Heidi: Considering A Switch? -- December 14, 2016

Who wudda thought? Ms Heitkamp must like being a US senator, and wants to keep her job. She is up for re-election in just two short years. If Trump has a great first two years, and if North Dakota fields a strong Republican contender, Heidi might have a short career. Fox News is reporting. Senator Heitkamp's mentors: Barack Obama, Joe Biden (74), Chuck Schumer (66), Nancy Pelosi (76), Barbara Mikulski (80), Barbara Boxer (76) -- something tells me Heidi (61), except for her age, doesn't really fit in.

Is it just me or do things seem to be moving very, very fast.

And "the Donald's" early morning tweets are still a few hours away.

Jill Stein: $1 million on overhead.

Stein, who pushed for recounts in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, raised $7.3 million for the efforts and said that “every dollar” went towards costs associated with the recount efforts.

The group, which claimed costs associated with the recounts hit $7.4 million, upped their fundraising goal four times since first calling for recounts. According to a breakdown of expenses contained on the fund’s website, Stein paid nearly $1 million on consultants and staff. The staff payroll tallied $212,500 while consultants pocketed $364,000. Administrative expenses, such as travel costs, ran $353,618.

In all, $930,118 was used to pay consultants, staff, and administrative costs.

Hacking? There are indications that Obama's Department of Homeland Security may have tried hacking Georgia state government. This would explain why the White House was so reticent/resistant/hesitant about beginning an investigation. No links. Story everywhere.

****************************

Clambake

WSJ.

• Kosher salt
• 8 small potatoes, such as fingerlings
• 15 medium to large clams, such as Cherrystones
• 15 large mussels, beards removed
• 2 lobster claws and 1 lobster tail
• 1 soft-boiled egg, peeled
• 2 ounces slab bacon, cut into ½-inch slices, 6 ounces smoked pork sausage, such as kielbasa, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges
• ½ stick butter, melted

1. Lidded large pot, salted water to boil over high heat: add potatoes; simmer until cooked halfway through - about 10 minutes.  Remove potatoes; leave boiling water on heat.

2. Meanwhile: clams and mussels in large bowl of cold water to clean; rinse lobster claws and tails.

3. Steamer basket: lobster claws, tail, mussels, clams, egg (soft-boiled), bacon, potatoes. Pot on medium-high heat; steamer basket into pot. Steam until potatoes are easily pierced with knife; lobster tail is bright pin, tender, about 15 minutes. Check pot during cooking; remove any opened mussels/clams to prevent over-cooking.

4. Transfer contents of basket to a platter. Serve with lemon wedges, a dish of warm, melted butter, and a bowl for discarded shells.