Shoot this guy

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Armed Guard Hired In Newtown’s Wake Leaves Gun In Bathroom

2:17 PM EST, Friday January 18, 2013 An armed guard at a Lapeer, Mich., charter school -- hired in the wake of the Newtown massacre -- made a "breach of security" this week when he left his gun unattended in the bathroom...
Not the Onion.

Friday Open Thread [1.18.13]

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A new New York Times/CBS News poll finds 51% of Americans approve of the way President Obama is doing is job with 41% disapproving.
"Mr. Obama's job approval rating is similar to that of George W. Bush at the start of his second term, but much lower than the ratings of the previous two presidents who served eight years. (President Bill Clinton's approval rate was 60 percent in January 1997 and Ronald Reagan's was 62 percent in January 1985.) More than 8 in 10 Democrats approve of his job performance, 8 in 10 Republicans disapprove and independents are evenly divided."
Meanwhile, the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds that 49% of Americans hold a negative view of the Republican Party while 26% have a positive view.

GOP Rape Sensitivity Training Program

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The Republican Party has sent itself to rape sensitivity school.
And it may have added new urgency to a training program that’s already being launched by an anti-abortion group — the Susan B. Anthony list — to keep candidates and lawmakers from continually making the same kind of comments that may have helped ruin Republicans’ chances of winning the Senate.
I agree the GOP needs a course in Rape Sensitivity, but that's not what this course is shaping up to be.

Thursday Open Thread [1.17.13]

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President Obama and Democrats have won the debt ceiling messaging war, according to the new Washington Post ABC News poll.
President Obama heads into his second term with political momentum on his side, and leads congressional Republicans when it comes to dealing with the country’s debt limit according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. More Americans now approve of the way Obama is doing his job than at any point in the past three years, except for a fleeting spike upward after the killing of Osama bin Laden. The number seeing him as a “strong leader” is sharply higher, and a clear majority again sees him as empathetic with the problems they face.

Double Shot O’ Somnambulo

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I'm back on Al's show today following my truncated appearance (please, no jokes about my truncated appearance) on Tuesday due to the swearing-in ceremony for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. We'll be talking the Port of Wilmington, the Governor's State of the State, and we will also (if they let me) introduce my new theme song, written by me. (Well, the lyrics, anyway.) Depending on how much time we have, I might even talk some Tom Gordon, Walmart, Lance Armstrong, and maybe even the bizarre story of Manti Teo's dead fictitious girlfriend. Today, Thursday, at 10 am on 1150 WDEL-AM Newsradio.

Things You Can Say to Anger Republicans

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This is too good not to pass on mostly in full. Some of them were kinda lame, so I left those out.
Conservatives are so easy to anger these days. Even the most insignificant statement can set off their tempers. If you want to enrage a conservative, I suggest saying the following: 1. A Socialist wrote the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. Jesus healed the sick and helped the poor, for free. 3. Joseph McCarthy was an un-American, witch hunting sissy. 4. Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee were traitors. 5. The South lost the Civil War, get over it. 6. The Founding Fathers were liberals. 7. Fascism is a right-wing trait. 8. Sarah Palin is an idiot. 9. The Earth is round. 10. Reagan raised taxes eleven times as President.
Come inside for some more.

Wednesday Open Thread [1.16.13]

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A new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds 58% of Americans say the debt ceiling should be handled separately from the debate on spending cuts, while 36% favor linking the two. That almost feels like a partisan breakdown (Democrats and Independents making up the 58%, and the Economic Terrorist Party making up the remaining 36%). It looks like the Hastert Rule is dead and buried. For the second time in as many weeks, the House Majority party has allowed a vote on a measure that did not enjoy majority support within the majority party. I think we are seeing the future, and it is a future our very own El Som predicted.

UPDATED WITH LIST OF EXECUTIVE ACTIONS: Today The White House Will Put Forth Their Proposals To Reduce Gun Violence

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I know, I know... another gun post. Today, around noon, President Obama and Vice President Biden will announce their proposals to reduce gun violence. I will attempt to blog this event in the comment section - help from our commenters would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Meanwhile, the NRA finds new lows. Josh Marshall sums it up:
It takes a lot for the NRA to shock. But this is just beyond disgusting. The NRA has launched a new ad campaign calling President Obama a ‘hypocrite’ for allowing armed Secret Service agents to protect his school aged daughters. There are so many vile things about this ad. But one thing to note is the ad is really only designed to appeal to people who have a deep – really deep – animosity toward the President. The sort of people who don’t think he and his daughters should be in the White House and wish him the sort of ill citizens should never wish upon a freely elected head of state.
Vile is the perfect word for the NRA's behavior.

Senate Set to Vote on Port of Wilmington Bill Today

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Senator Bob Marshall wants to make sure that any sale/partnership/call it what you will regarding the Port of Wilmington must have legislative approval. And why not? Jack Markell and Alan Levin have not publicly acknowledged any legislative prerogative when it comes to having their preferred partner, Kinder Morgan, an Enron spin-off with numerous environmental and labor violations on its record, take over the operations of the Port. In this case, silence is not golden, unless you are Kinder Morgan. Keep in mind that, had Markell and Levin committed to the legislative process for this proposed transaction, none of this would be necessary. Methinks an unforced error. You'd think, at least I'd think, that all 21 senators would vote yes on SB 3. I mean, why not? We're talking about a transaction that would have huge impact to the State, the City of Wilmington, and hundreds of port workers and their families. You're talking about the principle of three co-equal branches of government, and the possibility, should SB 3 not pass, that the General Assembly would be removed entirely from this momentous decision. You're talking about the whole notion of legislative oversight and the public disinfectant of sunshine.