MONEY MATTERS

Unemployment drops to lowest level in five years

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/06/the-unemployment-rate-is-at-its-lowest-level-in-five-years/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd

More: http://www.salon.com/2013/12/06/unemployment_drops_to_five_year_low/

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/job-growth-picks-steam-unemployment-drops

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/06/1259886/-Economy-adds-203-000-jobs-in-November-Official-unemployment-rate-falls-to-7-U6-falls-to-13-2

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/06/finally-an-unusually-awesome-jobs-report.html
An Unusually Awesome Jobs Report

Franchises hurt wages

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/06/why-franchises-are-the-biggest-obstacle-to-higher-wages/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd

Will there be a budget deal? What's in it?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/06/congress-is-trying-to-avoid-another-shutdown-heres-what-we-know-about-the-talks/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/very-serious-republicans-i-know-you-are.html 

The American Right and Mandela

http://tinyurl.com/kl6zbkk
How the right tried to ruin Nelson Mandela 

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/12/apartheids-useful-idiots/282114/

http://tinyurl.com/kwmzcyb

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-reminder-of-what-republicans-thought.html

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/12/mandela-and-conservative-racial-blindness.html

More: http://tinyurl.com/kjywzqx

http://prospect.org/article/conservatives-struggle-mandela-tributes
Republicans were wrong about South Africa's great liberator. Now they have to say something nice about him

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/republicans-who-lost-their-r-card-for-praising-mandela
Meet The Mandela RINOs: Republicans Who Lost Their R-Card For Praising Mandela

What Ted Cruz's fans think about Mandela

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/06/1260642/-Ted-Cruz-posts-Mandela-tribute-on-Facebook-His-fans-go-crazy

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/ted-cruz-really-steps-in-it-this-time.html

Mandela was no pacifist

http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/12/06/the-myths-and-realities-of-nelson-mandela/

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_12/mandela_was_no_care_bear048084.php

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/06/anger-at-the-heart-of-nelson-mandela-s-violent-struggle.html

The New Generation of Republicans: kinda dumb

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rick-santorum-nelson-mandela-obamacare-apartheid

Rick Santorum said Thursday that Nelson Mandela had fought against "some great injustice" -- apartheid -- just as Republicans are fighting against the great injustice of Obamacare. . . .

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/12/06/rand-paul-my-wife-doesnt-want-me-to-run-for-president/
Rand Paul: My wife doesn’t want me to run for president

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/12/06/scott-brown-mixes-up-massachusetts-and-new-hampshire/?wprss=rss_politics&clsrd
Scott Brown mixes up Massachusetts and New Hampshire

More: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/scott-brown-new-hampshire-massachusetts-100775.html?hp=r1

In Fox World

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/12/did-fox-news-settle-with-brian-lewis.html
Fox News Will Neither Confirm Nor Deny It Paid Off a Fired Exec to Keep Quiet 

***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.***

NELSON MANDELA (1918-2013)

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/mandela-dies-belongs-the-ages
Very few world leaders are able to rise to the level of genuine giants of history. There can be no doubt that Nelson Mandela, through his heroism, sacrifice, and leadership, earned his iconic status. . . . [read on]

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/it-was-privilege-to-have-lived-when-he.html
It was a privilege to have lived when he lived . . . [read on]

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/06/17-inspiring-facts-about-nelson-mandela.html
17 Awesome and Inspiring Facts About Nelson Mandela

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/05/nelson-mandela-was-undeniably-great-but-he-doesn-t-need-a-halo.html
He will be forever linked with the abolition of Apartheid, but he was also a friend and defender of such villains as Gaddafi and Castro, and we need to accept his shortcomings to truly fathom his positive accomplishments . . .[read on]

Obama's comments: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/nelson-mandela-barack-obama-100749.html

Mandela's wisdom: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/05/10-of-the-most-interesting-things-nelson-mandela-ever-said/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/05/six-defining-moments-from-nelson-mandela-s-life-video.html
Six Defining Moments From Nelson Mandela’s Life (video)

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/05/nelson-mandela-s-most-inspiring-quotes.html
Nelson Mandela’s Most Inspiring Quotes

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-nelson-mandela-dead-20131205,0,6266118.story
"The time for the healing of the wounds has come. The moment to bridge the chasms that divide us has come," Mandela said in his acceptance speech on becoming South Africa's first black president in 1994.  

"We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation."

Dick Cheney and Mandela

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/05/1260478/-Open-thread-for-night-owls-Dick-Cheney-wanted-Nelson-Mandela-to-stay-forever-in-prison
Dick Cheney wanted Nelson Mandela to stay forever in prison

Budget deal coming?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/05/1260420/-As-budget-deadline-gets-nearer-things-get-more-nbsp-complicated
As budget deadline gets nearer, things get more complicated

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/05/budget-negotiations_n_4393218.html 

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/12/three-reasons-why-there-may-be-a-budget-deal.html
Three Reasons Why There May Be a Budget Deal, and One Reason Why There Won’t Be

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/12/05/dems-look-to-jam-gop-on-unemployment-insurance/
Dems look to jam GOP on unemployment insurance

Nice zinger

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/obama-republicans-must-be-embarrassed-with-having-done-so-little
Obama: Republicans Must Be Embarrassed For Having Done So Little

It's working

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/report-obamacare-enrollment-tuesday-dec-3
Report: HealthCare.gov Enrollment Continues To Accelerate

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/05/1260353/-Wanna-know-why-Republicans-fear-Obamacare
Wanna know why Republicans fear Obamacare?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/12/05/why-republicans-will-never-try-to-fix-obamacare-ever-in-one-video/?wprss=rss_politics&clsrd
Why Republicans will never try to fix Obamacare – ever

Internal battles wrack the GOP

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/gop-rep-broun-dings-kingston-i-don-t-want-to-fix-obamacare
GOP Rep. Broun Dings Kingston: 'I Don't Want To Fix Obamacare'

http://www.salon.com/2013/12/05/gop_rep_reality_is_that_some_americans_lives_have_gotten_better_because_of_obamacare/
GOP Rep.: “Reality” is that “some Americans’ lives have gotten better” because of Obamacare 

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/192131-republican-candidates-shift-their-messages-on-obama-healthcare-law
Republican candidates shift their messages on Obama healthcare law

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/05/1260171/-Republican-Senate-candidate-rips-Republican-Senate-committee-for-ripping-Democratic-senator
Republican Senate candidate rips Republican Senate committee for ripping Democratic senator

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/12/05/gop_lawmaker_seeks_to_stop_support_for_gay_candidates.html
GOP Lawmaker Seeks to Stop Support for Gay Candidates

http://www.salon.com/2013/12/05/gop_hits_pathetic_new_low_47_percent_thinking_creeps_even_deeper/
A GOP leader proves that sensitivity training won't stop the party's gaffes. Ideology, not civility, is the problem

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/05/the-gop-s-incredible-shrinking-big-tent.html
The GOP’s Incredible Shrinking Big Tent

Priceless. The GOP is worried about the gender gap. And this is how they propose to deal with it

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/gop-men-tutored-in-running-against-women-100701.html?hp=t1_3
The National Republican Congressional Committee wants to make sure there are no Todd Akin-style gaffes next year, so it’s meeting with top aides of sitting Republicans to teach them what to say — or not to say — on the trail . . . “Let me put it this way, some of these guys have a lot to learn,” said a Republican staffer who attended the session in Boehner’s office. . .

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/12/05/boehner-on-women-some-house-republicans-arent-as-sensitive-as-they-ought-to-be/?wprss=rss_politics&clsrd

http://www.salon.com/2013/12/05/republicans_are_trying_to_learn_how_to_talk_about_women_again/

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/05/1260319/-Republicans-feel-a-need-to-train-their-men-to-talk-to-women 

Martin Bashir resigns from MSNBC after Palin comments

http://www.salon.com/2013/12/05/what_does_it_take_to_get_booted_from_cable_news/
What does it take to get booted from cable news? 
 

Bonus item: This is what I call looking at the Big Picture

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/12/05/lepage_says_climate_change_is_good_for_maine.html
LePage Says Climate Change is Good for Maine

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/05/1260389/-Maine-s-Republican-Gov-Paul-LePage-says-climate-change-may-help-Maine-Rep-Mike-Michaud-rolls-eyes

***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.***

SOME MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS

Obama talks about inequality

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/04/the-best-speech-obama-has-given-on-the-economy/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
The best speech Obama has given on the economy

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/12/04/inequality-is-the-defining-issue-of-our-time/

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/income-inequality-riskier-you-think

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/12/president-obama-makes-his-pitch-fighting-income-inequality
Really Obama? That's All You've Got?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/05/the-truth-about-obama-era-inequality.html
The president calls income inequality the ‘defining issue of our time.’ So it seems fair to grade him on his success at addressing it. By any measure, he has failed spectacularly. 

Growing numbers get health care coverage

http://www.nytimes.com/news/affordable-care-act/2013/12/04/enrollment-numbers-rise-after-website-improves/?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0
About 29,000 people successfully navigated HealthCare.gov and selected an insurance plan on Sunday and Monday, more than the entire number of people who were able to enroll through the federal exchange during the month of October . . .

More: http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2013/12/04/most-uninsured-still-plan-to-get-coverage/
Most Uninsured Still Plan to Get Coverage

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/12/04/few-uninsured-young-people-say-theyll-sign-up-for-obamacare/?wprss=rss_politics&clsrd
Few uninsured young people say they’ll sign up for Obamacare

Meanwhile: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/gop-healthcaregov-who-cares
Republicans aren't impressed with the Obama administration's claim that HealthCare.gov is now effectively fixed. That's not really the issue, they've started to say. No, the problem is canceled policies, lost doctors and higher premiums. Who cares if the website is working? 

That is a far cry from the early days of October when a dysfunctional website was "proof" that Obamacare "has been an unmitigated disaster" in the words of House Speaker John Boehner in an Oct. 4 statement.  

But that's no longer the preferred talking point. . . 

Are we getting used to this yet?

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/12/nsa-tracks-cell-phone-locations.html
The NSA Tracks Billions of Cell Phone Locations Every Day

The Republicans howl about the need to reduce entitlements. But that doesn't prevent them from repeatedly attacking Dems with the false claim that they're "cutting" Medicare

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/12/04/first-on-cnn-republicans-bring-back-medicare-attack/

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/04/1260067/-Bereft-of-real-ideas-GOP-resorts-to-same-old-Medicare-lie

ALEC's secret documents

http://my.firedoglake.com/stevehorn1022/2013/12/04/documents-alecs-looming-attacks-on-clean-energy-fracking-laws-greenhouse-gas-regulations/
“Over the coming year, [ALEC] will promote legislation with goals ranging from penalising individual homeowners and weakening state clean energy regulations, to blocking the Environmental Protection Agency, which is Barack Obama’s main channel for climate action,” explained The Guardian. “Details of ALEC’s strategy to block clean energy development at every stage, from the individual rooftop to the White House, are revealed as the group gathers for its policy summit in Washington this week.”  

The documents also reveal ALEC’s boasting of introducing myriad “model resolutions” nationwide in support of fast-tracking approval for the northern half of Transcanada’s Keystone XL pipeline, along with another “model bill” — the “Transfer of Public Lands Act” already introduced in Utah — set to expropriate federally-owned public lands to oil, gas and coal companies. . . [read on]

More: http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/will-alecs-prodigal-sons-return

Let's remember what climate change is really doing to us

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/04/what-surprises-could-climate-change-have-in-store-for-us/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
There are a few different ways that global warming could unfold in the decades ahead. The world might heat up steadily and predictably, giving humans and other species time to adjust. Or we could see large, abrupt changes that are extremely difficult to adapt to. . . . [read on]

More: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/23/singapore-sized-chunk-of-ice-breaks-away-from-antarctica-and-is-now-adrift/
A chunk of ice the size of the island nation of Singapore broke off of the continent of Antarctica late last month and is currently adrift at sea. . . .

Hard to believe someone in Scott Walker's campaign thought this was a good idea. Hey parents, don't go shopping, stay at home and buy your kids a REAL Christmas present by donating to my campaign instead! 

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/03/wisconsin-governor-scott-walker-encourages-parents-to-donate-to-his-campaign-instead-of-buying-children-christmas-presents/

[NB: And, by the way, imagine the "war on Christmas" howls if a Democrat had tried something like this.] 

How Fox World became Fox World (fascinating) 

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/how-fox-news-built-its-scream-machine-in-the-obama-era 

Bonus item: Tucker Carlson. Why?

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/colbert-defends-tucker-carlson-if-hes-so

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

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

THE REAL WAR ON CHRISTMAS

It's that time of year again: wreaths and shopping and holly and mistletoe and shopping and stringing popcorn chains and more shopping. So it must also be time for the annual whine that "liberals" are destroying Christmas by daring to point out that there are a lot of people from religions who celebrate other holidays this time of year. But this is a Christian nation, dammit! 

This is the real war on Christmas: using a celebratory time of year for partisan political bashing

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/03/1259856/-Are-you-a-Christmas-asshole-The-Republican-Party-has-got-you-covered

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/12/03/conservatives-love-merry-christmas-liberals-dont-care/?wprss=rss_politics&clsrd

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/oreilly-promises-hype-fake-war-christmas

No Grand Bargain, but maybe a little one

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/03/1259891/-Budget-contours-emerging-looks-like-a-small-bargain

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/03/budget-negotiations-shutdown_n_4379167.html

This is good news, right?

http://crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/nyt-obamacare-cost-billions-dollars
Obamacare Cost 'Billions' Less Than Originally Projected' 

ALEC is (finally) getting the scrutiny and criticism it deserves

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/03/1259866/-ALEC-crawls-from-under-rock-to-do-damage-control

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/explosive-alec-documents-reveal-budget-woes

http://www.salon.com/2013/12/03/alec_tries_to_claw_back_support_lost_after_trayvon_furore/

http://my.firedoglake.com/stevehorn1022/2013/12/03/leaked-documents-reveal-irs-concerns-funding-crisis-at-corporate-lobbying-group-alec/

John Boehner explains the least productive Congress ever: that damn Senate won't pass what we want!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/03/1259917/-Boehner-tries-to-pass-the-buck-on-the-least-productive-congress-nbsp-ever

More productivity: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/03/1259839/-House-Republicans-focus-on-critical-work-in-last-days-of-session-Obamacare-nbsp-hearings
House Republicans focus on critical work in last days of session: Obamacare hearings!

There is one man preventing immigration reform from happening. One

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_12/immigration_reform_still_up_to048043.php

The House passes a gun control bill!

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/house-quietly-bans-plastic-guns

CNN is losing interest in the news, wants more reality shows

http://prospect.org/article/cnn-losing-interest-news

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/12/zucker-cnn-will-have-less-news-more-attitude.html

More faux journalism at CNN: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/12/chris-cuomo-interview-brother-andrew-cuomo.html
No, Chris Cuomo Should Not Have Interviewed His Brother, the Governor

In Fox World, Obama is "rewriting the Constitution," needs to be impeached

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/03/1259867/-Rep-Michele-Bachmann-says-Obama-is-rewriting-the-Constitution
 
http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/fox-news-floats-impeachment-president 

Bonus item: Papa Cheney weighs in on the public feud between his daughters over gay marriage

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/12/cheney-surprised-gay-marriage-daughter.html

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/12/04/cheney_says_attack_has_been_dealt_with.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 people as I can.***

IRRESISTIBLE FORCE, IMMOVABLE OBJECTION

Here's the situation with health care. Obamacare is the law of the land, and more and more people are becoming dependent on it to the degree that no repeal of it will ever be possible. Glitches and frustrating setbacks notwithstanding, it is working pretty well where it is working, and it is working more and more.

But the POLITICAL fight against it is too valuable to the Republicans to give up. Like gay marriage and a host of issues they have exploited in the past, it is the juice that will drive their base's turnout in an off-year election. So they will keep talking as if they want to eliminate it, even though they won't, and can't

The good news: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/12/white-house-sell-obamacare-again.html
White House Plans to Pitch Obamacare Again 

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/12/obamacare-still-alive.html
 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/12/02/like-it-or-not-obamacare-is-moving-forward/

http://www.salon.com/2013/12/02/r_i_p_obamacare_repeal_movement_crusade_is_officially_dead/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/02/obamacare-repeal-_n_4372544.html

House Republicans Have 'No Plans' To Shut Down The Government Over Obamacare Again 

The opposition: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/03/us/politics/a-new-wave-of-challenges-to-health-law.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0
A New Wave of Challenges to Health Law

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/02/republicans-just-don-t-care-if-healthcare-gov-is-working-or-not.html
They Just Don't Care if Healthcare.Gov Works or Not

http://www.salon.com/2013/12/02/erick_erickson_demands_republicans_sabotage_obamacare/
Erick Erickson demands Republicans sabotage Obamacare 

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_12/the_republican_antiobamacare_p048030.php
The Republican Anti-Obamacare Purity Cult

Part of the GOP strategy: DISCOURAGE people from getting insurance

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/02/1259624/-Right-spends-10-million-in-2013-advertising-to-keep-people-uninsured
Right spends $10 million in 2013 advertising to keep people uninsured

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/02/1259594/-Far-right-wants-you-to-celebrate-the-holidays-by-rejecting-health-nbsp-insurance

In California: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/02/1259641/-California-GOP-creates-fake-healthcare-website-to-discourage-constituents-from-obtaining-insurance
California GOP creates fake health care website

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/california-assembly-gop-astroturfs

A GOP death wish?

http://www.salon.com/2013/12/02/republicans_self_hatred_swells_the_gop_vs_its_own_base/
Republicans’ self-hatred swells: The GOP vs. its own base 

More: http://www.salon.com/2013/12/03/hypocrisy_dogma_and_sabotage_the_rights_stepping_into_an_obamacare_trap/
Contrary to popular opinion, the GOP's hurting itself when it knocks Obamacare. Here's why its attacks are so risky 

Raise the minimum wage

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/minimum-wage-potent-political-issue

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_12/the_wages_are_too_damn_low048027.php

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/12/minimum-wage-america-pretty-damn-low

http://crooksandliars.com/richard-rj-eskow/thinking-globally-acting-locally

A little factoid to keep in mind when you're arguing with conservatives

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/02/the-u-s-economy-does-better-under-democratic-presidents-is-it-just-luck/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
The U.S. economy does better under Democratic presidents 

The RNC wants you to know that they LOVE Rosa Parks and her role in "ending racism"

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rnc-tweets-tribute-to-rosa-parks-for-ending-racism

http://www.salon.com/2013/12/02/sorry_gop_youve_still_got_rosa_parks_wrong/

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/stupid-right-wing-tweets-rnc-edition

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/02/1259533/-Twitter-mockery-forces-Republicans-to-clarify-that-Rosa-Parks-didn-t-actually-end-racism

http://www.salon.com/2013/12/03/gops_race_problem_whats_really_behind_that_bad_tweet/
GOP’s race problem: What’s really behind that bad tweet 

More stupid Republican racial history

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/02/1259605/-GOP-Founding-Fathers-created-defect-free-Constitution-ended-slavery
GOP: Founding Fathers created defect-free Constitution, ended slavery

Does Rush Limbaugh really want to match his moral standing up against the Pope's?

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/limbaugh-calls-pope-francis-mission-statement-pure-marxism

Bonus item: The blogosphere topic of the day is Amazon's idea to use drones for home delivery. Here's a sample

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_12/amazon_force_one048022.php

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/12/amazon-deliver-packages-drones.html

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/12/amazon-drones-and-pre-lobbying.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 people as I can.***

MOSTLY FIXED

Is 90 percent good enough?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/01/the-white-house-says-it-met-its-obamacare-goal-theres-still-more-work-ahead/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
The White House says it met its Obamacare goal. There’s still more work ahead.

Not for everybody

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/02/business/white-house-praises-gains-on-health-site.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0
Insurers Claim Health Website Is Still Flawed

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/01/is-the-healthcare-gov-fix-too-late-to-save-obamacare.html
Is the HealthCare.gov Fix Too Late to Save Obamacare?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/12/02/why-fixing-healthcare-gov-wont-fix-the-fight-over-obamacare/?wprss=rss_politics&clsrd
Why fixing HealthCare.gov won’t fix the fight over Obamacare

Despite filibuster reform, don't expect a wave of new Obama confirmations any time soon

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/02/the-gop-s-nuclear-winter-strategy.html

Ah. welcome back Rick -- it feels so good to laugh again

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/santorum-complains-sicker-older-people-are

Santorum Complains That 'Sicker, Older' People are Getting Insurance

More: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/santorum-denying-women-contraception

On taxes

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/02/us/a-tax-plan-to-please-both-sides.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
A Tax Plan to Please Both Sides

More: http://my.firedoglake.com/acmerecords/2013/12/01/tax-hike-scare-goes-up-in-thin-air/

Bonus item: Why the Texas text book fight matters for the rest of the country

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/revisionaries-john-birch-society-alive-well

***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.***

DO-OVER!

Obamacare has a second chance to get it right

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/30/obama-health-care-reform_n_4361679.html

More: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/11/30/inside_the_effort_to_rescue_obamacare.html
Inside the Effort to Rescue Obamacare

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/11/30/healthcare_website_still_improving.html
Healthcare Website Still Improving

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_11/yes_the_immediate_outlook_on_h048007.php 
The immediate outlook on the HealthCare.gov site? Murky at best. But long-term prospects for the ACA are sound.

SIX PER CENT!

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/11/30/congressional_approval_hits_new_low.html
Congressional Approval Hits New Low

More things to be thankful for

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/30/1257343/-Rep-Darrell-Issa-is-very-bad-at-his-job

Rep. Darrell Issa is very bad at his job

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/30/1256570/-This-would-be-a-scandal-but-only-if-it-were-true
This would be a scandal, but only if it were true

The Sunday talk show line-ups

http://my.firedoglake.com/elliott/2013/11/30/sunday-talking-heads-december-1-2013/
ABC’S THIS WEEK: Iran, Afghanistan with Former Obama national security adviser Tom Donilon. Roundtable: Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan, and former Obama White House Senior Adviser David Plouffe, now an ABC News and Bloomberg News contributor. Football Concussions Roundtable: ABC News Chief Health and Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser, USA Today columnist and ABC News consultant Christine Brennan, ESPN investigative reporter Mark Fainaru-Wada, co-author of “League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions and the Battle for Truth”, and former Buffalo Bills offensive lineman and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Joe DeLamielleure. Sunday Spotlight: U2 lead singer Bono on World AIDS Day.

CBS’ FACE THE NATION: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Ranking Member Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN). Then, Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) and his new book “Unintimidated.” “Plus, we’ll get analysis of the week’s news from William Kristol of The Weekly Standard and former White House Chief of Staff under President Obama, Bill Daley.” Plus, Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of “The Bully Pulpit,” A. Scott Berg, author of “Wilson” and Peter Baker, author of “Days of Fire.”

CNN’S STATE OF THE UNION: Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean and Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum on the latest Supreme Court Challenge to Obamacare. Then terror threats with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI). Roundtable: Kevin Madden, Donna Brazile, Corey Dade of TheRoot.com.

MOYERS & COMPANY: Encore: Wendell Berry, Poet & Prophet. In a rare television interview, environmental legend and writer Wendell Berry leaves his Kentucky farm for an inspiring conversation.

NBC’S MEET THE PRESS: Chair of the House Intelligence Committee Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) and Ranking Member of the Budget Committee Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). Then, former Healthcare Adviser to President Obama and Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel. Roundtable: David Brooks, Democratic Mayor of Baltimore Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Andrea Mitchell, Chuck Todd.

Bonus item: Thought piece of the day

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/01/the-big-idea-why-canada-and-u-s-should-merge.html
Why Canada and U.S. Should Merge

***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.***