I’d like to start by apologizing to the fine people of Minnesota… but really how could you send this woman to Washington?

First up, Michelle Bachmann, congresswoman from Minnesota, about 50 seconds in.

And now Barney Frank, congressman from Massachusetts

[youtube width=”320″ height=”265″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAzReB_KTeA[/youtube]

I’m sorry. It’s no contest. Not even close.

Maine’s judiciary committee voted today to push a gay marriage bill into the State Senate.

From the  Portland Press Herald…

Eleven members voted in favor of the bill, two voted against it, and one voted to send it to referendum.

The vote was briefly interrupted when a woman began yelling at legislators because she wanted them to reject the bill. Elaine Graham of Farmington was escorted from the Statehouse by Capitol Police, but will not face charges.

The bill will now move forward to the full Senate for consideration.

It remains unclear if the Governor John E. Baldacci will support the bill.

The dramatic chart below compares job losses from the past two recessions in 1990 and 2001 to the current economic crisis.

Thirteen months into a downward trend from a peak job month, employment numbers in 1990 and 2001 began to stabilize, but in the current recession the steep drop continues, with a total of 3.6 million jobs lost, and much of that in the past 4 months.

Scary chart provided by The Gavel.