Yesterday I took the day off.  I did not reply to comments or return visits.  I needed the rest.  Today I should do better after running my errands.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:45 (Average 4:32).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Lefty Bloggers Plus:

Players, don’t forget to set your lineups.

Short Takes:

From Washington Post: According to people familiar with talks at the White House and among senior Democrats on Capitol Hill, breaking apart the Bush administration tax cuts is now being discussed as a more realistic goal. That strategy calls for permanent extension of cuts that benefit families earning less than $250,000 a year, and temporary extension of cuts on income above that amount.

Bad idea.  Tax cuts for the rich is the least simulative thing we can do for the economy and the only thanks we’ll get from Republicans is to be blamed for the defecit increase it will cause.

From TPM: A Republican candidate for the U.S. House from Arizona this week claimed that his opponents are busing Mexicans over the border to vote illegally in Arizona.

Jesse Kelly, who is challenging Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) in the eighth district, said on the Mark Levin radio show Wednesday in a response to a question about "dirty tricks" that there are "rumors" of Mexicans being brought into vote.

As always, the Republican is lying. His bogus claim is the first mention of such an absurd idea.

From Portland Examiner: Tea Party targets minorities for voter intimidation and suppression.  Across the nation Tea Party thugs are planning election day campaigns to intimidate and harass potential minority voters. Already there are disturbing reports coming out of Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota of Tea Party plans for minority voter intimidation and suppression.

Claiming concerns about alleged voter fraud, Tea Party activists in a number of states are mounting well-publicized campaigns aimed at threatening and intimidating a targeted group of voters, usually in minority precincts.

Here in Oregon, we don’t have polling places, so it won’t work here, but I would strongly encourage you all to take a camera to a minority area and document any Republican violence you might encounter after you have cast your own vote.

Cartoon:

It’s Caturday so remind your cats to…

Vote!