I Wouldn't Call Him A Friend -- He's More of An Acquaintance

Tom Maguire tells us that mainstream media may be covering for Obama on the depth of his association with ex-Weatherman and (alleged) domestic terrorist William Ayers. Color me a bit skeptical as to how big a deal it will be. I do think it should be a big deal, but I think what's already been revealed should be a big deal. As Maguire notes...

Obama pretended that he was only casually acquainted with Ayers, describing him as "a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of English in Chicago...". Hilary provided a bracing corrective, reminding people that the two men had served on a charitable board together, the Woods Fund of Chicago.

This exchange was newsworthy enough to provoke coverage in the Chicago Sun-Times, and the NY Times; earlier stories had sparked The "Fact Checker" at the Washington post.

And yet! All of these hard-working professionals gave Obama a pass for a very casual relationship with Ayers, citing the charitable board, some joint panel appearances, and a fund-raiser hosted by Ayers.

Even if it stopped there (and it doesn't appear it did), I'd say Obama has questionable taste in friends (to say the least). It took him a few weeks to disown Rev. Wright; disowning his association with Ayers should have taken a few seconds.

Seriously, this should be beyond question. Ayers is a terrorist, one who doesn't even express remorse for participating in acts of violence that could have killed people, not to mention the fact that one of the plans did kill some of his conspirators. I don't care if the University of Illinois holds him in high regard as a Professor -- that's between the University and the taxpayers of the state. At the end of the day, he's a criminal who went unpunished because he went on the run and the government screwed up. Worse, he still feels justified in what he did and planned to do. Obama's own website notes a NYT Times interview from 2001 with Ayers where he said:

"'I don't regret setting bombs,' Bill Ayers said. 'I feel we didn't do enough.' Mr. Ayers, who spent the 1970's as a fugitive in the Weather Underground, was sitting in the kitchen of his big turn-of-the-19th-century stone house in the Hyde Park district of Chicago."

Of course, Obama's website tried to defend the comment by pointing out that even though it was published on September 11, 2001, the comments pre-dated the publication time. Earth to Team Obama: the comments are reprehensible no matter when they were made.

Obama's statements about his relationship with Ayers remind me of Homer's search for a soulmate on the Simpsons episode that featured Johnny Cash as the talking space coyote. At one point, Homer enters Moe's searching for his soulmate. Barney refers to himself as "more of a chum,"; Lenny says he's a "croonie"; Carl claims to be an "acquintance"... and so on, until Moe tells Homer, "I'm a well-wisher, in that I don't wish you any specific harm." And yes, I'm happy when I get to write a post where I get to write the words "space coyote."

Do Americans care? I'm reminded of this point as made by Jim Geraghty...

Do you, personally, know anyone who has ever tried to blow up the Pentagon? Do you know of anyone who actually brags that they did, successfully, plant and detonate a bomb at the Pentagon?

Do you, personally, know anyone has ever planned to blow up an officer's dance at a military base, say, Fort Dix?

Do you, personally, know anyone who has gotten someone killed in an explosion because of their actions?

Even if these bombings and attempted bombings occurred forty years ago, is that the sort of thing you could forgive, and/or dismiss? Do you believe that assembling a bomb, and intending to kill police, members of the military, and ordinary innocent civilians is the sort of thing that should be considered "water under the bridge" once enough time has passed?

Could you shake hands with this person? Go to a party at their house? Accept a donation from them? If you knew this about a person, could you look at them and forget that they gathered the explosives, assembled the wires and the parts, scoped out their target, planted it, and watched it detonate with excitement?

Do you relate to having people like that in your social circle?

No, I don't, either.

Is that over the top? I don't think so. Here's the problem -- while it may seem acceptable for people in elite circles to forgive and forget the actions of the radical left from the 1960's as excusable overreaction in pursuit of an admirable goal... it's still not right. Maybe if you were there, you might feel empathy and forgiveness for the actions that took place -- but Obama wasn't even a teenager at the time. Not everyone who went to college in the 1960's participated in campus protests, let alone violence. I'm only a decade or so younger than Obama, and I don't fly in the same elite circles -- but if someone told me an acquaintance of mine was a person who spent part of the 1960's and part of the 1970's planting bombs and inciting violence, I'd probably quit spending time with him. Maybe even if I was an aspiring politician who could use the connections.

If this was one association, then perhaps we could excuse it. But remember Obama's initial failure to disown Rev. Wright, and recall that he only ended up sending Wright to time out after Wright made comments that would damage his campaign. Ayers has been silent, and thus far I haven't seen Obama spend any time telling Americans that he's ended any association with Ayers. Perhaps the real test is not whether Ayers committed criminal acts, but whether he committed the cardinal sin of hurting Obama.

I sense Obama wants to dismiss his acquaintance with Ayers as nothing more than that. Even if it is, it would help if he accompanied the dismissal with embarassment for having been acquainted with him in the first place, and a condemnation of the man. Unless, of course, Obama's not embarrassed and doesn't feel the need to condemn him.

What Annoying Song is Stuck in My Head Today?

If I need to suffer with a song stuck in my head, why shouldn't you have to do the same? Sometimes they're good, most times they're bad... but no matter what, they make you suffer. So I like to share the suffering whenever it happens.

This doesn't qualify as annoying -- it's one of my favorite songs, paired with one of my favorite movies. And yes, I was and still am a fan of Huey Lewis and the News. Everyone has flaws, people.

I actually had a friend who dressed up as Marty McFly for Halloween in 1985 (I think that was one of the last years I got away with trick or treating) and I remember people asking him who he was at every other door. This despite the fact that he was clearly dressed in a jacket similar to the one worn by Michael J. Fox, and he was carrying around a skateboard. BTW, remember when everyone was riding skateboards for that period between 1984-1986? Neither do I.

Before I embarrass myself or long-lost friends any further, here's "Power of Love"...

Pennsylvania: Driving People to Drink

My hometown of Philadelphia ranks #9 on Forbes' list of America's drunkest cities, somehow tied with Providence. I'm guessing they won't advertise this. I also question the methodology of any such list that has New Orleans at #24 and New York at #32.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated story, Megan McArdle details her tale of underage drinking in Philly 16 years ago, which led to her inability to obtain a D.C. drivers license this week. Longtime residents and former residents of Pennsylvania are not at all shocked to learn about the bureacratic incompetence of PennDOT...

I thought I had put all this behind me. Indeed, I was so informed, when I completed my State of Pennsylvania Mandatory Alcohol Education Class; provided I didn't reoffend, they said, the record would be expunged. We might consider the matter closed, and never speak of it again. With time, and perhaps a name change and a relocation to a town across the country, I might hope to live down my shame and become a contributing member of society once again.

Alas, they never told the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation that it was over. And thus, it is not over. I went to apply for a District of Columbia driver's license this morning, only to be informed that I cannot, because the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania wants to suspend my driver's license.

The problem, you see, is that at the time of my conviction, I did not have a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Driver's License. Indeed, I had no driver's license at all, being one of those benighted city people who get their first driver's license at the age of 23. The laws of the State of Pennsylvania, however, say that the Department of Transportation is entitled to suspend the driver's license of anyone arrested for underaged drinking. And the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is, apparently, determined to exercise this privilege. Thus, the spectacle of a 35 year old woman being informed that she is about to have her driver's license suspended for underaged drinking.

To add insult to injury, I am expected to fill out a form and, at my own expense, mail it to the DOT in order to commence this suspension.

I'd normally mock McArdle for not having a license until now, but I already feel bad about the fact that she had to attend UPenn.

Perhaps the real role of PennDOT is to make the rest of Pennsylvania's state government appear reasonable and efficient.

Seriously?

Jonathan Last mentions that The Dark Knight is about to overtake Star Wars to be come the #2 grossing movie of all-time, although it's still well back of Titanic. He notes some interesting trivia while looking at the lists, but misses my new favorite movie statistic of all-time: Porky's is tied for ninth all-time for the most consecutive weekends at #1. Granted, the figures are only available back to 1982, but I can't tell whether I'm amazed or appalled. A little of both, actually.

On Second Thought, I'll Have the Ice Cream

Keith Law's take on Pinkberry frozen yogurt is brilliant...

Frozen yogurt is all the rage in southern California, and the most popular chain is Pinkberry, so I felt almost obligated to try it so I could make fun of all of the people who consume the stuff. I was, however, unprepared for how absolutely vile the stuff is. The flavor made me feel like I was sitting inside a bottle of white vinegar, licking the sides and inhaling the fumes. Their yogurt comes in three flavors - “original” (vinegar-flavored), green tea, and coffee. It’s all nonfat, which is about the stupidest thing I’ve seen in ages, since the fat in yogurt helps coat the taste buds and mute the yogurt’s acidity. The result of removing the fat is the need to increase the sugar to balance out the acid, and that results in a major glycemic load and a very unsatisfying product. I ate the oreos I’d ordered as a topping and tossed the gunk. Something that looks that much like ice cream shouldn’t taste that much like shit.

(Hat tip: Shysterball). I'm not a fan of frozen yogurt, so this warms my heart. I think I'll have some ice cream tonight.

John Edwards -- Why Did They Find Him Appealing?

Other people are spending enough time on the John Edwards affair that I don't need to cover it. Whoops, that's the mainstream media's attitude from a week ago. What I'm trying to say is... it's amazing that the story only gets coverage after Edwards admitted the affair. Just totally coincidental, I'm sure.

The best source for Edwards-related news has been Mickey Kaus, who reported on the National Enquirer's allegations back in December and has followed the story with a diligence bordering on obsession. I will agree with these statements on the latest developments:

Edwards declares "it's not possible that [Rielle Hunter's] child could be mine," adding that he's "happy" to take a paternity test and "truly hopeful that a test will be done." The next day Rielle Hunter's lawyer says "Rielle will not participate in DNA testing."

Are you buying this? For one thing, if Edwards is really certain he isn't the father of the kid, wouldn't he have demanded a paternity test to clear his name, not just indicated his hope for a test? ... Too late to change the tone now! ...

...P.S.: Hunter's lawyer has issued a statement saying she will not "participate in DNA testing" of her daughter. Convenient! No doubt some of Edwards' rich friends will now send her tens of thousands of dollars behind his back to try to persuade her to agree to the test and clear John's name (by validating Story #2's central claim that he is not the father). ... Wouldn't Hunter's statement seem a little more authentic if it wasn't PR'ed to an inch of its life to mesh with the Edwards anti-tab talking points? ("Rielle is a private individual. She is not running for public office.")

My personal view on Edwards is the same as it was before the scandal -- he gives a bad name to snake oil salesmen. I've never understood why so many people on the left found him to be a good candidate for higher office -- he's like Bill Clinton, but far lighter on policy specifics and actual executive experience. And now he's even more like Bubba.

Now that the mainstream media is actually reporting on the issue, the Washington Post, via its blog "The Trail" has found evidence of Edwards with his mistress in late December 2006 on the campaign trail, on his presidential announcement trip...

Edwards announced his presidential bid on Dec. 28 in New Orleans. His wife did not accompany him on the trip there.

The wire service photos, below, show Hunter, whom Edwards met in a New York bar in 2006, traveling with Edwards on December 27 and riding with him on his plane to Reno, Nev., on December 29 of that year.

Love the reporting, guys! Seriously, as the Trail noted, Edwards' confession claims the affair was over after a short time in 2006 -- apparently, this short time must have included the holidays. Either that, or he's lying... which he would never do! Perhaps Doug Ross is too skeptical...

Put simply, his so-called "confession" appears as genuine as a Stradivarius air guitar.

It's funny because it's true.

Keep in mind, Edwards creeped out John Kerry. And yet Democrats had this guy as a strong contender for their Presidential nomination adn as the VP nominee on the strength of a trial lawyer resume, one Senate term, populist rhetoric and good hair. Let's not forget, he didn't even mesh well with certain Democratic Party core beliefs, based on Bob Shrum's story...

In his new memoir, "No Excuses: Concessions of a Serial Campaigner," Shrum recalls asking Edwards at the outset of that campaign, "What is your position, Mr. Edwards, on gay rights?"

"I'm not comfortable around those people," Edwards replied, according to Shrum. He writes that the candidate's wife, Elizabeth, told him: "John, you know that's wrong."

Edwards's pollster, Harrison Hickman, who was in the room during the discussion, says Shrum "is sensationalizing and taking out of context what was an honest discussion about [Edwards's] lack of exposure to these issues and openly gay people. I don't remember anything that expressed any kind of venom or judgment about gay people."

At the end of the day, John Edwards is and was shallow, ambition-filled and willing to say or do anything to attain higher office. Yes, that's true of any number of politicans, but in most cases, we require at least a substantial term in public service before we consider them eligible for the highest office in the land. Reagan was Governor of California for two terms. Bush 41 had a resume that screamed future President. Clinton was Governor of Arkansas for over a decade. Gore had served in the Senate and as VP. Bush 43 had been Governor of Texas for six years. I'm not one to defend either Hillary or Obama's qualifications, but at least Obama spent several years in the state legislature and Hillary spent a lifetime in politics.

And yet Edwards, who served one undistinguished term in the Senate, was considered a top contender for his party's nomination for President, its pick in 2004 for VP and again a top contender for the Presidency in 2008. Yes, it's a good idea to bring outsiders into a process where too many of our politicans have grown comfortable with the corrupt way of doing business. But it would help if those outsiders showed anything other than a screaming desire to be anointed top dog and actually accomplished something while working in the jobs they were elected to. I don't recall Edwards being the impetus behind great legislation in his six years in the Senate. Perhaps he was too busy prepping his campaign for President.

Maybe part of the reason Barack Obama looks so good for the Democrats is that the talent pool is so damn shallow.

Robin Hood's Platform Arrives

My favorite part of the statement from the Democratic Party regarding its upcoming platform relates to tax policy and this statement:

For families making more than $250,000, we'll ask them to give back a portion of the Bush tax cuts to invest in health care and other key priorities.

So, they're asking? Can people answer no? More importantly, is this the new euphemism for a tax increase -- it's now a reduction in your prior income tax rate cut?

I'm glad that this implicitly acknowledges that the tax code's main purpose is income redistribution; unless the Dems are claiming that people making more than $250,000 are the ones struggling with health care, it's clear that we're now taking more from the more well-off simply to make sure the less well-off have health care, which has now become a right (no word on when Justice Souter or Breyer will discover this right in the Constitution, but no worry).

Finally, how will the Democrats deal with people who made out like bandits in high-paying law firm jobs during the Bush years but will now make less than $250,000 a year? Those dastardly people must be found!

Random Movie Quote of the Day

Like all American males, I love being able to quote ad nauseum from popular movies. I figured I should share whenever a random quote pops into my head.

Die Hard was on again last night. I'm not sure there's a better action hero than John McClane in the first installment of the series, but that's an argument for another day. As long as I'm quoting the movie, let me also note that there's a scene where Sgt. Powell walks outside the mini-mart and looks up at Nakatomi Plaza in the distance. When he does, the camera shot captures the gas prices, which were approximately 75 cents a gallon. In California, no less.

Anyway, here's the quote of the day, where Hans Gruber insults Americans in a Euro-trash way and John McClane responds the way Americans do -- with humor and profanity (and later, effective violence)...

Hans Gruber: Mr. Mystery Guest? Are you still there?

John McClane: Yeah, I'm still here. Unless you wanna open the front door for me.

Hans Gruber: Uh, no I'm afraid not. But you have me at a loss. You know my name but who are you? Just another American who saw too many movies as a child?Another orphan of a bankrupt culture who thinks he's John Wayne? Rambo? Marshal Dillon?

John McClane: Was always kinda partial to Roy Rogers actually. I really dig those sequined shirts.

Hans Gruber: Do you really think you have a chance against us, Mr. Cowboy?

John McClane: Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker.

This has been your random Movie Quote of the Day.

Does He Mean Nasdaq or the NYSE?

This is ridiculous, even for an Obama supporter like Andrew Young...

And because Obama would be welcomed by global leaders, Young believes his presidency would have a dramatic beneficial impact in the United States.

“Nothing would have more impact on the economy and the price of oil than his election as president,” Young said. “There would be a boost of 1,000 points on the stock market the first week after he’s elected. This would be better than a chicken in every pot.”

John Edwards' claim in 2004 that people like Christopher Reeve would walk again if only John Kerry was President seems reasonable by comparison. And Jim Geraghty has a point for Mr. Young:

Obviously, stocks and markets rise or fall based on many, many factors. But I would note that the Dow Jones Industrial Average, closed on January 3, 2008, the day of the Iowa caucuses, at 13,056.72.

One day later, after Obama won the Iowa caucuses, it closed at 12,800.18.

Young would probably say that if Obama had lost, the Dow would have declined by even more.

Sometimes, Even I Watch the Olympics

As a general rule, I'm not a big fan of the Olympics. The IOC and the international bureaucracy that runs things reminds me of every other international cabal running something -- the words "corrupt, inefficient and self-important" come to mind. And I'm someone who's not offended by rank commercialism, even when it's accompanied by hypocrisy. I just find it annoying.

But I'm like any other sports fan -- a great athletic performance will make me watch. Michael Phelps' drive for eight gold medals is another example of someone who's driven to be the best mixing great talent with brilliant focus and sheer will. Watching him with the 400 IM over the weekend was fantastic, because he seemed to dominate the race like a legendary champion should. It was a performance like something Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan would give you -- he just overwhelmed his opponents.

But last night? Last night, Superman needed help from some teammates in the Justice League. And nothing's quite as entertaining as making a bragging Frenchman eat his words. You have to love this quote from Jason Lezak, the American who swam the anchor leg and won the race with a phenomenal comeback...

When he flipped and thrust off the wall, he was still half a body length behind. That's a country mile in a sprint race. The United States was going down and taking Phelps' quest for eight gold medals in a single Games with it.

No way.

But just as quickly as that glimmer of despair flitted through Lezak's mind, it was shoved aside by fresh determination.

No way met no quit.

"I changed," he said. "I thought, 'That's ridiculous. I'm at the Olympic Games, I'm here for the United States of America. I don't care how bad it hurts, I'm going after it.'

Yes, it's hokey. But sometimes, it's still great drama, and you can't help but get sucked in by it. And that's without the added benefit of mocking the French team.

Now, if they could just get rid of that long, boring opening ceremony...

What Annoying Song is Stuck in My Head Today?

If I need to suffer with a song stuck in my head, why shouldn't you have to do the same? Sometimes they're good, most times they're bad... but no matter what, they make you suffer. So I like to share the suffering whenever it happens.

Having an infant daughter who loves to listen to music means seeking compromise. Granted, my daughter's not yet one year old, so I can pretty much tell her what she's listening to, but it's probably not healthy to overload her on Air Supply just yet (yes, that was a joke). But there's plenty of kid's music nowadays that is tolerable for adults (for example, the Barenaked Ladies have a children's album out... apparently the cocaine arrest of Steven Page is not a promotional vehicle), particularly the stuff that calls to mind the music from your own childhood. And that's the lastest song to make this list -- it's quite simply one of the songs that gets stuck in your head no matter what, and making it part of a new children's animated flick.

Here's the new version of Kung Fu Fighting...