One Utah

From the Chicago Tribune
Immediately, Catherine learned she was stupid for wearing a shirt with Republican John McCain’s name. Not merely stupid. Very stupid.
“People were upset. But they started saying things, calling me very stupid…
Then it got worse.

Exactly as it should be MUST BE! Its time to throw civility out the window. Olbermann has [...]

Another real record of this time….and a GREAT piece of writing. - Cliff
Nora Ephron - Posted November 4, 2008 | 11:14 AM (EST)

Thinking About Bill

As I listened to Sarah Palin’s recent phone call with "Nicolas Sarkozy," I couldn’t help thinking about Bill Kristol.
I think about Bill Kristol far too much. I [...]

There’s been a great deal of talk about corruption in politics. The last 8 years have seen a truly shocking level of corruption in government - from the Republicans K Street Project, to the Bushies’ endless politicizing of every aspect of government starting with no bid contracts for any firm connected to the Administration [...]

The Trib:
Utah senator disappointed in colleague’s convictions
After Monday’s conviction, Hatch released this statement: “It is very disappointing to see this verdict today. In my dealings with Sen. Ted Stevens, I have always found him to be very honest and straightforward. My prayers are with the senator and his wife and family at this difficult time.” [...]

Michelle Bachmann declares that some members of Congress are anti-American.
Chris Matthews actually tries to get her to answer. Of course she can’t/won’t. (H/t to Kos)

See the full 7 minutes of crazy after the flip.

Conservatives are already preparing a post-election narrative (no surprise here - as 2004 starting looking like Kerry couldn’t pull it off, progressives began preparing a post-election narrative).
By all indications - the presidential race aside - this is shaping up to be a bad year for Republicans and conservatives. Current polling suggest Dems could emerge [...]

“We are here to stand up for the unborn, to stand up against the dogs of hate who defend abortion on demand,” Wimmer said. [snip]
The supporters said the cost of the fight will not be an issue. Wimmer said that a group based out of Washington, D.C., which he would not [...]

From his blog:
1. The government (i.e. taxpayers) gets an equity stake in every Wall Street financial company proportional to the amount of bad debt that company shoves onto the public. So when and if Wall Street shares rise, taxpayers are rewarded for accepting so much risk.
2. Wall Street executives and directors of Wall Street [...]

In the real world, every government policy is an experiment. We look to history to guide us but also ground ourselves in basic values.
Public education, supported by property taxes, open to everyone, is an experiment. Creating a progressive tax code is an experiment. Cutting taxes on the rich in hopes they will [...]

As I continue my desultory series on the four freedoms, I find myself, in the face of the seemingly endless sludge of bad economic news pondering the idea of freedom from want.
FDR’s original line was:
The third is freedom from want–which, translated into universal terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy [...]

Last night, I caught a show on CSpan that showed a series of clips from the international news on the RNC. Watching the international reporting got me re-examining both McCain’s choice of Palin and McCain’s own speech.
First, I think it’s fair to say that McCain’s VP choice is the single most cynical political move [...]

Let’s review: In three days Sarah Palin has managed to rack up a slew of scandals and controversies:
• Troopergate - the abuse of her power to get a former brother in law fired
• Bridge to Nowhere - she claims to have opposed it but she’s on record supporting it
• Pregnant Daughter - her 17 year [...]