Newt: Pro-socialized healthcare

Flashback: Gingrich Championed The Mandate As ‘300 Million-Payer System’ — In 2005

A lot of what Newt was for just a few years ago makes a lot of sense. The truth is, a lot of conservative thinkers know some version of a single-payer system is necessary -- but they also know they can't get elected as dog catcher if they say that.

11/22/63

I'm a longtime Stephen King fan, and I either have read, or plan to read, all of his books.

The reason there are several in that latter category is that while I like everything he writes, not everything is created equally -- some take me a little longer to get into. My personal opinion is that he's at his best when he's telling a story, and not trying to exorcise his own inner demons or trying to see how high he can take the body count.

So when I first read the plot to 11/22/63, I was intrigued, because it sounded like a book that would fit in with my King favorites.

And it didn't disappoint.

 The first good sign came in that the story would take King out of a couple of his comfort zones, namely, the main character is not a writer, and while the book starts in Maine, it mostly takes place in Texas. King's writer characters and the Maine settings, I've always thought, are just projections of his own life.

I'm not going to launch into a review of the book here. I liked it. What I am going to do, though, is analyze a little of the politics behind it (if anyone actually reads this blog and might want to read the book, stop here).

Mitt vs. Mitt

OK, so most political commercials are smear jobs, and we know that. But the DNC's commercial picking on Mitt Romney's flip-flopping is pretty damning -- although I'm sure Romney would have little trouble double-talking out of his positions that are highlighted.

The DNC has a website up, MittvMitt.com, that highlights his flip flops.

I thought the flip-flopper label on John Kerry in 2004 was unfair, because Kerry was more guilty of having nuanced opinions (such as progressives do), but it's hard to see Romney's varying positions as anything except political pandering.

The GOP just can't be excited about their candidates at this point...

What is this "mac and cheese?"

Pat Robertson Asks Black Co-Host: Is Mac And Cheese For Thanksgiving ‘A Black Thing?’

Another entry in the list of Craziest Things Pat Robertson has said.

Poll: Fox News Viewers Less Informed Than Those Who Read No News | TPMDC

Poll: Fox News Viewers Less Informed Than Those Who Read No News

Nothing more to say on this.

Edwards shows class and dignity in losing title

Edwards shows class and dignity in losing title


Although there are problems with the whole "Tony wasn't going to let someone else win the championship" theory*, I think Jenna Fryer does a good job of explaining the love affair with Stewart, while also giving credit to Carl Edwards for doing everything right, but still coming up short.


* namely, you can want it all baaaad, but there are so many variables in racing that sometimes you finish fifth even with the best car. Fact is, Stewart is a great race car driver, one of the most talented out there, but for most of the 10 races in the chase this year, he was also very lucky.

And people love Tony Stewart because?

Throughout the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cut this year, the media took turns slathering love on every contender, it seemed, except Carl Edwards, despite the fact that he led the points for quite some time during both the "regular" season and the "playoffs."

I understand the fascination with Jimmie Johnson during the chase, as he the five-time champion could never be counted out and had made a habit of being at his best during the final 10 races.

But Tony Stewart? During the telecast of the season finale, everyone fawned all over Stewart, and found every reason to dismiss Edwards' chances. Now, in the end, they were right -- but only by the narrowest of margins. As it turns out, Edwards lost doing exactly what had kept him in the hunt all year long; he finished second, while leading the most laps, but that wasn't enough as Stewart won the race and the title. They actually tied in points, but Stewart won based on his five race wins (all coming in the final 10 races).

Another great Krugman observation (even if he borrowed it)

This story is somewhat interesting, but what really struck me was Paul Krugman's line about Newt Gingrich.

"And Newt, although somebody said he's a stupid man's idea of what a smart man sounds like, but he is more plausible than the other guys that they've been pushing up."

I like that characterization of Gingrich, although it might be aimed at even me...

An intellectual conservative

Yes, you read that right. There are folks out there who are smart and who subscribe to conservative ideology. Newt Gingrich is one of them.

However, they'll likely never get elected, because their ideas are bat-crap crazy (case in point is this one, suggesting child labor laws are holding poor kids down). To summarize Newt:

Awesome. And folks in Tennessee say, "So?"

Rick Womick, GOP Tennessee state rep: All Muslims serving in the U.S. military should be removed

The thing about this is that while much of the nation may be shocked, this kind of language is going to play well with his constituents.

CBS should do political attack ads

I saw this story from CBS about Congressional leaders making trades that seemed similar to insider trading, and it does fit the narrative that our leaders are crooked and out for money. It certainly raised my eyebrows.

However, The Huffington Post points out several problems with the story, focusing on the leaders of each party in the House. For Boehner, the "insider" knowledge they point to was knowledge that really anyone could figure out, and for Pelosi, they make it sound like she got preferential treatment when in fact it was her husband taking part in a Visa IPO just like any other investor, and similar to Boehner, there was no real "insider" information being used.

Arab League to suspend Syria over bloody crackdown - World news - Mideast/N. Africa - msnbc.com

Arab League to suspend Syria over bloody crackdown 

Really, how bad do you have to be for Arab nations to say, "Whoa, you're out of control on the human rights issues..."

Seriously?

Penn State Students Clash With Police After Paterno Announcement - NYTimes.com:

I mean, really? For a guy who at the very least turned a blind eye and possibly even aided a child molester?

Tennessee making (bad) news

Seems the Republican-created teacher evaluation system in Tennessee is causing headaches, drawing the attention of NPR and the New York Times.

The key line from the NYT story:

In the end, it’s all about distrust: not trusting principals to judge teachers, not trusting teachers to educate children.

That pretty much sums up the problem with all state testing/teacher evaluation standards -- we need to just put good people in place and let them do their jobs. But we're not willing to do what it takes to get good people in the first place (pay them).

Could Democrats take a winning lesson from..

So, I was wondering if anybody had noticed this story, and apparently, they have.

The story is how easily Steve Beshear is going to win reelection as a Democrat in a heavily Republican state. I've thought for a long time there are lessons to be learned by the national party, although they're not ones that could be used nation-wide.

And we care what you think because...

Joe Arpaio, Arizona Sheriff, Calls On Obama To Release Birth Certificate Microfiche

Who are you, and why do we care?