Deep Thought

If this is what President Obama is giving up to spend time with his family, well then we chose well.

Would You Go to Iraq for Your Next Vacation?

No really, would you? I can't tell you how many people I've talked to have been surprised to find out that Iraq was part of the Persian Empire and all that that signifies.

Obama license plates raise $50,000 in one month

Pretty impressive considering it's only a 60 day plate.

More than 1,400 specialty license plates featuring an image of President Obama have been purchased in Illinois in the last month.

The 60-day plates, which sell for $50 a pair, have raised $50,000 for the Illinois Library Association's 2010 summer reading program.

The plates, which read "Illinois Salutes President Barack Obama," went on sale Feb. 17 and are valid through April 17. After that, people across the country can purchase the plates as collectors' items.

Evening Distraction

Once again, Paddy = Geek.

Ch-ch-Changes at MSNBC - "First Look" gone, "Maddow" re-air in

By GottaLaff

5 a.m.? People actually watch the Tee Vee Machine at 5-freakin' a.m.?

MSNBC has replaced, for now, its early morning newscast "First Look" [which aired at 5 a.m.] with a re-air of "The Rachel Maddow Show." [...]

An insider tells TVNewser the goal is to give "Morning Joe" the best lead-in possible.

In November, 2005 CNN replaced its 5am ET newscast "Daybreak" with a re-air of AC360 leading in to "American Morning." Fox News re-airs "The O'Reilly Factor" at 5am ET weekdays leading in to "Fox & Friends."

So they needed to give "Morning Joe" a boost. Can't imagine why. And this move also pits Rachel against Billo. Guess who MSNBC trusts...

Infiltrating the Republican Lincoln Day Dinner

By GottaLaff

Please. Just go read this. Then start shaking your head back and forth very slowly and roll your eyes. Here's a teaser or two:

Doesn't it suck how Sarah gets picked on because she's a woman?

Pop Goes the Weasel

The rest of the room had no idea she’d arrived, and when she walked in, some guy yelled, “SARACUUUDA!” which was followed by rapturous applause. The woman next to me gushed, “Oh my gosh, she’s soooo pretty!” She proceeded to hug, and smile, and sign autographs, and talk and hug and sign autographs, and smile….and eventually Dan Sullivan, like the goobery kid at the dance, came over and had to literally tug on her sleeve to get her to pay attention to him. Glasses were clinked with knives, and a hush fell on the room. “Nothing would make me happier than to work with Dan Sullivan as mayor,” she said. Wow. Nothing? Then she went on to say that Dan Sullivan’s sister works in her office.

Was that teasey enough for you?

Krugman speaks. Who's listening?

By GottaLaff

Paul Krugman just isn't that into Geithner:

"The Geithner plan has now been leaked in detail. It's exactly the plan that was widely analyzed -- and found wanting -- a couple of weeks ago. The zombie ideas have won."

I'd love to know why the Obama administration isn't listening to Krugman. And if they are listening, I'd love to know what they think of this:

In effect, Treasury will be creating — deliberately! — the functional equivalent of Texas S&Ls in the 1980s: financial operations with very little capital but lots of government-guaranteed liabilities. For the private investors, this is an open invitation to play heads I win, tails the taxpayers lose. So sure, these investors will be ready to pay high prices for toxic waste. After all, the stuff might be worth something; and if it isn’t, that’s someone else’s problem.

At President Obama's press conference, I hope they confront him with questions about Krugman's statements, and then insist on substantive answers.

Or to put it another way, Treasury has decided that what we have is nothing but a confidence problem, which it proposes to cure by creating massive moral hazard.

This plan will produce big gains for banks that didn’t actually need any help; it will, however, do little to reassure the public about banks that are seriously undercapitalized. And I fear that when the plan fails, as it almost surely will, the administration will have shot its bolt: it won’t be able to come back to Congress for a plan that might actually work.

What an awful mess.

Sigh. What an awful mess.

Report: MSNBC ‘in discussions’ with Ed Schultz for ‘full-time’ job

By GottaLaff

Looks like I wasn't too far off when I asked:

Could this be considered an audition for that open 7 pm slot we've been hearing about?

As it turns out, MSNBC is in discussions with Ed Schultz about maybe, sorta joining them somehow, some way:

The Observer says it is “unclear what exactly the job would entail” if they reach an agreement, but notes that it has been speculated that Schultz is being considered as a possible host of his own show:

When reached by phone on Friday morning, Mr. Schultz also denied that Mr. Griffin had made him an offer. He said that he had received some kind words from MSNBC management on the heels of his guest-hosting gigs. But, according to Mr. Schultz, MSNBC brass has given him no definite word yet about his future—if he has one—at the cable news network.

Speculation about Mr. Schultz’s future role at MSNBC has focused on two time slots: the 6 p.m. hour (currently anchored by David Shuster) and the 10 p.m. hour (which currently features a repeat of Countdown with Keith Olbermann).

I say go for the 6 pm slot. I don't know about you, but with my lame-o DVR constantly failing, telling me it's full when it isn't, I depend on Countdown replays more often than not.

I find Schultz to be interesting and unafraid to speak out. He reminds me of a liberal, and, obviously, likable (no comparison) Boss Limbaugh in terms of his vocal delivery, but I haven't had enough access to him yet to form a solid overall opinion. Randi Rhodes isn't a fan, but I've never been clear on why. Anyone know?

What do you think of him?

60 Minutes Preview, Cont'd: Obama Lashes Back At Cheney

By GottaLaff

Oh-h, suh-nap! Prez O attacks the Nation of Dick for saying that closing Gitmo will make America less safe:

"How many terrorists have actually been brought to justice under the philosophy that is being promoted by Vice President Cheney? It hasn't made us safer. What it has been is a great advertisement for anti-American sentiment," Obama tells Steve Kroft. [...]

Pressed by Kroft that some of the released prisoners have returned to terrorist groups, the president said, "There is no doubt that we have not done a particularly effective job in sorting through who are truly dangerous individuals...to make sure [they] are not a threat to us," he says. But he called the Bush administration's policy on detainees at Guantanamo -including long incarcerations with no trials - "unsustainable."

Major combat operation over... for now. Mission accomplished.

60 Minutes preview: Obama to Treasury Sec. Geithner: "Sorry buddy, you've still got the job."

By GottaLaff

From Sunday's 60 Minutes interview with President Obama:

President Barack Obama says treasury secretary is one job that's not up for grabs.

Obama tells CBS' "60 Minutes" that if Treasury chief Timothy Geithner offered his resignation, the answer would be — in the president's words — "Sorry buddy, you've still got the job." [...]

Obama also says corporate executives need to better understand the public's outrage over bonuses. He says executives should get out of New York and spend time in Iowa or Arkansas where people are thrilled to be making $75,000 a year with no bonuses.

Tune in tomorrow night for more.

UPDATE:

Said Obama: "It's going to take a little bit more time than we would like to make sure that we get this plan just right. Of course, then we'd still be subject to criticism. What's taken so long? You've been in office a whole 40 days and you haven't solved the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression?"

Thank you. Thank you. Oh, and... thank you.

Get out the Kleenex: Sarah Palin's Legal Bills Pile Up

By GottaLaff

Anchorage Daily News is reporting that Sarah Palin is in debt up to her earmarks... but c'mon! None of this is her fault! It's a witch hunt, that's what it is! And... and... ::sniffle:: now how's she supposed to ::snerfle:: come up with all that money to pay off her legal fees? Waaah!

Gov. Sarah Palin owes more than a half million dollars to an Anchorage law firm that has defended her against ethics complaints, and she may create a legal fund to pay the bill, she said Friday.

Legal bills have mounted fighting complaints that she called partisan, false and frivolous, starting with "the politically motivated Troopergate probe," Palin said in a written response to questions.

She said the legal bills all stem from her actions as governor.

"I must defend against these baseless ethics accusations out of my own pocket as the use of public monies to do so could itself violate state law," Palin wrote.

"On August 29, it seems the political landscape changed in Alaska. Now, it seems in order to do this job as Governor, with the political blood sport some are playing today, only the independently wealthy or those willing to spend their income on legal fees to defend their official actions in office ... can serve," Palin said in the written response to Daily News questions.

On Friday in the written statement, attorney Thomas Van Flein wouldn't give a precise number but said it was "a substantial debt." Palin said she didn't have an exact figure yet but "the debt is over a half a million dollars." [...]

In all, Palin said, there have been 10 ethics complaints, counting Troopergate, though she did not provide a list. [...] Out of the 10 complaints, Palin said six have been dismissed, one had "concluded," and three are pending. [...]

Palin made $131,891 last year, counting her $125,000 salary and expense payments she collects when she's away from Juneau, according to the disclosure. Todd Palin made $86,150 from his two jobs, as a commercial fisherman and a BP production operator.

"Obviously we cannot afford to personally pay these bills -- and really no future governor should feel the sense of financial vulnerability at the hands of those with a political vendetta bent on personal destruction," Palin wrote. "Some have suggested a legal fund to pay these bills. We'll have to pursue that."

Tiffani's Story, cont'd: Her Iraq Vet dad with PTSD, alcoholism returns to war

By GottaLaff

I've written about my student,Tiffani, whose father returned from Iraq, and now suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism. Sadly, he's added one more syndrome to his list: He has become an abusive husband and father. As I wrote here, Tiffani showed up at school with a black and blue face. Family services has now separated her from her dad, as well as from her little brother.

Once again, on behalf of Tiffani and her family, I'd like to thank George Bush for the opportunity he has afforded them, as well as countless other families who suffer needlessly. Because of his generosity, they've received the gift of their own version of torture: Pain, sorrow, misery, devastation. Oh, and let's not forget that another marriage is being destroyed, too, thanks to the former pro-marriage, family values Spewer in Chief.

There's a sick coda to this story: The in-badly-need-of-serious-help Iraq veteran has now volunteered to return to active overseas duty as a way of escaping from these recent personal life-changing tragedies. He's set to be shipped to Afghanistan in June.

How can this be allowed to happen? This poor man is not fit for duty. He needs psychological counseling, rehab, and so much more. Does the military stop screening once someone has served? He's gone to the V.A. for treatment, but only a couple of times. Is there no record of this that would help prevent his exposure to more of what caused the trauma in the first place? And what about the danger he'd put his fellow soldiers in?

My heart goes out to Tiffani, whose heart and family are broken and appear to be beyond repair.

Competitionus Interruptus: President Obama's Prime Prime Press Conference, The Sequel

By GottaLaff

Check out this headline via Taegan:

Networks Not Happy About Obama Press Conference

The Hollywood Reporter says the television networks are "reluctantly" pulling their prime time programming to cover President Obama's press conference on Tuesday night.

"Fulfilling their scheduling civic duty is starting to seem increasingly cumbersome to broadcasters, however. Between a struggling economy and ratings sagging in midseason, every interruption costs networks advertising dollars and momentum."

Cumbersome? Like a Great Depression isn't cumbersome? They think President Obama is doing this out of some vanity-driven compulsion for more exposure, maybe?

Every day without Americans fully understanding the scope of our nation's crises and the president's remedies could cost them even more. An informed public is an armed public.

Last Wednesday, I posted about the initial announcement of Prez O's prime time press conference Allow me to repeat myself:

TV Week says the networks are "grumbling" about having to adjust the schedule, though all have agreed to carry the press conference.

Curse that president of ours! Addressing problems and answering a bunch of pressing questions! Isn't that just like him?

Grumble, grumble.

Obviously, it's much more important to watch forgettable singers get insulted and/or inappropriately gushed over, or others dressed in laughably Vegas style costumes move with more urgency than they've demonstrated in decades.

Obama should know better. Where are his priorities?

Democracy depends on Americans fully understanding the truth about the state of the union. In the long run, President Obama's including us in, you know, how and why he makes decisions, the challenges he faces (in this case, questions from the press are part of those challenges), and his attempts at transparency can only improve things in the long run.

The networks didn't mind interrupting their programming during the Writers Guild strike long enough to push for their own agenda. Now it's the president's turn to push for his. And his affects all of us.

Moreover, Obama made it clear he'd be holding these pressers about once a month. Maybe the Tee Vee Machinists should have been listening.

Iran's Supreme Leader Dismisses Obama Overtures

Doesn't matter since the overture is what counts.

House Democrats Top Fundraising Tally

Eh, I think we'll be okay. Via Taegan-

CQ Politics: "The campaign arm of House Democrats reported raising $3.5 million in February, compared with $2 million for their Republican counterparts, but it was the GOP that did better at pulling in small-dollar contributions -- coveted because those people can give again and again if they want."

Mike Huckabee brings his show to Elkhart

Haven't these people suffered enough?

ELKHART — Former Republican presidential candidate and now FOX News personality Mike Huckabee, will begin a five-city road tour in Elkhart today to outline the problems facing Elkhart County and ideas to solve the problems.

Filming of the “Huckabee Report” titled “Save This Town: Live from Elkhart, Ind.” is set today at the RV Hall of Fame, 21565 Executive Parkway, near C.R.s 6 and 17. Admission for those wanting to be in the audience is free.

(snip)

The Huckabee Report will be broadcast both tonight and again Sunday on FOX TV.

Gov. Huckabee is coming to Elkhart because as a former governor, he is one person who can understand what people are going through, said Woody Fraser, executive producer of the show. “He’s one guy on TV who can afford to go places and people understand why he’s there. And he can understand the people,” the producer said.

Bill Maher Real Time- Keith Olbermann

Keith joins the panel at about 2:40. You can see the rest of the videos here or here.

Saturday Linkage

Well, the week from hell is almost over, Gotta's show is tonight so we'll get back to our usual routine probably tomorrow. Send some psychic energy Gotta's way, she's been working her butt off. Thanks for bearing with the Paddy overexposure, it's "interesting" to be trying to find stuff to blog for 12+ hours a day.

After Voting No, Republicans Tout Funds

Hungary's PM to Quit Amid Tumbling Popularity

Complete dino skeleton offered at NY auction

Postal service to slash more than 3,000 jobs, offer early retirements

Bringing the cobbler the tired, weary, worn

Teeth tell tales of Columbus crew

Iraqi family sues ex-Blackwater guard over death

Spring cleaning injures almost 900,000

May I just say

That there's nothing quite like a po'd squirrel in your kitchen to wake you right the hell up.

3/21/09: Your Weekly Address

Countdown- Worst Persons

I knew there was a reason I don't like that damn Twatter thing. Harumph. Consider this an Overnight/Open Thread with added extra bonus Happy Obama.

Fox's Gallagher suggested Obama speech caused Dow to drop, but....

Do you think their viewers are really stupid enough to fall for this constant "It's Obama's fault if the Dow is down, but no one's fault when it's up" crap?

Cartoon of the Day

Via.

Obama to honor graduates at three schools

The President's coming to town!! Whooo hooo!! I don't think that President Obama writing off winning Indiana as a one time phenom.

WASHINGTON, March 20 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama will deliver the commencement address at three upcoming college graduations, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said.

Gibbs told a briefing that Obama will serve as the Class of 2009 commencement speaker at the Arizona State University, the University of Notre Dame, and the United States Naval Academy.

The president will speak to Arizona State graduates on May 13 and follow up that commencement by addressing Notre Dame graduates on Sunday, May 17.

Midshipmen at the Naval Academy will hear from the president on May 22, Gibbs said.

President Obama lays down the law on recovery funds

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Nielsen: Obama visit a big boost for Leno ratings

Good because other than the oopsy, he was concise, understandable and very personable.

Last night's appearance by President Barack Obama was a ratings boon for The Tonight Show. The audience in metered overnight cities like Baltimore was the highest since Jan. 24, 2005, when the show featured a tribute to Johnny Carson, according to Nielsen figures released by NBC.

The last time Tonight scored a higher overnight rating was on May 14, 1998 -- the night of the finale of Seinfeld when the cast appeared on Leno's program. Overnight ratings for last night's show were the fourth-highest in the 16-year history of Leno's show.

Bottom line, one out of every four TVs is use last night was tuned The Tonight Show last night. The overnight ratings from metered markets are not conclusive or final. But they generally match up when final figures are released.

Mrs Obama and elementary school students break ground on White House garden

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

ADDED- This is pretty cool-

10 Easy-Grow Veggies for Your Kids' Obama White House Garden

Gingrich Mobilizing Christian Conservatives

By GottaLaff

The era of change never happened for the Rushpublics: Newt is energized "like never before"!

Newt Gingrich is stepping up his efforts to attract conservative Christians "like never before," reports U.S. News and World Report.

"Gingrich has launched an organization devoted to bringing conservative evangelicals and Catholics into the political process and to strengthening the frayed alliance between economic and religious conservatives... This spring, Gingrich will speak to a handful of large gatherings for politically conservative clergy... And this fall, Gingrich is planning to release a movie about the role that Pope John Paul II's 1979 trip to Poland played in bringing down the Soviet Union."

I'm not so sure the country has the stomach for either Newtie or his desire for another surge of Christian conservatives. In fact, enough with surges in general. We've had our fill.

Tuh-Weet! John McCain/Saakashvili edition

By GottaLaff

The latest Tweet from John McCain:

Meeting President Misha Saakashvili

Seems Tweeting about Russia is becoming the awesome new trend.

But whenever J Sid gets going on Georgia, it makes me nervous.

Joe the Plumber tells conservatives he's 'horny'

By GottaLaff

This gives whole new meaning to the word "wingnuts". Whatever it is that arouses Sam the Fraud's shortcomings, it should never be spoken of again. Ever:

Joe the Plumber got hot and bothered in Washington Thursday night.

Appearing unable to contain his libido in the nation's capital, Samuel Wurzelbacher, better known as Joe the Plumber, expressed his sexual urge to a sea of conservatives gathered at Washington's Grand Hyatt hotel.

First: When one is among a "sea of conservatives", it is physically impossible to engage in sexual thoughts, let alone urges... unless, of course, one is into diapers, in which case he'd have plenty to fantasize about in said crowd.

Second: Ew.

"God, all this love and everything in the room - I'm horny," Joe said on-stage.

No, seriously. Ew. Sam just crossed the freaky line. Where did that even come from?

Oh. Here's where:

Joe was accepting an award on behalf of the "liberal media" at the 2009 MRC's Gala and DisHonors Awards, a roasting of the "most outrageously biased liberal media reporters." Faux awards of the night included "the Obamagasm" and the "Media Messiah."

What a knee-slapper! Them Rushpublics sure do have well-developed senses of humor! I guess that's their way of overcompensating for what they sorely lack in development elsewhere.

Joe, referring to himself as the "token redneck," received a standing ovation while waltzing on stage as "God Bless the USA" played overhead.

I've never seen anyone waltz on stage before. I've seen sidling, striding, even tripping. But waltzing? That doesn't sound very rednecky to me. More like an episode of Dancing with the Depraved.

Special Olympics asks Obama to consider hiring athlete

By GottaLaff

Speaking of remorse, I'd like to see Bush apologize for his fraudulent war and all the deaths for which he is responsible. But that will never happen. It's much more important that the media keep recycling President Obama's one-liner... the one for which he apologized before it even aired.

What did you think of Barack Obama's "Special Olympics" quip?

52% Humorless but harmless

28% Inappropriate

20% Funny

Now we have this. What do you think? Will Prez O bite:

The Special Olympics organization is calling on President Obama to "consider" hiring one of their athletes to work in the White House, following the president's reference to the organization during his Thursday night appearance on The Tonight Show.

“In so doing, he could help end misperceptions about the talents and abilities of people with intellectual disabilities, and demonstrate their dignity and value to the world," Timothy Shriver, the chairman of the Special Olympics, said in a statement released Friday morning.

Based on his past responses to various uproars, it could be that he will follow up with a hire. And that could be a win-win situation.

He's Back...The Return of Elliot Spitzer

By GottaLaff

BuzzFlash Tweeted this link, and what a link it was! Seems Elliot Spitzer is becoming relevant again:

Elliot Spitzer is back and hes talking. The thought of this, no doubt, brings a small shiver to the boardrooms of some of the perps walking around trying to figure out how to hide the money this week. [...]

Plainly stated, Spitzer brings the AIG Ponzi Scheme one step closer to the revered establishment when he explains how the bailout money was funneled straight into the top players, with Goldman Sachs being the name that comes up again and again. [...]

Indeed, Goldman and AIG almost merged a few years ago, but Spitzer notes that the unknown black hole of AIG's business practices were probably what prevented it. Still, that didn't stop the incestuous dealings; it almost makes one think that this whole thing was a setup.

This is country that Spitzer is familiar with; he has been a terrible liability to entities that, under the Bush administration, were allowed to literally gut the country and its citizens. All of this seems to have been part of the Bush Administration's own Ponzi Scheme, which figured that the illusion of an ownership society, terrified of the "terraism" and steeped in the me, me, me, culture would look the other way while they finished clearing out the vault.

Spitzer has been fighting these guys and asking questions all along. Coincidentally, right after the WSJ editorial appeared on Valentine's Day 2008, Spitzer was caught up in what was an extremely unusual sting. So unusual is an investigation like this that it seems almost like it was a set-up; and considering where it all came from and how it all came down, it might well have been.

It seems that Spitzer's bank was investigating expenses under the auspices of the newer Homeland Security laws of the Bush administration. Greg Palast wrote about this compellingly, and in light of how the whole thing is shaking out now, and what Spitzer said back then about this financial mess and what he tried to DO about it, Palast had a pretty good early grasp on what had gone down. [...] We might all find ourselves wanting to thank the egotistical crime fighter who cant keep it in his pants.

I am no apologist for breaking the law, and usually its the highest and mightiest that fall the hardest. But when the mainstream is showing us the shiny object, we must resist the temptation to succumb to our base natures and try to see the bigger picture. There was never a real case against Elliot Spitzer, and no charges were filed. The release of embarrassing personal information was at the discretion of the Bush Administration's Justice Department.

Why was this information released? [...]

Palast:

Not all crimes lead to federal bust or even public exposure. It’s up to something called “prosecutorial discretion.”

Funny thing, this ‘discretion.’ For example, Senator David Vitter, Republican of Louisiana, paid Washington DC prostitutes to put him in diapers (ewww!), yet the Senator was not exposed by the US prosecutors busting the pimp-ring that pampered him.

Naming and shaming and ruining Spitzer – rarely done in these cases - was made at the ‘discretion’ of Bush’s Justice Department.

Or maybe we should say, 'indiscretion.'

Bush's Justice Department. [...]

Welcome back Elliot Spitzer. I hope we hear more from you very soon...your voice is needed in this matter.

The winner: Miss Information; The loser: Us

By GottaLaff

All those newspapers closing down and/or cutting back is bad news (no pun) for everyone. The unfortunate result is that the crown is going to Miss Information. What exactly are we missing? What aren't we hearing? What don't we know? Too much:

Political consultants aren't exactly rubbing their hands together and snickering. But as the hired guns look over a landscape of closing newspapers and laid-off investigative reporters, they sense an opening that leaves them both excited and queasy.

One operative told me this week about planting attacks on opponents in partisan blogs, knowing the stories could bleed into mainstream news outlets, without leaving any incriminating fingerprints. Another described how he got green reporters to write stories (no campaign cash wasted!) on ads that the candidate had no intention of ever paying to put on TV.

"They don't know any better," the consultant chuckled. "So we can get away with that one again."

Gulp.

"Imagine driving along [Interstate] 5. There used to be a couple highway patrolmen to keep people in line. Now they're gone and everyone knows it," said Chris Lehane, a veteran Democratic consultant. "It can devolve into a Mad Max situation pretty quickly."

Dan Schnur, a one-time Republican consultant who directs USC's Jesse Unruh Institute of Politics:

"Technology and blogs and the like make it much easier to get information out," he said. "But what is missing is the credibility that comes with that message coming through the mainstream media."

The "mainstream media"aren't exactly reliable or unbiased, but let's move along...

Newspapers [havd] slashed their staffs, often losing the most experienced (and highest-paid) reporters, because of a ghastly recession and advertising lost to the Internet.

The severity of the problem is hard to assess. How do you get your arms around what hasn't been written? [...]

Wouldn't a more robust reporting corps have delved by now into gubernatorial hopeful Meg Whitman's stock trades when she headed EBay? [...] [I]n the old days, one operative said, someone would have checked by now. [...]

One political consultant told me he regularly encounters less-experienced (and more easily bamboozled) reporters when he works on state and congressional campaigns. He was the one who told me the newbies often didn't bother to check whether ads were really going to have any serious presence on television. The net effect: He got thousands of dollars worth of "free" media, exposing the public to ads the politician would never pay to put on the air. [...]

Yet I fear much of this is lost on the public. I don't know whether to be depressed or infuriated by the folks who occasionally e-mail me, gleeful that another newspaper will cut its staff. [...]

What political and news veterans feel in their guts, a couple of Princeton economists said they have confirmed.

The two researchers found that, after the Cincinnati Post closed at the end of 2007, fewer candidates participated in local elections, incumbents had a greater advantage and voter turnout declined [...] Politics in suburban northern Kentucky communities became less "vibrant" for the loss of that single paper, despite the fact that its 27,000 daily circulation was dwarfed by the city's dominant Cincinnati Enquirer.

Here's hoping the new websites and community blogs that we keep hearing about will pick up the slack some time soon. In the meantime, the political pros have more control. And we have less information. Some folks seem to have no idea what they're missing.

Miss Information wins. Not even runners-up: Accurate and thorough reporting. Coming in last: An informed public. That glued-on smile on Miss Congeniality's (aka Democracy) face? It's fading.

Democrats Likely to Bypass Senate GOP on Health Care

Yes, yes, yes. As the saying goes, it's majority not super majority rules!

Congressional Democrats are likely to use a parliamentary procedure to win passage this year of a national health-insurance program, the Wall Street Journal reports.

"For Congress to pass such a monumental program using a special maneuver would be unusual. But the tactic -- allowing legislation to pass the Senate with 51 votes rather than the 60 need to overcome a possible filibuster -- has been used by Republican and Democratic administrations to secure major initiatives, from Bill Clinton's tax increases in 1993 to George W. Bush's tax cuts in 2001 and 2003."

President Obama answers children's You Tube plea

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Somehow I missed this yesterday.

Is the Minnesota fight almost over?

Someone needs to step on this bs and squash it out. It's over, Norm lost and Al's got work to do.

The attorney for Norm Coleman's (R) recount fight in Minnesota seemed to suggest in a radio interview that Al Franken "will wind out on top when the three-judge panel finishes reviewing the counting process," The Hotline reports.

Joe Friedberg says that he's "done" but that the case could still drag on.

Rachel Maddow is an "Agent of Change"

Pretty cool article sprinkled with lots of names you guys should be very familiar with (JMM, Nate Silver etc). Note #22-

The new face of punditry is not some buxom anchor babe but an unconventionally sexy, nearly six-foot-tall nerd who's not afraid to brandish her Rhodes scholar wits on national TV. In the 35-year-old Air America host, MSNBC has found a TV presence motivated not by shoutfests and point-scoring but by probing questions, curiosity and intelligent debate. Maddow's who-cares lesbianism also places her at the leading edge of the image of gay America — that is to say: totally normal.

h/t TV Newser.

Countdown: Special Comment on the Bank Bailouts and Corporate Greed-Enough!

Keith rulez. Thanks Heather!

Romney's PAC Leading the Pack

Oh please oh please oh please!?

Mitt Romney's political action committee has raised $571,000 this year, Politico reports.

The PAC helps keep Romney -- "who is widely believed to be positioning himself for a run at the 2012 Republican presidential nomination -- in the spotlight, paying for his travel and to maintain a political staff."

Friday Links For Thee

Still having eye issues this am...

Animal Kingdom's Sexiest Beast

Hunt for $25,000 Dagger Puzzles Las Vegas Locals

Black candidate wants to solve crime with 'noose'

CNN: 'Era of open government' behind information policy reversal To expand openness and transparency, the Obama administration has rescinded a Bush administration standard on withholding government documents, Attorney General Eric Holder said Thursday.

Rare reptile hatchling found in New Zealand

Palin rejects over 30% of stimulus money

Walmart Text Message Hoax Circulates Around the Country

WSJ: Democrats Angle for Health-Care Edge Congressional Democratic leaders and the Obama White House are likely to use a parliamentary procedure to win passage this year of a national health-insurance program, people familiar with the discussions said Thursday.

The President's Message to the Iranian People

Script of the President's New Years' Message here. h/t Oliver.

Obamas to Plant White House Vegetable Garden

This has been rumoured for a while, so it's pretty cool that it's really going to happen.

WASHINGTON — On Friday, Michelle Obama will begin digging up a patch of White House lawn to plant a vegetable garden, the first since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden in World War II. There will be no beets (the president doesn’t like them) but arugula will make the cut.

While the organic garden will provide food for the first family’s meals and formal dinners, its most important role, Mrs. Obama said, will be to educate children about healthful, locally grown fruit and vegetables at time when obesity has become a national concern.

In an interview in her office, Mrs. Obama said, “My hope is that through children, they will begin to educate their families and that will, in turn, begin to educate our communities.”

Twenty-three fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary School in Washington will help her dig up the soil for the 1,100-square-foot plot in a spot visible to passers-by on E Street. (It’s just below the Obama girls’ swing set.) Students from the school, which has had a garden since 2001, will also help plant, harvest and cook the vegetables, berries and herbs.

Almost the entire Obama family, including the president, will pull weeds, “whether they like it or not,” Mrs. Obama said laughing. “Now Grandma, my mom, I don’t know.” Her mother, she said, would probably sit back and say: “Isn’t that lovely. You missed a spot.”

Click to enlarge pic

President Obama On The Tonight Show 3/19/09

6 years ago today

Casualties in Iraq
The Human Cost of Occupation
Edited by Margaret Griffis :: Contact

American Military Casualties in Iraq
Date	Total	In Combat
American Deaths
Since war began (3/19/03):	4259	3425
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03) (the list)	4120	3317
Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03):	3798	3119
Since Handover (6/29/04):	3401	2802
Since Obama Inauguration (1/20/09):	30	20
American Wounded	Official	Estimated
Total Wounded:	31089	Over 100000
Latest Fatality Mar. 16, 2009
Page last updated 03/16/09 7:16 pm EDT
List of U.S. Servicemembers killed since 5/1/03

Craig Ferguson On Countdown Tonight

ARGH. This is like my biggest, bestest sex fantasy evah!!! From the set up, it looks like Craig will be the guest for the last segment. I will be busy.

David Shuster's Hypocrisy Watch: GOP Upset About Bonuses

I'm having vision issues tonight, so bear with me.

Is it just me...?

By GottaLaff

Is it just me, or is David Axelrod being uncharacteristically un-tuned in? Here are two headlines from TPM:

Axelrod: People Don't Care About AIG

Poll: 88% Of Americans Following AIG Story

I'd love to know more. Since I'm at work (school) and they block every site imaginable, and the connection here is slower than Bush's brain on a bad day, I couldn't follow the links. Maybe you can fill me in in Comments.

Geithner takes responsibility

By GottaLaff

Loophole Timmy's taking it on the chin:

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner told CNN his department asked Sen. Chris Dodd to include a loophole in the stimulus bill that allowed bailed-out insurance giant AIG to keep its bonuses.

Geithner said he takes full responsibility for the situation.

Now here's an interesting little tidbit. I posted about this vote earlier, but read the last sentence:

Meanwhile, CQ Politics notes the House overwhelmingly passed a bill that would tax bonuses at 90% at companies receiving bailout funds. Despite initial criticism from Republican leaders, 85 Republicans voted for the bill while 87 voted no. Numerous GOP members changed their votes from "no" to "yes" as the roll call proceeded.

President Obama Townhall In Los Angeles

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Tax and spent

By GottaLaff

328-93:

The bill to tax back those AIG bonuses passed overwhelmingly in the House, but the GOP leadership split.

Guess who voted for it after being oh-so-indecisive?

First Lady Visits DC High School

The most disingenuous piece of crap ever "written"

You know, I'm sitting here listening to the President take questions from people in California and the crowd loves him so much that it's almost embarrassing. Then I see this headline in Politico by Vanderhai and Allen-

Obama struggles as communicator

Go ahead, go poke around at the article. I'll wait.

(tap, tap, tap)

I KNOW!!!

If you ever suspected that Politico was a hack shop run by hack journalists that start their days by rubbing certain parts of Matt Drudge and Rush Limabaugh, well, you don't have to wonder any more. I can't even pick out bits to refute, because the whole damn thing is built on sand. Just deleted Politico from my RSS.

Afternoon Distraction

This is so out there that even my brother forwarded it to me. If real, truly amazing.

Media hype partial Coach K quote, ignore praise for Obama

The media taking a trumped up partial quote being beaten to death by Fox and run with it? Hard to imagine. h/t John Cole.

Now Mark Halperin is pushing Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski's statement that President Obama should focus on the economy, not filling out college basketball brackets. But as we noted this morning, Krzyzewski was smiling as he said it, and went on to say "I love the guy, and I think he's gonna be great" and "I love the fact that so many people are filling them out."

VIDEO: Cramer responds to Stewart: ‘It was naive and misleading’ to attack me

By GottaLaff

Remember this? Of course you do. It's a thorough examination of Jim Cramer v. Jon Stewart v. Tucker Carlson. Well now, what have we here? Jimmy C seems to have rethought everything:

Today, Cramer dismissed Stewart’s attacks, calling them “naive” and saying that CNBC had been “out front” in identifying financial malfeasance:

This full-throated defense of the network may be coming in response to CNBC staffers who were reportedly “furious” with Cramer for not defending their reporting in his interview with Stewart.

He sure knows how to take a stand and stick to it, doesn't he? What a principled individual. Everyone who can't wait to watch The Daily Show tonight, raise your hands.

Tuh-Weet: Fred Thompson's a Tuh-Wit edition

By GottaLaff

Here is Fred Thompson's Tweet and the Washington Independent's reaction to it:

Obama Administration looking at big cuts in defense spending… Meanwhile Russia is gearing up? What do you think?

Gearing up for what?

And here is the W.I.'s Tweet:

Fred Thompson Worried About War With Russia: I hope that's not an unfair reading of this tweet [and then they link to the Tweet above].

What do you think? IMHO, Fredhorn Leghorn should watch, Ah say, he shouldn't be so careless about the wording in his Tweets. No telling who's reading them.

Heads up: President Obama on Ed Schultz this hour

By GottaLaff

Paddy alerted you to the broadcast. Prez O is on this hour with Ed Schultz. Here's a link to all his live streams.

Report: Federal Reserve informed Treasury staffers of AIG bonuses earlier than Geithner claimed

By GottaLaff

I'm copying and pasting the entire post from Think Progress, with many thanks to them for such good reporting...

Secretary Krugman has such a nice ring to it:

Earlier this week, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told congressional leaders that he did not learn of AIG’s plans to award $160 billion in retention bonuses to employees in its “troubled” financial products division until March 10. But as Time magazine reports today, the New York Federal Reserve “informed Treasury staff that the payments were imminent on February 28,” at least 10 days “before Treasury staffers say they first learned ‘full details’ of the bonus plan, and three days before the Administration launched a new $30 billion infusion of cash for AIG.” Time explains that “the fault [for the delay] appears to lie with career staffers at the department who failed to report the imminent bonus deadline up the chain to Geithner.”

What creates a bigger black eye: Firing Geithner or keeping him on?

Coburn: Every day without Franken's a gift

By GottaLaff

Apparently, Sen. Tom "To Hell with Minnesota" Coburn isn't afraid to look like an unpatriotic, partisan ass. Here's an idea, Tom, and it's straight from your fellow Senator and former candidate J Sid McCain: Country first.

“The battle in Washington, D.C. is real,” Coburn said, according to the Tulsa Beacon. “Every day in the Senate without Al Franken is a great day.”

That's the spirit! Every day that Toker Norm can deprive his state of representation is a great day! Every day that you can chip away at democracy is a great day! Yippee!