Glenn Greenwald writes:

A rational citizen, by definition, praises and supports political leaders only when they do the right thing (regardless of motive), and criticizes and opposes them when they don’t. It's just that simple. Cheerleading for someone because they're on "your team" is appropriate for a sporting event, not for political matters. Political leaders deserve support only to the extent that their actions, on a case-by-case basis, merit that support, and that has largely been the behavior of progressives towards Obama.

(Emphasis supplied.) In that vein, I will be cheerleading for the Florida Gators tonight in their game against Penn State in the NIT. Sure, it's not the Big Dance, but the Gators are still my team. In an unrelated note, Howard Dean writes a dkos diary. Dean was truly an important transformational figure in the Democratic Party. I wish him good luck in his future endeavors.

Speaking for me only

Via Ryan Secrest (the things you find on Twitter.)

Ok, you can all go back to the Geithner hearing now. this is an open thread, all topics welcome.

I'm just getting to the news today. Here's what I'm reading:

• Matt Lauer hit a deer on his bicycle and flew over the handlebars, separating his shoulder. Ouch.

Question: Why is the news reporting the deer hit Lauer instead of the other way around, and is there a report that mentions what happened to the deer? I hit a deer driving my Jeep once just outside of Aspen at dusk. It darted across the road. Totally destroyed the front of my car, but the saddest thing was watching the deer limp away, I'm sure it broke a leg. I've always wondered what happened to it -- did it just die, did someone shoot it to put it out of its misery? Anyway, sending good thoughts Lauer's way, surgery for a dislocated shoulder isn't fun.

• More newspapers in trouble. Today, it's the 174 year old Ann Arbor News.

• Stocks are up after Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner's announcement of details of the latest financial plan.

[More....]

Few music stars have been as generous with their time for political candidates and causes as John Mellencamp. From Farm Aid to the 2004 Democratic National Convention to hitting the road for John Edwards in Iowa and elsewhere, he's one of the music community's most committed members.

Tonight he has a article at HuffPo on the death of the music industry as we knew it....and the dismal future ahead.

It's a long article in which John goes to considerable lengths to try and explain factors like BDS (Broadcast Data Systems) and SoundScan and other ways the corporate hold on music evolved. [More...]

An early look at Sunday's news:

• The New York Times tells Obama to stop sending mixed signals on Guantanamo, state secrets and other Bush policies. The Times urges Obama to get behind an investigation into Bush's policies:

  Everyone wants to move forward. The only way to do that, and make sure the system of justice is working properly, is to know exactly how Mr. Bush broke it.

• The Washington Post has a very interesting, long profile of a how a man whose son was murdered came to forgive his killer and assist him in getting parole.

• Ali al-Marri's family stands by him as he's moved to Illinios to face criminal charges.

Feel free to add the news you find of interest this morning.

I watched "Australia", the epic movie with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman tonight... Comcast and Netflix both have it available.

After the dismal reviews, I wasn't expecting much except beautiful scenery. But I liked it, especially the second half which had more action, and the young Brandon Walters as Nullah, a half-Aborigine, half caucasian boy. I wanted to pluck him from the screen and fight Nicole Kidman for him. I also would have leapt at the chance to do a "walkabout" with his grandfather "King George."

Now I want to re-watch Peter Weir's "Last Wave" -- the 1977 film about a white lawyer who defends a group of aborigine kids on a murder charge and in the process learns about "Dreamtime." (Trailer here.)

I remember being so fascinated by "The Last Wave" and "Dreamtime." For months, I defined everything that happened by it. Even now it reminds me that anthropology and the study of indigenous cultures don't get enough attention.

President Obama is launching his previously announced surge of agents and surveillance technology to the Mexican border, to beef up the fight against the drug cartels.

Obama's efforts mark a shift from the homeland security priorities of the Bush administration, targeted mainly at the threat of Islamist terrorists overseas and illegal immigration at home. While the new president has vowed to maintain counter-terrorism efforts, the addition of fighting Mexican drug trafficking as well human smuggling networks represents a new emphasis.

You can expect the military will be involved as well. Another imprudent, ill-advised move, in my opinion.

While CNBC continues to protest that it does too cover Wall Street critically, CNBC host Mark Haines is still selling the "Indispensable Men" theory. Via TPM:

CNBC, the Fox News for Wall Street's "Masters of the Universe." Kudos to Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) for pushing back.

Speaking for me only

Bump and Update: I just finished watching Leno. I thought President Obama was terrific. I understood what he was trying to say about the economy and AIG -- he seemed to enjoy himself which made me enjoy him-- and it was great to see him in a non-formal, non-political setting. It's obvious he's on top of what's going on and I felt reassured that if it can be fixed, he'll see that it gets fixed. (The "if", however, remains a pretty big question.)

The best part was when Leno said we need to jail lots of folks over the financial mess, and he didn't join the call and say his Department of Justice would do just that. Instead, he pointed out much of what the financial companies did was legal and we'd be better off changing the laws. How refreshing to have a President who understands that using the criminal justice system to jail more people is not a cure or a fix to the country's problems.

Update: Heeeere's Barack (the transcript.)[More...]

CNN and the Associated Press have confirmed Natasha Richardson has died. The family has now issued a statement through her husband's publicist:

Alan Nierob of Rogers & Cowan said in a statement Wednesday night: "Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha. They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time."

Earlier, internet sites and sources reported she had been removed from life support at Lennox Hill Hospital in Manhattan due to the brain injury she sustained following a fall Monday during a ski lesson in Canada. [More...]

Digby points out that while some Goopers are trying to pin the AIG bonuses on Democrats (not without merit, it is pretty clear the Obama Administration fought to remove any restrictions on bonuses), Rush and the GOP Media hordes are fighting for the AIG bonuses. Says Rush:

With defenders like Richard Cohen, the Media hardly needs critics. Cohen's defense of CNBC:

They didn't cover up the story of financial shenanigans. They didn't even know it existed.

That can be CNBC's (and the Media's) new slogan - "They don't know anything." I think that resolves all the arguments about the Media.

Speaking for me only