‘Boring’ sounds like a wonderful quality for a 2012 candidate.

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.

Everything you need to know about Code Pink.

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.

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They should give it all back now, please.

Crossposted to RedState.

Independents more unhappy with Congress than Republicans.

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

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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.

CMS: Democratic bill would *raise* health care costs.

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.

PURGE! PURGE! PURGE!

(Via Hot Air Headlines) In the course of an otherwise generic NYT Op-Ed bemoaning how the USA’s two-party system is just a touch more resilient than our self-appointed media elite would like it to be, Charles Blow comes up with this observation (bolding mine):

The party that wins the White House generally loses Congressional seats in the midterm, but this Democratic-controlled government has particular issues. Its agenda has been hamstrung by a perfect storm of politics: the Republicans’ surprisingly effective obstructionist strategy, a Democratic caucus riddled with conservative sympathizers and a president encircled by crises and crippled by caution.

Well. The Democratic faithful can’t do anything about us awful, awful, Republican obstructionists; and they certainly can’t do anything about this crippled* President. I guess that leaves getting rid of the Democratic conservatives lurking about. Burn them out! Burn them out! BURN THEM OUT!

Hey, just trying to be helpful.

Moe Lane

*Blow’s word, not mine.

Crossposted to RedState.

Peter the Great never had this problem.

Just saying, Vladimir.

“I do not think that ‘top-rock’ or ‘down-rock’ breakdance technique is compatible with alcohol or drugs,” Putin told cheering hip-hoppers who responded with chants of “Respect, Vladimir Vladimirovich”.

No, that’s not really taken out of context: Putin went to hang with Russian rappers. I think that I’ve mentioned before that the man really needs to get cracking with discovering that he’s actually descended from the Princess Anastasia?

Moe Lane