Dispatched

Same Old
In the six states that permit it, and the District of Columbia, same-sex marriage was mandated by courts or approved by the Legislature. But every time the issue has been on the ballot, in 32 states in a row, voters have come out against same-sex marriage. (NYT, 10/9/2012)

Always good to review the facts behind the gay marriage debate. It is only EVER allowed when Liberal judges rule in favor. It NEVER passes when voters are asked to decide. Such voters in 32 states who are - according to proponents - bigots and homophobes.

In Concert
Many are far more worried about a conspiracy that is verifiable and serious: the concerted effort by Republicans over the last four years to deprive minorities, poor people and other likely Democratic supporters of their voting rights. (New York Times editorial, 10/9/2012)

The Times prattles on about Republican conspiracy theories (birthers, crooked polls, cooked jobs numbers), but then reveals the truth: Democrat claims about Republican voter suppression ARE true!

Subsidized
According to financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2011, Sesame Workshop and its nonprofit and for-profit subsidiaries had total operating revenue of more than $134 million. They receive about $8 million a year in direct government grants and more indirectly via PBS subsidies. Big Bird and friends also receive corporate and foundation support, and donations amount to about a third of revenue. (WSJ, 10/9/2012)

Admittedly we cringed when we first heard Mitt Romney make his "Big Bird" remark at the debate. Why go down that path? Upon reflection, we wonder if it wasn't a clever way to draw Obama and the Dems into a discussion they would ultimately lose. All Romney has to do is point to the numbers above and say...really, Big Bird needs federal dollars? It is broadly analogous to the Sandra Fluke controversy which started out as a winner for Dems (Republican War on Women proved!) and ended up a loser with Dennis Miller providing the fatal blow: "She's thirty years old, still in school and she wants me to kick in ten bucks for her birth control...give me a break!"