I'm Sooooooo Disillusioned

Wow, I'm shocked. The Democratic Congress is seen as inactive? Jeez, I thought they were going to accomplish great things under Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. Apparently, the Washington Post doesn't think they're doing much...

In the heady opening weeks of the 110th Congress, the Democrats' domestic agenda appeared to be flying through the Capitol: Homeland security upgrades, a higher minimum wage and student loan interest rate cuts all passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.

But now that initial progress has foundered as Washington policymakers have been consumed with the debate over the Iraq war. Not a single priority on the Democrats' agenda has been enacted, and some in the party are growing nervous that the "do nothing" tag they slapped on Republicans last year could come back to haunt them.

...President Bush signed 16 measures into law through April, six more than were signed by this time in the previous Congress. But beyond a huge domestic spending bill that wrapped up work left undone by Republicans last year, the list of achievements is modest: a beefed-up board to oversee congressional pages in the wake of the Mark Foley scandal, and the renaming of six post offices, including one for Gerald R. Ford in Vail, Colo., as well as two courthouses, including one for Rush Limbaugh Sr. in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

The minimum-wage bill got stalled in a fight with the Senate over tax breaks to go along with the wage increase. In frustration, Democratic leaders inserted a minimum-wage agreement into a bill to fund the Iraq war, only to see it vetoed.

...The voters seem to have noticed the stall. An ABC News-Washington Post poll last month found that 73 percent of Americans believe Congress has done "not too much" or "nothing at all." A memo from the Democratic polling firm Democracy Corps warned last month that the stalemate between Congress and Bush over the war spending bill has knocked down the favorable ratings of Congress and the Democrats by three percentage points and has taken a greater toll on the public's hope for a productive Congress.

I'm glad to see the public is filled with starry-eyed idealists. A productive Congress? Next, they'll tell us they believe in Santa Claus. Meanwhile, the moonbat left is probably thrilled that there's a post office named after Rush Limbaugh, Sr.

Over at Captain's Quarters, Ed Morissey breaks it down rather well...

The 108th Congress, controlled by Republicans, passed ten substantive bills into law by the end of the first three months of their session. Even the 109th had passed two bills into law of import -- an extension of welfare reform and class-action lawsuit reform, both complex and controversial issues. Even a month past that time in the 110th, the only two pieces of substantive legislation are still a continuing appropriation and an approval of NATO reorganization. The rest is public-relations fluff, as the Post notes.

Of course, this comes as no great surprise. It took the Democrats more than two months to finally settle on an Iraq policy -- after spending the midterms criticizing the Republicans and George Bush for having no plan for the war. For weeks, funding for the troops stalled as the Democrats attempted to float one strategy after another to force the administration to bring troops home without having to assume responsibility for the retreat. While they fumbled that ball all over Capitol Hill, they focused on nothing else -- and it still took them 85 days to produce a funding bill that barely passed each chamber and which everyone knew would get vetoed. Now they're starting all over again, and in the meantime, that 100 hours looks more like 100 weeks of futility.

Ted Kennedy wrote in March that this is the most productive Congress he's seen in 45 years. That either proves that Kennedy has serious memory problems, or that he wants to continue burnishing his credentials as a political hack. This Congress has been just like Kennedy -- all spin and bluster, and no substance at all.

That sums up Congress pretty well, and the Democrats in general.

For The Philly Sports Fan -- Only We Understand

Let's just say that this video provides a window into the soul of a Philly sports fan...



I swear, that video just covered about 90% of my sports memories.

Okay, so it's missing the audio of winning the 1980 World Series, the audio of the Sixers winning the NBA Title in 1983, or a single scene of my Villanova Wildcats winning the perfect game over Georgetown. But it has Randall springing up from that Carl Banks hit to throw that TD pass on Monday Night Football... the gawawful pick by Ronde Barber in the 2003 NFC Title Game... Iverson breaking Jordan's ankles... Hextall after he attacked Chris Chelios... Ricky friggin Manning Jr. taking away a pass from Pinky in the 2004 NFC Title Game... Joe Carter's $#%^*&! home run off the Wild Thing... McCarty's goal in the 1997 Stanley Cup sweep by the Wings over the Flyers...

Here's the thing. I could list a helf-dozen more moments of Philly heartbreak from the last decade alone without thinking about it for more than 10 seconds -- Smarty Jones at the Belmont... N.D. Kalu watching a sure blocked punt in the last two minutes of the 2002 NFC Title Game slip between his hands... Allan Ray getting called for traveling on a BS call in the Sweet Sixteen against UNC in 2005... the false start call against a backup guard on 4th down against the Saints in the playoffs in January... Jameer Nelson's Hawks missing a shot at the Final Four... the Flyers blowing a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001...

Seriously, we live with this crap. So do all sports fans -- we all suffer heartbreak. But with very few exceptions, we get moments that redeem those feelings of despair and heartbreak -- and occasionally, we get to see the top of the mountain. I don't want to hear the suffering from fans in other cities, with the possible exceptions of Cleveland and Buffalo (that means you, Dallas). For Philly sports fans, our last moment at the top of the mountain was in 1985 or 1983, depending on whether you cheer for Villanova or not. That grainy shot of Dr. J holding up the NBA Championship Trophy at the 4:14 mark in that video... we need that feeling again.

Dammit, we need a title.

Waiting For Fred

I think I saw enough of last night's GOP debate to conclude that the big winner was Fred Thompson. Take it way, Peggy Noonan, in an article emailed to me by no less than four people...

They stood earnestly in a row, combed, primped and prepped, as Nancy Reagan gazed up at them with courteous interest. But behind the hopeful candidates, a dwarfing shadow loomed, a shadow almost palpable in its power to remind Republicans of the days when men were men and the party was united. His power is only increased by his absence. But enough about Fred Thompson.

This is a piece about Thursday night's Republican presidential debates, but first I would like to note that the media's fixation with which Republican is the most like Reagan, and who is the next Reagan, and who parts his hair like Reagan, is absurd, and subtly undermining of Republicans, which is why they do it. Reagan was Reagan, a particular man at a particular point in history. What is to be desired now is a new greatness. Another way of saying this is that in 1960, John F. Kennedy wasn't trying to be the next FDR, and didn't feel forced to be. FDR was the great, looming president of Democratic Party history, and there hadn't been anyone as big or successful since 1945, but JFK thought it was good enough to be the best JFK. And the press wasn't always sitting around saying he was no FDR. Oddly enough, they didn't consider that an interesting theme.

They should stop it already, and Republicans should stop playing along. They should try instead a pleasant, "You know I don't think I'm Reagan, but I do think John Edwards may be Jimmy Carter, and I'm fairly certain Hillary is Walter Mondale."

Noonan posits that Romney won the debate, which isn't my take, but that's mostly because Romney's sell job isn't convincing me of anything. I'm pretty certain that Romney either shares many of my views on social issues or will follow them... but I still feel like I'm getting a schtick from a polished used-car salesman. Depressingly, I felt the same way about Bill Clinton. To be fair to Romney, his personal life is a hell of a lot cleaner than Clinton's (actually, anyone this side of Tony Soprano could say that) and Mitt actually accomplished some worthwhile stuff in the private sector before entering public office. Still, I just get this uneasy feeling that he doesn't believe what he's saying so much as saying it to get elected. All politicians do that, but it's too transparent in some cases.

At this point, I remain with one foot firmly in Rudy's camp, but last night's debate wasn't going to win anyone over to his side. I'm saying that, and I liked his honest answer on the abortion issue. He can win, but he needs more of the fire we saw from mcCain.

I personally think McCain won, but there's too much history there on domestic policy for me to feel comfortable with McCain. I love McCain's fire for the fight and his willingness to stake out the unpopular yet correct stance on Iraq. Unlike Congress, McCain isn't worried about a strategy for withdrawal, he's worried about a strategy for winning. That's a huge distinction that the Democrats haven't even perceived, while the Adminstration's perception of the difference hasn't helped them develop a winning strategy. McCain made me think "lion in winter" when I watched him. Unfortunately, he was also the only candidate, save maybe Huckabee or Gilmore (neither of who have a prayer of doing anything except possibly being Veep), who summoned the right Presidential "look" for me. I know Rudy's got it, but he didn't show it. Romney has the look of an actor playing the President in a TV series (just like John Edwards, actually).

As for the rest, my favorite moment of the night was when Ron Paul was asked whether he would phase out the IRS and he said, "Immediately." Mathews was a pain with the time limits -- I hate moderators who try to steal the show.

Bottom line? I hate magic bullet solutions, mostly because I don't trust them. And while I love Fred Thompson as a potential candidate, I'm concerned about him as an actual candidate (the same concerns Democrats should having about Barack). But after what I saw last night, no one in that field should scare Fred. The only question that remains is when he runs, and whether the magic will last.

And if he gets the inevitable question about Reagan comparisons... well, Fred, let me volunteer to write the right response:

"I'm not Ronald Reagan. No one in the field of candidates is Ronald Reagan. Like all of you, I have a deep and lasting affection for President Reagan. He won the Cold War. He understood how to lead this country through a deep recession and into a period of unparalleled economic prosperity. And he did so because he had a deep and abiding faith in this country's greatness and its rightful place as a beacon of hope for mankind.

But Ronald Reagan understood something else -- any great things that he achieved came about because he was an American. We're all capable of great things, but the unique thing about the United States of America is that we give each and every person born in our nation the opportunity to fulfill their dreams and accomplish great things. When he left office, President Reagan stated that, 'My dream is that you will travel the road ahead with liberty’s lamp guiding your steps and opportunity’s arm steadying your way.' His dream was the American dream -- it was and is our dream.

I'm not Ronald Reagan. President Reagan left us a wonderful, enduring legacy. But we cannot do justice to that legacy by pining for the past or pretending to look for a pale imitation of past greatness. We need to forge ahead and accomplish the great things that we are capable of doing -- that's what Americans do. We need to live up to our legacy, rather than simply cherish it.

I believe in the greatness of this country. And I don't believe America's greatness is in her past. I think it's in her future. Perhaps those are views I share with many great Americans who no longer walk among us, but I prefer to think I share them with many great Americans who are with us today, including all of you.

I'm Fred Thompson, and I'm running for President."

Hey, it's only a first draft. But it's time to get started. I'm guessing Thompson won't declare for a while yet. But as Jim Geraghty noted, the man sure is busy for someone who's not running for President.

A Bad Week For German Idols

It's been a bad week for Germany. First, Dirk Nowitzki flames out in the NBA playoffs. Now, we have more depressing news that will leave the Germans in a nasty mood...

Actor David Hasselhoff admitted on Thursday that he had struggled to overcome alcoholism after a videotape emerged showing him drunk.

The videotape, believed taken by his 16-year-old daughter Taylor Ann three months ago, was aired online and on several entertainment TV channels on Thursday. It showed Hasselhoff dressed in blue jeans and no shirt lying on the floor struggling to eat a hamburger.

A young female voice on the video is urging him not to drink, warning him that he could lose his role in a stage show of "The Producers" in Las Vegas if he didn't sober up.

I'm guessing he just got used to having KITT drive him home after he had too many. On the flip side, the Germans might be so upset that the French military might start waving white flags.

As I Turn 29 For the Fifth Time...

Yes, I'm turning another year older. And as the Lord of Truth helpfully pointed out this morning, I'm now at an age where it would be appropriate for Rolling Rock to be my beer for this upcoming year (strangely, I think that was actually the case in 1993-94 during my sophomore year in college... of course, I couldn't drink back then since I wasn't 21, so that must be wrong). The other great realization I had is that I've now been allowed to drive a car for more years than I was not allowed to do so. As my wife might note, that doesn't mean I know how to drive, just that I'm allowed to do so. With that being said, thanks to all who have acknowledged this day (even when you feel like lying about your age, it's a great feeling when someone wishes you a happy birthday), along with those who either forgot or chose to be sensitive and not raise the topic.

As for famous people born today... most people would be impressed with the fact that they share a birthday with Niccolo Machiavelli. My friends would not be surprised that I do like sharing a birthday with Niccolo (or Nick, as I call him), although I'm stunned that Machiavelli is still more famous than I am. It should also be noted that I'm equally happy to note that I share the birthday with Ann B. Davis and Ron Hextall. As for my fellow birthday celebrants not being named in this post... "Coranon Silaria, Ozoo Mahoke" (a grand total of 10 people will get that joke).

But for argument's sake, let's just say that it's MY birthday (even fewer will get that joke). And since it's my birthday, I was asked what I wanted for my birthday by several people. I came up with 33 items, in no particular order. For the record, these are the first 33 items I thought of while writing this post, so don't kill me if I forgot something important, like the solution to global warming or the Saved By the Bell reunion special where we meet Zach and Kelly's kids.

In honor of Rolling Rock, here we go...

1. A healthy first child come August. I will leave speculation regarding the gender of my child to the family and friends, including Luca Brasi. If the kid wants to come out quoting Shakespeare and fully potty-trained, that's fine, but not a pre-requisite.
2. A Cereality store to open in D.C. Kudos to my sister-in-law for introducing this to me in Chicago earlier this year. Any place that lets me mix Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Frosted Flakes and Fruity Pebbles should be franchised in more places.
3. The safe and triumphant return of our troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, after they get everything they need, including our support, to achieve victory.
4. For my two infant nieces and their soon-to-be-born cousin to enjoy their first of many years on this planet, and to wait to surpass their uncle/father's juvenile sense of humor for at least 24 months.
5. More Will Ferrell movies.
6. No more Richard Tiffany Gere movies (yes, the man's middle name is Tiffany... and people wonder why I hate him).
7. A Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl XLII triumph in Arizona in February 2008. I'm surprised it took me that long to think of that. Actually, give me an Eagles Super Bowl XLIII triumph in February 2009 if it's possible, too.
8. To finally finish my first screenplay.
9. The death of Osama bin Laden. Hey, I'm allowed to be morbid once. Actually, that's not morbid, just a matter of harsh and necessary justice.
10. Less traffic on the way to work.
11. The cancellation of all reality television shows. Either that, or a reality TV show where I, along with a group of select friends, get to torment and abuse reality TV show contestants of my choosing. Trust me when I say this would be a bad moment for Sanjaya Malakar.
12. A four day work week.
13. The expansion of In-n-Out Burger to the East Coast, preferably the DC area.
14. The Phillies to make the playoffs. I'd ask for a World Series title but I know better.
15. That Saved By the Bell reunion show. Now that I think about it, that's too important to leave off the list.
16. I'd like to lose 25 pounds. Maybe I'll watch those Democratic Presidential debates, since they tend to make me nauseous and kill my appetite.
17. The winning Power Ball ticket, preferably during a week where the jackpot features 9 numbers to the left of the decimal.
18. The opportunity to see my wife every day. Yes, you can say it all together... awww.
19. More TV shows like House, Lost, Entourage, and South Park. I won't say The Simpsons, because there can be only one.
20. A happy graduation day for my little brother next month as he exits college and enters the real world. One day, you'll be 33, too... and yes, I'll be 44 at that point, but let's not discuss that.
21. A new house sometime this year. It needs to meet all of my wife's demands and my one -- enough room for a play room for me that features multiple large screen TVs, arcade games, a pool table, wireless Internet on a large monitor and a bar with beer on tap. Preferably Guiness, but beggars can't be choosers.
22. A Constitutional Amendment to term limit our Congressfolk.
23. A clean bill of health in my next physical, one that allows the continued consumption of cheesesteaks at Pat's when I visit Philly.
24. I'd like to keep as much hair on my head as possible for as long as possible. Scarily, this might be the least likely wish on this list, and that's saying something.
25. My dad to re-retire soon, if he wishes, or at least to relax, and for he and my mom to take more of the trips they seem to enjoy. If he wants a new job, baby-sitting grandkids seems to be a popular one. In that vein, here's hoping my sister and brother-in-law's return to Philly goes well, too.
26. For Baskin Robbins to expand past 31 flavors and at least have more flavors than I have years on this planet. I hate being this old.
27. Fred Thompson, Presidential candidate. If for no other reason than the opportuunity to quote movie lines like, "Russians don't take a dump, son, without a plan."
28. World peace. Hey, I don't want to seem selfish.
29. Social Security privitization and the extension of the Bush tax cuts. That will offset the world peace non-selfish thing nicely in some people's eyes.
30. More time with friends and family, and for them to experience more and more happiness throughout the year, and to know how much they all mean to me. I'm going to stop before one of them reading this throws up on the keyboard.
31. A new Supreme Court justice replacing Stevens and/or Ginsburg, and preferably one who thinks and writes like Nino Scalia.
32. I'd like to return from any trips to Las Vegas up in terms of my gambling results. It doesn't have to be up a lot, just up.
33. To be around to write a post with 34 wishes next year. Hopefully God is good enough to allow that.

I plan to have a great day and even better weekend, although probably not as good as this guy. Hope all of you feel as good on your birthday as I do on mine.