although I now live in Manhattan, I still pay attention to the news in my hometown of Boston -- where state and city pols seem to be literally stuffing cash bribes down their shirts on a daily basis: City Councilor Chuck Turner and State Senator Diane Wilkerson, just to name two.

Granted, it is merely widespread petty bribery there in Boston. Blago (my God, the hair!) seems to have take the cake for corrupt douchebag politicians. Tip of the hat, Chicago.

Blagojevich 2016: Great. Fucking. Hair.

were politically corrupt, instead of merely morally corrupt.

that there are George W. Bushes in both parties (see Palin, Sarah and Blagojevich, Rod "The God")

Really....this guy...President?

should have their names printed in their local newspapers. They should be forced to make a public apology. If they do not, they should be placed in the stocks for a weekend, right next to the rotten tomato store. These people are pathetic excuses for citizens who cannot be reasoned with, and should only have the opportunity to participate in a system their preferred candidate basically worked to destroy if they realize the error of their ways, and promise to change.

I mean there is only one thing worse than voting for Bush twice, and it's voting for Sarah Palin after voting for Bush twice. Inexcusable.

That said, I look forward to a new era of bipartisanship.

After the Charlie Gibson interview last week, it is clear that this man has no idea how badly he has handled nearly everything thrown his way these past 8 years. He is a victim of circumstance (boohoo) and gosh if only that intelligence was little better, if those jerks at the Weather Channel had only warned him about New Orleans a little sooner.....

The man is hermetically sealed in a cocoon in which he only hears good things.

We are not celebrating the shoe thrower, we are celebrating the fact that maybe this episode pierced Bush's little twilight zone of adequacy and made him see the light.

Can you imagine if you died because you jumped in front a bullet for THIS president with about a month to go? Talk about your senseless wastes of life....

and it's taking the rest of the state down with it. I used to live in Ithaca (now NYC), one of the few places north of NYC that has an economy that does not date back to 1940. It IS sad that parts of New York are going the way of much of the Rust Belt, but I have no love lost for many members of the Assembly and State Senate who still see the two parts as equal. The recent death of congestion pricing is a great example.

It may be annoying to folks that when NYC gets a cold, upstaters sneeze; but that's better than upstate dying when NYC receives a major wound.

explaining how sitting in the pews of Wright's church for 20 years did not color Obama's views. And now he has asked a reverend with questionable views on gay marriage (like 99% of religious leaders) to give a short prayer at his inauguration and everyone thinks Obama shares Warren's beliefs. Huh?

What if he had asked the Pope? Didn't we elect Obama because he didn't believe in picking stupid fights and wanted to get results instead?

this from moveon.org (a good sentiment for this whole flap):

"Dear MoveOn member,

Hundreds of thousands of us nominated and voted, and now the results are in—we know where to focus MoveOn's efforts for the next year.

We asked you to vote for your three top goals, but after looking at the results, it's clear that four rose above and beyond the rest.

Here's how it worked out, in descending order:

1. Universal Health Care

2. Economic Recovery and Job Creation

3. Build a Green Economy and Stop Climate Change

4. End the War in Iraq

Gay marriage was eighth, with around 8% of the vote. And unless I am mistaken, the invocation is not a policy position, so can we drop this now?

....then the only question this edition of the Real World will answer is "who will end up having sex with the transgender chick?"

anyone who does realizes that Slumdog is filler. A nice little way to spend 2 hours, but, to be it another way, there's not much "there" there.

Here's to hoping Mickey Rourke takes the statue for best actor.

rumors of deteriorating health for ted kennedy would give many legislators pause since he is the chairman of the responsible committee. his preferences are a known quantity and a question mark hanging over who exactly is the gatekeeper should he die before that legislation is voted on makes many leery of diving into the issue. no politician in their right mind would criticize the Edward Kennedy Health Care Reform Bill if he died as it was being put together.

is the appearance of it. Mission accomplished on that one, Mr. President.

Now it's time to ram a sensible stimulus bill down their throats. 'Cause even if it were 99% tax cuts, and the economy still tanked, you'd get the blame anyway.

it's fucking beautiful. Let's make it a reality in '12.

what if the Dems had threatened to filibuster such an economic recovery package? it was merely judicial appointments that had the Dems upset back in '06. can you imagine the "they hate our country" rhetoric that would be spewing from the GOP if the Dems had threatened to filibuster something so obviously crucial to the health of the country?

that is why it blows my mind that we are talking about taking OUT (longer term) measures intended to improve health care and energy infrastructure and put IN more tax cuts? huh? so they can just vote against it anyway and then blame you when it doesn't work?

its clear the GOP is not negotiating in good faith, so why even bother?

and the media's knives were out.

Where the fuck were these piranhas for the last 8 years???