TEMPER TANTRUM

Unhappy with the CNBC debate, the GOP threatens to take their toys and go home

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rnc-nbc-february-debate-no-partnership
RNC Suspends Partnership With NBC News For February Debate

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_10/rnc_panics_lashes_out_at_nbc058387.php

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/30/9646018/gop-nbc-feud

Were the CNBC questions really worse than usual?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/30/quiz-can-you-distinguish-the-cnbc-debates-rude-questions-from-the-other-debates/

Why Obama is sending troops to fight Islamic State right now

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/30/9644888/raqqa-special-forces

More trouble for Jeb

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/jeb-bush-christine-ciccone-campaign-coo-out

The growing trend of GOP lies

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/30/paul_krugman_brazen_lies_are_now_the_driving_force_behind_gop_politics/

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/30/1442721/-Carly-Fiorina-claims-that-the-facts-are-clear-as-she-defends-her-lies
Carly Fiorina claims that 'the facts are clear' as she defends her lies

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/30/carly_fiorina_doesnt_know_what_shes_talking_about_part_weve_lost_count_how_her_latest_hillary_clinton_swipe_diminishes_women/
Carly Fiorina doesn’t know what she’s talking about

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/29/1442388/-Marco-Rubio-s-blatant-lie-about-his-personal-finances-should-worry-you
Marco Rubio's blatant lie about his personal finances should worry you

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/10/30/marco-rubios-claim-that-hillary-lied-about-benghazi-debunked/
Marco Rubio’s claim that Hillary ‘lied’ about Benghazi, debunked

"Total propaganda" indeed

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/oct/29/ben-carson/debate-ben-carson-says-he-has-no-connection-mannat/
Ben Carson said it’s "total propaganda" to suggest he had any connection to Mannatech, a maligned nutritional supplement company. . . ."I didn’t have an involvement with them."

Today: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/30/1442643/--Total-propaganda-Turns-out-Ben-Carson-had-a-contract-with-dodgy-supplement-maker
Dr. Ben Carson's business manager acknowledged Thursday that the Republican presidential candidate did have a "contract" with a medical supplement company at some point. . . . 

Rand Paul vowed to "filibuster" the budget deal. How'd that work out?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/30/rand-pauls-heart-isnt-even-in-filibustering-anymore-it-seems/

More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/worst-filibuster-ever
Worst. Filibuster. Ever.

Maybe she'll become an Education professor

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/ann-marie-corgill-alabama-teacher-resigns
Alabama's reigning Teacher of the Year says she has resigned after state officials told her she's unqualified to teach in her fifth-grade classroom because of certification issues. . . 

Bonus item: Surreal

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/jonah-goldberg-carson-obama-authentically-afircan-american

Jonah Goldberg, a senior editor at the National Review, suggested in a Friday column that retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson is "more authentically African-American" than President Obama. . . .

***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 paeople as I can.***

CALL THE DOCTOR!

Not the campaign slogans you were looking for

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/29/1442390/-Unreal-CNN-graphic-Bush-My-campaign-is-not-on-life-support
'Bush: My campaign is not on life support'

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/29/1442104/-Jeb-Bush-bombs-his-debate-He-got-crushed-say-donors
'He got crushed,' say donors

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/29/lights_out_for_jeb_the_most_brutal_responses_to_jeb_bushs_terrible_horrible_no_good_very_bad_debate/
“Lights out for Jeb”

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/bush-comeback-strategy-leaks-donors-eye-rubio.html
Bush Comeback Strategy Leaks as His Donors Eye Rubio

Dr. Ben's BIG lie

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/29/1442167/-During-debate-Ben-Carson-denied-any-involvement-with-phony-nutritional-supplements-he-shilled-for

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/ben-carsons-phony-try-separate-himself

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/ben-carsons-total-propaganda.html

More: http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/10/brief-history-ben-carson-and-glyconutrients

The GOP campaign is starting to look like the GOP House of Representatives

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/carson-would-appreciate-easier-debate-questions.html
GOP Candidates Plot RNC Mutiny After Debate Fiasco

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/the-gop-cracking-up.html
Is the GOP Cracking Up? 

More Congressional paralysis ahead

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/return-hastert-rule-and-what-it-means-rest

Bonus item: Comedians have fun with the GOP debate

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/30/stephen-colbert-on-exactly-why-the-gop-debate-was-so-terrible-video/

***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 paeople as I can.***

IMMODERATE

The Republicans hold a poorly-run and chaotic debate

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/the-republican-presidential-candidates-vs-the-cnbc-moderators/2015/10/29/7f2908ec-7df3-11e5-bfb6-65300a5ff562_video.html
The Republican presidential candidates vs. the CNBC moderators
 
More: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/29/the-5-big-confrontations-between-cnbc-moderators-and-gop-candidates/

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/29/lamestream-cnbc-moderators-blamed-for-gop-debate-debacle.html

http://www.slate.com/articles/video/video/2015/10/cnbc_moderates_attacked_by_donald_trump_and_other_2016_republican_candidates.html
 
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/some-more-thoughts-on-the-debate
RNC Chair Reince Priebus, who partnered with CNBC to put on this debate, is crapping on CNBC big time for putting on a terrible debate. I thought it was a terrible debate. But I was a little unclear why Priebus thought it was so terrible from a GOP perspective. That became a little more clear after I saw the breakdown of how much each candidate got to talk. Carly Fiorina, who is barely in the running, got more time than anyone else. Jeb Bush got the least by a significant margin - less than Rand Paul, Huckabee, Christie, people who aren't even really in the race.   . . .

Highlights: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/election-2016/third-republican-debate-highlights?partner=rss&emc=rss

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/10-must-watch-moments-from-the-cnbc-republican-debate/2015/10/28/c3d0c752-7de7-11e5-bfb6-65300a5ff562_video.html

http://www.slate.com/articles/video/video/2015/10/cnbc_republican_debate_recapped_in_90_seconds_rubio_wins_bush_bombs_video.html

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/key-moments-of-the-third-gop-presidential-debate.html
Key Moments of the Third GOP Presidential Debate

Jeb loses an opportunity to stand up and stand out

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/10/29/jeb-bush-needed-a-debate-touchdown-he-didnt-come-close/
Jeb Bush needed a debate touchdown. He didn’t come close.

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/28/9633612/cnbc-republican-debate-explained
Bush should have dropped out of the race already when he could have sold stepping aside in Rubio's favor as a big-minded move taken for the greater good of the Republican Party. Instead, he is letting himself get humiliated by Rubio, whose observation that Bush's criticism was only happening because "someone has convinced me that attacking me is going to help you" stung so badly because it's clearly true. . . .

More: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/28/why-marco-rubio-just-owned-jeb-bush-in-wednesdays-gop-debate/

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/10/jeb_bush_suffered_another_crushing_defeat_in_the_cnbc_debate_republican.html

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/29/jeb_bush_is_the_biggest_loser_he_needed_a_big_moment_but_is_really_bad_at_debates/

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/29/jeb_bushs_stunning_televised_implosion_how_the_former_gop_frontrunner_became_a_sad_pathetic_joke_2/

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/jeb-is-just-sad
In this post-debate interview, CNN's Dana Bash tells Bush he seems frustrated. (Never a good question to get ...) Frustrated? I'm not frustrated. Not frustrated. Then he goes on to list the reasons he's frustrated. . . .

Kevin Drum!

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/10/honesty-took-big-hit-wednesdays-debate
I'm used to politicians fudging and tap dancing during debates. All part of the game. But the number of flat-out lies in tonight's debate was pretty stunning . . .

Hillary

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/10/28/as-gop-debate-begins-clinton-said-she-feels-a-little-bit-sorry-for-republicans/
Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday she feels “just a little bit sorry for the Republicans” as they met for another debate, because “they really don’t have a lot to talk about.”  . . .  “It really is like a reality TV show. But the cast of character is out of touch with actual reality, which is what makes it a little bit scary.”

The Democratic left has made its peace with Hillary as their candidate

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_10/lefts_populist_leaders_endorse058342.php

Ben Carson: there's no there there

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/29/9633670/ben-carson-cnbc-debate

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/video/2015/10/ben_carson_is_calm_at_gop_debates_he_also_closes_his_eyes_when_he_speaks.html

Marco Rubio gets called out by a paper that endorsed him

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/marco-rubio-sun-sentinel-editorial-resign-senator
Florida Newspaper To Rubio: 'Either Do Your Job Or Resign It'

Response: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/28/marco-rubio-on-missing-votes-bfd.html
Marco Rubio on Missing Votes: BFD

Bonus item: The candidates, remixed

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/10/presidential_hopefuls_reimagined_as_music_stars.html

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/10/republican_debate_soundboard_gop_candidate_quotes.html

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

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

SMALL CHANGE

Another Republican debate

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/28/the-nine-losers-running-for-president.html
The Nine Losers Running for President
 
The new budget deal is, as these things go, fairly sensible and responsible. Therefore it must be defeated!

http://politicalwire.com/2015/10/28/budget-deal-faces-last-minute-protest-by-gop-lawmakers/
Budget Deal Faces Last Minute Protest by GOP Lawmakers 

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/27/this_is_what_gop_surrender_looks_like_right_wingers_lose_it_over_between_congress_and_white_house/
“This is what GOP surrender looks like”: Right-wingers lose it over budget deal between Congress and White House 

More: http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/freedom-caucus-nut-loses-his-mind-over
Freedom Caucus Nut Loses His Mind Over Budget Deal, Takes Paul Ryan Hostage

Ryan keeps paying off ransom demands -- it won't help

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/426097/paul-ryan-promises-no-immigration-reform-obama-administration
Paul Ryan has signed off on a letter promising restless members of the House Freedom Caucus (HFC) that he won’t bring immigration-reform legislation to the House floor while President Obama remains in office . . .

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/27/1440774/-Paul-Ryan-pledges-no-immigration-reform-already-bowing-to-the-GOP-s-anti-immigrant-wing
Paul Ryan pledges no immigration reform, already bowing to the GOP's anti-immigrant wing

More: http://www.salon.com/2015/10/28/paul_ryan_doesnt_stand_a_chance_the_freedom_caucus_will_devour_the_next_speaker_of_the_house_partner/
Paul Ryan doesn’t stand a chance: The Freedom Caucus will devour the next Speaker of the House 

Investigation clears IRS official Lois Lerner -- so now the GOPers want to impeach somebody else

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/after-lois-lerner-cleared-republicans-move
Jason Chaffetz just announced -- to great sound and fury -- that his committee filed four articles of impeachment against an IRS commissioner who was not commissioner at the time the so-called "scandal" occurred. . . .
 
More: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/10/27/house-republicans-in-last-ditch-effort-move-to-impeach-irs-commissioner-over-targeting-scandal/

The GOP's only path to victory in 2016

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2015/10/27/How-FBI-Could-Derail-Hillary-Clinton-s-Presidential-Run
How the FBI Could Derail Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Run

Jeb!

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/28/9623320/jeb-bush-president-polls
The decline of Jeb Bush, explained

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/29/upshot/the-surprising-weakness-of-the-republican-establishment.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
The Surprising Weakness of the Republican Establishment

Is Ted Cruz about to make a move?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/27/1441300/-Ted-Cruz-s-path-to-nomination-Uniting-all-the-angriest-voters-behind-him
Ted Cruz's path to the nomination: Uniting all the angriest voters behind him

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/27/7-reasons-ted-cruz-is-running-the-best-2016-campaign/
Ted Cruz is running the best campaign of any presidential candidate

Dr. Ben has no idea what he is talking about

http://thehill.com/policy/finance/258211-carson-i-wont-raise-the-debt-ceiling-as-president?cid=eml_nll_20151027
Carson: I won’t raise the debt ceiling as president

More: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/10/27/why-ben-carsons-candidacy-is-doomed/
Why Ben Carson’s candidacy is doomed

Bonus item: How you run for president these days, apparently

http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/10/trump-women-like-burkas-because-no-makeup.html
Trump Says Wearing a Burka Is Easier Because You Get to Skip Putting on Makeup

***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 paeople as I can.***

POOR BABY

The Rich Guy wants sympathy for how hard his life has been

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/10/26/trump-all-i-had-starting-out-was-a-small-1-million-loan-from-my-father/
Trump: All I had starting out was a ‘small’ $1 million loan from my father

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/26/donald-trump-says-it-hasnt-been-easy-for-him-financially-but-he-omits-a-few-things/
But he omits a few things.

Cheer up, Donald -- there is hope for you yet

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/26/9616984/guatemala-election-jimmy-morales
Guatemala just elected a comedian with zero political experience to be president

The big new budget deal - can it pass?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/budget-deal-near_562ecf9ee4b00aa54a4af738

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/26/9619214/budget-deal-congress
 
Can it? http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/obama-gop-leaders-reach-sweeping-budget-deal-can-it-pass

Paul Ryan's first decision as Speaker

http://www.vox.com/polyarchy/2015/10/26/9617908/paul-ryan-david-hoppe-lobbyist
It looks like Paul Ryan is bringing in a lobbyist to be his chief of staff upon becoming speaker. The dance of outrage practically writes itself . . . [read on]

The feckless Mr. Gowdy now says the Benghazi committee should have interviewed Hillary in private

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trey-gowdy-hillary-clinton-private-productive

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/26/1439574/-Gowdy-that-scheming-Hillary-got-us-humiliated-in-public

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/26/1439791/-Dear-god-more-Trey-Gowdy-stupid

Worse

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/26/9616370/science-committee-worse-benghazi-committee
The House science committee is worse than the Benghazi committee
 
More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gop-led-science-committee-subpoenas-climate-researchers 

Republican policies have failed, and they're killing the states

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/27/1438287/-For-decades-implemented-conservative-economic-policies-haven-t-worked-So-why-haven-t-they-noticed
For decades, implemented conservative economic policies haven't worked.

More: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/gop-in-a-nutshell
Gov. Sam Brownback of Kansas now has an approval rating of 18%. This comes after basically destroying the state's fiscal standing with a series of tax cuts that nearly bankrupted the state. In other words, supply-side orthodoxy was tried, failed miserably and comically . . .

http://prospect.org/article/how-scott-walker-and-kochs-are-making-wisconsin-corruption-friendly
Walker and the Kochs Make Wisconsin Corruption-Friendly

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150502/ISSUE11/305029994/rauners-anti-union-crusade-could-send-illinois-into-a-budget-disaster
Rauner's anti-union crusade could send Illinois into a budget disaster

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maines-lepage-thats-giving-my-wife-my-checkbook
Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) is already facing an abuse-of-power scandal that may lead to his impeachment, which might lead a typical governor to take steps to bolster his or her statewide support.  . . .

Tony Blair apologizes for Iraq war "mistakes"

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/10/25/tony-blair-apologizes-iraq-mistakes/74580318/

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/26/world/europe/tony-blair-says-iraq-war-helped-give-rise-to-isis.html
Tony Blair Says Iraq War Helped Give Rise to ISIS

Bonus item: Sorry

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/26/congratulations-to-bernie-sanders-on-this-really-awful-song-about-you/
There are 78 songs about Bernie Sanders on YouTube. This one might be the worst.

***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 paeople as I can.***

ON THE ROPES

Here's how bad things are getting for Jeb

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_10/team_bush_in_a_fog058287.php
"If this is an election about how we’re going to fight to get nothing done, I don’t want any part of it. I don’t want to be elected president to sit around and see gridlock just become so dominant that people are literally in decline in their lives. That is not my motivation. I’ve got a lot of really cool things I could do other than sit around being miserable, listening to people demonize me and me feeling compelled to demonize them. That is a joke. Elect Trump if you want that. . . ."

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/bush-family-jeb-george-barbara-215151#ixzz3pfhCDIbV
Indeed, the man who was expected to be leading the Republican field by a mile, who raised astounding sums in his first months as a candidate, is now on life support, according to people inside the two-day meeting. With the campaign gasping for air, slashing costs, and narrowing a national strategy to a New Hampshire approach, investor confidence is cracking . . .

More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/jeb-bush-takes-his-campaign-blah-blah-blah-territory

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/10/25/pro-jeb-bush-super-pac-might-deploy-ground-staff-to-states/

Like red meat for the Rich Guy

http://politicalwire.com/2015/10/24/trump-quote-of-the-day-72/
“Bush has no money, he’s meeting today with mommy and daddy, and they’re working on his campaign. He’s a guy wants to run our country and he can’t even run his own campaign. Think of it.” 
         — Donald Trump

Wow. Just wow

http://politicalwire.com/2015/10/25/big-majority-of-gop-say-trump-is-most-electable/
A new Associated Press-GfK poll finds that 70% of Republican voters view Donald Trump as their strongest general election candidate . . .

Ahhhhh . . . .

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-gops-dysfunction-all-started-with-sarah-palin/2015/10/25/bdd34892-7442-11e5-8248-98e0f5a2e830_story.html
The GOP’s dysfunction all started with Sarah Palin

One eye on Trump and Carson, Senator Marco Rubio is trying to rebrand himself now as a Washington outsider

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/rubio-skips-votes-because-hes-a-dc-outsider.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2015/10/25/28cfaff0-6d59-11e5-9bfe-e59f5e244f92_story.html

The Republicans are in denial about Hillary (good)

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-10-26/the-most-likely-next-president-is-hillary-clinton

Why Biden didn't run

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/vice-president-joe-biden-60-minutes/
Norah O'Donnell: Is it that you think you couldn't win or that you didn't want to run?  

Vice President Biden: Couldn't win. I'll be very blunt . . . [read on]

New Speaker, old problems

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/26/9612570/house-gop-strategy

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_10/house_freedom_caucus_demands058286.php

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fuming-over-ryan-some-conservative-voices-turn-on-the-freedom-caucus/2015/10/25/8194f3ce-7999-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html
Fuming over Ryan, some conservative voices turn on the Freedom Caucus

The secret history of American surveillance

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/24/the_secret_history_of_american_surveillance_partner/

Bonus item: The Benghazi hearing, annotated

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/10/very-best-benghazi-hearing

***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 paeople as I can.***

INVESTIGATIONS

The Republicans say they want the Benghazi investigation to continue -- but Democrats may just quit the committee

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/10/23/democrats-to-stay-with-benghazi-investigation/
Despite poor reviews following Thursday’s high-profile hearing with Hillary Clinton, Republicans on the House Benghazi committee said they have no plans to pull back on an investigation that seems to have no end in sight. . . .

More: https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2015/10/23/democrats-may-quit-benghazi-panel-with-clinton-done-pelosi-says/FL3XFQqiDOC0RPXrCnEVaK/story.html

http://news.yahoo.com/clinton-done-democrats-hint-may-quit-benghazi-panel-070934646--election.html#

Fresh from their ultra-successful Benghazi witch hunt, the GOPers create a new investigation of Planned Parenthood -- and the Dems may boycott it too

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/boehners-last-stand-new-select-committee

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/democrats-planned-parenthood-committee_562a9d1be4b0aac0b8fd01ef

Remember that big IRS scandal the Repubs tried to create? Nada

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/23/politics/lois-lerner-no-charges-doj-tea-party/index.html
The Justice Department notified members of Congress on Friday that it is closing its two-year investigation into whether the IRS improperly targeted the tea party and other conservative groups. . . .

The collapse of the Jeb W. Bush campaign is truly astounding

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/10/23/trailing-in-polls-jeb-bush-cuts-staff-and-salaries-vowing-focus-on-early-states/?partner=rss&emc=rss
Trailing in Polls, Jeb Bush Cuts Staff and Salaries

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/jeb-bush-campaign-hq-cuts

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/23/1437828/-Jeb-Bush-tries-to-save-his-flailing-campaign-by-cutting-staff-for-the-second-time

More: http://www.vox.com/2015/10/23/9603950/jeb-bush-president-trouble

Oh, my

http://politicalwire.com/2015/10/23/bush-to-hunker-down-with-family-to-assess-bid/
Jeb Bush “will attend a finance meeting this weekend in Houston convened by former President George H. W. Bush and attended by Bush’s brother, former President George W. Bush,” CBS News has learned.  “The session, designed to assess where Bush’s candidacy stands in the face of large-scale staff cutbacks and underwhelming poll numbers, will also be attended by Bush’s mother, Barbara Bush.  . . .”

The man who said he wanted to kill Obamacare now wants credit for it

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/23/9604510/mitt-romney-obamacare-admission

More: http://www.salon.com/2015/10/23/mitt_romney_takes_credit_for_inspiring_obamacare_then_clarifies_that_he_still_opposes_it/

The average gun owner has . . . eight guns

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/23/1437410/-Average-gun-owner-now-has-eight-guns-because-paranoia

Where the Freedom Caucus members get their money

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/24/1437517/-Club-for-Growth-and-Koch-Industries-shown-to-be-key-financial-backers-of-Freedom-Caucus-candidates

Paul Ryan finds out what it's really like to be Speaker

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/23/1437734/-Paul-Ryan-caves-to-a-second-Freedom-Caucus-demand-even-before-he-s-speaker

Explaining capitalism and socialism

http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/live_at_politics/2015/10/robert_reich_discusses_his_new_book_saving_capitalism.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/24/a-high-school-teacher-helps-clarify-socialism-for-donald-trump-and-you/

Bonus item: Wonderful - scenes from Ellis Island

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/24/what-americas-immigrants-looked-like-when-they-arrived-on-ellis-island/

***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

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A SWING AND A MISS

The last of the Benghazi hearings is over, and the Republicans are still striking out 

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/it-s-getting-embarrassing
Listening to the questions from Republicans questioning Hillary Clinton, it's hard not to step back and ask what it is they're even trying to prove or what their point is. The lines of questions are disjointed and they're pressing points she either freely concedes (yes, it was terrible and she's ultimately responsible) or the point of which isn't even clear (why did Sid Blumenthal send you so many emails?). It's not going well for the committee at all. What's most revealing about the testimony so far is that they definitely get that: they know it's going badly for them. And that's led to a rather churlish and defensive tone to the whole proceeding that's further deflated any sense that this is more than a clown show where the clowns are struggling. . . .

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/it-helps-her
I must say, I think this whole engagement helps Hillary. Whatever else you can say about Hillary Clinton, she knows her stuff. She's a pro. It's very hard to imagine any of the Republicans presidential candidates being able to roll with this kind of questioning, or have even remotely this range of knowledge. For her interlocutors here, who mainly come off as jokes, and for the whole GOP caucus, you can see why they just couldn't and can't forgive Kevin McCarthy for his goof. He really screwed the pooch. . . .

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/22/hillary-clinton-triumphed-at-the-benghazi-committee-by-not-losing-her-cool/
Hillary Clinton triumphed at the Benghazi hearing by not losing her cool

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/10/23/the-daily-202-eight-reasons-why-hillary-clinton-won-the-benghazi-hearing/
Eight reasons why Hillary Clinton won the Benghazi hearing

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/22/9600322/hillary-clinton-benghazi-hearing
Hillary Clinton's 11-hour Benghazi testimony was her best campaign ad yet
 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/22/3-times-hillary-clinton-let-on-how-she-really-feels-about-this-benghazi-hearing-video/
3 times Hillary Clinton let on how she really feels about this Benghazi hearing

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gops-benghazi-committee-comes-unglued
GOP’s Benghazi Committee comes unglued

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-left-and-right-can-agree-benghazi-comm-republicans-blew-it
Benghazi Comm. Republicans blew it

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/23/opinion/hillary-clinton-and-the-benghazi-gang.html
The pointless grilling of Mrs. Clinton, who fielded a barrage of questions that have long been answered and settled, served only to embarrass the Republican lawmakers who have spent millions of dollars on a political crusade. In recent days, some prominent Republicans have even admitted as much.  If there was any notion that the Select Committee on Benghazi might be on to something, it was quickly dispelled. In a flailing performance, the committee’s chairman, Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, made it evident that he and his colleagues have squandered more than $4.6 million and countless hours poring over State Department records and Mrs. Clinton’s email. They produced no damning evidence, elicited no confessions and didn’t succeed in getting an angry reaction from Mrs. Clinton. . . .

Highlights and lowlights: http://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000003994250/11-hours-of-benghazi-hearing-in-3-minutes.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/clintons-benghazi-hearing-in-three-minutes/2015/10/22/5d907134-78e9-11e5-a5e2-40d6b2ad18dd_video.html

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/congress/hillary-clinton-testimony-at-house-benghazi-panel/the-hearing-concludes

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/hillary-clinton-jim-jordan-benghazi-narrative
Clinton To GOPer: I'm Sorry My Facts Don't 'Fit Your Narrative' On Benghazi

Fox World freaks out

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/fox-news-demented-contradictory-reactions

Paul Ryan agrees to run for Speaker -- and he's already losing to the right

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/22/9600610/paul-ryan-speaker

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/10/the_freedom_caucus_called_paul_ryan_s_bluff_he_s_doomed.html

More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/will-paul-ryan-accept-the-freedom-caucus-reforms

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/22/1437577/-Ryan-makes-run-for-Speaker-official-after-gathering-support-from-GOP-s-right-far-right-OMG-right

Ooops - the Rich Guy screws up

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/22/donald-trumps-numbers-slump-in-iowa-he-grumps/
Donald Trump blames an intern for mocking Iowans after his poll numbers slip

More: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/donald-trump-deletes-tweet-iowa-voters

Dr. Ben wants to eliminate Medicare

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/ben-carson-doesnt-want-gut-medicare-he

More: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/22/ben-carson-thinks-hillary-clinton-is-going-to-jail.html
“Hillary can well be in jail and it’s hard to run from there,” Carson said bemusedly during an interview on The John Gibson Show. He claimed that Joe Biden would be the Democratic nominee less than an hour before the vice president announced that he would not seek the nomination.
 
Really, Jeb? REALLY?

http://politicalwire.com/2015/10/22/bonus-quote-of-the-day-744/
“Super Girl is on TV. I saw it when I was working out this morning. There’s an ad promoting Super Girl. She looked pretty hot.”  — Jeb Bush

More: http://www.salon.com/2015/10/22/jeb_bush_icky_and_awkward_jokes_that_supergirl_looks_pretty_hot/
Jeb Bush, icky and awkward

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_10/schadenfreude_for_jeb_bush058250.php
Schadenfreude For Jeb Bush

Bonus item: Kim Davis's emails

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/kim-davis-soldier-christ
 
***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.***