"Republicans seem to have a problem fulfilling their oaths of office," said DSCC communications director Eric Schultz. "Republicans in elected office can't bolt fast enough apparently. First Sarah Palin quits, then Kelly Ayotte quits, and now Mel Martinez quits. The country faces enormous challenges right now, and voters are watching who is up to the task."

Has Trent Lott been forgetten so quickly? Give the man his due.

And what about Larry Craig?

Rube Views Boob Tube

"Doctor" Helen has been watching a very special television:

When you see commercials about men who cheat, they are being punched, had their cars destroyed and other abuses that are just taken in a matter-of-fact manner as if it's no big deal because a woman is dispersing "justice."

It was getting so bad I threw my television out, and I urge the good "doctor" to do the same.

And to take a writing class.

As for the triggering episode, "Doctor" Helen and her outpatients are pretty down on the women involved, although they'll probably recalibrate their outrage once they get all the facts and consult their hierarchy of victimhood. (Perhaps this storyline would better fit for their worldview.)

"Doctor" Helen has a unique fetish for stories of male victimization. A few days earlier, she linked to this story in which a woman poured boiling water onto her husband's crotch, was arrested and charged with assault and is waiting arraignment. This report got "Dr." Helen to thinking: "Imagine if the sexes were reversed...."

It's easy if you try!

(via alicublog)

Annus Hilarious

Not all the economic news is bad:

News Corp.'s fiscal 2009 is sure to go down as an annus horribilis. The firm recorded a $3.4 billion loss for the fiscal year, which ended June 30. Last year the company recorded a $5.4 billion profit. Advertising difficulties at newspapers and TV coupled with lackluster digital operations all contributed to a particularly tough 12 months.
Fourth quarter operating income was $268 million. Earlier this year the company took a near $9 billion write-down on the value of its assets and recorded operating charges of $312 million.

The television segment-which encompasses broadcast television operations, the station group and Asian TV operation Star-reported a $4.4 billion loss in operating income in 2009, compared with a $1.1 billion gain the year before. The earnings released showed an impairment charge of $4.5 billion in the TV segment. The local TV station ad market was down 27% for the quarter and 21% for the year. Television revenue was $1 billion for the quarter and $4.6 billion for the year.

Sad Bitch

Washington Post/CNN gagmeister Dana Milbank is teary-eyed and chin-quivering upon learning that no one appreciates his sense of humor:

The withering and often personal criticism of Milbank and Cillizza exploded Friday afternoon after the liberal Web site Talking Points Memo posted and criticized the latest video. Both men, who frequently appear on television, became high-profile targets, particularly among left-leaning bloggers but also on such outlets as Twitter.

"It's a brutal world out there in the blogosphere," Milbank said. "I'm often surprised by the ferocity out there, but I probably shouldn't be."

I guess that makes you the bloggers' bitch, Dana.