Saturday, November 30, 2013

THE FLIP-FLOP CLUB

Ahh, bravo! Chris Christie is in fine presidential campaign mode already
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has come out against legislation passed by the New Jersey state Senate giving in-state tuition to DREAMers even though he said he would support such legislation during the gubernatorial campaign. . . .

Is a "Republican wave" coming?

 http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_11/waves_and_exposure048001.php

 Hope springs eternal

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/healthcaregov-will-meet-deadline-for-fixes-white-house-officials-say/2013/11/29/caf6a236-5792-11e3-835d-e7173847c7cc_story.html?wprss=rss_politics
HealthCare.gov will meet deadline for fixes, White House officials say

The kind of people they are

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/florida-tea-party-leader-bashes-gay-gop-group
Danita Kilcullen, the founder of a Florida Tea Party group, accused the Florida Republican party of being taken over by "gay thugs." . . . 

Regular readers know I have no patience with Charles Krauthammer's intellectually dishonest posturing. But sometimes he exceeds himself

 http://www.eschatonblog.com/2013/11/hacks.html

 Did you really think the Fox News crowd would admit their error in hyping the now-discredited 60 Minutes Benghazi story? On the contrary

 http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/27/mike-huckabee-labels-lara-logan-a-hero-journalist-for-discredited-benghazi-report/
Fox News host and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) on Wednesday said that Lara Logan’s botched reporting on Benghazi made her a “hero journalist” and he was shocked that CBS News would force her off the air. . . .

 More from Fox World: Pope Francis is an affront to capitalism!

 http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/stuart-varney-admonishes-pope-francis 

Ecumenical bonus item: Happy Hanukkah!

***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.***
Posted by at

Friday, November 29, 2013

GIVE THANKS

Hope everyone had a great holiday!

 
What will the GOP say when Obamacare starts working the way it should?
23 things to be thankful for

***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.***
Posted by at

Thursday, November 28, 2013

THE TOUGHEST JOB AT NSA

Spying on Muslim porn habits
 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/26/nsa-porn-muslims_n_4346128.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
Top-Secret Document Reveals NSA Spied On Porn Habits As Part Of Plan To Discredit 'Radicalizers' 

 More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/27/1258782/-NSA-tracked-porn-watching-to-discredit-Muslim-radicalizers


http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/11/nsa-spies-porn-habits-muslim-radicalizers.html

Another Obamacare delay

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/27/obamacares-online-exchange-for-small-businesses-is-delayed-by-one-year/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/obamacare-suffers-shop-setback

But overall is Obamacare doing better?

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-realists-take-on-obamacare
A Realist's Take on Obamacare

 More: http://prospect.org/article/media-need-do-more-help-people-navigate-obamacare

Americans are sick of war

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/11/27/americans-are-sick-of-war-washington-should-take-notice/

 The loophole in filibuster reform

 http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_11/the_blue_slip_loophole_to_fili047970.php
"Blue slips"

More: http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/11/filibuster-dead-blue-slips-are-still-alive-and-kicking  

The Right always has trouble being reminded that Christianity IS about socialist values

 http://www.salon.com/2013/11/27/rush_limbaugh_the_pope_sounds_like_a_marxist/

 http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/rush-limbaugh-declares-war-on-pope.html

 Matthew 19:21 http://biblehub.com/matthew/19-21.htm
"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Bonus item: News you can use

 http://tinyurl.com/l7ujcrx
How to win Thanksgiving: A holiday guide to arguing with right-wing relatives
***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.***
Posted by at

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

MIXED METAPHORS

The Republican "throw it and see if it sticks" approach to relentlessly hating on everything Obama says and does leads to some strange tropes. See - he's Hitler, but he's also Neville Chamberlain. And the same warmongers who gave us the disastrous Iraq invasion want us to trust them on Iran

The Iran deal is "worse than Munich" http://on.msnbc.com/18FBLwE

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/26/obama-and-the-munich-katrinas.html

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/25/no-obama-s-iran-deal-was-not-a-munich-style-surrender.html

http://prospect.org/article/neocons-fail-negotiation-101-yet-again

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dana-milbank-republicans-mindlessly-oppose-iran-nuclear-deal/2013/11/25/b87f65ce-5603-11e3-835d-e7173847c7cc_story.html
Republicans mindlessly oppose Iran nuclear deal

 Is Obamacare starting to work?

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/26/wonkbook-is-obamacare-turning-the-corner/

 http://prospect.org/article/are-obamacare-clouds-breaking

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/26/obamacare-wont-get-7-million-enrollees-in-2014-and-thats-okay/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
On the right: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-birth-of-obamacare-mccarthyism
The Birth of Obamacare McCarthyism

 New rules on political giving might rein in the Koch Bros, et al.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/could-be-dramatic

 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/27/us/politics/new-campaign-rules-proposed-for-tax-exempt-nonprofits.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

This is very big. The Hobby Lobby case is about damaging Obamacare, of course. And it is another potential blow against contraceptive rights. But it is also another chapter in the "you have to let us abuse other people's rights because it is about OUR religious freedom" argument (like anti-gay bullying in schools). Even more, it is about the weird metphysical claim that "corporations are people," with the same rights as people . . . in this case religious rights

 http://tinyurl.com/phbv9nx

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/26/obamacares-birth-control-mandate-is-headed-to-the-supreme-court/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd

 http://www.salon.com/2013/11/26/supreme_court_to_hear_cases_challenging_contraception_mandate/

 http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/hobby-lobby-and-christian-nation-it.html

 http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_11/big_day_for_hobby_lobby047952.php

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/11/26/contraception-is-back/

 http://prospect.org/article/contraception-mandate-cases-aren%E2%80%99t-really-about-contraception

 Rush Limbaugh "explains" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/limbaugh-still-confused-contraception

 Pope Francis is laying out the most progressive Church message in decades

 http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/11/26/pope-francis-slams-neoliberalism-in-first-major-writing-of-papacy/

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/26/pope-francis-has-a-few-thoughts-about-the-global-economy-we-added-these-13-charts/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd

 Fox News still has trouble with that "news" concept

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/fox-blames-obamacare-imaginary 

Bonus item: I've never understood Dinesh D'Souza's stature as a "serious" conservative thinker. His Ivy League roots aside, he's just another thug to me

***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.***
Posted by at

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

BOOK HIM

Photoshopped, unfortunately
Is Karl Rove in legal trouble?

 http://crooksandliars.com/anonymous/new-tax-return-shows-karl-roves-group
On its 2012 tax return, GOP strategist Karl Rove's dark money behemoth Crossroads GPS justified its status as a tax-exempt social welfare group in part by citing its grants of $35 million to other similarly aligned nonprofits.

The return, signed under penalty of perjury, specified that the grants would be used for social welfare purposes, "and not for political expenditures, consistent with the organization's tax-exempt mission."  . . .  [read on]

 More: http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/11/25/karl-rove-provided-inaccurate-information-on-dark-money-group/
Trying to decide how you feel about the Iran deal? Here is every conceivable opinion under the sun

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/25/1258081/-Abbreviated-pundit-roundup-The-nuclear-agreement-with-Iran-free-trade-the-busted-filibuster

 HealthCare.gov is supposed to be ready by the end of the month. Guess what?

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/191373-cms-healthcaregov-wont-be-perfect-on-dec-1
 
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/obamacare-website-fix-gradual-return 

Theocrats clearly lack a sense of irony

 http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2013/11/25/onward-christian-soldiers/

The Trijicon company has a $660 million multi-year contract to provide up to 800,000 sights to the Marine Corps, and additional contracts to provide sights to the U.S. Army, all inscribed with references to New Testament Bible passages about Jesus Christ. The sights were used by our brave crusaders in Iraq and continue to bring Jesus’ message of love thy neighbor to Afghanistan.  

Trijicon confirmed it adds the biblical codes to the sights sold to the U.S. military. Tom Munson, director of sales and marketing for Trijicon said the inscriptions “have always been there” and said there was nothing wrong or illegal with adding them. Munson said the issue was being raised by a group that is “not Christian.”  . . . [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.***
Posted by at

Monday, November 25, 2013

LEFT AND RIGHT

Reactions to the Iran deal

 Left

 http://my.firedoglake.com/fairleft/2013/11/24/can-the-left-handle-iran-nuclear-deal-good-news/
Can the left handle Iran nuclear deal good news?

 http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/24/why-the-iranian-nuclear-deal-is-dangerous.html
Why the Iranian Nuclear Deal Is Dangerous

 http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2013/11/_iran_nukes_this_is_exactly_the_deal_that_obama_hoped_to_achieve_in_geneva.html
We Have a Deal With Iran. A Good One.

 http://www.samefacts.com/2013/11/international-affairs/middle-east-politics/the-iranian-deal/
Congratulations to Secretary of State John Kerry and his boss. This seems like a remarkably good deal. . . . 

 I’m curious about whether there’s a single Republican officeholder with the guts, smarts, and patriotism to say out loud that this is good for the country.

Right

 http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/25/obama-crushes-the-neocons.html
The agreement signed with Iran on Sunday is a momentous step forward. Yet Republicans will try to subvert the success by playing to their Obama-hating base. . . .

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/11/23/congressional-reaction-to-the-iran-nuclear-deal/?wprss=rss_politics&clsrd
@JohnCornyn  Amazing what WH will do to distract attention from O-care [read on]

 http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/corker-claims-iran-taking-advantage-weak
Corker Claims Iran Is Taking Advantage Of 'Weak' Obama Administration

Race and criminal "justice" in America

 http://my.firedoglake.com/mason/2013/11/24/texas-court-bars-inmates-claim-that-he-was-sentenced-to-death-because-he-is-black/
Texas court bars inmate’s claim that he was sentenced to death because he is black

 http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/11/prison-for-25-years-man-says-nypd-set-him-up.html
In Prison for 25 Years, Man Says Partner of Disgraced NYPD Detective Set Him Up

 http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/our-very-very-sick-police-culture.html
A suburban Detroit police officer admitted he asked a mentally ill black man to sing and dance and video recorded the incident. . . .

 Now this is chutzpah

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/not-credible-on-poisoning-the-senate
Sen. Cruz (R-TX) says that killing the filibuster (and that's really what it is) "will poison the atmosphere of the Senate."  

All the snark aside (and this deserves plenty of snark), I think this does point to the bad position Senate Republicans put themselves in - namely, that it is just not really credible that any more poisoning is possible in the Senate. And no person captures that more clearly than Sen. Cruz.

 How the GOP can still block nominees, without the filibuster

 http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_11/the_new_obstruction047927.php

 GOP big money donors back the opponent to a Tea Party congressman

 http://www.salon.com/2013/11/24/gop_establishment_donors_target_tea_party_congressman/

 Ethics test

 http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/one-third-of-all-american-women-have.html
One third of all American women have an abortion in their lives. Are they all immoral?

Palin: Filibuster Reform a Conspiracy to Stop Talk of Failed Government at Thanksgiving Dinner 

***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.***
Posted by at

Sunday, November 24, 2013

HANDSHAKE

Nuclear deal reached with Iran

 http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/historic-iranian-deal-reached

Obamacare enrollment extended

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2013/11/22/next-open-enrollment-period-moved-to-after-the-mid-term-election/
 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/22/obamacares-hannukah-miracle-2014-enrollment-will-last-an-extra-eight-days/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_11/the_2014_obamacare_enrollment047910.php
 
Homeless numbers drop

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/22/homelessness-has-dropped-9-percent-since-2007-will-that-last/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd 

Reassessing JFK's presidency

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/22/americans-think-john-f-kennedy-was-one-of-our-greatest-presidents-he-wasnt/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd

George Zimmerman, victim

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/23/1257100/-Saturday-nutpick-a-palooza-Still-defending-Zimmerman

The Sunday talk show line-ups

 http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/sunday-morning-bobblehead-thread-248
ABC's "This Week" — Sens. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Tim Kaine, D-Va.; Facebook President and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Roundtable: ABC News’ Cokie Roberts, Democratic strategist and ABC News contributor Donna Brazile, ABC News political analyst Matthew Dowd, and Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol. Dr. Maya Angelou.

NBC's "Meet the Press" — Pre-empted by coverage of Formula One auto racing.

CBS' "Face the Nation" — Reps. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.; former Secret Service agent Clint Hill. Panel: David Sanger of the New York Times, Kimberly Strassel of the Wall Street Journal, David Rohde of Reuters and The Atlantic and Nancy Gibbs, managing editor of TIME magazine.
 
MSNBC's "UP with Steve Kornacki" -- Joan Walsh, Salon.com; John Stanton, Buzzfeed.com; Sahil Kapur, Talking Points Memo; Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY); Fmr. Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT); April Ryan, American Urban Radio Networks.

MSNBC's "Melissa Harris-Perry" -- Dean Baker, Co-Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research; Elon James White, Managing Director and Host, This Week in Blackness; Ron Christie, GOP Strategist / Former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush; Sally Kohn, Columnist for the Daily Beast and Salon; Farai Chideya, Professor of Journalism at NYU; Jamie Kilstein, Co-Host of Citizen Radio; Malcolm D. Lee, Writer/Producer/Director of “The Best Man Holiday”; Scot Ross, Executive Director of One Wisconsin Now; Chris Kofinis, Democratic Strategist.

MSNBC's "Disrupt with Karen Finney" -- Jared Bernstein, MSNBC Contributor; Joan Walsh, Salon; Dana Weinstein, mother who had late term abortion; Jackie Kucinich, Washington Post; Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO; Jonathan Alter, MSNBC Political Analyst; Anthony Goytia, Walmart Worker.

CNN's "State of the Union" — Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., and Eliot Engel, D-N.Y.; Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis.

MOYERS & COMPANY: Zombie Politics and Casino Capitalism. Scholar Henry Giroux connects the dots between our politics and “casino capitalism,” Bill previews a new documentary and a tribute to writer Doris Lessing. 

***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.***
Posted by at

Saturday, November 23, 2013

WHAT WINNING FEELS LIKE

The usual pundits and chin-pullers are all upset now that the Democratic reform to the filibuster will upset the spirit of bipartisanship and comity between the parties. You know, that spirit of bipartisanship and comity that the Republicans were so committed to? Nasty old Democrats!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/11/22/pundits-bemoan-end-of-filibuster/

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/22/1257589/-Let-the-filibuster-reform-pearl-clutching-nbsp-commence

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/11/nuclear-option-and-bipartisan-fantasies.html

 More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/11/22/morning-plum-no-nuclear-option-will-not-make-washington-partisanship-worse/
No, nuclear option will not make Washington partisanship ‘worse’

 http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/worse-how-could-it-be-worse
Worse? How could it be worse?

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/11/senate-really-cant-get-much-more-dysfunctional-point
The Senate Really Can't Get Much More Dysfunctional at This Point

 The new, aggressive Democratic party

 http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2013/11/harry_reid_obamacare_and_filibuster_reform_democrats_want_a_new_political.html

 More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-allies-weigh-nomination-strategy-under-new-senate-rules/2013/11/22/31664534-538e-11e3-9e2c-e1d01116fd98_story.html?wprss=rss_politics
The White House and its allies are formulating ways to take maximum advantage of this week’s change in the Senate’s filibuster rules to rapidly confirm more than 240 judicial and executive nominees awaiting approval. . . .

 Oh, boy

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/mcconnell-campaign-calls-senate-conservatives-fund-attack-profoundly-stupid
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) re-election campaign has a response for the Senate Conservatives Fund's (SCF) accusation that McConnell rolled over as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) changed Senate filibuster rules: that's "profoundly stupid."  

"That argument is so profoundly stupid that it is hard to fully ascertain whether their deficiency is in math or logic," McConnell campaign spokeswoman Allison Moore told TPM on Friday. "It does however help further illuminate why SCF is so bad at what they do."  

"What's stupid is for Mitch McConnell to think that appeasement is a winning strategy," Senate Conservatives Fund executive director Matt Hoskins said to TPM in response to Moore. . . . [read on]

 John Boehner's contrived attempt to sign up for Obamacare . . . backfires

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/22/1257611/-With-drama-worthy-of-an-epic-technothriller-John-Boehner-gets-insurance-under-Obamacare
"Earlier this afternoon, I sat down to try and enroll in the DC exchange under the president’s health care law . . .     

Like many Americans, my experience was pretty frustrating.  After putting in my personal information, I received an error message.  I was able to work past that, but when I went to actually sign up for coverage, I got this “internal server error” screen . . .

Despite multiple attempts, I was unable to get past that point and sign up for a health plan.  We’ve got a call into the help desk.  Guess I’ll just have to keep trying. . . "

 http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/john-boehner-sign-obamacare-article-1.1525803
"Tried signing up for #ObamaCare today. How'd it go? Hint: #trainwreck," he tweeted about the process. 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/22/1257611/-With-drama-worthy-of-an-epic-technothriller-John-Boehner-gets-insurance-under-Obamacare
"Kept at it, and called the DC Health Link help line.  They called back a few hours later, and after re-starting the process on the website two more times, I just heard from DC Health Link that I have been successfully enrolled."

[NB: Pssst! It's not a "train wreck" when you can complete the process in a few hours.]

Why make a policy dependent on the good behavior of the insurance industry?

 http://prospect.org/article/insurance-companies-got-you-down-stupid-obamacare

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/11/obamacare-has-friend-health-care-industry

 GOP governors are all over the map on health care reform

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/22/1257641/-GOP-governors-in-disarray-over-nbsp-Obamacare
The annual Republican governors' conference is going on this week in Scottsdale, Arizona, where a sharp divide has been exposed. There are the ones who want to run for president by competing over who hates President Obama and his dastardly plan to get people to buy insurance they can afford, the one who wants to run for president as the "establishment" guy, and the very, very few who actually do kind of care about the people who elected them.  . . .

 More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republican-governors-gauge-possible-heat-from-medicaid/2013/11/22/f56e7a50-52da-11e3-9fe0-fd2ca728e67c_story.html?wprss=rss_politics

 http://www.salon.com/2013/11/22/republicans_health_care_hypocracy_partner/

 A disgusting human being

 http://www.salon.com/2013/11/22/rush_limbaugh_filibuster_reform_is_like_rape/
[Rush Limbaugh] "Let’s forget the Senate for a minute. Let’s say, let’s take 10 people in a room and they’re a group. And the room is made up of six men and four women. OK? The group has a rule that the men cannot rape the women. The group also has a rule that says any rule that will be changed must require six votes, of the 10, to change the rule. Every now and then, some lunatic in the group proposes to change the rule to allow women to be raped. But they never were able to get six votes for it. There were always the four women voting against it and they always found two guys. Well, the guy that kept proposing that women be raped finally got tired of it, and he was in the majority and he was one that [said], ‘You know what? We’re going to change the rule. Now all we need is five.” And well, ‘you can’t do that.’ ‘Yes we are. We’re the majority. We’re changing the rule.’ And then they vote. Can the women be raped? Well, all it would take then is half of the room. You can change the rule to say three. You can change the rule to say three people want it, it’s going to happen. There’s no rule. When the majority can change the rules there aren’t any."
Bonus item: Do governors make better Presidents? You decide

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/11/do-governors-make-best-presidents

***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.***
Posted by at

Friday, November 22, 2013

CHARLIE BROWN KICKS THE FOOTBALL

Hey, they finally did it this time

 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2013/11/21/filibuster-just-got-nuked/
History was just made in the United States' Senate. . .

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/11/why-democrats-partially-nuked-the-filibuster.html
Why Democrats Partially Nuked the Filibuster

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/21/the-senate-just-got-rid-of-part-of-the-filibuster/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
In the past, a two-thirds majority has been required to change the Senate's rules in the middle of the session. The fact that Reid changed the rules with a simple majority sets a new precedent — that's why it's known as the "nuclear option." . . .

 http://www.salon.com/2013/11/21/mitch_mcconnell_biggest_loser/
It’s hard not to see the Senate rule change Thursday as too little, too late. Liberals wanted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to push to end the filibuster at the start of this Senate session, but he at least twice relied on a handshake deal with Mitch McConnell that Republicans would stop their unprecedented obstruction campaign against President Obama’s nominees.  

Of course, “everybody” knew how that would turn out . . .

 http://prospect.org/article/harry-reids-triumph
Harry Reid's Triumph 

http://www.salon.com/2013/11/21/rand_paul_harry_reid_is_a_big_bully/
Rand Paul: Harry Reid is “a big bully” 

More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/dems-execute-nuclear-option

 http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/21/the-filibuster-fight-ain-t-over.html

 http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_11/false_idols_of_the_senate047902.php

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/11/21/happy-hour-roundup-238/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/21/the-worlds-leading-filibuster-expert-on-what-happened-today-and-what-to-expect-next/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
The world’s leading filibuster expert on what happened today and what to expect next. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/21/9-reasons-the-filibuster-change-is-a-huge-deal/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
Nine reasons the filibuster change is a huge deal

What will it mean?

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/11/21/the-senate-has-gone-nuclear-heres-whats-next/
The Senate has gone nuclear. Here’s what’s next

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/21/the-d-c-circuit-court-was-at-the-center-of-the-filibuster-fight-heres-why-it-matters/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
The D.C. Circuit is the court at the center of the filibuster fight. Here’s why it matters. 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/21/1257364/-Bring-on-the-judicial-nominations
Bring on the judicial nominations!

 http://www.salon.com/2013/11/21/reid_goes_nuclear_now_bring_on_the_liberal_activist_judges/
Now that they nuked the judicial filibuster, Democrats must exercise their new power and build a progressive bench 

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/11/21/another-reason-for-filibuster-reform-it-will-help-dems-crack-down-on-wall-street/
Another reason for filibuster reform: It will help Dems crack down on Wall Street

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/21/one-huge-effect-of-filibuster-reform-obama-can-actually-fire-people/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
One huge effect of filibuster reform: Obama can actually fire people

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/21/1257383/-What-s-next-for-filibuster-reform

How the Republicans brought this on themselves

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/norm-ornstein-republicans-forced-reid-s-hand-on-the-nuclear-option
Norm Ornstein: Republicans Forced Reid's Hand On The Nuclear Option

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/21/why-the-filibuster-had-to-go.html
Republicans will spin the nuclear option as a power grab, but they started this fight.

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/11/once-again-republican-obstinacy-bites-them-ass
Once Again, Republican Obstinacy Bites Them in the Ass 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/21/1257310/-Senate-GOP-blows-itself-up-What-the-hell-where-they-thinking
Senate GOP blows itself up. What the hell were they thinking? 

More: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/senate-republicans-filibuster-abuse

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/11/charts-explain-why-democrats-went-nuclear-filibuster

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/21/1257298/-McConnell-unleashes-torrent-of-lies-in-response-to-Reid-s-nuclear-nbsp-threat
McConnell unleashes torrent of lies in response to Reid's nuclear threat

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/21/1257334/-McConnell-For-going-nuclear-before-he-was-against-nbsp-it
McConnell: For going nuclear before he was against it

 Revenge?

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/john-mccain-senate-filibuster-nuclear-option
McCain: Dems Will Pay 'Heavy, Heavy Price' For Changing Filibuster

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/11/21/what_republicans_need_to_get_revenge.html
What Republicans Need to Get Revenge

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/charles-grassley-senate-filibuster-supreme-court
Speaking on the Senate floor shortly after the filibuster rule change was pushed through over his objections and that of all of his Republican colleagues, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) was explicit: When Republicans control the White House and Senate, they will change the Senate rules to eliminate the filibuster for the Supreme Court, too.  . . .

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/senate-republicans-majority-supreme-court
Why Fear Grassley's Threat?

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/21/1257331/-Team-McConnell-Looking-forward-to-President-Rubio-stacking-the-courts
Team McConnell: 'Looking forward to President Rubio stacking the courts'

 More: http://prospect.org/article/dont-believe-republican-cries-vengeance
Don't Believe the Republican Cries of Vengeance

 Our crazy health care system

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/11/health-care-money-lousy-service
We Spend a Ton on Health Care, And We Get Lousy Service in Return

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/21/the-u-s-ranks-26th-for-life-expectancy-right-behind-slovenia/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
The U.S. ranks 26th for life expectancy, right behind Slovenia

 For sale

 http://crooksandliars.com/propublica/crossroads-tax-return-shows-big-donors
Crossroads’ Tax Return Shows Big Donors, But Doesn’t Name Them
White House Photographers Protest Most Control Freak Presidential Administration Ever

More: http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/11/president-obama-getting-camera-shy

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/11/white-houses-photojournalist-tweet.html

Bonus item: Thanksgiving at the Cheneys

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/21/1257028/-Thanksgiving-at-the-Cheneys



 ***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.***
Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)