Two-Alarm Fire at Eisenhower Executive Building

Actually, it was in Dick Cheney's suite of offices.

Quick response from the DC Fire Department (the world's finest) limited this fire to smoke and water damage in Cheney's offices, and kept the fire from spreading to other offices. The only injury was to a U.S. Marine stationed at the offices, who had to break a window on the 5th floor of the building to escape and cut his hand in the process. He was rescued from the building's ledge.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

Dems Abandon SCHIP

Now, they're going along with the GOP's plan and will keep SCHIP as it is until March 2009, when the new form of SCHIP that will be debated in the beginning of the 2009 Congressional session will take effect.

That actually dampens the ability of Dems to use SCHIP as a campaign issue, as well as keeps SCHIP expansion from being used as the "knife to the throat" of military funding for operations in Iraq.

Haven't I said multiple times before that Congressional Republicans have traditionally done well when they don't have full majorities in Congress?

Presidential Endorsements From VA Political Figures

Let's see who's supporting who, here.

- Gov. Tim Kaine - Barack Obama
- Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling - Mitt Romney
- A.G. Bob McDonnell - Fred Thompson
- Rep. Bobby Scott - Barack Obama
- Sen. John Warner - John McCain
- Fmr. Sen./Gov. George Allen - Fred Thompson
- Fmr. A.G. Jerry Kilgore - Rudy Giuliani
- Pat Robertson, founder of Regent University/Christian Coalition - Rudy Giuliani
- Del. Bill Howell, Speaker of the House of Delegates - Mike Huckabee
- Del. Chris Saxman - John McCain

Can anyone add to these updates?

UPDATES:
12/20 - Added Bobby Scott and Bill Howell endorsements.

Watch Ron Paul Lose Any Hope of Winning the GOP Nomination

In 3...2...1...

"When facism comes it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross..."

First of all, how many Democrats have said this? And secondly, while Ron Paul is entitled to his opinion and I'm fine with the fact that he doesn't want to pander to the evangelical vote...that's still a very stupid statement to make when you're running for the Republican Party nomination.

I'm convinced that he's pretty much giving up on a GOP nomination and looking at a Libertarian Party bid.

Pro Bowl Announced, Sean Taylor Makes Team Posthumously

Taylor actually was the top vote-getter at free safety for the NFC, and had been the top vote-getter even before his death. Still, it is a tribute to both his hard work on the field and his untimely death.

Teams with the most Pro Bowlers - Dallas with 11, New England and San Diego with 8 each, Minnesota with 6 each, Seattle and Indianapolis with 5 each, Green Bay, Chicago, and Pittsburgh with 4 each

The Washington Redskins will send a total of 3 players to the Pro Bowl, the aforementioned Taylor, as well as LT Chris Samuels and TE Chris Cooley.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, who have a 10-4 record after this past weekend, sent nobody to the Pro Bowl. This came as a surprise to some. However, one must keep in mind that Pro Bowl voting is done by the fans...which partially explains why the 12-2 Dallas Cowboys (with their large fanbase) are sending 11 players to the Pro Bowl, but the undefeated Patriots are only sending 8 and the 12-2 Green Bay Packers are only sending 4.

Bloomberg Making Moves Towards Presidential Bid

I simply cannot get a handle on current NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Now it seems that he's making some moves towards a run as an independent candidate for President. These moves include...

- Interviewing and contacting various advertising companies.

- Contact with previous campaign aides and advisors about an '08 bid

- Contacting various political consultants about a possible presidential run.

I don't know who Bloomberg would appeal to, he was a lifelong Democrat who became a Republican in 2001 (just in time to run for Mayor), then declared himself an Independent in June of this year "in response" to the current political climate in our nation's capital.

However, he has the personal coffers to win, having noted that he would spend up to $1 Billion of his own money to self-finance his own campaign. Other speculation has him self-financing a campaign from the slot of a VP candidate.

Nonetheless, I don't think Bloomberg could win a presidential run. He would, however, pull in most of the Independents, which leaves the party-affiliated voters left. We may see a candidate win the presidency with only 37-38% of the vote if that happened.

Omnibus Spending Bill Passes in House

Two separate votes took place on this bill. The first was a 253-154 vote in favor of clearing the actual spending measure, the second was a 206-201 vote in favor of allocating an extra $31 billion to the troops in Afghanistan (good job).

Republicans aren't exactly thrilled about this bill, though.

Republicans attacked the omnibus package, pointing out that many earmarks were “airdropped” into the bill at the last moment. They also were critical of Democratic leadership’s decision not to include Iraq war funding in the measure. Those funds are expected to be added by the Senate.

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), a vocal critic of earmarks, said a few of the airdropped earmarks simply seek to allocate money to cities without explanation.

Flake rattled off the names of cities and how much the bill will allocate to those locales.

“For what?” Flake asked. “We have no idea.”

Which is why we need to start seriously busting the pork barrel projects and wasteful spending with more transparency in government and by forcing justifcation for these earmarks before shoving them into bills at the last minute.

(h/t The Hill)

Gallup Poll: Congress Poll Numbers Low, Both Parties Suffering

I hear a lot of Democrats state that the sole reason for the extremely low poll numbers Congress has are the fault of the Republicans, who are "blocking" their agenda, which they believe America supports whole-heartedly.

I don't think that's the case.

According to the most recent USA Today/Gallup Poll, the two parties are within the 5 percent margin of error of each other. Republicans drawing an approval rate of 26 percent (68 percent disapproval), Democrats at 30 percent (64 percent disapproval).

Dems might want to start rethinking the blame game, because their overall ineffectiveness and the negative nature of their approach to legislation is turning on them quickly.