Who is Charge of Mrs. Pelosi’s Swamp?

Think what  you will of the tenure of former speaker Dennis Hastert.  At least Denny avoided getting into catfights with members of hs own caucus.   Not so for Mrs. Pelosi.

WASHINGTON -(AP)- Tempers flared on Iraq among Democrats on Tuesday as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi fielded criticism from an anti-war congresswoman over liberals’ concern that the party is not doing enough to end the war.

Pelosi’s behind-closed-doors exchange with Rep. Maxine Waters of California — described as heated by lawmakers and aides who asked not to be identified because of the session’s private nature — came as House leaders made progress in their quest for votes on a war spending bill that would require U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq by 2008.

So did the Pelosi or the Waters’ camp leak this?

Don Suber sums it up Mrs Pelosi’s objective:

Pelosi and the rest of her Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time Leadership team are trying to starve the troops out of Iraq in a move that certainly brings smiles to our enemy.

Of couse to be somewhat fair to Mrs. Pelosi, Speaker Hastert never had to caucus with anybody as looney as Maxine Waters.

At the 1992 Democratic Convention in New York, Al Gore said: “The central organizing principle of governments everywhere must be the environment.” The environment would not, however, be the central organizing principle of Gore’s own life.

The only place Al Gore conserves energy these days is on the treadmill. I don’t want to suggest that Al’s getting big, but the last time I saw him on TV I thought, “That reminds me — we have to do something about saving the polar bears.”

That’s Ann Coulter... Gotta love it.

Sorry if you don’t like it, but there are some people that simply deserve to be treated with disrespect.  Al Gore is most certainly one of them.  Actually, that particular slime ball deserves to be treated with much worse.  But disrespect will do for a start.

She goes on to point out a parallel that Martin Luther himself would find interesting;

As has been widely reported, Gore’s Tennessee mansion consumes 20 times the energy of the average home in that state. But it’s OK, according to the priests of global warming. Gore has purchased “carbon offsets.”

It took the Catholic Church hundreds of years to develop corrupt practices such as papal indulgences. The global warming religion has barely been around for 20 years, and yet its devotees are allowed to pollute by the simple expedient of paying for papal indulgences called “carbon offsets.”

And that’s really what it comes down to; global warming has turned into a religion.  Albeit, a corrupt one.  A corrupt religion of the scope of Catholicism, pre- Martin Luther.

I say it’s time for a reformation.

* Getting warmer around here; we actually made it up to 67 today.  I’m starting to think about hauling the trailer back up here from the storage location, 60 miles south.  The snow was mostly gone, except where the snowplows had piled up along the sides of parking lots and things like that; what was white, and really rather pretty, is now a dirty gray reminder of those nasty storms we had less than a month ago.  Less than a month… hard to believe.  OK, given we’ve got lots of sunshine today …

* The Music: George Howard’s “Dancing in the Sun”

About the time this broke, (1985) I was doing morning radio radio at a jazz outlet. The LP was rather dramatically different at the time.  Not only was he good at what he was doing mechanically speaking, but he actually sounded like he was having fun with it.  The effect on the listener, was enough that it made number one on the contemporary jazz charts at the time.  This was his last album for Palo Alto records (On the TBA label) both of which at the time belonged to Grusin/Rosen. (GRP) after few records with MCA, Dave Grusin signed him back to GRP, He released “Love and Understanding: later that same year.

His last recording was in January of 1998; he died from colin cancer two months later.

To give you a rough idea of the musical heritage involved, the first toured with Grover Washington Junior. To give you an idea of how much respect he had in the business, Grover invited him.

When I was doing weddings, I would use the title track quite a bit when the situation seemed to call for a little latin funk.
* McQ speculates… before the news conference this afternoon, wondering if Edwards is out. Frankly, I don’t think he has a chance in hell of winning the nomination, anyway.  Democrats have a habit of shunning their losers.  Witness, for example, what happened to Joe Lieberman.

So, let’s examine the timing of this;

Cathy Siepp died yesterday, of cancer. The outpouring the outpouring that came from that, was justifiably large. in the event essentially dominated the ‘sphere for many days, and particularly the last 48 hours or so.
So now, suddenly, we have Edwards making references to health problems with his wife, and billing the announcement for a good 24 to 48 hours while the remainder of the world speculates as to what the problem might be.  A predictable response.  Then we find out that she has cancer, but they’re going to continue the campaign anyway.

This announcement comes up almost in conjunction with the release of the Breck girl primping Hirself.  (no, that’s not a mis-spelling) and much in the way of speculation from many corners, that his campaign is in serious trouble.

So, now, comes the logical question; is this a sympathy ploy on the part of Mr. Edwards and his people, in an attempt to get a spike going in Edward’s polling numbers? Thank, now, about what happened to the aforementioned Mr. Lieberman; he started making noise that he was going to drop out, that he was making enough headway, that he was having trouble raising money, etc..  Suddenly, out of the blue, (pun intended ) money started showing up, and his numbers went up.  One cannot help but wonder if Mr. Edwards and his people haven’t learned from that particular experience.
One can always assume, that if the response to this announcement was positive, and Edwards numbers started coming up, (and the money started coming in) that he’d stay in the fight.  If other hand that doesn’t happen, he can always back out of the race, citing serious health problems with his wife. Given her health history, who would dare question such a claim, other than people like me?

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You see, I’ve been watching this game long enough.  I’m now cynical enough to see the possibilities.  No, I would not put it past him. Matter of fact, I’m rather hoping that’s the case; that this is being faked… because the kind of problems that are being claimed, are not ones I’d wish on my worst enemy.

I guess the difference between myself and those who would be attracted by such a sympathy ploy, is that I wouldn’t vote for him, over it.

* It appears that there’s some added discussion as regards to the 1984 and, that I spoke of last evening:

Those who have been around the Buckeye ‘sphere for a while know Mr. De Vellis well. One of the most unscrupulous Democratic staffers to come to Ohio in quite a while, creative and talented Phil is not. Pull up a chair and hear the story of the supposed creator of “Big Sister” – the most viral internet ad of recent memory – and why I ain’t buyin’ that Phil made it.

Oh, this gets good. Go and read.  I knew this was both more and less than it seemed. I’m not convinced that this wasn’t a feeble attempt at reverse psychology.

That permanent unelected, and largely democrat, government both exists and is at odds with our elected government is really not in dispute.  The question is do you favor the elected or unelected government.

The Washington Post provides a article which establshs the fact of the unelected government, while cleverly disquising it as an anti Bush  hit piece, “Prosecutor Says Bush Appointees Interfered With Tobacco Case:”

The leader of the Justice Department team that prosecuted a landmark lawsuit against tobacco companies said yesterday that Bush administration political appointees repeatedly ordered her to take steps that weakened the government’s racketeering case.

Sharon Y. Eubanks said Bush loyalists in Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales’s office began micromanaging the team’s strategy in the final weeks of the 2005 trial, to the detriment of the government’s claim that the industry had conspired to lie to U.S. smokers.

Cry me a river.  Eubanks is complaining that she had to take orders from an official appointed by our elected president.  Is it just me or Eubanks using the term “Bush loyalists” as if it were some sort of ad hominem?   Onlly in the world of the MSM, does being loyal to your elected president become an insult.   As Barbara Boxer would say, “Elections have consequences.”

More, Ed Whelan, Bench Memos, says Eubanks is ‘blowing smoke.”   I might suggest of different gas and different bodily oriface.

Better  late than never, Fox News is reporting that all charges in the Duke Faux Rape case will be dropped:

The remaining charges against three Duke University lacrosse players originally indicted for rape may be dropped sometime within the next few days, according to a report.

Ace, Ace of Spades HQ, has a few choices words for Ms Crystal Mangum:

Because they just don’t have the onions to say what we all have known for a half year: She’s a half-crazy drugged-out hooker and a God-damned liar. (And I choose my words carefully. Mean every one of them.)

Note that Ace still refrains from identifying Ms Mangum by name.  I do not.  Ms. Mangum and Mike Nifong puts these students through Hell. 

” Part of the President’s problem in Washington is fighting against  permanent bureaucracies that that have  a very different point of view from his. And I think that’s a real problem for the American people.”

Ambassador John Bolton, to Jon Stewart, via Pamela Geller Oshry, Atlas Shrugs.

Two points of many from Doctor Sowell today: 

Amid all the media hysteria over the price of gasoline and the profits of “Big Oil,” one simple fact has been repeatedly overlooked: The oil companies’ earnings are just under 10 percent of the price of a gallon of gas, while taxes take 17 percent. Yet who ever accuses the government of “greed”?

After President Bush fired a handful of U.S. attorneys, it has become a big scandal in the media. But when President Clinton fired all the U.S. attorneys in the country — including those who were investigating him for corruption in Arkansas — it was no big deal. Yet many in the media still claim that there is no bias.

The local fish wrapper published this column by Kathleen Parker today, “death by bangs:”

At least he’s still got good hair.

    Otherwise, it may be over for John Edwards, thanks to a resurrected video of him primping, too lovingly, his hair.
    The video, set to the song “I Feel Pretty,” has been airing on television, posted on YouTube and circulating on the Internet the past few days with potentially devastating effect for the man unflatteringly referred to as the “Breck Girl.” It also illustrates the enormous power of YouTube in politics forevermore.

Parker a good writer and this column is no exception.  ‘Cept, the printed words is just not capable doing justice to this particular video.

(H/T video, Kitty Meyers, Kitty Litter )

Update: I (Bit)

Hair to one side, for the moment, Edwards held a press conference this morning, saying he was out for reasons involving his wife’s health.

Update II:  (David L)    The Associated Press is reporting that John Edwards is continuing his campaign:

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – John Edwards said Thursday his wife’s cancer has returned, but said he will continue his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

“The campaign goes on. The campaign goes on strongly,” Edwards told reporters, his wife by his side.

Mean while back at the ranch, Jonah Goldberg, NRO – Corner, wryly reports that Andrew the Excitable got very excited over both developments,

Maybe someone can explain this to me. Al Gore shows up to Congerss yesterday, after demanding special treatment, he then preaches about how we’re all supposedly killing the planet.

 When asked if he’s going to pledge to change his ways in the same way he’s demanding of everyone else, he says ‘no’.  After preaching to us about how we have a national-wide…. no…world-wide…. emergency going, and how everyone is supposed to drive a thimble, and feel guilty about using that air conditioning, etc, etc.  he refuses to take part in what he demands from everyone else. Why?

He’s rich and can pay for it. Ah, yes, America… the party of the Little People, huh?

And the Democrats and the press (A redundancy) continue to fall all over themselves when he speaks.

Like I say, maybe someone can explain this to me.

But, I doubt it.

You need to listen to Fred Thompson on Laura Ingraham’s show yesterday.

I’m starting to think we have a winner, here.

The rapidly diminishing credibility of Mrs. Clinton’s campaign took another nose dive yesterday, when the creator of the “1984” parody ad was exposed by none other than Arianna Huffington. ABC News did itself no credit by reporting Huffington’s story without giving her any credit

Dispite visions of another mythical vast right wing conspiracy, or even worse another alleged dirty trick by Karl Rove, Huffington pegged the author to be one Phil de Vellis, late of Blue State Digital. De Vellis say his point was:

The specific point of the ad was that Obama represents a new kind of politics, and that Senator Clinton’s “conversation” is disingenuous

De Vellis claims to have resigned from BSD, John at Power Line, reports that de Vellis was fired.

Given the open nature of the Internet, YouTube in specific, and the totally disingenuous nature Mrs. Clinton’s cynical campaign, she should expect yet more citizen political ads.

Addendum: (Bit)

What I want to know, is who canned him, and why , and where are all the congressional investigations about this obviously political move? Heck, they have congressional show trials for everything else that stands in the way of Democrats maintaining power, why not this?
Also, I would be interested in knowing if he’s willing to spend that many hours putting together an attack and of this nature, how can he say, as he does in his Huffpo bit, that Hillary Clinton is a “great public servant”?

(Choke, wheeze) I live in New York, Phil, and I’m here to tell you she’s no public servant at all.

Addendum II: (Bit)

But I do wonder about YOU, Bucko… I mean, making a lot of noise for Obama, and going under the handle of “ParkRidge 47?” I mean, wasn’t Mrs Bubba Clinton  born in Park Ridge in 1947?  You GOTTA wonder if there’s something we’re not being told here. My sense is there’s a little slight of hand from the  Clinton camp going on. Like I said… the first time this ad got used… in it’s original form, from Apple Computer, it didn’t sway too many people.  A pre-emptive strike, perhaps?

Addendum III:  (David L)    How legitimate is Phil de Vellis’ confession?   Patrick Ruffini is both a republican and internet expert.   That is Ruffini has both technical knowledge and no partisan axe to grind.   Ruffini doubts that de Vellis could editted the video:

Did Phil de Vellis just cop to a “crime” he didn’t commit, or had only a minor part in committing, to advance his career (it’s working) or cover for the real perps?

Buckeye State Blog, a lefty Ohio outfit, is doubtful that de Vellis is the auteur of “Vote Different.” They have clashed in the past so there clearly is no love lost between the two:

As Dudge would say:  developing. 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Character actor Calvert DeForest, best known for his dead-pan appearances as the pudgy, bespectacled everyman Larry “Bud” Melman on David Letterman’s late-night TV show, has died at age 85.

DeForest died on Monday at Good Samaritan Hospital on New York’s Long Island after a lengthy illness, Letterman’s production company announced on Wednesday.

These things always seem to come in threes. For the love of me, I never expected him to be the third.

* The Music: Today is the birthday of Johan Sebastian Bach. So, today’s choice is a natural: Switched On Bach. Recorded by Walter Carlos, who later became Wendy Carlos (I suppose we are dealing with Todd Rundgren called “the Tourtured Artist Effect), it stands as a brilliant use of the technology of the day. Carlos’ treatment of the Brandenburgs is amazing.
Bach’s music, even when played with conventional instruments, had the hypnotic, machine- like movement that reminded one of nothing so much as a Steam Locomotive. For all that the playing on this album is superb, the instrumentation in this case comes to a cleaner tone, and allows the listener a clear picture of what the master intended, in his writing. Imagine a steam locomotive, made of clear glass, where all the moving parts are seen.  One gets the decided impression that Bach settled for the instrumentation of the day, because that’s all that was available… but also that he heard the music otherwise in his head… played by instrumentation that hadn’t been made yet.

I suspect Bach in today’s world would have had an intricate understanding of computers.

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* I see by way of Chuck Simmins’ Northshore Journal Jason Dunham, from nearly Scio NY will have a ship named after him. A fitting tribute, I think.

* It’s getting warmer, around here. I can’t say as I disapprove. I’ve been getting a little tired having to run the space heater in the basement office so I can get my work done, down here.

Oh, that’s right, most of you don’t know that’s where my office is. Actually, it works out to the advantage, during the summer, round here; during the summer it’s the coolest area in the house, and the several desktop computers and servers and routers and whatnot I have in my office benefit thereby.

* Speaking of computers, I mentioned recently, that I was having some trouble with the Palm Pilot, transferiing MP3 files to the plugin memory. I have found a solution, I think , which exposes the plug in memory module to the USB cable, which in turn shows up as a drive in XP. It turns out, that that arrangement is a little too fast on its own; it tends to overrun the buffers, and causes errors. What I have found, though, quite by accident is that Winamp helps, here. Once the Palm Pilot showed up as a virtual drive, Winamp, which happened to be fired up at the time, looked around, and blipped a dialog box at me, saying that there was a device on the USB port that looked amazingly like an MP3 player, and did I want WinAmp to manage it?

Heck, yes, let’s give it a try. It turns out, that the database and process that when it uses, slows the transfer down just enough, to the point where it’s not overflowing the buffers. I’ve gotta play with this a little further, but it does look like I found the best answer I could possibly have imagined; I use Winamp anyway… have for years… so I don’t need to change anything for this system to work. I’ll let you know.

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* Does it really take more energy to produce a Prius than it does to produce a Hummer?

Yes. So spare me the high sounding platitudes about how you’re saving the world by driving one of those little death boxes.

* Attention Ann Coulter. Garrison Keillor called, looking for you. Something about what to do when the hate mail starts showing up. Wouldn’t it figure that this is one of the few things he’s spoken on recently, where he actually makes some degree of sense. This is precisely what I was talking about, years ago, when I suggested that the culture was in danger. on a deeper level, that’s really what he’s talking about, here.

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* Hat tip to Billy for the link yesterday, . Also, to the Washington Post, who really needs to get that WordPress interlink code fixed.

* Oh… speaking of WordPress… In the past 48 hours, this Blog’s site has gotten hit with 477 individual attempts to spam our comments section.  The automatics I put into play when we first started using WordPress caught ’em all. I can’t imagine that I’m not getting hit for all the bandwidth those idiots are sucking up.  But at least they’re not making it on to my front page.

* For all the press trumpets the approval numbers of President Bush as being low, it’s funny, how they never bother to mention that the approval numbers of the Democratic Party-run Congress, is even lower.

With a nod of thanks to Warren Zevon, who, I think would approve.

Shadows are falling and I’m running out of breath
Keep me in your heart for awhile

If I leave you it doesn’t mean I love you any less
Keep me in your heart for awhile

When you get up in the morning and you see that crazy sun
Keep me in your heart for awhile

There’s a train leaving nightly called when all is said and done
Keep me in your heart for awhile

Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for awhile

Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for awhile

Sometimes when you’re doing simple things
around the house
Maybe you’ll think of me and smile

You know I’m tied to you like the buttons on
your blouse
Keep me in your heart for awhile

Hold me in your thoughts, take me to your dreams
Touch me as I fall into view
When the winter comes keep the fires lit
And I will be right next to you

Engine driver’s headed north to Pleasant Stream
Keep me in your heart for awhile

These wheels keep turning but they’re running out
of steam
Keep me in your heart for awhile

Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for awhile

Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for awhile

Keep me in your heart for awhile

(BBCT for photo: Moxie )

Update: (Bit) James has a number of links to obits and tributes.

Lewis Fein, Cathy’s World:

We lost Cathy at 2:05 PM today. May her memory last, her family persevere and her friends endure this terrible loss. We’ll all have more to write shortly, but for now I’d like to truly praise Susan Estrich. She has the classiest column out there about Cathy. A real letter of love and admiration. Read it. Goodbye, Cathy.