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I was trying to come up with some witty intro for this, but nothing could possibly be funnier than the House Republicans fixing their own internal election.

"House Republicans are taking a mulligan on the first ballot for Majority Leader. The first count showed more votes cast than Republicans present at the Conference meeting."

I mean how corrupt do you have to be to even try to cheat your supposed allies? Big thanks to razorjak for catching that one this morning.

And speaking of Republicans, looks like poor old Arnie's all out of money for his re-election campaign. Guess that governor job isn't quite as easy as it looked, huh? Also picking on teachers and nurses, not so bright, big guy.

Burn the witch!

Some days I weep for my country more than others:

'Faust' Opera Video Stirs Angry Parents

BENNETT, Colo. - Some parents in this prairie town are angry with an elementary school music teacher for showing pupils a video about the opera "Faust," whose title character sells his soul to the devil in exchange for being young again.

"Any adult with common sense would not think that video was appropriate for a young person to see. I'm not sure it's appropriate for a high school student," Robby Warner said after two of her children saw the video.

Ah, but here's the money quote:

Another parent, Casey Goodwin, said, "I think it glorifies Satan in some way."

Tresa Waggoner showed approximately 250 first-, second- and third-graders at Bennett Elementary portions of a 33-year-old series titled "Who's Afraid of Opera" a few weeks ago.

The video features the soprano Dame Joan Sutherland and three puppet friends discussing Gounod's "Faust." Waggoner thought it would be a good introduction to opera.

Her critics questioned the decision to show children a portrayal of the devil, Mephistopheles, along with a scene showing a man being killed by a sword and a reference to suicide.

Because, as we know, everything goes splendidly for Faust, and the moral of this particular opera is that selling your soul to the devil is a fine idea that everyone should do. Of course Dame Joan Sutherland was a well known satanist, and it's common knowledge that her three "puppet friends" were actually her familiars. Puppets are the preferred toy of Satan, after all.

School Superintendent George Sauter said the teacher should not have shown the video to children below the fourth grade but will not lose her job. She has sent letter of apology to all elementary school parents in Bennett, population 2,400 and about 25 miles east of Denver on Colorado's eastern plains.

"I was definitely not sensitive to the conservative nature of the community, and I've learned that," Waggoner said in Sunday's editions of The Denver Post. "However, from what has been said about me, that I'm a Satan worshipper, my character, I can't believe all of this. My intention was just to expose the kids to opera."

Waggoner, who is in her first year teaching vocal music in Bennett, said she doesn't expect to stay in town.

"I know I'm not accepted here, that I'm not welcome here by the parents," she said. "It's a very uncomfortable position."


Moral of this story: Bennett, Colorado is a pretty fucking messed up place to live.

Think blue, act blue

Act Blue is a great site that's all about raising and directing funds to Democratic candidates with an eye on taking back Congress this year. Some of the biggest lefty bloggers, Atrios and Kos have been using their power and influence to help support Ciro Rodriguez's campaign:

A well-traveled photograph of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar being embraced by President Bush prior to Tuesday's State of the Union address triggered a rush of Internet donations to one of Cuellar's Democratic primary rivals Thursday.

Within hours of a call to arms being posted on two liberal-leaning political blogs, the Daily Kos and Eschaton, former congressman Ciro Rodriguez's campaign received 263 cyber contributions totaling nearly $12,000, according to ActBlue, a Web-based clearinghouse for Democratic candidates nationwide.

“This may be billed as a Democratic primary, but in this solidly Democratic Latino-majority district, Republicans needed a Republican in sheep's clothing like Cuellar to have a chance of winning,” the Daily Kos blog post read.

Oscar Sanchez, a spokesman for the Rodriguez campaign, said the photograph of Bush holding a smiling Cuellar's head between his hands struck a nerve among Democrats.

“It really shows that Democrats want a real Democrat in Congress,” Sanchez said.

Jane at Firedoglake has joined the campaign as well. Time to get the Republicans in Democrats' clothing out and representatives who actually share our values in, and this is a great way to put your money where your beliefs are. Consider sharing the love, won't you?