Chart of the day.

The Republican war on kids...

From the "Things that make me go hmmm…" file.

PLUMSTEAD, Pa. - November 10, 2010 (WPVI) -- Call it "Cookiegate". Sarah Palin is baking up a little controversy in Pennsylvania. She was the guest speaker last night at a fundraiser at Plumstead Christian School in Plumstead Township.

Baking up, cooking up, ginning up, however you want to put it, what Palin was doing in PA was just creating a "controversy" for its own sake. Apparently aghast at the possibility that the Pennsylvania Department of Education might suggest that fewer sweet treats is probably a good idea for kids, Palin staged a protest by bringing sugar cookies to a private school that would remain perfectly to feed its students all the sugar pops and fruit punch they can handle, if such were their wont.

It's really a nothing of a story, except...

School officials hope her appearance in the end will bring in several hundred dollars. Palin's appearance fee, thought to be $75,000, was reportedly covered by private donors.

She took $75K so the school could raise "several hundred"? No wonder she brought cookies. That's bake sale money. Sounds like she's about as big a draw as Mary Sue's fudge brownies.

What makes me go hmm, though, is that fee. If it came from someone who actually wanted to help the school raise a few hundred bucks, well, they clearly could have written a check for a few hundred, or a few thousand, dollars and have accomplished their purpose. It seems more likely that they simply wanted to put some money in Palin's pocket, and the school offered a convenient conduit. But who? And why? Hmmm…

Then, of course, there's the whole question of what kind of person would take that kind of money in exchange for that kind of return. Wouldn't you think someone as publically pious and personally wealthy as Palin would be helping out little Christian schools gratis whenever the opportunity presented? If it was a special trip, some expense money might be justified, but $75,000? Not for some corporate retreat or think tank banquet, but for a nickel and dime fundraiser?

Something about that makes me go hmmm, too.

Good questions…

The Gavel responds to the latest Boehner boner by wondering...

Which of these proposed federal regulations to protect taxpayers and consumers does Mr. Boehner think is “a great idea” to stop to give “breathing room” to the special interests?

SAFE CRIBS AND BASSINETS FOR CHILDREN: The Commission is proposing a more stringent safety standard for bassinets and cradles that will further reduce the risk of injury associated with these products.

TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING: The establishment of a free, public, website containing full disclosure of all Federal contract award information.

CONSUMER PROTECTIONS FOR AMERICAN AIR TRAVELERS: New action to strengthen the rights of air travelers in the event of oversales, flight cancellations and long delays, and to ensure that passengers have accurate and adequate information to make informed decisions when selecting flights.

Well?

From the "Good causes" file.

Blue Gal's got the tip jar out. I mention this because indie bloggers have to stick together in these troubled times, and her unique blend of insight, passion and mad Photoshop skills make Fran one of the best and an invaluable resource for me. If you've got a few bucks to invest in the blogosphere this month, Blue Gal's the place to put it.

Besides, there's the ice cream issue. Do it for The Children®.

A mystery wrapped in enigma within a conundrum?

Patty Murray's Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans With Children Act sounds like a slam dunk. Helping homeless vets and their kids? If we can, we must, right? Apparently not...

It was approved in committee with bipartisan support, and Murray brought it to the floor this morning, seeking unanimous consent. She didn't get it -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) objected on behalf of Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who apparently was concerned about funding.

Apparently. Of course, when it comes to funding Dino Rossi, Tom Coburn's a yes vote...

Key Senate Republicans will be hosting a fundraiser for Rossi in northeast Washington (DC) with a reception where attendees could mingle with a dozen Senate incumbents. The $500-a-person event is being held at an address listed for Polaris Consulting, a lobbying firm that promises clients "unparalled access, expertise and experience."

Among the hosts will be Sen. Orrin Hatch, vice chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and Sen. Lamar Alexander, Senate GOP Conference chairman. Sen. Jim DeMint, of South Carolina, Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, and Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee are some of the others expected to attend.

Makes me wonder whether the budget is Coburn's only motive in blocking Patty Murray's bill.

What'cha think? Would Tom Coburn block assistance to the kids of homeless vets just to deny Patty Murray a popular - and necessary - legislative accomplishment?

And does Dino feel as good about taking Coburn's cash as Dave Reichert feels about his Barton bucks?

Mysteries abound and compound...

Arizona.

Spanish for South Carolina?

As flips go…

…this one's a flop. SCHIP passed the House again, by a vote of 289 to 139, which is 16 more votes than it got for an unsuccessful veto override in the fall of '07. Nate Silver found a couple Republicans among 'nayes' this time who were supporters of the pre-election override effort, including…

Cathy McMorris-Rodgers from eastern Washington state, an up-and-comer who just became vice chair of the House Republican Conference.

McMorris-Rodgers post-election conversion on this issue is particularly egregious given the cuts in our state's health coverage for low income kids as our antiquated, regressive revenue system fails us once again. I suppose her step forward in her caucus requires toeing a tighter partisan line, but is the suffering of sick kids worth a promotion in the legislative bureaucracy of a fading minority party? Is being a GOP up and comer worth creating a generation of health care down and outers?

For shame...

Via Matt Yglesias...

What about The Children!®?

Of 808,000 parents deployed since Sept. 11, 2001, according to Pentagon data, more than 212,000 have been away twice. About 103,000 have gone three or more times.

Really. What about them?

What about The Children!®?

Via the Carpetbagger Report...

The Children’s Defense Fund Action Council released a new congressional scorecard, measuring lawmakers on their votes affecting children. While plenty of Republicans fared well — Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Gordon Smith (R-OR) received 70% rankings — John McCain received a 10% rating, the worst in the chamber. (His score was depressed by a series of missed votes.)

You can say his score is "depressed" by his missed votes, or you could say it accurately reflects his priorities. In John McCain's world, his personal ambitions are far more important than the health and well being of America's children.

Something Must Be Done™…

…for the sake of The Children®!



What I learned from BUSH
1. Lying is O.K.
2. Cheating is O.K.
3. Torture is O.K.
4. Taking people's rights is O.K.
5. Neglecting the poor is O.K.
6. Being a religious hypocrite is O.K.
7. Killing is O.K.
8. Incompetence is O.K.
9. Cronyism is O.K.

Or maybe, just maybe, the kids are all right.

Something us fogies should remember more often.

Hat tip to Gordon.

From the "Fun Facts" file…

As an industry, mariuana in Washington State is roughly estimated at $1 billion in wholesale value, more than wheat and potatoes combined.

Imagine what the taxes could do for The Children®.