Midday open thread

• The Club for Growth, whose endorsement of Henry Cuellar was their first-ever of a Democrat, approvingly posts the picture of Cuellar's, er, moment with Bush at the SOTU. Thank God we Democrats have an alternative.

• Just a headsup to progressive bloggers -- the Washington Times is working on a hitpiece on bloggers. Just got an email from one of their writers, Eric Pfeiffer asking "Would the Democrats have been more successful in the past if they had listened to the grassroots? And how do you define your role/influence on the Democratic Party?". We can all guess easily where this is going. Remember, with stuff like this, it's best to ignore. Don't validate their efforts.

• AlterNet gives us a good review of Crashing the Gate: Netroots, Grassroots, and the Rise of People-Powered Politics. Sweet.

• Jeffrey Feldman argues that the Netroots needs to develop a stronger self-identity, as in a distinct political pressure group. Matt Stoller makes much of the same point, only differently. As for me, I'm unconvinced. I dread the prospect of becoming just another pressure group, given my low regard for the existing bunch.

• And speaking of pressure groups, Jane Hamsher at Firedoglake, a formerly strong NARAL backer (to the point of defending their endorsement of Chafee), has had a change of heart. So has Digby.

• You know that DC Curling Team ad on the ad strip? The WaPo writes them up. As far as stunts go, that's a pretty good one on behalf of the statehood folks.

  It started with this: Remember the night during the 2004 Summer Olympics when the U.S. men's basketball team lost to, of all opponents, Puerto Rico? When the guys hanging out at the Adams Mill Bar in Adams Morgan got over the initial embarrassment of that loss, somebody raised the question: Why exactly does Puerto Rico have an Olympic team?

  Turns out Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands also have Olympic teams despite being territories of the United States. All of those places are represented in Congress by a non-voting delegate. Just like ... the District of Columbia, which doesn't have an Olympic team.

  The column is quite funny and an entertaining read.

• Digby on the missing White House emails.

• So, who is resisting even the wattered down lobbying "reforms" proposed by the House Republican leadership? Well, who else but Republicans?

  In a tense, 3 1/2 -hour closed-door session, many Republicans challenged virtually every element of the leadership's proposal, from a blanket ban on privately funded travel to stricter limits on gifts to an end to gym privileges for lawmakers-turned-lobbyists. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.), a veteran conservative who is seeking a top leadership post, scoffed that Congress knows how to do just two things well -- nothing and overreact, according to witnesses.

• Verizon caves to, um, some organization's lame complaints, but stick by the homophobe Chris Matthews.

• Help Aravosis figure out why his support of the troops is considered lack of support for the troops by the wingnuts.

• How did Pombo, one of the most anti-environment Republicans, get to be head of the House Resources committee? Read about it here.

• Crazy. The Patriot Act reauthorization would give Alberto Gonzales the power to decide death penalty appeals to federal courts. Good to see that this "essential" piece of terrorism-related legislation used for things that have absolutely nothing to do with terrorism.