I've heard the "frog slowly boiling" analogy alot, and I believe that a summertime tweaking is needed.
The R's have tamped down our coals so long, they've taken their eyes off the grill.
(Any good b-b-q'r can tell you this is a BAD idea)
New coals are slowly being added to the edges, increasing the heat and re-igniting the older coals. The flames are flickering closer to a full whoosh. A full whoosh that will happen soon.
Hardball 6/28/06
ROGERS: I wish that Democrat candidates would say...
SHRUM: ... Democratic, Ed, you could use the word Democratic, Ed.
ROGERS: Democratic, small "d."
(editors note: Yeah, like in "You're a dick, small "d" Ed")
The transcript doesn't note it, but Shrummie corrected Rogers at least twice.
Bernie Ward makes Chris Baker take his toys and Go Home!
MUST SEE TEEVEE!!!
Scarborough 6/26/06
This one was fantastic, and once again, the transcript doesn't reflect
the complete conversation, because I recall quite a few more "War Sissies" than noted.
MIKE PAPANTONIO, AIR AMERICA RADIO: I don`t think it`s an embarrassment because in the Democratic Party people can differ, unlike the Republican Party that all have this lockstep mentality.
But let me just tell you about Murtha. This is a guy with a Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and 37 years in the military. While your war sissies - wait a second, while your war sissies like Hastert and Frist and Rove and George Bush himself, while those war sissies were avoiding war, this man was doing what soldiers do. Your war sissies, just like they`re doing, like they seemed to do in the....
Hardball 6/28/06
My favorite lighter of fires this week, Craig Crawford.
(Think MSNBC is sorry about putting him on the pundit payroll?)
MATTHEWS: What do you think, Craig, what`s your view? The wisdom of the decision?
CRAIG CRAWFORD, MSNBC POLITICAL ANALYST: Well the "New York Times" did that for a year in the warrantless surveillance cases, they deferred...
MATTHEWS: ... And by the way, they may have helped this administration get reelected.
CRAWFORD: And they deferred to the administration on that and I think it was kind of fool me twice, shame on me in the "New York Times" attitude. But also this story didn`t reveal that much new. There was some--the extent of the program and significance of it.
MATTHEWS: But if you read the letter of Secretary Snow to Bill Keller of the "New York Times." (snip) But we`re still able to nab some bad guys by using this method. Why have you outed us?"
CRAWFORD: Chris, there`s a parade of testimony on the Hill, speeches from administration officials, press conferences, and other news articles going back to 2001, even a month of after the 9/11 where the idea of monitoring--electronically monitoring these financial transactions was being done, back when...
ZELNICK: I think...
CRAWFORD: ... this administration was eager to publicize it.
ZELNICK: I think the height of disingenuousness to say there`s nothing new. (snip) There was just general assurances that we`re doing a good job monitoring the finances.
CRAWFORD: There was a 30-plus page U.N. report on this program back in 2002. The administration had talked about this program over and over again.
MATTHEWS: OK, Bob, you`ve been in the business at a pretty high level with ABC. I want to know the motive, what was the motive, Bob?
CRAWFORD: The extent and significance--I mean, what was new was the extend and significance of the program was new in this article.
MATTHEWS: OK, we`re talking about judgment here. Let`s face it, we`re talking about one man mainly, Bill Keller. What do you think his reason was for publishing, Bob Zelnick, that "New York Times" editor?
ZELNICK: I think the "New York Times" is a paper that upholds traditional journalistic standards. (snip) I think it`s understandable, I just think they`ve made a bad decision.
CRAWFORD: We`ve seen too many examples now of this administration not fessing up. In the NSA case for example, one reason the "New York Times" held off for a year is on the assurances of administration officials that they had plenty of safeguards. To safeguard civil liberties--that has not turned out to be the case.
ZELNICK: I supported...
CRAWFORD: ... The question is, at what point does--this administration will not submit itself to oversight on any of these programs. Not to the courts, not to Congress.
MATTHEWS: OK, let me...
CRAWFORD: ... as a result, the media`s the only way to get out the information.
Damn Craig, you get a 5 Alarm Whooo Hooo!!!
This one actually got my housemate to notice.... "TWO Democrats?" (unheard of!!)
Lou Dobbs 6/28/06
DOBBS: The Supreme Court making an important decision -- (snip) But 750 signing statements, Robert, by a president to avoid implementing and honoring law?
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, it's even more than that. For all intents and purposes, the president has essentially abolished the role of Congress by these 750 signing statements. It is truly -- truly basically said that congressional laws can be disregarded. In the past they've been used to deal with clarifications. And they've been used judiciously by past presidents, Reagan, Bush, Clinton.
This situation now is these signing statements have been done to in fact ignore laws that protect whistleblowers of nuclear energy facilities. They've been done to in fact make sure the Congress does not have to be informed of immigration service problems. And so there are a whole range of laws.......
DOBBS: The one that gets me is on the issue of torture. (snip)To hold hearings, on the use of these signing statements and on the application of 110 laws.
HANK SHEINKOPF, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Why do we have to respect it? Where has he been? Suddenly he's all -- where has he been? This is a constitutional crisis. (emphasis mine)
On the other side, I'm fascinated by the immigration issue and the fact that he's brought it now back to the Senate so they can get diddle it along. Make it a privilege of being judicious of their deliberations, stopping the House from jamming anything through, and protecting the president. Not bad in a year when you're at risk to lose the chamber.
All these exchanges were eye-opening.
I watch/listen to alot of news tv, and
I am firm in the belief that there is a change coming.
I've seen more and more of the regular fire-starters ratcheting up the heat,
and alot of the "old coals" flaming up brightly.
Something to keep you cool at the grill.....
Raspberry Sex Shot
Scale ingredients to servings
2/3 oz raspberry vodka
1/3 oz cranberry juice
1 splash 7-Up® soda
Combine vodka and cranberry juice over ice in a shaker. Shake well and strain into a shot glass. Top with a splash of 7-Up and serve. If you flip the percents on vodka & cranberry juice, you can make a nice cocktail.
I know there are some I missed for the poll & that have been ratcheting up the heat lately, mention them in the comments, and I'll add them.