A Nigerian terrorist tried to blow up a plane as it landed in Detroit Friday. Then Saturday, on the same flight, a would-be terrorist caused a scare that caused the plane to be held and searched when it landed.

I guess the new nickname is “Detroit Iraq City.”

airplanes, Iraq, terrorism

Berlin, Germany

U.S. Representative Joe Wilson, as a character who can only speak in 2 word outbursts that rhyme with “you lie!”

• Demeaning a short colleague : “Small fry!”
• Pointing at recent hire: “New guy!”
• Ordering from Dollar Menu : “Small fry!”
• Asked if he was serious about going for Chicken and Waffles: “No jive!”
• Reflecting on quick passing of summer: “Time flies!”
• Asked if admitted being a goddamn asshole: “Deny!”
• Demanding a second-draft from an aide: “Re-try!”
• Planning a formal event honoring Strom Thurmond: “Black tie!”
• Asked if Obama measured up to G.W. Bush: “Far cry!”
• Letting friends know of his Gamecock watching party: “Drop by!”
• When aides leaving to get tea from SBX: “No Chai!”
• Asked if he’s had trysts in exotic locations, as Gov. Sanford does: “Shanghai!”
• Greeting wife at birthday party: “Surprise!”
• Ordering lunch at Capitol Diner: “Mince pie!”
• Demanding his laundry be done: “Wash Dry!”
• Asking for help removing shoes: “Un-tie!”
• Deterring a kid from pissing in the pool: “Red dye!”

You can add to the list with comments.

Joe Wilson, Jokes

Some Chiefs of Staff are more capable than others. Don’t count the top aide for South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford among the best. That press conference should have been delayed and rehearsed. Perhaps even scripted! Sanford needed a ‘Checkers’ speech not an “I’m Deeply Distraught” speech.
Oh, but it contained so much! I especially liked the off-hand, irrelevant note about how he and his friend called his boy’s room “Jurassic Park” because of the dinosaur sheets and that “all kinds of people stayed over (during the campaign).” Did the Argentina chica crash there? How did he meet her? He mentioned that it started on email… but how? AregentiaChicas.com?

But I’m less concerned about the ‘other woman’ than I am about… the woman who stood behind this man during the press conference. She does exhibit a sense of humor; she and her colleague are laughing throughout the 10 minute spectacle. Say: maybe whoever is in charge of these things should have prevented random folks to stand BEHIND the podium. Oh geez. So much material. What a sad story.

Above is a still photo from the video. I don’t think the 2 women are going to need an apology. Sanford can skip them on his Repentance Tour.

Check out the MSNBC video of the entire press conference.

Jokes, politics, Sanford

I watched most of 60 Minutes’ interview of Fed Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke conducted by Scott Pelley.

I was struck right away by the hard-hitting questions. Example:
“When was it (the Fed) founded?”
“..1913″

(from minute:second = 3:10 in video)

Whooo. Did CBS News fire its research department? Bernake’s time is worth trillions of dollars. Each second he takes away from saving bankers, is a possible mistake that could ruin the economy further.

Although it might be a good idea to interview Bernanke on TV, I doubt he needed to answer questions regarding the founding and basic operations of The Fed. Or maybe Pelley was attempting to lull Ben into a sense of calm, before springing on him such tough questions as “.. er, so, your hometown is having tough times, huh?”

60 Minutes, Bernanke, Fed Reserve, Scott Pelley