• Hot Off The Presses - Politics, Schmolitics

    Helluva Week, Governor Quinn!

    A huge sigh of relief went up as news commentators and pundits everywhere realized they wouldn’t have to try to pronounce or spell “Blagojevich” so much any more. Wow, what just happened? There was so much stuff going on this week, and I never really sat down in the evenings to sum up. Actually, the last two weeks have been pretty hectic, what with all the Washington hoopla last week, and the Springfield hoopla this week. The former was an occasion of great and redemptive joy, and the latter was an occasionally redemptive embarassment. Srsly, G-Rod? STHU! Although, I will…

  • Hot Off The Presses - Politics, Schmolitics

    Blago Running Late For His Own Impeachment

    The embattled and embarrasing Guv is making his way to Springfield. He left his house at 825am and was reportedly driving down, flying back. The House prosecutor arguing the case in the Illinois Senate begins his closing argument in a few minutes, at 10am. Blago will not even be there for it. How ballsy-rude is that? If he’s really driving all the way and not flying, he’s already more than an hour late. Here we go. Judge Fitzgerald will gavel the session to order after the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Resolutions being offered. Chief Justice brings the Senate…

  • Hot Off The Presses - Politics, Schmolitics

    Maddow Vs. Blago: Transcript

    Governor Blalegovich made the rounds of many talk shows today; in fact, he went to eleven. The transcript of his appearance on Rachel Maddow’s show is already up, in advance. He has absolutely no idea she had him for lunch, and in fact she was in need of a toothpick and floss by the end. Transcript: Rod Blagojevich, one on one – Rachel Maddow show- msnbc.com BLAGOJEVICH: And it’s just so unfair to him, to hold him, somehow, responsible for allegations on me. He’ll be judged on his own record as senator. And I predict he’ll do a great job,…

  • Hot Off The Presses - Politics, Schmolitics

    Move ‘Em Out, Rodhide

    Gov Hopalong #Blagojevich’s media appearances today: 11 Likelihood that he will run late: 98% due to incessant glad-handing Likelihood that Rachel Maddow will have him for lunch: 75% Blagojevich again blasted Illinois Senate rules that prohibit his calling certain witnesses and producing certain evidence. “Unlike Richard Nixon, who was dealing with issues of tapes, who didn’t want his tapes heard,” the governor said. “I want mine heard. I’d like the full story to be told. If the Senate would let me have evidence, I sure would like to be there so I could prove my innocence.” Here’s the governor’s schedule…

  • Music - Politics, Schmolitics

    Making Light: Nobody living can ever stop me

    (Video removed by YouTube because HBO contacted them and claimed it was “infringing.” Stay classy, HBO.) Saw this on our way back in the car, reading away on my iPhone: Making Light: Nobody living can ever stop me Okay, I admit it, my heart skipped a beat when I realized that Pete Seeger was really going to sing the whole song, including the “controversial” verse: There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me; The sign was painted, it said private property; But on the back side it didn’t say nothing; That side was made for you…

  • Hot Off The Presses - Politics, Schmolitics

    One More Bag of Presidential Peanuts, Please

    Bush The Lesser took one more sentimental journey on Air Force One, probably to savor the in-flight amenities one last time. Incidentally, they could have just taken Marine One, the chopper, all the way… or driven. it’s about a 3 hour drive. President George W. Bush made his last expected journey aboard Air Force One as president today, traveling to Norfolk, Va., for the christening of an aircraft carrier named for his father, the 41st president – the nuclear-powered USS George H.W. Bush The president and First Lady Laura Bush were joined by their son-in-law, Henry Hager, on the South…

  • Hot Off The Presses - Politics, Schmolitics

    Blagojevich Enjoyed The Limelight, Burris Fumbles The Numbers

    I can’t believe Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris to the Senate, I can’t believe Burris accepted after earlier saying he wouldn’t, and I can’t believe that Blago just said he’s enjoyed the limelight of the past few weeks. But he did, he did, and he did. I don’t know if video of this news conference will stay up for long on most television news sites, but I’m listening to an unfiltered stream that WBEZ put up shortly after the end of the presser. I had to stop it just now to get my head together. At least the reporters had some…

  • Politics, Schmolitics

    Bush Chose Stupid

    Supposedly, George Bush read 40 books this year to Karl Rove’s 64. I’ll believe it when I see the book reports. By all accounts, Bush 43 wasn’t born stupid – his supporters tout his degrees from Yale and Harvard Business School. But Slate had an article a few years back that dissed Bush’s grades as “gentlemen’s C’s” and posits that Bush’s stupidity is voluntary. He’s anti-intellectual and lazy, and simply can’t be bothered to think – and it’s supposedly a Freudian reaction to his father’s achievements. Rove puffs nostalgically on his magic memory pipe, changing history before our very eyes.…