Danny Doom’s Booze Cabinet

It’s unlikely that I’ll be posting again this year, barring any unforeseen breaking news of importance, such as last night’s game. I had all the voodoo working, with Obama trying on the helmet and then not being able to fit it on because his ears were too big, and then the Old Style instead of the Stella, and well, you get the picture. It worked of course, because that’s how things go in my universe. Not really, but I was having fun anyway. What a game! Ridiculous. Had a feeling all along they were gonna pull this one out. Especially right after they missed the field goal in OT.

Anyway, screw 2009, it wasn’t nearly as cool as 2008, but it was alright. As far as decades go…not bad. The 70s were pretty good but other than that I suppose the 00s did okay. Except for all that war, politics and other bullshit. Christ, what a disaster! Bring on a fresh new decade please! One with helmets and Old Style and football…just like the 70s.

Thanks to Denver Jim for both the new set of helmets and the Old Style!

Yeah, man, politics on a Friday. You heard me. Obama needs to let this happen: “open a full investigation of the many laws that were evaded, twisted or broken — pointlessly and destructively — under Mr. Bush.”

So why break the law, again and again? Two things seem disturbingly clear. First, President Bush and his top aides panicked after the Sept. 11 attacks. And second, Mr. Cheney and his ideologues, who had long chafed at any legal constraints on executive power, preyed on that panic to advance their agenda.

I know, they’ll never serve a day but history deserves to be informed. And when it all comes out they need to put it on a plaque in that George W. Bush library in Texas for all to see.

I think people are starting to realize that that voice would be annoying as hell for four years, to say nothing of her policies. I’m talking about that chickadee, Palin, of course. McCain’s no prize with the voice either, but whatever. But with the country in financial collapse, what we need is a smooth, calming voice to sail us through the waters. So there’s one more for Obama.

Something to realize: Obama the “celebrity” has been riding this wave for a good four years since the 2004 DNC. In other words, he’s no flash in the pan; he is the candidate, the one that beat Hillary Clinton. It has taken Palin about two weeks to peak and fade. She can’t and will not last because she is not even riding her own wave; she is following a script (you may remember, Obama wrote his own–twice in book form).

Palin, not even the candidate, but the vice-presidential gimmick, is so much a set-piece that she has been shielded from the public since her one-night-stand at the RNC and only allowed out for carefully plotted “interviews”–one with Sean Hannity! She repeats the same lines and phrases over and over while stalling for time by calling the interviewer by his first name again and again; this is obvious stuff, Charlie!

It’s funny to hear that audiences are leaving after she speaks because McCain is such a bore. Sad, but funny. Celebrity goes at the top of the ticket, guys. But even that will not last, there’s just not enough there. Talk about an empty skirt.

Experience–it ain’t what it used to be. Great column from Steve Chapman in the Trib:

At the Republican convention, Rudy Giuliani lamented that Obama has “never run a city, never run a state, never run a business”—unlike Palin, who was a mayor before becoming governor of Alaska two years ago. Giuliani didn’t mention what he said when he was running against McCain: “He has never run a city, never run a state, never run a government.”

…

(Obama) has spent more time in elected posts than Hillary Clinton, and no one doubted her credentials. When he ran in 2000, Bush himself had spent only half as much time in elective office as Obama has.

The Democratic nominee’s other jobs, such as teaching constitutional law, look like better training than, say, helping to run a baseball team. As for McCain’s 26 years on Capitol Hill, wasn’t it Republicans who used to say there was such a thing as being in Washington too long?

“These are serious times and they call for a serious debate…spare me all the phony outrage. Spare me all the phony talk about change.”

- Barack Obama, telling it like it is

Time to step it up! Without fake outrage, the right-wing is left with a failed president and failed policies, and John Friggin McCain. Please. This shouldn’t even be close.

Relax, Cub fans and Obama supporters, all is not lost. The Cubs have less time than Obama but they hold the biggest lead of any team besides the L.A. Angels (4.5), and their magic number is 15. So just win, baby. Win!

As for Obama, I do find it odd that after he spent the past year running on the “Change” theme, it is now McCain who is calling for change, despite his own party’s eight-year domination of Washington. Usually it is the party out of favor that is calling for change, yeah? Are people that dumb to fall for it? Yeah, I know, stupid question. Of course they are.

But hey, how can you tell a 70’s porno from the 2008 Republican National Convention?

The amount of Bush in it.

Thanks, I made that one up myself.

So liberal America, let’s celebrate our firm grasp of reality (when we’re not drinking or taking any illicit drugs). The GOP is running on bio, not issues, and ultimately lack the substance to lead. Obama’s got the bio and the issues, and that has to count for something, for once. It HAS to, or we’re all doomed.

Why liberals don’t stand up to this garbage, I don’t know. Without the extraordinary contribution of liberals — from the mightiest presidents to the most unheralded protesters and organizers — the United States would be a much, much worse place than it is today.

- Bob Herbert, NY Times

A much better photo from last week’s rally in Battle Creek, this one taken by my mom. Nice!

That’s why it falls by the wayside at the RNC. No wonder they liked her speech so much–it was full of lies, exaggerations and smug sarcasm. And not just her speech, but Romney’s, Huckabee’s and others were full of shit. For example:

At her first press conference, why not ask her why she said that Obama has never passed a single reform, when he passed the 2007 Ethics Reform, described by many as the most sweeping package of its kind since Watergate. Of course, she doesn’t know. She was given this speech. But she should be asked to respond to the question of why she said something patently untrue to the entire country.

Palin lied about her opposition to the “Bridge to Nowhere,” about Obama’s tax plan, about the gas pipeline, about earmarks…Republicans really eat this shit up! Mike Huckabee stated that Palin “got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States.” That one, as the Tribune notes, is “a whopper”:

Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor’s election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.

In the real world,the Bush administration keeps following Obama’s lead as far as foreign policy goes, this time in Pakistan. As Sullivan points out:

It’s also a policy – like the withdrawal timetable and like talking to Iran – in which Barack Obama was ahead of the Bush administration. If his judgment is so faulty, why do the wiser heads in the Bush administration keep following it?

Has McCain or his smug running mate come up with anything of substance, or is it all going be whining about media and sarcastic attacks? Talk about a vapid campaign.

I forgot to tell you: Obama announced that in light of John McCain’s pick for VP, Sarah Palin, he decided that I was more than experienced enough to be his VP, so Joe agreed to sit this one out. I think we look rather good together. Obama-Doom ‘08!

I was in Michigan for the weekend and on Sunday we found out that Obama was coming to Battle Creek, which is about an hour or so from where we were, so a couple of calls were made, connections met, and we landed tickets for the event. By knocking loud and beeping the horn.

Mom, Dad, Wife and I drove out there, to a 6,000 seat baseball field in Battle Creek, and we were lucky to be sitting at all. The sun was pounding, even at 6pm when we got there, and Obama (and Biden) wouldn’t come out until after 8pm.

The speeches were good, Biden kept it short and Obama reproduced some of the stuff from his DNC speech. But it was all casual, walking around with the microphone, no teleprompter. The man can talk. There was a lot of chatter where we sat, in an “Amen Corner” on the first base side. “That’s right!” “Uh huh.” “You said it!” Oh yeah!”

I moved down slightly closer after the speech as they walked around shaking hands. Here’s Obama waving as he leaves.

Red skies in Brown Stadium, Battle Creek, MI.

The reports said that the crowd was around 17 or 18,000, which isn’t too bad a draw for Obama/Biden in purple Michigan (apparently 17K is a record-size crowd for McCain).

This is what it looked like over here last night. My Pimp glass full of Tecate, Obama on the TV, and Izzy out cold on the couch.

Isabella mocking history:

It’s another night of live-blogging, maybe some pizza, perhaps a Tecate or two, who knows? Right now I am not watching channel 11 as they blabber on about nothing, especially David Brooks. Instead I’m reading an article the Nitz just sent me on Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel, someone whose music has taken up a part of my life recently. Great, interesting story.

Cubs game tonight too, and as an added bit of excitement they have installed instant replay, starting tonight. That was unexpected. Or, I didn’t know they were even thinking of doing that. Well, game at 7, Obama later, and I have consulted with my D-Town correspondent and hope to have a full report tomorrow on the goings-on there. I’ll be back when things start heating up!

Whoa! Almost forgot, the Bears are playing too! But it’s the final preseason game, and as I flip over to it, it’s already 10-0 Cleveland. So that’s not looking good. They’re a little…troubled this year, the Bears. Back to the DNC and Tim Kaine is on quoting gospel stuff. Alright. Whatever, dude. Now he’s speaking Spanish. Hmmm, time for a Tecate?

Bill Richardson. Yeah! Nice line on the flip-flops! Shit, bases juiced for the Phillies, already 1-0. Whew, strikeout! Nice escape job there by Dempster. Richardson is speaking Spanish too! I’ve got two cats around me, laptop on my lap, remote control by my side. I can’t get up! Where’s my lovely pregnant wife when I need her to get me a beer? Stevie Wonder! Now Grossman throws a TD, it’s 10-7 Cleveland. OK, I just ordered a pizza from Father & Son, cheese and sausage, free with 20 cards. Yeah, we eat there a lot.

“Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie! This laptop is hot and I need to get up. Who’s fired up and ready to go? Not these cats. They’re flopped out all over me. I missed Clinton last night, and Biden, the whole thing. Sounds like they did a good job. I was busy with Rock and Roll.

Al Gore! You go, guy. Shoulda been president. We really missed out on that one. I’ll never forgive Florida for that. They just showed that dude from “Lost” at Mile High Stadium (whatever it’s called). Jin? Pizza arrives and boy, is it delicious. That was quick. Gore finishes and David Brooks, like the tool he is, says that he (Gore) blew it back in 2000. The other guy in the studio says that Gore got however million more votes than Bush so I don’t know how he blew it exactly. Nice.

10-10 at halftime, Cubs still down 1-0. And Brooks continues to blabber. Now it’s Eisenhower’s daughter. I don’t know if she’s Republican but she’s dressed like one. She’s got the hair, the earrings and red dress, the whole uniform. Yep, they just said that she was a lifelong Republican until this year. Alright then, welcome. Now change your outfit and smoke a joint. Have a beer, for crissakes! Alright, I will!

Here’s Biden! As I pour my Tecate…Alright, Cubs tie it up! 1-1, and a quick check on the meaningless Bears game and it’s 13-10, they’re up! Things are turning our way! I thought this might be lame but these regular people speaking are all pretty good. Certainly no lack of energy. Well, this former Republican Barney Smith was lagging and then he pulled out the Smith Barney-Barney Smith line and the place breaks up. Funny.

Cubs go down 2-1 but it’s still early. Make that 3-1. Meanwhile, getting dark in Denver, who’s next? A commercial on PBS. Shit, 4-1. Come on, let’s get it together, Cubs! Now here’s Durbin. Let’s do this! Before he comes on I was looking around and I see that David Duchovny has entered rehab for sex addiction! Californication! That’s funny, I love that show, I’ve been watching it on Netflix.

Here’s the feel-good video. Just thinking about something: I heard that these “Christian folk” had been praying for bad weather in Denver for this outdoor ceremony; by all appearances it is the most perfect night. So just, yeah, fuck you, “Christian-type” people who don’t practice Christian-like behavior. And, oh yeah, god doesn’t listen to you!

Well, I don’t think I can write for a while…wow. Awesome. Huge.

OK. Whoo! Whoa. Yeah! The speech ends and despite the cheesy-ass song they play–what is that, some country redneck shit?–I am truly moved and inspired by this. That was a great speech. No stone unturned. Bold and full of details, but yet not at all lacking in excitement. Fantastic. During the speech I flipped on the laptop to show the Cubs game and saw that Ramirez hit a grand slam, but I never could turn away. Now it’s over and the Cubs win again, 6-4! I see that the Bears won too, there’s a surprise.

Some highlights:

The reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than for those plagued by gang-violence in Cleveland, but don’t tell me we can’t uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals.

I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in the hospital and to live lives free of discrimination.

And this is just perfect, regarding MLK’s “I have a dream” speech:

The men and women who gathered there could’ve heard many things. They could’ve heard words of anger and discord. They could’ve been told to succumb to the fear and frustration of so many dreams deferred.

But what the people heard instead – people of every creed and color, from every walk of life – is that in America, our destiny is inextricably linked. That together, our dreams can be one.

As for those who hear anger and discord, you only need to look to The Corner at NRO:

There’s a fine line between indignant and angry, and Obama is swerving back and forth all over it.

The crowd is loving this Fighting Barack, but several times he’s seemed angry to the point of stridency.

Instead of “I Have a Dream” … I have a grievance.

It’s like they’re a parody of the past, except that this is their Now. And John McCain is what they’re stuck with. Sucks to be them. For another view, Andrew Sullivan sums it up:

I’ve said it before – months and months ago. I should say it again tonight. This is a remarkable man at a vital moment. America would be crazy to throw this opportunity away. America must not throw this opportunity away.

I was glad to hear Barack Obama stand by his White Sox while dissing the Wrigley fans as being “not serious.” Really. It’s much better than, say, being born in Chicago and then running for the Senate in New York and wearing a Yankee hat. He’s a South Sider, so he should stick by his team. Anything else would be pandering. Daley is a Sox fan too, and doesn’t try to pander to Cubs fans. He shouldn’t. It’s just sports anyway.

But of course Obama is wrong. As another Sox fan, Richard Roeper of the Sun-Times points out, “make no mistake, they’ll die inside if this team doesn’t make it to the 2008 World Series.” He’s talking about me, and lots of other people. It has never been about the “experience” so much as it is about the team. Whether it’s opening day in the cold of April or game 7 against the Marlins in the cold of October, I am there, and yes, dying on the inside, sadly. Hot chicks, yes; cold beer, yes; awesome park, yes. But what can I say, I’ve watching and going to games since I was, I don’t know, 7 or something. It’s never been a pickup bar for me. Sadly. Not once!

But I understand why people would say these things; there’s a lot of meatheads that go to sports games, and by meatheads I mean assholes who are trying to impress their girlfriends or frat buddies. I’ve even seen this at, yep, Comiskey Park, or Cell Phone Field, whatever you call it these days. When Obama says that they’re not serious at Wrigley, maybe he means that they fill up the park even when the team sucks, unlike the White Sox, who had trouble filling it when they were good (maybe they still do, I have no idea).

Whatever. Much worse to hear Derrek Lee agree with him about Cubs fans. He should be pandering a little. But at least he’s smart enough to be on Obama’s side:

According to Lee, politics is a topic that seldom is broached in the clubhouse. He talks politics with the trainers in the training room, but didn’t know if the Cubs who vote are predominantly Republican.”I think some guys don’t even know what they are,” Lee said with a laugh. “But yeah, they’re probably mostly Republicans.”

Big dumb jocks. Big surprise.

Note to GOP: change all black is white/up is down equations. This year, down is up and white is black.

Explanation: In 2004, John Kerry was the flip-flopping senator with the long record (and face), rich heiress wife, and out of touch persona who needed to remind everyone again and again that he fought in Vietnam. He was mocked mercilessly by the very same people who are now championing John McCain, the flip-flopping senator with the long record, rich heiress wife, and out of touch persona who can’t stop telling everyone that he was a POW in Vietnam.

Now, as I argued for Kerry then, having money has nothing to do with anything; look at the Bush family! They have so much money they built a fake ranch for George to pretend he was a Texan at. It’s a long way from Connecticut, clearing brush in Crawford. But everyone who runs is going have some level of wealth and connection. It’s not news. Unless they’re a Democrat!

Still, Bill Clinton came from nothing much at all, and Obama certainly has inherited nothing in his life, and both were fatherless, but somehow these stories are misplaced when the rich, elitist tag comes up. Obama wrote a book–by himself–and made lots of money from it. Two books, actually. Is he out of touch? Please. There is no other candidate who is more in touch than Barack Obama, certainly not any running in this election.

As for Biden, I like the choice. I started to wish for Hillary only for the reason that the election would be sealed quite easily with her, but besides Webb I think Biden is a good man to do the dirty work. And he’s likable, unlike his would-be predecessor, Mr. Cheney. As for Clinton, she blew it by going so negative, I wish she would have taken a higher road. There’s still hope for her in Denver tomorrow, perhaps. But I really wanted to like her, really, and I just couldn’t do it.