PREPARING FOR THE WORST

Oh, christ

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/51836
Carol Browner, the President’s adviser on environment and climate change, said on Face the Nation that BP’s next effort after "top kill" failed to staunch the gusher could make things even worse, and that we may be facing months of uncontrolled oil/gas gushing into the Gulf. . . . [read on]

http://firedoglake.com/2010/05/30/why-did-obama-trust-big-oil/
[Obama] Where I was wrong was in my belief that the oil companies had their act together when it came to worst-case scenarios. . . . [read on]

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/who-could-have-known-there-were-safet
[NYT] Internal documents from BP show that there were serious problems and safety concerns with the Deepwater Horizon rig far earlier than those the company described to Congress last week. . . [read on]

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/no_plan.php
[MM] What has continued to bother me about this whole affair is that no drilling projects can be initiated without full disaster fall-back plans that have to be approved by the government. These plans are supposed to take in every eventuality. . . . [read on]

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/opinion/30rich.html
Obama’s Katrina? Maybe Worse

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/024034.php
Dana Milbank argues today that while his predecessor "refused to accept blame," President Obama seems to accept too much blame. . . .

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/024036.php
Conservative columnist George Will said this morning that President Obama is "being unfairly blamed" for the response to the BP oil spill disaster. But, Will added, he's glad the president is receiving the unfair criticism anyway. . . .

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/30/871323/-Risk-communication-and-disasters:-just-tell-the-truth

A misguided apology

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2010/05/wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.html
"The first thing to say is I'm sorry," [BP CEO] Tony Hayward said when asked what he would tell people in Louisiana, where heavy oil has already reached parts of the state's southeastern marshes.

"We're sorry for the massive disruption it's caused their lives. There's no one who wants this over more than I do. I would like my life back."

The Obama Justice Dept may go after Arizona’s immigration law

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/justice-department-may-step-fray-agains

Republican irresponsibility, without fear of consequences

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/024033.php
[Steve Benen] There are, at present, about 240 administration nominees waiting for a confirmation vote, an almost comically ridiculous number given how long they've been waiting. On Thursday, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) tried to reduce the number by seeking unanimous consent to approve about a third of the pending nominees as a bloc. The total of about 80 officials was made up of nominees who'd already been through the vetting process, had already been approved by the relevant committee, and were filling government posts that are currently vacant.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) refused. It wasn't because the nominees weren't qualified; it was because McConnell's feelings were hurt when the White House gave a recess appointment to Craig Becker to serve on the National Labor Relations Board earlier this year.

And so, important government posts remain vacant, and qualified officials wait patiently for months (or years) for no apparent reason, because Mitch McConnell isn't especially concerned with whether our federal government has the personnel in place to function as it's supposed to. . . .

More: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/05/weakening-america-mitch-mcconnell-shows-how/57441/

Gee, I can’t see any way THIS could cause problems

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/30/AR2010053003471.html
New records show some lobbyists are top fundraisers for political candidates

Bonus item: The New Puritans think Michelle Obama is a slut

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/cleavage-and-crossed-legs-this-week-for.html
[Glenn Beck] "Did you see the picture of his wife yesterday, all dolled up? 'Sex in the City' is what it said on the Drudge Report. She looks positively like she's trying to be some Greek statue. I don't think I've ever seen the first lady with her -- excuse the expression -- but with her breasts all smooshed up, sort of. I mean, what is that?" [read on]

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

A MATTER OF TIMING

It could happen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/28/AR2010052804854.html
Options studied for a possible Pakistan strike

http://mydd.com/2010/5/29/us-looking
[Charles Lemos] We are already striking at Pakistan. Unmanned drone attacks have become so commonplace that they are not even reported anymore . . . [read on]

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/29/870729/-U.N.-official-to-call-for-halt-of-C.I.A.-drone-strikes-in-Pakistan
U.N. official to call for halt of C.I.A. drone strikes in Pakistan

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/05/drones-and-the-rule-based-global-order.php
[Matt Yglesias] The problematic aspect of the drone attacks that I haven’t seen discussed as much as it deserves is really on the Pakistan side of the border and concerns the National Security Strategy’s stated aspiration to create a rules-based global order.

Simply put, having the CIA conduct a secret undeclared de facto war in Pakistan is kind of the reverse of rules-based activity. . . . [read on]

Obama is honoring troops at another cemetery tomorrow, not Arlington. He’s not the first President to do this. But of course, because it’s him, it’s INTOLERABLE

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/024030.php

Gee, why is he saying this NOW?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/29/AR2010052903029.html
[Mark Kirk, R-IL] The Republican candidate for President Obama's old Senate seat has admitted to inaccurately claiming he received the U.S. Navy's Intelligence Officer of the Year award for his service during NATO's conflict with Serbia in the late 1990s. . . . "upon a recent review of my records, I found that an award listed in my official biography was misidentified"

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/29/871202/-IL-Sen:-Kirk-admits-inaccurately-claiming-military-award
[T]he military award has been listed on Kirk's official taxpayer-funded site from 2003 until the present.

But there’s more: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/29/871133/-IL-Sen:-Mark-Kirk-has-some-explaining-to-do
[Nitpicker] Mark Kirk was claiming on his campaign site to be "the only member of Congress to serve stateside during Operation Iraqi Freedom," which was true, but on his official web site he claimed to be "the only member of Congress to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom." . . .

I received an e-mail which pointed out that Kirk had "deployed" to Afghanistan while in office. Let me call bullshit on that, too. Kirk, it seems, found a way to perform his Annual Training periods in a war zone. Yes, I give him some credit for going over there in the first place, but, he is claiming he was on a "deployment" when he was merely performing his two-week-long bare minimum active duty requirement.

No connection, I’m sure: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/05/orrin_hatch_introduces_amendme.html
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is attempting to amend the 2005 Stolen Honor Act, which criminalized false claims of military service . . .

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/orrin-hatchs-combat-amendment-fools-it
Orrin Hatch's 'combat amendment' for fools: Is it retroactive?

Indefinite detention: the Obama version

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/05/29/kafka

Remember the GOP whines about “criminalizing politics”?

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/republicans-criminalizing-politics-over-sestak

Questions with simple answers

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/driftglass-and-bluegal-weekly-podcast-it-s
Is it sexist to call Sarah Palin stupid?

[NB: No.]

Sunday talk show line-ups

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/the-sunday-show-line-ups-51.php
• ABC, This Week: Former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

• CBS, Face The Nation: White House Energy Adviser Carol Browner, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), Louisiana State University environmental scientist Edward Overton, Ph.D.

• CNN, State Of The Union: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), Sen. David Vitter (R-LA).

• NBC, Meet The Press: White House Energy Adviser Carol Browner, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ).

Bonus item: Glenn Beck gets called on his vulgar attacks on Obama’s young daughter (and his hypocrisy). Here’s his “apology,” which turns out to be . . . another attack

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/glenn-beck-issues-historys-lamest-ap

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

WHO’S CRAZY?

No, they aren’t going to like this at all

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/planned_muslim_cultural_center_near_ground_zero_pr.php
Planned Muslim Cultural Center Near Ground Zero Prompts Massive Right-Wing Freakout

Just can’t stop hating him

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/05/28/argentine-prime-bush-war/
Former Argentine president says Bush told him ‘the best way to revitalize the economy is war.’

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2009/aug/10/religion-george-bush
[A] well-sourced story claims Bush invaded Iraq because of Bible prophecies . .

Interesting: it was Bill Clinton who played intermediary between the WH and Joe Sestak

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/05/exclusive_white_house_asked_cl_1.html

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/sestak-i-said-no-when-clinton-offered.php

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/sestak-to-reporters-theres-nothing-wrong-that-was-done.php

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/05/sestak-quid-pro-quo

Can we drop this now?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/024016.php

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/will-issa-cry-again-over-sestak-non-scandal

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/28/sestak-obama-job-offer-le_n_593826.html

What, no impeachment?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/28/870837/-Call-off-the-impeachment

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/05/bush_ethics_chief_to_gop_time.html

How the press hyperinflated this “scandal”

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/air-seeps-out-fox-news-hyperinflated

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/and-were-off-sestak-non-scandal-gets.html

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/vernon-jordan-in-library-with-candle.html

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/did-bill-clinton-have-sex-with-that.html

Jay Bybee, co-author with John Yoo of the Bush/Cheney torture memos, was rewarded with a judgeship. How’s he doing?

http://www.slate.com/id/2255451/

I guess you could call this a change of heart

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/i_am_no_longer_willing_or_able_to_remain_silent.php
You may remember Roy Ashburn, the staunchly anti-gay rights California legislator arrested in early March for drunk driving after leaving a gay nightclub in Sacramento. Ashburn, now openly gay, is speaking out in favor of gay rights.

Well, we all know the Conventional Wisdom, that the furious tidal wave of teabagger support will carry the Repubs back to a majority in the House, at least. Except for those damn facts . . .

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/024021.php
[Steve Benen] For the last several months, congressional Republicans acted as if taking the majority of at least one chamber was practically a foregone conclusion. The question wasn't whether the House GOP would be in the majority in 2011, but how big it would be.

Have you noticed the dramatic shift in rhetoric of late? . . . [read on]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/024017.php
Marc Ambinder ponders an interesting question today: "With the exception of Scott Brown's miraculous Senate race victory in Massachusetts -- and even there, one can question the premise -- has the Tea Party movement really done anything to help the Republican Party this cycle?"

As far as I can tell, not much. The trend started early on, in the special election in New York's 23rd congressional district, where Tea Party activism helped a Democrat win a seat that's been held by Republicans for about 150 years.

But notice how this has continued in the ensuing months. The Senate race in Kentucky was going to be an easy one for Republicans, but thanks to the Tea Party crowd, now it's a Democratic pick-up opportunity. The Senate race in Florida was a lock for the GOP, but thanks to Tea Partiers, the frontrunner is currently an independent who might caucus with Dems. The Senate race in Nevada looked very bad for Majority Leader Harry Reid (R), but thanks to Tea Party, his prospects have improved considerably in recent months.

In several other races -- Illinois, California, Colorado, Connecticut -- Tea Partiers keep pushing Republicans further and further to the right, which in turn gives Democrats stronger chances of success.

The Tea Party crowd also had a hand in ending Sen. Bob Bennett's (R) career in Utah, and while the race is almost certainly out of reach for Dems, the ordeal made the entire Republican Party look bad. . . . [read on]

And they’ve LOST the Latinos: http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/05/why-the-offense-offensive-wont-wor.php

Joe Lieberman loves to jerk the Democrats’ chain, sometimes it seems just for the satisfaction of doing so. Now he says he hasn’t decided who to support in the Connecticut Senate race. Is he REALLY going to endorse the Pro Wrestling Queen?

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/joes_ultimate_shark_jump.php

(I’m sure he’ll eventually endorse the winner) http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/05/28/blumenthal_solidly_ahead_of_mcmahon.html

Nikki Haley (R-SC), caught up in accusations that she had an extramarital affair, promises to answer all questions . . . after the election

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/28/haley_phone_election

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/28/870644/-SC-GOV:-Haley-strategy:-Let-time-bomb-tick

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/quite_a_pro.php

Rand Paul’s latest: repeal the 14th Amendment

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/rand-pauls-cafeteria-constitutional-0

What’s “crazy”? What’s “mainstream”? And who decides?

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/05/28/crazy

Glenn Beck says it’s oh so wrong for people to go after Sarah Palin’s kids – and then goes after Obama’s 11 year old daughter

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/glenn-beck-leaves-no-child-behind-or-unmock

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/28/glenn-beck-attacks-presid_n_593587.html

Let's dish: how did Joe McGinniss get the house next door to Sarah Palin?

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/ha-sarah-palins-neighbors-sought-out

Explain to me why the "serious" press feels the need to defer to this woman

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201005280015
Palin smears famous author as possible pedophile; Time calls the attack shrewd

Bonus item: This must be why Bristol Palin earns $10,000 a pop for public speaking

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/05/28/quote_of_the_day.html
"I was like, 'Mom, Mom.' I was bawling my eyes out. She was like, 'What's wrong?' And I was like, 'I'm pregnant.' And she was like 'Oh my God. Holy crap.'"

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

STRANGE BREW

Biggest oil spill in U.S. history

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/024003.php

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2010/05/bp_stops_oil_flow_as_slick_now_worst_in_us_history.php

If we’ve been capturing terrorists, where are we putting them?

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/05/where-are-all-those-captured-terrorists-mr-brennan/57322/

Gitmo forever!

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/05/administration-fights-back-on-gitmo/57349/

The end is near . . for DADT

http://mydd.com/2010/5/27/senate-armed-services-committee

As the inevitable approaches, the desperate and futile arguments against repealing it get more and more bizarre

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/family-research-council-end-of-dadt-means-more-gay-rape-in-the-military.php

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/top_social_conservative.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/27/group-warns-that-dont-ask_n_592000.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023995.php

I wish we could have an honest public conversation about the elusive myth of bipartisanship and why it CAN’T HAPPEN

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/26/870054/-No-More-Play-Pretend-On-Bipartisanship

I hope the GOP will put this front and center as a reason they want to take over the House: some would like to impeach Obama

http://mydd.com/2010/5/27/impeaching-obama

http://www.balloon-juice.com/2010/05/27/feel-the-impeachmentum/

More on the Sestak issue: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/05/curious-case-joe-sestak

http://mydd.com/2010/5/27/it-happens-all-the-time

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/27/sestak-scandal-is-busines_n_592012.html

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/05/time_to_clean_up_sestak_mess_p.html

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/05/obama_does_right_thing_vows_of.html

Orrin Hatch (R-UT), one of the very worst Republicans, wants to exploit Richard Blumenthal’s (D-CT) misstatements about his Vietnam service by making it a federal crime to lie about one’s military service. Mr. Hatch must have a short memory

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/024005.php
[Steve Benen] George W. Bush made false claims about his war record, as did Ronald Reagan. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) greatly exaggerated his service in the first Gulf War, and Rep. Mark Kirk, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Illinois, claimed on his website to be "the only member of Congress to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom," which isn't true. In California, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Chuck DeVore has had some trouble on this front, too. . .

Chicken Queen Sue Lowden (R-NV) keeps shooting herself in the foot

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/nevada_gop_continues_to_entertain.php

Meanwhile, in Connecticut, Rob Simmons (R), who dropped out, says Wrestling Queen Linda McMahon can’t win

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/the_dems_lucky_breaks.php

Meanwhile, in SC, Family Values Queen Nikki Haley (R) continues to deny an affair. But there are photos . . .

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/folks_claims_compromising_photo_of_him_and_sc_gov.php

Queen of the Constitution Sarah Palin thinks that “violating the freedom of the press” means the press doing its job

http://www.slate.com/id/2255285/

I’m sure you’ve heard that Joe McGinniss is writing a book about Palin and bought the house next door as a base of operations. You may have also heard about Palin’s all-out effort to paint McGinniss as a creep – or worse. But now it’s getting out of hand

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/27/worst_palin_mcginniss_story
[ABC] Reporter Neal Karlinsky quotes Palin calling McGinniss an "odd character" without pointing out to his audience that McGinniss is a respected, longtime reporter, who has written about Palin and Alaska before. . . .

Karlinsky repeats the weird and completely over-the-line accusation by Palin that McGinniss is spying on Piper's bedroom. . . . [read on]

More: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/27/sarah_palin_fence

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

CREDIT AND BLAME

Think Obama will get any credit for this?

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/05/26/stimulus_package_worked_better_than_projected.html
The $800 billion economic stimulus package signed into law early last year "has had a slightly bigger effect on the U.S. economy than was projected when it was passed more than a year ago," the Wall Street Journal reports. . . [read on]

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/801-economy/99915-cbo-finds-stimulus-bill-boosted-job-growth
A report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office shows the Recovery Act has increased the number of workers by between 1.2 million and 2.8 million. The CBO also projects that 3.7 million jobs could be attributed to the stimulus by the end of September. . . .

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023981.php

The Obama Doctrine

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/05/obamas-pre-emptive-doctrine/57272/

The latest on the financial reform conference committee

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/progressives-demand-no-behind-closed-doors-deals-on-wall-street-reform.php
Progressives Demand: No Behind-Closed-Doors Deals On Wall Street Reform

More: http://mydd.com/2010/5/26/financial

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/wall-street-reformers-worry-about-schumers-role-in-financial-reform-negotiations.php

Lessons to be learned from the Gulf oil spill

http://firedoglake.com/2010/05/26/lessons-of-the-deepwater-horizon-disaster/

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/37297

How the DADT deal got done

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/behind-the-scenes-how-the-deal-to-repeal-dadt-got-done.php

What now? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/26/dadt-repeal-accelerates-a_n_590965.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023980.php

The attack on public education

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/05/26/dismanteling-public-education-one-brick-at-a-time/

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/05/26/white-house-botches-state-aid-for-teachers/

Nikki Haley, the latest philandering Repub from SC, has some explaining to do

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/a_very_tight_needle_to_thread.php

More: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/26/nikki_haley_affair_texts

Phony scandals and faux outrage: a GOP specialty

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/26/870228/-Republican-Senators-call-for-a-special-prosecutor-

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/gop-scandal-monster-releases-its-deadly.html

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/gop-is-going-into-serious-training-in.html

Here’s how bad Fox News has gotten

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/fox-news-lie-so-bad-gop-rep-slams-them-i-d
Fox News Lie So Bad GOP Rep. Slams Them

Your daily Palinism

http://www.americablog.com/2010/05/w.html

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023991.php

Turn up the crazy

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/now-glenn-beck-sounds-just-militia-l
Glenn Beck sounds just like a militia leader from the 1990s: A 'new world order' of 'global governance' is coming!

Bonus item: Meet the teabaggers!

http://mydd.com/2010/5/26/send-chase-and-erick-to-netroot



***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

GUESS WHICH PARTY

“A new kind of war” – where are we going?

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/05/obama-gives-commanders-wide-berth-for-secret-warfare/57202/
Obama Gives Commanders Wide Berth for Secret Warfare

More: http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/05/24/the-joint-unconventional-warfare-task-force-execute-order/

Meet the MMS – the federal agency supposed to oversee oil drilling

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/us/25mms.html

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/ig_report_finds_free_peach_bowl_tickets_for_mms_in.php

The phony outrage over the Sestak “job offer”

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023966.php

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/even_crew_says_sestaks_claim_of_job_offer_is_no_sc.php

Is this new “compromise” really the end of DADT, or not?

http://gay.americablog.com/2010/05/kerry-eleveld-explains-how-we-got-where.html

More: http://www.advocate.com/printArticle.aspx?id=114445

Pro wrestling mama nominated for Senate in Connecticut (Guess which party)

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/25/rob_simmons_withdraws

It looks obvious that SC gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley did have an extramarital affair (Guess which party)

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/virtual_paper_trail.php
. . .years of emails, voicemails, and texts . . .

So, there’s only one thing left to do, right?

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/haley_my_enemies_are_behind_bloggers_claim_of_affa.php
Haley: My Enemies Are Behind Blogger's Claim Of Affair With Me

Oh yeah, and this . . .

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/05/nikki-haleys-palin-approved-family-values-ad/57217/
Nikki Haley: I am a woman who understands that through the grace of God all things are possible. . . . Announcer: Nikki Haley supporter, Governor Sarah Palin. Gov. Sarah Palin: A strong pro-family, pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-development, conservative reformer, your next governor, Nikki Haley.

Oops!

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/upping_the_ante_1.php
Conservative South Carolina blogger Will Folks is now saying that his claimed one-time paramour, Nikki Haley, and her campaign staff actually asked him for advice about how to handle the revelation of their affair shortly before he went public on Monday.

“Worst candidate ever” (Guess which party)

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/vaughn-ward-worst-candidate-ever.php

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/25/vaughn_ward_plagiarist

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#37346440

Dumbest member of Congress (Guess which party)

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/eeesh_pass_the_popcorn.php

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/25/mccain_mocks_hayworth

You sometimes hear about overzealous campaign workers for a candidate tearing down the campaign signs of an opponent – but usually not the candidate himself (Guess which party)

http://mydd.com/2010/5/25/rob-johnson

Within minutes of Scott Brown’s (R-MA) election he was being hailed as a leading presidential candidate for 2012. Well . . .

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/tea-partiers-getting-upset-scott-brown
Tea Partiers getting upset with Scott Brown

Within minutes of Rand Paul’s GOP nomination in Kentucky (he hadn’t even won the general election yet) he was being hailed as a leading presidential candidate for 2012. Well . . .

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/24/AR2010052402991.html
[Eugene Robinson] Republican crisis managers wisely didn't allow Paul to stray within range of the Sunday talk shows, but they can't keep him hidden away in some Kentucky cave until November. . . . [read on]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/05/mitch-mcconnell-to-rand-paul-shut-your-yapper.html
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is telling fellow Kentuckian Paul to shut his pie hole.

“I think he's said quite enough for the time being . . .” [read on]

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023960.php

Our ridiculous political discourse

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023964.php
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) lamented on Tuesday what he said were efforts to "jam through" a repeal of the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. . . . [read on]

Karl Rove is shocked – shocked! – to hear that the Obama administration was trying to interfere in the Pennsylvania Senate election. Shocked!

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/05/why-is-karl-rove-on-tv-talking-about-politicizing-government.php

More selective and misleading editing from Fox News – it’s what they do

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023970.php

The GOP keeps trying to get all Internetty – and they still don’t know how to do it

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/house-gopers-want-to-know-what-america-thinkskind-of.php
House Republicans are looking for a few good ideas from Americans -- as long as they're Republican ideas. . . [read on]

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/25/869705/-Its-deja-vu-all-over-again-for-the-GOP

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/25/new-gop-initiative-stumbl_n_588748.html

http://crooksandliars.com/kombiz/how-tax-payers-are-bailing-out-gop-because

Bonus item: The Tea Party poems

http://www.slate.com/id/2254973/

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

MIXED MESSAGES

Financial reform: so, which is it?

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/05/23/as-wall-street-demands-fealty-progressives-can-learn-from-the-finreg-debate-too/
[Politico] Wall Street executives say language in the Senate financial reform bill dealing with derivatives is like a horror movie slasher — repeatedly left for dead, only to rise again and again. . . .

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/05/24/wall-street-white-house-admit-financial-industry-unchanged-by-reform-bill/
[NYT] “If you talk to anyone privately, there’s a sigh of relief,” said one veteran investment banker who insisted on anonymity because of the delicacy of the issue. “It’ll crimp the profit pool initially by 15 or 20 percent and increase oversight and compliance costs, but there’s no breakup of any institution or onerous new taxes.” . . .

http://washingtonindependent.com/85482/consumer-groups-praise-financial-reform-but-cautiously
Consumer Groups Praise Financial Reform – But Cautiously

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/opinion/24krugman.html
[Paul Krugman] So here’s how it is: They’re as mad as hell, and they’re not going to take this anymore. Am I talking about the Tea Partiers? No, I’m talking about the corporations. . . . [read on]

Repeal of DADT coming soon

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/24/dont_ask_dont_tell_repeal

A done deal: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/is_it_a_done_deal.php

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/22/868832/-DADT:-White-House-signs-off-on-repeal-compromise

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/05/end-dadt-near

Rand Paul disappears into a secure undisclosed location

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/24/rand_paul_meet_the_press

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/paul-backers-back-away-from-dust-up-by-calling-him-a-novice.php
GOPers Back Away From Rand Paul

I gave Michael Steele a hard time yesterday for refusing to condemn Rand Paul’s comments without watching the whole interview. Yes, he is a weasel – but on this issue he was okay

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64M1Y120100523
Michael Steele, the first black chairman of the Republican National Committee, said Paul's criticism of provisions in the 1964 Civil Rights Act arose from the candidate's libertarian philosophy but "his philosophy is misplaced in these times."

"I don't think it's where the country is right now. The country litigated the issue of separate but equal," Steele told the "Fox News Sunday" show. "I think in this case Rand Paul's philosophy got in the way of reality." . . .

Asked on ABC's "This Week" about Paul's views on the civil rights law, Steele said: "I wasn't comfortable with it." . . .

The mighty, mighty RNC

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/05/24/document_reveals_bleak_rnc_fundraising.html
An internal RNC document paints "a damning picture" of the party's finances . . .

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023952.php

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023941.php

The Party of Gimmicks

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023955.php

The GOP seems determined to offend and alienate all but their truest believers

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/24/arizona_puppet_ad

WTF? The Queen of “drill baby drill” accuses OBAMA of being too cozy with the oil companies. Are we in Bizarro World?

http://www.americablog.com/2010/05/palin-accuses-obama-of-deep-ties-to-big.html

Watch: http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/palin-accuses-obama-of-being-in-bed-with-big-oil-video.php

WH responds: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/05/taking-sarah-seriously

A damning admission by Sarah Palin’s father

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/05/24/palin_doesnt_make_the_decisions.html

Another sexually adventurous pol from South Carolina – this time, a woman

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/palins-pal-nikki-haley-who-once-boa-0

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/i_did_not_have_sexual_relations_with_that_man.php

Blaming the messenger

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/24/palin_nikki_haley

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/paul_slams_msnbc_bias.php

Who the teabaggers REALLY are

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/core-mission-of-tea-party-isnt-what-you.html

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/anchors-away-teabag-nativism-rises-to.html

Bonus item: There are those who are ignorant of history, and there are those who ignore history. . . . and then there are the Republicans, who just make it up any way that they like

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/hayworth-in-my-history-us-didnt-formally-declare-war-on-nazi-germany-video.php

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

PREJUDICED

Watch Michael Steele weasel out of a statement on Rand Paul’s opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023938.php
“I can't condemn a person's view. That's like, you know, you believe something and I'm going to say, ‘Well, you know, I'm going to condemn your view of it.’”

More: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/05/sunday_roundup_1.html

Watch: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/37242

Just remember: http://firedoglake.com/2010/05/23/rand-paul-is-just-saying-out-loud-what-republicans-have-believed-for-years/
Rand Paul is Just Saying Out Loud What Republicans Have Believed for Years

For pols, having a double standard isn’t a bug – it’s a feature

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/john-cornyn-rand-vs-blumenthal-raging

In Sarah Palin’s world, when you question someone for opposing the Civil Rights Act, that makes you “prejudiced”

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/37240

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023936.php

[NB: Yes, I too am prejudiced against people who make excuses for racism.]

Sarah Palin’s feminism

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/23/869193/-Sarah-Palin-vs.-Joans-Grandma
“I kinda feel a connection to that tough, gun totin’ pioneer feminism,” she told the enthusiastic crowd of anti-abortion activists . . . [read on]

More on the APA’s role in the torture regime

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/50281

Digby wants more political action on the Gulf oil spill

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/waiting-for-hero-to-arrive-gulf-spill.html

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/nobody-likes-to-have-feeling-that-you.html

Leave Sue Lowden al-o-o-o-ne!

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2010/05/chicken_costumes_banned_at_nev_polling_places.php
Chicken Costumes Banned at Nev. Polling Places

The horror, the horror

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/cliff-norfolk-va-students-given-unborn-fetu
Elementary students given unborn fetus dolls at school

I find this deeply reassuring

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/opinion/23rich.html
[Frank Rich] IF there is one certain outcome to recent American elections, it’s this: The results will invariably prove most of the Beltway’s settled political narratives wrong. . . .[read on]

Democrats can be stupid too

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/oh-yes-she-did-jane-harman-said-it-its.html
[Jane Harman, D-CA] "I just want to say how flattered I was in the last election to be introduced as the best Republican in the Democratic Party," she told several hundred civic leaders at the downtown Los Angeles meeting. "I accept." [now she’s denying it]

Bonus item: The Washington Post, always helping us keep perspective on what really matters

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/23/869085/-Midday-Open-Thread
Elena Kagan goes on Supreme Court confirmation offensive in drab D.C. clothes

More idiocy: http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/05/scotus-kagan-fashion.php
[WP] ‘Most women…cross their legs when sitting, but not Elena Kagan.’ [read on]

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

THE THIRD WAVE

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023931.php
[Steve Benen] I'm occasionally reminded of a David Brooks column from early February. Scott Brown had just been sworn in to fill Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, and there was a real and pervasive sense that the Obama presidency was not just moving in the wrong direction, but would fail to achieve anything else of consequence.

"If, a year ago, you had been asked to describe the administration's goals in one sentence it would have been this: Barack Obama will usher in the third great wave of Democratic reform," Brooks wrote at the time. "Franklin Roosevelt had the New Deal. Lyndon Johnson had the Great Society. Obama would take the third step, transforming health care, energy, education, financial regulation and many other sectors of American life.... It was not to be.... [T]he original Obama project, the third Democratic wave, is dead."

Three months later, with milestone accomplishments having been completed and Wall Street reform nearing completion, the NYT's David Leonhardt considers an alternate look at the same historical model. . . [read on]

http://www.samefacts.com/2010/05/uncategorized/why-i-remain-an-obamabot
[Mark Kleiman] [T]his is already the most successful Democratic President since LBJ.

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/22/business/economy/22leonhardt.html
A Progressive Agenda to Remake Washington

BP to EPA: KMA

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/49972
BP Says “NO” to EPA on Switching Dispersants: Who’s in Charge?

More: http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/05/bp_is_sticking_with_its_disper.html

Rand Paul: one and a half views

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/05/rand_paul_is_still_ducking_the.html
[Greg Sargent] Maybe I'm wrong. But I think people still aren't focused enough on the core issue at the heart of the controversy over Rand Paul's comments about the Civil Rights Act.

Specifically: Paul, the darling of the Tea Partyers and one of the highest profile GOP Senate candidates in the country, cannot bring himself to say -- clearly and unequivocally -- that the Federal government should have the power to prohibit private businesses from discriminating on the basis of skin color, religion, or national origin.

Sure, Paul has now said he would have voted for the Civil Rights Act. And his spokesman has clarified under questioning that, yes, Paul believes the Federal government should have this power.

But Paul himself can't manage to say this. He visibly doesn't want to say this. It's remarkable. . . .

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/bill-kristol-rand-paul-sophisticated-compl
Bill Kristol: Rand Paul Sophisticated, Complicated, Attractive, Plainspoken, Honest and Thoughtful

The return of the K Street Project

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023930.php

Two Dems split the majority, losing an otherwise safe Hawaii seat

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/goper-djou-picks-up-hi-01-house-seat-thanks-to-split-dem-vote.php

Idiot

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/15/AR2010051502884.html
[Sarah Palin] "It's time for Americans across this great country to stand up and say, 'We're all Arizonans now'" . . .

Some day they’ll be saying it about you, Glenn

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/glenn-beck-americans-glad-fdr-was-dead
BECK on FDR: Am I wrong by saying there was a good portion of people that thought, "Holy cow, I'm glad he's dead. . . .”

Sunday talk show line-ups

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/the-sunday-show-line-ups-50.php
• ABC, This Week: Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.

• CBS, Face The Nation: White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA), Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), BP managing director Bob Dudley.

• NBC, Meet The Press: Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), Senate nominee Rand Paul (R-KY), National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (R-TX), Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ).

Bonus item: Things we already knew

http://www.samefacts.com/2010/05/watching-conservatives/republicans-are-crazy/
Republicans are crazy [read on]

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

WHERE’S AYN WHEN YOU NEED HER?

Now that Rand Paul is the new darling of the GOP, he’s getting a closer look – and it isn’t pretty

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/ahhh_good_times_1.php

Who IS he?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/rand-paul-a-primer.php

http://firedoglake.com/2010/05/21/rand-paul-gets-weary-oh-yes-he-does-get-weary/

He’s a big whiner, that’s what he is

http://instaputz.blogspot.com/2010/05/rand-paul-whiner.html
"When does my honeymoon period start? I had a big victory," Paul told George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America" today. . .

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023916.php

And he’s an expert on what is and isn’t “American.” Uh-huh

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/05/21/paul_says_obama_criticism_of_oil_giant_is_un-american.html
Rand Paul (R) said on ABC News that President Obama's criticism of BP over the massive oil spill off Louisiana was un-American. . .

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023913.php

He CANCELS upcoming Meet the Press interview. Questions you don’t want to answer, Mr. Paul?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/21/rand-paul-cancels-on-meet_n_585460.html
Only 3rd Guest To Do So In 62 Years

More: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/so_not_ready_for_prime_time_or_even_sunday.php

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/21/868676/-KY-Sen:-Rand-Paul-squirms-out-of-Meet-the-Press-interview

Why are we only learning now, after the primary, what a wacko and jerk this guy is?

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/theories_of_the_fall.php
Josh Green has a theory about the Rand Paul implosion: the in-state Kentucky press has been so decimated by the newspaper crisis that there was no one to give him the kind of scrutiny Paul got on day one when he went national . . . [read on]

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/what-a-week-rand-paul-takes-the-national-stage.php

Financial reform: what will happen in the House/Senate conference committee

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/05/21/conference-matters-what-to-expect-in-the-finreg-negotiations/

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/05/how-good-is-the-financial-regulation-bill.php

The Neanderthals win

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/texas_history_textbooks_final_vote.php
Texas Board Of Ed Approves Right-Wing History Textbook Standards

More: http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/texas-board-education-meeting-day-2

Bonus item: Nazis on the brain

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023919.php

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

LEADING INDICATORS

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/05/20/senate_passes_historic_financial_reform_bill.html
The Senate approved a far-reaching financial regulation bill, "paving the way for enactment of the most extensive reworking of financial oversight in generations and a second major legislative victory of the year for President Obama and congressional Democrats," the Washington Post reports.

"The House passed similar legislation in December, and the two houses of Congress will now go about reconciling their approaches to financial reform. The legislation has sufficient momentum -- including support from three Republican senators -- that a final version could be on President Obama's desk within weeks."

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/senate-passes-wall-street-reform-bill.php

What next? http://washingtonindependent.com/85368/what-happens-next-to-the-finreg-bill

http://mydd.com/2010/5/20/financial-reform-clears-senate-heads-to-conference

Rand Paul is getting hammered for his rejection of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This ain’t a classroom in libertarian theory, jack – it’s politics and you are on the wrong side

http://mydd.com/2010/5/19/ky-sen-pauls-extremism-coming
Conservative Republicans exulted last night over Rand Paul's decisive victory in Kentucky's U.S. Senate primary. Today some of his far-out views are receiving national media coverage for the first time. . .

More: http://mydd.com/2010/5/20/rand-paul-is-w

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/05/rand-paul-and-civil-rights

http://www.samefacts.com/2010/05/watching-conservatives/institutional-racism-per-rand-paul/

Backpedaling furiously

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/rand-paul-hurriedly-tries-back-away
Sure enough, no sooner had Rand Paul's revealing interview with Rachel Maddow hit the air than Paul began rapidly backtracking, trying to claim he didn't really believe the things he had gone on national television and said.

This morning he issued a petulant "clarification" . . .

By mid-morning, according to Greg Sargent, he was in full-out "retraction" mode . . . [read on]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/05/20/paul_now_says_he_would_have_voted_for_civil_rights_act.html
Paul Now Says He Would Have Voted for Civil Rights Act

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/05/20/rand-paul-distances-himself-from-rand-paul
Rand Paul Distances Himself From Rand Paul

Of course he doesn’t mean a word of it and is just saying it for damage control

http://mydd.com/2010/5/20/rand-paul-opposed-anti-ra
Rand Paul's campaign has made some efforts to walk back the candidate's statements in opposition to a key tenet of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 -- the provision prohibiting individual racial discrimination, not just state-sanctioned discrimination. But any effort at damage control was dramatically undermined minutes ago with the report from Dave Weigel that Paul had vocally opposed an anti-discrimination measure as recently as 2002. . . .

"A free society will abide unofficial, private discrimination," wrote Paul, "even when that means allowing hate-filled groups to exclude people based on the color of their skin. It is unenlightened and ill-informed to promote discrimination against individuals based on the color of their skin. It is likewise unwise to forget the distinction between public (taxpayer-financed) and private entities."

More: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/20/rand_paul_disabilities_act
More historic legislation Rand Paul wouldn't have supported

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/rand-paul-on-npr-disabilities-act-goes-too-far.php
Rand Paul On NPR: Disabilities Act Goes Too Far

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/libertarians-on-pauls-civil-rights-stance-very-reasonable.php
Rand Paul's apparent opposition to a key provision of the Civil Rights Act places him well within the mainstream of libertarian thought . . .

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/video-paul-opposing-civil-rights-act-is-the-hard-part-about-believing-in-freedom.php
Paul: Opposing Civil Rights Act Is 'The Hard Part About Believing In Freedom'

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/05/freedom-as-white-supremacy.php
Freedom as White Supremacy

More: http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/05/rand-paul-only-likes-the-easy-part-of-freedom.php

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/20/868339/-KY-Sen:-Rand-Paul-is-a-freaking-idiot,-continued

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023903.php

An opening for his opponent, Jack Conway (D-KY). . .

http://mydd.com/2010/5/20/ky-sen-jack-conway-comes-out-swinging

. . . and a huge issue for the rest of the GOP

http://www.slate.com/id/2254489/
Why Democrats can't wait to use Rand Paul against the GOP

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/05/20/demint_clearly_frustrated_with_paul.html
[Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)] "I'm going to talk to Rand about his positions."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/steele-on-rand-controversy-i-heard-something-about-that.php
RNC Chariman Michael Steele told a reporter today that he wasn't sure exactly what all the excitement about Rand Paul was . . .

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/hatch-on-rand-paul-cut-this-guy-some-slack.php
Reacting to the controversy over Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul's views on civil rights, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) had a message for journalists . . .

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/rand-who-cornyn-silent-on-pauls-extreme-civil-rights-act-views.php
Sometimes a "no comment" tells you all you need to know. Such is the case with Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) . . .

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/mcconnell-glad-paul-supports-civil-rights-act.php
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) considers the passing of the Civil Rights Act one of the most important and "formative" events in his career. And that's why, a McConnell spokesperson said in a statement obtained by Ben Smith, the senator is "glad to hear" Rand Paul supports it too. . .

More: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/20/rand_paul_electable

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/20/rand-paul-civil-rights-act-comments_n_583572.html

Haw haw haw: Paul says he has learned his lesson . . . don’t go on Rachel Maddow any more!

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/20/rand_paul_rachel_maddow

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/20/rand-paul-civil-rights-rachel-maddow_n_583292.html

Don’t mess with Rachel: http://www.americablog.com/2010/05/rachel-maddow-on-why-rand-paul-matters.html
“Why Rand Paul Matters”

Will GITMO ever close?

http://washingtonindependent.com/85355/house-panel-deals-gitmo-closure-a-major-setback

The rising use of predator drones to kill suspected enemies

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/05/19/who-else-can-you-target-with-predator-drones-pirates-and-drug-cartels/

Let’s hope

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/pelosi-well-end-dont-ask-dont-tell-this-year.php
Pelosi: We'll End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' This Year

Things we knew

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/05/20/live-feed-of-oil-gusher-up-leak-much-bigger-than-initial-claim/
Live Feed of Oil Gusher Up; Leak Much Bigger Than Initial Claim

100 seat gain for the Repubs? Dream on

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/05/20/quote_of_the_day.html
“Let him think that.”

-- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), in an interview with The Hill, when asked about House Minority Leader John Boehner's (R-OH) recent claim that there are 100 House seats in play.

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/dems-mock-gop-on-2010-takeover-hopes.php
Dems Mock GOP On 2010 Takeover Hopes

Every honest person knows there is one and only one cause for illegal immigration: employers who want low-wage, no benefits, non-unionized workers.

Then there is John McCain . . .

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/mccain-calls-businesses-who-hire-illegals

CNN: still trying to be Fox News Lite

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/cnn-headline-miss-usa-muslim-trailblazer-or-hezbollah-spy.php
CNN Headline: 'Miss USA: Muslim Trailblazer Or Hezbollah Spy?'

Bonus item: Glenn Beck refuses to dignify the criticism that he’s using his show to promote sales of gold (which he benefits from financially). Very convenient

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/beck-wont-devote-precious-airtime-re

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

JUST A BUMP IN THE ROAD?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/republicans--and-two-democrats--block-vote-on-wall-street-reform.php
Republicans--And Two Democrats--Block Vote On Wall Street Reform

What happened? http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20100519/cm_huffpost/581168

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/05/19/feingold-cantwell-explain-their-votes-against-cloture/

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/05/financial-reform-limbo

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/05/19/bonus_quote_of_the_day.html
"A senator broke his word with me."

-- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) on failure to win a cloture vote on the banking reform bill.

What game’s Scott Brown (R-MA) playing?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/brown-says-hell-likely-vote-for-wall-street-reform.php
Sen. Scott Brown acknowledged tonight that he did indeed tell Majority Leader Harry Reid he'd support financial reform legislation, before voting to filibuster at the last minute. But he says he's confident he'll ultimately side with the Democrats, and suggested he may switch his vote back to yes as early as tomorrow. . . .

We’ve been told again and again by the Wise Men and Women that this fall will be a tidal wave for the Republicans. Guess what?

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/05/19/is_this_really_a_republican_year.html

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/19/867934/-Former-GOP-Congressman-Tom-Davis:-Where-Is-The-Wave

http://www.americablog.com/2010/05/words-rarely-seen-in-politico.html

Rand Paul (R-KY) gives his acceptance speech at a members-only country club – but doesn’t see any problem with that

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/more_on_rand_paul.php

More: http://www.eschatonblog.com/2010/05/city-youth.html

CNN sucks: http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/rand-paul-typical-far-right-country-clu

Paul: a jerk AND an extremist. The Dem could really win this one

http://firedoglake.com/2010/05/20/early-morning-swim-rand-paul-cant-quite-tell-rachel-maddow-hed-vote-for-the-1964-civil-rights-act/
Rand Paul Can’t Quite Tell Rachel Maddow He’d Vote for the 1964 Civil Rights Act

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/05/night-beat-specter-comes-back-paul-comes-down-to-earth/56989/

http://www.samefacts.com/2010/05/watching-conservatives/back-to-goldwaterism/

http://mydd.com/2010/5/19/ky-sen-pauls-extremism-coming

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/19/jack_conway_kentucky_senate

Sue Lowden (R-NV) is having a hell of a time explaining away her own “trade a chicken for health care” remarks

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/sue-lowden-what-chicken-barter-system.php

Love it: conservative women’s group, normally all moralistic and family values, looks at a philandering GOP Rep and says, eh, “it could happen to anyone”

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/conservative_womans_group_souder_affair_shows_it_c.php

More moral hypocrites: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/05/19/top_five_moral_hypocrites.html

GOP: still anti-science

http://www.americablog.com/2010/05/gop-blocking-science-and-technology.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023875.php

NYT uncovers a major scandal against Richard Blumenthal, a Dem running for Senate in Connecticut. Only, except it wasn’t

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/19/867993/-CT-Sen:-NY-Times-blows-Blumenthal-story

Polling: don’t trust Rasmussen

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/19/867829/-Rasmussens-%28dishonest%29-game

Bonus item: How they rewrite textbooks in Texas

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/texas_textbooks_what_a_long_strange_trip.php

http://www.samefacts.com/2010/05/uncategorized/a-guy-can-dream-cant-he/

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***