The Democratic Party cannot go into the midterm elections with health care reform undone. If it comes down to it, they will go with the budget reconciliation process and let the chips fall. But they absolutely cannot let the best chance to get this done in 50 years slip through their fingers. The question the GOP has to ask themselves, when push comes to shove are they going to remain 100% in opposition when the most important social welfare legislation since Medicare gets done? The original Medicare bill got 17 Republican votes in the Senate and 70 in the House, by the way.

So, this is your advanced notice that there probably won’t be much to see here this week. In the meantime, enjoy a Cute Overload Moment courtesy of Dexter, the love-sponge.

Where have all the little dogs gone?

Also, look for our takes on the State-of-the-State message tomorrow by Noon on the website and on Wednesday in the print edition of the Register.

Now, I wonder if Katie Koberg will take the bait?

I also wonder if my editor will call me out for using the term, “circle jerk.”

Want to trim the state budget by a million or three? How many departmental man hours could be saved every year by replacing the work that those departments do in searching, sorting and writing reports against their data if we simply released the raw data to the public and let nature take its course?

My blogging agreement with the Register stipulates that my content there be exclusive. So, I can’t cross-post everything. More ranting is just a mouse-click away though.