And once the site is migrated, there will be other bugs we'll be working out along the way.

However... the new version of the blog is going rock hard. Get ready!

I don't, everything I've read shows that we would not have gotten this information as to who this man was if it had not been gotten information from people who were subject to enhanced interrogation. And so this idea that we didn't ask that question while Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was being waterboarded, he doesn't understand how enhanced interrogation works. I mean, you break somebody, and after they're broken, they become cooperative. And that's when we got this information. And one thing led to another, and led to another, and that's how we ended up with bin Laden.

I'm far away from being a John McCain fan, but this is simply awful -- telling someone who actually has been tortured that they don't understand how torture works.

This year's big spending cut bill that prevented a government shutdown by slashing the federal budget and allowing Republicans to make good on their campaign promises actually -- wait for it -- increased federal spending by $3 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

You read that right. Had the federal budget for the remainder of 2011 remained untouched, the government would have spent $3 billion less through September than it will now spend under the Republican-driven course "correction."

Keep going! You're doing great!

Adding... Stimulus!

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad fired a starter’s pistol on the 2012 race Monday morning, calling on Republican presidential candidates to pick up the pace of what he called a “wide-open” Iowa caucus fight.

The governor’s appeal represents an effort to get that fight fully engaged, despite the overall sluggishness of the 2012 campaign – and growing questions about whether Iowa will be able to maintain its influence over the presidential nomination process.

"Sluggishness" is a good way to put it. I would include "a clown car filled with chickenshits" in there, too. Then again, I can be incendiary.

Gorillaz ft. Little Dragon - "Empire Ants" (Live on Letterman)

I'm back in action. Thanks to Ashby for kicking ass all weekend!

In other news, a young man in Arkansas became the first person to be convicted of violating the Matthew Shepard Act today. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed into law by President Obama in October 2009.

Please use this thread to discuss whatever it is you wish to discuss.

If you want to know why Barack Obama is looking good for reelection despite the our nation’s economic struggles, the new Politico/GWU poll has your answer. 72% of voters in battleground states approve of Obama as a person.

The Politico/GWU poll found that despite 56% of voters saying they are concerned about the economy, President Obama has a 52% job approval rating. Obama only has a 42% approval rating on the economy, but by a margin of 48%-42% he is more trusted to handle the economy than congressional Republicans. Obama is also more trusted to create jobs (47%-43%), healthcare (52%-41%), handle Social Security (50%-37%), keep America safe from terrorism (55%-34%), and more Americans believe that he shares their values (51%-38%). The only issue that the GOP led him on was the deficit, and their lead was within the margin of error (47%-44%).

84% of voters in battleground states said that the death of Bin Laden did not change their support for Obama either way, and 59% of them were either definitely going to vote for Obama or are strongly considering voting for Obama. Only 38% of those polled said that they would definitely not vote for Obama.

The numbers on national security (55%-34%), and basic values (51%-38%) are particularly damning, as it's the Republican Party which traditionally runs on national security and values.

With voters already clearly favoring President Obama over the Republicans in those areas, that means he can spend the majority of his time campaigning focused on issues where his lead isn't as solid.

Republicans, on the other hand, have to long way to go to convince voters that they are good for, well, anything.

“Get out now before you make a bigger fool of yourself,” (Russell) Fuhrman said directly to Gingrich. [...]

Fuhrman said he’s a solid Republican but that Gingrich “is a jerk.”

“I’m a strong Republican but he’s an embarrassment to our party."

The sad thing is that the reason Mister Fuhrman is unhappy with Gingrich is because he feels Gingrich is not far enough to the Right. Because Gingrich came out against Paul Ryan's Medicare Coupons.

Consider the implications of that.

In a world in which someone like Gingrich, one of the most divisive figures in politics of the last two decades, is seen as not sufficiently right-wing, there is absolutely no chance that a true moderate will emerge as the GOP nominee.

Several things here. First, of course Panetta and McCain are both correct. Second, good job to Greg Sargent on the above scoop. Third, no one has stepped forward on my open challenge and supplied the name, quote and position of any non-political intelligence or military official who says waterboarding or torture is more effective and expedient than traditional methods of interrogation.

If the whole idea of torture is to provide a rapid resolution to a "ticking time bomb," wouldn't the Bushies have found Bin Laden while torturing KSM or any of the others?

Who ever thought they would see Pat Buchanan call Newt Gingrich a left-winger?

Maybe he's right. Maybe Gingrich will be out on the left-wing of the Republican party, at least for as long as his campaign lasts, after which he will return to the far-right. And if Gingrich is on the left, it says a lot about just how far right the Republican Party has gone.

Paul Ryan fired back at Gingrich for criticizing his Medicare-Coupon program by saying:

"With allies like that, who needs the left?"

Republican presidential candidates will be the gift that keeps on giving for the Democrats over the next year.

I can't say what the un-written history of Robert Gates will be, but I will say that the contrast between him and his predecessor, Donald "Known Unknowns" Rumsfeld, couldn't be greater. And it's easy to see why President Obama chose to retain Gates as Secretary of Defense upon taking office.

Here's to hoping Leon Panetta, if confirmed as the next Secretary of Defense, will maintain the mission statement of reducing the bloat found within the Department of Defense.

(Reuters) - House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner on Sunday said he is ready to cut a deal on raising the debt limit if only President Barack Obama would get serious about spending cuts. [...]

"I'm ready to cut the deal today. You know, we don't have to wait until the 11th hour," Boehner said on CBS's "Face the Nation."

He questioned whether Obama was serious about deficit reduction. "He's talking about it. But I'm not seeing real action yet," Boehner said.

We don't have to wait until the 11th hour, but we will, thanks to Republican brinkmanship.

It was at the 11th hour -- literally, as in 11 pm -- that a deal was finally reached over the remainder of the fiscal year 2011 budget which averted a government shutdown.

Of course saying he has seen no "action" from President Obama is a convenient argument for John Boehner to make, because there is little the president can do other than talk about it and make proposals, and he has done plenty of both. Spending bills originate inside the House of Representatives, which is John Boehner's turf.

The truth is John Boehner has no idea, once again, how he is going to simultaneously appease the lunatic base and not single handedly implode the economy. And he sure wishes President Obama would make his job easier for him.

Pushing the nation to the brink didn't work out very well for the Republicans, or John Boehner, last time and I don't believe It will this time either.

WASHINGTON — The debt-laden US government's credit card will hit its limit Monday, creating a cash crunch that puts the country's credit standing at risk as politicians battle over its long-term deficit.

Reaching the $14.29 trillion ceiling set by Congress will not have an immediate impact on government finances, because the Treasury has found about ten weeks of wiggle-room in short-term adjustments and an unexpected April jump in tax revenues. [...]

If nothing is done by about August 2, there is a chance the United States, which has always merited a top-grade credit rating, could do the unthinkable -- default on its debt payments.

Even though we still have until August 2nd to raise the debt ceiling before complete hell breaks loose, I would be shocked if the market doesn't display some signs of pessimism and anxiety today. After all, this congress doesn't exactly instill one with a great deal of confidence.

You can bet the limited amount of time Timothy Geithner has bought us will not prevent Republicans from saying "look, we're at the ceiling and nothing happen" though

Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks - "Never Going Back Again"
Live on the PBS concert series "Soundstage"

I'll be back in the swing of things this evening. Thanks for letting me goof off for a couple of days. I've thoroughly enjoyed the goof-offery.

Artist - Adam Zyglis

In other news, Fat Jesus says he won’t get in the way if certain schools decide they want to teach creationism.

Tonight is Game 1 of the Miami Heat vs the Chicago Bulls. Anyone watching?

Please use this thread to discuss whatever it is you wish to discuss.