Open Threads

Here is an open thread for you all. My surrogate wife, Tammy, took me out for the evening, and we had some food and are now on the bottle.

And the bottle is good.

Open ThreadPost + Comments (98)

Now an official non-profit, Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue, the current beneficiary of all the Balloon Juice CafePress store profits, needs an official logo. If any of you graphics whizzes would like to participate, please submit your work through the Logo Contest blog. The winner will be selected by Evelyn Bridges, the group’s founder, and will receive a whole bunch of really cool swag from the Balloon Juice store. The contest will probably run for a week or two, or until we find the perfect logo.

Also, don’t forget to get that special someone in your life something from the Balloon Juice store (you can find the store by clicking the icon over there on the right). We have photographic evidence they will enjoy it:

Logo ContestPost + Comments (186)

A lot of pieces moving around the board at once. Here is what I can glean:

* House Democrats remain in a holding pattern. The Senate bill will probably never pass on its own. However, votes most likely already exist to pass HCR as long as the Senate can fix the excise tax and those special deals for Nebraska and Louisiana. Nobody seems to know whether Bart Stupak’s secret abortion army can gum up the works or not; you might as well call conservadems to find out where they stand.

* For better or worse, most action is happening in the Senate. Does Harry Reid have enough votes to pass a modest reconciliation fix? Who knows. The public option has clawed its way out of the grave and is presently stumbling around, slowly gathering co-sponsors. Ezra Klein thinks that might be either a good thing or a bad thing.

* Obama will apparently unveil its own plan (strategy?). Nobody else was consulted, so nobody has any idea what’s in it. We can hope that he finally has a bold strategy to overcome Republican roadblocks. History suggests that Obama will yet again pre-compromise his own agenda to earn bipartisan cred by punching hippies. There’s nothing that we can do about that but drink heavily wait and see.

* Republicans got nothing. Surprise.

Democrats seem to be working up the nerve to set some sort of plan in motion, probably right after the health care summit on the 25th. I suggest calling before they announce their plan rather than after.

Tell Senators to get behind reconciliation to fix Medicare reimbursement, the excise tax and whatever else the House demands. Might as well ask for a public option if it pleases you. Tell your Congressperson to Pass. The. Damn. Bill. whether or not the Senate eventually reciprocates.

Switchboard: (202) 224-3121.

Guide for first-timers here.

HCR UpdatePost + Comments (77)

My brother called me and told me that “everyone but the Canadians can go to hell. Curling is awesome and I’m tired of people picking on it.”

I’m reasonably sure I’ve made fun of curling in the past, but I think I am on Seth’s side on this now. It does look like fun. They all seem to be having a great time, and it looks like something you can do well into your middle ages. And let’s face it- it ain’t bowling.

Consider this your open thread.

*** Update ***

Here is a pic of Team RedKitten:

In Defense of CurlingPost + Comments (146)