Endings and Beginnings

Christmas (and all its attendant festivities, not to mention competing festivals) has come and gone. The week of holiday limbo that follows has likewise been crossed off the calendars. New Year's Day marked the end and beginning of a year and (kinda) a decade. And now most of us have seen an unusual new year's treat--not having to go back to work until the fourth of the month--sneak up on us, even if we've had the previous 8-11 days off.

Personally, I've been off work since Christmas Eve. I've managed to accomplish at least as much as my cat in that time, and in fact have picked up a habit or two from her. Sunbeams do make fun napping places! But there is a counter-inutuitive bit of time perception that happens on stay-at-home weeks of from work. Usually, if you waste time by doing nothing, time crawls. Actually trying to waste time seems to make it go on and on. But when you do this at home--rather than at your desk at work--time actually seems to accelerate. Here I am on day 11 of my break, staring at returning to work tomorrow morning, and I'm thinking, "already?!?"

So, I'm making my last leisurely brunch/late breakfast. I'm on the last day of my waist-expanding project. I'll resume my low-carb diet tomorrow, along with a slightly-better-than-halfhearted attempt at regular exercise. And, I'll try to return the blog to more than a post a day. But that project could be difficult if this morning's Sunday political yack-fests are any indication.

I actually had to check my DVR to make sure that I wasn't watching last week's Meet the Press with David Gregory. Seriously, did nothing happen in the past week? Nearly the entire program was taken up with the Christmas Day attempted underwear bombing. There was absolutely nothing new to be heard, with Gregory (who is turning out to be a piss-poor substitute for Tim Russert) asking the same batch of loaded questions he asked last week. Pathetic.

FOX "News" Sunday with Chris Wallace was no better (as though it ever is). The vaguely creepy host continued to embarass his father by dragging the allegedly "hard news" segment of FOX "News" into the partisan gutter as he does every other week. Wallace also seems to think it is last week, with--as I watch this--nothing that would let you know an entire week has gone by since they talked about the exact same thing. That's 9 days since the non-event "happened."

I may have to zip through the rest of the program with the remote, especially when they haul out the ludicrously named "Power Panel," the rag-tag (surely skeleton crew) group of arch-conservatives and milquetoasty moderates that constitute "fair and balanced" on this stupid program. Then, unless it is preempted by tennis or golf or girls' field hockey, it'll be time for This Week with George Stephanopoulos. Unless they've replaced him. At least he has the "Sunday Funnies" segment, which usually proves amusing. Except all the comics have been on vacation, so good luck with that, George. Maybe my New Year's resolution should be to stop watching these increasingly lame shows? Maybe. But habits are hard to break.

Rachel Maddow on Meet the Press

Meet the Press hasn't been the same since Tim Russert died. How could it be? David Gregory is way too easy on his guests, and also too willing to drop an issue rather than forcing answers. This week, the saving grace for the show was the appearance of Greenlee Gazette fave, Rachel Maddow at the pundit's table.

Someone put together a Rachel-only clip, and really, that's all that mattered, so here she is!

Celebrities Lost in 2008

Photo from source, PopEater

I've covered some of the celebrity deaths of the last year, and wasn't sure if I wanted to post this piece. But year-end lists are one of the few interesting things going on this past week, and this stuff always interests me, so it might interest you too. For me, I'd say that Paul Newman is the most famous, Majel Barrett and George Carlin were the most personally affecting, and Tim Russert the most surprising. See if there are any you didn't know about.

[Excerpt]

In Memoriam ... Celebs Lost in 2008

It's time to look back at the familiar faces we lost in 2008. In Hollywood, there was the passing of icons forever linked to characters named 'Luke' and 'Moses' ... and the heartbreaking, early exit of a movie joker. In music, a guitar icon who marched to his very own beat and another, a funk-soul man, who was one of the baddest mother-- (shut your mouth!). And in TV, a king of comedy and one wisecracking golden girl.

Read more at: Popeater

The Young Turks Most Important Celebrity Death?

I pondered this issue in a previous post. Who was the most important celebrity death of 2008? Now, yeah, everyone is important in their own way, but who's death had the most impact? See if you agree with The Young Turks.

David Gregory Officially Named Host of Meet the Press

We've known for a little while that the new host of NBC's Meet the Press would be David Gregory, but like the "is she in, or is she out" storyline of Hillary Clinton's primary run, and Secretary of State nomination, we could never be really sure. Now we are.

[Excerpt]



David Gregory named host of ‘Meet the Press’

David Gregory's new job as moderator of "Meet the Press" was made official Sunday with an announcement on the long-running NBC interview program that he will take over starting next week. . .

Read more at: MSNBC

David Gregory to Host Meet the Press?

Photo from source, Huffington Post

For at least the past two years, leading up to the election, I watched the Sunday morning political shows almost without fail. Of those shows, NBC's Meet the Press was the only one I considered "must see," with CBS's Face the Nation and ABC's This Week numbers two and three on my list. Oh, sure, I watch FOX "News" Sunday too, but it's in a different league altogether; something akin to opposition research.

One of the biggest reasons for MTP's top tier status was Tim Russert, who unfortunately passed away between the primaries and the general election. And what a shame that he didn't get to see how it all played out. After Russert's death, Tom Brokaw took over, and did a fine job. But he didn't agree to take it over completely, only through the election. And I'll confess, after the election and minus Russert, my Sunday morning habit has been broken.

Now, if I miss it, I miss it. I'm not sure that the addition of David Gregory as host will make it any more "appointment viewing" than it already was. I guess time will tell. He's got that unusual look about him, though. He'll fit right in, in the Land of Gorch!

[Excerpt]

David Gregory To Moderate "Meet The Press"

David Gregory will take the reins as moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press," the Huffington Post has learned. Gregory has been a leading contender for the permanent spot since Tom Brokaw stepped in as interim moderator following Tim Russert's death in June. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Tom Brokaw to Temporarily Host Meet the Press

Picture from NBC News

When Tim Russert passed away unexpectedly a little over a week ago, it was a shock to political junkies like me, and of course to his colleagues and competitors. The question on everybody's mind--but one people had issues with addressing so soon--was, "who will replace Russert on NBC's Meet the Press?" His death, right after a heated primary race, and at the very beginning of the general election was like losing a major actor in the middle of a movie trilogy.

People can't help asking, who will they replace him with? Well, NBC made a very smart decision with their interim pick, Tom Brokaw. Brokaw used to be one of the three biggies, back when network news had more importance. Of the other two, Dan Rather was wounded by conservative bloggers (deservedly or not, your call), and Peter Jennings passed away. That leaves Brokaw as a lone elder-statesman, unless you go much older to the 60 Minutes crew or Walter Cronkite.

Putting Brokaw in until the election is over is a masterstroke. Everybody likes him, he doesn't look opportunistic, and we Stephanie Miller Show fans can delight in more Jim Ward impersonations of Brokaw! Now, if we can just get some alliterative "L"-word scandals? Llliberal lllesbian llllovers llllock llllips in Llllas Angeles llllove-in. . . Yes, I'm making fun of a man with a speech impediment. . .bad blogger. Baaad blogger.

[Excerpt]

Brokaw to lead 'Meet the Press'

Tom Brokaw will replace Tim Russert as moderator of NBC’s “Meet the Press” through the November presidential election, the network announced today. Brokaw, 68, filled in for the first post-Russert week. “NBC Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams was the host today, and revealed Russert's interim successor during the broadcast. NBC News President Steve Capus said: "A lot has been said in recent days about what 'Meet the Press' means to NBC News and to the nation. To have someone of Tom's stature step up and dedicate himself to ensuring its ongoing success is not only a testament to his loyalty to Tim, but his enduring commitment to NBC News and our viewers. . ."

Read more at: Politico

Sunday Morning: Why Do I Keep Doing This?

By "this," I mean why do I keep watching these Sunday morning political gas-bag shows? You could call it research for the blog, I suppose. It's not particularly enjoyable. As I type this, the third of the major four shows, CBS' Face the Nation with Bob Shieffer has just begun.

On FTN, the first thing I noticed is that New Mexico Governor Bob Richardson has gotten a makeover, sporting a goatee and a nice new haircut. A far cry from his look during the Presidential primaries. Maybe he's trying to increase his chances of being Barack Obama's VP choice?

The "big story" this week on these first three shows is that of Obama's decision to forgo public financing. This is a very "inside the beltway" story, one that you'd likely find little interest among the public. Except that the shows and the right-wing are making a very big stink about it, trying their hardest to make it a big deal. Gov. Richardson is the first I've seen so far to point out that John McCain bounced like a ping-pong ball from public to private financing during the primary. He didn't go far enough though, as McCain actually broke the law doing it.

Over at FOX "News" Sunday, Tom Daschle (a nice enough guy, but very milquetoast) battled out the issue with Tom Ridge (who while fiddling with his earpiece demonstrated an odd tremor in his hand). Ridge was completely willing to excuse McCain's flip-flop on oil drilling as acceptable because of $4/gal. gasoline. Situations change, policies change. Apparently it escaped him that the logic also applies to the public financing situation: things change, policies change. On the pundit side, the most interesting thing to me was that Brit Hume, stalwart conservative, approved of Obama's decision, while the "liberals" on their panel thrashed Obama for it.

NBC's Meet the Press with(out) Tim Russert discussed the financing and oil issues too, showing a disturbing single-mindedness between at least three of the networks. Do they all get together and agree on what to cover? This time it was Joe Biden defending Obama, and Lindsey Graham thrashing him. Biden was very direct about Obama's change in position, and gave clear reasons why--though he did not point out McCain's more serious finance flips. Lindsey Graham--looking more like a constipated turtle than ever--feigned utter disgust at Obama's decision.

[Sidebar: Lindsey, disgust on your face is very unbecoming. I mean it, watch the tape of the show if you don't believe me.]

What I've learned this week is that the Democrats (at least on these shows) defend themselves without getting too twisty or bendy about it, and will cop to a change of position on an issue. Republicans--who sound very much like they've been given an outline with bullet points to follow--will criticize Democrats for "flip-flopping"--and then excuse their own side by saying "facts changed on the ground." Facts didn't change for Barack Obama on campaign finance? Um, yes they did. You can't have it both ways, Republicans, but I know you'll keep trying.

Keith Olbermann for host of Meet the Press?

Image from source, Buzz Flash

Yep, it's a bit early to be wondering about the late Tim Russert's replacement, seeing as how there hasn't even been a funeral yet. But in the middle of a heated election, a selection of a new host for Meet the Press is a decision that NBC will have to make quickly. The problem is, a show like MTP needs someone with gravitas.

The host has also got to be at least perceived to be impartial. Tim Russert was loved and loathed by both sides fairly equally. They loved him the interview went well for their side, and loathed him when it went bad. That's a hard trait to replace, at least with a known quantity.

Of course, conservatives will reject anyone from NBC's current talent pool as "liberally biased." So unless they poach someone from FOX "News," they're not going to win that fight. The article excerpted below calls for MSNBC's rising star, Keith Olbermann, which for reasons stated, might be a bad idea. I'm a big fan of Countdown, but I think Olbermann would be mightily constrained by MTP's format. And no matter how much he "dialed it down," there would be a never ending stream of whining from the right. On second thought. . .

[Excerpt]

Make Keith Olbermann the new "Meet the Press" host

Yes, it has been only three days since the death of Tim Russert. And you might think it cold, given that short period of time, to reflect on who should succeed Russert in that chair.

Then again, Jon Friedman of MarketWatch beat me to the punch, within three hours of the announcement of Russert's death, Friedman recommended David Gregory for the pick.

You could definitely make an argument for Gregory. But the image of him dancing with Karl Rove would give me great pause in naming him to the permanent selection, since relationships such as that is what is wrong with Washington journalism. . .

Read more at: Buzz Flash

Sunday Morning: What I've Learned

As I write this, I'm wrapping up my Sunday morning ritual. Namely, getting up earlier than I would like, and watching anywhere from one to four of the political talk shows. Here in the Pacific time zone, the schedules are often shuffled, and time slots moved, usually due to sports. But lately, the shows have been slotted so that I can watch three of the shows as they air, and if I'm feeling like a real glutton for punishment, can record the fourth.

That's what I did last week, and today. Little did anybody know last week that NBC's Meet the Press host, Tim Russert, would die before today's show. Needless to say, the entire episode of MTP, and smaller chunks of each of the other three shows discussed Russert and his importance to news and political discourse.

There were only a few other noteworthy things to discuss, so I guess "what I've learned" this Sunday is not much. I learned that Louisiana Governor (and potential McCain running mate) Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is a proponent of "Intelligent Design," which means he is either a) a religious fanatic, or b) disingenuous. I leave out c) he's not very smart, because he's a Rhodes Scholar, so that leaves only a or b.

Intelligent Design is not science and does not belong in science class, period. And if it were allowed, it would have to be acknowledged that there aren't merely two sides of this discussion, there are many, many other religious creation stories. You'd have to present them too. Anyway, throw in a bunch of other hard-right beliefs, and the fact that Bobby Jindal allegedly once performed an exorcism, and I'd say he's at best a long shot to be added to the GOP ticket. Too much controversy.

The other thing I learned was a furtherance of my belief that Republicans will tout their ideology--and slam the other side's--in spite of the facts. Kay Bailey Hutchison was on FOX "News" Sunday, opposite some oil fat cat, and a Democrat with a bad comb-over. The oil guy came off harumphy and spewed the things you'd expect him to. The Democrat laid out the facts: speculators are the heart of the gas price explosion. Oil drilling and exploration are not the root cause, and supply and demand is not the issue, because supply is up and demand is down--the opposite of what is being alleged.

Hutchison, at her turn, basically just tried to lay it all at the feet of the Democrats. Over and over she turned to that tack, that Democrats won't allow drilling in ANWR, and are preventing drilling off-shore, etc. She implied that the whole reason for $4.25 gas was Democrats. This of course, ignores the fact that with rare exceptions, Republicans have been in control of one or both houses of Congress since the mid-nineties. Democrats have had it back for what, 18 months? If they opened ANWR, drilled offshore, built a dozen new refineries. . .none of that would be up and running yet in 18 months! What were Republicans doing for the previous 12 years?

Hutchison isn't the only Republican to do this; attacking the other side while simultaneously using biased talking points. And surely a Democrat or two has employed this tactic (Terry McCauliffe is a prime example). But in this blogger's opinion, this tactic is much morre heavily used by the GOP. More egregious is the use of questionable data immediately after it has been questioned. It was already demonstrated that this is not a supply-and-demand issue. And yet "increase production!" was the cry of Hutchison--and oddly coincidentally--by they oil guy.

What else did I learn? Stuff I already knew; Karl Rove disgusts me, Chris Wallace is vaguely creepy, William Kristol needs that smirk smacked off his face, and Brit Hume is kind of a jerk. That's enough. On with the day!

NBC Meet the Press' Tim Russert Dies

Photo from source, MSNBC

Whoa. That I did not expect. Tim Russert's input in the Presidential primaries is so recent and fresh. I don't think I've missed more than two or three Meet the Press episodes in the last couple of years. I haven't always had nice things to say about him, but I have to say he was the best of the Sunday morning hosts (followed closely by Face the Nation's Bob Schieffer).

It's too bad he didn't at least get to see how this election season panned out. RIP, Tim. And readers, watch the news closely this weekend. When you a story like this breaks, it tends to obscure what else is going on. Friday night is already the place where news is intentionally buried. As Rachel Maddow says, read that Saturday morning paper!

[Excerpt]

'Tragic loss for journalism'

Tim Russert, NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of “Meet the Press,” died Friday after being stricken at the bureau, NBC News said Friday. He was 58.

Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s “Meet the Press” broadcast when he collapsed. He was rushed to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, where resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, said Russert’s physician, Michael Newman, who said the cause of death was not immediately known. . .

Read more at: MSNBC

Sunday Morning: Clinton, Obama, McClellan, Oh My!

I had the rare opportunity (and somehow, the intestinal fortitude) to watch all of the Sunday morning political talk shows this morning. What, there are five? Sorry, I can't take Wolf Blitzer, especially after choking back bile from watching FOX "News" Sunday.

All of the shows focused--naturally--on yesterday's battle to seat Democratic delegates for Florida and Michigan. The other big topic was former Press Secretary Scott McClellan's book What Happened. A smaller note was made about Barack Obama quitting his church, though that was the very first thing that FOX's Chris Wallace focused on. Surprise!

The biggest theme of the morning, on all four shows, was the Barack Obama vs. Hillary Clinton take on the primary at this very late stage. Rather, it was a variety of their campaign supporters, each dispatched to one of the shows. Not surprisingly, the Clinton people were Rovian in both their logic and their presentations. Each of them (particularly the loathesome Terry McCauliffe) used nearly identical verbiage in answer to their various interviewers. The phrase that struck me as the most obvious talking point was "I don't accept that premise" as a response to the question of Clinton leaving should Obama secure enough delegates to win on Tuesday.

The Obama people may have been using their own version of "talking points" but it sure didn't sound like it to me--and I'm not a long-time Obamaton. Mostly, I get the vibe that Obama wants to play fair, and that Clinton wants to seem fair. "Truthiness" seems to be her touchstone. I didn't feel this way in the beginning, but over the last several months, Clinton and her mouthpieces have rubbed me so far the wrong way, I see them as indistinguishable from "permanent campaign" Republicans. And I want Terry McCauliffe to never appear on my TV set again. Ugh.

Tim Russert Predicts Obama Lock By June 4

Oh, please, oh, please, oh, please. . . Let this part be over!

Mike Huckabee Responds to His Obama Gaffe

I only watched two of the four (five?) Sunday morning political gabfests this morning, and even then, it was mostly out of one eye while I was reading. The shows have been too tedious lately for 100% attention. FOX "News" Sunday in particular is getting more and more unwatchable to me as I realize that I don't like a single member of their ludicrously named "Power Panel."

But there was a little nugget on Meet the Press that was blog-worthy. Here is Tim Russert discussing gaffes with former GOP hopeful, Mike Huckabee, in particular his cringe-worthy Barack Obama and gunshots "joke."

Sunday Roundup: Piffle Over Substance

The Meet the Press gang, or Jim Henson's Land of Gorch? You be the judge!

I only watched two of the Sunday morning gab-fests this morning, most of Meet the Press with Tim Russert, and about three-quarters of FOX "News" Sunday. That was enough. I have no desire to seek out the other shows, because I suspect that it will be more of the same.

The same what you might ask? Well, Russert's cast of strange looking white people (Mary Matalin, James Carville, Bob Schrum, Mike Murphy and Russert himself) gabbed for almost the entire show about Barack Obama's "bitter" gaffe, and Bill & Hillary Clinton's strange takes on her "sniper fire" incident. No substance, just these semi-manufactured media fracases. I don't want either of these candidates roasted on a spit for things they've said that honestly mean very little in the scheme of things.

This is a week were we had confirmation that virtually the entire Bush administration held "torture meetings" in the White House. The Democrats are starting a contempt of Congress trial on Bush administration officials. Gen. Petraeus was grilled by Congress about the state of affairs in Iraq. Other stuff happened besides this trivial piffle.

I mean sure, they should cover it if they deem it newsworthy. But to turn a single paragraph by Obama and an exaggerated "fish story" by Clinton into practically their entire programs. . .it's just stupid.

Sunday Morning Roundup: Twirling Toward Freedom

It's the last Sunday before "Super Duper Grouper Flooper" Tuesday, so you'd expect the Sunday morning political shows to be on fire. Or as on fire as these shows could muster. After watching two of them, I'd say, not so much.

Maybe it's just my mood this morning, but I couldn't stop focusing on the superficial. NBC's Meet the Press with Tim Russert apparently couldn't lure one of the remaining Presidential candidates to the set, so they had a roster of four political commentators. Among them were Bob Shrum, Mike Murphy, and married odd-couple Mary Matalin and James Carville. They talked and talked, but none sounded very convincing. It sounded like the standard issue, shot-in-the-dark guessing that pundits often offer. And they could be absolutely wrong about everything they said, and still be asked back for a post-election roundup.

But what really struck me was the appearance of these four pundits, and the host, Tim Russert. These five people are a caricaturist's dream. Or maybe a Muppeteer's dream. And not the cute Sesame Street/Muppet Show Muppets, but characters from The Dark Crystal, Fraggle Rock or even SNL's Land of Gorch! Not a pretty face on the panel.

I didn't get much more engaged by FOX "News" Sunday, a show I always watch on the DVR so I can zip through it if I have to. F"N"S did manage to pull in Hillary Clinton and John McCain (who were even inartfully forced into a mini debate). Hillary was great, not thrown by Chris Wallace's zingers. But when McCain was on, I started staring at the spinning spool logo in the corner.

The spool has been modified since I last mentioned it. The logos are no longer chasing each other, and the colors are different. But it's still throbbing and pulsating, while its twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom! Mesmerizing. And with Grampa McCain's droning voice, hypnotizing.

But I was rudly slapped awake by the (ludicrously named) "Power Panel." In the last couple of weeks, the FOX entertainment division must have needed to move some sets around. Because apparently, every FOX game show set has been shoved around the FNS news desk. And turned on! What were they thinking? It's garish, it's seizure inducing, and it's ridiculous.

I'm starting to believe the rumor that the FOX "News" ratings are so high, because rest homes leave it on with no sound; its brilliant graphics and colorful animation being soothing to the infirm. But they've gone too far! All of the blinking and flashing is going to kill their audience, literally!

And while I'm on the superficial, can I mention that it looks to me like Brit Hume and John McCain have both had some sort of neck-tightening procedure? Neither is now suddenly a fashion plate, but where it once looked like their heads were melting into their collars, they now have more of a jawline. Just sayin'. . .

Hillary Clinton on Meet the Press

As I usually do (I'm a glutton for punishment), I sat through three of the Sunday morning political gab-fests this morning. The best of the bunch today was Meet the Press, which had an hour-long interview with Sen. Hillary Clinton.

She started off poorly, in my opinion, sounding a bit like the political automaton that she's often painted as. It was as though she needed to warm up (maybe she's not quite 100% solid state?). But after about five minutes, she transitioned into something else. She seemed quite human, whip-smart, and had an intelligent comeback, maybe even smack-down of Tim Russert's questions. For his part, Russert seems more critical, more damning of everything Clinton may have said or done wrong than he is to many of the other candidates. But Hillary acquitted herself nicely, and called Russert on it when he was being unfair.

For instance, the current hoo-ha over Bill Clinton's "fairy-tale" quote. Russert showed the now infamous quote out of context, so that it was not clear what Mr. Clinton was talking about. In context, there would be no kerfuffle. And Hillary didn't let him get away with it. Once again, I was impressed by her, and this appearance really elevated my opinion of the Senator. Now, if she could only avoid the "robot" state all together.

[Excerpt]

Timmeh Smackdown? Sweeeeet!

RUSSERT: [Talking about polling numbers from an NBC News/WSJ poll.] Why is there Independents and Republican resistance to you? [sic]

CLINTON: You know, Tim, one thing I think that everybody should have learned from New Hampshire is let's not pay so much attention to polls. We need to let voters actually make up their minds. . .

Read more at: Fire Dog Lake

Sunday Roundup: Karl Rove is a Pig

As I've mentioned before, I usually get up on Sunday and watch at least one or two of the Sunday morning political shows. Since Las Vegas is in the Pacific time zone, we get those programs whenever our local stations deign to air them, which means it can be impossible to watch them all without multiple DVRs. It may be bad for your health to watch them all anyway.

So, what usually happens is that I watch NBC's Meet the Press when it airs at 8:00, ignore CBS's Face the Nation, which airs at 8:30 (it's only one half hour anyway), watch FOX's FOX "News" Sunday delayed on the DVR (allowing me to zip through it quickly), and catch ABC's This Week only when our local station isn't airing golf or something.

It takes most of Meet the Press to fry a pound of bacon. If I hadn't had that activity, MTP would have put me to sleep. But since I was active and awake, I noticed something slightly disturbing. In their "round table" (in quotes, because the table is totally not round), one of panelists was David Brody (lots of Davids in their panels, by the way) of the freakin' Christian Broadcasting Network! I really couldn't believe that is counted as a valid news source. Any un-hypnotized person who's ever watched the "news" segments on The 700 Club would know that they are the most biased, unbalanced "news" it's possible to get.

Which brings us to FOX "News." It takes about 25 minutes to watch FOX "News" Sunday, if I can stand the creepiness of Chris Wallace, the combined evil of Brit Hume and Bill Kristol, and the lack of fight in whichever centrist-to-barely left-wing panelists they put in for "balance." But it was today's first segment that both gave me the creeps and had me screaming at the TV set.

It was a discussion between Chris Wallace (the host), freakin' Karl Rove (the swine from hell), and Chris Van Hollen (a guy I've never heard of, from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, whatever that is). While it would be quite impossible to "balance" Karl Rove, they could have gone for Terry McAuliffe or James Carville, someone known to be stridently partisan. But Van Hollen did have some fight in him, I have to say. He also showed much more decorum, maturity and professionalism--by far--than Rove did.

Turd Blossom was petulant, rude, and dishonest. He interrupted the host and the other guest, and showed no respect to either of them. He also continues the use of "Democrat Party" or "Democrat Congress," deliberately leaving the -ic off of "Democratic" because it tests well for Republicans to talk that way. This may seem like a small point, but Rove isn't using the term because he doesn't know any better. He's using it because he knows that saying "Democratic Party" sounds better to people, and he can't have that. Of course, the man disgusts me on so many levels, I wonder if just sat there and didn't say anything, whether I could quietly tolerate him.

Next up is This Week which just started. I'll spare you a recap, only to say that Huckabee is on now, and he scares me because he isn't creepy, he's articulate and funny, but he's the exact opposite in just about everything politically that I believe in. Yikes.