How W Picks his appointees. A Comedy in three acts.

tw Political
Act 1 – A joke.
W=W
C=Dick Cheney
W:Hey Dick, wanna see something cool?
C: Does it involve a shotgun?
W: No, but I like the way you think.
C:Thank you Mr. President (he..he).
W:Do you Remember Harriet Moyers? That skirt that use to hang around the Texas State Capitol building?
C: Do you mean Harriet Miers, your General Council?
W: Is that what she was? I thought she was helping Laura pick out curtains. Anyway, somebody nudged me this morning and said someone on the Supreme Court is quitting..
C: Yes, Justice O’Connor.
W:Whatever his name is..
C:Her.
W:What?
C:What ever her name is.
W:I thought you said it was O’Conner? Anyway, what if, just for a joke, I nominate this Moyers girl?
C:Miers?
W:Yeah, Miers, whatever. So I nominate her, and then we sit back and watch. It’ll be a hoot!
C:Um…Ok? (to himself:)Maybe I can figure out something cooler to do with this shotgun…
Act II – Oblivious
W=W
I=Intern
W:Hey you, intern, do you know how to use this thing (indicates computer)?
I: Yes sir, Mr. President.
W:Call me W.
I: Yes Mr. President.
W: Dick tells me that I’ve got to nominate a new U.N. ambassador. Can you punch ‘U.N.’ into the Google and find out who it should be?
I:uh…Yes Mr. President.
(typing)
I:Lets see, United Nations….United Nations…7-up, the UN-Cola….
W:I’m a Sprite man myself. Scotch and Sprite.
I:Yes sir.
W:This isn’t working. Let’s try ‘U.N.’ and ‘Walrus’. I like walruses.
I:Yes sir (sigh).
(more typing)
W:Stop – What’s that name that keeps popping up? Bolton?
I:Oh, there. Yes Sir. John Bolton
W: I like him. (singing:)That’s what love is all abouut…
I: Um, sir? I think that’s Michael Bol…
W:I’m gonna nominate him!
Act III – Just plain mean.
W=W
C=Dick Cheney
W:Hey Dick? How’d we do in the elections.
C:Not so well, Mr. President.
W:Does this mean I have to move out of the White House?
C:No Mr. President. Not for another two years.
W:Good. ‘Cuz I hate to move. All that packing..
C:Yes sir, Mr President. You know, there is something we could do.
W:What’s that?
C:Well, you need to nominate somebody to head the Office of Population Affairs…
W:The what?
C:The Office of Population Affairs Mr President. They determine how the federal family planning money gets distributed.
W:I like families. Except mine. They bug me.
C:Yes sir Mr President. Anyway, what if we find the worst person for the job. Somebody who opposed all forms of family planning. Somebody who doesn’t even like condoms..
W:Have you ever blown up a condom like a balloon, Dick?
C:Um…Yes sir. I guess so. But that’s not the point of…
W:’Cuz Laura and I have a whole box of them, and every once in a while I’ll just blow one up and bounce it around the room.
C:Yes sir (sigh). Eric Keroack.
W:I tried to read his book, but it didn’t rhyme or have pictures.
C:Wha…? Oh, no sir, Mr President. That’s Jack Kerouac. I’m talking about Eric Keroack, head of ‘A Woman’s Concern’, a Christian conservative anti-abortion group.
W:So…let me get this straight… a dude runs ‘A Woman’s Concern’? hehe.
C:(a heavier sigh)yes Sir. A ‘dude’ does. And he’s the worst guy for the job. Just like Bolton, and Just like Miers.
W:Who?
C:(sigh again)Moyers…
W:Oh her. What ever happened to her?
C: Just sign here, Mr President. Then we can get some Ice Cream.

Requiem for a Songwriter

tw Political
John Bassette, legendary folk musician, songwriter and cable-access host died last Thursday.
I knew John from Coventry in mid 80’s. He was using the moniker ‘Jon Bon’ and was a regular at the open mics at Arabica (also missed)He gladly lend his clear baritone harmonies to the spontaneous music parties that were ubiquitous at the time. His top hat, his bushy beard, and his red jacket were icons of an era when teenagers (myself included) could walk the streets of Coventry (in Cleveland Heights for those of you eagerly punching up Mapquest) every night, filling up on Apple pizza, Grumm’s subs, or a fallafel at Tommy’s.
For a short time, my brother Evan, myself, and John performed together as a trio, covering old standards and John’s catchy original songs. He was always on hand with a supportive comment or a warm smile.
When Alex Bevan came back to town (not as skinny, but just as fun) I took John to his first performance at Peabody’s Cafe. Alex had dedicated his classic ‘Springboard’ album to him, and I figured they should see each other. From what I understand, they were friends up to the end.
Goodbye John Bassette. You are already missed.
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Know your Constituency 101

tw Political
Sorry for the lack of updates – work and weekend intervened.
RaB had a little something to say about Mary Jo Klroy, and her absurd desire to see all the votes counted.
Part of what can only be described as a drunken ranting contends that Jennifer Brunner will use the precedent of actually counting provisional ballots as tantamount to ensuring that every:

transient, ruffian, illegal immigrant, scoundrel, rapist, murderer, drug dealer, dead voter, Disney movie character, and other such members of Democrat constituencies vote in the next election.

 

While I may take umbrage with the idea that all Disney Characters are Democrats (I’m talking to you Cruela DeVille!), there is a more important lesson to be learned: 
The Republicans know that they have a lock on the pedophile and child molester vote.

 

Congress 2.0 – now available in Blue!

tw Political
It is (almost) official – Both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate will be controlled by Democrats!  
Not exactly a balance of power, but after twelve years of leaning hard to the right, it will take some time even at full-left for Congress to get upright.

 

Even more astounding is the lack of change from the Executive branch. One week after stating that Rumsfeld would have a job through 2008, he came back with a different story, that Rumsfeld’s demise was in the works for ‘some time’. See there, ‘facts’ in the Bush White House expire in 7 days.

 

Add to that his funny statement that ‘We’ve never been Stay the Course”‘.
Right.
             
Hopefully this new Congress will be taking a more critical look at the President’s statements and actions, and finally hold him accountable.
             
Maybe.

Smoking causes drunks.

tw Political
From WKYC:
AKRON — The only smokers at Bricco’s restaurant were gathered at the same table.  
One of the smokers, Katie Rowlands of Akron, expressed her dislike of Issue 5.  

“I dont like Issue 5 because it puts drunk people out on the streets and that’s not good,” she said. (emphasis is mine)

I think she is confusing Issue 5 with “Last Call”.