More blessed rain today on the Central Coast, with sporadic rain likely the next few days. Looks like the Bay Area could get a soaking right on through until Tuesday. Not quite the usual winter monsoon, but every drop helps.

Here are some weatherproofed midday news/views treats:

* Maybe some conservatives are distancing themselves from hammer-headed “Obamacare killed 2 million jobs” lie, but it’s already making its way into GOP campaign ads.

* Pakistani-Taliban talks begin, with low expectations.

* T-Mac promises “60 parties in 60 days” (length of Virginia’s state legislative session) to lubricate talks with Republicans. He also promises top-shelf booze.

* Check out Paul Glatris’ appearance on Ken Rudin’s public radio show “Political Junkie,” where he discusses the State of the Union Address.

* E.J. Dionne wonders if the arguments of Obamacare opponents really have to be so “willfully stupid.”

And in non-political news:

* Surfing a trend, Burger King to offer “chicken and waffle sandwich.”

As we break for lunch, here’s Falco with “Vienna Calling.”

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Ed Kilgore is a political columnist for New York and managing editor at the Democratic Strategist website. He was a contributing writer at the Washington Monthly from January 2012 until November 2015, and was the principal contributor to the Political Animal blog.