LATE AT EIGHT — 11.26.10

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Apologies to readers for the non-appearance of “Live at Five,” as Wombat found himself spending the holidays at the home of relatives in Luray, Va., who don’t have WiFi. Also, Wombat is suffering from a cold, if you want to send him get-well wishes.

I’ll be aggregating headlines here in the meantime. — RSM

TOP NEWS
South Korea Names New Defense Minister after North Korea’s Artillery Attack
Retired Gen. Kim Kwan-jin replaces Kim Tae-young, who resigned Thursday, following criticism of a slow response to Tuesday’s deadly North Korean attack.

Europeans Clash on Bailout
EU Commission proposes doubling size of €440 billion ($588 billion) bailout fund; Germany balks.

A Head Start on Black Friday
Some shoppers started on Thanksgiving Day.

Three Boys Feared Lost Are Found
Adrift in the Pacific Ocean for 50 days.

POLITICS
A Thanksgiving Message to All 57 States
Sarah Palin has a sense of humor? Who knew?

Navy Veteran, 78, Arrested After Telling Nurse He Was Thinking About Killing President Obama
Secret Service takes every threat seriously. Also, you know how kooky those Navy guys are.

Will Sarah Palin Run for President?
Book-signings in Iowa. Hint, hint.

Getting It Wrong About TSA
R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. admits his error.

The Year of the Pro-Life Woman
Buerkle’s win marks 38th victory for SBA List in 2010.

THE ECONOMY, STUPID
Euro Zone Debt Crisis Escalates
Investors eye Spain as the next weak spot.

Debt Crisis Threatens Germany?
‘Germany cannot keep paying for bail-outs without going bankrupt itself.’

Asian Markets Spooked by Korean Hostilities
Asia-Pacific index drops 2.1 per cent to 248.43, its worst weekly performance in more than three months.

Oil Prices Fall as Dollar Gains
‘Uncertain economic conditions continue to dominate the markets.’

SPORTS
The Only Game That Matters
Tuscaloosa. Bryant-Denny Stadium. Today. 2:30 p.m. ET.

Alabama’s Mark Ingram: ‘All the Pressure Is On Them’
Didn’t I tell you it’s the only game that matters?

Saints Come Back, Beat Cowboys
30-27. Not that it matters.

Jets 26, Bengals 10
Another game that means nothing compared to the world-historic struggle today at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS
Halle Berry Getting Desperate for Baby
Biological clock ticking down for 44-year-old star.

Lindsay Lohan Gets Thanksgiving Pass
Leaves Betty Ford Clinic to celebrate holiday with her father.

Christina Aguilera Makes Movie Debut in ‘Burlesque’
‘So bad it could almost be Showgirls.’

‘Ugly Betty’ Actor Michael Brea Explains Why He Killed His Mother
Two words: ‘Nucking futz.’

BLOGS & STUFF
Byron York: Poll Numbers Point to Obama’s Defeat in 2012

Pundit & Pundette: Too Much Sarah

News Alert: GM Say, ‘Thanks for the Bailout!’

Noel Sheppard: Roger Ebert Thankful for Tom Delay’s Conviction

Cubachi: Weird Taiwanese Animation About Sarah Palin

New York Post: Why Does ABC Keep Sending Diane Sawyer to the Wrong Continent?

Dan Collins: Pass the Schadenfreude

VIDEO: Happy Thanksgiving!

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All six of our children, plus our recently added son-in-law, gathered for the annual family feast.

See if you can figure out which one is Robert Stacy McCain, Jr.

A little story about our big family: When Kennedy (now 21 and married) was just a baby, it was near Christmas time and we were so broke, we didn’t have two nickels to rub together. However, I had a Macy’s credit card, so we went shopping with that. We just about maxed out the limit, but Macy’s had a little snack bar and we stopped in to have some cheesecake and coffee.

We were sitting there eating and talking, with our 6-month-old baby, trying to make the best of the holidy despite our dismal financial situation, when a little old lady approached us. She apologized for disturbing us, but said she just wanted to tell us something: “You’ve got so much love!”

Indeed. Five more children were added and despite everything — including the deer that wiped out our car — we’ve still got so much love.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful for the Man in the Fedora

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You probably don’t recognize that guy, but if you’re a regular reader, you owe him a big “Thank you.”

Many months ago — it was September 26 2009 — I had just spent two weeks fighting a very memorable flame war, which need not be reiterated here. Burnt-out and weary, I was trying to recover my equilibrium by enjoying the Alabama-Arkansas game (Roll, Tide!), when someone alerted me to a particularly idiotic Andrew Sullivan post about the death of a Census worker in Kentucky.

Well, by God, send me to Kentucky!

Big Creek, Ky., is a 500-mile drive from here. I could easily drive it in eight hours. I had plans to attend an event Sunday in Virginia, and had expected to go to D.C. this coming week to follow up on the latest IG-Gate developments.
However, if my readers would prefer me to teach Andrew Sullivan a lesson in journalism, feel free to hit the tip jar. . . .

And in short order, that man in the hat hit the tip-jar and said, “Go!” Less than 48 hours later, I arrived in Manchester, Ky., and by Tuesday morning had filed a column for The American Spectator:

The FBI and Kentucky State Police, who are leading the Sparkman investigation, refuse to discuss possible motives for his murder. Asked about the theories being discussed on the Internet, KSP spokesman Don Trosper said, “It’s just speculation and rumors. . . . We concern ourselves with facts.”

I subsequently visited the scene of the crime, and also interviewed a local whose flippant remark to a reporter had been misinterpreted as indicative of the “anti-government sentiment” that supposedly pervaded Clay County, Ky. Continue reading Thankful for the Man in the Fedora →

Thanksgiving Day Traffic Suckage Alert: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders Edition

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You should hit my tip jar today. Why? Because Thanksgiving marks the beginning of Holiday Traffic Suckage Season, which has been known to cause severe cases of Blogger Mood Disorder.

We bloggers live or die by traffic. When traffic is up, we’re happy. When traffic is down, we’re sad. Blog traffic goes in the toilet on Thanksgiving and doesn’t recover until January.

Why? Because about 70% of blog traffic comes from “Bored At The Office” (BATO) readers, goofing off in their office cubicles when they’re supposed to be working. When people take vacation and holidays and start trying to use up their personal-leave days before the end of the year, that translates to less BATO readership, and traffic suffers.

Well, good for you people enjoying your holidays — and bad for us bloggers. Our lives lose meaning and purpose. What’s the point of writing about politics, when nobody’s reading? Declining traffic leads to depression and depression leads to vicious flame wars. It can get ugly.

There is only one way to avert this predictable descent into the madness caused by Holiday Traffic Suckage Season. Just hit the tip jar, and my mood will instantly improve. It’s amazing how that works.

Obviously, Steve Bartin at News Alert is desperately trying to stave off seasonal traffic suckage. Why else would he feature this video of Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders?

You should probably go to News Alert and hit Steve’s tip jar, because he’s a great guy who provides a very useful service. But first hit my tip jar, before the Blogger Mood Disorder gets out of control.

Hallie Miller: What’s Not to Like?

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You can blame Da Tech Guy for this one: Some commenter left a link on his site saying that she was in a modeling contest and asking people to vote for her.

Was this spam? Nine out of 10 bloggers would have instantly deleted such a comment, but Da Tech Guy investigated and discovered that it’s legit: Hallie Miller is a contestant in the Savvy magazine model search and you can vote for her online.

She’s also created a WordPress blog to promote herself. And guess what? She’s a conservative. Who knows where this may lead? Da Tech Guy tells a story of how seemingly random connections can be the most important connections of all.

At any rate, go vote for Hallie Miller. And Happy Thanksgiving!

LIVE AT FIVE – 11.25.10

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TOP NEWS

The Hammer Falls: Tom DeLay Convicted Of Money Laundering

Tom DeLay at the Travis County Courthouse, Austin Texas

Former majority leader could get 5-99 years

Administration Counting On PRC To Rein In Norks? Experts say PRC more often part of the problem.



“Opt Out Day” Protests Fizzle; Holiday Air Travel Gets Off To Smooth Start
Worst traffic problem turns out to be on I-95 at Delaware toll plaza



POLITICS

CA-11 Called For McNerney, Harmer Not Conceding

Congressman Jerry McNerney, D-CA

Lead widens to almost 2500 votes

Norm Coleman Calls On Miller To Stand Down; Also Expresses Interest In RNC Chair If Steele Steps Down

Bill Owens Not Supporting Boehner For Speaker After All

McClatchy-Marist Poll Says 48% Of Registered Voters Would Vote Against Obama



Obama Touts Chrysler Success In Kokomo, But Poor Economy Weighs On Him



THE ECONOMY, STUPID

Crackdown On Insider Trading Picks Up Steam

Black Friday Expands To A Week Of Discounts And Extended Hours

Discovery Delayed Into December

What You Need To Know When Buying A Tablet Computer



SPORTS

Magic’s Van Gundy Rips Jackson For “Ignorant” Comments On Heat Coach

Erik Spoelstra looks on as his much-hyped Heat struggles

Reacted to Phil Jackson’s speculation that Spoelstra could be fired & replaced by GM Pat Riley

Celtics‘ West Breaks Wrist; Rondo Still Out

Tom Brady 50/50 For Lions Game Today

Dez Bryant One Of Few Bright Spots In A Disappointing Cowboys’ Season

Boise State’s Kustra Returns Fire At OSU’s Gee For “Little Sisters Of The Poor” Crack

Titans’ Fisher Not Impressed By Texted Apology From Young



League, NFLPA Have Talks On Extending Season To 18 Games



FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS

Kanye West Attacks Taylor Swift, Defends W At Album Launch

Kanye West (L), Taylor Swift (R)

West also none too fond of Matt Lauer. Grats, Kanye, you may already be a conservative. :V

Angelina Jolie Says Dumb Stuff About Thanksgiving

Big Surprise: Jessica Simpson Having Tofu Turkey Today, Other Vegan Abominations Also

John Travolta & Kelly Preston: It’s A Boy!

Cameron Diaz, Alex Rodriguez An Item Again

Christie Brinkley: Billy Joel Having Double Hip Replacement

NYPD Wants To Interview Denise Richards About Events Leading Up To Sheen Flipout



FOREIGNERS

PRC Opposes Force In Korean Dispute, Wen Jiabao Says

NZ Prime Minister Promises Investigation Of Mine Disaster

Pope’s Remarks On Condoms Sow Confusion Among Illiterates, Catholics Who Depend on Lamestream Media

Suicide Car Bomb Kills 17 Shiite Rebels In Northern Yemen



BLOGS & STUFF

Dennis The Peasant: Sarah Palin Ate My Hamster, Part 2

Matt Welch: “The Nation” May Want To Ask Someone What the “L” In ACLU Stands For

Jawa Report: Woman Claims She Was Singled Out For Pat-Down Because Of Her Boobs

Allahpundit: Palin Responds To Bushes’ Criticism – “No Offense, But They’re Blue-Bloods”

WSJ: The Desolate Wilderness…And The Fair Land
I’ve posted the last two WSJ links on my LiveJournal every Thanksgiving since 2004, because they say a lot about the people who started this here country and got the Thanksgiving thing going. If you haven’t seen them before, take a minute and read through them; if you have, no better time than now to remind yourself.


Hope your Thanksgiving is a happy one. See you Friday.


— compiled by Wombat-socho