back to DUHCON-2

The nuclear option's been defused, dKos tells me. Both of my alma mater state's "RINO" Ladies in Red were on the side of sanity, and I applaud them with swollen heart. (Gotta cut down on the sausage links.) In the end there wasn't a vote to sink Frist's plan outright, but there was enough uncertainty that the majority conceded to a deal rather than risk the humiliation of a formal denial.

For your gloating pleasure, a selection of Freeper reactions. That "not one more dime" thing is interesting... it's a mantra I see throughout the right-wing blogs I sometimes trip across when I'm truly bored and apparently don't feel angry enough. I've seen it applied to environmental protection plans, to international relief funds, and now to one's own political party. I've never seen it used like that outside of conservative blogs. (I almost said "rabid conservative" but I could feel wrog breathing on me about it, and anyway, are there any non-"rabid" blogs on any side??)

I did talk to my parents about it, or at least my mom, trying to get them to call the Ladies. She hadn't heard about it at all (despite her continual absorption of Fox News), but agreed with me that it sounded pretty stupid, and said she'd try to learn some more about it. As soon as it filtered down to me that the GoP had found their catchphrasey Talking Point ("These judges deserve an up-or-down vote!") I knew that Fox News was surely bleating it repeatedly, and I made a mental note to bring it up with my parents again. But I forgot. So I'm glad all this happened. Ha ha.

Also

I just want to point out that this makes three visible-from-orbit failures for the neocon-driven ruling party (the other two being SocSec and Schiavo) since the November elections. That's averaging, what, one every two months? Way to go, guys.

Actually, a heartfelt WTG to everyone resisting the majority in these issues and others. It is definitive proof that the madness can be contained, and that being outgunned isn't equivalent to being powerless.

Man

I'm going to have to cross O'Naturals off my list of friendly hang-out places. The free wireless and tasty scones make me keep forgetting, but it's developed a ding I can't really overlook: it's successfully positioned itself as a more family-friendly alt to the Diesel (not that the Diesel is un-FF, but O'N has a little play area, and Diesel doesn't, so there), so it's always full of several last names' worth of utterly random-acting babies & toddlers noodling around. Which I'd normally be able to deal with -- my sphere of awareness is quite small -- except for the fact at O'Naturals is basically one large room with some truly outstanding echo effects.

Yyyyyyikes.

Also the coffee blows. But the scones, man. I guess that's what to-go bags are for.