Offshore Drilling

Gas prices are sky-high, the Middle East is in violent turmoil — yep, looks like now is the perfect time to break our national oil addiction. But Congress today is focused on drilling, drilling and more drilling. This year, the House of Representatives passed a bill which would allow drilling for oil 50 miles off the U.S. coastlines, ending a quarter-century long moratorium on offshore drilling. Now the Senate is discussing opening up a piece of the Florida coastline for drilling. It’s a long slow process with very little payoff. At the same time, they’re doing little to work the other side of this equation — decrease demand, increase conservation. Here’s today’s Big Issue Tool Kit: Solving The Energy Crisis The Big Issue »

Celebration Excuse

FRIDAY

1821

Aye! Peru declares independence from Spain.

1896

Spring breakers, rejoice: Miami, FL is incorporated as a city.

1945

Kumbaya: The United Nations Charter is ratified by the Senate.

2002

Yawn. Lance Armstrong wins his 4th Tour de France.

CELEBRATE!

Not just for kids: it’s National Milk Chocolate Day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

He got game: happy birthday to NBA star Manu Ginobili.

SATURDAY

1954

Fantasy nerds, rejoice: The Fellowship of the Ring, the first part of The Lord of the Rings, is published in the UK.

1958

The U.S. Congress formally creates the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

1981

Lady Diana Spencer marries Charles, Prince of Wales.

2005

Wait...what? Astronomers discover 10th planet in the Solar System.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

Belt out a birthday song for singer Martina McBride and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole.

SUNDAY

1956

A Joint Resolution of the U.S. Congress is signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, authorizing “In God We Trust” as the U.S. national motto.

1965

US President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Social Security Act of 1965 into law, establishing Medicare and Medicaid.

2002

You go, girl: Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie became the first woman to dunk in a basketball game.

BIRTHDAY BOYS AND GIRLS

Here’s a party we’d love to attend: actor comedian Tom Green, actress Lisa Kudrow, and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger all celebrate their birthdays today.

Daybook

FRIDAY

8:30AM

Celeb sightings: Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health, Human Services and Education holds a hearing on how to increase cancer research and improve cancer treatment. Lance Armstrong is witness.

9:30AM

Hackers beware: the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee has a hearing on “Cyber Security: Recovery and Reconstitution of Critical Networks.”

ALL DAY

Frist: Senator Frist is scheduled to host a fundraiser for gubernatorial candidate Jim Bryson in Nashville, TN.
POTUS: President Bush welcomes British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the White House
Kerry: Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) travels to Iowa to participate in a hearing on cancer research and campaign for state Democratic candidates.

SATURDAY

ALL DAY

Schools out for summer: House begins its August recess
Romney: Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) visits Iowa
Rove: Karl Rove delivers the keynote address at the Commencement of The George Washington Graduate School of Political Management, Washington, DC
Frist: Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) travels to Iowa to attend campaign events for gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle, Congressional candidate Mike Whalen, and other Republican candidates.

 

Popularity Contest

FOR YOUR NETFLIX LIST

The Candidate

Year

1972

Stars

The one, the only Robert Redford; Peter Boyle (otherwise known as The Dad On Everybody Loves Raymond)

Awards

Oscar for best original screenplay

Plot in 50 words or less

Down-to-earth, idealistic lawyer runs for Senate. Surprise — he accidentally starts winning. Candidate’s political team smells victory, decides to “shape” him into a Winner. Hello poll numbers...goodbye ideals.

First-Time Viewers will Love

As candidate Robert Redford loses his soul and becomes a cog in campaign advisor Peter Boyle’s machine, you get the strange sensation that this may in fact be Karl Rove’s training video.

For Your Next Vacation

The Smithsonian’s American History museum, home to Fonzi’s jacket and Archie Bunker’s chair, also boasts a campaign button prop from The Candidate. Even cooler, it’s on display right next to actual campaign buttons. See? Museums *can* be fun.

What You’ll Quote

The final, devastating line: “So, what do we do now?”

Masthead

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Mic Check is produced every weekday by Christy Harvey, Sara Langhinrichs and Nicole Murphy, and is a project of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Read more about Mic Check.

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