Happy New Year!

This has to be a better year.

Comments

[PD]

I just keep fiddling till something shows up that i haven't already read.

That works, too. :-)

[Barry]

Better late than never,

Happy New Year JOM!

[PD]

I guess I'm in the minority re: History Channel. Yeah, there's lots of wacky stuff, and I have to view anything related to the Bible with deep suspicion. But their show on the 300 was quite interesting. And they have an installment in their Modern Marvels series on oil and all the stuff that's made from it. You should really try to watch that if they show it again -- and Rush agrees with me on this. :-) It kinda puts the lie to the idea that we can just stop using oil because it's bad. If we did there, there's about a bazillion products that we use every day that we'd also be without.

[PD]

s/If we did there/If we did that/

[PD]

Also, they have a show that debunks the 9/11 truthers. Lots of it comes from the Popular Science people that looked into the issue and concluded that the truthers were nuts.

[PD]

For you Keira Knightly fans, Princess of Thieves is on this morning at 4AM ET on TNT.

[bad]

More from Cheney interview:

Cheney said he had no final commitments beyond January 20, when he will be leaving a government job for about the fifth time, following his work in the Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Bush 41 administrations.

"I'm looking forward to spending time with the family, obviously," he said. "We've got six grandchildren now, and I always enjoy that. We'll split our time between Washington and Wyoming. Maybe I'll write a book."

I'm ready to order a copy now. I'll bet he can do it without Bill Ayers....

LUN

[Frau Jedöns]

John Kass forgets that compared to Al Franken, Roland "Check out my statue in Bremen" Burris is the kind of public servant for whom parents name their first born son or daughter, city fathers and mothers name major boulevards and states erect lasting monuments. Burris has a life story to inspire, an actual record to examine, has never put his name to putrid prose and has never and would never, ever attack from the rear and bite an enemy on the buttocks. Frankly, Al is not worthy of sweeping Roland's stoop. Many states would be pleased to exchange their Democrat senator for Roland the Solon.

[Soylent Red]

Maybe I'll write a book.

Wait a minute...

He hasn't written a book after nearly forty years of public service? How gauche! How declasse!

All the best writers are doing their books before they've actually done anything.

[Pal2Pal (Sara)]

I keep each thread open in its own tab and reload the page for new entries. I don't quite understand what you mean about going back and forth in the queue. I'm not getting what is gained by that.

[PD]

Burris is the kind of public servant for whom parents name their first born son or daughter

So? "Barack" is becoming popular, too.

[bad]

Burris is the kind of public servant for whom parents name their first born son or daughter

So true. Burris named his son Roland II and his daughter Rolanda.

[RichatUF]

bad-

I was thinking that the fact pattern of the Richardson-NM investigation might hit a little close to the cozy relationships Obama had in Illinois regardless of potential jeopardy to Gov. Richardson. Obama has his fingers in the education and land development pies as well and muni-bond deals had to have been floated with the requisite featherbedding and backscratching.

[bad]

LOL Soylent

[bad]

I'm sure you're right Rich. But I doubt it will matter much. The Obama years will be all about how dangerous the world is in every sector and we can't afford distractions.

[bad]

An "Education Activist" writes an article about Bill Ayers that is not complimentary. Encouraging...

LUN

[Topsecretk9]

Soylent

It's called Hubris devoid of gravitas >-)

[bad]

good one, tops

[Pal2Pal (Sara)]

I wish I could understand why Jewish Americans vote for the Democrats in such huge numbers. Somewhere in the 70% and higher range.

Via Gateway Pundit:

From a new poll just released by Rasmussen:

Sixty-two percent (62%) of Republicans back Israel's decision to take military action against the Palestinians, but only half as many Democrats (31%) agree.

A majority of Democrats (55%) say Israel should have tried to find a diplomatic solution first, a view shared by just 27% of Republicans.

While 75% of Republicans say Israel is an ally of the United States, just 55% of Democrats agree. Seven percent (7%) of Democrats say Israel is an enemy of America, but only one percent (1%) of Republicans say the same. For 21% of Republicans, Israel is somewhere in between, and 28% of Democrats agree.

Seventy-three percent (73%) of Republicans blame the Palestinians for the war in Gaza, as opposed to 47% of Democrats.

[Topsecretk9]

Headline at memeorandum:

Influential Hamas Leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef's Son Renounces Islam

--

Gleen Greenwald's head explodes - calls son "chickenhawk"

[narciso]

Yes, P.D, I was painting with too broad a brush, that 300 documentary, really hit the spot,as did Model Marvels and Myth Busters
and a host of others. Although there's a bit
too much of Michael Scheuer in the 9/11/Bin Laden segments, and his sympathy not empathy with Bin Laden, really make me hate him, well probably at the Tina Fey level. I shudder to think what mismatch, they'll conjure up about this recent snap shot of history past.

Yes, we'll certainly miss the likes of Cheney, considering the 'cigar store indian'; they;ve saddled us with as his replacement. My drothers, were for Sarah to have occupied the Naval Observatory, but I realize now, that could not have been
remotely possible. Besides as I say it was too small a job for her. It is possible that only she generates the level of hatred
among the netroots he draws. It's really not that surprising, they got into public service at roughly the same age, they came
from modest backgrounds, one found a sponsor
at an early age in Rumsfeld, the other had to bulldoze her way through theestablishment
without a sponsor ;both represent Western values, one had a more meteoric rise in someways, chief of staff at 35, the other
had a slower progression through the ranks.
They both have a history of budget cutting
in their record, often angering the respective establishments.

Did Cheney ever make an easy call, from protesting the ANC'd terror campaign, to a axing cherished defense programs, to the Gulf War, to taking up the Vice Presidency
and the burdens that would entail, in the cold dark night that was too come. We won't see the likes of him again for a long time, in that office

[Topsecretk9]

the lefts favorite past time of manufacturing fake photos to support their phony outrage is in full force

http://www.mererhetoric.com/archives/11275324.html

[bad]

I think Cheney would say they were all easy calls compared to the alternatives.

God
Country
Family

[Topsecretk9]

Bad...

I wonder if...Maybe I'll write a book. sent a shiver down Low Level Joe and Val Frames spine...

[PD]

Headline at memeorandum:

Influential Hamas Leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef's Son Renounces Islam

Fox News had a special about this last night. They ran it again tonight: Escape from Hamas.

Quite interesting. What began to turn him was time spent in an Israeli prison, where he saw what Hamas members to to their own people. What turned him was that during a trip to Jerusalem, a Christian invited him to a Bible study, and showed him the verse that says, "love your enemies." He said he had never ever heard that before. Power of the Gospel strikes again.

Of course, now he's under a death sentence a living in the U.S.

If Fox shows it again, I recommend it.

[Stephanie]

"I've got to tell you, I choked up a little bit leaving my house today," Obama told reporters...

Nervous about actually having to put up and not being able to just shut up or hide behind others?

Is this guy not the whiniest little beetch you've ever seen?

Inspiring? Hardly...

LUN

[PD]

"Escape from Hamas" is on again RIGHT NOW. (Beginning 2AM ET.)

[Elliott]

Stephanie,

It's great to have you commenting.

[Elliott]

PD,

On Gem #3 I remember that anecdote getting a lot of attention at the time. Was the friend he discussed it with Frank Marshall Davis?

As to #4, I did not know the context at all.

[Topsecretk9]

"I've got to tell you, I choked up a little bit leaving my house today," Obama told reporters...

I thought he was in Hawaii?

[Stephanie]

Thanks Elliott, I hope to do the place justice. I will try to remember that opening my mouth will remove all doubts about my intelligence and/or lack thereof; hopefully, y'all will be patient.

I have been lurking on this site and posting on a few others going way back. Although, at the others, it is more "whack a troll" nowadays...and I love carnivals.

The infestation here seems much less, but I do recognize the same ones around here, too.
Obama must have some on permanent retainer. Maybe a hedge on the job creation numbers he's touting?

[Stephanie]

He went back to Chicago Mon or Tuesday (IIRC), and he's now safely ensconced in the DC area. The kids start school at Sidwell tomorrow...

[Pal2Pal (Sara)]

The media is making a big deal over the Obamas staying in a hotel that is supposed to be haunted.

[Topsecretk9]

Stephanie

I know. I was being facetious. If you think you might be sad leaving your home than perchance don't go on vacation before it??? Is all I was lamely getting at.

Sidwell School for the Poor and Downtrodden it is!

[Topsecretk9]

the Obamas staying in a hotel that is supposed to be haunted.

so sad they have to stay at the five Star haunted hotel for the rich and famous.

And haunted? With JFK's paramours?

[jimmyk]

I guess my writing style is an acquired taste, a mix of high culture, middle brow
and other references.

Someone said Pynchon. I think Faulkner. And Mississippi is not so far from Florida.

[Stephanie]

Sorry... misinterpreted. Unfortunately, the innertubes* don't do sarcasm or facetious justice.

*The internet (a series of tubes) as described by Ted Stevens

Yes, I am an internet junkie with way too many memes floating around in my head.

[Stephanie]

Illinois State Workers to Get Ethics Training

bonus... Featured speakers include agency heads, as well as speakers from Gov. Rod Blagojevich's own office.

Schadenfreude Buffet (Service available 24/7)

[Fithian]

Stephanie:

LOL! I don't think you'll have to worry much about translating net memes like the innertubes to the other junkies around here.

[Stephanie]

Noted... my daughter, the other internet jumkie, is the only one in the family that seems to get my jokes anymore. I purposely don't look at my internet usage reports out of fear of what they'll say.

And for another bit of innertube meme-ia... I am a gerbil...

[kim]

Wedgwood's gone bankrupt. The founder was Charles Darwin's grandfather.
=================================

[Rick Ballard]

"I've got to tell you, I choked up a little bit leaving my house today," Obama told reporters..."

Well, sure, you jackass, if I had overpaid $600K for a dump like Hog Butcher's Hall I'm sure I'd choke up a bit every time I saw it. Coming or going. Uncle Tony's sweet deal has turned a little sour now and the mildew stinks a little.

[narciso]

Morning all, I'm still sticking to this thread, I'm glad and maybe a little
disturbed to see, that my writing style is writing off on Stephanie, so my work here is done. I think one of the more indignified slaps at Sen. Stevens, who it looks like we at least a partial apology to; was the 'innertubes' remark. Wasn't the Hay Adams the hotel that Al Gore grew up, which makes it the Washington analog to the Overlook; from the Shining. Of course, it looks like Fitz saw the Rezko/Auchi backed transaction, and said 'nothing to see
here folks'.
All this fuss over a 300 hundred billion dollar 'tax cut' of sorts, how much was the original Bush one, in the first year. Does he just want us to shop with it, or put it to pay down debt? This is in addition to the 600,000 new government jobs in the pipeline. About the ethic seminar; the Adam Sandler line seems best "things I could have been made aware yesterday.

[Jane]

[i]so sad they have to stay at the five Star haunted hotel for the rich and famous.[/i]

I want to know who is paying.

[bad]

I want to know who is paying.

Someone who wants to play...

[Porter]

TSK9-

The right, honorable Sen. Reid, in my opinion, was making it up as he said it, in order for him to look "more informed than you".

Not like he's prone to hyperbole.

[MayBee]

I want to know who is paying.

So far he's dragged his secret service to Europe and Hawaii, and now to the Hay-Adams. It's all pretty pricey, considering he hasn't even taken office yet.

I wonder if he'll sell that Chicago house. I know he says he plans to return to visit, but it seems like an urban house that will give the Secret Service fits if he actually stays there. Plus the neighbors will have to deal with security all the time.

[clarice feldman]

No. I believe Gore grew up in the Jefferson hotel. The Hay Adamas is a lovely old historic hotel that overlooks the White House.

[PeterUK]

Kim,
That is a three for.Royal Doulton (china),Waterford (crystal glass) and Wedgwood,three historic companies. In the main this represents the madness of global company takeovers,one weak link and the whole gets trashed.

[clarice feldman]

PUK, it also is a sign of the times--no one buys or uses fine china anymore.

[PeterUK]

Clarice,
True,perhaps those with the money should set an example.

[PD]

On Gem #3 I remember that anecdote getting a lot of attention at the time. Was the friend he discussed it with Frank Marshall Davis?

I don't know. "Frank" is presented in the book as an age-cohort of Obama's grandfather. The two (Frank and grandfather) grew up within 50 miles of each other in Kansas.

[Frau Jedöns]

In hard times,I'd side with the Italians and real estate over baubles. My German sister-in-law recently had some investment strings of (said to be flawless) pearls auctioned by Sotheby's. She didn't get back the purchase price, but the Euros will buy more pellets for her new heater. She didn't want to continue to worry about the oil prices set by Putin or the "Opeckers."

I was perhaps too subtle with my comparison of Burris to Franken (may Al grow with his head in the ground like an onion). Burris is more Kingfish; Franken is pure Algonquin J. Calhoun. Naming his children after himself and building his burial monument are not done with evil intent. Roland toots his horn for recognition in his own chanson de geste unlike his famous namesake who, in the final version, sounded a warning against the Saracens.

[sophy]

We all love game, if you want to play it, please buy 12 sky gold and join us.