Tuesday, August 31, 2010

THE LEVERS OF GOVERNMENT

What next for Afghanistan?

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/08/the-afghanistan-policy-review-begins-sooner-than-you-think/62250/
The Afghanistan Policy Review Begins Sooner Than You Think

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/08/u-s-afghan-air-war/
U.S. Escalates Air War Over Afghanistan

More: http://www.americablog.com/2010/08/private-security-in-afghanistan.html

Of all the GOP mantras, two of the old reliables are “tax cuts stimulate growth” and “small businesses are the engines of job creation.” So you would think that supporting Obama on a bill to cut taxes for small businesses would be a no-brainer for them. Oh, wait, “supporting Obama” – nope, can’t have that

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/08/30/obama-again-calls-for-vote-on-small-business-lending-bill/

Paralysis if the GOP gains Congress

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/dick-morris-gop-will-shut-down-the-government-again-video.php
Dick Morris: GOP Will Shut Down The Government Again

More: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/08/thinking_four_moves_ahead.php

Hacking up the Constitution – they would if they could

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/conservatives-serve-constitution-cafeteria-style

Longtime readers know how furious I was over the Bush administration's destruction of evidence and obstruction of justice by “losing” millions of emails – in addition to using off-site accounts to circumvent the law on preserving WH communications. How bad was it?

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/shocker-bush-administration-didnt-car

More: http://www.scribd.com/doc/36591122/Report-on-Bush-e-mails

Bad, bad guy David Addington rewarded as head of the Heritage Foundation

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/addington-takes-top-post-at-conservative-heritage-foundation.php

How bad? http://bustednuckles.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/david-addington-war-criminal-i-think-so/

The very suspicious voting machine fire

http://mydd.com/2010/8/30/houstons-voting-machines-go

“9/11 Christians”? What the hell does that mean?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/30/911-christians-plan-their_n_699322.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025444.php

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/08/30/bigot_establishes_ground_zero_church

Bonus item: Glenn Beck’s New Theocracy

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/glenn-beck-playing-fire-religious-faith

***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.***

Monday, August 30, 2010

DROPPING THE PRETENSE

Yesterday I noted the apparent irony that anti-establishment teabaggers don’t see any contradiction in supporting corporate-backed Republicans. That’s because the teabaggers are a corporate-backed movement themselves

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/opinion/29rich.html

Lots more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-hamsher/the-corporate-lobbyists-b_b_186367.html

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=18677

http://www.mediaite.com/online/rachel-maddow-investigates-corporations-funding-tax-day-protests/

Oh, those poor misunderstood teabaggers

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/beck-rally-attendees-say-tea-party-misunderstood.php

“Restoring Honor” – Beck and Palin style

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/08/beck_and_palin.html

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/palingenesis.html

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/palingenesis-just-whose-honor-was-be

Watch: http://mydd.com/2010/8/29/the-historical-fiction-of-glenn-beck

The theocratic strain in teabaggerism bursts through

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/beck-and-cross.html

http://firedoglake.com/2010/08/29/tea-party-sheds-the-libertarian-fig-leaf-goes-full-fundie/

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025428.php

Counting the crowd

http://mydd.com/2010/8/29/try-87000
An estimated 87,000 people attended a rally organized by talk-radio host and Fox News commentator Glenn Beck Saturday in Washington, according to a crowd estimate commissioned by CBS News. . . .

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/08/bachmann-holds-a-rally-of-her.html
"We're not going to let anyone get away with saying there were less than a million here today because we were witnesses," Bachmann said.

More: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/08/29/2010-08-29_crowd_estimates_at_glenn_becks_restore_america_rally_depend_dramatically_on_who_.html

Shout it loud

http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-gaggle/2010/08/26/on-jobs-and-deficits-republicans-are-worse-than-obama.html
[Newsweek] Nothing is more important to Republican politicians these days than jobs and the deficit—at least according to Republican politicians. As House Minority Leader John Boehner put it in a "major economic address" on Tuesday, President Obama is "doing everything possible to prevent jobs from being created" while refusing to do anything at all "about bringing down the deficits that threaten our economy." Elect Republicans in November, Boehner assured his audience, and we will put an end to this insanity.

There's only one problem with Boehner's message: so far, the things that Republicans have said they want to do won't actually boost employment or reduce deficits. In fact, much the opposite. By combing through a variety of studies and projections from nonpartisan economic sources, we here at Gaggle headquarters have found that if Republicans were in charge from January 2009 onward—and if they were now given carte blanche to enact the proposals they want to—the projected 2010–2020 deficits would be larger than they are under Obama, and fewer people would probably be employed. . . .

Creepy: what the Senate could look like if the GOP wins

http://mydd.com/2010/8/29/the-demint-repub

What if: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/08/what-should-obama-do

Creepier

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/joe-miller-social-security-and-medicare-are-
Joe Miller: Social Security and Medicare are unconstitutional

No, they don’t want mosques built ANYWHERE

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/08/the_fire_next_time.php

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/08/29/mosques

Worse and worse: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/08/happy_times.php

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/29/tv-soundoff-sunday-talkin_16_n_698273.html

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/beck-on-his-obama-is-a-racist-comment-i-have-a-big-fat-mouth-sometimes.php

Bonus item: Glenn Beck speaks the truth!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/beck-on-his-obama-is-a-racist-comment-i-have-a-big-fat-mouth-sometimes.php
"I have a big fat mouth sometimes . . .”

***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.***

Sunday, August 29, 2010

WE’VE GOT OURS

Just another example of teabagger cognitive dissonance – they’re all about anti-establishment resentment, but they really don’t mind their GOP heroes raking in cash from major corporate donors

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/28/us/politics/28singer.html

http://www.americablog.com/2010/08/wall-street-funds-gop-betting-on-easier.html

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/gop-funding-octopus-many-tentacles-same-gro

Republican scorched-earth politics

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/campaign/116157-republicans-plan-mccarthyite-persecutions
Republicans plan McCarthyite persecutions


http://peterdaou.com/2010/08/the-gop-aims-for-total-destruction-of-obamas-presidency/
The GOP aims for total destruction of Obama’s presidency, including impeachment

Of course

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/cantor-of-course-well-try-to-repeal-health-care-reform.php
Cantor: Of Course We'll Try To Repeal Health Care Reform!

More: http://mydd.com/2010/8/28/repeal-and-replace-this

“I have a dream” it wasn’t

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/snoring-honor-becks-big-rally-just-l

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/08/28/benjamin_beck_rally_palin

http://www.slate.com/id/2265216

http://www.americablog.com/2010/08/first-hand-report-from-beck-rally-with.html

Lots more: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/08/missed_out_on_beck.php

Beck vs. King: the contrasts http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/glenn-beck-does-remind-us-civil-righ

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/28/opinion/28blow.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/28/opinion/28herbert.html

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/stewart-blasts-beck-rally-i-have-scheme

Palin vs. King: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/08/28/palin_vs_mlk

Welcome Joe Miller (R-AK): I can see you’re going to add a lot to the Angle, Paul, Buck mix

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/08/27/did_miller_just_compare_murkowski_to_a_prostitute.html
Did Miller Just Compare Murkowski to a Prostitute?

More: http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/joe-miller-makes-sharron-angle-look-liberal

(IF he wins)

http://washingtonindependent.com/95980/over-20000-ballots-left-to-count-in-alaska
Over 20,000 Ballots Left to Count In Alaska

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/miller-murkowski-alaska-palin/2010/08/26/id/368532
Miller: Murkowski May 'Pull a Franken' in Alaska

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/alaska-wars-joe-miller-warns-dc-establishment-to-stay-out-as-primary-votes-counted.php
Joe Miller Warns DC Establishment To Stay Out Of Alaska During Vote Counts

Angle doubles down on “domestic enemies” rhetoric

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/angle-not-disavowing-idea-of-domestic-enemies-in-congress.php

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/08/sharron_angle_refuses_to_disav.html

WTF?

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/08/27/nettleton-school-racism/
Mississippi Middle School Segregates Student Government Officers: Only Whites Can Run For President

Sunday talk show line-ups

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/the-sunday-show-line-ups-61.php
• ABC, This Week: Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee.

• CBS, Face The Nation: Senate candidate Joe Miller (R-AK), Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL), Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL), Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL).

• NBC, Meet The Press: Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu (D), Brad Pitt.

Bonus item: A tale of two book covers

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/08/28/pawlenty_says_he_didnt_copy_palin.html

Extra bonus item: Images of masculinity: Conservatives are Manly Men, Liberals are Wusses

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/sad-little-dreamers-looking-for-manly.html

***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.***

Friday, August 27, 2010

HEADIN’ SOUTH

The coming war over Social Security

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/tits-a-big-deal-alan-simpsons-long-history-of-advocating-social-security-cuts.php

http://www.americablog.com/2010/08/dean-baker-simpson-isnt-just-offensive.html

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/simpson-why-him.html

Raising the retirement age? http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/08/should-retirement-be-nasty-brutish-and-short

Means testing? http://allfinancialmatters.com/2010/08/21/should-we-means-test-social-security/

The big money behind anti-Obama activities (thanks to Bill C. for the link)

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer

The GOP’s plan to explode the deficit

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/25/boehners-fivepoint-plan-w_n_694540.html

Who would have thought that this might backfire on them?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/26/senate-gop-candidates-in-_n_695554.html
Senate GOP Candidates In Hot Water Over Taking Earmarks, Government Funds

Grabbing it with both hands

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0810/Barbour_cashing_in_on_GOP_leadership.html
It's quite unusual for sitting elected officials to give paid speeches, and even a party official, Michael Steele, raised eyebrows for cashing in on his position.

But Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour is on the speaking circuit, and touting his status -- recently bestowed by POLITICO -- as “the most powerful Republican in politics" as a selling point.

A source tells me that his fee is between $50,000 and $75,000 per appearance, plus the usual travel expenses -- putting him near the top of political speakers. Barbour pulls more than twice what Steele -- the nominal party chairman -- gets. . . .

The Tea Bag Party

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/08/26/4974458-first-thoughts-surviving-the-tea-partys-takeover-of-the-gop
One of the more profound changes in American politics is how much more conservative the nominees inside the Republican Party have become. The Tea Party and Jim DeMint are now closer to the representing the center of the GOP . . . [read on]

“Extremists”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/bennet-ad-hammers-extremist-ken-buck-with-his-own-words-video.php
Ken Buck (CO)

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/reid-ad-look-at-all-the-crazy-things-angle-has-said-video.php
Sharron Angle (NV)

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/meet-joe-miller-tea-party-fave-with-extreme-abortion-views.php
Joe Miller (AK)

The (New) Southern Strategy – looks a lot like the old Southern Strategy

http://firedoglake.com/2010/08/27/but-theyre-not-racists-really/

More: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/rachel-maddow-and-rick-perlstein-michael-s

The kind of people they are

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/08/26/congressman_jokes_that_pelosi_might_die.html
Congressman Jokes that Pelosi Might Die

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/26/896380/-Another-proud-member-of-the-American-Taliban
LA GOPer: November A Choice Between An Atheist Society And A Christian Nation

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/08/26/horton-muslims-political/
Producer Of New Commercial Smearing Muslims For Political Gain Also Produced The Willie Horton Ad

Glenn Beck finds “proof” that Obama is pro-Muslim

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/ok-glenn-exactly-what-wrong-saying-w

More from Beck: http://mediamatters.org/blog/201008260017

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025388.php

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201008250037

I wonder why Fox News should be so upset at the idea that anti-Muslim propagandizing might have had something to do with the NYC cabbie stabbing. Doth they protest too much?

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/laura-ingraham-flips-out-when-guest-

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/fox-host-cabbie-stabbing-nothing-do-anti-mus

The problem for Fox in concealing their links with political candidates like Palin

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/greta-van-susteren-pretends-sarah-palin-do
Beyond the questionable seriousness of Van Susteren’s report, there is a deeper ethical concern. Van Susteren’s husband John Coale is one of “the figures charged with guiding Palin’s political image in Washington,” but Van Susteren never revealed this connection during the special . . .

[NB: Of course, FOX ITSELF is charged with guiding Palin’s political image . . . so it’s a perfect circle, right?

Remember this piece of fluff from GVS? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wR0NjFUx1A]

Bonus item: What’s this all about? GOP media darling Sarah Palin calls out GOP media darling Scott Brown. Hmmm . . .

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/67607

***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.***

Thursday, August 26, 2010

NO SECRET

This can’t be because of the Islamophobic rhetoric of the right, can it?

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/08/piecing_it_together_1.php
[TPM] As you've seen in our earlier reports, we have what appears to be a straight-up hate crime, in which an NYC cabbie picks up a fare, passenger asks him if he's Muslim and then stabs him in the neck. The NYPD says Michael Enright, 21, is going to be charged with 2nd degree attempted murder and a hate crime. . .

Only then things get a little weird. . . .

More: http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/gop-what-have-you-wrought-cabbie-stab

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/muslim_group_cabbie_slashing_a_warning_on_anti-mus.php

Another feature of our Brave New World (thanks to DR for the link)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/08599201315000
The Government's New Right to Track Your Every Move With GPS

Ken Mehlman, Bush campaign manager and former head of the RNC, comes out publicly as gay. That’s hardly news, everyone knew it at the time. The question of the day is, how did he feel about working for and promoting an openly antigay party?

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/08/bush-campaign-chief-and-former-rnc-chair-ken-mehlman-im-gay/62065/

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/25/896228/-Open-thread-for-night-owls:-Ken-Mehlman

More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/secrets-and-lies.html

The stupid stem cell ruling

http://www.slate.com/id/2264996

Our weird political discourse

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/simpson-apologizes-for-comparing-social-security-to-cow-with-310-million-tits.php
Simpson Apologizes For Comparing Social Security To Cow With 310 Million Tits

More: http://www.americablog.com/2010/08/white-house-we-accept-simpsons-apology.html

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/25/896183/-WH-on-Simpson:-We-accept-his-apology-and-he-will-continue-to-serve

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/25/896170/-Simpsons-apology-fails-to-convince-Krugman,-lawmakers

Sarah! as feminist leader?

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/08/26/mama_grizzly_and_other_setbacks/

Sharron Angle believes that we have “domestic enemies” lurking in the halls of Congress. She’s going to tell us who they are, right?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/25/896090/-NV-Sen:-Does-Sharron-Angle-have-in-her-hand-a-list

In David Broder’s world of politics, now that John McCain has sold his soul to the right wing to retain his Senate seat, he can go back to being a National Leader and hero of bipartisanship. Is Broder stupid, or does he really believe that when he says it’s so, that makes it so?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/25/AR2010082503562.html

The kind of people they are

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/just-another-nice-real-american.html

“Educator?” EDUCATOR!!??

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/new-study-shows-tea-parties-are-exten-0
New Tea Party study: Glenn Beck is an "educator" . . .

Bonus item: It’s the plan

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/building-a-nation-of-know-nothings/
Building a Nation of Know-Nothings

More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/color-of-change-campaign-turn-off-fox.html
[Digby] I don't know about you, but I see FoxNews on in businesses all the time, just droning out its propaganda to people who don't even know what they are listening to. Color of Change is sponsoring an action called TurnOffFox which I think is very interesting. . . .

***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.***

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

A MAN, A PLAN

The GOP CAN’T say what their economic plan for the future is, because everyone knows it is just an echo of the past

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/boehner-again-short-on-specifics-in-economic-address.php
Speaking in Ohio this morning, Boehner, who hopes to be Speaker of the House next year, acknowledged that Republicans will offer "a clear and positive governing agenda focused on getting people working again" next month. . . .

http://www.slate.com/id/2264926/
What John Boehner offers in place of an economic plan . . .

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/24/895782/-John-Boehner-launches-campaign-for-Speaker
In order of delivery, Boehner identified his priorities as:

1. Extend Bush tax cuts for wealthy.

2. Pledge to veto EFCA or energy reform legislation passed by Congress after the November election but before the new Congress.

3. Tell Democrats to support the GOP's effort to repeal a provision of the health care law that Boehner claims would require businesses to itemize all expenditures over $600. . . .

4. Submit a massive spending reduction package to Congress.

5. Fire his entire economic team.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/25/895958/-Open-thread-for-night-owls:-Boehneronomics
There are some major problems with the Boehner plan. . . .

More: http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010083424/boehners-economic-speech-needs-more-fact-check-it-needs-fact-stimulus

http://mydd.com/2010/8/24/boehn

It is a GOOD thing to make this guy the face of the Republican party going into the fall campaign

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/boehner-boring-empty-playboy.html
[Digby] I have to give it to Boehner. His speech today was almost elegant in its pompous vapidity. He's got a real gift for saying absolutely nothing with the careless aplomb of an empty playboy years past his prime. . . .

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/biden-hits-back-mr-boehner-is-nostalgic-for-those-good-ol-days-but-the-american-people-are-not.php

http://www.americablog.com/2010/08/know-john-boehner-who-really-knows-ways.html

Slow growth is better than no growth

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025361.php

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/political-economy/2010/08/cbo_says_stimulus_may_have_add.html

Here’s the REAL problem

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/24/895267/-Only-the-government-can-do-it
[WP] Corporate profits are soaring. Companies are sitting on billions of dollars of cash. And still, they've yet to amp up hiring or make major investments -- the missing ingredients for a strong economic recovery. . . .

The housing market collapse

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/08/housing-market-update

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/08/should-feds-exit-housing-market

Abortions are still legal, but that doesn’t keep right-wing elected officials from doing everything they can to make it practically impossible for women to get them

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/#38841689

The former Bush admin is trying very hard to distance itself from the Imam behind the “Ground Zero Mosque”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/karl-rove-mosque-imams-role-under-bush-no-big-deal-but-obama-playing-politics-video.php
Karl Rove: Cordoba House Imam's Role Under Bush No Big Deal

http://firedoglake.com/2010/08/24/karen-hughes-i-did-not-have-diplomacy-with-that-muslim/
Karen Hughes: I Did Not Have Diplomacy with That Muslim

More: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/08/karen_hughes_i_dont_remember_a.html

They’ll do anything

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0810/A_safe_subject.html
[Ben Smith] Republicans appear increasingly to have concluded that poking at the allegation that Obama is a Muslim is less likely to blow up in their faces than they used to think. . . .

Sharron Angle’s New McCarthyism

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/08/sharron_angle_agrees_we_have_d.html
MANDERS: We have domestic enemies. We have home-born homegrown enemies in our system. And I for one think we have some of those enemies in the walls of the Senate and the Congress.

ANGLE: Yes. I think you're right, Bill.

Michael Steele tries to tell Spanish-language television that the Arizona anti-immigrant law doesn’t represent the GOP

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/steele-tells-univision-arizonas-immigration-law-doesnt-reflect-the-gop-video.php

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025352.php

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/rncs-financial-picture-even-worse-than-it-looks.php
As if a bad fundraising report released in the dark of night on Friday wasn't bad enough for the Republican National Committee, a closer look suggests the party's financial picture is worse than it appears. . . .

Bonus item: Fox News – evil or stupid?

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/the-daily-show-debates-is-fox-news-evil-or-stupid-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.***

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

AUTOMATIC

Obama’s popularity continues to decline, and everyone is trying to figure out whose fault it is

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/obama-self-fulfilling-prophecy

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/08/politico_channels_professional.html

How the Dems let the GOP set the terms of debate

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/aug/22/us-democrats-fright-club

We are starting to realize the dangers of turning over our basic societal processes to automated programs that can be hacked

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/business/23flash.html
The stock market mysteriously plunges 600 points — and then, more mysteriously, recovers within minutes. Over the next few weeks, analysts at Nanex, an obscure data company in the suburbs of Chicago, examine trading charts from the day and are stunned to find some oddly compelling shapes and patterns in the data. . . . [read on]

http://www.eff.org/issues/e-voting
Many states are hastily implementing flawed electronic voting machines and related election procedures. . . .

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/05/security_analys_2.html
"electronic voting machines" and "vulnerable to fraud"... isn't that redundant? . . . [read on]

More: http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/i-wonder-if-angrybirds-works-same-way

Paul Krugman on extending the Bush tax cuts

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/08/rich-and-their-discontents
This has nothing to do with sound economic policy. Instead, as I said, it’s about a dysfunctional and corrupt political culture . . . [read on]

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/opinion/23krugman.html

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/39197

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025329.php

http://firedoglake.com/2010/08/24/mitch-mcconnells-con-cut-social-security-to-enable-tax-cuts-to-the-rich/

The spread of unemployment – a startling graphic (thanks to DR for the link)

http://cohort11.americanobserver.net/latoyaegwuekwe/multimediafinal.html

Too teabaggy for the teabaggers!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/colorado-tea-partiers-angry-at-tancredo-you-spoiled-our-party.php
Tom Tancredo

Teabagger travel trips

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/tea-party-primer-on-dc-dangerous-scary-and-full-of-arabs.php
"If you are on the subway stay on the Red line between Union Station and Shady Grove, Maryland. If you are on the Blue or Orange line do not go past Eastern Market (Capitol Hill) toward the Potomac Avenue stop and beyond; stay in NW DC and points in Virginia. Do not use the Green line or the Yellow line. These rules are even more important at night. . . ." [read on!]

Marco Rubio, losing in Florida, becomes a little less teabaggy

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/08/23/rubio_veers_from_tea_party_script.html

Crazy talk – from a member of the RNC

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/23/rnc-committee-woman-obama_n_691076.html
RNC Committeewoman Kim Lehman Claims Obama Told Muslims That He Was A Muslim

Thinking is dangerous . . . at conservative think-tanks

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025342.php

Interesting: Joe Scarborough, hardly a liberal, calls out the GOP for “demagoguery of the first order”

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/39210

Of course Fox will never run it – but that will become a story too

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/08/media_matters_to_run_ad_toutin.html
Media Matters to run ad on Fox News touting News Corp's $1 million donation to GOP

Bonus item: Bloggers for sale!

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/08/bidding-war-bloggers
“It’s standard operating procedure” to pay bloggers for favorable coverage, says one Republican campaign operative. . . . [read on]

[NB: I’m obviously favoring the wrong party!]

Extra bonus item: It’s uncanny, this is JUST what it’s like when I’m composing PBD in the morning!

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/day-in-life-of-blogger.html

***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.***

Monday, August 23, 2010

CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/18/894189/-Hannibal-ad-portas
There is a clash of civilizations going on, and it has nothing to do with the Burlington Coat Factory Community Center. It's more fundamental than Christian vs. Muslim. It's reason vs. fear. . . . [read on]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/22/892377/-First-Amendment-values
This topic is explored in depth in Drew Westen's seminal work, The Political Brain. In one sentence, the book's upshot is this: Democrats spend all of their time trying to appeal to the rational brains of voters through facts, figures and laundry lists of legislative accomplishments, while Republicans focus on more emotional topics, such as narratives and values. And guess which side of the brain is stronger? . . . [read on]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/22/895047/-Who-are-these-people
Who are these people? [read on]

Creepy

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/tea-party-candidate-wants-to-put.html
Paladino laid out several plans that included converting underused state prisons into centers that would house welfare recipients. There, they would do work for the state — "military service, in some cases park service, in other cases public works service," he said — while prison guards would be retrained to work as counselors. . . . [read on]

More: http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/66724

More creepy

http://mydd.com/2010/8/22/the-latest-in-gop-extremism-internment-camps
"We can ship them out to the middle of the country and put up high walls and leave them there," said Marg Baker, the middle-aged real estate broker vying for the Republican nomination in the state's 48th district, north of Tampa.

Baker was filmed advocating the camps idea at a local meeting of the 9-12 Project, Glenn Beck's activist group, earlier this month. She told Salon today that she was upset at the way some had misinterpreted her comments. "They're trying to think I want to erect some sort of prison camps like over in Germany" -- which she is not, Baker said.

Asked if what she had in mind was more like the Japanese internment camps of the World War II era, Baker said, "something like that. But unfortunately in the Japanese camps they detained American citizens. The only ones I want to detain are the ones who are illegal."

She added, "You've gotta have places for them to eat and sleep and breathe fresh air. It can be a tent city ... You don't want to make them too comfortable or they'll want to come back."

No, the GOPers don’t REALLY care about the deficit

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025324.php

http://mydd.com/2010/8/23/its-a-simple-questi

Tom Friedman's deep thought: Why can’t the Muslims be more like Nelson Mandela?

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/66813

CNN thinks this lying bigot is a mainstream commentator

http://firedoglake.com/2010/08/22/cnns-erick-erickson-lying-theocratic-bigot/

Bonus item: Some questions answer themselves – Judith Miller on Fox asking, Why have people lost faith in the news?

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/39175

***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.***

Sunday, August 22, 2010

PORKERS

Sunday sermon

http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2010/08/real-rainmen.html
What are normal, well-adjusted people to think about the confused mixed signals that emanate from the deranged and damaged minds of today’s Republicans? . . . [read on!]

How Repubs have worked to keep the “Obama is Muslim” myth alive

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/08/lawmakers-who-push-the-birther.html

The latest GOP “insight” – would Muslim countries let us build a Christian church near a “ground zero” site of their own? Then why should we let them build one near ours?

Because we need to take our guidance on religious tolerance from those countries

http://firedoglake.com/2010/08/21/late-night-andy-mccarthy-attempts-thought-experiment-neglects-thought-part/

http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/saudi-arabia-has-terrible-record-religious-freedom/

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/07/21/gingrich_we_should_be_like_the_saudis

Burning the Koran

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/66544

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/fire_department_denies_florida_churchs_plans_to_burn_korans.php

Obama successfully winds down the Iraq war – but of course in the press this becomes a “problem” for him

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/us/politics/22obama.html

More: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/114945-mccain-bush-deserves-some-credit-for-iraq-troop-exit
McCain says Bush administration deserves 'some credit' for Iraq troop exit

[NB: OK, I can credit that: Bush finally listened to his generals and shifted strategies after years of futility. But if Bush deserves “some” – doesn’t that mean Obama deserves “some” too, John?]

Can the Dems pass the DISCLOSE Act – or at least make the Repubs pay for blocking it?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/21/894959/-Obama-demands-action-on-corporate-donor-disclosure

http://expressadvocacy.com/?p=2365

Rekindling the culture war

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025321.php

Newt Gingrich, ever the opportunist, turns total teabagger

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/08/21/gingrich_book_aligns_with_tea_party_message.html

Sunday talk show line-ups

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/22/895215/-Sunday-TalkA-Lie-Grows-in-Washington
Meet the Press: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY); Chairman of FreedomWorks/Former Rep. Dick Armey (R-TX); Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D); Roundtable: Former Rep. Rick Lazio (R-NY), Jeffrey Goldberg (The Atlantic), Paul Gigot (Wall Street Journal) and Katty Kay (BBC).

Face the Nation: Commander of US Forces in Iraq Gen. Ray Odierno; Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC); Author Greg Mortensen ("Stones into Schools").

This Week with Christiane Amanpour: Afghan President Hamid Karzai; Wife of Imam Feisal Abdul-Rauf Daisy Khan; Head of the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan Rabbi Joy Levitt; Roundtable: George Will (Washington Post), Judy Woodruff (PBS), Former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich and Al Hunt (Bloomberg).

State of the Union: Commander of US Forces in Iraq Gen. Ray Odierno; Fromer Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard Myers (Ret.); Former US Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad; Former Commander of US Central Command Adm. William Fallon (Ret.); Reliable Sources: Michael Martin (NPR); Ramesh Ponnuru (National Review); Todd Purdum (Vanity Fair).

The Chris Matthews Show: Gloria Borger (CNN); Dan Rather (HDNet); John Heilemann (New York magazine); Michele Norris (NPR).

Fareed Zakaria GPS: Peter Beinart (Daily Beast); Brett Stephens (Wall Street Journal); Pakistani Politician Imran Ali; Harvard University Professor Niall Ferguson; Nina Hachigan (Center for American Progress); Claremont McKenna College Professor Minxin Pei; Author Zachary Karabell.

Bonus item: So, if Obama has to “prove” he isn’t Muslim, how does he do that? The ridiculous pork debate . . .

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/08/obamas-porkilicious-taqiyya/

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/08/muslimy_obama.html#photo=1x58227

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/04/obama-savors-some-very-special.html

Lots more: http://www.google.com/search?q=obama+eat+pork&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

***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.***

Saturday, August 21, 2010

JUST SICK

This is turning evil

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/franklin-graham-i-think-the-presidents-problem-is-that-he-was-born-a-muslim-video.php
Franklin Graham, the Christian evangelist and son of Billy Graham, offered an explanation for the suspicions that some people have about President Obama's religion, during an appearance Thursday night on CNN.

"I think the president's problem is that he was born a Muslim, his father was a Muslim. The seed of Islam is passed through the father like the seed of Judaism is passed through the mother. He was born a Muslim, his father gave him an Islamic name" . . .

More: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/39143

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/66470

It’s Obama’s fault, huh?

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Obama-has-himself-to-blame-for-Muslim-problem-101123634.html
Obama has himself to blame for Muslim problem

Oh really? http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/08/muslimy_obama.html
Thirteen Really Muslim Things Obama Has Done

Who to blame, really

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/08/poll_most_of_those_who_think_o.html
Poll: Most of those who think Obama is Muslim learned it from media

More: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/08/people_who_hate_obama_think_he.html

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/sociological-overthink-reason-why-right.html

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/20/894878/-Article-VI-of-the-U.S.-Constitution

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/20/894832/-Questioning-faith

Fox makes it worse

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/08/persecuted_christians_in_the_east_coast.php

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/39150

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/jon-stewart-is-fox-news-a-terrorist-command-center-video.php

Michael Steele does it again

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/08/21/rnc_has_just_5_million.html
The RNC "spent twice as much as it raised in July, leaving the committee with just over $5 million on hand with less than three months left before the 2010 midterm elections," the Washington Post reports.

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/dem-senate-campaigncommittee-outraises-gop.php

Keep trying

http://www.americablog.com/2010/08/effort-to-make-sharron-angle-appear.html
The effort to make Sharron Angle appear normal

A trend?

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/08/18/video-new-mexico-gop-governor-gary-johnson-says-legalize-marijuana-now/
New Mexico GOP Governor Gary Johnson Says Legalize Marijuana Now

DR’s Corner: Decriminalizing drugs – A Tea Party wedge issue?

http://theweek.com/article/index/203785/why-the-tea-party-must-support-legalizing-drugs
So far, in a political climate characterized by economic discontent, the Tea Party movement has managed to "sidestep the divisions" between its libertarian and conservative wings. But drug policy will force it to come down on one side . . .

England: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7949342/Cocaine-should-be-legal-says-top-doctor.html
"Professor Sir Ian Gilmore said making drugs such as heroin and cocaine legal would “drastically” cut crime and addicts’ health problems. . . . State-regulated use of drugs would also save money and avert the need to try to stop drug production in countries such as Afghanistan, he said."

Mexico: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-09/mexico-ex-president-fox-calls-for-drug-legalization-as-way-to-end-violence.html
Former Mexican President Vicente Fox said his country should legalize the production and sale of drugs in order to curb rising cartel-related violence. . . Legalizing narcotics would curtail funding to organized crime groups, who are using profits from the drug trade to consolidate power, Fox wrote yesterday on his personal website. . . . “Radical prohibition strategies have never worked,” Fox said. “The cost of the fight against organized crime, and in particular narcotics trafficking, has been enormous in our country.”

Peru: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/02/06/peru.drugs/index.html
Gustavo Sierra, mayor of the Surquillo district in Lima, Peru has suggested that the federal government legalize illicit drugs and administer them through the national health ministry.

Brazil: http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2007/mar/07/latin_america_brazilian_governor
The governor of the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro told reporters last Friday that legalizing drugs could help stem the violent crime that is making the city of Rio one of the most dangerous in Latin America. In doing so, he took a swipe at United States-style prohibitionist policies. . . . "A lot of crime in my state and city comes from [drug] prohibition, many young people die in wars over drug selling spots," said Gov. Sérgio Cabral. He called for a discussion of drug legalization in Brazil and internationally. "Is the United States correct in its conservative policy on drugs? In my view, absolutely incorrect," he said.

Bolivia: http://www.alternet.org/drugs/95692/the_coca_wars_are_futile,_but_drug_legalization_is_win-win/
Bolivian farmers deserve better than harassment over a traditional crop they economically need, making the Morales administration's tolerance of coca growing just. But supply-side anti-drug efforts are futile in term of the ultimate goal, and people around the world affected by cocaine and the illegal trade deserve better too. Only global legalization can stop the violence and corruption that characterize the illegal drug trade. Addicted users will also feel freer to seek help when they are not considered criminals, and will be less likely to do harm to themselves or others in the meanwhile. Ending drug prohibition is a win-win proposition.

Portugal: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html
The question is, does the new policy work? At the time, critics in the poor, socially conservative and largely Catholic nation said decriminalizing drug possession would open the country to "drug tourists" and exacerbate Portugal's drug problem; the country had some of the highest levels of hard-drug use in Europe. But the recently released results of a report commissioned by the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, suggest otherwise. . . . The paper, published by Cato in April, found that in the five years after personal possession was decriminalized, illegal drug use among teens in Portugal declined and rates of new HIV infections caused by sharing of dirty needles dropped, while the number of people seeking treatment for drug addiction more than doubled.

United Nations: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/24/un-backs-drug-decriminali_n_220013.html
In an about face, the United Nations on Wednesday lavishly praised drug decriminalization in its annual report on the state of global drug policy. In previous years, the UN drug czar had expressed skepticism about Portugal's decriminalization, which removed criminal penalties in 2001 for personal drug possession and emphasized treatment over incarceration. The UN had suggested the policy was in violation of international drug treaties and would encourage "drug tourism." . . . But in its 2009 World Drug Report, the UN had little but kind words for Portugal's radical (by U.S. standards) approach. "These conditions keep drugs out of the hands of those who would avoid them under a system of full prohibition, while encouraging treatment, rather than incarceration, for users. Among those who would not welcome a summons from a police officer are tourists, and, as a result, Portugal's policy has reportedly not led to an increase in drug tourism," reads the report. "It also appears that a number of drug-related problems have decreased."

USA: http://www.justice.gov/dea/demand/speakout/06so.htm
Legalization proponents claim, absurdly, that making illegal drugs legal would not cause more of these substances to be consumed, nor would addiction increase. They claim that many people can use drugs in moderation and that many would choose not to use drugs, just as many abstain from alcohol and tobacco now. . . .

Bonus item: “Mama grizzlies” growl back at Palin – and she doesn’t like it

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/palin-celebrates-19th-amendment/



***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.***

Friday, August 20, 2010

THEN AND NOW

The DOUBLING of the number of people who think Obama is Muslim needs explaining. Obviously there was an effort to press this myth early on (the birthers, etc), but why such a sharp increase recently? Is it Obama’s position on the Ground Zero Mosque? Or something worse?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/poll-number-of-americans-who-think-obama-is-a-muslim-nearly-doubles.php

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025276.php

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/08/19/obama_muslim_poll

http://www.slate.com/id/2264539/

Watch: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/#38777659

Not good

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/19/894587/-Half-a-million-new-jobless-claims-filed
Half a million new jobless claims filed

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025287.php
MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING

Did the “government takeover” of GM work?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/business/19auto.html
General Motors filed Wednesday for a landmark public stock offering that would let the federal government begin selling off its stake in the automaker as well as raise money for G.M.’s turnaround. . . .

Remember? http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=49007
Government Takeover of GM ‘Just Short of Socialism,’ Economists Say

http://www2.mcdowellnews.com/news/2009/jun/02/britt-combs-government-takeover-gm-heralds-end-fre-ar-2940/
Britt Combs: Government takeover of GM heralds end of free market

http://hubpolitics.com/2009/06/01/romney-critical-of-government-takeover-of-gm/
Romney Critical of Government Takeover of GM

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/02/republicans-see-gm-takeover-as-election-weapon/
GOP eyes GM takeover as election tool

Obama’s “tax hike time bomb”

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025274.php
[Steve Benen] No one should be surprised. Rove has been lying to voters, just as a matter of course, throughout his career. For a campaign operation organized by the activist/hatchet-man/media-personality to base its work on playing voters for fools is entirely predictable.

But as Rove's lies go, this one takes some chutzpah. It was Rove's White House, after all, that crafted and approved irresponsible tax cuts -- which failed miserably in their stated goal -- and put an expiration date on them. It wasn't Obama, and it wasn't Democrats -- Rove's White House played a budget game and set the lower rates to expire at the end of 2010.

If it's a "bomb," Rove helped set the timer. He has no reason to whine (or lie) about it now. . . .

Reality check: http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/08/19/tax-cut-extensions-and-estate-tax-repeal-would-double-federal-deficit-in-2014/
Tax Cut Extensions and Estate Tax Repeal Would Double Federal Deficit in 2014

Sharron Angle (R-NV) now says: I’ve ALWAYS been for phasing out Social Security. Makes your head spin, doesn’t it?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/angle-i-havent-changed-my-mind-on-phasing-out-social-security.php

Didn’t she just say this? http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/08/12/4875847-angles-180-degree-turn-on-social-security
"I’d like to save Social Security by locking the lock box, putting the money back into the Trust Fund so government can no longer raid our retirement."

Palin then, Palin now

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/palin-in-february-wed-be-appalled-if-public-figure-used-n-word.php
"Just as we'd be appalled if any public figure of Rahm's stature ever used the "N-word" or other such inappropriate language . . ." [read on]

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/sarah-palins-first-amendment-confusion-deepens

http://firedoglake.com/2010/08/20/well-thank-goodness/

Has she peaked?

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/08/19/palin_bumped_to_smaller_arena.html
Slow ticket sales for an upcoming Sarah Palin appearance in Florida have forced organizers to move her from a 2,936 seat arena to one that seats just 609 people, the Florida Times Union reports.

Random nuttiness

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/sharron-angle-black-color-evil
Sharron Angle: "Black is the color of evil"

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/coulter-claims-14th-amendment-doesnt
Coulter claims 14th Amendment doesn't guarantee citizenship as a birthright

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/39097
Chris Hayes Calls Out the 'Wingnut Alchemy' of Pam Geller

Too far

http://mydd.com/2010/8/19/a-5
Last night, the Roy Blunt campaign posted a gross web video with an image of 9/11 rubble and a Robin Carnahan statement about the proposed Park51 project. . . .

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/08/gop_senate_candidate_yanks_vid.html
This one is ugly. . . .

http://www.firedupmissouri.com/content/confronted-press-blunt-campaign-pulls-gross-web-ad-911-image
Confronted By The Press, Blunt Campaign Pulls Web Ad

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025280.php

The 2012 GOP lineup: is this the best they can do?

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/08/19/haley_barbour_2012

The real powers within the GOP

http://washingtonindependent.com/95213/what-makes-barbour-so-powerful

http://mydd.com/2010/8/20/jim-demi

Move away from the mouse and keyboard . . . s-l-o-w-l-y

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/alabama-candidate-uses-horrible-photoshop-to-gain-nick-sabans-endorsement.php
Alabama Candidate Uses Horrible Photoshop To Gain Nick Saban's "Endorsement"

Bonus item: The kind of party they are

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/republican-babes-are-smokin-hot-dems-are-definitely-not-says-mn-gop.php
Want to see part of the brilliant strategy Minnesota Republicans have cooked up for November? Here's a video the state GOP made that shows how totally hot conservative babes are, and how nasty (and hairy) liberal women are. The crafty video, via Mother Jones, first goes through pictures of super sexy Republican babes -- like Sarah Palin, all the Fox News hotties, and so on -- set to Tom Jones' "She's a Lady." Ooh, they're so hot. Then come the Democrats! This one took a lot of brain power, and Photoshop skills, to get the point across. With the Baha Men's classic "Who Let the Dogs Out?" playing in the background, you'll see Rosie O'Donnell's head pasted onto Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's recently waterboarded body, Janeane Garofalo several times, as well as former US Attorney General Janet Reno and very old, former White House reporter Helen Thomas. They even remembered Cindy Sheehan. . . .

Watch: http://motherjones.com/mojo/2010/08/state-gop-our-chicks-are-hot-dems-are-fugly-video-sexist

***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.***

Thursday, August 19, 2010

THINNING OUT

When do we declare the Iraq war over?

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/39112

“Thinning out” the US presence in Afghanistan?

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/08/petraeus-afghan-strategy/

More: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/08/petraeus-campaign-plan/

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/08/petraeus-interview/

Pakistan?

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/65871

Sharron Angle (R-NV) says she doesn’t want to eliminate Social Security . . . she just wants to stop funding it

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/flashback-angle-told-reid-in-1993-to-stop-funding-entitlement-programs.php

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/liberal-groups-ad-slams-angle-for-aping-pinochet-on-social-security-video.php

Theocracy watch

http://www.slate.com/id/2264348/
Is Sharron Angle a Christian Reconstructionist?

Sarah!

http://www.slate.com/id/2264424/
"Who hijacked term:'feminist'?A cackle of rads who want 2 crucify other women w/whom they disagree on a singular issue; it's ironic (& passé)."

A third

http://mydd.com/2010/8/18/a-third-of
A Third of Republicans Think Obama is a Muslim

Intra-Republican fights used to be about “who loves the Constitution more?” Now they’re about “who wants to amend the Constitution more?”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/louisiana-republicans-agree-scrap-birthright-citizenship-17th-amendment.php

Senate forecast, as things stand today

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/18/894379/-Senate-Forecast,-August-18

Chris Dodd (D-CT) has shifted his attacks on Elizabeth Warren, from “she’s qualified but I don’t think the Senate will confirm her,” to “I’m not sure she’s qualified.” Why?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/18/894225/-Dodd-ups-his-war-against-Elizabeth-Warren

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/08/18/how-a-previously-qualified-elizabeth-warren-became-unqualified-according-to-a-previously-progressive-chris-dodd/

http://firedoglake.com/2010/08/18/desperate-dodd-grabbing-at-straws-to-stop-warren-nomination/

Bonus item: Out-Foxed

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025267.php
Fox News' parent company, News Corp, raised some eyebrows with its $1 million contribution to the Republican Governors Association. There's just no modern precedent for a media conglomerate to offer this kind of financial support to a party's campaign committee.

Today, Nathan Daschle, executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, contacted Fox News CEO Roger Ailes with a suggestion of sorts. The network's news division, Daschle said, should add a disclaimer during its coverage of gubernatorial races. He even wrote a sample script of what Fox News' on-air talent should say: "News Corp., parent company of Fox News, provided $1 million to defeat Democratic governors in November." . . . [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.***