December 12, 2012

McConnell is the Least Popular Senator in the Country

December 12, 2012 Buck Banks

37% to 55%

Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R) lowly approval rating, the worst favorable/unfavorable numbers of any senator the country, according to a new Public Policy Polling survey.

Obama Turns Up Heat on Republicans

December 12, 2012 Buck Banks

I’m pretty confident that Republicans would not hold middle class taxes hostage to try to protect tax cuts for high-income individuals.

— President Obama, in an interview with ABC News, on the fiscal cliff negotiations (note the qualifier, “pretty”).

Clinton Reiterates Her Reiteration That She will Not Run for Prez

December 12, 2012 Buck Banks

I really don’t believe that’s something I will do again.

— Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in an interview with ABC News, once again downplaying speculation that she’ll run for president in 2016.

Bristol Palin’s Reality Show Received State Subsidy

December 12, 2012December 13, 2012 Buck Banks

$354,348

Amount of a subsidy from the state of California received by the company that made Bristol Palin’s reality TV show about raising her child, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports.

Justice Scalia Said WHAT?

December 12, 2012December 12, 2012 Trish

Count Justice Antonin Scalia among those who consider homosexuality to be a lifestyle choice, like whether to drive an SUV or a hybrid; whether to vote Democratic or Republican; whether to have lunch at Taco Bell or McDonald’s.

But for those of us who know we couldn’t just wake up one day and “choose” to be attracted to one gender or the other (i.e., anyone who’s honest with him or herself and who is not bisexual) think Scalia’s recent comments, even though he’s trying to sell a book, are outrageous.

Scalia: If we legalize homosexuality, we’ll have to legalize masturbation and sex between consenting, unmarried adults too

“Many Americans do not want persons who openly engage in homosexual conduct as partners in their business, as scoutmasters for their children, as teachers in their children’s schools, or as boarders in their home,” Scalia wrote. “They view this as protecting themselves and their families from a lifestyle that they believe to be immoral and destructive.”

[…]

Day: December 12, 2012

McConnell is the Least Popular Senator in the Country

37% to 55%

Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R) lowly approval rating, the worst favorable/unfavorable numbers of any senator the country, according to a new Public Policy Polling survey.

Obama Turns Up Heat on Republicans

I’m pretty confident that Republicans would not hold middle class taxes hostage to try to protect tax cuts for high-income individuals.

— President Obama, in an interview with ABC News, on the fiscal cliff negotiations (note the qualifier, “pretty”).

Clinton Reiterates Her Reiteration That She will Not Run for Prez

I really don’t believe that’s something I will do again.

— Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in an interview with ABC News, once again downplaying speculation that she’ll run for president in 2016.

Bristol Palin’s Reality Show Received State Subsidy

$354,348

Amount of a subsidy from the state of California received by the company that made Bristol Palin’s reality TV show about raising her child, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports.

Justice Scalia Said WHAT?

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.