So the week that began with GOPers expressing great optimism about a quick fiscal deal ends with them looking and sounding like small cornered animals, alternately whimpering and showing their sharp little teeth. Nobody but themselves to blame for this one. Anyway, here are a few final news items of the day:
* Supreme Court remains silent so far on whether it will move to consider any of the ten cases involving same-sex marriage that have been sent its way.
* New York Times‘ Timothy Egan notes that election confirms a lot more people prefer liberal policy positions than those who self-identify as “liberal.”
* Abbas calls U.N. General Assembly vote giving Palestinian delegation status as representing “non-member observing state” a “birth certificate of the reality of the state of Palestine.”
* At Ten Miles Square, Jonathan Zasloff suggests that in response to GOP demands that he put “entitlement reform” on the table, Obama should propose public option add-on for Obamacare.
* At College Guide, Daniel Luzer reports on new study indicating that state-administered standardized tests are actually undermining achievement of state-accepted Common Core Standards.
And in non-political news:
* Alabama jewelry store refunds $50,000 to customers as part of an Iron Bowl Shutout Special making a week’s worth of purchases free if either Auburn or Alabama failed to score in the November 24 game. Nice consolation prize for some Auburn fans.
Speaking of SEC football, my wife and I will be sitting (and often standing) in front of the tube tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. EST sharp wearing red and black and cheering our Georgia Bulldogs in their uphill fight against the Bama Death Star for the SEC title and a chance to face Notre Dame (the team they beat for their previous national championship in 1980) for the BCS title.
Jesse Singal will return to Weekend Blogging duty tomorrow, and Kathleen Geier will have the controls on Sunday.
Selah.
