AROUND THE WORLD

Obama announces a trip to Kenya, and the Birthers go crazy

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/31/world/africa/obama-last-election-behind-him-plans-first-visit-as-president-to-kenya.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

More: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/john-sununu-obama-birthers

Obama's "Yemen strategy" . . . isn't working

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/30/8309797/obama-yemen-model

More: http://www.salon.com/2015/03/31/the_cost_of_gops_benghazi_hysteria_why_the_u_s_is_really_pulling_out_of_yemen_partner/
 
The Iran/Saudi Arabia Cold War

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/30/8314513/saudi-arabia-iran

How nice

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/poll-most-republicans-see-president-national-threat
Poll: most Republicans see President as a national ‘threat’

Scary, really scary

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/03/30/losing-a-job-is-always-terrible-for-workers-over-50-its-worse/
Losing a job is always terrible. For workers over 50, it’s worse.

Don't tell me Indiana Gov. Mike Pence didn't know he was signing an anti-gay law. Look who's in the picture

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/mike-pence-surrounded-bigots-when-he

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/31/1374512/-The-backlash-grows-Indiana-s-largest-newspaper-goes-after-license-to-discriminate-law
The backlash grows

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/30/8312423/indiana-lgbt-businesses-celebrities
How major celebrities and businesses are reacting to Indiana’s religious freedom law

Bonus item: Jon Stewart's replacement: a young South African, Trevor Noah

Who is he? http://www.salon.com/2015/03/30/trevor_noahs_journey_to_the_daily_show_everything_you_need_to_know_about_jon_stewarts_successor/

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/30/trevor_noah_in_our_crazy_birther_age_right_wing_rage_at_%E2%80%9Cthe_daily_show%E2%80%9D_is_about_to_get_very_very_ugly/
Trevor Noah in our crazy birther age: Right-wing rage at “The Daily Show” is about to get very, very ugly 

Videos: http://www.vox.com/2015/3/30/7344873/trevor-noah-daily-show 

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

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

NO DEAL?

Some deals you have to walk away from

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/30/world/middleeast/iran-backs-away-from-key-detail-in-nuclear-deal.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0
With a negotiating deadline just two days away, Iranian officials on Sunday backed away from a critical element of a proposed nuclear agreement, saying they are no longer willing to ship their atomic fuel out of the country. . . .

More: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/29/does-iran-have-secret-nukes-in-north-korea.html
Does Iran Have Secret Nukes in North Korea?

Everyone knows what "religious freedom" laws are meant to do. Now that Indiana is being boycotted for theirs, Gov. Mike Pence is denying that they EVER had any anti-gay intent

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/03/did-indiana-ok-discrimination-pence-cant-say.html
Did Indiana Just Legalize LGBT Discrimination? Governor Pence Can’t Say

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/29/1374133/-Pence-defends-Indiana-hate-law-refuses-to-say-six-times-that-law-won-t-allow-discrimination
Pence defends Indiana hate law, refuses to say—six times—that law won't allow discrimination 

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/mike-pence-spends-20-minutes-lying-abc
Mike Pence Spends 20 Minutes Lying To ABC News About His Anti-Gay Discrimination Law

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/pensive-pence.html
If there has ever been a more unctuously sanctimonious politician than the hard-core right winger Mike Pence, I'd love to know who it might be.  . . .

More: http://firedoglake.com/2015/03/29/national-boycottindiana-movement-drives-officials-to-backpedal-on-anti-lgbtq-law/ 

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/somebody-didnt-see-that-coming

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/29/8307393/mike-pence-indiana-religious-freedom-law

Water shortages will define our future

http://www.mintpressnews.com/new-age-of-water-wars-portends-bleak-future-for-the-middle-east/203712/

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/30/how-growers-gamed-california-s-drought.html

Ted Cruz tries to explain why people don't like him, and further demonstrates the problem

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/ted-cruz-why-hes-not-likable-part-problem 

More: http://politicalwire.com/2015/03/30/ted-cruz-is-no-barry-goldwater/

The GOP dilemma over Loretta Lynch

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/30/us/politics/in-holding-up-loretta-lynch-attorney-general-nominee-gop-is-in-a-quandary.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/03/loretta_lynch_confirmation_mitch_mcconnell_and_the_gop_have_delayed_it_but.html

Too crazy for Fox World

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/watch-fox-host-realize-gohmert-bonkers-he

Bonus item: How many elected officials in the U.S.?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/29/1372225/-Just-how-many-elected-officials-are-there-in-the-United-States-The-answer-is-mind-blowing

***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.***

"REPUBLICAN MODERATE" IS AN OXYMORON

Jeb Bush, no moderate, really

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/28/8305229/jeb-bush-andrew-ferguson

Rand Paul sells out (again)

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/rand-paul-tosses-libertarian-supporters

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/28/rand-ditches-federalism-for-fundamentalism-on-gay-marriage.html

Theocracy watch

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/28/ted_cruzs_religious_horror_why_hes_really_running_for_high_priest_of_america/
Ted Cruz’s religious horror: Why he’s really running for High Priest of America 

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/28/ted_cruz_doesnt_have_a_prayer_why_the_texas_senator_will_never_sniff_the_white_house_partner/
Ted Cruz doesn’t have a prayer

Now that people are screaming boycott, Indiana tries to reframe their "religious freedom" bill 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/28/1374058/-Gov-Mike-Pence-wants-Indiana-s-new-hate-law-to-be-clarified
Gov. Mike Pence, scorched by a fast-spreading political firestorm, told The Star on Saturday that he will support the introduction of legislation to “clarify” that Indiana’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act does not promote discrimination against gays and lesbians. . . . Pence said repeatedly that the intense blowback against the new law is the result of a "misunderstanding driven by misinformation."

More: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/indiana-religious-freedom-bill-fallout

http://politicalwire.com/2015/03/28/religious-freedom-law-sparks-outrage-in-indiana/

Is the Iran deal a good idea?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/29/the-good-bad-and-ugly-of-the-iran-deal.html
The alternatives are worse. At bottom there are just two: 1, let Iran have a nuclear arsenal with no international oversight at all, or 2, prevent that by bombing the place. That’s it. . .  [read on]

A New Economy

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/29/what_would_paul_krugman_do_imagining_the_plan_which_defeats_the_ultra_rich/
Progressives must do what Occupy and the Democrats did not: conceive a new political agenda for a new political economy. . . . [read on]

The Sunday talk show line-ups

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/29/1373780/-Sunday-Talk-The-father-the-sun-and-the-holy
NBC Meet the Press: Erin Bowen (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University); Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. H.E. Adel A. Al-Jubeir; Former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq/Chief U.S. Negotiator on Nuclear Disarmament Christopher Hill; Ted Kennedy's Widow Victoria Kennedy; Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI); Roundtable: Kathleen Parker (Washington Post), Joe Scarborough (MSNBC), Sam Stein (Huffington Post) and Neera Tanden (Center for American Progress).

CBS Face the Nation: Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC); Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA); Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R); "Ted Kennedy's Legacy" Panel: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Former Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME); Roundtable: Dan Balz (Washington Post), Manu Raju (Politico), Scott Conroy (Huffington Post) and Nancy Cordes (CBS News).

ABC This Week: Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D); Ted Kennedy's Widow Victoria Kennedy; Roundtable: Bill Kristol (Weekly Standard), Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D), Republican Strategist Matthew Dowd and Fareed Zakaria (CNN).

CNN State of the Union: House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH); Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX); Others TBD.
 

Bonus item: SNL parodies the Starbucks "Race Together" campaign (I'm still laughing)

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/29/snl_mocks_starbucks_racetogether_campaign_with_a_pep_boys_promo/

***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.***

DRINK UP!

Not the most important news of the day, but I just love this story

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/03/monsanto-lobbyist-drink-roundup.html
A well-regarded research team recently announced that glyphosate, the chemical used in the Monsanto-produced weed-killer Roundup, is likely carcinogenic to humans. But during an interview with French news channel Canal+, ecologist Dr. Patrick Moore claimed that Roundup isn't dangerous, and in fact is totally safe to drink.  "You can drink a whole quart of it and it won't hurt you," he claims in the video. . . .

When the Canal+ reporter hears this, he challenges Moore to drink a glass of Roundup, which they'd happily produce for him. "You want to drink some?" he asks. "I'd be happy to, actually," responds Moore. But then ... "Not really. But I know it wouldn't hurt me!"  When further pressed on the issue, Moore insists he will not drink a glass of the chemical concoction because "I'm not stupid" and also "I'm not an idiot" . . .

State laws force doctors to lie

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/arizona-measure-would-push-lies-exam-rooms

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/27/abortion-lies-doctors-are-forced-to-tell.html

Looks like Chuck Schumer will succeed retiring Harry Reid as head of the Senate Dems

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/27/1373767/-Harry-Reid-endorses-Chuck-Schumer-to-succeed-him-as-Democratic-Senate-leader

Reid's greatest moments: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/03/27/21-highlights-from-harry-reids-political-career/?wprss=rss_politics

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/27/harry-reid-retires_n_6957414.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/03/27/the-remarkably-unlikely-success-of-harry-reid/?wprss=rss_politics

Republican Senate passes Republican House budget bill. It's going nowhere

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/28/us/long-night-in-senate-but-real-budget-work-awaits.html?ref=us&gwh=CC9D6B2ECD65F7F925790C2BC9B1EA90&gwt=pay

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_03/the_senate_budget_votes054828.php

Wall Street tells Dems: better be nice to us if you want our support

http://firedoglake.com/2015/03/27/wall-street-firms-threatens-democratic-party-after-call-to-break-them-up/

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/nice-little-democracy-you-have-there.html

Theocracy watch

http://www.azcentral.com/story/ejmontini/2015/03/26/sylvia-allen-arizona-legislature-mandatory-church/70482802/
GOP Lawmaker Suggests Mandatory Church Attendance

Thanks to DR for the link

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/millions-americans-are-embarrassingly-ill-informed-and-they-do-not-care-0
Millions of Americans Are Embarrassingly Ill-Informed – And They Do Not Care

More: http://www.salon.com/2015/03/28/9_basic_concepts_americans_fail_to_grasp_partner/
9 basic concepts Americans fail to grasp 

Bye!

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/27/rand_pauls_character_problem_how_he_compromised_his_entire_belief_system_for_politics/
Rand Paul’s character problem

Bonus item: Who said it: Ted Cruz or Tom Cruise?

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/03/ted-cruz-tom-cruise-quiz.html

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/03/27/the-best-late-night-jokes-about-ted-cruz/?wprss=rss_politics
The best late-night jokes about Ted Cruz
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/28/upshot/upshot-newsletter-ted-cruz-and-the-media.html
Mr. Cruz is a major political figure. He also has virtually no chance of becoming president. How should journalists deal with that contrast?

***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.***

TANGLED UP IN YOU

What IS our policy in the Middle East?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/25/u-s-ready-to-back-iran-with-airstrikes-against-isis.html
U.S. Backs Iran With Airstrikes Against ISIS

Jon Stewart: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/03/27/jon-stewart-shakes-his-head-over-the-fact-that-the-same-iran-we-imposed-sanctions-on-is-also-our-battle-buddy-in-iraq/?wprss=rss_politics

Rachel Maddow explains: http://www.salon.com/2015/03/27/more_cognitive_dissonance_rachel_maddow_explains_americas_incredibly_convoluted_mideast_policies/

Always fun to see people of supposed principle run for president, and watch them gradually remake themselves to the preferences of the base

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/rand-paul-budget-amendment-defense
Republican presidential hopeful Rand Paul filed an amendment to the Senate budget on Wednesday calling for a significant boost to defense spending, a reversal for the libertarian senator who has previously called for across-the-board cuts to domestic and military spending. . . .

More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/rand-paul-abandons-his-pentagon-plan
At what point do Rand Paul’s loyal followers start to reconsider whether Rand Paul actually agrees with them?

Every time Scott Walker opens his mouth on foreign policy, he sounds like a moron

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/scott-walker-is-genius.html

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/26/1373459/-Scott-Walker-says-he-d-strike-down-any-deal-America-negotiates-with-Iran

More: http://www.salon.com/2015/03/26/scott_walker_waffles_on_immigration_again_shameless_shape_shifter_back_to_supporting_path_to_citizenship/
Scott Walker waffles on immigration — again: Why his latest about-face could do him in
 
Harry Reid (D-NV) stepping down

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/harry-reid-announces-he-wont-run-re  

Aaron Schock, I think that word does not mean what you think it means

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/03/26/aaron-schock-demonstrates-how-not-to-resign-from-congress/?wprss=rss_politics
Note to soon-to-be-former-Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.): You cannot say you resign from Congress with "humility" and then, in the same speech, compare yourself to Abraham Lincoln.  . .

Anti-gay dead-enders still trying to maintain the right to discriminate

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/27/us/politics/texas-judge-blocks-benefits-for-gay-couples.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Texas: Judge Blocks Benefits for Gay Couples

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/27/us/politics/indiana-bill-signed-allowing-denial-of-service-to-gays.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Gov. Mike Pence on Thursday signed into law a religious objections bill that some convention organizers and business leaders have opposed amid concern it could allow discrimination against gay people. . . .

Boycott Indiana? http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/marc-benioff-mike-pence-religious-freedom-bill

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/26/1373475/-Indiana-now-a-right-to-discriminate-state-and-what-that-means

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/03/26/indiana-is-turning-into-the-battle-over-religious-freedom-that-arizona-never-was/?wprss=rss_politics

Also, eroding abortion rights

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/27/abortion-lies-doctors-are-forced-to-tell.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/03/26/arizona-is-moving-to-block-abortion-coverage-cutting-off-poor-women/
 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/03/26/montana-lawmakers-want-fetuses-to-be-anesthetized-before-theyre-aborted/?wprss=rss_politics

The utter shamelessness of Fox World

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/26/1373522/-Bill-O-Reilly-says-inaccurate-news-reporting-hurts-the-country
Bill O'Reilly says inaccurate news reporting 'hurts the country'

More: http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/jon-stewart-compares-fox-18-year-old

Bonus item: Almost makes me like Mitt a little bit

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/03/26/jimmy-fallon-starred-as-mitt-romneys-reflection-in-a-tonight-show-sketch/?wprss=rss_politics

Mitt Romney goes on ‘Tonight Show,’ is funny

***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.***

ISN'T IT IRONIC?

Jeb Bush was quick to jump all over Hillary Clinton over her emails because he, you see, has already released all of his. Except . . . . he hasn't

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/03/03/jeb-bush-pounces-on-hillary-clintons-e-mail-woes-but-hes-not-perfect-either/
What Bush didn't note, however, is that all of the e-mails he has released were already required to be made public under Florida law, and he has no plans to release any beyond that.  

As governor, he used his personal e-mail address, jeb@jeb.org, to conduct official, political and personal business, but the Web site only archives messages related to official business. There are no messages about Bush's reelection campaign, about his fundraising for the Republican Party of Florida or about political trips outside the state for GOP candidates.  . . .

http://politicalwire.com/2015/03/25/bush-had-another-undisclosed-email-account/
“As Florida governor, Jeb Bush used another, previously unreported email address, records show  . . . Those emails also include references to another email address, jeb@gencom.net. Bush said through a spokeswoman that he was unaware of the account, although records showed that people wrote to him there more than 400 times between 1999 and 2004.” 

Can Jeb win over the Republican right?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/26/jeb-and-the-neocon-trap.htm

The "Anybody But Jeb" movement on the Republican right is looking for someone to coalesce around -- and the beneficiary might be Ted Cruz

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/26/us/politics/2016-elections-conservatives-jeb-bush.html
“Conservatives smell blood in the water,” said Kellyanne Conway, a Republican pollster who has participated in the vetting. “They feel they’ve got the best shot to deny the establishment a place.”

More: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/how-did-ted-cruz-become-a-tea-party-darling

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/25/8290307/ted-cruz-talk-radio
Rush Limbaugh loves Ted Cruz's candidacy.

Ted Cruz, phony

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/25/ted_cruzs_country_music_drivel_whats_really_behind_his_musical_conversion/
Ted Cruz’s “country music” drivel: What’s really behind his musical conversion 

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_03/ted_cruzs_friends_in_low_place054783.php

The failure of the House's latest Benghazi committee -- time to shut this farce down

http://prospect.org/article/trey-gowdys-bad-benghazi-hand 

Theocracy watch

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_03/christian_right_not_fading_but054795.php
Christian Right Not Fading, But It May Be Splintering

Attacks on abortion clinics are a serious problem

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/25/1373358/-Open-thread-for-night-owls-Legislative-and-rhetorical-attacks-spark-violence-on-abortion-clinics
  
On a related note: http://www.salon.com/2015/03/26/the_10_most_inhumane_laws_courtesy_of_southern_republicans/

Oh, boo-hoo: in the new economics of political fundraising, now the poor millionaires can't get any respect

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/03/millionaires-miss-getting-calls-from-candidates.html
Terry Neese, who raised more than $1 million for George W. Bush, says that 2016 candidates “are only going to people who are multi-multi-millionaires and billionaires and raising big money first. Most of the people I talk to are kind of rolling their eyes and saying, ‘You know, we just don’t count anymore.’” . . .

More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/millionaires-just-get-no-respect-these.html

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/25/pathetic_millionaire_crybabies_how_super_pacs_disrupted_and_saddened_the_lowly_1_percent/

The enemy of my enemy is NOT necessarily my friend

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/25/8290165/iraq-shia-militias
Iraq’s Shia militias are beating back ISIS. But are they the country’s next big threat?

The post-apocalyptic GOP

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/26/our_end_of_the_world_obsession_is_killing_us_climate_denial_and_the_apocalypse_gop_style/

One small step: the Supreme Court rules against race-based redistricting

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/26/us/supreme-court-rules-against-alabama-in-redistricting-case.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Bill O claims that he has not only been vindicated over his news fabrications, he's as popular as he has ever been. So I guess you CAN fool some of the people all of the time

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/o-reilly-declares-himself-vindicated-over

In Fox World

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/25/andrea_tantaros_crazy_objection_to_school_nutrition_programs_this_is_causing_mental_problems/
“This is causing mental problems”: Fox News host’s crazy objection to school nutrition programs 

Bonus item: News you can use

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/25/8287793/how-to-opt-out

How to opt out of everything from credit card offers to group texts

***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.***

NEW TIMES

"Simple multiplication" is hard!

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/sessions-stumbles-simple-multiplication

Here's why the GOP refuses to acknowledge climate change (hint: it's all Al Gore's fault)

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/graham-blames-gore-gops-science-problem

More wit and wisdom from Graham: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/hysterical-huckleberry-quote-o-day.html

The growth of renewable energy is a hot topic

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/longform/renewables-part-one-new-kids-in-town

More: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/03/23/state-invests-in-backup-storage-for-solar-power-and-wind-energy-systems/

Why Ted Cruz hates rock music - and why he's wrong

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/03/24/ted-cruz-didnt-like-how-rock-music-responded-to-911-so-he-stopped-listening-to-it/?wprss=rss_politics

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/24/8285781/ted-cruz-9-11-music

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/03/ted-cruz-sacrificed-rock-music-after-911.html

Guess who's signing up for Obamacare?

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/ted-cruz-signs-obamacare

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/24/8285875/ted-cruz-obamacare-enrollment

Theocracy watch: onward, Christian soldiers!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/24/1373020/-House-Republican-introduces-bill-to-require-religious-pledge-of-military-cadets
House Republican introduces bill to require religious pledge of military cadets

Bill O is just about the most shameless hustler working today

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/bill-oreilly-bemoans-standards-journalism
Bill O'Reilly Bemoans The Decline Of American Journalism Standards

In Fox World!

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/25/megyn_kelly_needles_ted_cruz_what_have_you_actually_accomplished/
Megyn Kelly calls out Ted Cruz: “What have you actually accomplished?” 

Bonus item: It takes an Aussie to show how crazy our gun policies are

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/24/8283199/gun-control-comedy-jefferies

***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.***

WE'VE SEEN THIS SHOW BEFORE

I guess we'll put you down as NOT endorsing, right?

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/peter-king-ted-cruz-more-carnival-barker
Peter King On Ted Cruz: More of A 'Carnival Barker' Than A 'Leader'

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/donny-deutsch-compares-ted-cruz-sarah
Donny Deutsch Compares Ted Cruz To Sarah Palin: He's 'Completely Unelectable'

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/23/%E2%80%9Clike_sarah_palin%E2%80%99s_annoying_younger_brother%E2%80%9D_ted_cruzs_2016_announcement_gets_brutally_mocked_on_twitter/
“Like Sarah Palin’s annoying younger brother”

Jon Stewart on Cruz: http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/jon-stewart-mocks-ted-cruzs-jump-gop-2016

Cruz was born in Canada, so now we're seeing the predictable "birther" rants that he's not eligible to run 

http://politicalwire.com/2015/03/24/trump-raises-birther-charge-against-cruz/

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-canadian-candidate.html

He is: http://www.vox.com/2015/3/23/8275573/ted-cruz-canada 

The politics of Obamacare, and what it tells us about the state of US politics today

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/24/8275345/Obamacare-politics-polls

Myths: http://www.vox.com/2015/3/23/8273007/obamacare-poll-death-panels

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/23/1372751/-Five-years-on-Obamacare-myths-still-prevail

So the Repubs hate AG Eric Holder, really hate him: but they're refusing to approve his replacement. Why?

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/senate-gop-delaying-lynch-nomination-again 

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/senate-republicans-break-promise-lynch-vote
 
Here's another climate change problem to worry about: the Gulf Stream

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/23/8277345/atlantic-overturning-circulation

And another one! http://www.salon.com/2015/03/23/this_is_absolutely_terrifying_%E2%80%9Cthere_are_really_only_two_big_patches_of_intact_forest_left_on_earth/
This is absolutely terrifying: “There are really only two big patches of intact forest left on Earth” 

Theocracy watch

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/24/20_disgustingly_misogynist_quotes_from_religious_leaders/
20 disgustingly misogynist quotes from religious leaders

Crappy reporting from the NYT about Hillary's emails

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/23/1372725/-Journalism-New-York-Times-tells-us-what-sources-tell-them-about-Hillary-Clinton-s-email

Bonus item: The problem with media concentration

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/open-thread-illusion-choice

***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.***

CRUZING

Ted Cruz becomes the first official candidate for 2016. Let's see if we can kill his candidacy before it gets going
 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/03/23/ted-cruz-is-a-conservative-icon-but-plenty-of-republicans-dont-care-for-him/?wprss=rss_politics
Ted Cruz is a conservative icon. But plenty of Republicans don’t care for him.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/upshot/why-ted-cruz-is-such-a-long-shot.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&abt=0002&abg=1
 The Texas senator is a conservative darling, but his appeal is too narrow to build the broad coalition necessary to unite the party.

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/03/23/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-ted-cruz/?wprss=rss_politics

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/23/8275295/ted-cruz-announcement-2016

Ted Cruz's lies

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/22/the-truth-behind-ted-cruz-s-lies.html

Every time Scott Walker talks about foreign policy he makes an ass of himself

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/scott-walkers-foreign-policy-not-ready

Liz Cheney, her father's daughter

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/bob-woodward-calls-out-liz-cheney-claiming
Bob Woodward Calls Out Liz Cheney For Claiming Obama Is 'More With Iran Than With Israel' 

John McCain -- McCain! -- lectures Obama about his "temper tantrums" and says that nothing you say during a campaign should be held against you. Of course, for the man who said Sarah Palin was the best qualified person in America to be Vice President, I can see why he would want to say that

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/qotd-maverick-mccain.html

Dishonest budgeting

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/22/1371873/-Blockheads
This week, House and Senate Republicans unveiled their respective budget resolutions for fiscal year 2016. As a quick glance at the documents shows, what is old is new again for the GOP. Each claims to balance the budget within 10 years. . . . Each GOP-controlled chamber promises to repeal Obamacare and yet still offers no alternative to replace it.  But in these Republican budget outlines chocked full of magic asterisks, mystery savings, savage cuts to the social safety net, and a laundry list of policies to be determined later, one favorite conservative gimmick—block grants—may be the cruelest of them all. . . . 

Why conservatives are afraid to question Fox World

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/mickey-kaus-why-conservatives-fear

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_03/redonred_violence054736.php

Bonus item: "My America"

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_03/my_america054737.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.***