I’ve always found the expression “Israel, right or wrong” to be disturbing. We know that countries, like people, can make mistakes — sometimes serious ones. And history shows that unconditional nationalism isn’t a virtue — it’s dangerous. But “Israel, right or wrong” is the sentiment that ran through Eric Cantor’s speech at AIPAC yesterday. For him, peace is all up to the Arabs, because Israel is completely blameless.

This is a hostage situation as much as other Republican gambits. The penalty for non-compliance is a cancellation of Medicaid funds. That doesn’t hurt Mitch Daniels so much as it hurts poor people in Indiana. But if you impose no penalty, you’ve let Indiana restrict health care choices for Medicaid recipients, and allowed them to target an organization that also happens to perform abortions. And you’ve given other states the tacit approval to do the same thing.

I’ve been reviewing the docket on Thomas Drake’s case to see whether it touches on the privacy concerns Drake had about NSA’s post-9/11 activities.

It appears it doesn’t. . . .

In Minnesota, a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage is going to appear on the 2012 ballot, where it will likely become a big focus of activism this election on both sides.

A second poll confirms that Kathy Hochul is likely to win the special election tomorrow in NY-26, an upset pickup in a red district in upstate New York. Like the Siena poll, Public Policy Polling finds that Hochul has increased her lead over Jane Corwin even as third-party candidate Jack Davis drops off.

The government wants to put Drake in jail for 35 years because he tried to make sure incompetence that led to 9/11 doesn’t continue.

• Another deadly tornado.
• Republicans still waiting for Superman.
• Krugman: when austerity fails.
• Bibi’s even lost Jeffrey Goldberg.
• Lying is a sin, Newt.

Roger Ailes — that’s some good schadenfreude.

The Cars – Sad Song

Harvey Milk had plenty of comfort to spare for the afflicted, but he damn sure afflicted the comfortable as best he could. Wouldn’t Harvey be horrified at the oligarchy, the plutocracy that sets — and benefits from — almost all American policy today?