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The Heretik

Obama: ‘I screwed up’ in Daschle withdrawal (MSNBC)
President Barack Obama on Tuesday abruptly abandoned his nomination fight for Tom Daschle and a second major appointee who failed to pay all their taxes, telling NBC News: “I screwed up.”

Unintentional responsibility (by J –SOM at Liberal Rapture)
Daschle certainly has muddied the waters. “Obama told NBC ‘I’m frustrated with myself’ for unintentionally sending a message that there are ‘two sets of rules’ for paying taxes, ‘one for prominent people and one for ordinary folks.’” Daschle was always a bad choice. The guy is the insider’s insider. I am willing to give Obama a grudging pass on this one. His acceptance of responsibility, while weak, is at least an attempt. I’m not sure Obama could actually take full responsibility when he’s wrong. It is not in his character… The man is strangely fearful of being disliked. (Which makes it all the more fun to dislike him.) This is true of most politicians. In BHO’s case it does seem almost pathological.
I think fear of being disliked was Bill Clinton’s biggest drawback, too.

More On Daschle (by Hilzoy at Political Animal, The Washington Monthly, thanks to Susie at Suburban Guerilla)
This was a tough one. Obama is close to Daschle. Daschle has helped him in a lot of ways since he got to the Senate… The fact that lobbyists, like bankers and CEOs, too often take extraordinary privilege for granted, and that Daschle moved in their world, explains a lot. It’s also why, in my opinion, he had to go. It was plainly a very hard call for Obama. But in some ways, that made it all the more important.

The ways of Washington (First Read, MSNBC)
When Barack Obama launched his presidential bid in Springfield, IL, here’s what he said: “I know I haven’t spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I’ve been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change.” The irony? The folks that have caused him the most trouble in the last two years have old Washington hands like Jim Johnson, Bill Richardson, and Tom Daschle. If President Obama listened to his own rhetoric, he would have avoided all three embarrassments. He’s been making the case of changing the ways Washington did business, and NOT relying on old Washington hands is one of the ways to avoid old mistakes.

Contradictions and lobbyists: (by Bob Somerby at the Daily Howler)
It never made sense to thunder against lobbyists quite as loudly as Obama did–with Tom Daschle virtually running his campaign. For ourselves, we have no particular negative views about Daschle–and no, he wasn’t technically a lobbyist. But he was plainly everything but–and his wife, Linda Daschle, had long been one of Washington’s biggest lobbyists. Our question: Did it really make sense to thunder about this breed, with Daschle playing such a key role in Obama’s campaign? This posture always struck us as a bit silly. But do you remember that fateful Netroots convention in 2007? When Hillary Clinton refused to make the stirring promises made by her rival (about accepting donations from lobbyists), she was assailed for her vile, thoughtless words–and everyone pretended to think that Obama’s high-minded claims made absolute sense…

This is part of why we sometimes called the Dem nomination fight a “Cordelia campaign.” As with King Lear’s one truthful daughter: In several episodes in the Dem primary, the person who wouldn’t offer BS got widely slimed for such conduct. By way of contrast, the guy who did seem to be BSing slightly got praised for his high-minded ways.

Corrente on the Stimulus (by chicago dyke at Corrente)
I’m getting not a few emails and calls to “take action” and show support for the stimulus bill from groups and offices that are ‘tight’ with Obama, most specifically by expressing my support for it to Congresscritters. Apparently the Republican push-back against it is a well-funded and so far very effective campaign to scare those poor, helpless Dems in Congress who can’t seem to figure out the difference between a dittohead phone campaign and the wishes of their actual constituents.

Grassroots opposition to Daschle was building, senators say (McClatchy)
Former Sen. Tom Daschle’s withdrawal as the nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services chief came as it was becoming increasingly clear that his failure to pay taxes and his role as a high-priced consultant to health-care firms was rasing increasing opposition from average citizens… Republicans had been largely mum on Monday about Daschle’s problems. But by Tuesday, they were besieged by e-mails, phone calls and radio talk shows demanded opposition.

Tom Daschle and the Populist Revolt (by Robert Reich)
Tom Daschle’s surprise withdrawal [Tuesday] shocked most Washington insiders… So what happened? My guess is that official Washington underestimated the public’s pique at what appeared to be the old ways of Washington. Hill staffers tell me that many offices have been inundated with telephone calls, emails, letters and faxes expressing concern (to put it mildly) about Daschle — not only his failure to pay back taxes but his relationships with major players in the health care industry and rich consulting contracts with the private sector since leaving the Senate, and even the fact that he was given a car and driver by one of them.

What’s going on here? Maybe official Washington, much like most of Wall Street, is still not quite getting it. Typical Americans are hurting very badly right now. They resent people who appear to be living high off a system dominated by insiders with the right connections. They’ve become increasingly suspicious of the conflicts of interest, cozy relationships, and payoffs that seem to pervade not only official Washington but our biggest banks and corporations. In short, many Americans who have worked hard, saved as much as they can, bought a home, obeyed the law, and paid every cent of taxes that were due are beginning to feel like chumps.

Obama’s New Pay for Play (by Larry Johnson at No Quarter)
That’s right boys and girls. It looks like President Obama has a new “pay for play rule.” If you want to play in his administration you NEED TO PAY YOUR DAMN TAXES!… [S]everal progressive and liberal groups stepped up to the plate and condemned Daschle and called for his resignation. Mimi Kennedy put up a piece and Huffington Post and Katrina Van Den Heuvel at Nation decrying Daschle’s conduct. That’s refreshing as hell. When George Bush’s White House thugs outed Valerie Plame the right wing, who normally would condemn the exposure of an intelligence officer, decided to attack Valerie and Joe. That is the kind of partisan bullshit that I abhor. So, at least some on the left get it and Daschle is where he deserves to be–out of a government job.

“It’s not the sex. It’s never the sex.” (by Arthur Silber at The Power of Narrative)
It’s not the sex, or the taxes. It’s not the criminal wars of aggression, or the torture. Certain of the ruling class’s crimes are deeply evil, but that is of no moment or concern to the members of the elites. Other people may suffer unbearably or be murdered. The suffering and even the deaths of others barely trouble the ruling class at all. Their major concern, and very often their only concern, is that their own prerogatives, their own power, and their own lives of comfort and luxury unimaginable to most of those they rule continue without serious disruption. It’s not the sex. It’s never the sex. Remember and understand that, and you will understand a great deal.

Unable or Unwilling To Fight (by Steve at The Left Coaster)
You probably noticed all the GOP talking heads on the weekend chat fests, telling us that tax cuts for lower income Americans and spending for Main Street wouldn’t work, while saying with a straight face that Corporate America needed more tax cuts. Did you see any sign of a coordinated counter message from the White House, fighting the GOP on the issues and going after their failed dogma? Nope, and you won’t either. The Obama White House is still delusional in its thinking that by not talking about issues, by not challenging GOP senators, and by continuing to appeal for fuzzy bipartisanship that they’ll pull enough GOP senators over to vote for a package that will already be watered down too much with futile and failing gestures to win GOP votes. And it will be a waste of time.

This is the way Obama won the nomination, not on the issues or making a compelling case for a Democratic or progressive counter agenda, but by talking up change, by taking advantage of Clinton’s mistakes, and by appealing for “anyone but Hillary.” Now that he has to attack on the issues to win, he doesn’t know how to, and may not have the skills to do it, because he himself doesn’t have the DNA to do it.

In which Vastleft apologizes for being prematurely correct (by vastleft at Corrente)
Tristero: “…why president Obama, the most powerful man in the world, would want, even for a second, to pander to the modern Republican party, whose illusions – scratch that, make it ‘delusions’ – have created planetwide misery and havoc on every front, looms as a larger and larger puzzle with every passing minute.” The puzzle, my good man, is why didn’t progressives seem very concerned about this before the election, since he made it crystal clear that it was exactly what he was going to do.

Obama, the press, and the “bipartisan” trap, cont’d (County Fair, Media Matters for America)
[H]ere’s the new USA Today/Gallup polling data on [bipartisanship].
Question: Since Obama was elected, has the overall tone and level of civility in Washington between Democrats and Republicans?
Result: Improved, 21%. Stayed the same 51%. Gotten worse, 23%
Question: Of those saying the tone has not improved, whom do they blame?
Result: Republicans, 41%. Democrats 30%. Both, 23%.

Bipartisan bromides (by Paul Krugman)
[T]his isn’t a brainstorming session — it’s a collision of fundamentally incompatible world views. If one thing is clear from the stimulus debate, it’s that the two parties have utterly different economic doctrines. Democrats believe in something more or less like standard textbook macroeconomics; Republicans believe in a doctrine under which tax cuts are the universal elixir, and government spending is almost always bad. Obama may be able to get a few Republican Senators to go along with his plan; or he can get a lot of Republican votes by, in effect, becoming a Republican. There is no middle ground.

Obama Aggressively Pushes Back Against Stimulus Criticism (by Jake Tapper at Political Punch, ABC News)
A little bit of pepper from the president today. “In the past few days I’ve heard criticisms of this (stimulus) plan that echo the very same failed theories that helped lead us into this crisis –- the notion that tax cuts alone will solve all our problems; that we can ignore fundamental challenges like energy independence and the high cost of health care and still expect our economy and our country to thrive. … I reject those theories, and so did the American people when they went to the polls in November and voted resoundingly for change.”

Democrats lose Senate vote to add $25 billion to stimulus (McClatchy)
The Senate refused on Tuesday to pump an additional $25 billion into road, transit and water projects in its economic stimulus package, but it approved a tax break for car buyers, as lawmakers struggled for ways to craft a bipartisan plan.

Senate Lacks Votes to Pass Stimulus (Washington Post)
Senate Democratic leaders conceded yesterday that they do not have the votes to pass the stimulus bill as currently written and said that to gain bipartisan support, they will seek to cut provisions that would not provide an immediate boost to the economy.

Kristol: GOP Should Unite Against Economic Recovery Package Now To Help Defeat Health Care Later (Think Progress)
On Monday night, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol appeared on Neil Cavuto’s Fox Business show to discuss conservative criticism of President Obama’s economic recovery plan. “I’m less certain than I was even 4 or 5 days ago” that Democrats would push the stimulus bill through the Senate without GOP support, said Kristol. “I do think it’s now a question.” Kristol then claimed that “the loss of credibility” that Obama and congressional Democrats could incur from the process of passing the recovery package “really hurts them on the next piece of legislation.” Citing the example of Bill Clinton’s experience in the 90s, Kristol said that a united conservative front against the stimulus now could help them defeat health care legislation in the future.
Click through to watch the video.

Tom Toles

House sets hearing to find out how banks spent money (McClatchy)
WASHINGTON — Top banking executives are being asked to account for how they spent federal bailout money at a House committee hearing that the chairman hopes will dissipate some of the public’s “deeply rooted anger” over the program.

TARP Recipients Paid Out $114 Million for Politicking Last Year (Capital Eye)
The struggling companies whose freewheeling business practices have contributed to the country’s economic woes are getting a lucrative return on at least one of their investments. Beneficiaries of the $700 billion bailout package in the finance and automotive industries have spent a total of $114.2 million on lobbying in the past year and contributions toward the 2008 election, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics has found. The companies’ political activities have, in part, yielded them $305.2 billion from the federal government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), an extraordinary return of 267,208 percent.

Citigroup may back out of $400 million deal with the Mets. (Think Progress)
In November, various bailed-out financial institutions came under fire for refusing to cancel hundreds of millions of dollars in sports team sponsorships. One such arrangement was with Citigroup, which had “a 20-year contract to pay the New York Mets $400 million to name the team’s new stadium ‘Citi Field.’” Today, however, the Wall Street Journal reports that Citigroup is “exploring the possibility of backing out” of the deal. In a statement yesterday, the company also said that “no TARP capital will be used” for the stadium.

Bailed-out Wells Fargo plans lavish corporate getaway to Vegas. (Think Progress)
Wells Fargo, “once among the nation’s top writers of subprime mortgages,” has received approximately $25 billion in taxpayer money from the federal bailout. While other bailed-out firms — such as AIG— have canceled expensive junkets, the AP reports that Wells Fargo is sticking with them: “Wells Fargo…has booked 12 nights at the Wynn Las Vegas and its sister hotel, the Encore Las Vegas beginning Friday, said Wynn spokeswoman Michelle Loosbrock. The hotels will host the annual conference for company’s top mortgage officers.

CEOs feel “entitled” (video at Reuters, thanks to SusanUnPC at No Quarter)
CEOs are reluctant to give up bonus[e]s and other perks despite the recession because they feel entitled to them, say experts.

U.S. Plans $500,000 Cap on Executive Pay in Bailouts (New York Times)
The Obama administration is expected to impose a cap of $500,000 for top executives at companies that receive large amounts of bailout money, according to people familiar with the plan… Executives would also be prohibited from receiving any bonuses above their base pay, except for normal stock dividends… Executives at companies that have already received money from Treasury Department would not have to make any changes. But analysts and administration officials are bracing for a huge wave of new losses, largely because of the deepening recession, and many companies that have already been to the trough may well be coming back.

Obama to Impose New Rules on Executive Compensation of Bail Out Recipients (by masslib at Alegre’s Corner)
It’s a good start, but ultimately we need structural change.  We need shareholders to hold the right to vote on executive compensation if we want to avoid this sort of gross overcompensation and waste of public funds in the future.  This hoarding of wealth to the top 1% of the economic food chain, even when they perform badly, is actually counter to capitalism.  For capitalism to flourish, top execs have to ride the highs and lows with their employees and their shareholders.  But it’s a start.  And, this isn’t happening because Obama’s a swell guy.  It happening because an engaged public expressed its rage.

The Bad Bank Assets Proposal: Even Worse Than You Imagined (by Yves Smith, thanks to Economist’s View)
The Obama Administration is as obviously and fully hostage to the interests of the financial services industry as the Bush crowd was. We have no new thinking, no willingness to take measures that are completely defensible (in fact not doing them takes some creative positioning) like wiping out shareholders at obviously dud banks (Citi is top of the list), forcing bondholder haircuts and/or equity swaps, replacing management, writing off and/or restructuring bad loans, and deciding whether and how to reorganize and restructure the company. Instead, the banks are now getting the AIG treatment: every demand is being met, no tough questions asked, no probing of the accounts (or more important, the accounting).

“Changing the tone in Washington”? Sure, I love kittens (by lambert at Corrente)
And ponies. And oatmeal raisin cookies. And sunsets. And walks on the beach. But can anybody give me just one single example of where “changing the tone” in Washington did anything other than make life a little more pleasant for Villagers waiting in line together for their cocktail wienies? The New Deal? Not. Civil Rights? Not. Medicare/Medicaid? Not. In fact, I’d argue that the reverse is true — It’s when all official Washington agrees on something that they drive the country into a ditch. Iraq? Done by consensus (thanks, Tom Daschle!) Patriot Act? Ditto. Bush tax cuts for the rich? Ditto. NCLB? Ditto. Heck, Viet Nam. And on and on and on.

Freedom Rider: Economic Crisis Worsens (by Margaret Kimberley at the Black Agenda Report)
With state and federal governments effectively broke and the new president “about to turn over the next round of bailout money to the financial services industry… Americans are stuck in a morass of apathy and ignorance brought about by corporate media disinformation.” Americans are “singularly unprepared to do anything they should do in order to save themselves” – like make demands on the system. Citizens of other nations are taking to the streets, demanding relief and redress. But not here, where citizens “are enthralled by a man who explicitly instructs them not to confront the people and institutions that have brought them to the brink.”

The Genius of Obama’s Magic Donor List (by Cinie at The Confluence)
[W]ithout the awe-inspiring presence of the Inspirer of Awe, black Americans like me might have continued to go about our business blissfully unaware of our longing for our collective, unspoken need to validate ourselves be fulfilled by installing a man who appears to be black in the Oval Office.  Without the Obamessiah deigning to play Joshua to Dr. King’s Moses, black Americans might still be inclined to lobby and petition the government for things previously denied, but now obviously guaranteed them, like, jobs, education opportunities, access to health care services and equal treatment under the law.  Thank God we don’t have to worry about stuff like that anymore.

Obama’s Crusade to Save the Banksters (by Glen Ford at the Black Agenda Report)
Much of Black America is hopelessly neutered, politically, incapable of even imagining a situation in which they would make demands of Barack Obama – “whom many believe is literally a God-send.” In any case, the president’s attentions are focused on his primary mission: to save the core institutions of the financial capitalist class at the unlimited expense of the real economy and its dependents – the rest of us.” The sacrifice will be for nothing. “In the process of attempting to breath life into the bankster zombies, Obama and his bipartisan buddies will exhaust the capacity of the federal government to make money out of nothing.”

WHO GETS WHAT: Billions for cops in Obama plan (AP)
President Barack Obama wants the government back in the policing business, big time. Obama’s huge stimulus plan includes about $4 billion to resurrect grants that put tens of thousands of police on the streets during the 1990s. The programs were all but eliminated during the Bush administration amid criticism that their results didn’t justify the hefty price tags.
Yes, but were those criticisms valid, AP?  Odd that you don’t tell us.

Boxer pushes clean energy bill as another kind of stimulus (McClatchy)
WASHINGTON — Sen. Barbara Boxer on Tuesday announced that the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee would draft a new climate bill that would help consumers avoid higher prices and create new jobs in clean energy.

Baucus: Our plate is too ‘full’ for health care reform this year. (Think Progress)
Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) — citing “obstacles” such as the economy, energy legislation, Iraq and Afghanistan, and the deficit — said at a conference today that health care reform is unlikely to happen this year. As Finance Committee Chairman, Baucus plays a key role in pushing through health care legislation… House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) fired back, saying, “We need to get this job accomplished this year and get the bill to the president.”

Dan Wasserman

Bucking tradition, Clinton to head for Asia (CNN, thanks to Alegre)
Clinton is expected to visit China, Japan and South Korea on her first trip overseas. The diplomats said she may also add other stops, including one in Southeast Asia… Clinton told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month she hoped to make an early trip to Southeast Asia, in particular Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation where Obama spent part of his childhood. Clinton said she wanted to restart Peace Corps programs there, which were suspended in the 1960s.

Appointment of Richard Holbrooke unnerves South Asia (Los Angeles Times)
The new envoy, a veteran diplomat nicknamed ‘the Bulldozer,’ called the Afghan government a failure and put pressure on Pakistan to battle extremists.
A diplomat who tells the truth?  Why, that’s just plain crazy.

Clinton calls for independent Palestinian state (AFP)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Tuesday for “an independent and viable” Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as the goal of a negotiated settlement with Israel… She vowed to work with all the parties to “create an independent and viable (Palestinian) state in both the West Bank and Gaza, and provide Israel with the peace and security that it has sought.”

Solis expected to get committee vote this week (AP)
The confirmation process for Labor Secretary nominee Hilda Solis is expected to move ahead this week after a delay prompted by Republicans who wanted time to review her responses to written questions… Solis, D-Calif., has been a vocal advocate for labor unions and was a co-sponsor of the card check bill last year, when it was approved in the House but died in the Senate. Business groups oppose the measure.
We should get a Labor Secretary who’s a PROPONENT of labor, not one who has lobbied AGAINST labor, like what we’ve had for the last eight years.

NOW Is FINALLY Leading on Something! (by Alegre at Alegre’s Corner)
And I couldn’t be more delighted… “… With the withdrawal of Sen. Tom Daschle from consideration, the National Organization for Women urges President Barack Obama to nominate another strong and consistent advocate for universal health care to the position of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) has long focused on health care as a priority, and with her background as a social worker she is well positioned to take the helm of this agency that is so critical to women and families.

Obama Justice Department Re-Hires Attorney Fired By Goodling Because Of Lesbian Rumor (Think Progress)
In October 2006, Leslie Hagen, who was working as the liaison between the Justice Department and the U.S. attorneys’ committee on Native American issues, was informed that despite her “outstanding” job performance reviews, her contract would not be renewed. In April 2008, NPR reported that the Justice Department was investigating whether Hagen was fired after a rumor reached former Justice Department official Monica Goodling that she was a lesbian… [Monday] night, however, NPR reported the good news that Obama Justice Department has re-hired Hagen for old position.

Decision Boosts Coleman’s Chances (Political Wire)
Judges said that nearly 4,800 rejected absentee ballots may be reconsidered in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate recount trial, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports, which “would appear to be enough to put the ultimate outcome in doubt.” Al Franken (D), who holds a 225 vote lead in the race, had asked the judges to allow only 650 ballots that Norm Coleman (R) said he planned to challenge. Update: Nate Silver isn’t so sure this decision improves Coleman’s chances since these ballots have already been reviewed multiple times.

Paterson Leaks Intended to Smear Kennedy (Political Wire)
A New York Times investigation of the appointment process to fill New York’s vacant U.S. Senate seat finds that “it’s clear” that New York Gov. David Paterson’s (D) administration “released confidential information” about Caroline Kennedy “and misled reporters about its significance as part of an orchestrated effort to discredit her after she withdrew.” “According to advisers to the governor who were involved in the process, the leaks against Ms. Kennedy were coordinated by Judith A. Smith, a consultant who has been acting as the governor’s top communications strategist.”

Sarah Palin jumps into Texas primary (On Politics, USA Today)
Sarah Palin got into the endorsement game today, backing Texas Gov. Rick Perry for reelection even as U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison weighs a primary fight. In making the official announcement, Perry’s campaign website called Palin a “rock star” and “one of the best governors in America.”

‘Stop Sarah Palin’ is call of conservation group’s campaign (McClatchy)
Defenders of Wildlife has put Gov. Sarah Palin in the crosshairs of a new national campaign focusing on Alaska’s predator control program as an example of the governor’s “wider anti-conservation agenda.”

Cheney’s Reprised Scare Tactic: Warns Of WMD Attack If Bush Policies Are Reversed (Think Progress)
Former Vice President Cheney sat down with Politico yesterday for his first interview since handing the reigns of power to the Obama administration. During the interview, Cheney wasted no time trying to defend the Bush administration’s unpopular (and perhaps illegal) counterterrorism policies, many of which he created. Cheney warned that if those policies are repealed (as many of them have already) then the U.S. is at greater risk of “a nuclear weapon or a biological agent of some kind” going off in an American city.

Exchange of the Day ( Political Wire)
Ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich appear[ed] on the Late Show with David Letterman [last night]. Here’s their first exchange…:
Letterman: “Why exactly are you here? Honest to God…”
Blagojevich: “Well, you know, I’ve been wanting to be on your show in the worst way for the longest…”
Letterman: “Well, you’re on in the worst way.”

The growing kingdom of Hackistan: (by Bob Somerby at the Daily Howler)
Hackistan’s a rapidly growing kingdom, with rapidly changing demographics. For decades, it was a land of the pseudo-right; in that kingdom, hacks misled conservative rubes while liberals stared off into space. (Essentially, there was no liberal discourse then.) We’ve been stunned, in recent weeks, to see the way this kingdom has spread through the world of the liberal web. Hackistan is becoming a kingdom of pseudo-libs too–of silly-bill claims from the “left.” For decades, pseudo-cons dumbed your country down. This practice is now spreading widely.
It started spreading widely during the 2008 primary, Bob, as I’m sure you remember.

Daschle Pulls Out (Political Wire)
NBC’s Andrea Mitchell spoke to Daschle who said it was [Tuesday] morning’s New York Times editorial that convinced him he had to withdraw.

Maureen Dowd compares Daschle story to 9/11 terrorist attacks, cont’d (County Fair, Media Matters for America)
Incredibly, the Times scribe isn’t the only one within the mainstream media comparing Bush reading a book to kids while 3,000 Americans died at the hands of terrorists, to Obama reading a book to kids while his HHS pick withdrew his name. (People, the situations are nearly identical.)

Memo to media: tax payment issues are a bipartisan problem. (County Fair, Media Matters for America)
Obviously, the fact that three of Barack Obama’s nominees have had tax trouble gives the Republicans and the media something of an opening to poke a little fun at Obama and the Democratic Party.  But reporters should keep in mind that Republicans have had their share of tax troubles, too… During last year’s presidential campaign, it emerged that Cindy McCain hadn’t bothered to pay taxes on one of her homes.  Several other Republican candidates last year had tax troubles.  Republican Party Strategist and Mascot Joe Wurzelbacher had a tax lien placed against him.  Dick Morris — who has criticized Tim Geithner’s failure to pay taxes — had a $1.5 million tax lien filed against him by the IRS, and the state of Connecticut said he owed more than $450,000 in unpaid taxes and penalities.  There are presumably dozens of other examples.

Calif. High Court To Hear Arguments Over Prop. 8… (American Constitution Society)
In early March, the California Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of the anti-gay measure law that was enacted by Proposition 8. The Court announced it would hear arguments in the case on March 5. The Los Angeles Times reported that a decision will be issued within 90 days following those arguments. The Court will also consider whether Proposition 8, if upheld, invalidates the gay marriages that were performed in the state before its passage.

Israel’s War Crime — Gaza School Shelling — Wasn’t (by Sarah at Corrente)
The United Nations’ chief representative in Gaza, John Ging, has admitted that not only were no shells dropped on the UNRWA school for girls last month, but no one inside the school compound was killed. Three shells fell in the street outside; several people were hurt. But the UN forbade a teacher on the site from telling media representatives no one was killed, the Australian reports, and the worldwide press took up an anti-Israel cry of “War Crimes” in the immediate aftermath.

Thanks, Mr. Clinton (by Arthur Silber at the Power of Narrative)
I fell hard for Bill Clinton in 1992. I worked for his election, contributed a lot of money to his campaign myself, and raised a lot of money from others. When he won, I knew that great times were coming. Bill Clinton affectionately put his arm over my shoulder, gave me a warm hug, smiled his dazzling smile, leaned in and softly whispered over and over how much he cared about me. And then he stabbed me deep in the gut… I’ve learned a lot more since then. I had Barack Obama’s number from the beginning, as I’ve analyzed in many essays – and including, let’s not forget, Obama’s underlying attitudes on gay-related issues. That post was written almost two years ago. Yeah, I had his number all right. You’re “kind of good-looking” and “kind of cute” yourself, you lying, manipulative fraud.

So for me, this comes with absolutely no element of surprise: “The Obama administration is telling the Pentagon and gay-rights advocates that it will have to study the implications for national security and enlist more support in Congress before trying to overturn the so-called ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ law and allow gays to serve openly in the military, according to people involved in the discussions.”… So thanks for the lesson, Mr. Clinton. I don’t think I would have survived another stab in the gut of this kind.

Scarborough Book on GOP En Route (AP)
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough has a book coming out in May. Publisher Crown Forum, an imprint of Random House Inc., says the title is The Last Best Hope: Restoring Conservatism and America’s Promise. The book will issue a challenge to the Republican Party to either reform or die.

Seven-Figure Book Deal for Obama Campaign Manager (USA Today)
Obama campaign manager David Plouffe has agreed to a seven-figure deal to write a book about last year’s presidential election. The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama’s Historic Victory will be published by Viking next fall.

Media Matters for America headlines

• CNN’s Costello repeats “effective Republican spin” on recovery bill

• Dick Morris now says he “work[ed] with” National Republican Trust PAC during election

• ABC’s Gibson falsely claimed “CBO says only 25 percent” of recovery bill “would get to people within a year”

• Barnicle complained about caps on salaries for bank execs without noting his wife is one

• On Glenn Beck, Fund falsely claimed “Hong Kong has had a flat tax for over 50 years”

• CBS’ Attkisson uncritically aired McCain’s false distinction between stimulus, spending

• ABC’s Gibson stated that “a lot of people” say spending in recovery bill isn’t “stimulus” — but CBO director says “most economists” disagree

• Morning Joe crew distorts New Deal unemployment figures in continued assault on recovery plan

NYT’s Keller: We’re Looking For Ways To Charge For Online Content Again (Paid Content)
In a Q&A with readers concerned about the precarious financial state of the newspaper this week, NYT Editor Bill Keller was asked if the paper would consider charging for online content again. Keller says that the company isn’t making any new plans. But, as he said in the exchange, “a lively, deadly serious discussion continues within The Times about ways to get consumers to pay for what we make.”
As I’ve said many times before, I think the only subscription model that will work is many subscriptions under one umbrella.  I’m not going to pay the New York Times AND the Washington Post AND the Chicago Tribune for individual subscriptions,  but I’d be willing to pay one subscription fee for all three plus others. That’s the way we pay for cable television, why wouldn’t it work for online content?

Time Warner Falls Into the Red
Time Warner Inc. and Time Warner Cable Inc. posted fourth-quarter losses on about $24.2 billion in write-downs as the cable business saw subscribership drop. Meanwhile, chief executive Jeff Bewkes said the separation of Time Warner Cable would occur “soon,” but didn’t give any further timeline.

Disney Results Miss Estimates, Shares Fall
Walt Disney Co. reported a sharply lower-than-expected quarterly profit as the global downturn hurt its TV advertising, DVD sales, and theme parks. Disney continues to see softness in ad sales at its ABC broadcast network and ESPN cable sports network.

News Corp Set to Trim Newspaper Jobs in US and UK
News Corp is expected to trim jobs at its London and New York newspapers in the coming weeks. The Wall Street Journal, which has avoided deep cuts in the newsroom is expected to trim about 25 positions, or 3 percent of editorial jobs, through attrition, buyouts, and possible lay-offs.

Tribune Moves to Adopt New Severance Plan
A judge is expected to approve Tribune’s request to implement a new severance plan for nonunion employees. Tribune attorney Kevin Lantry said the company anticipates “a number of layoffs” this year, but he did not provide a figure, or details on how much money the severance program might involve.

WaPo Drops Freelance Payments
The Washington Post’s latest cost-cutting measure won’t go over well with veteran staffers used to getting a freelance payments for doing online chats or blogs. “Effective immediately, such payments to employees of Washington Post Media will end,” wrote assistant managing editor Shirley Carswell.

No People at Wal-Mart
Chaos from the ongoing magazine wholesaler war has officially arrived. Wal-Mart will be without copies of People, Sports Illustrated, and Time. They will also not have Bauer Publications’ In Touch and Life & Style, and American Media-owned Star and National Enquirer.

Economy forces cancellation of S. Florida music festival (McClatchy)
The sinking economy is dragging down even pop music.

Report: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Talking Merger (Paid Content)
Ticketmaster and Live Nation are reportedly in merger talks, according to the WSJ. The deal would create a massive music and entertainment events sales entity—one that would likely garner scrutiny from the DOJ. Ticketmaster is already facing a possible Justice Department inquiry related to the botched sales—and subsequent price hikes—of Bruce Springsteen concert tickets, per the Hartford Courant. Live Nation has served as an alternative to Ticketmaster for some—though the two companies had a sales partnership that expired at the end of 2008. Both companies have also brokered exclusive deals with various artists: Ticketmaster’s ties to headliners like Christina Aguilera and The Eagles stem from its acquisition of artist rep firm Front Line Management, while Live Nation has signed on acts like Madonna and Jay-Z on its own.
Ticketmaster already charges too much.  Now, they’ll be able to charge even more.

Tough Economic News Is Good for Evening Newscasts
Tough economic news and the arrival of the Obama administration have helped bring more viewers to the broadcast evening news shows, a TV staple that’s been written off many times in the past. The ABC, CBS, and NBC newscasts all hit ratings milestones last week.

The Beast That Roared (for a While!)
It seems the early curiosity and endless pitching on television that gave The Daily Beast its big start aren’t enough to keep numbers up: they had fallen 17 percent by the end of December from their November heights — though they seem to be picking back up a bit for January.

Embed Custom Google News on Your Website (Mashable)
Another cool new feature from Google today: the ability to create a Google News slideshow that you can embed on your own website. The company has launched the NewsShow wizard that lets you pick a search expression (“social media” in the example below), a search topic (like “technology”), and specify a few design options. From there, the Google NewsShow is just copy and paste iframe code.

Microsoft Creates Original Video Unit For Zune (Paid Content)
Zune, Microsoft’s big portable music and video hope, has added an original content production unit that will produce a series of free ad-supported short videos for its users. The first project is a comedy series called “Cinemash” that it has created with arts and entertainment mag Mean. It will launch in May as an eight-episode series, in three- to five-minute installments, and will feature celebs playing the roles in movies they wish they’d landed, according to Variety. The company plans to tie up with others in Hollywood to create more series for Zune.

NASA, Google Unveil Mars in 3D (Space.com)
Google Mars 3D, a new mode included in Google’s latest version of Google Earth software, allows users to tap into high-resolution and three-dimensional views of Martian terrain from the comfort of their own personal computer. The mode, which relies on NASA data and imagery from the agency’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and other spacecraft, is designed so users can “fly” through Martian canyons in a virtual mode and see the red planet’s surface through the camera eyes of those long-lived NASA rovers Spirit and Opportunity, as well as other Mars missions.

New Technorati Tag Pages: Good For Them, But What About You? (Mashable)
Perhaps in an effort to boost traffic and become relevant again, Technorati is opening up a new service, previously in beta, that lets you create content for them in exchange for exposure. Technorati’s fresh Tag Pages and Blurbs creates a Wikipedia-like service that pulls your original tagged content into their official tagged pages. Here’s how Tag Pages work: you sign up with Blogcritics, create or claim tags, produce original content related to your tags, and Technorati puts it on display on specific tag pages like Health. Blurbs are slightly different and more immediate. Users can add tag related blurbs directly to Tag Pages for instant display in the left hand side bar…

And what about you, the author of said original content? The blog post suggests instant fame… Of course, we’re a little skeptical of those grandiose claims, but it could definitely be a win-win for you and Technorati… Realistically, it’s not likely that content creators will notice much of a difference, given that, even fresh out of beta, there’s almost 600,000 posts tagged “health,” which means that your wisdom may get lost in the crowds.

Study: Ads Make Watching TV More Pleasurable
A surprising new study concludes that viewers find TV more pleasurable when they watch commercials. Researchers at the NYU Stern School of Business found viewers say they preferred to avoid ads, yet rated their overall experience of watching a TV show higher when commercials were included.

Print Drives Online Ad Sales at Newspapers (by Alan Mutter at Reflections of a Newsosaur)
Those advocating paperless newspapers think the revenues of the digital-only entities succeeding them will be at least as robust in the future as they are today. But the majority of online revenues at most newspapers come from print advertisers who are “upsold” to the Web.

Price of Network Prime-Time Spots Falls 15% in Fourth Quarter
Poor ratings and a waning broadcast economy sent the average cost per unit of network prime-time spots spiraling down 15% to $122,133 in the fourth quarter. The finding was part of TargetCast TCM’s analysis of prime-time network costs for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Media Bigs Don’t See Ad Turnaround Until 2010
Media executives admit they weren’t prepared for dealing with the pain of a recession and transition to the Internet simultaneously. “The economic problems we’re experiencing now, on top of this tremendous transition [to the Internet], is almost a double whammy,” said NBC’s Jeff Zucker.