Discounted For The Holidays: 92,000 Microwaves, Sinatra Stamps, Homeland Security

PLUS: Iraqi refugees face a catch-22...U.S. vs. the world in Bali...More and more teens are getting knocked up...Why the flu likes the cold...Fit? Fat? Why not be both!...and finally, Jenna Bush isn’t getting a pony for Christmas. We can guarantee that. Today is December 6th, and this is Mic Check. We’re nothing without you. XOXO.

Celebration Excuse

WHEN THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL…

1865

The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution is ratified. It banned slavery. You might’ve learned a little something about it in history class. There was a bit of a dispute over the subject. Any of this ringing a bell?

1877

The Washington Post newspaper is first published. Happy birthday, WaPo!

1884

Construction of the Washington Monument is completed. The record for fastest ascent of the 897 stairs inside the monument is 6 minutes 42 seconds. So now you have a goal for the day.

1897

London becomes the world’s first city with motorized taxis. They named them hackney carriages. You should hear MicCheck say that in our best English popper accent.

1933

US federal judge John M. Woolsey rules that the James Joyce novel Ulysses is not obscene. Because there’s nothing we loved more in high school than a thousands words written in stream-of-consciousness.

1969

Meredith Hunter is killed by Hells Angels during a Rolling Stones’ concert in California. With the Who stampede the same week, it’s a bad time to be at a concert.

BUT YOUR MICCHECK IS SO DELIGHTFUL

1945: Dan Harrington, World Series of Poker Champion (1995)
1952: Craig Newmark, that is to say, Craig “of Craigslist” Newmark
1955: Steven Wright, Academy Award-winning standup comedian and actor. You might know him as the guy on the couch in Half Baked.

Daybook

STUMPIN’

John McCain campaigns in New Hampshire
Mitt Romney fundraises in Texas

CONGRESS

HOUSE

9:30 AM

House (Select) Intelligence Committee Intelligence Community Management Subcommittee hears testimony on the Director of National Intelligence’s 500 Day Plan.

10 AM

House Financial Services Committee discusses accelerating loan modifications to improve foreclosure prevention.
House Judiciary Committee Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee holds a hearing on H.R 3396, the “Sales Tax Fairness and Simplification Act.”

11 AM

House Administration Committee Elections Subcommittee discusses the use of ‘Robocalls’ in federal campaigns.
House Judiciary Committee Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Subcommittee confer on the issue of promoting inmate rehabilitation and successful release planning.
SENATE

2:30 PM

Senate Armed Services Committee Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee hear testimony from Jacques Gansler, chairman of the Commission on Army Acquisition and Program Management in Expeditionary Operations, and Claude Bolton Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology. They will be discussing reforms necessary to army expeditionary contracting.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection Subcommittee hears testimony during a debate on US aid to Pakistan

TV

TIVO…
Oprah: How They Revved Up Their Sex Life (Rerun)
The View: Comedian Jeff Foxworthy, and from the Golden Compass Sam Elliot
Regis and Kelly: Will & Grace’s Karen – Megan Mullally, Numbers star Rob Morrow, and internet analyst Omar Wasow
Ellen: Actress Keira Knightley, and country star Toby Keith
STAY UP FOR…
Letterman: Actor Vince Vaughn, with musical guest KT Tunstall (Rerun)
Leno: Michael Jordan, a young SNL star David Spade, and musical guest the Fred Nelson Choral Ensemble (Rerun circa 1996)
Late Late Show: Eric Idle of Monty Python fame, Law & Order’s longtime star S. Epatha Merkerson, and comedian Guy Torry (Rerun)
Last Call: Chuck star Yvonne Strahovski, with musical guest Gym Class Heroes
Daily Show: Comedian and sometimes Fox News pundit Dennis Miller (Rerun)
Colbert Report: Washington Post military correspondent Thomas Ricks and journalist Joe Klein (Rerun)

 

Eavesdrop

STEAL THIS AUDIO

JOHN BOLTON’S NIE HYPOCRISY

Who: John Bolton, Bush’s mustachioed former UN ambassador and neocon saber rattler extraordinaire.

What: On Thom Hartmann’s radio show, Bolton insists that the new National Intelligence Estimate showing Iran abandoned their nuclear weapon program in 2003 is the work of “supposed intelligence analysts” with “policy biases.”

Why: Funny story—the case for war with Iraq was the work of shoddy intelligence analysts in the Office of Special Plans who bypassed traditional intelligence community to hype Iraq’s WMD capabilities. Now, when the real intelligence community isn’t telling the neocons what they want to hear about Iran, they get all huffy. We didn’t see it, but we’re sure Bolton’s mustache was twitching.

The Audio

John Bolton

  • “Under the guise of a supposedly objective intelligence estimate they have infected it with their own policy biases. And I think that is impermissible.”
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  • “This intelligence estimate, I think, is the result of politicization within the intelligence community of supposed intelligence analysts really putting their own policy preferences forward disguised as intelligence judgments.”
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  • Bolton insists that “part of the problem is they don’t think they do work for Bush.” Newsflash, John: the intelligence community works for the American people. And telling the President what he wants to hear isn’t their job.
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President Bush

  • Even after the NIE, the President still isn’t cooling down on Iran: “the Iranian government has more to explain about its nuclear intentions and past actions, especially the covert nuclear weapons program pursued until the fall of 2003, which the Iranian regime has yet to acknowledge.”
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Popularity Contest

All we want for Christmas are these headlines.

NYT: Unhappy? Self-Critical? Maybe You’re Just a Perfectionist

WP: The Love Song of Dennis J. Kucinich

LAT: L.A. County investigating Pimp C’s death

USAT: College football coaches calling lucrative plays

CBS: L.A. Cardinal Badly Beaten By Abuse Foes

ABC: At Least 7 Dead, Including Gunman At Omaha Mall

NBC: Gunman opens fire at Omaha mall, killing 9

FOX: Mavericks Pioneer Drowns in Huge Waves at Famed California Surf Break

CNN: Two killed in shooting at Omaha mall

Masthead

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Mic Check is produced every weekday by Christy Harvey, Sara Langhinrichs and Nicole Murphy, and is a project of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Read more about Mic Check.

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