A few final items for the day, if you please:
* As many of you probably noticed, the New York Times published another large chunk of reportage from Charles Duhigg and Keith Bradsher on the production of iPhones and iPads in Asia, as a follow-on to its much-discussed piece last weekend examining the scope and nature of Apple’s overseas production and supply facilities. The sequel focuses on highly questionable treatment of workers in these facilities, which often violate Apple’s own codes of conduct. I recommend you read both pieces in conjunction with Matt Yglesias’ provocative Slate column from earlier this week on what he perceives as Obama’s, and America’s, retreat into “mercantalist” thinking.
* Rep. Barney Frank, who has already announced plans to retire from Congress at the end of this term, is planning to marry his long-time partner, Jim Ready. Best wishes to them both.
* The Tea Party Express is setting up its own Super-PAC. Leave it these guys to try to give Super-PACs a bad name.
* Towards the end of a day of big-time conservative attacks on Newt Gingrich, the man who uneasily shared power with him during the Republican Revolution, former Sen. Bob Dole, really unloaded on ol’ Newt, in a jeremiad that suggested his nomination would take the whole party down.
Speaking of warring Republicans, tonight, of course, will feature another GOP candidate debate, this one from Jacksonville, sponsored by CNN, which has announced it will allow audience applause, the mother’s milk of Newt Gingrich’s debate appearances.
One of the nice things about being a West Coast blogger is that I will be in a position on occasion to publish a post well into the night if events warrant it. If anything big happens in Jax, I may toss up a post, but may otherwise hold my thoughts until the morrow.
Truth be told, after a near-sleepless night following a root canal, leading into blog posts beginning at 5:00 a.m. PST, I may set up the DVR to tape the debate, and go directly into a sleep-coma.
It’s been a fun first day here, and I greatly appreciate the many kind thoughts sent my way in comments, Twitter, and elsewhere.
Selah.
