Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Mark Halperin, Right Wing Fanboy

You know what was really disgusting? Mark Halperin desperately begging and pleading with right-wingers such as Hugh Hewitt (at the time serving on the front lines on the war on terror - that is, the Empire State Building) to believe him when he said he really was a good conservative, a fanboy of Karl Rove and George Bush, and the he hated that big meaning Helen Thomas who wasn't nice to George Bush at all, so please believe him when he said he wasn't a liberal.

If it's any consolation to the pathetic Mr. Halperin, I believe him.

From 2006, via the estimable Glenn Greenwald:

Hewitt: "I think my giant unified field theory here is that liberal media has destroyed the necessity of the left having to debate, having to reach a message across, because you guys have always papered over the weakness of their arguments. And so, in essence, by creating an echo chamber, and by allowing them to get away with saying silly things, you’ve destroyed the incentive to be smart and facile."

Halperin: "I agree."

Halperin: "Hugh, you and I have agreed on a lot during this show. For the purpose of jacking up your already sky-high ratings, occasionally you pick fights with me where they don’t exist. But you and I agree about that basic premise. I’m keeping notes here on the things we disagree on."

**************************************************************
Halperin: "If, though, you want to in a casual introduction, lump me in with people in my business who are liberally biased and don’t seem to care about it, I think that’s doing your listeners a disservice. They should read the book and what we say in The Way To Win about how the media’s been liberally biased in presidential campaign coverage, what needs to be done to try to fix it, and why the current system may not be any better with new media. But to lump me in with everybody else, I think, is doing people a disservice, because most of my colleagues, as you know, are in denial about it, or blind to it.
****************************************************************************

Halperin: "Let me say one thing we say in the book about Karl Rove, who I respect and enjoy...I enjoy his company. If you look at the allegations of Karl Rove that have been propagated in Texas and in Washington by the media, the liberal media, and by Democrats, and you look at the allegations, there’s…except for the useful indiscretions to which Karl has admitted, there is no evidence for the allegations against him."

"And the ability of the press to paint him as this evil guy, and say that accounts for his success, is fundamental and outrageous. Maybe he did the things he’s accused of, but to have this guy’s image portrayed and defined by things that are accusations that are unproven, we say in the book is really outrageous."

**********************************************************************

Halperin: "You keep saying how much nice stuff there is in the book about Bill Clinton. The book writes at length, in fact, half the book is about Karl Rove and George W. Bush, and I would believe is one of the most favorable, in terms of judging them, and not treating them as evil, things that have been written about Karl Rove since he came to Washington."

***********************************************************************

Halperin: "I think that the relationship between the Bush White House Press Corps, and the Bush White House press staff has not produced a pretty picture for either side. . . ."

Hewitt: "Does Helen Thomas make you proud?"

Halperin: "She... the questions she asks, that represent a point of view, have no place in the briefing room."

******************************************************************

Halperin: Can I introduce you to my interns from Bob Jones University?

Hewitt: I’m glad that you have one. They must feel like a stranger in a strange world.

Halperin: "No, because within my unit, we’re all about being fair and non-partisan."

*****************************************************************

Hewitt: Did [Bill Clinton] radicalize politics by inventing the politics of personal destruction?

Halperin: I think what Bill Clinton did, we say in The Way To Win is, he helped usher in this freak show. The politics of personal destruction was part of it, but it was also making the office of the presidency undignified, wearing shorts into the Oval Office, answering boxers and briefs…

Hewitt: That was hardly how he made the Oval Office undignified.

Halperin: Well, there’s that, too. But we’re talking about early on in his presidency, with the birth of the freak show, in the early 90’s when he got elected. Obviously, he did more to further this along later on through his personal conduct. But the ability of this president, and certainly this first lady, as we write in the book, to restore some of the dignity, personal dignity to the office, has been quite an achievement in the wake of what Bill Clinton did, given the freak show environment in which we live.

**********************************************************************

Hewitt: Do you see any evidence of superior brainpower in places like Nancy Pelosi and John Murtha, as opposed to Rove and Cheney?

Halperin: Those specifically?

Hewitt: Are they on the same playing field?

Halperin: You want me to compare those specific four people?

Hewitt: Yeah, because you’ve got two leaders…

Halperin: If I were running for president, I’d hire Rove and Cheney over Pelosi and Murtha.

**********************************************************************

Paulson To Announce New Lending

Nov. 25 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve will unveil a lending program to shore up the consumer-finance market, using money from the government’s $700 billion rescue, two people familiar with the effort said.

The Treasury and the Fed will help fund new loans packaged into securities for sale to investors, the people said. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who scheduled a press conference for 10 a.m. New York time, said two weeks ago that he wants to spur lending for automobile purchases and college education while also reducing the cost of credit-card debt.

Oops

PG&E Diablo Canyon Reactors Near Discovered Fault

Nov. 24 (Bloomberg) -- PG&E Corp.’s Diablo Canyon reactors
in California are near an offshore fault that could generate an
estimated 6.5 magnitude earthquake, a joint study by the utility
and the U.S. Geological Survey found.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Sunday Talk Show Lineup

ABC's "This Week" - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-Calif.

One Republican, no Democrats.

CBS' "Face the Nation'' - Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.; Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.; Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La.; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga.

Three Republicans, One Democrat.

NBC's "Meet the Press" - Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.; Sen. Richard Shelby; T. Boone Pickens, chairman of the energy investment fund BP Capital.

Two Republicans, One Democrat.

CNN's ''Late Edition'' - Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez; Reps. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Ted Turner, CNN founder and author of a new memoir.


Two Republicans, One Democrat.

''Fox News Sunday'' - Sens. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.; Gov. Tim Pawlenty, R-Minn.; former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, R-Md.


Three Republicans, One Democrat.

Score: Eleven to Four

Thursday, November 13, 2008

First Puppy



The Obamas need a cute, family friendly, hypoallergenic dog. May I suggest a Golden Doodle?

Sunday, November 09, 2008

MEET THE PRESS - November 9, 2008

MEET THE PRESS
November 9, 2008
Guests:
Valerie Jarrett
Rep. Clyburn
Sen. Martinez
********************

Brokaw: what can we expect from our new Chicago overlord?

Valerie Jarrett: radical change from people like jennifer granholm, paul volcker, and warren buffet

Brokaw: will you people a dark shadow government

Jarrett: no

Brokaw: really?

Jarrett: no really we will be

Brokaw: what did you learn studying the Polk adminstration

Jarrett: don't fuck up

Brokaw: ok let's talk about my money

Brokaw: who else besides Volcker, Summers, Rubin and Buffet

Jarrett: Obamans don't talk out of school

Brokaw: any Republicans

Jarrett: yes we will have Democrats and Losers represented

Brokaw: will you keep some Bush appointees on?

Jarrett: well he's looking for talent - so no

Brokaw: this is going to shock - you John Boner criticizes Obama

Jarrett: oh noes! He'd better resign now!

Brokaw: what about Bill Clinton

Jarrett: i can tell you we are so very eager to talk about the Clintons

Brokaw: are you being sarcastic

Jarrett: who me?

Brokaw: Democrats are always the party of Big Government

Jarrett: You are such an interesting person and apparently a fucking liar

Brokaw: what are Obama's flaws?

Jarrett: He's too inspirational

Brokaw: will Michelle be Laura or be Hillary?

Jarrett: this is the stupidest conversation i've ever had in my life

Brokaw: will she be in the bowels of the White House

Jarrett: you are a true idiot, aren't you?

Brokaw: Puppy?

Jarrett: oh noe don't go there

Brokaw: how did you feel when Obama won

Jarrett: awesome that people saw how awesome he is

Brokaw: what about the failed Obama administration

[ break ]

Clyburn: we have to restore teh economy, rebuild america, fund stem cells, and heal the country

Martinez: lets not worry about who slimed who - the point is unemployment is very high under the Obama administration!!

Brokaw: stimulus program

Martinez: i would like to see checks mailed to foreclosed homeowners in Miami

Brokaw: what else

Martinez: Obama should do whatever Republicans want

Brokaw: given the big win for Democrats should we lower taxes on the rich and cut government spending

Clyburn: are you fucking drunk?

Brokaw: stimulus program

Martinez: i would like to see checks mailed to foreclosed homeowners in Miami

Brokaw: what else

Martinez: Obama should do whatever Republicans want

Brokaw: given the big win for Democrats should we lower taxes on the rich and cut government spending

Clyburn: are you fucking drunk?

Brokaw: should we give the failed auto industry a trillion dollars?

Clyburn: yes every american should get a hummer

Brokaw: you are from the party of free markets?

Martinez: no the the GOP is the party of Free Capitalism - failed businesses get free money from the government when they fail

Brokaw: what about teh deficits?

Clyburn: the coffers are empty and we must govern from the center - i hate the far left they're so lefty

Brokaw: Ted Kennedy wants to divide America - will Republicans support that

Martinez: we as Republicans have to figure out what teh hell we believe

Brokaw: solution to health care is to go to the ER?

Martinez: see it turns out people don't think that's a good idea

Brokaw: given the poor economy isn't it true that we can't do health care in the first four years

Martinez: see children's health care is very divisive we should not attempt that it's so mean and divisive

Brokaw: Earth to Martinez - maybe the reason you went 0 for 3 is because you consider funding health care for kids divisive

Martinez: John McCain was a POW he didn't deserve to lose or the GOP be branded a racist

Brokaw: what is a Republican?

Martinez: we are going to try and figure it out - starting with Mitch Daniels

Brokaw: oh god

Brokaw: Clyburn you're black - did you know Obama is too?

Clyburn: hey some of my best friends are black and descended from slaves

Brokaw: that's very moving

Clyburn: we who worked with the system have been vindicated

Brokaw: Rahm is terrible

Martinez: Boner is moron

Brokaw: hey the Obamas are black! what about all the dysfunctional ones!

Mitchell: we need to get the guys off the corners and the kids in schools

Brokaw: wow can he finally get black families to work?

Mitchell: this dude is a better role model that a rapper or ballplayer

Brokaw: then they can hope to have the world's worst job

Goodwin: hey an economic disaster creates real opportunity for change

Brokaw: hmmmm

Goodwin: like LBJ who I slept with

Brokaw: TMI doris

Meachem: i haz advise for new preznit

Brokaw: do tell

Meachem: Obama is andrew jackson

Brokaw: maybe Obama can be on the $15 bill

Brokaw: he's very eloquent

Meachem: he's a rock star but not one of those elitist ones

Goodwin: Obama echoed FDR in the war when he said we will get there

Brokaw: that's wasn't MLK?

Goodwin: who?

Brokaw: is he black enough

Mitchell: he's President enough!

Brokaw: but not from the inner city

Mitchell: but he's got a white mother and worked in the city - it's fascinating

Brokaw: krauthammer says he's Putin

Meachem: he's actually very tough - who knew??

Brokaw: not a weak intellectual black man?

Meachem: i didn't believe it - but McCain ran a noble campaign

Goodwin: Obama should appoint McCain cabinet

Brokaw: will inner city blacks run the country?

Goodwin: this is a fucking fun time to live in America!

The Chris Matthews Show - November 9, 2008

The Chris Matthews Show
November 9, 2008
*****************************

Tweety: No Drama Obama! Oh noes!!

Obama: the road ahead is long and there are alot of bathroom breaks along the way

Tweety: can he he save my 401k?

Rather: he's bold but cautious - no highs or lows

Tucker: the Man canceled the fireworks cause he didn't want to make John McCain cry

Brooks: he's post-Boomer that's Audacious! But Cautious! He's Caudacious!

Tweety: ha I love it!

Bumiller: unlike Bush he read newspapers

Tweety: he is really is a socialist who will make people wait in line for a heart transplant

Rather: that's bad news for Dick Cheney

Tweety: ha

Rather: i expect him to govern from the center

Brooks: my opinion matters a great deal

Tweety: Ronald Reagan taught us you must get it all done early before you go senile

Brooks: he should no do anything at all

Tucker: bullshit you simpering fop

Brooks: Obama's people are nice and kind -- it's really weird

Bumiller: what planet are you on - Obama is mean

Brooks: no he isn't

Bumiller: ok you've convinced me

Rather: Obama is as optimistic as a frog on a Texas griddle

Tweety: what would you ask Bush?

Bumiller: why are you such a fuck up?

Rather: when are you leaving?

Tucker: nothing from Stupid

Brooks: Obama should ask to have sex with Laura

Tweety: where is the bowling alley?

Tweety: let me relive the ‘68 Convention also the battle of Lexington

Rather [ in 68] : take your hands off me pigs!

Tweety: that was awesome

Tweety: will the GOP love Obama

Brooks: McCain will help Obama depending on how long he lives

Tweety: only John McCain knows how pass legislation

Bumiller: uh...

Tweety: Will Obama offer him a cabinet postition?

Bumiller: uh...

Tweety: Rahm is bad

Rather: that's good

Tweety: uh...

Tucker: he's jerk but he's Obama's jerk

Bumiller: moderate GOP hate Randy Schumerman

Rather: Rahm solves Obama's Jewish problem

Tweety: what else

Rather: Obama must decide where to dump Bill Richardson

Tucker: there were 80,000 undervotes in Georgia - that means people voted for President and then left

Tweety: What about Race Relations!?

Bumiller: blacks and whites gettin' along!

Rather: it's all horseshit

Tucker: they are teh cutest family ever - they will show an upper middle class black family

Tweety: i thought that was teh Cosbys

Brooks: the lesson of this campaign is that America is not a racist country

Tweety: whites secretly voted for Barack but couldn't tell anyone down at the knight of columbus hall - the Obama Effect

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Clinton For Senate Homeland Security

Show of hands:

Who thinks Senator Clinton would do a better job as Chair of
the Senate Committee on Homeland Security than Joe Lieberman?*


Thought so.


*Who here think she's earned it?

Friday, November 07, 2008

Georgia Claims on Russia War Called Into Question

By C. J. CHIVERS and ELLEN BARRY

TBILISI, Georgia — Newly available accounts by independent military observers of the beginning of the war between Georgia and Russia this summer call into question the longstanding Georgian assertion that it was acting defensively against separatist and Russian aggression.

Instead, the accounts suggest that Georgia’s inexperienced military attacked the isolated separatist capital of Tskhinvali on Aug. 7 with indiscriminate artillery and rocket fire, exposing civilians, Russian peacekeepers and unarmed monitors to harm.

The accounts are neither fully conclusive nor broad enough to settle the many lingering disputes over blame in a war that hardened relations between the Kremlin and the West. But they raise questions about the accuracy and honesty of Georgia’s insistence that its shelling of Tskhinvali, the capital of the breakaway region of South Ossetia, was a precise operation. Georgia has variously defended the shelling as necessary to stop heavy Ossetian shelling of Georgian villages, bring order to the region or counter a Russian invasion.


Obama was right??

Thursday, November 06, 2008

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"If I cost John McCain even one vote, I am sorry about that,
because John McCain, I believe, is the American hero."

- Gov. Sarah Palin

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Election Predictions

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

Barack Obama - 349

John McCain - 189

WINNER OF THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

** BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA **

**************************************************************

States Won by
John McCain:

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
West Virginia
Wyoming

States Won by
Barack Obama:

California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Hawaii
Iowa
Illinois
Massachusetts
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New Jersey
New York
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
****************************************

Hey, everyone has a prediction, right? (Not vouched for accuracy.)