Open Thread–12/5/2011

I’m still feeling under the weather, but I have a full slate of articles today and am up to date on comments.  As I write am listening to CSPAN-2 with disgust as new Republican Senators tell their first official lies, their oaths of office.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:59 (average 5:53).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Reuters: The incoming Republican budget chief in the U.S. House of Representatives said he will demand spending concessions from the Obama administration in exchange for any rise in the national debt ceiling.

As predicted, negotiation for the hostage begins.  Obama must not give in to Republican terrorists.

From Alternet: The US private sector added 297,000 jobs in December, nearly three times the number expected by most analysts, private payrolls firm ADP data showed Wednesday.

The stronger than expected increase marked the 11th straight month of gains in payrolls, offering hope that the jobs sector, still struggling in the post-recession recovery, is gaining traction.

We can be sure that Republicans will try to take credit for this, even though they are just now taking power in the House.  Unless they do something obscene to trigger a financial crisis, no legislation passed out of the House will have any effect on the economy for twelve to eighteen months.

From ABC: ABC News has learned that Bachmann, R-Minn., also is seriously weighing whether to seek the Republican nomination for president in 2012.

Which would be sweeter, a TwitterTwit/Batshit ticket or a Batshit/TwitterTwit ticket?

Cartoon:

Get out the Vaseline.  It’s hump day and Republicans have the House.