Fraud Fraud

• Over at The Brad Blog, a little electoral mythbusting going on:
  

  Quite simply put, if people are going to argue that Barack Obama's four million vote popular vote margin and his decisive 332-206 electoral vote margin were achieved because of fraud, they are going to have to do better than to continue to promote fake reports of exaggerated turnout and real reports of Romney's colossal failure to secure the votes of urban African-American voters. They are going to need compelling evidence, of which to date, there is none.

  Article by Keith Darling-Brekhus. Using, y'know, research and evidence.
• Via skippy and MoveOn.org:  Graphic of union benefits, most of which people take for granted, or why we should support strong unions.
• Vagabond Scholar on the fiscal speed bump negotiations:

  Not that any of this is new, but this latest political battle shows once again that:
  1. Republicans do not care about good policy or responsible governance.
  2. Republicans do not care about public opinion. (Numerous polls show that the public supports raising taxes on the rich.)
  3. Republicans do not care about election results (unless they win).
  4. Republicans do not believe in fair dealing and good faith.
  5. The media will not report political disputes accurately if doing so means criticizing one party significantly more.

• Republic of T and the season to be jolly.  (Blame Emperor Constantine.  You might as well.)