Apropos of nothing

Just think: if Mark Twain had never existed, Americans would have either had to find other people to attribute clever sayings to or else come up with clever sayings on their own.

One that has been showing up a good bit for some reason in the last week may or may not have been something he really said:

"I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure."

(A very similar quote has been attributed to attorney Clarence Darrow.)

WHO'S TO BLAME for a shaky economy and deficits? The elites, not the folks in the streets.

MEDICARE SHUFFLE. It looks like congressional Republicans, after getting a little love at town meetings in their home district, are backing away from Paul Ryan's plan to gut Medicare.

CAPPING THE CAP. Here's a good op-ed from the Charleston Gazette opposing the spending cap proposed by some in Congress, including, unfortunately, WV's junior senator.

MORE THAN A YEAR after Massey's Upper Big Branch mine disaster, family members are disappointed by congressional inaction on mine safety.

DENY THIS. Climate change may be affecting global food production.

GOAT ROPE ADVISORY LEVEL: ELEVATED