Didn't find much to comment on or link to. Has anyone else noticed that the "news" is monotonous and mind-numbing? Of course, the Repthuglicans have once again tried to attach another attempt to erase the ACA (a.k.a., Obamacare) to their so-called budget bill--which should be titled "The Welfare for the Wealthy and Corporations" bill. What the news coverage doesn't explain is the labyrinthine connections that link the repeal of the coverage mandate, their promises of tax relief for the middle class, their promises of corporate tax relief and the 2025 expiration of middle class tax cuts while the corporate cuts are permanent. Repealing the mandate gives them cover for their promises to cut middle class taxes, keep the deficit ten years out from passing their set cap, and paying for the corporate tax cuts, sort-of. What the whole mess involves is keeping the left hand from knowing what the left hand is doing.

The Wisconsin legislators have made it the 28th state to petition for an Article V convention to amend the Constitution to mandate a balanced federal budget. The process needs seven more states to get on the bandwagon and then the fun will really start. Read this article for an interesting overview. Although most commenters on the possibility will say that the process is "unprecedented" they are right in a narrow sense. It is unprecedented under the Constitution but not within the national experience. In 1787 a convention was called to amend the Articles of Confederation under which the U.S. operated at the time. In that case "amend" came to mean throwing out the entire Articles of Confederation and writing the new Constitution.

Here is an interesting piece by John Feffer dissecting #45's recent Asian trip about which we heard precious little on our "mainstream" news and without any real analysis.

And on this I heartily agree.