As has probably been made far more obvious lately, it’s far easier for the Senate to do nothing than anything. They haven’t even been able to pass an unemployment benefits extension for the past three weeks, depriving long-time victims of the shitty economy of at least a modicum of support. Ezra Klein points out that with President Bush’s hallmark tax cuts set to expire this year, it might be better, at least in the long-term, for the Senate to do nothing and let them expire: For the deficit hawks in Congress, the next few months are going...
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New York Times Columnist Line of the Day
If you’re one of the four-or-so frequent readers of this here blog, chances are you also occasionally check out the New York Times op-ed page. You may even know the names: Thomas “Friedman’s Just Another Word For Nothing Left to Lose” Friedman, Gail “The Colander” Collins, Nicholas “The Dark Crystal” Kristof, &c. Well, I’ve decided to devote a daily feature to these folks, by daily pointing out one line that is either awesome, funny, insightful, intelligent, ridiculous, or utterly divorced from reality. I hope you enjoy. Today’s is from Gail “The Colander” Collins, who in her column...
Continue reading...Morning Constitutional – Thursday, 1 July 2010
Good morning, folks. The new Twilight movie broke some records for 12:01am shows. Now, your morning constitutional: President Obama will push for comprehensive immigration reform today during a speech at American University in D.C. German Chancellor Angela Merkel fights for survival after struggling to get her preferred presidential candidate, Christian Wulff, elected. Turkish aid from a flotilla that attempted to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza but was attacked by Israel starts flowing into Gaza. Turkey is also holding its first high-level meeting with Israel since the flotilla incident. For the third time, Republicans successfully filibustered a bill...
Continue reading...Meet Pamela Gorman, Arizonan for Congress
Another smash commercial, but this time from a candidate to represent the Arizona 3. Her name is Pamela Gorman, and she does have quite a shot. Although they never do show her actually hitting a target (?). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqnjzONrPiA
Continue reading...New York Times Columnist Line of the Day
If you’re one of the four-or-so frequent readers of this here blog, chances are you also occasionally check out the New York Times op-ed page. You may even know the names: Thomas “Friedman’s Just Another Word For Nothing Left to Lose” Friedman, Gail “The Colander” Collins, Nicholas “The Dark Crystal” Kristof, &c. Well, I’ve decided to devote a daily feature to these folks, by daily pointing out one line that is either awesome, funny, insightful, intelligent, ridiculous, or utterly divorced from reality. I hope you enjoy. Today\’s is from Roger \”Life of the Party\” Cohen, who in...
Continue reading...Morning Constitutional – Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Good morning, folks. Steve Carell is indeed leaving The Office after next year. Now, your morning constitutional: General Petraeus appears for confirmation hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee today to lead the war effort in Afghanistan. His confirmation is basically assured, but questions will arise about the President’s strategy for the war. Kagan taking questions during her confirmation hearing; seems to be getting at least a little bipartisan support on the committee; Scott Brown glowingly called her “undoubtedly a brilliant woman who has served her country in a variety of capacities.” Dahlia Lithwick at Slate on...
Continue reading...Senator Inouye likely to be next president pro tempore of the Senate
The New York Times Caucus Blog reports that with the passing of Senator Byrd, Senator Daniel Inouye is next in line to become the president pro tempore of the Senate. Just want to point out that this makes the presidential line of succession the following: an African-American, an Irish-American, an Italian-American, and, finally, a Japanese-American. Somewhere, Strom Thurmond is turning over in his grave.
Continue reading...Mea Copa: Over the Line, Mark It Zero!
This weekend might have been the end of the American soccer boom that many pundits and fans had predicted would result from a deep Yank run combined with a serious push by ESPN/ABC to market the matches. The ratings are up tremendously over 2006, which was played in essentially the same time-zone, over the same month. It is possible that Americans are growing to love soccer, but I doubt it. I had a conversation with a friend, who is a once-every-four-years viewer: Captain: You must be happy now that 2/3 of the World Cup audience in America...
Continue reading...Subjects of the drug cartel
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer believes that most undocumented aliens illegal immigrants er, Mex’cans are here to smuggle drugs. For real: “I believe today, under the circumstances that we’re facing, that the majority of the illegal trespassers that are coming into the state of Arizona are under the direction and control of organized drug cartels and they are bringing drugs in,” Brewer said. “There’s strong information to us that they come as illegal people wanting to come to work. Then they are accosted and they become subjects of the drug cartel,” she said. That are some serious sweet...
Continue reading...Church adopts local public elementary school for Jesus
This is going to end well: LAKELAND, Fla.—When his budget for pencils, paper, and other essential supplies was cut by a third this school year, the principal of Combee Elementary School worried children would suffer. Then, a local church stepped in and “adopted” the school. The First Baptist Church at the Mall stocked a resource room with $5,000 worth of supplies. It now caters spaghetti dinners at evening school events, buys sneakers for poor students, and sends in math and English tutors. The principal is delighted. So are church pastors. “We have inroads into public schools that...
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