Connecting.the.Dots: Bedtime for Bonzo Bankers

Sadly, No! Ruh Roh, Breitbart's boy reporter has race issues and Andy's having a twitter meltdown. It's Liberal Media Coverage!

Newsifact: Two propaganda outlets censor Obama

A plain blog about politics: Textbook

Economist's View: Inequality and "Guard Labor"

Calitics: Carlyfornia

AmericaBLOG's John Aravosis seems to have discovered a disturbing pattern. I really, really hope he's wrong -- but I wonder:

A day after former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe is elevated to a more senior adviser status at the White House and the DNC, Plouffe pens an op ed in the Washington Post in which he seems to suggest that much of President Obama's promise to ban pre-existing conditions is now being jettisoned. Plouffe wrote in the op ed, which was certainly cleared with the White House, if not written by them:

Parents won't have to worry their children will be denied coverage just because they have a preexisting condition.

Their children? The original promise - even the bad Senate bill - protects everyone, of any age, from being denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. Now it's just children?

And before anyone argues that Plouffe was simply using children as an example - that the legislation could still cover everyone - look at what else happened in the last two days. CBS News reported that the pre-existing conditions promise was now looking unlikely. But even worse, the NYT talked to folks on the Hill and health policy experts, and they were told the compromise package might just protect kids under the age of 19 from being denied for pre-existing conditions. No one else.

It would sure be one hell of a coincidence if Plouffe, on behalf of the White House, is now talking about kids being protected from pre-existing conditions when the growing chatter in town is that only kids may now be protected from pre-existing conditions - that the rest of us are about to get tossed under the Martha Coakley bus.

As Joe noted the other day, the pre-existing conditions promise, for "all Americans," was the top item on the Obama transition's health care reform page. So, in an effort to appease the masses, they're now considering gutting the one provision that everyone likes, the one provision that defines the legislation.

Wow, that's pretty bad. I don't think I've even heard of this happening before. Pens and pencils?

NEW YORK - To gauge consumers' strain, look no further than the rows and rows of plastic bags awaiting layaway payments at Kmart. They are filled with back-to-school basics — not just T-shirts and jeans but notebooks, magic markers and pencils.

It is unheard of for layaway rooms to be so packed at back-to-school time and for the packages to include relatively cheap school supplies.

A record number of shoppers, shut off from credit and short on cash, are relying on Kmart's layaway program to pay for all of their kids' school needs, said Tom Aiello, a spokesman for Kmart's parent Sears Holdings Corp. Layaway allows shoppers to pay over time, interest- free, and pick up their merchandise when it's paid in full.

"It's a sight. In the past, we would see layaway start to pick up around Halloween" as people get a jump start for Christmas, said David Travis, manager of a Kmart store in Conover, N.C.

Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp. said its layaway business is stronger than a year ago. And e-Layaway.com, which offers online layaway services for about 1,000 merchants, has seen its business double from the same time last year. Customers are setting aside even $25 calculators and $30 backpacks.

The word "layaway" had more than double the interest among U.S. searchers in August 2009 than it had in August 2008, according to Google Insights for Search.

Who will win the NBA championship, the Lakers or the Magic?

If the Magic had a healthy Jameer Nelson, I think this series could have gone seven games. There's rumors that he still may play, but he won't be the same player coming off a serious injury. I have a feeling that Orlando will have to use Marcin Gortat with Superman together instead of just giving Howard a break if they want to compete with the Lakers height advantage. The Lakers caught a break that Kevin Garnett got hurt and the odds are that it will be a quick series, but if the Magic play well, it should be fun.

Who will win the 2009 NBA Championship(answers)

There's also a big Stanley Cup game tonight. Pittsburgh got a huge break when the refs missed a too many men on the ice penalty which then led to a goal for the Pens. I never saw six guys skating around for almost 30 seconds not called before. The Penguins need this one if they want a shot at the cup. If Detroit wins it, they will have to be considered one of the all time great NHL teams.

Vagabond Scholar: The Torture Flow Chart.  And waterboarding isn't "simulated drowning."  It's drowning. 

Peace Action Blog: Senator Kerry's hearing with soldiers on Afghanistan

Kansas Jackass: GOP asshats still blocking Sebelius confirmation

Prose Before Hos: Greg Mankiw's naive analysis of Obama's $100 million budget cuts

Right Wing Watch: Let the hate crimes freakout begin

HOLY CRAP: burkha-logic...The Stinque Zombie Bible...Theocracy in California public schools...Runnning amok in FLA. public schools...Jim Wallis, Lefty?...Saudi government upholds child marriage...Proof of virginity...God's will...Art reflects life...As a Man Pisseth...Is Lying a Traditional Value?