FRIDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Iranian officials weren’t moved by President Obama’s Nowruz greeting. But what did the Iranian people think?
* On a related note, the right-wing response to the president’s message was so embarrassingly predictable.
* Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn) is very unhappy.
* Some bailed out companies aren’t paying their taxes, either?
* Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) is getting slammed for her opposition to economic recovery. Apparently, screwing over one’s constituents is controversial in some circles.
* On a related note, Palin waited until 20 hours had passed after Obama apologized before condemning the president’s Special Olympics comments. Her press release neglected to mention the fact that Obama had already apologized.
* Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), ignoring the requests of military leaders, is planning to do everything he can to block Christopher Hill’s nomination as U.S. ambassador to Iraq.
* Krugman isn’t impressed with the AIG tax bill. Neither is Kevin Drum. Josh Marshall doesn’t like it, either.
* The recent Israeli offensive into Gaza continues to draw scrutiny.
* Despite complaints from far-right activists, the Senate confirmed Elena Kagan as the solicitor general of the United States.
* The unemployment rate is bad. The unemployment rate for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is even worse.
* Marriage equality is making progress in Vermont.
* First Lady Michelle Obama broke ground today on the first White House vegetable garden since Eleanor Roosevelt tended to a victory garden during World War II. Obama’s will include 55 varieties of organically grown vegetables and two honey hives.
* John Holdren can finally get to work as President Obama’s top adviser on science and technology policy.
* Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) believes “the Middle Eastern mentality” is “a little worse” than Nazism.
* Every Friday, I look forward to Steve M.’s take on Peggy Noonan’s column.
* Attorney General Eric Holder issued new guidelines yesterday on making more public records available through the Freedom of Information Act.
* You know what the Obama White House is really bad at? Gift giving.
* And finally, Bernard Goldberg believes, “The dictionary is written by some liberal person.” I know reality has a well-known liberal bias, but this is just silly.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
