Starting with–I really want Arlen “I forget whether he’s Haggis or Scrapple today” Specter to keep pushing his tournie now so Ari can turn it in to a big political football.

OMG. I highly recommend clicking through ew’s link, it’s a BCS-DC rumble!

In one corner Ari Fleischer Communications, in the other Playoff PAC headed up by a former campaign finance counsel for John McCain.

Maybe they can fight it out during Super Bowl Half-time in Puppy Bowl Ver. 2.0.

Idiots hiring idiots?

What about the BCS and Ari?

I was a bit distracted by the “I got ripped in 4 weeks” ad…so was Ari.

Oh yeah, Ari is freaking perfect, because he did such a bang up job helping the Green Bay Packers with that whole Brett Favre thing. Hey, how’s that working out for you Ted Thompson???

Oh, well, let us see now. Hmmmm, Bret Favre is 18-8 since that, and Thompson/Fleischer are 12-14. And Favre was saddled with the hapless Jets to boot.

Screw Ari Fleischer and the god damned BCS. They both have about equal worth in this world. I spit in their general direction!

You put this post here to drive me batty didn’t you??

Mission Accomplished!

You would think that the BCS, being a football related organization, would have learned from the Packers’ front office mistakes. Just look at our friend and colleague bmaz and you will see Exhibit A for how much success Ari had in winning hearts and minds for Ted Thompson.

By the way, I did not know the BCS was an independent entity with its own budget. Why isn’t this run by the NCAA?

Yes!!!

I absolutely KNEW you’d go the Ted Thompson route!!

This is just what we need in a short work week!

Well, the way this thread is going, perhaps to have phred drive you batty.

Dang, I didn’t see you had already pointed out Ari’s Packer connection before I posted my comment… My typing is getting slow in my old age I guess ; )

Oh boy, can I??? Huh???

Actually, given the mismatch between my eyes, my brain, and my fingers at the moment, I should probably restrain myself ; )

I was slowed a little myself by the foam coming out of my mouth and steam from my ears…..

LOL, can it be we agree on a bit of football related news? Aw, what fun is that?!? ; )

The BCS has got to go and I hope they have the courtesy to take Ari with them.

Whaaaaa?

Ari was a pr dude for the Packers?

Well, that does make sense … literally

This not bode well for the Canucks here assembled through the coming week. We’re all going to be sitting here sober and starving (we had turkey day a month ago) and waiting to get our teeth into a new investigation. Meanwhile, you’re going to be having fun. (How long does this ritual last?)

Working for the Bush adminstration, Ari Fleischer had great practice defending a system based on measures which were gamed to have as much objectivity as the human polls they replaced.

Free TCU!

And Boise State!

Lest we forget, one of the issues Obama said he wanted addressed and resolved was the lack of a true national BCS playoff arrangement.

You can be sure the Rethugs haven’t forgotten it.

I hereby deputize all our favorite Canucks to lead the emptywheel OPR Open Thread, scheduled to start some time on Friday afternoon.

Yup. Ari will draw a double paycheck: from the BCS and from FreedomWorks.

But hopefully once we point out that association, folks will realize that FreedomWorks is obviously fraudulent.

Amen (and I’m a UO Nike-U Duck!)

What is with this bimbo?

Week after Obama tap, Perino blasts him over terror trials and golf

Pending any “delay of game” penalties…

That’s hysterical : ) I love the fact that all things associated with Ari must be fradulent by definition… Hey wait a sec!

Can we split hairs and say Ted Thompson is a bit of a fraud of a GM and leave the rest of Pack out of it??? Please, please, please…

Somehow I don’t think the BCS system is very threatened if they hired Ari Fleischer.

A quibble: historically, expectorant is generally reserved for more precise guidance systems. It’s all a bit complex, so I’ve brought along Professor Pendragon & the massed faculty of Prattsbottom Arts & Polytechnical University to explain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OzIMHowtL8

No. Not until they fire Ted Thompson!

I rest the case.

I recall Perino was the one that called the Downing Street Memos “fraudulent”…something that even Blair and and others in his cabinet have never denied. Even Scotty McClellan merely suggested that “this wasn’t the recollection of others in those meetings…”. Now the new leaked reports show that MS. Perino-tinitis was full of whatever passes through the lower bowel.

Of course to run Radio Marti you’re supposed to be a “professional liar”, right?

speaking about former republican spokesepeople, perino is already trashing on obama;

Week after Obama tap, Perino blasts him for terror trials and golf

Careful there counselor, your purple 4 jersey is showing ; )

Ari was the author of Green Bay’s campaign to demonize Favre after they went to Mississippi and told him they didn’t want him back.

Are you sure today isn’t April 1?

Ari Fookin’ Fleishcer is supposed to improve the image of anything? Now that is some eleventeen dimensional chess if I’ve ever seen it. This should give us a playoff system in five years or less…

Ari is highly qualified to front for an organization that is devoted to raking in large sums of money for itself and its cronies at the expense of the poor and the less politically well-connected, all while holding itself out as a selfless servant of equality in sports and support for student athletes.

As the anthem says, ma’m, we stand on guard for thee (although why do I have this feeling you’re not all that worried that the report will appear?).

While we’re waiting, we can talk to each other about the ultra-credible diplomat Richard Colvin and the ministers who insist it’s nothing personal as they commit character assassination upon him, or maybe we could catch up on our lacrosse. I for one am very far behind in my lacrosse.

Hey Ari:

Did you enjoy the show on the closed circuit monitor in the limo outside the elementary school with GW?

We know, Ari. We know.

I don’t know why, but I’m ticked to find one of the few sane voices on the subject of Brett Favre anywhere around these parts of all places! And such a distinguished one at that!

The college football Bowl Championship Series has hired Ari Fleischer, the former press secretary to President George W. Bush, to help improve its image.

HAHHAHAHHHAHAHAHAHAAH!

They’re calling it a “hire”, but Ari’s been behind BCS all along… Why, someone told John Dickerson just last week on a roadside in Uganda. And Tim Russert knew, too.

But Marcy, how much time do we need to say four crisp little letters?

He also dismissed the writer of the memo entitled “BCS Determined To Ruin College Football In United States” by saying he had covered his ass now.

This is what I’m talking about. Another level in having one’s entertainments politicized.

But in the really important news, the Hilltoppers have a new coach.

I’ve got tons of Murkan relatives and it’s still above freezing temp, so I’m making myself an honorary Yank and hauling out the BBQ & Araq …

B-bu-but Mom … we’re gonna be crossing tha Border to riot partake in Black Friday Deals !

Isn’t that sumthin’ ? Peter McKay needs a swift kick in the Pants …

Where oh where are our Librul Leaders ? [rhetorical]

It isn’t the scandal I would have chosen, Petro, but at this point, I’ll take any scandal we can get, and this one seems to have legs.

They are guilty of some genuine sins of commission, but once again, we’re going to get them on a puny cover-up. Why are politicians so determinedly stupid?

I guess Ari would have been available to take that public broadcasting board directorship that Obama absolutely, positively concluded had to go to Miss Dana Pig Missile. Who knew?

Because in this day and age, by and large only idiots want to be politicians and that is who we elect.

Dana “Wasn’t that like the Bay of Pigs thing?” Perino needs to be mocked mercilessly

Uh oh, Marc Bulger is hurt and going to be out for 4-6 weeks. There goes the Rams playoff chances……

Not if the Rams can swing a deal for Jay Cutler …

*ducks and runs*

Skdadl
I hereby nominate you to co-host a Grey Cup Trash Talk with Petrocelli. We Prairie folk are looking forward to humiliating the Alouettes in Calgary on Sunday (OK, I’m a Winnipegger, but the Blue Bombers are an embarrassment). I am prepared to contribute with respect to F1, with the news that Mercedes want Michael Schumacher to unretire – seems to have worked for the Old Guy in Minnesota.

Well, Schumi doesn’t particularly care for Fernando Alonso (I’m not sure who does; certainly not me), so he may have a little motivation.

You can’t get good document dump deputies like you used to, what with all the commercialism, these days…

More dancing girls in skimpier outfits would help….

If the BCS was run by the NCAA, people might have a chance at understanding it.

the Blue Bombers

One of Bud Grant’s former teams

Hey, ANOther, I’m on your side. I may live right now in Ontari-ari-ari-o, but I’m secretly a Calgarian. I counternominate you and Petro to host the Grey Cup trash talk, though — I know even less about teh fussball than I do about lacrosse (and that’s only because I once had this thing with a lacrosse player). I can chime in with colour commentary about Calgary if you like.

Petro, there are Canadians all over my family tree (not missing my sister in law and her grandbaby’s branches). May I come up for the healthcare?

OT: Scahill blows the lid off the secret Blackwater war in Pakistan. Surprise, surprise, Cheney, Rumsfeld and McChrystal at heart of yet another evil, illegal scheme.

Ah, I found a secret surveillance video tape of the BCS nominating process selecting Ari Fleischer as spokesman

Reply doesn’t seem to be working this is to Skdadl at 58.

An NDPer from Calgary – no wonder you moved.

More dancing green girls in skimpier outfits would help….

There fixed it for ya or rather, for Petro ; )

Are we sure that McChrystal made his name in counter-terrorism? Seems like we could dispense with the counter bit.

Yep.

Well, you would think that on the surface, ANOther, but the thing is, Alberta Conservatives, nutty though many of them truly are (many former SoCreds), have this grudging respect for Dippers that they definitely do not have for Liberals. I guess they think we’re earthy or something, but they often like us.

I don’t know whether you’re old enough to remember Grant Notley, the provincial NDP leader who died in a plane crash 25 yrs ago. Beautiful man, and people loved him — the whole province genuinely mourned when he died, and the speaker of the legislature just made a commemorative statement about him, which is exceptional in Alberta for anyone. His daughter, also beautiful, is now an Edmonton MLA, and everybody likes her too. So it’s not impossible to be a lefty out there — hard, but not impossible.

wOOt !!! Former Albertan here, although an Eskie fan at that and yes, the Riders are gonna stomp the Larks of Montreal but good !

I still remember the good ole days of Eskimo-Bombers rivalry … Warren Moon/Waddell Smith/Brian Kelly Vs. Dieter Brock/Joe Poplawski/Eugene Goodlow in sub-sub-zero temps.

NO!

Bangs head in utter woe. How are these receivers going to catch passes with a second-string quarterback?

Everyone has a price, mine is $58 for a BD-DVD Player ! *g*

You’ll come for the HealthCare … you’ll stay for the Beer & Parties ! *g*

OK, Kyle Boller was a starting quarterback once. How quickly they forget.

*smacks forehead* … forgot to get the DVD …

How bout them Hamilton Tigercats!!

I don’t think Albertans will ever forgive the Liberals for Trudeau’s many slights.

Did you hear that a Canuck bought the Silverdome – maybe the Argonauts will move to Detroit.

LOL !!!

Those folks in Hamilton were really hoping the Coyotes would move up there.

Great, then we’d get a Pro Football team …

Well, that’s okay, Mick and Keith both loved his wife.

… as did Ted Kennedy …

Did they approve the sale? There was a complaint from the guy who wanted to pay several million a few years back.

Okay, here’s an unrelated football note (I’d go find trash, but wtf, I’m lazy).

Big Ben.

Working on his 4th concussion.

I know the guy is tough and likes to drive his cycle into the asphalt.

But the league is making a big deal out of being careful on concussions. If they were, wouldn’t they sit Big Ben?

Dammit! TickLed! Tickled I meant! NOT ticked! Not ticked at all! TICKLED! Dammit!

You have not been listening to the official Stilluhs line. It was NOT a concussion, he was merely suffering “concussion like symptoms”.

See? All okay now!

And, wait, this isn’t trash talk?? I may have some ‘splainin to do….

I saw the injury and it looks like his Neck might have taken the worst of it … like a compression.

Steve Young had better have a word with Big Ben.

And Troy Aikman.

Then again, if the league claims it’s taking more heed of head injuries, why do we need to get the retired head cases to talk to him?

Eh, it’s Turkey week. Every post is trash talk.

Well, it’s not like you didn’t know what you were getting into by posting up Ted Thompson fodder.

BTW one of the good guys won the AL MVP today

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4682842

I’m holding out for the Olympic Curling championships in Vancouver.

“It’s just a flesh wound . . .”

Actually, given that it was the Chiefs — the Chiefs! — that had taken the Stillers into OT, I’m betting that Ben’s head was hurting long before that hit.

Sounds good to me! (I like real beer, anyway, not that ‘lite’ stuff. If it can’t stand up without the bottle ….)

Wow, great game tonight between Tennessee and Houston. Titans win as Texans miss 48 yard FG in last seconds.

And, according to this, there’s more:

Report: Obama using Blackwater for assassinations in Pakistan

Link.

Holiday Cheer

Blackwater’s Secret War in Pakistan

If there is one quality that has defined Blackwater over the past decade, it is the ability to survive against the odds while simultaneously reinventing and rebranding itself. That is most evident in Afghanistan, where the company continues to work for the US military, the CIA and the State Department despite intense criticism and almost weekly scandals. Blackwater’s alleged Pakistan operations, said the military intelligence source, are indicative of its new frontier.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091207/scahill

Please excuse if anyone’s already linked to this Guardian profile of Aafia Siddiqui. I don’t know what to think — very provocative conclusion.

Thanks, I hadn’t seen that yet. There are so many stories that absolutely conflict that we may never know the truth. It is significant, though, that two of her children are still unaccounted for and that the mental evaluations on her seem to differ depending on who is carrying them out.

This is so terrific. Vince Young is showing everybody he can be an NFL quarterback after all.

The military intelligence source in that story sounds remarkably like SKIMPYPENGUIN.
It is also very special that Blackwater appears to be working both the US military side and the Pakistani military side, and can lobby the US government for the Pakistani military side, when the Pakistani military has been playing their own game at this for twenty years.

Great diary Jim White. Wheelers you might want to go and read!

Audacity of hope

There is no PR that can rescue BCS. I really think you have to move to a playoff amoung the top 4. I you can be certain that the team truly deserving the #1 ranking and #2 ranking will be in the top 4 the way they do it. But, now, there is a lot to argue about as to who gets to play in the ONE championship game.