Shameless Budget Tricks, Iraq Resolutions and Gun-Toting Llamas: These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things

PLUS: Army cancels welcome home parties for our troops! The Budget! Your 10-year-old, Internet porn, and you! Pluots and apriums! Tim Gunn! Did we mention The Budget? And finally, Dakota Fanning on Michiko Kakutani. Today is February 6th, and this is Mic Check. We’re on. You’re on. Everybody’s on.

Celebration Excuse

A Queen named Liz, an airport named Ronnie, a trigger-happy politician named Burr: here’s why there’s no stopping the beat.

1778

Franco-American alliances settled in the Revolutionary war. Spaghetti-o’s are not part of the settlements.

1891

The “Dalton Gang” commits its first train robbery. And you thought it was safe to go back in time to the Old West, silly McFly.

1937

Of Mice and Men is published. Your 9th grade English teacher wants to know: “what is the symbolic significance of the rabbits?”

1952

Elizabeth becomes Queen of England at age 27. Behind closed doors, a cloning project nicknamed “Helen Mirren” is started.

1998

Washington National Airport is renamed Ronald Reagan National Airport. “Ollie’s", an Iran-Contra themed restaurant opens inside.

Leaving the Womb:

Former vice-president Aaron Burr, known for wasting money (especially Hamiltons)

Guns n’ Roses rocker Axl Rose, known for his hospitality (in the Jungle, with fun and games)

Former President Ronald Reagan, known for his salesmanship (whether he was dish soap or political agendas)

Daybook

People

Washington Press Club Foundation’s Annual Congressional Dinner (featuring Bob Schieffer of Face the Nation and Senators Ted Kennedy and Chris Dodd).

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan presents former President George H. W. Bush with the 2007 Ronald Reagan Freedom Award.

Senate

9:00

Senate in Session.

9:30AM

Armed Services Committee holds hearings on Defense Budget Authorization.

9:30AM

Judiciary Committee hearing on politicizing hiring and firing of U.S. Attorneys.

2:30PM

Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings on Bailey, Wright, and Wu nominations.

2:45PM

Finance Committee holds hearings on the FY2008 budget proposal.

House

10AM

Budget Committee hearing on the FY 2008 budget proposal.

10AM

House Financial Services Committee hearing on Federal Housing Response to Hurricane Katrina.

10AM

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee: Hearing on the Impact of the Coalition Provisional Authority Decision Making on Iraq Reconstruction. On tap: Paul Bremer, Stuart Bowen, Tim Carney.

10:30AM

House convenes.

 

Eavesdrop

The Budget

President Bush sent Congress a $2.9 trillion budget plan yesterday. Here are the facts and figures we thought were interesting. Because you deserve a Budget Breakdown today!

Eavesdrop »

Popularity Contest

BOUNCING IN THE STREET

Philadelphia is considering installing rubber sidewalks. Here’s why they’re not taking the bouncy train to cuckoo-ville:[AP]

  • Rubber sidewalks would be made from recycled tires (Captain Planet approves).
  • They don’t crack, and they’re much more durable than concrete.
  • They would reduce the number of “slip and fall” accidents, and all those lawsuits from hip-bruised old ladies.
  • But don’t get too excited: the rubber is very solid (not too bouncy). Says Jim Kenney of the Philadelphia City Council, “it’s probably harder than a running track.”

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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