The debate over the Condi Rice is in many ways less about her (long story short, she’s in and that’s that) and more about the internal battle over the direction of the Democratic Party.

A couple outtakes:

Kennedy: “I intend to oppose Condoleezza Rice’s nomination. There is no doubt that Dr. Rice has impressive credentials, her life story is very moving, and she has extensive experience in foreign policy. Dr. Rice was a key member of the national security team that developed and justified the rationale for war, and it’s been a catastrophic failure, a continuing quagmire. In these circumstances, she should not be promoted to secretary of state.”

Lieberman: “Our responsibility is to determine whether the nominee is fit for the position … and whether the nominee, in our judgment, will serve in the national interest. And of course I conclude that Dr. Condoleezza Rice meets that standard at least and much more.”

One half of the Party is going along calmly. The other half of the Party is making a lot of noise in an effort that they know will amount to nothing.

Anyone think W and Co are quaking in their boots yet?

A headline in the NYT sums it up thusly:

Democrats Use Rice Debate to Inveigh Against War in Iraq

The sentiment might be right, but the timing is way off.

I am a long way away from my desk right now. Posting will resume in a day or two.

I’m off to an island paradise in the South Pacific. So posting will be sporadic in the short run. I’ll post some photos along with some other takes here when I arrive. I expect to have high speed access, but one never knows. I am also more than a little shy about posting in my swim trunks.

The Oscar noms are out and The Aviator (which I though was good at best) is leading the pack with eleven nominations.

Wouldn’t it be weird if Martin Scorsese won for this forgettable movie after being passed over when he served up some of the most memorable movies of all time. I mean come on, Aviator vs Raging Bull or Goodfellas? Please.

Although it got a best script nod, I would’ve liked to see Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind get a best picture nom. I liked Sideways as much as the next guy, but Eternal seemed to be on another level. And speaking of Sideways, how about no nomination for Paul Giamatti and yet one for Thomas Haden Church? It’s like their character’s good luck, bad luck streaks moved from the screen to reality. If their goal was water cooler discourse, the Academy will get it with that move.

I’ve got 68 Starbucks within 5 miles of my house.

Looks like that pretty much means I live in the boonies.

This is why they don’t need billboards. There is a sign on every block.

When you sat in the Tonight Show audience for the first time, the first thing you noticed was that everything looked so much smaller than it did on TV; the desk, the guest seating, and especially that curtain from behind which Johnny Carson and his guests would emerge, night after night for three decades.

The set might have seemed smaller in person, but Johnny Carson’s televsion career will and should always be remembered as being larger than life.