Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Howard Wolfson's C-SPAN Caller Moment

Wolfson today "clarifying" Hillary's gaffe:

"Senator Clinton supports governors like Governor Spitzer who believe they need such a measure to deal with the crisis caused by this administration's failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform. As President, her goal will be to pass comprehensive immigration reform that would make this unnecessary."

Please keep trying to explain Hillary's response last night, Howard. Especially since late this afternoon The Times reported:

"Mrs. Clinton’s advisers said that she had not studied either plan, and was not specifically endorsing either of them."

This is supposed to be a campaign juggernaut led by the finest political professionals in the Democrat party? Hillary stumbled and fumbled for an answer last night, her flack is equally incoherent and the campaign admits Hillary has no idea what's in Spitzer Scheme 1 or Spitzer Scheme 2. This bunch is Stooges-level hilarious.

Spitzer's Position On Indian Sales Taxes










Buffalo News: Spitzer backs off vow to collect Indian sales taxes

According to the News:

"Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer is backing away from a promised effort to collect taxes on the sale of cigarettes and gasoline by Indian retailers, even while the state’s budget deficit continues to rise, officials acknowledged Tuesday."

Chichester Edits Statements For Accuracy

Governor Spitzer today defending his illegal alien driver's license scheme:

"I have done precisely what the public sent me to Albany to do (I have lied to the people of New York since I hardly uttered a word about providing illegal aliens with driver's licenses during my gubernatorial campaign last year) , which is to shake and rattle the cage of a system that was not responding to a changed economy, changed circumstances. Inevitably in that context, there will be some for whom the rattling and the shaking isn’t so comfortable (if they are comfortable I'll make sure the Internal Revenue Service audits them).

“We are in the position we’re in right now because of the failure of Washington (We are in the position we're in right now because I still think it's September 10, 2001) . Washington’s immigration policies (amnesty for illegal aliens) have been a debacle (which is why we were attacked on September 11, 2001, among other reasons) .”

Hillary On Spitzer's License Scheme

"Fill the vacuum . . . Ah . . . Ah . . . Fill the vacuum . . . Fill this gap . . . [gives Chris Dodd her Arkansas revenge glance]. . . Well . . . Well . . . What, what . . . Well . . . [glares at Tim Russert and wishes a Tony Soprano whacking upon him] . . . You know, Tim . . . Everybody plays gotcha . . . Er . . . out of the shadows."

Last night's debate demonstrates the junior Senator from New York is in total command of this issue, and Governor Spitzer has her full support.

"You Made A Fool Out Of Myself"

That's what Democratic State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. told Governor Eliot Spitzer regarding his scheme to provide driver's licenses to illegal aliens, according to today's New York Times.

This is turning into one of the most spectacular collapses in New York political history, perhaps the most spectacular. A year ago then-Attorney General Spitzer was heading toward a massive 70 percent triumph over former Assemblyman John Faso. Today, his reputation, his character, his temperament and his tactics lay in ruins.

Hillary Clinton's State


After Vice President Dick Cheney went pheasant hunting in upstate New York Al Sharpton issued the following statement.

“It has been reported to us by media on the site that Vice President Dick Cheney is duck and pheasant hunting in Dutchess County . . . and there is a Confederate Flag hanging at the club. I am calling on Vice President Cheney to leave immediately and denounce the club and apologize for going to a club that represents lynching, hate, and murder to black people."

Memo To Al: Do you understand the meaning of the blue star above Arkansas? It celebrates Arkansas' membership in the Confederacy. It's why the official website home page for the state doesn't feature the flag. The next time you unleash your hatred attempt to distinguish between a hunting trip that has nothing to do with race and New York's junior Senator serving as First Lady for over 12 years in a state with a flag that "represents lynching, hate, and murder to black people."

Friday, October 26, 2007

The Invisible Congressman

Ten-term Congressman Michael McNulty is retiring. He represented me for the 12 years I lived in the Capital District.

He's an ethical and honest man. He's a rare pro-life Democrat, which is difficult to confront in his party and a reason why he had a tough primary against environmental activist Lee Wasserman in 1996.

Unfortunately, Congressman McNulty achieved nothing of significance during his 20 years of service. There is no major legislation he advocated or authored. He did not distinguish himself in any national debate. He failed to find one single, solitary issue to make a difference. I don't recall a story of any interest or consequence about him that I posted when running The Empire Page.

It wasn't until the end of my first year as a House press secretary until I saw Rep. McNulty speak on the floor. House offices have multiple televisions on so staffers know exactly what is happening. Maybe I missed a McNulty appearance from time to time. But he clearly was never a presence on the floor, never spoke to his constituents via C-SPAN. He didn't care. He was silent in Washington, D.C. He wasn't elected to be silent. Especially for 20 years.

I hardly recall a mailing from him. Neither do friends who are still his constituents. Members of Congress should always use their franking privilege to communicate with the Americans they represent despite how it's criticized as propaganda. You can judge it as propaganda, or not. And vote accordingly.

After his election to a tenth term and the Democratic takeover of Congress, Rep. McNulty was not positioned to be a full Committee Chairman despite all the retirements after his party was demolished in the 1994 elections.

He was named the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security. What was his position on Social Security reform since he was elected in 1988? I have no idea. President George W. Bush failed spectacularly at reforming Social Security beginning his second term, and Rep. McNulty, as usual, had no presence before or after the national conversation. None.

Gerrymandering is the reason why Michael McNulty could be so lazy and irrelevant. He coasted because he could in a safe district. Contrast him with Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand's efforts. She knows she has to work hard, and her constituents certainly hear from her.

Michael McNulty's legacy will never be difficult to summarize. He was a ten-term Freshman Member of Congress.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Rudy, The Boston Red Sox Fan

"I'm rooting for the Red Sox." - Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

What is this man thinking.

For every reason there is to support him with no hesitation, such as his masterful speech to "values voters" last weekend, he gives you a reason to oppose him with great hesitation. It's the story of his presidential candidacy, and his career.

The Mayor has to do well in the New Hampshire primary to remain competitive, especially if he falters in the Iowa Caucus. Pandering to Boston Red Sox fans in New Hampshire is an easy and lazy way to campaign.

He's a lifelong Yankees fan, or so we thought. How can he possibly claim he wants the Red Sox to win the World Series given the history, given the hatred on both sides of the rivalry?

It's a seminal moment in political phoniness for campaign 2008.

Boston Red Sox fans should never get any respect from a New Yorker.

They still blame Bill Buckner for losing the 1986 World Series even though Mookie Wilson would have beaten him to first base in Game Six. In that game, Roger Clemens quit because he claimed he had a blister on his pitching hand. Calvin Schiraldi and Bob Stanley collapsed in relief. Yet, it's Blame Buckner, a borderline Hall of Famer, who was so disgusted by Sox nuts harassing his family that he was forced to move to Montana.

Boston Red Sox "fans" are clueless, and don't understand baseball history. These are the unbalanced people Rudy is trying to appeal to in a misguided quest for votes.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Chichester Obtains Spitzer-Bruno E-Mail

FROM: r.milhouse.spitzer@executive.chamber.infant.gov

TO: joe@senate.gov

Joe, I'm angry!!!!!!!!! With you after that vote last night on my illegal alien driver's license bill that you orchestrated. I was so angry I fell out of my high chair, and my wife had to re-heat a new box of chicken tenders and cut them into little pieces the way I like it so I could use my favorite Flintstones fork to eat them. It's your fault!!!!! You're finished!!!!!!!
*
FROM: joe@senate.gov

TO: r.milhouse.spitzer@executive.chamber.infant.gov

Governor, I'm sorry you tumbled out of your high chair like you did at our last meeting. You don't have to use multiple exclamation points when you e-mail, by the way. I understand your point without them.
*
FROM: r.milhouse.spitzer@executive.chamber.infant.gov

TO: joe@senate.gov

Don't you talk back to me Joe!!!!!!! I'm the Randy Johnson of Governors!!!! I'll use as many exclamation points as I want!!!!!!! You better UNDERSTAND I am a STEAMROLLER baby and I'll STEAMROLL all over you!!!!!

I'm a steamroller baby!!!
I'm 'bout to roll all over you!!!
I'm a steamroller baby!!!
I'm 'bout to roll all over you!!!
I'm gonna inject your soul!!!
With sweet rock'n'roll, poor heaven!!!

How do you like them Elvis apples I just quoted Joe?????!!!!!! I'm a churning urn of burning funk!!! You're finished!!! Again!!!

*
FROM: joe@senate.gov

TO: r.milhouse. spitzer@executive.chamber.infant.gov

Governor, please try to calm down. You also don't need to use upper case letters when communicating with me.
*
FROM: r.milhouse.spitzer@executive.chamber.infant.gov

TO: joe@senate.gov

I'll use UPPER CASE whenever I want, Joe!!!!

Fuc-, er, SCREW YOU. You almost made me curse the way I like to!!!!!!!! I hope you noticed my personal self-control there!!!!!!!!

*
FROM: joe@senate.gov

TO: r.milhouse. spitzer@executive.chamber.infant.gov

Governor, can we please discuss the issues of importance to our fellow New Yorkers?
*
FROM: r.milhouse.spitzer@executive.chamber.infant.gov

TO: joe@senate.gov

I'll tell you what's important and not important Joe!!!!!!!! You just DOUBLED your double secret probation with me after that crack!!!! You're finished!!!!!!!

Monday, October 22, 2007

Hillary

Dear New Yorkers,

You've been had.

You've been had because your junior Senator no longer represents you as she runs for the presidency.

Iowans matter more than you. New Hampshirites matter more than you. Barack Obama's fund-raising numbers matter more than you.

You were told this would happen.

When was the last time you heard your junior Senator address the tax burden in Suffolk County? When do you recall her describing how to help ghostly upstate communities as she campaigns?

You're an afterthought. You're forgotten.

She cares more about her pollsters than she does you.

The charter school movement is the most important and consequential political movement in our state. You don't hear a word from her about it on the stump. Not a syllable of support.

You've been had.

You elected a person with no idea what it was like to buy a Nathan's hot dog on Coney Island. She probably needed a briefing.

You elected a person who couldn't tell you the difference between the suspension spans on the Golden Gate Bridge and our beloved Verrazano Bridge. She probably hired a Brooklyn political consultant to explain it.

You elected a person who never drove by the Big Duck on eastern Long Island. She probably assembled a focus group to describe it on her way to a 2000 Hamptons fund-raiser.

Doesn't it bother you that you've been used like this by an Illinoisan by way of Arkansas who knew nothing about New York, and never speaks about our state as she seeks the Oval Office?

You've been had.

Love, Chris.

The Jimmy Swaggart Poll

The Values Voters straw poll "won" by Gov. Mitt Romney on Saturday in Washington, D.C. was an embarrassment for the Christian conservatives who organized it.

According to The New York Times:

"Anyone who is a member of Family Research Council Action, one of the groups organizing the summit, could vote. Joining the group only requires a $1 donation. Mr. Romney's campaign, as well as others, has been actively encouraging people to vote online. And about 3,500 new people have joined the organization, on top of the existing 5,000 members, in the last few months. Out of the 2,500 attendees of the summit, only 952 out of 5,775 overall actually cast votes in person. But almost 600 of those who attended had already voted online."

Congressman Ron Paul finished third. He "defeated" Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Sen. John McCain and Sen. Fred Thompson.

In any election where human beings go to the polls a Ron Paul doesn't stand a chance against Giuliani, McCain or Thompson. The Paul skill is attracting propeller hat anti-Semites, conspiracy theorist crackpots and obsessive-compulsive supporters on the Internet surfing in from their mother's basement.

Paul's "better than expected" finish will be promoted and hailed by his demented supporters to help him raise another $5 million this quarter.

Congratulations Family Research Council Action. You did a splendid job this weekend with your little straw poll.

The Daily Chichester

Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer continues to lose support for his scheme to provide driver's licenses to illegal aliens.

The Governor-Infant is searching for a few more Haldemans and Ehrlichmans.

Rudy's speech was a masterpiece

It's getting interesting, finally.

The "Transgendered"

The left excels at inventing new terms you're supposed to understand and immediately accept as a moral absolute.

"Transgendered rights" is before the House of Representatives. I'm still not sure what that means, or why it's supposed to be the new civil rights movement.

I'll try to explain it as succinctly as possible. A man asks a surgeon to remove a part of his anatomy, switches from wearing a suit to a dress at work and "her" employer should be prevented by Federal law from terminating "her" employment even though it raises serious questions about private behavior, decisions and religion.

The homosexual lobby has always failed to understand how they arrogantly compel Americans to judge them once they announce the individuals in their bedrooms. They seek acceptance and approval. If you don't accept and approve their lives you're a bigot, you're intolerant.

Yet, they have no tolerance for faith. The "transgendered" want to force their personal lives on you. If you're a Catholic small business owner your beliefs are irrelevant.

The Anything Goes left and their allies in Congress revel in lecturing Americans to stay out of their bedrooms when it comes to abortion. But in the workplace they want their employers to know exactly who is in their bedrooms. Even for someone who was Jack on Monday and shows up as Jill on Tuesday.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Hillary

Dear New Yorkers,

You are dumb.

You're dumb because you elected a United States Senator from Illinois by way of Arkansas in 2000. She had zero connection to our state. None.

You're witnessing, now, why you're dumb.

She rarely speaks about New York on the campaign trail. Hardly a word. Doesn't that seem odd? Have you even noticed? You understand she represents you, right?

You are dumb.

How many times have you heard her speak about Schenectady, Albany, Buffalo and Riverhead? They are invisible communities as she pursues the presidency.

How often do you hear her address the 2000 campaign promise to prevent New Yorkers from fleeing the state? She's been a United States Senator for over seven years, and the upstate economy continues to deteriorate. Despite what she said during her campaign against Rep. Rick Lazio, she's achieved nothing.

But she can't achieve. Because she's not the Governor of New York.

You're dumb enough not to understand the difference between executive power in a state, and merely being one of 100 votes in the United States Senate.

You knew about the scandals. You ignored it. Because you were star-struck. You wanted a Hollywood Senator, and you got it.

Now you're jilted for a presidential campaign, and you still don't care that you were jilted. You're going to vote for her, again, too.

You are dumb.

It's the state you were born, raised and educated in. Yet you don't care that you've been hustled by The Hustler, and her husband.

Love, Chris.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Michael B. Mukasey, the next Attorney General

"I'm encouraged by the answers."

That's what Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy told reporters after Mukasey's confirmation hearing. It's obvious why.

Mukasey refused to forcefully defend eavesdropping on terrorists and pacified the pacifist left who believe we should be fighting the war on terror with High Tea manners and ACLU fund-raisers.

"I am not familiar with that program," he said when asked about the Terrorist Surveillance Program.

He's not familiar with the program? How is that possible? It's been maliciously attacked by Democrats without access to classified information, and the President's Attorney General nominee has nothing to say about it?

"Excuse me, Mr. Terrorist, sir, and even though you don't wear a uniform, are obsessed with crashing planes into our buildings here in the United States, kill civilians, and cut off heads with a dull knife in your spare time, could you pretty-please-with-sugar-on-top answer a few of our questions if you don't mind?"

That's how Mukasey delivered his opinion about our terrorist tracking and interrogation methods to Sen. Leahy, without speaking the words. It's why the Senator will vote to confirm him, along with with a near-unanimous Senate.

The Catcher of the Phony

Phony of the Week: Senator Hillary Clinton.

Last night in Washington, D.C. she said:

"I'm not interested in attacking anyone. I'm interested in attacking the problems of our country and solving those problems and working together . . .

"I've obviously gotten used to being attacked myself, and I don't mind being attacked."

She "isn't interested in attacking anyone." General David Petraeus would disagree. And she doesn't "mind being attacked." Right. We believe you, Senator.

How To Annoy Chichester VII

By going to the cliche playbook and referring to Social Security as the "third rail" while doing nothing about it.

Rep. Dan Burton in The Hill today laughing uproariously:

"After laughing uproariously at a question about whether it is political [sic] risky to discuss cutting Social Security benefits, Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), a Thompson supporter, said: 'What do you think? Take a wild guess.'

“'Social Security has always been known as the third rail in politics; you don’t touch it,' he added."

A profile in courage.

The Daily Chichester

Michael B. Mukasey groveling before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Obama the latest candidate to participate in the joke teller primary.

Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer adding Schenectady to his enemies list.

The Governor-Infant has cost New Yorker's $1.5 million in trying to destroy the career of Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

PROVOCATIONS: The Republican Malaise

The House of Representatives has scheduled a vote tomorrow to override President Bush's veto of the 5-year, $35 billion expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. It's the defining domestic policy issue for Republicans because it entails the size, scope and power of the Federal government.

The veto will likely be sustained, but not because of President George W. Bush's feckless leadership. He vetoed the bill in private, and it silently traveled back up Pennsylvania Avenue.

President Bush should have vetoed SCHIP with fanfare and a strong determination to explain why it's bad policy, why it's middle-class welfare and why there are market alternatives.

There was no White House event with health care professionals and experts detailing how this legislation forces children covered by private insurance into government dependency. No attempt whatsoever to communicate directly with the American people, which is what President Ronald Reagan would have done.

Instead, the President sent a signal to Capitol Hill that he didn't want a fight. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker Nancy Pelosi were paying attention, and it's why they now are targeting about 20 Republicans in swing districts, or those known to wilt when the political pressure mounts.

If President Bush doesn't demonstrate the fortitude to veto ill-conceived and harmful legislation publicly, and with no apologies, why should his allies in Congress stand by him?

They should, but aren't.

The Congressional Republican leadership is also a profile in timidity:

“It probably isn’t the fight that we’d want to pick, but it’s a fight they decided to pick,” said House Minority Leader John Boehner.

That one sentence from Rep. Boehner sums up the Jimmy Carter-like Republican malaise on Capitol Hill, and how the party has learned nothing from the pounding they took in last November's election. The SCHIP legislation is one big step toward HillaryCare and Leader Boehner either doesn't know it, or doesn't care.

Why not pick a fight, Mr. Boehner? Why not expose the demagoguery coming from Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid? In a shameful display, they used a 12-year-old child, whose family lives a moderately comfortable life in Maryland, in their official response to President Bush's weekly radio address.

The SCHIP legislation was an opportunity to see how resolute, how determined President Bush and Congressional Republicans could be in advocating market alternatives for health insurance. They've failed. Miserably.

If Republicans can't articulate their opposition to a federal program with the word "children" in it, where the benefits also go to adults, and defend their self-proclaimed beliefs in limited government and freedom, they deserve to be a permanent minority. That will likely prove true next year on Election Day when the conservative base deserts them.

Chichester Edits Statements For Accuracy

Yesterday, Zhang Qingli, China's official spokesthug, condemned President Bush for awarding the Dalai Lama the Congressional Gold Medal:

“Such a person who basely splits his motherland (a totalitarian hell where we run our citizens over with tanks) and doesn’t even love his motherland (the mothers in our 'motherland' are forced to have abortions if they have more than one child) has been welcomed by some countries and has even been receiving this or that award.

“We are furious (we are furious we can't run over the Dalai Lama with a tank right now). If the Dalai Lama can receive such an award, there must be no justice or good people in the world (there must be no barbarians and murderers in the world who agree with us Stalinists).”

The Daily Chichester

Speaker Tracy Flick's Nancy Pelosi's buffoonery leadership shines in the House as she continues to antagonize our ally Turkey.

Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer's behavior grinds the nominations process to a halt.

The Governor-Infant needs another time-out since he's now
going after Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco.

Last night on HANNITY, HANNITY, HANNITY & colmes, Rudy and Judith spoke about cabinet meetings.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Worthless Polls

I'm tired of polls. In fact, I'm disgusted by polls. Yesterday Siena College released a poll matching up Gov. Eliot Spitzer with Mayor Michael Bloomberg for a gubernatorial race that is over three years away. The poll claims Gov. Spitzer "trails" Mayor Bloomberg 50-37 percent.

Anything can happen in politics to bolster or destroy a career in the eternity that is three years. Three years from now Gov. Spitzer could be completely recovered from his attempt to destroy the career of Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. Three years from now Mayor Bloomberg may have an arrest record for assaulting a smoker, or, even worse, a trans fat Oreo cookie.

Moreover, Mayor Bloomberg has shown no interest - at all - in being New York's next Governor. So what's the point of conducting such a poll? To promote Siena College, and manufacture news that is not news by any standard.

Siena College aspires to and does achieve greatness as an educational institution. Unfortunately, their most recent poll wallowed in political speculation and was an embarrassing exercise in nothingness.

Sen. Craig Has Another C-SPAN Caller Moment

AP: Craig Opens Another Legal Battle

Senator Fred Thompson

Politics will break your heart and your hope in half if you let it. Committing wholly to a candidate or an incumbent oftentimes leaves the sting of disappointment and dismay.

The Republican "revolutionaries" who won the Congressional majority in November, 1994 became ideologically and ethically unrecognizable long before the American people rightly turned them out of office.

While I hoped Senator Thompson would enter the presidential race, it was not with the level of enthusiasm displayed by others. Now that his campaign is stalled in mediocrity, platitudes and serious questions about his desire to win the Oval Office, some of his supporters are distraught.

They have a larger problem.

Senator Thompson's physical appearance, a superficial yet powerful barometer the American people use to evaluate a candidate, is troubling. He does not look well. In his films, he looks presidential and commanding. On the campaign trail, he does not. For example, the first answer he delivered in last week's debate was unsteady, to put it mildly.

Perhaps he can recover. Senator Thompson has the leadership skills and the judgement to serve as our president. But it's looking more and more remote.

Chichester Edits Statements For Accuracy

Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer defending his illegal alien driver's license scheme:

“Today’s Republican Senate committee hearings make clear that the Senate would prefer I abdicate my foremost responsibility to protect the safety and security of New Yorkers rather than implement a smart DMV policy change that advances both (I've already abdicated my foremost responsibility to protect the safety and security of New Yorkers with this policy change since I need to motivate the crackpots that comprise my political base to divert attention from my Joe Bruno scandal).

“To their credit, Republican Senators 'applauded' DMV Commissioner Swarts for the new anti-fraud measures that the DMV has tied to this policy change. Yet despite these vast security enhancements, which will make New York State’s license system the most secure in the nation (I hope you noticed I've already said 'security' twice and 'secure' once in this statement so it sounds like I'm trying to prevent another 9-11 with words only), Senate Republicans continue to object to the policy simply on the grounds that the administration was restoring an immigrant’s access to a license.

“This policy is not about letting more people into this country (this policy is about ignoring fanatics and lunatics who want to kill Americans) . . . We cannot ignore the reality that when hundreds of thousands of people do not have a driver’s license, it puts everyone in danger, and we can’t ignore the reality that when hundreds of thousands of people live in the shadows (I almost made it through this statement without the 'in the shadows' talking point nonsense) it makes our country less safe and law enforcement’s job much harder.”

Joe Bruno Must Be Reading This Blog

Last week I write Governor Spitzer is "unfit" for office, and yesterday, according to the Post:

"Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno in a statement said the latest Siena College poll showing overwhelming public opposition to the plan 'makes abundantly clear what we already knew: that Gov. Spitzer's plan to give driver's licenses to illegal aliens is a threat to public safety and security, and is another indication that he is increasingly seen as unfit to govern this state.'"

Quoting Hillary From Yesterday's "The View"

"You know . . . er . . . ah . . . er-ah . . . ah-er . . . whatever . . . women are like tea bags . . . you know . . ah . . . er."

Her communication skills are unpolished, and the media continues to clean up her quotes.

Guess The Source

Regarding the book Her Way by Don Van Natta Jr. and Jeff Gerth about Senator Hillary Clinton The Hill reports:

"Republicans are focusing on an allegation in a recent book by two Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters, which suggests Clinton listened to a secretly recorded conversation between political opponents . . .

"Gerth told The Hill that he learned of the incident in 2006 when he interviewed a former campaign aide present at the tape playing. He has not revealed the aide’s identity. Clinton’s campaign has not disputed any facts reported in the final version of his book, which became public this spring, he said."

Given The Agenda and All Too Human, the betting money has to be on George Stephanopolous as the "former campaign aide present."

The Daily Chichester

Romney's Mormon faith still an issue.

Thompson continues to disappoint addressing the New York "Conservative" Party.

Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer still defiant in promoting his scheme to provide driver's licenses to illegal aliens.

Another useless poll, this time from Siena College, matching up the Governor-Infant and Mayor Bloomberg in an election that is three years away.

My new hero.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Chichester Edits Statements For Accuracy

The AP reports Senator John Edwards questioned Hillary's sincerity:

''I may have missed something (Hillary is trouncing me in all the polls) -- and you can tell me -- have we already had the New Hampshire primary (when we have the New Hampshire primary will I lose by 25 or 30 points?) ? Have we decided who's going to win the New Hampshire primary yet (Have you noticed I have not mentioned Hillary by name since I'm afraid of her; that's my wife's job)? I think we're going to actually have a campaign and an election.

''Instead of moving from primary mode to general election mode, why don't we have tell-the-truth mode (Hillary's a liar; my wife will tell you so), all the time, and not say something different one time than we say another time?

''We need to be able to trust both a presidential candidate and a president of the United States (if you primary voters want the impeached, disbarred, held-in-contempt-of-court by a Federal judge ex-president back in The White House, vote for Hillary) .''

How To Annoy Chichester VI

By citing Reagan's "11th Commandment" of "thou shall not attack another Republican," which Rudy cited yesterday :

" ... [Reagan] used to have an 11th commandment, that was 'thou shall not attack another Republican.' I'm going to try to follow that commandment as much as I can."

There's one problem: Reagan didn't follow Reagan's 11th Commandment. In 1976 he launched a brutal presidential primary campaign against his fellow Republican, President Gerald R. Ford, in which he ridiculed and denounced Ford's domestic and foreign policies. The campaign was so divisive that neither man had enough delegates going into the Kansas City convention. Ford barely won the nomination with 1,187 delegates to Reagan's 1,070.

Chichester Edits Statements For Accuracy

From today's New York Times story on the Giuliani-D'Amato relationship:

"But Mr. D’Amato says he’s looking beyond personalities, beyond the spats and celebrated reconciliations in the two decades since he first publicly split with Mr. Giuliani . . .

"In an interview last week, Mr. D’Amato said he and Mr. Giuliani were 'not best friends, but certainly I don’t have any personal antagonism toward him (I hate his guts) and I don’t think he has any toward me (he hates me, too) .'

"They last spoke about six months ago, Mr. D’Amato said, when Mr. Giuliani invited him to a private club for cigar smokers on Fifth Avenue. 'I said, 'I will probably be supporting McCain, but I will not speak ill of you (you're getting trashed every chance I get because I'm still seething about your endorsement of Gov. Mario Cuomo over George Pataki in 1994, among other things),’” Mr. D’Amato recalled.

"In the interview, though, he described Mr. Giuliani and Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, as among the candidates 'who are trying to reinvent' (they're both frauds, but Rudy is the bigger fraud) themselves. He called Mr. Thompson potentially the strongest regional candidate, while, he said, Mr. Giuliani would probably lose his home state . . .

“New York Republicans are supporting him because they believe he would be the strongest candidate in New York — he’s not going to carry it — and help them in their local races (predicting you'd lose your home state is not speaking ill of you) ,” Mr. D’Amato said.

"Mr. D’Amato said Mr. Giuliani had run 'an extraordinarily brilliant campaign to date' and that 'given many positions he has on social issues (marching in gay pride parades, supporting abortion-on-demand, dressing in drag and the usual Anything Goes left-wing social agenda), no one would have believed he would have done as well as he’s done (I still hate him).'"

The Daily Chichester

The surge is working. Congressman John Murtha must be joyous.

Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer adds to his enemies list.

The Governor-Infant's scheme to provide driver's licenses to illegal aliens continues to take a pounding.

Nancy Pelosi's favorite Republican to retire. Syrian thugs weep.

The Giuliani-D'Amato frost.

Fred Thompson, invisible.

Mangenius turns into Manmediocre.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

The Catcher of the Phony

Phony of the Week: The White House response to Al Gore winning his "peace" ribbon.

"Of course we're happy for Vice President Gore and the I.P.C.C. for receiving this recognition." - White House spokesman, Tony Fratto.

After all Al Gore has said about President Bush and his administration since January, 2001 ("He betrayed this country! He played on our fears!), The White House claims they're "happy" for him. Right.

Governor Spitzer on SCHIP

The Governor-Infant explains the Republican position on SCHIP:

“Opponents of the bill are stretching desperately for any semblance of an argument. The rhetoric on the other side, portraying this as socialized medicine, has been overheated and foolish.”

He would certainly understand overheated and foolish rhetoric.

The Daily Chichester

Al Gore wins a little ribbon from Norwegian Marxists on behalf of the weather, and a few Democrats think he should run for president. That makes sense.

Democrats are targeting Republican squishes on their SCHIP votes in anticipation of a veto override vote next week.

Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer upbraided by Speaker Silver.

Iranian Lunatics Update.

Congressman William Jefferson (D-Frozen Bribe) wants his charges dismissed.

Rudy still hoping Bernard Kerik goes away.

Retired Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez: "No end in sight" in Iraq.

Friday, October 12, 2007

The Character of Gov. Richard Milhouse Spitzer

Governor Eliot Spitzer's character is on display now day after day, and it's obvious what can be concluded. He has no character. None.

Yesterday's admission by his Press Secretary, Christine Anderson, that he was fully aware of an effort to encourage the Internal Revenue Service to investigate Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno is merely the latest example of Spitzer's inability to distinguish between right and wrong.

The IRS is a Federal agency staffed by pocket-protector bureaucratic thugs who can destroy lives in a relatively short period of time. Governor Spitzer understands this reality. Who better to go after Bruno than this bunch?

The Governor, yet again, has a commonality with the 37th President of the United States, Richard Milhouse Nixon. Nixon was also enthralled with using the IRS to pursue and discredit his political opponents.

According to White House tapes, Nixon said the IRS should "go after a couple of media people ... Dan Schorr, Mary McGrory." This also included Los Angeles Times publisher Otis Chandler. "I want him checked out with regard to his gardener, I understand he's a wetback," said Nixon.

Nixon also ordered his chief hench-aide H.R. Haldeman to use the IRS against Democratic contributors. "Please get me the name of the Jews. You know, the big Jewish contributors of the Democrats," he said.

Governor Spitzer may not be dumb enough to install a taping system in his offices. If there were tapes, though, New Yorkers would undoubtedly hear his Inner Nixon come out with regard to his obsession with Joe Bruno.

Eliot Spitzer is unfit for public office. He has neither the temperament nor the personal decency to lead 18 million people. In less than a year in office he's succeeded in becoming a failed, polarizing and conniving Chief Executive who has little chance of returning New York to its rightful place as a great American state.

The Daily Chichester

Al Gore wins the Nobel "Peace" Prize for helping the weather. The weather thanked Al Gore.

Gays are upset with Rep. Barney Frank (yes, you read that correctly).

Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer admits he knew about sending the IRS after Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno.

Obama releases his earmark requests. No word if anyone cried upon hearing Obama requested an earmark on their behalf.

Hilllary, Expert On Jeffersonian Democracy Iran

Hillary, yesterday, on Iran:

''I would engage in negotiations with Iran, with no conditions, because we don't really understand how Iran works. We think we do, from the outside, but I think that is misleading.''

We don't really understand how Iran works? How about they're a state-sponsor of terrorism, for starters, Senator.

"An Iron-souled Warrior of Colossal, Almost Unbelievable Courage"

Yesterday, The White House announced Lt. Michael P. Murphy, from Patchogue, Long Island, will receive the Medal of Honor. This Newsday series chronicles his life.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Pollsters Anonymous

Fox News Poll: More Voters Believe Clinton Will Be President

The Serenity Pollster: May I continue to strive to maintain the Polling Serenity to accept the crosstabs things that are not mine to sample change, courage to change the focus groups things that I should for the margin of error betterment of my fees the planet or even one likely voter life upon it , and the wisdom to know the wording of the question difference.

To be a near-daily feature given the media's obsession with polls and the horse race.

Nancy Pelosi Wants To Meet With You

According to The Politico Speaker Tracy Flick Nancy Pelosi is big on meetings:

"One leadership aide said that Pelosi schedules meetings to talk about the agenda for the next meeting, leaving no time to get anything done. Those complaints fall on the deaf ears of members of Congress not forced to attend."

As a former Hill staffer who reveled in blowing off one meeting after another called by the obsessive-compulsive disorder crowd just to "do something," this story cracked me up.

How To Annoy Chichester V

By describing political events as a "gate." In Albany there are ceaseless mentions of "Troopergate." In Washington, D.C. every real or possible scandal is a "gate." It's a lazy use of the English language.

Governor Spitzer's Plan To Resurrect Buffalo

Today's Times reports:

"John E. McArdle, a spokesman for the Senate majority leader, Joseph L. Bruno, called the projects announced by the governor retreads of previously announced deals.

“'I’m glad to see he is living up to commitments made years ago under previous administrations,' he said. 'What’s new?' he added. 'Where are the new projects and initiatives that we have been attempting to get done in Buffalo?'

"Jeffrey Gordon, a spokesman for Mr. Spitzer, said Mr. McArdle was 'absolutely correct' in saying 'many of these ideas have been around for some time.'"

The Governor-Infant is likely to have his fourth or fifth tantrum of the morning after he reads that Gordon quote responding to John (my former boss, by the way).

Chichester Edits Statements For Accuracy

Governor Spitzer, yesterday in Rochester, defending his illegal alien driver's license scheme:

"We will not have them living in the shadows (I just used the 'living in the shadows' vacuous talking point to score with my base since my career could be over because I tried to destroy Senator Bruno's career), 500,000 to a million people, which is what we've been living with (we've been living with people who break our Federal laws, and just forget about how 20% of our Federal prison inmate population is comprised of illegal aliens). Security experts say better to know who is here, better to have a list, better to have them use a valid foreign passport (I've listened to these 'security experts,' and they still believe it's September 10, 2001).

Rudy, Who Voted For Democrat Mario Cuomo

Mayor Giuliani was flawless in this week's presidential debate. At the end, it didn't matter what the other candidates said. The Mayor eloquently explained free markets and freedom, strongly defended his mayoral record, criticized Hillary in a humorous and substantive manner, and even called for the construction of new nuclear power plants. While it's three months from the Iowa Caucuses, it is becoming increasingly difficult to envision a nominee other than Rudy.

The Daily Chichester

Obama makes his first campaign appearance in Maryland. The assembled crowd cried in unison.

A San Francisco Federal judge loves lawbreakers.

Rep. Anthony Weiner is going to hear from Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer after criticizing his scheme to provide driver's licenses to illegal aliens.

The Governor-Infant has a new problem with his aides and the IRS.

Rudy confusing Christian conservatives.

The Department of Defense continues to do a great post-Rumsfeld job adjusting its strategy to help us prevail in Iraq.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Chichester Edits Statements For Accuracy

Rain Man Ron Paul at yesterday's Republican debate:

"The thought that the Iranians could pose an imminent attack on the United States is preposterous (The thought that I don't understand the Iranians hate the United States of America, and would drop a nuclear weapon on a major population center when they have the capability, disqualifies me from being taken seriously as not only a presidential candidate, but as an adult) . There's no way (Is there a war going on in Iraq now, with the Iranians helping to kill our soldiers?) . This is just . . . this is . . . this is just war propaganda, continued war propaganda, preparing this nation to go to war and spread this war not only in Iraq, but into Iran, unconstitutionally (Did something happen on September 11, 2001 that no one has told me about?) ."

SCHIP and Children

This story about the use of a 12-year-old boy by the Democratic Congressional leadership to promote the expansion of the SCHIP program has not received the national media attention it should receive. The boy's family lives a moderately comfortable life in Maryland, which didn't stop Democrats from using him to deliver the response to President Bush's weekly radio address.

Part of what the boy said in the script written for him:

"I don't know why President Bush wants to stop kids who really need help from getting CHIP."

To place this boy in such a raw political setting, using language he is too young to understand, is revolting and shameful.

The Daily Chichester

Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer on one of his top aides involved in allegedly attempting to ruin Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's career heading to a lobbying firm.

The Governor-Infant also had another fit tagging Bruno as part of the "rabid right."

The WaPo on the pedestrian presidential debate.

SpeakerTracy Flick Nancy Pelosi comparing SCHIP spending to Iraq war spending. She's got her priorities straight. They're practically the same issue.

Worker's compensation for a stripper injured performing on her pole upheld by Indiana court (there's no video evidence, which is a complete outrage).

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Debate Predictions

Senator Fred Thompson will bomb, and cause his supporters to seriously reconsider support for his candidacy.

Mayor Rudy Giuliani will excel, and demonstrate a commanding leadership presence.

Senator John McCain will again forcefully articulate why we must achieve victory in Iraq, and get no bounce in the polls.

Governor Mitt Romney will deliver a smooth and polished answer every time, but still leave the audience and primary voters wondering exactly what he believes.

Rep. Ron Paul will do his Rain Main impersonation, which will again send the white coats running for his supporters. Definitely. K-Mart sucks. R-O-N-P-A-U-L. R-O-N-P-A-U-L. Main man.

Gov. Huckabee, Rep. Hunter, Sen. Brownback and Rep. Tancredo will be non-factors.

In short, the conventional wisdom prevails and the debate will have no significant impact on the campaign.

PROVOCATIONS: Chris Matthews Is Not An Issue

It continues to amaze that the Republican field allows Chris Matthews to moderate its debates. Matthews is easily the most obnoxious and rude political talk show host on the air today. His compulsion for interrupting his guests has grown so pathetic that "Hardball" long ago became unwatchable. He should re-name the show "Nutball" for accuracy purposes.

I used to watch him regularly when he debuted ten years ago during the impeachment glory days. I have read his books, especially the wonderful "Kennedy and Nixon: The Rivalry That Shaped Postwar America." But something happened to him along the way. Perhaps since he worked for President Jimmy Carter and Speaker Tip O'Neill he decided that being a raw partisan is more comfortable.

There has been much talk by Republican activists and commentators that the candidates should "take on" Matthews today, especially in light of his statement that the Bush administration had "finally been caught in their criminality." That's a major mistake. It's undignified.

Chris Matthews - and other media figures - should never be presidential campaign issues. Any candidate can pander to the party base by blasting a Chris Matthews or a Rush Limbaugh. When it comes to addressing the foreign and domestic issues confronting our country, that political tactic is utterly worthless.

A candidate who does make Matthews an issue would also engage in one of the elements of modern American politics that I despise: Ignoring a question and going to the talking points. Television hosts and debate moderators far too often allow candidates, elected officials and their supporters to quickly pivot to the topic they really want to talk about. In fact, those who excel at this rhetorical cowardice are not condemned. They're celebrated.

John McEnroe famously said to a chair umpire: "Answer the question! The question, jerk!" I'll be thinking of McEnroe when or if Matthews becomes an issue. And given his Clinton-style slickness and propensity to tell an audience what they want to hear, Gov. Mitt Romney probably will either start or eagerly join in any Matthews-bashing.

John Edwards, Afraid

John Edwards continues to permit his wife to attack Hillary Clinton. It is a craven and thoroughly unseemly campaign tactic. Edwards does not have the guts to do it himself because he doesn't want to risk blow back from women. Simply put, he's afraid of Hillary. Yet he seeks an office where the occupant is forced to confront the world's most vicious murderers and thugs. Edwards is unfit to be the next president of the United States on many personal and professional levels. This is yet another example.

Chichester Granted Exclusive Access To Thompson Debate Prep

Note: "To help prepare, Mr. Thompson, who has also been an actor, has enlisted the aid of Alfonse M. D’Amato, the former senator from New York, who has been playing the role of Mr. Giuliani. But whether these rehearsals will help is an open question." - New York Times, October 8, 2007

The full on-the-scene Chichester report of the debate preparation:

D'Amato: Rudy Giuliani is a back-stabbing, lying snake, who picked on my little brother Armand, and is a fuc-

Sen. Thompson: Al?

D'Amato: Yes, Fred?

Sen. Thompson: You're supposed to be playing Rudy.

D'Amato: Oh, right, right. Sorry, Fred.

Sen. Thompson: That's o.k.

D'Amato: As New York City Mayor and United States Attorney, I abused my power of office to unfairly attack, smear and besmirch the honorable and ethical former United States Senator Alfonse M. D'Amato. I'd like to take this opportunity to publicly apologize to Senator D'Amato and his family for the pain I've caused them.

Sen. Thompson: Al?

D'Amato: Yes, Fred?

Sen. Thompson: Are you sure Rudy is going to say that?

D'Amato: What the fuck, Fred. Of course I'm fuckin' sure.

Sen. Thompson: Ok, Al, let's continue.

D'Amato: New York City owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to a man I've always affectionately called "Senator Pothole" for his passion and success in bringing Federal aid to the city, Senator Al D'Amato.

Sen. Thompson: Al?

D'Amato: Yes, Fred?

Sen. Thompson: Are you sure Rudy is going to say that, as well?

D'Amato: Fred, don't turn into a Tennessee fuckin' putzhead of a redneck on me, ok?

Sen. Thompson: Proceed, Al.

D'Amato: In 1994, I supported and voted for former liberal Democrat, and scourge of the New York State Republican party Governor Mario Cuomo, and, to this day, it remains my proudest endorsement.

Sen. Thompson: Al?

D'Amato: Yes, Fred?

Sen. Thompson: You understand New York politics better than I ever will, and are you also sure he'll say that?

D'Amato: Fred, I was the driving force behind George Pataki beating Cuomo. Do you know who I am? I'm Al D'Amato! I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders, Fred!

Sen. Thompson: Al?

D'Amato: Yes, Fred?

Sen. Thompson: I've seen The Godfather films, as I am an accomplished actor and study the craft.

D'Amato: I'm your older Senator, Fred, and I was stepped over!

Sen. Thompson: That's the way Schumer wanted it.

D'Amato: It ain't the way I wanted it! I can handle things! I'm smart! Not like everybody says ... like dumb ... I'm smart and I want respect!

(This is where Pacino Chichester was escorted out of the room).

Chichester's Odds On The Dumbest Chris Matthews Debate Question

* Inspired by Erin Burnett.

3-1 - Mayor Giuliani, who is the hottest babe on Fox News, and could you describe her lip gloss?

2-1 - Congressman Paul, as a libertarian, do you find it's easier to meet those girls gone wild anything goes types?

5-1 - Congressman Hunter, as the former distinguished chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and I love those chicks in uniform, er-ha! er-ha! Ahem. Excuse me. Seriously, Congressman, was Demi Moore the most attractive woman in uniform you've ever seen when she was in A Few Good Men?

8-1 - Governor Romney, in the old days my mistake was drinking beer and doing shots with girls and saying how great I was. Can you share your similar experiences as a Mormon?

3-5 - Senator Thompson, Fred, Freddy, meshugana of a television star, I could hardly wait to get to ya. Regarding your wife - va, va, va, voom! How did you both first meet?

10-1 - Governor Huckabee, I once said Hillary Clinton had "the balls" to run for the Senate. As the former Arkansas Governor, was I right about her balls, sir?

6-1 - Senator Brownback, if you were still single, would you date Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama or John Edwards?

4-1 - Senator McCain, could you get a little closer to the camera? Ha! Just kidding! You're a knockout, Senator. So, do you agree with Congressman Hunter that Demi Moore is not the most attractive woman ever in uniform?

9-1 - Congressman Tancredo, isn't it an outrage that Jennifer Lopez and Salma Hayek don't do nude scenes in the first five minutes of their movies?

Senator Bruno Must Be Reading This Blog

Yours truly has been referring to Governor Spitzer, given what we know about his plan to ruin Senator Bruno's career, as "Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer."

Yesterday, he told Fred Dicker of the New York Post:

"The governor claimed that he had nothing to hide, that he wanted to tell the truth under oath. Instead, we get a cover-up, a Nixon-style cover-up."

Krauthammer's Bush Derangement Syndrome

"I think that President Bush is the worst president we've ever had. In
history." - Rep. Henry Waxman (D-), chairman of the House Government Affairs Committee, speaking Saturday on "Cappy McGarr's" radio talk show.

Meanwhile, Back In The 9th Century . . .

Reuters: Jordan Jails Royal Critic Over E - Mails

The Daily Chichester

This is too good. I thought, according to Democrats, that the Bush administration was "spying on Americans," and it was Gestapo-like to provide the National Security Agency with eavesdropping powers. Go crazy on your own today moveon.org.

Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer's Communications Director departs for lobbying firm.

Sky-high expectations for Thompson's debate performance.

Obama's pastor is an extremist.

I almost couldn't make it through this WaPo story given the incessant Jimmy Carter-like whining from these former Bush staffers.

We're having a tough time convincing Afghan government officials that heroin is bad. Explaining why the United States does not pressure the government to spray its poppy fields with herbicide a State Department official said there "is a potential for losing hearts and minds." Wonder where we've heard those words invoked the last time we were at war. State should get some new talking points.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Chichester Edits Statements For Accuracy

Christine Anderson, Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer's press secretary, defending the effort to use the State Police to ruin Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's career:

“The Governor has a duty to his constitutional office and to the place it holds in our democratic system (a new generation of Haldemans and Ehrlichmans have been helping him do his constitutional duty). This provocative and misguided action therefore requires extended litigation at considerable taxpayer expense (if the Governor's State Police Superintendent and Communications Director had agreed to be placed under oath there would be no extended litigation) . . . Furthermore, the Executive Chamber is now forced to employ outside counsel to fight the Senate’s abuse of power (I cracked myself up when I wrote 'abuse of power.')

“The Senate Republican Majority is engaged in a purely partisan exercise (unlike us can't-we-all-get-along Kumbaya singers on the Governor's staff who have never engaged in purely partisan exercises) that serves no legitimate governmental purpose (could lead to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo defeating my boss in a 2010 primary) . . .

" . . . A partisan Senate inquiry into the Chamber’s ethics would, itself, be inconsistent with basic ethical principles. The Commission on Public Integrity should be allowed to do its work (Commission Head John Feerick better come up with a total whitewash for my boss or he's going to understand what getting steamrolled means).”

The Daily Chichester

We finally have Romney, who voted for Democrat Paul Tsongas and Rudy, who voted for Democrat Mario Cuomo, clashing big-time.

The WaPo on what no Republican candidates want to talk about.

Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer's aides get subpoenas for trying to concoct a plan to ruin Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's career.

New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly is the latest to oppose R. Milhouse's scheme to provide illegal aliens with driver's licenses.

Obama finds a General (who also supported John Kerry) who can help him rid the world of nuclear weapons, meet with every thug and Stalinist on the planet and invade Pakistan.

Saturday Leisure: Chichester's One-Sentence Movie Reviews

Hoosiers

Coach Norman Dale (who never existed), played by Gene Hackman, becomes the Hickory (real name: Milan) High School basketball coach and Assistant Principal Barbara Hershey immediately hates him for no reason and Coach Dale finds he only has six players try out for his team (which never happened) and he kicks Buddy off the team for being a smart mouth and finds out that Jimmy Chitwood is Hickory's super-human basketball player and sitting out the year (which never happened) because manhood-robbing Barbara Hershey wants him to get an academic scholarship instead of an athletic scholarship to college and Coach Dale boldly tells Jimmy I-don't-care-if-you-play and Hickory starts to lose games and there is a Hickory Town Hall meeting called to fire Coach Dale (which never happened) where Barbara Hershey gives a boo-hoo-hoo Kleenex box speech urging that Coach Dale be kept but he is fired until Jimmy Chitwood shows up and says he's playing again but only for Coach Dale and they re-vote to keep Coach Dale and Hickory goes on a winning stampede with Jimmy and Buddy, with no explanation at all, is suddenly back on the team and Coach Dale and Barbara Hershey have a you-have-to-look-away-from-the-screen big smooch and Hickory goes on to be the smallest school to make the state championship game and Coach Dale gives a five Kleenex box boo-hoo-hoo locker room speech before the game saying "I love you guys" and Hickory wins the championship against a team from Indianapolis with 11 Michael Jordans on it.

The End.

Next week: Friday Night Lights

Friday, October 5, 2007

Please Resign Senator Craig

I don't know if Sen. Larry Craig is a public men's room trolling pervert, yet it doesn't look good for him. At all.

When I first saw the headline and lede for this story, the initial thought was that the Senator got caught in a full Brokeback Mountain in that Minneapolis bathroom. Not so, of course. Listening to the tape with the obnoxious arresting officer does engender minor sympathy for Craig, with the near-juvenile back-and-forth between him and Craig about foot-tapping.

Still, Sen. Craig has to go. He's an abject embarrassment. Cameras will continue to follow him, he'll continue to be asked why he broke his word regarding resignation, and Sen. Chuck Schumer is going to remind voters of Republican hypocrisy on "family values" issues while he attempts to elect more Senate Democrats as chairman of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee.

Even worse for Republicans, is their national nominating convention will be held in Minneapolis. If Craig is still serving, and even has the nerve to attend the convention, that tourist attraction bathroom for the demented is going to be a national media story - a "family values" story.

Democrats are loving this Craig drama. The old political saying applies: Don't get in the way of your opponents while they're in the middle of destroying themselves.

There is some solace for Craig. Even if the arresting officer is 100 percent accurate about the facts, what Sen. Craig did pales in comparison to the past lurid behavior of a few colleagues. The senior Senator/Aquatic Wonder from Massachusetts brought us Chappaquiddick, and Sen. Robert C. Byrd was a walking-talking hate crime in his late 20's and early 30's as a Ku Klux Klan Kleagle.

Sen. Craig has to understand this political dynamic every time he looks across the Senate chamber and sees Teddy and Bob (among others). Perhaps that's a reason why he decided to finish his term.

Hollywood Airhead of the Week On Politics

Brad Pitt Urges George Clooney To Run For President

Brad Pitt should stick to things he understands. Like tanning beds and hair gel.

The Catcher of the Phony

Phony of the Week: Senator Daniel Akaka.

On Monday, Senator Akaka said regarding the Rush Limbaugh "phony soldier" controversy.

"Well I feel that any citizen has a vote, a right to voice their opinion on anything they want to do and I think this Limbaugh, though I don't agree with him on many things, has the right to say what he says. And I don't think we need do legislation to get at him. I think, however, it's something that people can talk about and maybe help them render judgments. But I don't think we need to set any laws to stop that."

Yet he signed the letter with 40 other Senate Democrats to Clear Channel Communications that denounced Limbaugh.

The Daily Chichester

The Times today quotes Rudy extensively from his radio show days while New York City Mayor (A personal favorite remains: “David, your compulsion, your excessive concern for weasels is a sign of something wrong in your personality. I am giving you the benefit of 55 years of experience — having handled insanity defenses, you need help.”)

The Governor-Infant is mad, shockingly, at county clerks for denouncing his scheme to provide driver's licenses to illegal aliens.

Senator Pat Leahy of Vermont, who resigned from the Intelligence Committee after he provided sensitive information to a reporter, knows who the enemy is - the United States Department of Justice.

Hillary still being criticized for her debate performance.

James Gandolfini loses his mind.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Have You Figured It Out Yet, Conservatives?

Rep. Bobby Jindal announced he will vote to override the president's veto of SCHIP:

"If the reauthorization of SCHIP continues to be pushed back, we are robbing these children of the coverage they need.”

Rep. Jindal has been hailed as a "new generation" of leaders by conservatives, as this American Conservative Union news release from last year notes:

“As many increasingly question what conservatism means today — especially in the face of an exploding and encroaching federal government — these rock-solid conservatives held fast to ACU’s core values of fiscal discipline and limited government,” said ACU Chairman David Keene. “Unmoved by shifting poll numbers and the Potomac temptations to make headlines and put power over principle, these men and women deserve our respect, our admiration, and our votes.”

"Rock-solid conservatives."

Right.

Except when you're running for the Louisiana Governor's office, which Rep. Jindal is doing now.

Despite Mr. Keene's happy-talk at the time, Rep. Jindal has now been overcome by Potomac temptations. He was moved by shifting poll numbers. He put power over principle. SCHIP is a major example of the exploding and encroaching federal government that Keene cited, and Bobby Jindal is on the side of exploding and encroaching.

As previously noted, the conservative movement and the conservative media have little influence with the House Republican conference. This Jindal announcement is merely the latest example, and there are many more to come from "conservatives" as we head to November, 2008.

Republican Fund-Raising Numbers, And It Isn't Pretty

The third quarter fund-raising totals are in. Rudy raised only $11 million, Romney raised only $10 million, Thompson raised only $9 million, McCain raised only $6 million and Paul raised $5 million. If the Republican front-runner can only double the haul of a certifiable straitjacket of a candidate like Ron Paul, the party's in big trouble.

Chichester Edits Statements For Accuracy

According to Reuters, The Sensitive Metrosexual, John Edwards, "attacks Clinton on Iraq Position:"

"If you're not ending combat missions and combat operations, you're not ending the war (I did not dispatch Mrs. Sensitive Metrosexual to attack Hillary here so that shows what a tough guy I am) . . . We clearly need fundamental reform of the system for providing security contractors in Iraq or any place else (I hope my hair looked good when I said that) . . . Our party, the Democratic Party, has to offer the American people real change, and that starts with ending this war for good, not just trimming it (speaking of trimming it, I think I need another Two Americas $400 hair cut by my 'celebrity stylist' Joseph Torrenueva of Beverly Hills - where they have a lot of blue-collar mill workers - before my next campaign appearance).

The Dot EDU Academic Delusional of the Week

John H. Mollenkopf, director of the Center for Urban Research at the City University of New York, on Governor Spitzer's scheme to provide driver's licenses to illegal aliens.

“I do think that immigrant citizens take offense at efforts to be mean to undocumented workers."

These men and women are not "undocumented workers" or "undocumented immigrants." They have documents, which are fraudulent. If they possessed legitimate documents, they would be in our United States legally. They are illegal aliens, which is the accurate description.

SCHIP Hysteria

A former co-worker in the House forwarded me a few statements Democrats have made about SCHIP:

Rep. Fortney Stark (D-Atheism):

“The Axis of Evil isn’t just in the Middle East, it’s just down here on Pennsylvania Avenue.”

Rep. Lloyd Doggett:

“How many children will be dead or will suffer with disease and disability until enough members of this Congress are willing to stand up to the President.”

Rep. Steny Hoyer:

“A stunning lack of compassion for some of the most vulnerable members of our society.”

Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-I Can't Go Ten Seconds Without Saying F---):

“Telling children to take a hike.”

Who could possibly vote for these people.

"The Children," And SCHIP

Even though the SCHIP bill covers adults, a sampling of the headlines today:

L.A. Times: Child Health Veto Will Be Election Issue

New York Times: Bush Vetoes Children's Health Bill

Washington Post: Bush Vetoes Children's Health Insurance Plan

San Francisco Chronicle: Bush Veto of Kids' Health Bill Puts Pressure on House GOP

Did any human in the MSM read this bill? Their ability to consistently achieve stunning stupidity about the English language and simple facts never disappoints.

"Bush Vetoes Middle Class Welfare Bill To Provide Adults Health Insurance."

That's the accurate headline (Congressman Zach Wamp of Tennessee has an outstanding column on this issue, here).

The media is only outdone by Congress. Put "the children" on any bill in Congress and half of the 535 Thomas Jeffersons we elected would vote for it no matter what.

Dr. Adam Nagourney

N.Y. Times: On Stump, Low-Key Thompson Stirs Few Sparks

First the Times brings us the most irrelevant story of the day regarding who would fill Hillary's Senate seat, and now psychiatrist reporter Adam Nagourney concludes that Fred Thompson is too tired, lazy, low-key, subdued, uninformed and aloof to be president of the United States. Just pathetic "journalism."

The Daily Chichester

An Archbishop who understands Catholicism (when it comes to Rudy)

The New York Times thinks Hillary is already president (they must be stupefyingly bored at the Times to have come up with this department-of-who-cares story)

The Governor-Infant gets blasted by relatives of 9-11 victims for his scheme to provide driver's licenses to illegal aliens

Charles Schumerborking profiled on Bloomberg.com

People who care more about animals than human beings People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals indoctrinate Michael Vick

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

The Entourage Checks In

Chichester's buddy Boobie Bellafiore, and Steve Greenberg, punditing it up last night on Capital News 9

Pollsters Anonymous

Remember all those useless polls conducted for a possible Hillary-Rudy race in 1999 and 2000? The Mayor never even officially announced. Yet it was one poll after another before Rudy said he wouldn't run.

Here we have Quackapiac Quinnipiac with another useless, Hillary-Rudy poll. It claims Hillary leads Rudy 52-41 percent in New York.

The SCHIP Misnomer

President Bush vetoed the $35 billion expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. We're going to see how resolute, how determined House Minority Leader John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will be in advocating limited government and market alternatives for health insurance. Because if you can't stand up against a monstrous federal program with the word "children" in it, where the benefits also go to adults, you should just head for permanent Bob Michelville.

Speaker Pelosi Doesn't Disappoint

Well, I said Speaker of the House Tracy Flick's Nancy Pelosi's appearance on that Algonquin Round Table, The View, would be Stooges-level funny. It didn't disappoint, as the WaPo noted.

The highlight:

"Trying to shout over Whoopi and her other gabbing co-hosts and excited audience members, Barbara turned to Guest Pelosi and said she has heard Whoopi say before that she'd 'do Paul Newman.'

"And I think she'd like to do your husband as well," Walters deadpanned in that quintessential accent that made her the subject of late-night lampooning over the decades."

And she wanted to be taken seriouswie when co-anchoring the evening news with Howrie Wreasoner.

How To Annoy Chichester IV

By using UPPER CASE to EMPHASIZE a point. Because if you don't use UPPER CASE, no one will understand what you're ATTEMPTING TO COMMUNICATE in an e-mail.

Rudely standing in front of the half-and-half and carrying on a conversation (that means you Senate staffers in Russell's Cups).

And standing right in front of the elevator door when you know there will be people getting off (yes, you staffers in Russell, again).

Chichester Edits Statements For Accuracy

Mayor Giuliani's "strategy memo" from yesterday:

TO: TEAM RUDY (TEAM RUDY, WHO VOTED FOR DEMOCRAT MARIO CUOMO)

FROM: BRENT SEABORN, STRATEGY DIRECTOR

RE: 4th QUARTER KICKOFF

DATE: OCTOBER 2, 2007

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FIELD

. . . Mayor Giuliani continues to lead all major media polls (because Republican primary voters are in an apparent coma). A recent Pew Report poll reports Mayor Giuliani’s percentage of the ballot share has increased 5 points from the previous Pew survey conducted in July. The most recent Pew survey also reports Mayor Giuliani leading the important Republican candidate attribute categories of "tough", "energetic" and "smart", among a handful of others (the important Republican candidate attribute categories of "divorcing your wife via news conference," "weird" and "a track record that includes pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-rent control, pro-gay rights positions and trashing an honorable man like Mayor Giuliani's former boss Attorney General Edwin Meese" were not included).

A recent FOX News poll reports Mayor Giuliani’s ballot support has increased 5 points from the previous FOX News poll conducted in August (we love citing numbers, and not our full record, on TEAM RUDY).

In addition to national polling, Mayor Giuliani is favorably positioned in a number of early and February 5 primary states. The Mayor leads nearly all Florida primary polls with a 2007 average of 30%, followed by Thompson 17%, McCain 14% and Romney 9% (we on TEAM RUDY are trying to Lilli Von Shtupp-seduce you with our numbers; don't pay attention to the full record).

. . . Most notably, Mayor Giuliani continues to hold strong with socially conservative voters. Socially conservative voters are becoming more comfortable with Mayor Giuliani as they hear him speak clearly about his agenda (he won't be dressing in drag any more) . Two of the Mayor’s 12 Commitments that are most important are "to increase the number of adoptions, reduce the number of abortions and protect the quality of life for our children" (which Rudy rarely talked about while New York City Mayor since the Planned Parenthood crowd would have went nuts, and Ruth Messenger would have had a big issue in the 1997 race).

Let's Play Nutball

The Newsweek brief interview with Chris Matthews regarding his new book:

Newsweek: I would not have expected you, the hostus interruptus of "Hardball," to have an appreciation for listening.

Nutball: It was the way Bill Clinton got girls, and he taught it to his wife as a way to get votes. Another one of these rich ironies. My mistake in the old days was drinking with girls and saying how great I was.

Chris, please retire.

Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer

The New York Sun reports the latest outburst from Governor Spitzer in a speech yesterday regarding his scheme to provide driver's licenses to illegal aliens:

"No amount of hysterical rhetoric will prevent us from doing what is right. I'm not going to run from the fight just because the other side decides to demagogue it."

"Hysterical rhetoric. "

A major focus of this blog is frauds, fakes and phonies in public life. Governor Spitzer has used "hysterical rhetoric" throughout his career, and largely never paid a price for it.

Until now, as Wayne Barrett notes in today's Village Voice.

I'm surprised he made it through this speech without dropping an f-bomb or ten on his audience.

The Daily Chichester

Pollsters Anonymous: Hillary clobbering Sen. Obama in new WaPo poll

Sen. Fred Thompson will address the New York State "Conservative" Party October 15th

Peanutsism: Jimmy Carter, once again, achieving nothing and looking good doing it

The Washington Post, the public relations firm for Anita Hill, on the Clarence Thomas book

Senator Bob Packwood Isiah Thomas costs the Knicks $11.6 million

My Mets Keep Willie (it's Omar who should go, btw)

Chichester Responds To E-mail / RE: Iraq

Q: Do you honestly believe victory [in Iraq] is even possible at this point? And what do you so dislike about Democrats?

A: Of course I believe we can achieve victory. The United States military is the greatest institution our country has ever produced. I know first-hand.

I dislike the Democratic party's inability to accept the consequences of war. I dislike its overwrought Oprah-esque talk show host, emotion-only approach to why we are in Iraq. I dislike the language the party leaders use that damage morale. Nancy Pelosi said it was a "grotesque mistake" and Harry Reid said "the war is lost." This language is deeply disturbing to me. Our soldiers hear this bile.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Sen. Obama: It's September 10, 2001

There are proposals by candidates that achieve a level of naivete and ignorance from which they should never recover.

Today, Senator Obama announced he will seek the elimination of the world's nuclear weapons, if elected president. This is a proposal he should never, ever recover from. And one that his opponents should use to demonstrate - again - how his inexperience and I'd-like-to-teach-the-world-to-sing-in-perfect-harmony Coca-Cola commercial philosophy of foreign policy is dangerous to our national security.

I'm sure al-Qaeda will agree we need to eliminate nuclear weapons. And Iran. And Syria. And Hamas. And Islamic Jihad. And I could go on listing the terrorists and America-haters who want to carry out another September 11, 2001 - using nuclear weapons on us.

Pollsters Anonymous

The latest Quackapiac Quinnipiac poll claims New Yorkers believe that Gov. Spitzer "knew what his aides were doing when they arranged for State Police records of Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno's travels to be leaked to the media" by a margin of 56-25 percent and that "New York State voters say 78 - 17 percent that Gov. Eliot Spitzer should testify under oath about what he knew of the so-called Troopergate scandal."

Yet:

"Voters say 57 - 26 percent that Spitzer is 'honest and trustworthy.'"

That makes sense. It's perfectly intellectually consistent.

The Serenity Pollster: May I continue to strive to maintain the Polling Serenity to accept the crosstabs things that are not mine to sample change, courage to change the focus groups things that I should for the margin of error betterment of my fees the planet or even one likely voter life upon it , and the wisdom to know the wording of the question difference.

To be a near-daily feature given the media's obsession with polls and the horse race.

Drudge

Drudge, when he's not obsessing about freak weather events, missing persons, 60-year-old mothers, 17-pound babies, the train wrecks of Hollywood bimbos and mimbos, today has one of his classic screaming headlines:

"QUEEN OF THE QUARTER: HILLARY CRUSHES OBAMA IN SURPRISE FUNDRAISING SURGE"

Perhaps he should ask how President Phil Gramm and President Steve Forbes did with their fund-raising prowess. Or even President Howard Dean before he self-destructed in Iowa.

Hillary raised $27 million. Sen. Obama raised $20 million. The difference is negligible so far out from the first votes being cast.

Governor Richard Milhouse Spitzer

The New York Post reports the Governor is a tad upset with critics of his scheme to provide driver's licenses to illegal aliens:

"What I object to is that the attacks from the right show the extent to which this is about desperate politics and not about substance . . .

"No amount of fear mongering and extremist rhetoric will prevent us from doing what is morally and practically correct."

He is coming apart.

There is no elected official in New York more practiced in "extremist rhetoric" than Eliot Spitzer. Joe Bruno knows it. Jim Tedisco knows it. John Whitehead certainly knows it.

He is petty.

He is petulant.

He can't handle, emotionally, anyone who disagrees with him.

He is America's Governor-Infant.

The Phony Soldier, and Phony Democratic Outrage

The controversy surrounding Rush Limbaugh's "phony soldier" remark has reached the Orwellian level.

Do Democrats and liberals even understand the English language, or the sequence of a conversation?

Limbaugh did not attack or denigrate anti-war soldiers as "phony soldiers." He attacked and denigrated one phony soldier, Jesse MacBeth. MacBeth was in Army basic training for 40 days before he was judged unfit to serve and promptly discharged. Yet he was adopted as the latest mascot by the moveon.org fanatics after he claimed to have killed men and women leaving a Baghdad mosque while stationed in Iraq.

This fact didn't stop Senate Majority Leader Pat Geary Harry Reid from calling Limbaugh's comments "so beyond the pale of decency that it cannot be left alone."

Senator Tom Harkin, in one of the most unseemly and undignified rants witnessed on the Senate floor in recent memory said, "Well, I don’t know. Maybe he was just high on his drugs again. I don’t know whether he was or not. If so, he ought to let us know. But that shouldn’t be an excuse."

And John Kerry said, "In a single moment on his show, Limbaugh managed to question the patriotism of men and women in uniform who have put their lives on the line and many who died for his right to sit safely in his air-conditioned studio peddling hate."

How these three men manage to corral even one vote from the people of Nevada, Iowa and Massachusetts is near-stunning. Each has used inflammatory rhetoric that damaged troop morale, and hurt our efforts to achieve victory. They have now directed manufactured outrage at a private citizen for the sole purpose of motivating their lunatic fringe supporters on the left. It's a disgrace.

Daily News: Spitzer snubs Cuomo at L.I. Democratic Party meeting

Liz Benjamin has the latest on the Governor-Infant.

He blew off Attorney General Andrew Cuomo at the Democratic party's annual fall meeting. Likely because of the non-scathing scathing report he issued on the use of State Troopers to track Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's movements.

The Governor appears oblivious to the significance of the Cuomo report. He went easy on Spitzer. He should be sending Cuomo chocolates and flowers for not putting his aides under oath.

Chichester's Entourage Checks In / RE: SCHIP

Bush is bungling the message on vetoing SCHIP. Anybody home in the PR department? The reason to veto is NOT "get the needy signed up first" – implying that we’ll get the remainder later. Huh?

The message should be: This is fiscally irresponsible, making a mockery of the Democrats campaign posture last year, and exacerbates the health care problem in this country. This makes it more costly by expanding third party payments for health care by the government, drawing in still more middle class to government entitlements that are bankrupting our children’s future.

Expanding middle class subsidies with higher middle class taxes also crowds out the private insurance market, giving government more control over this world class industry, which leads to inevitable rationing. The White House and Republican party never fails to miss an opportunity to educate the American people on the health care debate. - Rick "Flash" Davis.

Contraception Coercion

Go ahead, Catholics, and keep voting for Democrats

Nancy Pelosi

Today, Speaker of the House Tracy Flick Nancy Pelosi will appear on the most serious and substantive public affairs program on the air in America - The View.

How fitting.

The transcript of this appearance is going to be Stooges-level funny.

How To Annoy Chichester III

Candidates, incumbents, flacks and their supporters should do every single humanly possible thing and avoid using these words and phrases since they cause Chichester's head to explode.

Lock and load (you can't lock, and next load; if you needed to fire your weapon you'd, quite simply, be dead).

It is what it is (Chichester reaches for the helium mask like Hopper in Blue Velvet).

Obama Raises $20 million From 93,000 Donors

Hillary should be nervous.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Limbaugh's Riveting Interview with Justice Clarence Thomas

A must read/listen

Good News From Iraq

AP: Iraqi deaths fall by 50 percent

According to the AP:

"The number of American troops and Iraqi civilians killed in the war fell in September to levels not seen in more than a year. The U.S. military said the lower count was at least partly a result of new strategies and 30,000 additional U.S. forces deployed this year."

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi issued a statement:

"This is very encouraging news. I'm hopeful it will continue, and that our fighting men and women of the United States armed forces will eventually be victorious in the war against terrorism and Islamofascism."

I made that Pelosi quote up, of course.