Danny Doom’s Booze Cabinet

Interesting about Obama’s physical. Dude weighs 179 pounds! That’s pretty thin. I mean, I’m a lot shorter than him and I probably weigh within 30 or so pounds of him. Maybe a little less, I haven’t weighed myself in a long time but I’m gonna guess 145 (I’m on a Wii fitness program, but that’s another story).

And so he has 20/20 vision. It feels like no one has 20/20 vision but maybe that’s just because I’ve had glasses/contacts since the early days of yore. I wonder if Michelle does too. Those 20/20 people need to stick together and perfect our diminishing human eyesight race or we’ll all be blind in a few thousand years. Wait, am I advocating eugenics?!? Ah, we kid, we kid here at the Booze Cabinet…

Still smoking too, I see. Hmm. I really went off the rails on smoking. I was never a smoker but since I spent most of my life in bars with smoke it was no big deal to me. Until now. Since the no smoking laws I have found that smoke really bugs the shit out of me and makes me feel bad. And after experiencing a recent night of being surrounded by a gang of smokers I can’t believe that I put up with the smell on my clothes for all those years. Wow, it makes me want to puke just thinking about it.

The doctors also recommended “moderation of alcohol intake”. What does that mean? This is the best part of the story and that’s all they say about it. Is Obama a boozer? Sounds like the man is throwing them back big-time. Big-time! This is what I like to hear! Ah, I really have to work on my drinking…

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I highly recommend this video as an insight to what happens when the spin is gone and lies can be challenged and answered without any shouting heads. This is how it should be. Fantastic. They should do it once a month, or once a week. This is the guy I voted for, able to speak and go back and forth and, yes, school those who are distorting his words and actions.

I just got in and happened to see the very end of something quite amazing. I don’t know what the deal is, and I will look for the whole thing to go back and see it, but President Obama was talking with the House Republicans, having an open and honest discussion. I’ve only seen Sullivan’s take:

I’ve just watched the president address the Republican retreat in Baltimore. Address is not quite the right word, because it was a genuine – and remarkable – conversation between Obama and his political opponents – transparently on CSPAN … But here’s the key thing: Obama is best at this. He is best at defusing conflict; he is superb at engaging civilly with his opponents.

Whatever it was, I thought it was…unheard of. And great. But anyway, I’ll have to see what all happened and get back to it.

UPDATE:

I just love the sound of this:

In a sometimes-barbed exchange, he said some in the audience have attended ribbon-cutting ceremonies for projects funded by the stimulus package they voted against. Obama also questioned why Republicans have overwhelmingly opposed his tax-cut policies, which he said have benefited 95 percent of American families.

“The notion that this was a radical package is just not true,” Obama said. “I am not an ideologue.”

GOP lawmakers pressed the president to pledge to support a line-item veto for spending bills and across-the-board tax cuts. Obama demurred, saying billionaires don’t need new tax cuts.

UPDATE II:

This has to be a good sign…in looking around for a story on this I couldn’t help but notice that Drudge has absolutely nothing.

UPDATE III:

Here’s a good account of it:

It was amazing television – watchable, interesting, feisty and even a little dramatic … Today, at the caucus meeting, he went right after Republicans on their turf and, in my opinion, owned them.

UPDATE IV:

Ha ha! This just gets better:

So effective was the president that Fox News cut away from the broadcast 20 minutes before it ended.

My poor lonely blog–ahem, excuse me–Booze Cabinet! My poor lonely Booze Cabinet. Sitting here patiently waiting for something new while I go off and live my life. Eating turkey and drinking Guinness and such. Ah, the pleasures of life. The holidays are here and so suddenly there’s more and more activities like family stuff and then there’s always band stuff and then of course baby stuff, but then it’s always been like that I guess. So whatever, I’m just having a relaxing Monday night watching football and tap tap tapping away at the computer at various things–

Okay, now it’s Tuesday morning. See, this is how it happens. Distractions, stuff, and the next thing you know I haven’t finished my thoughts. Here’s a quick stab at it, I’m trying to understand a couple of things: one, it appears that the two people who crashed the White House party are a Big Deal. Is this for real? Who cares? These people are like Jon and Kate–I don’t know who they are and yet I keep hearing about them. Make it stop.

Second, tonight is the big Obama Afghanistan speech. I am not pleased with what I hear–30,000 more troops. There is no way to “win” this war, if you can even call it that. It is just an ongoing “thing.” How will it be determined that it is time to leave? Perhaps Obama will tell us. But I do not like the sounds of it. I think now would have been the perfect time to get out, in this first year of his presidency, but apparently he wants to do it up.

I read this last night, it is one way to look at the first year of Obama: Brilliant! The article actually makes some good points, I recommend it for those who may be down on him right now. Look, I’m patient, and unlike the media and all the crazies, I don’t expect this all to be wrapped up and done in the first year, all of the shit left behind. And it has not even been a year. I like the calmness of Obama and I am certainly glad he is in there. But I fear that this Afghanistan gig is going to eat up four years like a monster.

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.

Hmm, an interesting story:

Former President George W. Bush told more than 11,000 people at the Fort Worth Convention Center that he was confident he made the right decisions as president…

And I am confident he didn’t. Next!

“In Obama’s America, the white kids now get beat up with the black kids cheering, ‘Yay, right on, right on, right on, right on.”

- Rush Limbaugh

The right, in its radio and tv shows, has carefully planted the seed of post-racial irony, branding any critics of Obama immune to charges of racism. Of course all critics of Obama aren’t racist, that’s silly. But this was a meme set forward even before he was elected, that anyone who disagrees with Obama will be called a racist by his supporters. So what to do? There are some racist people who say racist things, as Limbaugh did. See what happens when you elect a black man? White kids are now getting beat up, in Obama’s America, as opposed to before! What do you think he’s saying?

But yes, this is race-baiting at the highest professional level–he’s good at it–and responding to it is to give Limbaugh exactly what he wants: the chance to say “see, they’re calling me a racist, just because I criticized Obama!” Logic won’t work with these people; it is, in fact, the enemy. We can point to signs and words and actions of the Obama opponents and easily see racism, but how to combat it? I have no idea. But for what it’s worth, I agree with what Jimmy Carter had to say, even if the White House doesn’t (or can’t admit it):

“I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he’s African-American.”

- Former President Jimmy Carter

Not all, but yes, a large portion. The birth certificate nuts, the Muslim association nuts, the desire to keep Obama away from your children at school…the blatant lack of respect during the speech last week, some of the things written on signs at the protests…yeah, there’s some racism there. It seems kind of obvious. But there I go, pointing it out. So I must be a racist too, yep. Against stupid white people.

As Bill Maher said, please Mr. Obama, “stand up for the 70 percent of Americans who aren’t crazy.” I still think it’s 20% crazy, but I’m an optimist. But yes, please. It has been less than a year since Obama was elected, quite convincingly. All of those people didn’t vote for him to do nothing.

Change. Hope. And all of that stuff. Time to ignore the nuts and do it.

One more thing from Sullivan as I catch up on all the madness:

Congrats to the tea-partiers for the impressive crowds in DC today. One wonders where these people were when Bush was massively increasing debt, spending like LBJ, detaining citizens without charges and torturing them, and nation-building in Iraq and Afghanistan?

- Andrew Sullivan

The Socialist Black Power Obama Agenda is now being planted in young heads! Wait for the signal and we’ll jump to Phase 2: Universal healthcare. Once everyone is insured we can really start to implement the goals we set out to achieve. Yeah, I’m talking about killer death panels and special camps for white Republicans. This is gonna be great.

That’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself. Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.

Seriously, I saw some woman crying on the news because she was so upset at what her child was possibly going to hear. August is over. It’s time for the nuts to go back in their bomb shelters. Dopes.

Here’s the short list:

Reform health care. Public option. There is no bipartisan solution. Fuck ‘em.

End the wars. Afghanistan, Iraq. Now.

Repeal DADT, executive order, immediately.

Come out in favor of marriage equality, Prez Obama.

There’s a reason why the polls have dipped for Obama: the liberals, progressives and people who elected him are not locksteppers like the Bush apologists. This is how it gets done. The 20%ers who supported Bush no matter what he did are almost as responsible for his failure as he is. Silence means security, silence means approval.

Not going to happen on the left side. The difference is, we’re about to see what happens when a president actually listens to the people who elected him, at least on health care. After that, we’ll go down the list. This is what I voted for, you know. Change.

In honor of President Obama’s birthday today, here’s a little something to counteract all of the bullshit of late. What bullshit? The Crazy Bullshit. Birthers, Blue Dogs and Beer Summits. It’s August. Relax. You’re about to get real hot, if you live anywhere near Chicago. That means Lolla is here, and let’s just be glad they don’t serve (only) 312 beer.

No one cares about polls right now, including me, but here’s one to keep things in perspective:

Things are looking pretty blue still. But really, it doesn’t mean anything right now. Smile, and let the crazies keep talkin’. More beer for us.

This is serious business. Was Prez Obama wearing Mom Jeans? I didn’t watch the All-Star Game (baseball and I aren’t getting along this year) so I missed all this. The White Sox garb I have no problem with, I’m glad he’s not taking the wishy-washy, politically expedient way out the way some do (ahem, Hillary in a Cubs hat Yankees hat), but those jeans? No. Not good. Dude, seriously, this is Serious Business. Lose the Mom Jeans and we’ll talk. And that pitch could use a little muscle, bring it up and put some heat on it.

In other news, it’s another busy weekend. I hope to see The Jesus Lizard and Built to Spill tonight (if my ticket connection goes as planned) and then the Lips and more on Sunday; no Pitchfork on Saturday for me. It’s crazy how the summer just flies with all the activities and stuff. Lolla is right around the friggin corner too, oh my.

This is important stuff. More important than our fly-killing president, if you can believe it. I’m talking about beer, and this new book “Tasting Beer: An Insider’s Guide to the World’s Greatest Drink.” I wish I could have read it before I drank two Busch beers and a High Life, all in cans, last night. Yes, three little beers and my head is aching. Another unjust hangover in my world. Obama can kill a fly but what can he do about this serious problem? Tell me to drink better beer? That’s the easy bailout. I want justice!

From the article:

Along the way, he shares little gems, such as debunking advertising claims (Rocky Mountain water? Lies.) and how to pour a beer (directly in the middle of a glass produces a rich, creamy head; “trickling down the side … will result in a too-gassy beer with little aroma and a poor, quickly dissipating head”).

I get the distinct feeling in these first few days of the Obama Presidency that someone is actually in charge. It’s in the manner and tone but also in the actions taken so far. Such a huge difference. The “audacity” of engaging the Republicans in Congress, giving the Arab television interview, and even having dinner with George Will and Bill Kristol–I think it’s genius.

And Rush Limbaugh? Silly man. Obama’s bipartisan approach is bad for business in right-wing nutball world, and so it’s only natural that he is acting out. Al Franken is a senator and Obama is the president. His head must be exploding. What a joy.

Bush’s “political autism” has been exposed completely. I think, after these many years of incompetence, we now really know who the smartest man in the room is. What a relief.

If Bush was about the presidency as power, Obama is about the presidency as authority. It’s fascinating to watch this deep difference in understanding slowly but unmistakably realize itself in public actions. Somewhere the Founders are smiling. The system is correcting itself after one of the most unbalanced periods in American history. But it took the self-restraint of one man to do it.

- Andrew Sullivan

Yesterday was a day of joy, a day of cheer. Despite the subpar poet and Rick Warren’s presence, despite the slightly flubbed oath and Obama’s sober speech, it was a huge day and a great moment. I have spent the past eight years or so imparting my words of wisdom to the masses (HUGE masses!), trying to teach right-wingers to stop being so goddamn ignorant and preaching to a choir of liberal-minded folks. Now it is time for the first and most important lesson for left-wingers.

We have watched the apologists for Bush ignore reality year after year and look where it got us. That sober speech Obama gave is the result of eight years of Republican rule; they really created a hell of a mess. But now the cheerleaders are gone, chastened, or just plain in denial, like Bill Kristol. And this is not the time to pick up where they left off. Politics is not a sport and politicians shouldn’t be cheered like star players or booed like underperforming goats, even though Bush deserved it yesterday.

(Na na hey hey, don’t let the door hit you in the ass…)

It’s a simple lesson: Don’t do what they did. Obama deserves some time to enact his agenda, and the messes won’t be cleaned up overnight, but for shit’s sake, let’s leave the cheerleaders behind with the Bush Administration and, as the Prez says, act responsibly. Really, the lesson is the same as it was for right-wingers: don’t be such a dumb ass. They failed miserably. So don’t do the same.