A new report shows something I think we all pretty much knew – most teachers (63%) use their own money to buy food for their students. I predict that Republicans will draw two conclusions from this: teachers make too much money, and school lunch programs need to be cut in order to lower taxes on rich people (and by rich people, I mean multimillionaires, not those overpaid teachers).

The folks over at New Left Media went to a “Going Rogue” book signing in Columbus, OH, to ask the policy wonks in line just what it is they love about Sarah Palin. Surprisingly, they seem to have had some trouble articulating anything specific about Palin that they think is so great. She’s the “rock star” of the Conservative Movement (CM – like BM, only more difficult to pass), she digs “freedom,” and “free speech,” and of course she’s “real.” Well, I find myself relating very much to these people. I don’t know what they see in Palin either. Not surprisingly, those in the throng weren’t big fans of Barack Obama (though of course they couldn’t really come up with specifics on why).

HHS has a web page up detailing – state-by-state – what the current Senate health care reform bill would mean for residents. For example, in Texas,

* 6 million residents who do not currently have insurance…

(by the way, that’s roughly 25% of the population of Texas)

and 1.1 million residents who have nongroup insurance could get affordable coverage through the health insurance exchange.
* 3.3 million residents could qualify for premium tax credits to help them purchase health coverage.
* 2.8 million seniors would receive free preventive services.
* 493,000 seniors would have their brand-name drug costs in the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” halved.
* 223,000 small businesses could be helped by a small business tax credit to make premiums more affordable.

This, clearly, is socialism at its most insidious, and needs to be stopped. Especially in Texas, which already gets more Federal money than they send to DC. Fortunately, we can count on the Lone Star State’s congressional contingent to not only oppose reform, but quite possibly secede from the Union.

Carl Kasell is retiring from the news reader’s chair at NPR’s “Morning Edition” (a title which parodies a now defunct Air America morning show). Don’t worry, though, you still have a chance of winning Carl’s voice on your home answering machine.

The weekend’s come and gone, it’s Tuesday already, and I know what you’re thinking: “I thought Kreepy Konservative Krybaby Doug Hoffman was gonna announce how ACORN, Unions, and Democrats stole the election from him.” Well, no word from Dougie – now behind by about 3,400 votes with another 600 or so absentee ballots left to count – so far, but he promises to announce his plans today.

I get that some politician’s kid – especially if it’s a Democrat’s kid – driving drunk would be news. But why is it news that Alexandra Kerry got pulled over, took a breathalyzer test and wasn’t drunk? Oh, wait she had an expired registration. I hope they throw the book at her (and show lots of pictures of her in that see-through black dress she wore at Cannes, too)!

Speaking of criminals, I’m shocked and dismayed at federal prosecutors filing charges against terrorist dude Omer Abdi Mohamed – aka, “Brother Omer” – in Minneapolis. I can’t beleive they’re going to put this guy on trial in the US. It isn’t safe – especially at this time of year. Not only is the Mall of America a target, but so is the HHH Metrodome what with old man Favre and the Vikings kickin’ ass this season. These people are clearly suffering from a 9/10 mentality.

Oh well, off to the salt mines. What the hell, I need to work on my Netflix queue anyway.