Big happy shout out to two of my favorite FR posters:

1. Feisty - way to excel at the SUCK! Moodys just downgraded your great state.

2. Anna Molly - way to be - Wisc. got a big pat on the head from Moodys. Seems things are looking so very much better under Walker.

Yep - Ill, being a progressive paradise raised taxes last year. You know to 'close the budget gap' and all. 'Cept it's a big fail and now Ill is rated as the very worst state.

Wisconsin on the other hand took the opposite approach. See gang we already know:

1. higher taxes encourage more spending;

and '2. higher taxes don't mean more revenue.

So Blue Ill takes the pipe, whereas the Red run Wisc. gets it right.

So again - why is it always the bluest states that are the worse off? Pure coincidence I'm sure. :)

No kidding, Feisty. Each week brings another round of "surprise". Really cold and snowing here, too, so the warm fire at the Dew Drop Inn will feel darn good. It's a good night for an Irish or Kioki Coffee.

Thanks to our excellent First Read hosts for another week of politics. I'm going to replay the video because I thought Domenico said two more debates next week, one on NBC and one on CNN. Hopefully, the FL attendees will be less rude to moderators than SC attendees.

I'm not much into predictions but the SC primary will probably be as close as Iowa's caucus results; a statistical tie.

Have a great weekend!

Spanky, New Jersey and Virginia's credit ratings were downgraded late last year and they both have GOP governors and I'll mention California because until this year, it was run by a republican--in other words, "it's the economy, stupid". Moving on....

...and then there is Mississippi, usually at the bottom of everything, and very RED....

Really Jody, then 'splain Wisconsin.

Plus Cali is a crap hole, and has been controlled by dems for a very long time. Arny tried to fight them, but caved after about a year.

So Jody - Gov. Quinn said just last year that raising taxes by as much as 2/3 on corporations and individuals would 'fix' the problem.

Ill. is now in far worse shape and per Moodys - the worst state in the country.

So again gang - Ill choose a path. So did Wisc. Cali has been on a path to hell for years. Wisc, and Ill changed just last year.

One is 'winning' and one is not.

That. gang is just pure libbie fail.

Wisconsin has a republican governor and since he took office last January, he has lost jobs including private sector jobs because cutting taxes for businesses and the wealthier citizens decreased revenues which resulted in spending cuts and job losses which meant fewer people were working and could not buy the products those businesses which got the tax cuts produced. In your narrow world, ignoring the republican states with the same problem is a "libbie fail". Seriously, Spanky, you have no argument today any more than you had an argument yesterday and the day before and the day before that. I have you on ignore but thought today, I'd see what you had to say, see if you were actually discussing the comments but it is the same nonsense without logic and the same answer to everything--ask a question and avoid what was said to you. I'm done, moving on.

Feisty---we're getting 3-5 inches here this evening, too. Definitely calls for hot chocolate with kahlua over at the Dew Drop Inn!

To Mark, Domenico & the entire FR crew---thanks again for another great week and for keeping us up-to-date with all the twists and turns.

Be still my heart---TWO debates next week. Two more opportunities for the Republican candidates to pander to their base and for the base to demonstrate its insensitivity.

[Seriously, Spanky, you have no argument today any more than you had an argument yesterday and the day before and the day before that.]

...but he IS a lawyer you know...arguments are his specialty...not to worry Jody, Spanky has bigger problems to solve (other than world hunger, of course).

Aw, Jody, don't get all riled up - it's not my argument. It's Moodys.

Seems as though you have no argument. Greece, Cali, and now Ill. BUT not Wisc.

What's up Mickey? How that Bar complaint coming?

Oh and not just me my man, but both the Obamas, Mitt and most of congress. Oh and don't lets forget about Steeler Fan and Anna Molly.

But not you Mickey. Well , at least you got me.

Spanky has bigger problems to solve

Have to wonder why Spanky finds riding the legs of the ladies of FR, more gratifying then banging Mrs. Spanky?

There's medication out there that can help his condition... ;o)

So Mickey is a chick Feisty?

Good to know.

So this must be a crush/unrequited love thing.

Cool.

Let's make it happen!

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 BRAINS AND BALLOTS

[What's up Mickey? How that Bar complaint coming?]

Bar complaint? You know, paranoia has been proven to cause heart disease...and you coming off of a "diet" and all, you're a prime candidate.

Ok danger - let's hear it:

The Giants by ______.

And for the record, it's New York Football Giants, not Biden's favorite baseball team.

Gee Spanky, this is a POLITICAL blog and we don't want to go all off topic, do we? I think we all know about your sizzling Joe "man-crush" by now, so I will leave that to you and the long-suffering Mrs. Spanky...;-)

I will not be bamboozled into jinxing my team...and Mitt doesn't need a jinx, he's doing it the old fashioned way, losing on his MERITS, eh Spanky? He's taking on water faster than the Costa Concordia, and his supporters seem to be "jumping ship" faster than that YELLOW BELLIED coward of a captain, don't you think?

Rep. Tim Scott Predicts Gingrich Win in S.C.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- South Carolina Rep. Tim Scott, the Tea Party favorite who has been angling to play an influential role in the Republican presidential race, predicts Newt Gingrich will win the Palmetto State primary on Saturday.

"There's no question: Newt. I think Newt will probably finish first in South Carolina, as of the information I have now," Scott said Friday. His assessment came in a brief interview with RealClearPolitics as the freshman lawmaker made his way to one of the many television appearances he has scheduled around this coastal city on the eve of voting.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/01/20/rep_tim_scott_predicts_gingrich_win_in_sc__112839.html

--------------------------------------------------

What's their issue again. oh right TAXES!...

Joe?

Huh. You already said here [political blog] the Giants are a lock.

But I get the jinx.

I'm pulling for a Pats/Giants rematch.

There's a world of difference between trash talk and reality, but you're here all day so you know that. it's even more true in sports Spanky. The 49's are a damn good team, or they wouldn't be here, and like many POLITICIANS, I have also stated here that I'm not comforted by the "bandwagon" (You included!?!) effect but instead worried.

I will be as nervous on Sunday as Team Romney is right now, I just hope for a positive outcome, as at least my Team IS on a roll and playing their best ball of the season...

C'mon, you mention ol' Joe more than any Liberal here, if it ain't a "man-crush" what is it?

Dangerfield------love your nautical analogy for Romney there! That captain---I heard someone call him the anti-Sully (referring to the USAirways captain who landed in the Hudson).

Go Giants!

Bandwagon? Nope - I really don't like little Eli. You may recall he punked us when drafted.

But I will give him a ton of credit for doing a great job this year. Dude's got game, and heart.

BUT teams tend to do poorly when they have to travel across country.

Oh - Biden. Got it and absolutely I do have a man-crush on Joe.

Now having noted that, and reading you comments earlier this week about the Giants being a lock, I'd expect you to make an affirmative call - Giants by ______.

That way if they lose we can beat you up next Monday. :)

Spanky,

uh, I know that it's traditional and I suppose that it is the accepted thing to do, so of course there will be some point at which, and obviously it would be prior to the final outcome as to otherwise render the response irrelevant in the extremis, which is not my intent here, but of course there are considerations, pundits, articles, advisors, friends, relatives and let's not forget the man on the street, and not to imply that the female opinion is not as fully viable and won't figure equally in my evaluation or all sources before I make a reasoned, prudent and hopefully correct, though of course no one can really predict the future, although there are some things I've seen lately on the History Channel; (why do they have all this Nostradamus stuff on the History Channel anyway? Well that's a topic for another discussion.) that are pretty darned hard to explain, but that said, and respecting the question, so wanting to put all my ducks in a row (how difficult would that be!?! I bet you could never get them to stay still long enough to...again, a topic for another time.) before factoring in every, er, factor that is out there or might be out there, and not wanting to be premature in that fact-finding phase of the decision making process, which is really the only way to make an informed opinion, and your question certainly deserves, nay BEGS that I ensure that I have considered every possible permutation and statistical scenario with precision and laser like focus so as to afford the best possible prediction based on the most up to date information...

whoops, Looks like they're telling me I'm out of time, but again I want to thank you for your question...

Go Giants!

Talk about corruption.

Holder will probably bring members of the New Black Panthers with him for intimidation purposes if Congress tries to "interrogate" him again.

lol

Who doesn't like guns, Spanky? I love the irony of the right-wing attacking the DOJ for letting guns fall into the hands of criminals...and all this time, I thought Obama was going to take away our guns?

This is turning out to be the year of Republican hypocrisy, me thinks. I especiallyed loved the sight of Newt Gingrich claiming the press shouldn't pry into politicians' infidelities. Somewhere, Bill Clinton is choking with laughter.

Delicious!

that's just dumb...

@Amy Your logic is so preciously skewed.

Clarification: #3.3 directed at Leona, not Spanky or Amy.

"Mr. Cunningham ( who the DOJ is implicating) is represented by Tobin Romero of Williams and Connolly who is a specialist in white collar crime. In the letter, he suggests witnesses from the Department of Justice in Washington, who have spoken in support of Attorney General Eric Holder, are wrong or lying."

That "beacon of justice" (NOT) Eric Holder is in the spotlight AGAIN.

So Amy - you good with the DOJ taking the 5th, and not firing the guy?

Oh and Amy - NY City has the strictest guns laws around, yet needs to have scanners. Why?

If it's already against the law, then WTF?

Exit question - more gun crimes in NY or Arizona where everyone gets to carry?

[So Amy - you good with the DOJ taking the 5th, and not firing the guy?]

Gee Spanky, you still here? You have some reading to do, do you not? Best get crackin' counselor...time is getting short.

But on another note...nothing like that pesky United States Constitution getting in the way, right Spanky?

Holder isn't going anywhere and you know it, and it pisses you off to no end.

And that, my furry little friend, is PRICELESS!

Oh no, Mickey you are as wrong as you are misguided.

I don't want Holder to go anywhere. Not until after 1/13. He only helping at this point.

Just like I don't want you to go anywhere. All these cool cryptic reference about time, clocks and now reading. Time is running short - I'm trying to get a group together for an early happy hour. Too bad you are NY. I'd live to have you come along. Shoot I'd even by you a drink for all the fun you have provided these last few months.

Don't worry little buddy I'll always read your posts. They amuse the most.

[All these cool cryptic reference about time, clocks and now reading.]

There's that paranoia again...

[Shoot I'd even by you a drink...]

Nahh, thanks but no thanks...it'll probably be Bombay Sapphire...my wife drinks that...she likes the pretty blue color.

there's a difference, though.

Eric Holder is suspect for other issues.......he said it's OK for the New Black Panthers to stand outside polling areas with billy clubs.

I wonder what he would have said if these were KKK weirdos instead??

Leona, typical Republican response ... you're not like Santorum, are you? ... "I don't have anything against blah people" ... well, actually if you're Republican (you obviously are) the chances are increased astronomically, even as you deny it.

Wouldn't it be nice, though, if Obama was actually WORKING??

Here we have a President who goes to Disney, Hawaii, golf outings, hanging out with the NBA, eating ice cream cones and FUNDRAISING.

TIME for a REAL President, America.

One who actually WORKS.

Go GOP !

You mean like Bush that spent 3 of his 8 years (35%) away from DC?

While he was there he found time to ride his mountain bike 20 hours a week and read one book every 6 days and didn’t take daily briefings on Sundays.

In 20 hours a week our President could get in 5 rounds of golf !!!!!!!

Dennis,

Bush was working at Camp David and at his own ranch. So, you can stop the typical liberal lies.

Just ask all the dignataries , politicians and others who went to Bush's ranch on official business.

Too bad Obama couldn't conduct business at Disney World. I heard that Mickey and Goofy took up too much of his time. LOL

Leona, and of course YOU know that Bush was working when he was at Camp David because ...... ???? Again, you ReThuglicans are entitled to your own opinions but you're NOT entitled to your own FACTS.

Now, let's talk facts ... 110th Congress (Republican Congress, remember?) worked a total of 67 DAYS in 2006 ... 67 DAYS ... and still managed to get FULL ANNUAL PAY. Now those are FACTS you can look up, Leona.

MacNfries,

Bush was WORKING at the ranch because many dignataries and other politicians were there on official business. Why else would they travel to a ranch in Texas ??????????

Bush doesn't even party, so we know all those visits to his ranch were official business. lol

BTW, we all get it that Congress doesn't work a lot, but I think Pelosi (D) and Reid (D) should have done something about that fact.

After all, they controlled Congress from 2007 through 2010.

Kevin: "Exploding Humpback Whales. Its a provocative image. Every time these guys get in front of a camera, they all look as if they got caught having intercourse with a live man or a dead woman"

Just as YOU said,Kevin, " it's all about the deflect"...... and you're so good at it.

MacNfries

And the devil has such a big republican field to choose from.

MacNfries,

Are you deflecting again?????

If you had a President who actually WORKS, you wouldn't have to deflect.

LOL

Leona ... will you PLEASE quit watching Foxs News so much ... this is the FIFTH post in which you've brought up Obama's work schedule. Is that the news flavor of the week at Fox? You're starting to sound like an ECHO ... echo ... echo ... echo in here. As I told you ONCE already, your Republican Congress, in 2006 (Bush had both sides of Congress, remember?), and Congress worked a total of 67 days ... that is 67 DAYS out of 365 days ... Leona ... your fine ReThuglican representatives. And again, you have NO PROOF that Bush was at Camp David actually working for the country ... when we saw him on TV, he had his cowboy duds on clearing brush and riding a darn horse. So, please change your subject on Obama. lol geesh!

Bush was WORKING at the ranch because many dignataries and other politicians were there on official business. Why else would they travel to a ranch in Texas, if not on business ??????????

Bush doesn't "party", so we know all those visits to his ranch were official business. lol

BTW, we all get it that Congress doesn't work a lot, but I think Pelosi (D) and Reid (D) should have done something about that fact. After all, they controlled Congress from 2007 through 2010.

I don't watch fox news, but you won't stop bashing them, I am sure.

A liberal isn't happy unless he demeans and deflects toward others in order to hide the horrific issues that this country is dealing with, not the least of which is $15 trillion debt.

Ray,

Into conspiracy theories much? LOL

Are you trying to shut us up? Your liberal message being trashed too much?

You angry that others like the truth once in a while ?

YEAH,

One of those leading the fight against Newt was that beacon of light Nancy "INSIDER TRADING" Pelosi. lol

Enough said.