Must watch more Minchin

Mackinac Center admits its FOIA request was simple harassment

Recently, the Mackinac Center in Michigan put in several FOIA requests against several state university professors who had written op-eds and personal blog posts that they didn't agree with. The requests were virtually unprecedented and included any information using state equipment mentioning "Maddow". The Center has not responded to any requests for clarification, until now.

And they pretty much admit that it's just an excuse to harass the people with whom they disagree:

The unfolding of the Wisconsin turmoil and the pitched debate over the Michigan legislation provided us an opportunity to chase an old story with a FOIA.

I miss Bill Moyers

How do Republicans apologize?

Like this:

RPDC Apologizes To Judge Sumi

The Republican Party of Dane County sent out a press release on March 29th criticizing Judge Maryann Sumi for holding up the publication of Governor Scott Walker’s collective bargaining reform bill. Upon further reflection we’d like to apologize for not understanding her point of view.

Sure, Governor Walker’s bill is unquestionably constitutional, increases worker’s rights and helps local government balance budgets without having to fire public workers. The Wisconsin state legislature consulted with their non-partisan parliamentarian to make sure that the passage of the bill followed the rules of the Senate and Assembly. But this isn’t about the law, is it?

The Republican Party of Dane County recognizes that Judge Sumi is a leftist living in Dane County. Her friends are leftists living in Dane County. Her son is a left wing activist in Dane County. She goes to cocktail parties held by leftists in Dane County. She shops at organic gourmet food shops run by leftists living in Dane County. If she were to enforce the law of Wisconsin and do what was in the best interest of the people of Wisconsin, she’d be exiled from her lifestyle. She’d lose her friends!

The leadership of the Republican Party of Dane County have all made the choice to stand against the Dane County elite. We accept that Left feels righteous vandalizing our homes and keying our cars. It's only fair. We disagree based upon logic and principle. That is intolerable! We prioritize the Constitution and the well being of the people of Wisconsin over foie gras at cocktail parties. That’s the choice we made. We respect Judge Sumi’s decision to live her life with the rich diversity that liberals cherish.

Golden Corral

Our pleasant niche of the seafoody-snobbish has been inundated by a flood of commercials for Golden Corral, which markets itself as the cheapest seafood chain around. It even felt the need to produce a making-of ad-let of its lame ad:



There are certain items, in this life, you don't want to opt for the cheapest solution. Seafood is one of them.

How those tax cuts have worked for the past 10, 20 years

That is, tax cuts for the wealthiest sliver of us. Oh, and corporations.

…After the nation recovered from the 1990-91 recession, 43 states made sizable tax cuts from 1994 to 2001 as the economy surged. Twenty-eight states, in fact, reduced their unemployment insurance payroll taxes after 1995.

But states that cut taxes the most ended up with the largest budget shortfalls and higher job losses when the economy slowed again in 2001, according to research by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/03/28/111161/states-broke-maybe-they-cut-taxes.html#storylink=misearch#ixzz1I33Ei9VW

Your government at work

Today's House Appropriations bill vote will slash tsunami warning systems in the U.S.