How did these dumb asses beat Hillary?*

Conan Obama

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WaPo:

The president stacked his administration with Capitol Hill veterans to help get the job done. Vice President Biden had served in the Senate since 1972. Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had been a rising star in the House. Senior advisers Pete Rouse and Jim Messina, budget director Peter Orszag and legislative affairs director Phil Schiliro had close ties to key lawmakers.

[…]

But Republican votes never materialized — at least not in meaningful form that the White House had in mind. The first hint of GOP obstruction had emerged in January, when Obama made an early trip to Capitol Hill to urge support for his stimulus bill.

[…]

The bill received zero Republican votes in the House. Eight months later, by the time bipartisan health-care talks collapsed in September, the GOP outreach effort was effectively dead.

Democrats blamed the breakdown on Republican determination to undermine Obama. “If there’s a political strategy not to cooperate, there’s not a whole lot that you can do about it,” said White House senior adviser David Axelrod.

Gee Dave, what was your first clue?  When the Republicans pantsed Obama and stole his lunch money?

Seriously, where have these geniuses been the past couple of decades? Republicans not cooperating with Democrats? Whodathunkit?  Next thing you know those GOPers will be trying to undo an election by impeaching a Democratic POTUS for lying about a blow-job.

Here’s what the Dim-o-crats should have done, starting in January 2007 when they took control of Congress:

Try to enact a liberal agenda by introducing simple, popular bills and dare the Republicans to try to block them. If the GOPers succeed at obstructing the bills, use it against them in the next election. If the bills pass, take all the credit.

I know that sounds really complex to low-information types and counter-intuitive to the creative class, but it’s crazy enough it could have worked.

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*(They didn’t – he was picked by the DNC)

Liveblog: Football Playoffs

The Colts are headed to the Superbowl! Now who will they face in Miami, the Vikings or the Saints? The second playoff game starts soon. Let’s talk about it!

Brett Favre

It’s old man Brett Favre against young whippersnapper Drew Brees. Who will be victorious?

Drew Brees

Where is Dakinikat?

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Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts

It’s half-time in the Colts-Jets playoff game. The winner will get to go to Miami for the Superbowl. The score at the half is 17-13 Jets. So far the Jets have gotten the better of the Colts, sacking Manning twice and forcing a turnover, but the Colts managed a touchdown just before half-time.

Seventeen-thirteen looks a lot better than Seventeen-six, which was what it was close to the end of the second quarter. It looks to me like the Jets are doing a good job of anticipating where Manning is going to throw the ball, so I hope they come up with some different plays while they’re in the locker room.

The Wall Street Journal has a live diary of the games, updated frequently.

This is an open thread. If you don’t want to discuss football, you can still join in.

Go Colts!!!!!!!

Oh, here are the Jets. Joe Namath is reportedly in Indy watching the game.

New York Jets

Oh noes! Brad and Angelina have split!

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Star Magazine:

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are ending their relationship and have signed a $330 million split deal, according to a new British report.

Although unmarried, Brad and Angelina have taken legal steps to dissolve their union including how to divide their fortune and who gets custody of their six kids.

“The contract was like a tailor-made version of a pre-nuptial agreement except for an unmarried couple’s split,” a source told The News of the World. The agreement gives them joint custody of the kids — but all six will actually live full-time with Angelina.

“It seemed clear they want the world to know they’ll both play a part in the upbringing of the children,” the source told the British newspaper. An announcement of their separation is expected soon, says the report.

I heard it from my cousin who heard it from his girlfriend who heard it from her hairdresser who read it at TalkLeft and Jeralyn wrote it so you know it must be true.

I’m still waiting out the Faith & Tim marriage myself. First time McGraw messes up – BAM! I’ll make my move.