Far, Far, FAR, Beyond Good and Evil

Lawrence O'Donnell - now there's another piece of work. And, yes, me-buckos, damned if he doesn't continuously try to improve upon it. Just last night (for example), while substituting for Keith Olbermann, Mr. O'Donnell, in noting that (NRC chairman) Michael Steele's possible successor was once a member of a white's only country-club, also stipulated this little gem of a gem (I'm paraphrasing, of course): "I don't know, though. Republicans don't necessarily seem all that impressed with the country-club types anymore, even if they DO practice racism." And, yes, me-buckos, the fact that he says the bulk of this stuff so coldly/matter of factly, it's all, ALL-TOGETHER creepy, I'm thinking (Olbermann-like, too - pretty near)...............................................................................................P.S. Add to this the fact that Joy Behar apparently doesn't think that Sarah Palin's supporters (of which I - albeit somewhat smitten - am NOT one) are capable of, HELLO!, reading! and, yeah, one could easily get the impression here that both sides just might need to tone it down a notch (this, I'm saying, as opposed to only those racist, illiterate Republicans).

The (Without a Doubt) Most Hyperbolic Statement in Human History

"What Hitler did in 12 years cannot be compared to what Israel has done in twelve days."....Anis Mansour, October magazine (an Egyptian publication) - this (such an idiotic analogy to the nazi atrocities), in response to Israel's 1982 attempt to destroy the PLO terror network in Lebanon. And, yes, apparently he was paid for it, too.

Scozzafava

I'm sorry. I guess I just kind of like saying it. SCOZZAFAVA!!!!!

HOW COLD WAS IT?

It was so cold today, folks, I saw this lawyer on the street corner....and this time he had his hands in his own pockets.

Drooling (Literally) For Attention/Relevance

I have literally no idea what Dick Cheney is talking about. Yes, President Obama wants to close the prison at Guantanamo. But so did President Bush....and so does Senator McCain. Yes, President Obama sought to eliminate water-boarding as an interrogation technique. But so, too, did President Bush. Ditto, Senator McCain. Yes, President Obama thinks that this Nigerian born terrorist ought to be tried in an American court. But so, apparently, did President Bush think similarly when it came to shoe-bomber Richard Reid. I mean, seriously here.............................................................................................And, yes, speaking of being "weak on terror", was it not the Bush folks who actually did the premature releasing of these terror suspects? CERTAINLY, you've got pundits like Charles Krauthammer trying to soften the blow - this, by saying that George Bush was simply trying to appease the left here (it was the fault of the left, in other words)....and that the right did in fact criticise Bush for this action (they actually didn't....or they did it so fast that I blinked and missed it). But, clearly, it doesn't persuade, even a little............................................................................................In fact, folks, all that these people are attempting to do (Cheney, especially) is to tar/weaken the President. It's an unseemly enterprise and, yes, it should probably stop. I mean, seriously here; 30,000 additional troops in Afghanistan, a rock-solid increase in the Defense budget, an INCREASE in predator drone strikes in Pakistan, the assemblage of a strong foreign policy team (replete with Bush's own Secretary of Defense), a continuation of rendition, warrant-less wire-taps, indefinite incarceration, etc.. Yes, friends, that security breach in the Netherlands was major scary (not to mention Napolitano's reaction to it). But to say that this President is weak on terror - that is nothing but rank hyperbole.

Mythical Mantra

There are a lot of legitimate criticisms that one could conceivably level against the President; a lack of leadership pertaining to the stimulus and health care, a questionable strategy regarding Afghanistan (i.e., the sending of 30,000 additional troops to a country in which our enemy apparently no longer resides), etc.. And, then, of course, there are the other, far more, unfair criticisms.......................................................................................Take, for example, this whole "he's constantly apologizing for America" schpeal that the far-right (Monica Crowley being the latest to make this charge) has basically turned into its creed. I mean, yes, I know that I've written about this before and all but, please, PLEASE. President Obama has made but a spate of comments along these lines; America sometimes being arrogant (fairly factual, in my opinion), America acting unilaterally (again, probably factual), etc.. And he always, ALWAYS, makes these comments within the context of infinitely broader speeches, speeches in which he always criticizes the rest of the world, too.........................................................................................Of course, the motivation is obvious here. The far-right wants to portray the President as weak; weak on terror, weak in general. And, yes, to embarrass him, too. It's ridiculous and, yeah, maybe even a little bit despicable..........................................................................................P.S. Yes, folks, the President does from time to time play with the language here. But, really, does it matter all that much whether or not we call it a "war on terror" (this, I'm saying, as opposed to, say, a struggle against armed extremists)? I mean, really, does it?

Dagum That Lump in My Throat

Sports inspirational stories are usually hokey - no question. But I am telling you here, when Chief Osceola handed that flaming spear to Bobby Bowden, and Bowden himself slammed it into the turf (this, just before the beginning of today's Gator Bowl), THAT was frigging drama.........................................................................................For the one or two of you out there who aren't aware, today was the very last game for Florida State's great/legendary (and, yes, believe it or not, highly embattled this year) coach. And, yes, folks, the fact that FSU's opponent today was none other than West Virginia, the school that he had coached at prior to coming to Tallahassee (that, and the fact that several hundred of his former players came to witness it), the suspence was nearly unbearable. Thankfully (at least if you're a Seminoles fan), the players themselves were able to rally around their venerable leader and chalk up a victory, 33-21 (Bowden's 389th of his career, 2nd all-time). Thankfully, folks, in that, clearly, any other result would have left a bitter taste in pretty much everybody's mouth.