• 2007 In a bipartisan bill supported by president George W. Bush, a bill raising the standards for energy-efficient light bulbs passes with little trouble. The law is popular with consumers, who see buying more energy-efficient bulbs as a way to save a bunch fo money.
• 2011 For some reason, Republicans (particularly Joe Barton) have turned own the law, which will take effect next year, and tried to force a repeal. The repeal failed. It’s worth noting that Barton gets a lot of campaign contributions from the energy industry. source

• Mitch McConnell knows what he wants. That’s a very critical thing to remember when examining his new debt limit proposal, which would essentially transfer the power to raise the limit from the congress to President Obama. This may seem innocuous, but is a very political decision; forcing Obama to be the sole person taking an affirmative action to raise the limit, then giving congress a vote of “disapproval” that he’d likely have to veto feeds into the narrative of fiscal irresponsibility the GOP craves. The plan would also force Obama to re-up the limit three separate times before the 2012 election, which is theoretically a big political price to pay. Add in that the increase has to be paired with at least an equivalent amount of spending cuts, and what you see is less the grand compromise than what the GOP has wanted all along — spending cuts and no new revenues.

Some context to keep in mind:

• The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.
• Mitch McConnell, speaking to the National Journal back in October • Offering a key thought on his mindset. Now, to be sure, it’ll be good news if the debt limit is raised, even in an otherwise frustrating context. However, it’s good to keep this in mind the next time you think Mitch McConnell is actually working in a bipartisan fashion. We take him at his word on this. source

• [This story is] a media feeding frenzy that is driven by a few individuals who never miss the opportunity to advance an anti-2nd Amendment agenda.
• Arizona state senator Lori Klein • Addressing claims she aimed a loaded gun at a reporter, which we touched on yesterday. Klein has disputed the reporter’s account of what transpired, claiming instead that the reporter asked to see the laser sight on her handgun, then sat down in front of the gun after she drew it. The reporter, Richard Ruelas, is sticking to his version of events. Setting aside the idea that criticizing somebody over reports they aimed a loaded gun at a reporter is an anti-2nd amendment posture (gun safety training is something the NRA takes very seriously, and they’re hardly moderates on the gun control debate), the explanation she’s giving, if true, doesn’t mitigate her wrongdoing. That she would keep her loaded (and safety-less) weapon aimed at the reporter for one second, even in the midst of an earnest misunderstanding, is beyond the pale — and we bet the vast majority of gun owners, responsible as they are, would agree. source

• Say it ain’t so, Piers: Should CNN be worried about Piers Morgan? Private investigator Jonathan Rees, who paid off police to gain access to confidential information (and definitely fits Gordon Brown’s “criminal” descriptor), allegedly worked for The Daily Mirror when Morgan was the editor. Moreover, a British political blogger today alleged that Piers knew an award-winning scoop about a soccer manager having an affair was obtained through voice mail hacking. This is obviously not close to hard evidence, but nonetheless is worth keeping an eye on; lest we forget, Morgan was fired from that editorship after The Daily Mirror admitted to running faked photos of British soldiers abusing Iraqi civilians. source

• Gordon Brown speaks: The former Prime Minister has been in the news recently by way of the voice mail hacking scandals rocking a number of News International papers in Britain, The Sun and the Sunday Times now the major duo (to say nothing of the now-disbanded News Of The World). Of particular note, a possible advancement in this story — Brown claims that the papers hired people to dig up his private information who had known criminal records. Just by looking at Brown’s posture and demeanor, it’s pretty clear the toll these revelations have taken on him. source

• In my view the President has presented us with three choices. Smoke and mirrors, tax hikes, or default. Republicans choose none of the above. I had hoped to do good; but I refuse to do harm.
• Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell • Speaking before another debt ceiling chat with Obama, while doing what he does best: Clouding the waters. Remember the 1980s, where deals like these could be brokered without dudes like McConnell saying things to scare the base into thinking the Democrats were pure, concentrated evil? John Boehner, who we respect a lot more, had harsh but more moderated words: “This debt limit increase is his problem. I think it’s time for him to lead by putting his plan on the table, something that the Congress can pass.” It’s either Obama being a completely evil human being or Obama not coming up with a deal that can actually pass Congress. Choose your boogeyman, guys. source

• fantasy “I will work to end cap-and-trade as President of the United States,” Michele Bachmann said in a statement yesterday.
• reality It’ll be a hard promise to keep, because federal cap-and-trade doesn’t exist. Maybe she’ll implement it, then repeal it? source

• “this does SEEM to be a gospel album recorded by the 2012 presidential candidate.” A fifteen-year-old record by pizza magnate and GOP presidential contender Herman Cain has just re-surfaced. This would make Cain the third declared candidate, after Jon Huntsman and Thaddeus McCotter, with a musical background; perhaps, if none of them receive the nomination, they can form a supergroup and perform at the convention? We haven’t had a chance to listen to the album yet, and the campaign isn’t offering it for sale, but thankfully, the entire thing is available for free here. We’ll report back as soon as we give it the time and attention it deserves. source

• Remember Alan Grayson? He’s the ex-Congressman from Florida known for saying things like, “I have trouble listening to what [Dick Cheney] says sometimes because of the blood that drips from his teeth while he’s talking.” As one of the few Democrats willing to throw rhetorical bombs, he attracted a moderate liberal following in 2009, but was defeated in the Great Democratic Purge of 2010. Today, he announced that he’ll be running for Congress again next year. We’re split on this; on the one hand, Grayson would fill the vacuum left by Anthony Weiner and provide a vocal, fiery voice for progressives in Congress where none currently exists. On the other hand, he aired a misleading, morally-reprehensible ad in his 2010 re-election campaign, so we’re not exactly heartbroken by his absence. source

• Whoever would do something like that needs to have a better grounding in gun safety before ever laying a hand on a firearm.
• Rob Mermelstein, range master of the Phoenix Rod and Gun Club • Speaking on Arizona state senator Lori Klein, who during a conversation about carrying her gun in her purse while on the floor of the legislature, drew said gun and pointed it at a reporter’s chest to show off the laser sight. Her disclaimer? “I just didn’t have my hand on the trigger.” Mermelstein is absolutely right, and what he’s saying is the moral baseline for responsible gun ownership. We’ll take the advice of a former military man we knew — you never, ever aim a gun at somebody who you’re not prepared to kill. This is unsafe and reprehensible behavior, for which Klein will richly deserve any scrutiny she receives. The article also reports that her gun has no safety, which seems crazy — you’re going to carry a loaded, readied gun in your purse? Has Plaxico taught us nothing? source