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- What the hell, let's engage in some irresponsible 2012 presidential speculation. I see that the Republican primary is essentially (I don't consider the former governor of Alaska to be viable) down to Romney and Huckabee, which, as David Weigel puts it, "emphasizes the power Mike Huckabee has to shape the race." Why is this? Because Huckabee won Iowa in 2008. Romney came in second. Romney also came in second in New Hampshire, behind McCain. Nevada? All Romney. South Carolina? Huckabee came in second behind McCain with Romney essentially tied for third with Fred Thompson. If there's no Huckabee, 2012 belongs to Romney.
- Robert Dallek asks, on the 50th anniversary of JFK's inauguration, "Why do we admire a president who did so little?" I think the answer here is pretty obvious: JFK had a group of people willing to tirelessly promote the idea of JFK, and they succeeded. Something comparable happened with Ronald Reagan, because even though he "accomplished" more than JFK did, his boosters needed something more than a good president -- they needed a conservative icon and American hero.
- I'm all for making a sports rivalry more interesting through punitive betting, but it says a lot about how Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker view success and failure in this country that it would be considered a punishment to "volunteer at a food pantry in the winner's state." Having to interact with poor people for a few hours? Oh, the indignity! Maybe next year they can ride a bus like all the other losers in America! Humiliation!
- Remainders: The health-care repeal vote is a statement about what kind of country we want to live in, and for the GOP, it's one where the uninsured are shit out of luck; gee, if Rep. Steve Cohen wanted to create less "distraction" as he highlights Republican mendacity, maybe he should talk less about Nazi propaganda; truly, The Daily Caller is the epitome of journalistic integrity; and I'd hate to be in a political party that puts up with a loud contingent that really, really hates Muslims.
--Mori Dinauer
