OK Keith, I've asked nicely about Richard Wolffe's return (or not) to the Countdown airwaves; I've asked nicely a few times. Hell, yesterday, I besmirched a classic from Simon & Garfunkel! So, you've forced me into this action; I'm going to try HAIKU - and probably not a very good one, either. So, here we go!
Richard Wolffe's still gone.
His presence is sorely missed!
Update me soon, please?
Karma (the Buddhist concept - not my cat!) gets a chance to rear his/her sense of balance with a couple of birthdays today. I'll first present the bad karma which earns THE cake. Mary Matalin (aka Mrs. James Carville aka hateful right - wing nut job aka overall *itch) is 56 today. For those said qualities & too many more to list here, dive right into this delicacy with the invitation to GO CHENEY YOURSELF!
On Karma's flip side, former President Bill Clinton is 63 today. I'm still not real thrilled with some of his behavior during the Dem primary last year, and I sadly think his time in office will be more remembered for the "bj" in the Oval Office that led to his impeachment. But, we had 8 years of peace & prosperity under his presidency which only non - compassionate unfeeling hating people (see the above birthday girl) would have a problem with. So, here's a cake for him, too, once we move the guy out of the way to began celebrating a little too early.
And, in another birthday, Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry, was born on this date in 1921. From what I know about Mr. Roddenberry, he would've had a field day with THIS guy!
Let's Countdown!
#5 "Public Support for Public Option" AKA "Public Optional" AKA "Sound & Fury, Signifying Nothing" - There was a poll earlier today that indicated majority support for health care reform, but that support dropped drastically WITHOUT a public option. 57% of those who responded considered the public option critical to any health care reform that truly MEANS reform. And, at least according to the New York Times (a slightly more reputable source than CNN), the Dems, Rahm, et al. might – JUST MIGHT – be ready to kick the "just say no" GOP to the curb in the health care reform process because they’ve made it common knowledge they do not intend to vote for health care reform anyway. NOW, Rahm starts bringing out the "f bombs." WHY THE SPARK DIDN’T YOU BEGIN THIS EARLIER instead of lecturing "progressives"? A$$hole... The White House feigned surprise at the reaction to their less – than – enthusiastic defense of the public option. Did one of the finally get around to reading DailyKos? HEY! WE GET A MINI – SPECIAL COMMENT about that anonymous White House advisor, who, I bet, has the initials R.E.! Millions do not have health insurance, and people who are insured get their premiums sky – rocketed & denied coverage when they need it most. Robert Gibbs is still pushing the bipartisanship memo. United Health Group is calling for their employees to attend town halls to fight health care reform. Well, hell, at least they’re being honest about it! Senator Baucus got shouted down in Montana – HA! And, those damned agitators had YouTubes! YOUTUBES?! Are those like the Google & the intertubes? Holy $hit, maybe I should extend my asylum offer that I’ve made to Texans to those of "Big Sky Country," too! There’s Barney Frank! Did y’all hear some in the audience clapping while Little Miss Mary Sunshine asked her brilliant question? Howard Fineman nailed the problem right on the noggin; Congress has been controlling this health care reform debate – not the White House. This comment is very similar, I think, to the breakdown of message discipline memo we’ve talked about. Did y’all hear what Howard had to say?! He claims the public option can’t be part of a bill that may be subject to the reconciliation process! Do we have any Congressional or Constitutional experts in the house? There’s E.J. Dionne – long time no see! He seems to think this entire recent town hall hullabaloo may be creating splits within the health insurance industry; some of these companies might be salivating at the prospects of millions of new customers.
#4 "Two Armed Bandits" AKA "You Bet Your Life" AKA "Health Care Deform" - Who would’ve thunk that gangsters & gamblers would have more honor than some health insurance companies? Well, hell, that’s a stupid question; I’ll take the Godfather men to defend my honor ANY DAY. Insurance companies wants at least 32 cents out of every dollar from Americans for their profits; Las Vegas usually only takes around 20 cents. Here’s Wendell Potter again! OK, he, Rep. Weiner, & the author from last night need to go out on a health care reform myth busting tour! Make the bus look like a big thermometer or something. More financial costs of health care are being pushed to the insured. If some in the Senate have their way, even people WITH insurance will be responsible for – at a minimum – 35% of their hospital bills & such. Do loan sharks demand that kind of percentage?
** An apparently lovely version of "God Bless, America" was sung at Dodgers Stadium last night. Wow...OK, I try to cut public singers some slack – whether they’re "professionals" or not. I’ve sung "The National Anthem" & other songs in groups & by myself at events, and it is DAMN PETRIFYING – especially that damn "National Anthem." If you don’t start out singing good & low, by the time you get to "rockets’ red glare," you are SCREWED! A guy in India is driving his cab backwards because all the gears in his cab are shot except reverse. And, yes, I’d take a cab ride with him, but I’m not quite right in the head at times! Hey! Hubby & I stayed in Lombard, IL when we went to Chicago in July! A lady there delivered her daughter in her house. A Canadian car thief tried to run like the wind but smacked into a telephone poll. A Japanese baseball team has been quarantined because of swine flu. **
#3 "Right Wing Militias" AKA "Protest & Arms" - I had no idea that the guy packing automatic heat in the crowd in Arizona the other day was African – American. He must be a star pupil at the Clarence Thomas School of Racial Self – Loathing. He planned the whole thing with a local right – wing talk hack. These 2 lovely MENSA members think the Branch Davidian thing & 9/11 were manufactured by our government. Here’s Mark Potok. I hope his health insurance coverage includes some mental health coverage; dealing with what he has to deal with on a daily basis will wear on the sanity & the peace of mind! I agree with what Mr. Potok said about what is motivating this type of non – health care reform activity at health care town halls, but I think he left out one other vitally important point – the roll of RACE. I really don’t think the hate & the danger would be so frightening & disturbing if a white guy was in the Oval Office instead. Y’all think I’m wrong? Let me know! And, the above – mentioned local right – wing hack was also packing heat. If these militia – types are so afraid of government, I hope they home – school their kids, put out their own houses aflame, and transport their sorry paranoid arses on gravel dirt roads.
WPITW – Gov. Gilligan...er...uh...Bobby Jindal slammed funds for high – speed rail projects. Guess what Gov. Gilligan is asking for funds for? HIGH – SPEED RAIL PROJECTS... The FAUX News morning boys defended Little Miss Mary Sunshine & her Nazi question to Barney Frank. Boss Limbaugh is defending this lovely lady, too, and makes some real knee – slapper homophobic jokes.
#1 "2012" AKA "Circus" - Damn! When was the last time Keith did a story about Britney Spears? Did his producers "make him do it"? Ya’ know, if I had my choice between Britney & St. Sarah from Wasilla, I’d put me on a Catholic school girl uniform & break into "Oops! I Did It Again!" Britney did the "Top Ten List" on David Letterman’s show last night. Her entitlement programs involved pie?! Does Britney read DailyKos?! Wow...how much begging & pleading did Keith have to do to Shannyn Moore to get her to throw in her 2 cents’ worth in a story involving Brittney Spears?! AUGH! Grandma ExGov. TurkeyLover can’t even win in the South. Oh Keith, you REALLY don’t want to see that woman on NBC property & possibly running into you on a daily basis, do you? I hope you’re not that much into self – punishment! Levi Johnston’s mom pleaded guilty today to her OxyContin charges; she could face jail time.