GOP Lawmakers Slow to Embrace Social Security Plan

By Charles Babington

Washington Post Staff Writer

Treasury Secretary John W. Snow said yesterday that the Bush administration has yet to sell American voters on its plan to revise Social Security, but a substantial number of Republican lawmakers are refusing to help -- either sitting on the sidelines or actively criticizing the plan.

Kudos to Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who responded to a tweet regarding a senior citizen needing help with snow removal--by going over and shoveling the snow himself. Via Intoxination.

Open thread below.

Michigan Messenger has the latest information.

And according to MM, weather conditions are not conducive to high turn-out. Many parts of the state were blanketed in 3 to 5 inches of sloppy, wet snow overnight, with schools being closed in some areas.

UPDATE: This site, Pick Your President has been measuring online votes in key states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, Washington and Wisconsin. Call me skeptical, but it looks like there may be some gaming of the polls by a few ardent supporters.

Well, I'm SteveAudio, and it's time for my last jam session here. I want to thank Mike, Nicole, bluegal, and especially Il Maestro, John. It's been fun this week, and I look forward to doing it again sometime.

When the wind blows. . . Fall-out shelters? Nuclear war with David Bowie as the soundtrack?

I will let you down, I will make you hurt. . . waterboarding is controlled drowning in which fluid enters the lungs, and it carries with it the risk of brain damage, internal trauma and death. But that's not important right now. I faxed my Senator, DiFi; here is the letter and her addresses.

Oh, you're so down home girl. . . Did Hillary play the "gender card", or is she, you know, a girl? And has Hillary forgotten the "Vast Right-wing Conspiracy?"

And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime. . . Do Evangelicals see Africa as the path to theocracy? And speaking about Africa, is Obama Black enough, or intolerant? Is he tough enough?

If I were a king, if I had everything . . . Only one word to say. Rudy. Oh, and what about Bin-Laden. Wasn't that him I saw over there?

Eat me, drink me, this is only a game. . . Some dietary advice: Soylent Green is PEOPLE!!!!! And a heck of a good film.

It's been a blast, hope everyone had some fun, I know I did. Stop by my place when you get a chance, we (my co-bloggers and I) try to inform and entertain, and hopefully don't step on our tongues too often. Oh, and have someone walk you to your car when you leave tonight. Some guy with a saxophone has been wandering the parking lot muttering to himself.

Daily Howler: "Inauthentic" is the new "traitor to his class."

A Tiny Revolution : It's always a comfort when our envoys "like this violence."

Shakesville: "This is not a “We told you so” piece. It’s a “Here we go again” piece."

Orcinus has several recent posts on "why it's vital that we begin putting a human, and real, face on the immigration debate."

Pay no attention to the situation in Iraq, the real problem is Harry Reid criticizing Generals Pace and Petraeus! Would Tony Snow steer you wrong? Glenn Greenwald explores conservatives' shifting standards for criticizing the military and vets. Dan Froomkin notes an article showing that Petraeus' "astonishing signs of normalcy" assessment of Iraq contradicts the Pentagon's own quarterly report. Meanwhile, Steve Benen asks, "Which is worse, a senator’s mild, one-sentence criticism of a general’s judgment, or the president firing that general in the midst of a war?"

Guest round up by Batocchio (batocchio9 AT yahoo DOT com).

The Sunday Talking Head line-up is ready for perusal. Thought I'd kick off everyone's morning today with a little Squeeze and some Black Coffee In Bed.

Lots of Tony Snow — lots and lots and lots. The Colin Powell interview on Meet the Press could be interesting - or nothing but a lot of hot air and equivications. I’m betting on the latter, but will be very happy indeed if it is the former because who couldn’t use a bit of truth on a Sunday morning? It would be a nice change from the usual, anyway.

Bob Geiger has some spot-on political cartoons ready for the browsing — my personal favorite is the pass off of the “go directly to jail card.” So, what's catching your eye on the blogs or in the news this morning?

AP photo: Paul Wolfowitz is in deep trouble with the World Bank, but like most of the Bushies---he refuses to step down. Instead, he does a "Cheney" on them all.

Sounding more like a cast member of the Sopranos than an international leader, in testimony by one key witness Mr Wolfowitz declares: "If they f*&k with me or Shaha, I have enough on them to f*&k them too."--- "Mr Wolfowitz saw himself as the outsider to whom the established rules and standards did not apply."

A Cheney in this instance is telling someone to F*&k themselves and not shooting them in the face. As always, Bush supports his corrupt pals:

White House Spokesman Tony Snow says President Bush continues to stand by Wolfowitz."The fact is that he made mistakes. They are not in our view, firing offenses," he said.
What is a firing offense to this administration? Please, tell us! C&Ler "Liberty lover," reminds me to ask the nine US Attorney's what a firing offense is. ABC is reporting that the WH is showing signs of cracking:

On the second issue, the senior official told ABC News "it is an open question" whether Wolfowitz can remain an effective president of the World Bank.

Ice Station Tango on the Obama-Clinton preach-off in Selma, Alabama.

Mother Jones: It's not the Internet that's killing newspapers. It's the equity-chasing investors and their friends at the FCC who have put outsize profits before a free press.

David E is a little, um, "worried" about the Cheney's health. Wonkette wins the hyperbole headline award, though. And Local Crank suggests we need a cuddly anime version of the Vice President.

Off the beaten path, Wacky Middle East Wars Edition: Live from Tehran's "The Insider" is beating around the Bush. And some real Iranians hold a flickr snow war, complete with UN representation!
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Blue Gal
http://bgalrstate.blogspot.com

Tony Snow thinks Mark Foley's behavior is bad, but hey---they were just some naughty emails right?. Shame on Foley and send him to the corner for a time out. He gets pretty testy with Soledad and blames her for trying to start a fight. Watch out Tony, she's pretty tough/

Download | play -WMP Download | play -QT

O’BRIEN: I would assume everybody would want to know, including the president. I mean, we’re not talking about any old person. We’re talking about the leadership of the Republicans in Congress. Why would he not hear something that’s disturbing, or his office — over-friendly — when I see that word as a parent — and I think any parent would say, Whoa, over-friendly? Any communication between a 16-year-old and a congressman, why doesn’t that raise red flags — major, massive red flags?

SNOW: Yes, look, I hate to tell you, but it’s not always pretty up there on Capitol Hill. And there have been other scandals, as you know, that have been more than simply naughty e-mails. You know, look, again, I reiterate my point. I think it’s important to protect these kids and make sure that they have a good experience. And look, like you (inaudible) want to find out what happened. But before we prosecute, let’s figure out what all the facts are. That’s probably the most important thing to do is to be fair to all parties.

Tony Snow trots out a...