Gen. Clark's remarks

Just a note about Gen. Clark's remarks yesterday about McCain's military record. Were they a ill-timed? Sure. Naive? Yep. But patently false? I don't think so. One CNN reader (yes there is intelligent life out there reading CNN), referenced a Simpsons episode when "Tommy" (an imaginary boy) falls in a well. Everyone claims him to be a hero.

Lisa: How does that make him a hero, Dad?
Homer: Well... he fell in a well, and he couldn't get out.
Lisa: That doesn't make him a hero, Dad.
Homer: Well, what have YOU done lately?

Jay-Z Glastonbury

Some fucking performer. AC/DC (c/o dangermouse) in the mix.

I Like Big Butts

Just when you think you've seen the least flattering picture of HRC...

New Beck Track

with Chan Marshall of Cat Power

France and Spain!

Fuck You!

From Snuff Box

Meet the Brokaw

Pretty smart move by Brokaw and NBC that will maintain the integrity of the show through this election cycle. I do find it ironic that NBC and MSNBC, who through Olbermann, Matthews and to a degree even Russert (who now-famously declared the nomination for Obama), have become the most Obama friendly major network, will now turn away from "on-the-job training" and change for experience and inevitability. Personally, I think it's great. Brokaw's got the stones for it. I really like Brian Williams and thought he did a decent job on this morning's broadcast but I don't think he was forceful enough as a moderator and was almost softspoken. Tim Russert may have been understated but he was never softspoken.

Scott McClellan is a Tool

Scott McClellan may be a complete slimeball but it seems that his book may open the doors for a serious, unfettered investigation into the Valerie Plame affair and several other Bush White House scandals.
Excerpt:
""The administration has always called for different kinds of privileges to avoid their officials testifying, but because Mr. McClellan has put all this information in a book, these privileges, I do not believe, would be available to the administration, so we would have a free flow of information," Rep. Robert Wexler, a senior Democratic on the committee, said when he called for McClellan's testimony."

But It's Not Even Leather: White Picket Fences

A post from a fellow Gersh blogger. He may or may not be gay.

New Girl Talk Album

Pay what you want. Here.

Seriously?

So this is what CNN.com decided to lead with this morning. Thanks guys.

Barack Obama Hates Muslims

So we have a little peek into the nefarious world of the Presidential campaign. Campaign volunteers at two separate Obama events asked two headscarf-wearing Muslim women to either remove their headgear, or Hijab, or not stand behind Obama for the obligatory "diverse-support" photo op. Obama's spokesperson stated "[t]his is of course not the policy of the campaign. It is offensive and counter to Obama's commitment to bring Americans together and simply not the kind of campaign we run." I have no reason not believe that Obama handed down a no-Hijab mandate (Obama posed the following morning in a group shot with someone wearing a Hijab) but it does speak to an unspoken issue: "the candidate has vigorously denies a false, viral rumor that he himself is Muslim. But the denials seem to some at times to imply that there is something wrong with the faith, though Obama occasionally adds that he means no disrespect to Islam."
UPDATE

Some Links

Just some interesting links I've been collecting over the past week or so:

• Roger Cohen's article in the Times last week discusses President Bush's lack of intellectual curiosity. An excerpt:

The American president, of course, is George W. Bush. He’s doing a farewell lap, or limp, around European capitals, or retreats. His German stop has been in downtown Meseberg. A rapturous Berlin welcome was not assured.

Rome, Paris, London — an itinerary to stir the imagination, but never his. That’s been the thing about Bush: no curiosity. “Russia’s big, and so is China,” he opined in 2006. The insights tended to stop there. He’s probably happier at Schloss Meseberg, a kind of German Crawford.

“Ich bin ein Crawforder.” Has a ring to it, even if it’s as meaningless as this exit tour.

• Time examines Obama's attempts to quash slander from independent groups.
• President Bush opposes a Supreme Court ruling that expands the legal rights of captured suspected enemy combatants, but begrudgingly agrees to enforce the decision.
• ESPN's ombudsman criticizes Sportscenter "specials", specifically the network's handling of spygate.
• Michelle Obama's image comes under further scrutiny. Maureen Dowd also discusses.
  
• Today's Profiles in Courage award goes to Charlie Crist who reversed his previous stance against offshore drilling to fall in step with McCain's latest campaign talking point. UPDATE: Bush too.
  
• From George, this article from the Times explores an unexpected, but common sense, implication of increasing gas prices.
• More spurious, lowest common denominator "journalism" from the folks at CNN.
• Huckabee <3's Obama.
  

Breakfast of Champions

Yo Peanut!

Celtics Champs!

California Love

How great is this picture?

Florida! Florida! Florida!

Just a final bit about Russert.
The Meet The Press tribute was touching. The tributes filling NBC and their affiliates' regular programming had begun to get a little stale and repetitive but this hour with some of Russert's closest friends and colleagues was packed with raw emotion. The guests let their collective guard down more than in previous days, where each statement and tribute seemed prepared and calculated (which is understandable. Nobody wants to break down on national television).
The set (Tom Brokaw and a half-dozen others were seated in front of the Meet the Press set, its angular table left vacant), which many had shared as recently as a few weeks ago, and time (Father's day) seemed to really affect the group. I have never seen James Carville as quiet or Brokaw as vulnerable. Throughout the broadcast, it was plainly visible on the panelists' faces that they were trying so hard to get through each "answer", to not cry. On a set where an invisible wall once seemed to sit between moderator and subject, constructed to remove emotion and leave only the subjects' answers, consoling hands reached across. Carville throughout the hour, but for one anecdote about a college football game, sat pensive, head sunk, holding hands with wife Mary Matalin. Brokaw, usually the embodiment of stolid gravitas, choked up when describing Russert's wide-eyed, idyllic world view.
"What a country!"
But what struck me most in retrospect was that these 7 men and women cared about politics and honesty in its coverage as much as Tim did and that my sense of dread immediately following his death regarding the future coverage of this election and politics in general without Tim may have been misplaced. Although I do believe Russert is in many ways irreplaceable, Meet The Press is a strong enough institution to survive his death and continue to be relevant and important if the right stewardship is found.
I didn't think I would say this so soon but I can't wait for Meet The Press next Sunday.

If It's Sunday...

I don't think any in our generation have witnessed this kind of reaction to the death of a journalist (Daniel Pearl excluded). It speaks to how different he was in the field of TV news. There is nothing else like Meet The Press. Nowhere else can you find an hour of deadly serious political journalism. On other shows, it is about the host, it is about the set, it is about the network, it is about right vs. left. Tim Russert was only interested in the truth, only interested in breaking something new, something important, something we needed to know to fulfill our civic duty. It was about accountability, about a rigorous examination of political credentials. As Barack Obama stated, he was the "standard bearer for serious journalism."
I was very much looking forward to hearing this historic election through Tim Russert but I suppose I can hope that his death has focused people's attention on integrity, on honesty, on good politics.

MTP

On Sunday, Tom Brokaw will anchor a special edition of Meet the Press, dedicated to a look back at the life of Tim Russert.

Tim Russert Dead at 58

I'm in shock. Here's the story.

Kobe

After the game:
"We just wet the bed," Kobe said. "A nice big one, too. One of the ones you can't put a towel over. It was terrible."

Moment 2: The Tantrum

Vujacic throws his purse onto the seat next to him.

Moment 1: The Layup

The play just illustrated perfectly the confidence the Celtics played with and ineptitude of the Lakers' defense.

Game 4

I've only been over here for 8 years (all post-Jordan) so I'm not going to make any grand pronouncements that Game 4 was the greatest comeback in NBA history or Celtics history or finals history, but that was the best game I've ever seen. The second half was a clinic. Two moments sum up the game for me however.

Dear Dr. Laura

This is obviously old news but I'm a big fan of anyone that uses the Bible to dispute fundamentalist reading of said Bible. Snopes.com (I'm not exactly sure what snopes is or who writes it) issued the following open letter to conservative talk radio host Dr. (of physiology) Laura Schlessinger in the wake of her characterization of the sexual behavior of gays and lesbians as 'abnormal,' 'aberrant,' 'deviant,' 'disordered,' 'dysfunctional,' and 'a biological error.' This letter was also sent to President Bush after his 2004 reelection.

Dear Dr. Laura, Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them. a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them? b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense. d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians? e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself? f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here? h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die? i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14) I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging. Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.

Sub-Prime Opinion

CNN is usually the last place I'd go for a well-thought-out, well researched, insightful editorial but I happened upon a speck of quality in the mounds of reactionary, patronizing bullshit they 'report' each day. Glenn Beck reacts primarily to a New York Times piece (although the piece is actually from a blog hosted by the Times) claiming that Ed McMahon's declaration on Larry King Live that his Mulholland Drive mansion has been foreclosed upon has humanized an issue facing roughly 3 million Americans. Beck points out the obvious: that although McMahon's story is newsworthy and relevant, he hardly represents the average American suffering through the sub-prime mortgage mess. He goes on to argue that this sort of coverage clouds over the major issue: that McMahon's 'sin' - spending more than you earn - is endemic to American life.

He closes with the following:

The same night the McMahon interview aired, I got a spam e-mail from Matthew Lesko, the guy who wears a question-mark suit on infomercials. He was informing me that, no matter my income, there are plenty of free government programs that I can take advantage of to help me pay my mortgage. Perfect. Just what we need: free money for those who got into trouble by spending money freely.

Do we need to help the people who would legitimately be out on the street if they lost their home? Absolutely. But those programs are already in place. We have strict bankruptcy laws, unemployment benefits, welfare programs and health care plans -- all financed by taxpayers. Why should there be a taxpayer-funded mortgage bailout program on top of it all?

Whether one person loses a home, or a million do, it isn't a tragedy, it's a lesson. And like all lessons, we can learn from it. Since I started with a Stalin quote, I'll end with one from Henry Ford: "Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently."

Love This Picture

"The biggest album of the year — possibly the decade."

This review of Coldplay's new snoozer, Viva La Vida, is astronomically high on the unintentional comedy scale. A few gems:

"It’s as heavy-going as the Bible but... ultimately as rewarding."

"The atmospheric, haunting Cemeteries Of London follows next and is one of the songs clearly blessed by holy water."

"It’s a beautiful rolling number and I can picture Chris running through a field in the video."

"They set out to make a musical equivalent of a work of art — and succeeded."

Last I checked, music was art.
The Sun's music critic everybody!

Dowd on the Other Obama

Maureen Dowd has an interesting article in today's Times about the beginning of the demonizing of Michelle Obama. Certainly interesting (Michelle will undoubtedly have to, maybe more than her husband, prove her patriotism, whatever that means) but maybe a little melodramatic considering Cindy McCain is a former drug addict with a history of questionable business practices. I don't really see how McCain's campaign or another conservative group could question Michelle's character without inviting scrutiny of Cindy.

Backlash

Since the release of the Mitchell Report last December, a large number of the players accused of using performance enhancing drugs have either been cut or not offered new contracts. While the reasons for this are obvious in the cases of a Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens or Rafael Palmeiro (those so identified with the steroid era or so egregious in their false denials that their employment could potentially alienate a fanbase), accusations of collusion have been levied at Major League Baseball's executives for exiling those minor offenders who fully served any punishment meted out by MLB and the public. This has led to one player (of which we know), the 31-year-old Jay Gibbons, personally writing baseball executives seeking employment of any kind. Of course, the man is an admitted cheater and profited greatly from his involvement in baseball during the steroids era, but his honesty and humility is nonetheless disarming and unusual.


The following is the full text of a letter written by former Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons to all 30 major league teams, seeking a minor league contract. Gibbons, who was named in the Mitchell report, has been without a job since Baltimore released him in March.

Writing this letter is both painful and humiliating. It has been almost six weeks since my release from the Orioles and I am still unable to land any opportunity at a second chance to play the game that I love. I am young, healthy and determined. I have acknowledged and apologized for the mistake that I made and writing this letter should be proof enough that I have indeed suffered for my mistake. I have faith and hope that some team will give me the chance to prove that I can not only be a productive player but also be a stellar member of their organization. My faith in a second chance has inspired me to work harder than I have at any time in my life. My faith has gotten me through this most difficult period in my life. All I need is a chance -- any chance -- anywhere. I am more than willing to begin the process of proving that I can and will be a productive major league player by playing in the minor leagues. As you know, I have played seven seasons in the big leagues and have hit 20-plus homeruns in three seasons and have hit .277 in three seasons (2003, 2005 and 2006). At 31 years old, I have NO DOUBT that my best baseball is ahead of me.
I know that my agents at ACES have tried to land me an opportunity in the minor leagues but have been met with negative responses by each and every Organization. I am not blind to the fact that I have made a mistake and that mistake has raised doubt about my character and ability. It is important that you know that my indiscretions, while regretful, were made in an effort to heal a nagging wrist injury. I would encourage you to speak with anyone in this game, including players, coaches, front office etc. who know me. I am confident that everyone you speak with will vouch for my character. I respectfully and humbly request that you grant me the chance to play for your organization. I am so willing to prove myself as a player, and a person, that I will donate ALL of my minor league earnings to your Club's charity. In the event that I earn the right to play at the major league level, I will gladly donate a significant sum to that same charity. Once again, all I need is a chance and I will prove that I can be an extremely productive player and a great addition to your organization. Please feel free to contact me directly [phone numbers redacted]. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely, Jay Gibbons

Sometimes a Building is Just a Building

Construction on the Burj Dubai has been delayed but what has been built so far is fucking impressive (it's difficult to appreciate the scale from this photo but it will be almost twice as tall as the Empire State Building). The whole city seems to be one massive construction site.

Cost of a Campaign

Eighteen million votes: $212 million. Some 1,926 delegates: $109,823 a pop.
Blowing the biggest head start in presidential history: priceless.

Yikes

Clap

The Fall of Conservatism

The prolonged but now complete Democratic primary process has obscured a topic that was in much debate only a few months ago: the fall of conservatism (with a lower-case 'c'). Conservatism (with an upper-case 'C') is still alive in its purest form, as evidenced by Ron Paul's improbably massive fundraising in the early stages of the Republican primary process (which has allowed him to continue to campaign for the Presidency even as John McCain declared victory some months ago), but George W. Bush's 'compassionate conservatism', championed by the vast majority of current elected Republicans, is now dead. We now know (well, I suppose about 50% of us knew this 8 years ago) that if you increase spending without increasing taxes, you end up with A FUCKING ENORMOUS DEFICIT. Throw in war, recession and domestic policy predicated on winning 51% support and you end up with A FUCKING ENORMOUS DEFICIT and miserable, divided people. So can John McCain be the standard bearer for a new (old) conservatism?
A piece in the New Yorker a couple of weeks ago is the first (to my knowledge) since Obama's victory became inevitable to reexamine the factionalism of America's conservative party and people.

An excerpt:

Yuval Levin, a former Bush White House official, who is now a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, agrees with Gingrich’s diagnosis [that the Republican party has an identity crisis and can't simply run an anti-Obama campaign to win the presidency]. “There’s an intellectual fatigue, even if it hasn’t yet been made clear by defeat at the polls,” he said. “The conservative idea factory is not producing as it did. You hear it from everybody, but nobody agrees what to do about it.”

Pat Buchanan was less polite, paraphrasing the social critic Eric Hoffer: “Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket."

Robert Francis Kennedy November 20, 1925 – June 6, 1968

I don't think I'm asking for an easy road.

The Next Leader of the Free World

The Chimes of Freedom

Flashing

Critique of McCain's Oratorical 'Skill'

Shockingly bad. Bring on the debates.

Another Animal Post

Too good to pass up.

Bird Goes Nuts!

Bringing down the credibility of my blog, one post at a time.

Bedroom Community

Westport shoutout!
How stupid are people? Stop videoing/photographing yourself naked!!!

Free NYC Shows

Brooklyn Vegan put this google calendar together with all this summer’s free nyc shows/events. Sign into your gmail (if you have an account), go to the link, open the calendar and click the ‘add to google calendar’ button at the bottom.

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/events.html

Debates

This is what I've been waiting for. These debates are going to be epic.

"Calling for "no process questions from reporters" and "no spin rooms," the presumptive Republican presidential nominee proposed one debate a week from now until the Democratic party convention in August.

McCain cited a 1963 agreement (4th question) between President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Barry Goldwater to hold such debates as part of the 1964 election campaign. Kennedy was assassinated before the campaign began.

"What a welcome change it would be were presidential candidates in our time to treat each other and the people they seek to lead with respect and courtesy as they discussed the great issues of the day, without the empty sound bites and media-filtered exchanges that dominate our elections," McCain said in a letter to Obama released by McCain's campaign."

Reaction from across the pond

The Beeb

:)

It's official. Roll it up, put a little hot sauce on it. Salt. Pepper. Maybe a little mustard or mayonnaise if you're inclined. Put it between two pieces of bread. Buttered. Toasted. Or a hero. You can even bake it in a pie. 350 degrees for 45 mins or until golden. Serve on a warm plate.
Then eat it.

Ross --

I'm about to take the stage in St. Paul and announce that we have won the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

It's been a long journey, and we should all pause to thank Hillary Clinton, who made history in this campaign. Our party and our country are better off because of her.

I want to make sure you understand what's ahead of us. Earlier tonight, John McCain outlined a vision of America that's very different from ours -- a vision that continues the disastrous policies of George W. Bush.

But this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past and bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love.

It's going to take hard work, but thanks to you and millions of other donors and volunteers, no one has ever been more prepared for such a challenge.

Thank you for everything you've done to get us here. Let's keep making history.

Barack

Clinched

We have a winner!

Pigs Fly

Ready to concede?
This appears to be the first statement indicating that she has agreed to play by the rules.

Megan Fox is ridiculously hot

Proof

Mars Bars and Snails

Courtesy of my reader:
Graffiti Snails
Nothing but Mars bars