My sister's birthday is on the 14th.

So's mine. Although, since she was born in '61, she is slightly younger than the president.

22%

No, that's not President Bush's approval rating. It's the number of counties that voted more Republican than in 2004.

This has been discussed, but has this particular map (the bottom of the two) been linked to?

As DemfromCT noted over three months ago, and as MSNBC notes today, "[i]t's hard not to look at the map ... and not view the GOP as a regional party right now."

Brenda, Rahm is Jewish, and his Dad came over from Israel. The family is fascinating. Whip-smart, a little nuts (esp. The youngest brother, Ari), and two of the three boys have had fictional characters based on them.

Neat! I need to pay more attention to this stuff. Anyway, my point was really only that it's not a whitebread Amerrurican name and as such, maybe an extra kick in the pants to a certain loathsome sector of society, Which, yay.

"[i]t's hard not to look at the map ... and not view the GOP as a regional party right now."

I get the little red blip in Arizona, but where the hell in Colorado is that red blip from?

Am I mistaken, or does that big trail of red pretty much follow the Appalachians and Blue Hills?

I get the little red blip in Arizona, but where the hell in Colorado is that red blip from?

I'm guessing Colorado Springs? Lots of religious right around there. (Of which the Air Force may or may not represent a subset.)

I'm guessing Colorado Springs? Lots of religious right around there.

That's what I was thinking, but is it that far south?

That would make sense.

Now compare that map to these (from May 20): Appalachia's Last Chance to Show It Doesn't Have an Obama Problem

Maps that show were Hilary won 50%, 60% and 70% of the primary vote.

Hamster on a piano

From a NYT piece on the Obama family transition:

But in one respect, the Obamas’ family life will now become much easier. Since 1996, when he was elected to the Illinois State Senate, Mr. Obama has spent long periods away from home, and by his own admission, he is a part-time parent at best. The past six years have been a particularly punishing set of marathons, as he ran for a United States Senate seat, then spent weekdays in Washington, then traveled on the presidential campaign trail for nearly two long years.

His election will help realize a long-held, cherished family dream: For the next four years, the Obamas will finally eat dinner together.