The New York Times is the only outfit I can think of that is fueled so definitively by its own self-delusion. For instance, now, contrary to every indicator known to political observers, the ragged old lady parades a series of experts that conclude the chances for a Democratic takeover of the Senate as improving. This despite an aggregate of polls demonstrating Bush’s surging approval numbers, and the now-nonexistent gap between the parties in the generic congressional poll.

What’s telling, though, is that the myriad conclusions cited are in direct contravention to the facts on the ground

Analysts say the level of competition in the Senate should come as no surprise; Senate races are much more likely to reflect national political trends, they say, whereas most House districts are so carefully drawn on partisan lines that “they are safe against anything but a hurricane,” said Gary C. Jacobson, a political scientist at the University of California, San Diego.

The problem is that the national trend is actually trending away from the Democrats. Yes, there are tight races. Tennessee is presently one of them - it’s my belief that won’t last. Congressman Ford seems to have plateaued, and to have done so dangerously early (at least for his campaign). But the political climate, which had been so favorable to the Democrats back in the early summer when Bush was hovering at Hooveresque approval levels, has changed. The Democratic Party, led by Howard Dean and the rest of the howlers, presented no alternative to the electorate, nationally or on specific state levels to counter the perceived failings of the Bush administration. Present tactics, to include the abhorrent made-up racial slander against Republican incumbent George Allen in Virginia, will not make up for that failure of vision.

The Times story also fails to mention the plummeting gas prices, which will, for what it’s worth, have an effect on voter behavior in November (UPDATE As I was saying). If Bush and the Republicans were blamed for gas prices going up, they are also going to benefit politically when they start to go down. That’s already happening.

To conclude, the Times seems to have cherry picked its experts, and ignored the actual trends of the national political dynamic. Politics, like anything, does not exist in a static state. Disappointingly, it seems the Times is stuck in June.

This is becoming fun. More entertainment from MySpace. First, this one

Harold Ford Jr. wants to use soybeans for fuel. A lower-cost, environmentally happy and efficient way to drive your car saying, “Thanks, Mother Nature, you are good to me.” I like him. I will vote for him.

And no, I don’t think that one is a joke. What’s frightening is that the little mood icon was set to “pensive” when I saw the post. Then this rather verbose one

Well all those who understand the importance of politics and as a result actually follow whats going on I have an exciting update.  The political winds across the nation are at the back of the Democrats as the November elections draw ever nearer.  The Democrats need I think 15 seats in the House and 6 seats in the Senate to take over both divisions of Congress.

…

In Virginia Jim Webb is running a srong race against incumbent George Allen and in Tennessee D-Harold Ford is running a great race agains R- Bob Corker for the open seat of R- Bill Frist who is leaving to engage in a most certainly failing presidential bid in 2008.  Here in West Virginia Robert Byrd is being challenged by John Raese and it really isnt a close contest.  Byrd’s track record is emaculate and it will take much more then old age to bring this colossal political figure down from his current perch atop the United States Senate.

Yeah, his sheets are immaculate, too.

More material as I find it.

42% of the American population have completely divested their stake in reality.

This comment on one of the Ford blogs stood out - for obvious reasons, from someone calling himself Joe4444

Well he [Bob Corker] is an Economic Conservative, which is why he is running “officially” with the Republicans, yet he has no moral ground. I dont think he even believes in God, if he does he is far from acting like any sort of Christian. He lies, supports murder, steals (which he is currently in legal trouble for), he clearly doesn’t have a strong opposition to gay marriage since his daughter is a lesbian herself. I dont trust Bob Corker to restore any values in Tennessee what-so-ever, whereas Ford has given me every reason to trust why he is the more Christian Conservative candidate in this election, regardless of party.

And that’s just the tip of the loony iceberg. Check out the rest here. The funny (sic) thing is that the proprietor of the Ford site seems not to care.

UPDATE The commenter has his own blog here. Anyone who actually believes that Ford is the conservative in this race is about to uncomfortably pass a hook, line and sinker.

Catherine and I watched Chris Wallace’s interview of President Clinton together on Sunday morning.  My infant daughter is mesmerized by our former leader!  I was trying to nurse Catherine and provide her with life-sustaining nourishment, but she kept craning her neck to see the television.  Her eyes were glued to Clinton’s white hair and even whiter legs that snuck out between his pant legs and socks (shouldn’t some handler have been giving him the “pull down your pants” sign … and not in the way he might assume?).  Clinton’s reputation for projecting overwhelming charisma holds true with Moore offspring.
My daughter has had this reaction to only one other politician — Rep. Barney Frank.  I have C-Span on quite a bit, and Catherine cannot focus on anything else when the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts is speaking.  He does have a lilting, good at reciting nursery rhymes effect to his voice.

I am struggling to determine the common links between these two men that have such a strong effect on Catherine.  They are both Democrats.   Ummm ….. well, let’s see … what else?  I’ve seen them both wear glasses, but I don’t think poor eyesight is the connection.  They both like the company of young women … wait, that’s not it.  I’m at a loss.  What am I missing here?

Les Jones brings this gem to our attention

“The rifle is a weapon. Let there be no mistake about that. It is a tool of power, and thus dependent completely upon the moral stature of its user. It is equally useful in securing meat for the table, destroying group enemies on the battlefield, and resisting tyranny. In fact, it is the only means of resisting tyranny, since a citizenry armed with rifles simply cannot be tyrannized.

“The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles.”

Of course, to many on the left, a rifle is nothing more than an object of propaganda. I’m more prone to invest in the sageness of Colonel Jeff Cooper myself, who passed away just yesterday.

Sean Braisted points us to a website entitled “Beyond Delay”, which allegedly lists the 20 most corrupt members of Congress. Somehow, Bill Frist weighs in near the top, over William Jefferson of Louisiana, who possessed a freezer with a cash machine it. The two issues that make Bill Frist corrupt? Alleged “insider trading”, which is “strongly suggested” and, dare I note, has not at all been proven, and a misstated campaign committee loan, which Frist had openly been paying on.

I tell you, if this is the “culture of corruption”, we’re living high on the ethical hog.

From the Nigh Seen Creeder (I’ve seen him, have you?), we have this little tidbit

The hipster doofi who make up the Americana Music movement graced the city of Nashville with their collective presence over the weekend.  The Tennessean reports on the Americana award-givin’ confab, and our morning daily mentions the left-wing, Bush-bashin’ politics these folks have been - and continue to - espouse.  Now I’m all for free speech; but when a guitar-strummin’ nitwit tears into President Bush, he or she needs to be asked a few follow-up questions.

Folkie singers have long criticized the Iraq War as an “illegal” conflict. If given the opportunity, I’d like to ask these folks the following question: If the United States attacks a regime (Iraq) that has abrogated the terms of a cease-fire agreement (which Saddam Hussein’s regime did repeatedly from 1991-2003) how is that “illegal?” I’m sure a deafening silence would follow.

Yeah, the illegal conflict bit is full of holes. Due to Iraq’s breach, the 1991 war had technically been back on for some time. There are plenty of colorable arguments against the war, but this isn’t one of them

It seems like every person with a recording contract wishes to share his political beliefs with the world. They’re certainly entitled to their opinions, and they have the same right to free expression that all Americans enjoy. However, they should not be insulated from tough follow-up questions when they enter the public arena. If they were forced to explain their views beyond emotionalist rants, I’m quite certain that most celebrity political commentary would end.

Eliminate emotionalist rants?  If we did that, liberals wouldn’t have anything to talk (er, rant) about.

The post on the Clinton interview over at Michael Silence’s place has created quite the stir.

Blame Clinton, it can’t hurt–except, of course, when Bush turns out WORSE than the sex offender President!

Clinton put serious effort into combatting terrorism, including al Qaeda. Before 9/11, Bush did _nothing_ on terrorism. He held no meetings on terrorism before 9/11, he demoted terrorism czar Richard Clarke, and ignored the plan left by the Clinton admin–which focused on bin Laden and al Qaeda.

Amusing 1 - Rationality 0

Lets see -Clinton lied about an affair,
George who did not know Sunni from Shia until 6 months ago ago lied- and we have 50,000 Iraquis dead,2800 Americans,5,000 American amputees.
Forget the 300 billion dollars,maybe Jesus will forgive him I will not

Silliness 1 - Irrationality 1. Doubtless, that one is balanced.

Shorter Mortman: Ignore everything he says, he lied once!
Shorter Moore: I didn’t see it, but I’ve already made up my mind and want to help you make up your mind too.
Shorter Rose: Pay no attention to the man behind the oval office desk, Clinton wasn’t perfect.
Shorter TGW: Good for Bill for trying to bring a little balance back to the force.

Eh? That’s not what I said.

I believe Mr. Wallace and Mr. Murdoc both got thier silly smirk removed. It was so obvious what they were trying to do, and why wer’nt these questions asked of the “Bush” Adm. ? No doubt one would have received the same answers as was received about the 9/11 catastrophy—–nothing!.

Okay, I really want to know what that means, but it’s Monday and I can’t drink that much until the weekend…

Funny how the current administration tries to blame someone who hasn’t been in office in 6 years for why Osama hasn’t been caught when they couldn’t find him if he was working at a newstand on Pennsylvania Ave.

And that was posted by “Independent” - yes, I’m sure. As in, independently voting nothing but Democratic since I was 18.
It seems that the Bush haters are just as unhinged as Bill Clinton.

Actually, this gives me an idea for a new reality series - it can be played on Al Gore’s Current “news” network. We can assemble all those who hate George W. Bush and who can afford travel in one location, and then have a rant-off. Points are given for content, expletives, emotional exuberance, irrationality, and general style. The winners get a free passport to the country of their choice, plus they have to refund the money they saved over the last five years from Bush’s tax cut and must obtain all future medical care from Cuban hospitals.
Any takers? Anyone?

Please Join

JUAN BORGES

State House Candidate in District 60

for his

Campaign Kickoff

and

the announcement of his

“Plan For Change”

Tuesday, September 26^th

11:00am-12:30 p.m.

Sal’s Pizza & Restaurant, Inc.

710 Stewarts Ferry Pike

Nashville, TN 37214

From I-65 take I-40 East towards Knoxville. Take the Stewarts Ferry Pike at Exit 219, toward J. Percy Priest Dam. Turn right onto Stewarts Ferry Pike and Sal’s will be on the right.

This was interesting, I thought

I asked what I thought was a non-confrontational question about whether he could have done more to “connect the dots and really go after al Qaeda.”

I was utterly surprised by the tidal wave of details–emotion–and political attacks that followed.

The President was clearly stung by any suggestion that he had not done everything he could to get bin Laden. He attacked right-wingers–accused me of a “conservative hit job”–and even spun a theory I still don’t understand that somehow Fox was trying to cover up the fact that NewsCorp. chief Rupert Murdoch was supporting his Global Initiative. I still have no idea what set him off.
Former President Clinton is a very big man. As he leaned forward–wagging his finger in my face–and then poking the notes I was holding–I felt as if a mountain was coming down in front of me.

The President said I had a smirk. Actually–it was sheer wonder at what I was witnessing.

I tried repeatedly to adhere to the ground rules–to move the President along–and back to the CGI. But he wanted to keep talking about his record fighting terror.

When it became clear he wanted to throw out the ground rules–then I just went with the flow of the interview.

It was truly odd.

A disclaimer, of sorts. I’m a conservative Republican willing to move on from Bill Clinton. As you all may have guessed, I didn’t support him, thought he dropped the post-Cold War ball like it was on fire, and think he’s got a variety of personal problems, some of which enabled him to be president. But I’m willing to let bygones be bygones - the future is too important. The problem is that he keeps interjecting himself into the conversation.

Unfortunately, I missed the interview, forgetting that it was on this morning. Sarah saw it, and thought it, well - odd. As in, Bill Clinton unhinged. I intend to catch the replay on Fox News Channel this evening. In the meantime, Byron York of National Review has already weighed in. Either Clinton views Richard Clarke’s book as his administration’s savior, or he’s getting a cut of the royalties. Either way, he’s wrong

But Clarke’s book does not, in fact, support Clinton’s claim. Judging by Clarke’s sympathetic account — as well as by the sympathetic accounts of other former Clinton aides like Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon — it’s not quite accurate to say that Clinton tried to kill bin Laden. Rather, he tried to convince — as opposed to, say, order — U.S. military and intelligence agencies to kill bin Laden. And when, on a number of occasions, those agencies refused to act, Clinton, the commander-in-chief, gave up.

Clinton did not give up in the sense of an executive who gives an order and then moves on to other things, thinking the order is being carried out when in fact it is being ignored. Instead, Clinton knew at the time that his top military and intelligence officials were dragging their feet on going after bin Laden and al Qaeda. He gave up rather than use his authority to force them into action.

When it comes to the Clinton adminstration’s role in the War on Terror, former officials and the man himself spin at Tasmanian Devil-like speed. The Fox interview is this week’s epicenter of that spin, or else Clinton is accumulating political capital by taking on Wallace, perhaps for other pending family ventures. I’m not sure. From my wife’s and York’s accounts, it sounds like a show worth watching. i won’t miss it the second time.

Thanks to some recently acquired emails from the governor’s office, we learn that officials in state government do read at least one blog - Bill Hobbs.

jaw dropping and drooling from AC Kleinheider over at Volunteer Voters. Sheesh. What are they paying this guy? At least I’m up front about my allegiances and why. Over the last few weeks, this is getting absolutely ridiculous.

I heard a couple of funny things on WLAC today.

A woman called into Rush Limbaugh and said that Halloween could no longer be celebrated at her son’s school.  Instead, the school has started to take a day out of the normal routine to celebrate United Nations Day.  Rush suggested that the son take a can of motor oil to the lunch line to pay for his steak sub and tater tots in honor of the oil for food program.  Very funny stuff!

During DriveTime Sports, there was a commercial for some sort of gambling addicts therapy program.  The voice said, “Call us if you or someone you know has gone from just having fun to having a need to gamble” … or something like that.  Right after that, a commercial for Tunica came on the air.  The man said, “There’s just playing around and then there’s real gambling.  When you’re ready for some high-stakes fun, come to Tunica!”  Perhaps after a particularly bad trip to the latter destination, you’ll be ready for the former!

walk by a house while someone inside is doing laundry and notice how wonderful it smells coming through the vents?  And, once you make this realization, are you ever tempted to walk up to the front door, knock and asked the resident what type of laundry detergent and/or fabric softener she (or he … I don’t want to be sexist concerning domestic duties) uses?  I am, but I never have.

From our favorite local band

This whack job, with the toilet seat around his neck, defines feminism as the bullying and brow-beating of poor defenseless and vulnerable men like the whack job, himself.

If feminism causes gayness, then obviously we need lots more feminism.

Huh. Call me a glass half empty kind of guy, but I see a prospective problem here. Ever heard of the Shakers?

I mentioned on this blog several days ago that somehow a message using my email address had been sent to Senator Frist and Congressman Cooper.  I was curious to discover what exactly prompted “me” to write to my representatives in Congress (and why I left out Senator Alexander … diss!) and I just got my answer through an email response from Frist.

Apparently, I am concerned about physician reimbursement under Medicare.  Who knew?  Luckily, as a transplant surgeon, First has “firsthand experience with the Medicare physician fee schedule” and he “will continue to address this issue to ensure physicians receive adequate payment for years to come”.

My mind will rest easier tonight.  And, I think I’ll finally go back to school and finish that medical degree that I abandoned years ago because I was concerned about how I would be reimbursed for my Medicare patients.  I hope Harvard Medical School is still holding that spot for me at the cadaver table!  Nathan, we’re packing up the car and heading to Cambridge!  (I can almost feel him shivering as he reads that sentence.)

As Ramadan approaches, I am reminded of one of my post-college roommates.  She was a Muslim (still is, I assume) and she observed Ramadan … sort of.  She would fast from sunrise to sunset but, as soon as the sun would disappear under the horizon, she would open the refrigerator and eat pepperoni pizza.  She ordered a pizza every few days and made this Dominos creation her only sustenance.

Now, I’m no expert on the Muslim faith.  But, there are a few nuggets I’ve picked up from my public school experience and general time in this world.  I know the five pillars and I’m familiar with the story of Mohammed.  And, I can state with confidence that pepperoni is not on the approved dietary guidelines.

This roommate had converted to the Nation of Islam due to the influence of her mother’s long-term boyfriend.  So, maybe she was still learning the ropes.  Let’s be honest … pepperoni hardly resembles the pig from whence it came!  Confusion is understandable.  I asked another Muslim friend (not associated with the Farrakhan faction) about the eating of processed pork, and she said that many in the Nation of Islam “do things their own way”.
I suppose that entire living situation was a bit unusual.  My bedroom was actually a very small den (10′ x 10′), with three walls and fold-out screens that served as a fourth wall.  It was all for the bargain price of $400!  Privacy was not featured as one of the selling points, but my previous living situation ended abruptly and badly and I needed a place to live.

My other roommate was a former Miss Black Maryland and her room was filled with tiaras and sashes.  She was meticulously organized and very proper at all times.  It was a bit like living with Whitney Gilbert (from A Different World) except my roommate didn’t have a hideously fake Southern accent.
I had a great time with both of these ladies and kept in touch with them for some time after moving on to a new living situation … with walls.  However, one point of extreme discomfort still sticks in my memory.  Both women had boyfriends and they did not believe in waiting until marriage to “know one another”.  Oh, the nights I wished for a concrete wall instead of a filmsy screen!