“Washington Times” on The Daily Caller

A recent Washington Times story carried this headline: “Congress logs most futile legislative year on record.” The subhead forecast “scant accomplishment for ’12 session.” (more)

Satire and live comedy are not for the thin-skinned, as comics from Lenny Bruce to Michael Richards have learned. (more)

The Walt Disney Co. owns some of the world’s best-known characters — Donald Duck, Buzz Lightyear, Hannah Montana, to name a few. Disney also owns Spider-Man, a character who is lately recognizable for all the wrong reasons, and whose value may be on the decline. (more)

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First, they would have to learn the word “trillion.” The first loan to the U.S. Treasury, under the new constitution in September 1789, was for $20,000, drawn on the Bank of New York (it was to help the new federal government cover immediate expenses). Once we introduced the founders to all the new decimal places, they would probably say, “Been on a little binge, haven’t you, bro?” (more)

“Sucker Punch,” director Zack Snyder’s latest hyperactive, computer effects-driven action trip, resembles many things: a series of linked, high-gloss music videos; an overlong advertisement for something vague (possibly itself); a video-game concept reel blown up into a big Hollywood feature; a collection of top-tier computer-effects demos strung together along a tiny strand of impenetrable narrative. Visually inventive to the point of excess, it’s all these things and more. Sadly, however, it’s not much of a movie. (more)

In 1984, MGM released “Red Dawn,” a movie that depicted a Soviet invasion of the United States and the subsequent defense mounted by a group of rifle-wielding Colorado teens. With a cast of young unknowns and the MPAA’s first PG-13 rating, the film was one of the top grossing movies of the year. Directed and co-written by John Milius, an avowed gun enthusiast, “Red Dawn” featured so much gunfire that some called it the “most violent movie ever made.” Between the gun violence and the supposed right-wing undertones (or overtones?), it was one of the more controversial movies of its time, a cult hit of the Reagan era. (more)

Aides close to Moammar Gadhafi are urging the Libyan dictator to crush the resistance in a rebel-held town close to the capital, Tripoli, and then propose a division of the country with the rebels holding the eastern part, rebel sources told The Washington Times on Thursday. (more)

1.) Washington’s Funniest Celebrity tries new routine on ‘This Week’ — White House economic advisor and stand-up comic Austan Goolsbee told some really bad jokes yesterday on “This Week,” alleges David Frum. “I don’t see why anybody’s talking about playing chicken with the…with the debt ceiling.” Goolsbee said yesterday. Also: “If we hit the debt ceiling, that’s…essentially defaulting on our obligations, which is totally unprecedented in American history” and that it would “be the first default in history caused purely by insanity.” While the aforementioned superlative is debatable, the rest of Goolsbee’s claim is not. As David Frum points out, Goolsbee is jousting with windmills: Two weeks after the election, Rep. John Boehner said, “Whether we like it or not, the federal government has obligations and we have obligations on our part.” More likely, writes Frum, is that Obama is playing chicken not with debt, but with Americans’ confidence. That’s not funny at all. (more)

Michael Steele assumed the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee two years ago buoyed by hopes he would serve as a rhetorical counterbalance to President Obama. (more)

Are Sarah Palin and Michael Steele an item? (more)

Eid ul-Fitr, the Muslim holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, is supposed to be a joyous occasion. But in the U.S.-allied Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain, where the Sunni-dominated government has arrested scores of Shi’ite opposition activists in recent weeks, many celebrated in fear. (more)

The Rev. Sun Myung Moon is regaining control of the Washington Times after allies of the South Korean spiritual leader agreed to acquire the paper for just $1 and assumption of most if its debts, according to an internal memo. (more)

For all the brouhaha over Republicans wanting to review the interpretation of the 14th Amendment, the citizenship/birthright clause, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, once supported revising the current interpretation of the birthright citizenship clause in 1993. (more)

Make that a burger, fries and a side of Lipitor, please. (more)

A Pentagon strike against Iran would rely heavily on the B-2 bomber and cruise missiles to try to destroy the regime’s ability to make nuclear weapons, analysts say, after the top U.S. military officer said a war plan is in place. (more)

The vicious infighting at the Republican National Committee escalated over the weekend, with an ally of RNC Chairman Michael S. Steele warning the party’s treasurer of legal consequences if he did not stop making a fuss over erroneous financial disclosures to the Federal Election Commission. (more)

Without a doubt, these are difficult days for Barack Obama.  With a job approval rating in the 40s, with voters threatening to desert the Democrats in the midterms, and with no sign of events breaking his way, the heady days following his inauguration seem a dim and distant memory. (more)

The Republican National Committee failed to report more than $7 million in debt to the Federal Election Commission in recent months – a move that made its bottom line appear healthier than it is heading into the midterm elections and that also raises the prospect of a hefty fine. (more)

DENVER | A plagiarism scandal surrounding Colorado Republican gubernatorial front-runner Scott McInnis has thrown the race into turmoil, jeopardizing the state GOP’s chances in one of its most winnable races and prompting calls for him to drop out less than a month before the primary. (more)