Moe Lane

I think that this is the original.

La Bamba, Ritchie Valens

I was originally going to go with Going Rogue: An American Life, solely on the basis that I actually bought it (I typically ignore partisan political books); except that I’ve already slapped it up there on the sidebar and a nontrivial percentage of my readership doesn’t really give a damn.

So… Larry Niven’s Destroyer of Worlds, which replaces Lovecraft Unbound.

Moe Lane

I have one quibble with this analysis by Dick Morris (via Kausfiles):

Don’t assume that the 38 Democrats who voted against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) extremist version of healthcare reform wouldn’t have supported it if their votes had been needed. The days before the final passage on Saturday were not filled with stirring appeals to get Democrats to back the bill so much as an auction to decide whom to let off the hook.

Knowing that the bill will likely be political suicide for any red-state Democratic congressman, particularly if he or she is a freshman, the House leadership had to negotiate with its members to assure that the 38 defectors were the ones who needed the political cover the most. That there would be 38 Democrats who would oppose the bill was pre-ordained. Who they would be was the subject of negotiations right up to the wire.

…and that’s there was another consideration involved besides political cover: seniority. As most nakedly seen by the Democrats’ decision to throw Bob Owens of NY-23 to the wolves by requiring him to break his campaign promises before 24 hours had passed since his swearing-in. Other than that, it’s pretty spot-on – which means, in other words, that I already had the same opinion as him that there’s effectively no such thing as a moderate Democratic politician anymore.  Amazing how often ‘smart’ seems to get treated as being semantically identical to ‘agrees with me,’  doesn’t it?

Moe Lane

Crossposted to RedState.

[UPDATE]: Welcome, Instapundit readers.

I can’t possibly imagine how this could have any negative consequences.

Corzine Staff Is Already Preparing To Take Over Bank Of America

Jon Corzine is definitely open to running Bank of America.

There haven’t been any formal talks between the outgoing New Jersey Governor and the board of Bank of America, according to news reports. Part of the reason for this might be that the chairman of the board, Walter Massey, is on vacation.

In fact, if Corzine needs help with filling the board of directors I understand that both Jim McGreevey and Eliot Spitzer are currently available. For that matter, starting next year so will be Ed Rendell, James [David - oops!] Paterson*, and probably Deval Patrick… wow. That’s a Rogue’s Gallery almost worthy of Batman.

Moe Lane

*The Democrats can either toss him in the primary, or we can toss him in the general. Whichever.

Crossposted to RedState.

From The New Republic:

The conceit this time out–not that it matters in the slightest–is that a series of escalating solar flares has produced a “mutated” form of neutrinos, which are penetrating the Earth’s crust and heating up its core. The ancient Mayans somehow foretold that this solar calamity would take place in 2012, but the movie makes no effort to explain how they knew: Emmerich’s in this for the earthquakes and super-volcanoes; leave the geo- and metaphysics to someone who cares.

Wow. To quote a physicist friend of mine, that’s not even wrong.

To evoke Terry Pratchett, what I’m going to be looking for is a candidate who I think will actively try to ensure that tomorrow is going to be pretty much like today.

Liz Cheney (via Gateway Pundit) has some thoughts about whatever person we stick with the 2012 cleanup job is in for:

I’m personally not all that interested in talking 2012 until we’re done with 2010, but if I had to make a decision right now I’m going to take the position that ‘boring’ would be a nice default quality to have in our next candidate. So does ‘dull:’ it’s been just over a year since we started to live in interesting times, and I’m pretty much done with the sensation, thanks.

Moe Lane

Crossposted to RedState.

They can write things like this (note: link safe):

The recent shootings at Ft. Hood and the resignation of top Foreign Service officer Matthew Hoh demonstrate how even our military officers are opposed to US strategy in Afghanistan.

…and mean it.

Moe Lane

PS: The Democratic Party has gotten some money out of Code Pink, over the years.

They should give it all back now, please.

Crossposted to RedState.

Far too soon for DOOMWATCH, but one year in you don’t want to see this kind of reaction if you’re a Democrat:

Short version: both Democratic and Republican voters are happier with Congress these days, and Independents are not. The uptick for the first two is easy enough to explain: both side’s partisans are happy that their respective sides are slugging it out. The question is, which side are the folks in the middle supporting?

Well…

The new 2009 low in approval from independents comes at a time when a majority of registered independents say they would likely vote Republican rather than Democratic, 52% to 30%, if elections for Congress were held today. With Republicans and Democrats exhibiting the same degree of loyalty to their parties’ candidates, independents’ preference for Republicans gives that party a 48% to 44% edge over Democrats among registered voters overall.

…it’s not really a question, is it?  Although I imagine that a lot of people are going to be doing their best to suggest that it is.

Moe Lane

Crossposted to RedState.

By almost 300 billion.

CMS: House health bill will hike costs $289B

The House-approved healthcare overhaul would raise the costs of healthcare by $289 billion over the next 10 years, according to an analysis by the chief actuary at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

This would be infuriating, if I had taken seriously in the first place the notion that an interventionist, intrusive government program was capable of saving the taxpayer money.

Moe Lane

PS: For extra points, watch as the Democrats suddenly decide that CMS must be ignored.  As opposed to, say, 2004.

Crossposted to RedState.

I just remembered the chorus, really.

Dream Police, Cheap Trick

It’s a combination of wine and chocolate; no doubt to be eaten with caviar-flavored potato chips* and a nice pink lemonade brie.

Although, hell, maybe all of that would taste good, too.  It’s just weird contemplating a drink that sounds like it was designed by an eight year old.

Moe Lane

*I swear to God, that was a joke.

…I am starting to wonder* whether some of this junk might not be ‘natural,’ if that makes any sense in this context. I mean, I’ve seen spam being ‘posted’ that I would think would be attractive to nobody.

Not-really-related, but who cares?

Moe Lane

*Not really, but it’d make for a good short story.