Friday, April 30, 2010
“Your coming to power is undoubtedly a historic event. For the first time this old Gallo-Roman country will be governed by a Jew. I dare say out loud what the country is thinking, deep inside: it is preferable for this country to be led by a man whose origins belong to his soil… than by a cunning talmudist.”
—A member of the French parliament following Leon Blum’s election as prime minister in 1936.
(Of course Blum really was a socialist.)
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Well that didn’t last long. Two weeks ago I said I’d try not to gripe about the Right. Couldn’t do it. You can’t follow the news and keep that pledge.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Chris Matthews is fond of saying ”Bring in the cots” when daring Congress to duke it out in a filibuster.
Watching an older (1997) Ken Burns series on Thomas Jefferson, I cracked up at the description of the 1800 election, when the House of Representatives convened to break an electoral college tie, but then the House found itself in a tie. It went on for days, and the congressmen ”had to send home for their nightcaps.” After 36 ballots, Jefferson edged out Aaron Burr.
The had to part is what got me giggling, along with picturing the current session’s members all snug in their nightcaps and powdering gowns, and on C-SPAN. Presumably you couldn’t spend the night away from your nightcap, and it would have to be your own cap.
If the GOP has the gall to threaten filibuster in the Senate on the reform bill, and the Dems have the guts to call them on it, we might see that midnight cap run. I suppose the 21st century version would be roomy new fleece hoodies for all, with promotional logos. Still better, Snuggies all around, red or blue. They’d look like two church choirs competing in a festival. Maybe Goldman Sachs would oblige.
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