Don't know much about history…

…don't know much about, well, anything, really. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA)...

"The only thing I know is the Cut, Cap and Balance plan."

At least he hasn't let the facts confuse him.

Heh™.

Jed Lewison...

Tim Pawlenty says he has the courage to stand up for his convictions. But Tim Pawlenty begs to differ.

From the "Strange bedfellows" file.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is Rep. Allen West's representative in Congress.

I don't suppose he voted for her, though.

I know it's legal, but it's hardly a common, or, IMO,a particularly desirable, situation. Anybody know how many members other than West live outside the district they represent?

From the "Signs of the times" file.

On Wisconsin!

It's one of those days…

…that seems to offer more good questions than good answers. Susie Madrak, with another of the former...

You all keep talking about "shared sacrifice" and "belt-tightening" when there's an 16% or so effective unemployment rate, wages are continuing their 30-year decline, jobs are non-existent and millions have lost their homes. For far too many of us, if we tighten our belts any more, we'll break our backs!

Meanwhile, Wall Street is doing better than ever.

In what universe is this "shared" sacrifice?

I dunno. Which universe did Kafka write about?

Regarding Rep. Bachmann…

…it's not the headaches she has, it's the headaches she'd cause that bother me.

They don't bother me much, though, because Michele Bachmann will never, ever be President of the United States, though the Republicans might nominate anything these days.

Good question.

From Blue Gal...

I want to know from every Republican member of the House: What are you doing for the unemployed people in your district?

I'd like to hear the answer from Democrats too, for that matter.

From the "Not exactly news" file.

Republicans don't know what to do next.

What they're doing is bad enough.

What can you expect from crooks, liars and bullies?

Sometimes Democrats are "not helpful."

Sometimes they're not even Democrats.

From the "Me too" file.

Elisabeth Warren...

"I’m saving all the rocks in my pocket for Republicans.”

Me too.

Well, that's one reason.

Maybe not even the best one, but certainly sufficient. John Amato...

Lindsey Graham compares America to Greece which is why he shouldn't be taken seriously

I admit that just looking at him has always worked for me.

From the "Me neither" file.

Chris Bowers...

As you read this, rich and powerful people in Washington, DC are trying to determine not whether they should cut programs designed to help low and middle-income Americans, but by how much they should cut those programs. The rich and powerful people in DC are making these cuts in order to pay for tax breaks they recently gave to rich people and large corporations. Additionally, the cuts are being made at the behest of the lobby organizations and media operations owned by rich people and large corporations.

If that isn't a class war, I don't know what is.

Me neither.

ran·dom (adjective)

1. without pattern - done, chosen, or occurring without an identifiable pattern, plan, system, or connection

Ten examples...

Buck Owens - Hello Trouble
Marvin Gaye - His Eyes Are On The Sparrow
Bill Chambers - I Drink
The Flying Burrito Brothers - Dark End Of The Street
Nick Lowe - House For Sale
Susan Tedeschi - Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
Atlanta Rhythm Section - So Into You
John Hartford - Back In The Goodle Days
Steve Forbert - Romeo's Tune
The Young Rascals - Groovin'

From the "Math is hard" file.

While Dave Reichert gathers bouquets for his bold break with his caucus over the twisted light bulb issue, when you do the math the valor of the deed seems somewhat diminished.

With the measure falling over 50 votes short of passage, it didn't much matter what he did, and his sponsors understand that once in awhile Dave's gotta take one of those votes to keep the tree huggers at bay.

Dave Reichert - The man to count on when it doesn't count.

Hammer, nail…

…BANG! James Fallows passes along a note from a reader...

All you have to do is ask yourself, "What would that sneaky little two-faced twerp Eddie Haskell do in this situation?" And the answer will never be far from Cantor's behavior.

It works!

Time's a wastin'!

Just in case you've changed addresses in the last 48 hours, or turned 18 yesterday, or have some undoubtedly similarly good reason for not being registered to vote, you have until Monday, July 18 to fill out a paper form and mail it in or register online in order to vote in this year's primary election.

Voting's not a privilege, it's a right. It's not a choice, it's a duty. If you need to, get registered.

My money comes and goes…

…and rolls and goes and flows
Through the holes in the pockets of my clothes…

Wonder where it ends up?

New data released by the IRS reveals that, over a period of 12 years, tax rates for the richest 400 Americans were effectively cut in half. In 1995, the richest 400 Americans paid, on average, 29.93% of their income in federal taxes. In 2007, the last year for which the IRS has released data, the richest 400 Americans paid just 16.63%.

In 1995, just 12 of the 400 richest Americans paid an effective tax rat of between zero and 15%. By 2007, that number skyrocketed to over 150. The massive reduction is due to both Bush-era tax reductions for the wealthy and the aggressive exploitation of tax dodges and shelters.

Damn right it's a class war, and "don't retreat, reload" is starting to sound like good, if still figurative, advice.

A koan...

...for John Boehner, via Scott Nance...

What’s the point of being speaker if you’re not truly in charge of the House?

If you're still wondering...

...where the money went, here's another hint, via Mary at The Left Coaster...

Chart of the day.

Via Nate Silver...

Survey says…

...we're right, they're wrong.