This week, I am at Netroots Nation #6 in Minneapolis, and I had planned to bring you a video all about one of the themes I saw running through the first day of panels, speeches and briefings. . . I had planned to bring you video, but I am only here through Sunday and that is probably not enough time to upload my usual eight-or-so minutes because the speed of the internet connection here is pre-millennial. . . again.

Predictable and bland, Charles Krauthammer claims that Democrats are trying to appease Labor. All I can say is that I wish that were the case!

When an organization that is formed for the purposes of advocating for seniors abandons its support of Social Security, it has really jumped the shark. Eric Kingson, one of president Obama’s former Social Security advisers explains why now is the time to leave AARP.

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Pam’s House Blend will be joining the Firedoglake family of blogs. I think it’s a perfect union — as the task of hosting a blog and performing the tech, legal and security work to keep it up and running becomes more and more complex and expensive, it will free Pam and her fellow bloggers to spend their time doing what they do best, which is blog. It also allows us to feature the work of a really amazing group of writers on FDL, and be tremendously enriched by the PHB community.

Masterful as always.

Right-wing media completely wrong about phony outrage that gets lots of media coverage. So, everything is back to normal.

Thelonious Monk — Blue Monk, Baden-Baden, Germany, 1963.

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has laid out several options for President Barack Obama to reduce the number of troops there, the White House said on Thursday, signaling a plan would be announced soon.

While all the major media outlets were carrying news about Rep. Weiner’s penis, the House adopted projected Agriculture Budget cuts that will seriously diminish the U.S. support for women and children if they prevail. Although there were several – well, approaching 20 – members of the right who declined to add their vote, the measure passed with one Dem. joining in the irresponsible measure to reduce spending on needy for nutrition, by support of farmers that contribute their products and are repaid.

Russ Feingold is a hero, and for good reason, to progressives. Russ was one, if not the only one, of the Democratic Senate, make that Senate as a whole, who really stood up for civil liberties in the face of the bipartisan onslaught that has occurred over the last decade, both under George Bush and Barack Obama.