The Agenda

“If this is what it takes to get you on the heretofore lonely Screw Komen bandwagon, so be it. But you should not have a low opinion of Komen^tm because of their announcement on Wednesday. You should have a low opinion of them because they’re a fake charity run like any other company with a product to sell. In this case the product is a combination of guilt, pity, and hope dissolved in a weak acid and dyed a nauseating pink.”

The number of names on the U.S. “no-fly list” has doubled in the past year.

Republican senators, unhappy with the prospect of cutting one sliver from the Defense budget, now want to instead cut the rest of the government workforce by 5%.

Hey, look, one billionaire asshole is endorsing another billionaire.

So, who are the Super PAC contributors?

The Dodd-Frank financial regulation law in one easy graph.

When is White History Month?

“What a pathetic situation to be running for the President of the United States with nothing positive to say. All you got to do is try to tear your opponent down to where they get smaller than you are, that’s the Romney model.” – Newt Gingrich

The Agenda

Today’s must read: How the Affordable Care Act so far is already more successful than anybody wants to admit.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has set 2013 as the target to end combat in Afghanistan.

In yesterday’s special election to replace Rep. David Wu in the Oregon 1,  Democrat Suzanne Bonamici cruised to a a 15-point  victory over Republican Rob Cornilles.

The generally-terrible Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the largest breast cancer organization, is cutting off its funding for cancer screening and education provided by Planned Parenthood. In general, I for the most part like Marcotte’s analysis: “In the end, the grant money is less important than the symbolism of Komen buying into the conservative myth of good-girl health care vs. bad-girl health care.”

President Obama’s approval rating in battleground Ohio has risen to an even 48%/48% split. Meanwhile, Mittens Romney has seen a drop in his at an uneven 28%(!)/56%.

Who benefits from the new Super PACs: “Republican groups outraised their Democratic counterparts by four to one, a fairly incredible ratio. This could very well be a year in which, stunningly, an incumbent gets outspent by the challenger.”

Kalydeco, the first drug to treat the cause of cystic fibrosis, has been approved by the FDA. It costs $300,000 a year, but the maker will give it to anybody who does not have insurance and makes under $150,000 a year.

The Indiana state senate (you know, the state that just passed that right-to-die-at-work law?) passed a bill mandating the teaching of religious life-origin stories.

Of six-pack abs and real girl bellies.

An awesome chart illustrating celebrity endorsements.

Twenty common grammar mistakes you probably made in the past half-hour.

“I’m not concerned about the very poor.” – Mittens Romney

The Agenda

Prediction: Romney will win Florida tonight, probably by as much as 12-18%.

In case you were wondering, it is now officially too late for new Republican to join the nomination race and have even a scant chance of winning.

Of the television advertisements from the Florida primary, 92% were negative.

The economies of many of the states in the midwest are recovering faster than the rest of the U.S., which may boost President Obama’s reelection chances.

Restaurants are also doing better than they have in six years.

The rate of survival from injuries has been steadily increasing in Afghanistan over the past decade.

Russia’s deputy foreign minister warns that a UN resolution on Syria could plunge Syria into civil war.

Egyptian Justice Minister Adel Abdelhamid Abdallah sent back a letter from the U.S. ambassador pleading for an end to the travel ban that has prevented a number of Americans from leaving Egypt.

Stephen Colbert’s Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow Super PAC raised an impressive $825,400.

Best thing I read all day: Cerberus at Sadly, No! eviscerates Ross “Do That Thing” Douthat.

A student who took a picture of his teacher sleeping in class has been suspended.

“You know, in South Carolina we were vastly outspent with negative ads attacking me and we stood back and spoke about President Obama and suffered the consequence of that.” – Mittens Romney

The Agenda

As a Russian-backed diplomatic effort seemingly failed, a fight between Syrian rebel fighters and government forces has escalated.

Several Americans who have been barred by the Egyptian government from leaving Egypt are waiting at the U.S. embassy in Cairo.

The Obama administration today announced new rules expanding the Family and Medical Leave Act to allow military families to care for injured service members.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is looking to change a ridiculous rule that make public transportation projects worse. Related, the House transportation funding bill looks to be absolutely terrible.

The House is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a bill that would freeze federal worker salaries for another year.

Even if they don’t all agree on the spread, polls are generally pointing toward a Mittens Romney win tomorrow in Florida.

Hey, maybe sitting around and watching television won’t (necessarily) kill you after all.

The Agenda

As part of an investigation into foreign-financed groups promoting democracy in the country, Egyptian officials have blocked six Americans, including Sam LaHood, the son of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, from leaving Egypt.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta today announced a vision of the military that will cut spending. The plan will include base closings and smaller raises.

A judge in Arizona has ordered that Alejandrina Cabrera be removed from the ballot for city council because she does not know enough English.

I guess the big story today is that Arizona Governor Jan Brewer doesn’t really like President Obama much.

The Federal Reserve announced that it will keep interest rates low until at least 2014.

Probably thanks to austerity measures, the United Kingdom is now doing worse now than it was at the same time during the Great Depression.

Congrats to Rep. Barney Frank, who announced he will be marrying his longtime partner Jim Ready.

According to a new poll, a majority of Americans would fire every member of Congress if it were a line on ballot. Of course, most of them will just go ahead and vote for their own representative again this year.

A new study shows that working in groups can lower intelligence, especially among women.

You should definitely watch Stephen Colbert’s interviews with Maurice Sendak: Part 1, Part 2. Seriously. They’re amazing,

“Newt would show up at the campaign headquarters with an empty bucket in his hand — that was a symbol of some sort for him — and I never did know what he was doing or why he was doing it, and I’m not certain he knew either.” – Bob Dole

The Agenda

“Just 80 laws were completed in 2011, the lowest number since the Congressional Record began keeping an annual tally in 1947. That’s well short of the previous record of 88 in 1995, which was also a year when a new Republican House majority countered a Democratic president’s agenda with one of its own.” And Congress will probably do even less this year.

The Supreme Court ruled today in Jones v. United States that police violated the Constitution when they used a GPS device to track a car without a warrant. The ruling was unanimous but the reasoning was divided. SCOTUSBlog has more.

John Kiriakou, a former CIA officer, has been charged by the Justice Department for leaking classified information, including the identities of operatives involved in interrogations.

Mittens Romney is finally bucking to pressure and releasing his 2010 tax returns, as well as an estimate of his 2011 returns. He’s also going on the offensive against Newt Gingrich, who shellacked him in the South Carolina primary this weekend.

Illinois Senator Mark Kirk suffered a stroke this weekend and underwent surgery this morning.

Two years ago, President Obama promised to double exports in five years. Many scoffed. Turns out, we’re on track to do it.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul was stopped by the TSA after refusing to be patted down while on his way to a pro-life rally. Because, well, the government can’t touch his body.

The Agenda

Today’s must-read: Andrew Sullivan on how President Obama has been more successful than either the left or the right will admit.

Get ready for a black Internet tomorrow: Wikipedia, Mozilla, Reddit and others will go dark tomorrow to protest the Stop Online Privacy Act and the Protect IP Act , which is quickly moving through Congress. The folks who run Reddit have a technical, but generally readable, examination of the two bills.

In really not surprising news, Jon Huntsman’s “ticket to ride” came to an end Monday morning as he left the race and endorsed Mitt Romney. Still not sure how he got away with quoting a song about prostitution.

Five bodies have been recovered from the wreck of the Costa Concordia cruise ship off the shore of Italy, bringing the fatality count to 11. Almost two dozen are still missing.

Wisconsin Democrats will file petitions with over one million signatures in their effort to recall Gov. Scott Walker.

Mitt Romney says that his income tax rate is about 15% and that most of his income comes from investments.

“The question then comes, ‘Is it God’s highest desire, that is, his biblically expressed will, … to have a woman rule the institutions of the family, the church, and the state?’” Jamie Johnson, Rick Santorum’s Iowa coalitions director

The Agenda

Well, Mitt Romney handily won New Hampshire. Color me surprised. Next: South Carolina, where he’ll probably win. If he does, this fucking thing is over.

Iran has reported that a nuclear scientist has been murdered, and blames the U.S. and Israel.

Massachusetts senate candidate Elizabeth Warren hauled in a fuck-ton of money ($5.7M in the the last three months of December), while her Republican opponent, Sen. Scott Brown raised a little more than half as much ($3.2M).

Why conservatives bashing Europe is freaking silly.

Orange juice is getting expensive.

The FBI released Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s file. Turns out he maybe was a criminal.

Wingmen for hire. For Real.

“It’s astounding to me that the president is claiming these are recess appointments and within his authority, when Congress was not in fact in recess,” Black said. “These appointments are an affront to the Constitution. No matter how you look at this, it doesn’t pass the smell test. I hope the House considers my resolution as soon as we return to Washington so we can send a message to President Obama.” — Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.)

This delightful darling wants to start a boycott of the Girl Scouts because they let a transgendered child:

The Agenda

Well, tonight we find out who won the New Hampshire primary. That should be about as fun as watching numbers add with each other. Oh, it’ll be exactly that fun. 

Today’s must read: Matt Yglesias explains the Fed and why progressives should start engaging the topic.

The problem with Romney’s “I like firing people” line is when taken in context, it’s even worse, because most people can’t actually fire their insurance companies.

An amusing short anecdote by Jonathan Bernstein on mixing businesspeople and government economic policy.

Two good reads on Santorum’s Catholicism: The Cathovangelical: Rick Santorum’s Quest for a National Abortion Showdown, and Rick Santorum vs. Pope Pius XI — one candidate, two encyclicals.

Good thing the Republicans kept those Uighers who were unjustly kept at Guantanamo Bay from coming to America, otherwise we might have more pizza.

How Newt Gingrich’s super PAC got a $5 million check from a casino owner.

D.C. drinks: “On average, DC residents consume six drinks in a short time. While most binge drinkers fall between the ages of 18 and 34, the age group that binge drinks most frequently consists of those age 65 and up.”

Speakin’ of booze: Here’s 20 things you may not know about booze. Okay, probably like four or five.

“I was talking about, as you know, insurance companies…. We all like to get rid of our insurance companies.” — Mittens Romney

The Agenda

Today’s must-read: Lakhdar Boumediene was held at Guantanamo Bay for seven years with no explaination or charge until the Supreme Court heard his case and let him go.

In the least surprising news ever, Bill Daley has resigned as White House chief  of staff. Somewhat surprising, Jack Lew will be leaving OMB to take his spot. Somewhere, Pete Rouse is either sighing or relieved. Ezra Klein highlights some differences between Daley and Lew.

Hey, tomorrow’s the New Hampshire primary. Huh. Does Huntsman stand a chance?

Gov. Chris Christie: classy.

Consumer credit surged in November by the most in a decade. I guess that’s a good sign.

Some in the British government would like you to maybe stop drinking for a couple days a week.

At the Drive-In…reunites?

“He didn’t solve shit, but you guys made him a hero.” — Carl Paladino, on Gov. Andrew Cuomo

The Agenda

Pretty much the must-read: What if Obama loses?

Lest we forget, Rick Santorum was ranked in 2006 as one of the three most corrupt senators.

Speaking of, Santorum raised a million dollars yesterday.

President Obama unveiled a new Pentagon strategy in the era of austerity. Spencer Ackerman has a good overview.

Romney’s tax plan, while not as regressive as the rest of the field, would save the top 1% $82,000 and cost the bottom 20% $157.

Senate Republicans are so mad that President Obama appointed the nominees they were blocking, they’ve decided to go ahead and block more nominations.

The rent is too damn high? (it is): It’s because apartment vacancy rates are the lowest since 2001. People got to live somewhere.

Bittersweet news: Dollar General is looking to open 625 new stores in 2012.

Montana Supreme Court just basically throws middle finger at Citizens United.

Maybe you don’t have to wash your clothes that often.

Scotch in a can: Not sure which is more terrifying: that it’s only aged three years, or it’s only the booze equivalent of 1.7 Four Lokos.

How the Russians saved America’s sunflower?

“Readers tend to attribute to female rather than male writers the authorship of unfunny New Yorker cartoon captions.” – Harpers

The Agenda

President Obama came out swinging today, first making a recess appointment of Richard Cordary to the Consumer Protection Bureau, then surprising people by making two recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board.

Republicans are calling the recess appointments unconstitutional, but they’re probably not. Although they certainly are novel.

A New Hampshire Republican bill would require new any new state laws to find their origin not in the Constitution but in the the Magna Carta.

Last night Perry was out and Bachmann was in. Turns out today it’s the opposite as Perry marches on to South Carolina and Iowa actually becomes Bachmann’s Waterloo.

American car companies posted double-digit sales increases in 2011.

Sen. John McCain today endorsed former rival Mitt Romney.

Newt Gingrich, on the other hand, may be preparing to go for broke to destroy Romney.

The FDA today announced that farmers and ranchers must limit the amount of antibiotics they can use in livestock.

The White House has denied that the CIA teleported a young Barack Obama to Mars.

“I’m looking forward to the day when we can say, ‘We’re all Austrians now.’” – Rep. Ron Paul

The Agenda

I’m shocked: The inflation hawks were hands-down wrong.

Remember when Republicans were for high-speed rail before President Obama said so too?

If you can pronounce this whole poem, you’re doing better than most English-speakers.

Perhaps 2012 will be the year of economic recovery.

Maybe transparency at the Fed could itself be economic stimulus.

Goddamn it, there’s actually a must-read piece about Ron Paul. Of course, it’s by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

In terms of previews for tonight’s Iowa caucuses, Nate Silver is as good as any.

“I don’t want to make black people’s lives better by giving them somebody else’s money.” – Rick Santorum

The Agenda

Pretty good economic news today sends stocks higher.

But, seriously, Europe: you’re getting annoying.

The story of one cut, chosen seemingly at random, from the UK budget.

I am very much against this new calendar idea, probably for the sole reason that it would mean that only 2/7 of us would have birthdays on weekends ever again.

“Every barrel of oil that comes out of those sands in Canada is a barrel of oil that we don’t have to buy from a foreign source.” — Gov. Rick Perry

Romney’s (unsurprisingly) still up big in New Hampshire. Romney’s also back on top nationally, but I still have no idea when the national primary is.

Funny, I just the other day told Ghost that I was surprised that Santorum hadn’t surged yet, and if there was enough time, he’d be next. Turns out I’m kind of right.

“You can have opacity and an industrial economy, or you can have transparency and herd goats”

The owners of Panda Express are looking to revolutionize dry cleaning.

Morning Constitutional – Monday, 19 December 2011

Holy crap we’re back (probably temporarily) and good morning, everybody. The issue of Playboy featuring Lindsay Lohan is breaking sales records according to Hugh Hefner. Now, your morning constitutional:

Party Center, Dear Leader, Father of the People, Guiding Sun Ray, Great Man Who Descended From Heaven, Leader of the Party and People, Bright Sun of the 21st Century, Sun of Socialism, Leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces Kim Jong-il has died of a heart attack. His 25-year-old and relatively unknown son, Kim Jong-un, is expected to take power.

Revolutionary playwright and former Czech President Vaclav Havel passed away this weekend at 75.

The last American troops left Iraq Sunday, as the war in Iraq finally comes to a close.

The House opposes a two-month payroll tax cut extension compromise that passed the Senate this weekend. House opposition is rooted in the short-term nature of the extension. Yet, the short-term extension was necessary because the House is demanding an unrelated provision that would force the administration to grant a permit for the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline, which the administration and Senate Democrats oppose. The payroll tax cut will end at the end of the year if no deal is reached, which could hurt the already slowly-recovering economy.

When Republicans aren’t blocking nominees for one economic regulatory agency, they’re blocking others: Indeed, while Senate Republicans successfully blocked Robert Cordray’s nomination to head up the new Consumer Protection Bureau, the stalemate also stopped the Senate from approving nominees to head the FDIC and the Office of the Comptroller. Oh, and they’re trying to make sure there isn’t enough money to efficiently implement Frank-Dodd banking reform.

Tensions between the Pakistani army and its civilian government has forced President Asif Ali Zardari to return home from Dubai early.

Syria has signed onto an Arab League plan that allows observers to monitor an effort to end Syria’s crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Four months later, how stupid was it for S&P to downgrade the U.S. credit rating?

Holy crap, Ron Paul is now the Iowa front-runner.

Even though Romney retired from Bain Capital 13 years ago, they’re still paying him millions of dollars each year.

ABC cut four minutes of the famously anti-commercial ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ to make room for more commercials. Here’s ten things you may not know about ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Finally, one of a pair of robbers in Madison accidentally butt-dialed 911, making their arrest super easy for police.