For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 15, 2006

Press Briefing by Tony Snow
James S. Brady Briefing Room


Q Tony, American deaths in Iraq have reached 2,500. Is there any response or reaction from the President on that?


MR. SNOW: It's a number




And every time there's one of these 500 benchmarks people want something.




The President would like the war to be over now.




Everybody would like the war to be over now.




And the one thing that we saw in Iraq this week is further testimony to the quality of the men and the women who are doing that,




and the dedication and determination




to try to ensure that the people of Iraq really do live in a free, effective democracy of their own creation and design.

Fresh Peach Ice Cream

This also works GREAT for both strawberries and blueberries, producing a very intense fruit flavor. For blueberries, add a healthy pinch of cinnamon and use a potato masher to press them lightly into the sugar in order to get the juices flowing.

Both the cooked peaches and the custard mixture must be cooled to 40 degrees before you churn them. Since they are fine in the refrigerator overnight, you may want to prepare them the day before you plan to churn and serve the ice cream. You’ll get the very best results from using in-season, fully ripened peaches, but in a pinch, you can substitute 2 cups IQF (individually quick frozen) sliced peaches and replace the vodka with peach-flavored liqueur. The ice cream is at its peak when eaten within four hours of churning, although covered, it will keep in the freezer for up to two days.

Makes about 1 quart

3	medium-size ripe peaches , peeled, pitted, and 
        cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
1/2	teaspoon lemon juice from 1 lemon
        pinch table salt 
1	cup granulated sugar 
6	tablespoons granulated sugar 
1 1/4	cups whole milk 
1 1/3	cups heavy cream 
6	large egg yolks 
1	teaspoon vanilla extract 
2	tablespoons vodka 

1. Stir peaches, lemon juice, a pinch salt, and 1/2 cup sugar in medium-size nonreactive saucepan to combine; let stand until a pool of syrupy liquid accumulates and peaches soften slightly, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

2. Position sieve over medium bowl set in an ice-water bath; set aside. Heat milk, cream, and 1/2 cup sugar in medium-size heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until steam appears, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn off heat. Meanwhile, whisk yolks and remaining 6 tablespoons sugar in medium bowl until pale yellow. Stir half the warmed milk mixture into beaten yolk mixture until just blended. Return milk-yolk mixture to saucepan of remaining warmed milk mixture. Heat milk-yolk mixture over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon until steam appears, foam subsides, and mixture just begins to thicken (see illustrations below) or instant-read thermometer registers 172 degrees (mixture must not boil or eggs will curdle). Remove from heat, and following step 3 in illustration, immediately strain custard into prepared bowl. Cool custard mixture to room temperature, stir in vanilla, then cover and refrigerate until instant-read thermometer registers 40 degrees, at least 2 and up to 24 hours.

3. Meanwhile, heat softened peaches and their liquid, stirring occasionally, over medium-high heat until peaches are tender and flesh has broken down, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to bowl, stir in vodka, and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 and up to 24 hours.

4. Strain chilled peaches, reserving liquid. Stir reserved peach liquid into chilled custard mixture; pour into ice cream machine canister and churn, following manufacturer’s instructions, until mixture is frozen and resembles soft-serve ice cream, 25 to 30 minutes. Add peaches; continue to churn until combined, about 30 seconds longer. Transfer ice cream to airtight container. Freeze until firm, about 2 hours.




STEP BY STEP: Step By Step to Smooth Custard

1. During the early stages of cooking, there is a thin layer of foam on top of the custard.


2. When steam begins to rise from the custard and the foam has almost totally subsided, it is near 180 degrees.


3. Remove the custard from the heat and pour it through a fine sieve into a bowl placed over an ice-water bath.



From Cook's Illustrated, my favorite food site on the web. It's a pay site, but for $20/year, you get access to every issue they've ever published.

To all the gracious Obama supporters saying that they would welcome Hillary as the #2 on the ticket: don't be fooled.

Hillary has no intention of accepting the VP spot. She's smart enough to know that you don't audition for VP by saying the nominee is less qualified than his republican opponent, making sarcastic jibes against his supporters and then implying that he might be assassinated. If she had any plans to try for Obama's running mate, none of those words would have ever left her mouth.

As usual, her strategy is much more insidious than that. After guaranteeing that Obama could never offer her the VP spot without looking like a mewling wussbag, she is bringing up the VP as the next stage in her push for a 2012 presidential run.

In order to do this, Hillary must do everything she can to keep her so-called "super supporters" riled up and bitter. She cannot allow them to back Obama, because that would look too much like our new nominee was actually succeeding in bringing the party together. What better way to do this than to start making noises about her desire for the Veep slot?

She knows Obama will never give this to her, and that even if he wanted to the party elders would not allow it. So she's cleverly set herself up for another faux-sexist faux-victimization by this "inadequate black male". It's really a beautiful move -- she gets to make conciliatory noises about joining the ticket, all the while keeping the fire lit under a bubbling cauldron of anti-Obama sentiment.

Then, if she does succeed in her quest get John McCain elected, she gets a DOUBLE "I told you so" moment. In HillaryWorld, we had our chance to nominate her AND we had our chance to select her as Obama's running mate. Both times we failed to make the "right" decision, so we deserve our fate with Grampy McSame.

Yes, I know this doesn't make sense to any rational Democrat. But nothing Hillary does makes sense outside of her bile-filled narcissistic bubble. Ask yourself this: why would any sane human being run such a hateful, bitter, race-baiting and gender-baiting campaign, refuse to concede to the bare-faced reality of defeat and then turn around and *deign* to consider working under the man who just kicked her sorry ass to the curb?

It makes no sense unless your intention is to cause as much chaos and rancor as possible.

Don't be fooled. Hillary is still "in it to win it". If not now, then in four years after another disastrous Republican presidency.

Hillary Clinton has a speech she gave last night.

Before the Calendar, it was The Map

Ever get the impression that Hillary is just going through every app on her iPhone, looking for one that will tell her she's winning?

Next: It's not The Math, it's The Solitaire!!!

Of course, you probably already know these, you just "forgot" to include them in your OP.

12/10/07 Three Clinton volunteers resign after admitting to promulgating the racist "Obama is a Muslim" email

01/07/08 Hillary disses MLK and says that a white president did more to further black civil rights

01/07/08 First public mention of assassination by a Clinton surrogate

01/08/08 Bill's famous "fairy tale" rant

01/10/08 An unnamed Clinton adviser dismisses Obama as "your imaginary hip black friend".

01/10/08 Clinton surrogate Andrew Cuomo says Obama "shucks and jives".

01/13/08 Clinton surrogate Bob Johnson talks of Obama's drug use "back in the neighborhood" and compares him to Sidney Poitier in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"


01/13/08 Obama's first comment on their race baiting -- especially the fact that the Clintons were blaming the furore on Obama

"She made an unfortunate remark about Martin Luther King and Lyndon Johnson,” he said. “I haven't remarked on it. And she offended some folks who thought she diminished the role about King and the civil rights movement. The notion that this is our doing is ludicrous.”

And we still hadn't gotten to:

+ Bill Clinton dismisses Obama's South Carolina win by comparing him to Jesse Jackson

+ The Clinton campaign distributes a photo of Obama in "muslim garb", then sends out surrogates to call the outfit his "native clothing".

+ Clinton surrogate Ed Rendell says white voters in his state of Pennsylvania are "not ready to vote for an African-American candidate".

+ Geraldine Ferraro says that Obama is lucky he's black and implies that he wouldn't be winning if he wasn't.

+ Hillary Clinton talks about her base as "hard-working Americans, white Americans".


Since I know your next response will be "link?", here's one to a great DU article that covers some of the early offenses in greater detail: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu...

Where was her "fight" during the Senate confirmation of John Ashcroft?

Where was her "fight" during the Senate confirmation of Alberto Gonzales?

Where was her "fight" during the failed Senate confirmation of John Bolton?

Where was her "fight" when she voted FOR cloture on the nomination of corrupt corporatist Priscilla Owen, clearing the way for her confirmation to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals?

Where was her "fight" when she voted FOR cloture on the nomination of unqualified fascist Janice Rogers Brown, clearing the way for her confirmation to the DC Court of Appeals?

Where was her "fight" when she voted FOR cloture on the nomination of religious zealot and homophobe William H. Pryor, clearing the way for his confirmation to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals?

Where was her "fight" when she voted FOR cloture on the nomination of John Roberts, clearing the way for his confirmation as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court?

Where was her "fight" during the Senate confirmation of Samuel Alito?

Where was her "fight" when she skipped the Senate debate and confirmation vote on Michael Mukasey?

Where was her "fight" against the Military Commissions Act?

Where was her "fight" during this summer's vote on the Iraq War Supplemental?

Where was her "fight" during the vote to extend FISA?

Where was her "fight" during the Walter Reid scandal?

Where was her "fight" during the debate on Telecom Immunity?

Where was her "fight" when she SKIPPED the Senate vote to strip TelCo immunity from the FISA bill?

Where was her "fight" on the possible impeachment of Dick Cheney?

Where was her "fight" on the possible impeachment of George Bush?

Where was her "fight" against the myriad scandals surrounding the current administration?

Where was her "fight" when she campaigned for Joe Lieberman against Ned Lamont?

Where was her "fight" when she proposed legislation to ban flag burning?

Where was her "fight" when she voted FOR the 2001 Bankruptcy Bill?

Where was her "fight" when she voted FOR the USAPATRIOT act?

Where was her "fight" when she voted FOR the renewal USAPATRIOT act?

Where was her "fight" when she voted AGAINST an amendment to prevent the use of cluster bombs against civilian populations?

Where was her "fight" when she voted FOR the Iraq War Resolution?

Where was her "fight" when she voted FOR the Kyl/Lieberman amendment?


For some reason, Hillary Clinton only seems to be "a fighter" when she's fighting to feed her own naked ambition. Is that really what we want in a president?

Apr 1st, 2008

Clinton campaign buoyed by new numbers

RALEIGH, SC -- The Clinton campaign today cited new numbers for pledged delegate and popular vote counts that they believe will have a significant impact on the race for the Democratic nomination.

"We're very encouraged by the new numbers we're seeing," said Clinton chief strategist and pollster Mark Penn. "Especially promising are threeve and sixen, but elevion, hundrety and twillion have some real potential for helping us win the popular vote."

"The finance committee has been using numbers like this for months and they're very happy with the results," said Penn. Penn, whose salary is reported to be florpteen kajillion dollars a month, dismissed more "traditional" numbers as having a strong anti-Clinton bias.

Penn said that many of the new numbers will only function in large primary states (excluding Illinois, Virginia or Texas) while others are specifically tailored for counting angry white women over 60.


Clinton campaign strategist Mark Penn,
shown here cleaning his fingers after
pulling out the latest polling numbers.

Experts agree that this is a natural extension for the Clintons, who are already considered pioneers in the area of political parsing and word redefinition.

"What Bill did for the word 'is', Hillary is doing for 'more' and 'less' and 'zero chance whatsoever'," said Penn, pointing to a new tracking poll in which Senator Clinton was leading boogeda-boogeda-boogeda to SCREEEEEE.

March 26th, 4:45 pm
Hillary Clinton called on to explain 60-year association with herself

Candidate's ties to controversial politician may spell trouble for campaign


SCRANTON, PA - Following several questionable "misstatements" about her trip to Bosnia, Hillary Clinton is once again being asked to justify her continuing affiliation with her campaign's most controversial figure, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Many supporters and political commentators are starting to wonder aloud why Senator Clinton has continued this relationship when it seems to be the source of so many of her problems.

"This is not just some random confidante," said Clinton expert and close friend Richard Mellon Scaife. "It's no secret that Hillary Clinton is probably the most important person in Hillary Clinton's life. There really is no one else that even comes close. She should have expected that she would come under increased scrutiny, especially when she's been causing this many problems for Hillary's presidential campaign."

For her part, Senator Clinton addressed concerns in a press conference today. "I fully reject and denounce any offensive statements that may have been made," said the candidate. "But honestly, is it really fair that I be held accountable for everything said by me over 35 years of public life?"

She continued: "Did I know of my tendency to make untruthful statements in the past? Yes, I did. But so far, no one has been able to prove that I was even present when those things were said."


Hillary Rodham Clinton (left) attempting to distance herself from
controversial statements made by Hillary Rodham Clinton (right).

Clinton confidant James Carville was less than sympathetic. "She's a Judas!" screeched Carville. "After all the things Hillary has done for herself over the years, I can't believe she would betray herself in such a cowardly and unprofessional manner."

Aides contend that Clinton has been trying to cut ties with herself for years. They point to her heavy use of consultants, her forced speeches and manufactured tears as examples of recent attempts to develop a more acceptable persona. They are also quick to point out how unlikely it is that Hillary Clinton will play more than a token role in any upcoming Hillary Clinton administration.

March 17th, 2008. 12:18 pm
Troubling questions emerge about Obama campaign staff

Candidate admits several more advisors "may not be Martin Luther King, Jr."


The Barack Obama campaign said today that they were looking into new allegations that several of the candidate's campaign advisors were not, in fact, Martin Luther King, Jr. This new scandal, coming so close on the heals of My-Retired-Pastor-is-not-Martin-Luther-King-Jr-gate could spell serious trouble for Obama's bid to be Black President of the United States.

"In earlier campaigns, only the candidate was expected to be Dr. King," said Black Spokesperson Jesse Jackson. Jackson, whose own 1988 campaign for Black President collapsed amid rumors that he, himself, was not Martin Luther King, Jr., said the new requirements that a candidate's staff, family and acquaintances consist of no one but the slain civil rights leader may be difficult to overcome.

Senator Obama addressed the issue himself in a phone interview this morning. "I assure you that we take these charges very seriously," he said. "If anyone on my staff or advisory board can be shown to not be Martin Luther King, Jr., they will no longer be a part of my campaign."

Obama did not say whether he would reject or denounce such staffers. He did, however, vehemently deny rumors that he had ever laughed at a black comedian who was not Bill Cosby or listened to any black musician who was not Hootie and/or the Blowfish.


Retired Pastor Jeremiah Wright, left, shown here next to a
photograph of revered civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.,
whom Rev. Wright is not.

Hillary Clinton's campaign responded with a brief statement by Chief Campaign Strategist, Mark Penn. "Enough with the math and the insurmountable leads," said Penn. "The Democratic party cannot afford to nominate a candidate for Black President who the white voters of Pennsylvania are not comfortable with."

Penn took care to downplay charges of race-baiting on the part of the Clinton campaign. "This has nothing to do with race. The people of the United State of Pennsylvania will happily support a black candidate, as long as he and all his friends, family and associates are absolutely above reproach in everything they do or say."

Penn ended his statement without taking questions, citing a previous commitment to lead the weekly Atrocity Glossing seminar at Blackwater USA.

Actually, pie is pretty hard...

I make mine one batch at a time. It tastes way better than Heinz and lasts forever in the fridge:

1 6 oz can tomato paste
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp ground cloves

Just stir everything together and bring to a boil over medium heat. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring often. Let it cool and then funnel it into a mason jar or glass milk jug.

I agree that there are a lot sexist posts on this site (strangely, most of them coming from women). But when you go after honest posters for using words like "unhinged" or "rant", you make it that much less likely that people will listen to complaints about the truly objectionable comments.

The sad fact is that much of Hillary's problem comes from her inability to use emotion effectively. She comes across as scripted and phony, much in the same way that Kerry, Dukakis and Gore 1.0 did. Of course, when you point out that problem with a woman, you are immediately subject to charges of sexism.

The other side of the coin is that the same posters who see sexism lurking around every corner will talk about the "new perspective" a woman president would bring, or about how "it's time we elected a woman in this country." They seem to imply (or state directly) that Hillary's gender somehow comes with these magical benefits that we'll realize once she's elected. And yet, if someone were to suggest that her gender would have negative consequences for the country, these same posters would (rightfully) hammer them.

This primary season has given us all an immersion course in race and gender relations. People on both sides are bound to say stupid, insensitive things as we adjust our online discourse to deal with these two historic candidacies. The only way I see to deal with it is to give each other a break, accept that all humans are pre-programmed to be dumbasses, and try to work these issues out calmly.

At the end of the day, we're all working for the same things. Pointing fingers at each other does nothing to get us closer to those goals.

If you don't want to deal with all the whole and ground spices, you can substitute a spice mix called ras el hanout. Add a couple tablespoons to the tomato paste and make sure you fry it just a little before pouring in the wine.

For those who don't happen to have a jar of preserved lemons sitting in your pantry, you can make a pretty good facsimile by peeling the zest from 2 or 3 lemons (leave the white stuff) and simmering it for about 15 minutes in a strong brine made of salt, lemon juice and a bit of the whole spice mix and aromatics listed below (add a little water if you don't have enough juice to cover). Let the zest cool in the brine, rinse and use as described below. Store any extra in the brine for future use.

Oh, and don't be turned off by the prunes -- the long braising time turns them into sweet little pillows of lamby goodness. They're probably the best part of this recipe.


(Thanks to hippywife for the inspiration. )

Moroccan Braised Lamb Shanks with Prunes and Preserved Lemon

6 lamb shanks, trimmed

salt and ground pepper

1/4 cup olive oil

whole spice mix

1 tablespoon whole cumin seed
2 teaspoons whole fennel seed
12 whole peppercorns
6 whole green cardamom pods
1 3-inch cinnamon stick
6 whole allspice berries

ground spices

2 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon mace
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

aromatics

2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon lavender
1 teaspoon ground ginger

mirepoix

one large onion, chopped (~2 cups)
3 carrots, chopped (~1 cup)
3 ribs celery, chopped (~1 cup)
large pinch salt
large pinch sugar


2-3 tablespoons tomato paste

6 whole cloves garlic, lightly smashed and peeled

36 pitted prunes (about 10 oz)
2 preserved lemon rinds, cleaned, rinsed and chopped

1/2 teaspoon saffron threads, dissolved in 1/2 c warm water
2 cups dry red wine
1 cup dry white wine
2 cups double-strength meat stock (I used frozen homemade turkey stock)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Preheat oven to 300F, set rack to lowest or second-lowest level.

Generously season lamb shanks with salt and ground pepper.

Heat olive oil in a large dutch oven medium heat. Add shanks in 2-3 batches and brown well. Set aside.

Spoon out all but 3 tablespoons fat from the pot, return to heat.

Add whole spices and fry for 30 seconds. Immediately add mirepoix, salt and sugar and stir to combine. Reduce heat to medium-low.

Sweat vegetables and spices until soft and well-caramelized.

Add tomato paste, ground spices and aromatics , stir to combine and cook on medium until tomato paste and spices begin to fry in the oil.

Pour in red wine, deglaze and simmer until reduced by half.

Add white wine, saffron and stock

Return lamb shanks to the pot, add prunes, garlic and preserved lemon.

Cover tightly and bake for 2 hours.

Increase heat to 350, uncover and bake for 30 min -- top surface of shanks should be nicely browned.

Turn shanks over to expose bottom surface, bake for another 30 min.

Meat should be fall-off-the-bone tender at this point. If the shanks are still a bit al dente, re-cover the pot and bake at 300 for another 1/2 hour or so.

Remove from oven, cover, and let rest for 15 minutes.



(This is even better the second day. Store the pot in the fridge and scrape off any visible fat after it cools. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can add a bit more stock before reheating.)





Side suggestions: Steamed pumpkin and/or couscous with onion and toasted almonds.

Chamber of Commerce vows to
punish anti-business candidates

The group indicates it will spend in excess of the approximately
$60 million it put out in the last presidential cycle.

WASHINGTON -- Alarmed at the increasingly populist tone of
the 2008 political campaign, the president of the U.S. Chamber
of Commerce is set to issue a fiery promise to spend millions of
dollars to defeat candidates deemed to be anti-business.



"We plan to build a grass-roots business organization so
strong that when it bites you in the butt, you bleed,"
chamber President Tom Donohue said.

<snip>

Reacting to what it sees as a potentially hostile political climate, Donohue
said, the chamber will seek to punish candidates who target business
interests with their rhetoric or policy proposals, including congressional
and state-level candidates.

Although Donohue shied away from precise figures, he indicated that his
organization would spend in excess of the approximately $60 million it
spent in the last presidential cycle. That approaches the spending levels
planned by the largest labor unions.

The chamber president is scheduled to announce the broad outlines of the
organization's plans for the 2008 election and beyond at a news conference
here today. Donohue also plans to fire a rhetorical warning shot across the
bow of candidates considered unfriendly to business.

"I'm concerned about anti-corporate and populist rhetoric from
candidates for the presidency, members of Congress and the media,"
he said. "It suggests to us that we have to demonstrate who it is
in this society that creates jobs, wealth and benefits -- and who it
is that eats them."

More (if you can stand it) at http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/na...

January 5th, 2008

Three Hospitalized After Obama Drinking Game

Three Iowa State students remain hospitalized today with alcohol poisoning after participating in a post-caucus drinking game.

"We were watching Barack Obama," said student Randall Caughlin, "and someone suggested we take a drink every time he says 'Change'. Then we started drinking on 'Hope'."

"Next thing I knew, I woke up in the emergency room."

Iowa Board of Health Chairwoman Cheryll Jones said that this was the worst political drinking accident since the Republican National Convention, when 9/11-themed drinking games resulted in seven deaths nationwide.

Jones warned revelers to beware of rules that could lead to dangerous levels of consumption. "If you're drinking every time Huckabee says 'Jesus' or McCain says 'bomb', you're asking for trouble."

She suggested that if you must drink to political speeches, to restrict your sips to actual policy statements. An even safer approach is to only drink to speeches by Hillary Clinton or Mitt Romney, who rarely say anything of consequence.