Are you man enough to boycott Chuck Norris? Former Thompson staffer Daniel Ng is, roundhouse kicks notwithstanding.

Like most people, my first reaction on reading about the economic stimulus package was, "What's in it for me?" And the answer is, actually, a lot. I'm married, pay taxes, and have three kids at home, so the announced plan would give me $2100. Not bad, right?

Actually, it is bad.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a union membership increase by some 311,000 workers in 2007. This represented an actual increase in unions' share of the total labor force (to a not insignificant 12.1 percent from 12 percent) for the first time since 1983.

Taking note that the wheels are coming off, Republican Harris County Judge Ed Emmett warns his pals that the GOP salad days are over.

First, Upstate New York GOP 10-Termer James Walsh gets out of the governing business. Then, Florida Republican Dave Weldon says he wants to go back to being a doctor, and will likewise be quitting the House.

Mitt Romney seems to have benefited from the departure of Fred Thompson. Maybe you can credit that to the strength of Mittmentum, or perhaps it follows a logical progression for those conservative voters who find themselves Fredless and without a taste for Huckabee or McCain. As Giuliani inches closer and closer to electoral oblivion, it is worth wondering where his supporters are likely to go in the aftermath.

As a number of congressional Republicans try to use earmarks as an issue to criticize Democrats, the Politico decides they're going to expose the hypocrisy inherent in Republicans' claims.

"If this program wins approval ... Texas will replace Kansas as the laughingstock of the nation."

Hillary Clinton gets the nod from the New York Times largely on experience, which I imagine she is happy about. John McCain's similar honor seems as much a repudiation of Rudy Giuliani as an endorsement of McCain's candidacy, but essentially they say he is the most principled among a field comprised mostly of ghouls.

If you made it through all of the high-minded talk about Norris and Stallone, you might have also heard someone whisper "Raise taxes" just before Mitt Romney answered a question about whether he would do what Ronald Reagan did on social security. (He said he would not raise taxes.) I know it happened, and I'm not the only one who heard it. UPDATE: YouTube footage of said whisper after the jump.