Spreading Santorum

Oh, my.

Morning newspaper throws killer whales under the bus

The Reading Eagle came down, strong, this morning against the notion that orcas should enjoy some constitutional protection because these highly intelligent beings, in the words of constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe, are unjustly and "cruelly confined for purposes of involuntary servitude."

It should be noted that the federal lawsuit filed by PETA does not reference Larry Orkus, the hideous little man who masterminded the newspaper's journey into 19th century publishing practices, but to five orcas -- Tilikum, Katina, Kasatka, Ulises and Corky -- incarcerated at San Diego's SeaWorld.

Six days ago, a judge dismissed the lawsuit so the Eagle, irrelevantly, is now stating its piece:

[W]hat about seeing-eye dogs, drug-sniffing dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, police dogs, draught horses or animal actors? How about family pets? Would Fido and Kitty be happier in the wild? How about parrots and other birds kept in relatively small cages, where they cannot fly?

And if those animals have a right to exist free, would the same right apply to mice, rats, termites and other creatures that invade our homes and threaten our health?

This, of course, is the dreaded slippery slope, whereupon extending dignity to sentient beings with greater intelligence than most Republicans could somehow extend to termites or, perhaps, the polyester fibers than make up Opinion page editor Jim Homan's everyday apparel.

We all should know that personhood only applies to human beings and embryos.

Happy VDay to all the (cheapskate) lovers in the house

The message says “My love for you is priceless!”

Can you tell the difference between championship dogs and Beat poetry?

Seamist on a Windward Tack.

Carpe Diem’s Old School.

McMagic’s Candied Ham of Pebbles Run.

Are they among the best-in-breed winners frm last year's Westminster Dog Show?

Or are they random phrases from Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl”?

Slate has a fun quiz here.

Weekend open thread

Spread your santorum.

Tweet of the day

Via Daily Kos.

Herman Cain states, "We outnumber the stupid people," then endorses Joe the "Plumber"

The stupid-is-as-stupid-does moment -- "Trust me, I counted (the stupid people)" -- came during a whistle-stop speech at a Nueces County, Texas, Republican Women’s fundraiser. The pizza magnate then moved to the CPAC event in Washington D.C., where tin foil was in short supply. Cain threw all his bluster behind the faux pipe cleaner/hapless Congressional hopeful, who eagerly supported Cain's 9-9-9 tax boondoggle.

How ever shall Mitt Romney compete with the crazies at CPAC today? He'd better rummage through Seamus' old belongings for a dog whistle.