$$$: When Obama broke his promise last year and supported the telecom immunity bill, it underlined my problem with the guy. He's a sort of centrist/pragmatist that is a lot more sane than the person we used to have, but still leaves something to be desired. Useful to remember that, though when people who supported people no better and often worse (Clinton? the Republicans? much of the media?), it's comes off as a bit lame.
So, Obama pushes forth an economic policy that trusts the people who got us into this mess, trying to fend off those who are rightly pissed off at such things like the bonuses in the process (powerful symbols should be ignored as trivial? in what political universe?). Let the economists battle it out, but political reality seems a core issue here. Reality that suggests the people we voted in will not go all the way yet, even if that is the right way to go. We didn't vote in an Atrios or Hilzoy.*
Letterman: Sly dog. After announcing another celebrity wedding, Dave blandly noted that he too got married, after knowing his girlfriend (a perfectly ordinary looking sort, which is not surprising given his personality) for over twenty years (who knew?), and having a child with her five years ago. Paul basically had to assure everyone that he was serious. It was so low key that the news (it occurred last week) just came out in the media yesterday. He was married back in the 1970s and the divorce turned him off from the institution. But, his heart surgery and son clearly changed his life and sentiments too.
Plan B From U.S.: Good Salon commentary on the realities of family planning, including how unofficial burdens can be a big deal. For instance, a doctor's receptionist lied to someone needing Plan B, resulting in further fiscal burdens and complications. "Trivial" (maybe) for forty-somethings who could handle it, but maybe not so much for someone else. The reality of teenagers: you might not like it, but sometimes they will need family planning, even if they won't tell you about it. Blocking Plan B from minors therefore is not good policy.
Bristol Palin can tell you about the realities of the situation; maybe, others can get with the program too. Even if they don't like to admit reality. This is advice that can be applied across the board. Again, the vote for Obama et. al. is in part one realizing we have a better shot at it this way.
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* I fear the current plan might subsidize and further enable those who got us into this mess. I hope this is not too much "populist anger" on my part. Still don't think the political environment is there to jump over to more governmental intervention. And, again, this is simply not the mind-set of the guy we elected. It's important to stick to reality here, especially when people claim to be members of the "reality community."