There were several excellent things about my appearance on C-Span’s Washington Journal this morning that I would like to share with all of you.
First and foremost, we got to see most of downtown Chicago thanks to that marvel of the internet, Mapquest. It appears that the site is run by people who are the absolute worst drivers in Christendom. They are above all speeders in that invariably, any time frame they give you to reach your destination is off by a ratio that involves the inverse square directly being proportionate to how fast you are driving. Hence, if they are off by 15 minutes in their calculations, you should add 30 MPH to your driving speed in order to achieve the miraculous driving time achieved by Mapquest calculations.
Secondly, their drivers are blind. One would ordinarily think this an actual detriment to driving but not our intrepid Mapquest employees. Hence, when they tell you to turn the wrong way down a one way street in order to reach your objective, it is easier to forgive them if you remember they can’t see this kind of insignificant detail due to their minor handicap.
It’s a very good thing that downtown Chicago is a loop because no matter where you drive, you always seem to end up back where you started – especially if you’re lost. We got to within about 4 blocks of the studio where the live feed was going to be broadcast and dang it, we just couldn’t get any closer. Good thing we made it downtown 35 minutes early (no traffic thank goodness) because we spent the next 30 of those minutes driving around looking for a way to get to the one way street that the studio was on. Oh well…we managed to hit all the high spots: We went past the Sears Tower and the Wrigley building. We even got a glimpse of Lake Michigan. All in all, a fascinating tour.
After that, the TV appearance was anticlimactic. Everyone was so nice. The C-Span host Steve Scully was a doll. He picked out this bit I wrote about Helen Thomas:
First of all, referring to Helen Thomas as “indomitable†is like calling a pig in a dress a prom queen. Thomas may be a lot of things – loud, obnoxious, disrespectful, kooky – but “indomitable†as a descriptive should be reserved for battleships, cancer survivors, and some race horses; not doddering old reporters who waddle around the press room talking about the glory days when Jack Kennedy prowled the White House looking for his next sexual conquest in the steno pool.
For a moment, I was worried he was going to pull an Oprah on me and Helen Thomas would magically appear on the C-Span set furrowing her already furrowed brow in my direction and clucking her disapproval. Thankfully, no such “gotchya” moment occurred. But I wonder now what the hell he wanted me to say? It’s a pretty good turn of a phrase if I do say so myself. And since they didn’t do it to my lefty foil, the lovely and talented Taylor Marsh, one must assume that either my snark is so much better than Marsh’s (not so; she can be just as loony as me when the opportunity presents itself) or, someone at C-Span was trying to make a point about conservatives (much more likely).
Good thing they didn’t pull up that old post I did calling John Kerry a traitorous lout. Now that would have been embarrassing (for Kerry).
All in all, a pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning. I got to see the city. I had a good time talking about issues I write about everyday. And I found out that Taylor Marsh was in the Miss America pageant as “Miss Missouri” not too many years ago. (Note to Republicans: Marsh is the kind of voter you are losing. She’s pro-defense, pro-gun, and from what I can gather, a JFK Democrat not a McGovernite. Can’t talk about a “permanent majority” unless voters like her even consider voting Republican once and a while).
I’ll put up a link to the show when C-Span has it.
12:31 pm
Glad it went well. I wanted to see it but overslept..Now, to get you on the college speaking circuit so you can clean up like Sheehan and Wilson..
12:48 pm
Sunday Funnies (April Fools Addition)
image courtesy of Cox and Forkum
Interpretation of a violent poem by faithmouse
First off, a non-funny…we are soooo sorry we missed our blogbuddy Rick at Rightwing Nuthouse on C-Span this morning. We intended on making sure to watch it, and…
12:56 pm
Hi, Rick. I just watched the show and thought that you and Taylor both did a good job. I’m glad that the show did not devolve into a loud argument, as happens so frequently on shows like Hannity & Colmes.
I found the discussion about U.S. bases in Iraq somewhat frustrating. I think the base question—as well as the Iraq invasion in general—needs to be viewed in the context of America’s long-term strategic interests. Personally, I think that we will have some type of military presence in Iraq for decades, just as we stayed in Germany and Japan during the Cold War. Taylor’s comments illustrate the tendency of Democrats to focus on the daily ups and downs in the Global War on Terror, which benefits them politically.
1:18 pm
I too got to watch, and agree with Jonathan on the issues of the bases in Iraq.
We are still in Germany and Japan, so what’s teh point?
I tried to call in during the entire show, and actually got rings when I started calling on the independent line. (I figured that would probably be a line that had less traffic on it).
I wanted to ask about what conservatives, and American citizens in general, can do to fight the charge of “racism” when we demand our laws be enforced. I wanted to mention that I think many people don’t go protest against the immigration bills because it is now seems to be a dangerous thing to protest. I also wanted to mention, after getting a longer comment ready as the program continued, that I would rather hunt with Cheney than go driving with Kennedy.
Next time use google maps.
2:46 pm
Hey Rick!
Next time give me a ring and I’ll ferry you. I live in the city and drive downtown every day to pick up the wife from her place of work. And I have the added bonus of knowing where all the good diners are located!
I would have loved to see it, but alas, we don’t have a tv. I herd you aquiited yourself quite well though.
4:22 pm
I don’t get that base thing either. It’s sort of a “cue the ominous music” thing, then bring a Democrat out on stage to say, in hushed tones: “they’re building permanent bases.”
So what? Why not?
6:13 pm
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11:08 pm
Hi Rick. I, too, enjoyed the exchange today. I just wanted to say that you are right on. I am a JFK Democrat and have voted for Republicans several times in my life, including Ronald Reagan in 1980. But the Republican Party today could never get my vote. I’m certain I’m not the only one who feels this way, because I hear about it from people every day.
Best to you, Taylor
10:38 am
FINALLY - someone who agrees with me about MapQuest! I once used MapQuest to plan a trip from Columbus, Ohio to Vienna, Virginia. I ended up in Mahan, West Virginia where my Nissan Sentra’s engine blew up!
As to your appearance on C-Span – you were terrific.
5:28 pm
Rick Moran: blog-brother extraordinaire!
My wonderful blog-brother, Rick Moran from Right Wing Nuthouse, was on CSPAN1 this morning on Washington Journal. He was featured discussing the issues with Taylor Marsh (taylormarsh.com), who came across as pretty good and well spoken. But, of course, I
8:41 pm
Rick,
Mapquest sucks. They were one of the first, but many have passed them by. I think the best mapping site now is maps.google.com. You get readable maps and directions, plus satellite overlays!
4:16 am
[...] 7. I had several high profile media exposures including an appearance on C-Span’s Sunday Morning’s Washington Journal as well as an appearance on the CBC with Craig Crawford to talk about Jack Bauer. I was also a guest on the nationally syndicated Michael Reagan show and Rush Limbaugh read a couple of my articles from The American Thinker on his program. [...]