A Weblog of Centrist Voices in American Politics
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A Weblog of Centrist Voices in American Politics | |
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January 20, 2006(TAHPIF) Thank A Higher Power It's Friday!Just because we should... Your picks for this weekend. Who goes, who stays home? Talk it up! Posted by Abel Rabinowitz at January 20, 2006 09:07 AM | TrackBackComments
I have to admit, I'm scratching my noggin trying to figure out the Dem's strategy here. As they try to put together a strategy for '06 they are following this bizzare path that just doesn't make sense. Newly elected Gov. Kaine is their choice to respond to Bush's State of the Union address? First of all, he doesn't have an engaging TV presence at all. What about promoting a rising star such as Rep. Harold Ford? That aside, here we have a video from Osama and a chance for the Dems to zero in on the fact that despite Bush's best efforts bin Laden is still at large...we still seem to not have the most clearly defined Iraq strategy...Iran has nukes...and they pick a brand new Gov w/ absolutely no foriegn policy experience (who supported the war) to respond to Bush. Where's the logic here??? I'm not saying they should put Murtha on, but my god! To top that off, the House Dems roll out their new Ethics focus and name Rep. Clyburn as the Chair to lead the investigation. Of course, they fail to mention he was on one of those infamous golfing trips. Then, Rep. Slaughter pipes in with her piece about day trading out of Bill Frist's office. It's so disorganized and random you just can't help but laugh. My picks for this weekend: Steelers and Panthers. Should be some great games... Posted by: AR at January 20, 2006 09:17 AMFrom digging through the stats, I'm calling a home team sweep, Seahawks and Broncos. (I know, I know, yawn.) Steelers are much likelier to win an upset than the Panthers are, though. Unless Seattle just plain turns the ball over a bunch they should be able to handle the Panthers in Seattle. Pittsburgh/Denver will be a defensive slugfest out the gate. Good matchup there, more potential for a tight and exciting game. My Alito call has declined a bit. I make it 65 to 68 votes in favor, a clear margin over the filibuster level. The Dems picked Kaine because he's a red-state Dem guv who has several years to cover himself, having just been seated. Ford can't afford to stick his neck out at this point in his runup for Frist's seat--he's also running in a red state. Same reason you won't see Ben Nelson making that speech. If he's too mellow, he PO's the national base. If he's too vehement, the GOP waves the "radical Dems" flag for next year's races. The Dems are starting their transition to playing moderate in red states for the campaign season. The dance has begun. It's fun watching the Dems and GOP competing in the House to see who can write the toughest ethics reform bill. Almost like escape artists in rewind--which can tie everyone up the tightest? We can but cheer for both sides in their efforts, and wish them the greatest of success. :-) Posted by: Tully at January 20, 2006 09:51 AMThe thing is Tully...you know as well as I do that the thing will be full of loopholes and they'll figure a way to get out of it. Do we really think they are going to give up their free dinners and educational trips? Posted by: AR at January 20, 2006 10:57 AMThink so? No. Not unless it comes with a major replacement bonus, like a doubling of Congressional pay. Even that would be a major ground shift on the Hill, and would lead to new forms of influence and corruption. Politicians are infinitely adaptable, and power is like water--it always finds a crack to seep through. But I can always enjoy a good circus parade. This one has potential. Posted by: Tully at January 20, 2006 11:19 AMI don't see this SOTU response as a place to make a strident high-stakes appeal. So I don't think the most eager top lights of the party are angling for this spot. Bin Laden? What's our strongly conclusive evidence that he's still alive? Have any of his post-bombing-the-hell-out-of-the-Pakistani-mountains misaals been peppered with references or cues that show for sure that they really were just ande and that he's therefore alive? Did Bin Laden mention Branjolina or the NFL playoffs or Hurricane Katrina? Or is it possible that he studied Nostradamus and made a bunch of vague anticipatory tapes for consumption by the credulous, to use in case he got blasted to smithereens: use if there is a bid natural disaster; use if we have a successful attack in Europe; use if thbings are going poorply in our most prominent battleground; use as periodic morale boosters. I dare Bin Laden to make a videotape of himself holding the January 20th Dirka-Dirka Street Journal, talking about current events, and to get a high quality copy of this tape into our hands same day. NFL? In my head I think I should be rooting for the Seahawks or maybe the Steelers (who have suffered a lot in the last couple decades). But my heart says Panthers. The only way I can ever root for the team that knocked out mine is if some team worthy of Yankee-level hate remains as the opponent. So I can't root for Denver. But thery have a great squad. If I had to pick, I'd take both road teams, who have really BIG MO. I expect Plummer to crack unless the Broncos come up with a way to use the Steelers' aggressiveness against them. And I think the Panthers are a hot veteran team coming together at the right time. Headline writers everywhere are hoping for Carolina-Denver so they can use "The Two Jakes." Posted by: bk at January 20, 2006 11:28 AMSeahawks and Steelers. And meanwhile, consider the reaction (not least in France) if Bush had made a comment like this: I'll be rooting for the Panthers, just because I love an underdog fighting uphill. But I won't bet on 'em. I think that line's too small. Gimme 8 instead of 4 or 5 and I'd think about Betting Carolina. Or take the over. I'd take Denver even-up, no points. Or the under. You can't appreciate the home-field advantage they enjoy unless you've been there a few times. But they're too evenly matched to be giving points away to anyone. Steelers will lean on Plummer--the Broncos have no serious backup for QB, just a first-year rookie with no field time. But Plummer does his best work, such as it is, when forced out of the pocket. Posted by: Tully at January 20, 2006 12:39 PMdare Bin Laden to make a videotape of himself holding the January 20th Dirka-Dirka Street Journal, talking about current events, and to get a high quality copy of this tape into our hands same day. So true! Lol. What's up with a multi-millionaire having the cheapest audio and video equipment known to man? Hell, my three year old can shoot better video. WJ...the link didn't come thru, but I'm assuming that you are talking about Chirac's comments. Here's the difference: Everyone knows Chirac is full of hot air. The French say a lot of things, but following thru is another matter altogether. On the other hand, I think Bush has made it pretty clear that if he says he's going to bomb the hell out of you, you'd probably better burrow into that cave. Just yesterday I read of poll reports that Frenchmen overwhelming regard Chirac's thumbing of the French nose at our Iraq policy as his greatest triumph. It got like 69%, and every other choice got singe digits. Perhaps the appearance of these comments today is just a coincidence... ...In other news, following the new warnings issued by Bin Laden, France escalated its terror warning from run to hide. The only remaining higher threat levels in the French system are surrender and collaborate. Posted by: bk at January 20, 2006 01:44 PMYou have to wonder how the country that spawned Napoleon and helped us get rid of the British became the joke it is today. I think it's kind of like the evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Napoleon and the World Wars killed off all the macho Frenchmen. Posted by: Bob J Young at January 20, 2006 01:59 PMWell, maybe Chirac hasn't had many other triumphs. Besides, if I were French, I'd probably agree with the other voters. What part of not invading Iraq has gone badly for France? Posted by: Oberon at January 20, 2006 02:08 PMHow did Centerfield come out at the Bloggies, by the by? I missed that chapter. Posted by: Blue Jean at January 20, 2006 02:23 PMLooks like Iran is pulling a Russia with Turkey. They cut the natural gas supply in the middle of the winter. I guess it's time for Turkey to play "who's your daddy!" Posted by: Bob J Young at January 20, 2006 02:36 PMMiddle of the pack for also-ran's, Jean. Posted by: Tully at January 20, 2006 02:54 PMThanks, Tully. Well, better luck next year! Posted by: Blue Jean at January 20, 2006 08:54 PM http://www.20six.co.uk/mHAe-old-hairy-men/ - mHAe old hairy men http://www.20six.co.uk/mHAe-old-hairy-men/ Please post a comment
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