Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Whew, now I can get back to...naw... seriously. I'm keeping that civil tone.

Okay, who wants to predict the end result of Oregon and Kentucky. Closest percentage point guess gets a Mr. Democrat and Patsi cage match televised on YouTube. Proceeds go to charity.

The only thing we need to do in Kentucky is to thank whomever came up with the idea of charring the inside of oak casks to make a better bourbon, better whiskey, better beer...

For that, I will refrain from KY jokes...

It was a great experiment in good citizenship, if not good manners...and wise leadership, thanks to Craig. More "stakeholders" on these boards can only be a good thing. Wish I'd been more available today to contribute, but I am getting to enjoy the posts. I may even be "influenced" in my vote...although my state's primary is over, and I can only await my next turn at the polls in November.

DNC: Fractured Fairy Tales

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvuMDmqwwbI

Hillary Clinton: We've Come a Long Way, Baby!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke64670GkZ8

Clear and Present Danger Trailer (The Final Battle)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HX6vbhAYaU

I've got to hand it to Gordo. He's nothing if persistent.

Alabama...transplant (i.e., "damn Yankee")...even if Maryland My Maryland is south of the Mason-Dixon Line, only a few people here know that.

I wish there was a video of Craig Ferguson's speech/routine at the correspondents' dinner (did I miss that?). We stay up late to watch "the other Craig" almost every night. He's become our favorite comedian...it's a great day for America, everybody!" Hope he gets a better time slot somewhere when all the Leno/O'Brien shifting starts happening...no idea when his CBS contract is up though.

The Company He Keeps: Obama Hangs With Hezbollah's Iranian Agent Imam

"... why is this open anti-Semite and supporter of Israel's annihilation getting to discuss "the Arab-Israeli conflict" in a private one-on-one meeting with Obama? "

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/

Ivy Green: I just assumed Craig Ferguson was another third-rate comedian who lucked into a late night gig, and ignored him for the longest time. My loss! Every now and then I would be surfing and there he was, and I never gave him a chance. Then one night he was doing his Prince Charles skit. OMG ! It was so damn funny I rolled with laughter. Since then I watch or record the show every night. He's funny and a great interviewer and is now a true proud American, to boot.
He's going to play Vegas for a week this summer...that would be a treat to see!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/05/and-now-we-resume-regular-prog.html#comment-84697

Well, Bear, i don't mean to brag, but it was an ancestor of mine, Elijah Craig, credited with charring casks for better bourbon. Family lore claims that his barn accidentally burned and he was too stingy to throw out the charred barrels, instead convincing customers that it actually tasted better -- which it did. By the way, he was a preacher who sold bourbon after services. He is second only to William Wallace (whose mother was a Crawford) as my favorite ancestor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah_Craig

I love Makers Mark. My father used to drink Jack, so I drank Jack. Then I watched a documentary on Makers Mark. Found out that they burned the recipe and started over, and so I just had to taste it. Been my favorite bourbon ever since.

Craig,

You should write a book with cousin Elijah Craig as the main character.

What were his political leanings?

Makers Mark is fine, Mr. Democrat. But Wild Turkey 101 is the way to go. Still, glad you gave up that miserable Jack.

Prof Marcia, my grandfather, Ben Craig, told many stories about Elijah. He was strictly a businessman, preached sermons and sold bourbon to Republicans and Democrats. He had it all figured out.

We had all of the Jack swag, which is possibly Jack Daniel's greatest marketing triumph. Associate manhood with Jack Daniels and you're good to go. Makers Mark is smoooooooth. I might have to do a taste test of Wild Turkey 101 and Makers Mark. I think I can say that no one loses when that happens.

Democratic Convention. Who's going? Anyone a delegate? I may try to get there and then sneak in. I was thinking about making cards: Balloon Wrangler. That should get me full VIP access.

Well Mr. D, i'll admit that you might find Makers smoother but WT 101 delivers the goods. As my Dad always said, you must respect Turkey or it won't respect you.

Bourbon for me is a memory, but fine memory it is. We've discussed this before, and I agree with our host that Wild Turkey 101 is the one.
Jack Daniels was passable until they changed the recipe about 25 years ago, now it's just another Early Times or Echo Springs.
I understand Early Times is the choice for making Churchill Downs Mint Juleps , but that Early Times is a special, premium run, not the cheap, watery stuff that the public buys , in general.
Towards the end of my bourbon indulgences, was drinking Old Forrester 100 Proof, because Nelson Algren mentioned that brand in his books, not bad. Maker's Mark is a good booze, too, world's apart and above another standard, Old Granddad, which is a harsh, nasty shot, even with ice.
Wild Turkey used to come as 101 and 90 proof, but in the early 1980's almost all the booze went to 80 proof, except the stuff bottled in bond, which of course means 100 proof.
J.T.S. Brown and Rebel Yell were good brands to buy if ya wanted a half pint to nip on at a cold football game, too.
J.T.S. Brown was Paul Newman's brand in "The Hustler", as he played "Fast Eddie" opposite Jackie Gleason's Minnesota Fats.

Craig,

Was it your grandfather, Ben Craig, who encouraged your interest in politics?
He should probably be in your book, too, with quotes like "You must respect
Turkey or it won't respect you."

Ivy Green, here's a link to YouTube highlights of Ferguson's WH dinner speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ha7wY0YlPQ

...and in closing, I still cringe when I recall the day I was punished for coming home late for dinner, as I saw my dear wife open and pour an entire 750 ml jug of Wild Turkey 101 down the kitchen sink drain. To quote Conrad's Kurtz, "...the horror...THE HORROR!..."

yes, prof marcia, Ben Craig was completely my inspiration for political interest -- and he is in my book in several places. He was top guy in his county for the great Happy Chandler, KY gov who later became the Baseball Commissioner who integrated the sport but then got fired for doing so.

tequila wimp, real drinkers chug mezcal and chomp the worm like popcorn....

Craig, I sort of met Happy Chandler in 1977. It was in Rupp Arena in Lexington at an NCAA tournament game. His seat was just a few seats from mine. Before the game he was signing autographs and shaking hands, smiling and waving...man! He was a popular guy! I just watched the show, I didn't even get an autograph or a handshake. That was quite a night...Dick Vitale was coaching U-Detroit, Adolf Rupp himself entered the arena and also sat near me . Mr Rupp died of cancer shorty after that night.

Cool, Dexter, did he sing? Happy always sang at campaign events. He was the first real politician I ever saw in person, thanks to my grandfather. Not sure I've seen anyone better than he. In another small world twist, my Mom was a student of Rupp's at UK in his basketball coaching class. Her prolific notes are still much sought after.

Governor Chandler didn't sing that night, but I have visited YouTube a few times and watched his "My Old Kentucky Home". I swear a tear rolled down my cheek the first time I screened that video.
Another small world item...I grew up near another baseball commish's boyhood home, Ford Frick. Frick hated Maris' assault on Babe Ruth's home run record and applied the infamous asterisk to it. 61*.

omigod, Dexter, just looked it up. had no idea he was on youtube. this is makin me cry worse than Ole Yeller: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqGuVQsl-7U

nite all

Happy Chandler doing "My Old Kentucky Home" is truly a special viewing.

That one made me think back to the 1952 convention when Estes Kefauver sang the "Tennessee Waltz". He was no Patti Page, but he did a credible job on it.

Craig,

I forgot that you have already written some fine books.
"The Politics of Life"
and "Attack the Messenger"

Are there others I missed?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3ieGxtVwlQ&feature=related

Love Hangover

Brand new week start it right . : )