All Hell About to Break Loose

It looks like the erupting scandal regarding the CIA (et al) not notifying Congress about programs is coalescing around one specific program. No details as yet, but it doesn't look good (altho it does not look like it's the purported Cheney assassination squad(s).

Lots of info on all the sites listed to the right (particularly FDL.) Additionally, Ambinder opines and Marcy covers. Memorize the terms PSP and President's Surveillance Program. You'll hear them a lot.

Middle Ground

Noam Levey has an article in this morning's LATimes more or less extolling the remarkable bipartisanship of Baucus and Grassley for seeking the 'middle ground' on health care reform legislation. Let's ignore for the fact that for Grassley, the middle ground is defined as his way. The key fact to remember is that the idea is to reform healthcare to make it available (and affordable) to everyone (not a majority, not some, everyone). Bipartisan unity and comity is not the goal, getting healthcare to everyone is...

As Governor Dean said:

The bottom line on healthcare reform is that it is not worth doing if it is not done right....

And let's remember that for Hitler and Stalin, the middle ground was Poland.

Public Option

Avedon, writing at Eschaton, sums up the public option position perfectly:

But when someone claims they oppose healthcare reform because it is too expensive, there really is only one sensible response: "If you are worried about costs, why don't you support single-payer, which will save hundreds of billions of dollars?"

Palin Out

Poster girl for Dumericans, Sarah Palin, is resigning as Governor of Alaska, effective 7/25. No real reason has been given. There's something here we haven't heard yet; should be FASCINATING once we do!!

He's Good Enough, He's Smart Enough....

.. and the MN Supreme Court likes him, darnit! In a unanimous ruling, the MN SC ruled against Norm Coleman and essentially declared Al Franken as the Senator from Mn. Yeehaw.

And Coleman has conceded, so it's done.

Just Strange

I've watched Gov Markie-Mark's press conference a couple of times and remain just amazed at how weird it was. One lesson to take from it: in a situation like this, prepare a statement, read the statement, and leave; don't try to wing it.

Oh Puhleeeeeze

Darrell Issa has decided Ben Bernanke is a bad bad man who must be reined in and cast out from the sight of moral men.

This might (MIGHT!!!) be credible if Darrell Issa wasnt the craziest member of the House (he'd be number one in Congress, but the Senate has DeMint (and Corker, and Bunning, and... well, Republicans....)

Line of the Day

Via Kos:

Malacandra, on Twitter:

If I understand the GOP, goverment is bloated, wasteful and inefficient. And private insurance companies can't compete with that.

(No, I don't know who Malacandra is, but I may start following now...)

Sanford Found

Apparently, he was on the Appalachian Trial. Hiking naked?

OOOOH I'm Scared!

Just saw my first Conservatives for Patients' Rights commercial. Very scary, in a moronic, braindead, rabble-rousing sort of way. And, is it just me, or is Rick Scott even more Skeletor-y than Chertoff?