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- I'm not sure what the story is in this Washington Times piece that details the Obama White House's showering of perks on big campaign donors. Is it a bit slimy? Sure. Is it uniquely slimy? Not so much. I think Michael Scherer is right: If Obama would just acknowledge that politicians have no choice but to raise money, that candidness would defuse the situation somewhat. Instead we have a press corps which seems determined to hold Obama to the literal standard of his boilerplate campaign slogans.
- Democracy Corps takes a wider view of the 2010 battleground districts and concludes that Democrats are unlikely to lose control of Congress, mostly because Republicans are unable to capitalize on anti-incumbent sentiment due to their own worsening image. While Democrats are sure to lose some seats -- the report suggests 15-20 -- the big picture is that power will not radically shift from one party to the other.
- When Evan Bayh deliberately conflates procedural and up-or-down votes to mask his contempt for health-care reform legislation, or when Joe Lieberman calls the public option an "entitlement," it's worth asking why their Democratic colleagues are so aghast at the notion of punishing partisan disloyalty. At least in Lieberman's case, some Senate Democrats are actually pushing back.
- Remainders: Politico would like to inform you that conservatives are frustrated that Obama isn't being compared to George Bush enough; it's only a matter of time before the libertarian wave sweeps the nation; trickle-down economics has been a towering success; and Arnold Schwarzenegger is all class.
--Mori Dinauer
