Monday, July 08, 2013

LIZ AND DICK

Here comes Dick Cheney's revenge

 http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/07/07/liz_cheney_not_waiting_her_turn.html
Liz Cheney is showing up everywhere in the Wyoming, the New York Times reports, "from chicken dinners to cattle growers' meetings, sometimes with her parents in tow. She has made it clear that she wants to run for the Senate seat now held by Michael B. Enzi, a soft-spoken Republican and onetime fly-fishing partner of her father."

"But Ms. Cheney's move threatens to start a civil war within the state's Republican establishment, despite the reverence many hold for her family."

Enzi "says he is not ready to retire, and many Republicans say he has done nothing to deserve being turned out." 

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-iron-lady-on-steroids.html
You can see the ambition rolling off of Cheney in waves. She's going to run at some point, I have no doubt. And she makes Palin look like a frisky little kitten by comparison. . . .[read on]

 A discussion about inequality and morality

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/07/1220953/-Right-wing-myths-about-merit-money-and-morality 

http://occupyamerica.crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/robert-reich-inequality-real-personal-#sthash.pxTxoV8t.dpbs

 Weaponized drones on our borders?

 http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/drones-among-us.html
Not the way you want to talk about special legislative session on abortion 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/07/07/rick-perry-says-special-session-can-be-in-and-out-in-10-days/
Rick Perry says special session can be ‘in and out’ in ’10 days’

In Fox World

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/07/how-the-rise-of-fox-news-helped-republican-candidates/
How the rise of Fox News helped Republican candidates

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/07/sunday-morning-liveblog_n_3557374.html
 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/07/07/sunday-show-roundup-should-the-u-s-suspend-aid-to-egypt/

Bonus item: News you can use 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/07/worried-about-a-san-francisco-type-plane-crash-they-almost-never-happen-anymore/
Worried about a San Francisco-type plane crash? They almost never happen anymore. 

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/07/why-you-shouldnt-fear-flying-in-one-graph/
 
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Sunday, July 07, 2013

HELP!

Is libertarian populism the key to a turnaround for the GOP?

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/06/can-libertarian-populism-save-the-republican-party/

 http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/waiting-for-perot.html

 Not tracking the Zimmerman trial here, but this must have been one of the low points

 http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/zimmerman-lawyer-urges-trayvons-mom-admit-he
Zimmerman Lawyer Urges Trayvon's Mom to Admit Her Son 'Caused His Own Death' 

Theocracy watch: Christians can be crooks, too

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/06/1220702/-This-week-in-the-War-on-Workers-Christian-voucher-school-cheated-Louisiana-out-of-big-money 
Christian voucher school cheated Louisiana out of big money
 
In Fox World, it's an outrage when a beer commercial fails to mention Our Creator

 http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/fox-news-host-not-using-god-sell-beer-means-
"[T]he terrorists have won," said Watters . . .[read on]
The Sunday talk show line-ups

http://firedoglake.com/2013/07/07/sunday-talking-heads-july-7-2013/
ABC’S THIS WEEK:  Crisis in Egypt; George W. Bush and Laura Bush.  Jonathan Karl, host.  Egypt’s Ambassador to the U.S. Mohamed Tawfik.  Egypt Roundtable:   George Will, Martha Raddatz, David Ignatius, Michael Rubin.  Plus, Jonathan Karl traveled to Tanzania to speak with former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush.  Roundtable:  George Will, Cokie Roberts, Donna Brazile, Rick Klein.

CBS’ FACE THE NATION:  The Immigration Debate Continues.  CBS News foreign correspondent Clarissa Ward from Cairo.  Plus, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).  The, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chair of the Homeland Security Committee and Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), chair of the House Democratic Caucus.  Roundtable:  Amy Walter, David Rohde, Michael O’Hanlon, John Dickerson.

CNN’S STATE OF THE UNION: Eruption in Egypt. Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Martin Dempsey.  Then, chair of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI).  Also, Christiane Amanpour and Fareed Zakaria. Roundtable:  Former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Ned Walker, former National Intelligence Director John Negroponte, Middle East analyst Shibley Telhami.

KORNACKI’S UP:  On Republicans.
Dave Weigel, political reporter, Slate.com, msnbc contributor (@daveweigel)
Sean Trende, senior elections analyst, Real Clear Politics (@SeanTrende)
Maria Teresa Kumar, president, Voto Latino, msnbc Contributor (@Mariateresa1)
Donita Judge, project director, redistricting, The Advancement Project (@judgedonita)
Jim Morrill, political writer, The Charlotte Observer (@jimmorrill)
Garance Franke-Ruta, senior editor, The Atlantic (@thegarance)
NJ State Sen. Barbara Buono

MOYERS & COMPANY:  Surviving the New American Economy.  Two decades in the making, the intimate story of two American families struggling to find their places in the new economy.

NBC’S MEET THE PRESS:  Unrest in Egypt, Immigration Fight, and Health Care Reform Rollout.  Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei.  Then,  chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ).  Egypt Roundtable:  Tom Friedman, Robin Wright, Jeffrey Goldberg, Andrea mitchell, Chuck Todd.  Then,  Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID) on health care reform.  Roundtable:  Andrea Mitchell, Chuck Todd, EJ Dionne, Eugene Robinson, David Brooks.

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Saturday, July 06, 2013

MELTING AWAY

Repubs admit that there is no IRS scandal, but . .  

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/07/05/19303851-the-irs-scandal-evaporates-into-nothing 
The IRS 'scandal' evaporates into nothing

More: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/nyt-irs-scrutiny-less-ideologically-driven-than-previously

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/05/1221443/-Some-Republican-admit-the-IRS-scandal-was-a-load-of-codswallop
“We haven’t proved political motivation,” said Representative Charles Boustany Jr., a Louisiana Republican who, as the chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, is leading one inquiry. 

Senator Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri, said that in retrospect, suggestions that Mr. Obama had orchestrated an I.R.S. attack on his political enemies were unwarranted.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/07/05/even-without-evidence-of-a-scandal-republicans-press-on-with-irs-controversy/
Even without evidence of a scandal, Republicans press on

The Republicans hate Obamacare, and they especially hate the employer mandate. So why are they complaining?

 http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/07/republicans-steamed-at-employer-mandate-delay----for-all-the-wrong-reasons.php 

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/05/wonkbook-obamacares-rocky-week
Obamacare’s rocky week

As the Supreme Court takes a strong "states rights" turn, state abortion restrictions mount -- DARING abortion advocates to test Roe v. Wade in an appeal

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/abortion-limits-at-state-level-return-issue-to-the-national-stage/2013/07/05/f86dd76c-e3f1-11e2-aef3-339619eab080_story.html
 
Another decent jobs report
GOP Colorado recall candidate discovered to have written 'erotic romance' novels

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Friday, July 05, 2013

STATE OF THE UNION

A shortie today. Most of my fellow bloggers are taking off the 4th and 5th. Not much news, so instead a few reflections on the nation, then and now

http://www.emptywheel.net/2013/07/04/happy-birthday-you-rebels
Happy Birthday, You Rebels!
Happy Birthday, You Rebels!

 http://www.emptywheel.net/2013/07/04/the-union-imperfect
The Union Imperfect

 http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/alternative-views-of-4th-of-july.html
Alternative views of the 4th of July

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/quotes-from-founding-fathers.html 
Quotes from the Founding Fathers

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_07/american_exceptionalism045655.php
American Revolutionaries

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/04/1219648/-How-progressives-talk-about-July-4-and-our-national-history
How progressives talk about July 4 and our national history
 
Happy Birthday, You Rebels!
Happy Birthday, You Rebels!
 
 
 
Bonus item: Thirteen photos that will make you fall in love with America all over again

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Thursday, July 04, 2013

EXTREMISMS


Whose rights are really under assault here?

 Voting: http://crooksandliars.com/blue-texan/national-review-true-victims-bigotry-co
National Review: The Real Victims of Bigotry in This Country Are White Southerners

 Gay rights: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/christian-radio-host-calls-intelligent-discu
A Christian radio host who is dedicated to covering the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is upset because he says that "intelligent discussion" of the dangers of homosexuality is being shut down by "Nazism" in the LGBT community. . . 

 Guns: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gabrielle-giffords-mark-kelly-urging-gun-responsibility-not-control/2013/07/03/a8dac710-e350-11e2-aef3-339619eab080_story.html
Gabrielle Giffords, Mark Kelly urging gun responsibility, not control

I know midterm elections are coming up, which means playing to the base to get them to turn out. But is abortion the ticket the GOPers think they can ride to success?

 http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/07/03/19267567-rubio-readies-20-week-abortion-bill
Rubio readies 20-week abortion bill

 More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/07/03/marco-rubios-next-fight-abortion

 http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/laying-groundwork.html 

Anti-fundamentalist bill in NC gets hijacked by fundamentalists

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_07/selective_fundamentalism_in_no045622.php  

More: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/nc-lawmaker-adding-abortion-ban-anti-sharia-  

Are the events in Egypt a victory for democracy, or a defeat? What does "democracy" mean?

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/obamas-claim-that-aid-to-egypt-was-based-on-adherence-to-democratic-procedures/2013/07/03/5568586e-e430-11e2-a11e-c2ea876a8f30_blog.html
Obama’s claim that aid to Egypt was based on adherence to ‘democratic procedures’  

 More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/constitutional-liberalism-versus.html

 http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/the-obstacles-on-the-road-to-rebuilding-egypt.premium-1.533652

 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d9f029c0-e42d-11e2-b35b-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2Y4orFeQn

 http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/07/03/egypt-mohammed-morsi-democracy-military-editorials-debates/2488207/

 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-03/democracy-loses-in-egypt-and-beyond.html

More surveillance: the NSA also tracks your regular mail

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/07/yep-they-also-know-who-you-send-letters

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/03/why-a-more-transparent-nsa-would-be-good-for-barack-obama 
Why a more transparent NSA would be good for Barack Obama

More proof that Obama should have gone with single payer in the first place: the unworkable employer mandate in Obamacare

 http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/07/03/19266626-key-obamacare-provision-delayed-until-2015

 http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/07/obamas-employer-mandate-decision----much-ado-about-very-little.php

 More: http://prospect.org/article/part-timer-problem
The Part-Timer Problem

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/03/1220951/-Delay-of-employer-mandate-under-Obamacare-brings-predictable-GOP-nbsp-reaction
Delay of employer mandate under Obamacare brings predictable GOP reaction

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/07/03/we-can-fix-the-problems-with-the-employer-mandate-but-the-gop-wont-let-it-happen/ 
We can fix the problems with the ‘employer mandate,’ but the GOP won’t let it happen

 http://prospect.org/article/should-employer-mandate-be-eliminated-altogether 
Should the Employer Mandate Be Eliminated Altogether?

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/07/theres-no-need-panic-over-obamacare-mandate-delay
There's No Need to Panic Over the Obamacare Mandate Delay

Bonus item: Try to watch live coverage of the unfolding events in Egypt yesterday? You were probably treated to wall-to-wall coverage of the Zimmerman trial instead

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/04/1221170/-Abbreviated-Pundit-Round-up-Will-the-revolution-really-be-televised-Not-if-there-s-a-trial

[NB: Even during the CNN show "Around the World"] 

***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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Wednesday, July 03, 2013

YOU CAN'T MAKE US LEAVE

After Texas and Ohio, North Carolina rushes to make political hay over abortion

 A two-fer! http://www.wral.com/senate-tacks-sweeping-abortion-legislation-onto-sharia-law-bill/12621503/
[NC] Senate tacks sweeping abortion legislation onto Sharia law bill

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/07/02/19257205-nc-senator-nesbitt-busts-gop-for-sneak-attack-in-war-on-women
 
Also: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-voting-rights-20130630,0,211700.story
[NC] The GOP chairman of the state Senate rules committee, Sen. Tom Apodaca, said he would move quickly to pass a voter ID law that Republicans say would bolster the integrity of the balloting process. GOP leaders also began engineering an end to the state's early voting, Sunday voting and same-day registration provisions, all popular with black voters. . .

 http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/07/02/19254258-the-war-on-voting-in-a-post-vra-world

 http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/07/02/north_carolina_is_the_new_wisconsin.html

 [NB: So perhaps it appears to you that the Republicans have given up all pretense of governing, except for hot-button political pandering to their base and passing rule changes to keep them in power despite an actual voting majority against them. If it appears that way to you, I have been doing my job here.]

 The national GOP seems to be coming around to the notion that failing to pass immigration reform, and alienating Latinos, may not be so bad after all

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/07/republicans-are-missing-point-immigration-reform

 More NSA bombshells

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/07/two-gigantic-new-nsa-revelations

 More to come! http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/glenn-greenwald-nsa-leak-edward-snowden-93648.html

 The state of the economy, in charts

 Now: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/01/2013-is-halfway-over-this-is-how-the-economy-is-doing-in-11-charts/

 Looking forward: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/02/these-seven-charts-show-where-the-u-s-economy-is-headed-next/

 Obama wants to delay implementation of a key part of Obamcare

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/02/white-house-delays-employer-mandate-requirement-until-2015/
White House delays employer mandate requirement until 2015

 More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/02/the-politics-of-delaying-obamacare/

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/02/obamacares-employer-mandate-shouldnt-be-delayed-it-should-be-repealed/
Obamacare’s employer mandate shouldn’t be delayed. It should be repealed. 

The latest on Edward Snowden (thanks to DP)

 http://occupyamerica.crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/wikileaks-snowden-seeks-asylum-21-nati
Snowden Seeks Asylum From 21 Nations

 More: http://www.juancole.com/2013/07/snowden-deprivation-citizenship.html 

What are the Koch Brothers up to? (also from DP)

Bonus item: What a pathetic case. Now Mitt Romney wants us to believe that he never really wanted to run for President in the first place

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/romney-voted-against-launching-2012-bid-in-family

More: http://prospect.org/article/fire-mitts-belly

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/02/1220567/-Mitt-Romney-voted-against-himself-because-he-s-a-great-American-patriot

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Tuesday, July 02, 2013

NO CHOICE

Riding the abortion battle to victory 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/07/02/the-texas-abortion-battle-could-be-just-what-rick-perry-needs/ 
The Texas abortion battle could be just what Rick Perry needs

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/01/1220321/-Everything-s-bigger-in-Texas-and-soon-that-ll-include-how-far-women-have-to-go-for-health-care

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/01/1220411/-Texas-special-session-gavels-in-then-goes-on-recess

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/01/the-20-week-abortion-ban-texas-is-debating-already-exists-in-12-states/

And in Ohio: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/07/kasich-enlists-in-the-abortion-wars.php 
Kasich Enlists In The Abortion Wars

http://prospect.org/article/fiercely-anti-choice-ohio-gop-redefines-pregnancy-mean-not-pregnancy

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/01/1220284/-Kasich-signs-extremist-anti-woman-Ohio-budget

 http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/nice-little-constitutional-right-you.html

 The nastiest Senate race in the country

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/07/01/the-nastiest-senate-race-in-the-country-just-started

 More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/01/1220363/-Alison-Lundergan-Grimes-to-challenge-Mitch-McConnell

 http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/07/01/mcconnell-lundergan-grimes-kentucky-senate/2480571/
"Accepting the invitation from countless Washington liberals to become President Obama's Kentucky candidate was a courageous decision by Alison Lundergan Grimes and I look forward to a respectful exchange of ideas," McConnell said in a statement. "The next 16 months will provide a great opportunity for Kentuckians to contrast a liberal agenda that promotes a war on coal families and government-rationed health care with someone who works everyday to protect Kentuckians from those bad ideas."

Brit Hume: The Republican vote is still the white vote

 http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/brit-hume-hispanics-still-not-nearly-as-important
"If you look at the statistics, you find there was one significant bloc of voters who turned out in smaller numbers this time in a major way —  way below expectations, below even their '08 turnout — and that was white voters. Now, that doesn’t mean that if they turned out  thatRomney would have gotten them all but it shows you that this Hispanic vote, which is I think now 8.5 percent of the electorate or something like that, is not nearly as important as, still, as the white vote, which is above 70 percent. . . . So, if you look at it from an ethnic point of view, that addresses the question of whether you need to get right with the Hispanics."

More: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/07/01/19236107-looking-for-ways-around-immigrations-cruel-math

A matter of demographics

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/07/01/yet-another-reason-to-be-skeptical-that-the-gop-will-reform/
If there’s one reason I’m skeptical of significant Republican reform—beyond the shaky electoral case for doing so—it’s that the Republican Party as a whole has taken a sharp turn to the right, even in states where its long-term survival depends on broadening its appeal to Latinos, African Americans and other groups. . . .

 http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/gop-could-pay-price-for-gerrymandering-93597.html
Some top GOP strategists and candidates warn that the ruby red districts the party drew itself into are pushing House Republicans further to the right — narrowing the party’s appeal at a time when some GOP leaders say its future rests on the opposite happening. If you’re looking for a root cause of the recurring drama within the House Republican Conference — from the surprise meltdown on the farm bill to the looming showdown over immigration reform — the increasingly conservative makeup of those districts is a good place to start. . .

 Embracing paralysis as a policy

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/07/01/useful-reminder-they-dont-believe-what-theyre-saying/
The Democrats are trying to stir up a fuss over Republican hypocrisy today because it’s he 100th day since the Senate passed a budget resolution, and Republicans are still blocking the Senate from going to conference on it. . . .

 More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/07/01/what-explains-the-republican-partys-intransigence/

 More on class-based affirmative action

http://prospect.org/article/class-based-affirmative-action-not-answer

Student loan rates double. Why?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/13/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-student-loan-rate-hike/ 

More: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/07/01/19236847-why-student-loan-interest-rates-were-allowed-to-double

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/qotd-huffpost-hill.htm

Bonus item: Ahem

 http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/07/01/19233426-the-unfortunate-timing-of-project-grow
[Steve Benen] We talked last week about a new Republican project, designed to "advance the role of women within our party." On Friday afternoon, the initiative, which will fall under the umbrella of the National Republican Congressional Committee, was formally launched, along with its new name. . . . According to the project's website, it's actually an acronym: "Project GROW" stands for "Growing Republican Opportunities for Women." (Yes, the "G" in "GROW" stands for "grow.") Once the initiative was launched, the Republican National Committee touted the effort with an unfortunate choice of words: "We need to be a party that allows talented women to rise to the top." [read on]

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

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Monday, July 01, 2013

KEEP YOUR ENEMIES CLOSE, AND YOUR FRIENDS EVEN CLOSER

KEEP YOUR ENEMIES CLOSE, AND YOUR FRIENDS EVEN CLOSER

 http://my.firedoglake.com/efbeall/2013/06/30/nsa-reportedly-bugged-eus-dc-office/
[A]ccording to Der Spiegel a 2010 top secret NSA document from Edward Snowden’s cache that it has seen the agency bugged the DC office of the European Union and infiltrated its computer network, aside from operations at the EU’s UN representation and at the Brussels main headquarters itself. . . .

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/16/gchq-intercepted-communications-g20-summits
Foreign politicians and officials who took part in two G20 summit meetings in London in 2009 had their computers monitored and their phone calls intercepted on the instructions of their British government hosts, according to documents seen by the Guardian. Some delegates were tricked into using internet cafes which had been set up by British intelligence agencies to read their email traffic. . . 

 Yep

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/misinformation-on-classified-nsa-programs-includes-statements-by-senior-us-officials/2013/06/30/7b5103a2-e028-11e2-b2d4-ea6d8f477a01_print.html
[D]etails that have emerged from the exposure of hundreds of pages of previously classified NSA documents indicate that public assertions about these programs by senior U.S. officials have also often been misleading, erroneous or simply false. . . .

Beyond inadvertent missteps, however, an examination of public statements over a period of years suggests that officials have often relied on legalistic parsing and carefully hedged characterizations in discussing the NSA’s collection of communications. . .  [read on]

 When the Republicans say that their goal is to pass NOTHING, they mean it

 http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/06/30/an_even_less_productive_congress.html
"The much-criticized 112th Congress - from 2011 to 2012 - was the least productive and least popular Congress on record, according to the available statistics," First Read reports.

"Now six months in - highlighted by a string of legislative stalemates - the 113th Congress (2013-2014) is on track to match or even surpass those dubious distinctions." 

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2011/02/the_donothing_congress.html
In his first speech on becoming speaker, John Boehner promised that the next Congress would move slowly. "We will dispense with the conventional wisdom that bigger bills are always better," he said, "that fast legislating is good legislating."

This set up the argument that Republicans used over a slow first month: Inaction was preventing worse things from happening. . . 

The answer: They are taking an approach to legislating completely antithetical to what President Obama proposed in his State of the Union speech. They don't want Congress to "do big things." Government, in general, should not do big things. . . 

There are no bold new ideas. There is just dismantling of Democratic ideas. . . . 

"The Republicans are helped by low expectations," said Rasmussen. "Hardly anybody expects them to actually cut spending. The GOP is also helped by the fact that Democrats still control the White House and the Senate. You cite the lack of legislative accomplishment. Remember, by a 3-to-1 margin, voters believe that no matter how bad something is, Congress can always make it worse. That's true regardless of whether Democrats or Republicans are in charge. Lack of action may be a plus in some eyes." [read on]

John Boehner, wuss 

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/06/30/an_unintimidating_speaker.html  

The Minuteman legacy on border security

 http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-minuteman-dream.html

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_06/two_cheers_for_immigration_why045565.php
Two cheers for immigration: why there’s good reason for progressive ambivalence about reform

The Supreme Court term, in review

 http://wonkwire.rollcall.com/2013/06/28/takeaways-from-the-supreme-courts-term/

http://firedoglake.com/2013/06/30/the-ugly-souls-of-the-supreme-conservatives/ 

 Andrew Sullivan reminds us that the fight for gay marriage rights was initially seen as a CONSERVATIVE position

 http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1306/30/fzgps.01.html
SULLIVAN: Gay marriage was -- I spent the first ten years battling the gay left. I was picketed, attacked. . . . Because the gay movement then was very much a product of the new left, of the late '60s and early '70s. That they believed that their goal was to uproot existing institutions and to dissolve marriage. And to go there and say, no, we have a right to marry, we should have a right to marry they thought was heterosexist, patriarchal, right wing, fascist, so we were for the first ten years just kicked, you know, continuously by the gays. . . .

I think the great disappointment, the great disappointment is that this was a really in some ways a conservative argument. This was a minority group seeking responsibility, commitment, pooling resources. If you're a couple and something happens to one of you, you have someone else to take care of you, not the government. There's a really powerful conservative case for this. And so many of the Republican Party just never grappled with it until it was too late.

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/06/30/sunday-show-roundup-immigration-reform-predictions/

Bonus item: Sarah Palin's ugly side

 http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/can-you-hear-dog-whistle-palin-attacks-pre

More: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/06/30/quote_of_the_day.html

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