He Said, Ds Said: The Bush Speech and the Democratic Response

Plus: Nelly was right — it IS hot in here! Nancy Pelosi kicks butts! What *doesn’t* Gov. Corzine know about bear contraception?! Your political personality! And Domo Awiigato, Nintendo! The January 11 issue of Mic Check is packed with so much audio, your ears will actually smile. Is this thing on?

Celebration Excuse

1935

Girl power takes flight, when aviator Amelia Earhart starts her flight from Honolulu to Oakland, Calif.. With this trip, she became the first woman to fly solo across the Pacific.

1964

U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry issues a report saying, no matter how cool it makes you look, smoking cigarettes could be hazardous to your health.

1973

Major League Baseball’s American League adopts the “designated hitter” rule, allowing some other guy to bat for the pitcher.

2002

The prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, opens.

2003

Gov. George Ryan of Illinois commutes the sentences of all 167 prisoners on death row, callign the death penalty process ‘’arbitrary and capricious, and therefore immoral.'’

Happy Birthday

Wish a big happy birthday to actress Amanda Peet, singer Mary J. Blige, and our favorite Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton (we admit, we’re a sucker for anyone who dies in a duel.)

Daybook

POTUS

10AM

President Bush presents the Medal of Honor, DC

12:30PM

President Bush has lunch with the troops at Fort Benning, GA

SENATE

10AM

Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the White House Iraq plan. On Tap: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

10AM

Senate Finance Committee hearing on the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit.

10:30AM

Senate Budget Committee hearing on the long-term budget. On Tap: U.S. Comptroller General David Walker of the Government Accountability Office

2PM

Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Iraq strategies. On Tap: U.S. ambassador Peter Galbraith; AEI’s Frederick Kagan (a big proponent of the “surge” idea).

2:30PM

Senate Intel Committee holds a hearing on “The Annual Threat Assessment. (Note – this is followed by a closed hearing.) On Tap: People from the FBI, the CIA, the DIA, the National Intel Director’s office, the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research

HOUSE

100 Hours

Today’s Vote: Expanding funding for stem cell research

10AM

House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the Iran Crisis. On Tap: Former CIA director James Woolsey; former Undersecretary of State Thomas Pickering.

1PM

House Armed Services Committee hearing on the White House Iraq plan. On Tap: SecDef Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace.

2PM

House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Iraq. On Tap: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

 

Popularity Contest

JOURNALISM, THE ARE-YOU-KIDDING-US EDITION

We respect journalists. Honestly, we do. In fact, on some days, we almost consider ourselves among their respected ranks. And then there are days like today. Look, we understand these people get tired. They get bored with the everyday grind of the news. Still, that’s no excuse for the headlines that follow. No excuse at all. That said, enjoy them. Because we sure did.

“Urinal thief comes clean” [Reuters]

“Giant owl attacks drinkers” [The Sun]

“Ex-coach allegedly hits students in groin” (ed. note: ouch.) [AP]

“Comatose Teen Hit By Car Gets Jaywalking Ticket” [CBS]

“Infamous ‘Fab 5′ cheerleaders regret condom joke” [Dallas Morning News]

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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