The Chrisanator has spoken

Massachusetts special election results

Update from Chris (9:10 p.m.): I am pretty sure, based on current returns, that Brown will win. Expect the race to be called for him shortly.

(1,357 of 2168 precincts reporting - 62.6%)

I'm going to go read up on the Libertarian Party and get drunk. See you guys in the am. (PS- I hope I wake up with a hangover and completely wrong.)

ADDED- 9:22MSNBC just reported AP called it for Brown, Coakley has called and conceded to Brown.

Rev. Moon uses big media to frame message. Why don't Dems?

By GottaLaff

Mark Karlin's gem-o'-the-day. Please go read it in full. I don't do it justice with mere excerpts:

In short, Moon, in essence, shells out hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars to use the Washington Times as a public relations vehicle for "framing" the GOP perspective. The Washington Times doesn't have the incendiary flamboyant impact of Rush Limbaugh, but it has played a vital role in moving the "frame" of what is considered "centrist" in the U.S. among D.C. insiders way to the right.

Just last week (March 23), it was announced that the Washington Times is going to launch a radio program:

The Washington Times is headed for radio [...] aimed at showcasing the paper's investigative reporting and accountability journalism.

The move is part of the paper's strategy to transform itself into a multimedia, multiplatform news company. [...]

"We believe this unique journalistic team, combined with radio’s ability to give the time and context needed to flesh out breaking stories, will make for a powerful winning combination in talk radio," said Mark Masters, CEO of Talk Radio Network. “Rather than commenting on yesterday’s news, this news show will have the capacity to make, break and drive the news cycle. Like 60 Minutes once did for TV, this show can do for radio. We are very excited and honored to embark in this partnership with The Washington Times investigative team

If you want a little insight into how the pieces of the right wing media echo chamber puzzle fit together, it is worth looking at some of the people under contract to Talk Radio Network: Michael Savage, Laura Ingraham, Rusty Humphries, Monica Crowley, and Tammy Bruce. Bruce most recently made an infamous remark calling the Obamas trash, and Tammy Bruce managed to insult the entire nation of Canada a couple of weeks ago, resulting in an unprecedented Ottawa call for an apology from FOX "News." [Laffy Note: TPC post here]

Talk Radio Network, on its website, describes the new radio venture with the Washington Times this way:

March 23, 2009 - TALK RADIO NETWORK, THE WASHINGTON TIMES TO LAUNCH INVESTIGATIVE RADIO SHOW NATIONALLY.

Talk Radio Network and The Washington Times are partnering to create a nationally syndicated, morning-drive radio show with an innovative new format aimed at showcasing investigative reporting, accountability journalism and live reporting directly from the Times' newsroom inside the nation's capital. The Washington Times Morning Show is set to launch later this spring.

When you read the term "investigative reporting" applied to the Washington Times, think about the Clinton impeachment. [...]

Meanwhile, wealthy liberal Democrats don't buy up or create large media outlets; they just support efforts to criticize the corporate press and the likes of Rev. Moon. [...]

You can win elections, but you can't make dramatic change unless you own part of the major media.

Rev. Moon understands that. Why can't wealthy Democrats?

Or is it because many of the wealthiest Democrats really don't want a change in the distribution of wealth in this nation?

Good question.

Voters Favor Democrats in Congress

Time to stop farting around and crush them. CRUSH.

The latest Diageo/Hotline poll finds that 49% of voters approve of Democrats in Congress while 38% disapprove. However, congressional Republicans do not fare quite as well with just 26% of voters approving of their job performance.

Looking ahead to 2010, Democrats lead Republicans by a whopping 46 to 22% on the generic congressional ballot.

First Read: "It's worth pointing out that the Republican Party is about as unpopular now as the president who just left office."

Obama Administration Plans Pushback On Stimulus Vote

Too nice. I want emasculation*.

Pushing back against the unanimous House Republican vote against President Obama’s stimulus plan, the White House plans to release state-by-state job figures “so we can put a number on what folks voted for an against,” an administration aide said.
“It’s clear the Republicans who voted against the stimulus represent constituents who will be stunned to learn their member of Congress voted against [saving or] creating 4 million jobs,” the aide said.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the lawmakers will have to answer to their constituents.

And a Democratic official added: “We will run campaigns in their districts.”

And later today, MoveOn, Americans United for Change, AFSCME and SEIU will be announcing a new ad campaign targeting moderate Republican senators who might support the stimulus — Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Charles Grassley of Iowa.

The ad, which will run in the Washington market and in those states, consists of clips of the president talking about the stimulus, followed by the male voiceover, “Tell Congress to support the Obama plan for jobs, not the failed policies of the past.”

*Metaphor adjusted as to not make the readers ill.

Officials: Family planning money may be dropped from stimulus

Spinelss crap weasels. The only thing that could maybe make them look like less of idiotic surrender monkeys is if they give on this, and then cram the rest of the stimulus bill up the R's tuchus. Extra bonusy joy? The CBO zombie meme rears it's head... again.

WASHINGTON – House Democrats are likely to jettison family planning funds for the low-income from an $825 billion economic stimulus bill, officials said late Monday, following a personal appeal from President Barack Obama at a time the administration is courting Republican critics of the legislation.

Several officials said a final decision was expected on Tuesday, coinciding with Obama's scheduled visit to the Capitol for separate meetings with House and Senate Republicans.

(snip)

Under the provision, states no longer would be required to obtain federal permission to offer family planning services — including contraceptives — under Medicaid, the health program for the low-income.

Democrats considered the politically-potent change as congressional budget experts estimated it would take slightly longer for the overall legislation to achieve an impact on the economy than the administration projects.

The Congressional Budget Office said the economy would feel the effects of almost two-thirds of the money over the next year and a half. The administration claims 75 percent of the funding would be absorbed in that period of time, and Obama has pledged that the bill he signs will meet that target and either save or create up to 4 million jobs.

There are other views on this (some reflected in comments by our illustrious and learned commenters), and since I'm scrambling for time, use this as my much more articulate and well thought out than I would make defense, or even this.