First, thanks so much for dragging yourself away from the AWESOME entertainment at tonites White House Correspondents Dinner.

Rich Little ran his schtick out in 1978. What more to love?
Don Rickles to replace Imus? Now there is a story.

TONIGHT, this man turns 60 years old.


If you were here, you'd hear me go.... "WAAAARRGGGGHHHH"

1970. Dude, this rocks. Listen to clueless old white man blather.



37 years later, old man still hangs.



BABY BOOMER BIRTHDAY BACCHANALIA!!!

I'm on the up end, but still get ticked when I hear Zeppelin in a car ad.

Happy Birthday Iggy and all the Boomers who still kick posterior!!!

Awww... Poor Thing!!



BBC

Cockatoo guarding chocolate eggs

Pippa has been through a 'maternal stage'

A cockatoo at a wildlife sanctuary has spent a fortnight trying to hatch a bowl of chocolate eggs.

Pippa has been protecting the chocolates at Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary since she was taken outside, put on a table and saw them.

Her owner, Geoff Grewcock, said: "She went straight over, climbed on the creme eggs and that was it. She thinks they're her eggs.

"Until she clicks they're not real eggs, we'll just leave her there."

Easy to understand. I get that way about chocolate all the time.

John Amato Smacks Down Derbyshire

Many of you know John, he of Crooks and Liars fame. And sadly you may be familiar with John Derbyshire, moron at the National Review who blamed the victims at Virginia Tech because they apparently aren't as manly as this keyboard-toting wimp. (Right after he finishes his English Breakfast tea and writes a mean manifesto, you really don't want to mess with him).

Well in this battle of the Johns, on Alan Colmes' show, Amato wins hands down. He called Derbyshire a coward twice. And for that, he gets our Howie Klein award for ass-kicking progressive pundits.

Compare and Contrast

If you were planning to surf by C-Span tonite, the White House Correspondents' Association is holding their official dinner tonite at 945p EST,
special guest comedy appearance by Rich Little!!
(Yes, he is still alive)

Do yourself a favor and go watch this first.

We've read quite a bit about guns this past week. Cliff gave his opinion below, and of course, we have the intellectual pro-gun response from Ted Nugent, he of Cat Scratch Fever fame, over at CNN. By the way, if I worked for the Brady Campaign, I would desperately try to get Ted Nugent on TV as much as possible to talk about guns. He would single-handedly ensure gun control (and possibly birth control).

I must admit though, I am struggling a bit with this issue. One the one hand, I believe in the Brady Bill. I believe in having background checks at gun shows. And I firmly believe the Assault Weapons ban should be reinstated, and the loopholes removed. I don't care what the NRA says, you don't need an UZI to protect your home.

On the other hand, none of those bills would have prevented this crime. This psychopath walked in and bought a gun legally. I'm not sure what could be done to prevent this kind of tragedy, short of banning guns. And that's not going to happen.

So where does that leave us? Quite honetly, I don't know. But at least it's being talked about once again, and that's a pretty good start. Even if that means more Ted Nugent.

The Cartoons

Geiger's got 'em.

Your Democratic Consultants

I was perusing this article in the LA Times about why Democrats are scared of touching the issue of gun control. And no, it apparently has nothing to do with stupid advice from an overly cautious and completely elitist consultant class who also tell Democrats to shy away from public financing, universal healthcare, an Iraq timeline, opposing unfettered free trade and other issues that have the support of 70-80% of the public.

No it's that you can't win and be for gun control. Which is why Sherrod Brown lost in Ohio in 2006, for example. Oh wait, that's right HE WON. Standing up strongly for what he believes in. With the rest of the 80% that support a ban on assault weapons.

In any case, here is the wisdom of our consultants, replete with repetition of unbelievably simplistic and damaging stereotypes:

"A lot of people on the two coasts don't appreciate that hunting and being a sportsman are as much about the culture as having a latte and reading the Los Angeles Times is to them in Los Angeles, or having a latte and reading the New York Times in New York," Struble said. "The perceived infringement of those rights would be just as much an affront as saying you can't have any more lattes."

Where to begin. First of all, you couldn't, I don't know, stand up to the NRA and tell people you strongly favor hunting rights but don't support allowing terrorists, wife-beaters and bank-robbers to get guns, like Republicans do? Could one be so crazy bold?

Because that list of wonderful folks is only a small percentage of the minsanthropes who end up with guns when there are no reasonable background checks. I could go on about assault rifles, gun locks, etc., but you get the point. All, by the way, have majority public support (and often much more like 80%).

Additionally, nice to repeat Republican talking poins. I mean everyone in downtown Chicago hunts, while nobody in Upstate New York does, right? I live in Columbus, Ohio now. Shhh, don't tell anyone, but we have lots of Starbucks here. I lived in New York City growing up and was on a riflery team. I still have metals awarded to me by the freakin NRA. How is that possible? It doesn't fit with Struble's stereotype, it must not be!

So, in any case, this is a guy we have making a lot our ads. And you wonder why our candidates sometimes seem to have their heads up their...um, a place where the sun doesn't shine.

Ok, I admit it, he's right. Ever since I moved from DC to Ohio, I do find myself no longer Jonesing for that 14th latte everyday, but desperately in need of an AK-47 and cop killer bullets.

Idiot.

PS This story lists all the candidates he's worked for who have won. I am sure it was all his doing. Now, can we see the rest of the list. Because he worked for at least one candidate in 2002 whose campaign I was on, and she most assuredly got her ass handed to her by 30 points by listening to ridiculous advice from up on high.

UPDATE: Quelle coincidence, as the French would say, or those from the East Coast like me who must love latte, hate guns and took the time to learn a whole other language! It turns out our consultant friend here, or so I have been told, went to Ohio State, which is mere miles from where I currently sit. All the more reason why he should know better than to rely on stupid stereotypes that harm the Democratic Party in places like Ohio, not to mention repeating them to major newspapers.

The Patriotism Police

Editor & Publisher has a commentary on the return of "Bill Moyers Journal" this Wednesday entitled, "Buying the War". In reading it, I came upon this...

Walter Isaacson is pushed hard by Moyers and finally admits, "We didn't question our sources enough."

But why? Isaacson notes there was "almost a patriotism police" after 9/11 and when the network showed civilian casualties it would get phone calls from advertisers and the administration and "big people in corporations were calling up and saying, 'You're being anti-American here.'"

That phrase, that I had not heard before, really resonated with me. I know that I've been grilled by "The Patriotism Police" many times, and even some members of my family are de facto officers.

The commentary on the Moyers show is worth a read, as is this article (ha) from Slate that I also found when googling "Patriotism Police"- The Anti-War Democrats: They're naive and clumsy. Is that so wrong?(from 2002)

Then top it all off with this Tom Tomorrow* cartoon, and you have learned something today.

Sadder than I was a few hours ago, but I learned something.

*Link fixed

Today is the day I look forward to all year. The final snow has melted and I shall now attempt to remove the glaring proof that I have two dogs from the yard.
Lucky me.

As usual, great pic from Cat of a protester leaving East Grand Rapids after our Pretzenits visit.
More pics over there, so go check them out.

Bout time.
Catholic Church buries limbo after centuries .
I grew up Catholic and always thought Limbo was a raw deal.

Um, don't hold back there Barney! (snark alert)


So. Harry Reid should resign because he said the war is lost (per wingers).
How about these guys?

Two fun quizes-
Who's Speaking, Lieberman Or The White House?
and The Pew News IQ Quiz. I did awful on the first one, 96% in the second one. ahem.

Bad juju for Gonzo.
Robo-Rethug Rep Adam Putnam calls for Gonzo to resign.. If Putnam says it, it's because he was told to. Gonzo is toast.

Steve King weighs in on the VA Tech shootings. He's been asked to comment on violence vs media for almost 30 years. Money quote?

On the whole, I don't think you can pick these guys out based on their work, unless you look for violence unenlivened by any real talent.

Finally, I'm hosting the Saturday Nite Losers Club at Daily Kos tonite about 8ish. Stop by it should be fun. Theme? Baby Boomer Birthday Edition. (Iggy Pop turns 60! today!!)

Replacement For Almost-Gone Gonzo?

The talk in GOP circles, is apparently centering around Ted Olson, the former Solicitor General. Are you freakin kidding me? Yes, surely he'll make the justice department a bastion of nonpartisan competence. The man not only committed perjury in the 80s, but then ran the scummy Arkansas Project to bring down Bill Clinton in the 90s, which ultimately led us to Monica.

Olson only made it through Congress in 2001 because the GOP was in control. He's more odious than conjoined twins of Sam Fox and Howard Hunt. Good luck getting this dirty corporate whore through the Senate guys.

Bill O'Reilly Defends Tommy Thompson's Comments About Jews

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published an editorial slamming the former Wisconsin Governor and now Presidential hopeful's comments only to see Bill O'Reilly defend them on Fox News:

"So why would the Milwaukee Sentinel go and try to hurt the governor? I know they don't like him. The Milwaukee paper is liberal, and the governor is a moderate.

But is that fair? Is it fair to take a guy's remarks, even though we understand -- and I think what you said is right on. But is it fair to take a guy's remarks, which aren't designed to be hateful, and ram them down his throat?"

Nothing I got.

So, here's a little ditty dedicated to my pal Alberto "Fredo" Gonzales!

Breaking: Shots Fired at Johnson Space Center

Here we go again. Employees and school are currently in lock down. Details sketchy.

But no, there aren't too many guns out there. In fact if we only had more, all would be swell in the United States.

Greenwald On The Money

Glen Greenwald has a killer post today about Fredo Gonzalez, and why the President keeps him around. Money quote

Bush fires those who are disloyal. Those who are subservient and loyal are never fired, no matter their level of incompetence or corruption. Roughly a month ago, Chuck Schumer went on CNN's Late Edition and called for Gonzales' resignation and, in response, Lindsey Graham said: "I think the fact that Senator Schumer asked for him to step down means he won't."

That is how Bush works. If someone demands that Bush take action, he will petulantly refuse simply to demonstrate that he does not comply with anyone else's will. He is The Decider, nobody else, and nothing is more important than for him to demonstrate that. And loyalty to the Leader is valued infinitely higher than either integrity or competence, which are not remotely required for positions in the administration.

ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!

Media Matters

According to an April 20 article on Philly.com, the website of The Philadelphia Inquirer, "The Big Talker 1210 AM morning show of Daily News columnist Michael Smerconish is to be simulcast Monday through Wednesday on MSNBC." The article noted that Smerconish will fill the slot previously held by Imus in the Morning.

Also from Media Matters.... Some of Smerconishs Greatest Hits!!

On the June 20, 2006, edition of Scarborough Country, Smerconish trivialized reports of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, referring to the alleged abuse as "naked pyramid pictures." He also referred to alleged mistreatment at the Pentagon detention facility at Guantánamo Bay as "play[ing] Christina Aguilera music a bit too loud."

cartoon by Kevin Kallaugher for The Economist


Wonderful Op-Ed In The Economist titled,

"Sidelined by reality: The neocons are suffering one humiliation after another"

The whole thing is just packed full of intelligent snark, so go read it.

Just 'cause I can, here are some choice bits.

Mr Cheney is proving no more destructible than Lord Voldemort.

and

But the movement's implosion is nevertheless astonishing. One neocon sums up the prevailing mood in the movement.

The neocons are a “laughing stock”. Their “embrace of power” has been “a disaster”. Once upon a time they commanded an audience among Arab democrats and European conservatives. But now they cannot make themselves heard above the din of criticisms of Iraq.
The “surge” is a desperate response to failure.

Many people see Messrs Kristol and Krauthammer as exhibits in a Ripley's Believe It or Not exhibition: they marvel that they can ever have been so influential, rather than want to follow their advice again.

There is no by-line, so I don't know who to credit it to, but they do deserve credit.

Great reading to start your weekend off with a smile.

Reminder: John Doolittle Partnered With Mitch McConnell On Campaign Finance

In the aftermath of the FBI raid on Rep. John Doolittle’s house this week, I thought I would remind everyone that Mitch McConnell was Mr. Doolittle’s chief partner in the Senate in their attempts to block campaign finance reform. One can only wonder who may be the FBI’s next target? From the August 27, 1997 Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Charles Mack, president and CEO of the 34-year-old Business-Industry Political Action Committee, which raises about $250,000 each election cycle to elect "pro-business" candidates to Congress and also influences the giving of other business PACs, said his board has voted to endorse deregulation of the arcane world of campaign financing.

He said full disclosure of all donations would give the press, competing candidates and watchdog groups fodder to keep the process clean.

BIPAC is sending a letter to every member of Congress, although only Sen. Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, and Rep.John Doolittle, Republican of Caliornia, have said so far that they like its concept.

Sean Hannity: Coward

I know, how surprising. Coming from a party with guys like John Derbyshire, who blame the victims at Virginia Tech for not being as manly as they are when sitting in their pajamas, behind their computers, in the suburbs, sipping English Breakfast tea...

In the case of Sean Of The Dead-ly Stupid, when a real progressive wants to debate him off his turf on FoxNews, where he can't turn off their microphone when he's getting his butt whooped, well, he's not so tough after all. Although in fairness to Chickenhawk Sean, I might be scared to debate Rocky Anderson too:

Salt Lake's Mayor is scheduled to debate the conservative talk show host on May 4th at 8:30 pm at Kingsbury Hall. But with just two weeks remaining, some of the key details still haven't been agreed on.

Although the University of Utah and the Mayor say they're ready to go, little things like tickets and a moderator are still up in the air. And Anderson blames it on Hannity.

"He is the biggest complainer about all of this and yet when it comes to getting him to sign up and say I'll be there, I'm good with all of this, he's nowhere to be found." For more than a month, the mayor's staffers claim they have been sending emails to Hannity. But, they say, they say they have gotten no response.

Oh, and by the way Sean, you name the time and place. Funny, I haven't been invited back on your show since I stood up to you two years ago. I really enjoyed your playing the background music over my final answer. Again, you name the time and the place. Coward.

Coburn Calls On Gonzalez To Resign

Crazy Tom Coburn became the first Republican on the Judiciary Committee to call on Fredo to resign. Money quote

Sen. Tom Coburn (R., Okla.) becomes the first Judiciary Committee Republican to ask Alberto Gonzales to resign, joining a small group of Republican lawmakers who have said they believe its time for the attorney general to leave.

“To me, there has to be consequences to accepting responsibility,” Coburn told Gonzales at today’s high-profile hearing. “And I would just say, Mr. Attorney General, it’s my considered opinion that the exact same standards should be applied to you in how this was handled. And it was handled incompetently.”

It didn’t end there: “The communication was atrocious. It was inconsistent. It’s generous to say that there were misstatements. That’s a generous statement. And I believe you ought to suffer the consequences that these others have suffered. And I believe that the best way to put this behind us is your resignation.'’

Mitch McConnell Forced To Return More Money From Jack Abramoff Than Any Member Of The US Senate

Just a reminder to the folks in the Bluegrass State as the Senate race begins to heat up:

Senators Donating Abramoff-Related Funds to Charity:
1. Mitch McConnell - $18,500
2. Ted Stevens $17,500
3. Kit Bond - $12,500
4. Judd Gregg - $12,000
5. Johnny Isakson - $9,000

Could this be another hint as to why McConnell was so adamant about allowing Leadership PAC's to earmark donations to other members of Congress? Sounds so similar to Mr. Tom DeLay...From a September 5, 2005 article by David Broder:

Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican whip, arranged to have an amendment added to an appropriations bill that would loosen the restrictions on "leadership PACs," the campaign committees that many leading members of both parties use to funnel money into the campaigns of their colleagues and their parties as a way of garnering support for future leadership contests. Now, transfers from those committees are limited in size. McConnell's amendment would erase those limits.

Anyone want to take a look at all the upstanding leaders that Mitch McConnell earmarked campaign contributions for?

Cross-posted at DitchMitchKY.com

This is just stunning, and of course the only place you see it is overseas.
Independent UK

Australia's epic drought: The situation is grim
By Kathy Marks in Sydney
Published: 20 April 2007

Australia has warned that it will have to switch off the water supply to the continent's food bowl unless heavy rains break an epic drought - heralding what could be the first climate change-driven disaster to strike a developed nation.

The Murray-Darling basin in south-eastern Australia yields 40 per cent of the country's agricultural produce. But the two rivers that feed the region are so pitifully low that there will soon be only enough water for drinking supplies. Australia is in the grip of its worst drought on record, the victim of changing weather patterns attributed to global warming and a government that is only just starting to wake up to the severity of the position.

This is our future kids. PM John Howard is one of GWB's best friends and/or mirror image. What would happen if we had to turn off water to our Midwest food growing centers?

This would happen.

Good Morning!!!

For whatever reason, I woke up this am and the first thought in my head (other than leftover dreams of Joe....) was that Abu Gonzo will be gone today.

Wonder if I'm psychic?

In the meantime, here's your righteous indignation for the day. Use it well.

FBI Raids Rep. Rick Renzi's Business: Renzi Steps Down From Intelligence Committee

No, we do not have an inside source at the FBI. But to be honest, you have a fairly good chance to be right by predicting just about any Republican Congressman will be implicated in a scandal these days. First, we wrote about Rep. John Doolittle losing his seat in 2008 days before his home was raided by the FBI. Now, it appears the FBI's latest target was Rep. Rick Renzi, who we wrote last week was headed to defeat in 2008. The New York Times reports:

In a second blow to House Republicans this week, the FBI raided a business tied to the family of Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) Thursday afternoon as part of an ongoing investigation into the three-term lawmaker...

Little is known about the inquiries into Renzi’s activities, but according to media reports the Justice Department has been running a two-track investigation into Renzi regarding a land deal, as well as a piece of legislation he helped steer that may have improperly benefited a major campaign contributor.

COMMENT BY CLIFF: I just had to add my thoughts. This is just amazing. The 2008 cycle is kicking off just like the 2006 one did. Anyone on their side could literally be next. Rep. Jerry Lewis, is that a knocking on your door? Governor Gibbons? If the Democrats don't screw this up, we are looking at an election in two years that could be as profound as the one in 1932 that cast the GOP into oblivion for almost two decades.

Read This

It's a really interesting article by Zachary Roth, a friend and editor at The Washington Monthly with whom I co-authored a piece back in October.

He hits the nail on the head, displaying the rising influence of economic populism and youth among the Democratic ranks in the person of Congressman Tim Ryan, from the great state of Ohio. You may remember seeing Ryan starring in some very popular YouTubed videos taking a sledgehammer to the Republicans over this farcical war President Bush is losing, while getting our soldiers killed in Iraq and strengthening terrorism throughout the world.

Read the piece.

I came across Bill Clinton on Larry King tonite. Wow.

That is what a President sounds like.



This is what a twitching bunch of nerves and cliches sounds like.



Dumbfounding. Really.

How Gonzo Did Per George W Bush

From On High At The White House
(and I do mean high)

President Bush was pleased with the Attorney General’s testimony today. After hours of testimony in which he answered all of the Senators’ questions and provided thousands of pages of documents, he again showed that nothing improper occurred. He admitted the matter could have been handled much better, and he apologized for the disruption to the lives of the U.S. Attorneys involved, as well as for the lack of clarity in his initial responses.

The Attorney General has the full confidence of the President, and he appreciates the work he is doing at the Department of Justice to help keep our citizens safe from terrorists, our children safe from predators, our government safe from corruption, and our streets free from gang violence.

I don't know what they are smoking or what channel they were watching, but that's not what I saw on my computer.

Via TPM

Nope, I double checked, and there is def something mind altering involved.

Fire Paul Wolfowitz

Philip de Vellis, who has achieved Internet fame as the creator of the YouTube Hillary Ad that was a spoof of the 1984 Apple commercial, is back again. This time, it's "The Bank," and the target is Wolfie.

Not quite as explosive as his earlier piece, but once again, he uses humor to make a point. It's well done, funny and certainly worth viewing:

Progressive KY Gov Ticket Wins Statewide Student Election

The Lexington Herald Leader is reporting that the Gubernatorial ticket of Jonathan Miller and Irv Maze won the statewide mock elections sponsored by the Kentucky Secretary of State at the public universities across the Bluegrass State.

In the Democratic primary, Miller and Irv Maze garnered 35 percent of the vote. Following were Jody Richards and John Y. Brown III with 16.4 percent, Steven Beshear and Daniel Mongiardo with 15.2 percent, Gatewood Galbraith and Mark Wireman with 9.3 percent, Bruce Lunsford and Greg Stumbo with 9.3 percent, Otis “Bullman” Hensley and Richard Robbins with 7.6 percent and Steve Henry and Renee True with 7.1 percent.

This is what we've come to. Some miscreant thinks this is a good idea.

Bin Laden look-alike runs for election
By JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press Writer
Wed Apr 18, 6:34 AM ET

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine elections are largely a battle of name recall, so Agakhan Sharief has chosen a moniker that will surely capture the attention of voters well beyond his backwater southern province — Osama bin Laden.

Unlike the world's most-wanted terror suspect, Sharief is known by many in Lanao del Sur province as a peacemaker who has helped broker truces when sporadic clashes have erupted between government troops and Muslim insurgents.

If we had a government in 2001 that embraced the worlds empathy and goodwill, if we had taken that and tried to change our footprint in the world, tried to reach out to countries where terrorism flourishes... using the name Bin Laden would be no different in the world than taking the name Hitler.

But we didn't.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.... and I'll run for office under his name.

Rep. John Doolittle Resigning From Appropriations Committee

We predicted two days ago before the FBI raid that Lt. Col. Charlie Brown would send John Doolittle packing, but we didn't expect it would be a matter of days...

Josh Marshall reports Doolittle is off the Appropriations Committee.

Wow. I'm consolidating the stuff. TONS to go over. Gonzo is total toast.
And they're going for a second round at 2p EST.

***********After going to the store and getting back and seeing the comprehensive coverage that the team over at TPM Muckraker is doing (with video!!) I'm not going to waste my time. I couldn't do as well.

But, two things.
First off, Gonzales is going to REGRET saying if you attack him you attack the career attorneys. He got smacked down hard, and it stands out.

Second- Over at RedState they're taking bets on who the new AG will be. 'Nuff said.

And You Thought Imus Was Bad

I know I promised no more links to ESPN, but this story is amazing. It's about an 8 year old being discriminated against, either because he's too good at hockey or because he speaks in English (he plays peewee hockey in Quebec). Worth a read.

Nebraska AG May Challenge Hagel In Primary

AG Jon Bruning previously said he would not take on Chuck Hagel, but now appears to be flip-flopping in what could be another pick-up opportunity for the Democrats and Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey:

Attorney General Jon Bruning has changed his mind. He now is considering challenging fellow Republican Chuck Hagel in Nebraska's U.S. Senate primary next year.

Bruning said Wednesday he is upset with Hagel's criticism of President Bush and the Iraq war.

Karl Rove At His Worst

As Paddy lays out the drama at the Fredo hearing, McClatchy News peels back another layer on this controversy. It an excellent piece, they look at the Justice Department's efforts to root out "voter fraud," or more accurately, the Bush Administration's efforts to disenfranchise poor people. Money quote

Since President Bush's first attorney general, John Ashcroft, a former Republican senator from Missouri, launched a "Ballot Access and Voter Integrity Initiative" in 2001, Justice Department political appointees have exhorted U.S. attorneys to prosecute voter fraud cases, and the department's Civil Rights Division has sought to roll back policies to protect minority voting rights.

On virtually every significant decision affecting election balloting since 2001, the division's Voting Rights Section has come down on the side of Republicans, notably in Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Washington and other states where recent elections have been decided by narrow margins.

Joseph Rich, who left his job as chief of the section in 2005, said these events formed an unmistakable pattern.

"As more information becomes available about the administration's priority on combating alleged, but not well substantiated, voter fraud, the more apparent it is that its actions concerning voter ID laws are part of a partisan strategy to suppress the votes of poor and minority citizens," he said. (emphasis mine)

(HT - Talking Points Memo)

****Updated as I go, not legal transcript, ignore typos.

Sen Leahy speaking, recapping the past lies and "mispeaks". Gonzo has his mouth puckered in a very unattractive moue.

"If nothing improper was done, then people need to tell us the truth, the whole truth...... If there is nothing to hide, then the White House should stop hiding it"

I'm not fast enought to get all of what Leahy is saying, but let me tell you, Leahy is getting some severe digs in.

Specter next. Blah blah, achievements of Gonzo.... distinguished record... role model as first Hispanic AG. (bleh) Specter listing inconsistencies (lies).

Specter giving Gonzo benefit of doubt. Should be given ability to defend himself.
If one of the attys were improperly removed, they could be re-instated.

In effort to remove himself from process, if you were not part of process, how can you provide leadership on tough matters. "Re-Confirmation Hearing".

Heh. Schumer "no "I don't recalls". Every lawyer knows that cases are often made without the murder weapon. If the Prez orders firing of every AG with an IQ over 120, he is certainly within his power. But if the congress didn't question it, they wouldn't be doing their job.

Sessions. Poor Gonzo, tough job, heavy burden. Hard work. Ability to lead in question. You are a good person. (WTF does that have to do with anything)

Gonzo being sworn in.

(I am going to consolidate and update later. Lots o' shit)

I have plenty of opinions on guns, gun control and what happened in Virginia this week. None of them unique or insightful enough for merit. But I have found some opinions out there worth noting.

Fellow Bloosier John at Left In Aboite with some interesting thoughts and statistics....

Gun legislation should be uniform and common-sense in every state. Therefore it should be a federally mandated issue, with all gun owners subject to the same standards and scrutiny whatever their state of residency. Law enforcement already shares a ton of information across state lines and agencies, why not share a common database for background check information, and administer it federally? We already have a department of alcohol, tobacco, and firearms and a federal bureau of investigation. Put these people in charge of this and bring some standard oversight to who should or shouldn't be trusted with a gun.

Opinion in the Independant UK, this is just the title, please click thru and read the whole thing.

A brutal truth:
Massacre is just part of everyday life in America

You hear no new arguments because, deep down, there is nothing new to be said

******Reminder: Gonzales hearings to start at 930a EST on Cspan 3 or Radio

McCain The Imus Enabler

Max Blumenthal has a great piece in The Nation on Imus' number one fan. Yeah, you guessed it. Senator John McCain.

To quote Max:

Last week, as public pressure for the resignation of Imus increased in the wake of his characterization of Rutgers University's women's basketball team "nappy headed ho's," the I-Man received a much-needed boost from an old friend.

"He has apologized," Sen. John McCain ☼ said of Imus. "He said that he is deeply sorry. I'm a great believer in redemption."

But as often seems to be the case, McCain had an ulterior motive:

For decades, Washington's political class has relied on Imus and his massive audience of politically independent white males for notoriety and book sales. McCain is no exception. He has been one of the most frequent and favorite of Imus' guests since his maverick 2000 presidential run earned him national name recognition. Imus' impending departure from the national airwaves threatened to deprive McCain of a key platform going into the '08 primaries. McCain was determined to protect that platform, whether or not it simultaneously served as a constant launching pad for the crudest of racial slurs.

Max goes on to name other enablers of this rather unfunny, racially insensitive if not outright racist man, but the crux of it is that McCain was Imus' number one guy. And visa versa.

How surprising.

Cross-posted at The Real McCain.

DON'T FORGET!!! Tomorrow Thursday 4/19
Senate Hearing with Atty. Gen. Gonzales on Dept. of Justice Oversight (9:30am) - LIVE

It will be on CSpan 3 if you get it, or you can live stream video or audio at CSpan.

I will attempt to keep up with what goes on here online, but since the teevee is in the other room it won't be minute to minute, but I will try and summarize.

Also, a reminder that tomorrow on Colbert, Stephen will be having a "metaphor off" with Sean Penn.

Just A Thought

I haven't had the time to really write about my thoughts on what happened at Virginia Tech yesterday and in Iraq today. So let me put it this way:

Maybe this is because of this and this.

Ya know, just a thought. More on this later when I have a moment to breathe.

Call To Action: Email AP And Ask For Correction

Last time I checked, Rep. John Yarmuth was a Democrat.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Miller accused Lunsford of calling labor leaders "stooges," and of calling U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler of Lexington, the state's only Democratic congressman, "deceitful." Lunsford didn't immediately respond to Miller's criticisms, but a campaign spokesman did.

Cross-Posted at DitchMitchKY.com

The Politico And Drudge Sitting In A Tree

Continuing "we love Glenn Greenwald day" here at CliffSchecter.com, I bring a post from Glenn that shows how our friends at The Politico play up right-wing themes about Democratic candidates, and then have it amplified by Drudge.

AHAHAHAHA!!!

I have my first sighting!!! I'm not going to link to it, but it's the Ace of Pasty-Faced Cheeto Eating Keyboard Kommando Victory Chicken Guy.

Most recent post....

NBC/MSNBC Should be Ashamed
—Jack M.
These guys are idiots.

I can't believe they aired all this crap the shooter sent.
(ed note- NBC is not airing "all the crap", just select bits. Capus said there was much more)

Or does it just goose a failing networks ratings?

Apparently, Brian Williams is going to be talking more about this "manifesto" on the Today Show tomorrow as well. I'm going to answer my own question and say "goose a failing networks ratings."

But in a previous post by Ace?

Just Saw A Clip On FoxNews: It certainly looks and sounds like a martyrdom video. But then I guess these things usually do seem like that.

Where's the outrage that Fox aired it huh ACE?

Freaks.

Just Chattin'

Bob Geiger sat down and had a conversation with Senator John Kerry. Interested? Intrigued perhaps?

Well then get on over to Bob's place and check it out!

KY Gov. Candidate Bruce Lunsford Accused Of Plagiarism

Bruce Lunsford, the former supporter of Republican Governor Ernie Fletcher and President George W. Bush, is currently masquerading as a Democrat in the Kentucky Governor's race. It now looks like that is not the only fraud he is perpetrating. Bluegrass Report has a story that Lunsford lifted his campaign platform from former Florida Gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis:

The Great Deceiver Bruce Lunsford (D) is again trying to fool the voters by flat-out misrepresenting his ideas and his vision, this time going on television with his "Blueprint for Change" when in fact he lifted, verbatim, large chunks of the plan from the failed 2006 candidacy of Florida gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis.

For more on this story, check out the BluegrassReport.org and the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Update: The Louisville Courier Journal has a story: "Lunsford platform draws from Fla. candidate's"

To Paraphrase Glenn, Why Is The Federal Government Maintaining "Files" Which Contain Information On The Pharmaceutical Products Which All Americans Are Consuming?

What Glenn Says....

The expansion of the Surveillance State is endless. Buried within an ABC report on the Virginia Tech shootings is this paragraph (h/t reader DT):

Some news accounts have suggested that Cho had a history of antidepressant use, but senior federal officials tell ABC News that they can find no record of such medication in the government's files.

(snip)

It is hardly worth pointing out that the idea of the Federal Government engaging in massive surveillance of innocent American citizens is about as far away from the core beliefs of the American Founders as one can get. Anyone who does not realize that is likely beyond the realm of persuasion.

But the only people who would think that it is fine to have the Federal Government compiling dossiers like this are those who place blind faith in our Leaders not to abuse their power. But that is the ethos that is the exact opposite of the one on which the country was founded, but which has come to dominate so much of our political culture.

I'm at a loss for words. My father was a Repulican, and this shit ain't what he believed. Only one thing comes to mind.

Gunman contacted NBC News during massacre
Rambling communication, video being examined by FBI, network says

BREAKING NEWS
By Alex Johnson

MSNBC
Updated: 3 minutes ago
Sometime after he killed two people in a Virginia university dormitory but before he slaughtered 30 more in a classroom building Monday morning, Cho Seung-Hui sent NBC News a rambling communication and videos about his grievances, the network said Wednesday.

This is an official winger watch.

How long until they start rambling on about NBC somehow being involved/complicit?

Leave your sightings in the comments, I'm off to RedState!!!

FBI Raids Rep. John Doolittle's House

Yesterday I posted that Lt. Col. Charlie Brown will send John Doolittle packing in 2008. However, it looks like I might be wrong. Mr. Doolittle may be out of Congress long before then. Roll Call has a developing story:

The FBI has raided the Northern Virginia home of Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.), according to Congressional sources. No details are publicly available yet about the circumstances of the raid, but Doolittle and his wife, Julie, have been under federal investigation for their ties to the scandal surrounding imprisoned former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Hoorah For Drinking Liberally!

They just opened their 200th chapter. What's better than booze and progressive politics?...Keep it G-rated now :)

Karl Rove Slimes Into Town

Turd Blossom is coming to Ohio. And in the department of you couldn't make this stuff up:

According to the county GOP's Web site, the go-to man for tickets to the event is none other than Matthew D. Parker, a former aide and campaign manager to ex-Rep. Bob Ney, who is now serving a prison term for corruption charges.

Don't worry Bob, Karl may be able to personally offer that hello soon between constructing license plates (yes, I know he'll be pardoned if he does in fact get busted, but please let a man dream).

Also from the piece:

If you want to see political fireworks without shelling out the bucks, you can always hang around outside the event, where Ohio Democratic Party spokesman Randy Borntrager promises that party activists will "show their displeasure with Karl Rove."

One can only hope with rotten eggs.

Court Upholds Abortion Ban

Conservatives are rejoicing that the Supreme Court upheld the congressional ban on the so-called "partial birth" abortion procedure. Over at The Corner, Ramesh "Culture of Death" Ponnuru highlights some of Justice Thomas' concurrence.

I write separately to reiterate my view that the Court's abortion jurisprudence, including Casey and Roe v. Wade, 410 U. S. 113 (1973), has no basis in the Constitution.

Thomas is essentially saying that in his view, abortion is not a guaranteed constitutional right. Leaving aside the "activist" nature of this view (ah, the utter hypocrisy of the right), it's pretty clear that this is a signal by Thomas to the right that now is the time to challenge Roe v. Wade. And to that I say "BRING IT ON!"

For too long, the pro-life movement has used smaller, side issues to chip away at a woman's right to choose. Lets dispense with the sideshow, and settle once and for all whether abortion is a legal right for American women.

We have public opinion on our side. We have the House and Senate on our side. And ultimately, we have the American way on our side - it is Un-American to allow a group to use their religious beliefs to impose their will upon all women (a kind of sharia for us).

We shouldn't be afraid of this fight. We are right and they are wrong, and I guarantee you that a number of tough talking conservatives will flee if they have to vote to outlaw abortion. Republicans have provided lip service to the religious right for years on this issue, and if put to the test, they will not vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. It will splinter their coalition.

So, today they won the battle. And they will continue to have these "victories," unless we widen the war and challenge them on Roe v. Wade.

UPDATE FROM CLIFF: My pal Joshua Holland has a great take on this over at AlterNet. Definitely worth a read.

Ipods In Afghanistan

I am all for USAID appropriating $8.3 million in aid to the countryside in Afghanistan. Surely, the money is better spent there than it is on more contracts to Halliburton. However, the $8.3 million grant from USAID in 2005 was not for food or medicine being sent to Afghanistan. It was spent on mp3 players! Why? The contract was awarded to a Kentucky group called Voice for Humanity that spent $240,000 in lobbying fees to hire former Chief of Staff to Sen. Mitch McConnell, Hunter Bates. As many of you already know, its not unusual for Bates to profit off his relationship with McConnell:

From his seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, McConnell has recommended about $45 million in federal funds for four of Bates’ clients, interviews and public records show. The senator has filed or rewritten bills for three other clients, loosening pension contribution rules and making it harder to sue businesses.

Overall, Bates, who is 38, reports that he has charged about $2.4 million in fees to clients helped by McConnell — more than half of the fees he reports for his first three years as a Washington lobbyist. Those clients have given McConnell about $120,000 in campaign contributions. Most did not give to McConnell until they hired Bates. They declined to say whether Bates, who asks people to give to McConnell, solicited their own donations.

Cross-posted at DitchMitchKY.com

The Clowns Are Running Our Government

Exec: Government is hindering BioShield efforts

By Greg Gordon
McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - Federal officials have undermined the national program to find medicines to protect Americans against chemical, biological or radiological attacks, the head of a San Diego biotech company will tell Congress Wednesday.

Richard Hollis, the chief executive of Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals Inc., whose anti-radiation drug was rejected by the government, plans to tell legislators that his company "will never again seek to work with the government."

He said the Department of Health and Human Services rewrote the rules after his company spent $85 million developing a breakthrough treatment for radiation sickness.

Honestly, how can you read anything like this (and the entire article) and not think this current administration would be just peachy-keen-happy-slappy-put-the-kettle-on F'NG HAPPY if 3/4's of the US population were to die?

Yes, But Where Are They Registered?

Sudan man forced to 'marry' goat

A Sudanese man has been forced to take a goat as his "wife", after he was caught having sex with the animal.
The goat's owner, Mr Alifi, said he surprised the man with his goat and took him to a council of elders.

"We have given him the goat, and as far as we know they are still together," Mr Alifi said.

(snip)
Mr Alifi, of Hai Malakal in Upper Nile State, told the Juba Post newspaper that he heard a loud noise around midnight on 13 February and immediately rushed outside to find Mr Tombe with his goat.

"When I asked him: 'What are you doing there?', he fell off the back of the goat, so I captured and tied him up."

(snip)

"They (the elders)said I should not take him to the police, but rather let him pay a dowry for my goat because he used it as his wife," Mr Alifi told the newspaper.

I'm sorry, but the thought of that man falling off the back of the goat is making me tear up with laughter.

"Helloooooo!? Hey there Mister!!! Whatcho doing on my goat?"

Snort.

Rudy Goes All "Romney" Again

The lower he sinks in the polls, the more Rudy Giuliani changes his positions. The Politico has Rudy Mitt-Flopping on the need to license handguns.

Stephen Colbert to Battle Sean Penn in Fight to Finish on Thursday

I knew this was gonna be a fun week!!

NEW YORK Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert says he has had enough of the man he calls "Spicoli" and "Mr. Madonna."

A recent antiwar speech by actor Sean Penn in which he referred to pundits in President Bush's pocket who "bathe" in his underwear really got the star of the "Colbert Report" riled -- so he challenged Penn to a "metaphor-off" on his show.

Now he has just announced -- Penn has accepted, and the battle will be aired on Thursday night.
(snip)

"I told Mr. Penn what I thought of his second rate wordsmithery right on this show," Colbert said, in challenging him to a duel. "Well, Sean Penn has accepted my challenge. I drew a line in the sand and he picked up the gauntlet. Soon we will see who has the stones to bring home the bacon.

"This metaphor battle is at the starting gate and I am ready for liftoff."

Battle ON!!!

Virginia Tech Burris Hall has been evacuated. (next to Norris Hall where shootings took place)
MSNBC now saying it is a bomb threat. per Dave Gregory at 8:25a.
15 police vehicles, 10 armed officers, canine unit on grounds.

Level of concern (cops) has increased dramatically in the past few minutes per the reporter at VTech.

Reporter on ground now saying that 5 cruisers have left, may be over.

846a EST- Per the reporter on the ground the troopers said that they responded to a phoned in threat, went to the hall and checked it out and found it was not true.
They did not say what kind of threat, but they did say they overreacted.

This just disgusts me. Bad enough this school has been torn apart by this, but stupid ass sickos think it's FUN to phone in threats?
They need to go back to pulling the wings off flies.

New Blogs

Ok, boys and girls. Turning off the phone and the Intertubes for the next half dozen or so hours. Book writing is hard. Or I am just not that bright. Likely both.

But, before I unceremoniously depart, I wanted to throw out a few blogs that are either new, or relatively so, and worth your time to look into.

First of all, a pal of mine the fantastic progressive historian Rick Perlstein, has just started blogging at Campaign For America's Future. The blog is called The Big Con. Just think for a moment (or less) and it comes to you.

Check out his first post on food. Well sorta. It's actually on food regulation and progressive politics. It is excellent.

I have also read a few new blogs lately by those that comment here, or send some folks our way. There is Senate 2008 Guru, which has great coverage of all the Senate races coming up, and Suzie Q, which has a whole lotta progressive stuff.

Now off you go (until one of our contributors posts here and you must of course come back, which by judging by recent activity, should be within 2.5 minutes).

Things are moving fast and furious.
Domenici ethics inquiry opens in the senate,
Goodling may be given immunity...

WHOOO HOOO!!!!

Excellent Emails I've Received!

I figured with all the very serious issues we've been covering 24/7 it was time for a bit of a break. Hence, a good moment has arrived for our favorite comic feature. Well, at least mine. Sometimes.

This time it's not an email, but a comment put up at a Youtubed TV clip of mine:

Space ships from Shuttle and M.I.R around Earth , taken by OUR Astronauts ! Don't trust government,media,the press,pseudo-scientists, that Loving extraterrestrials don't exist ! They are here,in their ships everywhere above us, keeping people above wather every day.

I never doubted that Dennis Kucinich was a loving extraterrestial. Ok, that wasn't nice. He is loving though. Or so I hear.

As you can tell, I'm about done for the night. I apologize for my loopiness. Writing books is hard.

Copyright Peter Brookes



Peter Brookes is the British Press Awards Cartoonist of the Year and Political Cartoonist of the Year with a body of work puncturing the pomposity of politicians

Barbara Cubin Throwing In The Towel Against Gary Trauner

The Wyoming Congressional race was one of the closest in the country in 2006, when Netroots candidate Gary Trauner nearly overtook Barbara Cubin. Trauner held her to 48 percent and lost by less than 2,000 votes. However, Cubin just filed her 1st quarter FEC report showing she raised a paltry $18,436 and only has $8,882 in the bank, with $15,855. Trauner is in much better shape than Cubin with $14,765 in the bank, no debts, and a 2008 campaign start with much higher name recognition.

Update: Cubin did not report a single itemized contribution from an individual, and only reported $671 in individual contributions.

Update From Cliff: In her defense, she had trouble fundraising in between hour-long benders slapping around physically disabled persons wherever she could find them.

(Re)Newing the Gun Debate

Oh, Harry! I'm so disappointed in you. Kowtowing to the gun lobby...or, just afraid of losing votes? Today's AP reported that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid warned not to "rush to judgment" on stricter gun control.

Only Feinstein (no relation to the author--last name spelled differently) made the correct call that more needs to be done on the issue.

So, the District loses it's vote to the gun lobby. Anyone can buy a gun in the good Ole U.S. of A, including nut-jobs from other countries. But, no one thinks it'd be a good idea to have policies to better track guns and ammunition? I don't even want to know what Fox News might be saying on this issue.

When are politicians going to try to do the "right thing" for once, instead of the most politically expedient?

Commonsense loses to big business once more.

50 Rounds Called "Unremarkable"

It turns out the psycopath who killed all the people at Virginia Tech bought his gun a month ago along with 50 (!) rounds. The man who sold him this weapon described the purchase as "unremarkable."

"John Markell said Cho Seung-Hui was very low-key when he purchased the gun and 50 rounds of ammunition with a credit card in an "unremarkable" purchase."

McConnell Too Worried To Fundraise for Northup

In a further sign that Sen. Mitch McConnell is growing increasingly scared about his impending retirement in 2008, it looks like he has stopped raising money for Anne Northup, his hand-picked candidate for Governor. Northup’s campaign is in such financial shambles that she cannot afford to give yard signs to her supporters and is attempting to sell them through her website:

In an unusual political venture, Republican gubernatorial candidate Anne Northup’s campaign Web site is advertising yard signs for sale.

And in Kentucky, where campaign promotional materials have always been distributed free, Northup’s approach is eye-catching.

The drawback, Baranowski said, is the possibility that some people might see the move as a signal that Northup, a former congresswoman from Louisville, is dealing with financial woes in the campaign.

Cross-posted at DitchMitchKY.com

The Richardson campaign announces two Iowa hires. It is nice to see Governor Richardson continue to build an effective organization and become a truly viable candidate.

Time will tell, however, whether he starts getting mentioned more often or prominently in the same way Clinton, Edwards, and Obama get treated in the MSM.

Where Lies, Neo-Cons, Scandals and Crime Intersect...

You always find Vickie**



It's hard to tell if she only represents her "friends," or purposely goes looking for the stinkiest, most mired-in-Neo-Conservative-Mud cases she can find:

International Herald Tribune

Unusual trip to Iraq in '03 for Wolfowitz** companion
By Steven R. Weisman and David E. Sanger Published: April 17, 2007

WASHINGTON: The Defense Department directed a private contractor in 2003 to hire Shaha Ali Riza, a World Bank employee and the companion of Paul Wolfowitz**, then the deputy secretary of defense, to spend a month studying issues related to setting up a new government in Iraq, the contractor said Monday.

The contractor, Science Applications International Corporation, or SAIC, said that it had been directed to hire Riza by the office of the under secretary for policy. The head of that office at the time was Douglas Feith, who reported to Wolfowitz.

Good Lord!! That stinks to high heaven already!!! Good thing she didn't do anything illegal:

Victoria Toensing**, a lawyer representing Riza, said this evening that Riza went to Iraq as a volunteer and took a leave of absence from the World Bank, paying for her own benefits while she was on leave.

Hmmmm.... why would she need a lawyer, let alone Vickie**?:

In a telephone interview, Feith said: "It doesn't ring any bells. I just do not recall any such thing." He said that the Pentagon policy office had a large staff, budget and number of contracts, and that the SAIC disclosure could mean the contract was arranged by "somebody in the Pentagon or somebody in my office."

It was not clear why the Pentagon specifically asked for Riza to travel to Iraq. At the time, however, the World Bank did not have a relationship with Iraq. Normal bank rules do not allow the bank to provide economic assistance to an area under military occupation.

Doug Feith**, he of great moral character doesn't remember, so it couldn't have been illegal or untoward.

Good thing.


**Proud Member In Standing Of
The Neo-Con Incestous Reach Around Club or NIRAC.

Does Porn Have Tiers?

According to a Newsday article, Hillary Clinton took money from Hugh Hefner, but in the past rejected money from Larry Flynt. Please insert your own "Bill Clinton's preference" joke here.

Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously defined pornography this way: "I know it when I see it."

Four decades later, Hillary Rodham Clinton has issued a concurrent opinion of sorts in the pages of her massive first-quarter campaign finance filing.

Clinton, an outspoken feminist who recently slammed Don Imus for degrading the Rutgers University's women's basketball team, has accepted $2,300 from Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.

Less than two years ago, Clinton's Senate campaign rejected a $1,000 donation from Hustler honcho Larry Flynt, whose empire has a decidedly more hardcore edge.

A spokesman wouldn't explain why the candidate believed Flynt's money was dirty and Hefner's was clean.

More celebrity contribution news! According to a Richardson press release, he has received contributions from the following:

"In addition to more than 30% of the contributions coming from grassroots sources, Governor Richardson also received support from a number of prominent individuals from the business, government, and entertainment communities: Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, US Representative Tom Udall, US Senator Jeff Bingaman, former Clinton White House official Mickey Ibarra, motion picture producer Jerry Weintraub, actor Michael Douglas, singer/songwriter Randy Travis, attorney Norm Brownstein, developer Al Ratner, former Texas Governor Mark White, actor/director Rob Reiner, author Judy Blume, software developer and gay rights activist Tim Gill, labor attorney Ken Jarin, management and technology consultant Gila Bronner, government affairs consultant Darius Anderson, actor Val Kilmer, New Mexico Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, former college and NFL coach Barry Switzer, and racing legend Al Unser."

You cannot read this article about John Edwards from Memphis and not think to yourself.....this was also the enormously successful Mark Warner strategy/policy as governor of Virginia. And I like it.

The Edwards campaign continues to impress.

Lt. Col. Charlie Brown Will Send John Doolittle Packing

I would say the Feds will send Doolittle packing, but the US Attorney investigating his case will probably be fired before they get a chance. But with the news that the Doolittle investigation is heating up and one of his former top aides resigned from his law firm yesterday, the news does not look good for Mr. Doolittle:

Amid reports the Justice Department is investigating ties between Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.) and jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a key link between the two, Kevin A. Ring, has abruptly resigned from his law firm.

Ring, 36, was an aide to Doolittle for five years and later worked for Abramoff at Florida-based law firm Greenberg Traurig. He often served as an intermediary between Abramoff’s clients and Doolittle’s office, according to news reports, and has remained close to Doolittle and his wife, Julie, who did consulting work for Abramoff.

Brown held Doolittle to 49 percent in 2006, and has already has $136,000 cash on hand for the 2008 campaign. In contrast, Doolittle only has $91,000 cash on hand and has campaign debts of $172,000, not to mention the expensive legal fees he should be saving up for...

Not to be outdone, in its article on fundraising the Washington Post notes that "Actor Michael Douglas gave maximum contributions to Obama, Clinton, Richardson and Sen. Christopher J. Dodd." (here)

This is big news. After all, Douglas played President Andrew Shepherd in The American President.

Next, I am hoping there will be reporting on Kevin Kline because of his impersonation of a President in Dave.

Pretty much the only thing the Politico is good for these days is DC gossip,and I found this tidbit today. (they say it's an oldie, but I think it's a goodie I've never heard before)

Afterward, he (Rangel) stopped by a young Democratic club event where he repeated -- and we're paraphrasing here -- one of his old favorites:

"I often get aggrieved with President Bush -- the things he does, things he says, but one thing I have to remember is to give him a break in my thoughts because this man all by himself has totally disproved the myth of white supremacy."

And the crowd went wild.

To quote Mr. 5th Blogoversary Atrios.... heh indeedy.

Today's Chicago Tribune has an article on how the big money donors are still the ones who matter when it comes to Presidential races. These nuggets of info are the most useful from the article:

• "Among the three Democrats who raised the most during the quarter, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards collected the most in Iowa and South Carolina, while Clinton easily led in Nevada, according to a Tribune analysis. Obama narrowly outraised Clinton in New Hampshire."

This means that the love shown to Edwards in 2004 in Iowa is still there. And I don't expect it to go away during the 2008 caucus, either.

• "The other leading candidates from both parties relied even more heavily on big-money donors than did Obama, ranging from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who raised 74 percent of his funds from those who contributed at least $1,000, to Republican Mitt Romney, who raised 89 percent from such contributions. "

Mitt Romney has not tapped into the grassroots conservative base at all. I wonder whether those evangelical diatribes against Mormonism are too difficult to overcome.

• "At least 400 people gave to both Clinton and Obama, according to the Tribune's analysis. That group included musician Barry Manilow, who gave the maximum legal limit of $2,300 in mid-February to both. "

So goes Manilow, so goes the nation. Manilow has his finger on the pulse of America's heart.

Poor Rudy

It turns out that dressing up like a woman, having mobbed up business partners and recommending them as homeland security chiefs, having three wives, having a wife who's had three husbands and "omitted" one of them until recently, having no relationship with your kids, living with a gay couple, announcing your second divorce to the media before you tell your wife, supporting publicly-funded abortions, not knowing how much milk and bread costs, having no idea what the difference is between Sunni and Shiite, drinking the blood of small children and generally being an asshole doesn't play well with the GOP base (you would think the last two might make up for all the rest).

I am not one to say I told you so. But so many smart people have written McCain's obit and started buying into Rudy as GOP nominee. Ain't gonna happen. And as a new poll shows, with all the scrutiny now on Rudy very strange life, McCain is back within six points.

I'm telling you, McCain is their guy by default, unless a conservative savior gets in the race (that could be Newt, or the crappy actor--although the latter has a lot of baggage waiting to be explored). As long as it's Romney vs. McCain vs. Giuliani, McCain wins by default, for simply being the most conservative of the three (particularly on Iraq, still popular among GOP crazies) and having the Bush team on board.