Happy hump day. It is really March already? Lots of political news today and a couple of local stories. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter, especially today when it looks like some things will develop.

The day after the Republican primary and things become a bit messy now. As The Fix points out, Democrats very much think that Texas is a state to be picked up, with Rick Perry being somewhat out there as a governor. It isn't hard to paint yourself as an outsider when you sue the federal government and suggest succession.

Given yesterday was Texas Independence Day, Perry had to win.

From a polling standpoint, it does look good for Democrats, as Kay Bailey Hutchison (who now has a decision of her own to make regarding a promise she would resign as Senator) ran better in the general election than Perry did. Former Houston Mayor Bill White won the Democratic primary.

Two other things of note from yesterday's primary: first, the winner of the general election will have tremendous power in deciding where to add congressional districts the state will look to pick up after the next census. The expectation is that Texas will get four. Second, should Hutchison actually retire (few think she will), there will be an interesting race shaping up that includes the first black man to ever win statewide office in Texas, Michael Williams, a Republican. I have heard raves - he apparently spoke at CPAC - but he is a Republican, so I'm going to look into it more.


Of course, Texas is not the only place where the politics will be picking up pieces from last night. What would a morning be in the U.S. House of Representatives without the Democrats in crisis mode.

Reports began trickling in last night, first that N.Y. Rep. Charlie Rangel had resigned his chairmanship of the powerful Ways and Means committee. Well, not quite. Next were the reports that Speaker Nancy Pelosi had relieved him of his duties. Okay, so that wasn't true either. Well surely Democrats have the votes to oust him. Nope.

Between Politico and Roll Call, it is unclear whether Rangel will step down or be forced out, but make no mistake, this is not voluntary. There should be more news about this today.


Finally in politics, the baseball puns abound as Jim Bunning was "sent to the showers", finally, after days of blocking unanimous consent on unemployment extensions and some other things. The retiring Kentucky Republican was doing far more damage to his own party than to Democrats, who were content to point out his ridiculous hold as more Republican obstructionism. It was his own party that hooked the former Tigers and Phillies great.

It appears Bunning is not the only Kentucky Republican known for obstruction, however.

A couple of hometown notes:
- You Seattlites are doing quite a bit better in your job hunts these days, as more than 12,000 new jobs were created in January, a first in 14 months.
- But sadly, some will be lost, along with another rock of my childhood, when the original Red Robin closes in a couple of weeks. The memories of that place include many a post-game burger and a snow football game when we were the only customers in the place. Also several dates. A thank you is still due to the Kingens, who had a daughter I went to school with, for their years of culinary service to the Seattle community. As Gerry says in the story, "I basically created a grownup McDonalds." The last day is March 21.