The president vs. the Super Bowl

This is awesome. As reported in the New Yorker.

We're so proud. Now board up your windows.

So I get this e-mail from the "Arlington Alert" system:

Subject: Inauguration Alert from Arlington County
To: "Arlington Alert Subscribers"
Date: Thursday, January 8, 2009, 3:21 PM

Arlington is proud to be an important part of the Presidential Inauguration and celebrations. Arlington is expecting record crowds during the entire inaugural weekend January 17-20. Crowds and events during this weekend will affect all residents.

To prepare for this event, pretend a hurricane is coming during that weekend and expect large crowds, congestion, traffic and many delays. Getting around will be difficult at best so a common sense approach will be important. Be informed, make a plan, be prepared.

For tips on preparing for this historic event, road closures, and other information about the inauguration activities, visit www.arlingtonva.us search for 'inauguration."

My sister's comment: "Large crowds turn out for hurricanes where you live? That seems like questionable risk management."

What a guy

OK, so this morning they arrested the governor of Illinois. Seems he allegedly "conspired to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat in exchange for financial benefits for himself and his wife." Well, at least ... what's that? The FBI says he also thought about "appointing himself to the Senate seat, saying he was 'stuck' at governor and might have access to more resources as a senator than as a governor." Good, then. Did you know that a friend of ours — wait. Huh? The guv and his chief of staff also apparently dabbled in the efforts of the Tribune Company (that fine, financially something institution) to sell the Cubs, not to mention the financing or sale of Wrigley Field? And said "that state assistance would be withheld unless members of the Chicago Tribune's editorial board were fired," because Blago "saw them as 'driving discussion of his possible impeachment'"? This is starting to sound serious. Anyway, our friend interned for Blagojevich when he was a member of the U.S. House. And ... hold on. The attorney says the governor "was looking to pull $8 million in funding for a children's hospital after the hospital's chief executive officer did not give a $50,000 contribution to the governor's campaign." Well, that's a winner.

There is one heart-warming note to the story. Tomorrow is Blagojevich's birthday. (I hear bail money is big in gift-giving circles these days.) Also, the Trib might sell some extra newspapers. And, last but not least, I know how to spell "Blagojevich."

I say, bring back the last guy. Oh, crap.

We're funding what?

According to a Washington Post article about jobs that will be vacated when Bush leaves office, "Many of the positions are highly specific, such as assistant secretary for terrorist financing at the Treasury Department." Shouldn't that be against terrorist financing?

Gone South

Time to end the PH4H hiatus with news that North Carolina is the new Virginia (look for the map about 2 minutes in).

The Great Schlep

The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.

Time for Some Campaignin'

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Why I love The Onion

This might be the funniest thing I've seen about the election:

Not sure whether to laugh or cry

Oh, Virginia. You make me so proud.

PH4H General Election

Who will it be? Edwards or Giuliani?

And yet another Hammer reference. . .

. . . courtesy of the Daily Show.

Just in time for the high holy days

You know what you boys all need? An Obama yarmulke.

Acting President Cheney

Is it just me or did anyone else read this and think that real life was imitating a major plot point from the last season of 24?

Belgian Waffle

Belgium's Prime Minister has resigned, and it is expected to be awhile before a new coalition government is formed. In a country where half the nation speaks French and the other half speaks Dutch, is it any wonder they're having trouble forming a government?

The article also mentions that the former Belgian National Judo coach was elected to Parliament. I wouldn't want to go up against him in any parliamentary debates!

Nationals to "Stay the Course"

This is the subject line of an email that I (and some of you I'm sure) just got from the Nationals:

Nationals Insider: Acta, Bowden stay the course; Braves, Phillies up next

You know the Nationals are in trouble when they're borrowing phrases from Bush's foreign policy speeches.

Missouri's Profane Congresswoman

"I am honored to serve as your Representative in the U.S. Congress. I think you're an as%$&@#."

How would you respond if you got a letter from your Congressional Representative that ended with that?

Three Non Baseball Posts in a Row

According to The Washington Post, the next people to leave the White House will be the Bush twins...