Midday open thread

• The GOP's online efforts are hilariously pathetic.
• Adam B  discusses the ridiculous SCOTUS decision invalidating the millionaire's amendment in the Philly Inquirer.

  The majority's rationale rested on the notion that leveling electoral opportunities for less-wealthy candidates was not a legitimate government objective. That's a shame, because the smalldonor revolution that propelled Obama's presidential campaign has not yet reached the state or local levels.

  To reform this system, states such as Arizona, Connecticut and Maine have implemented innovative methods to allow candidates to receive a public grant that covers campaign costs in exchange for forgoing private fund-raising.

  In order to ensure a fair contest, candidates participating in the system can receive additional grants if their non-participating rivals or outside groups supporting them end up spending funds in excess of the public grant.

  The result: a legislature that is more economically diverse than one that proceeded it - with diner waitresses and social workers now joining chambers once reserved for the well-connected - and one that is not beholden to special interests or entrenched wealth.

  Last May, Michael Nutter, and a majority of those now sitting on City Council, pledged that "if elected, I will support a comprehensive Fair and Clean Elections system for Philadelphia."

  Because such reforms call for government spending to boost the speech of some candidates and not others, however, the Supreme Court decision now calls them into constitutional doubt.

• Condi Rice doesn't sound that enthused about McCain.

  In an interview with Politico and Yahoo News released Thursday, Rice was asked if she would feel secure with a president Obama.

  "Oh, the United States will be fine," she responded. "I think that we are having an important debate about how we keep the country safe," she said, pointing to the Middle East and Iraq [...]

  Rice, occasionally mentioned as a potential running mate for McCain, demurred when asked if she might serve as second-in-command to his Democratic rival.

  "I don't need another job in government with anybody. Look, I'm a Republican, all right? Senator McCain is a fine patriot and he would be a great president," she said.

  "But there's something to be said for fresh blood," Rice added in reference to the running mate talk. "And I know that there are a lot of very good people who could be his vice president."

  She may have meant "fresh blood" in reference to the running mate stuff, but really, there's something to be said for fresh blood at the top of the ticket as well. I suspect Condi Rice knows this as well.

• What the heck is John Cole doing posting stuff like this? And yes, damnit, I must admit it was ridiculously cute. So is this, but I suggest you watch it with the sound turned off.
• Wingnut email of the day:

  How Is It that the USA thwarted off 7 terror attacks since 2005 because and the Idiot Obama wants to water down the patriot act, plus he wants to raise tazes by 68% that ought to boost the economy. He (Obama) WILL not win in November he has nothing going for except a smile and that's getting old. He doesn't stand for anything and he has no agenda that I've heard of. He's come out of the far left blog he should just stay there. All you far left bloggers that DON'T like the way this country Is leave. My father fought in WW11 so you could have your freedom, but not to dissrepect your country.

• Broder is upset at the negative tone of the campaign. And it's all Obama's fault, of course.
• Woo hoo! Welcome back Newt! And yes, your idea to shut down the government again is brilliant. Please convince your fellow Republicans to play along. Last time you did it, it was an unmitigated disaster a rousing success.
• "Conservatives ... are less likely to use profanity in their daily conversation." Ha ha ha. Tell that to Dick Cheney. Or George Bush.

  The reason liberal blogs have more profanity is because we are communities, thus we talk online the way we talk with friends offline. Conservatives, on the other hand, are desperately vying to be the next Rush Limbaugh, hence all the "pundit" in their names and dearth of open comment sections. So of course, since they want to be the next on-air personality, they have to speak online the way they'd speak in a broadcast (or newspaper op-ed) medium.

  It's really that simple.

• Darcy Burner will appear on Meet the Bloggers (http://meethteblogger.org/) tomorrow at 1:00 EDT to discuss the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq. Bloggers David Goldstein, Matt Stoller, and I will participate in a roundtable discussion of the Plan after Darcy's appearance. You can stream the show live and participate through the comment thread, or you can view an archive after it's posted. (Mcjoan)