TIGHTY WHITIES

Protecting their own

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/31/us/politics/scalises-speech-to-white-supremacist-group-clouds-republicans-plans.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Speaker John A. Boehner issued a statement supporting Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 3 Republican in the House, who confirmed that in 2002 he addressed a group of white supremacists.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/baseball-team-avoided-david-duke-group-scalise
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) has emphasized this week that he was not aware of the hateful views of a white nationalist group founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke when he spoke before it at a convention over a decade ago.  Yet the event was apparently well known and toxic enough that it forced a minor league baseball team from Iowa to move to a different hotel to avoid bumping into the May 2002 conference. . . .

More: http://www.vox.com/2014/12/30/7468979/steve-scalise-david-duke

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/30/7467621/steve-scalise-racist-group
 
http://politicalwire.com/2014/12/30/meeting-steve-scalise/
New Orleans Advocate reporter Stephanie Grace: “This is what I remember about the first time I met Steve Scalise nearly 20 years ago: He told me he was like David Duke without the baggage.”

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/scalises-vote-against-mlk-day-gains-new-relevance
Scalise’s vote against MLK Day gains new relevance

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/30/crybaby-racists-support-steve-scalise.html
The scandal swirling around Steve Scalise’s address to white supremacists has white supremacists crying foul. 

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/30/white-pride-leader-sticks-up-for-scalise.html
It may be the least welcome endorsement ever . . .

Things people deny as racist

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/30/7441913/racist-stories-news-racism
The way elected officials, cable news anchors, and celebrities have vehemently defended some of this year's most outrageous and bigoted statements and offenses leaves us with one major question: what does deserve the dreaded r-word? Maybe we'll find out in 2015. (Except, if it's worse than all these things, that would be kind of scary. So hopefully not.) Here's a list of some of the things that weren't racist in 2014. . . .

How typical that after complaining about how Obama has ruined the economy, Republicans will shift tactics and now say the economy is doing GREAT -- and that it's all because of them!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/30/grover-norquist-economy_n_6396682.html

The radicalization of the Senate

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/31/the-democrats-black-hole-and-what-they-can-do-about-it.html
Here’s an under-discussed reality of the new, Mitch McConnell-led Senate that’s about to take over: The Senate Republican caucus is very likely to be far more conservative than anything we’ve seen. Nine new Republican senators will swear their oaths of office. By my measurement, only one, West Virginia’s Shelley Moore Capito, is what you’d call a basic mainstream conservative. The other eight are varying degrees of out there. . . .

GOP felon Michael Grimm steps down. Who will replace him?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/31/will-dirty-pol-vito-fossella-replace-dirty-pol-michael-grimm.html
 . . .The 43-year-old Fossella got a little too sloshed at a White House reception honoring the New York Giants Super Bowl victory and was arrested for driving under the influence in northern Virginia. The scandal could have been the kind that amounts to a mere hiccup in the baroque New York political scene, but it became a bit more serious when it was revealed that Fossella, a married father of three, had been cruising around the D.C. suburbs because he was off to see his mistress, with whom he had fathered a child—a fact that was revealed when Fossella called the woman to pick him up from his overnight stay in jail.

The year's worst political candidates

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/31/the_2014_hall_of_shame_looking_back_at_the_years_worst_candidates/ 

The lawyers who shape the decisions of the Supreme Court (thanks to DR for the link)

http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/scotus/

Let's hope this is a trend

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/12/31/state-prison-populations-down-to-lowest-point-in-a-decade/
State prison populations down to lowest point in a decade

Bonus item: I know you read PBD to stay on top of music trends. Here are some of the best pop songs of 2014

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/31/the-14-best-songs-of-2014-bobby-shmurda-future-islands-drake-and-more.html

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/30/7463577/songs-of-the-year  

***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 GLASS HALF FULL

Obama's foreign policy record

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/29/7461935/obamas-foreign-policy-report-card
Obama's foreign policy report card for 2014

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/12/obamas-foreign-policy-frustrating-perhaps-better-most-alternatives
Obama's Foreign Policy: Frustrating, Perhaps, But Better Than Most of the Alternatives

Two bad eggs

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/12/29/rep-grimm-expected-to-resign/
Rep. Michael G. Grimm (R-N.Y.), who pleaded guilty in federal court last week to felony tax fraud, privately told House Republican leaders Monday that he will resign . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/30/us/politics/louisiana-congressman-steve-scalise-acknowledges-addressing-racist-group-in-2002.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise Acknowledges Addressing Racist Group in 2002 

A question that answers itself

http://politicalwire.com/2014/12/28/can-hillary-clinton-win-white-rural-voters/
Can Hillary Clinton Win White Rural Voters? 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/12/29/why-hillary-clinton-doesnt-need-to-win-the-white-working-class/
Why Hillary Clinton doesn’t need to win the white working class

The invisible primary

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/29/7450793/invisible-primary
Can party elites pick a nominee before anyone votes? 

Sometimes you just don't have a chance

http://firedoglake.com/2014/12/29/death-penalty-cases-are-won-or-lost-during-jury-selection/
Death penalty cases are won or lost during jury selection

More looks back at 2014 . . .

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2014/12/civil_liberties_violations_of_2014_civil_forfeiture_grand_juries_religion.html
The 10 Worst Civil Liberties Violations of 2014

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/30/corporate_americas_5_worst_acts_of_2014_partner/
Corporate America’s 5 most despicable acts of 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/29/despite-high-profile-tragedies-2014-was-the-safest-year-on-record-for-flying/
Despite high-profile tragedies, 2014 was the safest year on record for flying

 . . . and a look ahead

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/30/2015s_biggest_days_for_politics_salons_handy_calendar_for_the_next_year/
2015′s biggest days for politics: Salon’s handy calendar for the next year 

http://politicalwire.com/2014/12/29/5-ways-obama-can-mess-with-republicans-in-2015/
5 Ways Obama Can Mess with Republicans in 2015 

Bonus item: A dialogue with Paul Krugman

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/29/7458807/paul-krugman-economist 

***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 "RESPONSIBLE CONCLUSION"

The end of the US war in Afghanistan? 

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/12/28/world/asia/ap-as-afghanistan.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0
The war in Afghanistan, fought for 13 bloody years and still raging, came to a formal end Sunday with a quiet flag-lowering ceremony in Kabul that marked the transition of the fighting from U.S.-led combat troops to the country's own security forces. .  .

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/12/war-in-afghanistan-officially-ended-today.html 

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/americas-longest-war-comes-end-sort
America’s longest war comes to an end (sort of)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/12/28/obama-afghanistan-war-coming-to-responsible-conclusion/
Obama acknowledged in a written statement that Afghanistan remains "a dangerous place" and that the 10,800 U.S. personnel who will remain mostly in an advisory and training role will continue to face risks. . . . 

It baffles me why anyone thinks the Republicans are reliable stewards of the economy

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/28/1354015/-Three-ways-the-GOP-will-sabotage-the-government-and-the-economy-in-2015

Rudy, Rudy, Rudy

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/when-is-giuliani-time-going-to-be-over.html
When is Giuliani time going to be over?

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/rudy-giuliani-responds-being-fact-checked
Rudy Giuliani Responds To Being Fact Checked For Lying About President Obama By Crying 'Al Sharpton'

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/giuliani-mayor-de-blasio-brought-cop
Giuliani: Mayor De Blasio Brought Cop Disrespect 'On Himself' By Speaking About Biracial Son 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/28/1353919/-Giuliani-s-hate-mongering-shows-the-right-wing-will-never-stop-trying-to-scare-whites-about-Obama
Giuliani's hate-mongering shows the right wing will never stop trying to scare whites about Obama

The far right thinks Obama and the Dems are encouraging racial division

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/allen-west-obama-wants-blacks-vomiting

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/wsj-columnist-left-uninterested-post

More: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/29/obama-is-right-on-race-the-media-is-wrong.html
Obama Is Right on Race. The Media Is Wrong.

2014: The turning point on marriage equality?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/28/1353857/-2014-A-review-of-a-remarkable-year-for-marriage-equality 

Bought and paid for (thanks to DR for the link)

http://www.nationofchange.org/2014/12/24/fossil-fuel-industry-spent-721-million-2014s-midterm-elections/
The Fossil Fuel Industry Spent More Than $721 Million During 2014’s Midterm Elections

Who says this wasn't a productive Congress?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/29/nazis-sunscreen-and-sea-gull-eggs-congress-in-2014-was-hella-productive.html
Nazis, Sunscreen, and Sea Gull Eggs

In Fox World, the metric system is killing people

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/fox-host-thinks-metric-system-endangers

Bonus item: How to make (and keep) your New Year resolutions

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/29/7434433/new-years-resolutions-psychology


***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.***

TOUGH GUY

Harry Reid (D), Senate Minority Leader, is tougher than you think

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/27/1350876/-Harry-Reid-s-prepping-for-a-fight-next-year

Reality check

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/27/1350559/-Voters-don-t-know-the-deficit-is-shrinking-or-that-deportations-have-soared
Voters don't know the deficit is shrinking or that deportations have soared

Boosting Obamacare enrollments

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/27/the-administration-could-be-missing-a-major-chance-to-boost-obamacare-enrollment/ 

Is the GOP changing its views on big tax cuts?

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/is-gop-coming-around-or-just-changing.html 

Goodbye, Darrell Issa (R)

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/27/1351130/-Goodbye-Darrell-Issa-Oversight-Committee-chair-no-more

Not all new technologies are successful

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/28/the_8_biggest_product_fails_of_2014_partner/

Theocracy watch: The case against religion (thanks to RF for the link)

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/21/religions_smart_people_problem_the_shaky_intellectual_foundations_of_absolute_faith/
There has been a dramatic change in the last few centuries in the proportion of believers among the highly educated in the Western world. In the European Middle Ages belief in a God was ubiquitous, while today it is rare among the intelligentsia. This change occurred primarily because of the rise of modern science and a consensus among philosophers that arguments for the existence of gods, souls, afterlife and the like were unconvincing. Still, despite the view of professional philosophers and world-class scientists, religious beliefs have a universal appeal. What explains this? . . . [read on] 

Scenes from Fox World

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/fox-pundits-attack-black-leaders-setting
Fox Pundits Attack Black Leaders For Setting Back Race Relations In America

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/foxs-henry-and-kurtz-carp-about-media
Fox's Henry And Kurtz Carp About Media Truthfully Reporting Obama's Poll Numbers

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/anti-gun-psa-gets-ripped-apart-fox-news
Anti-Gun PSA Gets Ripped Apart By Fox News' Ammosexuals

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/stupid-right-wing-tweets-todd-starnes
Stupid Right Wing Tweets: Todd Starnes Edition

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/conservatives-turn-their-twitter-rage-alan
Conservatives Turn Their Twitter Rage On Alan Colmes After Fox News Appearance

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/27/1353038/-12-Signs-of-the-Apocalypse-June-when-Fox-News-attacked-an-American-POW
When Fox News attacked an American POW  

The Sunday talk show line-ups

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/28/1354200/-Sunday-Talk
NBC Meet The Press: NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton; Satire Roundtable: Comedians Lewis Black, W. Kamau Bell and Laura Krafft; Serious Roundtable: Eugene Robinson (Washington Post), Amy Walter (Cook Political Report), Luke Russert (NBC News) and Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R).      

CBS Face The Nation: NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton; Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (9/11); "Ebola Czar" Ron Klain; Roundtable: David Rohde (Reuters) and Robin Wright (U.S. Institute of Peace).      

ABC This Week: "Game Changers" of 2014.      

CNN State of the Union: Outgoing Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R); Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC); Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ); Roundtable: Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R), Matea Gold (Washington Post), Republican Strategist Kevin Madden and Democratic Strategist Donna Brazile.

Bonus item: Another year-end list

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2014-12-26/dave-weigels-best-and-worst-of-2014-politics
The Best and Worst of 2014 Politics  

***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.***

SPY GAMES

In the 70's, the senate Church Committee exposed CIA wrongdoings, which triggered firings, reforms, and greater congressional oversight. The latest disclosures about CIA torture and other abuses triggered . . .?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/27/us/politics/after-scrutiny-cia-mandate-is-untouched-.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

More: https://www.emptywheel.net/2014/12/27/stellar-wind-and-the-intelligence-oversight-board-reports 

Race today

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/26/7443979/racism-implicit-racial-bias
Understanding the racial bias you didn't know you had

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/esther-cepeda-the-landmine-in-labeling-someone-black/2014/12/25/7425e72a-8c9b-11e4-8ff4-fb93129c9c8b_story.html
The landmine in labeling someone ‘black’

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/on-racial-issues-america-is-divided-both-black-and-white-and-red-and-blue/2014/12/26/3d2964c8-8d12-11e4-a085-34e9b9f09a58_story.html?wprss=rss_politics
On racial issues, America is divided both black and white and red and blue

In Fox World: http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/bolling-gets-schooled-black-guests-oreilly
Bolling Gets Schooled On Perpetuating Racism On Fox News 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/26/1352564/-Black-Americans-make-up-only-1-percent-of-Fox-News-viewers
Black Americans make up only 1 percent of Fox News viewers

Race and the police

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/26/7423217/police-shootings-racism-2014
Why 2014 could be a turning point for America’s racist criminal justice system

More: http://www.vox.com/2014/12/26/7447891/police-shoot-taser
Why police officers often resort to lethal force as their first response

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/12/black-cops-say-they-get-racially-profiled-too.html
Black Cops Say They Get Racially Profiled, Too
 
http://www.salon.com/2014/12/27/black_cops_fear_other_cops_partner/
Black cops fear other cops  

Worth the money, wouldn't you say?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/26/chicago-gave-hundreds-of-high-risk-kids-a-summer-job-violent-crime-arrests-plummeted/
Chicago gave hundreds of high-risk kids a summer job. Violent crime arrests plummeted.

Obama starts triangulating

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-hopes-to-enlist-gop-in-push-for-trade-pact-despite-democratic-resistance/2014/12/26/81236a34-8600-11e4-b9b7-b8632ae73d25_story.html?wprss=rss_politics
Obama hopes to enlist GOP in push for trade pact, despite Democratic resistance

Jeb Bush is prepping for a presidential run by disassociating several . . . awkward . . . business arrangements

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/18/1352789/-Jeb-Bush-finally-quits-bank-that-violated-Cuba-sanctions
Jeb Bush (finally) quits bank that violated Cuba sanctions

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_12/jeb_bush_counts_on_short_memor053462.php
Jeb Bush Counts on Short Memories

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/12/jeb-bush-has-obamacare-problem
Jeb Bush is stepping down from the board of a health care company that has reportedly profited from Obamacare . . .

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/26/the-lucrative-obamacare-connection-that-jeb-bush-is-trying-to-cut/

http://politicalwire.com/2014/12/25/bushs-business-record-brings-romney-comparisons/
Bush’s Business Record Brings Romney Comparisons

More trouble: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeb-bush-and-the-perils-of-immigration/
Jeb Bush and the perils of immigration

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/22/a-primer-on-the-one-issue-that-may-cost-jeb-bush-the-republican-nomination-the-common-core/
A primer on the divisive issue that may cost Jeb Bush the Republican nomination: Common Core 

Theocracy watch

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/27/2014-revenge-of-the-creationists.html
2014: Revenge of the Creationists

Bonus item: A peek at popular culture

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/27/butts-brawls-and-bill-cosby-the-biggest-celebrity-scandals-of-2014.html
Butts, Brawls, and Bill Cosby: The Biggest Celebrity Scandals of 2014


***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 LAST GIFT

Hey! Things aren't so bad!

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/12/everything-is-awesome-113801.html#ixzz3N0Rdq4wF

The battle for overtime pay

http://tiny.cc/2f8grx

More: http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/middle-class-overdue-overtime-pay-raise



Reflections on war

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/25/7448471/christmas-truce-1914
100 years ago, soldiers celebrated Christmas by temporarily calling off World War I

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/25/the_other_christmas_holiday_world_war_is_forgotten_anniversary_partner/
Dec. 25 marks the 100th anniversary of the Christmas Truce. Why is it only a footnote in our history books? 

Digby: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/if-we-want-it.html
War is the most insane thing humans do --- and we do a lot of insane things. It's not soft or naive to point this out once in a while.  It doesn't have to be this way ... if we want it. . . .

John Lennon: http://americablog.com/2014/12/happy-christmas-by-john-lennon-video.html

The Islamic "State" isn't -- yet

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/the-islamic-state-is-failing-at-being-a-state/2014/12/24/bfbf8962-8092-11e4-b936-f3afab0155a7_story.html 

The rediscovery of IUDs

http://www.vox.com/2014/11/24/7272485/iud-birth-control-facts
Why gynecologists think IUDs are the best contraceptive

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/25/want-to-reduce-teen-pregnancy-and-abortion-start-with-long-term-birth-control-2/ 

In Fox World, Santa's gotta be WHITE, dammit!

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/ghost-christmas-past-megyn-kelly-assures

Bonus item: The WORST gifts of the season

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/26/the_10_most_tasteless_sales_items_of_2014_partner/

***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.***

MOVIE REVIEWS

(What a surprise.) After all this, "The Interview" is . . . pretty stupid

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/24/7447961/interview-clip
This six-second clip shows how awful The Interview truly is

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/24/sony-s-the-interview-a-glorious-patriotic-and-katy-perry-filled-mess.html
A Glorious, Patriotic, and Katy Perry-Filled Mess

More: http://www.vox.com/2014/12/24/7443035/interview-north-korea
Seeing The Interview doesn't hurt North Korea and Kim Jong Un — it helps them

Or: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/24/the-interview-really-does-subvert-north-koreas-regime/
“The Interview” really does subvert North Korea’s regime.

And now a movie that IS worth your time

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/24/7443697/selma-movie-review
How "Selma" gets Martin Luther King, Jr., right

More: http://www.vox.com/2014/12/24/7436393/selma-movie-ava-duvernay 

Rush is furious to hear that they might cast a black James Bond

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/rush-limbaugh-freaks-out-about-idris-elba

More "proof" that Obama wants to be Queen . . . or King . . .  or something

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/president-obama-sports-crown-infuriates
President Obama Sports Crown, Infuriates Right Wingers

Obama: a good closer

http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2014/12/23/a-good-closer/
There has long been a pattern to Barack Obama’s political career on the national stage. There are moments of soaring moral clarity and inspiration; there are long periods of drift or laziness or passivity; and there are often very good fourth quarters. . . . 

We all have them

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/25/how_to_win_christmas_arguments_salons_guide_to_defeating_your_crazy_right_wing_uncle/
How to win Christmas arguments: Salon’s guide to defeating your crazy right-wing uncle  

Justice Elena Kagan explains what Jews do on Christmas

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-huckleberry-christmas-question.html

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/23/google-offers-proof-people-really-do-love-to-eat-chinese-food-on-christmas/ 

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/food/2014/12/chinese_takeout_on_christmas_is_it_really_more_popular_diving_into_grubhub.html

Bonus item: TPM's Golden Dukes!

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/golden-dukes-nominations-announced 

***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.***

FIVE PER CENT

Did you know?

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/23/7440329/q3-2014-gdp
US economy grew at a scorching 5 percent annual rate last quarter

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/23/the-boom-is-here-the-economy-just-grew-5-percent-and-its-not-going-to-stop/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/23/u-s-economy-grew-at-a-rate-of-5-percent-in-third-quarter-the-fastest-in-more-than-a-decade/

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/23/now-that-the-dow-has-hit-18000-let-us-remember-the-worst-op-ed-in-history/
Now that the Dow has hit 18,000, let us remember the worst op-ed in history

What can the Republicans say about THAT?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/12/23/with-gdp-growing-strongly-republicans-economic-dilemma-gets-more-complicated/

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/12/obama_economy_what_should_republicans_say_now_that_the_gdp_is_growing_the.html

I'll believe it when I see it

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/23/us/politics/mitch-mcconnells-new-senate-goal-turn-republican-dial-to-yes.html
As he prepares to guide Republicans out of the wilderness of the Senate minority, Senator Mitch McConnell, the incoming majority leader, knows his real problem is not corralling mavericks in his party like Senator Ted Cruz. It is persuading other Senate Republicans conditioned to voting no that it is time to vote yes. . . .

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_12/that_productive_reasonable_mr053437.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/12/23/mitch-mcconnell-compromiser/

Darrell Issa's failure

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/probe-irs-scandal-white-house

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/23/issas_final_flop_failing_to_link_the_irs_scandal_to_the_white_house/

Two worlds

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/elks-lodge-retired-cops-michael-brown-song
WATCH: Singer At Ex-Cop Charity Dinner Mocks 'Dead, Dead Michael Brown'

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/fox-affiliate-apologizes-protester-chant
WATCH: Protester Confronts Fox Station That Deceptively Edited 'Kill A Cop' Chant

The worst of Fox World

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/sean-hannity-has-little-hissy-fit-when-hes

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/23/sean_hannity_named_worst_of_fox_by_colleagues_has_twitter_temper_tantrum/

Bonus item: News you can use

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/23/1349402/-Reducing-electricity-consumption-I-Lighting
Reducing electricity consumption I: Lighting

***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.***

FOUNDING PRINCIPLES

What the Constitution says about torture

http://www.juancole.com/2014/12/founding-foundational-constitution.html
 
Stop the presses!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2014/12/22/bf8bcce8-8a20-11e4-8ff4-fb93129c9c8b_story.html?wprss=rss_politics
White Milwaukee police officer will not face charges in shooting of black man

More: http://www.salon.com/2014/12/23/it_may_out_ferguson_ferguson_why_milwaukees_police_violence_will_horrify_you/
“It may out-Ferguson Ferguson”: Why Milwaukee’s police violence will horrify you  

A coincidence, huh?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/23/world/asia/attack-is-suspected-as-north-korean-internet-collapses.html?_r=0
While perhaps a coincidence, the failure of the country’s computer connections began only hours after President Obama declared Friday that the United States would launch a “proportional response” to what he termed an act of “cybervandalism” against Sony Pictures. . . .

More: http://www.vox.com/2014/12/22/7433873/north-korea-internet-down

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/22/7435625/north-korea-internet

And he still got re-elected!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/12/22/rep-grimm-to-plead-guilty-in-federal-court/  
Rep. Grimm expected to plead guilty in federal court

Is this Jeb's Achilles heel?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/22/a-primer-on-the-one-issue-that-may-cost-jeb-bush-the-republican-nomination-the-common-core/

Wind power!

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/22/7432407/wind-power-tax-credit

How Fox World covers cop killings (hint: it depends)

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/12/22/fox-news-double-standard-for-right-wing-cop-kil/201978

More: http://www.salon.com/2014/12/23/the_5_worst_reactions_to_the_nypd_shootings_partner/

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/22/7436141/police-killing-protests-NYPD
Why it's wrong to blame protests for the Brooklyn cop killings

Bonus item: Great moments from Jimmy Fallon (a real holiday treat!)

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/22/from_the_emma_stone_lip_sync_to_house_of_cue_cards_the_year_in_jimmy_fallon/

***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.***

BLAME GAME

Two cops dead, and that's terrible. Now, how can we use this to bash our favorite political targets?

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/rep-peter-king-lies-says-deblasio-never
Rep. Peter King Lies, Says DeBlasio Never Denounced Calls For Violence Against Police

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/tucker-carlson-al-sharpton-helped-kill
Tucker Carlson: Al Sharpton Helped Kill NYPD Cops By 'Whipping Up Race Hatred' 

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/clint-van-zandt-blames-protestors-nypd
Clint Van Zandt Blames Protestors For NYPD Shootings On MSNBC

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/12/21/3606040/rudy-giuliani-2-nyc-cops-were-killed-because-obama-told-everyone-to-hate-the-police/
Rudy Giuliani: 2 NYC Cops Were Killed Because Obama Told Everyone To ‘Hate The Police’

More: http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/12/lets-blame-conservatives-all-killings-theyre-responsible

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_12/flame_throwers_and_fire_fighte053409.php 

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/12/whos-blaming-de-blasio-for-shooting.html 

John McCain keeps forgetting that we have EVERYTHING on video now

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/john-mccains-duplicitous-double-speak-i
McCain insisted he "always wanted to close Guantanamo, but I wanted to transfer those prisoners to maximum security prisons, prisons in the United States of America." He went on to claim that President Obama never had a plan for that. . . .

Marco Rubio attacks "Obama-Paul" foreign policy

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/marco-rubio-attacks-rand-paul-chief

Unasked-for advice: what Obama and the Dems should learn from Roosevelt

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/21/1352713/-Happy-days-are-here-again

No, wait, Truman: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/21/time-to-bring-back-the-truman-democrats.html

No wait, Kennedy: http://patriotupdate.com/articles/democrats-learn-jfk/

No, wait, Johnson: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/what-obama-can-learn-from-lbj/2011/12/02/gIQABQfZgO_story.html

No, wait, Carter: http://nypost.com/2014/03/13/obama-can-learn-strength-from-jimmy-carter/

No, wait, Clinton: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/will-obama-be-conciliatory-clinton-or-confrontational-reagan 

Disturbing 

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/12/19/3604671/travesties-of-justice/
9 Travesties Of Justice In 2014 That Would Be Totally Unbelievable If They Weren’t True 

The kind of people they are

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/22/7_worst_right_wing_moments_of_the_week_%E2%80%94%C2%A0rick_santorum_wants_you_to_know_hes_not_a_virgin_partner/

Ho, ho, ho . . . Fox World bemoans . . . wait for it . . . the demise of real journalism

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/foxs-bolling-has-gall-opine-about-death

Bonus item: We are all mestizos

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/22/7431391/guess-where-white-americans-have-the-most-african-ancestry 





***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.***