Midday open thread

• Let's have a moment of silence for the end of Glenn Beck's television career... Okay, moment's over. You may now return to laughing your ass off.
• What was that about the war in Iraq being over?
  

  Three more American soldiers were killed this week, the United States military announced Thursday, bringing the combat-related deaths for United States forces in Iraq to a monthly toll not seen since 2008.

• The FEC lets Stephen Colbert have his Super PAC.
• Even Republicans are sick of their own bullshit:
  

  ?I think I?ve kind of supported enough pledges,? freshman Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) told POLITICO. ?I?ve restricted myself too much this Congress.?

  Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), one of Sarah Palin?s conservative ?Mama Grizzlies? who signed Norquist?s anti-tax pledge while running for election last year, said she wouldn?t ink her name to the new pledge. And she?s not certain she?ll sign any others in the future.

  ?I support the concepts in their pledge, but what matters most is my pledge to uphold the United States Constitution,? Ayotte told POLITICO. ?I?m looking very carefully at all pledges because I want to make sure I support the underlying concepts. People who draft pledges tend to define what they mean differently.?

  Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, Republican Conference chairman, said much the same: ?My only pledge is to the United States of America.?

• Heterosexuals just can't get a break:
  

  The five ballplayers summoned before a protest committee at the Gay Softball World Series stood accused of cheating. Their alleged offense: heterosexuality.

  ...

  Ultimately, the committee ruled that three of the five were ?nongay? and stripped the team of its second-place finish.

• Shocker: Regularly spanking your kids means they're "more likely to have behavior problems that may escalate into antisocial behavior. They may also be at greater risk for anxiety disorders or depression and ultimately may be more likely to engage in domestic violence and child abuse as adults." But don't worry, moms and dads. Occasional spanking is still okay.
• Hey, Michele, you can't play "Walking on Sunshine" at your campaign events either:
  

  Katrina & The Waves would like it to be known that they do not endorse the use of 'Walking On Sunshine' by Michele Bachmann and have instructed their lawyers accordingly.

  ...

  As the singer of 'Walking on Sunshine' I don't endorse its use by Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign.  I've performed ?Walking on Sunshine? for so many years in so many different countries that it?s become the one constant in my life and the one thing I can count on to bring happiness to myself and others. The song is used in commercials and movies as a vehicle for a feel good moment or empowerment but if I disagree with the policies, opinions or platforms for its use, I've no choice but to try and defend the song and prevent its misuse. Music can be both powerful and moving and sometimes even a little dangerous.

• For just $100, you can have your very own copy of Sarah Palin's fantasy film, The Undefeated.
• Will politicians ever learn? Don't go Godwin.

Source: http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/M4uxzLrTrSw/-Midday-open-thread

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