Editorial: San Patricio
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Washington's Only Grown-Up
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Job Bill Passes in Senate With 11 Republican Votes
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McConnell Strategy Shuns Bipartisanship
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Dems Edge Closer to Health Reform Win
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Obama Makes Conservative Final Four Picks
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Michael J.W. Stickings: CNN: It's Enough to Make You Throw Up
So I was home all day yesterday feeling, well, unwell: upset stomach, nausea, headache, you know, stuff that makes you want to take a lot of the pink stuff.
Well, I was feeling a bit better in the afternoon, but, having worked up enough energy to make it over to the computer, and to turn it on, and to fire up the intertubes, and to surf over to my favourite sites, I made the horrible mistake of checking out what's been going on out in the world.
And what, almost immediately, did I learn?
That CNN, once a "respected name in news," and once a network worth paying attention to, and, of course, watching, has hired RedState blogger Erick Erickson as a so-called "political contributor," joining the likes of Bill Bennett and other extremist or otherwise intellectually incapacitated conservatives on what would seem to be an increasingly right-leaning network desperately trying to pull up its ratings by turning into Fox News Lite. Sorry, but having James Carville, Paul Begala, and Roland Martin on board does not constitute balance, or at least not the sort of balance of which CNN should be proud.
Now, I realize that having extremists and otherwise second-, third-, and fourth-rate, and worse, conservatives on your network can do a great deal to make conservatism look bad, which it does. But I don't think CNN is doing this to embarrass conservatives. After all, it enthusiastically calls its line-up of political contributors "The Best Political Team on Television." Intended irony that is not. CNN really does seem to think that it's home to analytical greatness.
"Erickson joins the Best Political Team," reads the announcement on CNN's Political Ticker. There you go. It would seem that CNN thinks that Erickson belongs among its heavyweights. Of course, the joke is on CNN. It's a pitiful line-up of contributors, on the whole, and so, in a way, Erickson will fit right in. Conservatives will applaud the move, but how many conservatives watch CNN? As for the rest of us, to the extent that we even watch CNN ourselves, we know that an already bad political team just got worse.
Yet I can't help but be annoyed that CNN insists on providing such a prominent media platform to the likes of Erickson. It's not that I care about CNN, or its ratings, it's that there's already enough pollution in the universe of 24/7 cable news and that, inevitably, all that pollution infests the body politic and makes it sick -- and it's all getting sicker, and there ain't enough pick stuff in the world to make it better.
But what's so wrong with Erickson, you ask? Look, it's not that I object to CNN hiring a conservatives -- yet another one, I might add -- however much I object to its rightward drift. As Steve Benen noted today, "there are thoughtful, intelligent conservative bloggers in the country, who occasionally have insightful things to say." I can't think of many of them, but there are a few, to be sure. "The problem here is that Erick Erickson isn't one of them."
Steve provides the necessary context and perspective:
The point here isn't that it's disappointing to see CNN hire yet another conservative voice, adding to its already-large stable of conservative voices. To be sure, it's frustrating, but it's nothing new.
The problem here is with Erickson himself.
For example, it wasn't long ago when Erickson explained his belief on why the left has a stronger online presence than the right. He attributed it to an asymmetry in free time, since conservatives "have families because we don't abort our kids, and we have jobs because we believe in capitalism."
This is the same Erickson who recently called retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter a "goat f--king child molester," referred to two sitting U.S. senators as "healthcare suicide bombers," praised protesters for "tell[ing] Nancy Pelosi and the Congress to send Obama to a death panel" (he later backpedaled on that one), and described President Obama's Nobel Prize as "an affirmative action quota."
And perhaps my personal favorite was the time, just last year, when Erickson was angry about new environmental regulations relating to dishwasher detergent. He told his readers, "At what point do the people tell the politicians to go to hell? At what point do they get off the couch, march down to their state legislator's house, pull him outside, and beat him to a bloody pulp for being an idiot?"
There was a point when major professional outlets would look at a voice like this as an "extremist," to be shut out of the mainstream of America's civil discourse. CNN, however, considers this record of radical rhetoric, and concludes it should pay him to offer on-air political commentary.
So CNN really thinks Erickson belongs on the "Best Political Team"? Even if it isn't the best -- although, to be fair, the competition is hardly all that impressive -- are CNN's standards so low, to the extent that is actually has any, that it's happy to be providing a platform for this [insert whatever expletive you see fit]?
"This is a genuinely sad day for American journalism," Steve concludes. "CNN ought to be ashamed of itself." It ought to be, but it won't be. Its cluelessness, I fear, is rivalled only by its shamelessness.
But enough. I need to lie down again. It's a day later, but I'm feeling mighty queasy again.
(Cross-posted from The Reaction.)
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Ireland Shamrock Shortage SEVERE, Causes St. Patrick's Day 2010 Celebration Concerns
An Ireland shamrock shortage has sparked concerns leading up to St. Patrick's Day, which takes place tomorrow, March 17, 2010.
Botanist Dr. Declan Doogue of the Royal Irish Academy told IrishCentral that the shamrock was "hit hard" by severe winter weather and it "won't be easily found" in Ireland. That means less green for this year's St. Patrick's Day.
Doogue also said that the shamrock is under threat due to modern farming methods, which discourages its growth.
Despite typically growing wild in grassy areas of Ireland, the shamrock shortage is very real and has been classified as severe, per Newsday.com.
At least one local community in the United Kingdom averted a shamrock-less St. Patrick's Day this week when a County Cork shamrock supplier addressed the issue.
The shamrock is the national symbol of Ireland and also known as a clover. The Irish Gaelic word for "clover" is "seamrog", which was anglicized as "shamrock."
More on Ireland
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Editorial: Civil Rights in Education
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Editorial: Rewriting History in Texas
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The Census: College Students Count -- but Where?
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Charles Moore, Rights-Era Photographer, Dies at 79
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Reform Bill From Senate Democrats Calls for More Oversight
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Supreme Court Justice's Wife Embraces Tea Party
Virginia Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, has formed a new group to promote the ideals of the Tea Party movement. Although Thomas has often worked for conservative causes, her new role is raising questions about potential conflicts of interest for her husband.
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Young Democrats of GA Humiliate Young Republicans on Education
I want to add this - The Young Republicans of today that will be cutting your education tomorrow!
From YDG:
Yesterday, hundreds of supporters of education in Georgia showed up outside the state capitol building to protest further cuts to Georgia’s higher education. This group represented all spectrum of Georgia society- some families have been Georgians since the time of Oglethorpe, others have just arrived.Some were rich, some were poor, some were middle class. Some were students, some were educators, some were legislators, some were just Georgians who understand that education is critical to the survival of our state- and yes, while many were Democrats, there were Republicans and Independents in the crowd to show that, despite partisan differences, education is the critical issue facing Georgia in 2010.
In a hastily crafted response to this outpouring of support for education in Georgia, Cameron Fash, the Chairman of the Georgia Young Republicans, attempts to establish the argument for dismantling the University System of Georgia advocated by State Senators Seth Harp, Don Balfour and others. He failed.
We also hope that Mr. Fash, who shows his dislike for publically funded education, doesn’t drive on publically funded roads, or attended any publically funded high schools or colleges, or ever attended any events in publically funded arenas, etc. You see, what Mr. Fash and others fail to realize is that just because it’s funded by the public doesn’t make it evil.
The HOPE Scholarship does not cover the full cost of college. While it is an asset and benefit of the state, its perpetual funding is in jeopardy, and therefore failing to meet the goals that it was established for. College tuition is not cheap; many Georgians work late-night jobs, take out student loans, and so forth in order to pay for their education. People such as Cameron Fash, who disregard the struggles of Georgia’s working and middle classes, are prime examples of why Georgia needs more funding for higher education, not less.
A better educated Georgia will mean better paying jobs for Georgians. No international corporation is going to look at a state slashing education left and right, be it secondary or higher education, and say “that’s where I want to take my business.”
We will continue losing job opportunities to those who value education more than us until we realize that the only solution to Georgia’s long-term economic struggles are to invest in a world-class secondary and higher education system.
The Young Democrats of Georgia will continue to work with a broad coalition of everyday Georgians working to ensure the survival of our educational system, while the Chairman of the Georgia Young Republicans will wait out the struggle with Seth Harp and Don Balfour in Glenn Beck’s Fear Chamber.
Education is under attack – stand up, fight back!
Jane Bradshaw, President, Young Democrats of Georgia
Steve Golden, Chief of Staff, Young Democrats of Georgia
Trevor Southerland, Vice President of Finance, Young Democrats of Georgia
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17 Things to Do on the 17th: Bryan Lowry's Definitive Guide to St. Patrick's Day
Dear Society (Irish or Otherwise),
There has been a lot going on since I last wrote you about cranberry juice. In international news the Catholic Church is at it again. One of the Pope’s close associates is in the middle of a gay prostitution scandal. Meanwhile the Pope went to Uganda, a country that is passing legislation that will make homosexuality punishable by death, and made no statement about the sanctity of life whatsoever. I mean I know I didn’t always pay attention in CCD, but my understanding was that Catholic Church’s belief that death by design (abortion, death penalty, war, euthanasia) is never justified was kind of a core belief…even when it comes to gays. Holy hypocrisy, Batman! So let’s just get this straight (no pun intended): if you’re gay in Europe there’s a job waiting for you at the Vatican, but if you’re gay in Africa you gotta die motherfucka. Don’t forget that the Church in Germany and the Pope’s brother specifically are in the middle of a child abuse scandal. The fun never stops for the Holy Catholic Roman and Apostolic Church.
In local news I got my pink slip this week. It's very surreal to receive a layoff from one of the stars of Predator. Remind me to never work in a state run by Carl Weathers. Well, it's time to drink. Yes, I’ve decided to go with the Paddy’s cure in this whole situation. And that’s when I realized I could combine all of these issues— The Catholic Church, discrimination against homosexuals, alcoholism, and economic depression— into one subject: St. Patrick’s Day! St. Patrick’s Day is just four days away.
I grew up in a half Irish household in Philadelphia. I lived in Boston for four years. I lived in Dublin for a few months (and March was one of them). So I consider myself more than qualified to create a guide to St. Patrick’s Day for you society. I would post it on the 17th, but I plan to be drunk then. As a general rule of thumb you can follow the horde of pale, freckled people wearing green, because they’re headed to something fun (I can tan and don’t have freckles by the way— thank you Mom’s DNA!). However, if you want to have the perfect holiday you should do all of the things on this list and in chronological order.
So here you go, this is my list o 17 Things to Do on the 17th.
1. Take the day off from work: You can call in sick if necessary, but I suggest using religion instead. Your Jewish co-workers took of Yom Kippur. As an Irish Catholic I deserve to have St. Patrick’s Day off from work. It’s in the Bill of Rights where it guarantees freedom of religion. Also, as an Italian Catholic I get to take March 19th St. Joseph’s Day off (in the middle ages Italy underwent a famine and prayed to St. Joseph and he singlehandedly saved my ancestors so each March we eat pastries to celebrate). And if I’m taking off both the 17th and the 19th, really is there a point of me coming in on the 18th? Besides it’s more important to have the 18th off, so that you can recover from the hangover.
2. Go to Church: I know it may seem odd that a day of celebration should be spent at the place where fun dies, but hear me out. If you’re going to use religion your boss might check with your local parish. You need an alibi. That’s the problem with atheism: no holidays. The good news, however, is that the Catholic Church (see above) is pretty corrupt. There’s a little known secret that Church donations determine the length of mass. If nobody ponies up you can count on a ninety minute mass, but if people are generous you’re out in forty-five. So what you need to do is see the priest before the mass starts. Write him a check. He’ll take off a minute for every ten dollars. If you’re feeling generous you could be looking at a 30 second mass.
3. Have an Irish Coffee: There really is no better way to start the day. Don’t worry you don’t need to go to a pub or café to get one. You can easily make your own. Make a cup of coffee and pour in some whiskey and Bailey’s. Top it off with some whip cream. If you don’t have the Bailey’s, that’s okay. You can still pour in the whiskey and use the whip cream. If you don’t have the whip cream, that’s okay. You can still pour in the whiskey. If you don’t have the coffee, that’s okay. You can still drink the whiskey.
4. Listen to the Pogues: Go into any pub on St. Patrick’s Day and you’re going to see at least one person in their twenties wearing a Dropkick Murphys t-shirt, Flogging Molly t-shirt, or both if they couldn’t decide. Both of those bands are great. I’ve seen them both a dozen times and neither of them disappoints. But the Pogues did it first and did it best. I had the joy of seeing the reunited Pogues in concert once and I have to honestly say it was the greatest performance I’ve ever seen. The drunker Shane MacGowan got, the better he sang. In between songs he spoke in gibberish, but every song was a poetical and musical masterpiece. I own a documentary called If I Should Fall from Grace: The Shane MacGowan and it he drunkenly makes the bold claim, “I’m all that stands between the fuckin life of Irish culture and the fuckin death of Irish culture.” Normally, I’d dismiss such claims as hyperbole, but with Shane I take it as inarguable fact.
I was going to recommend the best Pogues album, but I couldn’t choose. Here instead are the best three: Red Roses for Me; Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash; If I Should Fall From Grace with God. Red Roses for Me is the band’s chaotic debut that first proved to the world punk and Irish folk could be mixed. Highlights include the cover of Brendan Behan’s “The Auld Triangle” and the absolutely insane “Waxie Dargle.” Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash is The Pogues original line-up at their best. Choosing a favorite track is difficult, but I have to give the edge to “The Sick Bed of Cuchulain” (the title takes its name from a legendary Irish hero). It is the story of man who spends several years drinking himself to death, seeing the world while he’s at it (more or less Shane’s autobiography). Finally, If I Should Fall From Grace with God marks a new level of maturity and artistry for the Pogues. This evolution is in part due to the addition of Phil Chevron who penned “Thousands Are Sailing,” a touching story of immigration.
*Without the Pogues the following bands would never exist: The Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, The Tossers, Blood and Whiskey, The Gobshites, Black 47, etc.
5. Jameson’s vs. Bushmill’s: The rivalry of Jameson’s and Bushmill’s is essentially Ireland’s equivalent of Pepsi vs. Coke. There are better whiskeys out there, but not widely available in North America and not at a low price. The word whiskey (also whisky) is derived from the Gaelic phrase uisce beatha which translates to “water of life.” Essentially in Celtic culture you cannot live without an appreciation for whiskey, so it’s important to develop a taste. Yes, you can impress people at pubs with your knowledge of Brogan’s or by saying how the Connemara region produces smokier tasting whiskey than the rest of Ireland…but you gotta crawl before you can walk. First you need to decide which you prefer Jameson’s (from Dublin) or Bushmill’s (County Antrim). It’s North vs. South. It’s Country vs. City. I’m definitely going to lean towards Bushmill’s which I find slightly smoother and more satisfying in taste. But I don’t want to decide for you. What you need to do is buy a bottle of both. Drink both. Then choose for yourself (if you don’t die of alcohol poisoning).
6. Watch Father Ted: Britcom is a bit of a misnomer for Father Ted. Although first created for Britain’s Channel 4 and available in the US through BBC America, Father Ted is a thoroughly Irish sitcom in terms of actors, writers, and filming locations. It’s the story of three misfit Catholic priests living on one of the islands off the western coast of Ireland. Father Ted Crilly was sent to Craggy Island after charitable funds were found “resting” in his account. Father Dougal Maguire is an eejit who believes that the Spider Baby (a baby with the body of a spider but the mind of a baby) actually exists. And Father Jack Hackett is beyond drunk, capable of only shouting “Feck!”, “Girls!”, and “Drink!” Graham Linehan, one of the creators, went on to make the equally funny Black Books about a surly Irishman in London. However, Father Ted remains a beloved piece of paddywackery on both sides of the Atlantic.
7. Burn a British Flag: Unlike most white people the Irish were oppressed rather than oppressive. Therefore it’s okay for us to be insanely proud and nationalistic, because it’s not racist. That’s my understanding of political correctness anyway. Who did the oppressing? Well, the Vikings stopped by once or twice, but for 800 years it was our next door neighbors, England. Yes, they would go on to oppress most of Africa, the Middle East, India, various parts of the Americas, and a little bit of China, but the British Empire honed its skills killing, starving, and exploiting the Irish first. The Republic of Ireland has existed (more or less) since the constitution of 1937 and Northern Ireland has had a ceasefire since 1997. It might be time to let the healing begin. After all that’s what the Irish tricolor stands for: tolerance. The Green represents the Catholics, the Orange represents Protestants, and the White represents the peace between them. But Union Jack is still a dick. So this St. Patrick’s Day find a British flag and burn it. Don’t worry. Any nearby Scotsmen and Welshmen will approve. “I like the English. I just want them to lose at things like football and war.” –Tommy Tiernan. P.S. Write a check to Sinn Fein.
8. Watch The Wind that Shakes the Barley: Speaking of Anglo-Irish relations, this film about the Irish War for Independence and the subsequent Irish Civil War won Best Picture at the Cannes Film Festival and again at the BAFTAs in 2007. Unfortunately, its U.S. release was too late for it to be in contention for the Oscars. Cillian Murphy stars a medical student who gives up his ticket to London in order to join the IRA after witnessing cruel reprisals by the Black and Tans in County Cork. Many critics thought British born director Ken Loach was trying to make a commentary about the Iraq war, but those parallels arise from historical fact rather than a forced agenda. Unlike Neil Jordan’s Michael Collins, this film takes the side of the Anti-Treaty forces in the Civil War. I suggest a drinking game: every time something tragic happens to an Irish person take a shot of whiskey. Once again, I hope you don’t get alcohol poisoning.
9. Drink a six pack of Smithwick’s. It’s a damn good beer.
10. Read Seamus Heaney Poetry at a Pub: Are you at a pub yet? Get there. But don’t forget to bring a book of poetry. You see the Irish are almost as famous for their contributions to literature as they are for alcoholism. If you want to impress women on St. Patrick’s Day you need to have a working knowledge of Irish literature. Here are the authors to look up Wikipedia: Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, Bram Stoker, W.B. Yeats, John Millington Synge, James Joyce, Sean O’Casey, Samuel Beckett, Brendan Behan, Flann O’Brien, Patrick Kavanagh, Seamus Heaney, Brian Friel, and Martin McDonagh (there’ve been comparatively fewer impactful female authors from Ireland, unless you count the plethora of romance novelists). Discussing these authors will make you seem intellectual despite your inebriation. In a pinch you can talk about Irish Americans like Eugene O’Neill as well.
Now, if you really want to impress women you should bring a book to the pub. People do it all the time in Ireland (pubs vastly outnumber both cafes and libraries). Don’t bring a novel or play, because women are going to expect you to be able to explain the plot. Bring a collection of poetry, because you can flip to any page and give what will appear to be a thoughtful recitation. Everyone’s going to have Yeats, and Kavanagh might be too obscure. Go with Seamus Heaney. He’s won the Nobel Prize and is still alive so you can pretend you went to one of his readings. Explain how digging for potatoes is a metaphor for searching through the depths of your souls. Works every time. Remember Seamus is pronounced “shay-miss” not “see-muss.”
11. Drink a shitload of Guinness. Do I really need to explain this one?
12. Write a poem: Now, if you did a good job with number 10 this is the logical next step (once you’ve drank enough Guinness). Don’t worry any woman is going to be way too drunk to judge the merits of your poetry. The simple fact that you wrote a poem and included her name should be enough to seal the deal. Simply describe the things you see happening around you. Here’s a sample:
A pint of Guinness slides before me,
Black and beautiful like Beyoncee,
Its taste cleanses my soul.
The people to my left ordered French fries,
The smell of potatoes hypnotizes,
I think about the Famine and cry.
The color green surrounds me,
Reminds me of the hills and glens of my youth
In Pennsylvania.
Your name is Karen.
13. Listen to the Dubliners: If you enjoy The Pogues, Flogging Molly, etc. you should check out Traditional Irish Folk. The Dubliners (named after the James Joyce book) are one of the finest examples of the genre. The classic line-up included two front men, Luke Kelly and Ronnie Drew. There might be nothing more moving than listening to Kelly sing “The Foggy Dew.” Drew’s (somewhat more) raspy voice usually handles the more comic tracks like “The Seven Deadly Sins.” The band’s rendition of Patrick Kavanagh’s “Raglan Road” was feature in the film In Bruges. Kelly passed away from a brain tumor in 1984, but his recordings have still set the standard that all folk musicians emulate. The rest of The Dubliners would record for the next few decades, even collaborating with the Pogues several times. Drew died at the age of 74 in 2008. Both men were legends.
14. Find out what Hurling is: Hurling is the fastest sport on grass. Please do not confuse it with the Canadian ice sport that involves brooms (that’s curling). Hurling is a 6000 year old Celtic game and is considered to be the oldest sport in Europe. It is the ancestor of the Scottish game Shinty which is the ancestor of the Canadian game Ice Hockey. It involves sticks, a balls, goals, and lots of injuries. Players do not wear pads, because they aren’t pussies. In the USA you can occasionally catch a match on the sports network Setanta.
15. Talk about how great Kennedy was: Most of Irish and Irish American history is tragic to the point that drinks are named after acts of terrorism (anybody want a car bomb?) and people who killed us (Black and Tans). However, in 1960 an Irish Catholic was elected President of the United States. Kennedy’s election was a rare moment of triumph for Irish people on both sides of the Atlantic. My grandfather like most Irish Catholics had pictures of the President both at work and home. Then he was assassinated in 1963. Goddamn it. Still if there’s one way to endear yourself to Irish people it’s to reflect on the greatness of the Kennedys. Don’t worry you don’t need any historical accuracy whatsoever. Kennedy’s early death has made it so that most Irish Americans make claims about all the great things he would’ve done had he lived.
Things Kennedy Would’ve Done:
He would’ve personally piloted the mission to the moon which would’ve happened two years earlier.
He would’ve ended poverty and communism at the same time.
He would’ve singlehandedly won the Vietnam War by pulling boats with his teeth.
He would’ve healed the sick and eventually been made a Catholic Saint.
He would’ve ended any and all tension between black people and white people.
He would’ve had more hit songs than the Beatles.
He would’ve defeated Muhammad Ali for title of Heavyweight Champion of the World during his second term as President.
16. Get in a fight and/or Urinate in Public: St. Patrick’s Day is one of those days where certain social regulations are suspended. Usually you would need a reason to get into fight. However, on St. Patrick’s Day that changes. The amount of alcohol everyone’s ingested destroys the part of our brains that functions on logic. On St. Patrick’s Day a man once followed me out of a pub to attack me. We had never spoken, but he thought I had been “looking” at him. Apparently one way to pay tribute to St. Patrick is to attack total strangers.
I personally find public urination much more satisfying. There are three times when it’s okay to pee outside: St. Patrick’s Day, camping, and your four years in college. Trust me I’ve peed all over the city of Boston. If you’re ever around BU check out the Shaw’s parking lot. That was one of my favorite spots. In Dublin I once accidentally locked myself out of my room while looking for the bathroom. I found my way outside. I was in my underwear. After a very satisfying pee, I had to convince the security guard to give me a temporary key. He said to me, “I’m giving this to you, because I trust you.” Once again, I was in my underwear. So this St. Patrick’s Day recapture your youth by peeing on the side of a building or in a bush.
17. Listen to the Chieftains: If you don’t like their music, you need to repeat all of the previous steps on this list. If you do like it, then you are in no condition to drive.
Okay, so that’s my formula for the perfect St. Patrick’s Day. By the way in Gaelic it’s Padraig.
Tiocfaidh ár lá,
Brian O Labhradha (That’s my name in Gaelic).
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