A meeting of the Rules and Bylaws Committee of the Democratic National Committee is not the sort of thing that will ever make for good television, but due to the prolonged ridiculousness of this campaign today’s meeting is being covered by all the major news outlets as if it was. I’m an addict for this stuff, I freely admit that, and in spite of myself I have looked in on the process a few times this afternoon. And each time I have been struck by how incredibly arrogant and unapologetic are the representatives from the states of Michigan and Florida. Who are these people to demand anything when they knowingly and willfully broke party rules for no other reason than a childish desire to cut the line and be first? If they had any shame at all then they would be mortified to stand up and argue that the results of their non-sanctioned primary contests should be honored.
The Democratic Party needs to make nice with two states that will surely impact the outcome in November—but the rest of us do not. A compromise is sure to be reached by the time the committee adjourns this evening, but any such compromise is a slap in the face to every voter in every state that followed the rules and voted in turn.
This is not a question of Clinton vs. Obama despite that being exactly how the battle lines have been drawn. This is a question of order and an example of the necessity of the rule of law. Chaos will reign in 2012 if the full delegations from Michigan and Florida are seated in Denver. Only two states jumped the line this time around. If there is no repercussion then that number will grow in four years.
These are the days that remind me exactly why it is that I am an independent.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Words of Wisdom
Beat LA!
Beat LA!
Beat LA!
Ahh...sounds just as good as it did 20 years ago. Or 21 even.
Beat LA!
Beat LA!
Ahh...sounds just as good as it did 20 years ago. Or 21 even.
Friday, May 30, 2008
LOST
The Opening: The opening sequence, for me, was another of those holy shit! moments this show does so very well. We have seen Kate drive away from Jack so many times now, when those brake lights went on I almost jumped out of my seat.
The Casket: Now we know it was John Locke in the casket all along. This was not a shocker—he was always a likely suspect and one that made sense—but that scenario seemed less likely once we learned he was not one of the Oceanic Six. Why Jeremy Bentham? Because “John Locke” is already officially dead, and it was Locke who was so very adamant that the truth about the island and the crash be covered up. Of course he would use a pseudonym…but why that particular one?
The Explosion: Poor Jin. And, yes, poor Michael too. It is hard to feel sorry for a guy who is the cold-blooded murderer of two innocent women, but Michael did all he could to redeem himself. And that one final act of staying behind so Jin could make the ill-fated sprint to the helicopter—that was heroic. The explosion was tragic…but what significance is there to the last second appearance of the suddenly omnipresent Christian Shepherd? I think it is more than likely that neither Jin nor Michael is dead in any traditional sense you or I would recognize. Jack’s father has been dead since the show began, and he gets as much screen time as anybody.
(And while we are talking about the explosion of the freighter, what about the dozen or so crew members who were also on deck as Jin ran to the helicopter? Or the nameless/faceless passengers Faraday brought along with Sun and Aaron on his first trip out to the ship? Didn’t these people fall victim to the same fiery death—with the only difference being that no one even considered making room for them on the helicopter? I’m just sayin’.)
The Badass: How badass is Sawyer? Let us count the ways. Nah, that would take too long. Let us name two. First, as my roommate Tony noted at the time, it would have taken a mere mortal man hours to cut through a set of handcuffs with only a hacksaw. Sawyer did it in minutes. And then the plunge from the helicopter to save Kate—who among us didn’t get a little choked up? Of course it would not be LOST without another question: what did he whisper in her ear right before jumping? Presumably it was not, “I’m going to take my shirt off, swim back to the beach, get drunk on Dharma Rum and bang Juliette.”
The Fight: How about the heavyweight tussle between Sayid and Keamy? It would have been better without the Vince McMahon-esque non-ending—who shoots a guy wearing Kevlar in the back and expects him to die? I said out loud, as it happened, “SHOOT HIM IN THE FUCKING HEAD!” Did anyone listen? Nope.
The Nuthouse: Hurley had more than his fair share of visitors at the asylum this week. We got to see the return of Walt, whose growth spurt liability is now an asset given the new flash-forward-rather-than-back aspect of the show. (Any kid that age would change considerably over the three plus years that seem to have passed between the crash and the now-present.) Sayid knows how to make an entrance, pausing only to shoot a guy outside before paying a late night visit. And Mr. Eko…it would have been good to see you again.
The Climax: Moving the island. Um…what? I think it is safe to assume that if we had followed Ben forward after he turned that wheel we would have seen him again wake up in the desert, a scene we glimpsed earlier this season. And with the knowledge that “Bentham” reported to everyone that “a lot of bad things” happened on the island after the departure of the Oceanic Six, we can pretty much surmise that moving the island is how Locke ended up back in the United States as well. He saw Ben go through the early steps and witnessed the results. Presented with a desperate situation later on it is logical to assume Locke would try to duplicate the feat in hopes of again saving the island. But what exactly was that feat? What could cause an island to “disappear” in a flash of light only to presumably reappear somewhere else?
And what of his death? Sayid reported that “they are calling it a suicide” in regards to Bentham/Locke’s death—almost certainly implying that it was anything but a suicide. Does that mean John Locke is destined to fall victim to a murder in season five?
The countdown to next season begins. Let us all hope there is no labor strife to again fuck things up.
The Casket: Now we know it was John Locke in the casket all along. This was not a shocker—he was always a likely suspect and one that made sense—but that scenario seemed less likely once we learned he was not one of the Oceanic Six. Why Jeremy Bentham? Because “John Locke” is already officially dead, and it was Locke who was so very adamant that the truth about the island and the crash be covered up. Of course he would use a pseudonym…but why that particular one?
The Explosion: Poor Jin. And, yes, poor Michael too. It is hard to feel sorry for a guy who is the cold-blooded murderer of two innocent women, but Michael did all he could to redeem himself. And that one final act of staying behind so Jin could make the ill-fated sprint to the helicopter—that was heroic. The explosion was tragic…but what significance is there to the last second appearance of the suddenly omnipresent Christian Shepherd? I think it is more than likely that neither Jin nor Michael is dead in any traditional sense you or I would recognize. Jack’s father has been dead since the show began, and he gets as much screen time as anybody.
(And while we are talking about the explosion of the freighter, what about the dozen or so crew members who were also on deck as Jin ran to the helicopter? Or the nameless/faceless passengers Faraday brought along with Sun and Aaron on his first trip out to the ship? Didn’t these people fall victim to the same fiery death—with the only difference being that no one even considered making room for them on the helicopter? I’m just sayin’.)
The Badass: How badass is Sawyer? Let us count the ways. Nah, that would take too long. Let us name two. First, as my roommate Tony noted at the time, it would have taken a mere mortal man hours to cut through a set of handcuffs with only a hacksaw. Sawyer did it in minutes. And then the plunge from the helicopter to save Kate—who among us didn’t get a little choked up? Of course it would not be LOST without another question: what did he whisper in her ear right before jumping? Presumably it was not, “I’m going to take my shirt off, swim back to the beach, get drunk on Dharma Rum and bang Juliette.”
The Fight: How about the heavyweight tussle between Sayid and Keamy? It would have been better without the Vince McMahon-esque non-ending—who shoots a guy wearing Kevlar in the back and expects him to die? I said out loud, as it happened, “SHOOT HIM IN THE FUCKING HEAD!” Did anyone listen? Nope.
The Nuthouse: Hurley had more than his fair share of visitors at the asylum this week. We got to see the return of Walt, whose growth spurt liability is now an asset given the new flash-forward-rather-than-back aspect of the show. (Any kid that age would change considerably over the three plus years that seem to have passed between the crash and the now-present.) Sayid knows how to make an entrance, pausing only to shoot a guy outside before paying a late night visit. And Mr. Eko…it would have been good to see you again.
The Climax: Moving the island. Um…what? I think it is safe to assume that if we had followed Ben forward after he turned that wheel we would have seen him again wake up in the desert, a scene we glimpsed earlier this season. And with the knowledge that “Bentham” reported to everyone that “a lot of bad things” happened on the island after the departure of the Oceanic Six, we can pretty much surmise that moving the island is how Locke ended up back in the United States as well. He saw Ben go through the early steps and witnessed the results. Presented with a desperate situation later on it is logical to assume Locke would try to duplicate the feat in hopes of again saving the island. But what exactly was that feat? What could cause an island to “disappear” in a flash of light only to presumably reappear somewhere else?
And what of his death? Sayid reported that “they are calling it a suicide” in regards to Bentham/Locke’s death—almost certainly implying that it was anything but a suicide. Does that mean John Locke is destined to fall victim to a murder in season five?
The countdown to next season begins. Let us all hope there is no labor strife to again fuck things up.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Get Up, Stand Up
September 5th, 2008:
We don’t currently have a President willing to issue the national call to arms it will take to beat cancer—yet. But what we do have is ABC, NBC, and CBS all willing to work together. What we do have is Charlie Gibson, Brian Williams, and Katie Couric all on the same stage at the same time during the same broadcast. What we do have is the voice of Sidney Poitier and the music of Eddie Vedder. What we do have is a cast of thousands willing to do their part. And, most of all, what we do have is the overwhelming power of Keanu Reeves.
Get up.
Stand up.
We don’t currently have a President willing to issue the national call to arms it will take to beat cancer—yet. But what we do have is ABC, NBC, and CBS all willing to work together. What we do have is Charlie Gibson, Brian Williams, and Katie Couric all on the same stage at the same time during the same broadcast. What we do have is the voice of Sidney Poitier and the music of Eddie Vedder. What we do have is a cast of thousands willing to do their part. And, most of all, what we do have is the overwhelming power of Keanu Reeves.
Get up.
Stand up.
Monday, May 26, 2008
A Prediction
The winner of tonight’s game 4 between the Celtics and Pistons will win the series. If Boston can take two in a row in Detroit then the Pistons will get steamrolled in game 5. If it comes back here tied at 2 then we are looking at another potential 7 game series—and the Celtics have already survived that twice. Three times may be once too many. It is a strange thing to say about a team that has thus far already survived two elimination games, but tonight may just represent the biggest game of this season.
We shall see.
JUNE 1st UPDATE:
Never before have I been happier to be so completely wrong. Beat LA!
We shall see.
JUNE 1st UPDATE:
Never before have I been happier to be so completely wrong. Beat LA!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Ugly Read
Here we have Senator Hillary Clinton, in her own words, on why she is still in this race. And, not surprisingly, “I’m waiting for my black opponent to get killed by one of the racist shitheads who voted for me in West Virginia” is not at the top of the list. But whether or not she is admitting it to herself—and it very well may be completely unspoken and even subconscious—it is there on her mind. If you are still supporting this person then you need to ask yourself why. She is undeserving of the Presidency and has been since the beginning of this campaign. If the unthinkable should happen to Barack Obama then the Democratic Party should turn to Al Gore or John Edwards, not Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Question: Can anyone point out where in this article she apologizes to Senator Obama for insinuating that his death would be good for her campaign?
Sorry. Trick question. You cannot because she does not.
She apologizes to the Kennedys, who most likely have more than enough on their collective plates this weekend already, but not to her opponent. And in refusing to offer an apology to the man most deserving of one she has the audacity to insinuate that it is she who has yet again been victimized, this time by those who would take her comments out of context—despite the video evidence that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt what she said, why she said it, and what she meant.
Barack Obama has a run a brilliant campaign, an honorable campaign, and a winning campaign. He is the presumptive and rightful nominee. He should not be forced to take on a VP with the baggage of Hillary Clinton, who lacks so many of the basic decencies as Hillary Clinton, and who has now openly pondered his death as political benefit, as has Hillary Clinton.
Can we really trust her to be a heartbeat away?
_________________________________
Worth ten minutes of your life:
Keith Olbermann gave yet another brilliant “Special Comment” Friday night on this very issue. Olbermann is quickly becoming the very best at what he does.
Question: Can anyone point out where in this article she apologizes to Senator Obama for insinuating that his death would be good for her campaign?
Sorry. Trick question. You cannot because she does not.
She apologizes to the Kennedys, who most likely have more than enough on their collective plates this weekend already, but not to her opponent. And in refusing to offer an apology to the man most deserving of one she has the audacity to insinuate that it is she who has yet again been victimized, this time by those who would take her comments out of context—despite the video evidence that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt what she said, why she said it, and what she meant.
Barack Obama has a run a brilliant campaign, an honorable campaign, and a winning campaign. He is the presumptive and rightful nominee. He should not be forced to take on a VP with the baggage of Hillary Clinton, who lacks so many of the basic decencies as Hillary Clinton, and who has now openly pondered his death as political benefit, as has Hillary Clinton.
Can we really trust her to be a heartbeat away?
_________________________________
Worth ten minutes of your life:
Keith Olbermann gave yet another brilliant “Special Comment” Friday night on this very issue. Olbermann is quickly becoming the very best at what he does.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Must-Read Peggy Noonan
Peggy Noonan is always a good read. Today she is even better. Do yourself a favor and read this column. Here is a highlight:
“So, to address the charge that sexism did her in:
It is insulting, because it asserts that those who supported someone else this year were driven by low prejudice and mindless bias.
It is manipulative, because it asserts that if you want to be understood, both within the community and in the larger brotherhood of man, to be wholly without bias and prejudice, you must support Mrs. Clinton.
It is not true. Tough hill-country men voted for her, men so backward they'd give the lady a chair in the union hall. Tough Catholic men in the outer suburbs voted for her, men so backward they'd call a woman a lady. And all of them so naturally courteous that they'd realize, in offering the chair or addressing the lady, that they might have given offense, and awkwardly joke at themselves to take away the sting. These are great men. And Hillary got her share, more than her share, of their votes. She should be a guy and say thanks.
It is prissy. Mrs. Clinton's supporters are now complaining about the Hillary nutcrackers sold at every airport shop. Boo hoo. If Golda Meir, a woman of not only proclaimed but actual toughness, heard about Golda nutcrackers, she would have bought them by the case and given them away as party favors.
It is sissy. It is blame-gaming, whining, a way of not taking responsibility, of not seeing your flaws and addressing them. You want to say "Girl, butch up, you are playing in the leagues, they get bruised in the leagues, they break each other's bones, they like to hit you low and hear the crack, it's like that for the boys and for the girls."
And because the charge of sexism is all of the above, it is, ultimately, undermining of the position of women. Or rather it would be if its source were not someone broadly understood by friend and foe alike to be willing to say anything to gain advantage.”
Brilliance, beginning to end.
“So, to address the charge that sexism did her in:
It is insulting, because it asserts that those who supported someone else this year were driven by low prejudice and mindless bias.
It is manipulative, because it asserts that if you want to be understood, both within the community and in the larger brotherhood of man, to be wholly without bias and prejudice, you must support Mrs. Clinton.
It is not true. Tough hill-country men voted for her, men so backward they'd give the lady a chair in the union hall. Tough Catholic men in the outer suburbs voted for her, men so backward they'd call a woman a lady. And all of them so naturally courteous that they'd realize, in offering the chair or addressing the lady, that they might have given offense, and awkwardly joke at themselves to take away the sting. These are great men. And Hillary got her share, more than her share, of their votes. She should be a guy and say thanks.
It is prissy. Mrs. Clinton's supporters are now complaining about the Hillary nutcrackers sold at every airport shop. Boo hoo. If Golda Meir, a woman of not only proclaimed but actual toughness, heard about Golda nutcrackers, she would have bought them by the case and given them away as party favors.
It is sissy. It is blame-gaming, whining, a way of not taking responsibility, of not seeing your flaws and addressing them. You want to say "Girl, butch up, you are playing in the leagues, they get bruised in the leagues, they break each other's bones, they like to hit you low and hear the crack, it's like that for the boys and for the girls."
And because the charge of sexism is all of the above, it is, ultimately, undermining of the position of women. Or rather it would be if its source were not someone broadly understood by friend and foe alike to be willing to say anything to gain advantage.”
Brilliance, beginning to end.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Thoughts and Observations: Kentucky and Oregon Edition
7pm: We start on a down note as the polls close in Kentucky and Hillary Clinton, as expected, is the early winner. She has about a 5 point edge with roughly 11% of precincts reporting—but that number won’t hold. Kentucky tonight will be just as bad as West Virginia was for Barack Obama a week ago. And neither state will be in play for the Democrats come November, regardless of who the nominee may be or what you might read.
Keith Olbermann brings us up to speed on the unexpected story of the day, that senior Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He raises the point that Obama should perhaps scrap all plans to declare victory tonight and devote his entire speech to Kennedy. It isn’t a bad idea. Kennedy endorsed Barack despite polls indicating Massachusetts was not going to follow along in the run-up to Super Tuesday, and it would be a classy move to put the race on hold if even for only one night in his honor. Plus…no candidate should be declaring victory when they have just been slaughtered in Kentucky.
Meanwhile, at Fenway: Red Sox rookie pitcher Justin Masterson, making his very first Major League start tonight, looks to be no more than 13 years old at best. Few things in this world make me feel older than the Sox bringing up a rookie who looks like he is not only not old enough to buy beer but maybe not even old enough to vote. And this happens with some regularity.
7:33: I reiterate my promise to myself to not pour my first drink until at least 8pm. This may turn into a long night. Polls in Oregon won’t even close until 11 here in the East, and game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals could drag out till at least that hour as well. But—if Terry McAuliffe appears before then all bets are off.
7:45: The first trickle of rain at Fenway. The forecast has been threatening rain for days and we have yet to see it here in Boston. I hope it holds off long enough for this kid to get a decision, good or bad.
Breaking News from MSNBC: Hillary Clinton to speak to supporters at 8pm. Now we have two reasons to hope the rain holds off.
Meanwhile, in Secaucus, NJ: The Chicago Bulls have won the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery, vaulting all the way from the 9th spot to shatter the dreams of the Miami Heat and secure the first pick in next month’s NBA draft. Serves Pat Riley and the Heat right for tanking the season, just as it kindasortamaybeinaway served the Celtics right last year. Miami is certainly a city that can attract free agents. They’ll be fine.
8:19: My roommate Mandy asks why I have no drink in front of me despite the time now being well after 8. I have no excuse. Joe arrives with Baby and Odin (the dogs) and it is chaos in the living room. A strategic retreat to the bedroom may be in order.
I decide to stick it out rather than retreat, and as a result my notes for the first half are a shambles. I am amazed that the Boston Celtics felt the need to work “A Rivalry Renewed” into their pregame introductions. And for those keeping score at home, Ray Allen’s first god-awful three point attempt was what finally prompted me to pour a drink. That and the fact that ESPN play-by-play man Mike Breen still tried to refer to Allen as “the best pure shooter in the NBA.” Really? Do you watch the NBA? How do these guys get these jobs?
Halftime comes just in time to watch Papelbon close it out for Masterson over at Fenway. The kid ended up going 6 1/3 innings and giving up only three hits and no runs. Sure, it was against the Kansas City Royals, but that is not a bad way to start a career.
And then the reality slap: MSNBC is reporting that California Governor and Kennedy Cousin-In-Law Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced in remarks tonight that the tumor is inoperable. My heart breaks for the entire Kennedy clan. Nothing can prepare you for the punch in the stomach that comes when a doctor looks you in the eye and delivers that news about a loved one. Nothing.
We really are experiencing a strange pair of days in this regard here in the Commonwealth. John Lester, himself a cancer survivor, throws a no-hitter for the Red Sox on Monday. The very next day Ted Kennedy is diagnosed. Words don’t really do justice the rollercoaster of emotions that go along with that. The Red Sox and the Kennedys are two of the pillars upon which this region is built. To have cancer now so prominently involved with both is in some ways terrifying.
But perhaps, just perhaps, some good can come of it. Lester’s performance has to be an inspiration to cancer patients everywhere, and if as famous a persona as Ted Kennedy can be struck down by the disease then it can only serve to increase awareness and rally new forces to the fight. Because that is what it is, a fight, and we all need to do our part. Whether it is by making a donation, or volunteering, or just being there for a friend in need, we can all help. If we can split the atom, if we can go to the moon, if we can clone human beings, then we can cure fucking cancer.
Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled program.
10:13: Obama speaks to his supporters in Iowa. He talks about Teddy, and unity, and about beating John McCain—but not disrespectfully. John McCain may not deserve your vote, but he does deserve all of our respect. He spent six years in a cage. How many of us can honestly say we would be able to survive something like that? Not many.
Unity is the key to Obama’s remarks tonight and may be another silver lining to the night’s ugly news. I’m not sure anything can fully seal the chasms that have developed inside the Democratic Party this year, but a call to rally around Ted Kennedy may just do it.
Meanwhile, at the Garden: My man Leon Powe is making free throws and Eddie House is knocking down threes. The Celtics are up 69-57 at the end of three quarters. I must admit, I feel preoccupied by what is happening in Kentucky and Oregon and at the Mass General. This game suddenly seems less important.
10:45: My roommate Tony walks in with pizza. HEAVEN. I can rally.
11pm: Obama is the winner in the People’s Republic of Oregon. Meanwhile, in the Land of Make Believe, Hillary is still pushing the popular vote argument. My stomach turns. Oh, and it gets better, because while Obama has been talking about unity, Geraldine Ferraro has resumed her woe-is-me campaign and announced in an interview that Barack Obama is a sexist and she just doesn’t think she can vote for him. What makes him a sexist? It’s vague at best. The moral, as always, is that Geraldine Ferraro is a jackass. Much like the black community will be better off when leaders like Al Sharpton and Jeremiah Wright are swept away and replaced by the next generation, so too will the feminist movement benefit from new leadership. Geraldine Ferraro, Martha Burke, and Hillary Clinton have all become caricatures of victim politics—and the next generation of brilliant women are so much more than that.
11:04: Rajon Rondo nails a HUGE three-pointer and the Celtics are up 86-75 with 1:42 left to play. Three minutes later it is all over and Boston has taken game 1 89-77. I’m left wondering if this was a great game or not. I haven’t paid much attention.
11:12: Olbermann is making a complex analogy involving Jimmy Stewart, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Barack Obama, Ted Kennedy, Tim Russert, and Pat Buchanan. I’m several drinks in and completely lost.
11:15: The beautiful and talented Norah O’Donnell checks in with the exit poll data from Oregon and—SURPRISE—Obama has done well with white women there. Don’t believe the hype: More and more women are refusing to buy what the Hillary crowd is pushing.
Have I said too much tonight? Perhaps, but emotions here are running higher than usual, and this has been a long and ugly campaign. It might be bedtime. A few links before I go:
If you would like to donate to The Jimmy Fund, click here.
If you would like to donate to The American Cancer Society, click here.
And even if you don't want to donate, click anyway. We can all use a little more knowledge. Knowing is half the battle. G.I. Joe was a prophet.
Yo Joe!
Keith Olbermann brings us up to speed on the unexpected story of the day, that senior Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He raises the point that Obama should perhaps scrap all plans to declare victory tonight and devote his entire speech to Kennedy. It isn’t a bad idea. Kennedy endorsed Barack despite polls indicating Massachusetts was not going to follow along in the run-up to Super Tuesday, and it would be a classy move to put the race on hold if even for only one night in his honor. Plus…no candidate should be declaring victory when they have just been slaughtered in Kentucky.
Meanwhile, at Fenway: Red Sox rookie pitcher Justin Masterson, making his very first Major League start tonight, looks to be no more than 13 years old at best. Few things in this world make me feel older than the Sox bringing up a rookie who looks like he is not only not old enough to buy beer but maybe not even old enough to vote. And this happens with some regularity.
7:33: I reiterate my promise to myself to not pour my first drink until at least 8pm. This may turn into a long night. Polls in Oregon won’t even close until 11 here in the East, and game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals could drag out till at least that hour as well. But—if Terry McAuliffe appears before then all bets are off.
7:45: The first trickle of rain at Fenway. The forecast has been threatening rain for days and we have yet to see it here in Boston. I hope it holds off long enough for this kid to get a decision, good or bad.
Breaking News from MSNBC: Hillary Clinton to speak to supporters at 8pm. Now we have two reasons to hope the rain holds off.
Meanwhile, in Secaucus, NJ: The Chicago Bulls have won the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery, vaulting all the way from the 9th spot to shatter the dreams of the Miami Heat and secure the first pick in next month’s NBA draft. Serves Pat Riley and the Heat right for tanking the season, just as it kindasortamaybeinaway served the Celtics right last year. Miami is certainly a city that can attract free agents. They’ll be fine.
8:19: My roommate Mandy asks why I have no drink in front of me despite the time now being well after 8. I have no excuse. Joe arrives with Baby and Odin (the dogs) and it is chaos in the living room. A strategic retreat to the bedroom may be in order.
I decide to stick it out rather than retreat, and as a result my notes for the first half are a shambles. I am amazed that the Boston Celtics felt the need to work “A Rivalry Renewed” into their pregame introductions. And for those keeping score at home, Ray Allen’s first god-awful three point attempt was what finally prompted me to pour a drink. That and the fact that ESPN play-by-play man Mike Breen still tried to refer to Allen as “the best pure shooter in the NBA.” Really? Do you watch the NBA? How do these guys get these jobs?
Halftime comes just in time to watch Papelbon close it out for Masterson over at Fenway. The kid ended up going 6 1/3 innings and giving up only three hits and no runs. Sure, it was against the Kansas City Royals, but that is not a bad way to start a career.
And then the reality slap: MSNBC is reporting that California Governor and Kennedy Cousin-In-Law Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced in remarks tonight that the tumor is inoperable. My heart breaks for the entire Kennedy clan. Nothing can prepare you for the punch in the stomach that comes when a doctor looks you in the eye and delivers that news about a loved one. Nothing.
We really are experiencing a strange pair of days in this regard here in the Commonwealth. John Lester, himself a cancer survivor, throws a no-hitter for the Red Sox on Monday. The very next day Ted Kennedy is diagnosed. Words don’t really do justice the rollercoaster of emotions that go along with that. The Red Sox and the Kennedys are two of the pillars upon which this region is built. To have cancer now so prominently involved with both is in some ways terrifying.
But perhaps, just perhaps, some good can come of it. Lester’s performance has to be an inspiration to cancer patients everywhere, and if as famous a persona as Ted Kennedy can be struck down by the disease then it can only serve to increase awareness and rally new forces to the fight. Because that is what it is, a fight, and we all need to do our part. Whether it is by making a donation, or volunteering, or just being there for a friend in need, we can all help. If we can split the atom, if we can go to the moon, if we can clone human beings, then we can cure fucking cancer.
Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled program.
10:13: Obama speaks to his supporters in Iowa. He talks about Teddy, and unity, and about beating John McCain—but not disrespectfully. John McCain may not deserve your vote, but he does deserve all of our respect. He spent six years in a cage. How many of us can honestly say we would be able to survive something like that? Not many.
Unity is the key to Obama’s remarks tonight and may be another silver lining to the night’s ugly news. I’m not sure anything can fully seal the chasms that have developed inside the Democratic Party this year, but a call to rally around Ted Kennedy may just do it.
Meanwhile, at the Garden: My man Leon Powe is making free throws and Eddie House is knocking down threes. The Celtics are up 69-57 at the end of three quarters. I must admit, I feel preoccupied by what is happening in Kentucky and Oregon and at the Mass General. This game suddenly seems less important.
10:45: My roommate Tony walks in with pizza. HEAVEN. I can rally.
11pm: Obama is the winner in the People’s Republic of Oregon. Meanwhile, in the Land of Make Believe, Hillary is still pushing the popular vote argument. My stomach turns. Oh, and it gets better, because while Obama has been talking about unity, Geraldine Ferraro has resumed her woe-is-me campaign and announced in an interview that Barack Obama is a sexist and she just doesn’t think she can vote for him. What makes him a sexist? It’s vague at best. The moral, as always, is that Geraldine Ferraro is a jackass. Much like the black community will be better off when leaders like Al Sharpton and Jeremiah Wright are swept away and replaced by the next generation, so too will the feminist movement benefit from new leadership. Geraldine Ferraro, Martha Burke, and Hillary Clinton have all become caricatures of victim politics—and the next generation of brilliant women are so much more than that.
11:04: Rajon Rondo nails a HUGE three-pointer and the Celtics are up 86-75 with 1:42 left to play. Three minutes later it is all over and Boston has taken game 1 89-77. I’m left wondering if this was a great game or not. I haven’t paid much attention.
11:12: Olbermann is making a complex analogy involving Jimmy Stewart, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Barack Obama, Ted Kennedy, Tim Russert, and Pat Buchanan. I’m several drinks in and completely lost.
11:15: The beautiful and talented Norah O’Donnell checks in with the exit poll data from Oregon and—SURPRISE—Obama has done well with white women there. Don’t believe the hype: More and more women are refusing to buy what the Hillary crowd is pushing.
Have I said too much tonight? Perhaps, but emotions here are running higher than usual, and this has been a long and ugly campaign. It might be bedtime. A few links before I go:
If you would like to donate to The Jimmy Fund, click here.
If you would like to donate to The American Cancer Society, click here.
And even if you don't want to donate, click anyway. We can all use a little more knowledge. Knowing is half the battle. G.I. Joe was a prophet.
Yo Joe!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Kennedy and Cancer
Sad news today from Massachusetts General Hospital.
I can’t help wondering if it had been tumors, rather than assassins’ bullets, that picked off the Kennedy brothers one by one if we would be closer today to a cure. I guess probably not—they certainly wouldn’t have been the first high profile victims of this awful disease.
What I do think would put us closer to a cure is a President willing to vow in the State of the Union that we as a nation would make it our mission to cure cancer in ten years—the way John Kennedy vowed we would go to the moon—and then be willing to do all that they could to make it happen. That might get something done. No more chemotherapy, no more radiation, and definitely no more steroids. What we need is a cure.
Good luck Senator. My heart goes out to you and your family.
I can’t help wondering if it had been tumors, rather than assassins’ bullets, that picked off the Kennedy brothers one by one if we would be closer today to a cure. I guess probably not—they certainly wouldn’t have been the first high profile victims of this awful disease.
What I do think would put us closer to a cure is a President willing to vow in the State of the Union that we as a nation would make it our mission to cure cancer in ten years—the way John Kennedy vowed we would go to the moon—and then be willing to do all that they could to make it happen. That might get something done. No more chemotherapy, no more radiation, and definitely no more steroids. What we need is a cure.
Good luck Senator. My heart goes out to you and your family.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Lying Liars
It is just after 1pm on May 13, 2008 here in the East, and Matt Walsh is on his way to Washington DC for his unnecessary meeting with Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. Walsh’s first meeting of the day, with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in New York, wrapped up after more than three hours with the league able to determine that the long-rumored walkthrough tape of the St. Louis Rams before Super Bowl XVI does not exist.
From the Globe:
Goodell said "the fundamental information that Matt provided was consistent with what we penalized the Patriots for."
Goodell said he did not anticipate any more penalties against the Patriots.
Goodell also said he was able to verify there was no walkthrough tape, no one asked Walsh to tape the walkthrough, that Walsh was unaware of anyone else taping the walkthrough, and that Walsh had not seen such a tape.
Goodell noted that Walsh was in the building at the time of the walkthrough, on the sideline setting up equipment, in Patriots gear.
"It was clear it was not an overt attack," Goodell said.
If Arlen Specter claims otherwise following his afternoon meeting with Walsh, or insinuates that Walsh told him otherwise during that meeting, it means one thing—that someone is lying. Given the amount of bad publicity the NFL has already had to deal with as a result of this fiasco, can anyone logically conclude that person to be Roger Goodell? He and the league both have far too much to lose.
Matt Walsh has immunity from any lawsuit the Patriots may have wanted to bring against for making false accusations today—and still it appears he made no such accusations.
We’ll see what happens this afternoon in DC. Will Senator Specter allow the facts to get in the way of his good story? Personally, I doubt it very much.
From the Globe:
Goodell said "the fundamental information that Matt provided was consistent with what we penalized the Patriots for."
Goodell said he did not anticipate any more penalties against the Patriots.
Goodell also said he was able to verify there was no walkthrough tape, no one asked Walsh to tape the walkthrough, that Walsh was unaware of anyone else taping the walkthrough, and that Walsh had not seen such a tape.
Goodell noted that Walsh was in the building at the time of the walkthrough, on the sideline setting up equipment, in Patriots gear.
"It was clear it was not an overt attack," Goodell said.
If Arlen Specter claims otherwise following his afternoon meeting with Walsh, or insinuates that Walsh told him otherwise during that meeting, it means one thing—that someone is lying. Given the amount of bad publicity the NFL has already had to deal with as a result of this fiasco, can anyone logically conclude that person to be Roger Goodell? He and the league both have far too much to lose.
Matt Walsh has immunity from any lawsuit the Patriots may have wanted to bring against for making false accusations today—and still it appears he made no such accusations.
We’ll see what happens this afternoon in DC. Will Senator Specter allow the facts to get in the way of his good story? Personally, I doubt it very much.
Don't Follow These Country Roads
Sorry to disappoint those of you who are on the edge of your seats waiting for a West Virginia preview because it isn’t coming. I’m skipping this round and so should you. Clinton will win this one in a landslide and try to spin that it is further proof of Obama’s “problem” with white voters—and she’ll be right, to a point. But these are red state voters who will be voting Republican come November. Her margin of victory tonight will tell us more about the ugly underbelly of Americana than it will about who the Democratic nominee should or will be.
And if you need a primer on just who these people are who will be proudly joining the Clinton Coalition tonight, I suggest you rent the film Deliverance.
And if you need a primer on just who these people are who will be proudly joining the Clinton Coalition tonight, I suggest you rent the film Deliverance.
Monday, May 12, 2008
The Junior Senator from Illinois...Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hendrik Hertzberg presents a scenario I hadn’t considered before:
“When and where, it is not too soon to ask, did she go wrong? Well, here’s one answer: eight years ago, in New York. If she had chosen, instead, to move to Illinois, where her accent is familiar and her connections deep (Chicago’s her home town, after all), she could have settled in and sought her Senate seat there, in 2004. She didn’t do that, presumably for reasons both marital (Bill’s not really a Second City kind of guy) and political (she would have had to run for President as a first-term senator rather than as a reelected one). But Barack Obama would still be a local or regional up-and-comer and, most likely, a Hillary supporter.”
Could it be so simple? If the Clintons had only moved to Winnetka rather than Chappaqua and Hillary had pretended to be from Illinois rather than New York, then this entire race would have been different. It really could have happened—and she would be the nominee today if it had. In fact, against a field of only Edwards, Richardson, Biden and Dodd, the campaign's plan to wrap things up by Super Tuesday would have come to fruition. This race would have never been close.
Running for President of the United States is not an undertaking you do on a whim. It takes a lifetime of planning, some of it even subconsciously. The dominoes you line up have to be perfectly placed and perfectly sized. The senate seat Hillary Clinton carpetbagged her way into back in 2000 looked like it was both. Sometimes you can’t tell for sure until you knock the first one over—and by then it is too late to fix the mistake.
“When and where, it is not too soon to ask, did she go wrong? Well, here’s one answer: eight years ago, in New York. If she had chosen, instead, to move to Illinois, where her accent is familiar and her connections deep (Chicago’s her home town, after all), she could have settled in and sought her Senate seat there, in 2004. She didn’t do that, presumably for reasons both marital (Bill’s not really a Second City kind of guy) and political (she would have had to run for President as a first-term senator rather than as a reelected one). But Barack Obama would still be a local or regional up-and-comer and, most likely, a Hillary supporter.”
Could it be so simple? If the Clintons had only moved to Winnetka rather than Chappaqua and Hillary had pretended to be from Illinois rather than New York, then this entire race would have been different. It really could have happened—and she would be the nominee today if it had. In fact, against a field of only Edwards, Richardson, Biden and Dodd, the campaign's plan to wrap things up by Super Tuesday would have come to fruition. This race would have never been close.
Running for President of the United States is not an undertaking you do on a whim. It takes a lifetime of planning, some of it even subconsciously. The dominoes you line up have to be perfectly placed and perfectly sized. The senate seat Hillary Clinton carpetbagged her way into back in 2000 looked like it was both. Sometimes you can’t tell for sure until you knock the first one over—and by then it is too late to fix the mistake.
Friday, May 9, 2008
A Question for Arlen Specter
During Super Bowl week, after ESPN’s Mike Fish and Gregg Easterbrook invented Matt Walsh and Senator Arlen Specter involved himself in affairs far below the stature of his office, I wrote to the senior senator from Pennsylvania and asked a simple question. Because politicians in the modern era respond only to their constituents, I did not receive a satisfactory answer. What I did get was a form letter advising me to contact my own senators, Ted Kennedy or John Kerry, for assistance. Unfortunately, neither Senator Kennedy nor Senator Kerry can answer my question. Only Arlen Specter can, and apparently only a resident of Pennsylvania can get that answer.
My question was this:
“Senator Specter, can you tell me how many Americans have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, fighting wars you voted to authorize, during this recent period in which you have wasted your time, and wasted our money, badgering the National Football League and abusing the powers of your office?”
It is a question that deserves an answer. When politicians involve themselves in these matters it is to grandstand, plain and simple, and to draw attention away from their own failures of leadership. Our nation is involved in multiple foreign wars, each signed off on by our Congress, and that they feel they can waste their time with this nonsense is not only an insult to every American. It is also a slap in the face to each and every family that has been shattered by the loss of a father or mother or daughter or son since the War on Terror began. In this crime Specter is not alone—as much as I enjoy reading of the many recent misfortunes of Roger Clemens, not a one is worthy of a congressional investigation.
However, whereas the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform launched an investigation into the use of steroids in Major League Baseball as a whole, Arlen Specter has acted entirely on his own. His is a one man crusade. He should be held accountable for his actions, and he should be made to answer my question.
It is up to you Pennsylvania. Ask the question. Stir the shit storm. Only you can get an answer.
My question was this:
“Senator Specter, can you tell me how many Americans have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, fighting wars you voted to authorize, during this recent period in which you have wasted your time, and wasted our money, badgering the National Football League and abusing the powers of your office?”
It is a question that deserves an answer. When politicians involve themselves in these matters it is to grandstand, plain and simple, and to draw attention away from their own failures of leadership. Our nation is involved in multiple foreign wars, each signed off on by our Congress, and that they feel they can waste their time with this nonsense is not only an insult to every American. It is also a slap in the face to each and every family that has been shattered by the loss of a father or mother or daughter or son since the War on Terror began. In this crime Specter is not alone—as much as I enjoy reading of the many recent misfortunes of Roger Clemens, not a one is worthy of a congressional investigation.
However, whereas the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform launched an investigation into the use of steroids in Major League Baseball as a whole, Arlen Specter has acted entirely on his own. His is a one man crusade. He should be held accountable for his actions, and he should be made to answer my question.
It is up to you Pennsylvania. Ask the question. Stir the shit storm. Only you can get an answer.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Good Reads
The saga continues. So now, finally, there is no tape of a walkthrough, just more recordings of defensive signals? I’ve said it before and I will say it again: taping what your opponent does in clear sight of you during a game is not cheating. Taping practices would be a different story. Gregg Easterbrook can spin this anyone he wants to, but if there is no tape from the first Super Bowl then that is a vindication, plain and simple. And while my heart does go out to Arlen Specter and his family since his recent recurrence of cancer, it is an embarrassment to the United States Senate that his name is still attached to this fiasco.
Recently reaffirmed Clintonista George Stephanopoulos opines that Hillary’s strategy now is to broker her way onto the ticket as VP. This will be a disaster. She has no plans to occupy Dick Cheney’s office for the next eight years. If she is offered the position she will use it only to destroy Obama from within and continue planning for 2012. If the “Dream Ticket” truly is their only path to victory then the Democrats have already lost. Mark my words.
Did you hear the one about Karl Rove now being a pundit? Well, the rumors are true. The most surprising thing is that he does make some sense. Why do I suddenly feel nauseous?
China may indeed be an evil empire, but this is pretty damn cool nonetheless.
Lawrence O’Donnell, he of the uber-brilliant Denver script from a few weeks back, has it on good authority that Hillary will drop out by June 15th. That seems like a long ways away.
But it might not even matter. The Politico has the scoop on when, where, and how Obama plans to declare victory. And he ain’t waiting till June.
Finally, if you love the 80’s (and who doesn’t?) then you will love this—the top 25 opening credit sequences from shows like Magnum PI, Miami Vice, and The A-Team. These guys rank them based on action, cheesiness, sexiness, intangibles, and even homoeroticism, which looking back was surprisingly prevalent in network TV at the time. Enjoy.
Recently reaffirmed Clintonista George Stephanopoulos opines that Hillary’s strategy now is to broker her way onto the ticket as VP. This will be a disaster. She has no plans to occupy Dick Cheney’s office for the next eight years. If she is offered the position she will use it only to destroy Obama from within and continue planning for 2012. If the “Dream Ticket” truly is their only path to victory then the Democrats have already lost. Mark my words.
Did you hear the one about Karl Rove now being a pundit? Well, the rumors are true. The most surprising thing is that he does make some sense. Why do I suddenly feel nauseous?
China may indeed be an evil empire, but this is pretty damn cool nonetheless.
Lawrence O’Donnell, he of the uber-brilliant Denver script from a few weeks back, has it on good authority that Hillary will drop out by June 15th. That seems like a long ways away.
But it might not even matter. The Politico has the scoop on when, where, and how Obama plans to declare victory. And he ain’t waiting till June.
Finally, if you love the 80’s (and who doesn’t?) then you will love this—the top 25 opening credit sequences from shows like Magnum PI, Miami Vice, and The A-Team. These guys rank them based on action, cheesiness, sexiness, intangibles, and even homoeroticism, which looking back was surprisingly prevalent in network TV at the time. Enjoy.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Wow
Simply a stunning reversal of fortune last night for both campaigns. At 7pm it looked like Clinton was going to run away with Indiana and that North Carolina would be close. By midnight it was clear that in fact the opposite had happened. Going in I was of the opinion that Obama did not have another night like last night in him, that Clinton had pummeled him so badly and wounded him so deeply that all that remained was a shell of the candidate I voted for back in February. But he proved me wrong. He proved a lot of people wrong. That is why they play the games.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Catching Up
So, I was planning to write a recap of round 1 but the sad reality of these playoffs is that they have been a series of disappointing series. The Celtics need seven games to dismiss the lowly Hawks? Game one between Phoenix and San Antonio was a legitimate classic, but Nash dribbled the Suns best chance to win away in regulation and they never seriously challenged again. The Spurs in five? C’mon, nobody had that. It may be better for everyone involved if we just move on to round 2.
The other plan was to write a preview of today’s tilts in North Carolina and Indiana, but between the recent reappearance of Jeremiah Wright, the Clinton campaign’s channeling of Karl Rove, and the candidate herself threatening nuclear options in both Denver and Tehran, I frankly don’t have the stomach for it. We are headed for the disaster that will be the “Dream Ticket”.
And make no mistake—a disaster is exactly what it will be. She doesn’t deserve the presidency and simply cannot be trusted as VP, and if he agrees to the VP slot while still holding the delegate lead it will be both a defeat and a slap in the face to every single Obama supporter in this country. Not to mention the fact that it will confirm Hillary’s case that he just isn’t ready.
The “two great candidates” argument is fiction. The Dems have one decent candidate in Obama. It is long past time to end this.
The other plan was to write a preview of today’s tilts in North Carolina and Indiana, but between the recent reappearance of Jeremiah Wright, the Clinton campaign’s channeling of Karl Rove, and the candidate herself threatening nuclear options in both Denver and Tehran, I frankly don’t have the stomach for it. We are headed for the disaster that will be the “Dream Ticket”.
And make no mistake—a disaster is exactly what it will be. She doesn’t deserve the presidency and simply cannot be trusted as VP, and if he agrees to the VP slot while still holding the delegate lead it will be both a defeat and a slap in the face to every single Obama supporter in this country. Not to mention the fact that it will confirm Hillary’s case that he just isn’t ready.
The “two great candidates” argument is fiction. The Dems have one decent candidate in Obama. It is long past time to end this.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Goin' Nuclear
Whether it be in love, war or politics, it is best to avoid the nuclear option. Never underestimate the depths to which the Clintons will sink in order to regain power.
Friday, May 2, 2008
The Wolf
I wholeheartedly agree with this bit of brilliance from Betsy Reed and The Nation. As Hillary Clinton draws closer to forcing herself onto the ticket we must remember her myriad of sins these last few months. They should never be forgotten, forgiven, or condoned. Too many times the campaign has cried wolf about sexism—reducing the impact of actual instances. She stands poised to overtake Obama not because she is more qualified, not because she is a fighter, and not because of any policy difference between them. This race is where it is because Barack Obama has been reduced to being the “black candidate” and the Clintons culpability in that should be remembered by Democrats everywhere—as should the fact that Hillary cast herself as a victim at every turn along the way.
To further bolster what Reed is saying, consider this: Clinton walloped Obama here in Massachusetts, winning on February 5th by double digits…but she was able to carry neither Wellesley nor Northampton. The next generation of brilliant women are going to do just fine for themselves.
To further bolster what Reed is saying, consider this: Clinton walloped Obama here in Massachusetts, winning on February 5th by double digits…but she was able to carry neither Wellesley nor Northampton. The next generation of brilliant women are going to do just fine for themselves.
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