2010 budget?! woes and whoas...

After a looong debate yesterday involving a lot of bar graphs, the House passed the President's 2010 budget, adjusted after committee to $3.55 trillion in total spending. Even with all Republicans and 20 Democrats voting against it, the resolution passed by 37 votes (233 to 196, to be exact). The Senate's version also passed (55 to 43).

Yes, this budget boasts a huge number in front of that dollar sign, and I'm cool with it. (No worries, Barack--you and I are still good.) What I'm not cool with is that it's almost 2010. Seriously?!? I mean, remember those days when you couldn't wait to sing "We're gonna party like it's 1999" on New Years, basking in Prince's never-more-appropriate lyrics? The new millennium seemed so far away, so momentous and mysterious all at the same time. We thought Y2K would be the undoing of our strong economy, not bad loans and even worse legislation. Hell, we thought bodysuits were just a trend that worked well with baggy jeans but surely had no place in the 21st century.

The comforting thing in all this is that--27 years after the "1999" hit--Prince is still churning out albums regularly and even just won another Grammy in 2007. That, of course, we all could have predicted.

Now here's a little gift from me to you:

Watch more The Very Best of Prince videos on AOL Video

"Too big to fail is the right size to regulate."

Rep. Al Green from Texas said this in Thursday's House Financial Services Committee hearing on financial regulation. I agree--even if he is a bit cocky about it ("some things bear repeating"). More importantly, Green's rhyming skills and metaphors involving foxes and hens make him fun to watch. Here's a clip:


He also ended his comments by saying "God bless you" to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (who I'm almost kind of into, by the way). Blessing people usually freaks me out a little, but when Mr. Green said it I wanted to yell, "Bless me, too, Al Green! Bless me!"

As far as I can tell, Rep. Al Green and Secretary Timothy Geithner are both the bee's knees of congressional hearings these days. Yup, that's right--I have confidence in our Treasury Secretary. Watch the full hearing and decide for yourself.

Also, check out the facial expressions of the guy with the cool glasses on the left behind Geithner. Maybe he was trying to look alert because he knew he was on camera? If so, it backfired. Does anyone know who he is?

He looks like a deer in the headlights...


when he's not falling asleep.


Somebody farted.


In part 2 he switches places with the bearded guy who also seems to be alternating between confusion and nap time (okay, or taking notes).

Impeachment can be fun

Fashionably late comment on now former Illinois governor Rod R. Blagojevich:

Did anyone else spend all day watching Blagojevich's impeachment trial? It was the greatest thing I've seen since all the inauguration hoopla (so in a week). The creepo governor spent all week on a publicity tour instead of defending himself under oath at the trial, and then he showed up the very last day and made a big speech about what a great governor for the people he's been and how innocent and honorable he is. The guy's a convincing public speaker, albeit arrogant and delusional. Unfortunately for him, actions speak louder than words. Every single member of the Illinois state senate voted yes both to impeach him and bar him from future public office. One member even switched up the roll call with an "absolutely!"

On a completely unrelated note on what's not the bee's knees, I'm averaging only about one post a month. Don't impeach me.