Top-o-the-mornin’ to you (“and the balance of the day, to you,” is the appropriate response). Here we are, the only real holiday on the calendar. For some reason, they don’t close the streets of Syracuse until tomorrow for the parade, but I suppose we’ll just have to make a three-day weekend of it, eating corned beef and cabbage (because for some reason Irish Americans have been led to believe that’s Irish), and watching the tourists drink green beer on Tipp Hill (where there is the world’s only – I’m told – traffic light with the green on top, because every time they tried to change it, kids (including one of our future mayors) chucked rocks and broke it, so they finally gave up).

I used to live up that way (it was a fine place, where everyone, it seemed, was named Patrick or Sean or Brigid. To tell you the truth, we hated to see the tourists come along on St. Patrick’s Day, when our nice pubs would be packed with wannabes swilling overpriced beer out of plastic cups, and just making a general nuisance of themselves.

Of course our monkey-faced Republican stooge Congressman Jimmy Walsh will be out and about. It might be the only time the little coward comes out of his hidey-hole until after the elections; he’s refused to have a townhall meeting for years now, the bastid. At least dubya can’t claim to be Irish (it used to sicken me to think that Reagan was, but then he was was Protestant, so I don’t know if that counts 😉 ).

At any rate have a safe and happy day, and to George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and all the minions doing your bidding, “May the devil damm you to the stone of dirges or to the well of ashes seven miles below hell and may the devil break your bones. ” Figuratively speaking, of course.

And the rest of you members of the NeoCon Death Cult Christo-fascist Zombie Brigade can kiss my ass, too.

No Clippers, so the show should start and end on time tonight (assuming Bush doesn’t manage to start WWIII or something). On tonight’s show, Global Warming activist Laurie David stops by, and then Jerry Stahl will be in to collect DNA samples from Marc and Jim. Plus, we’ll take a trip to Planet Bush with Lawton Smalls, and Jim spins the wheel of anger.

Call the show at 1 (877) 520-1150 if you’re in KTLK’s regional calling area, or dial 1 (800) 783-7412 to listen to the show on hold.

Not much to say this morning. They’re putting machine guns on the Coast Guard boats in the Great Lakes, I guess to keep the Canadian Navy at bay. I guess I’ll refrain from any Thousand Islands boat tours this summer. Pew has Bush down to 33%. I hope the Democrats don’t do something crazy like stand up for what’s right. Nah, that could ruin their chances to make sure Russ Fengold doesn’t get the ’08 nomination. He’s just not “electable” enough.

There’s a game tonight, but it started at six, and last night Marc seemed to indicate they’d go on the air as soon as the postgame stuff is over, even if it’s before 10:00, so I’m putting this thread up earlier than usual, and getting ready for the stream to begin anytime after, well, after now. Hey, I can’t lose, since I’ll either get more Matt Pinto, or more Maron. It’s a win-win situation.

On tonght’s show, Jimmy Dore from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater’s Pop and Politics show, and Mort Mortenson has the Weekly Remembrance.

And of course, you can call in at 1 (877) 520-1150, or outside their regional calling area, dial 1 (800) 783-7412.

Another Wednesday, but I didn’t have to get up and get out of the house this week, which is a good thing, because I’m exhausted. How you can be anything but exhausted and exasperated with these cowardly, stupid Democrats? To paraphrase Sean Connery from The Untouchables, “Isn’t that just like a Democrat, bringin’ a knife to a gunfight.” Except in the case of these Democrats, it’s more like a spork.

I mean, they voted for Bush’s little war (and every multi-billion dollar, Halliburton enriching, troop-screwing appropriations bill since) beacuse they were afraid to look bad. They couldn’t filibuster Alito, because they didn’t want the Republicans to say mean things about them, and they can’t even get together to vote for a slap on the wrist to a President who has so clearly committed high crimes and misdemeanors that Barney Fife would arrest him.

But, life goes on. I still think we need to get the Republicans out of the majority in the House or Senate, not because I think the Democrats will do some good (they’ll be ineffective and pathetic, as always), but because I’m terrified of the damage the Republicans can do with another two years in charge (and unchecked). And as dreadful and unpopular as Bush and his posse have been, I cringe at the thought of what “electable” candidate the Democrats will put up in ’08. Even my Guy Noir bobblehead shakes his head in disgust.

But can the Democrats manage to overcome corrupt election officials, voter disenfranchisement, and rigged voting machines (not to mention the voter apathy they sow with every spineless step they take)? Or will they just lose amid statistically impossible exit poll discrepancies, and harrumph about holding hearings, which, if they’re lucky, the Republicans will allow them to hold in some closet in the basement of the House, while dozens of us watch on CSPAN as we quietly hide our “Chickenhawk” and “Buck Fush” t-shirts, because they’ll be coming for us this time if we don’t shape up.

Hey, maybe I’m just being too pessimistic. Sometimes it’s hard not to be, when the “good” guys show they aren’t all that good, and the “bad” guys get more evil every day.

Dave Attell joins Marc and Jim tonight, in a show that promises to be unencumbered by either the LA Clippers or Matt Pinto. Also, Marc steps into the Liberal Confessional with Cardinal Milfington. Hopefully we’ll get a full two hours tonight.

As usual, you can call in at 1 (877) 520-1150, or outside their regional calling area, dial 1 (800) 783-7412. Tell ’em Stephie sent ya.

I don’t really buy into all this bird flu panic shit (unless they’re planning on releasing something around election time to kill a bunch of us and invoke marital law under a “health emergency”), but it’s nice to know that the Bush Administration has the best minds working on a solution, just in case.

Here’s Health and Human Sevices Secretary Mike Leavitt’s plan for the avian flu:

“When you go to the store and buy three cans of tuna fish, buy a fourth and put it under the bed,” Leavitt said. “When you go to the store to buy some milk, pick up a box of powdered milk, put it under the bed. When you do that for a period of four to six months, you are going to have a couple of weeks of food. And that’s what we’re talking about.”

Hey, Mike, I’m on it. I’ll keep my canned tuna handy, right next to my duct tape, and my two boxes of “emergency” wine. Bill Frist would probably suggest we grab an extra cat or two from the shelter, too. If you don’t need to eat ’em, you can always pick up a copy of “So, You Want to be a Surgeon” and get a little practice in.

The Chimp’s gonna be in my neck of the woods today, as he flies in to Rochester, and heads off to the Canandaigua Academy, apparently to try and sell his prescription drug plan to senior citizens. Yo, dubya, just tell ’em to stash a couple extra cans of cat food under their beds. Who meeds medicine?

Let’s see if we can’t get a full week of shows, shall we? Two weeks and only seven shows in the can doesn’t seem like enough, but I suppose we shouldn’t be greedy. Anybody know whether or not Maron’s on the bird yet? Of course, it’d be hard to get him up there, with never knowing when the Clippers game is gonna end. Should be at least an hour’s delay tonight, so don’t start drinkin’ too early. There’s a 6:00 game Wednesday that shouldn’t cause any trouble, but another 7:30 game on Friday. UCLA is playing on Thursday afternoon, and if they win, they won’t play until Saturday, so there shouldn’t be a problem with them, at least.

On tonight’s show, LA Times columnist Joel Stein (of “I don’t support our troops” fame – or infamy).

In LA, call 1 (877) 520-1150. Outside of LA, call Marc at 1 (800) 783-7412

Ah, the Sopranos are back, I’m on Spring Break, there’s a Marc Maron Show tonight (albeit delayed due to the Clippers), an excellent episode of the West Wing, and SU is Big East Champion (thanks to an Irishman from a blue collar town in the Northeast), and headed to the NCAA’s (for more than one and done, I hope). All is once again right with the world. Well, not all, maybe. Rightwing crazies are still in charge of all three branches of government, we’re helping the Brits build a new nuke, there’s a new bill in the works that would make it illegal for reporters to report on the government illegally spying on us, there’s drought in Kenya, genocide in Darfur, Iraq is, well, still Iraq, and we’re getting ready to make things even worse by fucking with Iran.

But, hey, other than that….

Anyway, as you probably already know, yesterday Russ Feingold announced that he’ll be introducing a resolution in the Senate today to censure George W. Bush. The resolution condemns Bush’s actions in authorizing the illegal wiretapping program and then misleading the country about the existence and legality of the program. Feingold calls the resolution “an appropriate and responsible step for Congress to take in response to the President’s undermining of the separation of powers and ignoring the rule of law.”

“The President must be held accountable for authorizing a program that clearly violates the law and then misleading the country about its existence and its legality,” Feingold said. “The President’s actions, as well as his misleading statements to both Congress and the public about the program, demand a serious response. If Congress does not censure the President, we will be tacitly condoning his actions, and undermining both the separation of powers and the rule of law.”

So, your mission today, should you choose to accept it, is to call your Senator’s office, and ask them if they support the Feingold resolution. If not, ask them why not. If they don’t know or won’t say, ask them when you can call back to find out what their official position is. When they can’t tell you that, say, “that’s OK, I’ll call back tomorrow then.” Also, ask them if they think it’s OK for the President to break the law, and would they please put that in writing and send it to you. Offer to send a self-addressed stamped envelope.

You can get contact info for your Senator here. As always, be polite to the poor schlub who has to answer the phone, but make sure your point is clear. If your Senator has a local office, call them, too.

Feingold is sticking his neck out. He needs to be encouraged, just as the DINO’s need to be spanked.

Yes, after nearly two years, it’s the much anticipated return of the Soprano’s on HBO tonight. Before that, though, we have to suffer through another day of the bobbleheads. As usual, let’s start off with another exciting Press the Meat. Joining Timmy Potatohead this week are – oh boy – Republican George Allen, and Senator MBNA himself, Joe Biden, to talk about how great Iraq is, no doubt, and maybe to pretend we’re all fooled by the UAE turning over our ports to a American-owned “entity.” After that, it’s flag-waving, Iraq-glorifying time as Tummuh welcomes Michael Gordon (he of the “Aluminum Tubes Proves Iraq Wants Nukes” story fame) and retired Marine General Bernard Trainor to talk about their new book, “Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq.” Inside story, meaning they hung out with Rummy and his crew, and swallowed whatever shit they were fed.

They refuse to say who Bush Buddy BillyBob Schieffer is going to have on Fazed the Nation tomorrow, but Bob was pretty funny and seemed to have a good sense of humor on Colbert this week, so I’ll cut him some slack. They gotta stop getting AAR to do their website, though.

Good news/Bad news on This Weak with George Snufalufagus. The good news is Senator Russ Feingold. The bad news is Bill the Cat (Killer) Frist. Maybe Russ will ask Bill how his ’08 presidential campaign is coming along. Then at the roundtable, it’s Donna “Great job on that Gore campaign” Brazile, Time’s Jay Carney, Claire Shipman and of course George :jerk: Will. Then it’s Art Buchwald, who is currently in a DC area hospice with failing kidneys, having made the courageous decision to forego dialysis or other medical intervention, and die with dignity. Best wishes Art, you were always the best read in the Sunday paper.

On Fucking Fox News Sunday with Chris Fuckface Wallace, it’s Republican vs. Republican, with Duncan “Donuts” Hunter and some clod named Mike Pence on to pretend that Dubai won’t still be calling the shots on the ports deal, and then Chris Dodd from CT will be on to endorse Ned Lamont in ’06 (well, we can hope, can’t we?).

Over on George Galloway’s radio program, well, here, George can say it better than I can (mp3 link). I listened to his show yesterday, and man, what a fast-paced show; he must’ve taken a hundred callers. It sure sounds like the Labor Party supporters are pretty disgusted with their Party in general, and Blair specifically. They sound a lot like Democrats – not happy with what they have, but not really keen on returning to the days of Thatcher and Major.

CNN Sunday Morning is on from 7AM – 10AM Eastern, so there’s no reason not to sleep in.

Later, on 60 Minutes, Leslie Stahl talks to some doctors to discover why people are gay (hey, Leslie, could it be that hairdo of yours?), Ed Bradley talks to Boston’s Irish mob boss, James “Whitey” Bulger’s former right hand man, Lara Logan (Lara Logan? Who the hell is that?) talks about her visit to Tal Afar, Iraq, and Andy Rooney bitches about telephone poles or something.

Then it’s an all-new epoisode of the West Wing (but it’s a freakin’ “White House Wedding,” so don’t get your hopes up), before we finally get see what’s up with Tony and the boys.