MONDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Even now, Senate Democrats are still making concessions, in the hopes of making Republican lawmakers happy.
* Consumer spending, down for the sixth straight month.
* The economy gets worse, but the welfare rolls get cut: “The trends, based on an analysis of new state data collected by The New York Times, raise questions about how well a revamped welfare system with great state discretion is responding to growing hardships.”
* Macy’s is slashing 7,000 jobs.
* Nearly as interesting as the elections in Iraq over the weekend was the extent to which U.S. forces weren’t needed to make them happen.
* Speaking of Iraq, a must-read article from Spencer Ackerman about the serious risks facing Iraqi translators.
* Oh my: “Despite a near collapse that required $45 billion in federal taxpayer bailout funds, Bank of America sponsored a five day carnival-like affair just outside the Super Bowl stadium this past week as President Obama decried wasteful spending on Wall St.”
* Good: “Rep. Barney Frank plans to call the heads of major bailed-out banks to testify before his committee next week.”
* There are a variety of problematic issues surrounding Tom Daschle’s nomination. Zachary Roth offers a round-up of all of them.
* Florida’s House Speaker, Republican Ray Sansom, is the latest high-profile politician to resign in the wake of corruption charges.
* Blue Girl explains the problem with the Bush administration’s 11th-hour regulation making it easier for the pharmaceutical industry to promote “off-label” prescription drug uses.
* CNBC’s on-air talent is looking out for “fat cats.”
* Howard Kurtz thinks Dick Armey should face consequences for his on-air misogyny. I think Kurtz is right, but I’m not optimistic that anything will come of this.
* I don’t know which conservative think tank convinced media figures that food stamps aren’t stimulative, but it’s a completely bogus talking point.
* Ben Stein was going to give the commencement address at the University of Vermont. I’m delighted to know that’s no longer the case.
* Another Abramoff associate is headed to jail. How many is that now?
* Poor Joe Scarborough is so confused, he no longer knows what “socialism” means. Maybe we can chip in and buy him a remedial Poli Sci 101 textbook?
* Poor Glenn Beck is so confused, he’s making up acronyms for bills he doesn’t understand. (I’d chip in for the remedial Poli Sci 101 textbook, but I don’t think Beck can read.)
* Pajamas Media seems to be having some financial trouble and has shut down its ad network.
* It sounds like “Celebutards” is going to be a fascinating book for right-wing readers who missed the same book the first few times it was published.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
