Cogitamus

Happy Anniversary, Kevin and Marian Drum!

And happy birthday, Matt Yglesias!

Easy for me to remember - it's my wife's and my wedding anniversary today as well.

My wife and I are going to drop the kid off at a birthday party, then have a relaxed anniversary lunch at Lemongrass in Annapolis.  I'm going to have the Thai green curry and a glass of Singha beer. 

The Obama Administration Is the Most Scandal-Free Ever. And It's Driving the GOP Crazy.

That's a feature, not a bug.

In the absence of a genuine scandal, even a really third-rate one from the bowels of the bureaucracy, they've got to pretend that Benghazi! is a real scandal.  It's the madness of sheer desperation, but the Republicans just don't know how to let go.  Because if they did, they might actually have to talk policy, which would force them to demonstrate their vacuousness.

But the thing we should really, truly be amazed about is just how clean the Obama Administration has been.

Sure, he knew going in that any scandals arising on his watch would be hammered the way Clinton was hammered.  Plus he knew he'd get even less slack simply because he's black. 

But there's a huge gap between the desire to keep one's Presidency scandal-free, and actually doing it.  Especially because so much of what goes on in any Presidential administration is only nominally under the President's control.

Obama has done it.  I'm impressed as hell.

And I hope he shares his secret with Hillary.  If her Presidency is filled with GOP attempts to revive the scandals of Bill Clinton's presidency due to the absence of any new scandals, even the Fox viewers might get bored and tune out.

BenghaziQuest!

It's time to parody this sucker.  Alternatively:

Benghazi Five-0

CSI: Benghazi

Benghazi Vice

Where in the House is Carmen Benghazi?

Stuck Beside Trey Gowdy with the Benghazi Blues Again

Feel free to add your own in comments.

Dear Mitt: Your Party Is AGAINST More Jobs and Better Pay

"[O]ur party is all about more jobs and better pay."

-Mitt Romney

I hate to get all 'argument clinic' with you, Mitt, but no, it isn't.  Not in this universe, not on this timeline.

I'm glad to hear that you support a minimum wage increase, but your party's not only against a minimum wage increase, but a nontrivial chunk of your party is against the existence of a minimum wage altogether.  It wouldn't surprise me if that were the default GOP position in another four years.

And your party's not for more jobs, either.  Lord knows they've had plenty of time to do something about jobs, and been given a number of Dem initiatives they could sign onto.  To paraphrase Groucho, whatever it is, they're against it.

No GDP Growth in 2014 Q1. Could Cuts to Food Stamps and Unemployment Benefits Be the Reason Why?

Seriously, you take a bunch of money away from people who will almost certainly spend every dime.  Of course that's going to depress the economy. 

And incidentally, it's pretty bad for the would-be beneficiaries of these programs.  If there are no jobs, people need unemployment benefits just to live on.  And food stamps to buy food.  If you don't extend the UI benefits, and cut the food stamps, what the hell are people living on?  It's crazy.

Why do Republicans hate Americans? 

And why aren't Democrats asking that question every time there's a microphone in front of them?

Open thread.  Anyone who's still checking in, say hi.  I won't be offended if all I hear are crickets.  I've had a lot to say, but little time to say it, but I needed to say this much.