Paul Ryan is back with his hammock theory on poverty — that the war on poverty is lost and the big government programs make everyone poorer. He’s got the numbers, but his numbers, according to many who crunch them, don’t really add up. It’s an old argument dressed in a new binder, the one that the oh-so-serious Ryan carries with him whenever there’s the anti-safety-net argument to make.
Yes, there is a poverty trap. No, it’s not the poverty problem. Via Jordan Weissmann at Slate.
Meet the 7 Democrats who voted down Obama’s civil rights nominee — for supporting civil rights. Via Think Progress.
The Senate, it turns out, only rejects some nominees who defend murderers. Debo Adegbile is rejected because he represented convicted cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal. John Roberts, who defended a man on death row who had killed eight people, was just fine. Via the New York Times.
The Ft Collins Coloradoan mapped all the recreational and medical pot shops in the state.
The national Conservative Political Action Conference begins today in Suburban DC. Sen. Ted Cruz and NRA pitchman Wayne “guns are the solution so buy more guns” LaPierre will speak today. As will embattled once-loved New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Everyone in khakis and blue button downs. C’mon, let’s do this! Via the AP.
Xcel Energy and Community Energy of Boulder are building the largest solar farm east of the Rockies — near Xcel’s Comanche power plant and substation in Pueblo. The Chieftain.
The College Board retakes the SAT. And the best anyone can get — once again — is that perfect 1600. Via the New Yorker.
The conservatives who would root for anyone against Barack Obama now have this awkward crush on Putin: Mad for Vlad, via the New Republic.
Where have all the babies gone? And why it matters to the economy. Via the Atlantic.
Dementia and precious memories and a famous basketball coach. Via ESPN.
[ Image via Marcin Garbski ]
