Happy Tuesday y'all. I have to say that one of the more entertaining things I've ever seen is a Republican giving a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference commending the sponsor for inviting a gay pride group.

It happened on Friday and just turned into a shouting match - exactly how I want government to be run. It's on CSPAN again right now. Almost felt like I was at a Democratic event.

I'm not sure if there has ever been a time in our history where parties were more ceremonial. So many people I know hold views that span the entire political spectrum that they all end up becoming one issue types. As in, what is the most important issue in your eyes? That's your party.

What this isn't is a call for a third party. It is just interesting to wonder if people will actually vote the whole ballot, unlike what is historically done.

Anyway, looking forward to the rest of this week even though it's going to be really busy starting today. We have an event outside of the Verizon Center, where to Black Eyed Peas will be playing, tonight. It is part of a fly-in of students from across the country that have full schedules while they are here, taking them all over DC. Should be fun.

Some news/links

• I'd be interested to know what people think about the new "jobs bill." It is going to pass it appears, after Harry Reid was able get 62 votes for cloture yesterday. The question is: is this necessary or just political. I am very inclined to think the latter, simply because nearly $500 billion of the stimulus hasn't actually been spent yet, so adding $15 billion now does close to nothing.
• A nice story about the success of charter schools in New York.
• Some video from Charlie Cook, the expert on this stuff, where he calls health care Obama's Iraq. He also says he sees no one way the Democrats hold onto the house.
• I believe that as of now, Dick Cheney is still at George Washington University Medical Center, where he was taken last night after experiencing chest pains. The former Vice President has of course had multiple heart attacks.
• Think the party split is only in the beltway? Take a look at this poll breakdown between how Republicans and Democrats view Obama. Also included are some morning notes.
• Last night's Hotline After Dark, a wrap of nightly news, has a musical flavor. Points to anyone who can immediately name the song in the headline. Also, points for admitting that.
• I'm objecting to this headline, "Court Making Life Difficult for Oregon's James." I'm all about innocent until proven guilty (especially in a case such as this), but if it is so serious that the judge isn't allowing him to go to school on a huge state-school campus, James made life difficult for James. And what has happened to Oregon? Shades of Miami of the '80's.

Off to do, you know, whatever it is I do every day.

Happy Thursday. CPAC starts today (the Conservative Political Action Conference), meaning a bunch of younger people that I know are coming to town to listen to Republicans give speeches and take part in other events. Just what we need in DC - more college students.

One thing about caught my eye, Rep. John Boehner's speech, scooped by Politico's Mike Allen. Boehner says that a change in leadership, to him as speaker, would change how the House is run completely:

"One of my first orders of business will be to post every bill online for at least three days before a vote. ... We'll take better advantage of new technology to continue to break down the walls between citizens and legislators, and to make our Congress more transparent and accountable to the American people.:

In reality, using the example of posting a bill online prior to a vote is ridiculous. The idea of transparency isn't much less crazy, but it sounds good. As I wrote two days ago, transparency may very well be how we got to this place, with voters reading bills they don't come close to understanding, then getting their opinions from cable news. That isn't what Boehner wants anyway. He wants an out when someone says, "we never got a chance to read the bill." If, by the time a bill gets to the floor, you haven't read it and don't know what's in it, you are absolutely not doing your job as a legislator. Period.

Anyway, I hope Boehner has some real change ideas, especially since the House hasn't had too much trouble with progress. It's unfortunate that some House members are going to lose their jobs in November, considering they actually did them for once.

Here's Politico's take on CPAC, an interesting look at how the conservative movement has changed.


Some other links:

• Stories like this one can only continue to help the president's reputation on national security. This is three major captures in a few days. It's quite possible I wasn't paying as much attention, but I don't remember ever reading stories like this in the past.
• Messaging seems to be the theme of the day, with this about whether or not President Obama is naive on terrorism.
• People know about it, but I'm not sure anyone really knows how deep the financial crisis is in California.
• I'm really sorry for posting this little blurb about Bristol Palin's child support situation, but the last line made me laugh a little.
• Finally, if you didn't see Shaun White last night - awesome.

Apparently I am running for Senate in Washington - and getting smacked in the polls.

As I was finished writing this post, "Shuttin' Detroit Down," by John Rich came on my iTunes. Really puts some things in perspective. You can lose sight of the real world when you live here.

Later y'all.