MEDIA REVIEW

As readers have pointed out to me, the blog has been pretty grim of late. Well, today, a mix of lighter fare, maybe even a chuckle or two, and a bit of perspective about chickens coming home to roost

Attack ads: circa 1800

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/10/same-as-it-ever-was/



The best and worst ads of this season: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/29/2010-the-year-in-campaign_n_776270.html

Act Two: after the GOPers win, their teabagging supporters will expect RESULTS (their kind of results). Then what will the GOP do?

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/10/ideology-vs-self-interest

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/10/responsibility-2

ROFLMAO! Thanks for nothing!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/after-joint-campaign-stop-nazi-reenactor-hedges-on-boehner-for-speaker.php
House Minority Leader John Boehner took on the conventional wisdom that it's bad politics to associate with Nazi reenactors by campaigning recently with Ohio congressional candidate Rich Iott. That's about the only public support Iott's received from the GOP since his SS scandal broke.

Returning the favor, Iott, who's running in Ohio's 9th congressional district, now won't say whether he'd support Boehner for Speaker. . . .

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/sarah-palin-calls-joe-miller-a-lost-cause-quotes-skopes-monkey-trial-attorney.php
Sarah Palin Calls Joe Miller A Lost Cause

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/paladino_sends_out_mailer_marked_important_tax_inf.php
Paladino Sends Out Mailer Marked 'Important Tax Information'

Ha – internal war at ABC News over the decision to include professional liar and agitprop peddler Andrew Breitbart in their election night coverage

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/10/source_abcs_newsroom_upset_wit.html

Damage control: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/10/abc_news_clarifies_andrew_brei.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_10/026396.php

Bad journalism

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/29/AR2010102906927.html
With Republicans poised to gain ground in Tuesday's elections, the White House is losing hope that Congress will approve its plan to raise taxes on the nation's wealthiest families . . .

[NB: As everyone with a high school education knows, the Bush tax cuts are set to expire automatically. That isn’t Obama’s doing. Can somebody explain this to the Post?]

Sunday talk show line-ups

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/the-sunday-show-line-ups-68.php
• ABC, This Week: National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (R-TX), Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ).

• CBS, Face The Nation: Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-NE), former Education Secrtary Bill Bennett.

• NBC, Meet The Press: Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine, Republican Governors Association Chairman Haley Barbour (R-MS).

Deputy National Security Advisor John Brennan has been added to all the shows. You know why: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/31/915248/-Sunday-TalkAnd-So-It-Goes

Bonus item: The Stewart/Colbert show on the Mall

http://www.slate.com/id/2272774/
The Rally To Restore Sanity and/or Fear, held on the National Mall Saturday afternoon, ridiculed the whole idea of a political rally. But it also managed to send a message about the broken political system, how the media abets it, and why it's OK to care—even for professional ironists. . . .

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_10/026395.php
I didn't get a chance to watch all of yesterday's rally, but from what I could tell, the Stewart/Colbert event had very little to do with politics, literally nothing to do with the elections (none of the speakers even mentioned voting), and everything to do with the sense that the basics of our civil discourse are badly off track. . . .

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/30/jon_stewart_sanity_rally
The Rally to Restore Sanity: Nonpartisan, but political

http://www.slate.com/id/2272781
The highs and lows of the Rally To Restore Sanity and/or Fear.

The photos: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/30/rally_sanity_slide_show

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/10/slideshow_rally4sanityfear.php

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/gallery/2010/10/sanity-restored-photos-from-the-stewartcolbert-rally.php

The signs: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/rally-report.html

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/signs-of-sanity-rally-attendees-get-creative-while-poking-fun-of-anti-obama-myths.php

The videos: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/stewart-and-colbert-rubuke-the-media-at-rally-if-we-amplify-everything-we-hear-nothing.php

Over 200,000: http://www.americablog.com/2010/10/park-service-says-well-over-200000.html

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/just-how-big-was-the-stewart-colbert-rally.php

The village doesn’t get it (again): http://www.eschatonblog.com/2010/10/upsetting-village.html

[NB: My favorite part, of the ten minutes I saw, was learning that the major news outlets forbade their staffers from attending, because they didn’t want their faces showing up in crowd shots at a leftist rally. You heard similar bans with the Glenn Beck rally, etc, right?]

***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.***

GOP, INC.

Whoa

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/10/mcdonalds-telling-employees-how-to-vote-in-ohio/
Employees at a local McDonald's franchise in Ohio opened a recent paycheck envelope and were confronted with a handbill from their employer on company letterhead stating that, “[a]s the election season is here we wanted you to know which candidates will help our business grow.” [read on!]

More: http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/ohio-mcdonalds-get-voting-instructions-thei

The people we’re up against

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/be-sure-to-put-rag-over-our-mouths.html
"Total Annihilation."

Please help us put a hose in the mouth of our drowning opponent. . . . [read on]

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/obamas-secret-healthcare-army.html
I'm a Special Forces officer, I'm a Green Beret and I've studied Marxist insurgency, it was part of my training. And the things I know have been done in every Marxist insurgency are being done in America today. . . . [read on]

More: http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/10/29/goldberg
The wretched mind of the American authoritarian

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/arkansas-school-board-member-resign-after-sa
Arkansas school board member to resign after saying gays should 'give each other AIDS and die'

David Brooks fails to ask the obvious question

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/10/passive-voice-strikes-again
[Kevin Drum] Why do so many people seem to believe that Obama lacks deep roots in American culture? Where does this story come from? . . . [read on]

Did health care reform kill the Dems?

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/10/what_if_obama_and_dems_hadnt_p.html

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/10/the-disastrous-health-care-phase-in

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/29/914485/-$100-million-spent-to-fight-health-reformafter-it-passed
$100 million spent to fight health reform--after it passed

Growth, but slow growth: 2%

http://www.americablog.com/2010/10/in-third-quarter-economy-grew-at.html

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/10/welcome-to-the-recovery-2/

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/29/914822/-Slight-economic-growth,-is-still-better-than

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_10/026371.php

Bad: http://www.eschatonblog.com/2010/10/bad.html

Of course

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/mike-pence-says-no-compromise-republicans
Mike Pence Says 'No Compromise' From Republicans

http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-cohn/78740/boehner-no-compromise
Boehner: No Compromise

The teabaggers really don’t know WHAT they want

http://blogs.forbes.com/shikhadalmia/2010/10/28/entitlement-reform-tea-party%E2%80%99s-sound-and-fury-signifies-nothing/

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/10/29/914840/-Daily-Kos-GOTV:-Why-the-Tea-Party-Doesnt-Matter,-Excerpt-From-Matt-Taibbis-GRIFTOPIA

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/the-triumph-of-delusion
The Triumph of Delusion

I guess $140 million doesn’t buy what it used to

http://www.slate.com/id/2272860/
With just days to go before the election, Meg Whitman was asked whether she planned to keep throwing money into her bid for California governor. She avoided answering the question . . .

That’s loyalty for you

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/10/whitman-says-her-former-housekeeper-should-be-deported.html
Whitman says her former housekeeper should be deported

It’s ridiculous but they’ll let her get away with it: Sharron Angle (R-NV) goes into deep hiding to prevent any last-minute gaffes

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/10/sharron_angle_ill_answer_those.html
Sharron Angle: "I'll answer those questions when I'm the Senator"

Don’t even ask! http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/angle-camp-bans-two-tv-stations-from-election-night-party----for-asking-questions.php
Angle Camp Bans Two TV Stations From Election Night Party -- For Asking Questions

Sarah, save me!

http://community.adn.com/adn/node/154009
Palin stars at Miller rally, where he asks supporters to pray for him

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/28/giuliani_palin_for_pantano
Ilario Pantano, the ex-Marine who killed two Iraqi prisoners, snags two high-profile endorsements

Joe Miller, losing to Lisa Murkowski in Alaska pulls down the tent

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/big-government-conservatives-4-palin-encouraged-flood-of-ak-sen-write-in-candidates.php
'Operation Alaska Chaos'

David Vitter (R-LA) will probably win, despite questions like this

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/vitter-refuses-to-say-whether-he-broke-the-law-in-prostitution-scandal.php
Vitter Refuses To Say Whether He Broke The Law In Prostitution Scandal

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/29/914892/-LA-Sen:-Prostitution-issue-haunts-Vitter-in-final-debate

CNN, still pandering to the Fox News crowd, lowers their standards even further

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/why-our-elections-are-joke-mainstream.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_10/026388.php

Bonus item: Palin attacks Obama for sending “birthday wishes” to Ahmadinejad

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/palin-falsely-accuses-obama-administration-of-coddling-ahmadinejad-with-birthday-wishes.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.***

CLEAR AS MUD

This election in a NUTshell

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/10/americans-prefer-democrats-are-planning-to-vote-republican/
Americans Prefer Democrats, Are Planning to Vote Republican

More: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/28/two_midterm_myths
The two big midterm myths

http://washingtonindependent.com/101924/gop-can-win-seats-but-can-it-claim-an-ideological-mandate
GOP Can Win Seats, But Can It Claim an Ideological Mandate?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/27/AR2010102707428.html
The tea party's volatile influence on this election year appears to be doing more harm than good for Republicans' chances in some of the closest races in the nation . . .

http://my.firedoglake.com/jimwhite/2010/10/28/gop-tea-party-hangover-hits-before-votes-are-counted/
GOP Tea Party Hangover Hits Before Votes Are Counted

The Web of GOP Influence

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130836771

Too late to help?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101028/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/us_economy
Fewer people applied for unemployment benefits last week than in any week since July, a hopeful sign that the job market is improving. . . .

Corporations who have been treated extremely well by the Obama admin are still whining that they’re badly put-upon

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/10/business-and-its-friends-continue-to-whine-about-obama-as-profits-soar

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/10/coddling-rich



Will the Dems stand firm in protecting health care reform? (Don’t bet on it)

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/10/the_coming_war_among_dems_over.html?wprss=plum-line

The rising tide of political violence

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/nothing-to-see-here-nothing-at-all.html

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/10/the_primordial_struggle.php

What the teabaggers would like to do to the Constitution

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/top-5-constitutional-amendments-tea-partiers-would-repeal.php

Newt Gingrich, increasingly Beckified

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/gingrich-compares-secular-socialist-america-to-communist-poland.php
Gingrich Compares 'Secular Socialist' America To Communist Poland

The state of our politics: another “witch” ad from the Republicans

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/joe-miller-ad-my-opponent-is-not-a-witch-but-shes-conjured-up-some-crazy-votes-video.php

More on Miller: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/27/914264/-AK-SEN:-Oops!-Something-else-Joe-Miller-hasnt-disclosed

The GOP way

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/28/conway_kentucky_terry_forcht
A businessman who is being sued by Attorney General and Senate hopeful Jack Conway is funding Rand Paul . . .

Nutsy!

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/10/28/schmidt_talks_to_kids_about_abortion.html
The New York Daily News reports that Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) "shocked teachers and students alike this month when she decided to talk about abortion to a classroom of 6-year-olds." . . .

Should Kendrick Meek (D) throw his support to Charlie Crist (I) in Florida?

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44337.html

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/28/bill_clinton_meek_crist

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/10/the-sunshine-state-silly-season/65384/

Nope: http://ht.ly/31dJf
Kendrick Meek Nixes Drop-Out Rumors, Plans to Stay in Senate Race

Bush’s memoir a “snooze”

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/10/28/first_glimpse_of_bushs_memoir.html

Bonus item: The biggest egos in the Senate

http://www.slate.com/id/2272482/

[NB: Lotta Dems in there – where’s John McCain?!??]

***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.***

TEA PARTY

Matt Yglesias wants us all to take a deep breath

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/10/the-banality-of-tea
I did a radio interview earlier today about the midterms and something that struck me repeatedly was the totally unwarranted sense many seem to have that a GOP pickup of 55-60 House seats would represent some kind of bold new era of conservatism and/or descent into manic fascism. . . . [read on]

Selective outrage. GOPers rail against “voter fraud,” but . . .

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/10/suppressing-vote-gop-style
[Kevin Drum] For all practical purposes, there is no voter fraud. . . [read on]

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/10/voter-fraud-take-2

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/26/beam-on-voter-fraud-paran_n_774682.html

http://washingtonindependent.com/101801/evolution-of-a-voter-fraud-incident-in-nevada

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/10/real_live_voter_fraud.php

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/minn_conservative_groups_voter_fraud_allegations_about_five_percent_accurate.php

Meanwhile: http://www.slate.com/id/2272627
In many of Tuesday's closest races, states will use those same old, suspect voting machines . . .

Of course troops have the right to vote. But not like this

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/il_gop_wants_deadline_for_military_votes_pushed_to.php
IL GOP Wants Election-Day Deadline For Military Votes Erased

Why Clarence Thomas should never have been confirmed

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/27/anita_hill_clarence_thomas

Kentucky head-stomper: I’m the victim here!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/kentucky-stomper-wants-an-apology-from-woman-he-assaulted.php
Kentucky Stomper Wants An Apology From Woman He Assaulted

More: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/27/paul_stomper_blames_everyone_else

More of the same, this time at an Eric Cantor event

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/27/914087/-More-GOP-Thuggery

Digby

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/for-thee-but-not-for-me-by-digby-its.html
It's quite interesting that so many of the tea party candidates are having "unauthorized" people who ask them questions arrested (or restrained and assaulted by their followers) when it was just a year ago that this was how they instructed their own people to behave at political meetings . . .

The people behind the Tea Party

http://www.slate.com/id/2272419/

The Fox News version: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/foxs-griff-jenkins-paints-tea-party-leader

The marriage of the Christian right and the teabaggers

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/wingnut-synergy.html

Of course

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/tea-party-nation-doubles-down-on-rhetoric-against-muslim-rep.php
Tea Party Nation Doubles Down On Rhetoric Against Muslim Rep.

John Boehner funds, supports Nazi re-enactor

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/10/boehner_to_appear_with_nazi_reenactor.php

Another GOP moron – and proud of it

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/ky-goper-just-doesnt-believe-in-gender-discrimination-video.php
In Kentucky, one Republican is standing firm against the concept of gender discrimination. Todd Lally, insurgent GOP nominee for Congress in the state's 3rd Congressional District, says he's never personally seen women be discriminated against -- and therefore, he says, gender discrimination may not exist at all. . . .

More signs that the Repubs want to prevent the media from covering what they actually do and say

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/radio-station-odonnell-threatened-to-sue-us-forposting-an-interview-online.php
Radio Station: O'Donnell Threatened To Sue Us For...Posting An Interview Online!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/27/angle-ill-start-talking-t_n_774920.html
Sharron Angle: I'll Start Talking To The Press After I'm Elected

Fox News

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/27/bernstein_fox_news
It is not a conservative channel. It is a Republican channel [read on]

More: http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/maybe-we-should-just-call-fox-electi

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/now-way-you-deal-fox-news

http://www.americablog.com/2010/10/media-matters-takes-on-fox-in-dc-metro.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_10/026336.php
'THIS IS THE WORLD THAT FOX NEWS HAS CREATED'

The Foxers, all white, race baiters themselves, lecture Obama on racial sensitivity. Watch, if you can stomach it:

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/fox-news-educates-obama-on-racial-tolerance-video.php

More: http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/wtf-fox-friends-obama-accused-inject

Bonus item: John McCain is a big phony. Glad to see The Daily Show take him down

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/jon-stewarts-video-take-down-of-mccain-hes-been-saying-dcs-broken-since-1989-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.***

PROGRESS REPORT

What Obama HAS accomplished

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/220013

The Republican plan to balloon the deficit

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/10/mystery-obama

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/10/will-divided-government-lead-to-deficit-reduction-will-it-lead-to-anything/

http://washingtonindependent.com/101604/will-a-new-congress-be-more-or-less-likely-to-compromise-on-the-deficit

I guess I’ll believe it when I see it: http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/78686/obamas-plan-fight-the-gop-congress
Obama's Plan To Fight The GOP Congress

Of course they do

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/26/913404/-They-want-paralysis
They want paralysis

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/26/kaine-axelrod-lash-out-at_n_774027.html
Kaine, Axelrod Lash Out At McConnell For Abandoning Post-Election Bipartisanship Before Election

More: http://my.firedoglake.com/scarecrow/2010/10/26/gop-looks-forward-to-tanking-the-econony-again/

Hey, there’s a war on: how’s it going in Afghanistan?

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/10/afghanistan-not-going-so-well-after-all

Yesterday we ran a photo of a progressive protester getting her head stomped by a Rand Paul (R-KY) supporter. It must be her own fault, right?

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/asking-for-it.html

http://firedoglake.com/2010/10/26/right-wing-bloggers-rush-to-smear-assault-victim-of-rand-paul-supporter/

[NB: Don’t tell me right-wing pundits aren’t knowingly inciting and rationalizing violence.]

Her version: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/10/stomp_victim_speaks_attack_was.html

More news: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/10/cops_share_more_details_on_pro.html
Lexington police say they're looking to talk to one Tim Profitt, who is believed to be Rand Paul's Bourbon County coordinator . . .

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/lexington-police-former-rand-paul-volunteer-with-criminal-summons.php
The Lexington police have just announced that they've served Tim Profitt -- Rand Paul's former Bourbon County coordinator -- with a criminal summons . . .

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/26/rand_paul_head_stomper_confesses
Tim Profitt admits to attacking a MoveOn activist at Monday's debate, insists it wasn't as bad as it looks

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/kentucky-stomper-i-stomped-because-of-back-pain.php
The former Rand Paul volunteer who stomped on the head of a prone MoveOn activist tells a local CBS affiliate he would've never put his foot on the victim at all if it wasn't for his bad back. . . .

http://www.samefacts.com/2010/10/uncategorized/curbstomper-identified-summonsed-yes-he-was-with-the-campaign/

Paul’s campaign slow to condemn the act, then realizes there’s VIDEO

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/rand-pauls-lame-response-wont-condem
Rand Paul's lame response: Won't condemn or disavow assault by supporter, calls it 'unusual situation'

Later: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/10/rand_paul_campaign_condemns_at.html
"The Paul for Senate campaign is extremely disappointed in, and condemns the actions of a supporter last night outside the KET debate. Whatever the perceived provocation, any level of aggression or violence is deplorable, and will not be tolerated by our campaign. The Paul campaign has disassociated itself from the volunteer who took part in this incident, and once again urges all activists -- on both sides -- to remember that their political passions should never manifest themselves in physical altercations of any kind."

Joe Miller (R) takes a big hit in Alaska

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/10/joe_miller_im_a_lying_liar_from_liarville.php

Boy, Sharron Angle (R-NV) REALLY doesn’t want to talk to the press

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/25/angle_hiding_press
Sharron Angle ducks press with decoy

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/despite-angle-campaign-denial-new-video-appears-to-show-angle-did-shush-reporter.php
Despite Angle Campaign Denial, New Video Appears To Show Angle Did Shush Reporter

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/26/minutes-before-ducking-pr_n_773904.html

Meg Whitman (R-CA) says she moved to California because of the incredibly positive business climate created by her opponent (and then-governor) Jerry Brown

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/26/913523/-Late-afternoon-early-evening-open-thread

Polling trends in some major races, one week out

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/gallery/2010/10/tpm-polltrackers-top-polls-of-the-day.php

http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/26/polls-show-wider-boxer-lead-narrowing-g-o-p-takeover-path/

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/26/913882/-Senate-Snapshot,-October-26th:-What-the-percentages-mean

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/26/913856/-Polling-and-Political-Wrap,-10-26-10

On the House side: http://elections.firedoglake.com/2010/10/26/fdl%E2%80%99s-hot-house-100-101-1026-update-a-silly-congressional-race-longer/

http://thehill.com/house-polls/thehill-poll-week-4/126001-blowout-50-or-more-dem-seats-set-to-fall

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/10/26/forecast_shows_gop_easily_taking_house.html

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/10/26/how_democrats_keep_the_house.html

It’s the GOP way: when you win, it’s because the people have spoken – when you lose, it’s because of cheating

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/10/26/angle_campaign_claims_reid_will_steal_election.html

Just don’t call it a litmus test

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/26/house-conservative-caucus_n_774227.html
House Conservative Caucus 'Strongly Encourages' Job Applicants To Fill Out Ideological Questionnaire

Teabagger constitutionalism

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/top-six-established-laws-that.php
Top Six Established Laws That Tea Partiers Claim Are Unconstitutional

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/ken-buck-i-disagree-strongly-with-the-concept-of-separation-of-church-and-state.php
Ken Buck: 'I Disagree Strongly With The Concept Of Separation Of Church And State'

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/26/913749/-CO-Sen:-Buck-rejects-the-concept-of-a-separation-of-Church-and-State

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_10/026317.php

Why we love Digby

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/theyre-from-tea-party-and-theyve-come.html
They're From The Tea Party And They've Come To take Their Country Back --- to the Dark Ages

Oh, Clarence, I bet you wish your wife had kept her big mouth shut before reopening the whole Anita Hill episode

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/clarence-thomas-ex-girlfriend-lillian-mcew

http://www.americablog.com/2010/10/hendrik-hertzberg-mini-coup-detat-that.html

A very misleading headline from the NYT

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/us/politics/27money.html
Democrats Retain Edge in Spending on Campaigns

Yes, they’re exactly the same!

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/george-will-downplays-corporations-buying-e
George Will Downplays Corporations Buying Elections by Comparing it to Product Advertising

Bonus item: Scratch-and-sniff politics

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/10/politics-orange-county

***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 WORST OF THE WORST

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/25/under_radar_candidates
The 10 most terrifying would-be congressmen

Total paralysis

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/25/912915/-GOP:-If-we-win,-there-will-be-no-compromise
GOP says compromise not on the agenda if they retake the House [read on]

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/rnc-chair-steele-claims-republicans-tried-
RNC Chair Steele Claims That Republicans Tried to Cooperate With President Obama

There it is

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_10/026298.php
[Mitch McConnell] The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president. . . [read on]

Control of the Senate?

http://mydd.com/2010/10/25/senate-outlook-3

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/10/seven-days-out-the-latest/65157/

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/10/charlie-cook-democrats-probably-will-hold-the-senate/65114/

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/10/just_to_focus_our_attention.php
Four races look to be realistically in doubt . . .

Will Joe switch? http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/10/geez_thought_we_were_down_with_him.php

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/25/913535/-Senate-Snapshot,-October-25th:-Lieberman-and-Nelson-arent-going-anywhere

Even when they’re winning, they whine about “vote fraud”

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/gop_lawyers_group_warns_newsmax_of_epidemic_voter.php

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/michelle_malkin_we_are_all_voter_fraud_police_now.php

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/voter_fraud_theres_an_app_for_that.php

Secret fundraising without disclosure isn’t an aberration: it’s part of the plan

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/10/25/secrecy_key_to_rove_fundraising.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_10/026300.php

http://washingtonindependent.com/101575/as-outside-money-flows-in-party-committees-lose-influence
As Outside Money Flows In, Party Committees Lose Influence

John Heilemann’s Rube Goldberg theory of how Palin could run, and win

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/10/25/will_palin_run.html

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/25/bloomberg_palin_2012

Christine O’Donnell: pray for me

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/odonnell-prayer-for-my-campaign-plays-a-direct-role-in-the-polls-video.php

You heard the big news that Sharron Angle raised $14 million. Then why can’t she afford to pay her own staffers?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/25/angle-paid-just-5250-in-s_n_773652.html

Remember this when they tell us the teabaggers are just a populist anti-big government movement

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/tea-party-nation-retire-rep-ellison-for-being-a-muslim.php
Tea Party Nation: Retire Rep. Ellison For Being A Muslim

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/robocall-against-mi-state-house-candidate-uses-the-word-homosexual-10-times.php
Robocall Against MI State House Candidate Uses The Word 'Homosexual' 10 Times

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/glenn-beck-lies-about-authors-naacp-
Glenn Beck lies about authors of NAACP report on Tea Party racism, and refutes not a single fact

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/10/25/study_suggests_tea_party_is_not_a_movement.html
"Not so much a movement as a disparate band of vaguely connected gatherings that do surprisingly little to engage in the political process."

The kind of people they are

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/male-rand-paul-supporter-stomps-head-of-female-moveon-member-outside-debate.php
Rand Paul Supporter Stomps Head Of Female MoveOn Member Outside KY Debate

More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/bluegrass-tea-party-thuggery.html

But look on the bright side: they hate Karl Rove

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/karl-rove-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-tea-party-again-video.php

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/rove-limbaugh-took-me-out-context

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_10/026292.php

Tea Party Inc.

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/illustrated-guide-tea-party-inc

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/they-have-turned-republican-party.html

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/10/real-tea-party

Former Fox reporter lets out the big secret

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/major-garrett-fox-wants-keep-polarization-am
Major Garrett slams Fox: They want to keep the 'polarization' in American media

***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 POTPOURRI

What’s going to happen on election day?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/24/913099/-The-unpredictable-election

Why aren’t the killers of abortion providers labeled “terrorists”?

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-defines-terrorist-anyway.html

http://www.americablog.com/2010/10/is-there-abortion-provider-murder.html

Don’t know whether Clarence Thomas knew his wife was going to call up Anita Hill – but he’s going to regret she ever dug up the past

http://www.americablog.com/2010/10/more-on-clarence-thomas-from-lillian.html

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/24/tv-soundoff-sunday-talkin_23_n_772953.html

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/steele-no-ones-produced-one-shred-of-evidence-of-foreign-money.php
Appearing on Meet The Press, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele responded strongly to the accusation that foreign money was being funneled into pro-Republican political organizations: "I don't know what they're talking about. No one's produced one shred of evidence that any of that is happening. And, you know, I--look, you know, when President, then candidate, Obama was asked to disclose some of his donors because there was suspicion of their being, you know, the foreign source of money into his campaign, they refused to do it. So don't give me this high and mighty, you know, holier than thou attitude about, about special interests flooding, flooding the political marketplace. The Democrats have been dabbling in those areas and clearly disclose it. If you, if you think that there's something out there, disclose it, Nancy. Disclose it, you know, anyone else who's got that evidence." [read on]

Liar: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/michael-steele-tells-democrats-change-disc

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/24/michael-steele-anonymous-donors_n_772972.html

Bonus item: Quote of the day

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_10/026282.php
[E.J. Dionne, on Meet the Press] "NPR is quite simply one of the best news organizations in the world... Fox News, on the other hand, is a Republican propaganda network."

[Steve Benen] [I]t's worth noting that there was no pushback when he made the observation.

I found this noteworthy, not because it was new, but because of Dionne's willingness to state this simply as a matter of incontrovertible fact. We've all seen plenty of commentators, including the one you're reading now, describe Fox News as a "Republican propaganda network." But here was a respected member of the D.C. political establishment, stating plainly on one of the leading Sunday shows -- where such talk is uncommon -- what we all know to be true about Fox News.

Good for him. Here's hoping others also drop the "some have accused" and "many Democrats believe" pretenses, and just start describing the network the same way.

***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.***

KEEP HOPE ALIVE!

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_10/026270.php
[Steve Benen] The question isn't whether Democrats are in for a beating in the midterm elections; the question is how severe it will be. But before a sense of dread and gloom overcomes the party and its supporters, it's worth pausing to take note of at least some evidence that suggests the results might not be that bad. . . .

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/10/interesting_data_point.php
According to Nate Silver's calculations, Democrats are ever so slightly (1%) more likely to control the House after the election than the Republicans are to control the Senate.

And to be clear, he's got it at about a 1 in 5 chance of each outcome.

More: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/10/23/poll_shows_surge_in_democratic_enthusiasm.html
Poll Shows Surge in Democratic Enthusiasm

Conservatives like to talk about the national debt as a terrible legacy we are bestowing upon our grandchildren. Probably so. THESE legacies, however, do not concern them so much:

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/to-hell-with-grandkids-well-all-be-dead.html

Thanks George!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/22/george-w-bush-reveals-his_n_772209.html
George W. Bush Reveals His Biggest Failure Was Not Privatizing Social Security

More: http://crooksandliars.com/heather/grover-norquist-pushes-social-security-pri

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/77753

Pity the poor corporations

http://www.americablog.com/2010/10/paying-00-in-corporate-taxes.html

Making sense of the Tea Party

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/23/AR2010102304000.html
Tea party's wide publicity belies its limited scope

More: http://www.slate.com/id/2272097/

Say it ain’t so, Joe!

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/10/could_be_interesting.php
A judge ruled today that the Fairbanks North Star Borough must release personnel records of Senate candidate Joe Miller. . . .

Who could have predicted this?

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/ooops-republican-stop-vote-effort-la
Ooops! That Republican 'stop the vote' effort for Latinos in Nevada is backfiring badly

Sunday talk show line-ups

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/the-sunday-show-line-ups-67.php
• ABC, This Week: DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, Retired Army Gen. Hugh Shelton

• CBS, Face The Nation: Karl Rove, DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

• CNN, State Of The Union: Florida Senate candidates Marco Rubio (R), Kendrick Meek (D), Charlie Crist (I)

• NBC, Meet The Press: RNC Chairman Michael Steele

Bonus item: Top Ten goofs (so far) of the campaign season

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/22/biggest-campaign-fails-of-2010-election-_n_772642.html

[NB: What, no Christine O’Donnell? You could make a top ten list of her goofs alone.]

***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.***

YARD SALE

Big yard sale today! Stop by if you’re in the vicinity

Headline

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/chart-of-the-day-analysis-shows-dramatic-social-security-cuts-under-gop-plan.php
Analysis Shows Dramatic Social Security Cuts Under GOP Plan

Big money

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/10/spending_spending_spending.html
Conservative groups have spent up to $75 million in undisclosed funds, dwarfing left

Maybe more: http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/2010/quarterly-filings-fec-reveals-big-power-behind-big-money/

[NB: That’s undisclosed money – they’re in the hundreds of millions in spending overall.]

“The Billionaires Coup” http://www.americablog.com/2010/10/taibbi-on-infrastructure-that-supports.html

Atrios

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2010/10/work-with-us.html
I expect the Republicans will succeed in making "Do Exactly What We Say" the "compromise" position between "Doing Nothing" and "Doing What Obama Wants."

Sigh

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/22/AR2010102206737.html
Biden: White House ready to deal on Bush tax cuts

The latest WikiLeaks document dump: Iraq war edition

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/10/wikileaks-iraq-a-quick-summary/65042/
Wikileaks Iraq: A Quick Summary

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/10/chemical-weapons-iranian-agents-and-massive-death-tolls-exposed-in-wikileaks-iraq-docs/
Chemical Weapons, Iranian Agents and Massive Death Tolls Exposed in WikiLeaks’ Iraq Docs

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/10/beaten-shocked-eyes-gouged-wikileaks-details-iraq-abuse/
Beaten, Shocked, Eyes Gouged: Iraq Abuse, WikiLeaked

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/10/22/in-june-2004-dod-issued-instructions-to-ignore-iraqi-on-iraqi-torture/
In June 2004, DOD Issued Instructions to Ignore Iraqi-on-Iraqi Torture

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/10/22/fourteen-other-incidences-of-blackwater-firing-on-iraqi-civilians/
Fourteen Other Incidences of Blackwater Firing on Iraqi Civilians

More: http://www.slate.com/id/2272205

False “facts” (thanks to Digby for the link)

http://ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010104222/false-things-public-knows-they-go-vote
Eight False Things The Public “Knows” Prior To Election Day

The last thing Clarence Thomas needed was for his loony activist wife to reopen the Anita Hill controversy – but she did

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/22/clarence_thomas_anita_hill
[Steve Kornacki] You've probably seen that Clarence Thomas' ex-girlfriend has broken her two-decade silence and publicly stated that the Supreme Court justice was "obsessed" with pornography when they dated.

While Lillian McEwen's statement doesn't by itself prove that Anita Hill was telling the truth when she accused Thomas of sexual harassment back in 1991, it does come close. . . .[W]e have more reason than ever to believe that Thomas was not being truthful -- that he was an avid connoisseur of adult content and that he was prone to bring it up in conversations with women. . . . [read on]

Perjury? http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/77705

As long as we’re on the subject of Clarence Thomas and perjury during his Congressional testimony, I always believed he told a howler of a lie by claiming to have never discussed or considered the Roe v. Wade ruling. I am not alone:

http://balkin.blogspot.com/2007/09/clarence-thomas-and-alberto-gonzales.html
[Jack Balkin] In these key excerpts, Judge Thomas states under oath that he never formed a personal opinion about Roe v. Wade, never discussed the merits of the case, commented on it, stated his views about it or debated it. These statements were either false or deliberately misleading. . . .

http://www.slate.com/id/1008424/
"[Thomas] discussed abortion a good deal with [his fellow lawyer in the Missouri attorney general's office] Mike Boicourt . . .”

"Thomas also strongly endorsed a right to life for the unborn, a view which [Reagan Assistant Attorney General William Bradford] Reynolds shared. The two discussed Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion rights case. Reynolds said . . .

"Thomas limned a similar philosophy in his talks with Armstrong Williams. They discussed Roe v. Wade, which both of them opposed . . .

The Thomas/Scalia/Koch nexus

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/10/22/when-did-clarence-thomas-and-scalia-go-to-the-koch-conspiracy-fest-and-did-he-bring-ginni/
Scalia and Thomas have been instrumental in loosening campaign finance regulations, which has made it a lot easier for people like the Kochs to buy elections. . . .

More: http://thinkprogress.org/2010/10/20/scalia-thomas-koch/

Does John Yoo like ALWAYS being wrong?

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/22/john_yoo_17th_amendment
John Yoo agrees that direct election of senators is bad

Bring out the Brown Shirts

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/swastikas-and-toxic-white-powder-att
Swastikas and toxic white powder: The attack on Grijalva's Tucson office

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/102210dnmetbroden.1b2338185.html
GOP congressional candidate Stephen Broden says violent overthrow of government is 'on the table'

More: http://firedoglake.com/2010/10/22/the-latest-totally-isolated-incident-from-a-republican-bad-apple/

Targeting abortion providers (literally)

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/exceptional-americans.html

The war on science

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/22/911660/-An-update-from-the-front

Well, there had to be SOME reason she was running

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/christine-odonnell-uses-campaign-cash-to-pay-her-rent.php
Christine O'Donnell Uses Campaign Cash To Pay Her Rent

Of course he is

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/miller-consultant-is-anti-gay-christian-activist.php
Joe Miller Consultant Is Anti-Gay Christian Activist

Why the Right is lionizing Juan Williams

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/10/22/muslims
[Glenn Greenwald] The principal reason the Williams firing resonated so much and provoked so much fury is that it threatens the preservation of one of the most important American mythologies: that Muslims are a Serious Threat to America and Americans. . . . [read on]

More: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/10/our-media-future

Wheee! Rush vs, Rove

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/rush-bashes-rove-over-anti-tea-party-re

Bonus item: Well, they’re evil but they have a sense of irony

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_10/026252.php
The ad pretends to be a positive spot, complete with a squealing-brakes sound effect and a rhetorical "Are you tired of all these negative political ads?" Of course, Crossroads GPS is an anonymous money mill, and there's no sense in "wasting" undisclosed funds on a positive spot. So the ad quickly pivots back to the same old misinformation about Democratic policies. It's a rare beast: a negative attack ad that decries negative attack ads. [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.***

HIGH MAINTENANCE

Hey. If the narrative is true that there’s a groundswell of anti-Obamaism, and a fired-up and nationwide base of voters is ready to throw the Dems out, and a landslide is inevitable – then why exactly is the GOP raising and spending an unprecedented amount of money (secret money) for ads?

“A tidal wave of cash”

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/10/chamber-commerces-hobby

http://www.americablog.com/2010/10/nt-times-uncovers-short-list-of-chamber.html
NY Times uncovers short list of Chamber of Commerce contributions . . . And yes, foreign companies are involved . . .

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/21/912452/-New-York-Times-on-the-Chamber,-connecting-the-dots-on-political-spending

AFSCME fights back: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/afscme-releases-6-new-ads-in-hotly-contested-races.php

Lesson One: when Repubs bluster and say they aren’t afraid of attacks, and they won’t have any resonance with the people, so don’t waste your time making them – it’s a sign that they’re probably scared to death about it

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/10/poll_dem_attack_on_secret_mone.html
Poll: Dem attack on secret money is resonating

Those GOPers can spin anything -- just watch them

http://www.americablog.com/2010/10/strong-turnout-for-dems-in-early-voting.html
Strong turnout for Dems in early voting

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/10/they_just_wont_stop.php
In response to the somewhat counterintuitive (or at least counter-narrative) news that Dems are doing reasonably well in early voting, Tea Party chieftain Dick Armey says Dems are voting early to commit voter fraud. . . . [read on]

Shout it from the rooftops

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/21/912142/-Yes,-Republicans-DO-want-to-end-Social-Security
Yes, Republicans DO want to end Social Security

http://washingtonindependent.com/101192/social-security-takes-center-stage-in-tight-races
Social Security Takes Center Stage in Tight Races

Good question

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/10/why-obama-fighting-keep-dadt
Why Is Obama Fighting to Keep DADT?

More: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/21/dont_ask_dont_tell_back

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_10/026240.php

Tea Party = John Birch Society

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/bloomberg-poll-tea-party-reveals-their-

Voter intimidation, teabag style

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/tea-party-patriots-keeping-it-real.html
"i hope everyone of you American hating A-holes are thrown in prison for cheating our country and trying to assure socialism. GO TO HELL." [read on]

A local angle: yep, we got teabaggers here too

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/politics-and-government/2010-10-21/reynolds-racial-remarks-stun-forum-audience.html
The Republican candidate for state Senate in the 52nd District said Wednesday night that black men "find it more lucrative to be able to do drugs or other avenues rather than do education."

Al Reynolds, 65, of Danville made the remarks at a candidate forum at the Champaign City Building. . . "I've been in the city and the dichotomy of the women and the men in the minorities, there is a difference in the fact that most minority women, either the single parent or coming from a poor neighborhood, are motivated more so than the minority men," he said. "And it's a pretty good reason. Most of the women who are single parents have to find work to support their family. The minority men find it more lucrative to be able to do drugs or other avenues rather than do education. It's easier.”

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/politics-and-government/2010-10-21/gop-calls-reynolds-withdraw-gross-stereotypes-minorities.htm
[Today] The chairman of the Champaign County Republican Party has called upon Illinois Senate candidate Al Reynolds of Danville to withdraw his candidacy in the Nov. 2 election. . . .

Rand Paul is a fraud

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/10/rand_the_fraud.php

Wonderful: Christine O’Donnell’s bangs

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/10/whats_all_this_about_witchcraft.php

Images: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/10/critical_issue_of_the_day.php

There aren’t enough reasons to laugh these days: here’s one

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/christine-odonnell-i-wish-i-hadnt-said-im-not-a-witch.php
Christine O'Donnell: I Wish I Hadn't Said 'I'm Not A Witch'

Fox News rewards Juan Williams after his anti-Muslim comments and his firing from NPR. He’s all yours now, guys

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/21/news/la-pn-juan-williams-20101022
Fox News Chief Executive Roger Ailes handed Williams a new three-year contract Thursday morning, in a deal that amounts to nearly $2 million, a considerable bump up from his previous salary, the Tribune Washington Bureau has learned. The Fox News contributor will now appear exclusively and more frequently on the cable news network and have a regular column on FoxNews.com. . . .

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/10/21/juan_williams_oreilly
Juan Williams returned to the scene of the crime Thursday night, with an appearance on "The O'Reilly Factor" -- the same Fox News venue where he made his controversial comments about Muslims earlier this week. Not surprisingly, O'Reilly dominated the segment, blaming two of his favorite punching bags -- George Soros and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) -- for Williams' dismissal from NPR and announcing that Williams will be guest-hosting "The Factor" on Friday night. "I got your back, Williams," O'Reilly told his guest. "Trust me on this. I'm not letting it go."

http://www.americablog.com/2010/10/palin-huckabee-want-to-slash-nprs.html
Palin & Huckabee want to slash NPR's funding

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/21/912449/-Its-time-to-ban-federal-funding-for-Fox-News
[Jed Lewison] On the heels of calls by Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee to ban federal funding for NPR in the wake of Juan Williams' dismissal, I'd like to propose a ban on federal funding for Fox News.

Yes, I know that my proposal is absurd on its face. Fox News doesn't receive any direct funding from the federal government. But neither does NPR. Yes, you read that right: NPR gets absolutely no direct federal funding. Zilch, nada, zippo. . . .

More: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/10/juan_williams_wont_say_he_was.html

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/10/anti-anti-racism/

Bonus item: Diva

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/10/sarahs-world

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/10/21/hurricane_sarah.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_10/026247.php

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