I’ll never forget the first time I heard Keith Jarrett, in Japan. In 1973. In a tiny, smoky, crowded sushi bar/jazz club in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, drinking hot sake, transported to a new understanding of music. The realization that a human being could improvise such transcendent music was a huge inspiration, a door opening to a new universe of possibilities. That night we listened to the entire vinyl recording of Facing You and it changed my life.

The Köln Concert was released two years later in 1975, and it remains one of the pinnacles of Jarrett’s live improvised work, with moments so beautiful they’re not of this earth. This YouTube recording is the full album, in high resolution.

Charles Krauthammer gives President Obama credit for a “stunning accomplishment,” saying that Obama has ruthlessly shattered the Republican Party, breaking their will and causing an internal civil war while vacationing in luxury and playing golf every day: Krauthammer to Hannity: Obama Has Successfully Created ‘An Internal Civil War’ Within the GOP.

Also, Obama’s overplaying his hand, and will go down in history as a failed president with a radical ideology. And he needs to give in to the Republicans now or he’ll be blamed for the fiscal cliff.

Basically, Krauthammer’s throwing everything he has against the wall in this one, hoping something will stick. I’m no Beltway insider like the K-man, but it seems to me the Republican Party has done a pretty damned good job of shattering itself.

Following up on yesterday’s story about the crazed wingnut reactions to Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s proposed assault weapons ban, today we discover a new petition at the White House website: Try Senator Dianne Feinstein in a Federal Court for Treason to the Constitution.

The Constitution was written to restrain the government. No amendment is more important for this purpose than the 2nd amendment. The 2nd amendment was written so the power could be kept with the citizenry in the face of a tyrannical government. It was well understood the Constitution acknowledged certain rights that could not be limited by government.

Senator Dianne Feinstein has made it clear she does not believe in the Constitution or the inalienable rights of Americans to keep and bear arms. She is actively working to destroy the 2nd amendment with her 2013 assault weapons ban. For this reason we the people of the united States petition for her to be tried in Federal Court for treason to the Constitution.

Oh, for Pete’s sake. This petition page at the White House website just gets more and more ridiculous. Maybe it’s time to admit it’s an experiment that’s not working? (Unless the purpose is to show how crazy the right wing base can be, in which case it’s working very well.)

(h/t: Gus.)