Christine Gregoire has been declared Washington’s governor-elect.

(I have as much confidence in this result as I do something the CIA labels a “slam dunk”.)

We’re promising $15M to the quake victims.

Of course, consider the price tag on this.

(credit to Karl for the pointer)

“Diebold. Because democracy is too important to leave to chance.”

Just in case if you’re still smarting from the election, here are some more post-mortem maps to make you feel self-righteous.

Personally, I think it’s time to move on and start fixing our own problems rather than blaming the red states for saddling us with an incompetent government, but that’s just me (I’m in a very nuanced mood today for some reason). Nevertheless, like any good hard drink, these maps make you feel better about yourself…they just don’t do much good beyond that.

Another “shop with blue companies” site, Buy Blue, offers this Xmas shopping list.

(I spell it “Xmas” because, like all Democrats, I’m an atheist secular humanist who wants to outlaw the Bible.)

Yes, the always-stable and always-reasonable Ann Coulter is now bashing Canada, saying “they are lucky we allow them to exist on the same continent”. Meanwhile, Bush’s butt-boy Tucker Carlson says that “without the U.S, Canada is essentially Honduras” that that they “would be invaded by Norway” without us.

Hmm, I wonder what has sparked this sudden round of Canada-bashing?

Turns out Air America Radio’s Morning Sedition did their broadcast live this morning from the Someday Cafe, in Davis Square, right in my very own Somerville, MA.

Yesterday:

Bush introduced Mike and Sharla Hintz, a couple from Clive, whom he said benefited from his tax plan.

Last year, because of the enhanced the child tax credit, they received an extra $1,600 in their tax refund, Bush said. With other tax cuts in the bill, they saved $2,800 on their income taxes.

They used the money to buy a wood-burning stove to more efficiently heat their home, made some home improvements and went on a vacation to Minnesota, the president said.

“Next year, maybe they’ll want to come to Texas,” Bush quipped.

Mike Hintz, a First Assembly of God youth pastor, said the tax cuts also gave him additional money to use for health care.

He said he supports Bush’s values.

“The American people are starting to see what kind of leader President Bush is. People know where he stands,” he said.

“Where we are in this world, with not just the war on terror, but with the war with our culture that’s going on, I think we need a man that is going to be in the White House like President Bush, that’s going to stand by what he believes.

and today…

A Des Moines youth pastor is charged with the sexual exploitation of a child.

KCCI learned that the married father of four recently turned himself in to Johnston police.

Rev. Mike Hintz was fired from the First Assembly of God Church, located at 2725 Merle Hay Road, on Oct. 30. Hintz was the youth pastor there for three years.

Police said he started an affair with a 17-year-old in the church youth group this spring.

(gleefully credited to Atrios)

LA LA LA fingers in ears LA LA LA i do not want to believe LA LA LA LA

I was driving to work this morning, reading the Boston Phoenix (this should give you an idea of what my commute is like) and there, on page 2 of the entertainment section, was a full-page Al Franken. Ta da! WKOX 1200 AM and WXKS 1430 AM are now bringing Air America to the Boston market.

I’m still surprised it took this long for the network to reach Boston, the biggest metropolis in the bluest state, but hey, no more complaints. Now I’ve got something to do with my AM radio buttons.

(For you non-Bostonians, check out the full list of stations.)

An interesting resource for those who want their consumer dollars to go to companies that fund blue candidates, rather than red ones. This site tells you where corporate donations went. I mean, heck, you’ve gotta buy groceries anyway. Wouldn’t you rather those dollars went to someone supporting your party?

Thanks to Marlowe for the link.

Perfect casting.

(Thanks to Andrew for the pointer)

CBS and NBC won’t air an ad from the United Church of Christ because it’s “too controversial”. What’s the racy part? The ad says the church welcomes “all people, regardless of ability, age, race, economic circumstance or sexual orientation.”

WHAT YOU MEAN THAT CHURCH LETS IN THE GAY PEOPLE HOLY COW WE CAN’T PUT THAT ON TELEVISION

(As if the irony-meter wasn’t already high enough, let’s not forget that the UCC are the direct heirs of the Puritans.)