Happy Banned Books Week, everyone. The most challenged book of 2007 is And Tango Makes Three, a children's book based on a true story of two male penguins in the Central Park Zoo who raised a female penguin chick. Among other challenges, a resident of Lodi, California, objected to the book's presence in the public library because of its "homosexual story line that has been sugarcoated with cute penguins."

Open Thread below...

C&Ler "Z" sent this link to a letter to the editor of the Colorado Springs Gazette:

SUPPORT THE TROOPS
Many soldiers missing out on Bush's stimulus checks

In August 2006 the 10th Mountain Division, 2nd BCT, 1-89 Cavalry was sent to Iraq for 12 months. In April 2007, the troops were told the Army was adding three additional months to their time in country.

In November 2007 the troopers of 1-89 arrived back in New York from their tour. They are now being told by the IRS, via the IRS Web site, that they haven't earned enough money to qualify for the economic stimulus check.

There's an incentive for re-upping for three, four and five more tours. But hey, the good news is that the Pentagon has decided to change the way they handle the cremation of fallen soldiers after it came out that the crematorium the Pentagon has contracted with handles both human and pet remains. See, they're trying to be sensitive to the needs of those they've put in harm's way.

Living off Dividends:

If you think that gas prices are high at over $3.50 per gallon (I just paid $3.95 for mid-grade for my wife's Acura TSX), wait until summer. There are reports that the refineries are absorbing the cost of high oil prices right now (and some of them have hedging contracts in place to mitigate this high price), but within a few months they'll be passing this burden on to the consumers. Oil prices at the pump could very well hit $5 and if this trend continues, it could hit $8/gallon.

Due of course to the outrageous oil costs, which are more than double what it was going for this time last year.

Oil recently hit an all-time high of nearly $120 a barrel, more than double its early 2007 price of about $50 a barrel. It closed Friday at $118.52.

The forecasts calling for a jump to between $7 and $10 a gallon are based on the view that the price of crude is on its way to $200 in two to three years.

Translating this price into dollars and cents at the gas pump, one of our forecasters, the chairman of Houston-based Dune Energy, Alan Gaines, sees gas rising to $7-$8 a gallon. The other, a commodities tracker at Weiss Research in Jupiter, Fla., Sean Brodrick, projects a range of $8 to $10 a gallon.

Of course, that's what they're paying now in Europe. Fortunately for many Europeans, the choice of easy public transportation is available as well, unlike much of our country.

Leave it to a wingnut Republican to post a video from inside the green zone after an attack. I would think that's a no-no, but I'm not a Republican in Congress.

The Pentagon told a North Carolina lawmaker Tuesday that he couldn’t re-air a video he'd shot in Baghdad after accusations surfaced that he breached operational security in detailing enemy rocket attacks. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a Republican, traveled to Iraq with other lawmakers for the first time on March 22. The video was the second incident stemming from that trip that has drawn unwanted attention to McHenry.

I wonder if he had on his lapel pin? Here's a golden oldie?

(posted on January 11th, 2007)

Barney came down on McHenry for breaking the rules and trying to implement an amendment. It's a new dawn in the House and the Republicans will not like it all that much…

Download | Play Download | Play (h/t Mark)

He cracked me up when he said his past behavior was not relevant…Hilarious.

I didn't know Sean Hannity worked for the IRS too.

The IRS is investigating the United Church of Christ over a speech Sen. Barack Obama gave at its national meeting last year after he became a candidate for president, the denomination said Tuesday.

In a letter the denomination received Monday, the IRS said "reasonable belief exists" that the circumstances surrounding the speech violated restrictions on political activity for tax-exempt organizations. The denomination has denied any wrongdoing.

Obama, a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, spoke about faith and public life at the denomination's June 2007 General Synod in Hartford, Conn.

The UCC had invited Obama to speak a year before he announced he was running for president because of his involvement in the denomination, Guess said.

Church leaders consulted with lawyers before the event on following IRS rules. Before Obama spoke, a top church official told the crowd that the senator's talk was not a campaign-related event and that no leaflets or other signs of political support would be allowed...read on

Liberal Values: To conservatives, Europe is a mass of socialism as described in an old Ayn Rand novel with economies doomed to forever fall behind the economy of the United States. Reality has overtaken this tired meme.

Sadly, No! Just remember -- we're the fascists

Watching Those We Chose: Wurlitzer Prize for Wingnuttery--Top 10 of 2007

The Aristocrats: A voter recounts the rather strange goings on at the Democratic Caucus in precinct 17 of Iowa City. "Nobody could tell me exactly what the "formula" was for allocating delegates."

Sensen No Sen: Lessons from Nicaragua

House of the Rising Sons: Bloggers selling out

All Spin Zone: The economic outlook is so bleak, some economists are looking for a bunker to hide in. But what do economists know? Chimpy is is upbeat about the economy, though I'm sure he'd be amenable to more tax cuts...and he's not the only one living in a fool's paradise.

Wall Street Jackass: Sage advice

Beggars Can Be Choosers: Iowa shows how Iraq war support remains toxic for candidates, though apparently, the "surging" St. McCain doesn't think so.

Blorgable: Year of the web: 10 strangest political moments of 2007

CQ Politics: Voter ID court challenges expected to have a big impact on the 2008 elections.

Watchdog Blog: The House Ethics Committee parties on

Technology Review: John Hockenberry on "what I learned about network television at Dateline NBC." A long but important story for understanding the mindset of those in control of old media (h/t Make Them Accountable)

Halfway There: Once upon a time, in 1960...

The Largest Minority: British satirists John Bird and John Fortune performed this depressingly accurate sketch on how the market works

Daily Kos: The following exchange was heard between two Republicans outside of Big Red's Beef and More Beef Restaurant in Des Moines...

endless simmer: This food blog started a presidential endorsement process to make sure their readers know who the best candidate for eating is.

HOLY CRAP: Holy Iowa!...Promise Keepers on steroids...Domestic religious terrorism...Is Huckabee going to Rock & Roll Hell?...World-O-Crap ...The Pope will wage war on Satan in 2008...12-year-old Georgia Clyde thought she won a Deseret Morning News essay contest but because she's not a Mormon, the paper said fuhgedaboudit...John Gorenfeld's book on Sun Myung Moon will be available in March of 2008..."Rapture Ready" Jesus' General is disappointed with the way 2007 turned out

Randy Newman -- A Few Words in Defense of Our Country

Rolling Stone Magazine named Newman's song the 2nd Best Song of 2007

Now in my 40s, I cheerfully cede my need to stay on top of popular music to my children and their generation. So I've never heard of M.I.A., whom Rolling Stone has placed on the top of their list of Top 50 Albums of 2007. However, I did love The White Stripes (#17), Youssou N'Dour (#30) and Maroon 5 (#32), so at least I knew a few on the list.

What music stood out to you last year?

The Golden Monkeyfist Awards are up. Monkeyfister his own self points out:

These awards are given to recognize smaller, unsung bloggers who are giving their all to stop the lies of the Right Wing Machine-- thus the graphic of the fist choking the Flying "Morans!" Monkey in mid-flight. These people are DOING IT-- Locally, on a small scale, within their communities, no budget, and one-on-one. And they are succeeding. This is my way of recognizing them, and their efforts.

The great thing about these awards is they are for small blogs and are nominated BY those who write small blogs. Congratulations to Blue Girl, Red State (no relation), winner of The True Golden Monkeyfist: for most exemplifying the spirit of living in a state, in a district where there is no Democratic Representation. And you might just recognize the winner of The Au Peer Award, voted by the bloggers themselves as best of the best. Congratulations, Driftglass. And congratulations to Monkeyfister for holding a 2007 award ceremony which completely avoided an embarrassing number by anyone named Britney.

Happy New Year from all of us at Crooks and Liars.

Open Thread below, and don't forget the New Year's Resolution Open Thread here....