what the two former rivals talked about is unknown. And quite frankly, I hope it stays that way. As much as I want to know, the idea - after 16 months of having every word of these candidates recorded and every mishap reported - of the media not being able to report any news from such a major meeting makes me grin from ear to ear.

What a movie this whole episode would make! As Sullivan said this morning:

I have no idea what was said and would one day love to see a Mike Nichols recreation.

In an era when Hollywood's creative juices seem to be drying up, a drama this good could do some boffo box office!

Dark Outlook

More bad news for the Republican ticket:

The American unemployment rate surged to 5.5 percent last month, the government said on Friday, the biggest increase in more than two decades. The report was the latest sign that workers face a darker outlook even as they struggle to cope with the housing slump and high energy prices that have cut into their spending power.

Now more than ever...Barack Obama for President.

Not So First Thing In the Morning

I had a rare chance to sleep in this morning and took full advantage of it. The morning news headlines will return on Monday.

She'll Concede This Weekend

The email Sen. Hillary Clinton sent supporters this morning:

On Saturday, I will extend my congratulations to Senator Obama and my support for his candidacy. This has been a long and hard-fought campaign, but as I have always said, my differences with Senator Obama are small compared to the differences we have with Senator McCain and the Republicans.

I have said throughout the campaign that I would strongly support Senator Obama if he were the Democratic Party's nominee, and I intend to deliver on that promise.

She's the one who sent the email so I'll take her at her word, though I'll continue to be a bit leary up until Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention this summer.

It also looks like talk of a possible Clinton vice-presidential nod is going nowhere fast. It seems the deal-breaker is former President Bill Clinton and all of the problems he'd bring to the table with personal finances and donations to his presidential library. Apparently there are some rather scuzzy goings-on in those areas, and the Obama campaign would rather avoid handing the Republicans fuel to replay the psycho-drama of the 1990s.

First Thing In the Morning

Your Thursday morning news...

-Latin American countries are refusing to sign a declaration on dealing with the world food crisis, delegates at a UN food summit have told the BBC. Senior European officials say some of those countries, prompted by Brazil, will not sign a final statement which might "demonise" biofuels.

-Zimbabwe's currency plunged to a new record low on Thursday, trading at an average 1 billion to the U.S. dollar on a recently introduced interbank market and triggering massive price increases. Analysts said the rapid weakening of the currency was being driven by inflation expectations as well as huge demand for hard currencies.

-Following United Airlines' announcement yesterday, Continental Airlines announced today it will eliminate 3,000 jobs and shrink its fleet by 67 planes, becoming the fourth major U.S. carrier to slash payroll and flights because of soaring fuel prices. Unlike other airlines, the CEO and the President of Continental will forgo their salaries for the rest of 2008.

Best Case Scenario, June 4th

Whenever the urge overtakes me this general election campaign season, I'll post Electoral College map predictions. They mean absolutely nothing, as I'm basing them on different state-by-state polling, combined with a non-expert gut feeling as to how things will go.

Today I'll start with two: A best-case Obama scenario (this post) and a worst-cast Obama scenario (the post below).

If nothing goes too wrong and everything falls into place, this is the best case scenario for Barack Obama as of right now:



Obama 318
McCain 220

With the economy in shambles and John McCain being George Bush's little bitch on the issue of Iraq, we could very well see some major Republican defections or, at the least, abstentions on Election Day. That could very well turn some formerly red states blue.

I think Obama will lose Michigan. Right now I think the auto unions distrust him, plus the state seems to have a soft spot for John McCain. New Hampshire also goes red on this map. Like Michigan, the "Live Free Or Die" state seems to be enamoured with Sen. McCain.

So be it. On this map Obama picks up Virginia, Indiana, and North Dakota (where current polls show him within striking distance or tied with McCain). Those three states haven't gone Democratic since 1964. PLUS Obama picks up a vote in Nebraska (another state that hasn't gone Democratic since 1964 and where electoral votes are distributed based on results in each congressional district).

I also painted Montana blue in this scenario. Polling there shows McCain winning within the margin of error. But I think with some heavy-duty hitting by Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Sen. Jon Tester, this state might be in the Democratic column for the first time since 1992.

New Mexico and Colorado seem to be leaning Obama's way right now, but he'll have to work for them.

And finally, it's a stretch, but I colored Georgia blue. Remember, this is a "best case" scenario. As such, I count on Georgia's favorite son, Bob Barr, to do well as the Libertarian Party's candidate, siphoning votes away from John McCain. Combine that with a strong African-American turnout in the Atlanta area and the state could upset most electoral predictions on Election Night.

November's final map probably won't look like the one above. But I think the media would do themselves a tremendous favor if they resisted the urge to approach this contest as another election in the mold of 2000 and 2004 (very close Electoral College results in which only three states flipped sides between elections). It's a long time to this year's election, but at this point I still think Obama has the chance to alter those maps just a little bit.

Worst Case Scenario, June 4th

Based on absolutely nothing, this is what I consider the worst case scenario in the Electoral College this November:



Obama 217
McCain 321

In this scenario, of the states John Kerry won in 2004, Obama loses Michigan, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, plus one congressional district in Maine. His demands for a rebooting of the auto industry might very well hurt him with auto unions in Detroit; the damage done to Obama by the Clintons could hurt his chances in the Appalachian areas of Pennsylvania; and John McCain's "maverick" status still has potentcy in parts of Maine and libertarian-leaning New Hampshire.

Also in this scenario, McCain is able to keep the Bush red states without much of a problem.

John McCain - Not Change We Can Believe In

TPM's montage of John McCain's absolutely horrendous speech last night - the one he was in the middle of when the networks pulled away to declare Barack Obama the presumptive Democratic nominee - interspliced with pundit reaction.

Do yourself a favor, look at this guy, and you'll know why America can't afford to have him in the Oval Office...

Deranged Narcissism (när'sĭ-sĭz'əm), noun, (see Hillary Clinton)

A medical definition:

The symptoms of deranged nacissism revolve around a pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and sense of entitlement. Often individuals feel overly important and will exaggerate achievements and will accept, and often demand, praise and admiration despite worthy achievements. They may be overwhelmed with fantasies involving unlimited success, power, love, or beauty and feel that they can only be understood by others who are, like them, superior in some aspect of life.

There is a sense of entitlement, of being more deserving than others based solely on their superiority...they are often envious and even angry of others who have more, receive more respect or attention, or otherwise steal away the spotlight.

The 2008 Democratic Presidential Nominee

Graceful, Historic, Patriotic

And then this patriotic American entered the room and spoke. Sen. Barack Obama's speech was the epitome of class, grace, and patriotism. Unlike his Democratic opponent, the Senator from Illinois took the time to congratulate Sen. Clinton on a hard-fought campaign, heaping praise on the issues for which she has worked so hard as a Senator, as First Lady of both Arkansas and the United States, as a mother, and as an American. He was extremely generous to an opponent who has treated him with tremendous disdain.

But now, it's on to the general election campaign.

Barack Obama proved beyond a doubt tonight that he will be a formidable nominee for the presidency. He is a true red-blooded American who, as president, would guide us into the post-Bush years with a long-absent steady hand.

His speech looked forward, to the future. And after eight years of a presidency that took America too far in reverse, Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee for president, is breath of much needed fresh air.

Graceless, Classless, Despicable

I knew it. I just knew it. Hillary Clinton couldn't do it. Rather than acknowledge the fact that tonight Barack Obama became the Democratic Party's nominee for president, rather than congratulate him on his hard fought victory, rather than celebrate the historic value of his nomination - as any normal politician, Democrat or Republican, would do - the sociopath from New York refused.

Any last lingering doubts I may have had that Sen. Clinton was intent on causing a loss for Obama this November were erased with tonight's narcissistic and venomous speech.

Make no mistake...she's threatening to take down the Democratic Party, kamikaze style, if she doesn't get her way. Because it's all about her. Not the party. Not her supporters. Not America.

Barack Obama needs to resist, with every fiber of his being, the calls to put Clinton on the ticket or, for that matter, anywhere in his cabinet. After tonight's speech (hell...after her Robert Kennedy remark last month) Hillary Clinton proved she can't be trusted. She proved that she is sociopath unworthy of her current Senate seat, let alone a seat in a presidential administration.

It hurts me to my very core to say that. I voted for Bill Clinton twice and think his presidency, from a policy level, was successful, and her turn as First Lady groundbreaking. During that administration I defended both Clintons against the very real right-wing conspiracy that tried to derail Bill's presidency.

But during this campaign, the Clintons behavior has led me to despise them. They are now no better than the Fascists who tried to bring them down 10 years ago. Their tactics have been despicable and vial and divisive.

Without a doubt the better candidate won this nomination.

But Barack Obama should be warned: Putting Sen. Clinton on the ticket would be seen by many of his supporters (myself included) as a sign of weakness. It would be like putting Richard Nixon on the ticket. Like the nation's 37th president, Clinton is a psychotic individual who suffers from a deranged narcissism. She can't be trusted, and her name should be nowhere near the list of people in the line of succession to the presidency.

Marriage Ban Amendment Makes Ballot In California

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

A constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in California was placed on the Nov. 4 ballot Monday, kick-starting an election struggle that will have repercussions across the nation.

A recent field poll showed the amendment proposal losing 51% to 43%. But complacency is not an option. This will be a major fight and every person who believes in the equal protection clause will have to make their voices heard as often as possible.

Approaching the Finish Line

From the Chicago Tribune:

A Democratic source said at least five to 10 House members would endorse Obama on Tuesday morning, at least 10 senators will endorse him by the end of the day and an additional 10 superdelegates will also endorse him during the day. That would assure enough delegates by the end of the day to clinch the nomination.

From the NY Times:

...endorsements from at least eight Senate, House members could come the moment the South Dakota polls close tonight.

The support of those super-delegates combined with the elected-delegates Obama receives from today's primaries in Montana and South Dakota should put him over the top in the count of delegates needed to secure the nomination.

This has been such a long and often times painful nominating contest that I just won't believe it until I see it with my own eyes.

As the President would say: "Heh, heh....I have cautioulistic hopefulism. Heh!"

Will She Or Won't She?

I'll believe it when I see it, but Huffington Post is reporting that Hillary Clinton finally (finally!) sees the writing on the wall and will suspend her campaign tonight following the Montana and South Dakota primaries. According to Keith Olbermann, Senator Clinton has instructed staffers not to plan events beyond tonight. They've been offered one plane ticket of their choice (either to New York for her speech tonight or to go home), and they've been urged to turn in any outstanding expense reports (with receipts) by the end of the week.

I don't know...I just don't trust her. Like I said, I'll believe it when I see it.

The Songs of Summer

One of my personal all-time summer faves...from 1988, here is Talking Heads guitarist Jerry Harrison's classic solo single, "Rev It Up."

A Million Bucks

From the AP:

After investigating his options with his trademark intensity, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy underwent 3 1/2 hours of risky and exquisitely delicate surgery Monday to cut out as much of his cancerous brain tumor as possible.

"I feel like a million bucks. I think I'll do that again tomorrow," the 76-year-old Massachusetts Democrat.

Get well soon, Senator.

First Thing In the Morning

Your morning news...

-Syria will allow UN nuclear inspectors into the country to investigate allegations that it was building a nuclear reactor. The International Atomic Energy Agency says its inspectors are due in Syria between 22 and 24 June.

-French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner is in Iraq to offer help in rebuilding the country and promoting national reconciliation. (This has to have the White House in tizzy! The FRENCH making an attempt to do that which the administration didn't have the foresight to do?)

-The large fire that erupted at Universal Studios this past Sunday destroyed a video vault which contained images of movies and television shows dating to the 1920s, as well as recent ones, including "Knocked Up" and "Atonement" and the NBC series "Law & Order" and "The Office." But in no case was the destroyed material the only copy of the destroyed material, officials said.

-Scientests said Monday that NASA's Phoenix lander is ready to start digging for ice - a condition necessary for rudimentary life-forms such as bacteria.

Nation's Banks to Nation's Kids: "Fuck off"

From the NY Times:

Some of the nation’s biggest banks have closed their doors to students at community colleges, for-profit universities and other less competitive institutions.

With places like China and India hurdling into the 21st century at a much faster rate than America, the last thing American kids need is this big ol' "fuck you" from American banks. In this day and age, in my opinion, keeping loans from our kids borders on treason.

But 'cha ARE, Harriet!

Take a minute to listen to this Clinton surrogate, her emotions raw after Saturday's ruling on the matters of Florida and Michigan, and then read my response below...



She's obviously upset. Her candidate has lost an election that was extremely important to her. I know her heartache...I've voted in six presidential elections since turning 18 and have been on the losing side of four of them.

But look at that poor old bird's eyes, listen to the tenor of her voice, observe her body language, and then ask yourself, "Is she or is she not...a drag queen?"

"No," you say? "Not possible?"

Au contraire...

Iraq Today

We were supposed to be greeted as liberators following our invasion of Iraq. At least that's what the President's posse told us.

Yeah.

Not so much.

Moving On

So the Rules Committee to the Democratic National Convention met this past Saturday and hammered out a deal to seat the convention delegates from Florida and Michigan. Basically each state will get their delegates seated, with each getting only a half-vote as punishment for breaking party rules with regards to the primary calender. Had the Party made that decision from the get-go (rather than yank all of the delegates away) we could have prevented so much damn heartache.

And so... it's done, it's behind us, let's move on.

Will Return Late Monday

Hey folks...I was back home for the weekend because I needed some serious "Brent time," not to mention a little bit of "Chloe time," too (after this visit I won't see them for a couple of weeks). I returned to Seattle last night and have a too-early-for-mankind start time this morning. I will return to the blogosphere later today.

Rider # 1004

Godspeed to Larry, his sore legs, and the entire San Francisco-to-Los Angeles crew who departed this morning for the 545-mile AIDS/Lifecycle ride. You make us all extremely proud. Be safe.


(Photos and map, courtesy of Larry's Sore Legs.)

Welcome to the 14th Century

From CNN:

The Vatican announced Thursday in a general decree that it will excommunicate anyone who would attempt to ordain a woman as a priest and the woman herself.

The Catholic Church: Just like the Republican Party...open to everyone...so long as your a crusty old white man with a small penis.

Git 'er Done!

Clay Aiken, the 29-year-old asexual "American Idol" runner-up, has diddled his little thingee into a test tube so that his 50-year-old best friend can spawn.

Ok...eewww...I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit!

Fox Traumatic Stress

Jane Clark, a 12-year-veteran of the Fox News Channel, is suing the Fascist propaganda machine for post traumatic stress syndrome. Hmmm...I wonder what caused the diagnosis? Could it be the network's 24/7 pounding of hate and misinformation? How about Sean Hannity's relationship with Lucifer? Or maybe Bitch O'Reilly tickled her in her nether-regions?

Well...no...none of the above.

I'll let her lawyers explain:

[Clark] can no longer go to work after suffering emotional distress due to a continuous and ongoing bedbug problem at work.

I shit you not.

Hey "Bill O" - leave the pets at home, would ya? Shheesh!

Harvey Korman, 1927 - 2008

Harvey Korman, the legendary Emmy Award winning actor best known for his brilliant roles on "The Carol Burnett Show," his star turn in "Blazing Saddles," and as the director of "Mama's Family," died Thursday of complications from the rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. He was 81.

Burnett's show remains a true American classic, due in large part to the brilliance of Korman. And so in his honor, I dedicate this week's "End of the Week Levity."

Three brilliant scenes from "The Carol Burnett Show"...

First off, the hilarious gay-innuendo of "A Friendly Business Lunch"



Second, "Charades (Part 1)"



"Charades (Part 2)"



And finally, "Altercation"

All Up In His Junk

From the AP: A homeless woman was arrested in Japan this week and charged with trespassing after sneaking into a man's house and living in his closet - undetected - for a year.

May 28, 2004

So, about that argument the Clinton camp continues to caterwaul over and over again, that she's got the lead in key Electoral College states...well...let's take a look at where thing stood in state-by-state polling at this point in the last presidential election:



Now, just in case the former First Lady forgot how that election actually turned out, let me remind her: John Kerry wound up losing to George Bush 286 to 251 (with one elector casting their ballot for John Edwards). Sen. Clinton should also remember that her husband was running THIRD in national polling at this point in 1992, trailing the first President Bush and Ross Perot with a measly 26% of the vote.

Let's be clear: With such high negatives it is extremely unlikely that Sen. Clinton would be able to muster enough electoral votes to win the White House; and if she did, I have a hunch that victory would be paper thin and without the popular vote.

It's time to for Sen. Clinton to fade into the background. After the Rules Committee to the Democratic Convention issue their ruling on Florida and Michigan on Saturday, and after the last three primaries of the season take place on Tuesday, it will be extremely important for the super-delegates to put Clinton's nomination to bed. Barack Obama is the nominee of the party and efforts by the Clinton camp to continue to fight their losing battle should be ignored out-right in hopes that she will just go away.

First Thing In the Morning

Your Friday news...

-The World Bank offers an immediate $12.2 billion assistance package to countries worst hit by skyrocketing food prices. The bank says 100 million people could be impoverished by the rising cost and scarcer availability of food.

-Ali Larijani, a chief rival to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has been elected speaker of the Iranian Parliament, hinting at a possible political shift in the country.

-Air Force Col. Morris Davis, the former chief prosecutor of military commissions at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, said Thursday that he was denied a service medal for criticizing the trial process. The Defense Meritorious Service Medal, a relatively common decoration issued for achievement in a non-combat assignment.

The Tide Is Turning

From the NY Times:

[New York] Gov. David Paterson has directed all state agencies to begin to revise their policies and regulations to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, like Massachusetts, California and Canada.

Say it with me: Hallelujah!

June 17th

That is the day same-sex marriages can begin in the state of California, according to the state's Office of Vital Records.

On the issue of an amendment to the state constitution, a new Field Poll shows surprising results. 51% of voters are against the amendment, 43% are for it.

I must say, I am a bit shocked to see those numbers. I'm still convinced this will be a huge fight, but today's poll results have me a bit more optimistic than I was.

Great Lakes In Peril

From Reuters:

Global warming will likely drain more water from the Great Lakes and pose added pollution threats to the region's vulnerable ecosystem, environmental groups said in a report issued on Wednesday.

Help stop global warming. Save the planet. Vote Democratic!

The Songs of Summer

The second biggest single of 1982 was THE song of that summer. From his classic album American Fool, here is "Hurt So Good" by John Mellencamp.

First Thing In the Morning

Your morning news...

-Delegates at a special assembly in Nepal voted 560 to 4 in favor of abolishing the monarchy. The government has told King Gyanendra to vacate his palace in the capital Kathmandu within two weeks, or be forced out.

-Following 10 days of talks, diplomats from over 100 countries have reached an agreement on a treaty that would ban many current designs of cluster bombs. The United States opposed the treaty.

-Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, his Republican opponent John McCain, and Sen. Hillary Clinton have signed a rare joint statement, appealing for an end to the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region, calling the violence there "unacceptable," and promising "unstinting resolve" if elected president.

Mid-Week Brain Break

From last week's "American Idol" finale...George Michael's absolutely stunning version of "Praying For Time"...

Bonjour, Hola, and Goddag!

A hearty shout-out to new readers in:

Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Vigo, Spain
and, Copenhagen, Denmark

This little ol' blog is but a microscopic dot in the overall blogosphere, and I appreciate the time you take to read the blatherings of yours truly.

Jim Webb For Vice-President?

The U.S. Senator from Virigina - the guy who defeated the hapless George "Macaca" Allen in 2006 - would be at the top of my list if I were Barack Obama.

(Things really get going at about the 4:25 mark):

No More Forgiveness, Senator

Without comment, Keith Olbermann's Special Comment on Hillary Clinton's remarks regarding Robert Kennedy. Do yourself a favor and take the time to watch this (and pay special attention to what Olbermann says at about the 7:15 mark)...

Homer Simpson's Universe?

Mmmm....doughnuts!

"Two Of A Kind"

Can you tell these two goons apart? Come oooonn!! Can ya?

Impeachment Now

In his new book, "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception," former White House press secretary Scott McClellan claims President Bush "veered terribly off course," was not "open and forthright on Iraq," and took a "permanent campaign approach" to governing at the expense of candor and competence.

According to Politico.com, the key points in the book:

• McClellan charges that Bush relied on "propaganda" to sell the war.

• He says the White House press corps was too easy on the administration during the run-up to the war.

• He admits that some of his own assertions from the briefing room podium turned out to be "badly misguided."

• The longtime Bush loyalist also suggests that two top aides held a secret West Wing meeting to get their story straight about the CIA leak case at a time when federal prosecutors were after them — and McClellan was continuing to defend them despite mounting evidence they had not given him all the facts.

• McClellan asserts that the aides — Karl Rove, the President’s senior adviser, and Lewis (Scooter) Libby, the Vice President’s chief of staff — "had at best misled" him about their role in the disclosure of former CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity.

Confirmation, in my eyes, that the President, the Vice-President, and their Fascist minions lied in order go get us into an unnecessary war and outed a CIA operative. They may have only 7 months left in office, but there is absolutely no reason - none - why Congress shouldn't begin impeachment proceedings against these criminals. They've essentially wiped their asses with the Constitution.

(Imagine a minute the reaction of the Republicans in Congress, the folks at Fox News, and the whole bunch of 'em, had a Democratic administration done what these miserable imbeciles have done! Dennis Hastert would have been sworn in as president as early as mid-2003!)

Say it with me: The. Worst. President. Ever.

Then and Now

The Jed Report has put together a slew of quotes from Clinton campaign officials - BILL Clinton, that is - from 1992. The thing to remember while watching this video is that the primary season was much shorter that year. While the Clinton surrogates were saying these things in April of 1992, one should remember that the Iowa caucuses didn't take place until March. This year, they were in early January.

I understand he's her husband, but Bill Clinton is really doing his status as an ex-president a huge disservice...

Little Miss Chloe

Enjoying the new bedspread and pillow shams we picked up over the weekend.

"Say Goodnight, Hillary - And Go Away"

Michael Goodwin, on Hillary Clinton's mention of Robert Kennedy's assassination as a reason to stay in the current Democratic race:

Sick. Disgusting. And yet revealing. Hillary Clinton is staying in the race in the event some nut kills Barack Obama. We have seen an X-ray of a very dark soul. One consumed by raw ambition to where the possible assassination of an opponent is something to ponder in a strategic way.

Giving voice to such a vile thought is all the more horrible because fears Obama would be killed have been an undercurrent to his astonishing rise.

Clinton has now fed that fear. She needs a very long vacation. And we need one from her.

Say good night, Hillary. And go away.

Some say Clinton's comments were the result of a long campaign; that she's tired and not thinking before she speaks. But the fact of the matter is very simple: She was thinking of murder as the game-changer that has eluded her all spring. She made the RFK reference back in March as well, so I tend to come down on the side of Goodwin's "very dark soul" argument.

That any Democrat still backs Sen. Clinton after such twisted thinking is beyond all comprehension. In fact, had another nominee made such a statement, they would be stepping up to the microphone today to announce the end of their campaign. (I mean, think about the reaction from the Clinton camp if someone like Joe Biden had made a similar statement in correlation to Hillary! Biden would have dropped out over the weekend and then Bill would have punched his lights out.)

It's over, Hillary. Your candidacy is a smoldering train wreck and it's time for you to end the joke that has become your candidacy for president. It's not going to happen and, after this horrendous remark, you can bet your last dollar that Barack Obama has no plans to put you anywhere near his ticket!

For those who missed it, here is the interview in which Clinton makes the RFK reference:

Sydney Pollack, 1934 - 2008

Hollywood legend Sydney Pollack died Monday at his Los Angeles home after a brief battle with cancer. He was 73.

Pollack won the Best Picture and Best Director Academy Awards for 1985's "Out of Africa," and has directed such classics as "Tootsie," "The Electric Horseman," and "The Way We Were."

He produced a slew of movies as well: "Michael Clayton," "The Interpreter," "Cold Mountain," "Bright Lights, Big City" ... the list goes on and on.

Pollack appeared in many of his films, most memorably as attorney Marty Bach in "Michael Clayton," and as Dustin Hoffman's agent in "Tootsie"; and he made guest appearances on countless TV shows.

In fact, many Americans will remember Pollack for his recurring role as Will Truman's father in the long-running sitcom, "Will and Grace."

The Songs of Summer

With the Memorial Day weekend marking the unofficial start of summer, let's start another Songs of Summer series. A few times a week I will highlight some of my favorite tunes from summers past.

Kicking things off this year...a club classic from last summer..."Salmon Dance" by the Chemical Brothers:

Gay Holocaust Monument Unveiled in Berlin

A monument remembering the gays who were captured and murdered by Hitler's Nazi regime is to be unveiled in Berlin today. According to Andy Towle:

The monument consists of a 3.6 meter-high, 1.9 meter-wide pillar containing a small window through which can be seen a one and a half minute film loop of two men kissing, directed by the Danish director Thomas Vinterberg.

First Thing In the Morning

Your morning news...

-Foreign ministers from five countries with Arctic coastal waters are gathering in Greenland to discuss territorial claims to the region. The talks are aimed at blocking a scramble for reserves of oil and gas.

-In response to inquiries from grieving relatives, Chinese officials announced Monday that parents whose only child was killed in the May 12 earthquake would be exempt from the country’s one-child policy.

-"The Class," a French film about life in a tough Paris school, has won the coveted Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Laurent Cantet, the film uses real students and teachers to chronicle a year in their lives.

-One day after the spacecraft Phoenix landed on Mars, scientists prepared Monday to start their three-month search for signs that life-giving water and chemicals were once abundant on the planet long, long ago.

End-of-the-Week Levity

One of the funniest movie scenes ever filmed (even if the rest of the movie was only average). Eddie Murphy, playing every character except the kid, truly deserved an Oscar nomination for his work here...

A Team of Rivals

Quote of the Day:

I can tell you this. My goal is to have the best possible government. And that means me winning. So, I'm very practical in my thinking. I'm a practical guy. One of my heroes is Abraham Lincoln. Awhile back, there was a wonderful book written by Doris Kearns Goodwin called "Team of Rivals," in which she talked about how Lincoln basically pulled all the people he'd been running against into his Cabinet. Because whatever personal feelings there were, the issue was, "How can we get the country through this time of crisis?" I think that has to be the approach one takes to the vice president and the Cabinet.

-Sen. Barack Obama, in Boca Raton, Florida, yesterday.

"Team of Rivals" is a superb book, an absolutely fascinating account of the Republican convention in 1860 and the resulting Lincoln presidency. Goodwin argues that the success of that presidency - and of the Civil War that started shortly after the 1860 election - can be traced back to the appointment of his three rivals for the Republican nomination to Lincoln's White House cabinet: William Seward became Secretary of State, Salmon Chase became Secretary of the Treasury, Edward Bates became Attorney General, and Edwin Stanton (who once called Lincoln a "long armed ape") became Secretary of War (the designation at the time for Secretary of Defense).

Talk about a powerhouse cabinet: Joe Biden at State, Bill Richardson at the U.N., Chris Dodd at Commerce, John Edwards as Attorney General, and, yes, even Hillary Clinton...well...somewhere. Then go to the other side of the aisle and throw Colin Powell in as Secretary of Education (sorry Colin, your foreign policy credentials became null and void after you went to the U.N. and did Mr. Bush's bidding on the situtation - or lack thereof - in Iraq) and Chuck Hagel at the Defense Department. Finally, add some non-government types as political advisers - say Steve Clemons, Thomas Friedman, and Andrew Sullivan.

Well...I'm getting way ahead of myself. But as he moves into general election mode, Barack Obama will surely be planning out his government so that it can be in place "on day one" should he win the November election. By putting his Democratic rivals - and a few Republicans - in key posts, a "President Obama" would be taking the first important steps in unraveling the mess left behind by Little Boy George.

McCain on "Ellen"

He couldn't even look her in the eye while trying to explain his position. In contrast, she was classy as hell.

First Thing In the Morning

-3,000 acres are burning between Santa Cruz and Gilroy in California. Firefighters hope to catch a break on Friday in getting it under control.

-South African troops have been deployed for the first time in an effort to stop domestic attacks on foreigners as Zimbabweans flood into the country.

-In another blow to Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour Party, special election results in Crewe, England show Conservative Party candidate Edward Timson beating Labour's Tasmin Dunwoody by a healthy margin. The result in Crewe follows a major defeat for Labour for London's mayorality earlier this month.

America's Diminished Stature

It's criminal, really, how far down the shit-hole the current president has taken this country. He truly is - and will forever be remembered as - the worst president in American history:

The failure of Mr. Bush to fully mobilize the most powerful innovation engine in the world — the U.S. economy — to produce a scalable alternative to oil has helped to fuel the rise of a collection of petro-authoritarian states — from Russia to Venezuela to Iran — that are reshaping global politics in their own image.

If this huge transfer of wealth to the petro-authoritarians continues, power will follow. According to Congressional testimony Wednesday by the energy expert Gal Luft, with oil at $200 a barrel, OPEC could "potentially buy Bank of America in one month worth of production, Apple computers in a week and General Motors in just three days"...

The next president will have to manage these new rising states...while wearing the straightjacket left in the Oval Office by Mr. Bush.

-Thomas Friedman, on the absolutely abysmal failures of the Bush administration in the years since 9/11, and the tremendous challenges the next president faces when they take office in January.

For my money, there is only one candidate who is up to the challenge - one man with the vision needed to change the equation back in America's favor. And that man is Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton's threat to "obliterate" Iran is not the way to regain our international stature, and John McCain's embrace of the President's foreign policy over the last four years should scare every American to their very core.

Portland Elects First Gay Mayor

Buried in the news of Tuesday's presidential primaries was the news that the city of Portland, Oregon elected its first openly gay mayor. Sam Adams won a landslide victory over 12 challengers, 59% to 33% for his closest competitor. Andy Towle reports that Adams' victory makes him the only gay mayor of a top 40 U.S. city.

From the Oregonian:

Adams, 44, won by stressing specifics: He promised to work with school leaders to cut the dropout rate, make Portland a leader in environmentally friendly businesses and use the Portland Streetcar and better planning to spur urban renewal.

10-Point Lead For Obama Over McCain

A new poll from Zogby International, taken before Tuesday's primaries in Kentucky and Oregon, shows Sen. Barack Obama leading Sen. John McCain by 10 points in a hypothetical general election match up:

Obama 47%
McCain 37%

The key to Obama's numbers are the non-affiliated, independent voters, who prefer the Democrat to McCain by 48% to 32%.

Despite her tired arguments that she is the better general election candidate, the poll shows Hillary Clinton performing much more poorly against McCain:

Clinton 41%
McCain 40%

Unlike Obama, the Democratic base is much weaker for Clinton, with 13% of self-described progressives abandoning the former first lady for Ralph Nader's third-party candidacy.

Clinton's team has been harping for weeks now that the super-delegates to the Democratic convention are obligated to vote for the person they think will be the strongest candidate in November. This current poll seems suggest that that person is, far and away, Barack Obama.

McCain's Poor Judgement

Quote of the Day:

While I always appreciate hearing the news from John McCain, he should explain to the American people why almost every single promise and prediction that he has made about Iraq has turned to be catastrophically wrong...I will continue to make the case for a new foreign policy that deploys all elements of American power - including tough, principled and direct diplomacy. It's stunning that in such a lengthy written statement, John McCain could not articulate a single new idea that hasn't been tried - and failed - over the last eight years.

-Sen. Barack Obama, taking on the the Republican presidential nominee from the campaign trail yesterday.

Well, one thing is for sure: Barack Obama is no John Kerry!

First Thing In the Morning

Grab your mornin' cuppa joe and read your news...

-Israel and Syria announced on Wednesday that they were engaged in negotiations for a comprehensive peace treaty through Turkish mediators.

-Burma's rulers will allow UN helicopters to carry supplies to survivors of last month's cyclone. The military rulers there have blocked large-scale international aid since the disaster hit.

-Oil hits $135 a barrel.

-Grappling with ways to handle those record-high fuel prices, American Airlines announced Wednesday that they will start charging passengers $15 for their first checked bag.

It's Cook!!

In an unexpected landslide, David Cook beat David Archuletta (by 12 million votes!) to become 2008's "American Idol."

Without a doubt, the best contestant won! I look forward to his first CD with much anticipation.

Here is tonight's results segment...

Mid-Week Brain Break

Although I think David Archuletta has the better chance at being named the next "American Idol," I cast my vote last night for David Cook. Both Davids have been consistently good since the start of the season and both have great futures in front of them.

But Cook has the more marketable talent and his music-arranging abilities are superior. From last week's show, here is his take on "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"...

The Popular Vote

The declarations coming from Hillary Clinton's camp that she has won the popular vote come awfully close to being disingenuous. Let's take a look at the national vote tally:

Obama 16,983,621
49.1%

Clinton 16,431,849
47.5%

And Oregon isn't even finished counting their ballots yet, so those vote totals are incomplete.

The Clinton camp argues that you have to include Michigan in those totals. That is rather Bush-esque if you ask me. All candidates agreed that Michigan's primary wouldn't count as punishment for breaking party rules and pushing the election to an earlier date than agreed. Clinton then left her name on the ballot and now that the nomination is slipping away she's all about adding those numbers to her popular vote totals.

For the sake of argument, let's first take a look at the results of the unofficial, unsanctioned primary in Michigan:

Clinton 328,309
55.2%

None of the Above 238,168
44.8%

Now, let's add those totals, along with Florida's (another state who broke the rules as well, but in which all candidates left their name on the ballot) to the overall national vote:

Clinton 17,631,144
47.7%

Obama 17,559,843
47.6%

The results in Michigan's unsanctioned primary showed 45% of the vote going to "none of the above." That's a pretty strong anti-Hillary showing considering the fact that her name was the only one on the ballot.

Now, let's say that only a third of those uncommitted votes were actually votes for Barack Obama (I'm low-balling here; I'm sure that well over a third of those votes would have went to Obama had his name remained on the ballot). That would give him 78,000 additional votes - more than enough to overtake Clinton's 71,000 vote lead if we include Michigan's unofficial, unsanctioned primary in the national numbers.

The Clinton team is clearly trying to shove untruths down America's throat. They think that if they keep lying to the press, hammering the lies over and over and over again, that voters will eventually believe what they say as truth. And after 8 years of such escapades by the Bush folks, I think Americans have about had it with the dishonesty and low-life political games.

"Ready to Believe Again"

The final results in Kentucky:

Clinton 65%
Obama 30%
Edwards 3%
None of the Above 2%

Apparently John Edwards' name was left on the ballot in a state or two.

The results in Oregon (with 88% of the vote counted):

Obama 58%
Clinton 42%

Both states are overwhelming white so the Clinton camp and the media really need to stop harping on the talking point that Obama can't win white votes. His numbers across all demographics in Oregon were the opposite of Clinton's in Kentucky: He won men, he won women; he won all age groups except the over 65ers, and even them he lost by only 2 points; he won college graduates and non-college graduates; he won first time voters, he won long time voters; he won every income bracket except those who make less than $15,000 a year; and he won independents overwhelmingly.

That last point - the independent voters - contrasts the Clinton argument that she is the better general election candidate. She consistently loses the votes of independent, non-affiliated voters in most polling against John McCain. She loses longtime Democratic strongholds like Oregon, Washington State, and Wisconsin in the Electoral College, and despite the blatherings of her campaign staff, she would do more harm than good in the down ballot congressional and gubernatorial races.

That said, Obama is THISCLOSE to wrapping this up. The projected delegate count (elected delegates and announced super-delegates)
(2,026 needed to win nomination at at the convention):

Obama 1,957
Clinton 1,775

Obama is 69 delegate votes away from wrapping this up. But it's not quite over. There a three last contests to go through, and the rules committee to the convention will meet at the end of the month to deal with the delegations from Michigan and Florida. That meeting may result in an increase in the number of delegates needed two win the nomination, but I am confident Obama will still come out on top. The super-delegates are increasingly declaring the support for him.

I don't see how they turn him down. This election is about the future, and Obama's vision is hopeful and strong while Clinton's mere candidacy is stale and sour.

Hope and competence...



...vs. the past



I report, you decide.

First Thing In the Morning

Your Wednesday news...

A deal is reached aimed at ending the political crisis in Lebanon.

European Union unveils a plan aimed at making farmers more responsive to market forces amid rapidly rising food prices.

Jordan Hamilton, White House Chief of Staff and political strategist to President Jimmy Carter, died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer.

After rejecting his initial request, Great Britain will grant asylum to a gay Iranian teenager who faces execution if forced to return to his homeland.

"Idol" - Battle of the Davids: The Season Finale

Ok...the whole boxer thing through out the show was about as lame as lame gets. Give me a freekin' break! Can you say "testosterone overload?"

Now that that is out the way...on to the final round of "American Idol"...

David Cook
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
Those gorgeous eyes should be enough to lead him to victory as far as I'm concerned. That said, I think he coasted on this song. He didn't take any chances, playing it right down the middle. But still, I liked it. Let there be no doubt - this man is the true essence of "rock star."

David Archuletta
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me"
Good gawd...could they have picked a more predictable song!? He nailed it, of course and proved without a doubt that he deserved to be on that stage tonight. He got a bit pitchy toward the end, but overall really nicely done.

David Cook
"Dream Big"
Good, old-fashioned rock and roll from Mr. Cook. However the results go, this guy has a big career in front of him. He's the more marketable talent and the bigger personality. He sang his ass off.

David Archuletta
"In This Moment"
Sheez! Can you say "schmalzy?" Damn that was a horrid little song. Typical of Archuletta and the girls no doubt loved it. As such, this performance will add to his vote totals tonight.

David Cook
"The World I Know"
Hmmm...Cook has turned in much better performances in past weeks. He's off his game tonight but only by a tad. It forces me to wonder: Is he throwing the contest on purpose? If he comes in second, chances are he wouldn't be tied to a recording contract as stifling as the one winner signs. I'm sure I'm wrong...but I can't stop thinking that maybe...perhaps...

David Archuletta
"Imagine"
I loved it when he did this song earlier in the season and I loved it no less tonight. Corny as all hell, but his voice and that song are an amazing combination.

Who will win tomorrow night? More than likely it will be Archuletta. The show's demographics favor him more than they do Cook. Either way, it is clear that the two best contestants wound up in this finale round. "American Idol" seems to have pulled itself out of the lull it had fallen into the last couple of seasons or so.

Both Davids have extremely bright futures in front of them. They performed better more consistently than any of the season's other contestants. And that is something they should both be proud of...whatever the results show tomorrow night.

Almost There

Although Sen. Clinton has won another substantial primary victory, this time in Kentucky, Sen. Barack Obama is now only 95 delegates away from calling the nomination his own.

With polls in Oregon set to close soon, the Senator from Illinois will be even closer.

Update, 8:00pm: NBC News projects Obama the winner in Oregon's primary.

Senator Kennedy

The great lion of the United States Senate is pretty darn sick. Sen. Ted Kennedy (Democrat-MA) was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor today. The man who has fought the good fight for Americans since the day he took office now has his own battle to wage.

Healing thoughts being sent his way, I'm sure, from all over the country.

Dylan and Timmy

Two sets of very dear friends lost their beloved pets this past weekend. Laurie and Tony lost their pride and joy, Timmy; and Susan and Jeff lost the real patriarch of their household, Dylan.

For both Brent and myself, each will always hold a special place in our hearts. Memories of Timmy-sitting and of Dylan's catnip escapades will forever fill our memories of those two sweet boys.

Our thoughts are with Laurie, Tony, Susan, and Jeff.

Why America Needs Obama

Voting in Kentucky or Oregon today? Has the state of the current Democratic race left you on the fence? Let me try to sway you. Originally posted before the big February 5th "Super-duper Tuesday" contests, you can read my endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama by clicking here.

The Popular Vote

From Patrick Healy of the NY Times:

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is entering the Kentucky and Oregon primaries on Tuesday with one of the most pugnacious political messages of her campaign: That she is ahead in the national popular vote...

Of course, the only way she comes to that conclusion is by including her votes in Michigan. Never mind that all the other candidates removed their names from the ballot in solidarity with the Party's punishment for the state moving their primary up to a date earlier than agreed. Never mind that 45% of the state never the less went to the polls that day and voted for "no one" over Sen. Clinton.

Let's be clear: If the tables were turned and Obama was trying to count votes he received in a state where Clinton's name didn't appear on the ballot, the former First Lady would be caterwauling from here to kingdom come. The votes in Michigan shouldn't count, the delegates from the state should be seated at the convention in half-capacity, and that's the end of it.

So, for the record, here is the national popular vote for the Democrats as of this morning (before Kentucky and Oregon vote):

Obama
16,442,622
49.3%

Clinton
15,736,286
47.2%

Edwards, Biden, Dodd, Richardson, etc. have the remaining 3.5%

For kicks, let's add the votes in Florida, another state that was punished for moving their primary to January, but in which all names remained on the ballot:

Obama
17,018,836
48.5%

Clinton
16,607,272
47.3%

The other candidates split the remaining 4.2%

This argument that she's winning the popular vote is flimsy at best and reeks of desperation, as does her argument that the number of delegates needed to win the nomination is 2,209 rather the 2,025 agreed to in the rule book.

Changing the rules in the middle of the game so you can win? Sounds way too Bush-like for comfort, if you ask me.

"3 In the Mourning"

Heh!

First Thing In the Morning

Ok...I'm trying a new blog segment and we'll see how it works. Essentially it will be a few key news headlines, hand-picked by yours truly, that I think are rather important in the overall scheme of things (you will click on the headline to read each story). In this day and age, when major media outlets spend hours and hours covering everything but news, I'll do what I can to keep you informed about the world around you. In this day and age, being uninformed is not an option.

I will more than likely post these headlines while I sip my morning coffee, and so as such I am naming the segment "First Thing In the Morning," after an old morning news show that used to air on WMAQ-TV (NBC) in Chicago.

And now, your morning news...

11 Iraqi police recruits killed in a bus ambush by Sunni insurgents near the Syrian border.

Venezuela: "U.S. violated our airspace." Tension rising in the region with both the US and Colombia accusing Caracas of financing Colombian rebels.

Police in France, the Netherlands and Germany have arrested 10 people suspected of providing funding to Islamic extremists in Uzbekistan.

"What I'm About to Tell You": More Soviet-style secrecy from the Fascists in the White House.

EPA chief drops his support to protect Californians from auto pollution because Bush said "boo."

"Lay Off My Wife"

Sen. Barack Obama gives the bottom feeders known as the Tennessee Republican Party notice: His wife and his family are off limits...



It's good to see Obama going to toe-to-toe with these assholes. If there are still people out there who tend to think of the Illinois Senator as soft-shoed, then take another look at the clip above. Believe me, he will get all up in the GOP's face!

Marriage in California: "Equal Respect & Dignity"

The ruling last week by the California State Supreme Court was, without a doubt, a tremendous step forward for those who believe in equal rights under the law. Not special rights...equal rights. While I have never been a true believer in the institution of marriage (I think people should pair up with whomever the please, share property with that person, leave an estate to that person, be able to visit them in the hospital, etc., without any sort of official state backing), I believe more passionately that, under the rule of law, gays and lesbians should be able to marry if they so wish. The court's ruling last week indicates that the tide is turning in that direction.

The opinion, written by Chief Justice Ronald George, cited the court's 1948 decision that reversed the state's ban on interracial marriage. It found that "equal respect and dignity" of marriage is a "basic civil right" that cannot be withheld from same-sex couples.

But the victory lap should include a whole lot of caution. Prior to the Court's ruling, a group of Fascists known as California Marriage Protection delivered a petition to the California Secretary of State that reportedly has enough signatures to get a proposed amendment to the State Constitution put on the November ballot that would nulify the Court's ruling and ban same-sex couples from being able to marry. I am not at all optimistic that the hateful amendment will fail - as much as I would like to have more faith in my fellow Californians, my gut tells me they will vote to write hate into our state's Constitution.

In 2000 the Knight Initiative (named for an ultra-conservative state legislator who turned out to have a gay son), a ballot measure that defined marriage in California as between a man and a woman, passed overwhelmingly (61% to 39%). On the bright side, that was eight years ago, and it was placed on a presidential primary ballot in which the Democratic nominee (Al Gore) had the nomination clinched while the Republicans (George W. Bush and John McCain) were still battling it out. Thus, conservative turnout was high and progressive turnout somewhat low.

That said, while California is notoriously "blue" on the electoral map, a look at the deeper Democratic demographics shows that defeating a state constitutional amendment will require some hard work, lots of sweat, and quite possible a few tears.

The Bay Area I'm not worried about. Parts of Los Angeles will be in our camp as well. And Gov. Schwarzenegger has, to his credit, come out against a constitutional amendment. But, in all honesty, the blue collar folks in the Central Valley, the conservative Democrats up in the Sacramento area, hispanic voters down in San Fernando Valley, and the African-American community in South Central Los Angeles no doubt still harbor some unexplained fear at even the thought of gay marriage.

So, unless the fight against marriage rights is joined in full force, the great state of California will find itself writing hate into its Constitution. And it will remain there for at least a decade.

McCain, the Flip-Flopper

Putting the derailed "Straight Talk Express" into perspective...

Obama vs Grandpa Bush Bitch

George W. Bush and the man who not only kisses his ass but essentially crawls up it, John McCain, tried to take Barack Obama down on the issue of foreign policy last week. Obama's reaction? Essentially, it was "bring it on"...



The current president's foreign policy is absolutely abysmal - perhaps the worst in American history - and John McCain has embraced those policies whole-heartedly these last four years. Decisions this president has made have left America - and Americans - less safe, in dire straits, and in need of a new direction. And Barack Obama has given notice that he will not be painted as weak-kneed and incompetent; that he will, in fact, go toe-to-toe with the Republicans and their failed policies.

Sen. Byrd Endorses Obama

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), the Dean of the Senate and one of the body's last true Constitutional scholars, has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president.

I'm sure he has his reasons for not doing so until now, but that endorsement would have been nice prior to the state's presidential primary last week. Whether it will help tomorrow with Appalachian voters in Kentucky is questionable.

But either way, the endorsement by Sen. Byrd is a tremendous "get" for the Obama campaign, especially after the state went so overwhelmingly for Senator Clinton.

California Supreme Court To Rule On Same-Sex Marriage

The California Supreme Court will convene at 10am this morning to hand down their ruling on the legality of the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

Eight Years of Stumbling

Quote of the Day:

For now, Team America is losing on just about every front [in the Middle East]. How come? The short answer is that Iran is smart and ruthless, America is dumb and weak...

-New York Times foreign affairs columnist Thomas Friedman, on the how the next president will more than likely face a cold-war-like scenario with Iran.

Sigh...I'm already on Larry's shit-list for the rants about Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, but this is really gonna push him over the edge. ;-) But here it goes...

In his goal to change the way things are done in D.C., in a much-needed effort to hit the reset button in American global affairs, a "President Obama" would do well to include non-government officials in his cabinet and inner-circle. One person I would put near the top of that list is Tom Friedman. He doesn't have to be Secretary of State or anything, but including him in a small circle of presidential advisers, along with others who hold views opposite of Friedman's (like, say, Chris Dodd), would go a long way toward making Obama's presidency a success and, more importantly, give him the tools to repair America's global image, which has been tarnished beyond repair under Little Boy Bush.

Just thinking out loud; food for thought, so to speak.

"This Advice Mr. Bush: Shut the Hell Up!"

In a passionate and brutal Special Comments segment yesterday, Keith Olbermann blasted President Bush over Iraq, incompetence, lies, and golf. It is posted in two parts totaling about 12 minutes, but please...please...take the time to watch:

Part 1:



Part 2:

The Fuckhead In the White House

He's such a prick...

I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the Commander-in-Chief playing golf. I feel I owe it to the families to be as - to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal.

Actually sir, what you owe the families of those fighting in Iraq is some good old fashioned COMPETENCE.

Among other things.

You fucking jerk.

Edwards Endorses Obama

Former Sen. John Edwards, the 2004 Democratic vice-presidential nominee, and a nominee for the party's presidential nomination this year, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama this afternoon.

Part of me wonders why he didn't endorse earlier, but I'll chalk it up to him not really knowning who to support. The TV talking heads are wondering what sort of deal may have been struck between the two men: Vice-President (I don't think so since he's been in that slot already, but who knows), Attorney General (imagine...a competent AG who has actually read the Constitution), Secretary of Labor?

Time will tell, but in the mean time this is a HUGE "get" for the Obama campaign.

Back to Seattle

I flew back up late this morning and am ready to re-start the project that had me up here in the first place. Posting may get light every now and then, so please bare with me.

Without Garfield

Ok...things were getting a bit too serious so let's lighten them up a bit. How about another "Garfield Minus Garfield" strip? For those of you who missed my first post about it in March, this hilarious website removes the infamous cat from his own comic strip, leaving only the sad and hapless Jon Arbuckle. As the site's header says:

...the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life.

The result is absolutely brilliant...

Mid-Week Brain Break

"Soul Train" funk, circa 1975...

The Inability to Admit Defeat

Quote of the Week:

[Hillary] she soldiers on, undaunted, because real women “don’t give up in difficult situations.”

I suppose you can call all this “feminism.” But, as my husband pointed out this morning, if feminism is the inability to concede error or defeat — even in light of irrefutable, empirical evidence and in the face of spiraling support and tanking morale, George Bush must be the feminist icon of the ages.

-Dahlia Lithwick, over at Slate, on the stubbornness of Hillary Clinton.

That's been one of my main arguments against Sen. Clinton. The inability to admit mistakes or concede defeat by the current president has put American in an awful bind. We don't need four more years of it.

Huge Endorsements For Obama

From the Wall Street Journal:

Three former chairmen of the Securities and Exchange Commission will publicly endorse Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's bid for the presidency Wednesday, including one who served under President Bush.

William Donaldson, Arthur Levitt, and David Ruder will join former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker in endorsing Sen. Obama.

236 - 199

With yesterday's huge win in Mississippi, the Democrats now have 236 seats in the House of Representatives to the Republicans' 199. Since the Republican route of 1994 the GOP have not held more than 230 seats, and for the first time since then they hold under 200.

Say it with me: ominous.

The Asshole, McAuliffe

Forget that his voice is about as shrill as Hillary Clinton's (nails on a chalkboard) and that he's a complete and utter asshole (and Chris Matthews is a jerk in this clip too), but Terry McAuliffe's argument in this clip, comparing this year's race to the Carter-Kennedy contest of 1980 and to the Mondale-Hart contest in 1984, leaves no doubt in my mind that Sen. Clinton's motives from this point out are not sound. She simply wants to take this to the convention and pick a fight there, and she doesn't care what it does to the party's chances in November.

Memo to Hillary and Terry: Stop making the 1980 and 1984 comparisons. The Democrats lost those to elections in landslides!