So, as I mentioned earlier, I was able to get a ticket to the Cubs playoff game tonight.  Rather than discuss the outcome of the game or how much I paid for the ticket (or how going to bathroom at Wrigley is the most degrading and disgusting experience one can have outside of a prison), I would rather discuss a little politics.  Our seats were right below the entrances to the super luxury boxes, which, again, at Wrigley means they have a few lawn chairs, a 12 pack of Old Style and an open toilet pit in the middle of the room.  Midway through the second inning I hear a bunch of people start booing, which I thought was odd since the Cubs were doing well at that second.  But I look up and who is on the catwalk going into a suite but Mr. Helmet Hair himself, Rod Blagojevich.  It was awesome, the crowd booed him the whole time and he just stood there and waved and grinned like an idiot.  Which takes balls I guess, although he knows he couldn’t get elected dog catcher at this point so he might as well enjoy the time he has left.  And that hair – sweet jesus it was a sight even from 50 feet away.

And so: here’s the Palin Zapruder Film, in which she can’t name a Supreme Court case besides Roe v Wade.

Now, the first time you watch it, it may seem not nearly as bad as has been reported. The build-up made it seem like it would be shocking. And it isn’t — we know she isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, and this is but one more example of it.

But watch it a couple of times. The impression is unavoidable — she is completely and utterly lost.

Anyway: discuss.

You knew someone would come up with one …

Mine is:

The way that I have understood the world is the leadership qualities— the need to reform government.

NSFW alert: 23-6 reports that Sarah Palin look-a-likes are being sought for opportunities in the motion picture industry.  Oh.

Craigslist.  Wondrous source of comedy you are.

“Mark to Market” accounting means that you show assets on your balance sheet at their market value.  Although the SEC and FASB (an organization that writes accounting rules) are resisting, the bright lights in Washingon are working to have the mark-to-market rule suspended:

Congressmen, banking lobbyists and companies including American International Group Inc. have urged the SEC to suspend fair-value accounting, saying it forces firms to report losses they never expect to incur. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke and other proponents say removing the rule would erode confidence that firms are owning up to losses.

If we close our eyes, think real hard, and click our heels together three times, the toxic waste on our balance sheets will magically turn into ponies, and everybody gets one!

Representative Todd Tiahrt, a Kansas Republican, said the House probably would have approved a $700 billion bailout of financial companies yesterday had the legislation included a suspension of fair-value accounting. The House rejected the measure 228-205.

It would have passed “easily” if the rules had been suspended, Tiahrt, who opposed the legislation, said today in a Bloomberg Television interview. Read more »

Steigler: Mr. Gardner, uh, my editors and I have been wondering if you would consider writing a book for us, something about your, um, political philosophy, what do you say?

Chance: I can’t write.

Read more »

Tomorrow’s gonna be a busy day.  The long awaited “silence” interview from Sarah Palin will make the intertubes tomorrow.  I have totally suppressed the “Sarah Palin reading habits” thing tonight and have concentrated my mind on the one thing that truly matters.  Baseball.

So — now that the White Sox have finally booked their place, my take: Red Sox over Devil Rays in the ALCS, Cubs over Brewers in the NLCS, Cubs take the Series.

Open season, folks.  Who you got?