It's hard to believe we're coming up on the third annual Golden Duke Awards.

Anybody know what is behind the craze of right-wing journalists and politicians to dub themselves with J-Lo-esque and/or rap-like nicknames? You know what I'm talking about, right? A particularly virulent trend in the Politico newsroom apparently. But not only there.

Meet right-wing rapper (aka, "conservative hip-hop artist") Hi Caliber, the toast of the Tea Party circuit who recently appeared in the FreedomWorks-produced video "Patriotic People."

A Senate Democratic Chief of Staff chimes in ...

There is a lot of misplaced anger coming from many of our fellow progressives about Senate Democrats (which often is just shortened to "The Democrats") inability to pass a robust healthcare reform bill, climate change, etc.

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Sarah Palin's roguely interview with Bill O'Reilly condensed to a merciful 200 seconds.

"I'm just worried he's going to win this argument for months before he gets executed."

This is Chris Matthews from a few moments ago on Hardball, worrying about the propaganda victories he fears KSM will win spouting jihadist propaganda while on trial in New York City.

As I've said in earlier posts, I simply do not get this. And this from Chris Matthews who's had an improving record of political sanity of late. First, federal trials give defendants precious little opportunity for free-form court room lectures or speeches to the cameras that don't even exist in federal court. I guess I'm in denial about what a propaganda coup the Moussaoui trial was for al Qaeda.

But what do we have to fear? We're going to lose this argument? Really? Why am I so alone in having confidence in this country and what it stands for?

Swift Boat PR firm is representing Gerald Walpin, the fired IG battling the Obama administration over his involuntary ouster.

Dems should have let President Bush create universal health care when he was in office.

John McCain just announced that we can succeed in Afghanistan in a mere 12 to 18 months, if only President Obama would get off his butt and send the 40,000 soldiers.

Sen. Landrieu (D-LA) says she's still undecided on voting for cloture but will decide tonight and put out a statement tomorrow morning.

Not the first Dem I've heard say this. This from TPM Reader EF ...

What you say about Palin is certainly true in general, but her likely endorsee in FL - Marco Rubio - is one of the only Republicans in the country right now who really worried me as a Democrat. He's young, telegenic, polished, Latino in a too-white party, a father of four married to a former Dolphins cheerleader, and politically talented enough to rise to Speaker of the state House before he was term-limited out. Granted, his conservatism is of the '01-'05 W. Bush vintage, but he worries me as much as any Republican in the country this side of John Thune (which says as much about the Republicans as it does about Rubio, but still). If I had to bet my life savings on who would be the Republican VP nominee in 2016, I'd definitely take Rubio.

New developments keep popping through the day in the senate health care bill debate. Check out this page to see all our health care reform debate updates over the course of the day.

I think as long as Sarah Palin remains the King-maker in GOP primary battles across the country, the Dems have something to be happy about.

Defunct Washington Blade relaunches as D.C. Agenda.

Encouraging mass-casualty terror attacks because the clean up will create a lot of make-work jobs?

One of the four ways Republicans say Obama is going to get you killed.