Repubs Think Franken Painted Them As "Rapist Sympathizers"

The GOP is complaining that Al Franken isn't doing enough to combat leftists from "tap[ping] into the natural sympathy that we have for [victims of rape]" and it's making them look bad. Here's a thought: stop defending rapists! [Politico]

Republicans: Defending Rape Victims Is A "Political" Move

Last night, Jon Stewart called out the 30 Senate Republicans who voted against Al Franken's amendment to bar the government from contracting with companies that force their employees to agree not to sue if they get raped on the job. More »

Sen. Franken Fights KBR On Behalf Of Rape Vicitims

Sen. Al Franken's amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill passed yesterday; the amendment penalizes companies that restricts claims of sexual assualt and discrimination to arbitration. The opposition claims that this is "a political attack" aimed at Halliburton/KBR. [ThinkProgress]

Were Dogs Originally Man's Best Meal? • Farmers In India Selling Wives To Pay Debts

• We're so used to thinking of dogs as companions that we often forget the most basic reason people buddy up to animals: Food. A new study suggests wolves were first domesticated in southeastern China for their meat. • More »

Recycle Old Sex Toys Into Snack Sorters • Study: Divorce Is Bad For Health

Stupid Intentions has figured out a (not at all) useful way to recycle your old vibrator: repurpose it as a "popcorn sorter."• More »

Kumar: Now Smoking In The Real White House

Kal Penn's in the (White) House, Al Franken's in the Senate, Sarah Palin's gone fishing, Obama's in Russia, and conservatives are (still) in Crazytown, but luckily, Gawker's Alex Pareene is with me, trying to figure out what it all means. More »

Michael Jackson's Death Now Influencing Iranian Protesters

Is Michael Jackson bad for Iran? Is Minnesota Govenor Tim Pawlenty giving up on his bromance with Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell? Did John Edwards really make a sex tape? The Washington Independent's Spencer Ackerman helps answer these important questions. More »

You Gotta Love A Good Bailout, Until You Don't

Everyone still has their knickers in a twist about the $165 million paid in bonuses to the dicks at AIG, except for CNBC's Rick Santelli and the guys who actually got them. More »

Wednesday Is Breakup Day For Politicians And Their Spawn

Man, who isn't getting dumped this week? Levi Johnston's reportedly got some good company in Charles Freeman, the teacher's unions, the card check bill and Obama's budget. More »

Ladies And Gentlemen, Senator Al Franken

One more thing! Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Richie claims that the state will officially confirm Al Franken as the winner of the Minnesota Senate race on Monday. Doggone it, people DO like him! [CNN]

Blagojevich Actually Manages To Do Something Stupider

• Governor Rod Blagojevich rammed his head more throughly up his ass and found someone to join him: former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, who is Blago's new appointment to Barack Obama's Senate seat. [Washington Post]

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Barack Rides Unicorn To Power; Bristol Palin Pops

• DC artist Chris Bishop has created this extremely prescient image of the inauguration in T-shirt form for all your speech-watching needs. [Chris Bishop via Boing Boing]

You're Going To Need This Puppy To Get Through The News

• The Bidens plan to add to their household by getting another puppy from the pound. Double puppy snuggles! [Huffington Post]

Bill Clinton's Big Release, Obama's Smaller Releases

• Bill Clinton's donor list for his foundation and presidential library have been released. Yeah, there's all kinds of foreign government money on there, what did you expect? [Politico]

Hillary Clinton Is Not Getting Involved In Her Seat, But She's The Only One Who Isn't

• Clinton told her supporters to stop talking smack about Caroline Kennedy unless they're going to endorse someone else. She doesn't want people to believe it's coming from her. [Politico]