Ted Stevens defeated

Stevens' re-election bid officially goes down the tubes. To which Misty says: "Sorry, Sarah! Woop!"

Woop, indeed.

Quote of the Day

"I'd just like to point out, because I can't quite yet believe it myself, that after an era of John 'Let the Eagle Soar' Ashcroft and Alberto 'Quaint' Gonzales, we may find ourselves with an Attorney General with both a brain and a social conscience." -- Melissa McEwan, on Obama's new AG pick.

Levity

One sunny day in 2009 an old man approached the White House from across
Pennsylvania Avenue, where he'd been sitting on a park bench.

He spoke to the U.S. Marine standing guard and said, 'I
would like to go in and meet with President Bush.'

The Marine looked at the man and said, 'Sir, Mr. Bush
is no longer president and no longer resides here.'

The old man said, 'Okay' and walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the
same Marine, 'I would like to go in and meet with President Bush.'

The Marine again told the man, 'Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Bush is no
longer president and no longer resides here.'

The man thanked him and, again, just walked away.

The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very
same U. S. Marine, saying, 'I would like to go in and meet with President
Bush.'

The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and
said, 'Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to
speak to Mr. Bush. I've told you already that Mr. Bush is no longer the
president and no longer resides here. Don't you understand?'

The old man looked at the Marine and said, 'Oh, I
understand. I just love hearing it.'

The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said,
'See you tomorrow.'

Lieberman keep his chair

Bloody hell. Sorry, Senator Reid, if Lieberman's actions weren't worthy of "retribution" then I don't know what is.

As Jane says, "This is about telling you that you mean nothing. That democracy is a nice word, but it should never threaten the entitlement of the most exclusive club in the world. No matter what Joe Lieberman does, the people who are protecting him hate you much more than they hate him."

Update: Howard Dean says the Senate Democrats were following Obama's lead. Somehow that doesn't make me feel any better. I do hope Lieberman remembers who saved his sorry ass and votes accordingly, but I'm not holding my breath. Once a traitor, always a traitor.

Tent pissing and keeping enemies closer bull

Is it not possible that Obama wants Hillary to be Secretary of State because he thinks she would be the best person for the job? Enough with the theories and the media-created drama, please.

Update: Here's a round-up of media drama from TPM.

Lieberman Watch

The last few days I've been heartened by the trickle of Senate Democrats that have come out strongly against Joe Lieberman keeping his Homeland Security chairmanship, however this news just completely deflated that hope balloon:

When Senate Dems caucus tomorrow, the Democratic leadership is likely to propose that he keep his Homeland Security chairmanship but lose a lesser sub-committee chairmanship instead, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Not. Good. Enough. Seriously, folks, what ever happened to accountability?

Quote of the Day

"Yes. I have said repeatedly that I intend to close Guantanamo, and I will follow through on that. I have said repeatedly that America doesn’t torture, and I’m going to make sure that we don’t torture. Those are part and parcel of an effort to regain America’s moral stature in the world." -- President-elect Barack Obama, on 60 Minutes, making it clear that turning back the Bush-Cheney clock is definitely on his agenda.

Truth in Comics

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Stimulate now, stimulate often

I don't know much about economic matters, but if Paul Krugman says Obama must go big, go bold, and spend a ton to get this economy rolling again then I'm all for it. I only wish we could start this stimulus today, but we can't because we're stuck with this douche-bag president and his even douchier GOP allies in Congress who are perfectly willing to drive America into an even deeper hole before they walk out the door in January. Bastards.

Hillary as head diplomat?

The political world is buzzing this morning with the rumor that Senator Clinton is being considered for Secretary of State. My first impression is that this is a great idea. She's got the knowledge. She's got contacts. She's got the name. She's been leading the way on women's and human rights for years. And, she's certainly competent. I do hesitate, however, with respect to her hawkishness and her war vote. While her hawkishness and war vote were a deal breaker for me in a presidential context, I think with President Obama setting the policy, I can overlook those negatives if she takes the Secretary of State reigns.

It's a very interesting choice and one that I think would garner Obama good press, an even longer honeymoon, and help improve the United States standing in the world that much more. Huh, I sound almost excited about the pick. Go figure.

Solidarity

Another example of how much Rachel Maddow rocks [via ThinkProgress]:

Quote of the Day

"I wept tears of joy for all of us on Tuesday. He may not be a perfect man. Certainly, he has often said that he'll likely be an imperfect President, but he is a good man, a smart man, a disciplined soul who balances temperance with determination and courage. We've made a great choice, I assure you." -- Maya Soetoro-Ng, president-elect Barack Obama's sister, on her brother's (and America's) big win.

Why he's president (elect) and not me

I hold grudges. This via TPM:

President-Elect Barack Obama doesn't "hold any grudges" against Senator Joe Lieberman for opposing his presidential candidacy, and will not take any position on the question of whether Lieberman should be permitted to keep his plum chairmanship of the Homeland Security committee, an Obama spokesperson just confirmed to us.

It's the chairmanship that really matters and it's clear Obama is staying above the fray on that. Joe can caucus all he wants, but I still hope that the Senate Democrats get their new president's back and boot Joe from his Homeland Security chair. It's the least they could do.

Update: Brave New Films reminds us why Joe must go.

Elections have consequences

If only getting Sarah Palin off the media circuit were this easy.

Obama to create Office of Urban Policy

WaPo:

[P]lans are underway to establish a White House Office of Urban Policy in order to better coordinate federal efforts to help America's cities, according to Obama transition co-chair Valerie Jarrett. [...]

Despite the many national problems confronting the new administration, she continued, Obama remains committed to earlier pledges to establish such an office. "Because he began as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago, he understands at the local level is really where you can impact change and that local government can play a vital role as we try to jump start our economy," she said.

As a New Yorker, I can appreciate this.

Sanity will return to government

WaPo: Obama Positioned to Quickly Reverse Bush Actions

Transition advisers to President-elect Barack Obama have compiled a list of about 200 Bush administration actions and executive orders that could be swiftly undone to reverse White House policies on climate change, stem cell research, reproductive rights and other issues, according to congressional Democrats, campaign aides and experts working with the transition team.

A reversal eight years in the making. I can't wait.

Truth in Comics

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.