Dem Friends

Last week I had dinner with some liberal friends, some of whom are planning to attend the Yearly Kos. They're angry about Scooter Libby, they think he got off too easy. They also think that nobody had any right to punish Bill Clinton for his conduct. A table full of liberals, and nobody likes Hillary Clinton. I found that telling.

Dumb

A Wendy's burned down early today, nobody seems to know why that happened.

Anybody see "Mad Men" tonight? Kudos to the set people, I always did favor the furniture of that day, and to the costumer. Don't you just love side zippers? Also, the cinematography was good fun. But from the show I expected much much more. Too much hype, too many cheap tricks, and the candy-assed way they tried to show how daring they were, without actually being daring, came off as sad. It had some style, and a fair amount of gravy, but it lacked the steak. I guess it's good they made a point of stating the show was not a stolen idea, it's too embarrassing for anybody to say that the idea was stolen.

By the by, what's the word on Hillary Clinton embracing YearlyKos to spite me? She can't really think everybody is as stupid as that. Can she?

Dinner In Old Town

Last night I had dinner in Old Town. It was very nice, and I strolled around for a bit, to enjoy the beautiful evening along the Potomac. Musicians play at various points through the town and near the river. There are guitarists, sometimes a string quartet but last night a horn player was performing "If You're Happy and You Know it, Clap Your hands" and everybody participated. It was fun, of course there was that wise-crack about it being a dedication between Elizabeth Edwards and Hillary Clinton, but that made it all the better.

New Show

The new show "Mad Men" on AMC is really being promoted, the first look, behind the scenes thing is on constantly. AMC is putting a little box in the corner of its classic movies to remind us when it will be shown on TV. Nothing's been pushed this hard since somebody thought it was a good idea for Katie Couric to anchor the evening news. The show hasn't aired yet, but they're already claiming that it wasn't stolen. Who does that?

Bill and Hillary Clinton picking a fight with the White House over a Pardon issue? Wasn't that fun! I knew it couldn't last, though. The Clintons don't usually pick on anybody who isn't a woman, at least not for very long. The Clintons have always been hypocrites, for them to act hypocritically towards others, is about as honest as they get.

The Clintons of course have other problems, with their party, the unions and Mark Penn. He had to have seen that one coming, but this might be an interesting fight after all.

Busted

Al Gore's kid was just arrested. Reckless driving and drugs, well that's unfortunate. It is not however cancer. Cancer has been a real benefit to Hillary Clinton. I know it's offensive, but give it some thought. Mayor Rudy would have given Hillary a run for the Senate, but for being diagnosed with cancer. John Edwards' wife has had cancer for a long time, but soon after announcing his bid for the presidency Elizabeth's cancer was announced as untreatable and terminal. Hillary's romantic rival Belinda Stronach recently had surgery for her breast cancer. I don't have a theory for the cancer of Tony Snow. He's looking pretty healthy these days, even publicly sparring with a lady in red. Al Gore's been losing weight, getting himself fit. It's possible we could have a race.

Let's talk Libby

So Libby gets busted for obstructing justice and lying to a grand jury. He's convicted, has to pay a fine, lose his job and law license, but doesn't have to go to jail, because the president says the punishment didn't fit the crime. Read, "Not that big of a deal" This is a lot like what happened with Bill Clinton. Obstruction of justice, lying under oath, had to pay a fine and his law license was suspended. Yes, he was impeached, but that's just a trial, he wasn't convicted, not because people, read, Congress, didn't think he harassed those women, not because they didn't think he lied about harassing those women, but because they felt the crimes committed "didn't rise to the level" which translates into "not that big of a deal"

What I find inconsistent, when a Democratic Congress, who happens to see Bill Clinton as great bait, luring otherwise intelligent, well adjusted people into paying money to listen to a bore, says something is not a big deal, it's seen as vindication. When a Republican President says something is something, just not a big enough deal for jail-time, it's seen as a disgrace. Bill Clinton lied for the benefit of Bill Clinton. Scooter Libby lied for the benefit of "the team"

It was very much the same crime, and very much the same punishment.

I have to say, my heart does go out a little to the Democrats. It's a tough trick, condescending and whining at the same time. And what about poor Hillary? Her husband, while in office, pardoned lots of people. Including his brother, and hers. Hillary now has to criticize others on grounds of hypocrisy. Awkward.