editor's note: the work you're about to read is that of MuffledDrum. We were having some technical issues posting the diary so I'm doing it instead, until we can get them worked out. All kudos to MuffledDrum!)
At night, when the family's in bed, I like to stay up and enjoy the quiet. Or at least, I used to enjoy the quiet ~~ before I became familiar with this noisy joint.
I can fairly be described as a Night Owl, a person who functions better in the night hours than during daytime. If I were omnipotent and had control over such things, I'd make the work day start no earlier than 2:00 pm, leave for home by 11:00 pm, and settle into my flannel sheets by , oh, say, 3:00 am. Maybe. But the pantheon of gods didn't ask me. Alas, I was the trouble child.
It's been during these solo hours I've concocted my plans, my dreams and my notions. I have played What IF? many a time -- in fact that's the way most of my plans are born. What if I opened a restaurant solely for Night Owls? You know, those who prefer the last showing of a movie then want to go out to a midnight dinner so the date won't end.
What IF? should never been mistaken for Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda. The dreaded CSW syndrome only floods your groundcover. What IF? lets your Day Lillies soar.
Most of our DKos members are What IF-ers, I'd venture.
We see the possibilities rather than the pot holes.
We see that unknown businessmen can unseat entrenched Senators. We see cellblocks dedicated to blowhard ex-VPs (named Dick) and crooked businessmen where they can power lunch on gruel and rancid coffee.
Many, such as myself, aren't as pithy and clever as our DKos breathren. But maybe, just maybe, we offer a solid base for understanding, empathy, and GOTV. And if you're lucky, we'll offer a well-placed snark from the peanut gallery.
This has been a powerhouse week. I'm here to sweep up the ticker tape. I see both afterglow, and anticipation here. Let's give it all a fresh look, shall we?
From the Top Comments Team, the fabulous Carolita sends these our way:
scoff0165 synthesizes diaries from Nightprowlkitty and onepissedoffliberal and draws an important conclusion
Sarabeth ruminates on the fate of the American worker
MA liberal explains that the downfall of U.S. business has been at the hands of MBAs
hmbnancy gives some very good reasons to cut and run.
Jotter has a few words words for Jomentum.
concordepa reminds us of what the new war on liquids means to a frequent flier
papercut explains how to properly salute an excellent diary
From TC Team member, magnificent noweasels:
Ghost of Frank Zappa offers a few new monikers for the decider in chief.
BeninSC on an out-of-tune barbershop quartet.
Agent double o soul with a new term for Republican projects.
A frightening comment from Louise on a test case for an attack on Iran.
rktekt on a real-life way to view tax cuts in a comment to today's diary from the always fascinating bonddad.
Pontificator on what it will take to get the neocons to admit there's a civil war in Iraq.
Zeke L's brilliant new acronym.
LithiumCola on a part of the President's Saturday radio address that was mysteriously "edited out."
And if I may, this superb call to action diary from candidate Eric Massa.
Nightprowlkitty on the latest nuthatchery from Joe Klein.
TC Team Member extraordinaire, Carnacki, contributes these to the cause:
Cindy Sheehan, in her diary, informs us about where she is recuperating.
FindingMyVoice on why we should carry chalk (my personal favorite comment of the day).
TC Team Member, marvelous BeninSC joins us with:
Miss Blue starts a nice thread on the advisability of the Feingold approach to the Lieberman problem,
in mcjoan's fp diaryon the subject.
Alabama Bill gives the viewpoint of a self-proclaimed "normal American" in today's America.
One of the day's better tip jars, by dmsilev. The first three comments of the thread are all good! Maybe more, but there were only three when this was mined.
hrh on 9/11 premonitions, and trusting your inner wisdom.
Mary, ona society in which faith trumps science, in which people don't even want to be advised by valid scientific evidence. The entire diary, by Fatherflot, is a fascinating one on this important and very dangerous trend in this country.
From crack DKos member, ek hornbeck: Check out this comment by edrie. Did you ever love a friend? Wow.
IgnoramusMaximus's hilarious comeback submitted by the irrepressible TXsharon makes me wonder what the toll charge might be for this commute
And this recommended comment by tenacious Texas Democratic A/G candidate David Van Os makes me proud to be a Democrat!
Hat tip to TXsharon's excellent diary on the Trans Texas Corridor boondoggle, which is slamming itself up my backside down here in the Lone Star state. Arrrgh!
And here are the highest rated comments of the day:
1 ( Slides) National Lampoons Vacation President by Al Rodgers 81
2 join for dinner at Camp Casey3 by CindySheehan 77
3 2006 is a fight to the death by Dallasdoc 76
4 (Video) Countdown - Presiden Porky Pig ?? by Al Rodgers 60
5 good point by ryeland 59
6 This is probably the strongest support I've seen by grayslady 59
7 George Felix Allen MELTS DOWN on C-SPAN by Al Rodgers 57
8 Mutiny by calipygian 55
9 ( Slides) The World BEAMS over Losermans Defeat by Al Rodgers 55
10 great to hear Kennedy saying this by sodalis 55
11 WTF is wrong by WIds 52
12 Record Low Interest Rates Have Nothing by bonddad 52
13 what's the difference between the DLC by lipris 49
14 Lieberman is down, but not out. by Compound F 49
15 Olbermann had a terrific putdown of Bush by Dallasdoc 48
16 re by cookiesandmilk 47
17 You're quite obviously correct by tlh lib 47
18 Full foliage in Washington by Kimball Cross 46
19 More TV Alerts! by Newsie8200 45
20 Great job with Coulter the other day by Jeffrey Feldman 44
21 Bush, of course, doesn't give a rip... by PKinTexas 43
22 Only Spooks and Military by SocioSam 42
23 I don't think this military has enough by inclusiveheart 41
24 If not now, when? by joanneleon 41
25 even animals are smarter than 23% of americans! by nonnie9999 41