Breakfast at Tiffany's – Because I Do Not Know

Rosie And Sushi

BaT is preparing for the annual Christmas decorating, so to decompress from the torture, we feasted on California rolls and watched Roseanne Barr's latest standup special. A couple of gems to share in this abbreviated edition of BaT:

On gay marriage ...

"If you find gay sex disgusting, you should actually favor gay marriage. That's the way to end all of that gay sex. You know, like straight marriage."

On getting older ...

"I'm wet where I'm supposed to be dry and dry where I'm supposed to be wet."

4 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 8:21 PM
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Sanity Prevails In Washington -- For Once

House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi makes a right call in refusing to elevate Congressman Alcee Hastings to chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

Hastings, currently the No. 2 Democrat on the panel, had been aggressively making a case for the top position, supported by members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Critics pointed out that he had been impeached when he was a federal judge and said naming him to such a sensitive post would be a mistake just as the Democrats take over House control pledging reforms.

"I am obviously disappointed with this decision," Hastings, D-Fla., said in a statement thanking his supporters. "I will be seeking better and bigger opportunities in a Democratic Congress."

Hastings, only the sixth federal judge to ever be impeached and removed from office, may be able to serve his country in another manner. But a man who still owes (link to a PDF) millions of dollars to lawyers -- and who has a history of accepting bribes -- should not have his hands on highly sensitive intelligence information.

So Abscam Murtha loses his race for the No. 2 position and Hastings is out as Intelligence chair. Neither should have been considered for such high posts with their questionable ethical backgrounds. But at least these potential wrongs were corrected by pressure from their own side of the aisle. It's another defeat for a Pelosi ally, but a win for centrist Democrats.

1 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 6:19 PM
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'Tis The Season

We can't even make it out of November before Christmas invades. At BaT, we like Thanksgiving, dammit, and we refuse to surrender this great American holiday. (Although we do admit we've already purchased Christmas cards ... but no decorations at Chez Tiffany until after Dec. 1!)

Turkey Day, however, has passed, so we can turn our attention to the yuletide season. We shall start with a little song -- politically correct ones, of course. (Combined from a variety of sources.) See if you can determine the real song titles.

1. "I'm Dreaming of a Racially Diverse Non-Religious-Specific Day-Off in Winter"

2. "Let it Perform a Favorite Weather Pattern, Let it Perform a Favorite Weather Pattern, Let it Perform a Favorite Weather Pattern"

3. "O Quaint Town of Palestinian Joint Rule"

4. "Vertically Challenged Drummer Child of Undetermined Gender"

5. "Frosty the Snowperson"

6. "I Saw My Gynocentric Guardian Kissing a Non-Gender Specific Person who is Known to Wear a Red Suit"

7. "Supreme Being of Your Choice Rest Ye Merry Gentlepeople"

8. "Up on the House/Apartment/Cardboard Box Top"

9. "Twas the Night Before Dec. 25"

10. "Feliz Vacaciones"

Ho, ho, ho! Er, make that "Regulated sex worker, regulated sex worker, regulated sex worker!"

3 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 7:25 PM
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Happy Thanksgiving!

In keeping with the football theme this week, here's a special Thanksgiving graphic -- marking both the holiday and the Auburn Tigers' fifth consecutive win over the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Fear the (Turkey) Thumb!

Seriously, I'm thankful for another year of good health and good friends. 2006 has certainly been a roller coaster. But that's life. My best wishes to you and your families (blood-related or otherwise).

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." -- William Arthur Ward

God bless, and Happy Thanksgiving.

1 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 7:41 PM
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362 More Days

The South's most bitter college football rivalry: Auburn vs. Alabama. For those of you outside the battle zone, here are some highlights from the fifth straight Tiger victory over the Crimson Tide.

The ESPN highlights ...

And this is from last year, but it still applies ...

For those not from the South, Alabama's band plays this "Rammer Jammer" song at the end of each win (i.e., after half of their games this year). They say: "Hey (insert loser)! Hey (insert loser)! Hey (insert loser), we just beat the hell outta you ... rammer jammer yellowhammer give 'em hell, Alabama."

(The yellowhammer is the Alabama state bird, and I'm told the cheer may have actually been stolen from Ole Miss.)

Needless to say, the obnoxious cheer is turned against them when they lose. As they have done now for the past five years when they face Auburn. War Eagle!

2 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 7:46 PM
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War Damn Eagle -- Again

For the fifth consecutive year, the Auburn Tigers reign supreme in the annual Iron Bowl: 22-15 on Saturday. A good time was had by all ... except, of course, for the Crimson Tide fans. War Eagle!

2 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 6:57 AM
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The Dim Dem

While the House Democrats may be on the verge of electing Abscam central figure John Murtha to their second highest post, disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff may be squealing on the leader of Senate Democrats.

As convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff reported to federal prison today, a source close to the investigation surrounding his activities told ABC News that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was one of the members of Congress Abramoff had allegedly implicated in his cooperation with federal prosecutors.

A spokesperson for Reid, elected yesterday as the Senate Majority Leader, said the senator had done nothing illegal or unethical. ...

A source close to the investigation says Abramoff told prosecutors that more than $30,000 in campaign contributions to Reid from Abramoff's clients "were no accident and were in fact requested by Reid."

Abramoff has reportedly claimed the Nevada senator agreed to help him on matters related to Indian gambling.

The Associated Press reported earlier this year that Reid wrote at least four letters helpful to the tribes that had contributed money to his campaign.

Meanwhile, Reid wants you to know he's a good Mormon and not queer -- even if his childhood nickname was "Pinky."

Nevada's senators -- both winning leadership posts in opposite parties -- pledged Wednesday to stay close on issues of mutual interest, but not too close.

"He and I just like each other, and I think we set a good example here in the Senate," Majority Leader-elect Harry Reid said of colleague John Ensign, who was chosen Wednesday by Senate Republicans to head their campaign fundraising operation.

"He's a Republican, I'm a Democrat, we work together on issues that are important to the state of Nevada. And I wish other people had the same nonaggression pact we have," Reid told reporters. "It's not a 'Brokeback Mountain' situation," he added, referring to last year's film about two gay cowboy lovers.

His wives, er, wife, must be relieved. We await the blistering rebukes for the remark.

1 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 7:20 PM
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He's Baaaaaaaack

Enough politics for now, except to point out that Trent Lott, the Republican scumba ... er, senator from Mississippi, is trying to claw his way back to the top of the hog trough.

Former Republican Majority Leader Trent Lott, meanwhile, opened a bid to return to the Senate's Republican leadership after being ousted in 2002 for remarks interpreted as endorsing segregationist policies of the 1940s.

"Yes, I am," the Mississippian said Tuesday when asked if he was challenging Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander to become minority whip in the newly elected Democratic-majority Congress next year.

Ugh. Moving on ...

2 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 8:30 PM
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A Quick Trip Back To The Minority

When you're the political party not in power in Washington, you unite and focus your guns on the opposing political party. But when you're in power, your wounds tend to be more self-inflicted. The Democrats over time have proved to be especially adept at this. And the current crop wasted very few days before living up to the tradition.

House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) endorsed Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) yesterday as the next House majority leader, thereby stepping into a contentious intraparty fight between Murtha and her current deputy, Maryland's Steny H. Hoyer.

The unexpected move signaled the sizable value Pelosi gives to personal loyalty and personality preferences. Hoyer competed with her in 2001 for the post of House minority whip, while Murtha managed her winning campaign. Pelosi has also all but decided she will not name the ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee, Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) to chair that panel next year, a decision pregnant with personal animus.

Pelosi had been outspoken about her frustration with Murtha's declaration that he would challenge Hoyer, currently the House minority whip, for the majority leader post long before Democrats had secured the majority. Many believed she would remain on the sidelines, just as Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) did earlier this year when three Republicans vied for the post of House majority leader.

But in her first real decision as the incoming speaker, Pelosi said she was swayed by Murtha's early stance for a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. Her letter of endorsement yesterday made clear that she sees Iraq as the central issue of the next Congress and that she believes a decorated Marine combat veteran at the helm of the House caucus would provide Democrats ammunition in their fight against congressional Republicans and President Bush on the issue.

Why Murtha? Why dump Harman from a position she's earned? It seems the speaker-to-be is allowing personal relationships to cloud her judgment. Murtha, a former Marine and two-time Purple Heart winner, favored intervention in Iraq before he opposed it and opposed withdrawal before he favored it. With the exception of Iraq, Murtha has very little in common politically with the lefty Democrats Pelosi has in her inner circle. He's pro-gun rights -- and he received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association. He's pro-life, receiving a 0 percent rating from NARAL.

He is, you might say, generally to the right side of the Democratic Party. But Murtha has one teeny, tiny (OK, not so teeny and not so tiny) problem: ethics. Considering the role ethics -- or a lack thereof -- played in the defeat of the Republicans recently, one would assume the new speaker would be more careful about who she entrusts with power.

See Abscam, Murtha. ($50,000 in cash? "I'm not interested...at this point.") Or see Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, Most Corrupt Members Report. (One of only four Democrats highlighted by the left-wing group ... 21 Republicans made its list.) CREW says: "As reported in the study and by the news media, Rep, Murtha has been involved in a number of pay-to play schemes involving former staffers and his brother, Robert "Kit" Murtha."

The inside scoop also has Pelosi favoring Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings over Harman, a Blue Dog Democrat from California, has leader of the House Intelligence Committee.

Hastings, who BaT knew back in the day, is one of a kind. Actually, he's one of six of a kind. The sixth federal judge ever to be impeached by the U.S. Senate and removed from office. There's this little problem of accepting a $150,000 bribe for a lighter sentence and then lying about it once he was caught. He was later elected to Congress, where it fit right in with the other crooks and liars.

No one really excepts Nancy Pelosi to promote her political foes -- inside the party or out. But, with the voter temperment boiling over and another congressional election only a couple of years away -- one would think she's semi-intelligent enough to find quieter ways to reward her friends and punish her enemies.

P.S. On another note, this breaking news ... Rudy Giuliani is forming an exploratory committee that will allow him to raise money for a possible 2008 presidential bid.

0 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 9:32 PM
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Veterans Day

A few days late, but BaT didn't want to allow Veterans Day to pass without a thank-you. For those of you who have served our country in peacetime and in war, our heartfelt appreciation.

God bless.

0 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 9:23 PM
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When 'Conservatives' Turn Liberal

It use to be that Republicans preached "small government." The Democrats were the big spenders. The liberals have always been the Mother Party; we must protect from all the evil out there in the world. Liberals "feel." Then, sometime in the '80s or so, the Republicans became more and more influenced by evangelical types. They started becoming the Daddy Party; you can do this, you can't do that.

Frankly, they became a bit bossy. The country rebelled and elected Bill Clinton. Then, as politicians always seem to do, the Clintonites forgot they were elected not crowned. Within two years, the Republicans were back in power on Capitol Hill. They ruled there until earlier this week, when -- after a couple of years of acting like kings themselves -- they were dumped on their thrones.

Iraq played a role in the Democrats' return from exile. But to here those on the Left talk, this is the only reason. Maybe they are trying to will it into being. But if you talk to the middle-of-the-roaders, the moderates, the independents, they will tell you it was must less about foreign policy than about the climate of corruption, pork and free-spending that was always more associated with the "big goverment" politicians.

Neal Boortz, the libertarian talk show host, sums it up quite nicely.

One thing is certain. The Republicans worked very hard for this defeat. They've earned every lost seat. The Republican majority that was sent packing yesterday bore little resemblance to the Republican majority that rode to power 12 years ago. In 1994 we were promised less government. Over the next 12 years the Republicans more than doubled the size of the government. We were promised control over runaway spending. In the last six years discretionary spending has doubled. We were promised fiscal responsibility. We got a bridge to nowhere in Alaska. We were promised the elimination of the Department of Education. After all, educational achievement had been on a steady decline since education was federalized under this Department. In no time at all the Republicans doubled funding for the Department of Education. In the meanwhile America continues to slip on the international scorecard of educational achievement.

The Republicans, in full control of the government, couldn't even manage to stop the Mexican invasion. How many Hispanics invaded our country across the Mexican / American border in the last 12 years? Twelve million? Twenty? Funny, but I don't remember pressing 1 for English in 1994. ...

Amid the ruins of the carnage from last night's election results, an interesting statistic stands out. According to exit polls, what was the most important issue in the election? Iraq, right? Nope...42% of voters said corruption was number one. Islamic terrorism came in at 40%...then the war in Iraq at 37%. In other words, last night's vote wasn't just an overwhelming rebuke of President Bush and the Republican Party based on Iraq. There were other issues at play.

Take corruption. There were plenty of reasons for voters to grow tired of the GOP. Sure, some of the so-called scandals over the past few years were really played up by the media, but after a while the stench grew to the point that voters could no longer ignore it. The Foley case was most likely the last straw. Voters instinctively knew that the Republican leadership knew all about Mark Foley and his stalking of pages, but did nothing. But it's very interesting that terrorism comes in second at 40%. Because Democrats are the least-equipped party to ever deal with the issue of Islamic terrorism. That just shows you how far the Republicans have fallen, that they lost their on their signature issue. Also not mentioned in the reporting on the exit polling was illegal immigration. If there is any one single issue that has the Republican base fed up with the president and his party, this is it. Now that Speaker Pelosi, and new committee chairmen Alcee Hastings and John Conyers will be taking over in January, perhaps Republicans will get the message --- but not before we get amnesty for the illegals already here.

More on Alcee Hastings later ...

0 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 7:50 PM
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The Day After

AP is calling Virginia for Jim Webb, although others being more cautious considering the options his opponent, George Allen, has.

Democrat Jim Webb won Virginia's pivotal Senate race Wednesday, unseating Republican George Allen and giving the Democrats total control of Congress for the first time in 12 years.

After GOP Sen. Conrad Burns' loss in Montana, the Virginia contest was the last undecided Senate race in the country. Webb's victory gave the Democrats 51 Senate seats and majorities in both the House and Senate for the first time since 1994.

Control of the Senate hung in the balance for most of Wednesday as Webb clung to an excruciatingly small lead.

AP contacted election officials in all 134 localities where voting occurred, obtaining updated numbers Wednesday. About half the localities said they had completed their post-election canvassing and nearly all had counted outstanding absentees. Most were expected to be finished by Friday.

The new AP count showed Webb with 1,172,538 votes and Allen with 1,165,302, a difference of 7,236. Virginia has had two statewide vote recounts in modern history, but both resulted in vote changes of no more than a few hundred votes.

In all likelihood, however, the Senate is now controlled by the Democrats by a 51-49 majority (if you count the independents, who should vote with the Dems when it comes to organizational matters). A few observations ...

Many commentators have called this a victory for liberals (and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld is out). But if you look at some of successful Democrats, particularly in the Senate, they ran a Clintonesque campaign (Bill Clinton, that is). Webb in Virginia, Casey in Pennsylvania. Harold Ford did in Tennessee, as well, and if his last name had not be Ford -- and his family had not been so tainted with scandal -- he would be a senator-to-be today.Which is exactly what the Right Democrat has been saying all along.

2. If it was such a sweep for the Left, how do you explain Joe Lieberman? The Republicans who lost ... most of it had it coming. Santorum, Chafee, Burns, Allen, you won't be missed very much. But Lieberman? He is a good man. I'm glad he won, and I hope he continues to vote his conscience. We need 99 more like him.

3. Will we hear calls for bipartisanship and power-sharing, as we heard when it was the Republicans who had the 51-50 advantage in the Senate (Cheney has the tiebreak, and Jeffords switched without the benefit of an election)? I doubt it. But if the Democrats' only agenda while in power is to continue acting as if they are out of power, it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

4. Mark Tapscott said it best: "When Republicans worry more about staying in government than about limiting government, they get thrown out of government. That's the lesson of Nov. 7, 2006."

5. I wish Steny Hoyer would stage a coup and be the next House speaker. But, alas, our destiny is two years of screaching from Nancy Pelosi. Is it just me or does her medication seem off?

6. Trent Lott is still in our lives. So is Robert Byrd. At least Rebel Yell sales will remain strong in the greater D.C. area.

7. The libertarians had some strong showings. The Outright Libertarians have more. And this year, in a few races, they may have been the Naders to Al Gore. (Hat tip: Instapundit):

"Libertarians are a generally Republican-leaning constituency, but over the last few years, their discontent has grown plain. It isn't just the war, which some libertarians supported, but the corruption and insider dealing, and particularly the massive expansion of spending. Mr Bush's much-vaunted prescription drug benefit for seniors, they fume, has opened up another gaping hole in America's fiscal situation, while the only issue that really seemed to energise congress was passing special laws to keep a brain-damaged woman on life support."

My own ballot was split almost equally, and most of my guys (and gals) won. This should come as no surprise. I'm that middle 20 percent that both sides have to appeal to to win. Now that they are in power, the Democrats should remember that we can swing just as easily the other way two years from now.

2 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 8:16 PM
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Election 2006

11 p.m.

Senate race in Virginia remains very, very, very close. Recount, anyone?

Ah-nuld leading in California. No surprise. Big-mouth J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., out of the House. Heath Shuler wins in North Carolina, another Blue Dog Democrat. Better politician than quarterback. Corker still holds lead in Tennessee. A third of the vote still left in Missouri Senate seat. Tennessee marriage amendment way out in front.

More tomorrow.

10 p.m. Update

Fox is calling control of the House belongs to the Democrats. Allen continues with slim lead in Virginia Senate race. Missouri is too close to call with the St. Louis votes still out. Many are calling the Maryland Senate seat to remain in Democratic hands, but the Republican Steele actually leads with urban votes not in.

Crist will be the next governor of Florida. Foley seat lost to Democrats. Democrats take Ohio governor and U.S. Senate races. Indiana Republicans hit hard in House contests. Good news: Hastert is out as speaker. Bad news: Katherine Harris lookalike Nancy Pelosi is in. Not a serious person to be leading a resurgent Democratic Party, fueled by Blue Dog wins -- not liberal conquests. Beebe wins in Arkansas. Spitzer is the new governor of New York.

Oh, and Britney Spears apparently filed for divorce. Do you think she even knew there was a national election today?

9 p.m. Update

In Pennsylvania, Santorum is out of the U.S. Senate. Lieberman appears to be back in for Connecticut. Bill Nelson beats Katherine Harris in Florida. The Klan faction is 2-for-2, with Lott winning in Mississippi and Byrd gaining his 78th term in West Virginia. Chafee, barely a Republican, loses to an actual Democrat in Rhode Island.

Allen leads in Virginia; Corker in Tennessee; Talent in Missouri. Democratic chances to take the Senate aren't falling. Democrats are poised to take over the U.S. House.

Bob Riley (R-Ala.), Phil Bredesen (D-Tenn.), Rick Perry (R-Texas), Sonny Perdue (R-Ga.) and Mark Stanford (R-S.C.) cruising to re-election. Charlie Crist (R) leads in Florida; Beebe (D) ahead early in Arkansas.

0 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 7:18 PM
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Um, And This Comes As A Surprise?

We didn't even know this was supposed to still be a secret. Pssst, Neil Patrick Harris is gay.

Neil Patrick Harris is gay and wants to quell any rumors to the contrary. "(I) am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest," Harris tells People magazine's website.

The 33-year-old actor said he was motivated to disclose his sexuality because of recent "speculation and interest in my private life and relationships."

Harris stars on the CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother. He started on TV as a teen, playing the namesake doctor on the series Doogie Howser, M.D.

At first, when a story was, er, coming out, Harris' mouthpiece said he "was not of that persuasion." A day later, like everyone else, Harris unveiled his sexuality to People magazine. As for the demeaning first denial from someone we hope is now employeed, we'll blame Harris' parents. They are lawyers.

P.S. Here is Neil's "sweetheart" ...

P.S.S. Speaking of non-surprises, a homophobic minister (or any other homo-hater) turns out to be ... homosexual. Or something. I don't have the energy to rip Ted Haggard apart. Duane does a pretty good job. As for my Haggards, I much prefer Merle.

0 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 6:36 PM
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In The Windy City

BaT is currently housed in Chicago, as Jake speaks at a conference.

Note to Jake: When traveling on someone else's dime, book your own hotel room. Nice place ... very nice. But luckily, BaT is a one man show here or there wouldn't be enough oxygen in this room for two. Small place ... very small.