…and it's not often I agree with MSNBC's framing…

Regarding Trump:

"This is the political equivalent of lighting a house on fire, calling 911 and then expecting a medal."

It's not often I agree with Politico…

"By directly and coolly engaging a debate with his most fevered critics, Obama offered the most unmistakable validation ever to the idea that we are living in an era of public life with no referee—and no common understandings between fair and unfair, between relevant and trivial, or even between facts and fantasy."

The Long Form

If you are one of the people who were charged up by the issue, even if your argument was "he should just release it and get it over with", then you are the problem.

Corporate welfare is safe and secure

This has been all over the place recently, but it's a worthwhile read.

Irrational Exuberance and Going Galt

Here's a thorough summary (yes, I know, but bear with me,) of the impact Ayn Rand has had on today's society: From the Awl. (I won't excerpt it, as it's a good read.)

Here's a review of the upcoming part one of Atlas Shrugged, obviously written by a fanboy.

Here's my summary, thoroughly stolen from the web:

There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.

I say, Go Galt. You are largely responsible for where we are today. We don't need or want you.

"Computer Expert"

I normally don't post about issues which are sufficiently covered elsewhere, but this needs to be spread, because I haven't heard about it in the traditional media:

In 2006, Nickolaus, who was elected Waukesha County clerk in 2002, was criticized for posting election returns that temporarily skewed results of a Republican primary for the 97th Assembly District. At the time, Nickolaus told reporters some returns from the city of Waukesha were entered in the wrong column.

And last summer, the Waukesha County Board ordered an internal audit of her office, citing concerns Nickolaus was secretive and refusing to cooperate with the county's technical staff in a security review of the computerized election system.

And this tidbit about an entirely different scandal:

A few high-level staffers were charged or fined in the scandal. Nickolaus, a computer expert who handled lists of registered voters and other tasks, was among at least 18 Republican and Democratic staffers who avoided prosecution in exchange for testifying before a secret John Doe hearing in Dane County Circuit Court.

Having worked at Microsoft and several other tech companies, I can say that no "expert" would use an Access database on a desktop computer for a mission-critical task.

This isn't about (just) Planned Parenthood

…though that's how the traditional media frames the budget/shutdown debate. (NPR correctly referred to the rider's provisions as "blocking women's health services", though.)

It's about a ridiculously tiny amount of the budget going to Women's Health Care Centers (not just Planned Parenthood.) It's not about abortion, because that's already federally banned from using any government money. Regardless, PP spends 97% of its money on all things not related to abortion; things like cancer screenings and contraception and education (which the federal government does not provide.) These things prevent illness, death, and countless abortions.

So apparently, PP and all the other Women's Health Care Services are the targets of Republicans (particularly the Tea Party hardliners) because they prevent illness, death, and unnecessary abortions.

The more radical left is referring to it as the Republicans' "War on Women". It's becoming harder and harder to dismiss that as hyperbole.