To the IT idiots at the AJC who inexplicably, and without notice, changed Jay Bookman's feed, to hell with you. For those of you playing at home, the new feed is here: http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/feed/

And to Jay Bookman, a kiss on the cheek for the link love.

For those of you (specifically me) who breathed a sigh of relief that with William Jefferson gone, we had cleaned house enough to avoid a Mark Foley or Ted Stevens disaster in 2010, I regretfully mention that John Murtha, Grace Napolitano, Roland Burris, and Charles Rangel are all in danger, along with who knows how many other people we don't know about yet, of becoming a 2010 storyline. Fortunately for us, Sam Adams and Rod Blagojevich are not in Congress, and most people will have forgotten about Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer. At least so far there have been no mentions of Congressional pages.

It's like being at a bar, and you just know one of them will roll up with his "game". Well as the title suggests, our state has been crawling with sketchy characters the last two days. Now to refresh y'alls memory-all these Republican's voted against "the stim", so I find it kind of bizarro that they've come to town and my tv to "sell" it.

It has really brought out the all star team, in addition to our senators, I'm treated to this guy and mighty mouse all the dang time! Lordy, it's only been 48 hours and already I'm sick to death of the ridiculous anti-stim talking points they have come up. Sick-to-death I tell ya-oy.

Apparently M-M (mighty-mouse) has been tagged to do the heavy lifting with the old tired canard, for the love of our grandchildren.

Now if that didn't make you throw up a little in your mouth, I bring their latest and greatest...

{GOP flack-hack} "well you know {shrug} it might help us here BUT {sigh} it has so many "strings attached". All that's missing is the wink.

Returning to reality for a moment um er, wasn't it the lack of "strings' that got us partially into this mess? The brainiac's -I mean elected officials, don't they realize that someone has to do something? Frankly I agree with this guy's rant, but I digress.

Now, those are the national politicians, don't even get me started on the locals who in the media decry the stimulus, but in committee have to wear bibs to catch the drool.

Seriously do they expect voters* to believe that the trillions of dollars of national debit magically appeared at noon Jan 20th ? Bitch, please.

*Note I say voters, and not the American public... cause well they are "like" too caught up in the "like" wit and charm of a 18 year old and her "like" nitwit cuz.

One funny guy that Mike.

Yesterday was President Obama's first visit abroad, and it was to our neighbor to the North.
Obama:

I came to Canada on my first trip as President to underscore the closeness and importance of the relationship between our two nations, and to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to work with friends and partners to meet the common challenges of our time. As neighbors, we are so closely linked that sometimes we may have a tendency to take our relationship for granted, but the very success of our friendship throughout history demands that we renew and deepen our cooperation here in the 21st century.

On the thickening of the border, I just want to make this clear -- and I want to make this clear to our American friends -- not only have we since 9/11 made significant investments in security and security along our border, the view of this government is unequivocal: threats to the United States are threats to Canada.

To watch it go to ABC affiliate at 8 pm EST.

All the nominees are here.

Red Carpet hosts: Tim Gunn on ABC, various other people I don't know on other channels coverage starts as early as 5 pm.

To take a trip back in time go here.

If you've just taken a hit of acid go here, click on the time line at 1969.

Any guesses who will make a political statement while accepting their hot golden man statue? Predict how many actors will mention Obama- I say no less than 5, not including the host what his Wolverine face...

Fashion victims here here and here.

News about Oscar, here, here and here.

For the first time in forever, I've seen all of the best pic nominees. I'd like MILK to win, but Slumdog is great too. Mickey Rourke was a billions times better than Brad Pitt... sheesh what were they thinking.. Sean was good too.. Him or Mickey.

Winners? Predictions?

Check it out here.

Good for her, and yeah for that thing called transparency! The site in general is pretty interesting. Other Diplomat punditry here.

Local update courtesy of the DPG:

In Washington, President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress are fighting for our middle class. An important part of that effort is the Employee Free Choice Act, which levels the playing field for workers who choose to join a union. But here in Georgia, big business and their lobbyists are doing their level best to fight the Employee Free Choice Act with H.R. 22, a bill that is devastating to Georgia's workforce.

FACT: The Employee Free Choice Act restores workers' rights to join a union, if they choose to. It strengthens our middle class and grows our economy.

FACT: Despite what opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act may say, EFCA doesn't take away secret ballot elections. What it does do, however, is let the workers, not big corporations, decide whether to form a union through majority sign up or secret ballot. Workers can still have a secret ballot election if they choose.

The Employee Free Choice Act is important national legislation that protects workers, and that's why here in Georgia, we must stop H.R. 22.

We've received word that H.R. 22 is headed for a vote in the House Industrial Relations Committee tomorrow. If a majority of the committee members vote yes on H.R. 22, it will go to the House floor for a full vote.

The time to stop H.R. 22 is now, in committee, before it goes any further. And we need your help to do it. We know that Democrats will stand up for workers rights, but please take a moment now to call one or more Republican members of the House Industrial Relations Committee and tell them to stand up for Georgia's middle class and vote "NO" on H.R. 22.

House Industrial Relations Committee Republicans

Mike Coan (R - Lawrenceville)
Chairman
404.656.6801
repcoan@charter.net

Bobby Reese (R - Sugar Hill)
Vice Chairman
404.656.0314
bobby.reese@house.ga.gov

Terry England (R - Auburn)
Secretary
404.656.0183
englandhomeport2@alltel.net

Mark Hamilton (R - Cumming)
404.656.0188
770.844.6768 - Office
mark.hamilton@house.ga.gov

Billy Horne (R- Coweta County)
404.656.0287
gahouse71@yahoo.com

Tom Knox (R -Forsyth County)
404.656.6831
tom.knox@house.ga.gov

Edward Lindsey (R - Atlanta)
404.463.2247
edward.lindsey@house.ga.gov

Jeff May (R - Monroe)
404.656.5116
jeff.may@house.ga.gov

Jimmy Pruett (R - Eastman)
404.651.7737
jimmy@jimmypruett.com

Roger Williams (R - Dalton)
404.656.3904
roger.williams@house.ga.gov

Clay Cox (R - Lilburn)
404.656.0188
clay.cox@house.ga.gov

That's a question I often ask myself when it comes to the actions of Republicans. Maybe I just have a suspicious nature, or maybe they really do always have a hidden agenda.

The latest tidbit that has me puzzled is HB 38, a bill sponsored by Ed Setzler to prevent the implantation of micro-chips in humans without their permission.

A breathless email today from Shady Fields urged her flock to show up at the Sub Committee hearing tomorrow to speak in support of this legislation.

So, as the world goes to hell in a handbag, the faithful are concerned about unwanted micro-chip implants? Really? Has there been some rampant micro-chipping going on that I hadn't heard about? Not that I think asking someone's permission before implanting them with a foreign object is really a bad idea, but it's just all so odd.

President Obama will be speaking in just a few minutes..

Reactions

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Open thread

Sen. Dave Schultheis, of Colorado Springs, on Wednesday opposed a bill requiring all pregnant women to be tested for HIV, so that if they are infected their babies can be treated to prevent the transfer of the virus.

"This stems from sexual promiscuity for the most part, and I just can't go there," he said.

"We do things continually to remove the consequences of poor behavior, unacceptable behavior, quite frankly. I'm not convinced that part of the role of government should be to protect individuals from the negative consequences of their actions."

Take a moment this morning to let MSNBC know that you'd like a progressive voice on every night at 10PM!  MSNBC has put out the call for a new show on their network.  David Sirota, our friend and supporter is seeking support to be named the new host of a show following Rachel Maddow on MSNBC.  Chris Bowers, over at OpenLeft provides all we need to write a compelling letter to "the powers that be" at MSNBC. 

Highlights from Chris Bowers are below the fold.

Several Action Alerts are now active on our Young Democrats of Georgia Website. Can you spare a couple of minutes to take action that could save the state and taxpayers Millions of Dollars and protect our Environment? Click on the links below for info on the legislation and to take action:

Fixing the Budget: Take Action on House Bill 356

Raising Revenue: Support Sunday Sales, Vote Yes on Senate Bill 16

Stop the State from Raising Your Electric Bill: Take Action on Senate Bill 31

Help our Environement: Take Action on Two Important Environment and Transportation Efforts

Support the work of Young Democrats, make a contribution online today at www.georgiayds.org/contribute.

...smack them, and ask them why they voted for SB 31 when people like Rich Golick and Jill Chambers voted no. (apologies for linking to PP, the House web site isn't updated yet)

Eggs & Issues Breakfast. Hosted by Representative Karla Drenner.

Saturday, February 28, 2009
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Clarkston Woman's Club
3912 Church Street
(Between the International Bible Church
and the First United Methodist Church)

The event will include a FREE continental breakfast as well as the chance to hear more information about and to express your opinion of current trends facing Georgia's 86th House District.

The Georgia General Assembly's Rockdale Delegation Invites you to a Town Hall meeting, this Saturday!

Who: Sen. John Douglas and Sen. Ron Ramsey, Rep. Toney Collins, Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler, Rep. Pam Stephenson and Rep. Randal Mangham, Chair

What: TOWN HALL MEETING

When: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2009

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Where: Rockdale Career Academy
1064 Culpepper Drive, Conyers GA 30094

This event is free and open to the public, light refreshments will be served beginning at 8:30 am

By special request. For me it's a tie between Neil Diamond & Charles Nelson Reilly. What's up with Lionel Ritchie?

Sure, $1.3 million is a lot, but bravo for refusing the bonus!

So just how does one form one of these clubs?

It's elemental, my dear. Now is your chance for Atlantic Station digs.

Hmmm... this sheds some light on Senator Gregg's surprising withdrawal.

What do Madonna, Mike Tyson, and Sly Stone have in common?

h/t to Sarah.

Ever heard of the Final Exit Network? Me either. Apparently they're a Marietta-based semi-virtual organization offering "support" to those who need "relief" from their suffering. That support and relief has brought four of its members to the attention of the GBI. It's a little unnerving to look at the quite ordinary townhouse in Cumming where one of the relief operations apparently occurred. I'm hoping that this will reignite debate about whether people who do this ought to be referred to as a "ring", although the chances of us getting a law like Oregon's are pretty much zero - I mean, we're dealing with people who can't handle alcohol on Sundays, you know this ain't gonna fly.

A Georgia boy, no less!

I haven't had time to look at the details (and yes, I know the devil is in the details), but some of the highlights look good:

The President released the Administration's FY 2010 top-line budget proposal today which includes $26.5 billion for the Department of Justice (DOJ), a 3.5 percent increase more than the FY 2009 budget.

Expands Prisoner Reentry Programs - Includes $109 million for prisoner reentry programs, including an additional $75 million for the Office of Justice Programs to expand grant programs authorized by the Second Chance Act that provide counseling, job training, drug treatment, and other transitional assistance to former prisoners.

Enhances Federal Civil Rights Enforcement - Includes $145 million for the Civil Rights Division to strengthen civil rights enforcement against racial, ethnic, sexual preference, religious and gender discrimination.