is being a mench a good thing?

The last genuine conservative republican has died.

From the link regarding Jack Kemp:

If you have looked at the IQ scores of quarterbacks on the Wonderlic tests the pros give potential draftees, you’ll see that successful college quarterbacks generally score higher than journalists.

I'm pretty sure your average chunk of fossilized fecal matter these days would outscore a so-called journalist.

Really, when did 'journalist' become the academic yardstick career?

(Bloggers, of course, are excepted.)

I never cared for Kemp or his ideas.

But I never thought he was a hater or a bigot. I disliked his ideas on their merits. Or lack thereof. Kemp himself seemed pretty decent.

To the extent Dems/Obama need serious opposition, Kemp might have supplied it.

"President Obama is targeting off-shore tax havens. Republicans aren't happy about it."

Neither is Erin Burnett.

She went on Morning Joe and defended the oppressed corporations, saying:

"Everyone likes to say American companies tax dodge, and no doubt they do, and the tax system could use massive reform, I don't think anyone would debate that, but the average tax rate paid by American companies...as of last year, it was right up around 30-plus percent. They are supposed to pay 35%. The average in other countries is significantly lower. So that is something to think about when people talk about tax avoidance by major U.S. companies."

Actually, something even BETTER for poor Erin to think about is this:

MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF CORPORATIONS PAY NO TAXES

Why doesn't CNBC just have her wear a bikini on-air and be done with it ?

The web community loves graphics. Sometime this spring the USDA will release a new USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Here's the current map:

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html

The map is based upon the average median low temperature for an area. This temperature limits certain plants to warmer regions as low temperatures may kill the plant or even the seeds.

Guess what? The warm zones are on the move northward and inland.

I live in an area (Puget Sound) that has many zones within a few miles, or even fractions of a mile. We can expect these areas to suffer the most from small changes in temperature.

Please note this data is generated and used by a pretty non-political sector of our government/economy, and it is data used by gardeners of every political stripe to select plants for their yard.

Amen, Steve, to everything you said on Jack Kemp. I don't know if my perception is correct, but I always thought Bush 41 never really let him stretch his legs at HUD. Kemp had some ideas about public housing that were, at the very least, worth trying.

We all have one particular pundit who rubs us the wrong way more than all the others, and for me that is Cokie Roberts. God, I just loath her. And that link articulates the reasons quite well.

is being a mench a good thing?

Yes. Yes it is.

I don't know if my perception is correct, but I always thought Bush 41 never really let him stretch his legs at HUD.

He spent his time at HUD cleaning up scandals and messes from the Reagan administration?

I will wait quietly for the punctuation police to issue my citation for that question mark at the end of a declarative sentence.

As much as I like Al Gore, I don't think of him as a master interpreter of the Constitution. He was a good vice president and is a great proponent of the environment. No one can be an expert at everything.

There are many reasons why you shouldn't believe or read Howie Kurtz.

The Times made a power play with the unions and most of them caved, except the Guild. The Globe, as of now, has rescinded the close order (actually, it never made it). The Globe isn't nearly losing the money the Times is (or the Herald for that matter). It's just another nail in the coffin for the industry and proof that going public KILLED newspapers even more than the Internet did.

"Jack Shafer explains why Cokie Roberts probably ought to retire from the punditry business."

I think she should get a shout out for actually seeming like she HASN'T just rolled out of bed for this segment. It wasn't to long ago it felt like Cokie was stumbling through this segment, jonesing for her sig and coffee, or just wanting few more minutes with her eyes closed to ward off that scotch hangover.

Her segment still slightly beats out Dan Shore slobbering his way through an 'analysis' of the weeks events with Scott Simon on the weekends. Wouldn't want to use that mic when ol Dan's done.

* EFCA without "card check"? A compromise measure is generating some attention in the Senate.

This is why you are not as good as Kevin. Kevin would note that there was a handy article in the Washington Monthly on just this issue and that we should read it so we can learn more.

EPIC FAIL.

Joe Friday:

I heard Erin Burnett's comment this morning and found it was rather irresponsible given that american corporations have, as you indirectly pointed out, rather more loopholes in the tax code to choose from than do those in other countries.

I have to think that NPR's journalistic standards are slipping somewhat... as Erin sounded rather like a republican communication consultant not like a reporter.

The Boston Globe's future is very bleak, but no official word yet on whether it'll survive the rest of the month.

If they'd just use robots.txt files, then everything would be fine.

Why doesn't CNBC just have her wear a bikini on-air and be done with it ?

yeah baby!

Ah Jeez...Thanks for the link to SMP, Steve! I totally missed that the first time through!

"The Obama administration's efforts during Chrysler's bankruptcy proceedings should strengthen its position in upcoming negotiations with GM stakeholders."

I'm predicting just the opposite.

The idea that the Chrysler bankruptcy will be quick is delusionary. I think it's possible it will be a nightmare and as a result, pushing GM into bankruptcy will be the LAST thing the administration dares to do, which will weaken their hand not strengthen it.

In the way Joan Walsh is a Concern Troll, Cokie Roberts is an Interest Troll. Interesting. But it's none of my concern.

Back when Obama was looking up his appointees bums with a microscope for tax issues, I knew this was coming.

Obama plays chess.

Now all these guys who will be paying their taxes aren't going to feel particularly generous when it comes time to grease palms.

Without lots of campaign money, the GOP will continue to struggle. He's cutting off their oxygen. I almost feel sorry for them.

It's interesting that since Bob Edwards was removed from NPR, my interest in the extant GOP slather-fest there has waned. Cokie?

"Some would say we have sold our integrity for the cozy comfort of well-worn cliques and are fearful of calling-out the GOP for being lying, arrogant sons of bitches. On the other hand, my dog mumbles loves the Chubb Group."

Erin Burnett is going to be HONORED tomorrow night at the National Press Club by a nonprofit called Running Start which helps more women get involved in politics. I'm choking on the irony!

Here are the relevant links:

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlDC/awards/meets_betsy_fischer_cnbcs_erin_burnett_honored__115621.asp

Here's the Running Start website http://www.runningstartonline.org/

http://www.runningstartonline.org/events/women-to-watch-invite.php

* President Obama is targeting off-shore tax havens. Republicans aren't happy about it.***********************************************

Why? Isn't hiring in America, building in America, buying American, and paying your legal and fair share of taxes in America 'the American Way'? Doesn't this create jobs and help spur the economy, helping to keep profits and revenue in our shores? These Republicans are traitors, they hate capitalism the way it is practiced in America, and they need to called out for their anti-American sentiments and philosophies! You ain't fool'in anyone but yourselves anymore. C'mon ReTalibanies, Get Real!

Joe Friday - well put and thanks for the link to give my Repub acquaintances. They will try and get that poor widdle corporations meme out there. Down to their last trillion dollars and don't know how they will survive. Why it could lead to reduced executive salaries. As for MSNBC I guess we should be thankful they stopped using Cramer as a "financial expert"
As for Erin Burnett her is a clip from her bio

Prior to Bloomberg, Burnett was a Vice President at Citigroup, where she built an online financial news network targeted at institutional and retail investors.
Burnett also worked at CNN as a writer and booker for CNN's "Moneyline." She began her career at Goldman, Sachs & Co. as an investment banking analyst focused on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance.
Gee whiz Ya think she might play favorites. I love critical unbiased reporting.

I saw it on TEEVEE it must be true.

Maybe Bill Moyer or Frontline will do a piece on how they do it.

I often don't get online till late, by which time some of the interesting threads have dried up. So apologies for dragging back up here one of the early ones -- on Condi responding to the 4th grader.

What struck me -- but, apparently, no one else -- as absolutely, totally, through-the-looking-glass bizarre was that Condi, that proud proponent of "harsh interrogating techniques", had to be protected... from a 10yr old, applying "harsh interrogating techniques". The kid had wanted to ask about "torture" but was told to "soften" the question; God forbid he should sully the lady's ears with such dreadful word.

EFCA without "card check"? A compromise measure is generating some attention in the Senate.

I am somewhat encouraged by the fact that the "attention" is just Harkin talking about it again. Frankly, I think he's being an idiot, or more charitable, engaging in the same kind of "negotiating with ourselves" that got us so much crap legislation in the Clinton years. "Card check" isn't what union opponents are actually most concerned about, it's just the element they can most easily gin up PR about ("secret ballots!") The part they really hate is arbitration. Ergo, if you "compromise" with them by taking out majority sign-up, you'll get to "if you only compromise on arbitration, we'll support it," and then all you've got are vague assurances that labor laws will be enforced. Which conservatives will still characterize as a complete cave-in to unions, and seek to undermine at every turn.

There may be some compromises possible around the edges to let Blue Dogs save face, but gutting EFCA of its most important elements and then "passing" it would be worse than making the GOP "moderates" and Blue Dogs show their true colors by voting against it.

While VP Biden is spreads FUD about commuting on public transport, IL Gov Quinn rides the El to work.

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) is at least open to the idea of criminal prosecutions for Bush administration officials who may have broken laws related to torture.

.vs.

John Edwards is under investigation for possible misuse of campaign funds in connection with his extramarital affair.

What is it with politics anyway. Are representatives (ahem) really so self absorbed to think these issues are of equal import or just that one is much easier to solve. We need LEADERS people!

Children, don't do what I have done.

I donated cash to the John Edwards Express in 2008.

Donate your hard earned dollars to the democratic party in 2009/2010, and you help feed Arlen Specter.

"The White House says it doesn't plan on asking Congress for any more bank bailout money."

And I don't "plan on" dying. Wish me well w/my plan.

"The Boston Globe's future is very bleak, but no official word yet on whether it'll survive the rest of the month."

All of the various unions and guilds have made major concessions. But the main reason that the Globe is in such deep financial trouble is almost certainly not just the current economic environment, nor the shift in readership/viewership from "legacy" (dinosaur) media to the web. I would bet very big bux that at least as large a contributor is the burden of debt incurred by the Times when they bought the Globe a few years ago. Funny thing, though: not one of the reports I've heard or read in the MSM has mentioned whether this is the case, and if so, whether the investors/bondholders/whatever have taken any hits on their rates or amounts of repayment as part of the "concessions" to keep the Globe alive. Anyone know anything about this?

Dangit -- if I'd had known you were on Maddow last night, I would've checked it out ...

well, Grienke was pitching last night for my beloved Royals, so, you know, I would've at least checked during the bottoms of the innings.

:-)