Author: HL

McCain’s Enemy Belligerent Detention Act: Is SCOTUS keeping Richard Fine in jail for a reason?
Well, the U.S. Supreme Court just reviewed attorney Richard Fine’s habeas corpus case and gave it a pass. Poor sweet attorney Fine has been held in the slammer on a bogus contempt-of-court charge for over a year now. Further, he’s being held in the Los Angeles County Central Men’s Jail, one of the violent and […]

Billionaire Jumps Into Florida Senate Race
“Just in case Florida’s Senate race wasn’t interesting enough, Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene plans to file papers this morning to enter the contest as a Democrat,” the Palm Beach Post reports.

Adam Smith: “His colorful profile — Mike Tyson was best man at his 2008 wedding, ex-Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss lived in his guest house after prison, and he made many of his millions betting on the housing collapse that killed Florida’s economy — normally would make a candidate like Greene a long shot. But in a race where Democratic frontrunner Kendrick Meek is little known to most voters and Crist non-partisan candidacy means it will be a three-way race, Greene’s ability to saturate Florida TV with commercials could make him a major contender.”

Why Law Enforcement Officials Should Hate Arizona’s Racist New Law
Arizona’s draconian anti-immigration law will create a chilling effect in the very communities police officers rely on to fight crime.

Arizona's draconian anti-immigration law will create a chilling effect in the very communities police officers rely on to fight crime.

Food Among the Ruins: Should Detroit Be Converted Into a Farming Mecca?
Our country’s most ramshackle city has an opportunity to re-invent itself — and perhaps the future of American food production.

Our country's most ramshackle city has an opportunity to re-invent itself — and perhaps the future of American food production.

Thousands Rally in New York for Showdown with Wall St.
Over 10,000 protesters gathered in New York’s financial district to demand financial reform.

Over 10,000 protesters gathered in New York's financial district to demand financial reform.

Exploring the Mind-Bending World of Salvia Divinorum
"Within around thirty seconds of smoking the dark herbal extract the effects rapidly began, and I felt my entire sense of identity suddenly shift."

"Within around thirty seconds of smoking the dark herbal extract the effects rapidly began, and I felt my entire sense of identity suddenly shift."

VIDEO Jerusalem: A Great Model For Arizona
I don’t know what we would do without Al Jazeera. Like the Israeli media, it goes where the American media fears to tred. Check this out. The occupied areas of Israel (including Arab East Jerusalem) have a segregated road system….



Israel – East Jerusalem – United States – Middle East – Warfare and Conflict

Neocons: Playing The Dual Loyalty Card ++ Nadler, Weiner Speak Out For The Occupation
The neocons AIPAC, its think-tank (the Washington Institute of Near East Policy), and the rest of the usual Israel-can-do-no-wrong crowd is now harping on the question of dual loyalty. Are American Jews being accused of being more loyal to Israel…


United States – American Israel Public Affairs Committee – Middle East – Dennis Ross – Israel

Gingrich?s ?Drill Here, Drill Now? campaign continues as oil rig disaster grows.
The Earth Day oil rig disaster that began with an explosion that claimed 11 lives is becoming an ecological catastrophe. The Coast Guard has set some of the West-Virginia-sized oil slick ablaze, even as it grows by thousands of barrels a day. Although this deadly catastrophe calls into question the pro-drilling campaigns by the oil […]

The Earth Day oil rig disaster that began with an explosion that claimed 11 lives is becoming an ecological catastrophe. The Coast Guard has set some of the West-Virginia-sized oil slick ablaze, even as it grows by thousands of barrels a day. Although this deadly catastrophe calls into question the pro-drilling campaigns by the oil industry and its conservative allies, the propaganda continues. In 2008, Newt Gingrich began American Solutions for Winning the Future (ASWF), the casino-funded 527 that used the slogan “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” to promote the false idea that new offshore drilling could lower gas prices. On its website, Gingrich’s ASWF is continuing its petition while reporting on the inevitable consequences of dependence on dirty oil:

Similarly, other oil-industry front groups — American Petroleum Institute, Energy Tomorrow, Institute for Energy Research, Americans for Prosperity, Heritage Foundation, and the Institute for 21st Century Energy — are still promoting increased drilling and attacking green economy legislation that would reduce our dependence on oil. (HT Wonkette)

Obama: ‘There may not be an appetite’ to tackle immigration this year
President Obama said late Wednesday that “there may not be an appetite” to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws this year, even though he believes there is a pressing need to do so.

Goldman Sachs adds to its ranks of lobbyists
Until a few years ago, Goldman Sachs operated a sleepy lobby shop in the nation’s capital.

Hunter says she didn’t wreck John Edwards’ home
John Edwards’ mistress said on Thursday’s episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that she doesn’t believe she destroyed the former presidential candidate’s marriage.

Independence Day for Charlie Crist
Independence Day for Charlie Crist 1. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) will announce his future political plans today, a decision widely reported — by the Fix among many others — to be a stepping-away from the Republican party to run for the Senate this fall as an independent. Crist, perhaps see…

Obama Urges Bipartisan Effort on Soaring Deficits
President Barack Obama said Tuesday Washington must urgently confront unpleasant truths about deficits. “There are few issues on which there is more vigorous bipartisan agreement than fiscal responsibility,” he said, flanked by Erskine Bowles and former Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo., the two men he asked to lead efforts to reach a consensus plan for the deficit. “But in practice, this responsibility for the future is often overwhelmed by the politics of the moment.”

Late Late Night FDL: Vietnamistan
Featuring new videos by Alabama 3 and Populous.

Featuring new videos by Alabama 3 and Populous.

What’s on your mind tonight?

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You want to see a demonstration? They’ll show you a demonstration
Thanks to Arizona, there may be some real protests this weekend, not the tightly-shot over inflated tea party variety.

Over the last year or so we’ve been treated/subjected to Tea Party rally coverage. Those ‘tight-camera shots’ have allowed their organizers to claim hundreds of thousands were in attendance, nay MILLIONS! when reality showed a few thousand.

But that doesn’t stop the media from treating them like a huge social movement.

Coverage bias was most pronounced during the Health Care Reform votes when several hundred teabaggers on the Capitol grounds got a great deal of coverage, while a pro-immigration reform march at the same time drew a much bigger crowd, well into the tens of thousands, received virtually none.

So let the teabags steep in their inflated numbers, thanks to Arizona, on very short notice, now you’ll see what a real political protest looks like.

Protest organizers said on Wednesday outrage over the Arizona law — which seeks to drive illegal immigrants out of the state bordering Mexico — has galvanized Latinos and would translate into a higher turnout for May Day rallies in more than 70 U.S. cities.

Some of these rallies, like Los Angeles alone in 2006 may (just may, remember short notice) draw half-a-million. Suck.on.that. Arizona.

Not that you’ll see much coverage. After all, some mid-50ish white woman from Knoxville is screaming and carrying a sign telling the federal government to stay out of her “soshal securitee” and demanding those socialists let her drink liquor when she’s carrying her handgun. And that’s damn-fine television.

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Dolphins GM Apologizes for Prostitute Question
Miami Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland has apologized to NFL draftee Dez Bryant for asking the footballer if his mother was a prostitute. Bryant said he was “really mad,” but didn’t say anything at the time to his perspective employer. Bryant was taken 24th overall by the Dallas Cowboys. Ireland asked him the question several weeks ago in a pre-draft interview. Bryant’s mother, Angela, is gay and her personal life has already generated more attention than is warranted for merely being the mother of someone who’s looking for a job. AP via Google: “My mom is not a prostitute,” Bryant told Yahoo! Sports. As for his reaction to Ireland’s question: “I got mad — really mad — but I didn’t show it.” NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith said Ireland’s question raised worrisome issues. “We need to make sure the men of this league are treated as businessmen,” Smith said in a statement. “During interviews, our players and prospective players should never be subjected to discrimination or degradation stemming from the biases or misconceptions held by team personnel.” Read more

Miami Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland has apologized to NFL draftee Dez Bryant for asking the footballer if his mother was a prostitute. Bryant said he was “really mad,” but didn’t say anything at the time to his perspective employer.

Bryant was taken 24th overall by the Dallas Cowboys. Ireland asked him the question several weeks ago in a pre-draft interview.

Bryant’s mother, Angela, is gay and her personal life has already generated more attention than is warranted for merely being the mother of someone who’s looking for a job.

AP via Google:

“My mom is not a prostitute,” Bryant told Yahoo! Sports. As for his reaction to Ireland’s question: “I got mad — really mad — but I didn’t show it.”

NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith said Ireland’s question raised worrisome issues.

“We need to make sure the men of this league are treated as businessmen,” Smith said in a statement. “During interviews, our players and prospective players should never be subjected to discrimination or degradation stemming from the biases or misconceptions held by team personnel.”

Read more

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Quincy Tea Party Protest Draws Police In Riot Gear During Obama Speech (VIDEO)
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Rep. Luis Gutierrez: Why the Rush on the Puerto Rico Statehood Bill?
H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico statehood bill was brought to the House this week after a surprise announcement last Thursday. Debate on this bill has…

Conservatives’ bogus attacks on Obama’s appeal to minorities: “Race card,” “Southern Strategy,” “racist”

After President Obama released a video message highlighting 2010 efforts to turn out the vote among minorities, right-wing media responded with inflammatory rhetoric, including claims that Obama is playing the “race card.” Those media figures have ignored that Republicans have issued similar appeals to minority voters.

Obama’s 2010 election strategy includes getting young people, women, minorities out to vote

Obama: “[M]ake sure that the young people, African-Americans, Latinos, and women” vote. From President Obama’s April 23 videotaped appeal to his supporters outlining Democratic Party strategy for the 2010 elections:

In 2010, it will be up to each of you to ask folks like Claudia to stay involved, and to explain why this year the stakes are higher than ever. It will be up to each of you to make sure that the young people, African-Americans, Latinos, and women who powered our victory in 2008 stand together once again.

Conservative media’s inflamed reaction: Strategy “disses white guys,” shows Obama “regime at its racist best”

Drudge: “Obama plays race card.” The Drudge Report linked to an article about the video with the headline, “Obama plays race card: Rallies blacks, Latinos for ‘10 upset.” Drudge’s headline was echoed by conservative blogs such as Gateway Pundit and The Daily Caller.

Ingraham: Obama “goes to the race card.” On the April 26 edition of Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor, guest host Laura Ingraham asked of the video, “What’s with the racially charged rallying cry?” adding that it shows Obama “doesn’t have any other cards to throw down so he goes to the race card.” Guest Mary Katharine Ham similarly claimed that Obama is making a “race-based pitch to his voters.”

Limbaugh: “The regime at its racist best.” Rush Limbaugh said of the video on his April 26 radio show: “This is the regime at its racist best. What’s the regime doing? Asking blacks and Latinos to join him in a fight. What is a campaign if not a fight? He’s asking young people, African-Americans, Latinos, and women to reconnect. To fight who? Who’s this fight against? … We’ve never had a president like this, who has purposely come to divide people. But he has, and he is. With that video, seeking to reconnect young people, African-Americans, Latinos, and other women for 2010. Against who?”

FoxNews.com: Obama “left white, middle-age male voters in his rear-view mirror.” In an April 26 article, FoxNews.com stated that “President Obama left white, middle-age male voters in his rear-view mirror Monday in launching his first midterm election pitch, calling on “young people, African Americans, Latinos and women” to deliver for Democrats in November.”

Wash. Times‘ Pruden: “Obama wants to join the sordid ranks of the race hustlers.” Washington Times editor emeritus Wesley Pruden wrote in his April 27 column that “Race-baiting never goes out of style,” adding: “Barack Obama wants to join the sordid ranks of the race hustlers, like the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, if not necessarily the race baiters. Maybe there’s only a small distinction between hustling and baiting, but once the toxic stuff is let loose, it doesn’t matter what you call it.”

Wash. Examiner: “Obama disses white guys.” The front page of the April 27 edition of the Washington Examiner carried the headline “Obama disses white guys: Rallies blacks, Latinos, women.”

Fox’s Gutfield: “Not since third grade basketball have I ever felt so left out.” Fox News host Greg Gutfield wrote in an April 27 Big Hollywood post:

He knows he has the black vote, for political and sentimental reasons. Young people are green enough dismiss the debate between big and small government, so Obama can get ‘em too. Women – primarily those shielded from conservativism through an intense combo of psychotherapy, grad school deployment, self help books and dating wusses -could end up in O’s pocket too.

That leaves Latinos — who the President believes he’ll win, once he drops the “A” bomb. I.e. Amnesty.

And who’s left? White dopes like me.

See, in the post-racial world, it’s Obama who sees race. He looks at me, and sees someone he can’t win over.

[…]

But still, I feel Obama looks at me, and just sees an AWG, or “angry white guy.” Which is why I’m not on his list.

Not since third grade basketball have I ever felt so left out.

Actually, this is worse. Back then, I was picked last. Now I’m not even on the team.

Carlson compares video to “Nixon’s Southern Strategy.” On the April 27 edition of Fox News’ Special Report, contributor Tucker Carlson said: “So how is this different substantially from Nixon’s Southern Strategy? What he’s doing is, saying, ‘You have reason to fear on racial grounds, therefore vote for me.’ I think he is using racial anxiety for political gain.”

Contrary to conservative media outrage, Republicans have also appealed to minorities

Steele, Gingrich have called for GOP outreach to minority voters. As Media Matters for America has detailed, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele told The Washington Times in February 2009 that he planned to specifically target Hispanic and black voters as part of a new “urban-suburban hip hop” outreach program, saying, “We need messengers to really capture that region – young, Hispanic, black, a cross section … We want to convey that the modern-day GOP looks like the conservative party that stands on principles. But we want to apply them to urban-surburban hip-hop settings.” Similarly, at the June 2009 Senate House GOP Fundraising Dinner, Gingrich urged Republicans to “reach out to African Americans, to Koreans, to Vietnamese, to Chinese, to Indians, to Latinos.”

Sargent: RNC adopts “Rush Limbaugh/Matt Drudge line” over Steele’s minority outreach. In an April 28 blog post, The Plum Line’s Greg Sargent noted that the Republican Party’s description of Obama’s remark as “an appeal based on class warfare and race” comes in the wake of Steele’s April 19 statement that Republicans “haven’t done a very good job” of giving African-Americans a reason to vote for them and “have lost sight of the historic, integral link between the party and African-Americans.” Sargent added: “Now the RNC is attacking Obama for minority outreach. In so doing, the RNC is essentially adopting the Rush Limbaugh/Matt Drudge line over Steele’s previous call for more racial sensitivity.”

Republican strategist, Fox host also counter line of attack

Republican Blakeman: Obama “not being divisive at all.” On the April 26 edition of Fox News’ America Live, former Bush administration official Brad Blakeman responded to host Megyn Kelly’s asking if Obama was “playing the race card” by saying, “I say Republicans should do exactly the same thing. The president was not being divisive at all; he was stating the obvious. … So I don’t think the president was being racist at all.”

Fox’s Smith: Conservatives “getting all weird” about Obama “appealing to his base.” On the April 27 edition of Fox News’ Studio B, host Shepard Smith pointed out that Obama is “appealing to his base, like politicians always do,” adding, “It’s hilarious to me that people are all kind of weirded out by the fact that a politician is appealing to his base in an election. I mean, what’s wrong with them?” Smith also said, “The right’s getting all weird about this, though, isn’t it?”

Scott Rothstein’s COO Charged In Connection With Ponzi Scheme
The chief operating officer of Scott Rothstein’s former law firm has been charged with consipring to launder money from with his $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme, according to the a report in The Miami Herald.

Civilian Pleads Guilty For Lying To FBI About Post-Katrina Shootings
A man who was on the scene of the deadly police shootings of unarmed civilians on Danziger Bridge in the days after Hurricane Katrina pleaded guilty today to lying to an FBI agent about what happened that day, and for illegally possessing a firearm.

Heavily-Regulated Las Vegas Turns a Profit from Gambling; Why Can’t Wall Street?

Strickland Leads Kasich in Ohio
A new Quinnipiac poll in Ohio finds Gov. Ted Strickland (D) leads challenger John Kasich (R) in the race for governor, 44% to 38%.

Said pollster Peter Brown: “Although Gov. Ted Strickland remains ahead, there are a couple of numbers that might be of some concern to his re-election committee. Only 37% of voters say he has kept his campaign promises and the race remains close even though 62% of voters don’t know enough about Kasich to have an opinion of him.”

Democrats Hold Small Leads in Ohio Senate Race
A new Quinnipiac poll in Ohio finds Lee Fisher (D) leading Rob Portman (R) in the U.S. Senate race to replace retiring Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH), 40% to 37%.

Jennifer Brunner (D) also edges Portman, 40% to 36%.

Fisher and Brunner face off in a primary next week for the Democratic nomination. A poll yesterday had Fisher pulling away in the race.

Stop Trying to Kill Social Security
Worried about the deficit? Wall Street is the problem, not Social Security.

Worried about the deficit? Wall Street is the problem, not Social Security.

15 Ways I Oppress Rich, White Conservatives Like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh
The election of Obama has been difficult for rich, white conservatives. It’s time for me, as a black man, to make amends.

The election of Obama has been difficult for rich, white conservatives. It's time for me, as a black man, to make amends.

Can You Stomach Gluten? How Giving Up Grain May Better Your Health
An increasing amount of stores, companies and personal care products are catering to people with gluten intolerance.

An increasing amount of stores, companies and personal care products are catering to people with gluten intolerance.

Can Switching to Hybrid Cars and Organics Really Save the World, or Is It Just Lazy Environmentalism?
Heather Rogers’ new book, ‘Green Gone Wrong,’ explores whether we can save the world simply by swapping our polluting products for greener ones.

Heather Rogers' new book, 'Green Gone Wrong,' explores whether we can save the world simply by swapping our polluting products for greener ones.

Why an 81-Year-Old Widow from Iowa is Marching to Bring the Banks Under Heel
Ferol Wegner wasn’t the type of person who would normally protest against the banking industry. But that was before she lost 30 percent of her pension in the economic downturn.

Ferol Wegner wasn’t the type of person who would normally protest against the banking industry. But that was before she lost 30 percent of her pension in the economic downturn.

Being Rude to the Deficit Hawks
I worked at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) for 6 ½ years. During this time, the credibility of my work and that of my colleagues was often impugned by describing EPI as “labor backed.” This was partially true, we got…


Economic Policy Institute – Robert Rubin – United States – Citigroup – Peter Peterson

VIDEO Jerusalem: A Great Model For Arizona
I don’t know what we would do without Al Jazeera. Like the Israeli media, it goes where the American media fears to tred. Check this out. The occupied areas of Israel (including Arab East Jerusalem) have a segregated road system….



Israel – East Jerusalem – United States – Middle East – Warfare and Conflict

Do Critics Have a Better Idea for Iran Policy?
Here is the lede of Kori Schake’s slam against current US efforts to keep Iran from getting the bomb: The Obama administration is talking tough on Iran. Despite allowing the Iranian government to escape sanction for a year of not…


Iran – Kori Schake – Middle East – Presidency of Barack Obama – Government

Despite Once Being Fierce Gun Control Advocate, McCain Introduces Bill To Force D.C. To Weaken Its Laws
Facing a primary from ultra-conservative former congressman J.D. Hayworth, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has been veering far to the right. He went as far as to claim that he never called himself a “maverick.” McCain has reversed his positions on a host of issues, from climate change to immigration, in an attempt to appease […]

Facing a primary from ultra-conservative former congressman J.D. Hayworth, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has been veering far to the right. He went as far as to claim that he never called himself a “maverick.” McCain has reversed his positions on a host of issues, from climate change to immigration, in an attempt to appease right-wing voters; he is now doing the same on gun control.

Yesterday, McCain and Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced legislation that would force the District of Columbia to weaken its gun laws:

The Second Amendment Enforcement Act aims to change the District’s gun laws by repealing the city’s registration rules, amending federal law to allow D.C. residents to buy guns in Maryland and Virginia, while also allowing law-abiding Washingtonians to transport firearms in the District. The legislation would also alter city laws that recommend guns be kept unloaded and either unassembled or locked in homes.

“Some may ask why a Senator from Arizona and a Senator from Montana would introduce legislation that impacts the District of Columbia,” McCain said in a statement. “It’s simple — we believe that residents across this country should be able to exercise their constitutional right to have access [to] firearms to protect themselves.”

News of bill “was met with outrage from city officials,” especially considering D.C. recently gave up a chance at receiving voting rights in the House of Representatives for the first time in history after gun-rights advocates tacked on an amendment similar to McCain and Tester’s.

As Jonathan Cowan, president of the center-left think tank Third Way, noted, McCain’s sponsorship of the bill will “go down as the most spectacular and blatant reversal in Senator McCain’s political career.” In the early 2000s, McCain was a spokesperson for Americans for Gun Safety, a campaign headed by Cowan that encouraged states to enact stricter regulations. McCain cut ads on the group’s behalf, urging states with pending legislation to close the so-called gun show loophole, which allows people to purchase guns without a background check.

In 2001, McCain “rattled the gun-rights lobby” when he sponsored national legislation to eliminate the loophole. In a speech on the Senate floor at the time, McCain blasted states that hadn’t cracked down on illegal guns, saying, “We all know…[this] very dangerous loophole” needs to be closed:

We need this amendment because criminals and terrorists have exploited and are exploiting this very obvious loophole in our gun safety laws. We need this amendment because our second amendment rights do not extend to criminals who violate our laws and terrorists who hate this country. … We need this because every one of the 15 leading gun trafficking States in America has not taken action to close the gun show loophole.

“Hats off to John McCain,” famed White House reporter Helen Thomas wrote in a 2001 column, noting, “Gun-control advocates have a powerful new voice in the Senate.” The National Rifle Association was “bristling” over the gun show campaign, and “accused McCain of trying ‘to bootstrap on the Sept. 11 tragedy.’”

McCain reiterated his support for closing the loophole as recently as May 2008, when he told an NRA meeting, “I believe an accurate, fair and instant background check at guns shows is a reasonable requirement.” His moderate stance on gun control earned him scorn from gun-rights advocates during the 2008 campaign, with Gun Owners of America accusing McCain of “working with the enemy.” The group also gave McCain an ‘F’ for 2004 and 2006.

McCain’s pandering to the far right doesn’t seem to be helping him much, and his campaign opponent keeps calling out his flip-flops. So, McCain may end up losing the election along with his integrity.

Republicans hope to win three symbolic Senate seats
Every now and then, there comes a congressional race so fraught with history and symbolism that it becomes as much about sending a message as winning a seat.

McConnell doesn’t fear voter backlash for GOP blockade on regulation talks
Will voters punish Republicans this fall for constantly slowing down the work of Congress?

To woo voters, Democrats plan to cast selves as party of results
Democrats plan to run in the November midterm elections as the party of “results” after passing a health-care overhaul and will cast Republicans as political obstructionists, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine said Wednesday.

Oil spill burned in Gulf of Mexico, in hope of saving coast
The Coast Guard and BP set fire to a portion of the crude oil floating in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday in a bid to limit the impact of a widening slick, which federal officials said could touch shore in parts of the Louisiana delta as early as Friday evening.

Arnold Wants to Sell Gov Buildings
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to sell two dozen state office buildings would cost California taxpayers billions of dollars in rent in the years ahead, far more than the state stands to make from the sale, according to financial documents analyzed by The Associated Press. If all buildings sell at the asking price, administration officials projected the state would net about $660 million after roughly $1.1 billion in construction bonds are paid off. The state would then rent space in the buildings from the new owners for 20 years. Over that period, it would pay $5.2 billion in rent, according to documents prepared for potential buyers.

Late Late Night FDL: Absolution
Sue Foley — Absolution.

Sue Foley — Absolution.

What’s on your mind?

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Early Morning Swim: Watch Claire McCaskill Beat the Crap out of Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein
Awesome. “”You all are the house, you’re the bookie,” she said. Clients “are booking their bets with you. I don’t know why we need to dress it up. It’s a bet.”

Awesome.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) is pressing her betting-bookie analogy again, which she launched with two hours ago.

“You all are the house, you’re the bookie,” she said. Clients “are booking their bets with you. I don’t know why we need to dress it up. It’s a bet.”

McCaskill, who copped to betting on college sports, asked the Goldman execs: “What’s your vig?” In other words, what was Goldman’s fee for setting up these bets?

Marcy has more.

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Don’t you dare intervene in my fit!
If Lindsey Graham has a fit, you must submit.

Well, Lindsey Graham recently demanded immigration reform be taken up ASAP. In fact he had a fit. Then eventually it looked like it might get taken up soon. So he had a fit.

Allegedly the fit was because immigration would come up before the climate change bill he was working on with John Kerry and Joe Lieberman (so you know that bill would be awesome, right?).

Well, we can’t have that. So eventually, the climate bill would come up before the immigration bill, just like President Tantrum wanted — though he said he wanted both bills. Well, apparently not.

Tonight, Graham told me that he will filibuster his own climate change bill, unless Reid drops all plans to turn to immigration this Congress.

I’m sensing a pattern.

Nice to know that Graham will undoubtedly be personally stroked and caressed on this Sunday’s chat shows as a “statesman” while Carl Levin gets the Marcy Wheeler treatment because of Sally Quinn’s virginal ear (the one on the left only).

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