On The Internets 09.03.2010

• Three members of the House of Representatives (two Republicans and one Democrat) are under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegedly taking bribes to vote against the recent Wall Street reform law. Five other lawmakers were also looked into, but the committee has decided they did not warrant further investigation. "The independent House Office of Congressional Ethics recommended that the member-run House ethics committee pursue potential rules violations by Republicans John Campbell of California and Tom Price of Georgia and Democrat Joseph Crowley of New York." Strange how when Charlie Rangel was being investigated by the ethics committee, it was wall-to-wall coverage in the media, but now that Republicans are being investigated...nothing. Explain that "liberal bias" thing-y again?

• So much for small government conservatism in Arizona. After her disastrous performance in a debate with her Democratic rival in the Arizona gubernatorial race, Jan Brewer has sworn off all debates in the future. According to the Arizona Daily Star, Brewer says she only participated in a debate at all because she thought it would help her get $1.7 million in public money for her campaign.
  

• I guess lying about your military service is becoming tired in political circles, so some politicians are taking it in a different direction. Dan Maes, Republican candidate for Governor of Colorado, has been forced to admit that he did not work undercover with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation busting a drug and gambling racket. The Denver Post has uncovered that while he did work as a police officer in Liberal, Kansas (that is the name, not a description), no one there seems to remember him being involved in anything remotely like what he has claimed on his campaign website. The Post then asked for proof that he (Maes) was right and they were wrong. "Those comments might have been incorrect comments," was all he could muster. He removed the bogus claims from his website. Hmmmm. Now, Republicans across the state of Colorado are asking Maes to withdraw his name from the ballot and let someone else run. The tea party backed candidate is rejecting those calls.

• The corporate lobbyists who are behind the tea party "movement," FreedomWorks, recently went to the media whining that they had to move offices because they were receiving so many threats from "liberals." Though there is not a single legitimate threat that has ever been proven of a liberal attack on FreedomWorks, the firm is trying to portray itself as a victim. Talking Points Memo did a little investigating, and it turns out that FreedomWorks isn't moving until February of next year, and that is the exact same time their current lease expires. Coincidence?

• According to the most recent USA Today/Gallup poll, 71% of Americans (correctly) blame former President Bush for the country's economic woes. That number is down only nine points from a July 2009 poll which showed that 80% of the country blamed Bush.

• In what seems now like a throwback to the "old days" when politics ended after the work day, and elected officials could still be friendly to members from the other party, President Obama visited former Senate Majority Leader and 1996 Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole while he was at the Walter Reed Medical Center. Dole was recovering from a recent operation, while the president was there visiting with wounded troops.
  

• Well, the concept of bars having "ladies night" won't be going away anytime soon. A federal appeals court has ruled that bars offering special discounts to women is not unconstitutional. The suit was brought by a lawyer named Den Hollander, who calls himself an 'anti-feminist.' "Den Hollander's argument hinged on liquor licenses doled out by the New York state government, which is obliged not to discriminate against any minorities. But the appeals court ruled that the state's liquor licensing practices had nothing to do with clubs' pricing schemes." Why would someone sue over ladies night? If it weren't for them, most bars would be little more than a sausage fest.

• Indie rock legends Pavement haven't any line-up changes since the early 90s, but that doesn't mean you can't get a chance to play with the band. Matador Records is holding a contest and the winner will get to appear on stage with Pavement when they play on the Jimmy Fallon Show on September 23. You will find the rules and regulations here. Imagine yourself here:
  

• Despite my utter contempt for her music, I have to admit that I am completely infatuated with Katy Perry. She is freakin' unreal looking, and I cannot stop looking at her. The website Caveman Circus has assembled about 100 photos of the pop tart. Enjoy.