So, tell me again, why is it controversial for the President of the United States to give a back to school pep talk to the nation’s kids? Oh, that’s right. To paraphrase Gabby Johnson from Blazing Saddles, “the President’s a nig….”
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Other than having a day off today, there isn’t much reason for “labor” to celebrate. Unemployment is close to 10% (I’ve seem estimates that the “real” unemployment rate is more like 17%), there appears to be little chance of getting meaningful health care reform, money-changing middlemen who add no value get billions in taxpayer dollars to keep doing what they’ve been doing, and “labor” is forced to eat shit, just to keep their jobs.

A case in point where I live is a company called Crucible Steel. The Sanderson brothers came over from Sheffield, England in 1876, and opened up a steel plant here. It was the beginning of what would become a 13 plant corporation. As is the American way, buyouts and mismanagement ensued, to the point where the company – with three plants left – is on the verge of bankruptcy.

A potential buyer – BlackEagle Partners – demanded the Steelworkers local accept a new contract, including major wage cuts, increases in health insurance premiums, the elimination of retiree health insurance, and the switch from a guaranteed pension plan to a 401(k). Workers had little choice, and accepted the new contract by a 4 – 1 vote. BlackEagle hasn’t actually secured the financing at this point, so the deal could still fall through, leaving some 700 families without health insurance or a primary wage earner.

Of course, this isn’t unique in a current economy that’s lost a net 7 million jobs in the past two years. It certainly isn’t unique here, where companies founded locally have been bought out by corporate vultures, only to be run into the ground and moved to the third world (or Mississippi), where they can pay slave wages and don’t have to worry about poisoning the environment.

Carrier, Syracuse China, Syroco, GE, New Process Gear, Pass & Seymour…. Too many to list, either completely gone, or mere shells of their former selves. Now, the largest employers in the areas are the SUNY hospital and Syracuse University – and even they’re seeing hard times (especially with Governor Blinky holding Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements hostage and demanding pay cuts or layoffs).

So, for those of us lucky enough to have jobs with health insurance and who are getting today off with pay, have a good holiday. And try not to worry about whether it’ll all be gone tomorrow.

I’m just gonna cheat, and mostly copy and paste this week, so…

Press the Meat, with Gilligan Gregory: White House senior advisor David “Ollie” Axelrod, 9/11 hero (and genius inventor of the above ground emergency command bunker, not to mention no-bid emergency radio contract evangelist) Guidi Ruliani, former Rep. Harold “Where’re the White Women” Ford, Jr. (D-TN), NBC’s Tom Brokaw and NYT’s Tom “My Head is Flat” Friedman

Faze the Nation: Education Secretary Arne Duncan

This Weak with George Snufalufagus: White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, former Republican Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and a roundtable with former Bush strategist Matthew Dowd, The Nation’s Katrina vanden Heuvel, NYT’s David Sanger and ABC News’ and columnist George :jerk: Will

Fux News Sunday, with Weaselface Wallace: Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN), former Democratic National Committee Chairman Gov. Howard Dean, Center for American Progress President and CEO John Podesta, disgraced former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and this week’s fuxheads, Weekly Standard’s Bill Kristol, NPR’s Mara Liasson, Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes and NPR’s Juan Williams

CNN’s State of the Union: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Thomas Frieden, Gov. Tim “That Bridge Looks Fine to Me” Pawlenty (R-MN), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Republican strategist and CNN political contributor Ed Rollins and Democratic strategist Joe “Hippy Dippy” Trippi

CNN’s Reliable Sources with Howie Kurtz: The Baltimore Sun’s TV critic David Zurawik, BBC’s Rome Hartman, The Daily Beast’s Tina Brown and CBS’ chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara :hubba: Logan

CNN’s GPS with Fareed Zakaria: Defense Secretary Robert Gates, former NY Governor Eliot Spitzer and the Dalai Lama

The Chris Matthews Show: Time’s Michael Duffy, BBC’s Chatty Katty Kay, WaPo’s Eugene Robinson and CNN’s Gloria Borger

Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and National Journal: WaPo’s Dan Balz, Slate and CBS News’ John Dickerson, ABC’s Martha Raddatz and NYT’s Jackie Calmes

Notice any talk of Labor Day? Or how organized labor paved the way to create a prosperous middle class in this country? Or, speaking of health care, how the only reason those who have insurance in this country (whether represented by a union or not), have it because unions paved the way for decent pay, safe working conditions, and health insurance for workers and their families?

No, didn’t think so. The corporatists that run this country and the traditional media hate unions because they hate the middle class. Sadly, they’ve also managed to turn much of the middle class against unions and their own self interests.

Health care isn’t the only way Europeans have it all over us, either. We’re the only advanced country that’s a “no vacation nation,” meaning that we are not leagally guaranteed paid vacation or holidays. Twenty-five percent of U.S. workers receive NO paid vacation or paid holidays, and it’s the worst for (surprise, surprise) low-wage and part-time workers, as well as for employees of small businesses (which Republicans pretend to revere, even as they cede power to the mega international corporations undermining those small businesses).

And these idiot tea baggers, birthers, racists, and death panel evangelists are happy to goose step along, demanding that the government screw them, ‘cuz they hate those damn dirty anti-capitalist unions, and you’re goddamn right health insurance ought be for profit, and those CEOs deserve hundreds of millions of dollars more in a year than most of us will make in a lifetime.

You know, they say you get the government you deserve, and for these folks, that’s true. But, damn, how come I have to get stuck with the government they ?

But, hey, at least we’re not Socialists, right?

Sorry, but I’ll be indulging in sports – specifically SU – talk this morning, because today the Syracuse football team will try to do something they haven’t done since 2003: win their season opener. It’s been an ungodly horrible four seasons here in the ‘cuse – the worst stretch in our history, which, for football, dates back to 1889. That’s, what, 120 years or something. But, having disposed of the previous coach (and I use the term “coach” loosely), and hiring an SU alum who feels our pain (and shame), we’re hopeful that things are back on the right track (though we’re painfully aware of how bad things have gotten, and we know it’ll take some time to turn things around).

For one thing, 19 scholarship players have quit the team since the new coach took over. I think a lot of them were in shock over the change. Our new coaching staff apparently forces them to bust their asses every day, and some of these kids just weren’t up for it. Of course, since they pretty much sucked, it’s hard to call it a “loss.” Still, we’re very thin in a lot of areas (most notably linebacker), and our offensive line has nearly gotten our parade of quarterbacks killed. This season, a local kid who played basketball for Duke for four years decided to go to grad school here and got a waiver to play one year of football. He subsequently won the starting job after one week of practice, which perhaps tells you about our QB situation (though, to be fair, as a senior in high school, he was a football Parade All-American, and he won the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year Award). So, we’ll see.

There’s been a big push to fill up the stadium with Orange-clad fans, and I shall be doing my part by taking my stepson to the game (me in my #44 Ernie Davis replica jersey- by the way, if you haven’t seen “The Express,” they’ve been playing the hell out of it on HBO this month, and even my wife, who would rather have teeth pulled than watch sports, thinks it’s a great movie – which I purchased for myself as a gift for my 44th birthday, and the kid – who aint really a kid anymore – wearing his other birthday present – a newly purchased orange polo shirt). Last I looked, there were only about 3,600 tickets left despite the holiday weekend, gorgeous weather, competition from the NY State Fair and the fact that the game is on national TV (noon Eastern; on ESPN2 in HD if you got it). With a decent walk-up crowd, it may even sell out, which hasn’t happened in a looooong time. Seems we’ve all drunk the Kool-Aid here (or at least the Orange Juice).

It’s also the 50th anniversary of our only football National Championship (did I mention “The Express”), which I missed by being born 11 months too late. Still, as a kid, we had teams with people like Floyd Little, Larry Csonka, Jim Nance, and John Mackey. Sadly, as time went on, college football changed, and our “three yards and a cloud of dust” coach didn’t. The cheapskate Chancellor didn’t put enough money into our facilities, our stadium, which was state of the art when it opened in 1907 was small and crumbling. Recruiting suffered (with a few exceptions, like Art Monk), a new coach had little success (though compared to what we just went through, he was a savior), but he was successful in getting the university to build a new stadium – the Carrier Dome (which is also getting a little long in the tooth as it opens for its 30th season) before being shown the door.

With a new coach came the renaissance of SU football, with players like Joe Morris, Marvin Graves, Don McPherson, and, of course, Donovan McNabb. I never thought they’d let the team get so shitty again, but, as with so many things in my life, boy was I wrong.

Last season, we won 3 games, and, out of 119 teams in whatever it is they call Division I football these days, we ranked 114th in total offense, and 101st in total defense.

For those of you non-sports fans, let me explain: no offense + no defense = 1 big steaming pile of shit.

So, while we have high hopes as the season begins today against the Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-6 last year – they started out 7-1 and lost five straight, but they still went to a bowl game), we’re trying to temper our expectations. Mostly, we just hope to see something that resembles a football team out on the field. If they don’t really, really suck, it’ll be an improvement.

Anyhow, if you tune in to the game today, look for me. I’ll be the guy wearing orange.

Time to kill some gophers.

I’ll try and keep it mellow and non-controversial this morning. For starters, today is my stepson’s birthday. Happy b’day, Reub. He’s, um…let me do the math here…. Holy shit! He’s 26 already. How did that happen (even worse, one of his sisters hits the big 3-0 this year)? :omg: Seems like it was just yesterday when he was hiding from me in the basement, too shy to come up and say hello, and now he’s all grown up and out on his own. Must mean I’m gettin’ old. Fortunately, if this study from Denmark can be believed, it appears that I’ll live longer, thanks to my beefy thighs. That’s right, you skinny-thighed people have “a two-fold greater risk of heart disease and death, and the risk [rises] as [your] thigh size decline[s]. ” Ha! Take that, ya chicken-legged bastids (yes, I’m looking at you, Maron)!

The NFL preseason is pretty much over; just three more games to get through tonight, and then we can eagerly await the start of the real season next Thursday. They expect to have a lot more TV blackouts this year (if a game isn’t sold out 72 hours before kickoff, it’s blacked out in the local market), which they’re blaming on the economy, and there’s a certain amount of pressure on the NFL to change the rules. Personally, I think that’s a bit of a load of crap. Some teams (Jacksonville comes to mind; how the hell did J’ville get an NFL team anyway? It’s kind of the taint of the South – ‘taint Florida, ‘taint Georgia) have trouble filling the stadium no matter what the economic climate, while a place like Buffalo sells out every game, every year, no matter how crappy the team, the economy, or the weather. And, population-wise, Buffalo aint exactly New York or LA. Speaking of LA, do you people even have a team these days? I haven’t been keeping track of where fellow SU alum (and renowned scumbag) Al Davis has the Raiders, but now that I look, it appears they’re calling themselves “Oakland” again (or still). Shameful. Can’t spell lame without LA, I guess.

Apparently Charlie Gibson is “livid” over the choice of Diane Sawyer to replace him, to which I ask: “in what sense, Charlie?” What is he, the epitome of the ultimate “news man,” such that Diane can’t live up to his lofty standards? Puhleeze. Walter Cronkite you aint, Charlie. Besides, when’s the last time anybody really gave a shit about who replaced you when you quit your job (I mean, unless you’re a coach or President or own a lot of stock or something)?

I got an e-mail from somebody the other day, telling me that I was incorrect in asserting that Norman, OK was named after Norman Bates. However, I stand behind my statement. It’s a little known fact that, until 1961, Norman was named Morman, OK. It was named that because Jesus had a house there when he came to North America to bury fake dinosaur bones in order to test our faith (though he spent the majority of his time at a home he shared with Mary Magdalene – plus Barb, Nicki, and Margene – in what would become Indiana. This is also how French Lick got its name, but I digress).

Anyhow, after the 1960 release of the movie Psycho, people realized that the residents of Morman had more in common with Norman Bates than Jesus, and so they changed the ‘M’ to an ‘N’. A rather elaborate alteration of maps and history books ensued, and, in an astonishingly brief period of time, people forgot all about Morman (this was primarily due to the combination of Oklahoma residents tending to have a rather short attention span – which is how the descendants of Tom Joad came to be Republicans – and non-Okies not really giving a shit).

Oh well, time to toddle along to put this week to bed, and I believe I managed to avoid talking about anything too controversial – with the possible exception of the Oklahoma stuff – this morning (I hope thin thighs and the lack of an NFL team in LA hasn’t ruffled any feathers). Have a good day: long weekend to look forward to (for me, anyway).

Keep it mellow.

Yesterday morning at work, it felt like Tuesday for some reason. Every time I realized it was actually Wednesday, I thought, “cool, Friday will come a day early this week.” Unfortunately, after several hours of that kind of thinking, it started to feel like Thursday. Now the damn weekend will come a day late. Just can’t win.

Speaking of not winning, after all but saying the “public option” was dead, David Axelrod (who looks a lot like Oliver Hardy when he doesn’t have his glasses on; he should be required to wear a bowler hat) now says the President “embraced” it (translation: is still willing to throw us under the bus, but feels a need to assuage – slightly – the “liberal” base), because it will be a “boon to consumers.”

And that, folks, is exactly what the problem is. We aren’t patients, or humans – or even Americans. We’re consumers, and our only value in a Capitalist/Corporatist State is measured by the extent to which we consume. Nothing is exempt. This isn’t France or Canada or Great Britain (or Cuba); this is America, goddamnit! Consume, or be consumed.

Lost your job? You no longer have the means to consume, therefore there’s no reason to keep you alive. The real “death panels” are run by the boards of directors at AIG, Exxon, Wal-Mart, and Blue Cross. You won’t read that in your copy of the “USS Constitution,” but that’s how it is.

Oh, I know, there are those that think Obama is the “Great White Hope” (by that, of course, I mean a “bright, shining light”) and this is all part of his stealth plan to slip socialized medicine in through the back door while nobody’s looking. While the members of his administration appear to be running around like chickens with their heads cut off, delivering conflicting messages and looking more like Mayberry than Chicago, what they’re really doing is playing “rope a dope,” and whomping up a huge audience for Obama’s big speech next week, at which point he’ll be so eloquent and so clear in his message that the Blue Dogs will have to fight off the Republicans for the right to crawl under the podium and service him first, while insurance industry executives will resign or commit suicide after after being forced to see the error of their ways.

Well, I hope so. Maybe he’s finally realized that the Republicans are obstructionist scum who only want to stand in the way of reform. Maybe he’ll get in front of that joint session of Congress, ignore Republicans, and tell the f*cking Democrats to get with the plan. Maybe. It’s kinda like believing in God: I see no evidence for it, but anything’s possible

Personally, I think this stopped being about health care reform a long time ago. Maybe Obama really did want every American consumer to have access to health care at one point, but his administration – in astounding Clintonian fashion – triangulated, gave away the store in exchange for nothing, and lost the war before the battle had even begun. Now, it’s all about passing “something,” just so Obama can save face, and maybe show how tough he is.

Unfortunately, he only seems to be tough when it comes to screwing “liberals,” and the only fighting he seems to do is against a progressive agenda. Of course, he doesn’t even appear to have the guts to do that all the way – sending his flacks out to twist and spin until nobody really knows where he stands on anything (his poll numbers sagging with each twist and turn). Not that that surprises me. We saw it with the Scalito confirmation vote, when, after getting pressure from liberals, he rather angrily (and somewhat petulantly) stated that he’d vote against cloture the first time around, but that it would never work.

Oh, hell, I forgot I wasn’t going to care about this any more. I need to get back to something more innocuous.

How ’bout those pig handlers at the State Fair, eh?

Looks like the Obama Administration has come up with a scheme to keep troop levels static in Afghanistan. They’re replacing support units with “contractors,” and adding 14,000 “trigger pullers.” Well, I’m sure LBJ BHO knows what he’s doing. I mean, Afghanistan is in Central – not Southeast – Asia; so what could go wrong?

Speaking of contractors, the Bush Obama Administration has renewed Blackwater’s (or Xe or whatever they are these days) contract in Iraq. Didn’t the Iraqi government revoke their license to operate over there? Not that we give a crap what the Iraqi government thinks (though it’s kinda cute when they pretend they have the right to rule themselves). We love our murderous Christian Crusaders for profit, and apparently so does our Islamic Kenyan President.

Steny Hoyer appears to have had a look at the national polls, and realized that, yes, the majority of Americans actually want the option of a government health insurance plan. Welcome the reality-based community, Steny. A shame that the members of the failed Obama Administration (I honestly thought that – no matter what else you may think about them – they were at least a smart bunch of people; boy, was I wrong) won’t be joining us.

On health care, Obama’s willingness to forgo the public option is sure to anger his party’s liberal base. But some administration officials welcome a showdown with liberal lawmakers if they argue they would rather have no health care law than an incremental one. The confrontation would allow Obama to show he is willing to stare down his own party to get things done.

“We have been saying all along that the most important part of this debate is not the public option, but rather ensuring choice and competition,” an aide said. “There are lots of different ways to get there.”

That’s right, they’ll teach those goddamn dirty liberals a lesson they won’t soon forget! Wait, I thought they were the goddamn dirty liberals? I mean, that’s who I voted for, isn’t it?

Meanwhile, petulant Republicans in the Senate are threatening a “revolution” if Democrats use budget reconciliation to bypass a potential filibuster over health care reform.

Silly Republicans. Do you really think these spineless, corrupt Democrats can get 51 votes even if wimpy Harry Reid actually somehow finds the balls to try? NFW.

All this “debate” over health care is tiresome, and I’m getting sick of it (actually, it’s sickening, and I’m getting tired of it). We can’t make sure everyone has health care in this country. Just can’t be done. Every other wealthy country (and some of the poor ones, too) can do it, but not us. There just isn’t enough profit in it. So, screw it, let’s just admit it aint gonna happen, and get back to our regularly scheduled episode of American Idol.

I got mine, so the hell with everybody else. And if I lose my job or they say I’m not covered for something because I checked the wrong box 20 years ago, well, then the hell with me, too. Go ahead and take everything I have, for all the good it’ll do ya. I got a nice refrigerator box all picked out.

The only thing that saddens me is the thought of the backlash of the voters in 2010, ‘cuz the Democrats seem to be doing everything in their power to hand control of the Senate back to the Republicans (and look for a big turnover of seats in the House, too). Not that Democrats don’t deserve it, but I just hate the thought of hearing the Fux News talking heads and rightwing meatheads like Limbaugh crowing about it. Not to mention Romney-Palin in 2012.

Finally, doctors may be baffled by this, but all they need to do is watch “True Blood,” and it’ll explain everything.

Sad news today as Chanel, a wire-haired dachshund, passed away at the age of 21. Speaking of death, our Governor has killed his beard, apparently hoping nobody will recognize who he is come election time, and accidentally vote for him. Dave, buddy, again I beseech you: please don’t run for Governor; I can’t deal with a Governor Guiliani, and I’m too poor to move.

George :jerk: Will says we need to get out of Afghanistan. Will, quoting de Gaulle quoting Bismarck, writes that “genius…sometimes consists of knowing when to stop.” I must agree, though I wonder if George would have seen the light if, say, McCain-Palin were running the show right now. Then again, nobody would accuse either if those two of being geniuses. Of course, if we were to get the hell out, I’m sure Will would be leading the charge of outraged pundits and very serious people who, unlike the rest of us (who wanted out of both Iran and Afghanistan a long time ago – before we went in, in fact), understand how the world works as the Taliban surge back into control.

More bills coming due from the great NY State Senate coup over the summer. As part of the deal to end the Republican siege, there will be $13 million more budgeted for raises and hiring of Senate staff, allocated, for the most part, to the Republican minority. That’ll give Republicans $17.3 million for staffing (compared to $14.9 million for Democrats when when they were in the minority). Good thing they’re raising DMV fees today, so we can pay for it. Registration for passenger vehicles goes up to $55 from $44, and the cost of a driver’s license increses by 25 percent – from $50 to $62.50. And they came up with another scheme to force us to buy new license plates – for $25 – no matter how new your old plates are (it’s a “safety” issue, they say, ‘cuz the old ones are “wearing out”. Uh-huh). If you happen to lose your registration, the fee to get a replacement copy goes up to $15 (from $4), and if you’ve managed to memorize your plate number and don’t want to be bothered trying to remember a new one, no problem. You can keep your old number – for another $20.

Oh well, it’s only money. It’s not like they’re squandering it on health care or something.

A British camera clue was allowed to film convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al Magrahi as he lie in a hospital bed, connected to machines and wearing an oxygen mask, reportedly no longer able to speak at this point (yet still wearing his glasses). Whether or not this is just a publicity stunt in order to quell the outrage over his release or not, I don’t know. But one thing’s for sure: under “Obamacare,” he’d already be dead.

Good Woot on this Two for Tuesday for you aging, far-sighted baby boomer types: a two-pack of big-ass universal remotes for $10 including shipping. The catch? I bet it comes with directions printed in a nearly microscopic font.

It was 107 years ago today that Le Voyage dans la Lune (aka, A Trip to the Moon premiered in France. Bad enough they shot the Man in the Moon in the eye; I hope they didn’t pick any flowers.

I saw a photo from the Kennedy funeral service this morning that had former President Dummy and his wife Pickles in it (by the way, if anybody tries to play Ave Maria at my funeral, please shoot me). Dummy looked as stupid as ever, but as I looked at Pickles with the bright red lipstick slopped on her Prozac puss, it struck me that it’s too bad Heath Ledger died, ‘cuz he’d have been perfect to play her in Dubya, the Movie.

Speaking of the Bush Leagues, I see that The Today Show has hired Jenna. I forget which one she is. Was she the one on the top of the drunken girl pile, or the one on the bottom? Whichever one she is, she’s apparently authored two books. Not bad for a 27-yr old. Even if they suck, it’s more than I’ve managed to accomplish, and I’m slightly older than 27 (and have always wanted to be on the bottom of a pile of drunk girls).

Why are they pushing Vicki Kennedy to fill Ted’s Senate seat? I mean, I know it’s kind of a tradition for the wife to step in, but, really, I thought she already said she wasn’t interested. They ought to appoint Jenna Bush.

Dick Cheney is pretty gosh darn offended at the whole investigation into torture by the Justice Department (and Dianne Feinstein’s got his back). Aw. I hate it when my Dick’s offended. Dicky boy, if that mean old special prosecutor tries to question you, you just tell him to go fuck himself.

Apparently when Tom Ridge said there was politically motivated pressure on him to raise the “Terror Level” as head of Fatherland Security, what he meant to say was there was no pressure on him to raise the terror level. Thank goodness. I’d hate to think anybody would play politics with the terror wheel of color.

I don’t care what the damn FAA says. Is this the coolest dad ever, or what?

Things look pretty scary out there in California. I hope everybody’s staying safe out there. Hell of a time for Maron to be back in LA (if he is; not sure where he’s at these days – he doesn’t call, he doesn’t write…). Thank goodness y’all have an action hero for a Governor (ours would probably just keep walking in to shit).

On Press the Meat today, the hour is devoted to a look back at Senator Ted Kennedy, with Sen. John Kerry, Sen. Chris Dodd, Maria Shriver, Bob Shrum and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, and a look at the Kennedy legacy and beyond with Presidential Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, plus highlights from Kennedy’s 45 years of appearances on Press the Meat.

Another look at Ted Kennedy’s Legacy on Faze the Nation, with St. John McCain, DINO Dianne Feinstein, Orrin Hatch, Barney Frank, and Michael Eric Dyson.

None of this Ted Kennedy nonsense for Fux News, of course. Instead Weaselface Wallace will have Dick Cheney and the fuxheads.

George Snufalufagus gets back into the swing of things on This Weak, bringing out John Kerry and Orrin Hatch. Being the Goebbels network, they need a little Cheney action, so they bring in Liz Cheney to join the roundtable, along with George :jerk: Will Sam :omg: Donaldson, Gwen Ifill from PBS and Washington Post columnist EJ Dionne.

Over at CNN, Fareed Zakaria must be on vacation or something. Either that, or they hired the old Faze the Nation webmaster to do updates on their web page, ‘cuz they’ve still got last week’s stuff up.

Have a good Sunday.