The United States has no record of ever living up to its promises to the victims of torture at Abu Ghraib.

Randy Travis – Diggin’ Up Bones

The Democratic Party will never survive as long as there are leaders in it who believe GOP gospel. These people need to change their minds about the Bush tax cuts for the richest Americans, or they need to change their work address.

Matt Bai claims that his version of the trouble with Social Security comes from a non-partisan organization. I don’t think Peter G. Peterson qualifies, and neither do groups he funds.

Comparisons to the Sopranos are inevitable, but it’s not really fair to measure a series that had eight years to develop its style to the new kind on the block. I’m liking it so far (especially the Magritte-inspired opening credits), but it has some growing to do.

See you in the comments for the watch party. Sponsored by Just Say Now.

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about what some call it “change theory” and others call “game theory” as applied to politics. Whatever name is used, it’s generally brought up to explain why progressives should avoid voting for Democrats and instead either stay home or vote for third parties. How has it worked in the past?

Durbin appears extremely uncomfortable when Candy Crowley asks him how he feels about the prospect of Rahm Emanuel as Mayor of Chicago.

China Miéville is perhaps the most interesting and influential writer to emerge in science fiction, fantasy and horror (genres that he brings together under the title ‘weird fiction’) over the last fifteen years. His breakout book, Perdido Street Station blended fantasy, horror and science fictional elements, in its depiction of a corrupt and fantastical city, part London and part Buenos Aires, under threat from escaped ‘slakemoths.’ Its sequels, The Scar and Iron Council revisited this city and the world surrounding it. His recent book The City and the City, which brings together noir detective fiction and a very particular kind of fantasy, won the World Fantasy Award. The New York Times ran a good profile of Miéville a few weeks ago.

Support for California Proposition 19, which would legalize, regulate and tax marijuana, increased significantly in the latest Field Poll (PDF). Yes on Prop 19 is now winning 49% compared to 42% against.

After watching White House Adviser David Axelrod on ABC’s This Week, one can easily understand the lack of enthusiasm for an aimless Democratic Party that can’t even stand up and fight for what it’s supporters believe because it’s led from the top down by incompetent and corrupt corporatists.