I really had trouble waking up and firing up the iMac this morning (probably took me a half-hour to settle on the Bikini Kill video). I blame it on the Mad Men episode I finally watched last night. I was probably one of the few viewers straining to hear details of the 1968 Democratic National Convention (particularly the passage of the then-obscure resolution that finally produced party reform four years later), but then that’s what makes me a Political Animal.
But now with eyes wide open, I’ll serve some reasonably meaty mid-day news/views treats:
* The Atlantic‘s Elspeth Reeve views Erick Erickson’s difficult few days as a welcome sign of how rapidly BS draws pushback in the digital media age.
* RCP’s Scott Conroy offers the latest and most detailed analysis of Chris Christie’s Senate appointment options, but predicts his national ambitions will be the deciding factor.
* Scalia makes waves by joining Court liberals in dissent from 5-4 decision validating warrantless DNA harvesting from criminal suspects.
* Wonkblog‘s Dylan Matthews heavily documents large racial disparities in marijuana arrests.
* Taking the name in vain? John Kasich pens op-ed arguing Reagan would have accepted Medicaid expansion.
And in sorta-kinda non-political news:
* Hilarious insider account at Salon of Bill O’Reilly’s 2004 “falafel/loofah crisis,” and of the aftermath at Fox.
Back after a loofah-free shower and a falafel-free snack.