Upper Left

Score two for the good guys.

2012-02-01T19:45:00.000-08:00

The Bellingham Herald's Jared Paben reports...

The bill that would suspend changes in the minimum wage during times of high unemployment failed to make it out of a state House of Representatives committee.

The same goes for the bill that would allow restaurants to pay servers less than Washington’s minimum wage if they would make that amount counting their tips.

Put it in the "Why majorities matter" file.

Analogy of the day.

2012-02-01T18:50:00.001-08:00

Ian Murphy...

Polygamous, aggressive when threatened, and insulated by a thick layer of blubber, Newt Gingrich is the walrus of American politics…

Really deserves the attention of someone with better Photoshop skills than I possess.

Drifty? Bluegal, maybe?

Newt. Nailed.

2012-02-01T09:42:00.000-08:00

Or, "Buddy, can you buy a book?" Jonathan Bernstein, on why the grifter ain't going away...

Remember, you need an enormous number of votes to be elected President of the United States, and quite a few votes to be nominated for that office. But you can make a very good living off of a fairly small number of dupes, as long as they're rich enough and willing to keep shelling out for every new product you come up with.

So all in all I'm not really sure where Newt's incentives lie, other than to say that I'm quite certain that he really, really knows his marks and what works with them.

For those still harboring illusions...

2012-01-31T02:17:00.000-08:00

Bill White, Commander, American National Socialist Party...

(Ron) Paul is a white nationalist of the Stormfront type who has always kept his racial views and his views about world Judaism quiet because of his political position.

It takes a Nazi to know...

From the "Go Newt, Go" file.

2012-01-31T01:42:00.000-08:00

Matt Tabbai...

If Gingrich ends up winning the nomination, Obama will essentially be running against the political version of Gilbert Gottfried or raw garlic.

H/T Howie.

The truth, and nothing but the truth….

2012-01-31T01:01:00.000-08:00

…so help Charles Pierce…

...there is nothing important about Willard Romney as a candidate that has changed at all. He is still an unprincipled opportunist, incapable of telling the truth about his own record, and utterly without conscience when it comes to lying about someone else.

Chart of the day.

2012-01-30T14:54:00.000-08:00

Via AFL-CIO Now...

From the "Fun facts" file...

2012-01-29T22:36:00.000-08:00

...via Tbogg...

Top ten states for divorce:

1. Oklahoma
2. Arkansas
3. Alaska
4. Alabama
5. Kentucky
6. Nevada
7. Mississippi
8. Georgia
9. Tennessee
10. Arizona

Quote of the day,

2012-01-29T14:54:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan...

"If you want to have a strong country, you have to make things."

Yep.

Once again...

2012-01-28T00:28:00.000-08:00

...a random ten. I like the way those three 'town' tunes pop up in order...seems to make it mean something somehow...

Grayson Capps - Highway 42
Tom Paxton - Sully's Pail
Warren Zevon - Empty Hearted Town
Rick Nelson - Lonesome Town
Nancy Sinatra - Sugar Town
Dillard & Clark - Train Leaves Here This Morning
Buddy Holly - True Love Ways
Buffalo Springfield - Sit Down I Think I Love You
Chris Isaak - How's The World Treating You
Stephen Sills - Ballad Of Hollis Brown

On the other hand...

2012-01-27T23:02:00.000-08:00

...go Newt go!

Obama
100.0% probability of winning
Mean of 416 electoral votes

Gingrich
0.0% probability of winning
Mean of 122 electoral votes

Fun facts.

2012-01-26T15:25:00.000-08:00

Matt Osborne reminds us...

Newt Gingrich is the only Speaker of the House ever to be sanctioned in office.

Chart of the day.

2012-01-25T22:51:00.000-08:00

Juan Cole got it here...

Feel any safer?

Hoocoodanode.

2012-01-25T19:12:00.000-08:00

Newt's a liar.

From the "Me too" file.

2012-01-25T18:01:00.000-08:00

Warren Buffett, whose straw is longer than yours or mine or yours and mine added up...

"I want a government that is responsive to the people who got the short straw in life.”

Me too.

Speech...

2012-01-24T17:38:00.000-08:00

...or folk music?

Folk music. See ya' later...

Occupy the courts.

2012-01-23T22:18:00.000-08:00

H/T Bluegal.

Once again...

2012-01-23T09:12:00.000-08:00

...what digby said...

When the authorities find themselves groping a US Senator's crotch in public without any suspicion of criminal activity, something's gone wrong.

From the "Me too" file.

2012-01-22T23:00:00.000-08:00

PZ Meyers...

I think we can safely say that no Republican should be allowed anywhere near the reins of government.

Ya' think? Me too, and not just because, as Dr. Meyers laments, "They're anti-science through and through," though Cthulhu knows that's reason enough.

Lest we forget...

2012-01-22T22:11:00.000-08:00

The sports and entertainment headlines are full of noteworthy recent passages, but I can't let today pass without noticing the anniversary of the death of the greatest and, the damned war be damned, the most progressive President of my lifetime.

Your life is better today because Lyndon Baines Johnson served as President of the United States.

That's a fact.

Sunday funny.

2012-01-22T08:47:00.000-08:00

Hat tip to Howie for the first thing that made me laugh today...

Word.

2012-01-21T07:25:00.000-08:00

Kent Jones...

Soul music is not background music. It is not music to shop to. It is not music to eat dinner to. Soul music is not something that plays while a service representative gets back to you.

Soul music is Etta James.

Not just another...

2012-01-21T00:03:00.000-08:00

...random ten, because there are twelve, and a couple of them aren't random at all. Here's the usual...

Harry Belafonte - Man Smart (Woman Smarter)
Jefferson Airplane - Triad
The Blues Brothers - Rubber Biscuit
Mother Love Bone - Come Bite The Apple
Wilco - I Must Be High
Gillian Welch - Pancho And Lefty
Dusty Springfield - Mama Said
The Four Tops - It's The Same Old Song
Muddy Waters - Rollin' Stone
Lucy Kaplansky - Ring Of Fire

...and here's a pair of memorial selections by two irreplacable R&B legends we lost this week...

Johnny Otis - Harlem Nocturne
Etta James - Tell Mama

R.I.P. Johnny & Etta.

Heh™.

2012-01-20T10:54:00.000-08:00

Doghouse Riley...

SHORTER David Brooks: "Sure, Mitt Romney's character has been shaped by piratical capitalism and kooky theology. But only the good parts."

From the "Credit where it's due" file.

2012-01-19T20:21:00.001-08:00

Sometimes progress is measured in baby steps. Jed Lewison, liveblogging yet another Republican ~~debacle~~, erm, debate...

6:51 PM PT: So the crowd in this debate ... cheered adultery, lustily ... but that was an improvement, over cheering the death of the uninsured.

Inch by inch...OK, millimeter by millimeter...

Good question…

2012-01-19T19:52:00.000-08:00

…from Tom Harper...

If Captain Francesco Schettino took Newt Gingrich's place on the campaign trail — could anyone tell the difference?

From the "Since you asked…" file.

2012-01-19T05:45:00.000-08:00

mistermix wonders...

...isn’t taking an oath to uphold the constitution and then ignoring it basically treason?

Since you asked, you may call it treason. Me too. Republicans call it business as usual.

Of course, they're a pretty treasonous lot these days.

Is it any wonder that I keep saying that...

Three cheers…

2012-01-17T22:04:00.000-08:00

…for the terrific trio from the 32nd Legislative District. Representatives Cindy Ryu and Ruth Kagi and Senator Maralyn Chase, have signed on to HB 2468 and its Senate companion, SB 6283, which would replace execution with life imprisonment without parole in our state. They're all likewise among the sponsors of SB 6239 and HB 2516, the legislation Governor Gregoire requested extending civil marriage rights to same sex couples.

In the House, Ruth and Cindy have joined the supporters of a pair of revenue-related bills, HB 2486, an income tax proposal, and HB 2563, creating a state capital gains tax. Our state can't move forward without revenue reform, and these are good, if only initial, steps forward.

I'm feeling particularly well represented in the Legislature this session.

From the "Me neither" file.

2012-01-16T20:05:00.000-08:00

Jed Lewison, liveblogging the Republican debate...

I really don't care about anything that anyone not named Romney says ... unless they are directing their remarks to Romney.

Me neither.

Well, I don't mind if their remarks are directed against Romney, I suppose.

Something to ponder...

2012-01-16T08:37:00.000-08:00

...on MLK Day. The legislation creating the federal holiday was signed by Ronald Reagan. Which, if any, of the current Republican candidates would sign that bill?

I'm down for none of 'em, but it'd never get through the current House anyway.

Enjoy the day, remember the reason, and if you're off and hereabouts, drop by the perfect tavern and say howdy.

As usual...

2012-01-14T01:24:00.000-08:00

Sheryl Crow - Strong Enough
The Rolling Stones - Connection
Freddie Scott - Hey, Girl
The Who - My Generation
Mary McCaslin - My World Is Empty Without You
Tom Robinson Band - 2-4-6-8 Motorway
The Buckinghams - Don't You Care
The Beau Brummels - Just A Little
Otis Redding - I've Been Loving You Too Long
Robert Earl Keen - The Road Goes On And On

Nice sprinkling of 60s gems there. They all hold up well, too.

Good question...

2012-01-13T22:53:00.002-08:00

...of the purely rhetorical variety, from Paul Krugman...

"I mean, is there anything at all in Romney's stump speech that's true?"

I'm pretty sure that what he actually means is "There is nothing at all in Romney's stump speech that's true," which, of course, is true.

It's true, really, of any Republican stump speech these days, which is another reason that...

Touché.

2012-01-12T21:59:00.000-08:00

The most disappointing aspect of last year's liquor privatization initiative, I-1183, may have the nearly sole-source funding of Costco, making it the most openly acknowledged instance of a corporation outright purchasing a favorable state law via the initiative process.

Another disappointment for those of us who have supported liqour privatization for its economic development potential was the way the initiative limited licensees, serving Costco's business and political interests, by cutting out small grocers, wine shops and other possible outlets and denying consumers the benefits of increased access and market competition.

Raise a glass, then, to Rep. Sam Hunt (D-22), who's tossed this in the hopper...

AN ACT Relating to prohibiting the issuance of spirits retail licenses to certain membership organizations

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

The legislature finds that buying in bulk and in supersized packaging, a pattern of activity that is promoted and encouraged by membership organizations, increases abusive consumption. In order to protect the public interest, advance public safety, and prevent abusive consumption of spirits, the Washington state liquor control board is explicitly prohibited from issuing spirits retail licenses to certain membership organizations.

No spirits retail license may be issued to a grocery store licensee that is a membership organization that requires members to be at least eighteen years of age.

Heh™. Wonder if Costco will ask for a refund if it passes...

From the "'Twas ever thus..." file.

2012-01-12T05:46:00.000-08:00

Via Fixer...

From the "Credit where it's due" file.

2012-01-11T21:08:00.000-08:00

At least Arizona Governor Jan Brewer makes me feel better about Washington Governor Christine Gregoire.

Not great, mind you, but better.

Yep.

2012-01-11T18:26:00.000-08:00

Anne Laurie...

Good news for Elizabeth Warren is good news!

Yes, it is. Always.

Good advice...

2012-01-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

...from SteveM...

Stop trying to pretend that Republicans are rational, decent, sane, patriotic people.

Map of the day.

2012-01-10T00:33:00.000-08:00

Darryl does the math, so we don't have to, and finds President Obama with a 95.8% proability of defeating Romney...

Feel better now?

From the "Since you asked…" file.

2012-01-09T16:01:00.000-08:00

Kenneth P. Vogel inquires…

Where's the tea party?

Since you asked, Ken, you'll find it in the same dark corner of the right side of the Republican base it briefly crawled out of, though it never ventured far.

Fun fact...

2012-01-09T09:06:00.000-08:00

...from John Aravosis...

In French, the words "myth" and "Mitt" are pronounced the same.

From the "Since you asked…" file.

2012-01-07T22:40:00.000-08:00

George Packer wonders…

How many times and ways can you say that the Republican Party has descended into unreality and extremism before you lose your viewers and readers?

Since you asked, at least one more, I'm sure.

Hat tip to Steve Benen.

Good point...

2012-01-07T12:36:00.000-08:00

...from Doghouse Riley...

In Fairness To Lawyers, Shakespeare Didn't Really Know Any Journalists.

...or Republicans.

No, I didn't forget...

2012-01-07T10:06:00.000-08:00

...I just went to sleep a bit early, so here's a wake-up edition of the random ten...

The Byrds - Hickory Wind
Bruce Springsteen - The Ghost Of Tom Joad
The Flying Burrito Brothers - To Ramona
Roger Miller - (In The Summertime) You Don't Want My Love
Townes Van Zandt - Kathleen
Todd Snider - Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues
Buck Owens - Act Naturally
Country Joe & The Fish - Superbird
Wayne Kramer - Junkie Romance
Neil Young - Flags Of Freedom

Try as I might...

2012-01-06T18:50:00.000-08:00

...it's hard to give Chris Gregoire much more than a half-hearted cheer for her lame duck conversion to support for marriage rights. I guess I should acknowledge that it's something more than a political caluculation, since it's pretty hard to imagine any political future for the Governor. Her apparent sincerity notwithstanding, though, and as important as the issue is to me, the move comes to late, I'm afraid, to rehabilitate a reputation marred by years of compromise and capitulation on a range of progressive concerns.

So yay, I guess, for knowing that a bill will get signed if it gets passed, but with Gregoire's political capital ledger now being recorded in red ink, I'm not sure what else her tardy support will do for the cause.

Heh™.

2012-01-05T15:46:00.000-08:00

driftglass. Just go see.

Shorter Rick Santorum...

2012-01-05T15:29:00.000-08:00

I didn't say what I said, I said what I say I said.

Longer here.

Regarding Iowa...

2012-01-04T22:07:00.000-08:00

...Darryl calls it...

The real winner last night: Barack Obama. Really, he won both caucuses.

Won the post-game, too, with today's recess appointments.

Chart of the day.

2012-01-04T21:04:00.000-08:00

Via Laura Clawson...

So just how much are them that got gonna get?

As the Iowa caucus attendees assemble...

2012-01-03T17:06:00.000-08:00

...I'm preparing to go perform a public act of folk music. I'm struggling to find a tune appropriate to the occassion. If Paul pulls it out, I suppose "I Owe A Lot To Iowa Pot" might work.

If you're in the neighborhood, drop by the perfect tavern and see what comes out of the songbag.

Back later to review the Iowa outcome.

From the "Me too" file.

2012-01-03T15:08:00.000-08:00

Sir Charles...

I despise Ron Paul because he is a right wing lunatic, a racist, a purveyor of outlandish one-world conspiracy theories, a man who advocates a deregulated economy in which corporate power would have virtually no checks on it, and a withered federal state that would cease to perform virtually all of its current social welfare and regulatory functions.

Me too.

Good question…

2012-01-02T15:45:00.000-08:00

…from Myrddin...

Obama has now signed the NDAA with a rider to point out the rather obvious fact that Congress cannot grant unconstitutional powers to the President, let alone force him to exercise them.

People are telling me that this is some sort of epic cave on the theory that a future President might choose to go round imprisoning people without trial, in short behave just like Bush did. So what difference does signing the NDAA make?

Effectively, not much, I suppose.

There are some bad optics, but that's the way the Republicans designed the damn thing. Once again, evidence that we have a Congress problem, not a President problem.

Signs of the times.

2012-01-01T13:01:00.000-08:00

Via Mike Lux...

If it's true...

2011-12-31T14:42:00.000-08:00

...it's probably more predictive than any poll at this point. Via Political Wire...

Rick Perry has signed up 1,500 precinct leaders in Iowa, a source inside the campaign tells CNN. There are a total 1,774 Republican caucus precincts around the state, about 900 of which are combined.

Only Mitt Romney and Ron Paul have put in similar efforts to build a ground operation for the caucuses on Tuesday.

Maybe it's much too early in the year…

2011-12-31T00:05:00.000-08:00

…oh, heck, no it's not. A New Year's random ten, just in time and 100% Lombardo free...

Lightnin' Hopkins - Happy New Year
Kate Taylor - Auld Lang Syne
Regina Spektor - My Dear Acquaintance (Happy New Year)
Quintron - New Year's Night
Pink Martini - Auld Lang Syne
Otis Redding & Carla Thomas - New Year's Resolution
Roger McGuinn - Auld Lang Syne
Roy Tan & His Combo - Happy New Year
Carole King - New Year's Day
Roy Milton & His Solid Senders - New Year's Resolution Blues

Top 10 Best New Year’s Resolutions Ever.

2011-12-30T23:42:00.000-08:00

Via Mike Licht...

01. I will make no New Year’s Resolutions.
02. I will make no New Year’s Resolutions.
03. I will make no New Year’s Resolutions.
04. I will make no New Year’s Resolutions.
05. I will make no New Year’s Resolutions.
06. I will make no New Year’s Resolutions.
07. I will make no New Year’s Resolutions.
08. I will make no New Year’s Resolutions.
09. I will make no New Year’s Resolutions.
10. I will make no New Year’s Resolutions.

Me neither.

Worth repeating.

2011-12-30T23:02:00.000-08:00

Over and over.

To everyone.

Everywhere.

All the time.

John Cole...

Whenever you are confused as to why the Republicans seem to be doing something that makes no sense or is crazy, you really need to come back to this. The goal of the Republicans is not good governance. The goal of the Republicans is to make governing by a Democrat impossible and to beat Obama in 2012. It’s the only thing they really, really care about.

Oops.

2011-12-29T23:07:00.000-08:00

Think Progress...

Rick Perry Draws A Blank On Key Supreme Court Case Overturning Texas’ Anti-Gay Laws He Defended

It's really no fun when they just fall over.

From the "Not exactly news" file.

2011-12-29T20:22:00.000-08:00

Another Republican told another lie again.

It's what they do. It's all they've got. It's a major reason that...

From the "Just the facts, ma'am" file.

2011-12-29T19:19:00.000-08:00

Ron Paul by the numbers, via Progressive Punch. His lifetime voting record on:

Aid to Less Advantaged People, at Home & Abroad is 13.40 percent progressive
Corporate Subsidies 31.18 percent
Education, Humanities, & the Arts 13.19 percent
Environment 11.35 percent
Fair Taxation 9.01 percent
Government Checks on Corporate Power 15.16 percent
Health Care 12.62 percent
Housing 6.10 percent
Labor Rights 13.51 percent
Making Government Work for Everyone, Not Just the Rich or Powerful 15.88 percent
Human Rights & Civil Liberties 33.66 percent progressive
Justice for All: Civil and Criminal 30.71 percent
War & Peace 47.92 percent

Hat tip to Kenneth Quinnell at Crooks & Liars, who notes that "Even on the issues he's supposed to be good on, his record is mediocre."

Plain truth…

2011-12-29T17:10:00.000-08:00

...from around blogtopia (™ Skippy)...

dadepfan...

If Republicans had their way, every vital service provided to American citizens would become as bad as the health care industry is today.

Fixer...

It all boils down to one thing with the teabaggers. They hate anybody who isn't white and Christian.

Matt Osborne...

Ron Paul is a gift that refuses to stop giving.

The Rude Pundit...

It's Romney. It was always gonna be Romney. Just like it was always gonna be McCain. Just like it was always gonna be Dole. Sometimes things are just inevitable.

Yep. All of it.

I'm biased…

2011-12-28T21:10:00.000-08:00

…because it grants my wish and lets me keep my own personal Congressman, but the Gorton/Ceis Congressional redistricting map looks pretty good to me.

Breaking news!

2011-12-28T20:00:00.000-08:00

In a campaign shocker, Iowa State Sen. Kent Sorenson makes an eleventh hour switch from meaningless to irrelevant.

From the "Me neither" file.

2011-12-28T19:46:00.000-08:00

John Cole...

I just don’t understand how anyone could vote for any of the current Republican candidates. I just don’t.

Me neither.

Yep.

2011-12-28T18:55:00.000-08:00

Neil Sinhababu on Newt's Virginia ballot fail...

That would've been like Pearl Harbor if we lost all those ships because we never maintained them and they just sank.

And light one candle to bind us together...

2011-12-27T16:28:00.001-08:00

...with peace as the song in our heart.

Don't let the light go out...

LIght one candle for all we believe in...

2011-12-26T16:38:00.000-08:00

...let anger not tear us apart...

From the "What 'victory' looks like" file.

2011-12-25T19:32:00.000-08:00

A final Iraq report from Chad Shue...

Iraq Body Count: 12/18/2011
Total Americans Killed: 4484
Post Obama Inauguration: 264
Post “End of Combat”: 68

Light one candle for those who are suffering...

2011-12-25T16:46:00.000-08:00

...the pain we felt so long ago...

Light one candle for the strength that we need...

2011-12-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

...to never become our own foe...

Not quite matching bookends…

2011-12-24T00:52:00.000-08:00

…on this holiday random ten...

The Jackson 5 - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Arlo Guthrie - The Pause Of Mr. Claus
The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir - Fairytale Of New York
Graham Parker & Nona Hendryx - Soul Christmas
Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas
Mike Oldfield - In Dulci Jubilo
The Andrews Sisters - Winter Wonderland
Judy Garland - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Doris Day - I'll Be Home For Christmas
Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

From the "Me too" file.

2011-12-23T23:24:00.000-08:00

Season's greetings from Susie Madrak...

This is what I wish for all of you this Christmas: To see, to fly above the despair. To understand why Christmas resonates throughout the world, even in places where they don't especially care (or even believe) that Jesus was born in a manger.

Me too.

As one who neither cares much about nor believes the nativity story, I'm totally down with our cultural tradition of a season of mid-winter decoration and goodwill. We're pretty ecumenical around Upper Left World Headquarters. When the candles aren't burning, my silver menorah reflects the Christmas tree lights. These days, any light is good light.

So, in addition to Susie's wish for understanding, I wish you light, before your eyes and burning in your heart.

Light one candle for the wisdom to know...

2011-12-23T16:24:00.000-08:00

...when the time for peace is at hand.

Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice...

2011-12-22T17:16:00.000-08:00

...that justice and freedom demand...

How 'bout a little holiday cheer?

2011-12-22T14:15:00.000-08:00

Reuters - The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits hit a 3-1/2 year low last week, bolstering views the economy was gaining momentum, even though third-quarter growth was revised down.

Even though every bit of good news has to come with an "even though" attached, that's good news.

Light one candle for the pain they endured...

2011-12-21T17:05:00.000-08:00

...when their right to exist was denied...

Light one candle for the Macabee children..

2011-12-20T16:57:00.000-08:00

...give thanks that their light didn't die...

Happy Chanukah.

Me neither…um…too. .

2011-12-19T23:50:00.000-08:00

Neil Sinhababu...

I don't know how North Korea works, and I don't know who does.

Me neither.

My hope is the new ruler will be sane enough to allow things to improve in that country, and to not launch nuclear missiles.

Me too.

I have to admit, though, that I'm not particularly confident.

Sunday (not so) Funny.

2011-12-18T19:04:00.000-08:00

Via Anne Laurie...

Sure, click it bigger.

From the "Credit where it's due" file.

2011-12-18T00:06:00.000-08:00

When she's right, she's right...

Michele Bachmann tried Saturday to peel away support from Ron Paul by repeatedly warning voters across northwestern Iowa that he would be “a very dangerous president.”

No doubt.

Why, a President Paul would be every bit as dangerous as a President Bachmann, or Gingrich, or Romney, or Santorum, or Perry.

Or Huntsman, for that matter.

Which would be very dangerous, indeed.

From the "Hoocoodanode" file.

2011-12-17T21:16:00.000-08:00

Another one bites the dust...

Newt Gingrich's support in the race for the Republican nomination fallen quickly since national Gallup polls of Republican and GOP-leaning independent voters in early December.

I've always figured that eventually they were bound to come around to the realization that Mitt himself is all the anti-Mitt they'll ever need.

Signs of the times.

2011-12-17T18:14:00.000-08:00

Via Howie...

What 'victory' looks like.

2011-12-17T09:47:00.000-08:00

Dr. Black ponders Iraq...

I suppose, ultimately, it came down to blowing up brown people and pissing off liberals. So it was quite a success, really.

I suppose.

You can't fool all the people all the time…

2011-12-17T00:20:00.000-08:00

…or even most of 'em, sometimes. Encouraging words from Pew Research

By wide margins, the GOP is seen as the party that is more extreme in its positions, less willing to work with the other side to get things done, and less honest and ethical in the way it governs.

Chappy Choliday!

2011-12-17T00:10:00.000-08:00

Random ten, now with random spelling...

Tom Lehrer - (I'm Spending) Hanukkah In Santa Monica
Neil Diamond - The Chanukah Song
Indigo Girls - Happy Joyous Hanukkah
Michele Citrin - Light One Candle
Carole King - Chanukah Prayer
Mark Rubin & His Ridgetop Syncopators - The Dreidel Song
Woody Guthrie - Hanukkah Dance
Marc Cohn - Rock Of Ages (Maoz Tsur)
Three Quarter Ale - Blood Of The Macabees
The Klezmatics - Hanukah Tree
The Sinai Mountain Boys - Oh Hanukah, Oh Hanukah

Like, it seems, everyone...

2011-12-16T13:17:00.000-08:00

...I've read this morning, I have a Christopher Hitchens story. I met him at the Democratic National Convention in 1992, in a corridor behind the seating area for the Washington State delegation, where he was hanging out with Dick Cavett and offering a running commentary on the proceedings that far surpassed anything I saw on the networks that week.

I didn't see Cavett again that week, but Hitchens hung out nearly every day, never disappointing the line of delegates who approached in hope of a handshake and a quip, who he greeted with a level of charm and patience that belied his legendarily acid wit and formidable wrath. I later got the chance to chat with him for the best part of an hour at a party hosted by The Nation and he was, if anything, even more charming in that setting.

Sure, he went a bit nuts after 9//11, but weighing the totality of his life and work in the balance, that's just a few feathers on the scale. He was wrong about the Iraq war, but many were. He was also one of the finest writers, most eloquent oraters and sharpest wits of our time and he'll be missed.

R.I.P.

Good, if rhetorical, question.

2011-12-15T09:44:00.000-08:00

Sir Charles wonders...

Who feels the need to harass and demean people who are in many instances facing economic ruin -- or at the least tremendous insecurity?

It's a rhetorical question, of course, because, of course, the answer is obvious, and one more reason that...

Odds are he's right.

2011-12-14T20:59:00.000-08:00

Jonathan Bernstein...

...in general you're not going to lose a lot of bets if you wager that Americans are ignorant of something.

A plea...

2011-12-14T20:38:00.000-08:00

...from The General...

Please write Lowes, today, and ask them to stop exposing our children to Arabic Islamonumbers.

Here's a sample letter:
Dear Lowes,

We're not fooled by your paternalistic attempt to silence our righteous whining by pulling ads from the teevee show, "All-American Muslim." You are still exposing our children to the Islamuninistoprog agenda through your use of Arabic numbers in your pricing and measurement systems.

We demand that you cease using these Islamonumbers immediately and replace them with good, old fashioned, American Roman numerals.

The change should not be difficult to make. For example, you'd simply change something currently priced at $1,783.84 to $MDCCLXXXIII.LXXXIV. Nothing to it.

Please make the change immediately. We're watching you.

Heterosexually yours,

[Your Name]
Here's Lowe's email address, customercare@lowes.com, and phone number, 1-800-445-6937. Get 'er done.

Saddle up, troopers!

From the "Me too" file.

2011-12-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

DougJ's perplexed...

I didn’t feel this way six or seven years ago, but I have a harder and harder time distinguishing serious discourse in official publications from the Onion.

Me too.

Yep.

2011-12-12T21:19:00.003-08:00

The Rude One...

Frankly, President Obama should just ignore these fools and merely campaign on giving him a Congress that wants to accomplish something.

Like I always say sometimes, we don't have a President problem, we have a Congress problem.

Good question…

2011-12-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

…from Beth Schwartzapfel and Hannah Levintova...

How Many Innocent People Are in Prison?

They have some good, if distressful, answers, too.

Sunday Funny

2011-12-11T20:46:00.000-08:00

Via Bluegal...

Good advice...

2011-12-10T23:33:00.000-08:00

...from Chipsticks...

Notice anything missing?

2011-12-10T14:54:00.000-08:00

Via Meteor Blades...

In California, supporters of abolishing the death penalty have gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures to place a measure on the November ballot, while activists and lawmakers in Maryland, Kansas, Ohio and Connecticut are gearing up for legislative battles in their states.

Why not Washington?

No Gurlz Aloud.

2011-12-10T09:53:00.000-08:00

Not by design, of course. It just came out that way, you know, randomly...

Bobby Day - Over And Over
George Strait - Right Or Wrong
Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road
Jimmy Buffett - This Hotel Room
The Safaris - Wipe Out
Todd Snider - Beer Run
The Evening Rig - Goddamn, I Could Use A Drink
Jerry Lee Lewis - Lewis Boogie
Little Richard - Good Golly Miss Molly
Richard Thompson - Walking On A Wire

2011-12-09T13:27:00.000-08:00

Via Think Progress...

Charges need to be filed…

2011-12-09T11:26:00.000-08:00

…careers need to end, asses need to be kicked...

The Air Force dumped the incinerated partial remains of at least 274 American troops in a Virginia landfill, far more than the military had acknowledged, before halting the secretive practice three years ago, records show.

The landfill dumping was concealed from families who had authorized the military to dispose of the remains in a dignified and respectful manner, Air Force officials said. There are no plans, they said, to alert those families now.

…and families, of course, need to be alerted, even if it means at least 274 lawsuits.

Oh yeah, and the Air Force needs to buy that land and build a memorial.

Yesterday.

We already know how to do this...

Chart of the day.

2011-12-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

Via Jessica Hagy at Indexed...

From the "Me too" file.

2011-12-07T22:23:00.000-08:00

The once and future Speaker of the House...

"I like Barney Frank's quote the best, where he said 'I never thought I'd live such a good life that I would see Newt Gingrich be the nominee of the Republican party.'"

Me too.

Priorities.

2011-12-06T17:45:00.000-08:00

Spent nearly every waking minute today watching "Be Here To Love Me," a documentary about Townes Van Zandt that's been kicking around without my ever hearing of it since 2005. The Brilliant and Beautiful Bride of Upper Left brought it home from the library this morning and I've watched the feature, watched it again with the commentary, watched all the special features and consider it all time better spent than scanning the blogs for the latest Republican outrage or Democratic disappointment.

Off in a minute to commit a public act of folk music myself.

Politics later.

Priorities, ya' know...