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http://www.slate.com/id/2115879/

Atrios is rightly freaked out by these two paragraphs from the Washington Post

Instead the administration plans to push major amendments that would shield interest, dividends and capitals gains from taxation, expand tax breaks for business investment and take other steps intended to simplify the system and encourage economic growth, according to several people who are advising the White House or are familiar with the deliberations.

The changes are meant to be revenue-neutral. To pay for them, the administration is considering eliminating the deduction of state and local taxes on federal income tax returns and scrapping the business tax deduction for employer-provided health insurance, the advisers said.

And people think that Boondocks kid is overstating the problem...

from the LA-Times: Dear rural/exurban Christian conservative voters: Congratulations on your election victory. By going to the polls in unprecedented numbers Tuesday, you overwhelmed an enormous Democratic turnout and returned President Bush to office, along with a number of very conservative senators. Now Bush is preparing to repay your efforts by moving immediately on your highest priorities: a flat tax and privatizing Social Security.

Oh, wait. You didn't particularly hanker for those things, did you?

I know you don't want to hear it. You can't face one more hung chad. But I don't have a choice. As a journalist examining that messy sausage called American democracy, it's my job to tell you who got the most votes in the deciding states. Tuesday, in Ohio and New Mexico, it was John Kerry.

Not sure if you've heard about this whole caging business, but here's a little story that sums up what was happening, and, ruh roh, the unholy fire that's going to rain down on all the Republican rubes who tried to pull this crap. Jail time, baby!

http://home.earthlink.net/~houval/gopconstrm.mov

A humorous side note, the GOP held a "conference call" with Ken Mehlman in which campaign "Team Leaders" call in to be told what to think and get their talking points for the debate. Atrios, bless his heart, posted the number and the password to be accepted to the conference call. I got in without a problem and, after enduring ten minutes of painful smooth jazz, got to hear firsthand how the Bush campaign was going to spin [the debate].

And then, DOH, they openned the line up for questions...

This piece by Juan Cole is well worth the read, if you've got a few minutes to spare. It's a detailed analysis of why the idea of Iran cooperating with Al Queda is just a load of crap. It's been obvious for at least a year that Iran is the next target (remember "Everyone wants to march to Baghdad, real men go to Tehran"?). Read this so you not only know why that's a really bad idea, but you'll be able to back up your argument with facts.

Go on, I dare ya!

from the New Yorker: Mr. Leahy then suggested that the president of the Senate take his gavel and use it to perform an act that, while not technically impossible in anatomical terms, would certainly be considered both unseemly and unhygienic, and which would require an unusual combination of single-minded ambition and physical relaxation.

and, if you're somehow still able to click, try the George W. Bush Singers.