It's the night before Halloween, so if y'all don't bring on the tricks & treats of all varieties, I will be SORELY disappointed! ;D
There are a boatload of faboo "this day in history" items for today, so let's dive right into the deep end! On Oct. 30, 1915, Fred Friendly, the pioneering American broadcast journalist , was born. This dramatic representation of Mr. Friendly is not exactly physically historically accurate, but I have a feeling some here won't object too much.
Does this clip qualify as a treat? ;D
Actor & comedian Kevin Pollak is 52 today. He is actually a favorite guest of my morning radio silly guys; I heard this bit live driving to Lawrence, KS a few years ago & nearly wrecked because I was laughing so hard.
And, finally, Grace Slick is 70. 70??!! Damn! What this lady has seen in her life & has experienced... Wow!
Remember what the door mouse said! ;D Let's Countdown.
Thanks once & again to Lawrence O’Donnell for DHing for Keith. I imagine Keith’s feeling a tad better after the results of last night’s game at the new ‘ol ball park! ;D
#5 "Public Optional" AKA "Public Option at a Premium" AKA "House Calls" AKA "The Best We Can Do?" - The CBO has now reported the House version of the public option would leave 18 million people uninsured & might charge consumers higher premiums.
How the spark did that happen?! Is it because not too many people will be eligible for it? Ugh... well, here’s the first "trick" of the night; we get Bat$hit Bachmann. Lovely... Apparently, Bat$hit’s proofreaders are as bat$hit as she is. I could probably help her out with that, but I like my soul, and I’ll keep it – thanks. Joementum announced today that he’ll probably stump for some GOP candidates for Congress next year. Earth to Harry Reid?! Is THAT ADMISSION enough to kick him out of the caucus?! Now, why am I asking HIM that particular question; of course it’s not enough. To paraphrase LBJ, it would take a dead hooker or a live boy to drum Joementum out of the Dem caucus. Senator Tom Harkin had some great thoughts! Can HE be Senate Majority Leader? I know he just got that committee chairmanship, but wouldn’t being Senate Majority Leader be a step up? Now, Speaker Pelosi is saying she’ll have to be TALKED INTO letting anyone introduce any methods to strengthen the public option. OK, really, how the spark did this happen? What happened to all the money that was supposed to be saved? Rep. Anthony Weiner has to be feeling just GRAND tonight. He’s been proverbially egged over the past 24 hours or so, and it’s not even Halloween yet! Speaker Pelosi had promised Rep. Weiner that he’d have a chance to offer a single – payer amendment to the House health care legislation; oh honey, don’t hold your breath. Me thinks you’ve been punked. O...M...G... how ‘bout that Deliverance reference about health care reform legislation?! Oh man...I must repeat this in full!
If they’re [the health insurance industry] not squealing like a pig, we haven’t done this bill right!
WOW! OK, I challenge Rep. Grayson to come up with a better image than that! ;D The public option in its current representation in health care reform legislation will be an option to only 2% of the population; I think I just got my answer to my above question. Rep. Weiner also answered by question from last night about why a public option attached to Medicare rates was more of an ideal outcome. OK, if this is true, why does Howard Dean, if he was telling the truth last night, claim to not have a problem with negotiated rates? Someone somewhere isn’t being honest; I know that’s a hell of a revelation about people "inside the beltway." Here’s Wendell Potter! I think he may be the only one whose opinion I can trust in this entire ilk because he’s been "on the dark side," and he knows of what he speaks because he did it! Wow, he is so good. The administration & Congressional "leadership" began with health care reform legislation that was already a compromise. Once any mention of single payer was given the kibosh, advocates of TRUE MEANINGFUL health care reform were negotiating from a weakened position. Mr. Potter called the current bills "pretty good" but not as good as it could’ve been. The health insurance industry lobbyists will continue to focus their pressure on the Senate & those lovely ConservaDems. Gee, I can’t imagine which one might be in their proverbial line of sight? Oh yea...THIS ONE...
More Raid will be necessary!
Mr. Potter also wants the public option open to more people. And, hey! Lawrence O’Donnell helped clarify the picture nicely, too! Not only will such a small segment of the population be eligible for the current public option option, but this small segment will be VERY sick, and the cost of their health care will be VERY high. OK, I think I’m starting to grasp this all a little better. But, and I can’t believe this feeling is even possible, I am even less optimistic than I was before about the possibility of health care reform legislation with some teeth in it.
#4 "When Cheney Attacks" - Son of a *&^%$#@! Sometimes, being correct ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. I made the following observation in last night’s diary about GOP reaction to President Obama going to Dover to witness the final journey of brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country:
I absolutely would not have put it past the current "evolution" of the GOP to, if they’d been notified he was going there, to accuse President Obama of playing politics with dead American soldiers.
DICK’s spawn proved me right. Wow, and it barely took 24 hours. Golly, Lawrence O’Donnell called her an attack dog; c’mon, you can do better than that! CALL HER THE BITCH SHE IS! With all respects to female actual doggies, of course... My gawd, she absolutely makes me sick.
OK, here I go using a word that I’m not proud of myself for using; I hate her. I absolutely 1000% hate her. And, we have yet ANOTHER "trick" for the show. When are we gonna get some damn treats?! Well, OK, I take that back; we do have a couple good zingers so far! ;D HOLY $HIT! Lawrence O’Donnell IS CALLING HER OUT! GO, BABY, GO!! Here’s a great damn satisfying treat!! Oh Lawrence, man, I hate to take ever – so – slight minor issue with your WONDERFUL words to DICK’s spawn, but DICK does not feel shame. He never has; he never will. And, BRAVO about clarifying that media ban on coverage or pictures of flag – draped coffins which began with GWB’s Daddy! There are plenty of reports that military families WANTED coverage of their loved ones’ final journeys home, their funerals, etc. BUT, THEY’RE WISHES WERE NOT GRANTED! DICK only occasionally met with wounded soldiers & their families or met with families who had lost loved ones; I’d at least imagine GWB did it more frequently. And, DICK never went to Dover. O...M...G... DICK’s 5th & final Vietnam draft deferment was because of his wife’s pregnancy; she was pregnant with Liz. Wow... will someone PLEASE get this segment on the YouTubes soonest??!! This segment was absolutely the most righteous wonderful powerful segment offered on Countdown since Keith’s HCR "special comment." Mr. O’Donnell, you are now a part of the best & greatest Countdown "lore" as far as I’m concerned. HOLY $HIT! And, I get Richard Wolffe, too????!!!! IT’S MY BIGGEST TREAT OF THE NIGHT! I DON’T CARE WHAT’S COMING UP NEXT! Richard Wolffe looks absolutely stunned & taken aback; he used the words "offensive" & "egregious." Yep, those words fit; I can think of a few others that would fill the late great George Carlin full of pride. And, in actual BREAKING news, in the release of FBI information surrounding the Valerie Plame case, it turns out that DICK was less – than – forthright about his involvement in the leaking of Valerie Plame’s identity as a covert CIA operative. I’ll give ya’ll a chance to recover from the shock of that revelation.
#3 "Uncivil War" AKA "Battle of the Purge" - "Poor" Gov. Huckabee is the latest "victim" in the GOP fissure that’s rearing its ugly rear in the NY – 23 Congressional race. His attempt to stay above the fray ain’t passin’ the smell test! OK, this $hit is so devolving into junior high behavior. Some are saying Gov. Huckabee won’t directly endorse the conservative candidate dude because Fred Thompson has. Man, this is getting FUNNY – well, even MORE funny. ;D Look at this; Lawrence O’Donnell is downright gleeful! Have people gone after Mittens Romney for not specifically endorsing anyone in this NY race? According to Lawrence O’Donnell’s "sources" inside the NY – 23 district, Doug Hoffman is pulling ahead in that contest. Well, him winning, if it happens, will have damn interesting implications for 2010 & 2012. HOLY CRAP!! We have yet another winning image & word choice from Chris Kofinis! The GOP is in need of
...an ideological vasectomy.
HA! LOVE IT!! A vasectomy is a little too "tame." Can someone or something just go all Lorena Bobbitt on ‘em?!
#2 "Poliwood" - Who was it that said politics was Hollywood for ugly people? And, we’ve had politicians enamored with Hollywood Land for YEARS. With JFK & Marilyn Monroe, that "enamoring" was literal! We don’t know if it’s been literal with Senator McCentury, but for a guy from the party constantly decrying the evil influence of Hollywood, he’s sure made the talk show & SNL rounds! I like Barry Levinsona lot; he’s played an integral roll both in front of & behind the camera for many great films. Apparently, Barry is less – than – complimentary about the media’s part in the "Hollywooding" of our political process. Having read Renegade, I think Richard Wolffe would concur.
#1 "Demon Candy" AKA "Sugar Cain" - Pat Robertson is anti – candy. I hope the kids in his neighborhood egg his house & TP his trees tomorrow night! ;D Now, why am I not surprised that Pat "Creator of Diploma Mills" Robertson is anti – Halloween? He probably got lots of rocks as a kid or something – HA!
Mr. Robertson has witch hunters on his payroll now or something. I wonder if St. Sarah from Wasilla lets her kids go trick – or – treating? She seems to take a great deal of advice & council from witch hunters! OK, I will admit to agreeing with the concept of something unholy being in candy corn; that stuff is GNARLY & NASTY! Hey! The good Rev. Lynn has a great Halloween tie on! YEA FOR HIM! To resident F.O.O. "pagans," can y’all work some of that dangerous black magic on certain somebodies prominently featured in tonight’s show? I’ll provide a list & guarantee y’all ultimate total consciousness & enlightenment, so you’ll have that goin’ for ya’! ;D