Links (most recent first) that caught my eye, but did not warrant full-blown blog entries ….
- The political consequences of economic know-nothingism – “Four months before the midterm elections, “virtually every Republican” in Congress agrees that the country can’t afford $30 billion in extended unemployment benefits, but it can afford $678 billion in tax cuts for the wealthy.” That about says it all, right there.
- Plagiarism problem intensifies for McInnis – I don’t think he should drop out — but I certainly hope it will play into voter evaluation of his character.
- Exposing the right’s deficit sham – It’s not entirely a sham — the Right is interested in reducing deficits only as a result of cutting taxes, particularly on the rich and on business. Such tax cuts only result in reduced deficits if government spending is forcibly slashed because of it. Thus their willingness to cut taxes (esp. for themselves) regardless of what it does to the deficit.
- In the midst of efforts to repeal DADT, military retention and recruitment are thriving. – Apparently folks in the service — or thinking of joining up — aren’t daunted by the prospect of TEH EVILL GAYZ!!! openly serving with them.
- The Entire State of New York is Under Attack by Zombies, Do You 1) Help, or 2) Worry About the Deficit? – “Maybe if employing the unemployed was actually more like fighting a zombie war, we’d get on it faster. But I guess if it can’t be handled with lots of shooting PEW PEW tanks KABOOM and jet planes NEEEEEEAROW DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA, we’re just not that into it. So my advice to the unemployed is: stock up on grey face paint, start acquiring a taste for human flesh, and practice your stumbling shamble, cause it looks like that’s the only way to get anyone’s attention around here.”
- Filibustering Unemployment Benefits – Some interesting notes on the filibuster. Bottom line: a useful tool for emergencies, but it’s become far too easy to use, both for procedural reasons and because the Dems (in this case) don’t have the gumption to stand up to it.
- GOP’s version of political correctness – Doubtless they also boycott “Fiesta” paper towels. And “Brawny,” since the root goes back to Old French. As does “Bounty.” Those crafty foreigners and their insidious paper towel schemes to corrupt our language!
- Cantor Says Federal Spending Doesn’t ‘Create Jobs’ — At Job Fair With Companies Funded By The Stimulus – Cantor went on to say, “And obviously, the fire department pumped all this water into the fire to put it out. But since the fire has not yet gone out, obviously water does nothing to stop fires, and they should instead take all the water away and use it to fill my swimming pool.”
- Deal slams opponent in Georgia GOP gubernatorial primary for voting to support gay outreach. – I’m not sure which is worse — the homophobic candidate attacking his opponent for previously supporting gay rights, or his opponent for backtracking furiously from her previous positions.
- Fox News Rebuts Israeli Talking Point – I accept Israel’s existence, as a fait accompli if nothing else. It’s continued discrmination against, segregation of, land-grabbing from, and essential apartheid of Palestinian Arabs within its “borders,” however, is a moral wrong. That it does so cloaked in Biblical piety and with the support of American politicians makes it even worse.
- Former Contestant Slams “The Biggest Loser” – Crash weight loss programs — whether on TV or not — have a poor long-term success rate. That NBC has been a bit, um, creative in this particular show’s filming and pressure-cooking is hardly a surprise.
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7. Umm… Are Arizona’s lawmakers going to change the name of their state? It clearly does not meet their standards.
‘The name Arizona is the Spanish interpretation of “arizuma,” an Aztec Indian word that means “silver-bearing.” It’s also based on the Pima Indian word arizonac, meaning “little spring place.”‘ – State Symbols USA: http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Arizona/name_origin.html