I would very much like to see some front-page posting and analysis of this (the bold is mine):

Hope for lasting liberal change was washed away on Tuesday--not just with the loss of the Democrats' super-majority in the Senate, but with a closed-door deal that would lead to cuts in bedrock liberal programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. While Massachusetts voters were casting their ballots to install Republican Scott Brown in Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, President Obama was hammering out an agreement with Democratic leaders to support a commission on the deficit with the power to propose reductions to entitlement programs. This proposal represents a capitulation to conservatives in both parties, and leaves liberals surrendering not only on health care, but on the core achievements of the New Deal and the Great Society

[snip]

The deal is based on a rickety interpretation of the country's basic laws governing taxation. Normally, any change in taxes must be passed first by the House, with legislation wending its way through the Ways and Means Committee up to the floor. But the proposed arrangement shortcuts--indeed appears to bypass--this procedure. The appointed commission is to make a recommendation on the budget after the November midterm elections. That recommendation will then go straight to the floor of both houses for an up or down binding vote. There are no congressional hearings and no opportunity for members of the House to weigh in on the proposals. To rub salt in the wound, this plan was largely crafted not by members of the House, but by vice president and former Delaware senator Joe Biden along with two senators: Kent Conrad, the North Dakota Democrat once considered heir to the Great Plains progressive tradition, and Republican Judd Gregg from New Hampshire.

I don't know who these people are, but they are not Democrats.  And if that's what they're calling themselves, then I guess I can't call myself one anymore.

And what part of "we're sick of the secrets, the lies, the backroom deals, the closed-door meetings, the executive orders,making the illegal legal" did these people not understand?  

Harkin's bill would still allow senators to delay legislation, but ultimately would give the majority the power to move past a filibuster with a simple majority vote.

His staff said the bill would be introduced sometime before the Senate's current work period ends on Feb. 13.

Democratic leadership aides say Harkin's bill is unlikely to succeed and that the idea hasn't been seriously considered in light of Brown's victory.

"In light of the fact that it takes 67 votes to change the Senate rules, it does not look likely that a rule change would happen anytime soon," said a senior aide.

Although, according to Harry Reid, in his book (Harry Reid wrote a book????), this could make andgrden's dream come true:

Under Harkin's bill, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), 60 votes would still be necessary to cut off debate on an initial procedural motion. If senators failed to reach 60 votes, a second vote would be possible two days later that would require only 57 votes to cut off debate. If that also failed, a third vote two days after that would require 54 votes to end debate. A fourth vote after two more days would require just 51 votes.

Reid shot down the option in his 2008 book The Good Fight. Recalling the "nuclear option" debate in 2005, Reid compared lowering the filibuster threshold to "opening Pandora's Box."

"It was just a matter of time before a Senate leader who couldn't get his way on something moved to eliminate the filibuster for regular business," Reid wrote. "And that, simply put, would be the end of the United States Senate ... A filibuster is the minority's way of not allowing the majority to shut off debate, and without robust debate, the Senate is crippled."

It's free - well, you already paid for it with your tax dollars. May as well use it.

(CNN) - Bristol Palin is demanding Levi Johnston start paying up.

According to court documents filed Thursday in Alaska and posted on the Web site TMZ, the 19 year-old daughter of Sarah Palin is demanding the father of her one year-old son pay $1,750 a month in child support payments.

Palin is also seeking back payments beginning from late December 2008, when the child was born.

According to the court filing, Palin says Johnston made "in excess of 105,000 in 2009 through various media interviews and modeling related activities."

Palin also says she has received only "sporadic financial assistance" from Johnston over the last year - $4,400 in total.

Johnston's manager contends Palin has been paid more than $10,000 by Johnston since her son was born, according to TMZ.

Bristol Palin's lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment.

Too bad all the big settlements these victims will score don't come directly out of the police budget...thats the only was I see things ever possibly changing round this town.

Parker, 26, had previously pleaded guilty to charges of tampering with and stealing drugs meant for surgery patients and prosecutors had recommended a 20-year prison sentence.

But Blackburn said he didn't feel the plea deal adequately reflected the impact felt by the victims in the case, who have now contracted the chronic disease hepatitis C. He also complained that the deal did not give him enough discretion in sentencing Parker.

On health care, Stupak said the leadership erred by proposing a massive package when a smaller, more targeted bill would have been far preferable. "They tried to hit a home run with health care instead of hitting -- let's get a single, let's get a double. You know, build on this. But they went for the whole grand slam and it got thrown back. It got too big, too controversial, and it's just like they overreached."

Speaking of out of control cops, here's a news flash from a local character:

BALTIMORE -- A police lieutenant who has served nearly three decades on the Anne Arundel County force has been charged with child pornography.

According to court documents, James Cifala, 47, exchanged sexually explicit picture messages -- a practice known as "sexting" -- with a 16-year-old girl.