FU - FairAndUNbalanced.com

Jack Jodell, friend of the working blogger at THE SATURDAY AFTERNOON POST, remembers better times in television journalism, channeling a spot-on speech by Edward R. Murrow.

Tommy Christopher of Mediaite fame notes that Fox News is finally on to the alleged war on women. It has nothing to do with equality of opportunity in the workplace or reproductive rights or transvaginal probes. Turns out Democratic women envy Ann Romney for marrying the rich guy they all wish they had snagged. I'd ask my loved one if it's true, but I'm kind of afraid to find out.

On second thought, this was in the Deseret News in Salt Lake City:

A Tennessee sheriff deputy's report said the 40-year-old Turpin was clueless on July 22 when he became angry after seeing a photo of a man he didn't recognize on his girlfriend's Facebook page. It was the Republican presidential contender.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported the officer said Turpin smashed the laptop against a wall and then punched his girlfriend...

Nancy Hanks at The Hankster has more book reviewing and news of reforms to reduce the role of political parties in elections. I dunno. Maybe. Most new ideas start off sounding kind of over the top. Abolition. Voting Rights. Women's suffrage. Moon landings. Maple syrup without maple, or syrup, or Mrs. Butterworth.

Ryan at Secular Ethics looks for a compromise on the voter photo ID issue. He would like to have everyone get along by joining in finding a way to prevent any perceived fraud without preventing any legitimate voting. His presumption of conservative good faith is kind of cute, don't you think?

In Ohio, the latest move is a coordinated Republican effort to be sure polls in heavily GOP areas stay open extra hours on election day while those in Democratic areas close early. It is a pattern of which extreme rigid photo IDs are a small part. Keeping legitimate voters from casting ballots is not an unhappy drawback to conservatives. It is the objective. The sole objective.

But if you want a compromise, try this. Ask everyone for a photo ID, even though not everybody has one. If a voter doesn't have a photo ID, accept what reasonable proof of identity that voter does have. Here is a list of IDs that work.

Tim McGaha at Tim's Thoughtful Spot weighs the coming election, examines intrade speculation, and considers what might tilt the field back to Governor Romney.

At News Corpse, Mark watches the news story on Fox about how Mitt Romney is leading, about to trounce the socialist Kenyan fake President, and notices that they leave out a lot of polling. One exception is really really weird.

Infidel 753 opens eyes wide and quickly sees all those polls Fox somehow missed. Who would have guessed? A possible winner seems to emerge. Could it be?

Manifesto Joe of Texas Blues goes beyond Mitt Romney and his maybe-paid-something-in-the-last-ten-years taxes and observes a more massive off-shore tax scandal.

At Rumproast, Vixen Strangely airs an Obama ad on Romney taxes and looks into the story behind it. On our site, Jerry Critter corrects us on a simple tax comparison chart, noting that more information on a single year was finally released by Mitt Romney on his taxes since the original data was published. This does go on and on, doesn't it?

Every time a politician proposes income tax policy changes, we shift a little more burden to the rich and a little less burden from the poor. The process is deceptively simple, accumulates over time, and has damaged our politics.

Let's see. Under Eisenhower the top rate was 90 percent. Under Reagan it went to 39 percent. Under Bush it went to 35. And putting it back up to a maximum 39 percent for the extreme top sliver of the wealthy is a socialist outrage? Tapped out. Tipping point. Uh huh.

T. Paine, at Saving Common Sense, is a constant friend and sometime contributor here. This week he bemoans the fact that Americans are not massively attracted by the Romney plan to lower tax rates for the extremely wealthy thereby rescuing the economy. The proposal to help out the wealthy would be a sure winner if Americans were not so distracted by the release-your-taxes-Mr-Romney smoke being blown by socialist Marxist Democrats like ... well ... me, I suppose.

He wants a counter attack. Romney can't demand Obama's birth certificate. That one's pretty much played out. But T. Paine has a plan. He wants Romney to demand that President Obama release his school transcripts. To show that he got poor grades in school. yeah. That's the ticket.

My friend is really a lovable guy, but he does seem to have one demon. Ask him about President Obama and he not only answers in CAPS. The inside of your computer screen gets flecked with spittle.

Papamoka at Papamoka Straight Talk reveals that he is a devoted Catholic, a compassionate Democrat, and an unrepentant liberal. He sees no contradiction. For some reason he seems not to realize that the love shown by Jesus is combined with a hatred of gays and anti-colonial Kenyans who pretend to be President. T. Paine will have to explain it to him. Papamoka will be wise to bring an umbrella.

Since Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker survived the recall effort he has become a conservative hero to the point of near worship. James Wigderson explains that a conservative opponent from before Governor Walker's ascendance to Olympian heights now suffers from his unknowing heresy. Republican primaries have been really mean in the last couple of years. In this case a conservative Republican thinks he is about to eat a live kitten and finds himself caged in with a mountain lion. Kind of like Colonel Sanders getting to heaven and discovering God in the form of a chicken. Sorry, Lord. I'll stay for two services tomorrow morning. Promise.

Max's Dad watches Chik Fil A eat ins in awe. He passes harsh judgement on all us dumb as nails Christians. Uh. Excuse me, my brother. May I suggest a few small exceptions?

PZ Myers, writing for Pharyngula, is a committed atheist who attends all the club meetings. He notices a preponderance of aging white males as speakers. He pushes for more diversity at gatherings of atheists but seems to get some push back. I dunno. My modest proposal would be to consider a religious speaker or two? Just a thought. I've suggested to the pastor that a presentation by an atheist, perhaps a debate, might be worthwhile. Seems to be some hesitation there.

Well, even at my age you can learn something new. At Why do we have to do this, Sir? our aspiring religious leader tells of interminable ritual-heavy musical productions that some church baptisms have become. Imagine avoiding baptisms.

Caroline Taylor, a thoughtful citizen at Mad Mike's America, channels Neil Steinberg of the Chicago Sun Times. Steinberg never really liked Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood as a kid, but a viral remix on youtube has him remembering his days at age 5.

Vincent of A wayfarer's notes counts his blessings, mostly people, and thanks them individually. This has been done before and usually comes off as entertaining as a shopping list. But Vincent has a gift, and his list is uplifting and moving, a long way from boring.