The Old Eighteen

One for the road

Billy Joel: "Piano Man"

Tim Russert remembered

The Daily Show web site has posted a tribute to Tim Russert on its Indecision 2008 blog featuring clips of several of his appearances on the show.

Quote of the day

"No regrets," that's my motto. Well, that and "Everybody Wang Chung tonight."

-- Zach Galifianakis

One for the road

Leon Russell: "A Song For You"

Yes, you can trivialize a presidential election!

Here's a hilarious clip from the Daily Show making fun of the Barack Obama Kia commercial which has been playing here in the DFW area:

Grandpa John, why do you hate the troops?

This is video from Keith Olbermann's special comment on last night's Countdown in which he annihilates McCain for saying that the timing of when American troops come home from Iraq is "not that important" to him:

Here's a link to the video and a transcript on the MSNBC web site if the embedded video above isn't working.

RIP Tim Russert

Tim Russert
May 7, 1950 – June 13, 2008

Tim Russert has passed away after having a sudden heart attack, at the age of 58.  This is stunning news, and a tragedy compounded by the fact that Russert died at such a relatively young age.  I've been critical of Russert on a number of occasions for reasons that don't need to be rehashed at a time like this, but for better or worse he was one of the giants of modern journalism, and his loss will reverbate throughout the political culture of this country.  He was obviously loved by his colleagues, as attested to by the testimonials being given on MSNBC this afternoon.  My heart goes out to them, as well as to his other friends and especially his family.

I do not think the word "socialistic" means what you think it means

It looks like Rick Perry didn't pay very close attention during his recent trip to Europe.  While addressing a gathering of Republican county chairs, he said that Obama wants to turn America into Sweden:

Perry, just returned from a trip to France and Sweden, marveled that Sweden has had zero net job growth since 1970, saying: “That’s the type of socialistic program that Obama wants to bring to America.”

When I asked him to elaborate later, he basically said he objects to putting money into the United Nations for spending elsewhere; I am asking his office for his precise objections regarding Obama’s platform.

Now, as a borderline socialist myself, I probably woudn't complain much if Obama did want to emulate Sweden and the rest of Europe a little more in providing for the welfare of our citizens.  But I consider myself at least moderately familiar with his political platform, and to my knowledge Obama hasn't approached anything even remotely resembling the kind of cradle-to-grave welfare state that constitutes genuine socialism.  Hell, he's even caught flak for the fact that his health care plan doesn't contain mandates for adults.

The Republicans have overused and abused words like "socialism" and "Marxism" so much that they've lost a lot of the perjorative value that they used to have.  I wonder if Governor Goodhair realizes how ridiculous he makes himself look saying stuff like this.

Seen at the McCain web site

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(via Canuckoo at Daily Kos)

Quote of the day

Politics is not about power. Politics is not about money. Politics is not about winning for the sake of winning. Politics is about the improvement of people's lives. It's about advancing the cause of peace and justice in our country and the world. Politics is about doing well for the people.

-- Paul Wellstone