I’ve surveyed the news landscape, and I have nothing worth saying. Not that I didn’t try- hell, I even went to Reason expecting to catch Matt Welch gloating that the governator was going to cut all state workers salaries to minimum wage, and was sorely let down.
Think I’ll go for a walk and then finish Green Zone, which I started watching last night.
jl
Fine with me. Seems like a lot too much politics intrudes into this lefty sports/pets/gardening/cooking/drinking blog.
edit: I forgot ‘drinking’, so added that.
stuckinred
Lefty sports is right! No hip hop hoops up in here!
Violet
Just to keep things interesting, there’s an a tropical wave that may develop into some kind of tropical system in a few days. Some of the models put it into the Gulf.
It’s pretty early for a tropical system of any magnitude and this thing has been struggling to do much of anything for days. The shear keeps affecting its development. But the Gulf water temps are higher than usual for this time of year, which would be optimal for development should it get there.
Just what we need. A tropical system in the midst of the oil disaster. Keeping everything crossed nothing comes of it.
lamh32
does anyone watch “Hung” on HBO? I’ve gotten thru ep 6, and I gotta say that I like it. It kinda reminds me of “Weeds” (which I haven’t watched since midway through season 2) except of course not being about drug dealing suburban moms, and instead prostituting suburban dads?
Anyway, it’s pretty good so far.
ellaesther
I have been waiting all day for an open thread to share the following observation with the Balloon Juice nation.
As a stinking little mini-blogger, I have done my fair share of blog pimping in these parts. During various moments of insanity involving Israel and/or the Middle East generally, I have often linked to posts that speak directly to questions that people have about the issues at hand. My links often get much love from this crowd, in particular those links that relate to Middle East mayhem. Particularly-in-particular during the flotilla nonsense.
Yesterday I posted a link to pictures of my kids when they were babies — and never, but never, have I gotten so many hits from Balloon Juice from a single link. Ever. Not even during the flotilla nonsense.
You people think you’re so tough. YOU’RE JUST A BUNCHA BABY LOVERS!
JCT
Hmmmm, well, Steve Benen (always one of my favorites) had a nice piece on the Republicans and their Obama = Hitler/Nazi fetish today.
This quote gave me a laugh (always a good thing after a tough day).
Damn funny.
And it is so hot here the pets are sort of in various stages of “melted” all over the living room…..
ellaesther
Also, I, too had nothing to write about yesterday. You may read about my nothing to write here — but, sorry. No pictures of babies. Just a few loving sentences….
Roger Moore
I so hope we can elect Brown and 2/3 Democratic majorities in both houses of the Assembly this November. It would be so great to have a vaguely functional government, instead of one where the Republicans can throw a tantrum and fuck up everything until they get their way.
Mike Kay
I wish the President would use some Grecian Formula, his hair is turning gray too too quickly.
But he’s so arrogant he doesn’t care what his base wants.
Mike Kay
Isn’t kinda odd how the wingnut bloggers have been dissing MacArthur these past 48 hours? You would think the authoritarian mindset would gravitate to the reaganesque D-Mac.
jeffreyw
Loves me some big butts.
beltane
This morning’s USA soccer victory was awesome. Best of all was when the camera panned to a fan holding a big “Yes We Can” poster followed by a jubilant Bill Clinton sitting in the stands draped with an Algerian flag. If any teabaggers were watching, they must have died a little inside.
We had an earthquake this afternoon. I’m wondering if this is the reason we’ve had so many wild animals wandering out of the woods these past few days. Yesterday it was a moose walking up my driveway.
scottinnj
Australia has its first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard who ousted current PM Kevin Rudd in a Labour backbench coup. Unfortunately it may be shortlived as Labour is well behind in the polls for a fall election.
beltane
@Mike Kay: Douglas MacArthur had a number of solid achievements as a general. Such competence is anathema to Republicans.
Violet
@beltane:
I loved that “Yes We Can” sign in the stands. I actually LOLed at that. It was great to see the Big Dawg there too.
Ash
Green Zone was freaking terrible. But Imperial Life in the Emerald City (on which it was VERY loosely based) was fantastic. So funny I cried.
ajr22
I just watched Green Zone *spoiler* there are no WMD.
PanAmerican
I’ll bet Bill Clinton hanging around the post game locker room is tomorrow’s poutrage talking point.
Little Boots
John, you’ll never be a pundit if you let a little thing like having nothing to say stand in the way of saying it, loud and long.
demkat620
@lamh32: I watched it and liked it but I kinda feel the writers and producers don’t know where they want to go with it.
Great premise but where does it go from here?
bemused
Most of you probably read about or watched Al Franken’s speak to the American Constitutiuon Society. Today the Mpls Star Tribune printed Michael Gerson’s angry rebuttal. Gerson is outraged that Franken unleashed his “bile” on the conservative Justices. I missed it when the Strib published the transcript of Minnesota Senator Al Franken speaking to ACS. Oh wait, I didn’t see it in the Strib because they didn’t bother to publish it.
Linda Featheringill
An open thread!
I want to share my pleasure that Adm. Thad Allen, during his regular update with the press, took a question about what would we do if we couldn’t kill the well in the Gulf no matter what we did. No, they don’t have an answer for that yet but they are actually working on it! It seems they are looking into some production-type technology that would grab the oil and transport it to some sort of pipe and then to a refining facility.
I have whined to all my elected officials about the need to have a plan ready if/when we decided we couldn’t kill that well. I contacted the White House. I complained on this blog. I signed onto several different newspapers in order to post a call for SOMEBODY to work on a plan to go to if we needed it. I even joined a couple of discussion groups at the WSJ. [shudder]
Anyway, I don’t think that it was only my effort that brought this question front and center but I was at least a part of the process. It would be soooooooo good to have something in place. Just in case.
[I’m so smart, I’m so smart, Nya, nya, nya!]
demkat620
@Ash: I have recommended that book here forever. It had me so mad I could scream.
South of I-10
@Violet: I really hate Invest 93.
Tattoosydney
@scottinnj:
Damn, beat me…
Not sure if it will be short term. Despite sweeping him to victory, I suspect Australians never really warmed to Kevin, who has the personality of an autistic dentist.
Labor is behind in the polls but still ahead in our preferential system, because most of the lost votes have moved to the greens (disgusted because Kevin wasn’t being lefty enough) and will start flowing back if Julia can get the balance right.
bemused
@Little Boots:
That’s right. It’s never been a problem for Rush or Beck.
Litlebritdifrnt
Speaking of which, (nothing) reposting from downstairs cause you all moved on me.
a) the coolest tweet in the history of twitter
@whitehouse Welcome to @twitter President Medvedev! @KremlinRussia_E: Hello everyone! I’m on Twitter, and this is my first tweet.
POTUS welcoming Medvedev to twitter.
b) the best live blogging of the longest tennis match in history bar none, wonkette better be practicing.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/jun/23/wimbledon-2010-tennis-live
Ash
@demkat620: I kept expecting the stories about all the terribly stupid and under-prepared people to stop eventually, but nope, they just keeeeeeeept on coming.
SIA
@lamh32: I love Hung. It’s funny and the actor (Thomas Jayne?) is purdy. I love the female pimp character too, though I always want to comb her hair and maybe spruce up her threads.
BombIranForChrist
Oh yeah, boyeeeez, the governator is gettin’ tough! He’s gonna out-tough all ya’ll suckas.
And it’s good to cut salaries! It removes money from the economy so that people don’t, you know, trip all over it. Thank goodness the magic ponies will make up the difference.
trollhattan
Teh Governator’s clever plan doesn’t save the state a penny; perhaps that explains the lack of RW gloatridge. It’s a cashflow trick to play until they pass the budget but then,
commieChicago fashion, they have to pay it all back. Never mind the workers who lose their houses in the interim. Collateral damage.What’s golden is the nurses union, who have a Queen Meg following Whitman around on the campaign trail, complete with tiara. Yes, Meg’s fighting with nurses.
TaMara (BHF)
So it seems JeffreyW and I had a BBQ ribs throw-down over on my blog today. He has pictures, I just have an awesome glaze. Yes, so awesome I’m probably going to put leftovers on chicken tomorrow night.
Other than that I got nothing. I’m so tired of the fauxbama outrage I’ve checked out – except for seeing what craziness is going on here.
Linda Featheringill
@South of I-10:
Invest 93: I am kind of hoping that she just peters out and wafts away.
Well, I can hope, can’t I?
Darkrose
I’ve come to the conclusion that the governor of my state hates my city. Because the only lasting effect this will have is to finish off Sacramento for good.
lamh32
@SIA:
Yeah Thomas Jane is cute. I wonder if he’s still married to Patricia Arquette?
As for Tanya the pimp, I like her too, but damn I kinda wish she had more of a backbone. It kinda bothers me but I get that it’s what the character is…timid, shy, etc, which makes it more interesting that she’s a “pimp”.
Mike Kay
so news day. if only obama had retained McQuack we would have endless posts over obama betraying the base. A content base is so boring.
MikeJ
@Mike Kay: Yet you still manage to bitch about endlessly.
HRA
Had an experience today and I am not even in glorious sunny CA. I was sitting at my pc at work when my chair started to rock a bit and move. First thought was the d..n chair is finally breaking up. Soon there was question of “what happened?”, “what was that?” and finally “I think we had an earthquake.” It actually was a slight tremor. The news said it began in Quebec as 5.5.
Yes, I know there is a fault in the area. It woke up in a minor way in 1998.
I was worried about my puppy and couldn’t get home fast enough.
lamh32
@SIA:
Oh, and is it bad that it tickles me tthe kids who play the characters childrenare sooo not the most attractive looking kids in the world, even though Thomas Jane and Anne Heche are the supposed parents
robertdsc
I watched Green Zone today. I liked it though seeing Dubya give the Mission Accomplished speech killed me. Stupid fucker.
arguingwithsignposts
@Darkrose:
The governator has been one of the worst things to happen to Gulivornia since Prop 13. What an asshat. I don’t know how Maria Shriver stays married to him.
gwangung
Um, that seems damn plenty to me….
Mike Kay
@MikeJ: I didn’t know you were reading ever single thread. I assume different people read different threads. Just like I imagine most people don’t watch both olberman and maddow, which is why they both cover the same daily stories.
SIA
Since we’re so dog-oriented lately (hey JC where are our Lily-Tunch-Rosie photos for today?) here is a before and after of our darling Woofie. He was a little scruff-bucket that turned into a beautiful swan. Here’s Woofie in motion.
arguingwithsignposts
@Mike Kay:
I think this is the point at which we discuss the problem with assumptions. BJ is (thankfully) not GOS, and so regulars tend to read through most threads.
MikeJ
Even if I didn’t read most threads, surely the same comment over and over isn’t actually relevant everywhere.
We get it. There exist people you don’t like. Why don’t you go where they are and discuss it with them rather than staying here and telling us about it?
Corner Stone
@ajr22:
The *HELL* you say!
Have we invaded Syria yet? And if they aren’t there then it’s obvious Saddam secretly shipped them to his mortal enemy Iran!
He’d rather Iran have them then have the US be proven right!
Into Iran! Post haste!
burnspbesq
I know there will be a football thread later, but I just wanted to note that by snatching first place in Group C, the US has given itself a manageable route to the semifinals. They play Ghana on Saturday. Ghana is good, but they certainly aren’t scary good. If they beat Ghana, they face either Uruguay or South Korea in the quarterfinals. Both of those teams can be beaten.
Liberty60
Re: California gov’t services:
My wife tried to go to the DMV a few times in the last couple weeks; the offices are closed 3 out of 4 Fridays this month; hours are being cut, staff is being cut….you get the idea.
All this to avoid – God forbid- TAX INCREASES!
I swear, I would happily pay extra taxes, right out of my beer money, if only the government could be run at full steam- it would take about 30 cents per Californian per day, to bring in a couple billion dollars a year.
We long ago passed the point of anyone arguing for a more efficient government, or a limited government- we are entering full on Somalia territory, where fiscal anorexia is killing the most basic services.
I think we need to stop cringing every time someone points like Donald Sutherland in The Body Snatchers and screams “TAX INCREASE! LIBERAL!”
Fuck, I want to pay more in taxes, I would happily pay more in taces if only we could get a government that worked.
Mike Kay
@MikeJ:
“Even if I didn’t read most threads, surely the same comment over and over isn’t actually relevant everywhere.”
and yet you can’t stop yourself from either reading the same comment over and over or reading a commentator that annoy you. but don’t blame yourself, blame me.
Just Some Fuckhead
@MikeJ: As a regular that reads every thread, I second this emotion.
arguingwithsignposts
@Mike Kay:
Well, if you CLAP LOUDER it’s hard to ignore unless you use the pie filter. Unfortunately, Mike Kay, you have about a 50/50 signal to noise ratio, which means you don’t get the pie filter. But Goddamn, if you don’t ride that fucking pony till it’s falling over sometimes.
Nellcote
Would the goopers refuse to confirm Petraeus just to fu*ck with the Prez?
tom
It hasn’t been a slow news day here in the Detroit area. First, a small earthquake. Then, the feds throw the book at Kwame Kilpatrick (couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy). Now, tornadoes – one has touched down between Saline and Milan. I defy anyone not from SE Michigan to pronounce “Saline” and “Milan” the way the locals do.
Corner Stone
@arguingwithsignposts: hifty hifty?
Mark S.
@burnspbesq:
That was big. Otherwise, we’d have to beat Germany and Argentina (I don’t much fancy Mexico in that game), and there ain’t no way in hell we were gonna do that.
Ash
@Nellcote: He has to be confirmed for something? huh.
arguingwithsignposts
@Corner Stone:
Well, to be honest, there are few BJ regulars who I wouldn’t enjoy having a beer with. Even Mike Kay. Now, BoB, I wouldn’t have a Bud Light Lime with his sorry ass.
Also, I saw a brew today something like “He Brew” which was billed as the “chosen brew.” anyone tasted that?
Also, too, I’m looking to head up to chicago for the pride parade this weekend (per burnspbesq’s suggestion), and I’ll be wearing my BJ t-shirt. Anyone want to check in, I’ll be more than happy to say heya!
Mark S.
@Nellcote:
Don’t think so. John McCain is on the Armed Forces Committee, and he loves Petraeus more than his wife.
AhabTRuler
@Tattoosydney: Saw Goldfrapp on Monday. Very good show, but too much silver lamé.
But girlfriend is definitely more than a studio diva. She can bring it live.
El Cid
@bemused: What are you complaining about? All the good people just need to hear the reply, they don’t need to hear Al Franken praising bin Laden and praying for Al Gore to blow up the Supreme Court with methane bombs anyway.
Ash
Oh, and in other news, an Algerian player slapped a female reporter after the USA game. She then hit him in the mouth.
http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/news/algeria-star-slaps-female-reporter–fbintl_ro-algeria062310.html
madmommy
@tom:
I’m gonna guess say-line and my-lan. But maybe I’ve lived in the land of strange pronunciations for too long.
General Egali Tarian Stuck
@Mike Kay:
Don’t let anyone tell what you can write here dude. And if posts with a handful of words annoy some people, then they are likely the right handful of words and the right people annoyed by them
And I have never, that I can recall, read a thread I hadn’t commented in. Useful info that some do.
El Cid
@Mark S.: Petraeus makes sure never to wear too much makeup, so he won’t look like a trollope.
tom
@arguingwithsignposts:
I’ve had He’Brew from the (what else?) Shmaltz Brewing Company, and it’s pretty tasty.
tom
@madmommy: Pretty close. Suh-LEEN and MY-luhn.
Tattoosydney
@AhabTRuler:
She is rather enamored of her sparkles. But I agree she is the genuine article.
demkat620
Booyah! J-Roll is back bay-bay!
Walk off homer, schweet! 7-6 my Phils win.
Corner Stone
@tom:
I’m confused. I’m not from MI but I’m wondering how else they could be pronounced?
Se-leen like the Mustang version made years ago by Ford and Mylun like the space age tin foil.
Or is that Mylahr?
AhabTRuler
@Tattoosydney: Well, will Gregory is going for the Aragorn look these days, which is unfortunate, as he was wearing a poncho, that was also silver lame.
The bass player has the easiest job in the world, tho.
Calouste
@Litlebritdifrnt:
Guardian sports live blogs are special. The soccer blogs are a bit factual due to the faster moving nature of the game, but sports like tennis and specially cricket leave a lot of time for creative descriptions and talking about other subjects. Sometimes the cricket blog even mentions the match it is suppossed to be reporting on.
Mike Kay
Red Sox close in on first place, beating on the invincible Jimenez.
tom
@Corner Stone: Most non-locals I’ve heard pronounce it SAY-leen, as in “saline solution”, and mee-LAHN, like the city in Italy. Locals put the stress on the opposite syllables.
eemom
A golden oldie favorite of mine, dedicated to General McBudLiteLime.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ux3-a9RE1Q
madmommy
@tom:
Try Tchopitoulas, Tchefuncte, Calliope and Burgundy.
tom
@madmommy: I’ll pass, thanks! How are they pronounced?
Corner Stone
@madmommy: Chop-eh-toool-ehs baby!
eta or maybe Chop-uh-tul-ahs, depending on how many bud light limes you’ve had.
Keith G
@arguingwithsignposts:
Bitter aftertaste.
bemused
@El Cid:
I keep forgetting that only the good people get paid attention to.
madmommy
@tom:
chop-a-too-las, che-funk-ta, cal-ee-ope and bur-GUN-dee
Calouste
@scottinnj:
And a foreign-born, socialist, female, unmarried, child-free female Prime Minister as well. You can almost write a RWNM article about how Australia is now no longer a reliable US ally just from that.
And she looks like she could be Neil Kinnock’s niece. (Both were born in the same area in Wales.)
Keith G
@arguingwithsignposts:
Oh, and wearing a BJ T-shirt to a Pride Parade…..Cute.
arguingwithsignposts
@Keith G:
Yes, well the “hot air and ill-informed banter” tag line should push me over. As Gallagher used to say, “I considered the fact that I’m a lesbian and I just don’t know it because I’m trapped in a man’s body.” :)
Keith G
@arguingwithsignposts: Well I was wondering if it demanded “Feed Me” or “Obey”. Implications either way.
SIA
@lamh32: LOL. Yeah those kids are kind of grim.
arguingwithsignposts
@Keith G:
unfortunately, i do not have any tunch-related items, only the strange man yelling at the balloon. On the other hand, my sexuality might not be up for the “feed me” or “obey” implications. LOL
Brachiator
@bemused:
I watched a video of the entire speech and downloaded a transcript. Thought it was one of the best, most inspiring things I had seen in a long time, and loved Franken’s humor, grasp of the facts and historical perspective on originalism.
Bile? Wow. I was thinking of writing a little thank you to the Senator’s office. Now it’s a must on my to-do list.
Something Fabulous
@jeffreyw: Aww, I was hoping it was the pooches, retreating.
SIA
@jeffreyw, ha! That’s a funny comment you left about Woofie.
SiubhanDuinne
@Tattoosydney
Well, gee, Syd. Okay, if you insist. . . .
:: flexes beating arm ::
Roger Moore
@Mark S.:
That’s not hard. Does he love Petraeus more than he loves his wife’s money? More than he likes hearing himself talk? That would be saying something.
jeffreyw
@Something Fabulous:
Here ya go!
jeffreyw
@SIA: I shoulda worked in “a visit from first dog, Bo” but I’m lame.
Mike Kay
@Mark S.: well, does McCain love him more than his mistress, Vicki Iseman?
Violet
@South of I-10:
I don’t hate Invest 93. It’s just damned frustrating. I’ll hate it if it turns into something and gets into the Gulf and does some damage. If it just brings rain to parched areas, it’s all good.
SiubhanDuinne
@Tom #54:
Throw in “Novi” and you’ve got a trifecta.
(Extra credit to anyone who can explain “Novi” without googling. You’re on the honor system.)
demimondian
@madmommy: Feh.
Try Puyallup and Sequim.
And, after you’ve done that, Petit Jean, El Dorado, and Monticello.
Brachiator
@Liberty60:
I’m glad you are willing to pay more in taxes. I wish there were more like you. Unfortunately, with unemployment at record rates and people who still have jobs are increasingly having to take pay cuts, there is not much wiggle room left. And a couple of billion dollars won’t help when the state budget deficit is in the $20 billion range.
Your problems with the DMV is just a taste of bad things to come. Consider what is happening in the city of Maywood:
Maywood is essentially disappearing as a functional city. What adds insult to injury is the fact that the state budget is already late, for the umpteenth year in a row, and since cities don’t know what funding or decreases they will get from state general revenues, they have to deal with their existing budget shortfalls by July 1.
Unfortunately, the public employee unions have decided that keeping their contracts and pensions are more important than services or jobs. They are not the only ones at fault — not by a long shot — but they are going to have to be part of future solutions. Consider the situation in Oakland (from the San Francisco Chronicle):
The sad thing is that the politicians in Sacramento from both parties continue to play political games while the state slowly implodes.
Mark S.
For everyone who asked, McCain loves Petraeus more than Andy Samberg loves his brother in law.
asiangrrlMN
@Brachiator: Agreed. I watched the whole damn thing and was damn proud to have voted for him. He deserves a cookie (and, more to his liking, a donation). I am SO glad he beat out Norm Coleman.
@Calouste: Really? There’s hope for me re: world domination yet!
mai naem
@lamh32: I watched it last season. Thought it was very funny although it kind of moves at a somewhat slower pace than I feel it should. I told a few people about it and almost always got a “eww,sleazy porn” kind of look. I gave up trying to explain that it’s not a sleazy series, just funny.
slag
@MikeJ: I feel your pain. I think cleek needs to move on from pie and create a one-hit-wonder filter. I’ve done it mentally. Certain comments translate quite nicely into: “Never gonna give you up…” The only downside is having Rick Astley stuck in your head afterword.
slag
@Brachiator:
This strikes me as an excellent idea. I wish Franken were my senator so my Thank You note would mean something. But I may just attach it to his next campaign contribution instead.
I think out of all the people we donated to last cycle, Franken has given the biggest ROI so far. Especially after he kicked Obama’s team in the pants over HCR. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was one of the key contributors to making it happen. Along with Pelosi, of course.
Phoenix Woman
In other news, Thers catches K-Lo exercising her extreme lack of reading comprehension, where she disses public schools for statements made by private school officials.
Elizabelle
NY Times running AP story that Oregon masseuse accuses former VP Al Gore of improper behavior during October 2006 appointment.
Which she neglected to follow up on; no charges filed due to lack of evidence.
And then she reappears in January 2009 to ask case be reopened, and this month requested a transcript of her statement to take to the news media.
Statement apparently includes ““I did not immediately call the police as I feared being made into a public spectacle and my reputation being destroyed,” she said.”
Story broke in National Enquirer.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/us/politics/24gore.html?hp
So why is she now willing to become a public spectacle?
Nick
@MikeJ: He’s not bitching, he’s mocking.
SiubhanDuinne
Since this is an open thread, I’d like to mention that I went to a lkuncheon/speech today by former FLOTUS Rosalynn Carter. For those who may not know, she has devoted the past 40+ years to mental health issues, including getting insurance companies to cover mental/psych/emotional illnesses, working with journalists to get better coverage of things like clinical depression, destigmatizing mental illnesses, etc. she (her husband’s administration) got major initiatives funded, only to see the entire program gutted in the first year of the Reagan administration. Wasn’t even revisited as a public policy issue at the national level until 2002. She said she met recently with Kathleen Sebelius, Hilda Solis, and Michelle Obama. They’re all on board. This year’s focus: PTSD among National Guard and Reserves.
In all candor, Mrs. Carter isn’t one of the world’s great speakers. You don’t go hear her for stirring oratory or moving rhetorical flourishes. But she is knowledgeable and passionate and innovative about this subject, and I give her full marks for her decades of advocacy.
/Carterbot
slag
@SiubhanDuinne: I saw her discuss the subject on The Daily Show. You’re right about the public speaking thing. I suspect one of the reasons (among many) that our mental health system is in the state it’s in is that it doesn’t have compelling advocates.
Jenny
@Elizabelle: This sounds like a carbon copy of the Paula Jones fabrication.
Calouste
@Elizabelle:
$$$$$ obviously.
Phoenix Woman
@Brachiator: Al Franken does not mess around. People underestimate him at their peril.
When he originally announced his plans to run against Norm, I was rather skeptical — see, unlike Jesse the Body, who brought a bunch of non-voters to the polls, Al’s fan base already votes, and votes reliably DFL; he might pick off a few Greens, but that’s it. Plus, the Republicans were ready and waiting with “Al is abrasive” stories from former associates.
Yet Al overcame all that.
He worked his ass off for over two years, hitting every county fair, working every opportunity to learn about the far-flung corners of the Gopher State, and honed his political skills. His background as a comedian served him well when the inevitable GOP hecklers showed up to shadow him, and his handling of them won him fans among rural audiences who’d never heard of Stuart Smalley.
When Election Night came, it was a nail-biter, but — once again — Al was prepared. Norm’s legal team was, aside from Joe Friedberg (who wasn’t part of the strategic team, but was just around to do as he was told), made up largely of local Republican Party hacks who made asses of themselves; Al’s team, on the other hand, was stacked with experts from a DC law firm that specialized in arguing appellate cases. It took a while, but Al eventually won.
Al talks about being Wellstone, but I actually see him being very much like Teddy Kennedy: The guy who few thought would amount to much as a Senator, but who grew into the job to the point where he wound up defining it.
Nick
@Brachiator:
A Democratic State Senator from NY told me off the record yesterday
“We could solve the budget crisis tomorrow, but the Democrats would cease to exist as a party if we did what we had to do”
Phoenix Woman
@SiubhanDuinne:
I like what Athenae has to say:
slag
@Phoenix Woman:
This is a compelling notion. I hope Franken lives up to it. If he keeps at it, it’s hard to see how he won’t.
Phoenix Woman
@slag: He’s doing what Teddy did, which was to keep his head down and study hard the first few years of his time in the Senate. Al makes the occasional blaze of glory, but mostly he’s putting his brain and his work ethic to work.
Though, when he does make a big noise, he draws maps of the United States on the foreheads of his vanquished victims.
Just Some Fuckhead
@Nick: He was mocking the first time he did it. Since then, he’s just repeating the same tired schtick over and over imagining himself to be clever and edgy.
slag
@Phoenix Woman:
This is a really interesting contrast to his radio show in some respects. I always enjoyed Al’s humor and rants but was not a fan of his interviews. He talked over his guests too much for my taste. So much so that I stopped listening. He struck me as too arrogant. But it sounds like this whole Jr. Senator gig has put a touch more humility in him. May it always be so.
Anne Laurie
@tom:
I spent 16 years calling myself a Michigander, and I say Pierre (pronounced “PEER-ie”) beats both Su-LINE and MY-lin. Although an Oak Park native pointed out that Day-TWAH would probably set the benchmark, if we weren’t so used to hearing it pronounced like it’s spelled…
Steeplejack
@ellaesther:
Mainly because you came back and re-blog-whored it repeatedly when you initially didn’t get the response you wanted. Have you no shame, woman?
(Cute kids, BTW.)
Brachiator
@Phoenix Woman:
A very apt comparison. A friend recommended Franken’s Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat …, and I remember being at first amazed that it wasn’t just a satire, but a well researched demolition of Limbaugh’s BS. I also remember how Franken went out of his way to give credit to his researchers.
Given the tremendous egos of most showbiz types, Franken’s seriousness and sense of honor really stood out. I really look forward to watching his (I hope) long career in politics.
handy
@Just Some Fuckhead:
Maybe it’ll start to be funny. You know, like ironic funny. Like an old recurring sitcom gag. Or something.
burnspbesq
OMG, football fans, have you seen the new Everton kit?
Pink.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Corner Stone
@Phoenix Woman:
That was sick.
Church Lady
@Elizabelle: It seems Al was looking for a happy ending.
Mark S.
@Just Some Fuckhead:
I just wish he’d use his razor sharp wit on someone more relevant to today’s events. Someone like John Edwards.
Elie
Interesting insight on the McChrystal debacle and what may be causing this to happen and probably recur in many different ways… quick read and something to think about…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/mcchrystals-disdain-sympt_b_622212.html
While the “All Volunteer” Army has made it pretty easy for many, it has definitely had its costs, according to this article
handy
@Mark S.:
Now that was funny.
MikeJ
@burnspbesq: As a Seattle fan I don’t get to complain about the color of any team’s jersey.
But goddamn is that pink.
slag
Someone may have already mentioned this, but DougJ’s going to love it. Ron Fournier is heading to National Journal. I’m still trying to decide how excellent this news is for John McCain.
Corner Stone
@Mark S.:
But don’t Edwards and Hamsher have about the same relative power to effect outcomes…as…each…oh. Ohhhhh….
slag
@MikeJ: Maybe it’s only temporary. Maybe they just won the 9th stage of the Giro D’Italia.
Mark S.
@MikeJ:
As someone in the comments over there said, Palermo wears pink and it doesn’t look too bad. Everton’s looks like what you’d dress Barbie in if they came out with a Sporty Barbie collection.
ETA: And I don’t believe they wore pink in 1891. Everything was in black and white back then.
asiangrrlMN
@MikeJ: There is no pink in sports! Argh. My least favorite color. Don’t get me started on the whole Mother’s Day pink bat shtick.
@Phoenix Woman: I just want to echo your comment. I wasn’t pleased with Al’s campaign. I thought he was diving in the dirt with Norm, and I really didn’t want him to do that. Plus, I was not in agreement with all his positions (of course). But, I knew he was a policy wonk, that he was seriously smart, and that he actually wanted to get shit down as a politician. I voted for him, and I am supremely satisfied with him as our senator thus far.
Rosalita
@Phoenix Woman:
I loved that post! Was ROFL even at work.