Progress for National Popular Vote Plan

The National Popular Vote proposal for an “Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote” made it out of a California Assembly committee.

Also approved by the committee was a separate bill to move California's presidential primary to January 2, which is not such a good idea. Campaigning in a large state like California is expensive (understatement heavy), and such a move would make so-called "early money" even more important -- as if that's even possible.

A better idea is a rotating presidential primary campaign like that outlined in what's known as the "American Plan." Learn more about it here and here.

Hilarious

WASHINGTON -- With rising gasoline prices spurring calls for action among worried congressional Republicans, President Bush will respond with a series of measures today aimed at curbing possible market manipulations.

Hmmm, why are gas prices so high? Why has the price of oil spiked in the last few weeks?

CUT TO: Bush's unnecessary and strategically short-sighted saber rattling on Iran.

Yeeeooouch!

Sun Shares Up on News CEO Is Stepping Down

So long, Scott McNealy! After founding the company and spending 22 years as its CEO, that "Sun Shares Up" on the day he stepped down has gotta hurt.

Cha Ching! (Part CCCCCLLLLLLVVVVXXXXXetc.)

"Former Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony J. Principi left his government position to head a company that does big business with the VA. And we're talking big numbers here: the company could ultimately reap $1 billion from contracts they won while he was heading the agency. He says he had nothing to do with the contracts, but was very friendly with the company execs while he was still Secretary."

CUT TO: The old revolving door, spinning even faster than it did when Gale Norton resigned for pressing "private sector" duties a month ago...

32

Wow, 32 percent approval rating for El Presidente. He's up for re-election in November, right? He's not? Oh. Thought maybe he was. Huh.

Rumsfeld to Go?

I felt like Scott McClellan's pro-forma statement of support this a.m. for Secretary Rumsfeld was so hollow that it literally echoed -- weakly -- all the way from D.C. to Taos, New Mexico, where Rummy has a massive summer estate.

Spying on Americans, Part CLLLXXXXVVVVIIIII....

From the Washington Post coverage of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' testimony in front of Congress last week:

In yesterday's testimony, Gonzales reiterated earlier hints that there may be another facet to the NSA program that has not been revealed publicly, or even another program that has prompted dissension within the government. While acknowledging disagreements among officials over the monitoring efforts, Gonzales disputed published reports that have detailed the arguments. "They did not relate to the program the president disclosed," Gonzales testified.

"They related to something else, and I can't get into that."

Oh, OK then. Carry on, sir! No need to elaborate! Spy away, friend!

A Very Brief Thought

There must be cheering and whooping and hollering at the White House whenever anyone is indicted or an investigation announced, because then its various spokespeople can use the "can't comment, ongoing investigation" line forever and ever and ever.

Oh Dear Lord NOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Via a cat-obsessed friend: "The Daily Kitten is currently experiencing technical difficulties. We hope to be back with you before too long. Apologies for the inconvenience."