News Roundup for 1/29/09

Every Republican in Vermont poses for a group photo

-Headline of the day-
"Where Did All the Republicans Go?"

It's a good question. Turns out that the answer is Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Alaska, with Nebraska leaning. Those are the only states that are either solidly Republican or leaning Republican. Five.

In contrast, a new Gallup study finds that 35 states are either solidly or leaning Democratic, with 10 too close to call. Writes David Frum, "These are the numbers that make yesterday’s flexing of muscle by Rush Limbaugh over Georgia congressman Phil Gingery not merely ridiculous but actively dangerous. When Republicans line up behind Rush Limbaugh in this way, they are dividing the country 80-20 against themselves."

Where did all the Republicans go? Crazy, apparently. Because that's the only way they can possibly believe that being obstructionist is a good idea.

Keep up the good work, GOP leadership. Democrats nationwide will thank you for it. (New York Times)


-Blagojevich gets himself impeachified-
With said impeachification coming with a unanimous vote to remove Rod from office. He'll rent a U-Haul and hit the road with a second unanimous vote barring him from ever holding office again.

Don't worry, we're not done with Governor Tracksuit yet. There's still that whole criminal trial thing and that ought to keep a journalist or two employed for a while yet. The he'll probably go to prison and an entire cottage industry will collapse. Cable news will have to go find some other low-hanging fruit.

The economic news just keeps getting bleaker, doesn't it? (Associated Press)


-Bonus HotD-
"Construction signs warn of zombies."

Good thing, too. Those things are quiet. One minute you're tooling along through a construction zone and the next -- ZIP -- there goes your brain.

According to the report, "Austin [TX] drivers making their morning commute were in for a surprise when two road signs on a busy stretch of road were taken over by hackers. The signs near the intersection of Lamar and Martin Luther King boulevards usually warn drivers about upcoming construction, but Monday morning they warned of 'zombies ahead.'"

"Even though this may seem amusing to a lot of people, this is really serious, and it is a crime," said Austin Public Works spokesperson Sara Hartley. "And you can be indicted for it, and we want to make sure our traffic on the roadways stays safe."

"Hackers" might be a little too grandiose a term for the perpetrators, since the messages on the signs are entered at the site. The only hacking that went on involved cutting the padlock to get into the box. It probably isn't any more complicated than entering the drink special into the LED sign at the local bar and grill.

Still, it strikes me as a very dangerous and irresponsible thing to do. It's "the boy who cried wolf"; now, when the real zombies come to Austin, no one will believe it. (KXXAN.com)