BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR

Is the GOP ready for prime time?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/09/AR2011020906986.html
It turns out that running the United States House of Representatives is harder than it looks. . . [read on]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/the-early-word-republican-missteps
Republican Missteps

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/us/politics/10congress.html
Republicans in House Battle Turmoil in Their Ranks

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/9/942276/-House-GOP-has-the-wheels-come-off...-on-Day-12
House GOP has the wheels come off... on Day 12

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027926.php
Let's just say the week isn't going as planned for House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). . .

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/9/942282/-House-GOP-in-disarray.-But-is-the-Tea-Party-Caucus-really-behind-it

http://firedoglake.com/2011/02/09/tea-party-caucus-demonstrates-its-reverence-for-freedom-and-the-constitution-by-overwhelmingly-supporting-patriot-act/

Waaaah!

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/republicans-fault-democrats-on-vote
When House Republicans suffered an embarrassing defeat Tuesday in trying to pass an extension of the Patriot Act, they pointed a finger not at defiant members of their own party, but at Democrats who didn’t play along as expected. . . .

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/dems-to-gop-after-patriot-act-fail-welcome-to-the-big-leagues.php
Dems To GOP After Patriot Act Fail: Welcome To The Big Leagues

A classic bit of federal policy is to use the tax code to shape and change behaviors. For Republicans, raising taxes for ANY reason is anathema. So why are they doing it?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/gop-backs-massive-tax-to-phase-out-abortion-coverage-by-private-insurers.php
GOP Backs Massive Tax Increase

More: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/02/lets-tax-abortions

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/9/942286/-GOP-still-hasnt-dropped-language-banning-coverage-of-abortion-in-rape-cases

http://www.americablog.com/2011/02/gop-continues-effort-to-dumb-down-ie.html

The GOP starts to detail their "spending cuts" – which do nothing for the deficit

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/gop-previews-specific-spending-cuts.php

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/9/942320/-The-only-thing-Republicans-didnt-slash-was-the-budget-deficit

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/9/942374/-The-Republican-Partys-job-killing-budget-plan
Republican leaders unveiled a list of proposed cuts in government spending Wednesday that would strike hardest at priorities of the Obama administration, such as high-speed rail, scientific innovation and a wide array of clean energy programs. . . .

High speed rail: it’s long overdue

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/administration-announces-plan-nationwide-hi

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2011/02/whats-up-with-all-supertrains.html

How far behind are we? http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/gallery/2011/02/jealous-yet-america-european-and-asian-nations-high-speed-rail-networks.php

Freshman GOPers who opted out of government health care find out what it’s like for most Americans – and they don’t like it!

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/gop-freshmen-discover-health-care-hell

Its amazing to me how STUPID Republicans think their followers are

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/02/09/santorum_says_loss_proved_his_conservative_credentials.html
Santorum Says Loss Proved His Conservative Credentials

Notes from CPAC

http://mydd.com/users/heather-taylor-miesle/posts/ignorance-rages-at-cpac
The entire conference seems dedicated to walking America backwards. . . .

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/allen-west-to-be-top-speaker-at-cpac.php

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/santorum-backtracks-on-comment-that-palins-skipping-cpac-for-the-money.php
Santorum Backtracks On Comment That Palin's Skipping CPAC For The Money

Professional victim Sarah Palin says she canceled a Colorado event because of threats, NOT because she had a better offer somewhere else. Guess what?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/cops-we-havent-heard-any-of-the-threats-that-nixed-palin-event.php
Cops: We Haven't Heard Any Of The 'Threats' That Nixed Palin Event

So dumb

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/02/sex_scandal_claims_new_york_republicans_seat.php
In what might be the fastest turn-around of scandal-to-resignation, New York Republican Chris Lee resigned his Congressional seat following a Gawker post that detailing his apparent flirtatious emails with a woman he met on Craiglist -- accompanied by a shirtless picture of the then-Congressman in a bathroom. . . .

More: http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/sex-lies-and-craigslist

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/9/942361/-NY-26:-Rep.-Christopher-Lees-sexless-Craigslist-adventure

Hooters girl, and proud of it

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/09/AR2011020904349.html

Well, that's DIFFERENT, isn’t it?

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/bush-aides-furious-at-interview-481693.html
[June 2004] The White House has strongly criticised the RTE interview with President Bush, claiming that journalist Carole Coleman constantly interrupted him . . .

Today: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/09/oreilly_interruptus
Bill O'Reilly refused to let the president finish a sentence . . . Barack Obama was interrupted 48 times . . .

A Fox News “focus group”: repeating the lies and talking points they’ve learned from Rush and Beck – that’s ALL they know

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/believing-what-they-want-to-believe.html
It's just so damned dumb. . . .

Bonus item: The “media boycott” of Sarah! Palin – and what it’s doing to her (funny, but NOT SAFE FOR WORK!)

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/9/942416/-The-media-boycott-of-Sarah-Palin

***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.***

NUTS

“Tired of the nuts”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/colorado-gop-chairman-quits-im-tired-of-the-nuts.php
Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dick Wadhams dropped his reelection bid on Monday, and fired some parting shots at the Tea Party and the hard-line conservatives he thinks are hurting the party's electoral success. . . .

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027900.php

The sharks are eating each other

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/#41480727

If you remember, it was Bill Kristol who first publicly mentioned Sarah Palin as a potential VP for John McCain. People snickered (and they were right). Now Kristol turns against the monster he created

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/08/kristol_disappointed_palin
"I have a high regard for Sarah Palin, but I will say I've been disappointed since she resigned as governor," Kristol said . . .

More: http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/bill-kristol-bails-sarah-palin-and-pick

A couple of days ago we also had Kristol calling Glenn Beck “hysterical.” Well, that didn’t go down too well either

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/glenn-beck-hits-back-bill-kristol
"People like Bill Kristol, I don't think they stand for anything anymore," said Beck. "All they stand for is power. They'll do anything to keep their little fiefdom together, and they'll do anything to keep the Republican power entrenched."

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/8/941929/-Beck-lashes-out-after-Kristol-calls-him-a-Bircher

(Are they really all that different?)

http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/adam_serwer_archive?month=02&year=2011&base_name=conservatives_to_beck_youre_do

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027897.php

It was easy to predict that the GOP, once in power, was going to have a hard time taming the teabaggers who brought them there, and now want their kooky agendas taken seriously. Even rock-solid conservatives like Orrin Hatch (R-UT) are feeling the heat

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/02/invitegate_breaks_out_over_dc.php

CPAC: like an alumni reunion for the haters

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/despite_muslim_gay_controversies_cpac_still_has_wide_hate_fest_selection.php

We’ve learned that the greatest threat to progressive policies comes not from the Repubs, but from “moderate Dems.” Well, here they go again

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/02/centrist-dems-plot-against-mandate
Centrist Dems Plot Against the Mandate

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/welfare-reform-for-whole-country.html
Welfare Reform for the whole country

Here’s the thing: if they think that working with the Repubs will protect them from GOP attacks later, they are wrong

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027901.php

Will this work?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/democrats-raring-for-abortion-fight-this-week.php
Pro-choice Democrats are raring for an abortion fight this week -- and they intend to start one. After a trio of ultra-conservative abortion bills were filed in the weeks since the Republicans took over earlier this year, returning House Democrats and several of their Senate colleagues will roll out a multi-tiered attack on the GOP's abortion plans, simultaneously painting the bills as extreme, hypocritical and off the all-important economic message. . . .

More: http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/02/08/democrats-rally-for-womens-health-but-last-time-they-fell-short/

Theocracy watch

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/8/942073/-A-Republican-resolution-on-national-mottostill-no-word-on-job-creation
A Republican resolution on national motto -- still no word on job creation

It’s always good for the Republicans: stuck with a gaggle of mediocre presidential wannabees, they proclaim what a great group of VP CANDIDATES they have

http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/02/how-big-will-the-republican-presidential-field-be-and-does-it-matter/

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49047.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/08/vice-presidential-candidates-speculation_n_820316.html

Draft Jeb! http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2011/02/jeb-bush-should-run

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/02/07/the_case_for_jeb.html

No way! http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/02/08/jeb_bush_re-closes_the_door.html

Once you start to think you’re important, you can’t accept being kicked to the curb

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/christine_odonnell_will_use_committee_to_investigative_left-wing_groups.php
Failed GOP Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell is back, and she's telling supporters she wants her newly formed political action committee ChristinePAC to "investigate and counter attack leftwing groups." . . .

Montana bill would create armed citizen militias, calling them “home guards”

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/montana_bill_would_create_armed_state_militia_forc.php

No, this has NOTHING to do with hints of violence, not at all

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/142671-rep-rehberg-hits-insufferable-arrogance-in-dc-slams-federal-judge
"When I first heard of this decision, like many of you I wanted to take immediate action," Rehberg said, according to the Helena Independent Record. "I asked: How can we put some of these judicial activists on the endangered species list?"

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/02/08/lawmaker_urges_gop_to_empty_the_clip_on_immigration.html
Alabama state Sen. Scott Beason (R) said that Alabama lawmakers "are behind in enacting tough immigration laws -- but that more Republican control throughout the state will allow immigration legislation to take precedent," the Cullman Times reports.

He ended his speech advising Republicans to "empty the clip, and do what has to be done." . . .

Several people suggested that notorious DC smokers Barack Obama and John Boehner join in a public bipartisan pact to quit smoking. Well, here’s your metaphor for politics today

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/the-president-quits-his-cigarette-habit/
The President Quits His Cigarette Habit

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/01/john-boehner-smoking-crying-/1
[Boehner] "It's a bad habit, but I have it. It's a legal product. I choose to smoke. . . Leave me alone."

Donald Rumsfeld’s full-court press to change the Judgments of History (it won’t help)

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/rumsfeld-still-no-apologies-for-iraq.php

More: http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2011/02/08/rummys-dump/

Bonus item: Tough times for the Times

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/02/painful_correction_of_the_day.php
[NYT] An article on Jan. 16 about drilling for oil off the coast of Angola erroneously reported a story about cows falling from planes, as an example of risks in any engineering endeavor. No cows, smuggled or otherwise, ever fell from a plane into a Japanese fishing rig. The story is an urban legend . . .

***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.***

USELESS

A carefully worded “denial”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/chamber-denies-communicating-opposition-to-sanctions-to-iranian-counterpart.php
The Chamber of Commerce is denying a report by the Fars News Agency in Iran suggesting that they, along with several other business groups, sent a statement to the head the head of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mines underlining their oppositions to U.S. sanctions. . . .

More: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2011/02/about_the_us_chambers_opposition.html

Mitch McConnell thinks a bill that has already been passed and signed is still open to “negotiation” (which he tells us he won’t do). Thanks for the clarification, Mitch

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/7/941325/-McConnell:-No-deals-on-healthcare-reform

Wow – real reporting

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/7/941218/-NYT-and-AP:-How-the-Affordable-Care-Act-actually-affects-people
NYT and AP: How the Affordable Care Act actually affects people

Are the Dems going to let themselves get rolled on the GOP’s latest anti-abortion bill?

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/played.html

A kind of transparency

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/rep_issa_releases_business_wish_list.php
Rep. Issa Releases Business Community's Wish List

Ha ha! Salon has Lindsey Graham pegged: “Useless”

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/07/lindsey_graham
Everyone's favorite moderate Republican is working on immigration reform again, which probably means no reform . . . [read on]

Sarah! cancels Colorado event because of “personal attacks.” But is that really the reason?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/palin-colorado-event-canceled-after-onslaught-of-personal-attacks.php
Palin Colorado Event Canceled After 'Onslaught Of Personal Attacks'

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/sarahs-running-by-digby-if-it-werent.html
May 2 is also the date of a NBC/Politico 2012 Republican presidential candidates debate, to be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. . . .

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/6/941755/-Palin-bails-on-military-families-fundraiser-because-of-personal-attacks
Palin bails on military families fundraiser because of "personal attacks"

Of course she couldn’t cancel it because she says she has a better offer on that day – she has to do it in a way that victimizes herself

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/kate-obenshain-plays-victim-card-palin-rea

Dumb and dumber

http://www.americablog.com/2011/02/palin-on-egypt-to-call-it-gibberish-is.html
[Sarah!] "We want to be able to trust those who are screaming for democracy there in Egypt, that it is a true sincere desire for freedoms," she told the Christian Broadcasting Network in her first public comments about the two-week-old crisis in Egypt.

"How do we verify what it is that we are being told, what it is that the American public are being fed via media, via the protestors, via the government there in Egypt in order for us to really have some sound information to make wise decisions on what our position is."

"We need to find out who was behind all of the turmoil and the revolt and the protests so that good decisions can be made in terms of who we will stand by and support," she said.

"Mubarak, he's gone, one way or the other you know, he is not going to be the leader of Egypt, that that's a given, so now the information needs to be gathered and understood as to who it will be that fills now the void in the government. Is it going to be the Muslim Brotherhood?

"We should not stand for that, or with that or by that," she said.

Here’s the original, with all the “uh’s” and “um’s” left in: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/7/941832/-Palin-on-Egypt-uprising:-Um...uh...uh..um...um

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/palin-we-need-to-find-out-who-was-behind-egypt-protests-video.php

We know that Donald Rumsfeld is constitutionally incapable of admitting a mistake, but this is ridiculous

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/rumsfeld-its-possible-we-didnt-send-enough-troops-to-iraq----but-its-hard-to-know.php

Oh no! How will Harold Ford get on television any more?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/report-dlc-could-close-down.php
DLC Could Close Down

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/7/941918/-DLC-is-done

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/02/07/dlc-dies-but-its-ideas-and-legacy-live-on/

Oops! Politico blurts out the secret that everyone already knows

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2011/02/vandeharris_give_away_the_game.html
[Obama] is doing it by exploiting some of the most long-standing traits among reporters who cover politics and government -- their favoritism for politicians perceived as ideologically centrist and willing to profess devotion to Washington's oft-honored, rarely practiced civic religion of bipartisanship...

The majority of political writers we know might more accurately be accused of centrist bias...Obama is taking advantage of the press's bias for bipartisan process, a preference that often transcends the substance of any bipartisan policy... [read on]

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/07/obama-said-to-be-playing-media-like-fiddle_n_819710.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027881.php

Fox News thinks you’re stupid

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/bill-oreilly-wants-assure-us-fox-new
Bill O'Reilly wants to assure us that Fox News isn't 'out to get' President Obama. Uh-huh.

Case in point: http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/fox-talkers-use-reagans-birthday-opp
Fox talkers use Reagan's birthday as an opportunity to bash Obama

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/02/gee-i-wonder-why-conservatives-think-obama-muslim
Gee, I Wonder Why People Think Obama Is a Muslim?

Glenn Beck: first Cairo, next New York!

http://firedoglake.com/2011/02/08/so-were-learning-new-things-about-egypt/

Bonus item: Bristol Palin “writes” a book!

http://crooksandliars.com/bluegal/open-thread-581

***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.***

PBD FOR SALE!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/business/media/07aol.html
AOL Is Buying The Huffington Post. . . $315 million

[NB: Sure, absolutely, just call or write. . .]

The GOP’s new “jobs” plan: deregulate

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/07/AR2011020700022.html
House Republicans are scrutinizing a wide array of existing and proposed Obama administration regulations in areas as diverse as the environment and Wall Street, and they are taking guidance from industry groups that say the rules threaten jobs. . . .

Responding to solicitations from Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), businesses have asked Congress to roll back or preempt more than 150 rules governing their industries . . .

In many cases, businesses are seizing the opportunity to reopen regulatory debates that they previously lost. . . .

Does the GOP really want to brand itself as the party that minimizes rape?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027869.php

The Real Ronald Reagan

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/meet-rino-reagan

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-02-04/politics/reagan.legacy_1_lou-cannon-negotiations-with-soviet-leader-conservatives

http://firedoglake.com/2011/02/06/sarah-palins-revisionism-on-reagan-and-lbjs-great-society/

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/06/will_bunch_reagan

Oh, by the way . . .

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/10/17/194133/16
"By the end of his term, 138 Reagan administration officials had been convicted, had been indicted, or had been the subject of official investigations for official misconduct and/or criminal violations. In terms of number of officials involved, the record of his administration was the worst ever."

A chip off the old blockhead

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/rising-gop-star.html
[Rep. Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.)] When I was a child, President Ronald Reagan was the nice man who gave us jelly beans when we visited the White House.

I didn’t know then, but I know it now: The jelly beans were much more than a sweet treat that he gave out as gifts. They represented the uniqueness and greatness of America — each one different and special in its own way, but collectively they blended in harmony...

Trying to make himself look better by making others look bad?

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/02/07/rumsfeld_rips_rice_powell.html
Rumsfeld Rips Rice, Powell

Bill Kristol bashes Glenn Beck!

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/bill-kristol-smacks-glenn-beck-john-bir
"Hysteria"

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027865.php

More: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/fox-news-idiocracy

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/elbaradei-the-process-is-opaque.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/06/tv-soundoff-sunday-talkin_37_n_819229.html

Bonus item: Vis a vis nothing important, but a free gift to all who have suffered at the hands of bad customer support

http://www.sadlyno.com/archives/34528.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.***

LET’S MAKE A DEAL

How long will this deal last?

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/02/06/senate_truce_holding_so_far.html
Last month Senate leadership struck an unofficial, handshake deal on the chamber's rules in which Republicans agreed to allow bills to come to the floor without a filibuster in exchange for being able to introduce whatever amendments they wanted. . . .

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/us/politics/06cong.html

The GOP isn’t interested in improving the health care bill, even if they could

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027862.php

Bulb wars

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027858.php

VERY interesting . . .

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/02/05/bush_cancels_trip_for_fear_of_prosecution.html
Former President George W. Bush has canceled a visit to Switzerland due to the risk of legal action against him for alleged torture, Reuters reports. . . .

Rush Limbaugh: liar, propagandist

http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201102040023
Limbaugh: "Where Did You Get This Silly Notion That Reagan Raised Taxes?"

More: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20030729-503544.html
Reagan actually ended up raising taxes - eleven times. . . [read on]

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/reagans-triple-legacy

Ha, ha. . . sorry, I . . . . ah, ha ha. . . . just can’t. . . . ho, ho, ho. . . . get it out right now. . . . but. . . whaaaa, ha, ha. . . Sarah “I can see Russia from here” Palin calls out . . . President Obama for . . . hee!!! . . .foreign policy naïveté

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/02/05/palin_blasts_obama_on_egypt.html
[Sarah!] "And nobody yet has, no body yet has explained to the American public what they know, and surely they know more than the rest of us know who it is who will be taking the place of Mubarak and um, no, not, not real um enthused about what it is that that's being done on a national level and from D.C. in regards to understanding all the situation there in Egypt. And um, in these areas that are so volatile right now because obviously it's not just Egypt but the other countries too where we are seeing uprisings, we know that now more than ever, we need strength and sound mind there in the White House. We need to know what it is that America stands for so we know who it is that America will stand with. And um, we do not have all that information yet."

Sunday talk show line-ups

http://firedoglake.com/2011/02/06/sunday-talking-heads-february-6-2011/
ABC’s This Week: From Cairo. Egypt’s Ambassador to the United States, Sameh Shoukry. What is the current state of the Mubarak regime amidst protesters’ demands that he step down? Then, the alleged intimidation of journalists by pro-Mubarak supporters. Roundtable: veteran Egyptian journalists Lamia Radi and Nadia abou el-Magd, BBC’s John Simpson, Tony Shadid of the New York Times, and ABC’s David Muir. And more.

CBS’ Face The Nation: Egypt. Martin Indyk, Vice President and Director of Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution. Thomas Pickering, Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Israel and Jordan. Dr. Abderrahim Foukara, Al Jazeera, Washington and New York Bureau Chief. Plus, the latest from Cairo from CBS News correspondents.

CNN’s State of the Union: Egypt. Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Then, former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, Edward S. Walker, and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Negroponte. Plus, live reports from CNN’s team of reporters on the ground. Finally, co-chair of the White House Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, Alan Simpson. “The former senator from Wyoming outlined the commission’s plan for tackling the ever-growing national debt.”

CNN Fareed Zakaria – GPS: Egypt. Egyptian opposition figure Mohammed ElBaradei. And, Fareed’s interview with British Prime Minister David Cameron. Will his austerity measures save England?

NBC’s Meet The Press: Egypt. Egyptian opposition figure Mohammed ElBaradei. Also, what is the current state of Egypt’s government? Egypt’s Ambassador to the United States, Sameh Shoukry. Then the focus turns to the U.S. response and what about role the U.S. will play. The Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA). And Richard Engel from Cairo.

Bonus item: How apt for the Sunday edition. Fox News trashes Obama for “misquoting the Bible,” when all he did was use a different translation

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201102040006

http://www.samefacts.com/2011/02/religion-and-politics/is-fox-news-run-by-muslims/

It gets better: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0211/Obamas_Bible_misquote.html?showall
Obama was quoting from the New International Version.

The New International Version is published by Zondervan -- a division of Harper Collins and, yes, News Corp.

***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.***

PINHEADS

So ignorant

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/freshman-goper-didnt-know-government-paid-for-her-health-benefit.php
Freshman GOPer Didn't Know Government Paid For Her Health Benefits

Unemployment drops to 9%, which is sorta-kinda good news. How will the GOPers make this into an anti-Obama trend?

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/142115-gop-drop-in-unemployment-rate-not-enough
GOP: Drop in unemployment rate not enough

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/4/941210/-Flashback:-GOP-claimed-credit-for-todays-jobs-report

Well, no, it’s not enough: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/4/941173/-Few-new-jobs,-but-unemployment-rate-fell-to-9

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027839.php

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/02/04/unemployment-rate-falls-to-9-0-despite-weak-job-growth/

They got nuthin’

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027849.php
[Steve Benen] A Politico report noted this morning, "House Republicans know they're struggling with their economic message." Apparently, when the GOP focuses its attention on everything except job creation and economic growth, it gives the impression that Republicans have flawed priorities.

But at least the GOP seems to realize it has a problem. . . . [read on]

More: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/04/republican_budget

Roll video

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/dems-to-mcconnell-what-about-all-those-republicans-talking-about-a-government-shutdown-video.php
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell says the only people talking about shutting down the government are a handful of Democrats.

So, Dems are asking, what about all those Republicans who've threatened a shutdown?

They're rounding up examples, and have put a few together . . . [watch]

Not hyperbole

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/new-gop-law-would-allow-hospitals-to-let-women-die-instead-of-having-an-abortion.php
The controversy over "forcible rape" may be over, but now there's a new Republican-sponsored abortion bill in the House that pro-choice folks say may be worse: this time around, the new language would allow hospitals to let a pregnant woman die rather than perform the abortion that would save her life.

The bill, known currently as H.R. 358 or the "Protect Life Act" . . .

[NB: Positively Orwellian]

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/4/941263/-The-next-anti-woman-shiny-object:-Allowing-hospitals-to-deny-abortion-care

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/04/antiabortion-lawmakers-ba_n_818842.html

I told you she picked the wrong fight

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/bachmann-drops-proposal-to-cut-veterans-benefits.php
Bachmann Drops Proposal To Cut Veterans' Benefits

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/4/941277/-Bachmann-backs-off-plan-to-cut-veterans-benefits

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027856.php

Ahem. Are they going to cut ANYTHING?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027842.php

Clarence Thomas’s wife has a right to her own career. But does it have to be THIS one?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/05/us/politics/05thomas.html
The wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, who has raised her political profile in the last year through her outspoken conservative activism, is rebranding herself as a lobbyist and self-appointed “ambassador to the Tea Party movement.” . . . [read on]

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/virginia-thomas-supreme-court-justices-wife-and-ambassador-to-gop-freshmen.php

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027850.php

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/ginni-thomas-lobbyist-really
[Karoli] Do you ever have the sense when you read news that there's an orchestrated effort for the right wing to raise their middle finger high in the face of the Constitution while extolling it? If you don't, prepare to experience it now. . . .

Newt cashes in on Ronald Reagan's birthday

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/04/newt_cashes_in_reagan_centennial
Newt Gingrich is selling two books and one DVD commemorating Ronald Reagan

Sarah! tries on the mantle

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/04/AR2011020402886.html
America is on a "road to ruin" because of misguided policies in Washington and needs to get back in step with the values of Ronald Reagan, Sarah Palin said at an event honoring the former president's legacy. . . .

Show me the money!

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/sarah-palin-takes-it-to-the-next-level-trademark-status-hello-sarah-palin.php
Sarah Palin Takes It To The Next Level: Trademark Status. Hello, Sarah Palin®

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/4/940968/-Palins-file-applications-to-trademark-their-names
In case you're wondering whether it's common for politicians to trademark their names -- nope, it's not . . . [read on]

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/04/sarah_palin_trademark_bristol_name

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027857.php

Heh, heh: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/sarah-palin-trademark-rejected----for-lack-of-signature.php
Sarah Palin Trademark Rejected -- For Lack Of Signature

Ho, ho: Rush doesn’t like to be the one ASKED questions. No. Not. At. All

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/rush-owww.html

Off the deep end

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/even-neocon-robert-kagan-has-had-enough-be
Even Neocon Robert Kagan Has Had Enough of Beck -- Calls Him a Panic-Monger

More: http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/beck-wonders-about-his-egyptchinanew

http://www.frumforum.com/beck-it-pays-to-be-crazy
[David Frum] Many people have suggested that since the crisis in Egypt began Fox News’ Glenn Beck sounds crazier than usual.

This is a hard assessment to quantify. But if it is true, the uptick in craziness may be attributable to the decline in Beck’s audience. . . .

Bonus item: We don’t do enough Stephen Colbert here. Don’t miss it today

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/stephen-colbert-defends-pappa-bear-oreilly



***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.***

THEY DON’T KNOW *WHAT* THEY WANT

This is what happens when your politics is based on unhinged hatred: right wingers claim Obama is too close to Mubarak AND is a secret ally of the Muslim Brotherhood

http://mediamatters.org/research/201102020016

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/right_wing_reacts_to_egypt_protests_obama_is_in_le.php

GOPers back down on redefining “rape”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/report-republicans-give-up-on-forcible-rape.php

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/reasonable-republicans-and-rape.html

It’s still a terrible bill: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/dem-women-unimpressed-with-new-house-abortion-bill.php

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/3/941027/-GOP-backs-down-on-rape-redefinition,-but-fight-against-H.R.-3-has-just-begun

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027827.php

No, the Repubs aren’t serious about cutting the budget: they just want to TALK about cutting the budget (I suppose this is a good thing, in a way)

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/3/940963/-Teabagging-their-base:-House-GOP-budget-plan-cuts-deficit-by-just-2

The Repubs are shocked, SHOCKED, that anyone would think they favor a government shutdown

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/mcconnell-the-only-ones-talking-about-a-gov-shutdown-are-dems.php
McConnell: The Only Ones Talking About A Gov Shutdown Are Dems

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027836.php
GOP LEADERS GET AMNESIA OVER SHUTDOWN TALK

Karl Rove doesn’t know what he thinks about health care reform and Medicare

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027833.php
[Steve Benen] I'd be surprised if Rove wrote his columns himself, but whoever wrote the first half of the piece probably should have been in touch with whoever wrote the second half. . . .

Bet this one doesn’t get as much press as the Vinson decision

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/03/obama-health-care-legal-victory_n_818428.html
The Obama administration won a victory Thursday in the winding legal debate surrounding the president's signature health care law, as a federal judge in Mississippi threw out a suit challenging the constitutionality of the bill. . . .

The Congress’s pathetic attempts to maintain their own ethics review

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/why_congress_cannot_police_itself_ensign_case_is_e.php

Don Rumsfeld’s outrageous lies

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/03/rumsfeld_book

Watch: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/#41417490

Ha, ha: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/02/03/mccain_reacts_to_rumsfeld_memoir.html
In an ABC News interview, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) had a simple reaction . . .

Said McCain: "Thank God he was relieved of his duties."

Wow: the right turns on George W. Bush

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/elite-reflux.html

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/george-bush-says-tea-party-suffers-nati

The Diva spurns CPAC (again)

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/03/palin_skips_cpac

http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/weigel/archive/2011/02/03/sarah-palin-skips-cpac-again.aspx

Why? http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/republican-party/sarah-palin-and-cpac.html

Rick Santorum fails high school civics

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/rick-santorum-i-would-eliminate-the-rogue-9th-circuit-court-of-appeals.php
Rick Santorum: I Would Eliminate The 'Rogue' 9th Circuit Court Of Appeals

The Real Ronald Reagan

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/03/real_reagan_intro

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/03/busby_iran_contra

This gives you a glimpse of how this monster’s mind works: moments after joking about the mistreatment of two New York Times reporters in Cairo, Rush turns around and bemoans the mistreatment of Fox News reporters

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/they-dont-know-who-to-hate.html

Bonus item: Bill O’Reilly says the moon proves there is a God

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/03/oreilly_moon_god_existence

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027829.php

[NB: Yeah, and who made all that green cheese?]

***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.***

NO-COST HEALTH CARE

Another pointless symbolic GOP vote over which the Dems fail to exact a political price

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/senate-effort-to-repeal-health-care-law-fails.php
Effort To Repeal Health Care Law Fails In Senate

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027824.php

What will the Supreme Court do with the health care bill?

http://www.slate.com/id/2283415/

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/reagan-solicitor-general-says-health-care-is-constitutional.php
Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Ronald Reagan's Solicitor General Charles Fried said that even though he believes that there are lots of problems with the Affordable Care Act, he's "quite sure that the health care mandate is constitutional." . . .

H.R. 3, the bill that redefines rape, is even worse than that

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/2/940765/-H.R.-3-hides-even-bigger-dangers-than-redefinition-of-rape

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/02/02/democrats-and-allies-missing-the-big-picture-on-rape-redefinition-bill/

GOP Bizarro World: require gun ownership, but not driver’s licenses

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/02/02/gun_law/
Republican reps push for mandatory gun ownership

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/georgia_republican_nobody_should_need_a_drivers_license.php
Georgia Republican: Nobody Should Need A Driver's License

Really dude: change your mind if you want to, but give us a better reason for it than THIS

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/kirk-cites-al-gores-personal-life-as-impetus-for-climate-flip-flop.php

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/2/940757/-Mark-Kirk-blames-Gores-personal-life-for-his-climate-legislation-flip-flop

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/02/mark_kirk_al_gore

http://www.slate.com/BLOGS/blogs/weigel/archive/2011/02/02/the-epa-must-die-for-al-gore-s-sins.aspx

Simple question, simple answer

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/02/03/is_santorum_the_new_nixon.html
Is Santorum the New Nixon?

[NB: No!]

Michele Bachmann’s creepy imagination

http://www.americablog.com/2011/02/michele-bachmann-naked-pictures-of-me.html

Donald Rumsfeld’s new biography comes out next week – some teasers

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/02/02/rumsfeld_lashes_out.html

Sigh. Necessary, but regrettable

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/planned_parenthood_fires_employee_who_helped_pro-l.php
Planned Parenthood Fires Employee Who Helped Pro-Lifer Posed As Pimp

More: http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/right-wingers-dont-care-if-planned-p

Bonus item: When some people are trying too hard to look like regular guys, all you can say is “Stop!”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/romney-reads-mittiest-top-10-list-on-letterman-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.***

JUST TRYING TO HELP

The GOP’s legislative philosophy: amend bills to make them unworkable

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/gop-sens-admit-goal-of-changing-health-care-law-is-to-kill-it.php

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/1/940487/-Graham,-Barasso-introduce-Third-Front-against-healthcare-reform

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/01/republican-health-care-opt-out-bill_n_816928.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027798.php

More insight into how they govern

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/1/31/940288/-Paul-appointed-to-education-committee-after-calling-for-Dept.-of-Ed.-to-be-abolished
Paul appointed to education committee after calling for Dept. of Ed. to be abolished

Repubs being very, very quiet about their attempt to redefine “rape”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/from-the-right-radio-silence-on-rape-redefining-abortion-bill.php
The Republican-controlled House is considering new limitations on federal funding for abortion that could be a crown jewel of the GOP leadership's attempt to show its constituents there's a new, socially conservative sheriff in town -- if anyone was willing to discuss it, that is. . . .

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/anti-abortion-leader-no-statuatory-rape-would-not-count-as-rape-in-new-abortion-law.php
Statuatory Rape Would Not Count . . .

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/01/whats-behind-the-drive-to-redefine-rape_n_816967.html

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/01/hr3_abortion_rape

We’ve noticed: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/wasserman-schultz-calls-house-abortion-bill-violent-act-against-women.php
A 'Violent Act Against Women'

Senate health care repeal vote today?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/reid-health-care-repeal-vote-possible-today.php
Democratic leaders have decided to allow it to go forward. However, they won't, at this time, force Republicans to vote to repeal key, popular parts of the legislation. . . .

The GOPers have an “individual mandate” too

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/mocking-health-reform-republicans-propose-ma
Republicans propose mandating gun ownership

Really? http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027794.php

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/01/constitutional_gun_mandate

Hey, Issa: you investigate US? We investigate YOU! (Transparency cuts both ways, buddy.)

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/02/01/cummings-seeks-letters-from-industry-groups-to-issa-on-regulations/

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/thanking-owners.html

Mitt Romney, still shaming himself to curry favor with the teabaggers (who will never accept him anyway)

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/02/late_to_the_tea_party.php

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/mitt-romney-obama-is-smothering-the-american-dream.php

Well, that’ll teach him

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/02/01/romney_says_he_answered_too_many_questions.html
Romney Says He Answered Too Many Questions

Another stealth video/set-up job by right-wing guerrilla journalists, this time against Planned Parenthood. Simple: go to office after office with the same scam until you find some poor staffer too dumb to realize what’s going on.

Two can play at this game, you know . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/us/02parenthood.html

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/1/940459/-OKeefe-copycat-who-targeted-Planned-Parenthood-faceplants-out-of-the-gate

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/sex_ring_was_a_hoax_live_action_posts_video_target.php

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/01/planned_parenthood_sting

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/01/fbi-planned-parenthood-hoax-suspects_n_817201.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027805.php

It’s so nice to have your prejudices confirmed

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/fox-news-editor-pushed-emphasis-on-obama-socialism-ahead-of-2008-election.php
Fox News Editor Pushed Emphasis On Obama 'Socialism' Ahead Of 2008 Election

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027796.php

Bonus item: Glenn Beck is losing his mind

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/planet-beck-nears-critical-mass-wing

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/1/940454/-The-world-according-to-Glenn-Beck

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027792.php

Extra bonus item: Is Sarah Palin a Russian spy?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/1/940535/-Late-afternoon-early-evening-open-thread

Extra extra bonus item: After her election humiliation, Sharron Angle (R-NV) finds her niche

http://www.americablog.com/2011/02/evening-of-glamour-with-sharron-angle.html
Sharron will be sharing her beauty and makeup challenges during the campaign and how she overcame them! . . .

***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.***

BUSH v. GORE REDUX?

It’s not so hard to find a friendly federal judge and run a case past them to get a verdict you can take to the Supreme Court. The GOP found a VERY friendly judge who didn’t just invalidate the “individual mandate” for health care, but the entire bill. Will the Supreme Court endorse this blatantly political judgment (in 2012, in the midst of a Presidential campaign)?

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2011/01/gop_judge_rules_against_afford.html
[Sound familiar?] "This conclusion is reached with full appreciation for the 'normal rule' that reviewing courts should ordinarily refrain from invalidating more than the unconstitutional part of a statute," Vinson writes, "but non-severability is required based on the unique facts of this case and the particular aspects of the Act. This is not a situation that is likely to be repeated."

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_01/027784.php
[Steve Benen] Hell, the guy even makes a not-so-subtle Tea Party reference in the ruling: "It is difficult to imagine that a nation which began, at least in part, as the result of opposition to a British mandate giving the East India Company a monopoly and imposing a nominal tax on all tea sold in America would have set out to create a government with the power to force people to buy tea in the first place."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/heavy-hitters-rip-florida-federal-judge-opinion-striking-health-care-law.php

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/hca-in-courts-settting-boundries.html

Watch: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/41360790#41360790

Did a technical goof in the bill open up the “severability” issue? (Looks like it.) Should they have just gone with the single payer plan in the first place? (Of course they should.) Maybe we end up there anyway . . .

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/florida-judge-rules-part-of-health-care-law-unconstitutional.php

http://www.slate.com/id/2281290/

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/01/what-if-healthcare-reform-struck-down

What will Justice Kennedy do?

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2011/01/yes_but_what_will_anthony_kenn.html

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2011/01/nonseverability

Made to order

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/heritage-asks-issa-to-attack-decades-of-worker-consumer-and-environmental-protections.php
CREW got a hold of a bunch of letters to House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa from trade association, industry, and think tank leaders, which identify aspects of the federal regulatory regime that they believe Issa should investigate to make life and profits easier for businesses.

The one that most neatly reflects the priorities of the conservative movement comes from the Heritage Foundation, which is asking Issa to attack decades worth of regulatory and statutory worker and consumer protections. . . . [read on]

And just think: under a Democrat!

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/2010-05-10-taxes_N.htm
Tax bills in 2009 at lowest level since 1950

The Dems get smart about not letting the GOP tag them with cutting Social Security – which the Republicans’ OWN budget plan calls for

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/harry-reid-takes-social-security-off-the-table.php
Harry Reid Takes Social Security 'Off The Table'

Now, if the parties were reversed, you would be hearing howls of outrage echoed across the right-wing media: wall-to-wall accusations about China-lovin’ Dems and stab-in-the-back betrayals of the elderly here at home. But my guess is you haven’t heard about this at all

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/pay-china-first----republicans-wild-plan-to-avoid-us-debt-default.php
New Republican legislation in the House and Senate would force the U.S. government to reroute huge amounts of money to China and other creditors in the event that Congress fails to raise its debt ceiling. . . .

If passed, Toomey's plan would require the government to cut large checks to foreign countries, and major financial institutions, before paying off its obligations to Social Security beneficiaries and other citizens owed money by the Treasury . . . [read on]

Cyberwar: it’s here

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2011/01/31/stuxnet-a-way-to-nuke-iran-without-using-a-bomb/

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/01/with-stuxnet-did-the-u-s-and-israel-create-a-new-cyberwar-era/

More: http://www.onpointradio.org/2011/01/stuxnet-worm-cyber

“Voter fraud” = “Voter suppression”

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/little_evidence_of_voter_fraud_--_but_new_anti-fra.php

Gun crazy

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/nyc_investigation_into_az_gun_show_finds_dealers_s.php
NYC Investigation Into AZ Gun Show Finds Dealers Sold Guns Without Background Checks

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/utah_bill_supporter_naming_a_state_gun_will_show_they_are_useful_video.php
Utah Bill Supporter: Naming A State Gun Will Show They Are Useful

Sarah! goes before a hunters club to extol the virtues of totin’ steel. The press is banned – but of course someone still gets in. Here’s what she said

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-01-30/sarah-palins-gun-control-warnings-at-safari-club-international/
“Beware of what's coming,” Palin told the crowd. “I really do believe that God has shed his grace on thee. We can't blow it. We can't allow an atrophy of the foundation that is America, that is so exceptional." [read on]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110130/us_ac/7740250_sarah_palins_gun_control_rhetoric_isnt_funny_even_when_she_laughs_1
Sarah Palin's Gun Control Rhetoric Isn't Funny Even when She Laughs

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/30/sarah-palin-safari-club-s_n_816040.html

And this: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-01-30/sarah-palins-gun-control-warnings-at-safari-club-international/
"If a caribou needs to be sacrificed for the sake of energy independence," she adds, "I say, 'Mr. Caribou, maybe you need to take one for the team.'"

Yes, she bans the press from her events, then complains that they are “boycotting” her

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/31/sarah-palin-media-boycott-blamed-egypt_n_816159.html

In CPAC World

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/01/a_cpac_like_no_other.php
Don Rumsfeld will receive the "Defender of the Constitution" award and Tucker Carlson is getting the "Accuracy In Media" award. . . [read on]

More: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/01/31/tucker_carlson

I was waiting for this: Were Michele Bachmann’s bad makeup and shifty-eyed delivery of her CNN “response” to Obama’s speech a set-up job by the network? The tin-foil hat segment of the right wing blogosphere is sure of it

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/breitbart-boo-boo.html

Bonus item: Oh, he loves chaos – yes he does. It suits his millennial view of the world. Is the End of Times upon us?

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/01/glenn-becks-world

***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.***