Monday morning line

Sam Smith - Unnoted in the inability of the two parties to reach agreement on a number of fiscal matters is one long favored tool of compromise has been greatly diminished in importance thanks to criticism by the media and pseudo-saintly politicians. The tool is called an earmark and bad as an unnecessary road, museum, or new statue in front of the statehouse may seem, it was a great (and cheap) way to get past the stupid, rough spots. After all, an unnecessary statue is a hell of a lot better than a closed firehouse or school and lots more unemployed citizens. Or more years before you're eligible for Social Security.

Personal to Politico: You're wrong about the filibuster when you write: 

Republicans are threatening even greater retaliation if Reid uses a move rarely used by Senate majorities: changing the chamber’s precedent by 51 votes, rather than the usual 67 votes it takes to overhaul the rules.

As Ronald D. Rotunda of the Cato Institute has noted:

The Senate, unlike the House, is often called a continuing body because only one-third of its members are elected every two years. But that does not give the senators of a prior generation (some of whom were defeated in prior elections) the right to prevent the present Senate from choosing, by simple majority, the rules governing its procedure. For purposes of deciding which rules to follow, the Senate starts anew every two years.