UPSET ALERT: Western Kentucky 68, Louisville 54

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers just knocked off the Louisville Cardinals with a score of 68-54. The Cardinals were ranked #3 in the nation.

A Thanksgiving Message - 2008 Edition

May you have a safe, healthy, and happy Thanksgiving.

On this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my family and friends. Times have been rough and they have come through for me.

I am thankful for my great-grandparents getting out of Europe and Russia before the war started.

I am thankful for my public school education, although the state of Kentucky has a lot of work to do.

I am thankful to those of you who have forgiven me for doing that which will not be mentioned, although it gave me my first fifteen minutes of fame. If you don't know what I am talking about here, please message me appropriately.

I am thankful for our troops serving us overseas even if I disagree with why we went over there in the first place, except for Afghanistan which was justified.

I am thankful to be living in a free country which allows the freedom of religion. On that note, especially this year, I am thankful for the Anshe Sholom community for their warm welcome following my move from Kentucky to Chicago.

I am thankful for the Jewish comedians of the vaudeville and Borscht Belt eras for paving the way for comedians like Jerry Seinfeld and Jon Stewart.

I am thankful for President Bush for providing so much comedic material even though I only have less than three months to perfect my act.

I am thankful that Americans made the right decision this year by making up for mistakes in 2000 and 2004. I'm thankful that they did the right thing by electing Obama-Biden.

I am thankful that shows like Heroes, The Daily Show, Late Night with Conan, The Tonight Show, The Late Show, Saturday Night Live, The Office, and The Colbert Report were approved by the networks so that I have television to enjoy.

I am thankful for the writing room of Caesar's Hour, considered to be the smartest and funniest room since Thomas Jefferson dined alone at the White House.

I am thankful for promising Democratic leaders in Jonathan Miller, Steve Beshear, Daniel Mongiardo, Ben Chandler, Crit Luallen, Jack Conway, Steve Gold, John Yarmuth, Bruce Lunsford, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Rahm Emanuel, Hillary Clinton, Jerry Abramson, Howard Dean, etc.

I am thankful for a party that works for the working class.

White House goofs on Chanukah invitations

According to the New York Post, the above photo was featured on cards mailed out for the Chanukah celebration at the White House.

The president and the first lady invited leaders of America's Jewish community for a Hanukkah reception at the White House next month - but raised more than a few eyebrows by putting a picture of a Christmas tree on the invitation.

The message reads that the couple "requests the pleasure of your company at a Hanukkah reception," written beneath an image of a Clydesdale horse hauling a Christmas fir along the snow-dappled drive to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

And, no, it is not a Hanukkah bush. A close look at the wagon reveals the message "White House Christmas Tree 2008."

In the background, the White House windows are festooned with Christmas wreaths.

The incongruity of the message did not go unnoticed.

"It's absolutely bizarre to receive an invite to the White House for Hanukkah in a Christmas format," said one person who was invited. "They should have consulted with their chief of protocol before sending this out. This belongs right in the 'Weird But True' column."

Jewish community leader Isaac Abraham of Brooklyn had a simpler explanation.

"It's obvious what's going on here: The Christmas tree is being taken out of the White House and the menorah is being brought in the back," he quipped.

When reached for comment, Laura Bush's spokeswoman, Sally McDonough, said the White House usually prints separate cards, but in the waning days of the presidency, there had been an oversight.

"Mrs. Bush is apologetic," she said. "It is something that just slipped through the cracks."

Recapping the past few weeks

It's Thanksgiving weekend so I'm cleaning out my inbox as best as I can.

Kevin Smith thanks G-d for Judd Apatow.

Smith's predicament is just one part of a larger problem facing many comedy filmmakers in Hollywood: it is nearly impossible for them to make pot-smoking, breast-baring (but heartfelt!) movies without encroaching on the raunchy (yet tender!) turf already owned by Apatow.

That is the quandary facing Zack and Miri, directed by Smith, and Role Models, directed by David Wain, two upcoming comedies with very different pedigrees and different approaches to the question of how you avoid looking like imitations of Apatow's formidable achievements.

For Smith, it would be understandable if he held a grudge against Apatow; his directorial breakthrough, Clerks – a film so rude in places it was nearly rated NC-17 (unsuitable for anyone under 17) in the US solely because of its dialogue – predated The 40-Year-Old Virgin by 11 years.

And he has grown used to hearing that Zack and Miri, about two pitiful roommates who fall in love while making a pornographic movie, could have come straight from Apatow's slacker oeuvre.

Instead, Smith says he is grateful that Apatow has reinvigorated Hollywood's appetite for adult humour. "I thank God for Judd," he says, because he shattered what I assumed was a $30 million ceiling."

Smith says he had been kicking around the premise of Zack and Miri since at least 1997 but he was not sufficiently inspired to write the screenplay until he saw Rogen in The 40-Year-Old Virgin.

"The dude had come into his own, and he just sounded like one of my characters," Smith says. When the $148 million US box-office takings of Knocked Up made Rogen's stardom a foregone conclusion, getting the resources Smith needed for Zack and Miri – and casting Rogen – became easier.

"If I tried to make this movie ten years ago," Smith says, "I would have been making it for two million bucks, and maybe we'd get the standard release." Instead, the Weinstein Co opened the film, which cost $24m, in 2,800 cinemas across the US, backing it with a national print and television campaign.

For Smith, the challenge of working in a post-Apatow marketplace, and often the solution, is to come up with increasingly transgressive jokes.

"After 15 years, I've got a pretty good idea of what makes people – my people – squeamish," Smith says. "As time goes by, it gets harder and harder to find things that haven't been done a zillion times before."

Here's a preview of what movies to expect in 2009.

Ben Stiller got roasted recently.

Evan Bayh's office is busy with ticket requests.

Sen. Evan Bayh, a close friend and ally of Obama's, has received 6,000 ticket requests, said spokeswoman Marie Francis. Each U.S. senator typically is allotted 500 tickets. Bayh's office had not decided how it will dole out tickets, Francis said.

"Obviously, this is a unique situation," she said.

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, chairwoman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, has convinced eBay officials not to allow the sale of inauguration passes, and is working with other Web sites. She said she may introduce legislation in next week's lame duck session of Congress making it a crime to scalp inauguration tickets.

"These tickets are given for free to people. This is a major civic event of the time, and no one pays for their tickets and... no one should be required to pay for her tickets," she told The Associated Press.

For those who don't have tickets but still plan to head to D.C. on Jan. 20, no tickets are required to stand along the parade route. However, hotels in the city and surrounding areas are virtually booked.

I wish it had been Bayh's inauguration but that just wasn't meant to be this time around. Maybe in 2016 because I don't see Joe Biden running for President in 2016.

The Fix looks at the Senate races in 2010. I'm not making any endorsements quite yet.

Kentucky (R): For those Republican strategists hoping that Sen. Jim Bunning (R) would retire rather than seek a third term, think again. Sources close to Bunning insist the Kentucky Senator has made up his mind to run and is beginning to put the pieces into place to do just that. Bunning is absolutely certain to be one of Democrats' highest priorities in 2010 since he has never won with more than 51 percent of the vote. Democrats' strongest candidate would be Rep. Ben Chandler but the smart money seems to believe he will stay in the House. If Chandler does stay out, Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo, who lost to Bunning by 23,000 votes in 2004, probably has the right of first refusal. State Auditor Crit Luallen and state Attorney General Jack Conway are also mentioned and would be serious and credible candidates.

Variety takes a look at their 2007 comedy impact honorees and what they have been up to in the past year.

Some of Variety's Big Shots for 2008 include Jason Segel:

A $63 million domestic gross may be small potatoes in Judd Apatow terms, but it's a nice start for "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" writer-star Jason Segel, transforming the "How I Met Your Mother" cast member into leading-man material.

"It's funny how quickly things change, because now parts I couldn't even audition for, people are calling to see if I want them," says the actor, the latest "Freaks and Geeks" alum to graduate to bigscreen success.

It was on that show that Apatow offered Segel career-changing advice: "Judd told me, 'The only way you're going to make it is if you start writing your own material, because you are kind of a weird dude and you'll have to pave your own way.' It really turned out to be true."

Nicholas Stoller:

"I love the Muppets, but Jason's truly obsessed with them," reports Stoller, who was born in Britain to American parents and developed his sense of humor watching "Monty Python's Flying Circus."

Today, Stoller is working like crazy. Next up is "Sarah Marshall" spinoff "Get Him to the Greek" with Jonah Hill and Russell Brand (Stoller wrote and directed), followed by "Five-Year Engagement" with Segel.

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg:

It might surprise some to know "Pineapple Express" was pretty much in the can when "Superbad" opened, test screening as early as August 2007 -- a sign producer Judd Apatow believed in screenwriters Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg enough to enable the duo's next oddball idea before "Superbad" put them on the town's scribe shortlist.

Apatow even let the pair (who doubled as exec producers) handle "Pineapple" on their own while he tended to other projects. "'Walk Hard' and 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' were shooting at the exact same time (as "Pineapple"), so we were the only ones on set for a large part," Rogen recalls.

Of course, there's the new Mel Brooks himself, Judd Apatow:

Indeed, any association with Apatow virtually guarantees a greenlight. In 2008 alone, Apatow produced "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," "Drillbit Taylor," "Step Brothers," "Pineapple Express" and "Walk Hard." He took writing credits on the latter two films, along with Adam Sandler comedy "You Don't Mess With the Zohan."

With greater volume, Apatow's batting average han't been perfect, but with hits like "Step Brothers" (which grossed $100 million domestically) and "Pineapple Express" ($87 million), who's complaining, especially since Apatow consistently keeps his budgets low?

Going forward, Apatow takes his foot off the gas a bit. Having just wrapped "Year One" (which he produced), he's focused on his next directing outing, "Funny People."

There's probably others like Steve Carell and Ben Stiller to name a few.

Breaking News: Edward "Ted" Kaufman to replace Joe Biden as Deleware's Senator

AP:

Edward "Ted" Kaufman, a former aide to Sen. Joe Biden, was named Monday by Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner to fill the Senate seat Biden is leaving for the vice presidency.

Kaufman is president of a political and management consulting firm based in Wilmington.

Speculation on Biden's successor had centered in recent weeks on his son, Attorney General Beau Biden. Last week, however, the younger Biden announced that he planned to fulfill his National Guard duties and wouldn't accept an appointment to his father's U.S. Senate seat.

There's been no announcement yet as to whether this will just be a caretaker position or not. The fact that he's a longtime Biden aide does help with speculation that Beau Biden could run in 2010 following his National Guard duties.

Here's the statement from Vice President-elect Joe Biden:

"I believe that today Governor Minner has made a decision, as she has made all her decisions in public life, in the best interests of Delaware. This was a tough decision-but I think we all know that making tough decisions is not anything new for this Governor. She is tough, she is strong, and her legendary grit long ago earned my admiration and respect.

"Serving Delaware as your United States Senator has been the privilege of my life. And while I admit it is with some pride that I can say I've been your Senator longer than anyone in our state's history-I have never forgotten it is an honor that you, the voters, have bestowed upon me. From the time that the people of Delaware elected me to the U.S. Senate at the age of 29, this state has lifted me up in tough times and given me the chance to make a difference. I hope I have done so.

"I know this is was an unusual circumstance for the voters this year. And I want to thank the people of Delaware for the trust they placed in me. Now as I leave the Senate for the Vice Presidency, I believe Governor Minner has appointed the very best person she could have chosen to serve Delaware at this time in the United States Senate.

"I have known Ted Kaufman for over 30 years. He is a man of first-rate qualifications, unquestioned integrity and a long-time commitment to public service. As my Chief of Staff for 19 years, he was involved in many of the most important decisions I've made in the Senate. Further, he has been personally involved in handling many of the most important issues that we've faced in Delaware. From protecting Cape Henlopen, to putting more cops on the street, Ted has played a critical role in these accomplishments.

"Ted has also done the hard day-to-day work of a Senate office - answering constituent concerns, overseeing their casework and making sure the voters of Delaware have a strong advocate for them. So whether it's debating the biggest issues that come before the Senate, or helping a veteran or a senior citizen get the help they need, Ted has done it. He knows Delaware. And he knows the Senate. He'll be able to hit the ground running.

"Since the time he worked with me in the Senate, Ted has gone on to teach at Duke University, in the Law school, the Fuqua Business School, the Sanford Institute of Public Policy, and to serve on the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Ted's long service to Delaware has earned him the respect of virtually every community in our state - from business to education to labor to children's advocates to those committed to protecting our environment.

"There is no one who knows more about how the United States Senate works and no one who is more ready to do this job for Delaware than Ted Kaufman. Over the years, he has earned the respect of those who have served, like Senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey and of those who are still there, like Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut. He will make a great partner with Senator Tom Carper.

"I care deeply about this Senate seat and I care deeply about Delaware. And I can say with absolute confidence that with Ted Kaufman in the Senate, Delaware will be in very good hands.

"It is no secret that I believe my son, Attorney General Beau Biden would make a great United States Senator-just as I believe he has been a great Attorney General. But Beau has made it clear from the moment he entered public life, that any office he sought, he would earn on his own. He proved that two years ago when he turned down an appointment as Attorney General. Instead, he ran on his own and won election. Typical of Beau, he made it clear again his year that he would not accept an appointment to the United States Senate. As he said when he deployed overseas, he is determined to fulfill his military obligations and then return to his duties as Attorney General. If he chooses to run for the Senate in the future, he will have to run and win on his own. He wouldn't have it any other way.

"In making her decision, the Governor has made it clear that whoever seeks the office in 2010 will do so from a level playing field. The voters will make that decision. For now, my concern is with Beau's safety, not his political future.

"I have promised the Governor, and instructed my staff, to make sure we work closely with Senator Kaufman over the upcoming weeks to ensure an orderly transition and to make sure that at no point will the work of Delaware go undone.

"To the voters, again let me thank you for the trust you have placed in me. To Governor Minner, thank you for making this difficult decision. And to Senator Kaufman -- serve the people well. It will be for you, as it has been for me, the privilege of a lifetime."

THIS JUST IN: Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes to split up!

It has been reported that FOX commentators Alan Colmes and Sean Hannity will go their own seperate ways.

FOX News Channel’s (FNC) Alan Colmes will relinquish his role as co-host of Hannity & Colmes at the end of the year.

In announcing his decision, Colmes said, “I approached Bill Shine (FNC’s Senior Vice President of Programming) earlier this year about wanting to move on after 12 years to develop new and challenging ways to contribute to the growth of the network. Although it’s bittersweet to leave one of the longest marriages on cable news, I’m proud that both Sean (Hannity) and I remained unharmed after sitting side by side, night after night for so many years.”

Colmes will continue to have a presence on FNC as he will serve as a liberal commentator on a variety of FOX News programming, including Foxnews.com’s The Strategy Room and continue hosting his radio program, The Alan Colmes Show on FOX Talk, a division of FOX News Radio. He will also begin developing a weekend program.

Shine said, “We’re very sorry to see Alan reach this decision but we understand his desire to seek other creative challenges in his career. We value his incredible hard work in making Hannity & Colmes the most successful debate program on cable news and we’re going to miss him on the show. Thankfully, he will begin developing a weekend pilot for us.”

FOX News Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Roger Ailes added, “Alan is one of the key reasons why FOX News has been such a remarkable success. We’re sad to see him leave the program but we look forward to his ongoing contributions to the network.”

Hannity & Colmes is the only FNC program which has remained in the same timeslot for 12 years, catapulting to number one in 2003 and never relinquishing the top spot. The second highest-rated program in cable news behind only The O’Reilly Factor, Hannity & Colmes averaged 3.3 million viewers nightly for the Nielsen month of October and is poised to mark 60 consecutive months at number one at the end of November.

Hannity added, “Not only has Alan been a remarkable co-host, he’s been a great friend which is rare in this industry — I’ll genuinely miss sparring with such a skillful debate partner.”

An Important Message

Due to lack of blog advertisement revenue or generous paypal donations throughout the election season, I'm putting up this post again.

No matter how many resumes I send out or job applications I fill out, nothing is happening...and I mean absolutely nothing despite all my follow ups with companies.

It's the holiday season and for the first time since I don't know when, I can't even afford to buy a single person a gift. This is what this season is all about: helping people in need. The economy has been really non-cooperative. I'm one of those 40% that won't be taking advantage of the Black Friday deals because the money just isn't there.

I don't even know the next time, following Thanksgiving, that I'll be able to go home, much less see a movie.

The last thing I want to do is put a autographed copy of Bill Clinton's My Life on ebay just to get some much needed income.

Pre-Thanksgiving readings...

AISH: America and Jewish Values by Rabbi Ken Spiro

AISH: President Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation

Chicago Jewish News: Ira Stoll on Samuel Adams

Chicago Jewish News: Holiday for Jews to celebrate By Edmon J. Rodman

It's an American holiday with origins in a persecuted religious group who makes an exodus and finds its way if not to a promised land, then to a land of religious freedom. Ring any bells, dinner or otherwise?

Some think Thanksgiving feels much like Sukkot. Both are harvest holidays where thanks and praise are given, and mass quantities of food are communally shared. Each involved a wilderness pilgrimage. Each has origins in makeshift living accommodations.

So while we're shopping for decorative cardboard Pilgrims, perhaps we should throw in an Israelite or two. Or while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, just imagine a giant inflatable etrog floating by.

As for the main course, it's the Jews who have the inside scoop on the lifestyle and husbandry of America's favorite Thanksgiving entree. Israel is a major turkey-producing country, with many kibbutzim specializing in turkey ranching.

I didn't get the memo...

It's not news until it's on KSR per the CJ:

So this is Patrick Patterson's life. He gets a haircut, and it's headline news. UK's superstitious sophomore decided after Tuesday's 77-58 loss at North Carolina dropped the Wildcats to 0-2 that his afro had to go. On Wednesday he had his hair cut back to the close-cropped style he wore as a freshman.

That afternoon, word spread across the Internet.

"It's crazy," Patterson said. "I think it's hilarious how people talk about my hair."


Patterson was flooded with messages on his Facebook page from friends and fans who wanted to know if the rumor was true. Patterson had planned to surprise his parents with the new look, but his mother, Tywanna, read about his haircut online.

"I got a text from my mom saying, 'Why didn't you tell me you cut your hair?' " Patterson said.

Beyond superstition, there were practical concerns, Patterson said. The afro was "a huge hassle" to keep neat and clean, he said.

I missed the whole Jai Lucas will transfer memo, probably due to the election. Per Matt, of course, UK has been in contact.

I just spoke with Jai Lucas (will have the full interview later tonight) but he did say that UK has been in contact and that “I think they are interested in me and I am interested in them.” Jai was very funny and made comments about having to go through this all again. He says that his list is Kentucky, Texas, Texas A&M, Arkansas and Stanford, but that “I will have the final group after finals in a couple of weeks.”

SAG to authorize strike vote

This in from MSNBC:

The Screen Actors Guild said Saturday it will ask its members to authorize a strike after its first contract talks in four months with Hollywood studios failed despite the help of a federal mediator.

The guild said it adjourned talks overnight with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers after two marathon sessions with federal mediator Juan Carlos Gonzalez.

SAG — representing more than 120,000 actors in movies, television and other media — said in a statement it would launch a "full-scale education campaign in support of a strike authorization."

"We have already made difficult decisions and sacrifices in an attempt to reach agreement," the statement said. "Now it's time for SAG members to stand united and empower the national negotiating committee to bargain with the strength of a possible work stoppage behind them."

The statement did not specify what led to the impasse, saying only that "management continues to insist on terms we cannot responsibly accept." A SAG spokeswoman said she would not comment further. A call to the movie producers group, known as the AMPTP, was not immediately returned.

SAG's national board has already authorized its negotiating committee to call for a strike authorization vote if mediation failed. The vote would take more than a month and require more than 75 percent approval to pass.

SAG is seeking union coverage for all Internet-only productions regardless of budget and residual payments for Internet productions replayed online, as well as continued actor protections during work stoppages

But the studio alliance said it was untenable for SAG to demand a better deal than what writers, directors and another actors union accepted earlier in the year, especially now that the economy has worsened.[...]

Actors in prime-time television shows and movies have been working under the terms of a contract that expired June 30, with the hope of avoiding a repeat of the 100-day writers strike which shut down production of dozens of TV shows and cost the Los Angeles area economy an estimated $2.5 billion.

Remembering Jack Kennedy

Due to Shabbas, I'm just now getting online but here is my post for Remembering the late president, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Sr.

Rather than repost the entire thing, I'll just link to it.

Patrick Patterson transfers to Kansas?

That guy won't go on to a career in journalism. Sorry but KU is Kansas University. The University of Kentucky is UK. If you cannot get your acronyms straight, get out of journalism ASAP.

Tar Heels prepping for KU forward Patterson
Game is headliner for ESPN Tip-Off
Powell Latimer, Assistant Sports Editor[...]

Patterson’s numbers from KU’s season-opener were not overwhelming — eight points, seven boards — but numbers can be deceiving.

Hey Louisville media!

I'll be back in town over Thanksgiving weekend and I don't know if Mike and Mike have the day off while I am in town but there better be a radio station in the vicinity that picks up NATIONAL ESPN RADIO programming. Not all of us have XM or Sirius. Stop giving in to Tom Jurich. What does he have against national radio shows?

Seriously, GET WITH THE PICTURE. There's a reason that Louisville's fans are riled up. They want Steve Kragthorpe fired. Looking at that record he has, he'll likely be gone during the offseason. But, no, Tom Jurich and his large ego thinks that he has every right in the world to deprive sports fans of SPORTS TALK RADIO.

Breaking news: Attorney General Michael Mukasey collapsed, condition not yet known

This is just off the wire:

Attorney General Michael Mukasey collapsed during a speech Thursday night and lost consciousness, a Justice Department official said.

The 67-year-old Mukasey was rushed to George Washington University Hospital, where his condition was not immediately known.

Mukasey was delivering a speech to the Federalist Society at a Washington hotel when "he just started shaking and he collapsed," said Associate Attorney General Kevin O'Connor. "They're very concerned."

Mukasey was 15 to 20 minutes into his speech about the Bush administration's successes in combatting terrorism when he began slurring his words. He collapsed and lost consciousness, said O'Conner, the department's No. 3 official.

Mukasey's was noticeably shaking during his speech before he collapsed shortly before 10:20 p.m. EST. His security detail called 911. Mukasey was on the stage for 10 minutes being attended to by his FBI detail before medics arrived, according to a Justice Department official who was there. Mukasey was still breathing at the time, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to talk to the media.

A senior law-enforcement said Mukasey appeared to be talking when he was taken away. That official also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the situation.

Obama Transition Talk

There's a lot of talk out there right now with potential cabinet members.

Janet Napolitano is Obama's choice for Secretary of Homeland Security. This will take Napolitano out of the 2010 Senate race when John McCain's seat is up for re-election.

Penny Pritzker will not be Commerce Secretary as she has turned the position down.

Chicago businesswoman Penny Pritzker, national campaign finance chairwoman for the Obama campaign, has taken herself out of the running to be secretary of commerce, a Democratic official said.

“She fears problems with her confirmation based on past business dealings,” the official said.

Pritzker was featured in a flurry of news reports as a likely secretary of commerce. But senior officials repeatedly — and correctly — told Politico that was not true.

John Dingell has been dethroned. This may change the way things are done in the House.

California Rep. Henry A. Waxman on Thursday officially dethroned longtime Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell, upending a seniority system that has governed Democratic politics in the House for decades.

In a secret ballot vote in the Cannon Caucus Room, House Democrats ratified an earlier decision by the Steering and Policy Committee to replace the 82-year-old Dingell with his 69-year-old rival. The vote was 137-122 in favor of Waxman.

The ascension of Waxman, a wily environmentalist, recasts a committee that Dingell has chaired since 1981 with an eye toward protecting the domestic auto industry in his native Michigan. The Energy and Commerce Committee has principal jurisdiction over many of President-elect Barack Obama's top legislative priorities, including energy, the environment and health care.

"Seniority is important, but it should not be a grant of property rights to be chairman for three decades or more,” Waxman said after emerging from the caucus meeting.

Waxman’s win is a big victory for environmentalists who want a more aggressive stance on global warming from the committee, and the vote showed the powerful hand of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Waxman ally, even though she officially remained neutral in the race.

John Kerry will replace Joe Biden as the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

More than three decades after he first appeared before the panel as a 27-year-old Vietnam veteran-turned-antiwar protester, Senator John F. Kerry will be named chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, giving him enormous influence over President-elect Barack Obama's foreign policy, according to congressional officials.

Kerry, who was elected to a fifth term from Massachusetts earlier this month, will be handed the gavel when the new Congress convenes in January, replacing Vice President-elect Joe Biden, the officials said.

Aides to Kerry said he is already laying out a broad agenda for the committee, beginning with new legislation to strengthen the United States' hand against terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan; provide oversight of efforts to end the war in Iraq; and seize what he sees as a new opportunity to curtail the spread of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.

Kerry, 64, is still considered by some political observers to be a possible pick for Obama's secretary of state, but Senator Hillary Clinton of New York and former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, each of whom met separately with Obama at his Chicago transition office last week, are considered far more likely selections for the position of top diplomat.

House and Senate Republicans have Rahm Emanuel's cell phone number.

Incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, on Capitol Hill today to meet with House and Senate Republicans, says that the lines of communication will run across the aisle in an Obama administration.

Senate Republicans say that promise includes the famously outgoing Democrat's digits.

"He gave us all his personal cell phone," said newly-selected Republican Policy Committee Chairman John Ensign, who met with Emanuel today. "He said he promised to get back us on issues within 24 hours."

Here's what we do now about who is serving in what positions:

Chief of staff: Rahm Emanuel NAMED
Deputy chiefs of staff: Jim Messina NAMED, Mona Sutphen NAMED
Senior advisers: Valerie Jarrett NAMED, Peter Rouse NAMED, David Axelrod NAMED Assistant to the president for legislative affairs: Phil Schiliro NAMED
White House counsel: Greg Craig NAMED
Press secretary: Robert Gibbs
Biden chief of staff: Ron Klain NAMED
Staff secretary: Lisa Brown NAMED
Cabinet secretary: Chris Lu NAMED

Also confirmed positions:

HHS: Tom Daschle CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS
Justice (AG): Eric Holder CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS
OMB: Peter Orszag CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS

Louisville fans hate Kragthorpe, Tom Jurich hated 93.9 the Ticket

First off, kudos to Beisner for this hilarious parody of what would happen if Tom Jurich hosted a radio show.

Secondly, who the fricking heck does Tom Jurich think that he is to pull the crap that he did. We get it. You hate the fans' criticism of you not doing anything to Steve Kragthorpe. Kentucky fans can't help but laugh when Louisville loses. With two games left, Louisville is sitting at 5-5 with a depressing 1-4 Big East conference record. Meanwhile, UK is sitting at 2-5 in the SEC but has a 6-5 overall record.

Jurich doesn't have that thick skin that is required of the guy running the athletic program at Louisville.

Go read what Bryan had to say on the subject and this is just the Jurich factor.

Right after UL lost to Syracuse, I know we could not keep the callers coming on fast enough from UL fans criticizing Steve Kragthorpe, with the occasional Tom Jurich basher. I can not even estimate how many CARDS fans were calling for his head. And during that whole week, the theme from the Front Row Hosts (Zach McCrite and Rick Bozich) was that it is NOT good to fire a coach after two seasons. So, all criticism of the UL program was coming from fans. Obviously the calls continued after bad losses to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. After the Pitt loss, some of you all may have read Jurich’s criticism of the UL fan base for expecting too much out of their football program.

Once again, CARDS fans called in droves to bash Jurich this time. But, word began to get around the station that Jurich was not happy with 93.9 The Ticket, feeling we were unfair to the Cards program, and instigating fans to be negative towards Kragthorpe.

Let’s address this: First of all, the football program SUCKS. We didn’t have to do a damn thing at 93.9 to anger fans. They were angry by not only the awful product on the field, but also their jerk athletic director being critical of them. Second of all, the hosts straight down the line said that Kragthorpe should keep his job. Jurich was also angry at liners that 93.9 The Ticket ran that said things such as “We don’t tow the company line at 93.9 The Ticket, Real Cards Radio”. These were created as competiton against the other station in Louisville, which the UL athletic department helps run, and basically is always positive to the program, and certainly would never criticize it. IT’S CALLED TRYING TO COMPETE TOM!!!! SOMETHING YOUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM CAN’T DO!!!!!

Jurich thinks that it is inappropriate for the media to be critical of the local school, as it only leads to problems. What he will never tell you is that he may have made a mistake in the Kragthorpe hire. Just as he blames fans for expecting too much, he would never admit he has been too leniant in the decline of the program.

So the question you might ask is: So what if Tom Jurich is a jerk? How does that hurt the radio station? Well, quite frankly, Jurich is very powerful in the city. He threatened and possibly went to the levels of telling advertisers of the UL program to not even consider advertising with 93.9 The Ticket, or lose their contracts with UL. That is the lifeblood of sports radio. You have to get advertising to survive. Jurich tried to railroad the station, from what I have heard unsuccessfully. I don’t think it is too crazy to think he MAY have had a hand in knocking us off the air. I have no proof of that, but after all the links he went to show his dislike of the station, it just would not suprise me.

This post has run on pretty far, so let me wrap up with this: Tom Jurich is a bad guy. He is in my opinion a very good athletic director, but he is a man who is a coward. I truly hope the failure of Steve Kragthorpe also brings him down. I hope the UL fans turn on him, which has already started to happen. He has made slam dunk hires in nearly all his sports, and has made one bad hire. Hey Tom, it happens!!!! Man up and take some blame. You have a hand in the demise of your football program.

RIP: Irving Brecher

Irv Brecher, the comedy writer, died on Monday at the age of 94.

His most notable work included the vaudeville sketches he penned for Milton Berle and comedies he wrote for the Marx Brothers - including a solo credit on 1940 film Go West.

Early in his career, Brecher was an uncredited script doctor on The Wizard of Oz, leading Groucho Marx to call him The Wicked Wit of the West - the title of his autobiography, which is scheduled to hit shelves in January.

His film credits came to include Shadow of the Thin Man in 1941, 1943's Du Barry Was a Lady, starring Lucille Ball, Gene Kelly and Red Skelton, Yolanda and the Thief in 1945, starring Fred Astaire, and 1963 classic Bye Bye Birdie.

Brecher was also nominated for an Academy Award for his screenplay for Meet Me in St. Louis, starring Judy Garland.

In addition to the silver screen, Brecher also turned his talents to radio, creating long-running series The Life of Riley - later adapted into a feature film and TV series in 1949.

Here's a link to the obit at the Jewish Journal.

The following YouTube video was released during the writer's strike of last year.



Some blurbs on the upcoming autobiography:

Advance Praise
“Like Tuesdays With Morrie meets Krapp's Last Tape!”

— Don Foster, Emmy-nominated exec producer/writer of Two-and-a-Half Men

“Irving Brecher was hilarious in 1938 and he’s hilarious in 2008. He’s also a true gentleman who values friendship and learning. Salute!”

— Scott Eyman, author of Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer

“The only good thing about making At The Circus was beginning my friendship with Irving Brecher.”

-Groucho Marx

“The dictionary defines wit as the ability to perceive and express in ingeniously humorous manner the relationship between seemingly incongruous or disparate things.

My own definition is infinitely simpler.

I define wit as Irving Brecher”

—Larry Gelbart

“One of the three fastest (along with George S. Kaufman and Oscar Levant), with the one-line impromptus”

—S.J. Perelman

“Irv of the incomparable wit!”

—Ben Hecht

"Irving Brecher never did a damn thing for me. He already committed his crime, by putting Milton in the business."

—Red Buttons

If you're interested in real "groundbreaking television" look no further than Irv Brecher (creator of the first sitcom.etc..) — a real pioneer, funnyman, and historical treasure.

Thank God for this book—at 94, Irv is truly the last of the Joke-hicans.

—Liz Tuccillo, writer for Sex and the City and co-author of "He's Just Not That Into You"

“I don’t like to quote myself but unfortunately everybody I know who should be quoting me is dead.”

—Irving Brecher

Coldplay to split up in 2009?

Rumors surfaced on the internet today that Chris Martin wants to quit Coldplay at the end of 2009.

MTV UK:

Coldplay could call it quits at the end of next year- singer Chris Martin has hinted.

Talking to the Daily Express he said he didn’t want the band to end up as wrinkly rockers like The Rolling Stones.

He said: "I'm 31 now and I don't think that bands should keep going past 33. So, we're trying to pack in as much as possible. Up until the end of next year, we'll just go for it in every sense.”

Although Martin is known for making funny tongue in cheek comments many have taken this to mean that multi-million selling Coldplay are set to split.

He told the paper: "I don't believe in time off. We've still got most of our hair, we can still fit into our musical trousers and we've got to make the most of that."

The group have previously hinted that their next (fifth) album will be their last. Their latest album Viva La Vida is one of the best selling records of 2008 worldwide.

Well, crap...here comes that rainy day feeling again...

News from Kentucky and more...

Jake reports that change is on the horizon for the Kentucky Democratic Party.

It's about bloody time that they start taking advantage of new media and the blogosphere.

Bill Clinton is making concessions for Sen. Hillary Clinton to be the next Secretary of State.

Some husbands send flowers. Some buy chocolate. In the Hillary-Bill relationship, he gives up sources of foreign income and names of donors to show his support.

As the Obama transition team vets Hillary Clinton for a possible appointment as Secretary of State, a reported sticking point in the process has been Bill and his charitable foundation. The Clinton Global Initiative, a subset of the William J. Clinton Foundation, has extensive overseas dealings, possible conflicts-of-interest should his wife become secretary of state.

AP is reporting today that Hillary believes "the job is hers if she wants it." And there are multiple reports that the former president is making concessions in the Obama team's vetting requests, including an AP report that Clinton "has agreed to release the names of several major donors to his charitable foundation and will submit future foundation activities and paid speeches to a strict ethics review, said Democrats knowledgeable about the discussions."[...]

If Hillary Clinton is offered the Cabinet post, she'll be one of many reported Clinton administration retreads working in or with the Obama administration. Eric Holder, a deputy at the Department of Justice during the Clinton administration, was reportedly offered the job of attorney general. Before Rahm Emanuel was a congressman, he was a senior advisor in the Clinton White House. He's now Obama's chief of staff. John Podesta, heading up the Obama transition, is Clinton's former chief of staff.

Obama has said he may be looking to create a "team of rivals." But this stack-up of Clinton veterans in the Obama administration has already caused buzz that this may not be what some people were looking for when they voted for change. Buried in that Rasmussen poll was this nugget: "Despite the support for Clinton to be secretary of state, 70% of voters think Obama should reach out and appoint new people for his Cabinet rather than including more people who served in the Clinton administration."

One big-name non-Clinton now associated with the Obama administration surfaced in news reports today. Tom Daschle, the former Senate Majority Leader, has accepted a cabinet post at Health and Human Services.

Vote for UK and some sad news to share...

Please go here and vote for UK. On the current ESPN poll, Kentucky is down 60-40 to UNC for the greater historical program out of 32,000 votes cast.

For the sad news, 93.9 The Ticket is undergoing yet another format change. Louisville just can't seem to keep sports talk radio on the air, especially ESPN programming.

AL Most Valuable Player: Dustin Pedroia

While I did not predict him during the original predictions, midseason, or postseason predictions, the AL MVP is Dustin Pedroia...although we all know it should have gone to Josh Hamilton.

Just call him Mr. November. Or better yet, refer to Dustin Pedroia as the Most Valuable Player of the American League.
The second baseman of the Boston Red Sox continued his rapid burst into the national spotlight on Tuesday, when he was recognized with that impressive honor.

Though most pundits expected the race for MVP to be agonizingly close, Pedroia won in comfortable fashion, outdistancing a solid field that included, among others, Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis, Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton and Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez.

Following a 2007 season in which Pedroia helped fuel the Red Sox to a World Series championship and won the American League Rookie of the Year Award, the right-handed hitting machine staged quite an encore.

Pedroia joins Cal Ripken Jr. and Ryan Howard as the only players to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in consecutive years.

For his performance in 2008, Pedroia received a Gold Glove Award, a spot on the American League's Silver Slugger team and now the MVP.

By prevailing in the Baseball Writers' Association of America voting, Pedroia became the first Red Sox player to cart home the coveted MVP Award since Mo Vaughn in 1995. But unlike Vaughn, one of the most physically imposing figures in club history, Pedroia will go down as one of the slightest.

Joe Lieberman to keep his chairmanship

NBC First Read:

Democrats in Congress have allowed Joe Lieberman to hold onto his powerful chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee in a secret ballot vote.

Majority Leader Harry Reid, however, asked the Connecticut senator to step down as chairman of the Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection subcommittee of the Environmental & Public Works Committee, which Lieberman said he did.

Lieberman, who caucuses with the Democrats, retains his AirLand subcommitte chairmanship of the Armed Services Committee.

Lieberman said he regretted some of his comments regarding President-elect Obama during the campaign trail, or that he would have liked to have made them more clearly.

Will Hillary Clinton be the next Secretary of State?

Via Political Wire, we learn that Hillary Clinton may be accepting President-elect Barack Obama's offer to serve as the 67th Secretary of State (not including all those who served the position in an acting or interim role).

A report in The Guardian:

Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job of secretary of state offered by Barack Obama, who is reaching out to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration, the Guardian has learned.

Obama's advisers have begun looking into Bill Clinton's foundation, which distributes millions of dollars to Africa to help with development, to ensure that there is no conflict of interest. But Democrats do not believe that the vetting is likely to be a problem.

Clinton would be well placed to become the country's dominant voice in foreign affairs, replacing Condoleezza Rice. Since being elected senator for New York, she has specialised in foreign affairs and defence. Although she supported the war in Iraq, she and Obama basically agree on a withdrawal of American troops.

Clinton, who still harbours hopes of a future presidential run, had to weigh up whether she would be better placed by staying in the Senate, which offers a platform for life, or making the more uncertain career move to the secretary of state job.

I'm not correcting their grammatical errors at the moment though.

All eyes appear to be on Bill Clinton though.

Former president Bill Clinton's business and international work is being closely examined in hopes of clearing the way for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to become secretary of state, several people familiar with the process said Monday.

They did not describe President-elect Barack Obama as having formally offered her the job but said that there is an understanding that if Clinton can sort out her husband's global work -- which has made him an international philanthropic powerhouse but also earned him millions in speaking fees from foreign companies, creating obvious potential conflicts-of-interest -- she would have a good, if not completely certain, shot at it.

"There's a lot of momentum in the direction of this happening," close Clinton friend James Carville said. He said that the former president's work -- both past and future -- is a complicating matter. "She's not married to Todd Palin," Carville said.

Reports of the move, which first surfaced last week, have stunned some Obama loyalists who said they fear the administration is becoming an all-Clinton operation, with the transition run by former Clinton chief of staff John Podesta. Greg Craig, the former special counsel during the Clinton impeachment, is slotted to serve as White House counsel (he is much less of a Clinton partisan, having backed Obama during the primaries). Rahm Emanuel, who was political director during the Clinton administration, is now Obama's chief of staff.

Sources: Joe Lieberman to keep chairmanship

NBC First Read reports that Democratic sources believe that Senator Joseph Lieberman will likely keep his chairmanship.

Tomorrow, Senate Democrats gather to decide if Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-D) should keep his position as chairman of Homeland Security Committee, and it looks like he just may. Several Democrats and Democratic-leaning groups were calling for Lieberman to stripped of his chairmanship for not only supporting John McCain's candidacy for president -- but also criticizing Barack Obama in the process.

According to sources familiar with negotiations, Democrats are expected to vote in favor of letting the Connecticut senator keep his chairmanship and seniority, but give up the gavel on a subcommittee he chairs. The vote happens tomorrow morning by secret ballot.

The tide turned in Lieberman's favor, sources say, after two events in recent weeks. First, President-elect Obama told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that he wanted Lieberman to stay in the Democratic caucus. Later, in a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Lieberman told him it would be "unacceptable" for him to give up his gavel. That was considered by some as a veiled threat that Lieberman would jump to caucus with Republicans if he was forced to give up the gavel.

Obama tipped the scales in Lieberman's favor, one source said. The source essentially explained it like this: If the wrath was directed at Obama and got over it, shouldn't the Democratic caucus do the same?

Could Eliot Spitzer replace Hillary Clinton as Senator?

Eliot Spitzer returned to the mainstream over the weekend with an op-ed in the WaPo to discuss the current financial crisis that we are in.

The new president's team must soon get to the root causes of the mistakes that have brought us to the economic precipice. Yes, we have all derided the explosion of leverage, the failure to regulate derivatives, the flood of subprime lending that was bound to default and the excesses of CEO compensation. But these are all mere manifestations of three deeper structural problems that require greater attention: misconceptions about what a "free market" really is, a continuing breakdown in corporate governance and an antiquated and incoherent federal financial regulatory framework.[...]

No major market problem has been resolved through self-regulation, because individual competitive behavior doesn't concern itself with the larger market. Individual actors care only about performing better than the next guy, doing whatever is permitted -- or will go undetected. Look at the major bubbles and market crises. Long-Term Capital Management, Enron, the subprime lending scandals: All are classic demonstrations of the bitter reality that greed, not self-discipline, rules where unfettered behavior is allowed.[...]

Let's leave aside the ideological hesitancy that has long hamstrung regulatory agencies. Today's balkanized regulatory framework for financial services no longer matches in any way the needs of a fully integrated global financial system. The divisions of the past -- commercial banking vs. investment banking vs. insurance vs. hedge funds vs. private equity -- have become distinctions without a difference. But these old boxes and formalities still determine how entities are viewed and regulated. It should surprise nobody that capital found the crevices in the regulatory framework. That is what capital is paid to do. But we failed to respond with a regulatory framework flexible enough to plug the leaks.[...]

We do not need additional fragmented areas of federal regulation to handle hedge funds, sovereign wealth funds or derivatives. We need a unified approach that addresses the underlying issues: what kinds of leverage we wish to tolerate, how to measure risk, how much disclosure various trading products should provide. We cannot survive with the current system: the SEC, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Fed, the Office of Thrift Supervision and on and on. We must go from the Rube Goldberg structure we now have to a sleek iPod design that is cleaner, has better operating software and may even look good.

This is where he comes clean though and apologizes:

Although mistakes I made in my private life now prevent me from participating in these issues as I have in the past, I very much hope and expect that President Obama and his new administration will have the strength and wisdom to do again what FDR did.

Noam Scheiber goes as far as saying what he did in the past does not disqualify him for serving in the United States Senate. Ben Smith goes as far as suggesting him for Senate!

Also, thank you Alan Dershowitz.

NL Most Valuable Player: Albert Pujols

While I did not predict him during the original predictions or midseason, I can say that during my postseason predictions, I said it would be him or Ryan Howard. So, for the NL MVP award, I'm 1 for 3 this season. Given the weekend I had, it cheers me up a little bit.

Matthew Leach at MLB:

The National League's best player has also been named its most valuable.

Albert Pujols' magnificent season earned him his second NL Most Valuable Player Award. Pujols finished ahead of Philadelphia's Ryan Howard, who beat him out by a narrow margin to win the 2006 MVP.

Pujols has finished in the top 10 in the voting in every one of his eight Major League seasons, and has been fourth or better seven times. He is the 11th player to win two NL MVP awards.

As baseball waited to hear the results of the ballot, the discussion centered on the definition of "most valuable." Some argued that because Pujols' Cardinals did not make the postseason, he could not be the most valuable player in the league. It was the only possible case against Pujols, who was indisputably his league's best hitter and who plays Gold Glove-caliber defense at first base.

Pujols had already been recognized with virtually every other major individual award for which he was eligible. He was named National League or Major League player of the year by the Sporting News, the MLB Players Association and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, as well as NL MVP in Baseball Prospectus' Internet Baseball Awards.

In the end, the Baseball Writers' Association of America joined the chorus, choosing not to penalize Pujols for his team's fourth-place finish. In fact, it's quite possible that quite the opposite happened -- that Pujols was rewarded for the Cardinals' place in the standings.[...]

It was by some measures the slugger's best season. He hit .357, two points shy of his career high, and set new personal bests with a .462 on-base percentage, a 1.115 OPS and 104 walks. He slugged .653, nearly 30 points better than his career average, cranking 37 homers and 44 doubles. Pujols drove in 116 runs, scored 100 and struck out just 54 times.

It was not only a supremely productive season for Pujols, it was a consistent one as well. He never hit lower than .302 in any month, never had an OBP lower than .413 and never slugged below .558. He came on especially strong in the second half, batting .366 and slugging .706 after the All-Star break. Pujols finished seven points behind Chipper Jones in the race for the NL batting title.

Only four players -- Barry Bonds, Roy Campanella and Stan Musial -- have been the NL MVP three or more times. Musial had been the only Cardinal to win the award twice or more.

In the history of the award, 13 Cardinals have won a combined 16 times. In addition to Pujols and Musial, Willie McGee, Keith Hernandez, Joe Torre, Bob Gibson, Orlando Cepeda, Ken Boyer, Marty Marion, Mort Cooper, Joe Medwick, Dizzy Dean and Frankie Frisch all garnered MVP honors.

Seriously, UK lost to VMI?

I turn my computer back on following Shabbas to read this: VMI stuns Kentucky, 111-103

Seriously?!?

Leading the Cats was Jodie Meeks with 39 points, Perry Stevenson with 14 rebounds, and Deandre Liggins with 5 assists.

If this is what I am going to be watching next week when we play North Carolina, I'm going to be fricking upset. But VMI?!? VM-fricking-I?!?

Sen. Barack Obama to resign

As of Sunday, Senator and President-elect Barack Obama will no longer be a sitting member of the United States Senate as he will be submitting his resignation.

President-elect Barack Obama said today he will step down from his Senate seat effective this Sunday.

The decision adds to the pressure on Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a fellow Democrat, who under state law has the sole responsibility for naming a successor to Obama, the only African-American in the Senate.

“It has been one of the highest honors and privileges of my life to have served the people of Illinois in the United States Senate," Obama said in a statement today.

"In a state that represents the crossroads of a nation, I have met so many men and women who’ve taken different journeys, but hold common hopes for their children’s future," Obama said. "It is these Illinois families and their stories that will stay with me as I leave the United States Senate and begin the hard task of fulfilling the simple hopes and common dreams of all Americans as our nation’s next President.”

Aides to Obama already had said he would not be returning to Washington to vote on Senate matters this fall, in advance of his being sworn in as the nation’s 44th president Jan. 20. Obama was in Chicago today working on transition matters from the Kluczynski Federal Building in the Loop.

Blagojevich has said he expects to make a decision by the end of the year and is “not interested” in naming himself to the post.[...]

Among those who have expressed interest or are being considered for the post are U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston and Luis Gutierrez and Jesse Jackson Jr. of Chicago; Tammy Duckworth, who heads Blagojevich's department of Veterans' Affairs; and Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan and state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, two potential rivals if the governor seeks a third term.

Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr., an African-American and close Blagojevich ally who served as an early Obama mentor, also has been mentioned as a possible replacement.

But Jones, 73, who is leaving his post in the legislature, is considered a caretaker replacement and national Democrats want an appointee who can run for re-election and win in two years.

AL Cy Young Award winner: Cliff Lee

While I did not predict him during the original predictions or midseason, I can say that during my postseason predictions, I said it would be him or Roy Halladay. So, for the AL Cy Young award, I'm 1 for 3 this season.

MLB:

The constant quest for perfection drove Cliff Lee to great feats throughout 2008.

"Even if I had won every start, I don't know if I'd be satisfied," he said near the season's end. "There's always something you can do better. I don't know how to explain it other than that. It's just the way I am, I guess."

But even Lee has to be satisfied with what took place Thursday, when the Baseball Writers' Association of America named him the American League Cy Young Award winner.

The honor was well-deserved. Lee led the AL in wins with a 22-3 record and in ERA with a 2.54 mark, posted the third-highest winning percentage (.880) for a 20-game winner in baseball history and became the Tribe's first 20-game winner since Gaylord Perry in 1974. The voters took notice. Lee received 24 of 28 first-place votes and finished with 132 points in balloting. He beat out the Jays' Roy Halladay, who finished second with 74 votes.

Lee followed the trail of former teammate and fellow left-hander CC Sabathia, who, one year ago, became the Indians' first Cy Young winner since Perry in 1972. Lee, Sabathia and Perry are the only Tribe pitchers to win the prestigious award.

Lee captured his in dramatic fashion, having been banished to the Minor Leagues and left off the Indians' playoff roster in '07. He was 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA in that '07 season, which was marred by a right abdominal strain he suffered in Spring Training.

In Spring Training of this year, Lee had to fight for a spot on the Tribe's roster. Because of the $3.75 million Lee was set to make, it was generally assumed he was the front-runner to beat out young left-handers Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers, but the Indians nonetheless wanted him to earn the job.

Lee earned it all right. He looked confident and in command of all his pitches in spring camp, and the fifth starter's job was his.

But Lee wouldn't be the Tribe's fifth starter for long. He began the season 6-0 with a 0.81 ERA in his first six starts and never looked back.

Alaska Senate update, Biden names Klain as Chief of Staff

Anchorage Daily News:

The elections division still has over 10,000 ballots left to count today and thousands more through next week, but the latest numbers show Mark Begich leading Sen. Ted Stevens 125,019 to 125,016.

The new numbers, reflecting nearly 43,000 absentee ballots counted today, are from all over the state. Election night, Ted Stevens led the Democratic Begich by about 3,000 votes.

Vice President-elect has been reported to have named Ron Klain as his chief of staff.

Vice President-elect Biden has asked veteran Congressional and White House staffer Ron Klain to be his chief of staff in the White House, according to Democratic insiders.

Painful, sickening, and disgusting

I'm sorry but I have my whole seperation of sports and politics but reading this is just painful, sickening, and disgusting. Personally, I would never trade my sports allegiances if a candidate recieved a state's electoral votes. I just hope Ashley Judd will be sporting her Kentucky blue while sitting in the UNC student section.

UNC-Chapel Hill students will have a famously devoted Wildcats fan sitting in their section when the Tar Heels host Kentucky next week.

On a campaign trip for Obama late last month, actress Ashley Judd promised students she would return to Chapel Hill for the basketball game -- and sit in the student section -- if Obama won North Carolina.

He did, and Judd's public relations firm said the star of "High Crimes" and "Kiss the Girls" plans to attend the Tuesday game.

No word on what shade of blue she'll be wearing.

SNL adds two more cast members

According to The Comic's Comic, Lorne Michaels has added two more female cast members to Saturday Night Live.

The Comic's Comic has learned that Lorne Michaels didn't wait too long to figure out how to replace Amy Poehler's presence in the cast of Saturday Night Live, hiring not one but two new female cast members: Abby Elliott and Michaela Watkins. They should make their debuts this Saturday night, a show already begging to be an awesome blossom of funny and fierce thanks to host Paul Rudd and musical guest Beyonce.

About our newbies!

Abby Elliott is 21, and if the Internets are to be believed, the daughter of the illustriously eccentric comedic actor Chris Elliott, so that already makes her a welcome addition to SNL. She has voiced "hipster girl" on a couple of episodes of King of the Hill. She also was among the sketch comedy players of The Midnight Show at the UCB Theatre in Los Angeles, and has a couple of 2006 videos on the YouTube displaying her abilities to channel Kirsten Dunst and Angelina Jolie. I'm sensing some youthful exuberance...

Michaela Watkins already has been appearing on your TV set this fall in primetime as "Lucy" on The New Adventures of Old Christine (more credits at IMDB). Watkins also comes from the main company of The Groundlings in Los Angeles, which has sent many past alums on to stardom at SNL.

These are interesting choices.

NBC announces John McCain as chair of the Conan O'Brien transition

Managers of the Year: Joe Maddon and Lou Piniella

The ballots are in and the winners of both leagues have been named.

Joe Maddon and the man he succeeded as Tampa Bay manager, Lou Piniella, were named Managers of the Year in the American League and National League, respectively, by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, announced Wednesday afternoon.

Both were recognized for leading their teams to 2008 glory, with Maddon's Rays reaching a destination that remained out of the reach of Piniella's Cubs for a 63rd straight year -- the World Series.

Maddon's selection had been long anticipated, ever since he put the Tampa Bay Rays on track for their first playoff appearance following a 10-year existence of losing.

The honor is the first for the 54-year-old Maddon, who assumed his first managerial job when he was hired by Tampa Bay in November 2005, taking over after Piniella had guided his hometown team to 200 wins in three seasons.

And, typical of the blithe spirit that is often associated with the manager, Wednesday's announcement caught Maddon on a European honeymoon with his bride of a few days, Jaye.

Piniella, a two-time winner of AL honors in 1995 and 2001 with the Seattle Mariners, prevailed in a more competitive NL race after guiding the Cubs to the Central Division title with a 97-64 record.

Um, gee...

Thanks, Joe...as if I'm not already stressed out enough. What you want me to do, vent again? You're asking for it. And to warn you ahead of time, I haven't reach the point of the bubble burst where I let my anger out on others. You don't want to see me when the Hulk awakes....metaphorically. That post that you linked to? Yea, it happened to be one of those days.

And yea, I can be self-deprecating at times. This isn't one of those times.

And that stand-up set, for the billionth time, was on a day when I had an interview and didn't have much preparation for the comedic material. How many times to I have to explain it? Plus, I'm set more for improv and sketch than stand-up. After four open mics and a ten minute set, I've recognized that.

And one more thing, I'm pretty sure that is up to Sen. Reid.

Denton sued by son

CJ:

State Sen. Julie Denton has been sued by one of her own children, who alleges that she took money from his trust account and spent it on herself.

In a lawsuit filed Monday in Jefferson Circuit Court, Thomas G. Rose Jr., 20, alleges that his mother took $15,000 from the account and converted it “to her own use and enjoyment.”

Denton, a 48-year-old Republican who has worked as a dental hygienist and lives in Anchorage, did not respond to phone calls. B. Mark Mulloy, a lawyer who has represented her in the past, said she hadn’t been served with the suit and couldn’t immediately comment on it.

In his suit, Rose, who lives in Lexington and has been a student at University of Kentucky, asks for compensatory as well as punitive damages, saying his mother’s “wrongful acts” were committed with “malice and oppression.”

The suit said the trust was established by his father, Thomas G. Rose, in 1997. Rose’s lawyer, John Helmers said Denton became the trustee after she and her husband divorced.

Hmm, this doesn't look pretty at all.

Biden and Livni talk Iran and more

Joe Biden recently spoke with Tzipi Livni, reports JTA.

The U.S. vice president-elect spoke to the Israeli foreign minister after last week’s elections, said a statement released Tuesday by Livni’s office.

Biden, a a senator from Delaware for 35 years, is expected to take a lead foreign policy role in the Barack Obama administration. He is well known to Israeli leaders, having made his first visit to the region just before the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

“Livni thanked Vice President-elect Biden for his long-standing friendship and support of Israel, and said that she looks forward to continuing to work with him,” the statement said. “They agreed to work together to advance the shared interests and values of Israel and the United States in the Middle East.”

The statement emphasized concerns about Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons program and control of the Gaza Strip by Hamas terrorists.

"It is very important that we continue our cooperation and work together against the Iranian threat,” it quoted Livni as saying. “Time is not working in favor of the moderates in Iran. Hamas and the extremist elements are studying our moves and they must understand that the world will not tolerate extremism and terror."

On the contrary, Netanyahu would end the current negotiations.

Don't expect a winner of the Minnesota senate race until after Chanukah.

Kentucky gaining clout in Washington?

That's what the CJ seems to say. When you have Democrats in power, you want Democrats in office.

During Republican administrations dating to Ronald Reagan's, Sen. Mitch McConnell has used his clout to help presidents decide on the appointments of federal judges, U.S. attorneys and other key officials in Kentucky, and to steer patronage jobs to friends and supporters.

But now, with Democratic Sen. Barack Obama about to occupy the White House, much of that clout will shift from McConnell -- and his fellow Kentucky Republican, Sen. Jim Bunning -- to state Democrats, including U.S. Reps. John Yarmuth and Ben Chandler.

Although Obama's transition team hasn't contacted Yarmuth, Chandler or Gov. Steve Beshear to talk about appointments, people familiar with the process said they will now gain much of the influence that McConnell has had.

"I think Congressman Yarmuth and Congressman Chandler are very well-positioned, not only because of being Democrats, but because they were early supporters of Senator Obama," said Rick Northern, a Louisville lawyer who worked at the White House for a year in 1979-80.

After filling cabinet positions and other top jobs, Obama's administration is expected to turn to Kentucky's Democratic congressmen, and Beshear, as they make choices for other government posts, including:

U.S. attorney, the top federal prosecutor, in both the Eastern and Western court districts of Kentucky.

U.S. marshal, the top federal law enforcement official, in both districts.

Vacancies in the federal judiciary in Kentucky and on commissions and agencies that affect the state, such as the Appalachian Regional Commission, an economic development agency.

Former U.S. Sen. Wendell Ford, who retired in 1998, may also play a role in making recommendations for such appointments, Northern said.

But he noted that some lesser-known names also will have the administration's ear. For example, there's Louisville businessman Matthew Barzun, who according to published accounts raised more than $500,000 for Obama.

We shall certainly see what happens now.

Will Bayh be in the new administration?

Personally, I think he will stay put where he is. Indiana has a GOP Governor so why risk losing a seat to the Republicans?

Tim Roemer is being considered.

Roemer, who campaigned for Obama in 11 states this year, was a foreign policy adviser to the campaign alongside Hamilton.

Roemer said he's heard the rumors that he's being considered for Obama's administration. But until now, he said, he's been focused on the campaign.

"I would highly recommend Lee Hamilton and Evan Bayh," he said.

Hamilton, who is 77, said he isn't likely to take a job in Obama's administration,

"Oh, I think I'm too old," he said. "I have a good relationship with Obama, but I'm not at an age where I can take over a major responsibility."

Bayh, a popular two-term Democratic senator who was rumored to have been on Obama's vice presidential short list, is focused on his work in the Senate, said his spokesman, Eric Kleiman.

Evan Bayh did appear on FOX News recently. Here's an excerpt of that interview:

EVAN BAYH (D), INDIANA SENATOR: Sean, it's good to be back.

HANNITY: All right, now, I'd be very surprised if you support this. In other words, do you think if Joe Lieberman still wants to caucus with the Democrats, would you — do you think there should be retribution because he supported Senator McCain?

Do you think he should be punished and have his chairmanship stripped from him?

BAYH: No, I don't think there should be retribution, Sean. We have an opportunity to make a fresh start in this country. And I think reconciliation is in order, not revenge or retribution.

HANNITY: Yes.

BAYH: Joe did say some things. Not his support of John McCain. I think everybody understands that supporting your friend is perfectly legitimate. He said some things that perhaps crossed the line in terms of questioning Senator Obama's, you know, patriotism or things like that.

And I think if Joe came before the caucus and said look, if I said some things that came as offensive, I'm sorry, but.

HANNITY: Yes.

BAYH: . they were — you know heartfelt in my support of John McCain. I think we had to just let bygones be bygones. We're going to need him on healthcare and energy independence and education and a whole lot of other things.

So to answer your question directly, no, I don't think retribution or revenge is in the best interests of anyone.

HANNITY: It appears like it's on its way. Now I want to play for you a — this sort of all comes together from my standpoint because this is Senator Obama. This is on his victory speech the other night.[...]

COLMES: Let's forgive. By the way, Lindsey Graham said this was a great choice for Barack Obama, you know, a very good friend of John McCain.

Let me show you — getting back to Joe Lieberman for a second, Senator Bayh. And welcome once again to our show. It's good to see you.

BAYH: Thank you, Alan.

COLMES: Here is what Senator Lieberman said when he was in a tight primary race with Ned Lamont about his allegiance to the Democratic Party.

Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIEBERMAN: I want Democrats to be back in the majority in Washington and elect a Democratic president in 2008.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLMES: That's what he said then. But, of course, that's not exactly what he did. He didn't just support John McCain and vote for him. He was a key note speaker at the RNC, as you said, questioning the patriotism of Barack Obama when he implied Barack Obama didn't always put his country first.

I mean, doesn't Joe Lieberman have t o say I'm really sorry for those kinds of things before he is accepted back into the fold?

BAYH: Alan, I think we need to look at the whole context here. First, this is someone who votes with the majority of Democrats, a vast majority of the time, particularly on domestic issues.

Secondly, you know, John McCain has been his good friend for many years and I think we have to give him some allowance f or that. Now, he did say some things about Barack that I think crossed the line in this campaign. But if he's willing to step up and say look, if in the heat of the moment I said some things that were taken the wrong way, I'm sorry for that, let's all now work together and move on, I think we should do that.

We have a wonderful opportunity here rather than going back and seeing what someone said two years ago or six months ago, or whatever, to instead start anew addressing the new problems that affect your viewers. That's what we ought to be focusing on here.

COLMES: You know, it's not just one comment, though. Things like there's no room for strong on security Democrats. Things like that. Questioning Democrats ' stances on a number of issues, not just the war.

I mean doesn't that concern you? I'd like to see as many Democrats as possible in the Senate. It would be great if Joe Lieberman would be one of them. Don't you find some of those comments about what you stand for offensive?

BAYH: Well, Alan, I do think he went too far when he questioned Barack Obama's patriotism. I said so at the time. When he said he was for losing in Iraq, I just know that is not the case.

I think Joe Lieberman got caught up in the emotions of the moment and went too far. It's a human aspect that I think we all can relate to.

The important thing now is, the important thing now, Alan, is we're going to need his support on energy independence, on health care, on education, job creation, on a lot of things you and I care about.

COLMES: Yes.

BAYH: And we're going to prove that there is a place for Democrats who are strong on national security in the Democratic Party.

COLMES: All right. Well, I hope it all works out. It would be great if we could all come together.

The Daily Show: post-Bush

Houston, we might have a problem. For the last eight years, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, made fun of George W. Bush...or election gaffes. Andrew Sullivan doesn't ponder the future of The Daily Show post-Bush but has excerpts of what others are saying. Sullivan is confident of self-reinvention.

Dan Cois:

It's no secret that plenty of satirical outlets — Saturday Night Live, the Onion, late-night talk shows — have had trouble finding good Obama jokes. But we're not forecasting their doom. The Daily Show is unique, though, in its audience and in its comedic approach, and we're very worried that an Obama presidency might send Jon Stewart's show speedily on the road to obsolescence.

Why? First of all, in one eventful day, the prototypical Daily Show viewer has been transformed: Once disaffected and angry at Washington's power structure, he's now delighted and hopeful about the new president and all that he symbolizes. And if you're an Obama fan — eager to give Barack the benefit of the doubt, and proud and excited about the change you've helped bring the nation — do you really want Jon Stewart sitting on the sidelines, taking potshots at your hero?

Cois goes on to suggest other Democrats, Republicans, the media (CNN holograms?), and despite the Democrats having both chambers of Congress, the inability to still get anything done!

Make no mistake about it, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report will survive. Life will find a way, my friends.

NL Cy Young Award winner: Tim Lincecum

While I did not predict him during the original predictions, I did have him predicted at midseason. During my postseason predictions, I said it would be him or Brandom Webb. So, for the NL Cy Young award, I'm 2 for 3 this season.

MLB:

Tim Lincecum has been called "The Freak," "The Franchise" and "Seabiscuit."
Now he can be called something else: The National League's Cy Young Award winner.

The Giants right-hander earned the prestigious honor, emblematic of the league's best pitcher, in voting conducted by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and announced Tuesday.

Lincecum received 23 of 32 first-place votes, seven second-place votes and one third-place vote for 137 points, which were assigned on a 5-3-1 basis. He outdistanced Arizona's Brandon Webb (73 points), the New York Mets' Johan Santana (55), Philadelphia's Brad Lidge (10), Milwaukee's CC Sabathia (9) and the Chicago Cubs' Ryan Dempster (4).

Lincecum became only the second Giant to capture the Cy Young, joining 1967 winner Mike McCormick, and the first second-year player to earn the distinction since right-handers Dwight Gooden of the Mets and Bret Saberhagen of Kansas City secured the 1985 awards in their respective leagues.

At 24, Lincecum already has earned a place in Giants lore alongside Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry, San Francisco's Hall of Fame right-handers. Marichal somehow never received a Cy Young first-place vote in his six 20-win seasons, and Perry twice won the award after leaving the Giants.

Despite Lincecum's sustained excellence, he faced formidable competition for the award. Santana's 2.53 ERA led the NL, Webb's 22 victories paced the league, Sabathia performed in otherworldly fashion after being traded from Cleveland (11-2, 1.65 ERA) and Lidge converted all 41 of his regular-season save opportunities.

But none of them matched Lincecum's overall dominance. He compiled a league-best .783 winning percentage with his 18-5 record and amassed 265 strikeouts to become the first Giant in baseball's modern era (since 1900) to earn that distinction. Against Lincecum, opponents hit .221 overall and .167 with runners in scoring position while averaging 7.22 hits per nine innings -- all league lows. And his 2.62 ERA was the NL's second best.

Sickening...

As a Jew, this is sickening and it's no more sickening than the time that the Southern Baptists wanted to convert us. Can't you just leave the victims of the Shoah in peace?

CNN:

Holocaust survivors said Monday they are through trying to negotiate with the Mormon church over posthumous baptisms of Jews killed in Nazi concentration camps, saying the church has repeatedly violated a 13-year-old agreement barring the practice.

Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints say they are making changes to their massive genealogical database that will make it more difficult for names of Holocaust victims to be entered for posthumous baptism by proxy, a rite that has been a common Mormon practice for more than a century.

But Ernest Michel, honorary chairman of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors, said that is not enough. At a news conference in New York City on Monday, he said the church also must "implement a mechanism to undo what you have done."

"Baptism of a Jewish Holocaust victim and then merely removing that name from the database is just not acceptable," said Michel, whose parents died at Auschwitz. He spoke on the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Nazi-incited riots against Jews.

"We ask you to respect us and our Judaism just as we respect your religion," Michel said in a statement released ahead of the news conference. "We ask you to leave our six million Jews, all victims of the Holocaust, alone, they suffered enough."

Michel said talks with Mormon leaders, held as recently as last week, have ended. He said his group will not sue, and that "the only thing left, therefore, is to turn to the court of public opinion."

In 1995, Mormons and Jews inked an agreement to limit the circumstances that allow for the proxy baptisms of Holocaust victims. Ending the practice outright was not part of the agreement and would essentially be asking Mormons to alter their beliefs, church Elder Lance B. Wickman said Monday in an interview with reporters in Salt Lake City.[...]

Only the Jews have an agreement with the church limiting who can be baptized, though the agreement covers only Holocaust victims, not all Jewish people. Jews are particularly offended by baptisms of Holocaust victims because they were murdered specifically because of their religion.

Michel suggested that posthumous baptisms of Holocaust victims play into the hands of Holocaust deniers.

"They tell me, that my parents' Jewishness has not been altered but ... 100 years from now, how will they be able to guarantee that my mother and father of blessed memory who lived as Jews and were slaughtered by Hitler for no other reason than they were Jews, will someday not be identified as Mormon victims of the Holocaust?" Michel said Monday.

Ernest Michel spoke at Northern Kentucky University in 2006, if I recall.

Happy Veterans' Day

Please take some time to remember all those military veterans who have served their country at one point or another.

Help Jim Martin defeat Sen. Chambliss

Please go here to the Martin for Senate website and make a contribution to their campaign. They really need it.

Evan Longoria and Geovany Soto take home Rookie of the Year honors

MLB:

Evan Longoria, the third baseman whose powerful bat keyed the Rays' remarkable turnaround season, and Cubs catcher Geovany Soto were named Monday the 2008 winners of their respective leagues' Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award.

Longoria was the unanimous American League selection of the 28 voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America, for the 27 homers and 85 RBIs that followed his delayed addition to the Rays' lineup on April 12.

Longoria, also the only player named on all 28 ballots, and White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who drew 18 second-place votes and 59 total points, reigned over a deep influx of first-year players.

An unusually high number of 10 different rookies, half of them pitchers, attracted votes.

But none of them wowed voters like Longoria, the first unanimous AL winner since Nomar Garciaparra in 1997 (Albert Pujols took NL honors unanimously in 2001).[...]

Soto was nearly as popular a choice in the NL, getting 31 of the 32 first-place votes after minding the critical defensive position for the Central Division champs while putting up 23 homers and 86 RBIs.

He was the only player named on each of the 32 ballots, his 31 firsts and one second resulting in a total of 158 points. Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto finished second with 76 points and was followed by Atlanta pitcher Jair Jurrjens (34).

"I feel very honored," said Soto, speaking from his homeland of Puerto Rico, calling the moment he learned he'd won the award "very emotional. It was a very good moment in my life.

"I worked really, really hard. And now I feel all the work paid off."

The Reds had the distinction of placing three young talents among the top five, with right-hander Edinson Volquez and outfielder Jay Bruce following Jurrjens.

Volquez's presence on that list is definitely unique: No longer a rookie, the pitcher was mistakenly placed on the ballot and received three votes for second, thus there was an obligation to include him in the final results.

Postseason predictions aside, I am one for two in the ROY predictions. I had correctly predicted Evan Longoria as the AL recipient of the Rookie of the Year award.

The Lieberman Question

We all disagreed with what Sen. Joseph Lieberman decided to do this year. You aren't the only one upset with him. I am, too. But look at the big picture. Even Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid defended the guy on CNN's Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer with John King!

KING: A lot of attention focused on a new president coming into town but you have a pretty interesting job at the moment yourself, managing a sometimes dysfunctional family here in the Senate. You mentioned Senator McCain, I want to move on to one of his sidekicks on the campaign trail, was Senator Lieberman who is an Independent but a member of your Democratic family when it comes to voting in the Senate. Many members, many of your Democratic members flatly think he is a traitor for not only his support of John McCain but for the things he said critical of Barack Obama. They want him gone.

You have proposed he lose his premier committee, Homeland Security, take a lesser committee, Veterans' Affairs or something else. Why not just say sorry, Joe, you are not welcome here anymore.

REID: Well, John, whoever gave you this information is wrong because he is not on the Veterans' Committee. I couldn't offer him that if I wanted to.

But let me just say this about John -- about Joe Lieberman. I know Joe Lieberman very well. He is a senior member of the Senate. He is on Armed Services, if something happens to the chairman he becomes chairman. If something happens to the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, he becomes chairman. So he is a senior member -- person around here. And I want to remind all of the people that are watching this newscast or however this program is going to air that I would not be majority leader but for his vote.

We could not have passed our budget -- we passed a budget the Republicans couldn't pass. They had 55 senators. We had 51. They couldn't pass a budget, we did. Why? Joe Lieberman voted with us.

So I recognize what he did was wrong and quite frankly, I don't like what he did. I told him so all during the campaign. But the caucus has a decision to make and they're going to make it. I am not going to make the decision. Whether we're going to say, OK, we've had enough of you, Joe, go vote with the Republicans or whether we're going to try to work something out with Joe Lieberman. Say, Joe, we don't like what you did. And here is what we propose we're going to do.

So we've had a number of conversations, we're going to have more. But for those people beating up on Joe Lieberman, I've done my share. Recognize the glass being half full, not half empty.

KING: He's chairman of the committee now, the Homeland Security Committee, which has a lot to do with the safety of Americans here. You mentioned Armed Services. He said this at the Republican Convention. He highlighted John McCain's service and he criticized those who quote, "wanted to retreat in defeat from the field of battle which would have been a disaster for the United States when colleagues like Barack Obama were voting to cut off funding for troops on the battlefield."

Senator Obama is about to be President Obama, about to be the commander-in-chief. Do you want a man who says he is not ready to be commander-in-chief, nowhere close, to be the chairman of a committee in the Democratic Senate?

REID: Joe Lieberman told me yesterday you have a big job to do. I am going to do everything I can to help Barack Obama.

KING: Does he owe him an apology?

REID: Oh, I don't know. This is not a high school deal where you say, OK, you embarrassed me in front of my girlfriend therefore you apologize.

KING: But you made peace with Senator McCain. Should they do something like that?

REID: Maybe they already have. I think a lot of this is very private stuff but Joe Lieberman has done something that I think was improper, wrong, and I'd like -- if we weren't on television, I'd use a stronger word of describing what he did. But Joe Lieberman votes with me a lot more than a lot of my senators.

He didn't support us on military stuff and he didn't support us on Iraq stuff.

REID: But you look at his record, it's pretty good. He comes from one of the most liberal states in the country. He is -- Joe Lieberman is not some rightwing nutcase. Joe Lieberman is one of the most progressive people ever to come from the state of Connecticut.

Am I defending the actions of Sen. Lieberman during this past year? No, I am not. Just look at those last two comments!

UPDATE AT 11:08 CT:
Huffington Post:

President-elect Barack Obama has informed party officials that he wants Joe Lieberman to continue caucusing with the Democrats in the 111th Congress, Senate aides tell the Huffington Post.

Obama's decision could tie the hands of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who has been negotiating to remove Lieberman as chair of the Homeland Security and Government Reform committee while keeping him within the caucus. Lieberman has insisted that he will split from the Democrats if his homeland security position is stripped.[...]

A Democrat close to Lieberman, meanwhile, said he thought that keeping Lieberman in the fold "would be a good move for Obama as a way to make real his promise of new politics, a less partisan Washington and more unity. He would do so at some risk. Obviously there is a liberal wing of the party that wants Joe punished... "

Josh reports that a high-level senate Democratic source told him that President Clinton has been making calls on Lieberman's behalf. However, Matt McKenna has denied those allegations.