The Daily Broadside 10/8

Holder: Student beating death 'a wake-up call'

Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan were sent by President Barack Obama to Chicago to meet with school officials, parents and students to discuss youth violence after the vicious beating of Derrion Albert on Sept. 24. The fatal attack was captured on a cell phone video, and viewed by millions across the nation.

'Code Pink' rethinks its call for Afghanistan pullout

Code Pink, founded in 2002 to oppose the US invasion of Iraq, is one of the more high-profile women's antiwar groups being forced to rethink its position as Afghan women explain theirs: Without international troops, they say, armed groups could return with a vengeance – and that would leave women most vulnerable.

EDITORIAL: Obama's elusive 'safe schools czar'

Kevin Jennings hasn't come clean. There are still many unanswered questions about how he handled a high-school sophomore who he said confessed to a homosexual relationship with an older man.
On Friday, Brewster came forward and gave a statement to Media Matters, a group with clear partisan ties to Democrats, in which the former student corrected Mr. Jennings' statement of his age and denied any sexual relationship. That, CNN and the Obama administration claim, is the end of the controversy.

Large blast strikes in center of Afghan capital

The center of the explosion appeared to be just outside the Indian embassy, which was hit by a devastating suicide blast more than a year ago. Two sport utility vehicles nearby were badly damaged. One of them was labeled as a U.N. vehicle.

UPDATE (by JCM): H/T ęschew_σbfuscation
The Power of Payback
Victor Davis Hanson

Nemesis Everywhere

I have believed in the power of the goddess Nemesis (“dispenser of dues”) ever since I was introduced to the concept as a teenager studying classics, especially in the texts of Hesiod, Herodotus, and Sophocles.

CNN anchor's incredulous reaction to rejection of used car salesman's offer.

This is just one of those videos you want to play over and over, like my favorite Buddy Rich joke.

Buddy - may he rest in peace - was a pretty angry guy, and often spoke abusively to his band. Here's the joke:

Buddy Rich's agent gets a call from a guy out of the blue, asking if he can book the band at his venue. The agent says, "Oh, I'm terribly sorry - I guess you haven't heard. Buddy passed away recently."

The caller apologizes, and hangs up.

The next day, the agent gets a call from the same guy, with the same inquiry. Puzzled, he responds. "I believe I spoke with you yesterday. Maybe you misunderstood me, but Buddy isn't available, because he's dead."

Again, the caller apologizes, and hangs up.

The following day, the agent gets yet another call from the same man, inquiring the same thing, and this time, the agent loses his patience. Frustrated, he tells the guy, "Look - I TOLD you. Buddy Rich is DEAD. He's DEAD, DEAD, DEAD!! BUDDY RICH IS DEAD."

The caller says, "I know. I just wanted to hear it again."

Props to Squatch for finding me the Foam Finger Four - here's the very imperfect version of the idea we had in-thread:

STUNNER: Chicago eliminated from 2016 Olympics

Chicago eliminated from 2016 Olympics

There was one lone cry of "Recount" but most gathered here simply stood open-mouthed, staring at the jumbo screens above.

Maybe the world doesn't heart Obama so much after all.

Hat tip: Pink Freud

And don't miss this: Jim Treacher's Letterman Top Ten List apparently read on the air by Dennis Miller. UPDATE: Mark Levin, too. Check out Treach's blog for details.

Daily Broadside - TGIF Edition

Well, good morning everyone. It's Friday, the sun is shining, the birds are sin... oh who am I kidding. It's gray, overcast, and raining here in the Pacific Northwet. Things are finally back to normal. Which is good because frankly I've had it up to here with that whole "sunny" thing.

So, I'm sure Sarah Palin is chuckling to herself this morning, if she were the kind of person who enjoyed the misfortunes of others, but I don't think she is so nevermind. But, I'm sure she is, however, feeling vindicated for the decision to keep her daughters away from David Letterman. Remember when his show used to be funny? No? Me neither.

However, in honor of Mr. Letterman's latest confessional, I present to you the C2 Top Ten List, The Top Ten List Letterman should have done:

10: "It wasn't my fault, they all had that slutty flight attendant look!"
9: "You'd screw around, too, if your wife looked like Bill Paxton!"
8: "If you work for me, you go up and down more times than a whores nightgown."
7: "Hey, I'm not Bill O'Reilly - I never used a Falafal on them!"
6: "I just wanted to make sure that Viagra Prescription was working, and it wasn't a placebo."
5: "I've committed adultery in my heart many times."
4: "The fundamentals of my love life are strong."
3: "Give a woman an inch, and she wants the other two."
2: "This was a huge sacrifice for me! As much of a sacrifice as a trip to Europe on the taxpayer's dime!"
1. "I was thinking about Obama the whole time!"

But no, instead he wimps out: Letterman addresses extortion attempt - although, the "check for two million dollars" that the guy from 48 Hours agreed to accept thing was kind of funny.

Anyway, here is some other news with which to start your day:

Reid: Final health bill will have a 'public option'

Democrats Quietly Craft 'Public Option' Compromise Behind Closed Doors

Obama appointee lauded NAMBLA figure

And with that, dear friends, let the Friday Morning Festivities commence!

UPDATE: After sacrificing so greatly, Michelle Obama will return home today, deeply saddened as Chicago was eliminated from contention in the first round of voting. Obama, meanwhile, was spotted wandering around aimlessly, seeking just a smidgen of success in his presidency.

UPDATE MKII: For the first time, the Olympic Games will be held in South America. Rio wins. Brazilians for everyone! On the house!