Discover GOP Opprobrium

[teapeebubbles]

Today's edition of quick hits:

* It doesn't look like talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan are going especially well.

* The trend of few couple of weeks didn't last: "The number of people seeking jobless benefits jumped sharply last week, after two straight weeks of declines."

* Not all of the economic news was discouraging: "The economy is picking up a bit from its late-summer doldrums, according to two reports Wednesday, with both the service and manufacturing sectors showing better health."

* President Obama seems to enjoy hosting these get-togethers: "In the aftermath of this week's electoral "shellacking," President Obama on Thursday invited Congressional leaders to literally break bread later this month at a dinner at the White House as he tries to adjust to a new political order with Republicans ascendant. Mr. Obama invited eight leaders, four from each party, to meet on Nov. 18 and then share a meal in the residence part of the White House."

* After such a lengthy debate over health care policy, one would like to think Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) realizes the ACA lowers the deficit -- and repealing it would increase the deficit.

* Some on the far-right probably don't look forward to extending the debt limit, but even Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) seems to realize the catastrophic results of default.

* Only a handful of House Democrats actually saw their support grow over 2008 levels. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine is one of them -- and she ran on a progressive, unapologetic platform. (Her race had been considered a "toss up," but she won by double-digits.)

* It's good to see the estimable Sam Seder back on the air.

* Ever wonder about the origins of the "landslide election" phrase? Now we know.

* For crying out loud: "The GOP plans to hold high profile hearings examining the alleged 'scientific fraud' behind global warming, a sleeper issue in this election that motivated the base quite a bit."

* There's some entertaining symbolism here -- Sarah Palin's video on the midterms shows a sunrise, which is actually just a sunset run backwards. Insert joke here.

* As the economy struggles, more Americans are returning to college. That, however, isn't going especially well.