Political Theater

The Senate Judiciary Committee today began the tiresome process better known as confirmation hearings, ostensibly to determine whether Obama nominee Elena Kagan possesses the necessary qualifications to succeed the retiring Associate Justice John Paul Stevens. As expected, the Republicans, armed with their talking points, marched lockstep and attacked the nominee for lack of judicial experience, suspected liberal judicial activism, and association with such unsavory folks as Abner Mikva and Thurgood Marshall. Of course, the Democrats, not to be outdone, fell all over themselves, lavishly praising Ms. Kagan for her record of service in the Clinton White House and as dean of Harvard Law School. As usual in these matters, the truth lies somewhere in the middle but it matters little to the partisans because they are busy playing to their respective bases.

Robert Byrd 1917 -2010

The Lion of the Senate is dead. The West Virginian served longer in the US Congress - 6 years in the House of Representatives, 51 years in the Senate - than anyone else in the history of the Republic. During his tenure, he did much that was admirable but I personally find it difficult to forget that he was a member of the Ku Klux Klan and that he opposed the landmark Civil Rights legislation of the 1960s.

Manute Bol 1962-2010

Manute Bol, who died June 19th from kidney failure resulting from a skin disease, was originally drafted by the Washington Bullets, more as something of a sideshow than basketball ability - he stood nearly 7'7" and was reed thin. But surprisingly, he proved he possessed the strength, endurance and stamina to compete in the NBA, playing 10 seasons with various teams. Uniquely, he's the only player in the league to tally more blocked shots than points scored, a record that will probably stand the test of time. However, it was his humanitarian efforts for which Bol will be remembered. He worked tirelessly on behalf of those displaced in the long, civil war in his native Sudan.

It's Your Anniversary

On the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the infamous car chase involving O.J. Simpson and his dutiful and faithful sidekick Al Cowlings, their contributions to the enrichment of the language courtesy the Urban Dictionary:

al cowlings Verb. To drive somebody around town; be someone's chauffeur. It's usually a close friend without a car who always bums rides off friends in order to run HIS errands or make HIS appointments. Al Cowlings was a former football teammate and best friend of O.J. Simpson. He drove the white Bronco for O.J. in the infamous police chase in 1994 while Simpson was a suspect for murder. First used in the 1997 film Good Will Hunting by Ben Affleck's character.

"I can't make it tonight. I gotta al cowlings John's ass all the way to Medford for some job interview."

O J Simpson 1. An star top-notch football athlete. 2. A man who was like "man, I'm black, don't be racist" and sticks guns to his head while racing down highways with the police in pursuit all for sporting entertainment.

"O J Simpson likes gloves that don't fit, because the jury must acquit football athlete black racist gloves."

2. O J Simpson
when you use the argument that the condom doesnt fit,so you can get a raw fuck,always leave the condom by the bed.

"Bob took a viagra and told sally the condom didnt fit,a classic o j simpson defence to where he didn't have to wear a condom."

Parental Irresponsibility

Abby Sunderland's parents should be arrested and charged with child endangerment or parental neglect for allowing the 16-year-old to attempt to sail solo around the world. They should also be compelled to bear the reportedly $300,000 expenses incurred by Australia in its search and rescue effort.

The Mystery Candidate

Alvin Greene, the unemployed Army veteran who improbably won the South Carolina Democratic Senate primary, has gotten a lot of ink as being nothing more than a Republican party plant. But the real issue is, how did he manage to convince over 100,000 voters that he was the right man for the job? And what does that say about the caliber of voters in South Carolina?

Monk's "Crespuscule with Nellie"

Anything I might care to add would be superfluous. Monk said it all and said it economically.

Marvin Isley 1953 - 2010

(Marvin Isley is on the far left.)
Bassist Marvin Isley, who died Sunday in Chicago, was an important part of the Isley Brothers band of the seventies and eighties.

John Wooden 1910 - 2010

John Wooden, who died yesterday, was the legendary basketball coach of the UCLA Bruins, amassing a phenomenal record of 10 NCAA championships in 11 tournament appearances.

We Two Kings

Larry King's over-hyped interview of LeBron James is scheduled to air Friday night, coincidentally, roughly the same time the NBA Championship Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics gets underway. King, a vastly overrated interviewer, asked the Chosen One whether the Cleveland Cavaliers had the edge in re-signing him as a free agent. Quite predictably, James responded affirmatively, noting that the city of Cleveland and its fans had been good to him. But the truth of the matter, as any NBA fan knows, is that a free agent's current team has vastly more money at its disposal than its competitors. However, with James who aspires to be a global icon, it is more than simply being about money.

Obama's Buck

Obama is in a tough situation. In his press conference, he tried to reassure the nation that his administration was in charge and that, as president, the buck stopped with him. But the reality is, he isn't in charge because it is British Petroleum, not the federal government, that possesses the expertise and technology to tackle the massive oil leak. So those folks calling for him to do more and step in and replace BP, they are delusional. Hell, Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said as much: "Replace (BP) with what?" That said, it is clear that BP is damn near clueless about what will work.