Since my earlier post was more arch and cryptic, I wanted to expand on what seems to be the problem with the Obama stimulus plan, as revealed in the current round of leaks. I would point to three key issues. And I'm going to base these three on the premise -- which is by no means clear -- that the business tax cuts included in the bill aren't particularly egregious on their own terms but ...

Shoulda kept the beard.

Al Franken, in tights, impersonating Mick Jagger. I'm just going to leave it at that.

As we reported last night, the Minnesota recount is now complete. And Al Franken won by 225 votes. The Canvassing Board is slated to meet tomorrow when they're expected to certify the result. Sen. Schumer (D-NY) just released a statement in which he, not surprisingly, said Franken is clearly the winner and that he should be seated -- notwithstanding whatever post-recount legal challenges outgoing Sen. Coleman (R-MN) might attempt. That sets up a probable fight ...

Richardson bowing out as Commerce Secretary nominee, says NBC. The reason? Has to focus on the investigation from his time as NM governor.

One of the most hopeful developments in the American Jewish community over recent years has been the creation of J Street, the new pro-peace, pro-two state solution lobbying organization. In The Forward, Eric Yoffe, President of the Union of Reform Judaism attacked J Street's refusal to get on board with the Gaza attack. Here J Street responds.

Just as corporations that no longer run a profit have been known to resort to innovative financial instruments to hobble along in the absence of a working business model, it seems the woebegone Senate Republicans are looking to pioneer a novel and ingenious use of the filibuster to compensate, at least in part, for their present inability to win actual elections. Sen. Cornyn (R) of Texas is the head of the Republican senate campaign committee. ...

From TPM Reader DM ... Bill Simmons, a sportswriter for ESPN, coined the term "Tysonic". It refers to Mike Tyson, and applies to anyone who has entered a sphere of existence so bizarre, you will believe any news you hear about them, no matter how absurd. Aside from Mike Tyson, Britney Spears is Tysonic. After the turkey interview, I classify Sarah Palin as Tysonic. As a native Chicagoan, I say Blogo is definitely Tysonic. If ...

With the recount now complete, absentee ballots have pushed Franken to a 225 vote lead over Norm Coleman, making Franken's eventual victory now appear all but certain.

Israeli troops enter Gaza.

From Bloomberg ... U.S. regulators working to untangle Bernard Madoff's alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme are probing other money managers suspected of using similar tactics, two people with knowledge of the inquiries said. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is pursuing at least one case in which investors may have been cheated out of as much as $1 billion, according to one person, who declined to name the manager and asked not to be identified ...

It's always a bittersweet moment. One of our vets, who did amazing work for us over more than two years, Greg Sargent, is moving on. Here's Greg's farewell post. He'll be missed and we were honored to have him.

Republicans now accusing Obama of palling around with Democrats.

From the AP ... Lawrence Wilkerson, top aide and later chief of staff to former Secretary of State Colin Powell, said that as a new president, Bush was like Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee whom critics said lacked knowledge about foreign affairs. When Bush first came into office, he was surrounded by experienced advisers like Vice President Dick Cheney and Powell, who Wilkerson said ended up playing damage control for ...

Can the Democratic party really withstand the shame, ignominy, distraction and general horror of Rod Blagojevich's nonsense? Or should they just hand things back to the Republicans now and get it over with?

A short while back the Fed announced a new program to buy up to $600 billion worth of mortgage backed securities. Remember, this was what the TARP was originally supposed to do. But then Paulson decided to invest money directly into the banks to recapitalize them. And then the Fed decided on its own to do basically the same thing on its own. They've already bought up $100 billion worth and they've now hired BlackRock, ...

I see the GOP's devious plan to become the party of southern whites over the age of 50 continues apace. Wholly unable to confirm this, but I'm told the talk is now that Mike Duncan may have to perform in black face at the upcoming RNC meeting to remain a credible candidate for the job.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is apparently going to shut down Blago's appointment gambit before it even gets to the senate.

I'm starting to think that Blagojevich is the comedic side character Shakespeare created for occasional diversions in the five act play we're currently living in.

There's not much hope for people who lost their shirts on the Madoff scam. But you'll be happy to hear that some of them will recoup losses courtesy of your tax dollars. I'd heard recently that among its other choice decisions, AIG (now a ward of the federal government) had managed to offer insurance for some of Benard Madoff's fraudulent investments. The dollar amounts aren't that high. So far AIG has received 85 claims for ...