Update of the Day: Robert S McCain.

From his “1,434 pages, $789 billion and not a red cent for me“:

UPDATE II: Conn Carroll of the Heritage Foundation says the actual pricetag of the Economic Destruction Act of 2009 will be $3.27 trillion. No matter how you calculate it, the amount going to me — and I’m the only person I really care about — is zero. And the amount going to you is exactly the same. So, that’s two of us getting zero out of this transaction, buddy.

Somewhere out there are some people who are actually going to cash in big-time, and right now they’re doing the happy dance. Look around you tomorrow, and if you see anybody looking especially happy, punch ’em in the nose. Call it “social justice.”

Should have used the Personal Stimulus Generator, Bob.

Crossposted at RedState.

“Jack Mur-tha… come out to play-a-yay…”

While we’re all busy watching the Democrats Keystone Kops their way through their debt bill passage, the next news cycle’s story is busily chugging along:

Firm tied to Murtha closes PAC

PMA Group, the lobbying firm tied to Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) that was raided by federal agents back in November, has closed its political action committee, the latest sign of the company’s implosion.

PMA filed a “termination report” with the Federal Election Commission Thursday, notifying the agency that it would be shutting down its PAC. The PAC refunded its last $29,423 to the contributors, including Mark Magliocchetti, brother of PMA founder Paul Magliocchetti.

[snip]

But PMA has essentially collapsed; most of PMA’s lobbyists have bolted the firm, with one group breaking off to form its own lobbying outfit, while others have sought employment with other lobbying organization.

Continue reading “Jack Mur-tha… come out to play-a-yay…”

Peggy Noonan is sad about her limited shopping opportunities.

(Via Hot Air Headlines) It’s very sad:

A moment last Monday, just after noon, in Manhattan. It’s slightly overcast, not cold, a good day for walking. I’m in the 90s on Fifth heading south, enjoying the broad avenue, the trees, the wide cobblestone walkway that rings Central Park. Suddenly I realize: Something’s odd here. Something’s strange. It’s quiet. I can hear each car go by. The traffic’s not an indistinct roar. The sidewalks aren’t full, as they normally are. It’s like a holiday, but it’s not, it’s the middle of a business day in February. I thought back to two weeks before when a friend and I zoomed down Park Avenue at evening rush hour in what should have been bumper-to-bumper traffic.

This is New York five months into hard times.

She then goes on to list all the shops that are going away, compares Sullenberger to that woman with the octuplets, how we’re all lost and need to get back on track, yadda yadda. Actually, that last bit’s kind of true: we should get back on track. So, just because I’m a nice guy, I’d thought that I’d provide her with a little list: Continue reading Peggy Noonan is sad about her limited shopping opportunities.

“‘Morning, Mr. Lane. Sleep well? Here, have some culture shock.”

The future sneaks up on you when you’re not paying attention. Some highlights from this article (via Fark):

A transplant may enable mom to hold her kids
Sarah Mues could become first woman ever to get two transplanted hands

Well, that’s significa… sorry, “first woman“? “Two“? Continue reading “‘Morning, Mr. Lane. Sleep well? Here, have some culture shock.”

Good morning, Senators Collins, Snowe, and Specter.

Karma.  It’s what’s for dinner.

Jim Geraghty is quite blunt about the consequences of Sen. Kennedy’s being absent for today’s vote, and Sen. Gregg’s return to the Senate: “Guess what, Sens. Snowe, Specter, and Collins? You are providing the decisive votes.”

And Senator Reid is worried about this. He’s trying to scare up another GOP Senator to give cover to these three – something that even his own people are admitting to be a low probability scenario. Roll Call (no link, sorry) is also reporting that he’s trying to pair Kennedy’s yes vote to a Republican’s no (this requires the approval of the Republican in question, by the way) in order to make it a 61/38 vote on a technicality. Just in case this isn’t clear by now: this is contraindicated for any Republican Senator.

Contraindicated. Continue reading Good morning, Senators Collins, Snowe, and Specter.

A helpful suggestion and a question for the President

Since he’s apparently having quite the problem with filling the position, what with the pay-for-play and the lack of vetting and the clumsy attempts at looked-good-on-paper political stratagems. Anyway, here’s the suggestion: Why don’t you just abolish the Commerce Department? After all, your last pick thought that it was a good idea, and you thought his judgment was sound, right? I mean, I’d hate to think that you were too intellectually incurious to actually know that about Senator Gregg.

As for the question: given that you’re probably going to go with having a Democrat back in the position – although I hear that the Libertarians would quite like a go – I was wondering whether you were going to trust him or her with the Census gig?

Moe Lane

PS: Your guy Gibb is just a touch too ungracious for his job. Keep him.

Crossposted at RedState.