I may have mentioned this…

…but We’re Not Broke, Nor Will We Be (pdf).

From the "Me too" file.

Doug Harlan J at Balloon Juice...

I’m tired of hearing people whose favored policies would ultimately destroy Israel describe themselves as “pro-Israel”.

Me too.

From the "Since you asked…" file.

Pondering Iowa, the WaPo wonders...

How relevant are the preferences of 200,000 or so caucusgoers in a rural state that is overwhelmingly white and significantly older than average?

Since you asked, that seems like a pretty fair representation of the Republican base, so, for Republicans anyway, pretty relevant, I suppose.

Today...

...don't forget to remember.

From the "What's in your purse?" file.

Via the invaluable archive at If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger, There'd Be a Whole Lot of Dead Copycats...

The usual...

James Brown & The Famous Flames - Think
Alison Krauss - Can't Find My Way Home
Kate Wolf - These Days
Bill Withers - Better Off Dead
Sonia Rutstein - Is There Anybody Here?
Charley Pride - Is Anybody Goin' To San Antone?
The Byrds - Eight Miles High
Donna The Buffalo - Mississippi
The Proclaimers - 500 Miles
Big Star - I'm In Love With A Girl

And one in memory of Brother Gil…

Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

R.I.P.

What digby said…

…here.

Palin running? I'd be surprised, at least if "running" has the same meaning it has in the past.

You can call it "running" if you must, but it's still just marketing. She's not a candidate, she's a brand.

I seem to be…

…@UpperLefty. Yep, I've joined the ranks of twitterers, or twitists, or whatever it is that I seem to have become. Here's the news that finally brought me into the fold...

...Jesse Lee will move from the new media department into a role in the communications department as Director of Progressive Media & Online Response...

…and the official White House Twitter account that Jesse got with the job.

I've followed Jesse from the D-Trip to the Speaker's office to the White House, and now into the twittersphere. I don't know how much I'll be contributing to the fray over there, but I'll probably find a few more folks to follow. Any suggestions from the veteran twitites among y'all?

From the "Me neither" file.

Sir Charles...

People who believe it would be beneficial to raise the Social Security retirement age or eliminate Medicare as we know it or who think that Paul Ryan is a profile in courage or that deficits matter more than unemployment, really aren't the folks I want in charge of decision making.

Me neither. That's why I keep saying that...

It's hard to imagine...

...who I might be today if I hadn't had Bob Dylan's music to grow up with. I bet I'm not the only one who feels that way. In honor of his 70th birthday, a special, if not exactly random, random ten...

The Handsome Family - Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
Jerry Garcia & David Grisman - She Belongs To Me
Todd Snider - You're A Big Girl Now
Michael Weston King - Simple Twist Of Fate
The Walkabouts - Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands
The Long Ryders - Highway 61 Revisited
Joan Baez - Farewell Angelina
Warren Haynes - I Shall Be Released
Jimmy LaFave - One Too Many Mornings
Rosie Flores - Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You

A random 100 would barely scratch the surface. Happy birthday, Bob!

Yes, Virginia…

…there is a difference. Professor Sinhababu at the podium this time...

The Affordable Care Act and the Paul Ryan budget illustrate the difference between Democratic and Republican approaches to Medicare spending. Democrats want to keep offering people good care and save money by driving harder bargains with the corporations who sell it. Republicans want to keep offering corporations sweet deals and save money by giving people less care.

If I keep quoting academics, maybe I should start charging tuition.

Politics 101

Professor Bernstein gets first things first...

One of the very first things to know about politics in the United States is how unfathomably big the nation is, and how having enough people agree with you to pack a room doesn't actually mean much, as far as political impact is concerned.

As a veteran of innumerable packed rooms of little or no ultimate consequence, I can confirm this insight empirically.

Dennis Kucinich was here…

…and I wasn't there. I was busy being a member of the working class while a champion of the working class was appearing up the hill this morning, but I did get a glimpse of the building on my way to the perfect tavern. From the banners that festooned the stairs and porch railings, it looked like the universal health care crowd was out in force to support one of their (our) champions, too. Dennis is, of course, a champion to a lot of supporters of a lot of progressive causes.

Pal o' Upper Left Janet Way was there, though, with over a hundred others, and has a report and pictures over at her place.

Congratulations to the Carin Chase and the 32nd District Democrats for a successful event.

Chart of the day.

Via Dave Johnson...




Wonder where the money went?

Quote of the day.

Willie Nelson...

"The more I get into politics the more I realize that I am a guitar player.”

Nice pretext for a tip of the Stetson to the Eldest Son of Upper Left, who's on the road working Willie's stage on the Country Throwdown tour. He's been lots of places with lots of tours over the years, but I've never been this jealous of one of my kids.

Now playing.

Well, not now, actually, but recently, and randomly...

Betty Everett - The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)
Tim & Mollie O'Brien - Unwed Fathers
Little Richard - Tutti Frutti
Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman
James Gang - Funk #48
Willie Nelson - The Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning
Jeff Tweedy - The Thanks I Get
Otis Redding - Try A Little Tenderness
ZZ Top - La Grange
Dixie Chicks - More Love

From the "Happy endings" file.

A little Friday fun from GraphJam...

Good question…

…from Jim Camden at the Spokesman-Review inquires...

Will Lege have a quorum after Rapture?

I dunno, but I imagine I'll be happy enough with the makeup of the secular humanist Lege left behind.

Chart of the day.

Via Mahablog...

Quote of the day.

Nancy Pelosi...

"We have a plan. It’s called Medicare."

From the "Si Se Puede!" file.

Via CNN...

The U.S. Navy has named one of its newest ships after Mexican-American labor organizer Cesar Chavez, officials said Wednesday.

Maybe it's my age showing, but damn, ain't that something?

It's a start.

Darryl has the takeaway from Public Policy Polling's new look at Maria Cantwell's re-election prospects...

Cantwell’s reasonably popular and the GOP doesn’t have anyone good to run against her.

As regular readers might know, Maria Cantwell is, in fact, wildly popular here at Upper Left World Headquarters, so any good news for the Senator is good news to me. Heck, "reasonably popular" seems like pretty high praise for any politician these days, so I'm encouraged.

We can't be complacent, though. The weakness of their bench notwithstanding, there will be a Republican on the ballot and there will be investors willing to lie, cheat and steal to secure this seat for that Republican.



Good news is good, but there's always work to do.

From the "Since you asked…" file.

South Carolina State Senator Glenn McConnell wonders…

“Why was the war fought — was it about slavery or states’ rights?”

Since you asked, slavery, but just to make sure, let's ask Alexander Stephens, Vice President of the Confederate States Of America…

Our new Government is founded upon exactly the opposite ideas; its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and moral condition.

So, slavery it is.

From the "Me too" file.

Matt Yglesias...

Not only am I old enough to remember when picking Nancy Pelosi to stay on as Minority Leader doomed Democrats to never regain the majority, I’m old to even remember way back in 2005 when choosing her made it impossible for them to take it in the first place.

Me too.

And then some.

From the "Since you asked…" file.

Taegan Goddard inquires...

Who Benefits with Huckabee Not Running?

Since you asked, America. Heck, the whole darn world.

Shorter Newt Gingrich...

"Pay no attention to the life behind the curtain!"

The name has changed…

…but the spirit of McDermott-Wellstone lives on. Via The Sideshow...

Bernie Sanders and Jim McDermott have introduced single-payer bills in both the Senate and the House, as well. The twin measures, both called the American Health Security Act of 2011, would provide federal guidelines and strong minimum standards for states to administer single-payer health care programs.

The dream will never die.

And, yep, I'm proud to say that that's my own personal Congressman keeping it alive.

Signs of the times.

A youthful prophet, via Daily Kos...




My prediction? No, they won't. Yes, it is.

Map of the day.

Via Fran at Crooks & Liars...

Looks like the Boy's Club is in session...

...for this week's random ten.

Bob Dylan - Ballad Of A Thin Man
Don Gibson - Oh Lonesome Me
The Old 97's - Champaign, Illinois
Simon & Garfunkel - Keep The Customer Satisfied
Townes Van Zandt - Our Mother The Mountain
Chuck Berry - Little Queenie
The Del McCoury Band - Nashville Cats
Nick Lowe - Ragin' Eyes
Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine
Doc Watson - Miss The Mississippi And You

Stuff I learned on the internet…

…but should have known anyway. James Alm of Tulane University and Janet Rogers of the Nevada Department of Budget and Planning studied fifty years of data and concluded…

”Having a Republican governor is associated with lower rates of growth."

When you remember that real economic growth at the state level is largely driven by a small business sector that the Republican Party has never had a legitimate concern for, it's hardly a surprise, but the documentation is worth noting.

Kudos…

…to Rep. Adam Smith (WA-9), who says in a statement...

"I have decided not to go to Langley to view the bin Laden photographs myself at CIA Headquarters. I support the President’s decision not to release the photographs. These images are not necessary to confirm that the mission to eliminate bin Laden was a success.”

The right decision for the right reasons. Applause from here, Congressman!

This is reposted from Thursday, Blogger's hiccup seeming to have lost it and Michael Moore post. Since then, I've heard of people seeing the photos and saying they should be released and people seeing the photos and saying they shouldn't. I haven't heard anyone else taking Smith's principled stand - refusing the invitation to see them, endorsing the decision to withhold them and denying the conspiratorial claims that seeing them is somehow necessary.

The ovation continues, standing now...

Yes, you may.

Michael Moore...

If we really want to send bin Laden not just to his death, but also to his defeat, may I suggest that we reverse all of that right now. End the wars, bring the troops home, make the rich pay for this mess, and restore our privacy and due process rights that used to distinguish us from any other country.

Hat tip to Gordon.

Slow but...

...still somewhat uncertain. Blogger blew yesterday and though they've promised to restore the posts they took offline for repairs, I'm only getting one of the three I put up before they disappeared. I've got 'em in a personal buffer, so I can and will restore them if they're not back before I'm home from work tonight.

In breif, the missing posts congratulate Rep. Adam Smith for taking the right position on the bin Laden photos - he declined the viewing opportunity afforded him and supports the decision not to publish - and encourage Michael Moore's encouragement to "End the wars, bring the troops home, make the rich pay for this mess, and restore our privacy and due process rights that used to distinguish us from any other country" now that the subject of those photographs is dead.

Stay tuned for all that and more...

From the "Signs of the apocalypse" file.

The Obama SEAL doll...

From the "There oughta be a law" file.

I move adoption of Bernstein's Law…

If you kill bin Laden, you get to have anyone over to the White House that you want, since you're the guy who took out bin Laden.

Do I hear a second?

From the "Known knowns" file.

Harry Reid…

We all know Republicans dislike organized labor. We know they disdain unions because unions demand fairness and equality from the Big Businesses Republicans so often shield at all costs.

Sure, we all know it, but it always bears repeating.

Give 'em hell, Harry!

From the "Since you asked…" file.

Jared Paben at the Bellingham Herald wonders...

When do you think the Legislature should suspend initiatives?

Since you asked, when they're conceived wouldn't be too soon, but I'd settle for when they're filed.

It's time to end the thoroughly corrupted practice altogether.

Make of it what you will…

…but my guess is that Rep. Kucinich's appearance at a fundraiser for my LD Democratic organization has very little to do with speculation about his possible interest in the 1st District Congressional seat and a lot to do with his relationship with our State Senator, Maralyn Chase, one of the most prominent local supporters of his presidential campaigns.

Whatever the reason, it's for a good cause, and the Lodge (I'm a Past Master of the Masonic Lodge that owns the building) can use the rental, so mark the date!



Join the 32nd Legislative District Democrats and special guest



Congressman Dennis Kucinich



for a Sunday Brunch Fundraiser
to benefit the 32nd Legislative District Democrats.

May 22nd, 2011 Sunday
10:30AM – 12:30PM

Richmond Masonic Center
753 185th St
Shoreline, WA 98133

$25.00 suggested donation, no one turned away

RSVP and volunteer:

Carin Chase, Chair carin.chase@32democrats.org
PO Box 65258 Shoreline, WA 98155

Signs of the times.

From Mike Licht at Notions Capital...

Chart of the day.

Via Matt Yglesias...

Why, oh why, oh why, oh why...

...because, because, because, because.

Juan Cole. Go read.

Can't let the day pass...

...without a nod to Mom. I worked a long shift today, but the Brilliant and Beautiful Bride of Upper Left and I managed to drop off a card and some posies before I went in. It was the first time in years my Mom has been close enough to visit on Mother's Day, a treat for both of us, I think.

Mom left school in the eigth grade and went to work in the shipyards as a welder. She became an autodidact, reading everything that crossed her path, and she passed that love of the word along to me, teaching me to read before I started kindergarten.

She also passed along her faith in the Democratic Party as the best hope for working people and her practice of voting the straight party ticket. One of the reasons I sorry about the advent of universal vote by mail elections is that some of my fondest childhood memories are of the days Mom walked to school with us and went into the gym to close the curtain and proudly cast her ballot.

She's still plugging away at 85. It's a blessing that I'm grateful for every day, as I'm grateful for having the chance to give her a long overdue Mother's Day smooch this morning.

Quick quiz...

David Koch says that he believes that President Obama is “a hardcore socialist." This means that David Koch:

A. Doesn't know anything about socialism.
B. Doesn't know anything about President Obama
C. Doesn't know anything about anything.
D. Is a liar.
E. (Mix, match or add your own.)

Weekly random ten of the day.

Them - Here Comes The Night
Jimmie Rodgers - Hobo Bill's Last Ride
Willie Nelson - Too Sick To Pray
Todd Rundgren - I Don't Want To Tie You Down
Herman's Hermits - Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter
Billy Bragg - Walk Away Renee
The Sonics - The Witch
The Young Rascals - How Can I Be Sure
Donovan - Museum
Sara Evans - Perfect

Good question…

...from Minnesota State Rep. Steve Simon…

How many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves whether God actually wants them around?

Umm, 42?

From "The best laid plans…" file.

Via Truthsurfer...

In these very hard economic times profits at largest 500 corporations grew by 81% in 2010. So much for Obama's plan to destroy capitalism...

Heh™.

From the "Since you asked…" file.

Patrick Caldwell wonders…

...can we all agree it is finally time to stop covering Trump?

Since you asked, yes.

If you'd asked a week ago, or a month ago, or, in fact, anytime at all, the anwer would still have been yes.

Adults Only.

McClatchy's Kevin G. Hall writes one for the grownups...

At a time when Washington is wrestling with how to end federal budget deficits and trim the national debt — huge questions that are expected to dominate the nation's politics through the 2012 elections — the fact that Americans are under-taxed compared with U.S. historic norms is central to the discussion.

In fact, if you can remember a time when things were better, you're doubtless thinking of a time when taxes were higher.

A slight quibble - that fact that certainly should be central to the discussion, since it's essential to the solution, but I'm afraid Mr. Hall's maturity is largely absent in the forums where the discussion leads to decisions.

Always nice to see the truth in print, though...

Thought for the day.

Via ABL...

From the "Me neither" file.

Paul Krugman...

Well, remember how the Ryan budget was supposed to mark our national moment of truth, forcing us into a serious discussion of fiscal choices? Neither do I.

Me neither.

Chart of the day.

Maddow Blog again…

Bumpersticker of the day.

Via Roy Edroso...




Anybody seen these for sale yet?

Signs of the times.

Via Maddow Blog...

From the "Lessons learned" file.

Professor Sinhababu instructs...

If somebody kills thousands of American citizens, a Democratic president will kill him. A Republican president will kill thousands of unrelated people.

Keep that in mind. It'll come up in the final next November.

From the "Since you asked" file.

Regarding the White House Correspondents Dinner, Balloon Juice reports that Newsbusters wonders...

Isn’t it nice to know that folks who will be covering the upcoming presidential race have no qualms about publicly expressing their displeasure for one of the possible candidates?

Since you asked, yes, it is.

There are, in fact, a few more I wish they'd weigh in on.

From the "Like rain on your wedding day…" file.

Joe Sudbay notices…

Bush's "Mission Accomplished" speech was eight years ago today.

I wonder if tonight's address will become known as Obama's "Mission Actually Accomplished" speech.