Paul Krugman has some ideas for beefing up the stimulus discussions that are worth a read.  He concludes: “…my advice to the Obama team is to scrap the business tax cuts, and, more important, to deal with the threat of doing too little by doing more. And the way to do more is to stop talking about jump-starts and look more broadly at the possibilities for government investment.” I’ve hit this the last few days talking about child poverty issues (Part I and Part II) and child nutrition (Part I and Part II). Especially when coupled with investment in early childhood education and other investments in human infrastructure…

• Israel continues its assault on Gaza.
• More appeasement!
• I don’t like the sound of this.
• Did they learn anything from the first one?
• Wingnut revisionism on the New Deal spreads.
• Are there any Republicans left?
• Wait. You mean he was actually serious about running?
• “Joe” “The Plumber” update.
• This makes what, three?

It’s all Old Grandad and pretzels from here.

New video from Blitzen Trapper, who will be touring with Alela Diane this Spring. Followed by a second new video from a promising new band from Stockholm, Sweeden, Leonwalls.

Joe.My.God mkes a great point about LGBT hosts on Saturday Night Live: Neil Patrick Harris was only the fourth OUT host SNL has ever had on the program. Time for SNL to invite previous not-out-at-the-time hosts back, I’d say. Oh, and it would be great if the openly closeted hosts would come out, too.

While Olmert “slammed international calls for restraint by IDF forces in Gaza” reports of more civilians killed and injured poured in.

Late in his Friday show Keith Olbermann highlighted a disturbing story about renditions (kidnapping), torture, and the plight of one man, Emanuel Zeltser.

The BART shooting riots in LA is far from the first riot created by police brutality.

Recent’ admissions and revelations show that Dick Cheney and other high ranking Bush Administration officials had direct control over the individual particulars of torture; actually individually authorized each slap, each zap. The White House has built an interrogation room in the basement. How can the US fail to apply the same standard for their prosecution that we are currently applying to Charles Taylor, Jr.?

I’m pleased to introduce my friend David Goldstein’s invaluable and timely book, Saving Energy, Growing Jobs. All the policy issues David discusses are now confronting the country and the next Administration.

Climate change is going to be the public health challenge of the 21st century, and energy efficiency is going to be the number one solution. California has been a test bed for efficiency policies for the last 30 years, and David’s book captures the lessons he learned. It’s not a wonky discussion about policies–it’s about the political atmosphere that clouds clear thinking and blocks good public policy.