Open Thread–4/3/2011

Yesterday I I was so tired that I returned to bed as soon as I finishes putting up the blog.  Noise in the building kept me from sleeping as much as I needed, nut today is not as bad.  I am up to date with comments.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:58 (average 4:56)  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Boston Globe: A group of public workers that was predominantly made up of teachers have rallied in New Hampshire’s capital to protest a $10.2 billion state budget recently passed by the House.

The spending plan would make deep cuts to social programs and strip unions of much of their bargaining power.

Yet another front in the Republican war on America.

From Washington Post: Facing an energized Republican Party and deep-pocketed conservative groups, President Obama is kicking off his 2012 reelection campaign with a concerted push for help from wealthy donors and liberal groups unbound by spending limits.

The strategy — which could begin in earnest as early as Monday with the formation of an official presidential committee — suggests a notable shift in emphasis for a president who has long decried the outsize role of money in politics.

I don’t like the looks of this at all, but in the unconstitutional election environment in the wake of Citizens United, he may have no other choice.

From NY Times: Even as the two parties struggled over the weekend to reach a deal on federal spending for the next six months and avert a government shutdown at the end of the week, House Republicans were completing a budget proposal for next year and beyond. It is likely to spur an ideological showdown over the size of government and the role of entitlement programs like Medicaid and Medicare.

It’s going to be ugly.  See the article above this one.

Cartoon:

Pray for the political parties.  Ask for hearts for Republicans.  Ask for balls for Democrats.