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CBS Sunday Morning

by John Cole

You know the drill!

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January 31, 2010 9:22 am Posted in: Open Thread  69 Comments

69 Responses

  1. Peter J - January 31, 2010 | 9:25 am · Link

    Harkin: Health deal was reached days before Brown’s Senate victory

    PTDB

  2. demkat620 - January 31, 2010 | 9:30 am · Link

    Morning all!

    How do you feel John?

  3. Phyllis - January 31, 2010 | 9:36 am · Link

    Am awaiting the Colin Firth interview. All else is noise. Particularly the tongue bath interview going on with Paulson as we speak.

  4. PurpleGirl - January 31, 2010 | 9:39 am · Link

    @Phyllis: Agree about Paulson segment. For part of the Paulson story I played a Michael Buble video Susie Madrak has up at her site. I like the music commentary segments with Bill Flanagan.

  5. demo woman - January 31, 2010 | 9:42 am · Link

    @Phyllis: Paulson hears not evil, sees no evil, but does speak evil. He forgot the proverbial principal.

  6. Michael D. - January 31, 2010 | 9:44 am · Link

    Am I wrong for kinda liking Hank Paulson after that interview? Also, I will also think Harvey Levin is a weasel.

    Perhaps I have the two interviews backwards.

  7. frankdawg - January 31, 2010 | 9:44 am · Link

    I wish they could have had a journalist grill Hank. Someone that knew the details and could have hit him for his industry ties accurately and explain his failings better. There were a lot worse details passed over so he could pretend he hates the big bonus’.

  8. PurpleGirl - January 31, 2010 | 9:45 am · Link

    John, how are you feeling this morning? Hoping you’re sleeping better now. Do Tunch and Lily try to sleep with you in the recliner?

  9. debit - January 31, 2010 | 9:47 am · Link

    I am waiting until 10:00 when I can bring my cat with the suspected UTI back to the UofM vet clinic so they can attempt to get a urine sample. This means no litter box for him for 3 hours, which translates into an eternity of chasing him all over the house trying to stop him from peeing on anything not bare wood. Note the use of the word “trying.”

    On top of that, I’ve put in a 70 plus hour work week only ended by the trip to the emergency clinic late last night and woke up this morning with a proto-migraine. My week wasn’t as bad as Cole’s, but at this point, I might welcome surgery.

    /fraught

  10. Robertdsc-iphone - January 31, 2010 | 9:51 am · Link

    Could anyone please point me to an explanation on how tax credits are supposed to put people back to work? Thanks.

  11. Andy - January 31, 2010 | 9:51 am · Link

    In watching Hank Paulson’s press conferences in 2008 during the meltdown, I always got the impression that he looked like he was just on the verge of throwing up. That very human observation, more than anything else, impressed on me the gravity of the situation. Now I know I wasn’t imagining things, even if the backstory is a little more prosaic.

    Along with Michael D., I do have a little more sympathy for the man now.

  12. Maude - January 31, 2010 | 9:53 am · Link

    @debit: Your chasing kitty cheered me up for the day. I hope kitty doesn’t have UTI.

  13. Annie - January 31, 2010 | 9:53 am · Link

    @debit:

    Sheeeeeeet. All that, and it isn’t even noon yet. Hope both you and your kittie survive.

    I can’t imagine how I would stop my cats from peeing…Never thought that would ever be an issue.

  14. Annie - January 31, 2010 | 10:00 am · Link

    Apparently Scott Brown supports abortion rights, just not Federal funding for abortion.

    Did the Republicans forget to give him the “purity” test? Or, they just gave him half a test, assuming he would fall in line with the entire message like the rest of the “stepford” Republican Congress?

  15. Mustang Bobby - January 31, 2010 | 10:03 am · Link

    Watching John Boehner on NBC. Oy. He even said “Democrat Party.” Talk about someone who doesn’t get it.

  16. debit - January 31, 2010 | 10:09 am · Link

    @Maude: Well, he’s got something making him constantly want to pee, and when he does, it’s bloody. I’m actually hoping it’s a UTI, since the alternatives pretty much all mean surgery.

    @Annie: I finally got him in the cat carrier, which he’s doing his level best to destroy. He’s 18 pounds of angry, urine filled cat and I mess with him at my own peril. The vet said last night, in her understated, British voice, “He’s a rather…difficult cat, isn’t he?” Yes. Yes he is.

  17. Cat Lady - January 31, 2010 | 10:09 am · Link

    @Annie:

    You know, the Republicans need to be careful what they wish for in Scott Brown. He’s a nitwit and a lazy implementer, but he’s from Massachusetts and if he goes too far towards the teabaggers, he’s going to lose when his term is up. His election has been completely misinterpreted by the media – shocking, I know. It was a protest vote against State House Democratic shenanigans as much or more than Washington’s inability to show progress on problems that affect the middle class. It will be interesting to see how he threads the needle. He’s not very smart.

  18. dr. bloor - January 31, 2010 | 10:09 am · Link

    Looks like it will be three-and-out for Senator Cosmo:

    Brown tells ABC’s “This Week” that he disagrees with his party’s position that the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion should be overturned.
    ...
    Brown says the abortion question is one that’s best handled by a woman, her family and her doctor. He also says more effort needs to go into reducing the number of abortions in the U.S.
    ...
    Brown has said the GOP shouldn’t take his vote for granted on every issue. He says he’s fiscally conservative but more moderate on social issues.

    Let the Boston Teabagging Party begin.

    Edit—Oops. Like the eleventeen people above me already noted. More coffee, please.

  19. gnomedad - January 31, 2010 | 10:10 am · Link

    @Annie:

    Did the Republicans forget to give him the “purity” test? Or, they just gave him half a test, assuming he would fall in line with the entire message like the rest of the “stepford” Republican Congress?

    Haha! Will the teabaggers be stalking him before he is even seated? That would be hilarious!

  20. jeffreyw - January 31, 2010 | 10:14 am · Link

    mumble mumble…coffee…more coffee..sunshine-hiss…snow (squint) gaah, shit

  21. debit - January 31, 2010 | 10:15 am · Link

    @jeffreyw: That’s like poetry, man.

  22. Notorious P.A.T. - January 31, 2010 | 10:16 am · Link

    Brown tells ABC’s “This Week” that he disagrees with his party’s position that the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion should be overturned.

    I’m sure he isn’t lying. He’s a Republican!

  23. PurpleGirl - January 31, 2010 | 10:16 am · Link

    Ben Stein should STFU.

  24. Bill E Pilgrim - January 31, 2010 | 10:17 am · Link

    @jeffreyw: That was like reading the script of “Fargo” condensed to one sentence. Well done.

  25. frankdawg - January 31, 2010 | 10:18 am · Link

    And speaking of the unspeakable – why is that artificial fart Stein on my TV? Does he have any credibility left with anyone? Just another doof that owes his career to daddy being well conected.

  26. PurpleGirl - January 31, 2010 | 10:18 am · Link

    @Andy:
    Just keep thinking of the bonuses he got in the past and the money he wanted to protect.

  27. Woodbuster - January 31, 2010 | 10:20 am · Link

    Someone please tell me why CBS continues to believe that Ben Stein has ANY credibility on ANY subject at all? Jeebus. FOX-Lite.

  28. Notorious P.A.T. - January 31, 2010 | 10:24 am · Link

    @PurpleGirl:

    Where is the commentary? BTW I’ve never seen that site before but it looks pretty good.

  29. Zach - January 31, 2010 | 10:25 am · Link

    Boehner on MTP is so fucking frustrating. He’s said the health care reform bill is a “big government takeover” a dozen times and pointed to his booklet of ideas a half dozen times. David Gregory is obligated to ask how the current bill is a big government takeover given that, well, it isn’t.

    Obama’s main point yesterday was that inaccurate, Luntzian framing of issues as a black/white matter is not constructive. Is Gregory too dumb to recognize it when it happens? Obvious answer, I know.

    Also, Russert wasn’t good either, but he at least would’ve had the balls to play the Colbert clip for Boehner and then asked what solutions are actually in his booklet and what independent agencies such as the CBO have to say about them.

  30. John Cole - January 31, 2010 | 10:28 am · Link

    I feel a little better. My shoulder is improving, and I slept in bed last night with an array of strategically placed pillows. I slept for ten hours and did not roll over and hurt my shoulder, but I had myself so wedged in with pillows that I could not move that I woke up with a whole body stiffness. It was pretty cold last night, so Tunch and Lily spooned me.

  31. Mike E - January 31, 2010 | 10:28 am · Link

    @Mustang Bobby:
    Like at the Republican Beatdown Marsha Bitchburn saying ‘Democrat’ (ick) to the President’s face, and me having to explain to my daughter that this woman had no questions, only insults.

  32. Phyllis - January 31, 2010 | 10:28 am · Link

    The Mo Rocca piece on Our Town was reminiscent of Charles Kuralt. Masterful. Let the story tell itself.

  33. Bill E Pilgrim - January 31, 2010 | 10:29 am · Link

    Andrew Sullivan links to some interesting research about certain emotions being acquired and plastic, rather than innately biological and fixed, and he agrees and concludes from this:

    This is why I believe that Jesus came to help us.

    Someone please tell me that he’s kidding.

  34. debit - January 31, 2010 | 10:29 am · Link

    @Zach: I don’t know how you guys can watch David “will shake my ass for Karl Rove” Gregory every Sunday. Just seeing his face inspires W levels of homicidal rage in me.

  35. dr. bloor - January 31, 2010 | 10:35 am · Link

    @PurpleGirl:

    Ben Stein should STFU.

    He should have stopped talking forever at “Bueller?...”

  36. Annie - January 31, 2010 | 10:40 am · Link

    @Cat Lady:

    Interesting point you made. I read this morning that conservatives already are saying he will be a one term senator and already are plotting how to get rid of him….

    This makes me wonder if Brown will quickly step back from his “beliefs” and get back in line with the rest of the cattle. Or, if he will try and remain sorta, kinda, independent.

  37. Notorious P.A.T. - January 31, 2010 | 10:41 am · Link

    This is why I believe that Jesus came to help us.

    Because only Jesus can change a person’s feelings.

  38. gypsy howell - January 31, 2010 | 10:42 am · Link

    @Michael D.:

    I didn’t believe it was possible for me to hate Hank Paulsen even more for being a lying thieving scumbag than I already did, but that televised fellatio on CBS did it for me.

    Oh. To answer your question: Yes, it was wrong of you.

  39. Notorious P.A.T. - January 31, 2010 | 10:42 am · Link

    This makes me wonder if Brown will quickly step back from his “beliefs” and get back in line with the rest of the cattle. Or, if he will try and remain sorta, kinda, independent.

    Not even President Snowe could bring herself to defy party discipline.

  40. gypsy howell - January 31, 2010 | 10:46 am · Link

    @Notorious P.A.T.:

    Ha. Maybe he’ll be the Lieberman of the Republican party.

    Question: Under normal circumstances (you know, like having a Democrat who actually campaigns for the seat) can a wingnut get elected in MA? That’s the calculation Scott Brown has to make. And I honestly don’t know the answer.

  41. Bad Horse's Filly - January 31, 2010 | 10:51 am · Link

    @debit: FSM bless the person who can love a difficult cat. And what does the vet know anyway, she’s only seen him at his most distressed and feeling crappy. Let us know how it all turns out.

  42. Bill E Pilgrim - January 31, 2010 | 10:52 am · Link

    @Notorious P.A.T.: I was thinking recently that Olympia Snowe, who was actually given everything she demanded, then backed out of supporting HCR because it was being “rushed”.

    That was her final excuse, once there were none others left.

    So now, as weeks and months drag on after that, and that’s clearly no longer the case, she’ll agree to support it, right?

    Right.

    Negotiating with any Republican right now is a fool’s errand. Axelrod was quoted recently saying that they want Republicans to either agree to work with them, or be seen walking away from doing so. I agree, but only with the second part, which is the only one that will happen.

  43. Ash - January 31, 2010 | 10:53 am · Link

    @Bill E Pilgrim: That line definitely activated my gag reflex.

  44. Bad Horse's Filly - January 31, 2010 | 10:54 am · Link

    @Cat Lady: This! I’ve been trying to explain this to people here in the Rocky Mountain state for days. Unless you’ve spent some time in there, it’s difficult to understand. But all I had to do was listen to my relatives and friends from the Bay state and the writing was on the wall.

  45. Comrade Mary - January 31, 2010 | 10:55 am · Link

    @John Cole: Feeling somewhat better, and lots of sleep back in your own bed? That’s great!

    I had myself so wedged in with pillows that I could not move that I woke up with a whole body stiffness. It was pretty cold last night, so Tunch and Lily spooned me.

    I’m sorry, that stiffness is no fun. But note that it was safe for them to spoon you when you couldn’t accidentally roll over on them. I’m starting to suspect there may be more to the story of your “accident” than I originally thought.

  46. Lisa Keenan - January 31, 2010 | 10:57 am · Link

    @Cat Lady:

    You know, the Republicans need to be careful what they wish for in Scott Brown. He’s a nitwit and a lazy implementer, but he’s from Massachusetts and if he goes too far towards the teabaggers, he’s going to lose when his term is up.

    I see in the election of Scott Brown the same thing that happened in Minnesota when a liberal senator died and Minnesotans elected the conservative wus Norm Coleman to fill his seat. An election later, the voters remembered why they had liked Wellstone in the first place and replaced the faker Coleman with the equally liberal Al Franken. I really do not see Scott Brown lasting there more than the next election cycle, especially if his opponent is a Franken or Sherrod Brown or Sheldon Whitehouse type.

  47. Lisa Keenan - January 31, 2010 | 10:59 am · Link

    Posting moderated? Why?

  48. Bill E Pilgrim - January 31, 2010 | 11:00 am · Link

    @Ash:

    That line definitely activated my gag reflex.

    Oh so you mean he was kidding. Whew, good.

    Oh wait, that kind of gag.

    Never mind.

  49. Lisa Keenan - January 31, 2010 | 11:00 am · Link

    @Bill E Pilgrim:

    Someone please tell me that he’s kidding.

    If you really think he is kidding, you have not spent much time reading Sullivan’s blog.

  50. Chat Noir - January 31, 2010 | 11:02 am · Link

    @Mustang Bobby:

    He even said “Democrat Party.”

    Gaah! I hate these people. I know they say it out of spite but it never fails to irritate the heck out of me. That dipshit Marsha Blackburn said it in the course of her rambling question to the President on Friday (something about the “Democrat Party” in TN).

    When will someone step up and say, “It’s Democratic Party, moron.” It’s tempting to go all junior high and refer to them as the Republic Party.

  51. Bill E Pilgrim - January 31, 2010 | 11:09 am · Link

    @Lisa Keenan:

    you have not spent much time reading Sullivan’s blog.

    Absolutely true.

    One of the quirky things I like about John’s blog is that he has this habit of linking to Sullivan a lot, which gets me to occasionally click over and read something, which otherwise I would never even think of doing. I mean just that no where else I read would ever link to him. Not often though, a handful of times, mainly curious why anyone as intelligent as John would be so interested.

    This seemed surprising even so. I just found it hard to believe that anyone would take an interesting article on science and draw that conclusion from it, right out loud. Amazing.

  52. Mike E - January 31, 2010 | 11:11 am · Link

    @Chat Noir:

    “It’s Democratic Party, moron.”

    Tweety did that when a similar Party Thug tried that on his show—gave me a thrill up my leg.

  53. Bad Horse's Filly - January 31, 2010 | 11:12 am · Link

    Will. i. am: When inspiration calls you, pick up the phone and give it directions to your house.

    That is going to make me smile all day.

  54. Cat Lady - January 31, 2010 | 11:12 am · Link

    @Bad Horse’s Filly:

    Three consecutive Democratic House Speakers have been indicted. Deval Patrick has done some tone deaf things, like appointing the new head of the state transportation agency who kept his sister in a no-show job, etc. etc. etc. People get really tired of hearing that shit, rightly so, and the people who read the Herald get it pounded into them day after day. The perfect storm was Martha Coakley’s diffident personal style and tone deaf campaigning. It wasn’t an issue specific election, as the post election polling showed. All politics is local, and this was totally local. Scott Brown is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he knows that.

  55. Steeplejack - January 31, 2010 | 11:14 am · Link

    @John Cole:

    I slept for ten hours and did not roll over and hurt my shoulder, but I had myself so wedged in with pillows that I could not move that I woke up with a whole body stiffness.

    Man, I feel for you, Cole. One of the unexpected results of my recuperation from a broken jaw was a three-day stretch of immobilizing back pain brought on by sleeping “stiff,” trying not to let the worse side of my face touch the pillow—hell, trying not to move at all, because everything hurt.

    Don’t know what to tell you, except that you’re in a foreign country. You left a comment somewhere yesterday about not knowing why you hurt worse than the day before. But with a major injury like this you’re not in the zone of “normal life plus some pain.” You really are in a whole different place. So please don’t take anything for granted and don’t think that it’s going to be “business as usual” for a while. And do what you need to do in the moment, no matter how wacky it might seem. And ask for help if you need it.

    Okay, lecture over.

    It was pretty cold last night, so Tunch and Lily spooned me.

    I need a minute. *choke* No, I’m okay. I’ve just got something in my eye.

  56. Bad Horse's Filly - January 31, 2010 | 11:17 am · Link

    @Cat Lady: I was in Boston the week Ted Kennedy died, and among all the talk about what a great man he was, was a lot of talk about how the state democrats were pissing everyone off. You could feel the anger, as if they were burying a beloved member of the family and stuck with the outlaws inheriting the farm.

  57. SiubhanDuinne - January 31, 2010 | 11:26 am · Link

    @Chat Noir: I think Blackburn said something like “We [in Tennessee] have a Democrat governor.”

    It’s so simple. “Democrat” is a proper noun. “Democratic” is a proper adjective. They know it pisses us off, and at this point they have so completely internalized the lesson that they must always only use “Democrat,” that they now use it in place of small-d “democratic,” which makes them sound like worse fools than they are.

    I know we’re just encouraging them when we react to this, but it’s hard not to flinch at “Democrat Party,” “Democrat Governor,” or “the democrat principles of ancient Greece.”

  58. Lisa Keenan - January 31, 2010 | 11:29 am · Link

    @Bill E Pilgrim:

    I used to read Sullivan obsessively, until one day it dawned on me that the primary reasons the blog exists are to give Sullivan a forum to defend his appalling fanboy-type behavior in support of the Iraq War by assuring us everyone else supported it, too (including Al Gore, who Sullivan states would have invaded Iraq on false pretenses too) and to accuse others of playing identity politics while he himself is the absolute master of it. Hypocrite, thy name is Andrew Sullivan.

    Not to mention the complete douchebags he has cover him while he is on one of his extended vacations.

    I do not give Sullivan the benefit of any clicks anymore, even when John links to him. I just refuse.

  59. maya - January 31, 2010 | 11:30 am · Link

    I don’t know how you guys can watch David “will shake my ass for Karl Rove” Gregory every Sunday. Just seeing his face inspires W levels of homicidal rage in me.

    He is just the interim Meet Presser until Luke finishes puberty.

  60. Violet - January 31, 2010 | 11:39 am · Link

    @SiubhanDuinne:
    The Republicans are saying “Democrat Party” just to get a reaction. If we oblige them, they get what they want.

    I’m not quite sure how to get them to change, but screaming and shouting about it just makes Democrats look ridiculous. The average person isn’t going to pay much attention to the distinction, but they’ll remember that Democrats got mad when Republicans called their party a slightly different name. It’s like an adult throwing a fit if someone calls him “Rob” instead of “Robert.” It just sounds like a dumb thing to get upset about it.

    That being said, Republicans are idiots.

  61. Steeplejack - January 31, 2010 | 11:55 am · Link

    @Violet:

    I’m not quite sure how to get them to change, but screaming and shouting about it just makes Democrats look ridiculous.

    I’ve never seen anyone call them on it at all. I agree about screaming and shouting, but I would like to see someone maybe apply some dry wit. “It’s Democratic Party. Are you an idiot, or do you think you’re still in junior high?” Okay, maybe that needs a little work.

    [. . .] screaming and shouting about it just makes Democrats Democratics look ridiculous.

    Sorry, couldn’t resist.

  62. SiubhanDuinne - January 31, 2010 | 12:17 pm · Link

    @Violet: I agree, and in fact I think I said as much, that they only say “Democrat Party” or “Democrat President” to get a rise out of us. But I don’t hear anyone “screaming and shouting” about it. Au contraire, I think we mostly seethe silently (although I didn’t see/hear Tweety make the correction that Mike E mentioned upthread, and I concede that screaming and shouting in that setting wouldn’t surprise me).

    The word “Democrat” when used by a Republican always sounds like a swear word, and I think most of them, through repeated usage, have truly come to believe that there’s something unclean and distasteful about us, something that goes way beyond policy differences and shifts of fortune (after all, they used the same formulation when they held the White House and majorities in both chambers).

  63. Mike E - January 31, 2010 | 12:20 pm · Link

    @Mike E:
    Umm, Tweety the Yellow-headed pundit did what you’re asking someone to do—testily calling out some asshole for misusing the noun for an adjective. Also.

  64. Jean - January 31, 2010 | 12:26 pm · Link

    Barney Frank referred to them as “Republicanisticas” on that segment where Tweety called out the guy for saying “Democrat Party.” Joking seemed a good response to the silliness.

  65. debit - January 31, 2010 | 12:41 pm · Link

    Back from the vet. No urine test, because no urine sample. Mr. Pea Bladder went in the carrier. So the vet said let’s try some antibiotics and see how he does. If no improvement in the next couple days, then back in for an xray for possible kidney stones. Yay.

    I have to say, as expensive as the vet clinic at the U of M can be, they are my clinic of choice. When our cocker had multiple surgeries (cancer kept coming back) they’d spice up her vet wrap with multi colored racing stripes, do follow up calls later in the day to see how she was, and were in general just awesome. They even trimmed the cat’s claws so he won’t maim me too badly when it’s time for the Clavamox.

    Thanks for the good wishes, everyone.

  66. JenJen - January 31, 2010 | 12:47 pm · Link

    Dug around last night’s threads and didn’t see anyone talking about Saturday Night Live. Good gawd, was it funny.

    Seth Myers taking down the House GOP Caucus during “Weekend Update” was classic.

    “Challenging Barack Obama to a debate is like saying ‘let’s see how tough Aquaman is when we get him in the water.’ I’m not saying you were totally outclassed, but the whole thing was like that scene in Raiders Of The Lost Ark when the guy charged Indy with a sword and he just shot him.”

    HuffPo has some of the videos here. Don’t miss Jon Hamm as Sexy Scott Brown, haunting the dreams of Boxer, Pelosi and Frank, either. Or Sergio!

    Always makes me smile when SNL is on top of their game. Happens so seldom lately.

  67. Jean - January 31, 2010 | 1:23 pm · Link

    @JenJen: That’s hysterical!

  68. Comrade Mary - January 31, 2010 | 4:11 pm · Link

    That bit from Weekend Update is pretty funny, but I’d bailed before that. Between Armison’s bleached-out, animatronic Obama and the repeated trope that Jon Hamm is unbelievably sexy, I didn’t even make it to Seth.

    (Nothing against Hamm, who is a conventionally handsome guy, and was funny and thus charming on 30 Rock. But the repeated beefcake skits on SNL did nothing for me.)

  69. flukebucket - February 1, 2010 | 10:50 am · Link

    I cannot understand why a consistently wonderful program like CBS Sunday Morning allows Ben Stein to try and read anything he has bothered to write.

    Even a teleprompter could not help that long-eared Bozo.


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