Generally Gross

Shakers, I have seen some clunky, awkward, unsubtle, laughable cynical campaigning in the fully three hundred years I have walked this earth, but Mitt Romney's surprise presser outside Solyndra is truly the most audaciously terrible political stunt I do believe I've ever seen.

Good job, Mitt Romney! You have lowered a bar I did not believe could be lowered anymore, but sending James Cameron in his golden submarine to relocate the bar to the bottom of the Marianas Trench was definitely an idea only an esteemed laird with a jewel-encrusted hovercraft elevator in his platinum moon mansion could conceive. You are an intergalactic treasure, sir.

In the news today:

President Obama has been waging a cyberwar on Iran. That is a very interesting article about a part of the US national defense about which we generally don't see a lot of news, and which may be the sort of thing you want to know about how our President does things when you are thinking about voting in the upcoming election if you are a US voter, and also it is just very interesting, so you should definitely read it!

Asked what grade he would give the President, because we for sure need to know how Mitt Romney would relate to the President of the United States as a public schoolteacher, "Romney quickly responds: 'Oh, an F, no question about that,' adding that the grade applies 'across the board'." O RLY? Well, what if the board included "being terrible"? If you gave the President an F on being terrible, that means you think he's AWESOME! Didn't think about THAT, now, did you, Mitt Romney?!

Mitt Romney thinks Barack Obama is awesome. Pass it on.

Speaking of awesome, Mitt Romney has a new (previously) "Day One" advert out, and I guess I don't need to tell you that it is genius. Probably made by the same people who did The Expendables 2 trailer. Good thinking, Team Romney!

Male voiceover, over the most generic images you can imagine of people working in offices and factories, etc., spliced with video of Romney campaigning: What will be different about a Romney presidency? [Text Onscreen: Day 01.] From day one, President Romney focuses on the economy and the deficit, unleashes America's energy resources, and stands up to China on trade. President Romney's leadership puts jobs first. But there's something more than legislation or new policy: It's the feeling we'll have that our country's back—back on the right track. That's what will be different about a Romney presidency.

Mitt Romney, in voiceover over black and white photograph of him holding hands with his wife: I'm Mitt Romney, and I approve this message.

That message being, in case you missed it ha ha nobody missed it, that Mitt Romney is white, and voting for him will make you feel like you've got your country back—back from the terrifying clutches of a black man.

Yiiiiiiiiiiiikes.

In good news, following up on an item from yesterday: Federal Judge Blocks Florida Voter Suppression Law. "A federal judge blocked much of Florida's year-old voter suppression law today as an unconstitutional infringement on speech and voting rights." GOOD. That is a very positive step in addressing the Republicans' disenfranchisement efforts.

And finally—a poll! Mitt Romney's favorability rebounds among women, while President Obama's slips. President Obama still leads among women by 9 points, but it should be more. Ah well. We can only hope that David Axelrod is busily strategizing how the President can be MORE SILENT on reproductive rights in order to win back the ladies!

Talk about these things! Or don't. Whatever makes you happy. Life is short.