THE KIND OF PEOPLE THEY ARE

The Republican agenda for Congress

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/06/29/john_boehner_speaker_preview
House Minority Leader and would-be Speaker of the House John Boehner gave a wide-ranging interview to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. It was, perhaps, a little too wide-ranging. Boehner shared with the paper an exciting preview of what Republicans have in store for us, should they retake Congress . . . [read on!]

More: http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/boehner-we-cant-have-war-and-social-s

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/29/880270/-GOP-vs.-Social-Security

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024496.php

Have they succeeded in killing off financial reform?

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/06/fat-lady-starts-warming-financial-reform

Slandering Thurgood Marshall

http://washingtonindependent.com/90340/gop-senators-put-thurgood-marshall-on-trial

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024488.php

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/thurgood-who-republicans-hard-pressed-to-disagree-with-marshall.php

Atrios: http://www.eschatonblog.com/2010/06/thurgood-marshall-is-historys-greatest.html
Since they obviously aren't planning to derail Kagan, the GOP's coordinated trashing of Thurgood Marshall is just some catnip for their base.

Jeff Sessions (R-AL) calls Elena Kagan a liar

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/a-liar-by-any-other-name.php

Who’s the liar? http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/38051

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/jeff-sessions-hysterical-attacks-elena

Chuck Grassley (R-IA) asks Kagan if Second Amendment gun rights come from God

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/grassley-asks-kagan-didnt-god-give-us-the-right-to-bear-arms.php

Compassionate conservative: when a rape victim gets pregnant, it’s “God’s Will”

http://www.samefacts.com/2010/06/watching-conservatives/blasphemy-3/

When Sharron Angle (R-NV) said we should grab our guns and “take out” Harry Reid, she was only “speaking broadly”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/angle-i-was-speaking-broadly-about-second-amendment-remedies.php

How they think in Idaho

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/idaho-gop-repeal-17th-amdendment-buy-gold-and-silver.php

Things we knew

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/gao_study_finds_improper_burrowing_in_bush_years.php
A study by the Government Accountability Office has found seven instances of improper burrowing -- political appointees shifting to career civil servant positions in a given agency -- during the Bush Administration . . .

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/gop-chooses-tax-cuts-billionaires-over-jobless
GOP Chooses Tax Cuts for Billionaires Over Jobless Benefits for the Unemployed

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/06/29/96779/goldman-admits-it-had-bigger-role.html
Reversing its oft-repeated position that it was acting only on behalf of its clients in its exotic dealings with the American International Group, Goldman Sachs now says that it also used its own money to make secret wagers against the U.S. housing market. . . .

Uh, no?

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/06/is-obamas-2011-afghanistan-deadline-actually-a-mistake/
Is Obama’s 2011 Afghanistan Deadline a Mistake?

More: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/06/shorter-petraeus-seriously-guys-i-support-the-july-2011-afghanistan-deadline/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/29/petraeus-afghanistan-with_n_629157.html

Kos fires, sues his pollster

http://mydd.com/2010/6/29/research-2000-polling-methds

The full story: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/29/880179/-Research-2000:-Problems-in-plain-sight

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/29/880185/-More-on-Research-2000

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/kos_lawyer_he_handed_dailykos_fiction_and_claimed.php

Bonus item: Is Obama a disappointment?

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/06/my-obama-schizophrenia

***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.***

AW, SHOOT

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/28/AR2010062802134.html
The Second Amendment provides Americans a fundamental right to bear arms that cannot be violated by state and local governments, the Supreme Court ruled Monday in a long-sought victory for gun rights advocates.

The 5 to 4 decision does not strike down any gun-control laws, nor does it elaborate on what kind of laws would offend the Constitution. One justice predicted that an "avalanche" of lawsuits would be filed across the country asking federal judges to define the boundaries of gun ownership and government regulation.

But Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., who wrote the opinion for the court's dominant conservatives, said: "It is clear that the Framers . . . counted the right to keep and bear arms among those fundamental rights necessary to our system of ordered liberty." . . .

More: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/38031

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/25/879389/-SCOTUS:-Second-Amendment-Applies-To-State-Local-Laws

"Conservative Christian and a Pretty Fair Shot"

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/az-03-candidates-ad-look-how-many-different-guns-i-can-shoot.php
Pamela Gorman (R) is running for Congress in Arizona's 3rd district, and wants you to know that her policies are "always right on target."

But how to show that in an ad? With a montage of Gorman firing different kinds of guns, of course! . . .

The bad guys win (again)

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/06/why_cant_obama_quit_blackwater.php
[I]t is striking how Blackwater (now rechristined Xe) has suddenly gotten a clean bill of health from the government and is back getting top dollar contracts . . .

More on Xe: http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/06/28/erik-prince-sanctions-and-mineral-wealth/

The Third Depression

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/57213

From all sides . . .

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/in-passing-byrd-leaves-dems-shy-a-vote-for-wall-street-reform.php
In Passing, Byrd Leaves Dems One Vote Shy Of Wall Street Reform

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/feingold-will-vote-to-block-wall-street-bill.php
Feingold Will Vote To Block Wall Street Bill

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/06/russ-feingolds-bad-choice
Russ Feingold's Bad Choice

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/obama-administration-sided-with-brown-o.php
Obama Administration Sided With Scott Brown On Wall Street Bill Loophole

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/28/scott-browns-sweetheart-f_n_627710.html
Scott Brown's Sweetheart FinReg Deal

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/06/28/obama-wh-catered-to-scott-brown-on-finreg-now-he-opposes-the-bill/
Obama WH Catered to Scott Brown on FinReg, Now He Opposes the Bill

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/06/lucy.php
Susan Collins (R-ME) pulls back support for Finance Reform bill. . . .

What next? http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/06/byrds-death-what-happens-to-financial-regulatory-reform/58822/

No, you haven’t missed anything (yet)

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/06/28/is_anyone_paying_attention_to_kagan_hearings.html
[Rick Hasen] "If you were trying to schedule Senate hearings on a Supreme Court nominee to garner the least attention possible, you could not have picked a day better than today. The sad death of Senator Byrd; the Supreme Court decides four major cases, including the gun case; Congress poised to pass a major financial reform bill, with now some uncertainty as to timing given the death of Sen. Byrd; the Afghanistan McCrystal fallout; continued concern over BP's cleanup operations. It is no wonder that many Americans don't know who Elena Kagan is."

More on Day One: http://mydd.com/2010/6/29/kagan-hearings-day-one

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/leahy-conservative-judges-are-the-true-activists-on-todays-court-video.php

http://www.americablog.com/2010/06/after-slamming-activist-judges.html

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/coburn-asks-kagan-to-set-a-new-standard-answer-questions-video.php

http://prospect.org/cs/articles?article=a_guide_to_the_kagan_smears
Republicans have had to work hard to drum up a case against Kagan. Here's what they've got, and how Democrats will respond. . . .

Now suddenly Haley Barbour (R-MS) is worried about the oil spill after all

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/28/880047/-Haley-Barbour-finally-discovers-BPs-oil-spill-is-real

Sharron Angle (R-NV) – too crazy even for the tea baggers?

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/06/too_hot_for_tea.php

The other GOP crazies

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024479.php

Bonus item: Rand Paul (R-KY) sucks up to his base

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/your-daily-crazy-whats-rand-paul-up-to.html
Barefoot and Progressive went to a Christian Homeschool Educators of Kentucky conference where Rand Paul was featured and took questions. (This group's objective is to "protect children from mental physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by secular humanists in a socialist society or governmental system," btw.)

Anyway, all the allegedly rational libertarians throughout the land must be thrilled to see their standard bearer pass on a question about how old the earth is . . .

More: http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/06/rand-paul-panders-to-young-earth-creationists/

***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 LEFTOVERS

Interesting: the US may be finally trying to rein in the mess of private contractors – and they tag two female officers to do it

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/06/9-years-in-u-s-finally-tries-to-get-a-grip-on-warzone-contractors/

Robert Byrd (D-WV) is dying – and the usual sources display all the class and character we expect from them

http://www.samefacts.com/2010/06/watching-conservatives/the-un-toilet-trained-right-wing/

If he dies . . .

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/06/27/byrd_senate_appointment

The kind of people they are. Why are poor people poor? Because they’re stupid, that’s why

http://www.samefacts.com/2010/06/watching-conservatives/not-an-income-gap-a-stupid-gap/

Now Republicans want to claim the “feminist” label

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/27/879595/-Republicans-discover-the-F-word

The know-nothings

http://firedoglake.com/2010/06/27/right-wingers-discover-the-next-joe-the-plumber/

Mitt Romney’s big handicap in running for the GOP nomination: Fox News hates him

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/27/huckabee-romney-palin-2012_n_626994.html

"Demographic Change and the Future of the Parties"

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/26/879675/-Interview-with-Ruy-Teixeira-on-Demographic-Change-and-the-Future-of-the-Parties

What you missed on the Sunday talk shows

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/sessions-its-conceivable-a-filibuster-might-occur-against-kagan.php

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/06/sunday_roundup_3.html

Bonus item: Sarah Palin’s public speaking “style”

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/word-salad-swimming-in-oil-palins.html
[Digby] Honestly, who would actually pay money to hear this incomprehensible, babbling moron pretend to speak?

***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.***

LIKE CLOCKWORK

“How Bush’s Wars Became Obama’s”

http://firedoglake.com/2010/06/26/fdl-book-salon-welcomes-tom-engelhardt-the-american-way-of-war/

“Closing Guantanamo fades as a priority”

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/06/26/guantanamo

How rude to say this out loud

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/24/republicans_are_undercutting_national_economic_rec/
Republicans are Undercutting National Economic Recovery -- and Dems Need to Say So 24/7

Why working with the Repubs is impossible

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024459.php
[Steve Benen] Cap-and-trade -- any version of it -- has been deemed wholly unacceptable by Republicans this year. But given the intense opposition to the idea, it's easy to forget that Republicans used to consider cap-and-trade a reasonable, market-based mechanism that was far preferable to command-and-control directives that the right found offensive. . . .

Democratic policymakers could, today, endorse the policy put forward by the Republican ticket from 2008, and GOP senators would filibuster it. Republicans said they wanted cap-and-trade, but now refuse to take "yes" for an answer. . . .

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/26/opinion/26blow.html

GOP still trying to drum up opposition to Elena Kagan – on some grounds, any grounds, it doesn’t matter

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/37988

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/26/879358/-SCOTUS:-Kagan-opposition-narratives-emerging

More on the APA and torture

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/56918
[Jeff Kaye] A couple of recent articles have highlighted the unseemly fact that some past presidents of the American Psychological Association (APA), the foremost professional organization for psychologists in the United States, if not the world, had links to the use of torture, or at least to military research into coercive interrogations. . . .

Sunday talk show line-ups

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/the-sunday-show-line-ups-55.php
• ABC, This Week: CIA Director Leon Panetta.

• CBS, Face The Nation: Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).

• NBC, Meet The Press: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

Bonus item: What reporters really think about Sarah Palin (caught on open mike)

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/palin-drama-live-mic-left-reporters-call-pa
“I don’t know how you’re gonna make a story out of that.” “Well, that’s the story.”. . .

“Did she even make a point?” . . .

“Just put as many random quotes in as you can.” [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.***

HALF A LOAF

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/here-are-the-key-points-you-need-to-know-about-todays-big-financial-regulation-agreement.php
Here Are The Key Points You Need To Know About Today's Big Financial Regulation Agreement

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/not-forgotten-the-four-other-wall-street-reform-biggies.php
[Brian Beutler] Most of our Wall Street reform attention has been focused on a couple of the most high-stakes pivot points in the legislation, like whether it would create strict rules governing derivatives trading (sort of), move derivative trading desks out of federally insured financial institutions and in to separate affiliates? (mostly) or limit -- or end -- banks' ability to gamble with their profits (largely.)

But what about the other major pieces of the bill? The provisions over which people fought early in the game, like consumer protection, that fell out of the headlines because there was never any doubt they'd survive in some form or another? Here are your answers . . .

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/25/879335/-Financial-reform-outcome-a-mixed-bag

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/06/with_finreg_compromise_dems_pr.html

Why we would never have seen the blockbuster McChrystal story from a “serious” DC news journalist

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/howard-kurtz-reveals-why-media-never

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/25/879432/-David-Brooks:-A-shoulder-to-cry-on

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/25/879399/-WaPo:-But-McChrystals-comments-might-have-been-off-the-record!

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/06/25/the-wapos-very-funny-idea-of-source-protection/

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/why-did-media-give-mcchrystal-pass-his

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/jon-stewart-mocks-medias-questions-about-r

Crossing a line

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/06/25/assassinations
[Glenn Greenwald] When The Washington Post's Dana Priest first revealed (in passing) back in January that the Obama administration had compiled a hit list of American citizens targeted for assassination, she wrote that "as of several months ago, the CIA list included three U.S. citizens." In April, both the Post and the NYT confirmed that the administration had specifically authorized the assassination of Anwar al-Awlaki. Today, The Washington Times' Eli Lake has an interview with Obama's top Terrorism adviser John Brennan in which Brennan strongly suggests that the number of U.S. citizens targeted for assassination could actually be "dozens" . . .

More: http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/06/25/the-perils-of-giving-john-brennan-unchecked-power/

See? http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/gohmert-theres-a-diabolical-30-year-plot-to-have-terrorist-babies-born-in-us-video.php
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) went to the House floor Thursday night, to warn of a diabolical terrorist plot -- with a 20-30 year timeline.

The plot involves arranging for a child to be born in the United States -- then training them in an isolated environment abroad, ready to dispatch them back here to commit violence after a quick two or three decades. [read on]

Get out of jail free

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/supreme_court_honest_services_fraud_ruling_corrupt.php
[Justin Elliott] In the wake of Thursday's Supreme Court ruling limiting the scope of a key federal anti-corruption statute, white-collar defense lawyers are salivating at the chance to challenge some of the biggest public corruption cases in recent memory -- from Gov. Don Siegelman in Alabama to Gov. Rod Blagojevich in Illinois to New York state Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno to the myriad figures in the Jack Abramoff saga. . .

The Texas GOP, once again leading the nation

http://washingtonindependent.com/88487/texas-gop-unveils-brand-new-far-right-platform

Obama is Hitler. This is what passes for conservative “thought”

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/25/879239/-Palin-embraces-ObamaHitler-analogy

http://www.americablog.com/2010/06/palin-endorses-obama-hitler-comparison.html

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/06/palin_tells_followers_to_read.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024442.php

Bonus item: Things I’ve wanted to do . . .

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/25/neil-cavuto-called-an-ass_n_626211.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.***

UP IS DOWN

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/looking-for-a-rosy-spin-on-the-gulf-spill-try-bps-blog.php
Looking For A Rosy Spin On The Gulf Spill? Try BP's Blog

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/24/bp-sends-pr-professionals_n_624686.html

A humorous take: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/bp-oil-spill-clarke-dawe-lighter-look-bp

Well said

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/24/AR2010062404869.html
[Eugene Robinson] The good news? Nobody has to pretend anymore that Gen. Stanley McChrystal knew how to fix Afghanistan within a year. The bad news? Now we're supposed to pretend that Gen. David Petraeus does. . . .

Politics is weird

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/06/dems_at_impasse_on_derivatives_issue.php
House and Senate Democrats still appear to be at an impasse over the regulation of derivatives. Speaker Pelosi actually met with Sen. Lincoln to convince her to loosen the language in the bill. But Lincoln refused to budge.

This does leave us with the paradoxical situation of Lincoln standing firm on the more progressive position and Pelosi trying to get her to allow some softening of the language . . .

More: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/06/the_latest_finreform_tidbits.php

Calling the Blue Dogs to heel

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/leadership-to-blue-dogs-in-campaign-finance-fight-get-with-it.php

I think we have a meme

http://www.americablog.com/2010/06/is-gop-deliberately-trying-to-sabotage.html
Is the GOP deliberately trying to sabotage the economy?

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/06/24/republicans_want_america_to_fail
Do Republicans actually want America to fail?

http://www.samefacts.com/2010/06/uncategorized/gop-votes-to-extend-the-great-recession/
GOP votes to extend the Great Recession

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/republicans-destroying-americans-dreams.html
Winning The War Against the American Dream

http://washingtonindependent.com/88217/stabenow-republicans-in-cynical-game-to-crater-economy-by-stopping-jobs-bill
Stabenow: Republicans in ‘Cynical Game’ to Crater Economy by Stopping Jobs Bill

More: http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/stabenow-asks-emails-phone-calls-and

Is Mark Kirk (R-IL) blowing the Illinois senate race?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/is-mark-kirk-blowing-the-illinois-senate-race.php

More: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ievRUrx4ZWJjD8uZAmR8Vv9aaS4QD9GHG9700

Welcome back, John Kasich (R-OH)

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/kasich-in-damage-control-mode-after-gaffin-it-up-in-oh-gov.php
GOPer Kasich In Damage Control Mode After Gaffes In OH-GOV Race

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/24/ohios-john-kasich-continu_n_624511.html

Rand Paul: Repeal the Fourteenth Amendment

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/rand-paul-wants-amendment-to-deny-citizenship-to-illegals-kids.php

It was just a technicality, but don’t you love it? Her legal defense fund was illegal!

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/state_investigator_palins_legal_defense_fund_was_i.php
The legal defense fund set up for Sarah Palin when she was governor of Alaska was illegal, an investigator for the state's personnel board announced today. . .

Also this: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/06/poll_majority_sees_palin_endor.html
Commentators keep telling us how influential Sarah Palin's endorsements are, and even if the whole "mama grizzly" meme is clearly overstated, there's no quibbling with the fact that Palin has pull among GOP primary voters.

But the more interesting point to be made about Palin is how toxic she's become among the broader electorate. In fact, buried in the internals of the new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll is an amusing number: A majority see a Palin endorsement as a clear negative. . . .

Louie Gohmert (R-TX) thinks Tom Sowell is “brilliant” – so I guess the rest follows from there

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/24/878752/-President-Obama-and-Adolf-Hitler

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024419.php

Herbal tea? Like many Repubs before her, Sharron Angle (R-NV) plays to the red-meat extremists in the primary, then tries to remake herself as a mainstream moderate in the general election

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/extreme-makeover-angle-hires-mainstream-gop-team-for-her-outsider-campaign.php

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/sharron-angles-independent-american-party-anti-gay-flier.php

Marco Rubio (R-FL) reads the polls

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/rubio-i-wouldnt-repeal-all-of-health-care-reform.php
Rubio: I Wouldn't Repeal All Of Health Care Reform

Haley for President – this will be fun

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/06/24/haley_barbour
Do you enjoy watching the Republican party's demographic suicide campaign? Are you hoping they never modernize or seek to appeal to any of the growing groups that will ensure that they remain a viable national political party well into the 21st century? Then you better hope Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour wins the 2012 presidential nomination.

The corrupt, rotund, sorta-former tobacco lobbyist is "discreetly building a complex political operation rivaling those of any other 2012 GOP presidential prospects," according to Politico. . . .

Just in case there is any doubt that the Republicans work to get Green Party candidates on the ballot

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/06/24/perry_aide_paid_for_effort_to_get_green_party_on_ballot.html

Up is down

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/colbert-glenn-beck-is-bringing-mlks-movement-back-to-its-conservative-white-roots-video.php
Colbert: Glenn Beck Is Bringing MLK's Movement Back To Its 'Conservative, White Roots'

Priceless: conservatives whine, We’re being discriminated against, just like the Jews and other minorities

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/06/discrimination-against-minorities-and-conservatives-is-sort-of-the-same/

Bonus item: Heh

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/06/24/jon_stewart_on_us_win_against_algeria
Jon Stewart: If America wins the World Cup, the rest of the world has to call it soccer

***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.***

CRISIS MANAGEMENT

Buh-bye

http://www.slate.com/id/2257956/
[Fred Kaplan] President Barack Obama has accomplished what many might have thought impossible just a few hours earlier. He has fired Gen. Stanley McChrystal, his combat commander in Afghanistan, in such a way that not only will the general go unmissed but his name will likely soon be forgotten.

Obama's decision to replace McChrystal with Gen. David Petraeus is a stroke of brilliance, an unassailable move, politically and strategically. . . . [read on]

More: http://www.slate.com/id/2258015

GOP: Petraeus, yay! Obama, boo!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/gop-praise-petraeus-continue-hammering-obama-afghanistan-policy.php

Here’s how toxic the oil spill issue has become for Republicans – they’re so scared they’re even running away from Rush Limbaugh

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/limbaugh-now-too-oily-for-republicans-to-touch.php

http://www.americablog.com/2010/06/limbaugh-blasts-gop-for-backing-off.html

Jon Stewart skewers their hypocrisy (again)

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/stewart-gop-called-bp-fund-shakedown-they-di

Et tu, Fox News?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-boehlert/will-bp-be-fox-news-tippi_b_622187.html

Joe Barton apologizes, then unapologizes, and now un-unapologizes. Wake me when it’s over

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024405.php

http://washingtonindependent.com/88124/as-barton-un-unapologizes-texas-voters-take-notice

Michael Steele’s unerring political instincts

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024400.php
RNC chair Michael Steele defended Wall Street as the creators of wealth in a combative interview today . . .

Trend lines

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/waterloo-health-care-reform-opposition-sinking.php
Health care reform turned an important political corner. A Gallup poll released yesterday finds that, for the first time in months, more Americans say that the Affordable Care Act is a good thing than think it's a bad thing. . . .

More: http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/06/23/surprise-republicans-account-for-small-increase-in-health-care-law-support/

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/06/seniors_key_to_shifting_public.html

GOP flailing to find leverage in opposing Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/23/878729/-SCOTUS:-Kagan-opponents-flailing-

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/23/mcconnell-changes-his-tun_n_623229.html

Dealing with the epidemic of prison rape (or not)

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/holders-inaction-prison-rape-commissi

Kingmaker Glenn Beck declares J.D. Hayworth campaign “over”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/glenn-beck-declares-jd-hayworths-campaign-is-over-video.php
"I believe we can announce on this program that J.D. Hayworth's campaign is over," Beck said, in a clip that has been distributed to the press by the McCain campaign. . . .

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/bob-ingliss-defeat-sends-signal-for-gop-dont-badmouth-glenn-beck.php
Bob Inglis's Defeat Sends Warning Signal To GOP: Don't Badmouth Glenn Beck

Gretchen Carlson, Fox News: Obama’s job is really, really hard (just like mine)

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/37934

Bonus item: Stephen Colbert on Rand Paul

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/colbert-defends-rand-paul-w2ith-arand.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.***

TO THE WOODSHED

Afghanistan Gen. McChrystal in trouble

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/us/politics/24mcchrystal.html
McChrystal’s Fate in Limbo as He Prepares to Meet Obama

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/22/AR2010062200813.html
Obama orders McChrystal back to Washington after remarks about U.S. officials

More: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/06/22/mcchrystal_submits_resignation.html
Gen. Stanley McChrystal has already offered his resignation prior to his scheduled meeting with President Obama tomorrow, Time magazine's Joe Klein tells CNN.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyharnden/100044536/breaking-general-stanley-mcchrystal-tenders-his-resignation/
[Toby Harnden] A senior Capitol Hill source tells me that General Stanley McChrystal had tendered his resignation to President Barack Obama and that the White House is actively discussing a replacement who could be quickly confirmed by the Senate.

The source said that among the names being touted as possible successors are General James Mattis, the outgoing head of the US Joint Forces Command and due to retire after being passed over as US Marine Corps commander, and Lieutenant General William Caldwell, commander of Nato’s Training Mission in Afghanistan.

Of course, offering to resign is not the same as actually resigning and it remains to be seen whether Mr Obama will accept the resignation. . . .

What will Obama do?

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/war-cabinet-lets-not-play-blame-game.html

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/06/obama-should-decide-now-what-to-do-about-mcchrystal/58545/

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/06/the-night-beat-mcchrystals-terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-day/58548/

The usual suspects blame Obama, of course

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/conservative-republicans-walk-fine-line-on-mcchrystal-controversy.php

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024387.php

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/06/cantor_mcchrystal_must_be_frus.html

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/06/mcchrystals-mess-really-obamas-fault

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/did-mcchrystal-grant-rolling-stone-acce

The Rolling Stone article that started it all

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/06/the-rolling-stone-articles-juiciest-bits/58503/

More: http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/06/the-mcchrystal-interview/

The real problem

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/06/mcchrystal-and-the-deadline-debate/
[Max Bergmann] The significance of this food fight is not in what was said, but in what it says about where the United States is in Afghanistan. . . . [read on]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/22/878239/-The-general-isnt-the-problem,-the-war-is
The general isn't the problem, the war is

More: http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/06/22/joe-biden-once-again-proved-fucking-right/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/22/stanley-mcchrystal-under_n_621282.html

http://washingtonindependent.com/88029/obama-unlikely-to-use-mcchrystal-flap-to-change-course-on-afghanistan
Obama Unlikely to Use McChrystal Flap to Change Course on Afghanistan

Fact and spin

Fact: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/21/AR2010062103699.html
[Eugene Robinson] Joe Barton is not alone. The Texas congressman's lavish sympathy for BP -- which he sees not as perpetrator of a preventable disaster but as victim of a White House "shakedown" -- is actually what passes for mainstream opinion among conservative Republicans today. . . .

Spin: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/cornyn-says-no-one-agrees-with-barton.php
Cornyn Says 'No One' Agrees With Barton

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/candy-crowley-allows-lisa-murkowski-r-big-oil

http://www.americablog.com/2010/06/limbaugh-blasts-gop-for-backing-off.html

“Shadow” RNC has the same fundraising problems as the real RNC

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/06/22/rove_group_falls_far_short_of_goal.html
A new 527 group conceived by Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie "and launched this year with predictions that it would raise $52 million to support Republican candidates has thus far failed to live up to the fundraising hype," Politico reports.

In fact, the group, raised only $200 last month "bringing its total raised since launching in March to a little more than $1.25 million."

[NB: $200? They must be so proud.]

Welcome back, Mike

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024394.php
[Michael Steele] "George Bush created a lot of jobs," the RNC chairman insisted. Challenged on whether the claim made any sense at all, Steele added, "I think jobs were created. I'm almost confident about that. . . .”

A matter of habit

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/06/22/sanford_disappears_again.html
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) "is back in the office after again taking a vacation without telling the lieutenant governor where he was," the AP reports. . . .

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/06/23/staffers_say_ensign_knew_he_was_breaking_rule.html
In depositions to the Senate Ethics Committee, The Hill reports staffers for Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) said the senator and his senior aides "knew a one-year lobbying ban was being broken when they helped a former staffer set up a short-lived career on K Street."

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/rand-pauls-paper-trail-of-tears.html
"What struck me most about Rand Paul is that he is like a Supreme Court candidate with a long paper trail," said Professor Stephen Voss of University of Kentucky. "He will have to defend his long legacy of statements." . . . [read on]

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/56047
Alan Simpson Exposes Republicans’ Anti-Social Security Agenda

Big duh

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/22/health-care-reform-media_n_620892.html
Health Care Reform Media Coverage Was Terrible, Finds New Study

More: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/06/media-coverage-healthcare-reform

Bonus item: Glenn Beck has a bullet-proof car. No, seriously

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/glenn-beck-afraid-george-soros-will-kill-hi

***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.***

TIPPING POINT

They call it 2399B

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/06/security-and-liberty-balance-tips-a-bit/58458/
Security and Liberty Balance Tips a Bit

More: http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/06/21/should-we-prosecute-acting-solicitor-general-neal-katyal-now/

Isn’t it okay to criticize Obama from the left?

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/06/21/pundits

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/06/21/obama

Afghanistan – not going well

http://washingtonindependent.com/87813/what-the-u-n-reports-about-governance-in-afghanistan
[Spencer Ackerman] The rising tide of violence in Afghanistan identified in the United Nations’ most recent quarterly country report got the lion’s share of the press attention this weekend. But check out what it says about governance in the country. Given that out-governing the insurgency is central to NATO strategy in Afghanistan, it seems strange to treat governance as an afterthought, even when remembering how weak and inconsistent Afghan governance has been so far. . . . [read on]

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/21/uk-special-envoy-afghanistan-quits

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/06/mcchrystal-pr-campaign-goes-awry

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/06/20/2010-06-20_we_can_still_win_the_war_things_are_grim_in_afghanistan_but_victory_remains_in_s.html
Things are grim in Afghanistan, but victory remains in sight . . .

Still trying to find a replacement for Gitmo

http://washingtonindependent.com/87902/justice-dept-were-still-buying-replacement-for-guantanamo

Oh, christ. Do we have to sit and listen to Liz Cheney lecture us about the economy too?

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/37875

I have complete confidence in any Republican who cut his teeth doing ads for companies promising “Free Money”

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/06/take_the_money_--_and_run.php

Watch: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/06/you_you_yes_it_can_be_you.php

What Rand Paul really thinks

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/rand-paul-to-unemployed-quit-whining-and-get-back-to-work.php
Rand Paul To Unemployed: Quit Whining And Get Back To Work

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/st-my-rand-says-pauls-long-history-of-wacky-quotes.php

Early indicators

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/06/21/five_races_key_to_republican_success_in_2012.html
"The roots of a Republican political renaissance in 2012 lie in the Rust Belt," the Washington Post reports. . . .

Bonus item: Was George Bush poisoned?

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/06/21/secret_service_has_no_record_of_alleged_bush_poisoining.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100621/ts_ynews/ynews_ts2743

***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.***

WITHOUT A PRAYER

This is NOT what the Republicans want to be talking about

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/37869
McConnell: 'I couldn't disagree with Joe Barton more'

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/rahm-in-case-you-forgot-what-republican-governance-was-like-joe-barton-reminded-you.php
Rahm: 'In Case You Forgot What Republican Governance Was Like, Joe Barton Reminded You' [read on]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024352.php

http://firedoglake.com/2010/06/20/republicans-hypocritically-attack-joe-barton-r-tx-for-clearly-articulating-their-official-position-on-bp/
Republicans Hypocritically Attack Joe Barton (R-TX) for Clearly Articulating Their Official Position on BP

Haley

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/barbour-ous-priorities.html

GOP problem solving

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/gop-crisis-management-if-they-cant.html
[Sarah Palin] “Gulf disaster needs divine intervention as man’s efforts have been futile. Gulf lawmakers designate today Day of Prayer for solution/miracle.”

Rewarding bad behavior

http://www.americablog.com/2010/06/blackwater-receives-new-120-million.html
CBS News has learned in an exclusive report that the State Department has awarded a part of what was formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide a contract worth more than $120 million for providing security services in Afghanistan. . . .

The kind of people they are

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/15/tom-mullins-new-mexico-co_n_612482.html
The Republican nominee for a northern New Mexico congressional seat suggested during a radio interview that the United States could place land mines along the Mexican border to secure the international boundary. . . .

Life in Texas

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/20/877709/-Midday-Open-Thread
Some excerpts from the Texas Republican Party platform . . . [read on]

The far right wants to own the courts

http://www.slate.com/id/2116087/

Theocracy warning

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/20/877191/-Why-they-care-so-bad
[Dante Atkins] A friend of mine sent me something in the mail recently. Attached to it was a post-it note that read simply, "These people scare me!" And given the fact that very few things seem to scare her, I was intrigued. But by the time I was done reading, I myself was rather concerned as well.

What she had sent me was a fundraising pitch for a conservative Catholic organization by the name of Fidelis, which appears at face value to be the Catholic equivalent of the culture war crusaders of the evangelical movement. And if you've ever been unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of conservative fundraising solicitations, you know exactly what this one was like, but I'll paraphrase . . . [read on]

Can you run a campaign based on stiffing the press?

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/06/do-politicians-need-media-anymore

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024349.php

Our silly press

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/06/that_little_detail.php
[Josh Marshall] This front page article in Politico about Tea Party efforts to recall various Democratic senators -- most prominently, NJ's Sen. Menendez -- takes surprisingly little note of the fact that recalling a federal senator is clearly unconstitutional.

Under the headling "Not Everyone Agrees" (i.e., not everyone agrees recalls are allowable), you can read a few Democratic consultants saying it can't happen. Other than that though it's your classic, 'Earth round or flat? Let's hear both sides."

Bonus item: The teabaggers hate the gummint – until they need its help

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024354.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.***

WORD CHOICE

The GOP has been getting slammed for calling the oil spill a “natural disaster,” when it is clearly man-made. Unfortunately, Obama used the same term

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_15329305
Some Republicans have even taken to calling BP's environmental calamity a "natural disaster," trying subtly to persuade Americans that nothing could have prevented it. . . .

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2010/05/pappas_files_lawsuit_against_b.php
Meanwhile, President Obama has called the oil leak a "potentially unprecedented natural disaster" and fishermen along the Gulf coast have begun to brace for the worst. . . .

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/redefining-term-natural-disaster.html
[Digby] I think perhaps Rick Perlstein has cleared it up. He tells me this is actually a right wing redefinition of the term itself. It now means a disaster that happens to nature. Isn't that clever?

Perfect

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2012162244_oil20.html
BP officials scrambled Saturday to respond to another public-relations mess when their chief executive, Tony Hayward, spent the day off the coast of England watching his yacht compete in one of the world's largest races. . .

Just perfect!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/us/20barbour.html
“Get a picture of that beach!” Gov. Haley Barbour ordered a group of television photographers standing along an oil-less stretch of sand Monday.

“They are gorgeous, pristine,” the governor gushed on Tuesday about Mississippi’s shores.

“Beautiful,” he reiterated Wednesday at a La-Z-Boy plant in Newton. “The coast is clear, and come on down.” . . .

The hypocrisy of “original intent”

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/104121-franken-launches-full-throated-attack-on-conservative-activism-on-courts

http://www.slate.com/id/2256458

The end of “secret holds”?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024348.php

Corpulent Rush Limbaugh tells us he isn’t worried about childhood hunger

http://www.americablog.com/2010/06/more-reaction-to-limbaughs-child-hunger.html

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/55589

How the press likes to tell us what it thinks we should think, instead of what we do

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/replaying-game-of-2003-press-didnt.html

Sunday talk show line-ups

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/the-sunday-show-line-ups-54.php
• ABC, This Week: White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

• CBS, Face The Nation: Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT).

• NBC, Meet The Press: Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS), Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), former Shell Oil Company president John Hofmeister, Katty Kay of the BBC, TARP Executive Compensation Special Master Ken Feinberg.

Bonus item: How wacko is Michele Bachmann? Too wacko even for Bill O’Reilly

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/oreilly-gives-bachmann-hard-time-accu

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

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

THE THRILL IS GONE

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/19/opinion/19blow.html
[Charles Blow] President Obama’s relationship with America, like many a young marriage, is growing sour. . . . [read on]

More: http://firedoglake.com/2010/06/18/the-new-republics-chait-puzzled-by-liberals-curious-sense-of-disappointment-with-obama/

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/16/liberals_and_obama_on_the_oil_spill_--_continued/

The GOP can’t quite get their oil spill messaging straight

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/foot-meet-mouth-our-top-six-gop-oil-spill-gaffes.php

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024328.php

Making sausage

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/06/18/loopholes_grow_in_campaign_finance_bill.html
Democrats "are pushing hard for legislation to rein in the power of special interests by requiring more disclosure of their roles in paying for campaign advertising -- but as they struggle to find the votes they need to pass it they are carving out loopholes for, yes, special interests," the New York Times reports.

"In a deal that left even architects of the legislation squirming with unease, authors of a bill intended to counter a Supreme Court ruling allowing corporations and unions to pour money directly into campaign commercials provided an exception this week for the National Rifle Association, one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington."

The "resulting uproar" led Democrats "to expand the exception to cover even more interest groups as they tried to secure votes for the measure, which is opposed by most Republicans.". . . [read on]

Something good

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/06/congress-wins-expanded-oversight-of-intelligence-community/58372/
After months of tough negotiations with the White House, members of Congress who monitor intelligence agencies believe they've won meaningful new oversight powers via a bill the President has promised to sign. . . .

Will the DOJ go after CIA interrogators who exceeded even the very broad torture guidelines given them by Yoo and Bybee?

http://washingtonindependent.com/87454/cia-indictments-damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-dont

The WikiLeaks case

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/06/18/wikileaks

Inside the Tea Party

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/18/tea-party-confessional-ru_n_617418.html

Colorado Republican calls for “war against Islam”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/norton-hits-obama-for-not-going-to-war-against-islam.php

Another day, another Mark Kirk (R-IL) lie

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/06/18/kirk_was_not_a_teacher_as_claimed.html

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/18/877353/-IL-Sen:-Mark-Kirk,-nursery-school-teacher-Not-so-much.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024340.php
MARK KIRK MAY HAVE A PROBLEM . . .

Must-see: Sharron Angle (R-NV) and the press

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/angle-dodges-questions-about-transitioning-out-of-social-security-second-amendment-remedies-video.php

More: http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/sharron-angle-still-not-ready-prime-t

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/06/18/angle_hiding_press

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/18/877224/-NV-Sen:-Angle-should-go-back-to-Palin-mode

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/18/sharron-angles-campaign-b_n_617143.html

She’s a wacko

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/06/angle-its-not-scientology-its-natural-homeopathic-medicine-developed-by-l-ron-hubbard/
Angle: It’s Not Scientology, It’s “Natural Homeopathic Medicine” Developed By L Ron Hubbard

Schmoozing the press

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/06/18/versailles

More on the press we have: http://www.balloon-juice.com/2010/06/18/accountability-makes-us-vaguely-uncomfortable/

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/55514

Bonus item: Death tweets

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/utah-attorney-general-uses-twitter-to-announce-executions.php

More: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_ts2702

***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.***

SLIPPERY

Joe Barton (R-Big Oil), thinks the “tragedy” of the Gulf oil spill is that BP has to pay for it

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/37820

More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/congressman-shakedown-knows-whereof-he.html

Of course, this is just what a number of other Republicans have said

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/06/to_bartons_defense.php
[John] Cornyn says he "shares [Barton's] concerns."

More: http://mydd.com/2010/6/17/r-2

http://www.samefacts.com/2010/06/uncategorized/shakedown-cruise/

http://www.americablog.com/2010/06/i-apologize.html

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/say-what-gopers-slam-white-house-over-bp-gulf-spill-fund.php

Fox too: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/shakedown-talking-point-of-many-colors.html

Nevertheless the GOP decides that Barton must be thrown under the bus, exposing the fault lines of a reflexively pro-corporate party

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/06/they_owe_joe_barton_a_beer.php
Thanks to old Joe, the House GOP can make him the scapegoat instead, threatening to strip him of his seat on the Energy Committee for doing too good a job of parroting the party line.

The line from GOP flacks today was that Barton's apology for the escrow fund was completely different than their criticism of Obama for the escrow fund. That's a distinction Dems will be happy to let Republicans try to make to voters all the way to November.

More: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/06/just_lethal.php

More idiocy from Joe Barton

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/joe-barton-a-look-back-video.php

GOP calls oil spill a “natural disaster”

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/06/natural_disaster.php

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024315.php

Where are things headed in Afghanistan? Nowhere good

http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2010/06/16/restate-my-assumptions/

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/06/afghanistan-still-winnable

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/06/our-limited-control-in-afghanistan/

Bad

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/55229
UN Report Documents Secret Detention Practices by U.S., Other Countries

Good

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/clinton-obama-administration-prepping-lawsuit-challenging-azs-immigration-law.php
Clinton: Obama Will File Suit Against Arizona's Immigration Law

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/17/white-house-doj-not-denyi_n_616306.html

The Dems just can’t stand victory

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/behind-closed-doors-house-dems-push-to-weaken-wall-street-reform.php
Behind Closed Doors Four Key Democrats Maneuver To Weaken Financial Reform

More disappointments: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/17/877106/-Senate-fails-unemployed,-states,-again
Senate fails unemployed, states, again

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/opinion/18krugman.html
[Paul Krugman] Suddenly, creating jobs is out, inflicting pain is in. . . .

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/17/unemployment-benefits-sen_n_615948.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/17/senate-jobs-bill-fails-again_n_616732.html

Looks like we’re stuck with Alvin Greene as the Democratic Senate nominee in SC

http://washingtonindependent.com/87363/efforts-to-oust-greene-as-dems-s-c-senate-nominee-hit-two-roadblocks

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/06/17/south_carolina_democrats_affirm_greene_as_nominee.html

The Republican Way

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/06/feeling_your_pain_and_flipping_it_too.php
Dino Rossi, who's just signed on to run for Senate against incumbent Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), [is] running for US Senate while keeping up a business on the side running seminars on how to make a killing by buying the distressed or foreclosed homes of people who lost their shirts in the housing crash.

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/stupid-like-a-fox-rossi-still-shilling-real-estate-while-shilling-for-votes.php

Now we know why her handlers are working so hard to keep Sharron Angle (R-NV) away from the press

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/06/18/angle_breaks_her_silence.html

The kind of piece you expect from Fox News

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/06/17/fraud_linguist_cnn
CNN reports on fraud linguist's Obama speech analysis

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/17/obama-oil-spill-speech-cr_n_615796.html

Bonus item: Rachel Maddow -- the oil spill address I wish Obama had given

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/rachel-maddow-speech-we-should-have-h

***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.***