We have an informal rule of thumb: Given a nation of 315,698,590 souls (and counting), even an insignificant percentage amounts to millions — or, for easy reference, the Fox News viewership. So rather than waste our time finding SOMEBODY WRONG ON THE INTERNET, we set a high squelch level: Stupid must be interesting. And, if possible, consequential.

However, in the interest of getting out of this week’s horrorshow/catvideo rut, we bring you Oklahoma House Co-Majority Leader Dennis Johnson — (R), of course — who said something you might expect of an (R) Oklahoma House Co-Majority Leader, and which we would otherwise ignore.

In debating in favor of a bill that would repeal a 70-year-old ban on “loss-leader” selling, Johnson, a small business owner, said service and not price are the key to success.

He then said some customers “try to Jew me down.”

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Day 3 of our special series, Jeezus Christ What’s This Fucking World Coming To?

Fertilizer plant burning near Waco. First responders on the scene. And then…

“It was a small fire and then water got sprayed on the ammonia nitrate, and it exploded just like the Oklahoma City bomb,” said Jason Shelton, a clerk at the Czech Best Western Hotel in West. “I live about a thousand feet from it and it blew my screen door off and my back windows. There’s houses leveled that were right next to it. We’ve got people injured and possibly dead.”

Early casualty reports are sketchy — we all know that drill — but a local EMS commander feared there could be dozens dead.

So, about that ammonia:

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Universal gun-purchase background checks “failed” in the Senate today, 54 to 46.

That’s 54 votes in favor. In Constitutional terms, more than half. Which is also generally regarded as winning.

Except for, y’know, the “filibuster”. Which is defined as “some internal Senate rule that has nothing to do with Article I, Section 3, and can be easily dismissed at will.”

White House spokesbot Jay Carney was angry, but he promised the Administration wouldn’t quit: “We believe there is a path, a very difficult path, to get to 60 votes.” White House spokesbot Jay Carney did not mention that the “very difficult path” is only there because Harry Reid wimped out on getting rid of it.

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CNN and AP are reporting an arrest in the Boston Marathon bombing. The suspect is due in federal court.

And the updates begin…

CNN seems to be walking back its report, but the Boston Globe is confirming. So we’re still good with two media sources.

Update 2: And, everybody walks it back. BPD and US Attorney deny reports.

Update 3: TPM has gleefully compiled CNN’s Journey to There and Back.

“The complaint says Jenny Sanford confronted Sanford leaving her Sullivans Island home on Feb. 3 by a rear door, using his cell phone for a flashlight.” —Court filing by the Ex, charging the Hiker with repeatedly violating their divorce settlement. Mark Sanford has a date with the judge two days after the SC congressional election. [AP]

Update: Ex-Gov/Ex-Husband responds:

I did indeed watch the second half of the Super Bowl at the beach house with our 14 year old son because as a father I didn’t think he should watch it alone.

Our dad took us to a Dirty Harry movie at 14, but we don’t think it was as violent as the Super Bowl.

Update 2: And, the Republicans cut him loose…

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Another ugly day, another necessary distraction. Some things just ain’t natural.

[via Know Your Meme]