News Roundup for 1/10/12

New RNC logo

-Headline of the Day-
"Republicans Hand Democrats a Populist Issue."

Republicans handed Democrats a gift today, by way on confirming one of the worst GOP stereotypes. In a fourth circuit court case, the Republican National Committee filed an amicus brief [PDF] arguing that candidates for office should be able to get that sweet, sweet corporate cash straight from the corporations themselves.

"Especially if Romney is the nominee, expect this to be rolled into Romney's 'corporations are people, my friend' line, the Bain Capital stuff, and the recent 'I like to fire people gaffe,' with Occupy undertones, for Democrats (or their super PAC surrogates) to make an anti-corporate, Populist message for Obama's reelection," writes Rick Hasen of the Election Law Blog.

In fact, since the RNC basically makes the "corporations are people" argument in the brief, I'd say this was a pretty sure bet. They might as well slap a "for sale" sign on the GOP logo, because the RNC is indicating that they want to sell the party really, really bad. (Political Wire)


-Shovel-Ready-



Don't worry New Hampshire, it's almost over. (Time)


-Bonus HotD-
"Heckler askes Romney: 'Are you going to fire the baby?'"

A Romney critic blows the obligatory baby picture photo op. Experts say this is the most embarrassing infant-related campaign incident since Chester Arthur confused the "shake hands, kiss baby" routine and had to be forcibly stopped from shaking babies. (Raw Story)

Stories to Watch: 3/26/11

I've been complaining about the cold, but it's not really the cold that's bothering me. What's bothering me is that it's cold and there's no snow. Without snow, cold is kind of pointless. You can't do anything with it, other than use your sunporch as a walk-in freezer. Which, I suppose, is still something. Now here's the news...


RIP Geraldine Ferraro.


Media Matters narrows its focus and declares "war on Fox."


Despite being put off again and again, is the looming government shutdown still looming? Probably. Long story short, House GOP seem intent on taking the failures of Republican governors national.


Speaking of sure political losers, the Republican Party has also decided that they're so super-popular they can go to war with the AARP over their support of healthcare reform.



Political genius Rush Limbaugh warns his audience that the GOP may nominate a "loser candidate." Then he gives this advice: "Whoever in this field takes it to Obama the straightest and the hardest and the most direct, is who’s gonna win. They're gonna have to take it to Obama. This isn't a 'pussy-foot around' type of election."

I guess that was the problem with McCain-Palin, right? Spending too much time running against... who, Chester Arthur? This is why Limbaugh yells at people on the radio for a living, instead of working as a campaign adviser. His take on politics is consistently simpleminded -- which, I suppose, matches his audience.


Bonus fun: people take Rush Limbaugh seriously.


Haley Barbour stakes out an odd stance on global warming by suggesting that it isn't real, but that we should do something about it anyway. Not anything especially useful or effective, just "something."


Have you ever gone to Disney on Ice and wished you had a gun? Well, if the Arizona GOP has their way, you may wish no longer. That Little Mermaid better skate her little ass off or there's a'gonna be some lead flyin'. When did the Republican model for responsible gun ownership become Yosemite Sam?


Finally, in a debate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, incumbent David Prosser complains about an ad that accuses him of being soft on child molesters. "It is the worst ad that has ever been run in a judicial campaign," he said.

Which is weird, because I think these are the worst -- by virtue of being horrible, horrible lies told by the candidate's campaign itself, not some outside group the candidate had no control over. Prosser voted against hearing an ethics case against the judge whose successful campaign hinged on those ads, Michael Gableman. The case was about those ads specifically and, by turning down the case, Prosser basically ruled that dirty campaign ads weren't worth the court's time.

Given that, I can only say to David Prosser, "You made you bed, so quit whining and lie in it."

And stop being such a hypocrite.