What digby said.

All of this, but especially this...

In the 1960s they burned black churches. Now it's mosques. But it comes from exactly the same impulse.

I take some small comfort in remembering that we beat them back the last time.

There is always, however, work to do.

From the "Me too" file.

Atrios...

There's this weird chatter about how crazy it would be for mildly disgruntled democrats to stay home in November and not vote. I agree! Totally crazy!

Me too.

Stay home? Nuts!

I'll be voting, and I'll be pestering all the right thinking people I know to vote.

If enough of us do that, we'll win.

You're either getting out the vote or you're part of the problem.

From the "Since you asked…" file.

Tbogg inquires...

...what more needs to be said about an event that drew slightly fewer people than an Ohio State-Michigan football game would in a down year for both teams?

Since you asked, nothing.

Nice data point, though.

From the "One of these things is not like the other" file.

Via Mary at The Left Coaster...

Size of crowd attending to hear Martin Luther King, Jr in 1963: 250,000
Size of crowd attending to hear Glenn Beck in 2010: 87,000
Population of the USA in 1963: 189,241,798
Population of the USA in 2010: 310,110,000

From the "Time flies" file.

Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for President two years ago today.

Oliver has video. Go get inspired again.

Ho Hi, Ho Hi, tell the job goodbye...

...until tomorrow. Meanwhile, time for ten...

Booker T. & The MG's - Hip Hug-Her
Shel Silverstein - Boa Constrictor
The Steel Wheels - Red Wing
John Prine - Please Don't Bury Me
Gene Clark - Silver Raven
Utah Phillips - Larimer Street
Lee Valley String Band - Carolina Star
The Torquays - Shake A Tail Feather
George Jones - Why Baby Why
Cannibal & The Headhunters - Land Of 1000 Dances

From the "Since you asked…" file

Steve M., writing about fundie preacher Terry Jones' planned 'burn a Koran' day, wonders...

...by the way, whatever their thoughts on the "Ground Zero mosque," could one or two "responsible" Republicans possibly bestir themselves to condemn that?.

Since you asked, no, probably not.

In fact, I'm wondering if a couple "responsible" Republicans might not join right in.

When the nominations open...

...for Democratic platform chair, I nominate Andrew. Heck, he's practically written it already...

Real liberals support a strong common wealth that is wisely invested for the common good, well-regulated markets to ensure broader prosperity, mutual responsibility, civil rights for all, jobs that pay a living wage, walkable neighborhoods, clean air to breathe and clean water to drink, the conservation and stewardship of our public lands, police and fire protection, excellent public schools, and an effective government that is open and efficient.

I resemble those remarks.

From the "Me too" file.

Steve Benen...

Former half-term Gov. Sarah Palin (R) believes political figures who use the word "retarded" in a private meeting should be fired. She also believes political figures who use the "N-word" on national broadcasts should be protected. I wonder why that is.

Me too.

Actually, I think I know, but I do wonder a little if I'm entirely right.

Mostly, though, I think I know. I think it's mostly rhetorical wonderment on Steve's part, too.

Dear Facebook flag status fools...

Stop using the flag I fought under to attack the freedoms I fought for. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Hat tip to Dr. Streak.

You don't have to be a "combat troop"…

…to die in Iraq.

An American soldier was killed in Iraq's Basra province Sunday, the U.S. military announced.

Damn.

From the "Then again…" file.

Chris Grygiel performs a public act of journalism, peeking behind the headlines into the crosstabs of the new outlier poll on the Murray-Rossi race. Like an iceberg, most of the story is lurking below the surface.

...according to SurveyUSA, Rossi was favored over Murray by people in Western Washington by 53-44 percent and the two were tied in the greater Seattle area at 48 percent. However in Tuesday's primary, Murray did better than Rossi in every Western Washington county except one - Lewis County (click here for the results). In King County, which is Seattle and its suburbs, Murray ran up huge numbers on Rossi. She won 59 percent to 27 percent, prevailing by more than 120,000 votes.

Hmmm.

Crossfiled under "Don't Panic."

If you insist...

...or if you don't, either way it's random ten time.

Soul Brothers Six - Some Kind Of Wonderful
Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffett - It's Five O'Clock Somewhere
Loudon Wainwright III - High, Wide & Handsome
Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra - Summer Wine
Dry Branch Fire Squad - Hard Times
Billy Joe Shaver - Old Five And Dimers Like Me
Dave Lewis - David's Mood (Pt. 2)
Hank Thompson - Wild Side Of Life
Kathy Mattea - Gentle On My Mind
Lesley Gore - That's The Way Boys Are

From the "Me neither" file.

Failed Grand Old Palin Tea Party Senate candidate Clint Didier…

"At this moment, I cannot endorse Dino Rossi."

Me neither.

Dear Megan Chuchmach and Matthew Mosk…

If your lede includes the words "Tom DeLay" and doesn't include the words "was convicted," you're writing the wrong story.

Love,

Upper Left

(P.S. - Mr. DeLay is a disgraced former Majority Leader. He earned the title. When reporting his conviction, please get it right.)

(Corrected per Carl's comment. Duh.)

I don't care…

…at least I'd like to think I don't care. I certainly don't want to care. Still, I find myself absent-mindedly wondering what not-Joe the not-plumber thinks about the not-ground zero not-mosque.

From the "You have the right to remain silent" file.

Shorter Howard Dean...

Of course you have free speech. I said so explicitly. Now shut up.

.

The Leg, then…

There are still a few races where the top two primary may create single party ballots for the general, but while combing yesterday's new results to find them I realized that whatever the number may be, it will be dwarfed by the number of single party ballots created by the failure to field Democrats in 21 of the 98 State House races. That number includes seven districts where no Democratic legislative candidate appears on local ballots.

That's seven districts where there's no local candidate making door to door outreach, registering voters, generating turnout. No local Democratic face at candidates forums and editorial boards. No Democratic campaigns for young people just learning about our electoral system to get involved with. No nothing.

Republicans filed candidates in all but 9 seats, leaving only the 36th LD without a Republican on legislative ballots.

It's one more fail for the Democratic Caucus leadership in Olympia, and it hurts all of our campaign and party building efforts.

Locally, the three Democratic candidates nominated by the local Party organization will appear on the November ballot. Representative Maralyn Chase is running for the open State Senate seat, with former Shoreline Councilmember and Mayor Cindy Ryu running for the seat Maralyn is leaving behind. Each outpolled both a Democratic and Republican challenger. The leading vote-getter in the local primary is Representative Ruth Kagi, who is polling over 56% against two candidates in her bid for re-election.

With about 60% of primary voters choosing a Democrat, and given the historical character of the 32nd District, our local ticket looks to be pretty safe in November. There will be a Republican challenger in each race in November, too, though, and the Republicans are out there working.

We have a good ticket. These candidates deserve your support. They have mine.

And we all have work to do.

I'm trying to come up with something interesting…

…to say about the US Senate primary, but so far the results are tediously predictable. It'll be Patty Murray against Dino Rossi, but you knew that last week. Last month, for that matter. Probably could'a guessed last year.

When the rest of the votes from the Puget Sound corridor come in, it'll be interesting to see how close Patty comes to the 50% mark with the traditionally conservative primary electorate, but other than that the results are most interesting as a lead-in to the Sarah Palin scorecard in the upper left last night.

Palin made three endorsements in this state. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is an establishment incumbent, and the safe bet paid off for Sarah last night. John Koster in the 2nd CD is a challenger, but still a known quantity among Republicans in northwest Washington and was likely to come through the primary with or without the Palin seal of approval.

The campaign that really tested the value of a Palin endorsement, of course, was Clint Didier's US Senate bid. She jumped aboard early, while Dino was still picking up pin money on the foreclosure seminar circuit, and Didier played her name for all it was worth. She never appeared in the state on his behalf, though. As far as I know, the only face time he got with the former half a governor was when she summoned him away from the state Republican convention in Vancouver while she had momentarily lit down in the tri-cities. There was a recorded message for a last minute round of robocalls, but I'd imagine it all added up to a lot less than Didier had hoped. At least 22% less, which is how much he trails Rossi for second place as the results stand.

So, what do we know?

With about 80% of the votes on hand counted and an unknown number of votes just arriving or yet to arrive, we don't know everything about the primary outcomes, but we know some things.

We know, for instance, that the anti-incumbent fever we've been hearing about all year hasn't spread to our state. Rick Larsen in the 2nd is the only Democratic member of Congress polling under 50% and even Larsen is leading his Palin-endorsed opponent. He also faced a couple of challengers from the left, and when they're rolled in the Democratic vote clears the 50% threshold handily.

On the Republican side, Dave Reichert's in a similar spot, under 50% with a couple of Republican challengers siphoning off another 10% or so. He'll face Democrat Suzan DelBene, whose 26% isn't an especially encouraging number against an incumbent so mediocre that he lost his traditional endorsement from the Seattle Times. Still, this isn't the General Election electorate, and the campaign's just been engaged. If her primary performance doesn't depress DelBene's fundraising too much, there's still a shot at a Democratic pickup in the 8th.

In the 3rd, Democrat Denny Heck will face off against Republican Jaime Herrera for the seat opened by Brian Bairds retirement. Heck leads in the vote totals, with about 30% in a crowded field. We have a fine candidate and a good chance to hold this one. There's work to do, but there's always work to do.

Locally, my own personal Congressman leads five other candidates (you can't really call them 'challengers,' can you?) with 78.87% percent of the vote. Apparently I'm not the only one who hearts my own personal Congressman.

More later on the US Senate and legislative races.

From the "Since you asked…" file.

A three-fer from Darryl...

Dino Rossi a blatent hypocrite? Shamelessly flip-flopping for political gain? Whodathunk?!

Since you asked, yep, you bet and I woulda.

My ballot's in the mail.

Is yours? Much as I miss my polling place, I exercised my franchise via post. If you're among the majority of voters in the upper left, though, you might not have. Remember, that ballot on the kitchen counter hast to be postmarked by today to be counted.

I don't expect any particular surprises in the results, but I will be watching for districts where our terrible top two primary pairs candidates of the same party on the November ballot. I'll be interested, too, in how turnout in an all mail primary compares to the traditional ballot box + absentee elections.

There are a couple of hot and heavy local races that I'll be weighing in on after the primary, but I've got too many friends, including candidates, on too many sides, namely both, to electioneer for anyone right now. You know the drill - some of my friends are on one side, some are on the other.

I'm standing with my friends.

A reminder…

…from Gail Collins.

We always need to remember that behind almost every great moment in history, there are heroic people doing really boring and frustrating things for a prolonged period of time.

Change is hard. Progress is slow. There's always work to do.

Sorry kids, that's just the way it is.

Chart of the day.

Via Ezra Klein...



Hey, maybe he isn't just as bad as...no, that's crazy talk.

Random ten time.

Here's what the machine decided to listen to. Play 'em if you got 'em...

John Prine - Take The Star Out Of The Window
Steel Wheels - Redwing
Stacey Earle - Must Be Love
The Young Norwegians - Plastic Jesus
Lucy Kaplansky - Return Of The Grievous Angel
Brenton Wood - The Oogum Boogum Song
Lucinda Williams - Positively Fourth Street
Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting
James & Bobby Purify - I'm Your Puppet
Them - It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

An Upper Left landmark.

A third of a million served...



Hey, we takes our landmarks where we finds 'em around here.

From the "Since you asked…" file.

Darryl wonders…

Could it be that while the mainstream media obsesses on the irrational anger of a small minority of right-wing extremists, the American Public is actually noticing that Republicans are hurting America through their policy of total obstructionism?

Since you asked, yes, it certainly could be.

In fact, I'd say it probably is, which is while I've kept my finger pressed firmly on the don't panic button amid all the spring and summer horror stories. I'm guessing come Labor Day, when the non-professional electorate starts to check in to the election, things will start looking objectively brighter for Democrats, though the media narrative may be slow to catch up.

Chart of the day.

From the WaPo, via Howie...



(Go ahead and click it bigger!)

From the "Me too" file.

John Cole...

Personally, I’m not satisfied with the job they are doing (unemployment is horrible, they’ve spent too much time negotiating with Republicans, the drone wars, the civil liberties issues, Lloyd Blankfein is still a free man, etc.), and think there have been some real failings and some real let-downs. But I will belly crawl over broken glass while someone pours lemon juice and rubbing alcohol on me to vote for the Democrats in November.

Myself, as well.

Since no one…

…and certainly not Robert Gibbs, has ever heard me say that Barack Obama is anything like George Bush, an idea which is, in fact, crazy, I figure Gibbs wasn't talking about me. I'm about as liberal a member of the base as you'll find in most precincts, so I don't think he was talking about liberals or the base, either. "Inartful" is probably an apt description of his comments, but the brush he used wasn't really all that broad.

What's kind of surprising is that so many people want to believe he was talking about them.

Some of y'all, frankly, ain't all that.

Me neither, of course.

The clear choice…

…of the extremist wing of a radical party.

Tom Coburn: 'Dino will be an ally'

So much for the notion that there's still a mainstream "Dan Evans wing" in the Republican Party hereabouts.

Another reason…

…I love Blue Gal - we have so many hates in common.

Chart of the day.

From The Economist, via Howie...

Good question…

…from Glenn Greenwald.

Does anyone doubt that once a society ceases to be able to afford schools, public transit, paved roads, libraries and street lights -- or once it chooses not to be able to afford those things in pursuit of imperial priorities and the maintenance of a vast Surveillance and National Security State -- that a very serious problem has arisen, that things have gone seriously awry, that imperial collapse, by definition, is an imminent inevitability?

Of course, I've never been all that fond of the empire thing, anyway. Don't think I'd miss it, but some of the potential replacements are pretty scary. Some, on the other hand, seem somewhat idyllic.

As always, vigilance and hard work seem to be in order.

Hat tip to Gordon.

Fresh from the randomizer...

...the ten you've been waiting up for.

Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks - Walkin' One And Only
Lucy Kaplansky - The Return Of The Grievous Angel
Tom T. Hall - I Like Beer
Lee Valley String Band - Carolina Star
Louis Armstrong - When The Saints Go Marchin' In
Guy Clark - L.A. Freeway
The Torquays - Shake A Tail Feather
Carl McVoy - Born To Lose
Carolyn Mark & Dave Lang - One, I Love You
Charlie Poole & The North Carolina Ramblers - Goodbye Booze

Never forget.

Look out, look out from your schoolroom window!
Look up, young children, from your play!
Wave your hand at the shining airplane,
Such a beautiful sight is Enola Gay.

High above the clouds in the sunlit silence,
So peaceful here, I'd like to stay.
There's many a pilot who'd swap his pension
For a chance to fly Enola Gay.

What is that sound high above my city?
I rush outside and search the sky.
Now we are running to find the shelters,
Hearing sirens start to cry.

What will I say when my children ask me,
Where was I flying up on that day?
With trembling voice I gave the order
To the bombardier of Enola Gay.

Look out, look out from your schoolroom window;
Look up, young children, from your play.
Your bright young eyes will turn to ashes
In the blinding light of Enola Gay.

I turn to see the fireball rising.
"My God, My God," all I can say.
I hear a voice within me crying,
"My mother's name was Enola Gay."

Look out, look out from your schoolroom window;
Look up, young children, from your play.
Oh, when you see the warplanes flying,
Each one is named Enola Gay.

Utah Phillips

Never again.

From the "Just the facts" file.

Via the Office of the Speaker...

Here are four facts you need to know about the Senate-passed bill the House will consider next week to keep teachers in the classroom and police officers on the beat instead of in the unemployment line:

1. Saves and creates 290,000 American jobs (140,000 teacher jobs saved and 150,000 jobs created or saved, including police officers, firefighters and nurses).
2. These funds are needed immediately to prevent layoffs or actually rehire teachers and prevent law enforcement officers from losing their jobs.
3. Completely paid for, in part by closing tax loopholes that encourage corporations to ship American jobs overseas.
4. Cuts the deficit by $1.4 billion over 10 years.

Certainly justifies reconvening the House. I'd think so even if it wasn't Patty Murray's bill - also a fact.

Congratulations Justice Kagan!

WASHINGTON — Solicitor General Elena Kagan won easy Senate confirmation Thursday to the U. S. Supreme Court, where President Barack Obama's nominee will make history as three women will serve at the same time on the nine-member court.

Congratulations women, too!

In other good news...

AP - Senate Democrats on Wednesday overcame Republican opposition and cleared the way for a $26 billion measure to help states ease their severe budget problems and save the jobs of tens of thousands of teachers and other public employees.

Those Women From Maine momentarily came to their senses. Hurrah again.

Atrios says…

…that the internet says that Prop H8 is history.

Good enough for me. Hurrah!

Drive, he said.

President Obama...

When you get in your car, when you go forward, what do you do? You put it in “D.” When you want to go back, what do you do? You put it in “R.” We won’t do want to go into reverse back in the ditch. We want to go forwards. We got to put it in “D.”

Chart of the day.

Via The Gavel...



"Make it in America."