STRATEGY SESSION

The Liar’s main campaign weapon: fear

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/what-theyre-scared-of-mitts-existential-rhetoric-resonates-with-iowans.php
As he’s pivoted back to a campaign focused almost entirely on President Obama, Mitt Romney has raised the alarm: 2012, he says, is about nothing less than the very “soul of America.”

Iowans I talked to at two of Romney’s campaign stops Sunday were in full agreement. So I asked them what scares them about a second Obama term. I got answers ranging from the creep of socialism to concerns that Obama’s best-known vice will encourage kids to take up smoking. . . . [read on]

The GOP game plan for 2012

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-gops-game-plan-to-end-obamas-presidency/2012/01/02/gIQAt9f4VP_blog.html

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/02/1050880/-Republicans-plan-to-use-President-Obamas-words-against-him

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/repair_the_world034466.php

Well, they’ve worked at it

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/congress_unimaginably_low_appr034467.php
Congress’ ‘unimaginably low’ approval rating

More on The Theocrat’s dog-whistle politics

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/for_no_reason_santorum_singled034464.php
For no reason, Santorum ‘singled out blacks’

No, I am not interested in hearing people make excuses for Ron Paul

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/01/crackpots-messengers

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/12/27/on-ron-paul-and-progressivism/

http://www.salon.com/2012/01/02/occupys_iowa_options_ron_paul_or_uncommitted/

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/dazed-and-confused.html

We is learning?

http://crooksandliars.com/jamie/fox-sees-viewer-decline-2011
While Fox News continues to dominate the news market in ratings (while losing out to Jon Stewart), they were also the only cable news network to actually see their numbers decline in 2011 . . .

Not PBD readers, obviously

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/02/romneys_first_name_a_mystery.html
A new 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll finds just 6% of all those surveyed knew that Mitt Romney's real first name was actually Willard.

About 20% thought Mitt was his real name, while 18% picked Mitchell and 8% chose Milton.

Bonus item: The GOP’s Alternate Reality

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/02/1050834/-Eric-Cantors-press-secretary-interrupts-interview-to-claim-Ronald-Reagan-never-raisedtaxes

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/cantor_cant_handle_the_truth_a034458.php

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 6:42 AM

 
SPEAKING IN CODE

A governing philosophy I’m sure we can all get behind

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/diversity_creates_conflict034446.php
“Diversity creates conflict. If we celebrate diversity, we create conflict,” Santorum told the audience in Ottumwa. [read on]

Hard to tell how much this is a real electoral trend, and how much it is just the media working hard to build drama in the reality tv show the GOP nomination fight has become

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/01/santorum_could_win_in_iowa.html
Santorum Could Win in Iowa

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/01/even_if_romney_wins_santorum_may_be_the_story.html
Even if Romney Wins, Santorum May Be the Story

No, I don’t think Little Rock is going to have any more staying power than the other GOP Alternatives to Romney. But he’s having his moment, just as the rest have

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/01/santorum_s_surge_can_the_senator_take_the_iowa_caucus_.html
Rick Santorum is so hot right now, you'd think he was the cure to something. . .

Seriously? http://www.samefacts.com/2012/01/uncategorized/srsly/
[Mark Kleiman] Santorum? You mean the guy who wants a Constitutional amendment to un-marry currently married gay people? I guess this is a measure of how much rank-and-file Republicans really don’t want Mitt Romney. Still, I think we may be approaching Peak Crazy. At least, I hope so.

Haven’t quite settled on my tag for Santorum, if he’s going to hang around long enough to deserve one. Little Rock sounded good when Santorum was the lesser of the two stupid Rick’s in the race. (Now it’s Perry who looks like the also-ran.) Maybe Little Liar

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/david-gregory-pushes-back-rick-santorum-ly
David Gregory Pushes Back at Rick Santorum For Lying About the President Not Meeting With Republicans

The other Rock

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/fingerpointing_begins_inside_p034443.php
Finger-pointing begins inside Perry camp

The thinnest book ever written?

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/01/the_real_romney.html
Coming from Boston Globe investigative reporters Michael Kranish and Scott Helman in two weeks: The Real Romney. . .

Whining works

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/01/virginia_may_expand_primary_ballot.html
After only Mitt Romney (R) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) qualified for the presidential primary ballot in Virginia, the state's Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) announced that he “will intervene to ensure that more Republican presidential candidates will appear on the state's primary ballot” . . .

Asked and answered

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/worst_congress_ever_1034447.php
Worst. Congress. Ever?

Does Fox News have a new darling for the GOP nomination?

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/01/recount_in_the_murdoch_primary.php
[Rupert Murdoch] Good to see santorum surging in Iowa. Regardless of policies, all debates showed principles, consistency and humility like no other.

[NB: Yes, because I associate Fox News with “principles, consistency and humility”]

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/01/tv-soundoff-sunday-talkin_n_1178415.html

Bonus item: I haven’t listed all of C&L’s fantastic top 50 video posts of 2011 – but you have to catch #1

http://crooksandliars.com/heather/cls-top-videos-2011-1-fox-news-uses-tina-f

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 6:52 AM

 
ISN’T IT IRONIC?

With no apparent sense of irony, Newt complains about negative politics

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/12/quote-day-newt-gingrich-disillusioned-politics
“Politics has become a really nasty, vicious, negative business and I think it's disgusting and I think it's dishonest.”

With no apparent sense of irony, The Liar compares Obama to Marie Antoinette

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/mitt_antoinette034439.php

The problem with his tax returns

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/keeping_the_focus_on_romneys_t034437.php
[Steve Benen] 1. Mitt Romney is worth $250 million.

2. He got rich by laying off American workers.

3. He pays a lower tax rate than you and the rest of the middle class.

4. He wants to be president so he can keep it this way.

With no apparent sense of irony, Ron Paul, who is running for the GOP nomination, says he might not support the party’s nominee (if it isn’t him)

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/12/31/paul_might_not_support_rivals_if_they_win.html

With no apparent sense of irony, the Rock complains about restrictive election rules in Virginia

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/virginias-ballot-access-laws-turn-tables-on-gop/2011/12/29/gIQA9LzMPP_story.html
Rick Perry said the laws were “among the most onerous in the nation,” and possibly even unconstitutional. . .

With no apparent sense of irony, the Little Rock (Santorum) starts crowing over poll results, after saying they don’t mean anything

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/santorum-on-register-poll-were-the-campaign-with-momentum/2011/12/31/gIQAPYmCTP_blog.html?wprss=election-2012
[Now] Santorum on Register poll: ‘We’re the campaign with momentum’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAj3iHmA5JY
[Then] Santorum Says He's Not Worried About Low Poll Numbers

With no apparent sense of irony, Sarah! tries to promote her book even though it “sounds self-promoting”

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/12/31/palin_tells_candidates_to_read_her_book.html
“Given the concerns I have for some of the Republican field's focus thus far, I must implore the candidates to do something that sounds self-promoting, but whatever. Candidates, please turn to Chapter Three of Going Rogue . . .”

But seriously: the state of the economy, in vivid graphs

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/21/1047589/-Some-charts-on-the-economy-from-2011

http://firedoglake.com/2011/12/31/from-statistics-to-graphs-to-people/

More: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/12/the-most-important-graphs-of-2011/250240/

The Sunday talk show line-ups

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/01/1050378/-Sunday-Talk:-Next-year-in-Jerusalem
NBC Meet the Press: Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA); Chuck Todd (NBC News); Chair of the Republican Party of Iowa Matt Strawn; Roundtable: Kathie Obradovich (Des Moines Register), GOP Strategist Mike Murphy, David Brooks (New York Times), Mark Halperin (TIME) and Andrea Mitchell (NBC News).

CBS Face the Nation: Sen. Rand Paul (R-TN); Former Sen. Jim Talent (R-MO); Former Rep. J.C. Watts (R-OK); Roundtable: Mike Allen (Politico); John Dickerson (CBS News); Norah O'Donnell (CBS News); David Yepsen (Paul Simon Public Policy Institute).

ABC This Week: Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX); Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN); Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R); Jonathan Karl (ABC News); O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa); Roundtable: Matthew Dowd (ABC News), Neera Tanden (Center for American Progress), Byron York (Washington Examiner) and Craig Robinson (The Iowa Republican).

CNN State of the Union: Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX); Rep. Steve King (R-IA); Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R); Dan Balz (Washington Post); Neil King (Wall Street Journal); Reliable Sources: Michael Shear (New York Times); Nia-Malika Henderson (Washington Post); A.B. Stoddard (The Hill); Debra Saunders (San Francisco Chronicle); John Aravosis (AmericaBlog); Rachel Streitfeld (CNN); Sarah Boxer (CBS News).

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 7:55 AM

 

THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/12/30/top_10_gop_moments_of_the_year.html
The Democratic National Committee relives the best moments of the Republican presidential campaign. . . .

Why won’t The Liar release his tax records?

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/12/whats_the_deal_with_romneys_taxes.php
[Josh Marshall] So what’s the deal with Romney’s tax returns? Or more specifically, what’s the deal with Mitt Romney letting himself get more and more nippy press by refusing to release his tax returns when virtually every serious presidential candidate of the last 40 years has done it? Allow me to explain. . . .

Romney’s son goes off message, badly

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/30/1049971/-Mitt-Romneys-son-goes-birther--to-defend-dads-refusal-to-release-tax-returns
Taking questions in Concord, New Hampshire, Mitt Romney's son says that his father won't release his income tax returns until President Obama releases his birth certificate, even though the president has already done just that . . .

More: http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/mitt-romneys-son-obama-should-release-birth-certificate-grades.php

The two Ricks fight it out over sodomy – and thus are GOP primaries won and lost

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/updates/3283

And, of course, we have to have this conversation too

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/bachmann-i-love-my-ar-15-assault-rifle
During a WHO-AM radio interview, Bachmann told host Jan Mickelson that she had planned to go pheasant hunting with Rep. Steve King (R-IA) on Friday.

"I'm a pretty good shot," the candidate admitted. "I learned how to hunt here in Iowa from my dad. I went through gun safety when I was 12."

"My favorite gun is an AR-15 . . . ."

"The AR-15, that's a combat weapon?" Mickelson asked.

"I love it," Bachmann declared. "It's a great gun."

Just fade away: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/12/30/bachmann_campaign_running_on_fumes.html
Michele Bachmann "is limping toward Tuesday's Iowa presidential caucuses," the AP reports. "She's losing staff. She's faced calls for her to abandon her bid. And she has no money." . . . [read on]

Dream on! http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/12/30/why_bachmann_didnt_go_after_romney.html
Michele Bachmann's former campaign manager, Ed Rollins, tells Politico why she "repeatedly passed up opportunities to ding Mitt Romney in the debates."

Said Rollins: "There was some talk early on between her and her husband that she could end up as the vice presidential nominee."

Will Ron Paul hang around as a third party candidate?

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/with-mixed-results-ron-paul-tries-to-terrify-small-town-iowa.php
Ron Paul stood before a crowded public library conference room here and warned the packed house that the United Nations is coming to take their land and that America is this close to riots in the streets against a government that is becoming more and more like a dictatorship. . . . This was vintage Paul, the kind of fear of the one-world government and terror over the Amero (North American currency conspiracy) that has been a fixture of Paul’s persona on the national stage. . . .

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/30/1049973/-Got-AIDs-Your-fault,-says-Ron-Paul-Boss-cant-keep-his-hands-off-you-Switch-jobs,-says-Ron-Paul

By the way, Paul’s association with racist newsletters hasn’t hurt him with one major Republican constituency. So I ask you, Correlation or causality?

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/ron-paul-doesnt-appeal-to-evangelicals-polls-say-otherwise.php

Obama/Clinton 2012?

http://www.americablog.com/2011/12/reich-get-ready-for-obamaclinton-ticket.html

Bonus item: TPM “Golden Duke” winners announced!

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/the-winners-of-the-2011-golden-duke-awards.php

The nominees: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/your-nominees-for-the-2011-golden-duke-awards.php

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 7:26 AM

 
THE LIAR

The latest lies

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/mitt-romneys-big-promises-and-bigger-lies

Why we call him The Rock

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/rick-perry-appears-to-forget-landmark-civil-rights-case-he-long-opposed.php
Rick Perry Appears To Forget Landmark Civil Rights Case He Long-Opposed

More: http://my.firedoglake.com/teddysanfran/2011/12/29/rick-perry-draws-another-blank/

The silly headline of the day – this is someone who MIGHT finish third in Iowa

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2011/12/santorum_surge_how_his_spiking_poll_numbers_change_the_race_.html
The Santorum Surge

http://www.salon.com/2011/12/28/the_rick_santorum_surge_is_here/
The Rick Santorum surge is here

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/inside-the-rick-santorum-surge/2011/12/29/gIQAz20ZOP_blog.html
Inside the Rick Santorum surge

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/omg_the_santorum_surge034375.php
OMG: The Santorum Surge?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romney-and-santorum-surge-as-iowa-caucuses-near/2011/12/28/gIQA6HBNNP_story.html
Romney and Santorum surge

http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/the-santorum-surge-in-iowa-and-beyond
The Santorum Surge In Iowa and Beyond

Michele (One L, two N’s) Bachmann goes bye-bye

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/michele-bachmanns-campaign-flameout/2011/12/29/gIQAuydIPP_story.html
Michele Bachmann’s campaign flameout

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/bachmanns_bad_week034385.php
Bachmann’s Bad Week

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/bachmanns-iowa-chair-defects-and-endorses-r
Bachmann's Iowa Chair Defects and Endorses Ron Paul

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/29/1049667/-Michele-Bachmann-claims-Ron-Paul-bribed-co-chair-for-endorsement
Michele Bachmann claims Ron Paul bribed co-chair for endorsement

What Ron Paul stands for

http://crooksandliars.com/kenneth-quinnell/ron-pauls-racism-isnt-worst-thing
[Kenneth Quinnell] Anyone considering Paul as a candidate should certainly take into account his views on race, gender and the LGBT community -- all of which are atrocious -- but they should also take into account the vast array of other issues in which he is not only incredibly wrong, but where his policy prescriptions would make things worse. . . . [read on]

Bonus item: Ever vigilant

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/right-wing_fox_friends_warn_girl_scouts_promote_li.php
Right-Wing, Fox & Friends Warn Girl Scouts Promote ‘Liberal Agenda’

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 6:19 AM

 
DRONE WARS

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/national-security/under-obama-an-emerging-global-apparatus-for-drone-killing/2011/12/13/gIQANPdILP_print.html
In the space of three years, the administration has built an extensive apparatus for using drones to carry out targeted killings of suspected terrorists and stealth surveillance of other adversaries. . . . [read on]

More: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/12/slippery-slope-drone-warfare

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/drone-planes-shiny-toys.html

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/12/28/the-secret-extra-judicial-killing-program-paid-for-by-our-tax-dollars/
The Secret Extra-Judicial Killing Program Paid for By Our Tax Dollars

Do the House Repubs have it in for the Orange Man?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/what-boehner-faces-in-2012-after-payroll-tax-debacle.php

Just a couple of days ago, Newt was passionately disavowing negative ads

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/pro-newt-super-pac-goes-really-negative.php
Pro-Newt Super PAC Goes Really Negative

The Rock gives up on anything like an actual policy agenda, and just throws bloody red meat

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/rick-perrys-increasingly-desperate-closing-argument-in-iowa.php
It may surprise you, but there was a time Rick Perry was supposed to be the jobs candidate. Remember the Texas Miracle?

Anyway, those days are long gone. . . . [read on]

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/28/1049394/-Rick-Perry-transforms-from-anti-choice-extremist-to-anti-choice-extremist

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/28/1049419/-Rick-Perry:-Affordable-Care-Act-has-to-go-because-a-random-person-says-it-will-kill-her

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/12/howdy_neighbor.php
“Every barrel of oil that comes out of those sands in Canada is a barrel of oil that we don’t have to buy from a foreign source.”

Err . . . cancel that!

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/12/paul_sends_pastor_down_memory_hole.php
This afternoon our Benjy Sarlin and Pema Levy published a story on how the Ron Paul campaign has touted the endorsement of a radical Nebraska pastor who says the United States should institute the death penalty as the punishment for homosexuality. This evening, evidence of Rev. Phillip Kayser’s endorsement disappeared from the Paul campaign website. No explanation from the Paul campaign.

Are we going to be talking about Rick Santorum now? Really? REALLY?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/28/1049540/-Daily-Kos-Polling-Wrap:-Is-it-finally-the-GOPs-turn-to-embrace-Rick-Santorum

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/omg_the_santorum_surge034375.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/could-rick-santorum-win-the-republican-nomination/2011/12/27/gIQATp8OKP_blog.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/yup-were-really-going-to-be-talking-santorum/2011/12/28/gIQAryf1MP_blog.html

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 7:36 AM

 
THEY GOT NUTTIN’

Looking back on the year Republicans have given us

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/a-year-of-living-dangerously----a-look-back-at-the-gops-2011-strategy-and-its-consequences.php
When the House GOP’s enormous freshman class arrived on Capitol Hill in January, it wasn’t uncommon to hear them sound off on the mistakes their predecessors made in 1995. Despite having shut down the government — twice! — House Republicans under Newt Gingrich had caved too easily, didn’t push hard enough, didn’t embody the true spirit of conservatism. . . . [read on]

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/washingtons-year-of-drama-leaves-little-done-regarding-debt/2011/12/23/gIQAB6kRLP_story.html
Washington’s year of drama leaves little done regarding debt

The GOPers promise to “repeal and replace” Obamacare. . . except for the second part

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-replace-sham-one-year-out/2011/12/27/gIQA1hcfKP_blog.html

More: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/12/if-tree-falls-forest-it-lie

It’s always fun watching candidates complain about negative campaigning – except when it works for them (thanks to AG for the link)

http://www.nationofchange.org/oh-please-hypocrisy-gingrich-and-romney-1324908511

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/frontrunners-stay-mostly-positive-as-super-pacs-go-negative/2011/12/27/gIQATfdXLP_blog.html

The Liar’s personal tax break

http://www.samefacts.com/2011/12/taxation/willards-carried-interest
[Mark Kleiman] Willard Mitt Romney pays a lower tax rate on the millions of dollars he continues to earn from his asset-stripping activities at Bain Capital than ordinary folks pay on their income. Sounds like an issue to me.

It’s what they do

http://www.salon.com/2011/12/27/how_the_media_made_ron_paul/
How the media made Ron Paul

Well, I guess there’s at least ONE person left desperate to get Sarah! back into the race

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/eric-bolling-asks-if-theres-some-way-get-s

Or anyone! http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/12/27/still_hoping_for_another_candidate.html

I’m with Digby

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/good-riddance-to-ben-nelson.html
Good riddance to Ben Nelson

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/ben-nelsons-retirement-makes-life-hard-for-senate-democrats/2011/12/27/gIQAMlorKP_blog.html

Still screwing his party: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/ben_nelson_to_retire034346.php
Nelson waited until after Democratic and allied groups had invested quite a bit of money to strengthen his standing in Nebraska, and then decided to retire. . . .

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/12/27/dscc-wastes-1-million-in-ads-on-retiring-ben-nelson/
DSCC Wastes $1 Million in Ads on Retiring Ben Nelson

The legacy of de-unionization

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/factoid-o-year-50-percent-of-workers.html
50 percent of workers made less than $26,364 last year

The Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/its-worse-than-you-thought-left.html

Bonus item: Credit where it’s due

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/12/27/quote_of_the_day.html
"I think he compared that to Pearl Harbor. I think its more like Lucille Ball at the chocolate factory."

-- Mitt Romney, quoted by Politico, on Newt Gingrich not qualifying for the Virginia ballot.

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- posted by Nick Burbules @ 7:34 AM