Tagging Chris Matthews January 31, 2009

The problem with these insipid debates over whether Chris Matthews, Andrew Sullivan, Maureen Dowd, etc. are really liberals is that none of them really have anything approaching ideological coherence. Reading or listening to any of them really tells you much more about their psychological hangups then it does a rational argument for one position or the other. Really, they’re neither liberal nor conservative, they’re just people who come to bizarre conclusions based on a combination of their gut and what their friends tell them.

But hey, at least they’re non-partisan!

Business Casual January 31, 2009

You know, as hilarious as it is for any member of the Bush West Wing to accuse anyone else of showing a lack of respect for the dignity of the Oval Office (I’d consider abusing the powers of that office far more disrespectful than, say, loosening your fucking tie), I am getting tired of stories like this or the snow day thing.

Hey guys! Obama’s been doing some president stuff too. He could be signing bills while wearing a mumu and I’d still rather hear about the actual content of the bills.

On the other hand, maybe the reason reporters keep going back to this nonsense is because they can’t get anyone in the administration to talk to them about anything real. I hope this is birthing pains, as Drum suggests, but whatever it is, it had better stop soon. Being clamped shut like this is bad for everyone, up to and including Presiden Obama.

links for 2009-01-30 January 31, 2009

• Black Swan author's rules for living – Boing Boing
  I'm not a fan of #8, but most of this is good advice. #4 reminds me of something Camus said.

links for 2009-01-29 January 30, 2009

• pushback » Blog Archive » What the Washington Post Considers Newsworthy
• Kevin Drum – Mother Jones Blog: Factoids
  I love wordfuckery like this.

Tell Me You’re Shocked January 29, 2009

In a staggeringly predictable move, the House Republicans unanimously opposed yesterday’s stimulus package. A few stray observations:

Ryanair January 29, 2009

Is it really that terrible? I was thinking of taking advantage of their £1 flights to Dublin, but now I’m reconsidering.

An Unpleasant Mental Image January 28, 2009

There’s something just plain gross about watching the House Republican caucus line up to fellate Rush Limbaugh.

First, Phil Gingrey said something that is completely innocuous (unless you want to critique him for implying that Mitch McConnell and John Boehner have offered anything approaching “real leadership”), and then was promptly forced to apologize for not recognizing Rush Limbaugh as the Supreme Leader of the Right Wing. Then Mike Pence took to television to say that he thought Limbaugh is “a man about opportunity of all Americans, regardless of race, creed, or color.”

The truly sad thing about all of this is that while the entire GOP is burrowing so desperately into this man’s doughy folds, House Democrats are lauded as heroes for taking brave stands against far less odious individuals such as Markos Moulitsas.

Michelle Obama is not Stokely Carmichael, You Twit January 28, 2009

You’ve probably seen this already, but it’s still ridiculous:

Coates says that Williams just proved he “knows very little about Michelle Obama and even less about Stokely Carmichael,” which is true. He then goes onto say:

I have the urge to say something really nasty right now. But I never like those blog posts when I read them a week later.

See, I have no problem with reading those posts a week later. So, for the record: Juan Williams, you are a stupid, stupid man and you say stupid things on stupid television programs.

I’m Confused January 28, 2009

Via Stereogum:

Is this actually Bruce Springsteen, or just a dead-on Bruce Springsteen parody?

links for 2009-01-27 January 28, 2009

• The Washington Monthly
  I'd like to endorse everything said here. Screw 'em, they never had any intention of voting for the thing anyway. Write the bill we need, not the one they want.
• pushback » Blog Archive » The Only Pundit Mentally Ill Enough to Defend Blagojevich
  Geraldo wouldn't be so worthy of mockery if people didn't insist on taking him seriously for some reason.
• ze's page :: zefrank.com: want to try something hard? voice drawing….
  A weird, awesome little toy.