{"id":6467,"date":"2011-12-09T00:00:23","date_gmt":"2011-12-09T08:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2011\/12\/09\/open-thread1292011-2\/"},"modified":"2011-12-09T00:00:23","modified_gmt":"2011-12-09T08:00:23","slug":"open-thread1292011-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2011\/12\/09\/open-thread1292011-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–12\/9\/2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday, I was still ill and spent most of the day in bed.  Nevertheless, I have a full slate of articles, and all deserve to be the lead article.  I\u2019m current with replies,  Today depends on how I feel.<\/font><\/p>\n

Jig Zone Puzzle<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

Today it took me 3:57 (average 4:31).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

From San Francisco Chronicle<\/a>: <\/font>Newt Gingrich’s network of businesses and policy groups that laid the groundwork for his presidential bid harken back to those that got him into ethics trouble and led to the biggest monetary penalty imposed on a U.S. House speaker.<\/p>\n

The charges raised more than a decade ago revolved around allegations that the former speaker improperly used tax-exempt charitable and education organizations to advance partisan political purposes. Today, government ethics advocates say the former speaker used a tax-exempt public policy group to promote his candidacy.<\/p>\n

Could it be more clear that Newt\u2019s ethics have not changed a bit since he was drummed out of the House in disgrace?<\/font><\/p>\n

From Bonamici for Congress<\/a>: <\/font><\/p>\n