From the "Me too" file.

Jay Ackroyd…

I am still trying to understand why the first words out of the mouths of every Democrat in a public setting are not "I really would like Eric Cantor to explain why he is betting against America."

Me too.

Yep.

Joe Sudbay...

If Halperin thinks Obama was a dick, Obama must be doing something right.

From the "Not exactly news" file.

Michele Bachmann's a hypocrite.

Mitt Romney's a liar.

Herman Cain doesn't think.

And what's more...

But I imagine you knew all that...

From the "You've been had" file.

Goldman Sachs Is Firing Employees In The US So It Can Hire 1,000 In Singapore

Who could have known?

From the "Stuff I found on the internet" file.

The Democratic Strategist has a hard hitting batch of bumperstickers you can have printed up. A couple of favorites…





Sounds like they understand that...

From the "Since you asked…" file.

Joe Conason wonders…

With their hostility to science, their appeals to bigotry and their economic quackery, exactly what makes the Republicans fit to govern a leading nation on a troubled, globalizing planet?

Since you asked, nothing whatsoever.

Poll of the day.

Via Yglesias, a Gallup survey that asks...

If your party nominated a generally well-qualified person for president who happened to be Mormon, would you vote for that person?

A mere 22% said no. That the number is so small reflects a failure of civics education in America. It's worse than it looks, actually, since no small part of that group doubtless would reject a Mormon candidate because of their own religious fundamentalism, rather than for the simple fact that any religious fundamentalism, (and to be a practicing Mormon is, by definition, to be a Mormon fundamentalist) is inconsistent with Constitutional governance in the United States.

If your religious faith requires you to ignore physical science, disregard recorded history and abandon human reason, well, regardless of your other attributes, you're not qualified to lead the secular liberal government that the framers purposely designed. Every educated American should know that.

With so many fundies of so many stripes vying for the Republican nomination, it needs to be said.

Signs of the times.

Via Blatherwatch...

Chart of the day.

By now I suppose you're getting a pretty good idea of where the money went...

Let's get this party started...

Jesse Fuller - San Francisco Bay Blues
The Weavers - There's More Pretty Girls Than One
Ray Ellington - Long Black Nylons
Bobby Darin - Dream Lover
Townes Van Zandt - Why She's Acting This Way
NewGrange - Handsome Molly
Steve Young - Shopping For Dresses
War - The World Is A Ghetto
David Grisman, John Hartford & Mike Seeger - Maybelline
Jim Reeves - He'll Have To Go

And a non-random number for the folks in New York...

The Dixie Cups - Going To The Chapel

From the "Why not Washington?" file.

New York gets it done…

Legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in New York cleared the last major hurdle Friday with a 33-to-29 vote in the state Senate.

Hurrah!

So, why not Washington?

Warning...

Darryl has a bunch.

From the "Since you asked…" file.

Alex Pareene inquires…

Is Rand Paul as dumb as he sounds?

Since you asked, yep.

Chart of the day.

Survey says, bring 'em home…

Yep.

If not for heaven's sake, for ours. Harry Reid...

"I mean, for heaven's sake, we need a few short-term games around here."

I wonder, wonder, wonder, wonder...

...why anybody's still covering Newt Gingrich.

And who the heck did write the Book Of Love? Which is, in the grand scheme, a lot more important.

From the "Me too" file.

Jonathan Bernstein...

I think the way to get out of Afghanistan is, more than anything else, to leave. That is, not to set conditions for leaving, but to just leave.

Me too.

When it's peach pickin' time in Georgia...

Jay Bookman at the Atlanta Journal Constitution...

After enacting House Bill 87, a law designed to drive illegal immigrants out of Georgia, state officials appear shocked to discover that HB 87 is, well, driving a lot of illegal immigrants out of Georgia.

...Thanks to the resulting labor shortage, Georgia farmers have been forced to leave millions of dollars' worth of blueberries, onions, melons and other crops unharvested and rotting in the fields. It has also put state officials into something of a panic at the damage they've done to Georgia's largest industry.

Hat tip to J.P. Green at The Democratic Strategist

Chart of the day.

This is why we can't have nice things...


H/T Donkeylicious.

Comes the time...

...when Father's Day becomes mostly about memories.


Mostly good ones, but even some of the not so good become treasured over time.

Happy Father's Day, Dad. Still miss you.

Happy Father's Day to all y'all, too.

Speaking of occasional Democrats…

…a calendar note from the local manifestation of Teapublicanism, an outfit called "The Shoreline Caucus," via Shoreline Area News...

Please join us next Tuesday, June 21 (not Thursday this month), to hear State Auditor Brian Sonntag…

Um, Brian? You're thinking about running for what? As a what? I don't think these folks are gonna help...

Thursday, August 18th – come and meet Rob McKenna, running for Governor...our opposition is going to go all-out to retain this seat, so please come and show Rob your support. Let’s fill the clubhouse.

Heh™.

Conan O'Brien via Ron Chusid...

“A Tea Party group has a summer camp for kids, the only one where they sit around the campfire and tell scary stories about taxing the top 2%.”

A public service reminder...

Hat tip to Steve M.

Doesn't matter how you pick 'em…

…any list that includes Lucinda Williams singing AC-DC qualifies as random.

Jackie Wilson - Lonely Teardrops
The Posies - She's Coming Down Again!
Townes Van Zandt - Our Mother The Mountain
Nat King Cole - Nature Boy
Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffett - It's Five O'clock Somewhere
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Crosstown Traffic
Lucinda Williams - It's A Long Way To The Top
Elvis Presley - Kentucky Rain
Sinéad O'Connor - Someday My Prince Will Come
Pee Wee King & His Golden West Cowboys - Kentucky Waltz

From the "Me too" file.

Jonathan Bernstein...

My prejudices when it comes to campaign regulations are pretty simple: more politics is good, less is bad.

Me too.

And the painted ponies go up and down…

When Governor Chris Gregoire made her anticipated retirement announcement, political ears were tuned to Jay Inslee, who had put off announcing his own plans before Gregoire's statement. Before Jay acted, though, word came from D.C. that former King County Exec Ron Sims, who has sought statewide office before, was coming home. Ron, though, quickly quashed talk of a gubernatorial campaign, endorsing Jay as he announced his retirement from H.U.D.

Meanwhile, occasional Democrat and frequent grandstander Brian Sonntag said he's considering leaving the State Auditor's office for a run at the Governor's mansion, with a decision to come within a couple of weeks. That's another wrinkle for Inslee, who has said he won't run if there's Democratic opposition in the primary. If Sonntag runs and Inslee demurs, there's an opening for someone to champion the Democratic voters of King County, whose memories hopefully aren't as short as Sonntag must hope. His disputes with the Democratic leadership in Olympia can be explained, if not always excused, as the rigorous defense of his office and its work. His endorsement of Republican Susan Hutchison for King County Executive is another matter altogether.

So, if Brian says yes and Jay says no, what's Ron gonna say then?

Well, hi there!

The problem with blogging is you need a computer. The problem with computers is…well, you know the problem with computers or you wouldn't be able to read this. The immediate problems with mine being more or less resolved for the moment, there's a bit of news backlog.

Anthony Weiner, whose personal life I care not a bit about and whose performance in Congress was a mixed bag, has resigned.

To his credit, he could dissect a Republican talking point (and the occasional Republican) with emotionally satisfying vigor, but that was also a manifestation of a tendency to grandstand. He shirked his D-Trip dues and his lack of team play left him without much of a team to fall back on when he needed one. When you don't get on the bus, you risk ending up under it.

I'm not among those disappointed that he's gone. Sure, David Vitter should be gone for his criminal conduct, but the comparison fails because Weiner isn't, so far as the reports relate, a criminal. He is, rather, an idiot.

I don't think criminals belong in Congress, but it doesn't hurt to reduce the idiot count a bit. The seat is safely Democratic, and there's likely better than Anthony Weiner on the bench.

Chart of the day.

In case you're still wondering where the money went...




H/T AFL-CIO Now.

From the "Me too" file.

Fixer...

Looks to me like more in the Republican Party have undergone "radicalization" in the last 10 years than have American Muslims.

Me too.

Which is, of course, one of the reasons I keep telling you that...

Things got busy…

…at Records & Elections after I checked in Friday morning. By the close of filing, City Councilmember Chris Eggen had picked up a challenger, making all three races two-way contests. Meanwhile, the school board races filled up, with two of the three seats there being contested.

Since these are all non-partisan races and there are only two candidates per contest, they'll all move straight to the November ballot. That means it may take awhile for the campaigns to gear up and for the issues they're emphasizing to emerge, but it could get spirited in Upper Left's home town..

What's a nice Irish girl like…

…Maura O'Connell doing on a testosterone laden list like this? Ah, well, that's what random does...

Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys - San Antonio Rose
Jr. Walker & The All Stars - What Does It Take?
Arthur Alexander - A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues
Tom T. Hall - Don't Forget The Coffee Billy Joe
The Specials - Nelson Mandela
Maura O'Connell - Poor Man's House
Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band - My Head Is My Only House Unless It Rains
Keb' Mo' - For What It's Worth
Larry Williams - Slow Down
Elvis Costello - Waiting For The End Of The World

Chart of the day.

Via Meteor Blades…

There's always an election somewhere…

…and hereabouts we'll be electing a variety of boards, commissions and councils this year. It's filing week, and so far the biggest wrinkle seems to be a challenge to Seattle Port Commissioner Gael Tarleton, who has already racked up an impressive list of Democratic Party endorsements, including the County Central Committee, from Michael Wolfe, executive director of Washington Ceasefire and an officer of the 37th District Democrats.

Three council seats will be on the ballot in my fair city. So far, incumbent Chris Eggen is unchallenged, while former Councilmember Janet Way has filed to challenge incumbent Doris McConnell. The third seat is open, with Councilmember Terry Scott stepping away, and a two way race between former city Planning Commissioner Robin McClelland and attorney Jesse Solomon, who is a public defender representing indigent clients, is shaping up. Way and Solomon have already secured the endorsement of the local Democratic organization.

It's something of a surprise to me that the three Shoreline School District seats that will appear on the ballot have so far drawn only one candidate between them, but filing doesn't close for a few hours and I'm sure the roster will fill out by then.

Any local filing news of note in your locality?

From the "Good news for John McCain" file.

Via Political Wire...

A new Gallup poll finds 45% of Americans identified as Democrats last month as compared to 39% who identified as Republicans.

The six-point Democratic edge is the largest measured since October 2009, when the gap was seven points.

Shorter Newt Gingrich.

"It's just a flesh wound!"

From the "Why not Washington?" file.

Andrew Leonard at Salon...

In Connecticut, Democratic control of the governorship and state legislature have pushed through an agenda of higher taxes and extended social welfare safety net benefits that must make President Obama green with envy.

I'm kinda green myself. I mean, we have Democratic control of the governorship and the state legislature. Why not Washington?

Oh yeah, we have direct initiatives, too. They don't hamstring their elected representatives that way. If that's not the "why not," it's a "why not."

Time to end the incurably corrupt practice and its perversely anti-democratic outcomes.

Past time.

Chart of the day.

Via Jed Lewison at DailyKos...



OK, it's not enough, but it's not nothin', neither.

Tweet of the day.

Darryl, aka @hominidviews…

Every time Sarah Palin makes a media statement, God kills an historian.

Like déjà vu all over again.

While I was basking in the glow of the suddenly departed great yellow orb, the deck chairs were being arranged for upcoming elections. It seems like everybody wants to be the Comeback Kid.

Down Olympia way, Denny Heck is gearing up to run in whichever Congressional district reapportionment puts him in. It's likely to be more favorable to him than the old 4th proved to be last time around, but if it's particularly more attractive to a Democratic candidate, there might be more than a couple of contenders.

When last seen, Laura Ruderman gave up her legislative seat for a statewide run for Secretary of State. She was one of the most credible candidates Democrats have put on the ballot for that office in recent years, but couldn't break the stranglehold Republicans seem to have established there. Now, if Jay Inslee gives up the seat for the Governor's race, she'll take a run at the 1st Congressional District. Living on the border of the 1st and 7th, I'm susceptible to redistricting and that may be the contest to determine my own personal future Congressman.

Of course, I'm perfectly happy with Jim McDermott as my Congressman, would just as soon see Jay stay put and build clout and, after the debacle of the Gregoire years, wouldn't mind if they'd just shutter the Governor's office for a few terms, but I suspect Laura's more likely to get her wish than I am to get mine. Just let me keep Jim, OK?

Locally, former Councilmember Janet Way is seeking to return to the Shoreline City Council. An advocate for both environmental and historic restoration and preservation in our community, Janet's also a friend and fellow blogger. She's a Democratic Party activist, too, and should find some institutional support from that direction (Our city government is officially non-partisan, but, like our big southern neighbor, uni-partisan's likely a better description.) The seat she's seeking this time is currently held by Doris McConnell, but the field's never defined till filing is closed. This could be one of the more interesting contests in our city's relatively short but spirited election history.

Meanwhile, it's filing week for a variety of local offices, which usually provides a few spills and thrills for political junkies. I'm off in search of news...

From the "Me too" file.

Jonathan Bernstein...

At any rate, I completely agree with (Steven) Taylor: "In terms of contemporary usage, especially from a political science point of view, the formulation 'we have a republic, not a democracy' is almost nonsense."

Me too.

Athough I've been distracted...

...by the mysterious appearance of a giant yellow orb in the sky, I'm still here and the grey skies will surely return, which means normal blogging will soon resume.

The randdomizer's in rare form.

Glen Campbell to George Clinton? With a little vintage Roy Rogers to boot?

C'mon, that's random!

Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman
Aretha Franklin - The Weight
Gary Stewart - She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)
Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band - Yours Forever Blue
Lucy Kaplansky - Ring Of Fire
The Beau Brummels - The Loneliest Man In The World
Nanci Griffith - That's What I Hear
Phil Ochs - Gas Station Women
Roy Rogers - San Fernando Valley
George Clinton - Paint The White House Black

From the "Since you asked…" file.

Doug Harlan J wonders...

...is Cain really that much more ridiculous than Tim Pawlenty and Mitt Romney?

Since you asked, no. They're all Bozos on that bus. Putting that "R" after their names means putting on the rubber nose.

From the "You can look it up" file.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- In rhetorical excesses marking his entry in the presidential campaign, Mitt Romney said the economy worsened under President Barack Obama, when it actually improved, and criticized the president for issuing apologies to the world that were never made.

Mitt's a liar.

You can look it up.

What Streak said.

Here...

Very hard to take people seriously who on Sunday preach a literal creation story and on Tuesday vote to destroy that same creation. Very hard.

Yep.

Downright impossible sometimes, in fact.

When you've lost Norm Dicks…

…you've lost the war.

Bring 'em home.

Word Cloud of the day.

Republicans overrate their 2010 field...

Chart of the day.

I signed up at Twitter because I knew @jesseclee44 would point me to good stuff. Like this...