Danny Doom’s Booze Cabinet

Yes, those are my ancient Docs standing guard over a Tecate disguised in a Pabst Blue Ribbon glass. A few stories here. First, the Docs: they have reached their end. It is sad, and I would have kept them on my feet but it was insisted that I replace them with new ones. Insisted. As in, throw them away. They’ve been around since the early 90′s and they’ve seen a lot. Many Lollapaloozas and certainly many grunge-era shows. Too many Pearl Jam shows to count, but also those heady days at Lounge Ax and Metro, when there seemed to be a great show every week, every night, somewhere. But I was still wearing them to the end, just a few holes here and there, what’s the big deal?

So, they have been replaced. Pretty much the same exact shoe, so it’s like they never left. The PBR glass was a gift this year, and a nice one indeed. And while I often turn my nose up at the beer, I found myself drinking it Wednesday night at Liar’s Club, because, well, it was free. Band beer. Cans. What the hell?

No, it did not treat me any better than it normally does, the PBR, but I got through it, and it saved me some dough. At home though, I can put whatever I want into that glass, and it looks just perfect. I am a strange kind of beer snob: I don’t like the shitty beers but I also don’t very much like the fancy schmancy ones either. Not big on microbrews and can’t stand the Goose Islands and Sam Adams. I don’t know. I love Mexican beer. And Belgian beer. And Guinness. Hey, man, what can I tell you? It’s a mystery. And it’s become more about avoiding the hangover now, now more than ever! Damn this alcohol…

Looks like home but it’s actually Chelsea, Michigan.

I’m not a regular watcher of MSNBC, or any other news network, but apparently it is the “liberal” channel to Fox’s right-wingin’ garbage. I don’t necessarily believe that since they have a Morning Joe guy who was a former Republican politician (never seen it) and Chris Matthews is not what I would call a partisan left-wing guy, from what I’ve seen. There’s Olbermann, who is definitely a partisan guy, and I enjoy his take-downs of Rush and Hannity and O’Reilly when I see them. And then there’s Rachel Maddow, who is what I would consider probably the fairest of them all, even while maintaining a progressive approach. I suppose that’s why she has been showing up on “Meet the Press” of late.

But whatever. I find it weird that people are loyal to a network, like they seem to be with Fox. I don’t have much interest in watching, or listening to, constant reaffirmations of what I believe. I call that “insecurity.”

But it’s nice to know that MSNBC is not simply cheering on Obama now that he is president. Imagine the credibility of the “tea-baggers” if they had not suddenly developed a sense of fiscal responsibility only after Bush had left office. They might actually have some. Imagine if the right (Fox) had done some criticizing of Bush while he spent all the money on stupid wars instead of waiting until Obama was elected. Well, it didn’t happen.

“I don’t think our audience is looking for unequivocal ‘rah-rah,’ ” said Ms. Maddow, who calls herself a liberal but not a Democrat.

That’s what I call myself as well. I have yet to see a reason for loyalty to the Democratic Party, especially with the way they have let their collective balls go up into their scrotums this year. Not to mention the Blue Dogs, and Lieberman, oh, don’t get me started. Anyway, cheers to that “liberal network” for doing what they can to keep Obama honest.

I saw this one sitting there in the archives and could not believe I never posted it. A classic! This was taken at the Congress Hotel during Lollapalooza this summer. Oh, what a glorious time it was.

Headline on Politico.com: “RNC Insurance Plan Covers Abortion.” Of course it does! If I weren’t busy watching the Bears game I would send off an email to my old pal Ramesh Ponnuru and ask him what it feels like to be in the Party of Death! Ah, good times…

Man, the Bears suck.

I guess I’m just confused.

It is difficult to over-estimate the degree to which last night’s vote in the House, passing a comprehensive health care reform bill, was a huge victory for the Catholic Church … The belief that heath care is a right, not a privilege, took a giant step towards legislative enactment last night.

Pro-lifers think health care is a right, not a privilege? But the Catholic Church is for universal healthcare? Or what? You know what, I don’t even wanna know.

Now, who is Lou Dobbs and why should I care?

I’m trying to figure out a couple of things: what’s with the anti-abortion amendment in this bill that passed in the House, and what the hell is the problem with the public option?

I heard the news about the House passing the bill and it sounded all good, but then this little snag came up, which seems to have gotten little attention. Or maybe it has, I don’t know, but…what the hell? I am amazed (I know, I shouldn’t be) at the lack of conviction with which this reform is being conducted. There’s little to zero support from Republicans anyway, why pander to them with this?

As for conservative Democrats, oh man, is there anything worse than these Blue Dogs? What. Is. Your. Point?

Which brings us to Lieberman. What a dick. I wish I could take back half of my vote for him as VP in 2000. Man, I can’t stand this guy. “What’s the mechanism by which the public option increases the national deficit?” asks Ezra Klein:

Every analysis of the public option I’ve seen has concluded that it will reduce federal, and consumer, spending. Indeed, the stronger the public option is, the more it reduces the deficit. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that a public option paying Medicare’s rates would save the government more than $100 billion in the first 10 years, and more after that.

What is the problem? You’re never going to get the answer from him for that, I’m sure. God, these Democrats are just useless in power and out.

UPDATE:

I hope he means this.

Obama said he did not support any change in current abortion laws through the health care bill — an implicit rebuke to the House for passing an amendment that could considerably restrict women’s access to abortions.

This is the old Sacred Cow, an IPA from Ann Arbor, along with some Frosted Mini-Wheats. A delicious and nutritious breakfast combo!

Brilliant!

That’s not gonna happen, at least for now. In Maine they voted to repeal the law allowing same-sex marriage, and naturally the religious forces played a big role in this. Why? Because contrary to everything it stands for, religion serves to divide instead of unify.

The Catholic Church was a leading supporter of the repeal campaign, even asking parishes to pass a second collection plate at Sunday Mass to help the cause.

It is times like these that I am extra-super-especially glad I didn’t allow the Catholic Church to be involved in my own marriage (normally I’m just extra-glad). An institution such as that has no business presiding over a unification ceremony–what can it possibly know of such a thing? What insight can it provide?

The Catholic Church, along with less powerful cult organizations, serves as a barrier for love, a dividing line for reason, and a blindfold for its own crimes against humanity. It is an ancient, irrelevant male-dominated clubhouse that ignores its own gayness–overcompensates for its own gayness–by actively campaigning against civil rights. A religion that considers some more equal than others.

And yet, I am going way too easy on them.

What was I saying about the Bears being too conservative? This article says it all: The Bears need to run left! I should be the coach, man. Alright, everyone! Let your freak flag fly! Have a beer! And goddammit, run LEFT!

You can see why I enjoy Sullivan sometimes:

Kristol, who is always wrong…

You can’t go…wrong…with a sentence that begins like that. Kind of reminds me of a song…oh yeah, this one!

Here’s something different: check out Milk at Midnight’s version of “Planet Telex,” the great Radiohead song off of “The Bends,” streaming here at MilkSpace. If you like it you can buy it here.