Mile-High Hypocrisy

Pity poor Michael Gerson.

As a former professional speech-writer, he felt let down by Barack Obama's nomination acceptance speech in Denver.

"In tone, Obama's big speech was small, partisan, often defensive, and occasionally snide," Gerson writes in his 8/30 Washington Post column.

But then, as a former speech writer for George W. Bush, Gerson ought to know a thing or two about smallness, nevermind a spoken message that was, from the first, rabidly partisan and more than occasionally snide.

84, ooo fervently-cheering Democrats who felt literally a mile high seemed to feel otherwise.

Gerson called the speech "orthodox."
Perhaps it was a wee bit. For a Democrat. Which, Gerson may want to double-check, Obama is.

A man who crafted speeches with George Bush's smirk in mind is let down by the strong, stirring--and yes, partisan--language of the man hellbent on replacing him in the White House and attempting to clean up the sorry mess he will leave behind.

Aw.

Funny, how many on the right, after eight years of partisanship so fierce and unrelenting that some of them talked in terms of permanently "neutering" the opposition, now feel let down that that opposition is being so...partisan.

I would ask Michael Gerson, how does it feel?
But then, that would be snide.

Slacker-in-Chief

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina is busy actively stumping for John McCain. At a recent press breakfast (Sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor), she touted McCain's tech credentials. This is particularly odd since McCain has admitted that he does not know how to use a computer.

Tech credentials?

Hey, you can say what you want about John McCain online.
No, really--say whatever you want. Why not? He won't be reading it.

At least Their Hats don't Say "VD"

The story of this now nearly half-over baseball season is the Tampa Bay Rays. As of this writing, they are now a full (and incredible) 2-1/2 games ahead of the defending World Champion Boston Red Sox in the American League Eastern Division.

But even casual fans might notice this season that something seems missing from the Tampa Bay name. There is. And as Dana Carvey might have said as the "Church Lady," it's "SAYT-n!"
Yup, they used to be the Tampa Bay DEVIL Rays. But this season, they lost the Lucifer handle, and swam with the straight and narrow aquatic thing.

And suddenly, having shed the devil, the Rays are in first place. Coincidence? Only to athiests.

The Rays are good; they are young, they have speed, good pitching and a skilled veteran skipper in Joe Maddon. They may challenge right to the end.

But here's my question for the Rays braintrust: why tinker to the point of dropping the "Devil" part of your name out of obvious concern for karma, but leave the same initials on your team's hat? ("TB")

No team has ever won a championship in any sport sporting the initials of a communicable disease. And as Casey himself would have said, "You can look it up."

And Grover Norquist is David Duke with a Beard

Hey, if Norquist is calling Barack Obama, "John Kerry with a tan..."

Chutz-pah, n.

"Brazeness, gall." (Yiddish)
Use it in a sentence? Try this one:

"Cheney says Democrats on 'destructive path.'"

Now that's chutzpah.

What Does Hillary Want (From Me?)

Have I not paid proper obeissance?
Have I not given her her due?
Have I not suffered through these fifteen months of "ClintonII: This Time It's Personal?"

I have an idea for her: why doesn't she do like the late Sen. George Aiken (R-VT) suggested the U.S. do to disengage from Vietnam during that war -- just say she won and go home.

What does she want (from me)?

Who Says You Can't Get A Plumber On Weekends?

It's the weekend. Your toilet's backed up. You can get someone to come out, but it will take two days, and be rather expensive. Nearly $2 billion, to be exact. Besides, it's not really your money. It's our money.

Congratulations, NASA, on making the most expensive service call in history.
I just wonder -- did they at least try first to just jiggle the handle?