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Friday links! The more things change edition

By Dan Brooks in Friday Links February 21, 2014 2 Comments

The future

The more things change, the more they stay the same: a favorite among people whose concept of history is terrifyingly limited. As one such person, I can’t help but notice that a lot of old-timey things have been happening lately. We’re holding the Olympics in a country led by a charismatic strongman with a vexed human rights record. Rich people are more comparatively rich than they have been since the Gilded Age. And from Venezuela to Ukraine to Thailand, people are rioting in the streets re: democracy. Today is Friday, and the lamest aspects of the past are all set to kick in again. Won’t you stay the same with me?

Is this the best bad politics we can manage?

By Dan Brooks in Uncategorized February 20, 2014 1 Comment

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HipMOZvONlM

Those of you who live in Montana have probably seen this ad one million times, give or take brief periods of internet outage. Produced by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, it attacks John Walsh, the lieutenant governor of Montana recently appointed to fill the senate seat vacated by Max Baucus. Montana’s next regular election for US Senate is in November, and the race is hotly contested. Walsh is by no means a flawless candidate; there’s plenty in his background to attack, but this ad pins its hopes on connecting him to Obama. That damned Obama! Merely saying his name is enough to send me into paroxysms, or it would be if I were an NRSC ad hack working on tight deadline. As it is, I am not shocked by Walsh’s connection to the leaders of his party, and I would like my negative politics to be a little sharper. You can read about in my latest column for the Missoula Independent. Or you can go pound sand. Either way, we’ll be back tomorrow with Friday links.

Stamey files “first of many” lawsuits

By Dan Brooks in Politics versus Government February 19, 2014 0 Comment

Suspended Ravalli County treasurer Valerie Stamey

Last Friday, independent auditor James Woy filed a status report with Ravalli County Attorney Bill Fulbright on the first two weeks of his investigation into the county treasurer’s office as Valerie Stamey left it. Quote:

At this point, it is apparent the duties of the Ravalli County treasurer were not properly executed and the state of the treasurer’s office was in disarray.

What’s that word for when something happens that you expected all along? I can’t think of it right now, because I’m too busy trying to think of a word that describes Stamey’s announcement, made yesterday through her attorney, that she is suing Woy for libel. You didn’t think she was going to roll over, did you?

In victory for Big Envelope, feds will mail Social Security statements

By Dan Brooks in Politics versus Government, Uncategorized February 18, 2014 3 Comments

A message from Consumers for Paper Options in which the sky is made of paper

The Social Security Administration has saved $72 million a year since it stopped mailing paper earnings statements, but it’s about to start mailing again. Under pressure from Consumers for Paper Options, Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA) inserted a line in last month’s budget deal to resume paper statements. A lobbying group dedicated to “closing the digital divide” for the elderly and those without internet access, Consumers for Paper Options just happens to be funded by the Envelope Manufacturers Association. Props to Jacek for the link.

Friday links! Smug sense of rectitude edition

By Dan Brooks in Friday Links February 14, 2014 24 Comments

Good one, dick!

Here’s a tip for you Kombat! Kids out there: you can be any kind of asshole so long as you are right and good. For example, I have a bunch of stuff I need to do today, but none of it matters because The New York Times Magazine published an essay I wrote. Monster, undying props to Willy for that one. It’s not that writing an essay is such a great achievement, or even an achievement I undertook today, but I feel like I’m off the hook for the rest of the morning. Today is Friday, and a smug sense of rectitude will compensate for any number of personal failings—from the rectified’s perspective, at least. Won’t you blithely transgress decency with me?