Times are tough but I don't think it's time to declare victory in the sense of this NY Magazine headline:

As the privileged class loses its privileges, a collective moan rises from the canyons of Wall Street.

I can't find a link to what Mayor Daley told a business conference the other day, but basically it was a repeat of the following:

"If they start leasing public assets — every city, every county, every state and the federal government — you would not have to raise any taxes whatsoever. You would have more infrastructure money that way than any other way in the nation," Daley said.

When I heard the Bush-era memos came out, I felt pride, thinking this was a sign that we had returned to the rule of law.

The rightwingers on the other hand want to scare us to death:

MEGYN KELLY: Will the release of these documents hurt our troops on the ground now, or could they put our national security in jeopardy?

See, if they can scare you to death, then they think you'll STFU.

Fear-mongering -- last resort of the Scoundrel.

My, how things have changed (3/14/2003):

Country stations across the United States have pulled the [Dixie] Chicks from playlists following reports that lead singer Natalie Maines said in a concert in London earlier this week that she was "ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

Station managers said their decisions were prompted by calls from irate listeners who thought criticism of the president was unpatriotic....

I’m just as ready as the next guy to see Texas go its own way but let’s face it, within a year of two we’d be dealing with the equivalent of Waziristan right on own border.

With all our problems, having a failed state south of Oklahoma is the last thing we need.

Bush-following Right:

When they have a club in their hands, no one is more sadistic. When the club is removed, no one is more whiney.

Kevin Mattson on the Carter 'malaise speech':

"You might have heard that the speech was a disaster.... But in fact, the speech worked. It prompted an overwhelmingly favorable response....

Funny, that's not my memory of it. In that blazer and everything, he just seemed like a rather ineffective guy caught up in a job he couldn't handle.

Mike Quigley thanks his supporters at John Barleycorn in Wrigleyville for their help in achieving this progressive victory.

On Addison near Cubs' Park. The Election is on Tuesday.

The Obama Administration seems entranced in the 'Bob Rubin' mode at the moment. I hope it's only a short-term affliction.

If not, we're going to end up with the same monopolies at the end of 4/8 years that we had at the beginning. Then when (God forbid) the GOP gets back in power (sh*t happens), the spigot gets turned back on full blast.