Dane Cook hosts Saturday Night Live

Musical Guest: The Killers
For the first time since year 25, there are no new members of the cast. Dane Cook is hilarious so it should be a fun night this evening as the season begins anew. Just like last season, I'll review as the show goes on in between commercials.

Richard Eckstrom for Comptroller - Amy Poehler (Mayor Shelia Bradshaw)introduces Eckstrom (JS). He thanks a lot of folks. The principal is Kristen Wiig. Bush (Forte) even made it down to help the campaign. Samberg plays a Republican high school student who organized a car wash. Bush talks to Kristen Wiig in the background. Bush mentions all the folks who turned him down. Kristen Wiig mentions how she's trying to listen while Bush is ignorant. This sketch is getting too long. New Orleans has recovered. Woodward wrote another book. Bush keeps his speeches simple. Kristen Wiig moves to the other side of the stage. Live from New York, it's Jason Sudeikis.

Monologue - Looks like Dane is gonna do stand up again. He's wearing a shirt with The Flash on it. If a female does something with their jaw, they are lying. He believes in fairness which is why he watched FOX News. Enough with Karaoke Kevin and Limbo Linda. YouTube gets a plug. Every video ever is already on YouTube. Search for a:F6.

Homeland Security - Jason Sudeikis and Dane Cook play Homeland Security people. Will Forte, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Kenan Thompson, and Fred Armisen are members of the TSA. They go over liquids and jails. Turkey sandwiches is neither a liquid or a gel. AP asks the curveball question. FA's been convicted of a felony.

Hugo Chavez Political Roundup - Fred Armisen is Hugo Chavez. Lots of political issues. Iranian president is Bill Hader. Pakistani president is Darrell Hammond. North Korea's crazy leader is Amy Poehler. First issue is President Bush. Issue two is America crumbling. The third issue is what makes Bush so crazy. The fourth issue is what country other than your own would you live in. They all said America. Hussein (Cook) makes the final commentary.

Digital short: Cubicle Fight - Hader and Cook share a cubicle. All the cast is in it. Sudeikis is the one with a mustache is. That was bloody.

Wells Fargo Presents Al Pacino checks his bank balance - Bill Hader is Pacino trying to check his balance of his checking account. He seems frustrated. Kristen Wiig is Sasha, a customer service rep. He doesn't know his account number.

The Killers sing "When you were young." This single is nothing like their last album. The album, Sam's Town, is influenced by Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty.

Weekend Update: It's Amy Poehler with Brian Williams with no intro music. Brian's the new co-anchor. Seth comes in and mentions he's the new anchor. Seth has no anchor earpiece. Brian is heading home to his wife and two kids. Okay, commercial break...something's wrong here. Okay, here we go. That's more like that. Joke about Afghani and Pakistani presidents refusing to shake hamds. Construction mismanagement. "Let history judge." It's in the 9/11 Commission Report. Woodward slammed Rumsfeld in a new book. Clinton lashes out at Bush. Clinton (Hammond) and Rice(Rudolph) discuss it. Clinton apologizes for losing his call. Apparently, Clinton cheated with Condi. 7-11 is dropping Citgo as it's gas supplier. A Florida teen returns to Cuba. Oprah's lawyers overreacted. Bush released portions of NIE. George Allen defends himself (Sudeikis). A fossil was found in Ethiopia. The Game Show Network is launching a game dealing with vocabulary. Jim Webb declined whether to say whether he used some words. Financial literacy. Dustin Diamond "Screech" is releasing a controversial tape...yep, that's Andy Samberg. Miss Cleo is a lesbian. Tigers will become extinct if governments don't protect them right now. A man robbed someone of Tickle me Elmo in Florida.

Water Distribution - Forte and Cook are drinking out of the water jugs a company distributes. They rush to put everything up. Wiig is with the water company. Forte likes to watch. Wiig looks around. Forte opens up the closet and all the jugs come out. Dane is about to break character. They both got fired on the spot. Forte mentions he has a friend who works on SNL who could write the sketch. They plug Studio 60 and 30 Rock.

The Killers sing "Bones," the second single off their album Sam's Town.

Farrah Fawcett for Ocean Shave - Amy Poehler talks about the ocean. She enters the next sketch.

Bar sketch - Cook and Suds tell everyone that it's time for them to go. A game went 19 innings. Cook throws Hader's keys out. Kenan and Darrell got thrown out. Kristen is picked up and taken outside. Amy and Maya go with her. Fred is the last one standing and not moving.

Geico - Eric Butler (Samberg) shares his story and Whitney Houston (Rudolph) is the celebrity telling his story.

Jaime Pressley hosts next week with musical guest Corinne Bailey Rae.

President Bill Clinton to visit Louisville

The date of said event is October 24, 2006.

That's a Tuesday evening folks. You know what that means: I will not be able to go. I wonder when he's coming to NKU for the annual alumni lecture. It only makes sense to invite him to speak at one eventually.

Bill Clinton to visit Kentucky next month

Former President Bill Clinton is planning to come to Kentucky in late October to raise money for local Democrats and fire up the base, state Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Lundergan said Friday.

An exact date for the event is still being worked out, Lundergan said. He declined to offer a fundraising target.

“He’s the most popular Democrat that we have in this country,” said Lundergan, adding that Clinton carried Kentucky in both of his presidential runs. “He wants to turn Kentucky back into a Democratic state.”

Why couldn't he be speaking at a rally free of charge two weeks before the election?!?

Here's an idea: rally and fundraiser

Rolling Stones Churchill Downs Louisville Set List

Recieved from a cousin back home:
1. Jumping Jack Flash'
2. It's Only Rock and Roll
3. Oh No, Not You Again
4. Let's Spend the Night Together
5. Dead Flowers
6. Streets of Love
7. Midnight Rambler
8. Tumbling Dice
9. You Got the Silver
10. Little T & A
11. Miss You
12.Rough Justice
13. Start Me Up
14. Honky Tonk Women
15.Sympathy For the Devil
16. Paint It Black
17. Brown Sugar

Encore:
18. You Can't Always Get What You Want
19. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

Book Review: The Compassionate Community

Given today was Shabbas, I decided what better to do than read and relax. On Thursday, I recieved my copy of The Compassionate Community written by Kentucky State Treasurer Jonathan Miller.

Miller is a Jewish Democrat and a friend. The fact that proceeds are going to charity is another reason to buy this book. There were definitely some moments of comic relief especially when it came to his singing and his love of the Boston Red Sox. But that's not why the book was written. It was written about ten values to unite America.

Miller takes teaches from the Tanakh and applies them to modern day political ideas. He looks at Biblical heroes like Noach, Avraham, Ya'akov, Yosef, Moshe, Yehoshu'a, Yehonatan, Deborah, King David, and Queen Esther as he describes the values of opportunity, responsibility, work, family, freedom, faith, justice, peace, respect, and life.

We live through his father's final days, of whom the book is dedicated to. We get to see his daughter's grow up. We get a glance at the way he manages the youth softball team he coaches. We live through the trouble of his re-entering the United States after his wedding in Canada and how it almost started a war...okay, not a war but lots of family were calling Washington leadership.

He gives us his thoughts on the conflict in Israel.

We read as to why he had to give a speech at the last minute at the State Capitol. We read why he represented the Jewish Community at the counter-event to "Justice Sunday."

Most importantly, we see his thoughts on politics and what's wrong with the system right now. Just to think, he could have been a rock star or a Rabbi, not that there's anything wrong with that. I've been in the same boat before and I think I have ultimately decided on law and politics but that's a story for another post.

All in all, this book is a great read and details policies that should be in effect if they aren't already. I'm sensing a run for different office but that's just my hunch.

Message from Sen. Julian Carroll

This email was sent out to the KDP listserv.

Dear Friend,
This is your opportunity now in 2006 to be a part of the Democratic WINNING TEAM in 2007. In this way, you will be a part of electing a DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR in 2007. This Democratic Governor NEEDS a Democratic Senate and not President David Williams stopping the passage of a state budget as he has done in the past.

YOUR Democratic Party needs you to ADOPT A SENATOR by selecting one or more of the Democratic Senate candidates to be elected on November 7, 2006. This is your opportunity to be a CONTRIBUTOR to the Democratic Senate victories in 2006 and a Democratic Governor in 2007. By ADOPTING A SENATOR you can guarantee a four seat MAJORITY victory and CONTROL of the Senate; which will remove Senator David Williams as President of the Senate. Winning three seats and RE-ELECTING our incumbents will tie the Senate and will remove President David Williams as leader of the Senate please choose from among the following:

2nd District Carroll Hubbard
Carroll Hubbard for Senate
PO Box 1515
Paducah, Kentucky 42002
www.votehubbard.com

6th District Jerry Rhoads (Incumbent)
Jerry Rhoads for Senate
PO Box 2002
Madisonville, Kentucky 42431
www.senrhoads.com

10th District Douglas Goodman
Douglas Goodman for Senate
PO Box 304
Radcliff, Kentucky 40160
www.goodman4senator.com

12th District James Keller
James Keller for Senate
486 Southland Drive
Lexington, Kentucky 40503
www.kellerforstatesenate.com

16th District Doug Shelton
Doug Shelton for Senate
PO Box 54
Pine Knot, Kentucky 42365

18th District Carol Rice Allen
Carol Allen for Senate
507 Bellefonte Princess Road
Ashland, Kentucky 41101
www.carolriceallen.com

34th District Ed Worley (Incumbent)
PO Box 659
Richmond, Kentucky 40476
www.edworley.com

38th District Robert Valenza
Robert Valenza for Senate
10805 Oreland Mill Road
Louisville, Kentucky 40229
Email: rgmvky@yahoo.com

Please send your ADOPTED SENATOR a good contribution and you can call, write or email a friend in the candidate’s counties to elect YOUR ADOPTED SENATOR. Your contribution and solicitation of support is vital to the success of the Democratic Party in 2006 and our Democratic Governor in 2007. To guarantee our success from the 2006 Senatorial races to the Governors race in 2007, we will provide our Democratic Candidate for Governor the ADOPTED SENATOR contributor’s

Sincerely,
Senator Julian M. Carroll
Chairman of the Senate Caucus
Campaign Committee

See you tomorrow night...

2007: Democrats Divided

I'll publically admit that I am in the "Good Government Wing" of our party. Either way, check out Ronnie Ellis' article in the Meadville Tribune.

But the press may be neglecting an equally divided Democrat Party. One prominent Democrat said recently, “You may not realize this, but our party is split right down the middle.”

On one side is the “good government wing” of Congressman Ben Chandler, state Auditor Crit Luallen, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, Terry McBrayer and former Gov. Brereton Jones. On the other are Attorney General Greg Stumbo, Democrat Party Chairman Jerry Lundergan and their supporters in the Legislature.

Because Democrats want so badly to win back the governor’s office, Chandler is the prohibitive favorite to win next year’s gubernatorial election although he isn’t universally popular in his own party after taking on the Patton administration and some Democrats in the legislature. But if he doesn’t run, the good government group is determined to deny Stumbo the nomination and to remove Lundergan as chairman. The rumor is the good government group will choose one of their number behind which Chandler and company will rally.

“The next governor will either have gray hair or white hair,” McBrayer said recently. “There’s a frustration out there with the process. (Voters) want someone who has the experience and the background to lead.”

Luallen’s hair is gray, McBrayer’s white. In separate interviews which occurred months apart, the two sound remarkably similar. Both say it’s time to offer voters straight talk about hard choices Kentucky must confront – and risk the outcome on the ability of voters to choose leadership over focus group-tested sound bites and empty promises.

CDKY

Has anyone from the College Democrats of Kentucky even announced the date for the next convention to elect officers? I have yet to hear a thing from state leadership or even on campus here.

Just wondering...I know some of you check in on the blog every now and then.

Fundraising

Sending out emails to help fundraising can be hard...

Long weekend ahead

Since her contest is virtually already won, Senator Clinton is touring states that could be considered battlegrounds.

Cruising to a second term, the New York lawmaker told a gathering of Democratic Party faithful she will be traveling to states with close races next month to boost the party's hopes of taking control of Congress this November.

"I'm always the most paranoid campaigner you can find, but I'm also going to be campaigning around the country in these last weeks for other candidates," Clinton told a women's leadership gathering for the Democratic National Committee.

For months, Clinton has deflected questions about a potential presidential bid by insisting she is only focused on her own Senate re-election.

On Thursday, she indicated that her definition of 2006 politics extends far beyond the New York state line, to places that not only have tight congressional contests but would also be critical in a 2008 election.

"I'm going to be in Ohio, in Florida, in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, around the country," she told the crowd. "Maybe use that as a reason to gather up your friends, raise some more money, get people involved."

Of the states she mentioned, only Rhode Island is not considered a critical piece of the presidential electoral map. While the former first lady can be a divisive figure in many states, she is also a sought-after fundraiser among Democrats.

Clinton aides said after the speech that she will also campaign for candidates in Virginia and Connecticut.

You know, as critical as I've been of HRC in the past, I'm warming up to her but not her potential candidacy for president but her candidacy for SENATE MAJORITY LEADER. She may be the lock right now for the nomination but as more people realize how polarizing she is red states, she'll make the decision to stay in the Senate and run for leadership there. Yes, I've endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton for president, even if she did grow up a Cubs fan.

This is awesome news for fans of KENTUCKY BASKETBALL.

Not quite the name that Kentucky fans were expecting for the Wildcats' first 2007 commitment, but Mike Williams, a 7-foot, 270-pound center from Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Va., has given a verbal pledge to Coach Tubby Smith.

This is only something that Mark Warner could think of.

Interesting article on former Weekend Update anchor Kevin Nealon.

Steve Pence is being pushed to run for AG against Stumbo. Here's what I think will happen: Stumbo decides that Ben is waiting to long to make a decision and puts his hat in the ring, and then someone else from the Democrats makes a run for AG.

Bayh is second only to John Edwards in a poll mentioned here. Folks, remember, it's all name recognition at this point. Keep that in mind, please.

Got this in my inbox this morning.

Cincinnati Post/Kentucky Post columnist and former anchorperson Nick Clooney will discuss his recent trip to the Sudan and strategies to improve present conditions in Darfur at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. The event will be held on Tuesday, October 3, 2006, 4:30 p.m. in Room 118 at the College of Law.

It's gonna be a long weekend.

There are 13 days remaining until my 22ND BIRTHDAY!

An excerpt in Jonathan's book

I found this excerpt from page 112 worth sharing and I recommend that you buy Jonathan's book, The Compassionate Community:

In January 2000, I was sworn in as Kentucky's first Jewish statewide elected official. While it would be ridiculous to compare myself to John Kennedy, Jackie Robinson, or even Joe Lieberman, I took small comfort in the notion that my election, in a small way, signaled a social evolution beyond the anti-Semitism I had experienced as a child.

I give partial credit to Jerry Seinfeld and Jon Stewart for my electoral success. Seriously. Twenty years earlier, it would not have been possible for a Jewish candidate to aspire to statewide office in Kentucky. Voters want public officials who share their values, and for most of the state, Jews were very unfamiliar. However, popular shows like Seinfeld, Friends, and The Daily Show broght Jewish comedians, actors, and characters into the living rooms of middle America. Rural citizens who had never met a Jewish person before now understood that "they were just like us"--maybe just a little wackier.

Wow. I would have never guessed all that. I will state this, while I cared a little bit about politics before August 7, 2000, had it not been for the nomination of Joe Lieberman to the Democratic ticket for Vice President, I would never been as active as I am now. I would have never met people like Jonathan, Evan Bayh, Wesley Clark, Ben Chandler, etc. Jerry Abramson's always been a family friend, and Mayor, since as long as I can remember. But it was August 7, 2000, that I knew a Jew could run and win for national office (Popular vote, he did).

Okay, here's a brief interlude. I quit politics as a career in October 2003 to go into improv comedy.

In the summer of 2004, after Ronald Reagan died, I start giving serious thought to law and politics for a career. It was on June 12th that I renewed my political ambitions. On June 30th or so, I finally started this blog which has enabled me to meet so many cool and awesome people.

A few days later, on July 7, 2004, I decided to contact Jonathan through his old campaign site. Lo and behold, he replied to my email and we've been corresponding ever since. Thanks to some encouragement from Secretary of State Trey Grayson, I finally decided to invite Jonathan to campus on the day of the first presidential debate...and I should have picked a smaller room but hey, I've learned my lesson after the Jack Conway visit where only two people showed up. Thankfully, we had at least 10 or so at Jonathan's speech where I introduced him as a future governor.

In November of 2004, I interviewed Jonathan for my newswriting class. I later decided to publish the article online--it's on the sidebar.

I found out about the book in April 2005 when I interviewed Jonathan for my then-comedy show and we spoke about it a little bit.

But, anyway, had I known in 1999 that Jonathan Miller was Jewish, I would have been active politically that year.

Forgiveness

It's that time of year where Jews ask forgiveness of people that they have wronged.

I've wronged a lot of people this year, and I'm sorry for that. I made a foolish mistake and I got unneeded attention. I made the worst music video in the history of music videos even though it was a comedy bit. I wronged Big Blue Nation and I hope that they can forgive me for that.

Bayh on CBS

CBS News article can be found here.

Including the candidate. Indiana Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh is running for president, and he has even joined the popular college site Facebook to woo young voters. But he also knows negative news can pop up online instantly, anonymously and cheaply.

"There's no such thing as opening off-Broadway anymore. It's all prime-time. So everything you say is out there for public consumption for better and occasionally for worse."

Nice quote, Senator.

Advice needed

JD, MPA or MPP? Which would you recommend?

As a sidenote, every single time I consider something other than politics as a career, something always leads me back to considering a long career in politics. If I do go for a graduate degree, it would have to be part time so that I can work on the gubernatorial and especially the 2008 campaign.

Lots of stuff today

Apparently, while ranting some stuff here yesterday, I managed not to blog about other important things. My apologies.

Ron Lewis is in the race of his life against State Rep. Mike Weaver. Please contribute to Col. Weaver's campaign when you have the chance.

The GOP in Ohio is having some problems with a candidate.

Click here to view the latest ad from John Yarmuth.

Congress passed an act relating to accountability in Darfur. Here's some more on Congress and Darfur.

It's no surprise that comedian Adam Sandler is a mensch.

Former Senator John Danforth has a warning for us all.

White House hopefuls are helping out with campaigns.

Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana trained 50 Democratic campaign workers and is paying them to work on local races in four states with early presidential contests.

OKay, I've got to get some work done around here.

About the protest bill...

I am disgusted that the funeral protest bill was blocked by .S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell, a conservative judge. I thought conservatives would have favored the idea. The last thing that grieving parents want is someone protesting the service of their son or daughter. Whether or not we supported initial action in Iraq, we must support the troops.

A federal judge in Frankfort has temporarily barred Kentucky from enforcing a law that bans protests at military and other funerals, saying it appears to go too far in limiting free speech.

U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell issued the order yesterday, saying parts of the law passed by the General Assembly this year limit "substantially more speech than is necessary" by banning any demonstration within 300 feet of a funeral and restricting comments and protest signs.

The law is aimed at a group from a Kansas church that travels around the country picketing military funerals -- claiming that soldiers' deaths are God's retribution for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.[...]

Caldwell's order was greeted with dismay by state Rep. Mike Weaver, D-Elizabethtown, a retired Army colonel who sponsored the House version of the law. He said he did so after the protesters disrupted military funerals in Kentucky and elsewhere with what he considers "ugly and vicious tactics."

"The reason was to give grieving families an opportunity to grieve in private without being insulted," Weaver said.[...]

Attorney General Greg Stumbo, whose office is defending Kentucky's law, yesterday issued a statement saying he is considering an appeal of Caldwell's decision.

"Funerals are a time of sacred and solemn reflection which must be protected from aggressive disruption," he said.

I support this bill with all my heart.

Go get 'em, Col. Weaver and Atty. Gen. Stumbo.

Presidential Pros and Cons

I'm taking a look at the pros and cons of the most talked about folks for the 2008 Democratic nomination in alphabetical order.

US Senator Evan Bayh (Indiana)
Bayh has been elected five times in a solid red state. He's a former governor with national security experience. He picked up more votes in the last election than President Bush did. Bayh is raising his national profile through his PAC and visits around the country. He's got a clean past but the only thing that could hurt him is the fact that he's a sitting senator.

US Senator Joseph R. "Joe" Biden Jr. (Delaware)
Biden is great when it comes to national security but what hurt's him the most is the same thing that caused him to make an exit in the 1988 campaign. He's already well known due to his frequent appearances on the political talk shows and is raising money through his PAC. He announced his intentions in June 2005 that he plans to run.

General Wesley K. Clark (Ret.)
Although General Clark is a military hero and not a member of the Washington elite, most of his donors in 2004 came from the major Clinton supporters. If Sen. Clinton runs, it could hurt his chances from a financial aspect. This year, he is touring a lot of states and campaigning for candidates and raising money for his PAC.

US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (New York)
Senator Clinton's best bet is to run for majority leader when the Democrats take back the Senate. Yes, she has the ability to win the nomination but she is too polarizing in a general election. Clinton is no stranger to the office having served as First Lady from 1993-2001 when her husband William Jefferson Clinton was serving as president. However, being a "New Yorker" might hurt her chances with middle America.

Former US Senate Majority Leader Thomas A. "Tom" Daschle (South Dakota)
Daschle has a PAC and has been campaigning some for candidates. He spoke at Iowa's JJ Dinner earlier this year or was it late last year. He has been out of office since 2004 and is doing everything that a candidate would do before announcing. Whether or not he runs is the question.

US Senator Christopher J. Dodd (Connecticut)
A sitting Senator, Dodd is giving thought to running for President. His website is not active at the moment as he was just re-elected in 2004. Being from a New England state will really hurt his chances in midwest and southern America.

Former US Senator John R. Edwards (North Carolina)
Edwards has been out of office since 2004 raising awareness of poverty. He has an active PAC and is helping candidates. The lack of winning his home state as the VP candidate really hurts his chances.

US Senator Russell D. "Russ" Feingold (Wisconsin)
Sitting Senator popular among Democrats who supported Dean. His PAC is helping out with candidates this election season. However, two divorces hurt his chances among the voters who care about family values.

Former US Senator Maurice R. "Mike" Gravel (Virginia)
A former veteran and senator from Alaska who has since moved to Virginia, Gravel has been actively promoting a national referendum focusing on three issues: the Iraq war, direct democracy constitutional amendment, and a fair tax plan

US Senator John F. Kerry (Massachusetts)
A sitting senator who lost when he ran nationally in 2004. See the same reasons I gave for Dodd and Clinton with regards to the lack of appeal to middle America.

Governor Brian Schweitzer (Montana)
Popular with grassroots activists but unlikely to run in 2008.

Governor Thomas J. "Tom" Vilsack (Iowa)
Vilsack's name has been talked about a lot and he has a PAC but I find it unlikely he will run in 2008. If he does, expect a lot of folks to stay out of the Iowa caucuses.

Former Governor Mark R. Warner (Virginia)
A former governor who is a moderate and lives in the south. What hurts him is that he only won one term due to Virginian law and his lack of national security experience. He is well known since he started Nextel. Before serving as governor, he lost for a 1996 Senate race against John Warner. The lack of foreign policy really hurts his chances a lot and he should run in 2008 for the Senate seat when John Warner's term ends. Another possibility is running for governor of Virginia in 2009.

Yarmuth leads KY-3 poll

In a poll done by Cooper and Secrest Associates, Yarmuth leads 51%-43% with regards to voters that know both candidates.

In the district, 53% prefer a Democrat to 37% for a Republican.

With regards to the president, 62% don't approve of the way he is handling the job while only 37% give positive ratings.

One version of the poll has it has a basic dead heat (Yarmuth 45%, Northup 46%) with 9% undecided.

LINK

Did I blog this?

I couldn't remember if I had blogged this article or not by Charles Krauthammer.

Strange doings in Virginia. George Allen, former governor, one-term senator, son of a famous football coach and in the midst of a heated battle for reelection, has just been outed as a Jew. An odd turn of events, given that his having Jewish origins has nothing to do with anything in the campaign and that Allen himself was oblivious to the fact until his 83-year-old mother revealed to him last month the secret she had kept concealed for 60 years.

Apart from its political irrelevance, it seems improbable in the extreme that the cowboy-boots-wearing football scion of Southern manner and speech should turn out to be, at least by origins, a son of Israel. For Allen, as he quipped to me, it's the explanation for a lifelong affinity for Hebrew National hot dogs. For me, it is the ultimate confirmation of something I have been regaling friends with for 20 years and now, for the advancement of social science, feel compelled to publish.

Krauthammer's Law: Everyone is Jewish until proven otherwise. I've had a fairly good run with this one. First, it turns out that John Kerry -- windsurfing, French-speaking, Beacon Hill aristocrat -- had two Jewish grandparents. Then Hillary Clinton -- methodical Methodist -- unearths a Jewish stepgrandfather in time for her run as New York senator.

A less jaunty case was that of Madeleine Albright, three of whose Czech grandparents had perished in the Holocaust and who most improbably contended that she had no idea they were Jewish. To which we can add the leading French presidential contender (Nicolas Sarkozy), a former supreme allied commander of NATO (Wesley Clark) and Russia's leading anti-Semite (Vladimir Zhirinovsky). One must have a sense of humor about these things. Even Fidel Castro claims he is from a family of Marranos.

For all its tongue-in-cheek irony, Krauthammer's Law works because when I say "everyone," I don't mean everyone you know personally. Depending on the history and ethnicity of your neighborhood and social circles, there may be no one you know who is Jewish. But if "everyone" means anyone that you've heard of in public life, the law works for two reasons. Ever since the Jews were allowed out of the ghetto and into European society at the dawning of the Enlightenment, they have peopled the arts and sciences, politics, and history in astonishing disproportion to their numbers.

There are 13 million Jews in the world, one-fifth of 1 percent of the world's population. Yet 20 percent of Nobel Prize winners are Jewish, a staggering hundredfold surplus of renown and genius. This is similarly true for a myriad of other "everyones" -- the household names in music, literature, mathematics, physics, finance, industry, design, comedy, film and, as the doors opened, even politics.[...]

Look at the Albright case. Her distinguished father was Jewish, if tenuously so, until the Nazi invasion. He fled Czechoslovakia and, shortly thereafter, converted. Over the centuries, suffering -- most especially, the Holocaust -- has proved too much for many Jews. Many survivors simply resigned their commission.

For some, the break was defiant and theological: A God who could permit the Holocaust -- ineffable be His reasons -- had so breached the Covenant that it was now forfeit. They were bound no longer to Him or His faith.

For others, the considerations were far more secular and practical. Why subject one's children to the fear and suffering, the stigmatization and marginalization, the prospect of being hunted until death that being Jewish had brought to an entire civilization in Europe?

According to Jewish law, if your mother is Jewish, then you are born Jewish.

The winner of the 2008 Republican National Convention

Minnepolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, otherwise known as the Twin Cities.

Republicans will hold their 2008 presidential convention in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, choosing a location in the politically pivotal Midwest, GOP officials said Wednesday.

The selection was expected to be announced later in the day, said the Republican officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The convention is slated for Sept. 1-4.

Losing out were New York City, Cleveland and a joint bid from Tampa and St. Petersburg, Fla., other cities that had sought the convention.

The four-day event will be held at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., a concert venue and the home of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild.

For 2008, the Twin Cities also are in the running for the Democratic convention. Democrats plan to hold their convention Aug. 25-28.

The Democrats, who last met in Boston, will announce a decision later this fall. A spokesman said 11 sites expressed interest in having the party's convention, but only four completed the proposals. New Orleans later withdrew its bid, leaving Denver, New York City and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has said that because of timing and logistics, the Twin Cities can't host both conventions. The two conventions are scheduled for consecutive weeks.

The Twin Cities are the two largest in the state with a combined population of more than 650,000, and the metropolitan region abuts the Mississippi River.

Negative campaigning

As I have said time and time again, negative campaigning is wrong and uncalled for. I've always been the kind of person that is truthful and honest. If I ever run for political office, and you heard it here, I will never go negative. Even if the person goes negative in the worst way possible, I would continue to run a positive campaign.

Nobody likes negative advertisements unless their name is Anne Northup. She goes down to the lowest level possible. Her ads distort records of her opponents and take them way out of context. Remember 2002? She accused Jack Conway of building golf courses at state parks when in fact she was one who voted for the state budget back then when she was in the General Assembly.

Every sixty days before an election, we get bombarded with all sorts of political advertisements. I usually mute them or pay attention to a different channel as after a while, they get old and annoying. However, the advertisements that I cannot stand are those that distort the records and are way out of context.

Look at Northup. In the 2006 elections, she's gone out of her way (no wait, she always does this) to distort the character and records of those running against her like John Yarmuth. Yarmuth has had a column in the Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO) up until he started considering making a run for Congress. Northup has never picked an issue up and then, she wants copies of all of John's articles. LEO complied. Unfortunately, Northup just takes bits and pieces out of there and takes them way out of context.

Is Anne Northup the person that you want to represent you in the United States House of Representatives? No. She's not only a rubber stamp for the administration but she continues to distort the records of opponents. John Yarmuth said he would stand by his columns if Northup stood by her record. Well, John's done his part of the bargain. Northup has yet to do her part.

Politicians who read this, please take note of it. We don't like when you go negative and mudsling against your opponents. Run a positive campaign like John Yarmuth is.

Video of Gen. Clark in Wilder

Thanks to the Hillbilly Report, there is video of General Wesley Clark's speech this past Sunday in Wilder, KY.

Set your Tivo!

Senator Bayh will be on CBS Evening News this evening.

That's 6:30 ET.

1-888-OOPS-JEW

It works. Stephen Colbert's hotline actually works!

I called and left my message. You see, I turn his show off after the word of the day. No wait, I keep it on but I just leave the room to take care of some errands. Sometimes, I'll turn the channel to Letterman or Leno depending on which guest is on in the evening.

Anyway, Mr. Colbert, I'm sorry for wronging you. I hope in time that you can forgive me for these actions.

Please find it in your heart to forgive me, Stephen Colbert.

Here it is, your moment of zen

Arizona's Cardinals Stadium to be renamed University of Phoenix Stadium

Davis has Dem support?

Here's the link to the media player over at his campaign site.

I have yet to look up and confirm whether any of those appearing within the ad are Democrats. That said, I wonder if they are GOP members pretending to be Dems. There's always that idea.

I just don't understand how any Democrat can support Geoff Davis for re-election. He pretty much goes against everything we stand far.

Politics

I've been working on papers due later this week for much of the day. Very time-consuming. This will free up time for blogging and/or campaigning later this week. Speaking of which, that brings me to the subject of campaigning.

So yea, I keep getting asked to help out with campaigns not just in Northern Kentucky but back home in Louisville.

This summer, I had an internship at a law firm back home which was a few days a week. That took a bulk of my time out to help people like John Yarmuth or Amy Shir. True that I made room for the Democratic victory party for Primary Day but that was, sadly, pretty much it.

With the semester starting this past August, my class schedule is one of those weird ones to where I couldn't find the time to help out in campaign offices because of lack of time between classes. I have an exam and two papers this week. All afternoon, I worked on those papers except for a few moments to blog earlier or check facebook or the usual sites. With my work schedule and depleted free time, it's very hard to help out with campaigns.

I'd like to interview a lot of candidates for the blog but with the candidates themselves out campaigning every day for a few hours or long hours, they may not even have the time. That said, I'm gonna try and send a few emails out within the week. I do all my interviews over email because that way, you know that there will not be any misquotes.

I really have not done much of any real political commentary as of late and I'm going to try and get some more of that in blog entries to come.

I am going to schedule my classes better next semester to get some more free time to help out or even get paid to work for the statewide campaigns.

Showing some support

If and when you have a chance:
Linda Klembara for State Representative (KY-68)
Randy Blankenship for State Representative (KY-69)
David Ryan for State Representative (KY-60)
Amy Shir (KY-48)

These campaign sites will get blogrolled by the end of the week.

Other stuff...

KY-4 is in the national spotlight. It deserves to be. There are at least two former Congressmen running to get their old jobs back. Ken Lucas may be a conservative Democrat but he should take some GOP support away from Geoff Davis.

Ben Chandler's cousin, Erin Chandler, is going to be making a movie dealing with her growing up.

Shooting of "Kentucky Rhapsody" will begin in mid-October and continue for more than a month in Kentucky. Scenes will be shot in Louisville, Lexington and at a cabin in Versailles still owned by the Chandler family. Some scenes also will be filmed in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. After the movie is completed, Chandler plans to screen it in Kentucky and at film festivals.

I don't think I posted this let but according to General Wesley Clark, the president is "derelict in his duty."

John Grisham's The Innocent Man will be released on October 10, 2006. The book is non-fiction.

Elizabeth, John and Cate Edwards are going to be appearing on Oprah tomorrow.

John Howard gets it right.

"There must be unconditional acceptance throughout the entire Arab world, without exception, of Israel’s right to exist in peace and security behind recognized borders," John Howard told a security conference in the Australian city of Canberra.

Howard also said the international community must act resolutely to deal with Iran’s nuclear program.

Howard is prime minister of Australia.

A new song, "Our Country," by Indiana rocker John Mellencamp will be displayed in GM ads.

The middle is crowded. I hope it is not too crowded for Senator Bayh to win the Democratic nomination in 2008.

George Clooney for Senate? Congress?

I just saw this over at Pat Crowley's blog. The AP story is here.

Oscar winner George Clooney shrugged off suggestions Monday that he might run for political office - but he sure sounded like a politician doing it.

The actor-director skillfully deflected a barrage of questions from reporters about a potential Clooney candidacy, after appearing at an event where Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation aimed at helping stop genocidal violence in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Told that fans are clamoring for the "Syriana" star to run for office, he said with a subtle head shake, "Believe me, you don't want me in politics."

When asked what he thought about people wearing T-shirts urging Clooney to seek the presidency in 2008, he added, "I think they're probably kidding."

Asked again if he would try to get his name on a ballot, Clooney said, "That's a bad idea."

Clooney, a liberal Democrat, is well known for his activism. Lately, he has been urging Congress and the United Nations to help end atrocities in the Darfur.

When it comes to his own future, maybe he was just trying to lower expectations.

I've never met George Clooney but I've met some of his other family members. I await the day that he will enter his name for public office.

Bayh in New Hampshire

Here's some articles from the Senator's recent campaign stop in New Hampshire.

From The Union Leader: Bayh portrays Bush as a bungler.

Bayh said candidates should pledge to ensuring affordable health care for children. They should fight for better access to higher education. They should stand up for priorities that aren't tax cuts for the wealthy, he said.

Bayh said it is clear Republicans intend to hammer Democrats over security and taxes. He said Democrats need to counter the consistent and politically successful GOP message.

"They've been a lot better at national security politics then they have at national security," Bayh said of Republicans.

Bayh portrays himself as a moderate who can garner support from independents and unhappy Republicans; recently he crossed party lines to vote in support of an unsuccessful effort to amend the Constitution to ban flag burning.

State Sen. Lou D'Allesandro of Manchester said Bayh's centrist stance would help win states that have lately gone red.

Senators have not done well in Presidential elections, and Bayh also suffers from a lack of name recognition, D'Allesandro said.

Bayh is not among the first tier of potential Democratic candidates such as Sen. Hillary Clinton, former Vice Presidential nominee John Edwards, Sen. Joe Biden or former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, D'Allesandro said.

"I think Bayh's right behind them, but he is behind them," he said.

Mike Jackman, a 19-year-old Keene State college student, got Bayh's autograph and a picture. He said afterward he doesn't know much about him, however.

From the Portsmouth Herald News: Indiana senator stumps for local Democrats.

Washington needs to change.

That was the message Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh delivered Sunday to more than 50 people at the home of Peter Dodge and Pat Moreinis in North Hampton.

"Washington is too partisan, and I hate to say it, but it's too corrupt," said Bayh, who was the guest speaker at the campaign event for state Senate candidate Martha Fuller Clark and Executive Council candidate Beverly Hollingworth.

Bayh highlighted some of the issues for the upcoming elections and told the crowd that everyone in the room had a chance to shape history.

"This is going to be a history-making election, and your participation can really make a difference," said Bayh, who was elected to his second Senate term in November 2004. He also served two terms as governor of Indiana from 1989 to 1997. He has not announced his candidacy for the presidency but is considered a potential candidate.

Studio 60's song and dance sketch lyrics

This comes from 1x02 (1.02, 1 x 02) of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. I found it hilarious last night when it was first aired. I thought I'd share the lyrics for other fans of the show.

THE VERY MODEL OF A MODERN NETWORK TV SHOW
CAST
We'll be the very model of a modern network TV show
Each time that we walk into this august and famous studio
We're starting out from scratch after a run of twenty years and so
We hope that you don't mind that our producer was caught doing blow

CHORUS
They hope that you don't mind that their producer was caught doing blow
They hope that you don't mind that their producer was caught doing blow
They hope that you don't mind that their producer was caught doing mounds of blow

CAST
Yes, it's hard to be a player when at heart you've always had a hunch
To bite the hand that feeds you is a scary way of doing lunch
But still when we walk into this august and famous studio
We'll be the very model of a modern network TV show

CHORUS
But still when they walk into this august and famous studio
They'll be the very model of a modern network TV show

HARRIET
I am a christian tried and true, baptized at age eleven
So unlike the lib'rals, gays and jews i'm going straight to heaven

JEANNIE
But if you feel you've been cheated and our sordid content lets you down

JEANNIE / HARRIET
We'll hap'ly do the favor of an intellectual reach-around

CHORUS
They'll hap'ly do the favor of an intellectual reach-around
They'll hap'ly do the favor of an intellectual reach-around
They'll hap'ly do the favor of hundred-dollar hooker's reach-around
They'll hap'ly do the favor of a verbal euphemistic reach-around

CAST
We know the evangelicals are lining up to tag our toe
And then the corporations will not hesitate to pull their dough
But still when we walk into this august and famous studio
We'll be the very model of a modern network TV show

CHORUS AND CAST
But still when they/ we walk into this august and famous studio
They'll/ we'll be the very model of a modern network TV show
But still when they/ we walk into this august and famous studio
They'll/ we'll be the very model of a modern network TV show

Tzom Gedaliah

Did you fast during daylight hours yesterday? I did. For more information on Tzom Gedaliah, read about it at Aish.com.

Post Holiday news...

I'm feeling better, thanks for asking.

On November 6th, Dan Alon, an Israeli Survivor of the Munich Olympics attack, will be speaking at 7 PM in the Marty Theater at Bradley University in Peoria, IL.

Looks like the rumors keep coming with regards to a Jerry Abramson for Governor campaign. While he is a family friend and I think he would make a superb candidate for governor, it's too early to focus on the 2007 campaigns unless your name is Ben Chandler as he is running unopposed.

Mark Warner kept busy in Iowa.

John Mellencamp is shooting a new music video.

Looks like the Daily Show will be having a Ten Year anniversary party with a concert.

Former Democrat and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be raising money for Joe Lieberman's Senate campaign.

The Daily Princetonian has an article on Evan, who has his own facebook profile.

I wouldn't meet with him either.

Red Sox recap:
September 16
Boston 5, N.Y. Yankees 2
Winning pitcher - Josh Beckett (15-10)
SV - Mike Timlin (6)

Boston 5, N.Y. Yankees 7
Losing pitcher - Craig Breslow (0-2)

September 17
Boston 6, N.Y. Yankees 3
Winning pitcher - Bryan Corey (2-1)
SV - Mike Timlin (7)
HR: David Ortiz (49), David Murphy (1)

Boston 5, N.Y. Yankees 4
Winning pitcher - Javier Lopez (1-0)
SV - Mike Timlin (8)
HR: Trot Nixon (8)

September 19
Minnesota 7, Boston 3
Losing pitcher - Tim Wakefield (7-10)

September 20
Minnesota 8, Boston 2
Losing pitcher - Craig Hansen (2-2)
HR: David Ortiz (50)

September 21
Minnesota 0, Boston 6
Winning pitcher - Josh Beckett (16-10)
HR: Mike Lowell (18), David Ortiz (51, 52)

September 22
Boston 7, Toronto 1
Winning pitcher - Julian Tavarez (4-4)
HR: Mike Lowell

September 23
Boston 3, Toronto 5
Losing pitcher - Devern Hansack (0-1)
HR: Dustin Pedroia (2)

September 24
Boston 4, Toronto 13
Losing pitcher - Kyle Snyder (4-5)
HR: David Ortiz (53)

In political news, Senator George Allen is the latest politician to learn about his Jewish roots.

I side with my Israeli brothers and sisters on this development.

Theodor Hertzl, founder of the modern Zionism movement, finally got his wish to be buried next to his children. Here's some more on that one.

The hunt continues, no matter how old one is. Do the crime, pay the time.

Apparently, politics is a funny business.

The WaPo covered the race in the 2nd district of Kentucky. Be sure to check out my interview wth Rep. Weaver. If the DCCC gives a good amount of money, Col. Mike Weaver can win this thing.

You're kidding me, right? That Iranian guy just doesn't get it. If he doesn't think that the Shoah happened, then give him a tour of Auschwitz. Take him to Yad Vashem.

Under tough questioning Wednesday at the council in New York, Iran’s president told one man who saw the Dachau concentration camp shortly after its liberation that the world "should allow more impartial studies"” on the Holocaust.

Least I forget about Baron Hill's campaign in Indiana.

Sen. Bayh has said that Iraq is not the central point of the war on terror.

The WaPo takes a look at Kentucky's fourth district.

Senator Daniel Akaka has won his primary nomination for re-election.

Not cool. Seriously, it's not cool.

John Yarmuth needs your help. Every Monday through Thursday from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, you are needed to help make phone calls for the campaign.

General Clark's schedule

Monday, September 25
Campbellsville- Taylor County Rally
National Guard Armory
1503 E. Broadway St.
Campbellsville, KY
8:15AM EST

Hopkinsville- Christian County Rally
VFW Post 1913
Highway 41-A
Hopkinsville, KY
10:30AM CST

Paducah- McCracken County Rally
Noble Park Amphitheater
2801 Park Avenue
Paducha, KY
11:30AM CST

Owensboro- Daviess County Rally
Democratic HQ
3415 Frederica St.
Owensboro, KY
2:15PM CST

Brandenburg- Meade County Rally
Courthouse
516 Fairway Drive
Brandenburg, KY
4:30PM EST

Louisville Rally
Charlie Owen's Home
5:45PM EST

Meeting General Wesley Clark

So I find out right after I get back to campus tonight that Wes Clark, make that General Wesley Clark, was going to be speaking in Wilder at a campaign stop for Linda Klembara and Randy Blankenship. David Ryan and former Congressman Ken Lucas, both running for State House and US House respectively, also spoke. Rep. Dennis Keene spoke as well. So did Speaker Richards, who did a great job as usual.

There's something that gets me with Jerry Lundergan. He has the passion for the job of party chairman and every time I read something bad about him, he'll always win over my support with a fiery speech whether it be at Family Day (not this year, Jewish holiday) or at the party dinner when Sen. Biden was in Newport at the Syndicate. Lundergan did introduce Ken Lucas.

Congressman Lucas, the former and future, spoke about how he didn't want to run initially but he started getting frustrated with the news, and then with everyone asking him to run, he eventually agreed to make a comeback run against Davis. Lucas introduced the general.

General Clark was a fantastic speaker. I've never had the chance to hear him live in person before tonight and I was glad that I did. He's definitely on my short list and I would love a Bayh/Clark ticket in 2008. Clark spoke about how Clinton used diplomacy in his office before he used force as Commander in Chief.

Afterwards, I had the opportunity to get his autograph and eventually, a picture with him. I mentioned how we are probably cousins. His father was a Kohan, and so was my great grandfather (meaning that they descend from the sons of Aaron). I thanked him for serving before he left.

All in all, I like the small rallies rather than the stadium arenas because it gives one the opportunity to meet such cool people like Wes Clark, Max Cleland, Evan Bayh, and Joe Biden.

If, by chance, General Clark sees this, I would like to again thank you for serving our country.

Pat Crowley's article is up.

ETA: Hillbilly Report now has links to photos of last night. I'm in quite a few of them.

Rosh HaShanah

A new year begins tonight at sundown. I will be offline all weekend in observance of Rosh HaShanah.

L'shanah Tovah Tikatevu V'techatemu! May you be inscribed and sealed for a Happy and Healthy 5767.

Shofar Idol
Aish.com's rap

Jewish Year 5767 : sunset September 22, 2006 - nightfall September 24, 2006
Jewish Year 5768 : sunset September 12, 2007 - nightfall September 14, 2007
Jewish Year 5769 : sunset September 29, 2008 - nightfall October 1, 2008
Jewish Year 5770 : sunset September 18, 2009 - nightfall September 20, 2009

Hiatus again...

For health reasons, I'm going to have to take another blog hiatus.

The sinus infection is gone, that's a fact. My nose is not congested at all anymore. However, for reasons I cannot explain, I have been coughing up a frickin' storm in the past two days, and mainly all day today. It's definitely not a "common cold," or the Aleve would have treated that by now.

All the more reasons why I need a car. I need to get to a doctor's office because I have a bad feeling that if this keeps up, I'll be diagnosed with pneumonia and I don't need to miss any more class than I already have/will due to holidays.

Also, if Sen. Frist wishes to diagnose me via video, it hurts like heck when I laugh as that turns into yet another coughing storm.

Maroon 5 to release new album

Maroon 5 is slated to release a new album with a batch of new songs. It is currently titled It Won't Be Soon Before Long. Other must get fall albums include:
Jerry Lee Lewis - Last Man Standing, Sept. 26
The Beatles - Love, November
The Who - Endless Wire, October 31
The Killers - Sam's Town, October 3

Deadspin reports that in addition to our money, ESPN wants our money for the rest of our lives! What is this world coming to? First, they give us a cell phone to check sports scores. Now they want the games to be on them?!?

Why, Novak, why? One should take the time each day to watch The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I watch it daily except for on Shabbas and when there's a major holiday.

Even Senator Barack Obama agrees. The party has to be tough on national security issues.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., warned Democratic activists Sunday that the party must take a tougher stance on national security if it wants to succeed in the November elections.

"What Democrats have to do is to close the deal," said Obama, the keynote speaker at Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin's 29th annual steak fry. "We have got to show we have a serious agenda for change."

Nick Clooney is going to be at UK today discussing the Darfur situation.

Clooney will be at the W.T. Young Library Auditorium at 6 p.m. tonight to present "In Search of Darfur."

"In Search of Darfur" chronicles the ten-day trip he and his actor/director son George Clooney made to refugee camps in Chad in April 2006.

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO THE UNITED NATIONS WITH REGARDS TO IRAN.

No good deed goes without reward.

RIP: Patricia Kennedy Lawford

Patricia Kennedy Lawford has died at the age of 82.

Patricia Kennedy Lawford, the sister of President Kennedy who forged a marriage between politics and Hollywood with her wedding to actor Peter Lawford, has died in her New York home. She was 82.

Lawford died Sunday of complications from pneumonia, said a spokeswoman for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.

"My sister Pat is irreplaceable," Kennedy said in a statement. "Everyone who knew Pat adored her. She was admired for her great style, for her love and support of the arts, her wit and generosity _ and for the singular sense of wonder and joy she brought into our lives."

In his 2005 best-seller, "Symptoms of Withdrawal," her actor son, Christopher Lawford, wrote of his mother that "her lightheartedness and vibrancy made her my grandfather's favorite." But he said she also felt resentment toward her father "at not being allowed fully to live up to her potential."

She met the handsome British-born actor Peter Lawford through her brother, the future president, in 1949. They were married in 1954 and had four children.

Lawford is best known for roles in such musicals as "Easter Parade" (1948) and "Royal Wedding" (1951), both with Fred Astaire, the 1954 Judy Holliday comedy, "It Should Happen to You," and "Exodus" (1960), with Paul Newman.

In the late '50s and early '60s, he was a member of Frank Sinatra's circle of friends dubbed the Rat Pack, appearing in the original version of "Ocean's Eleven" in 1960. It was a link that brought a touch of Hollywood glamour to Sen. Kennedy's presidential campaign that year.

But as chronicled in many books on the family, including her son's book, the Lawford-Kennedy marriage was troubled and ended in a bitter divorce in 1965.

Patricia Kennedy was the sixth child and fourth daughter among Rose and Joseph Kennedy's nine children.

While always a tireless supporter of her brother's political campaigns, she was inspired by her father's career in the movie industry and set her sights on Hollywood at a young age soon after her graduation from Rosemont College.

She began working as an assistant in NBC's New York production department and then moved to Los Angeles with the goal of becoming a producer and director. She worked as an assistant for Kate Smith's radio program, and for Father Peyton's Family Theater and Family Rosary Crusade, according to the Web site for the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum.

Patricia Lawford traveled the country in support of her brother's presidential campaign in 1960 and was involved in the political campaigns of brothers Robert and Edward.

After her divorce, she moved to New York City, where she became a supporter of the city's arts scene. She founded the National Committee for the Literary Arts and worked with the National Center on Addiction and the Kennedy Library.[...]

Besides her son and brother, Lawford is survived by daughters Sydney, Victoria and Robin; 10 grandchildren; and sisters Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Jean Kennedy Smith. Memorial and funeral arrangements were pending.

My condolences go out to Senator Kennedy and his family.

Buy Jonathan Miller's book!

After you purchase it, check out this list and get it signed!

Other news this afternoon...

For those of you on the Cincinnati side of the border, here is some news dealing with CinCW and Time Warner Cable. On the Northern Kentucky side of the border, it will be on Insight Channel 25, the former home of the UPN affiliate after today. WSTR, the home of the WB until after midnight, is switching affiliates to MyNetwork.

Former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey is starting a book tour. It'll have lots of controversey for sure. He'll be on Oprah this Tuesday.

Republican Congressman Geoff Davis opposes caps on military payday loans.

Nobel laureates encourage the youth to address the issues of poverty and racism.

Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd believes that New Hampshire should remain first in the nation.

The Connecticut Democrat has earned respect from New Hampshire party leaders for convincing Connecticut members of the Democratic National Committee to oppose the Nevada plan. But yesterday, Dodd said he will visit Nevada. Nevada can have its process, he said, but New Hamsphire ought to be first.

"I'm going all over the country; I'm not limiting myself," Dodd said after his speech. "You've got to be a national candidate; you can't be a candidate of four states."

I wonder who Florida gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis will endorse for president in 2008. While former North Carolina Senator John Edwards has loaned some staffers to the campaign, the media advisor is Anita Dunn, who also works for Senator Bayh.

Ouch, that'll hurt the pocketbook.

In sports news, the Kentucky Wildcats moved their record to 2-1 after defeating the Ole Miss Rebels.

Former Vice President Al Gore is also releasing another book in the year to come.

Rock legend Eric Clapton is starting on his North American tour.

Indy Star's weekly Bayh watch.

The Louisville Jewish Community Center held their candidate forum today. Due to work, I couldn't make it. I heard that Anne Northup was a no show.

All the blog fit to print

An op-ed from our own State Treasurer Jonathan Miller appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, well at least in the online version of the paper.

The Chicago Tribune reviews the latest film from Zach Braff.

I don't know how credible this site is, but apparently Paul McCartney was singing the blues long before the news of the divorce came out. The track appears on his album from last year and the song's name is "Riding to Vanity Fair."

Bob Casey, Jr., a candidate for Senate in PA, gave a major speech at Catholic University's Columbus School of Law.

Yep, it's that time again. The latest recap on the Red Sox. They played a day-night DH today.

September 14
Boston 6, Baltimore 5
Winning pitcher - Keith Foulke (3-1)
SV - Mike Timlin (5)

Air America Radio has unveiled a new lineup. To be honest, I really don't listen to talk radio at all unless it's on ESPN Radio. Unless you have a comedian like Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert making an appearance, I find sports talk shows more entertaining. That said, why does ESPN Radio in Louisville have to preempt Colin Cowherd?

5am-6am The Mark Riley Show
6am-9am The Young Turks
9am-12noon The Sam Seder Show
12noon-3pm The Al Franken Show
3pm-6pm The Randi Rhodes Show
6pm-8pm The Rachel Maddow Show
8pm-9pm "Politically Direct" w/David Bender

9pm-10pm "Ecotalk" w/Betsy Rosenberg

I got this in my inbox from a Democratic activist in Paducah, KY. This piece was originally published in the Romanian newspaper Evenimentulzilei under the title, "C'ntarea Americii."

An Ode to America
Why are Americans so united?
They would not resemble one another even if you painted them all one color! They speak all the languages of the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations and religious beliefs.

Still, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into a hand put on the heart.

Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the army, or the secret service that they are only a bunch of losers.
Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts.
Nobody rushed out onto the streets nearby to gape about.
Instead the Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give a helping hand

After the first moments of panic, they raised their flag over the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the colors of the national flag.
They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every place and on every car a government official or the president was passing.

On every occasion, they started singing:"God Bless America!"
I watched the live broadcast and rerun after rerun for hours listening to the story of the guy who went down one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she was, or of the Californian hockey player, who gave his life fighting with the terrorists and prevented the plane from hitting a target that could have killed other hundreds or thousands of people.

How on earth were they able to respond united as one human being? Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes.

And with every phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put into a collection aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit, which no money can buy.

What on earth can unite the Americans in such a way?
Their land? Their history? Their economic Power? Money?
I tried for hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases with the risk of sounding commonplace, I thought things over, I reached but only one conclusion... Only freedom can work such miracles.

Cornel Nistorescu

Is there anyone not touched by that piece of writing?

The EU gets it right on this one.

Oriana Fallaci has died at the age of 76. May she rest in peace.

It's always nice reading what things that non-Jews did to help the Jews in Germany during the time of the Shoah. This is one of those stories of courage.

Musician John Mayer talks about his latest album, especially the single "Waiting on the World to Change."

Question: The lyrics to the first single, Waiting on the World to Change, speaks to political and social issues -- a first for you. Were you hesitant to do that in the past?
Answer: I think so, for two reasons. No. 1, politics weren't that much a part of lifestyle when I first started writing music. You cannot avoid war in life, you cannot avoid the fear of terrorism, you cannot avoid those things now. They are a part of everyday demeanor. So in that sense it's become more of an acceptable thing to comment on because it's just so much of a white elephant. Also, I think as a writer you have to gain trust. ... You're not going to just start a fire just for effect. I have chosen my words on this record incredibly carefully.

Q: But in interviews, you speak candidly. Why are you so careful with your songs?
A: Well, the song is where it counts for me. When you do an interview with me, you're talking to a cheap imitation of the person that I really am. There's no magic in my words; it's just me talking. Where it matters is the magic of making music; you have that unbelievable effect -- you are really almost doing open-heart surgery on people through a stereo system. That's really delicate stuff. Where a song goes in someone's heart is a completely different destination than a quote from a magazine goes. And I am respectively careful and careless in that regard. If I had two years to think of this interview answer, I would have the amazing answers of all time.[...]

Q: Are comedy audiences more receptive because you are John Mayer?
A: No, they're less receptive. They're saying to themselves, "Why is this guy onstage? What else do you need, rich, young singing heartthrob? What do you want? I left the house so I didn't have to hear my roommate blast your music. The last thing I want to hear is you tell me jokes." So, as a writer, how do you disarm that? ... There's always a way to disarm somebody with words.

Congressman Ben Chandler is looking into air traffic control issues following the tragic crash last month.

One of the reasons why I've likely ruled music out as a professional career is because of the toll that it takes on your hearing. Roger Daltrey now plays mainly classical music at his house for the most part. Now there's the news that the legendary Eric Clapton is losing his hearing as a result of concerts in the 60's.

Senator Bayh talks about tariffs for China with an Iowan audience.

Speaking to an Iowa United Auto Workers conference, Bayh said he is not a protectionist, but he believes the Chinese currently have an artificial trade advantage that must be addressed if trade relations with the United States and other nations is to be fair.

Bayh, a likely Democratic president candidate in 2008, also was critical of President Bush for not meeting with top U.S. automakers to address industry concerns in the wake of today's announcement that the Ford Motor Co. is undergoing a major restructuring. The Indiana senator said the president made time to meet with the winner of the American Idol television show so he should be able to sit down with auto industry officials.

Bayh also took the time to speak about national security issues.

Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh is defending Democratic criticism of President George W. Bush's policy in Iraq, but said his party can't come across as a "bunch of wimps" on security issues.

Bayh, who's in Des Moines Friday, was asked about a GOP effort to focus on the war on terrorism and the notion that Democratic critics are undermining the war.

He said Democrats are speaking out because "we want to take a tougher, better approach to protecting this country." But he said Democrats who simply complain will suffer with voters who view security as a base issue that must be addressed.

Local congressional campaigns are taking off with the advertisements which will bombard television viewers for the next month and a half before the elections.

Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner will be in New Hampshire again.

Myspace

Actress-singer Ashley Tisdale has a Myspace.

Much ado about...nevermind

It seems like blogging will be every other day, it seems like. It's all due to the way I scheduled my courses. When you schedule your first MWF class no earlier than 12, half a day goes by before you even wake up. So yea, I apologize.

Senator Barack Obama seems to be keeping busy these days. Kentucky today. Iowa this weekend.

Looks like the Iraqi elections have made things worse than it should be over there.

There's a new documentary out there about Al Franken.

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones will be interviewed by The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. No idea yet as to which correspondent will be interviewing him.

I've recieved word that the UK-Florida game will be televised on ESPN2. The game will be a night one.

It's time of year again, almost, that Neil Young performs in the annual Bridge School Benefit Concert.

The lineup includes Bridge School Benefit repeat performers Pearl Jam, the Dave Matthews Band, The Foo Fighters and of course Neil Young. First timers to the event include Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor, Beach Boy Brian Wilson, Devendra Banhart, and indie rockers Death Cab For Cutie.

Red Sox news:
September 12
Boston 6, Baltimore 5
Winning pitcher - Craig Hansen (2-1)
SV - Javier Lopez (1)

September 13
Boston 0, Baltimore 4
Losing pitcher - Tim Wakefield (7-9)

Virginia appears to be warming up to Mark Warner's potential candidacy for president in 2008.

Jewish candidates did fairly well in this past Tuesday's primary elections. Here's another take on things.

I wholely support this campaign to remove Iran from the United Nations.

Nobel Prize laureate Elie Wiesel and lawyers Irwin Cotler and Alan Dershowitz are backing the Jerusalem Council for Public Affairs’ campaign.

The group will circulate a document calling for the United Nations to oust Iran because it has violated the U.N. Charter with its threats to destroy Israel.

Meanwhile, Edgar Bronfman, president of the World Jewish Congress, urged U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to redisplay a U.N. Holocaust exhibit during next week’s visit by Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has denied the Holocaust and called for Israel to be wiped off the map.

Zach Braff keeps busy with a new film.

This commercial was new to me.

Amnesty has accused Hezbollah of war crimes.

This is a milestone achievement. Mazel tov to the newly ordained Rabbis.

The three men were given their ordination certificates at the ceremony in Dresden's modern, stone synagogue, which was rebuilt after the fall of the Berlin Wall - the first in the former East Germany.

Daniel Alter, 47, of Germany, was the first of the three to graduate from the Abraham Geiger College.

He was joined by 35-year-old Tomas Kucera, of the Czech Republic and 38-year-old Malcolm Matitiani, of South Africa. All three wore black robes, with white prayer shawls trimmed with tassels draped around their shoulders.

Some 250 people, many of them from Jewish communities across Europe and in Israel, attended the ceremony. Afterward, the governor of Saxony hosted the new rabbis and those attending the ceremony for a reception.

They are the first rabbis to be ordained in Germany since the Nazis destroyed the College of Jewish Studies in Berlin in 1942, midway through the war.

Just before the ceremony, Matitiani said he was "excited and happy" and that there was a twofold significance to being ordained in Germany.

He told The Associated Press it is important for him "because of the scholarship and the symbol of reviving Judaism in Germany."

This will cause a lot of debate within the Jewish community for sure. I'll end on that note.

Illinois Senator Barack Obama in Louisville today!

Hope everyone who goes has fun tonight!

Unfortunately, I can't be there since I have class ending at 4:20, and a ton of outside of class work that needs to get done as soon as possible.

I feel like I'm getting senioritis all over again.

Also, thanks to the Abramson for Mayor campaign for purchasing a blog ad on this blog.

RIP: Ann Richards

Ann Richards, the former Governor of Texas, has died. She was 73.

The silver-haired, silver-tongued Richards said she entered politics to help others — especially women and minorities who were often ignored by Texas' male-dominated establishment.

"I did not want my tombstone to read, 'She kept a really clean house.' I think I'd like them to remember me by saying, 'She opened government to everyone,'" Richards said shortly before leaving office in January 1995.

She was governor for one term, losing her re-election bid to Republican George W. Bush.

She grabbed the national spotlight with her keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention when she was the Texas state treasurer. Richards won cheers from delegates when she reminded them that Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, "only backwards and in high heels."

Richards sealed her partisan reputation with a blast at George H. Bush, a fellow Texan who was vice president at the time: "Poor George, he can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth."

Four years later, she was chairwoman of the Democratic convention that nominated Bill Clinton for president.

Richards rose to the governorship with a come-from-behind victory over millionaire cowboy Clayton Williams in 1990. She cracked a half-century male grip on the governor's mansion and celebrated by holding up a T-shirt that showed the state Capitol and read: "A woman's place is in the dome."

In four years as governor, Richards championed what she called the "New Texas," appointing more women and more minorities to state posts than any of her predecessors.

She appointed the first black University of Texas regent; the first crime victim to join the state Criminal Justice Board; the first disabled person to serve on the human services board; and the first teacher to lead the State Board of Education. Under Richards, the fabled Texas Rangers pinned stars on their first black and female officers.

She polished Texas' image, courted movie producers, championed the North American Free Trade Agreement, oversaw an expansion of the state prison system, and presided over rising student achievement scores and plunging dropout rates.

She took time out to celebrate her 60th birthday by earning her motorcycle driver's license.

Throughout her years in office, her personal popularity remained high. One poll put it at more than 60 percent the year she lost to Bush.

"I may have lost the race," Richards said after the defeat. "But I don't think I lost the good feelings that people have about me in this state. That's tremendously reassuring to me."

Richards went on to give speeches, work as a commentator for CNN and serve as a senior adviser in the New York office of Public Strategies Inc., an Austin-based consulting firm.

Richards grew up near Waco, married civil rights lawyer David Richards, volunteered in campaigns and raised four children. She and her husband later divorced.

In the early 1960s, she helped form the North Dallas Democratic Women, "basically to allow us to have something substantive to do; the regular Democratic Party and its organization was run by men who looked on women as little more than machine parts."

Richards served on the Travis County Commissioners Court in Austin for six years before jumping to a bigger arena in 1982. Her election as state treasurer made her the first woman elected statewide in nearly 50 years.

May she rest in peace.

Air America files bankruptcy

Think Progress has the news.

on Friday, which is expected to include a bankruptcy filing, three independent sources have told ThinkProgress.

Air America could remain on the air under the deal, but significant personnel changes are already in the works. Sources say five Air America employees were laid off yesterday and were told there would be no severance without capital infusion or bankruptcy. Also, Air America has ended its relationship with host Jerry Springer.

The right wing is sure to seize on Air America’s financial woes as a sign that progressive talk radio is unpopular. In fact, Air America succeeded at creating something that didn’t exist: the progressive talk radio format. That format is now established and strong and will continue with or without Air America. Indeed, many of the country’s most successful and widely-syndicated progressive talk hosts — Ed Schultz and Stephanie Miller, for instance — aren’t even associated with Air America.

NH to DCCC: Screw it

Jim Craig, the candidate HAND selected by the DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee), was blown out in the primary elections yesterday. Carol Shea-Porter picked up the surprising victory. She brought in 54% of the votes while Craig had 35%.

I thought the DCCC stayed out of primary races?

Scarlett Johansson to encourage youth voters

Check out this article dealing with Scarlett Johansson.

Scarlett Johansson is planning to spend her free time this year convincing young people to vote in the upcoming elections across the U.S.

The Lost in Translation beauty actively campaigned for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry prior to his defeat at the hands of George W. Bush in 2004's election.

And she readily admits she can't wait for Bush's departure from The White House in the 2008 election.

The 21-year-old says, "I'd rather be photographed doing something politically active like encouraging people to vote.

"I'm not a George Bush supporter and I'm eagerly awaiting the end of his term."

Lots of catching up...

I'm feeling a bit better with regards to health right now in case anyone was wondering why blogging has been light lately.

So I posted the other day saying that I wasn't going to watch the ABC docudrama this weekend. Well, I ended up watching the DVD on Saturday and caught part 2 of the docudrama last night. I didn't watch part 1 since I had other things to do. Granted, I don't believe I am able to comment on it's accuracy since I have yet to read the 9/11 Commission report's findings yet.

Looks like Mayor Daley has some company. Jesse Jr. is running for Mayor, it seems.

Senator Joe Biden of Delaware has offered his own national security plan.

Democratic Sen. Joe Biden, a White House hopeful, said Thursday that the al-Qaida terrorist network clearly wants to strike the United States again, perhaps with an attack on the scale of Sept. 11, 2001.

"I believe they're planning something as large and complex as 9/11," Biden told an audience at the National Press Club four days before the fifth anniversary of the attacks.

"If you look at their modus operandi, that's how they have proceeded. That's how they have worked. And, I believe that's what they're doing," said Biden, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"We have a lot of their leadership on the run, some of which we've captured," Biden said. However, "they're patient," he said, and it could be years before they go after the United States again.

"These folks are in it for the long haul," he said.

I'll have to check out John Mayer's latest single.

John Mayer: When a baby-faced hitmaker like Mayer gets into the fray, you know it's serious. On his new single, "Waiting for the World to Change," Mayer laments the state of the world and its leadership but goes on to suggest that it's not worth trying to fight the government, singing, "We just know that the fight ain't fair."

Mayer's song drew an intense reaction from the elder Graham Nash: "You can't wait for things to change, you have to change them. This is how we got here. Waiting. Waiting to find the weapons of mass destruction, waiting to find the evidence al-Qaida was in bed with Saddam. Waiting for all this stuff. You have to do something."

Senator Evan Bayh has called on Congress to implement all the 9/11 Commission recommendations.

"I think the best way to honor those who lost their lives in that tragedy is to do what it takes to defend this country so we never experience a calamity like that again," said Senator Bayh. "We've made some progress, but we simply have not done enough to make us as safe as we ought to be. (We need to be) doing more to protect train stations, bus stations so the attacks that occurred in Madrid or London don't happen here.

Senator Bayh also predicted we'll see troops gradually come home from Iraq over the next year and a half.

He hopes when they leave, Iraq will be a stable force in the region.

I don't know about you, but I just have this feeling in my gut that it won't be anywhere close to stable at all.

TMV has this article about the ABC docudrama. I did notice something. There was no scene where President Bush was reading the book, upside down at that.

I don't get this. You have a candidate criticizing a Senator for saying something back in 1998. Oh, and here's this letter, where Lamont said he supported the speech. Then there's this.

Ellen Degeneres has been tapped to host the 2007 Oscars.

Back to 9/11, here's a look at the media released as a result. A better look at the media following.

Oct. 20, 2001: Paul McCartney is one of first major rock stars to organize an all-star fundraiser for 9/11 victims in New York, with a lineup including the Who, John Mellencamp, Macy Gray, Melissa Etheridge, Bon Jovi, the Goo Goo Dolls, James Taylor, Jim Carrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Gwyneth Paltrow and John Cusack.

The Bayh watch deals with Defense Secretary Rumsfeld.

President Bush honored those who lost their lives five years ago yesterday with two moments of silence.

Oy vey, reason to be worried again.

There's a big race in the 4th District here in KY.

Former Congressman Lee Hamilton spoke about The Path to 9/11.

An hour later in the press club's ballroom, Kean professed to being puzzled by the conspiracy crowd.

"It seems every time there's a traumatic event in American history, it spawns conspiracy theories," he said with a laugh. "I mean, people still think that John Wilkes Booth got away and hid somewhere in the South. As for the 9/11 conspiracy theories, he said, "I don't know what to do about them."

Kean saw no link between the conspiracists and his work in the docudrama trade. When the ABC question was put to him, Kean declared himself mystified by the criticism.

Portion's of the President's speech last night:

Bush addressed critics of the war, who note that the administration’s earlier warnings of ties between Al-Qaida and Saddam Hussein and of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction proved untrue, key elements in November mid-term elections that could end Republican control of Congress.

"The world is safer because Saddam Hussein is no longer in power," Bush said.

He suggested that terrorists are strengthened by dissent.

"Winning this war will require the determined efforts of a unified country," he said.

"So we must put aside our differences, and work together to meet the test that history has given us."

President Clinton recieved applause from Jewish groups yesterday for condemning the Bush foreign policy.

He said the central lesson he drew from the attacks is that "people are the prize": The West must counter terrorists not only through war, but also through long-term investment in developing countries that produce terrorists.

Speaking to 1,500 female fund-raisers, Clinton derided the deterioration of the fragile democracy in Afghanistan and said, "The one thing we learned at that moment in time is that we can’t practice hit-and-run democracy, and that we have got all of the military power in the world to defeat a traditional foe in the moment but insurgencies are about the long run; they are never defeated by superior military power alone."

I think that covers everything.