Saturday, August 31, 2013

MAKING A CASE

Sect'y of State John Kerry makes a case for attacking Syria

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/08/the-white-houses-case-for-war-in-syria.php 

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/08/30/20261547-kerry-makes-the-case-for-intervention-in-syria 

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/30/1235122/-White-House-makes-its-case-for-action-in-nbsp-Syria 

Skeptics

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/guess-whos-copying-george-w-bushs-most.html

http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/08/30/kerry-forgot-us-helped-iraq-use-chemical-weapons-makes-other-odd-statements-on-syria/

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2013/08/30/why-the-rush-to-action-in-syria/

Obama's damned if you do/damned if you don't dilemma

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2013/08/obama_s_syria_crisis_he_and_john_kerry_need_a_better_plan_for_dealing_with.html

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/08/president-obamas-epically-botched-syria-policy

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/30/1235043/-Making-the-best-of-a-bad-course-of-action-in-Syria

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/08/30/20258337-the-prospect-of-going-alone-in-syria

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/30/kerry-sending-a-message-to-whom.html

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/30/an-open-letter-to-president-obama-syria-is-not-our-war.html

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/giants-have-limitations-especially.html

Mitch McConnell pitches a Big Lie to the ladies of Kentucky

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/08/mitch-mcconnell-vawa.php
McConnell Touts Support For Violence Against Women Act — Which He Has Consistently Voted Against

More: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/08/30/20260869-mcconnell-shouldnt-brag-about-supporting-bills-he-opposed

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/30/1235077/--Women-for-Team-Mitch-event-digs-deep-to-come-up-with-pro-women-McConnell-vote

Rand Paul warns John Boehner not to let the House vote on immigration reform

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/rand-paul-boehner-will-be-overthrown-if-he 

Must make for some interesting conversations around the family table at holidays 

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/08/liz-cheney-gay-marriage-sister-dick.html
Liz Cheney Doesn’t Think Her Sister Should Be Allowed to Get Married

Bonus item: Bryan Fischer: Hillary Clinton too "saggy" to be president 

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/bryan-fischer-america-will-never-elect-sag 

***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

Friday, August 30, 2013

NONE MORE BLACK

The black budget for intelligence -- now we know

http://www.emptywheel.net/2013/08/29/the-black-budget/

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/29/1234806/-Intelligence-black-budget-summary-leaked-detailing-budget-successes-nbsp-failures

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/08/intelligence-spending-classified-budget-snowden

Much more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/08/29/your-cheat-sheet-to-americas-secret-intelligence-budget

Members of Congress want Obama to seek Congressional approval before action in Syria. That's right -- but the Repubs on the House side will NEVER vote with Obama on anything. So now what?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/29/1234894/-Rep-Barbara-Lee-and-53-other-Democrats-sign-letter-to-Obama-urging-debate-on-Syria 

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/08/29/20244258-putting-checks-and-balances-to-the-test

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/30/will-boehner-play-ball-on-syria.html

The House GOP is afraid of letting the Heritage Foundation into their strategy meetings: they have more influence with GOP members than the leadership does

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/report-heritage-foundation-barred-from-gop-caucus-meetings

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/30/has-jim-demint-gone-too-far.html

Heritage Foundation trumpets "57 percent of Americans" oppose Obamacare . . . based on a poll of selected independent voters in ten congressional districts, carried out by Heritage's own agitprop dept

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/08/heritages-fun-with-defund-obamacare-polling-numbers.php 
That’s the same poll, mind you, that conservative Washington Post blogger Jennifer Rubin called a “junk poll.” . . . [read on]

More junk: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/ted-cruz-syria-obamacare-96009.html
[Ted Cruz] “Fundamentally, actually, these two issues, you look at Syria, you look at Obamacare,” Cruz said, according to a transcript on Limbaugh’s site. “They’re tied together. They’re tied together by an arrogance of this administration, that they don’t believe they’re accountable to the American people, and they are going to jam their agenda down the throats of the American people.” 

Jammed down their throats? http://www.conservapedia.com/ObamaCare
ObamaCare was passed by Congress on March 21, 2010, and signed into federal law . . . On June 28, 2012, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the constitutionality of ObamaCare . . .

The Tea Party opposes John Cornyn, one of the most conservative members of the Senate. And this shows that the fight isn't really over degrees of conservatism, but over two conceptions of politics. Cornyn is suspiciously willing to make compromises. Therefore, he must go


The fight for redistricting in 2020

 
Yep, just like MLK 
 
Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech at the 1963 March on Washington.

Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and the Republicans celebrated the day the only way they knew how: with hate, intolerance, and divisiveness.

Limbaugh was also, in particular, struck by how much MLK’s “I have a dream” speech sounds like Limbaugh’s radio show.  Seriously. [watch]

Bonus item: Wackos

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/tiny-north-dakota-town-mobilizes-to-halt-aryan-enclave-plan.php
In a tree-fringed grassy lot with a lone picnic bench in the tiny North Dakota farming town of Leith, Craig Cobb sees the perfect venue for a white power music festival. . . . [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.***

Thursday, August 29, 2013

MISSING IN ACTION

They had other urgent priorities

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-absent-from-march-on-washington/2013/08/28/43b807ac-1010-11e3-8cdd-bcdc09410972_story.html
Not a single Republican elected official stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday with activists, actors, lawmakers and former presidents invited to mark the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington — a notable absence for a party seeking to attract the support of minority voters. . . .

The Matt Drudge version

https://twitter.com/DRUDGE/status/372818544142323712
King family blew it today, allowing no one with different political beliefs on stage. . . .

Progress since 1963? Yes and no

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/08/28/ten-charts-show-how-the-u-s-has-changed-for-the-better-since-mlks-march/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/08/28/these-seven-charts-show-the-black-white-economic-gap-hasnt-budged-in-50-years/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/08/28/president-obama-shows-the-progress-weve-made-his-speech-shows-how-terribly-weve-failed/

Maybe he should try LYING, like you did 

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/08/28/rumsfeld_says_obama_hasnt_justified_syria_attack.html
Rumsfeld Says Obama Hasn't Justified Syria Attack 

Well, you exect to see Republicans trashing the Democrats during their election campaigns. But the new trend is that they are spending more time trashing other Republicans!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/08/28/ted-cruz-slams-scared-republicans/

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree: let's give LOTS of exposure to Ted Cruz's crazy dad

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/356934/rise-rafael-cruz-robert-costa
 
Yesterday we had Pat Robertson accusing The Gays of purposely infecting others with AIDS. Here are a few other "greatest hits"

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/28/five-other-outrageous-pat-robertson-theories.html
 
Bonus item: Fifteen things you didn't know about MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/08/i-have-a-dream-speech-facts-trivia.html 

1963 photos: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/08/28/six-amazing-photos-from-the-1963-march-on-washington/ 

***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 28, 2013

WHO WILL BLINK . . . CHAPTER LXXVI

Another ridiculous, irresponsible debt limit showdown

On one side: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/08/27/20215447-boehner-vows-debt-ceiling-crisis-wont-be-pretty-and-polite
Boehner vows debt-ceiling crisis won't be 'pretty and polite'

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/27/1234208/-John-Boehner-tells-a-whale-of-a-tale
[John Boehner] “The president doesn’t think this is fair, thinks I’m being difficult to deal with. But I’ll say this: It may be unfair but what I’m trying to do here is to leverage the political process to produce more change than what it would produce if left to its own devices. We’re going to have a whale of a fight.”
On the other: http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/08/obama-negotiate-debt-ceiling
This Time Around, Obama Really Won't Negotiate Over the Debt Ceiling 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/27/1234272/-Jack-Lew-gives-simple-answer-to-GOP-hostage-demands-No
People don’t like Obamacare. They like defunding it even less. 

Why Rebublicans Are Starting to Love Health Reform 

The Achilles Heel of Obamacare?

http://editors.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/08/the_obamacare_goof_that_is_biting_hard_now.php

Looks like Larry Summers for the Fed. I'm not surprised - he's always been one of the guys

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/08/27/summers_likely_pick_for_fed_chairman.html 

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_08/summerstime_and_the_livin_aint046612.php 

Obama's record on women in senior positions: not bad, but worse than it should be

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/because-wimmin-just-dont-make-grade.html 

Bet you didn't know this

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/americans-confidence-in-the-economy-rises-in-good-sign-for-hiring-and-wages.php
Americans’ confidence in the economy inched closer to a 5 ½-year high on growing optimism that hiring and wages could pick up in coming months. . . 

Scary dumb

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/08/louie-gohmert-fueling-anti-american-conspiracy-theory-egypt.php
“This administration has so many Muslim Brotherhood members that have influence that they just are making wrong decisions for America,” Gohmert told the conspiracy-friendly World Net Daily radio back in April, in just one example of such claims. . . [read on]

More: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/08/27/20214904-hes-a-member-of-congress-there-must-be-something-to-it
'He's a member of Congress.... There must be something to it'

Ready to be put out to pasture, I'd say

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/video-pat-robertson-says-san-francisco-gays-deliberately 
Televangelist Pat Robertson claimed on his show, the "700 Club," on Tuesday that gay people in San Francisco have deliberately spread AIDS using rings designed to cut people, according to a video published by Right Wing Watch.

"You know what they do in San Francisco? Some of the gay community there, they want to get people. So, if they've got the stuff, they'll have a ring. You shake hands and the ring's got a little thing where you cut your finger," Robertson said in the video. "Really. I mean it's that kind of vicious stuff, which would be the equivalent of murder." . . .

http://justiceforall.firedoglake.com/2013/08/27/pat-robertson-gays-deliberately-spread-aids-through-special-rings-they-wear/
Later that day, Robertson tried to rescind his comments. I think he made things worse . . . [read on]

Dude, then move to Russia . . . please

http://justiceforall.firedoglake.com/2013/08/27/bryan-fischer-russian-anti-gay-law-is-the-public-policy-the-religious-right-have-been-advocating/
Bryan Fischer: Russian anti-gay law is the Public Policy the Religious Right Have Been Advocating

They hate the gays. All the gays

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/intern-who-helped-save-gabby-giffords-hit-with
Daniel Hernandez Jr., the heroic former intern who was credited with helping save former Rep. Gabby Gifford's (D-AZ) life when she was shot in 2011 near Tucson, Ariz., is now facing an anti-gay smear campaign related to an effort to recall him from a local school board. . . .

In Fox World: extra portions today!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/28/1234336/-Open-thread-for-night-owls-Is-Roger-Ailes-himself-the-person-who-runs-Foxaganda-s-chyron

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/08/worst-reactions-trans-chelsea-manning-fox-cnn.html 
Fox News Played ‘Dude (Looks Like a Lady)’ for Chelsea Manning

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/fox-news-expert-women-have-breasts-so-health
 Fox News Expert: 'Women Have The Breasts'

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/lawyer-for-fired-fox-news-executive-roger-ailes 
Lawyer For Fired Fox News Executive: Roger Ailes Should Fear My Client

Tell-alls: two new books

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/08/27/whats_wrong_with_politics.html
"Yes, there is too much confrontation in this town and too little willingness to compromise on issues. And analysts/authors Norm Ornstein and Tom Mann may well be right in arguing in their book, It's Even Worse Than it Looks, that the problem rests primarily with Republicans who are unwilling to meet Democrats even part of the way on crucial public policy issues."

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/08/27/20212787-first-thoughts-a-consequential-next-two-months
‘Bachmannistan: Behind the Lines’

Bonus item: Buy one, get two free

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/08/impeachment_store_wnd.php
The ‘Impeachment Store’

***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 27, 2013

OXYMORONS

"Trump University" -- what could go wrong?

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/08/trump-sued-for-running-scam-university.html
Donald Trump Sued for Running Scam University

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/26/1233910/-The-Donald-sued-for-40-million-over-Trump-University-scam

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2013/08/26/attending-donald-trump-university-might-not-be-a-great-use-of-your-money-youre-joking/

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/08/donald-trump-university-new-york-lawsuit

Germany is VERY ticked off about NSA spying on them

http://www.psmag.com/politics/nsa-snooping-much-bigger-deal-germany-64953/

Here it comes . . .

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/08/26/kerrys-syria-presser-that-was-a-war-speech/
Kerry’s Syria presser: That was a war speech

More: http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2013/08/26/kerry-steps-up-rhetoric-on-syria-likely-indicating-military-action/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/08/26/the-simple-case-for-and-against-limited-u-s-strikes-on-syria/ 

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/08/syria-air-strikes-chemical-for-against
Why Air Strikes Against Syria Probably Won't Work

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/08/26/does_us_lose_either_way_in_syria.html
Does U.S. Lose Either Way in Syria?

Can John Boehner pull his party back from the brink?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/08/boehner-republicans-shutdown-default-options.php

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_08/more_equal_than_others046579.php 

McConnell vs. Bevin, in Kentucky -- this is gonna be fun!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/26/1233980/-McConnell-campaign-unloads-on-Bevin-after-conservative-group-says-Mitch-is-too-liberal

The most amazing thing about the GOP attack on voting rights is that they are perfectly clear about their motivations: to suppress voting from pro-Democratic constituencies, especially from minorities. It's not subtle, it's right out there

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/08/26/20197189-how-not-to-defend-voter-suppression-in-north-carolina 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/08/25/4260716/where-nc-gop-agenda-started.html

More from Rachel: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26315908/#52852298

What's the MATTER with these people?

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/laura-ingraham-plays-gunfire-sounds-during-j

Laura Ingraham Plays Gunfire Sounds During John Lewis' Washington March Speech 

Bonus item: "I Have a Dream," annotated


http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/27/martin-luther-king-jr-s-i-have-a-dream-speech-annotated.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 26, 2013

TROUBLES

Syria: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/27/world/middleeast/syria-assad.html

Egypt: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/26/world/middleeast/as-egyptians-ignore-curfew-talk-of-a-us-brotherhood-conspiracy.html 

Sucks to live in a red state

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/25/1233201/-The-growing-blue-state-advantage

Colin Powell, conscience of the GOP

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/colin-powell-voting-restrictions-are-going-b
Colin Powell: Voting Restrictions 'Are Going to Backfire' on Republicans 

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-colin-powell-obama-20130826,0,3013519.story
Colin Powell calls George Zimmerman verdict 'questionable' 

Err . . .

http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/08/25/nsa-bugged-the-united-nations-headquarters/
NSA Bugged the United Nations’ Headquarters

Fox News is like a negative course on economics

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/fox-panel-bemoans-welfare-benefits-being-h

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/25/sunday-morning-liveblog_n_3813089.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.***

Sunday, August 25, 2013

CROSSING THE RED LINE

Air strikes coming against Syria?

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/08/us-military-preparing-possible-syria-strike.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/21/syria-poison-gas-attack_n_3789642.html




Kentucky gov stands up for his people, stands up for Obamacare

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/ky-gov-praise-obamacare-leaves-mcconn

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/democrats-can-appeal-to-emotion-too-if.html 

Ted Cruz won't endorse his Senate colleague from Texas, or any other Republican the Tea Party might be opposing. This is how you establish yourself as the leader of your party

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cruz-speaks-volumes-with-his-silence-on-senate-gop-colleagues-primary-races/2013/08/24/fcb94c06-0cfb-11e3-9941-6711ed662e71_story.html

Tea Partiers: it's okay if Cruz was born outside the United States, because Canada is, well . . . you know . . .  WHITE

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/ted-cruz-supporters-rationale-canada-not-re

The 50th anniversary of the March on Washington is coming up: here are some articles looking back, and looking forward, on "Jobs and Freedom"

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_08/the_march_on_washington_was_a046569.php

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/23/1233436/-Open-thread-for-night-owls-The-March-on-Washington-for-Freedom-and-Jobs-in-historical-context

http://www.samefacts.com/2013/08/health-and-medicine/medicare-health-and-medicine/the-march-on-washington-fifty-years-later/

http://my.firedoglake.com/rhrealitycheck/2013/08/23/50-years-after-the-march-on-washington-still-fighting-for-jobs-and-freedom/

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_08/jean_shepherd_on_the_march_on046567.php

The Sunday talk show line-ups

http://my.firedoglake.com/elliott/2013/08/24/sunday-talking-heads-august-25-2013/
ABC’S THIS WEEK:  Middle East coverage with Martha Raddatz in Cairo.  Roundtable: George Will, Cokie Roberts, Donna Brazile, Dan Balz.  Then, Byron Pitts on the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr with Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and Andrew Young.

CBS’ FACE THE NATION:  The March on Washington 50 years later with Colin Powell;  Rep. John Lewis (D-GA); and then Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D).  Roundtable: NAACP President Ben Jealous, Children’s Defense Fund President and Founder Marian Wright Edelman, and Taylor Branch, author of The King Years: Historic Moments in the Civil Rights Movement.

CNN’S STATE OF THE UNION:   Horse Race 2016 with ex-Canadian, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).  Continuing on with Howard Dean and Jim DeMint.  Then, the March on Washington 50 years later with Rep. John Lewis (D-GA).  Roundtable:  CNN Political Commentator Cornell Belcher, New York Times columnist and CNN Political Commentator Ross Douthat, Chairman of Good360 Carly Fiorina, and President & CEO, of The Center for American Progress Neera Tanden.

MOYERS & COMPANY:  America’s Gilded Capital.  Bill talks with author and New York Times journalist Mark Leibovich about his latest book, This Town, in which he writes that money rules D.C., and status is determined by who you know and what they can do for you.

NBC’S MEET THE PRESS:  Is the Dream Still Alive. Roundtable: Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID); business executive and author, Sheryl WuDunn; President and Founder of the National Action Network, MSNBC’s Rev. Al Sharpton; New York Times Columnist David Brooks; and presidential historian and author of “Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream,” Doris Kearns Goodwin.  Then “where does the dream stand?” with Rep. John Lewis (D-GA); plus Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D); and Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA). 
 
***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 24, 2013

POST-RACIAL AMERICA

Things you can get away with saying these days

http://justiceforall.firedoglake.com/2013/08/23/bryan-fischer-anoints-christians-as-the-new-black-after-court-ruling/
Bryan Fischer anoints Christians as the ‘new Black’ after court ruling 

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/colorado-lawmaker-blames-minority-poverty-fr
Colorado Lawmaker Blames Minority Poverty on Fried Chicken 

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/pat-robertson-says-president-obama-inci
Pat Robertson Says President Obama is Inciting 'Black-On-White Violence'

John Boehner tries to take charge 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/08/23/the-morning-plum-john-boehner-searches-for-a-way-out/
With pressure mounting for a defund-Obamacare stand, John Boehner held a conference call with Republicans late yesterday in which he provided the clearest glimpse yet of how he’ll try to get out of this mess. He said the plan is to pass a Continuing Resolution this fall funding the government temporarily at current sequester levels — effectively acknowledging the threat of a shutdown is off the table. . .

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/08/today-in-apocalyptic-house-republican-threats.html

Okay, follow along with me, if you can. Illinois GOPer argues that it isn't the House Republicans who are dysfunctional -- it's the Senate Democrats. Because the House GOPers have been able to pass an Obamacare repeal 40 TIMES, and it's the Senate Dems who can't get their act together to pass it!

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/08/23/20157546-they-cant-even-get-dysfunction-right

His GOP friends won't appreciate this -- even though it's true

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/23/1233294/-Obama-says-Republicans-privately-tell-him-they-re-scared-of-Rush-Limbaugh
[Obama] I've made this argument to my Republican friends privately, and, by the way, sometimes they say to me privately, "I agree with you, but I'm worried about a primary from, you know, somebody in the Tea Party back in my district," or, "I'm worried about what Rush Limbaugh is going to say about me on the radio. And so you got to understand, I'm -- it's really difficult." . . .

Tracking the biggest recent NSA stories

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/08/nsa_revelations_guide.php

More: http://occupyamerica.crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/nsa-analysts-cyber-stalk-love-interest
NSA Analysts Cyber-Stalk Love Interests...Sometimes

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/08/23/the-nsa-paid-google-and-facebook-millions-to-spy-on-taxpayers/
The NSA paid Silicon Valley millions to spy on taxpayers

When sports meets the real world: pro football has a serious concussion problem. They want everyone to believe they are concerned, and trying to correct it. But they don't really want people to know how bad the problem is
  
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/report-nfl-pressured-espn-to-pull-out-of  

Bonus item: Quick - last U.S. president with facial hair?

http://theweek.com/article/index/248656/if-elected-john-bolton-would-be-the-first-mustachioed-president-since-william-howard-taft

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