Playing off one of the most delightful lines from Monday night’s debate — “If you’re saying that I can be bought for $5,000, I’m offended” — WaPo digs in:

Perry’s gubernatorial campaign, for example, received nearly $30,000 from the drugmaker since 2000, most of it prior to his decision in 2007 to order young girls to obtain Merck’s vaccine against the human papillomavirus, or HPV.

Merck has also given more than $355,000 in donations to the Republican Governors Association since 2006, which was the year that Perry began to play a prominent role in the Washington-based group, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics.

Perry served as chairman of the RGA in 2008 and again this year until he decided to run for president. The group also ranks among Perry’s biggest donors, giving the Texas governor’s campaign at least $4 million over the past five years, according to Texans for Public Justice.

So now we know the nature of Perry’s offense: He’s not a whore — he’s an escort.

Perry has deep financial ties to maker of HPV vaccine [WaPo, via Political Wire]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKg-LPOXIMs

What They Say:

Renault, the first car manufacturer to offer a range of four electric vehicles accessible to everybody, reconfirms its commitment by launching an advertising campaign combining humour and education.

What We See:

A perfect demonstration of electricity generated by coal-fired plants.

[via Daring Fireball]

“Someone on the plane had reported that the three of us in row 12 were conducting suspicious activity. What is the likelihood that two Indian men who didn’t know each other and a dark-skinned woman of Arab/Jewish heritage would be on the same flight from Denver to Detroit?” [Stories from the Heartland, via Boing Boing]

If, after watching a Republican debate, you feel a compelling need to get the fuck off the planet, might we suggest Saturn? The rings are lovely when it eclipses the Sun, and in case you have second thoughts, you can still see Earth and remember why it was so important to put 979 million miles between you and the rest of godforsaken humanity.

In the Shadow of Saturn [NASA, via Kottke]

After Rick Perry famously declared Social Security a Fonzie Scheme, we couldn’t help but agree — Social Security is a broken jukebox that we’ve been kicking for years, but for the younger kids coming into the malt shop, sooner or later, it’s not gonna work.

Hold on. Richie Cunningham is elbowing us in the ribs.

Ponzi Scheme? Oh. Right.

Well, since our premise has completely collapsed, there’s nothing left but to cut to commercial welcome you to Yet Another GOP Debate Open Thread/Shark Jump. Be nice, or we’ll disappear you faster than Richie’s older brother.

Excerpt the First:

This isn’t about politics — it’s about what’s best for the American people, period.

Excerpt the Second:

Please make a donation of $25 to support the 2012 campaign today.

We’re voting “Snow Jobs”.

“My Endorsement:” [NRO]