TALKING A GOOD GAME

Well, the GOPers have been howling for Obama to show more “leadership” on the budget issue. They got what they asked for

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/president-obama-demands-action-from-house-gop-on-jobs-taxes.php
President Obama Demands Action From House GOP on Jobs, Taxes

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/obama-to-congress-ive-been-working-why-dont-you-try-video.php
Obama To Congress: I’ve Been Working, Why Don’t You Try

Transcript: http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/president-obama-congress-debt-ceiling-get-i

Analyzing the rhetoric

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/how-you-know-the-negotiations-have-truly-failed/2011/05/19/AG13r5qH_blog.html
How you know the negotiations have truly failed

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/obama-picks-fight-with-gop-over-tax-cuts-for-the-rich/2011/03/03/AGHTMsqH_blog.html
Obama picks fight with GOP over tax cuts for the rich

http://www.frumforum.com/obama-is-capitulating-on-the-debt-crisis
Obama is Capitulating on the Debt Crisis

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/unbalanced-approach-conservative.html
Chris Matthews says that today was the birth of a new Barack Obama. A manly man, a macho man, a leader. He's excited, as usual. . . .[read on]

http://www.nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/obama-it-s-kids-versus-corporate-jets-on-debt-ceiling-talks-20110629
Obama: It's Kids Versus Corporate Jets on Debt-Ceiling Talks

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-debt-question-that-obama-has-to-ask-over-and-over/2011/06/29/AGSnW4qH_blog.html
The debt question Obama has to ask over and over

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/expect-more-congress-bashing-from-obama/2011/03/28/AG62lGrH_blog.html
Expect more Congress-bashing from Obama

That’s why they call it a DEAD-line

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/report-sp-will-downgrade-dramatically-unhonored-treasuries-after-august-4.php
Report: S&P Will Downgrade Dramatically Unhonored Treasuries After August 4

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/the_sp_vs_the_gop030596.php

The Republican talking point (and public perception) is that the economy has gotten worse under Obama. That’s just not true

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/testing_the_talking_point030581.php

Sixth Circuit, Bush-appointed judge casts key vote to uphold constitutionality of health care reform. Here’s why it matters

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/29/989936/-Sixth-Circuit-decision-could-signal-future-of-Affordable-Care-Act%C2%A0challenges

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/6th_circuit_finds_affordable_c030586.php

Obama ducks question on gay marriage

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/obama-dodges-on-personal-view-of-gay-marriage-not-going-to-make-news-on-that-today.php

The next GOP savior?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/poll-perry-trails-obama-in-texas.php
Poll: Perry Trails Obama In Texas

And the other one: http://www.americablog.com/2011/06/poll-obama-beats-palin-in-alaska.html
Poll: Obama beats Palin in Alaska

The New Adventures of Old Christine

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/republican_fec_commissioners_stopped_probe_of_christine_odonnell.php
Former Delaware Republican Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell told supporters in an email earlier this month that the Federal Election Commission "dismissed the politically motivated complaint against me that was filed by my opponents last summer."

But it turns out that half of the commission thought that there was reason to believe that O'Donnell had indeed broken the law and wanted to open a full investigation. The three Republican commissioners didn't want to probe the issue any further, and since the commission was deadlocked, they dismissed the complaint. . . .

I promise, I PROMISE, not to make a regular habit of quoting Bristol Palin here. But this is just too rich to pass up

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/29/989963/-Bristol-Palin:-Michele-Bachmanns-just-copying-my-mom
Bristol Palin: Michele Bachmann's just copying my mom

More: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/06/29/bachmann_says_no_feud_with_palin.html
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) denied reports of a feud between her and Sarah Palin and says the rumor was manufactured by the media . . . . [NB: Oh, really?]

Bonus item: First, Mike Huckabee wants to re-educate kids about US History with his own distorted animated video series. Then Sarah! changes the Paul Revere story, and her acolytes rewrite Wikipedia to conform to her version. Now Michele Bachmann presents her own muddled version of history

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/conan-obrien-presents-the-michele-bachmann-history-channel.php



More: http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/bachmann-fans-alter-wikipedia-fit-mic
Bachmann Fans Alter Wikipedia To Fit Michele's "Facts"

***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.***

ASKING FOR IT

Why aren’t the Dems HAMMERING them on this?

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/06/the_big_tell_5.php
[Josh Marshall] In tough economic times, in-parties routinely accuse out-parties of hoping for bad economic times. But this time there's a little noticed tell that puts the question in much sharper relief. Having run last year on a platform of jobs, jobs, jobs, congressional Republicans are now more or less openly saying that they're not interested in doing anything to boost jobs or economic growth . . . [read on]

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/republicans-find-a-tax-cut-they-dont-like----one-that-helps-obama.php
Republicans Find A Tax Cut They Don’t Like — One That Helps Obama

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/when_the_gop_meets_a_tax_cut_i030576.php

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/evil_vs_disgusting030560.php

Revenge of the anti-Keynesians

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/06/chart-day-idiocy-gop-cut-and-grow

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/cutting-to-prosperity-how-exactly-did.html

Do the GOPers WANT a default?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/top-economist-even-brief-default-will-cause-new-recession-and-blow-recovery-out-of-the-water.php
Top Economist: Even Brief Default Will Cause New Recession And Blow Recovery ‘Out Of The Water’

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/senate-gop-to-dems-on-debt-limit-give-us-huge-medicare-cuts-or-raise-it-yourself.php

http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/06/28/255897/mitch-mcconnell-demands-national-bankruptcy-of-total-capitulation-on-public-policy/

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/will-fight-debt-ceiling-drama

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/understanding_the_nature_of_a030570.php

Krugman

http://www.americablog.com/2011/06/krugman-if-obama-concedes-to-republican.html
If Obama concedes to Republican blackmail now, it’s "the end of the presidency"

Obama’s style: sharp analyses from the conservative press

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/opinion/28brooks.html
All his life, Obama has worked in nonhierarchical institutions — community groups, universities, legislatures — so maybe it is natural that he has a nonhierarchical style. He tends to see issues from several vantage points at once, so maybe it is natural that he favors a process that involves negotiating and fudging between different points of view. . . . [read on]

http://www.frumforum.com/obama-is-his-own-worst-enemy
Obama is His Own Worst Enemy

More: http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/06/28/obama-the-risk-averse/

http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/06/28/256682/obama-the-passive/

Four Supreme Court justices who are going to be around for a LONG time

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/justices-who-will-shape-supreme-courts-future-are-matching-pairs/2011/06/28/AGOaNopH_story.html

Ron Johnson’s troubles grow

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/06/not_gonna_cough_it_up.php
Campaign finance experts tell TPM Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) better have a written deferred compensation agreement signed and dated before he collected $10 million from a company he owns right after spending $9 million of his own cash on getting elected to the Senate . . .

Looks like he doesn’t: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/ron-johnson-ducks-tpm-questions-on-his-10-million-payday-its-a-private-company.php

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/28/989508/-CEO-Ron-Johnson-paid-Sen-Ron-Johnson-%28R-self%29-$10-million,-settling-campaign-debt-Is-it-legal

Tim Pawlenty is following the same sad dark path as moderate Repubs before him, pandering to the yahoos with statements he knows aren’t true

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/tim-pawlenty-says-climate-change-not-man-made.php
Tim Pawlenty Says Climate Change Not Man-Made

Michele Bachmann’s former Chief of Staff has a message for America

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/06/ex-bachmann-chief-staff-michele-not-cut-out-white-house
Michele's Not Cut Out for White House

Keep talking, Michele: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/michele-bachmanns-radical-position-on-minimum-wage/2011/03/03/AGyzgXpH_blog.html
This morning, Michele Bachmann confirmed on Good Morning America that she could support abolishing the Federal minimum wage. . . .

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/28/bachmann_invincible
She can -- and will -- say whatever she wants without worrying about the consequences . . .

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/michele-bachmanns-big-presidential-campaign-walkbacks-video.php
Michele Bachmann’s Big Presidential Campaign Walkbacks

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/28/989375/-Michele-Bachmann-sets-record-straight:-Im-a-substantive,-serious-person
'I'm a substantive, serious person'

Sarah!s not getting enough attention again – so she needs to DO something to get back in the headlines

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/29/us/politics/29palin.html
Palin, in Iowa, ‘Still Thinking About’ Running

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/06/28/palin_has_made_a_decision.html
Bristol Palin told Fox News that her mother had made up her mind already about whether to run for president in 2012. . . .

In case you haven’t seen it (NSFW!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WoAvpPRXxM

Bonus item: As if we didn’t already have enough to be upset about – now the $1 coin fiasco!

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/06/wasting-money-making-money-feds-1-coin-boondoggle

***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.***

MOVING THE GOALPOSTS

As you would expect, the GOPers keep drawing more and more extreme conditions for settling any budget deal

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/obama-mcconnell-prepare-for-gridlock-ahead-of-key-debt-limit-meeting.php
Obama, McConnell Prepare For Gridlock

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/putting_defense_spending_on_th030525.php
One of the many problems with the debt-reduction talks is the narrow scope of what Republicans consider acceptable . . .

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/neogitating-dummies
Negotiating for Dummies

No more stimulus, says McConnell

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/06/27/mcconnell.debt.spending/index.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/how_wrong_is_mcconnell_let_us030546.php
[H]e’s already trying to take part of a bipartisan solution off the table. . . .

Hedging his bets

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/27/eric_cantor_conflict_of_interest
[Eric Cantor, R-VA] He's the GOP's chief debt ceiling negotiator. He's also invested in a fund that will skyrocket if there's a default . . .

Wisconsin to investigate Prosser “chokehold” on fellow judge

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/dane_county_sheriffs_office_investigating_alleged_prosser_chokehold_incident.php

http://www.americablog.com/2011/06/wisconsin-supreme-court-justice-ann.html

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/27/prosser_mad

The Fox version: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/06/27/254619/greta-on-prosser-choking/
In Response To Prosser Choking Allegations, Fox’s Van Susteren Calls On Female Chief Justice To Resign

Ron Johnson (R-WI) has questions to answer about paying himself $10 million

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/johnsons-cut-rate-loans-violate-election-law-watchdogs-argue.php

The fate of voter ID laws

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/north_carolina_dem_governor_vetoes_gop_voter-id_bi.php

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/new_hampshire_governor_vetos_photo_id_bill_says_theres_no_fraud_problem_in_state.php

Michele Bachmann to Fox News: you’ve forgotten your role is to make me look GOOD

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/27/bachmann-fox-apology-not-accepted/

Can she win? http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/27/988434/-Why-Michele-Bachmann-will-be-the-GOP-nominee

Another typical Fox News hissy fit over nothing

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/a_case_study_in_context030529.php

Theocracy watch: gay marriage in NY, and the wrath of God

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/27/gay_marriage_opponents_reactions

Bonus item: Blagojevich GUILTY

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-blagojevich-jurors-going-into-their-10th-day-20110627,0,620170.story
'I, frankly, am stunned'

***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.***

MONEY MATTERS

Budget games

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/some-straight-talk-van-jones-and-jared-ber

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/can-the-tea-party-survive-a-debt-ceiling-deal.php

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/mitch-mcconnells-lie-goes-unchallenged

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/06/24/democrats-sought-elimination-of-big-oil-subsidies-caps-on-deductions-for-the-rich-in-debt-limit-talks/

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/week-debt-ceiling-debate-kabuki-theat

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/jon-kyl-defends-republicans-refusal-raise

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/gop-compromise-on-debt-cut-military-spending/2011/06/25/AGPrGBmH_story.html

Fighting fire with fire

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/democratic-super-pac-sticks-gopers-with-ryan-budget-in-ad-blitz-video.php
Democratic Super PAC Sticks GOPers With Ryan Budget In Ad Blitz

Why stimulus programs aren’t working

http://my.firedoglake.com/dakine01/2011/06/26/sluggish-economy-stubbornly-resists-lack-of-effort-to-stimulate-it/

Michele Bachmann seems to have lied about taking government money for her family business and farm

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/sc-dc-0627-michele-bachmann-20110626,0,7255963.story
Michele Bachmann denies benefiting from government aid

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/with-michele-bachmanns-surge-comes-fresh-scrutiny/2011/06/26/AG75u2lH_story.html
With Michele Bachmann’s surge comes fresh scrutiny

Dead man walking

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/06/order_in_the_court_1.php
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley is now publicly accusing her fellow justice, David Prosser, of putting her in a "chokehold" in her chambers in the presence of other justices . . .

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/wis_justice_ann_walsh_bradley_justice_prosser_put.php
[Prosser] "Once there's a proper review of the matter and the facts surrounding it are made clear, the anonymous claim made to the media will be proven false. Until then I will refrain from further public comment."

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/wisconsins_prosser_accused_of030512.php

The Clarence Thomas scandal is in the drip-drip-drip phase

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/clarence_thomas_controversy_pe030514.php

Two views on “fracking” (thanks to DR for the links)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303936704576398462932810874.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/us/26gas.html

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/26/tv-soundoff-sunday-talkin_n_884681.html

Bonus item: Three ways to run for President

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/06/27/three_ways_to_run_for_president.html
[John Avlon] "There are three ways to run for president these days. The first is to run to promote yourself. The second is to run to promote ideas. The third is to actually run for president of the United States. The Republican presidential hopefuls running on this old-fashioned third notion are a distinct minority. And that says a lot about the state of our politics: bread and circuses meets reality TV."

***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.***

ANGER MANAGEMENT

Will this Wisconsin Supreme Court justice finally lose his seat?

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/06/25/wisconsin-supreme-court-justice-prosser-choked-colleague-before-anti-union-decision/
David Prosser, just re-elected to another 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a tight election, allegedly “grabbed fellow Justice Ann Bradley Walsh by the neck” . . . [read on!]

More: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/06/prossers_history_with_fellow_female_justices.php

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/wisconsin-justice-david-prosser-alleg

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/judicial-temperament.html

Sabotage

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/is_the_answer_to_the_sabotage030503.php
[Steve Benen] Seven months after raising the specter of Republicans trying to hurt the economy on purpose, I can’t help but notice the “sabotage” question appears to be picking up some steam. . . .

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/25/987608/-The-case-for-calling-out-GOP-sabotage

Class warfare

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/charts-o-day-15-charts-that-will-blow.html

An unexpected consequence of privatizing prisons

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/25/988397/-Report:-Private-prison-companies-boost-incarceration-rates-for-profit

[NB: Well, shouldn’t be so unexpected, really. Private businesses want to make more business.]

More: http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2010/08/private_prisons

http://government.cce.cornell.edu/doc/html/PrisonsPrivatization.htm

Rick Perry (R-TX) will have to answer for this

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/25/cameron_todd_willingham_rick_perry
The darkest chapter of Rick Perry's career

Mitt Romney (R-MA) puts an “unemployed” guy in his video – who isn’t really unemployed

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/25/988446/-Romney-campaign-makes-young-Republican-operative-posterboy-for-Misery-Index
King was identified in 2009 as the vice chairman of the Midland County Young Republicans. Could that possibly have had anything to do with why he was chosen as the posterboy for the Romney campaign's assault?

According to King's Facebook page, on June 9, the day the Romney campaign videotaped him outside a Starbucks, he had a job working at Quality Marketing Enterprise as an account representative. He lamented in that interview that he only had $3 in his pocket...but only until he cashed his paycheck. During his college years, right up to graduating on April 30, he had been a paid Resident Assistant. And, while collecting his paycheck from QME, he had multiple job interviews lined up with companies in his chosen field of accounting. In at least one of those, he told his Facebook friends, he had made the first cut and was waiting to hear if he would be hired. . . . [read on]

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/romney_couldnt_find_an_unemplo030500.php

CNN trawls for bottom-feeders

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/its-come-cnn-brings-psychics-tell-us-
It's Come To This: CNN Brings On Psychics To Tell Us What The Economy Will Be Like

Sunday talk show line-ups

http://firedoglake.com/2011/06/26/sunday-talking-heads-june-26-2011/
ABC’s This Week: Debt and deficit – Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Assistant Minority Leader James Clyburn (D-SC). Roundtable: George Will, Anita Dunn, Chrystia Freeland, Jonathan Karl. War Roundtable: George Will, Martha Raddatz and professor of international politics at Tufts University Vali Nasr.

CBS’ Face the Nation: Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN).

CNN’s State of the Union: Afghanistan - Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), chair of the House Intelligence Committee. Debt and deficit – House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), then Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC). Presidential politics – Bill Burton, former deputy press secretary for President Obama, and Michael Gerson, former speechwriter for President George W. Bush.

NBC’s Meet the Press: Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ). Afghanistan – Armed Services Committee members Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA). Roundtable: Katty Kay, Matt Bai, David Brooks.

***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.***

STONEWALLED

Why the Repubs walked out of the budget negotiations: they like to say the Dems are “raising taxes” – but the big issue here is phasing out deductions and not EXTENDING the budget-busting Bush tax cuts

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/top-dems-provide-fresh-detail-on-high-income-tax-proposal-that-led-gop-to-abandon-debt-talks.php

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/dems_demand_revenue030487.php
[Steve Benen] Republicans have to hope the debate over details doesn’t reach the public, because the Democratic approach would likely be pretty popular. . .

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2011/06/soak-rich.html
[Atrios] I get that there's no chance Republicans will go along with increasing top tax rates, and a teensy tiny (not really) one they'll go along with phasing out some deductions. . .

Refusing to negotiate?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/24/988345/-Boehner-releases-debt-limit-ransom-note

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/06/bombing-moon

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/both-sides-love-madman-theory.html

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2011/06/wrong.html
[More Atrios] It is negotiating, just good negotiating (and, on the other side, bad negotiating). People and the press should highlight what Republican negotiating is so people can judge, but it's wrong to say it isn't negotiating. "Give me everything I want" is negotiating when it works.

http://www.slate.com/id/2297569/
Why are the debt-ceiling talks going so badly for Democrats?

Some GOPers don’t want any deal at all

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/24/988327/-DeMint:-Raising-debt-limit-would-be-a-political-disaster-for-Republicans

Are Cantor and Boehner working on the same side?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/a_failure_to_communicate030491.php

Once again, by the numbers: if Congress does NOTHING, the deficit disappears

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/chart-of-the-day-if-congress-does-nothing-the-deficit-will-disappear.php

AARP should just shut up now

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2011/06/24/aarp-email-admits-theyre-open-to-cutting-social-security-again/

Mixed messages: House votes NOT to authorize the Libya war, but also votes NOT to cut off funding for it

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/in-a-dramatic-repudiation-of.php
Members of Congress across the political spectrum have expressed outrage that Obama failed to consult or win Congressional approval before moving forward with an expensive military campaign amid growing anxiety over the nation's spiraling debt. Others cite the 1973 War Powers Act, which requires the White House to obtain Congressional approval for the use of military force after 60 days of first initiating it, with a 30 day extension. The combat in Libya started well over 90 days ago. . . .

More: http://firedoglake.com/2011/06/24/house-defeats-bill-to-defund-and-authorize-the-libya-war/

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/house_doesnt_like_libya_missio030490.php

http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/06/24/253835/congress-still-doesnt-want-to-control-foreign-policy/

Union news

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/24/988197/-New-Jersey-Assembly-cuts-public-worker-pensions-and-health-care
New Jersey Assembly cuts public worker pensions and health care

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/24/987586/-Public-employee-unions-sue-Florida
Public employee unions sue Florida

Why are Dems helping the Repubs? http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/06/meet-christie-democrats

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/24/christie_pension_democrats

Our new political system: massive unaccountable corporate money starts to drive the process – thanks to Karl Rove and the US Supreme Court

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/karl-roves-super-pac-goes-live-with-20-million-anti-obama-campaign-video.php
Crossroads GPS, anonymous-money collecting arm of the Citzens United-inspired political machine founded by Karl Rove and other Republican heavyweights, is going live with a $20 million television ad campaign targeting the president 497 days before voters head to the polls in November 2012. . . [read on]

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/swiftboat_ad_funder_gives_big_bucks_to_karl_roves.php
Swiftboat Ad Funder Gives Big Bucks To Karl Rove's Super PAC

New GOP Senator pays himself a severance package out of the funds of his own company, which just happens to be the amount he spent on his own campaign. That’s a problem

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/06/big_big_big_trouble.php
"You take a look in terms of what would be a reasonable compensation package, OK?" Johnson said this week. "It's a private business. I've complied with all the disclosure laws, and I don't have to explain it any further to someone like you." . . .

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/ron_johnsons_10_million_payoff030480.php
[Steve Benen] I’ve feared for a long while that Johnson just isn’t very bright. . . [read on]

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/24/988309/-WI-Sen:-Did-Johnsons-corporation-reimburse-his-self-financed-campaign

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/24/ron-johnson-wisconsin-senator_n_884049.html

The next Republican VP?

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/little-history-about-michele-bachmanns-

The honest answer over at Fox News is that they regard themselves as a right-wing counterbalance to what they see as the preponderantly “liberal” media. The dishonest answer is that they are “fair and balanced”

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/the_other_side_of_the_story030476.php

Bonus item: Slideshow: the scene near The Stonewall Inn when NY finally passes marriage equality law

http://media.talkingpointsmemo.com/slideshow/new-york-passes-gay-marriage-bill

***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.***

GAMING THE SYSTEM

Eric Cantor quits the budget talks

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/23/us_debt_showdown_1
The Virginia Republican said in a statement that the Republican-dominated House simply won't support tax increases, and that he wouldn't participate in the budget meeting scheduled for Thursday. Cantor said that it's time for President Barack Obama to weigh in . . . [read on]

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/06/quote-day-cantor-bails
[Cantor] I believe that we have identified trillions in spending cuts, and to date, we have established a blueprint that could institute the fiscal reforms needed to start getting our fiscal house in order. That said....Democrats continue to insist that any deal must include tax increases....Given this impasse, I will not be participating in today’s meeting and I believe it is time for the President to speak clearly and resolve the tax issue. [read on]

“Tax cut tantrum” http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/pelosi-blame-cantors-exit-on-tax-cut-tantrum.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/cantor-pulls-out/2011/03/03/AGlx1NhH_blog.html

What’s really going on?

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/06/cantor_my_work_here_is_done.php
[David Kurtz] The read we're getting is that this could be merely an indication that the emissaries to the talks have gotten as far as they can get and that the remaining heavy lifting is going to have be done by the principals: President Obama and Speaker Boehner.
If that also puts Boehner instead of Cantor on the hook for agreeing to tax increases ... well, that's probably just icing for Cantor.

http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/06/23/252552/how-to-temporarily-survive-a-debtpocalypse/
[Matt Yglesias] Intra-caucus dynamics on the GOP side seem to be dooming the debt limit talks. Eric Cantor’s preference is for John Boehner to sign a deal he can grumble about, so that when the GOP loses seats in 2012 he can challenge Boehner for the leadership. Boehner, meanwhile, doesn’t want to sign a deal that Cantor won’t sign. Consequently, we can’t get a deal. . . .

http://www.slate.com/id/2297499
[John Dickerson] In a sign of progress, Republican appointees to Vice President Joe Biden's debt limit talks announced late Wednesday that they were pulling out of negotiations. . . .

It sure doesn't sound like progress. But if you view these negotiations using the Saturday serial movie construct (and all right-thinking Americans should), this is simply the drama necessary to advance the story. When the heroine is tied to the tracks and the train is approaching, the audience's blood starts to race. But in the back of our minds, we know that she's not in real danger. Whether the brakeman steps in or Shazam swoops down to snatch her, we know the situation will resolve itself.

Given the state of politics in Washington today, and the stakes in this debate, the breakdown in talks was a foregone conclusion. . . . Before the final stage of backroom negotiations, there are always the denunciations, charges of unseriousness, and accusations of ideological rigidity. Why do we always come to this stage? It's a negotiating tactic, an educational exercise, and stage management. . . . . [read on!]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/at-the-end-of-the-day-house-gop-will-vote-to-raise-debt-ceiling/2011/03/28/AGNjEqhH_blog.html
[Jonathan Bernstein] Despite all the noise today, at the end of the day, sooner or later, both Speaker John Boehner and Eric Cantor are going to wind up voting for a debt limit increase. That’s why I’d be very cautious about interpreting House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s walk-out on debt limit talks as a sign of a split between Cantor and Speaker John Boehner. . .

Bad faith

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/a_headshaking_perspective030467.php
[Steve Benen] After seeing this quote from the Senate Republican leadership, Michael Cohen concludes, “We’re governed by idiots.” It hardly seems like an unreasonable assessment.

“President Obama needs to decide between his goal of higher taxes, or a bipartisan plan to address our deficit,” Mr. McConnell and Mr. Kyl said in a joint statement. “He can’t have both. But we need to hear from him.”

It’s hard to even know where to start with such nonsense, though I would love to hear what McConnell and Kyl consider a “bipartisan” plan. If the answer is, “a plan that gives Republicans everything they want and ignores Democratic appeals,” I’d encourage them to reference a dictionary.

But to me, that wasn’t even the worst McConnell quote from the afternoon. . . . [read on]

What the Dems have already given up in the negotiations: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/what_dems_have_already_given_u030457.php

Why, why, why are the Dems giving the GOP cover for what should be political suicide – without getting a damn thing back?

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/paul-ryan-is-happiest-boy-in-whole-usa.html

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/23/985364/-Baucus:-There-are-Medicare-cuts-in-debt-limit-negotiations

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/06/23/baucus-gives-away-the-game-medicare-cuts-in-debt-limit-deal/

Yes, they did

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/dems-helped-gop-win-the-argument-over-the-deficit-and-job-creation/2011/03/03/AGujeihH_blog.html
Dems helped GOP win the argument over the deficit and job creation

Skepticism over Obama’s troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

http://www.thenation.com/blog/161605/obamas-too-slow-afghan-exit-strategy-scores-him-no-political-points
[John Nichols] Barack Obama won the Democratic nomination for president because grassroots progressives thought he was marginally more anti-war than Hillary Clinton. . . .

Upon securing the Oval Office, he promptly abandoned any pretense of being opposed to military misadventures abroad, appointed Clinton as his Secretary of State, kept the Bush-Cheney regime’s team at the Department of Defense, surged more troops into Afghanistan and steered U.S. forces into a new fight with Libya.

Now, the president is proposing to remove some of the troops he sent to Afghanistan – about 10,000 (roughly 7 percent of the occupation force) by the end of the year.

The U.S. force on the ground in Afghanistan will still be more substantial than the force that George W. Bush and Dick Cheney put on the ground there.

Indeed, even by the most optimistic timeline proposed by Obama, the U.S. occupation force will at the end of Obama’s first term be much larger than the U.S. force that was there when Bush and Cheney left the White House in 2009.

Under Obama, the war will continue for years to come. . . [read on]

A man with no sense of shame: John Yoo, defender of absolute executive power when Bush was in office, is making a career of attacking Obama for excessive authority now

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/john_yoo_on_libya_obama_reached_right_end_through_wrong_means.php

How to make abortions impossible, without making them illegal

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/regulating-them-out-of-existence.html

Buyer’s remorse

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/chart-of-the-day-new-gop-governors-tanking-nationwide.php
New GOP Governors Tanking Nationwide

Newt: I’m still relevant!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/newt-gingrich-ill-still-be-here-when-iowa-caucuses.php

Now I can see why people consider Gingrich a political genius: he predicts that blacks will vote against Obama!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/newt-gingrich-obama-is-so-bad-black-people-will-vote-republican.php

Another political genius: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/mcconnell-gop-slogan-should-be-obama-made-it
Mitch McConnell foolishly says: 'GOP 2012 slogan should be Obama 'made it worse'

Bonus item: Their twisted world view

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/anti-abortion_film_envisions_world_where_black_ter.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.***

IT’S ABOUT TIME

Obama vows to bring 10,000 Afghanistan troops home by year's end, 33,000 by next summer

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/obama-to-announce-plans-to-send-10000-troops-home-by-dec-31-1.php

Reactions: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/22/987809/-Obamas-partial-troop-drawdown-from-Afghanistan-draws-mixed-reactions

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/06/22/the-new-old-mission-in-afghanistan/

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/the_beginning_of_the_end_in_af030449.php

http://www.slate.com/id/2297395

Better late than never

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/democrats-explicitly-call-out-gop-for-sabotaging-the-economic-recovery.php
Democrats Explicitly Call Out GOP For Sabotaging The Economic Recovery

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/the_sabotage_question_goes_mai030434.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/dems-will-not-shy-away-from-accusing-gop-of-deliberately-sabotaging-economy/2011/03/03/AGrl39fH_blog.html

So revealing

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/mcconnell-gop-outspoken-on-libya-because-theres-a-democrat-in-the-white-house.php
[GOP Senate leader] McConnell admitted that his party is divided over President Obama's military action in Libya, but that you're only hearing about it because Obama's a Democrat. Many of these same divisions, he said, existed under President Bush, but party loyalty "muted" the dissent. . . [read on]

More self-disclosing candor

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/mcconnell_trips_over_his_own_t030436.php
[McConnell] “I, as you recall, negotiated in December an extension of current tax rates. They still had 59 Democrats and a 40-seat majority in the House when the vice president and I negotiated an extension of the current tax rates, and the president went around and said to do otherwise would be bad for the economy. Now, does anybody in this room think the economy is better now than it was in December? I don’t think so. So, look: Taxes aren’t going to be raised.”

[Dave Weigel] That sounded to me like an admission that the tax cut deal hadn’t worked . . . [read on]

And another: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/06/22/bonus_quote_of_the_day.html
"We all knew it wasn't going to pass. Everybody knew that that bill was offered on the floor to kill time, to make it look like the United States Senate was doing something."

-- Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), quoted by The Hill, on the U.S. Senate doing "almost nothing" this year.

What to do about the deficit: an argument for doing . . . nothing!

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/the_story_behind_the_cbos_warn030429.php

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/cbo-well-only-have-giant-deficits-if-congress-wants-giant-deficits/2011/05/19/AG3w7pfH_blog.html

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/pray-for-gridlock.html

Finally, an NLRB that actually helps unions

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/even-in-light-of-recent-controversy-nlrb-pushing-rules-to-facilitate-unionization.php

How the Koch Brothers push Social Security lies

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/things-go-better-with-koch-pushing.html

Al Gore offers carefully worded critique of the Obama admin on climate change

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/climate-of-denial-20110622

How the story was covered: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/climate_change_gore_and_politi030439.php

People are learning that high fructose corn syrup is not good for you or your kids. Solution? Change its name on ingredient lists (thanks to John A. for the link)

http://blog.cagle.com/2011/06/high-fructose-corn-syrup-by-any-other-name/

More bad food news: http://www.americablog.com/2011/06/is-genetically-modified-food-causing.html

The kind of people they are: California Republican distances himself from the hateful, vicious ad posted against his opponent . . . but is perfectly happy to embrace its basic message

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/nrcc-wades-into-ca-36-with-messaging-from-shocking-web-ad.php

Newt: people can’t work with me because I am just so extraordinary

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/gingrich-on-staff-resignations-i-am-very-different-from-normal-politicians.php
‘I Am Very Different From Normal Politicians’

Michele Bachmann: she’s crazy, but she makes it work for her

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/06/22/is_bachmann_a_secret_democratic_weapon.html

More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/bachman-chronicles-taibbi-profiles-most.html

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/22/lyons_republicans_dogma

This half-term governor just can’t finish ANYTHING she starts

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/sarah-palin-reportedly-quits-bus-tour-halfway-through.php
Sarah Palin Reportedly Quits Bus Tour Halfway Through

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/06/23/palin_says_she_didnt_quit_bus_tour.html
Sarah Palin said she "was pausing her 'One Nation' bus tour . . . "The next leg of the tour continues when the time comes. In the meantime, no one should jump to conclusions -- certainly not the media with their long track record of getting things wrong or just making things up."

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/22/palin_quits
[Alex Pareene] Just give it another month, and she'll come up with some other scheme to briefly convince everyone that she's running for president again. She feeds on the attention! (And the PAC donations.) That documentary about how she used to not be so awful before she got famous is going to show in Iowa soon. That'll definitely mean something.

Palin is probably just putting off the decision to run for president until it's too late for her to run for president, because, like so many of us, she is undisciplined and lazy. There's no grand plan, here: just indecision and procrastination.

Her Internet fans are a bit frustrated, though! . . .[read on]

Bonus item: Wow, incredible story. Will the Repubs vote to deport him?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/22/987644/-Jose-Antonio-Vargas,-Pulitzer-prize-winning-journalist-and-undocumented-immigrant
Jose Antonio Vargas, Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and undocumented immigrant

More: http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/06/22/251041/jose-antonio-vargas-story/
[Matt Yglesias] I really urge everyone to read Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas’ story coming out as having been smuggled illegally into the United States from the Philippines back when he was 12 years old. The story of fake IDs, secrets, shame, and professional success is incredibly moving. . . .

***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.***

A BUM DEAL

Are the GOPers really going to push for Social Security cuts? Are the Dems really going to let them get away with it?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/growing-chorus-of-republicans-demand-social-security-cuts-in-deficit-deal.php

AARP has second thoughts: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/21/aarp-social-security-debt-ceiling_n_881305.html

Wake up!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/with-economy-faltering-dems-seize-on-gop-about-face-on-payroll-tax-cuts-for-businesses.php
Democrats are increasingly concerned that Republicans are setting them up to endorse large spending cuts in a deal to raise the national debt limit without giving ground on anything -- even GOP-friendly policy measures like tax cuts for business owners -- to stimulate the economy in the near-term. . . . [read on]

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/revenues_or_no_revenues_that_i030395.php

Have Obama and the Dems already blown it?

http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/06/21/249860/the-context-for-a-debt-ceiling-deal/

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/06/obamas-spending-cuts

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/why-wont-obama-draw-hard-lines/2011/03/03/AGwM4peH_blog.html
[Greg Sargent] I see a discussion has broken out among liberal bloggers over one of the perennial mysteries of the Obama presidency: Why won’t he draw hard lines in negotiations? Why won’t he say No to hostage takers? . . . [read on]

I’ll bet he’s REALLY feeling liberated now

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/21/national/a093614D71.DTL
Gingrich campaign finance team quits

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/21/987340/-Surviving-Gingrich-staffer:-Were-going-to-duct-tape-our-supporters%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BDtogether
Gingrich spox: "We are going to duct-tape together one coalition of Americans after another that believe in his...vision of change.”

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/stick_a_fork_in_him030405.php

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/06/21/gingrich_had_second_line_of_credit_at_tiffanys.html
Newt Gingrich had a second line of credit at the high-end jewelry store Tiffany's for as much as $1 million dollars, the Washington Post reports.

Yes! http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/06/the-newt-implosion-ctd.html
[Andrew Sullivan] Could this be one of the worst campaigns in memory?

Yes, the rules are different for the plutocrats

http://www.americablog.com/2011/06/sec-confirms-congress-above-insider.html
SEC confirms Congress above insider trading laws

Well, of course he would

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/wis-gop-leader-change-the-recall-law.php
[Wisconsin] Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) says he would like to introduce legislation later this year, making it harder to recall state officials. . . .

Uh, whatever happened to Sarah!s round-the-nation bus tour?

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/06/22/where_did_sarah_palin_go.html

What Fox News edited OUT of Jon Stewart’s on-air comments

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/fox-news-sunday-edits-out-jon-stewart-c
Speaking with host Chris Wallace, Stewart referenced emails from Fox News vice president and DC managing editor Bill Sammon to bolster his case that Fox News resembles "ideological regimes" who receive "marching orders." . . .

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/what_fox_news_aired_and_what_i030399.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/fox-news-proves-jon-stewart-right/2011/03/04/AGA0NPeH_blog.html
Fox News proves Jon Stewart right

Bonus item: Tales of the times

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/06/foiled_2.php
Guy robs bank to get arrested so he can get free medical care in prison. Unfortunately, the one dollar he demanded for isn't enough to count as 'bank robbery' in North Carolina. So he's out of luck.

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/in_the_wealthiest_nation_on_ea030404.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.***

DRONES

War without soldiers

http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/06/20/248533/war-without-soldiers/
[Matt Yglesias] Part of what the White House is saying about the War Powers issue seems to rely on the idea that it makes a big difference if you’re not dispatching actual human beings into an area of armed conflict. . . [read on]

The fraudulent McKinsey Report on health care

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/mckinsey-releases-methodology-firm-concedes-study-not-predictive/2011/03/03/AGzDV9cH_blog.html
[Greg Sargent] There will be a lot to dig through here, but what’s immediately of interest is that in its statement, McKinsey repeatedly concedes that the study should not be seen as a predictor of future behavior. . .

As Jamison Foser points out, people might have thought the study was intended to be predictive because its initial headline was:

How US health care reform will affect employee benefits

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/comprehensive-study-contradicts-mckinseys-findings/2011/03/03/AGjLQycH_blog.html
Comprehensive study contradicts McKinsey’s findings

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/06/20/mckinsey-down-in-flames-as-they-distance-from-findings-of-controversial-health-care-study/
[David Dayen] This is pretty much a public relations disaster for McKinsey. . . .

http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/06/18/mckinseys-anti-obamacare-study-msits-just-business/
McKinsey’s Anti-Obamacare Study May Be A Lie – But It’s A Lie Worth Big Bucks To McKinsey

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/06/marketing_exercise_gone_wrong.php
[TPM reader] A quick review of the McKinsey survey makes me pretty sure it was created as an internal market research tool -- to assess the need for healthcare consulting services and help the firm design and sell those services. Someone got the bright idea of publicizing some of the results and, since the survey wasn't designed to predict or even describe the effect of reform on the healthcare system, the published report was highly misleading. . . [read on]

The Supreme Court won’t take on Walmart

http://www.slate.com/id/2297364

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/supreme-court-says-sorry-walmart-too-big-su

Too radical for the Tea Party

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/florida-tea-party-leader-gop-medicare-plan-a-public-policy-nightmare.php
Florida Tea Party Leader: GOP Medicare Plan A ‘Public Policy Nightmare’

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/20/986284/-PPP:-Paul-Ryans-Medicare-plan-wildly-unpopular-even-in-North-Carolina

The latest bright idea from the GOP: end the EPA! (and food safety regulation, and. . .)

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/meet-the-new-pollution-friendly-gop.php

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/20/986178/-House-GOP-puts-the-fox-in-charge-of-the-food-safety-henhouse

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/newly_disclosed_chemicals_are_in_what_we_eat_but_w.php

You didn’t REALLY think Republicans would give up their earmarks, did you?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/national-security/house-earmarks-morph-into-programmatic-requests/2011/06/14/AGrs7TdH_story.html
House earmarks morph into ‘programmatic requests’

Why Wisconsin matters: it’s a preview of what the national GOP agenda will look like

http://crooksandliars.com/brad-reed/wisconsin-gops-meth-lab-democracy

The sharks are eating each other

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/bachmann-camp-assails-romney-on-pro-life-issues.php
Bachmann Camp Assails Romney On Pro-Life Issues

More: http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/romneys-new-pledge-highlights-reversals-abortion
Of all of Mitt Romney's comical flip-flops on the issues, his gymnastic reversal on abortion rights is the most pathetic. . . .

Still “feeling liberated” Newt?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/still-no-iowa-staff-for-gingrich.php
Still No Iowa Staff For Gingrich

“All Over” already? http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/06/20/all_over_for_gingrich.html

Jon Huntsman can’t shake his past

http://mydd.com/2011/6/20/the-two-jon-huntsmans

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/20/986940/-Jon-Huntsman-draws-fire-from-rival

Will anyone care?

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/06/20/bachmann_used_taxpayer_money_for_political_rally.html
Bachmann Used Taxpayer Money for Political Rally

This tells you what she’s all about: Sarah! files for trademark protection

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/06/20/palin_trademarks_likely_to_happen.html

Dana Perino, spokeswoman for the vacation-prone George Bush, complains about how Obama is spending his time

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/20/987024/-Former-Bush-spokeswoman-Dana-Perino-whines-about-Obama-spending-time-on%C2%A0Twitter

Keith Olbermann returns tonight

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/20/olbermann_tonight

Bonus item: The Chinese are coming! The Chinese are coming!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/gopers-ad-depicts-chinese-army-marching-on-capitol-thanks-to-obamas-debt-ceiling-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.***

BLOCKING OUT

When did you ever see it described this way when the Democrats were doing it?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/20/us/politics/20nominate.html
Nominees at Standstill as G.O.P. Flexes Its Muscle

A look back: http://tinyurl.com/3s5yf37
Senate Democrats block Bush's Judicial Nominees
Democrats, Block Those Bush Appointees
Senate Dems to Block All Nominations
Senate Democrats Block 3 More Bush Judicial Nominees
Tom Daschle and Senate Democrats Block Bush Judicial Nominees
Bush to resubmit blocked judicial nominees . . . [many more like this]

With friends like these

http://tinyurl.com/3fm28by
[AP] Pakistanis tip off militants again

Background: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/12/world/asia/12pakistan.html

Heh

http://www.samefacts.com/2011/06/watching-conservatives/dept-of-rude-idle-questions/
[Mark Kleiman] After Texas secedes, will Rick Perry still be eligible to be President? [read on]

New ethical concerns about Justice Clarence Thomas

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/benefactors-activities-raise-new-ethical-concerns-about-justice-thomas.php

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/the_ethicallychallenged_claren030358.php

http://firedoglake.com/2011/06/20/he-lives-precariously-by-the-sword-everybody-else-gets-the-shaft/

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/19/tv-soundoff-sunday-talkin_n_879915.html

The funny version: http://www.moonshinepatriot.blogspot.com/

Bonus item: Chris Wallace of Fox News wants to engage Jon Stewart in a debate over whose network is more reliable as a news outlet.

Hey Chris, his network is called COMEDY CENTRAL! Yours is FOX “NEWS”!

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/06/quote-day-manufacturing-misinformation

More: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/stewart-tells-chris-wallace-fox-news-ideolog

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/the_most_consistently_misinfor030360.php
“In polls,” Stewart said, in a surprisingly angry tone, “who are the most consistently misinformed media viewers? The most consistently misinformed? Fox. Fox viewers. Consistently. Every poll.”

Wallace then changed the subject. . . .

As Ben Armbruster noted a while back, “An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll out [in 2009] found that Fox News viewers were overwhelmingly misinformed about health care reform proposals. A 2008 Pew study ranked Fox News last in the number of ‘high knowledge’ viewers and a 2007 Pew poll ranked Fox viewers as the least knowledgeable about national and international affairs.”

The problem is actually getting worse. [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.***