QUASI-LIVEBLOGGING THE DEM DEBATE

I just turned on the California Democratic debate. I find myself surprisingly okay with Hilary Clinton.


I'm baffled that Michael Graham at Nation Review thinks either candidate fell flat on the CEO question. Obama shivved Mitt Romney with his answer -- based on how they've run their campaigns, the Dems certainly know what they're doing better than Mitt.

Hillary is certainly not shy about playing the gender card. I think it's fantastic that a woman and a black man are odds-on favorites to be the next president (I
m not sure if I expected to see such a thing in my lifetime; when I was ten, I thought either was forbidden by the Constitution). But unlike some, I don't think either represents an overriding qualification, either. Both have had to face discrimination in a way that rich good-ol'-boys like me or George W. Bush can't comprehend. But identity isn't compelling in a vacuum, and Hilary Clinton's principle are such a vacuum.

A questioner observed that anyone born after 1962 has always had a Bush or Clinton on the ballot (actually, I think she was counting since 1970, but I think the Vice presidential slot in 1980 counts). That is ridiculous. There has been a Clinton or a Bush in the White House since I was seven years old. I'd sure like a chance to vote for a different family for a change. Is this how Republicans felt about FDR?

And then a friend called, and I missed the rest.

GOOD QUESTION

One of Andrew Sullivan's readers reminds me of another reason I disliked Clinton back in the day:

The memories of Monica floated back up, I remembered how they threw her under the bus the first chance they got too. Does anyone doubt Bill would have let Monica rot in jail had it come to that?

Whenever someone defends Bill Clinton on feminist grounds, remember the offensive way Clinton maligned Monica Lewinsky as a stalker. It would have been nice it Bill could have managed a gentlemanly "Leave the girl out of this." Instead he talked shit about her all over town. That's a cruel thing to do during a normal breakup, and when you consider their relative stations in life -- Leader of the Free World and Post-Grad respectively -- a better, more confident president would have realized it was beneath his station to trash her like that.

I'm been struggling to develop an almost incoherent thesis about this, actually. Much of Hilary Clinton's campaign has promoted the experience she gained as First Lady of Arkansas and the United States. If the perosnal relationship ends up as that kind of formal role, doesn't that put lying about an affair back on the table as an impeachable offense? Both Clintons are asserting the partnership in power, so shouldn't acts that harm that partnership be seriously condsidered?

Okay, it doesn't really make any sense.

One quality I enjoy about the Bush right is how they will offer an appreciation of Bush, or another Republican figure, for acts that would be considered laughably inept or damaging, were we living in a sane world.

I'm always amazed when someone on the Right offers an appreciation of George Bush or another hite House figure for acts of cowardice, stupidity or laziness that one would assume would appall more people that they impress. Like this:

Rumsfeld's tenure at Defense is for the historians now, but I know this: he was an unusually far-sighted thinker for a Cabinet official, and his instant strategic clarity by lunchtime of September 11th was critical to this nation's response.

So, Donald Rumsfeld came up with a demonstrably failed war strategy in about two hours, and refused to deviate from it as America lumbered into humiliation and failure. Congratulations. (I know the Right thinks we're winning right now, but they're going to argue that as the helicopters take off from the embassy roof, provided a Republican is in the White House.)

HEH

Barack Obama beat Hillary Clinton so badly in South Carolina it may spawn some new kind of Southern colloquialism. When Clemson spanks an opponent by five touchdowns it will be called an Obama. Fans will taunt the losing team as they walk off the field by making an "O" against their foreheads.

RACE? I'M NOT TOUCHING THAT ONE.

Wow, MSNBC is really laying on the condescending racism. I guess when a former president is dismissively comparing the front-runner to Jessie Jackson for no other reason than Obama is black, it's another sign post for the culture.

AND IT'S OFFICIAL

Obama looks to be walking away with South Carolina. MSNBC is reliving Undercover Brother's satirical campaign coverage as farce, with one reporter stating that the results were as plain as black and white. And he's enjoying support from more than Blacks. Or Afro-Americans. Sometimes I forget what decade we're in.

I wonder why John Edwards is thought to have had a home state advantage. yeah,he was born in South Carolina, but he made his fortune suing the shit out of his neighbors. I can't imagine that would endear you to the homies.

GOOD NEWS

According to The New Republic, Obama is looking at a 20 point victory in South Carolina.

This makes me laugh.

Loaded like a freight train
Flyin' like an aeroplane
Feelin' like a space brain
One more time tonight

Well I'm a west coast struttin'
One bad mother
Got a rattlesnake suitcase
Under my arm
Said I'm a mean machine
Been drinkin' gasoline
And honey you can make my motor hum
Well I got one chance left
In a nine live cat
I got a dog eat dog sly smile
I got a Molotov cocktail with a match to go
I smoke my cigarette with style
An I can tell you honey
You can make my money tonight

Wake up late honey put on your clothes
Take your credit card to the liquor store
That's one for you and two for me by tonight
I'll be loaded like a freight train
Flyin' like an aeroplane
Feelin' like a space brain
One more time tonight

I'm on the nightrain
Bottoms up
I'm on the nightrain
Fill my cup
I'm on the nightrain
Ready to crash and burn
I never learn
I'm on the nightrain
I love that stuff
I'm on the nightrain
I can never get enough
I'm on the nightrain
Never to return - no

Loaded like a freight train
Flyin' like an aeroplane
Speedin' like a space brain
One more time tonight

I'm on the nightrain
And I'm lookin' for some
I'm on the nightrain
So's I can leave this slum
I'm on the nightrain
And I'm ready to crash an' burn
Nightrain
Bottoms up
I'm on the nightrain
Fill my cup
I'm on the nightrain

Whoa yeah
I'm on the nightrain
Love that stuff
I'm on the nightrain
An I can never get enough
Ridin' the nightrain
I guess I
I guess, I guess, I guess I never learn

On the nightrain
Float me home
Ooh I'm on the nightrain
Ridin' the nightrain
Never to return
Nightrain

TAKE A CLASS!

TAKE A POTTERY CLASS!

BRING THE GIRL!



What is the deal with sinister whispers 9influencing Mitt Romney? Here's another:

I was talking to a drug kinpin last week who expressed skepticism that there was ever such a show as Manimal. Proof:

The Onion is on to me.

THE AUDIENCE STRIKES BACK

In 2005, I was Casting Director for this improvised film, about a group of Star Wars fans convened for a focus group about Revenge of the Sith. I wonder if I'll even be credited, considering that more than half the cast I assembled was replaced.

Christ, now I'm wondering if I'm racist for craving ribs right now.

MLK DAY BLOGGING

I went into work this morning, and wondered where the heck everybody was. Oh, right. National holiday.

I was saddened by the lack of right-wing talk radio today. I think it shows a lack of convictions for a bunch of white guys who are outraged that there's a Martin Luther King holiday in the first place to take the day off.

I went to get mu allergy shot and my blood drawn. The lab, I was jabbed several time in an effort to fiund my vein. The first time, the nurse held the needle with just the tip in the vein, and I snapped at her to take it out the rest of the way.

In the elevator on the way out, a man told me, "They're serving ribs in the cafeteria today, and I just couldn't resist." I told him I'd probably treat myself some other time, and he replied, "Today of all days the only time we're ever going to see that." I wonder if that observation would have been offensive from a white guy? (He was African American.)

Lastly, here's King's rightfully legendary Letter from a Birmingham Jail.

CAN I GET THAT WIFEBEATER IN A XXXL?

Courtesy of my dad, here's a picture of me and my cousin Karen, circa 1976. I'm the fat guy on the right in the red hot pants and patriotic wifebeater. I think I just found my Halloween costume for 2008.

PLUTO IS A DISCO BALL

REAL CONVERSATIONS My sister: What's

REAL CONVERSATIONS
My sister: What's up, homie?
My nephew: Peace.