HEY!!!

Several alert readers clued us in to Josh Marshall's new word on the NY-23 race. This is clearly gimmick infringement. But at least Josh and I thought of it, which either brings me up to his level or brings him down to mine...

The WAAAAHHHpublicans Want Grayson to Stop Being Mean

Rep. Alan Grayson is really - we mean really - getting under the GOP's sensitive little fingernails. They're crying to Obama to make the bad man stop. Fat chance.

They HATE political correctness, but when the tables are turned, as always, they go crying for apologies. Screw off, all of you.

Republicans are calling on President Obama to take a stand on Rep. Alan Grayson's (D-FL) controversial remarks about a female lobbyist. During his visit to Florida yesterday, Obama praised Grayson, calling the freshman representative "outstanding" in a speech praising other members of the state's Democratic congressional delegation.

"President Obama should immediately rescind his accolades and condemn Grayson's shameful comments, and Congressman Grayson should issue an apology," said RNC co-chair Jan Larimer.

Grayson, the new darling of progressives thanks to his tough talk about the GOP, called the female lobbyist a "K Street whore" on the air. He was immediately attacked by state and national Republicans, and has since said he was referring to lobbyists professional life, not her character.

That's Entertainment

[A guest blog by John Cory]

After weeks of smear by Glenn Beck on FOX, Van Jones stepped down from his position in hopes of eliminating a distraction for President Obama and his agenda for health care reform in America.

Van Jones got smeared and resigned. Glenn Beck did the smearing and will receive the key to the city of Mount Vernon, Washington.

A friend once said to me, “When a white guy commits a crime, someone profits. When a brown man commits a crime, someone has to pay.”

Is that what this is? Is it that simple an explanation?

Is it racism? Maybe it is for a small contingent of America. But I do not believe that racism is the root of this outcry although some want you to believe that.

Has it ever happened before? Has any President in modern history been subject to such vile and radical and disgusting rhetoric? From “birthers” questioning his citizenship to Glenn Beck calling him a racist and hater of white people, and insinuating that the last election was not an election but a revolution against America, has any President been so vilified? Well – yes.

Remember President Clinton and the 1990’s? Whitewater? Troopergate? Travelgate? Vince Foster? Pull out your copy of Fools For Scandal by Gene Lyons and The Hunting Of A President by Joe Conason and Gene Lyons.

The leader of the so-called Moral Majority, Jerry Falwell produced and sold a DVD that went so far as to accuse the Clintons of drug running and murder. This was from a reverend that claimed to represent the Christian way of life. Falwell was given a platform on the airwaves to spew his bile day after day.

And even now there is a case heading for the Supreme Court over a movie about Hillary Clinton that can only be described as a continuation of the vilification of Secretary of State Clinton by conservatives.

Why is this happening? How can such blatant falsehoods continue to exist?

The Result of the Hammering by the Right Wing Media

New York Times/CBS Poll:

These sometimes turbulent weeks — marked by new initiatives by Mr. Obama, attacks by Republicans and more than a few missteps by the White House — do not appear to have hurt the president. Americans said they approved of Mr. Obama’s handling of the economy, foreign policy, Iraq and Afghanistan; fully two-thirds said they approved of his overall job performance.

By contrast, just 31 percent of respondents said they had a favorable view of the Republican Party, the lowest in the 25 years the question has been asked in New York Times/CBS News polls.

So Politico Staffs Its Weekends With BIGGER Nimrods?

Michelle Obama is doing too much, according to the professional-looking windsock of political coverage. Those Obamas with the work, work, work. They must stop that.

Focusing on the Really Important Issues

Congress' deep concern for the size of food portions at the White House.

Durbin Calls for Burris to Resign

Wow. MSNBC just reporting that Durbin was "disappointed" in Burris' actions revealed  in the disclosures of the last ten days. Burris said he won't resign.

Republican Fail

Despite (and believe us, it's not because of) the obstructionists, America's feeling better about Congress.

Sarah Palin and Bill Ayres are Now Equals

Lovin' this from the Alfalfa Club dinner last night.

To Palin, Obama expressed surprise to see her with such members of the Washington elite she railed against during the campaign. Or, as he termed it in language Palin is familiar with, “palling around with this crew.”

Snap. Another:

I've had to engage in some of the toughest diplomacy of my life. And that was just to keep my Blackberry. I finally agreed to limit the number of people who could email me. It's a very exclusive list. How exclusive?

Everyone look at the person sitting on your left. Now look at the person sitting on your right. None of you have my email address.

Quote This

"He doesn't seem like a total douche."

- A kid who got his picture taken with freshly ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich

Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Alaska and Nebraska

The five remaining solid Republican states according to Gallup.

Blagowjob

The guy just keeps inspiring people to stand up and leave.

The governor's impassioned play for public sympathy—while true to his political playbook—cost him a key ally in his simultaneous fight against federal corruption charges.

Edward Genson, Blagojevich's lead criminal defense attorney, announced he was quitting hours after his client smeared the impeachment trial as a "sham" in a series of radio interviews and a nationally televised news conference. Blagojevich said the criminal case was being used as a pretext to impeach and remove him by fellow Democrats who have a vendetta against him for his independent political streak.

End This Already

Really, Blago. Just stop. You were busted. Take it like a man.

History Speaks for Itself

Blagojevich was a huge Nixon fan who camped out in front of his house to get a picture and an autograph.

Senator Kennedy of New York

I seriously don't know what to think about this. Not that my opinion really means a rat's patootey to anyone, but on this one, I have none. But if you have one, drop it off here and we'll take good care of it.

Deal of the Day!

Bid on an open senate seat from the governor of Illinois!

(BRILLIANT job, Stranger! Doing all those links must've been a bitch and a half.)

Oy Yoy Yoy: Blagojevich Arrested

They arrested the governor of Illinois, which will do wonders for that state's political rep (not to mention ours). And right wing radio gets its hysteria for today. From what's left of the Chicago Tribune:

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on charges that he brazenly conspired to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder.

Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field, according to a federal criminal complaint. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board who had been critical of him fired.

A 76-page FBI affidavit said the 51-year-old Democratic governor was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti.

Otherwise, Blagojevich considered appointing himself. The affidavit said that as late as Nov. 3, he told his deputy governor that if "they're not going to offer me anything of value I might as well take it."

Josh and his crew are pillar-to-post on this story, including the fact that the affidavit shows Obama wanted nothing to do with Blago's scheme from the first whiff, and that this guy is 57,918 square miles of bad road, as evidenced by this reader comment:

Don't underestimate one key factor here with Blago: sheer stupidity.

My sister works in the legislative and advocacy circles in Illinois and she's said for a long time that Blago is simply not a bright guy. People in Chicago have repeatedly [said] that he's like George W. Bush but not as bright.

We think the sheer stupidity is on display very vividly with this breaking story.

Not Important Enough to Waste Our Anger On This

Joe Lieberman. I really don't care about this flyweight. So they're letting him keep his Homeland Security post. Fine. That'll last until Connecticut has the good sense to vote him out of an office he never should have won the last time. So welcome back to the fold, you little turncoat. And here's hoping your home state has a long memory.

Besides...Obama's not afraid to take this nebbish into the corner for a good spanking. He's done it before. It'll be kinda fun.

Seriously - Who Gives a Frog's Fat Ass?

Which party will end up being the recipient of the powerful and mighty political sway of the dazzling Joe Lieberman? Talk about sphincter-puckering excitement...