I can't believe it's not a democracy!

Enough!

5-Day Forecast for New York City: 

Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday

81° F | 67° F

79° F | 65° F

79° F | 65° F

81° F | 67° F

79° F | 67° F

T-storms 70% chance of precipitation

Chance of T-storms 40% chance of precipitation

Chance of T-storms 20% chance of precipitation

Chance of T-storms 30% chance of precipitation

Chance of Rain 50% chance of precipitation

And the extended forecast adds three more days where the change of rain is 40-50%.  This is not normal.  

And here's your proof that, yes, we have had more rain that usual this June: NYC Current Reservoir Levels. I know this is better than, say, drought, but I can't help but think that what we are seeing is a real change in our weather and not an anomaly.

Evil old rightwing asshole kills guard

at DC Holocaust Museum. Media Matters asks: Will Republicans Admit That Their Partisan Outrage Over The DHS Report [warning of rightwing extremism] Was Misplaced? Um, no. Republicans cannot and will not admit that they are wrong. Ever.

Media Matters link via Atrios.

You can't even parody this crap:

Steele's New GOP Message: "My Bad"; Bachmann To Steele: "You Be Da Man!" Yes, he said that. Yes, she said that.

I assume that there have been people in every generation who looked around at the rich and powerful and thought "christ, we are being controlled by some of the most mediocre people who ever existed." Oh well, at least I am not alone.

Why I can't blog about Obama and the congressional democratic leadership fucking up the stimulus bill:

because it makes me sick to my stomach to watch this country crash and burn. Yes, there is more that I could say, but this post at Daily Kos by TocqueDeville pretty much says it all (and without profanity, go figure): Sorry, But the Democrats Have Failed Again.

At first I thought this site was presenting the likely spread of a dangerous virus throughout the U.S.:

Watching the Growth of WalMart across America. Then, to my horror, I realized that I was right.

Well, they broke it alright, and it looks like "they" are feeling the effects as well:

Retail Sales Down...including luxury goods. Matthew Yglesias writes about the downturn in retail sales. He cites Felix Salmon who adds: [The decline in retail sales] are huge numbers, especially the 35% drop in luxury sales: it wasn't all that long ago that the luxury segment was supposed to be immune from the plebeian woes of the economy as a whole.

While I'm glad that the economy isn't just affecting the poor and middle class, misery does not, in fact, like company. I'd prefer a properly functioning economy, thank you. But as long as greed is allowed to thrive, this (i.e., our hemorrhaging economy) is what happens. It's absolutely disgusting that the unrelenting greed of a relative few is causing pain for all of us. Hope the new government does something to punish those who brought on this pain and regulate the markets to prevent this from happening again. No, I haven't been drinking.

Link to Yglesias via Atrios.

Make. Them. Stop.

Ma Duggar pushes out yet another bundle of joy. Interestingly, this baby, a girl, was born by Caesarean section. One would think that after 17 births Ma could have pushed Jordyn-Grace Makiya (not kidding) out by simply sneezing. Go figure. As for an appropriate gift for the family? I'm sending a gross of condoms.

Last post of the evening (or I will have to open a bottle of wine and chug it): WaMu down. :

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. to acquire most of Washington Mutual Inc.'s operations. And you know J.P Morgan Chase is cherry picking the good stuff and leaving the shit for us. Because the poor and middle class can't be trusted with money. But you knew that.

Mission accomplished:

Fannie, Freddie plan binds taxpayers to troubled housing market. And it is all according to plan, to wit: the rich get to keep their illgotten gains, while we are left holding the bag. We have to stop making it so easy for the greedy and cruel to succeed.

Read it and weep (and I mean real tears):

Matt Taibbi tells you why in "Big Business Is Making Sure It Wins the Presidency." And some people wonder why I am going to do a write in vote or vote third party this November.

Thanks to John for the link.