Waterboarding, Lies And Videotape

PLUS: Mitt Romney says atheists can’t be free...How Congress is changing our energy future...What JC has on his TiVo...Who could be getting a golden phonograph...Diet soda is fat soda...No, the mortgage bailout isn’t for you...And we’ve got some climate scientists who are sick of messing around. It’s December 7th, and we’ve got a refugee crisis to solve. Is this thing on?

Celebration Excuse

18 DAYS TIL CHRISTMAS, BUT WHO’S COUNTING

1776

Marquis de La Fayette attempts to enter the US military as a major general. Fancy that, a French guy who wanted to be affiliated with the US.

1787

Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the US Constitution. ...Where? Oh, yeah.

1917

The US declares war on Austria-Hungary, officially entering World War 1, “the war to end all wars.” Question: if it was the war to end all wars, why did they call it World War 1?

1972

Apollo 17, the last Apollo moon mission, is launched. They take the infamous picture of Earth known as the “Blue Marble,” which will be a much more literal name once global warming melts the ice caps and raises the sea levels.

PEOPLE TO CELEBRATE UNTIL THEN

1928: Noam Chomsky, linguist, philosopher, political activist, MIT professor, and all around genius
1947: Johnny Bench, retired Cincinnati Reds catcher and key member of the 1975 and 1976 World Series champion “Big Red Machine”
1949: Tom Waits, the American singer-songwriter known for his distinctive vocals
1956: Larry Bird, Three time NBA champion and MVP and one of the greatest basketball players of all time. You might have heard of him.
1973: Terrell Owens, “TO,” as he’s known, has been one of the most productive NFL players of all time and one of the most outspoken
1987: Aaron Carter, Younger brother of Back Street Boy Nick Carter and pop music star himself... at one time

Daybook

STUMPIN’

Barack Obama hosts a concert with Jeff Tweedy and others in Chicago, Illinois. Then Saturday and Sunday Oprah Winfrey campaigns with Obama in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina
John Edwards campaigns in New Hampshire Friday and Saturday
Mitt Romney fundraises in Michigan on Friday and Florida on Saturday
John McCain campaigns in New Hampshire Friday and Saturday and Florida on Sunday
The Republican Presidential Debate from Florida

CONGRESS

2:15 PM

The House-Senate Conference Committee meets to discuss the National Defense Authorization Act for 2008 (H.R. 1585)

TV

TIVO…
Oprah: Suddenly Skinny (Rerun)
The View: Star of the new movies Grace Is Gone and Martian Child John Cusack, and Ghostbuster Ernie Hudson
Regis and Kelly: Saving Grace’s Holly Hunter, American Idol Blake Lewis, and guest co-host actor Ted McGinley
Ellen: Celebrity chef Paula Deen, and musical guest Trisha Yearwood
STAY UP FOR…
Letterman: John Travolta, Idol judge Paula Abdul, and musical guest Teddy Thompson (Rerun)
Leno: Jerry Seinfeld, Survivor couple Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich, and musical guest Wayne Newton (Rerun circa 2004)
Late Late Show: Comedian Steven Wright, with musical guest Dinosaur Jr. (Rerun)
Last Call: Actor Jason Schwartzman, with musical guest Morrissey

 

Eavesdrop

STEAL THIS AUDIO

IRAQ’S DISPLACEMENT CRISIS: PART 1

  • Who: Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
  • What: The Center for American Progress and the Heinrich Boell Foundation hosted an all day event on the displacement crisis that the war in Iraq has caused, the subsequent international response, and the prospects for improvement of the situation. The conference opened with keynote remarks from Rep. Blumenauer. [AMERICAN PROGRESS]
  • Why you should care: More than two million people within Iraq are displaced, and another two million people have fled the country, attempting to take refuge in neighboring states. Those who stay pose a problem to security and face sectarian fighting, a lack of basic services, and terrorism. Those who leave are faced with a host country that is hostile and unwelcoming to their presence and risk deportation to a situation they feel to be certain death. The US, as of yet, has not taken responsibility for the humanitarian crisis the war has caused, and the international community has not committed to the situation. Recent military and security successes have given the US a second chance in Iraq. It’s time to step up, so keep listening…

THE AUDIO

  • Rep. Blumenauer notes that the time to deal with this crisis was around the time President Bush was declaring “Mission Accomplished.”
    Please log in to download this clip.
  • The Congressman points out that what the US has spent on refugees is only a fraction of the reconstruction money that has been lost and stolen in Iraq.
    Please log in to download this clip.
  • It’s ironic that the Bush Administration argues against withdrawal on the basis of a humanitarian crisis when they’ve already got one on their hands.
    Please log in to download this clip.
  • Congressman Blumenauer concludes on a solemn note. That is, that the millions of displaced people are indeed the responsibility of those who made the war, but they are, unfortunately, often the forgotten casualties.
    Please log in to download this clip.

Popularity Contest

Too cool for school...

NYT: Intercepting Iran’s Take on America

WP: Federal Employees to Get Dec. 24 Off of Work

LAT: Rains set to soak Southland

USAT:College football coaches calling lucrative plays

CBS: Omaha Gunman’s Note: “Now I’ll Be Famous”

ABC: A Family’s Nightmare: Accident Photos of Their Beautiful Daughter Released

MSNBC: Father delivers impatient baby on side of road

FOX: Nebraska Mall Shooter Broke Up With Girlfriend, Lost Job Before Massacre

CNN: Report: Peterson case warrants seek GPS, ‘biological material’

Masthead

Questions? Comments? Send us e-mail.

Problems logging in? Reset/reactivate your password.

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.

RSS icon RSS headlines feed