7 things @ 9 o’clock (10.1)

1. Richard Hasen takes a look at “The Next Citizens United” — a case that could further erode, or obliterate, scrutiny of corporate campaign spending. It’s a disheartening read that gradually becomes an infuriating one. That’s an important distinction — TPTB want you listlessly depressed, not angry. Limitless Money vs. defeatist dismay is no contest, but when it’s Limitless Money vs. Mad as Hell, the outcome isn’t certain. So get angry.

Here’s a nudge in that direction: In Citizens United, Hasen reminds us, Justice Kennedy wrote, “Ingratiation and access, in any event, are not corruption.” That word “ingratiation” is based on the same root as the word “gratitude.” Kennedy’s attempted distinction between apple-polishing “ingratiation” and the quid-pro-quo of outright bribery, in other words, is etymological nonsense. Ingratiation, by definition, involves reciprocity.

2. I’ve often written about how the package-deal, house-of-cards Christianity + Inerrantism + Culture War nonsense is unsustainable and cruel — subjecting young people to an inevitable and painful crisis of faith and identity. (See, for example, “Hold on to the good“). Here’s a powerful first-person testimony of that traumatic — but liberating — crisis, from Kate at Time to Live, Friend.

Kate tells her story with courageous honesty, and her story involves others before her who told their stories with courageous honesty. Keep telling your stories. It matters.

3. Bravo for Lambertville, N.J., Mayor David DelVecchio. Lambertville and New Hope are worth going out of your way to visit, by the way, not just because they’re hip, artsy towns with all kinds of cool museums, theaters, shops and restaurants, but also because the bridge there is one of the few remaining places you can cross without having to pay a toll to get out of New Jersey.

4. TBogg is back. Bassets and all. Now if we could just get the Editors to come out of retirement, too …

5. I am shocked — shocked! — to learn that the Good Christian Young People of Students for Life are bearing false witness against Planned Parenthood. Christians destroying their witness and corrupting their faith by embracing obvious and easily disproved lies about Planned Parenthood? Why, that’s unprecedented!

6. Former Sen. Rick Santorum’s EchoLight Studios is producing a Christmas movie based on a Max Lucado book and featuring Susan Boyle in her acting debut. I’m not making that up. I’m not even capable of making that up.

“Classic movies like It’s a Wonderful Life show us that even in the most difficult times, we can hold on to the hope that surrounds Christmas,” the former U.S. senator added. “We made The Christmas Candle in that same tradition.”

That’s an odd statement from someone who spent his entire political career ingratiating himself to Old Man Potter.

7. YouTube will be attempting to unsoil the sheets, taking steps to try to make its comments sections something other than the cesspool they are now.

My first reaction was a shout of joy — at last, someone was going to hire the millions of Americans unable to find work since 2007! But it turns out that hiring humans isn’t a big part of this plan. YouTube thinks it has new social media tools and technological fixes. Good luck with that.